The fledgling South Looper Alain’s was forced to close temporarily after being served with an eviction notice last weekend. Things will be up and running again by Monday.It's been a busy and tumultuous week on South Michigan Avenue. Who knows what's in store for today.
CPD Chief of Organized Crime Nicholas Roti appeared on The Afternoon Shift (interview on WBEZ's website) to address several questions about the maps, their use and their limitations. On the question of why the department doesn't dessiminate gang territory maps on its own website, he said such data is a double-edged sword. The department, he said, uses such information internally and, through the Commission's gang book, shares it with suburban police departments.
But on the other hand, he said he'd be concerned if the maps are too easy to pass around. "We don't want to either glorify a gang or maybe unintentionally cause a gang rift," Chief Roti said. "You [a gang member] could look at a map and say, 'They got way more territory than us.'"
Chief Roti also expressed concern about the possibility that such maps would stigmatize any particular Chicago neighborhood as being affiliated with gangs. "That not only goes into people buying homes," he said. "That could go into businesses looking to start there."So with that said, it appears that the downtown core doesn't appear to have as many territories as the South Side, West Side and North Side (note that the pins on the map are 2012 homicides in the city).
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| Image from Jnette R. on Yelp |
I just saw on Yelp that Karamela Cafe is opening this Friday, Sept. 28: It's been sooo long since the signs went up in there, so it's about time!Talk about some internet drama.
Sloopy,
Looks like Alain's got evicted today.
New sign up at 16th & Clark.Well over on our message board there has been a lot of conversation on this particular topic and one poster let us know that the Alderman Pat Dowell sent out an email about an official groundbreaking ceremony:
Maybe construction to start soon?
Neighbors and Friends:
You are cordially invited to the official groundbreaking of the new Mariano's Fresh Market to be built at 1625 South Clark Street. The event will be held on Friday, September 28, 2012 at 1pm. Mariano's is expanding its presence in Chicago with a three story commercial building consisting of a 65,000 sq. ft. grocery store, a surface parking lot with 50 parking spaces and a two floor parking deck above the grocery store with 140 parking spaces on the second floor parking deck and 150 spaces on the third floor of the deck.
Mariano’s Fresh Market is unlike any other store and I am excited to bring them to the South Loop. I hope you will come out and celebrate the beginning of what will be a welcomed addition to our community.
Please come out and meet Bob Mariano, President and CEO of Mariano's and his team. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been invited.So there you have it, work is about to begin.
Two reports were released today (9/13) at the 2012 Chicago Community Information Summit at The Chicago Community Trust:
- The NEW News 2012: Ranking Chicago’s Online News Scene, by Thom Clark and Emily Culbertson of The Community Media Workshop, and
We've had some conversations with people at The Chicago Community Trust and are honored to be ranked in this thorough, time intensive report.The reports used a variety of quantitative and qualitative measures to identify the most noteworthy sites and to shed light on changes in the landscape since similar studies were conducted two years ago.
- Linking Audiences to News II: 2012 Network Analysis of Chicago Websites, by Rich Gordon of Northwestern University and Zachary Johnson of Syndio Social.
“Innovation is happening on the neighborhood level. The biggest diversity in sites, business models and news presentation is happening in neighborhood news, where online start-ups compete with weekly papers and efforts funded by foundations and nonprofits. Add to that innovation EveryBlock and the New Communities aggregator, and you see the most diversity in online news approaches in neighborhoods.”We like to hear this and agree. Hopefully you do as well.
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| Image from The Venue's Website |
He has spent most of his adult life in the demanding and financially precarious world of music. Despite that, John Devens remains a sane man, and so it came as a mild shock to learn that he has decided to become the artistic director of a new music club in the South Loop.
"Yes, it's a very tough and risky job, but this is really a labor of love," said Devens, standing on the sidewalk in front of the building that will house The Venue, a simple name for a bold and potentially important (but yes, tough and risky) addition of the city's entertainment scene, at 1550 S. State St.
Recently Devens and some friends were putting the finishing touches — draping the walls with black fabric, arranging tables and chairs and installing soundboards — on the new club, transforming a room sometimes used for church services into what he hopes will be, as Devens says, "a great chance to showcase Chicago talent."We grabbed the picture from their website and it appears that the place could use a little more character (at least visually). To be fair, a picture does not always do justice and we are definitely intrigued by the concept.
Hey sloppy just saw this from the aldermans office. Great spot for light because I have personally almost been hit by a car there at least a dozen times crossing the street.
Traffic Light Installation at 13th and WabashA traffic light will be installed at 13th and Wabash, with construction beginning on October 1st and ending around Thanksgiving. Alderman Fioretti secured funding for a traffic light at this busy intersection over a year ago, in response to constituent requests. This project is part of over $53 million in infrastructure improvements that have come to the South Loop through Alderman Fioretti's leadership.
| Image of Motorized Scooter being hit by Charter Bus (via Chicago Tribune) |
Anie’s Accents, in part, reflects the personal fashion sensibility of its owner (Andrea White). White’s own style of dress is casual and elegant, with a penchant for loose, flowing garments. And, although White prefers neutral colors for herself, she plans to delight her customers with vibrant accent colors that add “pop” to any ensemble.
