Introducing Our New Look the Chicago Way

FRANCES: Margaret Hicks, Chicago Tour Guide Extraordinaire, I need help.

MARGARET: Sure, anything, as long as it don’t land me in trouble with the boys downtown.

FRANCES: Nothin’ like that. Just looking to launch my Chicago blog’s new look with a real bang.

MARGARET: Like I said, I don’t want no trouble.

FRANCES: No trouble at all. Just something fun for da readers of my Chicago blog, Me & My Shadow.

MARGARET: What, you still passing yourself off as a Chicagoan?

FRANCES: You don’t have to live in Chicago to write about it. Chicago is a state of mind. I spent 45 years livin’ dere and now I live in the ‘burbs, just 23 miles from State and Madison. Trust me, I know da city.

MARGARET: OK, Two-Flat Girl,* tell me this: How many city blocks were recorded in 1830?**

FRANCES: They didn’t teach us that at Peterson (Elementary School).

MARGARET: Well, given that disadvantage, you get a pass.

FRANCES: And help?

MARGARET: It’s the Chicago way!

FRANCES: I want to reward my readers for stopping by to visit the new blog and sayin’ hello. A little something for putting in a word.

MARGARET: You talkin’ bribes?

FRANCES: Let’s not use that word. Ya never know who’s listenin’. Stick with reward. Any ideas?

MARGARET: I’d be willin’ to take a couple of your people on one of my city tours.

FRANCES: Gee, that’s a great idea, Margaret, but my readers, they know da city. What could you show them that they haven’t seen already?

MARGARET: They can come with me on a walk through one of Chicago’s most distinctive neighborhoods. Boystown was the first officially recognized gay village in the country and believe me, it has a lot to show for it. We’ll taste some wine at Kafka and learn about “queer space.” We’ll talk about the pansy craze of the 1920’s and end at a bar that survived one of it’s own Chicago Fires, Scarlet. It’s a great tour, really fun and relaxed. Like hanging out with old friends.

FRANCES: OK. Let’s send two of them on a tour. But what I’m gonna do about folks who aren’t lucky enough to live in the city that works?

MARGARET: I see your point. You need another bribe, I mean reward, for the out-of-towners.

FRANCES: I know. The out-of-towners can read about Chicago. I’ve got just the book.

FRANCES: Elaine Soloway, Chicago Author Extraordinaire, I need help.

ELAINE: Sure, of course you can have an autographed copy of my Chicago memoir, The Division Street Princess, for your blog drawing.

FRANCES: Wait a minute, you been eavesdropping on me? Margaret, are you wired?

ELAINE AND MARGARET: It’s the Chicago Way!

*Not claiming any relationship to Mike Royko who was the original “Two-Flat Man.” He was also “Bungalow Baby,” “Basement Flat Child,” “Flat Above the Tavern Youth,” “Attic Flat Man.”

**There were 58 blocks in the city in 1830.

Enter the Me & My Shadow Drawing to Win  a Chicago Tour or Book

Help spread the word about my blog and its new web address at https://francesarcher.com. Between now and July 30, post a comment on any post on my blog. Chicago area residents simply type the word “Chicago” as your comment and if you feel like it, leave a longer message. Out-of-towners, type “Chicago is a state of mind.”

The local winner will receive a voucher for two people for an Elevated Chicago tour led by Margaret Hicks, good for one year. You can give the voucher as gift if you’re unable to take the tour. The out-of-town winner will receive by mail an autographed copy of Elaine Soloway’s book, The Division Street Princess.

Chicago Elevated tours are not your grandmother’s tours! It’s the Fight Club of tours. We don’t point at buildings and spew out facts, we go into businesses, buildings and try to stay in the shade as much as possible! Margaret can also customize a private tour for you, got kids? We’ll set up a fun scavenger hunt for you? What about a company outing and you need something fun and different so your boss looks at you with respect? Call Chicago Elevated, we can set up anything that floats your boat, as long as you provide the boat.