Where is this located? As a bonus, can anyone tell us what goes on here nearly 24/7? Winner will receive dinner for two at the Grill Inn on Morse. In case of a tie, the bonus part will determine the winner.
Update: We have a winner. mcl wins a $20 gift certificate to the Grill Inn at 1422 West Morse. For those who haven't tried this place, stop in and order something - the foods great. If eating at home is your bag, call for delivery. 465-7070. See... I do like things in Rogers Park.
Warning: If trying to find them on the internet by typing in (www.grillinn.com) you won't find them like the menu says. You'll be directed to a soft-core, porn website. Owner has been alerted to this goof.
53 comments:
This is a seating/table area at the north end of Gale Park where open lawlessness prevails 24/7, i.e., gambling, drugging (using & selling), prostitution, public drinking, etc.,etc!
It is in Gale Park.
As for what goes on there? I am guessing that you want us to say drug deals.
well the picture is labeled gale park, so i would guess its there.
jeffo
mcl was one of my pre-contest favorites.
Bosworth, can you top this?
Uhhhhh
Gale Park?
Bums sit there and pickle themselves on cheap beer.
Just a guess.
The alt text on the image is gale+park.jpg, therefore I cheated. (feel free to mod this comment so others can't also cheat.)
And yea... when you want to have a contest about a picture, don't label the picture with the location.
I labeled the photo purposely to see how many of you guys would mention that single tidbit of the contest.
Plus, I did it to give Mo Cahill a clue.
What I would like to know is where is that pile of crap located which is pictured in the other post. I want to avoid stepping in it. :)
Standing water, litter and the (I'm presuming molded cement) seat backs are already deteriorating. This is a sad and disturbing picture. That park is so new . . .
Can you imagine what this park would look like in other parts of the world - places where they actually consider their parks community treasures?
- PEACE -
The north end of Gale Park, of course. Drinking, gambling, and many other varieties of illicit activity.
Can I ask a question- what does this post help solve? I'm new to all these RP blogs, but I can't fathom how all this infighting and negativity contributes to the betterment of the community of Rogers Park. I have so much more to comment on this, but wouldn't even know where to begin.
And, no offense, but I don't think having a police scanner, a computer and a little too much time on your hands qualifies one as a "citizen journalist." No offense, but you're a blogger, plain and simple. No reputable journalist would write with the sort of bias and one-sidedness that is displayed in this blog.
There's plenty of good news websites for Rogers Park! This website showcases the not so good news of Rogers Park. If that's bias, then yes, I'm bias.
As for the infighting, Joe Moore started it, not me. Email him and bitch if it bothers you so much.
Now, let's get back to the contest.
So who won, Craig? Looks like MCL was the first with the burst . . . of information, that is. Then it seems it was Fargo who also provided both location and activities. So, who wins?
- PEACE -
Hey chicagokristi...
You want nice happy good things?? Ok...well...let's see...I saw a bunch of little adorable birds feeding on the many piles of discarded refuse along glendale near morse. And let's not forget the the precious smiles of children playing with the broken glass from a car window recently smashed near greenleaf. This stuff really warms the soul doesn't it??
I originally took this photo for Bosworth. I'm hoping Bosworth would give it a go. We're missing one element the mcl etc... etc... etc comment didn't provide.
Oh, and Chicago Kristi is now in the running for her little "just a blogger" snide drive-by comment ripping me to shreds .
The area is adjacent to Gale School and should be in view of the blue light police camera at Jonquil and Ashland.
Chicagokristi - check this blog for the good news of Rogers Park. Not quite as interesting though. What is this person reporting? rogersparkriveriviera.blogspot.com
The reason I asked the question is because I'm trying to understand the true purpose for blogs like this. I'm guessing that the author would like to see Rogers Park change for the better, but I don't see how pointing out all the horrible things that go on in the neighborhood goes about solving this. I'm not suggesting that one paints a rosy, white-picket-fence picture of the neighborhood either; that's not the reality here, neither is it the reality in your Kenilworths or Highland Parks. Every community has it's share of good and bad- some just do a better job of hiding the bad.
