Sweet Home Chicago -- or Austin

Back from my trip to Chicago, and it was good to be home. I saw many friends, took care of errands (like my taxes and a good haircut-thank you Kim) and had some mom-time with Judy, when I could pry her out of the house. The world she recognizes and trusts gets smaller each day.

My mom doesn’t remember where I live, or when I will be back in front of her again, and I honestly don’t know what to tell her, or anyone. I am torn as to where my home actually is. Chicago has much love for me, and is filled with family and friends, but I tire of the high taxes, government corruption, the dreary weather, and its most popular past times of eating and drinking.

I could be traveling in the wrong crowds, because sometimes being rooted in a place too long, lets you be lazy, stop exploring opportunities and while you travel your old, tried and true goat paths. Obviously Chicago has live music, but something about Austin’s scene is so refreshing. People treat the artists with great deference. They have “listening rooms”, not bars. Although it is a bar, with tables, chairs, and an actual bar with drinks, but people become irritated if you are talking too much and not listening to the artist in front of you. Or they are dancing to the music. And you know I LOVE to dance.

Plus, music in Austin is on every corner, literally every coffeeshop, grocery store, record store, even the airport. That rocks. And not only does it rock, but its country , and Swing -type honky tonk, and some punk, all of this and more. And the depth of talent is impressive. My housemate and I heard a guy named Dan Dyer at Central Market North (yes, a supermarket) he would make Shuba's or the Bottom Lounge proud.

In Chicago, The Pritzker Pavilion is a lovely addition to the music scene. It is scenic on the North End of Millenium Park, and the acoustics are perfect. The price is free, so basically unbeatable, but it is an outdoor venue and open for a few months of the year.

Also, most music I hear in Chicago is a back drop to drinking and catching up with friends. Again, maybe I am in the wrong venues in Chicago, or it is what you make of it.

Austin has lots of hiking, and kayaking. It is beautiful here- mostly year round. A real jewel of forest preserves and lakes (that are really the dammed off portions of the Colorado River) in a city struggling to not develop into a metropolis. Its small town charm, plus its urban amenities make it a utopia for many transients.

There seems to be a fight brewing for Austin’s soul or at least its way of life. There are so many new transplants from bigger, urban areas, that there is a bit of backlash against foreigners (people are other states-it is Texas, and they really do think they are their own country), and people who haven’t lived in Austin for over 10 years. It is a snide and ugly face to Austin, that their Southern manners hide well, but I have heard the snickerings. People here are proud to be Texans, there are more State of Texas flags flying then American flags, but those are populous too.

It is a beautiful and livable city. I too would guard it from the strange, city folk who the Austinites believe will destroy their way of life with fancy high rises, increasing rents and jaded rudeness. Attitude is any form is not normally found here.

Already the South By Southwest music and film festival has transformed into a national event, that I noticed many locals just avoiding in parts or altogether this year, because it is too overrun with people now. Better to just see some music the following week, when you don't need to worry about wrist bands, lines and finding a seat.

That is a problem in Chicago. Too many people all trying to do the same things. So many lines, it was a treat to find a place for Sunday brunch where there wasn't a 45 minute wait, or a bar where you could get a drink right away. Using the lakefront made you a defensive runner, biker or rollerblader, because you never knew if someone's kid was going to travel across the bike path chasing a ball.

Chicago’s electricity and energy comes from so many people though, and the natural beauty of Lake Michigan, is undeniable. I remember many Summer mornings walking Baxter down to Oak Street beach early in the morning, and feeling like I was in Florida with the Atlantic Ocean stretched out in front of me as he repeated jumped in to fetch his ball.

Plus Chicago has abundant man-made architectural beauty. The Art Institute, Cultural Center, Millenium Park, UIC-area historic homes, neighborhood bungalows, and all the various skyscrapers serve as a testament to man’s forward progress through the years.

Knowing I can navigate the bustling urban landscape, and have an insider’s eye from years of experience in this fast-paced metropolis makes me feel young, savvy and energetic. I can't help it. It makes me feel competent.

That the gritty students who hop on the Orange line at the Art Institute stop don’t scare me with their loud meanderings and music mean I am not an old fuddy-duddy. Though I will admit, they were annoying and brash. Their adolescent flirting of physically hitting your crush (one guy was i guess "lovingly" kicked in the balls on my trip), and now apparently profanity is quite popular as a term of endearment. Of course as a teen, you do need to act out so loud that everyone can hear you. Even I remember that.

While not a fuddy-duddy, I have become a weary, urban warrior, and I did curse myself a bit for not accepting the two offers I had for a ride to Midway.

So while Austin fights for its way of life amidst of a crowded sea of transplants like myself. I will struggle to find out which landscape I now fit.
The savvy, overcrowded, urban arena of Chicago or the laid back, creative, livability of Austin. I’ll let you know when I find out. I would love it to be both.