Curvy Red by Chipka
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Description
The Burnham Hotel stands on the corner of Washington and State: a sleek and elegant retrofit of twentieth-century office space. It nods—continuously—to an older species of elegance: something rich with curves and brass and wood stained to within a half-shade of a geisha’s hair lacquer. It is an enclosed space, alive with Old World colors of wealth and opulence. It is quiet: hushed with something like the weight of history itself. It is a grand hotel in a grand part of Chicago. The Atwood—it’s resident restaurant—has served world-famous organic chemists, writers, and personalities within the American news-entertainment complex. The Atwood has seen its share of actors and musicians as well. Most of them were famous to one degree or another. I’ve eaten at the Atwood on occasion, as the friend-guest of scientists with intriguing (and spooky) stories involving Mosad political activities.
Until Tara and Bill visited Chicago, my only contact with the Burnham Hotel was through its restaurant, and its restaurant—for all of its elegance, with things growing from ornate pots—was tinged with recollections of lunch with really spooky scientists. I like scientists, especially the cute, vaguely nerdy ones…I’m afraid of scientists who know quite a lot about creative ways in which people might die. And no, for as interesting as it is, I’m not particularly keen on knowing the mean liner velocity of blood spurting from an aortic rupture caused by a military-grade Mickey slipped into someone’s drink, nor am I particularly interested in hearing such details while enjoying a salad full of pine nuts and other exotic ingredients that desert dwellers would find…familiar. I was inordinately happy that such discussions did not occur during Tara’s and Bill’s visit. I was inordinately happy that such non-occurring discussions didn’t occur at Reza’s…another restaurant filled with menu items at home in semi-arid countries where pine-nuts are a common culinary ingredient.
Oddly enough, I was struck by the waiting area outside of The Atwood, because of the manner in which it reminded me of something I’d read in Frank Herbert’s Dune universe. Each time I passed the waiting area with its expensive, red chairs, I thought of the members of some royal House, entertaining guests ranging from other members of the Landstraad to CHOAM company officials, the Spacing Guild, and—invariably—the Bene Gesserit Sisternood, though I know that the Bene Gesserit would shun such opulence and probably send only one representative…the most terrifying of their Reverend Mothers, a manipulatively-reticent truthsayer, no doubt. (I admire those fictional “witches” as they have the ability to get the juiciest and most useful gossip.) I thought of that as I made this shot, which just goes to show that maybe I’ve read the original Dune novels a few too many times. Ah, but I’d listen to anything concerning the Bene Gesserit rather than spooky Mosad stuff, and for one glorious weekend (14 stories above the location of this shot) I listened to and participated in winding, laughter-tinged conversations, occasionally leavened by YouTube renditions of favorite songs (Patti Smith’s “Pissing in a River” though Pavl wasn’t along to sing off key and with his accent, which—paradoxically—increases when he sings in English) and cultural marvels such as the PBS series: Between the Lions, and Flip Wilson skits involving Geraldine…
And so, here is one more of the countless photos I took during Tara’s and Bill’s visit to Chicago. I rather like this shot, more for what it means than for what it is, though I do find it to be a rather stunning display of…redness.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great weekend.
Comments (29)
mgtcs
Gorgeous lounge. It IS very elegant and stylish, to the point of making one feel one is underdressed or otherwise unprepared for such settings. At the same time, it looks very comfortable and inviting. Weird combination of feelings. The picture itself is quite good. I like the angle and the atmosphere. Red is usually too vibrant a color for one to feel at ease with, but somehow the tone in this environment is quite soothing.
RodS
Redness IS good! And curvy is good, too! And when you get both of them together in the same photo is is VERY good! Love the warmth in this, Chip! Beautifully composed, great shot!
jocko500
do look wonderful to sit down and wait or talk to people. cool looking image
auntietk
Oooooohh! I just love seeing something familiar through your eyes. This became quite familiar during our stay, but I never stopped to take a picture. I'm glad to see the elevator wall through the doorway. That had to be the classiest elevator wall ever in the history of anything. LOVE this shot!
netot
I really like the repetition of forms and the dynamic curves that dominated the entire image.
