l o o p e r

Looper has left the building...

2007-07-30T10:12:00.000-05:00

As of July 21, 2007, Looper has left the windy streets of Chicago for a new life in the Big Apple!

To compliment the move, check out my new site focused on New York City:
24gotham
Please stop by and check it out!

The New Looper is Here!...

2006-06-28T07:23:00.000-05:00

Finally it is ready to unveil!

Please update your bookmarks, and links to http://iconeon.net/blog/,
Sit back and enjoy!

The New and Improved Looper features...

A New Look...
A New Address...
Same Great Content... Yet More Filling and Satisfying....

If you miss my first official post, you can see it here.

Thank you to all that have visited these pages over the past 17 months, I look forward to keeping the momentum going with the new site.

Random Mondays... 06.26.06...

2006-06-26T12:10:00.000-05:00

Today's random selection was culled from shots taken over the past week.

First up, we have a shot taken under Columbus Drive yesterday.

While on a visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo on Saturday, the Lion House was all a flutter with the lions receiving a special treat. I am not sure what type of animal this giant bone came from (an elephant perhaps?) but it seemed very Flintstones like.

An angle of the Plensa Fountain at Millennium Park that isn't often photographed (by myself or others) The water hitting the up-lighting.

Waiting at Belmont for a Brown Line. This station along with the others along the Brown Line will be going away as they rebuild the tracks. Even though the platform is archaic and outdated, I will miss it's quirkiness.

Looking out my window last week, I couldn't help but notice this pink concrete truck on Block 37. I took a few shots of it, and after looking closer at the images, I was able to figure out that the truck was painted pink for Breast Cancer Awareness. Now I am in no way trying to dis Breast Cancer Awareness, but didn't they take the pink ribbon idea from the red ribbon fight for AIDS? And why isn't there a red truck out there for AIDS awareness?

Found on the intersection of Clyborn and Willow. I have never seen this kind of set up for fire hoses.

Brutal...

2006-06-23T09:41:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back while down in Hyde Park, Michael took me to see the Joseph Regenstein Library (University of Chicago).He knew it would probably provoke me to take pictures and he was correct. Designed by Skimore Owings and Merrill, the Library is a great example of Brutalist Architecture. It shows that not all Brutalism is... Well... Brutal.

The library was completed in 1970 at a cost of 20 million dollars (which seems like a lot for the time).

Critics argue that this abstract nature of Brutalism makes the style unfriendly and uncommunicative, instead of integrating and protective as its proponents intended. I don't know much about the Brutalist movement, but the omnipresent heavy-ness of the buildings can have an overwhelming effect on it's users. But I think this example works, and isn't overwhelming at all. I does show importance.

The majority of Brutalist buildings are constructed of exposed concrete. But occasionally, brick or other materials are used. For the Library, the outside walls are deeply grooved Indiana limestone

A few more images can be found on my flickr.

Chinatown Chicago...

2006-06-22T09:56:00.000-05:00

Chinatown in Chicago at ~~18th~~ Cermack and Wentworth my not compare to Chinatown in NYC or San Francisco, but it is still a great neighborhood wander, and you can find some great Dim Sum!

I find myself drawn to the lettering on the "Overseas Art and Travel" sign. I need to come back in the evening to find out if the neon is still functioning.

The Pui Tak Center

A great place for Dim Sum on a Sunday Morning

Somehow I would think that "Cantonesia" would be mildly offensive. But I suppose after a few Maitai's, it wouldn't really matter.

Random Mondays... 06.19.2006...

2006-06-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

Today's selection of randomness comes from images shot over the past ten days.

First, the 7th Street Garage on S Wabash. Note that they added "Discount" as a separate sign. What makes this parking discount?

I can never grow tired of Inland Steel. This shot from last week when the sun was just right.

Found in an alley while walking south on Jefferson near Randolph.

Michigan Avenue, Friday evening.

