Foster Underpass to get facelift - and you can participate

The Foster Avenue underpass will receive a mosaic as the third phase of the Bricolage project. This time around, Edgewater residents are invited to participate. Tonight at 7:30pm, Tracey Van Duinen and Todd Osborne will be projecting an image onto the Foster Ave underpass wall, and neighbors will be able to help trace the design. Later this summer the mosaic pieces will be applied to finish this piece of urban public art.
Thanks to Anne Rossley's blog for the info.

Check out the Bryn Mawr mural work in 2008.

More Lakefront Parking Buzz

According to this editorial, the Park District may look to go the way the city did with its new lakefront parking meters and lease them to a third party. This is obviously a bad idea not only considering how well the city deal is working out, but also because of the impact high rates will have on neighborhood parking in Edgewater, Uptown and Lakeview.

Make your voice heard at an upcoming Park District meeting on Wednesday, June 10 at 4 p.m., at the Park District Headquarters at 541 N. Fairbanks, 8th floor.

Urban Gardening

Northsiders Emily Lake (Rogers Park) and Lynda Chick (Edgewater) are teaming up to form a company called Terra Madre Landscaping. Terra Madre will focus on assisting people in the process of utilizing their backyards, porches and rooftops to grow and harvest food from the privacy of their own property. After an initial consultation and design of the garden, you can choose whether to have Terra Madre do all the work or take a more hands on approach yourself. Their website (www.terramadrelandscaps.com) seems to still be a work in progress, but for more info contact Emily at: elake@terramadrelandscapes.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Lynda at: lchick@terramadrelandscapes.com.

Peace Walk

On Tuesday June 16th, Girl World Leadership Council will host a Peace Walk against violence in the Uptown neighborhood. Girls and women from Edgewater are welcome to join! Our contact at Alternatives, Inc. was kind enough to notify us of this upcoming event.

You should check it out, man.

Neighborhood walking tours start tomorrow

We posted about this in January but thought we should remind you:

Uptown, Andersonville & Lincoln Square

Fridays May 29, June 26, July 24, & August 21 (10 a.m.–1 p.m.)

Cost: $20

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.

Chicago Neighborhood Tours

Seminar on Foster Parenting

Cool Spring Night

8:20 PM, 6322 N. Broadway - Altercation at a store at this address.

8:29, 1335 W. Morse Ave. - Narcotics dispersal of one person.

8:29, Morse Red Line Stop - El check.

8:33, 6102 N. Mozart - Male caller says someone is breaking into his car.

8:39, Damen and Jarvis - Report of about 10 males fighting in the street. Some are on bikes and throwing things at each other.

8:40, 1346 W. Morse - Another narcotics dispersal of one person. Dispatcher responds that it's not in a "hot spot."

8:41 - A slowdown is called on the fighting reported at Damen and Jarvis.

8:48, Peterson and Albany - Man in a wheelchair is panhandling out in the intersection.

8:49, 7646 N. Bosworth - Armed robbery report. A blue Dell laptop and $80 were taken from the victim at gunpoint. 3 male black offenders fled, all dressed in dark jackets and dark jeans. One of them reportedly has a blue steel revolver.

9:11, 6607 N. Newgard - Pizza delivery driver was reportedly robbed at this location.

FBI intensifies search for 'Red Line Robber'

From WBBM 780:
CHICAGO (STNG) - The search for a suspect accused of robbing at least eight Chicago banks since December 2008 has intensified, the FBI announced Tuesday.The FBI is asking for the public’s help in identifying the “Red Line Robber,” named because his suspected thefts have occurred at bank branches near stops on the CTA Red Line.The most recent robbery occurred May 12 at the MB Financial Bank branch at 1 E. Wacker Dr. Armed with a handgun, the robber threatened a teller, then escaped on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to an FBI release." Continue reading

Related: Reward offered for Red Line Robber

ABC 7's Hungry Hound visits Sabai-dee

ABC 7's Hungry Hound Steve Dolinsky recently visited and reviewed Edgewater's own Sabai-dee located at 5359 N Broadway. As Chicago's only Laotian restaurant, Sabai-dee offers a unique flavor of cuisine which is described as being similar to Thai food, but with is a little less sweet and more salty. Check out the video and write-up here.

Man on tracks shuts down Red Line

An unauthorized person was on the CTA's southbound Red Line tracks on Sunday night, forcing the transit agency to shut down the line for a period of time. It is unsure of how the person got there, and although not being hit by a train or making contact with the third rail the person was taken to a local hospital.

Cedar Park Advisory Council

Cedar Park Advisory Council: Selection of Officers meeting this Saturday @ 10AM

Taste Of Edgewater Cookbook

As the Edgewater Community Council and its partner organizations gear up to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2010, they're looking for your favorite family recipes. In an effort to help raise funds for community, social ,civic and economic programs in Edgewater they are creating a community cookbook titled A Taste of Edgewater.

