Chipotle Coming?

According to the A'ville Daily blog, Chipotle's set to take over the storefront which was most recently home to Winston's Internet Cafe (at Clark and Argyle).  We love Chipotle, and hate empty storefronts, so we're hoping the news turns out to be true!  How about you?

Just for the record:  Uptown and Edgewater are the official neighborhood designations, separated by Foster.  Andersonville is an unofficial neighborhood designation, and straddles both Edgewater and Uptown.  So businesses can be located in both Andersonville and Uptown.

Multi-Unit Buildings: Garbage Rebate Deadine Is Jan.31

From the 46th Ward Aldermanic Office:  "REMINDER: Refuse rebates need to be in the office by Tuesday! We'll stay open late tomorrow (7pm) to collect them! Call 773-878-4646 w/ questions."  January 31st is the drop-dead date for submitting rebate requests, so be sure to get them into your alderman's office, whoever it may be. You can also drop them off at City Hall, but make sure you clearly mark your Ward number on the outside of the envelope.  There's more information here.

Opening Day For Baker & Nosh

Opening day!  Judging from the comments on UU's  Facebook page, it seems like Uptowners really liked what they saw at Baker & Nosh (1303 W Wilson) today.  There were fresh tulips on the tables, helpful staff, and plenty of kinds of cheese (although the highly-touted sticky buns were gone by the time we got there).  Organic jams from Michigan, goat cheese, crackers and crispbreads, baguettes, roast veggie sandwiches, flavored waters and juices, and that's just what we can remember.

They're planning on being closed Mondays, but it was great to see them today.  Welcome to Uptown, B&N!  We wish you every success.

Uptown Theaters Move, Expand, Hide Speakeasies

from National Pastime's website
Photo Credit:  Warren Winter / PSG

Interesting!  Two Uptown theater companies are making location changes, and they're both staying in Uptown.  Can you say "Entertainment District"?

• Profiles Theatre, located at 4147 N Broadway, is expanding and will take over the performance space just a couple doors down the street, at 4139 N Broadway (most recently occupied by National Pastime Theatre).  The original space at 4147 will be known as the Alley Stage, and the newly acquired space will be known as the Main Stage.  Alley Stage will have 65 seats, and the Main Stage will have 99 seats.
  
  More cool news:  In April, the first show at the Main Stage will be the American debut of Neil LaBute's play In a Forest, Dark and Deep.  From London's West End to Uptown... can you say "Entertainment District"?

• And where does that leave National Pastime Theatre?  Moving north to an historical theater on the fourth floor of the Preston Bradley Center, at 941 N Lawrence.
  
  "After nearly twenty years in the old speakeasy*, The National Pastime Theater is closing its doors ... and unveiling Chicago's newest theatrical venue in the Uptown neighborhood.  With the support of the 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman, NPT rediscovered the historic Masonic Hall on the fourth floor of the Preston Bradley Center at 941 W. Lawrence, Chicago.  The New NPT is located in the center of Chicago's most historic, notorious neighborhood and the center of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's deemed Neighborhood Entertainment District.
  
  The new theatrical venue opens to the public this Valentine's Day for The Beginning of the Big Time, a speakeasy-style Jazz Benefit, featuring the Fred Barr's Organ-Ization.  All proceeds from this benefit go to the restoration of this historic theatrical space."

*  What's this "speakeasy" stuff? From BPN's October 2011 newsletter (which we can't find online, but would love to link to if anyone can provide a link):

"National Pastime Theater opened its doors in October 1992 but the space it occupies really opened up a few months earlier. That's when the theater's founding director, Laurence Bryan, cut through the back wall of a shop at 4139 N. Broadway and discovered a cobwebbed, mahogany-hued, Prohibition-era dance hall speakeasy. The shop merchant didn't know it was there. The property owners didn't know it was there. Did Joey "the Clown" Lombardo know it was there? We'll never know. What we do know is that the residents of Buena Park were just as thirsty as the rest of Chicago.

