Lakeview East, known for its infectious energy, has a beautiful statue looking over the neighborhood. “The Nightingale” by Janet Austin stands in front of Foxtrot on Diversey and Broadway. “The Nightingale” was inspired by the fairytale of the same name by Hans Christian Anderson.
In the fairytale, a nightingale is captured from its natural habitat and given to the Emperor of China. The Emperor is enraptured by its song. The nightingale escapes and returns to the woods. Facing death, the Emperor realizes that only nature, in the form of the nightingale, can soothe him in his final moments. The nightingale then returns to the Emperor’s side for his final moments.
Austin calls attention to how this story can be a lesson for ourselves. We struggle to appreciate, respect, and preserve nature. “From Aristotle to John Muir to Rachel Carson, great minds have questioned man’s relationship with nature, a complex theme that is hyper-important in the 21st century as we continue to consume our natural resources at an alarmingly accelerated pace.”
“The Nightingale” resides in front of the now-closed Foxtrot building. After a surprising closure of all of the Foxtrot stores across the nation, Foxtrot has made the decision to reopen their Gold Coast, Old Town, Wicker Park, and Fulton Market. Unfortunately, their Lakeview East location is not set to reopen.
However, “The Nightingale” stands tall in front of the building. “The Nightingale” stands as a beacon of what was there, and what could be there. A beacon of hope; a beacon of change. A beacon of strength.
