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The Pipeline
People Inspired,
Community Driven
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Spring into Chickens: Faux, Real Deals
| Jordan of Rudy's Roundup | Fans of Rudy's Roundup, 1410 N. Milw., might recall a sign on its window a month or so back announcing that the store would be closed to allow for travel and the acquisition of new wares.
Curious to see what transpired from the adventures in purchasing, The Pipeline was delighted by a refreshing spin on the tired rubber chicken: a purse! Pictured is Jordan, who kindly agreed to model the purses along with a bonnet. If one can ignore the nearby construction/ tuckpointing at Milwaukee and Wolcott and the sandwich boards advertising buckets of beers and the workers setting up new digs up the street, it almost felt--if only for a moment--like Jordan was taking a break from tending to chickens on a peaceful Illinois prairie. Well, not really....
....In the mood for more faux chicken, and because a vegetarian reader commented that the majority of my food "coverage" has involved meat, I popped by Veggie Bite, 1300 N. Milw., for chicken nuggets, above. Not being a vegetarian, though curious, I will just say that the  fries were really good but the nuggets, to my untrained taste buds, didn't taste quite as good as the real deal, or like the eggs from real chickens used in this skillet dish from the new Clarke's at 1704 N. Damen, enjoyed over the weekend. But it was close. Well, not really....
The Real Deal  | ....Finally, in other non-news, here is a chicken, right, belonging to Noah Stein. Noah's chicken was spotted at the final Logan Square winter indoor market last month. Noah and his wife raise chickens in their backyard in the city. Now that seems real to me, really....
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Sponsored News:
WPB Chamber of Commerce Update
| Paula Barrington, Executive Director of the Wicker Park Chamber of Commerce, and James Tate, Small Business Banking Specialist, Fifth Third Bank | A fun time was had by all this past Friday at Fifth Third Bank, 1205 N. Milw., where local business owners popped by to get an early morning java jolt as well as pick up posters, coffee holders, mouse pads, chip clips, and other U.S. Census goodies for the purpose of using their window space to encourage residents to be counted. Did you miss the meeting? Haven't filled out your form yet? No worries, there's still plenty of forms--and swag--available at the chamber office, 1414 N. Ashland.
Alvin | Per Alvin, a U.S Census Partnership Specialist, Wicker Park's response rate is currently less than 50%, meaning there's a long way to go and door knockers could be going at it through the summer if forms aren't mailed back promptly. That'll cost the government even more money to get an accurate population count for the purpose of allocating federal dollars to schools, roads, and other improvements. Fun fact: Though I'd seen Alvin at a few other meetings, it never occurred for me to ask him what he does when he's not trying to count people. In case this picture doesn't give it away, Alvin is a martial arts instructor at Lily Lau Eagle Claw Kung Fu center's Chicago headquarters.
In other news:
Business 101: Marketing Through Constant Contact
Wed., April 14th 9-10 AM, Janik's Cafe, 2011 W. DivisionSteve Robinson with Constant
Contact will share his insights on how to effectively get your message out through email marketing. RSVP here. Excerpt from Neighborhood Guide  | Neighborhood Guide Launch PartyWed. April 14th 6:30-8:30 PM, The Southern, 1840 W. North Come enjoy The Southern's hospitality with complimentary drinks and appetizers, and check out the new WPB & Time
Out Chicago's Wicker Park & Bucktown neighborhood guide, being
inserted in this week's edition of TOC. Sign up to receive your
free copies. RSVP here. New Member SocialTues. April 27th 6-8 PM, Moonshine, 1824 W. Division Toast the spring season, the return of warm and sunny days, bird
song and leafing trees--join your fellow members at the ever popular
Moonshine bar and restaurant for an early evening of celebration and
networking. Please see Save-the-Dates at the bottom of this email for news on upcoming events. Deadline for Wicker Park Fest food vendors is May 1st, deadline for retailers is June 1st. Learn More. Interested in joining the chamber? Download an application. |
Sponsored News: SSA#33/WPB Updates
|  Though many area shops now host WPB-sponsored Bus Tracker screens, it's likely that the most utilized installation is the one inside the lobby of the Wicker Park Apartments, 1414 N. Damen, which is home to area seniors, the majority of whom do not have computers or iPhones or Blackberrys to check when the next Damen #50 bus is coming. Per Rosetta, above, who works the front desk at the high-rise, about five residents usually take the bus during her work shift and all five consult the screen. To learn more about the installation in the senior building, click here to visit the WPB web site. For a list of 11 other installations, click here. Are
you involved with a community organization that hosts meetings and
events and is in need of a place to advertise those events? Ads cost $20 each
for a two-week run on all the Bus Tracker screens. You can find more
information about ad requirements at https://wpb.theredpost.com/promote/about.