The speakeasy had a secret entrance, of course, and 10 secret exits leading to the basement, the back alley, and a catacomb of hallways in the surrounding apartment building. A terrazzo floor, 17-foot ceilings, and a giant marble clock above a bar adorned the interior. Originally designed as a ballroom in 1921, the space was soon "repurposed" as a hideaway tavern. According John J. Binder, author of The Chicago Outfit, there were thousands of such speakeasies in Chicago during Prohibition and several remain as bars and clubs today. But the secret saloon on Broadway wouldn't be one of those. In 1948 it was walled off, forgotten, and left to the ghosts.

Forty-odd years later, thanks to Bryan's well-placed cut, the old speakeasy got a third life. Seats went in, lights went up. The outlawed imbibing was replaced by outrageously hip acting and cutting-edge plays in the Chicago tradition. From demon rum to drama on tap. So it goes."

Nature Photographer on "Chicago Tonight" Monday

copyright held by Jerry Goldner

copyright held by Jerry Goldner

Jerry Goldner, the wildlife photographer responsible for the two stunning Uptown images above, will be appearing on WTTW's Chicago Tonight at 7pm on Monday.  He'll be discussing Snowy Owl biology with The Field Museum's Researcher & Birding Guru Josh Engel, and the segment will feature video and photos he's shot.

He'll also be discussing ways to protect birds from rodenticide & lead, collisions with auto & windows, entrapment in nets & fishing wire, and overzealous admirers & would-be photographers. (Remember, the snowy owls seen in Uptown have been suffering stress and have been forced to move from their water and hunting territory because of the crowds, so if you do a little amateur bird watching, remember to stay at least 30 feet away.)

If you'd like to see Mr. Goldner's work, including many seasons of the Uptown Theater peregrine falcons, his website is here.

An Interview With Ald. Cappleman

From Windy City Times:

For many in LGBT community, James Cappleman is not just the 46th Ward alderman. He and 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney represent the entire LGBT community as the first two openly gay aldermen in the city's history.

Cappleman, still in his first year on the job, has negotiated on recent Pride Parade changes and voted in favor of a hotly contested ward remap, a budget that slashed the Advisory Council on LGBT Issues and a protest ordinance that many activists opposed.

When Windy City Times questioned Cappleman about these and other controversies, the alderman invited the newspaper to come ask him "the really tough questions." Windy City Times sat down with Cappleman in his Uptown office and asked him some.

Read the entire interview here.

Community Justice Center Presents Cyber-Bullying Seminar

Uptown Band To Rock Mongolia

How cool is this?  Uptown indie band Canasta will be touring Mongolia next month, as part of the U.S. State Department's Arts Envoy Program. You may remember seeing them at Ribfest in 2010... now they're off to Ulaanbaatar, Sainshand and Dalanzadgad.

And how cool will it be? The band members were told to expect temperatures of minus 20.

You can read about the tour here, and more about Canasta here.  BTW, if you want to see Canasta without producing a passport, they'll be playing Metro on March 22nd.

Got A Long Memory?

Seeking historians and/or collectors!   The Edgewater Historical Society is looking for help with its upcoming exhibit on "Crime In Edgewater."

We're looking for people who have recollections of events such as the Summerdale Police Scandal, the Susan Degnan murder, the Gus Amadeo ambush? Perhaps you remember Operation Whistlestop or you volunteered for a community safety program? We would like to hear from you. Do you have any old newspaper articles about these events or others that you would be willing to give us or lend us for this exhibit?  You may contact us at 773-506-4849 or by replying to edgewaterhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.

Since Edgewater used to be part of Uptown, until its secession in 1980, seems like some readers might be able to give 'em a hand.

Gung Hai Fat Choy!

Wow! The dragon doesn't fool around with wimpy fireworks.  A reader sent in the above clip of the Uptown dragon dancing in front of some intense firecracker explosions and says:
 
"Just wanted to share this footage of Chinese New Year at Nam Tai Nam Market yesterday. These aren't your run-of-the mill firecrackers. It almost looks like they have a pyrotechnic crew blowing the front off the grocery store! Very impressive."

Credit:  Chris Bentley at Chicagoist.

Chicagoist has seven or eight photos from the Uptown Year of the Dragon celebration yesterday.  "Here are some photos from Saturday's festivities along Argyle St. in Uptown, where lion dancers visited local businesses to bring prosperity in the New Year."

