running into myself | Monthly Archives: July 2011

eating Chicago

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Roger

In Chicago, it’s all about the food. Thankfully, I’m doing a lot of walking. Now that the weather’s heating up, however, I’ll be spending more time indoors, which means….more food, dude. Here’s a sampling of what I’ve consumed:

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At Ann Sather (Just Good Food): The home-baked breads are a treat. The cinnamon roll was just about the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten

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Ann Sather’s fried catfish sandwich was a dream. There was also a salad with blue cheese dressing, and cole slaw. I was in Ann Sather heaven.

mexican-food

Mexican combo plate – Thursday lunch

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Half a roasted chicken with pita and cole slaw at Chicken Hut, Belmont & Broadway – Thursday dinner. Thanks to http://www.chicagogluttons.com/ for the recommendation!

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My first slice of real cheesecake in over 5 years – Bourgeois Pig cafe, breakfast on Friday

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The Majestic Burrito at Chicago Diner, with sour cream and guacamole – Friday lunch

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Turkey Panini and chocolate-cheesecake brownie at Austrian Bakery – Friday dinner

green-mill

In case you’re thinking that all I do is eat: the Green Mill lounge in Uptown, dating from the 1920s.

Still to come: I have exactly two days left in which to consume the following: a grilled reuben sandwich on rye, a deep dish pizza, Indian food, Thai food, and one final Greek gyros sandwich. Wish me luck.

sentimental journey

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Roger

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Chicago el

The weather in Chicago has been on the cool side, with enough of a breeze to make walking a pleasure, and to put me in the mood to contemplate the passage of more than 30 years. One of the purposes of this trip is to find out if reality matches my memories of a time and place long ago. It’s been a difficult process to remember the naive and confused young man I was in my early 20s, and to find traces of him in the middle-aged, and more cynical, person I’ve become. Another question I’m trying to answer is just how living in China has changed me. As you might expect, it’s a journey fraught with emotional baggage.

On another note, it’s been an exercise in photography and food. Some highlights of my sentimental trip so far:

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I’m staying at the Chicago Getaway Hostel on Arlington, on the near north side near Lincoln Park. It’s quite comfy, although I’m in a dorm room with 12 people.

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I’m within walking distance of my old stomping grounds, near Belmont and Broadway. It’s officially called Lakeview East, although it’s also known as Boystown, since the area is the city’s gay enclave.

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My old apartment building, 540 West Briar Place, where I lived after graduating from college in 1978. My first apartment was on the 8th floor. If I remember correctly, if you stood on the edge of the bathtub, looked out the small bathroom window, and then twisted your neck, you could just see Lake Michigan.

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Another sentimental journey: Ann Sather, “Just good food.” The Swedish restaurant was a staple of the old neighborhood, next to the Belmont el station, although today it’s been completely remodeled.

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Ann Sather, dining room

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The Chicago skyline from Diversey Harbor.

Next installment: more food fun, and lots of walking.

St. Louis

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Roger

I spent a few days in St. Louis with my brother Kenton, who’s working there for the summer with Stages St. Louis. It was the first time we’d seen other in 5 years. Needless to say, we had a lot of catching up to do.

Here are some of the things we saw (and ate):

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Kenton at the Mud House cafe

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St. Louis Cathedral

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Chicken panang curry – Thai restaurant

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Vegetarian platter – Mediterranean restaurant, Kirkwood

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Chicken shawerma plate – Mediterranean restaurant, Kirkwood

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I loved the Kirkwood, Missouri, train station.

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Parting view – the St. Louis Gateway Arch (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial) from the Amtrak train

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Ole Man River – crossing the Mississippi

amtrak-window

On the train – next stop, Chicago!

St. Joseph, Missouri

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Roger

I was back in my home town for 6 days.

When my students in China ask me to describe St. Joseph, Missouri, I don’t quite know what to say. I usually end up explaining that it was an important outfitting and supply center for pioneers traveling west in the mid-19th century, and that it was the starting point for the Pony Express mail delivery, which operated for a few years between St. Joseph and Sacramento, California.

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My dad, Gene, stepmother Bonnie, and my brother Kenton.

The occasion for my return was my father’s 85th birthday. It was my longest visit in many years, and my first return to the USA since leaving for China in 2006.

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Three Joneses: Kenton, Dad, and Roger

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Family & friends at Starbucks

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Dad’s 85th birthday dinner, Texas Roadhouse

After the birthday festivities, it was time to take the train to St. Louis to spend a couple of days with my brother Kenton. The weather has been incredibly hot and humid.

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Kansas City Union Station

Next stop: Chicago. My train journey continues tomorrow. Tonight we’re getting some much-needed rest at the Pear Tree Inn in Fenton, outside of St. Louis. More later, after I get to Chicago.

back in the USA

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Roger

Arrival: Seattle-Tacoma Airport

It was weird. First, there was the sign that said “Welcome to the United States of America,” a country hadn’t set foot in for 5 years. Then, there was the friendliness – everywhere.

“Welcome home,” said the smiling U.S. passport control officer, handing back my passport. The smile threw me, as did the “How are you today?” Smiling government functionaries seemed foreign to me after living for so long in China.

My first food on American soil: ham and cheese on a bagel, Seattle-Tacoma Airport

Things here seemed familiar, yet somehow very foreign. Within 5 minutes of landing at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport, I was in reverse culture shock.

My first view of the United States had been group of snow-covered mountains peeking through the clouds. Then there were more mountains, large expanses of water, and everywhere, the green of pine trees. It seemed an alien landscape. I’d never been in the Pacific Northwest before, yet this was all I would see of it, from a plane window.

I wandered through the airport, slightly dazed after my flight from Beijing. The people here were different: they were all Americans, and they all spoke English. For the first time in years, I blended in with everyone else.

My first impressions of being back in the U.S.: drinking fountains, toilet paper and towels in the restrooms, green money, “Have a nice day.” I changed my Chinese RMB into dollars at a currency exchange, and accidently left my suitcase behind. 15 minutes later, it was still there.

I had almost 4 hours to kill before my onward flight to Chicago. In total, I would be on the move for 24 hours before arriving at the hostel on Halsted Street in Chicago where I could rest my weary and confused self.

Chicago at last. The Parthenon Hostel is in the shadow of the Sears (Willis) Tower.

Breakfast at Artopolis Bakery, Cafe, & Agora

“Home of Chicago’s Best Gyros” – I ate there twice in 24 hours

Carson Pirie Scott store (Louis Sullivan) – entrance detail

I arrived in Chicago, took the train to the Parthenon Hostel just west of the Sears Tower, checked in, and immediately went to a corner restaurant for my first Greek gyros sandwich in 5 years. I ate it so fast I don’t think I even tasted it. The following day was for walking and stretching my legs after sitting on so many airplanes. I revisited some of my favorite buildings downtown, hung out at the Cultural Center to escape heat in the 90s, and visited a couple of bookstores.

Next morning, it was back to O’Hare Airport for the next leg of my journey, Kansas City, and a reunion with my family.

Chicago Cultural Center

The Rookery Building, atrium