Off Topic: HD Radio In Chicago

By now most people have heard an ad or two on the radio for something called HD radio.  If you've wondered what the difference is between regular radio and HD radio, it boils down to two things -- quality and content.

The quality of the sounds is better.  Even on AM.  In fact, I used to be an avid WGN Radio listener, but since it's not in HD, I simply can't stand the noise of regular AM in my ears anymore.  Sorry, WGN.  It's time to turn your HD transmission back on.

On the FM side, the sound is cleaner.  I won't say it's CD quality, but it's certainly better than regular FM.

The big thing is content -- people wonder what they will be able to hear with an HD radio that they can't with a regular radio.

We have an HD radio near the top of the John Hancock Center, so we put together a list of what we get on our radio.  Your mileage will vary based on your radio and your location.  But the radio does a great job of pulling in distant stations that weren't available before, even just regular FM ones.  So if you're in Chicago, you should be able to hear most of what we hear.

Here's the list.  HD-only channels are highlighted:



 88.1 WCRX Chicago Columbia College
 88.3 WDGC-FM Downers Grove Downers Grove High School
 88.5 WHPK-FM Chicago University of Chicago
 88.7 WLUW Chicago Loyola University
 89.1 WONC Naperville North Central College
 89.3 WNUR-FM Evanston Northwestern University
 89.5 WBEW Chesterton, IN Chicago Public Radio
 89.7 WONU Kankakee Olivet Nazarine University
 90.1.1 WMBI-HD Chicago Moody Bible Institute
 90.1.2 WMBI-HD2 Chicago Moody Bible Institute
 90.1.3 WMBI-HD3 Chicago Moody Bible Institute
 90.5 WRTE Chicago Spanish
 90.9.1 WDCB-HD1 Glen Ellyn Jazz
 91.5 WBEZ Chicago Chicago Public Radio
 92.3.1 WPWX-HD Hammond, IN Urban
 92.7 WCPT-FM Arlington Heights Talk
 93.1.1 WXRT-FM-HD Chicago Rock
 93.1.2 WXRT-FM-HD2 Chicago Rock
 93.5 WVIX Joliet Spanish
 93.9.1 WLIT-FM-HD Chicago Adult Contemporary
 93.9.2 WLIT-FM-HD2 Chicago 70's/80's
 94.3 WZOC Plymouth, IN Oldies
 94.7.1 WLS-FM-HD Chicago Oldies
 94.7.2 WLS-FM-HD2 Chicago Talk (WLS relay)
 95.1 WIIL Kenosha, WI Rock
 95.5.1 WNUA-HD Chicago Smooth Jazz
 95.5.2 WNUA-HD2 Chicago Jazz
 95.9 WEFM Michigan City, IN Variety
 96.3.1 WBBM-FM-HD1 Chicago Top 40
 96.3.2 WBBM-FM-HD2 Chicago Dance
 96.7 WSSR Joliet Adult Contemporary
 97.1.1 WDRV-HD Chicago Rock
 97.1.2 WDRV-HD2 Chicago Rock
 97.9.1 WLUP-FM-HD Chicago Hard Rock
 97.9.2 WLUP-FM-HD2 Chicago Heavy Metal
 97.9.3 WLUP-FM-HD3 Chicago Indian
 98.3 WCCQ Crest Hill Country
 98.7 WFMT Chicago Classical
 99.1 WMYX-FM Milwaukee, WI Adult Contemporary
 99.5.1 WUSN-HD Chicago Country
 99.5.2 WUSN-HD2 Chicago Country
 99.5.3 WUSN-HD3 Chicago Sports
 99.9 WCPQ Park Forest Talk
100.3.1 WILV-HD Chicago Adult Contemporary
100.3.2 WILV-HD2 Chicago Love Songs
100.7 WRXQ Coal City Rock
101.1.1 WKQX-HD Chicago Alternative
101.1.2 WKQX-HD2 Chicago Punk
101.5 WNSN South Bend, IN Adult Contemporary
101.9.1 WTMX-HD Skokie Adult Contemporary
101.9.2 WTMX-HD2 Skokie 80's
102.7.1 WVAZ-HD Oak Park Urban
102.7.2 WVAZ-HD2 Oak Park Gospel
103.1 WVIV-FM Highland Park Spanish
103.5.1 WKSC-FM-HD Chicago Rhythmic CHR
103.5.2 WKSC-FM-HD2 Chicago Dance
103.9 WXRD Crown Point, IN Rock
104.3.1 WJMK-HD1 Chicago Rock
104.3.2 WJMK-HD2 Chicago Oldies
104.7 WCFL Morris Religious
105.1.1 WOJO-HD Evanston Spanish
105.1.2 WOJO-HD2 Evanston Spanish
105.1.3 WOJO-HD3 Evanston Spanish
105.5 WLJE Valparaiso, IN Country
105.9.1 WCFS-FM-HD Elmwood Park Adult Contemporary
105.9.2 WCFS-FM-HD2 Elmwood Park News (WBBM-AM relay)
106.3 WSRB Lansing R&B
106.7.1 WPPN-HD Des Plaines Spanish
106.7.2 WPPN-HD2 Des Plaines Spanish
107.1 WZVN Lowell, IN Adult Contemporary
107.5.1 WGCI-FM-HD Chicago Urban
107.5.2 WGCI-FM-HD2 Chicago Hip Hop
107.9 WLEY-FM Aurora Spanish




