CPS unfolds plans for Lincoln Elementary

Temporary expansion to another building is among short-term options

02/08/2012

Chicago Public Schools is taking another shot at tackling student over-enrollment issues at Abraham Lincoln Elementary, and so far the school is listening. On Tuesday night, CPS representative Adam Anderson met with parents and faculty at Lincoln, 615 W. Kemper Place, to outline options for solving the mounting issue of overcrowding at the school that are currently being considered by the agency.
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Riding out the job market

Long hours, low pay, but lots of love for bike messengers

02/08/2012

It’s not every day that practitioners of an entry-level, minimum wage, service industry profession become fodder for major motion picture action thrillers or speak of their daily routine in terms of pride, competition and creativity. Then again, Chicago’s bike messengers are not your everyday delivery service.
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Burglar poses as carpenter

02/01/2012

An elderly couple was the victim of a burglary at their home on the 2000 block of North Halsted Street the afternoon of Jan. 30. At around 2:45 p.m. that day, a 94-year-old man told police that a man had knocked on his patio door a few hours earlier, stating that he was there to take measurements for some “fence work.”
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Target makes inroads to Cabrini

Big box retailer gives land to Chicago Housing Authority that could go to public housing

02/01/2012

Plans for a Target store in Cabrini-Green are falling into place as the retail giant recently anted up its half of a land-swap agreement with the Chicago Housing Authority.
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From the grounds up

Lakeview's Heritage Bicycles General Store strikes a balance for cyclists

02/01/2012

Mike Salvatore carries a lot of titles these days: local business owner, returning Chicagoan, and — perhaps with a slight wince — a self-admitted bike snob. “It comes off so wrong, it’s not really what I mean,” he said. “It’s an intimidating culture if you’re not part of it — and to clear the air, I’m friends with a lot of the so-called bike snobs,” he said. His Bowery Lane Bikes an online bicycle manufacturer launched in 2008 and has caught its stride selling handmade, simple models reminiscent of a time before speed frames and double-digit gear systems. Read More...

Chicago Park District reveals final plans for North Grant Park redo

Skate park, ice skating ribbon, climbing wall highlight features at new park

01/27/2012

The far north end of Grant Park is set to be completely torn up next fall, and this week the Chicago Park District unveiled the final plans for the massive rebuild. The new park will replace the rigidly structured, concrete-heavy Richard J. Daley Bicentennial Plaza with a more pastoral park featuring winding paths connecting wide lawns and hills with active areas.
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Robbers sweep River North bar

01/25/2012

Thieves snuck in overnight between Jan. 16 and 17 and stole the ambiance from a bar in River North. On the afternoon of Jan. 17, police met with the owner of the Green Door Tavern, 678 N. Orleans St., who stated that sometime between that morning and the previous day thieves had entered the premises through a knocked-out basement window and stolen a collection of furnishings from the bar, including some antique liquor bottles and cigar boxes, an antique slot machine, stereo and TV equipment and several pieces of artwork.
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Double-decker burger joint aims to elevate bar food

01/25/2012

Remember the old Wendy’s catchphrase, “Where’s the beef?” Well, after all these years I have the answer: At Deuce’s and the Diamond Club, 3505 N. Clark St.
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Riding out the waves

Gold Coast surfer’s arrest could restart conversation on where it’s legal to carve

01/25/2012

For a life-long surfer who has dropped in on both coasts, Rex Flodstrom doesn’t hold much against the seasonal waves of Lake Michigan. “I always say it’s pretty good, for a lake,” said Flodstrom, 40.
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Ward remap passes

Lincoln Park kept whole, 2nd Ward squeezed between 43rd and 42nd in Gold Coast, Old Town

01/25/2012

After months of backroom wheeling and dealing, Chicago’s ward boundaries have been officially redrawn, and Lincoln Park is nearly intact within the 43rd Ward. The 43rd Ward’s boundaries have shifted only slightly, moving a little further west to Racine rather than Sheffield, and losing a bit of ground on the ward’s south end. Ald. Michele Smith trumpeted the final boundaries as a victory.
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