Bleeding Hearts. Credit: billeguerriero / Flickr

A weekly summary of articles from other news sources featuring our neighborhood

Locally roasted coffee by the numbers [Chicago RedEye]

Found Vintage Living: Housewares from the 50s, 60s, and 70s  [WGN News]

Uptown, past and present [WBEZ]

A trip to the Pleasure Palace: Why Chicago needs bathhouses for women [WBEZ]

CTA says decrowding plan working but numbers show mixed results [Chicago RedEye]

Chicago Craft Beer Week May Be More Beer Than You Bargained For [Chicago Mag]

Pasticceria Natalina’s Natalie Zarzour to fill in at Black Dog Gelato [Chicago Tribune]

Catch Some Trashy Fish At Big Jones [Chicagoist]

Edgewater Branch Library. Credit: PBCchicago / Flickr

Construction of the new Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library on Broadway at Elmdale is progressing nicely.  With only finishing touches left to add, the library is slated to open on June 22nd according to 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman’s office.

The Edgewater branch which was originally built in the 1970′s closed in 2011 to make way for the brand new construction of a larger, LEED certified building.  To build the new branch, the City had to acquire land at 1210 West Elmdale Avenue and at 6014-16 North Broadway Street.

During construction, the Chicago Public Library offered a “Bookmobile” service parked at the Broadway Armory to serve library patrons.  The Bookmobile will close and be removed soon, and in an email Alderman Osterman said ”I want to thank the wonderful Bookmobile staff, Frances and Rita, for serving our community over the past two years.”

A grand opening will be held Saturday, June 22 from 10am – 12pm featuring live entertainment, youth readings and a first look at the brand new library.  In addition, the 48th Ward office and Chicago Public Libraries will host a community meeting to discuss programs and plans for the new library on Thursday, May 23 at the Broadway Armory (5917 N. Broadway, 2nd floor ballroom).

The Chicago Public Building Commission has posted a ton of photos to the Edgeville Buzz Flickr page of the progress of the construction, be sure to check them out.  http://www.flickr.com/groups/edgevillebuzz/

Bike rack. Credit: eco-Andersonville / Facebook

This year’s Midsommarfest will feature a “bike valet” as part of the Andersonville Development Corporation and Andersonville Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to make the annual street festival greener. By offering the bike valet, the thought is that people will be more inclined to bike to the event than take other modes of transportation.

To fund the initiative, the Andersonville Development Corporation is seeking sponsorships to cover the costs of the equipment.  In a flyer to potential sponsors, the ADC outlines some of the benefits of becoming a sponsor including signage at the event as well as being featured on the web and social media on top of showcasing your business as an “eco-friendly” supporter of Andersonville.

The theater company is planning its first fundraiser which will be staged the evening of Saturday, June 8, at the site.  For $50, not only will guest be supporting their new neighbor, but the 1st Annual Frontier Gala will feature live entertainment, drinks, snacks and an opportunity to meet Jackalope’s Staff & Ensemble.  Jackalope will also announce its plans for its next season, their 6th, at the Gala, along with plans of how they envision being an integral part of maintaining a vibrant Thorndale.

In addition to the Gala, there will be an “After Party” beginning at 10pm featuring “live music, cold beer & classy memories.”

Anyone interested in tickets for the event can email thefrontier@jackalopetheatre.org.

Marty’s Martini Bar. Credit: Marty’s / Facebook

Marty’s Martini Bar, the quant little gem nestled on Balmoral just off the Clark Street strip, has grown out of its space at its location and hopes to expand in the near future.  A great atmosphere, tasty cocktails and a super friendly staff have made this neighborhood bar a favorite of residents and visitors alike. Marty’s is a very small space to begin with, boasting only three or four tables and a handful of seats at the bar, and has become so popular that it is not uncommon for the place to be standing room only any day of the week.   Adding to their popularity, the bar recently was awarded the title of #1 Martini Bar in Chicago by HuffPo and has a beautiful patio open during warmer months so it is no surprise that owner Marty Rogo is looking to expand the business.

The casualty of such an expansion, however, may be neighboring Huey’s Hot Dogs.  In 2006, long before the current owner of Huey’s purchased the hot dog restaurant, Rogo says he signed an addendum to his own lease at 1511 W Balmoral with the building’s landlord that gave him a right of first refusal when the lease at Huey’s at 1507-1509 W Balmoral expires.  That lease is slated to expire in 19 months, according to Rogo, who provided the Edgeville Buzz with copies of his lease and the addendum, and he plans to exercise his rights.  According to Rogo, the former owner of Huey’s, Colleen Riordan, sold the business to its current owner about a year ago, at which point he then approached Rogo and asked him to waive his right – to which Rogo declined.

“I made my intentions known that I would be taking the space as we are desperate for more space,” Rogo stated.  “The new owner still went through with the purchase despite knowing that he would be losing his lease.”

Whether or not Huey’s plans to close completely or move is not known at this time.  Either way, the long time Andersonville hot dog joint would be facing future competition, as “Hoppin Hots” is planning to open up just across the street in the former Great Lakes space soon, as we reported last week.

Part of Marty’s charm is its small size, however one cannot fault a business owner for wanting to expand when its business is in such high demand.  The expansion plans seemed to be favorable amongst Marty’s patrons as 84% stated they supported an expansion in a recent Facebook poll.

Someone also posted this to our Facebook page Saturday morning: Coyote sighting: Berger Park, northeast corner near the water on rocks.  The Loyola Student Dispatch also reported that a coyote was spotted near the University’s campus, and one student captured a photo of the animal perched on the rocks along the water.

Coyotes tend to shy away from humans but residents should keep their small animals away from them.  Osterman’s office urged anyone seeing a coyote to call 311 and stated “We have notified Animal Control and will work with them to try to catch this coyote,” however animal control typically will not move them unless they are posing a threat.

UPDATE:  Check out these photos a reader shared with us, taken this weekend.

In this thrilling new drama, a tragic car accident brings a group of fractured souls into the presence of a baby that glows with an unearthly light. Magic and folklore weave throughout Stefanie Zadravec’s beautiful, poignant tale of sad endings, fateful beginnings and the unlikely people that get you from one place to the next. Although she has only begun establishing a national presence, Zadravec is regarded by many as one of the American theatre’s most exciting new voices. The Rivendell production marks Stefanie Zadravec’s Chicago debut.

The Electric Baby was originally produced in 2012 at Pittsburgh’s Quantum Theatre and received the Women in the Arts and Media Coalition’s Collaboration Award in 2011. Zadravec’s account of writing The Electric Baby appeared in the March 2011 issue of American Theatre.

RTE Artistic Director and founder Tara Mallen directs the Chicago premiere, May 16 through June 22 at the new Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge. Previews are Thursday, May 16, Friday, May 17 and Saturday May 18 at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15. The play runs Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; regular tickets are $30 and are available online at www.RivendellTheatre.org or by calling 773.334.7728.

Exterior. Credit: Lyle Bright

The grand building at 5757 N Ridge has been listed for sale by Jameson Sotheby’s, according to a broker with the real estate firm.  We toured the property in 2011 and shared a whole slew of photos of the beautiful interior space in this article.  According to Lina Jocis, with Jameson Sotheby’s, the commercial building is listed at $1.5 million.

“We’ve had some serious interest thus far.  Fire sale times are over, and everything is rebounding,” Jocis told us.

The property is 12,000 sq ft and boasts over 40 sky lights, a fully functional freight elevator and can house up to 12 vehicles on the first floor alone.  Owner Rosario Rosi had hoped to fully convert the building to a public art gallery (upstairs) and private studio for his work (downstairs), but became a victim of the poor economy and was unable to finish the project.

Knock, Knock: 6 Home Delivery Services to Try  [Red Tricycle]

Ombra: A Neighborhood Gem Serving Fine Northern Italian Cucina [Chewables Chicago / Chicago Now]

CPS Overestimates Cost to Keep Trumbull Open [Lincoln Square Patch]

Edgewater Bus Stop Sexual Assault: Police Seeking Suspect Who Raped Woman On North Side [Huffington Post]

Sign on former Great Lake space. Credit: LBRC Facebook

On the surface, one would think that going from being the home of a pizza place that won a gazillion awards including GQ Magazine’s Best Pizza in America to a hot dog joint would be a major downgrade.  However, the optimist in us is extremely intrigued by the fact that the folks from popular breakfast spot Over Easy (4943 N Damen) are behind the new concept evolving at 1477 W Balmoral.  This sign that boasts “Hoppin’ Hots – the hot dog hut” will soon be opening at the location showed up in the window, so we reached out to the Over Easy team to see what it was all about.

