Just A Little Different

Congratulations, Uptown, you've weathered a 101-degree temperature shift in less than three months. Tomorrow?  A week from now?  A month from now?  Impossible to predict.  Enjoy the beautiful day today.  We've earned it.

Broadway Streetscaping Meeting Next Thursday

Broadway looking north, from Leland (courtesy Google Streetview)

From Ald. Cappleman's latest newsletter:

"One fact that surprised me during our research for the 46th Ward Master Plan was that many residents were leaving the Ward to do most of their shopping. We found this was the case across all the different economic groups within the Ward. Given that close to half of the residents in the Ward don't own cars, it was clear that there was an opportunity for more retail and more retail brings jobs.

To encourage more economic activity, we will be embarking on a major streetscaping project on Broadway from Gunnison to Wilson Avenue. It is important to me that our plans are "less car-centric" and more focused on all of the many different types of transportation that residents use... from cars to bikes, walking,  wheelchairs, and these days, more baby strollers. To learn about "complete streets", click here.

We Need Your Opinion!  There will be a public meeting to show you a number of different ideas to encourage more business development, from a proposed plaza in front of the Riviera to different types of lighting along the street. We will be opening the former Borders Building for this meeting so that people can get a first-hand look at the site where many of the proposals will be.

When: Thursday, April 10th from 6pm - 7pm
Where: Former Borders Building at 4718 N. Broadway

With all of the exciting developments that are happening in this area, it's more important than ever that we plan well. Your input will help point us in the right direction."

Foster/Sheridan Mariano's Still Hiring; Job Fair April 3rd

If you're looking for a retail or food service job, there's still time to get one close to home.  Ald. Osterman sent out an email Sunday:

Dear Neighbor,  

Mariano's will host a second career fair to hire more people for the new Edgewater store, opening in April 2014. The career fair will take place this Thursday, April 3 from 10am - 6pm at the Edgewater Mariano's, 5201 N. Sheridan Road (Foster and Sheridan.) 

Applicants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a recruiter. Mariano's welcomes both experienced and entry-level candidates with a knack for excellent customer service. Both full-time and part-time positions are available.

Bogus Parking Attendants Run Scam In Church Lot

The Tribune reports the Uptown equivalent of selling the Brooklyn Bridge:

Two Chicago men were arrested Saturday after they were caught selling parking spaces at an Uptown church for patrons attending an event at the nearby Aragon Ballroom, according to police and prosecutors.

A concerned citizen first alerted Chicago police to the fraudulent parking space sales going on at St. Thomas of Canterbury church in the 4800 block of North Kenmore Avenue, according to Cook County court documents.

Police saw Cornelius Upshaw, 54,  waving two cars into the church’s lot for $20 a pop, according to court records.

This has also happened at the Christopher House parking lot at Winthrop and Leland, where "parking attendants" have been known to cut the lock off, put on orange vests, and start waving in cars before concerts.

If you see something like this happening, give 911 a call, like the "concerned citizen" in the Trib's story.

La Ciudad Vandalized

A reader told us some infuriating news about one of our favorite local places:

"The Mexican restaurant La Ciudad on Sheridan and Windsor had its front windows smashed on Friday by thugs with a baseball bat. It might be nice to let people know this so they can support them."

We can't imagine why someone would target this place, unless they have a problem with great food and outstanding service. Hugo and Armando have been bringing both to Uptown since 2009.  They've always made customers feel warmly welcomed, which makes this act of senseless violence even more shocking.

If you've enjoyed eating at La Ciudad, you might consider stopping by for a meal soon to help make up for the cost of replacing the windows, and help the owners and staff feel some love from the community.

We hope the thugs who did this are caught soon, if they haven't been already.

If You're Parked On Lawrence Near Beacon ....

... better check your car.

A neighbor took these photos of an accident that happened earlier tonight involving some of the cars parked on the south side of Lawrence.  There's extensive damage to several parked cars, but the cops were on the scene and there were notes left on the windshields of several of them.

