Records & Real Estate Podcast
Harmonizing Homes and Heavy Metal: Jenafur Schlangen's Lens on Real Estate and Riffs
When the worlds of real estate and heavy metal collide, you know you're in for an electrifying experience. That's precisely what happened when we sat down with Jenafur Schlangen, a music photography maven and journalist who just stepped into the realm of homeownership. Jennifer's tales from the pit, photographing metal legends and her journey navigating the choppy waters of buying a home in Chicago, are peppered with the kind of insights only a true industry insider can offer. Plus, she adds an unexpected twist with some shrimp trivia that's as quirky as it is delightful.
Strap yourself in for a rollercoaster ride through the thrills and spills of concert photography, where dodging 'mic mouth' is all in a day's work. I spill the secrets of capturing that perfect stage moment, from the technicalities of lighting to the adrenaline-fueled race against the three-song limit. The conversation hits a crescendo as we explore the raw power of live music and how it transcends the limits of our earbuds. Then, we pivot to the personal side of our lives, sharing the buzz of finding new properties and the charm of Chicago's vibrant neighborhoods.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and it takes center stage as we reminisce about the Loop's bygone happy hours and lost dining havens. We mourn the loss of Ropa Cabana and its gourmet hot dogs, and celebrate the lakeside jazz of my cousin Libby York, wishing for a chef to bring back the magic. Then, shifting back to the present, we reveal our passion projects, from eco-friendly beach inventions to the soothing sights of Lake Michigan, proving that whether it's through the lens of real estate or the rhythm of metal, life's melodies always find a way to surprise and delight us.
Connect with Karen and Andrew at Be Realty: Be Realty Group
Email the Show: karen.sandvoss@berealtygroup.com
Guest: Jenafur Shlangen, EcoBeachie
Link: Unrated Mag
Link: United Centre
Link: EcoBeachie on Instagram
Link: Xcom EcoBeachie
Link: The Kills
Link: Mudvayne
Link: Olivia Rodrigo Store
Link: Oceanique
Link: Waterfront Cafe
When the worlds of real estate and heavy metal collide, you know you're in for an electrifying experience. That's precisely what happened when we sat down with Jenafur Schlangen, a music photography maven and journalist who just stepped into the realm of homeownership. Jennifer's tales from the pit, photographing metal legends and her journey navigating the choppy waters of buying a home in Chicago, are peppered with the kind of insights only a true industry insider can offer. Plus, she adds an unexpected twist with some shrimp trivia that's as quirky as it is delightful.
Strap yourself in for a rollercoaster ride through the thrills and spills of concert photography, where dodging 'mic mouth' is all in a day's work. I spill the secrets of capturing that perfect stage moment, from the technicalities of lighting to the adrenaline-fueled race against the three-song limit. The conversation hits a crescendo as we explore the raw power of live music and how it transcends the limits of our earbuds. Then, we pivot to the personal side of our lives, sharing the buzz of finding new properties and the charm of Chicago's vibrant neighborhoods.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and it takes center stage as we reminisce about the Loop's bygone happy hours and lost dining havens. We mourn the loss of Ropa Cabana and its gourmet hot dogs, and celebrate the lakeside jazz of my cousin Libby York, wishing for a chef to bring back the magic. Then, shifting back to the present, we reveal our passion projects, from eco-friendly beach inventions to the soothing sights of Lake Michigan, proving that whether it's through the lens of real estate or the rhythm of metal, life's melodies always find a way to surprise and delight us.
Connect with Karen and Andrew at Be Realty: Be Realty Group
Email the Show: karen.sandvoss@berealtygroup.com
Guest: Jenafur Shlangen, EcoBeachie
Link: Unrated Mag
Link: United Centre
Link: EcoBeachie on Instagram
Link: Xcom EcoBeachie
Link: The Kills
Link: Mudvayne
Link: Olivia Rodrigo Store
Link: Oceanique
Link: Waterfront Cafe
Welcome to Records and Real Estate, a podcast about well, records and real estate. You'll be entertained and informed as we explore the intersection of these two worlds through interviews with Chicago's most interesting and successful people from both industries.
Speaker 2:That was Andrew Wendt and I'm Karen Sanvas. We are Chicago real estate brokers, property managers, avid music lovers and your hosts of Records and Real Estate. Hi, karen.
Speaker 1:Andrew, hi, how are you today?
Speaker 2:I am kind of distracted and busy. I've got a lot going on at work and my brain is kind of a one thing at a time kind of brain. And when I have a lot of things going on. I get stressed.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, you should talk to your boss about that.
Speaker 2:I should. Let's take that offline.
Speaker 1:No, let's do it now.
Speaker 2:Okay, oh you want to do this. It's all good. It's just it's, you know, time sensitive and things, but it's all good.
Speaker 1:You know, perfect time to tell our listeners a little bit about what's going on at Be Realty Group. We are restructuring, yeah, we are sort of dividing out our divisions into proper companies.
Speaker 2:Dividing out our divisions into different divisions, that's right.
Speaker 1:Into real divisions.
Speaker 2:Yes, into separate entities.
Speaker 1:Separate entities. So Be Realty Management is its own company, be Realty Residential is its own company. In the future, be Realty Commercial will be its own company. Yeah, potentially even Be Realty Global. That's right, be Realty is its own company. In the future, b Realty Commercial will be its own company. Yeah, potentially even B Realty Global.
Speaker 2:That's right Will be its own company, all under the umbrella of B Realty Group. B Realty Group.
Speaker 1:And the reason why we did that is because we want these divisions to be able to, you know, have some autonomy, create some equity for those that are participating, you know, in growing that particular division. We also, you know, want the flow of money to be a little bit more obvious and cleaner, Yep. And yet it's a lot of work and you're doing an incredible job on the B Realty management side which is really the lion's share of the lift, because the other entity sort of exists already.
Speaker 2:So yeah, yeah, it's a lot. If you're ever planning to do an entity change, give me a call, I will tell you. If you don't need to do it, don't do it. No, it's. Yeah. I think I'm very excited about what it's going to, how it's going to benefit us. Like you said the financial clarity. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're in the thick of it.
Speaker 1:Yep, yep. Light at the end of the tunnel, though so close, yeah, nice.
Speaker 2:You can taste it. Property management.
Speaker 1:Well speaking of bright lights.
Speaker 2:And big cities.
Speaker 1:We had a lovely guest on.
