Thursday, August 25, 2011

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Friday, Aug. 26, 6PM


Final Wicker Mic of the season!

Click to enlarge

Words, Images, and a Testamonial from Tobaccoville, Wicker Park's Newest Smoke Shop







Many thanks to Tobaccoville for being a new Pipeline sponsor!

In absence of a web page to direct folks to, since there isn't one just yet, we are adding a link to Tobaccoville on our new pipeline website, which will direct to this post.

DJ Yuris and Tony, two happy customers that we interviewed at Tobaccoville this past Thursday night, reported in this video clip they came all the way from Humboldt Park to shop at Tobaccoville, which is located at 1439 N. Milw., in the former Batteries Not Included space.

Tobaccoville offers cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, and more. The rates are already so low that we can't offer any discount through the pipeline, but if you like the pipeline, and you like to smoke tobacco, please check out Tobaccoville and mention you heard about the shop through the pipeline. Thanks!

Reader Feedback


We don't have a dog, or any homework that the dog ate, but rest assured that our minds were not on the Pipeline this past week and we are going to email out a bare bones "just the facts" newsletter soon.

Life was calling, asking us all sorts of existential questions. While packing up and/or giving away seven years of accumulation (yes, we are hoarders, ask us about Blue Cross Blue Shield plan details from 1998! Or a receipt for a $2.32 yogurt parfait from a McDonald's in Grand Rapids, Michigan, circa 2007! Or piles of ghostwriting and brittle yellowed newspaper clips! Journals dating back to 1985!), and feeling rather emotional/sad/cautiously optimistic, we received a message from a reader that immediately put us back on track and helped us to remember why we do what we do.

Cynthia was added to our e-list in November of 2009. Like many people on our list, we do not know who they personally are, or we met them once or twice and would definitely recognize their faces but not their emails. From time to time a reader will write in with a friendly message and give us encouragement to "keep on keeping on."

Cynthia's email came at the perfect time. It's almost as if she could have seen us at the paper shredder parting ways with bank statements from days when we made about 20X more, and though we were still writing, stories like this one, among others, we weren't nearly as happy or as fulfilled as we are today, writing local stories about the neighborhood.

Yikes, we blather and blabber, don't we? Moving on, here's the note that made our week and possibly year, below. Thank you so much, Cynthia!

Hi Alisa,

I have been meaning to send you this email for a while now. I just wanted to say thanks. My fiancee and I moved to Bucktown two years ago from other Chicago neighborhoods. I have to admit I wasn't a big fan of the 'hood for the first few months. I lived closer to Western than I had realized when looking to buy our home (so much traffic noise), and the area right outside our house was a lot 'grittier' and crime ridden and griffiti ridden than I had expected it to be or realized that it was.

Fast forward two years later. I love Bucktown for what it is. I still have my qualms with some things (which I try to be a part of making better). But honestly, one of the biggest factors that has made me love Bucktown is the Pipeline, and the sense of community it creates in my inbox every week. It gives me ways to get involved and keeps me up to date on what's going on with my neighbors. You all do an awesome job. I don't think I can say thanks in a big enough way for all the heart that you clearly put into it.

Keep up the amazing work! You are a real asset to our community.

Cindy H.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Meet Marina, She Cleans Houses, Offices, Apts, etc.



We wrote a story about Marina a year or so ago, and it's somewhere in our e-newsletter archives, though it would take longer to locate it than it would to post a few new pics and words about Marina, who lives in Humboldt Park with her family and has been cleaning Bucktown and Wicker Park homes and apartments for five years, since she decided she preferred housecleaning to babysitting.

We met Marina a few years ago when her daughter, Alejandra, slid a business card under our door, as Marina was cleaning another unit in the building.

We admired the family's marketing chops, and enlisted their help in cleaning our apartment. We also referred Marina to another neighbor within the building who used Marina's services until he moved to a different neighborhood.

