Tag Archives: andersonville

Howl-o-ween

Posted on October 31, 2009 | 3 Comments

As I am walking back from my cooking class at the Chopping Block (more later; lots of fun), I stumble upon the ASNA Howl-o-ween parade. It is a parade for dogs. In costume. I had seen the banner up for a couple weeks, but had no idea the crowd that it would draw.

I don’t know why the first video is upside down.

The crowd was huge!

This little banana was my favorite. Cats would never stand for this kind of thing. They wouldn't stoop so low.

This is the runner-up in my book. Yes, on second thought, felines likely PLANNED this event, just to see the canines in this weakend state. Paraded around in cute humiliation.

This is the runner-up in my book. Yes, on second thought, felines likely PLANNED this event, just to see the canines in this weakened state. Paraded around in cute humiliation.

Scariest.

This one has retained the most dignity. He refused to let the hat effect his noble stance.

Witchiest.

I can HEAR Schween and Porp laughing in the other room. Felines-1, Canines-0.

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Posted in andersonville, Chicago, Daily Picture

Tagged andersonville, ASNA Howl-o-ween dog parade, Daily Picture, dogs in costume, halloween, photography

Review: South Andersonville Organic Lemonade Stand

Posted on September 13, 2009 | 4 Comments

If I am walking home from my train after work, there are likely a number of things swimming around in my head. These range from personal financial issues, lists of things that I need to take care of, what to make for dinner, and the many creative projects that I would like to kick-off at some point. And sometimes I’m thinking about babies, kittens, and cupcakes. All these things can distract me from just enjoying what is going on right at that moment.

But then again, there are certain scenes or happenings that I come across during my day which can instantly pull me out of my jumbled mind and shoot me straight into the here and now.

The bills, lists, and worries are gone in a second, and suddenly all I can think about is LEMONADE. HAND SQUEEZED ORGANIC LEMONADE. And the cookies are on sale! FREE cookies with purchase of LEMONADE! The owner of the stand obviously recommends the cookies by evidence of chocolate smudge on said owner’s chin.

Norman Rockwell, eat your heart out.

The lemonade was a bit pricier than other stands in the neighborhood, but I would dare say it was worth a dollar. The hand-painted sign and the bright colors of the tablecloth and umbrella really set the mood. And a free cookie?! Yes. This wasn’t any powder-and-water or from-concentrate lemonade, either. It was the real thing.

Sidenote: The owner has a striking resemblance to the subjects of one of my favorite photos. (Scroll down to yellow tutu princess)

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Posted in andersonville, Daily Picture

Tagged andersonville, Daily Picture, lemonade stand, photography

Weekly Pictures of Happiness?

Posted on August 24, 2009 | 2 Comments

So I have clearly been slacking, but regularly scheduled DPH will return tomorrow. My brain has been all mushy the last couple weeks, but has started to gel again. Things are good. Here are some WPH instead.

Norp and her dad.

Last year, our landlord tore down ALL the ivy that was growing on the front of the house. This made me really sad for awhile, but I noticed it is growning back as strong as ever! (Insert metaphor here)

Last year, our landlord tore down ALL the ivy that was growing on the front of the house. This made me really sad for awhile, but I noticed it is growing back as strong as ever! (Insert "thus is life" metaphor here)

Peaches at the Chicago Farmstand. It is like an indoor farmer's market on Randolph street. It isn't as great as the real farmer's market, but it is always there and pretty nifty, neat, and swell.

Peaches at the Chicago Farmstand. It is like an indoor local farmer's market on Randolph street. It's not as great as a visit to the real farmer's market, but it is always there and pretty nifty, neat, and swell.

Local! Not shipped from South America! Not covered in poisin!

Local! Not shipped from South America! Not covered in poison!

Purple bottles at a new store on Clark called Brimfield.

Purple bottles at a new home store in Andersonville called Brimfield.

Brimfield's library of blanketry.

The vintage tartan bag made me swoon. Makes me want crispy fall weather. I might even haul out the breadmaker.

Taste of Heaven's steel cut oatmeal with peach compote and granola.

French onion soup.

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Posted in andersonville, Daily Picture

Tagged andersonville, brimfield, Daily Picture, food, glass bottles, photography, soup, vines

This Pertains to My Interests

Posted on August 17, 2009 | 5 Comments

This image has nothing to do with the brunch you are about to receive, but I took it on Saturday night on my date with Justin. It is the closest thing we get to "big sky" in our hood. Don't laugh at me if you are from Colorado.

So this weekend, my brother, his friends, and his ridiculously nice camera came for a visit. You might ask,”Was he apartment hunting because he is moving here shortly?” No such luck. Yet. But I feel like we are making strides in the right direction.

Most of the trip was a series of mishaps and getting caught in the rain, but at least brunch didn’t let us down. Six of us trudged up to northern Andersonville, or “Wisconsin” as Justin would say, and waited for about 6 hours in 90 degree heat/steam before being seated. We were eventually lead to a table on the patio directly in the sun, in the same heat that we just waited in for 27 hours. On the bright side, a constant stream of condensation from our water glasses dripped on our legs, and Amber guzzled an iced coffee the size of her torso.

Sounds great, right? Well when the food arrived, all was forgiven. Just look at it!

Summer peach & almond bostock french toast: Two thick slices of homemade almond crusted brioche french toast, layered with warm syrah poached summer peaches and vanilla creme anglaise.

Let's just see that again.

I am telling you, I am more of a savory breakfast person, but this is one of the best things I have ever eaten before noon. I wish I could send this through your computer screen so you could taste it.

Casey's keylime and apricot brioche french toast: Three thick slices of french toast layered with homemade lime curd and fresh apricot.

The awesome thing about having a six person brunch is getting to try all the other dishes that you were pondering on the menu. I had blackberry blisscakes, mango & sour cherry blisscakes, huevos borrachos, and my good friends–home fries.

We signed our bill just as the storm hit the patio, we congratulated each other on our perfect timing, then we ran/waddled to our buses and declared brunch a victory.

If you would like to try these delightful dishes, and you live within 10 hours of Chicago, go to M Henry on Clark. You will not be disappointed.

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Posted in andersonville, Chicago, Daily Picture, dining

Tagged andersonville, brunch, Chicago, Daily Picture, food, french toast, m henry, peaches, photography, review

ASNA Block Party

Posted on July 19, 2009 | 2 Comments

The ASNA blocks of Andersonville are a great place to live, especially if you are a young family, gay, or have a dog. If you don’t fit into these categories, you are still welcome, but just a bit of a minority. Justin and I are definitely in the minority.

We do want to stay here as long as possible while Justin is still in school. Luckily, he negotiated another year or so on our lease. He was wearing this shirt during last night’s lease conversation with our landlord:

Yep.

I made that for him with a sharpie. Aren’t I the best wife ever?

So last night was also the ASNA block party. The turn-out was much larger than last year, and the amount of children in attendance seemed to have tripled. Andersonville must be an increasingly popular neighborhood to have kids in. I didn’t notice any other #1 Cat Parents in the crowd, so I guess we were on our own.

Horses! There was absolutely no reason for police horses at the block party. I think they were there for petting.

Horses! There was absolutely no reason for police horses at the block party. I think they were there just for petting.

This is Latte the dog. He wants to pet the horses too.

I think that police horses are one of the most patient animals on earth.

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Posted in Daily Picture

Tagged #1 cat dad, andersonville, apt, asna block party, Chicago, Daily Picture, horses, summer

Swedish Gyros

Posted on July 14, 2009 | 2 Comments

Have you ever been on a store check?

No?

Well then you are missing out on feeling like a creepy loiterer. I spent my day in the western suburbs of Chicago doing just that. I won’t go into detail about the exciting world of store checks, but I will share this discovery with you.

If you are part of a certain “exclusive membership program” of a certain warehouse store, then you can pick out your own casket, some “Versace” china, and replacement printer cartridges all in one convenient aisle.

I am just as confused as you are. Wait, what does that say on the top of the casket display?

Non-Emotional? What? And why that image?

After a long day of store checks, I was happy to arrive home from the strip malls, big box stores and mall sprawl of the western burbs. Andersonville, I <3 you. I felt like celebrating the general awesomeness of the weather and the neighborhood with a Monday night patio dining experience and a stroll along the Clark street strip.

Geranium patio companions at Andies.

Justin on the left, and I'm on the right. Who knew that sauteed spinach could be an entree? "Jo in Seattle" would approve.

The Swedish horse in front of the White Attic.

Electric violet blue window boxes and tiles on the front of Tapas Las Ramblas. They hurt to look at in person because of the intense saturation.

