When I walk the dogs, a multiple times daily event, we frequently walk down the alleys that run in back of the houses in this neighborhood. You can learn a lot by walking down alleys. The people who throw all of their yard waste into the alley, creating a habitat. That’s a violation of city ordinance. The people who throw all of their dog waste over the fence into the alley, a tasty snack for vermin. That’s a violation of city ordinance, too.
Then there are the houses that are immaculate from the front but whose alley fences haven’t been repaired or replaced in thirty years until they resemble something you might see in a Third World slum. Slats missing, rotting, leaning precariously.
People throw away some pretty interesting things. Practically a history of technology. CRT-type monitors are a pretty commonplace find these days. On occasion I’ve found boxes of perfectly good, nearly pristine books. Not text books, either. This morning I found a small stack of dishes, Homer Laughlin. Judging from the style they were probably better restaurant or hotel dinnerware of the 1950s.
One day behind the house of a man, woman, and child I found a stack of burned men’s clothing. I don’t recall seeing the man after that. His car certainly wasn’t parked in the alley car park any more.
You can learn a lot by walking down alleys.
I gather Chicago has paused to reload, so at least you’re somewhat less likely to be shot walking down the alley.
Not that it’s much solace but I’m no more likely to be shot walking down one of the alleys in my neighborhood than I am walking out of my grocery store after shopping.
Heh. In Naperville, in a very exclusive little little wooded circle full of $2-$5MM homes, two weeks ago there was a 65 inch “old style” big box tube TV put on the street. No doubt to be intentionally taken. I drove past about 4 hours later………..smashed to smithereens.
I like Naperville — home of Anderson’s Bookstore, and home of a surprisingly decent hotel called the Arista where they stick me when I do Andersons — but really, why would anyone pay 2-5 million to live there? Pleasant little town and all, but jeez, I could live here for that.
Michael
I, of course, know Andersons…….liberal piece of shit bookmonger…..oh, wait…..
The Arista is owned/sponsored by that big sign you must have seen, Calamos Investments. John Calamos is a billionaire money manager and golfing pal who lives about a drive, 3 wood and six iron from me. That whole complex is his “vision.” BTW, its actually Aurora. And we are about to move to “old Naperville.”
Anyway. I could show you the better places in Naperville. And if you come here again, and stay at the Arista, and don’t let me know so I can buy you a scotch and set you straight……..I’ll effing hunt you down and kill you. You were 15 minutes away. Dick.
PS-
In the Viet Nam War, John Calamos flew the recon planes in ahead of troop or bombing movements. It was the single highest mortality rate position of the war. John doesn’t like to talk about it much. The man is made of steel.
I had no idea you were in Naperville.
For a while there I felt like I was at Andersons all the time. I even have a routine — park out back, run over to Hugo’s for a shot of something to prepare me for the rigors of dealing with the public, duck into the Starbucks for a coffee and a discreet breath mint, then to Andersons.
The Arista’s a very nice hotel for being in the middle of nowhere. It always looks like a work in progress over there, like more is coming beside the hotel and parking structure.
I think though that touring is slowing down, largely because I’m wrapping three on-going series. Plus I’m an increasingly whiny bitch when they tour me. (I exempt UK touring which I enjoy — heading over in late April.) But I may do Andersons again for my next series. Becky runs a good operation.
And I will call you up if I end up back in Naperville.
Michael
For future reference. Go to Sullivan’s, not Hugo’s. The whole “Calamos City” came to a grinding halt in about 2007-9. The Arista is as good as it gets in the far western suburbs. You can stay further in, in Oak Brook, if you like. But if I was you, I’d stay in the city. Personally, I prefer the Peninsula. The Trump is nice, but I don’t like to patronize assholes.
I lived in the Peninsula for two weeks and loved it. I’d also spent a couple weeks at the Ritz and have been in and out of the Four Seasons and Sofitel. All four are great hotels, though I prefer the Peninsula’s modern decor over the RC or the 4.
Sadly, though, if I’m doing Anderson’s it means I’m doing 8 AM schools way out in corn country. I don’t want to fight the traffic so if it’s Anderson’s it’s the Arista. Not sure where they’ll put us up for the Newbery thing.