text:
This Saturday and Sunday at eight o'clock on ITV sees the return of the singing competition which continues to make news despite the fact that it originally appeared on our screens back in 2004!
Viewers of the X Factor will notice a few changes this year. Dermot O'Leary, the host of the series for most of its time was replaced last year by Olly Murs and Caroline Flack.
However for various reasons it was decided that Dermot was such an integral part of the show that he – and his dancing – have been asked to return for this new series. Last year Louis Walsh, who had been the only judge throughout all the preceding seasons, was replaced with Nick Grimshaw. Again Louis' unique contributions to the show were much missed and so he too will be back again on the judging panel this year. In fact the only Judge from last year who will be returning will be Simon Cowell himself. Simon and Louis will be joined by two other former Judges - Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger.
It has always seemed that unlike Strictly Come Dancing, the X Factor's great rival, the Judges on X Factor, have often tended to overshadow the contestants. As before the show will start with the auditions of contestants of various abilities.
However this year it will revert back to doing it through the 'room auditions.' It will be interesting to see if with these various changes, whether or not this year's version of the show will regain some of the huge audiences that it has had in the past.
However it does seem to me that although the format of the show is being revised yet again, that the show is looking more to its past than to its future.
Ian K


text:
Land & Building on it
The history of 'building on land' should go hand and hand with the implementation of zoning. Below are two links that may help the reader understand the concept of zoning in Chicago, always an interesting topic of conversation for anyone particularly the neighborhood associations and block groups in the city along with a brief history of zoning in Lake View since 2016 by Chicago Cityscape. The developments in Wrigleyville are in a separated blog post entry.
The 'Halsted Flats' development on Halsted Street
Population Growth Maps
before westward expansion
... 27 years before the formation
of Lake View Township ...
A landscape transformed
... 11 years after the annexation of the City of Lake View
by the City of Chicago
the suburban explosion
... 20 years after the creation of official city neighborhoods
the region under pressure
growth with a new planned developmental concepts
the impending threat: the risks ahead
The Chicago Plan of 1909
Population Growth Maps
before westward expansion
... 27 years before the formation
of Lake View Township ...
A landscape transformed
... 11 years after the annexation of the City of Lake View
by the City of Chicago
the suburban explosion
... 20 years after the creation of official city neighborhoods
the region under pressure
growth with a new planned developmental concepts
the impending threat: the risks ahead
The Chicago Plan of 1909
Daniel Burnham is best known for his admonition to "make no little plans." He studied the great cities of the world and developed an approach to urban planning that was distinctive in being comprehensive, systematic and regional. Language from the 1909 Plan provides principles that continue to guide planning and development in the Chicago region today.
The Estates of Lake View Township
by Everett Chamberlin 1874
and Illinois Genealogy Trails
and Illinois Genealogy Trails
Property along the lake shore within a mile of the park [Lincoln Park] is worth $100 per foot. North of the park values range from $75 to $45 per foot according to its distance from the city. The principal owners are Messrs. B.F. Culver, W.K. Nixon, Maj. Goodwin, S.B. Chase, J.H. Rees, J.V. Le Moyne, Hubbard Boyden, J.B. Walker, H.G. Spafford, F. Tyler, and others. A majority of these owners are holding surplus land for certain increase (investment). The text and images below are from 'Chicago and It's Suburbs' by Everett Chamberlin.
The Owners:
Daniel Goodman
Major Daniel Goodwin owns near the Marine Hospital [between Montrose & Irving Park Road along the lakefront] a beautiful home of 6 acres of tastefully
ornamented grounds surrounding it.
He purchased the grounds in 1871 for $30,000.
Frank W Palmer
Mr B F Culver has done at least as much as any other party for the development of the town. He first purchased a tract of ten acres in 1866 paying $600 for it and ten acres in the following year paying $1,500 per acre. These two pieces of property lie between Wellington Street, Barry Avenue, the Evanston 'dummy' Road, and Lake View Avenue and sell now at $125 per front foot. In 1668 he bought property in Baker's subdivision at $20 per foot which has increased to $100 per foot. The property known as Culver's Lake Front Addition was bought in 1870 at $6,000 per acre. It now sells at $100 per foot. Mr Culver built the beautiful Italian villa and later sold it to Hon. Frank W Palmer. Mr Culver has spent much of his time and expended large sums of money for the benefit of the locality and deserves the prominent mention given above. This is located on Barry Avenue and was erected at an expense of $24,000. It is full two stories and attic story in height of a very handsome design both outside and in. The main entrance on the south side of the dwelling is massive and ornamented with a handsome lower at the west side of it which extends above the roof and culminates in a large & tastefully finished observatory. The bay features seen at the west end are among the most attractive arrangements about this building & afford a view to the north/south & west of the elaborately adorned and extensive grounds about. The interior of the house is finished in hard woods & arranged with symmetry & taste.
W.C. Goudy
instrumental in the creation of Lincoln Park, the park
and a Lincoln Park Board Commissioner 1886-1893The residence of Mr Goudy is in Wrightwood [Avenue] fronting on Green Bay Road, an extension of Clark Street just north of Fullerton avenue, to the limit of the city [of Chicago]. The house was erected in 1865 at an expense of more than $20,000 and the ground with the present improvement is now worth $50,000. It stands on a beautiful ridge so that the basement story is above the surface of the ground in the rear and the main entrance is only two or three steps above it in front. The style of architecture is exhibited by the engraving. The grounds are ornamented with shrubbery, flowers and fountains and covered with native trees. The front proper is upon Green Bay Road but opposite is a front with a large veranda overlooking Lincoln Park [the park itself] and Lake Michigan furnishing an unobstructed and magnificent view from every window. There is no place combining better the advantages of city and country[side] than this spot.
J.B. Waller
Mr. J.B. Waller owns 53 acres of improved property worth.
The house is a very large one of a very substantial build and looks like the fine old mansions to be seen in long settled districts. The reader can judge of the liberal outlay needed to build such a house and adorn the grounds about it by a glance. The cupola commands a view of Lake Michigan and a large radius of country around [at or near the St. Mary of the Lake Church]. The material of the house is brick. The interior is elaborately finished in hardwood and its fine apartments are spacious pleasant and comfortable. The cost of the structure was about $75,000.
J.A. Huck
The spacious grounds surrounding Mr Huck's house compare favorably with the best planned of those before mentioned in this article. They front 500 feet on Fullerton
Avenue and extend south on Clark Street 600 feet. Although the outside of the house is of plain and simple architecture there are few dwellings more comfortably arranged inside. The first floor is devoted to parlors, dining room, family sleeping apartments, and kitchen The second floor contains a large chamber parlor and several sleeping rooms with all modern appliances and improvements. The site is valued at $225,000. Mr Huck owns also a fine tract of twenty acres adjoining Ravenswood in Lake View [Township] and has sown it to grass, a preparation for subdivision, and sale in lots and blocks next spring. (According to the description of the location of the residence should have been in Chicago.)
and via Library of Congress
photo - Library of CongressThe Spafford's cottage home was located on a triangular lot containing five acres in one of the most attractive spots in Lake View [Township]. Below are 1887 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of the location of their home/property.
Anna Spafford's album
Anna Spafford's album
the general area - property to the lower left
with a zoomed view below
below is the area east of Halsted Street
with the then existing lakefrontThe lot is bounded by Evanston [Avenue] (Broadway) on the west Halsted Street, Graceland Avenue (Irving Park Road) on the south. Just across Halsted Street is the site of the U.S. Marine Hospital and on the south were the [gardens] grounds owned by S.H. Kerfoot. So that on the south and east an extensive and beautiful lawn prospect stretches instead of a view blocked by rows of buildings. Mr. Spafford has improved his home site in a very artistic manner with a large outlay. His homestead is worth $7500.
Mr. S.H. Kerfoot
(no illustration)
(no illustration)
Kerfoot's Garden along the Lake
text - 'Constructing Chicago'
The Forgotten Houses of Lake View
Social Scientist Maps
Property values of the area that would be called Lake View Township before major development in the area. Lake View Township was incorporated in 1857 until 1887 and the City of Lake View from 1887-1889. Check out this 1870 Van Vechten map of Cook County (zoom) and discover who owned lots of property. Some names will be recognizable like the first mayor of the City of Chicago W.B. Ogden. If first look at the Van Vechten map and then map below for Mr. Ogden's property values - about $1.25 - $2 bucks per square mile. Another early landowner according to a publication called Lake View Saga 1847-1985 was George Snow when his lands were an 'unincorporated area' of Cook County...
image - University of Chicago Library
Land values before the formation of the township
Land values before the formation of the township
between Belmont and Fullerton Avenues along the lakefront tripled from 1868 to 1872 particularly along Wellington and Barry Avenues selling $125 per sq. mile.
Three years after the township/city annexation
by the City of Chicago
1892 map
Property values of the area that would that was once called Lake View Township/City
1928 map
1928 map
A Growth Timeline:
the years as a Township, City, District, and Neighborhood
Gross Park Area of Lake View
with this link to the
Gross Point on Henderson-Facebook
advertisement for cottage-style houses
1896 assessment letter
Gross Ave. now Ravenswood West Avenue
Homer Ave. not Henderson Avenue
image - 'Lake View' by Matthew Nickerson
image - 'Lake View' by Matthew Nickerson
images - 'Lake View' by Matthew Nickerson
advertisement 1887-89 when Lake View was a city in Illinois
Decades Years Later
The 1920's were boom years for old Lake View
per this 1927 Chicago Tribune article
Type of Housing in Chicago
by Moss Design via CityScape
written by Della Hansmann
This type of dwelling design is a staple of our neighborhood. This design consists of stacked apartment units with matching plans the Greystone multi-flat unit is easy to construction and replicate. Small variations in the facade make each unit seem unique but the same building methods could be used over and over again – much to the builder's convenience. Further, by stacking several units, and placing the access door behind a shared porch, the multi-flat units were hard to distinguish from a larger single-family home. A street of two and three story Greystones give an impressive sense of density, cohesiveness and even grandeur that a street of smaller individual cottages or larger apartment blocks don't have.
A standard bearer in the north-side particularly in our neighborhood this type of dwelling-form ensures that, regardless of who owned or built on the adjacent properties, this assembly of units will always have a little patch of green space in their tiny interior court. What's more they all have access (both to airflow and view and for physical exits) to both the interior court side of the building and the exterior with its tiny porch/fire stair exits. Read more about this design form from Moss Designs from the above link that include great illustrations! Read more from Moss Designs - above link that include great illustrations!
Four Plus One apartments are often described as exploiting a loophole in the zoning code. Its more accurate to say that they were simply a residential building type which was allowed by the Chicago code … until it was actively dis-allowed in 1971 a city council measure requiring that all developers provide one parking spot per dwelling unit in zones R4 and higher.The original code allowed for residential buildings no higher than four floors to be constructed with masonry exterior walls and wood interior framing in Zones R-5 and above. Read more from Moss Designs - above link that include great illustrations!
