I’m planning a solo trip to Chicago and looking for safe, quality hotels within about 5–7 miles of Jackson Park on the South Side (near Hyde Park/Woodlawn).
I’d like an area that feels comfortable for a solo traveler, where it’s easy to get Uber/Lyft, and with some food options nearby. If you’ve stayed there, which hotels or neighborhoods would you recommend?
I had dinner in Columbia, MD the other day and went back for lunch the next.
Both times I found myself looking around the room.
There were quite a few people 55+ enjoying a meal alone, meeting a friend, sitting at the bar, and what looked like a few dates.
I caught myself thinking, Maybe I need to start spending more time in places like this.
What places in the DMV seem to attract other 55+ singles?
I’m looking for hotel recommendations in Chicago.
Quality, safe places within about 5-7 miles of Jackson Park on the South Side (near Hyde Park/ Woodlawn). I'll be traveling solo, so areas that feel safe, are rideshare friendly, and have decent food options nearby would be ideal.
What hotels or neighborhoods would you suggest?
This is the second time in 48 hours that I’ve had a partial outage affecting only my house. All of my neighbors have power.
Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) has an active outage ticket, and the current restoration estimate is 3:30 AM.
My 4 year old GE electric range worked normally before the outage. BGE instructed me to turn off my main breaker. After power began to return and I turned the main breaker back on, the stove started flashing Bad Line, Bad Outlet, and Bad Cord.
I then turned on the front right burner to test it. Oddly, most of the lights in the house came back on, along with the A/C and Ring doorbell. However, some lights were very dim, and the burner itself never got very hot even though it was turned all the way up.
As soon as I turned the burner off, all of the lights that had come back on immediately went back off.
Has anyone seen this before? Does this sound more like a utility service issue, an open or bad neutral, or something inside the house? What questions should I ask BGE when the crew arrives?
I'm a meeting planner working on a nonprofit annual conference, and leadership wants to focus on generating excitement during the final 15 days before early bird registration ends.
I'm looking for ideas that have actually worked, not just theory.
What have you seen successfully increase registrations in those final two weeks?
*Georgetown
*Old Town Alexandria
*National Harbor
*Annapolis
*Downtown Frederick
*Somewhere else (tell us where)
I re-experienced a city I hadn’t been back to in more than 30 years, and it made me realize I shouldn’t limit myself geographically.
I noticed a different pace and style of interaction with men in Oklahoma City. I’m not saying pack your bags for a connecting flight to find the man of your dreams in this up and coming metropolis. I’m simply sharing an experience that made me think differently. I found myself wondering whether keeping my options open to relationships in other locations where politeness, hospitality, and helping strangers are more openly expressed might be worth considering.
Sometimes what feels like chemistry could actually be cultural compatibility. Warmth, good manners, attentiveness, and emotional steadiness may be more noticeable in some places than others, not because everyone there is like that, but because local culture reinforces those behaviors more consistently.
Have you ever noticed that dating feels different in another city or region?
I’m starting to research premium growth factor serums for when I finish some of my current skincare products. These are the three I’m considering.
~SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
~Plated Intense Serum
~Neocutis Bio Serum Firm
If you’ve used one or more of these, I’d love to hear about your actual experience.
What improvements did you notice?
Did you see changes in skin firmness, texture, fine lines, or overall skin quality?
How long did it take before you noticed results?
Did you repurchase it?
If you’ve tried more than one, which would you recommend and why?
If you spent your own money on it, do you feel it was worth the price?
I’m flying through there later this afternoon and my flight is scheduled to depart from Gate 18, but I’m fine checking out other areas. I like turning layovers into mini experiences instead of just sitting at the gate.
Where is the best place to buy new women’s clothing in OKC? I’m open to all price points and types of clothing and shoes.
I came to Oklahoma City for work and ended up extending my trip by one day because I wasn’t really experiencing the city the way I wanted.
