Friday, April 30, 2010

What's In Season?

Ramps! Although the season is almost over as it only lasts a few short weeks. Ramps are a cross between onions and garlic. They are the first "green" produce item that grows in the Spring -and all seasonal eaters rejoice because it means the dark days of onions and potatoes are over. Also, ramps may have give the city of Chicago its name. The Potawatami Indian word for Ramps (or wild onions) is Checagou. Apparently the area was rather "fragrant" with the aroma of wild onions back in the day.

Anyway, the season is short so enjoy them while you can or make them into pesto (as the ingredients in this photo are about to become) and enjoy them in the winter --- when all us seasonal eaters have available is potatoes, onions, root vegetables and anything we were lucky to have frozen during farmers market season.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Sunset Lit Flowers

The way the sunset hit these flowers really enhanced their colors and created a cool shadow-filled background.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

This Year, We're Below The Clouds

Took this picture from Montrose Point on Sunday morning. Clouds were rolling in over the Loop area, but hadn't gotten to the northern part of the city yet.

Here's the weird thing. A year ago Sunday, my Daily Chicago Photo post, here is the link, was a picture of low clouds coming into the Loop area from a high rise view point.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Red and Pink on the Brown Line

This very bright mosaic (?) was installed at the Chicago Avenue stop on the CTA Brown Line. The CTA has been installing art - mural, mosaics, sculptures - at many of the remodeled stations through out the city. I'm trying to find out a little more about this but haven't been successful. I'm curious about all the symbols ... and wouldn't the colors have coordinated better on the Pink Line or the Red Line?

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

April Sunrise

The sun just peeking through the morning clouds yesterday.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Feathered Friends: A New Batch

A new batch of migrating birds have stopped in Chicago.


Clockwise from top right
Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Caspian Tern, Brown Creeper

A few more pictures of each are at my Chicago Birdwatching blog, which is here.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Lakefront Breeze

Bicyclists and runners had an easy time going south on the Lakefront Path on Saturday. But, the return trip was a bit more challenging as you can see from the way the waves are moving with the strong Spring "breeze".

Friday, April 16, 2010

Monster of the Marina

Now here's a diehard Bears fan. The boat is painted in Bears colors and loaded with Bears logos. To top it off it is in Burnham Harbor with a view of Soldier Field and the alien spaceship that landed on top of Soldier Field a few years ago.


Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Where The Buoys Are

The Chicago Harbors officially open on May 1st, so they have a few more weeks to finish putting all the buoys in place in Monroe Harbor. They actually are almost done - there's just one middle section that still needs to have the buoys - these buoys and anchors (below) set in place.


Monday, April 12, 2010

Maybe This Week

OK. So last week's Season Opener for the Cubs wasn't a stellar event. Today is their Home Opener and hope springs eternal ...

Friday, April 9, 2010

Feathered Friends: The Next Wave

The next wave of migrating (and some Summer residents) birds have arrived in Chicago.

Top row
Northern Flicker (top), Killdeer (bottom), Long Eared Owl, Dark-Eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker

Bottow row
Fox Sparrow (top), Hermit Thrush (bottom), Eastern Phoebe, Field Sparrow (top), Vesper Sparrow (bottom), Ruby Crested Kinglet (top), Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Song Sparrow, Hermit Thrush

Click on the photo to enlarge it
The individual photos will, over the next day or so, get to my Chicago Bird Watcher site, here.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Locked Lock

I noticed the interesting look of the shadows first. But then I started to wonder about someone locking his/her bicycle lock up. Maybe this is a favorite place to put the bike and he/she is just calling "dibs" on this spot.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Still Too Much Blue

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This year, as in years before, the Fourth Presbyterian Church has tied blue ribbons on the trees by their North Michigan Avenue location to bring this issue to everyone's attention. In 2009, there were 29,688 confirmed cases of child abuse in Illinois.

As I wrote last year, that's way too many blue ribbons.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Opening Day

Today is Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs (they're away - next Monday is their home opener).

The picture below, showing the 1908 Cubs team photo, is from the Chicago History Museum's Timeline of Significant Chicago Events. The 1908 team is significant because it is the last time the Cubs won the World Series. Yes, I know, that's 101 seasons since they won the World Series. Heck, it's been 64 seasons since they won the National League.

I'm thinking THIS is the year!

Friday, April 2, 2010

People Park

Most parks are people parks. But I guess since this one is just outside a veterinarian's office, it was probably necessary to make it clear.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

April Theme Day: The Color Red

Today is Theme Day on City Daily Photo. This month's theme, voted on by City Daily Photo members is The Color Red. I discovered that Chicago has a number of red icons.


Clockwise from top left
The CTA Red Line, Alexander Calder's Flamingo, The Wrigley Building with special red lighting, Alexander Calder's signature on the Flamingo, a certain restaurant with a big red tomato at the door, the CNA Building


Click here to view thumbnails for all participants