Each year, Grip Design, in Chicago, hosts an eating competition. "It's really a drinking fest loosely masquerading as an eating competition," says principal Kevin McConkey. This year's eating extravaganza, the seventh to date, featured PB&Js and PBR. Previous years' food fests featured hot dogs, tacos, watermelon, pickles, corn on the cob, and eggrolls. Grip sent this invitation to clients, friends, family, and other locally based designers.

Each contestant receives a lunch bag packed with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a juicebox, and a napkin with an encouraging note from "mom," written by principal Kelly Kaminski. The notes included such gems as:

"You're my favorite child. (Don't tell your brother). Love, Mom"

"Stop whining and eat the crusts. Love, Mom"

"Even if you don't win, at least beat that idiot next to you. Love, Mom"

"Make that sandwich your bitch. Love, Mom"

Participants are cheered on while they stuff their pie holes with PB&J's and wash it down with PBR. The event is a super-fun excuse to quit work early and kick off the weekend right.

Justin Ahrens' of Rule29, giving the thumbs-up in between bites.

Emilia Juocys is the first-place winner in the speed eating round.

The contestants are making a good run at the competition.

Grip's clients from Virtue Cider. "We surprised them with a framed shadowbox of hand-drawn sketches created for their new cider launching this fall (it is called Lapinette)," says McConkey. Pictured from left to right: Stephen Schmakel, Emilia Juocys, Ryan Burk and Gregory Hall.

Cute, little girls are also welcome ... especially if you're the boss's daughter.

I wouldn't trust any of these people, especially this freak in the middle of the bottom photo. I think I saw him in an old '70s porn.