Love, Chicago Style

Today is the big day. Yesterday afternoon, Andy, Claire and I walked from their home to the Logan Square Comfort Station to check out the space, light and angles (the weather is absolutely perfect). We hadn't even gotten off their front porch before this stuff started. It's okay. I think it's a really good match.

Wedding ceremony today at five, party at seven. Transportation between the two, including the bride and groom, is on the CTA Blue Line. What a photo op.

                   

          

Vise

Richard Serra's Twain puts the squeeze on the Civil Courts Building. I've shown it here a number of times before. Most people ignore it now but it generated a lot of hate when it was installed. I kneel before it.

It's gonna be a crazy but wonderful weekend. Up to Chicago today. Son Andy will be married on Saturday to the simply delightful Claire Blouin, who knows how to keep him in line. None of this wedding-industrial complex stuff. The rehearsal dinner is tonight in their back yard with Popeye's fried chicken and a keg. I'm the wedding photographer with daughter Emily working the second camera. We'll have days and days of this, I'm sure.                             

Laces On A Hat

...among other things. I can't figure out why you would need laces, let alone gears, on a leather top hat.  Or those earrings, that striking beard, the dashiki or those eyes. Must be a studied effect, a bit intimidating.                                                       

To Nature

Someone dancing all by herself at the Pagan Picnic. She was quite graceful and had no body image problems, which I think is great. Sort of a Terra Mater.                         

Chacun A Son Goût

This Pagan Picnic that I mentioned a couple of days ago isn't a real big deal. People who have generally out of the mainstream religious views show up with various mystics, tarot card readers, spiritual travelers and those trying to sell them something. Many are deliberately strange. The small gathering can be a bit sad but it's good that The Lou is diverse enough to have the affair.

There were an awful lot of tattoos, not surprisingly. Readers of this blog know my attitude about them but, hey, your skin belongs to you. Still, it's hard for me to understand why someone would want that on the back of their leg. Each to their own taste.

Any troublemakers might have a hard time taking the agent below seriously. How about a little gravitas?                                

Teammates

Not all the teams at this tournament were affiliated with Sts. Peter and Paul. This group looks like they have graduated from beer pong to beer soccer, which I assume is both more difficult and more dangerous. This shot was taken just before they went on the field. One possible consequence: your opponent's shot is not supposed to go right between your legs.

The action shots all have some haze and glare. I was shooting through plexiglass walls. Did the best I could.                            

An Unusual Soccer Tournament

Who knew? There are street soccer leagues for homeless and formerly homeless people and they have regional tournaments. One of them was put on yesterday by Sts. Peter and Paul Church in our Soulard neighborhood. P&P is a major provider of services to the homeless. Street soccer, in this sense, involves four person teams in 14 minute games that are fast and high high scoring.

It was literally to be in the street, Morgan Ford Road south of Tower Grove Park. When a downpour started it was moved to an indoor soccer club in the suburbs. Odd, to say the least. People were welcoming, the scene was off beat and the action, eventually, was fast.

I'd like to propose a caption contest for the second photo. Any ideas?