October 30, 2013. This particular evening rain had been falling for a few hours when I got off of work and headed toward the L at Jackson. This artist was sitting in an entryway painting what appeared to be a self-portrait using his reflection in the window. He was wet and his materials were wet, but I suppose that can be okay when you're using watercolors to paint with. My camera is less okay with being wet, so I had it and part of my arm in a rainsleeve for protection.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
090/365 - Calaca on Milwaukee Avenue
October 29, 2013. I thought today's photo was going to be from a drum clinic this evening. After work, I went to my local drum shop and noticed the poster for this drum clinic. It said to RSVP online, which I hadn't done. No big deal, I could just go to the counter and reserve a spot. But then it hit me in print that the drummer conducting the clinic has one name, like "Madonna," "Cher," or "Shakira." Or "Liberace" or "Prince," to choose some men. So I left.
089/365 - Emergence
October 28, 2013. As I headed to the train, these ladies were coming up. One might have been carrying cake. I'd really like some cake.
088/365 - Dark Corridor
October 27, 2013. This dark sidewalk leads to you to light - the nice, not-so-bright alley.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
087/365 - Screamin' Demon
October 26, 2013. Instead of taking part in any of my Saturday night plans, I stayed in watching the current season of Boardwalk Empire and hanging out with my cat, Eamon. Here, he breaks down episode five for me.
Friday, October 25, 2013
086/365 - Beaker and a Burrito
October 25, 2013. On my way to the Blue Line, I looked in the window of Flash Taco, and there was Beaker. I stopped and snapped a few frames. He didn't flinch or change expressions at all, even though he was looking directly at me.
085/365 - Matt's Meat Market
October 24, 2013. After rehearsal Thursday night, where we started working on material for the new Squared Off album due in the spring, we went to Club Foot in Ukrainian Village. Matt revisited his "meat market" thing. I don't know where that came from or what he's talking about, and it appears that Hoser doesn't either.
084/365 - Skull
October 23, 2013. This large, carved-wood skeleton lies on its back waiting for me to hang it in my new apartment. It will hang from the ceiling, where it will fly with its large skeleton wings.
083/365 - Pumpkinhead
October 22, 2013. I've been considering posting a photo of Halloween decor from some of the shop windows I see around Chicago, particularly with the abundance of seasonal costume shops that have been around the past few weeks, but the creepy pumpkins at Una Mae's on Milwaukee Avenue might be my favorite. They're really quite excellent, and not like anyone else's.
Monday, October 21, 2013
082/365 - Subway Metal II (Electric Boogaloo)
October 21, 2013. As I descended into the subway at the Jackson Street Blue Line station, I once again heard heavy metal being played. This sounded like a different guitarist, though, and was accompanied by a drummer. I had to go take a photo, and got an even more impassioned performance when I pointed the camera at them. Then I saw movement to my left, and this guy that had been watching started dancing - not headbanging, not moshing, but dancing. He had a cool shuffle going on with his slick-bottomed red shoes and it was a beautiful moment in metal history. Click the photo to see the flickr post, which includes the dancer.
081/365 - Wall
October 20, 2013. There are uneventful days, and there are uneventful days. Sunday was one of those (or the other). I stayed in bed all day, aside from a few trips to the bathroom. I saw this, and a little bit of iPad, and a little bit of Mojo magazine - the one with Johnny Cash on the cover and my great-uncle Merle Travis, among others, on the accompanying CD.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
080/365 - Chicago Fire Wins
October 19, 2013. Being a bit chilly, I almost backed out of going to the Chicago Fire game. I had a good group of friends, though, and it was the last home game of the season, unless the playoffs bring a home game to us. While there I met up with my bass player Matt, who was very excited, especially when the Fire won.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
079/365 - Birthday Party
October 18, 2013. Birthday party time at Shereen's house! Her hands did a little dance while everyone sang "Happy Birthday." Later, a Spider-Man piñata was beaten senseless.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
078/365 - Suited
October 17, 2013. I caught my coworker, Martin, in my camera as we were about to leave for the day. I'm glad it was such a cool shot, because my day was otherwise photographically uneventful. And the performer at the train station was the metal guitarist that I already used!
077/365 - The Roller
October 16, 2013. Today's photo came at the very beginning. On my way to work I spotted two workers rolling large spools of wire down Jackson Boulevard and jogged down the block to get a shot or two.
