A Lost Cubby in Wrigleyville
It is Tuesday, September 27, 2022, fall has just begun in Chicago. I can tell because the leaves are falling to the ground, Chicagoans all over are pulling out their windbreakers, and everyone has just started drinking hot coffees again. Neighborhoods throughout Chicago are slowly changing into a cooler aesthetic. One of them being Wrigleyville; located on the north side of Chicago,it holds the home of the Cubs, and the love of all their fans.
1:12 pm — I just hopped off the red line it is cold and windy my fingers are starting to feel numb. When first exiting the stop I enter a residential street, I am confused because I cannot find the busy street. I realized I walked out the back exit of the stop. I take a right and start to see the busy street when a guy asks “are you calling an uber?”. I tell him no and explain that I have to get lost in a neighborhood in Chicago. He then tells me “This is the best place to do it”. I agreed and after a short conversation about his life and the liquor store he was guarding I walked towards Sheffield.
1:16 pm — I start to walk towards the stadium but, I am then instructed to turn left by Jennie Savages “Guide to getting Lost”. After her instructions I ended up on a residential street. Where it looks like there might be conflict within the neighborhood.
1:28 pm — As I start to approach Addison again I cannot help but notice how different the street is during the day when there is not an active game. The hostess and waiters look exhausted and not excited for the approaching game at six o’clock.
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1:35 pm — I turn onto the residential part of Racine, it is nice and quiet very. Extremely different from where I was a minute ago. I see people going on a jog or walking their dog throughout this street. The houses are very beautiful and lively. This is a street that looks lived in compared to the commercial streets that surround the stadium.
1:46 pm — I am starting to get bored of the quiet neighborhood, I am stopped by the noise of wind chimes. They are so beautiful and extremely different from the loud traffic I can hear a few blocks up. The entire backyard of this home has a calming and welcoming environment.
1:50 pm — As I make my way out of the residential area I start to turn onto Clark street, where I notice a humongous dog with a very handsome owner. The owner seems to really love this big goofy dog that almost looks like he should be in a cartoon. I ask the man if I can take a picture of the dog for a project and he says “of course”. One thing that I have noticed is the politeness that is shown throughout the neighborhood. It may be because the residents are so used to many people in this area due to it being a tourist spot.
1:56 pm — I turn left onto Clark away from the front of Wrigley-field, I somehow keep avoiding it even though I would have assumed it would be my first destination. I start to walk past Rizzo’s bar, a place that holds so many fun memories. Throughout the summer my friends and I would go to cubs games and afterwards get nachos there. I really miss summer, the freedom, weather, and endless things to do in the city made it so special.
2:00 pm — I began walking on Waveland, which is located on the left side of the field. I notice there are many security guards and K-9 dogs surrounding one particular door. There might be something going on or the team might be arriving soon.
2:05 — As I am turning on to Sheffield, I recognize the buildings that have been created into rooftop bleachers for the stadium. It is interesting how the stadium truly identifies the entire neighborhood.
2:10pm — As i continued to walk around the field I noticed a bus that is labeled “The Team Bus”, the men I saw walking into the stadium were definitely baseball players but I am not sure which team.
2:15 pm — If I am being hundred percent honest at this point of the journey I have stopped listening to the podcast “Getting Lost”. I decided to wander my own way throughout the neighborhood. I took a turn on a random residential street and noticed many beautiful townhomes. I am confidently walking as if I have a sense of direction in an unfamiliar area. Much like the reasoning of confident speed walking that is discussed in “Why Do Gay Men Walk So Fast?” written by Louis Staples. Staples says “that walking speed and style can be affected by either positive or negative emotions” meaning the way I walk does have an effect on how I am feeling about my journey throughout the neighborhoods.
2:25 — I start to walk east of Clark and I notice how the buildings seem a bit run down once they are no longer advertising baseball characteristics. I myself am guilty of ignoring non commercial businesses and restaurants in trendy areas. So I am sure small businesses do find the upkeep of their places difficult if they are not getting much attention.
2:35 — I decide to walk back in the direction of Wrigley Field so, I can get a better picture of the historical landmark that in a way defines the neighborhood. It brings business to the restaurants and bars that rely on tourism, and it has prompted many of the residents to carry on a positive vibe that floats throughout the neighborhood.
This link on History Pin gives details on Wrigley Field and its impact on the city. https://www.historypin.org/en/explore/geo/41.948438,-87.655333,17/bounds/41.945789,-87.657656,41.951087,-87.65301/paging/1
2:40 — As I am making my way back to to the Red Line, I start to see people in their uniform Cubs and Phillies jerseys making their way to the bars. The neighborhood will slowly become extremely compact and overwhelmed within the next few hours. An extremely different environment from where I just spent my afternoon.
Overall, I truly enjoyed my solo walk around Wrigleyville. It was a moment where I could decompress my personal conflicts and practice the “art of noticing”. Something I could relate this feeling to was a quote in the Radical Flâneuserie written by Lauren Elkin. She states “We all, deep down, want to detach from our lives’ ‘ which in a way is difficult to admit when one is unsatisfied with their life. I have so much to be grateful for but, I still have my moments of stress and worries that prompt me to want to “escape”. In many ways I have found walking and observing to be an amazing therapeutic detachment from my life.
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