MetaChat - I've decided I'm from Chicago.

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15 March 2007

I've decided I'm from Chicago. →[More:]
I was born in Denver and have lived in Illinois for almost 14 years. At any point that someone would ask me where I'm from I'd say, "I live in (whatever town), but I'm from Denver." I always dreamed about moving back to the mountains.

But it'll be two years in Chicago for me this spring. I may hate my commute, but I love driving home each day to the Chicago skyline. I love my mayor, know my police officers. I am confidant when taking a cab or the CTA. My parallel parking skills have greatly improved, even though parking tickets are a bitch. I've been to the Signature Lounge, just because we were in the area. Street numbers actually mean something to me. I can walk to the grocery store, the gym and a handful of bars. Going to a baseball game can be a last-minute decision, and usually is. Summer weekends are planned around street festivals. If someone asks me where I'm from, I'll now say, "Chicago."

The photograph in the headline is of the intersection of North, Damen and Milwaukee Avenues - four blocks from my house. I can't imagine living anywhere else.

I made some notes on the picture in my headline here.

post by: youngergirl44 at: 20:04 | 15 comments

COOL photo lady. Very cool indeed.

posted by richat 15 March | 20:14

Love this.

posted by arse_hat 15 March | 21:49

Great photo. Glad to hear you feel right at home.

posted by LoriFLA 15 March | 22:19

My dear, your next round is on me. Welcome, Chicago loves you too.

posted by crush-onastick 15 March | 22:23

Are you living in that building -- not the gallery building in the view but the vantage point? Wwasn't it a publisher or something at one point, but has been condo-ized? I always wanted to live in that building.

I've been away from the city so long now it kills me to see the skyline.

posted by stilicho 15 March | 22:25

Whenever someone asks me where I'm from, I always say, "Military brat". I feel I can't really say one place is home.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 15 March | 22:32

No, I don't live in the building - I wish! I know that there's a couple of law offices and maybe an insurance company above the sprint store that's there now. An old friend from high school sent me that photo when I moved down here. It was passed to him randomly, so I don't know who actually took it.

posted by youngergirl44 15 March | 23:27

No matter where I live, I'll always be from Chicago. Just before I moved back a few months ago someone was looking at my photos and said "it's no wonder you're going back, you've been in love with this city your whole life". I took that as a compliment.

I'm sad to be moving so soon. Less than two weeks left. Boooo.

Wicked cool photo.

posted by FlamingBore 15 March | 23:29

I envy you youngergirl.

Chicago was actually the first city I visited in US, the first year I came here (1992). I drove out there from Tallahassee, Florida with a friend on Thanksgiving weekend. I loved it. I remember the very distinct architecture in the neighborhood we were put up, the bars we went to, very cool places with great music and the walk by the river and the train and the Art Institute. But I mostly remember that it was godawfully cold. Painfully cold. I had all the clothes I owned on me simultaneously but I would see people in the street with just a jacket on. Brrr, I am shivering even as I think about it.

posted by carmina 15 March | 23:41

It can get ridiclously cold. I don't think I even mind that anymore. I'm still working on the humidity though...

posted by youngergirl44 16 March | 00:17

Lovely photo. How cool it'd be to live in the corner building, with a big triangular living room.

posted by essexjan 16 March | 02:33

Before you can say that, you need to pass the following test:

Where do you put the ketchup on a hot dog? _______

Pronounce the following names:
Goethe: _______
Daley: _______
Monadnock: ______

Where do the Cubs play _____
...and the Sox _____

Hot or Sweet? ______

What street is at

4000N? _______
3700S? _______
1200W? _______

What's the *other* notable thing about Wacker Drive? ___________________________

What are the two canonical directions for an El train to travel, when outside the loop? _________________

posted by eriko 16 March | 06:50

Where do you put the ketchup on a hot dog? What?! Ketchup on a hot dog?

Pronounce the following names:
Goethe: With your tongue sticking to the roof of your mouth (maybe that's the 5 years of German I studied)
Daley: Daily
Monadnock: Ma-nad-nock? I've seen it many times, but have never had to say it.

Where do the Cubs play? Wrigley
...and the Sox? Comiskey, now know as US Cellular Field or 'The Cell'

Hot or Sweet? hot

What street is at

4000N? Irving Park
3700S? 37th
1200W? Racine

What's the *other* notable thing about Wacker Drive? Are we talking about the double-decker action or the Blues Brother's thing as the *other* notable thing?

What are the two canonical directions for an El train to travel, when outside the loop? Inbound and outbound?

posted by youngergirl44 16 March | 13:11

Where do the Cubs play? Wrigley

Nope, Cubs Park. The other guys play at Sox Park....

Are we talking about the double-decker action or the Blues Brother's thing as the *other* notable thing?

The double deck is the notable feature. The other feature is Wacker Drive is the only street in Chicago with North, South, East and West addresses.

Close enough, though. You are a Chicagoan, to what little power I have to declare you such. Namely, none, but hey.

posted by eriko 16 March | 14:01

Oh, you did miss this.

Goethe: With your tongue sticking to the roof of your mouth (maybe that's the 5 years of German I studied)
Daley: Daily
Monadnock: Ma-nad-nock? I've seen it many times, but have never had to say it.

1) Go-Eth-Eee
2) Hizzoner
3) Very close -- Mah-nad-a-nock.

posted by eriko 16 March | 14:03

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