2005 Really Over...

The end of the year is here, and I want to take a moment to again thank you my reader. This li'l blog started out nearly a year ago, and little did I know how it would change my life and the life of those around me (some for the worse, some for the better). Keep coming back...

I am taking a couple of day's off for a short break, but I look forward to continuing to bring you images of my neighborhood, the Loop in Chicago in the coming year.

Best wishes and Happy New Year...

Another Loss...

Yet another cultural icon for the city of Chicago is going away. First it was the loss of the Marshall Fields name to Macy's, and now we are going to loose The Berghoff. I have shown a few of these images before, but I felt it important to show them again along with a couple of ones not shown before.


Two times during the year, the sun is just right to create this reflection on the Berghoff building. The previous one was taken in September, and this one was taking last March.


Completed in 1872, only months after the Great Chicago Fire, the two adjoining Italianate buildings give one a glimpse of what the Loop was like in the 1870's. It was discovered in the last decade or so that the building on the left has a pre-cast cast iron front which was bolted together. This is supposedly one of only two remaining cast iron front buildings in the Loop.


The restaurant opened in 1898, however, I don't know when they added the neon sign.


I shot this image last March, and it has become one of my favorite photographs that I have taken.


In May, I was standing across the street again with my camera, and attempted to recapture the essence of my previous image.


A couple more shots...





(edit) Thanks Chicagoist for the link!

Random Mondays...12.26.05...

This week it's random night shots around the central Loop.

Daley Center.


Lights shining down from 69 W Washington.


Chase Bank Bldg. at Madison and Clark.


This one was by accident.
Camera was on a tripod, timer set, when somebody walking by asked a question (I can't remember what... "Where is Marshall Fields perhaps??") and I got this.


Stairs leading down to the Pedway, Daley Plaza.

Merry Christmas!...

More Christmassy Goodness...

Tonight I bring you random holiday images taken in the Loop last night.

Shoppers rushing across State Street at Washington. I used my tripod for this one, and took about five shots with the timer. This one was the most interesting.


I took this shot a few weeks back, but without a tripod, it was just too blurry. Last night, I got a much clearer one.


Partially working light display on the Goodman Theater Building. This LED display is great when it works... Which is less and less often. (Also note the "Orient L" in the background.)


The Chase Holiday Tree. They liberally used blue LED's which give it an amazing blue glow.


And finally, a few more shoppers scurrying about at Marshall Fields.

The Final Rush...

This being the last holiday season that Marshall Fields will be Marshall Fields, (before it becomes Macy's next September) I have been taking more pictures than usual of the holiday shopping chaos going on in front of the store on State Street.

Here is the view this morning before lunch.


The next several images were taken today during the brief moment when the sun was beaming down State Street. (I have been waiting for a moment when the planets aligned, it was before Christmas, the sun was shining down the street, and I wasn't at work.)


There was a time when crowds like this were normal throughout the year, but now people are at the mall the rest of the year.





Note the bag in tree. (Some of you will get it...)


More horny goodness.
It is hard to guess what will be here next year. The clock and sheath of wheat are definitely not very Macy's. Probably red stars.


Macy's


This evening I took a few moments to snap a few images of the crowd.

Art Institute Holiday...

Images taken of the front of the Art Institute recently.


The two bronze lions that flank main entrance were made for the opening at its current location in 1893. The lions are not identical, and thus are named for their poses:

The south lion "stands in an attitude of defiance,"...



...while the north lion is "on the prowl."


Fun with Photoshop


Info on lions from here.

Architectural Lobotomy...

Like may people who share my appreciation for architecture, whenever I see bad things happen to a building, my heart is saddened just a bit.

Well, this time I saw it, as it was actually occurring. I was walking down Belmont Ave just east of the Red Line this past Saturday, and first saw this bazaar cutting on the underside of the bay windows on this familiar building.


As I continued down the street, I heard the sound of a saw and realized that this building was being disfigured right in front of my eyes.


This man was actually cutting into decorative carved limestone on the underside of the bay windows. Limestone which is at least a hundred years old, and would cost tens of thousands of dollars to replace.
WTF???


I crossed the street to see if I could find out why they were permanently f**king up the facade of this lovely old building, but I couldn't get their attention. They either couldn't hear me, or were ignoring me.
I understand this is just one of thousands of similar buildings in Chicago, but that does not make it right to destroy such detail. Whatever reason it was that they felt the need to do this destruction, there has to be a better way to handle it.


I will be up that way again this weekend, and I am dreading what will be left.

Random Mondays...12.19.05...

This week I bring a few images from my recent trip to Anaheim, as well as a couple of seasonal images.

First up, the cartoon like tree that graces (however ungracefully it may be) Daley Plaza is seen with the Daley Center as backdrop. While the "tree" is actually a combination of dozens of actual trees attached to a steel frame.


Perhaps not the smartest place to relax. Midway Airport, on the night that the Southwest Airlines plane slid off of the runway.


Quintessential Southern California... No need for further explanation other than this was the seen as we waited for the airport shuttle at our hotel.


View of Illinois as we prepared for our landing last Monday.


As a follow up to my previous post on the clock at Marshall Fields, I found this image taken several weeks ago.

Meet Me Under the Clock...

A Chicago tradition is to meet up with friends or family under the clock at Marshall Fields (the question always is, which one). Since I live closer to the clock at State and Washington, I bring you a collection of images taken this year of that famous clock.


Blending in with the silhouette of the buildings behind.


Taken from the corner of the Hotel Burnham.


Fall leave with a bit of breeze obscure the reflection of the clock across the street.


Taken during a snowstorm last January. We go eight inches of snow, and I had a blast taking pictures with nobody around.


