Entertainment Tonight (Drum Circles, FacePainting and Spock)

• Tonight is the fourth week of the season for the Argyle Night Market, and the entertainment begins right at 5pm, with a drum circle at Sheridan.  Later, the Fruit Flies will perform!  There will be face painting for kids between 5:30 and 7:30.  More about the Night Market can be found here.
• At 8:30, boldly go to Margate Park Fieldhouse (4921 N Marine Drive) for Star Trek: Into Darkness as part of the Movies in the Park programming.

Sense8 Filming At The Aragon Today

click to enlarge

The new Netflix series Sense8 is filming today around the area of the Aragon.  Click on the notice to the left for parking restrictions.

Remember that a car chase under the L tracks is supposed to shoot along the alley behind Kenmore between Irving Park and Buena during the next couple days as well.

Tuesday: The Return of Helen Shiller To City Government? (Updated)

For those who still follow the exploits of former 46th Ward alderman Helen Shiller, here's a little tutorial on how Chicago works.  You can have a horrible job interview, you can be considered far from the best candidate for a job, but if you've worked with the people who are voting, they'll probably give you the job over better-qualified candidates.

Ms. Shiller has been pressing hard since at least last December to become the City Council Financial Analyst.  It's a newly created position for someone to analyze data for the aldermen, an office created to avoid another instance of the City Council voting for another lousy deal like the parking meters.  It pays $107K a year, more than she ever made as alderman, and presumably more than she's currently making as a lobbyist.  The office of financial oversight is the brainchild and baby of one of Uptown's three aldermen, Ameya Pawar of the 47th Ward.

According to the source who spoke with the Sun-Times, when it came time to interview with the selection committee, Ms. Shiller "rambled" (anyone surprised?)  Others of the nine or ten candidates for the job were far more specific about how they would approach their duties, according to the Sun-Times.  Some people think a former alderman shouldn't have the job, and that it should go to someone fresh, someone with no existing allegiances to City Council members.

Yet -- there are four votes needed to win the job.  And Ms. Shiller has three of them in hand.  She's got the support of her former colleagues, Alds. Carrie Austin, Ed Burke and Ray Suarez.

So tomorrow's the vote.  The other decision makers, whose votes aren't known, are Ald. Pawar (Ms. Shiller's own alderman); Ald. Pat McDowell; CTA Board Chair Carole Brown; and union leader Joe Pijanowski.

We do agree with Ald. Carrie Austin on one point:  "No one could be more expert than Helen because she knows our system. She has worked this system 20-some odd years."

Read the whole story in the Sun-Times, and see how the voting goes on Tuesday.

Previously:

• "Independent" Financial Analyst? Not So Much, Says The Sun-Times
• Shiller For City Council Financial Analyst? Sun-Times Says "The Fix Is In" & "Unwise Choice"

Update:  You didn't think there'd be anything like consensus over anything involving Helen Shiller, did you?  The selection committee is deadlocked -- three want Shiller, three want other candidates, and one said he or she will abstain from voting.  They'll be back at it in September to try to get someone chosen.

The real juicy bit is that Ald. Pawar, her own alderman, apparently has been lobbying against Ms. Shiller's fitness for the position.  And City Council doyenne Carrie Austin is livid about it.

As for the committee selection member who indicated that he or she would abstain from voting?  Wimp.  You have one job and that's to select a Financial Analyst for the City Council.  That's it.  If you can't do that, well, move on over and let someone who's willing to do that job take your seat.

Two articles of note:

• Opinion: City Council Once Again Trying to Pull Wool Over Its Own Eyes
• Deadlocked committee puts off vote on City Council budget analyst

Filming: A Car Chase Under The El Tracks

If you live near the el tracks along Kenmore between Buena and Irving, expect some excitement this weekend.  Sense8, the Netflix series guided by the Wachowski siblings (who were responsible for The Matrix, among other things) will be back in Uptown filming.

This time, it appears there will be car chase and car crash filmed under the tracks.  If you park back there, you are asked to move your car on August 1 and 2nd.  According to the notice, the production will provide temporary parking for you, but you need to get a permit from Ald. Cappleman's office, located at 4454 North Broadway.  The office is open 9 to 5 Tuesday through Friday, and 9 to 7 today.

Thank you to reader Mark Vanderah for providing this to us.

Graceland West Garden Walk On Sunday

Second Annual Sunnyside Mall Art Fair This Saturday

Join the artists and musicians of Uptown this Saturday, August 2nd, on the Sunnyside Mall for the second annual Arts Fair.  it all takes place between 9am and 3pm.

• Listen to live bluegrass, jazz and soul, courtesy of the CH3 Trio, Joyce Renee & the JK Connection.
• See and buy from local artists displaying their painting, jewelry-making, sculpture, and photography skills.

