Exploring Pilsen VII

Finishing up Pilsen with a few random photos from the area

Window Display

(I like how the Red Devil looks a little Johnny Depp-ish)

           Pilsen Artsy                                                                    A Crazy Chef painting in an

 Street Lamp                                                                         area grocery store

                                    

     A Pilsen Institution with Yummy Food 

Exploring ... Pilsen V

A sample of Pilsen architecture

Street Scene

St. Adalbert's Church

Colorful Entrance

Interesting Brickwork

Exploring ... Pilsen IV

Another new mural in Pilsen, the J-Def Peace Project, honors a local hip-hop artist that was killed in 2009.  Here are a few segments of that mural. 

Exploring ... Pilsen III

Pilsen has many vibrantly painted murals.  Here are a few scenes from one of the newer ones entitled Reach for Peace.

Exploring ... Pilsen II

There's a beautifully painted Community Center in Pilsen called Casa Aztlan. Here are a few scenes from the building.  The blank white spaces seem to indicate that the exterior is always being updated and refreshed.

 

Exploring ... Pilsen I

Pilsen is a very interesting neighborhood in Chicago.  Very diverse, but with a strong Latino infuence, and artistic. A great place to explore.

Artsy Sidewalk Marker

Artsy Gangway Gate

Exploring ... Stearns Quarry III

Another view of the Fishing Pond at Palmisano Park (Stearns Quarry) along with a close-up of one of the limestone boulders, left over from the old quarry, that adorn the park.  Are those ridges signs of fossils?  

Palmisano Park Fishing Pond

Limestone Boulder from Stearns Quarry

Park History Interpretive Sign

Exploring ... Stearns Quarry II

This is the fountain at the entrance to Palmisano Park (the old Stearns Quarry).  Although it was turned off for the season, it is quite impressive.  Apparently, the water is drawn from the Fishing Pond.  The fountain is connected to a chute that recirculates the water back down the park's sloping landscape to the pond.

The terraced landscape of the park

The Interpretive Sign about the park's fountain

Exploring ... Stearns Quarry I

Stearns Quarry was a limestone quarry in the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago.  It closed around 1970 and became a clean construction landfill.   The Chicago Park District turned it into a very scenic and welcoming park, named Palmisano Park, in 2009.   Here's the link for more information on this park.     

Information on the Fishing Pond (above) 

from one of the Interpretive signs in the park

Now You See Him

Now You See Him ...

Now You Don't ...

Home

When you get off the Blue Line at the Logan Square stop, you get this reminder that you're home.

But don't try to walk through the blue door 'cause it's really a cement wall.

Wired Sunset

The sun sets on a hot day, perhaps giving the electric wires, surely humming as air conditioners are running full blast, a rest.

Zero Zero

Stumbled upon this window display on State Street in the Sullivan Center (which was previously the Carson Pirie Scott Store). The display is called Zero Zero and is named after the address coordinates of its location at State and Madison (which is 0 North/South and 0 East/West and the starting point for the city's address system). According to the website it is a "re-centering" project, co-sponsored by the Chicago Loop Alliance and the IIT Institute of Design.

Definitely Not A Hot Seat

Although I did not initially plan it this way, this photo is the third in the series, from the last few days, called "You Can't Sit There ... After a Snow Storm in Chicago". These are the seats at the Pritzker Pavilion covered in a pretty, albeit cold, layer of fresh snow.

Winter Swing

I'm not surprised that no one has been playing on the swings in the park. It was a bit snowy yesterday.

It's Starting to Accumulate

The snow is starting to pile up around here (not as bad as the East Coast, though). I hope this rider has a snow scraper.

Blue Light Road

Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue's blue sidewalk lights

An Urban View

A very urban view ... with a little glimpse of green from the Pritzker Pavilion in the background.

Another Year ... Another Cupcake Shop ... Another Line

Hmmm...

A long line.

What could people be waiting in line for?

What else? Yet another cupcake shop.

The cupcake obsession continues in Chicago.

Pittsfield Building

Never noticed that the Pittsfield Building has its name on the top of the building, too.