Scenes from My Commute: Pilsen

I made a big decision yesterday: I’m going to start riding my bike to work. After doing the math it’s obvious that it’s a net gain for me.

                               Train and/or bus          Bike

• Time:               60-75 minutes             40-45 minutes
• Cost:               $86                             Free
• Reading:          Lots                            At lunch
• Exercise:         Zip=Fatass                  Tons=Endorphin High
• Stress level:     Code Red                    Neutralized

Plus, the city just looks different from a bike; I get a chance to see where I live, and occasionally stop and take pictures. I start near Wrigleyville, work my way through Boys Town, through Lincoln Park, Downtown, Greektown, University Village, Little Italy and, if I want to go a couple extra blocks and get one of the best burritos in America, I can go to Pilsen, one of the most colorful neighborhoods in the city.

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Kicking off June

The weather in Chicago can be hit or miss, especially in spring, but the last three weekends have been perfect.We’ve been to a beach party (and just hanging out at the beach), Avengers party (and played an Avengers game), and taken full advantage of all the neighborhood parks (and Dairy Queen).

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I Want the Metal Slides Back!

Metal slides are a thing of the past.  Yeah, they get hot and dangerously slippery when wet, but they’re a lot more fun…And they don’t shock the hell out of you on the way down.

She may be smiling, but one touch will send shockwaves into your spine!

Daaa-aad!

How can you tell when your kids are sick of having their picture taken?

Bubbles!

We picked up a “bubble wand” while at our friendly neighborhood Target. Jack, of course, destroyed them all.

Grrrr, says the Polar Bear

Spring is here (even though this morning it was 38 degrees), which means a Sunday trip to the Lincoln Park zoo.

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The Hearth

There’s nothing like a warm fire on a cold Christmas night.

Explore

One of our favorite places to take the kids is the Exploratorium in Skokie. There’s a three-story, kid-sized climbing area, a water feature, and plenty of space to run, all indoors and for only a few bucks.

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The Christmas Tree v2011

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This year’s tree; extra piney.

Feeding Snugglebunny

If there’s one think Riley knows how to do it’s make sure her animals are well taken care of.