Eye on Evanston

Chicago Avenue

By John Macsai

In 1972, my family moved to Evanston from Chicago.  One thing I knew about Evanston was that if I needed a new car, I could shop at any of the many car dealerships along Chicago Avenue, with their colorful flags inviting us to visit and buy. Our longtime first home of 30 years was just off Chicago Avenue, on  Judson.  I can still close my eyes and see the street as it was, and as it remained, for so many years.

Now I walk along Chicago Avenue and see all the recently built housing. When I severely criticized the red brick condominium on the northeast corner of Chicago and Main in my first article in November 2001, little did I know that building would be the first of many eyesores.

Two of the new buildings are not so bad. The street façade of 809-811 Chicago Ave. is well-organized and pleasant. The beige brick condo on the northwest corner of Chicago and Main would have been acceptable had it carried through with colorful window frames and high-quality metal grills instead of junk that fails to hide the mess it was designed to cover up. It would also have helped had the City not been misled by the developer about planting that does not exist.

Even the tasteless color combination of masonry at 817 Chicago Ave. and the criminally narrow sidewalk of the complex north of the Jewel have become so familiar that we tend to overlook their poor design. We grow accustomed to what becomes part of our cityscape, no matter how bad it is; this has been true, too, of the banal, immensely dense townhouses at Chicago and South Boulevard.

Main Street Station, under construction at the southeast corner of Chicago and Main, does not hold great promise either. The beige and white masonry with blue accents does not mask the disorganized elevations and the lack of setbacks. It will be interesting to see if the promise of second-floor greenery will be upheld.

None of these disappointments comes close to that of the building at the northeast corner of Chicago Avenue and Kedzie Street, an irrational design that mixes ideas, materials, and architectural expressions. The first floor of the building on Chicago and halfway across the building on Kedzie is a glass storefront.  Where the storefront ends on Kedzie is the garage - two stories of brick with narrow vertical glass slots.

On Chicago Avenue and two-thirds of the way along Kedzie, the rest of the building is in yet a third style: vertical metal siding with punched windows. Above that are three floors of glass curtain wall. The upper floors, on the rest of Kedzie, are projecting brick bays with balconies (these, incidentally, are charming and by far the best part of the building).

The crowning confusion is the top of the building, a recessed, metal-siding penthouse. There is no consistent rhythm or pattern determining window placement in the metal siding. Some windows interrupt the seams, some do not; some line up with the seams, some ignore them. Perhaps, though, no better could have been expected of a building in which the second bedroom of several two-bedroom apartments has no exterior window and only "borrows" light from another room. 

This arrangement, born at the time of high-ceiling loft conversions, is problematic for spaces with normal ceiling heights. It is no longer legal under current building code, though it was when the permit for this condominium was issued. Happily, the City Council recently changed this, and all bedrooms now must have natural light and ventilation.

It occurred to me, as I finished my walk along Chicago Avenue, that even those car lots looked better than the visual assault of these poorly designed condominiums.

Citizens Lighthouse Trust Offers Affordable Home

By Larry Gavin

The kitchen at 2212 Washington St. was completely rehabbed, including new cabinets.

The Citizens Lighthouse Community Land Trust of Evanston (CLCLT) plans to hold a series of open houses for its first affordable home starting on Feb. 9. The three-bedroom home, located at 2212 Washington St., will be sold to a family of five or six persons with an annual income no higher than $69,000. The sale price is $180,000. Evanston residents will be given a preference.
The non-profit CLCLT received a federal HOME grant through the City in the amount of $100,000 to assist with the project.

Rehab of the Home
Wilfred Gadsen, executive director of CLCLT, said the home has been refurbished from the floor up to the roof. Outer walls have been replaced; the house has been fully insulated; the plumbing and electrical wiring have been replaced; the kitchen and bathroom have been replaced; the forced-air furnace has been upgraded and the airflow efficiency improved; there is a new water heater, and a new washer and dryer.

"We have taken steps to make sure it is the best possible construction," Mr. Gadsen told the RoundTable. He added that the upgrades should help keep maintenance costs and utility bills down and help keep the home affordable.

