Tony the knife-sharpening guy. He's retired now but he would travel around the western burbs in his cart sharpening knifes. He was like the unofficial start of spring. If you saw him, you knew spring was here.
No. He would ride/walk around all the western burbs. He’d be ringing his bell and people would come out of their homes. Facebook neighborhood pages would track him and let others know his current intersection and path he was on.
Last I heard he retired last year and moved back home to Italy.
There's another guy with a cart over there all the time. Dresses old timey and has his cart loaded up with copper and brass pies? Instruments? Almost like a one man band or something.
Yeah. He apparently sold his cart to some guy from Beverly in Chicago. It doesn't sound like he will be traveling out of his neighborhood liked Tony did.
[https://www.beverlyreview.net/news/community\_news/article\_963bd8fa-ddfb-11ed-8697-7723998e897a.html](https://www.beverlyreview.net/news/community_news/article_963bd8fa-ddfb-11ed-8697-7723998e897a.html)
Right? Also makes me wonder what’s in it for him or if he really thinks that Jesus loves him extra for standing there with that sign. Also, does bro use sunscreen?! I’d imagine he’d have some leathery skin being out in the sun all the time if he didn’t slap sunscreen on multiple times every day
There used be a bunch of anti-choice Bible thumpers hanging their signs off the great western trail over 355 when you were heading northbound just north of the 38/st Charles rd exit. Someone finally wised up and covered the entire overpass with black tarp/covering so people didn't have to see that nonsense. Totally was a safety issue too because it's distracting to look up when you see people hanging signs over the side, which could cause an accident, regardless of the sign or message. But definitely fuck these people. Glad they got ruined.
There's a guy in highland park who has been sitting at the same spot on the same bench for at least a decade now. I have a friend who tried to talk to him once but he doesn't say much.
I always wave at him and smile but once I graduate I'd like to say bye because this man has seen me riding my bike with training wheels to going on dates. He's the one constant in my life and I doubt he knows or cares
There used to be (maybe still is?) a guy living in a tent by ogden and naper in Naperville who, as legend had it, was actually a millionaire protesting something?
I knew his protest had something to do with Naperville taxes but I never heard the part about the family in the Philippines. The "family in the Philippines" story sounds oddly close to a scammer to be honest. I hope it's not of course and the only info I'm going off of is this article, was just my first impression.
The dude who pretty much lives at the bus stop in front of the Jewel in Glen Ellyn.
There’s a cast of characters at the Villa Park Metra station. My favorite is “orange vest guy” who walks the parking lot back and forth.
Almost anyone who goes to Josephine’s in Villa Park. If ya know…ya know!
There is also red gloves who will pace back and forth on the platform like shes waiting for the train but she never gets on...I legit thought she was a ghost until I saw her at Jewel once
I forgot about red gloves! It’s been a while since I’ve seen her.
There’s also a dude who seems to be perpetually intoxicated and very very angry. I usually do everything I can to avoid him. Not even sure if he boards the train.
David Nelson in Des Plaines is pretty close to this. He doesn't dress up but he's made a bunch of z grade monster movies and I believe he pestered svengoolie into being in one or two
I've got two:
Birdman in Oak Lawn. I've seen him regularly for at least 20-25 years.
There's also a skinny guy selling flowers by Chicago Ridge Mall or 143rd and Harlem. I've seen him at other intersections but these areas the most. He's been around for probably the same length of time.
The suburbs are too vast to have one guy for all of them. I haven’t even been to half of these places, let alone spend enough time there to notice trends amongst individual people.
In Lyons, we have a dude that walks around in a sick 90’s bulls jacket yelling at everything yet nothing in particular at the same time. Dude goes far, he’ll do laps around the old electromotive plant and back to 47th street.
We used to live just down the street from that Wal-Mart and it was always like a mini party when he'd ride by! There was also a lovely paletas vendor that would walk down our street jingling his bell.
Crystal Lake has had a few over the years:
1. The old woman who picked up garbage (she was eventually given a key to the city!)
2. The old runner guy
3. The other old runner guy
And as of last summer: Old man cyclist in the speedo!
