Il Dolce Far Niente http://sweetlydoingnothing.posterous.com the sweetness of doing nothing posterous.com Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:00:00 -0700 Tolerating the "Big City" http://sweetlydoingnothing.posterous.com/tolerating-the-big-city http://sweetlydoingnothing.posterous.com/tolerating-the-big-city

Chicago

I know I have written about this before, but I just want to say why I definitely am a city girl at heart… When I moved to Chicago four years ago for college, in many ways I felt at home for the first time in my life.  My love for Chicago – and for cities in general – is sometimes really hard to explain to other people who do not share this passion.  The main complaints I hear about the city is that it’s disorienting, noisy, crowded, stressful, and confusing.  I could see how this could be true for someone who wasn’t used to the environment, but at the same time I would have to respectfully disagree!

Since moving to Chicago I have had three different apartments.  The first was a tiny one bedroom in Lincoln Park, the second was an even tinier apartment in the Gold Coast, and the third (which I moved into after I returned from Rome) is a pretty decently sized single family home in Lincoln Park.  Despite my long list of complaints about my current residence – too far from public transit, my tiny bedroom (it literally is a bed-room… no other furniture fits in it!), finicky plumbing, ancient appliances, and I am pretty sure the place isn’t actually insulated – I have very fond feelings towards the house itself.  Which leads me to my next point: living in the city requires tolerance.

If you are going to live in close confines with other people it requires a lot of tolerance and compromise.  I think about this a lot, especially on public transportation.  Since I have not had a car while in college, I have spent quite a bit of time in close proximity with individuals that I sometimes have difficulties believing that they grew up on the same planet as me.  Although I am less easily shocked than my 18-year-old self, I still am sometimes surprised at the length people go to be rude.

·         While most people you encounter on public transportation are normal, polite citizens just trying to get along with their lives, once in a while (once a week) you encounter a terrible bus driver, who by slamming on the brakes constantly is probably giving everyone whip lash.  Or the individuals who play music on their cell phones, except instead of using headphones like everyone else, they play their music out loud for everyone else to “enjoy.”  There is also always someone who is screaming about their personal business into their cell phones; or a neglectful mother who is making everyone else nearby nervous about a child’s safety; people who unashamedly throw  trash on the ground or  cut in line.  There are also those male individuals who terrify women by aggressively yelling, getting too close, or asking inappropriate questions.  And I will never be able to understand the young couples (usually under the age of 18) who insist on embarrassing displays of public displays of affection.  Yes, you are in love, we get it.  Can you please take your hand out of her shirt now?

·         99% of employees at major grocery stores and convenience stores (especially CVS and Walgreens) are at best, completely indifferent and at worst, incompetent, passive aggressive and rude!  This is just not the case out in the country or the suburbs.  Customer service at these places is pretty much non-existent because they know you have pretty much no other option but to shop there.  I have received such bad service in both CVS and Walgreens that on several occasions I have just put down my items and walked right out of the store.  And do you think anyone cares? NO.  The self-checkout lanes are by far the most popular, because even though it means more work for the customer, at least they don’t have to have an unpleasant encounter with an employee.

·         This happens almost everywhere, but it’s much less likely to happen in places that are independently owned and can’t afford to lose customers.    One of the things I love about the city is that there are other options (although they are probably further away and more expensive).  But most of the time, it’s worth the money to support small local businesses.

·         There are also A LOT of bad drivers.  People who are either oblivious to their surroundings or too aggressive. I usually try to give them the evil eye, and then hurry up so they don’t purposefully hit me with their car. Despite all of this, I still love the city!  Some days are better than others, but I know that there is no other place that I feel more at home.  Having lot of people around also allows for the possibility of meeting wonderful new people and makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than my own life.  My only wish is that people would try to hold themselves to a higher standard.  The world would be so much nicer if people were a little less indifferent and a little more tolerant and pleasant towards each other.

