What an Idea!

I love the blog Oh Happy Day, the writer has some of the best party ideas and a series called pop up dinner party which is awesome. She picks a public spot and sets up a table some simple decorations and calls a few friends up for a party! She also tries to keep it under $20 a person for the whole shebang. The past party in San Francisco Chinatown has sold me and I want to try one!

Possible places in Chicago...

The lakefront with a view

Under the South Pond Pavilion at the Lincoln Park Zoo

Ping Tom park in Chinatown

Too bad I am leaving Chicago in a week, eek! Maybe I can squeeze one in or else pop up party in Korea!

Travel Tuesdays: Tour with the Locals

I always love traveling to a city where a friend lives. For me, going to places where locals go and eat is 80% of why I travel. The small cafe, independent store, lively neighborhood or park are always the most memorable.  But what do you do if you don't know a local? I think many cities have caught onto the fact that a cookie cutter tour is not what many tourists want.

In Chicago we have the Chicago Greeter where they pair you up with a resident who has similar interests to take you on a tour. Its an awesome program that I always get great feedback on at the tourism center (one of my many jobs).

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Now that I am going to Korea, I requested a visitor package and they too have a similar program Goodwill Guide. You can have a local give you a tour as well as take you to sights to translate and help with transportation. It is free but if you there is any admission you must pay for your guide, not too shabby.

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Another program is Homestay where you stay with a family instead of a hotel or hostel. Its an great idea to get comfortable and have an authentic view of the culture. Also, it costs only $40 dollars a night, an awesome price if you ask me for room and a great and welcoming experience to the country.

Via a great article in  National Geographic about expanding cities

Now that I know that many cities have programs like these, its going to be the first thing I research after I figure out cities I'm going to.


Also, things I am excited about in Korea and a Chicago photo walk.

The Weekend

This weekend I am going to try to sell  a lot of the stuff I have in a yard sale, visit with friends and thankfully it is the LAST weekend that I will work for hopefully at least a year! I am so excited to have my weekends back. Woohoo!

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U.S.A!

Perfect Weather

I don't have the normal Monday thru Friday week schedule but I still try to make my weekend weekend-like. Today I'm soaking up some sun on one of the most perfect summer day that Chicago has had so far, heading to work and hanging out with some summer drinks ( maybe friends too.)

Lunch Walks

A personal goal of mine is to get better at taking more pictures and have them look nice. I am a tad too timid to start snapping photos of people and I have always associated stopping to take pics with being a tourist. To hone in my skills and get used to stopping for picture time I have decided to take photo walks, and no better time than lunch on a beautiful day.

Hopefully I can keep this up.