This bench and planter area can be found on each corner of the main Clark street strip of Andersonville. This evening sun can be found in the summer. It cannot be found when walking home from the train at 5 pm in January. I have to remember this shot when I am wearing boots and down in the dark.

These bench and planter areas can be found on each corner along the main Clark street strip of Andersonville. This evening sun can be found on perfect summer nights. It cannot be found when trudging home from the train at 5 pm in January. I have to remember this shot when I am wearing boots and down coat in the dark.

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Posted in andersonville, Chicago

Tagged andersonville, casket, Chicago, Daily Picture, dining, flower, food, geraniums, patio dining, photography, versace china

Karma and Nubbins

Posted on July 7, 2009 | 2 Comments

I haven’t talked about Commuter Tourism for awhile. If you are new, let me tell you that I do not have a car. This means that I don’t have to endure horrendous traffic on the way to work. Since I happen to love my route to work, I often take pictures along the way. Many days, these do not make the cut into DPH. They end up in the trash because I can’t stand the extra files crowding my space. Makes me itchy. Even though they are generally sent to digital death row, I continue to take them everyday because it keeps me fresh. Commutes have the danger of becoming monotonous and mind numbing, but if you look closely, there is something new happening all the time.

Today, I feel like giving some of my commute files a pardon from their sentence of certain death, and will let them live with the cool kids on the interwebs.

Vines again. I have a special place in my heart for them. My first attempt at growing plants was when I lived in Florida. I had many vines clinging delicately to my balcony railings. Then there were four hurricanes in one season. I had to cut them all of so the pots wouldn't fly through our glass doors. :( I am so sorry my little vine babies.

Vines again. I have a special place in my heart for them. My first attempt at growing plants was when I lived in Florida. Many flowering vines clung delicately to my balcony railings. Then there were four hurricanes in one season, and I had to cut them all off so the pots wouldn't fly through our glass doors. I am so sorry my little vine babies.

Follow the blue/orange/pink/green/yellow brick road. This must have taken someone hours to draw. It runs the span of our block and alternates colors and number of lanes. My guess is that the artists are Francine (lemonade stand extraordinaire) and her buddy who was making invisible strawberry sundaes the last time I saw her.

The colorful road ends at a house that has very nice people living in it. I must have dropped my security badge outside of this lovely home on my walk to work this morning. On my way home, there were two big orange signs in their front walkway that read: “MEGAN BOLEY we have something of yours.” AWESOME. I love people like that. I wish I would have photographed the signs. When I got home, I also had an email that informed me that they had the badge, since they had been thoughtful enough to google me. How nice is that? Thanks, nice neighbors.

Back to the commute now. Half of my journey is in the Loop. You have seem many photos taken of Chicago in the loop. I am sure of that. Many just featuring a picturesque panorama of our beautiful skyline. Recently, I have been admiring the skyline from below, but just in bits and pieces. I like to isolate the tip-top of the buildings in the photos. Why embarrass the Merch Mart by revealing the whole body? Sometimes it is sexier to just peak your interest and then leave the rest up to the imagination. Here are the first shots in my new series called Chicago Nubbins. Sorry if you hate that word. I am open to alternate names.

Whoa! Double nubbin.

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Posted in andersonville, Chicago, Daily Picture

Tagged andersonville, Chicago, commute, Daily Picture, good neighbors, karma, nubbins, photography, sidewalk chalk, vine

Love Love Love

Posted on July 5, 2009 | 4 Comments

Please refrain from eating this. I know it is delicious and awesome. Get your own.

Please refrain from eating this. I know it looks delicious and awesome. Get your own, because I am in love with this one.

Ice tea is sweating in the sun. I am not. I love the bright burst of jeweled light at the bottom of a sunny patio beverage.

Iced tea is sweating in the sun. I'm not. I love the bright burst of jeweled light at the bottom of a sunny patio beverage.

And sprouts. I love sprouts. Piled them high on a sandwich with fresh home-grown tomatoes and spicey mustard and I will love you forever.

And sprouts. I love sprouts. Piled them high on a sandwich with fresh home-grown tomatoes and spicy mustard and I will love you forever.

And buffalos! Love them. They also seem to love themselves. Love for all.

And buffaloes! Love 'em. They also seem to love themselves. Love for all.

Firework leftovers! Less love for these. And the people that just kind of left them on the ground. I guess the love affair was short lived. "These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume."

Less love for these. And the people that just left them on the ground. I guess their love affair was short lived. "These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume."

