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Our column about goings on in Evanston.I'm happy for you, Willard School. You were just named one of Chicago Magazine's 121 Great Public Schools in the City and Suburbs. Of the 1700+ schools evaluated, they named you #21 of the top 30 Cook County public schools. I know many of your students. They're friends with my children. I even taught some of your children when they were in preschool -- though I take no credit for their performance now. I know many of your families. We've been friends for years and years, before we sent our kids to different schools in Evanston. I know your neighborhood -- I walk there, drive there, shop …
Have you heard that Wednesday was Chicagoland Car Free Day? I was planning on going car free. I even signed an online pledge on Facebook weeks ago. Instead, I drove out to Kenosha, Wisconsin, visiting my grandfather who's in the hospital. I think that qualifies as a legitimate reason for backing out of my pledge. I dreaded getting into my car Wednesday morning, but not because of the stares from my fellow Evanstonians as I drove my kids to school. It's because of what I found in the car. This past Friday, we took the kids to Michigan for a weekend with friends. I'd packed an assortment of…
When I read the headline, "The Dieter's Paradox," I was intrigued, especially since the news came from an Evanston source. After all, we're a city known as "The Dining Capital of the North Shore." Apparently, some folks at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management have concluded that our society's battle with obesity can be attributed, in part, to the "misguided belief about the relationship between a meal's healthiness and its impact on weight gain. People erroneously believe that eating healthy foods in addition to unhealthy ones can decrease a meal's calorie count." Seriously? Huzzah…
Though the events leading to Colin Dalebroux's death last week at Fitzsimons Park are still under investigation, both his family in Wisconsin and the Evanston Police Department have suggested he committed suicide with a pipe bomb. Current and former residents from the neighborhood surrounding Nichols Middle School – calling themselves Nichols' Neighbors – assembled this past Sunday morning on the playground of the park. The neighbors sought to reclaim the park following last week's tragedy. The neighbors have shared a Yahoo! Internet listserv, called "NicholsNeighbors," for years. …
Want a good cup of coffee? I mean a really great one you want to tell your friends about? One you won't be ashamed about buying (it's local)? Then head over to The Brothers K Coffee House: The original shop is at 500 Main Street, and they're opening a second location at 1549 Sherman Avenue (corner of Sherman and Grove) any day now. What makes The Brothers K Coffee House so excellent? The coffee always tastes great -- no doubt about it. But in my opinion, I love how they treat their customers. Walk in and you're greeted by friendly staff who appreciate your visit. Not in a forced, "…
Recently, I posted a blog with a Q&A that my Girl Scout Troop held with Evanston's Mayor, Elizabeth Tisdahl, back in March. The 3rd and 4th grade girls asked all sorts of questions, and the Mayor openly answered every single one. It's come to my humble attention that, as a good journalist, I might have considered whether the interview was technically considered "on the record." In all honesty, I hadn't. Partly because I don't consider myself a journalist, per se (I'm a blogger) but that's not the point. I had assumed that a public figure speaking in a public place is always "on the record…
"Hey, do you have anyone I can call? I'm stuck and need a sitter." If you've ever heard that line or been there yourself, you know it's a rare thing to find a sitter who's willing and available. Here's a resource to get you started: The seven Northwestern students I've found who are willing to put their names out to the community for your babysitting needs. If you know of a great sitter, let them know to add their name here in the comments section. Hopefully, we'll have an accessible list of sitters for our community's babysitting needs! beccasstewart@gmail.com 2011 Varies by school …
Thursday morning at 9 a.m., Nichols Middle School parents were briefed by multiple City and School District 65 staff about the pipe bomb incident earlier in the week. Speakers included the Superintendent and Asst. Superintendent and Communications Director and Head of Buildings & Grounds of D65, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Mayor, School Board members, 4th Ward Alderman and School Principal. I'm not a reporter, but I scribbled notes as best I could. I know many parents and neighbors are wondering what people are saying about the incident. Here's what I gathered at the meeting in the Nichols …
Tuesday morning, as I was getting my kids ready for school, I noticed the sound of helicopters. Hmmm, I thought, making my coffee. Wonder if they're installing equipment on the roof of the middle school a block away. Henry, my middle-schooler, asked if I'd give him some more money for his lunch account. I handed him the check as he was halfway out the door. As he said thanks, I grabbed his jacket, pulled him back in, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Have a good day, Bud," I said. He resisted my kiss, but I also know he could have pulled away harder if he'd really tried. Ah, pre-teens. …
Sunday was the first day of Evanston's AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) season. If you were Around Town, you surely saw most of our fine city's parks filled with excited players, colorful uniforms, and enthusiastic volunteer coaches and referees. I've always marveled at how, from the streets and sidewalks of Evanston, AYSO playing fields look like a slice of community bliss. And they can be. But for some people (including yours truly), getting a child to a soccer field is no easy task. Take, for example, the exchange we had with our seven-year-old this afternoon before his game…