Marina has cleaned The Pipeline's apartment on numerous occasions. She charges $80 for approx. three hours. If you are someone very busy like we are, or if you just do not enjoy cleaning, it is well worth every penny. Marina always does a great job!

"By being on our own, we figured we could do better than working for someone else," said Alejandra, who books appointments for her mom and also assists in cleaning, along with her father. Call Alejandra at 773-877-9135 to book a cleaning, and get $5 off your first visit if you mention Pipeline!

The Week Past, the Week Ahead

whoops, long overdue. mean to post this last week. here's a link to the Aug. 16th pipeline.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Church school built in 1886 Scheduled to be Demolished this Monday, Aug. 15, 2011


More on the demolition of 1526 N. Claremont, built in 1886, here.

15 Things to Do this Weekend


yep, 15. read 'em here.

we are in a wicked bad mood. not in mood to pack.

Friday, August 12, 2011

The Week Past, the Week Ahead


Click here for a link to our Aug. 9th issue.
Lots of stuff happening this weekend too!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

WPC Ice Cream Social this Saturday, 2-5PM


more on this in the next pipeline, due out soon. click flyer to enlarge it.


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

save the date, aug. 17, for a West Bucktown Going Away Party at West Bucktown Newcomer, West on North!








do you have ideas for making the pipeline better?

are you sick of our editorial voice?

now you can add your voice to the mix, so we can shut up and take a breather!

we are sick of ourselves too!

help take over the Sept 6th issue of which we hope to not contribute a single word!!! this Special Post-Labor Day Edition will be written entirely by Pipeline readers! If no one volunteers, we will just take the week off!


Wed. Aug. 17

8:30PM: Pipeline Editorial Meeting - All Welcome!- and "West Bucktown Farewell"

We'd love for you to join our Wordpress network and bring your energy and ideas for pipeline improvement to this first-ever contributor's meeting, which will double as a farewell to our favorite patch of street, where we've lived for most of the past near seven years.

what to expect:

a faux editor offering up lots of story ideas.... she will be assigning said ideas and holding people to deadlines...

an array of free beer cozies from our soon-to-be-former West Bucktown neighbors, West on North, offering "Eclectic American fare," per Metromix, and North Clybourn Group, as well as AMAZING swag from a few sponsors which didn't make it over to the Bizarre Bazaar at the Congress in time, thus you could possibly win:

a Couple's Corner Gift Certificate

or cat toys and a Bucktown Tree House Humane Society T-Shirt, just for joining in the fun! Please don't leave me by myself with cat toys and a gift certificate for an adult pleasure toy shopping spree. that would be the saddest thing on earth. well, moving is making us sad enough. and those London Riots. and... well, i guess we're OK. we just keep listening to this bob marley song over and over again.

RSVP helpful but not required-- we'll be there anyways, crying into our $2 can(s) of Old Milwaukee.

Bring your own stenos. Moving boxes welcome too. We'll gladly take them off your hands!

West on North is located at 2509 W. North

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Farmers Markets, Sunday Sales, Openings and Anniversaries

Where to blog? Ay... in the interest of not repeating what I just wrote over on the pipeline site, here's a link to information on numerous sales today (SUN), along with a few photos from adventures at the soon-to-be-open Native Foods Cafe this past Thursday.

happy sunday

Monday, August 1, 2011

August 2011 Edition of Holstein Happenings


Following is the latest issue of Holstein Happenings, published by Friends of Holstein Park. To sign up for the monthly FOHP newsletter, click here.

Holstein Happenings
July 30, 2011

Greetings from Camp Holstein . . . Lots to see and do this month.
Movie in The Park - Sat, July 30 at dusk (8:30 PM)

Join your neighbors tonight on the Holstein Park ball field to watch Shrek Forever After. Admission is free. Bring your own lawn chair. Some concession refreshments will be available. Sponsored by the Bucktown Arts Fest and Friends of Holstein Park.

