Let's go to Chicago to check out my old neighborhood. First we have to get there.
Uptown
Spot the Aragon Ballroom. It's where you go to see a Slayer show, or Vietnamese pop stars, or Latin American boxing matches.
Further west, here's Ravenswood. One of the advantages of living under the O'Hare flight path is you can see your house from up there. The large building in the lower left with the small tower is a Sears. Good tool depertment. Note the mix of garden apartments, 2-3 flats and single family homes.
Even further west is Albany Park. Lawrence Ave is my favorite Chicago street. It's like Korea-Mexi-Philipino-former Yugoslav-town. The railyard at the right is Kimball Station, the terminus of the Brown Line.
Way out by the airport. Dense, yes. Appealing, no. I can't remember the nickname for these towers. Apparently it's a huge pilot/stewardess batchelor/batchelorette pad.
After a quick, pleasant ride on the Blue Line
and the Lawrence bus, we're in Ravenswood. This is Winchester north of Lawrence. Gene Schulter has been alderman of the Fightin' 47th Ward since 1970-something.
Love this block.
Looking from Winnemac Park.
Ainslie has a bunch of these buildings, all on the south side of the street.
Here's Damen (I wish I had more pics of the commercial streets). This block has changed alot recently. because it's one of the shabbier commercial blocks in The Raven, it's had the most teardowns and new development, giving it a bipolar feel. This building's days might be numbered.
When I clap my hands, the lights go out.
Here's Damen south of Lawrence. Budackis serves up a mean gyro. The building behind Budackis with no windows is now fancy-ish condos with balconies.
My old block. I interviewed for a sweet job in New England, got an offer and was gone two weeks later. Leaving this neighborhood was like gnawing my own foot off. Having solid work experience will allow me to better control where I live in the future though, right? Looming at the end of the street is vacant former Ravenswood Medical Center. There was a fire in April 2006. Like 8 firetrucks were there. The whole neighborhood came out to watch and chat with each other. I said we should have fires more often.
Heading west of Leavitt, we hit 2-flat-ville.
We're in Lincoln Square, which I consider a district of Ravenswood. Realtor-types refer to all of it as Lincoln Square, but they're selling stuff.
Brown Line
I would like to own one of these.
Montrose Ave, near Burger Town, which has okay gyros. Stick with Budackis. Ignore the banners that say North Center, I say we're still in Ravenswood.
Down on Berteau, which is the southern boundary of my Ravenswood.
Ravenswood Ave is a light manufacturing district that runs along the Metra tracks on both sides. It seems pretty busy with printing places, a golf club manufacturer, art studios, antique showrooms. Up near Lawrence you can sometimes hear a death metal band practice.
It was like 6 degrees this night.
Lincoln Ave, which is a bustling, charming business district with a local 4-screen theatre, and the best branch library in the city. I don't do people photos, so here is a parking lot.
Way up on Foster. Fiesta Tim knows how to party. It says Fiesta Time.
Mighty Lawrence Ave.
Big old church on Ashland. It used to be on the other side of Ashland, but they moved it.
Where Ravenswood gets thier keys copied.
Oh, I promised skycraper action. We need to go downtown for that. Lets hop on the train.
Behold Lake Point Tower, the shortest 70-story building on earth. My parents said it was the talk of the town back in 1969. I bet the roof has a sweet view.
Oh shit!
I know a guy.
There are little train tracks along the outside for the robo-window cleaner.
Above the roof behind us is a circular restaurant. It doesn't rotate, which is too bad. Food tastes better when you're rotating.
When my sister saw this pic she said "Wow, there's NO traffic!" She never really left New York.
I have a little Cannon Elph. Not the greatest. I can see the Ravenswood Medical Center. Maroon blob, back center.
Clap! Clap!
This was my 2nd to last night in Chicago.
Time to go. Let's leave from Midway this time.
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Man you are hilarious
. Nice photos too!
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