On our local LH email list, someone complained about the ribbons that show up on Broadway during certain holidays, claiming that they stay up too long and start looking like trash. I’m not going to say much about the ribbons as I hate all holidays (well, except Halloween, any that give you time off from work, any that lead to drunken festivals, or any that celebrate worthy historical figures and dates, other than that I hate them all) and thus I am not in a position to make a value judgment on holiday decorations, though I do appreciate the civic minded efforts of the people that put them up. But that complaint got me thinking about trash in general and how people always seem to complain about the litter around town. Usually it’s middle class newcomers to the neighborhood that start the complaining, but often enough it’s also the old time locals fed up with their inability to deal with the problem. In any case, I think its merely a matter of perspective. Click ahead to see what I mean.
For example, you might see this as just some filthy cart full of trash, but when you give it a bit of thought, you’ll realize it’s an impromptu trash can a dedicated citizen commandeered in order to keep our streets clean. Good work fellow Lincoln Heightean!
Sure, this just looks like the regular furniture trash you often see during the first week of the month, but did you notice how these mattresses are nicely stacked together? That’s thoughtful.
Color coordinated trash, for the aesthetic sidewalk look. In LH, style and design actually means something.
Sure, you could just get rid of brown liquidy goo by just tossing it out on the sidewalk, but people here are considerate enough to put that goo in a manageable plastic bag. Classy to the core!
Sidewalk grass perfectly trimmed before the placement of First-o-Month furniture. Notice the torn box spring? It’s good form to check for a hidden stash of cash or other valuables before getting rid of it.
What the? Leaving trash out on the street like this is just plain rude. Don’t you people have manners? Call for bulky item pickup, you inconsiderate clods.
As you can see, for the most part people in LH go out of their way to be considerate about trash and littering in the neighborhood. Way to go LH team! Now where do we get our trophy?
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We were just commenting on how if you ever need a mattress or box spring set, Sunday night in Lincoln Heights is the place to go. There’s so many on the curb for bulky item pick-up.
El Chavo, I didn’t realize that you are a
crusty punk! Nice!
Thanks for the laugh, Chuck! That pic really captures the essence of crusty punkishness, I can practically smell them through the screen.
My favorite is the bag of bread someone so thoughtfully dumped on my sidewalk. were they trying to feed birds? or homeless people? hoping it would melt away in the rain that might come in three months? Also awesome, the “classic winnebago” that the neighborhood children used for paint-can and lemon throwing practice.
I was laughing moderately until I got to the “bag of goo” and then I busted out such that my housemate had to come over to see what as up.
OMG.
The brown bag.
Blecch!
Oh, my Gosh. You made me laugh! The ladies across the street like to put cans of catfood in front of our house for stray cats. But the stray cats never eat them, and the stray dogs could care less. So they sit there and start to cook in the sun. Eventually I have to put them in the garbage. But I mean, how thoughtful! Another thing that makes me tear up about life in LH: shopping carts. It’s just like the system in Amsterdam where people leave bikes for others to use. I never have to look far when I need a shopping cart. OK, so far I haven’t needed one, but that’s not the point.
This is the great sh…t we come see on your blog not any type of fancy graphics. Can you do a follow story on the contents of the brown bag goo?
My girl is from LH, thank you for the material, this is enough to make fun of her for atleast 3 months.
I noticed those ribbons on Broadway last week. Are they really left from Xmas?? Wow.
O M G. That was the funniest post I’ve ever read!
Somehow I stumbled upon your blog and I’m loving it, especially since it’s about my old neighborhood. If I could afford to buy a house there, I’d move back in a second. I miss the mysterious bags o’ brown goo and free mattresses.
Just thought I’d say I appreciate your good words about the ribbons. My mom, Shirley Fierro, puts them up for each holiday. She does it all herself. She feels like just a bit of good will help the area! I hope it does. Keep up your good work!