 560 WIND Chicago
 650 WSM Nashville, TN
 670 WSCR-HD Chicago
 700 WLW-HD Cincinnati, OH
 720 WGN Chicago
 740 CFZM Toronto, ON
 750 WSM Atlanta, GA
 760 WJR-HD Detroit, MI
 780 WBBM-AM-HD Chicago
 810 WGY Albany, NY
 820 WCPT Crystal Lake
 830 WCCO Minneapolis, MN
 840 WHAS Louisville
 890 WLS Chicago
 950 WNTD Chicago
1000 WMVP Chicago
1020 KDKA Pittsburgh
1030 WBZ-HD Boston, MA
1040 WHO-HD Des Moines, IA
1080 WNWI Oak Lawn
1100 WTAM Cleveland, OH
1120 KMOX Saint Louis, MO
1160 WYLL Chicago
1180 WRTO-HD Chicago
1270 WWCA Gary, IN
1390 WGRB-HD Chicago
1430 WEEF Highland Park
1450 WCEV Cicero
1450 WRLL Cicero
1490 WPNA Oak Park
1510 WWHN Joliet
1530 WJJG Elmhurst
1590 WONX Evanston
1600 WCGO Chicago Heights
1690 WVON Berwyn

Quickie: Manager Named for Elysian Chicago

I don't know if this is new or not, but it's at least news to me.

The Elysian Chicago has a general manager  Kevin Robinson will head up the hotel inside the new tower on Walton Street.


His last job was with the Four Seasons Alexandria (Egypt, not Virginia).  Before that he worked for the same chain in Dallas.


Source

Signs of Life at Chicago Place

I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it, but we have photographic proof that something is actually happening at Chicago Place.

For those of you who don't know, the once not-all-that-bad vertical mall in a prime spot in the heart of the Michigan Avenue shopping district (heck, the food court is within wifi sniffing range of the Apple Store!) is just a husk of its former self.

Chicago's main Saks Fifth Avenue store still functions, as does Talbot's, but that's it aside from the food court way up at the top.  The ground floor is unheated.  The escalators have been turned off.  According to a Sun-Times report, there's just one working elevator to take people up to the delights of Panda Express and what may be the only McDonald's in the developed world that doesn't take credit cards.

For a  years we've heard talk about converting the dead stores into hotel space, or a big box store, but nothing has come to fruition.  Then this happened:

This is a cameraphone snap e-mailed to us by a reader.  It's clearly the former Customer Service desk from back when Chicago Place had customers.  Those appear to be blueprints spread out across the desk.  Judging from the jeans and boots, the men are architects or engineers, not real estate or developer types.

It's not much, but it's the first hint we've gotten in a long time that anything positive might come to Chicago Place.

Review: The Loop's Most Overlooked Internet Café

While Chicago has more options than most cities for public internet access, it's not exactly the ubiquitous presence we were promised in the late 90's.

I'm a huge fan of Starbucks, its girly coffee-flavored drinks, and especially its very reliable internet access.  Back when it was T-Mobile only, it was more than worth the $39.99/month I spent on it to be able to pop into a 'Bucks from Chicago to Atlanta to Los Angeles to get some work done while on the road.  A single invoice I was able to squeak out from London Heathrow airport just ahead of a deadline was more than enough to justify the expense.

But free is good, too.  And there are more and more free, and semi-free (buy a coffee first) options.  One of the more overlooked is called Jazzman's Café.

The lone Chicago outlet of this French-owned chain that we're aware of is deep in the bowels of the Thompson Center in the Loop.  It opened a year ago and is tucked in behind the escalators that lead down to the food court and if not for the neon glow of the "Free Wifi" sign, it might be missed.

Of course, nothing is free in this world, so here's the skinny -- buy something to eat or drink and you can use one of their computers for 15 minutes.  Bring your own laptop and buy something and you get to use the wifi for what appears to be an unlimited amount of time.

The speed is good, though the reliability is not.  Many internet addresses simply won't resolve, or do so sporadically.  Google Maps and YouTube are particularly glaring examples.  But if you just need mail and a little basic web surfing, it's a good option.

The decor is straight out of a Don Johnson nightmare, but security is good which means the chances of being accosted by a beggar or having to smell a vagrant sleeping at the next table is near zero, especially compared with the average Starbucks.

Prices are average, and an array of sandwiches supplements the modest bakery offerings.

So if you're killing time in The Loop and can't fathom why Lavazza still hasn't gotten on board with the whole internet thing, then this is probably a place to keep on your radar.

Fighting Parking Vultures

Last week, 42nd ward alderman Brendan Reilly sent out an e-mail explaining the latest on his crackdown against rogue valet parking companies.  I was going to digest it and give a summary, but it's been sitting in my in box too long for that, so I'm printing the entire thing verbatim here.  It's just easier that way.

