Superstar Romances, Then and Now

null By Bob GreeneJan. 11, 2024 6:26 pm ETThe economic boost from the "Eras' tour, her ability to bring joy to fan's lives, and her fairytale romance with Travis Kelce are some of the reasons that Taylor Swift is the best thing to happen in America this year. Images: AP Composite: Mark KellyWe’ve been here before: a nation beguiled by a couple we ourselves have never met but somehow feel that we know. Only the names are different.On a recent morning, I went in search of initials carved into the surface of a bar. I headed for a Chicago restaurant known until its closure in 2016 as the Cape Cod Room. Founded in the 1930s in the Drake Hotel, it was a popular destination for fine seafood dining. The space is now called the Café on Oak, open for breakfast only. When I entered, I asked an employee wiping down water glasses whether the initials were still there. “Oh, yeah,” he said.Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8Sponsored Offer

A person who loves writing, loves novels, and loves life.Seeking objective truth, hoping for world peace, and wishing for a world without wars.

Opinion Jan 12, 2024 Add to Reading List

null

Bob Greene

Jan. 11, 2024 6:26 pm ET

The economic boost from the "Eras' tour, her ability to bring joy to fan's lives, and her fairytale romance with Travis Kelce are some of the reasons that Taylor Swift is the best thing to happen in America this year. Images: AP Composite: Mark Kelly

We’ve been here before: a nation beguiled by a couple we ourselves have never met but somehow feel that we know. Only the names are different.

On a recent morning, I went in search of initials carved into the surface of a bar. I headed for a Chicago restaurant known until its closure in 2016 as the Cape Cod Room. Founded in the 1930s in the Drake Hotel, it was a popular destination for fine seafood dining. The space is now called the Café on Oak, open for breakfast only. When I entered, I asked an employee wiping down water glasses whether the initials were still there. “Oh, yeah,” he said.