May 4, 2010
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America’s Prettiest City
It’s called “The City of Big Shoulders“, “The Windy City” and “Second City“, but I simply call Chicago, home. I’ve always considered it the prettiest city in America. and Google apparently agrees with me; as my blog entry from my last visit home is the #1 Google hit for “Prettiest City in America“. Unfortunately, even though I could make Chicago the “ugliest” city in America with a few keystrokes; Mayor Daley has yet to pay me for this awesome free advertising!!
It was a whirlwind week. I flew in Monday, snapping photos from the plane with my fisheye lens. I took the train into the city in time for the “blue hour” capturing Michigan Avenue in all its tulip decked glory. Tuesday and Wednesday I attended a business conference at the Hyatt Regency, then spent the night with Mike & Marc in their beautiful new condo across from the Sears Tower and the old Post Office over the Eisenhower Expressway. Thursday I visited my dear aunt on the North Shore and ate like a king. My fondest childhood memories are with my Aunty Gee Gee. Friday I ventured out to the far western suburbs to see my mother and niece. I also got to meet up with some old friends I haven’t seen in 20 years. We had a wonderful visit and I flew home last night. Here are some highlights from my trip to sweet home Chicago.
The views from dinner on the 95th floor of the Hancock and from Marc & Mike’s apartment across from the old Post Office
Photos with my fisheye lens, make for a neat effect from the air
More fun effects from the center of Michigan Ave with the Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower in the background
The Chicago River from the Michigan Ave. Bridge
Chicago at night
Abe Froman, the Sausage King of Chicago!
The view from the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock
The obligatory shot in front of Kapoor’s, Cloud Gate, affectionately known as “The Bean”
The Aon Center, which I knew as The Standard Oil Building as a kid
Dinner with Marc & Mike near the University of Chicago, Circle Campus
A reenactment of a photo I took of my aunt in 25 years ago in Colorado as shown below
Carey & Aunty Gee Gee – Colorado 1985
And here’s one from 1975 when I was 10
My beautiful niece, Nicole
Elburn, IL
The field where Superman crashed to earth??
The neighbor kids with my brother’s awesome dog, Cheyenne
When I think of home
I think of a place where there’s love overflowing
I wish I was home
I wish I was back there with the things I been knowingWind that makes the tall trees bend into leaning
Suddenly the snowflakes that fall have a meaning
Sprinklin’ the scene, makes it all clean…
Comments (21)
Such nice photos of the Windy City! That was Carey in 1985!! What a handsome lad! haha~
@CurryPuffy - Thanks Gary!
You were such a pretty boy Carey!
I really like that photo- your aunt in white and the wind blowing up her skirt has got such a dramatic Monroe modelesque feel to it. 
Great photos as always.
you’re lucky that you can still go home again and have it still be home – for many, that’s not the case – for me home has been gone for almost 30 years now. though the house i grew up in still stands, the roots have been ripped out and moved elsewhere and the loved ones of my childhood have moved on too. glad you had a great time. peace, Al
@Dezinerdreams - Yeah, I’ve always loved that photo of my aunt. Hard to believe she’s 60 in that picture!
@pukemeister - To me, home is people, not places
@CareyGLY - OMG! 60??!!! That’s almost impossible… you’ve very good genes running in the family for sure!
@Dezinerdreams - I just scanned another picture I found of my aunt and added it here :)
Woahhhh, never knew about that whole first rank Google search thing! If I put in “the best hotel in the United States” will the Hotel Careyfornia pop up?
@pxlspy01 - I like the way you think CJ! Wanna be my PR guy?? At least the Google Image Search works: http://images.google.com/images?num=100&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&q=Hotel%20Careyfornia&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi
nice chicago… ops your aunt!! very sexy ya back in 1985 when i was only 4yrs old
When you said your mother lives in far western sub, i almost gasped. My son and daughter in law live in Geneva and Shelley ( DIL) is from Elburn!! Next time you come down to Chicago Carey, you have to let me know.
The pictures are magnificent.
@lcfu - LOL…I graduated from high school in 1983
@ZSA_MD - Oh wow, I didn’t know that. My Mom moved from Schaumburg to Elburn several years ago. It’s pretty out there…but so far!
Hey buddy! Long time no talk! Hope you and Hotel Careyfornia’s doing great!
@ieatworksleep - Wow, it has been a long time! I’m doing great…hope you are too! Thanks for stopping by!
Chicago is so beautiful! I can’t wait to go one day and walk around downtown :) i’m glad u had a good trip back at your hometown :D
@aliceandrandy - Let me know when you go!
Great shots.
P.S.- Thanks for stopping by.
@A_NY_Zone61 - Thanks…looks like you’re a movie buff too, like Tony. Thanks for dropping in!
@CareyGLY - You’re welcome, feel free to subscribe.
It’s not the Sears Tower anymore :( But next time you’re in IL, I want to try to make it up north to you!
@Michelle - I’ll always call in the Sear’s Tower Beechie!