• Pretty Pictures

    Scenic.

    Everyone who travels has their favorite airports–and their least-favorite ones, too–and in fact while I was in Detroit I had a discussion with a friend who was highly opinionated about both categories. On her least-favorite list? Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. She said that in her experience she has found that every airport employee at O’Hare is extremely unhelpful and downright rude, and she had some other grumbles as well. Her opinion took me by surprise because I happen to like O’Hare very much, and it’s not just because it’s one of my two hometown airports (the other being Midway). One of the best things about traveling via O’Hare is the scenery…

  • Best Thing Ever,  Food,  Fun in Chicago

    Taking A Moment

    I’m currently in Detroit on business and I’m excited about it, not only because of what I’ll be doing while I’m here but also because I’m only THREE! DAYS! AWAY! from visiting my sistuh-from-anuthuh-mutha AND because I have been workingworkingworking like crazy on all of my various jobs for the past ten days in order to be able to make my deadlines AND not have to worry much about work other than “maintenance-type stuff” during my two trips. Shew. That was a long sentence. Actually, if you try and read it without taking a breath, you’ll have a teeny bit of an idea how it has felt to live my…

  • Fun in Chicago,  Review

    New 1893 World’s Fair Exhibit At Chicago’s Field Museum!

    When I was working on my book a couple of years ago, I researched the 1893 World’s Fair pretty extensively for the chapter I wrote about Chicago history. The World’s Columbian Exposition, as it was also called, is extremely fascinating to me. Here’s some of what I wrote about it: “The World’s Columbian Exposition was conceptualized as an 1892 celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World. The cities of St. Louis, New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago competed fiercely for the privilege of hosting the World’s Fair and representing the United States to the rest of the world. (Chicago ended up having the deepest…

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    Best Thing Ever,  Food,  How To

    How To Make Portillo’s Chopped Salad At Home (& Dazzle Your Family!)

    I am not–and never will be–a food blogger. (I’m guessing you’re not here for the recipes, anyway. So we’re good.) That said, I do enjoy food, and I am pretty good at making delicious things to eat. Sometimes I will prepare a family favorite for dinner and think, “I should share this on the blog.” Then I think, “But I’m not a food blogger, and the idea of staging the food for the pretty pictures makes me feel a little nauseous,” so I don’t share. Except just this once. I happen to have created a family favorite when I started making Portillo’s chopped salad at home, and I think you…

  • Chicken in the Car,  Fun in Chicago

    What To Do In Chicago During #BlogHer13, Or Anytime!

    So you’re coming to the Windy City this summer, huh? Whether you’ll be here for the massive BlogHer conference at the end of July and you’re looking for some sightseeing opportunities or you’re coming for a family getaway, if you’re wondering what to do in Chicago I am just the girl who can help you out. My book, Chicken in the Car and the Car Won’t Go: Nearly 200 Ways to Enjoy Chicagoland with Tweens and Teens happens to be overflowing with–you guessed it–nearly 200 things to do in the Chicago area. In addition to all of the fun features, the book contains information on public transportation, where to find…

  • Fun in Chicago,  Review

    Shoreline Sightseeing Kicks Off 2013 Tour Boat Season!

    Having written a book about fun things to do in the Chicago area with tweens and teens, I get asked ALL THE TIME for recommendations. My first recommendation is usually (and you would think obviously, but not so much!) BUY MY BOOK. After that all-important recommendation, I usually change it up according to how I’m feeling that day and who is asking. I have a wide variety of favorite things to do in the Chicago area, of course. One suggestion that is always at the top of my recommendation list (and usually the first thing I do with out-of-town visitors) is an architecture river tour. I have enjoyed lots of…

  • Best Thing Ever,  Fun in Chicago,  Pretty Pictures

    Marina City Obsession!

    It’s been nearly two weeks since I spent a lovely Sunday morning in the city, enjoying a peek at some of Chicago’s most famous buildings as a part of Open House Chicago, presented by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. The charm of this special event, which debuted last year, is that the public is given access to parts of buildings that are normally inaccessible to those of us who don’t live or work in them. Oh, and it’s free, which is totally cool. Due to the fact that I had a very important date with my sister and Adam Ant that night, I only had time to see a few buildings…

  • Fun in Chicago

    Chicago With A Different Purpose

    I drove to the city today. (You probably aren’t surprised; I do that all the time.) I had a lunch date on Michigan Avenue with a couple of blogger friends and a brand representative. Lunch was great: restaurant right in the middle of Chicago, fantastic conversation, talk of upcoming opportunities, great food, sunshine streaming through the windows. After lunch was over and we said our goodbyes, I decided to walk a few blocks up the street to my very favorite corner in the whole world: Michigan and Wacker (and the Chicago River). Vanessa wanted to walk too, so away we went, into the 99 degree heat. I felt all “summery”,…

  • Fun in Chicago,  Pretty Pictures

    Chicago Love

    Ah, Chicago. You know *I* love it. You may even love it, too. I can tell you that Chris Pritchard loves it. Chris is a filmmaker who is working on a timelapse series called “Places in Time”. Lucky for me (and, let’s be honest, YOU), he chose Chicago as the first city in the series. I dare you to watch this and try not to fall in love–for the first time or all over again–with Chicago. I dare you. Places in Time: Chicago from Chris Pritchard on Vimeo. Read Chris’ notes on the film by clicking here.