A couple of months in the past, I was in Wrigleyville speaking to a lady from the western suburbs who stated she had by no means ridden on a CTA elevated prepare or L, although she’s lived within the Chicago space for many years.
“Wow. That’s unbelievable,” I stated, considering of how a lot I relied on the L, notably when I was youthful.
I fearful I sounded smug, so I tried to easy issues over by saying that it was comprehensible since she had by no means lived close to an L line.
Later, with extra humility, I considered the quintessential Chicago issues I’ve by no means achieved. I’ve by no means been to Taste of Chicago or a White Sox sport at Guaranteed Rate Field.
To carry this “never have I ever” sport nearer to house, I considered all of the Evanston experiences I haven’t had, regardless of having lived right here for the reason that early 1990s:
I’ve by no means attended a Northwestern soccer sport or every other exercise at Ryan Field. I’ve been to loads of sporting occasions at Welsh-Ryan Arena and different Northwestern venues, however I have by no means set foot contained in the confines of Ryan Field. (I didn’t go there when it was referred to as Dyche Stadium both.)
Now that Ryan Field is being demolished, I’ll have to attend for the brand new stadium to make my debut.
I’ve by no means been to an Evanston Township High School soccer sport, house or away. I’ve sat within the stands at Lazier Field for different occasions involving my kids, who attended ETHS and performed an assortment of sports activities there. And I dropped them off and picked them up on Church Street once they attended soccer video games. But I’ve by no means been a spectator myself, not even for the first night football game performed underneath the lights in 2008.
I’m attributing this to the truth that, once they have been in highschool, none of my youngsters performed soccer, was a cheerleader, a member of the Pomkits dance crew or a part of the marching band.
I really feel worse about this gap in my Evanston resume than the Ryan Field omission. I suppose it’s because I really feel extra affinity for ETHS than Northwestern.
I have by no means shopped at Valli Produce. I hear nice issues about this grocery retailer within the Evanston Plaza on Dempster Street, however I’ve by no means shopped there. When I had youngsters at ETHS, I shopped on the Dominick’s in the identical house. But after the final one graduated, I received out of the behavior.
I’ve by no means been contained in the Frances Willard House Museum on Chicago Avenue. Like many individuals, I take without any consideration the landmarks in my very own yard, so this isn’t completely unusual.
According to a RoundTable story in March, the museum and its archives have been lately caught in an ideological tug-of-struggle. But based on its new website, the museum is alive and nicely, and summer season excursions will resume in late May.
I’ve by no means toured the Grosse Point Lighthouse close to Lighthouse Beach. I have walked across the grounds, although.
I haven’t been contained in the Halim Time and Glass Museum on Oak Avenue. This museum isn’t fairly as well-known because it’s newer, however a buddy informed me after it opened in 2017 that it’s value a go to.
I’ve by no means participated in Bike the Ridge, which is an annual fall occasion throughout which Ridge Avenue is closed to site visitors apart from bikers.
Aside from this checklist, I really feel like I’m steeped in Evanston. For instance, I know what it’s like to attend within Buffalo Joe’s, money in hand, to select up a celebration pan of wings, whereas exterior the moon hovers over Lake Michigan, the road lamps glow dimly and L trains screech and rattle by.