Wicker Park Bucktown Pipeline: Vulture Sale, The Storefront Company's Captain, Spaces, Links and More

A CPS Geometry teacher stopped by Bucktown's Soutache to purchase ribbons, for a math-meets-art project involving polygons. If he sends in the finished product, we'll share the story here!

This past Sunday we flipped a coin (heads we take our camera with us during newspaper reading respite; tails we don't). Heads won, thus we present Beau Barry on sax, and John W. Lauler on bass. The men are part of the "Ballou Band," a quartet which performs on Sundays from 1-3PM at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western.

In addition to serving as a destination for a lox and bagel, lovingly sprinkled with capers, Cafe Ballou might also be the perfect place for A.N. Pritzker's young musicians to pop in at on Sundays as they prepare for their Wicker Park Jazz Weekend (thanks, Kristene, for sending in the news!). Read more about Ballou's band on Some Chicago Jazz Blog.

Danny of Grisel Jr. Food & Liquors points to Grisel's ad in Celebrate!

Cafe Ballou is named for C.C. Ballou, the ship which carried the parents of the cafe's previous owner from Germany to the U.S. in 1950. Khosro, Ballou's current owner, told The Pipeline he decided to keep the name after taking ownership a few years back. It reminded us of Bucktown's Grisel & Junior, which hasn't been owned by any Grisels since 1986, though regulars can see on their receipts that the mart at the northwest corner of Leavitt and Armitage goes by Bon Song Liquors.

In other news, there's a lot of news today, as always. So we'll stop, at least in this section. Thank you for reading.

Your Pipeline Team
(Alisa, Nandika, Phlash, Caitlin, Joe)

P.S. The Red Balloon Co. is holding a 'Vulture Sale' TODAY (Thurs. Jan. 19, 10AM-6:30PM) through Sun. Jan. 22. We popped by yesterday and noticed bookcases, knick knacks, and custom art which was never picked up, thus if you know of any tykes named Julian or Sophie who perhaps need signs, pop- no, make that fly- over to 2060 N. Damen.

Though we didn't have a "white Christmas," this photo snapped by Philin Phlash makes us wonder if there will be a white Valentine's Day? For more snowy moments, click here.

SPACES is sponsored by Eva Bergant @properties Realtor

Tax preparation season is upon us. Now is the time to create a 'Taxes 2011 folder' for the pieces which come in the mail and to collect the information you will need to fill out your return. Mortgage interest and property taxes are both deductible if you're a homeowner. Read more on this topic.

Photo by Nick Przybyciel

In other news, there were just three home sales in Wicker Park and Bucktown this past week. One was a detached single family residence at 1406 N. Bell, which sold for $622,000, pictured, and two others were attached condos.

Read more here, as well as see a photo of the very best deal on the market: a single family home on the 2200 block of N. Leavitt described as a tear down, going for $250,000-- quite a contrast to last week's Spaces, where we featured the priciest home on the market.

Eva Bergant

Eva Bergant is a Bucktown resident and local Realtor with a community driven style. In addition to being president of the Bucktown Community Organization (BCO), Eva has long served as chair of the Bucktown Garden Walk.

Do you have a real estate topic that you'd like explored in a future column? You can reach Eva by email, or 312-543-6819

Linkypoos is made
Possible by
Dreamaker Mattress
1448 N. Western, 773-772-9900.
Free Parking. Free Delivery.
Thurs-Sat: 10:30AM-8PM; Sunday 11AM-6:30PM.

Mention 'Pipeline' for 20.12% off your next mattress* *through Feb. 12, 2012.

When Abel, proprietor of Dreamaker Mattress, 1448 N. Western (map it!) confided that opening a new business will either be, "The best idea I've ever had, or the worst one," we couldn't help but smile. You too? Read on.

Per the Roscoe Village Journal, The owners of Wicker Park Fitness Center are partners in a new venture, called Southport Fitness Center, near the Brown Line's Southport El stop.

The FBI is still on the search for the so-called Wicker Park Bandit, the bank robber who has held up seven area banks since early December, according to this Fox Chicago report.

snow fight

Were you part of the Wicker Park Snow Brawl in the park, the night of Jan. 12, too? You may catch yourself slipping, falling, or slamming someone in the head with a snowball in this short clip on Youtube. Redeye also has a large gallery of pictures from that night, as well as links all things Snow Brawl 2012 related.

