Get Out Your Flashlights

We are receiving reports of at least two streets (Kenmore and Winthrop) in Uptown that are without power; even the streetlights are out. Be careful out there, folks!
Update: ComEd is estimating the power should be back on by 10:45 tonight.

Breathe In . . . Breathe Out . . .

It's been a really intensely emotional holiday weekend so far. So let's go to our Happy Place (which in this case is Montrose Harbor) and try to remember the good, positive and beautiful things about our community.

Updates From "The Booster" On Several UU Stories

The "Police Blotter" section of the News-Star's sister publication, the Booster, includes further information on several stories we've discussed lately:

Dozens (of tires) slashed in Uptown

Police reports show that at least 44 vehicles were damaged by apparent gang activity in Uptown on Aug. 23 between 1 and 2 a.m.: 12 on the 4000 block of Broadway, and 30 on the 800 block of W. Cuyler. The report lists the damage, and most of the cars had some or all of their tires slashed, although a couple also sustained what appeared to be Latin Eagles gang graffiti scratched into their hoods. Witnesses reported hearing a commotion on the street at the time, and one eyewitness reported seeing about seven males and two females moving about. Although the witness didn't see anyone slash tires, they did report seeing one of the ladies pull down a "No Parking" sign.

Shady business in a nursing home

A small fire was started in the closet of a nursing home room on the 4600 block of N. Racine on Aug. 24 at 5:17 a.m. Police reports say that one of the four residences of the room put a lighter, match, or lit cigarette in the closet, which then started on fire. Oddly, the report says that residents either couldn't or wouldn't talk about the fire when police attempted to interview them. Luckily, after firefighters arrived the fire was extinguished in 15 minutes and damage was contained to the closet, wall, and ceiling.

Community Alert: Sexual Abuser

Area 3 detectives now have a composite sketch of a man who is wanted for questioning in several incidents of criminal sexual abuse in the 19th and 20th police districts, encompassing Lake View, Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park. The man reportedly approaches women from behind and makes unwanted sexual contact.

He is described as a male white Hispanic in his late 20s to early 30s, 5-feet, 6-inches to 5-feet, 8-inches tall, with a medium build. He has black or dark brown hair and brown eyes. He may possibly have scratches on his face, due to his last attack. The Chicago Police Department is currently investigating several incidents of criminal sexual abuse.

If you have any information about this man or the crimes, call Area 3 detectives at (312) 744-8261.

News-Star: "Still No Suspects In Uptown Shooting"

(Photo, "Uptown Resident - Murder On Her Doorstep" sent in by a reader)

UPDATE: Man wounded in Uptown shooting released from hospital

By LORRAINE SWANSON, 8/30/2008 12:27:00 PM

Chicago Police detectives from Area 3 at Belmont and Western still have no motive in Friday's shooting in Uptown, that left one teen dead and another critically injured.

The homicide victim was identified as Timothy Pittman, 19. A spokeswoman from the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said that relatives had come to identify him Saturday morning. The medical examiner's office did not have an address for the victim, but several residents said that both shooting victims resided in a public housing building on the 900 block of West Lakeside Place.

A police spokesman said that the two victims were walking on the 4800 block of North Sheridan Road at 3:22 p.m. Friday, when the first 911 call was placed. The victims were approached by another man who opened fire on them.

Click here for the rest of the story.

3 Shot, 1 Dead, On Sheridan Road

These photos, and some that are linked to in the comments, are of a real person. He was a neighbor to those of us who live in Uptown and a friend to some of our readers. These photos may evoke strong emotions. Please be prepared if you make the decision to click on them or on the links contained in the comments.

UPDATE# 6: Tom Mannis at "The Bench" shares his account of this afternoon's shootings as well as the memorial that took place the evening. Read about it here.

UPDATE #5: Lorraine Swanson just released a News-Star "Web-Extra" on this afternoon's shooting. Read all about it here.

UPDATE #4: A reader just sent in more photos of the scene of the crime which is indeed in front of the proposed Labor Ready location on Sheridan. Another reader tells us that a memorial of candles is now up where the victim was found.

UPDATE #3: Check out Channel 2's coverage here. It mentions the second victim is in critical condition.

UPDATE #2: News crews from many media outlets are on the scene. Sheridan has been closed between Lawrence and Gunnison, and police are directing traffic away from the area. Avoid driving there if you can; traffic's a mess.

UPDATE: Witnesses tell us that one victim was dead on the scene, so one shooting is now a homicide. The body was in front of 4830 Sheridan (the proposed site of Labor Ready). The other victim was gunned down in Weiss Plaza (the JJ Pepper strip mall), and was taken to the hospital in unknown condition.

