Better Than Hard Candy

At least I thought it was. I was at the Art Institute of Chicago in a small narrow room with colorfully wrapped hard candy heaped down the center of the room when I looked out the window to see this scene. I thought it was at least as valid as the candy.
Tell me what you think please.

I like the idea, it's got potential. Maybe B&W and get perpendicular with the cover. Maybe try close up or maybe wider angle just to see. It's only film or memory. You spotted it and saw the potential, how many people walked by and didn't even see it?

I like what you saw here as well. Has potential, for sure. I'm not sure about the B&W, but just bring out the picture quality a bit more with some adjustments to contrasts, levels etc. . I was going to suggest cropping out the vertical cracks on each side, but I think I like them there as this is. Good contrast to the color ful hard candy huh? :)

try taking the picture at nighttime when the streetlights are there to accent it. ;)

I think it's great as is, but it might be more clear what you were going for if you cropped it to a square, with the two manhole covers equidistant from each corner. That would draw attention to the balance between the two covers, as well as between the curb and the yellow lines. Yes, square can be boring, because it's so geometric and symmetrical - but that's what this photo seems to be.

Thanks for the input.
Tab - this was taken at as wide a shot as the limited zoom on my Canon S30 was capable of. I would have liked to have gotten wider to move the centerline, curb and manholes away from the edges of the frame a little more. I do have a zoomed in view of just the centerline/manhole which I like in a vertical presentation.
Gary - I messed with levels/curves, etc a little and didn't find anything I cared for. Could you show me what you are thinking about? I guess I may be hampered by what I originally saw - just a bland,flat landscape with one splash of color through it with the happy accident of the rotated manhole giving a point of interest. I'm not sure this is interesting enough to stand on its own without knowing about the boring artwork I was comparing it to.
Waxgoblin - I don't think I'll be able to find out what it looks like at night. Thanks for the suggestion.
Treymix - I think you are right about the square crop. I hadn't considered it. I had considered an angled layout but wasn't able to include enough real estate to do that (I thought).

but here's my crop....I really like this and I'm pretty fascinated by the fact you were in a room full of hard candies and someone called it art...makes you wanna go gather a bunch of something dump it in a room and charge admission...

this on the other hand has potential...I liek the simplicity maybe boost the contrast to make the stripes more striking and sharpen a smidge.

here's my take