Next Stop: 2010

Next Station ... Next Year.
Like this CTA train, we're all flying to 2010.

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve.

Icing and Frosting

The Zamboni clears the ice at the Millenium Park Skating Rink. In the background, Cloudgate (also known as "The Bean") has been topped with frosting. OK, it is really snow.

River Walk

A glimpse of the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel between the trees along the Riverwalk.

Winter Came in Like a Lion

The winter switch has been flipped to the "ON" position in Chicago. Ice and snow regularly move through. It isn't just March that comes in (or goes out) like a lion.

Night Light

The steeple of the First United Methodist Church, right across the street from Daley Plaza, has a lovely glow at night.

Officially Winter

Today is the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year and the official start of Winter. On the plus side, the days will start getting longer now. This picture is from northern Michigan, where they have been experiencing unofficial Winter for a few weeks already.

Red and Green 2

Couldn't resist another photo of the Wrigley Building, this time lit up differently. That's the gold top of the Carbide and Carbon building at the top left of the picture.

Although I tried, I couldn't time the photo to get the string of street lights - even stop lights - blinking the bright red and green.

Under the Eagle's Eye

Went snow-shoeing at Fisherman's Island State Park in Charlevoix, Michigan today and saw several Bald Eagles. We got the distinct feeling they were glad to see us leave when one flew over our car, following the road in front of us but barely twenty feet overhead, as if it were showing us the way, or perhaps escorting us, out of the park.

Amazingly beautiful birds, whether they are glaring at the camera or soaring overhead.

Sandy Snow Dunes

... or snowy sandy dunes?

This picture is not in sepia. The sand has dusted over the snow that piled up on the picnic tables and dunes in Petoskey State Park.

Charlevoix The Beautiful

A little pre-holiday getaway to the Little Traverse Bay area of upper lower Michigan. They've had way more snow than Chicago. This is the Charlevoix Lighthouse in the background and some cool icicles in the foreground. I'd never seen icicles form in a curvy pattern like this.

Red and Green 1

Several of Chicago's skyscrapers have adopted holiday themes for their lights. This is the Sears Tower and the 311 S Wacker Building.

Darn Cold

Yes, that is steam.
Yes, it is coming off of Lake Michigan.
It was darn cold on Thursday.

Darn cold.

Snow Fighters

The Department of Transportation Snow Plows (although the evening news was referring to them as "Snow Fighters") were out in force the last two nights.

Lights, Lace and Liquor

The Christkindlmarket is an annual event in Daley Plaza. German and American artisans sell their wares at little booths. They start after Thanksgiving and go until Christmas Eve. I'm pretty sure they have little heaters in their booths to help them through the cold days. These are just three of the many booths at the market. Now, I was there early in the afternoon so it wasn't as crowded as it gets in the evening and the weekends. The Gluhwein vendor is usually MUCH busier.

Lights

Lace

Liquor

A Sparrow in a Pine Tree

This little white-throated sparrow and several of his friends were enjoying Chicago's Official Christmas Tree in Daley Plaza. I guess the lights are welcoming (they're LED so probably do not give off much heat) and they have a steady stream of food from the Christkindlmarket that is also underway (brat bun scraps, pretzel pieces, etc.). I hope they stay out of the gluhwein, else they'll be flying a bit crooked.


The tree is a single 55 foot Blue Spruce tree. The city budget didn't allow for the usual jumbo tree (made of several tiny trees). The signs say that this is the first time since 1955 that the city has used a single tree. I like the natural and simple look of the single tree.

Framing Yesterday

Yesterday was a winter blue sky day. Nice enough for a lakefront walk -- as long as you were wearing enough layers, gloves and hats. (Today, however, we have already gotten a light dusting of snow and temperatures are dropping.)

This is the gazebo by the Ohio Street Beach, it is between the Jane Addams Park and Olive Park so I'm not sure in which park it "belongs". It gives a nice frame to Lake Michigan, though, as it reflected that pretty winter blue sky.

A Present for Daily Chicago Photo's Anniversary

One year ago today I started Daily Chicago Photo. While I haven't done 365 posts yet, it certainly isn't due to lack of interesting subject matter (I like a day or two off now and then.)

It's funny --when I first started this blog, I thought: "How will I find enough things to photograph for this blog?" Now, I think: "How am I going to be able to post all the things I want to photograph?"

These presents, kept from floating away with sandbags, were waiting to head down Michigan Avenue for the Holiday Lights Parade recently.

Waiting ...

... for their ship to come in?
... for the great Seagull King?

Who knows?

But these seagulls certainly think that this marina
is the place to be while waiting for it!

Today is December 1st, which means it is theme day at City Daily Photo. The theme is Waiting. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants