Beautification coming for Metro tracks

From the Edgewater Community Council:
A 700 foot linear garden will be planted in the space by the Metra tracks from Ridge to Granville along Ravenswood Avenue. The garden's plan includes hardy and self-sustaining plants, ferns, flowers, shrubs and small trees that will have interest in all seasons. We are pleased that this space, which was once a rough overgrown area and a littered landscape, will now be a source of pride to the community. Congratulations to NEW, past President Amanda Solon, and to all involved since this was a long process that began over three years ago.

Sharon Metzger, current President of Neighbors of Edgewater West (NEW), worked closely with 40thWard Alderman Patrick O'Connor and his staff as well as representatives of Union Pacific, in order toobtain the necessary permission for the use of the land, including moving back the track's protectivefencing.

Sheli Lulkin thanked for her service to Edgewater

The Edgewater Chamber of Commerce and about 200 people honored Sheli Lulkin for her 19 years of service to the neighborhood at the Breakers last night. Lulkin is credited with quadrupling the membership of the Chamber, beautfiying the neighborhood and supporting local Edgewater businesses.
Source: Medhill Reports

Its a store....its a shop...its a...pizzeria?

As one who has walked by the Great Lake storefront (1147 W Balmoral in Andersonville) a number of times wondering what it was, this article from the Slice Pizza Blog cleared up any curiosities I had. According to the blog, Great Lake is "one of the best pizzerias in Chicago." From the exterior, the pizzeria looks as if it can be a retail store or perhaps a place to go for cooking classes. However inside one will find a cozy pizzeria with a unique Biancoesque style pizza that comes in 5 different varieties daily. And to our anonymous commenter who comments about how everything is better in Detroit, the owners of Great Lake are Detroit natives.

Dominick's Purchases Motel Site

Dominick's has purchased the former site of the Chicago Lodge economy motel on Foster between Sheridan and Lakeshore Drive which recently closed, according to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. This leaves us wondering what plans they have for the site....could be a bigger expanded store or possibly a new multi-use development such as the Dominick's & residential development in Lakeview? If anyone has any inside info let us know.

Chicago Neighborhood Tours

Uptown, Andersonville & Lincoln Square
Fridays (May 29, June 26, July 24, & August 21; 10 a.m.–1 p.m.)
There are multicultural and unexpected legacies on the Far North Side. A comprehensive walking tour of Uptown’s Hutchinson Street exposes the largest cache of George W. Maher–designed mansions in the U.S. Get the scoop on Uptown’s early days as a major entertainment district and its current attractions. Tap into German, Swedish and other cultures in the Lincoln Square and Andersonville neighborhoods during your own mini-explorations.
To book this tour or other Chicago neighborhood tours visit: www.chicagoneighborhoodtours.com

Epworth United Church Press Release

Press Release
Epworth UMC, ChicagoWarming Shelter
Monday, January 26, 2009

Over the past two weeks, many prayers have been answered at Epworth UMC – Chicago. As the year drew to a close, with help from the 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith’s office and the City of Chicago, Epworth was able to keep its shelter open. The shelter – an emergency men’s shelter which has a 65 bed capacity, is full virtually every night of its 50 operating weeks per year.

Closing the shelter was thought to be eminent as the former administrating agency - Residents for Effective Shelter and Transitions (REST) - was not able to meet the increase in space-sharing fees and pay for the shelter’s portion of heat expenses. At the last minute, Cornerstone Community Outreach met with Epworth Trustees and decided to take on the shelter project. Under Cornerstone’s administration of the shelter , alcohol and substance abuse counseling as well as job counseling will be part of the shelter program which had been nonexistent with the prior administration.

During the Martin Luther King Memorial Holiday, a Day of Service as suggested by our newly elected President of the United States Barack Obama, under the direction of the Alderman Smith’s office, approximately 60 people from the Chicago neighborhoods of Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park, volunteered at the Epworth Shelter for nearly 12 hours . Epworth is truly thankful for this community action and looks forward to more work days in the future to “help the least amongst us”.

