An afternoon in Humboldt Park

We popped by A Year in Humboldt Park at the Humboldt Park Boathouse this past Sunday afternoon. En route to the exhibit, two guys named Chris and Brad were attempting to catch some fish, to no avail.

In the past, Chris, at far left, said that he's caught bluegills and baby bass.

"Do you eat them?" I asked.

"No! We throw them back," Chris replied, adding "I would not want to eat anything that comes out of here. We're just killing time, hanging out."

In the boathouse I encountered Dina Petrakis, who was there with some friends like Robert Potter, who reported that he just established a photography school and is conducting 'Photo Safaris' wherein he teaches pupils how to use his eyes to snap neat photographs.

Accompanying Potter was his friend, Emily, who said that she enjoyed Dina's photography of the changing seasons in the park. We concur, and especially enjoyed the wall of isolated images, which Dina is standing in front of in this picture.

Whoever said 'butterflies are free' was likely correct. Even in still photographs they seem on the brink of flying away.

BYOB(inoculars) in Humboldt Park: Sat. Sept 4

This Saturday there are three events happening in Humboldt Park, just west of The Pipeline's usual coverage area.

Thanks to Doug Wood of the Wicker Park Garden Club for the news on the events, all of which are free and will take place inside the park's boathouse, 1359 N. Sacramento.

1-4 PM – Art Show Hours – View Dina Petrakis’ Photos of A Year in Humboldt Park.

1PM - Janine Fron will lead rounds of playing Prairie Prose with visitors to the gallery. The locally made green game was inspired by Jens Jensen and Prairie School History in which players create poems from nature. The game enables players to learn the names of plants used by Jensen and philosophies of the Prairie School of Architects and their colleagues. As a post-game challenge, folks can go outside and try to find the plants, shrubs, and trees on their own time.

3PM - Presentation of Birds of Humboldt Park, a report by Sam Burckhardt, which will include the birds Sam and others have encountered in the park, survey of breeding birds, and the significance of the park for migrating and resident birds. Afterward, bird enthusiasts will move to the terrace overlooking the lagoon and see what birds can be seen from there. Note: Please, bring your binoculars if you have a pair.

Pictured is Dina Petrakis, standing on the terrace overlooking the lagoon, along with her adorable dog, Lucy.