Although this classification is about the downtown area then our neighborhood we do have a structure on Waveland Avenue that we can called a 'scaper' - The New York.
Read more from Moss Designs from the above link that include great illustrations!
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 barely touched the old Township of Lake View. Several factors played into the fact; one was the weather but also the sparseness of buildings north of Fullerton Avenue –the northern border with Chicago. These tiny buildings were built as short-term shelter solutions immediately after the fire, these modest homes originally featured pretty much just … exterior walls and a roof. More than five thousand were built in one month to house families without homes through that first winter of 1871. Due to the size of the structure and township building codes at the time (wood dwellings were still allowed) these types of buildings may not been the dwelling of choice by the township residents. Read more about this type of building design from Moss Designs from the above link that include great illustrations!
While mostly located in other locations then in Lake View bungalows are regarded as modest single family homes, with full basement, first floor and slant-ceilinged attic above. They are caped by low pitched roof with overhanging eves and entered through a front door off to one side, next to a wide bay of living room windows. The Chicago bungalow is brick faced, with decorative stone trim and wooden (sometimes leaded glass) windows. Read more from Moss Designs from the above link that includes great illustrations!
The Tale of the Two-Flat
by Curious City - WBEZ
1927 Lake View Assessments
1937 Lake View East Assessments
This area remained affluent during the depression years
The First city in the Country to Survey land use
with the 1942 results
Rent Control Ends 1953
Public Housing became a factor in determining the value for properties during and after Great Depression of 1929. Factories had failed and never replaced. For an example, Julia C. Lathrop Homes replaced the International Harvester manufacturing plant resulting in loss of thousands of jobs but a low income solution to housing for unemployed and the working poor.
This map & table reflect public housing during the periods between 1935 and 1946
A New Concept: Planned Development
This 1942 map and legend above reflect areas created by city administrators who believed in 'planned development' by locating selected areas of future development.
Planned development is a means of 'land regulation' which promotes large scale, unified land development by means of mid-range, realistic programs in chase of physically curable, social and economic deficiencies in land use.
Where appropriate, this planned development should control and promote the following:
1) A mixture of both land uses and dwelling types with at least one of the land uses being regional in nature.
2) The clustering of residential land uses providing public and common open space.
4) The enhancement of the bargaining process between the developer and government municipalities which in turn strengthens the municipality's site plan review and control over development for potentially increased profits due to land efficiency, multiple land uses, and increased residential densities.
Note: For more information about residential land use as of 1942 view with this link. Click on the image to turn the page.
Note: For more information about residential land use as of 1942 view with this link. Click on the image to turn the page.
Another Concern
Vacant Dwellings and Mortgage Risk Areas
1934 map and table
During the Great Depression years the northwest section of Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road was occupied by homeless folks who lived in paper tar shacks.
1938 Depression Era Mortgage Risk
I'm assuming A is better then B
Another Concern ...
Vacant Land as of 1945
(click on map to enlarge)
New Housing Plans as of 1945
(click on map to enlarge)
Chicago Housing Styles
from Chicago Cityscape
by steven@chicagocityscape (edited)
by steven@chicagocityscape (edited)
Chicago has several building styles that included worker's cottages, bungalows, greystones, and two flats. Most are single-family homes, while others are multi-family homes. They comprise a considerable amount of the city's housing stock, particularly in certain neighborhoods, and yet not much attention is given to them because they are such ordinary, modest structures. This 2015 map link illustrates the new construction (green), renovation (purple), & demolition (red) of two story masonry residences in Chicago. The data comes from permits filed between January 1 2006 and August 29 2015. Due to inconsistencies in permit reporting, this is not a complete picture of all activity, but more of a broad introduction to building and demolition trends. Some of
these buildings are over 100 years old. Some are brand new. 35 are being deconverted from multi-family to single family. Others have been demolished to make room for larger, sometimes denser housing. There are many ways to study them. Click on the map to read details about each property.The Mansions
and the former Hull House-Lake View
and currently Lake View Athletic ClubSmaller parcels of property would be replaced by 4+1's while larger parcels of property that housed former mansions & beer gardens (Bismarck Gardens) would be replaced by modern & just as grander in scope dwellings. Some vintage houses would survive the pressures of new planned developments such as the G.W. Maher House on Stratford Place or was recycled such as Lake View Athletic Club building on Broadway. In the last two decades some of these buildings have become condos while others have been purchased by rental companies that completely rehab the interiors while maintaining its 4+1 design concept.
The Stout Estate prior to 1959
photo contribution - Robert Zamora
The property replacement
The Growth of Subdivisions
Lot and Block survey system, which became widely used in the 19th century as a means of addressing the expansion of cities from surrounding farmland. While this method of property identification was useful for purposes of conveyancing, it did not address the overall impacts of expansion and the need for a comprehensive approach to planning communities. This following section reflect the evolution of population growth and development. The University of Chicago researchers called shaded areas in these maps below as subdivisions.
Land Occupied by Dwellings
1857 to 1933
1844 - 1860
Note: Lake View Township were incorporated by 1857.
The Town of Lake View (incorporated in 1865) was within the Township of Lake View
Lake View Township/City were annex by the City of Chicago in 1889 as well many other township west and south. The City of Chicago doubled its' territory in 1889 and its' value as a city.
Paying the Tax Man
This March 1889 letter was issued when Lake View was still a city. Later that year the City of Lake View was annexed by the City of Chicago.
photos - Ebay
an unpopular form of taxation even back in 1895
sample of a 1896 tax bill - Ebay
sent to a resident on 1753 Robey (3200 block of Fremont)
from an assessors office at 622 (2701) Lincoln Avenue
column 3
photo - Ebay
Sheridan Road was renamed (inner) Lake Shore Drive
from Belmont to Grace in 1931
The Commodore & Green Brier
once known as the Lessing (Flats) Apartments
and across the street on Surf Street - the Lessing Annex
postcard image - Chuckman Collection
entrance to the Commodore Apartments
photo - Curbed Chicago
Green Brier Apartments across the street on Surf Street
Bobby Binner via Pictures of Chicago-Facebook
The Lessing Flats in 1916
Apparently Refitted for the Veterans of WWII IN 1942
Saving the Buildings in 1984
Along Sheridan Road
photos - Jim Martin
views from the harbor
above pre-1920 / 1918-19 below photo(s) - Jim Martin
alternations in 1925
all images - Art Institute of Chicago
image of the building in the article
vs the building next door - both Tudor Gothic in design
page 2
3240 N Sheridan Road (inner LSD)
with a plan of the apartments in 1960
Hawthorne House
3450 N Lake Shore Drive
For decades this property's only occupant were billboards.
but in 1965 and the last high-rise rental on inner LSD
A 1963 advertisement
3730-40 N Lake Shore Drive
3150 N Lake Shore Drive
images - Art Institute of Chicago
The Condo Wars ...
525 W Hawthorne Place Brochure
433-437 Briar Place
enlargement- Art Institute of Chicago
enlargement- Art Institute of Chicago
... a brochure of it
534 W Stratford Place
photo enlargement - UIC Photographic Images of Change
3100 N Lake Shore Drive
Darien Playing Cards
images - Ebay
3900 Lake Shore Drive
3440 Lake Shore Drive
3950 Lake Shore Drive
... the plans
445 W Wellington Avenue
image - 2016 Google Maps
Art Institute of Chicago 1951 floor plans
An Evolution of a Street Corner
location ... location ... location
Lockby Hall
This residence was owned by Samuel Chase
who owned a company that saved the property deeds
from the Chicago Fire of 1871.
After the fire his family moved in 1875.
The Lockby Hall was located at Belmont along the existing lakeshore according to this 1894 Sanborn Fire Map
(Belmont Avenue not labeled)
Belmont Yacht Harbor was opened to the public by 1913
(click this 1912 article below to enlarge)
The Lockby Court Apartments
photo - Curbed Chicago
And then next to it in 1948
a 2017 Google view
the 3500 block of Pine Grove
Sanborn Fire Maps
below is the area as of 1923
above is the area as of 1950
the garage with shops on Broadway became
the future site of the Jewel store
sample of a 1896 tax bill - Ebay
sent to a resident on 1753 Robey (3200 block of Fremont)
from an assessors office at 622 (2701) Lincoln Avenue
Assessments 1937
that included 'founders of Montgomery Wards' and
Miss Katie Buckingham - Buckingham Fountaincolumn 2
column 3
photo - Ebay
Sheridan Road was renamed (inner) Lake Shore Drive
from Belmont to Grace in 1931
The Commodore & Green Brier
once known as the Lessing (Flats) Apartments
and across the street on Surf Street - the Lessing Annex
postcard image - Chuckman Collection
entrance to the Commodore Apartments
photo - Curbed Chicago
Green Brier Apartments across the street on Surf Street
Bobby Binner via Pictures of Chicago-Facebook
The Lessing Flats in 1913
Apparently Refitted for the Veterans of WWII IN 1942
Saving the Buildings in 1984
Along Sheridan Road
According to Susan Reibman Groff this building featured by the Art Institute in its 1989-90 calendar. Described by architect Peter J. Weber as "the building which solves the servant problem" because it provided rooms and baths on the first floor for chauffeurs and butlers. Additional quarters for "help" were in a roof-story added at the west end of the building. The French Neo-Classical facade is Bedford stone. The north carriage entrance on the right has a porte-cochère.photo - Jim Martin
photos - Jim Martin
views from the harbor
above pre-1920 / 1918-19 below photo(s) - Jim Martin
The Barry Apartments 1925
image - Ebay
(originally 1847 Wellington)
George Rounsavell Residence
image - Art Institute of Chicago
534 W Wellington Avenue
Herman Arnold Residence3 images - Art Institute of Chicago
339 W Wellington Avenue
Mrs. Montgomery Ward Residencebuilt in 1915
alternations in 1925
all images - Art Institute of Chicago
3520-3524 N Sheridan Road (inner LSD) built in 1924
Image - Art Institute of Chicago
Sheridan Road and Grace Street 1923
across the street from
Sheridan Road and Grace Street 1926
Sheridan Road and Aldine Avenue 1926
image of the building in the article
vs the building next door - both Tudor Gothic in design
637-41 Aldine Avenue
424-30 Briar Place433-37 Briar Place
3240 N Sheridan Road (inner LSD)
3318 N Sheridan Road (inner LSD)
Financing 422-25 Melrose Street
The Estate on Barry Avenue
between Sheridan Road & Lake Shore Drive
A Highrise Replaces the Mansion in 1962
3470 Lake Shore Drive
28 story condo building
replaces a 3 story mansion in 1967
(6 articles)... modern living in 1967
... advertising a condo at
'Festival Home' #67
...no need for a doorman
.... and once had a single family home/mansion on the same property that was owned by
Raymond D. Lay on what was once called Sheridan Road
428 W Wellington Avenue2007 view - Google Maps
with a plan of the apartments in 1960
New High Rise at 3950 in 19553180 N Lake Shore Drive
Hawthorne House
3450 N Lake Shore Drive
For decades this property's only occupant were billboards.
but in 1965 and the last high-rise rental on inner LSD
A 1963 advertisement
by Living History of Illinois & Chicago
The simplest definition of a Four Plus One is a five story apartment building where the first floor consists of the lobby and a parking lot. It is often cited as a building type that is unique to Chicago. Most of these buildings were constructed during the 1960's to solve the problem of over-crowding due to urban renewal, particularly from the Lincoln Park area.
