Congratulations, Greg Harris!

State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) announced on Thursday that he has been named the chairman of the Appropriations Human Services Committee, a position he plans to use to maintain vital services and assistance for those most in need.

"I'm feeling very honored to be named Chairman of the House Appropriations Human Services Committee overseeing the half of the state budget dealing with healthcare, children's services, senior services, disability services, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, public health and other human services,” said Harris.

Harris, a strong advocate for the disabled across Illinois, will oversee a challenging budget process while working to ensure those Illinois residents most in need are not denied critical services. The Appropriations Human Services Committee will hold a number of hearings in the coming months listening to testimony and budget proposals from a variety of state agencies before making final budget recommendations later this spring. Harris will also serve as the vice-chairman of both the House Insurance Committee and the Tourism and Conventions committee and as a member of the Environment Committee and the Restorative Justice Committee.

“I also know we are faced with enormous challenges and incredibly difficult choices as we try to balance our budget, maintain a safety net for those in need, and provide support for Illinois families,” Harris added.

Crain's: "Does This Historic Bank Lobby Have A Future?"

Crain's Chicago Business has a story today about the historic, beautiful Bridgeview Bank lobby and why it's blocked off from the public. Bank Chairman Peter Haleas says that when Bridgeview took over the premises from Uptown National Bank, it found customers hesitant to use the grand lobby, so it built a (sterile, soulless) ground-floor modern lobby and locked away the historical one from everyday use.

Sounds rather unlikely that a short flight of marble stairs (and elevator access) would discourage folks from stepping back 75 years in time to a grander era, but ... that's just us.

In any case, it's a good article and film, which can be found online here.

For more about the lobby, check out Designslinger's visit to the bank last October, during which the photo below -- and several others that are included with the article -- were taken.

Seminar On Being A Successful HOA

This doesn't take place in Uptown, but with the many condos and HOAs here, we thought some readers would find it helpful.  Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

"Have questions about how to run your homeowners' association? We can help! T.H.E. Management, Inc. is bringing a much-needed seminar on condo ownership to Chicago on Friday, February 1st from 6-9 PM at Creative Studio Space, 2941 W Belmont. Light dinner included! We would love our neighbors in Uptown to attend! Buy tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/316177"

There's more information at the link above about what the seminar will cover.  It is targeted to both board members and residents.

Neighborhood News Discussion Seeks Participants

Update: They have been swamped with participants! No more are required. Thanks!

UU was contacted to see if readers might be interested in participating in a research survey about local news sources in Chicago.

"Columbia College is looking for Chicago residents to participate in a small group meeting to discuss neighborhood communication in the city. Individuals get $75 to participate in a 90-minute meeting downtown Feb. 18-21. Those interested are invited to complete a 5-minute online questionnaire to see if they meet the project’s criteria for participation. Space is limited."

No promises of being chosen, of course, and they seem to be looking for a wide range of age groups and ethnicities.  If you're free to get to the Loop during the week they're looking for participants, why not take five minutes to see if you qualify? 

The Case Of The Disappearing Shooting Victim

Last Thursday, there were a lot of reports of shots fired near Truman College shortly before noon.  Witnesses saw a shot-out car, a crashed van, and a police stop, but no one seemed to know the whole story.  The police blotter in Lake View Patch sheds a little more light on what happened:

"Shot Gang Member Goes Missing. Police responded around noon Thursday to a call about a man being shot in the 1200 block of West Sunnyside Avenue near Harry S. Truman College, but when they arrived the man wasn’t there. Officers soon pulled over a white car with five bullet holes in the back and a shattered window, they said. Driving it was the victim’s 46-year-old mother.

While police couldn’t find the man, they know who he is — a 27-year-old member of the gang Black P Stones, according to the report. The car was towed for investigation and there were no reports as of Monday regarding a man with a gunshot wound being admitted to an area hospital."

Former Problem Building To Get A Makeover

Money is beginning to be put into some neglected Uptown properties, and that's a good thing!

Buena Park Neighbors has sent out an email blast regarding plans to rehab a long-vacant problem building located at 920 W Cullom which has been a mainstay in housing court.

"Meeting For 920 W. Cullom Renovation

When: Tuesday, February 5th
Time: 7pm
Place: 46th Ward office 4544 N. Broadway
Purpose: To discuss a proposal for renovation of the property at 920 W. Cullom

The new owner of the vacant building at 920 W Cullom is proposing plans that would require a zoning variation. A description of proposed changes is below. 

Alderman Cappleman's office will be hosting a meeting for any neighbors who would like more information or have questions or concerns regarding the proposed changes.  Please RSVP to Abby if you plan to attend so that we can assure that we have enough space to accommodate attendees.

