Chicagology 101: #19
THROUGH THE CREATIVE EYES OF...
ASK: Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
‘America's Premier Eventologist'
& A Chicago Resident since 1974...
A Lively Discussion Centered On:
-- The Vernal Equinox ushering Spring, 2007 begins on Tuesday, March 20TH at 7:07 PM EST in the Northern Hemisphere. Get the Full 100% ‘Picture Perfect' of where to purchase your Tulip Bulbs in The Windy City in Issue #19 of ASK's Chicagology 101 ®. 1
-- The Extenuated Definition of ‘Flower Power'
-- The Primary Reason why there are State Flowers in the USA
-- Random Acts of Flowering ® - A New Tradition on celebrating The Arrival of Spring per ASK in Chicago and where you reside! An Hotels by City Exclusive!
PART 1: How It Is...With Flowers
"Why every House should be a Green House."
Quote of: ASK
Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 9:47 AM
Flowers go best with everything. It used to be Pepsi. Then, it moved to Hamburgers, then Croissants escalating to Muffins, but there's no way around it:
Flowers fill a Void.
Flowers go best with everything.
Flowers still ‘go best' with everything. No matter what The Occasion is. It doesn't even need to be an Occasion. This is because a Flower will take nothing (whether it is non-sensical or significant) and make it into something (special) - an Occasion never to be forgotten. From finding a newly-sprung Dandelion on your Property to Flowers celebrating a Wedding,
Flowers go best with everything.
at any Time --- all the Time.
If there's a Place that Area is livelier with a Flower added. A Flower adds Color. A Flower adds a Fragrance. Most of them are aromatic that adds a sweeter and/or pungent Scent to the surrounding AIR-oma making it AIR-omatic. Flowers (as a Bunch or Bouquet) show someone cares. Flowers bask in their own Colors and unique Shapes (spanning Heights, Thicknesses, Plumage, Leafage and Fragrance). Flowers are Part of Nature's Divine Way of coloring our World whether Flowers appear as they are, as Flowers; or disguised as Weeds or Plants or take other Incarnations on Trees or Reproductions as Silk Flowers or in Pictures/Paintings or as Designs on Fabric so we can wear our Flowers as well as see and smell them, too.
He Loves Me - He Loves Me Not: In Early Excavations, Flower Motifs were found in the Interiors of Limestone Caves --- drawn as Pictographs by our Primordial Family Members thousands of years ago. Remnants and Seedlings were found frozen in the Northern Tundra having been part of the Great Glacial Melt-Down that paralyzed and froze Parts of our Planet's Poles eons before King Tut ruled a prosperous Egypt.
Yes, Flowers just have the tendency and tenacity to bloom wherever they like and in whatever Hues and Tones they desire. Botanists have yet to figure out how this is done. Added to the Love and full Growth Production of Flowers, (that some People feel are ‘on steroids'), Flowers of Today can be cross-bred and hybridized with other Varieties to create 'Blooms' that far-outlast, outcast and out-color those of even a mere 50 years ago. Which, of course, is no-time at all since Flowers were amongst the First of all Flora to inhabit the Earth hundreds of millions of years ago.2
TODAY's ASSIGNMENT ON THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING:
Give Someone A Flower - per ‘America's Premier Eventologist,' ASK
That is why it is important to know your Flowers and share a Flower with someone. This Random Act of Flowering ® (as devised by me for my March 20TH - First Day of Spring Blog called Chicagology 101®) can easily be performed and/or executed with a Stranger on the Street to your Mailman. Bring a Flower to your Teacher in lieu of an Apple. Drop one off at your Librarian's Desk. Flowers spell out Power. Those Hippies in The 1960s who coined the Term: FLOWER POWER did not work at a(ny) Florist. They instinctively knew what Flowers were all about and symbolized to the vast Population at hand. They knew that Flowers could win Arguments and melt Hearts. Another good Aspect about The Power of The Flower (collectively speaking) is that a Flower is a Gift that can be photographed; of which that Photograph can become a Greeting Card or an Image that becomes a First Prize Winner at a County Fair.