The City Council today unanimously approved Alderman Reilly's legislation that will tighten regulations governing valet operators in the City of Chicago. This new law increases the off-street parking requirement for valet operators by 50% - raising the minimum off-street parking spaces requirement from 10% to 15% of the occupancy of the establishment served. Valet operators must also file a copy of their off-street parking lease with the City - which will be tied to the valet license.  If a parking lease is cancelled by an operator, the valet license is void.

This new city law raises the minimum liability and damage insurance coverage required for valet operators to $1 million and require valet companies to file proof of insurance with the City of Chicago, which must be made available for public inspection. In addition, this measure significantly increases fines for bad operators - doubling and, in some cases, tripling fine amounts for various valet offenses. Below, please find Alderman Reilly's remarks prepared for delivery at City Council:

_______

I am very pleased to report, after many months of hard work and negotiations, that today we secured City Council approval of an ordinance that I crafted to update and enhance Municipal Code

governing one of the least regulated industries in Chicago: the Valet Parking Industry. This ordinance was unanimously approved by the Committee on Traffic Control and Safety in November. Following committee passage, I worked with representatives from the Illinois Restaurant Association to address their concerns related to off-street parking requirements and win their support for

this ordinance. In addition, the Administration, Commissioner Reyes and her city department also support these reforms.

Over the past two months, we've heard a lot about access to on-street metered parking storage, traffic congestion issues and city transportation policy in general. This new ordinance will help

to address each of these concerns. When you spend time downtown - whether it's to dine at one of our superb restaurants, shop along our world-renowned retail corridors or to experience one of our fantastic cultural institutions - chances are, you're competing with a valet parking company for those prized metered parking spots.

What hasn't really been discussed is the fact that during early evening weekday hours and weekends, most downtown metered parking spaces are not available to the taxpayers they're intended to

serve - they are monopolized by valet operators. That's right - many of those metered spaces have been hijacked by one of the many shoddy valet operations that, unfortunately, give the entire industry a bad name. Like any industry there are good operators and there are bad operators. However, it seems, in this industry - one of the least regulated industries in the City - there are as many bad operators as good - when it comes to respect for the public right-of-way and basic compliance with city law. I am confident that most people have personally witnessed the valet abuses that exist today in the City of Chicago:

• We've all seen the blocks-long double and triple parking that occurs, often blocking one - sometimes two - lanes of traffic on our congested city streets. This practice often clogs major arterial streets and exacerbates existing congestion.
  

• Perhaps you've had the pleasure of witnessing what I call the "Valet Piggyback Two-Step" - the practice where one valet parker moves a car out of a metered parking space, only to have it immediately backfilled by another valet parked vehicle. Often several blocks of on-street parking are monopolized in this fashion.
  

• Some of you may be familiar with the "Reverse Slalom" - a maneuver adopted by less responsible valet operators that is used on one-way streets. Rather the circle the block to deliver a vehicle to a patron, as a matter of convenience, valet parkers will simple throw the vehicle into reverse and hit the gas to drive backwards, the wrong way on a one-way street!
  

• Maybe you - or a friend - received a mysterious parking ticket in the mail - but you are positive that you never received a ticket on your vehicle at that location. As a result, you're forced to perform a forensic investigation - like CSI - which reveals that your vehicle was ticketed while in the care of a valet, unbeknownst to you, of course.
  

• These are scenarios that many of us have witnessed personally. I would like to share my own, unique experience with a valet operator that I had a little over a year ago. I was, in effect, offered sale of an on-street parking meter for the bargain-basement price of $10 in cash. That generous offer, of course, was extended to me by none other than a valet operator who claimed the metered spot quote "belonged to his operation."These conditions exist because there is little incentive for this industry to comply with the current, relatively loose regulations on the books. Penalties for violations of current city ordinance are seriously outdated and woefully inadequate deterrents to bad behavior.
  

As you can imagine, my office handles numerous complaints regarding these operators - and I am not alone as this issue impacts a number of wards throughout the city. That is what led me to review the Municipal Code and prompted me to work with my colleagues to craft these improvements. There are a number of smaller, fly-by-night valet operators in the city of Chicago that do not carry adequate insurance, that consistently fail to comply with current city ordinance and, when fined, simply build those fines into their cost of doing business - rather than correct their business practices.

In many cases, the liability and property damage insurance policies carried by valet operators are significantly lower than the coverage most motorists carry for their vehicles. Increasing these

coverage will work to bridge that gap. Further, I felt it was important that valet operators be required to provide a certificate of insurance to the City of Chicago and ensure that the certificate is kept on file and available for public review.

It may come as a surprise, but this industry also has a problem related to valid driver's licenses. When you drop your car with a valet - you assume that valet has a valid driver's license.  Think twice, that's not always the case.

This proposal would significantly enhance penalties for valet operators who have employees parking vehicles without valid driver's licenses. It is imperative that the penalties for these

offenses be significant, given the extreme risk that driving without a license poses to pedestrians and motorists in Chicago.

