Distorted

The Art of the Elevator

One of the carvings in an elevator in the Palmolive Building (formerly known as the Playboy Building) 

Inspired by Champagne

The design of the Carbide and Carbon Building on a Spring-like Winter Day was allegedly inspired by a Champagne bottle.  The green terra cotta tower representing the bottle with a gold leaf top representing the shiny foil cover on the cork.

Pink Sky

Day and Night

Exploring Chinatown: Architectural Details

A collage of some artistic details on buildings in Chinatown.

Exploring ... Pilsen VI

According to a Chicago Neighborhoods history book I have, the Pilsen neighborhood was originally "settled" by Czechoslovakians, Austrians, Polish, and Lithuanians.  Pilsen's name is derived from the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic (Plzen).  So, seeing little remnants - such as the Beer Stein gate post in the first photo and the "L. Wilimovsky" nameplate on the building in the second photo isn't too surprising.

Exploring ... Pilsen V

A sample of Pilsen architecture

Street Scene

St. Adalbert's Church

Colorful Entrance

Interesting Brickwork

135 Years of Architecture

The church was completed in 1873.

The John Hancock Building (in back of the church) was completed in 1970.

The 900 Michigan Building (in back of the Elysian) was completed in 1989.

The Elysian was completed in 2008.

Wrigley Pink and Blue

This was taken Wednesday evening when - I think - the Wrigley Building was in the process of converting its tower lighting from September's Blue (for Prostate Cancer Awareness) to October's Pink (for Breast Cancer Awareness)

Majestic Building(s)

We have a lot of majestic buildings in Chicago. This one is named the Majestic Building. According to this website, the Majestic Building was the tallest building around when it was built in 1905.

The glass and steel building next to The Majestic Building is no slouch either. It's the Inland Steel Building. According to this website, when it was completed in 1957, it was the first skyscraper built in the Loop after the Great Depression.

Details Details

I like the little details that are on the older buildings in Chicago.

Sunset Silhouettes

Some existing and some "in-progress" buildings silhouetted against a Spring Sunset.

Angles and Patterns

Lots of angles, curves and patterns in this little section of a building on Wells Street.

Balcony Illusion

The Spring sun (yea!!) gave the illusion of larger balconies on this Near North Side building.

Horsing Around

Sometimes (OK, a lot of times) it's good to vary your normal route. I hadn't walked by the Anti-Cruelty Society in a long time. Yesterday, when I did, I remembered it had these cool etchings of people, almost guardians really, and animals. I think these etchings may date back to 1936 since in the lower corner of this section of the building is the signature "LLW 1936".

The Art of Burton Place

There's a little side street in the Old Town area of Lincoln Park called Burton Place. I don't know anyone who lives on this street, but I always imagine that they are all artists. The buildings on the street - and the street may only run for the block between LaSalle and Wells - have many little details such as mosaics, colorful glass insets and fancy tiles like those shown below. There are also three or four pretty large outdoor sculptures on display in this little section.

A Real Green House

This is the Ashland stop on the Green (and Pink) CTA lines. It's one of the oldest stations in the CTA system and certainly a unique one. It seems that there were four stations built in a Queen Anne style. Only two remain, this one (in its original location) and the station at the Garfield Park Conservatory/Central Park el stop (which was relocated from the Homan Avenue stop).

Window Pane

Lawry's Steakhouse has these interesting metal frames on the windows.

Framed

Reflection of The Boston Store Building (aka Sears on State) in the glass of the ornamental entrance of the Sullivan Center (aka Carson Pirie Scott Building).