Hillary Starpants
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hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Hillary Starpants
@hillarystarpants.bsky.social
160 followers 100 following 210 posts
Dayjobber by day, artist by night, nerd always. Trying to figure it all out at the fork in the road of my midlife.

I love art, music, nature, travel and sharing stories in pictures. I miss the lake and my folks.

Share your photos! ALL OF THEM :)
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hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Update: still snowing! Time to head home and thaw out, then do it all again tomorrow.
Photograph of a grounds-eye view of Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago, IL. Thick, dense clouds reflect the bright blue-grey light of the city as blurred streaks of snowflakes scatter throughout the image. The tops of skyscrapers surround the view of the sky and The Chicago Picasso, laden with about two feet of untouched snow, stands to the lower right. At the top of the photo, the three flags for Chicago, Cook County, and the United States, are whipped by the winds. Photo taken by the author.
November 30, 2025 at 3:50 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Oh snap, I guess I should post these here too?

I make and sell handmade jewelry, and I'll be at two maker's markets showcasing my wares on Saturday and Sunday! (Note that I'll be at the Ravenswood show on Sunday only but it's going on all weekend)

Details in photo caption!
Flyer for the upcoming holiday market. Details: Holiday Market Eris Brewery and Cider House Saturday November 22 12pm-4pm 4240 W Irving Park Rd Chicago IL Shop handmade and local Flyer for an upcoming holiday market. Details: Produced by Windy City Market Ravenswood Autumn Vintage & Artisan Market Free w/advanced RSVP - All Ages - Pet Friendly Saturday November 22nd & Sunday November 23rd 2025 Artifact Events 4325 W Ravenswood Ave. Chicago IL 12PM-6PM
November 21, 2025 at 7:47 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Nothing much here, just a bit of autumn loveliness.
Photograph of a three-story apartment building located in Chicago IL as seen from the sidewalk. The walls of the building are almost entirely covered in ivy, which varies in color from soft emerald green, to yellow ochre, orange, then brilliant red. A cloudless blue sky is in the background. Photo taken by the author.
November 5, 2025 at 3:49 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
For Jane
Photograph of a butterfly gaming is dark black and spelled yellow wings over a field of purple wildflowers and tall grass. Taken by the author.
October 2, 2025 at 3:14 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Ride your pony
Photograph of a live show performance by Billy Idol at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheater in Tinley Park Illinois. Idol, his band, and dancers are barely visible against the large, highly contrasted projected visual of Idol's face on the screen behind the stage, filling the image. The crowd is silhouetted at the bottom. Photo taken by the author.
August 15, 2025 at 4:23 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Different coast, different lake.

Same feels.
Photograph of Keuka Lake, located in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Facing eastwards are calm, rippling waters. The lake bluff and east side of the shore can be seen as houses and boat docks dot the Lush green, elevated landscape. The blue sky dominates the background, however a small thatch of dark storm clouds can be seen in the lower left of the image. Photo taken by the author.
July 13, 2025 at 8:47 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
#chicagopride
#pride
#rainbow
#rainbowpride
Photograph of a rainbow above a brick apartment courtyard. The rainbow is centered on the image and is flanked by two brick walls of the building. Photo taken by the author.
June 5, 2025 at 1:24 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
This afternoon was breezy and hot, but as I sat by the lake I could feel intermittent gusts of humid air and lake-cooled winds swirling against the other. Super weird sensation. I hope it rains soon.
Photograph of Lake Michigan on Chicago. The lake waves are small and choppy, the sky is hazy and in the foreground, the leafy branches of a tree can be seen.
May 16, 2025 at 12:46 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
One colorful cool down
#chicagosunset
Photograph of the sunset in Uptown Chicago. Rich orange and pink hues saturate the tufts of clouds as the sun sets in the northwestern horizon, creating a light purple and bluish contrast in the sky. The dark silhouette of the neighborhood treeline covers the bottom half of the image. Photo taken by the author.
May 13, 2025 at 1:16 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
A beyond epic evening with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

