Plus, an early morning “skyscraper” amongst the real skyscraper skyline!

Tonight I went to the Chicago Theater with my friend Nancy for a great concert.
Okay, I will admit that it was an odd evening. And that’s putting it nicely…

The concert was Jackson Browne, with special guest David Lindley. So my friend Nancy
tells me that Jackson Browne is her all-time favorite pop star. And that she’s seen him
in concert over 50 times!!! Now I’m not sure I even know who he is?!

The concert started with an acoustic set with Jackson Browne & David Lindley.
I could tell right away that they are very talented, but I didn’t recognize a single song!!!
After intermission, Jackson Browne returned with his full band behind him. Again…
I could tell that they were all very talented. Again… didn’t recognize a single song!
It was very weird being in a sold-out concert where everyone is “totally into it” –
and me, kinda lost, not knowing anything?!

But then very close to the end, he did play a great rendition of “Running On Empty”…
finally, a song that I knew!!!

I hope you’ve enjoyed sharing my photos over the years.
I love taking them. I enjoy capturing my experiences. I love the challenge of creating
a beautiful image through photo composition & framing… and now I need your help!

Again this year, CBS 2 Chicago is sponsoring a photo contest to get published in their
upcoming photo book “Capture My Chicago.” If you recall, they did the same project
last year and I was lucky enough to get two photos included in the book. And with your help,
I would like to get published again in their year’s version of the book. But I need your votes…

Simply go to www.CaptureMyChicago.com
Register with a quick e-mail address – then start voting for your favorite photos!
Do a search for “Gary Jackson” – and then click on my shmarmy mug shot.
That will take you to my collection of photos which I hope you’ll vote for.
You have a choice to “Dig It” or “Nix It.” So vote early, vote often!

I currently have over fifty photos uploaded for your voting consideration.
And will continue to post more over the next few weeks. I’m not sure when
the deadline is for the book, but I hope to get a lot of votes so I can get published
once again. Please send this out to everyone… put it on your Facebook…
Twitter it… e-mail it… do whatever it takes to get the word out there!

Stop by today and start voting… www.CaptureMyChicago.com

And how dramatically a sunrise can change in just a matter of minutes…

And this morning, I got both…

Just when I thought that this morning’s sunrise couldn’t get any better…
I received these photos from Scott Carlson this evening. They’re photos of
this morning’s sunrise as seen from his condo rooftop on Chicago’s west side.
Still stunning… even with all those buildings in the way!

Anyone else up early enough and willing to share their own sunrise photos?!

It’s been a busy two nights. Two nights of fun. Two night of music.
Two nights under the stars enjoying fine music, friends and food at Ravinia!
Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois is known for bringing a wide assortment
of music to the northern suburbs. Ravinia is a music venue with a large pavilion
and an even larger grassy meadow surrounding it with “lawn seats” for those of us
too cheap to pay for pavilion seats… plus the picnic is a BIG part of the experience!

So Friday night, after camp, I went up to Ravinia with my friend Nancy for a fun night
of retro fun. As a kid of the 70’s, I sang along and knew every word… as the concert was
a tribute to ABBA. Yes, it was a night with Fernando, Chiquitita and the Dancing Queen!
Okay, so it wasn’t the “real” ABBA – as they no longer perform and keep raking in
the royalty checks! Imagine how much they got from the musical & movie adaptation
of “Mamma Mia” – not to mention the resurgence of their own ABBA popularity.
Ravinia was packed – and SOLD OUT… including the lawn!

Then tonight, I returned for another night of music with my parents, aunt & cousin
for a night in the park with night of Broadway melodies. It was a night to celebrate
the 80th birthday of Broadway lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Famous for his wonderful
lyrics for many of the most popular modern musicals; including Gypsy, Sweeney Todd,
Sunday In The Park With George, Passions, and A Little Night Music. The orchestra was
great – with vocal performances by Broadway legends Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald,
Michael Cerveris and George Hearn. I was a bit disappointed that the show was kind of short.
And they skipped over a lot of Sondheim classics like West Side Story and Into The Woods.
Plus, I’m not a huge fan of Patti LuPone – I think she’s overrated, a little brassy and annoying.
Audra McDonald was incredible, as were both gentlemen. So, even though the show wasn’t
everything I had hoped for, the evening was still great fun. Enjoying the park, the gardens,
the sculptures, the food and the fun with my family. Another fun night under the stars!

So, all in all it was another wonderful night at Ravinia Festival. Plus, we got to see a lot of
“beautiful people” as tonight was also the Ravinia Women’s Club fundraising black-tie gala!
So there were a lot of heavy-hitters in their finery milling about – plus the huge, decked-out
gala tent out in the large meadow area. Tuxes, ball gowns, ladies who lunch and more!

For the schedule of upcoming shows, check out the Ravinia website…
www.Ravinia.org

A note from my friend Barbara Finn…
You inquired earlier about those who wanted to continue to receive your early morning
musings and pictures. How about mixing it up a little with the occasional shot of the cityscape
catching the early rays of the sun or a shot from Olive Park.  Or something that reflects the
changing of the seasons from a particular spot so those of us who might be relocating from
this magnificent city would have a consistent photographic record of the different faces
of the city and environs.  I enjoy the shots of flowers that are sprinkled into the mix.
Still appreciating your pastel sunrises and dramatic morning skies.
And don’t mean to step on the art director’s spokes.

So here you go Barbara… an “occasional” sunrise shot with some Chicago “cityscape”
architecture”catching the early rays” instead of my bike! I found it intriguing how the
sunrise reflected off the green glass windows of the Oceanarium… with the Navy Pier
towers way off in the distance. You asked… and here you go!