Wednesday Walkabout: Chicago Loop

I was down in the Loop today for an appointment and thought I'd use the opportunity for Wednesday Walkabout.  If you missed this new feature, the first one is right here.  Mother Nature did not cooperate with me.  It rained buckets and buckets and I was wearing inappropriate footwear - 3 inch wedges?! - what was I thinking?!

We'll start with photos on Wacker Drive.  A hotel on this street was, for one week, my first home in Chicago.  I came here for a Chicago Semester  my senior year of college.  We lived here while we oriented ourselves, interviewed for jobs and found apartments.  For the record, I got a job at a big PR firm where I promoted the Butterball Turkey Talk Line.  Now, let's talk turkey about these pots......

First up, the Corner Bakery.......

I noticed while driving home that all the Corner Bakeries (it's a chain) used the exact same plantings in their outdoor space!  Smart cookies.  Here's a close up:

The contrast of black window boxes with the the croton foliage and the lime green sweet potato vine - divine.  Love it!

Next up, a cute row of pots outlining the seating area of an upscale eatery with a view of the Chicago River.  Don't you just want to sit right down and order a glass of wine?  Once it stops raining, that is.

These two pots smartened up the entrance of the hotel adjacent the restaurant.  I'm not so keen on the white color, but I love the placement and symmetry of the planters.  

Next we have a pretty square pot, also framing the seating area of that restaurant.  I'm not sure why the empty pots.  It would be natural to put something tropical and lush in there, like a canna surrounded by lots of calibrachoa.  

Here we have a another tasteful restaurant outdoor area....those lucky little Loop workers.  When I worked downtown, this place was a huge, tacky Chinese place with the greasiest food ever!  

Closeups of the containers....

Flanking the front doors of a British pub were these urns, planted out very appropriately in a formal manner.  Very British indeed!

Last up, this city planter outside a bank and near the Chicago Cultural Center.  

Does your city, town or neighborhood do municipal pots or planters?  Or do any of your favorite watering holes or restaurants have a beautiful garden area?  Do share!  I'd love to see pictures?