Chicago Music on a College Student Budget

My passion for Chicago, the city’s people, and its music grew this weekend.

I went to a free concert in the city.

That’s right—free. 

I can’t express my gratitude enough for Chicago’s willingness to embrace free concerts that broke college students like me can attend.  Chicago is home to a rich establishment of pricey musical events that take months to pay for either because you’re saving up or… waiting for your parents to finally cave.  It’s okay-we’ve all done it.

You have to take the good with the bad… Isn’t that what they always say?  Well, they’re right.  Paying as low as $15 or less up to as high as over a couple hundred dollars for concerts, performances, festivals can burn a hole in your wallet.  And yes, even that $15 can burn the hole-college students, back me up.  

But we go to them, right?  We still choose to save even those couple hundred bucks that we don’t have, those couple hundred bucks that should be saved for more serious items like school books and our future car; we still choose to beg our parents endlessly.  

We go to them because we appreciate the beauty of musicand how significant it is to our lives; we go to them because we understand how vital it is to make time for pure enjoyment, and how vital it is to take breaks from the more solemn aspects of life; we go to them because we’re human, and we like spending money on things that we’ll probably regret later, but for right now, are so worth it.  

So my point is that we have to take the good with the bad… that irrespectively of the many substantial expenses Chicago entails for entertainment, we’ll continue to proceed buying the tickets regardless; and most importantly, the city still provides musical events that everyone can join, whether two cents in your pocket or two hundred dollars.  It’s not Chicago’s fault the city is so expensive and that certain artists necessitate costly expenditure, so visit the concerts that Chicago can afford, without the demand for excessive ticket prices.  Not to mention these places--these restaurants, hotspots, bars, venues—don’t make ample revenue; they acquire earningsby holding an exciting, upbeat enough experience so that attendees will buy drinks, food, clothing, etc.  The fact that these places remain insistent says a lot about Chicago-that the city encompasses spots not only comprised of unselfish business and workers, but that these spots are lively enough to still profit successful income from visitors.

With all that being said, I realize that several of these concerts denote entertainers that may be distinctively new, have few experience, and often may be assumingly less talented.  While I must elucidate the concert I went to heldan imposing performance with what seemed like extremely talented performers; they were considered novel artists that did have less experience… which indicates my reasoning behind my flourished love for the people of Chicago.  

We don’t care.    

First ‘RSVP’ing,’ I felt particularly concerned whether the concert would be noticeably more monotonous due to the lack of overall familiarity regarding the song selection.  I agonizingly suspected the prospective crowd as resembling minimal motion, virtually no singing, chanting, or reciting of words or lyrics; worse, I fretted there wouldn’t even be a large enough crowd to resemble and observe.  

I was wrong.  

Upon arriving via cab, the driver explained the venue was “right on the corner,” and we’d run into it.  We were walking and searching longer than anticipated leading us tocheck our phones only to ascertain we had gone too far.  We reversed directions and walked back to the original place the driver was last—we had not even realized that the corner was directly in front of us.  We didn’t notice it… because we failed by underestimating the tremendously extensive line of people waiting to get in the concert that lingered outside the hall throughout the street.  My friends then told me the RSVP’s closed within just a few hours after being posted, which in terms of non-free concerts, this performance theoretically ‘sold out’ fleetingly.  

The people loved it.  The suspected absence of a full, copious crowd resembled a jam-packed, overflowing crowd, embodying a lavish variety of diverse individuals and dispositions; the suspected motionless crowd resembled an exceptionally active crowd, vigorously dancing, jumping, and swaying; the suspected crowd personifying a lack of caroling resembled remarkable chanting, endeavoring to grow acquainted enough with therap lyrics in order to partake in the songs.

I’d say these people were nice to the new artists, but that’s both too simple as well as potentially rendering the performers out to be less gifted if fans had to be ‘nice.’  I say, rather, the people were respectful.  They understand and take into keen account the probable dearth of experience, practice, and involvement with both this business and live experiences; they value their inclination to try; they acknowledge their motivation to execute an exhausting, notable performance, paying no mind to scarce revenue gains. 

I love the people of Chicago because we respect new artists, melodies, and performances.  We attend these concerts with poise and maturity, choosing to grasp newfound talent in an entertainer and neglect all oddstargeting the artists’ little performance background.  

Never to disregard the people of Chicago exhibit a desire for new music in general.  

We’re fiends for the latest up-to-date songs we can blare loudly; we’re fiends for innovative lyrics we can memorize; we’re fiends for the hottest new artists we can look up to and fawn over.  I love the people of Chicago because we appreciate the old, and we welcome the new.  We undyingly crave listening to new songs and artists while remaining unconditionally persistent to listen to those previous.  

