As Far As I Can Tell


Double Chicago

I hadn’t been to Chicago for far too long, so I’m glad I spent the last two weekends there. Meredith and I went on the 4th of July, though we avoided the official celebrations as much as possible. I’m not a big July fourth fan, and this year in particular I felt too bitter about the state of things to celebrate America’s birthday.

We did venture downtown once, narrowly avoiding the Taste of Chicago crowds as we checked on the new Millennium Park. The official opening isn’t until this weekend, so we weren’t able to see everything. Sure, its four years too late for its namesake, but it might end up being worth the wait. There’s a Frank Gehry designed band pavilion, a giant interactive video sculpture by Jaume Plensa, and a 110 ton polished steel sculpture by Anish Kapoor.

In it’s unfinished state it was hard to tell if this was a park or Mayor Daley’s giant sculpture collection, but I’ll leave that judgment aside until it’s open. If you’re at all intrigued you should visit this Saturday because Ira Glass and Chris Ware and having a free multimedia presentation in the park. Additionally Chicago Public Radio has a special archive of Millennium Park related stories available for you to listen to.

Frank Gehry music pavilion The Frank Gehry music pavilion in his signature titanium.

Interactive fountain designed by the Spanish artist Jaume Plensa This fountain will apparently spit water in-between two giant video faces.

This last weekend was the Peddy Cash BlingBQ Moped Army rally. We rode 30 strong from Humboldt Park to downtown, following the El and racing through the underground section of Wacker. Blockers with faster bikes were holding up traffic during most red lights, so we drove non-stop through every intersection. Riding downtown with that many people was amazing. Afterwards we rode to Montrose beach to cook up hotdogs and relax.

Mopeds in Humboldt Park Mopeds in Humboldt Park before the ride.

Riding mopeds towards downtown One of the red lights we actually stopped the at.

A swarm of mopeds on Michigan Avenue Mopeds swarming Michigan Avenue.

Moped Army members hanging out at Montrose Beach Moped Army members hanging out at Montrose Beach


 

Comments

Damn, Chad gets around. Do many scooter folks ride with the moped folks?

Posted by: Naz on July 15, 2004 7:12 PM

Oh, forgot to mention this little story - a few years ago, when I was in Michigan, I met this girl Erin from Ann Arbor who went to U of M. I was talking to her and I forgot how the Jedi Knights came up but it did and she mentioned The Moped Army (first time I had ever heard of you folks) and how the Jedi Knights were “our mortal enemies.” While I suspected this was a lot of brou-ha-ha, I was curious as to the overlap. Makes sense to me anyhow, being a lover of all things with two wheels.

Posted by: Naz on July 15, 2004 7:19 PM

Not usually, no. Rye from Peddy Cash has a Vespa too and I think he invited most of the scooter kids along. I like riding with scooters as long as they respect the moped too.

Posted by: Simon on July 15, 2004 7:21 PM

Your second comment slipped in before I could notice. As for the Jedi Knights, we had a very short lived and completely make believe rivalry a few years ago. I don’t know the Jedi’s too well myself, but I know that members from the Ann Arbor Moped Army branch hang out with them sometimes.

Posted by: Simon on July 15, 2004 7:24 PM

dude. DUDE. all this moped stuff and you didn’t tell me? i’m heartbroken. i would have come out to support at least.

Posted by: jim on July 15, 2004 8:02 PM

It’s actually really hard to participate in a rally if you’re not on a bike. The schedule tends to be determined on the fly and if you’re not riding along it’s hard to meet up.

Posted by: Simon on July 15, 2004 8:05 PM

oh, right on. but really. please call next time you’re around. i miss you guys. (btw, i am looking at teachiing in detroit or toronto! woot!)

Posted by: jim on July 16, 2004 12:43 AM

Ira Glass said something like, “the city of Chicago, in all of it’s forsight, finished the park 996 years early.”

Posted by: Tim on July 16, 2004 11:11 AM

sucks that i missed the chicago rally. looked amazing. swarming down michigan avenue? awesome. i’ll be back in michigan in 2 days, though. oh, simon, do you have a copy of “the shield” episodes from this season i could borrow? thanks.

Posted by: miguel on July 20, 2004 8:36 PM

Yep, I have all The Shield episodes on SVCD/DVD+SVCD that you can borrow. You should be able to play them in most DVD players.

Posted by: Simon on July 20, 2004 9:04 PM

thought you might like this: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/jwithington/with44-R2-E013.jpg

Posted by: jim on August 1, 2004 2:51 AM

Awesome photo Jim. I still haven’t been able to get into the park to see that — it was closed for a fundraiser the last time I went. Simon

Posted by: Simon on August 1, 2004 2:58 AM

thanks for the compliment. when will you be here next? i’d like to hang. as i always say, it’s been too long. email me or something.

Posted by: jim on August 6, 2004 1:06 PM


As far as who can tell?


Chicago, IL

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