Join Me On the Lake (TONIGHT!)

First things first. We have a fundraiser at work tonight on the boat. It's a lot of fun. So, if you are interested, please email me at MKraus@architecture.org or just come on down! Here's the info:

What: Boat Booze Cruise When: Today at 6:30pm - 9pm Where: Michigan Ave. and Wacker Dr. Why: It's a good cause and there is tons of food, and an OPEN BAR, and a DJ. How Much: $20 - to cover the cost of booze (still cheaper than our regular cruise that doesn't include booze)

On to what I've been doing!

How do you like my new wheels? I don't actually own this, but if you want to get me one for my birthday, it's on Saturday, October 13th... We had an ice cream social at work! I ate like a fat kid... Here's about half of the people at last weeks BBQ at the Murder House. Tomorrow, we'll probably have it in the yard since we are running out of room on the porch. I'll be late tomorrow since I have a meeting until 7pm...
Yes, that is Nick Fucking Butner at the BBQ.
Check out Alice's new tattoo!
Rich, Megan's brother, came to Chicago for Lollapolooza and stayed at the Sofitel. Swanky! Karli's brother, Adam, was at my apartment. Fancy! Now that Matt and Tyler have their own apartment, I've moved into Matt's room. Not completely, but near. Here's my new 'zine display! Thanks Billy of Loop Distro! Went to the Cubs game and saw Soriano tear a ligiment. Something I am sure will cause the 1st place Cubs to not make it to the playoffs. Also, Tom Glavine of the Mets won his 300th game. Something only 24 other pitchers have ever done (I think). Good times! 3rd base line at Wrigley Field. 1st base line at Wrigley Field. Derrick Lee up to bat. An old timey band played three rows behind me. I saw the banjo guy outside the stadium before the game screaming at the security "BUT, I NEED TO GET INTO THE GAME WITH MY BANJO!" Yes he did! You can get me this car. I like cars with sirens. If I get that car, I would get it repaired at this shop.  While I waiting for my car to be fixed, I'd eat here and stare at the artwork of soccer players blocking hamburgers...

I hope everyone had a good time in Chicago for Lollapolooza. I liked seeing everyone. Frances, I hope you liked your $5 meal! xoxo, Mike

WANTED:

Here's the banner I designed for AIA Chicago (American Institute of Architects). It's right in downtown Chicago on Ohio between State and Dearborn.

While at the AIA party last Thursday, they were filming Wanted starring Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie. There was this bread truck and a SUV with a camera mounted on it chasing it. There was also a helicopter flying really low above the river.


You can't see in on this real well because of the bluriness, but Angelina's stunt double is strapped onto the windshield of this Dodge Viper driving about 70mph down Wacker Drive shooting guns toward the air. It was amazing!


At work, we hosted Great Chicago Places and Spaces (GCPS) this weekend. We offered hundreds of tours for free of buildings, downtown, and behind the scenes of a lot of Chicago's main attractions. The line to my office was two blocks long at 7:30am going from Michigan and Jackson to Adams and Wabash. The first guy got in line about 3am.


And here's more of them...


And they keep on going...


And, this is what they came for: Chicago's unique architecture.


This about sums up Humboldt Park.


A man riding down North Ave. at 6am on Sunday in a wheelchair obeying most traffic laws. I love this town!

Today, I plan to do nothing because I did too much this weekend.

xoxo,

Mike

All Dolled Up

Guten Tag,

 Hayley and Roberto at Docent Appreciation Night. This is a work party we have every year to thank our volunteers for giving thosands of hours of free labor to the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Hayley and Roberto once again Vincent is an efficient killing machine. That is if wine is the target getting killed. About 384 of our guests for Docent Appreciation Night at the Hotel Intercontinental on North Michigan Avenue. Pretty swanky... Once again, proving that you can dress me up, but you can't take me anywhere. Nick setting up the new hammock at Murder House. SUCCESS! The Muskegon Exiles headed out to the suburb of Lyons (?) for a party where this couple installed an inflatable pool in their family room. Nick is testing the water. Matt and Tyler were disappointed because they thought it was "a pool of Jack Daniel's!" My new best friend Clark. If you pet him, he will be your best friend too! WARNING: This dog will drool all over you and will require you to wash you pants because of the sheer amount of slobber. All in for the pool party! Tyler, Mike, Katie, and Andrew out for fresh air and cigerettes at the pool party. In the backyard, they are installing a gnome garden, fire pit, and a trampoline that you can bounce onto from the roof of the house. Truly, this is a home owned by children and I applaud them. Matt, Andrew, Clark the St. Bernard, and Katie at the pool party buffett. Tyler starting up the grill. The grill! Matt, Tyler, and Karli grilling. At the Lincoln Park Zoo for the Earth Day celebration. As expected, the LPZ invited hippie jam bands to play making it the worst place on Earth to be as yuppies with stollers and hippies joined forces. It was like the South Park episode when hippies decent on South Park and take over everything. I would be Cartman... Outside of LPZ, all was good on a nice, warm Chicago day.

Later! Mike

I'm Ready To Retire...

X-mas is over


When the branch hit the sidewalk, a squirrel leapt about 8-6 ft. in the air and chased the tree crew around. Certainly the best way for me to wake up and head to work in the morning.


Dinner at Carnivale


Desert at Carnivale


Trouble-a-brewin'


Police race in once action takes place.


Suddenly, those cop shows aren't looking so fake...


Thin Lizzy cover band!


Lone Star advertisement


Glessner House. My company saved this house in 1966 and that's what lead me to having a job about 40 years later.


Chicago is pretty.


Look at all that water. Good stuff!


Rem Koolhaas' Student Union at IIT




Hey Chicago! You're looking good these days. Good times!!!