 The 2010 WPB Neighborhood Guide, which contains an event calendar and descriptions of area places for shopping and dining as well as spas and galleries, will debut as a pull-out insert in this Thursday's (April 15th) issue of Time Out Chicago. Shop owner wishing to carry the guide or to see a sneak preview are encouraged to attend the launch party at The Southern (see chamber news, above). Can't make it? Email Eleanor of WPB to reserve copies for your store!
Jamie of WPB Accepting Award at American Planning Association Award Ceremony | In other WPB news, the American Planning Association (APA) held its 2010 Planning Conference in New Orleans this past week. Per this press release, and mentioned in previous Pipelines, WPB's Master Plan was awarded the 2010 National Planning Excellence Award for Public
Outreach by the APA. Jamie Simone accepted the award on behalf of WPB. Jamie et al is pictured at far left on stage at the award ceremony (image supplied by Eleanor of WPB at the Pipeline's request).
The WPB office can be reached at (773) 384-2672. To sign up for its weekly WPB neighborhood e-newsletter, click here.
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Sponsored News: Sapere Art Gallery
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"Ms. Quan Yin" by Eulalio Fabie de Silva was being admired when I
stopped in for our weekly chat. Shown here is Gary W. Marr, founder and owner (and Believer in Artists, according to his signature line!) with longtime friend Gary Metzner, senior VP of fine art for Sotheby's,
who was visiting that day. Visit Gary at Sapere Art in the Flat Iron
Arts Building, 1579 N. Milw. or at www.sapereart.com. |
Sponsored News: Framing 101 at Jackson Junge
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Chris  | Newly framed work by Laura Lee Junge, awaiting customer pick-up at the gallery | A cleaning ritual often neglected perhaps involves framing, as in all those curled concert posters in the back of the closet and prints purchased years back with the intention of framing them one day. Though the Jackson Junge Gallery at 1389 N. Milw.
is known mainly for its gallery (check out its latest show, " In Bloom" Floral Interpretations), a little known factoid is that Chris Jackson, one half of team JJG-- the other half is Chris's wife, artist Laura Lee Junge-- is the gallery's resident frame artist. "I learned how to be a framer out of necessity, "Chris explained to The Pipeline on a recent afternoon. "Laura had so many prints and reproductions, but it was costing so much just to frame them, so I learned how to frame myself and we were able to save a lot of money." For more information on JJG's in-house custom framing services, click here, or pop in at the gallery in 'RealSpace' with your artwork in tote. All those posters and prints really should be on your walls and not in the back of the closet, right? |
Spaces: Closings, Openings, ETC.
| (Editor's Note: In response to reader feedback, we are no longer burying closing and openings in the ETC. section.
Carlos Jimenez Gallery  | Moving forward, the Pipeline's 'Spaces' column will feature closings, openings, re-locations, re-modelings, and more. Got a lead, or a place you're curious about? Send an email.)
After seven years in the neighborhood, Carlos recently closed the quaint and well known gallery that bears his name at 2301 W. North. He is now living in McHenry, IL, where he maintains a studio and lives with his wife, who is a writer. "I said farewell to all my neighbors I knew
everybody in the neighborhood," he said.
Following is an excerpt from our telephone conversation.
Gold Jazz Flowers by Carlos Jimenez  | "We chose
Wicker Park for the gallery because it was known as an art mecca. Our focus was to be in a destination
where people know there's art. It's ground level, most of the galleries
here are not on ground level. When we found it, it was boarded up and you
could not see inside. We had seven great years of good business. We
weren't really affected until this year. People quit using credit cards to buy art all together, parking was tough, the art market has collapsed. People weren't coming in, they're not
buying art, even at a discount. I have customers who lost their jobs and
wanted me to sell the art that they have.
