Chicago -
By J.J. Tindall
Groovy Times
My favorite nanosecond every year
is the instant the goddam blowtorch breaks
and I can smell the first quarks of autumn.
The boiling blazes seem like forever
as they confound, conflate and constrict
from Memorial Day pretty much
through Lollapalooza.
You find yourself dazedly digging trenches
in your mind for a perpetual siege,
acceding to a scorched forever
and then the goddam blowtorch breaks.
Posted on August 11, 2012
By Steve Balkin
The New Maxwell Street Market, on Desplaines Avenue between Roosevelt and Polk, has been in decline for several years; fewer vendors and fewer shoppers.
Once the largest open-air market in Chicago, it had 1,200 vendors in 1994 in its original location. Now, on Desplaines, it has less than 100.
This has been caused by higher vendor fees; unnecessary expensive regulations, out of line with other outdoor markets in Chicagoland; city management unfriendly to the vendors; and city management disinterested in stemming the downward trend.
But the vendors have come to the rescue of the Market and formed the Maxwell Street Market Vendors Association. Their motto is “United in Justice, In Service to the Community, In Support to our Families.”
Posted on August 9, 2012
Ruling The Red Planet
Space ward shaping up nicely.
* The dude who hired Angelo Torres. Oh wait, that was a different rover.
* Richard M. Daley’s response to police chief Richard Brzeczek’s warning about Jon Burge
* Steve Bartman.
* Ald. Joe Moore’s balls.
* That missing puck.
Posted on August 6, 2012
Video By Dave Seminara
Vast parking lots and historic strips malls that recall the glory days of America’s suburbs!
Posted on August 6, 2012
Video By Chicago Line Cruises
Capt. George Streeter was an incompetent gun-runner and vice lord who once declared himself the governor of the “Lake Michigan District” who would answer only the president.
Posted on August 4, 2012
Folk Art At The Art Institute
Uploaded on Tuesday by the Antiques and the Arts Channel in conjunction with Antiques and the Arts Weekly’s cover story this week. It could use a soundtrack, but still.
Posted on August 1, 2012
Control Syphilis, Learn A Hobby
“This is a collection of WPA posters from Chicago produced by the WPA from 1936-1943,” writes generalchina22. “All images came directly from the Library of Congress digital collection.”
Posted on July 26, 2012
Roller Rinks And Drive-In Movies
“A collection of photos depicting places we used to go for fun in Chicagoland which are things of the past,” writes zeusdvm, who uploaded this video on Monday.
“I received an e-mail directing me to Craig’s Lost Chicago, which had photos of bygone Chicago treasures and these were under the fun section. As I viewed them I realized a soundtrack was needed. The song choice was obvious to me, ‘Old Days’ by Chicago.
“I hope you enjoy the show which will definitely bring back some warm, nostalgic memories. I hope Craig also likes what I have done. I will send him this link. His website is http://www.craigslostchicago.yolasite.com/.”
Posted on July 24, 2012
By Dan O’Shea
Summer has been too hot, and it’s time for cooler, foamier heads to prevail. Thursday night I’m heading to my local cooling station in Lincoln Square, only this one will by outside in the fading sunlight. Impossible, you say? Not when I’ll be sampling a variety of cool beers from the many Midwestern craft breweries participating in the first Summer Brew.
Remember Winter Brew? Well, Summer Brew, sponsored by the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce, is its warm-weather cousin. It’s also the opening night event for this weekend’s Square Roots Festival In Lincoln Square, an event we have been hearing for months will feature an array of craft beers.
Posted on July 18, 2012
