A street art enthusiast smorgasbord!…read more First, Pilsen is a vibrant neighborhood, which appears to be home to many Mexican families. Tons of street art and murals along their main streets and a ton of great smelling Mexican/Latin restaurants. The 16th street murals are along the rail line. It's a little gritty. Yes, there is garbage on the ground. Yes some of the grass is overgrown. But I didn't feel threatened or unsafe at any time. Maybe avoid the area at night and try to avoid getting yourself into a totally deserted spot, but overall like any urban landscape. There are several overpasses, and sadly there are some house-less people, but they were all minding their business and hanging out in their camps. The art is edgy and kinda punk. Multiple themes, from Mexican heritage, death, horror, animals, city life, memorials. And there was a total badass Simpsons Treehouse of Horror montage. This is walkable, but it's better if you do it by car, driving a bit, then exploring each section by foot. It is quite expansive. Just about 3/4 of a mile or a little more out of the main city center and plenty of parking.

I'll give it five stars for recognition, some additional markers or information would go far to…read morespot it from the lakefront side, or more signage. You'll find this memorial a little south of northerly island close to McCormick PL. The park fittingly was dedicated September 11, 2002. A place to to pay respects and reflect.

I Am Man is a mural in Wicker Park at the corner of Milwaukee and Wolcott, near the CTA Blue Line…read more It was conceptualized and painted by Jared Diaz, Darius Dennis, Ephraim Gebre, and Robin Alcantara. This 30-foot-tall mural uses as its model an original photograph from 1968. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Memphis to support the Memphis Sanitation Worker's Strike (a movement that started with the death of Echol Cole and Robert Walker). The night before his assassination, MLK spoke to the strikers. The photo that forms the basis of this mural is from the memorial march for the civil rights leader. This mural is illuminated by floodlights at both the top and the bottom. Most murals don't receive this type of treatment--it suggests to me that the artists, or the people who commissioned the mural, want to bring attention to the important events that took place during the Civil Rights Era. It was created in 2020, right around the time of the George Floyd protests, so I'm not sure if it was already planned or if it was a response to the protests. But in a country that is quick to forget its history, I'm glad to an artwork like this literally shine a light on darker times in our history so we can learn from our past.

My experience has been one of carelessness and inconsistency regarding exhibits and communication…read more Last year's group exhibit at EAC stipulated size guidelines which were ignored at the whim of the owner. The owner didn't want to climb the ladder to install my work, so I did but without supervision, and I fell. The owner tore my work when she took it down and without an apology, blithely stuffed it into a bag right in front of me. She offered me an exhibit at Ten Thousand Villages in December. When December came, I heard nothing and after calling and emailing four times, was informed Ten Thousand Villages was preparing for Xmas, so not exhibiting, but she then promised me I would exhibit in January. Crickets. I talked to one the managers at Ten Thousand Villages who said they had previously explicitly informed Evanston Made they would not be exhibiting in December. Careless, non communicative, Inconsistent.

Evanston Made is an organization that connects Evanston arts to the public. It is also one of the…read moreorganizers of a community-wide art exhibit called Art Connects Evanston. Art Connects is filled with homemade art, signs, banners, sculptures, installations, chalk art, performances, etc. to honor front line workers, spotlight community helpers, and celebrate graduates, and more! Though I only had time to see a portion of the exhibit around town today, I highly recommend you get out and explore the streets of Evanston and view various art projects hanging in windows of shop fronts. In the West Town Arts District, I spied with my little eyes...garage doors that were clearly painted by Amanda Evanston. I was able to peer in Ben Blount's art studio. A collection of art was hanging in the windows of Beth Adler's studio, and right out front in the grass was a tiny collection of painted birdhouses peeking out of the grass. In the windows of 1100 Florence, there was a super fun collection of bee paintings in the window. Moving on through the Main Dempster Mile along Chicago Avenue, you'll find fun art in the windows of Nice Lena, Space, and Soapie's Cleaners. And of course the huge painted banner on the wall of the Soapie's building is one of my favorite murals ever! Along Central Avenue, don't forget to support the Evanston Art Center and view some of the works of art in their windows. There is a map of all the artwork throughout Evanston here: https://evanstonmade.org/event/evanston-art-connects/ It was a hot one today, so I wasn't able to stay and see everything, but my attached pics will give you a little taste of how cool the Evanston community is overall. #Iheartevanston Evanston Made also puts on their own art tours of various art studios and holds shows and more to help support member artists.

You can find these amazing murals at the underpass of Foster Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, Uptown…read moreChicago. They are pretty colorful and really adds life to the concrete walls! The walk from the lake to the residential area is more enjoyable.

I discovered this other little gem today on my way to Sunshine Cafe…read more And I was, just as for the one on 47th street, thoroughly impressed. And smiling. Turning gloomy underpasses into wonderful works of art is one of the best forms of urban improvement I have seen in years. It might seem pretty insignificant in the great scheme of things but to me it's highly symbolic: to revitalize some of the most disregarded spots of the city - ANY city - is definitely a step in the right direction. Underpasses are not doomed to be dark, smelly and forgotten. And when the art on display celebrate the Native American culture it takes a whole new dimension. The result - "Indian Land Dancing" - is a colorful display that interweaves time and heritage, with both distinct tribal nuances and larger Native American symbolism providing the bulk of the imagery. But no stereotype here: the entire project was in the hands of the Native American community who wanted to do 'something very meaningful' and connected to the present. Among other things: a skateboarder glides down the shimmering black mane of woman who hugs a sphere of seven circles representing responsibility to future generations. The underside of his board says "Apache." Woven into the woman's hair, a poem reads, "With our strong arms, we form a circle, and in that circle, we embrace the world." The 3,200 square inch mosaic grace both walls of the underpass, and is the only public display of Native American art in the city. Don't miss it this summer while walking to the beach. It's breathtaking.