Speaker 2:Yes, she was a very bright light. Yes, loved her whole vibe, her humor, yeah, Her whole vibe her humor. Yeah, you say her last name, because I am going to butcher it. Jennifer Schlangen Schlangen she and I know each other, have known each other for a long time, recently reconnected because of one of our previous guests, Jeff Elbell of the Illinois Entertainer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the records and real estate web of people is growing and connecting, which is really great.
Speaker 2:She was cool, came at it from a side of music photography and also journalism, photojournalism as she points out. That was a big word that she threw out there. Yep, simplifies the conversation, though, a little bit yeah, for sure, and uh, and she's a heavy metal fan yeah, yeah we learned about um listeners, you're gonna learn what the term is for the little um poop line that goes through the back of a shrimp that's right stay tuned yep shall we let's get into it.
Speaker 3:Here we are with jennifer schlangen did I pronounce your last name right? You did very good schlangen yeah, s-c-h-h-l-a-n-g-e-n. Very good.
Speaker 1:That's I remember.
Speaker 3:I remember things. I'm not a Smith, so I am single and I am looking. Since I ordered pizza under Smith, I'm looking to just make the leap, yeah.
Speaker 1:I like it, it's much easier. Yes, jen, you and I have known each other for a long time. Yes, we have. We recently reconnected. You're a big music fan I am and you are under contract to buy a home by the time this airs. You will be a homeowner, first-time homeowner.
Speaker 3:So congratulations, thank you, and my neighbor, yeah, edgewater, your neighbor up in.
Speaker 1:Edgewater Very exciting. So we'll talk about that and you're a big Chicago fan.
Speaker 3:I am.
Speaker 1:I mean, I think you are.
Speaker 3:I am for the most part.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's got its pluses and minuses.
Speaker 3:For sure.
Speaker 1:Any big city does.
Speaker 3:For sure.
Speaker 1:So would you say that those are your qualifications for being on the podcast today, or? Are there others that I forgot.
Speaker 3:I would absolutely say that you've hit all of my qualifications.
Speaker 1:Thank you. So when did you start this sort of side gig as a concert photographer?
Speaker 3:Well, I have been writing for Unrated Magazine for, oh gosh, it's probably been I'm going on 15 years and my photographer moved okay so I'm like, how hard can it be?
Speaker 2:snap a few photos, you know just easy.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but I've just been having a blast learning along the way it's been great, it's total joy.
Speaker 1:So I mean we should take a step back then. So you've been writing about music for 15 years.
Speaker 3:I have. I started writing. Actually, I worked with the same photographer for all these years and he was working as a photographer for ChicagoGigscom. Do you ever hear that? Oh, this was in the way back machine.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:ChicagoGigscom and I remember my favorite memory. I got to tell you they hosted a street fest and I want to say it was like Roscoe Village or somewhere, and so I got to introduce the bands. Yeah, it was.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no.
Speaker 3:No, I get on stage and I'm so excited and you know I'm like all right, next up we have now the band is setting up behind me and whatnot. So the sound man is now talking to the band as they're setting up and he's like snare drum, whatever.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 3:I don't know that this is only coming through the monitors, and I'm in the middle of my introduction and you will not interrupt me, so I literally stopped I'm like okay, next up we have hello. I'm talking, oh, and everyone was like yeah, so yeah, chicagogeekscom.
Speaker 1:It is now defunct, yeah.
Speaker 3:Wouldn't know why Great representation there.
Speaker 1:Because they had terrible MCs. Is that why so rude?
Speaker 3:It was so great, I was so embarrassed. But I still laugh about it to this day. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, how would you know if you don't know how monitors work? Yeah, I mean, how would you know if you don't know how monitors work?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean I don't play in a band, yeah, but yeah, I could now, because now I get it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, totally. What would you play if you were in a?
Speaker 3:band. Oh, bass, really, okay, yeah, I would. Or drums, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:All right.
Speaker 3:I work for lawyers. You know, we talked about that. Yes, we did.
Speaker 1:Don't interrupt me. Aggression out on the drums.
Speaker 3:The name of the band. Or the first album.
Speaker 1:Right. So what got you into writing for Chicago gigs?
Speaker 3:Well, the photographer, dan Dan Locke, he's great, he's. He left me, but whatever, I'm actually happy now because I just love the photography aspect.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Like a lot. I had no idea what I was missing all these years.
Speaker 1:Are you doing both? Yeah Right, okay yeah, and you've mentioned the name of the publication that you write for.
Speaker 3:It's Unrated Magazine. Okay, I also contribute to Illinois Entertainer. I also contribute to Illinois Entertainer and I understand that you had Jeff on, that's right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we had Jeff. He was a lovely guest Jeff Elbell, yes.
Speaker 3:Previous guest yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's awesome.
Speaker 3:You know, I've never met him in person yet. Oh really no, Everything is on email.
Speaker 1:But that's what reconnected us is. You commented on his post about his podcast and you made some nice remark about me, and so I bought it Hook Line and Sync I'm like I should reach out to Jen Right. So what are some of the? Are there particular genres or particular bands? What's your assignment?
Speaker 3:I get to choose my assignments, so it's great. So I just hear what's coming up. I also get emails, which I have for years as a writer. I get emails from publicists like oh God, at least 20 a day for just different bands, like local little up-and-comers. But then for the big shows, which is where the big joy comes in, because if you can put your elbows on the stage at United Center and take a photo, I don't even care. If I have a shot I am going to put my elbows on that stage at United.
Speaker 3:Center because your bones literally rattle in your body and it is just joy.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's so cool.
Speaker 2:It is awesome when you were, I don't know, college age or even younger, like when you first could go to clubs? Were you that person that stood in the front and stood next to the speaker?
Speaker 3:Yeah, or I was in the mosh pit.
Speaker 2:In the mosh pit. Okay, so punk rock or what were you into? No more metal, Metal okay.
Speaker 3:Yeah, punk is like jazz to me. It's just too complicated. Well, anyone can pretend to play it. I'm kidding, yeah.
Speaker 1:Karen feels that way about jazz.
Speaker 3:I like jazz for about a half an hour, but then after that it's done, it's dead to me.
Speaker 2:I like a jazz with a cocktail in one hand and a little foot beat, and it has to have some rhythm.
Speaker 3:But I often complain but they always go off the rails.
