That Went Fast

by Tyler Zeutenhorst

I don’t have too many words for my last post.

The Chicago Semester was a blast. It has better equipped me, both academically and professionally, for this “real world” everyone talks about. I am extremely grateful for the people and opportunities that made my experience as awesome as it was. The city will be missed.

Until next time…

Tyler Zeutenhorst

Warmer Weather Is Coming

by Tyler Zeutenhorst

The past couple weeks have provided some great opportunities for social activities. A couple weeks back, we had an absolutely beautiful Saturday. Some friends and I decided to head over to the beach (two blocks east of Canterbury Court Apartments) and kick a soccer ball around. It was good to take the socks and shoes off and run around in the sand, especially while taking in the sight of Chicago’s skyline. Hundreds of people were out exercising along the lakefront that day, so that made the environment even cooler. It was a fun afternoon of friends, warm weather and soccer.

Spring also means that baseball season is in full swing (pun intended). The Cubbies were hosting the World Champion San Francisco Giants last weekend, so my roommate (Graham), another friend (Corey) and I decided to ride the Red Line up to Wrigley and take in the game. First, though, we started our afternoon off right by eating lunch at Taco Bell. We then walked to Wrigley, which has a great atmosphere on game day. That day was “Darwin Barney Rawlings Gold Glove Award Replica Day,” so we each got a neat little collectible when we entered the Friendly Confines.

I’m completely aware of what I titled this blog post, but I must be honest and say it was downright cold at the game. There were little white flurries floating around for the first couple innings. The game itself, though, was fun to watch. Though a seventh-inning homer brought the Cubs within one, the Giants made outs and found a way to get the 3-2 victory. Was it a tad chilly? Yeah, but any day with baseball is a good one.

Our post-game activity was one I heard about through my internship. The city of Chicago was celebrating International Tom Hanks Day, an afternoon dedicated to the man himself. One of the women in my office heads up the Chicago chapter of this international celebratory event. They played his films, took themed photos, sold t-shirts and koozies and had a raffle with lots of signed memorabilia. All the proceeds went to charity. Though we didn’t win anything in the raffle, we had a great time in the atmosphere.

The next day, Graham and I attended a concert. The two performing bands were “Carousel” and “Mansions on the Moon.” Both were unfamiliar to me. Graham oriented me with some of their music before the concert, though, so I kind of knew what to expect. Both had kind of a “chill-electronic” style. We really enjoyed it. It wasn’t loud and crazy, and there weren’t many people there, so we could stand wherever we wanted. Graham made a great move by purchasing those tickets.

One week left.  Let’s make it a good one.

Until next time…

Tyler Zeutenhorst

Green Times

by Tyler Zeutenhorst

The city of Chicago sure does like St. Patrick’s Day. Unfortunately, I was out of town when thousands of people gathered on the banks of the Chicago River to watch it magically turn green. I managed to make it down there later that day, though. Here are a few photos of its appearance about six hours after it was dyed.

Our recent Arts in the City events have been unique opportunities. Last week we visited the Old Town School of Folk Music and took in a Zamin concert. This five-piece band highlights Western sounds by combining indie and rock. They set themselves apart, though, by featuring an Eastern voice and language, as well as a harmonium. They did a wonderful job blending different geographical sounds. Genevieve Guimond, the band’s cellist, visited our class prior to the concert and beautifully played some of her favorite pieces. Check out a performance of one of those pieces here.

This week we toured the Loyola University Museum of Art. Much of the exhibit involved religion. In fact, many pieces incorporated Hebrew into their design. Others portrayed Biblical stories in various forms of illustration. The experience challenged us to think about how visual representations of faith have changed over time.

Just today my Urban Planning class toured the Garfield Park Conservatory. If you don’t know what that is, think of it as a zoo, just with plants instead of animals. The purpose of the trip was to learn about and experience green space in an urban environment. The facility was comprised of five main rooms, each having a bit different feel and scenery. Plants from all over the world are housed there. Aside from the fact that the Conservatory had the capability to do a number on one’s allergies, it was cool to smell the freshness and see some green. We haven’t had those opportunities for some months. My favorite portion was the desert. There were hundreds of cacti.

Have a blessed Easter.

Until next time…

Tyler Zeutenhorst