Chicago - New York

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q0RIUEKrwmI/SBA3M25FU1I/AAAAAAAAAW8/DeuQDQtGu9E/s400/lou%2Breed%2Bnew%2Byork%2Bcover.jpg

(Intentionally confusing title for the new Chicago thread.)

Ok this is not good news. The landlord finally rented the apartment above me, and good for him. But remember the crazy lady who posted notes in the window about how we'll all one day understand hell? Well, when I left for a while earlier this evening and came back, they had hung two medium-sized American flags in each of their front windows.

I like America. I do. I think the flag is a bit busy design-wise, but certainly I don't hate it. However, as a sign of what kind of new neighbors I have, there's no way that this is good. No way at all.

Here is a picture of said flags. Not only flags but some kinda awful frilly curtains. (You can see those better during the day. They are hideous.) My windows are below these, with the white xmas lights.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i191/fluxion23/on-noes-flags.jpg

Here is a picture of the giant fuck-off pickup truck that is suddenly always parked right out front. There is no similar vehicle parked within three miles.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i191/fluxion23/wtford.jpg

Coincidence? I seriously th' fuck doubt it.

Looks like country come to town.

As long as they don't stomp a lot.

They've been hammering a lot, but that's just moving in stuff that everybody does. Gotta hang up all the pictures of the family back home, ya know. And pictures of Jesus.

To give a little hope, you're in a neighborhood with a lot of folks who went through hell and high water to get here, so the upstairs folks might be new and not know what two perfectly centered, immaculately maintained U.S. flags connotate.

But the Barrington dealer on the plates--that's the part that makes me curious. Let's get coffee and donuts and see what happens.

the upstairs folks might be new and not know what two perfectly centered, immaculately maintained U.S. flags connotate.

Oh, come now. I doubt they're retarded. They mean it as a pre-emptive "fuck you" to the rest of the sissy liberal neighborhood, surely. They may not mean it quite that harshly, but they can't mean it as anything but confrontational, in a passive-aggressive way.

I mean, I'm not going to move into a predominantly Middle Eastern neighborhood and hang the flag of Israel in my window. Unless I'm an asshat batshit zionist.

I dunno. Maybe they're quaint, harmless rednecks instead of hateful, belligerent rednecks. But it's really hard for me not read "rednectk" into all this.

maybe they are proud recent immigrants? the only people i see driving pick-up trucks in chicago are the dudes who salvage scrap metal from the alleys

An F-150 has got to be a bitch to parallel park.

the polish construction workers who are always parking in my spot drive ginormous brand new pickup trucks

i really don't understand the thread title btw

maybe they are proud recent immigrants?

That's what I was implying, and even went as far as to GIS Coming to America. But, hey, you'll see 'em this morning because that thing'll cut through the snow.

no proud recent immigrant would move from the burbs to the city

i really don't understand the thread title btw

A throwback to when I started every Chicago thread with the cover of a favorite album. That's the cover of "New York" by Lou Reed. It's an awesome album.

Um... sez me.

Eric, to answer your previous question, there are definitely things that will elicit debate or negative comments from me if Jeff brings them up in conversation, provided that I'm not already confident that Jeff is well aware of my feelings on the matter (Woody Allen, Judd Apatow) but there's nobody that I will just not even discuss. I suppose if Jeff suddenly announced that in his estimation, Tucker Max was the unheralded genius of filmmaking, I would be stunned into temporary silence.

But I definitely cannot mention Zach Braff around Jeff.

And, sorry to say, but if I could trade the stompy, loud, presumably activist based on the fact that I've only ever seen him wear shirts that proclaim how gay he is homo upstairs for a quieter redneck, I would do it in a heart beat.

i know the album you dingaling. i just wondered WHY NEW YORK.

as for artists that elicit arguing, Woody Allen is at the top of the list, but surely there are others...oh yeah -- D HATES Lotte Lenya and i am sick of hearing about it.

there are movies/books/bands sarah likes that i don't like and vice versa but i can't really think of any that would provoke real anger or consternation

xxp Yeah, I won't trade any neighbor for any other neighbor at this point. They're all very quiet, and I'm damn quiet, so I can't imagine anyone will complain about me, either. There's a peaceful sterility to all of my neighborly relations.

I just wish they'd take the flags out of the window. It's assy.

xp - yeah, it doesn't cause huge problems or anything

i just wondered WHY NEW YORK.

