Evanston Newbie Anniversary Series: 40 Lessons Learned Moving from El Paso, TX to Evanston, IL

1. My marriage is the most important relationship in my life.
2. My children are smart, capable and flexible.
3. Jobs come to those who seek them.
4. Milestones are for celebrating and recognizing, even the bad ones.
5. New traditions can be created every day.
6. Children notice and hold onto memories and events that you will find totally strange and alarming.
7. Children want to be part of the decision making process in a family.
8. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. (Joseph Campbell knew this before I did.)
9. Living near water is good for my spirit.
10. Lake Michigan looks like the ocean with waves, seagulls and sand – the only thing missing is salt.
11. Being able to walk instead of drive makes you feel more connected to your community.
12. People are open to making new friends after 30.
13. Selling 80% of your possessions on craigslist.com is extremely liberating.
14. Everything you need can be replaced.
15. Everything you want can be found.
16. Everything you dream of doing can be done.
17. Money only buys food and shelter.
18. Living like a tourist is a great way to get to know your environment.
19. No matter how much research you do, being on the ground, experiencing things in real time teaches you everything you need to know.
20. Red foxes eat brown bunnies in large quantities.
21. People project their insecurities onto you. For instance everyone will tell you that you can’t do “it”, but really what they mean is that they don’t think they can do “it”.
22. Abraham Lincoln was NOT born in Illinois.
23. The New Madrid Fault Line is right next to Chicago.
24. Everything and everyone looks better in a new environment.
25. Buying products directly from the farmer is very rewarding.
26. Even women can grow up to be successful architects.
27. Skyscrapers make a city looks successful.
28. Cicadas are so loud.
29. Biting red ants are terrible creatures.
30. Having a reliable public transportation system as an option instead of driving is wonderful.
31. All of Chicago’s mayors are from the same neighborhood, except for Rahm.
32. Having a boss who is smarter than you is essential for career growth.
33. True friends cheer you on, even when you are leaving them behind.
34. Surprising yourself is wonderful for your self esteem.
35. You can do anything!
36. Fun can be had anywhere, even in a Chevron bathroom on the Jersey Turnpike.
37. Happiness is a choice, not the result of how life treats you.
38. Diversity in a population produces lots of yummy restaurants.
39. Life should be lived in chapters, with evaluation periods after a decade closes.
40. There are so many wonderful places to live.

Evanston Milestones: I wanted this first sleepover to be easy and fun damnit!

As my son helped his friend unroll his sleeping back last Saturday night, he proudly announced “This is my first sleep over since I moved to Evanston.” His friend looked at him and so “Oh”.

From the moment the word “This” left my son’s mouth, my heart leapt out of my chest, smashed through the front windows, hit the building across the street and smashed right back into my chest. I knew what my son was going to tell his friend, he and I had talked about it over breakfast (him super calm, me super freaked out) and I knew the day meant a ton to him. (Of course the day meant more to ME as I have been filled with endless amounts of guilt and anxiety since moving my children away from their happy social world and want them to be popular and happy RIGHT NOW!)

In our old house and city, my son celebrated every weekend with a sleepover as we were usually the house where kids would experience their first sleepovers. We were a good testing ground and I loved having kids in the house, even if they woke me up at 5 a.m.

In Evanston, we’ve all been sewing our social oats slowly but surely and although it felt like forever, we finally had a sleepover on the calendar after being here for 10 months. As I mentioned before, I was anxious and excited all at once and just hung out on the perimeters, kindly fielding requests for juice, popcorn, brownies, etc. I was way too excited to be in the service of 4th graders, but I wanted this first sleepover to be easy and fun damnit!

As the boys got ready for bed, I offered to build a nest to which my son said “Yes!” and his friend said “What’s a nest?” My son filled him in, “Oh she always builds them, it’s like lots of blankets on the floor and pillows and it’s super comfy to sleep in, like a big nest.” Luckily his friend said “Sure!”

So I got to building my nest and made a big comfy bed for the boys to pass out in while watching Jurassic Park, which they did at about 10:25 p.m.

I am proud of my son for taking this move in stride and waiting patiently for the right friend to invite over for a first sleepover. He is so patient and kind and was extremely grateful for the yummy crepes I made them for breakfast the next morning, another thing I always do in addition to making nests is making crepes for breakfast. (Holiday or not, we rock crepes.)