Proposed Addition - 920 W. Cullom.  Sonco Real Estate LLC has acquired a seven unit apartment building at 920 W. Cullom and intends to rehabilitate this boarded up building and return it to its status as a vibrant and attractive part of the community. 

The project: The project will include the construction of a 903 square foot addition to the top floor. There will not be any increase in the number of dwelling units built at this building; rather, the existing basement unit will be combined with the existing first floor unit to create a single duplex unit, offsetting the construction of a new dwelling unit in the top floor addition. The addition will be well set back from the front of the existing building and within height limitations of the current zoning, so as to minimize visibility from the street and impacts to surrounding properties. 

Zoning relief required: The building's current zoning classification is RM5. There will not be a need for a change in zoning classification. Instead, a variation will be sought from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the following relief: 

• The front of the existing building is 1.5 feet from the front lot line, and is grandfathered under the current zoning ordinance. The top floor addition, although to be built well behind the front wall of the existing building at 11.5 feet from the front lot line, is still closer than the current zoning ordinance's front setback requirement (based on the average setback of the two adjacent properties on each side) of 13.09 feet. 
• The required site setbacks under the current zoning ordinance are a combined 6.9 feet, with neither side less than 2.8 feet. The west side yard of the existing building is on the west lot line, and is grandfathered under the current zoning ordinance. A portion of the top floor addition will be built to follow the existing west wall upward.
• There is a fire escape on the east wall of the existing building. This fire escape will be removed and replaced with a new enclosed staircase. The existing building's east wall is 3.25 feet west of the east lot line. The wall of the newly-constructed stairway enclosure will be roughly one foot closer to the east lot line.
• The floor area of the existing building is 8,708 square feet. The floor area allowed on the subject lot under the current zoning ordinance is 7,450 square feet. However, the construction of the proposed 903 square foot top floor addition would increase the floor area of the building by only 10.4 percent. Variations may be authorized to increase the floor area in buildings located in RM5 districts by up to 15 percent over the floor area in existence 50 years ago.
• The building height (with the proposed addition) will be 45 feet, which is less than the 47 feet permitted under the RM5 zoning classification for lots with frontage of 32 feet or more (the subject lot's frontage is 34.5 feet); accordingly, no zoning relief is required for the building height."

Montrose Closed At Ravenswood

Not in Uptown, but close enough to affect us.  From Ald. Pawar:

"We were informed this morning that Walsh Construction has closed Montrose Avenue at Ravenswood to install the structural steel for the new bridge.  The road will be closed from today through Friday February 1st.  Southbound Ravenswood between Montrose and Berteau will also be closed tomorrow, January 31st from 7am to approximately 4pm.  Starting Monday, February 4th the Montrose Bridge will have a partial closure through February 26th."

Fontana On The Move

We just love Fontana Grill & Wine Bar, so this is not making our day.

On its website is this notice:  "Our last business day on current location will be Feb 16, Saturday. Please check our website as new information on a new location will be updated shortly!"

We imagine that this has a lot to do with the fact that FLATS is completely rehabbing the building that Fontana is located in, at 1325 West Wilson, as its first Uptown project.

On UU's Facebook page, Fontana has added a comment saying:  "We are looking to stay close by... We will update our website soon!!! Stop by to see us before we go and we hope to see you all at our new location!"

We've got a lot of empty storefronts, Fontana, and you've got a big fan club here.  We'll be there to drink a toast to your time on Wilson Avenue, and hope to see you re-opening soon.  We'll be there when you do.

Open House For An Uptown Historic Building

It's just lovely to see how this once-nationally-known building has blossomed since the poorly-managed REST Shelter left.  Please mark your calendars to see one of Uptown's hidden gems hold an Open House.

"The Preston Bradley Center is hosting an open house on February 22. We will showcase the building, registered on the National Trust for Historic Places, as well as the arts being produced from the building. We are the new(ish) home of National Pasttime Theater and the Uptown Arts Center and have been the longtime home of Lakeside Pride Music Ensemble. We are a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible."

Chateau To Be Gutted, Rehabbed

Lake View Patch has the scoop:

Although officials have yet to announce who the new owners are, their lawyers announced Tuesday plans to completely gut and rehab Hotel Chateau.

Mitchell Asher, the lawyer representing the newly formed LLC behind the building’s buyers, told the judge during Tuesday’s hearing that his clients have the funding to do a gut and rehab. However, he also said that means residents will need to find somewhere lese to live.

“This building will be completely gutted,” Asher said. “…(Which means) it has to be vacated.”

