Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Goodbye Wicker Park ...


Goodbye 1435 N. Milwaukee and the yummy downstairs bakery


Bye Flat Iron Building


Farewell Filter - thanks for the best coffee and unique atmosphere


Goodbye Blue Line and our cute Damon station


Walgreens, Underdog and other junk!


The cute shop signs which line our favourite streets


Bye cool Silver Room guys....


Wicker Park - we will mis you!

Trains





Riding the El-Train - weaving down Wabash and State on the Brown Line, elevated between old & new city sky-scrapers, warehouses and offices. Just far enough up to peer in at people working away behind desks or abandoned store-rooms piled high with forgotten furniture.



Rosehill Cemetery

My last day in the Windy City, I thought I would venture to the famous Rosehill Cemetery and see how the Chicago dead RIP.





Friday, August 12, 2005

In Chicago Print!

Check out the link on the side panel: 'Chicago Journal' - have a read of the article as you may recognise a couple of names!

Maxwell Street Markets





We got out and about last weekend to explore some of Chicago's ethnic neighborhoods.

Stepping into the absolutely authentic Indian strip on Devon Street we sampled some of the best curry and kofi ever tasted. Being on Devon is like stepping briefly into a little street in Delhi with its strange smells, Indian groceries, jewelry merchants and sari tailors, Hindi music blaring from shops and cars.

Sunday we headed south to Mexico - well actually Pilsen but we could easily have been in Mexico - and the nearby Maxwell Street Markets, a fusion of a Latino junk sale and original Blues music. The Old Maxwell Street Markets used to be a pulsing African-American event where old wares were sold and the great blues singers played on the street. These days it's a little different but still a vibrant melting pot and part of Chicago's soul.

Pilsen





We visited the Planet Arium - realm of science nerds. Nweeeeeeer.




There are always some interesting landscapes to be found while riding home through the industrial area.


Thursday, August 11, 2005

City Farm

City Farm is an oasis in Chicago's notorious Cabrini Green, a no-go area of project housing and crime. I have been having a lot of fun down here with the energetic and generous volunteers, garden workers and trainees from the neighborhood. Weeding, watering, planting and working on the farm stand - getting my hands dirty!




The project housing in the background doesn't look so bad in the photos - but it's very dismal in reality.


Marisa picking some of the delicious tomatoes for market - 24 varieties and they are all yum. Although there have been complaints that the 'Aussies' aren't bearing too many.


The Boys - Timothy, Courtney and Leeroy - summer trainees from Cabrini Green.


At the farm stand with Caitlin.


Looking across the tomatoes and watermelon to the city sky-line.