*Arts & Culture  

Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.

Peace Sing: Honoring Martin Luther King

January 19th, 12pm to 1:20pm in Maurer Hall   

Old Town School invites our neighbors and the community to join us for a Peace Sing in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at lunchtime at the Old Town School on Monday January 19. Bring a lunch or stop by our café, bring your instrument if you like, and bring your voice. FREE.

http://www.oldtownschool.org/classes/detail/?courseid=5181 

Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St.

At Last: A Tribute to Etta James

A critically acclaimed celebration of the highs and lows of James' brilliant musical career.

www.blackensembletheater.org

Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, 1422 W. Irving Park Rd.
Free Open Mic every Wednesday at 9:00PM
All art forms from music and acting sketches to comedic stand up will be presented to the public from local artists. All are welcome!

www.cictheater.com 

Corn Productions Conservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln Ave.

DRINK! The Sketch Comedy Drinking Game - Best of Year One, Saturdays at 11pm Nov. 8-Jan. 10

BYOB to a series of 'mind-altering' comedy bits!

www.cornservatory.org  

Davis Theater, 4614 N. Lincoln Ave.

Now Playing: Into the Woods, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Inherent Vice, Wild

www.davistheater.com 

The Public House Theatre, 3914 N. Clark St.

Bye Bye Liver, Fridays & Saturdays 8 PM & 10 PM  

A series of outrageous and hilarious comedic sketches, all centered around one thing ... alcohol!

http://pubhousetheatre.com

Silvie's Lounge, 1902 W. Irving Park Rd.

Enjoy a wide variety of musical genres, local talent as well as touring acts in one of the most acoustically appealing venues in Chicago.

See calendar

All Saints Episcopal Church, Ravenswood Consort Post-Holiday Concert, 4550 N. Hermitage Ave.

Sunday, January 11 at 4:30pm: Traditional carols, Bach, Holst, de Victoria, R.Vaughn Williams and others, and Hanukkah songs.    

Lake View High School 

LVHS student accepted to study astrophysics at Princeton University.  Learn more about this wonderful example of the great things happening at LVHS by clicking here. 

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). Winter tour dates are:

• Friday, February 6 at 10 a.m.
• Thursday, February 12 at 10 a.m.
• Friday, March 6 at 10 a.m.
• Thursday, March 12 at 10 a.m.
• School tours are also available by appointment by contacting Erik Olson at  ejolson@cps.edu.

New Brochure for Prospective Amundsen Students and Families

Amundsen High School offers a top-performing International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, 25 varsity sports, more than 40 clubs and a thriving cultural environment where every student feels challenged and valued. Learn more about what our neighborhood high school has to offer in Amundsen's new brochure. 

St. Matthias School

You can help pave the way to outdoor learning at the school by purchasing an engraved paver brick for the new walkway 

St. Matthias School's Garden Committee is pleased to announce that a new brick walkway has been installed on the Ainslie side of the building. Approximately 800 4" x 8" clay pavers comprise a safer, better-looking walkway that will serve as the centerpiece of the Sprouts Garden project.

Any resident or business owner in the ward can make a valuable and enduring contribution to the Sprouts Garden by purchasing an engraved paver during this season of giving. Your contribution is entirely tax-deductible. Pavers are available for $100 (4" x 8 ") or $225 (8" x 8"). A limited number of $500 legacy pavers (8" x 16") are available, as well. The online purchase process is simple:

1. Open www.stmatthiasschool.org
2. Click 'Parent Center'
3. Click 'Sprouts Garden Brick Pavers' and select your preferred paver size.

The available characters for an engraved message varies by paver size: up to 39 characters (4" x 8 "), up to 78 characters (8" x 8") and up to 156 characters (8" x 16"). We invite you to order before year-end to help us pave the way to a new outdoor, experiential learning space for our students beginning in spring 2015!

The Sprouts Garden is a self-funded project collaboration between parent volunteers and teachers who aspire to build and cultivate an engaging outdoor learning & exploration space for the students of St. Matthias School. If you have an idea to share, a garden resource to donate or you wish to purchase an engraved paver for the new walkway, then please let us know: SMSsproutsgarden@gmail.com. Thank you!

Pilgrim Lutheran Church & School

Academic Excellence...

Pilgrim uses a "whole child" approach, focusing on academic, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical development. Pilgrim prides itself on a play-based preschool and kindergarten, high test scores and our graduates, 95% of whom attend competitive high school programs.

Faith development is an integral part of the growth process and enables students to achieve success and a positive place for themselves in society.

