This American Life did a segment last year for their Showtime show on the Wiener Circle here in Chicago. I’m glad they don’t gloss over the obvious racist dynamic at work there. I think that’s why i’ve never gone there. That and the fact that i don’t like Chicago style hot dogs.I guess I’m naive enough to be rather shocked by this. Maybe I think too highly of people. But between this and some of the things that Britt has written on her blog, I guess I just don’t see this stuff happening at all. It’s so funny how I’m from a part of the country that a majority of Americans consider a wasteland of racism and intolerance, and yet this happens in a northern metropolitan city, in the state of our first successful black president candidate. The irony is astounding, but I can tell you this much: this would never happen where I come from.
I lived just a short walk from this place for a few years, and it was always enjoyable to walk down here, sit on a stool and listen to all the craziness. There have been many times I’ve been scared to order a hotdog just because I was affraid they’d totally rip on me for no reason (and they do no matter what). But when it’s late at night, and you’ve had a few beers, everything becomes a name-calling contest — and things get really, really creative (I once witnessed a guy order a Redhot Chardog with — NO P**SY JUICE!). And yeah, there’s a lot of racist banter flowing back and forth between the girls and the customers, but every time I was there it seemed that nobody was taking anything personally, and everybody was just have a good, drunken time.
That said, I’m pissed that the only places I’ve found in Los Angeles to get a good hotdog are Pinks and Carney’s on Sunset. Both places are innconvient and annoying.
Update: Okay, watching this clip in full..it’s a little too dramatic I think. The Milkshake they talk about? I’ve seen that Milkshake performed everytime somebody asked for it. This clip makes it look like the girls were offended or something, but when you’re there they always have smiles on there faces after they call you the worst names imaginable. Like I said, I think everybody there has a good time, no matter how vile the name calling (and yes, the racism is depressing and dumb). But it’s not like Jessie Jackson (Chicago Native) is down there trying to shut the place down…because everyone in Chicago knows that the Weiner Circle is just a big, delicious joke…
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