There are a few more available artist and musician slots – email us at sunnysidemall@yahoo.com to participate.

So come enjoy the music and purchase local art – it’s a brilliant event!

The Sunnyside Mall is located on Sunnyside in Sheridan Park, between Magnolia and Beacon.

Grand Opening For Aodoke Asian Bistro On Thursday

Please join Aodake Asian Bistro on Thursday, July 31st, 2014 for its

Open House/Food Sampling from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

The date was chosen by a Feng Shui expert for the best possible day.

Ribbon Cutting at 2:00pm with Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce.

If you can't make the Grand Opening, please take advantage of the soft opening going on now (menu and details here) or the Grand Opening weekend details (above).

We welcome Aodake to our community!  The website is www.aodake.com.

7 Unit Building Coming To 4627 Beacon

The western face of the 7 unit condo coming to 4627 Beacon (DesignBridge)

Looks like the excavation notice we posted for 4627 Beacon stating a single-family home would be built were incorrect. Via Ald. Cappleman's latest email blast:

"DesignBridge architect sent in plans for a residential building for the 4627 N. Beacon site. The building meets all of the underlying zoning setbacks and requirements, with seven units, seven garaged parking spaces including a handicapped space, and the required rear yard open space. These are all three bedroom/two bath units and the garden apartment is ADA accessible. All upper units will have two private outdoor spaces, while the garden apartment will have a walkout "patio." The top two units will also have roof access to a private roof deck. The required ADA access ramp has been integrated into the fence design which features a brick clad knee wall."

Positive Loitering Tonight (Weather Permitting)

Come stand with your neighbors and police officers for a safer Uptown.

from the Uptown Chicago Commission:

"Positive Loitering enters its fifth year in 2014, taking place in trouble spots in the 19th District on Friday evenings.  Tonight we will stand at the southeast corner of Wilson & Broadway, near the currency exchange, then may walk to another spot at 7:30, depending on the group consensus.  Bring a friend, bring a neighbor, bring your dog!  All are welcome to attend.  The 19th District Police are aware of and encourage our efforts.  As always, they will stand with us and/or drive past our location(s) every few minutes to lend support."

FLATS Setting Aside 58 Units For Affordable Housing

By Mary Ellen Podmolik

1325 W. Wilson, a FLATS property

Chicago Tribune
A Chicago developer that has been among the most active firms behind the conversion of dilapidated, very-low-income housing into market-rate apartments is teaming with the city to offer more than four dozen subsidized units to Chicagoans who make no more than $15,200 a year.
The 58 small studio units in four of Cedar Street Cos.' FLATS Chicago buildings in the Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods represent fewer than 10 percent of the apartments that will be in the buildings, only one of which is open. Still, the program represents the first cooperative effort of its kind between a for-profit developer of several properties and Chicago's Low-Income Housing Trust Fund. It is intended to serve as a pilot for additional collaborations.
Continue Reading

Also see:
DNAInfo "Landlord Criticized for Displacing Poor Tenants To Offer Affordable Housing

Keeping Track Of Progress

They've been working on the new multi-use sports facility in the park (between Wilson and Montrose) since the winter.  Just five weeks ago, they were only starting work on the track.

As of last week, the track lanes look completely finished.  Reader KT took the photo above and says, "The goal posts are up and the track looks done. Should be soon?"

Projected finish date is late July, so we hope, soon! Very soon!

Got Happy Feet? Be Part Of The Traditional Bon Odori Dance Festival At Buddhist Temple Of Chicago

We heard from Rev. Patti at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago yesterday, and she hopes that some Uptowners/dancers will come for the next four sessions and be part of the Bon Odori Dance Festival next weekend.

In preparation for Bon Odori, the annual festival of Japanese folk dancing, the Buddhist Temple of Chicago is having five practice sessions. Everyone is welcome to join in – it’s fun and good exercise.

Evenings at 7:30pm – Monday July 21, Wednesday July 23, Friday July 25, Monday July 28 and Wednesday July 30.

Bon Odori dance festival is Saturday August 2 at 7:30pm – come to watch and you’ll probably end up dancing!

Buddhist Temple of Chicago, 1151 W. Leland (parking entrance on Racine)

Two Uptown Aldermen On Task Force To Facilitate More Affordable Housing In Chicago

Ald. Pawar and Ald. Cappleman are members of a new Affordable Housing Task Force, the aim of which is to reform the city's existing Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO), which has created 187 units since 2007.  The goal of the new AHTF is to add 1000 new affordable housing units in "high growth areas with access to transit and jobs" within five years.

The Task Force will have 65 days to complete a public engagement process and issue a report with recommendations. Written comments and suggestions will be accepted through Aug. 11 at ARO@cityofchicago.org or via mail to ARO Advisory Panel; 121 N. LaSalle, 10th floor; Chicago, IL 60602. The City expects to introduce an updated ARO Ordinance to City Council this Fall.

