Drink of its water and be healed

January 8, 2024 12:57 PM

The ‘Chicago Rat Hole’ Is the Hottest Tourist Destination of 2024 The cement imprint has existed for at least a decade, although no one seems sure how it got there.
posted by tiny frying pan (41 comments total)

"Fell, or was pushed?" one user asked in that exchange.

Hmmm...I smell a rat...
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:01 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]

Ephemeral fossil - not a rat but only the sidewalk's memory of a rat. Makes me need to wipe a tear from my eye.
posted by DSime at 1:09 PM on January 8 [3 favorites]

the sidewalk's memory of a rat

Username up for grabs!
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:13 PM on January 8 [16 favorites]

This reminds me of an anecdote:

Once, while living in Chicago's Humboldt Park, I walked out to my car at 6:30 am on a cold winter morning. On the sidewalk in front of my apartment building: a rat frozen both with cold and rigor mortis. One inch from that dead rat's desperately reaching grip: a single french fry.
posted by HeroZero at 1:22 PM on January 8 [23 favorites]

And coming full circle, this anecdote reminds me of a very recent MF thread
posted by heyitsgogi at 1:52 PM on January 8

I love how the article just trails off with several unrelated rat facts.
posted by Horkus at 2:23 PM on January 8 [4 favorites]

Several unrelated rat facts username is also up for grabs!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 2:28 PM on January 8 [13 favorites]

Several unrelated rat facts username is also up for grabs!

So, we're just done with taglines, right? That's not a thing anymore?
posted by The Bellman at 2:45 PM on January 8

This sounds like something Stefon would say. This place has everything.
posted by mhoye at 2:46 PM on January 8 [6 favorites]

Metafilter: several unrelated rat facts. (For you, Bellman)
posted by crazy_yeti at 3:10 PM on January 8 [10 favorites]

Metafilter: So, we're just done with taglines, right? That's not a thing anymore?
posted by Saxon Kane at 3:14 PM on January 8 [15 favorites]

That was a very weirdly written story. Did anybody else watch the "overview" video containing only stock footage and a narration read by AI in a child-like voice?
posted by montag2k at 3:19 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]

There can be only one famous rat in Chicago and that's Scabby. Give 'em a high five if you see him.
posted by JoeZydeco at 3:39 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]

I'd be checking flights from Moscow.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 3:58 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]

James Hoffa’s last resting place discovered
posted by interogative mood at 3:58 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]

I go past that area 8 times a week. It's right near the high school I attended!

I will not be making a special stop to see this, but it's an amusing story.
posted by SoberHighland at 4:01 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]

I WILL be making a special stop to see this
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:04 PM on January 8 [6 favorites]

I'm not the only one who upon reading the headline thought "Chicago Rat Hole" was a bar, right? Right??
posted by dannyboybell at 4:25 PM on January 8 [14 favorites]

When in Chicago for the rat hole, why not also ride out to the end of the blue line to see the historic bench
posted by Brainstorming Time! at 5:38 PM on January 8 [5 favorites]

It was clearly a squirrel.
posted by zenon at 5:54 PM on January 8

The shape suggests squirrel but I feel the feet match a rat more. What's indisputable is that "Rat Hole" is a better name.
posted by tiny frying pan at 5:58 PM on January 8 [4 favorites]

It was clearly a squirrel.

HERETIC!
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:59 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]

One inch from that dead rat's desperately reaching grip: a single french fry.

HeroZero That is the most poignant story. It is a metaphor for our society. Truly tragic.
posted by BlueHorse at 6:03 PM on January 8 [4 favorites]

I live a couple of blocks away from the rat or squirrel hole. It’s been there for more than 20 years, as I moved in around 2001 and it was there. I usually think it looks more like a squirrel that fell from a tree than a rat. I have also wondered if it is a long forgotten prank by someone with a rubber toy rat or similar. In any event, this morning there were coins in the hole.
posted by Mid at 6:14 PM on January 8 [13 favorites]

Thank you for the info Mid!!! I am shocked I haven't heard of it until now, I've been here since 2001 as well.
posted by tiny frying pan at 6:25 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]

I adore the combination of post title and subject matter.
posted by The Manwich Horror at 7:06 PM on January 8

the sidewalk's memory of a rat

Also possibly a Mark Eitzel song title.
posted by mykescipark at 7:44 PM on January 8

METAFILTER: just trails off with several unrelated rat facts.
posted by philip-random at 8:03 PM on January 8 [2 favorites]

Someone needs to go out there and make a silicon mold of this imprint to mass-produce reproduction rat hole concrete tiles for sale to the tourist hordes.
posted by St. Oops at 8:38 PM on January 8 [6 favorites]

MetaFilter: this morning there were coins in the hole
posted by chavenet at 1:08 AM on January 9 [3 favorites]

I can't believe everybody missed the obvious one:

MetaFilter: That's not a thing anymore
posted by DreamerFi at 3:41 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

I’m kind of thinking the rat/squirrel was hit by an Acme hammer - or maybe a boxing glove on a spring.
posted by Phanx at 5:13 AM on January 9 [2 favorites]

Be sure to try Malört while you're in town for the Rat Hole.
posted by Carcosa at 7:03 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

Just noticed that Google Maps classifies Historic Bench as "museum." I love this city.

Also if anyone happens to think it's a squirrel on account of its size...the rats in my yard are very definitely squirrel-sized, and leave similar outlines when they are splatted in the alley. And anyway now I'm nauseated so that's all for this comment.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 7:16 AM on January 9 [2 favorites]

> I'm not the only one who upon reading the headline thought "Chicago Rat Hole" was a bar, right? Right??

Indeed, I sort of assumed you'd go there to get a shot of Malört.
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 7:19 AM on January 9 [2 favorites]

I saw a rat once that was possum-sized. And it was definitely not a possum! Luckily only the once. He was eating a dropped burger under a grill after the BBQ party had dispersed.
posted by tiny frying pan at 7:28 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

Just noticed that Google Maps classifies Historic Bench as "museum." I love this city.

Review №4

I travelled 4,000 miles from the UK to see this bench, and I was not disappointed. The authentic wood-effect PVC slats really remind you of the hardships that people had to endure in historic times.

Review №9

Ive been all over the world and let me tell you, the Sistine Chapel, Forbidden City, etc pale in comparison to this bench. I stood there weeping due to its grandeur and beauty. And my god, when I sat on this bench it was like heaven. I highly highly recommend this bench. I only wish the bench could stay open later than 2:15 though so more people could experience it.

Be sure to check the hours; the bench is closed on Wednesdays.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:21 AM on January 9 [5 favorites]

Aww, the person who made the original post is an artist and apparently got a decent number of sales from the increased visibility. All hail the viral rat hole!
posted by merriment at 8:37 AM on January 11

Lincoln Park Zoo's Dr. Seth Magle: "It's a squirrel"
posted by zenon at 2:05 PM on January 18

It's supposedly filled in now. A little publicity and it's ruined. I HATE people who hate fun, a pox on them.

(Also, RAT HOLE, the end, no more squirrel talk for fucks sake)
posted by tiny frying pan at 11:42 AM on January 19

Update: ‘Chicago rat hole’ restored by neighbors after it’s mysteriously filled in: ‘Chicago takes care of its own’
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 2:58 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]