The Field Museum

NAME: Cat
LOCATION: Clark & Diversey

Dinosaurs!

Dinosaurs.

Tell me about this shirt.

Well, it's my favorite shirt. It's got a tyrannosaurus, there's a pterodactyl. The best thing about it is that it's glow-in-the-dark.

Are you into dinosaurs?

I've always loved dinosaurs. I used to play with my little brother... we used to play with those little paleontology kits where you like have the sand and you have to dig through it.

But you didn't actually get this at the Field Museum.

No, it's a Field Museum shirt, but I got it at a Michigan thrift store.

Had you been to the Field Museum at the time?

Probably.

What's that dinosaur's name?

This one is a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

No, the big skeleton that they have.

That one's also a T. Rex!

But it has a name!

Sue!

Sue!

Yes.

Thank you! Did you know it glowed in the dark when you bought it?

I didn't. That was a big surprise. I turned out the lights for the first time, and I was like, "Oh, man." That was really good.

Detroit Pistons, 1957

NAME: Mike
LOCATION: Century Shopping Center, Lakeview

What's the significance of the year 1957?

I have actually no idea. I would assume that's the year that they were founded, or that they moved to Detroit from Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne, what is that, Texas?

I think Fort Wayne in Ohio, I believe. I don't really know.

You're a big Pistons fan.

I am a Pistons fan. I grew up in Detroit. Well not in Detroit. Royal Oak. Suburbs.

Do you miss it?

I miss the people. I don't miss the city because there wasn't much to do. But, yeah, I met a lot of good people. It's the city that made me me.

How'd the Pistons do this year?

This year they struggled. They lost in the first round of the playoffs, they traded Chauncey Billups, that was a big deal. But we got some new guys this year, we're looking promising.

You wear the shirt with pride.

Absolutely. Always. Always wear the Pistons shirt with pride.

[According to wikipedia, the Pistons were founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Owner Fred Zollner moved the team to Detroit in 1957. Fort Wayne is obviously not in Texas.]

The Goblins of Nilbog

NAME: Charlie
LOCATION: Century Shopping Center, Lakeview

Is it a Spider-man thing?

No, it's a "Troll 2" thing.

I've never seen that.

It actually has no trolls in it whatsoever. It's about goblins and they live in a small town called 'Nilbog', which - as the lead character figures out halfway through the film - is 'Goblin' spelled backwards.

Awesome.

That's why it says 'Nilbog'.


Where did you get it?

At a "Troll 2" screening, with the stars of the movie.

Was that a good night for you?

It was an amazing night. One of the best nights of my life, yes.

The Plain Black

NAME: Alex
LOCATION: outside Miller's Pub, Roscoe Village

So you went to the Decemberists show tonight?

Yeah.

Tell me about your choice of an all-black t-shirt.

Um, it's slimming. It makes me look a lot thinner than I am. It at least disguises some of the paunch, if you will.

Was there a conscious choice to wear it today for the concert?

For sure.

So you do put thought into what you wear for a show.

Uh, yeah. I mean, yes.

It's not a conspicuous choice.

I always wear a t-shirt to a show, or almost always. And I have about three or four that I rotate for shows. It's a mixture of comfort and aesthetics, I guess you could say. I think I look good in this.

I agree!

Thank you, Todd. It's very very comfortable as well. It's lightweight, you know? I sometimes won't wear this when I go outside. I'm not going to wear this on Sunday for Lollapalooza. There's another one I wear sometimes, it's like a brown skater shirt. But I'm not a skater.

Do you feel that the black in any way mirrors your soul?

It's nothing dark or goth or emo like that. I do like black, black is classic. It's hard to go wrong with black.

WISCONSIN

NAME: Josh
LOCATION: Hamilton & Argyle

Do you know where I got this from?

Where?

When I was in Los Angeles, I was cleaning out [my boss] Niels' garage and he had a bunch of old boxes and my job was to organize them and help him determine what should be thrown out and what should be kept. And he's actually originally from Wisconsin and I'm not sure where he got it from but there it was staring me in the face and I'm like, "I have to have it" and he was kind enough to give it to me.

So is it like a Wisconsin pride thing?

Um, somewhat? It's just one of those shirts that just makes you feel really comfortable. And I really like that.

Because of what's on it, or...?

Comfortable because ... also the fit. It just hangs there and it just feels so good and comfy. And also, who doesn't love purple cows?

Ironically, you are lactose intolerant.

It is difficult to have something you love so much and you just have to stay away. Our relationship had to evolve.