Friday, July 31, 2009
Feathered Friends: Sailing Away
This Caspian Tern was doing a little para-sailing around Montrose Harbor recently. I think the Caspian Tern has a real "Joe Cool" look. There are more pictures of the Caspian Tern at my bird-watching blog, which is here.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Environmental Graffiti
We were over in Eggers Grove recently doing a little birdwatching when I noticed the dolphin graffiti on the huge electric tower. Eggers Grove is a nature area (that was previously a Nike Missile Site) known for good birdwatching opportunities. Maybe that's why even the graffiti has a nature theme.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Michael Mobile
Somebody's rolling tribute to Michael Jackson was parked at Dearborn and Monroe yesterday afternoon.
The car is covered with newspaper articles about Michael Jackson and has a sign on the hood that identifies it as the "Michael Mobile". I believe a lot of duct tape was used. The articles look like they might be on water-resistant paper. I tried to find some other information about this on-line but only found some twitter references to sightings of this car elsewhere in the Loop.
The car is covered with newspaper articles about Michael Jackson and has a sign on the hood that identifies it as the "Michael Mobile". I believe a lot of duct tape was used. The articles look like they might be on water-resistant paper. I tried to find some other information about this on-line but only found some twitter references to sightings of this car elsewhere in the Loop.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Two Views of ... The World's Largest Bug Zapper
Today's "Two Views" is of the Giant Bug Zapper that keeps all the bugs away from Millennium Park.
OK. It's not a bug zapper. (Nor is it the "Blue Light Special" Kmart headquarters.) It is the twenty foot tall beehive-shaped beacon on top of the Metropolitan Tower at 310 South Michigan. Its six 1000-watt bulbs light up the night sky. The day view shows two of the four buffalo that are part of the base of the light tower.
OK. It's not a bug zapper. (Nor is it the "Blue Light Special" Kmart headquarters.) It is the twenty foot tall beehive-shaped beacon on top of the Metropolitan Tower at 310 South Michigan. Its six 1000-watt bulbs light up the night sky. The day view shows two of the four buffalo that are part of the base of the light tower.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Bughouse Square
Every year, the Newberry Library hosts a big donated book sale the last weekend of July. In conjunction, there are the Bughouse Square Debates in Washington Square Park.
A little history first. In the early 1900s, Washington Square Park was known as Bughouse Square and it was a popular free-speech space. Speechmakers stood on soap boxes to speak their mind and respond to vocal crowds. The Bughouse debates declined after World War II (spurred by crackdowns on socialists and communists) and had stopped by the 60s.
The Newberry Library started holding the debates again on their Book Fair weekend in 1986. They also re-enact an excerpt of the Lincoln Douglas Debates. This year's topics included Immigration Rights, Religion, the 2016 Chicago Olympics bid, Artificial Turf, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable's Legacy, and the Chicago Parking Meter Debacle. The best orator receives the Dil Pickle award, in honor of the Dil Pickle Club which was, in effect, an indoor Bughouse Square).
I thought the most interesting speech was given by Haroon Rashid from the Friends of DuSable organization. His summary of DuSable's life and contribution to Chicago was rather educational and, perhaps because of that, I don't think anyone from the audience yelled out any comments. The most entertaining was the audience responses to the Chicago Parking Meter presentation by "The Parking Ticket Geek". Audience comments included "Wait - could you stop for a minute while I go feed the meter", numerous "Get a bicycle", "cars don't kill meters, people kill meters", "Yeah, we have high parking rates ... but we get a fireworks show twice a week".
Photos (Clockwise from top left)
The Parking Ticket Geek, Black Bear Combo,
Michael Krebs as Lincoln for the Lincoln-Douglas
Debates re-enactment, The Dil Pickle Award,
Haroon Rashid of Friends of DuSable.
A little history first. In the early 1900s, Washington Square Park was known as Bughouse Square and it was a popular free-speech space. Speechmakers stood on soap boxes to speak their mind and respond to vocal crowds. The Bughouse debates declined after World War II (spurred by crackdowns on socialists and communists) and had stopped by the 60s.
The Newberry Library started holding the debates again on their Book Fair weekend in 1986. They also re-enact an excerpt of the Lincoln Douglas Debates. This year's topics included Immigration Rights, Religion, the 2016 Chicago Olympics bid, Artificial Turf, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable's Legacy, and the Chicago Parking Meter Debacle. The best orator receives the Dil Pickle award, in honor of the Dil Pickle Club which was, in effect, an indoor Bughouse Square).
I thought the most interesting speech was given by Haroon Rashid from the Friends of DuSable organization. His summary of DuSable's life and contribution to Chicago was rather educational and, perhaps because of that, I don't think anyone from the audience yelled out any comments. The most entertaining was the audience responses to the Chicago Parking Meter presentation by "The Parking Ticket Geek". Audience comments included "Wait - could you stop for a minute while I go feed the meter", numerous "Get a bicycle", "cars don't kill meters, people kill meters", "Yeah, we have high parking rates ... but we get a fireworks show twice a week".
(Click to enlarge the picture)
Photos (Clockwise from top left)The Parking Ticket Geek, Black Bear Combo,
Michael Krebs as Lincoln for the Lincoln-Douglas
Debates re-enactment, The Dil Pickle Award,
Haroon Rashid of Friends of DuSable.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Movies in the Park
Movies in the Park again last night. In addition to the movie, which was Groucho Marx's "Duck Soup", they were attempting to break a world's record for the most people wearing Grouch Marx glasses. Apparently, the current record is held by Springfield Missouri. Whether or not Chicago has the record, everyone put up a valiant effort.
I'm not a Marx Brothers fan. But, when there are Marx Brothers fans around you laughing at the silliest stuff ... well .. laughing is contagious. Plus, it was a rather pretty night. Can't beat that.
I'm not a Marx Brothers fan. But, when there are Marx Brothers fans around you laughing at the silliest stuff ... well .. laughing is contagious. Plus, it was a rather pretty night. Can't beat that.
Rufus T. Firefly: Chicolini, give me a number from one to ten.
Chicolini: Eleven.
Rufus T. Firefly: Right
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Two Views of ... DuSable Harbor
Today's "Two Views" is of DuSable Harbor. Now (on the left) and when it didn't exist (on the right).
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