Author: lbchicago1@hotmail.com

Yesterday I visited the Christkindl Market in downtown Chicago. For me, the opening of the Christkindl Market ushers in the official start to the holiday season (and I don’t mind that it opens a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving). This year especially, I think the earlier we start to celebrate the holiday season the better! It runs from November 20 through December 24th and is open daily from Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. It attracts more than one million visitors a year!

This is the 22nd year of its operation in downtown Chicago. It started in 1996 and was held on Pioneer Court, then moved to the Daley Center the following year. It’s also in Naperville and a new Christkindl Market is open this year near Wrigley Field at the Park at Wrigley.

It was inspired by the Christkindl Market in Nuremberg, Germany which began in 1545.  There are now such Christmas Markets held all over the world.

I enjoy strolling around looking at (and buying) ornaments. I was so excited the first year I attended the market and discovered they had fruit ornaments. I’m German and grew up with beautiful fruit ornaments on the tree….I was so excited to get some more! This year I’m looking to purchase a Chicago ornament and bird ornaments. I saw a couple of nice Chicago ornaments yesterday and really cute owl and other bird ornaments. So, I’ll go back next week to purchase those. The bird ornaments are special to me because my Aunt has a Christmas tree that she keeps out all year – she calls it her bird tree, because she has mostly bird ornaments. This year, I’m going to pick out a special bird ornament as a Christmas gift for her. My Aunt is 87 years old and this will be her last Christmas at her senior apartment. By January she’ll be living in an assisted living facility. Even though she probably won’t be able to take her large tree with her, she’ll be able to take the bird ornaments and hang them on a small tree.

Besides the ornaments, I also really like the food. My favorites are German potato soup and brats with sauerkraut. I’m also told the herring sandwich is very good. Although I like pickled herring, I wasn’t quite ready to try a herring sandwich! When I used to take my son there when he was little, he always ordered the potato soup and he loves it to this day! Of course, they also have delicious desserts like apple strudel and chocolates!! And plenty of drinks to keep you warm – such as hot chocolate, hot cider, Gluehwein or beer. Enjoy!

       

    

      

 

This week I visited the Chicago Cultural Center to view the Chicago Architecture Biennial:Make New History exhibition that runs through January 7, 2018. It is the largest architecture and contemporary design exhibition in North America. The theme this year is, Make New History – and expounds on the notion that architects draw from the past and use the past as inspiration for current design.

I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the photos and installations of incredible contemporary buildings in beautiful cities from around the world! I plan to visit again next week to view the full exhibit. There are three floors to this exhibition, and because I was limited by time, I was only able to view one floor. It is definitely worth a trip to the Chicago Cultural Center to view this exhibit!

          

          

The Chicago Theatre is a Chicago landmark located in the Loop at 175 N. State Street. It was built in 1921 and was then known as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre. It was designed by architects Cornelius and George Rapp in the Neo-Baroque French-Revival style, and is the oldest surviving style of this architecture in Chicago. The Chicago Theatre marque has become an emblem of the city itself and has been shown in TV shows and movies about Chicago.

From 1925 to 1945 the Chicago Theatre was famous as a classic movie theatre. It also hosted many jazz performances from the 1920s through 1930s. It is now primarily used as a venue for live plays, magic shows, stand-up comedy, live concerts and speeches. I’ve gone there to see Lilly Tomlin perform and we went there to see “Showboat”. And I once awaited the arrival of Jennifer Hudson, who was going to appear outside the theatre, but I never got to see her because she was running late and I had to go back to work (I was on my lunch break).

The Chicago Theatre building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 1979 and was designated as a Chicago Landmark on January 28, 1983. The Chicago Theatre underwent numerous renovations over the years. It was completely redecorated in preparation for the 1934 Century of Progress World’s Fair in Chicago.

             

Yesterday was a beautiful day for a walk in downtown Chicago

            

    

   

   

Last Thursday, November 2nd was a sad day for me (and for many other readers). When I first heard DNA info had shut down, I didn’t understand what it meant. I thought maybe there were technical problems with the website or improvements were being made. Instead, sadly, I learned it was discontinued.

DNA info was started in 2009 and reported on Chicago neighborhood news in a way that had never been done before. The journalists/reporters at DNA info were on the scene in the neighborhoods they reported on. They were immersed in the pulse of the neighborhoods. It included detailed reporting on issues we would never hear about otherwise.

