Carrie
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cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Carrie
@cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
250 followers 220 following 990 posts
Chicagoan | cliche urban singleton | cat lady | birder in denial
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cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Still of Kamala Harris from “We did it, Joe” meme
December 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
It’s a uniquely Chicago sensation to be freezing everywhere except for the crown of your head, which is broiling
An empty CTA platform with two heat lamps blazing
December 9, 2025 at 12:34 AM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
I need every woman, every POC, every writer or artist, every gig worker—basically everyone who’s not a rich white guy—to see and internalize the message on this awesome zippered pouch from
www.ellembeegift.com
A curled-up tuxedo cat sits on a white nubbly blanket and sniffs the edge of a cream, canvas zippered pouch. The text on the pouch reads: Know your worth. Then add tax.
December 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Go look outside, Chicago!
A sunset sky streaked with vivid orange, with the silhouette of bare trees in the foreground
November 22, 2025 at 10:36 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
They got the ad at Morse too
Close-up of an ad for Friend with graffiti that says “This is AI spyware” and “AI is not your friend”
November 21, 2025 at 6:58 AM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Your last saved meme is your moral philosophy
A very elementary line graph Every Graph about the US where there are two lines with line values “good thing” and “bad thing” which flip (the good thing line going down and the bad thing line going up) at the axis label “Ronald Reagan”
November 17, 2025 at 2:32 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
This will fix me
Photo of the horizon over Lake Michigan, with the water mid blue and perfectly calm below a clear light blue sky
November 15, 2025 at 6:40 AM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Today was my third and final docent shift for the year at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. I think it’s at its prettiest in the fall, so today was a perfect day to be here. Chicagoans, the pool closes on November 8 for the season, so stop by sometime this week if you want to visit!
Selfie of me with fall foliage in the background. I’m wearing a baseball cap, green hoodie, and bright green apron that says Lincoln Park Docent A still pond reflects yellow and orange autumn trees and a blue sky
November 2, 2025 at 5:53 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Happy Spooky Day! 🎃
A tuxedo cat stands on a white table next to a green and orange pumpkin and looks at the camera. In the background is a white brick fireplace mantel with cableknit pumpkins garland
October 31, 2025 at 3:02 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
It was a nice reprieve to be in Jordan for 10 days, even though travel right now is kind of an apology world tour for Americans. Anyway, here is a pic of the stunning Wadi Rum and another of the sunrise this morning over Lake Michigan (courtesy of jet lag).
A desert landscape, with red rippling sand in the foreground and a series of low, round yellow hills in the distance A bright red sun rises over silvery-looking Lake Michigan, with dark sand in the foreground
October 20, 2025 at 4:25 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Take that, RFK
An arm with a pushed-up sleeve and two white band-aids with red hearts on them, in this case for flu and covid booster shots
September 23, 2025 at 9:43 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Tragically, the mug in this thread broke again and this time it was terminal. I was in dire need of a new feminist mug. Et voilà! I love it.
A white mug sits on a wood table. The mug colorful, simplistic illustrations of boobies of all shapes and sizes and cursive script that says “you’re perfect!”
September 17, 2025 at 11:14 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
This is a contender for the best kept secret in Chicago: a free 15-minute film festival with free beer, popcorn, and some great 60-second films
A hand holds a glass of beer, a small bag of popcorn, and a program that reads “BTSSFF: Big Teeth Sixty Second Film Festival, September 13-14, 2025, bigteethfilmfest.com
September 14, 2025 at 8:33 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
They also made me a gorgeous smaller bouquet for $10!
A tuxedo cat looks up at a bouquet of pink and white dahlias in a tall white vase
September 14, 2025 at 4:25 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Here’s one good thing: I trained this spring to be a docent at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, which just reopened after two years of rehabilitation, and this morning was my first docent shift. It was great to see Chicagoans once again enjoying this beautiful spot and to help them learn about it
A vertical pic with yellow and green foliage in the foreground, a pond crowded with lily pads in the middle ground, and a limestone embankment and more green foliage in the background A sun-dappled flagstone path runs next to a Prairie style pavilion made of horizontal stone, wooden beams, and a copper roof. In the background are several green trees and a pale blue sky
September 13, 2025 at 11:01 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
This block of Artesian south of Ardmore is a pretty flawless example of classic Chicago two-flats
A row of two-story brick houses, which are usually broken up into two units and referred to as a Chicago two-flat. The brick color varies from dark red to sandy yellow, but the facades are almost identical, with a central projected, flat section consisting of 4-pane windows on each floor
September 11, 2025 at 2:46 AM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Breaking: Invaded city remains defiant
Photo of one of the carriages of the CTA pride train with broad rainbow stripes and the words “Ride with pride!” The cement base of a support column on a CTA stop with the words chalk writing: Hate has no home here
September 6, 2025 at 6:11 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Ollie is leaning into the Tuesday after Labor Day vibes
A tuxedo cat lies on a cream and maroon shag rug. He is looking at the camera and curled around on his back in almost a ball. His front feet are tucked into his chest like a little bunny.
September 2, 2025 at 3:53 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Another blood-soaked night in lawless Chicago 🙄
A night view of the Pritzger Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park lit with multicolored lights. In the background are several skyscrapers whose windows are partially lit and a deep blue night sky
August 27, 2025 at 4:30 AM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Carpe farmers market
A white plate with blue flowers holds an almond croissant and a cut-up peach. In the background is a coffee mug with a folk art rabbit on it
August 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
77, sunny, light breeze, low humidity. Chicago (literally) doesn’t get better than this
A beach with golden sand, volleyball poles and a few people. In the distance is the blue water, blue sky with some puffy white clouds, and a pier with rainbow colors
August 22, 2025 at 7:14 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
10 years ago today I went to Diner en Blanc in Chicago’s Federal Plaza, which created an amazing palette of red, black, and white
A group of people dressed in all white sit at white tables in Chicago Federal Plaza. In the background at the sheer, black curtain walls of the Federal Building and the swooping red beams of Calder’s Flamingo sculpture.
August 22, 2025 at 4:08 AM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Um….
“Thank you for giving blood with the American Red Cross on July 14, 2025. Your blood donation was sent to Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL to help a patient in need. Your donation is on its way to change lives!” “Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago Shuts Down Operations Weiss Memorial Hospital on Chicago's North Side shut down last week amid recent financial hurdles and after being dropped from key federal programs.”
August 12, 2025 at 10:18 PM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
RIP to my croc-flops, which both died today within 10 minutes of each other. Talk about planned obsolescence!
Close up of a pair of pink Crocs flip-flops, with the central thong broken on both shoes.
August 10, 2025 at 12:42 AM
cooler-by-the-lake.bsky.social
Seeing the lake never fails to reset something in my heart/brain. I can almost feel the tumblers clicking and settling into place
A view of Lake Michigan with bright green grass and a round tree in the foreground and, beyond a sea wall, aqua blue water stretches to the horizon. The sky is a delicate light blue.
August 7, 2025 at 1:11 AM