Oh Windy City Rollers' Bus, how you entertained me so on a lovely Sunday afternoon. I'll never look…read moreat a yellow school bus the same. The minute you step on your eyes gaze over all the beer holding, booty bouncing, ready to party, child like adults. And let me say--keep the kids out of this school bus adventure. It is definitely rated "R". I would have to say Maggie, the read headed one, is worth a thousand words. She takes dancing to a whole new level. Up and down the bus, teasing both men and women, all while calling out to the people, " Are you ready motherf***ers to party? Get your DRINK on!" I loved it. I couldn't get enough. And I really wanted to know--how do you get this job? She ROCKS! All I know is--if you are going to the Derby, get yourself a ticket for the bus ride there. With it only being $8...who could resist?

the party bus now leaves from the bottom lounge and is…read more FREE!!!!! so get on and ride! never know what will happen.... i think i had my first "derby gay" experience on that bus in 2008... i'm not sure which party bus captain i made out with... but maybe thats why i went to try outs! (and passed btw...lol) oh the roller derby.....

I've lived in Ravenswood since 2009. It's my home in this city. I've thought about moving to a new…read moreplace more than once, but it's hard to think about moving to a completely different neighborhood. To correct another reviewer, Ravenswood is NOT in the suburbs. It was *once* a suburb--established over 150 years ago as part of Lake View Townshop, which in turn was annexed by the city. It began as the Ravenswood Land Company, a real estate group formed with the goal of offering commuters homes near the city. Several of the folks involved in the Company have streets named after them that run through this neighborhood. Before the CTA trains were assigned color-coded routes, the Brown Line was known as the Ravenswood Branch. Ravenswood is a mix of industrial and residential. There was once a musical instrument facility in the Deagan building--where J.C. Deagan lead a business making glockenspiels and other percussive instruments. That business was purchased by other companies in the late 70s, but a mallet and instrument repair company remains in the building. Abbot Laboratories, the medical company, was established here in Ravenswood by Dr. Abbot himself, who ran his own practice and pharmacy. Boye Needle Company, which made needles and other sewing notions, was once in the space that most recently was occupied by Architectural Artifacts. There was once at least one, if not two, Masonic Temples in the area to provide a social outlet for early Ravenswood residents. It's my understanding that after the Great Chicago Fire, Ravenswood experienced a bit of a boom. Poorer residents chose Ravenswood because they needed to build new homes, and wood frame ones that were outlawed in Chicago were the more affordable. The fire caused a building boom in the northern area of the city as well (North Avenue was once the city's northern border). As brickyards started cropping up around the area to supply the construction of the rebuilt city, immigrants (mostly German) came to the area to work and live. In these early days, the intersection of Damen & Lawrence Avenues was a rural, wooded lovers lane; isn't that adorable? All Saints' Episcopal Church at the corner of Wilson and Hermitage is the oldest church in the neighborhood and the oldest wood frame church in Chicago, because the church was built before the annexation. Carl Sandburg lived down the block and once attended this church. The church does a food pantry and meal distribution on Tuesdays in conjunction with Ravenswood Community Services, and they also host the annual Ravenswood Run and Spirits of Ravenswood. Down the street is a Methodist church, which helped victims of Japanese internment when they were relocated to Chicago. That church continues to have a close relationship with the Japanese American Service Committee to this day. There are several arts organizations that have a presence in the neighborhood. Several theatre companies have administrative offices here, and there are several studios for various visual artists. Starshaped Press, a local letterpress, operates out of the Bulldog Lock Company building. The Ravenswood Art Walk showcases this and other artists each year. Access Contemporary Music holds a classical music festival each year called the Thirsty Ears Festival, which I have yet to attend but hope to soon! And for folks who love their beer and spirits, there are several distilleries, breweries to be found in and very near Ravenswood. It's simply a great place to be and my heart aches a bit anytime I think about when we may leave it.

So the Browns would never abandon their city for a richer city. But the Ravenswood…read more Really lovely neighbourhood in the near Northwest suburbs of Chicago with a lot of cool people around here and some great places to eat and pretty much an awesome destination if you like to explore the suburbs of Chicago for all of their great ethnic and exciting culinary and recreational glory - it's just a shame about the damn traffic, but then the same can be said about pretty much the entire freaking region.

