The Loop as seen from South Loop condo

My friend took these pictures this weekend from her friend's high rise in the South Loop. Despite being in the South Loop a lot, I cannot pinpoint the building that she was in, I am bad with building names in that area, maybe someone else can identify it. Anyways, I thought this was an interesting perspective that you dont see too much so I decided to post. Bad photo at night: Now some day shots: >

Any MSN Messenger users here?

I'm always up for a good chat about whats going on in Chicago or anywhere in the world. I've been bugging some of my friends about it and they, well, don't share the same interest as me. My address is Kngkyle2@Hotmail.com, you're free to add me if you want. >

Can a Socially Conservative City Compete On the Global Stage?

This week I read an article in the "New City" weekly publication. For all of those who are not familiar with the publication, it is a weekly arts and cultural paper that targets any interesting issues in the Chicago cultural world. Two weeks ago there was an article about a cabaret dancers who had earned a bachelors degree in finance from U of I. She turned down job offers in finance to pusue her dream of dance which came by way of an opportunity to form a cabaret dance team. She had grown up in a very conservative household in the suburbs. She explains her parents as born again christians. She said that her business was booming and that she had business all over the U.S. especially on the east coast. She said that cabaret was increasing in popularity on both coast and she could make more money on the coast if she relocated. She does shows in the Chicago area but, the suburbs were not as open to accepting to the art. She also, said that within the city limits business was much better. My questions to you are "can a city thrive on the world stage being conservative? Is Chicago a conservative city(not the suburbs)? I don't know if this topic has been explored in the past but, i've seen comments from individuals saying that Chicago is conservative compared to its coastal peers. My experience has been that each community within the city is different. There are area that are for lack of a better word more "cutting edge" like Wicker Park/Bucktown, Westtown, Boystown, Andersonville, River North, River West, Uptown/Rogers Park and Hyde Park and, areas that are more conservative (many single family enclaves). I personally do not believe that a city can thrive on the world stage in today's economy and function as a creative city that appeals to the people who love the unique experiences that great cities have to offer. What are your thoughts?>

Chicago Real Estate

Chicago seems to be a relatively affordable place to live compared to many, if not most, other major cities in the US. Some Chicago forumers on SSP have called Chicago the best urban bargain in the country. Any thoughts/insights on to why this is?>

Covering unsightly garages/garage bases with giant bilboards

I hope the title speaks for itself. Parking garages and the garage bases of highrises, most notably the most hideous ones--can we rethink them? I know some of you don't like bilboards, but they can often add a splash of color and visual interest to the streetscape. And how about some of those giant, animated bilboards? I'm not advocating for them everywhere, but perhaps on the most heinous of garages. The other benefit is that property owners can profit from them. Any opinions?>

Which Chicago building was it?

I've got a stupid question, but I figured that this was the best forum to get the answer: About 10 years ago, I was in Chicago for a few days and the people I was meeting with took me to the observation floor of some pretty big tower (60, 70, 80 floors... I don't remember). From that observation floor, they pointed out the Sears Tower to me, and in my memories, it seems like the Sears Tower was right across the street from the building I was in, but I may misremember that part. Either way, the Sears Tower was very near and very visible. But I don't remember which building I was in. Any Chicagoans to help me which building I was likely to be in?>

Chicagoland Interstate Traffic Trends

Hello everyone...I would like some information from you Chicagoland folks. I live in Milwaukee but I am about to expand my service business to Chicagoland. Basically, I will need to drive to appointments in the Chicago area from Milwaukee. I am interested in learning about your interstate traffic trends...and I would like to avoid doing it the hardway. Toll Ways and their fees? Info like daily congestion trends, what interstate section, what times they typically occur and what time they ease up. Also info about road construction and maybe detours that you have found work best. I figure you guys know it best!>

And the award goes to...

