Author's book looks at life on city's 'Sidewalks'

Rick Kogan has a knack for finding the stories hiding within Chicago's streets.

Whether it's a guy selling peanuts near the Eisenhower Expressway or a foam carving of a cat pelted to death by rocks, the longtime Chicago newspaperman, author and radio host manages to shine a spotlight on parts of the city few people may ever notice.

Kogan will be at the Carol Stream village hall today to share insights about a recent book compiled with columns titled "Sidewalks: Portraits of Chicago." His weekly column appears in the Chicago Tribune Sunday magazine.

Kogan recently spoke with the Daily Herald about his work.

Q:What do you think Chicagoans can learn about the city they live in from these columns?

A: One of the problems with people is we all live in our little world. We tend to visit our old favorite restaurants. We travel and work and play in the same ways. Somewhere along the line we lose our ability to explore. Every once in a while you should break your pattern and you will find something amazing. There's great excitement and reward to be had, even in some of the suburbs.

Q:What's your favorite story of the pieces that appear in your book?

A: It's this one piece of a guy selling peanuts near the ramp of the Eisenhower Expressway. Nobody ever stopped and talked to this guy. He talked about these simple joys of going to work and never missing a day in 20 years. He gave me an incredible perspective on life. Most people are living like that, they're living close to the edge.

Q:Are there any interesting questions your story subjects ever ask you?

A: Generally, most of these people have never been interviewed and probably will never be interviewed again.

Most of the time they ask me why I'd want to write about them. And the answer I give them is simply, 'Because I think you're interesting.' I think the word offbeat is an unfortunate term people use to explain people who are different. It makes it sound like people who don't do what we do are weird or nutty or odd.

I don't consider anybody we meet to be oddballs.

Q:I notice that many of your pieces are located within the city of Chicago. Is that because places like Carol Stream may be a little lacking in sidewalks?

A: It's basically because we've never pointed our car that way. Most of our columns are weighted toward the city, there's no doubt about that.

The first couple years we did this column (photographer Charles Osgood) and I mostly walked to get more of an intimate view of the city. But you can't exactly walk 25 miles from the Tribune tower. We generally look for places that exist because of a certain street life.

But I guarantee you that if we or anybody else takes the time, there are "Sidewalks" columns to be done in most suburban towns.