Coming Soon To Jarvis "L" Station - A Neighborhood Piazza

Rendering from CTA website

              Several northside "L" stations are getting new art installations. The above is the most interesting and it happens to be going into the Jarvis stop. You can see all the different projects that were recently approved here at the CTA website. The project for the Morse station is lackluster, simply colored glass. Some projects don't look so great on paper then in actuality however. The other stations lucky enough to be selected include the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, Thorndale and Granville stops. Federal funds totaling over six hundred thousand dollars went toward these projects. Piazza is an italian word refering to a city square or the meeting of two or more streets. Another side note, the two video cameras above the murals are not part of the art work. 

Dont Forget! Loyola Park Fundraiser @ Morse Gyros Tomorrow

Love those old Morse Gyros t-shirts

            The old standby restaurant (since 1975) on Morse is having a fundraiser for Loyola Park tomorrow. Come on down to meet and talk with your neighbors while grabbing a bite to eat. This will double as a positive loitering (This corner has been under Gangster Disciple rule for many years. But that rule has come to an end.) and eating event. This writer's favorite new item to order the gyros burger. They do have healthy eating options like their grilled chicken, greek salad, veggie burger and veggie pita. Click here for the flyer. The fund raising event runs from 4 pm until 9 pm tomorrow evening. A portion of all sales will go to Loyola Park's basketball and baseball programs. Morse Gyros should resurrect their old t-shirts and put them up for sale. It would be a great way to show off your Rogers Park pride.


Please continue reading for more pictures & for Morse Gyros full menu

Brick Wall On Howard Makes It Big

The following is from an email sent to Chevanston June 4th concerning a photo from this article.

Dear sir:

I am designing a production of "Annie" for a community theater company in Minnesota (BlackDirtTheater.com), and I came across your photo (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xFlyNuXhWKM/UR_vCufsEPI/AAAAAAAAPDw/StESirQ01fo/s1600/1-31-13+088.JPG). 

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Runge Roach Racing

       
          Accidentally posted this earlier. No sense in putting this post off any longer. These pictures taken this morning clearly show that Runge's looks awesome. Reading the Yelp reviews it is noted that they compete in clunker/derby races. This stretch of Rogers Avenue is never a dull walk. You are never sure what you are going to see parked in front.

          They have recently repainted their parking lot sign and garage door. Runge's most notably has kept the grounds in and around Rogers Avenue spotless. And that is no easy task. Here is one link regarding a Sexcalade they once stored at their lot and this link talks about the fire hydrant.

Update 6/18/13 10 am - Late last night the above photo and a few beyond the jumbreak were edited. Sometimes photos have spots that are too light and too dark. HDR and warmify from Picasa work wonders to correct these problems.

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The Unmowed Zone Of Pratt

Looking east on Pratt towards Sheridan. This is east of Astor House.

                Condo or apartment buildings have their strengths and weaknesses. One of their weaknesses is that they almost never pick up the slack with neighbors' parkways.  Pratt Avenue has a very dramatic example of this effect just east of the Astor House. Here we can see sharp demarcations between parkways representing different philosophies in caring for "one's land". One's land is in quotation marks because the parkway is owned by the city.

               The answer to this riddle is that the slackers themselves need to get to work (not likely) or the neighbors need to suck it up and take care of it. Why should the neighbors take care of it? Better to lead by example. Even if the other neighbors or owners never appreciate it you are taking care of the neighborhood. Neglect and decay benefit no one. And it usually takes a change in ownership before changes in management take place. In this case who knows when this house and apartment building will be sold to responsible owners? This was discussed in the long long ago on Everyblock. This stretch of Pratt has existed like this for many years. How many more years will this phenomenon continue?

Please continue reading to walk further east

Last edited 6/17/13 9:04 am

Greenview & Farwell June 2013

             

1444 w Farwell's yard. The charred door still lies
on the ground from a fire this past winter.

           
           Rather than possibly incur the wrath of those loitering this writer decided to use a different image for this discussion. At approximately 5:50 pm today a group of youths were obstructing the sidewalk and hanging on the fence @ 1420 w Farwell. This is of one of the Council for Jewish Elderly buildings for senior citizens. This writer walked on the other side of the street because it wasn't safe to walk past this gang. Kids at that age (late teens) are unpredictable when left to their own devices. 911 was called and about ten minutes later a paddy wagon was dispatched to disperse the group. Is an apartment building for senior citizens a good place for hyperactive unsupervised youth to hang out?

