Sub-Zero Temperature Dreaming

adminAddison, baseball season, Chicago, Chicago Cubs, CTA, Freezing, Spring, Uncategorized%s Comments

Hopped the Red Line to the Addison stop today for a meeting.

I must say, my adventures north to Wrigleyville have been primarily for baseball, brats and adult beverages to be enjoyed while wearing red, blue and white.

But even with snow on the ground and even though I was heading to a decidedly work-related round of caffeine, I couldn’t help but look at the above scene, subtract the snow and add in thousands of people milling around on an equally sunny day and multiply it by the buzz that is always in the air right before a Cubs game.  Which equals me starting to get very, very excited for spring.

How’s that for a sub-zero temperature distraction?

All Aboard!

adminChicago Transit Authority, Christmas, CTA, CTA Holiday Train 2010, enthuisiasm, Gift card, joy, North Pole advertisement, public transportation, Uncategorized, West Elm%s Comment

All I wanted when I headed to the Red Line today was $2.25 ride up to Lincoln Park so I could blow a gift card at West Elm.   What I got, however, far exceeded my public transportation hopes and dreams:

Yes, that’s right!  It was the 2010 CTA Holiday Train!  I saw it last year and was so dazzled by the flashing lights that I forgot to get on.  But this year, this was the train I had to take to get to my destination!  I couldn’t believe my luck- today is only the 2nd day the Holiday Train has been running!

The entire six-car train was decked out, inside AND out.  Lights, ribbon, garland and look!  The seats were even festive:

See the excitement on that girl’s face?

Attention to detail was most certainly paid.  Instead of the usual ads for random online colleges or Hall’s Cough Drops, the Holiday Train stuck to North Pole-specific advertisements.

This Sunday afternoon ride o’ mine wasn’t just aesthetically pleasing;  the train also smelled like cinnamon and pine needles and Christmas carols were blaring over the sound system!  Usually, the el kinda smells like pee and the only thing coming over the sound system is a cranky CTA employee telling me that my “train has been delayed momentarily”.  The Holiday Train is like Christmas on steroids- so much Christmas in such a small space for such a short (I only rode it for 4 stops) period of time.  Aka, the Holiday Train is glorious and perfect and the best thing that could have possibly happened to me today.

Oh and how about this golden nugget?

The Holiday Train has humor.  I dig it.

The Holiday Train really pushed me over the edge in my excitement for Christmas.   When I called my mom to tell her, opening the conversation with a breathless, “The best thing in the world just happened to me!”, I am pretty sure she thought I was going to tell her I got engaged or a promotion or adopted a kid or something.  Nope, Mama G- just a little holiday cheer.  So thank you, Chicago Transit Authority, for making my day and putting enthusiasm of epic proportions into your modes of public transportation.  Chicago is a better place because of it.

Every Body Needs a Home

adminChicago, CTA, Home, Melanee Cooper, Uncategorized, yoga, Yoga House Chicago%s Comments

Yoga mat strapped to my back, I tapped my foot impatiently as the Brown Line train I was riding crept along.  It probably knew that I had a noon class to make it to.  I got off the train 5 minutes before yoga was supposed to begin.  I didn’t want to be that girl who walked late into a zen environment only to ruin the calm vibe with the plopping down of her mat and water bottle.  Sigh. No yoga for me–to Trader Joe’s I go.  While going to put more money on my CTA card, I saw a sign for Yoga House.  I had heard this studio opened only a few weeks before and was looking forward to trying it but wasn’t sure exactly where it was located.  Well, here is was–740 N. Franklin.  And there was even a class starting right that second.  It was too much of a sign to not go in and see what Yoga House was all about.

Yoga House is the rebirth of the Melanee Cooper Gallery.  Melanee was in the art business for over 20 years and started practicing yoga 10 years ago.  Suddenly, she found herself structuring her work around her practice.  She had this beautiful space, felt yoga was art in itself and wanted to share that passion with others.  Yoga House was born.

Their mantra is “Every Body Needs a Home” and that’s exactly what it felt like–home.  I’d been having a hard time quieting down the “busyness” in my head that day–work stuff, to-do lists, more to-do lists, should I be feeding my cat organic cat food, should I be drinking more water, you know–hamster wheel brain.  But going into that studio felt like I had found the most silent space in Chicago.  The quiet rumble of the train. a lone fountain in the studio and some pranayama breathing later and I had lassoed in the stillness and contentment I had so been craving.  I was fortunate  to have Melanee lead my practice.  The class was fantastic–practicing yoga in a former art gallery is now my new favorite thing.  Beautiful hardwood floors, perfect lighting, amazing art still on the walls, a lovely little fountain that convinces you that the hustle and bustle you see outside on the street is nothing but an illusion–Yoga House is on to something.  Probably because it is so evident that Melanee is living her passion and you can’t help but feel good being around that, ya know?

By the time I got home, Melanee had emailed my descriptions of all of her teachers and I cannot wait to try their classes as well.  You should too.  I’ll see you there–I’ll be the girl in the corner who doesn’t want to leave.  740 N. Franklin, Chicago, IL 60654 www.yogahousechicago.com

Snow Plows, Wind and CTA Cuts

adminChicago, cold, commuting, CTA, snow, Uncategorized%s Comments

I can’t really complain about the snowstorm that is quickly and quietly enveloping the city right now because, well, it’s February in Chicago.  Having grown up in the Midwest, this sort of thing shouldn’t even phase me.  But there was a part of me that went to bed last night that thought “Ha, they say we’re supposed to get 12-15 inches starting at 9pm and it’s 11pm…suckers.  My sidewalks are staying dry and I’m wearing tennis shoes tomorrow.” 

 7:30am: The sound of snow shovels scraping the pavement.  Dangit.

The snow is being pretty polite as of right now.  Kind of like “Hi, I’m here, it’s Winter so please don’t be angry but I’m going to stick around for awhile and I might get super into this and bring tons of my snowflake friends with me to make going outside the last thing you want to do.” 

Also going on right now in Chicago is the CTA making cuts to the buss and train routes.  That coupled with snow should be interesting.  I haven’t noticed any delays in my commute but I really feel for people who have to be in the snow for longer that usual.

Stay tuned.