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* Isabel’s question of Sen. Darren Bailey today…
Q: While you’re in Chicago immersing yourself in the culture, do you plan to take public transportation?
Bailey: It’s a good idea. I hadn’t thought about that. I want to immerse myself in the culture. So thank you for that idea. That’s what makes this great. Let’s talk, let’s communicate. I need to know where I need to be, what I need to do. I love it.
* Neil Steinberg has more ideas…
You’re moving to Chicago … why? As a display of courage? You said, to immerse yourself in the culture. Fair enough, Darren Bailey, let’s get to it. You can’t just spend the next … umm … eight weeks rushing from the Hancock entrance, surrounded by a phalanx of linemen from Xenia Junior College into a pair of waiting black SUVs. What does that prove?
Nothing erodes fear like experience. We need to get you out on the town, over to the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen. Founded by teachers, you know. C’mon, I’ll take you, and even pick up the admission (ote-nay oo-tay eaders-ray: ission-admay is ee-fray). Then lunch at 5 Rabanitos. I love that place. Or “5 Radishes” in Spanish. See? You’re learning already!
Nor will we limit ourselves to one part of the city. We’ll ride the L, we’ll wander around Bronzeville, unafraid. Over the past 35 years, I’ve pretty much ranged across the entire city. From South Avenue O, within spitting distance of the Indiana border, to streets below Lower Wacker Drive. And let me tell you a secret: You can go anywhere in Chicago. It’s OK. Back when there were high-rise public housing projects — the Robert Taylor Homes, Cabrini-Green — I visited them all. At night. You know who lived there? Not demons with pitchforks. People. Working folks. Women lugging groceries. Some places are more dangerous, some less, but my personal rule is: If people can live there, I can visit. Never got shot once.
* The Question: Any Chicago tips for candidate Bailey?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:11 pm
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Everyone in Chicago puts ketchup on their hot dogs. Darren, you will fit right in doing that.
Comment by Edgefield Park Booster Club Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:15 pm
Every cabbie in Chi-town knows where Edgefield Park is. Flag down a cab and come visit.
Comment by Edgefield Park Booster Club Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:17 pm
Go cycling through Six Corners. With video please.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:18 pm
I’ll believe he’s immersing himself in Chicago culture when he’s caught taking a leak on a Wrigleyville lawn
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:19 pm
Don’t forget to visit the North Side, say a quick walk up Halsted between Belmont and Addison. It’s just a few blocks from the L, and a great place to press the flesh with some voters you may not have run into down in your district. They’ll love your haircut, but you’ll want to wear a cap to fit in.
Comment by Dysfunction Junction Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:22 pm
===Go cycling through Six Corners===
Let’s not try to get the guy killed.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:22 pm
Neil’s column is spot on. If Bailey genuinely wants to better understand Chicago, there’s no better way than by meeting with community organizations in their communities and letting them have meaningful conversations. Just a few ideas off the top of my head…
Young Chicago Authors
My Block, My Hood, My City
Chicago Community Bond Fund
Mujeres Latinas en Acción
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Heartland Alliance
Apna Ghar
GoodKids MadCity
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Howard Brown Health Center
I’m sure someone could come up with a better list of organizations that is more comprehensive and representative of the city as a whole, but this is a start.
Comment by Skokie Man Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:25 pm
Head to the 41st or 19th wards. You’ll feel right at home.
Comment by ElTacoBandito Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:26 pm
Ride the CTA trains: Red, Blue, Brown, and Orange for starters. Then the CTA busses 151, 22, 36 for north/south travel. Use the CTA bus tracker available on your cell phone to locate east/west routes. Also, try the 606 trail for some exercise.
Live and travel like Chicago residents do every day.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:27 pm
===Let’s not try to get the guy killed.
I don’t want him killed, I just want him stuck in the middle as traffic won’t let him move.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:28 pm
Manny’s for the obligatory pastrami on rye.
Any street food truck for a true Chicago hot dog.
Wander the Grant Park and the bean.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:31 pm
He could probably do this on a day…
Drive “into” town on DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Park at a city garage
Board of Trade
Sears Tower
Chez Quis
Wrigley Field
Art Institute
Parade on Dearborn
That’s a day.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:31 pm
What better way to get bipartisan support for better biking infrastructure in the city than to have him see the issues first-hand?
Comment by Tim Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:31 pm
DB should make sure to check out Webers Bakery and Racine Bakery on Archer. On second thought forget it. Once he tries the food he may never leave.
Comment by SouthSideGT Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:32 pm
Answer the challenge they threw down on Twitter and go to the Weiners Circle.
Comment by Facts Matter Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:34 pm
Manny’s Deli
Walk around on North Halstead
Go hit west Fulton
Go walk around a decent-sized cemetery (St Boniface comes to mind)
Would second Weiners Circle.
