Clark and North Shore, southwest corner

Built: c.1926

This is a very spiffy building at North Shore. I may need to do this one at a larger scale to convey all the nice brickwork.

I've been trying to prepare my walking tour of LaSalle Street for the Great Spaces and Places Festival next weekend. It's very distracting to find all the photos of what used to be on LaSalle. In some cases I have as many as 5 previous buildings on a single site. But is anyone interested in a tour of buildings that are long gone? Maybe I can make it work somehow.

Not busy Sunday, May 18th at 10:30 a.m.? Meet me at the NE corner of N. LaSalle and W. Wacker. There's officially a maximum of 20 people, but it's a public street, right?

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.