Summer Is Official

Hey all,

Here's another fine installment of what I've been up to...

Wednesday Night BBQ. The newest tradition of the Michigan Exiles.


Apparently, these guys are inspecting the Art Institute's Lion's ass. Actually, they are filming something. Probably some tourist ad or something.


The Museum of Science and Industry. They hosted the CANstruction event, which is a charity fundraiser for the Chicago Food Depository where they make art out of food cans and then use them for making meals.


This should have been the first place winner. Instead it was a replica of the Millennium Park Bean which was small and not well built because it was about to collapse. I'll never understand the dynamics of voting and how poor contestants seem to always win.


This is should have been the second place winner!


The MSI's entry.


Eh...


Big tough truck. The winners of this competition go to some national competition. I know nothing other than that. This site has a lot of winners from the past:
CANstruction Winners


This was my favorite part of the night! These are the back offices to MSI. Look at this office! I am really missing out on my calling. Where do I apply for a job at this place?


Who else has a green cow at their office?


I claim this desk as mine!


The German-American MayFest. It really wasn't that great this year. Unfortunately, the Cubs had a home game that day. Cubs fans in recent years have become the biggest douchebags on earth. After the game, they all came up and kind of ruined the atmosphere. Then again, the $10 cup of Pabst Blue Ribbon didn't help. Even if it was the equivelent of 2.5-3 beers, it was $6-7 more than I pay for PBR at a local bar...


John and Ronan arguing the merits of a girls ass.


John getting Megan's opinion.


The debate continues.


The highlight of the evening was heading to Chubby Wiener's for dinner, which is just south of Lawrence on Western. I highly suggest it. Here's our late night picnic.


John on the #49


Hyde Park Art Fair


We weren't going to go to the fair because it was suppose to rain. Then Amanda called and said she was going. Then we thought we should go after watching Children of Men (good movie). Then it really rained hard going back home. It was alright.

Good times in Chicago.

xoxo,

Mike

"Yeah, They're Pretend Monkeys!"

Dear You, Here's the Memorial Day Weekend Edition of my life...

Nick and Karli enjoying a few brews on the back porch. A great hobbie I would like to see more of.


Here's a couple members of the "Fashion Police" outside of my work. If these girls would have caught me, I'd be in some fashion concentration camp for a very long time...


You know, the Ad Council is trying to make a statement that you should follow politics or you'll elect food. But, I'm thinking that people shouldn't follow politics so they do elect food. I mean, I'd much rather see Sweet Peas running the country than George W. Bush. At least President Sweet Peas wouldn't get us into unnecessary wars in the middle east. Yeah, I said it...


Ryan Daly and Amanda Talmadge at Galway Bay after Radar 7's final Chicago performance.


Diversey Harbor looking toward the Loop.


Megan at Small Bar after a few tator tots...


Ronan and John. Notice how much John hates that salad. I'm serious, he hates that salad!


FLW inspired park just north of the Lincoln Park Zoo.


Lily Pad in the pond.


"Hi Adam!"
"Hi Polar Bear..."


If Nirvana were a band of polar bears, this would be there breakout album Nevermind cover.


Camels shedding.


Roaches...


MEERKAT MANOR! WHICH ONE IS DAISY?!?!?!


They watch us more than we watch them.


Walking toward Oak Street Beach in downtown Chicago.


In front of Buckingham Fountain, firefighters were hosing off the water for some reason unknown to us. Probably just trying to pick up girls near the lake...


Buckingham Fountain looking toward the Loop.


Some sculptures by some Polish lady about the Holocaust. How can art about something so depressing be so fun?


Spertus Museum's new facility!


What Memorial Day is all about.












Crowne Fountain at Millennium Park. Look at how many friggin' people are in this fountain!


Somehow, this has become my latest trademark. I've had quite a few pics with presidents lately...


Nothing shows the glamous side of Mike Kraus more than this...


Megan's pretty picture.


The Renzo Piano addition to the Art Institute as seen from Millennium Park. I really like this because all the plants are growing and it's almost like the building is growing from the Lurie Garden too.

That's it. I'm going to clean my room, find my fan, and go to bed. The Pistons played another lazy game and allowed LeBron James to tie the series at 2-2. Lazy... Red Wings lose to the Mighty Ducks was bad enough. If Pistons don't knock out the Cavs, it's bad news...

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

And She Seems Curious About What's In the Pantry Too...

Hey everyone,

Hope all are doing well. I've been very busy lately with work and all. I think the next four weeks are pretty much already booked for work, sleep, eatting, hanging out, parties, and all the other great stuff that happens in Chicago during the summer. I have Great Chicago Places & Spaces this weekend, which is a huge architecture festival. There's tons of visitors and all sorts of other things. So...

 Here's a parade float of a fort for the Polish Constitution Day Parade, which was also Cinco De Mayo. So, there were a lot of strange festivities that blended together that day.

 Maxwell (Canal) Street Market. Some guy rockin' out at his booth (Minivan).
One reason I no longer live in Ravenswood. This is part of the $500 million renovation of the Brown Line. They are replacing Fullerton Station and taking it out section-by-section. It's really fun to watch. Bess, Megan, and Katie at Katie's birthday taco party. It was a great party Katie! I've never eatten so many tacos in one night. This must be the best place in the world to work. I think this place was called Fernando's and they had very good food. My favorite thing is their burritos. They are in soft taco shells and they are small. Then, what makes it a burrito instead of a taco? I have no idea. Maybe it's the sauce? Megan's birthday at B.L.U.E.S. Chicago on Halsted just north of Fullerton. Taken just moments ago near my apartment. They are putting trees on the sidewalks down North Avenue. It looks so much nicer already. I can't wait until they are a little more mature. Also, look how nice and sunny it is. After I'm done with a couple of projects, I think I will work on the 'zine on the porch today...

xoxo, Mike