#30before31: 2 Good Ideas in Chicago

Apologies for already falling behind... family time during the holiday sometimes trumps blog posts. ;) 

So for yesterday & today's post are two really simple ideas that solved a problem in Chicago and made me say, "why didn't I think of that?" 

Idea Post 2

Chicago Parking Meter App

2-hour parking in Chicago was always such a joke because it practically takes two hours to get to your destination. But for most Chicago parking meters, that's how long they allow you to pay for at one time, or if you are lucky you might find one for 3 hours. Or if you parked after 10pm (for free) you would have to refill the meter or move your car promptly at 8am. 

But with the parking meter app, long gone are the days of running out in the middle of dinner or drinks to pay the meter or trudging through the snow in your PJ's on Sunday morning to prevent getting a ticket. 

With the ParkChicago app (available at the AppStore or through GooglePlay) you can pay for your spot and/or extend your time through your phone. Just remember to record the zone number on the Pay Box sign and your license plate number so you have that off hand when. 

And there is no transaction charge for renewing or paying for parking for 2 or more hours. And only a 35 cent transaction fee for less than 2 hours, a much cheaper choice than your alternative - the $40+ parking ticket. 

Idea Post 3

Turning Vacant News Stands into Healthy Food Kiosks And Giving Jobs to Less Fortunate

If you are a Chicagoan, I'm sure you've seen the old yellow newsstands nearby the "L" in the loop that have sat vacant over the past several years due to the decline of physical newspaper sales. A few of these vacant spots are now being transformed into healthy, hip food stands thanks to a local entrepreneur, Ken Waagner. 

Waagner's "eat spots" are an extension of his e.a.t. (education, agriculture, technology) non-profit organization. Not only is the food healthy and designed by former Frontera Grill chef, Shaw Lash, but the stands are operated through Streetwise, an organization that enables the homeless of Chicago get jobs. 

I personally haven't stumbled upon one of these "eat spots", but (as soon as the weather gets a bit warmer) I'll definitely have to check them out!