I have always liked the McKinley Park Neighborhood (see "Tips" for neighborhood borders). I think…read moreit would be a very convenient place to live. Archer Avenue, which runs on an angle through this neighborhood is a street that has always made transportation downtown very easy by car, bike or bus. Since the 1990's, transportation is even quicker with two Orange Line stops in this neighborhood: Ashland just north of Archer and 35th St./Archer/Leavitt. And then there is the I-55, which also happens to be the north border of this neighborhood. Yes, getting downtown - - and even traveling southwest - - is pretty convenient from this neighborhood. THE Park & other parks in the area The Chicago Park District's McKinley Park is a large, beautiful park located between Damen (east) & Western (west) and 37th Street /Archer (north) & Pershing Road (south). *Fieldhouse: 2210 W. Pershing Road *See Yelp business page titled "McKinley Park" for reviews of the park *The neighborhood gets it's name from this park. *In recent years, there has been a Farmers Market in the summer--the nw corner of the park. The Other Parks *Mulberry Playlot Park at 3150 S. Robinson Street *Hoyne Park at 3417 S Hamilton Avenue *Kucinski-Murphy Park at 1635 W. 33rd Place This neighborhood also boasts a lovely library- Mckinley Park Library at 1915 W. 35th Street. CHURCHES *Blessed Sacrament is a newer Catholic Parish that combines three older churches/parishes: Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Maurice and Sts. Peter and Paul *St. Andrew Lutheran Church *Bethany Baptist Church *The Truth That Sets You Free *Pentecostal Church SCHOOLS CPS: *Everett Elementary *Nathaniel Greene Elementary *Thomas Early Childhood Center Charter: *Namaste *Horizon Science Academy - McKinley Park SHOPPING Mostly found along Archer Avenue, 35th Street, and Ashland Avenue *At Ashland and Archer is the Riverside Square & River's Edge Shopping area that includes an Ace Hardware, Mariano's, Pet Supplies Plus, GNC, T-mobile, Burger King and other businesses. Party City, Dollar Tree, and White Castle are on the south end of this shopping area. *Huck Finn (24 hours) and New Archvuew (Breakfast /Lunch Only) Restaurants are on Archer west of Damen Avenue. *Target is just south of the I-55 and east of Damen Avenue. HOUSING Although this is a convenient neighborhood, most of the homes are older--like really old. This area used to be a swamp area and there are houses that were built on stilts. Some housing sections are not particularly pleasant-looking IMO. Other sections are rather nice. History These websites give the history of McKinley Park : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKinley_Park,_Chicago http:/www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/802.html https://chicagoganghistory.com/neighborhood/mckinley-park/ https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood The last website listed is from the McKinley Park News. This online newspaper will keep you up-to-date about things going on in the neighborhood. There are prettier and probably safer neighborhoods in Chicago, but I feel the McKinley Park Neighborhood still has a lot to offer along with it's history, kind of old-fashioned charm (I think you can have charm even though you might not be all that pretty!) and very convenient location. Chicago Neighborhood-Review #3 McKinley Park Neighborhood - Review #7

Project Windows is an annual contest hosted by Michigan Avenue Magazine in Chicago which partners…read morewith the Chicago Community, Chicago Shops, Local Restaurants, Hotels, and other Local Businesses to promote the current LARGE curated Exhibition at The Art Institute of Chicago. It is a voluntary option for all of these entities to participate by using the thematic artist that is showcased in their Store Front Windows. Individuals can log onto the Project Windows Web Site and vote for their favorite Shop Window Exhibit that is an interpretation of the current artist and art exhibit on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. This Year-2020 the Exhibition was dedicated to Andy Warhol-Pop Art King in his "Retrospective" Exhibit Entitled: ANDY WARHOL-FROM A TO B AND BACK AGAIN My favorite Window Front Exhibits by local businesses were- 1. TeaGschwendner 1160 N State St Chicago, IL 60610 b/t Division St & Elm Streets Their window front featured Andy Warhol, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Queen Elizabeth of England and others sipping tea-each in their own Pop Art colorfully modern canvas while featuring a signature banana print at the base of the window front which had tea pots, tea cups, and other tea related accessories juxtaposed in a variety of bright colors and modern styles. (See Attached Pictures) 2. The Acme Hotel 15 E Ohio St Chicago, IL 60611 b/t Wabash Ave & State Streets Their Hotel Window featured a Christmas Tree with Andy Warhol's black glasses stuck into a Silver Christmas Tree and hanging images of famous celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Warhol himself. Under the Christmas Tree were gifts wrapped in Andy Warhol colorful celebrity prints and cans of Campbell's Tomato Soup! (See Attached Pictures) How are the Winners Chosen?- "An esteemed panel of judges is assembled to professionally judge all the entries and the public is invited to vote online for their favorite display design. The entry receiving the most votes is awarded the People's Choice Award, and themed awards are given out in relation to the exhibition." Source: https://michiganavemag.com/Project-Windows-2019 2020 Winner Announcement Date and Link- This Year's Winner will be announced on January 24, 2020. See this link for the final results: https://michiganavemag.com/Project-Windows-2019 FYI-Individuals are Welcome to "Join the Conversation"Via- @michiganavemag @oakstreetdesign @artinstitutechi #ProjectWindows

