Latest Blog Entries tagged 'chicago' [Remove Filter]

Last summer Stephanie and I took a trip to Chicago for a long weekend. It was perfect weather, not too hot or humid. We stayed in our old neighborhood or Oak Park at the Carleton Hotel. During that time we had a chance to walk through the historic di [Read More]

Last Saturday night we were on board the Evening Star, cruising up and down the Chicago River and out to Lake Michigan. It was a beautiful night — a little cool for August, but pleasant nonetheless. There are so many things I love about Chicago, a [Read More]

The Chicago Blues Fest took place over the weekend in Grant Park, a free event which is scheduled every year over the first weekend in June. If you ever plan a visit to Chicago, Blues Fest weekend would be a rockin’ good time. Unfortunately we [Read More]

If you are a fan of The Prairie School, Arts & Crafts Architecture, or if you just love old homes, this is an event you can't miss. On June 21st, Pleasant Home Foundation is sponsoring a tour of Historic Hutchinson Street in Chicago. For those of [Read More]

One of my favorite fancy places to dine in Chicago is North Pond Cafe, nestled in the heart of Lincoln Park, and like the name, situated on the North Pond. It was built in 1912 as a warming hut for ice skaters, eventually becoming a storage shed for [Read More]

Still visiting the parents, and it's snowing. I grew up in these parts, but I'd forgotten that Chicago winter has a serious mean streak. Here, Old Man Winter will dump snow on robin's nests. And then kick the nest.On the plus side, the retiree overlo [Read More]

Or trying to come close… Our neighbor to the south, Chicago, is updating their alleys with “green” concrete.  The new paving surface has pores in it that allow rainwater to drip down to the dirt below.   Essentially, the wate [Read More]

My sister is one of “those people” who gets up at the crack of dawn on Black Friday to get their Christmas shopping done. I’m sure they get some great deals, but a) I can’t stand crowds; b) I hate shopping; and c) I haven&#821 [Read More]

So the Little One is out of school this week, we don’t own a house (yet — maybe next week), and we need to do something, anything.  What to do, what to do?  I started checking out Craig’s List, got bored with Fayetteville, and mov [Read More]

Yesterday I delayed my window work for hours by trolling through the collection of photos the Library of Congress is hosting online from the archives of the Chicago Daily News between 1902 and 1933. The subject index is fascinating by itself: massacr [Read More]

Whether you are an apartment dweller with no room for a table saw or a novice with a desire to learn how to use a chop saw, if you live in Chicago, a wood shop may be available to you. The Chicago Park District runs seventeen wood shops in and aroun [Read More]

Wood shops are disappearing from schools all over the country, along with art, home economics, drafting, and anything not considered to be directly related to standardized testing. This makes me deeply sad. Especially since DIY seems to be more cele [Read More]

Our Halloween, despite its irritating beginnings, was overall just what Halloween should be. Then, we heard of an absolutely horrendous ending that saddens and angers me.The Trick or Treaters started late, but ended up coming out in droves. The vast [Read More]

First of all, the Chicago Bungalow and Green Home Expo was FANTASTIC. If you did not attend, you missed out, seriously. They said there were something like 10,000 people there, and it sure seemed like they weren't lying. The exhibitors were wonderful [Read More]

Today we had a great day. Mom, my sis Jen, and I went up to Chicago to go to the Chicago Antique Market. We heard about it on the web and then found out that my friend Kathy, a fellow dealer, has been a vendor at the market this summer...we decided [Read More]

This weekend Patrick and I went to Chicago to visit our friend Clementine and to explore the windy city. One stop we couldn't do without was visiting one of the Craftsman Godfather's homes: the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. After a long "El" [Read More]

I've been spending most of the last week or so creating my Halloween costume, and thus not working on the house much. Although, chalk up a small victory, I was able to replace the burned out lightbulb on the back of the house with the straight ladder [Read More]

We had a great time at the Pleasant Home Restoration Forum. We had gone to speak about The Internet as a Toolbox for House Restoration and met a lot of interesting people, including Chris from Tiny Oak Park Bungalow. A couple of attendees had quest [Read More]

Just when I get into the swing of the school year, when I think I've gotten the hang of peanut-free snacks and which soccer field and how much oatmeal to make in the morning: October arrives. October and its strange weather; dark dinners; fleece from [Read More]

Having a really beautiful spot to watch the harvest moon rise over the water while picnicking with friends. Photos courtesy of Ken Jones...thanks Ken! [Read More]