Check 'em out here.

Free Vaccines/Free HIV Testing Tuesday

                    

UU Note: This is part of the City/CareVan program.

Argyle Street "Neighborhood Night" On Wednesday

click to enlarge

Enjoy the parade and the festivals? Come back to Argyle on Wednesday, February 1st.  Ald. Osterman is sponsoring Neighborhood Nights, and it starts with Uptown.

Shake Rattle & Read Brings The Heat

Warm winter?  Credit Shake Rattle & Read's January window display for turning up the heat.  Stop by 4812 N Broadway to take a look.  While you're there, wish proprietor Ric Addy congratulations on his 26th year at the store, which celebrates its 46th anniversary this month.

"Groundbreaking" At New Chicago Lakeshore Hospital Wednesday

Left to Right:  Chicago Lakeshore Hospital CEO Alan Eaks,
Ald. James Cappleman, State Sen. Heather Steans, and
State Rep. Greg Harris.  Photographer:  Tim Smith of Starbelly Studios

Some good news!  Earlier this week there was a "ground-breaking" ceremony for a long-empty building by a for-profit business that will begin pumping money into Uptown's economy.

12 years after it was built (as an Alzheimer's care facility) and then abandoned (because its owner, Heritage Care of Chicago, ran out of money), Chicago Lakeshore Hospital has bought the building at 4720 N Clarendon and will update it to the tune of $20 million.  It is set to open in the fall as an extension of CLH's existing facility in Uptown.

Wednesday there was a groundbreaking -- a non-traditional one, due to the fact that the building is already built!  We are told, "the idea was to have a piece of drywall which was decorated with childlike drawings.  Everyone was then invited to sign the drywall, which will either be put up facing inward like a time capsule, or possibly displayed. It is still being decided."

The use of the building will be to move 60 patient beds over from Chicago Lakeshore's current location, at Marine and Gunnison.  The Clarendon location will be for children and teens, and will be a locked facility.

It may be surprising to some that Uptown Update favors this project, since we have been adamant in our belief that Uptown is over-saturated with social services and care facilities, while communities elsewhere in Chicago have few in comparison.  We feel one community should not bear a responsibility that should be shared equally.  But we like this new building for several reasons:

• First and foremost, Chicago Lakeshore Hospital has a proven track record of good community relationships in Uptown.  We have spoken to people who live mere feet away from CLH's existing facility, on Castlewood, and they speak highly of the way the hospital is run, keeping a very low profile.  Good neighbors shouldn't be stopped from expansion because of the bad practices of other providers.
• CLH worked closely with Uptown Chicago Commission, block clubs and neighbors of the Clarendon/Lakeside site to come up with a good site configuration that would keep noise and disturbances to a minimum and away from nearby residences.
• Patient beds will be moved from an existing Uptown site; this is not a new hospital.
• CLH is a for-profit entity, not a non-taxpaying non-profit.  Uptown will see increased taxes by this building being occupied.
• We understand that the building at 4720 - because it was built for the specific use as a patient care facility - is unsuitable for a conversion to residences.  12 years of it sitting vacant is ridiculous.  We've wanted to see that building occupied for quite a while.

4720 Clarendon is in a TIF district, the Lakeside/Clarendon TIF, created specifically so this plot of land could be developed.  You can read a brief history of the TIF here.  From CLH's public relations firm:  "CLH is not using TIF funds for this project, but is interested in accessing some.  It has not been determined whether they will be available."

Scaffolding Up Around Old Salvation Army Building

1025 W. Sunnyside as seen this afternoon.

A Facebook fan alerted us to the fact that scaffolding has now gone up around the old Salvation Army building at 1025 W. Sunnyside, just across from Target. A quick look at the permit on the scaffolding still lists Salvation Army as the owner and it states that facade repairs are being made. We can only hope that this is because the building is in the process of being sold to an owner that will actually take care of the building and restore it to its former glory. The black netting around the top of the building has been up for close to 4 years now. This could one day become a real gem in the 4400 block of Broadway. More details as they become available.

