True Chicagoans Eat Italian Beef

The Italian Beef sanwhich is something , thin slices of roast beef, soaked in juices, topped with Scala giardinera, or sweet peepers. Mmmm. Don't get fooled into going to Mr. Beef on Orleans or Portillo's . The best beef stands are on the Northwest Side. Johnny's, Michael's, Roma's, Jay's, and my number one choice for juicy beef's and fries, Mr. Beef on Harlem. True Chicago.

Barack Obama wins

Everyone will be blogging about this, this evening. I'm tired, it's 2:28 in the morning, and I have to work in a few hours. I will tell you this, I was disappointed with the evening. Not one of the 65,000 people that attended looked like anyone I see and deal with on a regular basis. Lots of self-aware hipsters and cool upper-middle class, educated, pretty people, Ryan and me. Guess this event proves that there really is a technology gap between the rich and the poor.

All the homeless were still trying to get fed, the hustlers were not inspired by the change Obama will bring to America, they were trying to make change by selling Obama t-shirts, hats, and knick-knacks.

I think everyone was just had expectations that this would be our moment to experience in history, where we could say, we were there. That Obama's speech would be Kennedy-esque or a King type " I Have a Dream" speech, but it wasn't. It was just a spiced up stump speech with a few golden nuggets. There wasn't a real organic vibe to the event. If anyone has ever experienced a Bulls Championship celebration or rally, then you know that feeling of this organic wellspring of joy, excitement, and being a part of something bigger than yourself with people from all races and classes. I think the homegenity of the event made it feel subdued, awkward at times, and a feeling of disengenuos excitement. Overall, it felt fake. I expected more from an Obama celebration.

A Coming Out Party: Chicago Republicans

In Chicago, Republican is a bad word. you only find a few on the far Northwest Side and maybe a smattering downtown. This is a one party town, a oligarachy, ruled by powerful Democrats and and perpetuated through patronism. And they keep thier grip because urban dwellers think everything is copasetic with Democrats in power. I guess were not as backwards and closed as those country folk that vote Republican, right?
Last night I snuck into a John McCain party, at a bar, with Angel and Liam. Angel, a staunch Democrat, had to be coerced into coming. I told him he would be spying for the Democratic Party and that there would be free food. I was going for all the free McCain stuff to give out to my students. Liam was along for the ride. It was a boyz nite out.
I love being in a room where everyone thinks you're on the same page, but you're not. Where you get to hear people embarrass themselves and say things they would never say in public. That is what I was hoping for. When we got there, I grabbed as much SWAG as I could. The room was half empty, and there was a feeling like you were part a group shunned by society and now here are others like you and you're letting it all hang out. I saw babies with Palin Power bibs, people with McCain-Palin shirts, and some othere interesting sights. I could not believe how many old people there were and how many men where trying to pull off bow ties and red suspenders. I guess they were going for the Michael Douglas, Wall Street, look.
Time went on, we ate, watched the Sox lose and we didn't notice any Republican big wigs, until Tony Perica ( running for States Attorney) and Jim Durkin ( he runs McCain's campaign in Illinois) began speaking. These guys were passionate as only any underdog can be. They know how defeating it is to be a Republican in this town, but I was struck by Tony Perica's description of what it would do to Chicago politics by having a Republican as State's Attorney. He said he has the power of supoena and would be going after all the Strogers and Daleys of Chicago and Cook County. As much as I love Obama and am excited about his message of change, a Republican elected to any municipal or cook county office would be more in line with his message than the same old sleeping at the wheel, voting for your party, expectations in Chicagoland.

True Chicagoans Use Double-Negatives

Any study in linguistics will argue that there is no such thing as improper english. In that light of this, I present to you the following True Chicago double negatives:

I'm not gunna do dat no, not now, not ever.

Ain't nobody gunna tell me not to do dat.

I don't want nothin to do wit you.

... And the most famous double negative in Chicago history.... "Chicago ain't no sissy town" by "Hinky Dink" Kenna, the 1st Ward alderman ( 1897-1923) and "Lord of the Levee district".

