lazy tuesday tidings
- Peanut’s favorite Mexican restaurant, Dos Reales, has unveiled a new menu with several new items. I tried the new spinach enchiladas last night and let’s just say that I wasn’t impressed. But I will be trying one of the “healthy salads” at some point.
- I recently wrote yet another letter to the Marketplace Mall operations manager about our favorite store that is selling live animals. This time, I didn’t even get the pleasure of a response. A spy told me that they have (or had) a cockapoo like mine for sale. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, I would hope that this issue would resurface in the public discourse. Recently we went to two other adorable pet boutiques in another Midwestern city that *shockingly* did not sell puppies. What a concept!
- Speaking of pets, head over to Prairieland Feeds on Saturday to get Fido’s picture taken with Santa. This is a fundraiser for programs at the UI Vet Med Teaching hospital.
Categories: Bloomington-Normal · Dogs · Eating Out · On the road · Rumor mill · Shopping · TTATM · The Business Section · University of Illinois
13 responses so far ↓
Golden // November 6, 2007 at 2:30 pm |
I’m very certain that Lucky Puppy will be capitalizing on the holidays. I haven’t heard much about that place for quite a while. The last time I was in there all the non-live merchandise was on sale and there were few puppies. While that is certainly not indicative of the store’s economic health I was relieved to see few puppies there.
cara // November 7, 2007 at 9:33 am |
I don’t know if I can make any suggestions for BelleNoelle, since I’m a native of this here uncultured, redneck backwater we call Champaign. I mean, what do I know? I’m not an urbanite “exiled” to this miserable speck on the prairie. I actually like it here, and live here by choice.
There’s a lot to do here in C-U that’s fun, entertaining, and inexpensive, but I’m not going to do the legwork involved in getting through to someone who’s dead set on not liking it here.
BelleNoelle // November 7, 2007 at 11:06 am |
Awwwwww..I could have phrased the question better, but I was in a bad mood and that’s why I blog (I mean look at the name of my blog). Everyone seems so hurt and after hundreds of views and a couple hate e-mails, still no suggestions. I guess that means that the answer is nothing. The women here do nothing. Thanks for the contribution!
Amy Armstrong // November 7, 2007 at 11:53 am |
Well I did give you a suggestion in my email response to you. You simply have chosen to ignore the facts. You are insulting at best and will bury your head to what has been handed to you. We will be at Farren’s today for lunch. Why don’t you drop in and see exactly what “nothing” is. I won’t waste any more of my time with your decision to sulk and complain and not change your own exsistance. Larkin’s Place is an extrodinary project that has not been done anywhere else in the country, including your beloved New York. I got a bag and I’ll even help you pack.
BelleNoelle // November 7, 2007 at 12:41 pm |
Hey Amy,
I do apologize to you. For some reason the comments just came through, so when I looked there was nothing except the two. It’s fixed now and I thank you for your suggestions. Of course I know there are things to do here if you just look. Like I said, I was in a really bad mood that day and I use my blog for exactly what it says, “to sulk”. That way I don’t go off on my husband or kid or any of the really nice people that I’ve met here already. Coming from my “beloved NY”, yeah I can be insulting
but for the record I never called anyone uncultured or redneck (directed towards the other poster) I’ve only been here for 4 months and will be here in Champaign for at least another four years, so yeah, I’ll get out there more and probably grow to like it a little more, but I will always miss NY and continue to talk about missing it on my blog.
Thanks again, I do read your blog and think it’s great.
cara // November 7, 2007 at 1:24 pm |
Y’know, as a reader of LBOTP, I’d think you’ d have a few ideas as to some of the stuff that goes on around here. This is a wonderful, vibrant community with a lot going on. I don’t think anyone’s knocking the fact that you miss NYC, but you seem so averse to actually enjoying yourself around here that it’s kind of sad.
I really have no suggestions for you, but you’ve got to understand where we (the C-U locals) are coming from. You’ve made this statement that all women around here do is shop at Target, join mommy playgroups, and go to the playground. As a child-free woman, I wouldn’t go within a mile of a “mommy playgroup,” and I haven’t been to a playground since I was in my teens. (I do, however, shop at Target when I need toothbrush heads and cheap-o sports bras.) I have a very active life and plenty of recommendations I could give, but I feel like they’d be wasted.
The sooner you shake off your homesickness, the sooner you’ll make some friends and find some good stuff around here. It may not be NYC, but it isn’t hell, either.
Leeanthro // November 7, 2007 at 1:45 pm |
Belle-
I feel like I’m in “lather, rinse, repeat” mode lately. But here are somethings that we like to do:
1. Take Park District classes. Wiggles & Giggles, soccer, basketball, swim lessons, etc. Not only will your child be entertained, but you might enjoy conversing with other parents. (As a side note, per the other ongoing conversation: there is diversity in my daughter’s Saturday morning basketball class.)
2. Go to the library. Lots of free programs for kids. Lots of free books, movies, and music to check out. A children’s play area (lego table). Helpful librarians. Again, you might meet other people. One child we kept seeing at the library ended up being in our preschool class.
