The Gold Coast

The tour to the North side around the Gold Coast area was very interesting considering I have never walked up that way before. I really liked how we did the tour right after we read the first half of the the Zorbaugh book. From being able to imagine what the Gold Coast looked like through the readings than being able to physically see it through the tour proved that the Gold Coast was a very wealthy area. As I was on the tour it was easier for me to imagine what it was like to live in the Gold Coast back in that time period. First reading how much work it entails to become an elite seemed unreal and almost not worth it, but viewing some of those houses I can see how one would feel the weight on their shoulders to  have more etiquette than the average joe. It was also cool to me how in the readings the Gold Coast was compared to many different types of neighborhoods within close proximity(So crazy how the slums are a mile down) and it compared and contrasted the surrounding and the people that resided in those areas.

 As you walk into the area the stores begin to change from normal chain stores to high end brand name stores. When you walk from the loop you do not see much housing but as you walk into the Gold Coast you see beautiful historic mansions or large homes for single families. I definitely observed more of an older generation than young people around this part, although altogether there were not many people outside. It almost felt to me like we were not even in Chicago anymore, but something that was consistent with city life was the lack of communal interactions. My favorite part of the tour was being able to walk in and view the drake hotel, instead of just walking past it on the way to North Side beach. It became more of a reality of what type of people live in that area and how out of place I felt!!

I am very interested in working in the inner city and so as interesting as this was to learn about, I am more excited to tour and learn about the slums of Chicago; that is where my passion lies.