A Flower has no real Calories or Nutritional Value; therefore, it's a Gift that is not 'shunned' --- to those who have an on-going Battle with The Bulge. Flowers cannot really be ‘regifted' and generally are not since their Lifespan is only a few Days. Flowers intoxicate and enhance a Room; yet they don't take up (a lot of) room for those residing in a small(er) Space. Jail Cells immediately come to mind here. Imagine the Disposition of a Prisoner if he/she were given a Flower. Maybe Flowers hold the Capacity to solve escalating Disputes and end Global Terrorism. In an ironic vein, the Big Questions about The Flower Realm that continuously prevails that needs addressing is:
Q#1: Where do all these Flowers come from?
Q#2: Where have all The Flowers gone with Global Warming?
These same Questions were once wondered by the Song written by Pete Seeger in 1961 that addressed this very Issue 3 even all the ‘way back then.'
With so many Florists and millions of Flowers in Chicago alone, is it any wonder there are any left over for everyone else on The Planet - some 6,525,170,264 strong? 4
"Into Everyone's Day a Flower should fall...Spring, Summer and Winter, too. Whether you're in the Dog-House or the White House, vase-ically and basically speaking: Flowers go best with everything. They provide The Setting' from which every move and movement flows, ‘flowers' and emanates."
QUOTE OF: ASK
Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 9:19-9:39 AM; 2:00-2:21 PM
CITY SIDE:
Flowers here. Flowers there. Flowers bloomin' everywhere. Even Grocery Stores sell Flowers. With Spring officially here Today, it only seems timely to highlight Chicago's Flower Shops. ‘Weeding out' the best in order to buy some of the prettiest Flowers (instead of picking them out of your Neighbors' manicured Gardens at night when they are fast asleep and the pit-bull is secure and in the house), we find that Chicago is packed full of Posies.
DBA: Doing Business As: It's a bit ironic that the Proper Name ‘Chicago' itself is translated from the Ojibway Indian Word meaning ‘Smelly Onion' 5 considering the Airways smell anything but like an odorous Onion today. The Top 100 Chicago Flower Shops making their Presence known help Chicagoans live up to its Nickname of ‘Sweet Home' Chicago:
When a Traveler is stationed in Chicago, it is noticed from the onset that the first Object seen is the beautiful Flowering Shrubbery found across The City. Not only in Civic and Public Places, but in Homes (of all Sizes and Prices) and even on Roof-Tops, The City is ‘green' down to its last Blade of Grass. Whether your Purchase is of Real Flowers or beautiful Silk Flowers for Centerpieces, The Top 100 Floral Shops include Selections that cannot be rivaled.
The List of Florists that follows is only a minute Fraction & Fragment of the toddling Flower Shops and Floral Business in Chicago with an active Population of Flower Lovers, Growers, Supporters and Aficionados: 6-11
1st Choice Flowers, Inc. - 5331 West North
7 Red Roses - 3280 North Milwaukee Avenue
A Bunch of Flowers Inc. - 10845 South Western
A Gentle Wind - 7154 North California Avenue
A New Leaf Inc. - 1645 North Wells Street
A Work of Art Florist - 7952 South Ashland Avenue
Angies Flower Shop - 2959 West Devon
- A Plus Flowers & Gifts - 227 West Monroe
- Acapulco Floral, Inc. - 3012 West Irving Park Road
- Accent On Greenery - 3409 North Harlem
- Aly's Posey Patch - 654 West Diversey Parkway
- Ambassador Floral Co. - 11045 South Halsted
- American Floral Container - 1536 South Wabash
- Anna Flower Shops - 311 South Wacker
- Atmospheres Flowers & Gifts - 1142 West Taylor
- BalloonZ - 1121 North Ashland
- Bella Bello - 1600 North Milwaukee Avenue
- Belmont Blooms - 6916 West Dickens
- Belmonte Bros. Florist - 6264 West North
- Bibelot - 3349 North Southport
- Blancas Florist - 3804 West 26TH Street
- Bloom City Flowers - 3000 West Peterson
- Blossom Flower Shop - 7013 North Sheridan
- Bouquets Etc. - 2315 South Wentworth
- Bunches - 990 West Fullerton
- C M Fasan Florist - 1600 West 35TH