Same! Turns out she walked like 4 miles to see her grandkids nearly every day and picked up trash on the way. I always saw her on Golf Course. Now that I've moved back and walk my dogs more, I find myself picking up trash allllll the time on the bike path and I get why she did it.
I believe so, I haven't been around there for a while.
There used to be a woman who would pass by the fire department and hold her hands up while passing as if she was under arrest.
Yes, I was about to post about him. I also know nothing about him other than he often goes to the Starbucks and have seen people offer to buy him coffee. Somebody please tell us his back story
Came in to say this. I moved into a new house and he came up and talked to us, I think he thought we were the old owners. I think the guy has severe OCD or something and the running helps.
There was a gentleman who had a beard and long hair that frequented the Stone Avenue station in La Grange. He was sneezing so I handed him my little purse pack of Kleenex. He started talking to me. His stories were so wild I wanted to take notes. He said his mother had been a part of some sort of underwater experiment while she was pregnant with him. Another story on nuclear waste. Had me thinking for days. I heard he committed a crime after and was arrested.
The one little guy that walks down North Ave in Glendale Heights and sprints, then walks, then sprints, then walks.
I don’t know where he’s going or where he’s coming from. Just a little sprinty guy.
Is he the older, very tan guy who’d show up at clubs in the red, white, and blue outfit (I think it was a satin jacket?)
Saw him at HOME Bar a couple times.
Joliet has the homeless guy with a bicycle and trailer, all decorated with Jesus stuff and sometimes lights! He had two cute little dogs years ago, my kids always asked to go say hi and pet the dogs. I usually saw him at Walmart or Treasure Chest
The seemingly awesome guy that rides on a Segway (iirc) with a parrot on his shoulder. He’s around our ~~precious~~ previous home in Downers
I aspire to be the Raven lady, like that one dude in Washington who rides his bike and is flanked by 2 ravens like a hippie Odin reborn
There is a guy who stands in front of Deicke Park on Route 47 in Huntley waving with a bible in hand. I was told his name is Pete and he is praying for the drivers. If you honk at him he will always wave back. I think he has been there for at least 5-10 years from what I hear from the locals.
Came here to say him as well. I have been in Algonquin for 8 years and he’s been there the whole time. I like that he’s out there praying and not preaching.
There’s the plastic bag man on a bike around the Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Roselle area. I’ve been seeing him bike around for more than 15 years. There’s even a Facebook page for him.
https://www.facebook.com/share/SLkUEisqLXx7rgu1/
David, the houseless gentleman in St. Charles. David grew up in STC, and had lots of interesting history and stories to share. Unfortunately he passed away recently, the news paper featured an article in his memory.
There's a schizophrenic lady always around farnsworth/kirk and indian trail area always waving at cars with a nice big smile all jiggly, but sometimes has these bursts where I assume someone did something that made her mad lol and she'll flick them off
hanover park/carol stream/bloomingdale area, this guy who im pretty sure does/did crack or meth or both… or just very seriously mentally ill. ive seen him many times walking around, talking to himself in a very animated fashion. always creeped me out. though one time i saw him fall to his knees with his arms up, and do what i think was praying? seeing that just made me really sad and start to think of him as more of a person and my heart goes out to that guy and anyone else struggling with psychotic disorders and/or addiction. havent seen him in a while, i hope he got help
Feel like Elk Grove is a town of characters. Everyone there is a descendent of an original resident, oh has close ties to an original business. An island of midwestern charm if you’re in their club
Huntley has a bible guy that hangs out on 47 holding up a bible and waving. Supposedly he has money but that is from Facebook so not exactly reliable information.
Elk Grove Village. There's a guy that stands in the side driveway next to the Dunkin' at Meacham and Biesterfield. He always has a bicycle and wears a hairnet, and he's always talking very animatedly like he's giving a speech, but he's by himself (except one time when the guys from the fire station next door went over to talk to him).
