Dear Cinnamon is a monthly column based on the idea that all of life's questions can be answered by art, because, after all, art is the spice of life. To submit your own anonymous questions, fill out this form.
Dear Cinnamon,
I want to start a new hobby that isn’t exercise related in the new year. What are ways that I can become a part of a community of people that want to do more with their bodies than run marathons this time of year?
New Year New You always seems to rely on gym memberships but you can choose to expand your mind instead of shrinking your waist. Lillstreet Art Center is a great option for learning new artforms from jewelry making to clay throwing. There is something for everyone at every skill level. The Chicago School of Shoemaking and Leather Arts also offers classes for beginners to learn to make belts, clutches, and then you can eventually make your own shoes which is the biggest I-can-survive-anything flex there is.
Dear Cinnamon,
Cuffing season is still in full effect and I have zero prospects for keeping my toes warm at night. What are ways I can meet new people without the use of the internet?
This is a very fun time of life, please bask in it, get a Warmie, and love the fact that you can trim your toenails in bed while eating tortilla chips and no one will care about the crunch happening on your sheets. But I get it, another person around is cool too. Become a member of something that you have a great deal of interest in, whether it is community gardens, visual art, beer, hobby train sets, there is a place for you where other like-minded people gather on the regular and you can put yourself out there and voila. Or flip that, join your reader friend above and do something you have never done, never considered doing, and learn something new. I once did improv with strangers who immediately turned into best friends. That type of vulnerability creates connections if you let it.