We're just shaking our heads in sadness, disbelief and disgust with this summer of senseless violence in our community.

Around 3:20 p.m. today, there were two separate shootings within a couple minutes of each other, at JJ Peppers (Lawrence & Sheridan) and a half block away, at Gunnison & Sheridan. Two people were injured, and witnesses tell us that -- judging from the wailing of women who saw the victims being taken away -- these may have been more than "flesh wounds."

We'll keep you informed as we receive new information.

Get Engaged In Urban Planning In Uptown

We are sure there are a lot of opinions regarding urban planning, or lack thereof, in Uptown. Now there is a way for you to be engaged in the urban planning process. The "Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning" is interested in facilitating and moderating a live discussion on what residents' vision of Uptown would be. We are told that one of the urban planners involved in this project lives in Uptown and wants our feedback. This is still in the early planning stages and we want to gauge interest in this post.

From the "Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning" (CMAP)

"Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) wants to hear from you and your community! GO TO 2040's regional comprehensive planning campaign, scheduled for completion in 2010, would not be complete without active citizen participation. CMAP seeks to better understand the everyday experiences of our region's residents by opening up these conversations on a local level. This plan will be built on a common vision of how residents want their region to look for future generations."

Trib: Uptown LSD Resurfacing Expanding to NB Lanes

Lake Shore Drive resurfacing project set to expand to northbound lanes Tuesday

By Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago Tribune reporter, 11:23 AM CDT, August 29, 2008

The resurfacing of North Lake Shore Drive will expand to the northbound lanes between Irving Park Road and Foster Avenue starting Tuesday, the Chicago Department of Transportation said Friday.

Work on the southbound lanes started earlier this month. Lane closings and repairs will occur only in non-rush hours. Four lanes southbound in the morning and four lanes northbound in the evening will remain open during the project, CDOT said.

In the southbound direction, two lanes will be closed at 10 a.m. weekdays and reopen at 6 a.m. the next day. Some southbound ramps will be closed during the daytime hours as needed. Two northbound lanes will close at 7 p.m. daily and reopen at 2 p.m. the next day, CDOT said.

The $6 million project is scheduled for completion next year.

Shirtapalooza Continues

Those wild and crazy folks who created the "Just Like Mayberry" Uptown t-shirt have come out with three additional designs, two of which feature the marquee of our community's past (and future?) architectural centerpiece, the Uptown Theatre. Click here to visit the store, or click on the picture above for a closer look.

The fine print: Uptown Update has no affiliation or financial dealings with these shirts or their creator (heck, we don't even profit from our own shirt design). We found them on "The Google" and thought our readers might find them interesting.

Long Before Popeyes, There Was Frank Lloyd Wright

Next time you are standing outside our crumbling and urine soaked Wilson L station, with its numerous vacant storefronts that now serve as homeless shelters, stop a moment and take this into account. You are standing on the site of a former Frank Lloyd Wright designed building that stood on the corner of Broadway and Wilson for a mere 13 years before it was demolished to make way for our current-day station. Check out the photo above to see how this corner looked in 1917 when the "Stohr Arcade" occupied it. For everything you could ever want to know about the history of our station, check out "Chicago-L.org" for lots of great photos, like the one above, and the history on every station in Chicago.

News-Star: "The Gray Old Lady Is Ready"

(Detail photo of the Uptown's interior provided courtesy of Friends of the Uptown. Click on it for a larger verson to get the full effect.)

Is a makeover for the Uptown Theatre waiting in the wings?

By LORRAINE SWANSON, Editor

For decades, the Uptown Theatre's loudest champions have watched a succession of owners mishandle the once "palace of enchantment" as if it were a shabby clown painting on velvet. They remember the bad times, when sheens of ice covered the winding staircases in the Grand Lobby, of burst water pipes and investors that raised their hopes for building's restoration, only to walk away broke and defeated.

Since the announced sale of the Uptown Theatre to Jerry Mickelson of Jam Productions, the Uptown's champions are cautiously optimistic that the architectural landmark will finally get the makeover they've been waiting and fighting for. Mickelson's limited liability company, UTAII, purchased the theater in a court auction for $3.2 million last month. (Read the rest of the article here.)

And don't forget the News-Star's wonderful editorial on the subject:

'Not for today, but for all time': Relight the Uptown Theatre

By the time movie theater moguls, A.W. and Barney Balaban, and their brother-in-law, Sam Katz, opened the doors to their "palace of enchantment" on Aug. 18, 1925, Uptown, as well as the rest of Chicago, were in frenzy.