While out with the rental car Saturday evening, we ducked into Target in the burbs to miss a big storm. The storm didn't materialize, but when we came out of the store, this was the view on the way to the car.

This is the product of a happy accident. I was noticing that most of the floors at the IBM building were lit last night, and as I was setting up my camera, I pressed the shutter at the same time I was zooming out and this is the result.
Now I just want to experiment with it.

Botanic-alicious...

2006-06-18T22:35:00.000-05:00

For the first time in my seven years of living here, I was at the Chicago Botanic Garden yesterday. I haven't been there before simply because it isn't exactly located in a convenient place (like the city of Chicago) and it also isn't exactly transit friendly. In the past, I have never wanted to take to nearly two hour trip each way on CTA and Pace, but thanks to the miracle of the rental car, and the astronomical sum of $12.00 to park it, I finally got to see the garden (which is free to get into).

Rather than explain all of the prettiness, I will just let the images speak for themselves.

~~
Bunnies were everywhere, and as soon as I would zoom in and begin to take their pic, they would scamper off. This little one however, sat still for me.

These and a bunch more images from the garden are posted in my flickr.

Night Game...

2006-06-15T18:40:00.000-05:00

While long controversial, the lights at Wrigley Field was perhaps the best designed addition to the ball park until the addition of the new bleachers last winter. The design of the lighting standards looks as though they were part of the original plan. I was up in the nabe on Tuesday evening, didn't go to the game, but I did walk around a bit and take a few shots. It is always the lights that grabbed my attention.

While not on top of the ball park, they looked very cool against the evening sky.

See more shots of Wrigley Field Lights at my flickr.

Under the "L", South Loop...

2006-06-14T19:28:00.000-05:00

I was walking down Wabash near 16th street on Sunday, when I began to hear a loud sound, like a tornado... So I rounded the corner at 16th, and walked under the "L" tracks to see what the noise was all about., and of course, it was a freight train.
It is here that the "L" tracks elevate to go over the freight trains and then ease back down again before the Orange and Green Line's go their separate way.

I have posted before (in Lake View, down Lake Street, on Wells Street, and Van Buren) about how much I love the shadows under the "L", and this is no exception. It wouldn't be Chicago with out the "L" tracks.

The next two images are me playing with black and white, leaving a small patch in the original color. Each of the rail cars (hauling coal) were shiny new aluminum, and they all had the bright green square on them. I suspect they are not connected with H&R Block.

And finally, over on State Street, the train was still going a while later...

Coming Soon to a Computer Near You!...

2006-06-13T13:02:00.000-05:00

Coming Soon!
A New and Improved Looper featuring...

A New Look...
A New Address...
Same Great Content... Yet More Filling and Satisfying....

Stay tuned for more details!

Random Mondays... 06.12.06...

2006-06-12T19:51:00.000-05:00

Today's random fun comes from shots taken over the past few weeks.

First up... Waiting for the Red Line at North and Clyborn last week. They are installing cameras at all of the subway stations, so snapping random shots without the wrath of CTA employee's will become more challenging. Even though it is completely legal to take pictures on CTA property (the policy allows for incidental photography), employee's routinely challenge you and tell you that you can't do it. It is usually not worth the argument.

"Pago Pago-Cantonese Food and Exotic Drinks in a Polynesian Atmosphere"

Painted on a building on Wabash just south of Van Buren. I don't know how far back you would have to go to find all three of these locations still in operation, but I think it is before the 773 area code came into being. Anybody have any ideas?

In the 20th floor laundry room at Marina City, is a "Weathermaker".
I think this is perhaps the best name for an air-conditioner ever.

Standing on Wacker and Monroe looking up at 30 S Wacker. Now I want to know if the windows are really that wavy or if it is an illusion.

A block away on the corner of Monroe and Franklin. I have shot this before, and probably posted a previous version, but it is none the less, a great intersection for looking up.

