Dreaming of spring...

Bungalow Garden and Landscape Design meeting this Thursday

Greetings Bungalow Neighbors,
Our first meeting of the year is on February 19 (Thursday), 7:00 p.m. at the Northtown Public Library, 6435 N. California Ave. We have a stellar panel of landscaping and garden design experts who will be talking about designing for small bungalow yards/gardens, and answering our questions:

Panel:
John Eskandari is the Buyer/Manager of the Trees & Shrubs department at Gethsemane Garden Center in Andersonville, where he shares his passion for woody plant material with clients. John is also an instructor at Northwestern University’s Landscape Design & Management program, teaching classes on Sustainable Landscape Design and Succeeding with Plants.

Chris Gent's beautiful West Ridge bungalow garden, complete with ponds, was featured on a past Northtown Garden Society Garden Walk. Chris is a registered Landscape Architect and works as Deputy Director of Planning and Development for the Chicago Park District.

David Gianneschi currently works as a horticulturalist for Hoerr Schaudt, and is known for his talent in creating distinctive planting designs that harmonize with the design intent of a landscape and the bio-region of the site. David's career has also included freelance landscape design, workshop presentations for the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, and serving as Technical Advisor for HGTV's "The Seasoned Gardener".

Kim Kaulas (Kim Kaulas Inc., Landscape Design and Installation) has designed many gardens in West Ridge and neighboring areas, and is a popular speaker with garden groups on topics such as year-round landscaping and small space gardening. Kim has taught at the Chicago Botanic Garden for many years, and will be teaching a new course on 'Bungalow Garden Design' for the Botanic Garden at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center later this year.

Please join us for this special evening, and be sure to bring all your bungalow garden questions!
Jo & Maribeth, WRBN Co-chairs

Winter in WR

We're having record low temperatures here in Chicago and everyone I know has had more than their fill of winter. Witness the layers of snow on our patio table and bird feeder that grows taller by the day...

WRBN Holiday Party on Saturday 1/17

Join WRBN at our 5th annual progressive potluck party starting at 5:30pm on Saturday, 1/17/09. Three WRBN members will open their homes and we'll travel between them feasting on appetizers, chili, and desserts. Home locations will be revealed after you RSVP to Maribeth.

Please let us know what you'll bring when you reply - appetizers, chili, a side dish or a dessert.

Ice and soft drinks will be provided, otherwise bring your own beverage of choice.

Paper and plastic will be available, but in an effort to "green" our party we encourage everyone to bring your own reusable glasses, plates and flatware.

Your $15.00 per household 2009 WRBN dues will be collected at the door.

Best wishes for 2009!
Jo & Maribeth
WRBN Co-chairs

Doors & Limestone detail

Today I was finally able to take a walk around the neighborhood without the fear of snow, ice, torrential rain or high winds. Like it or not, winter in Chicago offers a little something for eveyone. Enjoy these shots of limestone details on buildings around the 6700 blocks of Artesian, Campbell and Maplewood.

Holiday lights and confused robins

If only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun, who goes out in 20 below temps at 7:00am on a Sunday? That would be me, on my way to work this morning. I made a quick detour off of my regular route to swing by Carter and Donna's place on the 5800 block of N. Washtenaw in hopes of getting a good shot of the fab illuminated peace sign they've suspended in a tree in front of their house. Look closely and you'll see it hanging over the car, drive by at night for the full effect.

After exiting the parking garage at Soldier Field I spotted the first robins of...winter?


And once inside, the warm glow of more holiday lights in a magnificent Chicago 1920s landmark building. Definitely worth the trip.

Teco or no?

This week I had the pleasure of meeting with Silvia, the daughter of architect Edward P. Steinberg. Mr. Steinberg designed one of my favorite buildings on Devon Avenue shown in the photo above. This structure was built in 1929-30 for a man by the name of Tilensky and features some wonderful terra cotta details including charming owls perched over the entrance. Check it out next time you're on Devon, it's at the corner of Claremont.

The Steinberg family lived in this building that Edward designed and built on Winchester in Rogers Park. It's currently on the market, you can see a virtual tour here. That's Larry in the photo, he's another Steinberg relative that I met in the fall. Larry & Silvia are both so nice and each told me some great stories about growing up in Rogers Park.

So, what about the Teco, you ask? Well, when I met with Silvia, she had this big urn in her front hallway serving as an umbrella stand. When we were talking about the old place in Rogers Park, Silvia told us that this piece, along with its mate in storage in her basement were originally at the entrance of the family home. Look at the photo of the building and you can just imagine them there.

Silvia has always wondered if these are Teco pottery. We managed roll this one over to look at the bottom, no easy feat as it weighs about 50 lbs. There are no marks on the bottom, just a drainage hole. So, you Teco experts out there, what do you think?

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.)