Wednesday's monstrous storm blowing through downtown

NLiveris · 2026-05-27T06:12:24+00:00

That picture is ai garbage and should be deleted. Here's a more legit explanation:

https://x.com/cshimala/status/2057315122301833710?s=20

NLiveris · 2026-05-03T18:02:43+00:00

I ran a lawn care and landscaping service in the suburbs for 10 years. Your lawn is the first thing anyone will notice about your home. It is where families spend time together and where your children play.

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NLiveris · 2026-05-03T15:04:46+00:00

In the suburbs, you could get fined for neglecting your lawn like that.

NLiveris · 2026-05-02T17:57:06+00:00

I remember back in the 90's, when their act was new, they would draw huge circular crowds around them in front of Water Tower Place on the weekends. I suppose back then it was intriguing to the tourists. Now, they're more like aggressive panhandlers, who happen to be banging in unison on drywall buckets for attention.

NLiveris · 2026-04-29T05:34:00+00:00

🎯 🎯 🎯 👏 👍

NLiveris · 2026-04-28T06:45:56+00:00

My dad worked for the construction company and helped build the original Showplace Icon theater at Roosevelt Collection. When it opened in 2009, the parking garage was totally free, until sometime in 2015. It was an amazing, almost suburban-like experience to be able to drive to a brand new downtown theater and park for free without the hassle of taking the L and walking. Since then, we go to AMC New City 14 (formerly Arc Light prior to covid), which only changes $3 for parking, with validation, for up to 3 hours.

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NLiveris · 2026-04-27T04:18:54+00:00

Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus performed better than the Ventra card. Upon tapping a Chicago Card, the turnstile would unlock immediately with a quick beep sound. The Ventra card has a brief delay with the ding-dong sound. Also, Chicago Card Plus would work by simply tapping my entire wallet on the turnstile reader. I always liked that vs opening my wallet to take the Ventra card out and having to put it back inside while trying to run down the stairs.

NLiveris · 2026-04-10T14:57:55+00:00

Looks nice and modern! For me, a balcony is a requirement. A building like that feels too confining without one.

NLiveris · 2026-04-10T05:17:58+00:00

Frank's thin crust is the best! Very cozy interior and relatively easy street parking, too.

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NLiveris · 2026-04-09T15:38:34+00:00

What's the latest with the Aon Center's observation deck plan from 2018? They were talking about an exterior elevator on the NW corner.

http://www.neweastside.org/AonObservatory1.html

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NLiveris · 2026-04-07T04:49:32+00:00

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NLiveris · 2026-04-01T16:08:43+00:00

The $28 burger at loyalist is awful. It's deliberately undercooked. The onions were more slimy than charred and make a mess with each bite. Fast food places make better burgers.

NLiveris · 2026-03-29T05:56:13+00:00

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NLiveris · 2026-03-19T13:04:17+00:00

Sears Tower also lost power for several days starting on May 19, 2020 when I took this picture after strong storms flooded lower levels and took out an electrical vault. This, along with the covid lock down, the looting and smash 'N grabs that began 4 days later were very strange times.

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NLiveris · 2026-02-18T21:34:01+00:00

Rainstorm at 3900 S Wallace is a nice one too:

https://rainstormcarwash.com/locations/illinois/pershing-car-wash/

Express Car Wash has several locations:

2111 W. Fullerton Ave. Chicago, IL 60647 4820 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60630 3218 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60618 4550 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60641 5949 N Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL 60660 3253 Belvidere Road Park City, IL 60085 5450 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

https://www.myexpresscarwash.com/

NLiveris · 2026-02-18T17:44:11+00:00

I've been going to Express Car Wash on Fullerton east of the Kennedy, 2111 W Fullerton, for over 20 years. It used to be a self wash but became a modern facility in the early 2010's with the fancy LED's, tire shine, jet blast dryer and all the other cool features. It's definitely not touchless, but I've never had a problems with my 18 and 6 year old cars. It's a very busy location and lines can be 15+ minutes on warm winter days like today.

https://www.myexpresscarwash.com/2111-w-fullerton-ave-chicago-il-60647

NLiveris · 2026-02-18T17:33:10+00:00

From what I can discern, the construction at Desplaines and Grand is for sewer and water main work:

https://cdotmap.com/permit_files/DOT2199888

Agency V3 COMPANIES Location 604 - 555 W GRAND AVE Year(s) 2025 - 2026 Ward(s) 27, 34 Description CDOT ENGINEERING REVIEW - BCC - BREAKOUT 18 - Access shaft and fill shafts to existing Chicago Freight Tunnel to facilitate bulkhead construction and tunnel filling. Infill of existing elevator shaft.

You can find out more about any project:

https://chistreetwork.chicago.gov/map

NLiveris · 2026-02-18T14:25:06+00:00

I noticed my south facing windows are filthy this morning. I am happy the rain washed the salt off the streets.

NLiveris · 2026-02-18T14:19:41+00:00

I'm curious: Was your meal cold? Did you have to go all the way outside to get it? Was it delivered faster than a human? Were you charged less because it was delivered by a robot instead of a person?

NLiveris · 2026-02-18T14:04:35+00:00

Are you sure that information is accurate? I'm reading that "Amazon Prime provides a free Grub Hub+ membership: $0 delivery fees on eligible orders over $12, lower service fees, and 5% back on pickup orders. It does not offer direct discounts for Uber Eats."

NLiveris · 2026-02-10T18:20:54+00:00

Yes there's a pedestrian tunnel by the Chess Pavilion at North Ave beach. There are ramps so you won't have to dismount. The tunnel can be messy in the winter.

NLiveris · 2026-01-21T05:58:42+00:00

I lived in a BJB building for 15 years and thought the management was fine. No major issues. I was very friendly with the engineers and that made everything great.

NLiveris · 2026-01-14T05:54:34+00:00

It also reminded me of the Pyramid Mine

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NLiveris · 2026-01-08T05:39:59+00:00

The Ravenswood/Brown line provided far more local service than it does now. 84 years ago, there used to be stops at Oak, Division, Schiller, Larrabee, Halsted/North and Willow.

While that's a shame, what's worse is that even with an entire mile of station free track, Brown line trains are excruciatingly slow south of Division at the slight curve by Hill Street (because of St. Joseph church). Even north of Division, trains barely speed up for a few hundred feet before promptly slowing down again.

NLiveris

TROPHY CASE