Clark and Morse, northeast corner

Built: 1906
Alterations: c.1970

A few months ago there was an attempted robbery at this bank. An amazing amount of police were called in, and the news helicopters descended. At one point the robber released the hostages, which took off like shots through the alley. Hours later the police entered the bank to find it completely empty. The robber has left along with the hostages. Nevertheless, the news reported it as a huge success. No one was hurt. Bank robber still at large.

Although it looks like a bad idea from the 1970s, there's actually a nice building somewhere underneath the colonial red brick and creepy mansard roof. You can get a glimpse of it around the back.

Clark and Devon, northwest corner

Built: 1905

Last year the owners removed the plywood covering above the storefronts and revealed these great old painted advertisements on the glass underneath. But a week later new plywood went up, recreating the same dark, creepy lounge atmosphere.

On the building next door there's a great old neon sign advertising hamburgers and chili. It's now a taqueria, but the sign remains. If you're on the Clark bus you have a perfect view into the place because of the bus stop. I once watched the woman behind the counter carefully and thoroughly pick her nose. I don't go to that taqueria.

Felix and i have a new game. I pretend to remove my nose and throw it across the room. Felix then removes his nose and throws it. I snatch his nose out of the air and attach it to my face. I then remove my ear and put it on his nose. Then we both remove our noses and ears and throw them across the room. It's great fun. Almost as much fun as the game where I pretend to eat and then vomit various large objects in the apartment.

Clark and Albion, Kwikmart detail

6601 N. Clark
Quik Mart (now out of business)

Strange how these sidewalk signs and newpaper boxes seem to attract trash. I'm curious about where these things come from. I know the cigarette companies pay a lot to place their signs at these locations. But what about those plastic boxes? Do they need permission to be placed in the public right-of-way, or at the entrance to a strip center? Do they just appear in the middle of the night?

I'm taking my first vacation days at the new job next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Angela has a meeting in Traverse City, Michigan, and we're turning it into a quick family getaway. Michigan is just as exotic as you've heard.

Clark and Estes, northwest corner

Built: 1916
Architect: L. Mecker
Cost: $5,500

Almost forgot this one. Yet another dollar store on Clark. If condos ever actually go up at the Adelphi site on the SW corner this place will have it made. Or its rent will increase and it will disappear. Probably the latter.

Clark and Wallen, west corners

Built: 1915
Architect: N. Norman
Cost: $35,000

Built: 1922

Architect: J. P. Hellinger

Cost: $50,000

At the northwest corner is Grande Noodles, a nice addition to the choices in Rogers Park. With a Chinese, Thai and Japanese menu it maybe over reaches a bit. But worth a visit just for their bubble tea.

I’ll be down in Pullman for a historic district workshop meeting on Saturday. This is one of the very few times I’m expected to work on the weekend, but I’ve been assured there will be donuts.

Clark and Albion, east corners

Built: 1915
Architect: Wolff Sextor, Harper & Truex
Cost: $26,511

Built: 1925

Architect: Leschanko & Esser

Cost: $75,000

Given the remaining corners on Clark (30?) I’m starting to combine and simplify. More to follow. I also picked up some additional reference photos this weekend. Nice to have temperatures above 40...

My old friend Fred was in town this morning! We were able to meet up for lunch at a Loop diner. He and Sarah may be moving back to Chicago this spring, which would be pretty cool. How long can anyone live in St. Louis, anyway?

Clark and Ashland

Built: c. 1901

OK, maybe this isn’t technically a corner, but it’s close enough. This is where Ashland reappears in Rogers Park after disappearing at the north end of Andersonville. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to include this, since it only has one finished facade. It generally makes up for it with a huge billboard.

Tomorrow Angela is going to her graduate school reunion downtown, and I’ll meet her there after work. I’ve been promised free food and an open bar. I strongly suspect it’s mainly a way to get alumni donations. Why doesn't my graduate program doesn’t have reunions? I know there’s a bunch of us still in the area. They most I get are invitations to attend strange events and auctions.

Clark and Lunt, southwest corner

Built: 1929

This is the store where we buy 90% of our corn chips. Now and again there’s someone dressed like a big white bear standing out front. I think they’re advertising some sort of tax service. Last time he gave Felix a lollipop. This is also where people sell CDs on the street in summer. They spread them out like tiles on the sidewalk. Someone told me that you don't need a vendor's license to sell books and music, since it's considered a form of free speech. I'd like to think this is true.

Clark and Touhy, northwest corner

Built: 1939

This may be the last remnant of the Jewish community on Clark Street in Rogers Park. You can still get every kind of Kosher meat here, but remember that it’s closed on Saturday.  Apparently I'm too meek to be served at their counter.  Seventy year old grannies kept pushing in front of me.

My mom and dad were in town this week to celebrate mom’s 65th birthday. They took a gaggle of relatives to the Bonefish Grill in Skokie. But it was a great time, and Felix was extremely well-behaved. We picked up a bunch of new toys from Walgreens, so every time he got bored we had something new to keep him busy.

Clark and Estes, southeast corner

Built: 1975

Another great sign on Clark. Not in good shape, though. Everyone understands you have to repair these things now and again, right?

It’s been 8 years since I’ve had to take my clothes to a laundromat. I don’t miss it. But I do miss the enforced solitude. I used to be able to catch up on a lot of work when I was trapped in the laundromat. Maybe now everyone has their iPod and cell phone, so it doesn’t make a difference where they do their laundry.

