Thursday, March 29, 2012

Day 210 - Rapt Attention


Day 210 - Rapt Attention, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 28, 2012. Last night at the Metro, of Montreal played. They have very devoted fans who are always fun to talk to and photograph.

Day 209 - Squeegee


Day 209 - Squeegee, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 27, 2012. A lens cloth doesn't always do the trick when it comes to cleaning a lens. That's when I ask Wilfred to mix a potent solution of cleaner and scrub and squeegee. Next time I'll wear goggles, though. It splashes. And burns.

Day 208 - Put a Bird On It


Day 208 - Put a Bird On It, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 26, 2012. That's right, put a bird on it! See how fancy it looks now.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/210887/portlandia-put-a-bird-on-it

Day 207 - Oh, Hi


Day 207 - Oh, Hi, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 25, 2012. Sometimes you take photos of people waiting to cross the street.

Day 206 - Fire Til I Sleep


Day 206 - Fire Til I Sleep, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 24, 2012. The Chicago Fire won their home opener against Philadelphia, and we went and cheered and sang, as we do for many games. This portrait of exhaustion is on the bus ride back to the Globe Pub from Toyota Park. Someone from here to the back of the bus, graciously found my wallet and brought it into the pub where the bartender had it waiting for me when I realized it was missing. Unfortunately, someone ungraciously relieved me of all my cash before returning the wallet.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Day 205 - Onward Through the Fog

March 23, 2012. There were a couple of rainstorms through the day and night, and a couple of foggy periods. This one is from the end of the night, near 2 am, while on my way home.

Day 204 - Schwinn and a Schmoke

March 22, 2012. Just a snap from my lunchtime walk. Chicago has an awful lot of old Schwinns roaming the streets. Of course, they were made here, so maybe they just didn't wander very far.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Day 203 - Diversey Harbor


Day 203 - Diversey Harbor, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 21, 2012. Before heading home from work, I wondered where I might go that I haven't already shot a few dozen of my 365 pictures. Hannah mentioned how nice Diversey Harbor was last night without the boats, which are still in storage. Monday I noticed Burnham Harbor being prepared for the return of boats, and figured their return must be imminent. When I got to the intersection where I would have headed home, I decided to head north and see the harbor, even though I didn't have a tripod, practically a necessity. I ended up laying my backpack on the ground where there was no goose poop (there are still a few Canada Geese hanging out) and used it for camera support with the self-timer, since I wasn't carrying a shutter release cable either.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Day 202 - All The Same


Day 202 - All The Same, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 20, 2012. On this first day of spring I had to go downtown on a work errand, and went to grab some food that I don't normally have available - Wow Bao. On my way, I encountered a Volkswagen Beetle with a giant Peep on top, and two girls passing out candy. This is one of those two girls and her fantastic smile, and a pretty cool t-shirt.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Day 201 - Triker


Day 201 - Triker, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 19, 2012. I did a fair amount of shooting today, but my favorite scene to have witnessed today was this little man storming the beach by tricycle.

Day 200 - Gary


Day 200 - Gary, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 18, 2012. Gary plays guitar in my band, currently known as Tijuana Jai Alai. Here he is during a break from rehearsal.

Day 199 - Fromage


Day 199 - Fromage, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 17, 2012. This is Fromage, who lives with our friends Scott and Christine. He knows you think he's cute.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Day 198 - Cat


Day 198 - Cat, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 16, 2012. I met a friend at Cork Lounge after work, and met this girl, Cat, outside while unlocking my bike to leave. She was very excited about the prospect of not having to go to work after the Chicago Saint Patrick's Day Parade and who knows how much day partying. Jokingly, we both simultaneously said "See you there," about the parade. That would be highly improbable, but became impossible when sleep felt so good to me in the morning. No parade for me this year, but I'm still about St. Pat's today.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Day 197 - Scooter Girls


Day 197 - Scooter Girls, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 15, 2012. A pair of girls on a scooter zip up Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park.

Day 196 - A Glimpse of Summer

March 14, 2012. At eighty degrees, it looked like summer on the lakefront. We were still wearing coats a few days ago. Some students are on spring break, but there sure seemed to be a lot of people, many adults, playing hookie on Wednesday. The city sidewalks in the Loop and the neighborhoods, the beaches, and the Lakefront Trail were all teeming with people. There were multiple volleyball games going on at Oak Street Beach, lots of runners and cyclists, and lots of bathing suit-clad people playing and laying on the beach. Summer in Chicago is really magical, and I look forward to it actually beginning.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Day 195 - Dad's Workout


Day 195 - Dad's Workout, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.
March 13, 2012.  It was a beautiful day in Chicago, sunny and warm if a bit windy.  After work I rode over to the beach as sunset approached.  A kid is probably quite enjoying the beach while his dad exercises.

Day 194 - Getting Fitted


Day 194 - Getting Fitted, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.
March 12, 2012.  I came across this scene on my lunch break, a PAWS volunteer getting a little dog ready to go for a walk.

Day 193 - Bike Winter Art Show Crazies


Day 193 - Bike Winter Art Show Crazies, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.
March 11, 2012.  I went to Gala Gallery to pick up my prints from the Bike Winter Art Show, and shot a few photos of its organizers, Stuart, Steven, and Slang.

