Saturday Night Colors by Chipka
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Description
This was a different building at one time. Now, it is home to the Lakeview Athletic Club: a swanky establishment that allows sophisticated urbanites to indulge their more physically vigorous inclinations. I have yet to see anyone climbing the artificial cliff inside, but in passing the building, I have seen that wall-climbers are welcome here.
There was a time when the Jane Adams house occupied this building. During that time, Lakeview was a different area in need of different services. It was a bit more urban, rougher around the edges, a place where the city’s outcasts congregated for shelter against the marauding predations of those who belonged. Lakeview has been domesticated.
Chicago’s Gay Community has a long history in Lakeview; the male element of this community claimed Lakeview for itself and dubbed it Boy’s Town. It carries that name to this day, though quite a number of straight girls live there, as do straight boys. Gay bars and expensive kitsch-boutiques still line Halsted Street, and every GLBT Pride Parade still meanders up Halsted and down Broadway, but it would seem that GLBT-acceptance has become good business, and so BoysTown—like much of urban America in the Midwest—has come to resemble a shopping mall with streets running through it. It is a haven for anyone wearing North Face, or Prada, or DKNY…all of the local bars have become S-&-M establishments: places where one goes to Stand-&-Model. I’ve never actually been into the whole standing and modeling thing; I suppose it’s amusing for some, but for me, there are so many other things to do in life. As a result of that, Chicago’s gay bars aren’t exactly favorite hangouts of mine. They’re boring. Some are quite nice inside: a photographer’s dream. But the nicest gay bars in the city don’t allow photography, unless it’s for a gay newspaper or magazine. That’s understandable, however; it’s one of the elements of gay life that maintains a bit of historical significance. There was, after all, a time when photographers in gay establishments meant that someone was being blackmailed. Those days have not fully vanished, despite what the gay press tells you these days.
On the night before Gay Pride celebrations in Chicago, Corey and I went to Boys Town to take pictures. It was a profitable night in terms of photography. We enjoyed the buzz and crackle of energy in the area, the presence of so many people. Back when Lakeview was a bit more rough and tumble, the streets at night were always crowded, always full of life. Since the Shopping Mall era has begun, such crowds are seen only during periods of municipal festivity. Saturday night was such a festive night.
I took this shot on Broadway, not far from where I often went book shopping (when there were multiple book stores in the area: now there are only 2.) I was fascinated with the light, with the colors, and with the whole crystalline mood, and as I was out to take pictures, I took a picture. I liked the result enough to stop myself from tweaking it. There is no post work in this shot, aside from cropping…pretty serious cropping since I removed an entire parked taxi. This is the previous Saturday night. I was done with my dervish spinning by this point, though a few more intentionally jiggly pictures did make it into my camera’s memory.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (23)
jocko500
lovely house.
mbz2662
Nice work Chip :)
jascorpio
Beautiful shot!!!
danapommet
Outstanding capture Chip and that is an amazing rock climbing wall in there. Th bad it doesn't get used that much. Dana
Sea_Dog
Great shot to go with the intriguing narrative.
MrsRatbag
Great line and colour; there is a "sparkly" element that brings it to life--well done Chip!
auntietk
Woww! I love the light. This is a great night shot, showing the inside of the building ... (and that rock! remind me to take you to REI when you come out here) ... with so many exciting colors. Just look at the blue-greens and the yellow-greens. Fab stuff! And I love the architectural sweeps and arches against those rigid panes of glass. Hmmm-hmmm. Nice!
beachzz
Lol at S&M--I see it around here too,though in this case, they just stand around with beers in their hands and never move. I don't think they're modeling, I think the beers somehow keep them up right. But I digress---great shot and another of your wonderful narratives.
MrsLubner
I'm sure sexual preference is important to those seeking a mate, but I really don't understand why it is discussed like the weather or so important to say what gender is preferred. We all are the same. There are gays who are asses just like heteros. A sexual choice defines nothing but one person's preference. Exploitation for any reason just seems wrong. But then, I've been told I'm much to mellow and accepting of all things. This really is a great shot and I sure hope it remains safe and friendly to everyone.
minos_6
I really like the idea of you and Corey out at night with your cameras. Two hunters in search of light rays rather than food..... The results so far have been spectacular - your Neon Abstract, Corey's benches (with the mental image of you spinning like a banshee) and now this. I hope to see more of your (in)famous night out! The building looks glowing, expectant. And yet I expect it to be empty - there's no-one around... Fascinating play between light and shadow in this, and the image is perfectly cropped to focus your subject. I know the type of S&M bar you mean very well. We have them in London too. Marvin and I avoid them wherever possible, but did find ourselves in what we refer to as a Vogue bar ("Strike-a-pose!") a couple of weekends ago, celebrating a friend's birthday, and getting stares from some of the models. I've heard there are other S&M bars here too, but have no stories on those.
whaleman
I like the look of buildings at night. It does not appear to be used too much, at least not when you were there. I do like that outdoor patio upstairs! It reminds me of a building that my dad and I rented when we were in business together for a couple of years. Our business was small and in order to get our business and another related small business into the building, I had to completely design one whole floor of the building. I did that, they accepted it, and we moved in. It also had an outside area similar to your building.
Ilona-Krijgsman
I really love the colourful lights...and the mood in this image......wonderful done....love it
durleybeachbum
It is so fascinating to read about the changes this district has undergone since you first knew it, especially "when there were multiple book stores in the area: now there are only 2." That has happenened here too, even Borders went bust in the UK, a real shock: my brother said that Borders was the only reason for him to go into town. S & M SO funny! I expect that happens in some of our gay bars here, but British club culture is such that standing is not an option for many revellers by 11pm...those steps would be awash with unspeakable fluids and probably draped with the bodies of the fallen. I love the rich colours in the pic! I'm not surprised the climbing wall is empty..failure could be rather public!
Meisiekind
The light here is warm and inviting! Most wonderful night shot Chip!
jmb007
belles lumieres!!!
kgb224
A wonderful capture my friend.
flavia49
wonderful shot and work!!
marybelgium
superbly done !
sandra46
it's fascinating how a building changes from day to night. Even an indifferent building gets a mysterious charm with the artificial lights. Excellent urban capture, as usual!
CoreyBlack
This is a nice shot Chip! I almost got this one as well but must have been distracted by something. That really was a fun evening and reminded me of my youthful "Salad Days" among the boys in a much different Boystown. This building-as you well know- used to have a much more interesting facade when it housed the Jane Adams Center/Hull House for its 114 year existance. There was even an arts/crafts/photo studio in the basement. Fancy that. Now it's another yuppie Borg Collective breeding area. Love the history you gave, and how you described the place as what it now is: a shopping mall with streets running through it. Great shot and a fun night.
jac204
Like how the exterior became the interior. We have a museum in Manchester where the former exterior became part of the interior of the cafeteria.
aksirp
cool nightlife:) and congratulations to your gallery of the month!!!
praep
Very nice lights my friend. Like it.