Cassius Play

We have a dog.

Cassius Play (AKA "Cash") was rescued from a kill shelter in Kentucky and brought to Illinois by Wright Way Animal Rescue.  Aimee and I have been looking at dogs for some time, and talking about it even longer.  We especially wanted to rescue a dog vs support a corporate chain pet store.  Not that I believe that buying a dog from Petland is in and of itself always a bad thing, it's just that there are so many neglected and unwanted dogs in the U.S. that have nowhere else to go.  Three to four million dogs are euthanized each year in the U.S., and that statistic isn't just due to pet stores but mostly to people who don't spay or neuter their dogs.  I could go on and on about this but I won't do that here - I just wanted to introduce you to Cash.  He is an approximately one-year-old Schnauzer mix who is like an angel in a dog suit.  I plan on posting updates on Cash as his antics and idiosyncrasies come to life.  For now, he is relaxing and adjusting to his new life here with us.

Snappy Service System

I was made aware of the unveiling, if you will, of the former facade of this small building through an online discussion at the Forgotten Chicago Facebook page.  This building, on Ashland just south of Division, was last a La Pasadita Mexican fast-food restaurant.  Just like all other La Pasaditas in Chicago (there are in fact two right across the street -can anyone say oversaturation?), this one had been painted bright yellow.  For some reason or another, workers were seen removing the paint and other external furnishings.  Here are the photos that motivated me to photograph them myself - the first photo is from Google Street View, and below is a photo (I did not take) from yesterday.



I decided to head there myself to document the vintage facade myself.  It was hard to get any decent photos due to the timing (a lot of traffic that kept me from backing up for a wide shot) as well as a big tour trolley parked right in front of it.  This building oozes character.  It will very likely soon be all redone.

Champion Ghost

It's been a long time since anyone has been able to see this without squeezing in between the building it's painted on (built in 1930) and the building next to it.  The "newer" building was built in 1962, so the Champion ad obviously is older.  I couldn't find any information on the Champion food store or even anything on the ghost ad.

The sky opened up, and it got COLD...

I have wanted to get out to a local forest preserve where, about five years ago, I noticed a very old bicycle wheel embedded in the trunk of a tree about five or six feet up.  I headed out with my camera early this morning in ten degree weather hoping to find it.  I thought I had a good idea where it was, but it was a no-go.  It was very cold and windy, even though the sun was out and shining bright.  There is a certain sense of tranquility when you're out in nature during the bitter cold - not the same kind of tranquility you get while walking around any other time.  It's not a "dead" atmosphere by any means, but more like nature laughing quietly as it plots an explosion of life that will take place in a little over a month or so.  I strolled down to the river and stepped to the bank, which is frozen to about ten or twelve feet out.  The center of the river still flows and is transporting huge sheets and chunks of ice.  As I stood there I realized that frozen rivers make very odd sounds, sounds that reminded me of pouring water into a glass of ice cubes.  The straining, the cracking, the moaning of the ice as water rushes below and the blinding sun bounces light off the thick surface.  I was about to turn and leave when movement caught the corner of my eye. Something appeared under the ice, and for a split second I thought it was a clump of dead leaves moving with the current.  Quickly I realized that it was not debris but a muskrat, moving gracefully in the frigid water.  As I watched the animal through about three inches of crystal clear ice, I saw it moving its webbed hands and feet as it paddled its way in slow motion from one end of a huge drainage pipe to the other. As it got closer to me it turned over, exposing its underside, then completed its turn and resumed making its way toward its man-made den.  I could see the thick, shiny waterproof fur and little bubbles on its body.  As soon as it appeared, it disappeared underneath a large concrete wall surrounding the drain pipe.  I waited a few more minutes to see if it would reappear, but it did not.  This encounter is a reminder that life goes on even during the most brutal weather conditions.  All you have to do is search it out - and sometimes it does take a little luck.

Sunlit deer path

The icy banks of the Des Plaines

Norman Bates

The most photogenic snake I've ever had.