3180 N Lake Shore Drive
3730-40 N Lake Shore Drive
3900 N Lake Shore Drive
3150 N Lake Shore Drive
... the layoutfloor plan1 & floor plan2
images - Art Institute of Chicago
The Condo Wars ...
525 Hawthorne Place
to this day remains a rental
525 W Hawthorne Place Brochure
Art Institute of Chicago
433-437 Briar Place
444 W Belmont Avenueenlargement- Art Institute of Chicago
enlargement- Art Institute of Chicago
enlargement- Art Institute of Chicago
... a brochure of it
534 W Stratford Place
photo enlargement - UIC Photographic Images of Change
441 Oakdale Avenue
3100 N Lake Shore Drive
Darien Playing Cards
images - Ebay
3900 Lake Shore Drive
3440 Lake Shore Drive
3950 Lake Shore Drive
... the plans
In 1960 ...
ground breaking ...425-39 Aldine Avenue
445 W Wellington Avenue
image - 2016 Google Maps
Art Institute of Chicago 1951 floor plans
An Evolution of a Street Corner
location ... location ... location
Lockby Hall
This residence was owned by Samuel Chase
who owned a company that saved the property deeds
from the Chicago Fire of 1871.
After the fire his family moved in 1875.
The Lockby Hall was located at Belmont along the existing lakeshore according to this 1894 Sanborn Fire Map
(Belmont Avenue not labeled)
Belmont Yacht Harbor was opened to the public by 1913
(click this 1912 article below to enlarge)
The Lockby Court Apartments
... and its replacement in 1962
Harbor Housephoto - Curbed Chicago
photo - Curbed Chicago
3500 N Pine Grove
And then next to it in 1948
a 2017 Google view
the 3500 block of Pine Grove
Sanborn Fire Maps
I just wanted to stress the importance of Sanborn Fire Maps on recording past developments. These detail illustrated maps were like the 'Google Earth' of today. For the benefit of this blog the record dates are 1894, 1923, and 1950.above is the area as of 1894
below is the area as of 1923
above is the area as of 1950
the garage with shops on Broadway became
the future site of the Jewel store
The New York
3660 N Lake Shore Drivephotos - Chris Cullen 2018
There were to be two buildings but...
What the New York space looked like in 1923
3648-3636 Sheridan Road
1923 Sanborn Fire Map above of the area
1950 Sanborn Fire Map below
... in 1987
Back in 1967 there was a plan ....
3400 N Lake Shore Drive
655 W Irving Park Road
photography by Chris Cullen 2018
in 2014 and its environs
Clark Street Developments:
3154 N Clark Street
the northwest corner of Clark & Barry
via Curbed Chicago
via Curbed Chicago ...
2018 photos - Garry Albrecht
images via Southport Corridor News and Events
the developer scaled downed for the initial plan
How tall should it be??
photography by Chris Cullen 2018
The 44th Ward Master Plan
a long-term plan
by the Lake View East Chamber of Commerce. This chamber supervises the developments of east & central Lake View
image - Lakota Group
The community of Lake View includes the governmental wards of the City of Chicago's 44th, 46th, 47th, and the 32nd as of 2006 when this master plan was created.
Most of Lake View at this time is in the 44th.The Clark Street Plan in 2013
a long-term plan
by the Lake View East Chamber of Commerce. This chamber supervises the developments of east & central Lake View
image - Lakota Group
The Clark Street Task Force Map
'A task force seeking to revitalize the street hosted an open house Wednesday night seeking feedback on how area residents, business owners and property owners want to see Clark spruced up. People attending the open house at Century Shopping Centre at 2828 N. Clark posted stickers on a blown-up map of the area to indicate places that needed improvement. And a lot of areas need help if the number of stickers is any indication. Red stickers were placed on buildings that people thought needed beautification or facade updates, and red peppered a good deal of the street. "The buildings are just not that attractive," said Mary Beth Smith, a residential real estate agent and local Chamber of Commerce volunteer.' - from an DNAinfo article
The renditionsimages - Lakota Group
while remembering the past ...Most of these once planned developments occurred during the same period of time as the renovation of Wrigley Field
the photo is of the intersection of Clark/Diversey
the photo is of the intersection of Clark/Diversey
in 2014 and its environs
Clark Street Developments:
3154 N Clark Street
the northwest corner of Clark & Barry
via Curbed Chicago
via Sports AuthorityJemillex B via Foursquare
via Sports Authority
photo below - Chicago Real Estate Local... the old vs the new look for the corner in 2017
via Curbed Chicago ...
3300 N Clark
The Lake View Learning Center
This facility was affiliated with Truman College in Uptownthe original address location was 3010 N Clark Street
2018 photos - Garry Albrecht
the new look for the corner belowthe TOD planned development 2018
images via Southport Corridor News and Events
How tall should it be??
on the northwest corner of Belmont/Clark2013 photo - Lake View Patch
the first rendition
2016 photo - Curbed Chicago
the second rendition
The site also lists apartments available for rent — and they're anything but cheap. Available apartments range from a 431-square-foot studio to a 1,452-square-foot two-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms. Rent starts at $1,525 for a 436-square-foot studio, or $3.50 per square foot, according to the 'Lakeview 3200' website. Topping the list is a two-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms that costs $3,800 per month, or $2.62 per square foot. But the building does have great benefits, with a Target downstairs and a two-minute walk to the Belmont Red Line station. On average, the building's 57 one-bedroom apartments will run around $2,300 per month. From a 560-square-foot unit to some as large as 900 square feet, the one-bedroom units average 711 square feet. - from an DNAinfo article
2016 photo - Garry Albrecht2016 photo - Garry Albrecht
2016 photo - Garry Albrecht
with more construction pics from Building Up Chicago
age old battle between 'big box' stores & independents
... and the buildings that were razed for it
photo - DNAinfo
photo - Lake View Patch
photo - DNAinfo
2013 Google Map view
hanging out in the actual alleyway was popular and the back door entrance the The Alleyphoto - DNAinfo
photo - Max Forster via LakeView Historical-Facebook
photo - DNAinfo
photo - Lake View Patch
photo above - Lake View Patch
the Dunkin Donuts location in 1950
photo above - Ebay
photo below - DNAinfo
Saving the Past with Google Maps
Look for this blacken box within it is a clock that will expand when clicked. The clock space will highlight years from 2007
Since 2007 Google Maps have a done a great job of saving history with the use a a little known feature I call the 'corner clock'. This Google Map feature is located on the top left side of the computer screen. Click on it and the feature expands into a set of years typically from 2007. Google digitally and typically records the same location each year & sometimes twice a year. If you wish to save let's say an image from 2008 I use another feature called the 'snipping tool' from my computer. The user can find the snipping tool through your 'search' tool from the lower left of your computer. The snipping tool icon looks like a small blue scissors circled in a reddish orange. I save the icon on my tool bar on the bottom of my computer screen. Click on 'new' within the the snipping feature and the background screen will fade and a red border once click on screen allowing the user the cut any portion of the computer screen wanted. Below are the results of the use of both features of the intersection of Belmont and Clark.July 2015
September 2015
both images - September 2015
with the Alley on the right side of snipped screenThe Alley: One of the Victims
photo below - a Mark Thomas (owner) business cardpage - East Lake View by Matthew Nickerson
below 2005 photo of the actual alleyway - Wibiti.com
the first location
above photo - a Mark Thomas biz card
Mark Thomas-owner on the right with a devoted employee
'The Alley' did not survive the construction phase
at this location - moved to Albany Park neighborhood
photos - Yelp
2016 photo - Garry Albrecht
waiting to be replaced for another planned development
and once located on Broadway in the late 70's early 80's
Keeping the street-view facade but building up. This building was once a theater - see my post on Theaters Past.
Demo Photos by Martin Gonzalez
The New Look for the Building Space
2016 rendition - DNAinfo
2018 photo - Brian Weber via Original Chicago-Facebook
The Alley reopened as The Alley:1776 for a brief time after at 3223 N Clark across the street of the former space
below photo - Mark Thomas
2941 N Clark Street
a former family style Italian restaurant
2016 transition photo - Google Viewer
... with a new look below
photos - DNAinfo
2016 image - Lake View East Chamber of Commerce
The Addison/Clark Complex
south of Wrigley Field
Addison Park on Clark 2010 plan
across the street to the renovated Wrigley Field
image above - Streets Blog Chicago
photos - Yelp
The Lincoln/Ashland/Belmont
This area was once known as the most popular commercial district in Chicago before State Street and the Mag Mile.
with an interactive map of all TIF's by
'Chicago Cityscape' included with this link
the core space to be redeveloped was the
former La Salle Bank building
The redevelopment of this area took almost two decades
photo - DNAinfo
to a mixed-use development to a finally ...
and its predecessor ...
postcard - Ebay
This area was once known as the most popular commercial district in Chicago before State Street and the Mag Mile.
with an interactive map of all TIF's by
'Chicago Cityscape' included with this link
the core space to be redeveloped was the
former La Salle Bank building
The redevelopment of this area took almost two decades
photo - DNAinfo
to a mixed-use development to a finally ...
and its predecessor ...
postcard - Ebay
CHICAGO, Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Located at the highly-visible and historic triple intersection of Ashland-Belmont-Lincoln Avenues on the city's North Side, America's Healthiest Grocery Store™ is set to dig in to a new location. Novak Construction Company, the project's Developer and its General Contractor, is proud to announce the official groundbreaking ceremony this Thursday at 9:00 a.m. at 3201 N. Ashland Avenue. Construction on this Gensler-designed, ground-up 70,000 square foot store will start this month, replacing the current Whole Foods Market location at 3300 N. Ashland Avenue when complete.