The current schedule of fines for general violations to the valet ordinance essentially amounts to a mild slap on the wrist. As a result, we decided to enhance fines for general violations of the valet parking ordinance - which currently range from $50 - $500 per offense. This ordinance would raise those fines to $150 - $1,000 for each offense.

These enhanced penalties will force operators to take these citations more seriously and take corrective action - rather than continuing their bad behavior while simply building these fines into their business model as a simple cost-of-doing business.

Finally, as a result of successful negotiations with the Illinois Restaurant Association and others, we have addressed the issue of the off-street parking requirement for valet operators.

The current off-street parking requirement calls for 10% of the occupancy content of the business to be served by off-street surface lot or garage parking. Judging from conditions today - it was determined that the current requirement was not getting the job done.

Working with the Restaurant Association, we reviewed parking data and statistics to identify an appropriate increase in the off-street parking requirement and settled upon a reasonable and justifiable requirement of 15% to address this issue, without imposing a heavy burden on the industry. That said, this change will mark a 50% increase in the off-street parking requirement for valet operators. Now that this ordinance has become law, we plan to work closely with the Chicago Police Department and Commissioner Reyes to assist with outreach and education of the restaurant and valet industries. And, most importantly, we will work to ensure that this new ordinance is aggressively enforced. If we are to modify this behavior and change these bad habits - rigorous enforcement will be critical. 

Clare Flashing Her Downtown Neighbors (with video)

Although it's open and people are living there, the finishing touches are still being put on The Clare at Water Tower.  The shiny new East Pearson Street skyscraper is home to the Loyola School of Communication downstairs and a retirement community upstairs.

But on the roof there is something new -- obstruction lighting.

The aircraft warning devices were switched on yesterday afternoon (January 20, 2009).  There's four white strobe lights during the day that switch to red blinking beacons at night.  It's a nice addition to the skyline -- if you happen to be viewing the skyline from the suburbs.

But the fact is that The Clare is only 589 feet tall.  That means its strobe lights flash into the homes of hundreds of its neighbors who happen to live in taller structures.  The Park Tower is the closest, but the Residences at the John Hancock Center, the Olympia Centre, Water Tower Place, and the Residences at 900 North Michigan are all seeing the glare.

Here's a video showing the lighting by both day and night (better quality links below).  In the video you can see that the beacons are at a height that's only about half that of The Clare's neighbors.  So why does the new building need the lights at all?

Maybe it has to do with the new Children's Memorial Hospital being built down the street.   The hospital plans to fly medical helicopters into the neighborhood, which is crowded with skyscrapers.  But why does The Clare deserve four strobes, when the Park Tower and others lack daytime illumination, yet are hundreds of feet taller, and hundreds of feet closer to the new hospital?

Our guess is that more aggressive beacons will be coming to those buildings, and others, in the future. 

What would be nice is if a feature could be installed where the pilot phones ahead, and an automation system activates the beacons only when they're needed.  Such systems are in common use at small airports across the country.  It could be a way to reach a compromise between the safety of the emergency flights and neighbors living with what looks like an all-night disco outside their windows.

Higher quality: YouTube version of the video .

Highest quality: .Me version of the video .

Quickie: New Tower for Oak Park Nixed

According to Crain's Chicago Business , the proposed 14-story tower to be built near the intersection of Lake Street and Harlem Avenue in Oak Park is off.  Like so many other projects, this one looks like a victim of the bad economy.

Time-Lapse Video: Assembling Trump's Spire

After weeks of delays, it finally happened -- on January 3, 2009 the spire was finally assembled at the top of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago.  Doing so raises the building's height to 1,326 feet, making it the second-tallest building in the city, and the third-tallest in North America (if, of course, you count spires but not antennae).  

The spire isn't quite done yet.  With the exception of three sections, it remains unsheathed.  And it remains to be seen how it will be lit.  Right now there's just a steady red beacon on top.  It would be nice if it got the white illumination and a white strobe to match the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Center.

The video posted here is a smaller, but better quality version of the video that we posted on YouTube late last week.  

The largest and best version on the net is over at the Artefaqs Corporation gallery. 

If you like time-lapse city movies, see our other ones on our YouTube page.

The Artefaqs Corporation owns the Chicago Architecture Blog, Chicago Architecture Info, and a brazillion other architecture web sites around the world.

For Sale: The Conrad Chicago

With the prices charged by Michigan Avenue hotels these days you might be better off just buying a hotel!

Well, here's your chance -- Crain's Chicago Business reports that The Conrad Chicago is for sale.  Not only do you get a modern hotel, you get an historic building, and what may be the world's largest jigsaw puzzle.

The Crain's article comes with a picture showing the modern back end, but I'd rather show you the historic front end.  This is the facade of the old McGraw-Hill Building.  When the billion-dollar mall was built at this location, the McGraw-Hill building was cut into pieces, labeled, and stored in a warehouse.  Then they were reassembled into the facade that we see today.

The other interesting part of this story isn't in the architecture, but in the financing.  Crain's says that in spite of the economy, the company that currently owns the hotel doesn't actually need to sell it.  The company has plenty of money.  But it's trying to do a stock buy-back, and needs some extra cash to accomplish it.

