Now, look, Chicago took a big hit to the heart when Macy's took away our Marshall Fields. But now the Great Recession is taking away our Pump Room too? Can the urban gods be this cruel! Can our all-powerful Mayor allow such desecration! In your story (Jan 5) you say, "It thrived on a celebrity culture that no longer exists." But that misses the point to our pain. Just having the Pump Room made us all feel like celebrities....
When Fields was closed, your own Roger Ebert led the parade of credit card protesters. Somehow, though, both Macy's and we seem to have survived. But can we survive this second blow as well?? I'm having stomach churning doubts.
I remember staying at the Ambassador East on our honeymoon...I remember returning for our 50th anniversary ...I even remember having lunch with Kup at the celebrated table one. Now are all these moments and memories to vanish in a puff of recessionary statistics? Someone please say "no."
But somehow I don't hear anyone offering to rescue the Pump Room....or the economy...or our city's love affair with having a Pump Room to attend at least every few years where you could feel like a celebrity. Does this mean that from now on the only way I can sense a feeling of celebrity is by looking at Bill Swecker's coverage of Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan? The gods just can't be that cruel...!
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It seems to me the gods CAN be that cruel, and have been for a while now. They just don't make them like they used to.....
ReplyDeleteJack,
ReplyDeleteAnother generation's prize gone! Also, another touch of class! What a shame, did not know this was happening. I lived across the street from the Ambassador West for several years and the neighborhood was alive with the excitement of the times. The possible celebrity replacements you mentioned are disgusting of course!
Jerry, you'd still recognize the LOOKS of the neighborhood, but not the CAST. The world there is blue jeans, motorcycles and drugs. Well -- not entirely, but the times ain't what they use to be
ReplyDeleteWell said, Jack! The elegant and comfortable grace of feasting and quaffing caved in by the clamorous hum of louts and flat-screens. Good Lord.
ReplyDeletePat Hickey
With a name like Patrick Hickey, you obviously harbor all the Celtic color and wit of the Old Sod. Which is why, I suspect, you too regret the louts taking over the land. Ah well, in another 100 years -- all new people!
ReplyDelete