The Other Side of Urban Glamor by Chipka
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Description
There is a city on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, a place named for the swamps, and the scent of wild onions that still seek a root-hold here. In a tongue more native than today’s American English, the city’s name is pronounced cheekagoo. And this name, now pinched through nasal, Midwestern inflection, is the verbal tag of “that toddlin’ town.” This newer, younger name, evokes memories (real and otherwise) of great fires and gangsters with family-names like Capone and Dillinger. There are memories, as well, of notorious women in red.
All that remains of those days—and other days as interesting—are small neighborhoods with names like Uptown and Chatam. Gone are the Czech populations that named the neighborhoods of Pilsen, or the tough-as-nail railwokers who gave Pullman its long vanished personality.
New, angular structures rise like strange tumors, and the downtown glimmer of gaudy, somnolent skyscrapers, declare the older parts of the city apocryphal to the gospel of today’s mayor. In parts of the city, you may find a kind of skid-row elegance: neighborhoods of ancient hotels, advertizing vacancies, air-conditioning, and free color-television. These apocryphal zones stand in crumbling, rusting defiance to the newer city. They are safe, within their crumbling borders, for now.
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As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting, and hopefully everyone is having a great week.
Comments (22)
MrsRatbag
Wow, I'm not used to seeing a daylight shot from you; I was starting to think you only emerged at night! The El--something about this part of Chicago is almost visceral to me. I must have spent a lot of time there at some point in my existence. In this lifetime, probably only about a month altogether in all my visits there. But this place feels like someplace I know.
Sea_Dog
Great work.
anaber
I like your photo.The strong strutures always impress me! I read your explanation and thoughts and i understand better that place:in a way curious in the other misterious and adventurous.GREAT!
geirla
Having spent thirteen years in the Chicagoland area (though never living in the city), I'd have to say, that shot does capture the real city, as I remember it: a bit of urban decay and crumpling supports under the L. Nice shot.
KatesFriend
There's a certain old elegance in the sub-structure of this elevated rail line. Gritty and industrial yes but with with curvature and grace.
Digitaleagle
I love these shots of life and to see the urban style of living that is so vastly different from the rural commenty that I live in in southern Oklahoma. This is an awesome capture and I loved reading your comments about your image. Awesome work!!!!!
auntietk
I think V.I. Warshawski must be right around the corner. Wow. I had forgotten how MUCH I like your writing, my friend. This is fabulous! The image is perfect.
CoreyBlack
Yet another great capture. This is the Chicago that I know and love. The Chicago of my youth in the King Richard I, Bilandic, Byrne, Washington 1970's/80's: seedy, well worn, exuberant, full of character, and sexy as hell. Your description is wonderfully written, and beautifully evocative of the city's storied past. Excellent work.
kasalin
Wonderful capture, dear Chip :) Nice title and infos !!! 5* Excellent :)
beachzz
I had Polish friends from Chicago and for some reason, this makes me think of them. And your narrative is almost noir---has that old timey, 40's mystery feel--yowza!!!!
durleybeachbum
Wonderful evocation, and a great pic to illustrate it.
jeroni
Splendid composition and colors my friend
Mousson
Fantastic image !!!
ladyraven23452
wonderful as always.
hipps13
wonderful capture warm hug, Linda
Rainbowgirl
All I know about Chicago - or at least like to think I know about - are Capone, Dillinger, canned beef, and an old German play written by Bertold Brecht that is set in a virtual place called Chicago... Your narrative and photo bring the real town to life for me. Perfect as always.
RobyHermida
NICE........
anahata.c
it's amazing that even though I can't make out the locale, Chicago has so many familiar streets, this could be many places...A true under-the-elevated shot, with the gray-blue shadows and grunge & decayed stones...you can see these in Brooklyn & other cities too, but once you've seen the muscular and even forlorn versions in Chicago, you somehow always associate it with this place. I've been in these places a million times, and they're sleepy and old, and, as you describe poetically, fighting for their identity against the huge roll of gentrification that has taken over many cities in this country. Yet there is a quiet dignity to these neighborhoods, which, in the quiet streets, seem to do their thing as if they're their own little continents and don't really give a damned about the rest of the city. I've walked neighborhood after neighborhood, and some still stand quietly, not caring about the rest of Chicago. How long they will last, I don't know. And here, you caught the el criss-crossing too—going against the gridwork grain. Kind of symbolic for the mass of cultural mix we had here (and to some degree still do). Another fine capture, and in hues just 'general' and gray enough to be almost any place in the city, away from the highrises...
kahun.hida
日本でもよく見られる風景！！！ 歩いている人の表情が明るくて楽しいＰｈｏｔｏ！！！！！
nikolais
always prefer the real - not plastic - side of the city... the Carl Sandberg's poem comes on mind.
NefariousDrO
What a cool shot! I take it form this you're in Chicago right now? Love this photo. I think I've even been at that very location, but I'm not so sure. I love the texture of the iron and the crumbling concrete.
three_grrr
This is very Cathedral like .. those arches and the pillars coming down to support the el. Something almost holy about this old part of the city. I hate when the city fathers come through and make the city "better" and point with pride to the ugliness they've created.