This post came from finding ways to squeeze in a little Chicago sightseeing when I was headed to a conference that would be split between the massive McCormick Place convention center and hotels a few miles away, along the Chicago River.
Now that I’m getting ready for another quick trip to Chicago, I’ve updated information and added to it.
Let me know what you like to do in the Windy City!
–Steph
I had been to Chicago O’Hare. But the airport doesn’t count. I had driven by Chicago on the interstate. That doesn’t really count either. The first time I was really in the city of Chicago, it was for a conference. Which just barely counts.
Part of the massive McCormick Place convention center in Chicago.
A conference can be like its own self-contained universe. You can eat, sleep, socialize, work, learn, and be entertained for days without ever leaving its confines. Or ever talking to someone who isn’t wearing a lanyard. Whether you’re there for knowledge or networking, you want to get as much as you can out of the conference itself. But it’s also nice to see some of the area outside the convention center.
As I prepared for the 2013 BlogHer Annual Conference, I also looked into what was near the downtown convention centers and hotels where I would be starting from and how I could see a small slice of Chicago if I found a spare hour or two. Continue reading “Chicago Sightseeing on a Conference Schedule”
I’ve been thinking about Shahrazad the storyteller.
In the frame story of The Thousand and One Nights, a sultan has been forcing a new person to marry him every night and killing her in the morning. To stop the deadly cycle, Shahrazad (also spelled “Scheherazade”) volunteers to be his next bride.
That night, she begins weaving a tale so compelling that the sultan decides to wait on killing her in order to hear the rest. Night after night, she keeps telling stories. Wild, fantastic stories. Stories within stories. Stories with plot twists and cliffhanger endings. Stories that keep the sultan on the edge of his seat for so long that he never does get around to killing her.
She saved herself through her stories. With only her words and her wit, she also saved the rest of the kingdom in the process.
Of all the characters between the pages of The Thousand and One Nights, the actual hero is Shahrazad.
It was a possibility we had thought about for awhile, but then things happened super fast when Phillip got a new job. He started just over two weeks after being hired, before we even had a place to live.
Thankfully, friends let him crash on their couches his first week.
Moving weekend was kind of a mess. I wasn’t ready. I underestimated – everything. Even though Tucson is just an hour and a half south of Phoenix, this was the biggest move I’ve done. If you don’t count my semester abroad, it’s the first time I’ve had an address outside the county I was born in.
At the end of all that craziness, though, we were in our new apartment.
While we’re definitely still unpacking and settling in, we have our Tucson library cards and Quijote’s new tags are on the way. We’ve done our second Meet Me at Maynards walk – our first as Tucson residents – checked out the night market at Mercado San Agustin, visited the Tucson Botanical Gardens, and are trying out new places to eat, drink, and shop while regularly finding excuses to revisit the ones we were already fans of.
You guys found — and made — some great art during Local Art Loves earlier this year!
As you may recall, Local Art Loves is about sharing the art you love from your community. (It can even be your own work!)
This time, there were submissions from across the United States that included oil paintings, digital illustrations, sculptures, and more. I’m featuring those artists here, as well as adding a couple Arizona artists I love.
City: Marblehead, Massachusetts Medium: Oil painting Shared by: Sarah Moore (a.k.a. “Saguaro Sally,” vintage sign enthusiast) Subject: Neon sign for Skip’s Snack Bar in Merrimac, MA
Cactus art by Lora Barnhiser. Photo from my house.
When she was in the process of moving her studio to prepare for the birth of her babies, she announced a flash sale, and I called dibs on these adorable little cacti!
Later, the artist shared a couple more of her vibrant paintings – 16 (or makin’ a way outta no way) and Kandi Dishe, Starman.
“16 (or makin’ a way outta no way)” by Beck Lane.
• 16 (or makin’ a way outta no way)
Medium: Oil and oil crayon on aerosol on two 60″ x 72″ canvas panels.
Notes:
The title of 16 (or makin’ a way outta no way) refers back to the first group of Africans brought to the U.S. to be enslaved. We don’t know the names of the individuals on that original ship. We just know that there would be eventually millions more, and they were the first 16.
Coincidentally, the painting took 16 months to complete and was inspired by the events of 2016.