I know where Chandler and Joey are. But where did Roscoe?…read more Maybe to Yemen? Oh wait that was Chandler. Lovely little village with tons of eclectic ethnic food and awesomeness up in the north suburbs of Chicago. One of my favorite little neighbourhoods, and also has the second best deep dish slice in the city in my opinion. I come to Roscoe Village all the time and it's one of the places I would consider living if I was around here.

IT REALLY IS THE VILLAGE IN THE CITY.Or is it the suburb in the city?…read more I lived here for a few years and since moving away have been reflecting on my honest thoughts with the neighborhood. I will first say that I am not a Chicago/IL native so I was always a little biased in terms of neighborhoods in Chicago and what is deemed "safe" and "nice" and "cool". In all honesty I would rate good old RV 3.5 stars rounding to 4 and here's why. There are no parks. The nearest park is Hamlin and that's not Roscoe Village. That's more west lakeview south on damen. There are also no farmers markets. Like none. The nearest farmers market is in East Lakeview or Logan Square. There is no efficient public transit nearby. Good luck getting anywhere in a timely manner. The nearest trains (brown Paulina and brown Addison are not exactly close nor walkable in sub-zero Chicago winters). Very inconvenient location from the Loop. Most people in this neighborhood seemed to be a two car family. Just like the 'burbs. Traffic is a nightmare. The main thoroughfares (Western, Damen, Ashland, Diversey, Belmont) are all congested traffic nightmares. Western is about to be destroyed down to two lanes from George to Waveland (one north, one south) for the next two years. It will make getting out to this neighborhood from downtown all the more inefficient. Evidently city planners didn't take into consideration the 4k students at Lane Tech, the 1k people at DeVry or the other hundreds of students at the other college prep school on California and Addison. Fail. Restaurants on the main strip of Roscoe are subpar at best. Volo is good but the rest I could pass on. We ventured more into other neighborhoods like Logan Square to do our eating and drinking. Now onto the good which is why it is considered a desirable Chicago neighborhood. It's great for families, very kid friendly at most establishments, and even better if you can afford a SFH. If you have one kid then I suppose a condo works, but since there aren't any parks nearby you may want a yard with that SFH. That'll run a cool $1M or so also so it's not exactly the most affordable. But it's a steal compared to Lincoln Park or Southport Corridor! I grew up with a yard and am partial to my kid having one too. Again if you grew up without a yard or were raised a more urban person you may feel differently. The neighborhood school is a top 5 CPS elementary. Bear in mind it's CPS which is insolvent and "best of CPS" really isn't something that's worth touting. It's like saying "what's the best motel 8 to stay at?" You get my drift. It's one of the worst public school systems in the nation which is why many Chicago parents (even in this neighborhood) go the private school route. It's crime free, relatively speaking by Chicago standards. Petty crimes mostly according to the CPD. Though over the recent fall months there was a crime spree of auto thefts and cars on cinder blocks.... you can imagine the shock when stepping outside and seeing your neighbor's car on blocks with all the tires missing like something Straight Outta Compton/East LA. So yes, crime even happens in Roscoe Village sadly. That said, like any Chicago neighborhood, a garage is a great asset. Overall it's a good place to live with lots of nice people, family oriented, long term neighbors, and a "village in the city" vibe. You lose a little bit of the metro feel out here, it's an outskirt of the city in terms of neighborhoods but can be the perfect blend for folks looking for something a little more quiet.

This is a single-tiered fountain with a pool. It is located in the Polonia Triangle, in the…read moreChicago's Polish section. The fountain was constructed in 1998 as part of the city's public fountain program, but it looks much older. It has definitely seen better days, but I am glad that at least it is operational. It provides a soothing flow. The fountain is named after novelist, Nelson Algren, who lived in the area and is best known for his novel The Man with the Golden Arm, which won the first National Book Award in 1950. You will find a plaque on the ground around the fountain with a quote from one of Algren's essays, Chicago: City on the Make. It reads, "For the masses who do the city's labor also keep the city's heart." The fountain is made of black iron and has a pool that is about 9 feet in diameter.This is definitely not a destination piece and most viewers will be transiting the Triangle.

"For the masses who do the city's labor also keep the city's heart" reads the inscription around…read morethe Nelson Algren fountain located on the Polish Triangle, near the Division street Blue Line Stop. This is a quote from Chicago: City on the Make, which sums up this city better than anything I have ever read. This review is not for the uninteresting design of the fountain that is a favorite amongst pigeons and the homeless. It is for the idea. One of the turning points of Algren's masterpiece, The Man with the Golden Arm is when Frankie Machine drunkenly crashes his automobile into the triangle, where fountain is located, paralyzing his wife. Division street, especially the portion between Ashland and Damen was the focal point of this novel, and mentioned in some of his other works. It is also located only a few blocks away from his long time residence on Evergreen street.

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.