Chicago Flair, by Andre

Soft Cliff

2009-11-11T14:52:00.002-06:00

A classic example of fractal self-similarity, the shore here demonstrates it from the horizontal angle too. Usually the shore is talked about being self-similar in terms of the birds-eye perspective. But here you see layers of sediment, cleaved faces, and alluvial patterns that would not look odd at many times this scale. This little sand shelf is just three feet or so. Fascinating! To me at least.

Washed Up

2009-11-10T13:11:00.002-06:00

One of a spate of cool golden hour shots from across the lake last weekend.

Ahoy Mateys

2009-11-08T21:12:00.003-06:00

Nobody that I saw (except myself, briefly) was in the water this weekend. Not sure why these water toys weren't yet put away for the winter. But folk were out soaking up the nicest days we'll likely see until spring. I had skipped town across the lake for the weekend to revel in it myself.

Grasshopper

2009-11-06T00:26:00.002-06:00

This looks lit by a flash, but it was just the low sun on asphalt, not that early in the afternoon in Humboldt Park.

Ummmm. More Sad Kermit anyone? Some language and imagery NSFW:

It's Not Easy Being Green

2009-11-03T22:30:00.001-06:00

Stay Puft

2009-11-01T17:56:00.003-06:00

I went out for Halloween last night with some friends who were doing a group Ghostbusters thing. My friend Wyllys took a break from the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man mask with my friend Staci in the background as Zuul. I was David Byrne in the big suit:

Nerdy Halloween

2009-10-30T11:24:00.003-05:00

This is Euler's Identity. Here's why it's a big deal:

Three basic arithmetic operations occur exactly once each: addition, multiplication, and exponentiation. The identity also links five fundamental mathematical constants:

* The number 0.
* The number 1.
* The number π, which is ubiquitous in trigonometry, geometry of Euclidean space, and mathematical analysis (π ≈ 3.14159).
* The number e, the base of natural logarithms, which also occurs widely in mathematical analysis (e ≈ 2.71828).
* The number i, imaginary unit of the complex numbers, which contain the roots of all nonconstant polynomials and lead to deeper insight into many operators, such as integration.

I had actually already carved my pumpkin pi purely for the pun's sake. Then I figured why not go for geek gold. I left out the "+ 1 = 0" part, but true nerds will recognize this immediately.

Papa Modern

2009-10-28T11:28:00.003-05:00

Or "father of modernism" rather, as wikipedia refers to him.

He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an inspiration to the Chicago group of architects who have come to be known as the Prairie School.

One of the more gracefully understated monuments at Graceland.

Crusader

2009-10-26T17:54:00.002-05:00

More from Graceland Cemetery. Here we have:

Victor Lawson, 1850 - 1925
A Lorado Taft sculpture, “Crusader,” stands guard over the grave of newspaper publisher Victor Lawson, whose Chicago Daily News pioneered in sending reporters throughout the world for news. Lawson contributed anonymously to many of Chicago’s charitable causes, and even his grave is unmarked, except for the statue and the phrase, “Above all things truth beareth away the victory.” It refers to a story in the Book of Esdras, King James Bible Apocrypha, about a discussion of what is strongest.

Eternal Silence

2009-10-25T15:07:00.003-05:00

One of the most striking markers at Graceland Cemetery, home to many Chicago historical figures. This here is:

Dexter Graves, 1789 - 1844
Graves was one of the first settlers who, according to the inscription on the back of the polished black granite slab, “brought the first colony to Chicago, consisting of 13 families, arriving here July 15, 1831 from Ashtabula, Ohio, on the schooner Telegraph.”

The bronze figure, “Eternal Silence,” was created in 1909 by sculptor Lorado Taft, whose monumental “Fountain of Time” stands at the west end of the University of Chicago Midway.

In These Tough Economic Times

2009-10-23T13:26:00.002-05:00

Is anyone else sick of that particular phrase? Can't people come up with other ways of saying that? Anyway, here's a sign o those times.

St Hedwig

2009-10-22T11:38:00.003-05:00

More from the Fullerton underpass shrine, and more fun with the Lensbaby, which I used here too. This postcard is from St. Hedwig Church, just a few blocks to the south.

Belly Shack

2009-10-21T13:20:00.002-05:00

I checked out the new spot from the chef at Urban Belly for lunch today. Such a beautiful fall day it seemed perfect to take a sandwich to the park. And that's the core of the menu at Belly Shack, where at Urban Belly it's dumplings and noodles. They also have soup, salad, and (strangely?) soft serve - all with interesting Asian and Latino accents (the chef and his wife are Korean and Puerto Rican, respectively).

This was tilapia in a pita with some kind of baby greens and a gingery/citrusy sauce. I forget how the sauce was described. It was quite good, but not very big. And not really amazing enough at that size to justify $11. That's the problem I have with Urban Belly too. It is just on the edge of how much I would pay for the food.

I'll give the place another shot. Some of their other sandwiches sound like a better value, and I want to try the soup (sort of an Asian pozole) and the soft serve.

Our Lady of the Underpass

2009-10-19T21:34:00.003-05:00

Title taken from a play my girlfriend told me about (my source for all things theatrical in Chicago). It sounds quite good, and I hope to catch it when it is remounted, as a little bird informs me it will be.

In any case, this is the site where sometime in 2005 it was noticed that a stain had appeared under the Fullerton Ave 90/94 underpass. And this stain bore to some a striking resemblance to The Virgin Mary. In the years since it has been grafitti'd, painted over, restored, and now finally apparently accepted to just mark the former spot. These fixtures have been bolted into the concrete, with a canopy to protect the shrine below from the pigeons above.