Unless there's an immediate threat to the company, it sounds like bad timing to me.

Quickie: New shops at Navy Pier

According to Crain's Chicago Business , new retail we'll see at Navy Pier next season includes Garrett's Popcorn, Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar (probably similar to BW3 [Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck]), DogEworks, and another souvenir shop.

Quickie: Blue Water Evaporates

The same location that saw the death of Wolfgang Puck's Spago outlet has claimed another restaurant.  Crian's reports that Blue Water Grill is no more.  The eatery at 512 North Dearborn received generally good reviews, but its parent company decided to streamline operations by closing shop.

Quickie: Hot Monkey Love Yields Red-Headed Stepchild

It's true.  Just check out the article and photo in the Chicago Journal .

The baby in question is a langur monkey at the Lincoln Park zoo.  It's being called "Pumpkin" because that's a nice, safe gender-neutral name to go with until its keepers can figure out if it likes Barbies or G.I. Joe's.  It's also kind of the color of a pumpkin.  And pumpkin is a term of affection for young-uns.

Miracle on Chicago Avenue: Update 2

Well, just hours after our last update, Crain's Chicago Business published an article filling in the blanks for us .

Looks like the cost of the project is $9,000,000 and will be five stories tall.  And in spite of the hopeful fencing, demolition isn't imminent.

Miracle on Chicago Avenue: Update

Well, that didn't take long.  Word on the street (literally -- I ran into someone on the street with the answer) is that the demolition of the Dunkin' Donuts, Tony's, the vacant storefront, and the sidewalk newsstand on Chicago Avenue is a Loyola project.  Considering that explosive growth of that institution's physical plant, I guess we shouldn't be surprised.

The existing building has the address of 24 East Chicago Avenue, and was built in 1989.

I'm told that it's going to be ground-floor retail, topped by offices, and five stories of classrooms.  There will be a walkway connecting to the Loyola University Law Center at 25 East Pearson Street.

As for the stores that are soon-to-be-demolished -- they're welcome to return when the new building is finished in 2010, if they want to pay many thousands of dollars in higher rent to be in the new building.  The Dunkin' Donuts franchisee is expected to decline.

This is just the latest in Loyola Universtiy's rapid expansion of its Water Tower campus.  It also recently purchased the 1890 Chicago-State Building and the surface lot next to it for $40 million.  While that building is scuzzy, too, hopefully it can be rehabilitated instead of demolished.

Miracle on Chicago Avenue

One of the Streeterville/Gold Coast's scuzzier blocks is getting some sort of clean up.

While hustling to the Red Line stop at Chicago and State in -17ºF weather, it was hard not to notice the big construction fence that has been put up next to McDonald's and the big "DEMOLITION" sign hanging on it.

For those not familiar with the location, it's on the north side of Chicago avenue wedged between the 24/7 McDonald's on the State Street corner, and a Loyola University building on Wabash Avenue.  Three businesses are ringed by the demolition barrier -- a Dunkin' Donuts (that I've used more than once at 3:00am); Tony's Place, a random hot dog joint; and an empty storefront.

The block is just nasty.  There are always groups of unpleasant-looking people standing around in front of McDonald's, and scattered throughout are various panhandlers, junkies, and grifters.  The city streetlights are ineffective, so at night it's flat-out scary for a lot of people.

I'm not sure what all those groups of people are doing there.  I've eaten at that McDonald's a brazillion times, and sometimes sit looking out the window observing them.  They just seem to stand there.  They're not waiting for a bus or a train.  I'm not sure what they're waiting for.  Maybe they're drug dealers, but usually there aren't so many on one corner.

Whatever the case, the removal of these three seedy storefronts is a hopeful sign.  I've made a few calls to see what the plans are for the area, and I'll post updates when I find out.

If you know what's going in that space, post it in the comments.

Status Update: Elysian Stands Proud and Tall

It's tapering off!  It's tapering off!  That means there's reason to believe that The Elysian Chicago is going to top out soon.  When construction started we knew it was going to reach 700 feet, but didn't envision how it would absolutely tower over everything else in the neighborhood.

Not that it's a bad thing -- the podium surrounding the roundabout driveway and the setbacks keep the building from giving off claustrophobic vibes.

There were a lot of people in the neighborhood who were against this project, but I think it's coming along quite nicely, and I have high hopes that it will contribute more to Chicago than just its skyline.

Now about that ground floor retail....

Gaylord Finally Opens

It's been one of the longest restaurant sagas we've seen in a while.  A year ago the Gaylord Indian restaurant moved to Walton Street from Clark Street, but only opened two weeks ago.

Gaylord got very good reviews at its old location, and something in the back of my mind tells me that the Chicago Tribune's Phil Vettel called it the best Indian food in Chicago; but I might be imagining that.

Either way, it picked up a subterranean space vacated by some random fashion boutique in early 2007 and put up a sign pledging to open in April of that year.  Well, that date came and went with no sign of construction.  Then at the very end of June a sign went up stating the place would open in June.  Nope.  Finally, right around the New Year, Gaylord opened its doors to an adoring public.  Or not.

