What Maxwell St. Looked Like Today

What Maxwell St. Looked Like Today

Driving back from Midway, I stopped by Maxwell Street Market. On any given Sunday, the likelihood of encountering another LTHer is quite high: I ran into premier pizzaiolo Mark Bello within moments of hitting the market.

My first purchase was from Seedman:



Years ago, my brother bought peanuts that he said Seedman told him were “made with ham.” I quizzed Seedman about this and he showed me squash seeds “made with ham” and ones “made with a machine.” Ah…I bought several varieties of the former – I like the simple flavor, the lack of heavy salt armor on these squash seeds is quite pleasant, a clean, unadulterated flavor.



I needed socks (I’ve been wearing almost constantly the dozen pairs I bought on Maxwell in 2004). I bought another dozen pairs, to hold me through 2011 or so. Not bad for five bucks.



I talked to the Sock Guy who’d been working the market since the 70s. When I mentioned the rumored move to Des Plaines Ave., the Sock Guy rolled his eyes and said, “Do NOT believe that shit.”

I had me a bowl of seafood cocktail at Ricos Huaraches, which I ate sitting next to the dumpster; the mixture of catsup, hot sauce and sweet broth was so good I almost drank the remaining five ounces or so of sauce, it was that good even without any remaining seafood in it.

Here’s a new stand; they sell chef’s whites and checks – appropriate in that so many of Chicago chefs are Hispanic.



Here’s another new stand: overtly political, selling t-shirts explaining alleged war crimes of current administration. There were several socialist firebrands spreading revolution (books and videos) among the customers. I felt no need for further conversion.



Long-time time Maxwell Street goers will recognize this formerly no-name stand that sells eyeball tacos:



Check the new sign: the place has been christened Tito’s tacos. Reviewing these pix, I noticed an unfamiliar menu item at the bottom of this board. Machitos, I believe, are lungs, heart and other goat offal. Anyone ever have these?



Another new stand was selling monitors and electronics equipment. I might think twice about buying a flat screen here.



One thing about the market remains the same: The Masa Madonna endures. I would have loved to have snapped a pic of her up close, but I felt I needed to maintain a respectful distance, her Olmec sobriety and averted gaze suggesting it was almost sacrilege to steal her image so crudely…so I hid behind another customer and knocked off a shot:



Hammond

I was trying to find something on Tito's list that I might want to sample. I'm still trying.

Hammond,

I've spent the last hour or so looking at your past Maxwell Steet Market posts, it's amazing how much has changed over the years while remaining very much the same.

David Hammond wrote:I needed socks (I’ve been wearing almost constantly the dozen pairs I bought on Maxwell in 2004). I bought another dozen pairs, to hold me through 2011 or so. Not bad for five bucks.

It's always been about the socks for you, hasn't it?

David Hammond wrote:One thing about the market remains the same: The Masa Madonna endures. I would have loved to have snapped a pic of her up close, but I felt I needed to maintain a respectful distance, her Olmec sobriety and averted gaze suggesting it was almost sacrilege to steal her image so crudely…so I hid behind another customer and knocked off a shot:

I am not quite as circumspect.




Masa Madona gifts me a rare smile.


Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:

David Hammond wrote:I needed socks (I’ve been wearing almost constantly the dozen pairs I bought on Maxwell in 2004). I bought another dozen pairs, to hold me through 2011 or so. Not bad for five bucks.

It's always been about the socks for you, hasn't it?

So I'm going through my 12 pack today, and I find not 1 but 2 defective socks! No ribbing on the upper end, limp elastic, horribly misshapen. I feel cheated, overwhelmed with disillusionment. The Sock Guy seemed so honest, so sincere, and now, I feel empty, sad, and with but 11 pair for my 5 bucks. Life is unfair.

Hammond

David,

You have heard of the Maxwell St. motto: Cheat you fair.

I even found a poem called Cheat You Fair by a sock vendor.

Regards,

There's a reason they're called 'seconds.'

Maybe you should have bought the socks Made with Ham.

David,

You should change this thread's title to include the word Market.

Maxwell Street does not look anything like that.

