Residents React to Plans for New Ravenswood Metra Station

Last night residents of the 47th Ward gathered at Bethany Retirement Community to review plans for the new Metra station to be located north of Lawrence Avenue on Ravenswood. Work on the federally funded $80-million project will begin this fall and is expected to wrap up by the end of 2014. It’s part of...

We Can Handle the Truth!

We’re running our first-ever reader survey here at Center Square Journal, and we need you to fill it out so we know what you think. The more people who fill out our survey, the more accurate our results?and the more sponsors we’ll get. And yes, we can handle the truth! If you complete our...

News from Around the Web

This Independence Day, there will be fireworks at Montrose Beach but not at the Taste. Still, according to Priceline, Chicago is the number one Fourth of July destination. A City Council committee OK’s plans for a second Chicago Walmart. Warns Ald. Schulter (47th), “We are going to be keeping an eye on Walmart.” A...

After the Storm

Discovering Waters School Community Gardens

I?ve lived in Lincoln Square for 14 years, before the first premium coffee shop even?considered this neighborhood. I attend the neighborhood festivals, eat at the restaurants,?give local shops my business whenever possible, and have taken classes at the Old Town?School. Heck, I even requested and received a parkway tree from Alderman Mell and?had a...

Center Square Cleans Up in Reader’s ‘Best of Chicago’ Survey

The Chicago Reader released their “Best of Chicago” issue last Thursday, featuring “bests” by the alt-weekly’s staff and contributors, as well as winning selections from the annual?readers’ poll. This year, businesses in the Center Square area (Northcenter, Lincoln Square, and Ravenswood Manor) rocked the listings with 12 “Best Of” picks and 17 “Runner-Up” picks....

Blue Sky Bakery and Café

For someone who claims he doesn?t have a sweet tooth, the new baker at Blue Sky Bakery & Caf? knows how to tempt taste buds and draw passersby into the recently relocated business. Drew Klass had just pulled out a sheet of ciabatta loaves when my husband and I wandered into the caf? after...

Schulter Proposes New Liquor License Category

Local restaurateurs could see their overhead come down due to a new beer and wine license proposed by Ald. Eugene Schulter (47th), Chair of the Committee on License and Consumer Protection. At the June 9 City Council meeting, Schulter introduced changes to the city liquor license ordinance to allow for a more affordable beer...

Storytime in the 47th Ward

Pull out your Radio Flyer, pack up your princesses and?pirates, and head down to the nearest play lot for a fantasy-filled journey to faraway places! Just announced: The 47th Ward Public Service Office, in conjunction with the Chicago Park District and Ald. Eugene Schulter, will be hosting a Storytelling Tour. Performances will take place...

Banks and Boutiques

Name: Scoop Skupian What neighborhood he lives in: Northcenter Where we saw him: Walking his dog near North Wolcott Avenue and West Irving Park Rd. What issues most concern you with the neighborhood? There?s a bank that might go in on Lincoln and Berteau, and we would love to see another bank with a...

Tonight’s Northcenter Concert Cancelled, Movie Filming, Electronics Pickup

Tonight’s Summer Concert in Town Square, sponsored by the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce and featuring Megitza Quartet, has been cancelled due to impending showers and thundestorms. The next concert is scheduled for July 7 and will feature Jon Spiegel’s Kleztones (4100 N. Damen Ave). Ald. Richard F. Mell (33rd) informed residents that today (starting...

Complete Our Reader Survey: Win Some Stuff

Today is our six month anniversary here at Center Square Journal. So, in the interest of personal growth, we’re turning to you, our readers, to ask what we’re doing right and what we should be doing better. We know you’re dying to tell us what you think of us, but we figured we should...

Northcenter Garden Walk

I’ve lost count of the times I have heard the following: ?Why don?t you guys move to the suburbs, give the kids a place to run free and roam safely?? My reply: ?Because Northcenter offers just that, and boasts a great city in the backyard to boot! Case in point: The 4th annual Northcenter...

47th Ward Outdoor Film Fest Schedule Announced

As previously reported, this summer Lincoln Square, Northcenter, and Ravenswood residents will be treated to two outdoor film fests: the popular citywide Movies in the Park program, sponsored by the Chicago Park District, and the new 47th Ward Outdoor Film Festival. Sponsored and coordinated by Ald. Eugene Schulter, in conjunction with the Ravenswood Community...

House of Wah Sun