The sad fact is that of the half dozen or so times we've walked by the place has been empty.  Just a bartender and maybe a maître'd waiting for someone... anyone... with a hankerin' for Indian food to come on down.

I don't like Indian food very much at all, and I've tried it everywhere from fancy American restaurants to London takeaways to open air restaurants in the Little India section of Singapore.  I've given it a shot, but it's not my cup of tea.

If you like Indian food, then do a good deed today and stop by Gaylord.  The last thing the Walton Street area needs is another vacant storefront.  And if the food is as good as it was at the old location, then you're in for a treat.

Another Boutique Fleeing the Gold Coast

In the last few years a number of Near North and Gold Coast boutiques have fled the heart of the city to seek their fortunes in Old Town, Bucktown, Wicker Park, and elsewhere.  The latest one pulling up stakes is Battaglia Footwear.

The Walton Street shop was a nice fit for the area, but is seeking greener pastures to the north.  It's a shame because it got rave reviews on Yelp and elsewhere.  More of a shame is that it's another vacant storefront at a time when landlords should be making deals to retain tenants and a bunch of other retail space is about to become available nearby.

It would probably help if I told you where it's going, but the photo I took of the announcement on the door didn't come out.  Sorry.

Chicago's Newest Crown

What's this I spied late in the evening of January 5, 2008?  Why it looks like the beginnings of the promised illuminated crown at the top of 300 North LaSalle .

The drawings made public by Hines before construction began showed the top of the building all lit up and floodlights shooting into the sky.  Of course, architectural renderings have as much to do with reality as Arby's has to do with fine dining.  But let's hope that there's more to come here -- perhaps some panels to diffuse the light, because in spite of what the camera shows in the photograph above, the top of 300 looks less like a triumphant crown and more like a bunch of people accidentally left the lights on.

Here's the drawing Hines sent over before construction began.

You be the judge.

What's Going On At the Corncob Towers?

If you happen to live in an area served by the tiny Skyline newspaper ("News of Lincoln Park, Old Town, River North and Gold Coast"), try to pick up a free copy before the next edition comes out Thursday.

The front page story is about the wackiness going on at Marina City.  We've heard in the past that the people running the residential portion of the building were imposing illogical, illegal, and draconian rules on folks, but this is the first article in print we've seen.

Skyline's article (online here ) details some of the unusual goings on in the building.  Apparently, if you want to record what's going on at the HOA meeting (which is your right under state law), you have to sign an agreement giving the HOA ownership of your recording.  Don't want to give up your rights? Then pay a $10,000 "fine" to the association.

More troubling is that the HOA is asserting something its calling "common law copyright" over all photographs of Marina City.  First, let's be clear -- there is no such thing as "common law copyright."  The notion of "common law copyright" was struck down by U.S. Supreme Court court in  its first copyright case back in 1834 (online here ).  Moreover, you can't copyright a building.  You can trademark it.  But even if you do, you cannot restrict other people from taking pictures of it.  That's federal law.  Allow us to quote United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 120.

Scope of exclusive rights in architectural works

(a) Pictorial Representations Permitted. - The copyright in an architectural work that has been constructed does not include the right to prevent the making, distributing, or public display of pictures, paintings, photographs, or other pictorial representations of the work, if the building in which the work is embodied is located in or ordinarily visible from a public place.

This is a battle that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland lost in 1988.  It sued to stop a photographer from selling posters of the museum.  The museum lost that case.  The Sixth Circuit court reaffirmed that photographers have a right to photograph buildings and sell those buildings.  You can read the federal court's ruling here .

One resident has already been fined $1,000 for crossing the HOA's line, and his landlord was dinged another $1,000 for violating the HOA's fictional copyright.  Maybe when the ice melts, Marina City will set up a toll booth in the river and collect money from all the tourists going by with cameras on the tour boats.  That should go over well with the city.

The real tragedy about all this is that it's been going on for so long.  We heard the rumblings about two years ago, which means it's been going on far longer than that.  There's nothing in the Chicago Tribune's deep archives about the Marina City antics.  Hopefully it or the Sun-Times will look into this as well.

Not surprisingly, no one from the HOA would talk to the Skyline newspaper.  Even the HOA lawyer wouldn't talk, and get this... he referred questions back to his client!  As a former journalist, I can tell you that may be an unprecedented move.  Maybe the Chicago Journal's lawyers (Skyline is owned by the Chicago Journal) can put Marina City in its place when it tries to collect money for the picture of the building on the front page of the newspaper.

Sound off about Chicago 2016

If you have an opinion about Chicago getting the 2016 Olympic Games, then Wednesday is your chance to share it.

There will be a public meeting at 6:45pm at the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum in Lincoln Park.  People both for an against the Olympics coming to Chicago are expected to speak.

