Located in the large Lane Tech parking lot off Western Avenue, the northEND Green Market debuts this weekend, May 10 and 11. This weekly outdoor community/French market will feature local vendors with selection including vegetable and fruit produce, seafood, pasta, cheese, juice and art work. See their website for applications to be a vendor. The hours of the market will be 9AM to 5PM on both Saturdays and Sundays, weather dependent (see their facebook or twitter page for real time updates). The GPS address is 2501 W. Addison Street for Lane Tech College Prep High School; but enter the parking lot off N. Western Avenue between W. Cornelia Avenue and W. Roscoe Street.

This year, the Chicago Department of Water Management plans to replace 85 miles of water mains, 21 miles of sewer mains and complete 55 miles of sewer lining. They are currently hiring for the following positions:

60 Laborer Apprentices

18 Hoisting Engineers

24 Seasonal Plumbers

8 Operating Engineers A

28 Operating Engineers B

If you are interested in applying for one of these positions, please call the Department of Human Resources at 312-744-4976 or check their website.

As the weather turns warmer, we are seeing more graffiti throughout Chicago.  Be sure to report any graffiti to our office (info@chicago47.org, 773-868-4747), 311, or through the Chicago Works app.  You'll need to know the address, type of surface tagged, and whether or not the tag is more than six feet from the ground.  Graffiti that contains profanity, hate language or is done on a church or school receives special attention. 

Manifold Design is a small metal design company that one should note in our community. Founders Ross and Elizabeth Fiersten freshly arrived in our ward in 2012 seeking a more open and "neighborhood friendly" area for their company which has been in existence since 1999. Originally from the Pilsen neighborhood, both Ross and Elizabeth majored in fine arts and wanted to find a different type of designing, one that was more intuitive and not simply focused on manufacturing. The group now does many things besides designing, hosting exhibitions of various artists around the community with one coming up this fall. They have also exhibited some work of The League of Women Designers and are associated with the Object Society, an organization of local designers.

Feel free to drop by and take a look at some of their current exhibitions at 4426 N. Ravenswood Avenue. They have a variety of classes that they instruct every Saturday open to the public. The sessions are four hours long and focus on the art of welding, highlighting the detail and unique finishings of piece made. Newcomers are well so check out their website for more info!

Lillstreet is an art facility that has been a pillar of the local art community since 1973. The company has an interesting history, initially being sold for $1 to founder Bruce Robbins from a clay supplier in Lake Forest. The idea of classes did not come until later and since has become a huge success. They now have classes offering every art form from beginner drawing to advanced metalsmithing. Looking through the catalogue the variety of courses can be a bit astounding with classes such as glass fusing and "dye tea owls workshop." One can be well assured that every interest in any unusual art form can be fulfilled here.

Although Lillstreet's main concern is on the ability of an individual "to invest in themselves, their talent, and explore their creative thinking," they collaborate with various schools and organizations around Chicago, such as Chicago School of Shoemaking and Chicago Hot Glass. The kid's classes are legendary and extensive, with a detailed catalogue available of the numerous classes. These classes are highly flexible with kids being able to take classes for nearly every week in the summer. This arts creation and learning center offers so much to the neighborhood and allows people to explore a wide range of artistic interests. If you have a budding interest in the arts, a great place to start would be here.  

The New Colony, 4740 N. Western Avenue, 773-413-0862
Orville and Wilbur Did It!, June 13th to July 20th

Witness firsthand the ups, downs and ego clashes of five actors and a stage manager traveling across the country 

Alibi Fine Art Exhibit, 1966 W Montrose Ave, 773-454-1512
Boldly, We Go Blindly, thru May 24th   

This photography gallery's theme is about works and people who have been overlooked and forgotten.
www.alibifineart.com

American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron Street, 773-409-4125
Hair, starts April 25th

A group of hippies explore the idea of love and civil rights in 1968 in this classic rock musical.
www.atcweb.org

The Public House Theater, 3914 N Clark St. 773-904-8777
Bye Bye Liver, every Friday & Saturday 8PM & 10PM
A series of outrageous and hilarious comedic sketches, all centered around one thing...alcohol!

www.pubhousetheatre.com

Cornelia Arts Building, 1800 W Cornelia Ave, 773-316-9223
Open House, May 16th Friday 6-10PM
Take a look at some of the most cutting-edge artwork in our community and get a chance to talk to the artists themselves!
www.corneliaartsbuilding.com

The Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St., 773-769-4451

Pimprov, every Friday at 10:30 PM

An improv sketch with "pimps" that may not be politically correct, but will leave you laughing on the floor!