 Please continue reading for more pictures and words

Last edited 6/17/13 9:03 am

6900 N Sheridan Gutted

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(Pictures were taken yesterday. Overcast skies prevented capturing the grand staircase in all its glory (like Ms Demeanor). But it was possible to catch a glimpse of it.)

Future Trader Joes On Chicago Avenue Construction Update

           Pictures taken earlier today of future Trader Joes. A partially obstructed  city sign on site states that "a sign review and appeal board hearing will be held affecting this site in the next 14 days" Reviewing recent news a meeting regarding sign variances was just held June 12th. This new grocery store is not expected to open until fall (October).

           Chevanston's editor discovered a Reader article discussing an April Fools article in the Evanston Roundtable. Lee Street Beach was to be renamed Trader Joes Beach. April Fools Day this year was rife with jokes concerning Trader Joes. Edgeville Buzz couldn't help themselves and created a fake news article declaring that a new Trader Joes was moving into the old Blockbuster space in Edgewater on Broadway just north of Foster.

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Roll Call @ Popeye's @ Howard & Damen

Ann Rainey - "Outdoor roll call on Friday, June 14. Roll call will be at the Popeyes lot at Howard and Custer  Damen. Roll call starts at 6 PM

If you are driving to the location you have to get there early because a real traffic jam is created because of all the activity"


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Four Tickets & Counting

                  This maroon Mazda truck has been left to rot on Wayne Avenue. One ticket is dated 6/4/13. The rest are unreadable. Perhaps by July 4th the car will be towed. In the meantime this abandoned vehicle is taking up valuable parking space. Apparently it takes thirty days plus two tickets or more to get the boot. Section 9-92-030 describes all the different reasons why cars are towed in Chicago. Not all the situations are explained however,  Section 9-92-030 also lists fifteen different codes. One reason you could be towed is if you are parked illegally at a metered spot for more than 24 hours. This car was probably ticketed due to street cleaning.

                 Update 6/14/13 12:30 pm - Why is this important? It is a sign of neglect. Abandoned or run down cars are sometimes used to stash drugs. Cars like the one pictured above also invite vandalism. Perhaps there should be a law on the books to prevent cars from languishing on side streets (with multiple tickets)?

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New Alley Electrical Outlet Program

            If you are low on cell phone power and far from home you have a new option. Com Ed is using new technology to place electrical outlets in unexpected places. Wooden poles, park benches, brick walls, nothing is off limits. Where to wait while your device charges though? Alleys aren't always the safest places to linger. An anonymous source told this writer that they were working on drinking fountains next. There is a liability issue though. Young passerby could potentially electrocute themselves. So this will likely just be a fad.

Buddha On Morse Is Here To Stay

             




           

               This new plaque was recently (ballpark guessing last few weeks) welded onto the fence that surrounds the plants @ Morse and Glenwood. Five Buddhas are staying in Rogers Park and five are being auctioned off this summer. This Buddha just outside of Morse "L" Drugs is here to stay.The first official accounting of the Buddha on Morse was on the Broken Heart of Rogers Park October 26th 2012. Referring to this photograph the plaque is absent. Instead flu shots were being offered.

              "The Buddha sculpture is an artistic interpretation of peace by internationally renowned artist, Indira Freitas Johnson. The image serves as a creative catalyst for the Ten Thousand Ripples project, a citywide public art and civic engagement program held in partnership with several Chicago area neighborhoods, community partners and artists. For more information and a schedule of events visit www.tenthousandripples.com"

For first official published picture of Morse Buddha please continue reading

Do You Speak English?

Google Maps screenshot of Farwell and Greenview looking east

             A great opening question to throw you off guard eh? The bald headed light complected African-American man with the famous line is back. And he has gained weight. This writer saw him at this intersection last night. He had the fake look of panic on his face with inhaler in hand. This time he was on foot, sometimes he is on a bicycle or on the phone. Was going to take a picture of him but he noticed that the person he was talking to was onto his game. Instead of his usual spiel he asked if jumper cables were available. A quick tour of the neighborhood after a negative response and he was gone. Poof.

