The Ragas Report http://ragasreport.com Tales of adventure from the exciting lives of Matt and Traci Ragas posterous.com Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:44:00 -0800 Grand opening - Tuesday night http://ragasreport.com/grand-opening-tuesday-night http://ragasreport.com/grand-opening-tuesday-night Can you imagine a place, known for its convenience and prescription medications now selling sushi?  Now imagine, this same place having fresh fruit, a ton of prepared foods, new and unique product displays, manicures, and super-high end wine.  Believe it or now, I'm talking about Walgreens!  On Tuesday, a new Walgreens opened at State and Randolph (about 12 blocks from our house).  Matt and I both read the stories about this new flagship store, so of course we had to check it out and went Tuesday night.  We were not disappointed (even the window view of the Chicago theater is amazing!). 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:46:29 -0800 Name in lights http://ragasreport.com/name-in-lights http://ragasreport.com/name-in-lights
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I had a great experience this week attending the Business Journalism Professors fellowship program hosted by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism in the Cronkite School at Arizona State University.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344690/Matt_AEJMC_Poster_2009.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sDFhmCYUYZH Matt Ragas matt Matt Ragas Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:57:00 -0800 Christkindlmarket http://ragasreport.com/kristkindle-market http://ragasreport.com/kristkindle-market

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We had a great time visiting the Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza earlier this week. I can see this turning into an annual tradition for us.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344690/Matt_AEJMC_Poster_2009.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sDFhmCYUYZH Matt Ragas matt Matt Ragas Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:52:24 -0800 Happy Birthday,Matt! http://ragasreport.com/happy-birthdaymatt http://ragasreport.com/happy-birthdaymatt

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We're celebrating Matt's birthday with a DePaul men's basketball game tonight . Funny enough, they are playing Ole Miss. Hoping for a Blue Demons win. Will keep you posted.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:04:46 -0800 Las Vegas trip http://ragasreport.com/las-vegas-trip http://ragasreport.com/las-vegas-trip A few weekends ago, we took a weekend trip to Las Vegas to see our friends Rich and Meghan tie the knot at Caesar's Palace.

It also happened to be our fifth anniversary, so we celebrated with a delicious dinner at Del Frisco's.  We also took in the sites and walked around the Wynn and Encore, two resort/casinos that didn't exist when we were in Vegas in 2003.  Here are a few pics, but as they say, "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." (kidding, of course - we actually didn't have time to gamble or even play the slots, though we did take advantage of the very cool buffet at the Wynn.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:02:00 -0800 Tom Brokaw at the Chicago Public Library http://ragasreport.com/tom-brokaw-at-the-chicago-public-library http://ragasreport.com/tom-brokaw-at-the-chicago-public-library

Matt and I continue to take advantage of Chicago and the many things the city has to offer.  On a tour to promote his new book, Tom Brokaw made a stop at the Harold Washington Library tonight and we were lucky enough (tickets were sold out, but we grabbed seats a few weeks ago!)  to have the chance to listen to his talk.  Last year we saw Anthony Bourdain, when he came to town. 

Tom Brokaw was intelligent, funny, and left us thinking.  His discussion promoted good dinner talk for us as we reviewed our favorite parts.  It was the perfect start to our week!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:16:00 -0700 Time in Baltimore http://ragasreport.com/time-in-baltimore http://ragasreport.com/time-in-baltimore

Back home from Baltimore after our national conference.  We had our Board of Directors dinner on the Inner Harbor.  Had fun meeting lots of new people and seeing months of work come to fruition, but happy to be back home too!  

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Sun, 09 Oct 2011 07:45:00 -0700 Early racer...Chicago Marathon http://ragasreport.com/early-racerchicago-marathon http://ragasreport.com/early-racerchicago-marathon

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Not sure if he's the leader (and he's hard to see - taken around 9:20 a.m. when we heard the first loud cheers) but a view of the Chicago Marathon from our place.  Too cool!

Update: Here are a few pictures from street level.  

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:45:02 -0700 Visit to UT Austin http://ragasreport.com/visit-to-ut-austin http://ragasreport.com/visit-to-ut-austin
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I just returned from my first visit to Austin in maybe seven or eight years. I attended a conference at the University of Texas at Austin this past Friday and Saturday with two of my colleagues, Jason Martin (on the left) and Hai Tran (on the right).

