Landmark Mural

Until recently my nephew (just turned 9 yrs old) collected miniature models of famous landmarks from all over the world.  When I saw this mural I immediately thought of my nephew and had to stop and admire it. Because this mural seems to depict the twin towers of the World Trade Center I believe that this was probably painted before 2001.  If my assumption is correct, then it is amazing how the landmarks are still in tact compare to the top where the paints are flaking off.  But I think that this also adds to the charm of this piece; don't you think?  I also love that this has the monochromatic tone to it and everything is in a silhouette .... How many of the landmarks can you identify?

Start and End of the Route 66

The historic route 66 "BEGIN" sign stands at the corner of Michigan ave and Adams St. in Chicago Illinois. You can also find the "end 66" sign at the corner of Jackson and Michigan . Why not both on the same street? Well, Adams and Jackson are both one way streets where Adams runs to the west and Jackson runs to the east.  

At the end of the Route 66 is the Santa Monica Pier over the Pacific Ocean in California.   It is filled with amusement park rides and there is a small information booth dedicated to the end of the Route 66.  The actual end of the Route 66 is at Lincoln and Olympic, but there is no marker or anything special about the intersection. I am sure that if you have followed the true Rte 66 then it will be the place to end, but why not come and enjoy the festivities of the pier where Dan Rice was responsible for placing this "End of the Trail" sign at the pier.

I am hooked on old Rte 66. The Mother Road

As I travel Illinois Rte 66 this summer I am visiting many of the small towns on the route. I feel that this photograph represents many of them now. Once well traveled, the over 2,000 mile long road which starts at Chicago goes through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and to Santa Monica, California.  Now only the emptiness remains where once there was bustle and a busy road where people traveled with hopes and excitement.

Summer Sunset at Manhattan Beach, California

Happy St. Patrick's Day

A Bagpiper in front of the  Harrods in London, March 2013

"AWASH in COLOR" Exhibit at Smart Museum of Art

Smart Museum of Art is on the campus of The University of Chicago. It is a small but diverse art museum that covers many areas of art from Korean Foliate Wine cup with stand from 1200, Italian Oil painting from 1500 to art using plastic bottles from Chicago present.

Now until Jan 20,2013 it is featuring French and Japanese wood block prints in the Gray Gallery. The exhibit is titled "Awash in Color: French and Japanese Prints". The museum's brochure says "It explores the roles, functions, and technology of color in prints from these two countries. It features more than 130 prints from the 18th to 20th centuries" ( sadly I was not allowed to take any photographs in this exhibit)

I mainly went to see the Ukiyo-e (floating world) prints to see how the text was used in the prints. I am working on a photographic project where I am combining text with photographs and wanted to see how the Japanese masters incorporated the text (poem in their cases) into the art but I only saw one Ukiyo-e with it. Maybe I was mistaken that Hiroshige and Utamaro used poems in their prints.

Another exhibit "Renewals and Revision: Japanese Prints of the 1950s and 60s" is a much smaller exhibit that featured Japanese prints from the first 20 yrs after WW II. The prints felt warmer and more approachable than the traditional wood block prints. Maybe it was due to the different techniques and subjects that artists had used.

A Fall Day at Sagawau Nature Preserve

As the temperature dipped close to freezing this morning we headed out to Sagawau Nature Preserve for a photo shoot. This forest preserve has a hidden gem, the only ancient coral reef canyon in Cook County, which is in the city of Lemont, just outside of Chicago, Il.

With the crisp fall air, the trees were shimmering with yellow, gold and red colors of the fall. It was made more beautiful with the reflections on the pond at the south end of the canyon.

Shopping for a Valentine at the Harrods Department store in London

Before I traveled to London, I asked my friends for their recommendations as to where I should visit and many told me to go to Harrods department store. I had visited two museums in the morning and I decided that the cool winter air would be better than the stuffy stale air of the Tube (London subway). So I walked from Cromwell Road through Brompton road all the way to Harrods. Harrods has a dress code policy and has turned away several people who it believed are not dressed appropriately, so I was a little concerned as I walked through the door into the massive department store. I had no idea where to go but loved seeing the beautiful bags, scarfs of expensive named brands. But you know me, I can always follow my nose to the food court. As Valentines day was approaching many departments were decorated in pink and red hearts. Chocolates, oh those delicious decadent chocolates where everywhere.

Can't you just see the smiling face of a lover when she (or he?) receives one of these heart shaped boxes filled with chocolates on Valentines day?

I had a great time looking at every counter trying to find just the right gift....

So many different kinds of chocolate truffles, what is this girl supposed to do???

Counter after counter filled with so many different kind of chocolates from all over Europe. What a heavenly place.....

Buckingham Palace in the Winter

I was fortunate to visit London last weekend. I have been wanting to visit for so long that I was totally ecstatic. After a long airplane ride from Chicago, I was nodding off going through the city of London in a cab then I saw it !!!! The Buckingham Palace ... It is not like a castle you would imagine, it is more like a huge government building but Oh it is THE place where the Queen of England resides. Just seeing the palace where I have watched it on the TV all these years for the Royal weddings was right in front of me. What a sight...it was so amazing

Just look at this gorgeous gilded royal crest of The King George on the gate....

This palace is in the heart of London and even on this cold winter day tourists from all of the world kept streaming in and taking pictures..

To me this is where all the fairly tales begins... Handsome prince finally gets to kiss his beautiful princess... Recently this is where Prince William kissed his newlywed Duchess Catherine in front of the whole world.

Ornamental Orb on the fence.

Though I did not see the formal changing of the guard, I did see the intricate hourly changing of the guard.

Where spring never stops

Today is a ground hogs day. It is said that the little ground chuck will come out of his burrow and if he sees its own shadow then there will be 6 more weeks of winter. But I know one place in town where it is always spring and is filled with colorful flowers. It is Hausermann Orchids nursery. It is set back from the busy street and you would never know that it is there except for the huge bill board in front of the driveway. When you walk in through a small glass door, it looks like a small shed with a small collections of Orchids under a grow light. But when you walk by the checkout desk, and a small gift shop to the left the whole place opens up to the light filled green house filled with every kind of Orchids that you can imagine....

I was with a dozen photographers this day and after a couple of hours it was decided that we were going for a lunch, but several of us decided that it was more fun to keep photographing these gorgeous Orchids then grabbing hot dogs.. Yes, we are a crazy bunch of people who would rather take pictures then eat.... Here are some more of the gorgeous Orchids...