Chicago, IL —I lived at Marina City for about eight years during the 1970’s.  It was a safe place, well at least people thought so, but I soon learned ignorance was bliss. In this nice building containing 900 apartments there was a grocery store, drug store, dry cleaners, a three screen movie theater, ice skating rink, bowling alley and health club.  Of course don’t let me forget the marina below that could at one time store 900 boats.  I was one of several cops that lived in the building. As cop we had perks such as the ability to park and retrieve our own cars.  The parking garage needed all the help they could get keeping local thugs from stealing cars or vehicle contents.  Of course our encounters with criminals were, for the most part  kept under wraps as not to disturb the residents.  I liked to walk to Pizzeria Uno or the Billy Goat to bring back some of what I consider the more important food groups.  Occasionally I’d en...

Chicago, IL --Shortly after returning home from Germany and the Army as a lad in the 1970’s, I had several friends who lived at this world class landmark. Two twin 60-story towers majestically rose in the skyline at State Street and Wacker Drive. This awesome home was part of 900 apartments above a 900 boat marina, three movie theaters, restaurants, drug and grocery stores, dry cleaners, barber shop, health club, ice skating rink and a bowling alley. During the summer I was lucky enough to have two pals with powerboats and we’d take some hot gals out for great weekends on the lake. We’d either stay in St. Joe/Benton harbor, MI or Madison and Milwaukee, WI. We really partied on those trips. In Chicago’s notorious winters you never needed to leave home unless you had to commute to a job somewhere. Of course most of my neighbors never had to walk more than a few blocks to work since so many employers were located were also located downtown. Snow removal downtown was always the numbe...