Alone in a new city

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I've recently moved to Chicago for grad school, after eight happy years in Potland, Oregon. I've been here for a fortnight and I'm spending another night nursing a drink by myself at Cafe Lula while my friends in Portland tell me all about the things I'm missing. Lonely and homesick, I am...wah wah.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 00:37 (twenty years ago)

potland!!!!

― renegade bus (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 9 September 2005 00:42 (twenty years ago)

Craigslist!

― Dr. Zed, Friday, 9 September 2005 00:43 (twenty years ago)

eight happy years in Potland

whoaaa

― jimmy glass (electricsound), Friday, 9 September 2005 00:43 (twenty years ago)

stop listening to your friends, they're just trying to keep you down

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 9 September 2005 00:58 (twenty years ago)

Ahh, do you see what drinking alone can do to one's typing? That should have been Portland, but Potland wouldn't be so bad right now either.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 01:51 (twenty years ago)

It is predicted to rain in Portland tomorrow. And the next day. And the next. And the one after that. But not much rain - only a wee smidgeon, hardly enough to damp down the smog, obscure the sun and remind you that you are not getting any younger or happier and all too soon it will be dark at 4:30 pm.

― Aimless (Aimless), Friday, 9 September 2005 02:00 (twenty years ago)

Alas, I prefer Portland's pall over this muggy metropolis. As for youth and happiness, meh.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 02:30 (twenty years ago)

Just wait for the winter.

― mikef (mfleming), Friday, 9 September 2005 02:39 (twenty years ago)

Oh, and to make matters worse, my wallet was stolen from my padlocked locker at a downtown gym last week.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 02:45 (twenty years ago)

By Thanksgiving, you'll be thinking "My, that went fast" and "Wow. Sitting by myself at Cafe Lula seems a lot longer ago than just three months."

You'll also be thinking, "Goddam, it's Thanksgiving, and the high's only twenty degrees already?"

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 9 September 2005 02:52 (twenty years ago)

Fortunately, I'll be at my house in Portland for Thanksgiving. Plus, Lula Cafe isn't so bad, as far as restaurants in Chicago go. The gimlets are strong and the arugula is organic.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 02:59 (twenty years ago)

I think you've just invented tofu noir.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Friday, 9 September 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

Awww, Markovitz!!

Chicago is great. I hope you like it. You should post on the gigantic Chicago threads here on ILE. It's mostly all of us Chicagoans bullshitting, but you can come on and ask us questions about Chicago and what to do and where to go, and we'll be friendly. We like giving advice and helping new people in town.

Where are you going to grad school, and what are you studying?

Oddly enough, I was just talking up Cafe Lula with my friend Amy tonight. She just moved to Chicago a month ago and lives in Logan Square and so has gone to Lula more than once. It's a nice little restaurant, isn't it?

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 04:29 (twenty years ago)

I didn't invent tofu noir! That's been a staple food of many of my friends for a while now.

Hmm, I will look at these Chicago threads. I am going to SAIC for my MFA in performance. It's a strange experience. There is absolutely no structure to my "program," which is fine, since I tend to create my own structure for work, but it is also rather isolating. There is no automatic way to meet people.

Ha ha, so I am not the only newbie to Logan Square. I think I've been to Lula roughly 8-10 times now. Sometimes twice a day. Yes, it's nice. It reminds me of Portland because the setting is relaxed, the prices are reasonable, and yet they are still serious about the food. Also, it's really the only thing available within walking distance to my house.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 17:12 (twenty years ago)

There's a girl who works at Lula who used to work at Evanston's, umm, "fascinating" Cafe Ambience, like nearly a decade ago. Which isn't wholly strange except that I wound up there on a visit back to town and was shocked to find a fixture of college days suddenly transported. It was like a low-budget movie where they use the same extras in every shot -- wherever you go, there they are.

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)

MARKOVITZ, R U LUCKY as the CHICAGO ILXORS are awesome, radical people, i think

― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:23 (twenty years ago)

(Mandee, are you asking if Markovitz has slept with Kenan yet?)

― The Ghost of Black Elegance (Dan Perry), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, Logan Square is an up-and-coming neighborhood, since a lot of people that might otherwise have lived in Wicker Park a few years ago have been pushed further west because of increasing rents. There's a few nice places, like Lula, but there's also long stretches of neighborhood without much of anything.

Lula is also right next to the Logan Square Auditorium, which does rock shows on a semi-regular basis. It's a nice big room -- a converted theatre or ballroom or something -- but unfortunately the sound there isn't the best. (Or it wasn't the last time I was there, a year ago -- maybe it's improved.)