Speaker 2:I don't want to listen to somebody doing their scales. Agreed, do that in your own time. Do that in your living room. That's called practicing. Yes, or masturbating or sonic masturbation, as I like to call all that wanky stuff. But yeah, but we have some jazz people, jazz guests and one coming up soon, a jazz drummer who actually is a really fun drummer, derek Henderson, to watch. Awesome, he's my kind of jazz.
Speaker 1:All right, yeah All right, yeah, I mean, you're going to have to tone down your rhetoric if we're going to have a jazz drummer.
Speaker 2:I know.
Speaker 1:Don't offend anybody.
Speaker 2:I know right.
Speaker 1:So do you have an assignment coming up?
Speaker 3:I do. Well, how it works is that you submit?
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 3:So time coming up. I do well how it works is that you submit. Okay, so a lot of my shows are live nation shows. Okay, so you submit what you want to shoot or cover through the live nation media portal, okay, and then they send it to the artist publicist. Okay, and then they let you know literally the day before or the day of the morning of oh, wow, yeah, wow, yeah. It sucks, you can't really plan and I am a planner.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but it's worth it, because it's joy, yeah, so then they let you know and then that's the deal. So my next one I'm submitted for is Olivia Rodrigo. Oh yeah, I have no idea who she is, but I know she's huge. She's huge and it's at United Center.
Speaker 1:I have no idea who she is, but I know she's huge and it's at United Center. Oh gosh, elbows on the stage. You know, I listen to her. She has two albums. She's very young but she's really cool, you know just different from you know, your sort of young woman artist getting started in the music business. I'm excited, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean, I'll submit to big, big shows like that and I haven't heard of the band, and then I usually always walk away. A fan, yeah. And it could just be the joy you know level of joy that's been inserted in me and I'm just like man. This person is great.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:But I usually, most always, walk away a fan. So, I'm excited to see her.
Speaker 2:What are your deliverables, then, as a photographer? How many shots do you have to take? Do you have to take certain kinds of shots?
Speaker 3:Well, for your featured image for the article, you want a horizontal shot, so I just shoot both ways If the lighting's bad, which there are a few venues that I will try not to bash on, but the lighting is always like blue or red. Yeah, and there's never a spot which sucks bad.
Speaker 2:Never a spot meaning like never good shot.
Speaker 3:Line of sight right for you and in those instances I call what I do spray and pray. So I just hold the shutter down and just hope that eventually there might be a strobe or something that will hit the face of the artist. But I just kind of tend to maneuver my camera from vertical to horizontal and since I write the piece I can kind of choose.
Speaker 2:Oh, so you do the writing and the photography for the same piece. I do, that's fun.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I do All right, but I think there's something coming up. I'm going to have my own writer, that's right.
Speaker 1:You're going to be Dan.
Speaker 3:I am going to be.
Speaker 1:Dan, and your writer's going to be Jen. Yes, wow.
Speaker 2:That's cool. Yeah, I was going to say because I would think that, you know, looking through the camera lens is a different experience than being a writer sitting back and listening to the show and really taking in all the action at once.
Speaker 3:That is true and honestly. We're only allowed to shoot the first three songs of each artist. That's how it works, Really Yep Standard. So you always have like your handler, and the handler brings all of the photographers into the media, pit First three songs and at that third song you look down at the end and they are literally tapping their watch Like get the hell out now.
Speaker 2:So which is fine, is that because the performer looks the best and isn't sweating yet, so they have the nicest shirt.
Speaker 3:That's when I think they would look the best. It pisses me off because and then also I've noticed too on the fourth song yeah, look the best.
Speaker 2:It pisses me off because and then also I've noticed too on the fourth song.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's when you get all the spotlight on the face like why do you do this to us? I don't. I don't understand it either, but I would think I would rather shoot like songs four through seven, because that's when they're warmed up and they're more relaxed, but no, it's always the first three songs.
Speaker 2:So interesting yeah maybe it's distracting for the artist or something.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that could be, yeah so you get to enjoy the concert right, and that's how what I wanted to loop back to was.
Speaker 3:You said the experience for a writer was different than looking through the lens, and that is true, because for the first three songs I don't even hear the music like at all.
Speaker 2:I don't hear it.
Speaker 3:I feel it.
Speaker 2:Your elbows, get it.
Speaker 3:I know I will beat that dead horse, the poor baby, but I don't hear it anything. It's so funny. But then after the third song, then I have a chance to just kick back. Yeah that's cool.
Speaker 2:What's one of the last concerts that you did that you were just super thrilled about the Kills.
Speaker 3:Oh nice, at the Vic and I'd never heard of them. I do my research before I sit down and write the article, find out they've been around for like 21 years and I'm like, yeah, great journalist you are, I've never heard of them and I did a Google search to find out. I always look before the live music performance to see what hand the singer is, so you don't get mic mouth.
Speaker 3:So I always check to see are they right or left handed, so I know what to stand on for photos. Never would have thought about that. Yeah, so I did that and I thought their music sucked. I mean it was bad. I'm like great, I gotta go with the vic and I'm not. I don't like the vic, but it's, you know, it's not united center, you can tell.
Speaker 3:That's my favorite but, man, they kicked my ass. They were great. Every I didn't hear much of the first three songs per use, but I am not kidding you. Every song that I stood there and watched after that, every single one, I was like holy shit, I love this song. Oh my god, these guys are great. I wasn't just saying that to myself. It was actually with a friend and I kept telling her man, I love these guys.
Speaker 2:She's like yeah, I know what do you think the difference was between? You know your experience, just listening to them, what on spotify or something, and then it was google.
Speaker 3:It was like they're live. Well, maybe it wasn't alive, maybe it was just an official video, but I like to, you know, find something alive and it just probably was someone's cell phone recording of it. Yeah it just didn't do them justice, man. They kicked my, kicked my ass.
Speaker 2:They are great. Oh, that's great. Have fun. Yeah, go live music For real.
Speaker 1:So what are you typically writing about? Like just the concert itself or how they're playing? I mean, is it a review?
Speaker 3:of the show. Well, I critique the musicians because I know every instrument. No, I like to talk about the experience of being there. So my little motto has always been like if you couldn't make the show, whether you couldn't afford the ticket or you couldn't get a babysitter, I'm just kind of there to tell you what you may or may not have missed.
Speaker 2:That's why I like and maybe I don't know if it's a style of the Illinois entertainer, but Jeff's articles do that for me Like I feel like I've been there, yeah, which is wonderful. That's the goal.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:Shifting gears a little bit, as we talked about in the open. You're about to close on a condo.
Speaker 3:Congratulations.