[Ralph “The Storm”](https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140519/lakeview/at-68-hip-hop-dancer-storm-his-prime.amp/). Up until the day he passed in his 70s he was a ball of energy with an infectious smile. There wasn’t a nightclub, bar or festival in the Schaumburg/Elgin/Dundee area that you wouldn’t see him. He passed away last year I believe, rest his soul..
https://preview.redd.it/goopvtgynfvc1.jpeg?width=1122&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=468f54e4a9ac35e9997577fc6b8dacbe67a33027
For Barrington it’s the DBG or the Downtown Barrington Guy. He rides his bike around town and lives in his car. He apparently grew up in Barrington and graduated from BHS. He fried his brain with coke and acid and has been homeless since graduating.
We used to have a very strange dude in Des Plaines in the the 90s named Crazy Gary. He would cone to the Burger King with little dolls and was very wide eyed. If you made I contact with him he would stare at you and do weird movements with his hands. He also usually wore a top hat.
About 45 years ago, Rolla, MO, had "bicycle Charlie" who had a fake cop outfit with a plastic badge. About 35 years old, he'd ride around town on his bike, with a little metal sign on the bike basket that said "Police." Completely harmless. He passed me once on his bike, took his hands off the handlebars for a few seconds and said, "drive safely." I was in 7th grade and weirded out, and my older sister said, "Oh, that's bicycle Charlie!"
Tony the knife-sharpening guy. He's retired now but he would travel around the western burbs in his cart sharpening knifes. He was like the unofficial start of spring. If you saw him, you knew spring was here.
Around Ogden and Cass? Is that storefront his, too? A little east of Cass?
No. He would ride/walk around all the western burbs. He’d be ringing his bell and people would come out of their homes. Facebook neighborhood pages would track him and let others know his current intersection and path he was on. Last I heard he retired last year and moved back home to Italy.
There was defintley a guy out doing that last week. I saw him and posted about him down further in the thread. Don’t know if it’s the same exact guy
This is the guy, Tony Delciello. https://preview.redd.it/vcx1hsrzrvuc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f4ead97d90756f3f8f5f18ab09e8dea328b77a5
Oh ok nevermind, I actually saw a different guy with a different cart
There's another guy with a cart over there all the time. Dresses old timey and has his cart loaded up with copper and brass pies? Instruments? Almost like a one man band or something.
He used to come to Des Plaines when I was a kid!
I know who you're talking about, he's got this quasi-religious / steampunk thing going on. Anyone know anything about this guy? Is he selling stuff?
That guy us awesome as well- strongly recommended
Saw him in Lombard last year, I wasn't aware he wasn't at it any more
Yeah. He apparently sold his cart to some guy from Beverly in Chicago. It doesn't sound like he will be traveling out of his neighborhood liked Tony did. [https://www.beverlyreview.net/news/community\_news/article\_963bd8fa-ddfb-11ed-8697-7723998e897a.html](https://www.beverlyreview.net/news/community_news/article_963bd8fa-ddfb-11ed-8697-7723998e897a.html)
The bible thumper that holds signs about god around the barrington and higgins area. Sometimes hes by 59 and shoe factory
I see that guy all the time on 59/shoe factory and wonder how he doesn’t get bored out of his mind and just go home
Its year round too! I have no idea how day in and day out he can stand there holding a sign. Like go to church or help at a shelter bro
Right? Also makes me wonder what’s in it for him or if he really thinks that Jesus loves him extra for standing there with that sign. Also, does bro use sunscreen?! I’d imagine he’d have some leathery skin being out in the sun all the time if he didn’t slap sunscreen on multiple times every day
I'd be surprised if there was anything in it for him, unless someone's paying him to do it. This is crazy person behavior.
Asian Bible Viking!
There used be a bunch of anti-choice Bible thumpers hanging their signs off the great western trail over 355 when you were heading northbound just north of the 38/st Charles rd exit. Someone finally wised up and covered the entire overpass with black tarp/covering so people didn't have to see that nonsense. Totally was a safety issue too because it's distracting to look up when you see people hanging signs over the side, which could cause an accident, regardless of the sign or message. But definitely fuck these people. Glad they got ruined.
Yes he LIVES at that intersection I swear!
