May I give you a hand?

for Six Word Saturday

Jo’s Monday Walk…the Windy City

Today you’ll be happy to be doing a virtual walk, as this walk was cold and windy, windy being a trademark of Chicago, and as I’m writing this, it’s also cold and windy. But you don’t even have to bundle up, whereas this poor lion in front of the Art Institute of Chicago was wearing nothing but a wreath. (He’s even blue with cold!) The enormous line of people waiting were bundled up a lot more.

We’ve seen part of the weaving exhibit at the musuem, but today we’re going to venture around the environs of the museum, heading toward The Bean, more formally known as Cloud Gate, in Millennium Park. But first let’s take a look at Crown Fountain, where the faces change regularly in all seasons, but no water comes out in winter. Wonder why? 🙂

Thursday doors…wake-you-up doors

On our walk around Chicago’s West Loop, we ran across a number of exciting doors. These three should open your eyes even it you haven’t yet had your caffeine fix! Warning: the first two might also make you hungry!

One Word Sunday…vertical

for One Word Sunday, courtesy of the Bean, Chicago

Thursday Doors…indoors

Sorry, but “indoors” aren’t like in or out belly buttons.  These beauties are from the Art Institute of Chicago.  I did a post on some other indoors doors at some point in the past and perhaps that will show up at the bottom of this post.  But either way, enjoy the craftsmanship that’s on display here.

To get the World Wide Door channel, surf over to Norm’s blog up north in Montreal.  Once this week’s post is up, I’ll update the link to go right to this week’s Thursday Doors post.

Thursday Doors…Windy City doors

Recently our older daughter, her boyfriend, and I spent the day in Chicago.  Chicago is a lovely mix of  historic buildings and sleek, modern beauties.  It was a glorious day and I managed to find a few doors to share with you without stopping more times than my companions could bear.  🙂

I don’t know what’s inside this Kay Jewelers store, but I do know not all the jewels are inside.

(P.S.  In view of all the comments about the peacock doors, I should say that I think they’re the gates/security doors, the ones that will be opened in the morning when the store opens.  Doesn’t detract from their glamour and beauty, though.)

The Windy City

There’s some disagreement about why Chicago is called “The Windy City.”  One side says the name comes from the hot air of its politicians; the other that the winds which seem to come down every street in all directions at the same time are the cause of the title.  I say going with both is a safe bet.

Early Friday morning, our older daughter, her boyfriend, and I were at the Naperville train station to catch the Metra into the city.  Leave by any train up to and including the 8:25 am and it will only take about 30 minutes to arrive at Union Station.  Wait ten more minutes and the journey jumps to an hour and twenty minutes!  No prizes guessing which we took.

After a coffee stop for them, we walked down to Michigan Avenue, introducing her boyfriend to The Bean.  Follow my signature and you’ll find me at the end of it, taking the shot.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Edge…Chicago has the edge.

Cities have lots of edges.  But sometimes the edges frame things not so angular, whether naturally  or through distortion, offering an intriguing study in contrasts.

Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: Black and White…black (and white) Beans

August is flying by with indecent haste, bringing thoughts of the colors of fall, even though green is still rich and abundant.  However, it’s the third Monday of the month, meaning we eschew color for a trip back into the time of black and white photography.  So simple now to play not only with color/monotone, but to edit, undo, redo, do more and different things.  I’m hearkening back to earlier this year when I took the train into “the city”, Chicago proper, and while waiting for the Art Institute to open, enjoyed a distorted view of the city and my fellow humans courtesy of The Bean.

In photos of the outside of The Bean, the city appears to bend and curve, but when shot from underneath, The Bean hints strongly at Escher and his contemporaries.  It also translates easily into monotone showcasing that distorted, other-worldly, impossible world.

 

 

 

COB Photo Challenge 2016, week 26…Chicago oddballs

A day spent walking around downtown Chicago is bound to turn up a few oddball photos.  Oddballs may defy categorization, may be shots of odd things, or just don’t fit any other challenge.