Mr. Gadsen said that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors have been hard wired and everything has been brought up to code. He hopes this will help keep insurance costs down.

"Anything that would produce an advantage to the homeowner we tried to do," Mr. Gadsen said.

Before the closing, CLCLT will meet with the buyers and explain all costs of home ownership. "We want people to be informed about what they're getting into," Mr. Gadsen said. "We want to make sure people are not stretched and that they can enjoy the home."

PDQ Construction was the general contractor for the rehab work, which was done almost entirely by local firms, including Jackson Painting Service, Wallace Carpet Service and Lane Hauling Service. Mr. Gadsen said CLCLT was given good prices for the work and the construction workers "got into the spirit of helping a family."

The Community Land Trust Model
Under the community land trust model, CLCLT will retain title to the land and give the buyers a deed conveying title to the physical structures on the land. The land will be leased to the buyers for 99 years for a nominal rent of $25 a month.

When the new homeowners sell the home at a future date, they will be required to sell it to a qualified buyer at a price that is affordable to a family earning 80 percent or less of the area's median income. They will also be allowed to keep the principal they paid toward the purchase price and about 25 percent of the appreciated value of the physical structures on the land. The balance of the sale price will go to CLCLT to use to further its goal of developing affordable housing. CLCLT will retain title to the land.

"Our goal is to keep homes in Evanston affordable for the next generation," said Betty Ester, board chair of CLCLT. "We believe it is important that we continue to find ways to support Evanston's rich tradition of economic and racial diversity.  Evanston is a wonderful, vibrant place to live because of the people who teach our children, keep us safe and provide goods and services. Our mission is to help make it possible for these people to live in our community."

"A lot of people have been involved in getting this house going," said Mr. Gadsen. "It has been a cooperative effort of many people."
 Open houses are scheduled for Feb. 9 and the following seven Saturdays. A grand opening is scheduled for Feb. 24.
Call 847-772-6702 for additional information.

The Getaway Guys Go BoHo in Milwaukee's Funky Third Ward

By Alan Barney and Neil Cogbill

The Milwaukee Public Market, an upscale take on the grocery store, is the Getaway Guys' favorite attraction in the city's Third Ward. The Guys found other fun in the re-imagined 19th-century commercial district, from eating and antiquing to enjoying the uplifting Art Museum with its winged Calatrava pavilion.

 New Yorkers think the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge is, for all practical purposes, the abyss, and some Chicagoans seem to think Milwaukee may be just as dismal. From the Loop (via I-94) Milwaukee usually takes about two hours. There is a great deal to see and do, and, compared to downtown Chicago, parking is cheap and easy to find.

Long familiar with the Milwaukee north of I-794, Neil stumbled across the charms of Milwaukee's Third Ward while on a business call. Lost and confused by the Ward's higgledy-piggledy maze of streets (and running late for his appointment), he discovered it was easier to park and navigate on foot. He also found the Third Ward to be a great place to spend a day or an evening enjoying some upscale Bohemianism. By embracing adaptive reuse of abandoned commercial buildings, someone in Milwaukee had the imagination to see in the Ward's 19th-century commercial architecture the core ingredients of a district like New York City's SoHo, an idea dear to the Getaway Guys' hearts.

Navigating to the Ward can be a challenge.  Because it is hemmed in by I-794 to the north and east, and the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers and a jumble of former cow paths to the south and west, finding the Ward requires a good sense of direction - or a GPS.  From Chicago take I-94 and exit at National Avenue south of downtown Milwaukee. Go east on National to First Street (WI 32), then north on First into the heart of the Third Ward.  Once there, park - either at one of the numerous metered spaces on the street or in a parking garage - and walk.

With no particular itinerary in mind, we Getaway Guys checked out the following attractions: on Chicago Avenue, Bella Café coffee house (very nice); on North Broadway, the Broadway Theater Company, the Palms Bistro (good lunch) and Broadway Central (interesting shopping and browsing).  Then over on North Water Street we visited the Eisner Museum of Advertising and Design, Milwaukee Ale House (hopping after dark) and, at the corner of Water and Erie streets, the Irish Pub (inviting).  Down Erie is the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (worth a stop) and, on North Milwaukee Street, a French connection, Coquette Café (good evening fare).