Alderman Ray Suarez, Vice Mayor and Chairman of the City Council Committee on Housing & Real Estate, will oversee the process for the Task Force's work. Task Force meetings will be Co-Chaired by Joy Aruguete, Executive Director of Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation; Jack Markowski, President at Community Investment Corporation; and Craig Huffman, Managing Director of Ascendance Partners.

Other aldermen on the committee include Walter Burnett, Will Burns, Deborah Graham, Michelle Harris, Natashia Holmes, Deb Mell, Emma Mitts, Ariel Reboyras, and JoAnn Thompson.

The other members are: Curt Bailey, President, Related Midwest; Brian Bernardoni, Director of Governmental Affairs, Chicago, Illinois Association of Realtors; Alan Lev, President/CEO Belgravia Group and Past President of Homebuilders Association of Greater Chicago; Adam Gross, Director of Affordable Housing, Business and Professional People in the Public Interest (BPI); Calvin Holmes, President, Chicago Community Loan Fund; Jonathan Jones, Business Representative, Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Local 10; Rafael Leon, Executive Director, Chicago Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation; Mary Lynch-Dungy, Community Organizer – Housing, ONE Northside; Eithne McMenamin, Associate Director of Policy, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless; Shirley Newsome, Board Chair, Quad Communities Development Corp; Guacolda Reyes, Vice President of Real Estate Development, The Resurrection Project; and Rev. Dr. Richard Tolliver, St. Edmund's Episcopal Church.

The press release mentions that this is part of the Mayor's Five Year Housing Plan to commit $1.3 billion in public and private funds to build, rehabilitate, or preserve 40,000 units of affordable housing within five years, including selling lots for $1 in Englewood and West Garfield Park to residents of those communities.

Vote Now For Uptown Viaduct Mural Submissions

One of the mural submissions for the viaducts

Both the Wilson and Lawrence viaducts at Lake Shore Drive are slated for reconstruction some time in the distant future, but in the meantime, Ald. Cappleman's office would like your input on which mural design should grace the walkways under each overpass. Visit this link and choose which of the 4 designs you'd like to see under the Lawrence and Wilson viaducts. Voting ends August 8th at 5pm.

Update:  As for the timeline, Ald. Cappleman's newsletter says:  "After the 2 selections are made, we will be coordinating with the State of Illinois for the the minor repairs on the bridges and the City for repainting the viaducts. When both jobs are completed, work will start with the 2 murals.

The work for these underpasses will need to last until the State of Illinois has sufficient funds to do the major overhaul of the bridges, which could be ten more years. In the meantime, improving this area will make the neighborhood look more welcoming to residents that walk and bicycle to the lake shore as well as motorists driving into the neighborhood from Lake Shore Drive."

Vintage Garage On Sunday: Where Rockabilly Meets Tiki, Plus A Costume Contest

Retro rockabilly swirled with South Sea Tiki creates a cocktail of treasures. Vintage Garage Chicago Returns to Uptown July 20th with the popular Rockabilly and Tiki theme.

You know you love Vintage Garage, and all its treasures.  How much do you love a COSTUME CONTEST to go with it?

Thanks to sponsors Broadway Antique Mall, Fat Cat and Shake Rattle & Read, Vintage Garage will be be hosting its annual “Rockabilly Vintage Costume Contest.”  There will be winners for:

• Best Dressed Girl
• Best Dressed Guy
• Best Occasional Outfit (swimwear, formal wear, ball gowns, cocktail attire)
• Miss Congeniality

The rules are all outfits and accessories must be vintage, except for Miss Congeniality who we’ll judge on just being happy and adorable.

Judges will include Jennifer Greenburg, author of “The Rockabillies” and creator of the photography exhibit Revisiting History,  her husband Casey Stockdon and Swing dance expert Sofia Wolf Swing of Miss Wolff’s Jiving School http://www.jiving.com/.  DJ Killer Diller will be spinning the tunes.

Chicago's only monthly all-vintage market will feature lots of vintage home furnishings, clothing, jewelry, household items, electronics and more. "The themes are an added bonus" says Melissa Sands, owner of Vintage Garage, "every month has an amazing variety of items and whatever the theme is, the dealers save their best finds in that category and bring them like the icing on a cake."

Admission is $5.00 and the hours are 10am until 5pm.  Vintage Garage Chicago is held on the 3rd Sunday of the month April through October. The address is 5051 N Broadway, at the Argyle stop on the Red Line.

Kids Corner At Buena Park Open Day

Buena Park Open Day is open for children as well as adults.

