Another wonderful sculpture on the Loyola campus. More of that wonderful patina color & texture I love so much… plus cool angles & lines!

Architectural archways on the Loyola campus. Beautiful craftsmanship like they just don’t make anymore!

Beautiful wrought iron details on one of the Loyola doorways. Love the scrolls, the flowers, the reflection in the windows and the beautiful patina! These are the entry doors to the Cudahy Library at Loyola University.

Enjoying some beautiful architectural details along the way… right in my own “backyard”… hard to get a good run in when you keep stopping for photos!!!

Another area affected by the Winter storms & high waters. This area used to be a beach at Ardmore-Hollywood … complete with an Accessible Beach Walk. Apparently not so “accessible” these days?!

There’s a new sculpture along the lakefront!!! A new Keith Haring piece installed alongside Belmont Harbor. It went in late last Fall, and it’s still surrounded by construction fencing… probably until the memorial gardens are planted this Spring. It’s a large piece… see it in comparison to my bike!!!

Okay, so maybe the signs are there for a reason?!… still biking, but seeing a LOT of winter damage to the bike & running paths along the lakefront.

It seems to happen every winter, but this time it seems worse than usual. Some areas are washed out completely… like this “river “ of water where there’s supposed to be a cement running path?!

It was great to get out on my bike this afternoon… after a productive studio morning. It’s gonna take a lot more than a sign and a barricade to stop me and my bike!!!

Okay, so who else remembers these?!… or maybe it’s just a Chicago-thing???
Automatic plastic molded sculptures while you wait!!! Who doesn’t want that?!

The sound of the machine cranking.
The clear bubble to let you see it working.
The smell of the molten plastic.
Pulling them out of the slot while they’re still hot.
Having to carry them upside-down while the plastic cools & solidifies!!!
Whenever we went to the Zoo or a Museum, we would get to choose which ONE of these little statues we wanted as a souvenir.

And every time I smell that melted plastic… I’m eight years old again!!!

For even more about the MOLD-A-RAMA… click here!

I’d like to add a little side note… maybe a little bit of a “Spoiler Alert”???

While I was in the Primate House, the Mold-A-Rama technician was there cleaning the machine and putting any of the errant plastic back into the reservoir. I mentioned how much I loved the Mold-A-Rama as a kid… and how the smell was such a childhood flashback. Then he mentioned that they’ve been working on trying to make a candle that actually has that classic Mold-A-Rama scent!!! Yes, please!!!

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And while you’re out playing on a beautiful blue-sky’d day…
why not stroll a bit further to visit the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial just south of the Zoo.
I mean… if you’re gonna play hooky… just sayin’!!!