The Winter Cycling Series II begins here! First up:
Tour of Uptown,
Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Where: Meet at Graceland Cemetery at the intersection of Clark and Irving Park
Cost: Free
For the second year in a row, Big Shoulders Realty has organized a [...]
We've noticed a recent change in the long-dormant empty lot at the NW corner of Lawrence & Clark: It got bigger. The building directly north of it, home to the dog boarding service and the Gast Monuments "ghost sign," has been demolished, leaving a' [...]
Mary Schmich of the Tribune did a column Friday about the friendship between a Lincoln Park woman and an Uptown street person, the late Wanda Jean Taylor. It's moving and compassionate, and shows the beauty and trials that occur when two very different people open themselves' [...]
It's on! The call is out for positive loiterers to meet at Sheridan & Leland tonight from 7-8 PM.
Ah, level ground, at last. Drivers who park at Dib and International Cleaners no longer need fear a vertical pile-up in the hall-of-mirrors parking lot. Cheers! [...]
Something for everyone to be aware of, from a reader....
"A number of buildings on the 800 block of Sunnyside were approached tonight by a rather large guy who initially stated that he wanted to come in to share some flyers about a neighborhood block club. I" [...]
A few readers saw a march winding its way through Uptown on Tuesday afternoon and asked via email if we knew what it was about.
Don't know about you, but Uptown Update has gained a pound or two since The Cupcake Gallery's "soft opening." Now it's time for the Grand Opening, this Sunday, November 22nd, and Darius is promising free cupcakes from noon until supplies run out. We're putting another [...]
We heard from Glenn Brichacek, President/CEO of the Admiral at the Lake Development at Foster and Marine Drive.
From Ald. Smith's latest newsletter:
The CTA is conducting a "vision study" of the Red Line stations. In order to get input and feedback, the public is invited to a series of Open Houses. Each Open House will focus on a specific group of stations. Exhibits [...]
A reader writes in...
Save on winter energy bills and get a free weatherization kit without leaving Uptown. (Can't beat that.) Check out the flyer above and RSVP to make sure they save you a space.
An Uptown Update reader got a glimpse of the police blue-light camera at Sheridan and Lawrence getting a tune-up this morning.
Did you know that you are eligible to sign up for an account at North Side Community Federal Credit Union simply by being a resident of Uptown, Edgewater, Lakeview or Rogers Park? North Side is "an alternative to costly payday lenders and currency exchanges, without" [...]
A reader sends in the following photo and writes:
Chicago foodies are all abuzz about soon-to-open Ceres' Table, the first solo outing by well-known chef Giuseppe Scurato. It'll be at the former Monticchio space, 4882 N Clark (next to Lincoln Towing). We wish it as much success as the buzz anticipates, and look forward [...]
If you have the time and inclination to make it to the Daley Center Monday morning, the case involving the Mosa Building (1014-1036 West Leland) is on the docket at 9:30am. The presence of the court advocates shows community concern; although they are silent representatives, occasionally [...]
Sheesh, it's enough to make a person wish for snow and ice. Three different gang brawls that we're aware of tonight, two coming in from readers and one we stumbled into ourselves:
- "There was a fight that we witnessed - medium sized group - full" [...]
The shuttering of Mutual Bank has far-reaching tentacles. Seems the new owner, a Texas bank, is trying to clean things up in the loans and assets departments, and has foreclosed on a corporation owned by Sam Alexander.
A reader sent in this photo: "CTA workers performed yet another patch job on the CTA Red Line this week. This time workers removed dangerously crumbling cement from the CTA overpass at Broadway and Leland." [...]
It's on! The call is out for positive loiterers to meet at Sheridan & Leland tonight from 7-8 PM. Depending on the number of folks who show up, and their wishes, we may split up into groups and/or head for different locations.
We're hearing some good news about the police work after the shots fired last Sunday evening at Sheridan & Lakeside:
From Lake Effect News:
Residents could start moving into the affordable rental housing in the Wilson Yard development as early as February as the residential buildings near completion. Peter Holsten, president of Holsten Real Estate Development Corp., is the project’s sole developer. The company has [...]
This is a great thing - please help spread the word to any interested teens in the 46th and 48th Ward.
Annoyance Theatre's popular improvisation training program will expand in 2010 with the addition of a new teen program. To kick-start the program, Annoyance will be' [...]