Which cities have the best bike path networks in the nation?…read more - Austin and second place - Sacramento, although this may have changed - please fact check me. And Chicago has made headway little by little - with each new bike lane and bridge for bikers. And sadly - with each bicyclist's death to remind us how far we still need to go. But Lincolnwood did not wait for a bad accident to happen before making any changes - they plopped down $4 million to build this bridge. And it connects Sauganash, Lincolnwood and Skokie and it's truly wonderful. As a runner and bicyclist - thank you Lincolnwood!! Skokie - you need to replicate this somehow for sculpture park off McCormick and for this trail (Howard and Main streets). We can do this Mayor Van Dusen!!

Ok, I'm not afraid to admit that on Friday's I'm usually a total lame-o. I like nothing more than…read morewatching TV and cozying up to my most recent issue of Us magazine. However, since summer was winding down, my Us never showed, and I had a long weekend ahead of me I decided to shake things up and check out the Gapers Block Party at the Metro. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I had never heard of any of the acts, had never even read Gapers Block, but it was free before 9:30. You can't even say that about most street fests! My friend and I hoped to be pleasantly surprised and that we were. The Metro is a great venue for a show, originally built in 1927 as a Swedish community center, it still has some ornate touches most notable around the stage, and is a small, intimate place to see a show. The Block Party acts were Panda Riot, Blane Fonda, The Hood Internet, and Nikki Lynette; each act played for about 45 minutes it seemed. We arrived midway through Panda Riot's set; they did a great cover of M.I.A.'s Paper Planes. My favorite act, surprisingly, was The Hood Internet, a DJ. I'm not a club-goer so the art of DJ'ing is really lost on me, at least until now. This guy transformed a room of people tamely bopping along to the rhythm into a room full of sweaty, grooving people. To me, his transitions from song to song were not only creative, but seamless. He definitely, turned me not only into a fan, but someone that respects his art. Drinks were pricey ($6 for a Miller Light), but I expected as much from a music venue. The crowd was eclectic to say the least, there aren't too many places you'll see hipsters shoulder to shoulder with chads, clubbers (is that a word?), and a bunch of random others; it definitely made the people watching priceless. All in all it was a good time and I'd check out next year's party.

I don't usually add business listings to Yelp, but this one holds a special place in my heart. And…read moredid you know parks, beaches, memorials, cemetaries...they're all on Yelp and can be reviewed! Now that I have my required Yelp Employee spiel out of the way ;), let me tell you about this stellar memorial Glenview has erected to honor the military men who were served at the Glenview Naval Air Station. For many years, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard were stationed at the Naval Air Base. This particular memorial honors those who served in World War II and the Korean War, so specifically those who served or supported the Glenview Naval Air Base from 1937 to 1955. It's beautiful and has somehow stayed in quite good condition since installation in 2003. For me personally, I feel connected to this area. I really hope they keep up the condition and care so I can keep visiting every time I'm in town. Both of my Grandpas who served & were stationed here have special bricks. As do all who chose to be a part of this monument. There is also a super cool pilot statue bringing the whole place together. It's great that they have benches everywhere so you can sit and ponder life, catch up over a coffee (there's a Starbucks there)

"We have better beer than you" I agree! Ok, I was very hesitant to add this little gem to yelp…read more However, I've realized that only diehards will even give this a second look. I've been a member of CBS for almost 2 years now. It's a great organization made of people who enjoy good beer. You don't have to be a home brewer to join or to enjoy this organization. CBS hosts a few beer tasting events throughout the year. You don't have to be a member to attend, but it'll probably help you get a ticket. All of the events are located in the city, don't let the mailing address throw you for a loop. My husband and I actually attended the Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison, WI yesterday. We purchased our tickets through CBS and we took their chartered bus up there and back. It's a fun organization, I only wish there were some more female members for me to pal around with. Yes, the majority of members are men. I'd say most members are also between the ages of 25-70 and come from all walks of life. Check out their website for upcoming events.

I LOVE BEER!!!! I…read morehave been a member of the Chicago beer society for only a short time but I can't wait to attend the awesome functions they host all in the name of letting people know that they have options! Anybody who loves a IPA or a weissebier or a Belgian blonde (in any sense of the word) must find a way to join and learn how to speak the language of the beer community. What I love most is that the local brewers and brewpubs are the guys who attend the events. Rock Bottom, Goose Island, Half Acre and Metropolitan attend to let you know that great beer is just down the street from you!