I’m sitting here, outside at a French(esque) cafe table feeling the nostalgic rush of when I lived in this vibrant city.
6 years ago we moved away from Chicago…my kinda town…And now I sit here observant, an outsider.
It’s a humid mid-September day. Red and white square linens drape our dining console cradling weepy, frosted glasses…If they were legs they would be sweating or third spacing.
But oddly, my casual Pacific Northwestern vibe has noted a hustly, bustly, almost angry town filled with upside down smiles and downward gazes. It’s shameful really.
A magical city – world renowned for food, education, architecture and culture contains a mass of people who seem widely unhappy to be here…all of them in a turbulent rush.
Like a sea of angry little bees buzzing to get to their next miserable destination.
What’s happened? I lean back and assess this situation with a marked formulation to unveil the temperament of this city’s eager flow…
Why are so many people unhappy? What caused this mad scramble anyway? Is there no longer such thing as the formidable neighborly wave?
Or maybe I’m mistaken...Am I reading this wrong?
Could this be the inevitable fate of a bustling and prosperous city?
It’s writhing with restaurants; from eclectic little dives to elegant taverns, and grocery markets of abundance unrivaled for hundreds of miles. Do they go unnoticed or underappreciated by the commonality that knows it?
I’m here, ironically, at the world renowned Tavern on Rush with a Belgian style ale and a plate of fresh burrata and prosciutto crostini.
My face is smiling. I would wave at every passer by if it weren’t for my fear of being deemed mentally unstable…
But I think I get it; sometimes in this blistery, surge of work and life and business it might be necessary to move with urgency.
However, if you can…I would highly recommend cracking open a Belgian yourself (like the Duvel above or the one I have from Goose Island Brewing Co – Matilda. It’s a ‘strong’ ale, and I give it strong points.)
In case you’re wondering, the food here is all it’s cracked up to be. Start with the crostini. You will not be dissapointed.
Take a few sips, say ‘hey!’ to that crotchety looking passerby and breathe it in. After all…what’s the rush?
Where else should you go to get insane food in Chi town? Portillos Hotdogs. Or the amazing Purple Pig.