Speaker 1:Now I know, you know your process was a little bit different than most, because you initially thought you were going to buy the apartment that you were renting, correct, but what about your process? Sort of has surprised you.
Speaker 3:Well, what surprised me was that my unit owner would not accept my offer. I mean, what a jackass.
Speaker 2:They were selling and just didn't want to sell for the price you were offering, or they didn't want to sell at all.
Speaker 3:No, he wanted to sell. I've been asking him for years. I've been running from him for 13 years and I had been asking him for years Are you ready to sell, are you ready to sell? And finally he was ready to sell last year, but I had just started a business, so I wasn't really in that position to do it. And I said let's just lease one more year and then I'm going to buy it. And he's like okay, so which I thought was cool, he had no intention of listing it and he was giving me first dibs on it, which was awesome. I appreciated that.
Speaker 3:And then we get to where my lease is ending, my last lease. And he's like well, are you, do you want to buy this or not? Like he's just, he's a da-dun-da-dun. But I said, yes, I do, I want to buy it. And so the place you know hasn't even seen a coat of paint in 13 years. And in hindsight I look back like, had I known I was going to be in this place for so long, I would have painted it. I just didn't want to give him any equity, like I was so stubborn on that. But in the meantime, I just didn't want to give him any equity, like I was so stubborn on that. But in the meantime, literally this place is cracking and paint is chipping around me and I'm like God, it's so depressing, you know. So I brought a couple of contractors in for the estimates on trying to get the unit to be presentable, and he just thinks that he can get way more than what it's worth. So yeah, it was time to move on.
Speaker 3:So, I was bummed, though, because I really did want to buy it, but I'm not an idiot either, right.
Speaker 1:Right, you're not going to overpay just because you're a captive audience Right and I'm too lazy to pack up my stuff.
Speaker 3:Did you know if it sold? I don't know what Andy asked me that. I don't know what the situation is yet I'm curious but. I was telling him I think it must be an investor from like out of state or something, Right Cause nobody in their right mind in Rogers park or you know, familiar with the North side up there, nobody is going to pay that what he's wanting and he would not budge. Yeah, wouldn't budge, yeah.
Speaker 2:Interesting? Yeah Well, we can track it for you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we'll track them down. Oh yeah, or track the sale down. Track the sale, that's all. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. Yeah.
Speaker 3:We can take care of them. Super sleuths Records it's our side hustle. Just kidding, just kidding, just kidding. I mean, you know we don't have any advertisers, so we're gonna make money, that's right.
Speaker 1:Well, what I thought was really cool, you know again, we just reconnected, so I just missed you, but you had some questions about the process and you put some questions up on next door. I did that's really nice, yeah, and I love next door yeah I mean I love.
Speaker 3:It's a love hate, you know, just like every community forum, but you know everyone on what I love about next door. First of all, is you have to be verified you know, they send you the postcard to you know verify your zip code so you know everyone on there is legit and I think that's kind of cool.
Speaker 3:But I threw it out there literally first time home buyer. Can anyone refer me to a real estate agent, a contractor, and I wanted. What else did I want that? I realized I didn't need because they told me appraiser because I wanted to have my unit appraised.
Speaker 1:Oh sure.
Speaker 3:But then I learned from everyone chiming in your lender will arrange for that, so don't spend the money and do it twice. But at any rate, I got so many responses from people that were you know, try this person, or real estate agents themselves, and my guy, Don Beard. Don Beard Beard.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he's great. So he chimed in and he was just no nonsense and I like that. So he was like all right, a don't do this, b do this. I mean he just laid it all out in a private message. So I thought that was super cool.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 3:And then he ended up helping me with, providing me with the contract for my private sale. I mean, he wasn't going to make anything.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 3:And so he was going to help facilitate this private sale between me and my current da-dun-da-dun, and without making a die, and then, since it fell through, he helped me get the place in the neighborhood.
Speaker 2:That's great, that's really cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what a nice story.
Speaker 2:Way to do it yeah.
Speaker 1:Makes me think I should be on Nextdoor, you should.
Speaker 2:Yeah, maybe we should.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, I had a question here what do you love about your area? But you're moving areas and you haven't really explored it yet. Right, I haven't. But there is a waterfront cafe. Waterfront cafe, do you know?
Speaker 2:I have been there many times. Yes, my jazz singer, cousin Libby York, performs there in the summertime.
Speaker 3:No way. Yeah, I didn't know they had music. Yeah, oh, beautiful yeah.
Speaker 2:Like an evening glass of wine, and the singers set up so that the backdrop is the lake it's really beautiful.
Speaker 3:How's the food? All right?
Speaker 2:I really wish they would get a really good chef. Yeah because, it would up their whole game. So much the food is the worst part about it everything else is fine, is you know? But the location's great. Yeah, it's a little hidden gem. If you don't know, if, if even if you're walking by, you would not even know it's there unless you yeah, I saw it on google maps, but I haven't been yet, so I'm excited to physically explore.
Speaker 3:Maybe we can uh, you know, do a neighbor? I would love that yeah go have a glass of wine is libby coming back this summer?
Speaker 2:she is. I don't know if she's booked there yet, but yeah, we'll have a glass of wine and some shitty food.
Speaker 3:Love it.
Speaker 1:With a nice ambiance, that's right.
Speaker 2:We could eat before we go and then just have the glass of wine. We could just pack our own snacks.
Speaker 1:Just keep reaching into your pocket for some cashews.
Speaker 2:Eating goldfish crackers Cheerios.
Speaker 1:Like a two-year-old. I'm sure you have that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was going to say yeah, yeah, we could bring Axel along, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, his thing is cheddar bunnies Can.
Speaker 3:I have some cheddar bunnies.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that place seems. I have been there. It's an incredible. It's like something that you don't think should exist, you know, because it a very sort of you know seemingly city-owned spot.
Speaker 3:You know what I mean. Like right, yeah, did you ever?
Speaker 1:go to ropa cabana though it was.
Speaker 3:It's further than I know, it's a little further north and it's well. Now it's closed. They closed because the park district chicago park district totally cock, blocked them and made like they needed repairs, needed repairs, and they were charging them out the ass Like they were barely making any of their own profit. They were barely able to keep any of it because the park district was literally raping them. So they're done. But it was, I'm trying to think, loyola Beach. I think. And it was in the sand and just a little cabana.
