Great views from the hotel! If you look to the right of the pic of the snowplow you will see that the truck blocks a walkway. Thus is to keep people from driving over the curb and plowing into attendees. This maddening reality is even true in Canada - especially when the event is slightly controvesial. (PRIDE in Toronto has dump trucks at every intersection)
So a low tech security device in a world run amuck.
Logical answer but its great shame that such extents are required Other snow ploughs were observed within a close distance of the event normally parked up 2 or 3 inline
Great views from the hotel! If you look to the right of the pic of the snowplow you will see that the truck blocks a walkway. Thus is to keep people from driving over the curb and plowing into attendees. This maddening reality is even true in Canada - especially when the event is slightly controvesial. (PRIDE in Toronto has dump trucks at every intersection)
So a low tech security device in a world run amuck.
Logical answer but its great shame that such extents are required Other snow ploughs were observed within a close distance of the event normally parked up 2 or 3 inline
a great shame indeed. I am constantly struck by the number of people who look at the state of the world and seem to think 'hmmmm how can I make this worse?'
(off to do less cynical things like work on cars) cheers
Post by grumpynorthener on Aug 19, 2022 21:37:51 GMT
The following morning we went in search of breakfast
Via the river walk
And very pleasant it was too
Alongside the river sits a three tier road system - the upper tier allows access to the ground floors of offices & retail spaces - The middle tier is a underpass route that is there to bypass the congestion of the city (if only) and the lower level (which is a vast cavern) allows access to the loading bays & service areas of the buildings
Another recovery truck spot
More river front stuff
States style breakfast procured
Now fed we moved on
So firstly spot the radial parking bays on the lower levels of the circular building
Then look closely and spot the man rider system for traveling between the floors - simply step on & hold on - then step off has you arrive at your required floor
So now just a few casual spots as we head off to look at certain building
U-Haul is the US version of our Europcar
Chicago also has a below ground rail / subway system but its not one that we felt the need to explore
Our destination for a few hours is The Rookery Building
A little history, in 1871 much of Chicago city was destroyed by the great fire the vast majority of buildings were constructed of timber and just 2 stories high - some 18,000 buildings were lost - Much rebuilding of the city ensued but this time with masonry - The Rookery building composed of a steel skeletal frame clad with masonry at 10 stories high and built in 1886 - this was the worlds first skyscraper
However, our planned visit to this building is not for the fact that its the worlds first skyscraper
The reason we are here is our appreciation of the architect 'Frank Lloyd Wright'
The building houses a visitor centre for the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust - Wright didn't design the building but was commissioned to redesign the ground & first floor of the building in 1905
This he undertook to stunning effect (well in our eyes he did)
Post by grumpynorthener on Aug 21, 2022 19:39:57 GMT
After lunch we headed off to look at the contents of a famous Chicago building
But took in the enroute sights & sounds - Electric bikes & scooters are freely available but we walked the shortish distance to our next venue
Open top guided bus tours like in most major city's are available but we have a different type of tour planned for later today
Retro van spot
Buses of all types including the bendy type ply there trade across the city
Street bands & buskers also ply their trade across the city - some are rubbish but these were pretty dam excellent
Destination arrival - I know another museum 'The Art Institute of Chicago' - But its a 2 way street and I cant go dragging Mrs GN around car shows / car museums without her having some form of payback - rightfully so, she wanted look at the textile & costume displays which just so happened to be closed due to a new installation occurring at time of our visit.