To us, the highlight of the Ward is the Milwaukee Public Market on St. Paul between North Water and Broadway; it is a virtual Les Halles, the old Paris market, on the Milwaukee River. A feast for the eyes, the Market offers a wide variety of foodstuffs and culinary ingredients. Neil and Alan found it a great place to shop for any occasion or just to wander, dreaming of dinner parties they will never host. The Ward has much more, and its website, www.historicthirdward.org, gives a complete and current listing of culinary, cultural and mercantile offerings.

Antiquing can be a part of the Third Ward experience. It is Alan's least favorite preoccupation, but he indulges Neil on occasion. The establishments devoted to the trade are dispersed, so a printed guide and a vehicle are recommended. Two of Neil's preferences are Riverview Antique Market on Water Street and Blackhawk Antique Market on South 12th Street. The former has the feel of a treasure hunt and the latter, the look of a museum.

Within a stone's thrown of the Ward is the Milwaukee Art Museum. Take Chicago Avenue east (under the I-794 maze) to North Harbor Drive, turn left and end up practically in the museum's parking garage. A jewel of the Midwest, the Museum has an outstanding collection of American and European art, with a special emphasis on German Expressionism (circa 1905-1930) and contemporary American art of the 1960s and '70s. The recent Calatrava addition, with its lyrical (to Alan) but boring (to Neil) "flapping" wings, is world-renowned.

Ask Eco Gal: Valentine's Day Goes Green

By Mayre Press

All's Fair (Trade) in Love And Chocolate
This Valentine's Day treat your sweetheart and the environment by giving fair-trade chocolate. Who does not like taking a bite of smooth, creamy chocolate? On a chilly winter night, a cup of warm, soothing hot cocoa is tempting.

Cacao pods produce the cocoa seeds (beans) used for Endangered Species Chocolate grown in the natural shade of rich, diverse forests. Choosing the company's products is one way to support sustainable forest farmland and the species that flourish there. Since the raw materials are ethically traded, Endangered Species can ensure farmers humane working conditions and a fair price for their cocoa.

The Indianapolis-based company donates 10 percent of its profits to support species, habitat and humanity. Shop locally for these chocolate bars at natural food markets and other fair trade food merchants. For more information, visit www.chocolatebar.com.

Adopt an Imperiled Animal for Valentine's Day
Speaking of animal protection, how about adopting one for a Valentine? Until recently, polar bears have been one of nature's hardiest survivors. Due to global warming, scientists predict two-thirds of their global population could disappear within the next 50 years. Rising temperatures are literally melting the ice beneath their paws, drastically reducing their habitat and food supply.

The National Wildlife Federation's adoption center offers packages starting at $30 for polar bears and other imperiled animals. Visit www.nwf.org for details.

Save the Planet ...One Kiss at a Time
Can a tube of lipstick be good for the environment? It can if Aveda makes it. The cosmetics, skin and hair care manufacturer makes dozens of tempting lipstick shades in tubes that can be inserted into a sustainable case.

Organic ingredients such as alfalfa, bilberry, carnauba wax, mango butter and sesame oil are used to produce the lip colors, while the refillable lip-color case contains up to 65 percent post-consumer recycled aluminum and 30 percent natural flax fibers.

Visit www.aveda.com to learn more about the refillable lipstick case and lip colors. Wear lip products by Aveda and save the planet, one kiss at a time.

Organic Wine, Cheese and Thou
New York-based Four Chimneys Organic Wines is America's first organic wine company. Names such as "First Love" (a Riesling-like white) and "Honeydew Moon" (with the aroma and flavor of the melon), can set the mood for a romantic evening. For more details, visit www.fourchimneysorganicwines.com.

The award-winning cheeses produced by Wisconsin-based Organic Valley Family of Farms will not only please the palate but also promote regional farm diversity and economic stability. Check out www.organicvalley.coop to find a local market that sells their products.

Sweet Gifts For Sweethearts
From Rose Petal Tea and an Artisan Spa Box to an Organic Valentine Cookie Assortment and a Chocolate Nut Gift Box featuring California almonds and Oregon hazelnuts, Eco Express may have just the right gift for that special someone. Choose from hundreds of gift ideas at www.ecoexpress.com.