A 4th Option

In Chicago, you only have three options for living.
1. Gentrified or gentrifying neighborhoods.( Lincoln Park, West Town, Humboldt Park, Pilsen)
2. Poor, deteriorating, isolated neighborhoods. ( Englewood, North Lawndale)
3. Safe, family friendlyneighborhoods , but defensive against neighborhood change( Dunning, Jefferson Park, Norwood Park, Mt. Greenwood).

I would prefer a 4Th option. Can Chicago have neighborhoods that are mixed economically, socially, and racially, but not on the brink of gentrification? Can Chicago have a neighborhood that is defensive of change because it's heterogeneity is at stake?

I think it would take a generation of many small groups of young people, of all classes and races, that are committed to putting down roots. I'm talking about intentionally seeking out space in Chicago, not in an upcoming or trendy neighborhood, but in the most isolated, poor, and seemingly unliveable and abandoned places, to live, get involved, raise kids, marry your kids there, grow old, and die in the same house or apartment. This is not utopia, but a call to the challege of status quo of neighborhood segregation in Chicago and the greatest protest against the American Dream or any pressures of climbing the social ladder.

Some people call it gentrification with justice, I call it living intentionally. There are so many definitions of gentrification and without hard data in your hands to prove it, gentrification can only rely on symbols as a definition ( Starbucks, rich people, white people, new condos, too much change too fast). So early on, no matter what, there is going to be judgement about change in a neighborhood, but recognize that time builds trust, time builds community, time and purposeful living can build a 4th option for living in Chicago.

Getting it Wrong

Last Thursday we had a block club meeting and I mentioned that I wanted to elect new officers for the upcoming year. One of my neighbors asked " Bill, you don't want to be President no more?". I told here that i did , but would like to see other regulars at the meetings get involved. She said, " You know if you guys leave that's the end of the block club."



And there it was right in my face, the realization that I had failed Community Organizing 101,

"Always work to develop indigenous leadership".

Fwd- "The Logan Square Blogger"

My name's Jill, and I'm really passionate about supporting local businesses. Last night, I rode my bicycle and met up with my friends Emily,Erica, and Katie at Logan Bar and Grill. We talked about our disdain for Sarah Palin and how she is an insult to those of us that supported Hillary. But the focus was on the state of Logan Square and how gentrification has been forcing out longtime businesses. For those of you unaware of what is going on in our neighborhood, newer residents are moving in and forcing longtime residents out. Businesses that have been here for generations are being replaced by Starbucks or some other multi-national chains to meet the consumer demands of those new residents. The effects of globalization have especially hit the Latino residents of our
community the hardest. That's why all of us at the table made a pact to spend our money locally and that's why I want to recommend everyone to try Logan Bar and Grill, it's been in the community for a long time, its not a chain, and its is true to the neighborhood, it even has the word Logan in its name. If I were to choose between two local grills, such as Johnny's Grill and the Logan, I would definetely choose the Logan.


And....... don't forget to get your groceries at Adli on Milwaukee either, you always want to support and protect our local grocery stores and keep the money from flowing out of our community.

Northwest Side: What makes these neighborhoods so safe?

Portage Park, Jefferson Park, O'Hare, Edison Park, Norwood Park, Dunning, Sauganash, and Forest Glen reported no shooting deaths or injuries this summer, while other neighborhoods reported a combined total of 125 people shot and an estimated 247 wounded this summer. What makes these neighborhoods consistently the safest neighborhoods in the city?

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/chicago.summer.shootings.2.810166.html

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104675750739697697598.00044e3957099c263f47c&ll=41.79384,-87.61734&spn=0.457659,0.933838&z=10

Much Love to My Street

I have this framed picture I inherited when I got married called " How to Build Community", among the fifty odd ways you can build community, one of them was to organize a block party. That is just what we have done for the last four years. This year, however had a much different feel. A lot of new people have moved onto the block, and some old have returned.

When you are new to a neighborhood, you have to feel out the culture of the block and the unsaid rules and expectations of how you are to live in that community. But, what happens if you return to the neighborhood and all the culture and rules have changed? Do you adapt, or do you live your life the same way you always did before you left? Should you expect everyone to accept you and your way of life? Should you care?Working through these questions can be a struggle.

