So, I will continue talking about all restaurant/city/music/”green”-related things on there. You can follow me at www.twitter.com/saramdinges

You don’t have to join Twitter to follow someone (right, Mom?)

I am taking a serious break from blogging. Mostly to re-evaluate. I have been considering this for a few weeks now, and I think a break is just what I need. Here’s the reasoning behind my story:

** When I created my blog concept, I wanted it to be focused on my experiences with living and working in the city: the complexities of urban life and the beauty of it. Mostly this boils down to experiences in my neighborhood- for that is where I live and work. And eat. And get my hair cut. And go to the bank. And see colleagues. And so on. In the past few months, my job has become a big deal. I am not a big deal- but my work is a big deal to me- and drawing boundaries between my professional life and personal life is becoming more and more needed and valuable. I constantly want to reflect on my experiences in my neighborhood, with my new and fun career, and my life in community development– but I only want to express those things to a few people. I don’t want my musings to be searchable. I am still trying to figure out how to make this relationship work: personal and professional- private and public- bloggable and shush-able. How to balance that equation is still something I am figuring out.

** The night I decided to blog, I felt in touch with my creative side. I felt a deep need to nurture my creativity and blogging has been such a fun way to do that! I have enjoyed writing; sharing my humor; and my reflections. And overly using semi-colons because I think they rock. However, I am a true believer that seasons come and go, and what is life-giving in one season may not work in another. I was always skeptical about blogging but I tried it. And I liked it a lot. But now I feel like I want to put my energy towards more life-giving outlets. Who knows? I will probably blog again in another season…moving to a new place; a new career; to talk about my book deal; or about starting a family…all sorts of possibilities lie ahead!!

** And because seasons come and go, I have found myself in a season of being totally burned out by social media, constant “connecting”, and sitting infront of a computer for most life functions. At work, we have been embracing as many social media outlets as possible because that is the future (or the “now”) and I think it is great! It’s the smart thing to do. Embrace it! Love it! However, I am quasi-afraid that between blogs, twitter, RSS feeds, iphones, etc, etc my brain might shut down by the time I am 40 from overload. I am finding it harder to find quiet. And to shut the world out a little. And most important, to enjoy God’s presence. He(r) voice is always struggling to find an open space in my life.

** Lastly, I am an oober-connector. I love questions. I love coffee dates. I love long phone conversations (since I was about 9). I love talking. For me, the strange part of blogging (and Fbook and Twitter) is that I feel like I am connecting, but I am not. I feel like I am sharing parts of myself, but no one has to respond. It’s strange! I still want to share my fun city must-do lists, and my reflections, and new dislikes and likes, but I want to share them with a friend, a co-worker, a relative, and I want to converse about them. This used to be the only option.

Soooo….all of this is to say, I am going to take a break. I cannot quite accept shutting down completely; but it might happen if this break goes well. Thanks for tuning in!!! It has been great fun for me. And I have enjoyed getting to post about things because I think they are post-worthy, fun , and interesting. I have enjoyed being both urban and romantic. I have enjoyed reflecting on the city: how it soothes and torments; how it’s harsh and beautiful; and how I love it and need to escape it. It is truly an adventure!

This weekend, being married is fun because you get to celebrate your partner’s successes as if they are your own. Peter graduated this weekend with TWO degrees from Loyola, a school that has more gen ed’s than it knows what to do with! After a semester of doing student teaching extraordinarily well, he got to walk across the stage TWICE and be celebrated for his accomplishments.

What I have learned from my first year of marriage (and today is nine months…) that your partner’s accomplishments and celebrations deeply resonate inside you. They bring great joy and there is SO much depth in sharing that joy together.

I am actually sharing that joy so much that I am awake at 4:45am (my latest post ever!) because my stomach hurts from eating so much red meat in honor of my husband…

…But even with a stomach ache that won’t go away, I am so darn content and proud.

* This is the view we had all weekend!!

artistic shot by Peter of our view

* As a wedding gift, we were given a dinner at Trump Tower’s Sixteen. I chose the tasting menu by Australian chef Frank Brunacci and it included:

seared veal, tabbouleh
crispy maine lobster salad, breakfast radish, avocado mousse, meyer lemon puree
hazlenut crusted scallops, fennel salad, bouillabaisse reduction
lamb loin, stuffed tinkerbell peppers, porcini linguini
cheese beignet with spiced pecans, strawberry relish
irish coffee deconstructed, coffee infused cream, vanilla souffle cream, bailey’s ice cream, crunchy coffee tuile, whiskey gelee

* Time in public space, people-watching, chatting, eating a picnic (from L’apetito in the John Hancock, gotta try it!)

the park behind Water Tower and infront of the MCA

* To get in touch with my inner-Chicagoan, we had stuffed pizza at “the” Gino’s East. It was my first time there and we were asked about 5 times where we were from. “Uhhh…Andersonville.” “Oh, you didn’t come far!”