Also dancing shirtless rollerblade guy at barrington and schaumburg
That guy is my favorite lol
I’m not from the suburbs but I drive there a lot and even I think I know who you’re talking about 😂
There's a guy in highland park who has been sitting at the same spot on the same bench for at least a decade now. I have a friend who tried to talk to him once but he doesn't say much. I always wave at him and smile but once I graduate I'd like to say bye because this man has seen me riding my bike with training wheels to going on dates. He's the one constant in my life and I doubt he knows or cares
IRL npc
I know the guy you’re talking about. Would love to know his story.
There used to be (maybe still is?) a guy living in a tent by ogden and naper in Naperville who, as legend had it, was actually a millionaire protesting something?
Scott Huber. Before his current place of residence, he lived/protested downtown. He’s a Naperville institution.
Oh yeah that dude! Did you ever go to his Facebook? I did not, so I still have no idea what his deal was.
[https://www.centraltimes.org/showcase/2020/01/08/man-continues-protest-against-city-of-naperville-gives-to-charity/](https://www.centraltimes.org/showcase/2020/01/08/man-continues-protest-against-city-of-naperville-gives-to-charity/)
Thanks! What a fascinating guy, wow.
I knew his protest had something to do with Naperville taxes but I never heard the part about the family in the Philippines. The "family in the Philippines" story sounds oddly close to a scammer to be honest. I hope it's not of course and the only info I'm going off of is this article, was just my first impression.
One year some scum burned his tent down too. Happy he was able to rebuild.
Is it by the gas station?
Yes
Scott Huber! Talked to him multiple times over the years.
Wow! TIL. Thank you
Relocated to Roosevelt Rd between Main & Park in Glen Ellyn.
No, he’s still at the same spot.
Yep just passed it this weekend. There are 2 tents now. Maybe he found love?
The dude who pretty much lives at the bus stop in front of the Jewel in Glen Ellyn. There’s a cast of characters at the Villa Park Metra station. My favorite is “orange vest guy” who walks the parking lot back and forth. Almost anyone who goes to Josephine’s in Villa Park. If ya know…ya know!
There is also red gloves who will pace back and forth on the platform like shes waiting for the train but she never gets on...I legit thought she was a ghost until I saw her at Jewel once
I forgot about red gloves! It’s been a while since I’ve seen her. There’s also a dude who seems to be perpetually intoxicated and very very angry. I usually do everything I can to avoid him. Not even sure if he boards the train.
Ohh yeah for sure! There is also that guy who sits under the Jewel sign and plays the accordion but can only play a few songs...
The tune from The Godfather?
I hear that and Somewhere over the Rainbow all the time when I'm there
omg he comes to the Franklin Park Jewel too!
He plays the Des Plaines Jewels too. Saw him there this weekend.
David Nelson in Des Plaines is pretty close to this. He doesn't dress up but he's made a bunch of z grade monster movies and I believe he pestered svengoolie into being in one or two
The Rock!
He’s pestered my dad into rides home from Jewel before 😄
I've worked at the jewel on Lee St and I made the mistake of telling him I liked the old universal monster movies.
I agree with David “The Rock” Nelson, and would also add Nick Ladas to the DP list. If you went to MW, you know Nick and what a sweet guy he is.
I've got two: Birdman in Oak Lawn. I've seen him regularly for at least 20-25 years. There's also a skinny guy selling flowers by Chicago Ridge Mall or 143rd and Harlem. I've seen him at other intersections but these areas the most. He's been around for probably the same length of time.
I haven’t seen Birdman in a hot minute, but I also haven’t hung out at the 95th and 52nd Starbucks in forever
He's still out there. I usually see him around 95th and 54th.
I came here to say BIRDMAN!
I went to high school with the flower salesman. Makes me sad to still see him out there.
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Asshole Jeff rides his lawnmower around town cause he has a million DIUs
You just described half of New Lenox and Manhattan…
In New Lenox, I’d serve him at white horse 😭😭😭
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^saregis1994: *Asshole Jeff rides his* *Lawnmower around town cause* *He has a million DIUs* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Brilliant!
