Bob Schaefer
@bobszilla.bsky.social
A hot cuppa tea on a cold winter's day. Chicagoan, architect, listener, reader, traveler, time waster
At lunchtime today I took an after-the-rain walk through Bemis Woods with Salt Creek running high and fast, and pop-up marshes among the trees. There are hints of fall color, but two days of rain had most everything lush and green.
October 3, 2026 at 1:34 AM
At lunchtime today I took an after-the-rain walk through Bemis Woods with Salt Creek running high and fast, and pop-up marshes among the trees. There are hints of fall color, but two days of rain had most everything lush and green.
Here's an easy add to my #OHC2026 itinerary.
The Uptown is the largest freestanding theater in North America & remains a breathtaking space despite being shuttered for nearly 5 decades. The J. Geils Band took the Uptown stage for the theater's final concert before it went dark in 1981. Get inside during OHC2026
https://bit.ly/4xQdWQ1
https://bit.ly/4xQdWQ1
October 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Here's an easy add to my #OHC2026 itinerary.
Taps on @starshapedpress.bsky.social sign. Welcome to my favorite month of the year in my favorite city in the world.
October 1, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Taps on @starshapedpress.bsky.social sign. Welcome to my favorite month of the year in my favorite city in the world.
Life seems better when the White Sox are winning.
October 1, 2026 at 12:39 AM
Life seems better when the White Sox are winning.
I saw this beauty in my rearview mirror as I drove west to work. That was enough sunrise to also give me a pale morning rainbow through my windshield on the same commute. 🌅🌧️🌈
Fire on Friday. Today's sunrise over the Chicago skyline.
September 25, 2026 at 2:17 PM
I saw this beauty in my rearview mirror as I drove west to work. That was enough sunrise to also give me a pale morning rainbow through my windshield on the same commute. 🌅🌧️🌈
Man, everything about this screams terrible, especially the worst "rock band on a beach" album cover since Emerson Lake and Palmer.
U2 announce 'Carnaval de Luz,' their first new album in nine years; hear the single 'Silencio'
U2 Announce New Album 'Carnaval de Luz': Hear "Silencio"
The big dogs are back! It has been nearly nine years since U2 released Songs Of Experience, their last proper studio album of new music. This fall, right around the band’s 50th anniversary, they will ...
stereogum.com
September 24, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Man, everything about this screams terrible, especially the worst "rock band on a beach" album cover since Emerson Lake and Palmer.
I really like "Walking on the Sun." I even have it on a promo CD single that I fished out of a dollar bin 25 years ago so I didn't have to buy Fush Yu Mang. And I share Tom's 1/10 hate for "All Star." Classic Breihan diss: "You don't get a bonus point just for not being "One Week."
Alternative Number Ones on "Walkin' On The Sun," the Smash Mouth hit that doesn't suck a dog's ass.
The Alternative Number Ones: Smash Mouth's "Walkin' On The Sun"
In The Alternative Number Ones, I’m reviewing every #1 single in the history of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks/Alternative Songs, starting with the moment that the chart launched in 1988. This colum...
stereogum.com
September 21, 2026 at 3:11 PM
I really like "Walking on the Sun." I even have it on a promo CD single that I fished out of a dollar bin 25 years ago so I didn't have to buy Fush Yu Mang. And I share Tom's 1/10 hate for "All Star." Classic Breihan diss: "You don't get a bonus point just for not being "One Week."
Carla dal Forno was absolutely charming. Singing bedroom pop songs over backing tracks and live bass probably would not work everywhere but it worked last night at the Bottle. Bonus: home before midnight.
September 16, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Carla dal Forno was absolutely charming. Singing bedroom pop songs over backing tracks and live bass probably would not work everywhere but it worked last night at the Bottle. Bonus: home before midnight.
It’s just like 2006 again: Me at the Empty Bottle on a school night to see a three-artist bill that starts at 9pm. But it’s Carla dal Forno headlining so I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
September 16, 2026 at 2:43 AM
It’s just like 2006 again: Me at the Empty Bottle on a school night to see a three-artist bill that starts at 9pm. But it’s Carla dal Forno headlining so I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
At the Printers Row Lit Fest. People still like books and reading!
September 12, 2026 at 6:17 PM
At the Printers Row Lit Fest. People still like books and reading!
While it still feels like summer outside, one way I know that fall is approaching is that Open House Chicago is doing its unveiling of sites, including these new ones. openhousechicago.org/itineraries/...
Come see the sites that are making their Open House Chicago debut this year. Let's give them a hearty welcome!
openhousechicago.org
September 9, 2026 at 11:55 AM
While it still feels like summer outside, one way I know that fall is approaching is that Open House Chicago is doing its unveiling of sites, including these new ones. openhousechicago.org/itineraries/...
Reposted by Bob Schaefer
Just made a new Chicago bot.
Follow for @chicagobuoys.bsky.social for all the latest readings from 'Chuoy' the buoy, pictured here.
bsky.app/profile/chic...
Follow for @chicagobuoys.bsky.social for all the latest readings from 'Chuoy' the buoy, pictured here.
bsky.app/profile/chic...
September 4, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Just made a new Chicago bot.
Follow for @chicagobuoys.bsky.social for all the latest readings from 'Chuoy' the buoy, pictured here.
bsky.app/profile/chic...
