Hello all! Henceforth, I shall be blogging at the new and improved

hoperehak.com!

Unfortunately, I cannot figure out how to enable comments using a Tumblr server, so for the time being, if you experience problems accessing that webpage, please leave me a comment in response to this here post, and I'll get it.

Tak!

a room with a view (mine) and flowers from my job - the first ten days

The Rowling: A Rip-off of The Raven I'd Been Meaning to Write

Many times a midnight dreary, while I pondered chic and cheery,

Over seven Potter volumes filled with lasting magic lore,

While I Tumbled, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my cyber door.

`’Tis some spammer,’ I muttered, `tapping at my cyber door -

Only this, and nothing more.’

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

`Sir,’ said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was busy, and so gently you came bugging,

And so faintly you came chugging, spamming at my cyber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you’ - here I clicked wide the window; -

Fandom there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stared there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams all fans had dared to dream before;

But the squealing was unbroken, and the fandom gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered, `Pottermore!’

This I whispered; forum keyboards smashed about with, `Pottermore!’

Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a clicking somewhat louder than before.

Here I clicked the link, and finally, with a tiny bit of silly,

Opened up a YouTube video of the Rowling from our childhood days of yore.

Then this lovely clip beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the generous, bright decorum of the author we adore,

`We’ve waited for a prequel,’ I said, `this is surely not its equal:

What the flaming hell have we to look for ever more?’

Quoth the Rowling, `Pottermore.’

Much I marveled to hear her cyber plans so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

Ever yet was blessed with reading more of Harry Potter’s lore -

We’d hoped for encyclopedias and sequels - for Marauder-era prequels,

Yet no such thing is promised with mysterious `Pottermore.’

`Jo!’ said I, `Oh, please give more!’ Beseeching, ‘we can’t bear it longer!

By all ghosts of Hogwarts gleaming - by that God named Dumbledore -

Tell this soul with fiction nurtured if, within the distant future,

It shall have new information made about Marauders four -

Dare we hope for salient prequels, which the fangirls would adore?’

Quoth the Rowling, `Pottermore.’

`Be that word our sign of parting, friend or fiend!’ I shrieked upstarting -

`Get thee back to Edinburgh’s cold shore!

Leave no quill nor wand a token of that myth thy soul hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the tease of Potter lore!

Take thy site from out my heart, and stop ripping off Lenore!’

Quoth the Rowling, `Pottermore.’

So much thinking

One of the things I love about living in another country is how the vulnerability of not speaking the language or knowing the culture or being literate in the city makes you hyperaware. I feel, like I did when I was a student in Copenhagen two years ago, that my whole brain chemistry just... alters slightly, to compensate for all the strangeness and the trying to blend in.

Not everything is different. Yesterday, the head of DIS threw a great barbecue for the interns at his house in the near 'burbs, and while we did indeed bike there (okay, that would never happen in America), the mosquitos outside on a muggy August evening were just the same as back home, and my incessant worrying about West Nile was identical to my summer fears at home.

Being in Europe, however, makes me a newly minted snob about a lot of things that would occur neither to Americans at home nor natives here. For instance, I refuse to ask for directions. It is a TEST OF FIRE to see if I can find my way to obscure apartments in Vesterbro, wheras in America I constantly ask for directions. A better example is bread. I refuse to buy store-bought, factory-baked, pre-sliced bread in a grocery shop when there are bakeries every two blocks. I just flat out refuse. Unfortunately, bakeries have shorter hours than grocery stores and I work full time and also everything goes stale in about two days. I impulsively bought a whole loaf of something called Mueslibrod, which turned into a rockhard, Einstein's Powerbagel-esque situation. I still ate it when I came home tonight, because I spent like six dollars on that damn loaf.

Because everything is so expensive. I cannot stress this enough. But I also should stop whinging about it, since I'm 22 and living abroad and have a kickass job with an end date to keep the whole year from feeling soulless or tired.

