As a photographer, the variety of my work is usually dependent on the needs and whims of my clients. This past month is a prime example of the wide range of assignments I get on a regular basis. I recently had the privilege of photographing the following celebrities: “Jersey Shore” superstar Snooki; Igor Shuvalov, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia; and MacGoogle and MacDuff, my two famous Airedale terriers. I don’t know what the next month will bring, but I will keep you posted.
During this seemingly endless recession, few cities have been hit as hard as Elkhart, Indiana. With a local economy dependent on the whims of the RV industry, the recent downturn saw unemployment hit a whopping 20 percent. Thankfully, things have improved over the past year, but people are still suffering. In September, I was sent to Elkhart with a writer from the Paris-based newsmagazine Le Nouvel Observateur to document how people are coping with the devastating effects of the recession. What we found were two very different Elkharts. The first was the upbeat, optimistic, rose-colored version of life portrayed by the business leaders, politicians and Chamber of Commerce spokespersons. The second Elkhart was a sad and painful depiction expressed by local residents in a food pantry, unemployment office, and on the quiet streets of this once-prosperous town. The “real” Elkhart apparently resides in the eye of the beholder.
When people think of Chicago they think big city, historic architecture, traffic jams, and hot dogs. But there is another side of the city that the locals know well, but outsiders may not be aware of. I am speaking of the parks, gardens, forest preserves and other remnants of nature that still survive in the city. When Chicago was incorporated in 1837, the founding fathers (mothers?) chose the motto “Urbs in Horto” (City in a Garden) and there must have been a reason. Granted, there were probably a lot more gardens and nature back then, but the natural aspects of the city can still be found. A few statistics: 552 parks comprising 7300 acres, 33 sand beaches, 16 lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife sanctuaries, and 20 million visitors to Lincoln Park alone. In these photos I show a small portion of the natural wonders that can be found by any urban explorer (and check out that City Seal with motto).
PUBS are the lifeblood of Dublin, and a visit to this fair city wouldn’t be complete without an extensive tour of the dozens of colorful and overly-friendly historic pubs. I was there on assignment for Islands magazine and dutifully photographed the pubs and their patrons…and quaffed a few thirst-quenching pints simply for research purposes.
More photographs of Ireland and Dublin Pubs: Ireland Photos
While Chicago will never be described as the “Venice of the Midwest,” the river that bisects the downtown area has been transformed into a major tourist attraction. Offering architectural boat tours, a mile-long Riverwalk, numerous waterside cafes, museums, and an assortment of water sports including kayaking, jet skiing, and canoeing, the Chicago River is the city’s newest playground. This once polluted waterway is now a vibrant artery that sparkles day and night at the foot of the city’s numerous architectural gems dating back to the late 19th century. When the Riverwalk is completed, it will snake uninterrupted from beyond the Merchandise Mart all the way to Lake Michigan, passing under the numerous historic bridges.
While it’s only a short subway ride from downtown on the Blue Line, Wicker Park is worlds apart from the buttoned-down 9-5 workday of the Loop. The epicenter of this urban melting pot is a large intersection known as Six Corners. The three major avenues that meet here are North, Damen and Milwaukee, but the neighborhood is also a confluence of three cultural byways: hipster, artist and starving student. While there have been no scientific studies, researchers have postulated that there are more tattoos and piercings in Wicker Park than BMW’s in nearby Lincoln Park. Cafes, used bookstores and dive bars abound, and exist gracefully among $300 designer eyewear and Prada bags. Stop by on Gallery Night at the Flatiron Building and everyone comes out to strut their respective stuff while pontificating on modern art and free vodka.
Just because I love to compile a list of My Favorite Things, I’m rarely mistaken for Oprah. Be forewarned, I am not going to give the readers of this blog anything free, except for my advice, which is priceless. After years of painstaking research I have assembled this list–granted, it’s not ALL of my favorite things since that would preclude any future updates. Also, I reserve the right to change the list at any time as my opinions tend to vacillate. I should point out that if you are hoping to get your business on my list, I am easily influenced by freebies, gift cards, 2-for-1 specials, and wanton flattery.
BEST PIZZA: RENALDI’S With little fanfare, this neighborhood pizzeria on Broadway near Diversey produces a divine thin crust pizza with the creamiest mozzarella this side of Napoli. There are many other worthy contenders, but until I taste them all, I’m sticking with Renaldi’s.
