Rock n Roll Chicago took place over July 15–17 weekend. Expo was on Friday from 12–7pm, Saturday 9am–5pm at McCormick Place Expo Hall D1. 5k Race Start at 7:30, with maybe 12? waves (I saw at least 11), each going about 1–2 minutes apart. 5k race weather was mostly sunny, about 65 degrees at the start with 80% humidity (forgot to check what it was when I finished) - pretty nice, though.

PROS:
+ Packet pickup was easy. You needed your ID and a printed out form (easy to grab off the internet, or you could print onsite). If you were doing two races, just had to find your bib numbers and make two stops. First you got your bib from the bib area, then moved on to grab your shirts along with your drawstring backpack and pins.
+ Ability to register onsite for 2016 (I think prices were: $150 half, $65 10k, $50 5k, but don't quote me on that. I only really paid attention to the half, for reasons stated below).
+ Register for 2017 onsite and get huge discounts along with a free tank or t-shirt ($50 half, $35 5k).
+ So much awesome gear from Brooks - it's hard not to buy it all (for me at least), all Chicago specific, which makes it unique and fun.
+ Lots of official RnR gear.
+ Tons of vendors giving out samples, expo discounts, etc. You could spend a long time there if you wanted to.
+ New Course! It started on Jackson between LSD and Columbus, and went north on Columbus, east on Randolph, went onto the LFP, through the underpass by the museum, slightly up and then around to the east side of Arvey Field, and finish on Columbus. Starting out on the street helped with the congestion early on, but the path still was pretty crowded - squeezing 12,000 people or whatever on there is rough.
+ 1 Aid Station with water.
+ 1 band and 1 DJ on course, plus announcer/music at the start and finish, band playing post-race party.
+ Post race goodies included awesome medal, Propel Water (with added electrolytes), bananas, and chips.
+ Plenty of communication from the race management about expo, races, etc. Always very organized. Warned about heat levels (which is every year, since it's a race in Chicago in July... usually pretty hot and humid).
+ Race start is easy to get to.
+ Pretty flat course, maybe one minor uphill?

CONS:
- If you don't register early, the prices are very high. Granted you get a lot of bang for your buck, IMO, but it can be tough to justify. I was thinking of switching from the 10k to the half, but the half price at packet pickup was $150, so I'd have to pay the difference from the 10k + a $10 fee. Needless to say, I stuck with the 10k.
- McCormick place is a great venue for expos, however, for this race, there was no parking discount. For Shamrock Shuffle and Chicago Marathon it was validated for $10, but for RnR we had to pay $23. Woof. I personally don't find McCormick Place easy to get to via public transportation, especially if you aren't coming from within the city already.
- While you get a free beer after the race... it's Michelob Ultra. You know my feelings on this.

OTHER
• The 10k and half marathoners received the same tech shirt. I think the 10k and half were different colors and designs last year, but I don't mind they were the same.
• The sidewalk over by Arvey Field (next to LSD) is pretty beat up. Watch your footing.

I always have a good time at these races. They are well organized, and though very large field of participants, it's a lot of fun.