Nearly everyone has someone special (partner, family member, friend or colleague) they can treat. Follow one of these suggestions or use your imagination. ...Go green for Valentine's Day!
Contact Eco Gal at info@evanstonroundtable.com or ecogal247@yahoo.com.

A Book Review

"A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian"

By Sue Brooke

"A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" is a poignantly funny first novel by Marina Lewycka about a family of Ukrainian immigrants living in England. The mother, well loved by everyone, has been dead for two years, and her two adult daughters are left with their elderly and eccentric father.

Nikolai is an engineer, a peaceful man with flighty ideas and big dreams of inventions. Neither daughter is very close to him, but they both feel a filial obligation. Now their father, at age 84, has fallen in love with a buxom 36-year-old divorcee. He can save her, he claims; life is too harsh back in the Ukraine. He feels in love and young again. His two daughters are sure she is an opportunist looking for money and a British passport.

The two daughters have not spoken in two years - not since their mother's funeral, when they argued over her estate. "Big Sis" is the bossy one, ten years older than Nadia.

One sister is the "War Baby," who grew up under much adversity, and the other, the "Peacetime Baby," born in Britain in a time of hope and growing prosperity. Big Sis is a political conservative, now divorced from a wealthy Brit. She sees the dark side of human nature: "When someone has power, the lesser people always
try and gain favor with them."

Nadia is a sociologist, a liberal who grew up with the Beatles and demonstrations against nuclear bombs. She may be naïve, but she sees the bright side of people. Though very different, they once shared a room and still share memories. And together they have to do something about their father.

As they start to communicate, Nadia learns that the family has shielded her from much that happened in the Ukraine. Now she wants to know about the things she was not told so she can understand. As the story unfolds, glimpses of life under Soviet communism and German Naziism surface.

At times funny, this is also a powerful story about survival and forgiveness. The novel was nominated for Great Britain's Man Booker Prize.

A Film Review

"Strange Wilderness'"

By Brian Murphy

The trailer for "Strange Wilderness," in which a bunch of unprepared slackers tried to wing a Steve Irwin-inspired nature show by shunning facts and relying on voice-overs to express the comic attributes of the animal kingdom, seemed intriguing. Fortified by veteran funnyman Steve Zahn ("Happy, Texas") and an impressive supporting cast including Broken Lizard ensemble member Kevin Heffernan ("Beerfest"), and young comedic talents Justin Long ("Accepted") and Jonah Hill ("Superbad"), some cheap laughs were to be expected. 

Instead we get all cheap, no laughs.

"Strange Wilderness" is the least funny movie I have seen in a long time, and that includes "There Will Be Blood" and "No Country for Old Men." At least the bad guys in these films evoked an uneasy chuckle with their twisted sense of ethics. 

Happy Madison Productions (Adam Sandler's company) hired first-time director Fred Wolf, whose acting credits include Basketball Court Patron in Mr. Sandler's "Little Nicky," apparently to point the camera and tell the actors to be funny. 

The script, or lack thereof, seems to have been written in a drunken rambling session on a bar napkin, much like the "facts" created by Peter Gaulke (Mr. Zahn) and crew during their lame preparation for filming their show. 

Funny actors do not a funny movie make. Just ask Will Ferrell about his role in "Bewitched." Sometimes a plot and likeable characters are required.

Hoping to save their fledgling show, our stoner characters travel to Ecuador in hopes that finding Bigfoot will give their ratings the boost it so desperately needs.  Along the way, their friends are attacked by sharks, eaten by piranhas and slaughtered by Pygmies, none of which is funny. 

The biggest fault of the flick is that none of the characters have any redeeming qualities. Pete takes over as host of a show his father created, never having found the time to study nature or even care about its inhabitants. His friends are nothing more than hacks and hangers-on with tired jokes.

Months from now, if you get the chance to watch "Strange Wilderness" on cable for free, I encourage you to schedule a colonoscopy instead.

Rated R for non-stop language, drug use, crude and sexual humor.