I told you. Because it's awesome.

nevermind

Kenan, what neighborhood do you live in? Is there a particular demographic there?

(against whom the upstairs neighbors could be making a statement?)

Parking a big fuck-off pickup truck anywhere near here is kind of statement enough. "You ain't from around here, are ya, boy?"

Also, I challenge -- no, DEFY you to find American flags hung in the window of anyone around here. It's not even entirely political. It's just gauche.

It's their right, I know. Sure, of course. I just hate it when people do things because it's their right to do it. Why would that be the first thing you'd hang in your window?

Could be worse. Could be the "Don't Tread On Me" flag that Chuck Norris recommends.

But once you find they're big fans of mid-1970s Miles, you guys will get along fine.

I was just wondering if you lived in like a Muslim or Central American neighborhood or something, which would make it more egregious. I agree that hanging flags in the windows of a rental apartment is tacky at least.

I'm moving into a predominantly redneck neighborhood south of Annapolis and will be flying the American flag and the Maryland flag, partly because I love the design of both and partly because I want the neighbors to know that I will not be flying Dixie.

(Sorry for the intrusion into the Chicago thread, btw. Your airport wants to disinter my ancestors to build a new runway, so I'm claiming like, honorary citizen for a minute.)

xp If they think safe and legal abortion is against What God Wants, Miles will still be kinda light in it. Sorry, Miles.

hey the more the merrier
i have never flown a flag, now that i think about it.

i never even flew my freak flag with much zeal

Seriously. This isn't the heart of a gay/lesbian neighborhood, but there are plenty of gays and lesbians living around here. In the building. Etc. Hanging American flags in the window is almost an insult to them. I didn't define or redefine this iconography, but I really do nearly find it insulting. I instantly dislike these people.

American flags in the window = "I'm 'MURRICUN, fagoot! Stop killin muh babies!"

Am I way the hell off base here?

i think you're overreacting a bit.

Well, I do that.

May be new to town and proud to be here and the democracy and free market the U.S. represents.

http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/cnishared/tools/shared/mediahub/06/95/12/slideshow_1129565_Eddie_Murphy.jpg

Proud of the democracy, etc. Lots of folks from war-torn faraway lands in that neighborhood.

Not with frilly curtains and the biggest vehicle within miles. Sorry, doesn't wash.

gotta agree with you there

Hi Chicago, I clicked on this by accident but read on. Kenan, what's the scope for getting a stepladder and taping rainbow flags on the outside, directly over the US flags?

Fourth floor. Need a big aluminum ladder. Also, that WAY more assy.

http://www.gettysburgflag.com/images/RainbowOGflag.JPG

In apartments where I have lived, it has been against the terms of the rental agreement to put up any decoration in the windows at all.

I tried to read instead of watching Top Model because I hate that show but it was too distracting.

Don't even get me started on Donald Jr.

lil don don

check out carl's singer-songwriter album cover

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4432873844_0bcf239182_o.jpg

That should go on the Dudes Sitting in Chairs and Chilling on Their Album Covers thread!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnQw-ZsEaek

As much as I adore Marion Cotillard, I liked it better when SNL did it for "Women With Eyes on Their Breasts" starring Kirstie Alley.

why can't pitchforkfest be more like big ears? outdoor all day three days sucks compared to all day in venues with artists who aren't suited to outdoor all day type festivals. can't they have a side festival for indoors people and indoors music? :(

i'm trying to plan a little summer hiking vacay to the great smoky mtn natl park and remembered that i had considered going to that festival, but it was so far and not during my spring break.

because those bands play indoors music for indoors people 362 days of the year?

no, i understand why they have big outdoor festivals and bands that play there; i just want both indoors and outdoors events so that they can have a greater variety of artists like big ears.

I guess, but every time I've been to events with multiple locations I've found it really stressful, you have to figure out how to get across the city and in the meantime you miss somebody you might want to check out because they're at a third location. I like how everything is in one place at Pitchfork so you can catch half of somebody's set, then walk over to the little stage and see the second half of someone else's set.

that is a v good point

We went to look at this apartment in a 3 flat yesterday (we are most likely going to move when our lease is up at the end of April) and it was really cool and big and we were excited but then we realized we couldn't afford it. Which begs the question why we went to go see it in the first place.

But if anyone knows of any awesome apartments or awesome ways to find them or anything, let me know.

I don't have surprising advice. Craigslist. Apartment Finders and such are sometimes useful. That's how Courtney found both of her places.

