the week in tumblrs 5.23.11

This weekend was spectacular. The weather, which until Friday, had been cold and dreary lightened its mood and we had 2.5 days of warmth and sun and...in other words, spring.

I've lived in Chicago for almost three years now and still love visiting the Bean. The way it captures the skyline is just breathtaking (it's also thebestplace to people watch) The funny thing is that I never think to go unless people are visiting. We made sure to take advantage of this delightful tourist attraction while my sister was here. You can almost see our photo there behind all the handprints.

On Saturday we explored a mecca for lovers of old things. Architectural Artifacts is floors upon floors of  antique goodness. I have a whole post coming up about it later this week, but this photo was taken of a cast iron bathtub filled with vintage slides.

We did get caught in one impromptu rainstorm so we ducked into Spacca Napoli - a little pizzeria in Ravenswood that serves delicious and fresh thin crust pizzas. Everything that we tried was wonderful and we will definitely be going back.

Bookshelves are no joke in our apartment as we (okay, I) may or may not have a (slight) book accruing habit. These are various type specimen books with gorgeous inspiration.

hooray!

My sister

(see also: patient photography subject)

is on her way to Chicago as I type this. There will be much shopping, eating of pizza, watching of Bridesmaids taking of pictures and catching up of life. It's hard having my only sibling so far away, but these visits make it better. 

lovely little thing

Sometimes I fall pretty hard for cosmetic packaging.

This has resulted in the acquisition of an inordinate amount of lip balms and hand lotion. 

Luckily, this being Chicago, one can never have enough lip balm and hand lotion. One for every bag and flat surface is pretty much essential.

Especially when winter feels like extending itself well into May.

Like right now.

45 degrees. ugh.

a week in tumblrs 5.13.11

We took a walk at EXACTLY the right time where the sun makes awesome shadows on the sidewalk. I'm sure there's some tortured artist in New York City doing this exact same thing with the world's rarest camera and film that is handmade by nuns, but I think my iPhone captured the moment quite nicely.

Spent time with the Wishbone folks on Sunday postering in Wicker park for Vigils. In other news, postering is now a legitimate verb-y type word. While Wicker Park may be The Hipster Kingdom of Chicago, it also produces some damn fine coffee. And food. And clothing. And mustaches last seen in photos of turn-of-the-century homesteaders.

Bad judgement calls of the week: 

A) Wearing rain boots because the internet tells me to even though I can see that it is sunny and warm outside

B) Walking two miles round trip to the grocery store in previously mentioned rain boots with no socks in what turned out to be 80 degree weather. Blisters.

Storms have been rolling in and out of Chicago all week making for some pretty unreal sunsets. Last night's appears to have been art directed by someone who really liked My Little Ponies circa 1989.

This is a tabletop in the most depressing food court this earth has ever seen. The tables however, know what's up.