During the last few weeks of summer, I repeatedly saw the same man wandering the streets of Wicker Park, usually within feet of the Damen Blue Line stop, wearing only a tiger-print speedo, tubes socks and gym shoes. Now, I don’t know this man, and perhaps, I just saw him on several different occasions when he was returning to Wicker Park from beach or something like that. I really don’t know.

However, I will say this every time I saw Mr. Tiger-print speedo, never seemed to be terribly mangled or sullied by beach factors. Usually, he just seemed to be chilling on street corners, perhaps trying to catch the eye of passers-by. I may be cynical, but I certainly don’t know why anyone, especially a young man in his mid-twenties, would choose to wear a speedo, nonetheless a tiger-print speedo.

Since the weather’s cooled down and the fall equinox has come and gone, Mr. Tiger-print speedo seems to have disappeared. I will say this, however, it will be a long time before I forget the last time I saw him rollerblading southbound on Milwaukee Avenue, carrying what seemed to be the tower of a PC, and wearing nothing more than a tiger-print speedo.

Posted by: Conci N.

Technorati Tags: Chicago, Illinois, Wicker Park, Damen Blue Line, Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago fashion

A couple of weeks ago, I went through an experience previously unfamiliar to me: a mid-city flat tire. Well, that’s not entirely true. When I first started driving oh-so-many years ago, I got a flat tire, but as I was only blocks away from returning home, I drove on the rim a few more blocks and had my dad take care of it when I got home.

This mid-city flat tire seemed entirely different. When I started hearing a strange thudding sound and the drive was feeling far less smooth than normal…I suspected I had a flat, but I was trying to listen…I was so wrapped up in listening that I almost ran a red light at an incredibly busy intersection: Chicago and Wells. I felt pretty stupid about that on it’s own…but I was still really concerned about my car. What was wrong with it?

I knew I was only two blocks away from the Shell station at Chicago and Orleans, so I waited to get there and pull in so that I could try to fill the tire again…or see if it was ruined. There was a spare in the trunk…and I could always call home for help. As I was waiting at the light, one block away from the station, a car signaled to have me roll down my window to let me know that I had a mid-city flat. I told them I had suspected as much and would be pulling into the gas station just up the street.

Getting a flat tire is always a frustrating experience, but a mid-city flat is not only frustrating, but also dangerous and kind of frightening – especially when you’re someone like me and don’t really know what you’re doing.

Posted by: Conci N.

Technorati Tags: Chicago, Chicago driving, Chicago traffic, Chicago Avenue, Wells Avenue, Orleans Avenue

Sometimes Chicago driving can be an incredibly frustrating experience. I realize that some people are more experienced drivers than others and there are some intersections that are incredibly difficult to navigate and all of that, but even those explanations cannot explain the idiocy found on the road on a nice day in mid-September.

I have been an active participant in Chicago driving for the past ten years. And I’m sure I have had my moments of stupid driving moments – who hasn’t. But, generally speaking, my driving record is all right and I’ve learned how to deal with the everyday roadblocks and general anxieties of city driving.

What seems to be evermore true is that every year there are more and more people who haven’t a clue how to deal with Chicago driving. I don’t know if that’s because they never really learned to drive or if it has more to do with a general sense of entitlement that many seem to have to get to where they want to go before everyone else on the road. But, with construction, traffic and every other obstacle that may occur while driving, it seems that people should know and accept that there is a certain amount of patience involved in the process

Furthermore, some people don’t seem to remember any of the rules set delineated in “Rules of the Road” and learned in driver’s education classes. I’m not even talking about the more complicated rules like who has the right of way at a six-way intersection with a stop sign…no, I’m speaking more of things like not attempting a right turn from the left turn lane. Logic makes Chicago driving seem pretty straightforward to me. Why does it seem to be so difficult for so many other people?

Posted by: Conci N.

Technorati Tags: Chicago, driving, Rules of the Road, Chicago traffic

I used to live in Lakeview. It was the first neighborhood I lived in, and had just moved from a bohemian college town in Kansas to the city. It was quite the transition for me, but moving to Lakeview was probably the best decision for me and my parents. I made a visit just two months before I moved to Chicago, and searched around for a neighborhood, then an apartment. After going to the Chicago Apartment Finders, looking at several different neighborhoods and apartments, I decided on a cute little studio in Lakeview. Just a two blocks north of the Diversey brown line stop and about six blocks south of the Belmont red line stop, it was the perfect location for a newcomer. It’s also the perfect location for a young family, couple, middle-class businessman/woman, older couple, well, pretty much anyone. But don’t own a car and live there if you plan to use it frequently. Parking is terrible. But that’s pretty much the only downer about the neighborhood. I never felt endangered. I lived within walking distance to nearly everything I could ever need, and it only took me 20-30 minutes to get downtown during rush hour. I miss it, but I couldn’t afford my tiny studio apartment that I paid almost $700 for. If you’re looking to move or relocate and want a nice community to live in, I suggest giving Lakeview a try. It will be worth your while.

Technorati Tags: Lakeview, Chicago, Chicago neighborhoods, CTA