Rooftop Daydream
Spotted this unusual rooftop area, by the Wabash stop downtown. It’s the top of the New York Jewelers building, and it got me wondering: “How do you get up there?”
Posts Tagged "on the way to work"
Bridge View
On my way in to work, I hop on the CTA to get to the Merchandise Mart. I happened to catch this nice image, crossing the Chicago River.
While I’m still not a fan of needing to commute in to work… on days like this, the commute ain’t all that bad.
A Rainy Commute
We had a lot of rain overnight, and this was what I encountered on my way to the Metra stop. The water was so bad on this side of the street, I had to walk to the other side just to cross.
Alone on the CTA
An interesting side note: as I was taking this photo, I looked around and realized I was totally alone. No one else was in the train car with me, and it was a bit surreal.
Lonely Commute
This morning though – on my whole way in, it was a ghost town. Barely anyone at the local Stabucks. Barely anyone on the Metra downtown. And barely anyone on the CTA platform.
I learned later that school was cancelled again today for most of Chicago, meaning that a lot of parents probably had to stay home as well. So overall, fewer people downtown.
Merchandise Mart, Freight Elevator
Today, I noticed one of the elevators was open. And there was a gentleman sitting in a chair, kind of just watching all the commuters rush by on the way to their offices.
Like everyone else, I walked right on by. And then I paused, and stopped, and turned around. And went back to take a closer look.
Ice Sculpture at the Merchandise Mart, and a 20 Year Callback
I got to the office fairly early, and there were just a handful of people milling about. But I think this spot got a lot more popular, as the day wore on.
What tickled me the most: I remember an earlier promotion, right at this exact spot in front of the Merchandise Mart, some 20 years ago. This was way back in the day, when it was still a novelty that Starbucks opened up a store in the building.
Winter Commute
Waiting for the train, it was definitely cold and slightly uncomfortable. By Chicago standards, this was not anything remarkable. But by my standards, it was annoying.
Expect me to grumble for a while here, about needing to commute in to work. It’s going to take some getting used to. So mix that amount of time with how much I like to grumble.
Commuting Win, Commuting Fail: Metra + CTA
If you imagine the CTA lines around the Loop as a clock: I was expecting to travel Clockwise, exiting at 3:00. Instead, I was actually traveling counter-clockwise (because we were “operating like a Brown Line train”), exiting at 9:00.
So I had a bit of walking to do. Ah well, more exercise.
Secret Level
Realized today that there is some mysterious hybrid 23rd/24th floor at the Mart. Feels like a secret thing, but then again… how secret can it possibly be, if anyone on the elevator can just push a button?
Also remembered that I snuck up to the top of this building nearly 20 years ago. I wonder if Floor 23/24 is for access to the roof?
Landscaping and Bringing the Outside Inside
Spotted this vehicle as I was walking to work. There was no one around, the doors were open, and all I could see inside was just bags and bags of potting soil.
I Need You to Find Me
Spotted this on the way to work, at a Hyde Park Metra station. It was… disconcerting, to say the least.
I take some small comfort that the design (and message) seems to have been written in ketchup (I saw a lot of empty packets around). But still – jarring, nonetheless.
To and From Work
Spotted on my way home.
Crane and Trees
A day or so ago, Liz and I were driving down South Lake Park Avenue, and got redirected. Turns out, there was this enormous crane situated in the middle of the road… and was in the process of lifting up trees to a nearby rooftop.
$300 at 7:30 AM
So this thing happened, on my way to work. And it involved $300. Well, maybe.
Let me explain.