Many people (myself included) have written about the weather conditions this winter.  While the heavy snow caused problems everywhere, the aftereffects are also quite troublesome.

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Yesterday, temperatures in Chicago climbed above freezing while I was working in the downtown Chicago area. Being a Chicago native, I knew what this meant to pedestrians.  Falling ice from the buildings would create havoc all day. Barricades went up.  Signs are posted.  Sidewalk cleanup crews were at the ready.

Still, even with the warnings and precautions, I saw large slush chunks narrowly miss people as they went about their business, some completely oblivious to their near miss, others visibly shaken. The worst hit I ever saw was when I was walking from DePaul to my part-time job across the Loop.  A softball-size chunk of softened ice landed directly on top of a businessman.  It was enough to knock him down, sending his glasses, briefcase and beverage in different directions.  Fortunately, other than being unsettled, he pretty much was unscathed.

Chicago (like other downtown areas) has a lot of beautiful buildings.  Aside from the aesthetic pleasure, looking up at the architecture will help you navigate the area safely.

— John Wroblewski, distribution specialist