Speaker 3:And they had like, if there's such a thing, gourmet chili dogs, or I mean gourmet hot dogs. So they had different types of unique kind of hot dogs. And then they had non-alcoholic frozen drinks, pina coladas, you know, daiquiris, and all that stuff. It was great.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 3:I'm sad that they're gone, but this Waterfront Cafe kind of reminds me of that concept. That's too bad, I know.
Speaker 2:My restaurant on the lake closed, and then now I have to go to the other one.
Speaker 1:Do you miss working in the loop? No, that's where we're at no. No.
Speaker 3:I do not yeah.
Speaker 1:Do you miss being? You know, not to date us, but 20 years younger and working in the loop?
Speaker 3:I miss all those days. I'm surprised I survived those days, though, to be honest. I mean for real. I think back and literally shake my damn head. Yeah, what the fuck were we thinking? A lot of happy hours, Like a lot of happy hours at like 3 in the afternoon.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a couple that started too early.
Speaker 2:Is this because the nature of the work you afternoon yeah, a couple that started too early?
Speaker 1:is this because the nature of the work. You guys were working at the law firm or just downtown? We just like to drink, we like to go out and drink together.
Speaker 2:That's the glory of working downtown, that is, you skip out like yeah, we would literally just skip out.
Speaker 3:Like what the hell were we thinking? Yeah, we would be like all right, well to the receptionist, because no one else, I don't think, even really noticed we were gone, right, but the receptionist, we'll be right back. We gotta run this over to whatever yeah if we even said that I don't know.
Speaker 1:I mean that was. I mean I I certainly had you know, because I was a clerk. I was right deliver things and I was just um I'll go into the ladies room, I'll be back.
Speaker 3:Who knows next thing, I know we're like slamming. What were we drinking?
Speaker 1:probably martini martinis.
Speaker 3:Like, literally like mad men like this just happened once or twice yeah it was not no, but I'll never forget because I'm like okay, so this is how work is it's how work is when andy's around.
Speaker 1:That's right, yeah yeah, yeah, do you remember one time I think we were at this holiday party where it was like we were looking across the river and there was that there's 77 west wacker. We're both like I mean, we're obviously we just mentioned this we're both probably drinking at a holiday party. It's that building that like has a like sort of fake column aids wasn't that where United headquarters? Was for a while. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:Where are you going with this, Andy?
Speaker 1:I just remember admiring that building.
Speaker 2:She's looking very skeptical for our audience right now.
Speaker 3:Yes, I love that building.
Speaker 1:It's a beautiful building.
Speaker 3:Anyway, that concludes our conversation about the loop, and back in the day. Yeah, back in the day before COVID. I like it. Yeah, way before COVID. Well, I'm just meaning like working downtown every day. It seems like 20 years ago, yeah.
Speaker 1:Did you have to go downtown like every day before COVID?
Speaker 3:Well, before COVID, oh yeah, I mean, it was just regular life, every day.
Speaker 2:What do you mean? Like working in an office versus working at home? Yeah, I guess, yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, I guess that was a silly question.
Speaker 3:Yes, yeah, there wasn't really a hybrid. There wasn't work from home Never that would have been great. Do any of the attorneys work from home.
Speaker 1:Or are they all going to the office five days a week?
Speaker 3:At my current firm. No, a lot of them work from home. I mean, the big day in the office is Wednesday, that's when a lot of people go, and I think because they provide free lunch and today was a 3.30 happy hour. So you know they got to get. They lure people in.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they provide the happy hour. Oh yeah, nice, what do?
Speaker 3:they serve Booze. We have our own chef. You know, Really, this is definitely like Mad Men kind of this is insane.
Speaker 1:Wow, it's great.
Speaker 3:But they just do like hors d'oeuvres kind of stuff and booze Nice, they derby kind of stuff and booze Nice They'll even bring in an ice luge.
Speaker 2:They don't fuck around. What's an ice luge?
Speaker 3:Oh, like they'll have the the name of the firm on the ice a big block of ice and then they'll pour like vodka down it. So it's icy cold when it hits your glass.
Speaker 1:It's like a fraternity or it hits my tongue Cause I just stick my face in there. There you go On that note. Why don't we take a quick break? Yeah, We'll present our record of the week and we'll come back and chat with Jen Schlangen.
Speaker 2:Sweet Andrew.
Speaker 1:Yes, Karen.
Speaker 2:You know what time it is. I'm not sure it's time for record of the week.
Speaker 1:Record of the week Record record. Record of the week.
Speaker 2:Okay, I got one for you.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Because I have been falling behind. This one is an oldie but a goodie of course, of course. This is my college days and it's a band that we all know and love called they Might Be Giants. Oh yeah, it is their hit album that put them on the map called Flood. Uh-huh, it is their kind of their hit album that put them on the map called Flood, and this song that keeps coming up from this album that for some reason, my you know, computers like Spotify tends to like certain songs and play them more often than other songs.
Speaker 2:It's a song called Istanbul. Oh, yeah, yeah, and I have been to Istanbul Me too. Yes, yeah, and Istanbul. The song talks about how it was not always called Istanbul.
Speaker 1:It was once called Constantinople Constantinople. I can hear the song now.
Speaker 2:That's right. So it has been going on in my head like an earworm all day so that's why I pulled it out for our record of the week Nice. They Might Be Giants when it hit. This album was so weird. Yeah, it was one of those just random outliers that was so odd, but it it just clicked. Yeah with people yeah, yeah they are very fun. Excellent musicians, excellent songwriters, quirky and high energy writing about stuff that you absurdist, weird things yeah but it's delightful yeah and what do you when you hear me talking about they might be giants?
Speaker 2:do you have any things that pop up in your brain?
Speaker 1:did they sing? Put a little birdhouse in your soul put a little birdhouse in your soul.
Speaker 2:Yep, that's right not to put too fine a point on it.
Speaker 1:Yep, yeah, I love that song. And then, yeah, I can hear istanbul was constantinople, is istanbul constantinople? Yep. So yeah, I don't think I listened to them, probably much beyond that. But I am sure that the other songs on the album are great, and those were just the ones that got on the radio. But yeah, I mean, it's kind of along this theme that, like music can be anything right.
Speaker 2:You've been talking about that and you're right yeah. It's, it's. There's no rules, and they are a perfect example of somebody who just took the rule book of rock and roll and threw it out the window.
Speaker 1:So to hell with you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then made it an album that everybody loved.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:I remember bringing it home on vinyl and putting it on my record player oh cool In my bedroom in Oak Park and thinking what the hell is this?
