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Archive for September, 2010

September 25, 2010

Concrete Roses

It’s been nearly four weeks, and I have to say that city life is almost exactly as I’d imagined it. Even if we haven’t actually lived it ourselves, we’ve seen it in movies and TV shows, and those are – practically speaking – very good representations of what it’s like.

The buildings, the people, the streets, the cabs, cars, buses, trains, bars, shops, and parks. And all within a block of wherever you are at any given minute. Everything is so condensed. Communities and districts that elsewhere would be spread across a mile or more are all squeezed into a block or even a street corner. Everything is just close. Even if something on the other side of town, it feels like it’s just around the corner.

As expected, the biggest difference between Chicago and Dallas is in the way that I get around. Since I don’t have a car, I walk, take the bus, take the L, or in most cases, some combination of those. Trips happen in legs rather than one mundane stretch.

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September 9, 2010

Chicago

Well, here I am. Right now, I’m sitting in Argo Tea (basically a trendy Starbucks-esque teashop) at the corner of Pearson & Rush in the River North district of Chicago.

In the ten minute walk to get here from my apartment, I went through three distinct neighborhoods, passed countless restaurants, bars, clubs, a Prada, Barney’s New York, four Starbucks, and about half a mile of sidewalk.

I’ve been here in Chicago for a week and a day, and I’m finally starting to get my bearings, though I can already tell that even six months won’t be enough time to fully grasp the city. But I’m going to give it my best shot.

As planned, I drove through the night last Monday, the 30th, and after a horribly long, dull and lonely 16-hour drive, I finally saw the Chicago skyline about 3:30 Tuesday afternoon.

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