Day 180 - 10.15.10 - Thompson Center

My Blue Line train stops at the Clark & Lake Station, which sits underneath the Thompson Center in Chicago's Loop. Somewhat of a gaudy abomination of glass and colored metal, I walk through this building often, but rarely stop to look up. Today, I did. It was dazzling and a touch nauseating at the same time...

Day Ninety-Three - 7.21.10 - The Walk Home (Part Two) Arbol de Vida

Day Thirty-Five - It's Hot in the Poor Places Tonight

I'm not going outside... The first heat of the season has settled in on Chicago. Late May now resembles mid-July, and so it shall remain until the end of the week, when the climate allegedly will return to a more customary pattern, just in time for my first trip to Wrigley Field. Friday afternoon can't get here soon enough.

The heat brings forth reminders of summers past in a city that truly becomes alive with activities, cultural experiences, rock concerts, and sporting events. The heat also causes activity of a different sort. Violence, particularly on the city's South and West sides. In a connection nearly so consistent it could be declared science, when the temperatures in Chicago spike, so does violent crime. Last night, nine people were wounded in seven different shootings. This afternoon, a high school student was killed on his way home from school. In a city that does so many things right in the summer, the corresponding crime often casts a pall over the vibrant Chicago season.

For those of us that live and work in safer neighborhoods, it is easy not to acknowledge the crime and chaos of the city's "poor places" in the summer. We don't have to worry about staying inside as a survival strategy. For those living in the South and West sides, it must not be uncommon to say "I'm not going outside." On nights like last night and tonight, that is undoubtedly a viable course of action as an attempt to ensure safety. I cannot imagine what that must be like... I'm hopeful that things can turn around sooner than later... but I don't know if I'm optimistic.

The inspiration for the picture and title for this entry was drawn from the Wilco record Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and the song "Poor Places."

Day Thirty - The Tourist

Today was an absolutely astoundingly beautiful spring day in The City That Works, so I took a break from my office bound day and walked through Millennium Park. The park was teeming with tourists (or people who appeared to be tourists). In four years working in a building adjacent to Millennium Park, I can count the times I've just walked through the park for fun in the middle of the day on one hand (this excludes attending several shows at the Pritzker Pavilion after work; Decemberists, Andy Bird, Death Cab, Wilco). The park was shining brightly this afternoon (the pavilion was filled for some sort of soul music ensemble) and the Lurie Garden was in full bloom.

I was a tourist in my own city for a brief span, and I was pleased to take a moment to appreciate what surrounds me every day. As I returned to the office, I was reminded of Radiohead's "The Tourist." Though I could not begin know what Thom Yorke was thinking when he wrote the song, I believe the lyrics are possibly meant to be a tourist's thoughts as he observes a city's workers marching stoically along, noses to grindstones, eyes planted firmly on the prize and not taking a mere second to appreciate their vibrant surroundings. The tourist's thoughts pour out to the droned city residents; "Hey man, slow down, slow down, idiot, slow down, slow down. Hey man, slow down, slow down, idiot, slow down, slow down." Ok Thom, I promise to slow down...

Day Nine - If The Admission Is Free, The Talent Must Not Be That Great

The beautiful Chicago Theatre, home to many outstanding concerts and performances, is being defaced tonight by tryouts for NBC's America's Got Talent. Mere minutes watching this program will lead any reasonable human to conclude that America's Definitely Got Dance Troops, Hack Magicians, and Delusional Singers. I guess that's part of the appeal... America's Got Talent is a freak parade firing on all cylinders, and it rolls through Chicago tonight... Maybe Leonid will be there to make another magnificent TV moment...