way-back wednesday...chicago, mid-90s

as i prepare to leave for chicago this weekend 

(little business, little fun!)

i started to reminisce about my years there in the mid-90s.

i have always loved chicago, and had the opportunity to intern for a magazine there during my senior year of college, then returned a few months after graduation to work for three years.

my biggest issue at the time was where to live...

where would be a safe place for a 20 year old girl, in a nice neighborhood, near all the city sites?

i found my home at the three arts club located on north dearborn parkway in the heart of the gold coast neighborhood -- just steps from michigan avenue and lake shore drive.

founded as a home for girls/women in the arts, in 1912, there was a screening process with letters of recommendation and everything to be considered for residnece! most of the residents were students studying the arts, recent graduates and even some women who were artists in residence. 

it was a fabulous old building, with a door-woman and buzzer system (very safe!), no boys were permitted after 11 pm and they were only allowed into one's room if they left their ID at the front desk.

we all ate together in a common dining room, and with our rent payment, came a substantial breakfast and dinner and were encouraged to talk about our arts and share our talents. in the summer we ate in the courtyard around this fabulous fountain!

our rooms were simple, with a twin bed, closet and sink and community bathroom down the hall with showers. some larger rooms had claw-foot tubs and bathrooms (oh, how I loved my claw-foot tub after a cold walk home from my internship during a very snowy december)

this was before cell phones, so if i was to receive a phone call, my room would be buzzed, i would run down the hall to a common hallway phone, pick up the receiver and the operator would transfer my call! how old fashioned that sounds now!

i met so many friends there, and went on to live with a modern dancer and ballerina that i had met when i was a resident.

the building was sold a few years ago, and is no longer a residence, but still remains today as a museum.