The last month has felt very much like life in fast forward – due both to the start of summer in Chicago feeling like an explosion of things to do even in a regular year, and also since the city and state are now at Level 5 = no Covid restrictions. There are a few exceptions like like health care facilities and public transportation, but restaurants are back to capacity and larger events are starting to happen. So being very fortunate from a global point of view to be double vaccinated, we have had a lot going on!
A few weeks ago, notices went up all around the block surrounding us, even taped to our front door, letting us know that filming would be happening in the area. The main message was don’t park here, but the signs gave us the name of the show – Ripple Effects. With a bit of googling (shoutout to my friend Anna at work, I kept coming up with nothing about this!), we found that the show was being produced by Leonardo diCaprio and starring Elizabeth Moss – suddenly a very exciting production on our street! Part of the show was to take place inside a 2-flat just around the corner from us on Thomas, but the production really filled a full block plus the streets at the ends of the block, including ours. We had a lot of service stuff on our block, like toilets and a generator! Ah, Hollywood. Less glamorous than one would hope!
Note the 4th photo down shows a lot of cars parked along the street – they were part of the scene which was meant to show the 1970s!
Back in May, John and I went out to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie to check it out and have a walk. Super nice – and we saw some really cool birds!
Last weekend, we returned to Chef’s Special, this time to eat on-site! Readers may remember an early-pandemic walktail from Chef’s Special.
We went to the MCA and really loved the exhibit of paintings by Christina Quarles and works by Carolina Caycedo.
We walked by the lakefront and couldn’t help but notice this place is oooooo-pen. People everywhere!
Maddie had a piano recital (outdoors!) and did really great!
This weekend, Debbie and Jeff had tickets to the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit and so Maddie stayed with us. We had a great time at Navy Pier on Saturday evening, including pizza for dinner, scootering all the way to the end of the pier to take a photo by the big anchor, a ride on the very scary and fun wave spinner, playing in the fountain, then a walk over to the beach to take a very refreshing evening dip in the lake.
Flying Saucer for breakfast, which was another source of much takeout over the last year but super nice to be back in person! Then we scooted around Humboldt Park, even taking in some foraging with a very friendly group of mullberry and juneberry pickers! No photos of the foraging itself, but see the fruits below, the blueberry-like fruits are the juneberries and the raspberry-like fruits are mullberries. It was very interesting to find edible food right there in the park. And of course great to be able to identify a juneberry and mullberry tree now!
So many fun activities! Looks like Cindy and Maddie got totally immersed in the Lake, so it wasn’t just a stick-your-toe-in event. You must have all had a great time!
The lake is pretty warm so we went right in!
Great post! Really looks like life is returning to normal. Looks like lots of fun with Maddie too… Scooters give such freedom!
What a lovely time ypu had with Maddie – she is really growing into quite an accomplished young lady – well done on the recital Maddie – 2 very long pieces – I loved all the photos too – the fountain bringing back memories especially!!
What a lovely time ypu had with Maddie – she is really growing into quite an accomplished young lady – well done on the recital Maddie – 2 very long pieces – I loved all the photos too – the fountain bringing back memories especially!! Also cannot wait to see that film when it comes out!