Public eye

Photo: Mandy Kaylin

Do you do pretty well out here?
I guess you could say that. I do it to make a living. I play [at this corner] about once a week. I’ve been playing accordion on the streets of Chicago for 16 years.

Do you skip around to other corners in the city?
Well, like on Friday I may go to the corner of Wells and Jackson, and if there’s a ball game, I go to Waveland and Clark.

So you break out all the baseball tunes?
I only know one baseball song, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Sometimes people will ask for it.

Do they dance?
Once in a while, they dance.

What else do you play?
Mostly polkas. People often ask for “She’s Too Fat For Me.” And some music from CDs I got in Poland about six years ago when I was visiting a friend and her family for Easter.

Smoked or fresh Polish sausage?
Doesn’t make no difference to me.

Do you polka?
Oh yes, a little bit.

Did you take accordion?
Yes, I studied with an instructor in Rhode Island. I have three accordions—one I used in my lessons, one that was made in the part of Germany that was East Germany and a more professional one that I use on the street.

What do you do when you’re not playing?
I’ll hang out with my girlfriend. We just saw 2 Days in Paris, but it wasn’t that much of a romantic comedy—too much talking.—Leah Pietrusiak