Englewood
Close Up with Steve James
Steve James has an uncanny ability to defy the observer effect—a force that dictates that mere observation will change the natural course of things. In his films, the director of the documentaries “Hoop Dreams” and “The Interrupters” has been able to recede into the background and let events transpire as if a gaping camera... »
A Second Look
Cyrus Dowlatshahi is a 30-year-old Hyde Park native, Iranian-American, Vassar alum, and massage therapist. To explore a side of Chicago more often misunderstood than seen, Dowlatshahi is taking on his preferred designation—filmmaker. The project sounds quite simple—with $25,000 raised from donations on Kickstarter.com, Dowlatshahi is going to film a feature-length documentary about the South... »
Redistricting Fault Lines
On October 25, the assembly hall of the Hyde Park Union Church was nearly empty. This gathering was a preliminary informational meeting concerning a process that Chicago undergoes every decade—aldermanic ward redistricting. »
Englewood & Auburn-Gresham
There’s a common question asked to visitors of Englewood and Auburn-Gresham: “Do you know where you are?” If you’re walking in the neighborhoods west of the Dan Ryan and south of 55th, and a worried, well-meaning passerby thinks you might not be from the area, you might get asked yourself. If you’re not careful,... »
Grapes of Change
Bill Lavicka, an eccentric rehabber and preservationist, has proposed turning the Raber House into a winery and vineyard. The rehab initiative, which he refers to as the “Chateau Chicago” project, aims to transform the long-abandoned building into a multiuse space for grape cultivation and wine sales. »
Rhymes and reasons
“Yes! No! Listen to the poem!” the audience chanted as up on stage twenty-odd students from schools across the South Side recited their poetry in Englewood’s first Youth Poetry Duo Slam. »
The Gospel According to Barrett
The Life Center Church of God in Christ sits on the corner of Garfield and Indiana, just east of the honorary two-and-a-half block Rev. T.L. Barrett, Jr. Blvd. The boulevard’s namesake is sitting in a pew close to the pulpit. »
Dollars and Census: Will more South Siders march to the mailbox in 2010?
For most of the boys and girls participating in “March to the Mailbox” day, the Census 2010 one-size-fits-all T-shirts and hats are plainly oversized. Some can barely see over their signs, while others juggle fliers and census paraphernalia. Small as some of these volunteers may be—the youngest at just nine months old—their voices ring... »
