Why I chose to spend the summer in Evanston
Since the school year has ended, I can’t help but think of the freedom that has come with the end of finals. Finally, I get to go back home where everything is wonderful!
Except, well, I don’t. I’m actually spending my three-month break from Northwestern’s bubble just a few blocks away from campus. Am I crazy? Perhaps, but regardless, I’m stuck so I needed someway to justify this decision.
Pro: Exploring NU and E-Town
Throughout the ever-hectic school year, I tend to miss out on some of the better parts of campus like Deering Field, North and South Beach, the Lakefill, Dearborn Observatory and even the ever-forbidden underground tunnels. This summer will be a chance to reflect, meditate or just fall asleep at these peaceful locations. I’ll also be able to check out everything else Evanston has to offer, whatever that may be. The sun will shine, the birds will chirp and I will have adventures. Maybe I’ll fly a kite in the park, check out the Baha’i Temple or maybe I’ll even find somewhere new and totally exciting to go. The possibilities are endless.
Con: Lake Michigan is not the Atlantic Ocean
I love salt water. I love the ocean. Lake Michigan is a Great Lake, but I miss my hometown of Miami Beach. It’s just not a real beach without salt and really crazy people. Plus, a summer away from home means more time away from my old favorite hang out spots like Books & Books, Lincoln Road, Coconut Grove and Sir Pizza. I know that probably means nothing to 99 percent of the people here, but it means I’m that much further from the land I love. Just thinking about these places evokes nostalgia for high school.
Pro: Downtime to go downtown
But then again, I’ll get to work and play in Chicago. With an internship by the Loop and free weekends to spend in the city, I’ll finally get to do all the things I planned on doing when I applied here. Not a bad scenario. There are so many stores, museums, shows and restaurants I have yet to find. Plus, summer time adventures and discoveries can lead to potential new hangouts for the school year. Maybe I’ll skip a Keg Monday every now and then for an El ride away from Evanston next year.
Con: No parental units
Being away this much longer is breaking Mommy and Daddy’s heart, and I must admit, mine is breaking a little bit too. Sending me out of state was hard enough but now the three months of having me around has been taken away from them. While some may say this is just a side effect of growing up, I hate sacrificing my family time. While I’m planning on going back for a few weeks before school starts, I’m going to miss my parents and siblings a lot.
Pro: Having an internship and job I couldn’t have had at home
My internship search yielding few results in Miami that really interested me, so when I was offered a gig with StyleChicago.com, I started thinking that might be the road for me to take. During the interview process I could visualize what my summer would be like, and I couldn’t go through another summer without something to show for it. Plus, I’m keeping my school-year job doing research with a professor, which has been great to me thus far. I had to accept it. I could never turn down something from which I could really benefit.
Con: Being away from my high school friends
By staying here all summer I miss the get-togethers and reunions that are bound to occur during June and July. Most of my friends went out of state for college so I don’t usually get to see very much of them over breaks and it’s a lot of effort to maintain those relationships. The friends I have managed to keep in touch with, however, are the ones that mean the most and that means more than a crazy house party in July ever will.
Pro: Staying with college friends
On the upside, a lot of my Northwestern friends will be staying here with me. It’ll be great to spend so much time with people I haven’t been able to see very much of this year and some others who I simply couldn’t stand to spend the summer without. While my summer plans may make keeping old relationships hard, it makes my new relationships even stronger and I know I’ll have great people to go on the previously mentioned adventures with.
Another Pro: Music Lover’s Paradise 2009, a.k.a. Pitchfork Festival and Lollapalooza
I haven’t been this excited about a concert since I saw the Spice Girls in fourth grade. These two events are literally the best thing since the invention of ice cream. With the most incredible lineups in the history — with the exception of Woodstock or Live Aid, although it’s not like I was there — Pitchfork Fest and Lolla are shaping up to be the highlight of summer ’09. This alone could be reason enough to stay — no exaggeration.