How to Blend In with the Danes

1. be naturally tall

2. stand up straight (I don't)

3. bike everywhere

4. don't complain about cigarette smoke coming in through your fifth-story window

5. remember that your fifth-story window is actually the fourth floor in Europe

6. stop smiling at everything new and exciting

7. maintain an air of quietly pleased indifference

8. clean everything really well and be neat and organized

9. don't wait to do your grocery shopping until sunday (everything is closed)

10. remember to get to the bakery in the morning (before all the pastry is gone)

11. know enough Danish to request food and drink, say thanks, and apologize for biking too slowly

Today was my first full day in Copenhagen. I got to my Norrebro flat around 4:00 (that's 16:00 here) yesterday, and had a nice evening and a rough, jetlagged night/morning. Today at a convenience store, buying a bottle of water, I actually made it through the entire transaction without the clerk speaking to me in English, which I'm going to take as a sign I was "passing". Whoo-hoo.

Religious References and Iconography in Harry Potter

A short list:

1. The very concept of Horcruxes presuppose that the soul is a real and physical part of humanity-- that it can be maimed, that it can be whole, and that it exists separately from the body.

2. Harry is killed, then resurrected, and lives a second life after his final battle with Voldemort. He might not be Jesus incarnate, but he's living the fictional life many fundamentalist Christians believe awaits the faithful.

3. James/Harry/Dumbledore = Father/Son/Holy Ghost

This one needs work, because I'm not Christian and can't really speak to the finer points of how perfectly this works out.

4. Christmas, gosh darned it. Why do wizards celebrate it, when their lives otherwise seem to be motivated by secular humanism (or a lack of it)?

There. I basically just wrote the Cliff's Notes for your next Comparative Religious Studies essay. You're welcome.

Hope's Forever Incomplete Guide to the Emerald Windy City of Big Shoulders

(Edited 13 June 2012 to add links)

I lived in Chicago for a solid 18 years, and in the following four (during which I spent 15% of my time traveling the world, 60% studying in Ohio, and 25% trying to get back), I've tried to go home as much as possible. Like a sea turtle returning to the beach of its birth, Chicago is the compass of my life. It's not too grandiose to admit; in fact, it's pretty literal. It's still the one place in the world I can find my way around, hobbled as I am with a poor sense of space and direction.

Here is my work-in-progress guide to my favorite place on earth.* It's going to be endless, so I've divided it into Places to Eat, Coffee to Swill, Actual Entertainment, Hang-Outs to Hang, and Generally Great Finds. It's taken me 22 years to make this list, so please give me a shout if you like it, hate it, or want to send me a royalty check and feature it somewhere prominent.

PLACES TO EAT**

Kopi Cafe, Andersonville

My friend Niki and I started coming to Kopi on Saturdays in the fifth grade, and it's still something I look forward to whenever I'm home. Named for the Indonesian word for coffee, Kopi is sometimes misconstrued as a mere bean peddler, but in fact boasts one of the best vegetarian menus in the city. Its impressive espresso offerings sometimes eclipse its food in the press and local memory, but that's no insult, just a compliment to the drinks, which range from Red Tea sweetened with condensed milk to something lemon and frozen called a Dr. Pucker my friend Laura swears by. Don't miss Kopi's back-of-the-restaurant store, which features all kinds of jewelry, travel packs, books, and soaps from all over the world; its motto ("A Traveler's Cafe") is the opposite of lip service. This is the place to go if you're planning a trip, or wish you were. And if not, the wonderfully caffeinated Dirty Chai milkshake will always cheer you up.

Pick Me Up Cafe, Wrigleyville

My older brother introduced me to this 24/7 diner, and I wish I could say I've gotten here more often. The food is out of this world, the prices unbeatable within Cook County limits, and their mocha milkshake is the stuff of dreams (or insomnia). The perfect restaurant before or after a night at iO or the ballpark.

Hamburger Mary's, Andersonville

Another relatively recent discovery in my life, this restaurant caters campily to the gay community in which it's situated, and we're all luckier for it. Featuring flowery mixed drinks and burgers so huge they come with a serrated steak knife to help you cope, Mary's is staffed by genderqueer kings and queens of all kinds, and the menu reflects the overall Castro-esque ambience. I think there's a drink called the Fred and Ginger I've yet to try; my favorite burger is the black bean BBQ, which is topped with an onion ring.