Edgewater bank robbed

The FBI paid a visit to Edgewater after the North Community Bank branch at 5342 N Broadway was robbed last week by a man with a semi automatic handgun. Luckily, no shots were fired.
Source: CBS2 Chicago

Edgewater Children Left Home Alone For 2 Days

3 kids under the age of 12 were found in an apartment at 5342 N. Kenmore by Chicago police at the request of DCFS on Thursday night. One of the children said she hadn't seen her mother since Tuesday, and the apartment was apparently a mess.
Source: CBS2 Chicago & NBC5 Chicago.

Chicago Lodge is Closed

The Chicago Lodge motel located just off Lakeshore Drive at Foster and Sheridan is closed as of 12-31-08. The motel seemed to get good reviews on travel websites for a cheap clean place to stay, however is also notoriously known for the murder that occured last year. Are there any hotel rooms left in Edgewater besides the Heart o Chicago or do people have to go to Evanston or Downtown?

Is that seat taken?

It will be soon, according to the City of Chicago. According to this article in the Sun-Times, the Streets and Sanitation department is finally stepping up and plans to remove any chairs, pails, or other junk that Chicagoans leave in the street. This has become a common practice after heavy snow falls when people shovel a parking spot in a public street and for some reason they believe they are entitled to "hold" it. Move yo chair, fool....if you want a private parking spot we suggest renting one! Check out Parking Spotter or Craigslist to find a rental spot near you.

Summer in Edgewater

No, unfortunately we don't have warm weather to bring you...but according to this Chicago Tribune write-up Summer Noodle & Rice (1123 W Granville) is a good place to get some cheap Thai grub. Summer offers a sleek, modern dining space unlike some hole in the wall take out places, and you have to love BYOB. Check out the article yourself, and if you've dined there let the rest of us know your thoughts in the comments.

Also check out Summer Noodle & Rice in Metromix.

Ugly building gets new, ugly name

According to YoChicago, the new condo development at 6238 N Broadway has been renamed from "The Granville" to "The Clarovista." Huh? I have no idea what Clarovista means, or if it is even a word, but the place looks more like a retirement home than modern condos....maybe they should have named it Del Boca Vista.

Dorm catches fire at Loyola

A fire broke out at a five story dorm at 6310 N Kenmore on Loyola's campus Sunday morning. The fire was extinguished in about 20 minutes and no one was injured. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the blaze.
Source: Chicago Sun Times

Robbed on the Red Line

Red Line robbery
A 20-year-old man was robbed while riding a northbound CTA red line train around 4 p.m. Jan. 9. The victim told police that two men in their late teens tried grabbing his cell phone out of his hand. When the victim resisted, one of the men displayed a gun tucked into his waistband. He handed his phone to the men, who got off the train at the Lawrence el stop.
Pinkie ring pinched
Burglars swiped a diamond-studded pinkie ring and rare watches from a home on the 1400 block of W. Catalpa, sometime before 6 p.m. Jan. 10.
Mugged on Hollywood
Two men were robbed in an alley on the 1500 block of W. Hollywood around 10:30 p.m. Jan. 5. Then men, aged 20 and 31, said they were approached by two men in their 20s who asked them, "Do you have any green?" When they responded no, one of the men produced a handgun, and removed $8 and cell phone from the victim's pockets. The other man took the second man's fur coat valued at $1,000. The men got into a black Kia and fled northbound through the alley on to Clark.
Source: Chicago Journal - News Star

Rivendell Theatre to get permanent home

According to the Chicago Sun Times the Rivendell Theatre Ensamble, currently located within the Raven Theatre at 6157 N Clark, is about to get a permanent home at 5775 N. Ridge, where it will be the resident company but will not own the building. The opening is planned for later this year.

City Shelters Remain Unoccupied During Bitter Cold

After following the REST shelter situation in our neighboordhood so closely, I found this excerpt from an article on the Chicago Tribune's website today covering the cold shocking: "Perhaps surprisingly, city shelters for the homeless were relatively unoccupied. The city provides 5,000 beds spread over 90 shelters, Department of Family and Support Services spokeswoman Anne Sheahan said. But only 107 requests for shelter were made since last night, she said early this morning."

With bitter cold temperatures and wind chills, how is it possible that only 2% of our city's shelters were occupied last night? Am I missing something?