              In the past this writer and others have run across him up and down Glenwood Avenue from Rogers Park down to Uptown. Don't be fooled by his story, he doesn't have a sick daughter with asthma who needs an inhaler or nebulizer or anything like that. Its a great ruse because it plays upon your need to help other. He gets about twenty or so bucks out of the deal. The story doesn't make sense because if his daughter was  that short of breath it would make more sense to take her to the ER then to run the streets panicking looking for money to then buy the medicine at the pharmacy. This writer has personally stopped one person from buying into his fake story.

Last edited 6/12/13 4 pm

Chariot Festival Of India Parade "Ratha Yatra"

       
         Sunday June 23rd 11:30 am PARADE starts at 1610 Howard Street goes south on Sheridan road, festival at Loyola Park 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm. Guest of honor is Alderman Joe Moore. Free feast for everyone and more. Children activities, drama, singing, dancing, spirituality.

Patio Now Open @ Morsel But No Takers

             Awfully dead this past Sunday @ Morsel.  It doesn't seem right that Morsel, Sidecar and the Glenwood were all being run by the same outfit and these are all being boycotted. Is it time to call a truce or all these businesses doomed? Its like a monopoly or too many eggs in one basket. (Still can't believe that Dukes is gone) These photos were taken on a relatively nice Sunday afternoon and not a soul to be seen taking advantage of the nice weather.

             The boycott seems to be working, Glenwood avenue once a lively fun strip is now a dead zone except for when the farmers market is up and running. Ironic because everyone was so excited with a restaurant opening at the former dollar store. Its no secret that the gay/lesbian crowd is moving north with the increased rent of Lakeview and as evidenced by Pride North. Now its a ghost town.

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Garbage Emergency @ Farwell "L" Viaduct

           The electrical substation that is being built at Farwell and Glenwood has forced several large apartment buildings to relocate their dumpsters to the Farwell and Pratt "L" viaducts. This is a scene that is far more common in New York City where the city has no alleys, way more people and tons of trash. It won't be long before this trash is all over the street. There are some city trash cans here and private dumpsters. The proper authorities will be contacted so that this is taken care of. There is also a sofa jammed sideways in the viaduct, previously the spot for such items is exactly where the substation  is going up.

To see the sofa please continue reading

Fungs On Morse Now Open For Business

       

                  Craig Gernhardt broke the news Friday that Fungs @ 1343 w Morse is now open for business. The inside is clean, bright and cheery. Fungs occupies a small space, the horrible window and door wall partition separating the dining room from the kitchen is finally gone. A different type of business should break the curse at this once forever failing commercial space. It has been has at least three different incarnations of the same business model, african/soul food, the last one being Reecee's Cafe. And we do need some Chinese food in the area since Ms Eggroll Number 2 on Glenwood closed.

            This will really help that stretch of Morse resist the gangs with more positive foot traffic and eyes on the street. This has been a troubled part of Rogers Park since the Block building across the street was turned into Reside on Morse back in 2008 because it pushed the gangs to the south side of Morse. The next order of business is getting something in next door which when last occupied was a coin operated laundromat almost ten years ago.

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Loyola Park Day @ Morse Gyros & Chicken June 19th

             Hot off the presses! Wednesday June 19th ( which happens to be Juneteenth which is more visibly celebrated up in Milwaukee) from 4 pm - 9 pm come out to Morse Gyros and support the park and local businesses. A portion of all sales will go to the park's basketball and baseball programs. The is the kind of positive loitering that this writer likes to take part in. Why? The Gangster Disciples still believe that they control this corner of Morse and Wayne, but they don't. Just today there were some GD's loitering and parking illegally at Morse and Wayne. So 911 was called and they were told to be on their way. This has been the GD's corner for many years and old habits die hard. But with persistent calls to 911, positive loitering and eating they will eventually learn that this isn't home base anymore.

             It would be really nice to see cops come into Morse Gyros and grab a bite to eat. Why? It sends a message that the police care about the community, gives them an opportunity to get to know the locals and most importantly it makes the bangers uncomfortable. Morse Gyros still has the best gyros and chicken for sale in Rogers Park. If you can't make it in person you can order your food through Speedy Northside Food Delivery. Morse Gyros is my new favorite hangout.