Again during the snow storm last January.


Yes, there is another nearly identical clock at State and Randolph. So nobody feels I left it out, here is one of the few images I have of this one.

California Adventure...

In part 3, my final entry on my trip to Disneyland, I bring you images from the stepchild park across the way from Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure. More amusement park like, DCA was fun, but I wouldn't recommend a full day there.

Here the Orange Stinger is reflected in Paradise Bay with California Screamin and the Maliboomer in the background.


California Screamin roller coaster


Ariels Grotto


Faux Hollywood street in Hollywood Pictures Backlot, can you tell here it ends?


This is the last of my Disney post, the Loop will return soon.

The Land Where Walt Walked...

In part 2 of my trip to Disneyland, I bring you an assortment of classic Disney.

First off... The Teacups. (Always try to get the "Golden" Teacup, it has the best spin.


Dumbo the Flying Elephant... Yes... I rode it.... We were the only guy's in line without a child to bring along for the ride. The "Golden Dumbo" is for Disney's 50th Anniversary.


"it's a small world" lit up with holiday lighting.


Classic image of the Matterhorn, taken from Tomorrowland. Sadly, Tomorrowland has lost much of it's mid-century coolness, but they have been working on bringing some of it back.


Space Mountain, better than ever! Hands down, my favorite ride in Disneyland. The new and improved Space Mountain is faster, smoother, and a great thrill.

Disneyland, Cause I had to...

What to do when ones significant other is a bit obsessed with Disneyland (not the world, or the characters, but the original land in Anaheim), and one feels there are perhaps better ways to spend ones time and money?
One gives in... Sees it as a photo opportunity, and tries to make the best of it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the rides, and overall had a good time... OK, I had a great time, and really enjoyed the rides.... But I don't feel the need to rush back soon, and hopefully one's significant other likes traveling alone, at least for the next couple of years or so...

It turned out that the photos became secondary, taking less importance over having a generally good experience. So, between riding the rides, and eating incredibly overpriced food (save for lunch at the Blue Bayou), I shot a few images. Here is the first of a series of images taken at Disneyland (not world).

This is the "Lands" 50th Anniversary this year, and everywhere you go, you see the number 50, or something golden.


Micky at the top of the Matterhorn.


Sleeping Beauty Castle by day...


...and by night. The castle just received a new make-over for the Golden Anniversary.

Cancelled... For now...

Plans delayed one day due to a plane skidding off of the runway. We were only minutes away from boarding our plane.

Two hours later as we were headed home for the night.

Gone to see the Teacups...

I will be gone for a few days (if the snow will let up), below is a hint of how I will be getting there. I will bring back a few pics to share.

BTW, this is an image I pulled from the web and manipulated.

Winter Gardens Part II...

Yesterday I wrote about finding a rare moment when the sun was still shining, the snow was somewhat fresh, and the wonderfully empty Lurie Garden at Millennium Park. I bring you part II of my visit to the garden as well as a couple of shots of the Modern Sculpture Garden at the Art Institute.





Apparently, they don't allow the public in this area at the Art Institute during winter for liability reasons... Or perhaps it's so as not to "muss" the scuptural quality of the snow.

Winter Gardens Part I...

Last weekend I found a rare moment when the sun was still shining, the snow was somewhat fresh, and there wasn't anybody hanging out in Lurie Garden at Millennium Park. In fact, the garden was empty. There is much to be seen in the garden during winter. Yes, it is true that you won't see much green (except for the evergreens), and certainly no flowers... But don't overlook what is there, and the beauty it holds.











Part II tomorrow.

Random Mondays... 12.05.05...

Various shots from the past two days.

Northbound platform at Diversey, earlier this evening.


View from Fullerton Platform. The Hayes Healy Athletic Center (requires registration) at DePaul, is being torn down to make way for the new station. Also see this article (pdf).


Unusual installation at the Art Institute.


Snow slipping off of the Bean.

The Gates... Of Sorts....

A pedestrian right of way is being constructed on the roadbed of State Street to make way for construction on Block 37. Yesterday, I watched several workmen putting together this scaffolding for what looks to be a future platform for construction trailers.

Looking at this reminded me of The Gates in Central Park last February.


Naturally, I had to go down and take a few more pictures.


This pedestrian walkway is literally in the second lane of southbound State Street. They have moved traffic over to accommodate.


(EDIT) Here is an additional shot taken this morning with fresh snow.

Michigan and Chicago Avenues...

I was looking through my images and found these I shot last March at the intersection of Michigan and Chicago Avenues. Looking at them in black and white made me think of the winter ahead, and that we have four more months to go.


Looking down on the same intersection moments later from the fifth floor in Filenes.


Standing in the small park looking up at the past and the near past.


And now with arty tree branches added for effect.

Father Time Getting Old...

I remember seeing this clock on my first visit to Chicago in 1998, and I have passed by it countless times, but finally the light was right, and I took a few shots of it on a recent sunny weekend. I always forget it is there, but have always been fascinated by it, whenever I would see it. I didn't even know that it was Father Time standing atop keeping watch over the city.

Perched on the Jewelers Building (aka 35 E Wacker) on the corner of Wacker and Wabash, this clock has been serving passersby for nearly 80 years. It took a bit of searching, but I was able to find out that the clock was a gift from the Elgin National Watch Company and was installed in 1926. Back when it was tied in with the Naval Observatory it was recognized as "the most reliable timepiece in Chicago."


Although it is no longer connected to the US Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, it still keeps accurate time under the watch of Father Time.


Weathered yet quite beautiful.



I liked this shadow effect on the face, the hands just floating on their own. I am also a big fan of the red "crystals" surrounding each face. At night, the clock takes on an eerie look.