The last time I was here was in the 90’s after my grandparents passed away. Coming back has reminded me how much the city has changed over the past 30 years.
On Saturday, I’ll have one full day to explore on my own. I already plan to visit my grandparents’ burial sites, drive by the house where I stayed with them during the summers, and stop by the church we attended.
After that, where would you send me? I’m looking for great barbecue, local restaurants, a good cocktail or glass of wine, neighborhoods worth exploring, and the places that really capture what makes Oklahoma City special today. I’d love to hear your favorite hidden gems.
I’ve negotiated hotel contracts, managed large budgets, solved last minute crises, worked behind the scenes with distinguished guests, traveled extensively, and seen the side of conferences that attendees never do.
After unexpectedly losing the job I’d held for 17 years, I had to reinvent my career as a consultant late in life. It has been both rewarding and challenging.
AMA
I’m here for work and would love to meet up.
Looking for input.
This involves a property in Maryland.
In the mid-to-late 2000s, I looked into refinancing a property because the co-borrower wanted to be removed from the mortgage. I distinctly remember being told that the loan balance was too low for refinancing.
At the time, I believe the balance was somewhere around $35,000-$40,000 for the mortgage.
Is it true that some lenders have minimum loan amounts for refinancing, or that a mortgage balance that low could have made refinancing difficult during that time period?
I’m trying to understand whether a low loan balance could have been a legitimate barrier to refinancing.
I’m relatively new to consulting after spending most of my career as an employee.
I was talking with another consultant who’s been independent for almost 20 years. We got on the subject of airport parking before an upcoming trip.
She books parking in advance to save money. I usually park in the lot closest to the airport because it’s easier at 5 a.m. with luggage.
Then we started talking about seat upgrades, points, lounges, conference hotels, refundable fares, etc.
It made me realize there are probably a lot of travel habits experienced consultants develop when it’s their own money.
What’s one travel expense you’ll never cut, and what’s one thing you’ll never pay for?
After losing weight, my biggest concerns are:
• Less fullness in my cheeks
• More hollow-looking under-eyes
• Hollow temples
• Neck laxity
I’m already using retinol, vitamin C, peptides, moisturizer, sunscreen, and focusing
on protein intake.
For those who improved these concerns without fillers or surgery, what made the biggest difference?
I’m looking for recommendations for an experienced conference registration professional for an international conference project running through January 2027.
The role requires hands-on experience with:
• Cvent registration management
• Conference registration management
• Conference website updates
The registration environment is already built. Responsibilities include attendee registration support, troubleshooting registration issues, registration testing and QA, monitoring shared inboxes, attendee communications, and approved conference website updates.
UK or Europe-based professionals are preferred due to time zone coverage requirements.
I’m particularly interested in connecting with individuals who have supported live conference registrations and can step into an active project with minimal onboarding.
If you know qualified professionals or communities where experienced Cvent registration specialists can be found, I would appreciate any recommendations.
I’m helping plan a conference in Charlotte and am looking for recommendations for companies or individuals who specialize in:
* Golf tournament management
* Golf outings
* On course contests and activations
* Instructional clinics
* Onsite staffing
* Sponsorship activation
Looking for experienced, reliable partners with Charlotte-area experience. Any recommendations or referrals would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
I’m supporting a large international conference and am looking for recommendations on where to find experienced professionals with hands-on experience in:
• Cvent registration management
• Conference registration management
• Conference website updates
The role requires coverage during UK/European business hours.
Any recommendations for professional groups, Cvent communities, job boards, or networks where experienced conference registration specialists can be found would be appreciated.
For organizations that have hosted a Casino Night fundraiser:
How did you actually make money?
Was it primarily ticket sales, or were there other revenue streams?
What did guests do when they ran out of chips/play money?
Were guests able to buy more?
What did winners receive?
What would you do differently?
Looking for real-world experience before we move forward with planning. Thanks!