At long last the Children’s Memorial Hospital complex, located at Lincoln and Fullerton, is coming down. It has been vacant since the organization moved to Streeterville in 2012. A lawsuit was filed to block the proposed $350 million redevelopment project. Some in the community felt the project was out of sync with neighborhood context. But … Continue reading Children’s Memorial Hospital Demolition Underway
The Esquire Theater, located at 58 East Oak Street, should have been put out of its misery. Instead of fading into history in dignified fashion it lives on as a Frankenstein’s monster. Once upon a time this was one of Chicago’s grand movie theaters. It opened in 1938 and boasted sleek art deco design details. … Continue reading Esquire Renovation is an Abomination
To understand how wild things are on the 4th of July it helps to get above the treeline. People all over the city shoot off an incredible amount of fireworks for many hours. It starts around dusk and continues until well after midnight. How many people are focused on the birth of our nation is uncertain. In … Continue reading 4th of July Mayhem
Hitting a bucket of golf balls is a great way to enjoy summer in Chicago. Diversey Driving Range, located in Lincoln Park at Diversey Parkway, makes it an easy option for North Side residents. Lake Shore Drive access at Fullerton is convenient for those a little farther up or downtown. The facility is beautiful. It … Continue reading Enjoy the Day Out at Diversey Driving Range
The CTA Elevated system is as much a symbol of Chicago as the Lakefront, the Chicago Theater or any of our major sports franchises. As you travel through neighborhoods across the city you will frequently hear the sound of moving trains. Sometimes you catch a glimpse between two buildings when you did not know it … Continue reading The Loop Elevated – Heartbeat of Chicago
Sometimes when you visit a great place after a few years it is not so great anymore. Happily this is not the case with the Signature Lounge. They have been operating since 1993 and still offer a fantastic visitor experience. The Signature Lounge is located on the 96th Floor of the John Hancock Center. It … Continue reading The Signature Lounge is Still a Classic
It is easy to dismiss the Loop Link Project. Taking a lane on a busy Downtown Chicago street and giving it over completely to buses sounds like it very well might be a recipe for worsening congestion. There have been articles and comments posted online which suggest it is not contributing anything positive. But here is … Continue reading The Loop Link Project may Have Value
The Daley Center never changes. About once every five years life takes me there for one reason or another. Last Wednesday was one such day and, as expected, everything is exactly the same as it was in the 1990’s. It is probably not very different from opening day in 1965. The Picasso sculpture still stands guard … Continue reading The Richard J. Daley Center – Trapped in Time
Back in the 80’s and 90’s your typical subway musician was an older gentleman with a saxophone or guitar. He might have been good or might not have been good. At times you might also have seen a mediocre aspiring hip hop artist. Nowadays the quality seems to have improved dramatically. This video was taken … Continue reading Subway Musicians Have Come Up
It would be fair to say that bicycle riders have been given a high level of consideration over the last several years. Bicycle lanes have sprung up everywhere despite the fact that they are lightly used. We now have bicycle racks on the front of CTA buses. Then, of course, there is the Divvy bike-sharing program. … Continue reading Finally, Some Limits on Bicycle Riders