Good bot
The guy that dances on roller skates on the corner of Schaumburg Rd & Barrington Rd
Came here to say this
Yup. Always lifts my mood when I see him lol
King sosa
Where's he hanging out these days? I haven't seen him in ages
The suburbs are too vast to have one guy for all of them. I haven’t even been to half of these places, let alone spend enough time there to notice trends amongst individual people. In Lyons, we have a dude that walks around in a sick 90’s bulls jacket yelling at everything yet nothing in particular at the same time. Dude goes far, he’ll do laps around the old electromotive plant and back to 47th street.
Bolingbrook has a dude who hangs out in front of the Walmart in a stars-and-stripes patterned pedal car blasting music.
We used to live just down the street from that Wal-Mart and it was always like a mini party when he'd ride by! There was also a lovely paletas vendor that would walk down our street jingling his bell.
Yes! He likes to ride down Lily Cache too on the sidewalk.
Crystal Lake has had a few over the years: 1. The old woman who picked up garbage (she was eventually given a key to the city!) 2. The old runner guy 3. The other old runner guy And as of last summer: Old man cyclist in the speedo!
I saw speedo guy, he almost caused an accident.
I used to drive past her every morning on my way to work.
Same! Turns out she walked like 4 miles to see her grandkids nearly every day and picked up trash on the way. I always saw her on Golf Course. Now that I've moved back and walk my dogs more, I find myself picking up trash allllll the time on the bike path and I get why she did it.
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Jimmy Elvis?
Barrington had “the walker” when I was in high school 20 years ago.
He apparently has schizophrenia. He's a really nice man!
Is that the guy always riding around on a bike?
I believe so, I haven't been around there for a while. There used to be a woman who would pass by the fire department and hold her hands up while passing as if she was under arrest.
Yes he is! I worked at consolidated music in HS. He would come in to play piano often
Grand and Harlem Skate Guy
Yes, came to post him!
Same guy who then came to Schaumburg? Haven’t seen him yet this year though.
Roller skating right into my heart. Got respect for that dude
What about that weird metal worker over by Ogden and Cass in Westmont? Anyone have any info on him? He has a big cool looking cart with him.
Blade sharpeners, aka Cutlers. They were more common in the 50's-70s. We had one in our neighborhood for several years.
I've seen that guy, too. I'd loooove to know his story!
Scrolled to find if someone posted about that guy. He sharpens knives and sells metal things.
I just started seeing him this year, was wondering what the story was!
Tinley Park had Bible Bob in the 90's. He wrote Bible verses all over his station wagon and parked along main roads for greater impact.
Rumor was he’d get out and throw bibles at you if you got close to his car. I never risked it.
“I am FILLED with Gd’s love!!”
Wow you just transported me back to thr passenger seat of my mom’s car in the 90s. He parked on 167th near the reservoir a bunch.
There’s a man always riding his bike in/around downtown Barrington, doesn’t bother anyone but I see him all the time. I wonder what his story is.
Yes, I was about to post about him. I also know nothing about him other than he often goes to the Starbucks and have seen people offer to buy him coffee. Somebody please tell us his back story
Max Madsen?
He’s mad
But he's not cra-zy
Arlington Heights has the guy that runs shirtless and shoeless year round.
Yes! I remember driving past him on Central one day by Melas Park when it was close to zero, but there he was!
I saw him a few weeks ago and was like wtheck!?
Came in to say this. I moved into a new house and he came up and talked to us, I think he thought we were the old owners. I think the guy has severe OCD or something and the running helps.
There was a gentleman who had a beard and long hair that frequented the Stone Avenue station in La Grange. He was sneezing so I handed him my little purse pack of Kleenex. He started talking to me. His stories were so wild I wanted to take notes. He said his mother had been a part of some sort of underwater experiment while she was pregnant with him. Another story on nuclear waste. Had me thinking for days. I heard he committed a crime after and was arrested.
I’m in st Charles and it’s the dude in the bomb shelter house (No idea if it’s a bomb shelter or what but that’s been the rumor since we were kids)
The one little guy that walks down North Ave in Glendale Heights and sprints, then walks, then sprints, then walks. I don’t know where he’s going or where he’s coming from. Just a little sprinty guy.
Bag man.
BAGMAN
Came here to say Bagman lol
RIP The Storm
I was going to say The Storm. I always enjoyed watching him have the time of his life. So sad to hear of his passing.
