Wildlife Sighting: Wood Duck on Hinman

Just a few days ago around 2 p.m. I was walking with my new friend Meg down Hinman Avenue in Evanston and I spotted this strange looking duck with several other ducks. (This is a photo from the world wide web and not a photo of the real duck I saw which I will explain in just a second.) Shocked I said to Meg "what the heck kind of duck is that?!" Meg said "that's a wood duck and they are very rare."

Of course I got really excited, made a bunch of exclamations and made a total racket grabbing my camera/cell phone out of my bag to capture the wood duck on camera (from 3 feet away) and just as I got ready to shoot a photo, the wood duck and his/her 4 duck friends took flight. Rats, I stink at birding as I'm just so loud!

This is my first wood duck sighting in Evanston and I'm excited to add another bird to my list of local birds I've seen since moving here. Maybe my friends at Evanston North Shore Bird Club will be able to tell me where I can find more wood ducks!

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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

Fundraiser: Pick up some Pizza, Support District 65

Today between 1-8 p.m., Homemade Pizza Co. on Chicago Ave. in Evanston will donate proceeds from pizza sales to District 65 Schools! What a fantastic way for you to feed yourself, your family and your local school district.

From www.homemadepizza.com
Here’s how it works: On your designated fundraising night, we’ll donate $5 for every large pizza, $5 for every gluten-free pizza (available in medium only), $2 for every large salad, $1 for every order of breadsticks, and 20% from every gift card sold at the HomeMade Pizza location nearest to your school. A good turnout adds up fast, 100 pizzas = $500, 200 = $1,000 of funds for your school.

Order here: www.homemadepizza.com or call 847.425.1200

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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

Free: Family history research sessions to help you start filling out your family tree

Getting started on family history research and need a little help? Nancy Schultz, Regent of the Fort Dearborn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, will provide free help with genealogy research. No appointments needed; just stop by!

Mondays, March 26, April 30 and May 14, 1- 3 .pm., 3rd Floor West Conference Room, Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Evanston Sunrise, March 21, 2012

I took this photo driving to work today, feel free to use it as a screen saver to brighten up your day. It never occurred to me that living in Evanston would include such incredible views of the lake and nature. Evanston is good for the soul.

Summer guests are coming to Evanston in droves! Where do they stay?

Help! I've got guests showing up in Evanston throughout the summer months and I need good recommendations for affordable places to stay within 10-minutes walking distance from the beach! Is this too much to ask?

Below is a list of places I've managed to put together given my demanding parameters, what can I add to the list? Either comment here or email me directly at thelisadshow@gmail.com. And also, feel free to post your thoughts on the hotels below, I've never stayed at any of them!

My old standby www.vrbo.com is a total bust as there are only two places listed to rent in Evanston! Booo.

The Homestead Evanston
1625 Hinman Ave, 60201 Evanston
(847)475-2090
www.thehomestead.net

The Margarita European Inn
1566 Oak Avenue, IL 60201
(847)869-2273
www.margaritainn.com

Best Western University Plaza
1501 Sherman Avenue, IL 60201
(847)491-6400
www.bwuniversityplaza.com

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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

Evanston Style Watch: Smurfalicious tights!

Well it turns out that the bright blue tights trend has made it all the way to the streets of Evanston, IL! Just yesterday I caught a girl sauntering up Judson Street with these amazing tights and had to stop and capture the moment.

Never you mind it's totally weird to ask another a human to take a photo of just their legs, but I couldn't resist.

Of course I don't think I could rock this color tight but I love that tights are moving well beyond the dull tones of yesterday into fun colors like this crazy blue.

Click here for more images of street fashion in Evanston.

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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

Join: Evanston North Shore Bird Club

White-throated sparrow photo courtesy of Arlene Koziol, www.ensbc.org

One of the most visited pages on the Evanston Newbie blog has been "Wildlife Sighting: Female Downy Woodpecker" posted on November 19, 2011. Apparently people are looking for news and information about wildlife and birding options in Evanston and not just news about me!

Now that spring is in the air and people are heading back outside, I thought I'd post a link to the Evanston North Shore Bird Club for those of you looking for birding club and field trip options.

Info: The Evanston North Shore Bird Club sponsors more area field trips than any other birding or nature organization in the area. What's even better, is that most, if not all, are FREE! Car pooling is encouraged on all field trips. Always check the current Bird Calls for possible changes in dates, times, locations, leaders, etc. Contact the individual leader or the Field Trip Chairman if you need more details on specific trips, or looking for someone to carpool with -- numbers are listed in the membership directory pages. Membership is $25/year per individual. Click here for more info on membership or visit www.ensbc.org.

I plan on attending at least one field trip this spring as it will be a great opportunity to learn more about the bird populations on the North Shore. Should I capture any exciting birds on camera, I'll be sure to share them with you.

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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

Today: Get your pie on for $3.14 at Bennison's

Celebrate National Pi Day today and enjoy delicious cherry, apple, Boston cream and chocolate cream pies for only $3.14 at Bennison's!

Bennison's Bakery
1000 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
(847)328-9434

From http://www.bennisonscakes.com/: What is Pi Day? Pi Day is when mathematicians, physicists, engineers, chemists, and anyone else who just likes numbers celebrates the one we know as Pi, 3.14. It also happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday, giving one more reason to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate Pi than with Pie! All day Wednesday, March 14th we'll have special 4 inch pies in the store for $3.14. Take your pick from apple, cherry, boston cream and chocolate cream. If you want to start celebrating a little early, you can come in on Saturday and Sunday, we'll have Pi Day pies then too!

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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, summer camps that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Graffiti I Love in Austin: I Love You So Much

On a recent trip to Austin, TX, I noticed the endless amounts of graffiti that decorated the Travis Heights neighborhood. Joe's Coffee Shop had "I love you so much" tagged on the side of the building (pictured below) and there was always a line of people waiting to take a photo in front of the tag.

Although I am not advocating we all go buy a can of spray paint, I love graffiti when it's positive, interesting and can be shared.

After Evanston suffered a rash of racist tagging last year, it's always good to see graffiti that focuses on the positive.

Click on links below for more images in the Graffiti I Love series

Graffiti I love: Stay as you are by the Guy Who Cares

Graffiti I Love: You are Beautiful

If you see more of this work around town, take a quick picture on your cell or camera and email the image to me at thelisadshow@gmail.com. Thanks!

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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

Most delicious bakery in Evanston?

I hear a ton of chatter about the best bakeries in Chicago, like Lovely Bakery pictured here. What I need is intel on the best bakeries in Evanston.

Post your comments here or email me at thelisadshow@gmail.com

One of my favorite things about Evanston: the Sunrise

By far one of my favorite things about Evanston is sunrise over Lake Michigan. I didn't realize the sunrise was going to be so dramatic and wonderful but the early morning light that comes across the lake is a wonderful gift each day.

This photo was taken from the Dempster CTA stop and even on the coldest of mornings, I wait for my train with the sunrise in my face! Lucky me.