So is it better to live in squalor, in an unsafe building, or to be relocated to another area with a safer, yet unfamiliar, setting? That seems to be the eternally debated issue.

The story quotes Ald. Cappleman saying, “We reviewed the living situation at Hotel Chateau and it’s much worse than I ever dreamed possible, and I’m alarmed. …It is not safe for those people (living at Hotel Chateau), and my focus now is saving people’s lives.”

Although the Chateau is privately owned, and receives no government assistance or funding, the Department of Family Support Services will be stepping in to relocate the tenants and find other options for them.  No timeline was given in court today.

The entire story is here.

Fire-Plugged

The broken fireplug that flooded Lakeside Place between Marine and Clarendon for nearly a week, turning it into a nasty tire-grabbing cocktail of ice, slush and sand, has been vanquished.  There were City workers out there at 3am last Friday, so guess they did what needed to be done.  With more freezing weather on tap, we're glad to see dry land at last.

Wayne Davis Memorial This Afternoon

Many of us were horrified to hear of the hit-and-run death of 87-year-old Wayne Davis last November.

A reader writes in to say:  "Sorry, this is really last minute. There will be a memorial today for Wayne Davis who was killed by a drunk driver on Broadway and Lawrence. It will be held at the Jesus People's Friendly Towers at 2 PM."  Mr. Davis lived at Friendly Towers, located at 920 W Wilson.

May he rest in peace, and may the ceremony bring comfort to those who knew and loved him.

"Asia On Argyle" Sign Gets More Color And Some Community Support

As shown in the 2010 renderings of the Argyle identifier, aka Asia On Argyle, the horizontally striped posts have been added, which bring the acid green/chartreuse and red colors together.

NBC had a report on its Monday evening news about the controversy over the installment, mentioning that over 100 complaints had been lodged with the City over the sign.  However, in its "man on the street" interviews, the sign got unanimous good reviews.  Ald. Osterman is also interviewed in the report.

(Marc Vuong, one of those interviewed by NBC, is on the SSA #34 Advisory Board; he's also a business owner, of Hoa Lan Hair Salon, at 1059 W Argyle.)

Check out NBC's story here and the video below.

CPS School Utilization Committee Meeting "A Disaster"?

 

According to Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey, that's how it went Monday at the meeting meant to engage the community to work with CPS's School Utilization Committee.  He said the committee expected the crowd to listen to an "hour long infomercial," which it most definitely did not want to do.

"Rowdy" and "heated" seem like polite phrases describing a crowd that wouldn't allow the presentation to take place over its shouts.  Brennemann School principal Sarah Abedalal ended up taking her students and leaving after a can was thrown across the Truman gym and profanity was used.  "We're Bobcats and we're better than that," she told ABC, citing the lack of respect shown as her reason for removing her students from the gym.

You can read more about the meeting at ABC7's website and on DNAinfo.

Well, the crowd made a definite impression.  But will it be one that keeps Uptown's schools from closing?  Time will tell. 

Important Meetings Tonight

There are just some nights that the schedulers like a lot, and tonight is one of them:

• 19th District Court Advocates will meet an hour earlier than usual, at 5pm, at the Town Hall police station, 850 W Addison.
• Between 7-9pm, CPS's School Utilization Committee will hold a meeting to get feedback about possible school closures with concerned citizens.  Support Stockton School says:  "I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for us to have a large turnout. Bring family, friends, children, neighbors, and anyone else you know. Also, be sure to WEAR STOCKTON BLUE (navy) so that it is obvious why you are present. We have come so far, but we aren’t done yet. Thank you so much for showing your support for Stockton School!"  The meeting will be held at Truman College, 1145 W Wilson.
• At 7pm, the 46th Ward Zoning and Development Committee will meet with JDL to review the latest proposal for the former Maryville site, and ask questions.  According to the 46th Ward's newsletter, "The public is also encouraged to attend this meeting in the hospital's auditorium as room allows."  The meeting will be in the Weiss Hospital auditorium, 4646 N Marine.

CAPS Business Safety Seminar

Baker & Nosh Invites You To Its First Anniversary

It hardly seems a year ago that Baker & Nosh opened its doors at 1303 W Wilson.

The good folks there are celebrating their first year anniversary on Wednesday, January 30th, with some deals for its patrons.

Between 7am-10am, and 4pm-6pm, B&N will offer $1 muffins, coffee cake slices, La Colombe coffee, and $2 lattes.

Please stop by and say hello to Bill Millholland and the gang.  Long may they do business in Uptown!

No Reservations?

It's that time of year again - Restaurant Week 2013 starts next week - Friday, February 1st! We're fortunate to have three options available right here in Uptown this year. 

