4 October 2015: The 800th and Final Post

This little white dog on a windy day bids you a fond farewell

Well, dear readers, after three years and eight hundred posts, i think the time has come to say goodbye. This blog has certainly survived for longer than i ever imagined it would, though it has never attracted many regular followers. I plan to continue posting occasionally on my other local-interest blog, 

Dogs of Rogers Park, at least for the time being. If you enjoy my photographs, 

you can also follow me on Instagram.  

A special note to my most loyal follower, Rebecca: Thank you for all the nice comments and encouraging words over the years!

4 October 2015: Sunday Market Celebrity

Lunch Monkey, sampling the cheese at Stampers while
surrounded by paparazzi at the Glenwood Sunday Market

10 September 2015: The CTA Never Sleeps

The CTA was hard at work tonight replacing old rail ties 

between Farwell and Morse. This work should help the Purple 

Line Express to run more expressly in the future.

9 September 2015: Got Apples?

Every year at this time i am amazed once again at this tough and prolific apple tree growing out of the embankment by the L tracks at Morse and Glenwood. I wonder how the tree ended up there: Years ago, did someone waiting for the Red Line finish eating an apple and carelessly toss the core from the platform, only to have it eventually take root? 

Regardless of its origins and lack of any attention beyond what nature provides, this scraggly-looking tree produces an impressive crop each autumn. This afternoon, Glenwood Ave. was littered with apples. I walked by on my way to Far East Kitchen, pondering where i might get hold of a ladder, or, better yet, how i might manage to hijack a cherrypicker. Two women with a young child in a stroller were walking by. There was no traffic, so one of them stepped into the street, jumping as high as she could, half believing she could make that ten-foot leap and score a few apples. No such luck. And so the apples remain there, just out of reach. 

6 September 2015: This Week's Roaming Through Rogers Park

How many of these Rogers Park locations can you locate?

16 August 2015: The Party's Over

     It was another great Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest ...

My favorite artist of this year's fest is Diana Gonzalez of As the Crow Flies

The inimitable Tommy McKracken

The Lauren Wolf Band

      … but all good things must come to an end.

15 August 2015: Get Thyself to Morse & Glenwood Posthaste!

It's finally here: Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest weekend! 

I look forward to this weekend all year and love to see all the activity as the set-up begins. I'll be there busting the budget, eating things i probably shouldn't, and maybe even dancing a little. Hope to see all of you there too!

Setting up on Friday night

Our newest neighbor, Rogers Park Provisions will be open for the first time
this weekend. This new business is the latest venture by the good folks
at RP Social.

Putting the final touches on the display before the official opening.

11 August 2015: Where Pratt Blvd. Meets Lake Michigan

Where Pratt Blvd. meets Lake Michigan

9 August 2015: A Lesson from the Buddha

The Buddha remains in meditative repose despite
the big honking cicada carcass
dangling from his forehead.
Note to self: Strive for this level of meditation.

7 August 2015: More Fallen Trees, More Beach Scenes

Bench crushed by falling tree

Huge uprooted tree near Morse Ave.

Another beautiful day at the beach

Family gathering with piñata

5 August 2015: Streets & San on the Job

Streets & San was out in force on Farwell Ave. today, removing the debris from Sunday's storm. 

4 August 2015: Life Goes on on Morse Ave.

The CTA finally sent someone out this morning to repair the bus shelter that was toppled 

in Sunday's storm and had been blocking the sidewalk outside Fung's Chinese Restaurant 

on the 1300 block of W. Morse. 

Meanwhile, the demolition of the former strip mall at the corner of Morse and Wayne got underway yesterday and is moving very quickly. So if, like me, you enjoy watching buildings get torn down, hurry on over before it's gone. 

Disclaimer: I am at heart a preservationist and am not a fan of all demolition, but this was a sad little strip mall whose only redeeming quality was that my dog liked to poop on their parkway (and, yes, i always clean up afterwards, thank you for asking!).

3 August 2015: Yarn-bombing in the 'Burbs

Passed this elegantly yarn-bombed tree on Chicago Ave.
in Evanston on my way toTrader Joe's.

2 August 2015: Wild Weather

 It's been a wild day in Chicago. According to Ald. Joe Moore, we lost 75 trees as well as innumerable large branches in a storm that lasted only 15 minutes. 

Huge branch blocking Lakewood Ave. between Pratt and Farwell

Downed branch at Wayne and Farwell

And then there were those dramatic skies:

It was still pouring rain when i took this picture a little after 3:00 PM.

A spectacular sunset, with a hint of more storms to come.

31 July 2015: Blue Moon Over Lake MichiganI

It was a beautiful night at the beach tonight, with the full moon shining down.

30 July 2015: Back to the Beach

A perfect morning at Tobey Prinz Beach

29 July 2015, Part 2: CTA Edition

Here are a few of the things i saw on my travels today:

Urban canyon: Dearborn St. from the Library/State & Van Buren platform

Native flowers in the southeast corner of Graceland cemetery.

Outside the Morse Red Line station

29 July 2015: Got Veggies?

If you've never kept a vegetable garden, i highly recommend it. It's fun, relaxing, and helps you to eat a healthier diet. I've got a bumper crop of green beans and lettuce. I picked the first of the tomatoes today and they are delicious!

15 July 2015: Unsolicited Endorsement of a Fine Local Business

Because i have as much willpower as the average four year old, I couldn't walk past Maddie Bird Bakery on Devon Ave. today without stopping in to buy a cupcake. I was surprised to learn that they also make cakes for special occasions--really, really beautiful cakes!  

12 July 2015: The End of the Weekend

Sunday evening at Tobey Prinz Beach

8 July 2015: After a Long Absence...

… I began to miss my little blog. So here is a whimsical detail i saw on my walk through Rogers Park this afternoon. 

7 June 2015: Welcome to Summer!

 After a stormy start, the first Glenwood Sunday Market of the season got underway, with many of the vendors who have been part of the market from the beginning, along with some new faces like SBK (strawberry focaccia, oh my!!!!).

As an added treat, the Rogers Park Garden Group's annual plant sale is also going on today on Glenwood between Farwell and Morse, with lots of beautiful flowering plants at reasonable prices. Both events last until 2:00, so you may still have time to get there!

4 June 2015: Mission Accomplished!

At long last, the paving has finally been restored on the northwest corner of Glenwood and Farwell. 

Here is what it looked like from last fall until this past week: 

Hooray for progress! 

28 May 2015: Daley Plaza Farmers Market

It was a beautiful day for the farmers market in Daley Plaza. 

Two representatives of the sheriff's office were on hand to discuss
some of the great programs in urban farming, the arts, and literacy
being offered to nonviolent offenders in the county justice system.