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This gentlemen should have ordered a Venti Triple Shot Expresso when he visited the Starbucks on Lake Street under the El tracks in Chicago's Loop.
All in Chicago
Aftermath
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In one sense, a comparison between the aftermath of 9/11 and the Cubs' World Series Victory is inappropriate. I, however, was in New York City shortly after 9/11. The level of intensity I felt from those those around me at Ground Zero is similar to the the level of intensity that Chicogians are experiencing from the World Series victory. We see sports victory celebrations four or five times a year, but nothing I've ever seen rivals what is going on in Chicago. This is a big deal.
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Pick your poison, so to speak. I decided early on that I wanted the image depicted in the cover photograph, but that presents a problem. A photographer's worst nightmare is being relegated to a fixed position. I always say that when photographing in a club or concert hall. By picking this location, I did not have the opportunity to photograph the rally in Grant Park, the parade stepping off at Wrigley Field, or the chaos at the AMTRAK station. Only a media outlet like the Chicago Tribune has the number of photographers to cover all the bases, so to speak.
Apple
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The new Apple store under construction on Michigan Avenue just south of the Tribune Tower. The early morning serenity is deceiving. As this photograph was being made, some 5,000,000 people were descending on downtown for the Chicago Cubs' victory celebration.
Atlas
It's all about the layers that exist in urban settings. Tokyo is known for them, but Chicago also has its share of layers.
Up
While we waited for the return water taxi, we spent some time in Ping Tom Memorial Park. The willows lining the river have grown over the years that we have lived in Chicago.
The visual treat in this neighborhood is the Amtrak vertical life bridge that was built in 1915 (101 years old). It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It doesn't look like it has been painted since then. I had never seen it in the "up" position, but on this trip, I watched it go upwards after a southbound Amtrak train rolled over it. It works just like an elevator.
Window
My signature slogan "tomorrow's garage sale today," came to mind when I came upon this window in Chicago's Chinatown. This particular dealer is on Wentworth Avenue, which is the main drag in this concentrated community. I hadn't been down to Chinatown in a few years. The restaurants appear to be multiplying, but there seemed to be a lot of vacant store fronts.
Tension
As good as the cops are--I assume they perfected the technique during the NATO protests four years ago--they did make one big tactical mistake tonight, or maybe not. The demonstrators were funneled south on Wabash. That makes sense when the demonstration is crossing Chicago Avenue, but about six or seven blocks south sits what has become a politically charged Chicago landmark: Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. About three blocks before arriving, the protesters realized where they were headed. At about the same time, the police realized the potential problem they had created. That wasn't a hard realization to come by: People had begun chanting "Fuck Trump." The bicycle cops responded, racing down the far sidewalk in an effort to reach the Trump International Hotel before the demonstrators got there. Trump had to put his name on the building in two-story letters.
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Solitude
Today, Holy Name cathedral is probably the best know religious facility in the Chicago. In addition to regular services, it is the ceremonial site for the Chicago's Catholic community. Major weddings and funerals are held here. One of the more notable recent funerals was for Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert. I was told by one wedding photographer that the fee for a wedding is $1,000, which does not strike me as a large sum given the extravegent spending that often accompanies the union of two people.
Clouds
Hot summer day. Imagine wasting money hiring a plane to fly an anti-abortion banner over the beach on such a beautiful day? Somebody did, and I suspect nobody paid much attention. It didn't matter whether they were pro or con. Hot summer day.
Pride
Today was the annual Gay Pride Day Parade in Chicago. Attendance was down; it was an hour shorter by my estimate; the floats and groups never seemed to pause as they had in years past-- possibly reflecting security concerns; and the politicians flocked by even though they have nothing to be proud about. As the Gay community has become more mainstream, the parade has become more corporate and much of the outlandishness has receded with the hairlines of parade participants. Imagine seeing Boeing, Northrup Grumman, Aon, or KMPG at a Gay rights parade in 1969, but then, times have changed since Stonewall.
Lit
When I arrived, the light was spectacular, but there were no people. When the people arrived, the sky was a washed out grey, with no shadows anywhere. Some days you just can't win. I walked over the Blues Festival, stopping on the way for a single Dunkin' Donut (230 calories).
Orlando
For the last 23 years, I have lived on the edge of Chicago's Boystown. Tonight the LGBT community held a rally/vigil in recognition of what happened in Orlando, Florida this morning. There was a very heavy police and media presence. Somewhere around 1,000 people turned out to hear speeches from community and religious leaders.