Numerous boats are tied up at Navy Pier in Chicago, as well as a small U.S. Coast Guard boat. This was away back in 2003. I have no idea what the place looks like now!

Walking down a street in San Francisco and this sign for Tsingtao Beer caught my eye. This was taken in 2007, during an Automattic meetup, which later became known as a Grand Meetup. In 2007, the company was so small, it wasn’t so Grand, but it was Great!

I saw this morning that Kirstie Alley passed away last night at the age of 71. She was great in Cheers, but I barely remember Veronica’s Closet and I’m not familiar with her roles in other shows. In 2005, my wife and I were in Chicago, and we happened to go into a Borders bookshop…

Many years ago, in August 2003, I was waiting for the L in Chicago to bring me to work. Edit in 2024: I remembered this was Fullerton from the sign to the far right of the image, so I added it to Google Maps there. It looks like it’s the oldest photo for that station…

A passer-by checks the front page of the Chicago Tribune in a neighbourhood kiosk, July 2003. I can’t imagine those kiosks are still there, considering the financial troubles newspapers have gone through in the last 19 years since this photo was taken.

Mounted police in Chicago direct crowds along a street after the fireworks.

Kids and grown-ups waiting for the July 4th fireworks in Chicago many years ago. The kids in this photo are in their twenties now.

Crowds gathered on the shore of Lake Michigan with the Chicago skyline behind it to watch the July 4th fireworks.

You can’t walk, you better cycle or take a taxi.

Walking across a bridge in Chicago I noticed all the bikes that were thrown up on the railing next to the river. As good a place as any if there’s no decent bike parking to be had nearby.

The tall ship Windy is the official flagship of the City of Chicago. Appropriately named.

Tourists enjoying a nice July afternoon on a boat in Chicago.