Mr. Awesome

That's exactly what he is.... Awesome.  Aka Be-Bop.... Aka The King of Bucktown.  And move the fuck over Dosxxx dude, you ain't got shit on James Becker!

For years I lived in Bucktown and I had run into Bebop almost daily.  He was either having a drink at Map Room, Cleo's, or Danny's.  if I didn't run into him at a bar then it was when he strolled by me on his bike with his khaki shorts and blue windbreaker, and sometimes an american flag windbreaker, or when he would get his tan on at a local park or in front of his house on Hoyne Ave.  Again with those khaki shorts, and if I was lucky, shirtless.  Now I reside down the street and don't get to see my idol very much.

Here's a quick description of Mr. Awesome..... White hair almost shoulder length with a little wave to it, and a nice comb over.  He's 70 yearsold, pretty thin, and has a mouth you'll never forget.  He's nice, jolly, and always quick witted and smiley.  He is an artist, a landlord, a regular at many bars from being a bartender for years, and his most recent endeavor is writing successful children's books.  While referring to his longtime girlfriend as The Lady Monster, who also writes children's books.

While walking down Damen Ave from Silver Cloud back to my apartment on Saturday afternoon, my fiancé and I had finally, after at least 8 months, run into BeBop!  We were ecstatic, to say the least.  It's winter time so he had jeans on, some old reeboks, a puffy khaki jacket, and was carrying some groceries.  As we would say to anyone we had run into after a long time, we asked how things were.  He said they were alright, he had to bury his cat the day before but things were great besides that little bump in the road.  He somehow has an amazing memory and remembered that Jason was opening a bar and asked how it was going, and then he went on to say this...... "Hey well here's the deal, I've bartended for over 30 years, I know everyone in the city, and giggled a little and then said here's my business card (took him 5 minutes to find it in his wallet full of no cash but probably 100 random business cards from people he's met over the years) I can bring in a couple million people no problem!"  We said our goodbyes and walked away.

Maybe this is an experience "you'd have to be here for", but we walked away in awe.  Not from running into him, but mostly because he wants a job bartending and said he can bring in a couple million people.

This ones for you Mr. Awesome.... Maybe you won't be a bartender but we will find some type of gig for you at Community, that's for sure!

#communityofchicago #bebop #awesome #bucktown #wickerpark #regulars

#krp