I'm not suggesting we turn a blind eye on crime- but the reality is that there are broken windows and piles of refuse in all different Chicago neighborhoods, regardless of how "gentrified" a neighborhood may or may not be. Having previously lived in Wrigleyville, I've had countless amounts of drunken imbeciles urinate on my car and couldn't begin to count the number of fights that broke out due to excessive alcohol consumption. But instead of shining a huge spotlight on the problems, don't you think the time would be better spent trying to figure out why people show disregard for their community and fellow citizens and how we can bridge the gap and find solutions on how to bring people a little closer together? Granted, I'm not dumb enough to think that we can make the world a perfect place, but I DO think that by trying to be just a little more empathetic would go much further in bettering the community than would posting pictures of feces.
Then again, maybe it's easier to sit back (or behind a computer) and complain rather than take an active part in community development and engage in conversations with people outside your socioeconomic/racial/political orbit (i.e. the "gang-bangers" and "thugs") to try and solve these problems. I don't pretend to have the answer, I'm really just trying to understand.
And by the way, how was I ripping you to shreds? I can't imagine your ego is so fragile that you can't handle a spirited discussion or small disagreement. I just think the term "citizen journalist" is a little too self-important- why can't you just report the goings-on of the neighborhood without giving yourself an ego-stroking title?
She has a point!
Hey Chicagokristi, you know, if you don't like the blog, don't read it.
You lived in Wrigleyville where the drunken Cubs fans ran amok? Yeah, I'm sure there was some "peeing on cars" action around there by a bunch of silly yuppies. Rogers Park is an "invisible ghetto" due to Joe Moore's failed leadership. A drive down Morse Avenue and you can pick out the specific gang colors! That's ridiculous and I guarantee you it's not like that in little Wrigleyville because there isn't a plethora of run-down, Section 8 housing!
You know what this site did for my husband and me? It saved us a crap load of money! Had we not read this blog, we may have purchased an over-priced condo in a neighborhood that is slowly getting worse.
Craig has repeatedly tried to engage Ald. Moore in conversation about how to address these issues. JOE MOORE DOESN'T LISTEN! Therefore, the next best thing is to put out there, to the public, all of bad and scarey stuff to hopefully goad him into doing something.
This site was the first to publish the arson at Morse Theatre. There have been a few times that Craig has published stuff that the Trib picked up on much later.
Once again, this is Craig's way of trying to get everyone mad enough where they, too, will email Joe Moore and complain.
You don't like it or disagree? Then start your own blog and quit reading this one. Go out and save Rogers Park in your own way, but don't diss others for their particular method.
Oh, and P.S.
Go look up the definition of "journalist". Being that Craig targets his blog to a mass audience, he is, technically, a journalist. A citizen, who is a journalist.
He may not work for the Chicago Fibune, but he is still, very much, journaling what he sees and the activity around the RP.
If this is the title he wishes to use, then so be it.
Adelie, you make me wish I'd purchased two gift certificates to Grill Inn so I could give you one. Thank you for that kind response as to why this blog was started.
don't forget the dice!
Where is the empathy from the lawless crowd towards me and the other law abiding citizens of Rogers Park?
They have NO right to conduct illegal, antisocial, disruptive, and destructive behaviors anywhere, let alone in a public park.
I, and all the citizens of Chicago, DO have a right to be safe from those said behaviors, and anybody conducting themselves in such a fashion.
Well, Craig, at the end of the day, it's your blog and, I have to acknowledge that between you and the other bloggers you've gotten Ald. Moore's attention.
Imagine if there were no blogs out there to embarrass Moore and his minions. No one would have any idea about the crap that happens here and Joe Moore could sit in his pajamas all day long and play Solitaire and pick his nose.
As long as somebody is dragging this mayhem into the light, he has to at least pretend he cares. And maybe, just maybe, one day, the citizens of this ward will wake up, quit blindly voting for the Democratic machine, and put in someone new!
Wrigleyville, Lakeview and Lincoln Park, didn't just accidentally happen, they are what they are due to leadership keeping a tight reign.
Diversity is one thing, criminal activity is another and frankly, I'm tired fof the two being confused.
