Last April I posted a photo thread of my first 2 years back in Chicago (
see here). At the time I knew there was a possibility I would be relocating within the next 15 months, but to my surprise it came much quicker than that. By mid-May it looked increasingly likely and I spent the rest of my summer just trying to enjoy my remaining time in what I still consider the best city in the USA. Because of COVID-19 I mostly stayed closer to my neighborhood (Uptown) and other nearby neighborhoods, though I did finally venture downtown later in the summer for the first time since March. I walked around as much as possible to soak it all in before leaving.
These photos start off in April and ultimately finish in early September.
1. Uptown
2. Andersonville
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5. Ravenswood
6. Lincoln Square
7. Winnemac Park – Lincoln Square
8. Andersonville
9. Margate Park
10. The mayor closed down the lakefront throughout spring and into early summer. Here you can see the blockade to keep people from crossing under Lake Shore Drive in Buena Park to the lakefront.
11. Alta Vista Terrace
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13. There should have been a baseball game going on, but it was dead quiet instead.
14. Wrigleyville
15. Uptown
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18. Ravenswood Gardens
19. Lincoln Square
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23. Ravenswood Gardens
24. North Center
25. Lakeview
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33. Boystown
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39. Wrigleyville
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41. North Sheridan Park
42. Andersonville
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51. Edgewater – Berwyn Ave.
52. Edgewater – Bryn Mawr Historic District
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54. I decided to finally check out Graceland Cemetery where many of the most famous Chicagoans are buried. What a beautiful oasis in the city!
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68. Southport Corridor
69. North Center
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71. Lincoln Square
72. Winnemac Park – Lincoln Square
73. Alta Vista Terrace - Lakeview
74. Edgewater
75. Andersonville
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77. Buena Park
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81. Uptown
82. Buena Park
83. I snapped this photo from the west side of Lake Shore Drive since the lakefront was closed.
84. Rogers Park
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86. Edgewater
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89. Margate Park
90. Andersonville/Ravenswood
91. Rogers Park – Frank Lloyd Wright’s Emil Bach House
92. Evanston/Chicago border. I decided to walk up to Evanston to enjoy the lakefront because of the mayor’s decision to shut down the Chicago lakefront. An absolutely gorgeous day!
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102. Andersonville
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108. My first time dining out since March calls for a glass of wine with lunch!
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112. Loyola
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115. Edgewater
116. Lakeview
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118. Lincoln Park (still couldn’t cross Lake Shore Drive to the lakefront but at least we could be in the park)
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120. Finally the lakefront reopened in late June, though the beaches & swimming still wasn’t allowed.
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123. Edgewater
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126. In August we had a strong line of storms with very strong winds blow through, toppling over more trees than I’ve ever seen. The lakefront was strewn with uprooted trees from Uptown to Lakeview. These are just a few photos (not particularly good photos) from near Lake Shore Drive.
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129. After 5 months I finally made it back downtown in August!
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134. My favorite doughnuts in the city!
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139. The dog beach near Montrose Beach.
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141. My final time downtown after clearing out my office following 5+ months of telework.
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144. Back up in Andersonville for a late lunch alfresco on a beautiful early September afternoon.
145. Winnemac Park - Lincoln Square
146. My final full day in Chicago I had to head over to Wicker Park to stop by my realtor’s office.
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149. While in Wicker Park I stopped by the excellent The Wormhole Coffee.
150. And just as I was leaving for O’Hare to fly off to the West Coast, I made one final stop at one of my favorite coffee shops not too far from where I lived, Groundswell Coffee, on Damen Ave in Ravenswood/Lincoln Square.
Hope you enjoyed the photos. I look forward to visiting sweet home Chicago at some point in the year ahead!