My fellow concertgoers gave these performers and their music a chance.  They chose to stay through five full hours of a concert presenting uncommonly renowned rap artists that rapped limited songs and lyrics they knew.  And the ones they did know, the ones the rappers introduced as covers, they went wild for, joining in crowd harmony as they danced in constant motion and deafeningly rappedalong with the artist.  

The people’s enthusiasm for both new music and old helped incite my prospered passion for music.  I had never been to a concert with artists I knew nothing about performing unfamiliar songs.  Quite frankly, when my boyfriend brought it up I was greatly hesitant, though the experience further escalated my need for music and performances.  I discern my uncertainty as happening for a reason… that because my expectations were so low and the result was so high, I became better mindful of my adoration for the musical process itself.  I realize that I need notmandate solely artists I know personally and their lyrics I’ve remembered committedly-I’ll have the time of my life at a show as long as it has an artist to purely sing and lyrics to become conversant.  

This concert aided in my emerging passion for Chicago.  Through Chicago, my passion for people grew--through the people, my passion for music grew—and vise versa.  

Chicago remains home to kindling and rekindling all versions of love.  Free concerts became an addition to mylist of the city’s sundry sources of provoking my inner passions. 

So next time you’re bored, visit a free concert.  Even if you don’t know the artist, listening to beloved music genres live sure beats sitting at home.  

The Wonderful World of Virtual Communities

A media course this term required being an actual member of an online community for a set period of time in order to relay and explain the rich culture that embodies virtual communities.  We were to explore similar communities as well to better enhance our understanding.

I chose Pinterest, We Heart It, and Photobucket, in which I was introduced to the wonderful world of sharing and appreciating photography.


The hectic lifestyle a student, family member, boyfriend, friend, and internee entails limits much of my free time.  While I love my field of study, relationships, and job, I often miss the creative, free of pressure habits that life sets its damper.  I find deep fascination and passion for art, even more so with the process of taking and viewing photos-which is why these communities were perfect for me and suited my interests.

I learned that there's positives and negatives to online communities.

Positives:

• Enhancement of knowledge concerning interest
• Sharing of your own knowledge concerning interest
• Feeling welcome among a group
• Career, innovational, professional opportunities
• Building personal profiles
• Boosting confidence and self-awareness

Negatives:

• Loss of human contact
• Potential decrease in reading and research ability
• Possibility of harsh and hurtful words and arguments
• Potential lack of confidence in person
• Fear/failure of eye contact

With Any Negative, Comes a Positive

With any negative criticism, there comes positive.  No matter the topic, they’ll remain two or more sides holding opposing opinions, in which each viewpoint encompasses evidence, reason, and debate providing credibility. 

In Facebook’s case, there’s been those critiquing the site as a ‘filter bubble,’ as previously explored in my blog, and those critiquing Facebook as balanced and fair; they perceive it as simply filtering information that we would most likely care to be updated, on the most consistent basis.  That is, whether or not there’s components such as ads and news that should receive greater emphasis, at the end of the day, this generation will get worn-out with posts that aren’t more personal and less relative-and more times than not, users would rather receive constant friend updates rather than more serious or professional matters.

As I’ve reasoned with the harsh criticism, I reason with the optimistic.  Though critics have warned Facebook, I feel Facebook is concentrated on the more youthful, less solemn opinions due to their most frequent usage; no young adult who’s uninvolved with media matters will desire to request a more editorial timeline.  Considering this, whether or not more information such as news-reporting should be implemented, the vast majority of users don’t want that, and the site wasn’t originally created for that, so why would Facebook change that and risk losing its audience and purpose? 

Don't Let Facebook Brainwash You.

Recently deemed a ‘filter bubble’ among critics, Facebook’s believed to filter only what it wants, producing a bubble of information unable to be popped with outside sources of material. 

I have many viewpoints supporting Facebook’s timeline, though I reason with these individuals.

I can’t deny certain aggravation Facebook’s provoked.  For example, they turn on your notifications--in which you have to go out of your way to search and find to turn off--for sending you updates on friends they choose to inform you. 

With how financially and reputably successful Facebook has become, they should have all the resources and motives necessary to further deepen the filter they discern most beneficial, helpful, and personal to us.

Even more, the ample quantity of promoted advertisements via Facebook has grown rampant-this is where I most intrinsically perceive this alleged filter bubble.  With the variety of ads encompassing Facebook, I feel it should be more cognizant of our interests and thus more invested in sponsoring them.  I wouldn’t mind viewing ads so much have they not be so non-relatable; I also wouldn’t mind observing articles and links related to current news issues I’d find interesting.  People aren’t fully acquainted with how often they search for news and the extent of news out there-they’d be unexpectedly, pleasantly surprised to learn of events they find fascinating for once.

