Lake effect takes its first victim: Benton Harbor, MI

I traveled to the other side of the lake last Friday (November 21 for those of you keeping score), and this was AFTER I had already rescheduled a client meeting from the previous Monday, because of lake-effect ice and snow on the interstate.
It's a 90-minute drive from Chicago to Benton Harbor to visit my client, and sometimes the 60-mile gap between the two shores is literally worlds apart.
Friday was no different. The first two pictures in the set are of the cloudless sky on the Chicago-side of the lake, one with a picture of the cloud cover that started mid-lake and headed towards the eastern shore.

It was only after I took the exit off I-94 in Benton Harbor that I caught the full gravitas of the snow-situation.

At least a foot of snow had fallen the night before. And was still falling.
Astonishing.
There was so much snow that the plows hadn't really done much work, and most of the roads were completely snow-covered. I had to drive reeeeeeeally slow through town, and ended up doubling the amount of time it usually takes me to get to the office.

But it was a pretty sight to see so much of the white stuff.

As you can see, once I arrived at Whirlpool, I could see that they had also barely plowed their parking lot, and the snow was a good foot deep. It continued to snow until I left 4 hours later.

Suffice it to say, we haven't had any real lake-effect yet, and I'm not sad about it - just yet.
But we'll wait and see what old-man-winter has in store for December...

Winter's welcome mat

Chicago had a light dusting of snow yesterday and today. Nothing I'd call legit after living through a winter here- but definitely white stuff. As I spend more time here, i've come to peace with the emergence of winter. I really do feel the seasons more and that makes me feel more aware of life and how time passes.
My second winter up north begins.

Michigan coast

This the view across the pond in Benton Harbor. I stopped for the first time last week after a client mtg. As you can see, fall is on its way out - but it was still a beautiful day. And interestingly enough, I've been traveling to Michigan for over a year now, and last week was the first time I actually stopped, got out of the car, and took a few minutes to really stare across the lake. It was a good feeling.

Very funny Tom Skilling...

Snownight #1
Originally uploaded by vicambulist

I saw the 'news' just now... I get your 'jokes' about 'snow' being a possibility for tonight and tomorrow. That's very cute, in a sadistic, who-do-you-think-you-are kinda way.
But we all know the truth. That despite the fact that it's 48 degrees right now with 40 mph winds, it doesn't need to snow, because it already feels like a cold Texas January day.
And there's still leaves on the trees. HAH. You think you fooled me but as long as I can see leaves still holding on for dear life then I've got at least 2 weeks before any real 'weather' happens. And I will cheer for those leaves to cling to their branches, until old man winter rips each and every last leaf from its summer home.

Steak Au Too-Much-Poivre

The pepper mill just couldn't take all of the grinding I was wanting for steak last night. As you can see, I had one of those accidents that makes you want to curse out loud and take the Lord's name in vain. But I didn't-- in fact, I couldn't help but laugh at the utter ridiculousness of losing half a bottle of pepper to raw meat.
At least I had been an anal-retentive-chef enough to put cling wrap on the counter-- which made cleanup easy.

All in all, my pepper steak salad turned out pretty great in the end, but I've decided to breakdown and buy a real-life big-boy pepper mill this weekend. One that's actually something you can fill with your own peppercorns. None of this cheapo grocery-store pepper for me. I'm done! It's over! Finito!
(ok - I got it all out now)

Lunchtime diversion: Cubs Rally!

I realize that I've only been here a year, and in that time I have watched more baseball games--- specifically Cubs games than ever in my previous 31 years of living. But you can't help but like the Cubs when you live here. Cubs fans are legendary...devoted...fanatic. You name it - but Cubs fever is officially in full-effect.
Case-in-point: today's rally downtown at noon.
In the "can't-believe-I-live-here" file for today, I went with a coworker to Daley Plaza during lunch to see Jim Belushi emcee the official kick off to the Cubs' postseason. Jim came onto the stage singing "Sweet Home Chicago" (complete with harmonica and all) and introduced not only Lou Pinella, but Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ernie Banks---- three legendary Cubs, one of which should be inducted into the baseball hall of fame this year.
The crowd was half downtown white-collar types and half Cubs fans - but a sizeable crowd nonetheless. And while it was chilly and windy, it is a relief to see that they're still in this game!

Knocking another item off the "to-do" list

Ok - it's time to sell the Honda. This time it's for real. I'm telling friends, neighbors, the community of Vehix.com site visitors... anyone so that I can offload this puppy before I have to maintain it any further.
I can't wait to invest the money into our tanking stock market. On the one hand, it couldn't get much lower (could it?)... on the other hand, I guess it could go lower.
Thanks Wall Street! Thanks free market no-holds-barred deregulation!

What will we see next May?

Favorite Chicago memory so far...

