Tuesday, August 31

Skyscrapers


There are certain things in this world that must be seen in person to be truly understood. Without question, the California Redwoods are one of those things. People have heard about how tall they are and most people have seen photos or history channel shows about them but nothing can leave you awe struck like standing at the foot of one. Nothing. In addition to the physical beauty they possess, there is a deafening silence that makes the experience that much greater. 


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Monday, August 30

In Vino Veritas



If you had to imagine the embodiment of wine and the wine making process, this would be your guy. Jeff is a passionate, humble and incredibly knowledgeable guy with a job most people would kill for. Jeff was our private tour guide through Chateau Montelena, the winery made popular from the movie Bottle Shock. Their wines aren't easy to find but they are good. Despite being one of their lesser known wines, I really liked the Zinfandel (it went perfectly with my BBQ ribs for lunch).   


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Sunday, August 29

Balloon



As colorful as they are graceful. The balloons fill up the Napa Valley throughout the summer. I've heard that the festival in Albuquerque is not to be missed. 


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Saturday, August 28

Port of Oakland


Growing up as a kid in the Bay Area (and as a huge Star Wars geek) I remember hearing the urban legend of how George Lucas modeled the AT-AT Walkers after the cranes seen here at the Port of Oakland. Seemed logical to an 8 year old, heck, it still seems logical to me today. Lucas has since denied this . . . he also doesn't believe in Santa Claus. 


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Friday, August 27

Caen's City



"I've been to all the great cities of the world," he said, "and not one of them has what this one has - and I'm not talking about hills or water. I mean light - fantastic changes of light. I've never seen a city move so fast or so often from gray to white to blue to pink to gold and then back again, and sometimes all at the same time. Wherever you turn there seems to be a new shade in a new connotation - a violet hill, a yellow street or a green house turning orange right before your eyes."




Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Thursday, August 26

Caged



"Even caged birds need wings"

Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Wednesday, August 25

Dirt Roads




"I was born at the dead end of a dirt road that had no name and no number. You can go anywhere from nowhere." -Robert Schuller


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Tuesday, August 24

Home



End of summer means taking an annual trip back home to California. Chicageaux will continue to run daily but I'll post photos from California for the next few weeks or so. I had no idea as a child that growing up near Napa Valley was so special. Whenever I return home I'm constantly reminded of how lucky I was. This was the scene on my way home the first night.


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Monday, August 23






It's been over a month since the World Cup and the ripple effect can still be seen throughout the city. Every four years we embark on the discussion about why Americans haven't truly embraced soccer (futbol/football).  I think we're on our way. My only gripe about the World Cup is that the trophy looks like the Swamp Thing grabbing a 16' softball. 

Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Sunday, August 22

Loneliness


"In the past I have never thought about loneliness when working, and I don't think about it now. Yet there must be a reason for the fact that so many people talk about it."-Alberto Giacometti


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Saturday, August 21

Leaning Tower of Niles?

I know what you're thinking, "Is that the building from Superman II, when the 'evil' Superman was bored one day and decided to vandalize the building by using his superhuman strength to straighten it out?" Maybe. This 1/2 size replica sits a few miles northwest of Chicago, right off of Touhy Avenue. It's now part of what is known as the Leaning Tower YMCA. Seriously.  I had never heard of it until I drove by it one day and almost crashed trying to look at it. Check it out. 


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Friday, August 20

Skyline, Obstructed



By now you should realize that you don't get the skyline for free. You've gotta work for it. Burnham Harbor doesn't have the least obstructed view of the skyline but it may have one of the most personalized views of it. This is how a Chicagoan sees the skyline; obstructed. 


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Thursday, August 19

Double Dutch


Double dutch was first introduced to me back in 1984 when I was 9. I remember it well: UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne" was playing and the girls at the after school Y.M.C.A would wow out with double dutch as all the boys screamed. To this day I cannot help but gawk at kids doing double dutch. 


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Wednesday, August 18

Skylines

Parking lots can be underrated. Especially when they are combined with a fantastic skyline. This is the view from one of the parking lots near Burnham Harbor, the Shedd Aquarium & the Natural History Museum.


"A thing is worth precisely what it can do for you; not what you choose to pay for it."-John Ruskin


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Tuesday, August 17

Font Crush


Fonts come and go just like any other fashion. If you are a fan of the retro fonts of the 60's this is the epitome of that style: simple, high contrast, sans serif and all caps. I think the black lettering on the white tiles is the icing on the cake. So many buildings in Chicago still rock the fonts that were originally used when the building was built. I love it. Check out most post offices, CTA buildings and older libraries. 


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Monday, August 16

City Cemetery

Hard to believe that you can find a spot like this in the city. The Bohemian National Cemetery is on the corner of Foster and Pulaski. It is both out of place and perfectly located. Most cemeteries in Chicago are unique in that they are equally beautiful in the summer as much as the winter. The only problem is that not many people are eager to walk around a cemetery, especially if they aren't going to visit someone particular. 


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Sunday, August 15

Wacker Drive

One of the more popular trends in digital photography these days is mimicking the use of a tilt-shift lens. Essentially, it makes whatever you are photographing look as if it's on a miniature scale. It's also used in video production as well. The Museum of Science & Industry has one of the coolest model train set ups I've ever seen. The entire downtown Loop of Chicago is recreated on a miniature scale, including tiny hipsters wearing itty bitty ironic t-shirts. This is the scene on Wacker Drive. 


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Saturday, August 14

Vex'd


Not many people can say they love the flag of their city. For that matter, most people probably don't even know what the flag of their city looks like. In my opinion, Chicago's flag is near perfect. I'm not the only one either. According to the North American Vexillological Association it was given a 9.03 out of 10, ranking it #2 in the country. Vexillology is the scientific study of flags. Yes, that is actually a real thing that people get paid to do . . . and people like to tease me about my Art History degree. Ha!

Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Friday, August 13

Cloud Gate


Cloud Gate (a.k.a. the Bean) is one of the more interactive and well known works of public art within the city. Getting a photo without a single person in it means one of two things: you are willing to wake up at 4 am or you are skilled in Photoshop. Let me be the first to tell you that I aint no good with Photoshop. I've been to the Bean hundreds of times but it's always so inundated with people (and birds) that I've never really been all that impressed with it. At least not until I had the chance to spend an hour or so all by myself with it. Not sure if that's what turned me into a fan or if it was discovering that it was engineered by a company in Oakland


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Thursday, August 12

Kids in the Park











While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Wednesday, August 11

The Old World


Despite the humidity and heat, this gentleman was sitting in front of a McDonald's in the Loop puffing away on his pipe. I don't know which impressed me more, his dedication to his pipe or his disheveled hair. It's hard to make smoking look cool these days . . . smoking is cool.


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Sister & Father

Anyone who lives, or has lived, in Chicago knows how precious the summer is to its inhabitants. This was the scene at North Ave Beach on one of the first warm days of this blistering hot summer. Here are a few words of inspiration from a friend of mine: An August Manifesto


Photo by Michael Patrick Perry-Feel free to use images with links and credit – no commercial use without permission

Tuesday, August 10

Belly of the Red Line

This scene reminds me of perhaps one of the greatest films ever made in Chicago, "Running Scared" with Billy Crystal & Gregory Hines. I'm pretty sure it won several Oscars, including Best Movie Theme Song

Monday, August 9

Reflections



Even Donald Trump has ways of inspiring. 
“Means must be subsidiary to ends and to our desire for dignity and value.”-Ludwig Mies van der Rohe