Canyon

Sometimes, you can find water fountains in the most unusual places. This one is built into a rock form in the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. From this perspective, it looks like it has created a canyon.

Here's the wider angle view of the water fountain.

Hidden Oasis

Yes, this is Chicago. It's a hidden oasis called the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool.

All For A Cupcake??

Who said this town wasn't big enough for ten different cupcake shops?

There's a new cupcake place in town. So, of course, there was a line out the door and down the street. Did I join the line? Nah ... I went to the old standby frozen yogurt shop a few blocks away.

Stand-Off

It was a stand-off. The traffic was stopped so the bridge could be raised so the Odyssey could sail up the Chicago River. But ...

The bridge wouldn't go up so the the Odyssey was stuck in place ... along with the traffic. I hope everyone involved at least noticed and enjoyed the pretty blue water (and the pretty blue sky) for a while why they were stuck.

The Cardinal

Along with the Eye, State Street also has The Cardinal.

Designed by Tony Tasset, who also did the Eye, The Cardinal art installation consists of 156 banners showing a Cardinal (which is the Illinois State Bird) in flight, flip book style.

I Love This Pound

I sense sarcasm.

I never had the pleasure of having to go to it so I don't know. Maybe the Chicago City Car Pound is a wonderful place. Somebody felt strongly enough about it to graffiti this sentiment on one of the steel girders near the pound.

Here's a close-up of the nut/bolt on the steel girder. Rust makes an interesting patchwork design.

Out Takes

It's always so messy when the Transformers and the Decepticons fight it out in your city.

I'd forgotten that parts of Transformers 3 were being filmed in Chicago. I was momentarily taken aback when I passed by what had previously been a parking lot and saw this. I haven't seen any CTA buses turn into Optimus Prime but apparently there will be fireballs flying around this weekend.

Historical Entrances

This is the entrance to the London Guarantee Building which is now called the Crain Communications Building. Since it was built on part of the site of Fort Dearborn (about 64 years afterwards), its entranceway has a bronze relief of the fort.

Got My Eye on You

I'm Watching You?

What a BIG Eye you have?

The eyes have it?

Oh. So many choices.

This is one of Chicago's newest public art piece. It is a thirty foot tall eyeball designed by Tony Tasset and sponsored by the Chicago Loop Alliance.

I wonder if he realizes he's being watched ?

Your eyes would be a little bloodshot too if you had to keep staring

off into space while everyone flashed cameras at you.

Red, White, and Blue

A Red, White and Blue post for the 4th of July.

Have a Safe and Happy Independence Day

Red: A Summertime License Plate

Although I use 30 SPF religiously now, there was a time that I considered Johnson's Baby Oil perfectly sufficient (admit it - you did, too). And I put lemon juice in my hair for highlights. Really. I was THAT uninformed.

White: Pritzker Pavilion in a Blizzard

OK. Not a recent photo (thank goodness!). This was taken back in February during a blizzard. It was a day that I was wondering if Spring - let alone Summer - would EVER return

Blue: Spinning Lighted Hula Hoops

A recent Downtown Sound concert at Pritzker Pavilion brought out the Hula Hoop Spinners.

Don't Mess Around on the Chicago River

If I were in this boat, I'd be nervous. The boat wasn't doing anything wrong, it just happened to be in front of the Coast Guard boat patrolling the river. I really hadn't noticed the big guns on the front of the Coast Guard boats before.

Rocky River Road

They've created a little Chicago River through one of the sidewalk gardens on Michigan Avenue. Along the rocky blue river are planters that look like Chicago skyscrapers.

The Smurfit-Stone Building Planter

The John Hancock Building Planter