Bungalow of shame

The Ravenswood home of Governor Rod Blagojevich. Nice house. Despicable behavior. Normally I try to keep politics out of this blog, but today's news is just too disgusting to ignore.

All I can say is thank you, Patrick Fitzgerald. Keep working your way down that list.

2008 Driehaus Award Winners

Vist the Sun-Times for for information about the rest of the winners.

The Chicagoan: A Lost Magazine of the Jazz Age

Date: Wed. December 10, 2008
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Harold Washington Library Center

Cindy Pritzker Auditorium

400 S. State Street 60605

The Chicago Public Library welcomes Neil Harris in discussion of his soon-to-be-released book The Chicagoan: A Lost Magazine of the Jazz Age.

Now then, where were we?

Whew! It's been quite a fall and I'm afraid the blog has suffered a bit from the flurry of election activities in West Ridge and beyond. Neighbors were out in force canvassing in neighboring states, distributing flyers, calling and working on election day. And -- did you know our 44th President has a Chicago bungalow connection? Yes, Michelle Robinson Obama grew up in a brick bungalow on the south side.

So, as we regroup and focus on WRBN again, please join us tomorrow night as we plan our 2009 meetings and events - your input is welcomed and appreciated!

(Chicago Tribune photo of banners downtown.)

Rosehill tour on Saturday, October 11th

Tomorrow is the WRBN tour of Rosehill Cemetery -- it's going to be a beautiful fall day so come on out, enjoy the weather and learn some history from our local expert Mary Oellrich while you're at it.

These photos are from the interior of the mausoleum, where John G. Shedd and many other notable Chicagoans are interred.

Cubs Pride

A proud neighbor on the 6600 block of Maplewood displays a Cubs banner as the team heads into the playoffs.

Did you know that legendary Cubs catcher, "dangerous hitter" and Hall of Famer Charles "Gabby" Hartnett lived in West Ridge in a home at the corner of Talman and Albion in the 1930s?

Doors of West Ridge

New West Ridge book and Historic District

Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society and West Ridge Bungalow Neighbors invite you to a celebration of the newly crated Talman West Ridge Bungalow National Historic District and the release of the new book Images of America: West Ridge

Tuesday, September 23, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Northtown Public Library, 6435 N. California Avenue, Chicago

Authors Jamie Santoro and Jacque Day will be on hand to discuss their new book Images of America: West Ridge. Books will be available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting RP/WRHS. (Look here for a nice article about the book from the News-Star.)

Greg & Maribeth Brewer and Jofrid Stavig of WRBN as well as representatives of the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association will talk about the newly nominated Talman West Ridge Bungalow Historic District*. Learn the history of the homes in this area and what it means to be part of a National Register Historic District. (The photo is from our September 12th presentation to the State for approval of the district at the beautiful Veterans Memorial Hall in Rockford.)

*The Talman West Ridge National Register Bungalow Historic District encompasses the 6600 block of N. Fairfield, the 2700 block of W. North Shore, the 6600 block of N. Washtenaw, the 6400, 6500, 6600 and 6700 blocks of N. Talman, the 2600 and 2700 blocks of W. Albion, the 6500 block of N. Rockwell, the 2500 block of W. Arthur, the 6500 block of N. Maplewood and the West side of the 6500 block of N. Campbell.

Tradional Building Show

The Traditional Building Show is coming to Navy Pier on September 18-20. Click here for details. Attendees will find a wealth of resources for owners of historic homes.

Getting ready for fall

It's been a big weekend for home improvement projects on our block - here's our neighbor up the street preparing to do some planting.