Slice of Life: Spring Goes “Sproing!” in The Loop
Apr19

Slice of Life: Spring Goes “Sproing!” in The Loop

Written By on April 19, 2012 in Millennium Park, nature, spring, The Loop

One of our frequent e-mailers sent in this slice of life from Millennium Park, where the flowers are competing for attention with Chicago’s...

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Slice of Life: The Cancer Survivors Garden
May12

Slice of Life: The Cancer Survivors Garden

Written By on May 12, 2011 in Grant Park, landmark, mother nature, New East Side, Randolph Street, slice of life, spring, The Loop

The first big bloom of the season at the Cancer Survivors Memorial (399 East Randolph Street).

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Slice of Life: Vegetable Alley

Written By on April 19, 2011 in alleys, Lake Forest, retail, spring, suburbs

This is one of my favorite signs of Spring: Amidei Mercatino getting set up for the season. Amidei Mercatino is an outdoor fruit and vegetable stand tucked into an alley in downtown Lake Forest.  This is a fantastic use for an alley.  It’s remarkable that this business is able to survive in this location that is relatively low-traffic compared with much of the rest of Chicagoland. If it can work in Lake Forest, imagine vegetable...

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Chicago’s Rooftop Pools Are Now Open
Apr16

Chicago’s Rooftop Pools Are Now Open

Written By on April 16, 2011 in Fulton River District, Skyscrapers, spring

At what temperature does a pool party turn into a polar bear plunge?  That was the question answered Saturday morning when 22 residents of Alta at K Station (550 West Kinzie Street) braved wind chill and water to open the Chicago rooftop pool season. Though the air temperature was a deceiving 48°, a blowing wind and occasional drizzle made the eighth-floor outdoor pool area atop Alta’s parking garage feel quite a bit nippier,...

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Mother Nature: Spring is Here

Written By on April 12, 2011 in Clinton Street, mother nature, nature, spring, West Loop

I’ve been keeping my eye out for the past few weeks — watching the tulips and crocuses push through the bark mulch of Chicago’s medians and parkways.  I made a phone call to Mother Nature, and these two on South Clinton Street are officially the first two tulips to bloom in Chicago this season.  It happened at 6:42am this past Saturday (April 9), so let the annual riot of Chicago floral color begin! (And let’s...

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