Abandoned farmhouse in Yorkville

This one's days are numbered.  Located in a rapidly-developing community of exurbs and chain restaurants, this house sits adjacent to townhouses so new you can still smell the VOCs.  Though much of the area is still comprised of farmland, it seems that every time I drive into Yorkville, there are new townhouses popping up in the middle of farm fields accompanied by people driving big trucks and SUVs.  I figure the next time I'm out that way, this house will be gone.

The home has already been ravaged by scrappers.  As you can see, every bit of siding has been removed.  Once a family's dream house, it now sits, undignified, awaiting demolition by a new wave of people bent on capitalizing on the area's seemingly booming housing market.

Part of a new housing development can be seen in the background of this photo.  Right across the street is a confusing maze of townhouses, complete with multicar garages and lawns so new, the turf rolls are still discernible.  Add to that, a quick, cheap, sloppy pavement job and white-as-snow sidewalks and driveways, and you've got the makings of the perfect community for those who wish to shelter their children from any perceived "dangers" the city and even suburbs might offer.  They may enjoy the breathtaking views of endless cornfields while they drink their overpriced coffee each morning.

Stoop castle

Have a seat

One last breath...close your eyes, the pain doesn't last.

Indianapolis

Miscellaneous Indianapolis photos.

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Some shots from the museum (though the museum contained many fine works of Art, there were way too many "abstract" works; too many plain black or plain beige squares, many with their own huge room.  I don't understand that stuff.  It seems like an easy way in to a museum.  You'll always get the intellectual type who stand there and stare at what is literally a white linen napkin hanging on the wall.  You'll hear them talk about the depth, the conception, the inner workings.  It's a white linen napkin hanging on the wall!!!  There's nothing to "get".  It's silk, about 8 inches square, and probably from Walmart.  One room was about half the square footage of my house and contained a single grey rectangle).  Most of what I really thought was beautiful came from the greenhouse.

Before we took photos at this famous piece, a guy proposed to a girl right here. 

Some plants in the greenhouse

Indiana Medical History Museum

Following the completion of my final exams, Aimee and I took one last road trip of the year to sort of "recuperate". We headed to Indianapolis, since we had never spent time there before.  It's really a beautiful city.  As always, there are so many places I wanted to see and photograph, but time was not on out side.  Besides, we hit up the antique malls and completed a couple rounds of late-night bowling (she beat me as always).  Here are a few photographic highlights from our trip.

These were taken at the Indiana Medical History Museum 

A very early stereoscope

An early manual centrifuge

Gross lesions - are there any other kind?

Early microscope

Curl up with one one these

Original 1895 medical classroom

Autopsy table

The old power plant that provided electricity to a long-gone medical campus

Delay

No posts in awhile yet again - this past semester has been heavy, but that's over and done with and I have a bit more time to take photos (until I go back early next month).  I have some photos from the last month but not much worth posting.  On Thanksgiving, my nephew Jeffrey (the Peffernaut) and I took a post-feast walk along north Milwaukee Ave.  I think he caught the photography bug.  We walked to the historic yet overlooked Edison service station at 5837 N. Nagle, and then headed east on Ardmore toward Milwaukee Ave, where we shot a few old signs and a fenced in empty lot, where someone had been living in a disheveled old tent.

Koffend

I don't even have to be looking for this kind of stuff.  It just seems that everytime I go to a cemetery, there is always at least one or two of these appropriately-morbid headstones. 

From Bohemian National Cemetery (more to come, stay tuned...)

The Grayland Theatre, Part II

Last year I posted about the former Grayland Theatre, 3940 W. Cicero Ave (now a clothing store called Rasenick's).  I had developed an interest in the building and its history, and even came across a fascinating story involving the Grayland which took place nearly one hundred years ago (the original posting can be found here: http://thejosecshow.blogspot.com/2011/06/grayland-theater.html).  I had mentioned how it appeared is if something on the front of the building was being covered by several pieces of sheet metal.  I assumed it could have been an epigraph for the theatre.  The owner of Rasenick's assured me that nothing was there, but I didn't believe him for a second.  It makes no sense to cover a blank section of what is an otherwise beautiful example of early 20th century theatre terra cotta, unless it had been damaged - in which case it would make more sense to repair the damage versus cover it up. 

