Things To Do

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Mom, Dad, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been on the stage of Lyric Opera. I was in the dressing rooms and the rehearsal space. I met the man who makes the wigs and I hefted a cleaver and gazed at a crown.

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, and each one has personality and history. It’s also a foodie’s paradise, and the restaurants and specialty shops reflect each neighborhood’s unique characteristics.

Expectation’s a funny thing.

Last week was Money Smart Week Chicago, a free week of seminars, tours, and workshops all designed around money. Being the geeks that we are, my mom and I were really excited for the Friday afternoon tour of the Federal Reserve. (It’s understandable; she’s a CPA/CIA and I’m an entrepreneur: two people intimately concerned with the topics of money and cash flow.)

We milled about with the other tour-goers until Jerry Nelson, a white-haired man in a gray suit, called us in to a small theater to watch a 12-minute video. He started with a Q&A session. Which lasted 48 minutes (give or take a minute or two).

Don’t get me wrong – it was fascinating, for a geek. Even though we were in a dark room and I’d gotten no more than 4 hours of sleep each night of the previous week I didn’t worry about nodding off. Of course, that may have had something to do with the Starburst candies my mom kept sneaking me, just like when we were in church and she’d pass me a Lifesaver to keep me quiet. (To this day every time I go to church I can taste the cherry and pineapple flavors.)

My parents love Ravinia. Especially my father. A few years ago my mom thought she was being transferred to San Antonio and my father’s biggest lament was that he’d miss Ravinia. It wasn’t that he’d be across the country from his children and grandchild.