Clark and Howard, east corners

7545 N. Clark

Built: 1928

Architect: J.A. Scanlon

Cost: $350,000

This building is one of the few to survive the Gateway complex constructed to the south and east.  It's a good building, although the renovation could have been better.  Bank on the first floor, and condos above.  If they sell.

Tonight we walked over to Charmers Cafe on Jarvis and Greenview for steamed bagels and Italian sodas. They had a 2 for 1 special on bagel sandwiches, which was awesome. Charmers Bar is gone, but not before giving rise to Charmers Cafe and a bagel shop. Very sensibly, the owner decided to combine the two. Dagel and Beli is somehow related to Bagel and Deli back in Oxford, Ohio where I was an undergraduate. While we were eating in an old circular booth Felix dozed in his stroller. I had the realization that I live in a pretty cool neighborhood. If only that used book store on the opposite corner was still in business...

Clark and Greenleaf, northeaste corner detail

7047 N. Clark
Rocky's Taqueria

Glazed white brick always looks good. This building has terracotta accents with glazed green insets. Maybe it's not in the best condition, but its probably the best commercial building on the block. Although the old laundromat around the corner is pretty awesome, with Sullivanesque column capitals...

Busy at work. I didn't get to go to lunch until 3:00. Tomorrow will be worse. How come everyone isn't on vacation? It's late July! Everyone go on vacation! Bastards.

We met Becky and Amy for breakfast at the Heartland on Sunday. I don't think they've seen Felix since he turned 1. It was good to catch-up, even though we had to alternate turns chasing after Felix. He spent much of his time hiding in the photo booth, spinning on the stool.

Clark and Wallen, northeast corner detail

6635 N. Clark
Las Islas Maria Taqueria

Yet again, here's a glimpse of my favorite fiberglass crayfish on Clark. By the time this project is done I'll have six different images of this massive segmented advertisement. You know what would be great? If they painted the crayfish for all the big holidays. Red white and blue for the 4th of July, green for St. Patrick's Day, etc. Heck, put a Harry Potter hat on it for Halloween.  Is there such as thing as a Harry Potter hat?

Clark and Rogers, northwest corner detail

7374 N. Clark
Insurance place (now out of business)

Last weekend we bought a tiny tuxedo for Felix on Clark Street. Amazingly, there are enough places that sell children's formal wear in our neighborhood to comparison shop. Rogers Park must be a huge market for weddings and formal birthdays.

It wasn't that we thought Felix should look spiffier in general, but we're going to the wedding of Angela's brother in August. Wedding related trips have pretty much eaten up our vacation time this year...

I saw the new batman movie with Fred and Sarah on Sunday. Good, but not as much fun as the first one. Chicago looked great. It was fun to watch a helicopter whip by the Rookery Building.

Clark and Greenleaf, northwest corner detail

7044 N. Clark
Dollar store

The sheet metal eagle is even more awkward looking than my sketch. This building used to house the Rogers Park Post Office, so it was more patriotic than typical.

Tomorrow is the great Clark Street Festival between Morse and Touhy. It's been limited to one day this summer, which is probably for the best. We'll be there, if only for the fried dough topped with ice cream. You can't throw a stone in Chicago during the summer and fail to miss a festival or two.

Clark, Rogers, and Jarvis- east corners

7369-7407 N. Clark
Flower shop, fruit market, fast food sub sandwiches

On the left is the flower shop where we got our wedding flowers.  They did a nice job.

On Saturday we took Felix to Kohl's Children's Museum in Glenview. Someone had a brilliant idea- create the most amazing toys, put a few educational plaques around and call it a museum. This may become our hang-out of choice in the winter.

It was cool in downtown Chicago today. It reminded me how much I look forward to fall in the city. That smell in the air, a chill in the shadows, and a sort of bright dustiness in the sun. I was out taking pictures of the restored stained-glass dome at the Chicago Cultural Center. Amazing job. Sometimes I remember how lucky I am to working in preservation in such an amazing city.

Clark and Lunt, southeast corner detail

(This post reminds me that I used to enjoy using colored pencils.  Maybe it's time to dig those up again.  Also, apparently I used this blog as a personal journal. Weird.)

6975-81 N. Clark
Taqueria Hernandez

A nice Fourth of July. Felix and I played on the beach yesterday morning while Angela jogged with her friend Janet. Except for having to toss away pieces of glass, it was very nice. In the afternoon we went to the Morton Grove Fourth of July Festival where we enjoyed overpriced beer and funnel cakes with our friend Ruth and little Katherine. Maybe next year they'll be big enough for the rides, but this year they both took home big inflatable hammers. Felix slept like a log, despite some amazing explosions in our neighborhood.

Tomorrow is a Shure family barbecue in Evanston, which should be fun.

Southeast Corner of Lunt and Clark