Randi Shaffer

Commentary: My Peace Corps evacuation from Ukraine: I had 5 hours to pack and say goodbye

March 31, 2020 at 11:24 p.m.

"EVACUATION MESSAGE" After a few days of coronavirus-centered speculation, the email subject line — with its caps lock-induced sense of urgency — made it official. Peace Corps would be leaving...

The writer, Randi Shaffer, poses for a photo at the open-air East Side Gallery in Berlin, where she took her first solo international trip.

Flying solo: Why traveling alone is the way to go

August 1, 2019 at 8:18 p.m.

I can vividly remember the exact moment I decided I was never traveling with people again. It was a crisp fall day in Germany, and I was sitting at Berlin...

A "danger" sign at the Humboldt Park Lagoon in Chicago, where an alligator was captured July 16, 2019.

Our favorite tweets from ‘Chance the Snapper’ and his fans

July 16, 2019 at 8:44 p.m.

Despite a lack of opposable thumbs and the, uh, unsurprisingly moist conditions of the Humboldt Park Lagoon, Chicago's beloved alligator — quickly deemed "Chance the Snapper" by the general internet-using...

From the Midway: A podcast miniseries about the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

May 12, 2019 at 6:11 p.m.

It's been 125 years since the 1893 Chicago World's Fair drew millions to Chicago — and its impact persists today. In "From the Midway," host Colleen Connolly dives into the...

Thomas Gorczynski, a Couchsurfing.com host and user, poses on his living room couch in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood.

Meet the Chicagoans who let strangers sleep in their homes — free of charge

May 20, 2019 at 1:50 p.m.

“I’m here! I’m standing outside your house right now.” A message bubble pops up on my iPhone. It’s from a virtual stranger who’s about to spend the next three days...

Hear assault survivor, nurse describe their experiences with the rape kit exam

December 14, 2018 at 11:50 p.m.

In her own words, a sexual assault survivor describes hearing that her nurse wasn't prepared to perform a rape kit. Another nurse describes how a similar situation haunts her. Read...

‘Doomed by Delay’ podcast: Audio testimonies from the parents of babies with Krabbe

June 14, 2024 at 6:43 p.m.

In this 20-minute audio segment, reporter Patricia Callahan narrates the process of getting Krabbe screening up and running in the state of Illinois following the October "Doomed by Delay" Tribune...

50 years later: A timeline of Chicago’s Riverview Park

June 2, 2018 at 7:44 a.m.

If you're more into "glamping" than the actual cabin-in-the-woods thing, this Airstream motorhome would probably be perfect for you. (Dec. 9, 1979)

Advertisements change, but camping equipment stays basic

June 2, 2018 at 9:16 p.m.

If a Tribune reader rifled through the pages of a summer newspaper 20 or 30 years ago, he or she might have stumbled upon an advertisement for camping gear at...

Completely giving up added sugar is a nice idea in theory, but it's difficult to do in practice.

What happened when I gave up sugar for 2 weeks

June 5, 2018 at 10:11 p.m.

I've always had an insatiable sweet tooth. I grew up craving chocolate on a daily basis and always skipped the savory part of the brunch menu in favor of the...

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