(click image to enlarge) Dear Community Members: Alderman Smith and Alderman Shiller are organizing a task force for Sheridan Road and looking for your help and input. Attend a meeting of block clubs and community groups sharing their vision for Business Development and Beautification on [...]
Some happy news from Everyblock: 1023 W. Montrose Bike rack installed near Driftwood (October 13, 2009)
A special invitation from Marigold Restaurant at 4832 N. Broadway:
News from Jennifer Tsang of the Asian American Institute in Uptown:
Via Chicago Breaking News Center
By Rosemary Sobol, Sun-Times
Read all about new technology that uses microphones on telephone poles to monitor the sounds of gunshots and determine their exact locations. In a perfect world, our Alderman might use menu funds to invest in this sort of thing. *snicker* [...]
We're all cordially invited to "honor" Helen Shiller and give her more of our money (71% of property taxes apparently ain't enough). The only thing is, we won't know how much to write a check for, because the link to the "invitation" is dead, and' [...]
If you've been to Crew on Monday evening when class is in session, you've already met Sister Mary Monistat and her difficult trivia questions. Now the rest of the city is noticing as well:
- Here Comes Treble: We’re confident that even tough critics would [...]
Just added: Just Fisticuffs? from Joe Gray on Vimeo.
Footage of last night, everything but the gunshots. (Hint to gangbangers - if you're gonna shoot up our streets, make sure to hang on to your cell phone.)We are so sick of these incidents....
"Shots Fired at Lakeside and Sheridan'" [...]
A couple local blogs are talking about Uptown on the silver screen. Read about our cinematic history here:
From Ald. Mary Ann Smith's monthly newsletter:
Fix Wilson Yard Shelves Lawsuit … But Keeps the Door Open
By LORRAINE SWANSON, Editor
Blaming limited financial resources, Fix Wilson Yard withdrew its lawsuit against the City of Chicago and a private developer on Thursday, putting further litigation on hold for one year.
[...] Fix Wilson [...]
A reader writes:
"Letting you know that the streetlights have been out around the intersection of Hazel and Windsor all night.If more people can call 311 for this, it would be great (I was told by the operator that the fixing of streetlights will take" [...]
We're hearing from readers:
"Gunfire rang out in front of Lakeview Towers (4550 N Clarendon) [shortly after noon Friday]. A security guard had just come back inside after asking a group of males who were loitering to disperse. They refused.
Shortly afterwards, a car drove by and'" [...]
Enjoy a beautiful autumn evening by joining the other positive loiterers gathering at Sheridan & Leland tonight from 7-8 PM. Depending on the number of folks who show up, and their wishes, we may split up into groups and/or head for different locations. The weather should [...]
This is slightly out of our area, but many Uptowners have attended Edgewater Community Council events in the past, so we'd like to draw attention to its 49th Annual Gala, to be held tomorrow evening, November 7th. Just $50, and for a good cause.
"The Cupcake Gallery Dude" says, We’re opening this Saturday – 11/7 at 10 AM. We’ll have a limited selection – but for all the folks that mention Uptown Update – we’ll give a 10% discount.
From Ald. Gene Schulter's weekly email newsletter:
A reader writes:
From my PIN, but would love to do a compare/contrast:
COUNTY OF COOK 2.3786534110%
FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY 0.2923164433%CITY OF CHICAGO 5.3190129288%CITY OF CHICAGO LIBRARY FUND 0.5846328866%CITY OF CHICAGO SCHOOL BLDG & IMP FUND 0.6706083111%CITY OF CHICAGO SPECIAL SERVICE AREA #34 [...]
A reader sends in the following scan and info showing one of our neighbors who resides at Sunnyside & Magnolia:
The once beautiful mural on the west side of TCF Bank at 1050 W. Wilson has seen better days. Our readers who board the train on Wilson have surely seen the various tags covering the bank, most recently the vulgar phrase that was thankfully covered up [...]
The Holiday Season is just around the corner! Uptown SSA #34 -- in conjunction with Business Partners, The Chamber for Uptown -- is undertaking an inaugural Season's Greetings Wreath Program along with other festive initiatives during the holidays. In past years, SSA#34 arranged and [...]
via Sun-Times Media WireA man delivering food was pistol whipped and robbed early Tuesday in the Uptown neighborhood on the North Side.
