October 23, 200915 yr Bonus New underground skywalks in the tri-level portions of Chicago's street system. Another avenue runs beneath this level.
October 25, 200915 yr Here are more shots of the 1979-1980 time period at Chicago Northwestern Station. Right after I shot this photo, I got thrown out with the admonition that photos were not allowed except by permit and when accompanied by a railroad official. I should have known better than to fire off a Vivitar 283 at maximum power in a dark train shed., but I didn't realize photography was a touchy issue there. The 283 really lights things up in an otherwise dark place, and it might have startled or frightened some people. That was the first, but not the last time that I attracted unwanted attention for taking photos in a station.
October 25, 200915 yr Very cool photos Rob. I think it's ironic how back then they'd be so adamant about photography and nowadays nearly all transit authorities (in Chicago) permit it....especially in these times. Both Metra and CTA have some good guides of do's and don't when it comes to photography with the don'ts being fairly obvious like.... Don't jump onto the tracks to take photos. Don't set up a full photography studio on station platforms (unless you ask first). While on the topic of transit. It was recently announced that Apple plans to spend $4 million on refurbishing the North and Clybourn Station. Currently they are building a store on that same block and want the existing structure to be a bit more complimentary to their store. Currently the 1940's station is in extreme disrepair. Not sure if it's true, but I've heard it will be reclad in limestone. Currently it's like a red/orange brick with purplish red marble. It's actually a really ugly building so any attempt to spruce it up will do wonders. Apple will contribute to renovating the platforms as well. I wonder if the CTA can begin to "sell" some of their stations to private corporations. For example, a corporation may have the right to exclusively advertise down there in exchange for paying for maintenance and renovation of the subway stations. I now the CTA is having tough times balancing the budget, so I'm not going to point blame for the condition of our subway stations. But seriously we need an upgrade
October 26, 200915 yr Im nearly 100% sure I will make it to Chicago for December. I have to see the lights. Plus I have not been there in a while anyway.
October 26, 200915 yr ^ Cool! It's always great during the Holidays Here's a shot from the office again at night
October 26, 200915 yr If I had that view at work, I would get absolutely no work done. I'm loving this thread.
October 26, 200915 yr Thanks for posting that shot. :wink: Unbelieveable!! Best skyline in the world, IMO. :clap:
October 26, 200915 yr Loving your photos Andre! I was in Chicago this weekend for a concert and got to ride the Red Line from Chicago to Addison station once drunk and once sober. The CTA was so convenient and great! Pardon the Facebook quality:
October 26, 200915 yr ^Facebook quality or not, those are great compositions. I've posted this one before in another thread on UO, but some of the newer folks may not have seen it. From the 'Way-Back Machine; I didn't take this one. My aunt, Jeraldine C. Baumgartner, M.D., took it in the early 1950s when she traveled frequently on the Broadway Limited between Fort Wayne and Chicago. I have the Rolleiflex 3.5 twin-lens reflex that she used, and it still works nicely. This scan is from a print about 14x17 that she made then in her own darkroom. This original concourse, opened in 1925, was demolished in 1969 in anticipation that the entire station would soon be closed and demolished. Continued demand for commuter services prevented this, and a new, low-ceilinged concourse was built with an office tower above it. That's the concourse that was in place when Amtrak began operating in 1971. In 1992 the concourse was again remodeled into the awkward, congested mess that exists today. The old Chicago Northwestern Station (1911) (Frost and Granger) was a slightly earlier design than Union Station (1925). The design of Union Station was initiated by DH Burnham Company, but Burnham died in 1912 before the project was executed. The project was completed by successor firm Graham, Anderson, Probst, and White, which firm also designed Cleveland's 1930 Terminal Tower incorporating Cleveland Union Terminal. Chicago Union Station Concourse, 1972: Also from a thread I already posted, the 1992-designed Union Station cattle-loading facility, photographed in December 2008:
October 26, 200915 yr Loving your photos Andre! I was in Chicago this weekend for a concert and got to ride the Red Line from Chicago to Addison station once drunk and once sober. The CTA was so convenient and great! Pardon the Facebook quality: Well stunning for facebook quality. Excellent in black and white. Please post more! Excellent flashback photos too rob!
