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Thursday, December 31, 2009

Remembering the Adelphi Theater



It would not be fitting for me to end another year out without a retrospect of the Adelphi Theater. I ask the question "Was it in the best interest of Rogers Park to destroy this?" rhetorically, because this theater was in great shape and structurally sound before the wrecking ball did it's damage. Nearly ready for its Grand Re-Opening, we had spent roughly two years renovating the Adelphi before a developer destroyed it and left another dangerous hole in the ground.

Wondering how many empty lots and dangerous holes we will have in the coming New Year?

Wondering how many realtor-owned properties will remain incomplete and in disrepair in the coming decade?

Even if you can't review every street and property in Rogers Park, you can keep an eye on them right here for the year to come and beyond.


Happy New Years,

- Bill Morton
Rogers Park in 1,000 Words
www.RP1000.blogspot.com

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House


Alhambra Cafe
1622 W. Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Best of 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House


Alhambra Cafe
1622 W. Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House


Alhambra Cafe
1622 W. Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Adelphi site for sale

hey Bill

Don't know if you noticed, but I was driving south on Clark Street yesterday and spotted a for sale sign on the Adelphi lot; so maybe Joe Moore's little real estate weasel has given up on his hole in the ground, or been foreclosed on? I know that's one of the driving forces in your blog, but I hadn't noticed anything lately, so thought I'd let you know.

Cheers. Love the wintertime photos.

Bill




blog note:

site of the former
Adelphi Theater
7070-78 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL. 60626

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Parlor

In The Parlor of

Quest Network Services
7301 N. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL. 60626

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House


Alhambra Cafe
1622 W. Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626
Be a good person.

Be a good neighbor.

And contribute to your community.


- Bill Morton

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas Rogers Park!

The Quest Christmas Tree


Quest Network Services
7301 N. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL. 60626

The Quest Christmas Tree


Quest Network Services
7301 N. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL. 60626

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Renaming Triangle Park - Online poll update


Renaming Triangle Park poll is online at:
http://www.renamingtrianglepark.blogspot.com



Who should Triangle Park be named after?

Carmen Dyse-Ellis Nature Park 330 (73%)

Mary Jo Doyle Nature Park 25 (5%)

Tobey Prinz Nature Park 95 (21%)


Votes so far: 450
Days left to vote: 7


note: paper ballots are also located at Willye B. White Recreation Center.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House




ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House




ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Ursula Bielski at Charmers Cafe



Author, Ursula Bielski signs copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Ursula Bielski at Charmers Cafe



Author, Ursula Bielski signs copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Ursula Bielski at Charmers Cafe



Author, Ursula Bielski signs copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Ursula Bielski at Charmers Cafe



Author, Ursula Bielski signs copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Ursula Bielski at Charmers Cafe



Author, Ursula Bielski signs copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Ursula Bielski at Charmers Cafe



Author, Ursula Bielski signs copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Ursula Bielski at Charmers Cafe



Author, Ursula Bielski signs copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Author Ursula Bielski at Charmers Cafe


Author, Ursula Bielski signs copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Will Netherland

Will Netherland
Will Netherland


Saturday, December 19, 2009
5pm - 7pm

Starbucks Coffee
6738 N Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60626

Ursula Bielski to visit Rogers Park for book signing




Author, Ursula Bielski will sign copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Ursula Bielski to visit Rogers Park for book signing


Author, Ursula Bielski will sign copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Ursula Bielski to visit Rogers Park for book signing



Author, Ursula Bielski will sign copies of her books at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Monday, December 14, 2009

Rogers Park music events this week

Will Netherland Will Netherland


Wednesday, December 16, 2009
7pm - 9pm

Alhambra Cafe
1622 W Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626



Saturday, December 19, 2009
5pm - 7pm

Starbucks Coffee
6738 N Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60626

Ursula Bielski to visit Rogers Park for book signing


Author, Ursula Bielski will sign copies of her book Chicago Haunts at Charmers Cafe on Friday, December 18th, 2009.

Charmers Cafe
1500 W. Jarvis Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Rogers Park Musicians, Banda El Recuerdo

Banda El Recuerdo

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

morning in the ballroom


Tuesday, December 8, 2009

ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House - December 12th, 2009

ALHAMBRA CAFÉ - December 12th, 2009





On Saturday, December 12th, 2009, the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce will be supporting ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House by inviting Rogers Park residents and local business owners for a taste of Alhambra!