"Activating this long vacant lot, the site of the former La Salle Bank, was a priority for us once we acquired the property," says John Novak, Novak Construction's Founder/President. Reflecting on a time when the neighborhood was known as a bustling shopping mecca for the city, he added, "As the sole tenant, we know Whole Foods Market will not only enhance the community and accommodate the needs of its residents, but also usher in an era of new businesses and activity in this location. We would love to see this project stimulate that kind of growth." The new store will feature a second-story balcony for outdoor dining, additional indoor street-level dining along Ashland, and a vibrant year-round green-wall adjacent to a park setting on Melrose. The new Whole Foods Market location will bring improvements based on the current store's challenges, most notably increased aisle space, additional grocery and prepared food choices, and more parking.
November 12, 2015
photo - Tom Tunney-Facebook
Before Target wanted the space
It was originally proposed to be a mix-use development called the 'Lakeview Collection'
'The old La Salle Bank building at the northeast corner of Belmont, Ashland and Lincoln avenues has changed hands, and its new owner, Novak Construction Co., has announced plans to build a new development that would focus around a large 60,000 square foot ground floor retail component with 80 to 160 residential units above it, Crain's is reporting. The property has sat vacant for years, and a previous plan to build a mixed-use development stalled out at the height of the real estate crash. Early last year, Target purchased the property, with plans to build a new store at the location, but after sitting on the property for a little over a year, the Minneapolis-based big box retailer decided to dump it this summer. Novak's new plan isn't too far off from Centrum's failed Lakeview Collection, which was supposed to feature 90,000 square feet of retail space on the first and second floors and 131 condo units from the third to the sixth floor. After sitting idle for years, & exchanging hands a few times, it appears that the old building at the busy Belmont/Lincoln/ Ashland intersection may finally be getting some action.'
its various renditions for the space
Then it was Targets Turn
Target was the second planned development pending approval from the neighborhood community in 2013. Target withdrew its offer after community and store failed to agree to mutual planned development. According to a DNAinfo article, '"Chicago is a great market for Target and we continue to pursue new opportunities to serve guests there," Winkels said in a statement. Before the store can open, Target must present its proposal to West Lake View Neighbors, the Lake View Chamber of Commerce and the Community Directed Development Council, according to Bennett Lawson, chief of staff for Ald. Tom Tunney (44th). The proposal will likely need approval from the Chicago Plan Commission and the City Council Zoning Committee to amend the original plans for the building, Lawson said. "We hope to have something to review with the community before the spring [of 2016]," he said.' Target would later build their own space on the corner of Clark & Broadway. Whole Foods two years later ask for this same space according to Curbed Chicago. Check out the design plans for this building with this link as well as this notice for the ground-breaking ceremony. The new store will feature a second-story balcony for outdoor dining, additional indoor street-level dining along Ashland, and a vibrant year-round green-wall adjacent to a park on Melrose.
'Target Corp. may scrap its plans for a new store in Lake View, putting a property it had eyed for the project up for sale.A spokeswoman for the Minneapolis-based retail behemoth confirmed in an email that the company is looking for buyers for a two-story building it owns at 3201 N. Ashland Avenue in the North Side neighborhood. It's unclear why Target wants to jettison the Lake View property. The company pulled back on spending on new stores in the U.S. last year.' - Curbed Chicago reported this in 2014.gone from the landscape included ...
Follow the conversation on this building on Facebook
photo - via Southport Corridor News and Events
The ever changing (Curbed Chicago) planned development
for this corner continued as of 2015 with opposition of Whole Foods development. In fact, the neighborhood associations of the area were not all that interested in any high-density developments in the first place.
According to DNAinfo, 'Developers repeatedly returned to the drawing board over the course of eight months and a dozen meetings, tweaking designs after getting feedback from a vocal subset of the group, named 'Melrose Street Concerned Residents'. MSCR very local organization at the time.
The Google Map Views
of Lincoln-Belmont-Ashland Intersection
Ashland & Belmont intersection in transition
2015 vs 2016
2015 vs 2016
The Google Map Viewer is great historical tool on the changes to a particular area of real estate. The viewer began to record the landscape at this intersection in 2009. With the use of a Windows 10 feature called the snipping tool I was able to capture the intersection as a png image and then with an editing tool called PicMonkey as a jpeg image
Snips from Google Maps 2009 vs 2017
photo - Pierre-Henri L. via Yelp 2013
photo - Pierre-Henri L. via Yelp 2013
photo - Willem B. via Yelp 2012
photo - Willem B. via Yelp 2012
Now a Target
photo below - NBC News
The New Walgreen's Location
Now a Target
photo below - NBC News
The New Walgreen's Location
2013 photo above - Chicago Real Estate
from a Central Savings to Borders and then to a Walgreens
2012 photos above - Lake View Patch
the new building with Walgreens as the new occupant
at the pinnacle of Clark Broadway Diversey
2013 photo - Tom Tunney-Facebook
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
2013 photo - Tom Tunney-Facebook
before that ...
Walgreen's former location east of Broadway
with former Borders and Central Savings to the west
where Walgreens is now located
2009 photo - 'Chicagoismyblog'
and before that ....
photo - Ravenswood-Lake View Community Collection
the Central Savings building
along with a view of Ace Hardware
that had an entrance both of Broadway and Clark Street
and before that ...and before that ...
photo via Kenneth Joesphson from
Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
across the street was second Walgreens that once was located in the Lincoln Plaza complex
the former space within the Lincoln Plaza complex
2016 photo - Original Positions
the closed Walgreens that was on the northeast corner of Diversey and Broadway now located across the street
before that was ...
image - Chicago History Museum
The Curtiss (Candy) Building where Lincoln Park Plaza is located today
with the potential future of that corner below
Since Walgreens decided to move to an existing and renovated space across the street this planned development has been on hold according to the 44th ward alderman's office still as of 2018
2014 planned development at the former Walgreen's space
photos - Curbed Chicagophotos via 44th ward office - Tom Tunney alderman
Halsted Street Developments
was a public garage and garage for the Chicago Park District and apparent business on the corner
a 1950 Sanborn Fire Map
The facade was saved of the former Chicago Park District garage to became Whole FoodsThe Center on Halsted takes shape
photo above - Center on Halsted
photo below - NewNowNext
the location in 1950 via Sanborn Fire Insurance Mapzoomed view below
What is the Wagon/Wing symbol about?Google Map 2018
I found two definitions for it
1) The wagon wheel is symbolic of transportation, successful journeys and expeditions, and also perpetuity. Winged wheels are symbols of peace, flight, freedom and spiritual transport. There are many charges that feature wings which have their own meaning; such as a winged globe as a symbol of the holy spirit. In Heraldry a single wing is called a "demi vol" and usually enjoys the symbolism of the eagle. Associated with Hermes, the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology. The winged wheel is also a symbol of progress.
2) The logo is a synthesis of technology and biology. The wheel might represent technology or artificial power, and the wings might represent biology or natural power. Transhumanists look at humanity's historical relationship with technology and see a trend of persistently increasing inter-dependence and intimacy. Projecting that trend forward, we imagine the distinction between technology and biology fading away, as we integrate it ever more intricately into our world, relations, bodies, and minds. Some have suggested that sufficiently advanced technology may be indistinguishable from biology, and that the best technology is so transparent that we stop referring to it as "technology."
3740 N Halsted Street
rental units on the west side of Halsted/Broadway
Construction Phase 2013
photos - Lake View Patch
former site of the largest German-American Beer Garden in the city during the dawn of the 20th century ...
The 'Chicago Out' Hotel
A Neighborhood Association said 'NO'
to a Planned Development on Halsted in 2013
and it was never developed
the developer's staff and community meet
photos - Lake View Patch
2009 photos - Google Map
its various design looks to win neighborhood association approve, as well as the alderman
First rendering of the Chicago Out Hotel
images - DNAinfo
Once 'Auto Laundry' Facility ..
before the words 'car wash' during the turn of the 19th century car wash were called auto laundry - believe it not!photo with enlargement
- Art Institute of Chicago via Explore Chicago
1934 image - The Chicagoan2823 N Halsted Street
2940 N Halsted Street
Original building was constructed in 1928 per Apartable2013 photo - DNAinfo with article
photo - Loopnet
2016 photo - Chicago Real Estate Local
Broadway Developments
The local neighborhood area lost their grocery store in 2005 and waited all most a decade for a replacement.
The drama about this planned development
'Lake View Booster' 2012 article
It finally begins ...
Ground Breaking Ceremony 2015
photo - Tom Tunney (alderman)-Facebook
winter 2016 photo - Garry Albrechtsummer 2016 photo - Garry Albrecht
summer 2016 photo - Garry Albrecht
(a LakeView Historical Facebook album)
and before that per Sanborn Fire Maps in 1950 ...
mostly garages and small businesses
in 1923 ...
and finally in 1894 ...
Once it Was There and Then its Not
1923 vs 1950
building along the elevated
2017 Google Maps
images via 44th ward office, Tom Tunney alderman
upper floors vs the ground floor
- still using the lower garage space
How many times have you walked by a particular location and noticed a new building or vacant lot and wondered what was there before. Sanborn Fire Maps were the equivalent to Google Maps of today. It was a time machine of the past of former structures within a given area illustrated not by computers but by human hand on sheets of paper. It and was a necessity for city departments like Fire and Sewer as well as private insurance companies.The sheets below have been zoomed & edited for this section. The map sheet used in this example is from sheet #84 from volume 9. These maps are a wealth of knowledge for researchers & historians like me.1894
1923 vs 1950
building along the elevated
As of 2015 'the environment has radically changed. Because of the investment that only seems to come with gentrification, Sheffield's median incomes are now up to four times the national average and violent crime is very low as compared with other city neighborhoods. It is now one of the most desirable places to live in Chicago. Not only does it have an excellent building stock and easy access to Lake Michigan, but perhaps most importantly it has great bus and rail access that provides its residents quick access to the Loop's hundreds of thousands of jobs. It is a prototypical transit-oriented neighborhood.' - Metropolitan Planning Council
An Example of TOD's:
3400 N Lincoln Avenue
a TOD building along the tracks
3400 N Lincoln Avenue
a TOD building along the tracks
2014 photo - Curbed Chicago - Lake View
2014 rendition - Streets Blog Chicago
revised 2015 renderings below - Curbed Chicago
Broadway Developments:
3115 N BroadwayPublic Garage to Condos 2018
2017 Google Maps
images via 44th ward office, Tom Tunney alderman
upper floors vs the ground floor
- still using the lower garage space
from a gas station to apartments
is removed from the landscape
photo - Mark Zipperer
renderings - DNAinfomid 2017 photo - Garry Albrecht
photo - BuildingUpChicagoDotCom
photos - BuildingUpChicagoDotCom
replaced by the development on Sheridan Road
photo - geoview info
replaced by the development on Broadway
photo - DNAinfo
facade was to be saved & reused as part of the new building1987 photo - Equinox27 via Flickr
the terra cotta details - Chicago Designslinger
Betsy Rubin via Facebook 2013
Angela Larson via Facebook 2014
both photos from Mike Butland via Facebook 2016
via Roderick Reves with my thanks
2017 Google Maps
the removal of the terra cotta was permanent
2017 Google Maps
2017 Google Maps
mid 2017 photo - Garry Albrecht
photos - BuildingUpChicagoDotCom
the terra cotta is back in 2019
2019 photo - Chris Cullen Photography
2018 photos - Google Maps
Betsy Rubin via Facebook 2013
Angela Larson via Facebook 2014
both photos from Mike Butland via Facebook 2016
via Roderick Reves with my thanks
2017 Google Maps
the removal of the terra cotta was permanent
2017 Google Maps
2017 Google Maps
mid 2017 photo - Garry Albrecht
mid 2017 photo - Garry Albrechtphoto - BuildingUpChicagoDotCom
photos - BuildingUpChicagoDotCom
the terra cotta is back in 2019
2019 photo - Chris Cullen Photography
Google Earth photo via 44th ward office
This development is of special interest to me due its location to my studio on Stratford Place (525) and a frequent shopper.