The reader says, "Strange accident in the corner of Beacon and Lawrence. Doesn't look like anyone has seen their cars yet, as the letters on the windshields are still there and from the Chicago PD. I just saw these around 9pm tonight. Not sure when this happened.

No one around, just looked like it happened awhile ago. The car that is facing the wrong way is missing its driver's side window and the airbags are deployed.  Must have been one more car between the red one and the other 3, but there are 3 smooshed into each other to some degree."

If one of these is yours, we're sorry you're finding out this way, but both the person who saw the cars and we thought it would be better to find out before you went down to drive to work or your next destination.

Brunch Deal For UU Readers At Razon Today

Razon is offering a brunch offer today for UU readers.  Mention Uptown Update and "like" Razon's Facebook page, and get an entree and mimosa for $12.

Razon is located in Imperial Towers at 4250 N Marine Drive.  Its Facebook page is here.  We're hearing good things about the brunch and the new chef!

Scam Alert! ComEd and Peoples Gas "Workers" Asking For Cash

But wait, there's more!

"As ComEd continues to deploy more than four million smart meters for customers throughout its service territory, the utility is warning customers to be on the alert for scam artists seeking a deposit payment before a smart meter can be installed. There is no such requirement as part of the smart meter deployment process.

This latest scam follows other reported attempts to deceive customers by claiming to be representatives of ComEd. These other scam attempts, sometimes conducted door-to-door, include variations of telling customers that: their service will be disconnected unless payment is made; the billing cycle has changed and payment is needed immediately; the account is past due and immediate payment is required to avoid disconnection; and that previous payments were not accepted or processed. The scam artists request these "payments" in a variety of forms, including instructing customers to buy a prepaid credit card and call back with the personal identification number (PIN)."

Petition Asks Park District To Keep Montrose Dog Beach Safe For Everyone

Photo courtesy of Xetark, at Flickr

The patrons of Montrose Dog Beach (Mondog Beach) are gathering online signatures on a petition directed to the Chicago Park District asking for the beach to be maintained for safety's sake. They claim that the sand on the beach has drifted and eroded, making it possible for dogs to escape over the barriers to the "people beach" and into traffic, making the beaches unsafe for everyone.

The petition states, in part, "Bulldozers are desperately needed to level the sand and move it away from the exterior barrier walls, as done in previous years - and then maintained. They should be high enough that even the largest dogs cannot scale the walls."

If you'd like to sign the petition to ask the Park District to maintain the sand levels at the beach, keeping the dogs away from bathers and traffic, you can find it here.  They are seeking 1,000 signatures.

Update:  On April 18, the originator of the petition sent this message -- "The Chicago Park District has pulled through! Thank you everyone for helping to get this task accomplished. As of yesterday they have leveled most of the sand and 1/3 of the fencing has been repaired. 2/3 to go says Kenneth at the Park District. And it should be done by the end of next week. Thank you again for your support. As the summer progresses, please keep emailing the park district if you can, as I am sure they will need a nudge to continue maintenance to keep our dogs safe."

Join the Puptown Advisory Council!

Looking for a fun opportunity to volunteer in your community and meet new friends? Puptown Dog Park is looking for people with all sorts of talents and interests to help guide and maintain the park.

If you love dogs, enjoy gardening or landscaping, love to tool around with graphic design and social media, have fun planning events, or have a secret lust for running a power washer, we need you! You can join a committee or just lend a hand.

Like all officially sanctioned dog friendly areas in Chicago, Puptown is solely dependent on volunteers to maintain and fund the park. The City provides no resources.

To learn more, please come to the meeting on Monday, March 31, at 7 pm at Margate Park Fieldhouse, 4921 N Marine Drive. Come! Sit! Stay!

Cash Rewards Offered For Two Bank Robbers

Update: The "Benchwarmer Bandit" robbed another bank Saturday, March 29th. This one was a Chase Bank near Ashland and Belmont. If you know him, pick up some easy money by calling the FBI!