Wabash Ave side of the Essex House Hotel. These bricks are not painted, they were glazed in the different colors... How Mid-Century! Even though I have posted previous shots of this before, this one taken yesterday has such a nice shininess to it.

Marina City Sunsets...

2006-06-11T18:04:00.000-05:00

I have done a post on this before, but every time I take the same shots, they are different.

Last week after dining on the balcony at Michael's place, we went up to the roof to watch the sun set. To follow is several images from the following 30 minutes.

It was a bit hazy, but the color was amazing.

Meanwhile, looking in other directions, the evening was turning out to be quite beautiful. Out over the lake, you can see the Indiana shore in the distance...

Looking east down the river...

And looking down State Street.

Back to where I started looking west... After the sun set.

And of course, River North.

Sofitel...

2006-06-09T07:21:00.000-05:00

The Sofitel Hotel has been high on my list of favorite new buildings in Chicago since it was completed a few years ago. Oddly, I haven't posted on Sofitel before. So, no time like today. The pics were shot a in March.

I have had the fortune to sip several martinis in the bar, and while I haven't slept here, I have seen a couple of rooms from people I know that have. They are quite nice, I appreciate the fact that they don't look like a Hyatt or Hilton or Sheridan, or any one of the dozens of boring chains.

I really love that the windows appear to have a random pattern. While you can see the vertical support columns, the lines are blurred by the apparent randomness of windows.

The outward tilt of the building as it rises from the sidewalk, almost leaning over the street is a great visual trick to capture the eye and draw attention.

OK, so I had to throw this one in the mix... The Sofitel on the left with the differently angled Hancock in the background.

There are a few more pics on my Flickr.

Skyspace...

2006-06-07T22:02:00.000-05:00

The new Skyspace by artist James Turrell was officially dedicated last week at the intersection of Roosevelt and Halsted. This being the first fully accessible one to the public, it is a different experience than his previous Skyspace's.

James Turrell has done several Skyspaces throughout the world, with several in the US. This is the first for Chicago. They are usually fully enclosed, but because this one is public, the bottom is completely open. To overcome the surrounding sounds of traffic, he incorporated falling streams of water to muffle the noise.

Inside, you begin to understand it's purpose. I can see how this could be serene.

The sun shining through the top creates a moving oval of light, shifting throughout the day.

I was there this past Sunday, and it was a cloudless day... So, I waited around until I could finally see something besides the pure blue sky.

From the far corner of the lot, you can see how it fits into the streetscape. Overall, I am not a big fan of the pinkish color chosen for the structure, I feel it already looks faded and will just look more faded as it ages. I was also a bit surprised at the opening not being perfectly shaped. Looking at the image above, you can see just how misshapen the oval really is.

Random Mondays... 06.05.06...

2006-06-05T19:50:00.000-05:00

Images for today's random goodness were taken over the past week.

First up, on Saturday, I was at the Printers Row Book Fair, and while walking near the Metropolitan Correctional Center on Van Buren and Federal, I could see the prisoners looking down on the crowds. A bit creepy, but interesting none the less.

Last weeks storms brought out the most interesting of skies. This shot taken from my window on 5/30.

Zoology Building at The University of Chicago, on West 57th Street. UofC is certainly one of the most beautiful campuses in the Midwest.

Inside the gate to the Quadrangle, we came across this Lilly pond... Not much was in bloom, but I managed to capture these flowers on the far end of the pond.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. National Office, Hyde Park. What a nice modernist box. Mies would be proud.

Yesterday afternoon walking through my nabe, the sun was right to capture the stainless steel on the Inland Steel Building.

Peopled Weekend...

2006-06-04T19:07:00.000-05:00

This weekend was all about being around large groups of people. (This being my third post in the past week focused on people... Not to worry... I have taken several shots of buildings which I will post in the upcoming week.)

