'I am a drinker of American aquarium ...'

Whitebait just spent an exciting three days in the fabulous Chicago. Strangely enough, this terrific city has some interesting resonances with Melbourne. Both are known in popular mythologies as 'second cities', something which gives them a distinct charm. While the inhabitants of second cities are often anxious and sometimes even neurotic about their status (a key giveaway are tourist brochures that emphasize how 'world class' the cities attractions are), they also lack the perceived arrogance of a typical 'first' city (New York, Sydney etc). A gross generalization maybe but it needs to be put forth on this blog in its embryonic form as it is about to form the basis of multiple grant applications designed to further important comparative research around the world (by whitebait!).
Whitebait's time in Chicago basically involved an architecture binge. This is a brilliant place to walk around (while the weather is warm), or to take a rivercruise: the downtown area is an extraordinary lesson in the history of the skyscraper. (I'll put up some images when I return to Melbourne). And while you are at once recognising the glories of Mies van der Rohe you are simultaneously in the Blues Brothers' film or a Wilco album cover. Meanwhile in the suburb of Oak Park you can check out America's finest in the form of Frank Lloyd Wright's home, studio and a number of houses. His work lives on in Melbourne and Canberra through the efforts of his Prairie-school students, Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. Just connect.

And what damn fine people Chicagoans are - a shout out from whitebait to the most friendly and helpful bus drivers on the planet. Slightly lower marks re awareness of world accents (whitebait is continually being assumed to be English).
Weirdest sight in the city: being passed by a dude on a Segway in a funky restaurant area. Whatever happened to the revolution?

CORRECTION: I should check these things (but it was hot in America, y'know): the Wilco lyric is in fact 'I am an american aquarium drinker'.