"Benchwarmer Bandit"

"Shady Lady"

Better odds than the lottery!  TCF Bank is offering cash rewards for information leading to the conviction of two separate bank robbers who are going up and down the North Side between Diversey and Berwyn robbing TCF branches located in Jewel stores.  The "Shady Lady" has hit banks in Edgewater, Uptown and Lakeview and she's worth $10 grand.  The "Benchwarmer Bandit" has hit three banks in the past ten days or so, from Uptown to Lincoln Park, and is worth $5 grand.

If you can identify either of them, call the FBI at 312-421-6700 or 911.  Chances are they're local to the area.  If you get the reward, you'll walk away with more money than either of them has gotten from TCF, and you don't have to spend any time at the Greybar Hotel to earn it.

CBS has a story on their recent crime spree, with some filming done at the Jewel at Broadway and Montrose, which has been robbed by each of them.

Update On Proposed Self-Storage Building at 5026-5030 Sheridan

View of street-level "art box" and curb setback

Current architectural rendering

previous architectural rendering

From Ald. Osterman's weekly newsletter:

"In late 2013, a company called Safeguard Storage Properties applied for a permit to build a 6 story, 52,000 sq. ft. building, within right under the current zoning of B3-5. The proposed building would have access from both the front and rear alley.

After working with my office and the community, the new proposal now has no access from the alley, the building has been pushed to the rear property line with additional lighting and security cameras over looking the alley. The new building is now 5 stories, instead of 6, with additional windows on all floors, resembling a loft looking building.

There will now be an additional 3 feet of landscaping in front facing Sheridan. There will be no illuminated signage on the facade of the building and a portion of the ground floor area will have the ability to showcase art to the community.

Thank you to the many neighbors who attended a community meeting last month and provided helpful feedback to Safeguard Self Storage.   Construction should begin later this Spring/Summer and should be ready in 2015."

Somerset Place: Original Facade To Be Restored

Really great news posted to UU's Facebook page by the owners of Somerset Place:

"The exterior of both Sheridan and Argyle will be restored to its original façade."

You may recall that the gorgeous detailed terra cotta arches that were part of the 1920 design of Somerset Place (5009 N Sheridan) were lost over time, and briefly revealed during the 2009 renovations, then promptly plastered over again:

Original windows revealed during the 2009 renovation (by Roderick Reves)

During the 2009 renovation (by Roderick Reves)

And then plastered over to put up mismatched brick.

They were again revealed during the current renovation, revealed in a post this past weekend.  Hearing that they will be restored to how they looked nearly a century ago is great news.

You can follow the restoration on Zidane Management's Somerset Place Apartments website or Facebook page.

Drunk Driver Who Killed Elderly Uptowner Has Been Sentenced

Many of us remember the terrible incident in November 2012 in which 87-year-old Uptown resident Wayne Davis was hit by a car driven by an intoxicated motorist.  Mr. Davis had just greeted a friend at Broadway and Lawrence, and was crossing the street to have breakfast at the pancake house, when he was struck by a car driven by 26-year-old Michael Izeta, who attempted to drive away from the scene of the crime.  Luckily, there was a police car right there, and Mr. Izeta was apprehended and taken into custody.

Sadly, Mr. Davis, who was well-known to many and a resident of Friendly Towers on Wilson, passed away from his injuries three weeks later.

We heard from the 19th District Court Advocates about his case:

"We've been following the case of Michael Izeta in the death of Wayne Davis. Tonight at our monthly meeting we heard it wrapped up early this month. Izeta was found guilty of failure to report an accident resulting in death (five years) and aggravated DUI resulting in an accident or death (eleven years). We weren't in the courtroom for sentencing, so I don't know how it all adds up. His projected parole date is July 9, 2024. He'll have a good long time to think about Wayne Davis' death. He's been incarcerated since November 2012. He had a history of DUI and was driving on a suspended license."

Many people wrote to UU expressing their grief over Mr. Davis's death.  One was from his former roommate: "He was the kindest man you would ever meet. Happy and cheerful and used a vocabulary from the 1920s which made him eccentric. ... I am so sad to hear of the occurrence as his health in general was fantastic and he would of made it to 100 easy. God rest in peace Sir Wayne."

UU's previous stories about this case are here, here, here and here.