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Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:56:00 -0700 Fiesta del Sol 2011 http://sweetlydoingnothing.posterous.com/fiesta-del-sol-2011 http://sweetlydoingnothing.posterous.com/fiesta-del-sol-2011

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 For the past two months I have been working on a little side project, interning on the Public Relations committee for the Fiesta del Sol.

What on earth is "Fiesta del Sol?" you may ask.  Well it is the largest Latino festival in the midwest, celebrating its 39th anniversary this year.  The festival is held in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago on Cermak road between Morgan and Ashland (9 whole blocks).  Fiesta del Sol is a celebration of hispanic culture, its family friendly (no tobacco or alcohol) and is free of admission.

By the way... Its this weekend!!  I would certainly recommend that you come by and check it out for yourself.  Here is some of what the festival has to offer this year (in order of what is most of interest to me!)

***The PR Booth (my booth!) has a lot of exciting things going on that you should, above all, definitely check out!  Get a raffle ticket for the chance to win an iPod Touch; Get your photo taken with friends in front of the Fiesta Del Sol backdrop; Write on our memory wall; get maps and information; participate in a tee-shirt contest (judged on Sunday) and most importantly: Get your Fiesta del Sol 2011 wristband for $2... only sold here!  (All proceeds go back into the operating budget for next year)

1. The best Mexican food that you can find in the city.  Pilsen is a Latino neighborhood, so the food is authentic and 100% delicious.

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2.  House of Sol - Love house music?  House of Sol is completely free and features some of the best artists and djs representing Chicago house music.  Check out the lineup HERE.

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3.  Art Pavillion - Featuring the work of local artists and today (Thursday July 28) and Saturday will also include workshops led by the artists featured in the pavillion. • Alebrijes workshop (brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures) • Migajon making  (a traditional craft using bread paste dough molded into useful and decorative objects such as flowers.  (Friday, July 29th at 4-5pm, Saturday, July 30th at 12-1pm and 4pm-5pm, Sunday, July 31st at 2pm-3pm and 5pm-6pm). • Native story telling from Mexico • Reading of Birth Symbols (all four days)

4. Children's Area - Fiesta del Sol is family friendly.  The children's area allows for children to experience the festival by participating in arts & crafts, playing games, and best of all receiving free children's books!

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5.  College Fair - Representatives from Northern Illinois University, Devry University, East West University, National Louis University, and North Eastern Illinois University will be there to speak to students.  There will be information about financial aid as well as information for undocumented students.  Don't miss the opportunity to win gift cards, a bookbag with school supplies, and other prizes! Check them out on YouTube.

6.  Soccer Tournaments - Will be held at ChiTown Futbol for kids of all ages. Thurs. July 28 4:30pm-7pm; Fri. July 29 4:30pm-10pm; Sat. July 30 10am-7pm; Sun. July 31 10am-4pm --FINALS.

7.  Carnival Rides - Mega Passes are available for $45.00. Your mega pass will include UNLIMITED rides for the entire FOUR days! Call: 312-666-2663 ext 224 to secure one.

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8.  Civil Rights for Immigrants booth (located next to the PR booth) - On Saturday, July 30 at Fiesta del Sol, CRI Comm. (PNCC) will be hosting a series of "Immigration Is My Fight" workshops, which will focus on immigrant rights for the following topics: Education, Workers, Law Enforcement, and Health.  From 11-2 p.m. there will be a Citizenship Workshop where guests can receive help completing applications, and a lawyer will also be there to help answer any questions. At 7 p.m. on the Main Stage, guest speaker Luis Gutierrez will be addressing the topic of Immigration Reform. There will also be Dream Act pamphlets for students.

9.  The Festival also has two other stages that have local and traditional artists and bands that preform.  Line up for the MAIN STAGE and for the 2nd STAGE. When:

Thurs: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Fri - Sat: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Cost of Admission: $0 Parking: $5 parking will be available at parking lots on 21st and Morgan, Cermak and Canalport, and Cermak and Loomis. Public Transportation: Take the CTA Pink Line to 18th Street.  You can also take CTA busses #8 Halsted (North-South), #9 Ashland (North-South), #21 Cermak (East-West) and #60 Blue Island. More information: Fiesta del Sol:   Website.   Facebook.   Twitter.