Speaker 1:What did I just?
Speaker 2:buy. I couldn't stop listening to it and yeah, I can't say that like it was instantly like oh my God, this is my jam.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But it was so out there and fascinating that I just kept listening to it and now, um, I can't get it out of my head Nice.
Speaker 1:So what's the? I'm sorry, what's the name of the album?
Speaker 2:again, Name of the album is flood flood. Yep, and it came out, I think, in the nineties at some point. So, yeah, cool, check them out, check them out.
Speaker 1:I don't know them oh and to be at the vic on june 19th.
Speaker 2:I think okay, yeah, they're coming, so great, yeah, we can go see them. They might be giants and we're back we're back with jen.
Speaker 1:Do we review your qualifications?
Speaker 3:yeah let's go ahead, go down the entire bullet pointed list. Concert photographer check concert.
Speaker 1:Author. Mid-list Concert photographer. Check Concerts. Author. Check what are you Writer Concert writer, you could say photojournalist, photojournalist.
Speaker 3:And nip it all in one. There you go. That's my point.
Speaker 1:That's why you're the writer Big words. Recent home buyer yes, Nice. So I think you know. If I remember correctly, you were into metal. Yes, Still true.
Speaker 3:I still love it, yes, but I don't listen to it at home, like ever.
Speaker 1:Have your.
Speaker 3:I'm not as angry anymore. I think, yeah, I've gotten older, yeah, right right, chilled out.
Speaker 1:Chilled out, mellowed out.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but you know, if I hit a metal concert, then I'm feeling the rage, then I'm feeling the rage.
Speaker 1:Who were your artists that you enjoyed back in the day?
Speaker 3:Oh God, back in the day, that would be my vein, mud vein.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 3:Do you know what a mud vein is? No, Let me tell you, it sounds pretty not nice, but it's really just the poop on the shrimp. The mud vein, oh wow who knew I've cleaned shrimp, the mud vein, oh wow, who knew?
Speaker 2:I've cleaned a lot of mud veins. Yes, you have. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we all have.
Speaker 1:All right.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Mud vein.
Speaker 3:Which is, you know, kind of an odd name for a metal band, but they are from Peoria, actually, Decatur Okay, which I lovingly refer to as Decatur, it's because it's ritzy exactly you know, adm is there, so yeah what's adm? Oh adm, they do like, I think they do like soybean production and they make high fructose corn syrup. I think.
Speaker 1:Okay, it reeks there right, I mean the whole town smells.
Speaker 3:It's bad. Decadur, decadur.
Speaker 2:All right, I'll steer clear of Decadur.
Speaker 1:So Mudvayne was from Peoria or Decadur. Yes, yes, which is where you I'm originally from. You were originally from Right.
Speaker 3:Right, so I went Mudvayne or Taxi War Dance.
Speaker 1:Now, that's more of a metal name, if I can say so myself.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so that kind of stuff Nice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, did your job as a photojournalist sort of expand your musical horizons a little?
Speaker 3:bit. Oh for sure, yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:And it got you listening to other things.
Speaker 3:Right, right, because if you get an opportunity to shoot someone that you don't know, yeah are we talking about murder again? It's always in style are you kidding?
Speaker 1:we looked at your. You know spotify. Spotify playlist who's who's on there?
Speaker 3:mitch king mitch who's that? Let me tell you about Mitch King. Mitch King is a one-man band, okay, and I discovered him from watching Bloodline on Netflix and he had played no part in the show whatsoever. But the opening music to Bloodline was some artist, have no idea who, but I plugged that artist into, I found out, I just don't remember.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I plugged that artist into Pandora and then you know that it'll choose artists that are similar right, yeah, yeah. Mitch King comes on, kicks my ass.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 3:And then I look him up on YouTube and he's like got his harmonica around his neck, he's got his little drum, little thingies going on his feet and he's got his 12 string guitar and he's singing and I've always been fascinated with well, really, musicians, all of them, because I can't, you know, the old pat your tummy, rub your head thingy yeah chew gum, walk, whatever. Yeah, this guy is keeping time like three different ways.
Speaker 3:It's insane and he he's kind of dave matthews. You might actually like him. Sure, yeah, he's great, but he's unsigned. Yeah, I actually met with a friend of mine at live nation who's kind of up the ranks and I said you guys need to get him on a buy-on or something for dave matthews. Just get him. He's just so great. Yeah, okay, jen, you know pass it down the head and I'm like, well, I tried, but this guy, mitch King he's lives in Australia. It's where he's from, and he's only playing farmer's markets there and he's freaking crazy Good.
Speaker 2:I mean, it's insane, be his manager.
Speaker 3:Yeah, no, I have too many hustles on the side.
Speaker 2:Well, if any managers are out there looking for a new hot thing, mitch King, mitch King from Australia, yep.
Speaker 1:Speaking of side hustles, you had mentioned that you just started a business I did. Is that still going on?
Speaker 3:It's kind of in a holding pattern until I move and get settled. But I did. I started a business. I make beach products that contain recycled ocean plastic.
Speaker 1:Oh, nice Cool.
Speaker 3:What kind of things do you make? Well, my first design was the first ever beach sled which would take the place of the beach wagon. So there's no metal, rubber, nylon, any of that. It's a sled. There's no wheels. It glides on the sand, Glides on the sand.
Speaker 1:See that.
Speaker 3:And then it's made all with recycled ocean plastic. Nice Well, nothing can be made with all recycled ocean plastic. Technically it's too brittle, but every product has a QR code that you swipe to see where on our planet the plastic was harvested. That's contained in your product oh, that's cool. Yeah, yeah, that's really cool. Yeah, it's fun.
Speaker 2:I love the beach you know what's well see, now you're gonna live in edgewater. Yeah, on the edge of the water, love it what's the business? I know right isn't that crazy it.
Speaker 3:It's called EcoBeachy, ecobeachy, mm-hmm. Spell beachy for me. B-e-a-c-h-i-e. Ecobeachycom.
Speaker 1:Ecobeachy Yep, how did you get into this Like did someone just like drop off a bunch of harvested ocean plastic on your front door?
Speaker 3:They did. And then I'm like what can I make with this? What?
Speaker 2:can I make?
Speaker 3:So I started taping it together to make these sleds.
Speaker 1:No, first one the prototype wasn't great. Admittedly, the prototype, it fell apart.
