Highlight of the Day: A tourist from Burgundy, France, singing "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" to me in broken English. She had the melody down perfectly. And as she finished, she said, "That was Simon...and Garfunkel."

Portrait of Mies van der Rohe, oil on canvas by Hugo Weber, 1961.

It’s official, guys. The McCaskeys have announced that the only way for Da Bears to continue on their journey of completely sucking is to move to NW Indiana and join another pathetic loser, better known as John Kass.

Right about now architect and pioneer of passive solar houses, George Fred Keck, is rolling in his grave in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Watertown, Wisconsin. Seriously, he's spinning.

Architect Walter Gropius visited Chicago in 1928 & stayed at the Drake Hotel. He snapped shots of the Robie House & the Tribune Tower. In 1922 the Chicago Tribune had an international competition for its new headquarters. Gropius & Adolf Meyer submitted a design for a modern glass & metal tower.

I’m sorry but whenever I see that person’s name, I just think of Leinenkugel’s Berry Weiss beer.

Last night I decided to rewatch a compelling documentary about the country’s first influencer, A Face In The Crowd. Joking aside, Andy Griffith & Marilyn Monroe were born on the same day 100 yrs ago: June 1, 1926. I celebrated him instead of Norma Jean. I can’t believe he didn’t get an Oscar nod.

House Photo of the Day: Rainbow House at 3851 N. Oak Park Avenue in Chicago's Dunning neighborhood. Happy Pride! #pride

A locally landmarked home designed by Keck and Keck is on the market for the 1st time since it was built in 1962. The original owners were David & Linda Blumberg. He ran a furniture company & died in 2022 at the age of 94. She passed away earlier this year. She was 96. www.redfin.com/IL/Highland-...

My Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were incredibly disappointed that no one correctly answered the clue about them on Jeopardy today. Someone even had the nerve to buzz in and call them Cocker Spaniels. Excuse me? I don’t think so.

Rest in peace to my aunt’s dog Toby who took his favorite toy, laid down in bed and called it a day over the weekend. Also rest in peace to the name Toby. My aunt has owned 14 parakeets and 3 dogs all with the same name. How original! 🙄

Architect Henry Hobson Richardson lording over a group of men in Cincinnati in 1885. He was in the city to discuss his Chamber of Commerce project, which was completed after his death. The tallest building ever designed by Richardson, it stood at 4th and Vine Streets from 1888 until 1911.

The sun just came out and my mood has improved 1000%! When it was gloomy before, the neighboring palm trees looked sad. Now the sun is shining on them as nature intended. 🌞

While there are many things that make me feel old, hearing a so-called influencer say they have “a job” and “work hard,” I don’t know, man, it just makes me want to crawl back into my coffin.

1915 “jewel box” bank designed by Parker Berry, draftsman for Louis Sullivan. He was hired by Sullivan after getting a recommendation from Kristian Schneider, an ornament modeler at the American Terra Cotta Company. Berry died of the Spanish flu at age 30 in 1918.

After waiting patiently for the last two months, I can say that this amazing home has officially hit the market. The Robert Silhan House in Berwyn is a Streamline Moderne design made of Tiffany enameled bricks & inspired by the 1933 World's Fair. Here's my article: www.chicagomag.com/real-estate/...

I always think I’m kind of a grouch, and I see it’s a genetic trait as both my grandmother & great-grandmother have resting bitch face in this 1930 photo. Nice dog though. Sadly the baby died the next year & my grandma’s brother (the boy above the dog) also had a short life. He was hit by a car.

Tomorrow demolition will begin on the Jackson Square Antique Mall in La Grange, originally built in 1903 & altered by architects George Kingsley & Barry Byrne in 1923, for a 39-unit luxury condo complex. Neighbor Jonathan Robinson is suing the village & seeking a restraining order to stop it.

My stepdad the music teacher got tickets to see the DuPage Symphony Orchestra in Naperville & took the whole family. Barbara Schubert's the conductor. My aunt: "This is disgusting. That's a man's job." My cousin: "Shut the fuck up with that shit." Reminder that women can be the biggest misogynists.

Before the pandemic, I never had an opinion one way or the other about cars & trucks. But something broke people’s brains in 2020. It’s like Mad Max or being inside a video game whenever you’re out there on the road. I hate it. Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves From The Tyranny Of The Automobile

Yes, they have. A vehicle was stopped at a stop sign, as it should be, going east on Schiller. There are always people & their tiny dogs crossing Astor & Schiller, where there’s a slight jog creating a blind spot. This driver went around the stopped car, sped down Schiller & nearly hit a pedestrian.

I rewatched West Side Story (1961) & can’t think of another classic Oscar-winning film whose main cast members are still with us (w/the exception of Natalie Wood). Rita Moreno is 94, George Chakiris is 93, Richard Beymer is 88, Russ Tamblyn is 91. Impressive. I’d like to think it’s all that dancing.

Even though I come from a family of North Siders, loyalties are still divided. Rest in pieces, old Comiskey Park! Poor Leo.