If you haven't checked out Ceres Table yet, you are really missing out on a gourmet dining experience right here in Uptown. Don't believe the simple palates of the bloggers at UU? We don't blame you - but if it's any indication of quality, Ceres Table won their third Michelin Bib Gourmand designation this year. If you can't make it to the wine tasting on January 31st, restaurant week may be a great alternative. During restaurant week, Ceres Table will let you choose any 1 appetizer, 1 entree and 1 dessert from the menu for $33. Click here to check out the full dinner menu and amazing deal available at Ceres Table.

We here at UU have always been big fans of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant. If you have not had the opportunity to experience an Ethiopian dining experience before, now you can do so at a great value right here in your own neighborhood. During Restaurant week, Demera is offering a three-course lunch for 2 for just $22! If you prefer dinner, you can enjoy a three-course dinner for 2 for $33 or add a bottle of wine for just $44. Click here to check out the full menu for Demera.

The final option available is Southport and Irving (just above the Irving Park border of Uptown). We will be honest here at UU - we haven't tried this restaurant yet. From what we're gathering, they opened last Spring and are operated by the owners of Broadway Cellars. We here at UU love the food (and bottomless mimosas, of course) at Broadway Cellars - so that bodes well for this restaurant. You can check out their three-course dinner offering for $33 by clicking here. We'd also love your feedback in the comments if you've been to Southport and Irving (or any of the other restaurants listed).

Restaurant Week ends on Sunday, February 10th. It can be tough to find a table at any of the participating restaurants for the next couple weekends - so you may want to consider making reservations now!

Update On Saving Uptown Schools

From Friends of the 46th Ward Schools:

"Many of you are aware that CPS may be closing over 100 schools that it believes are under-utilized. Three schools in the 46th Ward are thought to be at risk of closure: Brennemann, Stewart, and Stockton.

A meeting will be held on Monday, January 28 from 7-9 p.m. at Truman College (1145 W. Wilson) for parents and community members to provide feedback and express support for individual schools. We encourage all parents, students, community members, and interested people to attend the meeting and show support for your local school(s). The information gathered at Monday's meeting will be used by CPS to make decisions on specific schools.

If you are particularly interested in Stockton School, supporters are meeting today, January 25, at 3:00 p.m. at Stockton (4420 N. Beacon)  to discuss priorities and talking points. We apologize for the late notice, and encourage you to attend the meeting at Truman even if you cannot attend today's meeting. 

Sincerely,

Friends of the 46th Ward Schools"

• We encourage you to keep up to date on what's going on at Stockton via the Save Stockton School website, which is at http://supportstocktonschool.com/
• Ald. Cappleman gave an interview in today's DNAinfo:  "James Cappleman Says 'No' To Charter School Takeovers."

Charity Chili Cookoff At Crew

Feeling the chill?

Come to Crew (4804 N Broadway) on Saturday, January 26th, and judge their Charity Chili Contest.

Sample all the delicious entries and vote for the championship dish.

It's $12, which benefits Care For Real, which helps feed and clothe the people of Edgewater and Uptown.

Hosted by Uptown's own Wayne Johnson, of NBC Universal.

It runs between noon and 2:30, and will leave you feeling warm.

Wine Dinner At Ceres' Table

click to enlarge

Ceres' Table is hosting the first of in a series of events on the last Thursday of the month.  We begin on Thursday, January 31, with a wine dinner featuring James Kenna of Maverick Wine Company and the wines of the Trentino-Alto Adige region of Italy.

Chef Giuseppe Scurato has put together a delectable menu that highlights wines from these Alpine areas with roots in the ethnic traditions of Germany, Lombardy and Venice.  A local saying that reflects just how important wine is to this area is Pane e vino fanno un bel bambino, or "Bread and wine make a beautiful baby." 

Join us for this wine dinner, baby, and you will be glad you did!  The cost is $65 for a four course meal with wine pairings.  Ceres' Table is located at 4882 N Clark.

Live Music Each Friday At Caravan

Caravan restaurant is hosting live music every Friday night at 10, beginning tonight.  Sandra Antongiorgi, who has toured with Wynonna Judd, will bring her blend of Latin, Gitano and World music to the club.

The cover charge is $12, but bring the flyer (hint: click on the poster at the left and print it) or an email announcement, and the price falls to $8.
Caravan is located at 4810 N Broadway, just steps from the Uptown Theater, Crew and Shake Rattle & Read.

