What Makes You Bloom?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 12:33AM 
Sign from a community garden on W. Chicago Ave.
All photos taken with iPhone, using Camera Bag's Lolo and Helga filters
Saturday and Sunday were full bloom kind of days for me.
My husband, Michael and I, had an overnight getaway to Chicago to celebrate our 13th anniversary. We left our house Saturday with no plans others than hotel reservations, a beautiful day and our convertible to ride in.
I love the kind of days where I can allow them to unfold and just experience the magic that happens.
Our first stop was the iconic Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha. A spot we have passed countless times but had never visited. (Lots of cheese, foodstuffs and touristy items. Vintage Wisconsin at its best.)
Then, we took the scenic drive to Chicago, down Waukegan via Route 41 to Sheridan Drive, along the lake and some beautiful homes.
We stopped at the Baha'i Temple to enjoy its peaceful beauty and to pause to photograph the lovely flowers in the gardens. (I'll share some of these in a post later this week. The flowers there must love the sacred vibe of the place as there were some radiant photographs captured.)
In Evanston, we considered visiting one of my all-time favorite bookstores, Bookman's Alley. But instead stopped into Asinamali, a visual feast of a store — with cool jewelry, dress patterns papering the walls and Gwen Frostic's blockprint nature stationery. (I ended up wtih a lovely and wise Frostic book, Lilies of the Field.)
We had pad thai and panang curry at SABAI Thai and learned to say hello and thank you in Thai before heading into Chicago.
Once downtown, we headed to Armitage Avenue in Lincoln Park. We (really, I) fondled paper at Paper Source, marvelled at the cello class and an amazing singer working the desk at the Old Town School of Folk Music, checked out the custom handbags from 1154 LILL Studio, and sized up the stylish and sturdy bikes at Dutch Bike Chicago.
By late afternoon, we had checked into our lovely room at the Drake Hotel. (Tip: try Priceline for great deals on great hotels.)
With no plans for the evening, conceirge hooked us up with reservations at the Saloon Steakhouse, located within walking distance. It was reasonably priced and very good. (We did feel a bit overdressed, though, as the crowd leaned toward the casual.)
For music aftewards, the conceirege recommended the Drake's Palm Court, where The Flat Cats, a swing band, were playing at 9 p.m.
We had drinks. (Me, San Pellegrino. Him, Maker's Mark.) And we danced. A lot. And the band played many of our favorite songs. (Night Train. Buzz Buzz Buzz. The Way You Look Tonight, to name a few.)
It was almost as fun to dance as it was to watch the regulars spin across the floor. (The Flat Cats a regular feature of the Palm Court and have a loyal local following.)
Sunday morning we slept in and then had a delicious brunch at the Green Zebra in West Town. (Lavender butter with corn madelines, the frittata and Pink Peppercorn-Thyme soda were standouts.)
The entire weekend was wonderful. So filled with ease and all the elements that me make feel most alive: exploring, discovering, experiencing, being with my guy, enjoying good food, dancing, finding the magic, seeing flowers and photgraphing them.
All the kinds of things that make me feel like a flower in full bloom.
Reader Comments (5)
lovely post, and the pics are really neat. it's a helga filter for iphone? interesting.
have you ever used a helga or any of the "lomography" cameras?
also, i love the contrast between the flowers pics you post, in their amazing detail, and these more "old school" pics.
what i like even more is reading about someone happily married. thanks for sharing.
Yeah, there is an app for iPhone called Camera Bag...
http://www.nevercenter.com/camerabag/
What I do is take the photo with my iPhone camera…then open Camera Bag and put the Lolo filter on the filter. Save it. And open up the Lolo photo and then add the Helga filter…and Viola!!
I have not yet used a real Holga or Lomo camera — but would like to. I actually have an Holga camera that I have not yet used. Need to get film and play with it. Or decide to give it away b/c I've had it for, oh, almost 10 years!!
And I will say this about being happily married —that it's something I choose. When I can stand in the joy, and wonder and precious flower that my husband is, I allow the love and happiness that is always there to flow. :-)
This is a gorgeous site. Very well done and interesting. You should make your next trip a trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. You should definitely visit Maker's Mark Distillery. It's the best. Maker’s Mark is located just outside historic downtown Lebanon, the geographic center of the state and true Heart of Kentucky. Come feel the beat! You can learn more about Maker’s Mark and get easy, detailed directions to the distillery at www.HeartOfKentucky.com.
Thanks for taking the time to comment… We are actually heading to North Carolina via KY this summer…I'm sure my husband would enjoy the chance to visit Maker's Mark.
I am planning to visit Chicago in the coming month.I hope i will get time to visit all the places.