* Although I miss the hills of western Pennsylvania, I love how you can see for miles in Chicago. The sky always looks like it could swallow you. And the lake always looks like an extension of the sky.

looking north

We finally made it to a Tuesday night at Big Jones- Fried Chicken Night! Big Jones is a southern-styled restaurant in A-ville with seasonal, organic, and most importantly, DELICIOUS food. The style of the restaurant is very New Orleans. Every Tuesday is fried chicken night- where you can get cornbread with honey butter, homemade mashed potatoes, and collard greens, and a large amount of fried chicken for $18. Last night they had a prie fixe which included an appetizer of crakers and pickeled veggies with pimento dip, gumbo, the fried chicken, and then your choice of Mississippi mud pie or Red velvet cake for dessert. YUM!

But because I am a woman of deep loyoalty and wonderful consistency (I like to think…), I didn’t get the fried chicken. I know, I know– I have been so excited about it! But to my fault, I usually find something that I love and stick with it. It’s how I’ve always been. (In the 13 years I have eaten at Chili’s, I’ve only ordered one item from the menu!) I ordered the tall-grass fed burger with fontina cheese and aioli, and a side of mac & cheese. ( so standard, I know…)

In the field of community development (which falls under the larger umbrella of Chicago planning and development) this is a huge victory. The flagship result of this ordinance is that TIF (tax increment financing) information will become public– online and searchable.

TIF districts are economic development tools used are all over; but here in Chicago they are a certain someone’s (ahem ahem M. Daley) favorite economic development tool and used widely! TIF districts are pretty much tax-exempt. They freeze tax monies usually going to schools, parks, and healthcare, to spur development in blighted areas. A perfect example of good intention, bad delivery…

The TIF then acrues the tax money which then can be allocated for development. The biggest problem is that no one ever knows how much a TIF has. Only the aldermen know the numbers, and it is hard for anyone to get their hands on TIF money. So it just sits. And makes more money, and more money, and more money….And then it is probably used for something completely discretionary and only chosen by a select few (ahem ahem the Sh-malypics).

So, if you have made it this far with me, my main point is that today’s ordinance was an honorable win in city hall. To make TIF information public is a great step in ensuring public investment and participation in city policy.

It reminds me of my favorite community development quote: “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”   ~ Jane Jacobs

Today is a great day to care a little more than usual. I used to think that Earth Day was about planting trees in front of my school. Now I am pondering quite bigger topics: how many fossil fuel miles were used to transport the Angus beef hamburger I ate for lunch; does the city I live in really recycle; with all this rain, where is the stormwater going and how is it affecting our waterstream; how can I not throw so much away; what is it going to take for me to remember my reusable bags??

Although I do not know the answers to these questions, I will think about them a little harder today. And will care a little bit more.

In my perspective, it’s no coincidence that my mother’s birthday falls on Earth Day…the day when caring is cool. My mother bred in me a huge capacity to care. We were raised as open-minded, big-dreaming, you-can-do-anything kids. She cares about a lot of important issues, the ones that make the least sense, and we were taught to do the same.

So, here is to caring, and to you, Mom! Happy earth day birth day!

My mother, who grew up in Miami, has always been the biggest fan of seasons. As kids we would ask her, “Why the heck would you move from Miami to Pittsburgh!??!!?” It was unfathomable to think one could disown 365 days of nice weather for the rollercoaster ride of 4 seasons, and Pittsburgh winters. But my mom would always say, “I love having seasons! It is so boring without them!”

This sentiment has tried true in my becoming a Chicagoan more than ever. The deep appreciation I have for Spring goes beyond an excitement to wear flats! The budding flowers; pedestrian-filled streets; crowds of people by the lake; outdoor sidewalk cafes; cool breeze; living grass and trees gives me so much inner joy! Once again..nature prevailed. And brought sunshine, newness, new life, and a fresh breeze to all of us who endured the winter. (There is a life analogy buried in there, but I won’t go there now!)

So Spring, I appreciate you…Thanks for coming!!

And with the advent of Spring, comes a whole new “what I am going to do in the city this Spring” list!! Coming soon.

1. Spiaggia

2. L20 everything about L20 and chef/owner Laurent Gras seems amazing and out of my league. Probably what is so enticing about dining there…

3. Sepia and Alinea tied I could always pick up the newly released Alinea cookbook but for $31.50, I would rather put it towards a meal!

4. Branch 27 brand new converted Chicago Public Library opened as an American bistro…not too pricey, but a pick due to hipness, newness, and adaptive reuse!

5. Anteprima in my ‘hood, but a little out of my reach for a simple meal. But since I walk by it every day, it’s probably at front of my mind