Book Release Party At Shake Rattle & Read, Tonight

Ric Addy says: "Shake Rattle & Read will be hosting our first ever book release party here tonight! - Thursday night, January 24th at 7pm. The book is Heavyweight Champion of Nothing and the author is Zak Mucha.  Stop by and meet Zak and pick up this entertaining crime caper that is set in the Chicago area!"

Zak will read from his book, hopefully sell some copies, and repair to Fat Cat when "Ric kicks us out," according to the event's Facebook page.

The Reader gave Zak and the book a favorable review, saying "Zak Mucha has done admirable work as a writer (the novel The Beggar's Shore, the intro to Andrew Vachss and Frank Caruso's Heart Transplant, the Reader's 2004 Pure Fiction issue) and admirable work at his day job as a counselor providing mental health services in Chicago. But he draws on a previous job—moving furniture—for the framework of his new novel, Heavyweight Champion of Nothing."

Drop by tonight, hear a local author read his work, enjoy the Shake Rattle and Read ambiance, consider buying a book, and then head down the street for a drink afterwards.  Can't really get more Chicago than that.

Shots Fired In Sheridan Park

Now that it's warmer, the delicate flowers who shoot at one another in Uptown are at it again.

Around 11:45am, many readers report hearing 6 to 8 shots fired in the Sheridan Park neighborhood.  Over an hour later, the police were still on the scene, as were emergency vehicles.

• "There were shots fired about 10 minutes ago in the alley behind 4454 N Racine [address corrected]. They shot into a car.  (There was woman with a 4yr old child walking through the alley at the time.) They crashed their van into the parking gate of the building north of 4445 N Magnolia."
• "A new shooting today at Sunnyside and Magnolia. All I know is it happened late morning before noon. I was walking to Stockton and the rooms were on lockdown. As I left an hour later, police cars were still at the scene."
• "Heard 7 shots fired near the corner of Sunnyside and Magnolia not too long ago. Many police in the neighborhood now."
• "White car got its back window blown out, but I don't think anyone was seriously injured. Cops pulled over and questioned at least one person at Magnolia and Sunnyside." (from Facebook)

No reports of anyone being hurt, but the fact that there were still police on the scene over an hour later makes us wonder what the story is.  Hate these selfish little boys with their deadly toys, and hope there were arrests made.

Brouhaha In Bronze

We like this statue of two young kids playing basketball, found on the east side of the Buena underpass in the Peace Garden.  It was installed in autumn of 2010.  Its base carries a message calling for racial tolerance; it's in a sweet setting; and the non-traditional bronze statue is interesting. What's not to like?

We forgot we were in Uptown, where controversy has always found a home.  Even statues get the hairy eyeball, apparently.

Thanks to a reader for finding and sending in this article from New City:   Monumental Error? How a Statue Honoring a Controversial Japanese Religious Leader Wound Up in a Chicago Park.

Read it and see if you think the statue is a recruiting tool for a cult-like religion or simply what it appears to be, a symbol of racial tolerance.  We'll continue to enjoy it, no matter what its back story is.

Uptown And The Angry Inch

You've probably heard about the national "scandal" in which Subway Foot-Long Subs are coming up short by an inch or more.  Customers are pulling out tape measures, lawyers are licking their chops, and dozens of lawsuits have been filed.  So why should Uptown be left out of the litigation action?

Plaintiff Nguyen Buren has filed a class action suit claiming that the sandwich he bought from the Subway in the strip mall at Clark and Montrose didn't measure up.  How much does the suit ask for in damages for that missing inch?

Five million bucks.

Read more at the Sun-Times and at CBS Chicago.

Gas Leak Problems At Sheridan and Argyle

Photo from Google Streetview

A reader is saying that there was a "Gas leak (and possible explosion (?)) at 6:30pm at senior high-rise at Sheridan/Argyle. Six pumper trucks, hazmat and water works trucks, two ambulances. Argyle closed between Sheridan and Marine."

If anyone has any more information, please put it in the comments. Got photos? Please send to uptownupdate@hotmail.com.

Update:  A reader sent in the photo below at 8:25 and says:  "The police/firefighters seem to be going into the sewer behind that building."

Update: A commenter says, "A news cameraman told me that a water main broke and the basement was flooding. They had to turn off the heat and electricity to fix it and were preparing to carry all the tenants out by hand (phew!). They were able to fix the problem before that became necessary, although at this point there are still a few fire trucks out front."

Update:  According to this story on NBC Chicago, it was a broken water main that flooded the basement of the high-rise with five feet of water.

And It's Up...

Ald. Osterman took to Facebook to post the finished "Asia on Argyle" signage, along with an update on the Argyle streetscape.  "The Asia on Argyle identifier was installed by Chicago Department of Transportation today. This is an exciting addition to Argyle Street and marks the beginning of more to come with an Argyle Streetscape officially in the works. Design for that will kick off this Spring - stay tuned for more details!"