If this frigid weather has you feeling the need for spirits to warm your soul, then Duchamp's mixologist Kris von Dopek has just the concoction for you. Read more about his "semi-historically inspired" drink The Colonial in this Chicago magazine article.

CBS's Mason Johnson featured Bucktown's very own Gorilla Tango Theater, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave. in this piece, headlined, "Gorilla Tango Theatre: More Than Just Burlesque (Though That's Nice Too)" (thanks to Danette for passing on the link!)

Read many more links by Nandika Gervais HERE.

Got a link to share? Send it to Nandika.

Actor John Dalesandro- one of the original cast members of Tony & Tina's Wedding- stands in front of a mural by artist Gary Weidner which adorns the wall of The Storefront Company, 1941 W. North. The modern farm cuisine restaurant is hoping to open Thurs. Jan. 22nd. Read more.

TIDBITS/Spaces is Sponsored by Kid's Rule, Wicker Park's Newest Toy, Game, and Party Supply Store.
Kid's Rule, 1534 N. Milwaukee Ave. Save 10%*on your purchases at Kid's Rule! Also, every Saturday in January, you can pop by Kid's Rule with your children (or just you) to plant one of three complimentary plants, like an African Violet, from 10AM to 5PM. Details on this Saturday's FREEEEE planting event here.

* Through Feb. 15, 2012 with mention of 'pipeline.'

Elena Chicago's first adult conversational Spanish class on Tuesday nights at Club Lucky is just about full! Per Elena, there are an additional four pupils interested in a possible Advanced Beginner Class, slated for Monday nights. Read more about the class here, as well as an update re: the difference between beginner and 'advanced beginner,' in case you're curious, too.

For those interested in an update to Cesar's Margarita's possible new home on Damen, following is an excerpt from an email that Paul Sajovec, 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack's Chief of Staff, sent to everyone who attended the meeting: "Hello. We are contacting people who have reached out to Alderman Waguespack's office regarding the proposed liquor license and special use for an outdoor patio at 1649 N Damen. The Alderman has asked for the case, which was scheduled for this Friday, to be continued to the next hearing on February 17th." Read more here (scroll to bottom of comments to read Sajovec's note).

l-r: Adam, Nick, Gillian, and Rafael are graduate students enrolled in Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. They've been interviewing various people from all walks of life in Wicker Park, and even stopped into The Pipeline's 'pop up newsroom' at Lubinski Furniture on MLK Day to ask us a few questions, too. We look forward to sharing the team's findings in a future issue. Stay tuned!

A new gym, The Bar Method, part of a San Francisco, Calif.-based fitness franchise, is moving to 1271 N. Milwaukee Ave., between Tozi Korean BBQ and Radio Shack. We couldn't help but noticed its similarity in name to The Daily Method on Damen. Just one day earlier, we came across Rockstar Pets, at 1801 N. Winnebago (at Bloomingdale) just a few blocks away from 'All-Star Pet Care." A NU Medill School of Journalism student, Nick Przybyciel, right, is "on the beat" reporting on a possible trend of new businesses with similar names (and offerings) to existing ones. Nick's using some of our tips and suggested sources but he's welcoming news from you, too, and opinions if you have 'em, so drop him a line if you'd like to add your input to the story.

Pipeline reader, Kym, asked us if we knew anything about Garden Gourmet Market (we didn't) so we popped by 1130 N. Ashland this past Sunday and checked it out.

CORRECTION: In last week's pipeline we reported that Zumierz, a skateboard and snow board company would be moving into 1543 N. Milwaukee, per a source, who later followed up

Photo from the Dethrose Vintage blog; one of the many vendors participating in the bazaar at the EB

to let us know that we had incorrect information. We apologize. Bargain hunters can still take advantage of Mildblend's moving sale. The boutique will be moving just up the street, to 1342 N. Milw (in the same building at Bikram Yoga) by Feb. 1st. Until then, items are reduced up to 75% off.

Spa Soak and its neighbor, Core Power, are teaming up: Buy a yoga package in Jan., get a free manicure at Spa Soak. Details here. For more January news from Spa Soak, click here.

