Maya got her postcard!

And each lucky recipient will enjoy their photo published on this awesome blog. See, the U.S. Postal Service still works.

Click here to read about my postcard collection.

On "The Playboy Club," lying to your children and black squirrels in our midst

There is so much content not allowed access to my brain (weather, football, Republican candidates, etc.) that it should come as no surprise to you that I didn't know that Hugh Hefner (spell check knew to spell his last name with one f, I didn't) started the Playboy Club in Chicago. And the only reason I learned this fact is that earlier this summer I passed a film crew on the street as I was walking to the beach with my two sons (who I hope never have subscriptions to the magazine) and learned from a deckhand (or whatever they call helpers on a shoot) that they were filming in Evanston for ABC's new Playboy show. I lied to my boys, told them National Geographic was shooting black squirrels in our midst.

We walked by that shoot way back in June and I brushed it out of my mind, but now I can't avoid the topic - every media outlet is writing out, debating about, reviewing the new show. And because I am so grossed out by the concept of bunnies, I am thrilled to see the show getting panned and Hugh getting slammed. Below is the most damaging part of Nancy Franklin's recent review of the show from New Yorker Magazine and I'm thrilled to share it and a link to the rest of the review.

“The Playboy Club,” in its bid to be taken seriously, also calls attention to Hefner’s self-proclaimed progressiveness about race a little too often. Hefner’s philosophy, in fact, is a narrow one, his idea of sexual freedom unimaginative and regressive. He’s a man who “loves” girls but appears not to notice the existence of women. A look into Hefner’s world is like watching a grown man playing with Barbie dolls—it’s a spectacle that can really be appreciated only by other grown men who like to play with Barbie dolls.

Click here to read the full review.

I rarely celebrate bad reviews but this show comes a little close to home (literally) and hopefully my boys won't see it and realize their mom was lying about the black squirrels in our midst.

On Guido Degliantoni, seashells, things we inherit and butts in the air

My grandfather Guido Degliantoni was an avid beach collector and turned his findings into mosaics, two are pictured here with his autograph. I inherited his habit and you'll often find me at the beach, butt up in the air, scouring the sand for treasures. My seashell collection was recently unearthed during our move to Evanston and my sons have been busy organizing it.

Postcards: Announcing our new address while throwing the U.S. Postal Service a bone all thanks to an ugly divorce and cross country move

My friend went through an ugly divorce and gave away items that reminded him of his ex-wife, many of the items now decorate our walls and spin on our record player. In addition to records, butterfly collections and art, we scored a postcard collection housed in a Romeo y Julieta cigar box. Most of the postcards in the collection are from European castles and Norwegian landscapes, he didn't explain the collection, but it's all very random and eclectic.

One theme in the collection is 3D postcards all printed in Tokyo, Japan, and purchased at the Asahi Trading CO. N.Y.C. There are seven total, and some of the them reveal images in the background if you move the postcard from side to side. For instance, a bull rips off the dress of the Spanish dancer, revealing a bare chested woman looking quite surprised! (My grandfather Guido Degliantoni, a collector of dirty old man stuff, would have loved it.)

In our recent move to Evanston, we had the chance to touch everything we owned and decide if it was worth packing in a Penske Truck and moving across the country to our new home. We made room for the postcard collection and will use it to announce our new mailing address. Announcing our new mailing address using such an antiquated medium will hopefully encourage our friends to use the postal service, which could use the love.

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Slide Show: Images of fall in Evanston, IL

This is going to be my first fall in Evanston, IL, and my first official fall in 10 years. Not that El Paso didn't have fall, but the Chihuahuan Desert is not known for its big trees. I'm using this photo album to document how summer ends and fall begins and to show you how I survive the changing of the seasons. Fall officially begins on September 23, so this album is starting just in time!

I will keep this album updated as the season progresses so check back to see more colors as it's still early in the season.

P.S. The heart-shaped leaf above is not fake, I really found it walking along Dempster Beach.

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Go: Story Pirates at SPACE this weekend!

From Center for Independent Futures:

Story Pirates sail into town Sept. 24 and 25th at SPACE in Evanston. Shows at 12 noon & 3 pm

Center for Independent Futures, an organization that supports individuals with disabilities and their families, is proud to host Story Pirates in Evanston this weekend. Story Pirates, a nationally respected theater company based in New York City and Los Angeles, is dedicated to celebrating the words and ideas of young people of all abilities. We invite you to join us for a matinee performance of stories crafted by local young authors with unique gifts and talents. Shows run approximately one hour. Sign language interpretation will be provided at each show.