• The Children's Corner will be at Buena and Clarendon. It will be going full swing with chalk drawing on the sidewalk, bubble machines, face painting, a cupcake food truck, hula hoop dancing, and a bounce house, between noon and 5pm
• Right across the street, there will be Story Times in the Smart Love Preschool Garden between 1pm and 3pm with special surprise guest story readers.  Who will they be?  You'll have to show up to find out.
• Curious Creatures pet shop will be in the Children's Corner between 1pm and 3pm for a Reptile Extravanaganza!  Come see and find out more about tortoises, snakes and lizards.
• The Friends of the 46th Ward Schools will be there collecting donations for school supplies for kids who attend public schools in the 46th Ward whose families can't afford to send them to school with a full supply of necessities.  Your donations help them keep pace with the rest of their class and relieve the burden of buying out-of-pocket supplies on their teachers.

A map of the entire BPOD Experience is here.

Bike Before BPOD

sense8 Filming in Uptown

sense8 is filming in Uptown on Tuesday, July 22 from 9 AM to 9 PM. There will be quite a bit of inconvenience between no parking zones and closed streets, but it's also pretty cool to have one of the next big Netflix series filming in our 'hood.

Here are the parking restrictions:

• Both sides of Clifton from Wilson to Broadway
• North side of Wilson from Racine to Broadway
• South side of Leland from Winthrop to Racine
• Both sides of Leland from Winthrop to Broadway
• Both sides of Winthrop from Lawrence to 4748 N Winthrop

Full closure of street traffic:

• Clifton from Winthrop to Broadway (9:30 AM to 3 PM)
• Broadway between Leland and Wilson (9:30 AM to 3 PM)

Buena Park Open Day This Sunday

Sunday July 20 • Noon to 5 pm • Rain or Shine

Celebrate the best of summer at Buena Park’s second annual neighborhood festival. Explore this vibrant Northside neighborhood and see why things in Chicago really are cooler by the lake. Plus, there is something for everyone!

• TOURS: Architectural Tours of Historic Hutchinson Street, the American Islamic College and St Mary of the Lake
• CARS: World of Wheels Featuring Vintage Cars, Motorcycles and Bikes, Barbeque, tacos and a DJ
• FOOD: Four Fabulous Food Trucks!
• MUSIC: Performances Throughout the Day at Buena Circle
• FAMILY AND KIDS: Interactive Activities, Bouncy House, Face Painting and Special Guests by the Smart Love School on Buena
• ART: Classes, Theater Performances and Art Expo
• PETS: Dog Activities at Challenger Bark Dog Park at Buena Circle
• GARDENS: Tours, Food and Demonstrations at Ginkgo Gardens
• BIKING: Pre-festival Guided Bike Tour starts at Peace Garden at 11
• And Much Much More!

Entrances at: Buena and Clarendon • World of Wheels on Broadway at Cuyler • Buena Circle • American Islamic College • Art Expo, 4101 N Broadway

Suggested Donation $5, Kids under 12 free

Know Before You Go

• Where To Find Us: Buena Park is just off the lake, between Irving Park and Montrose.
• Transport: Red Line Sheridan stop. Bus #36, 146 or 151 Buena stop
• Parking: Discounted prepaid parking is available for this event. For $4 off, use promo code BVH14N at parkjockey.com. FREE parking on the day at the Thorek Hospital lot on the south side of Irving Park at Fremont, just west of the BP station.
• Free Trolley Service: Buena Park is a lovely, walkable neighborhood, but for your convenience, a trolley will make a continuous 30-minute loop through the main attractions
• Timing: The festival is open noon to 5 pm, rain or shine, with lots to do at your leisure. However, to help you better plan your afternoon, here is a list of scheduled activities:

• Chicago Architecture Foundation sidewalk tours of the George Maher houses on Hutchinson: 4 tours only—12:30 pm, 1 pm, 1:30 pm, 2 pm.

• Limit 15 persons per tour. Same-day sign up at Smart Love House

• Bike tour: 11 am to noon. Meet at lakefront Peace Garden

• Dog Activities: Noon to 1:30 pm at Challenger Bark/Buena Circle

• American Islamic College Tour and Ebru painting class: Starts 1:30 pm

• Tours of St. Mary of the Lake church at 2:15, 3:15 and 4:15.

Positive Loitering Tonight, Wilson and Broadway

Come stand with your neighbors and police officers for a safer Uptown.

from the Uptown Chicago Commission:

"Positive Loitering enters its fifth year in 2014, taking place in trouble spots in the 19th District on Friday evenings.  Tonight we will stand at the southeast corner of Wilson & Broadway, near the currency exchange, then may walk to another spot at 7:30, depending on the group consensus.  Bring a friend, bring a neighbor, bring your dog!  All are welcome to attend.  The 19th District Police are aware of and encourage our efforts.  As always, they will stand with us and/or drive past our location(s) every few minutes to lend support."