What about the shootings, people? You guys forgot about the shots fired!
Michael (mcl), you win! I'll let Niko know you won. All you need to do is tell him your name and you won the 'Broken Heart' photo contest.
They've got great ribs, chicken, burgers, grinders. Heck everything is good there. The oven roasted potatoes are a "must try."
If you want delivery here's his #. 465-8080. You've got $20 bucks to spend. Enjoy.
ChicagoKristi:
Like Popeye, Craig is what he is. Since he is an old man and set in his ways, it is futile trying to convince him that his approach to "reporting" is less than effective and, infact, makes him look idiotic. He certainly doesn't understand the truth about politics---that it's mostly about compromise. And since he neither holds nor aspires to elected office, he never will.
Actually, his preoccupation with photographing dog and human feces helps explain all you need to know about him.
Thanks, Craig! I'm looking forward to the oven roasted potatoes you recommended!
I'm still trying to figure out why questioning or disagreeing with someone about their particular method of trying to make Rogers Park a better place to live is "dissing" someone?
So maybe I don't like the method of how this individual is trying to go about exacting social change, but at least I'm coming here to try and understand his motivation. As a journalist, it is his responsibility to "...clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct." (per the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics) So if that's the case, there should be a welcoming of discourse on this site, no?
Jeez,cut kristi some slack. She wasn't rude. She simply asked a reasonable question.
No need to jump down her throat.
Deep breaths, people. Deep breaths.
Yet, billyjoe, you read this blog and comment on it on a regular basis.
Whether it be for humor, entertainment, to mock another person, you still come here, read about the goings on of RP and therefore, are informed whether you want to be or not.
Even if Craig wanted to go "into politics", he couldn't - the all-mighty Demo machine would put an end to that.
Politics is simple: The elected leaders answer to their constituents and keep them safe.
Oh, and there's compromise all right. Our safety is "compromised" on a daily basis because Alderman Moore doesn't hold the slumlords accountable and call them out for not cleaning out the riff-raff!
Go read CFR § 982.310 - the landlord can terminate tenancy for criminal activity. But they don't seem to bother. This is where it is encumbant upon Alderman Moore to step up to the plate and direct the landlords involved in this voucher program to abide by the regulations! But he seems to like taking contributions from them, so he's certainly not going to end that little gravy train!
Have you bothered to read the archives of this blog, Chicagokristi?
Craig is a citizen journalist, he's not a professional one, so your little "journalist ethics" is moot.
This is a BLOG, do you know what that is? It's not a news outlet - there's difference.
Hey, if Chicagokristi wants to come onto a person's blog and try to tell them how to run it, she should expect the resulting comments.
I don't go onto other people's blogs and ask them what the "purpose" of it is - that's ridiculous. Why? Because it's THEIR blog. If I have something to say, and want to say it in a particular way, then it's best to start my own blog, right?
Chicagokristie thinks we should all go engage the gangbangers in conversation about socio-economic disparity, and while that sounds great on paper, it doesn't work like that. Gang mentality is entrenched in the psyche and no amount of heart-to-heart conversations will change that.
Cleaning out the invisible ghetto of the criminal element WILL change the scape of RP. That starts with all of us having a zero-tolerance policy. And the exact starting point is with the elected leadership of this ward.
How can we do that? By getting their attention and holding their feet to the fire by any means possible, and that includes blogging about it.
Craig is a citizen journalist, he's not a professional one, so your little "journalist ethics" is moot.
This is a BLOG, do you know what that is? It's not a news outlet - there's difference.
"The reason I asked the question is because I'm trying to understand the true purpose for blogs like this. Every community has it's share of good and bad- some just do a better job of hiding the bad."
Go hide your face in the sand, so Wrigleyville has some drunk yuppies. Most of them (drunk yuppies) don't go around in packs selling narcotics, robbing, pillaging and shooting at each other like the organized street gangs in parts of R.P.