The block has changed in the last five years, so our newest neighbors have returned and with loud parties late into the night, gun shots, and shady lookin' characters rollin' up at all times.The block club has made it known that these type of things don't fit our culture or expectations for living in our community. Yet, I had a sense that the new rules, said or unsaid, had left our new neighbors feeling alienated and not part of what is going on here on our block.

That sense is what was giving me anxiety about this year's block party. What would it be like if our new neighbors kept to themselves or worse, what if they, feeling all the static they've been getting from the block, just acted wild and messed up the party?
Neither of those two scenerios happened. A block clean-up, bar-b-que arrachera, dominos, bags, scavenger hunts, football, corn hole, and a block potluck opened up the opportunity to connect the new neighbors, some of them who have a history as gangbangers. Some of these guys I would have never talked to based out of fear. There is something about hanging out, talking, and sharing the same experiences that humanizes those that you fear or dislike. I hope it was the same for them.

Like we always do, with those on our block who have a history here, Eric and I asked what this neighborhood was like before we came. One of our new neighbor's friends, who use to live on our block, told us how he used to party at our house, in the nineties; he also pointed out, with pride, all the apartments where he use to live. Then, he showed us where all of his relatives use to live. He followed the conversation with a story about where he wants to get his next tatoo, I asked him why he had a K and an L st. on his forearms. He said they stood for Keystone and LeMoyne, "I've got much love for this block". I realized that my new neighbors are fathers and uncles, like me. They like bar-b-que and eat potato salad, like me. And they love this block and have a vested interest in it, like me. Those common bonds and interests give me hope that understanding, acceptance, and friendship, and true community can happen here on this block

Be True to Thyself

If you are out of town and are from Shaumburg, Naperville, or Winnetka usually you will tell a person, upon meeting them for the first time, that you are from Chicago. However, do you understand the full extent of what living in Chicago entails?
It means your child may have to go to crumbling, poor acheiving public schools. You may have to talk to someone on food stamps. You may have to talk to your kids about gangs, they might be sitting on your porch. You may have to ride the bus to work with someone who drinks their own urine. You will pay some of the highest taxes in the nation. You will have put up with a shady city government, police, etc. and like it.
It would be nice if we could annex some of those suburbs into the city and use some of those extremly rich taxpayers to pay for our public schools, parks, infrastructure, and our problems. Unfortunately, we can't. So, I urge any suburbanite, when out of town, not to use Chicago as a reference point, if you don't really want to take on the extra burdens a Chicagoan has to bear as a citizen of this city of 3.8 million non-suburbanites. When trying to help someone understand where you are from, be proud that you really are from, Morton Grove.

Where do you live?

There is an easy way to tell if someone is a True Chicagoan, just ask them where they live. If they say Logan Square, not a True Chicagoan. If they say Fullerton and California, True Chicagoan. If they say Lincoln Square, not a True Chicagoan. If they say, I live over by the McDonald's on Lincoln and Western, True Chicagoan. If they say, I think the nieghborhood map of Chicago says I live in the Near North Side, not a True Chicagoan, but if they say I live at Division and Halsted, this place sure has changed, but I was born and raised right here, and this is where I'm gunna stay, then that person is a True Chicagoan.

True Chicagoans Read the Sun Times

Just ask any Streets and Sans guy. They're always reading them while enjoying a Jimmy's Hot Dog, when their supposed to be doing thier job.

Waiting for a bus: True Chicago Style

Any True Chicagoan waiting for a CTA bus is most certainly waiting impatiently, because CTA is never on schedule. A True Chicagoan exhibits the seriousness of their impatience by trying to spot the bus by walking in the middle of the street to try and catch a glimpse of a bus on the horizon. The Truest of all Chicagoans waiting for a bus will walk into the middle of the street to spot a bus while traffic weaves around them. Sometimes this Chicagoan is disappointed when they think they see a bus and it turns out to be a truck, school bus, or the most disappointing, and out of service bus. But, before discouragement sets, a True Chicagoan lifts their head up high and always finds three CTA buses bunched up ready to take him or her to their destination, late.

How Much Is Enough?

I am always in the mood to be inspired. I have tried in the past to force inspiration down my throat by trying to memorize some quotes by famous authors and thinkers throughout history, purchase fortune cookies, or hang up one of those signs, you know, like the ones that show lightening flashing above an open field, with one lone tree, with the tag line: Detirmination: The will to succeed can overcome the greatest adversity.
I prefer the inspiration that comes more serendipitiously. They can come from the strangest places. This time it was from Jimmy John's Sandwhich shop. I hope you are inspired too. The sign reads as follows:


How Much Is Enough?