This development is of special interest to me due its location to my studio on Stratford Place (525) and a frequent shopper.
Treasure Island was once located at 3460 N Broadway. The entire grocery store chain closed in 2018. The store was established at this location in 1963 as their 'flagship' building.2009 photo - Google Maps
2018 photos - Google Maps
The area via a 1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. Apparently, the building was chopped from an existing structure - view small rectangle shapes. The planned development is marketed as a TOD. The stores' garage is shown south of it - also with rectangle shapes.
The first renditions of the property was presented in July 2019 to neighborhood associations for initial approval.
photo - Chuckman Collection
the first rendition - Curbed Chicago
the second rendition - what a change!
This Transit-Oriented Development near the Sheridan Red Line Station will replace Hampton Apartments
the second rendition - what a change!
This Transit-Oriented Development near the Sheridan Red Line Station will replace Hampton Apartments
a more modern look below - Cragin Sping via Flickrphotos - DNAinfo
According to Uptown Historical Society the building will be saved and rehabbed in 2019.
3911-3921 N Sheridan Road
According to Uptown Historical Society the building will be saved and rehabbed in 2019.
and across the street ...
Google Map view 2009 vs 2017
2950 N Sheridan Road
vacant property for centuries
photos - via Curb Chicago Lake View
2016 photos - Garry Albrecht
more construction pics from Building Up Chicago
Diversey Parkway Developments:
538 W Diversey Parkway
2016 photo - Lake View East Chamber of Commerce
first rendition vs
the second rendition photo - LoopNet
506-514 Diversey Parkway
images via Lake View Patch2016 rendition pdf via Tom Tunney alderman office
with a vintage building between the two
2016 rendition pdf via Tom Tunney alderman office
2016 rendition pdf via Tom Tunney alderman office
2017 photo below - John Keating Jr.
via Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
photo - BuildingUpChicagoDotCom
photo - BuildingUpChicagoDotCom
and a vintage building remains in the middle
A Hotel Evolution on Diversey/Clarkpostcard - Chicago History in Postcards
Days Inn to the Hotel Versey
"The new name Hotel Versey pays tribute to its original namesake The Diversey Arms, while playfully fusing in a tie to the hotel's V-shaped structure of its triangular city block, on the highly visible corner of Clark, Broadway,
and Diversey Parkway."
and on the opposite corner in Lincoln Park ...on the southeast corner of Clark & Diversey
2017 image - Chicago Tribune
in transition - via John P Keating
Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
2017 image - Chicago Tribune
vintage images of the same corner below:J.J. Sedelmaier via Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
and from TrolleyDodger below
Southport Avenue Developments:
the northeast corner of Southport/Belmont
2017 photo below Southport Corrridor News & Events
what was there before
While one corner has gone modern the other corner, the northeast corner, has remained vintage/renovated
2017 photo - Google Maps vs a 2018 photo below
Chris Cullen via Pictures of Chicago-Facebook
for more developments along Southport Avenue visit
Southport Corridor News & Events
the southeast corner of Southport/Belmont
and soon to replaced on the same intersection in 2019
at northwest corner Southport/Belmont
3401-09 N Southport
with the latest 2018 rendition
images via Southport Corridor News & Events
what was there before
3150 N Southport
what was there before
2017 photo - Google Maps
what was there before3334 N Southport Avenue
2017 photo - Google Maps
what was there before
Southport/Wellington Intesection
Herdegen Brieske Funeral Home
1458 W Belmont Avenueaerial view of the area
aerial photos via DNAinfo
a Google Map view 2017
photo - via Adam Rodriguez FC FB 2018
included the space behind the funeral home
the renditions below
images - Curbed Chicago
Construction finally Begins in 2019
according to Chicago Cityscape
Belmont Avenue Developments:
450 W Belmont
2017 Google Map view
images - Curbed Chicago
the original buildings in 1950 via Sanborn Fire Map
inner Lake Shore Drive
3660 N Lake Shore Drive
story and images - Curbed Chicago
The Affordable Housing Issue
2017 Google Map view
images - Curbed Chicago
2018 Google Map views
images - Curbed Chicago
the original buildings in 1950 via Sanborn Fire Map
inner Lake Shore Drive
3660 N Lake Shore Drive
story and images - Curbed Chicago
'The parcel in question is situated directly in front of an existing condo building at 3660 N. Lake Shore Drive and is one of Chicago's few remaining undeveloped lakefront sites. Offering unobstructed views to the east, the location has been the center of redevelopment speculation for some time and legal negotiations with its neighbors to the west.'
per Curbed Chicago 2019
The Affordable Housing Issue
Affording housing in the City of Chicago has been an issue for more decades. SRO's have been converted to 'market-rate' housing or a small percent of any particular new development that was to be reserved for the poor or seniors. In my blog post called 'Hotels to B&B' I mention how several former apartment-hotels constructed during the early part of the 20th century were by the end of the 20th century in decay while milking the residents with sub-standard buildings.
photos - DNAinfo
In 2014 a private company sold their property in the city due to a change in policy. Seniors in they 80's and 90's were given a timeline to leave. Like the SRO residents the year before these senior residents on Pine Grove & Barry avenues protested. While the 4+1's are to be sold to a private developer the seniors have the time to move until the alderman step in and slowed the process of conversion. The photo below was a protest at the Abbott Hotel-SRO in 2014.
In my opinion, Lake View is no longer the place for affordable housing for the poor or seniors.
Existing Affordable Units 2017
Crowder Place
Crowder Place
photo - Chicago Cityscape
416 W Barry Avenue
photo - Apartment Home Living
A Planned Development
The Wave
420 W Belmont Avenue
image - Curbed Chicago
The Floor Plans for a studio to two bedrooms
photos - Yo Chicago
... that did not fully materialize
According to a publication called Chicago Apartments:
'A Century of Luxury Living' by Neil Harris, 'a real estate developer, of the name of Albert W. Swayne planned a massive cooperative apartment (mid-scroll) project was to house more than 2,000 people with a central tower rising 420 feet high that was designed by Holabird & Root (pic). A scale downed 85 unit apartment version of it was constructed instead due to the funding issues that stemmed from Great Depression of 1929 - with a photo of it below from the University of Illinois-Chicago via Explore Chicago Collection
This 85 unit apartment building still exists
at 421 Melrose Avenue and called the Eddystone.
The De-Converting Era by 2017
According to Crain Chicago developers much like Golub Capital-middle market lenders have been scouting the Chicago market for opportunities to turn condo buildings back into rentals, reversing the condo conversion trend that dominated the city in the 1970's and 1980's. Amid high condo prices back then, developers could buy whole apartment buildings and sell them for a profit individually as condos. "Big-time players are looking at prices and saying, 'I think we could buy this building lock, stock and barrel and make money by running it as an apartment building,'" says Chicago attorney David Sugar, a partner at Arnstein & Lehr- chairman of the firm's condo law group. "Hopefully, condo boards will figure out that they can make 50% more selling to these apartment idiots chasing a bubble," says David Ruttenberg, principal at Marc Realty Residential, a Chicago-based apartment landlord. "Hopefully, I'm the fool they call."
420 W Belmont Avenue
2016 Google Maps
According to Curbed Chicago condo de-conversations continuing to hold steady as the most lucrative sector of Chicago's real estate market [as of 2017], the complicated process of "de-converting" existing condominiums into freshly refurbished rental units is gaining popularity. One such project in the Lake View neighborhood is ready to start welcoming its first tenants. Situated at 420 W. Belmont, the 206-unit Wave Lake View apartments occupy the 30-story 1967 tower that was once known as Bel Harbour condominiums. The largest Chicago deconversion project to date, Wave comes from New Jersey-based developer Strategic Properties of North America.
The Floor Plans for a studio to two bedrooms
photo - The Wave websitephoto - The Wave website
photos - Yo Chicago
This segment is related to another blog post
called House Tear-Downs
image via Robert Zamora
A 1950 Sanborn Fire Map of the Estate along
North Lake Shore Drive
Neighborhoods for Sale?
called House Tear-Downs
image via Robert Zamora
North Lake Shore Drive
Neighborhoods for Sale?
by the Chicago Tribune 2015
'In an unprecedented investigation, the Tribune analyzed a decade of zoning changes to detail how real estate interests have funneled millions of dollars to the aldermen who dictate what can be built. The series has examined how aldermen ignore city planners and frustrated residents as they frequently permit new and bigger buildings that leave neighbors in their shadows.' The series so far:
More news as it Develops!
Post Notes: The Google Map Viewer (2007- present) is great historical tool on the changes to a particular area of interest for real estate or parcels of land. The viewer can be located if you float the cursor over the top left area of the Google map. Within the black rectangular area is a small clock icon that will expand into a timeline that begins in 2007. Read more about future developments in the neighborhood at Curbed Chicago/Lake View.
View this interactive map about the commercial and residential zoning in the city that includes planned development sights. and then this interactive map view of all the sales in the city.
Read and view the different types of dwellings of the area through the eyes of Chicago Architecture Data.
View this interactive map about the commercial and residential zoning in the city that includes planned development sights. and then this interactive map view of all the sales in the city.
Read and view the different types of dwellings of the area through the eyes of Chicago Architecture Data.
Important Note:
These posts are exclusively used for educational purposes. I do not wish to gain monetary profit from this blog nor should anyone else without permission for the original source - thanks!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Blog Archives
Take Back the Brunch: Café Gratitude makes me grateful for breakfast
Café Gratitude is probably one of the most quintessentially California 'granola' restaurants you can imagine—in other words, my dream come true (even if it does make me feel a bit self-righteous every time I visit). Hence, it's not surprising you'll find this restaurant in two locations in L.A. as well as in Berkeley and Santa Cruz—and apparently now there's a new location in Kansas City? Didn't expect that one. The story behind how the restaurant was originally founded and the ethics that drive its management are a worthwhile read available on their website.