Getting married? Love vintage? Via Windy City on the Cheap, we learned that vintage vendors will appear at Gettin' Hitched, the The Vintage Bazaar wedding themed pop-up market this Saturday, January 21 at The Empty Bottle. Details here.

bellaz

In other shopping news, time is running out for various sales highlighted in the Celebrate! magazine. Through Feb. 1st enjoy a $28 manicure and pedicure at Asia Nails; 10% off at the register at D&D Food & Liquors, and news just in- 20% off at Bellaz Handbags & Accessories. Thank you for not just shopping local, but frequenting the businesses which support the existence of this newsletter, too. You always get something in return aka 'a bonus' on top of whatever you purchase: the knowledge that the pipeline can possibly continue to exist. Thanks.

Will 2012 be the Year of the Corset? Corseterie opened this past November and is located at 1514 N. Ashland, in the former Serpico boutique space. Logan Square's El Cid #1 closed on Dec. 24, 2011 after 42 years in business.

A source who wished to remain anonymous (but smiled for the camera anyway) informed us that a 7-11 will be occupying a portion of the former Spin Cycle space.

Speaking of the number "11," Virtu is turning 11 an offering 11% off, per this message.

Via 1st Ward Aderman 'Proco' Joe Moreno, we learned of 10 job openings, per this link. .

COMMUNITY NEWS is made possible by Jackson Junge Gallery & Framing,
1389 N. Milw. p: 773-227-7900 Mon.-Sat 11AM-8PM Sun. Noon-5PM.

"People Scapes" by Rachel Sager

Now that the New Year 2012 is in full swing, Jackson Junge Gallery is tackling another topic, more political and secular in nature than angels, which served as inspiration for Angelicies. "Revolution 2012" has attracted 30 artists, using mediums such as painting, photography, sculpture, print work, installation, and digital and fiber arts to create works inspired by the word "Revolution," which, like angels, also elicits reactions and emotions of varying perspectives. Revolution 2012 kicks off this Friday, Jan. 20, 6-9PM, with a free and open to the public reception. In addition to art, there will be revolution-inspired performances, too. Read more and hope to see you there!

Next Thursday, Jan, 26, 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack, the Chicago Park District, Trust for Public Land, and Friends of Bloomingdale Trail will be hosting a meeting to discuss the design of a new park on the northeast corner of Milwaukee and Leavitt (across from Aldi Foods), which has been designated as a future access point for the Bloomingdale Trail, a 2.7 miles elevated rail line running through four city wards. For more information on the meeting, email Michael Lane of the Chicago Park District, or call 773-742-4650.

According to Area Five Detectives, a home invasion occurred this past Sat. January 14, 2012 at approx. 6:15 a.m., in the 3000 block of N. Sawyer Ave. in Logan Square. Per the alert, the offender- described as an African American male in his 30s, 5'10 tall, approx. 180 lbs., wearing a black knit cap, blue jacket with white stripes, and a carrying a black backpack- made entry into an apartment, where he placed duct tape over the victims' hands, mouth, and eyes. Read more.

The Logan Square Indoor Winter Farmers Market, at the Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee, occurs every Sunday from 10AM-2PM, through March 25. Please come out and show your support for these hardworking farmers who've got everything you need to stock your fridge. See you there!

Dec. 1st marked the beginning of Overnight Tow season, according to this Winter Park Alert e-update from 32nd Ward Scott Waguespack. Check out The Expired Meter, which posted just about everything you need to know about the ban.

Holiday Tree Recycling, sponsored by the City of Chicago, ends THIS Friday. There's 23 participating sites where you can put your tree to rest, give it as second life as mulch. Read more.

Concerned about crime? Haas Park CAPS Beat 1431, the Beat where the NYE assault near Congress Theater occurred, meets tonight (Thurs.) from 7-8PM. If any aspiring writers or fellow hacks would like to cover the meeting, let us know ASAP. We stayed up half the night- well OK, the entire night- to get today's newsletter out and need a night off! Thanks in advance for your help.

Is your head full of useless trivia too? If so, purge it out, and for a good cause, at an upcoming Trivia Night Fundraiser to benefit the Commercial Park Advisory Council. The fun and facts go down Wed. Jan. 25 at 6:30PM at Roots. Further details HERE.

Happy Birthday to Philin Phlash! If you need a photographer for hire, or have a question about Ambit Energy, please call Phlash at 773-318-1435.

A seven-week home landscape design workshop, sponsored by the Wicker Park Garden Club, the Chicago Park District and People's Gas, kicked off this past Sat. Jan. 14. Register via email, call 773- 278- 9075, or visit the club's website.

