16 Comments

I love that you are in Chicago, the city I called home for 20 years before we moved to Southern California almost 15 years ago. We're getting ready to leave, an exciting and terrifying prospect, and the nimbleness ("nimblosity," I believe, I might have called it in a recent thing) with which you appear able to move about the country inspires me. As does your candor, always. Chicago has a way of caring for the people who live there that is different from anywhere else I've lived. It can be cold, but the people are always warm. I hope you find all your places and people soon, and if I can ever be a resource for all things Chicago, please shout or type at me. We'll be passing through Chicago later this spring. Perhaps we'll have a chance to say hello in person, a prospect which heartens me. Stay warm and snuggled against that wind. x C

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Alex is right, the summers here are terrific, and when you find your tribe, you will tend to run into people you know a lot. And frankly, I love the blizzards bc i work at home and it gives me a feeling of adventure to go for coffee.

Get on out for some spoken word events, for the people there are literate AND intrepid. Paper Machete, Sats 3 pm at the Green Mill (also the city's best jazz club). Tuesday Funk, first Tuesday of the month at Hopleaf. 20X2 this Sunday 7 pm at the GMan.

I know you will find your spot in the Greatest City in America.TM.

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Jan 12Liked by Sara Benincasa

I really like the kind-of-but-not-quite stream of consciousness quality of this piece. Your descriptions of the lake are beautiful. I’ve lived in the city and the suburbs all my life and I still find it a endlessly interesting place. It’s so fascinating to hear the impressions of a person seeing the city with new eyes. My bet is that you will find an artist community that is just right for you. As others have noted, no place on Earth is as perfect as Chicago in the summer. I wish you a low hum of excited anticipation of the wonders of a Chicago summer. And, hey! Now you can learn to navigate the city by stalking the filming locations for The Bear! 👨🏼‍🍳👨🏾‍🍳👩🏾‍🍳👨🏿‍🍳

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Jan 11Liked by Sara Benincasa

It’s so fun to read about my city through the eyes of someone living here for the first time! I hope you’re planning on staying at least through the summer. Summers by the lakefront are great and more than make up for the rough winters.

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Jan 12Liked by Sara Benincasa

Great writing advice! I am fairly new to the writing I do with the Movie Night post and so really appreciate your thoughts on the subject. Like not knowing what to write. Getting the thing started is often the hardest part for me. I have taken your advice and found it quite helpful. Thanks Sara!

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Jan 11Liked by Sara Benincasa

Saving the information about the Secret Elevated Garden.

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Jan 10Liked by Sara Benincasa

I live out in DuPage County and it is a little late for our first big snow, but last year we kept missing it - got a lot of rain but less than two feet of snow the whole winter. Looks like we're going to almost make up for that this week alone. Stay warm and I hope you have a good pair of boots.

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Jan 10Liked by Sara Benincasa

loved this. when I was 17 i wanted to live in an apartment alone in Chicago when I grew up, and I imagined I would have a grey cat named Tuesday.

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For some reason, I thought Lake Michigan looked like, well, a lake! LOL This looks like you're on a tropical island, the water such a light blue. Very pretty.

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Ohhhh you moved to Chicago (I am behind on literally everything). I LOVE CHICAGO. Except in winter. It is too cold. But even then, I cheat on New York with Chicago a few times a year (my best friend lives there), and I could absolutely see myself enduring a Polar Vortex if I had to choose a new place to live. It's one of my favorite places in America. I hope you love it there! <3 And the lake...she may not be an ocean, but she is beautiful regardless.

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