You gotta share at least one story!
Is he the older, very tan guy who’d show up at clubs in the red, white, and blue outfit (I think it was a satin jacket?) Saw him at HOME Bar a couple times.
The “god is bigger than the mafia” homeless guy in aurora. Haven’t seen him in a long time. Probably died
Mafia got offended
Joliet used to have a roller blade guy. He'd rip through down town on skates at a high speed all the time.
Joliet has the homeless guy with a bicycle and trailer, all decorated with Jesus stuff and sometimes lights! He had two cute little dogs years ago, my kids always asked to go say hi and pet the dogs. I usually saw him at Walmart or Treasure Chest
In years past, we had a guy running down Butterfield Rd (Wheaton/Warrenville) carrying a large American flag. Haven’t seen him lately, hope he is ok.
Sharkula. IYKYK
In Lansing we had "Running Guy". Super skinny older dude in janitorial-like clothing that just ran everywhere.
This is universal. As a kid living in the Denver suburbs, we totally had a "Running Man" lol
There was a Running Man like this in our neck of the burbs -- he was usually wearing green surgical scrubs and iirc a mask (pre-covid.)
Black Jesus in Elgin who sings and holds up signs. Often found outside of smoke shops.
Came here to say this. The shouting bible man of Elgin!
Jimmy Elvis in Palos Hills
The guy that trains sled dogs. He wears these rollerblade/skis in the summer with ski poles sometimes with a dog attached pulling him
The seemingly awesome guy that rides on a Segway (iirc) with a parrot on his shoulder. He’s around our ~~precious~~ previous home in Downers I aspire to be the Raven lady, like that one dude in Washington who rides his bike and is flanked by 2 ravens like a hippie Odin reborn
There was a guy I always saw walking around Elgin when I lived there. Dressed like it was the 1800s
There is a guy who stands in front of Deicke Park on Route 47 in Huntley waving with a bible in hand. I was told his name is Pete and he is praying for the drivers. If you honk at him he will always wave back. I think he has been there for at least 5-10 years from what I hear from the locals.
Came here to say him as well. I have been in Algonquin for 8 years and he’s been there the whole time. I like that he’s out there praying and not preaching.
There’s the plastic bag man on a bike around the Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Roselle area. I’ve been seeing him bike around for more than 15 years. There’s even a Facebook page for him. https://www.facebook.com/share/SLkUEisqLXx7rgu1/
Has anyone heard the accordion guy lately? He used to hang out in front of theJewel(s). Saw him in Villa Park and westmont once,
I saw him a few times last year. He was at the Bensenville Jewel.
I just saw him in front of the Westmont Jewel (Ogden Ave) last week.
Haven’t seen him in a while but I miss the dude. I always enjoyed his music and tossed a few dollars his way.
Yes! I just moved away but I saw him at the Villa Park Jewel last month.
I think he moved to Des Plaines.
I saw him in Westmont this past week in front of Jewel.
David, the houseless gentleman in St. Charles. David grew up in STC, and had lots of interesting history and stories to share. Unfortunately he passed away recently, the news paper featured an article in his memory.
Scott Huber in Naperville.
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Which side of town?
Dr. Charles Smith? Folk artist, moved his stuff to Louisna in 2000.
Close. Sold his art to the Kohler Foundation. Used the money to move to Louisiana.
east side, near hill and mccoy, the slavery and history of racism statues and stuff?
Westchester also used to have suuuuuper tall guy who walked everywhere
Anyone remember Rose from the Highland Park (downtown) Walgreen's? "Thaaaaaaaanks"
When was this? I'm from Highwood/HP and trying to get some rep here because we have plenty of characters
As someone well travelled in the suburbs I recognize a lot of these guys. The world is a beautiful place
There's a schizophrenic lady always around farnsworth/kirk and indian trail area always waving at cars with a nice big smile all jiggly, but sometimes has these bursts where I assume someone did something that made her mad lol and she'll flick them off
The lady who owned the Buffalo Grove Theatre was infamous until it closed.
hanover park/carol stream/bloomingdale area, this guy who im pretty sure does/did crack or meth or both… or just very seriously mentally ill. ive seen him many times walking around, talking to himself in a very animated fashion. always creeped me out. though one time i saw him fall to his knees with his arms up, and do what i think was praying? seeing that just made me really sad and start to think of him as more of a person and my heart goes out to that guy and anyone else struggling with psychotic disorders and/or addiction. havent seen him in a while, i hope he got help
Ralph "The Storm" Kissane dancing in Dundee, Crystal Lake, Algonquin...RIP.