Support a local business by purchasing a coffee, tea or dessert at:


ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

10am - 10pm


Alhambra Cafe


Musical guests for this event include:

Chris Marshall 12pm - 3pm
Driftin' Luke 3pm - 5pm
William Netherland 5pm - 7pm
Edward Yeo 7pm - 9pm

Tarotguy 4pm - 10pm


Members of the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce will be available throughout the day and evening to discuss your thoughts on how to improve Rogers Park through its local businesses.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Renaming Triangle Park

Triangle Park will soon be renamed.


Why rename Triangle Park?

Triangle Park is a 2.5 acre park located at 7700 N. Hermitage. It was a community managed park built in 1985 under Urban Renewal restrictions. It is a passive park with no sports or play structures on it. The community considers it a nature park, with an ecological focus and used for picnics, impromptu sports, and community events. In 2000 it was transferred to the Chicago Park District as Park #518. The Park District has asked new parks to be named after a notable woman. Therefore the Triangle Park Advisory Council has drawn up a short description of 3 candidates, each having either lived or worked in Rogers Park and contributed to the advancement of our community.



About the three Candidates


Carmen Dyse-Ellis
Carmen Dyse-Ellis, born Aug. 22, 1958, taught at Gale Academy for 21 years. She was the Science and Lang. Arts teacher for grades 7 and 8. A devoted teacher, she many times worked extra with her children one on one, and even brought them to her home where she lived above her mother’s apt. on S. Halsted St. Carmen wrote plays and inspiring poetry. Her students could call her at any time about anything. Carmen was so faithful to being in school that when she died of cancer Nov. 27, 2008 she still had 100% of her sick leave.


Mary Jo Doyle
Mary Jo Doyle, born April 8, 1939, was a founding member and Executive Director for the Rogers Park/ West Ridge Historical Society in 1975. A member of the Historical Society for 28 years, she co-authored two books about Rogers Park, “Chicago’s Far North Side” and “Neighborhoods within Neighborhoods”. She was known as the “Voice of 1000 stories”, having interviewed countless people for their personal recollections. Mary Jo was extremely active in Rogers Park. She was a member of the Rotary of Chicago-Rogers Park, the Rogers Park Lions Club, and the Far North Side Women’s Network. She died Dec. 17, 2007.


Tobey Prinz
Tobey Prinz, born Nov. 3, 1911, was a charter member of the Chicago Teacher’s Union in 1937. In the early 1950’s Tobey Prinz and other activists formed the Rogers Park Community Council. She was best known as the leader of the 1954 campaign to save Rogers Park’s beaches from high rise development, thus preserving the beach as public space. Tobey founded the Rogers Park Tenants Committee, fought for racial integration, and was known citywide as a key organizer for the Tenant Bill of Rights in Chicago. She also served on the board of the Howard Area Community Center. A community leader and outspoken activist, Tobey Prinz died June 26, 1984.




About the Vote

The Triangle Park Advisory Council are encouraging those who reside, work, visit, recreate... in Rogers Park to participate in the poll.

Paper/pencil poll sheets are at Willye B. White Recreation Center at 1610 W. Howard Street.

There is also an online poll, located at:
www.renamingtrianglepark.blogspot.com


Voting ends on December 31st, 2009.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

African immigrant seeks alliance with Chicago's Mexicans

A few months after arriving from Sierra Leone, Alie Kabba learned the dynamics of Chicago immigrant life when he found a pickup soccer game near his Rogers Park apartment. All of the players were Mexicans.

"I didn't have enough for my own team," he recalled. "They had the numbers."

Now head of the United African Organization, Kabba is pursuing an intriguing and complicated experiment: to see whether Africans can forge a political alliance with the Mexicans, who make up the largest share of immigrants in Chicago.

Last month, Kabba's group organized a first large-scale meeting with Mexican leaders, in which the sounds of Liberian drummers meshed with casual conversations in Spanish.

Both sides say broadening their base is crucial because lawmakers in Washington are set to debate a plan to legalize illegal immigrants and bring in foreign "guest workers," an idea unpopular with many Americans.

Kabba, 47, has been stirring the pot since he was a university student leader in the western African nation of Sierra Leone. A "liberal, almost radical leader," as he now describes himself when younger, Kabba spent regular stints in jail after challenging a longtime dictatorship.

