Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Tax Time


Currency Exchange Tax Refund, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

It's that time of year again. Tax refund season. I guess this benefits those without bank accounts but the 7.5% take by the exchange has got to hurt! ouch!!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

All Saints - St Anthony


All Saints - St Anthony 2, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

This is number three in a continuing series where I explore the churches of the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago.

All-Saints - St Anthony is another grand church located at 28th and Wallace. The twin towers remind me of a church I seen in Michigan City Indiana. Founded as St Anthony , a German parish, it merged with All Saints, an Irish parish in 1968. Today most of the parishioners are of Hispanic descent

Saturday, January 26, 2008

St Mary of Perpetual Help 1


St Mary of Perpetual Help , originally uploaded by kendoman26.

This is the second installment of a continuing series.
I think this is the grandest church in Bridgeport. The large dome and two towers have a towering presence on the streetscape.

The church was founded by Polish immigrant's and was completed in 1892.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Tower Rising in the Snow


Trump Tower, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

This isn't the photo I planned on taking today but nature had other plans. I don't usually bring a camera with me to work but yesterday I saw a great opportunity to shoot the tower. Yesterday was a clear and sunny afternoon but today is snowy.

The snow-shrouded tower has risen behind it's final seback at the 50th floor and now will continue onward to it's topping out at 88 stories. In the forground is a sign for one of the many jewelry stores that line Wabash Avenue.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

A Day on the Lake

I took this photo in June of 2006. I had decided to take an 90 minute cruise on the lake and the Chicago River.

I remember it being a pretty hot day for late June and this was around 10 in the morning. This shot has a good view of the central loop plus Big John on the right and Aon on the left. The Sears Tower is Just peeking through.

I'd like to be back for another photo op after the Trump tower is completed.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

First Lutheran Church of the Trinity

This is the first in a series were I'll explore the churches of Bridgeport.

First up is the First Lutheran Church of the Trinity located two blocks north from my apartment I have a good view of the steeple from my kitchen window. The church has seen better days and I don't think there is much of a membership left. Some windows are broken and the shutters need repair. On Sunday's in extreme weather service is actually held in a newer structure just to the west of the church.

The current building dates from 1913 and the front reminds me of the churches located in Christmas snow villages.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

The Fallen Silverscreen


Ramova Theatre, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

I decided to walk around the neighborhood on a beautiful January afternoon.

Here we have the long shuttered Ramova theatre in much disrepair. From time to time I hear about attempts of reopening it as a live venue. I hear a lot of things around Bridgeport, like were going to be the next Wicker Park, and though we have the Bridgeport Cafe at 31st and Morgan I don't see any real signs of that occurring.

My mother's first job was selling tickets at this theatre.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Disembodied Legs


Walk through Agora Scultputre, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

I took this photo early last May. Agora is a new sculpture at the south end of Grant Park. It consists of rusty looking 10-12 foot legs that you can walk through. Very unusual

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Preserved Chicago


Kent Home, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

This is another landmark building in Chicago known as the Kent house Located on the 29th block of south Michigan, I took this picture on the first day of summer of '07.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Decayed Chicago


Dupont Whitehouse Closeup, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

I've seen a couple of pictures of this structure on flickr so I thought I'd seek it out. Located in the northeastern part of Brighton Park at 36th and Artesian, the home was built in 1875 for a local explosives factory owner, later it was sold to Joseph Mccaffrey who developed the town of Brighton.

Currently a Chicago landmark it's apparently being restored, though it doesn't look like much progress has been made

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Time for Hotdogs


Wieneermobile, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

Designed by Ramond Lowey, the wiener mobile was at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Ramond Lowey was Studebakers' last designer and he did several stints in industrial design ie. Mercury Marine outboard motors.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Self Portrait


Self Portrait, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

A self Portrait of your Blogger. The "Bean" is a very reflective sculpture. I took this photo on my last vacation, during the week before Thanksgiving. We were having excellent weather and decided to take some photos in Millennium Park. I may post others later.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

In the Cold of Winter Lets Think Summer!


Sun Rise First Day of Summer, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

I took this photo on the first day of Summer. I usually wake up early enough to take the red line to Roosevelt and get to the Museum Campus, by the aquarium, to see the sun rise.

Clouds prevented the actual sunrise, but this picture was taken about 15 minutes after sunrise ie 5:30am

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Year Snowfall - Bridgeport Chicago


New Year Snowfall, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

Pristine Snowfall on a Early New Years Day. Photo taken from my apartment looking northeast. I was disappointed that I couldn't see the fireworks show from Navy Pier