Local Chicago

Art on Track Review

What happens when you take 8 CTA Cars, give them to artists as blank palettes, then release them to the public? I would like to respond “magic.” and leave it at that, but really that leaves you with nothing.  So what does it make? Let’s examine further.

First of all, people are smiling on the train. Not just smiling, but genuinely enjoying themselves.  As someone who has become weathered from the awful mood the CTA undoubtedly instills in everyone, seeing so many people having a good time, laughing, and bearing their teeth in eye to eye flashy smiles is thrilling! Its hard not to enjoy yourself, especially when you are enjoying some live stand up (first photo) or in a blue balloon popcorn car (above).

Not only do you view the work of great local artists, but you also partake in interactive projects where you become a part of the gallery as well.  What makes this particularly cool at Art on Track is that you are voluntarily interacting with others on the train. No headphones, iPhones, Kindles or anything else to keep your commute to yourself, just art, artists, and everything in between.

Art on Track is one of my favorite events of the year, and this year was particularly spectacular.  Along with the amazing artists that represented their work, and the art community of Chicago, the weather was ideal, and the crowds heavy with the neighboring Lollapalooza and Market Days events.

For more information on the history of Art on Track or the wonderfully talented people who run this annual event, or to see when it will be rolling through again, check out the Art on Track Website at http://www.artontrack.com/ and find them on Facebook!

Art On Track

Art on Track is a mobile art experience that takes place on our very own CTA trains! I can’t believe I almost forgot to warn everyone to go, but it just started at 5pm today and will be running until 10pm.  Tickets are only $10 and the main entrance is at the Adams and Wabash entrance.  Come out and support art and artist’s in Chicago! I will post some pictures from the event tomorrow, with a full review of what an amazing annual event this is.  It really is one of my favorite things in Chicago!

For more information check out the Art On Track website:

http://www.artontrack.com/

Flirty Cupcake Truck

I have been tracking the Flirty Cupcake truck since early this summer. I finally had the chance to meet up with them on the corner of State and Lake, just outside of the Chicago theater. Tracking its whereabouts via social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, “Big Blue” as the van is lovingly called makes between 4 to 5 stops throughout downtown Chicago and nearby neighborhoods, with the occasional trek to the further neighborhoods.

Smart phone in hand I crept around the intersection waiting for Big Blue to find a spot to pull over so I could get one of the coveted confectionery delights.

Walking away with a Devil in Disguise (red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting), A McDreamy (chocolate cupcake with cream cheese & chocolate filling), and a CBFF (chocolate cupcake with Nutella ganache) my bag was stuffed to the brim with these picturesque cakes. For $3.25 a cake, not only are you having the convenience of delivery, but also, arguably, one of the best cupcakes in Chicago. The chocolate cake is moist and rich, the Nutella ganache was bold and creamy, and the frostings are light and never overwhelm the cake.

The Flirty Cupcake truck is the ideal summer activity.  It embraces what remains of Chicago’s small-Midwest flair, and it gets you outside during the workday, even if it is only for a minute or two.  Flirty Cupcake’s use of Social media has elevated Big Blue from your run-of-the-mill dinky ice cream truck, to a contemporary, kitschy, and must-visit Chicago icon.

For more information on Flirty Cupcakes check out their site at http://www.flirtycupcakes.com/ and to find where they’ll be stopping tomorrow, follow their twitter http://twitter.com/FlirtyCupcakes.

Bike Sharing in Chicago!

Yesterday I was walking through Daley Plaza I stumbled upon the recently installed bike sharing station. What a great idea! After living in Chicago for a while, I finally signed up for car sharing. It has been a life saver a few times (moving, installations, family, etc.) but bike sharing, when could that be useful? Well, mostly it will be useful for tourists, but what about the one friend who doesn’t have a bike on beach trip day? Or your friend who is in town and obviously couldn’t bring their bike with them? Its a great way to avoid those expensive tour-bikes, and get around the city. The coolest part is that the whole operation is solar powered. Green renting and riding, what could be better on a sunny Chicago day.