Don't know what this is but I love it.

George's Ice Cream and Sweets on Clark. It's a welcome addition to the Andersonville strip. Who doesn't like ice cream shops that also serve Illy coffee and are nicely decorated? And the logo of the little red guy on the bar stool with a double scoop and poo-shaped hat? Love him.

Am I over posting flower and foliage shots since it isn't spring anymore? No, I still have mega foliage love.

Excuse me while I make-out with any flower that is attached to a curly vine clinging to a fence. Just wake past and ignore us, please. We are in love. There is just something about climbing vines that gets to me.

Excuse me while I make-out with any flower that is attached to a curly vine clinging to a fence. Just walk past and ignore us, please. We are in love. There is just something about climbing vines that gets to me.

Just in case you were counting the amount of times I used the word love, you are correct with your tally of 354677324. I’m just excited that it really feels like summer. At least for today. Lightning bugs are blinking right outside my window, but I don’t have a tripod yet so there aren’t any photos to mark this happy occasion. I might go set the camera on the front steps to steady it and see what happens. Likely, all you would see is a really long exposure of nighttime grass with a smattering of dead patches from all the dog pee.

Some of the photos posted above are from our neighborhood scouting in Rogers Park. It has it’s good spots. But it is safe to say that I would be megapleased if we could someday buy a place in the Andersonville/Ravenswood/Lincoln Square area.

Today, I told Justin that sometimes I feel like a crazy person with no plan. So many things about our life are up in the air at the moment—waiting in limbo until law school ends. Since he was some kind of monk in one of his many past lives, his wise response was

“no one ever knows what will happen.”

Hmmm. Damn it, he is right.

Patience is a virtue that I am still working on. I think I might be working on it for my whole life. The next year or two will be very exciting and confusing times. He will be graduating and we will find out if we can stay in Chicago or if we are moving elsewhere. My fingers are crossed for Chicago, but I am learning to have an open mind about other possibilities. As the end of school comes into sight, I find myself giddy, thrilled, nervous, and also trying to plan for a life that I cannot yet predict. Have you ever read a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book? That about sums it up, only I can’t cheat and flip ahead to read all the options and outcomes.

I need to work on becoming more like a monk and less like a kitten on catnip that wants to lick the butter you left out on the counter when you were making muffins.

Deep breaths.

And lots of love.

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Posted in Chicago, Daily Picture

Tagged andersonville, Chicago, Daily Picture, happiness, justin, law school, love, marriage, patience, photography, rogers park, summer

Retail Design at the Bodega

Posted on June 7, 2009 | Leave a comment

Just what is going on here?

What a compelling point-of-sale display at the local bodega at Clark and Winnemac! Because when you are standing in line at the register, you will remember how much you love Hennessy and will pick up a bottle before check out. Impulse purchase! The gator head and dead moth have real stopping power. Well done, creepy-bodega-retail-display.

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Posted in andersonville, Chicago

Tagged andersonville, bodega, Chicago, creepy, gator, hennessy, POS display, retail design

Decked

Posted on May 31, 2009 | Leave a comment

I have been hearing good things about an Andersonville restaurant called M Henry. Justin and I tested it for Sunday Brunch, and it shall now be called Mmmmm Henry. It was packed, of course, and it’s reputation has clearly leaked out of this neighborhood. Looks as if Lakeviewers and Lincoln Parkers know about this spot as well. Maybe even Wicker Parkers.

The food we ordered was pretty fantastic, but Over Easy may still be our favorite breakfast spot. Though I haven’t tried the M Henry Blackberry Bliss cakes yet, so I can still be swayed. However, I would kind of feel like I am cheating on these.

Our walk home (from Wisconsin as Justin would say…since we were a whole 12 blocks north *GASP*) was really nice since there wasn’t a cloud in the sky all day long. If you were in the direct sun, it was perfect temperature. Perfect for the deck. YES–the roofdeck and yard are done!

The only problem is the pesky powerlines that need to be ducked until the electric company comes by to move them. They were supposed be be here about a month ago. Who do you have to bribe in this city to get someone from Com-ed to show up? Hurumph. Oh well. It isn’t really very urgent I suppose. I will just lay on the deck instead of walking on the deck. No problem.

I leave you with these two random weekend DPH’s:

My 3rd grade self was drooling over these pretty handle bar streamers as we waited outside for a table at brunch. This bike even had a pretty white basket on the front. Want.