Upon the presentation of the theater's presentation to the Central Uptown District, one of the magnificent building's architects, George Rapp, declared, "Not for today, but for all time." No doubt many of us, impressed by our parents' and grandparents' tales of its lavish stage shows, or who attended a Jam concert there in our hazy youth, were impressed by the massive Grand Lobby's crystal chandeliers, the gilded décor and "room bosses" whose faces watched us from above as we moved around the mezzanine.

News-Star: "Construction Projects Clog Uptown"

By LORRAINE SWANSON, Editor

The long awaited resurfacing of North Lake Shore Drive between Irving Park Road and Foster Avenue began last week, causing temporary headaches to motorists who must deal with closed access ramps and obstructed roadways during off-peak hours.

- and -

Work begins at Truman College. Construction crews erected temporary fencing around the Harry S Truman College campus at 1145 W. Wilson Ave. on Monday. The college is planning to add a nine-level parking garage for students and faculty along with a student services center that will house the college's administrative departments, financial aid office and tutoring services. Earlier this month, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new building to be named for the late 13th District State Representative Larry McKeon, who passed away on May 13.

Click here to read all the details contained in the article.

Curbside Odometers?

A reader writes in: "As long as I can remember, I've seen "Your Speed" signs on Montrose between Magnolia and Clark, one in each direction. But I can't ever remember seeing them work.

So some Uptown trivia: Has anyone ever seen them work? Ever? If not, why are they there?"

Okay, readers, your turn: Anyone got any experience with seeing these actually monitor a car's speed? Any clues, guesses, conspiracy theories about why they're there if they're not now, and possible never have been, operational?

Time Out Chicago Visits "Fix Wilson Yard"

Permission to land? The years-long debate over the redevelopment of Wilson Yard heats up.
By Jake Malooley Photograph by Matthew Taplinger
Time Out Chicago / Issue 183 : Aug 28–Sep 3, 2008

Though the flames that destroyed Uptown's Wilson Yard bus barn were quelled in 1996, the debate over the redevelopment of the semivacant land bordered by Broadway, Montrose Avenue and CTA Red Line tracks south of Wilson Station has never been more fiery.

Following an appellate court ruling in July in downstate Belleville allowing citizens to sue municipalities for abuse of tax-increment-financing (TIF) districts, a determined group of Uptown residents called Fix Wilson Yard has begun hosting community meetings to raise money for a lawsuit against the city, citing abuse of the TIF plan that's funding the Wilson Yard redevelopment.

Read the rest of the article here. (Bonus points for seeing just how many seconds it takes Jamiko Rose of O.N.E. to play the race and NIMBY cards!)

Where Am I Located?

Bragging rights go out to the person who can identify the location of these two beautiful mosaics.

Is That A Bullet Hole In KFC's Window?

As long as we're on the subject of Uptown's fast food venues, a reader alerted us to a rather intriguing hole in the window of the former KFC restaurant at Buena and Broadway.

Perhaps someone really had a hankerin' for Original Recipe and took out his frustrations on the window when he found no one's cooking there anymore? Or perhaps the Cuyler Boys gang has been getting rambunctious.

New Restaurant Coming To Wilson & Broadway (Well, Kinda)

From the Tribune:

After 36 years and 1901 restaurants in 26 countries, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits is rebranding itself and deciding to play up the fact that this is actually a New Orleans-based fast food chicken joint. And so the new name is… Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, which is meant, apparently, to summon images of home cooking and heritage and local character. If your nearby Popeyes hasn’t made the transition yet -- it will soon (by the end of the month, most likely).

T-Shirt Mania

Oh, good gravy. It's T-Shirts Gone Wild!

It all started with the sighting of an "Uptown Update Is Stupid" t-shirt.

That turned into a "Why Don't You Go Blog About It?" joke shirt, which morphed into a real-life Uptown Update online store.

We all know the lengthy and passionate discussion that our "white t-shirts for sale" post invoked.

And now The Bench in Rogers Park has gotten into the act and created a t-shirt just for our little burg: "Uptown: It's Just Like Mayberry." Click on the link to see the whole slogan.

And if you just can't get enough UptownWear, check out the Uptown History Blog's online store for historical images of Uptown to ornament your being.

Gang Tags On The Sunnyside Mall

A reader sent in this photo of gang tags on a building at Sunnyside and Magnolia (4454 N Magnolia) and asks: "Is this is something I should call 311 about it, or is it something the building manager needs to take care of? Further proof of the gang problem on the mall and I'm sure the residents of this building don't like having it tagged by these gangs."

