Speaking of Chicago’s Summer Festivals…
methinks that the upcoming Missoni-Havaianas collaboration will mean that my little toesies will be looking about as summer-ready as they can possibly get.
Chicago Summer Festival Guide
Another sign that summer will once again come to Chicago? The MetroMix Chicago Festival Guide 2011 has been released!
Chicago Festivals are one of the absolute best things about summer- on any given weekend, you can get your fix of food, music and art on the streets of neighborhoods all over the city. The smell of smoked barbeque wafting through the air, thin plastic cups of beer in hand, the best people watching on the planet, running into friends…there’s really nothing better.
At the top of my list? The Blues Festival, Wells Street Art Festival, Sheffield Garden Walk and Jazz Fest.
What about you? What are your favorite summer festivals?
Jilly Ink
This past Christmas, I was gifted with the most delightful stamp, a custom designed “n” to seal my cards and letters. I’ve been using it on nearly everything and sometimes even have to hold myself back from stylishly stamping my bills. It’s that darling.
My beautifully talented and sweet friend JillyInk is the artist responsible for this uber thoughtful gift. She recently opened up her Etsy shoppe, bringing all things unique and hand-lettered to the people.
If I am taking the time to send a card, I might as well send it with a little style, right?
My Home Team
This is my home team.
My middle-of-the-night, no-matter-what, through-thick-and-thin, help-yourself-to-a-glass-of-water-without-asking-when-they-come-over people.
Home team member Corey is making a big move to San Francisco to take an incredible job opportunity. I snapped this picture during his going away party on Saturday night. We have been friends for 21 years, since the day I invited him over for “band practice”. We were 5 and none of us could play an instrument but we were forming a band, goshdarnit.
My mom tells me “the Band” lasted for about 15 minutes before we all ran out to play. My dad tied Corey’s shoes so he could join us on the jungle gym.
Over the years, the 6 of us have lived all over: New York, Chicago, Italy, South Africa, and London, not to mention the glorious college towns of East Lansing, Ann Arbor and South Bend, respectively. While adding San Francisco to the mix is fantastic (new place to visit!), I can’t help but tear up a little- for the last 2 years, we have all been Chicagoans and therefore, able to have that everyday, stop-over-at-the-last-minute kind of friendship. That being said, I could not be more excited for Corey and his new adventure. Corey is a big deal kind of person and he is going to do very, very big deal things in San Francisco.
Corey, I love you and I am so wildly proud to be your friend. Best of luck on your new adventure!
Chicago Marathon 2011!!!
I glanced at my Blackberry an hour ago to find an email informing me that there were only 5,000 spots left for the 2011 Chicago Marathon.
Wha?????
Last year, it sold out at the beginning of April. It’s not even March yet!
I’ve been dragging my feet, playing the “Oh, I’ll sign up next week” game since registration opened on February 1st but when I got that email that it was filling up fast, my reaction was to grab my credit card even faster. No WAY was I going to miss out on the Marathon. 10-10-10 was too amazing of a day, of an experience to not want to be a part of again.
So, it’s official- I am signed up for the 2011 Chicago Marathon!!!
Update: Just got an email from Ryan- he’s signed up too! Looks like the threat of missing out on 26.2 miles of blood, sweat and tears, glory was enough to get both of us in action!
Snowiest February in Chicago’s Recorded History
Yesterday was the day February 2011 won the prize for most inches of snowfall on record, beating out 1896 by 3 inches. The dusting we got overnight made everything white again so even if more snow was not on my high list of wishes, it did make the city look very pretty.
When I called Ryan on my way home from work, he was only a few blocks ahead and offered to wait for me to catch up so we could walk home together. What a doll. I snapped this picture from the Columbus Street bridge. What I love about it is that is doesn’t look like we’re in a city; it looks like we were in the middle of the woods, entirely alone. But right next to that white path is a river and tall buildings and a busy highway.
I think that might be my favorite thing about Chicago- so many quiet moments in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
The Weiner Circle
Late night trip to the famed Weiner Circle and some Chicago dogs.
I must admit, the pickle and hot peppers were unexpected but altogether delish.
Let’s put this in the bad health choices at 2am category. Bad but oh-so-good at the same time.
Case and Point
The Scene: Tired girl with a big bag full of Dao Thai flags down a cab because even though home isn’t far, this was as far as her cold, sleepy feet were going to take her.
The first thing I noticed when I got in the cab was that it smelled good. Nice choice of perfume, lady before me.
The second thing was the excellent choice in oldies music. Good, Simon and Garfunkel oldies; not cheesy, lame oldies that have the word “bop” in the title. Legit, great music.
Thinking about my Snob on a Bus post, I figured I should walk the talk and find out what my good-music-jamming cabbie was all about.
Robert is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is a cook, sometimes at MK, and finds he makes good money driving a cab so he does that too. I asked him what brought him to Chicago and his answer was the best thing I had heard all day:
“Adventure,” Robert replied.
He had been in Florida for awhile but missed the four seasons and besides, that adventure was over. He has been in Chicago for 5 years worth of seasons and while he loves it, he said he felt that perhaps another adventure was in the near future for him.
“I’ll know what adventure is meant to follow when I see it though. Just waiting on it, for now.”
Aren’t we all, Robert, aren’t we all?
I’m so glad I get cranky and hail cabs when I’m tired and cold. The best things happen when I expect the opposite.
Snob on a Bus
This is my friend Jacki.
Walk-the-talk, eco-loving, snob-on-a-bus Jacki.
You see, a few years ago when she was living in LA, Jacki decided to save some moolah and help the environment by getting rid of her car and navigating the bus system of the City of Angels.
Even though she had some serious pre-conceptions about what riding the bus meant, she got on board, in more ways than one and it wasn’t long before riding the bus went from a semi-scary thing that she was too good for to a daily dose of lessons learned while riding alongside members of her community. Jacki turned her daily public transportation adventures into a blog called (you guessed it) “Snob on a Bus“.
Living in Chicago and not owning a car, I think Jacki is spot-on when she says that there is so much connection and community missed out on when you go everywhere in a car. The people I’ve met, the stories I’ve overheard, the smiles I’ve shared while riding the El or walking in this city would NEVER have happened if I drove to work every day. To be honest, I never want to live anywhere that I can’t walk or take public trans to where I want to go. Aside from the exercise benefits (burning calories without noticing? I dig it.), I feel much more of a part of my community, of my city when I’m actually in it as opposed to peering out at it from glass windows and leather seat.
Besides- by saving money on a lease, insurance and gas, I have way more money to spend on shoes.
And you know what is just as cool as Jacki’s blog? The article the LA Times wrote about her!
If you love Snob on a Bus, check out Jacki’s new Adventures for a Life You Love– she might be a snob on a bus but this girl is no snob when it comes to loving your life every single day.
Happy Friday, all!
A Little Black And White Distraction
When doing laundry, I’ve found that it’s best to get it done fast. Most days, I put in the wash, forget about it for awhile, put it in the drier, forget about it a little while longer and then when it comes time to fold, well, I’m just over it. So today, I was on a roll. I put the clothes in, hit the gym, put them in the drier after my workout and was ready to fold shortly after that. Like pulling off a band-aid, doing laundry in an efficient manner is the best plan.
That is, until I encountered a distraction.
Halfway through folding, LunaBell decided she would see what I was up to. And apparently, she thought it was awesome and decided to stay awhile.
Maybe we’ll both take a little nap…