Editor's Note: This is the continuation of Christine Wolf's column from yesterday where she sat down with City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz to discuss her concerns about the city paying to build parking near the new Trader Joe's. Check back tomorrow for the final installment when Bobkiewicz talks about other economic development projects in the city, particularly those along Howard Street. Now what about the people who say, 'This is going to cost $1.4 million?' Do we have the money and how would that $1.4 million for a parking lot compare to the expected/anticipated revenue that’s gonna come out …

When news broke that Trader Joe’s is coming to town, I couldn’t have been more excited. But a few weeks later, I learned the city is considering purchasing property adjacent to the proposed Trader Joe’s site at a cost of $2 million. Cue the screeching tires. I suppose it was a bit naive to think TJs would just set up shop without anything in it for them. Our droves of hopeful customers weren’t enough. Our nearby CTA and Metra stations weren’t enough. They also want a place for customers to park. Reasonable, but I’d figured when the announcement was made by Mayor Tisdahl about TJs coming to …

The Sunday, March 16th edition of The New York Times ran an article by Sarah Hepola titled “Gloria Steinem, A Woman Like No Other”. The piece asks why no one has stepped in to Steinem’s role as a feminist leader; in Hepola’s words, “Where is the next Gloria Steinem, and why — decades after the media spotlight first focused on her — has no one emerged to take her place?” I was two years old when Steinem presented her testimony during the Senate Hearings on the ERA and the women’s movement on May 6, 1970. (Steinem’s words come alive in this brief video of Inspirational Speeches of the Twentieth…

In just 12 days, my kids begin their Spring Break vacation, which means between now and then, I must face my worst fear: digging out last season’s bathing suit and admitting how bad a winter it really was. I’m not talking barometric pressure or precipitation; we know it’s been one of the mildest winters on record. I’m talking about my cyclone of eating and the flash floods of food I’ve put down, causing the visibility of even more jiggles brought on by the SWEAT Index I never made time for. A friend recently told me about the website STAB Fitness, created by Evanston resident Tony Bordo. And…

I’m trying to wrap my head around the Better Schools Initiative referendum proposed by District 65 — but it hasn’t been easy. Since I haven’t yet formed my own opinion, I’m sharing a few opinions I’ve collected from various community members. These opinions are by no means all encompassing. They’re just to get the conversation going so Evanston residents can decide for themselves how they’ll vote on March 20. Related: New school would create 'blank slate' for 21st century learning. Click through the links below to read the four statements. Facts to consider from school board member Eileen …

I’m trying to wrap my head around the Better Schools Initiative referendum proposed by District 65 — but it hasn’t been easy. Since I haven’t yet formed my own opinion, I’m sharing a few opinions I’ve collected from various community members. These opinions are by no means all encompassing. They’re just to get the conversation going so Evanston residents can decide for themselves how they’ll vote on March 20. Below is a pro-referendum statement from Kirby Girolami Callam Click on these links to read the other three opinions: Facts to consider from school board member Eileen Budde An anti-…

I’m trying to wrap my head around the Better Schools Initiative referendum proposed by District 65 — but it hasn’t been easy. Since I haven’t yet formed my own opinion, I’m sharing a few opinions I’ve collected from various community members. These opinions are by no means all encompassing. They’re just to get the conversation going so Evanston residents can decide for themselves how they’ll vote on March 20. Below are facts to consider from school board member Eileen Budde that she wrote in an email that was forwarded to me. Click on these links to read the other three opinions: A pro-…

I’m trying to wrap my head around the Better Schools Initiative referendum proposed by District 65 — but it hasn’t been easy. Since I haven’t yet formed my own opinion, I’m sharing a few opinions I’ve collected from various community members. These opinions are by no means all encompassing. They’re just to get the conversation going so Evanston residents can decide for themselves how they’ll vote on March 20. Below is an anti-referendum statement given to me by an anonymous D65 parent. Click on these links to read the other three opinions: Facts to consider from school board member Eileen …

I’m trying to wrap my head around the Better Schools Initiative referendum proposed by District 65 — but it hasn’t been easy. Since I haven’t yet formed my own opinion, I’m sharing a few opinions I’ve collected from various community members. These opinions are by no means all encompassing. They’re just to get the conversation going so Evanston residents can decide for themselves how they’ll vote on March 20. Below is a (mostly) pro-referendum statement written for me by an anonymous D65 parent. Click on these links to read the other three opinions: Facts to consider from school board member …

Editor's note: Yesterday Christine wrote about the bad service people have gotten from local cab drivers. Today, she's got a more positive story to tell. I called Tony of Tony’s Car Service for a little perspective. I had the pleasure of riding with Tony to O’Hare in January. As he handed me his business card with not one but two mobile numbers (847.845.8993 and 773.544.0993), he explained the letters L-U-D-Y on the card. “They stand for Let Us Drive You,” he said. “You can call me anytime, day or night, and I’ll come pick you up.” Then he took off his hat and I noticed the unmistakable …