And I’m so proud of me for making myself totally available to facilitate the sleepover on my son’s terms and not pushing the issue months too early with a child that was socially advantageous to me and not necessarily my son. I always imagined that’s what a good parent did - listens, follows their child’s lead, facilitates. I promised myself I would do that in my 40th year, talk less, listen more and be a better parent, and based on last Saturday night’s behavior, I’m on it.

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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

Coming soon to a rose garden near you, roses!

As I patiently sit and wait for the roses to come back to the Merrick Rose Garden on Lake Ave., I live vicariously through some amazing photos I took last October at the garden. The image above was originally a close up of a big yellow rose, but I uploaded it to Instragram and what do you know? Suddenly I've got a work of art!

Click here for information on the Merrick Rose Garden and make sure to visit very soon, the buds are on the branches already!

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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

Graffiti I Love: You are Beautiful

This tag was sent over by an Evanston Newbie blog fan recently and it reminds me of the tag in Austin, "I love you very much".

"You are beautiful" was on the pedestrian underpass under the Purple Line tracks at Chicago Ave. and Mulford. From sometime in 2011; it's been painted over.

I am loving all this positive tagging happening in the world and in Evanston!

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!

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

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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

Spring Porn!

I love spring in Evanston! Don't you?

Free spring photos from Evanston Newbie

If you're in need of a gorgeous spring photo of cherry blossoms in bloom from Evanston, IL, feel free to download this one. Have a great day!

Old News for Locals, New News for a Newbie: Three bodies found in Evanston home

So you know that new friend Meg I wrote about a few posts ago in "Wildlife Sighting: Wood Duck on Hinman"? Well the other day we were chatting in her lovely backyard and she asked me if I knew the story about the house on Judson where they found all the dead people? Uh, no, the Chamber of Commerce Welcome Package didn't include the story about the four siblings who never left their home on Judson and as each one died, they were just left in their bed, covered by a sheet.

I had to run home and Google that story as the house is just around the corner from where we now live and I was CURIOUS to say the least. Turns out the story is creepy and sad and OLD as Bill Smith wrote about it in Evanston Now in 2008.

From Evanston Now: Police say a 90-year-old woman who lives at the home told them the three, all believed to be members of her immediate family, had been dead for some time...Authorities said Anita Bernstorff was last seen alive last May, Frank Bernstorff was last seen alive in April 2003 and Elaine Bernstorff was last seen alive in the early 1980s.

Police Commander Tom Guenther says it's not yet clear why the woman neglected to report the deaths to authorities. The cause of the deaths also has not yet been determined.

Police say each body was found in a different room, covered with a blanket.

Police discovered the bodies after they were alerted by a senior advocate employed by the city who had had prior contact with the woman.

And here's more info from The Chicago Tribune: By all accounts, none of the four Bernstorff siblings ever married or had children. Their parents, Frank and Lilian, died decades ago. Margaret Bernstorff was occasionally seen gardening in her yard and most recently attended a 4th of July block party. But neighbors said they never saw anyone visit the home, and it was rare for anyone but family to cross the Bernstorffs' threshold.

Al Redmond did odd jobs for Margaret Bernstorff and rented garage space from her. He said he went in the home only once and saw stacks of old newspapers—piledto the ceiling in some cases—in every room.

"She usually never let me in," Redmond said. "I just assumed she was embarrassed because of the way things were in there."

Wow! What a crazy story! Of course now that I know about it, I'm going to totally stare when I walk past the house on my way to Jewel. And I'm going to see what other coverage and analysis provides. Of course I also have to interview locals in the neighborhood to find out why four siblings never left the house after turning 25 - I thought people only did that in El Paso!

Moving someplace new is so exciting on so many levels especially during the "discovery phase"! We've been in Evanston for just about 10 months and this is the first time I'm hearing this story...oh joy for the stories to come!

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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

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

This shot from last summer of graffiti at the Davis Metra is from an Evanston Newbie reader as part of my "Graffiti I Love" series. Luckily, Evanston has some pretty interesting graffiti artists, some menacing ones too of course, and now that I know this tagger's style, I see his work everywhere - most recently I saw his work on the Dempster Street Beach information sign.

