Back in Chi-Town

Hog butcher for the world,
Tool maker, stacker of wheat,
Player with railroads and the nation's freight handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of big shoulders.

-Carl Sandburg, from "Chicago," 1916

 

Sailboats braving the choppy Lake Michigan waters on a cloudy day

I got to do one of the activities I miss the most in Chicago. No, it's not visiting Mama Pulaski's House of Brats & Ill Repute. It's riding my bike along the lakefront. For those not familiar with Chicago . . . well, first, it's on a lake. A very big, big lake. It's called Lake Michigan and it's the second largest of the five Great Lakes and the only one that is completely in the U.S. (the other four have partial Canadian shores). The word "Michigan" is believed to come from the Ojibwa word mishigami, meaning "great water" and the Great Lakes combined are the largest mass of fresh water on the planet, comprising a little less than a quarter of the earth's fresh water. Along Chicago's Lake Michigan shoreline is the 18-mile long Lakefront Trail, which runs from 71st Street on the Southside up to Hollywood on the Northside, through some of Chicago's best lakefront parks, beaches and attractions: Lincoln Park, Oak Street Beach, Navy Pier, the Chicago River and Grant Park (where Obama first spoke after being elected President). In my previous incarnation as Urban Russ, I used to love biking along this path on the weekends, often leaving my apartment early in the morning and not returning until late in the afternoon or evening, especially if I was meeting friends for brunch, volleyball or some other such shenanigans. Today, Steve and I only got in about 22 miles (11 miles from Montrose Harbor to Grant Park and then back) and it was mostly overcast, but I was in absolute heaven.

All smiles on Navy Pier

Me on Montrose pier . . .

. . . + my bro' . . .

= Good Times.

The (free!) Chicago Jazz Festival was going on in Grant Park, so Steve and I took in some great music. God, I miss the Chicago music scene. I went through several distinct phases of music preference: the Blues Phase in my teens and early twenties, the Jazz Phase in my twenties, the Reggae and African Phase in my thirties and into my early forties. Back in the day, I had a friend who worked at The Bulls jazz club on north Lincoln and I don't think I've ever enjoyed music as much as when that tiny basement joint was packed full and rocking out.

Percussion . . .

. . . Percussion . . .

. . . and more Percussion!

Also a few quick snaps of Buckingham Fountain:

That's it for now. Happy Trails all . . .

Steve riding off into the distance

Chicago and the North Shore

Chicago is unique. It is the only completely corrupt city in America.

-Charles Merriam, unsuccessful mayoral candidate in 1911

The Chicago skyline viewed from the Planetarium

 It's been great seeing family and friends back in our old stompin' grounds. We've had some wonderful get-togethers and a few long walks along the lake and down the streets of Winnetka.

Erin walking along the streets of Winnetka

New Trier, Erin's old high school (student population -- app. 4,000)

A typical Winnetka home

And one of the things I miss most -- Lake Michigan:

Steve had a brunch in his new (killer) apartment on the lakefront:

Back Row: Steve, Ben, me, Erin, Kristen and Jonathan; Front Row: Victoria, Pam, Stephanie, Paul, Noah and Bill

Paul playing catch with Noah on the lawn behind Steve's place

And another get-together for (nephew) Sam's 20th birthday at Mary's apartment:

Emma delivering the cake she made (from scratch) to Sammy

Sammy making a wish before blowing out the candles

Steve, Sam, Mary and Emma

Paul, Kristen, Noah, me, Erin, Dad, Sammy and Steve on the couch and Emma and Mary sitting in front

I also spent some time in the city with Steve:

Steven and I dropped Emma off at Second City, where she's taking an improv class

Hancock Building

 

The view of the Chicago skyline from Museum Campus

Museum Campus and Monroe Harbor

Bonus quiz -- who is this masked man?:

"I am going to St. Petersburg, Florida, tomorrow. Let the worthy citizens of Chicago get their liquor the best way they can. I'm sick of the job -- it's a thankless one and full of grief. I've been spending the best years of my life as a public benefactor."
-Al Capone (1927)