Art & Sol Flea Market Now With Facebook

            More information is available about the upcoming Art and Soul Flea Market which will take place at Howard and Ashland. The new poster advertises proudly that everything sold will be local, including handmade, vintage items, like most flea markets it will be interactive but they will have art booths and independent businesses, food trucks will be on hand so you won't starve. Admission is free. Here is the Facebook page (everything has a Facebook page nowadays). The dates that the fair will take place (every 4th Saturday throughout summer) are June 22nd, July 27th, August 24th, and September 28th and as seen on the flyer the market will run from 10 am - 6pm. Exciting to watch a market of this sort begin, this will be a great way for people to discover the Howard Street area of Rogers Park and Chicago. 

Rogers Park Made Better (Positive Loitering Schedule For June)

   

          Scanning the Facebook groups for Rogers Park for news a new posting in the LGBTQ forum by John Warner was discovered. He has made up the Rogers Park Positive Loitering schedule. Unlike our counterparts in Uptown the schedule is kept secret so that the bangers can't schedule their loitering at a different time.

Hi everyone - I have set the schedule for Rogers Park Positive Loitering for the month of June. We are doing outreach to see if who may be interested in coming out and loitering against the "negative loiterers" in the area. If you would like to know the dates and times that we will be out, please feel free to contact me either thru our Face Book page or at rogersparkmadebetter@gmail.com 

Ellipsis Coffee Spitting Distance From Rogers Park

        Wired from a black eye (two shots of espresso in a coffee as opposed to one the red eye) this writer drank from Ellipsis this morning, finally felt inspired to do a write up on this new coffeeshop @ Devon and Lakewood. Beautiful day, the two doors that open onto the new coffee shop were wide open this morning with lots of folks hanging out and working on their laptops.
        
         The proprietor is always very friendly and makes you feel at ease, you can tell that he put his dues in at the region's best coffeeshop Brothers K in Evanston. The only thing missing from all of these new upper cruste coffee shops that have suddenly burst onto the scene in and around Rogers Park is the the New York Times. Starbucks in the only coffeeshop that carries the NYT in RP nowadays. (Last edited 6/8/13 7:30pm)

         Please continue reading for more pictures and words

New Sign To Help With Loitering @ Clyde-Brummel Park

Original photo from 8th ward office cropped & rotated for easy reading

               Ann Rainey the alderman of the 8th ward of Evanston posted a picture of new signs being installed (as of 6/3/13) at Clyde-Brummel Park to the 8th ward forum.  Clyde is the first north south street west of Clark/Chicago street in Evanston and deadends into Brummel where the park is located. Clyde street (@Howard) is also where the Budda head was moved to from the future location of the Peckish Pig. Reading the 8th ward forum neighbors have been concerned with local kids loitering in the park late at night. For a map of Clyde Brummel Park click here.

Backdrop Of Act One Cafe Al Fresco Dining Gang Controlled?

           "Darling let's go to Act One Cafe and hang out on Morse. I hear the diner across the street is controlled by the Gangster Disciples. Should make for an interesting evening, there may even be a shoot-out." Laurie's Pizza in Uptown is an example of a restaurant where gang members roamed freely. How did that end? With a thirteen year dead and the restaurant shut down. It would be extremely idiotic for the management of Morse Gyros to tolerate the gangs (they won't), because eventually there will be a fatal shooting and then the restaurant will be shut down.

            Giving into gang intimidation will not make you any safer than you already are. Why? Gangs shoot at gangs, and sooner or later the rival gang will come by to shoot at them and you may get shot in the process. So the GDs are feeling the heat and can't hang at Morse and Greenview? Now they want back into Morse and Wayne? Nah, that's okay, no thanks, we don't want our corner shot up either like the Common Cup was. Calls will be made to the alderman's office and Mayne Stage/Act One because they have to know whats going on here. Joe Moore doesn't hold Follow Me on Fridays @ gang controlled restaurants, does he?

By the way, at press time there was a cat carrier up for grabs in front of Reside on Morse, it might be still there, to see a picture of it please continue reading.

Council For Jewish Elderly 1973

              Caption from the Suntimes paper  March 6th 1973 where this picture was printed "A popular congregating place for elderly in the Rogers Park area is the Council for Jewish Elderly area service area @ 1415 w Morse. The people come to talk, make friends, receive help, or in some cases just read a newspaper." (Suntimes photo by Randy Leffingwell) For sale @ e-bay for 21 bucks.

                 According to their website CJE (Council for Jewish Elderly) was founded in 1971, just two years after the above photograph was taken. Current locations listed for their housing in Rogers Park are 1420 w Farwell and 1345 w Jarvis ave. Here is a link documenting their growth in services from the beginning. 

