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May 08, 2003
Chicago Architecture and History - The Building Geek Squad
You may already know by now that himself and I are unemployed. This means we have fucked up sleep schedules, absofuckinglutely no money for dates....and all the time in the world.
some of this time is spent helping with wedding stuff.
some of this time is spent looking for and applying to jobs. which is easier said than done.
some of this time is spent on shabby little books, but, as some authors can't be forced to meet editor-imposed deadlines, and some editors are so overwhelmed with book orders and book keeping, they can't be inspired to contact other authors to start their books, there is down time between nagging and working that needs to be filled.
and this down time we have chosen to fill with the geekiest of pasttimes.
architecture tours.
Yes, thanks to a small windfall (I'll write about that later) and a newfound interest in chicago history (after having read devil in the white city", purchased under the bad spending influence of naz) Sourbob and I now share a dual membership with the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Which means we get all sorts of free tours and discounts on chicago history books. It also means that we can be found touring office buildings in the middle of the day, learning about the art and architecture of chicago. which almost always seems to relate back to the chicago fire, the columbian exposition, the career of daniel burnham, and the chicago tenure of frank lloyd wright. All three tours we've been on so far have also had the lovely accent flavor of lorado taft's sculptures.
I could use this space to write about how delightfully rich the culture of chicago is, or how thanks to richard nickel and his ilk, we are more dedicated to preservation and restoration than most cities (although not as dedicated as to preserve neighborhoods in the face of condoliths).
I could write about how much fun it is to join a group of retirees and tourists, walking around downtown chicago and finally seeing those secret gems of art and architectural detail I've been hearing about for decades.
But instead, I'm starting a series titled "Docents, while generously giving of their time, are not very good public speakers." Or, perhaps, "don't get crabby at me, old woman - I just happen to have on good authority that the chagall mosaic you just referred to as 'something about chicago ... I don't know' is called Four Seasons, and that the columbian exposition happened in 1893, not 1897."
or perhaps not. I'm just hoping that in the next few weeks, we get at least one tour where the docent doesn't need to read off of her note cards (despite the fact that she's been giving this tour for 15 years), or doesn't have her facts wrong (see above)....heck, I'd be happy if one would at least be able to talk loudly enough so we could hear her without having to crush up against her torso like college students in a phone booth.
in the mean time, I spent money to walk around chicago with someone who wants to learn more about chicago with me. and that's money well spent, I think.
Posted by Heather at May 8, 2003 11:37 PM
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Comments
He also does it so he can learn more about you. Or maybe it's because you bribe him with Chipotle.
Posted by: sourbob at May 9, 2003 12:32 AM
heather - you'd be a great docent; i can easily see you leading around a pack of tourists, giving them such gems of info only you could provide ;)
sounds lovely, though. we have such great architecture in this city. loved it from my youngest days, when i'd refer to marina city as the "corn cobs"; ah, well, i still do that.
Posted by: miss ellen at May 9, 2003 10:44 AM
I'm so glad "condolith" has caught on with at least one other person. :)
I second Ellen's motion for you to become a docent. And when you're feeling particularly saucy, you could tell the people horribly naughty things about the buildings they're walking through.
"...And here we are in the Rookery, which at one time served as a brothel -- hence the name. Frank Lloyd Wright was known to frequent the establishment, and even redesigned this beautiful atrium to help pay his tab..."
Posted by: Andrew at May 11, 2003 06:38 PM
aww, bob, you're so sweet when you flirt with me via blogcomments...
ellen, andrew, I love the suggestion that I become a docent for CAF. All that bitchin' about the lack of enthusiasm, and not enough thinkin' about how much enthusiasm I can muster when presented with willing subjects....There's a program I'd have to attend in order to achieve 'docent status' but I think that once I get a job I'll be more than willing to become one with the architecture geeks. any takers on my first tour group?
imagine what saucy tidbits I could present when leading my group past "the corn cobs"!
(and yes, I used to call them that, too, ellen. marina city doesn't evoke the image anywhere near as well as the corny nickname does!)
Posted by: heather at May 12, 2003 12:30 AM