We'll Take A Cup Of Kindness Yet

Exciting New Year's Eve? Try Detox Yoga on January 2nd

Strictly Locals presents: DETOX YOGA. Get the right start to 2011, with Marilyn Lehman's detoxifying yoga flow session. There's no better way to start your New Year, by setting your intentions and goals, and rewarding your body, on the first Sunday of 2011.

As Chicago's 1st "Artist Exchange," Strictly Locals combines the characteristics of an art gallery, event space, and artist lounge; with the focus on promoting local businesses. Our mission is to serve and get involved with the community, changing the overall art gallery experience. We strive to harness the collective genius of the local Chicago art community, funneling it to the rest of the public.

DETOX Yoga will be the first in a series of "Get Right for the New Year" events held at Strictly Locals. All events can be found at strictlylocals.com.  This event is FREE, accepting donations to the instructor. Please B.Y.O.M. (bring your own mat). Some mats will be available for rental. Click here for a flyer with more information.

New Year's Resolution Sale At BodyFit

Come to BodyFit Athletic Club at Leland and Broadway, and start the New Year with the gift of fitness. $0 down; $35 for the first month. Ends January 15th.

Uptown: A Year In Review (Part 1)

It was a very, very good year for Uptown in some respects; in others, absolutely horrendous.  Here are some of the notable moments that we covered on the blog.  Part 2 will be coming up soon, either on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, depending on how long our boss makes us stay at the office and/or the anticipated severity of the hangover.

January

• The year started with a new business, The Center for Yoga & Meditation, offering free classes for the month of January; and an Uptown fixture, Shake Rattle & Read, celebrating its 44th year of operation(and its 24th under the guidance of Ric Addy).  Not a bad way to kick off a new year!
• Uptown was featured on WCIU's "On the Block" segment.
• Somerset Place became the target of a federal investigation.
• Selected residents living near Maryville got letters from Sedgwick Development explaining their proposal for development on the site, which included high-rise buildings, a hotel, a gourmet grocery store, a gym, parking, restaurant, tennis court, and townhomes.
• El Pollo Loco closed its doors with no notice.
• SL Grill opened at Lawrence & Sheridan.
• We started hearing whispers about a brand new TIF to fund the Maryville project.
• Aon/Combined Insurance announced it would be closing its longtime office at 5050 Broadway and moving all its employees downtown.
• Plans for a new TIF to fund the Maryville project became official.
• CPNA announced a long-anticipated dog park would be coming to Clarendon Park.
• Uptowners were early-voting and attending candidate forums for the February 2nd elections.
• The Buttercup Playlot Advisory Council formed, with the purpose of making the playlot an attractive and safe haven for kids.
• Crew was voted the best gay bar outside of Boystown by Metromix readers.

February

• An ominous first occurrence that became a year-long trend:  Gang shootings.  A teenage student walking to Brennemann Elementary School was hit by gunfire and refused to cooperate with the police.  Sigh.
• Agee's Pizzeria opened at 1118 W Wilson.
• A low turnout for the election.  Heather Steans handily won over Jim Madigan, Greg Harris ran unopposed.
• A UU reader did a phone interview with Target brass about the Wilson Yard store and was able to confirm that Uptown's Target would open in July.
• A medical supply business opened in the empty storefront on Sheridan that was best described as the former future home of Labor Ready.
• An agenda item in the CTA meeting minutes was the first hint we had that there might be Wilson Yard TIF money going toward a rehab of the Wilson El station.
• PetesWeather.com, broadcasting from Lawrence and Kenmore, packed up its weather station and closed shop.  First Pollo Loco, then Pete's?  Say it ain't so.
• Breaking a promise that all TIF matters would be fully transparent to the community, Ald. Shiller sponsored Amendment No. 2 to the Wilson Yard TIF with no community notice or input.  Later, the TIF tab disappeared from her website.  So much for transparency.
• Very sad news:  Sgt. Alan Haymaker, responding in his patrol car to the call of a burglary in progress, skidded on Lake Shore Drive at Irving Park and passed away from his injuries, becoming the first Chicago police officer to die in the line of duty in 2010.
• The return of something no one had missed:  Gang street violence returned to Sheridan and Leland and continued sporadically throughout the summer and fall.
• Another first of a disturbing trend that lasted throughout the year:  Daytime gunfire on crowded streets.  A woman waiting for a bus, holding her baby, was shot at Wilson and Sheridan in the middle of the afternoon.  Police officers en route to services for Sgt. Haymaker were driving through the intersection and made some fast arrests.
• Ald. Shiller painted a rosy picture of the future retail in the Wilson El Station when she spoke to Uptown Business Partners, mentioning a French marketplace where the Wilson Mall was, among other things.