The woman in the center of the painting was modeled after Providence artist, dancer, and model Melanie Moore.
“Kandi Dishe, Starman” by Beck Lane.
• Kandi Dishe, Starman
Medium: Oil on aerosol on two 48″ x 60″ canvases. Subject: Portrait of Worcester, MA drag artist Kandi Dishe. Where to find it:Chasen Galleries
Painting of Frida by Caitlyn Ann Thomas. Photo from my house.
City: Tempe, Arizona Medium: Watercolor Shared by: me Subject:Frida the Fish
Notes:
After hearing that our betta fish had passed, our friend Caitlyn asked for photos. A few weeks later, she surprised us with this beautiful watercolor portrait of Frida. It was such an incredibly kind gesture and a lovely way to remember a little fish with a big personality!
Caitlyn and her husband Alex also make films as CharismaJinx Productions.
City: Providence, Rhode Island Title:Apex Medium: Oil on canvas, 23.5″ x 40″ Shared by: Sarah Moore Where to find it: You can see the final painting of Apex on the artist’s site.
Green Thumb and Green Thumb Too by Gary Lee Price. Photo: Susan Willis
Green Thumb [girl with pigtails, foreground of photo]
Green Thumb Too [boy, partly obscured in photo]
Medium: Bronze sculptures with planters Shared by: Susan Willis Where to find them: In front of Chasen Galleries in Carytown, an artsy neighborhood around Cary Street in Richmond, Virginia.
City: Haverhill, Massachusetts Title:Liquors Medium: Acrylic on panel, 18″ x 14″, framed Shared by: Sarah Moore Subject: Street outside ChrisPy’s Liquors + Lottery in Beverly, MA. Where to find it:Available for purchase. Contact the artist for more information.
Notes:
Debbie Shirley describes her painting style as “contemporary realism meets roadside retro.”
City: Ocala, Florida Medium: digital sketches Shared by: artist
Wayne Smith participated in Local Art Loves by creating new digital sketches almost daily! His varied subjects included Rocky Mountain wildlife, a series of funny “advanced yoga” poses, portraits, and dessert.
Swedish princess cake by Wayne Smith.
• Swedish princess cake
Delightful-looking prinsesstårta (Swedish princess cake) on a gold tray.
• Killdeer sketch/study
A killdeer bird the artist photographed at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
Goat yoga sketch by Wayne Smith
• Goat yoga
A meditation on why pets aren’t helpful for yoga poses.
The next Local Art Loves will be February 2020, and I’d love to see art shared from across the globe!
You can participate anytime by posting photos of art you find in your community (or create) using the hashtag #LocalArtLoves.
It’s free, open to all ages and abilities, and it’s happened weekly – regardless of the weather – for over 10 years.
In fact, we joined in for the first time on MMM’s 10th anniversary, when there was a big celebration and local bands playing all along the route.
We joined up in the middle, walking over from the Hotel Tucson, where we were staying.
The MMM path officially begins at Maynard’s Kitchen and winds through downtown neighborhoods — past restaurants, historic sites, parks, and public art.
There are designated 2-, 3-, and 4-mile routes you can follow. Or you can make adjustments and take breaks as needed.
In fact, breaks are encouraged. Several local businesses along the route provide water to MMM participants and lots of downtown restaurants offer discounts. So you could do part of the walk, stop for dinner or beers, and then continue on.
The point is to get out, get some exercise, and enjoy the local community!
— More Meet Me at Maynard’s Info —
How to join:
Register (once) online or in person at the information table in the courtyard behind Maynard’s.
Before each MMM you attend, check in (online or in person) and get your hand stamped at the info table. (While you’re there, ask about entering raffles.)
Start walking on your own or walk with a leader at 5:30 or 5:45.
You can walk, run, or take a yoga class ($5 at YogaOasis during MMM).
Leashed pets are welcome on the walk. So are unleashed kids.
To get Monday night restaurant discounts, make sure to check in and get your hand stamped at the info table in the Maynard’s courtyard.
Regular participants earn awards like t-shirts and hats. If you’re unsure where to go, look for people wearing the MMM shirts!
Closing ceremonies and in-person raffle winners are announced back at Maynard’s at 7pm.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video from the MMM 10th anniversary celebration, walk, and local bands — which I’ll post soon.
