A rat-shaped hole in a Chicago sidewalk has become a viral sensation, with people calling it “more iconic than The Bean” and flocking to see it.
Chicago artist and comedian Winslow Dumaine on Saturday posted a photo on an X that looks like rat corpse marks on a murder scene on a Windy City sidewalk, writes, “Had to make a pilgrimage to the Chicago Rat Hole.”
The photo of the rat-shaped hole in the sidewalk, taken in the Roscoe Village neighborhood, has garnered more than 5 million views in just two days.
Dumaine – who was told about the local spot by a friend – said he never intended for the post to become a sensation but he thought it took off because the photo was so timely.
“It involves animals, it involves something that everyone can get involved with, it has no profanity, and it’s not political,” he told Patch’s local branch of the venue — which has been compared in current popularity to the famous Cloud Gate Sculpture in Windy City, aka “The Bean” because of its shape.
Local residents said that the rat-shaped hole had existed for 20 years. Winslow Dumaine/Facebook
“So all of those things combined kind of made for this perfect storm of algorithmic success,” Dumaine said of the Rat Hole draw.
Resident Cindy Nelson said the hole has been in the sidewalk for 20 years since she’s lived there.
Nelson said he always thought it was squirrel tracks – and not mice – that must have fallen from a tree that once grew there.
Nelson said he doubts it could be the effects of mice.
Dumaine’s post got 5 million views and has prompted people to make pilgrimages to the place. X/@violishh
“I can’t believe a mouse jumps in the air and its belly bounces straight down,” Nelson told Fox 10.
But that didn’t stop people from flocking to the spot and posting photos of themselves there in the comments of Dumaine’s earlier post.
Chicago is notorious for its rat problem, having topped the list of US cities with the animals’ biggest infestations for nine consecutive years, according to exterminator company Orkin.
New York is two places behind, after Chicago and Los Angeles.
A user X posted their picture on January 7 with the caption: “I have performed the Hajj.”
Dumaine said he never expected the position to take off the way it did. Winslow Dumaine/Facebook
Other people post a photo of the place taken in 2016 said, “I need to get back there.”
Photo of a hole with a small bouquet of flowers also posted in the comments Jan 7 with the caption: “Visited today. live each day like it’s the last…”
The Lakeview-Roscoe Chamber of Commerce has also held a naming contest for a small site of pavement near the intersection of Roscoe Street and Damen Avenue that has, until now, been nicknamed “Lil Stucky,” according to chamber representatives.
The public can submit name suggestions for the tick-shaped landmark until Jan. 18.
Although the position has helped boost sales of Dumaine’s products, he doesn’t want to be known as the “Rathole Man.” FOX 32 Chicago
Dumaine jokingly said that he doesn’t want to be defined by one position because he has so much more to offer professionally.
“Look, I write books, I make Tarot decks, I travel the world selling my stickers, I make card games,” he said. “I’m such a crazy, hyphenated, annoying person that I can’t be the ‘Rathole Man.’ “
Still, Dumaine said the photo has caused people to start searching for his name online and has helped significantly increase pre-orders for his Tarot deck.
He hopes the success won’t be in vain as his 15 minutes of fame wear off.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