It amazes me that sane intelligent choose to live in the many rough areas of R.P. Do you realize that when you walk down streets such as Morse or in the Howard area you are in direct contact with multitudes of violent felons, and future felons, who would think nothing of violating your peaceful existence, with only the "fear" of the po-po keeping them at bay. There is nothing wrong with Craig and others highlighting these problems, they exist and are severe and need to change if R.P. can remain a viable community for the average law abiding, employed citizen.
I can understand how certain people with a certain temperament may have a hard time understanding the "tone" of this blog. But unfortunately in a place like RP poopy-pix and peeing-vids are a great way to get the attention of the powers that be. And it's alot more fun.
What I was trying to do is engage in a conversation and try and understand a different viewpoint from mine, so I'm not sure what's so ridiculous about that. I'm willing to take my licks in order to get a better understanding of another individual's motivations. How are we ever going to come together if we can't have an open discussion of issues on which we disagree?
In the end, I really believe we all have the same goal in mind, which is to build safer communities for us and our neighbors, and believe there has to be a civil way to "agree to disagree" and yet still accomplish this goal.
For the record, I pay myself to be a semi-retired publisher. Yes, I'll say it proudly, thanks dad.
I get paid for my work in major motorcycle magazines like Cycle USA, Cycle News, Trials Comp and the American Motorcycle Association Journal. (photos and print)
I do this blog for the "love" of the community.
Well, Chicagokristie, your tone was quite condescending towards Craig and his "motivation". Which is his personal business and not for you to judge.
I don't even know Craig personally, but I really don't understand why people come onto a blog, write snooty crap, and don't seem to understand a blog is akin to a personal journal that just happens to be online. Would you like for someone to read your diary/journal and demand that you tell them its "purpose"? Of course not. And why? Because it doesn't have to have a purpose to anyone but you.
Maybe his motivation is simply cathartic release of frustration with the leadership of this ward. Craig also posts information about his other activities as well.
But, still this blog can be quite informative. For example, people were constantly asking why the police don't just arrest the people selling drugs on the corner. There was a police officer who graciously explained why and I believe someone else explained what a "dispersal" call means.
So, you see, while Craig's blog is for personal reasons, because it's public, people can answer questions, comment on other events or just read it for entertainment. Sometimes people post comments that are downright hilarious.
Many of these bloggers are pretty active in the community as well, and other activists come here from time to time to share their insights.
Admittedly, I've learned quite a bit about Chicago politics from this blog (I'm not a native). It's been quite the eye-opener for us.
Even if Craig wanted to go "into politics", he couldn't - the all-mighty Demo machine would put an end to that.
So how did Joe Moore shoe-horn his way in?
Kristi...
Pay no attention to the rude commenters. As far as I'm concerned, you asked a couple of questions and invited discussion.
The rest of you folks are being unnecessarily rude!
Deep breaths, please.
Well, man on the street, it usually has to do with connections and favors. You know, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Could this be how Joe was "elected?" Or perhaps Joe got into office, allowed "power" to sway his judgment, accepted contributions from slimeballs and he now feels he has to bend to their demands for fear of losing his base.
That seems to be how Chicago politics function. If politicians were elected based on their merits, intelligence and ethics, I'd have an extremely short list. To me, it seems the good guys get the shaft in this town. I think the Democratic Party has controlled this city for so long, that no one really reads or researches a particular candidate's platform anymore. They just mark an "X" in the Democratic nominee's box.
Seriously, during the elections for Cook County board President, did anyone read Tony Peraica's points and suggestions? They actually made sense, and if you read his platform, and saw what health benefits these government workers receive, you'd be outraged. His suggestion to save money was to bring their benefits more in line and comparable to the private sector. What a concept! Make the public servants pay $20 co-pays instead of $ 5 co-pays, increase their premiums by a reasonable percentage so the taxpayers are not picking up a huge percentage of it!
A better name for our Cook County politicians (which I'm going to steal from a favorite book):
A Confederacy of Dunces. And how!
Adelie, you seem awfully defensive. I don't understand what was so offensive about Chicagokristi's first comment, or any of her subsequent comments. She has honest questions and curiosity. A new member of the neighborhood wants to get involved and change things for the better, and all you can do is attack her? How does that help Rogers Park? Why not open a dialog about Rogers Park's problems and what we can do to solve them? This blog is a perfect place to have that conversation. Bring Chicagokristi into the fold, don't drive her away with your attacks.
