18 April 2015: Another Sign of Fair Weather

Spring has sprung! And with it come the crocuses, the daffodils,
the robins and baby bunnies.  But somehow nothing else
says spring like a chalk-drawn hopscotch grid. This one
was seen in Lincoln Square on Thursday. 

11 April 2015: Tax Time

I took a little trip over to Lincoln Square today. As i was strolling up Western towards Lawrence, i saw a guy dressed as the Statue of Liberty. His shoulders were slumped, his head was bowed, and i could almost hear him asking himself how he ever ended up standing on a street corner in pseudo-patriotic drag, advertising a tax service. As someone who has had her share of bumps and unexpected u-turns in life, my heart kind of ached for the guy.  But then i crossed the street and saw his counterpart, the man pictured here. He was prancing and kicking and playing that fake guitar for all he was worth (He even threw in a few Pete-Townsendesque windmills for my benefit). It was a good reminder that you ought to make the most of what you've got. And if all life hands you is a crappy job, then turn it into some memorable street theater.

Oh, and don't forget to pay your taxes.

8 April 2015: Robots Are among Us

This Red Eye Robot was busy monitoring yesterday's election.

3 April 2015: Looking Up

Chimneys: Lunt and Greenview

1 April 2015: Is Spring Finally Springing?

The crocuses arrive fashionably late

Hard to believe, but it is April and i just saw the first real springtime flowers, a nice patch of crocuses on Farwell Avenue west of Greenview. I've seen a few lonely and anemic-looking crocuses in the past week, but these are the first that actually look healthy enough to make me believe that spring is finally here. I can hardly wait for the daffodils to bloom!

30 March 2015: Signs of Things to Come

A new paint job for the former Morse L/Bullhead Cantina

The former Bullhead Cantina looks like it is getting ready for its next incarnation. Workers were outside today giving it a fresh coat of paint. They didn't know what was going in the space but i'm still hoping that someone will finally have the good sense to open a breakfast spot there, preferably a place that serves breakfast until the wee small hours. 
Because bacon and waffles at 2AM.

15 March 2015: The Spirit of the Viaduct

Up until last night, i'd assumed that the reason the Red Line viaduct at Farwell Ave. is falling apart is because of the general collapse of the American infrastructure. So it was a great relief to discover a much more mythically awesome explanation. As this picture reveals, there is a guardian spirit living within the viaduct who just wants to break free and check out what's happening in Rogers Park. Some might question if this spirit is in fact a troll, what with the whole living under a bridge thing and all. But i feel relatively certain that this is not the case. Rogers Park has many, many trolls (If you doubt me, just check EveryBlock), but none of them have the placid and benign demeanor of this entity. 

For the sake of reference, here is a wider view of the crumbly bit of viaduct 

where the mystical being appeared.