Free Screening: The Power of Forgiveness

Please join Treasures of Uptown for a free screening of the film, The Power of Forgiveness, followed by refreshments and discussion. This event will be facilitated by Rev. Jacki Belile, an American Baptist minister and spiritual life coach who is a member of the Treasures of Uptown team. Jacki has been teaching and coaching on forgiveness for twenty years and is the author of the forthcoming book, Forgive for Life: Finding the Way Forward.

This event will be held in Molly's Cafe at The Peoples Church of Chicago on Sunday, April 6th at 2pm. Please see the full flyer posted below for additional details, or visit www.thepowerofforgiveness.com for more information about the film. The Facebook event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/1400385456897910/."

103 Citations In 8 Hours

That DUI Strike Force in the 19th District (south of Lawrence) last week?

• Driving Under the Influence - 2
• Drivers License Violations - 7
• Unsafe Vehicle Violations - 26
• Insurance Violations - 8
• Speeding Violations - 15
• Traffic Violations (Other) - 45
• Total Citations - 103
• Other Arrests - 0 
• Vehicles Towed - 4

Calling All Bunnies!

Sunday, April 6th, is Buena Bunny Time!

Join Buena Park Neighbors for an afternoon of assembling Easter baskets for neighborhood children who might not have one otherwise.

"Our annual Buena Bunnies is scheduled for April 6th at St. Mary of the Lake Church at Buena and Sheridan.  This annual event has been a favorite for many and is a great way to meet new people and provide a happy Easter for many young children by creating fun Easter baskets.

Date:    Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 2pm
Place:  St. Mary of the Lake social hall (at the back of the church.  Come in the side door on Buena)

We will have lots of materials to work with, but we always need more.  If you can bring any of the following, it would be a big help:

• baskets, plastic grass, plastic eggs, small toys, candy, cellophane, or any item that you think would be fun to have in an Easter basket.  Cellophane to wrap the finished baskets is particularly helpful.

The finished baskets will be judged and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be announced."

A photo of last year's Bunnies:

Raise A Glass For A Class!

Discounts On Uptown Businesses

Today and tomorrow, three Uptown businesses will be featured in Ald. Osterman's "shop local during March" promotion.  (We're running the daily deals in our sidebar as well.)

Today:

• City Olive. 10% off and FREE mini whisk with Purchase of Oil. 5644 N. Clark
• Foursided. $25 off any new custom framing order over $100.  5061 N. Clark
• Demera Ethiopian Restaurant. 25% off an entrée. 4801 N. Broadway

Wednesday, March 26:

• Sifu Design Studio. 15% off purchase of $50 or more. 6054 N. Broadway
• Li'l Buds Theatre Company. $75 off one week full day Edgewater summer theatre camp. Email lilbudstheatre@gmail.com to purchase
• Fat Cat. 25% off entrée OR 10% off sandwich. The Wednesday Special (Mussels, one pound for $10) is delicious, but the discount doesn't apply.  4840 N. Broadway

Chicago, Circa 1945

A few weeks ago, a 1940s-era 32-minute film extolling the virtues of Chicago came to light.  If you haven't had a chance to look at it, you really should make the time.  There's not a lot of Uptown in it, but it's startling how many scenes around the city look familiar, and how many are unrecognizable:

• A beautiful waterfront and skyline -- without the Sears Tower, the John Hancock, or the Aon Building.
• Winding, busy Lake Shore Drive -- pedestrians walking calmly along the sidewalks just three feet from the cars with no barrier to protect them.  
• Personally, the biggest change for us was hearing Chicago boasted about as a manufacturing and production mecca, showing massive factories on the West Side, the South Side steel plants, and the unforgettable visual of thousands of penned animals awaiting their fate at the stockyards.

Aside from Montrose Beach scenes near the end (strangely done minus narration), the only Uptown scene shown is the corner of Lawrence and Broadway, described as an "outlying shopping district." You can see the building we know as the Broadway Grill advertising "LOANS" with a Santa Fe Railroad billboard on top of it.  You can see the Uptown Theater's roof marquee (long gone). The familiar shape of the Bridgeview Bank is there, but there are shops where we now see drive-through banking.  There appears to be a dance hall sign where La Fiesta Mexicana is now.  It's very brief, around the 15:50 mark.