Brutal Cold Takes Hold

The subzero temperatures gripping Edgewater and beyond are expected to last until at least noon tomorrow. I hope everyone is staying warm out there, and not venturing outside unless it's absolutely necessary! Pete's Weather provides real-time updates from a live weather station in Uptown for those who are interested. Please feel free to share any weather related stories or information you may have.

Grand Reopening @ Jewel

As anyone who has recently shopped at the Jewel at Broadway & Berwyn has noticed, the store has been undergoing major changes and renovations. This morning the store was sporting store colored "Grand Reopening" ribbons and flags on the lightposts (visable if you click the picture above). Among the changes that I have noticed have been a bigger deli & bakery area along with a more upscale looking wine section. One can just hope that the actual produce on the new beautiful shelves is also improved.

Dick & Rahm dine in Andersonville

According to the Chicago Sun Times, Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama's chief of staff, and his wife, Amy, were spotted sharing a romantic dinner in a quiet corner of La Tache in Andersonville Saturday. They then headed home to the babysitter. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin celebrated his birthday at the restaurant several weeks ago.

As The Storm Approaches....

6:57 PM, 6728 N. Fairfield - Suspicious person. Male Hispanic in a suit is going door to door and appears to be soliciting.

7:13, 6720 N. Sheridan - Intoxicated black female causing a disturbance in the lobby of an apartment building.

7:50, 5239 N. Broadway - TAC team transporting one suspect.

7:52, 1122 W. Balmoral - Accident with some type of disturbance.

7:52, 6912 N. Ashland - Domestic disturbance, woman wants her boyfriend removed.

7:59, 4848 N. Ashland - Report of a person with a gun. Caller says the male black driver of a green Acura got out of the vehicle and flashed a gun at him.

8:01, 1500 W. Morse - Vice complaint.

8:14, Location undetermined - Officer has the green Acura stopped. One occupant of the car has a blue steel revolver, and the officer says the guy is a gang member.

8:36, Berwyn Red Line stop - Premise check.

9:04, 1600 W. Jonquil - Battery report from the Jonquil Hotel. Employee says a resident assualted and hit him.

Things have gone quiet now.

Shelter To Be Run By Jesus....

Jesus People, that is. According to the Chicago Tribune, the Uptown-based "Jesus People" will take over management of the emergency warming center at the Epworth Methodist Church at 5253 N Kenmore in Edgewater. The facility was run by REST for the previous 14 years. Read the entire article here: Chicago Tribune Breaking News.

After the Snow....

8:15 AM, 5130 N. Sheridan - Disturbance in the lobby at the McDonald's at this address. Female offender.

8:24, 7040 N. Sheridan - Domestic battery. Male and a female fighting in an apartment, caller said male sounds verbally and physically abusive. Responding officer says there is a history of this kind of problem there, and the dispatcher agrees.

8:30, Bryn Mawr Red Line stop - El check.

8:50, 1118 W. Argyle - Southbound Red Line train is reportedly stopped, CTA supervisor says a man was exposing himself on the train.

8:52, Dispatcher reports the train is not at the Argyle stop.

9:02, Jarvis Red Line stop - El check.

9:16, 1021 W. Lawrence - Man threatening suicide in front of Dib restaurant at this address. Officer says he has a knife and hasn't taken his meds.

9:23, 5029 N. Kenmore - Perimeter check of the synagogue at this location.

9:24, 6736 N. Glenwood - Resident of a basement apartment reports a burglary has occurred. She is at the apartment.

9:28, 7040 N. Sheridan - Another domestic battery call came in from this address, this time it's the female victim. She says her 53 year old ex-boyfriend beat her up.

9:54, 4946 N. Sheridan - Another suicide threat, fire is on the way.

10:07, 6602 N. Glenwood - Woman reports she came home and found a man sleeping in her apartment. She does not know this person, believes he is homeless. He has reportedly left the premises and is carrying a shovel.

10:35, 5726 N. Winthrop - Disturbance over car or car keys.

10:52, 6449 N. Mozart - Report of a burglary at a house.

10:54, xx49 N. Sheridan - Narcotics dispersal, 1 person.

