Holidays - 49th and King Drive

47th Street has to be the most industrial side street in this city. To drive down this street is to pass through a living monument to the part of the city that manufactured and shipped food, equipment, and materials for the entire country.

My destination matches the architectural mood of the confident buildings on this boulevard. The front entrance has the look of an athletic fieldhouse. Its large stone base supports the swooping arched roof which frames the frosted glass windows of the structure’s front entrance.

An elderly lady in stiletto heels accidentally drops a bracelet. We exchange good morning greetings as I pick it up and hand it to her. Inside the lobby, two ushers are discussing whether a chair should be placed in front of the auditorium door entrance. I pass them and walk inside the auditorium. The building’s arched roof is even more impressive on the inside.

Small groups of people are scattered around the padded seats of this hall, waiting for the event to begin. Most of the people assembled so far are older, many of the women are wearing colorful Sunday hats, many of the men are in suits. An elderly gentleman in a two-piece suit greets me with an extended hand:

“Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, brother. Glad to see you. Happy New Year!”

The journey continues in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the south side, at the corner of 49th Street and King Drive.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

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