Ride a divy around for a while.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:39 pm
Get a Divvy and ride the lakefront trail down to MSI. Then turn around, ride back, admire that glorious skyline and tell us all again how much of a hellhole we are.
Comment by New Day Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:41 pm
Take in a block party on the NW side. 50-50 chance Rob Martwick himself hands you a sno cone.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:42 pm
====Head to the 41st or 19th wards. You’ll feel right at home.=====
In the western part of the 19th ward in Mt Greenwood that will definitely be true. But another reason for him to visit the 19th is the only working farm in the city is the Chicago Ag school located at the edge of the city in Mt Greenwood. I would guess he would get good media coverage and have a good turn out for an event.
Then again I am not sure why I am giving Darren free political advice.
Comment by Been There Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:48 pm
Idea. Beetle, quit the the Gov’s race, you clearly are unqualified.
Immerse in culture - living in the Hancock.
How stupid can ideas get ?
Go back to tending you chickies & milking yo cows.
Help keep IL good government.
Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:48 pm
btw. Nice positive commentary by Steinberg
Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:49 pm
Quoting the best tweet I’ve seen in awhile, from account @mollyfleck
“I can’t stop laughing at Darren Bailey moving into the Hancock Building so that he can ‘immerse [himself] in the culture.’
My brother in Christ, you live above a Cheesecake Factory.”
Comment by Commissar Gritty Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:51 pm
To the question, if he wants to experience Chicago culture, he needs to go get yelled at in a Weiner Circle. They would eat that poor man alive
Comment by Commissar Gritty Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:52 pm
Hey, come hang out with us in Schaumburg we all say we’re from Chicago anyway.
Comment by Snarky from Schaumburg Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:53 pm
“That’s a day.” Perhaps even a day off.
He should visit Lane Tech, my alma matter. The building has about twice the population of the entirety of Clay County Schools. Might give him some perspective.
Comment by Proud Sucker Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 3:56 pm
“My brother in Christ, you live above a Cheesecake Factory.”
I have nothing to add, but that’s so good that I wanted it to show up twice in the comment thread.
Comment by Skokie Man Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:01 pm
The Bataan is a must do. Its better to share that with Mike Pence, however.
Comment by Chris Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:01 pm
Darren Bailey should go to one of the local Finance Companies and ask to go on some outside field calls (collection call) with them. He will see the heart of the City then and how those living paycheck to paycheck actually live. He needs to be in the weeds and get those shoes dirty. Not riding around in that blacked out SUV. Get out with the people who he thinks he’s talking to. If not go back to Southern Illinois and take DeVore with him.
Comment by Club J Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:02 pm
==y brother in Christ, you live above a Cheesecake Factory.”==
Does it still have that giant mushroom theme?
Too bad the Best Buy in the building went out of business, he could have picked up some Kid Rock and Ted Nugent CDs.
Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:04 pm
-Answer the challenge they threw down on Twitter and go to the Weiners Circle.-
Think of all the new adjectives he could learn about himself. He might be there a while until the staff is through with him, though.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:08 pm
- Proud Sucker -
Lots of Easter eggs.
Molly’s tweet? Cheesecake Factory?
It’s a Twitter I check out often…
…it’s “restaurant quality”,
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:10 pm
A considerable donation to the Chicago Food Depository if Darren Bailey rode the Red Line north to Howard, south to 95th Street, then back to State/Chicago stop.
Bailey could easily walk to the Hancock from the State/ Chicago stop. Pictures, witnesses and documentation, please.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:11 pm
Take in baseball games at Wrigley and Sox Park, and be sure to tell the locals you like both teams, or in the alternative that you love the Cardinals while at Wrigley.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:11 pm
Chicago is a great city. Don’t be afraid, visit every neighborhood, great food and great people everywhere.
= They’ll love your haircut,=
I see what you did here and I love it.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:12 pm
” So, what can I do to make Chicago a little more he!!ish today? I know, I’ll move there for a few weeks.”
/S
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:21 pm
===Get a Divvy…===
But please don’t ride on the sidewalk.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:30 pm
Stay away from the Mayor of Harvey. He was personally involved in a gun battle today on Chicago’s North Side.
Comment by Occam Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:32 pm
Here are some fun evenings Bailey can have in North Side neighborhoods I’ve spent time in:
Andersonville: dinner at Hamburger Mary’s, a show at the Neo-Futurists, and a drink at the Hopleaf. It’s a can’t-miss date night.
Wicker Park: stand in line all night waiting to get into The Violet Hour. Depending on when he gets out of there, he can get the truly immersive experience of a 4am gyro at The Hat.
Lakeview: I’m a big fan of Crisp, the Korean fried chicken place at Broadway and Belmont. After that he can do a little bar hopping from Sidetracks on down to Berlin. If he’s got all day, he can make a pilgrimage to Ann Sathers, I’m sure Alderman Tunney would have quite the spread laid out for him.
