Dr. Seuss’s Creative Process
Today was the last day of the Dr. Seuss and the Art of Invention Exhibit at the Museum of Science & Industry. Thanks to my daughter, who purchased tickets in advance, we actually made it there. Not that we couldn't have gone before, but how often have we missed great exhibits in our very own city, thinking, oh yeah, [...]
Antebellum Homes in Huntsville, Alabama
Mastin Batson House, 1819, on Franklin Street in Huntsville, Alabama This holiday season I didn't manage a photo trip to capture some of the kitschier Christmas decorations on Chicago's Southwest side as I had planned on my winter list. However, before immersing ourselves with travel to the moon and space shuttle launches at space camp in Huntsville, [...]
Candle Smoke Writing
Here's a different kind of writing for you: Candle Smoke Writing, or rather, historical graffiti. My son and I stopped by Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky on our way down to Space Camp in Alabama. While we had only booked the standard Mammoth Cave Passage tour, the guide was nice enough to take our small group of between-Christmas-and-New-Year's [...]
Photo Essay: Christkindlmarket Chicago
Even though I don't celebrate Christmas, in December a visit to the Christkindlmarket downtown Chicago is obligatory - mainly because I can find favorite German delicacies there that I remember from my childhood - roasted almonds, for instance! And every year, the appearance of the giant menorah celebrating Chanukah delights me. Only in America will a menorah share prominent [...]
Photo Essay: Lincoln Park Zoo
My 11-year-old son is off from school already this week, and he wanted to go to the zoo (Who knew?). So yesterday we spent the morning at Lincoln Park Zoo. I hadn't been there in years. I felt as if I was retracing the foot steps of my younger self. The zoo was nearly empty, and the only visitors [...]
My Winter List: Things to Do in Winter
We had the first dusting of snow in Chicago last week, and temperatures dipped below the freezing point over the weekend, so clearly the weather is telling me: It's winter. Thus it's time to think about what should be on my winter list. Given that I have a list for making sure I "have a summer," and a list for fall to [...]