Happy Spring! Tonight we’re supposed to get 6 inches of snow.

Clark and Greenleaf, northwest corner

Built: 1894

There aren't many buildings in Rogers Park on Clark built before 1900, but this is one of them. Permit dates this at 1894, and that seems about right. This used to be the Rogers Park Post Office, I believe. You can still see a pressed metal eagle at the top of the tower. The owners filled in the storefronts and covered the tower with aluminum. But still a good building. This would be a great restoration, if anyone was interested.

I had the day off today. Yay Presidents' Day! Took Felix to the Tot Lot at Loyola Park Fieldhouse. Crazy cold in Chicago today.

SE Corner of Greenleaf and Clark

Built: 1913

It's the A & T Grill again! This is now officially the best diner in Rogers Park.

This intersection has a brand new stop light, which is awesome. I never knew I could get excited about that sort of thing, but it's made our life much easier. I wonder if it was because of the A&T's popularity? More likely there were just a whole bunch of accidents there.

Last night's windchill was 25 below zero. On Monday it's supposed to be 40 degrees. Yay Chicago!

We're going to a baby shower tomorrow with Felix at the same place where Angela and I were married 5 years ago. Where would we be without cheap Chicago Park District rentals?

Clark and Columbia, northeast corner detail

6701-6707 N. Clark
Clark Street entrance detail

Theres just something about this spaghetti of electrical conduit that I find very appealing... The broken pediment entry is the perfect contrast.

And now in color...

Did I ever mention that these are eventually worked out in color? It's my cut-rate version of grisaille painting, with grey markers and colored pencil. The tone sketch is just to help me simplify things. I tried working entirely in colored marker last year, but it just made everything look so darn cheerful.

Our car is in the shop. After pouring money into it so we could get to Ohio safely (which we did) the steering went out entirely on Monday. And of course, steering isn't covered by the extended warranty.

I submitted a proposal to lead a tour downtown for the "Great Places and Spaces" festival, which offers hundreds of free tours of Chicago in May. I proposed "The LaSalle Street Canyon Tour," and invited Professor Euan to be co-tour guide. I'll look at things from the architectural standpoint, and he can talk about geography and social history. Who wouldn't enjoy that?

Clark and Greenleaf, sign detail

I spent some of this morning snapping more photographs on Clark Street, this time focusing on details. Felix slept in his stroller. I like taking photographs while pushing a stroller. I'm obviously just another crazy on Clark.


I went back to Ohio last weekend for all of 24 hours. Angela stayed to visit with her Mom and brother, and I took a cheap flight from Hopkins to Midway. Wednesday Angela and Felix drove back with Anthony, and he visited with us for a couple days.

Tomorrow I'll be working, but I don't think it will be very busy. We might even be able to leave early...

Almost forgot! Angela ran a 5K race in the bitter cold. She said she saw a falcon catch a squirrel. Or a mouse. Or possibly a pigeon. I remain skeptical.

Clark and Northshore, southeast corner

This building has a nice little classical treatment on the corner and some decent brickwork.

Believe it or not, I now have some information about these buildings. I wasted a federal holiday to look up the permits. I hate microfilm- it makes me motion sick. Anyway, drumroll please:

6659-61 N. Clark
Permit Date: Dec. 13, 1922
Owner: J.J. Rosen
Architect: B. Leo Steif
Contractor: J.J. Erickson
Cost: $45,000

(Note: I've gone back and added some of this information to previous posts)

Useful, isn't it? Just for fun, I counted up how many more corner buildings I need to complete this project. 31 more. I have 13. At least I have something to work on over the winter.

Rogers and Clark, northwest corner

Built:1923
Architect: Maurice L. Bien

By including the billboard in this picture am I a tool of corporate propaganda? And shouldn't I get paid for that?

Hey, mark down June 19th on your calendar. I'll be giving one of the Preservation Snapshots Lectures at the Chicago Cultural Center, from 12:15 until 1:00. This is a series of semi-informal talks sponsored by Landmarks Illinois. Hopefully I'll have something interesting to say by then. Maybe Ultra Local Geography 3 will be ready... Anyway, it's good to have deadlines.

Clark and Arthur, northwest corner

Built: 1916
Architect: C.W. Westerlund
Cost: $30,000

I have the day off! Basically, this means I get to finish painting Felix's room. Next weekend will be the hard part- getting out to IKEA, loading a toddler bed, and getting it home in one piece. Already Felix's room is pretty cool, complete with a remote control moon/nightlight hung on the wall. According to Angela, there are big cloud and airplane wall decals on their way.

We had great Fall weather this weekend. Nice to extend it for a day, even if there's no one around to enjoy it with me. I could have kept Felix home, but I'm not anxious to have him around a big bucket of paint.

Clark and Farwell, northwest corner

Built: 1923

Architect: R. Gregori

Cost: $125,000

I've always liked this little brick and terracotta building. And it's good to know there are plenty of lawyers in my neighborhood. You know, just in case...

Looking at this again, I realize that you can't read the signs, so my comment doesn't make much sense. If I had scanned it larger you'd be able to see all the "Abogados" signs on the building.

Clark and Wallen, northeast corner

Built: 1949

Still fascinated by the giant crayfish. Still haven't gone there to eat.