Chicago’s alleys were not always paved with asphalt, or even brick cobbles. In fact, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, efforts to find economical materials led to Chicago’s streets being paved with wood. Paving with wood blocks was developed in the mid 19th century by a Boston builder, and by 1871 more than… Read More Chicago’s Wood Alleys
With the opening of the computer-shaped Apple Store on Michigan Avenue last Friday, I was inspired to look at another architectural duck in Chicago: the boat-shaped bar on North Avenue Beach. I’ve written about novelty architecture and ducks once before (perhaps the most confusing but also most fun architectural term around!), and they never fail… Read More Chicago’s Land-Bound Boat
Now that October is in full swing and I’ve been admiring the decorated front porches around Chicago, I thought it would be fun to team up with Deb Cohen from the Front Door Project (check out her beautiful Instagram here) and feature some of her favorite front doors in Connecticut, a state that really knows how… Read More Front Doors of Fall
Pullman, a historic company town located just south of Chicago, has been a favorite neighborhood of mine since I first visited in 2015 (the early days of my blog! Check it out here, here, and here). The history is complex and there are so many interesting and important threads you can follow (see links at the… Read More Views of Pullman
When I read early this summer that Chicago had a 120-year-old El station, right in the Loop, I knew I had to make a visit. I finally made the trip this weekend and could not be more excited to have found the gem that is Quincy Station. Quincy Station was one of three El stations… Read More Chicago’s 120-Year-Old El Station
