Remind Me!

As the CTA remodels the stations, especially on the Brown Line, it is adding artsy touches to each one. This seems to be the soon-to-be-unveiled art installation at the Diversey El stop. I'll have to remind myself to come back in a few weeks to see it in its full glory. I'm wondering if there is lighting that will better show the shades of red and purple that you can just see in the afternoon sunlight.

Under the El

Don't some of the patterns, created by the sun shining through the el tracks at the Wellington El Stop, look a little like those critters in the old Space Invaders game? I thought so.

Urbs in Horto

You actually have to be at the Brown Line's Library stop to see these decorative sculptures of Ceres and corn that line the walls of the Harold Washington Library. If you look closely at the ribbon under Ceres' face, you can make out the City of Chicago's motto: Urbs in Horto (City in a Garden).

Wish on a ... CTA Card?

This is the little reflecting pool in the Harold Washington Library. I guess people think of it as a wishing well, too, because there is always a large number of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters in it. Somebody apparently wished that the CTA would run on time forever and felt that tossing a CTA fare card in would ensure that the wish came true. (The CTA card is directly left of the drain.)

Oh, it looks like it is a 3 day CTA pass -- guess they only needed on-time service for the weekend.

Welcome Back Little Warblers

I shouldn't be surprised. The human bird watchers figured out a while ago that Grant Park was a great little spot for bird watching during the Spring and Fall Migrations. It was only a matter of time that the birds of prey figured out that Grant Park would be a good - um, shall we say - culinary destination?

This guy swooped by me on Tuesday morning. Sparrows, warblers, thrushes, and finches all headed for cover. He landed in a tree and, as his expression shows, caught sight of a potential mid-morning snack. He swooped away a few seconds later -- I didn't see if he caught his target or not. I do know that it was pretty quiet, bird-wise, in Grant Park after that.

Happy Autumnal Equinox

This is the Super Harvest Moon. It was too cloudy at real moon rise to see the Super Harvest effect that apparently accompanies a full moon rising on the autumnal equinox. But I thought this was a pretty cool picture, too.

Four Seasons

Since it is almost the Autumnal Equinox, thought I'd show Chagall's beautiful Four Seasons mosaic.