Technicolor Tulips

Technicolor Tulips popped up in Milennium Park. Perhaps Spring has finally arrived ;)

Warm Lights, Cold Snow

One of the paths in the Lurie Garden, dusted with snow, at dusk.

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.

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.

I've Often Wondered ...

... what it's like to be on the Pritzker Pavilion stage. Millennium Park has a cool little program going on this winter where they set up a cabaret-style music performance on the stage of the Pritzker Pavilion. The audience and performers are protected from the harsh elements by the glass doors and some heat. Marlene Dietrich was resurrected to perform tonight (or, at least, her spirit took over Suzanne Petri)

It's kind of interesting how the snow and light reflections give the impression that there is a roof over the whole area. It's actually all open air like in this photo or this one, both from much warmer days.

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.

What's Blooming?

Treated myself to a macro lens and went over to Millennium Park's Lurie Garden to practice. I think I'm going to have fun with this lens.

Pale Coneflower

Ornamental Allium

Betony

She&Him ... and Everyone Else in Chicago

One of the best things about Chicago in the summer is the opportunity to go to free music concerts. There are street fairs, radio-sponsored mid-day concerts, and various music series at my favorite venue, Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

On Monday, as part of the Downtown Sounds series, the performers were She&Him. Well, She and Him and every other Chicagoan seemed to show up. I'd never seen the Pritzker Pavilion at standing-room only capacity. The crowd around us seemed to be generally well-behaved and the sound system did allow a great listening experience whether you were on the grass or off in the sidelines.

Welcome Summer!

What's Blooming?

Crocuses are coming up in the Lurie Garden section of Millennium Park. I hope they are hardy because the forecast is for plunging (from 70 to 30) temperatures and snow this weekend.

Please look for the little bee enjoying lunch in the garden. It is to the left of the most open crocus in the photo above.

Winter Garden

One of the many things I like about Millennium Park is that it is landscaped to look very pretty in all the seasons. This side garden, dusted in snow, is a little peace and quiet amid the urban roar.

Cloudgate's Lonely

This is Cloudgate, also know as the Bean. It looks lonely. I'm not sure I've ever seen it during the day without people surrounding it. Then again, it is snowing rather heavily and has been all day. I'm not sure you can tell but there is a layer of snow accumulating on the top of the curve.

Somebody Likes Snow

Whoever wrote this must be very happy. It snowed all day today and the forecast is for more of the same tomorrow. Something I noticed while strolling around today is that people seem to see a blanket of snow as another opportunity to say what's on their mind in even fewer than 140 characters.

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.

Happy Birthday Daniel Burnham

Chicago is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago. They have erected a Burnham Pavilion that, at night, is interactive in that the colors change in response to activity (usually, kids running around the pavilion). During the day, you can wander through the pavilion and get different frames of the Chicago skyline surrounding Millenium Park.

I learned on Wednesday, while watching a new documentary about Daniel Burnham, that today (September 4) was his birthday. I also learned that his architectural and urban design expertise spread beyond Chicago, touching Cleveland, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Manila. He had a very strong interest in cities by lakes/oceans due to his childhood home being near a lake. He alwasy wanted people to be able to look out over the water.

Two Views of ... Smurfit-Stone Building

Today's Two Views is of the Smurfit-Stone Building (previously known as the Stone Container Building, but also referred to as "that diamond shaped building"). It's a very recognizable building in the Chicago skyline and is also known for a co-starring role in the movie "Adventures in Baby-Sitting".

Smurfit-Stone reflection in Cloudgate

The Smurfit-Stone Building at night

Two Views of ... The Crown Fountain

Today's "Two Views" is of the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. The two views are in Summer (August, top photo) and Spring (April, bottom photo). What a difference four months makes.

In April, people enjoy the fountains and watching the faces that spit (OK - actually spray) water. But from the edge. In August, people get in there and enjoy the fountains from "inside" of the fountain. People, mainly kids, line up to have the water spray on them. They actually count down to the time that the fountain will spray again (but it isn't an exact science - sometimes they have to count once or twice).

August

April

Two Views of ... The Pritzker Pavilion

Most Chicagoans - me included - put up with "The Winter" because of a day like Saturday. Warm. Light breeze. Clear blue sky. Outdoor music in the park.

This is the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The two views are Night and Day.

Criss-Cross

The Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park has free concerts all summer. There is a large criss-crossing structure that goes over the entire lawn area, constructed so that the sound system would cover the entire listening area. It's an amazing sound system. It's a great way to spend a summer evening -- enjoying a variety of music styles, with great company, and tasty snacks.

What's Blooming?

The Lurie Garden at Millenium Park is in bloom! The Garden is designed to change seasonally and highlight the Chicago motto (Urbs in Horto, or, City in a Garden). Two of the many pretty and interesting Spring plants are Meadow Sage (the deep purple flowers - with and without bees) and Prairie Smoke (with the pink plumes).

(click the photo to enlarge)

Fountains that Spit

The Crown Fountain in Millennium Park has two large screens that display several different faces in rotation. At regular intervals during the Spring, Summer, and early Fall, the faces spit water into the plaza area. On really hot days, you'll see visitors, mostly children, getting cooled off. The mouths are lined up with the water spout to give the illusion of the faces spraying water. The faces are the artist's (Jaume Plensa) modern take on the gargoyles and mythical creatures that usually spray the water in fountains.