Yerkes Observatory is called the “birthplace of modern astrophysics.” This architectural masterpiece houses echoes of celestial giants. Founded in 1892 by astronomer George Ellery Hale and businessman Charles T. Yerkes (pronounced YER-KEYS), it took a mere two years to construct this landmark institution. From 1897 to 2018, the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and … Continue reading Yerkes Observatory
Not long ago, I thought that Two Brothers was a coffee roastery. It is! But it’s moreso a brewery—when it’s not actually roasting tea leaves or distilling spirits. Scroll down to see more photos and read more about Two Brothers Artisan Brewing. “Has a sharp bite to it!” If only I could bring to you … Continue reading Two Brothers Artisan Brewing
[6:00] “Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cold out there today. It’s cold out there every day. What is this, Miami Beach? Not hardly. And you know, you can expect hazardous travel later today with that, you know, that, uh, that blizzard thing. That blizzard thing? That blizzard thing. … Continue reading Groundhog Days in Woodstock, IL
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”—Unknown “We will jump only if we want to jump.”—Horses Scroll down to see more photos and read more about The Tempel Lipizzans. “When the horses demonstrate the crossover steps, they remind me of figure skaters. We’re so close to the performance that … Continue reading Tempel Lipizzans
WET PAINT Everywhere it seems. Take a step, and “push” a lily pad. Or watch it drift and miss. It’s not interactive; it’s immersive. Scroll down to see more photos and read more about Immersive Monet + The Impressionists. “This is amazing! I like the way the pictures come alive. The colors are vivid. I … Continue reading Immersive Monet + The Impressionists
Six thousand years ago,a) My grandmother painstakingly composed a snapshot of me facing pure sunlight, nearly blinding meb) A candy bar was made, one that I found last night under my bed that I inhaled without hesitationc) I spearheaded a pilot study to domesticate cats, while bitching about the nickname “Tiger King”d) Volo Bog as … Continue reading Volo Bog
We always remember our first impressions. They are pure and reverberate for all time. I remember my first impression of Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio when I was home from school for the holidays. I toured the Home and Studio then since I was a casual admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Prairie School … Continue reading Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
An ancient ponda frog jumps inthe sound of water—Matsuo Basho This is a universally accepted western translation of the original Japanese haiku from 1686. It is regarded as one of Basho’s best short poems for its faithful devotion to the 5-7-5 pattern, and most importantly its capture of the Japanese reverence for nature. Japanese art … Continue reading Anderson Japanese Gardens
“Makin’ their wayThe only way they know howThat’s just a little bit moreThan the law will allow” “The chain in those handcuffs is high-tensile steel. It’d take you ten minutes to hack through it with this. Now, if you’re lucky, you could hack through your ankle in five minutes. Go.” “It’s 106 miles to Chicago, … Continue reading Volo Auto Museum
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”—A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, 1859 Early on a Saturday morning, a hot July day was starting to shimmer and sizzle. I felt my skin struggle to breathe. Drops of sweat raced down my back. This was just my second time … Continue reading Butterflies and Blooms
The Simple Luxuries 