Facebook should listen to the entirety of all critics’ opinion; they don’t negate the site as inferior.  They’re merely trying to warn it-because they do believe in its resources and don’t want to witness its downfall.  They don’t yearn for these harsh perspectives; they just don’t want it to get so severe as to become the transformation from a filter bubble… to utter brainwashing.

Facebook & New York Times Partnership

 Companies are shrewd to utilize social media to their advantage.  It helps get a name out there, making the content of their information as both easily accessible as well as edifying as possible.  Therefore, it’s evident news organizations would benefit significantly, for social media promotes prevalence merely because of the uncomplicated distribution of content (essentially shared articles that entail little to no effort). 

One news company had it right; New York Times contracted a partnership to Facebook this May.  As if New York Times doesn’t already hold an illustrious title, they will further their business by appealing to those Facebook users that maybe not so much necessarily haven’t heard of NYT, but for those users that aren’t particularly fascinated with the news overall-in which when Facebook forces the viewing of posts concerned with news issues, they’ll be their primary news source.

New York Times once again fruitfully becomes one of the utmost, most prominent news corporations of today’s audience. 

I’m ready to see a change.  I have not a single complaint or negative utterance to say regarding NYT; I’m encouraging, rather, alternate businesses encompassing news related material and measures to follow in the Facebook engagement approach.  I’ve elucidated my standpoint regarding Facebook’s prospective impact on news--that it can be effectively delivered by means of timelines.  If Facebook chose to embody an array of news reporting, I’d hope that both its technical easiness as well as the societal precedence put on Facebook would lead to enhancing both comprehensive awareness of topics—as well as enhancing comprehensive research knowledge of valid news sources--as users would be introduced to a novel variety of news foundations that go beyond the customary.  

If Twitter can do it, so can Facebook!

If you really invested some time into thinking about your Facebook timeline, what would you envision?  That’s easy I’m sure-shared links, photos, statuses, possibly a few ‘suggested’ or ‘sponsored’ ads. 

The vast, if not all, majority of these posts were exclusively created by friends on Facebook; that is, who you’re kept stable, consistent updates on are the hundreds, possibly thousands or additional, Facebook friends that you desire. 

Not essentially erroneous, though numerous critics have introduced the notion regarding Facebook as a potential news source, in which its contribution to breaking, international, daily, and more news could be tremendously impactful… and also beneficial. 

I consider these critics to hold reasonable argument.  While I don’t remain having a cynical attitude concerning Facebook’s modes of presenting information, I am involved in a journalistic field and heed the significance of news.  Courses teach that the need for news has remained undeviating; originally hearing that, my primary thought was ‘mmm… not so much.’  I struggled believing that because before beginning my love for media, I, and friends around or my age, rarely go out of our way to read newspapers, watch the news, look into virtual news articles or links-I failed to recognize the several variations of discovering and retrieving news.  

I didn’t take into account the extent to which we hear news via car radios, other channels on television, and frankly, word of mouth.  It seems irrational, though we converse on such a constant basis and it’s such a repetitive, habitual daily occurrence that not only do we fail to notice how much time we spend in dialogue, but how much is spoken about when communicating. 

I reconsidered-we don’t take strong enough note that we speak about issues regarding news almost exceptionally.  Whether we’re discussing political, local, school, personal news, we’re still constantly discussing it; we’re attracted to storytelling and reports that make us feel like we’re there. 

And the reason we like such vividly detailed storytelling is because we don’t like to feel like we missed out… on anything.  We don’t realize… but if we were put 10 years, even 10 days, back and were forced to read old or ancient news, we’d grow senseless.  So maybe a few people and I scuffle finding motive to read news-but we still yearn for it subconsciously as well as receive it with ease when presented to us by the instant. 

And ‘presented to us by the instant’ is more commonly distinct within the many mediums of social media, another way to which we hear the magnitude of news that I didn’t take into consideration; Twitter stands as a concrete example of sharing news for professional, promotional, and personal means.  That being said, the critics that demand a news-reporting role for Facebook have a point; if other sites can successfully do it and there’s a way news can be integrated to individuals’ everyday lives, why not? 

This could be extremely beneficial to society.  Just as following in the normative system of delivering and getting news, people would still be accessing information involuntarily, but accessing it nonetheless.  I believe there’s still a further technique to incorporate news while keeping users regularly cognizant, informed, and up-to-date with personal ties.

4 Reasons Lollapalooza is a Good 1st Festival

Blogging has allowed me to express my passion for music and concerts-festivals in particular.

I decided to go into greater detail regarding Lollapalooza.

