Sunday

The Anatomy of a Chicago St. Paddy's Day Hangover:


A coffee run is the obvious first step and you feel like you're making the right choice by getting it iced despite the frigid temperatures. At least the ice cubes are hydrating. A line of college basketball players waiting for steak and cheese bagels makes you wonder if you'll catch the El on time, which you do. You start to wonder if people have noticed your green jeans that were so obviously for last night's festivities, but then realize that Sunday is actual St. Patrick's Day. Score.


Sip carefully on the iced coffee and wait to get home to devour the muffin in your purse that you're saving for when the time is right and your exact specifications have been met. The neighbors pomeranians silently but happily greet you at the front gate  furthering your longing for a dog but your pounding head confirms that it's a responsibility you can't handle. Grateful that the other neighbors are making something with rosemary in it today as opposed to curry as you lug your sad cramped up legs up three flights.


A twenty minute boiling hot shower/teeth brushing combination makes you feel at least half way human but now you can't bring yourself to get out of the shower. The comfiest of sweats are carefully chosen. One minute of getting situated on the couch with Chicago Fire playing on your laptop and a bite of the patiently awaited muffin confirms that you're not going anywhere. A quick facebook scan and a text from a friend confirms that people do still go out drinking on actual St. Patrick's Day but obviously not like Chicagoans do on Saturdays.

Chicago Day - the Field Museum

On Monday Running Buddy (or RB for all intensive purposes) drove down to have lunch and use my new work benefit: free admission to the majority of all Chicago museums! We decided on the Field, Chicago's natural history museum and I instantly fell in love.

We started off our perfect Chicago day with cinnamon rolls at Ann Sather's, home of Chicago's best cinnamon roll, and they aren't fooling around. Gluten intolerance be danged, I ate both of the cinnamon rolls my eggs and hash browns came with. Only mild queasiness followed.

Then we hopped on the red line and made our way towards museum campus. I had actually been here once before for a job interview when I first moved here, so it was refreshing to come back in a better state of mind, and with all the beautiful Christmas decorations up. I flashed my I.D. badge (like a boss) and we were in.

The first thing you do when you walk in is meet Sue, the world's most complete T-Rex.

We went through ancient Egypt (mummies!), animals, the hall of birds, and Ancient Americans which was one of my favorites.

More dinosaurs! Middle school field trip Kiley was beyond excited.

"Kenneth Parcell" shrank us and lead us on a journey under the soil (animatronic bugs = terrifying) 

Everyone in the museum ends the day on the front step taking pictures of the skyline...I almost wish I had turned the camera around. There was a distinctive row of people all snapping away. RB and I finished the night with a slice of pizza and then I returned to the theatre for a tech rehearsal. All in all it was the quintessential Chicago day.

Also, if you ever feel like going to the Field, call me up my answer (work permitting) will always be yes! 

Sunday

I bet you don't know what today is! And the reason I'm a betting woman is because I didn't even realize it myself until last night...

One year ago today I started blogging! I spent November unpacking my belongings in my very first Chicago apartment, all the while hemming and hawing about a blog title (which really is the hardest part of staring a blog) then I eventually settled on Kiley Kate, it being my name and all.

I'm not one for speeches, but thank you to those of you who have supported me by reading Kiley Kate and admitting openly to me that you do read it and enjoy it. It means a lot to me as a writer working to find my voice and direction while I'm living and learning in Chicago.


I don't know about you, but I'm going to celebrate with a baked good of some sort, and I hope you'll do the same, at least in spirit you know. I'd love to share a cupcake with you all!

Have a lovely Sunday!

-K.K.

Apt.

This Monday I became an official big girl. I sat through new hire orientation and an employee health care meeting and only laughed at the sexual harassment video once (I'm sorry, but those things are just so darn contrived). After that I hopped on the el, set foot on a new red line stop and signed my first solo lease. No co-signers, no roommates, just me and my little studio in Chicago!


I wish I had taken some pictures of it, but it opens up in to a bedroom with a hallway leading to a kitchen and breakfast nook and a giant walk-in closet. I can't wait to move in at the end of October and make it my own!

