An Ode to Chicago

It’s tough to wrap up over a decade of living in Chicago but here we go..

I moved to Chicago in August of 2000, Mom & Jim dropped me, my bed and clothes off at my first studio apt on Commonwealth. It was one big room with a view of the brick building next door. Myia came the following spring and would chase shadows of birds.. I had no couch, no tables, no kitchen utensils and no boyfriend.. I left the city with soul mate, his 30 chairs, two beds, a full kitchen and many memories..

Girls Weekend… Just about every year my mom and sister’s showed up on my doorstep and let down their hair for a wild weekend of shopping, shows, hair appointments, dinners and generally making fun of their little sister.

Nights Out… Dressed in latest Forever 21 fashions and Nine West Outlet shoes, we hit up every new bar in North of Division and West of Ashland, sipping Cosmopolitans, dancing till 3 am, and then hitting the late night bars.. Now that I have finally paid off my credit cards.. I can honestly say it was all worth.

Little Visitors ... I enjoyed seeing the city through my nephews and nieces' eyes.. everything was so new and they appreciated the small things like Public Transportation...

WOMspace or Word of Mouth, David and I created the space to showcase up and comming artist in an invited home environment. We had a total of five shows: David Schnuckel's Functional Pairs and Narrative Vessels; Nancy Rosen’s Figurative Essence; Alice Berry's Parade of Colors; Dillon Yothers' Opposites Define and Daniel Britt's Documentary Photography.

JJ! Need I say more..

Our favorite thing to do in the city was to walk the town and have lunch in new spot.

Our 8 year anniversary is fast approaching next month..

Mom & Dad Dilworth's annual Fur Coat visit in January during negative temps.

Having my Dad visit was always a treat. He put up with me getting lost in the city, turkey dinners at Midnight, rushing to the next spot and generally crazyiness...

One of the best days of my life..