Near North Side

Our venture today, Near North Side.  A gentrified area of Chicago where Cabrini Green, an extreme example of public housing or "project", formerly stood. Just a few stops from downtown Chicago, or the Loop, the Near North Side, which at one time was the city's biggest manufacturing district, is now a ritzy, yuppy hangout for the beautiful people.  We took a little walk through the 2nd biggest Whole Foods in the world, which was slightly mind-blowing.   I haven't made up my mind as to whether or not it is a good thing or not, but I bet I will have an opinion as we get deeper into the city.

Improv

Improv workshop with the urban studyers.  You really get to know people in ways you wouldn't expect.  It is so fun to see people outside their comfort zone.  Especially when you start talking about Michael Jordan's 30 whores and kitty-shooting, machine guns.  Making stories, one word/ person at a time is sheer madness, but my favorite, the game of encouragement really offers the greatest life-skills.  
Here's the game.  A product is proposed in response to an everyday nuisance.  For example, pit stains.  Now the ultimate goal of the game is to make every individual person feel like a winner/ genius.  As the team , is brainstorming ideas for an advertisement campaign, every idea that is offered receives the most enthusiastic and positive response possible from everyone else.  Gosh, it feels so good when people commend your idea to have Denzel Washington as the spokes person for your line of "Pants glue." Cheering and applause gets you further than you might think.  Thank you Chicago for having the best improv scene in the country.


Check it out:  http://chicago.ioimprov.com/
http://www.secondcity.com/

Stories at the Moth

Turns out, storytelling is something to revel in. 

For those of you who don't know, The Moth is a nationwide event that allows amateurs to try their hand at storytelling in front of an audience.  Tonight's theme, "Love hurts."  Anyone in the bar can sign up to tell a story but only ten names are picked randomly.  Storytelling is my new favorite form of comedy. I couldn't believe how talented people are. Next month, I am in.

Check it out: http://www.themoth.org/about

Interview. Check.

As nervous as I was for my internship interviews today, I was pleasantly surprised that no one asked me what part of a Big Mac I would be if I had to choose and why (although I would be the lettuce because I add a healthy component to a team and provide a balance for the sandwich as a whole.)  UCAN, Teen Parenting Service Network, works with teen parents on both healthy parenting skills as well as focuses on the education of the parents.  I would mostly be working in the resources department doing data collection and making sure that all the clients' information is up to date.  I would be able to shadow councilors occasionally when they make the rounds, visiting the families and sitting in on therapy sessions.  The other organization I interviewed with, Community Human Services, works with teens who are on probation or parole.  Even as a part-time intern, I get to shadow the other supervisors who make weekly visits to schools and homes, keeping up with the teens and making sure they stay on track. Based on the interviews, I am leaning towards Community Human Services.  I think being in the field is going to be a highlight of my time in Chicago overall!  Hopefully I will start on Monday!

In other news, the roommate brought home a variety pack of 30 full-size candy bars. Here's to you, Mr. Brown!

Sweet Jazz

Thanks to Jessica's "Friday memo" that lists the cool happenings around the city, we spent Friday evening listening to free jazz as a part of Black History Month.  Not only was the music incredible, listening to the stories of two jazz musicians, Ari Brown and drummer Avreeayl Ra, gave the music so much more meaning.  My goal for the next few months is to find all the sweet jazz/ blues spots.

...and, indeed, Ari is playing both instruments at the same time.

Pretty good way to end the week.

Prohibited photo taken at the last Chicago mayoral debate before the election.  Based on the show we witnessed, it is amazing anything gets accomplished in Chicago politics.  Here's to you, Del Valle. You strategically played off everyone else's arrogance and craziness and came out looking remotely normal. Good for you.

It is so on.

I feel like I finally have a basic understanding of the city I live in!

First Week Fun

Giordano's Pizza Partay.

 Garfield Park Conservatory. We needed a little bit of green in a city of perpetual gray.

 Final prize at the end of a "sweet" scavenger hunt. We killed it.

 Bucket o' beer. Goose Island Brewery.

 Geoff's new profile pic.

 Roomie love.

 Typical.

 Fat Dan's. Fatty Danny's. Uncle Fatty's.

The night in a nutshell.

Here's to you, Chicago.

First impression....

I don't know how I will ever leave this city.

Check it out.
Young Chicago Authors- The Organization behind the competition.
http://youngchicagoauthors.org/blog/
"Louder Than a Bomb"- Official Film site
http://www.louderthanabombfilm.com/