Window of Carlos Jimenez Gallery, December 2009 | I tried doing co-op but it didn't work
out. December was our first show. It was a great opening but it didn't
generate any income for any of the artists. We leased out part of wall and
thought it might help. It didn't. We had to close."
Carlos assured readers he will still be in the city quite often, having booked space at most of the summer fairs. And when he's not present, his art will be. Unity Church, 1925 W. Thome Ave. in Rogers Park, is currently exhibiting Carlos's work in its Sunshine Gallery on the second floor.
OPENING:Nike recently moved into the storefront at 1529 N. Milw., where boutique Hejfina was located prior to closing last year. Cindy Hamilton of Nike's public relations office here in Chicago responded to a few questions about the space--which will also serve as a complimentary storefront for neighbor and collaborator Saint Alfred, 1529 N. Milw.
Pipeline: Is this a permanent space or a pop-up shop?
Joseph of Saint Alfred | Cindy: This
collaborative retail space, centered on soccer, will be open through
the end of the World Cup. It is our intention to continue to be open
for business after that and be able to provide innovative experiences
and products in the future.
Frank of Saint Alfred  |
Pipeline: Did Nike approach St. Alfred or did St. Alfred approach Nike? What was the impetus for the collaboration?
Cindy: It's been a collaborative effort right from the start.
Pipeline: What is the name of the new store?
Cindy: At this point we don't have a name.
Click herefor more background on Artist Cody Hudson, whose work will be on display at the unamed St. Aflred/Nike space at 1529 N. Milw. through the end of this month | the space, sent in this morning (Tuesday) by Cindy.
NEWLY REMODELED!:
Did someone put a feng shui spell on Crespo's?! The longtime bodega/corner market at 2157 W. North just finished remodeling. It looks bigger and better thanks to some rearranging and new flooring.
New spa, 1915 W. North | Makeover at Crespo's  | Future home of Life's a Cabaret  | Coming Soon: Cumin at 1414 N. Milw. is now in its second
phase of construction, per
its Twitter feed. The restaurant will feature modern Nepalese and
Indian food. Two new sushi spots appear to be opening soon, one at 1633 N. Milw., and another at 1811 W. North, in the same complex as Cellar Rat Wine Merchants. A
new wine shop, Life's a Cabaret, will be coming to the neighborhood within the next few
months, in the spot where Casa Del Tobacco was, 1937 W. North, per former owner Mohammad, who is still active in the community
through his real estate business, MIC Properties. Reina Spa in the West Loop just opened a new second location in Wicker Park at 1915 W. North, next to Avenue N Guitars. (No word yet on whether both locations will be open or just the new Wicker Park spot. It's hard to have a conversation over 'text' message sometimes, but I did add Reina's owner, Tiffany, to the Pipelineemail list!) The Plateau Hand Car Washrecently opened in a long-vacant spot at 1850 N. Western. A new coffee shop, The
Wormhole, is moving into 1462 N.
Milw., the former Meble spot. The former Doc Smoothie's spot at 2151 W. Armitageis 'For Lease.' Pour Vous at 1750 W. Division is now closed. A new Zumba fitness center appears to be opening at 1890 N. Milw.
From the Twittersphere:
Future home of Gunner's, 1467 N. Milw. | via @peacelovegoat: RT @GrubStreetCHI:
Chilapan opens in Bucktown, in the old Tamalii space. Blessedly few
tacos are present. http://bit.ly/dz3TXg
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Asking for Advice on a Great Bottle of Grapes
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Teresa  | Spring
is here and so I inventory my wine, to sadly discover the long winter has reduced
my collection to the few cabs, merlots, and pinots I've been laying down. Since I
lack a bottle to sip during the impromptu cocktail hour on my deck, I head over
to the wine shop. I walk in circles because I'm bored with the California and
Oregon regions I already love. Even though I'm picky about my wine, I break
down and ask for advice. Here are my tips for a trustworthy referral...
Learn:Become familiar with the shop's
organization. Is it by region, varietal, or flavor profile?
Listen: Ease drop for advice given to other patrons. If it sounds trustworthy, approach the employee
for their ideas. Otherwise, tune into another conversation fast.
Lingo: All you need are the basics. Begin with your price point and then
say red or white or bubbly, dry or fruity, or something you've previously liked.
