I just visited Chicago for the first time last week and it completely surprised me. It actually made me think of Calvino's Invisible Cities. I felt like I had unexpectedly encountered a very interesting stranger. Like Calvino's/Marco Polo's Venice, each city is it's own unique matryoshka containing multitudes - cities within cities within cities.
I live in a rural area of Pennsylvania. Our daughter lived in New York for better than a dozen years, and our one son part of that time, as well. I remember always feeling anticipation and joy as we would approach the city for our visits. And we always had a grand time!
But I must say, that on the drive home, I realized that I was no longer holding my breath, that my breathing became deep and easy, my entire body relaxing with relief as we left the city behind.
And yet… I just want to thank you, Dr. Cifu, so much for this piece, for the passion and beauty and love with which you write such truth about cities and specifically your city…..the people, the subways, the people, the museums, the people, the parks, the people, the bike rides, the people, the culture, the people, the beauty, the people, the struggles of humanity, the people, your home. It is such a reminder to me that the sacred beauty of this world is reflected, yes, in the natural world of pastoral flora and fauna and sunsets and waterfalls. But perhaps most profoundly by its people, the work of their hands, their creative force, every bit of everything that proclaims their, our existence. Indeed….a city!
I grew up in a suburb in Michigan. I moved to nyc for my intern year and fell in love. I grew up feeling bored and out of place, and the city felt like home.
Walking through the city is my favorite pastime, but now it is Chicago, not NYC.
Yesterday’s notes:
1. Noticed the interesting emblems on the facade of the University Club on Monroe. Will need to take a closer look on my next walk
2. The garden connected to the art museum is in full bloom- odd and beautiful juxtaposition of an English garden planted in the middle of an urban city, adjacent to a line of food carts and vendors
3. Standing ovation for the Marselis Jazz at Lincoln Center performing at Symphony Center. They played “The Jungle”. It was like feeling NYC through jazz. Incredible! And to see their faces of pride gazing back at us in the crowd. It was a moment.
A beautiful homage to cities. This reminds of a tweet I saw a few years ago- I had to go and look it up again- on flaneuring by Nassim Taleb. In fact I am a bit surprised you didn't include this:
"Cities are living organisms. Like all organisms they are indivisible and mutate over time. Some cities are more alive than others. You can only "feel" a city by flaneuring, walking slowly (very slowly) without any predetermined goal."
I just visited Chicago for the first time last week and it completely surprised me. It actually made me think of Calvino's Invisible Cities. I felt like I had unexpectedly encountered a very interesting stranger. Like Calvino's/Marco Polo's Venice, each city is it's own unique matryoshka containing multitudes - cities within cities within cities.
Sounds like a great visit!
(I can't believe you didn't call. 😉)
Adam
I live in a rural area of Pennsylvania. Our daughter lived in New York for better than a dozen years, and our one son part of that time, as well. I remember always feeling anticipation and joy as we would approach the city for our visits. And we always had a grand time!
But I must say, that on the drive home, I realized that I was no longer holding my breath, that my breathing became deep and easy, my entire body relaxing with relief as we left the city behind.
And yet… I just want to thank you, Dr. Cifu, so much for this piece, for the passion and beauty and love with which you write such truth about cities and specifically your city…..the people, the subways, the people, the museums, the people, the parks, the people, the bike rides, the people, the culture, the people, the beauty, the people, the struggles of humanity, the people, your home. It is such a reminder to me that the sacred beauty of this world is reflected, yes, in the natural world of pastoral flora and fauna and sunsets and waterfalls. But perhaps most profoundly by its people, the work of their hands, their creative force, every bit of everything that proclaims their, our existence. Indeed….a city!
That is beautiful Cheryl. Thank you.
Adam
I grew up in a suburb in Michigan. I moved to nyc for my intern year and fell in love. I grew up feeling bored and out of place, and the city felt like home.
Walking through the city is my favorite pastime, but now it is Chicago, not NYC.
Yesterday’s notes:
1. Noticed the interesting emblems on the facade of the University Club on Monroe. Will need to take a closer look on my next walk
2. The garden connected to the art museum is in full bloom- odd and beautiful juxtaposition of an English garden planted in the middle of an urban city, adjacent to a line of food carts and vendors
3. Standing ovation for the Marselis Jazz at Lincoln Center performing at Symphony Center. They played “The Jungle”. It was like feeling NYC through jazz. Incredible! And to see their faces of pride gazing back at us in the crowd. It was a moment.
Thank you Alice. That is wonderful.
Adam
A beautiful homage to cities. This reminds of a tweet I saw a few years ago- I had to go and look it up again- on flaneuring by Nassim Taleb. In fact I am a bit surprised you didn't include this:
"Cities are living organisms. Like all organisms they are indivisible and mutate over time. Some cities are more alive than others. You can only "feel" a city by flaneuring, walking slowly (very slowly) without any predetermined goal."
https://x.com/nntaleb/status/1591801696380125186?s=20
I love that. Thanks.