- Casablanca Flowers - 5949 West Lawrence
- Cattails, Inc. - 1935 W Division
- Chicago Flower Exchange - 2855 South Archer
- Chicago Flowers Gallery - 8911 South Commercial
- Chicago In Bloom Floral & Events Inc. - 4223 North Lincoln
- Chicago Plant & Flower - 3760 North Broadway
- Chicago Silk Flowers, Inc. - 4580 North Elston
- Chicago's Florist - 400 South Green
- City Enchanted Garden - 218 West Washington
- City Scents Flowers & Gifts - 209 East Ohio
- Clark-Rogers Flower Shop - 7407 North Clark Street
- Clay Pot Flower Shop - 111 East Wacker - Lower 16
- Clody of the Belmont Limited - 3409 North Broadway
- Colonial Florist - 3800 West Montrose Avenue
- Cornell Florist - 1645 East 55TH Street
- Creative Celebrations - 818 West 103RD Street
- Crystal Flower Shop, Inc. - 2815 South Kedzie
- Daffodils Flower Shop - 1935 West Armitage
- Daisyco - 8123 South Langley
- Dilly Lily - 742 West Fullerton
- Dolores the Florist, Inc. - 6018 West Fullerton
- Don Wan Florist - 5644 West 63RD
- Duffy Floral Company - 3219 West 111TH
- East Side Florist - 10608 South Ewing
- Elena-Flower Shop - 3116 West Cermak
- Epoch Floral Home & Event - 621 West Jackson
- Exotic Flowers - 6615 West Irving Park
- Expert Flower Outlet - 8227 South Ashland
- Expressions Floral Studio - 5333 West Madison
- Fasan Florist - 1600 West 35TH
- Faye's Flower Affayre - 6423 South Cottage Grove
- First Rose - 2219 North Western
- Floral Bazaar - 2960 West Belmont
- Floral Affairs Limited - 5512 West Devon
- Floral Designs on 99TH - 9911 South Walden Parkway
- Floral Destiny Boutique - 342 East 71ST
- Floral Expressions - 141 West Jackson
- Floral Fantasies - 2712 West 59TH
- Floral Impressions - 2324 North Cicero
- Flori Sculpture - 1473 West Grand
- Floria Sonya's - 6238 South Kedzie
- Flowers Ala Carte - 555 West Madison
- Flowers First By Erskine - 3409 North Broadway
- Flowers Unlimited & Gifts - 8621 Stony Island
- Forget Me Not Flower Shop - 6049 West Irving Park
- Gigi's Flowers and Gifts - 1800 South Racine
- Henry Hampton Floral - 828 South Wabash
- K&K Flowers & Gifts - 135 South La Salle
- Kloeckner Preferred Flowers - 3214 West 55TH
- La Salle Flowers, Inc. - 731 North LaSalle
-Lakeview Florists - 5323 North Sheridan Road
- Linda's Flowers & Balloon's - 2439 West Armitage
- Lotus Flowers & Gifts - 1644 West Chicago
- Marcel Florist, Inc. - 680 North Lake Shore Drive
- Mostly Flowers, Ltd - 4879 South Archer
- Mystic Flower Shop & Gifts - 5548 South Pulaski
- Northern Greenhouses, Inc. - 1756 West Lake
- Party Sharks - 1301 West Cornelia
- Romance In Blooms - 6729 North Northwest Highway
- Southport Blooms - 3709 North Southport
- Sunburst Flowers & Gifts - 5357 North Ashland
- That Flower Shop - 537 South Dearborn
- The Enchanted Garden Florist - 218 West Washington
- The Flower Box - 13310 South Baltimore
- The Godflower - 919 South Loomis
- The Golden Rose - 180 North Stetson
- The Wild Iris - 9506 South Vanderpoel
- The Wishing Well Florist - 6239 West Touhy
- Tiffany's Flowers & Gifts - 3645 West 25TH
- Tumbleweeds & Rose Express Florist - 1475 West Huron
- Urban Meadows - 4101 North Ravenswood & 120 South La Salle
- Veronique's Floral - 1164 North La Salle
- Yera's Lake View Florist - 5323 North Sheridan
- Zuverink's Fine Silk Botanicals - 1735 North Clybourn
THE PRIMARY REASON WHY THERE ARE STATE FLOWERS IN THE USA:
AS ALWAYS: "Because of the Great American Work Ethic and Dream, there are enough Flower Shops here to make all your Days colorful ones. Reaching out to touch Someone's Heart in a passionate and compassionate Gesture in either Joy, Happiness, Gloom or Sorrow is easily done by sharing a Flower. The obligatory Need is to support your local Florist (as it takes a pots-full of Petals to support those steep and always escalating Chicago Rents). This kindly Gesture could develop into a Daily Ritual that cannot be compared or shared in any more of a poignant and stirring way than with the Giving of a Bouquet - a Flower. To inspire in this way is an Act of Generosity."
