If Anna Resvik had not left some hick town in Norway to sail the Atlantic and bring her radiant self to the shores of the proverbial Lake Wobegon and if the poor, tired, huddled masses yearning to breathe free of the Andrew Family had not decided to get the hell out of England and settle [...]
Archive for the ‘Chicago’ Category
Acknowledgements
Posted in Chicago, memory on May 5, 2008 | 2 Comments »
The Changing Identity of Mari, or “Why She Thinks She’s Better Than Hipsters,” or “Why She Wishes She Were Latina”
Posted in Chicago, growing up, hipsters on April 18, 2008 | 5 Comments »
This evening I hauled two big bags of worn literature down Damen to sell at Myopic Books, the mega used books store and Kaaba of the Hipster Mecca that is the 6 Corners of Wicker Park. I got two major things out of the experience:
a) $35 for the books they wanted, which I greatly appreciated
b) [...]
Nouveau Travail, Nouvelle Ville, Nouvelle Ame
Posted in Chicago, coffee, work on March 4, 2008 | 3 Comments »
I have a new job in a new Chicago. Little, falling-apart, pathetic, out-of-everything, crumbly, broke, fabulous MoJoe’s finally surrendered to the nearby Starbucks (so deceptively evil, with its warm lighting and John Coltrane and really NICE baristas!). Contrast the old job with my new job: shiny, silver, constantly-stocked, organic, sleek, RICH, hoity-toity Rich People Cafe* on Michigan [...]
Una Tragedia de Cuaresma
Posted in Chicago, baklava, coffee, melodramatic, things that make me sad on February 17, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Here’s a sob story for you. I spent this day, the second Sunday of Lent, in preparation to gorge myself on what I suspect to be God’s second physical incarnation: banana-nutella crepes at the intimidatingly posh Cafe Neo. I reluctantly gave up sweets for Lent (which I complain a lot about, but is honestly much [...]
Someone still loves you, Boris Yeltsin.
Posted in Chicago, Europe, memory, things that make me sad on February 10, 2008 | 1 Comment »
On Valentine’s Day I’m going to see “Step Up 2 the Streets.” Hopefully with BFF, if he’s game.
That’s the main thing I have to say.
The other stuff isn’t as important.
Although, Jean-Michel Basquiat is very important. I learned about him at the DuSable Museum of African-American History. They have a kickin’ gift shop.
(the bomb)
It is important that I [...]
Here Comes the Sun
Posted in Beatles, Chicago, French things, beauty, literature, music, solitude on January 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
…is my favorite Beatles song. Maybe even my favorite song. Its appeal is too visceral for me to describe, but something happens in my soul when I listen to it–something that makes me actually become a better person. I can feel this. It actually makes me truly believe George Harrison, maybe more than I’ve ever believed anyone who [...]
Back to Baklava
Posted in Chicago, baklava, coffee on January 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I thought I might be able to handle my baklava cravings once Hannah came back, someone to keep me accountable from eating a half pound per night. But she only makes it worse, reminding me, “Didn’t Rachael say that baklava’s really good for you? Like honey makes you live to be 300 or something?” I [...]