I think it’s necessary I clarify throughout my festival-hopping years, I’ve developed a favorite… and it’s not Lollapalooza.  My favorite is North Coast Musical Festival-but that doesn’t matter. 

It doesn’t matter because my objective doesn’t aim to target my top reasons behind my superlative preference.  I’m here to list my top reasons behind why I feel Lollapalooza is a positive primary choice for those deciding which festival to experience this summer. 

1. Their music relates to all people.

Whatever music genre you favor, Lollapalooza embraces all. 

I had the time of my life at Spring Awakening, but you won’t find much besides Electric Dance Music and DJs such as Tiesto and Knife Party.  Alternative festivals such as North Coast and Bonnaroo are additional events that hold equivalent variations of music, though Lollapalooza encompasses music for more than just the diverse genres of our generation… but the diverse genres of all generations. 

They have concerts for old rock, hip-hop, heavy metal, and more.  And I say old as in ‘old school’ type of music… as in even our elders would find motive to listen to those in the line-up of Lollapalooza.

It’s a good initial step for getting you accustomed to the constant vibrations from the stages and speakers surrounding you.  Even if you’re a die-hard lover of a specific genre, almost always people can find even a few opposing songs of differing genres they enjoy. 

There’s more to a festival than just listening to music.  People are here because they appreciate the beauty of music overall.  So I say if you’re a beginner, appreciate it all first-and then go from there.

2. Their atmosphere embodies all ages.

There’s something to be said for a festival you can even bring your kids.

And I say that because I’ve seen a lot when it comes to these events. 

No one can deny nor defend that much of these festivals denote an abundance of young adults severely intoxicated or on drugs.  There’s been an excessive amount of talk concerning the younger generation today and their influence on concerts, EDM concerts in particular.  The overwhelming truth holds that these concerts have been home to not only this generation’s alcohol abuse, but their abuse of drugs such as those like MDMA, Ecstasy, LSD, and more; enough statistics relaying the hospital expenses and even deaths of these young adults has been rampant and alarming.

So while I’d be lying if I claimed I’d yet to see such instances at Lollapalooza, I’m telling the truth when I say you won’t see this on nearly as many occasions, as opposed to many others.

You see children and adults of all ages, which is comforting for someone who is purely there for the music and not the dangerous means to partying. 

3. You’re surrounded by all styles of people.

To say certain festivals resemble certain bodies of people is an understatement.

It’s no stereotype that Spring Awakening is a festival of beads, flashy attire, and psychedelic souvenirs.  Young individuals embellish their bodies with beads all down their limbs and face and flamboyant, sometimes provocative, inappropriate clothing; they bring and buy tools such as colorful hula hoops and light up gloves in order to make a hallucinogenic experience for their fellow festival goers.

But not at Lollapalooza.  You see these people, though without such predominance. 

I find this so vital to a first experience as a result of my comparison to my own.  I evoke initially arriving at such a festival and feeling utterly out of place with everyone around me.  My friends were dressed correspondingly, but such a limited set of average dressed friends in a sea of such glitzy dressed individuals is intimidating. 

Avoid feeling unwelcome… especially if you’re just not one to typically dress that way.  There’s further concerts that suit your love for music while also suiting your style.

4. “Boxed water is better.”

This reads on Lollapalooza’s untraditional boxed water.

Less deep, more silly, but a reason nonetheless.

Lollapalooza remains a worthy beginner merely because of its interesting, unique features.

No more bottled water-they offer BOXED.  Sound outlandish?  Maybe so-but they’ve racked up exceptional business and production through their willingness to offer boxed water rather than bottled.

These boxes are essentially much more fulfilling than bottles, so when there the first day and growing irately cognizant of how hot and exhausted you are, you’ll be pleased to discover a set of water that suffices your needs.  Not to mention their attractive appearance that makes your experience seem that much more exceptional and unlike all the others.

Not Just a Day Off

I’ve blogged a lot heartening Chicagoans to get out and experience the city’s numerous events, hotspots, and celebrations.  I’ve worked to inspire the need for kindling and rekindling friendships, the motive to invest time in dancing, singing, listening to music, the desire to eat a lot and drink more than usual with those we trust, and the self-allowance of overlooking life’s countless pressures. 

My standpoint still remains.  I’ll almost never find reason to evade engaging in the many means of relishing merriments-though I can’t help but skew these means of persistent motivation when put in terms of Memorial Day celebrations. 

I encourage friendships; I encourage the various mediums of appreciating music; I encourage an abundance of food and drinks; I encourage the right to an untroubled day.  However, my encouragement grows much more profound, and personal as I reflect on this day. 

My ambition targets two kinds of people. 