And the award goes to......the developer/development which has done the best job ofexpanding the downtown Chicago area furtherst out from its periphery. In other words, what project(s) do you believe have, by their ability to open slightly further down the road, done the best job of getting the city's core to spread outward...north, south, or west. They probably have met with some degree of risk by not building in the next closest in spot, but saw where the city's skyline was going and developed in gthat direction. I'll give you, as example, since it so far in the past and would not be likely selected today:when Wards built a high rise building adjacent to its original complex of buildings, it helped draw the skyline northwest ward along the river.>

Lollapalooza 2006 Photos by SkokieSwift

Lollapalooza 2006 kicked some serious ass. This was its sophomore year as a destination music festival in Chicago and, by all accounts, it was so successful it's almost guaranteed to continue for years to come. I had never thought of Grant Park as a venue for such an event. But with its various "rooms," abundant trees, the most beautiful skyline in the world on three sides, and Lake Michigan anchoring the eastern edge, it turned out to be an ideal location to enjoy some good music. Unsure of the security situation, I didn't bring my camera the first day. So you won't get to see any pics of the Eels (awesome as always), Umphree's McGee (I usually don't like jam-band music, but the hour time limit forced the hometown band to play a tight set), My Morning Jacket (a catchy mix of Radiohead and the Allman Brothers), and Death Cab for Cutie (predictable as always). Day 2: Entrance on Columbus: Band #1: Calexico. Alternative Country/Rock in English/Spanish from Tucson. The Latin beats and horns certainly made our toes tap: Heading to the south end... ...for Band #2: Gnarles Barkley. I once read a review describing this band as Marvin Gaye with modern electronic production. Very apt. The lead singer was energetic, hilarious, filthy (that's a good thing), and a great singer. Behind this fence (to the right in the photo) was a VIP section. Why would VIPs want to be so far from the stage? To shove it in their Very Important Faces, we sat against the fence and smoked. The young lady smiling at us in the photo soon realized what we were smoking. She and her mullet-sporting friend asked for some, but alas, we weren't about to share it with them. Perhaps if she was better-looking, and her friend was a female sans mullet... ...So we sat back, enjoying the music and the view of the Grant Park streetwall... Band #3: The Flaming Lips. I'm probably biased because they're my favorite band, but this performance was un-friggin-forgettable! Lead singer Wayne Coyne rolls over the crowd in a transparent, plastic bubble: It wouldn't be a Flaming Lips concert without hundreds and hundreds of balloons: This guy was totally stoked: More balloons as the sun sets: This proves, beyond any doubt, that aliens, astronauts, and Santa Clauses can share a single stage. (And, yes, that's Flipper jumping over the crowd.) That giant, inflatable Santa Claus was rocking out! Donning a nun puppet for the "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Part 1" sing-along: Those Martian babes were sexy, but I think some of them were actually men. Is that wrong? (And, yes, that's Batman playing the keyboard.) Handy: Singing "W.A.N.D." through a nuclear megaphone: The set comes to a close: Band #4: Kanye West. Unexpectely good. It didn't hurt having Common and Twista make guest appearances. I couldn't find a solid place to set my camera down for a proper night shot, so you'll have to trust that these psychedelic swirls were on Kanye's stage: After Kanye, we joined the flood of Lollapaloozians heading through the Loop toward Union Station. Unfortunately, we were five minutes late for our 10:35 train, and the next one didn't come until 12:25. A lot of our fellow concertgoers were in the same boat. So we all hung out outside of Union Station and continued the party. This gave me an opportunity to get some decent night shots of the river: Finally 12:25 rolled around and we boarded the Metra back to Morton Grove. 95% of the passengers were from the concert: >

Dexter Building Fire

I saw the smoke in Hazel Crest while driving. "The Dexter Building was a less celebrated design of Sullivan and his partner, Dankmar Adler. A six-story commercial structure, it was built in 1887 as a furniture factory and showroom. But the Commission on Chicago Landmarks has called it "an irreplaceable link in the chain of work of one of the nation's most important architectural partnerships."" Not cool. I know unoccupied buildings invite trouble but the location does make me wonder if it wasn't a quick and dirty around the historic status. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/D/Dexter.html>

