CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS - LOOP, EDGEWATER, NORWOOD PARK, NILES
SOUTH LOOP
For his 68th birthday, all Ringo Starr wanted and asked for was a little "peace and love," he said.
On Monday he got just that from many fans who met along an entire city block along East Wacker Place near Chicago's Hard Rock Hotel and sang "Happy Birthday" to the ex-Beatles drummer and flashed their peace signs in the air.
"What a great birthday gift!" said Starr. "If you could pan around, you could see Chicago is full of peace and lovers."
To read all about it, click here.
WEST LOOP
The Chicago Architecture Foundation Sculpture in the Loop Tour is a great way to spend part of your day in our fine city.
Summer is the perfect time to take a stroll and learn all about Loop sculptures. You‘ll discover the obvious to the hidden gems and learn some fascinating thing from people who know at the Chicago Architecture Foundation.
These tours are available 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave., $12-$15, 312-902-1500 or ticketmaster.com.
For more information go here.
EDGEWATER
Another fun thing to do may include Comedy @ Kate's.
Well, this part isn't funny, unfortunately, Kate the Great's Book Emporium is closing its doors at the end of this month. The Edgewater bookstore will host the last of its monthly comedy shows.
The final performance features Kelsie Huff, Tamale Sepp, Amy Sumpter, among others.
The show is at 7 p.m. Saturday, 5550 N. Broadway, $10 suggested donation, 773-655-4238.
For more details click here.
NORWOOD PARK
After a grueling nine-year odyssey that was the Norwood Park train station rehabilitation project, June 27 was a time to celebrate.
Back in 1999, Luke Graphics was leasing the train station building at 6088 N. Northwest Highway from the Union Pacific for $1 a year.
Senator Walter Dudycz (at the time), whose 7th District included Norwood Park remembers, "I would drive by here every single day and see people standing on platform in the rain and snow." Dudycz, a Republican, got approval for a $500,000 state grant.
Community residents and passengers arriving or leaving the Norwood Park station will be able to stop now for a snack at the Northwest Cafe, which occupies the station's original waiting room.
Corrine Schreiber stands in front of a memorial plaque dedicated in honor of her husband, Bert, who died in 2005. Bert Schreiber was an attorney and train fan, and donated years of his time to the renovation and restoration of the train station.
While the journey since then was difficult, it is nice to see the results now that the journey is over.
To read the good news, go here.
NILES
Thousands of vehicles drive down Oakton Street every day, oblivious as they cross the Des Plaines River, the Chicago River and the North Shore Channel.
It takes only seconds to cross Oakton's bridges and the drivers may be unaware that they've passed rivers that are home to all manner of wildlife.
A young doe hides under some brush near the Oakton bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River.
The rivers link together a network of forest preserves with a path that runs nearly seamless from the Wisconsin state line to Will County, creating a scenic natural environment that's home to foxes, deer, beavers, otters, muskrat and coyotes.
"We have everything from voles to field mice to cougars," says Ralph Frese, owner of the Chicagoland Canoe Base, 4019 N. Narragansett Ave., Chicago.
Read more by going here.
JENNIFER ARCAND & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
