Chicago Local Custom Tips by sambarnett

Bring a lot a' film, fer faataghraphy. Ders some nice gahthic churchs in Chicaahgo, da architechture is outta dis world. And don't fergit da root fer da Bears, da Bulls, da Cubbies, da Saahks and da Haaahks!

   OK, so I've exaggerated a bit there, but while the Midwest accent is generally nondescript, nasally and bland, the old school Chicago accent is very distinctive.

   Catch the early evening sports talk radio shows on 670 or 1000 AM for great examples of this interesting brogue. If you can't put up with their usual idiotic blather, much of which has nothing to do with sports, try striking up a conversation with an older local, a cop or catch a speech by "Mare" Daley (a fun event often filled with humorous nonsequiters.)

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Every year around St. Patrick's Day the city of Chicago, in honor of its Irish heritage, dyes the Chicago River green.

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Two aspect of Cubbie-fan lore in this picture (you'll have to enlarge it.)
The one of the right will be most familiar: "Throw it back!" That's the cry you'll hear when an opposing player hits a home run into the bleachers. Professional bleacher bums are know to bring cheap balls, purchased at a local sporting goods store, and toss those back onto the field, rather than give up a genuine, official Major League baseball.

The signs on the left are more puzzling. Eamus Catuli, as I have come to understand, means "Go Cubs" in Latin. As for the numbers (AC 145895):
AC refers to "After Championship"
14 is the number of years since the Cubs won their division
58 is the number of years since they won their league pennant
and most shameful of all, 95, the number of years since the Cubs won the World Series.
So there you are, 145895, a large number reflecting the ultimate in baseball futility.

Of course, the pic is out of date. The sign now reads AC005895. Eamus Catuli!!

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