Another Baby

The past weekend proved exhausting... Friday, my long-lost friend Stephanie and I saw Devotchka, which was musically wonderful, but still did not get this gnawing ‘90s song knocked out of my head. Afterwards Stephanie and I caught up at Matilda's Bar. Stephanie was one of my first friends here in Chicago. I met her at the Duke of Perth and at first we really didn’t like one another, but after having to endure two working nights side by side for a few weeks, we soon realized how cool we both were and began a good friendship. In fact, if it weren’t for Stephanie, I wouldn’t have had such a fun foray into my 30s—see Stephanie insisted we go out to celebrate my 30th in style. This same year Stephanie moved to Seattle where she stayed for three years, we kept in touch. Now she is back here in Chicago and I am happy to have her back!

Later that night, I hopped into Mario’s rock-n-roll cab...


You think there’d be some rockin’ music coming from this cab, right? No, unfortunately the décor is bumpin, but the tunes not so much. I told Mario it’s time to invest in a good stereo system so he can start rockin’ the Aerosmith. He does have a giant poster of the band on the ceiling over the back seat.

Double the giant poster, with the mini Aerosmith posters throughout the cab, throw in a couple Liv Tyler stories and, well pretty soon I want to see a dude that looks like a lady. Mario does seem to have a crush on Miss. Liv as he did recount the few times he drove her around Chicago. But when you press him for any dirty little details, he starts to get excited, and then immediately retreats, “oh no, it's not nice to say such things; I really like her." Aaaaw! Okay Mario, the music may not be rockin’, but I’ll give you points for being a sweetheart.

Unfortunately though, Randy Gerber didn’t see this side of Mario. One evening Mario picked Gerber up downtown, and while in the cab, Gerber noticed Mario’s poster of a wet and bikini-clad Cindy Crawford; he asked Mario “why do you have a picture of my wife up in here?” Not really thinking Gerber was married to Crawford, Mario started playfully arguing, "yeah right, she is beautiful." After further prodding, and not so playfully, Gerber asked again, "Why do you have my wife in here?" Mario then realized that this was Crawford's husband and just replied “Hey look man that’s a model, not a whore.”


If you want to hear more about Mario’s stories and get your own ride in the rock-n-roll cab, call Mario at 312/714-9608. His cab number is 1207. Oh and bonus, Mario not only happily accepts credit cards, he even suggests you use them! Now if only we could get little Janie and her gun in this cab, then I'd be real happy.

As for that song so delicately lodged in my head, well I made my peace with that little ditty...