The American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, only a little while.

The American then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The American then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life."

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this take?"

To which the American replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then?"

The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions?" asked the fisherman, "Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evening, sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos!"

(Author unknown)

Sneaky Runners

Some may have heard, but if you haven't, I've been coerced by my friend Ryan to run a half marathon. I know you might say, "That fat tub o' lard, he can't run 13 miles". Well to all of you who say that, ha, I ran 11-12 miles on last Saturday, I wasnt counting, but I think it was that much, really. How do I know, well Ryan thought that we should run about 9-10 miles going south along the lakeshore, we somehow got caught up in the Soldier Field 10 miler, and we were running against the flow. So some Kenyans at the front of the line were breezing past us with no problems, the problems came when were were running into runners trying to make good time. One guy yelled obsenities at Ryan which caused Ryan to want to run into runners and screw up their time. It was getting serious so I went into the grass.
We ran almost to Hyde Park, actually Promentory Point, stretched out, then followed all the stragglers all the way back into Soldier Field. When I entered the field, through the area where the players entered the field, we were greeted with a hero's welcome, as if they knew I had run the most I had ever ran in my life, beating my all time record of running ten miles straight without training, when I finished High Road. It didnt matter if we didnt have our runners number. We had a photo finish, we were on the jumbotron, and we were offered some kind of medal. (I declined). After we soaked everyting in, we proceeded to mooch as much free stuff as we could during the after party. SWAG! STUFF WE ALL GET, as Ryan would say.
The feeling of accomlishment was great, on to the half marathon, not a bad day for a fat tub o' lard like me.

Camping

Every now and then, a True Chicagoan needs a little time away from the city for a little R & R. This year we went camping to the Warren Dunes with some couples from our church. Now I don't like to do much work on vacation, so I was worried about having to pitch a tent and all the other inconveniences that come with the camping experience, but my friend Brian helped us and the tent was up in no time. Katie and I were also worried about Liam burning up in the fire, or getting eaten by a snake, falling into quicksand, and worst of all, crying all night in a tent during quiet hours. However the sweet country air put Liam into a deep sleep both nights. He slept better than he does at home. Maybe we should become vagabonds and Liam will sleep just fine.
We hiked and climed some dunes the first night, the sunset was breathtaking especially because it was clear enough to get a shot of the skyline from the Michigan side of the lake.

The next day it Katie, Liam, and I climbed the 20 story dune, well Liam didnt climb, I had him in my backpack while he screamed for Katie and pulled my hair, while I lugged 40 pds on my back and felt heart palpatations. Once we got over the dune we made our way to the beach were I gave Katie some free time and took Liam and his best friend on the trip, Elisa, to the water. It was so cold, but Liam wasn't afraid, we would run in and when it got too cold we would run out. We buried Elisa, skipped rocks, threw driftwood into the water, and said hi to boats, we had a great time.
When the little ones went down, we played couples olympics, compared engagement stories (ours won), and played the newlywed game. Katie and I thought that it would be difficult to get to know some of the couples, but I think the games put everyone in a place where they could relate to each other. We headed for home at about eleven the next morning, and I couldnt ask for a more perfect bookend to our vacation, a leisurely ride home, great conversation with my wife, and a shot of the Chicago skyline coming north on the Dan Ryan. Nothing like a good vacation away to get you pumped up about coming home to our beautiful city.

Crack Pipe

My car was found the day after it got stolen. My cell, wallet, my school bag with student work, and paint from my trunk--- all gone. Oh, and I saw a crack pipe for the first time.... in my back seat.

My Bike Ride

I hadn't been on a bike for over ten years. The guys at the bike shop made fun of the Huffy bike I own. My car just got stolen. Now that I'm on the street, all vulnerable, I am fearful of True Chicago drivers, especially driving on Milwaukee Avenue. Especially, because I don't pay attention, I like to daydream. I am afraid of being crushed underneath a truck. I don't like how I look in one of those bike hats. I don't want to sweat in my work clothes. I am going to ride on the sidewalk, I don't care about bike ettiquette or the bike rules of the road. I dont like my nieghbor calling me a yuppie for riding my bike. I made it home safe, I'll it try again tomorrow.

