Mexican Grocery Store signs

They come in a rainbow of colors (mostly neon, entirely bright), and you can find them all across the city, from Pilsen and Little Village to Logan Square to Rogers Park.


Near West Side




Little Village

Rogers Park

Chicago has tons of Mexican grocers - there are three within a block of my residence alone - and a disproportionate number of them advertise with signs just like these.



The style is universal: wavy lines top and bottom, in bright neon colors. Huge blocky numbers for the price, in red. Smaller font for the letters, but still in a bouncy, informal, chipper mood.





Like the builder's Mid-Century style, it's one of those cases of curious convergence. A quick chat with our local grocer reveals that they get them from varying places, sometimes making them themselves, and sometimes hiring guys to do it. I've seen the stamps of at least two different sign makers on these posters, though most of them remain anonymous.



Why are they all the same style? Is it demanded, expected, or simply unexamined? Does it relate to some deep cultural strain, or is it just a thing that is?

How to Get to Sesame Street in Chicago

Every city has them - the day care centers with the window-paintings of popular childrens' cartoon characters, slightly misproportioned, festooning large storefront windows or walls, cheerfully waving at passersby.



These creatures assure us that the place within is welcoming, friendly, comfortable, familiar - all the things a parent would want their children to have while they are away at work.



Their ubiquitous nature says a lot about the commonality of children's television programming. Elmo and Dora the Explorer are popular favorites, though Big Bird remains the king.











Also of note, they're mostly seen in lower-income neighborhoods. I could speculate on a number of possible reasons why - perhaps the TV is a more common babysitter. Maybe there's just less money for decoration. Maybe they're fighting harder against an unpleasant built environment. Maybe these things aren't seen as very classy in higher-income areas, or are prohibited by ordinance. Maybe they just aren't as worried about using trademarked characters. Maybe small daycare centers just aren't as common. But it's all just speculation.

What's remarkable is how universal the artistic style is. There's almost always something a bit... off about the portrayal of Big Bird and company. I've noticed this for years.



The photo above was taken near the boundary between Chicago and Oak Park - right where incomes are starting to rise. And perhaps not coincidentally, it's a rare example of the characters not looking slightly mutated.



And finally.... all I can say here is that Mickey looks awfully excited by Minnie's tush. Yikes!