Derrick's Avalon Bungalow BBQ

On Saturday we trekked to Chicago's Avalon neighborhood for a tour of Derrick's mural-filled home. This must be one of the cleanest, best preserved bungalows in the city. And the murals --I've never seen anything like them in a bungalow or elsewhere. Hand painted and original to the home, they fill all four walls of the dining room.

When I asked Derrick what work he'd done to the place he said "Nothing - I just moved my furniture in. Oh yeah, and I painted a couple of rooms". (As someone who spent about a year painting over pink woodwork, I'm more than a little envious.) Come to find out, Derrick is only the second owner of this home. The first owner spent his entire life here, a flipper bought & cleaned up the place, and Derrick moved in.

We were privileged to meet Derrick's mom as well as his neighbors, William Cousins and his daughter Cheryl. Mr. Cousins has a remarkable life story:

"Like many Chicagoans, William Cousins, Jr., has his roots in the South. Cousins was born in 1927, in Swiftown, Mississippi. His family moved to Memphis, Tennessee and then to Chicago. Cousins graduated from DuSable High School on the city's South Side in 1945. He received his B. A. degree in political science from the University of Illinois, where he graduated with honors in 1948. Cousins then went on to Harvard Law School, receiving his LL.B. in 1951.

Cousins served his country as an infantry lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. He continued as an active army reservist for twenty years and retired as a lieutenant colonel. Cousins began practicing law in 1953 as an attorney with the Chicago Title & Trust Company. From 1957 to 1961, he served as a Republican Assistant State's Attorney. Cousins entered private practice with the law firm of Turner, Cousins, Gavin and Watt. In 1967, Cousins was elected as a "Free Democratic" alderman from Chicago's Eighth Ward.

As an alderman, Cousins worked outside of Chicago's powerful political machine and was reelected as an independent until 1976, when he ran for Circuit Court Judge of Cook County and won. Over the next twenty-six years, Cousins presided as a judge on the Illinois Appellate Court and the Cook County Circuit Court. He was also appointed to various positions, including chairman of the Illinois Judicial Conference and as a member of the Special Supreme Court Committee on Capital Cases. While working as a judge, Cousins also served as Chairman of the Illinois Judicial Council, Chairman of the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association and as a Board member of the National Center for State Courts.

Before election to the judiciary, Cousins dedicated his time and talents to an array of organizations and causes, including Chicago Area Planned Parenthood Association and Operation PUSH." (From The History Makers)

Thanks, Derrick for introducing us to Avalon, your wonderful neighbors and your beautiful abode.

Elks Veterans Memorial

Ever wondered what's inside this building? Me too. Last night Preservation Chicago hosted their annual fall fundraising event at the spectacular Elks Memorial. This was the first non-Elk event ever to be held at the Memorial which made the evening even more special.

Built in 1926 at the same time many of our West Ridge bungalows were constructed, the Memorial boasts room after room of marble, carved wood and magnificent murals and sculpture. You can take a virtual tour here but if you have the chance, I highly recommend you see it in person. Wandering through this building made me wish I had time to explore all of the hidden treasures that must exist all over Chicago.

(Photos from the Elks website.)

Explore Avalon with WRBN on September 26

WRBNeighbor Derrick invites all members to explore Chicago's Avalon community and visit his exceptional home for a tour and Barbeque on Saturday, September 26th. Watch for an email with details, coming soon! That's Derrick's place above with a group of WRBN visitors last fall.

Thanks, Frank!

Pictured above is is the old broken copper 1929 weathervane from the Indian Boundary Park field house, and WRBNeighbor and Roycroft master caftsmanFrank Glapa with the new, handcrafted weathervane he made as a gift to the park.

With donation from neighborhood organizations, Frank also made new planter boxes for the front of the Green Briar Park field house.

The Burnham Centennial continues...

If you missed the first Burnham Parks tour, it's not too late to sign up for the next one offered on September 26th. You'll have to make a decision though, as our WRBN South Side tour and barbecue is the same day. Too many tours, too little time...