I'm in the midst of emails between me and a potential date right now, and a question that was asked has given me reason to think a lot about the past year I've spent here in Chicago. Simply, the question was "what's your favorite Chicago memory so far?"
Who knew it could be so tough to answer.
To be sure, I've created a lot of memories over these past 12 months.. and I've packed my days and weekends with countless activities and gatherings with old friends and new friends. I've been to quintessential tourist locations and found local joints too. I've strolled the parks and visited the museums. I've eaten at some of the best (and worst) restaurants. But I've never considered my 'favorite' memory.
So to you, reader, I offer a list of some of the most top-of-mind:
- Listening to "Right Here, Right Now" by FatBoySlim as Scot and I drove into Chicago for the first time...and promptly getting stuck in our first traffic jam on the Eisenhower for at least 30 minutes
- Taking the train out to see Missy & the Day family and our trip to the Arboretum in July
- Seeing my first Cubs game last September from the "Brixen Ivy" bleachers on Waveland behind left field
- Winning tickets to see the Cubs season opener at Wrigley field in April, and freezing my butt off with Sarah
- Listening to the Lyric Opera perform a free concert in Millennium Park last September (and drinking my wine out of a plastic cup because I thought booze wasn't allowed in the park.. boy was I wrong)
- Watching the first real snow fall last December... three whole inches! (little did I know we'd see the last snow fall on APRIL 28 - FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST)
- Riding on the Red line L train to work that first week after I had moved into my apartment in Lincoln Park
- Getting on a city bus for the first time in my life to take it home for the after-work commute, and enjoying the people-watching
- Being invited to "dinner club" with Chris, Larry, Hyun, Cindy and Praise and having a lot of really good wine
- Laughing my butt off with Missy when my Honda's back wheels were frozen in at least 4 inches of solid ice and we were trying to rock-the-car to get it out
- Having dinner with Christy when she came in town to visit me before her family reunion (with really good tapas at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba)
- WALKING to the beach on a random Saturday in the summer with Chris... simply because we had nothing better to do.
- the very eventful "Stu Years Eve" party on Dec 31, 2007
- Going on my first Chicago date (it was alright, not spectacular)
- Riding my bike all the way up the Lakeshore to Evanston on a brilliant spring afternoon in May
- Pizza & brunch with Heather, Kristen and Charles when they came to town-- and catching up on a few years of life
- Shopping for food at the Farmer's Market in Lincoln Park with my parents when they came to visit me for my birthday

And I'll never outlive the amazement I felt walking into Emilio's on my birthday and being surprised by a bunch of new friends that I had made in the past 9 months. I'm blessed and grateful and lucky and beyond proud of the people in my life.

Now that I'm for year #2 here in the upper midwest, we'll see what I make of it all.

Kinda like my week...

A wreak.. a slowly enlarging black hole.. a dirty mess.. another item on the to-do list.. This pretty much sums up what life was like between Monday and today (Friday). I started with Ike dumping about 9 inches of rain on our part of the world, and that slow and steady rain ended up causing this gross hole to fall out of the ceiling in my bedroom.
I worked 60 hours over the past 5 days. I caught a flu bug (or something) and worked from home one day. Now, I'm glad it's all over. And the week, much like the hole in my bedroom will soon be replaced with something new and clean and I'm ready for that.

Published!

ARTICLE HERE
Looks like the Chicagoist Blog has used one of my photos to follow the curious calligraphy work of an artist that works for the CTA. I see this sign on my way to work, and it turns out that other signs are popping up along the brown line.
I've never been "published" for real before - even if on a blog. But I like the Chicagoist. So that's very cool.

Last week's Nike Human Race 10K

In case you didn't hear it from me yet, I ran in my first 10k last weekend. It's the longest race I've ever run--- 6.2 miles from start to finish. At my 10 minute-mile pace, I finished it in exactly 62 minutes (and 49 seconds). I ran it with a girl I've recently met through Chris and his friends - her name's Shalynn. She was running with a group of friends, so I joined them. It was good - we all had a steady pace.

I didn't take too many pictures from the race, but the Nike website posted a few of the crowds that turned out. Here's the scene on the Lakeshore bike path, mid-run...

The Human Race 10k was a race run in 26 locations around the globe on the same day. Chicago had the largest number of racers of any race in America - with almost 14,000 participating. And while I was 1 minute off the average race time of my city, we were still ranked against every one of the racers globally. So I came in 110,204th place. LOL. That's pretty ridiculous. But if a half a million people ran, then I guess I'm in the top half. Here's me finishing! (ha ha - just kidding)

After the run, there was a free concert, with local band Fall Out Boy performing. It isn't my favorite band, but it was the first time I set foot in Soldier Field. Yes, I did have to touch the grass on the field. But it's no Cowboys Stadium.

Here's me overlooking the field.

Where were the dog days?

