CHICAGO | February 15, 2015 -- It's February 15th. Outside, snow spreads its menace over anything standing still. Last night, I went to see a play¹ at the Court Theatre -- a mere 15 minute walk from my home. Mere is relative. Fifteen minutes in Chicago winter wind can make you question some things about life. Foremost among those questions: is life is going to continue much longer?

In other words, it's cold. And it's not getting any warmer any time soon. So I've resolved to think warmer thoughts, of a parade day in July, where my neighborhood came to life in celebration. All the richness of the people, their hearts and eyes alive with adoration, the children, so focused, in song. The dancers, the horn players, the drummers, each a full and perfect reminder of how a community can make a moment shine.

Armed with my camera and a roll of expired slide Kodak Ektachrome 100 film, I took to the streets. This is some of what I saw.

¹Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, directed by Ron OJ Parson. A must-see, it closes today.