Inquiries and recipe submittals may be sent to your local block club, to tasteofedgewater@yahoo.com, or you may call Barbara Sloan at 312.961.6415. Recipes are due by June 1st! They are also looking for a creative cover which uses the title of the book and reflects the diversity and beauty of the neighborhood.

Reminder: LSD Closure

Lake Shore Drive will be closed to automobile traffic on Sunday, May 24 from 5:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. for the annual Bike the Drive Event. The closure will extend from Bryn Mawr to 57th Street.

Click here to visit Bike the Drive's website for more information on the event. If you are interested in participating but haven't yet signed up, to the best of our knowledge you can register for the event as late as the day of unlike years past.

Cheap Eats - T's Paisan's

Looking for a cheap meal in a down economy?

A reader writes in: "I note that T' Paisans on the 1100 Block of Thorndale has lowered its prices on pizza and now charges less than $3.00 for 3 large pizza slices. It's nothing extraordinary, but a meal for that price is rare indeed. "

Neighborhood Nights On Thorndale Start In June

Just in time for summer, the Edgewater Community Council will begin hosting Neighborhood Nights on Thorndale. Since the positive loitering event at Thorndale and Broadway on May 11th, the ECC has been hard at work on developing a recurring proactive event for that particular area.

An ECC representative tells us "I am working with local organizations, schools, neighborhood members, and elected officials to make Neighborhood Nights on Thorndale as beneficial as possible. By providing safe, community building activities we will promote a safe and strong community environment. We will start small, but we will grow."

We'd like to express our support for this new initiative, and hope that many of you are able to attend!

Lost Chia

From Craiglist:
"I Lost My Chihuahua Dog at the corner of Broadway at Hollywood, close of the Northside Toyota. Please help me to find my Dog. He is Black & White and with a lot of energy. "
Contact: comm-bdjcr-1171716304@craigslist.org

Porch Fire on Foster

May 18, 2009
FROM STNGWIRE REPORTS
A fire on the back porch of an apartment building on the North Side has been controlled with no injuries Monday morning, police said.
The fire started about 5:36 a.m. at a multi-unit apartment building at 1734 W. Foster Ave., according to police.
The blaze was contained to the rear porch, and though it caused damage to the building, no injuries or displacements were reported, according to police.
It was not known immediately started the fire or what time the fire was extinguished.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times

What's All The Buzz About?

The Edgewater Crime Blotter is now the Edgewater Community Buzz. After one year of blogging about news, events, crime, businesses and other community information in & around Edgewater, we figured that the name which was created originally was no longer fitting - we're so much more than a crime blog! The new name will allow us to keep our URL, so no need to update your bookmarks and links.

GQ Names Great Lake Nation's Best Pizza

GQ magazine's food writer, Alan Richman, named Great Lake's Mortadella Pie the best pizza in America. Richman traveled 20,000 miles to find the perfect pie before selecting the winner, made from fresh garlic and the Italian bologna-like sausage. Great Lake is located at 1477 W Balmoral Ave. (we also featured them on the ECB earlier in the year). The story will run in next month's GQ. You can find the entire list of the top 25 pizzas here.
Source: Chicago Tribune

George's Ice Cream and Sweets Now Open in Andersonville

A friend tells us that George's Ice Cream and Sweets opened yesterday in the former Sweet Occasions space at 5306 N. Clark St. Looks like they're just in time for summer.

Veteran Chicago Reporter Starts Online News Site

Excerpt from press release....Lorraine Swanson, 16-year veteran reporter and former editor of the Chicago Journal's News-Star, will debut her own online news site next week. Called Lake Effect News (LEN), it will cover news and events in Chicago's North lakefront communities. Lake Effect News will be up and running before May 22, 2009. Lake Effect News will be a daily online news site. It will be updated throughout the day, offering up a daily dish of politics, crime reports, development updates, school information, entertainment tips and more, all with a hyper-local focus. Lake Effect News will focus on Rogers Park, West Ridge, Edgewater, Andersonville, Uptown, Ravenswood, Lincoln Square, North Center, Lake View, Albany Park and other neighborhoods.

Free parking along lakefront to end

At the end of the summer the Park District will begin charging $1/hour to park in 4,400 spots along the lake that until now had been free. 537 other spots which already have a meter will see their rates double or quadruple. The plan, which no doubt will be unpopular with visitors who enjoy utilizing the lakefront for free, is expected to generate $700,000 for the Park District in its first year alone and help them avoid future layoffs and service cuts.
Source: Chicago Breaking News

Grand Opening Tonight

GRAND OPENING!!!! Tonight @ 8PM

From their website:

Our music includes today's hottest New & Classic Country, Pop, Retro and Dance. We also feature our own in-house designed entertainment to provide an exciting GLBT experience.