Quote of: ASK
Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 3:18 PM & 4 PM
There's more than Tulips to go tip-toeing through, when walking through Chicago Gardens, as there are Garden Walks and Shows that are always well-attended as The Spring and Summer Seasons begin in Chicago. Being as lucrative as it is, many Industries ‘branch off' and get into the Floral Biz as Flowers:
-- appear on Cakes as (a) Decoration(s), whether edible or not,
-- are photographed for an Assortment of Publications (both off-and-online)
-- are thematically used in Still Life Drawings for Artists
With Crossover Appeal as this, it begs to ask the Philosophical Question:
Q: Before Flowers, what was there?
PART 2: YOUR DAILY CHICAGO FIX...®
This Special Event is designed for those Families and/or Individuals who live in Suburbia and are driving, hopping on board a train or bus and headed into the City for the Day. Completely random, this Singular Listing can cover a job opportunity; a theatre performance; a celebrity appearance. After all, if you're going to see IT ALL, you're going to be in Chicago!
Therefore, without further adieu: DRUM ROLL, PLEASE:
If you're in Chicago today, Tuesday, March 20, 2007, check out:
The M2O Coalition (representing forty Area Activist Groups) will stage an Anti-War Rally against the War and Occupation of Iraq. Open to Novices as well as seasoned Protesters, it's important to participate. March 20, 2007, marks the Fourth Year anniversary of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq and the Taking of Innocent Lives on both Sides as well as destroying Civilization's most valued Treasures and Artifacts, never to be replaced again. 12
Time: 6:00 PM
Assembly Location: 24 West Walton Street and then proceed down Michigan Avenue to Daley Plaza (Washington-Clark-Dearborn).
PART 3: SEIZE THE DAY...
Chicagology 101: #20 for Friday, March 23 probes:
The Top Ten Art Galleries in Chicago. Spotlighting Chicago's Master: Walt A. Fydryck, as a Chica-GO-an on The GO! ARTiculating ART through The Eyes of a Techno-Fine Art Advertising Genius.
UPON CLOSING: Until Friday...May all your Adventures & Trips be healthy, happy and blooming ones!
Sincerely,
Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
CVO: Chicago's Very Own...
WEB SOURCES FOR FOR CHICAGOLOGY #19 - March 20, 2007:
1 The Vernal Equinox - Kelly Whitt Article at: http://astromyspace.suite101.com
2 Flowers were amongst the First of all Flora to inhabit the Earth hundreds of millions of years ago. (Wikipedia/History)
3 Pete Seeger - Where have all the Flowers gone...©1961 (Renewed) Fall River Music Inc. Lyrics at: http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/flowers-gone.shtml
4 World Population Figure of 6,525,170,264 derived from: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/xx.html
5 Ojibway Indian Word ‘Smelly Onion' derived from: A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and...
Page 56 by William H. Stennett - 1908
6-11 List of Top 100 Chicago Florists derived from:
http://www.localflowershop.com/flower-shops/IL/Chicago-florist.cfm
http://www.gatheringguide.com/event_directory/il_illinois/vendor_florists_flowers_decor_8669.html
http://www.flowerpossibilities.com/links.html#florists_listings
http://www.bigdayguide.com/illinois/chicago/
http://ftdflorists.reachlocal.net/states/illinois/chicago
http://chicago.areaconnect.com/Florists/
12 http://www.gapersblock.com/slowdown/archives/2007/03/20/