The Wild God Tour
Salt Shed, Chicago
Photograph of Nick Cave performing at the Salt Shed in Chicago as part of his Wild God tour. Spotlights shine down on Cave as he closes the evening out with a final piano solo. A close up of his face fills the projector screen behind him. Photo taken by the author.
April 29, 2025 at 5:09 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
What's up, Foster Beach?? Getting the Monday party started!!
#Chicago
#FosterBeachChicago
#FosterBeach
#ChicagoSpring
Photograph of Foster Avenue Beach, in Chicago. Several beach goers are seen from afar on the beach on a sunny afternoon. The water is calm and bright. Photo taken by the author.
April 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Photograph of the Lord of Darkness, played by actor Tim Curry, from the 1985 fantasy adventure movie Legend.
April 28, 2025 at 3:44 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Hope all these new plants fare OK during the chill snap tomorrow...

#gardening
#urbangardener
#backporchgarden
#pottedplant
#chicagogarden
Photograph of some recently planted annuals. Leaves from the plant called Baby's Tears flow out of a 3D-printed head serving as a planter. To the left of the planter are purple Evening Star flowers and bright pink flower that is known to attract butterflies. These are in planters along the porch balcony, with a brightly colored flowerpot containing lavender to the far left of the image. A brick backdrop of the courtyard building, with a few green rimmed window sills, fills the background. Photo taken by the author.
April 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Happy Friday.
C'mon n get a li'l nerdy.
#c2e2
Photograph of the author being a big nerdy dork at C2E2 (Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo) located at McCormick Place in Chicago. A woman poses in front of a life-sized sculpture that spells C2E2 in a brightly lit convention hall. She grins as her hands form the symbol of rock and roll.
April 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Explosions in the Sky
Turner Hall, Milwaukee
04.04.25
Photograph of the dream metal band Explosions in the Sky, at Turner Hall in Milwaukee. Photograph of the dream metal band Explosions in the Sky, performing at Turner Hall in Milwaukee. The band is barely visible against the bright backlights, streaming bright beams of cool white light over the audience.
April 5, 2025 at 3:59 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
"Drop a ship that's not from Star Wars or Star Trek."
Screenshot of the Planet Express spaceship as it flies through the city of New New York in the opener from the animated series Futurama.
March 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Happy Vernal Equinox Day! Brr!
Photograph of the view outside the author's neighborhood as seen from their window in Chicago. The street corner, parked cars and lawn in the image are blanketed in heavy, wet snow. The street itself appears dry and drivable. In the foreground, an indoor peace lily's single bloom is bent downward. Photo taken by the author.
March 20, 2025 at 3:29 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Montrose Harbor in the afternoon.
#Chicago
#LakeMichiganChicago
#LakeMichigan
#MontroseBeach
Photograph of Lake Michigan from the vantage of Montrose Harbor Beacon in Chicago, facing southwest. The curve of the concrete walkway extends out from the foreground. The water is calm and the sky is filled with smooth, wispy clouds. In the far distance to the left of the image, the iconic downtown city skyline of Chicago can be seen. Photo taken by the author. Photograph of Lake Michigan as seen facing south from the vantage of Montrose Harbor Beacon in Chicago. Most of the view is of the lakewater amid a hazy, partially clouded sky. In the center of the image and off in the distance, the iconic downtown city skyline of Chicago can be seen. Photo taken by the author.
March 19, 2025 at 4:38 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Just a few more photos from today's walk, now with dozing ducks!
#Chicago
#chicagolakemichigan
#lakemichigan
#lakeshore
Photo of Lake Michigan facing southward, taken from the Hollywood Beach pier in Chicago. The sky is clear with some slight haze to the left of the image in the southeast, and the early afternoon sun's light glitters off the surface of the lake. Left off center in the photo and to the southwest, a faint city skyline can be seen. Photo taken by the author. Photo of two ducks perched on the edge of the concrete walkway that runs along Lake Michigan in Chicago. Most of the view is of the water, with blue sky in the far distance. In the lower left view of the photo are a male and female duck. Their necks are both turned nearly 180 degrees into their wings, and appear to be napping in the sunlight. Next to them is a painted symbol to indicate NO SWIMMING. Photo taken by the author. Photo of Edgewater Beach aka Kathy Osterman Beach aka Hollywood Beach in Chicago. The view is from the Hollywood Beach pier, the concrete walkway of which bisects the two areas of Lake through the center of the image. To the right of the Pier is the beach, with calm waters and sand. To the left, the lake water is deeper, more active, and glitters brightly in the early afternoon sunlight. On the horizon are clear blue skies and the southeastern city skyline of the Edgewater neighborhood. The downtown skyline can be faintly seen in the distance. Photo taken by the author. Photograph closeup of the base of a metal pole on the concrete walkway of the Pier on Hollywood Beach in Chicago. A blue outline of a jellyfish, either painted or markered, has been tagged on the base. In the backdrop, the waters of Lake Michigan can be seen. Photo taken by the author.
March 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Not a fantastic photo of a pre-eclipse moon, but it's the one I got.
Photograph of a full moon taken from Sheridan Park, Chicago. The moon is a washed out white orb against a darkening sky. A dusklit residential building is to the left of the image and a thick, dark, opaque-appearing nest of trees lining the sidewalk are on the left, with the moon hanging in between. Photo taken by the author.
March 14, 2025 at 12:16 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Happy Spring of Deception, Chicago!
It's in the 60s so that makes it official, or something.
#Chicago
#lakemichigan
#chicagolakeshore
Photograph of the lakeshore in Chicago. Amidst a partly cloudy day, a large, bare tree is front and centered in the image, with damp, dormant grass and a calm Lake Michigan in the backdrop. Photo taken by the author. Photograph of the shoreline of Lake Michigan in Chicago. The image is from the view of the Hollywood Beach pier, with traces of the rainbow-painted structure in the lower left foreground. The rest of the photo is the calm waters of the lake, with the beachline and north city building skyline to the west in backdrop. Photo taken by the author. Photograph of Lake Michigan in Chicago. The view consists of the calm waters of the lake below smooth, wispy white clouds in against the azure blue sky. Photo taken by the author. Photograph of Lake Michigan in Chicago. The Foster Beach Pier is in the far right foreground with a forced one point perspective of the structure. The stone wall of the pier is painted to resemble the Chicago flag (four red 6-pointed stars centered on a white band, flanked by 2 blue bands). The lake waters are calm and the brilliant blue sky is partly covered with smooth white wisps of clouds. Photo taken by the author.
March 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
K. Flay
The Vic
03.07.25

