Chicago’s Small Museums Preserve the Passion

Posted on November 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

Journals and newspaper collections from the Lansing Historical Society. (Photo by Nathan Ottens-Sanders)

Audio Slideshow: Visit some of Chicago’s small museums and hear from some of the owners and proprietors.

By Jim Crago and Nathan Ottens-Sanders

Giuseppe Gaglione of Stampland on Chicago Avenue has a passion for collecting rare rubber stamps – some used from the early 20th century. He also schedules as much time as possible for making rubber stamps to put on display for all to see.

“We don’t receive any monetary donations,” Gaglione said. “But donations of rubber stamps and stamp pads are always welcome.”

When visiting Stampland, it was obvious that Gaglione took his craft very seriously. When asked about his idea for Stampland, he lit up like a child finding presents under a Christmas tree.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Art, Business, Chicago, Entertainment, Maps

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Galleries Bring Eye-Popping Changes to the Loop

Posted on November 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

By Leonel Alvarez, Erin Piddington and Nick Tarantino

The Chicago Loop Alliance is offering local artists the chance to display their work around the loop.

Pop-Up Art Loop is a program that fills empty spaces downtown with free art galleries.

Similar “pop-up” galleries have been showcased in cities around the world, such as London, Los Angeles and New York.The Chicago Loop Alliance saw success in these cities and believed a program like Pop-Up Art Loop, could benefit Chicago in many ways.

“There has been a lot of excitement from the community as well as from the artist that are a part of it and property owners can also see a benefit to it,” said Michael Perry, the Programming Project Coordinator for the Chicago Loop Alliance.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Art, Business, Chicago, Maps, News, Streets

Tagged , , , ,

Wicker Park Boutiques Evolving with the Economy

Posted on November 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

 

Wicker Park offers a wide selection of vintage and thrift stores including Una Mae’s. (Photo by Maria Cannata

By Jimmy Lobus, Lauren Camplin and Maria Cannata

Despite gloomy economic conditions, Wicker Park remains a haven for “underground” culture, fashion, and design.

The Chicago neighborhood is a home for various fashion stores, ranging from well-known chains and designers to locally owned boutiques and thrift stores. Even in times when the Federal Bureau reports retails sales remain “relatively unchanged”, some high-end boutiques manage to stay on top.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Business, Chicago, News

Tagged , , , , ,

The Resurrection Project Expanding to Melrose Park

Posted on October 24, 2010 | Leave a comment

Our Lady of Mt. Saint Carmel Photo

The satellite office at Our Lady of Mt. Saint Carmel Parish in Melrose Park. (Photo courtesy of The Resurrection Project)

Editor’s note: This is one in a series of stories that DePaul University’s News Now graduate journalism students are producing on Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.

By Len Kody

The Resurrection Project in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood has moved beyond its focus on real estate development to a holistic approach that includes education initiatives and a satellite office in suburban Melrose Park.

“Not [only] brick and mortar” investment, said Pilsen-area tour guide Alex Morales-Aponte, “but human capital” is the new priority for The Resurrection Project’s development efforts.

Morales-Aponte spoke to a journalism class at DePaul University on Sept. 27 about the changing and growing mission of The Resurrection Project in Chicago. He is an authority on the Pilsen neighborhood. The formation and development of The Resurrection Project is intimately entwined with Pilsen’s rich, proud history.

“Pilsen’s history of activism provided the model” for The Resurrection Project, Morales-Aponte said.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Chicago, News, Streets

Tagged , , , , , ,

Pilsen, Melrose Park Receiving a Housing Boost Through Neighborhood Stabilization Program

Posted on October 22, 2010 | Leave a comment
Alex Morales-Aponte Photo

Alex Morales discusses Pilsen's housing situation during a visit to a DePaul University graduate journalism class. (Photo by Luz Garcia Cubillos)

By Matt Bailey

The housing stock around Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood is about to receive a $13.5 million boost.

Beginning this month, The Resurrection Project will put money from the city’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program into action.

Earlier in the year, suburban Melrose Park received a $4.5 million award through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program with the purpose of, “purchasing foreclosed homes and make them affordable,” according to Alex Morales, the resource development project manager for The Resurrection Project.

The larger allotment to the New City community area (which includes the Back of the Yards neighborhood that borders Pilsen) and subsequent rehabilitation will benefit those individuals and families earning 50 percent, or less of the Area Median Income.

The Resurrection Project has been involved in the affordable housing business for more than a decade, and Morales said it has earned the trust of Pilsen residents through its support.

“We have turned $30,000 [their initial funding grant] into $100 million in community reinvestment,” he said.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Chicago, News, Streets

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Pakistani-Americans Face Identity Crisis in Chicago

Posted on July 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

By Maham Khan and Kristin Camelia Rencher

It is easy to find Rana M. Ahktar, the father-in-law of Tahawwur Hussain Rana — a Chicago-based Pakistani American awaiting trial in connection to an attack plot on Danish cartoonist in October 2009.

Ahktar sits at the cash register of Rana’s grocery store in West Rogers Park. He wears a long beard and is garbed in traditional Pakistani clothing.

“What do you want to know?” Ahktar asked. “The lawyers have told me not to speak. But I don’t feel like being silent.”

He had just visited Rana at a federal facility in Chicago the night before. The two men discussed life in general, Ahktar said. According to Ahktar, Rana believes God is testing him with a trial.

“This is a trial for my son-in-law, and for our whole community,” Ahktar said, nodding his head, as in acceptance.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Chicago, Global, Maps, News, Streets

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Chicago’s Vinyl Record Stores Survive CDs, .mP3s

Posted on June 21, 2010 | 2 Comments

Chicago Record Photo

Audio Slideshow: Visit three Chicago record stores

By Leah Hendrickson, Jeremy Mikula and Katie Schweiker

In a world of iPods, Zunes, .mp3s, .wavs, .flacs, .aifs, .rms, .snds and other digital audio formats, 33 1/3 revolutions per minute still counts to some. Despite Apple’s announcement that the 10 billionth song was downloaded from iTunes in February, many Chicagoans still listen to vinyl Long Play (LP) records from both new and old artists.

“.mp3s were really cool, and they still are,” said Dave Hofer, a new products buyer at Reckless Records’ Wicker Park location. “You could fit so many of them into a little thing, you know. You don’t have to carry a book of CDs in your car anymore, for example. But there’s just something about vinyl that draws people in.”

Reckless is a music store with three Chicago locations that sells new and used vinyl – LPs, 45s, and 78s – and used DVDs and CDs. In spite of the era of readily available digital media and an economic downturn, they still do a pretty good business, Hofer said.

Map: View Chicago Record Stores in a larger map

Continue reading →

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Chicago, Entertainment, Maps, music, photos, Streets

Tagged , , , , , , ,