Football season is officially in full-force as of today (or last week if you're more into college ball). Time for shorter days, tree color, harbor closings and longer sleeves.
But not today. Today was one of those great lazy Sundays where laying on the couch can occupy at least a couple hours of afternoon sun.

And though it wasn't the hottest summer by far, I guess it will have to suffice for the year. Yeah, we might see a stray 80 or 85 degree day in the next few weeks, but it's very doubtful. And with a low in the forties on Tuesday, there's little hope.
I'll never forget the first moment I was standing on an L platform waiting for my train last fall when I saw this sign:

My exact thought was, "Who are they kidding? You need heat lamps from November to the end of March?" ooooohhhh how I was so ignorant of the ways of the north. very ignorant indeed.
My solace is that I'll have many "warm memories" of the summer stored in my brain and in my bones, for the dark days of winter to come.

Wednesday's lunch

I don't know what's worse... that this was my lunch today (tuna & tree bark crackers) or that I wasn't able to set aside 10 minutes to eat it until after 3:30pm.
My coworker is enjoying vacation (which I already took full advantage of.. see postings in July) so I'm holding down the extra work.
Yes, it was healthy and cheap. But not something I want to make a habit of.

365 days - and in some ways, just yesterday

As of today, I've now come full-circle in Chicago. Scot & I rolled into town around 2pm on Sept 1, 2007 with little idea of what Chicago had in store for me... or what I had in store for it. The weather was gorgeous (as expected, I've come to find out) and the corporate apartment wasn't too bad either.
But when I got here, I knew little about this place.
Now that I've got a few days under my belt, I feel that I can impart some knowledge to non-Chicagoans and Chicagoans alike. Consider it an orientation on the town. My "list" of things I've learned. Maybe I'm stereotyping, but this is my blog, and I live in a free country. Here we go... in no particular order.
=====
1) Honking is not only allowed, it's encouraged. Sometimes to alert, sometimes to get out aggression, sometimes to say hello, and sometimes (as taxis do) for no particular reason at all.
2) Taxis are a blessing and a curse. There are many examples of both.
3) Bryn Mawr is pronounced "BRINN-mahr", not "brown MAW-er." save yourself from feeling like a silly tourist when looking for this street. This also goes for Wabansia ("wah-BAN-see-uh", not "wa-bah-NAZHIA").
4) The red line will always smell worse than any of the other L lines in the city. Stay away from the back of the end cars. usually the most pee/vomit/unnamed substances.
5) Yes, Chicagoans really do take St Patrick's Day that seriously. And yes, they do drink that much to celebrate. And yes, it can snow on this day, regardless of the fact that it's mid-March.
6) Coffee is the lifeblood of Chicagoans, and Dunkin Donuts is the blood bank. There are 7 Dunkins within three blocks of my office, a Starbucks in my building, and a coffee machine in the breakroom on every floor. It is not unusual to see coworkers have a coffee from each of these sources in one day. I am now addicted to coffee myself.
7) Baseball is a much more worthwhile experience when the weather is always around 80 degrees. It's even more worthwhile when your team is over a hundred years old. But if the Cubs lose in '08, this town might break into riots and chaos. So pray that the Cubs take the pennant.
8) Chicago is a collection of neighborhoods with very distinct personalities. Even locals learn about new neighborhoods they've never heard of (or visited) even if they've lived here for 10 years. Some neighborhoods are really just a few people who got together and formed a committee to create a district. These really screw people up (me), because they aren't on any map and their borders are really blurred. For example: depending on the map you look at, I live in Lincoln Park, DePaul, and Sheffield Neighbors.
9) The going theory is that busses travel in sets of two, because they take smoke breaks together at the end of their route. This is especially enraging when you wait for 20 minutes in 20-degree weather and then see two of them approaching your stop, jockeying for the pole-position. This happened today. On a holiday. When the wait can be up to 30 minutes.
10) As much as it might seem appealing, do not take the blue line train to or from O'Hare. It's painfully slow, the JFK never has THAT much traffic, and now people have to transfer to a bus two stops from the airport because of construction. Thus, it becomes a 90-120 minute ordeal between the loop and the airport.
11) If you're ever visiting, be a tourist and do three things: see the Cloud Gate at Millennium Park, take a stroll down the Magnificent Mile and pay for the Chicago Architectural Foundation's "Architecture River Cruise". It's worth every penny.

