ChiBeria

Winter has hit much of the country hard recently, as you likely already know. Here in Chicago, we've been proudly bragging about how tough we all are for surviving the "polar vortex" conditions. ChiBeria, as the city has been dubbed over the last couple days (we love our storm nicknames), has shut down schools, offices, and stores and kept many indoors for obvious reasons (the windchill has been as low as -50 degrees). I mean, it's been straight arctic up in here. However, this did not stop my dumb ass from prancing around town in long underwear to get a few photos of the city under snow and ice. Fortunately I was able to justify my decisions when yesterday the Chicago Tribune posted one of my Instagram photos on their blog. Anyway, I hope you enjoy looking through my photos because I certainly enjoyed the adventure of capturing them.

Steam rising off Lake Michigan at Foster Avenue Beach. 

Ice formations on my car windows

I thought I was hardcore for bearing the cold until I saw these bikers at Montrose Harbor. 

Skyline view from Museum Campus 

Icy North Avenue Beach 

Check out those icicles! 

In certain areas, the ice has formed into little pebbles. 

Frozen solid.

King Krule and TOPS

 

Sandwiched between a crowd of baby hipster imports from Wicker Park, Bucktown, and the Ukrainian Village, I anxiously awaited the arrival of King Krule to Lincoln Hall's stage last week. I had heard some of his songs and found them unique - at 19 he's already a clear talent - but my urgency to see him perform was less about him and more about removing myself from the sea of skinny jeans that engulfed me. But despite my pure misery (I'm losing tolerance for rude people who constantly slam into me to get an inch closer to the stage), I have to say that he put on a great show. It's hard to pinpoint a genre for King Krule - indie of course but with elements of jazz, spoken word, blues, and punk. It's working for him. Montreal's TOPS opened. For more photos, click here.

TOPS 

King Krule 

Active Child and JMSN

Active Child (a.k.a. Pat Grossi) transported all of Lincoln Hall to his magical world of harps and tear-jerking falsettos a couple weeks ago, when he not only brought his talented band to back him, but a choir and string quartet to boot. The show was absolutely mesmerizing. Just stunning. See him. JMSN opened the evening with a really fun, high energy, and R&B-infused set. For more of my photos, click here.

JMSN 

Active Child 

Members of the string quartet 

Members of the choir