For much more community and business news, check out the WPB Chamber of Commerce's most recent e-newsletter(Jan. 18)

Though out of the 'hood, we enjoyed reading the Avondale and Logan Square Crime Blotter's 'Top Crime Highlights of 2011,' which included the story of a Great Dane named 'Scooby' who stopped a near sexual assault on Jan. 6, 2011.

Bucktown's vive la femme launches Perch, a plus-sized juniors' line
By Caitlin 'CeCe' Carroll

Stephanie Sack

I love my curves, but ladies, isn't it so hard finding chic clothes that weren't designed with stick figures in mind? Especially if you're like me, in your early 20s and looking for stylish and trendy juniors' clothes.

Well, you're in luck! Vive la femme, Chicago's only independently owned plus-size boutique, located at 2048 N Damen in Bucktown-- and catering to sizes 12 and up--is introducing a junior plus-size line coming this spring, called Perch.

"The entire concept came to me when I was 18 and shopping for a fresh wardrobe to take to college," says Stephanie Sack, founder of vive la femme, models a taupe sweater for the boutique's new Perch line. Read more by Caitlin HERE.

Mailbag: Readers Respond to Division Street Merchants Share Thoughts.

Chicago Pipeline, while An Orange Moon is still holding it down on North ave, we totally understand how difficult it is to stay focused & positive in a less than certain economy. Rents & neighborhoods go up & down. Businesses come and go. We must all continue to fight the good fight by SUPPORTING local businesses. Cheers!
Lynne McDaniel of AOM

New'D is still here at 1917 W. Division! Yes, we have had neighbors disappear rather quickly, but we're still here and very happy to be a local small business on Division. Yes, business has been slower than previous years, but we always have faith that our regulars will visit us and spread the word. shopLOCAL, shopNEWD.

Hi Alisa,

Its only tardy me. I just wanted to tell you that your reporting of the store closings is probably the most important thing that you can report on. That coupled with the massive foreclosures and bank owned properties is a significant barometer of the health of our community. More on bank owned property later. Neighborhoods have live cycles that mirror our own life cycles and the life cycle of our country.

Young couples get married, move to a neighborhood, have kids, the kids grow up and go to college, and then move away. Read more by Richard Wallace.

Sledding Round-Up by Eman of Kid's Rule

With flurries of snow predicted for today and "periods of snow" for tomorrow (Friday), per the Tribune, we figured it was a good time to share this news sent in by Eman of Kid's Rule, 1534 N. Milwaukee Ave. "P.S. Also, we have LOTS of colorful wonderful sleds in! There's many places to sled in Chicago. Soldier Field has a 220-foot slope! There's also Cricket Hill at Montrose Harbor, east of Lake Shore Drive. It's not actually meant for sledding, but it's used that way quite actively anyway. Other parks with hills include Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose, Warren Park, 6601 N. Western, Cornell Park, 5473 S. Cornell, Stout Park, at 5446 S. Greenwood, and Robichaux Park, 9247 S. Eggleston." - Eman

THE WEEK AHEAD IS MADE POSSIBLE BY FALAFEL & GRILL, 1317 N. Milw, at the corner of Milwaukee and Paulina, 1317 N. Milwaukee. Hours: Sunday-Thurs. 11AM-Midnight, Fri-Sat. 11AM-3AM, 773-298-8888. Enjoy a Falafel Wrap for just $3 (normally $3.75, thru Jan. 31st, 2012, Mon-Thurs. only; must mention 'pipeline.' )

Check out what the Yelpers are saying about F&G, too!

Through Fri. Jan. 20

Holiday Tree Recycling Begins (through Fri. Jan. 20th at 23 participating sites. The nearest to our neighborhood is the Humboldt Park Boathouse, read more. )

Thurs. Jan 19

10AM-6:30PM: 4-Day 'Vulture Sale' at Red Balloon's old digs (2060 N. Damen)

7-8PM: Beat 1431 CAPS Meeting (Haas Park, 2402 N. Washtenaw)

8-10PM: Grown Folks Stories (The Silver Room)

Fri. Jan. 20

6-9PM: Art Opening: Revolution 2012

(Jackson Junge Gallery)

Sat. Jan. 21

10AM-2PM: 3Floyds Beer Brunch (SmallBar)

10AM-5PM: Free Planting for all Ages (Kid's Rule)

11AM-4PM:Vintage Bazaar Wedding Themed Pop-Up Market (Empty Bottle)

Sun. Jan. 22

10AM-2PM: Logan Square Indoor Winter Farmers Market (Congress Theater)