The ambiance is like an upscale hippie-turned-yuppy café, with outside patio seating and inside tables, booths and community tables plus a long row of bar seating. An assortment of decadent baked goods and homemade, nutrient-dense jarred and bottled concoctions greet you from their rustic-chic displays when you walk in.
I tend to frequent the West Side locale on Rose Street in Venice Beach. The Café is nestled amongst a patchwork of other upscale shops, a yoga studio, and a juicery (yep, that's a thing in L.A.). Everything on Café Gratitude's menu is vegan and organic, and a lot of it is raw and/or gluten free. While the range of items might sound daunting at first to your average non-vegan–options like kelp noodles, three-grain tempeh, raw bagels with cashew cream cheese, and daikon-collard wraps–you have to trust me when I say that there is probably something on this menu to please everyone, even the stubborn omnivores out there. It definitely won over my father and his fiancé, who loved the breakfast items, especially the sweet ones.
You just have to be able to survive the hipster crowd and the artsy wait staff that leave you with a poem and a philosophical question to discuss at the table when they hand you the menus. No joke. Oh, and the menu items that are listed as Motivational 'Intentions' rather than descriptions of the actual meal. For example, the grilled polenta meal is called 'I am warm-hearted'; the Indian curried lentils are 'Humble'; and the vegetable tacos are 'Transformed.' Want a drink? You might go with the 'Divine,' or maybe the 'Elevated', or the 'I am Outrageous' for a probiotic kick. Don't even get me started on the desserts. It's a unique dining experience, to be sure.
If you can jive with the purposeful (and perhaps slightly forced) communal all-is-love vibe that Café Gratitude strives for, your time will be well worth it. The food here is unabashedly amazing–very fresh, flavorful, healthy, and filling. Because brunch holds such a special place in my heart, that's the focus of today's blog. I'll get right to the spoiler and just state flat out that the brunch items on offer rank as some of the most satisfying food I've tasted in L.A., and as an added bonus, are made with some of the healthiest organic ingredients as well. Double win!
I was full for about eight hours after eating here…perhaps it was that extra crepe I ordered on the side. Worth it! The prices are slightly higher than a 'typical' café, but in the case of Café Gratitude the price adequately reflects the quality, flavor, and portion size of the meals. I've definitely been to other vegan restaurants that over-charge for disappointing food—this is not one of those places. Be 'Brave' and try this place out for brunch. You'll probably want to come back for dinner!
Café Gratitude, Venice Beach
Individual menu items:
WARM, aka Apple Cinnamon Muffin (gluten-free)
Somehow, Café Gratitude has pulled off the difficult task of making healthy food taste like the classic versions you remember growing up—but better! Their muffins are no exception. This muffin melts in your mouth and has wonderful flavor and texture. You can't tell its gluten-free or vegan. The taste is indulgent, but not overly sweet and desserty like some of the other vegan bakery muffins I've tasted. Thumbs up!
Health: 3.5 out of 5 (obviously this place uses pretty healthy ingredients, but I imagine the protein content is fairly low while the sugar content is higher in this item)
Taste: 5 out of 5; scrumptious!
OPEN-HEARTED, aka Buckwheat pancakes (gluten-free)
No words are worthy. Probably the best vegan pancakes I've had (and its really tough to compete with Hugo's vegan pancakes!). I love buckwheat—its hearty yet still makes fluffy pancakes, and these babies certainly had it all: light, airy texture, just slightly sweet with a nice light grain flavor, all topped with organic maple syrup, fresh fruit, and a mouth-wateringly delicious cashew whipped cream. Have I made my point? If you dig pancakes, you MUST put these in your mouth SOON.
Health: 4 out of 5 (maybe a bit lower with excessive cashew cream and/or maple syrup; otherwise, light and healthy while still hearty and satisfying)
Taste: 5 out of 5, if it wasn't already obvious!
FANTASTIC, aka Crepe (gluten-free, raw)
This raw, GF take on a classic French crepe is definitely an interesting twist. You can't capture the same light, crisp texture of a crepe sans eggs. That said, this was an enjoyable rendition, though it was a bit heavier and chewier. The crepe itself tasted almost like a waffle cone, but the sweetness of the crepe was set off nicely by the slightly tangy coconut yogurt and fresh fruit and nuts that topped it.
Health: 3 out of 5 (probably a bit high in fat and sugar)
Taste: 4 out of 5 (interesting, unique, but no where as rave-worthy as the pancakes, though if you want a bit lighter breakfast the crepe is a good option)
TRUSTING, aka Tempeh Scramble
This savory scramble is a blend of three-grain tempeh and mixed seasonal vegetables including shitake mushrooms, spinach, scallions, cilantro and avocado, and comes with whole grain sesame toast. This is definitely a hearty meal, more like a lunch or dinner item, with a nice healthy vibe, but the flavor didn't really stick out as exciting or unique–sort of had an Asian stir-fry vibe. A solid staple kind of meal.
Health: 5 out of 5 (lots of fresh veg, high protein tempeh, light seasoning)
Taste: 3 out of 5 (nice fresh veggies and seasoning, just nothing that really popped out as exciting or note-worthy. My dad was a bit ho-hum about it—although he was obsessed with the muffin)
TERRIFIC, aka Kelp noodle salad
This dish combines kelp noodles with a Pad Thai type marinade tossed in an almond sauce with mixed vegetables including carrots, bell peppers, and kale, topped with crispy almonds and sprouts. The creaminess of the sauce was enticing, and the flavor of the dish was well balanced—light, but complex and satisfying without being overpowering. The hint of almonds really enhanced the flavor, and the avocado rounded everything out (what ISN'T better with avocado, really?). Another nice savory dish.
Health: 4.5 out of 5
Taste: 4.5 out of 5
Chocovivo—Cacao CaPow!
I have a penchant for picking out the most expensive products at farmer's markets. Whether it's raw honey, organic pomegranate juice, or avocado hummus, I'm a sucker for specialty artisanal foods.
By far one of my greatest weaknesses is for good quality, vegan dark chocolate—and it just so happens that my local farmer's market is happy to oblige in the form of Chocovivo, a small artisanal chocolate making company that makes minimally processed, stone-ground chocolates free from dairy, soy lecithin, and refined sugars.
While I typically buy Chocovivo chocolate at the farmer's market (they maintain a stall at the Culver City market on Tuesday evenings, and one at the Mar Vista market on Sunday mornings), the company also has a small storefront on Washington Boulevard where they host chocolate tastings (awesome!), both of solid chocolate and assorted hot and iced chocolate drinks as well.
One evening I just couldn't hold out anymore, and I convinced by boyfriend to accompany me on a chocolate tasting adventure. Even before you enter Chocovivo, the storefront lures you in with its warm, rich lighting and whimsical wooden décor. Is it a wine bar? Tapas bar? Nope! It's all about the chocolate in this place! When I entered the shop, I felt like Dorothy leaving Kansas (a.k.a. Culver City) and landing in Oz (a.k.a. magical chocolate land). Or many Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, but with none of the weird song/dance numbers or snotty children–although they do call the chocolate makers Oompa Loompas here.
No, this is a very adult type of candy store—where couples sit closely on bar stools made out of tree stumps, leaning in towards each other as they share a thick, indulgent cup of dark hot chocolate, or sample a platter of various home-made cacao concoctions. Lining the walls are various cacao products for sale, including the chocolate bars—in myriad flavors—that Chocovivo is perhaps most well-known for. Also for sale or hand filled bags of raw cacao nibs, cacao powder, and chocolate spreads. It was hard to keep my cool when all I wanted to do was try IT ALL.
It turns out, you pretty much can. One of the menu options is a chocolate sampler (along the lines of a wine or beer flight, or cheese sampler)—you can choose how many chocolates to sample, all the way up to the max, which is thirteen (I'll give you one guess which option I went for!). I had my partner in chocolate crime with me, so I figured we could handle it.
As the store assistant began pulling open drawers behind the counter and removing various pieces of chocolate to line our plate, he explained the process of harvesting, fermenting, roasting, and grinding the cacao to turn it into the bars, powders, and spreads before us. Chocovivo does not use any sort of heat processing—a step most chocolate producers use to maximize efficiency—they just grind the cacao using traditional lava stones, then mix in pure unrefined can sugar and whatever flavors they are using for each type of chocolate bar. Their website explains the process, and their relationship with cacao farms, in more detail. The result of their approach is a high quality chocolate that retains much more of the natural nutrients, as well as flavor, contained in cacao beans. Chocovivo chocolates are all vegan, natural, organic, with no additives (e.g. soy lecithin, cocoa butter, etc.).
For someone who has never tried minimally processed chocolate before (or dark—I'm talking 80% chocolate), Chocovivo may take some getting used to. The bars have a slightly gritty texture, from the pure ground cacao beans, and a rich, slightly bitter flavor that is non-existent in processed milk chocolate—because milk chocolate has barely any real chocolate in it at all! Needless to say, the texture and the flavor are actually what draw me to Chocovivo. A little goes a long way—the two of us only made it through about half of our chocolate flight—but the complex flavors and textures are ooh-so-satisfying.
Included in our tasting flight were four types of plain dark chocolate (ranging from 60% to 100% pure cacao!). Of these, I'd have to say I preferred the 85%, followed by the 75%, which was just ever so slightly sweeter and milder. My boyfriend was more into the lighter side of dark, going for the 60%.
Then came the blended chocolates: Almond with sea salt, Shangri-La (black sesame with goji berries), Mayan Tradition (cinnamon and spice), Cherry-almond and Black peppercorn, and coffee and vanilla bean. Each of these was intriguing in its own right, and it wouldn't really be fair to rate them in any order. However, the Shangri-La is one of the most uniquely flavored chocolates I've come across, definitely worth a taste. I always love coffee flavored chocolate because of the contrast between sweetness and bitterness, and the cherry-almond flavor was satisfying on a number of levels. But we weren't done yet.
There were also the limited edition blends: Macadamia Nut and Coconut, Lavender and Lemon, Nibby Bar with raw cacao nibs, and Hazelnut and Sea Salt. Wow. Talk about an overwhelming array of flavors. We bravely took our time sampling each one and compared notes. The macadamia/coconut blend was the richest, the nibby bar was an all around winner with nice texture and flavor, but my favorite was the lavender/lemon combo—a slight perfumy fruitiness balanced with rich dark chocolate. Out of all of the thirteen flavors, the only one that fell flat, surprisingly, was the hazelnut/sea salt blend. Neither of us thought it compared to the rest—something about the flavor fell flat. Perhaps it was just a bad bunch of hazelnuts, or not the right balance of nuts to other ingredients. But it was the only bar out of the thirteen that I wouldn't miss.