Pedestrian streets in Chicago

Talking about pedestrian streets over in SSP had me thinking why not in Chicago? Now we tried the state street deal and have a pseudo ped space in Lincoln Square but generally we don't have one that I can think of. I guess to some degree Lakeshore East and the Chi-Riverwalk might have some semblance of a ped street but not really. Do you want one? Where would be good candidates to have one? Near downtown? In an outer neighborhood? Should one just organically grow? Could one even be planned in one of these new mega developments (Roosevelt Square, University Village etc.). Would you want it completely cut off from auto-traffic or would you just want a street that makes no bones about it being geared towards ped traffic but still allows autos. When I went to NYC and went to St.Marks St in the East Village (think I have the right location) I thought it was real nice and became maybe my favorite street in the whole city. Here is a street that wasn't audacious to close itself off to auto traffic but there is no doubt that it is for the peds and the street life is just vibrant as could be. I also like the ped areas in many a European city though that do close themselves off to auto's (and which has rarely worked in NA). In whatever form they more times then not provide a sense of community, place, serenity, and break from the auto hustle of the rest of the city. So my question is do you want one (or more?) Where and in what form?>

Building/Photography Question

IÂ've been taking pictures for several years of Downtown Chicago, and one thing IÂ've always wanted to do was shoot from up top different buildings like you see in a Photographic tour of Chicago and other books. My dad says that there are buildings you can go into, but neither he nor I know which ones those areÂ… I saw a thread recently where someone shot from the 75th floor of the AON building, can you just walk in? My parents say you need to be a licensed photographer and have written permissionÂ… So I ask the more knowledgeable people, What buildings if any can I go into and shoot from, cause the AON Building looks really coolÂ…>

Lot in front of NBC?

What's going on here? Have there been any proposals? With Trump, Waterview, and the buildings of LSE going up, this is the last open lot on the main branch of the River, except Wolf Point. It seems like this lot should get something, soon.>

Chicago Alumni Bars

Okay I can't help but see so many Alumni bars around Chicago. I just turned 21 so I am not as familiar with them. So here are three questions that I need to ask: 1. Which University is dominating the Alumni Bar scene? 2. Which one is very underepresented? 3. Which is your favorite bar for each Big Ten School? Here are my answers: 1. Ohio State! Whoa, like there are so many of these around. I guess since they are so superior in athletics it makes sense, also since the university itself has such a huge student population, which means more alumni to spread the world. Michigan is a good second, and Iowa takes a third. 2. For being in Illinois I rarely see Illini bars. Maybe I haven't looked well enough but they do not seem to be around. Also Indiana Unviersity is rare as well which is surprising because it is almost just as close to Chicago as UIUC is. 3. Ohio State: The one on Webster is really good. Michigan: Haven't been to one Michigan State: I know the one on Lincoln by Fullerton and Halsted is supposed to be good. Iowa: Went to one in Wirgleyville, can't remember the name, but on Clark close to Addison. Illinois: Haven't been to one. Wisconsin: Haven't been to one. Purdue: Have never seen one. Northwestern: Where is there one? Indiana University: Haven't been to one. Penn State: Must be a rarity in Chicago. Minnesota: Eh>

Chicago--streetcar suburbs?

This thread is inspired by a thread in the midwest forum about Kenosha, WI. It was beautifully revealed that Kenosha has a functioning streetcar. I thought streetcars were completely gone from the Chicago area. Does anybody know if there are other suburbs/towns near Chicago that also have their own streetcar systems?>

What You Love & Hate About the Chicagoland Area Thread

What do you love and hate about the Chicagoland area?>

Chicago Collection

I'm new, so I had posted this in the skyline forum, when I should of posted it here, Hope you enjoy. >