Notes from the desk of...
"Wicker Park" soundtrack to feature all indie bands. There's irony in that somewhere.
Speaking of Wicker Park... I went to the Rainbo Club for the first time this weekend. I had written them off as a hipster pseudo-dive bar based on the sleazy understated exterior, but once inside, it was quite the opposite... very "speakeasy cum modern art gallery". And clean. Simpsons pinball. PBR on tap. I was impressed. I won't be back anytime soon. Reason? [1] [2]
Speaking of hipster destinations... The Ghostly showcase at the Empty Bottle Friday night was overshadowed by a conspicuous absence of hand-clapping beats, due to Dabrye's cancellation. Much sadness.
Speaking of Chicago's "West Side" neighborhoods... I've previously blogged about the Chicago Transit Authority's plans to connect Chicago's disparate train lines with a "Circle Line" connector before. This would be great, but would also command mad bling. However, adding some new stops to the spotty Green Line would require much less, well, "green". Did you know that the Green Line skips *1-1/3* miles of dense urban residential/business ridership in the quickly growing post-industrial warehouse districts of the West Loop Gate and Fulton Market District? Or what about the *1-1/2* mile gap between Ashland and California that includes the United Center? This area is just on the edge of a development boom-- lots of open lots, new mixed-income housing developments, loft-conversions, and slowly dissappearing public housing projects. Adding Green Line El stops will not only increase ridership ($$$) but also help foster neighborhood development ($$$). I am currently working on a map to illustrate my suggested station locations, which I will post here for reference.
After reading a recent article about the CTA's plans to involve the public in preliminary focus groups, I called immediately to sign up. Until I get called to this meeting and get to stand on my urban-planning soapbox, check out "The campaign for better transit on Chicago's West side" for more info, and a chance to sign a petition.
7/26/2004
