I’ve had the pleasure of traveling once with Rosalind. My fondest memory with her was sharing a very early hot breakfast at the now-relocated Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan. Nestled in a cramped counter space table in a bustling tiny restaurant, we happily sipped our hot seaweed soups with our sashimi bowls of rice as we gabbed about our day’s adventure.
After our Japan trip, Rosalind kept on with her travels as expected. She’s practically everywhere. Following her on Social Media @farsightedgirl Twitter | Instagram will give you a peek into the world. Or her world! One day she’s in St. Kitt’s, West Indies, Istanbul, Turkey, then suddenly in Honduras.
When the pandemic hit, Rosalind had no place to go but stay home. Chicago. Her guidebook publisher recruited her to write a travel book about her own city.
I wasn’t thrilled about writing a guidebook because it’s a lot of work, but they gave me the leeway to write it from my own perspective and prioritize the Southside and communities of color. That excited me! There aren’t a lot of Chicago guidebooks that don’t focus on downtown, Northside and tourist spots, so this really is different.
I was thrilled to see her recommendations of places to check out in my neighborhood, Chicago Chinatown. Rosalind was not quick to pick the latest and trendiest hot spots in town. I love that about the book. This is a true Chicagoan’s guide!
52 Things To Do in Chicago is a guidebook for locals, written from the perspective of a Chicagoan who prioritizes communities not often highlighted in typical travelogues. This is the guide that will show you the beauty of Southside gardens, the history of the jibarito and the energy of Chicago-style skating. For Chicagoans and visitors who want to see the city beyond the touristy hype, this is the guide for you.
Author BIO:
Rosalind Cummings-Yeates is an award-winning journalist and author, specializing in travel and culture. Based in Chicago, she pens stories that reflect the spirit and traditions of people and destinations. Her credits include USA Today, Hemispheres, BBC, House Beautiful, Thrillist, Miami Herald, Chicago Magazine, MSN, Ebony Magazine, Afar, Time Magazine, AAA Traveler, and London Telegraph. She is the author of Exploring Chicago Blues: Inside The Scene Past and Present (History Press) and the recent Moon – 52 Things to do in Chicago (2022) A member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the American Society of Journalists and Authors, you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @farsightedgirl.