The other day as I was driving to work, I passed Rasenick's as I do every day, but this time I noticed out of the corner of my eye that portions of the building were boarded up.  I passed too quickly to get a good look, but initially it appeared as though a vehicle had crashed into the store.  I hoped for the best and made a note to check it out on my way back after work.  When I finally got out of work, I drove past the former nickelodeon and was shocked to see it - the building in a state of repair and with the sheet metal removed, revealing a Grayland Theatre epigraph!!  HA!!  I KNEW it...I just KNEW that sheet metal wasn't just there for nothing.  The epigraph was stunning, the building seemed transformed into its former self, at least for the time being.  The front window was removed and covered with plywood, with a makeshift sign assuring people that Rasenick's was still open despite the construction.  I couldn't stop to look at it since I was actually heading to an appointment I couldn't miss, but I quickly grabbed the phone number and called the store to inquire as to the future of the store and the epigraph.  An upper management employee (or maybe even the owner) picked up.  I mentioned that I had seen the storefront and was happy to see that the sheet metal had been removed to allow the world to see the once-hidden epigraph.  I then asked what was expected to come of the construction project.  The employee told me the plan was to "smash up and tear the front down as soon as possible" so that a more modern facade could be put in its place.  I kind of gulped and was shocked to hear this.  I asked why they hadn't planned to preserve the terra cotta or at least the epigraph and got a rude, condescending response.  "Look.  We are a clothing store, we are the longest-running small business at Six Corners.  We are not a theatre and never will be. If you are interested in Rasenick's, I can help you, otherwise, I don't have time to talk about anything else.  We informed the neighborhood association, the historical society, and the Alderman, and no one wanted to do anything about it, and now it's too late".  I told him that I was a customer of their store and simply wondered why they didn't care to preserve their historically significant building.  He could not have been any more indifferent about the historical significance. 

I do not believe that Rasenick's ever made an attempt to reach out to any organization, the community, or the Alderman to seek funding for the preservation of the facade and epigraph.  Last year the owner straight-up lied to me about what was beneath the sheet metal.  If he cared so much about preserving the facade enough to seek funding or assistance, he would not have lied to me last year.  If it were me, I'd raise awareness of the issue early so as to raise the funds to restore and retain the facade.  I would not lie to repeat customers about the history of the building and what existed beneath the sheet metal. 

Look, I understand that not everything old has to be saved.  I totally understand that.  Sometimes I do become overly sentimental about certain things.  However, the significance of the Grayland Theatre as one of the first small movie houses in Portage Park is so important to the character of the neighborhood.  The Six Corners district is undergoing a long-term revitalization after a long period of closed-down storefronts and low foot traffic/parking issues.  What Rasenick's should keep in mind is that some of the most successful businesses in the city still retain epigraphs of former business of importance - bath houses, fire stations, post offices, architects, and even the nearby former People's Gas & Coke building, which is a National Historic Lamdmark.  Rasenick's hasn't quite caught up to this trend and believes it will better its already quite successful business by destroying its unique facade and replacing it with a boring flat wall of bricks.  Or maybe they are simply big advocates of Rahm Emanuel's Beautify Chicago plan - a plan that involves modernizing everything and getting rid of "eyesores" such as neon signs.  I just wish for a moment they though of the good that could come out of preserving history - what people can learn about their community beginning with its past, and how it developed into what it is today.  The Portage Theater thankfully still exists in good condition, and a few other buildings of note remain (the former Borovik Drugstore, for example).  If all you see is new construction replacing older buildings, what does it tell people about history?  That it is insignificant and meant to be forgotten?  With all due respect to Rasenick's (because I understand they are a small business and small businesses are needed), I think they planned without regard for retaining history - a tool that can teach us about our present and ultimately our future.

First, the photo I took last year.

These photos were taken today, just days after the removal of the sheet metal.

Very soon, this will all be memory.  All in the name of "progress".

Galena revisitied

An antique mall in Freeport