Register To Vote By October 9th For November Election

Did you know that you must be registered to vote by midnight on Tuesday, October 9th, to vote in the November election?  It's not just the office of the President that's up for grabs; we'll also be voting for state representatives, state senators, U.S. representatives, etc., plus a whole lot of judges (and may we just say that the list of judges' names wouldn't be out of place in a Dublin pub?  Man, there are a whole lot of Irish people running as judges in Cook County).

So if you've moved, changed your name, or want to register to vote for the first time, do it before Tuesday.  You can go downtown to the Board of Elections -- check it out here.  Or you can go closer to home:

The Bezazian Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 1226 W. Ainslie Street, will be hosting voter registration on Saturday, October 6 from 11am-1pm and on Monday, October 8 from 5-8pm. Please call 312-744-0019 with any questions.

Busy Day In Uptown Saturday

There's a little something for everyone tomorrow. Have some fun!

• Free Walking Tours of  Uptown's murals, led by resident and artist Ginny Sykes.  Meet at Montrose & Beacon (Stockton School) at 8:45am, or at Baker & Nosh at 10am.
• Pet Blessings for your demonic dog or sly cat, at 11am at St. Thomas and 5:15pm in front of St. Mary of the Lake.
• Nigerian Independence Day Parade along Sheridan, between Sunnyside and Carmen, beginning at noon.
• The exhibit by Immy Mellin, aka the Sharpie King, continues its run at the Uptown Arts Center, 941 W Lawrence, between 1pm and 4pm.
• The Essanay Studio Gala Fundraiser begins at 5:30pm and goes until 10pm.  Its goal is to restore part of St. Augustine College back to how it looked when Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson filmed movies there.  It all happens at 1345 W Argyle.

It's Got That New Station Smell

In just about an hour and a half, the newly rehabbed Argyle Red Line Station will be open for business. This afternoon, the CTA workers were busy making it all spic 'n' span for the public.  They seemed very proud of it, and well they should.  It's such a difference from the gloom of the previous station, and the storefronts beneath it are a far cry from the leaky ones that existed before.

Work will continue on the viaducts and tracks through the end of the year to make it a safer and faster ride.

Work is being done on the Lawrence station now, and that station is set to close for six weeks on October 14th.

You can another photo on the 48th Ward Facebook page, and of course CTA Station Watch has all the details on the Red Line rehab.

PS.  I spoke to several of the workers today, and they were happy about the difference they'd made to the Argyle station.  When I mentioned Lawrence was coming up, they looked much less happy.  "Lawrence sucks," one said.  We have full faith that it won't when they're done with it.

Barricade Situation On Wilson; 900 Block Closed

Update:  A commenter on the UU Facebook page says it is over as of 6:50 and police are starting to clear out.  It looks like no one was hurt, including police and the man making threats.  Thank goodness for a good resolution.

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Thank you to our reader who submitted these photos.

The 900 block of Wilson is blocked off, with a SWAT team, many police cars, and a helicopter.

The reason is a barricade situation involving a man in the Wilson Windsor Apartments (915 W Wilson).  According to the Tribune, it's possible he has a machete:

Police were called to the scene of a disturbance involving a man holed up inside a North Side apartment building, possibly armed with a machete in Uptown this evening.  The incident is at the Wilson Windsor apartments in the 900 block of West Wilson Avenue.

We'll keep you informed if we find out anything, but feel free to leave comments.

Update:  Sheridan is closed between Clarendon and Broadway, and buses are being rerouted.

Update:  According to a commenter on UU's Facebook page, "It's actually a veteran that has not been taking his medication. When police tried to enter his apartment he threw a machete @ them. He was burning wood in his apartment & refused to stop. He also threatened to blow the building up."

Update:  According to the latest Tribune update, there has been no one injured and the situation is ongoing.

Update:  Ald. Cappleman tweeted his congratulations to the police on a job well done in a stressful situation, and said he would be meeting with building management. 

Nigerian Independence Parade Along Sheridan on Saturday

From the Uptown Chamber:

Chicago's Nigerian community will celebrate Nigeria's 52nd Independence Day on October 6th ...

This year's Nigerian Independence Day will kick off at Sheridan & Sunnyside at noon.

The reviewing stand will be on/around Wilson Ave.  Parade continues north to Carmen.

Floats and vehicles will unload participants between Carmen and Winona.  All floats and vehicles will be forced to make a right at Foster and travel east to Lake Shore Drive.

Walkers and parade watchers will then travel by foot, on the sidewalk, north to St. Andrews Gymnasium where they will celebrate their Independence Holiday.

