chai

Ah, yes, chai the way it should be. The flavor took my mind back to Africa. And, lucky for me, the chapati is in the fridge for later : )

that 50s place

More "I can't sleep because of the storm" pictures. These are leftover from the Chicago return trip from two weeks ago. This place had a great patty melt. I can taste that rye bread now.

urban botanics

Can't sleep. The rain is coming down hard. Just when my mind is slipping away, another loud crack of thunder comes out of the sky. I'm glad it's good for the plants and my grass, at least.

good night, chicago

chinatown

Can anyone read this? I hope it doesn't say anything vulgar ;-)

beautiful blue

chicago at night

For all my friends at Unity this week/weekend - have fun!

ode to robert taylor

After reading the book "Gang Leader for a Day," I was inspired to visit the site of the Robert Taylor Homes on Chicago's South Side - an infamous group of about 28 public housing buildings. I remember driving down the Dan Ryan Expressway and seeing the shell of the last building they tore down about a year ago. Seeing it this weekend was unreal. A giant eraser was taken to the entire area. All that remains are a few worn down driveways and the remnants of basketball courts. In the place buildings used to stand, new condos are going in at a rapid pace.

After taking some photographs, I sat at a Starbucks on the corner of 35th and State Street with Chris - who was born and raised in Chicago. It was about eight years ago that his baseball team played for the city title at Comiskey Park, which lies just across the Dan Ryan Expressway from the old site of the Robert Taylor Homes. He told me if someone would have told him he would be sitting at a Starbucks at 35th and State in eight years, he would have laughed in their face. From crack deals, prostitution and general poverty to condos and Starbucks.

I've asked people around the area, "Where did they all go?" I'm asking about the thousands of people who called Robert Taylor home. How and why do you go about displacing a group of people that large? Is it good or bad? For the area? For the people who suddenly found themselves homeless? So many questions, so few good answers.

shapes

tough act to follow

This home has to put up with a lot of traffic. It also has to deal with being second best. Everyone who walks past this home, has their back to it. Across the street is the Frank Lloyd Wright home in Oak Park. All eyes are on Frank, but I turned my eyes to this pale blue and purple marvel and noticed the simple flowers in the window. The house spoke to me. "Look at me. I'm beautiful too." (It's also a "cool" house - note the window unit.)

oak park

Not sure what happened here. Apparently someone really wanted to walk.

one way or the other

Thoughtful graffiti.

drive-bys

More shots from the passenger seat riding around Chicago. This time, no theme. Just some random images.

lucky 13

The Sox win after a long 13 innings.

the chicago tow

As I rode around the city this weekend as a passenger, I took many photos. Some at stop signs and lights, others while we were moving. Within this group of photos in transit, I noticed one too many tow zone signs. Here's a few from the collection.

lake michigan

no doggie do

ah, the window unit

AC out in your car? Here's a new solution.

stinky sox

millenium

My first blog photos taken with a cell phone.