I have been to Chicago, Illinios for four days in August 2013 …
This city is packed full of marvellous architecture… and people going about their business.
The Wrigley building – designed by the architectural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White using the shape of the Giralda tower of Seville’s Cathedral combined with French Renaissance details and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, architect and interior designer who lived in Chicago and designed many of the buildings here.
Trump Tower with boats on the river and the sky!The other way … going out to the lake from the Trump Tower.
Upper: The Wrigley’s Building – two towers going up to the 21st floor and the 30th floor. This was Chicago’s first AIR-CONDITIONED office tower. In light and dark, the building is the same. Lower: Reading … with a ‘Borders” cast iron and aluminum figure.
Upper: Bright yellow umbrella on the balcony. Lower: Skyline!
Sculpting exterior rising in modern buildings
Border figures creating by artist, Steinunn Thorarinsdottir.
OK!! So it’s August … I haven’t written lately. But I know you’re going to be interested in this one!
I was on a Helicopter Tour flying over Toronto. I was in a little four-seater helicopter with me and the pilot. He radioed to control, and “OK” was the answer and he just put the helicopter up-p-p-p … and I’m flying!
Well, it’s not spring … The temperature is at 0 degrees and it’s going to about +1 degree at the end of the day. But the sun is shining and it LOOKS like a good day to go out!
It’s the Monday of the long Easter weekend and, believe it or not, I’ve got to write at least 2 days before the end of the week so you can join me as I ponder life!
I fed Rory’s rabbit this weekend and came across Crocuses in his yard. The sun was shining and it felt like SPRING!
Well, really I haven’t moved but I put my condo apartment up for sale … It empty at the moment. I’ve taken away the books (Goodwill) and I’ve got the furniture picked up by Furniture Bank … I’ve arranged for the guy to do the painting, got installers to put the hardwood floors down and the cleaning is done. It’s taken me 4 months to do this but … whatever!
On Friday, Amy the real estate agent came over and we signed all the papers and decided on the price. I’ve sold three properties of mine in the past but this has required so much planning. I suppose the other properties were in London not Toronto – and I want the best price I can for the condo.
The Guitar Society of Toronto, founded in 1956, put on a concert Sunday late afternoon in the Briton House Recital Hall on Mt Pleasant Road. It was a Holiday Recital.
The youngsters from the North York Suzuki School Guitar Ensemble started the concert playing a Twinkle Variation, Flamenco Song, Greensleeves and Allegretto.
The next part of the concert was individual classical guitar music. Steve Shorter preformed the Danza Pomposa and Frank Forde did the Spanish Romance. Heather Morand Clark preformed the Sakura Variations and Julia Florida – Barcarola was done by Andre Carlos Amaral. Finally, Prelude no 1 and Venezuelan were preformed by Timothy Beattie.
Right after the intermission, David Sossa Fernandez and Lindsay Jones were preforming a duet of Theme and Variations, op. 18 by Johannes Brahms.
The next part of the concert was performed by all of the Guitar Society Orchestra led by Rob MacDonald as the conductor. The Aria, from Goldberg Variations by Johannes Sebastian Bach which was arranged by Steve Shorter was one of my favourites. Conventry Carol was next and the Carol of the Bells were after that. Frederico Moreno Torroba was the final step in this orchestra as La Siega, Amancer and Camino del Molino were performed.
It was festive, and definitely worth listening too …
I bought this plant at Home Depot and put it in it’s pot. It took about a week to bloom and it kept going up, and up, and up … about 18 inches … and one going up beside it.
Wow! I wasn’t expecting this. And the another two blossoms coming in the same bloom. I’ll update you in a couple of days.
On December 1st, we sat at the bar in Chalkers Pub and Bistro. We ordered dinner of stir fry with rice and vegetables. Mine came with shrimp, big juicy ones combined with stir fry sauce. It was delicious!
We didn’t order beer, which would have been a good idea as it was a pub but we ordered wine. The Rosemount Shiraz was good.
The Taps
The Fingerstyle Guitars Association put on as a special event featuring Adam Rafferty. He plays lots of ‘funky grooves’ by Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jim Hendrix and Michael Jackson. He did one by Bonnie Raitt which was amazing! And Tommy Emmanuel, which Adam adored. I was at the Tommy Emmanuel concert in the spring.
Adam Rafferty, wearing a cap, was greeting the audience
Chalkers Pub and Bistro
247 Marlee Avenue, North York. Established in 1992
It’s almost December, November 23rd, only 9 days until the first of December. It is 11 degrees outside and people are hiking outside to and from the mall with their sweaters on or there coats open. It is sunny. Outside the mall at Eglinton and Yonge, is the Holiday Tree, big and beautiful with a star on top. It’s star is parallel to the half moon rising in the 4:30 pm twilight.
I haven’t written for a while. I’m sorry world! I HAVE TO write!
For example: I was walking along the pathway when I discovery a sign. It said “Lung Cancer Canada Grove” …and I though of my mom.
Lung Cancer Sign – I didn’t know it was there!
She died of lung cancer about 8 years ago. She didn’t smoke or anything. I haven’t been able to write about that. It took about 2 and a half years for the cancer to kill her.
I received a letter in the mail from the Princess Margaret Hospital and a little bird thing that required my Mom name on the one side and all the people that missed her on the other. It had ‘Partners for Hope … Give Hope. Make Progress. Create Impact. Believe It. We will conquer cancer in our lifetime’. I’m not sure that it will be in our lifetime. But …
For example: I am outside the City Hall November 27th … I came down to watch the Grey Cup Parade but I didn’t make it. So I went into the Bannock Restaurant where they have lunch/dinner and a snack bar serving coffee, sandwiches and various things for dessert. It’s right near the City Hall so I didn’t make it that far except that the people were leaving and I got trampled!
In the Windows are Cookies
Right across from me there is the old city hall and I’m determined to take photos of it … I haven’t but today is the day.
The new city hall was born in 1965, I think. They were so sure that the new city halls was so-o big that they wanted to tear down the old city hall. That would have been a disaster! Because they starting using the old city hall for city hall people who were a step down from the new city hall members and couldn’t get into the new city hall. Forty years its been a part of the town and it has been filled up with the other city hall members going to other buildings.
For example: I was riding on a streetcar along King Street and I looked up. I was coming up on John Street. Metro Convention Centre was at the end and looking further down, was the Roger’s Centre with the CBC on the left. The people/gargoyles were alive; painted gold and all cuddled up on the wall. And I loved it!
Upper: The Wrigley’s Building – two towers going up to the 21st floor and the 30th floor. This was Chicago’s first AIR-CONDITIONED office tower. In light and dark, the building is the same.
Upper: Bright yellow umbrella on the balcony.
