There goes the neighbourhood!

[muckefuck]

Looks like the elements are conspiring to make my reintroduction to Chicago as smooth as can be. My walk to the train this morning was every bit as pleasant weatherwise as it would've been in SF--with the added bonus of sunshine! All seemed right with the world until I saw the huge POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS sawhorses on the corner of Argyle and Winthrop. That's an old drug dealing corner, so I assumed shots had been fired. But then I noticed, to my shock and surprise, that the windows of every building from the corner to the alley had been boarded up. A riot?

At this point, I smelled the char and noticed the scorch marks on the facades. The blaze seems to have been centred on the Cambodian market, but Tiền Giang Restaurant was hit hard, too. I confess, my first thought was What's the Vietnamese word for "Greek fire"? Later, it occurred to me that a lightening strike from Monday night's storm wasn't out of the question.

I didn't see much of the damage monshu was telling me about, but then I didn't walk very far into the park. Everyone I've talked to at work seems to have their own story of inconvenience and terror, however. Apparently, it was an impressive display of natural pyrotechnics. monshu says his apartment was really shaking. I'm just happy no water made it into my place.