The weekend first started out with the Printers Row Book Fair and Studs Terkel. We saw him yesterday at the Harold Washington Library in conversation with Liz Taylor, Literary Editor, and Rick Kogen, Staff Reporter, both of the Chicago Tribune. At 94, Studs is a Chicago legend, and I am glad I got to see him.

Walking through the Book Fair, one runs into lots of bookish folks... Not such a bad thing.

The line was far too long, but Augusten Burroughs, one of my favorite contemporary authors, was signing books yesterday. While I have read Sellevision, Dry, Running with Scissors, and Magical Thinking, I have yet to read his new one, Possible Side Effects, but I am sure that one will come along soon.

After the book fair, we headed down to Hyde Park, and accidentally ran into the 57th Street Art Fair. Wasn't looking for it, but glad to find it.
OK, so here is where it gets a bit odd, I didn't take any pictures at the art fair.... Not so odd really.... But I did take a pic of where 57th street goes under the Metra Tracks.

So today we headed down to the White Palace Grill on Roosevelt and Canal for breakfast when we decided to stop over at the "New" Maxwell Street Market. Again, didn't really pull my camera out, except to shoot this image.

So, after random Mondays tomorrow, I promise to bring back the pictures of buildings. Really...

Inland Steel... Part V... Parking...

2006-06-01T20:10:00.000-05:00

Part I, The Lobby
Part II, The Offices
Part III, The Views
Part IV, Images from the Past

In Part V, the final part of my series on my tour of Inland Steel, I offer up a few images of the most pristine mid-century garage you have ever seen.

It was the finale to the tour, and what a final treat it was. While very utilitarian, the garage was, according to their literature, the first parking garage under a skyscraper. If you are thinking that it would be a handy place to stash the car on your next trip into the Loop, think again. First, you should be taking public transit to the Loop, but more importantly, the garage is for building tenants only, no public parking is allowed.

As was explained to us, the reason this place is as clean as it is, is due to two very dedicated garage attendants whom obviously take great pride in their work.

I would be willing to bet money, that this is the cleanest garage in the city.

The ramp leading to the street is this fantastic perfectly painted curve.

The shadows on the cinderblock in addition to the small round ground level lights just add to the" mid-century mod" look.

Child at Play...

2006-05-31T19:28:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in my last post that I don't often take pictures of people. I often prefer the absence of people in my images to force you to see the space or the building. That said, I am again doing a post with images of people, well, a mother and child in particular.

A few weeks back while walking through Grant Park near Michigan Ave just south of Congress, I noticed a mother and child (center) nestled among the new spring flowers in the distance. I was quite captured by this and as we walked toward the General John Logan Memorial in the distance, I took several shots of these two playing in the grass.

Zooming in, it looks as though they are right in the middle of the flowers.

Now up at the base of the memorial looking back.

As I was getting ready to put the camera away, I caught them playing paddy-cake. If this child's mother is indeed as loving as has appeared here, he is a very lucky child.

This is slightly unrelated, but I shot this fountain as I was walking towards the memorial. You can see it in the first image on the left.

Random Mondays... 05.29.06...

2006-05-29T15:39:00.000-05:00

Looking through my images over the past few weeks, I noticed more images with people than usual. Now, those who know me, know that I usually don't take a lot of images with people as the subject matter. But, I thought I would share a few shots from the past couple of weeks.

First, a family posing in front of Cloudgate (The Bean) about ten days ago, with three different people taking pictures.

Reflection in blue.. Folks passing time at the Crown Fountain. This was the same day as above, as you can tell, it was quite cold.

At the LaSalle Bank Theater on Friday, these two were filling out entry forms for prizes in the newly added bar area of the lobby.

This thoroughly bored man standing at the corner of State and Monroe was trying to give away gifts to those who signed up for a Zales Card. Little does he know that the people that want to shop at Zales can do it at their local mall.

While waiting for the train on the platform at Madison and Wabash yesterday, I saw this presumably homeless woman, putting on make in the mirror of a Lexus. At least she knows her expensive vehicles.