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344690/Matt_AEJMC_Poster_2009.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sDFhmCYUYZH Matt Ragas matt Matt Ragas Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:57:25 -0700 Hello Trader Joes! Welcome to the South Loop! http://ragasreport.com/hello-trader-joes-welcome-to-the-south-loop http://ragasreport.com/hello-trader-joes-welcome-to-the-south-loop

Today is opening day at our new Trader Joe's and I was lucky enough to see the ribbon cutting, hear our alderman talk, check out the new store and grab some chili spiced mango (all before 8 am)! No more Jewel for us!! Yay!

ps I also think I was the first person to check out. :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:12:05 -0700 Dr. John concert!! http://ragasreport.com/dr-john-concert http://ragasreport.com/dr-john-concert

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:43:05 -0700 Train concert at Northerly Island http://ragasreport.com/train-concert-at-northerly-island http://ragasreport.com/train-concert-at-northerly-island

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We've been wanting to see a show here since last summer so here we are.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344690/Matt_AEJMC_Poster_2009.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sDFhmCYUYZH Matt Ragas matt Matt Ragas Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:47:23 -0700 Milwaukee visit http://ragasreport.com/milwaukee-visit http://ragasreport.com/milwaukee-visit This past weekend we visited the land of cheese curds, fish fries, custard, and Miller's beer - also known as Milwaukee. We had a busy weekend, including visits to the Harley-Davidson museum, Miller brewery tour, the Milwaukee Public Market, and a Brewers game (Miller Field is a great ballpark!)


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344690/Matt_AEJMC_Poster_2009.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sDFhmCYUYZH Matt Ragas matt Matt Ragas Sun, 03 Jul 2011 12:02:19 -0700 White Sox vs Cubs http://ragasreport.com/white-sox-vs-cubs http://ragasreport.com/white-sox-vs-cubs
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We are heading to the game...in enemy territory.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:56:29 -0700 They're here.... http://ragasreport.com/theyre-here http://ragasreport.com/theyre-here
We have a Chick-fil-A downtown!  Even better, it's a block from the Red Line, has eight registers, seating for lots of people, and is the biggest location I've ever seen. We checked it out Friday night - the day after the grand opening.  That makes our third early opening visit to a Chick-fil-A in Chicagoland.  I am obviously very happy. Living in Florida, you take them for granted since they are virtually on every corner.  What a great way to welcome the summer!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Wed, 25 May 2011 17:01:47 -0700 Our first Cubs game http://ragasreport.com/our-first-cubs-game http://ragasreport.com/our-first-cubs-game
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Sun, 08 May 2011 11:02:02 -0700 Pink tulips on State Street http://ragasreport.com/pink-tulips-on-state-street http://ragasreport.com/pink-tulips-on-state-street
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Sun, 01 May 2011 19:59:10 -0700 Bluegrass at CSO http://ragasreport.com/bluegrass-at-cso http://ragasreport.com/bluegrass-at-cso A few weekends ago we saw bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley and his Clinch Mountain Boys perform at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The opening act was Cherryholmes. Great show all around in a historic and beautiful building. CSO seems to do a nice job mixing up their programming and we plan to check out "A Night in Treme," narrated by Wendell Pierce of HBO's Treme, next month at CSO.  

Stanley's performance of "O (Oh) Death" put a chill up our spine. You might remember it from O Brother, Where Art Thou?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344690/Matt_AEJMC_Poster_2009.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sDFhmCYUYZH Matt Ragas matt Matt Ragas Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:43:50 -0700 Spring is here http://ragasreport.com/spring-is-here http://ragasreport.com/spring-is-here
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:33:44 -0700 A special visitor! Guess who? http://ragasreport.com/a-special-visitor-guess-who http://ragasreport.com/a-special-visitor-guess-who Last weekend, we had a special visitor from New Orleans:  Matt's mom!  

We showed off the Garfield Park Conservatory, checked out (rather serendipitously on our way to lunch at the Walnut Room) the Macy's Flower Show, the Winter Garden at Harold Washington Library, and topped it off with the Gospel Brunch at House of Blues. 

We also had dinner at Greek Islands - where we ate flaming saganaki cheese, spanakotiropita, and dolmades (grape leaves) and Italian Village (which is talked about even in New Orleans!). 

As proud Chicagoans - Matt and I enjoyed sharing our favorite places with our special visitor.  


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/344680/CIMG0210.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4bmLHZMXnrB7 Traci Ragas Traci Traci Ragas