On our way out of Chicago this morning, we stopped at Studs Terkel’s house to talk with the master oral historian and dedicate our booth to him.
Studs sat down in the booth and shared some wonderful stories with us. Among so much else, he explained how technical blunders can sometimes be an asset, bemoaned the waning presence of the human voice in our culture, and told of a bus-stop confrontation during which he convinced a self-proclaimed anti-unionist that Labor Day should be celebrated.
At 93, Studs still has a mind like a trap, an encyclopedic knowledge of history and, seemingly, the ability to recall every person he’s ever interviewed. As he says, "Curiosity didn’t kill this cat!"
Thank you deeply for your hospitality, advice and constant inspiration, Studs!
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"Show me the grease!" Mr. Syed, proprietor of Bhabi’s Kitchen, challenged. Having just enjoyed some of the freshest, most carefully prepared Indian food of the tour, we were at a loss to do so. Mr. Syed went onto explain his philosophy of food, which StoryCorps Facilities Manager Kayvon Bahramian elegantly summarized: "If it’s sticky, it’s icky!"
Located just off of Devon Ave., the center of Chicago’s Indian community, Bhabi’s was enthusiastically recommended to us by visitors to the booth.
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What was once the Maxwell Street Market is now held along Chicago’s Canal Street. Vendors selling anything and everything line the street for blocks. We hit the street this Sunday in search of some epoxy and a high-quality power sprayer. Though these items proved elusive, we enjoyed taking in the scene, as well as several tacos.
Not for kids…
Facilitator Nick Yulman considers taking up lucha libre. Viva El Oidor!
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One of the more pleasant ways to enjoy Chicago’s amazing architecture is by taking a boat tour down the Chicago River.
Facilitator Rani Shankar remembers not to stand up while passing under one of the tour’s 23 bridges.
After an informative journey, Facilitator Nick Yulman salutes Chicago’s First Lady.
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Maxwell Street was once home to Chicago’s busiest open-air market: a place where one could shop at hundreds of street stalls while listening to live electric blues. These days, it’s the sight of a major redevelopment project being carried out by the University of Illinois.
Field Museum staffer, Maxwell Street preservationist, and StoryCorps participant Lori explains to Facilitator Nick Yulman that the facades of these old buildings have been disassembled, rearranged, and grafted onto a new structure which houses a parking garage.
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Many interesting things pass by the booth here in Chicago. Today, there was a high school marching band in full regalia…
…and a fleet of tourists on Segways.
Who says Chicago is a walking city?
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One of our favorite things about Chicago is the daily bike ride to and from the booth along the shimmering Lakeshore
Here’s a simulation.
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New MobileBooth facilitator Rani Shankar shamed veteran facilitator Brett Myers, who is staying on through the opening day in Chicago to help train her and her partner Nick Yulman. She employed expert navigation techniques to get the booth to its new home in front of Chicago’s Field Museum without a single hitch. Brett had set the bar a little lower. His motto was "If we’re lost for less than half a day, we’re doing pretty well!"
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The open road can be a mighty lonesome place when you are tasked with keeping safe the prettiest mobile recording booth on the planet and the most talented facilitators in the universe, but StoryCorps Advance Coordinator Zac Barr shoulders that responsibility with a wink and a smile, here on Interstate 94, en route to Chicago, Illinois.
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On our way to Chicago, we stopped at the home of Franklin and Polly, friends of StoryCorps.
They fed us lunch and lemonade, shared their stories, and gave us precise directions to downtown Chicago.
It was such a perfect afternoon that it took us all an extra hour just to peel ourselves off of their front yard and back into the truck for the remaining trip. Thank you, Franklin and Polly, for making your home feel like our home.
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