Gapers Block has ceased publication.
Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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TODAY
Thursday, April 25
Fuel
Andrew / March 21, 2011 3:46 PM
The hostas, tulips and daffodils start pushing up through the mud... and possibly snow.
jennennefurefa / March 22, 2011 1:13 AM
you can actually start to SEE the potholes you hit.
maardvark / March 22, 2011 7:58 AM
...the weather forecast makes you unsure whether you need a parka, a raincoat, or shorts and sandals--so you strongly consider wearing all three.
michele / March 22, 2011 9:21 AM
You see guys in shorts on the first day we hit 50 degrees.
Mucky Fingers / March 22, 2011 10:15 AM
Latin guys start up soccer matches at the park.
Kelly Reaves / March 22, 2011 12:43 PM
Two words: Paletas Carts!!!
Charles / March 22, 2011 1:04 PM
Waiting on you trees!
Mike D / March 22, 2011 1:13 PM
...the bodies start bobbing up from the bottom of the Chicago River.
Ah, Windy City stereotypes...
fluffy / March 22, 2011 8:01 PM
I start shaving my legs again :-p
this morning I woke up to the sound of birds chirping like crazy. so nice.
fluffy / March 22, 2011 8:01 PM
also...SXSW
annie / March 23, 2011 12:33 PM
The city looks it's dirtiest! All of the winter litter bugs have left a ton of garbage around my 'hood. and I second dog mess as well! ugh.
mike-ts / March 23, 2011 12:51 PM
When everyone brings in their spare chairs off the curb and back to the porch or inside the house. Maardvark had the best answer, since even if it's 60F when you leave the house in the morning, you still carry your coat since it could very well be 35F when you go home.
Joanna / March 24, 2011 11:05 AM
All of a sudden, the city's population triples, and just about anybody and everybody looks attractive. I swear the whole city is in heat.
Jason / March 24, 2011 11:53 AM
When I get shot, stabbed or beaten more than once in a week.
Tracie / March 24, 2011 1:06 PM
You start to hear loud music/cell phone conversations blasting from cars.
mo / March 24, 2011 2:37 PM
I get my first ticket for violating street sweeping parking regulations. Also, when I stop thinking about moving out of Chicago for good.
kate / March 24, 2011 5:08 PM
What mo said about stop thinking about moving out of Chicago for good.
Mateo / March 25, 2011 8:01 AM
It's still snowing.
MMG / March 25, 2011 8:53 AM
You can go outside without your hat and gloves and some guy comments, "It's like summer!"
Adam / March 25, 2011 10:34 AM
it get's warm...and then cold...and then a little bit warm again...and then it snows.
Marla / March 25, 2011 5:34 PM
Today I saw a great blue heron. Another indication is that the "caution falling ice" signs are finally disappearing.
Sean B / March 25, 2011 8:01 PM
C'mon guys, you know it IS still March. And it IS Chicago. I enjoyed that lil' spot of "spring" we had recently too ... but because it WAS unseasonable. Deal with it, rock n' roll. It'll be warm soon enough ... until then, just reintroduce your fall ensemble. Everybody knows the fall ensemble's the best.
Cheryl / March 27, 2011 3:19 PM
I have a very deep front hall closet, so deep I have two rods--one in front and one in the back. The back one is for the coats I'm not using. Except this time of year, every one of them is on the front rod, because I never know which one I'll need any given day. So they all sit up front until June, when I move the heaviest coats to the back.
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