So we singled out some joint interest's
The miniature rooms are exactly what it states - rooms crafted & displayed in miniature in a number of styles & periods - my 2 favourites were this English art deco lounge of circa 1935
Along with this period kitchen / dining room of circa 1900
So whilst everyone else wondered around looking at the stuff that doesn't appeal to me (like the Monet's in the above pic)
I found some bits of architecture that peaked my own interest's (Mrs GN appreciates it too)
Not too many pieces on display but enough to get Mrs GN plotting on where she could incorporate a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired leaded glass window into the chapel at home
We were well aware that within the collection were a number of 'Arts & Crafts' period pieces - this stunning piano is by the legendry MH Ballie Scott (I know you've not heard him - but a great architect & designer of his period)
The side cupboard is also by him
Wall candle sconces by Benson - a very talented designer / metalworker of the period - we own several pieces of Benson but nothing that is this good
A Archibald Know bowl - Knox retailed his work through Liberty's in London - again we own several pieces but nothing on this scale
The collection also held a couple of Rennie Mackintosh exhibits (Very famous Scottish architect & designer)
The silver bowl & spoon are by another famous architect / designer CR Ashbee - I would dearly love something like this in my collection but its way out of my price range
There is so much more displayed amongst the various galleries & exhibition halls
Some were of interesting form like this early modular bathroom & kitchen shells
Fully fitted into a fibreglass box - manufactured to accelerate the many building processes of an apartment over that of conventional construction - I'd hate think what the fire rating on the fibreglass is
We had a wonder through the vast spaces
Some stuff (I think they call it an installation) was thought provoking enough for me to ask some deep questions like, 'Is this really necessary' or 'Just think what you could have really achieved in your life had you not wasted your time on this' But hey, each to their own and all that
Damion Hurst - Anyone ? - Nope ? Not for me either
I found the fact that the over ground mainline travelled under the Art Institute more interesting
Right then lets get out of this place we have other things that want to head off to see
Post by grumpynorthener on Aug 24, 2022 8:39:58 GMT
Some more sights
Cant say that I've seen one of these before today as a mode of transport
Everything goes here - spot the neon blue illuminated wheels on the pick up - More to the point spot the madness of the un-helmeted - motorbike rider
The music festival taken from the hotel window
There's a good number of fire stations around - this was just opposite our hotel - Note the separate listings on the sign
And they like their engines shiny
One of the best ways to see Chicago is by boat
A good number of these ply their trade with guided tours
We booked the tour that looked the most organised & informative and headed off in the late afternoon
There are 2 rivers that confluence hence you get to see a fair bit of the city
Don't be fooled by the fact that its green powered they were all too busy drinking to be pedalling - there is a small outboard motor with someone steering / navigating whom I assume remains sober because it's a very busy river with the all tour boats
Boat tour completed we headed back to wards the hotel in search of a eatery
Some odd things that they have that we don't back in the UK - Above ground fire hydrants provide good tripping points (Ours are housed in below ground chambers with a manhole cover over them)
Strange door-less 4 X 4 thing
Food source located - When they state deep pan pizza they mean it - We would call it a pie in the UK
that is quite a pizza! But seriously, tripping over a fire hydrant? How much were you drinking on that tour boat?! (Don't forget, in 'Merica the hydrant has to peak above the snow banks. (In Canada we are required by law to clear our sidewalks and around fire hydrants within 24 hours of snow)
Post by grumpynorthener on Aug 26, 2022 8:37:31 GMT
A few sights after heading back to the hotel laden with pizza
Some idea of the clever road tier system that Chicago has - we are on the 3rd level looking down the 2nd & 1st - then there's a ground level underneath which serves as a access to the service & loading areas of the buildings
And the following morning
Hmm - $10 (£8.50) for a bottle of water in your hotel room - That wont be happening!
I'd picked up a few US classic car mags
Compared to the UK & European market mags dedicated to our passion they are rubbish
Very poor quality and filled with completely irrelevant advertising
Last day in Chicago
So various street scene spots
Some of the retail outlets are quite comically named
Rather him than me
Note the fold up rack on the front of the bus - this drops down to form a horizontal rack on which you place bicycle - then hop on the bus to your desired stop - hop off and back on the bike to final destination - sorted
Post by grumpynorthener on Aug 26, 2022 21:35:36 GMT
So we wait for a train on the platform - Now out in the States its known as the 'L Train' - why L ? because its short for elevated
Some of the system dates back to 1892 - today its one the largest & busiest rapid rail mass transit systems in the States
Large sections of the infrastructure are sill constructed of wood - like the platforms
Trains are electric operating on a live rail system
We are off to a Chicago suburb that's known as 'Oak Park'
Some casual spots as we walk to our intended destination
Yep that's the entire street closed to allow the residents to party
Complete with basketball & bouncy castle - couldn't see the bar or the BBQ but surely they must have been in attendance
So why 'Oak Park' - well it just happens to be the original home & studio of this previously mentioned chap
We have been here before but 2 decades ago
We are obviously inspired and big fans of the Frank Lloyd Wright movement because we wanted to see it again - this time though we chose a guided tour of other properties that he designed within the locality - first stop was his own house & studio
Not only did he design the house but all of the furniture & furnishings
This is the children's playroom - given the era that it was designed & built in - they wanted for nothing
So you want your children to learn piano but don't really have room for one
So you get inventive
And hang it in over the unused space above a staircase
Back downstairs
Past the kitchen
We then head into the adjacent studio
Here FLW would oversee the designs of small team of talented architects that he employed
Fine details of FLW's work are stamped throughout
The house and studio were built over a period time with several modifications & additions
The final addition was the garage which now forms the visitor reception centre & shop for the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust
And in opposing corners the original hand cranked petrol pumps that supplied fuel for his cars can still be found
Love Frank Lloyd Wright houses! (and did the same tour when I was there with Mrs JP - or more accurately I was there with her) You really can't live in them though can you? Took me a couple of houses to realize there really isn't room to hang a picture. Keep the pics coming.
