Now You Can Drink Beer to Rebuild a Chicago Landmark
Remember that horrible winter a few years ago? The one when it was so snowy that Lake Shore Drive froze over, Tom Skilling taught us the word “Polar Vortex,” and thousands of people were convinced to U-Haul it to warmer states? That was also the winter when Chicago water towers started freezing, including the beloved Swedish flag water tower that used to preside over Andersonville. The Andersonville 87-year-old water...
Slice of Life: Flag in the Fog
If you’re one of the people who have the privilege of living or working in one of Chicago’s skyscrapers, you may have had the opportunity to observe the strange things that the fog rolling in off of Lake Michigan can do to the cityscape. Loop Spy Daniel sent in this photo he took a while ago showing the Chicago metropolis erased by mist, save for a lone flagpole and the 900 North Michigan building. This article is the...
Slice of Life: Snow Graffiti
In these days when the temperature refuses to rise to a decent reading, and no amount of Swiss Miss and Lavazza can keep your extremities warm, it’s important to note that not everyone hates winter in Chicago. One of those cheery people is Eduardo Vea, an expat Spaniard living in the Windy City who spent some quality time with his video camera amid the snowflakes, and sent in this photo of how he sees his adopted city in the...
A Gloomy End to Summer
Summer came to a gloomy end in downtown Chicago, with rain, wind, and fog on Labor Day Weekend. Loop Spy Daniel sent in this photo of the fog rolling past the Aon Center (200 East Randolph Street) on its way to ruin picnics and barbecues around town. This article is the result of photos sent in by someone just like you. If you see something interesting in your neighborhood, e-mail your phone pics to...
Video: Trump Tower Time Lapse
Here’s a little fun for your weekend. It’s a time-lapse video we made earlier this week of clouds around and reflected in the Trump International Hotel and Tower (401 North Wabash Avenue). You can see how the skin of the building changes color in reaction to its environment. Architects always talk about that sort of thing, but here you can really see it in...
Chicago Skyscrapers Spawn Folk Art
In the last couple of decades I’ve lived in a dozen or so cities. But only one has had the unique combination of cold winter weather and skyscrapers that makes the classic Chicago “Falling Ice” sign a necessity. It’s been a mild 2011/2012 Winter so far, so they haven’t been seen much. But once we get a good, solid snowfall the city’s sidewalks will sprout with hundreds of ice warning signs, like...
First Snow!
The first snow shower of the 2011/2012 season obscures the Willis Tower (233 South Wacker Drive) in the city’s...
snOMG! Don’t Let Snomageddon Keep You Inside
From all accounts, the snowfall that’s about to hit Chicago is going to be Biblical in scale and impact. But don’t let that keep you inside. It’s possible to take some really amazing and creative photos of our fair city when the snow is falling. I’ve posted four of mine from last winter to give you some inspiration. Now get...
Slice of Life: Ice Scrapers
Freshly scraped and smoothed by a Zamboni, the McCormick ice rink at Millennium Park reflects its neighboring skyscrapers in early afternoon light. For those from out of town, the big stripey building in the middle is 150 North Michigan Avenue, formerly known as the Smurfit-Stone...
Slices of Life: February 9, 2010 Winter Storm
A few scenes of the snow around town. Click any of the pictures to enlarge...
