chi-town

i was in chicago for a sustainable design leaders' summit last weekend and was reminded how much i like it there - the buildings, the lake, the neighborhoods... and one thing that i had not seen before, although i'm not sure how i missed it because i have been to millennium park before, is THE BEAN!
there is a lot of public art in the park but this thing (officially called "Cloud Gate") definitely draws the crowds - i mean, who wouldn't enjoy looking at one's reflection and the chicago skyline in a polished steel sculpture shaped like a legume (it's actually meant to resemble a drop of mercury that is about to land on the plaza)!
other highlights of the leisure portion of the trip (because the work part was awesome too but would take too long to recap) were a run along lake michigan on saturday morning (the whole length of the lake is dedicated to parks and bike/running/walking paths and it was packed with people, even at 7 a.m.), having a frozen cocktail on the beach (yes there's sand) with my roommate, and dipping our feet in the water next to (potted) palm trees :)
[will add photos, stay tuned].

seems like summer's almost over

i had a sinking feeling over the weekend that the summer is flying by, when in fact it's really only one third of the way through, but either way it seemed like a good time to report on the progress of my ten activities under $10 list from a couple of months ago.

1. been to one bucs game (they lost, sniff!), hope to see a few more
2. still have not made it to unblurred - next one is aug 7
3. took pretty good advantage of the 3 rivers arts festival, saw the zany umbrella circus twice, caught a fair amt of live music, ate a corn dog, what more could you want?
4. water related:
• kayaking: have been once and plan to go again
  
• tried out dragonboating in june with Venture Outdoors (see photo)
• public pools: have decided that polish hill is about the scene and bloomfield is all about the lap swim (and the blue mushroom). still want to check out the highland park pool which is supposed to be big and beautiful
  
5. did not make it to the mattress factory community garden party (blame the wailers)
   
6. still have to try pick-up soccer, but feel like i need to practice my passing/dribbling skillz first
   
7. caught the WYEP summer music festival - don't think i had ever seen schenley plaza so full :)
   
8. still time to catch cinema in the park or a weds walk in the woods
   
9. no dance classes as of yet but might be honing in on hip hop at dance alloy for the fall...
   
10. went on a bike ride from ohiopyle to confluence - super fun, now i just need to get a bike of my own so i can zoom around town!