The picture you see above you is the notorious chess table that sits on the beautiful site on Michigan Ave, right in front of the Art museum in downtown Chicago. This table has been spotted on the news and varies online articles. It has been claimed to be the longest portable chess/checkers table ever. As a chess player it is one of the best places to enjoy a game of checkers or chess. With a reasonable price of a $3 dollar donation you can play all day with the con of having to stand. This iconic table has been around for at least a decade and is almost considered a landmark to us chess players.
I woke up to a beautiful Chicago morning; I knew it was going to be a hot one. It was going to be sunny, and about 90 degrees or so. It was late morning about 11:30am. My chess coach and friend Nalvin decided we should go to the table today. We usually walk to 79thst and take the Jeffery bus to Michigan and Jackson, then walk across the street to play.
I got up showered threw on my Illini shirt and my Illini promo White Sox hat and walked to the bus stop. I called Nalvin and he was still snoozing, his phone going to voicemail every time and not replying to my texts. I concluded he was probably tired after working 10 days straight and his first day off since. I get on the bus and he calls me to say he will meet me at the table.
On this day Chicago didn’t have the normal chime of the train, planes and helicopters flying overhead, or street performers.
This Day was special it was special because there were tens of thousands of people on Michigan Ave. Where they all lined up to play at this legendary table? No, they were on Michigan Ave for Lollapalooza. It took me an hour to get to Jackson Ave. than the usually 30 minutes. The streets were jam packed with people going in to this music festival. There was a constant line of people entering the gates that were brought in to hold the massive crowds. Instead of getting off on Jackson I got off the bus early to see what made this even so special. I only could see the massive amount of people storming in the outdoor music festival. I seen a stage but no one was on it and there was faint sound of a beat to a song bump-bump-bump-bump-bump it was some type of pop song.
Continuing to walk toward the table there is a symphony of whistles from the crossing guards directing traffic, and car horns. Traffic was chaotic and cause road rage for drivers. Continuing to pass the crowds of music lover, or party goers the table is now in site and there are a few there playing. I greet the owner Caesar “what is up, how you been”. I put my $3 dollar donation in and begin to play.
The masses still converging to Lollapalooza people of all ethnicity, size, and color. The crowd passed the table talking, laughing, or just looking. Everyone in some way seems to acknowledge the spectacle of a chess table. Some stop by to take pictures, and some just point in astonishment and keep walking. . Some acknowledged by screaming “Whhoooaaaa I wreck you in chess” “Checkmate” “Yo, I got next” or my favorite I heard was “I’m a king too but I am off the board”.
My friend arrived a couple hours after me he came and played someone right beside me. It was about the evening time and the noise from the street was beginning to drown out the sound of the music as rush hour was begging to pick up. To the people at the table all the sound was drowned out by the sound of pieces flying around the board the sound of the clock every time a move was made. We were our own little festival, a chess festival the table is designed with flags, stuffed animals, pinwheels, and banners. The owner even plays his own music while we try to kill each other on the board. At the same time we meet new people seen old faces and make new bonds. Jokes were made, stories were told and a whole bunch of laughing came from the table. Nothing could distract us not even a music festival. Playing under the stars nobody could tell us we didn’t enjoy the time we had spent playing that night.