Also, are you people seriously saying that "citizen journalists" don't have ethics?
Hey Kristi. I'm guessin' you're new around these parts? You will need to lurk here a little longer before you can get the feel of the place. Craig was having a bit of fun with his contest, no harm really.
Check out the other Rogers Park blogs. A good one is Toni's blog, http://howardwatchers.blogspot.com/, Kheris's blog http://thelivingroom.blogspot.com/,
and there's the neighborhood newspaper, the News-Star at the Chicago Journal http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=49&SubSectionID=162&TM=71468.28
Then there's the two Tom blogs.
Check those out at your own risk :)
I'm not sure how old this park is. It was built shortly before my arrival in 9/02. There is little respect for the parks, the people, the buildings, the landscaping here and other areas of RP and the city.
AND, if anyone feels these little broken items need repairing, get prepared to raise the funds! The Park District is yelling budget woes - after all those Olympics that may or may NOT happen are getting most of the attention (dollars). More to come.
Yeah, maybe I should have lurked a little bit longer and not jump right in like I did. I'd read quite a few of these RP blogs and had just become slightly miffed at the amazingly negative tone of them. Believe me, I understand the personal nature of blogging and journaling, but in a public forum such as the Internet, you have to expect some discourse. Otherwise why make it public or allow comments?
That's alright- I think on this, some of us are going to just agree to disagree. Hopefully we'll be able to continue a spirited dialogue and help us find common ground.
Chicagokristi, some of us have become negative because of the lack of response we get from our elected representatives. It is discouraging when your calls to the aldermans office go unanswered or you bring up the same issues at the CAPS meetings month after month. I would appreciate a return call from the aldermans office even if it is to tell me what I don't want to hear. Common courtesy would be to return the call, not just ignore the person and hope they go away. It seems like they have forgotten they are here as representatives of the people and should listen to what the people want and what we have to say about things that affect us and our lives in our neighborhood. I am tired of the gang bangers, slum lords and general scum being allowed to take over the neighborhood and make the rest of us miserable.
Hey billyjoe
Why'd you let Craig use that picture of you in the "Seen Around Rogers Park" post? You look stinky.
Craig,
Thanks for the 'prize'! I stopped by the Morse GRILL INN and cashed in my winnings with a whole 'Greek' grilled chicken and 2orders of your recommended oven roasted potatoes. Both were excellent, although I think the potatoes could have been a little more 'roasted'. Niko seems like a real nice guy and I hope he does well. Grill Inn on Morse, it's another of our little 'gems' in RP. Thanks again and keep up the good work, it's important! I would invite your visitors to visit a new neighborhood blog, The Crows Nest (thecrowsnestnoh.blogspot.com) featuring primarily photographs of people, places and things in Rogers Park and Chicago. Thanks again.
I love living here and I appreciate your blog - thanks!!! The negative stuff has to get out so people are aware of it. There is absolutely a connection between Section 8 housing and the amount of trash on the streets, lack of care for public facilities and the creeps that hang out!
While I don't always agree with Craig, I appreciate the fact that he has relentlessly put pressure on problem landlords and bad businesses that breed so many of the other problems in the neighborhood, and on Joe Moore and DevCorp for tolerating so many of those problems without making any effective attempts to deal with most of them.
One of the biggest reason why ineffectual incumbents stay in office is that most voters are unaware of the problems that those incumbents tolerate or foster through neglect. Shining a spotlight in these problems can help to make voters more aware and encourage them to hold Joe Moore and DevCorp accountable.
I wish we'd had all these neighborhood blogs back when Karen Hoover was running for alderman against Joe Moore. It might have changed the picture significantly.
Keep on blogging!
RE:
>>So how did Joe Moore shoe-horn his way in?
Why, he was handpicked by his predecessor, David Orr.
HE was the beginning of the downfall.
Thank God he has a cushy but boring and harmless job now, although I believe he was at one point acting mayor for 2 days or something. Could have been worse.
Let's look for the silver lining in the poo piles, shall we?
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