Below are reports from WRBNeighbors who attended yesterday:

The Burnham Tour was AMAZING!!
We saw the underground mechanical rooms of Buckingham Fountain (you pay $50 every Friday night as a fundraiser to see it), then went to Jackson Park and saw the "only bridge designed by Burnham" now called the "Clarence Darrow Bridge", went to the Osaka Island Garden with the Tea House and waterfalls. Then drove along and imagined why the "gondola canal" was not built where the Midway Plaisance is now.

In Washington Park, we saw the details to the Fountain of Time, Loredo Taft has sculpted himself on the back, male figure with the "short tunic", then on to the DuSable Museum to see the inside of the building from the Fair....one of the few still standing designed by Burnham from the World's Fair. Drove on to Sherman Park and had lunch (amazing field house with murals by Art Inst. students), last and not least the Fuller Park field house another group of murals by the head of the Art Institute Dept. - also, has a "cloisters" garden room with crossing paths planted with small shrub roses and crab apple trees (in Spring has to be magnificent) a water fountain in the center, and at the end of the visual lines the bust of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Fuller!!

Many, many details to print here.....very impressive tour!!
Julia was great and of course we saw a couple of other tour participants we got to know from Lincoln Park Docents....well worth the $30 each, which included a wonderful box lunch from Harry Caray's of pesto chicken or grilled veggie, with chips, fruit salad, choc. chip cookie and water bottle!!

Carol can add more to this.....we loved it!!
Ann

If you want to be a boxer, Fuller Park is where you go. There are 3 boxing rings and one was used by M. Ali and other greats to train. COOL.

This tour was so worthwhile, just long enough, and worth way more that the $30 fee. Highly recommend it. Julia Bachrach is very knowledgeable, very lively, and a delight to be with all day.

Carol

(Photo of the Fuller Park field house from the Burnham Plan Centennial website)

Independence Park Bungalow

This morning several WRBNeighbors attended the Pancake Breakfast at the Independence Park Bungalow. As I attempted to shoot my first photo, the camera told me I'd forgotten my memory card at home, so, dear readers, you'll just have to look at their website or make the short trip yourself.

I'll leave it up to Ann to give you the lowdown:

The "Breakfast at Independence Park" was delicious, well organized, soft blue grass music on the lawn, 3 choices of pancakes, or a bit of everything, great coffee and tables set all over the inside, on the back porch, on the grass in front and over 35 volunteers Lynda O. told me - their 6th Year. They raise the money for the neighborhood group and park group. Nice setting and nicely done.

Alderman Marge Laurino was there, very friendly and low key, talking to everyone (not campaigning either), we saw local police officers waiting in line.

For $10 - the best gourmet type choices of fresh peaches, and New Orleans eggs, apple pancakes, sausages, etc. I have ever tasted!! Lots of families with kids and all well behaved!!

We were impressed.

Ann

BTW - across the street lives Chicago author Audrey Niffenegger who wrote the best seller "The Time Traveler's Wife" coming out in the movies in another week!! She has a nicely done new corner garden.

Get the skinny on the new Green house

Curious about the new, skinny house on Warren Park? Read all about it at the Park House Construction blog. Welcome, Green neighbor!
(Rendering from the Sandberg Architecture website.)

Going to Graceland

Last Saturday WRBN members toured Graceland Cemetery. Led by Donna S. , we got the inside scoop on the former Chicago movers and shakers who are buried here. Familiar names included Louis Sullivan, Richard Nickel, Mies, Marion Mahoney Griffin and Marshall Field.

Pictured are some Sullivan-esque iron mausoleum doors near the entrance to the cemetery and the unusual marker for architect Bruce Goff.

Oh - and if you're interested, there's still space available. I'm considering it...

Alex

This post is dedicated to the memory of Alex, the best cat ever.

BBQ with Boo

WRBNeighbor and chef Patrick Williams is featured in a recent issue of Edible Chicago. You can read all about him and his Grampa Boo (in photo) who inspired Patrick's delicious BBQ sauce. Patrick, we salute you and your grandfather on the eve of the barbecuing-est holiday of the year!