After Zoning Committee Denial, Sedgwick Counters

An excerpt from an email sent by Ald. Cappleman's office to the 46th Ward zoning committee members:

..."We summarized the main suggestions/concerns from your feedback for Sedgwick at the time that the Alderman informed them that the committee voted "no." He told them that he stands by the decision of the committee. Sedgwick responded by sending us the following proposed changes:

1. Eliminating the development on the east parcel of land and turning it over to the Park District or other public entity. Related traffic improvements would remain in the plan. 

2. Changing the Agatite facade by adding masonry elements to reflect the surrounding residential buildings

3. Changes to the loading dock. These would be: Greening the western wall, wrapping the windows around the southwestern corner from Montrose to the western wall, a canopy covering the loading dock and the addition of a gate.

Alderman Cappleman asked me to reach out to the committee to see if these changes might impact your decision to support or not support this project.

Just to be clear, this is not a vote on the project. This is only to gauge the committee's interest to bring it back to the group based on the developer's response to some of your suggestions. Please let me know if this information would lead you to reconsider your vote in anyway.  We do not need to waste the committee's time by reconvening on this project unless there is a substantial number of you that would like the opportunity to vote again based on the new information. I want to be clear that it is your decision as a group to determine if you would like another opportunity to review.

Please let me know as soon as you are able if you/your organization are wanting to reconsider and let me know if you are not wanting to reconsider as well so I know that I have heard from everyone. As always, please contact me if you have questions."

Baker & Nosh Sets The Date: January 30

According to the Baker & Nosh Facebook page, the grand opening for this new bakery cafe at 1303 W. Wilson (at Malden) will be Monday, January 30 at 7am! Normal hours will begin the following week.

Normal business hours:
Tuesday-Friday 7am-7pm
Saturday 8am-5pm
Sunday 8am-3pm
Monday- CLOSED

Be sure to stop by and welcome them to the neighborhood early Monday morning on your way to work or school.

Argyle Street Parade, Two Festivals, and Street Closure Information

From Ald. Osterman:

"The Lunar New Year Parade in Uptown will be sponsored this year by the Hip Sing Association and will be held on Saturday, January 28th at 1:00pm.  The parade will begin at 1121 West Argyle Street (the Hip Sing Assoc. Office location) and will proceed east to Sheridan Road then go south on Sheridan to Ainslie and then west to Broadway, south on Broadway to Sun Wah Plaza and then back north to Argyle. There will be parking restrictions on Argyle starting at 9:00 a.m. and full street closure from 12:00 noon until approximately 4:00 p.m.  The parade will feature lion and dragon dances, floats and the Senn High School Marching Band.  Following the parade, the 'Lion Team' will visit area Asian restaurants and other businesses and will light firecrackers at each location to scare away the evil spirits (firecrackers) and to bring in good fortune.

Enjoy the Tet Festival on Saturday, January 28th.  The Vietnamese Association of Illinois will host this Lunar New Year Festival from 11am to 5pm at St. Augustine College located at 1333-45 West Argyle Street.  Admission is free.  The festival will feature cultural performances, dragon dances, games, food booths and martial arts performances."

And from Business Partners:  "Saturday, January 28 at 11am-2pm: The Chinese Mutual Aid Association will host the Lunar New Year Celebration at Truman College-1145 W. Wilson Ave. Featuring Asian foods, crafts and cultural performances.  Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and $4 for children under 10 years of age.  Admission includes lunch."

Hull House Is Out Of Business Friday; Associated Programs, Too

It's even worse than anyone thought.

Not only is Hull House going out of business after 122 years, but it's happening months ahead of schedule.  Friday, to be exact.

Not only are the clients and staff going to be left out in the cold, but so are some of the programs associated with Uptown's Hull House (4520 N Beacon).  A reader sent us this letter she received from the Small Business Development Center:

"Dear Clients and Friends,

As you may know, Hull House is closing its doors and the Small Business Development Center will no longer be a part of the Hull House legal entity or its operations after January 27, 2012.   We are presently assessing alternatives to continue our SBDC independently from Hull House so that we can continue to be an important small business resource for the residents of the communities we have served for the past 25 years.  Please note that our development center will need to close for an interim period for at least a week or more while we determine and reestablish our operations and mission in the way that best serves our clients, neighborhoods, and communities.

