Glancing South on Michigan Avenue by Chipka
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Description
Sometimes, if Wensla was hungry (before sunset) and in an asocial mood, he’d take a solitary meal at the dingy little Communist-holdover cafeteria on Myslikova Street. What you wanted and what you could order were usually two different things; but potatoes—no matter what—were always a part of the deal. Tourists never went there. On random Friday afternoons, American expatriates might arrive to satisfy some atavistic Cold War longing for Koffola and flesh-temperature chicken or fish with potatoes.
“Koffola,” he’d once heard Honza explain to some dithering trust fund daughter from Boston. “It’s a Czech thing. You wouldn’t understand.”
Now, hungry, Wensla thought of that retro joint on Myslikova, and the displaced tourist girl who wore makeup the color of suntans and bubblegum.
It was a world away now…
There was food in Tom and Amanda’s stainless-steel/bio-lab silver refrigerator. He could find something there: all of 20 floors above Wabash Avenue, or was it Michigan? He was close. He could see the anonymous condo stack if he turned away from the hulking faux-gothic façade of whatever tower loomed ahead of him. The streets of Chicago confused him. They didn’t meander like the streets back home. They wore flat and featureless asphalt or striated concrete that set the tires to speeding cars to high-pitched keening that reminded him, grimly, of high-performance aircraft.
He was hungry, a world away from the only place he wanted to eat right now. Potatoes: smaller and yellower than the ‘organic’ monstrosities you could buy here.
He was alone. Tom and Amanda had planned their vacation around the time of his departure. (“So you can have the place to yourself,” Amanda had explained.)
And now, guided by the grumbles in his stomach, he angled down Michigan Avenue, chilled by the traffic noise devoid of the signature rubbery grind of trams, or the oh-so-twentieth century bells they employed to hustle pedestrians out of their way.
It was such a different world here, so crowded, so lacking in authenticy, and yet there was light, a complex shimmer of orange and green, and strange colorless halogen; there was history (a whole country’s history, three hundred years younger than the building he lived in. Back there. Over there. Where the river, though broader than the one here, swam with fish he’d be hard-pressed to find in this city of wind, lights, and statues made of concrete.
***
I was thinking of Prague, while taking pictures of downtown Chicago on my way home. Though Wensla is a fictional character, there is a "traditional" cafeteria-style place on Myslikova Street in Prague, and yes...the food there is good, though at times, the potatoes were (and still are, I suspect) the temperature of a warm handshake.
As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting, and I hope you all are having a great week.
Comments (27)
elfin14doaks
It was an interesting tale you were weaving friend. It wounds like you miss Prague greatly. This is a most exquisite photograph.
MrsRatbag
What a beautiful golden palace; who would think it was Chicago? Great storylet, and wonderful capture!
MagikUnicorn
Sweet shot richness of light
auntietk
I suspect there's more than a bit of Wensla in the heart of a friend of mine ... the longing for Prague, for food and culture and friends half a world away ... for the company of family-of-choice, brothers-of-the-heart, the soul connections found only in that place where soul was found ... This image is so bright, the light is like an assault. It has its own beauty of course, but it's different from the beauty of rain-soaked stone, dimly lit passageways, underground nightclubs, men in festive socks, rotting apples from the trees of long-gone kings. I will sit with you, my friend, and hold as sacred space that place where you feel whole.
photostar
Great setting for this capture, Chip. The city light highlighting the clouds in the night sky adds greatly to the scene.
bpclarke
Wonderful capture. The clouds and reflections really set this off nicely.
Sea_Dog
Superb work.
