WICKER PARK — Where do giant teddy bears go when they are no longer wanted by their owners? One very big stuffed bear has been sitting next to a Dumpster in Wicker Park beneath the CTA L tracks for at least four days and possibly longer.
On Saturday morning, the stuffed brown bear was clean in a new or well-cared-for way and observed fully propped up on an overturned dresser, with its hind legs stretched out in front of him and a broken TV at his feet.
"can't decide if trash bear is sad or just chillin," one Twitter user, Scrojo, responded to the photo we tweeted. A day later, after some rain, obsoxsibhon, tweeted, "If I weren't pretty convinced he stinks to high heaven by now, I'd walk over there and bring him home."
A somewhat elaborate theory behind the bear's trashing in an alley in the 1500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue was floated on Instagram.
"teddy had to much to drink and his girl kicked him out," user "usalamanca" said.
Late Saturday night, the bear had apparently shifted its position, with its posture slumped down against a concrete structure.
On Sunday morning, a man who was drinking alcohol in the alley around 7:45 a.m. valiantly told a reporter (who was taking a photo of the bear) that he'd "clean the bear up" for her if she wanted it, and then requested Metra fare of $6.75.
On Monday night, the TV had been removed from the bear's glassy-eyed sight line and relocated to the side of the drawer.
On Tuesday morning, the bear showed signs of wear with mud on its paw pads and fur, which appeared wet from the previous day's rain. Through it all, the smile on the bear's face remained the same.
Here are some thoughts on the bear.
@DNA_WPB Missed Jimmy Kimmel?
— Deb Stone (@debsicurn89) January 16, 2017
Here, too,@DNA_WPB RT @IngrahamAngle: This is Mayor DeBlasio's New York. Trash everywhere. Homelessness on the rise. https://t.co/sjGIFgdnqh pic.twitter.com/hZ9Fv92CiD
— ChicagoJohn (@ChgoJohn) January 15, 2017
@DNA_WPB @CWBChicago there is a body inside the bear.
— steve kane (@steve27kane) January 15, 2017
@DNA_WPB the homeless situation in this city gets sadder and sadder
— Kenny Z (@kennethaz) January 15, 2017
@DNA_WPB @chicagobars that's where those belong
— Dana Michelotti (@dmiche_) January 14, 2017
Kanye had a rough night during his last visit home. https://t.co/0Hhog1K4i0
— holder of place (@Winky_Dinky_Dog) January 14, 2017