Chicagoland Living, First Impressions

Yeah, so about updating the blog -- we are woefully behind. Here are some opening thoughts:

• Oak Park, so far, has been a really good choice for us. Walkable for me, close to work for Hal, very coffee-friendly: a Starbucks across the street and the fantastic Caribou and Intelligentsia a few blocks away. Gorgeous homes (we're still in the market) and interesting people.
  
• I went to the farmers' market yesterday and was overwhelmed by the choices we had for produce and was amused by the Democratic Party's presence (it is Oak Park -- I don't know why I'm surprised -- I am a typical OP resident and I do approve of their message).
  
• We went to Oaktoberfest this weekend to sample local food and good music a few blocks away, and I was amazed by the family-friendliness of what is essentially is a well-behaved 3-block beer garden. It's encouraging to see parents with their toddler kids dancing in front of the stage.
  
• Costco: leading candidate for the secular Promised Land. Enough said.
• The proximity to my family is quite nice (4 hours instead of 10). I need to be better connected, that's for sure.
• I know this sounds strange, but I have many moments where my heart (literally, as Joe Biden would say) swells with gladness in Chicago: riding the Green Line across the Chicago River, absorbing the friendliness of just about everyone, walking streets filled with people, making new acquaintances and connections via Twitter. Everything is big and lacks the ruthless efficiency of Minnesota, but it's friendlier and fairly well-organized and reminds me of a larger and more ambitious Philadelphia.
• Many of my RWJF friends are coming to Chicago for a conference. Much as we're glad to be here, we still miss our Philly friends and are happy to see a few this week. It will tide us over until a more extended visit in the fall.