March

• The first of several fires at Lawrence House revealed the absence of working fire alarms.  That, and many other code violations, put Lawrence House into Housing Court by mid-year.
• Cheaters (renamed The Dilemma) started filming at various locations around Uptown.
• Construction was completed on the two residential rental buildings at Wilson Yard.
• Somerset Place's last residents were relocated and the facility officially closed.
• A Chicago cab driver, an Uptown resident, was charged with attempting to send funding to Al Queda.
• A row of storefronts on Argyle Street that burned in 2008, and had sat empty and boarded up ever since, began to get rebuilt.
• We couldn't stop laughing when we saw that Ald. Shiller's portrait in the art show 50 Aldermen/50 Artists was based on a photo that ran in Uptown Update in 2007, taken by one of the founders of the blog.
• Andersonville, which straddles the Uptown/Edgewater boundaries, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The month ended with the wildest night in memory.  Two residents of Magnolia Avenue argued, leading to one stabbing the other.  As police, ambulances and neighbors filled the street, a car fleeing another crime scene turned onto Magnolia, only to find his escape route blocked.  The car hit several police cars before driving onto the sidewalk, terrifying and barely missing pedestrians.  Later that evening, a gang riot involving gunfire took place in front of the Wilson el station.  Even later, there was a fire at a residence on Lakeside Place that injured three people and displaced 21.  In one night, there was a stabbing, a stolen car, a sidewalk escape, a gang riot with property damage, and a residential fire.  We don't want any more nights like that.

April

• We found out the happy news that Uptown would be getting its first street festival in many years, the Windy City RibsFest.
• The stabbing victim from Magnolia Avenue passed away, making him Uptown's first murder victim of the year.  Rest in Peace, Joshua Spencer.
• Aldermanic rumors fly, with James Cappleman and Don Nowotny unofficially throwing their hats in the ring, along with Gerald Farinas, who informed UU that he did not welcome publicity for his campaign, and Michael Carroll, who announced in 2009.  Ald. Shiller was quoted by her friend, the Sun-Times' Laura Washington, as saying she kept "mulling and mulling."
• The Clark Streetscaping project began.
• The first of several police-sponsored nighttime bike rides through Uptown took place.
• The Uptown Theatre was placed on Landmarks Illinois’ top 10 list of endangered historic places... for the third time.
• The new and improved Ba Le opened its doors, right next to its previous location.
• The news broke that the all-too-familiar Anna Green was arrested for prostitution just a month after getting out of prison for a similar conviction.  The bigger story was that it was Arrest Number 300 for her.

May

• Kahawa House moved from its Montrose location to become The Broadway, next to Borders.
• The ever-persevering Black Ensemble Theatre announced that it had raised enough money to buy its own theatre on Clark and Sunnyside, and would be breaking ground in the fall.
• A CTA ticket agent was arrested for selling marijuana from his booth at the Wilson el station.  Perhaps he should have teamed up in a "small business incubator" with the Cornerstone security guard who was convicted of selling heroin to shelter residents earlier this year.
• Puptown was named the Number Five Dog Park in the country.
• CBS2 did a story on Uptown residents working to combat gang violence, after a street rioter was filmed hiding a large club in his clothing and a resident found a pickaxe left over from the "attempted fisticuffs."
• Streets & San Superintendent Don Nowotny officially kicked off his campaign for alderman.
• The two-block-long Broadway streetscaping project began.
• The CDC rubber stamped approved the creation of the Montrose-Clarendon (Maryville) TIF, at Ald. Shiller's request.
• Sedgwick Developers held a community open house to talk to residents about the proposed Lake View Station project.
• Mary Ann Smith was honored for allocating more than $14 million of her aldermanic menu money to improve the parks of the 48th Ward during her tenure as alderman.  Extraordinary.
• "The Dock" restaurant opened in Montrose Harbor.

June

• Another fire at Lawrence House, with four people hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
• Iyanze was named as Uptown's sole representative at Taste of Chicago.  Not bad for a newcomer.
• The Green Mill was named by Esquire as one of 15 Bars Every Man Should Drink in Before He Dies.
• The CTA confirmed its $3 million upgrade to the Wilson el station, saying that construction would be starting in the fall and continue for 6 to 12 months.
• Argyle Street was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Ald. Shiller, troubled by inconsistencies in the developer's plan, put the Maryville project on hold, but said since the TIF was already in place, it will continue to collect property taxes from buildings located in the newly formed TIF district for the next 23 years.
• James Cappleman officially kicked off his aldermanic campaign.
• AT&T started looking for staff to work in its Wilson Yard store, scheduled to open in the fall.  (As of today, no AT&T store has opened.)
• Uptown's farmers market opened in the parking lot at Weiss Hospital, and continued into the fall.

