End of the Work Week

Friday afternoon in a Monroe Street alley. Have a great weekend!

Looking Up

190 South Lasalle Street. Designed by architect John Burgee, and completed in 1986, critics called the top of this building chateau-like and "like a ritzy high rise jail." But this building is massively impressive and its design is beautiful. Click here for other views from afar and from the air.
p.s. Here's a photo of the its doorman who kindly looked away from my fumbling attempts at getting the whole building into view...

State Street El Station

The elevated train (known as the el train). Routes are color coded and can be fairly simple, as long as you know where you're going and you aren't color blind. This (rusting) State Street station is the starting point for this extensive system that covers the city and forty suburbs.

Donald Trumps Downtown

401 N. Wabash Avenue. Though the new Trump Tower isn't one hundred percent complete, it's already been the subject of debate for its steel, glass and stone design by architecture critics and reviewers. IMHO, I think it's a noteworthy presence along the Chicago River (and a lot better looking than the old Sun-Times building). Besides, I think all that shiny stuff does brighten up stodgy old Wabash Avenue...

Black Friday

Nordstrom on the Magnificent Mile. A helpful hint for your list this year: consumer reports say clothing was the most disappointing gift among recipients in 2006.

Turkey Lovers of the World, Unite!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The John Hancock Center

875 North Michigan Avenue. This building is a hundred stories high and is the third tallest skyscraper in Chicago (fourth tallest in the US). See a panoramic view here. I like the dark steel and glass for its moody reflections of the city, its external x-braces that were used, both for its structural function against the wind forces and for its visual impact; and the Observatory which rivals that of the Sears Tower in the South Loop. But my favorite part of this building is The Cheescake Factory, located at its base.

Flowers for Amadou

Today, our neighborhood is in shock and is grieving the senseless death of University of Chicago graduate student Amadou Cisse early Monday morning in Hyde Park. Amadou, 29 and a native of Senegal, had just successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Chemistry when he was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest. We pray for him and his family as we gather around to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. His degree will be granted to him posthumously this December.