October 27, 200915 yr Chicago is one of the most photographable city in the US and world. Density, architecture, the lake and the large/tall skyscrapers make it perfect. Lots of old and new towers as well. Just about perfect.
October 28, 200915 yr Agreed. I like the fact that it has a good balance of everything. Today's photo is of a recently completed car dealership Grossinger Motors recently completed this renovation of a 1960's factory on Dayton (just off North Ave) in the booming North and Clyborn commercial area. This dealership obtained LEED silver status. It challenges the notion that a dealership has to be spread over numerous surface lots, when instead it can compacted into a multi level structure. Not to mention, customers can browse nearly every brand of vehicle in a comfortable indoor environment during the cold Chicago winters. Additional inventory is placed on an automated racking system. As you can see, the building is double sided having points of entry on each street.
October 28, 200915 yr That has to be one of the coolest ideas I have ever seen. When I first saw it with the cars inside I was like "Where's the lot?" Then I saw the top deck full of cars. Awesome concept.
November 1, 200915 yr nice shots, you're getting around a lot for just getting settled in! any news on the bloomingdale trail (aka chicago's highline project)? i'd like to see a tour of that when you get a chance. more: http://www.bloomingdaletrail.org/ blue line from the trail
November 6, 200915 yr Don't know the status of it, but I saw it from the train the other day Shot from the office. Due to being on the Eastern fringe of the central time zone, the sun sets early here, and I got a pretty good view right down the river. Lunchtime. Friday I'm trying the food court in 401 N. Michigan (the grayish black building) which I heard is supposed to be good
November 17, 200915 yr I WANT ENGLEWOOD SHOTS!!! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 17, 200915 yr You don't like Ali Baba's? "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 24, 200915 yr Chicago had its lights festival this past weekend. It was ridiculously crowded all the way up and down Michigan Ave. At the river they shot off fireworks. A group of us went up to my warm office and sipped hot chocolate, watching the spectacle from above. Fortunately the windows open so we were able to hear and see everything clearly
December 2, 200915 yr I love Chicago at Christmastime - well, anytime actually, but the crowds and energy levels at Christmastime are like nothing one can experience in smaller midwestern cities like mine.
December 5, 200915 yr ^Did that Victoria's Secret just open? No. Well, kind of yes. It opened 5 weeks ago where pottery barn used to be. The Mich Ave pottery barn was a disaster in the making for years, for the fact it should have been something more like their North Ave store. I'm actually it shocked it survived that long with such of a mediocre store when it should have been more flagship like the 4 story Crate and Barrel down the street. Scaffolding recently went up in front of the old Victoria Secret. Looking like something new is moving in.
December 5, 200915 yr ^Did that Victoria's Secret just open? No. Well, kind of yes. It opened 5 weeks ago where pottery barn used to be. The Mich Ave pottery barn was a disaster in the making for years, for the fact it should have been something more like their North Ave store. I'm actually it shocked it survived that long with such of a mediocre store when it should have been more flagship like the 4 story Crate and Barrel down the street. Scaffolding recently went up in front of the old Victoria Secret. Looking like something new is moving in. My inteligence tells me the Pottery Barn brand will be severely scaled back or closed. The hold everything brand was shut down and then West Elm introduced.
January 5, 201015 yr I love Chicago at Christmastime - well, anytime actually, but the crowds and energy levels at Christmastime are like nothing one can experience in smaller midwestern cities like mine. I was just there for Christmas time. I had never been to Chicago in December. It was amazing.
May 2, 201015 yr RELOADED. Summer in the Chi is coming and it has become much more comfortable to take photos at night. So here's a bunch from this past week to get things started again.
May 2, 201015 yr "Walk at Lunch" - has anybody come up with a scheme yet to generate revenue by using their building lights to create advertising signs after hours? Beautiful photos. Some of these look like material for a high-quality coffee table book.
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