And that was only half of it!  Part 2 coming soon.

Uptown Is Curbed Chicago's "Neighborhood Of The Year"

In what seems to be a good omen for a heavy voter turnout on February 22nd, Uptown votes flooded the polls at Curbed Chicago in the "Neighborhood of the Year" contest, and Uptown is the proud owner of the "Curbed Cup."  Way to go, voters!  Let's strive to have our community live up to the honor in 2011.

Recycle Your "Used Live Holiday Tree"

If you had a live tree this year, please consider bringing it in for recycling between January 1-17.  There are locations all over the city; Uptown's is Margate Park (4921 N Marine).  Just drop it off in the tree corral.

For more information on "Used Live Holiday Trees" (love bureaucrat-speak!), visit the City's website.

Dig Even Deeper

We ran this last year at this time and mused about whether or not another rate hike might affect the mayoral and aldermanic elections just a few weeks from now.  We never dreamed then that neither Mayor Daley, nor two of three Uptown aldermen, would be a part of the 2011 city elections.  And so the rate hikes march on.

Metered parking is going up in January, so throw a few extra quarters in the car so you don't get caught short.

Uptown is scheduled to go from $1.25 to $1.50 an hour, with LAZ making citywide adjustments to the parking boxes between January 3rd and 31st.  Be sure to check the box for the proper rates during the transition.

Vote Now: Curbed Cup Finals Are ON

It's Uptown versus South Loop for the cherished Curbed Cup honor of 2010 Neighborhood of the Year.  We've gone up against River North (quarter-finals) and Logan Square (semi-finals) and left them in the dust.  Vote by tomorrow evening to make it count.  Here you go...

A Smooth Transition?

Last month, the "Uptown Libertarian" circulated a form letter asking final-term aldermen not to destroy financial records and project updates to make the transition to a new alderman easier.  He sent a request to Ald. Shiller asking for her cooperation, and this is how she replied:

On Broadway

Our $4.3 million Broadway streetscaping is done.  Looks pretty nice, too.

But urban designer Andrew Vesselinovitch thinks it could have been done much better, making Broadway more pedestrian- and business-friendly. Read his ideas here.

(Hey, there's still the absolute blight just north of the new streetscaping, the "orphaned" 4600 block of Broadway, which needs a LOT of help. Definitely a blank canvas for someone's ideas, hopefully not too long from now.)

Michael Carroll In "Chicago Talks"

There's an article on the Chicago Talks blog interviewing Michael Carroll about his aldermanic candidacy. Read all about it here.

Winter Wonderland

All the snow that's on the ground has provided a lot of fun for some Uptowners.

First, we present "Eva," in Clarendon Park, the creation of two readers.  "Her name is Eva (a nod to the Pixar film Wall-E. Note the blue eyes)."

Then we noticed that Cricket Hill (just north of Montrose, just inside the park) was a busy, busy place on Sunday.  A line, even, to sled and toboggan down the hill!  We love that Uptowners take full advantage of our community's attractions, even in the dead of winter.

Nick's Picks

Continuing our regular feature of book recommendations from Uptown Borders' sales manager, Nick Taylor:

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You Better Not Cry

"Claus and Effect" can either leave you in the spirit of Christmas this year or have you saying "Bah-Humbug," as some of my friends put it. Maybe the pace of this blasted holiday season leaves us too dizzy to remember what it was once like as a child. Memoirs are meant for reminiscence and few find my heart and my funny bone better than Augusten Burroughs.

As a child he mistakenly calls Santa "Jesus," and manages to devour a good portion of one life-size wax figure only to wake up as a hung-over adult next to a real life-size figure of Santaesque proportions. Throughout the abundant reasons for hilarity gems of advice sparkle; Shirley from the streets warns against the booze and their threat against dreams while awakening the young man not to "discount" her words because of her homeless raiment.

If you enjoy reading the words of David Sedaris or need to hear some blatant honesty about another dysfunctional stretch of life pick up a copy of this book and get ready to laugh till you cry with You Better Not Cry.

- Nicholas Taylor, Sales Manager, Borders in Uptown

Should Have Gotten Coal In Their Stockings

Instead, they got new spray paint, the little bastards. 