3. I n the summer: Sholem pool, Prairie Farms (free), concerts in the parks (also free).
4. My husband and daughter like to walk around Kaufman lake. There’s actually a long trail (also for bikes) that goes between Kaufman Lake and Parkland.
5. Of course parks. We love Meadowbrook (another good place to take your bikes).
6. U of I sports- not only the men’s teams, but the women’s sporting events are cheap to get into and good entertainment. And even if you aren’t actually going in to the football games, they usually have inflatables for the kids.
7. Savoy 16 free fall matinees.
8. Pages for All Ages bookstore (free music classes and storytimes, WIFI, cafe).
9. Our weekly trip to Target.
10. And no, I don’t belong to a mommy playgroup.
As far as things for just mommies, without their kids…I’ll have to think about that one. The only thing I seem to do without my kids these days is go to work.
And yes, I’d be homesick if I was you, too.
Jennifer B. // November 8, 2007 at 1:15 am |
Cara–please list your suggestions! I’ve been here for three years, and while I’ve attempted to shift and reprioritize and alter and whatnot, I still have an incredibly hard time transitioning to life here. I frequent all of these blogs, go to all of the art/movie/cultural festivals that are of interest to me (which are pretty much all of them!), have gone to the restaurants (and know which ones are opening), go shopping at the local boutiques (and know when the big daddy stores like BR are coming), see local bands, go to the clubs that I like, take trips out to Amish country, on and on.
But I still feel like I’m missing out on something. I’m child-free as well, and just beginning my career and have a decent amount of disposable income…so everything should theoretically be awesome for me! And the way I’ve been plugging away at it, it should be. But I just keep feeling wonky on the inside.
Which is what I was trying to get at in the rather long comment I left on BelleNoelle’s blog after reading about it here…I just don’t know what else to do, but I’m tired and weary and quite honestly don’t know if I should be spending so much time trying to like where I live. Because then I’m not actually living.
I could never say that someone should like Chicago (where I’m from), NYC or LA if they didn’t like it–I can definitely see how many people would just not be comfortable in those areas. And if they’re not and don’t have a reason to be there, and can’t make it work for them…
…which is why I’m struggling. Because I’m not sure if there’s something else I can tweak or alter and then the light will pop on and I’ll be all fuzzy-pug happy, or if I just need to leave.
Lisa B-K // November 8, 2007 at 6:38 am |
Man. I’ve been knocking around the idea of blogging about why I stay for several weeks; it looks like I should get on it.
I’ve lived here for 12 years after living in large cities (MPLS and CHGO), and I freakin’ love it here. My kids are older now (15 and 9), but…. yeah. I’ll get on that.
Jenna Z // November 8, 2007 at 10:59 am |
I think the key to fitting in, or just feeling like you fit in, is to find like-minded people. You can go to all the restaurants, concerts, Park District activities and local sites you want and still feel disconnected and isolated, like you’re just playing the part and walking around in a large crowd where you don’t fit in. To get that feeling of truly integrating into the landscape and culture, you need a personal relationship with people and places. I suggest finding organized groups, which are a great way to meet people that you will automatically have something in common with! And I don’t mean mom groups, because I don’t have any children so I’ve found other ways. Church is a great way to meet people but I don’t belong to any certain religion so I find other groups to meet people. If you like crafting, I see someone already mentioned our craft group and we welcome everyone! We meet in our homes and give rides to those who need them. There is also the Spinners and Weavers guild (which a few of our members are members of) and a potter’s club. For anyone interested in dog sports, there is a ton of lovely people at the dog training club. If you are into fitness, I have met a great community of people at my gym and I know there are walking, running and biking clubs in town. There are clubs for several different types of dancing. There are several environmental groups and political groups if you are into that. If you are musically inclined, there are choirs and jazz/concert bands. There are also several larger groups such as the Junior Women’s Club, The Junior League and the League of Women Voters along with a ton of other volunteer organizations. I know kids join a lot of sports/clubs but parents shouldn’t miss out on that fun and camaraderie either.
I am from around here (Homer). So I may not be an expert from experience. But my husband made a long move to be here with me so I am not completely oblivious to the hardships of that kind of huge life change. All the best and I hope everyone who is feeling a bit left out find their niche and is able to feel at least a little more comfortable while they’re here.
Golden // November 8, 2007 at 1:57 pm |
Jenna, great advice! I moved here from Chicago and was totally lost here. I left my family behind and knew not one soul other than my husband. Since I worked I met new people there but they weren’t “friends” until much later. I got involved with the dog training club and volunteered at the humane society and got to know all of those people who have remained good friends for many years now. And for what it’s worth I have no desire to move back to Chicago even though I still have family there. I have made this my home and have found beauty here. It is very hard at first and I remember those days and those huge phone bills! But it does get better and I truly love this community.
Lisa // November 9, 2007 at 8:21 am |
LBOTP: I was at Dos the other night and yeah, big new menu. I was rather overwhelmed by it and of course just went with my old standby (well, I don’t go to Dos very often, but when I do): Chicken chimichangas (FRIED, not baked!) with green sauce instead of the cheese sauce they come with. Still yummy.
updating … « little blog on the prairie // March 11, 2008 at 1:11 pm |
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