MayDay

MTS, we were at the Drake but not a lake view room - my partner got it on Priceline for $110 so we weren't complaining. We hit Sidetracks, Roscoes, Minibar, Hydrate... I think that was it (mind you they also serve on the street). And we rode with a friend so while it was a long ride (especially through Indiana), it wasn't too bad.

I believe they're protesting Maron - HQ'd across the street from 668 Euclid.

My partner and I paid a visit to Chicago this past weekend - mostly for the Market Days festival*, but of course we saw plenty of other things. *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Halsted_Market_Days One of the performers at Market Days was Kristine W - so I picked this song for the soundtrack for this thread :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d89T37ZnFl4 WOOHOO!!! Oh wait - that's Toledo; nice but not quite where we're headed: Gary, Indiana in all its glory: Okay, there's The Emerald City Chicago! Almost there! The antenna atop Sears Willis Tower: Trump Tower Chicago: My partner went to undergrad near Chicago and though he's tried Malnati's, Uno, etc. - he prefers Giordano's deep dish: One slice - we ended up having four each: Okay, time to walk that off - down Michigan Avenue to the Tribune Building: A view down the Chicago River: The Wrigley Building: The Water Tower: And back to our hotel (The Drake): The next morning, I was up early as usual so I took a walk - here's 900 North Michigan: The Water Tower in the foreground, postmodern schlock in the background, and Trump Tower peeking out from behind: I say the old redbrick lady is upstaging her neighbors quite nicely: Once back from my stroll, I grabbed my partner for our trip to Lincoln Park. On the way, Trump Tower Chicago makes a nice terminus for this view down Wabash: Nice details on a building (I believe it's a library): Washington Square (aka "Bughouse") Park:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Square_Park_(Chicago) The Elysian - one of a few towers going up: At the Brown Line station - no idea what's up with the wig: Here's the choo-choo! Nice views from the train: Our first destination is the original Vosges Chocolate http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/ boutique on Armitage: Requisite Starbucks on a main commercial strip: Just out and about in Lincoln Park. Now my partner and I were walking around the area - one of Chicago's most upscale neighborhoods; never felt any reason to be concerned - but imagine our surprise when we heard about THIS http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/08/lincoln-park-mugging-victim-bike-lock-was-saving-grace.html So again folks, crime like this isn't "only in Cleveland": Pretty sure there was some sort of wacky urban scavenger hunt going on that day: Headed back to the hotel, got whored up and headed over to North Halsted for the first day of Market Days - a few people showed up in spite of the potential for rain: Not sure I'd want to be holding to a metal scaffold when there's potential for lightning but what do I know? :-o The crowd gathers for Kristine W: There she is, and she put on a great show! After that was much revelry and drink - and after sleeping in, I headed out for another morning stroll. This Cheesecake Factory in the lower plaza level of the John Hancock Center has been rightfully described as a "wart on the ankle of a giant" - couldn't they have done something other than their "magic mushroom" motif? :roll: Back down to the Wrigley Building, Trump Tower Chicago and the Chicago River: More photos on their way - I only took about 1,500 ;-)

I don't have any but from what I recall, they were something along the lines of Battery Park. IIRC, James Kassouf (the owner) wanted to put in a Microtel right along the lines you'd see at any interstate exit hotel cluster, parking lot and all.

^I would presume that was the case.

Firenze98, your rendering has Ameritrust's curved side facing the wrong way. Viewed from that angle you wouldn't see the curved facade at all. Here's an aerial of the site: And a better view of the western facade (not nearly as interesting as the north or east, imho) - this would be the approximate view from the arch at the Lausche State Office building:

^They're also very outdated - the first (overly Photoshopped stock image that's used everywhere) shows Key Tower minus the Key logo (which looks better, but it's not current). The skyline shot following is nice but again, no Key logo and no Federal Courthouse tower. Tsk tsk tsk - wonder who could help them with such a dilemma? ;-)

Living in the city, I'd actually love to see some of the mothers in my neighborhood adopt a little more "suburban style" "smothering" to their child-rearing technique.