The gang graffiti assault on Kenmore, between Irving Park and Buena, got a little heavier over the holiday weekend.  One reader says:  "I noticed that a lot of garage doors in my alley were tagged either last night or some time over the weekend. It's the alley that runs in between North Sheridan and Kenmore from Irving Park to Buena. I also noticed that some buildings on Kenmore were tagged with the same gang symbol."

Another sent in the photo above and notes:  "The building at 4138 N Kenmore was tagged again over the weekend.  If you look closely at the picture you can see the latest tagging in silver is on top of the outdated tags in black."

Please call 311 to request this be removed ASAP, and if you see tagging in progress, please call 911 and be willing to sign a complaint.  This has been going on for far too long.

Greg Harris Is Gay Chicago's "Person Of The Year"

From Craig Gernhardt, Publisher:  "In appreciation of the tremendous victory for LGBT equality that passage of civil unions in Illinois means, Gay Chicago Magazine is proud to honor Greg Harris as our 2010 Person of the Year."  Read about it here, and congratulations, Greg!  We're proud to have you as Uptown's representative.

Transistor Is Today's Groupon

Just over a year old, Transistor (5045 N Clark) is featured on Groupon today. Spend $20 and get $40 worth of merchandise, whether it be vinyl, sound equipment, or books.

If you haven't been to this gem, we suggest it:  movie screenings, PhotoShop lessons, room-size performances, even yoga.  A really nice place to have as part of our neighborhood.  Click here for the Groupon, which is valid through June 29th.

Late Last Night While We Were All In Bed...

Chicago Breaking News is reporting:

"Firefighters were called about 3:45 a.m. to the 4500 block of North Clarendon Avenue, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Will Knight.

The fire started in a room on the 22nd floor but was quickly extinguished, Knight said.

There were no injuries reported and no evacuations, he said."

We are thankful there are no injuries, but wondering if anyone has more information. Please feel free to post in the comments.

End The Year With Happy Feet

A note from Christine at The Center for Yoga and Meditation, at 1352 W Wilson:

"Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!  The Happy Feet Contest is officially over, and ALL participants should make their appointment for a free foot massage or yoga/meditation or gong class.  Thanks to everyone who entered the contest!  It was a lot of fun. 

Also, the Center has a new website, http://www.squatteam.webstarts.com/.  Please share it with your friends, family and neighbors, and look for new specials and contests on the website as we approach 2011."

Happy Holidays From Uptown Update

Enjoy this view of Wilson looking east from Racine during a Christmas past, 1963 to be exact. We would like to wish our readers a safe and happy holiday and a PROSPEROUS, healthy 2011. (click to enlarge)

A Final Dispatch From Santa

"Santa here,

All of the stockings have been hung around the ward with care (and a few boxes handed out) and now it's time for us to get onto our other Christmas Eve duties.

A special thanks to the good little boys and girls at Soggy Paws for donating gifts for our canine friends.

Finally: it doesn't take a big red suit to be a Santa. All you need to have is a little extra to share with those who may not have anything. That is much of what Christmas is about.

The elves and I will be back December 23rd, 2011 with an even larger bag of goodies. So be good, everybody!

Santa out!"

The Stockings Were Hung

A photo from "Secret Santa" acts not only as a hint and reminder that gift card stockings are still out there, waiting for discovery... but as a metaphor for Uptown itself.  We live in a neighborhood that can be cold and bleak at times, but there are always treasures to be found, appearing when you least anticipate them.  Keep looking for the bright colors and the unexpected gifts, Uptowners.

Well, Well, Well.

Must have been a rolicking Beat 2312 CAPS meeting, because people who attended are telling us that Area 3 Deputy Chief Bruce Rottner announced that the 46th Ward would be getting three to four new digital state-of-the-art crime cameras, and you'll never guess where the money's come from? Hold onto your hats: From Ald. Shiller's menu money. Yes, the money she rarely spends. From the woman who believes crime is not her issue, even as the streets outside her office echo with the sound of gunfire.

We didn't think we'd ever be able to say this, but "Thank you, Ald. Shiller." We wish you'd have done this years ago. We wish you'd come out firmly against crime and made that a priority for your ward. We wish the gangbangers had never gotten the strong foothold in Uptown that we're living with now, and we wish the four people who were murdered on our streets this year were alive to appreciate the new cameras. But we're happy to have them. Thank you.

