Chicago, A Slight Return

East Wacker Drive

The Loop

Anish Kapoor

Art Institute of Chicago

North Michigan Avenue, From My Hotel Room

North Michigan Avenue

Lake Point Towers

Chicago Harbour Lighthouse

Roy Litchenstein

Jean Dubuffet

1060 West Addison Street

Oak Park

Camera: Canon 5DmkII, Fuji X100, iPhone 4S.

The last time in Chicago was a brief stop-over giving me only a day to look around, and most of that spent in the Art Institute of Chicago . This time I have several days including a day to head out to Oak Park and a feast of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture including his home and studio. My hotel on this visit is the Hard Rock Hotel housed in one of the finest art deco skyscrapers built. The view from my room ( above ) looks straight down North Michigan Avenue and across the river. Spectacular. 

New York City, Before Sandy.

Theo's Cafe, Fifth Avenue, Gramercy/Flatiron.

Synagogue for the Arts, White Street, TriBeCa.

One Hudson Square, Canal/Varick, SoHo

He Got Game, Fifth Avenue, Midtown.














Retail Is Hard, Broadway, SoHo.

Slice of Road, East 8th St, NoHo

Health Food, 6th Ave, Midtown.

Stop No Don't Stop, Fifth Avenue, Midtown.

Manhattan.

To Staten

Domino Sugar Factory, Brooklyn.

Semper Paratus, Coast Guard, East River.

Industry, Brooklyn

Pepsi Sign, Brooklyn.

Long Island City Ferry, Brooklyn.

Pier 57

From the Empire State


Camera: Canon 5DmkII & Fuji X100

Posted with Blogsy

Down to Margate

Dreamland Cinema

 Margate Pier and Harbour Company 

Sea Ship WIndfarms  

Margate Harbour

Love Lane

Westbrook Bay, Margate Bay 

 Old Town

Henrys, Old Cameras

Camera: Fuji X100

A day trip to the original British seaside holiday destination via high speed javelin train from St Pancras, less than two hours home to beach, nearly an hour off the pre javelin time from Victoria. A visit to the Turner Contemporary, a wonderful space. Rodin's 'The Kiss' framed by a huge glass wall looking out to sea. Tracy Emin stuff was very Tracy Emin. A wonderful space and location, right next to Margate Old Town a few small streets of retro shops, cupcake cafes and all kinds of drinking establishment from cockney 'boozer by the sea' to inevitable hip bar , but again by the sea. Nice.

Then to Shell Grotto, The main high street is pretty depressing, poundshops and Primark, even the former Woolworths still lies empty, though there is Henrys with some decent second hand camera kit. So back to the front and perfect cod and chips from Peter's Fish Factory whilst watching the tide come in. A quick trip to buy some rock then back past the rather run down arcades and boarded up shops along the front to the station and the javelin back to giddy London. 

There is a second bright sign of the recovery of Margate on the way back to the station. Dreamland a Grade II* listed cinema from the mid thirties currently under restoration will front a new amusement park of classic vintage rides on the site of what was Ben Bom Brothers amusement park in the 80's that I remember well and many different menagerie/zoo/theme park incarnations in the generations previously.

Finally this classic for you from the mighty Chas n' Dave.

The Angel of the North

The Angel of the North Gateshead

Camera: Fuji X100

Antony Gormley's breathtaking sculpture a monument to the North East's industrial heritage. Weighing 100 tons and anchored to 600 tons of concrete to withstand 100mph winds on the site of a former colliery.

Tom Ford

Tom Ford Designer & Filmmaker

Camera: Canon 5DII

Portrait session with the talented and charming Tom Ford.

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen Sunderland: Stadium of Light

Camera: iPhone4S

Time for a catch up and here is the pic of shots from my handy iPhone from Bruce Springsteen's show at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. Fortunately the torrential rain that was incessant during the day held of for a fantastic show seen from the pit. The following day's Manchester show was wetter and shelter in the seats was in order for another marathon show. London's Hyde Park show was a knock out if you were near the front but Live Nation get 1/10 for sound system and even less for cutting of Springsteen and McCartney off for going 11 minutes over curfew. Maximum Profit 1 Maximum Rock n Roll 0.