Even though we couldn't finish our chocolate flight, I felt it was my duty to try something else on offer, perhaps a warm chocolately drink. I also was looking for excuses not to leave this adorable sanctuary of a shop so I could continue to watch the oompa loompas (that's literally what they call the chocolate makers at this shop) work their magic on the other side of the glass. So, ignoring my satiated stomach and my already-overloaded on polyphenols brain, I ordered a hot chocolate that blended a mix of dark and mayan spice with almond milk.
As we waited for the drink, I watched the owner of the shop, Patricia, meet and greet various customers, explaining with passion the various aspects of her business and the sourcing of her chocolate. I worked up the nerve to approach her and chat for a few minutes, and even took a picture with her! It's always rewarding to meet the entrepreneurs behind socially and environmentally forward-thinking ventures.
The hot chocolate was incredible; thick, rich, warming, soothing. But soooo intense after 13 other chocolate flavors! I tried to finish as much as I could (also pressuring the BF to help out), and eventually we slid off our bench seats, still in a chocolate stupor, and wandered out of the shop just before closing time (oh, and I definitely had a doggy-bag in hand with our un-eaten remnants of the chocolate flight).
I had successfully fulfilled a lifelong dream of eating chocolate, and nothing but chocolate, for dinner; and supporting a wonderful local business while I was at it! Chocovivo is an absolutely perfect place to go on a cute first date, a romantic second, third, or hundredth date, or just to treat yourself or a friend to a hot (or iced) chocolate after a long week. And if you are serious about your dark chocolate love affair, Chocovivo is your answer to satisfying that craving in a healthier, more sustainable, and enjoyable manner.
Chocovivo: Culver City, CA
There are way too many varieties for me to provide individual ratings, but you can get the gist of my preferences above. However, here is my overall rating for Chocovivo chocolates.
Health: 4 out of 5 (this is taking into consideration that dark chocolate is meant to be enjoyed in small portions. However, Chocovivo chocolate is unprocessed, organic, full of natural vitamins and minerals, and has very low sugar. Therefore, as far as chocolates go, its pretty much as healthy as you can get–especially if you choose the pure, darkest varieties. Chocolate has many health benefits that I won't go into here, but only high quality chocolate like this contains significant amounts of these nutrients)
Taste: 4-5 out of 5 (depending on the variety; for those who prefer milder chocolate, stick with the 60% and blended, for the purists, go for the darkest for ultimate taste bud pleasure!)
Ambiance at shop: 5 out of 5 (Adorable, very cute date spot as well as just fun to browse in, friendly staff, can watch chocolate being made)
The Rabbit Hole Cafe: a Wonderland of Vegan Delights!
I absolutely love trying new vegan (and vegan-friendly) restaurants, and lucky for me it seems like every week a new one pops up somewhere in L.A. It used to be that the further away you got from the city, however, the fewer vegan options you could find. Thankfully that seems to be changing, as vegan versions of popular foods seem to be making their way onto mainstream menus far and wide–at least in California! Picking up on this shift in health awareness (or trendiness), the Rabbit Hole Café is one of the newest restaurants on the scene, an unpretentious but innovative neighborhood café "with a conscience", as is their motto.
The Rabbit Hole Café is fairly hidden, nestled in an unassuming strip mall in Agoura Hills (about half an hour north of Los Angeles proper). I was up in the area the other day to take my mom to lunch, and was trying to decide where to go. I may never have wandered down the Rabbit Hole if I hadn't at the last minute decided, on a whim, to search for 'vegan restaurants' in Agoura, assuming that only Hugo's would show in the results (and as much as I love Hugo's, I wanted something different for a change). To my surprise, however, Rabbit Hole Café popped up in the google results, so I clicked on the website to take closer a look.
On their homepage, the Rabbit Hole Café says that they source local, organic, non-GMO products whenever possible, and cater to vegans, vegetarians, gluten-intolerant, and other dietary constraints. They even list every ingredient that is organic right on the menu. The cafe also makes efforts to reduce waste, to compost, and to follow sustainable practices. I was instantly smitten.
A quick glance at the menu was enough to make my stomach grumble in anticipation—vegan sandwiches and burgers, kale bowls, vegan baked mac and cheese…jackpot! Within a few minutes I got my mom out the door and we made the short drive to the Rabbit Hole. It was a Saturday, early afternoon, and though there was a steady stream of customers, seating was ample. My mom and I grabbed a shaded table outside to enjoy the warm spring weather.
The inside, however, is adorable! The Rabbit Hole takes full advantage of its Alice in Wonderland theme, with whimsical signs describing smoothie flavors or the day's specials, quirky decorations, and a black and white checkered floor. Inside seating is a mixture of small and large tables, with the opportunity for communal seating, or for wedging yourself in a private corner with a laptop or a book. There are only a few tables outside, located at the front of the restaurant on the sidewalk. Again, nothing fancy, just simple and sufficient.
It didn't take us long to decide on our order (I had already pretty much decided when I looked at the online menu). We opted to sample three items: the chickpea toona melt (vegan tuna sandwich), violet shrooben (a vegan take on the Reuben, starring sautéed mushrooms and a homemade thousand island dressing), and the Rabbit Hole Bowl, a mix of quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, and fried kale (individual food reviews can be found below). I vowed to go back to try the vegan/GF mac and cheese and Rabbit Hole Pizza as well as the brunch menu. While most options are vegetarian and vegan, The Rabbit Hole also offers non-vegan sandwiches, breakfast items, and full on baked meals. I could also imagine coming by to enjoy a nice organic tea or coffee as well.
My only beef (pun intended) with the Rabbit Hole Café is that they use Daiya cheese on everything. As I've written before, I am not a big fan of this vegan cheese. Some people swear by it, but to me it has a distinctive, fakey taste that overpowers most dishes. For my orders, I left the Daiya on the Reuben (they used the swiss version, which I figured I would give a shot), but I ordered the toona melt without the Daiya cheese and instead ordered avocado on the sandwich. Spoiler alert—that was the best decision ever!
As we lounged in the partial sun after ordering, I overheard the conversation of the people at the next table over—a group of four high school students (two girls, two guys), sharing health advice, talking about kale and quinoa and drinking warm water with lemon juice first thing in the morning. It made me smile. What a far cry from the health 'consciousness' of my high school peers and me! Even though I was a vegetarian in high school, those were times (not that long ago I might add) when romaine was a specialty item and tofu was the only non-meat option for vegetarians—if you could find it.
The other customers were a mix of young and old, couples enjoying a leisurely weekend afternoon, or members of the small country club from across the street taking a break from golf. But the vibe was definitely not the typical yuppie Westlake feel; this is a casual, but slightly quirky, spot that you would probably never even notice if you didn't know about it. Luckily, now you do!
Within minutes our order arrived, and my mom and I dug in with ravenous pleasure. I opted to try the vegan Reuben first, and while it was tasty, once I took a bite of the toona melt there was no turning back. It was love at first chew. It was all I could do not to scarf the entire thing down in one sitting—but I kept my composure and allowed my mom to try some, and even saved most of a half for my boyfriend to try later (I knew he would appreciate the amazingness of this sandwich as much as I).
Besides, I had to save room for dessert! Next to the counter inside where you order and pay is a large refrigerated case lined with mesmerizing vegan desserts, from mini cupcakes and cookies to tarts and cakes. Most are also gluten-free. Also available are frozen breads, muffins and other baked goodies from none other than Rising Hearts Bakery. I opted for two desserts made by Karma Baker: mini carrot-cakes, and a chocolate coconut tart. Neither disappointed, and the chocolate tart was probably one of the best vegan desserts I've had in recent memory—and that's saying a lot, because I eat a LOT of desserts!
After one visit I can definitely say this is my new Agoura obsession, and I can't wait to visit again. Everything tasted fresh and somehow nostalgic despite being novel and 'trendy'. Wholesome, yet slightly indulgent—sourdough and rye breads reminiscent of corner delis, spreads and sauces that have a home-made charm—all served in a delightful atmosphere by friendly staff. This café with a conscience sure knows how to cater to picky eaters and food lovers alike!
Rabbit Hole Café, Agoura Hills
Individual Food Reviews:
Chickpea Toona Melt
The description may not immediately win you over—chickpea and seaweed 'toona' with grilled tomatoes, vegan cheese, and chipotle mayo—but let me tell you, this may be the BEST vegan tuna sandwich I've ever had. Most vegan tunas are made from either soy or jackfruit, the latter of which typically is pretty tasty. But this chickpea version, which I imagine was mixed with veganaise, was instantly addictive. I literally wanted to fill a bathtub with this filling and just immerse myself in it (sorry if that grosses you out). I will say that I made an important substitution to the sandwich that I believe made a huge difference—I swiched the Daiya cheese for avocado, and I think it was the best food decision I could have made. Whichever way you choose however, I venture to say you will not be disappointed by this sandwich, what with the magical filling, complemented perfectly by the sourdough bread, tomatoes and vegan mayo. I am still dreaming about this sandwich days later!
Health: 3 out of 5 (chickpeas and seaweed equal good protein and nutrients, however the vegan mayo adds fat from oil and the bread is decent carbs, though sourdough is supposedly one of the healthiest bread options a person can choose).
Taste: 5 out of 5! Can I say 6 out of 5??
Violet Schrooben
Grilled mushrooms and purple sauerkraut with homemade thousand island dressing and swiss Daiya cheese, all on toasted rye bread. It sounds great, and it was tasty, but I think calling it a Reuben created certain expectations that just couldn't be met. Other vegan Reubens I've tasted tend to use seitan or tempeh as their protein choice, giving the sandwich a 'meaty' heartiness that this sandwich couldn't mimic. The flavors were all decent, but all together it just fell a little flat compared to the toona melt. I think the issue was that I loved each of the ingredients individually—the grilled mushrooms were lovely and savory, the sauerkraut had an interesting sweetness, and the dressing was nice and tangy. But put all together, the flavors didn't blend as well as you might expect. It probably didn't help that it included Daiya cheese, which just isn't my thing. I wouldn't totally write off this menu item, but I suspect that you are better off trying one of the other delectable choices your first time off—unless you have a mushroom obsession, in which case you might be perfectly satisfied with this sandwich, which is loaded with them.