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In the meantime, a reader tells us that Michael Carroll held a holiday party in his office across the street from the CAPS meeting.  "I don't know who's running the campaign for this guy, but scheduling your holiday party/fundraiser up against the 2312 CAPS beat meeting that is taking place across the street at 7pm seems to be a foolish idea."

Blue Ocean Is On Groupon Today (Hurry)

We didn't realize it until late in the day, but our new neighbor, Blue Ocean Sushi (4650 N Clark), is the Groupon deal today.  Spend $15 for a Groupon by midnight and get $30 worth of food on your next visit.  If you've been planning to try this well-reviewed newcomer, this is a great chance.  Click here for the Groupon.

Down Times For The Uptown Theatre

via Chicago Talks
by Chloe Riley
With 48th Ward Ald. Mary Ann Smith about to retire, and an owner who is hesitant to talk about the theater’s financial issues, the future of the Uptown Theater, a giant at 4,300 seats, looks shaky.

Located at 4816 N. Broadway St., the Uptown was built in 1925 by architects Rapp and Rapp, who also designed the Chicago Theater and Cadillac Palace Theater. The Uptown was designated a Chicago landmark in 1991.

Jerry Mickelson, of Jam Productions Ltd., bought the theater in 2008 for $3.2 million. Mickelson owns several well-known Chicago music venues, including the Rivera, The Vic, and the Park West.

Before Mickelson, the theater had been in and out of foreclosure since 1994. Prior to that, through the late ’80s and mid-’90s, the Uptown was owned by Lou Wolf, a slumlord and convicted arsonist who was dubbed “Chicago’s worst landlord” in 1989 by Chicago Magazine.

Mickelson was contacted multiple times with questions regarding the Uptown’s funding issues, but would only comment via e-mail.

“I have been trying to fit all the pieces of the funding puzzle together to renovate the Uptown Theater and am making some progress, but it is a very long road that requires an incredible amount of due diligence,” Mickelson said. Continue Reading

Okay, Uptown, Let's Practice Voting

The website Curbed Chicago is holding a contest for its readers' Neighborhood of the Year.  Last week Uptown won a Cinderella victory over River North.  Now, in the semi-finals, we're pitted against Logan Square.  Wanna weigh in?  Vote here.

Update:  Uptowners stuffed the ballot box and advanced to the finals, next week against the South Loop.  Enjoy your long weekend, and come back ready to vote again.

Isn't A TIF Supposed to Eliminate Blight?

Didn't we just give Peter Holsten 50 or 60 million dollars to eliminate blight at Wilson and Broadway?  To get rid of unsightly things like boarded-up windows and graffiti?  Hint:  Not working out so well, Pete.

In other Wilson Yard news, it looks like we may be getting a restaurant at 4436 N Broadway.  Just $55,000 more TIF dollars for an "INTERIOR BUILDOUT FOR A RESTAURANT - WITH EXISTING HVAC SYSTEM, NEW REFRIGERATION, NEW ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION WITH EXISTING SERVICE, PARTIAL NEW PLUMBING WITH EXISTING WASHROOM."

The building permit was  issued on November 4th.  A side note:  Wouldn't it be nice if there were some vehicle, besides a volunteer blog and EveryBlock, to convey and enlighten us about what's going on in Wilson Yard?  Like, an official website that could give clear and concise details about what's going on in our taxpayer-funded development?  Nahhh, too much to hope for in this "transparent" ward.  (Please, can May 15th get here already?)

'Tis The Season For Tagging

As if our poor Wilson station could look any worse, at least one new, giant tag is covering the right side of the former entrance to Popeyes. We also spotted the same tag on the southernmost section of the McJunkin Building next to Aldi and also one of the Wilson Yard storefronts (above). Hopefully once all of the new street lighting is turned on, it will be a bit harder for these morons to deface our streets. Can the $3Million rehab start any sooner?

Santa Claus Is Coming To (Up)Town (Keep Your Eyes Open)

From a special correspondent--

"Santa here,

Uptown has a fresh layer of snow, some nice Santa-approved-reindeer-friendly chilly air and it IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The only thing missing is a little holiday fun.

The elves and I had a conference call with the Easter Bunny a few nights back (standard magical holiday icon business) and good ol' Mr Bunny gave us a great idea: return to your roots, Santa.

That, of course, meant: stockings.

Mr Bunny then added with a wink, "Hide them around Uptown."  And that's exactly what we're going to be doing: hiding stockings around Uptown.

Some of these stockings, sad to say, might be empty.

Santa's seen a lot of naughtiness this past year (you all have heard the song... you do know that I'm watching, right?).  Santa simply cannot tolerate naughtiness. Especially when I have to send the elves out to remove gang tags from the side door of the workshop.