Post by grumpynorthener on Aug 29, 2022 10:34:19 GMT
Frank Lloyd Wright can put his name to some 1,000 plans of which approximately half were actually built
Around 20% of the properties built are all within the Oak Park area
Our guide took us on a street tour - detailing each residence
Every property carried its influence
With uniquely styled details - sometimes not obvious until pointed out
Note the rebate opening in the wall - which provided level access to & from the porch area into the horse drawn carriage - A detail which was appreciated especially by the ladies in their long dresses of the period
My personal favourite being this red brick low build which dates from the early 1900's - It could be built today and wouldn't look out of place
Ok enough of the architecture stuff lets get back to general spots & car related stuff
Now try making sense of this - first 2 are fine but even dates and snow being 2 foot deep - what happens when the snow is 1'9 7/8 does a man come round and measure it before towing your car ?
Even the small campers are big
And the small 4x4's are has wide as they are long
Now we need to get back to the hotel and collect our stuff - already booked out this morning and Sharon's brother is enroute to collect us
Here's why - this is Toronto's snow clearing protocol - Chicago's will be similar so they get a clear shot a plowing
and yes it happens....
Ah - Ok apologies with me getting my feet mixed up with my inches but hang on bank cards that are 8cm thick ! Must have some pretty wide wallets over there - our bank cards here are just a few mm thick
Absolutely love all that cast iron in the Rookery building. Stunning decorative architecture and the highlight of all the photos for me. The floor tiles were pretty special too.
Post by grumpynorthener on Sept 4, 2022 19:27:35 GMT
Apologies but many things keep getting in the way of me updating / completing this thread
A few in transit pics after we were collected by Johnny - Sharon's (Mrs GN's) brother - Historically otherwise known as 'Uncle Lanky' just on the basis that he is the tall one of the family
Yep they have roadworks where nothing appears to happen for abnormal lengths of time too
A little Frogeyed Sprite crossing our enroute path
Pickups are big and a big thing everywhere
Read it & weep - we had to refuel enroute - So 12.16 US gallons = 46.02 litres and $48.64 converted to GPB = £42.25 Sooooo - 46 divided in £42.25 = £0.918 per litre whilst we are getting mugged for twice that amount in the UK
Nearly there
Following day was a BBQ and a catch up with the family members some of which we hadn't seen for 15 years and were still at school the last time we were over
Said family members now married and with their own children - Note Uncle Lanky's masterstroke with the enclosed bouncy castle for the grandkids
And in Uncle Lanky's shed is this 1974 Honda 550 Four - owned since 1976 and just 28'000 miles from new
We are now in Kewaskum in Wisconsin
The following day we took a trip out - Now here's a question why are most of the barns out in the States & Canada painted red ? - Because red paint is cheaper than another colour paint out there
Apparently this is quite a famous venue for car cruise meetings
Just about everything is larger or bigger in scale - the white doored units are storage facilities
We headed for Port Washington
Situated on the Western shore of Lake Michigan (We would call it a sea in the UK but over there its a lake - a very big one at that)
Plenty of charter boats for salmon fishing
A few battered motors amongst others that obviously not
And how to easily check the nose weight of the trailer
A fair hike but walked the length of the breakwater out the the lighthouse
Then back to shore to find a suitable eatery
Here in the UK we have all on to find local banking facilities (They closed both banks within our locality within 6 months of each other) - Our stateside friends don't even get out the car to undertake their banking
Shock & horror - next post is back to car content - probably accompanied by a couple of videos too that will be well worth the wait
Other snow ploughs were observed within a close distance of the event normally parked up 2 or 3 inline 
(Don't forget, in 'Merica the hydrant has to peak above the snow banks. (In Canada we are required by law to clear our sidewalks and around fire hydrants within 24 hours of snow)
