It used to be a source of inspiration for me as well. I'd go down to Jim's for a Polish and just walk around. It seemed miles from the suburb where I spent the week toiling in a blank cubicle. Now there is a Jamba Juice where Jim's used to stand. I never dreamed that that area would become a suburb, itself. Now University Village is seeping under the bridge to the south and threatens to swallow up East Pilsen. Chicago is becoming a cartoon of itself.
Hello to everyone who every lived in Pilsen and shopped the old Maxwell St Market.
I had never seen a market so full of objects that had gone well beyond anything I could have imagined. I found a Balthasar Kuchler print (1648) for a $1.50. Anyone could find things to replace lost or borowed items as well.
I moved to 571 W 18th Street in 1977. Halsted Street was still a source of much inspiration. The street's character supported the enregies and events of the surrounding neighborhood. I would walk to the Fishery on Canal Street, take my order to the Canal street bridge and share my bag of shrimp with my dog Alex. We would gaze across the canal to "Split House Bridge", a unique manifestation of early 20th Century engineering. the horizontal span rises on two steel towers, allowing the barges to pass undeneath. Alex and I were on the bridge several times when it was raised to let the barges through. We did not know the bridge was moving until I noticed Alex was looking down at the water........the water was getting further away. the mechanical action of the bridge was flawless, and in the silence, we saw the world receed into the darkness below, then slowly reappear.
I walked to Nuevo Leon many times, alway feeling the welcoming atmosphere as I sat at the counter, Danny greeting me and asking about my family. Gloria served my dinners and lunches with a calm sweetness......feelings I have carried through all these short seasons.
Pilsen has seen many lives and events that have eventually migrated through
the cultural texture of our City. There is a whole lot to tell.
Of course -got to clean up the place and make it look just like everywhere else! -just like the suburbs, so when little Johnnie fuckface leaves mommy and daddy to come to the big city and take instructions on how to be an artist from Ms Kirchner and crew, he'll feel right at home!
Nevermind that this place, the home of Muddy Waters, the birthplace of modern blues has been turned to shit.
Nevermind all of the people, all of the cultures that have been displaced. Now its all whitebread and fake! Just like the people who think University Village is a good idea!
Not to worry, all of the crap buildings, all the bland vanilla sensibilities, all the institutes dedicated to manufacturing creativity, will never make even one Muddy Waters -you can bet your life on it-
I remember waking up as early as I could on Sundays, and taking two buses to get to Maxwell Street...it was towards the end of its existence, yet there was still a magic to it...it was never a place to go to find a particular thing, more a place to find the thing you didn't know you were looking for...
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It used to be a source of inspiration for me as well. I'd go down to Jim's for a Polish and just walk around. It seemed miles from the suburb where I spent the week toiling in a blank cubicle. Now there is a Jamba Juice where Jim's used to stand. I never dreamed that that area would become a suburb, itself. Now University Village is seeping under the bridge to the south and threatens to swallow up East Pilsen. Chicago is becoming a cartoon of itself.
Thanks for the great photo!
Hello to everyone who every lived in Pilsen and shopped the old Maxwell St Market.
I had never seen a market so full of objects that had gone well beyond anything I could have imagined. I found a Balthasar Kuchler print (1648) for a $1.50. Anyone could find things to replace lost or borowed items as well.
I moved to 571 W 18th Street in 1977. Halsted Street was still a source of much inspiration. The street's character supported the enregies and events of the surrounding neighborhood. I would walk to the Fishery on Canal Street, take my order to the Canal street bridge and share my bag of shrimp with my dog Alex. We would gaze across the canal to "Split House Bridge", a unique manifestation of early 20th Century engineering. the horizontal span rises on two steel towers, allowing the barges to pass undeneath. Alex and I were on the bridge several times when it was raised to let the barges through. We did not know the bridge was moving until I noticed Alex was looking down at the water........the water was getting further away. the mechanical action of the bridge was flawless, and in the silence, we saw the world receed into the darkness below, then slowly reappear.
I walked to Nuevo Leon many times, alway feeling the welcoming atmosphere as I sat at the counter, Danny greeting me and asking about my family. Gloria served my dinners and lunches with a calm sweetness......feelings I have carried through all these short seasons.
Pilsen has seen many lives and events that have eventually migrated through
the cultural texture of our City. There is a whole lot to tell.
More Later,
G
Of course -got to clean up the place and make it look just like everywhere else! -just like the suburbs, so when little Johnnie fuckface leaves mommy and daddy to come to the big city and take instructions on how to be an artist from Ms Kirchner and crew, he'll feel right at home!
Nevermind that this place, the home of Muddy Waters, the birthplace of modern blues has been turned to shit.
Nevermind all of the people, all of the cultures that have been displaced. Now its all whitebread and fake! Just like the people who think University Village is a good idea!
Not to worry, all of the crap buildings, all the bland vanilla sensibilities, all the institutes dedicated to manufacturing creativity, will never make even one Muddy Waters -you can bet your life on it-
I remember waking up as early as I could on Sundays, and taking two buses to get to Maxwell Street...it was towards the end of its existence, yet there was still a magic to it...it was never a place to go to find a particular thing, more a place to find the thing you didn't know you were looking for...