A Chicago Weekend

A couple weekends ago I ran home to Chicago for a meet up of friends for a meal “at” Alinea (that’s getting its own post). Here’s all the stuff from the trip that wasn’t Alinea.

I got in late Friday night, but not too late for some Johnnie’s

Saturday morning I walked down to the Oak Park Farmer’s Market with Emily via the High School campus.

Then I went down to the West Loop to meet up with Heather at the new McDonalds headquarters where they have a special McDonalds that serves a rotating menu of McDonalds food from around the world. We had a cheeseburger from the Netherlands, poutine from Canada, and a Chilean McFlurry. It was a very, very nice McDonalds and a magnificent experience.

Just like the menu!

Corporate boardroom or site of my next birthday party?

Then we drove downtown and walked down to the hotel where everyone else was staying before heading over to the Art Institute.

“Prayer Rug” all these speakers were playing recordings of different prayers

The big draw of the Art Institute right now: a Jonathan Singer Sargent show

We found Trevor!

Next: a little Bean time!

What I learned: this guy’s brother works at the BYU Bookstore, but he and his sister are RM’s and attend a school in Ohio. They were on their first trip to Chicago.

And to end: More Michigan Avenue walking, a pizza (not pictured) and the Maggie Daley Park.

Next Up: A meal beyond meals!

A Friday Night Times Square Walk

A few Friday nights ago I decide to walk to and through Times Square taking pictures with the goal of taking pictures that were different from my usual pictures. Or at least a little different. You may have seen a lot of these in an Instagram Story after the walk. Well, now they are a blog post, too!

So This Is Where Colors Come From!

On Thursday I had the privilege and pleasure to attend the opening night party for the Color Factory. I was surprised by how much fun I had there (I really had a whole, whole lot of fun) and even more surprised by how many old friends I ran into there. So many friends were there that I hadn't seen in ages! Everyone was just in town celebrating their connections to the Color Factory. And what connection was I celebrating? My friend Rebecca was a big helper on the Color Factory project and she did me the solid of inviting me out to the opening. Thank you, Rebecca, for getting me in to see all the colors and eat all the treats.

And if you're asking "What is the Color Factory?" I think the following photos will answer that pretty well. But you can also go to their website to learn more. Or just read me say "It's a procession of color-themed art installations with treats in most of the rooms."

Standing in the shadow of a Soho hotel, we find the Color Factory space. I don't even make it inside before I start having run ins, spotting my friend Eric and then my friends Angie and Greg.

Inside the lobby and, yep, there's Tessa. And then Mindy from BYU appears with her husband Jeff. And Sharon, my old neighbor. And then, finally, Rebecca, my previously mentioned Color Factory connection. (these people aren't all pictured here right now but they'll turn up later)

After a lot of time talking to my reunions, into the Color Factory I go. (By now I should have mentioned that I was there with Patricia).

See, there’s Sharon!

Oh look it’s Lindsay and Bryce!

Patricia and I drew really good blind contour line portraits of each other.

There’s Mindy and Jeff

(some of these balloon room people are strangers)

While I was in the color disco I met famous NYC illustrator Jason Polan and my favorite Mexico City Instagrammer, Abby Clawson Low — everyone buy her book when it comes out!!

In this room you had the option of getting spun and I got a lot more spun than I was expecting. I'm still feeling a little nauseated from it.

The grand finale was an absolutely gigantic ball pit in a completely unexpected shade of blue (paired with blue gelato of absolutely no flavor).

Claire and co-workers (tbh, Claire was the one person I had a hunch I might see at the Color Factory).

But my least expected reunion was Karen, who I hadn’t seen since our trip to Brazil about 9 years ago. Bonus points for her being with Clay, who I hadn’t seen for long enough that I didn’t even know he lived in New York now.

And here’s Greg and Angie.

People picking out their Color Factory gift.

This is a map that our Rebecca made.

A little more Color Factory and then back to the lobby for more reunions, like seeing Jared and his niece and then watching the Color Factory brain and work trust take a group photo.

So, in conclusion, I really had a good time at the Color Factory. Good enough to think as I left "Maybe I'll come back to the Color Factory again?"