M. Henry's, Andersonville / M. Henrietta's, Rogers Park

So much has been said and written about this upscale brunch venue, but it's worth braving the weekend crowds to taste for yourself. I'm especially fond of their huevos rancheros (I think it has a classier name, but look for the omelet with cheese and veggies and plantains on the side) and stuffed berry french toast. They also make a brilliant grilled cheese sandwich with PEARS. Yum. Note that the newer Rogers Park franchise is usually less peopled than her popular brother.

Potbelly Sandwich Co., EVERYWHERE

This is really a n00b suggestion, since you've probably run into about a dozen of these if you've lived in or visited Chicago for more than a few days. Still worth a mention: great sandwiches with that devil-may-care Midwestern attitude towards caloric intake. Thank heavens.

COFFEE

The Grind, Lincoln Square

I first came here with a "cool older friend" who was all of 23 when I was just a junior in high school, and now, at almost her age then, I can still vouch for its utter coolness. Right across the street from one of my favorite used bookstores and the cheapest known movie theater in the city, The Grind is the best place to kill a half hour before a hot date or chill after a guitar lesson at the nearby Old Town School of Folk Music. (Which of these did I do more often in junior high?)

Lavazza, 111 S. Jackson

Two words: frozen. capuccino. I don't know anywhere else that squirts sweet espresso out of whipped cream cans, but they do. They're in the same building as my scholarship foundation's headquarters, so I was here often. Solid coffee; I miss it.

Metropolis Coffee Co., right off the Granville Red Line stop

A recent discovery, courtesy of my friend Katherine. Absolutely stellar roast: MCC actually supplies coffee beans to lots of "coffee shops" and cafes throughout the city. A lot of character, a little pretense, but a great place to meet a friend to catch up if you're in Rogers Park.

ACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT

iO (Improv Olympic), Wrigleyville

Since baseball was never my jam, I didn't think there was anything in the Wrigle Field-oriented neighborhood west of Lakeview for me or my liberal arty friends. How wrong I was. If you enjoy laughter and feeling superior to the tourists who buy out overpriced Second City shows, iO is the only place to go. I almost hate to confess my favorite show, since it is in some ways still the city's best-kept secret, but TJ & Dave on Wednesday nights at 11pm are the best of the best at improvisational comedy and there is no going back to mediocrity after seeing them. That would be a downer, if tickets for this kickass show weren't so cheap. At $5, I can nearly always afford to go when I'm feeling in need of a laugh, but be sure to buy by phone or online well in advance, since they sell out EVERY WEEK.

The Neo-Futurarium, at the southeast corner of Foster and Ashland

Full disclosure: I interned here. The only reason I got the job, though, was that I'd spent the majority of Saturday nights during high school haunting this black box theater situated above a funeral home in the heart of Andersonville. Fantastic experience of late-night, dirt-cheap, in-your-face performance art, but don't let that label put you off. Their method of "60 plays in 30 minutes" is a surefire recipe for giddy weekend fun with an always-welcome philosophical aftertaste.

The Davis, Lincoln Square
An old-school, janky movie theater that I believe still has $7 matinees.  Used to be even cheaper, with 2nd-run movies, but these days has upgraded to current blockbusters and the occasional foreign film.  GET ON IT!

Chicago Cultural Center 
I tend to duck in here after a summer day at Millennium Park or the Art Institute, as it's situated quite centrally and provides a beautiful, air-conditioned space with no admission fees (or at least, there weren't the last time I was there).  There are often art exhibits and music shows, there's an overpriced cafe, and a killer gift store.  It's also right across the street from the CPS/Mayor Daley arts school Gallery 37, where I took a sculpture class from 2005-2006.

The Annoyance Theater

Not unlike iO on paper, The Annoyance is an improv-based theater that also enrolls students in classes on everything from sketch writing to more serious acting. I've not studied here, but I love the Tuesday night double-header Chicagoland & Fishnuts. At $8, it's usually an unbeatable night of comedy, and the fact that it's a weekday really cuts down on the traffic. Low-key but stellar.

The Strange Tree Theatre Company (numerous venues throughout the city)

My favorite. The best of the best. There's nothing like them. I interned very briefly for these fine folks as well, but they really didn't need me. They do everything: write their shows, act them out, find the space, decorate it with wonderfully inventive and appropriate set dressing and steampunky props. Always, always worth the price of a ticket, which varies according to the theater space they're renting out. Can't wait for them to get their own building one day-- it might be soon, if their recent successes are any indication.  (Seriously, just check out their killer website.)