We are located just steps west of the corner of Clark andBryn Mawr Avenue in Chicago's fastest growing neighborhood: Andersonville. We are proud to be a part of the GLBT and Andersonville communities!

Come in. Check us out. Stay until the cows come home.

www.cattlecallchicago.com

On this day, one year ago....

the Edgewater Crime Blotter was launched. Thanks to everyone who reads this blog for a great first year! We hope you've enjoyed the site and as always we welcome any comments & suggestions you may have to make it, and our neighborhood, better.

Armed Robber Targeting North Side Businesses

The man pictured above is suspected of committing at least 3 armed robberies in the Edgewater and Lakeview neighborhoods within the past week. The Edgewater robberies occurred at a Payless Shoes store in the strip mall immediately west of the Berwyn Red Line stop, and at a antiques store in the area. The robber is described as a black man between 25 and 35 years old, 5-foot-10 and 180-200 pounds with a medium complexion and a few days' growth of facial hair.

If you have any information about these robberies, you are urged to call Belmont Area detectives at (312) 744-8263.

Source

Alternatives Inc. Hosting Second Annual Alternate Route 8k Run for Youth on Sunday

Alternatives Inc., a youth and family agency serving northeast Chicago, is hosting its Second Annual Alternate Route 8K Run For Youth this Sunday May 17th at 8AM in Montrose Harbor. The cost is $35 on the day of the race. To register or find more information about the event, please visit alternativesyouth.org.

Andersonville Farmer's Market

Location: Berwyn between Clark and Ashland

Dates: Wednesdays, June 24-Sept. 9

Time: 4-8 p.m.

Little Corner Restaurant: Neighborhood Gem

With all the negative chatter recently regarding Thorndale/Broadway, we wanted to share our recent experience for breakfast at Little Corner Restaurant. This little diner caters toward patrons as diverse at the neighborhood which it lies. The staff is friendly, the menu is simple, and the food is very reasonably priced. Definately check out this comfy diner if you have not yet - and if you have, let us know about your experience in the comments section.

Improvements Near the Thorndale Red Line Stop?

There's been a real buzz about issues and criminal activity near Thorndale and Broadway recently, so I wanted to share this positive assessment that another reader submitted.

"Hello. Just wanted to send along an update regarding the Thorndale train stop. The last few days, I've seen a noticeable decline in the number of people hanging out by the stop in the mornings. A couple of weeks ago there were at least 5 or 6 people standing around the station, this week I've only seen two or three. Also, I got off the train this evening at 6:15 PM and when I got to the street there was a police officer sitting in his Chicago Police cruiser, parked right outside the train entrance. And not a loiterer in sight. I think the Chicago PD is starting to catch on, thanks to the efforts of community members and blogs like yours. Keep up the great work!"

I'm hoping this trend continues, and we will do all we can to keep the community informed of any further developments.

2009 Chicago Summer Festival Schedule

Bands, booze and greasy eats will soon be filling Chicago's streets. Check out Metromix's complete list of all the action in their Chicago Festival Guide here.

HRC holds talk in Andersonville

From the Windy City Times:
Members of the local and national chapters of the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) convened at In Fine Spirits, 5418 N. Clark, May 2 with local activists to discuss various issues ranging from same-sex marriage to binational couples.

State Rep. Greg Harris started things by discussing Illinois' $12 billion deficit ( saying that Illinois may have to “cut half of everything the state does, or increase revenue” ) and the civil-unions bill. Of the measure, Harris brought attendees up to speed on the bill's status and adding that his ultimate goal is same-sex marriage: “People can get civil unions but we're not going to stop until we get full marriage equality.” He also said that he will not call for a full vote in the House unless he is certain he has enough votes for the measure to pass. Continue reading here.

Edgewater's own Aleksandar Hemon featured in Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal featured an article on Aleksandar Hemon, a Bosnian author, today. The article notes key places in Chicago that have influenced or inspired his fiction work. His 2008 novel "The Lazarus Project" was nominated for a National Book Award. His new collection of short stories "Love and Obstacles" centers on an unnamed narrator who moved from Sarajevo to Chicago in 1992. Read the entire WSJ article here.

Incidents @ Broadway/Berwyn

First, the crosswalk light was knocked over on the southeast corner of Broadway & Berwyn (see photo below) in front of Payless Shoes. Surprisingly, it still operates correctly as it sits on the sidewalk. Call 311 to let the city know it is down so they send someone to fix it.

Secondly, the glass door at New Paramount Cleaners at 5255 N Broadway in the strip mall on the southeast corner of Broadway and Berwyn was completely shattered and all over the ground. A uniformed police officer was on the scene this morning investigating, so we have reason to believe this was no accident.