Some of these stockings, happy to say!, will contain gift cards! Santa's seen a lot of wonderful, good-hearted people around these parts, and Santa wants to reward them with a little holiday boost.

So, while you're out and about over the next few days - keep a close eye out for mini-stockings. They can pop up anywhere, at any time!

Closing note: if you happen across a gift card stocking and think that someone may need a little holiday boost more than you do, remember: this is the season of giving.

Santa out!"

When Out On My Lawn There Arose Such A Clatter...

A reader writes:  "Approximately 12:20am, I heard some noise on the street, when I got up to look out my window I found a combination of police cars and SUVs, total of 6, out my window [on the 1300 block of Wilson]. The police completely shut down Wilson Avenue with vehicles so no thru traffic was allowed.

It looked like a few of the police formed a perimeter around the area and kept a lookout for lookers walking by.

They pulled some guy out of his car while he yelled, "This is my car, this is my car!"  They cuffed him and searched the car. Apparently, the police arrested the driver and took the car to the garage at 23.

At one point, there were 12 police officers on the scene."

Update:  A reader tells us that "a couple of kids stole a car at Montrose and Beacon and the owner saw them and flagged down a police car who was patrolling on Montrose. The officers followed the car and turned on the blue lights and followed them around the block and through a few alleys calling for backup on the radio. Thankfully they arrested the kids and the owner gets his car back and nobody got hurt."

Deal of the Day at Jaiyen

If you live in the 46th ward and love sushi - today's deal at Groupon is perfect for you! $20 for $40 of Sushi and Asian Fare. There is a limited quantity available and the deal expires at midnight tonight, so act fast!

One other caveat - the Groupon cannot be used until after 12/26, so you won't be able to reenact the final scene from A Christmas Story. There's no duck on the menu, either - guess you'll have to go to Sun Wah to get your Ralphie on.

Solstice Night At Montrose Harbor

“The fog comes/ on little cat feet./
It sits looking over/ harbor and city/ on silent haunches/
and then moves on.” - Uptown resident Carl Sandburg

Not the Wreath!

Live from the 4600 block of Clifton Avenue. "This video was made with the help of 5 children who asked their mom and dad, 'Why did the bad man steal our Christmas wreath?'"

Ballot Babbles

• Do you know what ward you live in?  Are you suuuuuure?  Because we're hearing from a lot of people who think they live in one ward, but actually live in another.  Check it out here.  You may be surprised.
• The deadline to register to vote in the Mayoral and Aldermanic (emphasis on "manic") elections is just five weeks away:  January 25, 2011. 
  
  You know who was the real winner in the last election?  Apathy.  If you think commenting on a blog is going to change things, you are mistaken.  What will?  Getting to the polls and voting for the person you want to guide your ward and your city for the next four years.  Want to make a real change?  Register to vote.  And then go do it.  Because sitting at your keyboard, bringing on the snark, is a lot of fun (trust us, we know about such things), but if you don't vote ... it doesn't mean a thing.  Click this link; you can even do it from home.

Census Data For Uptown

The census data is starting to trickle out (we stand corrected -- it's census surveys from 2005-2009, not The Big One), and the Uptown Libertarian blog takes a look at some interactive maps and analyzes the data on race, education, density and income levels in Uptown. What surprised us is how much Uptown differs census tract to census tract. We were also fairly amused by population dots showing up in the cemeteries! (No, they aren't voters, they're representative of the people who live in that census tract, along with the, um, dead folks.) Check it out here.

Watching And Waiting...

Our favorite spectator sport... politics!  Here's what's going on with the objections process for the nominating petitions of the aldermanic candidates, to determine who we'll see on our ballots in February.

46th Ward: 

• All eight objections have been heard, except for the two filed against Janice V. Thomas, who defaulted (which we guess means didn't defend herself at her hearings).
• The other six are in waiting for the recommendations of Hearing Officer William J. Cadigan, a health care/corporate sole practitioner who's a former Assistant State's Attorney and former Congressional aide.

47th Ward:

• One more to be heard, on Wednesday, John Tuttle's objections to Tom Jacks's petitions.
• Alice Coffey, who filed objections against Tom O'Donnell and Tom Jacks, withdrew her objections.
• The Board of Elections overruled Tom Jacks's objection to Tom O'Donnell, so O'Donnell's definitely on the ballot.
• Tuttle's objections to Matt Reichel's nominating petitions are waiting for a recommendation by Hearing Officer Mario Correa, who's hearing all the cases in the 47th Ward.  He's a corporate sole practitioner and former president of the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce.

