PC Magazine sent me to Chicago over the weekend to cover Wired's annual future-technology showcase, NextFest. The show, which was the second for the Windy City and the first at the recently constructed Millennium Park, was slightly scaled down as compared with previous years in terms of exhibits. Not surprisingly, though, it had plenty of cool stuff to check out. This year NextFest will run for a full two weeks (instead of a single weekend) through October 12. I packed it all into a couple days.

Whether or not you're able to head over to the show, be sure to check out a full rundown of my coverage, after the jump.

&bull The Official PCMag.com slideshow (TM).
• News piece for Nextfest opening ceremonies.
• Mayor Daley addresses the crowd.
• Interview with Nextfest executive director, Victor Friedburg.
• Interview with Toyota engineer, Akihiro Yanaka about the i-swing, i-REAL, and more.
• Yanaka takes the i-REAL for a spin outside in Millennium Park.
• More information from Toyota's booth, including a new Prius and the ultra-lightweight 1/x.
• A walking tour of the greenest home in Chicago, located at the Museum of Science and Industry.
• Xerox intros erasable paper and other green-minded tech.
• Wired editor-in-chief, Chris Anderson, talks about the economics of free.
• Hoverit Lounger, a floating lounge chair.
• Imagine_PS is a kinetic powered electric vehicle, complete with rowers.
• GuiaBot, a Brainball.
• The C-Leg, prosthetic limbs, bionic style.
• Mower the robotic lawn-mowing sheep.
• The Misadventures of P.B, Winterbottom combines old-timey platform gaming with delicious pie.
• NASA and the Department of Defense teamed up to create an ultra-rugged moon rover.
• Just in case...

Phew...