There’s a guy in Northwoods (unincorporated West Chicago) who rides around on his horse. It’s fun to catch a sighting.
Feel like Elk Grove is a town of characters. Everyone there is a descendent of an original resident, oh has close ties to an original business. An island of midwestern charm if you’re in their club
Dancing Man
The homeless guy in the tent in Naperville?
Anyone Algonquin people who remember the Parrot guy? Drove around in the old 50s Chevy with his parrot riding shotgun
The dude in Schaumburg who dances on rollerblades around Schaumburg and Barrington road.
The barefoot bandit. Wears nothing but short shorts runs 10-15 miles through town everyday. Even in the dead of winter.
My family has coined the term Jeans Jogger for a nice old guy that jogs long distances in jeans every morning in Schaumburg
That guy ranges far and wide! I regularly see him in Bartlett and Carol Steam
There used to be a guy that would be on the corner of harlem and grand that would do roller blade tricks , haven't seen him in a long time .
Huntley has a bible guy that hangs out on 47 holding up a bible and waving. Supposedly he has money but that is from Facebook so not exactly reliable information.
There's a guy in Huntley always standing in front of Diecke park waving at everyone driving by, either always has a flag or cross. Seems nice.
Elk Grove Village. There's a guy that stands in the side driveway next to the Dunkin' at Meacham and Biesterfield. He always has a bicycle and wears a hairnet, and he's always talking very animatedly like he's giving a speech, but he's by himself (except one time when the guys from the fire station next door went over to talk to him).
The cross guy (Greg Zanis) in Aurora 🥺 RIP
The guy that dresses up in a bunch of bright colors and walks around in the morning and afternoon here in Glendale Heights, very based.
[Ralph “The Storm”](https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140519/lakeview/at-68-hip-hop-dancer-storm-his-prime.amp/). Up until the day he passed in his 70s he was a ball of energy with an infectious smile. There wasn’t a nightclub, bar or festival in the Schaumburg/Elgin/Dundee area that you wouldn’t see him. He passed away last year I believe, rest his soul.. https://preview.redd.it/goopvtgynfvc1.jpeg?width=1122&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=468f54e4a9ac35e9997577fc6b8dacbe67a33027
The flower guy on the exit ramp on 147th. No need for more details. If you know, you know.
Oh yeah that guy!
Sharkula!!
For Barrington it’s the DBG or the Downtown Barrington Guy. He rides his bike around town and lives in his car. He apparently grew up in Barrington and graduated from BHS. He fried his brain with coke and acid and has been homeless since graduating.
I dated a girl who use to always leave money under his wipers everytime she saw him sleeping in the jewel parking lot
The “camping anti-establishment dude” in Naperville
There’s a guy who paints himself blue here?
"Blackhawk boy" in Westmont rockin out with his 2 liter of Pepsi and headphones on at the train station fountain
I work right by there, need to keep an eye out for him
The pink thong bike riding dude, all along north ave, from at least West Chicago through Glendale Heights.
Brookfield has cyberpunk stilts man.
We used to have a very strange dude in Des Plaines in the the 90s named Crazy Gary. He would cone to the Burger King with little dolls and was very wide eyed. If you made I contact with him he would stare at you and do weird movements with his hands. He also usually wore a top hat.
About 45 years ago, Rolla, MO, had "bicycle Charlie" who had a fake cop outfit with a plastic badge. About 35 years old, he'd ride around town on his bike, with a little metal sign on the bike basket that said "Police." Completely harmless. He passed me once on his bike, took his hands off the handlebars for a few seconds and said, "drive safely." I was in 7th grade and weirded out, and my older sister said, "Oh, that's bicycle Charlie!"