Fast Food Joint and Dumpsters by Chipka
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
A woman who sounds a bit like Amy Winehouse is singing to the strumming twangs of an acoustic guitar as I sit with Corey in The Perfect Cup, watching the cute counter guy getting ready to head home for the night. I’ve emerged from a world of sentient plants who call themselves the Wooden Folk, and there is a catalpa tree just outside. The human focus of Inhabitants on a Perpendicular Plane is seating kitty-corner from me: oblivious that he’s been featured in a digital gallery. In short, things are nicely relaxing, though as the singer bleeding out of coffee-house speakers doesn’t sound like Amy Winehouse anymore, the vibe is still nice and relaxed. I just wish they’d play The Man from Ipanema again; it was jigging from the speakers as Corey and I walked in and were greeted by the counter guy.
Some dude I don’t know is now singing a moderately interesting song: acoustic wallpaper, essentially—perfect for a coffee house: it’s there, but it doesn’t interfere with web searching, quiet conversation, or anything else you’d do in an independent coffee house with a painting of boxers hanging just behind the front counter. I kinda like the tune that’s playing and I’d ask the counter guy what it is, but I’m afraid I’d start shamelessly flirting: there’s just something about a slightly rotund guy with a black bandanna, sandals, and brilliantly blue eyes hooded by the suggestion of epicanthic folds. It would be a bad idea to flirt now…his girlfriend (with pink hair) is here as well. I suspect he’ll be a character in something…who knows?
Anyway, as I write this, I’m sitting in The Perfect Cup listening to random café-music and considering this post. I’d taken a picture of a fast food joint on Chicago’s north side a couple of weeks ago. I was on my way back from moving dental equipment and I was with co-workers: not the sort of company I’d have preferred in that particular neighborhood…but oh well. I had a moment to myself (a good thing) and this image is a result of that moment. I wanted to capture the full and garish glory of Odges—a family-owned fast food joint known for their fat burger patties, their home-made chilli, and their updated 1950s vibe. It’s a fun place, slightly grimy, slightly sleek…well-used and infinitely familiar among those who eat there regularly. I’ve only been there a couple of times—with members of the Thursday Club, and later with a Polish expatriate named Cezary: somehow his name had been Americanized to Chuck. Hmmm…wouldn’t Caesar have been more appropriate? I guess the immigration guy who’d Americanized him didn’t realize that Cezary and Caesar are the same name. Oh well…this is about good burgers and not the manner in which Immigration and Naturalization mangles names full of Central European diacritical marks and accents. The point is, we ate at Odges, and ended our nights shooting pool and doing shots.
All of this came back to me as I looked at Odges and wondered if Chuck had been there since we’d lost contact. I wondered if I should pop in and order a bowl of chili to go…and then buy beer later. And now, with café-music oozing all over the place like 3am mood in a film noir flick, I’m pretty happy with the conjunction of images before me: Odges in all of its garish color, The Perfect Cup in all of its not-so-garish colors…Corey beside me on an Ikea-Standard sofa, and the human-focus subject of a previous post, sitting on the other couch, looking kinda nerdy in that adorable way nerds can manage. It’s the glasses and the diamond-patterned sweater. In short, it’s a good evening: cool and mellow, and all of it is a subjective part of this post. I hope you enjoy it.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting; I hope you’re all having a great weekend.
Comments (22)
kgb224
Wonderful capture my friend.
CoreyBlack
We're about to get kicked out of The Perfect Cup, so i'll make this more brief than I'd like.I love this. The color is wonderful and I love that great Old Chicago feel and the grungy vibe. Perhaps we should eat here? Like this alot!
auntietk
My mind is a very busy place. I wonder about Odges. Was it Hodges before and some Cockney dropped the H? I wonder about anything made "fresh" daily. The quotation marks bother me because they indicate it's actually something not QUITE what they're saying it is, so I won't be having the chili. (McDonalds is now serving smoothies with "real fruit." If they have to say that, I'm automatically not having one!) Okay. All that aside, I love this colorful shot! Even in a fast food joint, Chicago arches reign. Nice!
elfin14doaks
Hey there the banana- strawberry is pretty good, but as far a fappies go don't get the caramel the mocha is way better. Ok to this post. Are those dumpsters supposed to be that close to the building? I know they can't be here , but then in Chicago everything is way closer together. I couldn't live in Chicago I need space, land, a place to grow things and watch them grow. A place for nature to come and live :)
MrsLubner
sort of an oxymoron shot for me. :-) Great color.
beachzz
odges, dodges, hodges, something's missing here. not sure what, but i can feel it. i like cafes were you can sit over coffee, ogle the counter guy or girl, the people who walk in and anyone else who walks by. i also like this shot; guess i forgot to say that. i got so involved with everything else goin on!
jocko500
look like a wonderful place to eat. Love chile
MaraP
Amazing image
durleybeachbum
Like Tara I 'd be so suspicious of the food here I'd prefer to be with you in the Perfect Cup! I should not have minded being asked to repaint this joint, though! A very interesting image and story.
faroutsider
Hmm, never trust a diner with a dumpster right next door! Great pic and narrative.
MrsRatbag
The shot is wonderful, so much to see; but it's your description and musings that really make it for me! Well done Chip!
helanker
Awesome shot indeed, but I am not sure I´d dare eating in there. Well if I could sit in a couch and do it, I might. Sometimes chairs in such places are terrible.
bmac62
My reaction to the paint and the words indicating what's inside is this should be a 100% Mexican restaurant. But big, multi-layered burgers...how do they fit it? I guess Odge's knows it's clientele and serves what they want most. Your descriptive powers have whisked me into the Perfect Cup with you and Corey. The vibes are loud and clear...I like it...you are creating a real feel for the Chicago a tourist rarely experiences. Well done:)
sandra46
a new level of perfection in urban photography!
flavia49
fantastic shot!! gorgeous colors!
Sepiasiren
See how u can find a story--character--ambiance--flow anywhere--this is the magic of your work--love this!
lick.a.witch
With so few words, you create an image without the need of a photograph. Glad the image is here though. ^=^ What colour! Fabulous. ^=^
marybelgium
excellent !
Vladimir_Desancic
Excellent shot!
minos_6
I'm sure there are places like this all over the world - I certainly know of a few in London - the garish paint in need of a makeover, the signage making burgers look more fantastic than they ever do in real life (albeit a little plasticky!). There's so much more character here than Ronald's place, and maybe that's why we're prepared to risk the bacteria sometimes.... Great shot, and I was really drawn into the atmosphere of The Perfect Cup, and your play between the two establishments.
danapommet
If the chili is good - it would be easy for me to make this a frequent stop - if I live in Chicago. Dana
sawade
Hi Chip, I like this street-scenes too, but it is a pity, i photographed it too seldom. Buildings and streets are changing over the years, and it is always funny, to see them again in earlier times. Wonderful, to memorize in this way a town, all the best Bernd