UU Note:  It looks remarkably close to the design that was done with community input in 2009 - 2010:


The reactions today on the alderman's Facebook page have been less than complimentary, and there was this update:  "Thank you for your feedback - we appreciate it. This is not the final product. Decorative pavers will be installed under the viaduct, more color will be added to the columns and it will be illuminated at night. My predecessor held a community process while this was being designed by CDOT. As we move forward with the Argyle Streetscape, we invite you all to be a part of the design process. There will be community meetings held this summer. Sign up for a weekly newsletter to stay tuned!"

This is what the station looked like last summer, the night before reconstruction began:

"Dollop South" Opens

Photo credit: KBEV Photography

Despite a fire last week, Dollop's sister location at 345 East Ohio is open for business.  Thanks to the reader who alerted us of the story; read more about it in The Local Tourist.

"Asia On Argyle"

The new "Asia on Argyle" signs in front of the CTA viaduct are being installed today. Following the Argyle CTA station renovation, this should make the street more welcoming to residents and visitors, and it seems like they'll be ready in time for the Lunar New Year festivities on February 16th.

The only thing we don't like about the renovation is the acid green color of the pagoda roof.  Colors not found in nature, nor, we bet, in Asia during the age of Buddha.

Condo Buyers Workshop

Rogers Park Community Development Corporation is working with BMO Harris Bank to host a workshop for buyers looking to purchase a condo in Chicago.  This three-hour workshop was developed by RPCDC to help walk condo buyers through the specifics of Illinois condo law.

Topics discussed include legal requirements of associations, turnover of books by the developer, duties of the board of directors, assessments, annual budget, and rights and responsibilities of owners. This informative workshop will fulfill requirements set out by many lenders, the City of Chicago's CPAN and CCLT programs, and is FREE.

• Saturday, January 26th, 9am to noon
• BMO Harris Bank, 4531 N. Broadway
• To RSVP, call Rogers Park CDC at 773-262-2290

Fire, Injuries On Sheridan

There were numerous emergency responders called to the 4600 block of Sheridan (between Leland and Wilson) last night shortly after 9pm, with multiple ambulances and fire equipment on the scene, police cruisers blocking off access to the street, and news vans present.  A reader posted the picture at the right on UU's Facebook page.

According to the Chicago Fire Department's Twitter account,

"Still & Box in a highrise & EMS Plan 1 @ 4650 N Sheridan, a dumpster on fire per BC 9, two civilians injured. All company's working."

4650 Sheridan is the location of the former Fresh Harvest Market, definitely not a highrise.  We think it's more likely that the site of the fire was 4640 N Sheridan, Eastwood Towers.

We hope that the two people who incurred injuries are not seriously hurt and can recover quickly.

Readers also report that emergency equipment was also called to the same location on Sunday night as well.  Anyone know anything about that?  Two nights in a row sounds vaguely worrisome.

Please leave any further information in the comments.

Volunteer Opportunity: Organize A Library

From Dover Street Neighbors Block Club:

"Tamiye and Jim Meehan, of Dover Street Neighbors, will be organizing books in Stockton School's Library this coming week on Tuesday and Wednesday, between noon and 4pm each day. Volunteer help is appreciated, as always.

Stockton School is located at 4425 North Beacon St. (at Montrose). Enter at the southernmost set of doors on Beacon St. (you will be buzzed in).  Hope to see you there and thank you so much."

Uptown Goes Downtown, Again

Following the lead of Dollop, Ba Le has just opened a downtown branch, at 166 W Washington, just a short half-block from City Hall.  The Daily Meal has a nice story about the banh mi trend in Chicago that includes a history of Ba Le.

In addition to the new Loop location, the Chinatown location, and of course the Uptown location at 5014 N Broadway, Ba Le's website indicates that it plans to open a bakery later this year at its original location, 5018 N Broadway.  We wish them success in all their expansion efforts.

UU Note:  According to Chicagoist, there was a fire last week at Dollop's Streeterville store, just days before it was scheduled to open.  The opening has been postponed indefinitely while the space is restored.

The Return Of Lake Lakeside

This was the scene four years ago at Clarendon and Lakeside. While there was a major pipe replacement that caused the end of "Lake Lakeside" and its flooding, a reader tells us, "There are cars being entombed in ice as I type this. I just got back from Walgreen's on Marine/Lakeside and there is a fire hydrant open. A trash can is covering it, but the parking lot across from Walgreen's (where cars got trapped in ice a few years ago) is filling up and icing over. There is about an inch of ice on the tires of the cars there right now."