Ben-Agains

Last year the Bennigan's restaurant chain collapsed, leaving two very high profile vacancies in Chicago's Loop.  One, directly across from the Art Institute must have been a gold mine, especially on rainy days, as tourists sought shelter from the elements and vagrants. The other was front and center on the ground floor, Michigan Avenue face of the Illinois Center.  Now it appears there is some life at both locations.

First, down by the Art Institute, we're happy to report that the Bennigan's has actually reopened for business.  It's been open since at least November and appears to be doing OK.  Not as good as it used to, but what restaurant is doing its old traffic these days anyway?

The Illinois Center location isn't open, but at least we don't have to look at a vacant bar anymore.  The windows have been covered up with advertising for some movie coming out in the spring.  One of the large windows has been transformed into a video screen.  It's not ideal, but it's certainly better than nothing, especially considering the amount of vacant storefronts within 1,000 yards of that location.

What we'd like to see: WFLD Television take over the Bennigan's space and finally get the streetfront news studio it's been craving for years.  Parking the microwave truck on South Water Street and doing live shots from the plaza of 230 North Michigan really isn't the same thing.  It would also leave WGN Television as the only commercial station in town whose news operation isn't open to public viewing.

Is The CTA On Board With State Street Illuminations?

Maybe it was too much beer at Old Saint Pat's , but I swear while riding the 151 up State Street tonight I saw dancing panels of light on the CTA's State/Lake station.  They illuminated the truss substructure in white and then displayed apparently random blocks of green and red on the elevated station's main façade.

The bus turned before I could get a picture, so maybe I imagined it.  If I didn't, it will be a great and imaginative addition to the neon corridor anchored by WLS Television , the Chicago Theater , and most recently the Joffrey Tower .

My advice:  Have the colors illuminating the platform change based on which train is in the station: Green, Brown (might be hard), Purple, Orange, Pink, or Red (happens more often than you'd think).

Status Update: Barney's New Store Puts Its Best Face Forward

There's little sign of an economic slow down at the corner of Rush and Oak Streets these days.  Barney's New York is rushing forward with its planned opening of its new store across the street from the existing store.  Last week the massive "Spring!" banner went up over what is a very interesting glass-enclosed stairwell.  The top floor of the corner has been cut-out for what we hope is an outdoor dining option for the top story restaurant (called "Fred's").  The scaffolding is gone, and we hope this will do great things for the neighborhood.  But we, like many others, are left scratching our collective heads and wondering what will become of the old Barney's store.  It's too big for boutiques, and too small for a big name.  Cut it up?  Tear it down?  What do you think would work there?

Where Northwestern Started

Northwestern University spends a lot of time, money, and effort preserving its old buildings, and none is older than the one known as "Old College."

This apartment complex in Evanston (The John Evans Building, 1600 Hinman Avenue) is actually the location of what was the first Northwestern University building.  It looked a lot like the Addams Family house and was built in 1855 for just under $6,000.

Over the years the building was moved twice and served a number of purposes before being torn down in the 1970.  Wikimopedia has a brief write-up about it, if you're the sort of person who trusts Wikimopedia.

Stick A Spire On It -- It's Done

After years of waiting, the spire is finally on the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago.  While the spire still needs a few tweaks before it can be called "done," we're not about to wait to take pictures.

But that's the problem -- the spire went up on an ugly, cloudy day.  Since then it's been snowing on and off and the top of the building has been mostly hidden in the clouds.

That's why we were lucky to get the snap above. Taken about 5am a couple of days ago, the clouds lifted and sunlight filtered in from Michigan to illuminate Chicago's new trophy.  Hopefully the spire will be illuminated at night so we can take some great night time shots.

Where the Beach Used To Be

Years ago, Michigan Avenue was merely Pine Street.  Before that, it was a beach and the waters of the Lake Michigan would lap against the shore right about where Water Tower Place is now.

Back then Holy Name Cathedral (735 North State Street) was just a chapel in Our Lady of the Lake [Michigan] University.  The college has since moved out to the 'burbs.

A lot has changed along the Lake Michigan shoreline, but there are still hints if you know where to look.

In Lincoln Park there is a long berm that looks like it serves no purpose other than to keep the snow from blowing in from the lake.  But it's actually an ancient sand dune that helps mark the edge of what was once the Lake Michigan shoreline.

If you're intrepid enough, you'll find a marker in Lincoln Park showing you exactly where the water used to be.  It reads,

"Abandoned Shoreline of Lake Michigan

This ridge is an ancient beach of sand bar of Lake Michigan whose waters reached this point 8,000 years ago when the lake level was 20 feet higher than now.  Clark Street runs north top this ridge.  The park ponds lie between such old beaches, abandoned by the shrinking lake.

The outer boundary of Diversey Harbor and the boat slip running south of it to North Avenue are man-made land.

The Chicago Park District"

South Loop Surface Lot Lives to Park Another Day

It's not easy being a surface parking lot in Chicago.  People think you're ugly.  They drive all over you.  They let their dogs wee on you.  They wish you were replaced by nice gleaming towers of glass, steel, and stone.  Well, one surface lot is going to hold on a little longer, thanks to the flaccid economy.