OK, so this doesn't have people in it (except for the passengers in the car). I was in Naperville on Saturday, when we came across this vintage Burger King still in operation. I know... Why the hell was I in Naperville? Long story.... And yes I did have my passport.

Inland Steel... Part IV... Images from the past...

2006-05-28T21:38:00.000-05:00

Part I, The Lobby
Part II, The Offices
Part III, The Views

Part of the tour last Saturday of the Inland Steel building (see previous entries) included several images from the archives. I didn't spend as much time looking at them as I wished, but here are a few shots of what I did spend time looking at.

First was this large image taken not long after completion.

This construction photo was fantastic. It would have been better if I had been wearing a dark shirt that day.

An image of what I would guess to be the original model.

And finally, one of the original blueprints on display. This was when blueprints were still blue.

Majestic-Shubert-LaSalle BankTheater, Facelifted...

2006-05-26T16:47:00.000-05:00

I took the opportunity to tour the just reopened LaSalle Bank Theater. Built in 1906 as the Majestic, and knon for decades as the Shubert, LaSalle Bank just spent 14 million dollars on a facelift to have their name on the marquee for the long term.

The facelift for the most part was done well. I feel as though it was more of a renovation, than a restoration. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. With a renovation, they were able to keep most all of the original features, including minor blemishes from time. Outside of a lot of unexpected sheetrock, they did the right thing overall. With a restoration, it would have become a precious museum piece, and looked fake and new, and would have cost three times as much.

The building was open today from noon till five, and will be open again on Saturday from noon till five as well. I took about 125 shots of the interior, several of which are here on my Flicker site. Here is a sampling of some of the better ones.

I found it a real challenge to take the interior shots without a flash or a tripod, but thanks to the anti shaky feature on my camera, I was able to capture several with a 1/4 second shutter, which came out quite nice.

This shot was as I was descending the stage, looking directly up the side of the proscenium with the box seats to the left.

From the balcony, looking down on the seats below.

I was thinking that there would be a sign for the second balcony, or at least another as ornate as this one, but couldn't find it.

Up on the stage, you got to take a good look at the "ropes" and all the rigging that make changing scenery seem so easy. It was very interesting in that they mostly did a restoration of the original equipment, rather than replace it all with modern rigging. ( I suspect the old stuff is better anyway.)

And finally back out onto the street. The building isn't completed yet, it is being converted into a Hampton Inn Hotel. They have gone to a lot of trouble to hide the construction going on around the entrance.

Hyatt Center (revisited)...

2006-05-25T19:19:00.000-05:00

I have done previous posts about or including the Hyatt Center (here, here, and here), but couldn't help but take more shots on the way home from work tonight.

The street wall along Wacker is finally whole with the completion of 111 S Wacker and the Hyatt Center. Standing on Wacker in front of 10 South this afternoon, I was noticing the clouds contrasting with a deep blue sky, which led me to notice the Hyatt Center.

Where there were four when I moved here in 1999, all the vacant lots along the north south section of Wacker have been filled in nicely with 191 N Wacker, UBS Tower, Hyatt Center, and 111 South Wacker.

The shape while not necessarily unique, does fit the building well, and as far as I know, this is the only building with this shape in Chicago.

Standing at the "split" on the west end of the building looking up.

Standing on Monroe looking up at Hyatt and 111 S Wacker.

Side shot from Monroe.

Inland Steel... Part lll... The Views...

2006-05-23T18:16:00.000-05:00

Part l, The Lobby
Part ll, The Offices

Aside from the treat of being able to tour the 11th floor of Inland Steel this past Saturday, was the chance to see the surrounding views. During my tour, I managed to take a couple of dozen shots of what was outside the window.

Overlooking the plaza at what is now Exelon Plaza.

Chicago First/Bank One/Chase or something building overlooking Exelon Plaza.