Updates will be posted at a newly created Facebook page and staff can be emailed at the emails listed below after Friday.  We are setting up a messaging service also.  We will send this information along shortly.

We have enjoyed assisting all of you, look forward to doing so in the years ahead, and will be in touch."

If anyone wants the contact emails referenced above or referrals to other SBDCs, please write to uptownupdate@hotmail.com and we'll send them to you.

We don't even want to think about what will happen to Pegasus Players, who were set to fill the performance space at Hull House recently vacated by Black Ensemble Theater.

Among the services that Uptown's Hull House provided to the community were After School Programs, Domestic Violence Counseling and Advocacy Programs, ESL Classes, and Head Start Preschool.  So many people will suffer as a result of this closure and it grieves us to see Jane Addams' legacy stop -- just like that, with less than a week's notice.  Tragic.

More Possible Scammers In The 'Hood

More and more readers are reporting suspicious behavior by folks coming to their front doors.  Are these all encounters with scammers?  Probably, although who knows for sure?  Just be aware and alert, especially when it comes to letting people onto your property or into your home.

• A reader writes tonight:  "Around 8:30 tonight, my doorbell rang.  I looked out of the third floor window to see two boys, maybe 11 or so, who tried to get me to subscribe to the Tribune 'to further their education.'  The one boy who was doing all the talking had a canned sales pitch and spoke rapidly with an accent, so I couldn't really understand everything he was saying.  I told him that I already subscribe to the Trib (which I do), and he said then he could accept a $20 donation for his education, and I didn't even have to fill out any paperwork. [!!!]  I told him, truthfully, I didn't have any money in the house, but... really, who sends little kids door to door at night to ask for money?  Didn't pass the smell test.  Just wanted to pass it along to your readers to be aware that this is going on.  Maybe someone with more patience than I possess can get a more complete story."

• Another reader, yesterday:  "A few minutes ago two African-American males (looked to be between the ages of 17 and 25) attempted to gain entry to my secured building on Hazel/ Montrose.  They were pushing everyone's buzzer trying to gain entry.  One had a nylon do-rag on his head and the other looked to have what appeared to be a backpack on.   They would buzz buzzers and then stand side by side with their backs to the door waiting for someone to buzz them in."
  
  A good reminder to never let anyone in your building unless you know them.  In the past, readers have had packages stolen by thieves using that same method, as well as a drunken burglar who somehow got into the building.  Not good.
• And then we have the bogus "window installers" last week who weren't called by the unit owner or the management company of the building, but hopped the fence and took inept window measurements anyway...

It's not Mayberry out there.  Thanks to all who wrote in to share their experiences.  A gentle reminder:  If you think someone's up to no good, call 911 and let the cops know what's going on.  They can check it out and sort it out, and they may just scare scammers and potential thieves away from the neighborhood.

Help Crew Raise Money For "Care For Real"

Wayne Johnson, food and lifestyle reporter for NBC Chicago, will return as host of Crew Bar + Grill’s 6th Annual Charity Chili Contest on Saturday, January 28th, from 12PM to 2PM.

The annual chili contest lets patrons sample eight different chili recipes for a $10.00 donation to the Edgewater based non-profit, Care for Real. Organized by the Edgewater Community Council, Care for Real is a volunteer operated food pantry and social services group supported by donations from the community. Prizes will be awarded for the best chili recipe, $100 in cash, and the category for best presentation of your chili, the “Nate Berkus award”, which nets a $50 Crew gift card.

Beacon Goes One Way In The Afternoon

Some important information for Sheridan Park drivers!

"Due to congestion on Beacon St. during Stockton School dismissal, Beacon St. will be one way going Southbound from 2:55 - 3:10, Monday thru Friday, when students are present.

We would also like to remind parents who pick up their children via automobile to please refrain from beeping. Please be respectful and courteous of our neighbors on both Dover and Beacon St.

Thank you,

Jill Besenjak
Principal
Stockton School"

Stockton School is located at Beacon and Montrose.