The apartment complex proposed for the southwest corner of Clark and Polk isn't going to happen.  At least not any time soon, according to Crain's Chicago Business Chicago Real Estate Daily.  It quotes the developer as saying that groundbreaking has been pushed back until at least May, 2010 -- maybe further, depending on what happens with the economy.

The same article notes that the property immediately to the south will have the opposite future, but for the same reasons.

Because of the bad economy, no one wants to buy the property at 1000 South Clark that's been on the market for months.  Now the owner is going to develop part of it into low-end retail to at least recoup some money while waiting out the recession.

It remains to be seen exactly what kinds of stores would end up along Clark Street.  The article states, "D2 aims to attract lower-priced retailers that need bigger spaces and want to be next to a Target."  That sounds an awful lot like "dollar store" to our uneducated ears.  Let's hope the developer's desperation doesn't turn what was once a promising location into something less than desirable.

Chicagolands' Most Literate Alley

My wife calls me an "alley cat."  I've explored pretty much every alley in the Loop, South Loop, and Near North Side.  I don't know why I do it, it's just something I do.

Recently I came across one of the best alleys in the area.  More than just dumpsters and cobbles, it actually has its own book store.

The book store goes by the name of Bookman's Alley.  Officially, it's at 1712 Sherman Avenue, but in reality, it's down the neighboring alley that leads to Benson Avenue.

Bookman's Alley book store is located at the intersection of yet another alley, which leads to Clark Street.  Across this second alley is -- even more books!

The book store is old fashioned, well decorated, and very cozy.  Bookstores like this are few and far between.  The only other ones I've run into were in Galveston, Texas; New York; and London.

If you find yourself in Evanston, it's worth stopping in, not just for its eccentricity, but also to pick up a good read.

Slice of Life: Mad About Snow

People in Chicago know that the city is cold and gets a fair amount of snow, but still they complain about it.  But at least most people don't have to stay outside when it snows.  And chances are you're not made of stone, either.

But these two fellows are both made of stone and made to stay out all night in the snow.  They're embedded in a decidedly homemade-looking brick wall in front of 831 North Dearborn Street.  Maybe they're famous writers.  Maybe they were rescued from a building being torn down.  We don't know the story behind them, but we'd wager they have some stories to tell.

Trump Gets His Spire On

After months of delays and one false start, the spire is finally being installed on top of the Trump International Hotel and Tower downtown.

The last few weekends have been rainy, windy, snowy, or a combination of all three making installation impossible for construction crews.  There was also a scheduling conflict with the pilot who flies the sky crane.  Apparently there are only a few people in the country crazy skilled enough to pilot such a beast.

Here you can see the helicopter lowering the first additional piece of the spire onto the stub that's been waiting at the top of the 92-story building for the last three months.  You can also see the Sears Tower looking on, disapprovingly at the shenanigans that Trump is employing to get his 1,362-foot height.  Trump Tower is allowed to count the spire as part of its height, while neither the Sears Tower nor the John Hancock Center are allowed to count their roof-mounted antennae.  The Trump Tower is really only 1,170 feet to the top of its mechanical penthouse.  The decorative spire accounts for nearly 200 feet of claimed height. It was one thing when the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur flew through this loophole.  It's quite another thing when a neighbor pulls the same stunt.

As this is being written, the second piece of the spire has been fastened in place and the helicopter has gone off to get another piece.  Once all the parts are installed they will be covered with a white fiberglass sheath.  The Trump organization hasn't released any details about whether the spire will be lit (not "lighted," thankyouverymuch).  One would assume that the spire will be illuminated cheaply with flood lights like Sears and Hancock.  But maybe... just maybe... the fiberglass is thin enough that the rig could be illuminated from within.  It would be a more dramatic glowing element in the night sky, rather than another crazy needle.

At least the wait won't be too long to find out what happens. The Tribune reports that once the spire is in place it will only take a couple of weeks to install the fiberglass and declare this puppy done.

Slice of Life: A Lesson in Chicago Physics

Welcome to Chicago Physics 101.  In this class there is only one thing to learn:

When it's taxi versus CTA bus, the bus wins.  Always.

A Noisy New Year on North Michigan Avenue

Between the fireworks at Navy Pier and the ignorant blaring of taxi horns, there was another loud way to ring in the new year at the upper end of Michigan Avenue.

A small fire broke out at the Elysées Condominiums.  Based on the number of fire trucks responding, it looked like the apocalypse had arrived, but it turned out to be a couch that caught fire on the 36th floor.  Still, good for the CFD for sending more units rather than fewer to something that could have easily turned into something far worse.  According to the Tribune, the only person who needed medical attention was a woman who walked down all 36 floors to escape the flames.

I don't blame her for needing medical attention.  I walked down 25 floors of the Century Tower when every elevator failed on my first day of work at a new job.  I could have used an oxygen mask, too.

Unfortunately, the B-team (probably the C-team, actually) has to work at the Tribune on New Year's Eve while the brightest stars spend time with family and friends.  That means the city's newspaper of record identified the 56-story Elysées Condominiums as the 100-story John Hancock Center.  But it's not like I've never made a mistake in front of millions of people before, either.