16 August 2015: The Party's Over

     It was another great Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest ...

My favorite artist of this year's fest is Diana Gonzalez of As the Crow Flies

The inimitable Tommy McKracken

The Lauren Wolf Band

      … but all good things must come to an end.

15 August 2015: Get Thyself to Morse & Glenwood Posthaste!

It's finally here: Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest weekend! 

I look forward to this weekend all year and love to see all the activity as the set-up begins. I'll be there busting the budget, eating things i probably shouldn't, and maybe even dancing a little. Hope to see all of you there too!

Setting up on Friday night

Our newest neighbor, Rogers Park Provisions will be open for the first time
this weekend. This new business is the latest venture by the good folks
at RP Social.

Putting the final touches on the display before the official opening.

11 August 2015: Where Pratt Blvd. Meets Lake Michigan

Where Pratt Blvd. meets Lake Michigan

9 August 2015: A Lesson from the Buddha

The Buddha remains in meditative repose despite
the big honking cicada carcass
dangling from his forehead.
Note to self: Strive for this level of meditation.

7 August 2015: More Fallen Trees, More Beach Scenes

Bench crushed by falling tree

Huge uprooted tree near Morse Ave.

Another beautiful day at the beach

Family gathering with piñata

5 August 2015: Streets & San on the Job

Streets & San was out in force on Farwell Ave. today, removing the debris from Sunday's storm. 

4 August 2015: Life Goes on on Morse Ave.

The CTA finally sent someone out this morning to repair the bus shelter that was toppled 

in Sunday's storm and had been blocking the sidewalk outside Fung's Chinese Restaurant 

on the 1300 block of W. Morse. 

Meanwhile, the demolition of the former strip mall at the corner of Morse and Wayne got underway yesterday and is moving very quickly. So if, like me, you enjoy watching buildings get torn down, hurry on over before it's gone. 

Disclaimer: I am at heart a preservationist and am not a fan of all demolition, but this was a sad little strip mall whose only redeeming quality was that my dog liked to poop on their parkway (and, yes, i always clean up afterwards, thank you for asking!).

3 August 2015: Yarn-bombing in the 'Burbs

Passed this elegantly yarn-bombed tree on Chicago Ave.
in Evanston on my way toTrader Joe's.

2 August 2015: Wild Weather

 It's been a wild day in Chicago. According to Ald. Joe Moore, we lost 75 trees as well as innumerable large branches in a storm that lasted only 15 minutes. 

Huge branch blocking Lakewood Ave. between Pratt and Farwell

Downed branch at Wayne and Farwell

And then there were those dramatic skies:

It was still pouring rain when i took this picture a little after 3:00 PM.

A spectacular sunset, with a hint of more storms to come.