Thursday, January 30, 2014

183/365 - Anastasia


183/365 - Anastasia, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 30, 2014. Today I made some beautiful photographs with Anastasia. It's still early in the day, but you'll understand if I don't pick my camera back up today.

182/365 - Fell Out


182/365 - Fell Out, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 29, 2014. I've taken a few shots at the parade of ass mannequins on my way to or from the train, knowing that one day that's where I'll find my photo of the day. I thought it was most likely to be a day when I felt like I had nothing to share, but at least had an amusing gathering of ass mannequins. That's pretty much the case here, but with a clumsy mannequin for a touch of added interest.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

181/365 - Rewrite


181/365 - Rewrite, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 28, 2014. On my way to band practice, I saw an almost empty lot with one truck, the victim of at least two taggings.

180/365 - HS


180/365 - HS, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 27, 2014. I had the opportunity to see my lovely friend Hannah, thanks to arctic weather canceling her bus out of Chicago for two days. She left her initials on the window of Worm Hole, after a delicious chocolate chip and pretzel cookie.

179/365 - Self Portrait With Water Tower

January 26, 2014. With a truck full of boxes and furniture, AC and I moved him back into Chicago and out of Burlington. It wasn't the happiest of circumstances, but it's cool to have him near.

178/365 - Oh, Deer


178/365 - Oh, Deer, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 25, 2014. In Burlington, Illinois to move stuff belonging to myself and my friend AC, I saw this deer head peering at me before I went to sleep.

177/365 - Downside Up


177/365 - Downside Up, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 24, 2014. My friend Tara has become part of the Moonlight Owl Collective, who had their first event Friday night. Photographers and writers shared their work within the theme of identity, and with the help of community selected a theme for next month's event. Before things got going, I got this photo of another friend, Lily, reflected in a mirror-topped table.

Monday, January 27, 2014

176/365 - Hair Everywhere


176/365 - Hair Everywhere, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 23, 2014. Although I would like a little more sharpness, this is my favorite photo of the day. I've had a lot of hair, but this would be a level of maintenance (or living with knots) that I'm not familiar with.

175/365 - Gym


175/365 - Gym, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 22, 2013. Spotted from a car on Ontario Street, this gym was clearly far warmer inside than it was outdoors.

174/365 - Morning Hustle


174/365 - Morning Hustle, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 21, 2014. This is an "on-the-way-to-work" photo. Clicking as I was walking, I didn't really get anything I liked too much, but I got something.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

173/365 - Icy Ice Cream


173/365 - Icy Ice Cream, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 20, 2014. Because every day is a good day for ice cream, this young lady was not deterred from eating it by the winter snow.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

172/365 - Puppy Love


172/365 - Puppy Love, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 19, 2014. It's not all pretty or funny out there. I have mixed feelings about dogs out on the street. I'm cynical enough to sometimes believe they are there to attract sympathy, and sometimes bothered by the idea of someone dragging a dog along without being able to take care of it. On the other hand, dogs are considered man's best friend for a reason, and at times, a dog may seem to be our only friend. Our best friends are still there for us when we're not off to the park to throw a soggy tennis ball around.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

171/365 - Snowbrella


171/365 - Snowbrella, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 18, 2014. I suppose I can see how an umbrella might have some effect in the snow, but I'm really surprised at how often I see people using them in snowstorms. It does look kind of snazzy, though.

170/365 - Dan On The Street


170/365 - Dan On The Street, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 17, 2014. Here's a coworker for the second day in a row. This one is on that great street, State Street, in the morning on the way to work.

169/365 - Small Batch


169/365 - Small Batch, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 16, 2014. This is the face of a coworker while on my way out of work.

Monday, January 20, 2014

168/365 - Winterized


168/365 - Winterized, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 15, 2014. Chicago has some tough cyclists, sometimes including me, and this one has the type of coverage that's necessary for much of the winter. I need to get myself some goggles to help me stay on the bike below 20º or so. Uncovered bits of face feel like they're being punched when I have frigid air pummeling me.

167/365 - D2


167/365 - D2, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 14, 2014. After a work meeting, I caught a ride home with a coworker. His car was parked next to the Moody Bible Institute, giving me a chance to make this photograph.