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Modern Art

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite works of art at the Art Institute of Chicago. I happened upon it once and it made me smile. As it should, it's a pile of brightly wrapped candy stuck in the corner of the stark modern wing of the museum. When I shared my discovery someone told me that you're supposed to take a piece of candy with you, so I had to go back...

I was so moved by the motivation that it's my favorite piece in the modern wing. I don't always take the candy, but it's funny to watch others stare at it, wondering if they should take a piece themselves. 

Gallery secret: if you look at the ceiling, events both national and personal are printed along the wall pertaining to the artist's life. "A Peaceful Death" is printed right above the candy. Beautiful.

Fall Fall Fall

Yesterday was the first day of Fall and it slipped right by me. I didn't do anything the least bit Fall-y except for wear boots and contract a nasty change-in-the-weather cold. I should have had pumpkin coffee or apple cider and "lit a fire" in the fireplace at the apartment, so I tried to make up for it this morning...

You can almost hear it crackling, can't you? Don't tell Roommate but I left the apartment this morning with it still "burning". 

The issue is I don't know what fun Fall activities Chicago has to offer, but I have my ideas...mostly because I Googled "Chicago in the Fall" and was inspired to come up with a list. Here are a few things to get me started:

Making a trip to the Doughnut Vault for some roasted almond glazed and other seasonal treats

Go on a Chicago ghost tour just in time for Halloween. Chicago Hauntings offers tours on a nightly basis!

Pay a visit to the Andersonville Farmer's Market for fresh honeycrisp apples or salted caramel popcorn.

Sign up for the Frank Lloyd Wright 5k in Oak Park, just in time to get running before the cold really kicks in.

Take a day trip to Starved Rock State Park for a hike through the changing leaves.

Try the pumpkin pancakes at Pauline's, the "awesomest Andersonville brunch spot in the universe"

Treat myself to a fabulous new fall coat, or this girly long sleeve tee, OR this ah-mazing printed dress.

Decorate my apartment for fall just in time to move and start putting up Christmas decor

Learn to make tasty fall favorites like this, this and this

What's on your Fall To Do list? Anything else I should be doing in Chicago?

How Firm Thy Friendship

The season opener for the Buckeyes is today! But here in Chicago there are few flags being flown and even fewer people shouting "O-H!" at each other. I'm inside all day for the commencement of tech week and I'm just the slightest bit home sick for my Buckeye friends. I came to the realization yesterday that with this new job I won't be eligible for vacation time for six months...March. I hope to have the parade of visitors I had this year, and even more hopeful that some new ones can make the trek. They will be rewarded with museum visits and the best places to get breakfast and pizza in Chicago!

Making me even more homesick is the fact that I won't be going home for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year since I work the day before and day after. I know I'll make it work since so many others in the city manage to, but images of me sitting alone in a studio apartment watching families from my window pile in to their cars Christmas morning to go to Grandma's are haunting me at the moment.

Viking has a theory of my living in the future too much and not enough in the present. So in the spirit of his often wise words, I'm going to celebrate the Buckeyes playing Miami today by wearing my loudest gear and maybe going to McGee's for a beer. I'm happy that tech week is finally beginning and that I have a job that pays me enough to put down some roots and start looking for an apartment. I know I'll see everyone soon enough!

Have a Zooper Day!

23. Go to the Zoo with my goddaughter

The entire summer my uncle has been trying to plan a trip to take me to the Brookfield Zoo with my goddaughter so we can see the dolphin show, pet tarantulas and ride the carousel...also in attempts to convince me that it's better than my hometown Columbus Zoo. Hmmmm.... 

We had a really great time building hopping in the rain and getting to see the animals when they were more active. Insider tip: animals are normally awake and moving when it's cool but not too cool, i.e. when it's raining out or early in the morning.

 "We're still number one Uncle Mark" I said. "Yeah, but we're number one...in wombats!" This is a true story. There are wombats out there in the world, and the Brookfield Zoo has them!

