Category: Vignettes
South Loop suffers onslaught of new condo advertising
They say we encounter thousands of advertisements in a day, but take a stroll through the South Loop and that number spikes exponentially. The visua [...]
More controversy for South Loop's Burnham Pointe?
We thought The Residences at Burnham Pointe, planned for 701 S Clark St in the South Loop, was stirring up some more controversy when we saw the ent [...]
Lunchtime music in Daley Plaza
I played music in Daley Plaza yesterday for their daily summertime concert series. We blasted out Irish jigs and reels, and rollicking songs with such [...]
Realtor mom, developer dad and author daughter with "Room for Improvement"
It's been years since we talked to Elizabeth Ballis, who by all indications, remains one of the city's top real estate agents, but when we bumped into [...]
Summer time and the livin's easy: the Chicago Architecture River Cruise
Continuing our efforts at YoChicago to get you ready for the official start of summer tomorrow, check out one of the Chicago Architecture Foundation [...]
Home buyer offers friendly tips for Realtors
Tip # 1: If you advertise an open house, have an open house.
CathodeTan bills this post as friendly advice, but we sense a steely undertone.
We also [...]
House swapping not just for the movies
Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet aren't the only ones who want to holiday by swapping houses on the cheap with a stranger. We'll admit to sometimes scann [...]
Clark Junction #$%^&s up entire transit system
The Tribune reported today that, due to signal problems at Belmont, there was no Purple Line service south of Howard Street yesterday.
A brief newspa [...]
Fallingwater from the Edens
Every time I pass Optima Old Orchard Woods on the Edens — and I pass it twice a day — I think of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.
In [...]
Chicago Park District celebrates 30 paces worth of Edgewater green space
The Chicago Park District seems pretty excited about its acquisition of this inhospitably fenced-off lakefront open space -- a whopping 30 paces worth [...]
70,000 beer cans probably means no return of the security deposit
Does thinking of the previous tenants who have lived in your place give you the creeps? Just be grateful you didn't move in after this guy, who during [...]
Yuppie-on-yuppie vandalism breaks out in Lake View
Apparently not everyone is happy about the new condo developments at 653 W Barry Ave (click on image to view one resident's handiwork) and next door [...]
Ten questions to find the perfect roommate in Uptown Chicago
When searching for a roommate, some folks simply want someone whose rent check will clear every month. Others are looking for someone a little more sp [...]
Chicago sidewalk gardens do a lot with a little
It may not exactly be contributing to "Babylon in Chicago" on the scale of the lush green roofs topping some of the new condo buildings downtown, bu [...]
Strange home sighting in Noble Square
We found this bizarre antidote to cookie-cutter single-family homes on the 1500 block of West Chestnut Street. [...]
Old Town bus fare
A woman standing outside the Walgreen's at North and Wells today was shouting repeatedly, "Does anyone have change for the bus?," "Excuse me, do you h [...]
Carting a Realtor around
This was on my shopping cart in the Jewel on Green Bay Road in Wilmette. That's all I have to say about it. [...]
Wicker Park graffiti gets metaphysical
Sometimes being in Wicker Park is like walking the woods of A Midsummer Night's Dream. We spotted this little number at Ashland Avenue just north of [...]
Get rich quick in real estate
Sign spotted under the Kennedy Expressway, on Belmont. [...]