Hoppin’ Hotsplans to serve upscale hot dogs, specifically “hot dogs with a little sass, that are a little less straight forward” Gwen Nordine told me.  Nordine is the General Manager of Over Easy and has been with the restaurant since around the time it opened back in early 2006.  The menu is still under wraps, but she was kind enough to give me a few hints, indicating there will be vegetarian options, along with a “sassy dog” – a hot dog equivalent to Over Easy’s signature dish “Sassy Eggs.”  The Sassy Dog will feature chorizo, micro greens, jalapenos and a hot sauce.  Nordine is opening this latest venture along with Jon Cignarale, who owns Over Easy, and the two hope to open Hoppin’ Hots in July or August.

The restaurant currently has an active website (www.hoppinhots.com) which will be updated as their opening gets closer, and a Facebook page will also be launched shortly.

Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra

On May 25th the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra will play a free concert with YOURS Orchestra at Nicholas Senn High School right here in Edgewater.  The concert will be free, however donations will be collected to benefit YOURS as well as Senn’s music program.

Established in 1964, the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra is a premier ensemble of approximately 100 talented high school musicians from southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana.  The group is dedicated to the cultivation of young talent and providing students with the opportunity to perform repertoire not always available to them in their neighborhood schools.  They will be touring Chicago that entire weekend.

The mission of YOURS, which was founded in 2008, is to develop social and cultural awareness in the context of a youth orchestra in inner-city Chicago modeled after the “El Sistema” program in Venezuela.  The project serves children who live in poverty and low-income circumstances, by providing them with a structured and nurturing learning environment.

The concert begins at 4PM and is sure to be a great time with good music for all ages.

The Board of Directors for Edgewater’s Food Panty, Care for Real, announced the appointment of Lyle Allen as Executive Director of the organization earlier this week.  Allen has a successful background running non-profits with such organizations as Green City Market and League of Chicago Theaters and most recently served as Care for Real’s Director of Development.

In announcing the Board’s decision, Chair Nancy Meyerson said, “Since joining Care for Real in August, 2012, Lyle has shown talent, drive, and a true dedication to helping our clients. He really stepped up after our previous Executive Director resigned, assuming additional responsibility and, with the Board, seeing Care for Real through its busiest time ever. We are confident that, under Lyle’s leadership, Care for Real will meet the challenges ahead and continue to serve our clients with dignity and respect.”

Credit: Chicago Police Department

A woman was assaulted Thursday, May 2nd, around 2pm near the bus stop on the corner of Clark and Devon, according to multiple news sources and Chicago Police.  The young woman was sitting at the stop when the suspect approached, sat next to her, then grabbed her by the throat and told her to come with him. He forced her a few blocks northeast to the 1500 block of West Highland Avenue, where he sexually assaulted her and then fled with the woman’s credit card and cell phone.

Chicago Police are searching for the man, described as a black male, approximately 35-40 years of age, 5′ 8″,  300 lbs, medium complexion and black short hair.  At the time, the offender was wearing a white polo shirt with red and blue stripes and blue jean pants.  Police are asking anyone with information to call detectives at Area North, (312) 744-8261.

News coverage:  ABC 7, Chicago Tribune, DNA Info (original), DNA Info (follow up)

Bus stop in front of Deluxe Diner. Credit: mmmmarshall / Flickr

Credit: billpellegrini1 / Flickr

Lorraine Edelstein and Carol Matz were strangers in January. On April 23, a Tuesday, they ate lunch together at the Broadway Armory, friends after taking the same class on the Internet. “Not on the Internet, about it,” Edelstein laughed. “Don’t know how that would work.”

Each had different reasons for taking the class – Edelstein wanted to learn about spreadsheets, while Matz wanted access to free spiritual seminars – but both agree: for seniors, knowledge of the web is indispensable.

