Now, we don’t want to encourage any of you to use the sharing economy as a source of comic relief, but let’s take a look at how a few individuals turned the sharing economy into a comedy show; try not to laugh:

1.) So apparently putting an Igloo on AirBnB is frowned upon?

This wise-guy decided to use the abundance of snow to try to make a little extra cash. He may not have made much money, but it sure was pretty dang funny, and creative:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3415480/Now-S-extreme-holiday-home-New-Yorker-builds-igloo-garden-Storm-Jonas-lists-Air-BnB-140-night.html

(Article courtesy of Distractify)

2.) Uber experiences you told your friends about…

Sometimes an uneventful Uber ride is what you get; other times, your Uber driver plays “Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls 6 times in a row (who said that was a bad thing?).

https://www.buzzfeed.com/christianzamora/times-an-uber-driver-made-the-car-ride-uber-awkward?utm_term=.ckGZ1zV8Wk#.xq8ExwmL3y

Thanks, Christian, for making us laugh.

(Article courtesy of Christian Zamora, Buzzfeed)

3.) Not into normal hotels? Stay in a backyard or eat breakfast with giraffes!

Different than a hotel? Yes. Better? That’s up to you to decide

http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/7-bizarre-airbnb-rentals-that-are-almost-too-weird-to-believe/

4.) Lyft drivers are getting creative, and a little creepy..?

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/29/tech/mobile/lyft-cars/

(Article courtesy of CNN)

Thanks for reading! Send some other funny sharing economy stories to us @parqex

The post The Sharing Economy Can Be Hilarious appeared first on ParqEx.

Come say hello at the Taste of Randolph this weekend! June 17-19, 900 W. Randolph Street What better way to spend Father’s Day than at the Taste of Randolph street festival? The ParqEx team is going to be there with our brand new tent AND we’re one of the event sponsors! (Hint: Stop by and we might have goodies for you!) Commemorating the iconic street festival’s 20th Anniversary, Star Events and WLCO will bring together the biggest and brightest names in Chicago dining, featuring over 20 restaurants exemplary for delectable menus and irresistibly unique flavors. Sample the food to the sounds of the nation’s hottest up-and-coming bands and musicians, as well as the biggest names in Chicago house music, performing on two stages and a DJ stage. Taste of Randolph benefits the West Loop Community Organization, which has been advocating for the West Loop neighborhood since 1991, supporting local businesses and economic development. For event info, hours, and schedule, click here.

Here are some private parking spots right by the Taste of Randolph for you to rent! See one you like? Book it now and park like a VIP before it’s gone! Just click on the spot you want.

There are plenty more private parking spots available around the event. To browse yourself, just click the button!

Find a Parking Spot!

(Or just launch the app on your smart phone!)

ParqEx Launches Access+ Open any garage door or gate with the ParqEx app! Parking spot owners can rent their private parking spots that are behind garage doors or a gate without requiring to hand over the transponder / FOB. When the parking spot is rented, for the duration of the rental, the renter will be able to access the parking spot. Looking for secure parking? You can now rent exclusive private parking in secure residential buildings, gated residences, private lots and more. Once you rent, you dont need a FOB to access the parking spot any more. Simply click the garage door opener button in the app to open the gate or garage door to access your secure private parking spot. To learn more, click here.

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ParqEx Joins Lakeview Chamber of Commerce The latest in a growing membership We are proud to announce that we are now members of several chambers of commerce, most recently joining Lakeview Chamber of Commerce. The Lakeview Chamber’s service area is from Diversey on the South, to Irving Park Rd. on the North, and Ravenswood on the West, to Racine on the East. To learn more, click here.

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ParqEx Launches Initiative to Improve Parking in West Loop Joins West Loop Community Organization If you haven’t heard yet, ParqEx will work with fellow members of the community group to augment parking supply while benefitting local residents and businesses Over the past several years Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, which was largely industrial or residential in nature in the past, has seen a massive surge in all types of development – including commercial and retail. New big name tenants like Google, who recently opened their latest Chicago office for over 500 employees there, and trendy hotels and restaurants, have made the West Loop one of the hottest areas in town. However, those establishments have also brought many more commuters and visitors to the neighborhood without sizable increases in parking to accommodate them. The result has been mounting frustration with the scarcity of parking options available to meet all the growth. The ParqEx platform replaces traditional methods of listing parking — To read the full article, visit boston.com.

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From the blog… If you’re not up to speed yet on the ParqEx blog, here’s a few of our latest posts.

Five of Our Favorite Chicago Summer Festivals Chicago is a town that knows how to party, so the only difficult thing about recommending five of our favorite Chicago summer festivals is narrowing it down to five. There are music festivals, food festivals, ethnic festivals, art festivals, and more. From the Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival to the 57th Street Art Fair, from Ribfest Chicago to the Great American Lobster Fest, Reggae Fest Chicago to Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival, from Chicago Gospel Music Festival to… Read full article

Ways The IoT is Helping Increase Parking Availability in Major U.S. Cities Advancing technology is using cloud-based applications to bring innovation to many different industries and sectors of society. In the realm of transportation, mobile apps using the cloud, are solving difficult logistic problems like delivery, public transportation, and even parking. Let’s explore the possibilities by looking at ways the IoT is helping increase parking availability in major U.S. cities…. Read full article

Don’t Let These 3 Common Summer Transportation Problems Ruin Your Fun in the Sun

Summer is right around the corner, and this is usually exciting for most people. But after that initial jolt, the reality sets in. Nothing is for free, and with all the joy that summer brings, it also has its costs. Certain issues such as childcare, getting that beach bod ready, and dealing with the oppressive temperatures come to mind, but few things are as frustrating as…

Read full article

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The post ParqEx News & Events: Find us at the Taste of Randolph 2016 appeared first on ParqEx.