Alley Fruit

While moving into our new apartment this weekend, my roommate and I discovered that there are several grape vines growing in our 'backyard' (actually a fenced off patio area). I had never seen wild grapes in person before and was rather shocked they could grow in Chicago's climate. I've yet to actually taste one of them... the ones closest at hand seemed a bit overripe.

Casualties

Of course it always rains on my days off though I was fooled today when I saw a bright blue sky outside my bedroom window. By the time I made it to the my destination, however, the skies had clouded over and a thunderstorm took hold for the rest of the afternoon.

Instead of retreating to the bookstore as I usually do during inclimate weather, I decided to attempt to take pictures in the rain. These flower photos were taken in Lincoln Park and in the Gold Coast area near Loyola's campus. I made quite a sight bending over the sidewalk, one hand clutching my umbrella and the other trying to focus my dSLR.

I was such an unusual sight that a Canadian art student actually stopped and took my picture on his medium format box camera (perhaps it was a Yashicamat?). Unfortunately I did not get his contact information nor his name so I will not see his results. Now, if my life was a sitcom he would somehow come across this blog and contact me...

Life's a Beach

Despite not having experienced a grueling Chicago winter yet I've already decided that I hate the weather here. In the summer it's hot and HUMID. Having grown up in the south I'm used to humidity but there we also rarely dealt with it-- as all stores, cars, restaurants, homes and offices are blissfully air conditioned (unlike Chicago!).

Four years in LA's dry & mainly rainfree weather also spoiled me. The overwhelming humidity here alternates with pelting rain and thunder storms that crop up despite the 'sunny with light cloud coverage' forecast.

The past four days have been gloomy, gray and wet. Since outdoor photo expeditions are out of the question right now I've posted some detail shots from the 12th Street Beach-- where I long to go on my days off rather than sitting inside yet another coffee shop or bookstore.

Sunflowers as big as your head

A little taste of the farm life at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Stairs to Nowhere