Day 192 - Proofing


Day 192 - Proofing, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.
March 10, 2012.  I went out on Saturday night and met up with Viewminder, a prolific Chicago street photographer.  We strolled up and down both sides of Milwaukee Avenue chatting and shooting photos of people on the street.  He did most of the shooting.  He has a quite in-your-face style of shooting, and I tend to hang back and wait for shots.  In this photo, you see him showing two girls photos of themselves crossing the street, occasionally punctuated by him shooting more photos of them from a foot away.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Day 191 - Bike Frog


Day 191 - Bike Frog, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 9, 2012. The closing party for the Bike Winter Art Show featured a puppet show by Jabberwocky, pictured here; choreographed bike and dance routines by The Racketeers; and a Bike Fashion Show, sponsored by Rapid Transit, Boulevard Bikes, Comrade Cycles, and Lucitebox.com.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Day 190 - Bikenstein, The Next Generation

March 8, 2012. There's a fellow on a bike in Wicker Park named Dave, and I seem to have found his doppelganger. The Viewminder often speaks with him and has some fabulous photos of him (http://www.flickr.com/photos/light_seeker/6675184349/in/photostream). I don't think I'd get along with him, partially due to my prejudice for people who ride bikes on the sidewalk - especially when that sidewalk has high pedestrian traffic and is on a street that, while not a perfect bike highway, is more or less a Chicago bike highway. I ride it almost every day. That reminds me, a couple of nights ago I had my first contact with a door - not on Milwaukee Avenue - (were you even wondering how a bright light could be quickly approaching your side mirror before you opened your door, Blondie? No, because you didn't check.) Fortunately, she opened her door in time for me to lean and push off the door with my hand, which hurt like hell all the way up to my shoulder and bent back a fingernail quite uncomfortably. Had she opened her door a quarter of a second later, my ride would have ended abruptly, and my bike and I would have broken parts. So, I'm lucky. A lot have people have been doored more than once and hurt pretty badly with far less time on a bike on city streets. And, Bikensteins, I see how you might think that's an argument for you riding the sidewalks, but you're as dangerous to pedestrians as car doors are to us and far more likely to get hurt yourself than a driver who opens his door.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Day 189 - DePaul Runner


Day 189 - DePaul Runner, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 7, 2012. Another 60-degree day in Chicago. Also another heavy-wind day in Chicago. I suppose I should stop waiting for winter to come. It did appear briefly in a mild form this weekend, just in time for the Polar Plunge, but then came the warm days. Spring, if you're actually here, then welcome!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Day 188 - Underdog


Day 188 - Underdog, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 6, 2012. It was a really beautiful day, probably the fourth or fifth day this winter that I've ridden in shorts without longjohns - in Chicago. I'm kind of sick, though, probably related to Sunday's Polar Plunge, so I didn't spend my free daylight hours shooting. On the way home from work, as I waited to turn left onto Milwaukee Avenue from Damen, I saw a big hot dog on the sidewalk on Damen. Of course, I abandoned the left turn lane, pulled up to the sidewalk, and said "Hey, Dog, can I take your picture?" He started to tell me about Underdog's gourmet dogs, and when I told him I was into the veggie dog, he stopped. He did give me a coupon, though, so I'll get a discount on that veggie dog. Maybe one of my friends would like to go get one of the other dogs.

Day 187 - Rodan


Day 187 - Rodan, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 5, 2012. We went to Rodan in Wicker Park for dinner. There was a lot of pretty there: decor, waitress, food, and these drinks. One is called Horsefeathers, and the other is a Lychee Royale.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Day 186 - Happy Birthday, Chicago

March 4, 2012. Today was the 175th birthday of the City of Chicago. Also today, the Chicago Polar Plunge benefitting Special Olympics was held. I shot lots of wacky people in Lake Michigan while my feet got wet and cold, though the rest of me stayed dry.  Keep an eye on flickr (by clicking this photo) to see photos of those wacky people as I upload them.

Day 185 - Return of Tony


Day 185 - Return of Tony, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.
March 3, 2012.  Tony is a friend from work who moved to Boston a few months ago. He came to town this weekend and this was taken at B.L.U.E.S. while Vance "Guitar" Kelly played.

Day 184 - Tasting the Tiles


Day 184 - Tasting the Tiles, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.
March 2, 2012.  I shot this when we were walking back home from a failed attempt to go out. I had a slice of pizza, anyway.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Day 183 - New Nighthawks


Day 183 - New Nighthawks, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

March 1, 2012. I am now halfway through my 365 (366) project. This place has been open a few months, and I really want to try it, but I just haven't gotten in there yet. Someday I will have your tasty falafel.

Day 182 - Leap!


Day 182 - Leap!, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

Feb 29, 2012. Leap Day, so of course I'll take a leaping picture. I had already tried getting myself leaping on the pier at North Avenue Beach, but that didn't work very well, so I convinced Mallory to jump off of stuff. Maybe in four years, I'll try again.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Day 181 - Velvet Hannah


Day 181 - Velvet Hannah, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

Feb 28, 2012. This was a spontaneous photo when Hannah put on my sunglasses, but it's very reminiscent of the Velvet Underground and maintained its precedence for photo of the day.

Day 180 - Fixing A Hole


Day 180 - Fixing A Hole, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

Feb 27, 2012. A crew works under the street on Clybourn Avenue in Lincoln Park, Chicago.