46th Ward Zoning Committee Says "No" To Current Sedgwick Plan

From Ald. Cappleman in an email blast:

"When discussing economic development during my campaign, I committed to two things:

• Supporting economic development based on best practices
• Developing a zoning and development committee made up of diverse representatives and experts in the community to guide me with making decisions about developments in the 46th Ward.

Throughout this community process, I purposefully remained neutral to ensure committee representatives heard from the community, the developer, and the City in as much of a respectful manner as possible.

Tonight, I am proud to say that the process we have created has been a success.  Due to many of the thoughtful concerns regarding this proposal, including the amount of TIF funds requested and the density and size of the development, I have concluded that I cannot support this development at this time.  Twenty-seven members out of thirty that participated in the meeting voted no to this project.  Out of the twenty-seven that voted no, 14 had specific conditions and changes that if were met, would reconsider.  The committee seriously reviewed the pros and cons of this proposal and are willing to forgo this development proposal at this time.

We will communicate the must-have changes of the 14 committee members to Sedgwick to see if they are willing to make these changes and we will get back to the committee with their response in the coming weeks.

I want to express how excited I am about the future of the 46th Ward. We are in an amazing and unique position to welcome and assist good development which will in turn create jobs for our community and provide needed tax revenue. We have so much to offer from our workforce to our location on the lake with access to biking, express buses, the Red Line and the new Entertainment District. I truly believe that we must continue to support the recommendations laid out in the 46th Ward Master Plan and we will succeed with moving our community forward.

I want to say thank you to the 46th Ward constituents who trusted me and our staff with this process. We worked hard to make sure you were informed of every detail possible and in return you continued to trust us to do the job we set out to do. I also want to say thanks to the committee members of the Zoning and Development Committee. They made this outcome successful as we work to refine our process. We will continue to improve on this process and see positive changes in our ward.

We have an amazing future ahead of us!

P.S. Meeting minutes and voting results will be posted later today on our website at http://james46.org/projects/46th-ward-zoning-development-committee/the-lighthouse-at-montrose-harbor-corner-of-clarendon-and-montrose/"

Update:  Curbed Chicago says:  "The Lighthouse at Montrose Harbor gets the ol' Heave-Ho."

Update:  The meeting minutes are now posted and available here.

Challenger Bark Park Fundraiser Friday

There will be a fundraiser for Challenger Bark Dog Park this Friday at Driftwood, 1021 W. Montrose from 6-9pm.

Two tournaments, Darts For Doggies and Pool For Pooches, will run concurrently.  $10 per person per tournament. The winners of each tournament will receive half the pot and the other half will go to the upkeep of Challenger Bark.

Specialty egg rolls will be available for $2 each and there are limited quantities:

• Buffalo Rangoon
• BBQ Pulled Pork & Cole Slaw
• Macaroni & Cheese
• The Reuben
• Dark Chocolate Brownie

Unable join us but would like to donate? Please send a donation via PayPal to challengerbark@yahoo.com. It is greatly appreciated!

Uptown Shelter Featured On Front Page Of Tribune Today

"They had lived on the streets since they were 13, two men amid the roughly 1,700 homeless people who shun the city's shelters and instead survive on the margins — parks and underpasses, abandoned cars and cardboard boxes — places the twins call "out there."

Now the brothers have a home at Pathways Safe Haven, a place of last resort for the most desperate homeless. But the transition inside hasn't been easy."

Pathways Safe Haven is located at the former Leland Hotel (Leland and Racine), now owned by Heartland Alliance.  For the hardcore homeless, like Frank and Anthony Nowotnik, who are featured in the Tribune story, Pathways is a lifeline, literally.  After being thrown out of two previous shelters for drinking,

"...the pair crossed the threshold of Pathways, a program that is unusual in that it doesn't require residents to stop drinking or using drugs in order to live there. The approach is called "housing first," and it is critical, social workers say, when it comes to people like the twins who are in the grips of long-standing addiction and who, without such a program, would likely die on the streets."

[...]  Success here is measured in tiny steps — a switch from vodka to Irish Rose wine, or an appearance at a group therapy session. The requirements are few, on the theory that you can't force someone to stop drinking. But the twins say they are motivated, if only for the chance to stay inside.

