One of the perks of working at Navy Pier so often is getting to play once & awhile… like a couple loops around the huge Centennial Ferris Wheel. Great views of the Pier… and the City from high above!

Spending some time with a few of my Holiday Elves!

Might have been cold & blustery outside today… but warm & tropical inside. Just enjoying a little more time inside The Crystal Gardens at Chicago’s landmark Navy Pier.

With a ton of dark clouds to start the day… there was a glimmer of hope & a little sunrise confidence that something good would come of it. Chilly & breezy to start, but eventually… a beautiful sunrise!!!

There was a small chance for a nice sunrise, but the slight break in the clouds just wasn’t in the right place. Made the skyline look nice… but that’s about it.

Another chilly morning with a layer of low-flying clouds on the horizon. A slow start to a beautiful morning.

Thankful for yesterday’s sunrise… but today’s?… not so much. I was hoping that these clouds might turn into something cool as the sun came up… but the sun NEVER came up! Instead, it was just gray, cloudy & SO WINDY!!! But I kept thinking…. with every mile I pedal, I can eat more PUMPKIN PIE!!!

Surprisingly warm this morning… so I had to ride! Sure, the roads were wet from overnight rain, and there was really no chance for an actual sunrise… but it still felt great getting back out on my bike for “sunrise” bike ride… no matter how gray & cloudy!

A little dull & dreary along the lakefront this morning… nice & warm, but a bit on the gray side. Sure, there was a glimmer of hope over Navy Pier… but it quickly dissipated and moved back to cloudy grayness. At least I got a moment or two of color… and another fun bike ride to start my day!!!

A serene skyline with a pastel sunrise shimmering on the calm morning lakefront.

Early morning light working its way through the Ferris wheel & carousel at Navy Pier today… streaming through the rides of Pier Park.