I moved to Lake View when I was 11, coming from South Shore Valley, a quiet middle0class neighborhood on the city’s South Side. I recently took a ride back to my old ’hood, and was happy to see that much of it, including my first house at 8754 S. Bennett, actually looks better than it did about four decades ago.

It had been years since I’d been back, but a family friend I hadn’t seen since the late 1960s, Rick Simons, contacted me out of the blue and invited me for a trip back in time. I jumped at the chance.

We drove to my first house, which looked fantastic, and I couldn’t help but recall a childhood filled with endless happiness. I could see myself skipping down to Kissee’s, the ice cream shop on our corner, and having a lick of my favorite, mint chocolate chip. Kiddy-corner to that was Kim’s Rexall, where my mom bought me a white and furry stuffed kitten with pink lips, which I named Puff and totally cherished.

Rick and I walked the pink halls of Caldwell School, where I attended kindergarten through third grade. We drove past the former home of Cassius Clay, now known to the world as Muhammad Ali. My brothers would go to his house and eagerly call, “Champ, come out and play.” And he would.

We drove past where the Speck murders occurred, and recalled how no one locked their doors until then and how we weren’t allowed outside until Richard Speck was behind bars. I saw that Stony Island Park, where I happily played and learned to ice skate, is now Jesse Owens Park.

Memories of my first kiss with a boy named Pat Sherry came as we drove around, as did thoughts of my learning to master the jump-rope game Double Dutch. The good old South Side. It’s where my roots all began.

Rick and I stopped for lunch at Carl’s Hot Dogs at 83rd and Jeffrey, a place my family of six used to pile into, because a quarter would get you a hot dog and fries. Today, that’s $3.99, including a drink. But it was good to see Carl’s still around.

I know some of you come from the South Shore area, so if you have fond memories too, e-mail me at write12@comcast.net. I highly recommend a trip down Memory Lane, and I thank Rick Simons for mine. And congrats to Rick’s son, Neal Simons, who on June 15 won the Silver Medal for the second highest score statewide on the 2009 CPA exam.

METRO HAPPENINGS This weekend is the biggie for anyone wanting to know more about Metro High School, whose 40th anniversary reunion is Saturday. A couple of free public events being held should be interesting.

On Friday, at 1 p.m. a symposium hosted by Roosevelt University’s School of Education called Seeds of Change: Metro Chicago’s School Without Walls takes place at 430 S. Michigan.

On Saturday at 12:30 p.m. is Metropalooza — where memories and experiences will be shared — at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Conference Center, 2333 S. Martin Luther King Drive. Come on down!

SWEET TALK Word in the neighborhood is that the cupcake shop Sprinkles is coming to 50 E. Walton St. in July. “Good thing it’s down the block from the Equinox gym!” exclaimed a Gold Coaster who can’t wait to sink her teeth into one of the “sinfully indulgent” treats.

CONDOLENCES to Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker on the loss of his beloved mom, Peg, who must have been a grand lady because Bill — a Streeterville resident and former Skyline writer — is one heck of a nice guy.

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By Boyee from Lincoln Park
Posted: 06/28/2010 11:40 AM

Recently visited the South Shore neighborhood. Still suffers from lots of gang activity and prostitution, despite having nice looking, neatly kept houses.