If you are buying wine for a meal or occasion then start there.
Look: Do their eyes glaze over from their recited monologue? Or
can you see their eyes crinkle in the corners? This is the telltale sign they're
on your team.
 Lastly:The best compliment is to tell
the employee what you liked about their recommendation when you return. It helps
them to continue to make strong recommendations.
Sure I can pack my brain full of terroir, brix, and vintages, but by asking, a
new friend steered me towards a rockin' bottle of grapes. I walked out of Red & Whites Wines with a bottle of 2008 Botani from Austria. It's floral nose
betrayed my senses with the dry mineral finish.
By Teresa C. Macdonald
(About Teresa: Teresa is a writer with prior work
experience in California wine country. An avid traveler, she's always
on the lookout for discovering a new bottle. Her motto: Drink what you like that doesn't give you a hangover. Every bottle should be a shared adventure even if it's just with your
own
worries.)
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High Jinxed & Black Everyday at Gorilla Tango
| Prescott Tolk  | For comedian Prescott Tolk, growing up 'upper-lower-middle-class' meant coming-of-age on the second floor of a high-rise building across from an Exelon station in West New York, New Jersey, one of the country's most densely populated areas, which meant that for a city kid with an admitted attraction to trouble, there was no shortage of people to get in trouble with, or so Tolk's story went....
After expressing self-deprecating gratitude that there were far more than nine people in the audience (apparently the number of fans who came out on opening night of High Jinxed the week prior), Tolk launched into his one-man show. He was arrested or almost arrested five times. Each incident is more hilarious than the next--and if you're wondering how such an otherwise cherubic looking guy with a father in 'the sweater industry' managed to get himself in trouble for soliciting prostitutes, you'll just have to attend one of the two remaining shows to find out. Tolk's mother's reaction to the incidents, or at least as he recalls them--is worth the ticket price alone. High Jinxed runs on Thursdays at 8 PM through April 29th. Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milw. $10. Ph: 773-598-4549.
Theatregoers attending 'Black Everyday'  |
In other Gorilla Tango news, this past Sunday I was walking near the theatre and stopped to chat with a few women who were headed into a showing of Black Everyday. Juanita, right, is with two unidentified friends who accompanied her. She emailed in her take on Black Everyday.
"We met last night at the theatre. You asked me to send you an
email about the play. We enjoyed it. It had a lot of everyday
life situations. The play talked about relationships, friendships,
people working together, people getting along, families getting along,
praying for each other and employment (what we have to do to keep/get a job). The director
did a good job and so did the writer Karla Monay. Its a play that I
would tell people to go see."
-- By Juanita Coward
Gorilla Tango Theatre (GTT) was created by
Second City- and IO-Chicago-trained Dan Abbate and boasts an 88-seat
performance space. GTT offers a
variety of affordable beer and wine for purchase.
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Bear with Us, Thanks
| Hi. Please ignore some of the spacing issues in today's e-newsletter. It's nearly 9 PM and I need to send this issue out and I am too tired to call customer service who could likely help me out. Now and then you'll see words merged together which should not be conjoined like these Siamese twin teddy bears (actually I was only able to find bunnies on the Net.) Thanks!
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Local Links
| Chicago-Pipeline.com, where readers can find the previous week's Pipeline
@peacelovegoat,Bucktown Community Org. (BCO)
@evachicago,East Village Association
@weewindycity, a Bucktown-based blogger and mother of three
"Wicker Park" and "Bucktown"on Facebook.
Wicker Park Committeeon Facebook
Our Urban Times, a newspaper
Got a local news site? Email a link.
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Wicker Park Portraits:
A Series Directed by Gary Marks
| Barry Golin
Deidre Papp
View interviews on:
Hexagram's
YouTube Channel
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| About The Pipeline | The Pipeline began April 6, 2009.
Now in our 51st weekly issue we feature news and happenings pertaining to businesses and residents in Wicker Park & Bucktown.
We are very grateful to past sponsors as well as to the following current advertisers:
Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, SSA#33/WPB, DeciBel Audio, Bucktown Fitness Club, Ray's Bucktown Bed & Breakfast, COLORI Eco Paint Boutique, DreamBox Foto Studio, Odd Obsession Movies, Gallery Cafe, Division Gold, Sapere Art Gallery (Studio 341 inside the Flat Iron Building), Jackson Junge Gallery, Piano Lessons with Gary, Lubinski Furniture & Movers, Pot Pan Thai, Sterling Goss, Copymax.
