• Fun in Chicago,  Pretty Pictures,  Random Thoughts

    Up Close And Personal

    Yesterday I was walking south on Michigan Avenue from Tribune Tower so I could meet a friend at the Cultural Center. As I approached Lake Street, I glanced upward (as I often do; I’m always looking for photo opportunities!) and noticed a mural on the side of a building that I had never seen before. That’s pretty amazing since I have walked by that corner approximately twenty five bajillion times in my life. Anyway. I saw this mural, and I could tell that it was vibrant in color but couldn’t see the whole thing due to the fact that the adjacent building was blocking most of it from where I…

  • Do I Really Want My Readers To Know This?,  Food,  Friends,  Fun in Chicago,  I've Got Mad Skillz

    The Purple Pig In Pictures

    Last night, Jim and I drove into the city to meet up with someone I became friends with in eighth grade (C), and his wife (K). We’ve kept in touch all these years and faithfully send holiday cards to each other every December, but we haven’t actually gotten together in twelve years. Or thirteen. We couldn’t figure it out. I was thrilled when C messaged me a few weeks ago to tell me that they would be in town for a wedding and would love to see us, and that’s how we ended up at The Purple Pig on Michigan Avenue last night. We had a great time. I hadn’t…

  • Family Fun,  Fun in Chicago

    Spelling Bee.

    It’s very, very rare that I will repurpose or republish a post I’ve already written but in this case, a post I wrote back in 2009 couldn’t be a more perfect lead-in to tell you about the Drury Lane production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, which I was invited to check out, on the house, on opening night. I’ll tell you just a little bit about the show after you read (or reread!) the story of my very own spelling bee nightmare. I’ve always been a great speller. As a kid, being able to spell what I thought was a difficult word made me walk with my…

  • Fun in Chicago

    Shoreline Sightseeing Giveaway!

    One of my very favorite things to do in the city (and usually the first thing I do with out-of-town visitors) is an architecture tour of the Chicago River. I have enjoyed lots of them, on boats run by several different companies, and I learn new things about Chicago every time I go, which is about three times every season. (I know; hardcore!) When Shoreline Sightseeing contacted me last month and asked if I’d like to join them on an architecture river tour in honor of their 2014 season kicking off, I screamed, “YES PLEASE!” even though the conversation was through email. I was THAT excited. (Disclosure: I received complimentary…

  • Amazing People,  Best Thing Ever,  Favorite Things,  Fun in Chicago,  I've Got Mad Skillz,  My Friends Have Mad Skillz,  Pretty Pictures

    Listen To Your Mother Chicago 2014: Wow, That Was Quick!

    It’s been a full week (eight days, actually!) since the show, and I can’t even believe THAT, let alone the fact that the 2014 season, our THIRD season in Chicago, flew by faster than a…what is one of those cute southern sayings? These last two weeks, in fact, have flown by faster than a…never mind. I can’t think of anything. QUICKLY. They went by QUICKLY. In the last two weeks Tracey and I drove to Milwaukee to see that show, we put on our own show, we drove to Valparaiso to see the NWIndiana show, and yesterday I drove up to Madison, where it all began five years ago, to…