mStoner held an event at Adobo Grill two nights ago and we loved the venue. The tableside guacamole was fantastic, as was the service. I also liked the decor, and snapped the above shot of some of the art and red/orange walls. I’d definitely recommend this venue if you’re in old town and looking for some tasty guac!

They also used a photo of my sketches from my personal website to populate space on their design page. Yep, those are my sketches for a Fogo de Chao logo.

The site design is done by Wexley School for Girls, and it offers an interactive experience for the user. Check it out.

Last Saturday I attended the first polo matches ever played in Chicago. An arena was constructed at north beach, so they played on sand, with the waves crashing on one side and the Chicago skyline shining on the other. It was a gorgeous day and the outfits of those in attendance were almost as entertaining as the polo. People wore their preppiest… plaid blazers, pink pants, big hats, fur, there was even a seersucker suit sighting. Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of the fashion, but here are a few of the polo action.

This morning I woke to a beautiful fall day in Chicago. It was so lovely I decided to head to Humboldt Park for some exercise and possibly some photo ops. In the park I saw butterflies, birds, fall flowers, and I even saw a turtle covered in algae. A turtle! In the city of Chicago! I was in heaven. I felt revived. I had finally found a place in the city where I could feel rejuvenated and inspired by nature as well as a place to pursue my interest in nature photography.

I was getting ready to leave the park when a man approached me. He said, “You can’t take photos in here.” I looked at him, and was not sure if he was a park employee. He was wearing a dark Carhartt sweatshirt and sunglasses. There was nothing identifying him as a park employee except for a walkie-talkie coming out of his pocket.

I said,”Oh, I didn’t know that, why is that?”

He said, “You need a permit to take pictures in here.”

I said, “I am just a hobbyist photographer. I had no idea. So that is city of Chicago law?”

“Yes, just the other day a guy was in here taking pictures and we axed him.”

“You axed him?”

“Yeah, we axed him if he had a permit.”

“Oh, well, I apologize, I didn’t know that, why is that the law?”

The man then said, “Well, it happened after 9-11.” I believe I gave him a quizzical look. He then said, “You remember what happened then?”

I could not believe the conversation was turning to this. I said, “Yes.”

He said, “This is a historical park.” I said, “Ok. Sorry about that. I had no idea, I just take pictures for fun.”

Another man approached and said, “Way to enforce the law.” to the man who was speaking with me.

At that point I was already running away. How frustratingly ironic that I had finally found a place I felt energized by, and excited to take pictures in, and it was illegal. I didn’t know what was more ridiculous… that the city of Chicago would require me to get a permit for my images of birds, butterflies and turtles or that someone would imply that I could use my images of birds, butterflies and turtles for some sort of terrorist activity comparable to 9-11. I immediately researched the permit section of the parks department website and found a lot of permit information for commercial photography. There was nothing about non-commercial use. What is the law? Is it illegal for me to post these images here on my personal blog? I find that hard to believe. If that is the case, there is a chance I will become an activist. I wrote my alderman an email asking some questions. I hope he writes back.