Pool Closed - Tues, August 2 9 AM - 1 PM
The Holstein Park pool will be closed for four hours this coming Tuesday for cleaning. It will re-open at 1 PM.

Talent Show - Fri, August 5 1 PM
Summer Camp at Holstein Park ends with a bang Friday. Kids from all the park programs will hold their annual summer talent show Friday at 1 PM in the field house auditorium. Parents and others in the community are welcome to attend.

Swimming Meet - Sun, August 14 11:45 AM - 5 PM
The Holstein Pool will again be closed to the public when the Holstein Hurricanes swim team hosts 13 other north side park teams in a Swim Challenge. Come cheer on our young competitors.

Friends of Holstein Park - Tues, August 16 6:30 PM
With the Bucktown Arts Fest on the horizon, the Friends of Holstein Park are looking for volunteers to spend a few hours during the fest publicizing the upcoming Circus in the Park and Apple Pie Contest. Please stop by to see how you can get involved.

And thanks to everyone who participated in the Clean-Up Day around the playground. It looks great!

Softball Championships - Tues-Wed-Thurs, Aug 16, 17, 18 6:30 PM

A summer of fun comes to a head during Playoff Week for teams who participated in the Holstein Park 16" softball league. Playoff Week starts Tuesday, August 16. The Final and Semi-Final game will be Tuesday, August 23, and Thursday, August 25th at 6:30 PM.

Teen Beach Bash - Thurs, August 25 4 - 8 PM

Teenagers willing to venture over to the Lakefront are invited to Loyola Park at 1230 W. Greenleaf for a FREE afternoon and evening of music, games and food. Beach volleyball and soccer, Swimming, Frisbee Golf, DJ Music and Dancing, and food are all part of the event. For teenagers ages 13 to 18.

Arts Fest Kick-Off Party - Thurs, August 25 6-9 PM
Get the inside track on some great art bargains at the Bucktown Arts Fest kick-off party August 25 from 6 to 9 PM in the Jackson Junge Gallery (corner of Milwaukee and Wood).

Wander the gallery while the Lollapalooza-featured band Kids These Days provides background jazz, mingle with the artists, dine of the fanciful treats of J & L catering, and pick up some great art at the silent auction. Tickets are $30 in advance via Paypal or $40 at the door. To volunteer at the fest or kick-off party call 312-409-8305 or email inquiries@bucktownartsfest.com. Get online tickets at www.bucktownartsfest.com.

Bucktown Arts Fest - Sat-Sun, August 27 & 28 11 AM - 7 PM

The 26th annual Bucktown Arts Fest promises to be bigger and better than ever with more artists, bands and performances than ever. The fest is held in Senior Citizens Park and along the neighboring streets of Lyndale and Oakley. See you there.

Yoga in the Fall - Sign up Now


Michelle Kranicke of Zephyr Dance will be leading a weekly yoga starting Wednesday, September 19, from 6:30 to 7:30 for neighborhood adults. Classes will run until December 7. The cost is $10 a class or 12 classes for $100. Learn more by emailing zephyr@zephyrdance.com. Bring you own mat.

AND FINALLY . . .
Can you spare a little time to get involved in your community? Friends of Holstein Park is looking for a few more volunteers to help with our Circus in The Park, September 24 & 25, and The 7th Annual Bucktown Apple Pie Contest, Sunday, October 16. Contact Michelle Pennington (mrwerle[at sign]gmail.com) or Lucy Jacobs (lucydomino[at sign]aol.com) if you can help.

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Holstein Happenings is a monthly newsletter from Friends of Holstein Park to keep you informed of what's happening in our park. If you would like to add more names to the Holstein Happenings mailing list, send new addresses to friendsofholsteinpark@yahoo.com.
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Aug 7: come green, go chic pop-up shop



This Sun. Aug. 7, Zaraz Collection is hosting Come Green, Go Chic, in partnership with reFINDefined. The event is sponsored by Ecco-Bella and Karen Marie Salon.