6PM: Luche Libre Mexicana (Congress Theater)

Wed. Jan. 25

6:30-9PM: Trivia Night Fundraiser (Roots Handmade Pizza)

Thurs. Jan. 26

6:30PM: Community: Public Meeting to Discuss Design of Milwaukee-Leavitt Bloomingdale Trail Access Park (Holstein Park Field House)

6-11PM: Atomic Sketch: 6 Panelists (Green Eye Lounge)

10PM: Celebration: Sixth Anniversary Party featuring free Sierra Nevada draft Open Bar (10-11PM), free live music by Karpah, a band described by People Lounge's owner, Baris, as "a fusion of flamenco, Spanish pop, dance music with Eastern European influences." (People Lounge)

Fri. Jan. 27

6-9PM: Relax and Restyle (Spa Soak)

7:30-9:30PM: Loving Conversations (The Silver Room)

Sun. Jan. 29

7-10PM: FUNdraiser: Where the Wild Things Are Screening (Tree House Humane Society-Bucktown Branch)

Tues. Jan 24

7PM: Week One: Spanish with Elena Chicago (Club Lucky)

Sat. Feb. 4

Noon-3PM: Gaper's Block BBQ Thing (Club Lucky)

Fri. Feb. 10

7PM: Music: Jazz Weekend in Wicker Park (A.N. Pritzker School Auditorium)

Sat. Feb. 11

7-10PM: Art Opening: Video Game Inspired Art (OhNo!Doom)

6PM: Music: Jazz Weekend in Wicker Park(A.N. Pritzker School Auditorium)

Sun. Feb. 12

?? Gaper's Block Valentine's Day Dance-a-Thon (Quencher's Saloon)

Art Watch, Now Until--:

--Jan. 29: Profiles, Hallucinations & Tokens (The Silver Room)

"Little Diesel" by Brenda Barnum, at Eye Want's Eyeporium Gallery

--Jan. 20: Rebecca Moy, Mark MacKinnon (Parker Shreck)

--??: In a Flash: People Accused And/or Convicted of Crimes (Gunner's Pub)

--Feb. 17: Tarantisimo Summit (Reversible Eye Gallery)

--Feb. 19: Zones of Familiarity: Photographs by Logan Square Photographer Mary Economidy (Chicago Cultural Center's Renaissance Gallery)

--Feb. 29: Dualities: Barnum & Aono (Eye Want Eyeporium)

Performance Beat:

--- Jan. 30: Pirates of Penzance (Chopin Theater)

Jan. 21: VAUDEZILLA Junk in the Trunk One Night Only Garage Sale Burlesque (Stage 773)

--Opening Jan 29: Death and Harry Houdini (Chopin Theatre)

--Opening Feb. 4: El Mari Chi Chi: A Robert Rodriguez Burlesque (Gorilla Tango)

If you have an event to add to this calendar, let us know. For many other happenings, including performances, check out the WPB Chamber or Commerce's latest e-newsletter. (1/18).

Joe Eats: Babylon's Meat

Ground Beef Kabob Dinner Middle Eastern cuisine seems to be all the rage these days, probably because hipsters and other fauxhemian types can feel good about its frequently 'health conscious' or vegetarian offerings.

While neighborhood staple Sultan's Market has served Wicker Park classic fare like falafel and shawarma sandwiches for over two decades, the seven-year-old Babylon in Bucktown, 2023 N. Damen (map it), offers a wide variety of gourmet Middle Eastern comfort foods and delicacies along side the expected falafel wraps. At the recommendation of the hostess, I opted for the ground beef kabob dinner, which comes with two beef skewers, rice, an immense amount of warm pita bread, and a choice of soup (I chose lentil). Read on.

Valentine's Day is Tues. Feb 14th, 2012

a possible V-Day gift from G Boutique

The "Buck Tim" and "Wicker Lily" Three Part Serial, slated to kick off next week, is back! Would you like to see your stimulating wares, sexy performances, and dinner packages woven into the adventures of these two fictional characters as they explore love, life, and commerce while strengthening the existence of an e-news pipeline? Don't be shy! Send an email or call 773-960-3997 to join the story. No Dallying: Story launches Jan. 25. Unlike previous years when whatever we wrote in the e-newsletters disappeared from existence after 30 days, the story, co-written by Caitlin and Alisa, will be posted on our newish website, too! For those who need stats, check 'em out. Yes, we're transparent, just like the Couple Corner's new Baci lingerie....