What primarily drew me to DNA info when I became a subscriber in 2015, was their reporting on Chicago crime and how to try to solve the crime problem in Chicago. I loved reading the posts and posting on the DNA info blogs. It was my first experience with blogging and it was very positive!

I subscribed to every neighborhood’s feed, because even though I grew up in the Avondale neighborhood, I love reading and learning about all the Chicago neighborhoods. I learned so much about Chicago policies regarding crime and education, but also about Chicago architecture, restaurants, events and history.

I liked it that it was very current information, since most neighborhood feeds came out three times a day (morning, Noon and early evening). My favorite feed was the morning feed at 9:20 a.m. I made sure I accessed my email at 9:20 every morning to see the latest Chicago neighborhood news!

The CEO of DNA info said it was taken down because of financial reasons. I think not enough advertising dollars were brought in and they said reporters for Gothamist (which is the NY City version of DNA info) were going to unionize, thereby raising operating costs.

My only hope is that DNA info is somehow able to make a comeback financially or that another similar media organization can deliver the same quality neighborhood reporting. In the interim I’m using Twitter more than ever to try to gain some of the Chicago neighborhood information and close the void left by the closure of DNA info.

So, Thank You DNA info staff for all I’ve learned about Chicago and it’s neighborhoods in the last two years. I really appreciate it!

Marina City (aka Marina Towers) is a bulding complex located in downtown Chicago at 290 N. State Street. These two 65 story circular towers occupy almost a full city block on the north bank of the Chicago River. It also contains its own small marina for boats.

This complex was designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg in 1959. Construction started in 1961 and was completed in 1968. At the time of completion, they were the tallest residential buildings in the world. The complex was marketed as “a city within a city.” At the time it contained several stores, restaurants, a theater, a gym, swimming pool, ice rink and bowling alley.

Marina City was one of the first post-war high rise urban residential complexes in the U.S. It ushered in the start of a resurgence of Americans moving back to the inner cities. This model of mixed use residential, office and business use with on-site parking became a model that many cities adopted.  It’s also unique because the towers are completely circular. There are about 896 parking spaces and approximately 450 condos (used to be apartments) in each tower.

The complex currently contains The House of Blues concert venue/restaurant/bar; bowling lounge and restaurants such as Dick’s Last Resort and Smith and Wollensky steak house.

Marina City was seen in the opening sequence of the Bob Newhart Show and in several movies.

As you approach Waldheim cemetery in Forest Park, the winds begin to howl and the leaves rustle and blow.  It is just now approaching dusk in this infamous cemetery. As you approach the entrance gate, you think you hear voices of men chanting, but the sounds are so soft that you struggle to hear. You wonder if they are others’ voices or really just your own. Just then you see a large old sign that reads, ‘Warning: Enter at your Own Risk (Of Death).’ You don’t heed the sign, because the voices continue to whine, and it’s your name they’re calling in pain.

You don’t know why you came. You don’t live in Chicago, but in a suburb, and you’ve never heard of Waldheim Cemetery until you studied the Haymarket Riot.

Now, as you slowly walk, the air is getting very cold, like ice. It is just the start of May, that now feels like the coldest November day. Your fingers start to ache, then burn with frostbite…or is it actually rigor mortis setting in? You know you are alone in this place, yet you sense the presence of others. 

Now you’ve walked, it seems for hours, maybe even days. You’re no longer in the cemetery, but what appears to be a city walkway. Yes, you look up and the street sign says Des Plaines, and Randolph Street ahead.

By now it is twilight and there is not a light except for streetlights and the eerie glow of what looks to be a small statue or memorial. You try to walk closer to the statue but you’re pushed back and thrown down by a supernatural force stronger than you. You gather up all your strength and crawl to the foot of the statue. There are four men, their images a blur. The first man asks you to listen to his voice and the words he says. He says, “It is so lonely out here, for all these years I have spoken, yet no one has heard a sound. My name is Spies and all I wanted was freedom for myself and my fellow man.” Upon hearing his cold voice uttering these words your ears begin to ring, becoming louder and louder until it is like a train running through your head, a train that will not stop, for it is a never ending track….a track into eternity. The piercing sound continues and you feel as though your ears are going to pop and your head explode. Now all you hear is him crying out, “I died, and for that I didn’t care, because to live without freedom and justice, that I couldn’t bear.”