Looking west down Monroe, you can see top of the Hyatt Building peeking out.

Another shot looking down Monroe.

Looking east, Carson Pirie Scott on State Street is the dominant building. You can also see the balconies which have been tacked on to the Metropolis Condos.

Closer shot of Carsons with its recently restored cornice.

Looking north at the reflections on One South Dearborn.

And finally, how amazing was it that the sun was lined up with the pavers and planters on the plaza at One South Dearborn?

Random Mondays... 05.22.06...

2006-05-22T20:50:00.000-05:00

The randomness for today is culled from shots taken over the past week.

First up... Mr "God hates homos, adulterers, smokers, drinkers, liars, people that are late for work, etc..." Samuel Chambers has been a fixture on State Street for more than 35 years.

What time is it?
Marshall Fields Clock at State and Washington.

Waiting in line for tickets (at 6:40 AM) to Chicago Great Places and Spaces this past Saturday, I saw the light coming through the windows of the entry area to the modern wing at the Art Institute across the street.

The next morning standing in line even earlier (6:10 AM) I saw the sun again being reflected across the street at the Art Institute.

Standing on Randolph yesterday afternoon looking up.

And finally, a follow up to last week... I mentioned that the "Cen" on the neon sign was not working... Well, they read my mind and fixed it.

Inland Steel... Part ll... The Offices...

2006-05-21T21:46:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I wrote about taking a tour of the Inland Steel building at 30 W Monroe. Well, as promised, today I bring you pictures from the inside.

But, before I get to today's post, let me respond to comments from yesterdays post... Mittal was only leasing three floors at Inland Steel, they needed more space which wasn't available. This prompted them to move next door a few months ago to 1 S Dearborn. They left three vacant floors at Inland Steel, which are still vacant. The remainder of the building is leased. As for seeing the inside of 1 S Dearborn... We didn't get to see all that much, just the lobby, the elevator, and the 7th floor health club from where we viewed Inland Steel from above the street. I was most impressed by the stunningly beautiful glass walls in the elevators.

Now to continue the juicy architectural porn...

Part of what makes Inland Steel such an incredible building is that the elevators, restrooms and fire stairs are all contained in a stainless steel clad tower to the east of the office portion, which is all glass and stainless steel. Current fire code would not allow for this configuration today because the only escape in fire would be contained within the small mechanicals tower, and today�s fire code would require additional staircases. It is because there are no additional staircases that Inland Steel is unique. By not having the additional staircases, the office floor is completely uninterrupted space, no columns, and no support walls.

The first shot was taken as we were going from the elevator tower to the office tower. There is a kind of transitional bridge if you will with glass on both sides. As just noted above, this is one of the unique qualities of the building.

Looking north from where we entered the office space from the elevators. The interior is mostly intact including office partition walls with glass at the top.

A bit further in, looking toward the northeast corner.

Getting a closer shot of the northeast corner you can clearly see the office partition walls with the glass at the top. I love the original IBM Clock. You can also see the ceiling grid which is custom to this building. The ceiling is original, however, the light fixtures have been modernized and sprinklers were added.

OK, so I was a bit obsessed with the clock. The ceiling is made of perforated panels, in which the air conditioning is distributed invisibly (when they are kept clean).

In this shot looking north, you can clearly see the corner offices on both sides, as well as get a good idea of how incredible the light in the space is. Floor to ceiling windows, on all four sides, with a clear column free span of more than 80 feet. (And yes, the clock came into play again.)

OK, now for a money shot. Northwest corner office overlooking the first Chicago/Bank One/Chase building.

Finally, we had to wrap it up. I took many more shots which I will bring you over the next week or so, my only regret was that I did not take the opportunity to go into the vintage restrooms to check them out. They will be upgraded soon, and I am sure quite modernized in order to attract tenants. I leave you with this parting shot of the other side of the transitional "bridge" between the office and mechanical tower looking south towards Monroe, as we left the 11th floor.