If you're as geeked out as we are about this whole process, you can watch the play-by-play here.  Excel charts and yummy legal documents, whee!

Uptown Variety Live: The Gift Of Awesomeness

Where in Uptown can you see stand-up comics, a sketch comedy troupe, a burlesque dancer, a live band and more?

The answer is Uptown Variety Live. Headlining earlier this month (returning to The Kinetic stage after Comedy Death Ray Radio with Scott Ackerman, Garfunkel & Oates, and Bob Odenkirk) and returning sometime in 2011, James Adomian from Last Comic Standing left the UV audience in absolute stitches covered in tears.

The last show of this year (Wednesday, December 22) features the comedic talents of Avromi "The Steiner," and Renee Schultz, burlesque dance from the lovely Lula-Houp Garou, Chicago band Flow Theory, and late night Dubstep DJ Sam Gray with your host and creator Nicholas Taylor in conjunction with Chicago comedy troupe Awesomonster!

Bring a crappy, recycled and or self-made gift if you want to be entered for the grand prize of the night.  Doors open at 7:00 with a $7 cover and the festivities begin at 8:00 located in The Kinetic Playground at 1113 W Lawrence.

Facebook UV Live or check out www.uptownvarietylive.blogspot.com

Where Am I Located?

Where is this piece of Uptown located?

And, if anyone knows the history or the name that's hidden, we'd love to hear from you.

Helping For The Holidays

So, it's nearly Christmas and this year we just haven't been feeling it.

Maybe it's because we got an early gift when Ald. Shiller announced to Laura Washington that she wouldn't be running for reelection.

Or maybe we're just exhausted from trying to keep track of 22 aldermanic wannabes (12 in the 46th Ward, 5 in the 47th, and 5 in the 48th).

So we're going to leave it up to you to spread the news about how and where Uptowners can still spread some cheer and goodwill.  This is what we know:

• Uptown's Secret Santa will be active with the gift cards and "Santa Boxes" for the needy on Wednesday.  More details as they come from the North Pole.
• If you have extra wrapping paper and would like to donate it, you can bring it to Borders at Broadway and Racine.  "We have a number of non-profit organizations scheduled to gift wrap through the remainder of the holidays, working solely for donations.  I'm sure other gift wrapping paper would help them out."

If you've got any ideas on ways to make someone else's life a little brighter this holiday season, please post in the comments.  (Let's leave the snark at the door for this one post, okay?)

Fewer Police For Uptown?

According to the Sun-Times: "The stage is set for a confrontation over Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis’ upcoming plan to reallocate police resources from lower-crime districts to those that need more officers."

This raises a few questions:

• Doesn't all of Chicago "need more officers," not just high-crime areas?
• Will Uptown suffer a shortage of officers because we share our police districts with lower-crime neighborhoods that include Lincoln Park, Andersonville and Ravenswood?
• If this plan is implemented, does that mean that Chicagoans who pay the highest property taxes to live in the most crime-free areas will now be protected by the fewest number of officers?

From our previous post about this:  "The police officer who told us this would be happening says:  "Your readership needs to contact their respective Commander, The Chief of Patrol and Aldermanic contenders. Why should hard-working, tax-paying citizens not get the police service that we deserve?"

Here's their contact information - and a reminder that this decision is being made by the brass, NOT by our local command.  Be polite and express your reasoning for opposing this decision. 

• Superintendent of Police Jody P. Weis - 312-745-6100
• Chief of Patrol Ernest P. Brown - 312-745-6210

• 23rd District Commander Kathy Boehmer:
  

  23ehotline@chicagopolice.org; 312-744-8320
• 20th District Commander Lucy Moy-Bartosik:
  

  CAPS020District@chicagopolice.org; 312-742-8714

• 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith: 773-784-5277; info@masmith48.org
• 46th Ward Alderman Helen Shiller:  773-878-4646; ward46@cityofchicago.org"

Before Sunnyside Mall, 1958

Another hat tip to Uptown Chicago History blog for finding this great photo from 1958 (the high-def version can be purchased when you click this link) showing the corner of Sunnyside and Magnolia. Notice that Sunnyside continued west from Magnolia and was not the "mall" we see today. The buildings in the photo still remain, although this memorial does not.  See the present-day view below and see how very little the building at the opposite corner, with the pillars and balconies, has changed.

