Express yourself, Whatever you do, uh, Do it good, uh! We definitely did it good! I’ll start at the end and then make our way back. My mom pulled out one of my favorite plates, plump strawberries framing the center, ready to full of the …
A dozen years ago, I went to an art show that changed my life.
A new friend, who had patiently washed sushi rice 5-10 times to my precise specifications (a story for another day), invited me to join her and two of her friends to see the photographs of Vivian Maier. There was quite a buzz around Maier at that time with the kind of backstory that sells papers and piques interest. Born in New York City in the 20s to a French mother and Austrian father, she had hopped back and forth between the States and France until age 25. Before her main profession, she had worked in a NYC sweatshop. She then moved to Chicagoland where she was a nanny for the next 40 years.
She would often go downtown alone (and sometimes with her charges in tow) and take arresting photos of Chicago’s inhabitants such as workers under the L, children playing or more likely working, families passing storefronts, and spectacles.
And in her hometown of New York.
Back to that exhibition, Finding Vivian Maier: Chicago Street Photographer, 2011. Shortly before Maier passed away, a trove of photographs and numerous negatives were found. Most of her negatives had never been developed. She had spent her last years destitute and unable to pay her rent and storage. As a result, the bulk of her work was snapped up for a song. Images were shared online, and not surprisingly, the public was eager for more. And from that, a lovely show at the Chicago Cultural Center captivated countless visitors and art lovers. Looking at each image with my old and two strangers was the gel for two friendships that are now incredibly deep twelve years later. Here’s to new paths!
Intentional. To kick off the new year, my friends at PostScript asked me to be their guest writer for their lovely blog, In the Loop. This month’s theme is coffee but I was encouraged to write about anything so I did both. If you’re interested …
Like most people, the fairy tales read to me were the mostly sweet versions. Sure, women were hexed by nefarious enemies, harassed by wicked step-relatives, or resigned to a permanent dormant state with the bite of a crimson apple. Overall, though, they ended with our …
Many moons ago, I spent a few glorious weeks in Spain and I tasted everything I could imagine. I mean everything. I could write a book on the dishes and drinks I enjoyed, each day brought one revelation after another.
When I think of that first trip, I remember countless moments and foods. A favorite combination of red pepper, onion, and tomato has become a tried-and-true addition to most dishes, Spanish or not.
Like most versions, my paella always begins with that mix. Saffron, of course, gives the characteristic color and inimitable flavor. The trinity provides the backbone. Oh, what a backbone!
For more than twenty years, we’ve celebrated Christmas Eve by celebrating with Seven Fishes, an assortment of fish dishes sometimes in the double-digits. This year, all seven dishes were snug in a golden bed of bomba rice. Please tell me what you think.
“There’s beauty in the day. There’s beauty in the night.” ~ Claudette Dudley Living a life of wonder seems to be a good bet: an interesting corner, path, neighborhood, town, or city— wonder leads to wandering that often leads to something quite magical. Here’s to …
Ain’t life grand? In the image above, a boy and his bubble are captured by photographer, Marvin E. Newman, in 1950s Chicago. Immediately coming to mind at first glance was the moment of both intention and anticipation: chewing the gum so one can blow a …
Onion Dip for Breakfast is taking a class at the University of Chicago. By that, I mean that the women of this site are jointly enrolled in this class, Explorations of Mars, together. Each week, we learn, listen, and share our ideas on the limitless fascination with our neighboring planet. Is there life on Mars? Has there been life? Could we live there?
When one thinks of living elsewhere, of course one’s mind wanders to the question of what a good life is in the first place. Are we just existing, making do, thriving, or dare we say it, flourishing?
One thought on my mind for years has been whether some of us have given up on Earth, ready to move on to new lands as if we’re planetary pioneers going west. Or wayyyyyy north…
That idea suggests that it’s too late to care and nurture this place we call home. As billionaires launch plans in outer space, we earthlings navigate the natural and built environments.
This planet, with all of its flavors, fascinates, inspires, nurtures me. I love it here.
This month the Black Garden co-sponsored a monthlong film festival by the nonprofit, HotHouse, featuring Afro-Cuban women. Each documentary highlighted a different woman’s story and I was reminded once again that not all stories are told and certain ones are perennially left out of history. …