I know a couple of SAIC students. One's an MFA student named N0elle Mas0n. She does multimedia installation type stuff.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:28 (twenty years ago)

Chicago isn't the world's easiest town to just spontaneously fall in with people, but there's certainly a "scene" revolving around the Art Institute kids, so that's something to shoot for. And yes, there are the Chicago threads, and lots of friendly cafes, and so on. Also I think it helps to be chipper and just take the excuse to be all like "hi, I'm friendly! I'm new! I have no friends and no idea what to do with my time!" Because everyone understands that, and I think people really like finding someone new and unconnected and showing them around and introducing them to people. It's kind of a relief to be new, in certain ways -- you can just let people drag you wherever, and take everything in, and feel absolutely no need to have any idea what's going on, or take any responsibility for making things fun.

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:28 (twenty years ago)

(Upon first arriving in New York I combined that attitude with a slight ugly-Midwesterner schtick, where I'd just go around with people and be all like "wow, crazy, you people are nuts" -- I suppose kind of playing the rube so that people would have more fun showing me around.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:31 (twenty years ago)

I've only been here a year and nine months, and I feel like I met people and made space for myself pretty easily. CHICAGOANS BE FRIENDLY.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:32 (twenty years ago)

Welcome to Chicago!

― kelsey (kelstarry), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:36 (twenty years ago)

Welcome to Chicago! I've been here three years and show virtually no signs of wear and tear.

― The Milkmaid (of Human Kindness) (The Milkmaid), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:38 (twenty years ago)

Markovitz, are you HOTTT??? Because that helps.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

I got my MFA at SAIC too, but in writing. My dept. had a lot of social stuff on the calendar if I remember rightly, though most of my friends I knew through the internet/roommates anyway, after I moved there not knowing anyone. There is a really great performance artist (M4tthew G0ulish) teaching there, who I know teaches writing classes--I recommend one of his classes (and his group's workshops) in particular, especially for meeting people outside your dept and seeing what cool stuff they're working on. If you're interested I could say more, but maybe you know what I'm talking about already.

― sgs (sgs), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:43 (twenty years ago)

Markovitz, you go to SAIC? I have a really good friend who is in the grad program in photography/sculpture there. Were you at that party in Pilsen last week???

jaymc: I know N0elle!

― dan m (OutDatWay), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:46 (twenty years ago)

You do? She's dating (or maybe they used to be? I can never tell with them) my friend Jas0n Hendr!x.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:52 (twenty years ago)

(Mandee, are you asking if Markovitz has slept with Kenan yet?)

That's not the ILXor he's slept with.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 17:58 (twenty years ago)

Yup. I don't know who she's dating (I met a guy she was dragging around at a party once.) But she's friends with my close friend 3r1ca L0rd. Don't tell me you know her, too. Because then I will shit in my pants.

― dan m (OutDatWay), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:00 (twenty years ago)

Your pants should be safely clean. Yeah, I only know N0elle via Jason, really, when he's dragged her to things.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:02 (twenty years ago)

If any of you Chicagoans meet up with Markovitz, you should know that he likes to go by "B-Dawg". So call him "B-Dawg". No, really. Really. "B-Dawg".

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:07 (twenty years ago)

Chris, I have a feeling you know more than you're letting on here.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

I thought I was letting everything on!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

Anyway hopefully I will be visiting "B-Dawg" in Chicago soon, and thus finally meeting everyone.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:12 (twenty years ago)

Yay.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

I'm glad I don't have to be "B-Dawg" anymore!

― Bryan (Bryan), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:14 (twenty years ago)

I have not slept with Kenyan, though I did have a few dates with a pleasant lad the week I arrived. Alas, nothing came of it. I dunno if I am "HOTTT." People say I look much younger than I actually am. And I wear big dorky glasses, so.

Oh yes, I know many of the Goats. Our ensembles share similar working styles, and an old friend of mine is their company manager. G0ulish's advisor slots were full this semester, but no doubt I'll work with him at some point. I do like my two advisors, T4nia Bruguer4 and T3rry K@psalis. My meetings with them are going to be the best part of the semester.

Yes, I was at the Pilsen party last week. I arrived late and had a hard time getting into anyone's conversations, but I managed to meet a few people when I took over the neglected grill. I am always much more at ease when I am cooking something, so that was nice.

Thanks for the welcomes. I have been playing the "I'm nice and cute and new!" card where possible. It did work with some acquaintences who took me to a bbq at Big Chicks last sunday, but that place made me feel like I was new livestock on the auction block.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 18:17 (twenty years ago)

You're just B-Dawg, without the quotation marks. (xpost)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:18 (twenty years ago)

Unironic B-Dawg? *sigh*

― Bryan (Bryan), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

Some of us (including Kenan) were at Big Chicks (well, Tweet Lets Eat next door) for brunch on Sunday!