Which is why, starting May 8th, the Armory’s Senior Satellite Center will again offer “Mastering the Internet,” a four-part series taught exclusively to seniors “55 years and better” according to the course listing. Taught by Joe Fedorko, the class will meet regularly from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesdays and cover the basics of web navigation from e-mail to supplementary software programs like iTunes and Facebook.

“Everything’s online these days; sign up for this, message this person,” said 63-year-old Maureen Holley, the Center’s sole employee. Holley allots funds provided by the City of Chicago’s Family and Support Services toward the Center’s various amenities, which include 25-40 free lunches daily, along with courses on art and physical activities.

Holley said the online courses hit maximum enrollment of seniors once she began offering them for free. “You ask seniors what they want from a computer,” she said, “and it’s always: ‘I wanna get online.’”

Most elderly people now use the Internet, with 53 percent saying they regularly go online up from 26 percent in 2005.Yet fewer than 40 percent have broadband access in their homes, according to a 2010 Pew survey.

“It’s changed a lot in the past few years. Now older people are seeking this out,” said Patricia Downs, a volunteer for the American Association of Retired People (AARP) who participates in an online meet-up program through AARP’s website. Downs said that many seniors like her now realize the Internet’s potential to relieve boredom and loneliness, but doubted many people her age could afford their own computers. “That’s why they have to go to the library, or senior centers,” she said.

A variety of seniors visit the Center’s computer room. Some will sit in the lounge for so long that Holley has to ask them to leave; others use the web in measured doses.

“There’s one Chinese couple who sits in here all day, reading newspapers from home, I think,” she said. “Another gentleman comes in every morning for 30 minutes. It’s a very big spectrum.”

To illustrate one end of the spectrum, Holley introduced me to Van Brown, a 63-year-old retired railroad worker on a disability annuity who spends three to four hours glued to one of the seven desktops every day. He said he is far beyond the level of the classes taught by the Center.

“I’m the guy that can teach you how to make $10,000 a week on the Internet within a 6-month window,” said Brown. “But nobody believes me.”

Brown has worn a patch over one eye since 1998, when a man hit him over the head six times with a lead pipe. He said he hasn’t made a lot of money off the web yet, but all of that will change when his personal brand launches in June; he will use his money to help people in developing countries, he said.

“There’s so much potential in this tool,” he said. “What people don’t realize, is we could eliminate poverty…if you understand the power of the Internet.”

Best seat in the house from 2012 Midsommarfest. Credit: Matt Eichstedt

About a month from now, Andersonville’s Clark Street will play host to the 48th annual Midsommarfest, a favorite weekend of the year for many in the community.  Midsommarfest is not only a celebration of the vibrant, friendly and diverse Andersonville neighborhood, but it serves as the main fundraiser for the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and the Andersonville Development Corporation. Due to the success of the event each any every year, these organizations are able to spearhead initiatives such as the summer/winter farmer’s markets, streetscape recycling bins and the installation of new bike corrals. This year, a $10 donation will be asked at the gates, which the Chamber hopes you will consider as a small investment in your community.

With less weeks left that you can count on one hand to go before the big event, the Chamber and the Midsommarfest crew are working tirelessly to finalize details for the big weekend.  However, one thing that is complete is the music lineup – and this year’s entertainment surely won’t disappoint.

“I am really proud of this line up; this is the first time that there will be entertainment on every stage, all day, both days,” Jason Cox, Associate Director for the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce told us.  ”We have some young up-and-coming local groups that I am particularly excited about.  We also have some great world music, the expanded Out Rock Stage, featuring local singer-songwriters, plus a really solid family line up on the Summerdale Stage.  I am just really thrilled with how Midsommarfest is shaping up!”

In particular, Cox, who took an active role in creating the lineup, said he was excited about two local groups joining Midsommarfest.  One is  Sidewalk Chalk, which is a “fantastic hip hop group” he saw a few months ago at the Double Door.  Another is Pyro Fighters, which he describes as an electronic party pop group – apparently they have a song about lemon drops, the shot – that he says will be a fun and new sound for the fest.  There is also a stage dedicated to Swedish music, and there will be an ABBA cover band, ABBA Salute, that is sure to rock the Saturday evening crowd. Festival favorites 16 Candles will once again be playing two evenings as well. Below is the entire lineup:

FRIDAY, JUNE 7