You can see the film on Vimeo, and read about it in The Atlantic.  It's a rare opportunity to experience Chicago as we would have if we'd lived right where we do now, but 70 years ago.

Closer... Closer...

We don't have an opening date yet for the Foster/Sheridan Mariano's, but every day brings it closer.  Today a reader saw the signage being put in place.

Calling All Thespians

"THE LIVING NEWS PROJECT is holding AUDITIONS for a staged reading of SHELTER/CHICAGO

Director: Lisa DiFranza

SHELTER/CHICAGO looks beneath headlines about homelessness by entering the worlds of the men, women and children living on Chicago streets. It invites audiences to question the role of the media, and the roles we play, as citizens.

SHELTER/CHICAGO is based on “Living Newspapers” of the 1930s, multi-media productions that dared to challenge audiences to grapple with issues of the day.

• Looking for adult actors of all races, ages and ethnicities to read in a staged reading. 
• Also looking for African-American children that can read, ages 11-15. Small stipend.
• Auditions: Monday March 31, April 1, and April 2
  5:30-8:30 pm at 600 S Michigan
• Must be available for approx. 8 rehearsals, including the weekend of April 25th, and two performances, Monday, April 28th at 5 pm at Cornerstone homeless shelter,  & Tuesday, April 29th at 5:30 – at The Chicago Cultural Center

For an audition slot, contact freddymay.abisamra@loop.colum.edu"

This has been an evolving work by Uptowner Lisa DiFranza for several years.  You can check out our previous coverage here and here.  Good luck to all who audition!

Ravenswood Mariano's Still Hiring; Opening Date Is April 8th

According to the sign outside the Lawrence/Ravenswood Mariano's, they are still hiring for all departments and positions and will hold job fairs on Thursday, March 27th and Saturday, March 31st, between 10am and 6pm.

The Mariano's website confirms that Opening Day will be Tuesday, April 8th, at 6am.

As for the Uptown/Edgewater location at Foster and Lawrence, it says the opening day will be announced soon.

So Ravenswood definitely wins the Race of the New Mariano's.  Can't wait to have both of them open.

Street Cleaning Starts In Two Weeks

A sign of the past?

Finally! There are signs this awful winter is nearly over. You can park your car next to the curb again, not next to three feet of solid ice. The daylight lasts slightly longer than the dark hours. And street cleaning begins in April, to get rid of the crud and muck that have collected on our streets.

We're not naive enough to think there won't be more snow or cold, but we will welcome the street cleaners with open arms.

Depending on where you are in Uptown, your streets will get cleaned different days.  Here are the schedules for the 46th Ward, the 47th Ward, and the 48th Ward.

Important note!  Ald. Cappleman's office says: "Starting in April, residents that park on the street will need to be mindful of the orange-colored temporary street sweeping signs. Vehicles not moved are subject to getting towed. ... In addition, the permanent signs we've had for years in the residential sections of the Ward were recently removed due to the City of Chicago Law Department's suggestion based on confusing wording about enforcement."

Another important note!  To avoid a surprise, sign up for SweepAround.Us.  You can choose to get an email or text reminding you that street cleaning is coming, and it's completely free (unless you get charged per text message received).  Especially with the permanent signs taken down, it may save you an expensive ticket or tow.

Got Room In Your Shopping Cart for Kleenex or Notebook Paper? Friends of 46th Ward Schools Could Use Your Help

Friends of the 46th Ward Schools ask that you think of them next time you're out shopping and if you can afford to throw an extra item or two in the shopping cart, they'd love to have it for the kids and teachers to round out the school year.