At 12:30 a.m. the man was delivering food in the 4500 block of North Magnolia Avenue when two men dressed all [...]
From Mary Ann Smith's monthly ward e-newsletter:
A reader writes in:
Just turnstyle jumping, as Ald. Shiller once claimed about the high crime rate at the Wilson el? Nope, one Uptown entrepreneur is using the CTA to bring his victims right to him.
Late Sunday night, someone sat on the Wilson platform, waited until a southbound train [...]
Mark your calendar! On Thursday, November 5, Fix Wilson Yard will host a progress update on its groundbreaking lawsuit against the City of Chicago and the Wilson Yard Developer at Holiday Club.
From Ald. Tom Tunney (44th):
This week's Reader has an article on Chicago-born 1940s-era actor Robert Ryan. It includes the full text of a lengthy letter he wrote to his children about his childhood in Uptown and Edgewater in the early part of the 1900s. Fascinating stuff to those of us' [...]
Anna Green, most recently seen dealing drugs and her body on Sheridan Road in Uptown, was sentenced to one year in prison for prostitution last week. This is her sixth drug/prostitution felony since 2000, and she was on probation from a 2006 drug offense at [...]
Uptown Update (and our little feline friend at Montrose and Dayton) wishes our readers a happy and haunted Halloween. [...]
A reader sends in the following link and info:Rain or shine, wet or dry, it's on! The call is out for positive loiterers to meet at Sheridan & Leland tonight from 7-8 PM. Depending on the number of folks who show up, and their wishes, we may split up into groups and/or head for [...]
A reader and neighbor of Ald. Shiller sends in the following pic and info:
A reader sends in the following link and observation:
A word of warning if you're in a rush to cross Clark Street between Montrose and Irving Park (the Uptown portion of the route) this evening -- Critical Mass will be riding through at some point. Check out the map and plan accordingly. (click to' [...]
A reader was a witness and photographer today: 
A reminder that high-risk Chicagoans can get free H1N1 flu shots at Truman College through November 19th. Click here for details.
From the Chicago Department of Public Health:
Number of people vaccinated at Truman College thus far:
1,156 on Saturday
1,033 on Tuesday
2,189 total
All the bells and whistles - fine art, good food, lively conversation, and a historical Victorian mansion as the setting. Get it all for a tax-deductible $25. The Uptown Chicago Commission is holding a fundraiser tonight, featuring the work of Uptown artists, at the historic [...]
Invitation from WAMA:
Come join us for WAMA's first Experience Uptown “PROGRESS-ive Dinner” Sunday, November 15th starting at 5:30pm. Tickets are $35 each and may be purchased in advance at Soggy Paws on Leland Avenue or online at [www.wilsonareamerchants.org]. When purchasing your tickets online, please [...]
Our neighbors in the Kenmore Condo (the big orange building at Kenmore and Lawrence) are holding a loitering party/social at their corner Thursday evening at 7:30. Please feel free to stop by and join them! It's supposed to be a lovely night for late October, and [...]
Update: Laura Heller's "Second City Nitty Gritty" gives our cause a shoutout here. Feel free to add comments directly to her posting.From the comments on the post about asking Target to sponsor the Wilson Red Line stop:
Under the Subject drop-down, I chose' [...]
"After a year of hanging out at Puptown we’ve seen a lot, but what happens in Puptown, stays in Puptown."
Read all about Puptown's Ninth Annual Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest in Lake Effect News. Plenty of pictures, and a very funny article describing it all. [...]
The 23rd District Court Advocates monthly meeting is tonight (October 27, last Tuesday of the month) from 6-6:30 pm. If you're interested in becoming, or learning more about being, a court advocate, please plan to attend. It's in the Community Policing office, on Halsted just north' [...]
People are finally waking up to the fact that the city is sitting on a huge pile of money in its TIF funds, while crying "poor us!" and cutting back on essential city services and staffing.
This is one of the goals that the Fix Wilson Yard lawsuit had hoped [...]
Heather Steans filed signature petitions to re-run for her seat as State Senator for the Seventh District (which includes Uptown), and will hold a fundraiser November 10 at Hamburger Mary. (info@heathersteans.com)Jim Madigan filed signature petitions to challenge Steans in the Seventh District Senate race. [...]