Glazed & Infused Doughnuts Now Available Every Weekend @ Sol Cafe On Howard Street

                Not fortunate enough to live in swanky Lincoln Park or Wicker Park and craving the cities best doughnuts? Have no fear, Rogers Park has a weekend place to score Glazed and Infused donuts on Howard Street of all places. The few Saturdays that Sol Cafe has hosted Dazed and Confused or rather Glazed and Infused was a feeding frenzy (their signature doughnut is the maple bacon). Who says there isn't a breakfast place on Howard? The good news was announced last night on Sol Cafe's Facebook page at 6 pm EST. Sol Cafe is close enough for fellow Evanstonians to walk down the street and get their coffee. Note the 415 Howard highrise partially obscured by the tree on the north side of the street is in Evanston. Judging from the newly installed lamp posts their should be some new banners installed on Howard soon.

Increased Police Presence On Morse

View From Morse Gyros (Where Gangs Aren't Welcome)

          The gangs have returned with the nice warm weather we have been having lately. If gang loitering is tolerated, shooting inevitably follows (see Common Cup). Gangs like to shoot at gangs, so if you see a gang hanging on a corner you have to call 911 and report loitering. Morse is a gang hotspot where loitering of this sort just isn't tolerated. There will always be drug deals going down as long as there are drug addicts living in the neighborhood  (see Threshold Grais on Wayne ave), but that doesn't mean we should tolerate gang loitering or the drug dealing.

Please continue reading for update (6/5/13 - police whisk away gangs from Morse & Wayne), more pics & words

Prodigal Monk A Bust?

              The word on the street is that the burger bar on Jarvis is a no go. Benjamin Woodard wrote this article regarding Prodigal Monk @ 1547 w Jarvis Avenue (across the street from V-tone) this past November. Renovation work was completed on the interior of the commercial space February and March 2013, but all activity has since come to a screeching halt. The burger bar was supposed to open this past April, but now it looks like it will be added to the long list of names and places that this storefront was supposed to be but never was. The one thing that is new is that V-Tone (the family who owns 1547 w Jarvis also owns the V-Tone building) is now selling and fixing bicycles. For Chevanston's article on Prodigal Monk please click here.

For more pictures please continue reading

From Urban Relic To Stucco Bore

         Update on 7300 N Damen, the facade now resembles what was done to the top of the Magic Video strip mall at Morse and Wayne and the top of the one story building that houses Morse Gyros and the Golden Mini Market. Apparently this is a common shortcut to shoring up buildings that need tuckpointing. Has a southwestern look with the light desert color. This has happened to a lot of buildings in Chicago, a once interesting old building (which could've been restored) is converted to a clean, bland, dull monolithic structure, which for this corner is a step in the right direction.

Please continue reading to see what 7300 N Damen used to look like

Sticker Sign Vandalism In Pilsen Revisited

       

           






            These photos were taken June 2012. This is the Halsted Metra underpass by 16th street looking north. Stickers had effectively obliterated this important street sign. A little bit of elbow grease and WD-40 and the sign was back to its original state. This was posted to the now defunct Everyblock with the monicker "modern archaelogy" in the Pilsen subforum.  Thought it would be interesting to check up on the North To UIC bicycle sign a year later.


Please continue reading to see the sign one year later

7600 N Greenview & Bosworth A Day After Latest Shooting

           So many people got shot this past Saturday June 1st in Chicago that all the shootings and the one homicide was just squished into one news story by DNAinfo.com and the Chicago Tribune. The first quote in red is from DNAinfo.com, they list 7600 N Greenview as the site of the shooting. The second quote in yellow is from the Chicago Tribune, they note that the shooting took place ten minutes earlier and a street to the west at Bosworth. The Tribune was also unsure of the age, so the person shot was listed as man or boy.

 "Just before 6 a.m. Saturday, a 23-year-old man was shot in his hand in the 7600 block of North Greenview Avenue in Rogers Park, said Officer Jose Estrada, a police spokesman. The man, who cops said is a documented gang member, drove himself to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston."

"In the latest shooting, a man or boy was shot throught the hand about 5:49 a.m. in the 7600 block of North Bosworth Avenue in Rogers Park, Mirabelli said. The man was dropped off by someone at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where his condition was stabilized, Mirabelli said."


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