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Pipeline Angel Club
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Sterling Goss, 1845 N. Oakley, 773-342-7100: Prime Cuts of Beef, Pork, Lamb, Poultry, CHEESE!  Pot Pan Thai, 1362 N. Milw., 773-862-6990: Dine-in & delivery, recipient of the National Food Institute's "The Pride of Thailand" Certificate of Excellence, MOHAWKS!  DeciBel Audio, 1429 N. Milw., 773-862-6700:Audio equipment, accessories, custom installations, BOOMBOXES! CopyMax, 1321 N. Milw, 773-252-6200: Self, and full-service copying, computer rental & repair, mailbox service, BUSINESS CARDS!  Odd Obsession Movies, 1822 N. Milw., 773-276-0894: Foreign, indie, classic, rare, and out-of-circulation titles on DVD and VHS, and CINEPHILE CAT. Alejandra & Marina Cleaning Services, 773-877-9135:Reliable cleaning for apartments, offices and houses, Serving Wicker Park and Bucktown for TWO YEARS:  Piano Lessons with Gary Marks, 773-208-3636: Click on poster to enlarge it for easier viewing. Happy TUNES! DreamBox Foto Studio, 2415 W. North, 773-292-0419: Portraits, headshots, special event, studio and location PHOTOGRAPHYby Iwona Biedermann!  Galley Cafe, 1760 W. North, 773-252-8228:Roasting all coffee
in-house, recognized by Delta magazine in 2008. Food, local art, and FREE WI-FI! Division Gold, 2112 W. Division, 773-292-9600: Pawn shop serving Wicker Park for 14 years, buying gold, silver, offering unique selection including COLLECTIBLES!  Stick with Me:Duct Tape designs: Bookmarks, coin purses, checkbook covers, crafted by "Friend of Pipeline" (okay, confession: the duct tape maven is my mom. she's CRAFTY!)
COLORI Eco Paint Boutique, 2243 W. North, 773-252-4923: Explore color therapy with a limitless color palette. Just say 'no' to VoCs & remember to check out the sculpture in the window, constructed by INDO with all recycled materials featuring a PAINT CHIP DRESS.
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CRIME WATCH
| On the evening of Sat. April 3rd a couple and two friends were walking
near Bloomgindale and Wolcott around 8:15 PM when the group of four adults were approached by two
men armed with semiautomatic handguns. The offenders fled with a wallet and cash. Per
the couple (who were dining recently at Caffe de Luca and gave the
Pipeline permission to post this for the purpose of reminding others to be alert), a police report was immediately filed. "I said to the police
you don't think about what somebody looks like when they're mugging
you," one of the victims said. The couple has lived in Bucktown for 27 years and reported to The Pipeline that this is their
first time being a victim of a crime.
In other news, the offender from three armed robberies at area Walgreen's stores was captured recently, per an email update from Officer Williams of the 14th Police District. In response to a Pipeline inquiry, Williams wrote, "Good old fashioned police work got him apprehended."
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Holstein Park Update
| The pool opens soon, per this park district site.
Pool at Holstein Park |
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REVIEW:
The Play About the Baby
at Chopin Theatre
| Photo by Heath Hays  | Don't bring the kids to BackStage Theatre Company's latest production,
which opened this last weekend in Chopin Theatre's beautiful basement
space. The tykes' innocence would be assaulted not so much by the
onstage nudity, of which there's a couple of brief glimpses, but by the
play itself--Edward Albee's dark but often funny The Play About the Baby. First performed in 1998, the play is kind of a distilled version of Albee's earlier Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,
in which a middle-aged married couple spend an evening putting a
younger version of themselves through a psychological wringer.
