Lights out at Francis Parker?

School puts hold on stadium lights

02/16/2011

Francis W. Parker School will hold off installing stadium-style lighting for their outdoor soccer field at 332 W. Webster Ave., the school announced last week in response to fierce opposition from an ad hoc group of Lincoln Park residents. But according to the group, Francis Parker Neighbors, the fight about the lights isn’t over and the K-12 private school still hasn’t satisfactorily engaged the community.
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Benchmark invigorates Wells Street nightlife in Chicago

New Old Town

02/16/2011

It’s 10:14 p.m., on a Saturday night. Just south of North Avenue on Wells Street is a line of people snaking down the Old Town sidewalk — and gaining momentum. Follow it to the front, and you’ll find Benchmark. Located at 1510 N. Wells Street, Benchmark is an upscale restaurant-bar owned by The Four Corners Tavern Group, which also lists Kirkwood, Schoolyard, WestEnd and Brownstone as its other successful bars.
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American exceptionalism, or, why the Chicago Auto Show could indicate a resurgence of U.S. cars

The Diarist

02/16/2011

It’s consumerism. Blatant, unapologetic consumerism. That’s what brought me to the Chicago Auto Show on opening day to the public last Saturday, the same thing that’s brought me there for years.
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Cupcake success story

Heart of the 'hood

02/16/2011

Sheila Jones, 44, struggled with heroin and alcohol addiction for more than two decades, bouncing around from place to place until she could take it no more.
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Homeless shovel out Chicago neighbors

In blizzard’s wake, shelter residents help former opponents

02/09/2011

The snow was still falling at around 7 a.m. last Wednesday morning when Colleen Day took to the streets. As per usual, her snowblower operator — a guest from the nearby Lincoln Park Community Shelter — quickly went to work.
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43rd Ward alderman hopefuls tout endorsements

Backer bragging

02/09/2011

With just two weeks to go before voters cast their ballots for the next city council, players in Chicago’s political arena are still calling out their endorsements in the race. But in the city’s 43rd Ward, not all the candidates are listening.
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Picking up their cars at Soldier Field, Chicago drivers share blizzard tales

Stranded in the cold

02/09/2011

Sitting in her car on Lake Shore Drive on the night of Feb. 1, Julie Casserly knew something was wrong pretty quickly. Driving home from her office in the West Loop, Casserly cut up LaSalle Street to North Avenue and over to Lake Shore Drive. Traffic slowly went from a crawl to gridlock.
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Frank Lloyd Wright's Gold Coast home to be wrecked

02/09/2011

Almost every day, DeeDee Spence walks by the soon-to-be demolished vintage home at 25 E. Cedar St., and feels "so sad." The circa-1891 home, most likely an old Gold Coast carriage house, recently sold for $1.5 million, and neighbors are taking the looming demolition plans hard.

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Time's right for renters to buy

The Home Front

02/09/2011

It is likely that apartment rents will rise in 2011, so many prospective first-time home seekers are asking themselves, "Is now the time to take the plunge into homeownership?"
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Do you want to know what love is?

02/09/2011

DEAR VALENTINE, is true love fairy dust or a mirage? A once-in-a-lifetime thrill or a biological complication? Maybe it’s all of the above. RESEARCHERS WHO EXPLORED WHAT HAPPENS physiologically as a romantic relationship progresses say it’s all about chemistry.
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