"Spring Fundraiser.  We will be having another fundraiser at Crew Bar & Grill (4804 N. Broadway) on Thursday, April 3 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  More information on raffle prizes and drink Facebook page and website as we solidify them.  We'd love to have you join us and help us raise funds for school supplies for the students and teachers in our ward!  We had a great time meeting our neighbors, parents, teachers, and friends at our fall fundraiser and we're looking forward to another evening of good conversation and support.
specials will be posted on our

100th Day of School Re-supply Drive.  We've received many donations of supplies so far and we're still going strong!  All supply donations can be dropped off at Alderman Cappleman's office (4544 N. Broadway) through April 11 (right before spring break starts at our schools).  Here is a list of the most-needed supplies:

• copy paper
• facial tissue/Kleenex
• paper towels
• glue sticks
• looseleaf paper
• dry erase markers
• spiral or composition notebooks
• hand sanitizer
• Clorox wipes

You can also donate directly to Friends of the 46th Ward Schools via the Paypal link on our website and we will do the shopping for you.  Or you can easily shop off of our Amazon Wish List and the items will ship directly to Alderman Cappleman's office.

We thank you in advance for your continued support of the students and teachers in the 46th Ward.  We love the work that we are doing and we are consistently overwhelmed by the generosity of the people in our community!"

Grounded! But You Can Help Restore It

The symbolic Andersonville water tower now inhabits the parking lot of the Swedish American Museum, at Ashland and Foster.  If you'd like to help contribute to its restoration and safe replacement, you can do so through Groupon, which is holding a grassroots campaign to save it.  Click here for the details.

A Glimpse of Somerset's Gilded Past

Seeing it now, it's hard to believe that the Somerset, at Argyle and Sheridan, was once one of the most beautiful buildings in Uptown.  When it was built in 1920, Jazz Age Chicago says

It was designed by owner-architect Samuel N. Crowen and contained a total of 441 fully-furnished rooms arranged in 205 suites of one to four rooms each. One-room suites contained a living room, dressing room, and bath without dining facilities, while larger apartments included a sun parlor, separate bedroom, and dining room with kitchenette. All rooms were completely and luxuriously furnished. Opening-year advertisements promoted the hotel as both an "exclusive summer resort" and a year-round residential hotel. One described the hotel as "the ideal dwelling place for those desiring the homelike atmosphere and privacy of an apartment combined with all the modern conveniences of a hotel."

The magnificent terra cotta entrance way (shown here -- it's worth clicking, trust me) disappeared somewhere over time. 

The horrible mismatched-brick refacing in 2009 stripped any character that was left in the building, even blocking the remnants of the once-beautiful windows.  The saddest part is, it was all for nothing:  the facility got into trouble with the Feds and was closed for good in 2010.

With the recent work going on that is returning it to its original use as an apartment building, a reader discovered that one of the windows of the original building has been revealed once more.  A century ago, this was new construction in Uptown.  

We are lucky to have so many buildings that give us a glimpse of that era, thanks to preservationists and developers with deep pockets.  The Uptown Broadway Building, the former Borders, Bridgeview Bank, and the Bank of America building at Lawrence and Sheridan have been restored to much of their former glory.  As for the Somerset, enjoy what has been revealed.  It's like a peek through the keyhole at what used to be there.

Deals All Day At Shake Rattle & Read

As part of Ald. Osterman's "Shop Local" March month of bargains, Saturday is Shake Rattle & Read's time to shine.

Saturday only, it's 48% off all books and magazines, and 25% of all "record LPs."

As always, you can visit Shake Rattle & Read between noon and 6pm, located right next door to the Uptown Theater.

TCF At Montrose Jewel Robbed

According to the Tribune, a bank robber held up the TCF Bank inside the Jewel at Montrose and Sheridan this morning around 9:10am. It was not the lady in sunglasses who's been going between Lakeview and Edgewater holding up TCFs. You can see the Trib story here.

Update:  The FBI says it happened at 9:02am and it was the same guy (pictured) who robbed the TCF on Broadway at Addison in Lakeview a couple days ago.  He's between 5'9" and 6' with a slim build, is described as Hispanic, and has brown hair and brown eyes.  He seems to be following the same pattern as the "Shady Lady" who's been robbing the same banks.  Wonder if they're in cahoots now that she's well-known?

If you have any information, please call 911 or the FBI at 312-421-6700.  There's a cash reward for information leading to his arrest and capture.

