Chicago. The city of big shoulders. Known for its pizza, sports, and lately, the violence. A city that has some of the most beautiful architecture in neighborhoods that are blighted with urban drama and chaos. The city of my birth.

As a child, I thought Chicago was the most magical place in the world. I would go downtown with my mother when she went to work during winter, spring, and summer vacations. She worked as a cook at a restaurant called David’s Inn and I would have a blast.

The restaurant was located at 520 North Michigan and Kroch’s & Brentano’s bookstore was in the same building. It was one of my favorite places during my childhood and I spent so much time there lurking around. The employees would never say anything because who is going to chase away a child hanging out in a bookstore?

As I got older, and hung out with my friends, certain spots became a home away from home. Like the Treasure Chest Arcade Room. It was a great place for teens to congregate and play games. I have beautiful memories from that place which closed down in 1985 after a fire.

Teens love to eat so my friends and I spent a lot time eating at the various Ronnie’s Steakhouse located in the downtown Loop. The main Ronnie’s had a disco located on the second floor and man, we tried to get in there but was always told to get lost😄😄😄.

My friends and I used to wander around the streets of Chicago like the Goonies back in the 80s. We used to walk to the Museum of Science and Industry on Sundays when it was free. It used to be the spot for Black teenagers and we used to have a blast, flirting with the fellas.

We would walk to the beach and as we got older, we’d be on the beach until the break of dawn, drinking like a fish. Good times, good times but now Chicago is a different place. Due to the violence, teenagers no longer have the option of wandering around carefree because they might get shot and it makes me feel so bad. I tell my youngest daughter who is 22 my tales and she told me that she’s jealous because she can’t do this. I know that I’m a dreamer but I pray that my city rebounds and comes back.