In a perfect world, building management would take care of these matters immediately, but Uptown's not perfect. We recommend that all residents call in gang tags to 311 whenever and wherever you see them, including these. How about it, folks -- want to make a call to 311 and ask that these be removed ASAP?

Uptown Saturday Night

We're hearing from quite a few readers that they heard sirens around midnight on Saturday and saw lots of firefighting equipment around the Racine/Clifton/Wilson area until dawn. Anyone have any information? We sincerely hope no one was hurt.

You'll Be Seeing This Poster All Over Uptown

(click the image to enlarge) We are amazed at the amount of sponsors taking part in the 2nd annual "Experience Uptown" event. Be sure to visit the WAMA site and buy your wristband to get all the great discounts at your favorite Uptown businesses on September 12, 13 and 14. We will be adding a link off on the right to make purchasing wristbands and getting more info that much easier.

UPDATE: "We just finalized the list yesterday afternoon and postcards are being printed this week to distribute and will have the discount info as well." (click image to enlarge)

'Howl-O-Ween' Dog Costume Event, Oct. 18

WHEN: Saturday, October 18 2-4pm
Contest Registration at 1:15 pm
Costume Parade and Judging at 2pm
$5 contest entry fee, free for Puptown members
No attendance fee

WHERE: Puptown Dog Park, SE Corner of Margate Park
Marine Drive and Lawrence Avenue, Chicago
Parking at Margate Park field house

WHY: Annual Fundraiser to support park maintenance and improvements

ETC: Costume contest participants will receive prizes. There will also be a raffle and Silent Auction.
Visit www.puptown.org for more info

If You See This, Call 311

Residents are getting fed up finding their property (this carved into a cement wall) vandalized. We are encouraged to hear that the folks who discovered this vandalism on West Leland are now organizing a "Graffiti-Bustin' Walk" around their neighborhood where they will document vandalism they see and report it to 311. Good on you! We hope that other parts of Uptown will take a cue from these folks and do the same thing in their neck of the woods.

New Links

By reader request, we've added a couple links recently to the sidebar:

EveryBlock Chicago - to see what's happening around a particular address

Ward Map of the 46th Ward - because the one on the alderman's website has teeny-tiny type, and this one can be zoomed in on to make it more legible.

Bunny Rabbit Found - Is He Yours?

A domestic pet rabbit was found today in a reader's alley. He has an infection in his eye and needs his owners to find him! Please contact Courtney to identify and claim Mr. Hoppy.

(Photo not of actual found bunny.)

The Cruelest Cut On Cuyler

A reader writes and sent in a photo:

It was reported by my neighbor that both her curbside tires were slashed on Saturday night. She called the police and was told that 10 to 12 cars on the 900 block of Cuyler Ave had the same problem on Saturday. I mentioned this to another neighbor who lives on the 800 block of Cuyler who stated that several on that block also where slashed.

I am sure this took place long after dark but if you are ever driving around looking for parking in the evening and see something suspicious, please call 911. This is not the first time we have had problems with vandalism towards cars on our block. Broken windows, stolen catalytic converters and drunken hit-and-runs have all taken place in the past 6 months. However, several 911 calls have led to arrests after some of these crimes took place.

We wholeheartedly agree. Another reader wrote in to tell us that she heard a noise outside her home and saw two men looking in the window of a parked car. She wasn't sure if what was going on was suspicious, but called 911 to see if they could offer assistance. The men broke the car window with a brick shortly after her call, but the police were able to catch them and they ended going to trial for being part of a GPS theft ring that had been active all over Uptown. So, call 911 -- and let the police take it from there.

Uptowner Featured In "People Who Make Chicago A Better Place"

CARTER HOYT III Making music lessons affordable (free) in Uptown

Sun-Times, August 18, 2008

The People's Music School in Uptown opened its doors in February 1976 and within a few months, guitarist and music teacher Carter Hoyt III knew he had to be part of it.

"Music is ultimately an intricate part of everyone's soul," Hoyt says. "It's a part of humanity and what sets us apart from other species."

Unfortunately, Hoyt says, he realized not everyone has the financial means to study music, and that's where the school comes in. Students exchange a few hours of volunteer work assisting at the school for free music classes taught by professionals.

"Music has given so much to me, teaching here was a way to give back," he says.

Hoyt, who now teaches the school's music theory classes for adults, figures he has instructed thousands of students in both that subject and guitar.

"I'm here until they kick me out or I fall over from exhaustion," he says with a chuckle.