Anyone with additional information on either of the above is encouraged to share in the comments section.

Tonight! Historical Society Benefit

Broadway Cellars Bistro is the site of the Edgewater Historical Society's spring fundraiser tonight, Wednesday, May 6, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The cost of the evening, $40 in advance and $45 at the door, includes hors d'oeuvres, a dinner buffet, cash bar and silent auction. For more information, go to the Historical Society's website.

Positive Loitering @ Thorndale/Broadway

The Edgewater Community Council, the Thorndale Action Task Force, as well as other community partners, have informed us that they have been working together to help deter negative activity on Thorndale and Broadway by engaging in "positive loitering." See the flyer below:

A Reader's Account of Criminal Activity Near Thorndale and Broadway

A reader wrote in to report the following incidents, which occurred close to Senn High School.

"I identified 2 black males selling drugs near my house on Thursday 4/30/09 at 11AM. I called police to report it. 2 days later I see the same men pass by. They threatened me, saying "We know where you live." I firmly believe they will be retaliating in the near future.

One of the males is about 5'10"-6', 180-200 lb.
The other is about 5'8-5'9" and maybe 160 lb.
They were together both times."

This is a disturbing situation. I encourage anyone who witnesses criminal activity like this to report it to the police. I asked our reader if the police were notified after the threat was made, and the reader indicates....

"I called police both times. The first time they did not do anything except take info from me over the phone. The second time several cars, marked and unmarked, cruised the area looking for the two men but could not find them. An unmarked with 3 officers took a statement from me. They seemed eager to find these guys. I believe that if everyone is aware that this is going on and reports any similar activities we can keep our neighborhood safe."

Obviously this situation provides further insight regarding problems in the general area of Thorndale and Broadway.

Man Fatally Struck By Cab in Edgewater

Around 6:20 AM this past Sunday, 42 year old Robert Deighton of Oregon was walking along when he was hit by a cab exiting a driveway in the 5500 block of N. Sheridan Rd. He was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Lakeview, where he unfortunately died of his injuries.

The driver of the cab was cited for failing to stop while exiting a driveway.

Source

Street Sweeping Schedule

You know spring is here when the orange signs line the street and the street sweepers do their thang. Streets are cleaned approximately every 18 days and a full schedule can be found here on Alderman Mary Ann Smith's website:

Map: www.masmith48.org/mapstreetandsan.html
Schedule: www.masmith48.org/pdfs/48thWard2009StreetSweeping.pdf

Police Family Safety Info Day

The 20th District Police and the Chicago Fire Department are hosting a Family Safety Information Day on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. at the Foster Avenue Beach parking lot.

The day will feature the Fire Department's Survive Alive House, which simulates what you should do if you are caught in a fire, and the Police Department's mounted unit, canine unit, command van and G.R.E.A.T. car. If you have questions, call the 20^th District CAPS office, (312) 742-8770.

Kentucky Derby @ In Fine Spirits

Kentucky Derby Day Party

TODAY May 2 - 3pm - 2am @ the Bar

Celebrate the Run for the Roses with us! We're featuring a Derby Hat Contest, Pick-Your-Spirit Mint Juleps, food specials, and more. You can win prizes for picking win, place, or show!

Senn High School Receives Grants & Hosts Art Festival

U.S. representative Jan Schakowsky has announced that $381,000 in federal grant funds is coming to Senn High School for new state-of-the-art science labs.

Also, a four-year grant for $400,000 from AT&T and DePaul University has been awarded to Senn's AVID college-prep program. The money will go towards professional development, strengthening parental involvement, tutoring/college readiness seminars, trips to colleges, and universities, and direct connections with the university experience.

Senn High School, 5900 N Glenwood, will be prepsenting an Art Festival on Saturday, May 16, 9 AM to 12 Noon at their Front Campus. The Festival will feature piano solos, poety recitals, clay art building demonstrations, student artwork, face painting and henna tattoos. Bring the family and enjoy getting to know our local high school students.

Edgewater's Spring Cleaning

Edgewater Day of Service
Saturday, May 9 from 10 AM to 3PM

Please mark your calendars for this second Edgewater Day
of Service.

This past January 19, nearly 300 volunteers helped out with the Edgewater Day of Service, part of President Obama's National Day of Service. Participants had a great time and requested regular community service days.

The May 9th day of service will be centered on "spring cleaning" tasks. Volunteers will be painting, cleaning, and picking up litter in Edgewater parks, streets, other public areas, and for area non-profits and volunteers will be helping with a special recycling collection.

Please contact Jen Walling at jen@heathersteans.com if you would like to sign up to volunteer, if you're a block club that would like to lead a specific project, or if you have specific service projects to suggest.

Sponsored by State Senator Heather Steans, Alderman Mary Ann Smith, State Representative Harry Osterman, and the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce