The Maxwell Street Market was one of the most important cultural events in the city of Chicago. Started by European Jews in the 1870s, it was a collection of crowds, noises, smells, sounds, and open air haggling. Every weekend, people of almost every ethnicity gathered in this open air market to exchange goods and services, and be a part of the crowd. What was really, cool, though, as I understand it, was the live street performing. There were your average fare like clowns and juggelers, but then there were the truly unique. There was this guy, "Chicken Man", who performed with a live chicken sitting on his head. And then of course there were the blues legends. It sounds amazing, but for free, you could listen to greats such as John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Robert Nighthawk, and Eddie Boyd!
Can you imagine the thrifiting that would have gone on at this place? Today, the Maxwell Street Market has been relocated, and still exists in a modified yet less glorious form. I haven't been to the "New Maxwell Street Market, so I can't say how it is. Signs point to it being very yuppified. The city moved it in order to expand the campus of UIC. I guess they placated a few of the regulars by putting up a statue "commemorating" the original market. It seems hardly fitting to move such a living statue of diversity, only to replace it with Caribou Coffee and a parking garage, and flanked by a bronze, forgettable, and unnoticed statue of a Jewish man selling his wares.
update: Okay I'm going to be visiting the market asap. The reviews on yelp have made me feel as if I don't know anything about Chicago and need to get out more. It still may be awesome. I will update asap.
