June 19, 2006
Water, Water Everywhere
Next time you’re bored and broke or just need a little taste of the absurd, take a short drive.
Hiding in a pocket a bit northeast of the industrial wasteland and neighborhood called Marine Villa is a most remarkable home. I demanded the driver pull over in front of the house, allowing me a few moments to absorb the whole scene.
The house was on the smaller side, single story and sitting up on a low hill. The structure was ordinary. But, there was a fountain built into the sloping lawn. Lighted and huge, the fountain was the size and sort one sees outside large office buildings, only this one was someone’s front yard decoration. Water pumped, jumped and fell, creating a racket plenty loud to be heard through closed car windows.
As an added bonus, the entire interior of the home glowed a fluorescent turquoise color. The blue light poured out every window, outlining the people moving about within and illuminating their eclectic stuff- inside and out.
Directions are approximately thus: Go Chippewa past Broadway to Marine and turn right. The first left is Cahokia. As you follow Cahokia, it’ll force you left onto Kosciusko Street. Watch on your left for the house with the gargantuan fountain. Alas, no street number but it’ll be tough to miss.