Wicker Park

“20 years ago this neighborhood felt cool to browse for vintage clothes and used books - it’s changed a lot but still has appeaL for kids. Highlights: Vaca’s Creamery for vegan root beer floats, Reckless Records, Myopic Books, the 606 (walk east to end at a great playground).”

“I read a Substack called The Seasonalist that focuses on “joyful anticipation”, so to get out of a rut I try to build it into my life in different ways. One of the easiest is to pick a place I regularly pass on my commute that catches my eye, and make a real plan to stop and actually go in and see it in person. Maybe it’s a bar or restaurant that I make a plan to try with a friend or family member, or it’s a shop that I make time to go into and browse, or it could even be a park that I bring a book to one evening. The point is just to a. break up the same old same old and b. to go from wondering what a place is like to actually experiencing it. It’s a way to keep things from getting stale! (Also, ignore the photo & link, I just posted those for RL tax since it’s a neighborhood I pass through on my own commute!)”