In the early 1990s, while Kabba was attending the University of Illinois at Chicago on a student visa, a full-fledged civil war broke out in Sierra Leone. Fearing for his life if he returned, Kabba was granted political asylum. He is now a U.S. citizen.

Almost immediately, he revived his activism in Chicago as a man who could blend scholarly explanations about global economics with a warm smile that pops up even when discussing his own political persecution.

A natural storyteller, Kabba recounted how he was hunting for plantains one day in Rogers Park and finally found them -- in a Latin American grocery store. As a Puerto Rican merengue tune thumped in the store, Kabba realized that the rhythms came from Africa.

Those touchy-feely anecdotes have a broader purpose, in Kabba's view. As he told those at last week's meeting, "We realize that the right thing is to build a common front and find our common humanity."

In 2006, Kabba opted to establish the United African Organization's office in the black cultural hotbed of Bronzeville instead of the usual African immigrant enclaves of Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park.

Read more at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-africa-activist_aviladec06,0,2887331.story .

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House




ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Pub Crawl in Rogers Park

We've got a pub crawl in the 'hood to celebrate the holidays! Granted, it's a tiny pub crawl and involves the small group of usual suspects, but hey.

The crawl involves stops at Morseland, Duke's, Heartland, and the Glenwood and will be herding drunks from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. I wish they put these events on a Friday or Saturday, but perhaps not everyone likes drinking beer as much as I do.

Read more at http://rp-and-beyond.blogspot.com/2009/12/pub-crawl-in-rp.html .



Note:
From December 06, 2009 4:00 PM
Until December 06, 2009 8:00 PM

Friday, December 4, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House




ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Rogers Park Mugging victim's phone returned

Bridget Seemann felt violated after being mugged by a pair of young men steps from her Rogers Park home on Tuesday night.

They punched her in the head, ripped her jacket and stole her cell phone, which held information relating to just about every facet of her life: pictures of her young twins, contact information for friends and family, even her personal calendar. She didn't want to feel bitter, but it was hard not to.

Then on Wednesday, she was contacted by her father, who told her that a student at an alternative school on the South Side had found her phone. The girl's teacher had called contacts in her phone, including Seemann's father.



Read more at http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/12/student-finds-returns-mugging-victims-phone.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChicagoBreakingNews+%28Chicago+Breaking+News%29 .

Thursday, December 3, 2009

First Snow

It is snowing in Rogers Park!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Rogers Park Musician, Will Netherland

Will Netherland

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Rogers Park Campaign Office Broken Into

Does Joe Moore still say that "Crime is Down"?


Police Thursday are investigating the break-in and theft of a computer from a political campaign office on the Far North Side. The ward's committeeman doubts the break-in was political in nature, though.

About 7:20 a.m. police got a call that a door was open at the office on the 1700 block of West Greenleaf, police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez said. The 49th Ward Democratic Party campaign office is at 1774 W. Greenleaf Ave., according to 49th Ward Democratic Committeeman David Fagus.

Responding officers found that a window had been broken and a door opened, Perez said.

A computer and monitor were taken, Fagus said.

It was not immediately known what time the break-in may have occurred. The incident is being investigated as a burglary, Perez said.

Fagus said this sort of thing has not happened at the office previously. "It's kind of an odd occurrence," he said.

The office is used mainly by Ald. Joe Moore, Fagus said, and the group Organizing for America, a national Democratic group, also uses the space.

Still, "it would be very unlikely (the break-in) is political," he said. "Nobody in the office is running for anything at the moment," and he noted the computer taken "was the one with the best monitor." Whomever broke into the office saw what appeared to be a valuable computer and monitor, broke in, and left, Fagus said.



Read more at http://cbs2chicago.com/local/burglary.Rogers.Park.2.1335929.html .

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House


ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Something good

I have some great things cooking that I couldn't even hint at until now.

More details next week.

Thank you to my readers, always.

- Bill

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House




ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Happening Today

Heartland Harvest Run

Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 8 am

The Heartland Cafe, Glenwood & Lunt

Heartland Athletes United for Peace.

Run free.

Donations will benefit La Voz de los de Abajo.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Change in Rogers Park?

Do you feel that things are changing in Rogers Park or do you feel that we are still in the same 16+ year rut?

