Evening at Rockwood

After church, I chilled the afternoon away with a couple of friends, and then we checked out This Is Not The Radio at Rockwood Music Hall. 

Great music, great beer and a great time. Get out and see these people!

Lindsey Luff and Benjamin Grace

Kohli Calhoun with backup

This backpack rode back to Brooklyn in my buddy's backseat after the show tonight. It's crossed the country with me twice, on countless Greyhound buses, but it never looked as good as it did after I trekked all the way to deep, off-the-Q-train Brooklyn to fetch it.

Kaufman

Just one photo today. I was en route from one Astoria coffee shop to another, and crossed the street to get this shot when I unexpectedly stumbled across the Kaufman Studios gate. 

Phoenix

Like the flaming bird of legend, my photo blog has returned from the dead, er, forgotten.
The Hudson River Greenway is one of my favorite spots to walk and wander after work, and it's ten times better with a camera.
I got the idea to resurrect this old blog earlier today, and couldn't resist. Technically, this is the first new entry, but I've also necroposted my recent vacation photos for your browsing convenience. 

Look beyond the vacation entries at your own risk.

Day on the El

In case I've never come out and disclosed it, I kind of have a crush on the Chicago elevated. It's fast, it runs above the streets where all the best views are, and it's bursting with photogenicness - everything the New York City subway isn't. 

I had one afternoon left before Greyhounding back to New York, and what to do with it was a no-brainer. Here's a best-of of my Wednesday shots. 

Nighttime Eating

Night time theme today. A Chicago foodie who I follow on Instagram recommended Velvet Taco, at Rush and State in the River North, among a few other eating spots. As soon as I saw red velvet cake on the menu, I had to go (for a born and raised non-Southerner, I do love my red velvet cake).
And here it is, waiting its turn with a fish and chips taco and a buffalo chicken taco. After one more visit to the 24 hour Starbucks, I walked through River North, past the new Halal Guys outpost, and over the State Street Bridge.

Hyde Park

Today, I took the express bus down to Hyde Park and wandered around the University of Chicago campus with smartphone in hand.
Hyde Park literally feels a world apart from the Loop and the rest of Chicago, despite being just a few miles down Lake Shore Drive.
First, a view of Midway Plaisance, a long, parklike expanse of green that stretches from Washington Park across Hyde Park.

Apartment tower rising high above Hyde Park.

Concrete desert as seen from the 55th Street Green Line, the closest El station to Hyde Park. A short bus ride away, but a world away.

 

 

Riverwalk and the 606

Great day in Chicago. I didn't make it to church (catching up on sleep will do that every now and then), but you win some, you lose some. This afternoon, I went back to the Riverwalk and explored its full length, and then hit the long-awaited 606 with Rita, one of my best friends, later in the evening. Great pics and great conversation all-around (bonus Easter egg for Daria fans). Rita's one of those sometimes too rare people who I can just endlessly converse with. Truly a godsend, and worth the many hours on Greyhound.

 

 

Sweet Home Chicago (if only!)

I got into Chicago at 2:30 this afternoon after a long Greyhound ride from Montreal to Detroit, and an even longer one from Detroit to Chicago. After checking into my hostel and eating lunch, I headed off to the Chicago Riverwalk, the Pritzker Pavilion, Maggie Daley Park and the nearby marina, trusty Android in hand.

Last Day in Montreal

For my last full day in Montreal, I explored Parc Jean-Drapeau, wandered through the Old Port, and finished up the night with a smoked beef sandwich from Schwartz's. The poutine was so-so, but that sandwich was worth the trip - plus the trip to the nearest TD Bank branch to find a no-pesky-fee ATM. There's a reason why Schwartz's is a Montreal household name.

Montreal At Night

Even Montreal sleeps - or barely stirs - sometimes.As those who know me well (or even halfway well) know, I'm a major night owl, and one of my favorite things is to go out late at night with a good Spotify playlist and a cup of coffee (or other beverage) and stroll. 

Why not take some pictures while I'm out there?

Trip to Mont-Royal

Lured by the appeal of great skyline shots and the thrill of seeing something new, I took on Mont-Royal, Montreal's namesake and urban mountain.
Instead of hiking the whole way up and back, I took the #11 bus to the overlook point, took the walking trails to the much better overlook point at Chateau Mont-Royal, and casually hiked down.