Great Advice From A Flyer Found On An Uptown Sidewalk

A reader sent us a copy of the flyer they found on the sidewalk. Sound advice for us all.

Wilson Yard: An Uptown Chicago Nightmare

Update: We have been told that the Wilson Yard petition previously posted here is being updated and a new petition will be coming your way soon. In the meantime, please note that Wilson Yard developer Peter Holsten has contributed $108,000 to Alderman Shiller according to this video. Why on earth would he do that?

Catering To Their Clientele

Several readers had mentioned the fact the the "Food Mart" at Magnolia and Wilson catered to the gang-bangers that loiter constantly in front of the store. We decided to stop in and see what sorts of gang-banger apparel we could come across. We were not disappointed.
Hanging from the ceiling are over sized white t-shirts. Where would those come in handy?
At the checkout counter there is a large selection of necklaces, bracelets, do-rags and even more huge, white t-shirts. Whatever happened to just getting a bag of potato chips at a convenience store? Not in Uptown.

Remember Folks, No Dogs

The yet to be opened "Stewart School Campus Park" has signs posted near both entrances announcing the fact that the park closes at 9pm. Who wants to wager that this won't be enforced? Also, check out the fact that both entrances (one shown below) have no gate, just pylons to keep cars from entering. The Sunnyside entrance is just steps away from the public drinking hot spot. We hope something will be added to make this park more secure. Those pylons will do nothing to keep loiterers and drinkers out of the park.

Seating For CTA Customers Only?

Pay no attention to the sign posted in the bus stop. A reader sent us this photo today from Sheridan and Wilson and noted that at least three 151 Sheridan buses passed by with these ladies who appeared to be in no big hurry to get where they were going.

The Plywood Has Come Down!

The plywood that has been covering two entrances to the upcoming Bank of America in the Riv building has been removed. We can only assume that opening day is imminent.

Just Down The Street From Ald. Shiller's Home

"Tapas Las Ramblas" is looking good at Carmen and Clark, in Andersonville.

Barren Broadway

Right by one of the rusted out trash receptacles (light poles) on Broadway, we spotted a perfect spot for a tree. Sadly, there are quite a few of these "tree grates" up and down Broadway that are barren. There is one outside "Smoke Dreams" on Broadway that is STILL tree-less a year after our last posting. Isn't the 46th ward supposed to be "green?"

Rust Never Sleeps (Neither Does Trash, Apparently)

We're lucky to have lovely pieces of the past here in Uptown, like this ornate lightpost on Broadway near Sunnyside.

But it's not so lovely when it's neglected for years and allowed to rust nearly completely through. The hole is so big that residents apparently have mistaken it for a garbage can.

An sad present-day reality for a part of the streetscape that once combined beauty and functionality.

CVS Is "Grand"

We see that the CVS at Foster and Broadway (where Del Rey used to be) is now having its Grand Opening.

'Wild Pug' Makes It Official

A reader just sent in these photos showing the new sign for "Wild Pug" at Lawrence and Broadway. Looks good!

History Lesson In The Alley

We happened to be taking a shortcut down the alley behind 4441 Malden when we came across the famous COURAJ Garage depicting its version of the history of Uptown.

There's the Tent City, where "the Union of the Homeless sawed off the chain on a new black wrought-iron fence [in 1988] and claimed a vacant lot [at 4425 Malden, just a few houses down from the garage's location]. They pitched tents to provide temporary shelter for some two dozen families who huddled in protest of a lack of affordable housing in Uptown." Our newly-minted alderman managed to get herself arrested there for refusing to leave the premises, and she and JPUSA joined forces in the Tent City. It's now CHA scattered-site housing.

Then there's the reference to the practice of landlords burning their own buildings for the insurance money in the 1970s: "No Arson For Profit." One reason Uptown was able to build so much new housing stock, both scattered-site and market rate, in the past 20 years is because there were so many empty lots left after all the landlord arsons of decades past.

But this one kind of confuses us. We're not sure if it's part of the original murals or something added by a "non-authorized artist." Maybe someone from COURAJ can explain what it means: "BUT WITH UNDERSTANDING COMES SHORTIES WITH FISTS DEMANDING NEW USE FOR UPTOWN VENUES."

And sadly, the gang graffiti on the mural is perfectly clear. Is COURAJ really endorsing "Gangster Disciple Killers" and "Conservative Vice Lord Killers"? If not, we wish they'd remove the tags from their property. Because residents who don't appreciate what the gangbangers bring to our community remove gang tags, rather than provide the gangbangers a billboard, right?