11:32, Western and Ardmore - Report of a drunk driver. Caller says a man in a red Audi hit his car, then took off. The suspect went into a tavern near this intersection.

12:11 PM, 1435 W. Morse - Gang/narcotics dispersal of 2 people.

1:09, Granville Red Line stop - El check.

Football is on, so yeah we're done for now.

Andies, shuttered by the CDPH, OK'd to reopen

Andersonville Mediterranean restaurant Andies was shut down by city health officials on Thursday after failing an inspection by the Chicago Department of Public Health. The inspection came in response to a report that a customer had become ill after eating a dish which included chicken, couscous and veggies. Inspectors found that a faulty walk-in cooler was warmer than the 40 degrees or cooler required by law. Over $3000 of chicken, hummus and other food was discarded. Andies has since passed a follow up inspection, received its business license back and is clear to reopen.

News-Star says goodbye to Thorndale Deli

As we previously reported, the Thorndale Deli closed its doors for good on December 31st. The News-Star ran a story this week covering the close of this business that called Edgewater home for 54 years. You can check out the article here: Bye Bye Ham on Rye.

Recent Crimes from the News-Star

Woman loses purse, teeth
A 36-year-old woman had her purse snatched while walking through an alley on the 5300 block of N. Winthrop. She told police she was on her way to work at about 6:45 a.m. Dec. 30 when she was grabbed from behind by a man in his early 20s. The robber pushed her to the ground and grabbed her purse, which had $20 in it. Her front teeth were knocked out when she hit the ground. She was taken to the hospital when she complained of head and knee pain.
Church burglarized
When the pastor of a church on the 1100 block of W. Bryn Mawr got to the building at about 1:30 p.m. Dec. 29 to open the church, he found the front door had been kicked in. As he walked into the church hall, he saw that two guitars and one keyboard were missing. The pastor said he believes a security camera may have recorded the break-in, which, according to him, would have occurred after 5 p.m. the day before.
Robbers run amok on el
While running a security check, police at the Jarvis CTA station were approached by a 21-year-old man who told them he had been robbed by two men in their early 20s. He said he was riding the northbound Red Line train at 2:15 a.m. Dec. 31 when he noticed the men getting on the el at Bryn Mawr.
He was reading a book when one of the men started going through his pockets. When he asked what he was doing, the man threatened to shoot him. The man motioned to his waistband as if he had a gun. He removed the victim's wallet, cell phone and iPod. One of the men slugged the victim in the head. After telling the victim to stay on the train, the men got off at Morse Avenue.
Kitchen ransacked
Police responded to a security alarm in a home on the 5200 block of N. Winthrop at about 1:15 p.m. Dec. 31. Burglars forced open the back door and ransacked the kitchen. When police arrived, they noticed that the garage overhead door was open and the windows on a car parked in the garage were smashed. Residents returned home and told police that nothing appeared to be missing.
Source: Chicago Journal / News-Star

Stuff to do around Edgewater

Lookin for something to do in the coming weeks? Here's a few things that we've come across:

* GLBT Writer's Salon - 1/8 @ 7:30PM (Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W Granville; Free)

* Film Screening: "Dance, Girl, Dance" - 1/10 @ 7PM (Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N Clark; $10)

* Bel Sonore Chamber Ensemble - 1/11 @ 2PM (North Shore Baptist Church; Free)

* Julgransplundring/Throwing out Christmas - 1/11 @ 2PM (Sweedish American Museum, 5211 N Clark; $10)

* Free Classes and Coffee - 1/14 @ 6:45PM (First Evangelical Free Church, 5255 N Ashland; Free)

* 4th Anniversary Wine Tasting - 1/15 @ 6PM (In Fine Spirits, 5418 N Clark; $15)

* Marvin's Room - 1/15 - 1/31 Various times (Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W Bryn Mawr; $17-30)

* In Arabia We'd All Be Kings - 1/15 -2/21 TH, FRI, SAT @ 8PM (Steep Theatre, 1115 W Berwyn; $18)

* Colors of Nature: Oils & Watercolors - 1/16 - 3/15 (Sweedish American Museum, 5211 N Clark)