Floyd’s 99 shops focus on old school customer service, where customers are every employee's number one priority. It mixes its excellent service with the new style appeal of an experienced, talented staff with unique and fun personalities to match the Floyd's 99 attitude that keeps their loyal customers coming back. Surrounded with posters of hot bands and music artists plastered on the walls, customers can watch one of the plasma TV's or log on to the Internet at one of the shop's customer computers, all while taking in the music on Floyd's 99's own radio station. Then to top it all off, every customer receives the Floyd's 99 signature hot lather neck shave* and aaahhh…shoulder massage.While we typically don't get super excited about a barbershop, it's definitely an improvement over a Cartridge World if you ask us. It's interesting because there is a Sports Clips going in at 10 E. Harrison. Seems like they cater to the same person.
Hi,
My name is Rabbi Leibel Moscowitz and my wife Chaya and our 16 month old daughter Chana recently moved to the South Loop to establish the Chabad Jewish Center of South Loop.
Our mission is to educate, inspire and help every Jew increase their level of Jewish knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment. With unconditional love and respect, Chabad of South Loop welcomes all Jews with a non-judgmental and pleasant approach. So whether you are a student or young professional, child or senior Chabad has something for you!
The High Holidays (Jewish new year) is right around the corner and for the first time there will be High Holiday service and a community Rosh Hashana dinner in the heart of South Loop! At our services you will find a warm and welcoming environment, Commentaries and explanations, User-friendly; regardless of affiliation and most importantly we believe that at the time of the High Holidays the doors to open are open and so are ours! there is no admission, tickets or membership required.
We are proud to announce that we will be holding services at VenueSIX10@ Spertus Institute 610 S. Michigan Ave. and High Holiday dinner at Chabad of South Loop.
For more information about the holidays and Chabad of South Loop in general please visit our website at www.Jewishsouthloop.com
It is a great honor and privilege for us to join the South Loop community and we hope to be able to meet all of our neighbors and get know you guys.
Thank you and keep up the great job you guys are doing!
Rabbi Leibel Moscowitz
Director Chabad of South Loop
Cafe Karamela Saturday via mobile
So the owner of Cafe Karamela decided to leave the amazing people he hired behind, with no explanation and disappears. For amazing baked goods and crepes, you can contact Krys Palomita Marie via Facebook. Don't forget to like the Painted Lady Bakery Emporium Facebook page!
| Craziness in a muddy field at 2012 Lollapalooza in Grant Park (from Chicago Tribune) |
Promoters of the Lollapalooza music festival now say it will cost $350,000 to restore Grant Park after this month's event.
Earlier this month, the promoters and the Chicago Park District said it would cost about $150,000 for landscaping work in the park, which has hosted the festival for the last eight years.
The space between Ace Hardware and Urban Grocers on the 700 block of S. State is being built out. The guys at Ace said that it's going to be a pizzeria. Interesting, since Pauly's is two doors north and Lou Malnati's is 1/2 block south. This is the first time that all the retail space at 2 E. 8th will be occupied that I can ever remember.(Hat tip: MJ!)
Sponsored Post
Hi Sloopin,
I am a member of the Prairie Art Group. We are a neighborhood group which meets twice a month. We use the meeting time to work in a supportive inspiring environment with fellow artists. We are having our second annual show on Friday Septemeber 7th at 1900 S. Prairie from 5-9pm. I am attaching the invitation.(Hat Tip: SH!)
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| Image from Google Maps |
Hey Sloopin,
I just recently noticed that Cartridge World on Harrison between State and Wabash is closed. One for the 2012 closed list.(Hat tip: JM!)
Spa Anjou invites you to an enriching and revitalizing spa experience of the finest quality. Located in the beautiful landmark building Printers Row of downtown Chicago, we pride ourselves in offering a sanctuary of peace, tranquility, relaxation, and rejuvenation away from your hectic everyday life. Our all-qualified beauty experts provide the art of skincare, precision waxing, various beneficial body treatments and the latest nail services. We also keep up with the latest innovations in our field of expertise, to provide you with the state-of-the-art therapy. Please come and experience being embraced by the healing energy through our friendly, caring, and professional environment. We deliver traditional as well as modern services that will make you look and feel amazing from head to toe. Spoil yourself or someone you love! We all deserve to feel wonderful!Sounds nice. Hopefully they live up to this.
CTA is holding a hearing on its recently announced “de-crowding” plan 6 p.m. tonight at its headquarters downtown. (567 W. Lake St.) The plan—the first major restructuring of the transit system since 1997— would eliminate 12 underused bus routes and transfer the savings to adding train cars to every “L” route except the Yellow and Pink lines.
Saw in one of your earlier posts speculation about when this will open. I was there today (Sept 1st) and was told by the owner that she's opening a week from today. Here's a pic if you want to use it:
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| Inside of new Artist's Cafe (1150 S. Wabash) |
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| Chicago Fire Department Training Center on Taylor between Jefferson and Canal |