Drink A Moscow Mule For Art's Sake, and Help Crew Celebrate Its First Decade

The owners of Crew (4804 N Broadway) are celebrating their tenth year of business (Yay, Crew!) with three separate promotions from which we can all benefit:

• Buy a Moscow Mule between now and August 15th, and Crew will donate $1 to the "Bring Art to Uptown" fund. The goal is to raise $1500 to secure the public art now on display in front of the Riviera.
• Join Crew this Saturday (their official birthday), and enter a drawing to win a Happy Hour Party for 10.  They'll also be collecting your memories of Crew to share on Facebook as part of the birthday celebration.
• Join Crew on Wednesday, August 13th for a huge Birthday Party - $20 suggested donation to enjoy food, beverage and entertainment. The party is a benefit for TPAN and the People's Music School.

We are delighted to have had Crew as a part of Uptown for the past decaded and look forward to many more years with them.

Steve Harvey Is Looking For Funny Neighbor Disputes

An Uptowner who is a producer at the Steve Harvey daytime talk show may be looking for you. 

"I have a segment coming up and I was wondering if you could help. We are looking for two FUN neighbors who don't really get along and would really like to settle their differences with Steve's help.

Ideal candidates would have fun/funny reasons why their neighbor drives them nuts, i.e. their dog rips up their garden, their kids are annoying, the neighbor gets his paper in the morning in his underwear.

If you have any questions or if you know anyone who is interested, feel free to email me at jessica.smedick@steveharveytv.com."

The show is filmed and produced in Chicago.

Sign Your Kids Up Now For Summer Football

For more info, check out Clarendon Park Football's Facebook page.

Five Men Charged In Montrose Beach Melee

Efrain Saucedo

There were five men arrested and charged with crimes today in connection with last night's extravaganza of bad behavior at Montrose Beach:

• Efrain Saucedo, age 23, of Aurora, IL - charged with one felony count of Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer after he was observed throwing a bottle that struck an officer
• Emmanuel Lopez, age 19, of Aurora, IL - charged with one felony count of Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer after he was observed throwing a bottle that struck an officer
• Adult Male, age 19, of Summit, IL - charged with misdemeanor Aggravated Assault to a Police Officer and misdemeanor Mob Action

Emmanuel Lopez

• Adult Male, age 22, of Aurora, IL - charged with misdemeanor Aggravated Assault to a Police Officer and misdemeanor Mob Action
• Adult Male, age 17, of Chicago, IL - charged with misdemeanor Mob Action and felony Criminal Damage to Property

All these suspects will appear in Bond Court at 26th and Cal tomorrow.

Thanks for coming to Uptown, guys!  It's been real.

Free Concert At Wilson Abbey

You can read more about Ami & the Unfortunate at their website.

Graceland West Garden Walk Coming August 3

Calling All Gardeners!
Our 32nd annual Graceland West Garden Walk will be Sunday, Aug. 3, 12-5pm. This is a self directed tour of 40 gardens bounded by Ashland-Clark-Irving Park-Montrose. This year we will have an architectural tour of Lake View High School and an insect petting zoo which will be part of our Master Gardener display. You may sign up by emailing me stating if you are showing your front/back or both yards. If you live on an east-west street please encourage your neighbors to participate as our visitors will be more likely to visit a street if there are at least 3-4 gardens participating. Thank you, as always this is a fun event.
Donna Forsberg 773-348-1469 or donnaforsberg@sbcglobal.net

Sunnyside Mall Art Fair Call For Artists

It’s almost time for the 2^nd Annual Sunnyside Mall Art Fair.  We have several artists and musicians already lined up – everything from painting to jewelry and bluegrass to soul!  We have a few artists spaces available as well as two time slots for musicians. The fair is on August 2^nd from 9am -3pm in the Heart of Sheridan Park – Sunnyside Mall. We’d love to have you share your creativity with Uptown. If you are interested in participating, please email us at sunnysidemall@yahoo.com.  See you on August 2^nd!

Single Family Home Planned For Long Vacant Lot At 4627 Beacon

click to enlarge

Good news via the Beacon Block Club Facebook page:

Looks like the long vacant lot at 4627 Beacon will soon be filled with a single family home. Steve Sgouras owns the lot and is listed as the contact with his Amazon Development LLC. Doubtful it will be as grand as what once stood there, but one less vacant lot is almost always a good thing. No building plans or permits are available at this time, but when they are, we will share them.

Uptown Man Charged In Edgewater Murder

You may have read the story this weekend of a photographer from Wisconsin named Wil Lewis, who was gunned down on Devon Avenue. He seemingly had no gang ties, no criminal record, so his execution on the border of Rogers Park and Edgewater seems like a horrible mistake.