Jump on board...you will not want to miss this amazing adventure!

Tickets: $25 per person • $15 for children 12 and under
Group discounts and scholarships available.
To purchase tickets, call 847.328.2044 or visit www.independentfutures.com.

Wildlife Sighting: Baby Bunny Nest

Check out this super adorable nest full of baby bunnies we found at Currey Park in the community garden. This next is under a cucumber plant and these baby bunnies led a relatively quiet life until they were discovered by ME and my gang of kids.

Now I know why there are so many red foxes in Evanston, just look at the supply of baby bunnies being born!

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Tonight: 2nd Annual Evanston Mash Up

On Sept 13, on the beach at Northwestern, enjoy a Taste of Evanston buffet, music and the unique spirit of Evanston. Mix, mingle and mash it up with Evanston stakeholders, everyone from business owners to artists, scientists to students, CEOs to city leaders.

Come to connect and talk about new ways to collaborate.

Highlights include Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and NU President Morton Schapiro presenting the next Catalyst Award. (They won it last year.)

Tickets are $95 before August 31. Non-members and member of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce can register at http://business.evchamber.com/events/details/2011-evanston-business-mash-up.

More about these and other details are on our website at http://www.evanstonmashup.com/.

Northwestern University on the beach behind the Henry Crown Sports Pavillion
2311 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL

Wildlife Sighting #4: Mr. Fox, Dempster St., 6 p.m.

This is the FOURTH fox sighting since my move to Evanston (June 2011), all of which have occurred within 50 feet of my home. My friend Maura says it's the same fox, four times, but this fox looks much skinner than all the rest and therefore I am claiming FOUR independent sightings. I realize my wildlife photography is terrible, but I was chasing this one down with my cell phone camera while three children were trailing behind me trying to scare the fox away from me and my camera - yet another reason I should have seriously really considered having kids.

Considering there are tons of little brown bunnies hopping all over Evanston, the food supply here is perfect for foxes and I expect to see many more. I will keep you posted of any other wildlife I run into and promise to strive for better photos.

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Go: BackStage Evanston Performing Arts Showcase

From the City of Evanston’s Arts & Business Committee of the Evanston Arts Council

Sunday, September 18, 2011
3:30 to 7:00 pm
Northwestern University’s Ethel M. Barber Theater
Free parking!

Don’t miss BackStage Evanston, a festival showcasing five-minute performances from 17 Evanston music, dance, and theatre groups. Your $20 entrance ticket is also redeemable at the event for a special ticket offer of equal value from any of these participating groups:

Actors Gymnasium Light Opera Works Piccolo Theatre
Chicago Philharmonic Music Institute of Chicago Piven Theatre Workshop
Evanston Dance Ensemble The Musical Offering Renovo String Orchestra
Evanston Symphony Orchestra Next Theatre Company The Savoyaires
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre North Shore Choral Society Theatre Zarko
The Lakeside Singers NU Theatre & Interpretation Center

www.BackStageEvanston.com
847.448.8260

I Heart Fall!

On a walk this morning I found this heart-shaped leaf which perfectly expresses my sentiment - I love Fall! Feel free to use it to spread the joy of Fall!

Happy Labor Day!

Today we rode our bikes onto the Northwestern campus to feed the carp. We brought Cheerios and they loved them, as did the ducks and geese. What a great way to celebrate Labor Day! Hope you all have a fantastic day.

Go: Paint Evanston Purple Pep Rally

From the City of Evanston website: Kick off the wildcat season right and join us for the home opener Pep Rally festivities on Thursday, September 8th, 2011 at 6pm at Independence Park on the 2000th block of Central St., and help us PAINT EVANSTON PURPLE! Guests of honor will include Mayor Tisdahl, President Schapiro, Coach Fitz and AD Jim Phillips. Come listen to the NU and ETHS bands play live and watch awesome performances by the NU cheerleaders! FREE and FUN!

Independence Park
on the 2000th block of Central St
Thursday, September 8 · 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Purple Hydrants on Howard St. in celebration of Evanston Day

From the City of Evanston website: 8th Ward Alderman Ann Rainey, Y.O.U. and Northwestern University are teaming up to help Paint Evanston Purple this Friday, September 2nd! As part of the festivities leading up to the Evanston Day at Ryan Field--when the Wildcats take on the Eastern Illinois Panthers--Alderman Rainey, Y.O.U. and members of the Northwestern Football Team will be painting fire hydrants on Howard Street (in front on 415 Howard St). Painting will start at 3:45 pm.