Speaker 3:It couldn't hold my cooler at all, living in Rogers Park right on the lake. There too too. Oh, this was right when I first moved there, so 13 years ago, and I didn't have in my budget the 120 140 dollars for a beach wagon. So I just went on amazon and bought a snow sled and I'm like, and I just drug all my stuff to the beach. I like to go to sherwin beach. Jarvis beach sucks, just so you know. Okay, sherwin beach has no beach nazis lifeguards so everything goes there at sherwin beach it's great.
Speaker 3:so I just took my little snow sled over there and I got to thinking, man, I'm just gonna buy a bunch of these, like go to alibaba and buy like a shit ton of these sleds and start a company, slap some stickers on them and just do a beach sled. But then I thought I thought immediately of you know backward hat wearing high five and frat idiots on spring break that are going to leave these sleds on the beaches and litter, and I don't like that.
Speaker 3:I love you know our planet, so I thought there's got to be a way to make them more economically or ecologically responsible.
Speaker 2:Do they glide pretty well, or do you have to wax them, or how do you you?
Speaker 3:know I did get my prototypes. My manufacturer in South Africa did not work out. They more than doubled my price when I went to place the bulk order and said they could only make them in black. Well, no one wants anything black on the beach. So I lost my ass on that and that's why the beach sled is in a holding pattern now. But I will say this the prototypes that I do have need to be reconfigured because they are the bottom ridges need to be more, much more pronounced.
Speaker 1:I have frisbees too, so I took, which I can't say frisbees you know trademark infringement, so they're ocean casters.
Speaker 3:yeah, I know it's so eco, beachy, so cheesy. I love the whole thing has to be that way. Yeah, and it is so, but so. But I thought I'm going to drag this beach sled, I'm going to pack it full of Frisbees, I'm going to go to Montrose Dog Beach and this is going to be where I make my millions.
Speaker 2:This is it.
Speaker 3:Like screw you. Tommy Bahama and Ron John. I know what's up so I get my Uber with all my shit, with your coasters, oh yeah, all of it I was wearing even an eco beachy t-shirt, like I know. Yeah yeah, and so the frisbees are boxed in individual boxes and people kept walking by like I did shit, like I was trying to give them away, but they thought they were dog pizzas because it was a Frisbee in a box.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like.
Speaker 3:Montrose dog beach people. It's just like you know. I guess it's just the brain power there, the people that go there tunnel vision yeah, or they were hungry their dogs were hungry.
Speaker 2:They couldn't see outside the box I want to go back to the fact that there needs to be more pronounced ridges on the bottom of the dog's. I mean the beach sled, the eco beachy beach sled. Yes, why?
Speaker 3:because when you load it full of shit, it and it's flexible, it's pretty. It's not extremely flexible, but the material is pretty flexible. So when you load it full of crap, it's literally just it digs in. Yeah, it's kind of dragging. So I do have I met with a product engineer to reconfigure and we're gonna do even like flip up, flip up wheels. Everyone's always like where are the wheels, where are the wheels? And I'm like it's called a beach wagon. It's what I'm trying to replace. Stop it. But you know, you got to get through the parking lot and it is loud, it is very loud.
Speaker 3:Cement, yes, yeah yeah, yeah, and it's durable, It'll hold. They don't hold up, but it's kind of embarrassing. What Full of shit. Frisbees, you know, dog pizzas, whatever.
Speaker 2:Is there not a way to put wheels and make it eco-friendly? It's just not feasible.
Speaker 3:Well there would have to be no Rubber. There would. But I was looking at like luggage wheels. So if they stayed small and they were an external add-on, I would have to charge you know what 17.99 for the wheels. I'm just kidding. But if it was kind of an external piece, you know for people that you know, but also, too, it's going to be. The whole new design is going to be kind of awesome, but I just need to get moved and yeah yeah, first things first I'm still doing concerts.
Speaker 3:That's my joy. It's just I got too much yeah, yeah, yeah but I do love it. I love just the idea of taking care of the planet and doing something with all that trillions of tons of plastic that's floating in the ocean.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I mean it's. It's uh heartwarming to see it be harvested, you know, because you know how much is out there I think every plastic product manufacturer should be.
Speaker 3:I think it should be a law, Like everyone should be mandated to use at least a small percentage of recycled plastic.
Speaker 1:Like hello, coca-cola, pepsi, where are you? Yeah, when we were catching up, you told me that you, for a short time, worked for a property owner. Yes, we don't need a property owner. Yes, we don't need to.
Speaker 3:Property wait developer like manager right? Is that how you describe it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Well, a property developer is different than a property manager.
Speaker 3:Well, no, they did both, they did both.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they did More management than developing really I think, yeah, and you helped them with their evictions. I did.
Speaker 3:Coming from a legal background, I helped with the evictions. You want a job?
Speaker 2:No thank you, I love you. She's got four jobs, I got dog pizzas in the oven.
Speaker 3:That's right.
Speaker 1:Any horror stories, or were you just like sort of processing people?
Speaker 3:You know, yeah, I was just the summonses and the eviction paperwork, filing it in court and calling the sheriff Getting them served.
Speaker 1:Yeah, does he own a lot of residential or is it commercial? No, a lot of residential.
Speaker 3:Yeah, a lot. There's one actually down the street here. Okay, I didn't feel good about doing that because a lot of the residents were low income which sucks yeah and like especially in the winter, like I just really hated to do it.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And I know that there are laws where you know if it's below a certain temperature. You can't throw anyone out on the street.
Speaker 1:But still it just sucked.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's tough, it was a sad process really.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we struggle with that. I mean, we, our clients, are the owners. Yeah, tenants are our customers.
Speaker 2:But it's really hard. Yeah, I mean they, they want concessions and but the one thing I will say is that the now that I'm kind of deep in this job and have done it enough is that there are a lot of opportunities, even when you're sent to eviction. It's it's such a tenant friendly town. I agree that you know you have opportunities to get to climb out of that hole and there is assistance and there's help and, and you know, if you don't take advantage of that, then there's really not any other, any other choice.
Speaker 3:I found a lot of the tenants would, just you know, buck the system and play the game.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, Professional tenants.
Speaker 1:Professional tenants yeah, yeah, that happens for sure.
Speaker 2:Right, and that's hard because at some point you don't know who's telling the truth and you get kind of you know jaded because you have been, you know, screwed over by people who do know how to play this. Play the game play the system and then you just assume everyone's doing that Right.