HANG OUTS***

Women and Children First Bookstore, Andersonville

Another place I worked back in the day, this bookstore is an institution in the family-oriented (formerly Swedish immigrant) community that flocks to the area surrounding Clark and Foster. Although they primarily feature feminist, GLBTQ, and children's literature, the staff is that particular kind of well-read fabulous that you only really ever get with independent booksellers. You know, the kind the big box chains try to simulate with the smell of coffee and armchairs? This is the sort of place they wish they could be. It was also, last I checked, the largest independent feminist bookstore in the United States of America, and its welcoming but comfortable size is a true testament to the fact that this is the kind of local store far too frequently dubbed a dying breed. If you want to be a REALLY good person and support them as much as they deserve, you can order nearly any book in print from them if they don't have what you want in stock, and get it the next week.

Andersonville Galleria

What a find! Not the best choice for the cheapest among us, but nevertheless the perfect place for gifts of every price range. I think I got everyone in my family a Hanukkah or Christmas present from Galeria last year. The idea of the place is simple enough: artists rent space in the four-story brick building on a high-traffic sidewalk, and potential buyers can walk among clothes, paintings, and ephemera both populist and underground. There's a great selection of Chicago-themed goods, since all the artists are locals!

Ravenswood Used Books, Lincoln Square

My favorite bookstore in the city, tied only with Women and Children First, and yes, they keep a spectacular blog. Jim Mall is one-of-a-kind, and even that phrase is far too commonplace to describe the character that runs this special, quirky place. You have to visit to understand. It's like a hoarder's attic, if the hoarder was a genius book dealer with a penchant for radical politics, cats, and typewriters. But the true treasure is, of course, the books. The people who work here know what's what, and they can help you find anything amidst the piles and piles of vanillin-scented tomes that lay, deceptively organized, all over the tight and winding corridors of this tiny storefront.

Myopic Books, Wicker Park

I used to shop here before I discovered Ravenswood Used Books (which is much closer to me), and it was usually worth the trek south. If you're living in Wicker Park, good on you, because since it became the gentrified hot spot for twentysomething migrants to Chicago, I've heard rent has gotten fairly impossible for us barely-employed postgrads. That doesn't detract from the glory of this bookstore, though the neighborhood is better known for its bar life, good weather craft fairs, and alt-music scene.

GENERALLY GREAT FINDS

Bello Hair Studio, at the corner of Lincoln and Berwyn

Such lovely ladies, such reasonably priced haircuts. It's right by where I grew up, and I've been going to Emma and Alma so long that they not only remember how I wore my hair for prom, but also the years of me talking about it beforehand. Don't take my word for it: people love them on Yelp!

Ten Cat Tavern, on Ashland between Byron and Irving Park Rd.

I only recently found out that my parents and their friends hung out here a bit as pre-parents in the eighties. Pretty weird, since my friends and I just discovered it last summer, when we were finally all 21. Super relaxed, kinda dirty, but in a good, underpriced way. I don't drink a lot, which jives with the low-down, intimate feel of the back room, where there is a real, working fireplace and board games. It's also usually quiet enough to have, say, a birthday party with your high school friends and play pool.

The Violet Hour, Wicker Park

Pretty schmancy (that's "pretentiously fancy"). I've only been here once, but it's quite the experience. Made like a pseudo-prohibition-era dive, you have to knock on a secret door below a single light bulb half-hidden by wood planking to get in, and they'll ignore you if they're full. Once inside, it's a swanky affair with high-backed grey booths and upscale, crafted drinks reminiscent of the Jazz Age. Certainly worth a trip, but maybe reserve it for a special occasion.

*It's true that Chicago is where my heart lies, but for whatever reason, I find myself always leaving her. I guess that's for others to psychoanalyze...

**I'm a vegetarian, so all of these posts can only really comment on the veggie fare served at the listed restaurants, but I promise all are delicious, even to my carnivorous friends.

***This is code for "window shopping" and "we're broke but we can browse."