CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS – LOOP EDGEWATER LINCOLN PARK LOGAN SQUARE OAK PARK
CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS – LOOP EDGEWATER LINCOLN PARK LOGAN SQUARE OAK PARK
Railroad reconstruction crews rebuilt a nearly century-old curve along the CTA Loop elevated tracks in about five minutes.
The recently completed work replaced about 1000 feet of track rail ties and train signals at Wabash Avenue and Lake Street and was in reality done over the course of one full weekend. A stunning time-lapse video that was shot over the period of the 54 hours condensed the work into five minutes. To view an edited version of the video that runs about a minute and a half click here.
According to officials the project involved a well designed process of demolishing the old tracks and installing new rails in a slightly different alignment in order to make the ride smoother and reduce wear-and-tear on trains.
Find out more by clicking here.
EDGEWATER
The North Side men’s emergency homeless shelter slated to close Dec. 1 will remain open for the rest of the month and move to a new location for the first part of 2009 said shelter officials recently.
Epworth United Methodist Church in Edgewater will allow the REST Warming Shelter located inside the church to stay in operation until the end of the year REST board president Michael O’Hara said.
The shelter which houses 65 homeless men each night had planned to close Dec. 1 after the church doubled the rent it charged the organization. But the church relented and allowed the shelter to stay in the church for one additional month.
"There were 65 happy guys Monday night" O’Hara said. "When we made the announcement it was like the Cubs had won the World Series."
Click here to read more.
LINCOLN PARK
Lincoln Park Zoo is displaying it’s Zoo Lights. There are plenty of old and new fun events this year.
Get your photo taken with a classic Santa in the Kovler Lion House. Stop by and see the musical light show extravaganza on the South Lawn.
Stay warm by sipping warm festive cocktails spiced wine and frosty beer and partake in some holiday crafts. Enjoy dinner and treats at Park Place Cafe along with holiday shopping at Wild Things! Try the Endangered Species Carousel LP Zoo Holiday Express train rides and African Safari Ride too.
For more information click here.
LOGAN SQUARE
The Chicago Underground Library has surfaced.
After a year spent on hold and without a permanent space the non-profit has partnered with AREA Chicago and InCUBATE aligning their missions to illuminate the city’s arts scene past and present.
The Underground Library archives and indexes small indie and obscure literary artifacts. AREA Chicago a non-profit magazine highlights "local social movements political and cultural organizations" according to the Web site and InCUBATE is a research institute striving to create connections between local and visiting artists.
The three organizations now share a Logan Square location 2129 N. Rockwell St. in the Congress Theater building.
Underground Library co-founder and director Nell Taylor describes some of their collections.
Click here to learn about it.
OAK PARK
The executive director of the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation Emily Roth was thrilled to rush into the historic Oak Park structure and announce the good news.
The historic Frank Lloyd Wright building-troubled by crumbling ceilings leaky walls and the prospect of a repair bill of more than $1 million-had just been awarded a $200000 federal grant.
In a 100th anniversary year filled with sobering news about the architectural masterpiece this was something to celebrate. The Save America’s Treasures grant was part of $10.52 million handed out by federal agencies which also included the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and the National Park Service.
Click here to read the whole story.
JENNIFER ARCAND & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
