The comedy set

When I took this photo back in the summer there wasn’t much funny about it. I was with friends who were designing a comedy set for a TV show that aired nationally – and I wasn’t allowed to post this photo of the design until October! Seemed serious, so I waited until December to actually put it on the blog. You know, taking care of friends and their interests…

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Singers in the Lacquer

I’ve been stopped by more and more people in recent days asking me to take their picture. This rarely happens to me. I think the tripod I carry might scare them out of asking. Maybe it looks like I’m too engrossed in what I’m doing with my camera? Lately I’ve had more requests, and I always say yes when asked.

This photo I asked to take. As I made my way through the Palmer House I met a mother and her two daughters in the Empire Room. They told me the Red Lacquer Room (pronounced LOCKER, I think) on the fourth floor was even better, so I eventually made my way in its direction. As I entered I was surprised to find the two girls running around having the time of their lives. Mom happened to be there too, I just didn’t see her at first due to the commotion. Olivia and Erin were the kids names, I think. All of the running around in this gorgeous empty room lent some surreal atmosphere. After a few minutes the two girls agreed to pose as if they were addressing the mic at the opposite end of the room. The end result retains that odd feel of having free reign over this perfect space.

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Up in the corner

I broke my own rule for the second time in a week. Maybe it’s the staircases. Recently I said I would rather not post images from the same place on successive days, but setting up the walk-up to The Empire Room as I did on Sunday means to me that I need to deliver an Empire Room image. It’s not an obligation kind of thing, it’s just how I sold it. After recapping the journey to the room I myself would like to go back inside. Let’s do so.

THE EMPIRE ROOM, as the sign outside shouts in all caps, is bold and dominating. It looks like the kind of place in which a president should speak to his vast cadre of same-minded constituents – if they actually had something to say. It almost surrenders to this buttoned-up status quo, but it is gold and garish. I found a corner, got up on one of the three stages and let the space stretch up behind me overhead. I believe this summarizes the place as best as possible. While it is of the establishment it simultaneously pushes the volume just past a listenable decibel – expensive, yet artfully excessive. Maybe this explains why presidents stay in this hotel when they visit Chicago, but The Empire Room itself hosts musical acts and performances.

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