My Kind of Chinatown

One of my favorite parts of living in Chicago is the diversity and mesh of cultures within the city limits. From the curries of Devon Ave. to the flaming saganaki of Greektown, there's always a new experience right around the corner.

Darn it - now I'm craving saganaki... *drool*

I've been dragging Brian all over the ding dang place ever since we moved here last summer, determined to show him the real Chicago; it's not just full of glittery tourist attractions like Navy Pier (overrated) and The Magnificent Mile (overcrowded), but a place alive with rich cultures and cuisines.

Which is why I dragged his cute butt all the way down to Chinatown.

Chicago's Chinatown may not be as large as NYC or San Francisco's, but it more than makes up for it in its charm.

And the dim sum ain't so bad either. :)




That is some old cake!




Of course I spotted polka dots! :)


I heart Chinese curios.

Let it Snow...Finally!

So far, this winter has been rather pansy-esque. It hasn't gotten that cold, and the snow for which Chicago is famous has been hiding like Katy Perry's true hair color.

Well, the snow got brave and finally came, and in doing so I had the pleasure of witnessing one of this city's most time honored traditions: clearing a parking space, then placing chairs on it to lay claim over said space.

Word to the wise - if you ever see this occurrence in Chicago, do not, I repeat, do not touch the chairs.

Unless, of course, you enjoy having your car keyed.

:)



Happy Winter!

My Kind of Town...

I've been meaning to do a post on our new life in Chicago, but wouldn't ya know it....life inconveniently got in the way. That, and the photos I took last weekend were absolutely atrocious because of the bright, shining sun (what in the world was I thinking??) - good for improving moral for the general population; a bit of a challenge for photographers.

When I looked outside my apartment window yesterday morning, it was nice and cloudy with a high of 65 degrees (is it really mid-November?!). I had to run to a local yarn shop for some wool, so I figured I'd take my camera with and capture some scenes from my little corner of the city.





I made Brian pose next to the side of our apartment building. Note the "thrilled/I'm-trying-to-be-hip-and-emo" face.



Looking down the street from our apartment building...





I always pass this sign on the way to the "L", and it always makes me giggle.





Okay, so Brian and I can't figure out what this place is...we know it's Korean, and likely a restaurant/bar...

...or perhaps a front for the Korean mafia.



The Rockwell CTA Brown Line stop!




At the "L" station on Southport.



So we were walking down Southport, and found a whole bunch of dying sunflowers in a small urban garden next to the sidewalk. You sure don't see those everyday in the city!





Brian has big feet.



Looking down Southport.



Watching the world whirl by while on the "L".





Back in Lincoln Square, and here's the wonderful mural next to the square. The neighborhood is very German-influenced, hence the scene that looks like it's from the Sound of Music.



This place is Awesome (yes, the capital "A" is intentional). It's a medicinal shop with some fantastic soaps and herbal remedies, and it's set up like an old-time general store.



Giddings Square. Worth noting is this used to be a thru-street, and my dad grew up in the building on the right-hand side.

Cha-cha-changes....

A couple of weeks ago, we bade Ohio a tearful farewell. Although I admittedly was not fond of living in the middle of nowhere, the hospitality we experienced from the locals was unparalleled, and I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to work and play with such gracious and welcoming people.

We are back in the city yet again, except this time it's Sweet Home Chicago. We now live in a four-flat building in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the north side, which is coincidentally the very same area my dad grew up in. Makes it feel like I'm returning to my roots.

And let me just tell ya...it's fantastic to be living in the midst of civilization again. When we were moving in, I could feel the energy - literally! I felt the pavement below my achy feet hum with life (although that very well could have been the planes, trains and automobiles that were passing through, but I digress). I can now walk, bike, or take public transportation to anywhere in the city. It's an incredible freedom that I've been missing for the past two years, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

So now that we're (mostly) settled in, and I realized just how much I've neglected this little bloggity blog. I haven't had much time to practice with my camera lately, but that's going to change very quickly, mostly because of a few things:

1. I'll be doing a shoot at a bakery in Green Bay. Super excited to be combining two of my passions: photography and baked goods. :)

2. In October, I'll be shooting a wedding, so I will have to practice (and line up what equipment I'll be requiring).

3. ....I just miss shooting with my camera, and as I walk around Chitown I find all kinds of interesting stuff to photograph!

More updates are coming soon, so stay tuned!