Sea_Dog
Great shot - brings us back several decades to the days hotels were not cookie cutter buildings scattered across the landscape.
bimm3d
wonderful photo!!
blinkings
Now why can't I get my front hallway to look like that!
durleybeachbum
I can hear the muffled sounds and feel the carpet.
helanker
Awesome and so wonderfully red shot. The carpet is really wild and fits perfectly with the chairs and the place. It is such fun reading your narrative for this shot, as you came so much around other things, as it feels like a journey :-) I like it. :))) I love this upload.
Meisiekind
Curvy and red indeed. I love the curvyness of the patterns on the carpet that matches the curvy chairs. So well seen dear Chip and if I may call it such - a real Chip shot. The light is marvelous too and an overall very pleasing image. I like it a lot.
dreampaint
curvy line chair with curvy motif carpet. excellent
Feliciti
like the deep red colourtones and structures/textures in this shot ,looks elegant and warm !!
tofi
A very classy and elegant image, Dear Chip! I like the repetition here of the chairs, as it really adds an interesting feel and dynamic to the entire image. The contrast is wonderful, and though the theme here of the red really works beautifuly, the swirls on the carpet seem to set this room up for a completely new "trip". Beautiful POV, I must add as well. This place looks so well looked after and maintained. Gorgeous composition!
bmac62
We must have been lucky...we never had to sit on those red chairs waiting for a table in The Atwood. We did eat lunch there one time and had room service once...but the best times were eating Pecan Sandies and Oreo Cookies with you and Cory and Yvonne in our 14th floor perch after each of our daily Chicago Loop strolls. I can visualize you dropping to a knee or the Asian squat position to quickly snap this super-POV photo. I'll bet if you had eyes in the back of your head you'd have been getting some very quizzical looks from the natily dressed, youthful front desk set. But it is a hotel lobby and I am sure they've seen all sorts of things from time-to-time:) As for your photo...an A-1, first-rate, why-didn't I think of that image! I like it and of course your commentary always fills us in with the real drama of the place. Now, about consorting with the Mosad...hmmmmmmmm. Now, that's a story to tell us on our next trip to Chicago.
fallen21
Beautiful shot.
Faemike55
very cool ccapture and great writeup, including references to my favorite series and I agree with your discussion about the Bene Gesserit and their views on this scene
MrsRatbag
Beautiful redness and sinuous curve of those chairs...excellent shot, Chip!
Orinoor
I admit to having a lifetime love of red, especially when dark wood is involved. Brilliant shot!
flavia49
wonderful writing and great shot
NefariousDrO
That's certainly a grand waiting area. I kind of wish they had a nice grand or baby-grand piano there, too. One of my favorite memories from my college days was a little restaurant located in a converted house, because they had a battered old upright piano and anybody who could play it "competently" was rewarded with free drinks so invariably music students would regale the patrons with spirited performances of Joplin or Billy Joel. It's gotten so that when I think of opulence I imagine a piano and a studious (and probably under-appreciated) musician seeking to enhance the mood. I'm glad your visit there was more pleasant than hearing disturbing Mossad stories, too.
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
sandra46
MAGNIFICENT WORK! WELL DONE!
evinrude
Excellent composition. This is old-style good.
cambert
A lovely photo - the sensuality of inanimate objects.
Sepiasiren
Talk about a fantastic capture, there is just so much for the eyes to pounce upon. I would certainly just come there just to look around--a splendid, provocative shot.
snakemove
this is super, this is what I would photghraph as well, just superB
beachzz
Red and blue; I'm so glad I saw these one right after another. But this one--wow, I REALLY like it!!
evielouise
great shot I am alover of RED!!~~