I aim for those of all cities recently spending, perhaps, too much time out, too much time away from home.  As I understand I’ve been and am still there, you all know who you are.  Being a college student entails the freedom to finally live on your own, to endow a fresh set of immeasurable hours roaming and discovering what your new city has to offer; in my case, Chicago was one of the two new urban locations keeping me away from home and busy with different entertainment. 

And while my opinion regarding Chicago and all its amusement stands appreciative and confident, I feel compelled in motivating others to spend some time at home this weekend.  I don’t negate those who hold harsher interpretations of the meaning ‘home,’ so I instead wish to persuade those in defining what they consider their closest relation(s) to what’d typically be considered as home.  Whatever the hardships with family, ruminate those who’ve acted as the lack of guidance, nurturing, and attention in your life; maybe it was another family member, a friend, a significant other.  No matter the relationship, they’ve worked to replenish that absent piece of home, and for that, I wish to stimulate those to spend time at whatever their style of home, with whatever version of family.    

I’m a keen believer that I’m doing my troops my greatest justice by participating in not only the moments they’d (literally) give their lives to be a part of, but the moments they’re essentially protecting most emphatically and fervently.  They’re defending the city--the music, the restaurants, the performances--though they’re focal emphasis lies in their undying, impassioned goal in protecting the fundamental relationships that make up our everyday lives.  After all, these celebrations would cease existing without the friends, family, and significant others to share them with together. 

I also care to move the individuals remaining who merely want to, planned to, or have no other option but going out for Memorial Day.  I take grave note of the limitless memorial proceedings of Chicago and the powerful affect they’ve had on residents-I realize certain events denote families and friends of these fellow troops discerning these measures with utmost gratitude.  That being said, while I wish to encourage time at home, I encourage those who may not have that chance or decline visiting home, to contribute or attend these memorial services, and further enrich both your knowledge and outlook concerning this day.  If you have this day to yourself, instead of tolerating loneliness, implement companionship-among those sharing the same intense devotion to have an exceptional Memorial Day. 

Needless to say, with family this weekend or not, whatever partying you engross, either all day or within the evening, remember the reasons you’re reveling… or better yet, the reason you can even be marry in the first place. 

This is not just a day off.  This is not just a celebration.  This is a day off dedicated to celebrating, remembering, and praising those that keep the lives of Americans safe; and since we cannot always spend this day with all or even any troops, it’s essential we don’t disrespect their absence.  This day’s history has not yet finished; still in war and military in service, we must place extensive prominence on not only remembering, but admiring.  Better yet, we must serve as support for our troops, looking to this day as an immense reminder of the faith we have in the military, in which Americans behave as the cheerleaders of those still fighting. 

So when you eat, drink, and be merry, remember you’re eating, drinking, and merry because of those who have and remain in service.

 

4 Deeper Reasons Behind Taking the Train Downtown

Sometime around the age of 10, my babysitter took my friends and I on our first trip downtown.  She initiated our first show on Broadway as well as fueling our inner fashion divas by exploring all of Chicago’s highest-class clothing outlets. Nonetheless, this excursion taught me something more about myself than just my dispassion with Broadway and shopping-I became acquainted with my abiding love for trains, and I plan to tell you why. 

Consider which train passenger you depict.  Are you a regular passenger?  A once in a lifetime passenger?  An every day passenger?  Irrespectively, there remain more, much deeper motives than merely prices, safety, and speed behind taking the train downtown rather than a vehicle. 

Here are 4 reasons as to why I personally believe a train is your paramount verdict:

 

 

 

1. The people

There’s something to be said for being around people and encountering human contact on a consistent basis.  For those who’ve ever taken the train, you can visualize the myriad dispositions that personify the atmosphere: the faithful music lovers as they listen to their beloved tracks via headphones, the sluggish children as they rest on a mother’s shoulder, the busy workman/woman as they remain agitated with papers and phone calls, the unfortunate homeless folks as they plead for money, the teenage concert goers as they dress in tacky attire and gossip ever so loudly.  You may even envision the not-so-sane individuals that embark on your train ride as they utter, possible shout, unruly words that receive unsolicited undying attention. 

 

These people are here for a reason-to teach us how to interact with all styles of people.  We become more intrinsically erudite of how certain passengers cooperate with and react to one another, how some cope with stress, joy, irritation, how contrary opposing sets of parents handle children, and more. 

Even more, take the train to essentially meet these people.  Although making friends with strangers by train isn’t a habitual occurrence, it sure beats the chances of meeting others by car.  Driving is lonely, tedious; make your trip downtown compelling by conversing with those around you.  If it’s anything like my risk-taking experiences, you’ll meet someone to spend your entire day with downtown.

