Where you can see me on a weekend

Some weekends are quiet. Some are chaotic. But this is where you’re most likely to find me.

• Browsing at Bucket O’ Blood or Myopic Books
  I like places where you have to dig a little. Bucket O’ Blood is half horror bookstore, half punk record shop, and all vibe. Myopic is the kind of place where you can get lost between stacks and end up walking out with something you didn’t know you needed. Right across the street is Quimby’s, which feels like home to anyone weird and literary.

• Getting stuck in the Art Institute or sneaking off to the MCA
  I could spend all day in front of the miniature rooms at the Art Institute or sit with a single Rothko like it's giving me advice. The MCA is better when I want something colder, newer, or a little more abrasive. I love visiting new galleries all around the city including smaller museums like Intuit in Wicker Park.

• Sweating it out at a dive show

  Chicago is full of all kinds of good music. From indie, house, punk, and hip hop, you can catch me at a basement show or a local dive bar trying to see what's new in Chicago's underground music scene. Fun fact: I ran a DIY house for two years where I helped plan music and community events but also how I learned to do A/V for live and recorded shows.

• Late-night diners, good coffee, and rooftop spots
  Chicago has a diner for every mood. Pick Me Up Cafe if I want something greasy and fast. Lula or Same Day Cafe if I want better coffee and to pretend I’m productive. If it’s warm out, I want a rooftop with decent drinks and a view — Cindy’s is touristy but good, and Reggie’s has character.

• Playing games or painting until I lose track of time
  I don’t always want to be social. Sometimes I just want to get into a flow state. That might look like paint under my nails or beating someone at poker from my couch. It’s not deep. It’s just necessary.