076/365 - Rain Shield
October 15, 2013. I didn't allow the rain to deter me from going out on my lunch break to try to find some photos. I did stay in a dryish spot, though. I got a couple of good rainy day photos, but the other side of the street looked much windier. I witnessed multiple umbrella collapses over there.
075/365 - Sentinel
October 14, 2013. Strolling down Milwaukee Avenue, I spied this little sweetie at a shoe store.
074/365 - Marathon
October 13, 2013. I had to get up early (like 8:30!) on Sunday to go try to spot friends running the Chicago Marathon. Paloma and I had to walk about a mile and a half(!) when we spotted Scott and Christine about 19 miles into their run. We chatted briefly as they stretched, then walked a few more blocks to eat chilaquiles and drink coffee at Perez Restaurant. I need a rest just from writing about it. Oh, Scott and Christine completed the 26.2 miles for the second year in a row. Hurray!
073/365 - My Two Singers
October 12, 2013. After taking another load of stuff to my apartment (and Hoser's), Hoser and Paloma chatted on the couch. The subject was, at one point, her alleged stage-diving and its effect on her already sprained ankle.
072/365 - Showtime
October 11, 2013. Pulling double duty, I played sets with both Tijuana Jai Alai and Squared Off at the Liar's Club. In between was Teenage Schizoid, who is inciting the crowd in this photo.
071/365 - Lamppost
October 10, 2013. On my lunchtime walk, I wandered over to the Art Institute, where one might find this very ornate, very patriotic lamppost.
070/365 - Bicycle Thief
October 9, 2013. Following Squared Off rehearsal, we went for a slice at Santullo's and a short visit to the Flat Iron. Our bartender, on a smoke break, decided to go for a joyride on a bike outside. She did return it safe and sound.
069/365 - This Is Damen
October 8, 2013. I got out of work while there was still daylight (increasingly rare with the days getting shorter), and made a stop in my old neighborhood, Wicker Park. This is what you see looking southwest on the platform of the Damen Blue Line station.
068/365 - A Coat Made of Carpet
October 7, 2013. Back to the Jackson Blue Line, and we find autumn settling in. I found a woman wearing a coat made from her carpet, it seems.
067/365 - Gary
October 6, 2013. It had been a while, but Tijuana Jai Alai had a productive practice at Music garage. Gary tries to ruin all the pictures I take of him by making faces, while complaining about how he looks in pictures. It took about six frames for me to get one without his head moving, and this is it.
066/365 - State Street Rain
October 5, 2013. After work, I trotted to Macy's on State Street to get some household stuff on sale. I got some good pillows dirt cheap, and an extra comforter, which is going to come in handy in my new, probably somewhat drafty bedroom.
065/365 - Subway Metal
October 4, 2013. The Jackson Blue Line station regularly has musicians playing on the platform. I've been surprised at just how non-mainstream the selection of performers has been. This is a metal guitarist doing his thing, which I've caught a few times, even once in the morning. He plays chunky riffs, and shreds solos. He plays behind his head and spins around in circles. He sends some people to the far ends of the platform, which is true of most of the performers in the subway, and he entertains others.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
064/365 - Wilfred
October 3, 2013. On my way to work this morning, I ran into my friend Wilfred on his way to work. I suppose I've been here long enough for the city to shrink a little. I randomly run into people I know all over Chicago.
063/365 - Foot Traffic
October 2, 2013. I essentially took three photos this day, though I took four exposures of this corner when the signal allowed them to move, and three exposures of one other scene. I didn't see this woman in boots on the street, even though I got her in focus, and I knew all day long that one of the frames of pedestrians was likely to be my photo of the day. This girl in the boots, who went unnoticed until I edited my photos, reminds me of Leslie, someone very important to me for most of my adult life. Leslie has been gone from this world for nine years, and is very much missed by a tremendous number of people who adored her. October second is her birthday.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
062/365 - Jam
October 1, 2013. Work has been ongoing on the bridge over the Chicago River at Kinzie Street. Today I was there shortly after five o'clock, and the traffic was pretty intense, not just for cars, but in the bike lanes as well. The knot of cyclists started to break up after turning onto Milwaukee Avenue, but it was still fairly tight. I suppose I could try riding up to Grand Avenue to see if that eases the congestion, and I suspect it will, but it feels nice to take possession of a little space in Kinzie's separated bike lane. There's just usually a little more space to be had.
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