Pacific Landing: September 2012

I have converted. I am a bike rider after years of protesting it in Chicago. To be honest, I have heard of too many accidents in city riding and had no desire to take the risk. Lately, we've been cruisin around Abbot Kinney and the beach and I am officially hooked. Went with a Bianchi Cortina hybrid, entry level and I luuuuurve it. Shoutouts to BikeAttack in Santa Monica for helping me find the right one.

HEY GUYS, THE ROOMMATES RODE TO THE BEACH

After a nice beach/surf sesh we cruised over to Lemonade, which was actually amazing. I say "actually" because I went with getting 4 sides instead of main courses. Oh my were they delicious. Topped it off with some blood orange lemonade. I mean, I can't go to a place called Lemonade and not get Lemonade, right?

Brussel sprouts, watermelon salad, kale salad, and some effing awesome pasta that I dont know the name too. I was so full I could barely move.

Woo! Its been the busiest couple of weeks. Things kind of came together really quickly and in a crazy way! I got a job, got an apartment, went back to chicago, packed up my old apartment, threw it on a moving truck, drove to Columbus, saw the Buckeyes play, had a cancelled flight, flew back to LA, started work and now I am permanently here. With the roommate. With...an air mattress.

One of my favorite things to do in Chicago is run on LSD (Lakeshore Drive, le duh). I have to admit, after 3 weeks it was the biggest relief to see that skyline. There is something to be said for familiarity and memories that I seemed to have forgotten until actually saying goodbye. On the last night in town, I made sure to take a walk down to the water and get one last look. So many crazy memories of this city with so many amazing people.

Moving out there for college with my high school best friend and doing nothing but run all over the place doing crazy shit was my life as an 18-year old. Why did our parents let us do that? I met my roommate (boyfriend) here at bar then called Slainte, now called Halsted Harp because they took our IDs and because it was my birthday and the poor guy was in my path of destruction. Who knew 5 years later we'd be LA roommates? I hailed from Kentucky until legally of age to drink. Had snowball fights down Clark street in the middle of Wrigleyville. Put swimming pools in my dorm room. A walk down Lincoln in purple tights, blue shoes, and a black dress. Ashley Pantano is the only person who will ever understand this. Terrorized Lincoln Park for a good couple of years of my life. I lived in an apartment extremely unproportionally sized for 3 people where we had a FABULOUS Derby party.

I lived behind Wrigley Field (undesirable). Fell in love with Gold Coast. Learned about the best bar in the whole world, Zebra lounge. Seriously, I dont know why but being there makes me the happiest. However, Bar Deville is a VERY close second. My favorite people have spent nights with my there singing with a piano player that probably hates us. BARRY! I realize I have gone on a crazy, nostalgic, tangent, but I have spent a lot of time hating on Chicago when in reality, it holds the most amazing memories for me.

I currently have no clue where my stuff is because moving companies are really fun to deal with. But this is what it looked like the last time I saw it. Goodbye fabulous Chicago view!

And below, we have my hometown, Columbus Ohio. Dont hate on Columbus.