Today the police are saying that his accused murderer is under arrest and charged with a variety of crimes, ranging from one count of First Degree Murder to Reckless Driving.  The accused's name is Eric Vaughn, age 31, and his address is given as the 4400 block of Clarendon.  He is to appear in bond court at 26th and Cal today.

UU Note:  The 4400 block of Clarendon, though ... no residences that we're aware of, but we could be wrong.  Seems like that stretch is all Maryville, the park, and parking lots.

Details Emerge About The Montrose Beach Melee

Now that the dust has settled, there's more information coming to light about the circumstances leading to the mob action at Montrose Beach Sunday evening.

There was a large music festival, Tamborazo Beach Party, that took place Sunday afternoon.  A reader says, "Mexican tambirazo party got out of control. Too much beer and no security. The party was announced on social media. A lot of attendees. It was all good times until the alcohol got the best of some people and the fighting started."

We have seen several videos of the event from someone's Facebook page.

• One shows the large crowd starting to throw bricks, rocks and bottles at each other, with one man bleeding after being hit in the face by one.  

• The other one shows a police SUV slowly driving down the bike path with its blue lights on, being pelted with projectiles all along its route.  In the screen grab above, the man in black has just thrown a full bottle of some liquid at it (that's the white cloud above his head), which hit the SUV full on, as did many other projectiles as it made its way through the crowd.

It's a good thing we're not cops because we don't think we'd have been able to exercise the same self-control these officers did, to continue driving while multiple people threw bottles at us.

According to the Crime In Wrigleyville blog, the first 911 call came in 6:50pm.  At 7pm, another call came in reporting a fight between 50 people.  Then a call at 7:38pm that there was a man with a gun near the bait shop. That triggered (pardon the pun) the massive police response shortly before 8pm that so many readers saw. Read CiW's report of the scanner activity as things escalated.  According to the story, there were nine arrests, four police officers injured, and at least one police vehicle damaged.

We wonder if the promoter of the event had the insurance required for all events taking place in the park, and why (if?) there was no security present, as is also required for park events?

We'd love to know the Park District's plans for ensuring that similar events don't spiral out of control in the future.

It all ended with the park being closed early, and people being evacuated.  What a shame for the law-abiding majority of people who went to the park on a lovely July weekend, and ended up getting thrown out because a crowd of drunken louts started acting like idiots.

Update:  According to the Tribune, "The crowd had gathered Sunday evening for a concert but the bands didn't have permits to perform in the park, police said." Later in the story, it mentions four men in the crowd are charged with felonies for various attacks on police officers, and six other men are charged with misdemeanors.

Update:  There's another event planned this weekend by the same promoter, with no mention of what went on this weekend.  It's to take place at a bar directly across the street from McKinley Park.  Given how the Montrose Harbor music event went, it'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

Montrose Beach Closed By Police Order

Twitter picture courtesy of dj_OM8

A lot of chaos going on at Montrose Beach starting around 8pm. It's very unclear exactly what's happening, but a huge number of police, including tactical teams, were called to the scene and the park was closed by police order. Unconfirmed evidence is that a party got out of control, and when the police came to break it up, bottles and bats started being thrown at the responding officers. The Inner Drive has been closed between Wilson and Montrose, and police emptied and closed off Montrose Harbor Drive as well. There is a helicopter circling. Bad scene all around. Please check UU's Facebook page for more.  We're trying to figure it out along with everyone else.

Update: The Chicago Sun-Times has posted an article with more details, confirming that a police officer was struck in the head with a bottle:

"A fight at a North Side beach put a Chicago Police officer in the [hospital] Sunday night.

Police responded to the fight at Montrose Beach in the 4400 block of North Simonds Drive about 7:37 p.m., said Ana Pacheco, a police spokeswoman.

While police tried to break up the fight, someone threw a bottle and struck the officer, according to police and fire officials. The officer was taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital in good condition, according to a fire department spokesman.

One arrest was made, police said."

Update:  From the Chicago Tribune:

"A Chicago police officer was taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital after a large group of people began throwing bottles at police, officials said. According to Fire Department officials, the officer was in good condition and was hospitalized shortly before 8 p.m.

The officer was treated and released from the hospital and one person was taken into custody for the incident, police said.

The incident happened on the 4400 block of North Simonds Drive between Montrose and Wilson Beach in the Uptown neighborhood and police were called from various districts to disperse the large crowd, officials said."

Celebrate With Gingko Gardens Saturday

Help Improve The Sunnyside Mall Tomorrow Morning

Music and Games In The Garden Saturday

Tomorrow:

• Chicago Symphonic Winds brass ensemble- 10:30 am
• Momentum Sensorium modern dance - 11:00 am
• Garden games and lessons for families preceding performances at 10 am

SNL's Brooks Wheelan To Appear At Paper Machete Tomorrow

The cast of Saturday Night Live continues to pay visits to Chicago's Paper Machete, at the Green Mill (4802 N Broadway) every Saturday afternoon at 3pm, always live, always free!

