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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 22h

Listen to some John Prine today, who was born on this day in 1946 in Maywood, IL. Here are the places he called home.

chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · Oct 10

Remembering musician John Prine on what would’ve been his 76th birthday. Here’s his childhood home at 1110 S. 1st Ave in Maywood. At the age of 22 he worked as a mailman while taking classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music. He lived at 902 N. 19th Ave in Melrose Park.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 23h

This triggers a memory of the intersection of North & Harlem, which is 4 different towns btw (Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, Elmwood Park), that had two Blockbusters kitty corner from each other (OP & EP). Kind of like the Starbucks of its day.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 1d

Yeah, apparently every Russian speaker was here today. I looked it up and the Northern suburbs have a lot of them, like Buffalo Grove, Northbrook, and Wheeling. I had no idea!

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 1d

I had to sit in Cook County Circuit Court all day today and I swear that half of these lawyers could be Saul Goodman’s brother. Also, why is everybody Russian? So many people needing a Russian interpreter. I had no idea Cook County was Putin-adjacent.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 2d

Today would’ve been John Lennon’s 85th birthday and I figured out that *SIX* members of the US Congress are older than him! That’s Jim Clyburn, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Maxine Waters, Hal Rogers, and Chuck Grassley. (You can add Grace Napolitano too who left earlier this year at the age of 88.) 😭

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 2d

Yes, I’ve seen it called varenyky at Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana. Good to hear they have some good options in NYC!

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 2d

Unfortunately we’ve mostly forgotten that one because Chicago gets all the attention. But this is what happens when you have dry drought-like conditions thru out the Midwest.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 2d

Happy National Pierogi Day to those who celebrate! One sweet cheese, please.

My photo of the Miss Pierogis from Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana circa 2014.

My photo of the Pierogi pins being sold at Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana circa 2014.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 2d

Believe it or not, Chicago has more than one Plaza. Calder, not Picasso.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 2d

Never forget.

Historic image of Water Tower ruins after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Probably my favorite historic image of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire. Apparently coffee shops were just as important in the 1870s as they are today. Hurry somebody open up “Burnt District Coffee House” ASAP!

Historic image from the C.R. Clark photograph book (Newberry Library) that shows the Court House Ruins at Clark & Washington after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Historic image looking down Pine Street (what is now Michigan Avenue) with the Water Tower ruins after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 3d

The Texas National Guard at the U.S. Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, IL, just south of Joliet, reminds me of one of my oldest friends, whose two sons have the middle names Elwood and Jake. #IYKYK

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 5d

I didn’t think I needed a “beach day” in October but I guess I did. And so did a number of other people (and dogs). It would be nice for it to actually feel like Fall but I’m not complaining…yet.

My photo of a man in the water and woman sunbathing at Wilmette’s Chestnut Beach.

My photo of a man sunbathing at Wilmette’s Chestnut Beach.

My photo of a man reading his Kindle at Wilmette’s Chestnut Beach.

My photo of a woman in the water with a sailboat at Wilmette’s Chestnut Beach.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 5d

Enjoying a day at the beach…in October.

My photo of a group of people, including a woman sunbathing, on Wilmette’s Chestnut Beach.

My photo of a group of people on Wilmette’s Chestnut Beach with rocks in foreground.

My photo of a group of people on Wilmette’s Chestnut Beach.

My photo of a man running on Wilmette’s Chestnut Beach.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 6d

People will say David Bowie - Heroes as best 12th album anyone has ever made, but what about Bob Dylan’s *fifteenth* studio album Blood on the Tracks being one of the best albums made period.

Buttadeus @thewanderingjew.bsky.social · 6d

In defense of Taylor Swift...what's the best 12th album anyone has ever made?

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 6d

As Mrs. Sczcech straightened her hat in front of the mirror inside a soda-water parlor at Lincoln & Belmont, she saw newly married 19-yr-old Mrs. Kunow open a vial & pour its contents into her chocolate soda.

"What did you put into it?"

"Morphine. I'm tired living."

(Chicago Daily News June 1900)

"Young Wife Saved from Suicide by a Drug Store Mirror" (Chicago Daily News June 5, 1900)

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 6d

Happy 130th Birthday to Buster Keaton, born on this day in 1895. In honor of this special occasion, here’s my dog doing his best Buster impression.

Father and Son: A photo collage of Buster Keaton showing his famous stone face and my sad-looking dog, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 7d

I’ve only heard three of her songs (Bad Blood, Blank Space, Shake It Off) and that’s fine. I really don’t care. I’ve never seen the movie Star Wars and guess what? I’m still alive. Shocking, I know.

a man is making a funny face and saying i don 't care

ALT: a man is making a funny face and saying i don 't care

media.tenor.com

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 7d

Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken

Buck Owens - Tiger by the Tail

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 8d

When the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016, Donald Trump won the presidency less than a week later. Nothing has been the same since. Guys, you know what you have to do.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 8d

Goose, Geese…is there a band called Gaggle? What about Flock? Skein???

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/s...

Goose Is a Jam Band. Geese Is Indie Rock. They Both Have New Albums.

www.nytimes.com

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 10d

Nobody’s mentioned the parking meter lease deal? The 1968 Convention? The opening of Al Capone’s vault?

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 10d

"Look how they massacred my boy" GIF.

www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/6...

6109 W Berenice Ave, Chicago, IL 60634 - 5 beds/4.5 baths

(MRED as Distributed by MLS Grid) For Sale: 5 beds, 4.5 baths ∙ 2772 sq. ft. ∙ 6109 W Berenice Ave, Chicago, IL 60634 ∙ $869,000 ∙ MLS# 12480409 ∙ Welcome to the highly sought-after Portage Park neigh...

www.redfin.com

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 10d

Le Corbusier often receives credit for creating the first concrete residences, but what actually came first? Griffin’s Solid Rock in Winnetka. Built in 1911, the massive cubic style design with a rooftop garden was constructed entirely of reinforced concrete. This structure deserved to be preserved.

Historic image of Solid Rock in Winnetka, IL by architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. Built in 1911 for William F. Tempel, this snow view of the reinforced concrete home shows the original roof terrace. (National Library of Australia)

My photo of Solid Rock in Winnetka, IL by architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. Built in 1911 for William F. Tempel, this is a close-up of a door and WBG’s signature large, geometric patterns of wooden mullions in the windows.

My photo showing the rear of the Griffins’ Solid Rock (1911) in Winnetka, IL. A bit run down as you can see but no reason for a second chance. The one-story concrete bungalow was later altered by architect Barry Byrne in 1918.

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 10d

Thanks for taking the time to read it. Much appreciated!

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chigeek.bsky.social @chigeek.bsky.social · 10d

Yes and no. As I wrote in the first paragraph, Australians know his name but he is forgotten in the place where he lived, worked, and helped create a new architectural style. But that's America for you. Sad but true.

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