Also I need to 'network'. Oh god.

[effex]

Ugh, I really need something to do. Something outside the apartment to do. Something that'll bring me into contact with other human beings. So.

I'm heading out to the Art Institute after lunch - they've got a free winter weekdays thing running until Feb. 10th and it's basically my favorite thing. I went Friday after meeting with a creative staffing agency downtown (fingers crossed!) and hung out with the Impressionists for a while, but my Nice Interview Shoes (ouch) cut my visit short.

The internet tells me most of Chicago's art supplies stores are withing a couple blocks of the Art Institute school (makes sense), so I'll head there after and check out their bulletin boards. I can't find many social drawing/art groups online but they've got to exist, right? I mean, Chicago. It's a big town.

It's supposed to be nice out (45+ degrees, wtf), so I'll wander the loop for a while. Maybe hunt down the Pedway copperbadge is always talking about.

Other than that... I could try a local Mensa meetup, I guess. Or a different Meetup ('Young Chicago Professionals', noooooo), Or find somewhere to volunteer. Or post in the platonics section of Craigslist (this has actually worked for me before). Or talk with folks on OKCupid? Or track down a good D&D group? IDK. Suggestions welcome.

Comments

[zvi]

Your art institute link didn't work?

If you are religious, you could try a religious institution of appropriate faith tradition. Or a volunteer opportunity for the charity type work of your choice.

[effex]

Arg, html. Thanks for the heads up, it's working now!

And yeah, I think volunteer work is the way to go, I should check in with the local Planned Parenthood chapter.

[colorblue]

I haven't been ol much lately, and I missed that you're in Chicago now. I'm in the burbs atm, but I'll be in the city next week, since have some errands to run before heading out the country again. Let me know if you want to get together for lunch or coffee.

Meeting people -- spring and summer's the best time, because there's tons of stuff going on, outdoor movies and all night bike rides and etc. Winter usually everyone just holes in (though this winter has been very untypical). But for now -- if you're interested in skiing or snowboarding, there're groups that head out every other week or so to places in Wisconsin & Indiana via this UIC bus, which gives you a discounted ride & passes. One of my friends was telling me about it, I could ask her for more info. And have you checked out the Chicago Cares site? It lets you volunteer for just a couple of hours without making long term commitments.

re: the pedway, there're lots of places you can enter! One of the most prominent is via the Daley Center (in the plaza with the modernist horse sculpture thingee). Enter the building, head down the escalator.

[effex]

Coffee or lunch would be great! My schedule's really flexible right now, so let me know what would work best for you.

Thank you for the Chicago Care's tip - it's perfect. I was looking at Planned Parenthood and The Center on Halsted, but both require hoop jumping and long term commitments (reasonably so, but arg). Oh man, I could do art projects with kids. Or tutor, or...

I'm not much for skiing or snowboarding or any snow-based activity that doesn't involve sledding down a very shallow hill (or snow sculptures), but thanks for the heads up! [sighs] Moving in the middle of winter made sense logistically and someday I'll look back and laugh, but it sure is a pain in the butt (or is when it's not 50 degrees out, what).