Trib Gets Loopy: Parts IV/V

By Margaret Lyons in News on Jul 30, 2004 7:52PM

In the final installment of the "Unauthorized Loop" (we didn't recap yesterday's two poems), the Trib takes on the people of the Loop. Only 389 people are listed as actually living in the Loop, and 9 of them are the only residents of their blocks. Chicagoist gets freaked out when we're the only one home, let alone the only one on the block. Yipes.

Next, the Trib reports on the "street preacher" who stands outside Old Navy and tells Chicagoist that we're going to hell. That never gets old, by the way. Love it. Love it, love it. Samuel Chambers, 66, believes that "'People should obey God and stick with the Scriptures,'" which sounds pretty OK until he shouts in your face about the kinds of women that God hates.

"People are very hostile, and they do things that aren't right," he said. "Like spit on me or kick me. I've had knives pulled on me, guns. Somebody tried to burn the suit off my back; somebody put some Mace in my face. People try to keep me off the street that way….I wouldn't say that I have a following," says Chambers (although people do gather to listen to him). "And I don't know if Chicago needs me or not. But this is where God told me to come."

We wish they had written a little more about the shoe-repair guy, but we'll take any endearing human interest story we can get. Mike Morelli, a third-generation shoe repairer, has to convince people to chuck cruddy briefcases and shoddy shoes. While that doesn't sound great for business, it's a sweet gesture.

Ty Tabing, executive director of the Greater State Street Council, thinks that "A lot of the crap from yesteryear is beginning to be replaced" in the Loop as a result of a new residential influence. Loop residents may have a positive impact on Loop retail, but there's nothing to do at night. Not even for college students.

We liked this special section of the Trib, probably not as much as we thought we would, and it definitely lost a little steam as the week went on, but one element was constantly fabulous: the photos. Alex Garcia, we heart your shots.