I love setting out on long, aimless bike rides with my camera. The thrill of discovery awaits, particularly as I venture further and further from the familiar areas around Rogers Park.

I went on such a ride this afternoon, voyaging miles westward along Foster, then eventually veering south on Central, where I found a bevy of my beloved geometric glass block.

The sun was almost down, and I had accepted that the trip was nearly over… but something kept pulling me southward along Central Avenue — perhaps the promise of “just one more”. And so it was that I made my prize discovery of the day: the intersection of Central and Belmont.

The light was poor, and I was too impatient to set up really good shots, but I have to share it anyway. What an amazing intersection! It is anchored by excellent buildings on all four corners.

On the northeast, the Korbakes Building:



Northwest, the spectacular Belmont-Central Building, which unfortunately looks like it has lost some of its roofline:



Southwest, the Boolookas Building. Boolookas! I think my parents used to threaten to smack me on the boolookas if I misbehaved as a child.



And on the southeast corner, the prize jewel, a nameless Art Deco building:



The intersection is the heart of (no surprise) the Belmont Central neighborhood. Both streets are densely developed in both directions for many blocks, and the area’s Polish heritage remains visible today.

I am looking forward to going back when the sun is above the horizon.