Month: June 2011
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Featured: Fallen trees
Here’s a set of images I took of a couple of trees on the North Branch Trail near Skokie and Morton Grove that fell in epic fashion after last week’s storm. I like to think of the sounds and power that were unleashed in the moment. This old three was in the wrong place at…
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The Sadness of Deferred Maintenance at the State of Illinois Building
I have always loved goofball architecture. I can’t pass a Brutalist structure without stopping to marvel at it. And there was nothing goofier than the State of Illinois Building (160 North LaSalle St.) when it opened in 1985. I went by there the other day and was bummed to see how muffed up the place…
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The News The Day Before: Anwar Sadat’s Assassination
I love the New York Times archive. Since I get the paper delivered to my doorstep every morning, I get access to every word they’ve published since 1851. If I were a smarter person (or at least an actual coder), I would use their API tools to do all sorts of things, including the automation…
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Lincoln Marsh in Early Summer
There is a wonderful lushness to this marsh right now. The rain you served us well. The reeds are thin and green, but with one ripe orange one here: And here's what I'm pretty sure is a Black-headed Grosbeak: Here's the complete set. Marshes and prairies are our oceans here in Illinois. Breathe them in.
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Prentice Hospital is Worth Saving
There's a lot going on around Prentice Women's Hospital (250 East Superior Street) right now. It was made in 1974, but I think it deserves protection as a historic place. I love the sublime honeycomb structure– it makes me remember that it's possible to build something fresh. That not everything has to fit the box.…