More from Chicago
This evening I had the highlight of my trip, which was paying a coke dealer to walk me to the train station. I have no idea if the neighbourhood was actually dangerous, but it seemed safer than refusing the offer. It was also a good opportunity to have a chat to him on the way, since you rarely get such opportunities.
Other than that, I spent the afternoon in the northwest area of Chicago, along Milwaukee Avenue (where, incidentally, parts of High Fidelity were filmed). Indeed I went to Reckless Records, which the movie was supposedly inspired by, and picked up a whole bunch of used CDs. The whole stretch along Milwaukee Avenue has dozens of second hand stores, thrift shops and pawn shops, as well as unexpected miscellany including a spy supply store.
In the evening I went to Kingston Mines Blues Club, as suggested by ianw. Unfortunately the music there when I arrived wasn't particularly impressive - especially in the wake of the music at Blue Chicago the other night, which was a hard act to follow. On the way home I passed a couple of other blues places though. Chicago is simply a great city for live music.
The public transport system in Chicago is great. They have transit cards to pay fares on both buses and metropolitan trains. You can top up the transit card at with as much credit as you like, and it shows your remaining credit each time you use it. It's also really cheap. The first ride anywhere is $1.75 for buses and $2 for trains, a transfer within two hours is $0.25 and a second transfer is free. I'm sure if I lived in Chicago I'd have complaints about the public transport, but as a visitor it has been really good.
I also got to experience one of Chicago's special delicacies last night - the deep pan pizza. It's very good but also very filling: I was full after two slices. Leaving for New York tomorrow, so I will have to compare New York's very different style of pizza.
Other than that, I spent the afternoon in the northwest area of Chicago, along Milwaukee Avenue (where, incidentally, parts of High Fidelity were filmed). Indeed I went to Reckless Records, which the movie was supposedly inspired by, and picked up a whole bunch of used CDs. The whole stretch along Milwaukee Avenue has dozens of second hand stores, thrift shops and pawn shops, as well as unexpected miscellany including a spy supply store.
In the evening I went to Kingston Mines Blues Club, as suggested by ianw. Unfortunately the music there when I arrived wasn't particularly impressive - especially in the wake of the music at Blue Chicago the other night, which was a hard act to follow. On the way home I passed a couple of other blues places though. Chicago is simply a great city for live music.
The public transport system in Chicago is great. They have transit cards to pay fares on both buses and metropolitan trains. You can top up the transit card at with as much credit as you like, and it shows your remaining credit each time you use it. It's also really cheap. The first ride anywhere is $1.75 for buses and $2 for trains, a transfer within two hours is $0.25 and a second transfer is free. I'm sure if I lived in Chicago I'd have complaints about the public transport, but as a visitor it has been really good.
I also got to experience one of Chicago's special delicacies last night - the deep pan pizza. It's very good but also very filling: I was full after two slices. Leaving for New York tomorrow, so I will have to compare New York's very different style of pizza.