8 Ways to Sunday

Having lived in Chicago for a few months during college, and visited there again a couple of years ago for a conference, I have a special place in my heart for what I consider one of the best towns in America. I recently ran across a couple of excellent Windy City blogs that I’d recommend to everyone:

• Mimi Smartypants — Absolutely the best diarist / humorist on the web. When I first discovered her site last week, I read about a dozen entries. Collectively, they were the funniest thing I have ever read in eight years online. The blog (which she refers to as “the Thing”) chronicles her life in Chicago as she makes the transition from late 20s to early 30s, recounts her drug-addled past, ponders her sex life, rebels against draconian workplace regs about Illegal Teakettles, adopts a baby, and generally lives her life. All is carried off with the trademark whimsical style and wry humor that prompted HarperCollins UK to call her up and beg her to write a book. Far from “chick-lit,” this is brain candy for anyone who appreciates smart, sassy, real women.
• Chicago Uncommon — A photoblog with a twist, this site covers Chi-town from top to bottom by neighborhood and environment. With this unique organizational setup, it doesn’t take long for past residents to construct their own self-guided trip down memory lane. The pictures, by Chicagoland photographer Dawn M. Mikulich, do an excellent job of capturing the “vibe” of this amazing city.