Lincoln Park: nobody in the state needs the humbling experience of Wiener Circle more than Darren Bailey. He should really just set himself up in a dunk tank out back, then dry off and pop into Kingston Mines.
Comment by vern Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:34 pm
== Every cabbie in Chi-town knows where Edgefield Park is. Flag down a cab and come visit. ==
It’s at Madison & Addison. Natch.
Comment by Northsider Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:34 pm
Jimmy’s hotdogs on Grand and Pulaski.
Comment by Chito Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:37 pm
The fact that Bailey has never thought about riding public transportation speaks volumes about the man.
Comment by someonehastosayit Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 4:49 pm
Yeah, put ketchup on your hot dog to really impress the crowd!
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:02 pm
==The fact that Bailey has never thought about riding public transportation speaks volumes about the man.==
Mind you Lori probably thinks the same way.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:06 pm
How about Steamworks?
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:06 pm
Chicago was recently named the best city for craft beer. I’d suggest he visit some of the microbreweries, but I doubt he imbibes.
Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:33 pm
==Back when there were high-rise public housing projects — the Robert Taylor Homes, Cabrini-Green — I visited them all. At night. You know who lived there? Not demons with pitchforks. People. Working folks. Women lugging groceries==
Jane Byrne also lived there once.
Comment by Just Sayin Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:36 pm
* The Question: Any Chicago tips for candidate Bailey?
Don’t stay too long. You’re acting like fish out of water in the big city and the longer you stay the more gaffes you’re going to make. But enjoy some good food while you’re here. Go to Al’s in Little Italy, hit up Milagro’s in Pilsen for an awesome burrito, go to Chinatown for dim sum, try any tavern style pizza on the south or southwest side, Manny’s deli for a giant corn beef sandwich, Soluri’s or Ricobene’s or Nottoli Italian delis for their special sandwiches, a Maxwell Street Polish at Jim’s, and Johnnie’s in Elmwood Park.
And finally, since you’re at the Hancock, walk over to Huron and Wabash to L’Appetito and get a spicy Italian sub. That place has been there for years and they have great sandwiches. It’s a half mile walk. I think there used to be a location in the basement/lower lever of the Hancock building but closed years ago.
Comment by Baloneymous Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:43 pm
It doesn’t matter how much Bailey “immerses” himself in Chicago culture. If he’s elected, come Nov 9th, Chicago won’t see him again until 2026.
I’m not from Chicago, nor have I ever lived there, but he should watch CharlieBo’s videos on Youtube and go where he goes, then talk to Vic Maggio from his youtube channel, Bloody Chicago.
Comment by Fivegreenleaves Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:44 pm
Also, Bailey uprooting and moving to Chicago just proves how out of touch he is with downstate Illinois voters. We can’t just up and move like he did. He lives in a world the rest of us don’t. At least Pritzker isn’t trying to bury us like Bailey in his anti-worker, anti-union agenda.
Comment by Fivegreenleaves Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:46 pm
Ricobene’s on 26th Street. Free parking, safe place. A lot of Chicago police come and eat in there. Plus, the diverse customer base and staff … really embody Chicago.
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:51 pm
I mean the CTA is legitimately not being run well with staffing issues post-pandemic. There was a protest at CTA HQ today that BlockClubChicago covered regarding its poor service. It would be helpful if Sen. Bailey learned of these issues as some candidates for Mayor are harping on Lightfoot about.
Comment by Hot Taeks Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 5:58 pm
Attend as many envelope parties as possible. Unless it requires taking the Blue line at night.
Comment by Joshua P. Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 6:02 pm
===they have great sandwiches===
They’re also very nice people. A friend went there today to get coffee, forgot her wallet, but since she’s a semi-regular customer they just told her to pay them the next time she stops in.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 6:04 pm
===They’re also very nice people. ===
That’s great and doesn’t surprise me. I haven’t been there in years. But for a spot right off the Mag Mile they’ve always had reasonable prices and the owner and staff were always so nice. I remember that much and is why I used to always go back there. So many other places downtown are like assembly lines and tourist traps. L’Appetito is a local neighborhood spot right in the middle of high rise condos, global hotels and thousands of tourists and daily commuters. One of the places I miss the most when I used to live and work nearby.
Comment by Baloneymous Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 6:34 pm
While he immerses himself in the city, he should take every opportunity to remind people he voted against an elected Chicago School Board.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 6:57 pm
Quartinos. And of course the Navy Pier.
Comment by Blue Dog Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 7:29 pm
On the odd chance you are not elected governor, come back in March and watch the river turn green.
Comment by Lurker Wednesday, Sep 14, 22 @ 11:16 pm
==On the odd chance you are not elected governor, come back in March and watch the river turn green. ==
On the odd chance he’s not elected, he’s never coming back to the City of Broad Shoulders.
Come to think of it, on the odd chance he *is* elected, I suspect he’s never coming back either.
Comment by Dysfunction Junction Thursday, Sep 15, 22 @ 8:07 am