When when I was living there in the mid-aughts, I was driving up Pulaski near Foster and there was a deer running in the opposite direction along the center lanes. Eyes bugging, tongue hanging out, looking generally terrified, as cars whizzed by him on both sides in both directions.
I know there are deer in the various forest preserves around the area, but it was still very jarring to see wildlife right there on the mean streets of Chicago.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve encountered in Chicago (either while living there or visiting)?
Two young deer walking down the street as I walked my dog early one spring morning a few years ago. Residential neighborhood, not far from the forest preserve. I assume they were yearlings who got the boot when their mother had that year’s fawn.
I believe I said, out loud, “You’re not supposed to be here!” By the time I came back with a camera, they had moved on.
Never lived there, but used to visit a lot when my little brother was at the University of Chicago and living in the Hyde Park neighborhood. I always got a kick out of the monk parakeets in the park.
Actually, going back to that Cub win, I think I saw something that day in Chicago that very few people have ever seen in the world. I saw four different players hit two home runs on the same day. In the afternoon, at Wrigley, Thad Bosley and Tim Wallach of the Expos each hit two homers. Then I drove down to Comiskey, where the Sox were also playing a home game that same night, and in that game, Ron Kittle of the Sox and Ron Hassey of the Yankees also hit two home runs each.
A man at Liar’s Club who each time the song “Hot in Herre” by Nelly was played ,would take off literally ALL of his clothes and dance stark naked in a circle for the entirety of the song.
Matthew Lesko walking down Michigan Ave and wearing one of his famous suits.
Oh, and there are some forest preserves/nature areas right near Foster and Pulaski. Not strange to see deer there at all.
Not me, but my father. He was walking down Michigan Avenue, turned a corner and eneded up face to face with his brother. Neither one lived in Chicago and had no idea the other was there.
A one-way street in the wrong direction. To be fair, my sister lives a couple hours west and doesn’t get into the city that much; she was only in the city to retrieve me from the train station.
One morning I was sitting at a gate at O’Hare and my dad called to say hello. I asked him what he was up to, and he said he was on a layover at O’Hare. We met up for a quick breakfast! That was pretty weird.
I’ll think of more, but the first thing that comes to mind was a new looking walker, with foil tassels in the hand grips and neon tennis balls on the feet, bike chained to a street sign. It was there for months.
There’s some huge cemeteries right there, too.
Just this week, I saw three deer on the inbound Kennedy shoulder/knoll, eating leaves as calm as could be around 5:30pm. This was at about Canfield.
I’ve lived here quite a while and all I can come up with at the moment is my first sighting of the CTA Holiday Train. Again, it was inbound and during the evening (parking lot) wait near Cumberland. I’d never heard of it and it was quite a delight to see.
The Wikipedia pics don’t really do it justice but here’s a decent video:
Jesus riding the Red Line with his cross. While he can be seen year round, Halloween time on the CTA can lead to some surreal moments. I love Halloween time. Oh, and c2e2 weekend, oh, and the Zombie Walk.
My ex’s brother had a condo on the 20th floor of a highrise. There was an elevator, but he was lazy. So, rather than go all the way down/upstairs every time his dog had to go, he just let him piss and shit on the (concrete) balcony. No puppy pad or anything.
He was a very classy guy in most other respects–he sang in the Lyric and has performed at the Met.