In The Play About the Baby,
characters named Boy and Girl are madly in love with one another, their
sex hot and happy, then characters named Man and Woman show up with a
heavy dose of reality. Or something like reality, given the play's arch
self-consciousness. As Man says to the audience, "what's true and what
isn't is a tricky business, no?'' Michael Pacas mugs it up just right
as Man, whipping from urbane insouciance to icy disdain as Karen
Yates's Woman vamps beside him, seeming to delight in the destruction
of the Eden that Boy (Patrick De Nicola) and Girl (Kate Cares) have
made for themselves. Heath Hays's spare white set expertly throws all
the attention on the actors, and if The Play About the Baby boils down to nothing much more than "life's tougher than you think, kid," it does prove that theater is one of life's joys. The Play About the Baby,directed by Matthew Reeder,
runs through Sat, May 8, Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, at the Chopin
Theatre, 1543 W. Division. Tickets are $20; call 800-838-3006 or go to backstagetheatrecompany.org.
--by Pat J. Daily
Photo by Heath Hays  |
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Shop TAX FREE
| | The following businesses will be
offering their customers tax free days starting this Thurs., April 15th
through Sunday April 18th.
Participating Stores:
Virtu
City Soles/Niche
The Red Balloon
Claudia Kleiner/Malabar
Noir
New'd
Elevenzees
Event Studio
Bull Frogs and Butterflies
Sapere Art
Building Blocks
Anastasia
Le Dress (17th and 18th only)
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Random Links
|   Though out of the area, it seems worth mentioning that the former Kiddieland Amusement Park in Melrose Park will become a Costco. Perhaps it's time to mourn the last of the Chicagoland amusement parks with a few virtual tweets. About drinks... but first, some crying over Kiddieland into this pillow from Grasshopper 510, which was featured in this month's edition of Country Living magazine.
@rednwhitewines,Just
opened a Lakefront "Riverwest Stein" Amber Ale from Milwaukee. Damn is
it good. A little malty sweet front with a mild spiced finish
@piecechicago, http://twitpic.com/1eskmz - At the World Beer Cup, Piece owner, Bill Jacobs with brewers Matt Brynildson of Firestone-Walker and Jonathan Cu
@DeschutesBeer, The World Beer Cup winners list has been posted: http://bit.ly/df0Z85
|
 Community News: Sponsored by Ray's Bucktown B&B. Many thanks to Ray and Jessica for helping to sponsor the production of this weekly section! Please mark your calendars for the B&B's Community Open House this Sunday, April 18, from noon to 6 PM.
| The 2010 U.S Census is underway. The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce is an official census community partner, and encourages all residents to fill out forms promptly. In related news, Ken of Lubinski Furniture, 1550 N. Milw., donated space in his store to host a bilingual Spanish-speaking census worker, who assists folks with filling out forms from 3 to 6 PM every Wednesday and Friday through this Friday, April 16th.
Memorial in Wicker Park  | Candles, flowers, and a Polish flag adorned the Jan Paderewski memorial at Wicker Park this past week in response to the tragic plane crashthat killed 97 people, including Chicago artist Wojciech Seweryn. Read more in this articleby Elaine Coorens of Our Urban Times.
The patch of green at the intersection of St. Paul, Wilmot, and Hoyne looks fairly unexceptional, but it represents a future community garden modeled after other area gardens managed by NeighborSpace. Please email Eva of the BCO Garden Club at [email protected] if you are interested in committing to a plot or joining others to manage a group plot. Fun fact: Ray's Bed & Breakfast will donate its compost to the garden. In other news, the BCO needs volunteers for its upcoming Garden Walk.
Street Sweeping Map, Click on it a few times for a larger view | STREET SWEEPING is here to stay until Nov 30, 2010. For those without garages or parking spaces, this is big news.... Click here to read a letter from new 1st Ward Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno about the sweeping. For a larger version of the map, provided courtesy of the 1st Ward office, click on the map, right. Fun fact: Night hours for the 1st Ward are now Tuesdays from 5 to 8 PM. The office is located at 2058 N. Western.
In other news, the following is lifted from the most recent WPB email:
Clean & Green Citywide Volunteer Clean-up:
On
Saturday, April 17, join in a large-scale effort to beautify our
community by helping to clean up and recycle accumulated litter and
trash. The 1st ward Alderman's office will provide you or your
community group the brooms, rakes, shovels, and garbage bags needed to
clean our neighborhoods. Spring clean up will also include areas in the
32nd Ward. Check out clean up efforts in these parks: Ehrler Park at 2230
W. Cortland, Churchill Park at 1825 N. Damen.
 Sidewalk cafe permit season is here too. Learn more about the permits.
