Showing posts with label South Loop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Loop. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

My back door...

I rarely exit my building through its front door. I have no less than four options of building departure and arrival, not counting the most popular choice - the parking garage beneath the building. The buildings front door is by far its most gracious entry. The lobby is modest, immaculate, industrial and very minimally but elegantly appointed. One front door visitor remarked to me "you have a real entrance here! Makes me feel that somebody actually thought about it..." I put to use the front door mainly for two purposes... to accept delivered dining and to mark the beginnings and ends of daily walks during the Spring, Summer and Fall. The parking garage is my most prevalent form of egress. Its automatic door, reserved parking space and inherent, concrete weather shield may not be cinematic, but I admit to still being awed by the luxury of it all.... far more luxurious that my elegantly appointed lobby. The back door is my favorite. Its use makes me feel low profile. Unexpected exit. My building mates and I utilize our back door rarely. Occasionally, during Bears season, a handful of residents gather at our back door to watch the fireworks over Soldier Field. Daylight brings an urban view to my back door. The Sears Tower looms over the South Loop like a giant sun dial. Recently, I began to notice that I will have to rely on my own sense of place when exiting and entering my back door...

Sunday, February 04, 2007

GO BEARS but also GO to the supermarket DURING THE SUPERBOWL

...Dominicks is a dream during the Bear-full Superbowl. I parked in the first spot by the door and waited nor wanted for anything... except for maybe a loss of the fluorescent lighting and a sense of humbleness. I loathe the Supermarket experience and wish for the comeback of the corner store where I could walk to fresh bread, laundry detergent, butter and a light bulb. When I gather enough courage to enter a Dominicks, I usually go mid-day or midnight to avoid the crowds with shopping carts of issues. The South Loop Dominicks was filled with a handful of female 30somethings this Superbowl evening. No waiting, no idiocy.





The drive home last night was brisk, but I stopped and snapped a few photos of one of my favorite views from the 18th Street Bridge. Bitter cold but rich with team spirit.

Monday, January 01, 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007

My street, New Years Eve, dusk...

Audra McDonald was broadcast live last night by the good folks at Live From Lincoln Center; imagining my front row, center isle seat was easy thanks to my favorite guilty pleasure purchase of 2006. I raised a delicious cup of Earl Grey tea to the gowned, glamorous New Yorkers and relished the in the moment nature of the live event. The New York Philharmonic sounded perfect with her. I feel that I now have heard an as brilliant version of "I Have Confidence," from The Sound of Music as Ms. Andrews blessed us with back in the day. It was a pleasure to hear Audras version of "Over The Rainbow" with a lone guitar. Pleasure became honor when she admitted to being afraid of the song and never being brave enough to sing it publicly before. It was lovely and so was she.

Happy New Year from Chicago's South Loop.

Proud to ring in the new year with brave Audra, Earl Grey and medium hot Chicago.




Sunday, December 24, 2006

Sunday, October 22, 2006

...rich with marathon runners...

Chicago. Sunday, October 22nd, 2006 in the South Loop... I love living downtown. Even when its inconvenient. The Chicago Marathon ran half a block from my front door this morning. It completely blocked me in with its street closures. 38 degrees, brisk wind and the occasional raindrop did not keep me from the inspiring athletic event happening steps away from my kitchen sink.

CPD cleared Michigan Ave...

First came the wheel chairs...

Then the official time van...

The lead runners ran so fast that I literally missed them!


My corner had cheerleaders!



And, true to South Loop form... lots of good dogs...



...and one cold, royal dog.

It's good to live at Mile 25 of The Chicago Marathon!