I was thrilled to see the Rees house at 2110 S. Prairie--one of only 11 historic homes left in the historic Prairie Avenue neighborhood--designated a Chicago landmark recently. I have been in the house a number of times on the annual house walk/fundraiser for Glessner House Museum. (By the way, the next walk is scheduled for June 10.) The house doesn't take up all that big of a footprint, but it has magnificent woodwork and a cozy layout. And it's plenty big based on today's standards! It was virtually unabused through the years--and the current owners are bringing it back to life little by little. It has an old cage elevator, too, which is darn interesting to see in a Gilded Age mansion. Or any mansion, for that matter.

I was pretty disappointed to see that the TCF bank branch within the Jewel at Roosevelt and State and Wabash was robbed a few days ago. News reports didn't say how much, if any, the robber got away with at 11:30 in the morning, no less, but the reports did say the robber displayed no gun, thank goodness. There are pix of the robber out there and I hope someone recognizes him and turns him in.

Also sad to hear that one of our neighborhood niceties, Three Peas Art Lounge on 16th Street suffered recent water damage and has to be shuttered until the damage can be repaired. Hope they get themselves back in business in the batting of an eye and a flick of the tail.

As I said a little more than a year ago in this Chicago Journal column, I have confidence in Columbia College when they buy and transform historic buildings in the neighborhood. And now that the leaseback has finally run out at Johnson Publishing and they are moving north on South Michigan to take over the current digs of the Cliff Dwellers Club (and then some) in the Borg-Warner Building (which, of course, necessitates a move for the club), we will see if Columbia maintains its high standards and respect for South Loop history when they take/make over the Johnson building. Here's hoping!

It's worth noting that Mell Monroe, the lovable guy who started the Greater South Loop Association back in the 90s when he lived at 15th and Michigan (and who subsequently moved a bit further south on Michigan, and on into Bronzeville to a magnificent mansion that he turned into a beautiful bed and breakfast) wrote a stirring piece in the Tribune recently about how South Side entrepreneurs need to be proactive in order to revitalize their neighborhoods.

Yes, there were a lot of cops around the intersection of Roosevelt and State last week, when our homegrown president Barack visited his hometown for a round of fundraisers. Apparently, traffic was jammed around the South Loop, much to the chagrin of neighborhood residents! But not so at Roosevelt and State around my house. Don't know if that was because the intersection was so well-stocked with police (which was on Barack's route to one of his appearances that took place at Roosevelt and Halsted) or I just missed the jam for one reason or another. Personally, I hope this sort of thing lasts for another five years!

Apparently, there is an art to high-rise bike storage and our own Amli building at 9th and Clark falls short. Take a peek at the pix and the intricate explanation as to what can go wrong with multi-unit building bicycle storage. Hope Amli can straighten out the troubles!

That's all for now. More to come as South Loop Observer celebrates it's third anniversary in the not too distant future!

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By susan ohde from south loop
Posted: 01/17/2012 4:02 PM

That's Bonnie's new band, Ethiopian Prisoner and their first album is called Grovel, Cower, Defy, Enthuse and Jubilate.

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By Bonnie McGrath from South Loop
Posted: 01/16/2012 10:09 PM

Don't worry, Connie, I'm just an Ethiopian prisoner in "Aida" @ Lyric Opera. No lines, no singing, but I am required to act. In the span of about 12 minutes, I have to grovel, cower, defy, enthuse and jubilate! No easy task--but no career change afoot either!

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By Connie Remkus from South loop
Posted: 01/16/2012 1:13 PM

Bonnie, I am certainly hoping you are not giving up your great writing for an acting career !!!!! Please don't.