Surprised with birthday tix to Friday night live music. And oh man do I love when K. Flay comes to Chicago. Her cover of I Am The Walrus was a lot of fun. Good crowd juju, too.
Photograph of K. Flay during her musical performance at The Vic theater in Chicago. K. Flay hovers in front of a spotlight onstage while singing to a silhouetted crowd. Photo taken by the author's spouse.
March 8, 2025 at 5:57 AM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
Crafted last night while thinking of her, using colors that remind me of early spring and the coppery tones of her hair, remembering how much she looked forward to this time of year: the pre-planting season of flowers and fresh ideas. Love you, Mom.
#art
#handmadejewelry
#beads #beadedjewelry
Photograph of a necklace handmade by the author. The necklace is made of various shaped and colored glass beads, with a large, faceted, translucent grey hand pressed bread at the center. Each bead was wire wrapped using vintage bronze colored copper wire. A tiny star-shaped hematite stone is affixed to the clasp. The necklace is displayed on a jeweler's design layout board, specifically made to arrange jewelry components in the construction of new pieces. Above the necklace, a shallow well embedded into the board holds a small collection of fossilized and faceted semi precious stones.
March 5, 2025 at 6:39 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
"My eyes are still open, the curtains are closing
But all that I have is this old dream I always had"

Hamilton Leithauser
A 1000 Times
Martyrs'
03.01.2025
Photograph of Hamilton Leithauser performing at Martyrs'. Leithauser is on vocals and guitar.
March 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
hillarystarpants.bsky.social
What balmy weather is this, Chicago? It was so comfortable I didn't need to turn the heat on in my car. Delightful!
Photograph of a tall snowman carved from ice. His head sports a carrot nose, but a printout of a black and white, skeleton-esque looking appearance comprises his face. The backdrop is the road of Western Avenue, at the corner of Cortez St.
February 22, 2025 at 7:19 PM