"I'll never understand why the building needed to be covered over." At the time, buildings with that kind of ornamentation were seen as "fussy" and not ideal as the (then) Modern buildings being constructed (Tower at Erieview, 1717 East 9th, etc.). That and it's possible the facade may have had some issues - most buildings of its era did (i.e. small pieces falling off).

http://www.asiatowncleveland.com/ Look under "Markets" and find Tink Holl and Park2Shop - those definitely have Pocky: http://www.asiatowncleveland.com/shopping.asp

Btw, next time you're in town - check out Asiatown; there are at least five places that sell Pocky, including the regular version, the "men's" version, and almond/chocolate :-)

^It would be interesting to see how things would have turned out, had it been built. For example: 1. The project included a 480+ Hyatt hotel (located mostly in the base). As we all know, Hyatt opened a location in the Arcade; so if Ameritrust went through, what would have happened to the Arcade? 2. Obviously - what effect would Ameritrust have had on downtown office space?

That's Tremont Pointe (fka Valley View) - and it's not Photoshopped, just a different angle. Interesting that they'd use a Hope VI development for their main photo.

Wow, did you get around or what? Great shots from so many places! :-)

Well thank god we're finally relieved of the burden of proving your ignorance of little things like a silly little economic crisis. :roll:

^Agreed, X. Though I hope that at the very least, they can add some signage so passersby are aware of the plans.

"Olmstead Falls... minutes from downtown." That's not exactly a hop, skip and a jump from Olmsted Falls to downtown.

Survey says: That was around 7:30am when a monsoon rolled in.

Oh come on now, folks - they have a SIGN in front of the old HoJo! Never mind that a good chunk of it has been smashed to bits, and thus brings into question the structural integrity of any future re-use, they have a SIGN! :roll: Now - I decided to dig around a little on the Ubiquitous Design site, and lo and behold - there are renderings of what the developers plan *cough*horsesh!t*cough* to do with the old Hojo. If this actually goes through to completion in the next two years, I'll reinstate every forumer I've ever banned. Fyi, Ubiquitous Design are the architects behind Clarence Court in Tremont and the Chicle Townhomes in Cudell.

Ask and ye shall receive - starting on the north side (from the northeastern corner moving west): Now to the south side (aka the "front" on Lakeside) - starting from the southwest corner:

I think we need clarification (myself included) as to WHICH corner we're discussing. If it's the northeast corner of 117th and Clifton - the last I knew, that's the only spot with a space like that (southwest corner is Shell Gas, northwest corner is CVS, southeast corner is the Diner). It used to be Score Bar and Grill but I didn't know that had changed.

Not much in the way of construction, but here are the tower cranes:

Just a quick two-ish days in Columbus - hope you enjoy: After the mind-numbing drive down I-71, downtown Columbus comes into view: A quick stop in German Village: Got a million to spare? THIS could be yours! :-) http://www2.herrealtors.com/vutech.ruff/MyListingsDetails.asp?mls=2729738&prop=7006336 A fanf#cking fabulous dessert bar, Pistacia Vera http://www.pistachiosweets.com/contact.html New and old mix near Rich Street: Views from a rooftop deck: Tower cranes for the Nationwide Children's Hospital expansion: Off we go to the Columbus Museum of Art - there's the Vern Riffe Center: Old and ornate, newer and brutal: Entrance to the Columbus Museum of Art: Gorgeous ceiling in the museum lobby: Dale Chihuly sculpture in the atrium: Old and ornate, newer and brutal redux: Over to the topiary of the Deaf School Park (the topiaries depict Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte"): The Deaf School: If I lived in Columbus, I've found my new compound ;-) But, back to Cleveland we go with all the amazing scenery :-P Pardon the smudge on the windshield, lots of kamikaze bugs on the way back: Hope you enjoyed!