Chicago Rules

Rule number one when living in Chicago, always keep your digital camera with you, you never know who you'll see. Last week was J Lo and Sarah Jessica Parker, if only I had my camera today, or a charged camera phone I could have gotten a pic of my favorite cook, Rick Bayless, he's the ultimate cool geek. I love watching his cooking show, it almost makes me want to try more mexican food, almost. Rule number two when living in Chicago, always check the return policy where ever you shop, especially yarn stores. There's a rather nice large yarn store I go to sometimes, but I made the mistake of purchasing two sets of needles, addis and DP bamboo, spent over 34 bucks, only to find that the addi's loosen me stitches(I am always on guage) so that the recommended needles are too big and they wouldn't allow me to exchange them, it had only been 5 days! I couldn't do a swatch to check it out, because I didn't have the correct needles, which I had to buy and now can't return, a catch 22. Alas, I went to another yarn store where I know the owner, she sells my stitch markers, and she kindly let me test drive a smaller size needle with no obligation to buy! but I did. For those Local knitters the mean store is Arcadia and the nice store is Nina's. Speaking of yarn stores, I went to two grand openings last week, Knit1 and Loopy Yarns. I like Karen at Knit1, she's really nice and I'm teaching a sock class in October, but she has no product! On the other hand beside her name brand staple of Cascade, she wants to carry indepent local yarn companies, which is nice. Loopy yarns has great prices, case in point, Cascade 220 is 6.45 at her store, Arcadia 8.00, size 3 16" addis at Loopy 14.40 at Arcadia 17.50, you do the math. Up side to Loopy is that its in the south loop, so close I can take the bus there, shop and be back to work in 30 minutes flat, Arcadia has guest appearances and book signings, I saw Debbie Stoller there and this weekend is the Yarn Harlot. Rule 3, know your computer, use your computer, it is your guide to Chicagoland. I was happy to get my fav author, Diana Gabladons new book on tuesday, and even happier to know she's coming to town tomorrow for a book signing. I can understand the allure of the independent bookstore, but I have to drive all the way to Naperville in Chicago rush hour traffic to get my damned 1000 page book signed, of which I would never have known about if I hadn't check her website, ah the glorious computer....So that's it so far. I have dedicated Saturday to UFO day, I'm going to finish-up, or try to at least, several sweaters that just have to be sewn together. I wore the Martha poncho today, I felt a little self-conscience today, but then decide, what the hell, it was a big hit a work.