Want to Learn More? Pilgrim's next Open House Date is January 20, 2015

For More Information or to schedule a one-on-one tour call us at 773.477.4824

Or visit www.pilgrimchurchandschool.org 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School                                

"Academic Excellence with a Heart"

4300 N. Winchester Ave.

Chicago, IL 60613

St. Benedict School

Explore Our Unique PK-12 Catholic, College Prep Campus!

St. Benedict Preparatory School, at Irving Park Rd and Leavitt Street, is the only PK-grade 12 Catholic, co-educational parish school in the Archdiocese of Chicago. We offer a unique college prep program in a welcoming, inclusive, diverse community. Tours of SBPS are conducted weekly or scheduled at your convenience.

Chicago Public Schools

Check out the infrastructure map on our website. 

Lawrence Avenue Streetscape 

• Street paving on Lawrence between Ravenswood and Clark has been completed and thermoplastic striping and stamped asphalt crosswalk markings have been installed along this stretch.  Sidewalks, ramps, curbs/gutters, and bus pads have also been completed, meaning the great majority of hardscape work has been finished along the project limits (Western to Clark).
• New pedestrian refuge islands (including ADA compliant ramps) have been installed along the entire stretch between Western and Clark.  ADA ramps are being installed to line up with the street crossings at the pedestrian islands.  Damaged trees are under warranty and will be replaced in the spring.
• Bike racks, chairs, trash receptacles, and benches were installed and new signage has also been erected along the entire corridor.
• Sewer and electrical work continues. Most of the new street light poles have been installed and old poles have been removed.  As the remaining poles are removed, these areas will be filled in with brick pavers or concrete.  All traffic signals will also be re-timed to help improve traffic flow and pedestrian countdown clocks will be programmed as well.
• Landscaping work for fall plantings in Claremont Plaza and elsewhere between Western and Damen has been finished up for the season and the remaining plantings will be done in the spring.  Fencing in Claremont Plaza is expected to be completed by the end of the winter.  Infiltration planters have been addressed in preparation for the winter.
• Neighborhood identifiers are expected to be installed on street light poles in January and punch list items are currently being addressed.

As always, pay close attention to parking restrictions.

Water Main Replacement for Rockwell from Irving Park to Berteau

Contractors working with the Dept. of Water Management will being replacing the water main from 1909 under Rockwell from Irving Park to Berteau soon. Staged parking restrictions and road closures will be necessary during working hours, and final details to minimize disruption to residents and businesses are being confirmed.  For mroe information on this project, please click here.  

Water Main Replacement for Berteau from Damen to Bell

Contractors working with the Dept. of Water Management have replaced the water main from 1894 under Berteau Avenue between Damen and Bell. Parking restrictions and road closures should no longer be needed.  Crews have poured concrete in the trench pending full asphalt restoration in the spring as soon as weather allows.  For more information on this project, please click here. 

Water Main Replacement for Rockwell from Lawrence to Montrose & Eastwood from Virginia to Western

Contractors working with the Dept. of Water Management have replaced the water mains from 1906 under Rockwell from Lawrence to Montrose and Eastwood from Virginia to Western.  Parking restrictions and road closures will be in effect, where posted, M-F from 7am to 4pm.  Crews are scheduled to make the final service connections on Rockwell on Monday along with the final connections for the project - the plan for this past Monday was delayed due to the cold.  That will conclude the main work and the rest of the concrete will be poured in the trench to grade to make the road passable, with resurfacing and landscape restoration following in Spring 2015. For more information on this project, please click here.

Water Main Replacement for Seeley from Montrose to Wilson

Contractors working with the Dept. of Water Management have replaced the water main from 1890 under Seeley from Montrose to Wilson. The trenches are backfilled with concrete. Street resurfacing to be completed in Spring 2015.  For more information on this project, please click here. 

Water Main Replacement for Leavitt from Grace to Irving Park

Contractors working with the Dept. of Water Management are replacing the water main from 1896 under Leavitt between Grace and Irving Park. Final connections are complete and the trench is capped.  Street resurfacing to follow in the Spring of 2015.  For more information on this project, please click here.   

Water Mains Coming Soon:

Western (Roscoe to Addison) - Expected to begin mid-February.  Sign boards have gone up north of the project area to alert drivers to the extensive work that is beginning at Logan Blvd (Kennedy) and Western Ave.  Crews will work their way north.     

• New Metra Station (west side):  Restoration work has been completed and the station is set to open Spring 2015.
   

• METRA Phase II: Design and engineering for improvements on the east side of the tracks will be starting soon and will be put out to bid once complete.  Construction is currently expected to start in Fall 2015 and will last 18 months.

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