Around the South Loop: 2011 Edition Volume 1

The New Year in the South Loop
During the bleak winter months, when the trees are bare, you sometimes notice things in the city that you might not during the summer months when everything is in bloom.

The holiday season has come to an end; most of the Christmas decorations in the city are down and will soon be but a memory. Below are some new pictures from around the South Loop at the beginning of 2011.

The clock is back, replacing the Christmas tree in the lobby of the Chicago Hilton and Towers, but they didn't center it on the rug!

Is there an election coming up in Chicago?

Buses line up along Harrison during the morning rush hour

Theodore Thomas Memorial: "The Spirit of Music" at Balbo and S. Michigan Ave. in Grant Park

A dog walker in Grant Park during the early morning

Civil War general John A. Logan stands guard at Michigan Ave. and 9th St. General Logan lived at 2119 S. Calumet Ave.

Trailers for Transformers 3?

During my walk this morning, I noticed about six movie trailers parked along Columbus Ave. near Grant Park. As I walked north up Columbus, I noticed a film crew at Buckingham Fountain. Part of the area was blocked off and some members of the film crew were asking pedestrians to back off. A member of the production staff insisted that they weren't the Transformers 3 crew and had no idea where they (the Transformers 3 crew) were filming.

One of the movie trailers along Columbus Ave. this morning.

One of the movie trailers parked along Columbus contained dressing rooms with stars on the doors. If not Transformers 3, then what movie were they filming at Buckingham Fountain? The Chicago Film Office Web site lists two films currently in production: Transformers 3 and an untitled Ron Howard film starring Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, and Jennifer Connelly.

Movie crew setting up by Buckingham Fountain