BEST COFFEE: PEET’S From a simple coffee house in Berkeley, CA (my alma mater) about 40 years ago, this small chain has spread its flavorful beans across the country. I love a coffee bean that has been roasted within a few seconds of its life and nobody does it better than Peet’s. I admit some cafes (Intelligentsia) have better ambience, but screw ambience, I am there to drink strong coffee not have a Zen moment. Peet’s is on North Ave & Sheffield.
BEST CORNED BEEF SANDWICH: MANNY’S COFFEE SHOP You probably ask yourself, “who would go to a coffee shop for corned beef?” and that is a valid question. But Manny’s is a coffee shop in name only, it is really an emporium of delicious food like Grandma used to make, depending of course on whom your Grandma was. As long as you are tasting their corned beef, get a potato pancake and a dish of kishke and gravy–if you don’t know what that is, better not to ask.
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT: LAO SZE CHUAN This place is always busy. Located in that Chinatown mall on Archer Ave, the atmosphere is extremely friendly, and the menu is longer than George Bush’s list of blunders. The food is first rate. I should point out that my favorite Chinese dish is actually the Walnut Shrimp from another Chinatown restaurant, Evergreen. It’s not on the menu, so you need to request it–they will immediately think you are a regular or have a cousin in Hong Kong.
BEST HOTEL BAR: BERNARD’S BAR AT THE ELYSIAN HOTEL I am far from an expert on this subject, but I was there recently and it’s dark, quiet, romantic, and they serve liquor–everything a bar should be. This elegant hotel is on Walton near State, and this bar is a great place to chill if you’re in the Gold Coast / N. Michigan Ave area and want to get away from the pickpockets and cell phone snatchers for a little while.
BEST COMEDY GROUP: IMPROV SHAKESPEARE & COOK COUNTY SOCIAL CLUB Ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie. Both these groups are borderline comic geniuses and their shows are different but equally funny. They perform at iO Theater on Clark by Wrigley Field. If I told you how and why they are so funny, it would spoil the joke–just go see them.
BEST PLACE TO SEE A MOVIE: GRANT PARK Okay, it’s not even a movie theater, but during the summer they show old films outdoors for 20,000 people picnic-style, and it’s an incredible scene surrounded by the flickering lights of the Chicago skyline. It’s one of the joys of summer in Chicago, and I hope recent budget cuts don’t slash this unique activity–do you hear that, Rahm?
BEST SECRET PASSAGEWAY: THE CHICAGO PEDWAY Underneath the bustling streets of Chicago’s Loop is a little-known network of tunnels connecting dozens of commercial and government buildings, and various subway stations. In the winter it’s a warm haven from the inclement weather, and in the hotter months, it’s a cool respite from the sweltering streets. In the Pedway, one finds shops, cafes, public art, live music, but rarely a crowd. Pedway maps are available and advisable, as some people have been known to wander beneath the city streets for weeks in search of a way out.
FAVORITE OLD BUILDING: THE ROOKERY Burnham, Root, and Frank Lloyd Wright collaborated on a building that after 120 years still has that WOW factor every time you walk in the skylit lobby with the floating staircase. At the corner of LaSalle and Adams, this office building is an homage to transcendent architecture, something sorely lacking in so much modern design.
FAVORITE NEW BUILDING: 333 WACKER An elegantly curved building perfectly suited to its location at the bend of the Chicago River. This building gives me hope for modern architecture, something I never feel when looking at one of Mies van der Rohe’s “less is more” minimalist structures. Check it out at sunset from the Franklin St Bridge or the Merchandise Mart.
BEST DIVE UNDER MICHIGAN AVENUE: BILLY GOAT TAVERN I suspect this is the ONLY bar/restaurant under Michigan Avenue, so there isn’t a lot of competition in this category. The legendary hamburgers are only so-so, but this place is truly a Chicago legend. Made famous in an old John Belushi sketch on Saturday Night Live, it has been a favorite watering hole for Chicago journalists for decades, and now a Mecca for people seeking a one-of-a-kind Chicago experience.
All photos by Alan Klehr
My cousin owns a car repair facility in the SW suburbs and I was out there the other day doing photography for his web site. As I was packing up my equipment it dawned on me that there were some photo opportunities that I had overlooked. The mundane tools which actually make this facility tick seemed to offer so much more in terms of photographic possibilities than the other subjects I had photographed. I took a leisurely walk around the garage and was overwhelmed by the simple beauty amid the toolboxes and grease. For me, this was a lesson in seeing the obvious.
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