It's Take Your Camera to Town Day

All of the PICTURE classes by Tracey Clark, the originator of "The Shutter Sisters" was the inspiration for our group on Flickr.  The group was formed to continue the "prompt" type style of photography...we just couldn't get enough.  Each week we receive a "prompt" and we are encouraged to take pictures related to the prompt.  This week the prompt is our home town.  I have posted a few on FLICKR but thought I would elaborate a bit more here on the blog.

Naperville's history began in 1831 when Joe Naper along with his wife and a few other brave souls navigated the Great Lakes and settled in what is now Naperville, IL approximately 25 miles west of Chicago.  Since that time Naperville has flourished and grown to over 135,000 people and is the 5th largest city in Illinois and the wealthiest city in the midwest (don't count me in that wealthiest part) with a population of over 75,000.  Naperville was also voted one of the best places to live according to MONEY magazine in 2006 and shortly thereafter it was named the Best Place to Raise Children, however immediately after this was bestowed on our fair city, a woman murdered three of her children and then tried to kill herself, tried but failed.  Naperville is filled with churches of all religions, an abundance of grade schools, two high schools, one college, plenty of shopping and restaurants for every possible palate.  Naperville's Riverwalk and the Carillon draw plenty of visitors our way.  RibFest on the 4th of July and The Last Fling on Memorial Day Weekend are huge festivals that bring people from near and far to join in on the festivities.  (you won't find me anywhere near here during those events, they are soooo crowded, these are for the young ones, not us oldies)

I have lived in this town for over 30 years, watching it grow from 35,000 when we moved here to 135,00 today.  I don't travel into the city of Chicago very often, because everything I need or want is usually within a 10 minute drive.  We have beautiful parks, terrific shopping, an abundance of entertainment, churches for worship, a state of the art hospital, a college that offers continuing education for adults....so yes it is one of the best places to live.  

 The Carillon and St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church are our two highest spires in the city.

North Central College is celebrating it's 150th Anniversary this year...

And Naper Elementary School.  One of the oldest grade schools in Naperville and named for our founder.

Naperville is very supportive of works of art in all forms.  This is one honoring those that have served in our armed forces.

Many of the sides of our buildings in downtown Naperville are filled with artwork with recognizable people that make up our city.

Even our public parking garage has a stained glass window (now have you ever seen a parking garage with a stained glass window?.....personally I think it is a little over-the-top)

Shopping is in all sizes....

The Bandshell in Central Park...closed for the winter on the top, filled with patrons every Thursday night from June thru August listening to music on the bottom.

The Riverwalk...a place I go to frequently.  It offers year-round beauty.

That's a brief visit to my home-town.  I hope you have enjoyed my quick tour, if you are ever in the neighborhood, just call.

"Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."
                         ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Until next time.......