Mural Ideas Needed For Lawrence & Wilson Viaducts

From Ald. Cappleman's latest newsletter:
"For 2014, I want your input for murals that can go under the Wilson and Lawrence Avenue viaducts along Lake Shore Drive. The State of Illinois has plans for rebuilding these bridges, but we expect it will take several more years for that funding to be released. Speaking for all of us, it can't start soon enough.

During this waiting period, I have budgeted to have these 2 viaducts scraped and repainted and I'll add some brighter lighting as well. To make this area more welcoming, I will be releasing additional funds to pay for murals to be installed along these 2 viaducts. I will also be seeking funds from individuals and corporations to assist with this exciting project.

These murals will last until the State of Illinois is able to release funding for the major repairs that are needed for these bridges. Besides serving as a way of welcoming anyone who enters the ward through Lake Shore Drive, these murals will set the tone for entering into the Entertainment District for Chicago's Northside, which will be a huge economic boost to the Ward and the entire region.

The Lawrence viaduct at Lake Shore Drive

Next steps: 
Give us your ideas for murals at these 2 sites: Feel free to email or better yet, stop by during open office hours to give us your ideas for a mural by May 1st.

Murals with simple designs that have celebratory themes are encouraged.

Uptown United will work with my office to select 4 of the entries and we will then give you a chance to vote on the murals for these two viaducts. After the murals have been chosen, I will work with the City to select artists and high school students to paint the murals on the viaducts.

There are many creative people in this ward, so I can't wait to see your ideas."

Andersonville Water Tower's Last Day

A view of the removal of the water tower at Foster and Clark, from a reader working at Lawrence and Broadway.  Thanks, KB!

DUI Strike Force In Uptown This Saturday

Another reason not to get behind the wheel impaired:  The Chicago Police DUI Strike Force will be in the 19th District between 8pm Saturday and 4am Sunday.  Roving bands of officers will be out looking for signs of impaired driving, and also will be writing citations for violations related to speeding, lack of insurance, carrying open containers, and not wearing seat belts.

If you're pulled over and suspected of being under the influence, you'll be invited to visit the Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Mobile Unit, which makes it faster for the cops to charge you with DUI and take you to the lockup.

The 19th District is bordered by Lawrence, the lake, Fullerton, and the Chicago River.

Water Tower Coming Down; Clark Street To Be Closed Thursday

Today is the end of an era for Andersonville, as the water tower on top of the Swedish-American Museum, located just north of Foster on Clark Street, is removed, probably permanently.

It's unfortunate from a historical point of view (it's been up there since 1927), and also from a traffic point of view.  Be advised that if you attempt to travel on surface streets in the Foster/Clark area, you're likely to hit some gridlock.  We imagine that pedestrian traffic, especially on the east side of the street, will be restricted as well due to safety concerns.

Harry Osterman sent out this message Wednesday evening:

"Below is an update from the Swedish American Museum regarding the Andersonville Water Tower. Please be aware of tomorrow's street closure and plan accordingly. The collective goal of the Swedish American Museum, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, the 48th Ward office and community members is to see the water tower preserved. It is yet to be determined if it can be repaired and we will share more information as it becomes available.

Sincerely,
Harry Osterman, Alderman, 48th Ward"

---

"As many of you have heard from the news and media, the water tower tank on the roof of the Swedish American Museum has sustained severe damage due to the extreme winter weather we experienced this year. As a result, we need to remove the tank from the roof immediately.

The removal is planned for Thursday, March 20, starting at 6 a.m.  This is a process that most likely will take all day. During a portion of the removal we are asking that the street be completely closed off to through traffic. Though we hope it will be possible to keep one lane open for most of the time, we do not know at this point if that is going to be possible. The street closure will be for the 5200 block of North Clark Street. North bound traffic on Ashland and Glenwood will not be affected.

Our main concern is safety for all. We understand that this will be an inconvenience for everyone in the Andersonville area and hope that you will work with us as we work to ameliorate the situation in the safest and fastest way possible.