Parking restrictions will be enforced on the east side of Sheridan, Sunnyside to Foster, from 8:00am - 2:00pm.

For more information on this event please contact 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman's office.

"Krispy Krunchy Chicken" Opening At Broadway & Clifton

We had heard rumblings of a chicken restaurant opening next to Spoil Me Salon/Spa at 4660 N. Broadway. There has been paper blocking out the windows for some time and today we noticed that an alteration permit has been issued to build out the space for a "Krispy Krunchy" restaurant. Interesting to note that now both ends of the 4600 block of Clifton will be framed by chicken...Harold's Chicken at one end and Krispy Krunchy at the other.

46th Ward Dems Holding Debate Watch Party Tonight

New Wilson Station Renderings Available Online; Meeting Set For Next Week

The community Open House to go over the plans for the completely revamped Wilson Red Line Station is set for 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, October 11th, at Truman College, located at 1145 W Wilson.

You can see a sneak peek of the renderings on Ald. Cappleman's website, as well as find out more information about the project.

We are delighted to see that the money has increased from $135million to $203million and look forward to seeing a station that will transform this so-often-neglected part of our community.

Take a look at the website and click on larger versions of the three renderings to get a better idea of what the CTA has in store for us.

Update:  The Sun-Times has a story about the new station, here.

Free Walking Tours On Saturday

What: Walking Tour of Murals in the Uptown neighborhood

Led by: Ginny Sykes, artist/muralist and long-time Uptown resident.  [UU Note:  Ginny Sykes did the lovely murals at the Sunnyside Mall and at Stockton School.]

Cost: Free

Date: Saturday, October 6, 2012 - Rain or Shine!

• Time: 10:00 a.m. - Noon - Meet in front of Baker & Nosh, 1303 W. Wilson Ave.
• There will also be an "early riser" two-site preview at 8:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., which meets at Stockton School, corner of Montrose and Beacon. (Will end at Baker & Nosh for coffee before the start of the full tour at 10 a.m.)

Details: The tour will visit various mural sites in Uptown to share the neighborhood's unique mural history and social context. The mural stops were selected from the Uptown Walks Mapping Project (see below for more information).

Contact: Ken Konopka or Jill Mannor or (773) 230-9743      .

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Blessing Of The Animals This Saturday

In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, there will be Pet Blessings on Saturday, October 6th, in two locations in Uptown.

• St. Thomas of Canterbury will hold its ceremony at 11am.  The church is located at 4827 N Kenmore
• St Mary of the Lake will hold its ceremony at 5:15pm on the steps in front of the church.  It is located at 4200 N Sheridan.

Pet blessings are non-denominational -- neither you nor your pet needs to be Catholic.  Please bring animals in cages or on leashes.

You can see photos from last year's St. Mary pet blessing here.

Reappearing Spot

We're hearing that The Spot, at 4437 N Broadway, has re-opened under new management.  Anyone got any further details?

Update:  From the new management--

"As of this Monday....we will be serving food.  We have a week-long menu of the following:

• Chopped Brisket Slider - Slow Smoked, Dry Rubbed Beef Brisket, topped w/ house made Ancho Chili BBQ Sauce, served on a Turano Bakery Slider Bun
• Pulled Pork Slider - Slow Smoked, Dry Rubbed Pork Shoulder, hand pulled, topped w/ house made East Carolina Mustard Sauce, served on a Turano Bakery Slider Bun
• Smoked Chicken - Slow Smoked, Dry Rubbed Chicken Leg Quarter, served w/ house made Citrus Habenero BBQ Sauce

Daily Specials:

• Monday - $3 Margaritas
• Tuesday - $5 Specialty Martinis
• Wednesday - $5 Manhattans
• Thursday - $3 Well Drinks
• Friday - $5 Jäger, Rumple, and Goldschlager shots
• Saturday - $7 Long Islands
• Sunday - $3 Bloody Marys

Gone Fishin'

We're going to see temperatures in the 70s this week before it all takes a nosedive and chilly weather arrives at the end of the week.

So it may be the last days to catch some fish at Montrose Harbor.

Did you know that you can check out fishin' poles at the Uptown branch library at 929 W Buena?  Just like a book or movie, use your library card.

The Bezazian branch at 1226 W Ainslie doesn't have sporting goods, but it does offer materials to fit Uptown's diversity:  reading materials in African, Bosnian, Chinese, Croatian, Indian, Serbian, Spanish and Vietnamese languages, a Jewish Heritage Collection, and a Native American Heritage Collection.