Health: 2.5 out of 5 (healthy mushrooms, but not much else besides the fake cheese and dressing; the rye bread is very light, probably some refined wheat)
Taste: 3 out of 5 (decent, but not my pick for this restaurant)
The Rabbit Hole Bowl
This is a meal in a bowl (which I love); a base of quinoa and brown rice, topped with grilled sweet potatoes, carmelized onions, crispy fried kale, and a peanut ginger lemon dressing. The combination of all these ingredients was a perfect blend that felt healthy, yet satiating and flavorful. The dressing was wonderful—slightly sweet and tangy but not overpowering. The sweet potatoes were of course a great flavor addition, and the fried kale is pretty addictive (the even offer an appetizer that is just the fried kale). It was a bit oily, but had a crispy, flaky texture that balanced the heaviness of the rice and potatoes. It definitely won my mom over, and she had been skeptical of kale up to this point. This is a simple yet completely satisfying dish, which would perhaps seem plain if it weren't for the wonderful addition of the dressing.
Health: 4 out of 5 (as a meal out, this is probably one of the healthiest you can get other than a salad; the fried kale is on the oily side so brings down the rating a bit, but overall this is a good healthy choice).
Taste: 4.5 out of 5 (a nice balance of flavors and textures, may not blow your mind but is a general crowd pleaser, and a great way to introduce first-time kale eaters to this versatile vegetable.
Karma Baker mini Carrot Cupcakes (vegan, GF)
These little cuties are both adorable AND delectable. They have a wonderful rich flavor and a nice, moist, slightly dense texture. The ingredients are minimally processed (which is especially pleasing since they are made with gluten-free flour) with few questionable ingredients. The frosting is made with soy and palm shortening, and though both of these are listed as organic, some people may have qualms with these ingredients for health or sustainability reasons. Nonetheless, these are a light, satisfying dessert or sweet snack with no processed sugar, and lots of healthy ingredients (flax, walnut, carrot, coconut, etc).
Health: 3.5 out of 5 (lots of healthy ingredients but still going to have sugar and fat; but per each mini cupcake, I'd say these are pretty high on the healthy dessert wagon!
Taste: 4 out of 5
Karma Baker Chocolate-Coconut Cream Tart (vegan, GF)
This was a melt-in-your mouth velvety chocolate experience that rocked my world. I could have eaten the whole thing, even though it was incredibly rich and dense—so I forced myself to share it. The tart is a sweet little size, big enough to share among 2-3 people, but definitely small enough to scarf down yourself without feeling too guilty (although you might feel a bit overwhelmed at the last bite). I cannot begin to rave enough about this amazing chocolate bit of heaven—the top half is a mousse-like consistency, while the bottom is a chocolate crust that gives sturdiness and a nice crumble to balance out the smooth creamy topping. If you love chocolate, or even like it just a little bit, do yourself a favor and try this tart!
Health: 2.5 out of 5 (almost all the ingredients are organic which is great, but there is definitely a decent amount of sugar and coconut oil/cream in this dessert, as well as soy)
Taste: 5+ out of 5!


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Live updates
Brexit and distrust dominate by-election build-up
Ordinarily a by-election in a safe Conservative seat in Lincolnshire would barely raise an eyebrow in Westminster, but these are no ordinary times.
On Thursday all eyes will be on Sleaford and North Hykeham, as voters go to the polls to replace Stephen Phillips, the Tory MP who quit over the Government's handling of Brexit.
And in a constituency that voted to leave the European Union - Brexit is dominating the contest, with UKIP hoping to cause an upset.
Our political correspondent Daniel Hewitt reports.
- ITV Report
Furniss wins Sheffield Brightside by-election for Labour
The widow of a Labour MP who died from cancer has won the by-election to replace him in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituency.Read the full story ›
New Newark MP's first day on the job
Newark's new Conservative MP began his role today in the constituency after beating off competition from UKIP to claim the seat.
Robert Jenrick held off the challenge of UKIP, and even though his winning majority was far less than the Tories in the last general election, it's the party's first by election victory while in power for more than 20 years.
ITV Calendar's political correspondent Paul Brand reports:
New Newark MP tours constituency
Newly elected Newark MP, Robert Jenrick, declined a drink on the job as he re-opened a local pub hit by flooding.
Conservative, Jenrick, defeated closest challengers, UKIP, despite their majority being slashed by 9,000 votes.
Cutting the ribbon (blue, of course), Jenrick wished the pub much success and said he was delighted that this was his first job as local member of parliament.
Alexander: 'Disappointing' result down to 'tactical voting'
Danny Alexander has said the Liberal Democrats' poor performance at the Newark by-election was a "deeply disappointing result," but was due to "tactical voting" from the party's supporters.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury was asked why the party had slumped from a 20% share of the vote to just 2%, a result that saw them lose their deposit.
He put some of the decline down to voters not wanting to see Ukip win the seat from the Tories, saying: "The last thing our supporters wanted was to be represented by Ukip in the House of Commons, therefore there was a lot of switching to other parties."
Lib Dems: We didn't expect to win Newark seat
Helmer: Priority is sleep, then the General Election
Defeated UKIP candidate, Roger Helmer, says his party will no turn their attentions to their strategy for the 2015 General Election - but first he needs a good nights sleep.
Controversial Helmer was beaten to the Newark seat by Conservative Robert Jenrick, but UKIP did manage to slash the Tories' majority by around 10,000 votes.
Farage: No win, but still a good night's work
UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, says he is still pleased with his party's progress, despite losing the Newark by-election to the Conservatives:
Ukip: Conservatives will look at result in 'sheer horror'
Ukip leader Nigel Farage conceded his party had been defeated during the by-election, but hailed the result as Ukip's "strongest ever by-election performance".
Speaking after the result, Mr Farage said: "I think there'll be an awful lot of Conservatives with a majority of less than 10,000 who will look upon this result in sheer horror."
But he admitted he would have liked to have done better in Newark.
"Yes, I mean the majority's halved, but nonetheless for Ukip it's still a good night's work," he said.
PM: By-election result 'very good' for Conservatives
David Cameron has hailed the Newark by-election result as "very good for the Conservative Party" but he said the Tories needed to "work between now and the next election" to win back voters from Ukip, who came out second in the by-election.
The PM was speaking in Bayeux, France ahead of D-Day commemoration events.
Asked how he would win back support from Nigel Farage's party he acknowledged the challenge posed by Ukip:
"The job isn't finished yet but we are on the right track, let's stick at it."


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Thursday, February 25, 2010
Costa Rica's Best Kept Secret
Now with new highways all over the place we will see how long some of Costa Rica's best kept secrets actually stay a secret. After being in the country for almost 9 years there are still plenty of new sites to see each time you go somewhere. About 3 years ago I was in the Southern zone in the area between San Isidro and Dominical in a little town called Platanillo. It was here that I was invited in to an area that is called the cave. The Cave is basically about a 2 hour hike straight up a ridge (The second ridge behind the coastal ridge so relatively near the coast). I was joined by the owners of the property who deserve a blog entry just for them. The Chapman family is a gringo father and tica mom family with four amazing children from ages 17 - 22 all certified as adventure guides in Costa Rica and some of the most entertaining kids you will meet with a backround in circus training, music, art, and all around great atittudes towards everything. What the Chapmans have done is turn a cavern that is located in this ridge where two waterfalls fall over the cavern. It is an epic area and one of the best parts is that you can rappel the waterfalls to get yourself down into the cavern where you will find a large kitchen, bathrooms, and sleeping arrangements (sleeps up to 30 people). This is definately a spot of Costa Rica that will remain a best kept secret because with the hike you have to do to get there I dont expect heavy traffic passing by The Cave anytime soon. Note: The Chapman Family Company is Called Tree of Life Tours.
Click Here or Call Today: 1-855-CRR-TOUR
Click Here or Call Today: 1-855-CRR-TOUR
Owner, Tom Ranieri ►
Biography: 10 year Raft & Canyoneering Guide in Costa Rica, Certified Naturalist Guide, Wilderness EMT, Over 200 Family Trips Planned & Guided in Costa Rica.
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Spooky Eye Cake Pop Ingredients
- donut holes (yep just from the bakery)
- frosting (your choice of flavors but needs to be white for the eyes)
- red paste food coloring
- toothpicks
- sucker sticks or popsicle sticks
- candy eyeballs
- mason jar or other method to stand cake pops
Spooky Eye Cake Pop Instructions
Remove lid and foil wrap from canned icing. Microwave icing for 20 seconds and stir. Put stick inside of one donut hole and dip into the icing until covered. Add candy eyeball by pressing into icing. Use toothpick dipped in red paste food coloring to add "blood" around eye.
Stand up in mason jar or by other means to allow to harden. I used tissue paper in my mason jar to make sure the pops did not touch. Serve immediately or after the icing has hardened. See you have made quick and easy spooky eye cake pops in 5 minutes. The best part? No one will ever know you didn't slave in the kitchen all day.


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Your nostalgic Smurfs are now getting a holographic rendition in a new augmented reality game. Smurfs: The Lost Village is a Microsoft Hololens game where you explore different locations from the series and battle the villain Gargamel. Microsoft helped create the game to promote the new Smurfs: The Lost Village film.
The post The Smurfs Are Headed to Augmented Reality appeared first on Futurism.


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To paraphrase someone wiser than me:Do not dwell in the past. You can't change it. Do not dream of the future. You can't predict it. Concentrate the mind on the present moment. And live your life to the fullest. IOW, enjoy the time spent with your son, he'll only be eleven once. Take this time to fillboth your lives with priceless memories. Take him on a trip. We all know you'll neverdo anything to jeopardize his safety. Tell us all about it when you get back.
I'm 53 years old and I will never forget my Dad taking me on a camping trip on the CB450. 3/4 helmet that was my moms. Canvas pup tent and the saddle bags were USMC Korea vintage back packs. No back rest. Don't remember how old I was but it was younger than 12. TO THIS DATE, with all the advancements in gear and bikes, one of my fondest memories. You'll only have 1 chance. The clock don't stop tickin'. Do it!
That's the reason that I want to do it. By the way he's used to riding on my bike. I've been picking him up from school for the last three years by bike and going for short dudes afterwards. I've got the backrest and the comm system. What I will do is go for a few short highway rides (two hours at a time) to see how he reacts to that. I know the arguments for and against strapping a kid to us but I think that I will do so. I never strap him in town because of the slower speeds and there are lots of things happening in town that can cause an accident. But I figure that highway riding is a bit different and I'd rather be confident that he doesn't fall asleep on me.
Maybe some type of fanny pack like waist strap for a grab point?
+1 on no straps -- I've seen them used and they look incredibly dangerous.If the trip is getting so long and/or boring that the kid is dozing, you're doing it totally wrong. Maybe it's time to stop for a Slurpee, or plan to stop at every rest stop and read all the info about the area's history, pull off and take a quick picture of oddball signs and then snapchat them to friends -- whatever it takes to keep the trip engaging and fun.If you instead think you need to cover max miles, pile into the car -- it will be safer and more fun (for that kind of trip-IMO).
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