Chicago’s New Mafia Invades
A force that the Chicago Police can’t make inroads against is formidable indeed. We use the word “gangs” in connection with the thugs who are shooting to kill on Chicago’s … Continue reading
The City Beautiful That Day
I love this old photograph looking south on Michigan Avenue toward the Jewelers Building, taken in 1951. It’s surprising how little this particular stretch of Michigan Avenue has changed in … Continue reading
Big Bill Haywood
There’s something raw about the history of the 1910s, a period of depression and unrest, when Americans were engaged in an anxious quest for alternatives. It was a period of … Continue reading
The Grand Old Chicago Post Office
Between 1899 and 1965, this building served as the federal courthouse and main post office in Chicago. Built as the population of the city was burgeoning in the decades following … Continue reading
The Chicago Food and Craft Cooperative
No, it doesn’t exist, but it should. If I possessed unlimited means, I would buy the old Main Post Office Building—the massive old structure straddling the Congress Avenue parkway—and turn … Continue reading
The Bridges
On a good day, my husband gives me a ride to the office, and I take pictures from the car. One of my favorite moments in any commute is crossing … Continue reading
Florence and Margaret Make a Play for Freedom
The athleticism of the women competing in the London Olympics—and their outfits—underscore how dramatically women’s dress and freedom have changed in the century since women like the American tennis great … Continue reading
Contraband
Can’t let the month go by without sharing these few photographs, taken at a friend’s place on the Fourth of July. He lives on the west side, near the police … Continue reading
Ferris: His Wonderland
Around this time of year in 1893, millions of people were flocking to Chicago to see the great world’s fair the city was hosting. Formally known as the World’s Columbian … Continue reading
