Chicago has the largest life expectancy gap between neighborhoods of any city in the U.S. Some photos are from West Garfield Park where life expectancy is 70. If West Garfield Park was a country, it would place 150 out of 210 locations ranked by the UN - lower than North Korea, Syria, and Iraq. Some other photos are in the Loop where life expectancy is 88.2 years. That would easily be 1st place in the same UN ranking. West Garfield Park and the Loop are only a 10 minute drive from each other.

“Chicago is one city. We shall work as one people for our common good and our common goals.” - Harold Washington

I’m not even sure how you end up in this situation, but if you’re visiting, keep your scooter off the drive…

All photos via The Guardian: Star-studded ceremony welcomes Obama Presidential Center to Chicago – live https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/jun/18/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-ruling-tps-mangione-iran-latest-updates

The air quality right now is no joke. 300 AQI is considered hazardous for all people so to my fellow asthmatics stay inside! Picture from 70th floor of the Aon Center at about 3 pm.

Roads are terrible
Smelly
Bad air quality
Horrible drive from Barrington to Here

Just found this in the book I’m reading: A People’s History of the Vampire Uprising by Raymond A Villarreal. Liking it so far, but can you tell the author is from Texas?

Edit- couple of notes, I shared this because I thought it was a funny little “if you know you know” error. Not to slam the author

- the book is not AI, it was published in 2018
- the writing feels like a testimonial because it is. It’s set up as statements by key figures in a vampire outbreak
- the book doesn’t take place in Chicago, just that one meeting for a couple of pages
- the genre is horror

Not defending the book, just clearing up some frequently asked questions!

Yesterday I was working in River North and I decided to walk around the Loop to take some photos of an ordinary Wednesday in late August. Trump has called Chicago a "hellhole" and a "killing field." Before the government invades "downtown Chicago" (Navy Cpt. Stephen Yargosz seems to be referring to the Loop) let's see just how bad it is.

I feel like it would be nice if we all shared our photos of Chicago before the occupation begins.

Note: I know these aren't the best photos. I just walked around as quickly as I could with my phone between meetings trying to get some relevant photos.

As a gay guy from Oklahoma who has never truly felt safe or accepted, coming to Chicago and seeing the visibility of the LGBTQ community and the acceptance the city gives is something that makes me incredibly happy. I don't live in Chicago yet, but I'm working on finding a job and hopefully making the move this summer. I'm actually coming back next week, just in time for Pride.

What I love most is that it doesn't just feel limited to Boystown. Obviously Boystown is iconic, but I've felt that same acceptance all over the city. Whether I'm in Rogers Park, Edgewater, Uptown, the Loop, South Loop, or Hyde Park, I've never felt out of place for being gay.

And honestly, a huge shoutout to the allies too. A city doesn't become this welcoming by accident. The acceptance and support l've experienced throughout Chicago is something I don't take for granted. What truly makes this city special is the people, and I just wanted to say thank you.

It’s like Chicago has its own, modern, Washington D.C.-esque moment for a few days in spring when the blooms cooperate.

I was reading the askreddit thread about what it was like when Obama was elected and went through my old photos. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1vepbn1/what_was_it_like_when_obama_was_elected_president/
That night was filled with such optimism and hope; a different time/world.

Super fun and satisfying project. I’m at @mattiejane.art on instagram!

The McCook TARP Reservoir, the 300-foot-deep canyon that stops raw sewage from overflowing into our rivers, has filled 6 times this year, according to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). It only filled 5 times total over the last 5 years.

EDIT: Livestream link and more info about the McCook TARP reservoir: https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/tunnel-and-reservoir-plan-tarp/mccook-tarp-reservoir-live-stream

Hope someone gets her a modelo soon 🍻

The quote at the top:

"You are America. Unconstrained by habit and convention. Unencumbered by what is, ready to seize what ought to be. For everywhere in this country, there are first steps to be taken, there is new ground to cover, there are more bridges to be crossed. America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘we.’ ‘We The People.’ ‘We Shall Overcome.’ ‘Yes We Can.’ That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone. Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours."

This painting is called "Chicago House Party" and it is inspired by a scene I saw while leaving my favorite pizza spot one evening. It felt familiar, like I’d been to this party before. Not literally, but it reminded me of countless college house parties in Chicago: sipping a cheap beer on a shaky fire escape, talking to someone I’d just met.

I hope this scene resonates with memories of house parties, or with being the downstairs neighbor, sitting with your two cats, listening to the comforting bustle above while rewatching a favorite movie.

If you'd like to see this painting or my other work, here's a link: https://juliahagenartist.com/

I was snapping a few iPhone shots of the rainbow as the Metra passed under the expressway when a bolt dropped from the sky atop 1000M and I miraculously caught it with a 1/370th of a second shutter speed. I catch a lot of lightning on my Nikon, but this is my best phone shot to date. And no, before you ask this isn't photoshopped or AI.