Crime Victim

I have lived in Chicago all my life, I have been known to fight tooth and nail against anyone who says that the city dangerous place or isn't a safe place to raise kids. I could say that I never had been a victim of crime in my own city, but today changed all that. Today, I was a victim of grand theft auto.
Here's the story: I had been wanting to ride a bike to work for about two years and I had been in the market for a bike. While I was pricing one out, my brother informed me that he had one stored away in the basement of my school, he use to ride it when we worked together. It was a nice day so I decided to take it to Kozy's bike shop, to get it's tires filled and seat adjusted. While it was getting serviced, this scraggly skinny lookin long haired dude comes in bugging the guy fixing my bike to fix one of the chain links. He mentioned he wasn't from around here and kept insisting that his chain link get fixed. He opens up a crumpled paper towel and produces this rusty old chain, lays it on the floor and begins talking to himself. I thought it strange, but paid no attention and went off to browse the store. I found a clip on bicycle rack, bought it, then brought it back downstairs to get it installed. After it was installed, I left and went to test out the bike around the block. I came back and realized my car was missing. At first I thought, maybe it was towed. Then I checked my pockets for my keys. Missing.
I proceeded down to the service counter and asked if anyone had seen keys; the clerk mentioned he had seen the keys on the counter and asked the man with the chain if they were his. The guy said no. Then the clerk and I realized that this dude took my car.
I called the police, they arrived twenty minutes later they arrived. I have to mention that they were very kind to me and helped me think through the whole chain of events, for the police report. They questioned the fact that some crazy, scrappy fella could have the wherewith all to pull grand theft auto in broad daylight. They thought it could be an inside job, bikers running a car theft ring . Quite plausible I thought, my car, stolen near a bike shop, maybe some bicycle activists took it and junked it in the name of our fragile planet. At 5:00, I stood in front of the shop, a young man stranded miles away from home, without the comfort of my vehicle and my sedentary lifestyle, alone with a bike. i rode home, wet, sweaty, back hurting. Could this event been the prelude to a life live much more fully. Nah, I missed my car.

Marx and Michael Scott

Check out "Gaper's Block's" musings on "The Office". I always love Michael's philosophy about business. Remember when he goes to Ryan's business school and is frustrated by all the questions about Dunder Mifflin's business model:

"You know what? Dunder-Mifflin is here to stay... David will always beat Goliath."

"But there's five Goliaths — Staples, Office Max—"

"Yeah, yeah. You know what else is facing five Goliaths? America. Al-Qaeda. Global Warming. Uh, sex predators... mercury poisoning... so what, do we just give up? Is that what we're learning in business school?"

"But in the big picture—"

"Dunder-Mifflin is the big picture; can't you understand that? No, you can't. Because you're too young. And Ryan has never made a sale."

Later in the episode, when Ryan thinks he is being fired, Michael reassures him: "A good manager doesn't fire people. He hires people and inspires people. You don't get it — people will never 'go out of business.'"

I love that last quote. (See my True Value entry).

To read the whole article, click on my entry title.

Gun Violence Out of Hand in Chicago

A cougar was shot Monday evening in the Roscoe Village neighborhood on the North Side, Chicago police said.

The incident occurred some time after 6 p.m. near North Hamilton Avenue and West Roscoe Street, according to Belmont District police.

The condition of the cougar was not immediately known and police could not say who shot the animal, and why.

Further details were unavailable.

True Chicagoan: Russ Stewart

Recently, I got into understanding the inside of Chicago and County politics. Russ Stewart is someone who has helped me understand all the wheelings and dealings behind my friendly neighborhood aldermanic, state senate and representative elections. He provides down to earth commentary and electoral predictions about the whole political scene here in Chicago and the northwest side, where I grew up. He has been doing this for Nadig newspapers for over 30 years. So if you want an unbiased, True Chicagoan anaysis, check out his article online. http://www.russstewart.com/chicago_politics.htm

