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 posted a photo on Saturday. in an
The image of the rodent-shaped hole in the sidewalk, taken in the Roscoe Village neighborhood, racked up more than 5 million views in just two days.
Dumaine, who was told about the local ad by a friend, says he never intended for the post to become a sensation, but he believes it took off because the photo had the right tone.
“It’s about an animal, it’s about something that everyone can get involved in, it didn’t have bad words and it wasn’t political,” he told local outlet Patch about the ad, whose current popularity has been compared to the famous Windy City’s Cloud Gate sculpture, also known as “The Bean” for its shape.
Locals say the rodent-shaped hole has been there for 20 years. Winslow Dumaine/Facebook
“So all of those things combined created this perfect storm of algorithmic success,” Dumaine said of the Rat Hole giveaway.
Resident Cindy Nelson says the hole has been in the sidewalk for the 20 years she has lived there.
Nelson says he always thought it was a squirrel print, not a rat, that must have fallen from a tree that used to grow there.
Nelson said she is skeptical that it could be a rat print.
Dumaine’s post garnered 5 million views and has led people to make pilgrimages to the site. X/@violishh
“I don’t think a rat would jump in the air and land face down,” Nelson told Fox 10.
But that hasn’t stopped people from flocking to the location and posting photos of themselves there in the comments of Dumaine’s initial post.
Chicago is known for its rat problem, having topped the list of American cities with the largest rat infestation for nine consecutive years, according to exterminator company Orkin.
New York is two places behind, after Chicago and Los Angeles.
An X user posted a photo of themselves on January 7 with the caption: “I have made my pilgrimage.”
Dumaine says he never expected the position to take off like it did. Winslow Dumaine/Facebook
Another person posted a photo of the place taken in 2016 saying: “I need to get back there.”
A photo of the hole with a small bouquet of flowers. It was also posted in the comments. January 7 with the caption: “Visited today. Live every day as if it were your last…”
The Lakeview-Roscoe Chamber of Commerce has even held a naming contest for the small piece of sidewalk near the intersection of Roscoe Street and Damen Avenue that, until now, had been nicknamed “Lil Stucky,” according to a chamber representative .
People can submit name suggestions for the varmint-shaped landmark until January 18.
While the post has helped boost sales of Dumaine’s products, he doesn’t want to be known as the “Rat Hole guy.” FOX 32Chicago
Dumaine jokingly said he doesn’t want to be defined by a single position since he has so much more to offer professionally.
“Look, I wrote a book, I made a Tarot deck, I traveled the world selling my stickers, I’m making a card game,” he said. “I’m such a crazy, obnoxious multi-hyphenate guy that I can’t be ‘the Rat Hole guy.’ “
Still, Dumaine says the photo has prompted people to start searching for her name online and has helped significantly increase pre-orders for her Tarot deck.
He hopes his success doesn’t fade when his 15 minutes of fame are over.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn