The other night, we decided to schedule this year's Chicago Gathering on November 12th and 13th (Sat-Sun) in downtown Chicago. Couple of things:

Who's coming? :) We had a good turnout last year, and hope to this year as well. I think a few people stayed at the Westin next to House of Blues which was pretty convenient. I'll get a room there this year!
Is anyone interested in doing a print share this year? Last year, a few of us who did started their own threads with a poll for who wanted what print, usually from a choice of four. Time to think about which ones to use.
Anything in particular that we want to get to? There's a huge list of possibilities in Chicago. We always find things to do but if someone has something they really wantto do, we'll try to work it in.
If you haven't been to the gathering before, it's a lot of fun and a very laid back weekend. We usually walk around downtown and shoot, some people show their work, do the print trade, go out to eat, etc. I'm looking forward to it!

Plan for me to be there ... as of right now, I'm not doing lighting for the university play that weekend. Let's hope it stays that way!

Two days, huh? That'll be cool. Last year I left feeling like there was more we could have done. Is anyone available in the area to set up any studio shooting for us? I'd love to learn about how to set up a controlled environment. But if not, that's OK too.

It might be nice to finally get up in the Sears tower. Otherwise, I don't much mind what we do. Last year was great just wandering around town together.

As for the print exchange, well, I don't think I've printed a single thing since I switched to digital. I don't even know where to go for good-quality prints (although we just got a new Canon PIXMA MP760 Photo printer ... would that be good enough?) So I'm a bit on the fence about whether I'll join in on it. My participation is To Be Determined ....

But I wouldn't miss seeing everyone if I possibly can! Last year was FUN. And hopefully by November my exercise routine will be showing some results ...

So count me in!

This has always looked fun to me:
http://www.bobbysbikehike.com/

This has always looked fun to me:
http://www.bobbysbikehike.com/

This would WAY suck since...I can't ride a bike. shhhh--- don't tell anyone... maybe someone could pull me behind their bike on my rollerblades like Kip and we could all head to Rexkwando
:D

This would WAY suck since...I can't ride a bike. shhhh--- don't tell anyone... maybe someone could pull me behind their bike on my rollerblades like Kip and we could all head to Rexkwando
:D

Aww, come on. We'd have you taking it off some sweet jumps in no time!

This has always looked fun to me:
http://www.bobbysbikehike.com/
Yeah, but in November? You're a diehard (well, my kayak may not be put away for the winter at that point though). I thought about the Chicago River Architectural Tour (you know, the one in the Dave Matthews news story :eek:) but they're done for the season in October.

Kelly, digital just makes printing easier. I make a file at the 8x10 crop and do anything else to it needed in Photoshop. The file can be printed at a grocery store and it'll look great (I've used Woodman's many times). Another alternative is mpix.com and they'll show up at your door in a couple of days. You can do them yourself but you might find that you can get great prints for less time and cost this way (I did).

You can count me in at this point, but that could change down the road. I hope not, buy you know how that goes... I don't really have any ideas of where to go or what to do...

My tastes lean towards nature and landscapes, but I'm open to anything. Some of my first thoughts were some parks, or gardens. Prob. not much for gardens in November tho. Other thoughts were the zoo, or aquariums, museums, those types of things. But like I said, I'm up for anything.

As for the photo exchange, I would be willing to participate if others want to.

Excellent. Booked my flight and room today. I'll be flying into town that Friday (11th) and leaving Monday (14th)...

I like to stay in a different place each year, so this year I booked the Hotel Monaco:

http://www.monaco-chicago.com/index.html

It's a French-style boutique hotel downtown. It appears to be very visual and stylish, so what I may try to do is set up a fashion shoot there for one of the weekend days.

Now, some of you may remember that I set up a shoot last year, but my model bailed on me. That was not a pleasant experience, so no promises this time around... :cool:

Really, Steve, a grocery store would make good prints??

I'll have to get organized and go find a place to do it. Hey, what I AM stoked about is that our new printer makes contact prints! YAY! One more step towards organization!


Trevor, that bike tour looks awesome! Steve's got a point though ... in November we might end up wearing mittens and carrying an umbrella. But if anyone wants to get together informally to do that before it gets too cold, let me know! (Would we have enough time to shoot?)

(Florida) Steve ... did you book the "Party Like A Rock Star" suite?? :D

Steve's right about it being in November. That hadn't occurred to me :o

Frankly, I don't much care what we do. It's just fun to get with a group of people. I'd probably do the print exchange thing as long as it doesn't need to be framed....I hate framing and always cost me a million dollars.

Aww, come on. We'd have you taking it off some sweet jumps in no time!

I'd rather build a cake or something....

Kelly, hard to believe but true. If you do all the prep work and they print it without any adjustments (which is what happens if you use the self-service kiosk and don't make any adjustments yourself), then all you need is a printer that's well maintained. I've had no problems with their prints. WalMart also uses Fuji Frontier printers which is what Woodman's has (closest to you is probably Madison though). Some people from the gathering have stayed Saturday night and since I haven't done that I've missed out on going out for dinner and shooting in evening light. So this year I'm staying!

Steve, great! Hotel Monaco is very cool - stayed at one in Denver a few years ago. My wife has a frequent guest (or whatever it's called) deal with Westin so I may stay there, but I'll look at Monaco too.

Mike, everything natural will be brown (and grey if you include the sky)... Think of it as a challenge!

The other night, we decided to schedule this year's Chicago Gathering on November 12th and 13th (Sat-Sun) in downtown Chicago. Couple of things:

Who's coming? :) We had a good turnout last year, and hope to this year as well. I think a few people stayed at the Westin next to House of Blues which was pretty convenient. I'll get a room there this year!
Is anyone interested in doing a print share this year? Last year, a few of us who did started their own threads with a poll for who wanted what print, usually from a choice of four. Time to think about which ones to use.
Anything in particular that we want to get to? There's a huge list of possibilities in Chicago. We always find things to do but if someone has something they really wantto do, we'll try to work it in.
If you haven't been to the gathering before, it's a lot of fun and a very laid back weekend. We usually walk around downtown and shoot, some people show their work, do the print trade, go out to eat, etc. I'm looking forward to it!

Chicago eh?

I never went to Chicago so far. This could/should be a lot of fun. I can't give a definite answer right now as it will depend on how work is going at that time but I am interested.

Seb

My calender is marked.

Kelly, if your interested in staying over, do you want to split a room? I'm not sure yet if that's a possiblity, but after my drive home last Thursday....

adina

(Florida) Steve ... did you book the "Party Like A Rock Star" suite?? :D


I wanna stay at the Party Like a Rock Star suite!!!

I almost forget. Last Thursday Trevor mentioned the he wanted to hit some clubs while we were down there.

Chicks dig guys with moves.

I almost forget. Last Thursday Trevor mentioned the he wanted to hit some clubs while we were down there.

Chicks dig guys with moves.

I'll bring the glow sticks!!!

I wanna stay at the Party Like a Rock Star suite!!!

ANYWHERE I stay ultimately becomes a Party Like a Rock Star Suite... :cool:

Ah, who am I kidding? I'm as quiet as a church mouse and always on my best behavior when I travel... :)

Then again, both the Diva and Ooh Baby Baby packages look pretty enticing... ;)

http://www.monaco-chicago.com/html/specialsPackages.htm

ANYWHERE I stay is in essence becomes a Party Like a Rock Star Suite. Ah, who am I kidding? I'm as quiet as a church mouse and always on my best behavior when I travel... :)

Then again, both the Diva and Ooh Baby Baby packages look pretty enticing... ;)

http://www.monaco-chicago.com/html/specialsPackages.htm

Yeah, the ones to look out for are Loren and Irakly. Those two attract security like honey attracts bees. Or something.

Steve,

You should just use our Self-Portrait Queen (Adina) as your model. She pretty much hammed it up for us last year, and it would allow everybody to learn.

Of course, a real shoot would be exciting also.

Lorenzo

...the Honorary Mayor of Little Warsaw. :p

So, those dates are kosher-ific with you? :confused:

...the Honorary Mayor of Little Warsaw. :p

So, those dates are kosher-ific with you? :confused:

Yup, I'm in.

Steve, You should just use our Self-Portrait Queen (Adina) as your model.

That should work out fine, as long as she has no objection to the Victoria's Secret outfits I picked out for the shoot... :eek: :cool:

Chicago eh?

I never went to Chicago so far. This could/should be a lot of fun. I can't give a definite answer right now as it will depend on how work is going at that time but I am interested.

Seb


It's a great town. I grew up in the suburbs of the city, and there is a ton of stuff to do.

Check out this hotel:

http://www.hardrockhotelchicago.com/
They appear to have a weekend rate of $209 that weekend.


This is a COOL building. The building used to have one of the largest Louis Comfort Tiffany Stained glass windows in existence.I believe the window is in one of the real expensive suites now, not sure. Free Internet, plasma or wide screen TV's in every room. The rooms have awesome views of the river and Mag Mile from the south. Yeah, I like this hotel. After the demise of the original Nikko this was a welcome addition and saved a very important building.

November 12 & 13 are in my PDA, on the Calendar and in the phone. Train reservations are in the works.

The BEARS are home that weekend so Grant/Millenium Park and the Loop may be a little busy.

More soon regarding activity suggestions. I've got a load of good places to eat in Chicago.

That should work out fine, as long as she has no objection to the Victoria's Secret outfits I picked out for the shoot... :eek: :cool:


Ummm.....hmmmm....ahhh....


I'll let you know how my treadmilling goes. :(

I just canceled my Vietnam trip in October, and replaced it with a November trip to Oaxaca, Mexico.

Just spent every dime I had on camera and lighting equipment, that I can barely afford coffee. I look forward to seeing the studio images of Adina!!! :D

Loren

We hung out near that hotel quite a bit last year. I remember seeing it from the outside and thinking it looked like a real cool building. Great facade and marquee. I also admire Tiffany stained glass, and appreciate you sharing that bit of history...

Unfortunately, I kinda detest the Hard Rock Cafe. I don't particularly like franchise restaurants to begin with (ah, don't get me started on Starbucks, heh heh), and I've always felt HRC was one of the silliest and most pretentious ones going.

Sure, I realize this is a VERY upscale and cool version of Hard Rock, but it's Hard Rock nonetheless. I'm really not sure if I could enjoy being in that atmosphere or not... :(

I don't particularly like franchise restaurants to begin with (ah, don't get me started on Starbucks, heh heh), :(


Starbucks is evil, second only to Wal-Mart, with McD's coming in a close third.

The BEARS are home that weekend so Grant/Millenium Park and the Loop may be a little busy.
Ooh - that's good to know! HRC Hotel, The Westin and Monaco are pretty close to each other so that should work out pretty well. Keep the ideas coming and well see what we can work out. Sears Tower would be cool and I haven't been there since I was a kid. I guess it depends on the weather though!

Will it be more difficult to get a hotel downtown with the Bears playing at home that weekend? Meaning, should we reserve early?

Starbucks is NOT evil. Nowhere near the evility of Wal-Mart, McD's and Microsoft.

... although Caribou Coffee is much, much better IMO ...

I couldn't be happier to give my money to Starbucks, considering how well they treat their employees. Part-time workers get good wages and full-time benefits. Wal-Mart employees get life insurance taken out on them that only Wal-Mart can claim, among other questionable practices, so yeah, they are evil...

I just canceled my Vietnam trip in October...

Sorry to hear that, Loren. Seems like that was an important trip for you. Guess you'd better start making money with your new gear so you have the resources to make the trip later!... :cool:

I couldn't be happier to give my money to Starbucks, considering how well they treat their employees...

...I like to support the working joe as much as the next guy. I just feel that these super-franchise places are cookie-cutter blood suckers that rob a community of its local color.

I guess my point about HRC is that I truely dislike THEME restaurants (especially with a phoney rock theme), where a carnival atmosphere and the show the help puts on overshadows everything else. Give me ambience and atmosphere over flash anytime... :)

That being said, can't wait to hit Harry Caray's again: http://www.harrycarays.com

Yeah, a theme place to be sure, but uniquely Chicago and great food. Besides, the exception proves the rule, right? :cool:

Sorry to hear that, Loren. Seems like that was an important trip for you. Guess you'd better start making money with your new gear so you have the resources to make the trip later!... :cool:I am actually planning on spending an entire month next summer in Vietnam to travel from the North to the South where my mom's home village is.

Money was too tight, and time was too short so the value wasn't there for this trip. Travel times between cities and locations take so long. For next year with more time it should be better, and plus once you get there, money goes a long way. I'm sure that it will be happen since my mom, brother, and my Karen will be going.

I'm excited about Mexico and to see a more traditional mexican life.

Loren

The other night, we decided to schedule this year's Chicago Gathering on November 12th and 13th (Sat-Sun) in downtown Chicago. Couple of things:

Who's coming? :) We had a good turnout last year, and hope to this year as well. I think a few people stayed at the Westin next to House of Blues which was pretty convenient. I'll get a room there this year!
Is anyone interested in doing a print share this year? Last year, a few of us who did started their own threads with a poll for who wanted what print, usually from a choice of four. Time to think about which ones to use.
Anything in particular that we want to get to? There's a huge list of possibilities in Chicago. We always find things to do but if someone has something they really wantto do, we'll try to work it in.
If you haven't been to the gathering before, it's a lot of fun and a very laid back weekend. We usually walk around downtown and shoot, some people show their work, do the print trade, go out to eat, etc. I'm looking forward to it!

I would like to meet you all. where is the gathering piont going to be?
Mark.

Last year we gathered in the hotel lobby where Loren was staying, and then walked to where we were going. I think that type of arrangement would work well again.

That's probably best - I guess we'll see who's staying where and what's most convenient and central for everybody. We'll get that figured out - but if it's at a different time than you want to meet, we could meet up with you or anyone else later, too. We're pretty flexible!

Nothing really set yet as far as times or itenerary (if that's what you call what we do! ;) ). I really just wanted to set the date and get people thinking about what they want to do for now.

Can I come and play too. I'll be in Chitown November 10-13 with a bunch of my student journalist types. The biggest problem will be that I might be the only chaperone for the group. My print counterpart is going to a family members wedding. I will be up there with a bunch of my video kids and a few still shooters from the yearbook and newspaper, all 9 -12 graders. We'll be attending the NSPA fall seminar. The link is below. PLEASE come and have dinner some place near so that I can attend with entourage in tow, but stashed at the kiddie table?
http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/pdf/chicagopromo.pdf

You can count me in! I have some vacation time saved up so I may make it a three or four day weekend. I'll be with a freind and I have some relatives in the area, so I'll try to make the most of whatever time I have to spend there.
Mark.

We had a meeting today at work, and it looks like there is a pretty good chance that I'm going to be working that weekend. It's still a ways off, but mid Oct-mid Dec is our bussiest time of the year. With 60% of our staff gone after the restructuring this past spring, I imagine I will be putting in a lot of overtime this winter. If nothing else, I may be able to drive down for the day on Sunday, or come down late Sat. afternoon. It's going to be a wait and see game for me.

If you have not read the "News and Rumors" area, Kelly posted this Just Show Me How (http://forums.photographyreview.com/showthread.php?t=14657) note on 9.26.2005. That's the Chicago Gathering Weekend!

We might get a lot of people to come to the "gathering" at this rate, at least one day or the other.

So far I've found three other Photog's (I hope they start posting some day instead of lurking) who seem interested in wandering around Chicago.

I use Kevin's book quite a lot. That just might be worth attending on Sunday...

BTW, here's the official website for the seminars:

http://www.justshowmehowpro.com/

I'll try to make it a one of those days.....I need to escape Ft. McCoy

~ Hieu

OK, I guess procrastination doesn't pay. :rolleyes: I just booked my room at the Westin River North, which is where we all met last year. Prices went up a bit in the last month, and seems to be the case for all of them in the area. Best deal now is probably here or the Holiday Inn on Ohio. House of Blues looks really cool, and Hotel Monaco will always be good too. All of these are within a few-ish blocks of each other.

I'll probably skip the seminar on Sunday, but it does look very informative.

"I'll probably skip the seminar on Sunday, but it does look very informative..."

Yep. It didn't take long for me to realize my time in Chicago is infinitely more valuable than a photo workshop. Besides, it looks like he's just covering the material in his book...

"I just booked my room at the Westin River North, which is where we all met last year..."

Cool. Let's make that our "home base" again. And I swear, the fact that they have a delicious microbrew on tap in their bar was NOT a factor in my choice... ;)

Now, all you guys have to work on is getting me some snow. But not TOO MUCH! :D

[B]

Now, all you guys have to work on is getting me some snow. But not TOO MUCH! :D


Snow? We're at 85 degrees here in October! Of course we'll have snow by then. Probably a good foot and a half.

OK, here's how the list looks now. Do I have this right?

Yes: Kelly, Trevor, Steve H (Asylum Steve), Sebastian, Adina, drg, Mark (mdmc), Michael (MJS, at least for dinner) and Hieu (HBT, Sebastian's friend?).

Maybe: Mike (MJS1973) and Seb (from Montreal)

No: Natalie and Loren (Racing Pinarello)

Mike, hope it works out with the job but I imagine this time of year is pretty busy for you. Anyone else is welcome to join us too, either for the whole weekend, a couple hours, or whatever works. Post here if you're interested.

Guess it's time to start thinking a little more about this... Microbrew? That's a good start!

...for a PHOTO GANG! :cool:

I say we go around the neighborhood scaring small children and old folks with our cameras...

Wait a minute...that's what we did LAST YEAR!... :D

say we go around the neighborhood scaring small children and old folks with our cameras...Sounds good! I've been interested in doing something like this in Chinatown but haven't made it there myself other than a quick drive-by. We could probably take the "EL" there, but I have no idea how that works...

Steve, if you're serious about checking out China-town, it's easy to get to by train.

Sebastian and I had dinner there a couple of years back. Unfortunately, we went on a Sunday night (uh yeah, the best time to have dinner, eh?), and everything was closed except a few restaurants.

I'd really like to see it during the day when all the shops are open, so maybe we could figure something out...

I had my first visit to Chinatown this past weekend. Went to a reception for a Chinese wedding...it was a lot of fun. Like a 16 course freaking dinner. Chinatown is photogenic...but surprisingly small.

Did someone say micro-brewery?!

Goose Island ! ! !

Does Goose Island do a brewery tour?

Mmm... Beer... Good question, I'll check it out. I've gotta pull out some maps to figure out what will work, time-wise. I don't know if we can hit both Goose Island (and tour, possibly) and Chinatown, still having enough time in both places to make it worthwhile. I'm hoping to use the "el" so we can all keep together. Taking three or four cars would be a real hassle!

Any more suggestions?

The EL would be the best option since it is cheap to get around. There isn't much in the way of cheap or ample parking anywhere in the City. And that doesn't include city traffic.

I think the EL is $1.75 per use, and that includes free transfers to other lines.

Hello everyone, I would like to join everyone for this trip. I'm coming from Northwest Indiana and it will give me a chance to use my new camera. I just got a canon s1 is and that would be great to talk to everyone for input on taking pictures as I'm new to digital.

It does sound like it would be a good time. What weekend is it again?

We are planning for the weekend of the 12th of November.

Whose planning on making Saturday?

We are planning for the weekend of the 12th of November.

Whose planning on making Saturday?

Hey, I can make it on the 12th! Uh, what city was it again? :D ;) :D

Hey, I can make it on the 12th! Uh, what city was it again? :D ;) :D


I think they were talking somewhere in Flordia...right around Disneyworld.


Also Steve, thanks for your email help the past few months. I've just picked up a copy of a magazine with my photo in it. Hurray! Once it's my turn on the desktop, I'm going to scan and post the page.

adina

I am (as of this moment) planning on trying to come in to the Loop late Friday Night. Like to get an EARLY start and shoot some buildings and maybe Navy Pier if the weather is not beastly as the sun comes up. I need a new photo of the Sun rising inside of the Ferris Wheel. The angle may be tough or clouds . . .

Not to knock Chinatown, but remember, this is Chicago! You've got the opportunity to see some of the greatest urban architecture anywhere in the world. Not to mention both Grant and Lincoln parks in the near Loop area. Also, if you haven't seen the Picasso you should.
The EL is easy, the maps now work and the signage is much improved. Bring singles, as the vending machines don't give change and there are not live people to help at all stops.

I'm thinking about a walking tour of Statuary in the downtown area including the Picasso and the various war memorials, building adornments (that haven't fallen off recently) and other such special stuff. Bring your wide angles! They don't really have to be that wide for what I've got in mind for the most part.

This is the last holiday for the Grand Dame of State Street, Marshall Field's is going to be converted to MACY"s :mad: Windows probably won't be fully decorated, but think about checking out the building.

Tomorrow evening when I get done with work (yaaaah IT'S MOD '05, see postings :D ) and a birthday party I'll post some more possibilities.

drg, that sounds great! Spending most of my life less than two hours from downtown, I don't know it as well as I should.

The only thing about the parks is that they'll be shut down for the winter and usually we end up with grey skies (like Kodak grey card grey...:)), but I'm sure there are still possibilities there. I guess I'm thinking more along the lines of urban stuff - plus there's the EL for easy/cheap transportation (and it's own photo possibilities) and the possibility of stopping for coffee, etc.

[I am (as of this moment) planning on trying to come in to the Loop late Friday Night....]

Cool. I'll be in Friday as well. You're welcome to join me and whomever else is around for drinks or dinner...

[Not to knock Chinatown, but remember, this is Chicago! You've got the opportunity to see some of the greatest urban architecture anywhere in the world. Not to mention both Grant and Lincoln parks in the near Loop area...]

Very true, but you have to remember that for some of us, this is the third or fourth time visiting the city. We always hit both of those parks for a bit, but at this point I don't think I want to spend hours there.

BTW, I'm totally with you on the architecture. One of my goals is to shoot some strong urban landscapes this year...

[Like to get an EARLY start and shoot some buildings and maybe Navy Pier if the weather is not beastly as the sun comes up. I need a new photo of the Sun rising inside of the Ferris Wheel. The angle may be tough or clouds...]

Well, at this point I think I'm allergic to Navy Pier, heh heh. Way too much of a tourist trap. As for the skies, I don't think we'll know until that weekend. Each year I've been up there, there has been great variety in the weather, with plenty of sunshine as well as cloud cover.

Makes things interesting, as you really have to think about the light and what you're trying to shoot, as well as the small window in which to shoot it...

BTW2, being a Mitsubishi man from way back (Starion owner in late 80's), I'm curious as to what that MOD'05 thing is all about...

The parks are a good jumping off point for many of the more photogenic areas of the downtown area. Grant Park gives you (in the AM certainly) the best views of Michigan Avenue south of the River, the Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Natural History Museum, the Standard Oil Building (my favorite 1000' building), the Lake Towers(silhouetted against the lake in the morning), and on and on. Not to far south is Soldier's Field (will post a pic of the Spaceship that crashed if I haven't), McCormick Place and more!

Lincoln Park itself whether its the zoo, the boat sheds, or the various apartment complexs surrounding it also provide great urban landscapes. The north end of Lincoln Park is a treasure trove of 'stuff'(a technical term). Among other things is the Elks National Building (I can't remember the exact title, will look it up) which is a Greek Revival monument. There's also several pieces of statuary that aren't listed too many places in both Parks. Buckingham Fountain after it is shut down for winter, if covered with snow is still neat.

Grant Park also puts one close to the new Library, a truly entertaining place to see! Golden Gargoyles or the like (I think phoenix's really) and glass expanses both inside and out. Just south of there(Congress) is Printer's Row, an area rehabbed in the past ten years or so that wanders off down toward the river with various attempts at brightly colored exteriors and overdone somnolent facades.

Navy Pier is one of the better places (even in the winter) to shoot back down the River. Which reminds me, a walk along the river might be interesting.

There's the Picasso in the central Loop area, and banks, the Board of Trade and Federal Reserve (which if we are sly we can photograph and not bring out the Federales), and then west of the Loop for the Sears Tower, AMEX, the new AT&T building and again on and on.

I kind of need to know if you want new building, classic/revival buildings, one of a kind (like the Thompson Center), churches/synagogues, architectural features (clocks, plazas, elevations, entryways, facades,) or whatever.

I'll pull together a list of specific possibilities beyond what I've mentioned. If you're interested.

Now all of this presupposes that the weather isn't too foul. I'll let others sort of decide as I'm rather use to and comfortable with most anything less than a full blizzard or an ice storm.

There's a couple of options indoors with Botanical Gardens (depends on what's showing) and the Pier may have a floral show that weekend, I'll work on that this upcoming week. Riding certain trains either north or south can provide some tremendous picture opportunities as well if that's your thing.

Chicago has a lot of neighborhoods (Parishes in one vernacular) that have fascinating possibilities. If you look at Chicago Magazine, it will give you a good start on what might grab your fancy. It's somewhat regional but I've seen it across the country over the years.

If you want to travel very far - Chicago Transit Information (http://www.yourcta.com) is a good link to start with, though it can make the fare process sound a lot more complicated than it is. Just stuff money in the machines, get a transit card and off you go!

More soon.

I kind of need to know if you want new building, classic/revival buildings, one of a kind (like the Thompson Center), churches/synagogues, architectural features (clocks, plazas, elevations, entryways, facades,) or whatever.

I'll pull together a list of specific possibilities beyond what I've mentioned. If you're interested.


Hey I truely appreciate your offer for help, but in this case I don't mind just wandering around looking at what I see, and seeing what I look at. I find I work much better that way, and besides, I know Chicago well enough by now that it shouldn't be too difficult.

For me, the lighting and the "scene" is much more important than any particular buildings or architectual features. My choices will be governed mostly by the cloud cover, and I won't know what that is until the morning I go out...

Thanks again... :cool:

Hey I truely appreciate your offer for help, but in this case I don't mind just wandering around looking at what I see, and seeing what I look at. I find I work much better that way, and besides, I know Chicago well enough by now that it shouldn't be too difficult.

For me, the lighting and the "scene" is much more important than any particular buildings or architectual features. My choices will be governed mostly by the cloud cover, and I won't know what that is until the morning I go out...

Thanks again... :cool:

Your welcome. Sometimes the 'random walk' is the most fun as well. Perhaps we'll all get lucky and have some sun and clouds. If it's too flat it can just get grey that time of year.

Something to whet everyone's appetite(so to speak), I dug this up from last summer:


Chicago snap (http://gallery.photographyreview.com/showphoto.php?photo=18045)

Will work on a list this coming weekend of some interesting possibilites for those interested.

By the way, anybody have a particular ethnic food favorite for a restaurant choice?

Ethnic food? Who eats that?

But if you must know...the best resturaunt in the city is Dick's Last Resort. :D Surliest waitstaff you'll ever meet.

One thing to be careful of in the city is that neighborhoods can go from good to bad in a couple of blocks. This isn't a problem in the loop as long as you stay away from Lower Wacker Drive (at least I think it isn't), but if you start taking the EL around to other spots in the city, you need to be careful.

That said, Chicago has some very ethnic neighborhoods. Greektown, Chinatown, and Devon Avenue near California all come to mind. Devon Ave, in particular, goes from Indian to Arabic to Russian in the span of four blocks (it was an interesting experience when my college's honors program when down to that neighborhood....talk about standing out in a crowd...nothing beats a group of students from Wisconsin that are freaking out). I think these would make interesting places for some street photography.

By the way, anybody have a particular ethnic food favorite for a restaurant choice?
How about Thai? Star of Siam (http://www.starofsiamchicago.com/) on Illinois would be a good lunch stop - very good, fresh stuff and cheap. It can be spicy, or not if you choose. It's even better when you're driving, they validate parking at $6 for 3 hours. That's probably 1/4 of what it would usually cost around there.

OTOH, there are so many good places that maybe we should see where we want to be first. DRG, thanks for helping out. I don't know downtown that well but would still like to fit Chinatown into the weekend at some point. Wherever we can get to by the "el" and not deal with driving gets my vote...

I'm down as a "call in" for work on the 12th, so that is still up in the air. What's the plan for Sunday? I might be able to hook up with everyone sometime Sunday. Has anyone put together an itinerary as to where the group will be during the weekend or you still figuring that out? I'm only about 3 hours from the city, but I have never been there, other than the airport. So being with a group that knows the city would be a great opportunity that I would hate to miss out on.

I'm gonna guess that Sunday will be more "see how it goes" than Saturday. I guess it also depends how late Saturday night goes too... ;)

I'll PM you my cell #, call me on that Saturday and we might have a little better idea of what's going on.

So far it looks like I'm in the same boat as Michael. My girlfriend just informed me that a friend of hers is getting married on Sat. the 12th. I would love to join everyone on Sunday as I live only 45 minutes away and spend the day walking around the city.