I went up the L platform to meet my friend Brian, a groovy cat himself, and off we went to Pilsen, a Chicago area with notable Mexican food, in a city of very notable Mexican food.

Passing the rainbow building, we went to the “goat place” and had goat and cabeza (below) and consommé, the cure for the refrigeration of conference rooms and uninspiring box lunches.

Brian pointed out wonderful detail on buildings as we walked (I’m very taken by these four mythical women hand-painted on the doorways).

And then there was painting in progress,

and a plate of tender barbacoa down the street,

and Kristoffer’s tres leches cake so rich the milk almost spilled onto the plate.

Then, we headed over to a Vocalo party at WBEZ headquarters at Navy Pier and watched the sun disappear behind Chicago skyscrapers.

Walking back, I watched a rather masculine fountain spew,

and we stumbled upon the First Chicago International Poster Biennial:

My favorite part of the day, though, was inside the fountain, watching the blurred buildings through the colored water. Stray drops fell on my arms, and maybe it was the river, but I think this is a city where the transitions between who you were and what you may be are watery and fluid…

Until next time, charming Chicago—

p.s. If you recognized the title of this post, then we are friends…

Related posts:

1. an ATV chorus at the end of the world
2. All the world’s waiting for you
3. lagniappe