Farewell, Chicagoist
By Margaret Lyons in Miscellaneous on Sep 19, 2008 9:15PM
Today, as it's been noted, is my last day as editor of this fine site, and one of my last in Chicago. This gives me license for some seriously corny self-indulgence.
This past Saturday was my eight-year Chicagoversary, and if I could tell my eight-year-ago self what fantastic times lay in front of her...I probably wouldn't, because advice from the future might scare her. But! The past eight years in Chicago, and the four-and-a-half since Rachelle and I launched the site, and the past year that I've been the EIC—well, the real reason I wouldn't tell long-ago Margaret about it is that she wouldn't believe me.
I never expected to learn this much, to have this much fun, or to be surrounded by such intelligent, inspiring and delightful friends. And I sure as hell never thought I'd be able to make a living working and writing with them. Chicagoist has been my day-in and day-out life for the last year, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the way everything's gone; we've had a ball, and this site continues to be the best club I've ever joined. The support, love and sense of belonging Chicagoistos and Chicagoistas past and present have brought into my life is nothing short of a miracle to me. Marcus, if running this site is even half as rewarding for you as it's been for me, then you're in for a real treat.
In case I never win anything that involves an acceptance speech, here come the thank yous: Thank you, dedicated readers. Thank you, wonderful photographers who share your beautiful work with us. Thank you, Chuck and Jim, the backbone of the Chicagoist staff, for welcoming me back to the site with open arms and open minds. (Too bad about not-open pants, though, which is surely my loss.) Thanks to Jake and Jen for taking a chance on me back in the day. Thanks to Rachelle for being such an unflappable partner in crime. And a huge and perpetual thanks to our unbelievably dedicated cadre of contributors, whose talents and passions impress and astonish me every day. This blog is a byproduct of the enthusiasm and joy we feel for the city of Chicago and for each other. I miss you guys already.