The artist is known as "the Guy Who Cares" and he often paints positive messages filled with "laid-back delight". Below is an article from The Roundtable, 8/2011, after they received a package from the anonymous artist.

Revealed But Not Unmasked: The Guy Who Cares Pops Up at ERT
By Mary Helt Gavin

The Guy Who Cares has returned. There is more to know about the nonchalant figure whose image began to appear last spring on bricks, doors, panels and other exposed, if not public, spaces. He and his messages of laid-back delight (“You are cared for”; “average but happy”; “free spirit”; and “dolce far niente,” as examples) may have been out of sight for a few weeks – their fade from public view courtesy of the City of Evanston’s graffiti removal – but a package delivered to the RoundTable last week offered a glimpse into the purpose and history of the figure named by the RoundTable as the Guy Who Cares.

The package contained a bright fuchsia panel of the Guy with the message “Stay As You Are,” and a CD containing photos of images this artist has scattered around town over the past several months. Some, were sprayed on walls; others were more carefully painted on bricks or Masonite panels. The four or five sightings of the Guy’s work by RoundTable staff and readers, however, were only a droplet in the paint bucket when compared with the dozens of images on the CD.

“Stay as You Are,” a two-page statement from the still anonymous artist, provided some information about the purpose of these scattered but happy images.

Click here to read the full article.

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!

Click on the link below for more images from the Graffiti I Love series

Graffiti I Love: You are Beautiful

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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

It might be cold, but beach tokens for 2012 are on sale already which means winter is over!

From City of Evanston website: http://www.cityofevanston.org

2012 SEASON GENERAL INFORMATION

A season token or daily pass is required for beach admission during operating hours. One token or daily pass is required per person. A season token is valid for the entire beach season. In 2012, the season will be expanded and will open on Sat., May 26. Until June 8, beaches will close earlier; hours will be 10:30am-6pm. From June 9 through Sept. 3 (Labor Day), beach hours will be 10:30am-7:30pm.

Starting Monday, April 2, 2012, season tokens may be purchased weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., and at local community centers during their office hours (Robert Crown, Chandler-Newberger, Fleetwood-Jourdain, Levy Senior Center and Evanston Ecology Center). Cash, personal checks and credit cards are accepted.

Tokens also will be sold at the Dempster St. Beach Office and Clark St. Beach Office. Cash, personal checks and credit cards are accepted. The Dempster St. Beach Office will be open on in May on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-5pm. The office will be open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Clark Street Beach Office (1811 Sheridan Rd.) will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from June 9 through Sept. 3, 2012.

Free beach days for Evanston residents will be held at Clark Street Beach on Mondays from July 9 through August 27, 2012.

2012 daily beach admission is $8, adult and $6, child age 1-11.

April 15: Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club's Race to End Polio

From the Evanston Sun Times:

The Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club is sponsoring The Race to End Polio, a 5-kilometer run/walk along Evanston’s lakefront, April 15.

Race proceeds will support the Rotary Foundation’s global polio initiatives. To participate, register at https://secure.racemonkey.com/1348, by April 10.

The event starts at Sheridan Road and Campus Drive on the Northwestern University campus.

Registration begins at 6 a.m. April 15; the run is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. and the walk at 7:45 a.m.

The fee is $22 online or $25 at the site on the day of the event.

Organizers for The Race to End Polio also are looking for community volunteers to help staff the race. People interested in volunteering may contact Julianne Dieterich at julianne.dieterich@gmail.com.

Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 Rotary clubs (including Evanston, Wilmette and Highland Park) in 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary members are men and women who are business, professional and community leaders with a shared commitment to make the world a better place through humanitarian service.

Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio. Rotary Club members worldwide have contributed more than $1 billion and countless volunteer hours to the polio eradication effort, according to Rotary International.

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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: Concert by Natya Dance Theatre at Evanston Public Library

A free Spring Break Concert by Natya Dance Theatre will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 in the main Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave. The theatre is under the artistic leadership of Hema Rajagopalan and is amongst the most critically acclaimed and culturally treasured Indian dance companies in the United States.

The program is presented by the City of Evanston Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, in partnership with the Evanston Public Library. This presentation is a part of the curriculum of the City of Evanston Cultural Arts Division’s Spring Break Arts Camp. For more information, please call Angela Allyn, Cultural Arts Division, at 847-448-8263.

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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