Elgin Community Network

Remember when I told you I went to DNA’s Out to Lunch and might’ve happened upon a cool opportunity? Well that opportunity was the Elgin Community Network, and now I am on their board! I’ve been meaning to mention this for a couple months, but was too lazy to write up a description of the organization.

They have a website now, so I don’t have to write a description! Click here to visit the brand spanking new Elgin Community Network website and check out who we are, and what we do.

My main role right now is to find ways to promote safe bicycling in Elgin, and the first thing we’re doing is an Elgin Bike-to-Work Week August 2-8th. Click here for more details!

Tags: bicycles, bicycling, bike, bike to work week, bikes, DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, ECN, Elgin, Elgin Community Network, IL, Illinois, Out to Lunch, website
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My Life in Elgin Update

The entire point of this blog is for me to write about my life in Elgin, but I haven’t been doing that lately! Partly because of some bad news I’ve been in denial about: MY CAMERA IS BROKEN. Still, without photos I can give you a quick rundown of what my summer in Elgin has been like so far:

*A fair amount of eating at Al’s Cafe with a couple of trips to In the Neighborhood mixed in for good measure.

*Bike rides up and down the Fox River Trail.

*Quality strolls around Festival Park. How fun it is to see all the kids running through the water! Also, my new favorite past time is to call out to ducks in the Fox River. Some of them talk back!

*To be honest, probably a few too many nights imbibing while listening to bands or playing video bowling at the Gasthaus, mixed in with a few nights of talking over drinks at Elgin Public House and Prairie Rock Brewery.

*Thrift shopping for fun summer clothes at Elgin’s Village Discount and South Elgin’s Goodwill.

*Going to my first Bandits softball game. If you go, do it on a Friday! The fireworks are unbelievable and rival those from the 4th!

I also participated in Elgin’s Amazin’ Race and attended Brewfest and went out of town a couple of times. The summer is just speeding by!

Tags: Al's Cafe, Bandits, bicycles, bike, bikes, Brewfest, camera, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, Elgin Amazin' Race, Elgin Public House, Festival Park, fireworks, Fox River, Fox River Trail, Gasthaus, goodwill, IL, Illinois, In the Neighborhood, Judson, Prairie Rock Brewery, Shopping, softball, village discount
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What a weekend!

I was actively doing things almost the entire weekend, so no full blog post. But the Amazin’ Race was GREAT on Saturday, and there is already a blog post about our team available at the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s blog. Check it out!

Time for me to go to sleep. Blogging will resume again soon.

Tags: Amazin' Race, blog, DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, IL, Illinois, scavenger hunt
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Out to delicious & fun lunch!

I just got back from the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s “Out to Lunch” event at Akina’s Thai Restaurant.

It was great!

Neighborhood Housing Services explained what they do, and I got to meet quite a few people–Representative Ruth Munson, the Downtown Neighborhood Association staff, the man behind the Elginite blog, and all sorts of other people who are involved in Elgin–from architects to real estate agents to Elgin Community Network folks and more.

Once again, it was great! I was a little nervous going in, but everyone was very kind and I felt right at home. I thought I’d be the odd one out since I don’t work in downtown Elgin, but I still chatted with people and made a few unexpected contacts that might turn into really cool opportunities.

Elgin’s Downtown Neighborhood Association plans these events each month. If you are the least bit curious, go for it! Click here for a full list of upcoming events.

Tags: , Akina's Thai, blogs, DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, Elginite, food, Illinois, lunch, Neighborhood Housing Services, networking, Out to Lunch, Ruth Munson
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