YorkBerlin
wonderful image - great greetings York Made in Berlin
mairekas
Beautiful light and place! Well done!
wolfbear
woww, what an interesting building
Prematos
Fantastic shot.
anahata.c
boy, can't do much better than tara's response...I know you're yearning to move on...when I read pieces like this, I'm reminded that you're a universal soul, and that even though your heart is in E. Europe, your vision belongs to the world. This little vignette is you to a tee, it's mysterious, has longing & yearning, it's filled with specifics that leaves a reader's heart full, and it always has those details that are tactile and make us hungry. (I wanted to eat potatoes in the worst way after reading this!) And you make the twisty streets of eastern europe sing. And then you capture the big monument of Chicago architecture and its strange lights & sterilized streets, and it's quite a contrast. You sure got the pale, strange glow of those awful sodium vapor lights, mixed in with the greens and the strange hue of the river. (And yeah, the Chic. River can't be compared with a lot of other rivers, it was half human-made anyway, and it wasn't much to begin with.) I love the idea of your character somewhere 'under' chicago—we have the "underground" here, meaning the underground streets in the loop; and there are places where, if you look through a grill, you'll see two street levels beneath you. (I wrote a tale where a viewer waits until the sun is just right, and countless cities are revealed beneath the street, for just a moment...that underground does give poetry to the blandest areas...) A telling fact about this place: When I was young, "The London House" was on this corner, and it had major jazz artists. The thing was, it was kind of sterile, because the best jazz clubs were in the neighborhoods. But growing up around jazz, I went there a few times with a few musician friends (we snuck in, we were way too young), and somehow I felt that the glitz of this area soaked the power right out of the music—but I can't complain, because it paid musicians enough to continue doing their jazz... A fine shot, very powerful, and filled with urban contradiction; and tales like this remind me that you, my friend, are a gift, and a gift to be preserved and nurtured. I'll second Tara's thoughts. Gods? Protect this soul: He has much to give the world...
Meisiekind
It has all been said! Wonderful work dear Chip - the master at work! :)
lior
A so stunning photo by night!
ladyraven23452
you have a great talent for seeing what outhers over look the photo is a master pice and as always your words are of a under standing some would not under stand keep up the great work.
romanceworks
It is like a giant gilded monument, and yet beneath the glitter there is darkness, even ugliness. Though many people I love live in Chicago, it is hard to love Chicago. You make it glow with your artist's eye. And your words about Prague were truly filled with love, and longing. I'm with Mark ... may the Gods protect you and your precious gift. CC
tennesseecowgirl
Very stunning!!
durleybeachbum
Breathtaking narrative! what a special talent you have, Chip! It is so invigorating to read what you have to say, and yet also you invite us into your longings and discomforts.
wingnut55
great shot !
anaber
I dare to say that while your soul was between Prague and Chicago you did an UNIQUE photograph.You may be proud of your picture!It has the most beautiful reflections at night into the water...and a fabulous perspective .You show just what you want.Nothing is by chance there.The way you play with the light is awesome-you show us the natural luminosity of the sky mixed with the artificial light,and joy all around. And while doing this,your heart and your thoughts and your stomach are in Prague...Great contradition and what a big,big,challenge to yourself! Bravo!
SouthBeachPhoto
Wow! Fantastic shot and a great read!
mbz2662
Wonderful~ I love the light you captured in the night. Wonderful~
KatesFriend
The photo makes Chicago seem like a city of gold. The river looks like it is on fire with all the street lights reflecting off of it. Excellent story too though its mood seems to contrast starkly with the photo. But then I've felt similarly while walking the most brightly lit and active lanes of Toronto.
kasalin
Stunning, dear Chip !!! Wonderful and an excellent capture. The clouds and the reflections are gorgeous too. Hugs Karin :) 5*
beachzz
NO way can I say more than Mark and Tara--and will you guys please get it together and MEET---geez, you're in the SAME city, for cripes sake!!! Tara and I would've had it happen months ago!!!
CoreyBlack
This is very majestic and imposing, and the green light at the top gives it an extra oomph. The clouds are great, and a bit eerie. This is Chicago at its best and most memorable. I know this building very well, and I've never seen it looking quite so spectacular. The river looks amazing, like it surrounds the building like a moat, which makes it look even more imposing. Very nice. Great writing as usual...and I can tell that you miss Prague and only half-warm potatoes.
elisheba
is this place real? it looks like an alien town!! excellent capture... because not only did you capture golden looking buildings you also captured...some of your very own perception haha :)