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Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:54:51 -0800 5 Places I love in the Windy City http://sweetlydoingnothing.posterous.com/5-places-i-love-in-the-windy-city http://sweetlydoingnothing.posterous.com/5-places-i-love-in-the-windy-city 1.  My favorite sandwich shop in Chicago is Cafecito (at Congress Pkwy and Wabash).  I have been frequenting this sandwich shop since last January and I would (&do) personally recommend it to everyone I know.  The owner, Philip and I have been close since the first time I went in there and he introduced himself to me and the friend who brought me there.  When I went back, alone a week later I was shocked and impressed that not only did he recognize me but remembered my name.  We have been friends ever since. The atmosphere of Cafecito is as sexy as a sandwich shop could be, with couches and small tables that create an intimate setting for conversation, or if you go alone, to read a book and enjoy the delicious food. When I go, I always order the same thing: an iced Chai tea latte (which has a much more distinct flavor than Starbucks) and the Pavo sandwich - which is turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado-mayo.  Despite this being my personal preference, I hear the "Cubano" is excellent, after all it is rated the #1 Cuban sandwich in Chicago.  Just in case you don't want to take my word for it, stop my Cafecit around 1PM on the weekdays and check out the line that is out the door! 2. My favorite Italian place in Chicago is definitely Sopranos, located at 2901 North Sheffield (Sheffield and George).  Sopranos has a very relaxing environment and a good selection of food and wine.  The bread that is brought to your table as soon as you sit down is the first sign that dinner is going to be delicious (the bread has tomato sauce rubbed on top and is served with garlic butter). My favorite thing to order is the Cavatelli al Forno.  I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys to eat. 3.  The Thorne Miniature Rooms on the lowest level of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of my favorite sections of the Art Institute.  The miniature are decorated in a historically accurate style for the settings that they are depicting and are constructed in a scale of 1 inch in the miniature room = 1 foot in reality.  The rooms are fascinating to look at, especially knowing that they were created all by hand with period accurate materials.  i have included some borrowed photos from Google, to convince you to go have a look for yourself: [caption id="attachment_260" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="1770 English Dining room"]
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[/caption] [caption id="attachment_261" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="1800 Shaker Living room"]
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[/caption] The Art Institute is filled with wonderful collections, i also enjoy the furniture they have on display.  I would suggest a cup of coffee or two before if you intend to see it ALL in one day, because the museum is enormous, especially since the Modern Wing was added on.  The museum is free on Thursdays after 5PM (open until 8PM) as of now, but its best to check their website before making a trip because regular admission is $18. 4.  Another museum that I enjoy to visit (occasionally) in Chicago is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), although I usually leave in a very disagreeable mood because I can't figure out why some of the things hanging on the walls in there ever made their way into a museum.  However, the MCA is worth visiting, just for the view of the lake visible from the top floor.  I would suggest visiting on a Tuesday, since admission is free all year round on Tuesdays.
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5. The Field Museum is one of the most interesting museums to visit in Chicago because there is something for everyone.  Named after one of its first major benefactors, Marshall Field, the field museums is primarily designated for the study of natural sciences.  My favorite exhibitions are "The Evolving Planet," (Dinosaurs!) and "Inside Ancient Egypt" (Mummies). And on the topic of mummies, I recently watched a show on Planet Green about the discovery of the mummy of Queen Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh who was not only one of Egypt's greatest builders, but also responsible for establishing the precedent of burial chambers being dug into the Valley of Kings.  Here is a short clip about the discovery. The Field Museum is free on the following dates for 2011: March: 14th; April: 11th; May: 9th; June: 7th, 13th; July: 11th; August: 8th, 29th, 31st; September: 1st, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 20th, 21st, 27th, 29th; October: 3rd, 5th, 6th, 10th, 24th, 25th ; November: 2nd, 7th, 14th, 21st; December: 1st, 5th, 6th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 20th, 22nd.

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