Think Globally, Act Loco

I always find it crazy how some of those that fight for justice on global issues seem to get it wrong on things that are local to where they live. It is easy to fight against some far away injustice like the Iraq War, Darfur, or some human rights abuses in Myanmar. It's easy to rail against concepts like globalization, Empire, and climate change. But, what is harder is fighting the injustice of not loving your neighbor.
I love this quote from Kit Hodge from the site Neighbors Project; Kit introduces a conference her organization has been invited with the title: Foreign Policy on Your Block


Does the idea of pre-emptive force make you shake your fist? But do you blast your music late at night knowing full well that it pisses off your neighbors? Do you believe that thoughtful foreign diplomacy that aims to prevent war? But do you avoid your neighbors at all costs and complain directly to the landlord/condo board/police about them whenever they bother you? Do you want the U.S. to actually participate in the Kyoto Accord? But do you avoid invitations to join your block's clean and green team?

My belabored point is the old cliche, "think globally, act locally." It's great -- perhaps imperative -- to have an informed opinion about what's going on around the world. But it's also easy to be a hypocrite, complaining about a country's refusal to try diplomacy before war, while we default to calling the police on our neighbors for small irritations. Foreign policy isn't usually about altruism; it's a practical tool to ensure that the world is livable. Same with neighbor policy.

This is a long preamble to us plugging Worldview's Global Activism Expo in Chicago.

Let us practice foreign policy where we find ourselves and love our neighbors as we would love others across this world.

Driving Techniques- True Chicago Style

Any True Chicagoan knows that the best way to reach your destination fast, when running late, is to roll up into the right lane, pretend to turn and when the light changes, proceed to cut off all those stuck in traffic. The Chicago Pick and Roll.
Another technique: When driving through residential streets it is best to speed up, tap the brakes at the stop sign, and then roll right through. When navigating residential streets with speed bumps, it is best continue driving at top speed,and swerve to the right or left of the speed bump, where it is at it's lowest elevation, this way you can avoid damage to your car on your way toward your destination.
Lastly: A True Chicagoan knows that when the epressway is jammed it is best to take any street that does not follow the famous Chicago grid. Milwaukee Avenue, Elston Ave., and Nortwest Highway will get you to where you need to be in no time.

The Jesus Manifesto

Check this website out. It is a clearinghouse for propaganda: sites, blogs, and zines for any Christian against the "Empire", codeword for America, and those that are serious about "Kingdom Living." You might find it interesting. Let me know what you think of it.

http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/

Liam

My son has been obsessed with vehicles for the past couple weeks. He climbs up onto the coffee table near the windows in our apartment and will spend hours, if we let him, anticipating school buses, trucks, and cars rolling down our block. He can even recoginize mine and Katie's car from the window, sometimes he anticipates my arrival from work and shows up at the window waving hi and shouting "Dada".
So, this week we've made an effort to take our baby on his first bus ride, take the El downtown, and attempt to ride in a taxi. When he was downtown, he couldnt contain his joy at the constant barrage of yellow taxis and buses like the ones he sees in his books. Today Liam will get another chance to ride in that taxi, we have to be downtown to meet a lawyer at 10:00 this morning.

Tree Hugger

Everyday I drive down School Street on my way to my job at my old elementary school, past my my old block, and my old house on 3312 N. Keystone .In the spring and early summer and fall I get to experience a lovely canopy of mature urban trees until it clears onto a lifeless steppe right before Karlov Avenue. Call me a tree hugger if you want, but I've always have had a soft spot for those trees along School Street and on my block, so about a week and a half ago, I noticed an empty space where the tallest tree on Keystone once stood and I felt an emptiness in my heart. Whenever I visited my old block the space felt almost exactly as it felt how felt when I lived there almost twenty years ago. Now feeling has changed, I feel as if something was stripped from me, a reminder of my childhood. My memories can never come back to me as fresh as they once were.


If you ever read a book about trees, the best book to pick up is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. The tree gives its all to the boy/man and the man never truly appreciates it until it is gone, just a stump. Urban trees hardly ever get their due. If they make it, they take forty or fifty years to mature, and the ones that make it get cut down cuz they screw up your plumbing. If anything, I appeal to those that live in Chicago... appreciate our urban forest because trees bring life and a feeling of permanence and security to the space where you live. And if you can, this coming April 25, plant a tree in our great city and give a blessing to our future residents.