Polish food & polka

This weekend, Chicago is celebrating one of its last summer weekend festivals - this one called "The Taste of Polonia." The Polish people of Chicago have a pretty long history here, starting in 1837 with the settlement of Polish Downtown. They settled in 5 areas around town, one of them being prominent in the meatpacking district so much so that Sinclair based his novel "The Jungle" upon Polish characters... (yeah - I'm reading that book right now)
Nowadays, Chicago is the headquarters of every major Polish organization in the US. Polish people are the largest white ethnic group in Chicago, and they claim to have the largest Polish population of any city outside Poland (185,000). Pretty incredible.
So Chris had a great idea to go see all the celebrations and watch some polka. I've always wanted to try Polish food, so of course I was down for it. And the weather was great. I got the "polish dinner" which was polish sausage, sauerkraut, cabbage meat roll, potato pancake and a couple pierogies. That's a lot of food. But good.

Backstreet's back, ALRIGHT!

Ok - so for you who don't know about Leo Burnett and their "Artists in Residence" program, our agency sometimes has musicians and other celebrities come to our office and perform. These artists have ranged from Dwight Yoakum to Jewel to OAR to Duran Duran. Sometimes we just luck out and get great bands.
Today, however, the AiR program was taken to a new level - that of the boy band.
Yes folks, I was witness to a live 3-song-exclusive performance of Backstreet Boys in my very own office.
I can't remember the names of the first two songs, but we ended with a roaring rendition of "I Want it That Way." So eloquent and poetic, these singers only had about 8 crates of equipment for their "unplugged session" on the 21st floor.
Yours truly had a great spot about 20 feet away from the stage. So of course I had to take some photos. Shown below. Enjoy.

The Process

In case you're wondering about how some clients view the "creative process" just watch this video. Bad clients do this all the time. Good clients find a way to enable the message to be simple, direct and meaningful.

Dinner at Otom... a lesson in molecular gastronomy

So tonight I was able to knock one meal off the Chicago dining wish list: dinner at Otom - Homaro Cantu's more "casual" restaurant that is the brother to his experimental Moto restaurant. Cantu has been written up in many places has having some of the most unique, creative and experimental dishes in a type of dining called Molecular Gastronomy.
Essentially, it's applying science to cooking techniques to change the dynamics of food and challenge the conventions of how cooking and preparing occurs.

Case in point: my dessert- called simply, "The Coffee Break." (shown above) But its description is misleading--- and maybe on purpose. The menu reads, "Donut, strawberry and honey brioche." That may have been true - but what you see, and what you taste are two very different things.
First - the "coffee" is actually the honey brioche and a coffee cream mousse. You then take it and dip it into a donut custard that is filled with a kind of jelly donut strawberry filling. So you dip the coffee into the donut! It's completely bizarre and thoroughly entertaining. Not just because your mouth has a harder time catching up, but because the donut custard actually feels like you've bitten into a donut and you're dissolving the pastry in your mouth. The white powder on top is almost exactly like the typical powder you feel on your tongue when eating powdered donuts.
It was definitely a first for my palette. And that's a rare thing for me these days.. rare, but very sweet.
Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable, gracious and pleasant. All in all - one of the best dining experiences I've had in Chicago. Woo hoo!

Hangin with the bros & sisters & nephews!

So last weekend I was able to get down to Tejas for a couple days and meet all these new kids in the fam. Great times. It was extraordinary, but also tough that I didn't get to spend more time there, nor spend any time with the rest of the fam... but Thanksgiving will be here before I know it - and I can see a bunch more folks when I'm back this fall.
Till then, here's a quick album of nephew shots... go to Flickr and log-in to see the rest of the pictures from the weekend!

August Family Weekend

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

Maybe a lucky day after all?

Across the way, the Magnificent Mile
Originally uploaded by vicambulist

I woke up exactly at the 8th hour on this the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year in this century and millenium.
Exactly 1 hour before--- on the opposite side of the world, 4 billion people were expected to have watched the opening of the Beijing Olympic games... along with President Bush, President Putin, Chairman Mao and a long list of political figures and celebrities.
It's said to be the luckiest time of the luckiest day in this century to the Chinese..and I happened to wake up during our luckiest time of the day.
Since it was only 65 degrees, and a Friday, I decided to bike to work. I know I'm a broken record, but it is unbelievable to me that I can enjoy a pleasant morning in the middle of August without passing out from oppressive heat.
And thus - a good start to the day and to the weekend. I do feel pretty lucky to live in this town and to enjoy life the way it is these days.
Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket.

It's our anniversary

From the CEO:
73 years ago today, a simple, profound gesture marked the birth of the Leo Burnett Company:

A receptionist set out a bowl of apples to welcome visitors to the newly formed advertising agency. While a lot has changed since Leo’s time, our agency’s core values would still feel very familiar to him if he were with us today. We still believe that creativity has the power to transform people’s behavior. And we still believe that ideas built around human-centric Acts…like putting out a bowl of apples…are the ones that truly move people.

I'm also coming up on my anniversary--- one year in Chicago and one year at Arc Worldwide. I'll probably publish a list of firsts.. or whatever I've done in the 365 days since I pulled off the highway in the west loop on September 1, 2007. Time sure does fly.