Speaker 1:And then all of a sudden you find out that this you know somebody kind of has to, because I mean you have to treat everybody know your fiduciary responsibility is to your own owners. Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah. But, just the mental mindset going in. You know shifts sometimes, once you have enough of those professional tenants, it's hard not to think everybody's like that. I totally agree yeah.
Speaker 1:What is I mean? We talked a lot about what you're up to anything that we haven't in terms of what's next for Jen.
Speaker 3:No, I think you know, I'm just living day by day, andy. I'm just if I can make it through today. Do the best I can If I can make it through today and start over tomorrow, then I am happy, happy, happy.
Speaker 1:Any like you know, you've lived in rogers park for 13 years any any restaurants up there that you can recommend to our listeners?
Speaker 3:there were a couple, but they closed. It really sucks. Were they on the beach? Now I have to go to the other ones? No, there really aren't. I'm gonna just throw it out there. I'm gonna feel really badly if I am forgetting a good one, but I honestly don't think there are any good ones left I really don't. Yeah, honest to god, I do like to go up to evanston though yeah, where do you?
Speaker 1:what do you eat there?
Speaker 3:there's a tapas place that I like. Oceanique is awesome and that tapas place is good like prairie moon sure if you get over, like you know, prairie moon smells like it's down in a basement and it just smells like urinal cakes when you walk in, but once you get used to that, the food is delicious well, that's, I mean, that's.
Speaker 1:That's surprising, because they recently you know, prairie moon used to be a freestanding building, but then they tore it down to build a bunch of condos and they put it oh really, so it's like a newer version of prairie moon their food is awesome, but it just wasn't it on the corner.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I was like okay yeah, I'm just surprised that.
Speaker 1:I mean, I guess it's probably like six years old at this point. So six years old is enough to develop a little cake smell.
Speaker 3:I honestly think it is their restrooms and there's some sort of there's some sort of gap they need to patch.
Speaker 1:Lack of ventilation.
Speaker 3:Yeah, or too much ventilation, exactly, way too much this is a shitty way to end the show.
Speaker 2:It is a shit, shit, shit way. You got a lot of puns going on there, andrew, I do.
Speaker 1:Well, jen thank you for being here. You guys are the best, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3:I love it.
Speaker 2:Great to have you and I got to meet my new neighbor. I'm so stoked, that's right Okay we're going to go to the other place. Yeah, bad food, good wine, bad food, good wine, good company, bring snacks, that's right.
Speaker 1:That's it. Thanks, jen, appreciate it. It was fun, karen, andrew. So you know, spring is upon us, yay, which is glorious. Side note to that. You know, they say time moves faster as you get older, and I think that's definitely true because, granted, this winter was super mild, but, boy, it just didn't seem like it registered to me at all.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean the fact that we really didn't have hardly any snow Right Just to be able to walk around normally in. February, even when it's cold.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Game changer, but still it wasn't. It wasn't. You know summer weather.
Speaker 2:No, no, it got cold. Remember this cold snap, the cold snap. We had quite a cold snap two weeks of cold.
Speaker 1:Yep, but why? You know, we talk a lot about, um, you know this. This, the waterfront restaurant. Why is it so nice to sit near water listening to music and drinking a glass of wine?
Speaker 2:yeah, I think there's something that resonates with our core like atomic structure as human beings, when you're in that environment and the ocean waves. I don't know if it aligns with your, your chi or whatever is happening, but there's a sense of calm that at least comes over me. I always say when people because I live in edgewater, on the water, and I don't know if I could live in the city I'm not a city person yeah, and so being on that water and having that vista, that horizon is just.
Speaker 2:It reminds me that there's a big world out there right and it's you know, behind me are the sirens and the craziness and the traffic and whatnot but then over there to the east is just calm.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And one of my favorite things to do is to go. I live on right by Hollywood where the Lakeshore Drive ends, and I go out to that little pier and on the one side of the pier the waves are coming in a certain way and the other side of the pier they're kind of hitting the cement and bouncing off and they just there's certain days that they, the waves, kind of undulate in this beautiful.
Speaker 2:Oh my god, I can't even I, I just it's hard to describe but it is kind of the most off, like the the structures that are there yeah, but the but when there's no, it's not windy or anything, it's just this slow, really long waves, very low, and it's just you sit on the edge of that pier and your heartbeat slows down. Like your blood pressure calms down. It is beautiful and wonderful.
Speaker 1:Do you get the same feeling sitting by Lake Michigan as you did because you lived on the West Coast and near water for many, many, many, many, many years? I did Many, many, many, many, many, many years 21 to be exact. Do you get the same feeling sitting by that water as you do this water?
Speaker 2:I don't, but I have to say I lived a little farther away from the water over there, but you know the Bay. I was in Northern California Bay Area and if you're on the ocean side of the San Francisco Peninsula, I mean you're talking big waves, huge crashing, and Lake Mission gets like that too. I mean people surf right outside of my apartment, which is nuts, but it is different, it really is. I think it's because you can't see across Lake Michigan. And here's a fun fact I tracked a boat. There's a boat that goes it's like a cargo ship that goes back and forth on the horizon, right outside of like on my view of the water, and I figured out which boat it is and what it's carrying and how, what the you know, how it goes from the South to North and back again, and I always assumed that because it was right on the horizon.
Speaker 2:I'm like, oh, that must be like right, kind of on the other side of the lake. They must be really clear. You know, close to that far shore? Turns out they are right in the middle of the lake. They must be really clear. You know, close to that far shore? Yeah, turns out they are right in the middle of the lake so what I'm seeing from my apartment in edgewater to the horizon is only halfway across lake michigan.
Speaker 1:That's how big lake michigan is. Yeah, yeah, nuts, that's crazy yeah and there's uh four other lakes, not quite as big as lake Michigan, but I think Superior is the biggest.
Speaker 2:That's why they call it Superior. Could be wrong, but anyway.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It is one of my favorite things and I don't know if I could live in this city without it. I'm sure I could. I would get used to anything.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, it's a totally different energy, right? I mean it's calming over there. So yeah, some plumbing over there, so we'll look forward to having a little records and real estate party at the Waterfront Cafe.
Speaker 2:Ooh, that would be fun. Let's do that, all right.
Speaker 1:This has been a superior episode.
Speaker 2:Of records and real estate. All right, Big finish. Bye Andy.
Speaker 1:Bye. This has been an episode of records and real estate. Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoyed it. Today's episode was brought to you by Be Realty. Be where you want to be. Be Realty.