Yesterday evening my buddy Scott invited me out to grab drinks with faculty members at this place around the corner from the newsroom, Italian Village. I had a mid-term to take this morning. However:

A.) Frankly, my life has been filled with tons of mid-terms already. Some turned out better than others. And look how far it's gotten me. I'm not here to ace friggin' exams - I'm here to learn on-the-job, meet people, make connections, and above all, get published, goddammit. In a strange way, I can legitimately justify tossing back rounds of Maker's Mark with faculty rather than locking myself in a room to study.

...right?

B.) I could use a few more drinks than normal these days. This morning, I'm out the door to take my test and the phone rings. It's an automated Orbitz reminder for my "trip to Chicago," announcing "my" AM flight status. (It was on time) She would have arrived this afternoon. Talk about a stomach-punch.

So this is all a long way of saying I went out for drinks with Scott as well as two faculty, Steve and Olie. These two guys are Chicago to the bone - born and raised. They have great stories, great advice, great passion for the profession. We wound up leaving after three hours of drinks, laughs, discussion, and about a half a pack of cigarettes (my lungs and I had a good cry this morning. *hack!*)

Great, what's my point. My point is this: All you photographers out there would appreciate this project that Steve just wrapped up with a former J-schooler, Jack Bridges. It documents the last days of the Robert Taylor Projects, what used to be the largest public housing development in the world.

Powerful stuff. Check it out, and be sure to navigate to the sample video (It's under that "Robert Taylor" icon at the bottom of one of the pages).

Tonight it's off to Bar Vertigo, this Hitchcock-themed joint and of my favorite spots in the city thus far, to check out my friend Emily's band, The Elevens. Think Luscious Jackson, except rocking out a bit more.

(And the mid-term turned out fine.)