Hizzoner: Mayor Richard J. Daley

Check dis play out. Make sure you have someone to come with. This is a love letter about Chicago, it's history, and it's politics as seen through the almost 20 year administation of Daley. After, read the book American Pharoh to get more background information of the man that changed our city.

What is a bodega?

I usually get these google alerts for Humbodt park and West humboldt park and I keep getting blogs and internet articles about "Humboldt Park" the movie being fimed here. It's a movie " that follows a family reunion during the holidays in the Chicago neighborhood of Humboldt Park. John Leguizamo and Freddy Rodriguez have been cast as brothers in the clan. JayHernandez plays a friend of the family who works there. Melanie Diaz is a former lover of Rodriguez's character and friends with the clan's daughter. Mercedes Ruehl is the matriarch and Alfred Molina is the father who owns a bodega." Bodega? What is a bodega?

I thought maybe it was some kind of store and I was right. Apparently bodegas are what we in Chicago like to call, corner stores. See what happens when Nuyoricans write a script about True Chicago Puerto Ricans. Maybe Freddy Rodriguez, who grew up in a Puerto Rican niegborhood, in Chicago no less, should have read the script before it went into production.

Rick's Wake

Today, Rick was remebered lovingly by his extended family, most lovingly by his mom. She greeted Rhoda and me; knowing who Rhoda was, but not me. Rhoda introduced me as the "block captain". Rhoda and I visited for about an hour, staying quiet, giving our respects and soaking everything in.
From three poster boards, mounted with photos, I learned that Rick's family was originally from Tennessee. He grew up in Logan Square near Armitage and California and as the neighborhood changed in the 1960's and 70's , his family stayed. He graduated from Chase Elementary. I couldn't tell where he went to high school, but there were pictures of him with his date from the prom and of the day he graduated. Other photos documented his life with his wife and his child. They showed him feeding and playing with his baby. There were photos of him in front of his new car, in front of a house, in a subdivision, in a suburb of a city in California. His son was there to pay his respects, but no wife. Something happened between all the happiness documented in the photos and life Rick lived before he passed on Friday from complications from pneumonia.
Most of us on the block remember Rick as the crazy looking white dude, with no teeth who was dying of AIDS, that sold drugs to our neighbors, and hung out with the prostitutes. Although I never saw anything with my own eyes, he was the next problem that our Block Club was going to go after to clean up the block.
Its easy to forget that the "problem" on any block can be someones son, father, uncle, or friend. Those three poster boards gave us a fuller picture of who Rick was as a person, it humanized him. I prayed for Rick periodically. Everytime I talked to him on the sidewalk, he was always wearing a What Would Jesus Do? key chain around his neck and asking me about a good church to visit. I never followed up.
Rick's famous quote was " I did a lot of bad things in my life, but at least I did it my way." I hope that in his last days he was able to let go of that and make peace with God.

Our Family's 2007 Top Ten List

Today, I have a guest blogger, my wife Katie.

After we made our 2007 Top Ten List (as suggested by "The Love List" by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot), Bill asked me to post it on his blog because I type faster than him- I refused. Then he said he wanted me to his guest blogger, which I thought was kind of cute, so I agreed. Here it is (in no particular order):

1. Exercise: Bill began running with Ryan Steingard in Humboldt Park and lost 20 lbs. and I began walking the neighborhood while pushing Liam's stroller and listening to podcasts.
2. Liam's many FIRSTS: crawling, walking, talking and our favorite- sleeping through the night (thanks to "The Sleep Easy Solution")
3. Block involvement (getting a mural painted on HOBO, consistent block club meetings with Bill as the president, deeper relationships with some neighbors and Bill's fight for the historic preservation of Ferndell's)
4. Nights away from home with and without Liam (hotel in Schaumburg, Galena)
5. Turning 30 (taking a skyline flight and having a celebrity surprise party for Bill and spending time at my Uncle Jim's cabin near Madison for mine)
6. Sharing parenting with the Runyans.
7. Going on dates- having babysitters!
8. The balance I have found between being a mom and having a life (and job) outside of the house.
9. Christmas with the Sullivan family- sharing our highs and lows from the year- healing.
10. Peace and calm in the Smiljanich family