If you are parked there, move your car now. We've seen how bad it can get. (311 has been called.)

Brrrr! Shakin' All Over

Even Lionel (and his fishy little friends) know to bundle up from their perch at Montrose and Dayton.  Chicago will be getting its coldest weather in two years beginning today, so some reminders:

• Please keep an eye out for anyone sleeping outside and call 311 to request a well-being check. There are still shelter beds available, even in the frigid weather.  People who choose to sleep rough in this weather probably don't have the mental capacity to decide to come inside, so city services will try to talk them inside, or at least into a warming van for a bit.
• Don't forget about the city's warming centers, one of which is at 4740 Sheridan.
• The closest hyperlocal weather station comes to us from Weather Underground in Lincoln Square.
• We should be back to the 20s by Wednesday.  Just think of it as paying the piper for a January weekend in the high 40s.

KFC Now Open

The KFC at Lawrence and Sheridan has balloons and banners announcing its Grand Opening.

We stopped by and were happy to see that it's spacious and clean, and was doing quite a bit of business.  The service is still glitch-y, as it is in all new restaurants, but there were a lot of people working there, and a manager on site, so we're sure it'll straighten itself out soon.

The hours are 10am to 10pm.  We wish them success and hope their presence brings some stability to what has been a very iffy strip mall.

Whoa.... Aldermen Go After Conditions In Cubicle Hotels

According to an article in the Sun-Times, Brendan Reilly and James Cappleman say that cubicle hotels, such as Uptown's Wilson Men's Club, are archaic relics of another era, and unfit for humans.

They are looking for improved conditions in the only two cubicle hotels left in the city, or else closure.

* * * * * *

"Cubicle hotels — the last vestiges of Chicago’s “Skid Row”-era — would be forced to shut down or improve living conditions “not fit for human beings,” under a crackdown proposed this week by a pair of aldermen.

Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), whose newly re-drawn ward is literally on the border of the Ewing Annex Hotel, 422-26 S. Clark, and Ald. James Cappleman (46th), whose Uptown ward includes the Wilson Club Men’s Hotel, 1224 W. Wilson, want to eliminate the archaic section of Chicago’s zoning ordinance that somehow still allows cubicle hotels."

We urge you to read the article describing the conditions inside the cubicle hotels:  chicken-wire ceilings, plaster board partial walls, one toilet shared by 20 people, no air conditioning.  It's horrifying.   Reilly says, "Average Chicagoans wouldn’t want to house their dogs in this type of facility" and Cappleman adds,  "For some reason, these two buildings escaped having to abide by the same standards as the rest of the city. It’s just not fair. I want them to have the same standards as the rest of the city."

Read the article.  It's our opinion that people demanding more affordable housing in Uptown, as ONE is, would better serve those whose causes they champion, if instead they demanded that the owners of the existing affordable housing provide humane and safe conditions for their clientele.

Perhaps Wilson Club owner Jay Bomberg saw the handwriting on the wall, and that's why he commissioned a study of "alternative uses and exterior upgrades" from local architects MDT?

Former TCF Bank / Wilson Avenue Theater Sold

The former Wilson Avenue Theater/TCF Bank at 1050 W Wilson has been empty since autumn 2011, and on the market longer than that, but this week it was bought for $625,000 by Cedar Street Co., the developers behind FLATS.

We had nightmare visions of the century-old theater clad in a coat of battleship grey paint, but it seems instead that it's been bought as an investment while real estate prices are reasonable.  According to Illinois Real Estate Journal,

"Cedar Street Co. has acquired 1050 W. Wilson in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. The building was purchased for $625,000 and financed by First Bank & Trust Co. of Illinois.

Located at the corner of Wilson and Kenmore avenues, the three-story, 15,000-square-foot building on .23 acres was built in 1908 and is a large part of Uptown’s historic landscape once being a theatre and bank. Cedar Street Co. is seeking to secure a unique tenant that not only respects the grandeur of the space, but also adds value to the Uptown community."

For those concerned with the pace of construction of the FLATS buildings around Uptown, the article goes on to talk about some refinancing Cedar Street has done to advance the FLATS Chicago development process.

See The Young Playwrights Festival This Weekend

click to enlarge

Homegrown Uptown theater at a discount.

More 2 for 1 tickets are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Don't miss thus professional production of winning one-act plays written by the next generation of writers for the stage. Either purchase your ticket by clicking below and we'll honor 2 for 1 at the box office; or purchase online and enter the code "SCRIBE".

