The Point Of No Return... Or of Return? What Are We Doing Again?

My neighbor Blago in street graffiti dancin' like a fool!

The Gold Coast Art Fair, which ironically isn't even in the Gold Coast.

Free and, in this economy means, crowded

Buckingham Fountain will always remind me of meeting a Czech couple in the middle of nowhere Portugal saying to us in broken English, "Oh Chicago. My favorite show is Married With Children."

Paris on the Prairie

big sail boat in Burnham Harbor

Megan's family calls these style of boats "Rodney Dangerfield's" because of his classic scene in Caddyshack. I have to say, it's pretty appropriate.

The Wrigley Building from the Riverwalk

It may look pretty, but there is no way you are going to get me that close to the Chicago River's water in a kayak

Hard Rock Hotel (Carbon and Carbide Buidling)

Megan enjoying her giant burger and giant fries at Five Guys

Strange architecture in Lincoln Park. Here are two apparent single family homes. They weren't big enough and so a strange tower addition was constructed to combine the both. It's like a Victorian McMansion Medieval castle house...

AIA Chicago gave this frame and artwork to us for our wedding. It's titled "He Was a Friend of Mine." Ok, so there's a dog made of clouds. A sinister cat. We're they friends? Is this title sarcastic? What evil things has this cat done? What is going on?

You can't do that on a Tuesday!

It reads: "ATTENTION! Dan the dog walker will eat your dog! Don't be another victim, you have been warned!!!" I don't know who "Dan the dog walker" is, but he seems to have a bad reputation. I don't think he really ate anyone's dog because something like that would have ended up the on WGN morning show for sure...


Best couple in town




A look at the rocks under the water in Lake Michigan








Just hanging out at the zoo like the rest of us.


Look at the size of this lady's canvas. About 5' x 7'. It's a rather ambitious plein aire painting.


Another weird Lincoln Park sculpture. I should really make a book because they have the strangest stuff in this neighborhood. My favorite thing about this sculpture though is the security. Notice the sign to the top right. They have a huge camera mounted on the house as well. The front of the house is half sculpture garden, half prison. I kind of want to just sit on it and that's probably why they have the camera in the first place...


Not sure what this is either. It's just a few house down from the one above. It appears to be a lady whose head is the rear hood of an old Volkswagen Beetle. As for the rest, your guess is as good as mine...


Restoration work on the South Pond of Lincoln Park. They drained the pond and have been putting in walkways and all sorts of stuff. There's a half circle wooden tunnel in the rear of the picture. Not sure what that's for. Should look good when they fill it with water again.


Like the Robins in spring, you know it's summer when Kermit and Barbie return from their vacation home and take up residence in my backyard.

Finally Going Outside On a Regular Basis

Looking downtown from Lincoln Park

Ivana Majic Longest? That's your real name? Really?

My bathroom is anything by "serene."

I don't know why this fascinates me so much. But, this is the Blue Cross/Blue Shield building. It was 20 stories tall and designed to be taller. So, they are adding another 24 stories or something on top.

Illegally photographed painting from Chinese exhibit at Chicago Cultural Center

The bean

Megan in a Aha video

T-Rex in Millennium Park

Pig faced tow truck thing. Fine art indeed!

Talking about fine art, my old classrooms at the School of the Art Institute are under this new giant condo building. A huge condo building probably seemed like a lot better investment about 6 months ago...

The new Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago is about to open!

The Aqua Building. It's suppose to look like this.

Bikes!

HEY! This is Hill People Milk!!!

For those who don't know, here's the info. You will receive more later to remind you...


Frances trying to keep her arms warm with Noah at the BBQ


Karli breaking in the new charcoal chimney


Blue loving the attention, petting, and patio


Megan looking very chic.


Angela wearing her amazing shrinking arm flannel from China.


Angela's Postcard from China. It says:

Hey Kids! This trip has been
sweet! A visual and sensory
overload. Neon and wall-to-wall
people. Night markets full of
plastic cheap everything. Temples
and gardens. Communism everywhere.
A karaoke on every corner. Drank
on some sweet bridges and made
a tool of myself many times trying
out my Chinese. I thought that
Chicago traffic was bad but
China traffic is a free-for-all. I
got hit by a scooter today - nothing
bad though. Hung out with
some cool German skateboarders
in Shanghai from my hostel.
So much to see and take
pictures of. Will bring
you kids home some really
terrible rice wine! Glad I
took this jump across the ocean!
See you soon - Angela


This is everyone BBQing. Picture taken from camera strapped to an eagle...


Some BBQ rookies came to our place and showed us up. Talapia? Reallly?!?!? I mean the fanciest thing we ever cook is Ball Park Franks... Maybe burgers


Modernism show in the River North area.


Megan all gussied up for the Modernism show since it was a work event for her.


More stuff to buy and sell


Here's a robot coathanger? sculpture? soldier?


GATHER AROUND THE MEAT TABLE!


Went to Artropolis, which is a GIGANTIC, HUGE art show at the Merchandise Mart. Thing of every art gallery and museum you've ever seen. Now think of it being in one place. I took a few pictures of the city while up there...


Taking pics from this building always look awesome. Like they are from some tourist Chicago calendar...


WATCH OUT OF THE GIANT LIZARD!


booth after booth after booth of galleries from all over the world...


Art or copyright infringement?


Megan's been having troubles with her car recently. So, I made her a VW of wood...


I have found my summer project. Or should I say, my summer project found me? This is the third Chicago Bears van I've found in three weeks! Will this be this years version of me taking my picture with presidential statues?


Kuma's Corner "Lair of the Minotaur" burger


Metallica burger. I have to say I was really disappointed with the burgers this time. Since I was last there, they've replaced the meat with cheaper processed meat I think. It tasted like it was grilled and prepared the same and it was all good. But, the meat on the inside didn't get the marination and seasoning like before. The interior meat was so bland and kinda gross. But, that's the trend at restaurants these days with the economy the way it is. Good job George Bush, our first MBA president...


Parking garage sign in Streeterville. Every level was named after a musician and the elevator had their music playing. Too bad we couldn't park in "Neil Diamond."


I discovered the "cuisine" mode on the camera. Look how delicious it made the meal look. This is the Beef and Lamb Charwma (sp?) from Samiramis on N. Kedzie. Super awesome good!


Here are the french fries and Megan's chicken something in the distance


So, I saw a picture frame near the garbage in an alley near Irving Park and Sacramento and thought I could use it. Unfortunately, the frame was completely useless. But, there were photos tucked into it. I liked them and thought I'd share them.


I wonder what the story is. Are these from a portrait studio in South America or something? Kind of like the studio that girl from "Nepolean Dynomite" ran?


beautiful landscape


Nothing like the KMart at Sacramento and Addison


"Hello Mr. Easter Bunny. You are famous. May I take a photo with you in this thrift store?"


"I love you brother."
"I love you too, man."
"Let's take a picture"
"Let's!"
"I will put my hand on you even though you have leprosy."
"You are a true brother..."