LOLLA

Lolla traffic has been coming through work all day long, and it's easy to tell who's going because most of the girls are dressed like this:

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I obviously love dressing for a theme (if I were going those high waist denim shorts would be getting a work-out) but why go to a place where you're going to be sweaty, dancing, and gross and have to worry about a $125 Free People crop top getting dirty? Not to mention the really weird brag session going on on the el: "I haven't eaten all day! I'm gonna look killer in these aztec print booty shorts!" Killer as in passing out from over-heating/lack of nutrients and getting trampled to death by blazed up Black Sabbath fans? Nice gurl. Just eat a hot dog. No one is going to be looking at your tuchas in a mosh pit.

My favorite aside of the day occurred when a girl rolled in wearing crisp clean cutoffs, a pristine white lace top, and a shiny gold boho headband on her forehead with barely broken in moto boots. "I feel like shit" she confessed to her shorts and a tee friend: "Yeah well you look like shit." Shock and horror: "I thought you said it looked great!"

"I lied."

My laughter was barely contained.

Truth be told I was a wee bit jealous. Everyone that was wearing a cool 3-day band I made them stop and brag about it to me. It would have been nice: first Lollapalooza and I would have had a place to crash that wasn't a sleeping bag on someone's floor. But for now I have the people watching, the Lollapalloza Youtube Chanel, and next month's rent money.

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Local Urban Yokel

I became more of a Chicagoan last week when I, ahem, my sweet mother whom I love dearly, forked over $300 so I could sacrifice two and a half hours of my life switching to Illinois license plates and an Illinois driver's license. I would take a picture for you but something tells me that it's not a good idea...even though I'd really like to show you because the picture actually turned out pretty good for a license picture. The backdrop is a nice teal color that brought out the blue in my hazel eyes *swoon*

Here's me back in December, my first piece of Chicago! But now that I have this proof of residency it opens me up to tons more opportunities in Chicago. Resident's day anyone?

Most museums/art galleries/zoos/places of public interest in Chicago have a day where Chicago residents can come for free to show their appreciation to the tax payers, which is now me! Huzzah! Here is an extremely handy list of Museum Free Days 2012 from Explore Chicago. It has me itching to wander the city and fall in love with it all over again.

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First on my agenda is the Art Institute of Chicago

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The Museum of Science and Industry

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The Field Museum

Fellow Chicagoans or just Chicago-lovers: is there anything else I just have to see? I'm willing to dig up the discount!

Observations

I started trying to adhere to the Artist's Way writer's block recovery plan since, oh, I don't know, January, and I have been stuck on Week 4 for approximately forever. It recommends that you use reading deprivation as a tool for expanding your creativity, and I just can't do it.

I know the idea is to get me to observe what's going on around me, draw inspiration from it, and do "artist brain" activities like running, or cleaning, or re-organizing (all of which I need to do) but I've only been able to trick myself in to reading abstinence on the commute home when the train is too packed to read a book. But they may be on to something because I've observed quite a few note worthy things:

1.) A homeless man wearing a brand new outfit and reeking of pee and trapping a young female tourist in to a mumbling one sided conversation that she has no choice but to nod sympathetically to. He blocks the door of the train and when I go to another door he shakes his trash bag at me and mumbles loudly. I should say that this isn't an uncommon observation for the red line...

2.) A 70 year old woman clad head to toe in juniors clothing who is readying her cigarettes for when she leaves the train yet puffing on an inhaler the whole ride. She takes one too many puffs and stumbles off the train

3.) A woman my age with two freshly skinned knees as a result of what I can imagine to be an embarrassing fall running to the train. She reads her book triumphantly and ignores her knees which are starting to drip blood on to her socks. The girl across from her can only avert her eyes in horror. I have a box of band aids in my purse but who would accept them from a smelly tired stranger on the train? I wouldn't. Does she even know she's bleeding? Should I tell her? I wrestle with myself until I have to get off at my stop. Internal crisis averted.

Could you go a whole week without reading anything? Blogs and I'm assuming facebook included? I'm getting close but no cigar.