* Awareness through Yoga - 1/17 @ 1:45PM (Yoga Now, 5852 N Broadway; $16)

* Community Yoga - 1/17 @ 4PM (Cheetah Gym, 5838 N Broadway; Free)

* Film Screening: "Senator Obama Goes to Africa" - 1/17 @ 8PM (Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N Clark)

* Ingaguration Day Brunch - 1/20 @ 10:30AM (Broadway Cellars, 5900 N Broadway)

* The Western Elstons - 1/21 @ 8PM ( Simon's Tavern, 5210 N Clark)

* Andersonville on Sale - 1/23 @ 6PM (Andersonville shopping district)

Want your event listed? Simply email details to: hollywoodbeach60640@gmail.com

Edgewater shelter to remain at Epworth, REST to go

According the Chicago Journal/News-Star, Mary Ann Smith has announced that an agreement has been reached to keep the emergency homeless shelter at Epworth United Methodist Church at 5253 N Kenmore. Under the agreement, changes will be made to "reflect the expressed concerns of our office, the church congregation and the community."

Residents for Effective Shelter Transitions (REST) has been fired as the shelter manager by the Chicago Department of Human Services and a new operator will oversee and manage the shelter. Residents have expressed concerns about REST's management of other facilities, as well as criminal activity taking place near their main office at People's Church in Uptown.

Apparently an email was sent out to residents from Mary Ann Smith's office - if you received this email, please forward it to hollywoodbeach60640@gmail.com and we'll post it for all. I'm on her email lists but did not receive it...

Andersonville resident throws name in hat for Rham's seat

Andersonville resident Matt Reichel is joining the race to replace Rahm Emanuel as the Fifth Congressional District representative. According to his website Matt grew up in Rogers Park is the "youngest and most prospective" candidate in the race and offering the "freshest perspective on the very serious challenges that face this country today." The race also includes a handful of other newcomers to the political arena along with four veterans of Chicago politics: Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, State Reps. Sarah Feigenholtz and John Fritchey and Alderman Gene Schulter. The special election will be held on April 7th.
Source: Chicago Journal

Chicago's traffic cameras OK'd by appeals court

The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in support of the city of Chicago to continue and expand the use of mounted cameras to photograph cars that run red lights. We've seen these cameras at the intersection of Broadway and Foster, and wouldn't be surprised to see more in Edgewater soon. A lawsuit was filed against the city's use of the cameras claiming that it was a violation of equal protection or due process from three plaintiffs who claimed that someone else was driving their car when caught on camera running a red light.

Petition for landmark district in Edgewater

The Edgewater Historical Society is sponsoring a petition to create a landmark district in Edgewater in an effort to preserve landmarks and historical structures in our neighborhood.

Check out their website for more information and to sign the petition: http://www.edgewaterhistory.org/

Young woman's body found in alley

A reader wrote in:
"I was going to work @ 5:45 this A.M. I saw a young women ( i think) dead in the alley just north of Sheridan and Foster. The person was about 20 feet north of foster in the alley just west of sheridan . police were on the scene. its a pretty busy corner early in the morning, i can't imagine she was dead all that long. very sad scene"

UPDATE: From NBC Chicago

A tow truck driver discovered the body of a young woman in a North Side alley early Monday.
The driver found the woman at about 3:20 a.m. in an alley in the 5200 block of North Kenmore Avenue in the Edgewater neighborhood.
The death was classified as non-criminal and a "possible suicide" pending autopsy results, according to police News Affairs. An autopsy will be performed later Monday.
A spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said the body belongs to a still-unidentified white woman, possibly in her early 20s and their office remained at the scene at 6 a.m. Click here to read the entire article

Another article from ABC7

Next Edgewater Planning & Development Meeting

EDC-ECC Planning & Development Meeting
Thursday, Jan. 8, 20097:00 p.m.6044 N. Broadway
Agenda:
1. Bananas Foster Cafe, John Winslow-Owner, Block Club is NEBA. New business presentation & request for incidental liquor license.
2. 1100-1112 W. Granville building renovation plans. John Ritzu - Architect, Frieda Mashni - Owner. Block Club is NEBA.