What do you want to do before you die?

At the corner of 18th and Carpenter, in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, stands a public art piece, “Before I die.” Simply a large rectangle of chalkboard paint and stenciled half-sentences, the Continue reading →

Can I Bring Home Wine, Cheese, or Ham from Spain?

My girlfriend Marissa, who’s traveling to Barcelona, Spain, asked me if she could bring home to Chicago some wine, cheese, or its famous ham as a delicious souvenir? The answer, Continue reading →

How to Make Lugaw, a Filipino Rice Porridge

Hypothetical situation: You’re a Filipino American, in your 20s or 30s, and you live on your own. You are sick, can’t seem to keep anything down other than Saltines and Continue reading →

Coping with a Fear of Flying: A True Story

“Do you mind if I just… hold your hand?” “Yeah… I mean, no. No, I don’t mind. C’mon,” I said as I offered my hand to the stranger on the Continue reading →

Blow out the Candles, Chicago. It’s Your Birthday.

  Today, March 4, 2012, is the City of Chicago’s 175th birthday. If it’s one thing Chicago has taught me it’s this: If you can’t love Chicago, you can’t love Continue reading →

Why I Love Baseball. Oh, Let Me Count the Ways.

As of this writing, it’s an incredibly mild Leap Year Day in Chicago with temperatures at 60 degrees Fahrenheit! It’s gotten me in the mood for baseball! My beloved Chicago Continue reading →