One Hit Wonders, May 18th Sunday at 3:00 PM

A musical with mashup of the biggest hits of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, this unique play is a blast to teh past!  Includes songs like Funkytown, Macarena, I Will Survive, among many others.

www.blackensembletheater.org 

Ravenswood Community Orchestra

Spring Concert, May 17th Saturday at 7:00 PM, Ackerman Center, St. Benedict Church, 2219 W. Irving Park Rd.

More information here.  

Cornservatory

Deathprov, thru June 29th, Sundays at 7:30pm

Finding ways to kill someone may not seem that amusing, but in this improve sketch set in post Apolcalyptic world, it is. The only warning here is to not laugh yourself to death.

www.cornservatory.com  

Waters Elementary
There are three more school tours this year. If you know parents interested in hearing about Waters School, please share the following dates with them. Please be prompt. 

• Thurs, May 22, 8:45am in Annex

McPherson School Tours are designed for neighborhood and Options for Knowledge parents to get a better idea of what makes McPherson unique. Come see for yourself and get all your questions answered live and in person!

• Friday, May 30  @ 9:30 a.m.

RSVP: Marianne Turk, mturk@cps.edu, 773-534-2625, ext. 167874728 North Wolcott Avenue | Enter through the main office door (#1) from Wolcott and sign in at the office.

Ravenswood Elementary

Ravenswood Elementary School offers comprehensive school tours on the second Tuesday of every month that school is in session. All tours begin at 9 a.m. in the multi-purpose room, where we'll grab a cup of coffee and set off to observe classrooms, discuss the curriculum and learn what makes Ravenswood Elementary School a truly hidden gem.  Mr. Manaen, Ravenswood School principal, will meet with prospective parents for an open question-and-answer session following the tour.  Not sure if you're in the Ravenswood Elementary School attendance boundaries? Please click here .

Tours for the rest of the school year will be May 13 and June 10, all at 9 a.m. in the multi-purpose room. All are welcome!

Amundsen High School

Amundsen High School offers comprehensive school tours at 10 a.m. on the first Friday and the second Thursday of every month school is in session. Come learn more about Amundsen High School, its International Baccalaureate (IB) program and more great programs available at our neighborhood high school.

To join the tour, meet in the school office at 10 a.m. (enter through the main doors on Damen Avenue). Remaining tour dates for this year are:

• Thursday, May 8 at 10 a.m.
• Friday, June 6 at 10 a.m.
• Thursday, June 12 at 10 a.m.

School tours are also available by appointment by contacting friendsofamundsen@gmail.com.  

CONGRATULATIONS!! Amundsen's Men's Varsity and Sophomore Volley Ball, Red North Conference Champs! Both teams have perfect 9-0 records!

AMUNDSEN VIKING ART EXHIBIT

Featuring the Outstanding Artistic Expressions of the Amundsen High School Photography Class

(Teacher Ms. Jessica Gansz)

Amundsen High School photography students are teaming up with Buzz, a neighborhood restaurant located at 1935 W. Irving Park Road, to hold an art show displaying the work of our young student artists!  This show will be on display to all Buzz patrons through May 22nd. 

Through May 22, to raise badly needed funds for the Amundsen High School Photography Class, Buzz is offering the following to all restaurant patrons that mention Amundsen High School when ordering:

Buzz will make a $2 donation to the AHS Photography Club on any food bill greater than $10 and provide a $3 discount on any food bill greater than $10.

(To maximize proceeds to the AHS Photography Class, Buzz's will increase its donation to the

AHS Photography Class to $5 for any patron who is willing to forgo the $3 discount. If you are feeling particularly generous, please feel free to leave your donation of any amount in the Photography Class Donation Box, which will be available to all Buzz patrons through May 22.)

Upcoming dates are: May 16, June 20 from 3-5pm

If you know anyone who needs assistance, please pass this along.

Lincoln Square Friendship Center Pantry Are you interested in our newest neighborhood pantry? Sign up for their newsletter: lincolnsquarefc@gmail.com  

There are many ways for you to help - volunteer, help fundraise, hold a food drive, donate bins, pick-up donations, sponsor/manage a community garden bed. We are neighbors helping neighbors and making a difference.  