2. Timeliness

Being a train passenger entails punctuality.  Whatever the purpose driving your visit downtown, taking a train to and from your destination denotes a schedule to be followed-to be at your precise track at the approximate or exact hour of departure.

For those more serious businesspersons, you strategize the various responsibilities of your career, ascertaining which meetings, conferences, paperwork, or more take precedence of your day in order to accurately time which train you long to board.  For those more carefree companions visiting for Chicago performances and hotspots, you plot each moment, being certain to endure all desired entertainment within the timespan before your train time parting. 

 

So take the train to further enrich your time management aptitude.  It’s undeviating minuscule decisions such as these that contribute to our greater, overall selves; the more days we choose the train, the more days we’re forced to be on time, the more days we acquire timeliness. 

3. Discovery & enhancing familiarity of areas/directions

I had blogged previously regarding my hesitance to pursue traveling the world, expounding the potential lack of adventure in my life; I disputed this assertion with my sundry findings of adventure within the place I was born.

Chicago embodies 77 community areas alone.  Being on the CTA ‘L’ train necessitates passengers to read and pick up on street names, forcing them to make an instinctive association between the name and the area so they know where to and where not to stop.  Even prior to the arrival of Chicago, the train ride up encompasses the stopping and passing of copious alternative towns, in which aside from having no objective to end anywhere besides Chicago, you’re still pressed to looking out your window and observing the town and its resembled environment. 

You perceive the populaces within each part, making a cultivated judgment of who comprises the area’s standing; for those every day passengers, you begin discerning patterns of routine individuals, making conclusive assessments of the area overall.  A car inhibits such experiences.  You pass these towns… but you fail to notice; you pass these street names… but you fail to comprehend the area in which they remain; you pass these people… but you fail to correlate their origins.

Your inclusive dexterity with directions expands.  A car infers a GPS of some nature and since you’re obliged to walking instead of driving to your Chicago endpoint, and the walking GPS on an iPhone is significantly more arduous to trail, you’re inevitably mandated to read each street name, note landmarks, potentially ask citizens for help.  Following directions on foot itself can lead to novel findings of Chicago because you have no other option but assiduously detecting where each step brings you-and if you’re not in a time crunch to get back to your train’s departure time, you may even get a little lost… and that, that is where genuine discoveries are built.

4. You need that hour or so.

For those employed or studying downtown, you need that hour to sleep, catch up on some reading, finish last minute paperwork or homework, sip your uplifting coffee.

For those purely visiting, you need that hour to grow jubilant, get plans devised, take a few ‘snapchats’ of you as you depart, and if you so happen to be embarking on your journey with an escort, you have that hour to speak with him/her free of distractions in getting your minds on what’s to come next. 

It’s soothing, alleviating, a good wake-up lift, a fitting excitement boost.  It’s essential for your day in downtown Chicago. 

Take the train. 

My Attempt to Politically Tweet

I'm no woman of politics.  I struggle finding motive to get involved with such controversies, though I did make one single political street, if you even consider it as such. 

An Obama advocate tweeted an extremely uncultivated post that attempted to defend Obama and how race should never be a factor when deciding a president; good point, but it was the way she handled her beliefs that risks losing the value of the message.  She instead targeted Caucasians as being stereotypical and subjected us all as racists.

I took a screenshot of the tweet and made a responsive tweet reading, "People might listen to your point if this tweet wasn't as stereotypical as those Caucasians."  I went on to argue with her to clarify that whether her main objective is correct, those Caucasians she's referring to that judge politics in that manner she longs to cease, will continue perceiving president selections that way because she just subtlety admitted to being racist herself.  I am not a racist, and I have just as many friends and family that support Obama; considering me as one just because of a handle of individuals is hurtful.  It's not to say that this was an exceptionally effective tweet-It did not attract crazy publicity, but it was effective within my followers.  Some responded agreeing, some responded disagreeing, and many had further conversations about other posts they'd seen with content like the one I posted, so while I never generated a heated political conversation, I did create awareness to politics and induced conversations related to them.

Social media allows rapid, up-to-date, instant, breaking news by its convergent and accessible nature.  We're granted the right to digital and wireless connections on a constant basis, on a variety of mediums.  We're the developing digital age where everything is mobile.  We need not wait even a second to report news-it's right in our hands. 

Sit down. Shut up. Eat. Be happy!

I take pride in my ability to take a joke.

You know… the kind of jokes your friends use to give you a hard time, the jokes your family uses to reminisce all your most embarrassing moments growing up. 

Nearly anybody I know is a candidate for my humiliation-if intended for laughter and enjoyment, not drama and disrespect. 

That is why Chicago’s own Ed Debevic’s restaurant can’t seem to fit me more perfectly.