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House





ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Joe "Greeley" Moore 1931 - 2009

Joe Greeley Moore - 1931 - 2009


Joseph Greeley Moore set the vibe that for several decades sustained the No Exit Cafe in Rogers Park, where coffee-fueled conversation and long games of chess trumped humdrum concerns over dollars and cents.

Mr. Moore, 77, died of complications related to renal failure on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in a hospital in Kentucky, said his wife, JoAnn. He had been living in Kentucky for several years.

Mr. Moore bought the No Exit circa 1959, a year after it opened on Foster Street in Evanston. When Northwestern University decided it needed the property (now a parking lot) in 1967, Mr. Moore moved the cafe south to 7001 N. Glenwood Ave. in Chicago, still hard against the "L" tracks.

He was politically active and a "talker," friends said, and in the No Exit, which took its name from the title of a Jean Paul Sartre play, he found both a profession and a second home.

"He lived in the place, practically," said Sue Kozin, who with her husband, Brian, owned the cafe from 1977 to 2000.

Read more at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-obit-joemoore-11-nov11,0,7031897.story .

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House


ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Hana Restuarant on Sheridan

Hana Restaurant is open! Located in Rogers Park at 6803 Sheridan, in the old Mandarin Restaurant space, they serve delicious Japanese cuisine, including teriyaki and and sushi.




Read more at http://www.baconrodeo.com/2009/11/hana-restaurant-on-sheridan.html .

Friday, November 6, 2009

It is Clear

Clear internet service at Quest Quest Network Services is a representative of the new Clear internet service.

For more information about Clear, pricing, internet speeds and availablity, please contact:

Quest Network Services
7301 N. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL. 60626
(773) 761-3555


I will continue to follow the progress of Clear service in Rogers Park and our local computer services business, Quest Network Services.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Levy House from 7301

Levy House from 7301

Levy House from 7301

Ice Skating project

I got word about an ice skating project in the works in Rogers Park for this Winter.

I will be charting this project's progress as it happens.

Looking through my window

Looking through my window


Looking through my window


Looking through my window


Looking through my window

Looking through my window

Interesting article with a Rogers Park reference

"He's a happy little guy, very optimistic, never gives up, multi-talented," explained my friend Laurie Nayder of Rogers Park...



Read More at http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2009/11/putting-a-little-rat-into-mickey-mouse.html .

Alhambra Cafe and Coffee House



ALHAMBRA CAFÉ Coffee House
1622 West Morse Avenue
Chicago, IL. 60626

Kilmer Triangle improvements

Have you noticed the improvements this summer at Kilmer Triangle (middle of the Rogers/Ashland/Birchwood intersection)? Take a look. All plants, mulch and labor were generously donated by Gethsemane Garden Center.

Next time you're at Gethsemane, thank the staff and management there. Gethsemane has been very active in landscaping traffic circles and medians and other public spaces – donating shrubs, trees, labor and other materials. Jargowood Block Club is a lucky beneficiary of their generosity.

Read more at http://fargocats.blogspot.com/2009/11/working-in-neighborhood.html .

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Stuck at 400,000



I've been doing very well with readership of Rogers Park in 1,000 Words. I've had 277,597 Visitors since June 22, 2007 and people curious about it's Author have pinned my Profile Views to a now unchanging 400,000.

I'm even getting positive comments these days. Can you believe it?

Thank you for breaking my stats!

No, really. Thank you!

- Bill Morton

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Al Goldberg is replacing his sign



Al Goldberg is replacing his FOR SALE sign at 7313-15 N. Sheridan Road, as I type this.



I wonder if it will include the now-infamous CONTRACT PENDING (by developer Rich Aronson), or if Mr. Aronson simply gave up on the property.




As my readers know, I am not a fan of most Rich Aronson's condo projects. I'll go ask Al right now.



Part II


I spoke with Al about the property while he hammered in his new sign.

Al Goldberg told me "The Rich Aronson Deal is Dead".




Sent a new resident to the Alderman's storefront

I recently met a new resident to Rogers Park who was very interested in what is going on in the neighborhood.

She asked me for a few organizations to contact.

One of the locations that I suggested was the Alderman's storefront near the Jarvis Red Line.


Why would I do this, you may ask?!


I wanted to know what the Alderman and his assistants are telling new residents.

One of the first things mentioned was "You will see a lot of blogs in the neighborhood. Don't believe any of them."


I wonder why they would say that?

The lighthouse