Sulzer needs your old games.  Thanks to our neighbors who have donated games for the Sulzer's Game Night!  If you have games that your family no longer uses, please bring them to the 47th Ward Office or to Sulzer Library. Their ever-popular "Game Night" could use a few more board games like Sorry, Chess, Life, Uno, Jenga, Rummy Cube, etc.   

Check out the infrastructure map on our webpage!

Lawrence Avenue Streetscape

• New pedestrian refuge islands (including ADA compliant ramps) have been installed between Damen and Clark, and center turn lanes have been striped. Sidewalk replacement continues and ADA ramps will be installed to line up with the street crossings at the pedestrian islands.
• Sidewalk installation work on the north side of Lawrence between Clark and Ravenswood will be completed by mid-May.
• Sewer and electrical work will start early to mid-May.  Plantings along this section of the corridor are expected to be complete by the end of May.  The remaining landscaping work will be completed next spring.
• Work on the south side of the street near McPherson will be completed over the summer once school is not in session.
• Sreet resurfacing and final striping will be completed in the fall.

Water Main Replacement for Hutchinson between Lincoln and Damen

Contractors working with the Dept. of Water Management have finished replacing the water main from 1897 under Hutchinson St. between Lincoln and Damen. Concrete restoration is complete.  Street resurfacing will follow in the next two weeks. For full information, please click here.   

Water Main Replacement for Hoyne between Irving Park and Grace

Contractors working with the Dept. of Water Management are replacing the water main from 1895 under Hoyne between Irving Park and Grace.  No parking will be enforced between 7am and 4pm Monday through Friday.  During work, there will be no thru traffic allowed.  For full information, please click here.  

Water Main Replacement for Byron between Damen and Ravenswood

Contractors working with the Dept. of Water Management are replacing the water main from 1891 under Byron from Damen to Ravenswood.  No parking will be enforced between 7am and 4pm Monday through Friday.  During work, there will be no thru traffic allowed.  For full information, please  click here.

Water Mains Coming Soon:

Berteau (Bell to Damen): Start in May.

Warner (Leavitt to Damen):  Start in May.

Ashland (Irving to Lawrence): Delayed until July - Stay Tuned!  

The Chicago Cubs have provided some additional funding for infrastructure improvements in the 44th 46th and 47th Wards.   In the 47th ward we will be getting new residential street lighting on: W Byron (Clark to Ashland), N Janssen (Addison to Irving Park) and N Greenview (Addison to Irving Park).

Chicago River Work (east side) Berteau to Montrose (from Riverbank Neighbors) 

Please check out this updated landscaping plan for the bank.

New to the plan:

• removal of all Ailanthus, honeysuckle and buckthorn (all invasives);
• add soil to the rip rap on the upper sections of the project area to make planting easier and recovery quicker;
• substitute for the elderberry, since we said we have a thriving e-berry community already;
• substituted a cover seed mix instead of the IDOT mix we objected to;
• four species of gray dogwood (stakes) that a vigorous colonizers for the new territories.

These will be substantial new lands, with the bank secured, and planting begun. Riverbank Neighbors will be able to enrich species diversity over time and introduce many new forbs. Habitat for birds and reptiles and amphibians and mammals will be greatly improved.

Horner Park Riverbank Project (from US Army Corps)

Tree cutting is complete. Erosion Control consisting of silt fence, silt curtain, inlet protection is installed. Excavation of topsoil, stripping, fill disposal and topsoil placement is underway.   Excavation to install Limestone/Flagstone is underway. Root Wads will also be installed along the river bank in the coming weeks.

USACE was informed of a complaint about truck traffic on Montrose. In response, no parking signs have been installed so that trucks can line up along the curb and off the main thru traffic lane. Truck traffic is expected until early-June.

Brown Line Construction

Work on the Brown Line tracks near the Rockwell Station will continue through June or July.  CTA is replacing ties on the bridge over the river to improve the slow zone.  Some work will be done on weekends, where trains will operate on one side of the tracks.  

• Leland Ave Full Closure will be up until June 2014.  
• Ravenswood from Lawrence to Leland Ave Full Closure will be up until June 2014 on the west side of Ravenswood.
• Ravenswood (east side) between Ainslie and Winnemac blockades may be in place on the street to make room for the work to be done however there is not a parking restriction when workers are not present.
• Ravenswood (west side) between Lawrence and Grace landscaping projects are expected to begin late April or early May along the base of the walls along the Metra tracks.  Short closures will be necessary to install the new plants, so pay attention to parking restriction signs.

For more information, visit the infrastructure section of our website or contact Jim Poole at jim@chicago47.org or 773-549-4462.