Check out SNL's Brooks Wheelan tomorrow, along with other New York and L.A.-based comedians who are in town for Comedy Expo.  More details are here.

Paper Machete was featured in the New York Times earlier this year as one of the best ways to spend 36 hours in Chicago.  If you haven't checked it out, tomorrow would be a great time to do it.

Ald. Osterman's Statement On Last Night's Activity

From Ald. Osterman's newsletter:

"Last night, around 6:00pm there was a gang-related shooting on the 5000 block of Marine Drive. The incident involved several individuals on foot as well as in a vehicle. There were approximately 5-8 shots fired. 

Chicago Police arrived at the scene within a couple of minutes and recovered shell casings. The vehicle was last seen fleeing the area heading south on Lake Shore Drive.

Last evening I met with the Acting Commander about the incident. 20th District Police are currently investigating the incident and no arrests have been made. Additional gang crime and tactical units have been deployed in the area.

If you have any information regarding the incident, please contact Area North Detectives at 312-744-8200 or Marko Zaric at my office at Marko@48thward.org or 773-784-5277."

Positive Loitering Times Two

There will be two Positive Loitering events tonight:

• Neighbors and police will meet at Gooseberry Playlot, 4648 North Malden, 7pm to 8pm. Please come out to talk to your local officers and community members about issues of concern you've observed in the area.
• The usual location (in front of the Currency Exchange at Wilson and Broadway, 7pm-8pm) will also take place. Depending on the group's wishes, they may walk to another spot at 7:30, or they might stay at that location for the full hour.  

As with all positive loitering events, all are welcome to attend.  Bring a friend, bring a neighbor, bring your dog. The 19th District Police are aware of and encourage positive loitering.  As always, they will stand with the community and/or drive past the locations to lend support.

Protected Lanes Celebratory Bike Ride On Tuesday

Uptown bikers, here's an event for you created by Active Transportation Alliance.  Not too strenuous, so even weekday warriors can handle the ride, especially the after-party.

"Join us to ride and toast the new protected lane on Broadway!

On Tuesday July 15, please join Bike Uptown and Active Transportation Alliance as we take a spin on Chicago’s newest protected bike lane and toast another victory for better biking and walking in the city.

We’ll meet at Montrose and Broadway at 6:30 p.m., ride up the protected bike lane to Foster, and then head back down to Fat Cat at 4840 N. Broadway for some socializing with bike and pedestrian advocates.

All are welcome to attend!"

The Facebook page to RSVP is here.

Crazy Evening In Buttercup, Margate Park Areas

A lot of confusion tonight....

First, some unconfirmed reports of gunfire in Buttercup Playlot.  Repeat, unconfirmed.

Now it looks like there was a crime scene at Marine and Winona involving a CTA bus and possibly another car.  The police are putting up yellow tape and Marine Drive buses are being rerouted to Sheridan.

More as we find out more.

Update Marine Drive:  We are hearing that there was a hit-and-run between a car and bus.  There was a pursuit and police from various districts are looking for the car, including checking hospital emergency rooms for anyone injured.

Update Buttercup:  Some people who were in the area of Buttercup say they heard nothing.  Others say they heard shots fired and saw a car waiting for the shooter on Margate, which headed east toward Marine Drive.

Now, the big question -- could these incidents be related?  Not hard to imagine that a getaway driver, pumped up on adrenalin and stupidity, could have hit the bus in his eagerness to get out of the area.  But again, nothing is confirmed as of now.  All our information is from readers and UU eyewitnesses.  We'll update as we hear more.

Update:  The two incidents were apparently related.  A Facebook reader says, "I saw a man run east on Margate from the park, jump into a red sedan, take off, and was followed by another vehicle at high speed."

Another says, "Just spoke to a police officer, shots were fired at the park, they ran down Margate, got in a car. Hit the bus, got on LSD and took off. No arrests."

First -- thank you to everyone who is helping us to follow this story and for your photos.  Much appreciated.  If you saw anything that could help the cops, or heard anything, please call 911 and let them know.  Ever since the gang-related murder in Sheridan Park last weekend, it's been crazy with the gangbangers seeking vengeance on each other.  The cops stressed at last night's CAPS meeting that posting on social media doesn't help them solve crimes.  If you saw something that can help solve this, call 911 or report it anonymous through the Text2Tip program on your phone.

Now it's more than just the gangbangers involved.  Readers tell us there were plenty of kids in Buttercup Park when the shots rang out, including a group having a barbecue.  It's miraculous no one was hurt.

