Award Winning Film at a Price that Can't Be Beat

With the Memorial Day weekend about to kick off, today's Freebie has a "thankful to the men and women who have served our country" kind of vibe. A few weeks back, the hubby and I had the chance to stop by the Cultural Center for a screening of the documentary film Hell and Back Again. The screening was a part of the ITVS Community Cinema series. (have I mentioned how much I love the Chicago Cultural Center?)

In addition to being nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary in 2012, Hell and Back Again also won the Cinematography AND Grand Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance film festival. After experiencing it - and that is what you do, you don't "watch" it you experience it - I can attest this film is a work of art.

It is the astounding story of a soldier's time in and return home from the war in Afghanistan. It is a must see.

And I have good news for you. Public television is making it possible for you to see this masterpiece from the comfort of your living room as a part of its Independent Lens collection.  Independent Lens is an Emmy award winning series aired weekly on PBS. If you are in Chicago, Hell and Back Again will air on Monday May 28th @9pm on WTTW. Set your DVR. If you aren't in Chicago, please check your local listings and don't miss your chance to see this film for free.

There is no doubt, this documentary made me even more thankful for our service men and women. It made me even more amazed by the bravery and sacrifice they and their families exhibit. It made me grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the war and a handful of its participants. 

Have you seen Hell and Back Again?

If so, what did you think?

The Cultural Center's  ITVS Community Cinema series is winding down for the summer. But there is one more chance to catch a freebie screening. At 6:30pm on Tuesday, May 29th they will be showing the documentary Strong. See you there?

 

Friending As An Adult

Relationships are hard work. Meeting people, cultivating a friendship, and then finding time in our busy lives to maintain and grow those relationships take time, effort and perseverance. In Rachel Bertsche's book MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend, she proves that.

Bertsche moved to Chicago to finally "share a zip code" with her boyfriend/fiance. By doing so, she left her home, her life long friends and her comfort zone. Two years after their move she found herself longing for local friendships that resembled those she had back in New York City. So Bertsche decided to put in the work. She spent a year focusing on friendship. Going on 52 girl-dates (one each week), she hoped to find a new BFF.

In order to go out on 52 dates, she had to meet 52 prospects and have the courage to ask them to be her friend. This is no small task. But it is one that Bertsche tackles with ingenuity, a sense of humor and occasionally a twinge of desperation.

{image source}

Rachel Bertsche is a writer, journalist and editor by trade. She is also another example of a writer who has turned a successful blog into a published book. Her writing style is conversational and accessible. She weaves her academic research on friendship into her personal narrative with ease. With a literary voice that is likable and occasionally self-deprecating the book is a fun, quick read.

Maybe I enjoyed it because I can relate. I remember being in Chattanooga after two years and wondering if I would ever make real friends. And now, having recently moved to Chicago I find myself once again on the hunt. This time, though, I have Bertsche's book to use as tool.

To meet her "girl dates," Bertsche relied on set ups, she actively pursued new hobbies, and even posted a want ad (which was actually more of an article than a traditional want ad). I was inspired by how proactive and purposeful she was. Rather than passively waiting for friendship to develop, she put in the work. She put herself out there. She admitted that she was looking to develop new friendships.

Thankfully, because she was in Chicago, I can easily follow some of her leads. There are numerous ways to connect with people here and I'm looking forward to giving them a try. Between Chicago Meetup (a website which connects people through shared interests) and GrubwithUs (small gatherings at local restaurants to get acquainted with strangers over a shared meal) I have several options in the coming weeks. Bertsche also suggested volunteering as a way of meeting new friends. So, taking her lead, I've signed up to work at the Printer's Row Lit Fest this year. Although I haven't set a deadline and I'm not as determined to make friends NOW as Bertsche was, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.

Making friends as an adult is tricky business. There's more effort involved in cultivating adult friendships than the ones we develop in school. Bertsche proves that in her book. But, she also proves that it can be done. So with a little bit of ingenuity, a healthy dose of patience, and the ability to put myself out there, I have no doubt local friendships are in my future too.

Do you have any friend making tips to share?

And Just Like That - They Were Gone

NATO and its craziness has come and gone. Happily, just as I hoped, things settled down last night and life is back to normal. As quickly as the barricades went up, they all came back down.

Thanks to the incredible work of the Chicago Police Department and the largely peaceful and respectful behavior of the protesters, it was even safe enough to venture out and snap a few pictures during the festivities.



Even Protesters Need Their SPF







My first Protest March - I just took pictures





Feeling kind of grateful to have witnessed history. Feeling even more grateful that it's over.

Have you ever been involved in a march?

If photography is your thing... head over to A Night Owl Blog for an Instagram linky party.

Mmm Mmm Monday: Southport Grocery

On Saturday morning I ventured out into a very quiet city to meet a few new friends for breakfast. I admit, I shuddered a bit as I agreed to meet at eight in the morning. But as I sat on the virtually empty train traveling to Southport Grocery and Cafe (3552 N Southport Ave, Lakeview) it dawned on me that that little shudder is a clear indication of just how spoiled I have become. Life is good and breakfast with new friends, now matter what time we meet, is just one indication of that.

It turns out, because we chose to meet so early, we had our pick of tables and there was absolutely no wait to be seated. If the reviews of Southport Grocery posted on Yelp are trustworthy, this is not typically the case. Some people admitted to waiting longer than an hour. Wow. Score one for early birds!

We took a seat on the patio and were greeted by an enthusiastic and very chatty server. His welcoming attitude created a very relaxed, casual vibe. As we waited for our coffee, the restaurant filled up quickly and after we were served I knew why.


I ordered the bruschetta. It was a heaping plateful of crostini, scrambled eggs, smoked chicken sausage, tomato-red onion-balsamic mix and queso fresco. Topped with ribbons of fresh basil, the dish was bright, flavorful and delicious. My only criticism was that because the crostini was sliced so thin, it didn't stand up to the tomato juice. Most of it was soggy before I got through the enormous portion. But what the dish lacked in texture it more than made up for in flavor.

While looking at the menu I was tempted by the cupcake pancakes. Turns out, so was Heather. I'll admit that when she ordered them, I celebrated. Although we're just getting to know each other, I was hopeful I could steal a bite. Thankfully, Heather offered before I had to ask. {Thank you, friend.} Just as I expected, those pancakes were breakfast and dessert all rolled into one.

This time we were good bloggers.
After we ate, we took a moment to browse the market shelves. Filled with tasty treats - mostly made in Chicago - those shelves are a food lover's dream. And then there's the bakery. A couple bites of the pancakes convinced me to grab a couple cupcakes to go. I was impressed and tempted by the selection of sweet goodies inside. Next time, I plan to bring home a few truffle truffles.
Although Southport Grocery and Cafe focuses on breakfast and lunch, once a month they switch things up. Their Secret Supper is an "underground dinner" with a surprise seasonal menu. To find out when the next Secret Supper will be, find them on Facebook or Twitter. I'm looking forward to reserving my spot soon. Dinner at Southport sounds pretty close to perfect. I figure about the only thing that could make my next visit better than this one is if I got to sleep a little bit later.