Follow for @chicagobuoys.bsky.social for all the latest readings from 'Chuoy' the buoy, pictured here.
bsky.app/profile/chic...
Reposted by Bob Schaefer
A long-awaited title is finally available for preorder!
As usual, a wide variety of info on display: neighborhoods that have survived the most foreclosures, where to grab a Chicago dog, or where peregrine falcons have been spotted.
I’d love to hear guesses/predictions for what else made it in!
As usual, a wide variety of info on display: neighborhoods that have survived the most foreclosures, where to grab a Chicago dog, or where peregrine falcons have been spotted.
I’d love to hear guesses/predictions for what else made it in!
Chicago in 50 Maps
By Daniel Block & Andrea Craft April 6, 2027 This is a pre-order. Copies will ship in April 2027. Creative, colorful, original new maps of Chicago from local cartographers. For Chicagoans new and ...
tinyurl.com
September 8, 2026 at 12:48 PM
A long-awaited title is finally available for preorder!
As usual, a wide variety of info on display: neighborhoods that have survived the most foreclosures, where to grab a Chicago dog, or where peregrine falcons have been spotted.
I’d love to hear guesses/predictions for what else made it in!
As usual, a wide variety of info on display: neighborhoods that have survived the most foreclosures, where to grab a Chicago dog, or where peregrine falcons have been spotted.
I’d love to hear guesses/predictions for what else made it in!
Squeeze are a great live band and were especially ballsy in playing the whole of their new album of 53year old songs in the middle of their set. And when the hits hit, the picnickers of Ravinia happily sang along. Not my favorite venue, but the music and company made for a good night out.
September 7, 2026 at 4:12 AM
Squeeze are a great live band and were especially ballsy in playing the whole of their new album of 53year old songs in the middle of their set. And when the hits hit, the picnickers of Ravinia happily sang along. Not my favorite venue, but the music and company made for a good night out.
Illuminated trees between sets at Ravinia.
September 7, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Illuminated trees between sets at Ravinia.
Adam Ant can’t sing anymore and was at half speed trying to replicate his 80s dance moves. But respect for the double drums and playing “Zerox” and “Car Trouble.” Only “Beat My Guest” would have been a more welcome set inclusion.
September 7, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Adam Ant can’t sing anymore and was at half speed trying to replicate his 80s dance moves. But respect for the double drums and playing “Zerox” and “Car Trouble.” Only “Beat My Guest” would have been a more welcome set inclusion.
Now playing at Ravinia: the Cicadas.
September 7, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Now playing at Ravinia: the Cicadas.
Hey, Haircut 100 got a half hour to play as an opener, and they played as many songs from their good new album as they did from their good 44 year old first album. They were fun.
September 7, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Hey, Haircut 100 got a half hour to play as an opener, and they played as many songs from their good new album as they did from their good 44 year old first album. They were fun.
At Ravinia for Squeeze and savoring some Fascist Tears.
September 6, 2026 at 11:01 PM
At Ravinia for Squeeze and savoring some Fascist Tears.
Reposted by Bob Schaefer
obsessed with this from @racketmn.com. one of my core principles is that we need like 20x as much scene/street style photography from media outlets as we have. it's so wonderful racketmn.com/enjoy-43-lov...
Enjoy 43 Lovely Portraits of Minnesotans Thriving at the 2026 MN State Fair - Racket
At the Great Minnesota Get-Together, humanity shines as bright as the midday Midway sun.
racketmn.com
September 5, 2026 at 1:43 AM
obsessed with this from @racketmn.com. one of my core principles is that we need like 20x as much scene/street style photography from media outlets as we have. it's so wonderful racketmn.com/enjoy-43-lov...
It's been 3 1/2 years since I last saw Eleventh Dream Day, which is the longest interval since I first started seeing them and will thankfully be set right next month.
September 4, 2026 at 4:43 PM
It's been 3 1/2 years since I last saw Eleventh Dream Day, which is the longest interval since I first started seeing them and will thankfully be set right next month.
I am so busted. And so Midwest/upper Great Lakes.
September 4, 2026 at 2:27 PM
I am so busted. And so Midwest/upper Great Lakes.
Looking forward to my first rewatch of 'Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains' since Night Flight on the USA Network in 1985-ish. www.criterionchannel.com/girl-bands
Girl Bands! - The Criterion Channel
Women come together to make noise in these electrifying tales of girl bands defying the establishment, chasing stardom, and making their voices heard. From ferocious anthems of punk rebellion like LAD...
www.criterionchannel.com
September 1, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Looking forward to my first rewatch of 'Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains' since Night Flight on the USA Network in 1985-ish. www.criterionchannel.com/girl-bands
And not one photo from the Northwestern campus.
August 29, 2026 at 9:53 PM
And not one photo from the Northwestern campus.
Full moon, part two: lunar eclipse.
Glad the clouds cleared out and provided some atmosphere around the sky show.
Glad the clouds cleared out and provided some atmosphere around the sky show.
August 28, 2026 at 4:24 AM
Full moon, part two: lunar eclipse.
Glad the clouds cleared out and provided some atmosphere around the sky show.
Glad the clouds cleared out and provided some atmosphere around the sky show.