Every job has its ups and downs and, as most of us know, you’ve got to take the good with the bad. Recently, though, I’ve heard reports of people taking advantage of others when the going gets tough: cab drivers. About a month ago, two women spent a weekend in my home setting up equipment for an interview. The women stayed at a local Hilton in town, less than one mile away from my house. While the walk between the destinations would have been lovely — about 15-20 minutes — their equipment required a four-minute cab ride. Several taxis line up every day in front of this hotel, no doubt waiting…

Editor's note: This is the third part of Christine Wolf's three-part series on Evanston's Technology Innovation Center. In the first part, she became interested in the TIC after researching an Internet startup based there. Yesterday, she laid out the TIC's basic mission and introduced readers to its chairman, Chuck Happ. Today, she explores more of Happ's goals and vision for the incubator space, which became the topic of debate at a recent City Council meeting. So what’s in it for Chuck Happ? Here’s how he describes his involvement: I obviously am inspired by the idea of a business incubator…

Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series by Christine Wolf exploring Evanston's Technology Innovation Center. Yesterday she wrote about an Internet startup that works out of the space. In writing about that business, she became intrigued by the TIC and wanted to learn more, especially given the debate over its funding at a recent City Council meeting. I’m not a tech geek, and I’ve never given much thought to what goes on inside an incubator. Furthermore, prior to my tour of the Benevolent.net office, I’d only considered an incubator as a go-to place for baby chicks and/or …

Hello, Evanston, Illinois. Barack Obama said to say "Hi". (This is when I open my eyes very wide and say, with all sincerity, "Can you even believe it????"). Three days ago, I was one of five Americans selected by YouTube and Google to interview the president in the first-ever, virtual Presidential Google+ Hangout. The days leading up to the interview were some of the most surreal that I've ever experienced. I submitted an interview question for the president to the White House via email on Jan. 23. Three days later, I learned my question was one of five selected. And on Jan. 30, I …

  I've been guilty of using my mobile device in my car...a lot. When I've come to a stoplight, I've taken the "extra minute" to check email or even send a text message. I've known it's wrong, but I've done it anyway. I'm not proud of it, but it's the truth. I've been honked at by drivers idling behind me a stoplights, irritated that I haven't noticed the change from red to green. I should just put the thing in the glove compartment. Mobile devices can be addictive. You feel like you're staying "on top of things" when you've got one by your side. The "thing" is, they're killing people. One …

If you’ve ever wondered what bloggers do, check out this one written by Lisa Degliantoni, a self-proclaimed Evanston Newbie.  Degliantoni and her family moved here this past summer from El Paso, Texas, and her blog captures snippets of their new life here in town. What I like most about the blog is its appeal to a range of readers. I’m certain Degliantoni’s friends in El Paso get a good taste of what her Evanston life is like; additionally, folks like me (who’ve lived here for many years) get to see the city through a whole new lens.  And, Degliantoni writes in an honest, succinct style which…

I don't know about you, but for me, cellular phone coverage inside my own home, or on my block, or anywhere on Dempster Street between the lakefront and Waukegan Road is spotty at best. I'm a Verizon Wireless customer, and I've spoken with the friendly customer service folks multiple times about these issues. They've suggested everything from: 1) Reprogramming my phone so it grabs the closest cellular tower to 2) Calling customer service immediately after a dropped call to 3) Dialing #-#-# immediately after a dropped call (the idea being, if Verizon receives enough #-#-# messages within a …

    There’s a new-ish trend sweeping America, and it’s referred to as Pop Up Retail.  Evanston had several Halloween pop ups this past fall. They’re long gone, but if you look around, you’ll find a number of new and exciting pop ups taking over vacant shops. I stopped by Pop Up Boutique at 1307 1/2 Chicago Avenue (the former home of Bagel Art) yesterday to snap some pictures for this story just as Amy Amoroso pulled up to open shop for the day. Amoroso, a jewelry importer, teacher and designer who grew up in Barrington and has lived in Evanston for over a decade, conceived and executed the …

I’m fairly certain this hasn’t happened to anyone…but if it has, please share your experience: On Friday evening around rush hour, I stopped at Warren’s Shell Service at 1201 Chicago Avenue to fill up my tank. With my 8-year-old sitting in the car, I locked the nozzle to fill the tank automatically; I wanted to elicit a long overdue smile from him (he’s recovering from a broken collar bone). I knocked on his window and got a sad stare. Not surprising. Then, I pressed an imaginary elevator button and slowly bent my knees. From his perspective, it looked like I was heading down one floor. When …

I always try to find new and inspiring places in which to write. It’s not uncommon for me to write a Patch article while sitting in my car in front of The Musical Offering waiting for my daughter to finish her piano lesson. I’ve written in coffee shops and at the Evanston Public Library; in friends’ homes (one friend refinished her basement and the floor looks exactly like a deeply-hued, shiny bowling ball) and in my own home (where the laundry and the dog and the garbage are always demanding my attention); in bookstores – actually, “the bookstore” now that Border’s is closed – and at hair …