PS You are cute. I just did some ... ahem ... research.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

CREEPY!

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:25 (twenty years ago)

Me asking if she was HOTTT wasn't creepy though.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

One of the benefits of not being single.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

That and the sex.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

If any of you ever call me "B-Dawg," I will cut off Chris' hands with a dull bread knife.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 18:32 (twenty years ago)

Was he blond in the photograph you found?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:33 (twenty years ago)

I think it's only fair that Markovitz know what jaymc looks like too:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/naamme/jaymc.jpg

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:33 (twenty years ago)

No, not blond.

Nick: Markovitz is a dude.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:34 (twenty years ago)

Nick, sweetie, you're not reading carefully enough.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:34 (twenty years ago)

(xpost)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:34 (twenty years ago)

So, I was at that party too. Did we meet? I was one of the like 3 people there who doesn't go to SAIC. Forgive me if I've forgotten, I was concentrating mostly on the hott Icelandic girl who kept taking my beer.

― dan m (OutDatWay), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

Anyway, I don't know if you all remember signing up for a social-network website called Friendster. I sure do. Were you aware that you could search for friends and acquaintances' profiles on the site? And then click through to their friends and acquaintances? It's true!

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

The "sweetie" is a nice touch there, CP.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

JAYMC DOESN'T CARE ABOUT STRAIGHT PEOPLE
-- President Busch (dr_...), September 7th, 2005 2:51 PM. (dr g) (later) (link) (admin) (userip)

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:37 (twenty years ago)

Chris just loves to ruminate on bad hair decisions. That's why we always have a good time remembering his mullet.

I came to the party with the Icelandic girl. I just knew she would bring all the boys to the yard!

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 18:42 (twenty years ago)

Is Nick not sweet? I was always under that impression.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:43 (twenty years ago)

Oh, he is. Believe me.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

She drank my Sam Adams! If I were less of a pussy I would have totally made a flirtatious "scene" because of it.

― dan m (OutDatWay), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:45 (twenty years ago)

Once again proving that wherever you go, ILX is there.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:46 (twenty years ago)

What is is with Icelandic people and Revolutionary War-era figures? Wasn't there a Sugarcubes album called Stick Around For Patrick Henry?

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

Nope.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

Okay, Stick Around for Joy. Same thing, really.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

jaymc DID YOU FORGET THAT I AM "IN TO" SUBVERTING GENDER NORMS?

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:49 (twenty years ago)

Well, I don't really know her. She just fell in with the group I was with. You should have made a flirtatious scene! That party was too boring, even with all the makers mark I brought!

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 18:51 (twenty years ago)

Ah, you brought the Maker's Mark! The hostess, an old, old friend of mine, was looking at that bottle very longingly.

Perhaps if I had had some I could have summoned the nerve to make a scene. Oh well, next time. I'll bring more good beer as bait.

― dan m (OutDatWay), Friday, 9 September 2005 18:54 (twenty years ago)

I left the Maker's with her. Actually, it was a good party, it was just subdued what with all the new faces.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 18:59 (twenty years ago)

I want to go to boring/crazy art parties in Pilsen!

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 9 September 2005 19:00 (twenty years ago)

My favorite part of every party she's had there is that the Blue Line goes right over her backyard. Sometimes the train roaring past fills in awkward conversational pauses quite nicely. It makes it really easy to get there, too!

― dan m (OutDatWay), Friday, 9 September 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

Jaymc: I'll let you know for the next one, whenever that is. She won't care.

― dan m (OutDatWay), Friday, 9 September 2005 19:07 (twenty years ago)

The Blue Line was frigging terrifying!

Let me know of parties, too. I didn't get the host's contact info and I have temporarily forgotten her name, though I may remember it at some point. I instantly fell in love with her.

― Markovitz, Friday, 9 September 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

It's upthread, albeit in G00gl3-pr00f text. She's the friend I mention knowing N0elle, etc etc.

― dan m (OutDatWay), Friday, 9 September 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

And yeah, she has that effect on most every guy ever. It's great fun to watch.

― dan m (OutDatWay), Friday, 9 September 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

(Mandee, are you asking if Markovitz has slept with Kenan yet?)

Hey! I don't sleep with EVERYONE.

There are time constraints.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Sunday, 11 September 2005 15:40 (twenty years ago)

And, you know, other constraints.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 September 2005 19:21 (twenty years ago)

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