Hot Dogging It

Yesterday I took a stroll through the neighborhood to once again visit the Windy City Hot Dog Fest. It’s an annual weekend event for hot dog lovers and street fair aficionados, blocking off Milwaukee Avenue for a few blocks in front of the under renovation Portage Theatre. 

Of course visitors can order up a typical Chicago hot dog, but that’s not the point. There are also a few exotic creations available. I mean, you can get a typical Chicago hot dog any day of the year, but ordering up a rattlesnake and rabbit sausage is something else entirely. I did order up one of those, along with a snapper and alligator sausage as well. Both were excellent. 

In addition to the hot dogs there’s a variety of beers available as well as the other street or county fair staples like funnel cakes and of course corn dogs. 

There’s even choices for those not looking for hot dogs.

You can also find all of the usual civic and social organizations with booths and information, as well as a variety of merchants selling their non-edible wares. 

What impressed me the most this year was the large number of families with small children enjoying the day, the food, and the fun. I’m sure they’ve been there in past years, but this year I was struck that so many chose to take a break from all of whatever we’re living through to enjoy fun, food and the day together on a few blocks in a very wonderfully diverse city.

More shots in the gallery below.

You can also find more of my writings on a variety of topics on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome. I can also be found on social media under my name as above. This site does not use affilate links. 

#Chicago #HotDogs #PortagePark #StreetFestivals #WindyCityHotDogFest

The Jerusalem Convent-Matemático Marzal Falla

If you visit Valencia during the first 19 days of the month of March you’ll be bombarded by the loud bangs of bangers going off, and fireworks every day. You’ll also come across elaborate Falla, or statues, dotted around the city.

In the past, they were built of papier mache, but these days the main construction material is styrofoam. On the 20th of the March, all the Fallas in the city are burnt to the ground, with only one item from each saved.

The best Falla in 2025 was the one built at Jerusalem Convent-Matemático Marzal, and luckily, I was staying about 100m away. In reality, that didn’t help much because the crowds visiting there during the day meant it was almost impossible to walk past it quickly. The only time the streets were nearly empty was at 5am one morning when I was going to take sunrise photos.

Here’s only a small selection of photos from that area. There’s more to come, mostly of crowded streets, but the Falla will feature again, probably.

Apertureƒ/2.4CameraGalaxy S23 UltraFocal length7.9mmISO50Shutter speed1/125s

#FallasFestival #Photo #Photography #Spain #StreetFestivals #StreetPhotography #Valencia

It’s official: Jerusalem Convent is the best falla, best child and best ninot of 2025.

Convento Jerusalén-Matemático Marzal has won the first prize in the Special Section of the Fallas 2025, which makes it the best falla of Valencia.

Valencia Secreta
The people in the Parachutes for Pets booth at the Canada Day street festival in the East Village posing for a picture. #calgary #alberta #canadaday #streetfestivals #downtowncalgary #eastvillage #portrait #portraits #parachutesforpets
In the second photo, a band performing during the daytime Canada Day celebrations at Fort Calgary. In the other photo, various street performers in Downtown Calgary during Canada Day. #calgary #alberta #canadaday #downtowncalgary #performers #streetperformers #dancers #streetdancers #streetfestivals #eastvillage #princesislandpark #balloonanimals #musicians #music #bands #drums #drummers #guitars #guitarists #singers #keyboards #stage #liveperformances #fortcalgary
Some of the vendors at the various Canada Day celebrations in Downtown Calgary. #calgary #alberta #downtowncalgary #eastvillage #olympicplaza #tourismcalgary #fortcalgary #streetfestivals #canadaday #vendors #eauclairemarket
ART FESTIVAL ON GRAND AVE
The Des Moines Art Festival attracts thousands of patrons and admirers every year. 200 booths of artist's from across America, plus music, food and beer. Maybe I'll see you here next year. Meanwhile, you can shop at https://gene-mckelvey.pixels.com for a beautiful art print. #BuyIntoArt, #Mastoart #AppArtist #ArtFestivals #StreetFestivals #GalleryDesMoines
Gene McKelvey - Official Website

This is the website of Gene McKelvey. Shop for canvas prints, framed prints, posters, greeting cards, and more. Thank you for visiting my art gallery. The creative work in the various gallery rooms (catalogs) is mostly my own photography that has been modified in an abstract realism style using An...

Gene McKelvey - Official Website