We thank you for your support and understanding during this ordeal. We are doing everything we can at this time to repair the water tank so that it may remain in the neighborhood, but if the worst happens we will find a new iconic way to honor the Swedish heritage of Andersonville with the support of neighbors and friends like you."

- Karin Moen Abercrombie, Executive Director"

Ne:wa -- No:more?

It was just about a year ago (March 20, 2013), when UU broke the story about a new Nepalese restaurant opening on Clark Street.  The news got picked up by a lot of local blogs, particularly the foodie press.

Ne:wa had a website with photos of their food, and a Facebook page showing the interior.  We were very much looking forward to sampling their food.  They had hoped to open in July, but didn't.  They did open briefly for the Taste of Andersonville Dinner Crawl in August.

Then nothing.  We've been checking back intermittently to see what, if any, progress has been made and if there's an opening date.

Today when we checked:  No website.  No Facebook page.  Twitter site hasn't been updated in six months.

Draw whatever conclusions you'd like from that, but we're sorry to see someone's dreams and hopes not come to fruition.  We'd looked forward to seeing them open and adding to the diversity of our community.

Update:  We heard from someone close to the situation and it's a horrible story.  The owners of Ne:wa hired someone to act as an "expeditor," to get them through the permitting and build-out phase of opening a new restaurant.  As we've seen time and again, it's an arduous process, full of red tape, inspections and delays. Apparently they were nearly done with the build-out and on the verge of opening when -- you guessed it -- the "expeditor" disappeared.  As our source says, "He basically robbed them of all their money ... and [they] didn't even pass all of their inspections." Heartbreaking for the owners who got so close to seeing their dream realized, only to see it stolen from them.  The storefront sits abandoned and the restaurant's owners cannot be contacted.

We're posting this to get it on the record. If you are opening a business and someone approaches you promising to take care of everything, don't give him access to your funds. Pay as you go. Check references. And if someone says that they were involved with guiding Ne:wa through the permitting process, run away and change your passwords!

Date Change For Chase Park Dodgeball

Please note the date change from this weekend to April 5th.

Street Dedication To Uptown Hip-Hop Artist Today

From Ald. Osterman:

"This week I will join the family and friends of John "Vietnam" Nguyen to dedicate Winthrop from Argyle to Winona in his honor. Signs will be installed to commemorate John and the ceremony will be held March 19 at 3:00pm at Winthrop and Winona.

John Nguyen's profile photo
from his Facebook page

John Vietnam Nguyen was born in Chicago on March 13, 1993. He attended McCutcheon and Goudy Elementary and Lane Tech High School. He received a First Wave (hip-hop) scholarship to the University of Wisconsin in Madison which he was currently attending when he tragically drowned saving the life of a friend in Lake Mendota on August 30, 2012. He was 19 years of age.  

He was majoring in Marketing, but his passion was hip-hop. He defined it as expression, therapy and resistance rooted in the hip-hop culture and his focus was to raise cultural awareness and to address social issues to provoke thought. He volunteered and worked in various local community organizations such as Kuumba Lynx, Multi Cultural Youth Project (MCYP), Connect Force, Alternatives, and Chinese Mutual Aid Association, which nurtured his passion for the synergy between arts, academics and activism.  

John is an example of a youth who impacted our community and those around him. We are honored to celebrate him and his life."

Mary Schmich in the Tribune has an article about John's family and legacy.

Get Out There And Vote

It's primary day in Illinois.

Polls are open between 6am and 7pm, and the weather looks to be decent, so get out there and cast your ballot.

If you don't know where to vote, you can find your polling place here.  You can also see the Republican, Democratic and non-partisan sample ballots there as well.

There are some judicial races up for grabs, so you can check out the endorsement for judges at www.VoteForJudges.org, which consolidates the opinions of the various bar associations.

You don't need an ID to vote on Election Day, but it's not a bad idea to bring it with you anyway, just in case your right to vote is challenged.

Reminder:  the poll judges only do this every few years, and quite a few of them are doing it for the first time today, so try to be patient with them if it seems like they're taking a long time to get you through the process.  It's a long day for them, and they'll appreciate patience and a smile.