Kayaks on the river, by swanksalot

It seems this is the week for kayaking articles!  On her new blog, Unpaved Paradise, my fellow citizen Alyssa Urish tells us why we should hit the river:

“Paddling the Chicago River is a magical adventure,” said Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River. “Whether you are downtown where you can see our world-famous city skyline from the water, further north where the variety of wildlife is remarkable, or on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal where the limestone cuts from when the canal was dug more than 100 years are still visible, it is really a worthwhile experience.”

And over at the Trib, Christopher Borrelli recounts his aquatic dining adventure eating sushi and barbeque whilst afloat.  The article is accompanied by a list of kayak-friendly dining establishments.  The story is fun, but his advice is priceless: "Bring Handi Wipes."

 Obviously influenced by me, the Bulls signed Luol Deng to a six-year deal worth up to $80 million, ending an awkward saga in which Deng threatened to leave the team next year if he didn’t have a contract in place by the start of the Olympics.  The signing is a good one: Despite his mild regression last season, Deng is tall for his position, can ice shots from anywhere inside the 3-point arc, is a pretty good defender (believe it or not, stastically he's been the Bulls’ best defender

My workday was shaken up a bit this afternoon when I came back from lunch and was met with: "Your mom just called from California ... there's been an earthquake."

Friends of the Chicago River

In one of my dazed, post-workday rides out of the city, my eyes caught sight of something that for once, seemed more intriguing than people-watching on the “El”. It was an ad by Friends of the Chicago River, an organization that works to restore the health and well being of the Chicago river to foster a lively ecosystem and a usable open space for the people of Chicago.

Caramel toned skin. Post-barber shop visit, his hairline surrounds his oval shaped face with precision. His freshly pressed white collared shirt stands alone. Oddly enough, he's not wearing a tie. His crisp oxford shirt is only accompanied by a navy blue suit. His style is subtle. His words are concise, yet woven through with a charm that only movie stars possess. He has captivated thousands, shocked millions.

When the bear started handing out smaller bears, I knew I had finally found something truly bizarre.

As readers of this blog - or at least readers of the caption in the upper left corner - might know, this blog is one man's search for a truly alternative culture. Something self-sustaining and utterly, insanely unique and good.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District stands up for the river, at Kinzie Street this morning.

"That little stream, whose crystal waters had never been parted by anything heavier than a canoe, now buoyed the massive barks of traffic, and became polluted with the sewage of a growing city. And thus the great transition came, and we were wont to curse the sinless streamlet for it. To think that poor, innocent, abused, baby stream should for so many years have had anathemas heaped upon it by every one, without a friend to stand up for it, is too bad, too bad."

Edwin O. Gale, 1902, Reminiscences of Early Chicago and Vicinity

The 24th annual Newberry Book Fair kicks off today at noon, featuring more than 100,000 donated books up for grabs and many available for less than $2. Located at The Newberry Library at 60 W. Walton St., the fair is open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Oh, look, it's mid-July, and summer is in full swing. Chicago’s street festivals have outdone themselves yet again, the beach has delivered a few rousing games of volleyball and my winter-white complexion is finally surrendering to the sun. Snow season is a million light-years away, and summer has been, overall, worth the wait.

The women were of the type who wouldn't make you look up from your Sudoku on the L, but on-stage, they were the sexiest I've ever seen.

Last week, I was lucky enough to be taken to the Belmont Burlesque at the Abbey Pub at 3420 W. Grace.

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