A few more details regarding the photo:
"The Adolph Mueler Square War Memorial on the southeast corner of Sunnyside and Magnolia celebrates a rededication ceremony with Dr. Robert Bleier, the Illinois Commander of the Jewish War Vets. April 13, 1958."

Nick's Picks

Continuing our new regular feature of book recommendations from Uptown Borders' sales manager, Nick Taylor:

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Elements of a black history with experimentation, a book of biology and a biography of the woman few have heard named elsewhere comprise the true story of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

Primarily composed of three parts spanning from Henrietta's life, past her death, and reaching onward to her immortality, Skloot passionately follows the story of the young Southern, Virginian tobacco farm family through all the darkness that accompanies Henrietta's case of cervical cancer; from this emerges the first HeLa cells and subsequently critical details for creating the polio vaccine, fighting cancer, viruses, the effects of the atom bomb and all the questions regarding the "illegal, immoral, and deplorable."

Often, in reading a good book I find some personal level of resonance but few have compared with this week's selection. In the last three years I have read over 200 books, predominately non-fiction, and this pick easily found itself in the top 5. 

If you once found yourself reliving a dark past, confounded by human ability to sacrifice in the name of scientific discovery, or winding along your own journey towards the truth behind a name then such will prove one of your connections to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Come to your Borders in Uptown at 4718 N Broadway and have your copy signed by author Rebecca Skloot today at 2:30.

- Nicholas Taylor, Sales Manager, Borders in Uptown

The Full Court Press From Lake View Station/ Sedgwick

From a reader:  "I'm not exactly sure how they got my email address, but here is an email I just received.  Thought you might want to know that it looks like the developers' PR effort includes direct emails."

Watch Who You Let Into Your Building

Sad to say, the holiday season brings out the Grinches: Thieves ring a lot of doorbells in a multi-unit building until someone buzzes them in, then they swipe the packages that have been left in the lobby. It happened last year, and it's happening again. From a reader:

"Earlier this week I was walking down Montrose and I saw a cardboard box near the curb between two cars. I was expecting a pair of shoes that I ordered online, and I had a feeling to look at the box. It was addressed to me, but it was ripped open and the shoes were nowhere to be seen.

I live in a building that doesn't have a doorman, but one resident knows when UPS comes and always brings all of the packages in for the whole building. There must have been a short lag time between when packages were dropped off, because someone walking down Clarendon came into the lobby of my building, stole my package and dumped the box on Montrose and left with my shoes.

Long story short-- a lot of people are ordering things online now, especially with the holidays so near. Just beware that there are people taking packages from lobbies of unattended buildings."

Please remind your neighbors not to let anyone in unless they know who it is.

ABC 7: CircEsteem Students 'Clown Around'

By Ron Magers
December 16, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Children hanging upside down and pins flying through the air are pretty common sights at the non-profit afterschool program CircEsteem.

"We have some great acts in store and some great tricks up our sleeves. It's fun," said Jack Gomberg, 14.

"CircEsteem is a non-profit youth circus and our mission is to unite youth from diverse backgrounds and build self-esteem and confidence through circus arts," said CircEsteem Executive Director Maribeth Joy.

Three times a week, students in the Uptown neighborhood meet for an hour of one-on-one tutoring and homework help. Then, they get an hour of training in circus arts. Continue reading and watch video here

Harold's Opening Today

A reader just tipped us off that Harold's Chicken at Wilson and Clifton is finally opening today after some construction delays. The sign on the door states that doors will open today, December 17, at 10am. Please note that Body Fit Athletic Club is just a block away at Leland and Broadway. *g*

New Year's Eve At Fontana Grill

Hard to believe it's time to start thinking about plans to ring in 2011.  Consider spending it in Uptown, at Fontana Grill (1329 W Wilson).  The special New Year's Eve menu is below.  As always, click on it to enlarge.

New Option For Indian & Thai Cuisine Now Open

A rave review from a UU reader:
"Masala, a new Indian & Thai restaurant in Uptown at Argyle and Sheridan (1002 W Argyle), has just opened. I stopped by for lunch today and one of the owners, Lucky, was splitting his time between interviewing a potential waitress, answering phone calls and shooing away teenagers loitering nearby, but he still made sure the customers were happy. The chicken masala (lunch specials daily from 11-3 for $6.95) was surprisingly flavorful, and unlike many other places' lunch menus, was a generous portion of succulent, all-white, boneless meat. It's clean and nicely lit inside, with friendly staff, and I hope to see its tables full soon. We're especially short on Indian cuisine hereabouts, so it's a welcome addition to Argyle. Please urge UU readers to come support this new neighborhood business."