Update:  Can it get any weirder?  A reader says, "There were three cars, one of them being red. One car hit the bus, the other flew down Carmen St.  They were having a shoot out with each other.  Bus driver told me he got some plate numbers so hopefully that will help with something."

That would explain the bullet markers on Marine in the photos above.

If Ald. Osterman releases any information, we'll update with it.

Update:  A lengthy, but thorough, account from a witness on Marine Drive, posted to UU's Facebook page:  "I hear gunshots right in front of my building. I've lived here long enough to know the difference. Bang Bang....BangBangBangBang.

I run to the window thinking 'look hard, make sure you can give the cops a description.' I see a car backing up and roaring through the circle drive in front of my building. Maroon car, 2 black youth, baggy t-shirts. I whip out my phone and dial 911..it rings and rings and rings...what's your emergency, what's your location?

By the time I hung up the phone, the cops were already in front of my building, maybe a minute after the shooter drove off. Say what you will about the CPD, but I was happy to see them. And it was a mob, 5 or 6 cars.

From what I could piece together, it was 2 cars of gang bangers from Uptown chasing each other. One car (black) gets trapped behind a bus, the a guy from the other car (maroon) jumps out and starts shooting.

We think someone in the black car is hit, and they crash into the back of the bus, back up and zoom off and down Lake Shore Drive.

Looks like 2 different guns, so maybe they were shooting at each other, still unknown. Police tape, evidence markers.

I have lived up here off and on for almost 10 years and this is the first time anything like this has happened. Normally the worst thing that happens is some homeless guy pees on your bushes.

We know these guys are from Uptown, and it's summer, and we just happened to be the shortest distance between 2 points. All I could think of was 'now I'm NEVER going to be able to sell this place...'"

Update:  The Tribune has the story.  Nothing about Buttercup Park, but it has shots being fired from one car on Marine Drive, and another car hitting the bus.  It's not drawing any conclusions that the two incidents were related.  Read the story here.

Dancing In The Street

The lion has done his dance, and the Argyle Night Market is open for business.  Every Thursday, 5pm-9pm, between today and September 4th.  Come on over to Sheridan and Argyle.

What's Happening At Night Market Tonight?

Tonight's events:

• 4:45 -- Mural dedication at Argyle and Broadway
• 5pm -- The Chinese Lion will dance beginning at Argyle and Broadway.  Presented by the Chinese Mutual Aid Association
• 5pm -- the Market opens
• 6pm-7:15pm -- performance by Alpha and the Princes of Futa
• DJ sets before and after the performances

For the full roster of vendors and booths, click here.

#TBT -- When Buena Park Was Barren

It's Throwback Thursday again.  Let's travel back in time to 1905.

One of the things that's striking about Uptown in the 1920s and 1930s is its density. But try to imagine Buena Park just 20 years earlier. Lake Michigan's shoreline was where Marine Drive is now. No golf course, no Lake Shore Drive, no park, no boat slips, no Montrose Harbor. No Marine Drive, for that matter. The name "Uptown" wasn't even being used yet.

This is how the area east of Clarendon between Buena and Montrose looked in 1905. Where Marine Drive is now were the sandy beaches of the lake. Where Brennemann School and Imperial Towers are now was a long-forgotten street, Robbins Terrace. Junior Terrace was called Marquette Terrace, and we know Kenesaw Terrace better today as Hutchinson Street.

But here's the most surprising thing:  In that whole area, which thousands call home now, there were exactly eleven residences.  Eleven!  Kenesaw Terrace was the most crowded, with four homes on one side of the street and one on the other.  If you wanted real privacy, you needed to move to Buena, Robbins or Montrose, which had only one home apiece.

The Husser House in about 1902, the only house on Buena between Clarendon and Marine.
Note to the right of the photo is the lake.  Literally "lakefront property."

And it is the home on Buena that today's #TBT will focus.  In 1899, Frank Lloyd Wright designed a mansion for John and Helen Husser at 178-182 Buena.  (Under the new street numbering system, that puts it roughly at 730 W Buena.)  It was magnificent:  two stories, 73' x 28' in size, with a lake view. The interior was full of leaded glass and mosaics.  The furniture was Prairie Style, designed by Wright as well.  You can read much more about it, one of Wright's true "lost masterpieces," at this website.

The first floor floor plan

The home was sold by the Hussers in 1923, and unbelievably, demolished in 1924.  The Uptowners of the 1920s left us some great buildings -- the Uptown Broadway Building, the Uptown Theater, the Bridgeview Bank -- but they didn't have a lot of respect for the buildings prior to that era.  Remember that the Wilson L was once a Frank Lloyd Wright building, too, before it was demolished in 1922, to make way for the station that stands there today.

This vintage courtyard building stands approximately where the Husser House did a century ago.