WPB is launching a vacant-property database. It's under development and will be updated monthly.
Youth and adult sports leagues, music, hands-on gardening classes, and lectures--it's all happening at the park as it does every season, but with a new addition: a two page APRIL 2010 circular which is a "must read" for anyone planning to spend any amount of time at the park, 1425 N. Damen, just south of Six Corners. The Wicker Park Garden Club will host a PLANT SALE the weekend of May 1st and 2nd. Fun fact: Check out these Garden Club workshops, scheduled the weeekend of the plant sale.
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ETC.
| Sue, left, of the Trio Foundation and Stephanie of Riley. Hazel is in the middle. | This past Sunday Riley Boutique at 1659 N. Damen hosted its second annual adoption event in collaboration with the Trio Animal Foundation, which is named for Trio, a dog who was used as bait--and lost a hind leg--in an illegal dogfight when she was just four weeks old. The foundation raises funds to pay the medical bills of homeless pets for the purpose of ushering in their recovery and eventual adoption.
The Pipeline popped by the gathering during its peak, with nearly every dog in the arms of someone who was asking questions as I did about Chico, who was recovering from ACL surgery a few weeks ago but otherwise cheerful in the arms of a volunteer. In addition to the afternoon's canine standouts, there was a room full of shoppers too. The sales rack in the back of the boutique got some TLC too. For the next in-store Trio adoption event, look no further than here.
Chie Mihara HQ--City Soles/Niche | Rose, in the middle, flanked by two friends who are helping her in her candidacy for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Woman of the Year title |
For more images from the Trio/Riley gathering, click here. Got design chops? The Bucktown Arts Fest needs a LOGO, per this contest announcement. Deadline is April 30th.  Do you know who Jodi Arnold is? I don't, but maybe some of you fashionistas do? Mark your palms for April 24-25th and go to 1725 N. Damen, next to Stitch, where the dry cleaner's used to be. In other fashion news, its almost time for sandals. Per Scott of City Soles/Niche, who I chatted up at a trunk show this past week, designer Chie Mihara "lives on the beach in Spain, has a bunch of kids, and designs shoes." Scott met Chie many years ago at a trade show in Milan. Bucktown resident Rose Astorina is currently running for the title of Woman of the Year. Rose was pregnant with her second child when she discovered that she had non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Though  her second child passed away, it was complications from the loss which helped doctors find the cancer, which is an aggressive form affecting only 2% of sufferers. Learn more about Rose and upcoming events and fundraisers like a gathering with Mike Ditka at roseabovecancer.com. In other fundraising news, over 'staycation' The Pipeline ventured far away this past week... to Lincoln Park. And while I wasn't wearing a Snuggie, many other people were, in fact so many that I just had to ask a few of the people standing outside the bar why they were wearing blankets on such a warm spring day when there was a line outside of the Dairy Queen/Orange Julius. " We're doing it for charity," said one of the Snuggie clad ladies who pulled over the organizer, Michael (he's sporting viking horns in the above image) who hails from Ukrainian Village and reported that the pub crawl raised $15,000. Vive la Femme is now offering shoes. Read all about it here! Free Tarot Night at Caffe de Lucawill take place again this Wed. (April 14th) from 6 to 9 PM. Ben and Nineka  | Many thanks to all who've come out over the past year. Pictured are Nineka and Ben, a married couple from Rockford with two children who found themselves at the cafe entirely at random this past Wednesday. Per Nineka, there was no particular destination, just a desire to leave Rockford and get away for an entire day. Ben recently returned from being deployed in Iraq. When asked why they chose Caffe de Luca, Nineka replied, " We typed in 'Italian' [food] on the GPS in our car and this came up!" Welcome back, Ben!Need some laughter in your life? Gorilla Tango Theatre's April Listings can be viewed by clicking here. Need a new T-shirt? XS boutique is holding a blow-out sale. In 'nature news,' bare branches have made way for buds and the sprouting has begun! Pictured are new leaves spotted on a tree this past weekend near Sabin Elementary School, just west of Wicker Park.
Last year a series of informative tours were led by naturalist Janet Mrowka. Per Janet, a few more tree tours are in the works for this year. Click here to view an album of 2010 blooming in the area, as well as 2009 Bucktown trees and their names.
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 Around the Corner is
Sponsored by Lubinski Furniture, 1550 N. Milw.
| Tues. April 13, 7 PM
WPB Commission Meeting
1127 N. Oakley (St. Mary's of Nazareth Hosp. Room 1CD), Learn More
Wed. April 14, 9 to 10 AM
Business 101: How Can I Get People to Read My E-blast?
2011 W. Division (Janik's Cafe)
Weds. April 21, 7 PM
Myopic Poetry Series: Poet/translator/anthologist Jerome Rothenberg
1564 N. Milw, (Myopic Books), Learn More
Cara Brigandi, host of Grown Folks Stories  | Thurs. April 15th, 7:30 to 10 PM
Grown Folks Stories hosted by Cara Brigandi
1442 N. Milw. (The Silver Room), Learn More
Fri. April 16, 7 PM
Joe Meno reads from The Great Perhaps
1854 W. North Av. (Quimby's Bookstore), Learn More
Sat. April 17, Call 773-278-0191 for times
Clean & Green Citywide Volunteer Clean-up
2230
W. Cortland (Ehrler Park)
and at 1825 N. Damen (Churchill
Park)
Sat. April 17, 7 to 10:30 PM
Burr Elementary School Spring Gala
1551 W. Division (EvilOlive), Learn More
Sat. April 17, 7 to 10 PM
Art Auction: Works by Adam Hoff, Stephen Eichhorn, Chris Bradley and Tinsley Hammond
1550 N. Milw, 2nd Fl (Heaven Gallery), Learn More
Sat. April 17, 6 to 10 PM
hArts for Haiti: Silent Auction and Raffle
1542 N. Milw, 3rd Fl (LVL3 Gallery), Learn More
Ray's Bucktown Bed & Breakfast, photo courtesy of Ray | Sun. April 18th, Noon to 6 PM
Community Open House - Five Year Anniversary
2144 N. Leavitt (Ray's Bucktown Bed & Breakfast), Learn More
Fri. April 23rd, 7 to 10 PM
Earth Day Exhibition... (Not So) New Shoes
1924 N. Damen (360SEE Gallery), Learn More
Wed. April 28th, 7 PM
BCO 2010 Garden Walk Volunteer Planning Meeting
1824 W. Wabansia (Club Lucky), Learn More
Thus. April 29th
Atomic Sketch(Last Thursday of every month)
1551 W. Division, (evilOlive), Learn more
Present -- April 21th
Arrested Moments, New paintings by Chris Crites
1924 North Damen (360SEE), Learn More
(For a video interview w/ Jordan of 360SEE, click here)
Present- April 20th
False Anatomies
1452 N. Milw. 3rd Fl.(LVL3 Gallery), Learn More
Present - April 24th
OhNo!Doom presents:
Urban Paradise
1800 N. Milw.
(OhNo!Doom Gallery), Learn More
Present- May 1
Paper + Paint
Reanimator by Sarah Kretchmer, at Eyeporium Gallery  | 1431 N. Milw. (Eyeporium Gallery), Learn More
Present- May 7
Curator's Choice Part One
2010
W. Pierce Av. Suite 101 (Coalition Gallery), Learn More
Present - May 8
Relief: work by Ted Halkin
1120 N. Ashland Ave., 3rd fl. (Corbett vs Dempsey), Learn More
Present- May 16th
In Bloom: Floral Interpretations
1389 N. Milw. (Jackson Junge Gallery), Learn More
Do you have a community meeting, event, art exhibit, or fundraiser taking place during the next three weeks?Please email the details to Ashley.
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Save These Dates
| Wicker Park Fest, 2009  | Wicker Park Garden Club Plant Sale, May 1st and 2nd
Wicker Park Farmer's Market, June 6th-Oct. 24th, 9 AM to 2 PM
WPB Shredding & Recycling Days, Sat. May 8thand Sat. July 10th, 10 AM to noon
BCO Garden Walk, July 10th & 11th
Summer Sizzle Sidewalk Sale - July 24-25th
Wicker Park Fest, July 31st & Aug. 1st.
Last Call! Sidewalk Sale- Aug. 28th-29th
Bucktown Arts Fest, Aug. 28th-29th
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Sweat Local! 