Matt Maldre

The Chicago Underground Library is a project that aims to create a location-specific archive of self- and small press-published works from the Chicago area. Through a searchable online archive and a physical space, it will open new opportunities for research, inspiration, and collaboration among those in and outside of the publishing community. By putting fiction, critical journals, zines, poetry, comics, political pamphlets, and art books side by side, CUL hopes to bridge the gaps resultant from stratification along the lines of content, production value, and commercial viability.

CUL is moved 2129 N. Rockwell on November 9th. Regular hours resume Saturday November 15th, 1-5pm. Oh, and we’re getting a new website soon, too!

I’m hoping they have some zines that are specifically about Chicago. I love reading comics that are about Chicago.

The CTA website says that the station will be closed for one year, so that should mean it will reopen in November 2008.

I get on the brown line one stop before Damen-at Western, so I pass Damen every morning and evening. So far it looks like the Damen will have a slightly different design than the other renovated brown line stops. The fence/railing won’t have that zoo/jail grid used at all the other stops. Instead, they are incorporating the nice vertical bars with flower motifs that were used at the old station. I should post a photo-maybe i’ll shoot one soon.

This is my train stop that I take every day. And it has a huge piece of the Berlin Wall standing in the west part of the station facing Western Ave. On the north side of the station is a checkboard of trees. Exit out the east side, and you’ll be able to walk under the train tracks.

This station is home to many of my public art projects: Parking Meter bubbles, Call to God, and the occasional “what is your treasure” treasure chest (not pictured).

After seeing the photos in this post and this post, I want to visit Amsterdam.

Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy Museum in Woodstock, IL officially closed yesterday with a closing ceremony. The museum announced earlier this year that it would be closing its doors due to financial reasons.

Gould, who lived in Woodstock for much of his life, started drawing the Dick Tracy comic in 1931 and continued to do it for 46 years. At its peak, the comic strip was published in 600 newspapers, Johnson said.

The privately funded museum, which opened in 1991, had been struggling financially for a couple of years.

“It’s quite a loss for the community,” Johnson said of the closing. “It’s such a nice concentration of history. It’s 60 years of the art of a genius.”

Some of the artwork and memorabilia will remain at the Old Courthouse Arts Center where the museum was located. Other items will be donated the McHenry County Historical Society and other museums. About 300 pieces will be photographed and made available to the public via an online exhibit in the near future, according to an article in the Northwest Herald.

The Gaylord Herald Times has posted several photos that it took when it toured the museum earlier this spring.

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Drew’s Eatery was featured in the April 10, 2008 Chicago Tribune’s article, “Where to eat green on this Earth Day” by Monica Eng | Tribune reporter:

Drew’s Eatery, 2207 W. Montrose Ave.; 773-463-7397. Hot dogs, potato chips and ice cream sundaes have never felt so virtuous as they do at this all-organic Lincoln Square eatery.

I didn’t even know it was there! I like hot dogs. And organic ones too? hooray!

• The Balanced Kitchen, 6263 N. McCormick Blvd.
• Bleeding Heart Bakery, 1955 W. Belmont Ave.
• Butterfly Social Club, 722 W. Grand Ave.
• Crust, 2056-58 W. Division St.
• Drew’s Eatery, 2207 W. Montrose Ave.
• Green Grocer Chicago, 1402 W. Grand Ave.
• Honey Cafe, 499 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn
• Uncommon Ground on Devon, 1401 W. Devon Ave.

I want to go to the Chicago Pinball Expo, because it’s pinball. Lots of pinball!

October 1 to October 5, 2008.
This is the big show every year and this will be the 24th annual show. Please note the new location! This show puts emphasis on the collector and enthusiast and usually includes a factory tour, auction, designer/artist/author autograph session, seminars, parts, machines, and other pinball-related merchandise. This show has major manufacturer support. For more information call 1-800-323-FLIP. http://www.pinballexpo.net

This even is also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=11131703714

I currently have a goal of Play 25 different pinball machines. But I don’t think i’ll count this event towards my total, because doing them all in one spot is not really within the paramenters of my goal. But it will still be cool to go to this expo!

I wonder if they are done with this park. An article on October 3, 2007 said it was to be done at the end of November. I want to see the “art wall” they are installing.

I want to learn how to knit, and this seems like a great place to get some yarn.

http://www.ninachicago.com
monday 11-7
tuesday closed
wednesday 11-7
thursday 11-7
friday 11-6
saturday 11-6
sunday 12-5

They are installing an “art wall” to display a rotation of local artists’ work. I’m curious about the type of work and how they will display it out in the open public.

The park should open in late november 2007.

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Bucktown park nearly finished

October 3, 2007
by MARK LAWTON Staff Writer

A Bucktown park in the works for more than four years is within months of completion, say Chicago Park District officials.

A half-acre park on the 2100 block of West Wabansia is scheduled to be finished by the end of November, said Jim McGreevy, project manager, who works in the park district’s Capital Construction Department.

Originally, completion was scheduled for the summer, but the park district ran into a couple obstacles. First, the Chicago Department of Water Management asked for a revision of the water drainage plan for the site with the aim of reducing water runoff from the site and into the city storm sewers.

The second obstacle was concrete slabs that were found buried underground. The slabs were left over from a factory that was once on the site (it also served as a staging area for horse carriages at one time) and took time to remove.

Part of the former factory, however, will be incorporated into the park. A wall will be used to display works by local artists, an idea that came from the Chicago Public Art Group, a 35-year-old nonprofit that aims to support interactions between artists and communities.

“(An art wall) is a relatively new idea,” said Jon Pounds, director. “It bridges the (time) of an arts fair with (longer display time of) galleries and museums. The art is up long enough for consideration and interest but not permanently.”

The park district purchased the land around 2001 or 2002 for $1.2 million, said McGreevy. The district has budgeted an additional $911,000 to transform it into park.

When complete, the park will feature perimeter and a diagonal walkway, lighting, park benches, drinking fountain, iron fence and trash containers.

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(I added the bolding)