Hood

I love this graphic design project; The Chicago Neighborhoods. It's essentially branding logos for Chicago neighborhoods based on local features and background knowledge of graphic designer Steve Shanabruch.

Best of all, if you'd like to represent your neighborhood via a swanky t-shirt, that is an option an Below the Collar. I'm also reminded of those all too cute Pinterest projects where you hang up pictures or maps of where you lived. These prints would look super spiffy adorning your wall. 

Here's an adorable one from Life Blessons:

Biker Chic

My affinity for pretty ladies on bikes has been documented here before, but this week in Chicago it's Bike to Work Week! There are all kinds of free giveaways and cool events going on throughout the city just for being a "biker"!  Recently they even shut down Lake Shore Drive just for cyclists! How cool is that? Plus it's a good time to be a biker in Chicago because they're asking for feedback from riders on how to make biking for accessible and safe for everyone. If you're interested they're having a Bike To Work Rally at Daley Plaza on Friday and they're giving away free t-shirts and insight on how the bike paths will change in Chicago in the near future. It's definitely giving me more reasons to start scouting out a bike now!

 

 

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Fisk Day

My mom called me up last Sunday to ask if I wanted to go to a White Sox game. Grandpa would pay for the ticket on one condition...that I get there early and snag him a Carlton Fisk statue that they were handing out to the first 10,000 people or so in the stadium. He even offered to let me bring a friend, then there would be two statues!

After a snafu with the trains not running southbound (what?!) I took the red line to 36th and Sox and walked to the stadium. It's funny the looks you get boarding the red line on the north side wearing a Sox shirt, but as you get closer to the loop you start to pick up more of "your team" and the energy changes. It reminded me so much of game days at Ohio State. As a young'un I was never huge in to sports, but college kind of renewed my sense of team spirit in the Buckeyes, just like going to this game reminded me why I love Chicago to begin with.

I was nervous when I got there because people were walking out of the stadium with the Fisk statues in trash bags! It appeared that they had bought tickets just for the rights to extra statues, but luckily there were plenty left...Grandpa is now the proud owner of two Carlton Fisk bookends. Running Buddy joined up with me and we ate inexpensive stadium food and gabbed in the peanut gallery. We had to leave early so I could make it to my theatre job, but we had an amazing time! We're already making plans to go back when I can stay for the entire game. My north side beginnings be damned, I'm a Sox fan.

Homeward Bound

The Tuesday after Memorial Day was the commute straight from the devil. Legit, his hell fires blazed down a furniture store and stopped L traffic from Belmont to North and Clyborn on the Brown and Red lines. Story here.

We were informed of this in a muffled tone and asked to catch shuttle buses ready and waiting to take us north at Grand. We shuffled off and waited...30 minutes go by and no shuttle buses. Only crowded 36 buses from downtown that could only let 1 person on from our stop of easily over 50 people waiting. One smart cookie called CTA who let her know that the shuttle buses were waiting at North and Clyborn where the train was supposed to kick us off but did not.

I immediately called Roommate who is my transportation guru. He used his ninja-like bus map skills to get me to the Mag Mile to catch an express bus. I've been on a shuttle bus before, but this was not the same sense of camaraderie that I had experienced. People were pushing in front of one another, cutting people off, and generally shoving each other like it was the last bus out of Dante's Peak. (you like that reference? Me too.)

Fortunately I was able to slide in to a spot where most could not (or would not be willing to) and held on tight. One business woman in particular gave the 20-something next to me a pep talk: "You gotta do what you gotta do! If you were too nice you'd still be standing there, you've gotta be an independent woman!" She also sang hymnals when we pulled up to her stop at Irving Park.

The bus dropped us at Berwyn where I made an acquaintance who might have been the last man in the city not to rely on Transit Tracker. 18 minutes delayed? Come on Red Line. I walked as far as Thorndale before catching a bus as close as I could get to the Loyola stop and hoofed it the rest of the way. "You could have walked. 8 miles and it's a beautiful walk!" Roommate encouraged. I thought about it, but three hours, two buses, a train, and a walk was enough of a journey for me.

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