Verdict: Farewell Miami, hello Evanston… again!
I miss home, I love everything about it, but it’s going to be a great summer!
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Read more about the summer festivals our writer raved about. Or you can return home.
Alessandra,
This summer come explore Skokie a bit. Lots of good stuff here. I’ll treat you to lunch at Pat’s Place at 5025 Oakton even. On your way west over the canal, check out the sculpture park. The lake is great (yes, not the Atlantic), but so are Skokie’s pools. We’ve got a golf ball driving range and batting cages. We have Emily Oaks Nature Center. Yep, we also have a big mall at Golf and Skokie Blvd. With a Kerasotes 5-Buck Club card, it is easy to get into movies for $5 at Village Crossing on Touhy, which might actually be Niles.
Let me know if you’d like to do lunch or breakfast at Pat’s Place. She’d love to meet you.
Karen Kring
krkring@yahoo.com
Karen Kring
June 17, 2009 at 10:45 am
Creepycreepycreepy
Karen Kring is creepy
June 17, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Creepy is as creepy does.
Karen Kring is creepy is creepy
June 17, 2009 at 9:42 pm
The Evanston fourth of July Parade is very large and very cool. Get you P’s to visit and take you to Chef’s Station, a great restaurant under the Downtown Metra Station. Custer Street Fair is this weekend down by Main and Chicago.
I know Karen. She isn’t creepy, she is friendly and inclusive and also the president of the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Women Journalists, so you might want to use her as a resource.
Joel Lerner
June 18, 2009 at 9:47 am
Alessandra-I know Karen as well.She made a genuine offer & you responded in a most juvenile & unprofessional manner. It is a small world-even here in Chicago.maybe you would be happier back I Miami with your mommy, daddy & high school friends. Obviously the Northwestern experience is too creepy for you.
D.H.L.
June 18, 2009 at 11:00 pm
D.H.L. – FYI that likely wasn’t Alessandra responding ‘creepycreepycreepy’ – anyone can right and respond to these things (obviously as you did) and it goes up without Alessandra having to read or approve it. Also, learn to type, spell, and use the spacebar.
anon
June 18, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I met Karen Kring during my 23 years at The Chicago Tribune newspaper and we have been close friends for 20 years.
She is one of the finest people I have ever met and any woman considering a career in journalism ought to happily pay to even have a conversation with Ms. Kring.
She knows everyone in the business.
Google her to be safe, then Twitter her that YOU will buy HER lunch.
Sandy S-W
June 18, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Ever since visiting a high school friend during his sophomore summer at Dartmouth, I’ve thought Northwestern should investigate the pros and cons of adopting the Dartmouth Plan (see http://www.dartmouth.edu/~interviewers/useful/d_plan.html). Evanston and Chicago are fantastic during the summer.
Certainly neither NU’s quarter system nor the D-Plan were enacted with student enjoyment in mind. The former enabled accelerated degree programs at NU during World War II; the latter was Dartmouth’s response to a campus housing crunch following the college’s going co-ed. However, the two main positives of the D-Plan–building class unity and allowing students to enjoy a beautiful Northern campus during the summer–would hold true at Northwestern has well.
'94 alumnus
June 22, 2009 at 9:59 am
if you’re going to critique someone for spelling, you should make sure you don’t have any typos! right = write?
anon the hypocrite
June 22, 2009 at 12:39 pm
if you’re going to critique someone for spelling, you should make sure you don’t have any typos! right = write?
anon the hypocrite
June 22, 2009 at 12:39 pm
No people should comment on each other it makes there values to very low
khurramsnight
July 20, 2009 at 9:23 am
Summer in Evanston is better than winter in Evanston
Ian
July 29, 2009 at 10:08 am
AL I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!
abhita
July 29, 2009 at 3:52 pm
hmmmm i think i wanna come and experience Evanston’s summer
rowie
August 20, 2009 at 9:53 am