Home to food, humor, and dancing, this 1950s-style diner empowers the value of being “sassy.”  Suspended signs such as those reading, “We are not responsible for children trampled in aisles” embody close to every inch of their walls, concretizing their fantasy of becoming the city’s sanctuary of amusement.  They don’t believe in ‘thank you’ or ‘you’re welcome,’ for their purpose serves as being a place that mocks normative standards of approaching business. 

Servers dress in flashy costumes as they dance on counters, though it is not merely dancing, but rather an imposing performance that resembles deftness and invested practice.  If it was anything like my experience, waiters deliberately drop their trays abruptly to execute choreographed numbers.  

Sit down.  Shut up.  Eat.  Be happy!

Just reiterating my orders entering Ed’s this weekend.

Typically, confronting such a demanding host would wreak havoc on impressions and experiences of the restaurant, though Chicagoans might say differently.

To be blunt, we’re no city of wimps-and that is why I love Chicago.   We find ease with laughing at ourselves and find pleasure in challenging the norm.  Alternative restaurants such as The Weiner’s Circle and Dick’s Last Resort complement these mottos of Chicago in that they, too, stand as humorous diners that attempt to pick on customers and constitute utter impoliteness. 

However, I’m most fervidly fascinated with Ed Debevic’s in particular because of its attribution to every age.  I visited this diner at ages 10 and 13, and each year following, I’d affirm this was one of Chicago’s superlative hotspots as well as my inclination to visit again. 

I did.  And at the age of 20, I’m pleased to reassure that whether 5 or 55, there will remain keen enjoyment of the various means of entertainment enacted via Ed Debevic’s staff. 

And the reason I find this as such an exceptional trait is a result of my analogical comparison among the three mentioned diners.  Several common complaints regarding these opposing spots expose the restaurants’ lack of children-friendly atmospheres, alleging that the implemented jokes are too harsh, too advanced for the ears of children.  Ed Debevic’s, on the other hand, frequently obtains positive acknowledgements, crediting Ed’s as being a diner "crawling with kids."

I consider this aptitude as a matter of Ed’s joke selection.  There’s something to be said for humor that relates to all people-all sizes, all races, all ages.  When a joke can be found universally comical, I perceive that as a true joke; because after all, jokes are meant to provoke laughter, and there holds no incontrovertible success of a joke if it hasn’t been told to all styles of people and incited such laughs.  Nevertheless, this is not to say that each server’s every joke relays a message applicable for all or any sort of audience-it’d be unreasonable to entitle such a fact as holding absolute truth.  However, Ed’s servers may not be faultless, but they adjust in discovering further avenues of getting around the obstacle by ascertaining alternatives. 

They, instead, almost become writers.  I compare their careers with my own in that I perceive an outward association between their onuses as an Ed’s server and mine as a blogger.  One of the utmost rules of writing is deciphering an audience, becoming intuitively cognizant of gender, age, race, education, demographics-the list goes on.  These servers do just that.  They scrutinize your appearance, surrounding crowd, clothing; they pick up on accents, jargon, and behaviors.  And after their meticulous analysis, they go from there, being certain to both prompt pertinent jokes with positive conclusive outcomes as well as avoid jokes with poor prospective consequences.

I’ll use my personal times spent here as an example.  As a kid, I recall jokes such as those that made fun of human defecation-silly, yes, but a joke that as a child was tremendously humorous.  I remember jokes aimed at my guy friend, ridiculing his eating habits when finishing a burger, two cheese fries, and a milkshake; I evoke jokes that lightly teased the birthday girl at the time for falsely feeling as important as she did on her big day.  As an adult, I witnessed jokes that made fun of mine and my boyfriend’s relationship, claiming we were downright boring people for using our phones at dinner; I observed jokes targeting my boyfriend, deriding his drinking habits when ordering a glass of wine; I experienced jokes that pestered my overly enthused attitude when taking photos of the place for my blog.  And what’s even funnier is that parallel to my discussion concerning Ed’s universally relatable witticisms, much of these mentioned jokes were heard twice; the jokes about defecation?  Maybe not so much at the dinner table itself… but when searching for the bathroom, a waiter yelled, “Gotta’ poop?  To the right, weirdo”, illustrating Ed’s willingness to laugh like a kid again and look at life in a not so solemn manner. 

Each style of joking matter favors not only a precise age group but an even more narrowed set of dispositions, in which Ed’s jokes are set distinct for not just the general features of an audience, but the explicit characteristics of the individuals themselves and their personal lives.  As a boy, about 15 years or older, left the diner, my server shouted, “Stop being dumb!  Get your homework done today!”  I never heard such a joke, or all the others attained eavesdropping, and that is what sets each Ed’s customer’s experience apart from the rest.

