This is a street sculpture just up the road from the theatre (in my way home).
It’s 3 motor bikes half buried in a plant pot. The photo doesn’t quite do it justice. And that’s the el (elevated train line) painted yellow behind it.
By the way, a couple of interesting Chicago facts: their 1893 World’s Fair debuted the first Wrigley’s chewing gum. And at the same fair was Mr Ferris’ first wheel. It was 3 or 4 times the size of most modern Ferris wheels: each carriage was the size of a modern bus, holding 40 seated and 20 standing passengers!
By the way, the Wrigley of the chewing gum fame are the ones for whom Wrigley Field (the ball park 2 doors from the iO theatre) is named. And a beautiful white terracotta building downtown. There’s a photo in my google photos somewhere.
Today has been a lazy day: I flitted over to the English guys’ beautifully appointed short-term rental for a party last night. They barbecued (hot dogs) on the roof.
I got home around quarter past two, having drunk nearly 2 litres of tonic (and the gin to match). Nice touch (but a little suss), the 250ml Gordon’s bottle is plastic. The label shouts “unbreakable bottle”.
Had a massage at 11, and napped for most of the day.
Am right now at an improvised Shakespeare show at iO. I even had to pay for my ticket, since the show will sell out they say. That’s a good sign: the show I have most enjoyed the Armando (actually the Armando Diaz Experience and Hootenanny) was also a sell out. I could have seen Harolds for free downstairs in the Del Close cabaret theatre, but I figure I can see hit and miss impro at home! I want to see the good stuff.
So Shakespeare it is. And then I’ll grab a cab to the Apollo Theatre to see the Second City show “Baby wants Candy”. It’s a long-running “rock opera” musical show. Apparently the guy who plays Kenneth in 30Rock is/was in it (he is still on their posters at least. The English people saw it last week and recommended it highly.
So a slow day to prepare my mind for some great impro!!
An observation: maybe because we ask for so many, we Sydney improvisors seem to be differently honed for audience suggestion-getting. These guys just say “give me a word”. When they are only using it to begin a series of other things I guess it matters little. Will see what the Shakespeare troupe ask for.