I'm going to be honest and say that my passing reaction to this has been somewhat mocking. But it's striking in person, so meticulously kept up. No one else walked by in the half hour or so I spent there, but every candle was lit.

A Very Odd Place for a Shrine

2009-10-17T17:27:00.004-05:00

Can you guess what this is? I went on a real photo expedition for the first time in too long today. More to come from this.

As for the running business, I did it today for the first time since the marathon. I was beginning to get a little twitchy with no physical activity all week. And that was deliberate, to rest from Sunday's punishment. I could feel today the reason for that. My joints hurt! But nothing worrisome I think.

A friend inquired about my marathon playlist, and I figured I'd post it here in case anyone cared. I listen to full albums generally, and when I run long distance it gives me chapters to pass the time and divide things up into chunks. So here are the full albums I listened to during the marathon:

Beirut - Gulag Orkestar - This is becoming my traditional race starting music. It's appropriately dramatic.

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

Devin Davis - Lonely People of the World, Unite!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

Heartless Bastards - The Mountain - I skipped through some songs at the very end to get to the last song on this album for the final 100 yards or so. Also quite dramatic.

They Might Be Giants - Flood - I actually only heard a bit of this after the finish line as I stumbled with the crowds. It was there in case I was still running and needed some lighthearted high-energy silliness.

Nothing Seems the Same

2009-10-13T22:16:00.003-05:00

OK, it's not really all that dramatic. Although I do feel a bit weird actually, post marathon. Like, what now? What was that all about anyway? But the post title is the same as the song below, which gave me a boost in the last mile or so with its perfect mantra: "I'm going to keep on running." Not at all planned, nor had I ever even really noticed that lyric. I just knew Heartless Bastards had the proper energy for the end of a marathon.

Above is the view before the starting line, as I walked with the throngs until things thinned out enough to actually start running.

Tomorrow!

2009-10-10T14:33:00.002-05:00

It's finally here. So many things going through my head today! This was at McCormick Place, the gigantic convention center here where they hold the health and fitness expo that you have to go through to pick up your stuff. Seems to be part of the way to fund such an undertaking, since all 45,000 participants and their various hangers-on will be exposed to all the marketing. Nike got my share, for a last minute pants purchase since it will be so cold tomorrow. Below, Da Mare himself wishes me luck on my way out:

Urban Belly, Rebel Immune System

2009-10-09T07:52:00.001-05:00

Woke up yesterday with what felt like the beginnings of a cold in some light congestion. And yup, as the day wore on it was confirmed in an increasing fog of lethargy - not allergies. This. Cannot. Be. I mean, it'll take a lot to keep me from running the marathon this Sunday. I would just prefer to do it under more optimum conditions. So, I'm coming at it with rest, fluids, "Wal-borne", and noodle soup from Urban Belly. The last two things may or may not have any real effect. But they probably won't hurt, and the latter is damn tasty.

Bruce and Sarah

2009-10-08T09:38:00.003-05:00

Art from Julian Opie at City Garden in St. Louis. It's sort of like a giant animated walk sign. But I think it's actually generated from real video.

Ack! Marathon almost here. Almost back to "normal" or whatever endeavor I move on to next.

Mr. Martin

2009-10-06T12:47:00.002-05:00

Another St. Louis scene. Well, E. St. Louis technically. Pops has posted about this statue on the Arch viewing platform across the river before, check it out at his blog.

Interdimensional Ram Horse

2009-10-04T22:06:00.002-05:00

Is what came to mind looking at this sculpture at City Garden in St. Louis.

Did not Stop

2009-10-01T11:23:00.003-05:00

Looked a bit. But dismount? C'mahn. More from the Prairie Path, shot from the hip, in motion.

Hey, check out this great song my friend Nikkos recorded. I did the video for it. Take a sec if you can and vote for it in this here contest.

"Headin' To Chicago" from Nick Fryer on Vimeo.

Illinois Exurban Industry Path

2009-09-29T12:01:00.003-05:00

Doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it? Most of it is quite nice, although a good chunk of the trail does have some bleak suburban scenery. However, this here actually reminds me of the movie Toys, which elicits a grin for me.

Prairie Path Plant

2009-09-28T13:43:00.002-05:00

A better day could not have been had yesterday to soak up some of this year's remaining nice weather. My lady and I spent it on a 30 mile loop of the Illinois Prairie Path. This is some flora along the way.

Saturday Scenes

2009-09-26T10:49:00.003-05:00

Yep, still don't really have any new material. So I'll just show more day in the life type stuff. These are the images I've been seeing before and after my Saturday morning runs. The first is the highway down to where my group meets at North Avenue near the lake. Obviously a quick and dirty shot from the car - I was trying to capture the ridiculously bright Wrigley ad screen that will shock you awake on such a dark morning.

Below is a bath of cold water. Supposedly it really helps recovery from long runs to submerge your lower body in the coldest water you can stand. If I leave the bathroom door open, my cats come to investigate my yelps and then look at me like I'm crazy. Which I may be. But I force myself to sit in there for at least ten minutes, then it's back to bed! Which I'm now headed for.

Today was my second to last long training run, and the last time I'll do it at 6:30 AM with my training group in Chicago. Next Saturday I'll do 7 miles whenever I feel like it in St. Louis, and then that's it! Wish me luck. Crossing my fingers that I don't randomly get a foot run over or something like that before 10/11.