A day in Aurora

Leland Tower from the River, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

I spent my Saturday in Aurora Illinois. The Metra took about an hour and a half to get there and we were let off just east of downtown.

The Leland Tower is still the tallest building in Aurora. I spent about two hours walking around downtown and then I saw the storm clouds and the fast storm approching. I got back to the transportation center just in time. Aurora has a lot of history and I'll plan other trip in the future.

Vacation Days 3 and 4

Baha'i Temple from the east, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

Wednesday was one of those days in which you didn't know what the weather was going to do. In the end not much happened and I sort of missed a day of getting some photos.

I spent Thursday doing what I was going to do Wednesday. I went up to Evanston and shot the Grosse Point Lighthouse. From there I headed to Wilmette and took this wonderful photo of the Baha'i Temple. This photo from the east end of the gardens almost has a Taj Mahal quality about it

Vacation - Day 2

1902 Library, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

On the second day of vacation I took the Metra train up to Waukegan. I spent a couple of hours at the harbor and in the downtown area

What can I say about my experience in Waukegan- one word I would use is disappointed. The city has a fine harbor. I think the piers are nicer than the ones we have here in Chicago. It's also my understanding that the city further west is nice, but the best way to describe downtown is that of a ghost town.

It looks more like 63rd and Halsted more than anything- wait strike that, 63rd and Halsted is more intersting and at least there's people milling about. Almost everything in downtown Waukegan is abandoned. This picture of the Old library located just west of the Metra tracks is a good example. It's not being used for anything though it looks like it's in good shape. The building across the street is being converted into condos, so maybe there's some hope that the old downtown can be converted into a residential area.

Vacation Day One

Bridgeport with my apartment, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

I never really plan vacations in advance. I just take a week off and then see what happens. I wanted to go to observatory at the John Hancock today, but there was a nasty fog rolling in from the lake.

The fog must be because it awfully cool today mid 60's down here, so instead I went to the Sears Skydeck. This is a photo looking south towards the Bridgeport neighboorhood.

First Day of Summer

Sunrise, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

Summer is here! I got up and went to the lakefront this morning. I can't say I got up early since I'm always awake at these early hours. For the first time in three years we actually had clear skies at sunrise. Since it was a Saturday morning there were quite a few guys fishing this morning. That was cool.

Summer's Fury

Its about to hit, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

I guess it's not summer until Saturday but we were greated by this yesterday morning.

I've just came home from Mcdonald's and I was leary of the darkening skies to the west. I took out the Olympus and headed to the back portch. within 5 minutes I was greeted by this scene. I minute later the heavens opened up and the crazy wind started to blow. I ran back inside to close the windows and to watch the trees bend in the wind, by 9:00 it was gone but not the damage it left behind

Flag Day

Parade, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

Today was Flag Day but I don't think this is the flag I had in mind. It also was Puerto Rican Day Parade downtown and this was an extension of that parade. I'd just got off the bus at Halsted and Grand and I so this pass by. All in all sort of cool :)

A Jamba Juice Dinner

Jamba Juice, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

So for "dinner" yesterday I headed up to Maxwell street to stop at Jamba Juice. This is a 24oz Orange Dream Machine! I watched the first storm system from inside. Then I walked over to Roosevelt and caught a northbound 8. I got off at North avenue and stopped in Borders. Just got out just in time for the big storm system. Luckily I got home before it started to rain

Down Alta Vista

Down Alta Vista, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

The Alta Vista Terrace Historic District is a one block long landmarked area. As you can see the street is so narrow that cars can only be parked on one side.

The block is "mirrored" The townhome on the northeast corner is duplicated on the southwest corner and so on. Very Interesting for turn of the 20th century design

Buck Fountain 053108

Buck Fountain 053108, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

Once the car cruze was over Tina and I made our way through Grant Park and onto the Bean.

This is a great shot of the fountain. Skies couldn't be bluer.