I thought maybe somebody would "know a guy" who had the awesomest apartment ever for really really cheap

because that's very likely

Apartment Guys.

More than other search orgs, seem to be working with buildings outside of the main bldg management companies.

I know "A Gal" named B. Chavez who is kind of a slum lady and certifiably insane.

There are a metric assload of apartments for rent in the 4 square blocks around my place right now. Hell, mine's going to be available soon. I also have the number of an apartment-finder guy who helped my old landlord fill some of her places.

I think there's another apartment available in my building? It looks like it might be a sublease/breaking contract situation, since it's not formatted like our property management co. usually formats their listings.

I just have my previous recommendation to check out the cheap, livably run-down apts available from ICM Property.

Thanks, I will check out all these places! I should have said, we are trying to stay in the same general area, or, more accurately, trying to stay within about ten blocks of the ravenswood metra station (since that's how Sara gets to work).

Which would put your place a little too far n/a, though I really like your building.

i just got back from target, where i bought some bright green sweatpants

are you planning on wearing them on Wednesday?

hey the band that Ben is in now (Campfires) is playing at the Empty Bottle for free tonight. They are good.

no but now i feel like a dingaling
i just wanted some new LPs* because my old ones are getting ratty because i wear them to the gym, around the house, to walk the dog, etc.

*lounge pants

I accidentally wore a green t-shirt when I went to zinefest on Saturday and I was worried all the cool zinesters might think I was celebrating St. Pat's Day downtown with all the lame drunk yahoos when in reality I am WAY TOO AWESOME for that

Think I'm going to Lincoln Hall tonight for Real Estate / Woods (if I feel like I can make it through the show without falling asleep)

oh man I wish I had the fortitude and $$$ to go to shows these days. Harvey Milk played on Saturday and I wanted to go but didn't.

I wanted to go to Zola Jesus on Sat but I forgot

Damn. I think I might be getting a cold.

Magnetic Fields was a good show because it was in a theater with assigned seats and everybody was quiet and respectful and I could have taken a little nap if necessary (it was not necessary).

At one point, the guy next to me was ruining the opening band (the quiet and delightful Laura Barrett) by reading aloud from hipsterpuppies.com to his date, which was almost as hilar as it was annoying.

Also, Eric, thanks for the heads up on the Apt. Guys. I will add them to my list of people I plan to contact when we move in Aug. Or Sept. I need to figure that out.

hey, ICM seems pretty good! they have a number of buildings in the area we're looking in. One of them even has a dishwasher.

Apartment Guys has some pretty decent offerings too.

yeah, they do, I'm looking there now. Seems like a great time to be looking, there's a lot of opening out there. Even just walking around yesterday we saw a bunch of signs in okay looking buildings

My lease is up in October, but I am pretty sure I can get out in the summer b/c my landlady is concerned about having a vacancy all winter.

What do you think: Would it be more to my advantage to try to find a place for October or in the peak season?

More is available in the summer.

But maybe renters are more motivated (cheaper, easier application) in the fall.

This profile of a night at Schwa is a pretty neat short video:

http://chicagoist.com/2010/03/15/detailed_the_chef_michael_carlson_o.php

Askance, if you rent from ICM, put us down as a referral b/c we will get $300 of our rent. ICM is also good because they will actually drive you around to look at the apartments. If you call them, see if you can work with Seth. He's my homie.

I like what I see on the Apt. Guys site, but they don't put the exact address on their listings, which I hate. I don't know if my definition of "steps to public transportation" is the same as theirs, you know?

only 750,000 steps to the yellow line!

J, I think they want to drive you around and show you the apartments themselves, so you don't approach the management without their referral.

ICM is the actual property company.

Assuming that by "J" you meant this gal.

Alert: I have been sending my resume out in PDF format and I just got an email from a potential employer asking me to send them my resume as a Word document. You know, just in case we wanted to rehash that argument we had about resume formats. ;p

I forget which side of that argument I was on.

I'm just going to argue that you're a DB and leave it at that.

Haha I just responded to a craigslist ad where they would ONLY accept resumes pasted into the body of the response e-mail. Any attachments will be ignored and deleted.

How is it possible to both ignore AND delete it? The attachments might be unread, but if you're deleting, you're not ignoring.

New thread...

I know. I almost didn't respond to the ad for a couple of reasons, the weird logic included. But, you know, desperate times, etc.