SUPERHOST. Is there a category above superhost? If so, Amanda should be in that category. Amanda was amazing. I lived here for six weeks on the second leg of a research trip for a book. As I arrived to Chicago, she texted me perfect directions to find the house. I arrived to the house and found it just as it is depicted in the photographs: beautiful, and very clean. As a ceramist, she has an incredible collection of ceramic artifacts in the kitchen and around the house--beautiful pieces of art. I was able to do laundry and settle into the room and rest, and when I woke up from my nap, she and and the other Air BnB resident had cooked up a wonderful dinner. Amanda is a very gracious host. Staying with her feels like visiting a good friend, and she's generous with the invitations to participate in dinners that she's having with friends at the house. I met many wonderful people in Chicago through Amanda's dinner parties and Sunday breakfasts. I spent most of my days in libraries and archives, researching and writing, and in the evenings would often pick up a bottle of wine and a few groceries, and find the house with one or two new guests--Air BnB or Amanda's friends, who were great people. It was really a delight to stay there. After a day of research, I looked forward to evenings with new people, the conversations, and Amanda's unparalleled cooking. She's a fantastic cook! When another Air BnB resident had a birthday, we all went out. That's the kind of host Amanda is: she's very kind, thoughtful, and generous with her time and talents. She's a natural at making people feel welcome and knowing when they need something, and when they need privacy. I had both, whenever I needed them. I should also mention her lovely cat, Hafiz, who I also befriended. I'm normally allergic (very allergic) to cats, and when I saw Hafiz I thought his long hair would be a problem, but he doesn't seem to shed anywhere, and I wasn't allergic to him at all. I didn't even sneeze. He must be hypo-allergenic.