Then, the next man says, “ I am Parsons, and I am drowned in fear. I have not been in contact with a living soul for this century as a whole.” Within seconds he  reaches out to grab your hand, forcing you to jump back without a moment’s haste. Within seconds he has your hand. At first his hand is warm and gentle, then his flesh starts to burn against yours.  He strokes your arm and repeats the refrain…“Come walk with me so I won’t walk alone, accompany me on the long walk home. I ask not that you save my soul, for it’s the price I paid for trying to make the world whole.” Now your flesh is burnt and full of scars, and you can’t go very far. You stumble and fall. From the last two men you must escape, for you cannot take it anymore. Still, they look at you with their piercing, yet sorrowful eyes. Their eyes see right through to your very soul. Their pain becomes your own.

Daylight begins to break and you rush to leave this cold and tormented place with aching ears and burnt out flesh. The trail of tears you shed marks your way back home to your comfy bed and away from the living dead. Maybe it was all inside your head.

On November 11, 1887, the prisoners were brought out to the hangman’s platform. Albert Parsons, August Spies, George Engel, and Adolph Fischer stood before the crowd with hoods covering their faces. And then Spies spoke: “The day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you are throttling today.” The trapdoor opened.

When this building first opened in May 1985 it was called the State of Illinois Center. In 1993 it was renamed in honor of former Illinois Governor James R. Thompson. It was designed by architect Helmut Jahn and is located in downtown Chicago and spans an entire city block bordered by Randolph, Lake, Clark and Lasalle streets and the building is 1.2 million square feet. It definitely has a unique architectural style and has been described as both outrageous and beautiful. It has 17 floors and an open interior middle with an atrium where you can see all the floors. This open floor plan was supposed to symbolize open government. The building was not designed with practicality in mind, as can be seen when summer indoor temperatures have reached 90 degrees and winter temperatures are bitterly cold. I’ve personally experienced being rained on while eating in the food court area! In front of the Thompson Center (in the plaza) is a sculpture called “Monument With Standing Beast” by Jean Dubuffet.

Tenants of the building include State of Illinois offices and facilities including a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) facility as well as stores and businesses such as Walgreen’s and Supercuts. The building is also a transportation hub, with access to the Clark/Lake “L” station where numerous train lines stop. The Chicago Pedway is also accessible from the building. And best of all, there is a really nice food court on the main level of the building, with restaurants such as Ronny’s Steakhouse, M Burger, Panda, Arby’s, Sbarro, Marcello’s, New Orleans Kitchen and many more. I recently tried Marcello’s and it was excellent! It’s a take-out buffet and deli. They give you a container that you can fill with any items from their buffet (as much as you can fit in there) for $9.99. This building is definitely worth visiting!

           

           

We were out shopping at an antique mall the other day and I found some great Old Chicago postcards. I couldn’t resist them! I hope you enjoy them too.

Top left to right:

Grand Central Station, State Street at Night, Humboldt Park, Chicago Temple Building, Lincoln Park, Garfield Park (2)

 

 

In Chicago, October 8, 1871 started out like any other Fall day, but turned into a day in Chicago history that could never be forgotten. It was the day the Great Chicago Fire started. It started around 9 p.m. on October 8th and burnt through the morning of October 10, 1871. Approximately 300 people died and thousands of buildings were destroyed with damage estimates at about $200 million. Approximately 100,000 residents were left homeless. This was a third of Chicago’s population which at the time was 300,000. It devastated the downtown area  and headed up toward the North side almost to Fullerton. The South side suffered some damages, but the West side was mostly intact. It burnt approximately 3.3 miles. It started at the general vicinity of 137 DeKoven Street on the Southwest side. It was long rumored that the fire was started by Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicking over a lantern. That has since been disputed and likely isn’t true. The fire has also been blamed on a meteor shower (which is also unlikely). The fire most likely started due to extremely dry weather conditions and extreme heat and winds; as well as the fact that most buildings, streets and sidewalks were made of wood and there were many lumberyards in the area. Fires occurred at this time in three other nearby areas: Peshtigo WI; Holland MI; and Urbana IL.

Fortunately, most of Chicago’s physical infrastructure and transportation systems remained intact and reconstruction efforts began quickly. Many of the world’s first skyscrapers were built in Chicago at this time. By 1890 the population of Chicago had grown to 1 million and the city was a major economic and transportation hub.

And fittingly enough, today the Chicago Fire Department Training Academy is located at 137 DeKoven Street.