Windy City Live - And Cold, Part 3

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What Goodreads reviewers are saying about "Equal and Opposite Reactions":
"It's Hallmark meets the Sopranos in this fun and engaging read."
"The characters are well developed with lots of sass, drama and wicked humor."
"The characters were hilariously and perfectly flawed."
"Cleverly plotted and exceptionally well written... part drama and part slapstick comedy."

...Continued from yesterday:

     When we arrived at the ABC studio,

...we were met in the lobby by a friendly young production assistant who found Claire's name on her list then led us back to a waiting room next to the Windy City Live studio.
       As the room was pretty crowded and all the seats taken - it appeared that this was the waiting room for other TV show folks besides those appearing on Windy City Live  - the production assistant took us across the hall to wait in what appeared to be a filming studio not in use at the moment.

A green screen.

   After a few minutes our friendly production assistant returned and she gave us a once-around the Windy City Live studio.

         Then we returned to the waiting room,

...from which the earlier crowd had cleared out.
     The door in this photo opens into a make-up room,

...into which Claire was called a few minutes later to have her make-up done. Again.

    In truth we'd feared that mayhaps the make-up salon artist she'd just come from (see yesterday's post) had already put too much make-up on Claire's face

   "No," the friendly TV make-up artist assured us, "I'll just put a little more on."

     Now, with Claire indubitably well made-up, we waited in the waiting room with a couple other Windy City guests who had segments on the show that day,

...anthropologist Mireya Mayor,

...and Davis Jaspers, founder of the Vitalife weight loss system.

    We also chatted a bit with a nice lady from the  corporate sales department,

....and producer Andrea Dres also came by to check on us all.

    Everyone we met in the studio was upbeat, helpful and encouraging.
    When it was Claire's turn to be interviewed our friendly production assistant returned and brought us back to the Windy City Live studio.
    Now, when watching a TV show one sees only the people on whom the camera is trained. However while the show was in progress the studio was filled with people: camera people, people working sound, people with clipboards, people standing and walking around. And, of course, the studio audience.
     My understanding had been that I could watch Claire's interview from one of the side stages, but apparently there was an empty seat in the audience, so they squeezed me into the audience.
      Here's the link to Claire's Windy City Live interview, if anyone would like to watch it:
                  https://www.facebook.com/WindyCityLIVE/videos/339129710009284/

   After Claire's interview was over they invited me up to the stage for a photo op. Val and Ryan were lovely, very gracious and cordial.

     And then we were done. We stopped by the waiting room to say good-bye and to pick up our coats and things and to thank producer Andrea Dres, our production assistant and  the make-up artist.
      Then we were on our way,

...joining all the rest of the cold Chicagoans while we walked back to the train.

      We took the train back to the Damen stop in Wicker Park and then walked several blocks to my favorite Chicago eatery,

...the Yolk Test Kitchen,

...where they served me the nicest pot of hot tea.

   As always, the food was great,

..Claire's yummy avocado toast with scrambled eggs,

 ...and my totally awesome rare mushroom and Swiss burger with potatoes.

   After lunch we walked home via the 606,

...the former train line that was re-purposed as a walking and biking path.

     A few blocks form home the snow began to fall,

...still, when we reached Claire's neighborhood,

...she stopped to salt the steps and sidewalk for the folks who live in the building across the courtyard from her house.

...and to feed the birds in her yard.