Views along the Chicago River from the Kinzie Street bridge.

The “new Playboy building” and its amazing roof.

This picture taken from Onterie Center’s roofdeck shows the pretty cool roof of 680 N. Lakeshore Drive in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.  This building was originally called the American Furniture Mart but is now called the “new Playboy building” because Playboy’s headquarters is located inside.  In addition to offices, this former world’s largest building has over 400 condominiums, a Treasure Island grocery store, retail stores, and restaurants.

As an added bonus, the building with the “M” right behind the “new Playboy building” is the new Prentice Women’s Hospital that just opened up.  If you look closely, you can see a bit of green roof too!  Props to Prentice.

More images from Aqua in Chicago’s Lakeshore East!

I just can’t get enough of the wavy/curvy Aqua building in Chicago’s Lakeshore East neighborhood.  Next time you’re in the neighborhood, I highly recommend you taking a look.  They just opened up their amazing outdoor amenity deck.  I’m jealous…

Construction views from a Northerly Island bike ride.

This picture was taken from Northerly Island one sunny, hot, summer day.  Because of Mayor Daley’s…ahem…tenacity…Northerly Island has been turned into a prairie with native wildflowers and plants and it even  has some good trails to run and ride your bike on.  Plus, the beach is rarely packed like most lakefront beaches.

Back to the point of this picture, you can see a few construction projects like Trump International Hotel and Tower, One Museum Park West, Legacy at Millennium Park, Blue Cross-Blue Shield expansion, and even the very top of Aqua.  Enjoy!

Reflection in West Loop/Fulton River District

Trump International Hotel and Tower from Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.

Here is an updated picture of Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago!  The spire’s up and the building’s topped out and finished…from this angle at least.  Trump was getting a ton of criticism about the spire with people saying it’s not prominent enough or it doesn’t make any sense for the building.  Personally, I think the spire is just about perfect and for those who are saying it needs to be more prominent, just remember, Trump International Hotel and Tower is not the John Hancock or Sears Tower.  What do you think?

Sunny day on the Kinzie Street bridge looking across the Chicago River.

Old Colony Building getting a bath for the first time in 200 years…

A big thank you is needed for ArchitectureChicagoPLUS for its article and pictures on Chicago’s Old Colony Building.  I honestly thought the Old Colony Building was meant to be that dark black color but turns out, it’s actually a very light gray stone.  The difference between clean and unclean is disgusting, and I guess amazing all in one.  Take a look for yourselves!  I’ll have to take a trip down there to get a look in person.

What the Old Colony Building SHOULD look like…

Blue and Green. Grant Park with Blue Cross-Blue Shield & 340 on the Park.

I was walking through Grant Park on probably the nicest day of spring that Chicago has had so far when I came to a shaded area across the street from the Blue Cross-Blue Shield and 340 on the Park buildings.  This picture is the result.  I just think the colors turned out great in the picture and that’s about it…not trying to look that deep into the picture.

Architectural detail in River North across from the Merchandise Mart.

To start off my impromptu walk around downtown, I got off at the Merchandise Mart ”el” stop and walked West on Kinzie Street.  Across from the Merchandise Mart is a bunch of old, brick buildings that have been converted to some high-end home furnishing stores, restaurants, and condos.  Check out the brick, stone, and even metalwork on this building which is located around 210 W. Kinzie Street.  Pretty cool.