You can read the entire story here. We found it a fascinating, bumpy story of how people who've been on the streets for 30 years are trying to change, doubts and all.

Discounted Tickets For "Superior Donuts"

Chicago playwright Tracy Letts won a lot of acclaim for his Uptown-based play Superior Donuts, about "the off-beat friendship that grows between the cantankerous white owner of a struggling Uptown Chicago donut shop -- a former radical who holds on tight to the past -- and his only employee, an ambitious African-American teenager who has big dreams for the place."

Now it's finally playing close to home (rather than on Broadway in New York or at Steppenwolf), and you can see it for a reduced rate through Gold Star.  It will be playing at the Angel Island Theater (735 West Sheridan).  Tickets are usually $20 to $22, but this offer charges you "FREE to $11". 

Check it out here.  We've heard nothing but raves.  But you need to be fast -- the offer expires at midnight.

Above left:  What remains of the former Wilson Donut Shop at the Wilson L stop, just north of the Broadway entrance.

BPN January Jam This Saturday

Coats, Hats, Gloves & Undies Drive For Kids

From Direct Effect Charities, the people who collected and distributed "Letters to Santa" for local elementary school kids:

"We are collecting new and gently used winter coats and winter gear through the end of February!  We are also collecting NEW packages of socks and underwear. All collected items will go directly to a child in need through Chicago's Public Schools.

You can drop off at any of the following locations:

• Stockton Elementary School, 4420 N Beacon, M-F 8am through 3pm
• Courtenay School, 1726 W Berteau Ave, M-F 8am through 4pm
• Patrick Henry School, 4250 N St Louis, M-F 8am through 4pm
• Direct Effect Chicago Kid's Closet, 4720 S St Louis, M-F 7am through 3pm
• Mozart School, 2200 N Hamlin Ave, M-F 8am through 5:30pm
• Blair Childhood Academy, 6731 W 63rd Place, M-F 8am through 3pm"

What A Difference 45 Years Makes

YouthsCleanWinthrop1967
We hear a lot about Uptown's buildings going up in flames about 50 years ago, as property values deteriorated along with the neighborhood, and it became easier for owners to abandon their buildings (and at worst, burn them) rather than maintain them.  That's one of the reasons so many new buildings were able to be constructed here over the past 20 years:  there were some blocks with six or seven empty lots on them, thanks to owner abandonment, neglect and fires.

In this article from 1967 that a reader sent in, the Tribune talks about a summer work program where teens and adults were paid $1.40 - $2.50 an hour to pick up glass and trash from derelict empty lots, and in some cases, build playlots on them.  It's a fascinating look into the problems of Lakeview and Uptown at that point in time.

(Yes, Lakeview was considered a "deteriorating neighborhood" then.  Believe it or not, one of the abandoned, overgrown lots that the crews cleaned up was at Roscoe and Halsted, and another was Belmont and Racine).

We thought it would be fun to revisit the locations of junky abandoned lots mentioned in the article and see whatever became of them, 45 years later:

• Dover and Wilson - parking lot for Happy Wash
• Hazel and Windsor - hard to say which corner.  There are two parking lots there and one scattered site housing site
• 417 N Montrose - part of the Lakefront Trail
• 731 W Montrose - part of the Carlton Healthcare high-rise
• 901 W Montrose (where the Montrose Urban Progress Center that employed them was located) - part of the Pensacola Place high-rise
• 4516-4522 N Racine (where the owner refused them permission to clean up the lots) - Truman College
• 4611 N Racine - a fenced park next to St Martha Manor
• 4633 N Winthrop - Townhouses
• 4641 N Winthrop (where they got permission to put in horseshoe, basketball and volleyball courts on the blacktop) - scattered site housing
• 4836 N Winthrop - still a playlot!  Located next to 4848 N Winthrop
• 4860 N Winthrop - part of the 4848 N Winthrop co-op

More Services Coming To Spoil Me Salon

Spoil Me Salon (Leland and Broadway) would like you to know that they are expanding their services as of February 6th, and will offer manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing, massages, hair extensions and much more.

You can start making your appointments now at (773) 564-9483.