Yesterday, I received an email from a Northwestern University student's father. Here's what he said: Parents of Northwestern U. students, like me, look forward to reading Patch Evanston to keep up with your local news. Hope the site gets the word out to them. Good luck, Christine! Whoa. Thanks, Richard. Here I was, thinking the readership of Evanston's Patch.com would consist of locals and maybe – just maybe—curious readers in bordering suburbs like Skokie and Wilmette, wondering (as we all do) what "the other guys" are up to. I hadn't even considered the fact that NU students' parents …
Events in Evanston today were exceptionally surreal. Nichols Middle School closed "due to an unforeseen police emergency," according to the school's email. I'll just leave it at that. With a sudden day off school -- and another planned for Wednesday -- there are hundreds of 6th, 7th and 8th graders (and their families) rearranging their outlooks. THIS NEVER HAPPENS in Evanston. Every year, my kids beg for snow days. This never happens in Evanston. Each year, there's always the "hope" that school will be closed, but this never happens in Evanston. If word leaks into the house about another…
Next time you find yourself in downtown Evanston on a Friday around lunchtime, make a point to stop by Potbelly's at 630 Davis Street. Jeff Libman's likely to be playing acoustic guitar and singing songs to coax you into your weekend. Jeff's an Evanstonian you really ought to know. Taken right from his website, www.JeffLibman.com: Jeff began playing guitar at the age of seven in a house full of piano players. He recorded his first song, Burt Bacharach's, The Look of Love, a year later. Outside of his role as Huck Finn in Tom Sawyer, his 5th grade play, there were only limited stints of …
Two things I try to avoid: 1) Thinking about holidays too early. 2) Chain stores. But, in this case, I'll make an exception. Even though Halloween is still weeks away, SPIRIT HALLOWEEN SUPERSTORE* is now hiring in Evanston. Located (during the Halloween season only) at 1612 Sherman (Pier 1's former space), the store offers a massive selection of Halloween costumes and decorations. To contact SPIRIT HALLOWEEN SUPERSTORE*, go to www.Work4Spirit.com. And, now that Halloween's on your radar, click here for some jokes you can tell your friends this Halloween season! The City of Evanston's …
Did you know Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl is Evanston's 3rd consecutive female Mayor? Joan Barr was elected in 1985, followed by Lorraine Morton in 1993. Elizabeth Tisdahl was elected by a landslide (over 62 percent of the vote) in 2009. Evanston's Junior Girl Scout Troop #41567 invited Mayor Tisdahl to its March 4, 2010 meeting for an hour of Q&A in honor of Women's History Month. Here's a recap of what these 3rd & 4th grade girls wanted to know -- and how the Mayor responded: Q: What is your favorite animal? A: My dog, a golden lab. Q: Do you have kids? A: Yes, four. Q: Do you have …
Here's an example of someone who doesn't just look at a bad situation and wait for change to occur. Evanstonian Ness Baagil is making change happen, and she needs your help. Ness noticed that Larimer Park -- located at the corner of Oak Ave. and Crain St. -- is in desperate need of some TLC. Moreover, she discovered the park hasn't been updated for 17 years. The online petition she created (http://www.thepetitionsitecom/1/Renovate-Larimer-Park) includes this information: "Larimer Park (located at Oak and Crain) was last updated over 17 years ago (1993) and currently is in desperate need …
Really, the only way to explain how James Wooldridge engages his Spanish classes at Nichols Middle School is to show you the website he's created. Not only do Wooldridge's students frequent the site for the hilarious and (deceptively educational) songs and videos, but they end up singing Wooldridge's songs at home, in the hallways, and around town. Known as Señor Wooly, he's created an amazing website, www.srwooly.com. Check out some of the numerous videos he's written, scored and produced. Just click on these links and then click the brown "click to play" bar: Guapo (translation: …
I overheard two dads on the elementary school playground yesterday afternoon: Dad #1: "Hey, there. You should think about joining our Adventure Guides troop this weekend with your son. We're camping out on the lakefront – should be a really nice time." Dad #2: "Wow. Sounds really nice, but I just took a look at our family's fall schedule. I'm thinking about telling my wife I'll see her sometime again in December. Not sure if I can swing it, man. "
It's pretty easy to let the current economic times bring us all down. Jobs and budgets continue to get slashed. Attitudes are often, at best, "testy." We all see it. We all feel it. It's easy to let the auto-pilot run, assuming everyone and everything is just a downer. There's even been a cat missing in our neighborhood, and the owner's posted more signs up than I've ever seen for a missing animal. Times are tough ... ... unless you live in Evanston, where little surprises might turn your attitude around. For instance: I had a Comcast appointment scheduled today between 4-7 p.m. …
Thanks for checking out About Town. Clearly, you've got a connection to Evanston, IL. Your connection might be current or long-gone. You might live (or have lived) here. Work (or have worked) here. Attend (or have attended) school or religious services or a beach party or a birthday party here. Checked out a great restaurant (or had a ridiculously bad time at one). Maybe you know someone here? Or thinking about moving here? Maybe you're just plain curious about what goes on About Town in Evanston. Regardless, I'd like to know what you think. Specifically, about things that make you …
