The Windy, Hippieless City

In Chicago, First Sea Lord Notes:

I partied in the vicinity of a rock star as dear friend Isobel, singer for the unrealized, two gig Manoog's Isle, my final rock band in Alaska, reemerged as the intense and magnetic lead singer of the 3 piece british Bruise. They were playing a small but excellent gig at Schuba's in Chicago, and much fun was had damaging beer and with Isobel and Jim. 8 Bands, 8 dollars, only two sucked. Not bad.

I saw about 12 in Chicago last week, and not to cast any aspersions, only Missile was an outstanding rock band actually from Chicago. I think that's the problem. They were all rock bands, sounding like victims from three too many years playing gigs to the overflow from Sports bars. The midwest rock spirit was embodied admirably by the gentleman leaning out the 87 Omni and yelling the words to "Dirty Deeds done Dirt Cheap" at the top of his lungs, and a band that I was convinced was a earnest neo-nineties Christian rock band until it was positively demonstrated otherwise.

Chicago Highlights:

Chicago is a real city. A city's city.

The Art Institute. G0. It puts SAM and SF MOMA to a sorry shame. One shocker near American Gothic is the original painting for the 1940 movie Picture of Dorian Grey, which is deeply, deeply, pervy. The building is packed full of little kids, looking at naked people's naughty bits -which are naturally all over the place- and yet Chicago has not been smitten under the wrath of vengeful God.

Lake Michigan is the wrong color.

The city is a completely artificial construction. Nature is not to be seen. Fortunately, the architecture is the most ambitious, and in many ways successful, in the U.S. (The Library has a two story copper owl frieze) Particularly the interiors, designed for a cold climate with long interior, interconnecting hallways and vestibules. A lesson or 9035 for Anchorage, which as far as architecture goes, got everything but the new Native Hospital terribly, terribly wrong.

I recommended to CEO of the largest art supply firm in the world that someone start distributing Tombow pencils properly. Later, I drank too much (particularly a nearly perfect red wine whose namely sadly escapes me) at an amazing Brazillan restaraunt with a Brazillan/ Jersery girl with truly emerald green eyes. Nowhere, but memorable.

Chicago does in fact have the best hot dogs - near the 87 Omni incident, I bought the single cheapest compelte meal I've had in years , 2.89 for a dog (they include hot pepper relish, a quarter pickle, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and ONLY mustard,) fries, and a can of RC.

If you want to hear the Chicago accent, ask a cop anything.

My Chicago sojourn ended today with a shock of realization, a cultural twister- although it rivals Portland Seattle and SF as a Democratic stronghold, there are simply no hippies in Chicago. Not a sausage, vegan or otherwise. Yet in spite of how suit and tie Chicago is, there are no barber shops. Curious.

Finally, as you walk into the rich neighborhoods, the dogs shrink.