- Here's where I lived from 4-12. Kitty-corner from us were two bitchin' Mies Van Der Rohe buildings. There are many others in Chicago. Architecturally, it's my favorite city in the U.S.
- This is Oak Street Beach. One summer, so many dead ale wives washed up on the beach it was not only unusable but made the whole neighborhood stink to high heaven.
- This is the John Hancock Building, the tallest building in Chicago until they built the Sears Tower. It's next to Water Tower Place, which was a private playground before they broke ground. I was Queen of the Rings back in the day.
- This is the Wrigley (like the gum) Building. My dad had an office here for awhile. We used to go play office on Divorced Dad Weekends. Underneath is the famed Billy Goat Tavern. Yes, the burgers are good. No, you can't get fries--only chips.
- This is where Chicago Jan lived. We met when our moms were pushing strollers on Michigan Avenue. That's the lore, anyway. My grandparents lived across the street from Jan, a few doors down.
- This is the Water Tower, one of the few structures left post-Fire. It's surrounded by foofy stores now, but in the 70s, the first Jack In The Box (with a walk-up clown) was across the street. My grandparents lived in a high-rise nearby when I was 11.
- This is 3 Illinois Center, where I worked as a copywriter at DDB Needham when I fled NYC. I was very unhappy there.
- This is where I worked as a copywriter when I fled Needham. Cross the street, double your salary.
- This is the former Wesley Memorial Hospital, where I was born on September 13, 1961. They brought Ma over in the horse and buggy; so much consarned snow, 'twarn't sure they'd make it. Part of Northwestern now.
- This is the easternmost part of North Avenue, a.k.a. The End of the World when I was six, save the occasional excursion to Lincoln Park, which abuts it, and waaaaay up north to the 'burbs to see family.
- This is where my dad lived when Mom threw him out. It's in the heart of Rush Street, the big swingles area of the 60s-70s made famous by David Mamet's play 'Sexual Perversity in Chicago." He hated being single. (Dad, not Mamet.)
- This is 1400 Lake Shore Drive, where I lived from ages 1 - 4. Got my finger stuck in the elevator, fell out of my crib and cracked my head open and slid off the toilet and cracked it open again. Got seven stitches; still have the scar.
- This is where I lived from the time I was born until about age 1. One room, above a laundry, all three of us. I'm sure having a screaming baby two feet away at all times did wonders for my parents' marriage.
Growing up in Streeterville
I lived much of my early life in a 3-mile square grid. Then I went away for about 15 years, came back and lived a bunch more of it there.
Comments and faves
luxeteria (85 months ago | reply)
Co-winkie-dinkie! MY first-ever apartment after moving to Chicago from Los Angeles/Long Beach was 1400 N LSD. Cool! I had the "T" unit- the smallest matchbox they had to offer. So small you had to go into the hallway to just change your mind.
91junebugs (60 months ago | reply)
Sexual Perversity in Chicago - love that book.
Aaaand, love the movie of it, too: About Last Night.