My bike is not that common. Over the two years I’ve owned it I have only seen one other like it in Chicago. That’s why I was so surprised when I walked out of a shop to see another Garry Fisher Simple City 8 cross frame locked next to mine. I left a happy note,…
I know it’s summertime in Chicago when I see Oberon on tap. This week I went to the opening of the Chicago Design Museum, watched Breakfast Club on the rooftop of Whole Foods while sampling New Belgium beers and attended a lecture by Debbie Millman… and it’s only Wednesday.
Last week was a time of travel firsts for me—the first time I’ve flown to another city and back in one day, and the first time I’ve had a flight cancelled. Our entire plane had to be re-ticketed on the flight back from St. Louis when the plane was grounded due to a mechanical problem.…
Tonight was the monthly Critical Lass ride in Chicago. It wasn’t too cold and we rode a really interesting route from Ukrainian Village through West Town’s manufacturing district to Humbolt Park. Bicycling in industrial areas on the west side is fun because you happen upon unexpected factories and incredible views of the Chicago skyline through…
I was already having a pretty good day, but it was made even better when I walked up to my bike and found a valentine in my basket. On my ride home I saw the women leaving valentines on bicycles all the way up Milwaukee Avenue. Happy valentines day, ladies!
On the way home from celebrating the other night I walked past this sign at my L station. It’s a nice message to start 2012 with. Happy New Year folks!
This Saturday was full of fun bike riding. I headed down to the Loop before 8am and was amazed to bike across the river and turn left onto Wacker Drive with no traffic to worry about. REI was having its annual garage sale for members (something I joined before RTW #1 back in 2004), and…
Can you believe this year is the 25th anniversary of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? To celebrate, Chicago’s Groupon put on a showing of the film in Wrigley Field. For $10 my friends and I sat in the bleachers Saturday night, while others picnicked on the outfield. Before the game we all broke the Guinness Book…
It’s hard to believe that it has already been a year since I was on the first Meet, Plan, Go! panel in Chicago. Two of the women who attended Chicago’s talk last year are already on their own RTW trips. Katie cornered me after the event let out last year because she’d never met anyone…
This summer a friend of mine started a new monthly, women-only bike ride in Chicago. Luckily, we start close to my house and ride for an hour or so before stopping for dinner and drinks. The ride is on hold for the winter, but anyone who wants to join up in the spring should check…
Every Spring I tell myself that this will be the summer that I take advantage of all of the festivals Chicago has to offer. Say what you want about our winters, but Chicago has more than enough going on during the summer to make up for the snow. Once again, it’s August and I’ve only…
Last week I had my first couchsurfers at my new apartment. Despite the title, neither is from Helsinki although they both live there. Dima was born in Russia and Dagmara in Poland. They were brave to stay in my un-airconditioned apartment during the worst heat wave in a long time, and to bike through Chicago…
A few years ago I spotted a flyer on a street light near my apartment advertising the first Slow Bicycle ride. Unfortunately, it was the day before but I looked up the group and made sure to make the next ride. It was on this ride that I first met John and Garth, two of…
Today I tested the strength of my basket with a 24 pack of Old Stlye (and a bag of guacamole ingredients not pictured). I thought it was the perfect picture of summer for the LGRAB Games. The games require you preform only four of the following tasks: on vacation? rent a bike and go for…
This was my second year attending New Belgium Brewery’s traveling bicycle festival, Tour de Fat. The day starts early with a meandering bike parade followed by carnival acts, fun bicycles to try out and, of course, beer drinking. More photos of the Tour de Fat are available
Chicago is a big sports town and is blessed with two professional baseball teams… and two sets of baseball fans. I was raised by a mother who spent her 20’s living on the Northside so, naturally, I was raised a Cubs fan. Unfortunately my best friend is a Sox fan but when his wife asked…
Once again, my 4th of July was spent at my best friend’s place for grilled hot dogs, watching the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest and illegal firework-watching in a park nearby.
The “Where I Slept” series will return, I promise. In the meantime I’ve been working and recently spent a week in New Jersey. Despite walking by a PATH station to NYC twice a day I never made it to Manhattan. However, I did manage a new cartwheel in front of the financial district and new…