Feb 11

Feb 11 Wet Slop

Architecture, Chicago, Urban Landscapes, Street

“Sometimes I need some time
On my own
Sometimes I need some time all alone
Everybody needs some time
On their own
Don’t you know you need some time all alone”

— November Rain, Guns and Roses, from Use Your Illusion I (1991)

Last night, the weatherman promised heavy snow from around 9 AM until 3 PM today. I might as well have been back in 6th Grade—snow day. I went to bed dreaming of white flakes falling from the sky, turning the ground white and stopping traffic. It just doesn’t snow as much as it used to.

When I awoke, I left from bed, headed to the window, and peaked through the shutter slats. No snow. All morning I kept looking, but nothing was falling from the sky. And then at about 12:30 PM, a white blanket descended. The flakes were fat and elongated. By its nature, snow is wet, but this was not powdery snow. It was damp and heavy, turning to slush when it hit the pavement.

Trying to keep things simple, I headed downtown, particularly because I suspected that the storm would not last long. I was correct. Within an hour and half, it was gone, leaving nothing on the ground except puddles.

As of late, I have been trying to work outside the Loop, but out of laziness—after all it was Sunday—I hit the river, Daley Plaza, and Federal Plaza. It turns out to have been a good decision. The familiar looks less familiar when the visuals are filtered through snow that is turning to sleet.

Notwithstanding the many office buildings that have been converted to residential spaces, Sunday afternoon is always quiet in the Loop. Add snow, and I had the Loop pretty much to myself.

This week tickets went on sale for the Dead & Company’s two-night stand at Wrigley Field later this year. But the city video marques were promoting the July 26th Guns & Roses concert at Wrigley. We could use a little more roses and a fewer guns in the City of Chicago.

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