Parents bring kids here because they long to infuse such comicality into their children, granting servers the right to instill the good senses of humor they model… as well as sip some of their tasty cocktails.

So go sit down, shut up, eat, and be happy... at the diner that emboldens laughter and boosts confidence by learning to laugh at your faults and accepting them as a technique in discerning the many animations of the world.  Being normal is boring; forget the norms of society, and eat at Ed's in Chicago.

Making You Feel Lucky-Irish or Not.

We’re not all Irish, but Chicago sure makes every last race and ethnicity feel lucky on Saint Patrick’s Day. 

A city home to celebration parades and entertainment, Saint Patrick’s Day manages to stand as one of the city’s top, most cherished festivities in which thousands of people gather to celebrate being Irish… or celebrate those that are Irish, like me.  The day encompasses a lively parade and extensive partying such as bar crawling and party/event hopping. 

The entire atmosphere of Chicago changes or better yet, it enhances, transforms… going from a fun city to a thrilling, captivating city, from a crowded city to a jam-packed, overflowing city.  Chicago goes from being a city of brightness and illumination to a city of utter color and flamboyancy in the beloved ritual of converting the Chicago River from blue water to green.

However, I am not here to sound redundant; I know typically Chicagoans have all heard, if not been a part of, the stories and memories created every year.  You might be of strong Irish decent in which this parade was or is taken more seriously; you may be in the actual parade; you may be a yearly loyal attendee.  Nonetheless, every one can relate, find some similar ground in that this day serves for everyone an excuse to celebrate and be happy about these joyful days history has given you, born from a family with Irish historical background or not.  It encourages a night out to disregard the pressures of life for a day and instead find time to spend, possibly eat and drink a little more than usual with new people and loved ones. 

That being said, my story encompasses each of the mentioned aspects of St. Patty’s Day in Chicago, though it’s considerably more fascinating than that.

Two friends of mine from college and I decided to visit the Saint Patrick’s Day parade for the first time last year.  Since we played for our school’s lacrosse team at the time and we had morning practice, we anticipated rushing frantically to witness the actual parade.  Turns out, we never saw the parade-but I did have not only one of my favorite days thus far in life and one of the best days of college, but a Saint Patrick’s Day I feel that beats a significant portion of the thousands’ Saint Patrick’s Day’s present that day. 

I’ll tell you why.  I don’t go to college in Chicago; I’ve never resided near actual Downtown Chicago; at this period of my life, the times I’d visited Chicago I was with friends that were better at directions than I, and it wasn’t until a year later I was more adept to finding my way downtown.  And even worse… my friends?  They were from St. Louis, had not a clue where to go. 

Once we missed the parade, we decided to roam the streets of Chicago and discover where and what this alleged exuberant action has to say for itself.

Well, we were failing… until one of my friends decided to begin conversing with every last person she perceived as approachable, investigating all suggestions about Chicago and this day.  She was reckless, and it was perfect. 

She demanded we jump on this big yellow bus that was free of people, persuading us to ask, potentially beg, whoever the driver may be to take us anywhere that holds St. Patty’s Day merriments. 

The bus driver, better yet, who the bus driver was driving, resulted in being the reason this was the greatest decision we could have made.

We ended up on a bus of illustrious Irish bagpipe players and Irish dancers that were on tour. 

They walked on the bus… silence.  Our faces resembling a deer in headlights, we stood staggering.  They all started to take their seats as the driver asked, “Hey!  Who are you guys?”  We then responded honestly.  Whether it was an actual sense of innocence we gave off that we were merely there for fun or the fact that they were just that awesome of people, when the driver shouted, “Up to you guys!  Can they stay?” the whole group chanted, “YES!”

The friend who got us on the bus and I on the actual bus.

We traveled that day… like a team-like as if we were actual members of these players and dancers.  We were no longer lost newbies of the crowd-we were the crowd.  On the search for just one single party ending in a day of hopping to all of Chicago’s most popular hotspots on Saint Patrick’s Day.  We went on stage, ate with these people, drank with these people-it was as surreal as feeling I was Irish for a day by the kindness these people offered in being part of their culture.

With all that being said, I find this day to depict a perfect picture of the cultural emphasis Chicago places on its city.  The abundance I learned regarding the richness of Irish culture from one day alone signifies the impact Chicago holds in empowering its citizens to appreciate both their known and new, different styles of living through culture.  It serves as a city that avoids discrimination and enforces variety among the people.

And I say If America remains a country of many cultures, let’s embrace these cultures with passion and eagerness… to celebrate and to learn.

Maybe not jumping on a random bus just because your friends tell you to… but you get my point.