Writing is hard. You’re creating something out of nothing. You overcome whatever obstacle stands in the way: laziness, fear, ADHD, or perfectionism. Yet in the end, the sense of accomplishment you feel upon finishing a piece of writing is so worth it. You’ll never get that from using AI. Keep at it!

An excuse for me to write about the Bob Newhart Building and a property in Rogers Park that comes with two kayaks as part of its sale.

With Mother’s Day coming up, I thought I’d share this latest art piece in progress by my mom. It’s supposed to be a raven. Then the bird said “Nevermore.”

Sir David Attenborough turns 100 tomorrow. He’s only 7 yrs older than Senator Chuck Grassley, president pro tempore and 3rd in line of presidential succession, who will be 93 in just 4 months. Who’s younger than Grassley? Buddy Holly, Elvis, Donald Duck, Roger Maris, Sandy Koufax, the Dalai Lama.

If The Odyssey was based on my life, it would have to take place circa 2005 when I was young & stupid and booked a *DAY TRIP* from Manchester to London to visit Charles Darwin’s House Museum as part of research for my grad school dissertation. The one positive was a great afternoon tea at his house.

I haven’t been spending much time here lately as I feel scrolling in general is bad but I see something about RFK Jr. & antidepressants. Seriously fuck off. I’m a loser with severe depression & taking antidepressants makes me feel like I can at least function somewhat in this fucked up world.

Yes, Oak Park could be more dense. But let's not forget what it used to look like. This is kind of freaky. Looking east from Lake & Lombard and west from Lake & Cuyler in the 1890s. The train wasn't elevated until 1962. (I can't believe it took just two years to create the Lake Street "L" in OP.)

“The best thing you can do is not play the lottery,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a recent interview — rather, young people should invest their money and “then watch it grow.” Young people’s response:

Chicagoland Western Suburb Edition: Oak Park, Forest Park, River Forest (also works if you replace Forest Park with Berwyn)

I like how the listing calls this house "funky" instead of being honest with us. It's just a big ol' mess. I know what we can do: let's incorporate every single design trend into our house. Great idea! Oh, and don't forget the Home Depot door!!! www.redfin.com/IL/Evanston/...

Taking pictures of people looking at art is one of my favorite things to do at a museum.

This is the funniest one yet. Folk & Poetry Coffee House Abstract Art The Second City Comedy Club Crrey *something* Comedy

There are only a handful of authors who keep me up all day and night reading. I’ll add Patrick Radden Keefe to that list. I have enjoyed every one of his books, including his latest “London Falling.” I love how he tells a story while always placing it in historical context. #booksky

Oh no! Just now learning about the new carousel feature on this app. I guess I’ll never share photos again. 😭

My favorite kind of juxtaposition: historic home from 1877, giant condo tower, and community garden. Taken four years ago in Palatine, Illinois.

Like Jesus, Old Man Daley has risen from the dead.

Happy Earth Day from the Solar Kings Keck & Keck! (Not kidding, the architects created the first solar home in Glenview, IL in 1940.)

Prince previously rented the mansion in Beverly Hills where the Menendez Brothers killed their parents. They had a pre-planned alibi for the night of the murder & tried to buy tickets for the 1989 film Batman but it was sold out. And who wrote the movie’s soundtrack? That’s right, folks…Prince.

The Patterson-McCormick Mansion, located at the NW corner of Burton & Astor in Chicago’s Gold Coast, is a Neoclassical design w/Roman brick & terra cotta trim created by Stanford White of the firm McKim, Mead & White in 1893.

I’m officially an old lady, shaking my head at kids today while I was giving an architecture tour. A group and I were standing at the corner of Astor & Schiller when a young guy driving west rolled down his car window & shouted at us, “You stupid fucks. It’s old as shit.” Definitely killed the mood.

Are we sick of seeing these kind of pictures yet? Sorry not sorry.

I still occasionally think of an argument I had with a longtime friend after she discussed with me how she wanted to pick & choose how her taxes were spent. It got so heated that she walked out of the restaurant, and we never spoke again. I wonder what she thinks about how her taxes are spent now?

Throwback: As a former Oak Parker, remembering when both Lake and Marion Streets were pedestrianized. Lake from Harlem to Forest 1974-1988. Marion from Lake to North Blvd 1974-2007.

Another gem from everyone's favorite digital creator Vanished Chicago - "In 1882, industrialist Joseph Sears asked the young firm of Burnamon Route to design his new home at 1815 South Prairie." MY FAVORITE BURNAMON & ROUTE BUILDING!!!

Remember when Rick Perry wanted Americans to pay taxes on postcards? It was only 14 yrs ago but we all know one year of a Trump presidency feels like 14,000 lifetimes. youtu.be/5D6vZ_vMKIc?...

As your architecture obituary queen, I will remember my boy Louis Sullivan, who died on this day (April 14, 1924), with four buildings that should never have been demolished imo. But hey, it’s the Chicago way! (I’d like to add that house built for his brother Albert Sullivan is still an empty lot.)

Thank you. I had some thoughts on Richard Nickel and the possibility of forever losing the Chicago Stock Exchange Room.