On my way to work one morning, this scene caught my eye. This is the window of a now chain sandwich shop. And luckily, no one was sitting at the table. But it used to be a jeweller. Erickson’s. A wonderful store. It’s located in a neighbourhood that used to be predominantly Swedish, Andersonville. My great grandparents lived here and my great grandfather was a beat cop here.

Now these places, where one could hear - and speak - Swedish are slowly disappearing. They’re almost gone. There used to be two delicatessens on Clark. They would really hum at the holidays when people were buying their smörgåsbord cheeses, meats, and fish. There was a bakery that provided all the baked goods and sweets for holidays and everyday. That closed a couple of years ago.

There’s still a small cafe that serves Swedish pancakes just like grandma used to make. Or at least there was until the pandemic. I really hope this place survives because the food was tops, the service friendly, they knew me, they were always full, and it would be very sad for the neighbourhood, not to mention the employees.

There is a pub which serves glögg at the holidays with neon signs to announce the time has arrived once more. Several bars serve this delight, actually. My grandmothers made glögg, as well, and I always enjoyed the pageantry of that night in the kitchen. I grew up drinking it (in very small amounts) which might explain a few things.

So I was remembering and wishing that some things could remain the same.

The backstory I wrote when this was featured in Frames Magazine (online) in 2020. That same year, it was also included in an online class on what makes a good photo originating in the UK.

And edited today to say the café is still open!

Tags:   mobile photography iphoneography

© All Rights Reserved

Palmer monument
Graceland Cemetery
Chicago

Tags:   Chicago Graceland Cemetery cemeteries

© All Rights Reserved

"… a city that was to live by night after the wilderness had passed. A city that was to forge out of steel and blood-red neon its own peculiar wilderness."
—Nelson Algren, Chicago: City on the Make

Tags:   winter Chicago Chicago River

© All Rights Reserved

The holiday season begins this week, so one of my favourite places during this time... near the iconic Marshall Field’s clocks. Yes. Marshall Field’s. Not Macy’s. Never. Just no.🚫

Tags:   Christmas Chicago state street Marshall Field’s

© All Rights Reserved

The Chicago Theatre opened on October 26, 1921. Built in French Baroque style, The Chicago Theatre’s exterior features a miniature replica of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, sculpted above its State Street marquee.

During its first 40 years, the Chicago Theatre presented the best in live and film entertainment, including John Phillip Sousa, Duke Ellington, Jack Benny, and Benny Goodman.

Later, the guests included the Allman Brothers Band, Blues Traveler, Harry Connick Jr, Aretha Franklin, Kathy Griffin, Gipsy Kings, David Letterman, Lyle Lovett, Dolly Parton, Prince, Diana Ross, Van Morrison, and Robin Williams.

I saw Chris Isaak here. What a voice. The Chicago Theatre is the perfect smaller venue with excellent acoustics.

Tags:   chicagotheatre Chicago

© All Rights Reserved