Cultural Center: Dome and Gilt Staircase

The refurbished Tiffany dome. I've posted photos of this one before.







Even the stairs in this building are gorgeous.

Cultural Center: White Ceiling Room

This room is immediately off the dome room from yesterday. The detail work on the ceiling are astonishing; while we were in there shooting pictures another visitor lay down on the floor to soak in all the scroll work above.










Maybe someday I can actually get some shots in there when it's not overcast outside. The light from all the corner windows is probably incredible. Too bad I've never seen it!

Cultural Center Dome, unrenovated

I love the Chicago Cultural Center; it consistently is my favorite downtown subject. There are two Tiffany domes on the top floors, one renovated last year and one still needing a makeover. This is the un-renovated one.



The space is just glorious. I actually bought a framed photograph of it from an art show this year, because I don't think I've really done justice to the beauty of this room.







I am really looking forward to seeing this cleaned up.



More photos of other parts of my favorite building to come this week...

Pieces of Art

Not the whole paintings, just parts I found striking. I think both are easily identifiable, since the artists have such distinctive styles.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Merry Christmas Eve!

The Chicago Hilton:







Daley Plaza and the Christmaskindl Market












(That one is for my friend Jill. She will know why.)



Merry Christmas Eve!

P.S. Chicago Public Radio used one of my photos from yesterday on their home page today. Yay!

Weather Report: Snowing and Christmassy

Like the rest of the country, we've got a lot of snow and cold this Christmas. But no one let that slow them down this weekend!

Daley Plaza Tree




Christmaskindl Market in Daley Plaza




Even the street musicians were out. You could hear this one playing "Jingle Bell Rock" for blocks before you saw him.



+++++

If you're headed anywhere for the holidays, have a safe trip and a very Merry Christmas!



(I will be posting throughout the holidays. Got lots of timely pics to post!)

People and Art

My husband and I spent the weekend downtown, enjoying our beloved city in full Christmas swing. We packed a lot of stuff into two days, trudging through the snow from museum to hotel lobby to outdoor market to museum. It felt like a winter version of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, so in that spirit, here are some people looking at the Impressionists.




Boys are always fascinated by girls.




I'm calling this one "Man with Clown".

Mia and Mark

From the retail days. That inset box in the wall really got people to loosen up and goof off for the camera.

Tiff and Mark

I came across these photos from a couple of years ago, and after all this time they still made me smile. These two were a couple of old co-workers horsing around for the camera; we all worked together in a clothing store that was going out of business, and our boss asked me to get some nice portrait shots of everyone before we closed. It took people a while to relax in front of the camera, but once they did, I was able to capture some great moments.

Polish Church

This is the church my husband's grandmother attended when she lived in Chicago long ago. We finally went to see it over Thanksgiving with my in-laws. It's a quiet, peaceful space in the middle of a not-so-great neighborhood in the city.

Votive Candles

Reindogs 2008

Went to the Reindog Parade at the Chicago Botanic Garden this weekend; unfortunately the super-cold weather this year cast a chilly pall over the proceedings. Most of the poor little dressed-up pups were so cold they were either wrapped up in their owner's arms or walking on the snowy frozen ground with miserable expressions on their faces. I did get a few shots that I liked, though.

It is true, about owners and dogs looking alike; these two long, lean loners fit together perfectly!



Two little angels, swaddled


As my friend Robbie said, "His face shows the excitement in his heart." Poor sweet thing!


I love the look on his face here too.


Princess Fussy Britches

Christmas Lights: Excessive Done Right

Now THIS is Christmas overkill!

I love this house. The attention to detail and the complete sets of everything is just astonishing. These are all old plastic figures, the kind they don't even make any more. These people have all of them.

Like the trains above. And a choir. (Did you know there were two fat sopranos? I didn't.)



The whole Disney ensemble.



The manger, complete with heralding angels. (Also note the chapel, nun and abbot on the far right. So cute!)



And lots of toy soldiers.



Oh, yeah, and Santa on the roof!



Altogether, it's pretty overwhelming.



But I still love it.





P.S. If the photos are cropped on the sides, click on them to see in full size.

Christmas Lights: Excessive Edition

This is one of the most overly-decorated houses I've seen. There are lights, giant blow-up creatures, Santas galore, but worst of all, there is just no theme. Unless the theme is "Too Much of Everything".



Um. Is that Pooh and Eeyore behind the tree on the right?



Oh God, it is.



The lighted-wire reindeer seem overwhelmed and frightened.



A polar bear, Snoopy and a seal walk into an igloo...

Tomorrow will be excessive done right. Come back then!