Thursday, May 28, 2009

Vacant Mega-Mall Site To Become School

"The Chicago Math & Science Academy paid $5.5 million for the vacant Mega Mall in Rogers Park, where it plans to relocate in time for the next school year. The Chicago Public Schools charter school closed this month on its purchase of the property, 7212 N. Clark St. The school has leased the former St. Jerome school at 1705 W. Lunt Ave. since opening in fall 2004. The Mega Mall property is 54,000 square feet on a two-acre site... up from 40,000 feet the school has now in two buildings."

Photo: Neighbors


Rogers Park Garden Group Plant Sale & Fundraiser

If you missed the last plant sale fundraiser, here is another chance:

Sunday, June 7th 11am-3pm 1434 W. Greenleaf (next to RP Presbyterian Church)
"The RPGG is holding a special spring plant sale to raise funds for 2010 community gardening programs. If you have plants to donate, please contact Karen McCarthy by email. If you want to buy plants, come see us on Sunday, June 7! "

Video: Rogers Park Neighborhood Tour




A bit cheesy, but fun.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Reality of Crime in Rogers Park

There is a lot of fluff in "Is Rogers Park Really As Dangerous As People Say?".

The answer is no; but The Reader has fun with graphs comparing our neighborhood to others in the city. 

The Cheetos of Rogers Park

Tracks the adventures of Cheetos bags in the neighborhood. The unnatural orange is striking, some of the photos are actually beautiful.
"Down every street, alley and gangway, the jewel of Rogers Park can be seen. Is it the violet? (the State flower of the great Illinois), the top stripe on the Chicago flag depicting the north side? or the many discarded liquer bottles from Soo's? (usually some form of malt liquer, Ice or 40 oz.) or is it the voter fraud and electioneering during elections by incumbent officials? If you think the jewel of RP is any of these, you are sadly mistaken. The real deal is that finger lickin', orange finger residue leavin', cheesiest of the cheesy puffed snack known as Cheetos!"
Link

Monday, May 18, 2009

Praising Review of Lifeline's "Bushman's Honeymoon"


The Tribune's
Theater Loop has only good things to say about the English detective story:
"witty, smart and exquisitely toned, with enough self-awareness to freshen the genre without undermining its conventions."
Read the full article.
The play runs through June 21 at Lifeline Theater.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Rogers Park Art Walk

Saturday May 16th 7pm-Midnight.

Hotei Art Gallery and Gallery B1E owners/operators are looking to show off what Rogers Park has to offer as an arts community. For one night only they are teaming up with local bars, galleries, and over 50 artists and street performers.
"...with great local art, music, food, drinks, and plenty of reasons to get reacquainted with neighbors in this unique community. Hundreds of works of art produced by local artists will be offered up for sale at multiple locations along Morse and Glenwood Avenues, at local galleries, restaurants and bars, and even vacant storefronts festively decorated and accompanied by DJs, bands and other local performers."
Admission to the event is $20, which includes access to all sites, entertainment and open bar and drink tickets good at local establishments. Click Here for more information.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Community Plant Sale


Saturday, May 16 from 9am until noon
Gale Community Academy (7600 N. Marshfield) and
Neighbors United In New Possibilities (1505 N. Morse)


"TOMATOES
CHILE, GREEN, RED, and JALAPENO PEPPERS
FLOWERS
HANGING FLOWER BASKETS
POTTED PLANTS
HERBS
and MUCH, MUCH MORE
ALL GROWN BY VOLUNTEERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS"
 
All sale profits will be used to purchase educational products and services for Gale Community Academy.  For more information, call Greg Roberts at 773-534-2750

Time to eat!


This article at the SUN TIMES reminded me it's time to sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program this summer. Personally, I hate grocery shopping and am always disappointed by the produce at Jewel or Dominick's, these programs are a great way to support local farmers, eat healthy, and they're convenient. There are plenty of pickup spots in the neighborhood, check out the interactive map on www.localharvest.org to find the one nearest you.
"An estimated 5,000 families in the Chicago area participated in CSAs last year. Jim Slama, president of FamilyFarmed.org, a group that advocates for local food systems, says he expects that number to go up again this harvest season.

"CSAs and the local food movement are both exploding," he says. "People want to be able to know and trust their farmer and thus know and trust their food."

A full share of 20 weeks of produce is $695 and should offer plenty for a family of four. Half shares -- what I opted for -- are $450.

"It sounds expensive until you average it out over the course of 20 weeks and realize that it comes out to be about $5 a day for certified organic fruits and vegetables."

Monday, May 11, 2009

Swine Flu Investigators to Survey Rogers Park

Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be going door-to-door in Rogers Park this week in an attempt to better understand how the H1N1 swine influenza virus spread in Chicago. Because some of the earliest swine flu cases in the nation were identified in Rogers Park, the CDC has focused a large part of their investigation in this area of the city.

The CDC will be knocking on doors asking residents about recent respiratory illnesses (cough, sore throat and fever) they or someone in their household may have experienced. If a member of the household was ill recently, he or she will be asked to volunteer for a nasopharyngeal (nose/throat) swab to test for the virus.

Interviews and specimen collection are completely voluntary. The CDC investigators are working in teams and will present photo IDs when they are at the door. The investigators will be conducting their door-to-door surveys every day from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., starting today (Monday, May 11th) and ending next Monday, May 18th.

The CDC will concentrate their survey in the area bounded by Touhy Avenue on the north, Devon Avenue on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, and Ridge Boulevard on the west.

Through this investigation, the CDC hopes to garner more information about how flu viruses are spread in our community. This information will be important for future decision making if the swine flu virus or other new viruses emerge next fall or winter.

If you have any questions about the survey, please call Alderman Joe Moore's office at 773-338-5796, and my staff will put you in touch with the appropriate officials in the City of Chicago Department of Public Health, who are working with the CDC on this investigation.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

RP Theaters Sweep Jeff Award Nominations

"Maybe the time has come to dub Glenwood Avenue in the Rogers Park neighborhood as Chicago’s answer to off-Broadway. Certainly that’s the conclusion to be reached if you tally up the nominations for the Non-Equity Jeff Awards announced today"
- SUN TIMES

Spring Thing 2009 Group Show and Open Studios Event


Show dates: May 8, 2009 - July 4, 2009

Artist Reception & Open Studios, Friday, May 8, 6:00 - 10:00 pm
- Live Entertainment
- Raffle drawings
- 50+ Artists all new work
- Free Admission · Free Parking

Art, snacks, entertainment & shopping all in one creative place!
1806 West Greenleaf Ave. • Chicago, IL 60626 • 773-465-4652
www.GreenleafArtCenter.com