The Hounds

The Woodstreet Bloodhounds playing some bluegrass at the Chicago Antique Market on Saturday afternoon, July 28th. Three of us have pearl snaps on our shirts - -can you guess which ones?!

River North Modster

Modster condo building at 156 W. Superior in River North. And, first post with my new camera!

Julia C. Lathrop Homes

Set out on a walk Sunday afternoon and ended up on the path behind Lathrop Homes that parallels the river north of Diversey. The walk-up buildings look to be in pretty good shape for being built in 1938. This building is fairly modest one, but nicely scaled with lots of brickwork detailing. I hope these buildings will be rehabbed and not demolished as the Lathrop Redevelopment unfolds.

Here is the central heating plant on the river - the Damen bridge is in the background. It was a beautiful day with some really nice wispy clouds! We also stumbled upon the Diversey Floating Wetland just south of Diversey near the heating plant.

Bliss and Cherry

Anyone ever been to the intersection of Cherry & Bliss?! Well, I never have -- until I took a trip this morning to Calumet Photographic on Goose Island.

Johnny's Lounge

Johnny's Lounge at 3425 N. Lincoln is so background and faded that it's pretty hard to notice-- and that's what makes it so great! I've lived in the neighborhood for 15 years and have really never seen any activity. A while back Mitzi and I walked by on a Friday evening about 10:30 and noticed this old guy in a suit opening the front door. We went in and were drop-jawed; like walking back into the 60's. Kind of smelly , but pretty cool - lots of weird, old stuff to look at behind the bar. Johnny's about 80, has a thick Croat accent, and in between chatting with us, was snoozing a bit behind the bar. This guy Richard, a dude in bikers spandex unlocks the gate to let people in. Crazy stuff! Oh, by the way, the vacant lot next door to the north is home to a few of Johnny's old air stream like trailers! Highly recommended!

The sun faded Hamm's sign out in front. Johnny's name nowhere to be seen!

Earth Machine

The Chicago Center for Green Technology had a compost bin sale this morning. Went out and picked up an "Earth Machine" urban composter. Here it is all new and shiny in my back yard!
Here's a shot of the awesome natural landscaping and flowers along the front entry to the Chicago Center for Green Technology located at 445 N. Sacramento Boulevard.

Golden Ride

Here's a cool old car I spotted one afternoon while out looking at buildings in the Westhaven neighborhood around Lake & Wood Streets. I like the detail by the door handle! You can see some multi-family housing under construction in the background.

Tasty Gospel

Rick, Mitzi, Annalee, and Rita singin' some gospel at the Taste of Chicago Fox Stage on Sunday, July 8, 2007.