REGULAR TICKET PRICES: $15 students; $18 seniors; $25 adults.

www.pegasusplayers.org
For discount tickets, click here.

Owls Of Illinois Exhibit Draws Rave Reviews

The Tribune had an article yesterday about the ongoing exhibit at the Peggy Notebaert featuring the photos of Jerry Goldner, who has taken so many wonderful photos in Uptown of the snowy owls and the peregrine falcons:

The museum recently unveiled "Owls of Illinois," an exhibit by wildlife photographer and owl aficionado Jerry Goldner, of Evanston.

All are in a setting that offers the opportunity to see art, and then experience it by walking outside.

Goldner's pictures are dramatic, large-scale images of owls he has seen in the Chicago area. They range from the snowy owl that drew crowds to the lakefront in 2011 and 2012 to the rare burrowing owl that Goldner has seen only once, when he took the picture that is in the exhibit.

The pictures are beautiful, but Goldner's aim is also to inform the public about owls. "People don't realize there are so many different species in Illinois," he said.

"Owls are the most elusive, the most difficult to photograph, the most sought after in the birding world, and the most beautiful to me," he said. "I just love their look."

Thursdays are "Pay What You Can" day at the museum, so come on down and see the nature that's literally right in our own back yard.  The exhibit runs through April.

Car Break-Ins : Be On The Lookout

A reader wrote that last night he was walking on Buena, between Sheridan and Broadway, when he saw some cars being broken into along the street, which was well-lit.  He called 911 immediately, as soon as he was out of their sight, but the thieves left in a hurry once they knew they had been spotted.

Please stay aware of your surroundings, as your neighbor did, and call 911 if you see anything suspicious.  This happened right across from Bar On Buena, which still had people in it, so don't think "oh, it's nothing" just because there are people around.

This is what tripped our reader's Spidey sense:  "I saw a dark colored minivan (with first three numbers on plate being N65) extremely closely double-parked next to 2 parked cars. As I walked closer, what I thought might have been happening was proven true. 3-4 black males with tools in hand moving very quickly breaking into cars. I made straight eye contact with one of the men. I was on the same side of the street as them! They quickly continued their business and sped off like a bat outta hell, so to speak."

A reminder:  If you are a victim of a crime, make a police report.  The cops can't be aware of crime patterns if no one lets them know what's going on.  You may not get your stuff back, but the police can be on alert if they are notified about what's going on.  And, of course, don't leave anything "enticing" in your car, like a purse, a shopping bag, or cash.

Danstock Fundraising Concert

A long-time Uptowner, Dan Stock, a producer at Uptown Recording and a musician himself, is losing his battle with melanoma.  Friends have organized a fundraiser, "Danstock," to fight melanoma so that future generations won't lose their loved ones to the disease, as Dan's family is losing him.  The fundraiser was his idea.

Chicago’s music community is coming together to help fight cancer with a rock concert benefiting melanoma research at the Lurie Cancer Center. The aptly named DANSTOCK Concert will feature four bands who Stock produced albums for at Uptown Recording.

• WHO: Board of Governors, Farkus, Nature Show and Carta Marina
• WHEN: Thursday, February 7, 2013 (Doors open at 6 p.m. with bands starting at 8 p.m.)
• WHERE: Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln Ave
• ADMISSION: $20 for general admission, $100 for VIP section including food and beverage
• TICKETS: http://lincolnhallchicago.com/Shows/02-07-2013+Danstock

You can read more about Danstock on Facebook, or make a donation to the Lurie Cancer Center here (click on the “Additional Feinberg Designations” drop-down box, and scroll down to melanoma research).

Breaking: Hotel Chateau SOLD

From a 46th Ward Email Blast:

"Greetings!

The property located at 3838 N. Broadway (commonly known as the Chateau Hotel)  has been sold to a local group of investors and is being held in a land trust. More details about the new owners will be shared at the housing court hearing on January 29th at 11:00 a.m.

Last year, I asked the City of Chicago to conduct a series of inspections that led to over one hundred building code violations. Concerns with violent crime, loitering, drug dealing, and public intoxication were also common in and around the property.

I organized meetings with residents of the Chateau Hotel, community members, and local housing organizations requesting better management of the property owner. Unfortunately, the property owner was not responsive to the community's concerns. To view a copy of his letter to me, click here. 

When I took office, one of my top priorities was to increase public safety for the residents that live in and around Chateau Hotel. This sends a clear message to other building owners in the 46th Ward that we require a safe environment for their residents and the surrounding community. Everyone deserves a safe and secure home. I will be working with the new owners and the current residents to address their concerns about housing.

Best,

Ald. James Cappleman"