166/365 - La Piazza


166/365 - La Piazza, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 13, 2014. I had dinner at the new market and restaurant complex Eataly and was really pleased. I thought I would pick up a few things for my kitchen, but there was just too much. I need to approach it with a plan or I could easily get out of hand. Next time, I'll see if I can resist the gelato and hit the Nutella bar instead.

165/365 - Logan Theater


165/365 - Logan Theater, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 12, 2014. On my way home from work, I typically exit the train at Logan Square for a bus. Just north of the Blue Line station is the Logan Theater, somewhat recently renovated. Pre-renovation felt like a David Lynch film set to me. I haven't seen a movie there since the remodeling, but the bar is beautiful.

164/365 - Paloma and Kam


164/365 - Paloma and Kam, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 11, 2014. Squared Off again, at Reggie's. Here is Paloma, my bandmate in Tijuana Jai Alai, and Kam, maker of microphones.

163/365 - State Street Rain


163/365 - State Street Rain, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 10, 2014. The temperature was above freezing! However, it rained, making great rivers of slush, especially in my mostly unshoveled neighborhood.

162/365 - Subterranean


162/365 - Subterranean, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 9, 2014. I sat in with Bora Bora at the Subterranean in Wicker Park. Anyone who has heard any of my bands since I was a teenager could probably guess how much work it was for me to stay reasonably quiet and mellow for this set. It was a lot of fun and sounded pretty wonderful.

161/365 - Birthday Princess


161/365 - Birthday Princess, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 8, 2014. A birthday princess crossed my path as I was leaving work. I hope her celebration was as lovely as her smile.

160/365 - Up To Here


160/365 - Up To Here, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 7, 2013. "I've had it up to here with this Polar Vortex nonsense!" The second day of extreme cold wasn't as bad as the first, but it was a close second. This little reindeer (actually about five feet tall when not compressed by snow) seems to know that it's at least a little warmer buried and out of the wind.

159/365 - Old And New


159/365 - Old And New, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 6, 2014. This photo does not illustrate the cold that was the outstanding feature of this day. The Polar Vortex settled on us, making a rare trip well south of the Arctic Circle. When I came to work, it was -12ºF, with a windchill around -50º. A third of our staff stayed home, along with what seemed like a higher percentage of the rest of the population. Walking into the wind was quite painful, and it's nice to know I will not likely ever encounter a day that cold again.

158/365 - Stared Down


158/365 - Stared Down, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 5, 2014. There was a fairly heavy snowfall just to ensure there would be plenty of stuff to freeze hard when the Polar Vortex arrived the next day. This looks cold, but the next two days would be far beyond.

157/365 - Jamming at Jenny's


157/365 - Jamming at Jenny's, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 4, 2013. In anticipation of sitting in for a gig with Bora Bora, I had a short rehearsal with them - just long enough to get through each song once and think I might be familiar enough with the material to play it in front of people.

156/365 - Germ T Ripper


156/365 - Germ T Ripper, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 3, 2014. Friday night, and another Squared Off show - this one at Liar's Club. Germ here came out and lent his support. He can be found fronting the bands Modern Day Rippers and Brickwall Vultures.

155/365 - Snowstacks


155/365 - Snowstacks, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 2, 2014. After New Year's Day off, I was back at work. We had very little business with the lack of business going on downtown and the snow everywhere. On my way home, I snapped this scene of lit trees and neat piles of snow next to Chase Tower.

154/365 - New Year Snow


154/365 - New Year Snow, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

January 1, 2014. I played a New Year's show with Squared Off at Chicago's Fireside Bowl, and our set began at about 12:02 am. That made waking up in time to get myself over to North Avenue Beach to witness the hardy souls plunging into Lake Michigan a bit difficult. I did wake up to discover that the snow that had been falling since the previous morning hadn't let up. So back to bed I went! At night, I still hadn't left, so I took this photo from my living room window.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

153/365 - Air Schizoid


153/365 - Air Schizoid, originally uploaded by Mikey Brick.

December 31, 2013. I closed out 2013 playing a punk rock show at Fireside Bowl in Chicago with Squared Off. This is Teenage Schizoid, one of the other bands on the bill. It was fun, and I appreciate everyone who came out for the show. Here's to a better year than the last with 2014!