Panther in the Den wrote:David,

You should change this thread's title to include the word Market.

Maxwell Street does not look anything like that.

Quite right. I made that distinction in the first line of the post, though you're correct, of course. Where once Jim's Original spewed high-calorie smoke onto the street, there is now a Jamba Juice, healthy, hygienic and boring.

However, colloquially, when Chicagoans say "Maxwell Street," we're referring to the moveable fair that is no longer on Maxwell Street and headed god knows where in days to come.

Hammond

PS. I know smoke can't be a carrier of calories. It's a figure of speech.

David Hammond wrote:

G Wiv wrote:

David Hammond wrote:I needed socks (I’ve been wearing almost constantly the dozen pairs I bought on Maxwell in 2004). I bought another dozen pairs, to hold me through 2011 or so. Not bad for five bucks.

It's always been about the socks for you, hasn't it?

So I'm going through my 12 pack today, and I find not 1 but 2 defective socks! No ribbing on the upper end, limp elastic, horribly misshapen. I feel cheated, overwhelmed with disillusionment. The Sock Guy seemed so honest, so sincere, and now, I feel empty, sad, and with but 11 pair for my 5 bucks. Life is unfair.

Hammond

I bought that same package of socks 35 years ago on the corner of Maxwell and Halsted. I was on my way to Smokey Joe's for a suede Jacket with no pockets just openings with flaps over them. Also enjoyed a Polish at Jim's.

So I'm going through my 12 pack today, and I find not 1 but 2 defective socks!

If you're going to find one defective sock, you might as well find two, you're not really any worse off.

David Hammond wrote:

Panther in the Den wrote:David,

You should change this thread's title to include the word Market.

Maxwell Street does not look anything like that.

Quite right. I made that distinction in the first line of the post, though you're correct, of course.

Actually while driving over to Steve's for dinner and after I was thinking about Maxwell Street and anyone who knew the old Street could never think about the New the same.

The street might still be there but the heart is a few blocks away (on weekends only).

Panther in the Den wrote:

David Hammond wrote:

Panther in the Den wrote:David,

You should change this thread's title to include the word Market.

Maxwell Street does not look anything like that.

Quite right. I made that distinction in the first line of the post, though you're correct, of course.

Actually while driving over to Steve's for dinner and after I was thinking about Maxwell Street and anyone who knew the old Street could never think about the New the same.

The street might still be there but the heart is a few blocks away (on weekends only).

Here's where we may part ways. I think in many ways the "new" Maxwell Street Market on Canal Street (soon to be DesPlaines?) is a better shopping and food zone than the old Maxwell Street. Granted, I only went there a few times during the Slightly Post Golden Era (circa 1967), but it was a mess, a mess full of soul and beauty, but a mess, and the food options were very limited.

David "Eternal Warrior Against the Myth of the Golden Age of Anything" Hammond

I totally agree.

I was refering to the heart is gone from the corner of Halsted and Maxwell.

Panther "Don't want to be misunderstood" in the Den

Actually while driving over to Steve's for dinner and after I was thinking about Maxwell Street and anyone who knew the old Street could never think about the New the same.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I don't think very many people reading/posting here remember the "good days" of the original Maxwell St. Market - it was before "our time" for most. It wasn't much of a market area when it closed, and I think the improvements to that neighborhood have been positive.

I hawked goods for a man who had a space every weekend in the old market - Sunday mornings only, though - and it was a memorable time (late 1950's, maybe '60 and '61, too). One of my neighbors, recently deceased, had a store on Maxwell St. and I enjoyed sitting with him as he talked about "the old days."

The new weekend market certainly has more of the feel of a Mexican tianguis and city street fair - but it seems to be serving the community of supporters, the demographics of which have changed over the years, rather well and its heart beats strong.

David, thanks for the photos.

The last time I attended the market (a couple of months ago), I attempted to purchase some tasty-looking tacos from one of the vendors where they make their own tortillas. Granted, it was getting late & winding down, but much food was still being prepared and sold right in front of me. However, when I tried to order, I was rather rudely denied the transaction with a gruff, "We're closed!"

Maybe this gringo is doing it wrong?