IrvingParkIrene

Bungalow owner since 1998. Knows the permit office too well.

Recent posts

1. Open House Chicago Oct 17-18. Which buildings are worth the line?

   Oct 3, 2026

   The private clubs can be a real letdown. We waited 90 minutes for one in the Gold Coast and they rushed us through two rooms and that was it. My best experience was focusing on the unique industrial sites. One year we we...

2. Cubs and Padres again in the Wild Card. Who is watching where?

   Sep 30, 2026

   You should check out one of the neighborhood taverns on Pulaski, just south of Irving Park. The one near the library usually has a good crowd for Cubs games. It is mostly neighborhood regulars and some families grabbing...

3. Jefferson Park or Portage Park for a young family?

   Sep 22, 2026

   You're really splitting hairs here, and I say that as someone who lives right between both. The border is completely porous. You can live in one and use the amenities of the other every single day. The real difference is...

4. Parking meter sale to Stonepeak cleared committee. What actually changes for us?

   Sep 22, 2026

   I don't know if I agree it's literally nothing, Rob. I read that the new company might actually invest in upgrading the hardware. I'd kill for that. Half the meters along Milwaukee Ave north of the junction are so faded...

5. Fender bender in Lincoln Park. Body shop recommendations on the North Side?

   Sep 21, 2026

   I have to disagree with going to a small shop, Eddie. I did that once with a place over by me in Irving Park and got burned. The paint match looked okay at first, but after one Chicago winter with the salt and ice, the c...

6. First winter in a 1920s bungalow. What do I do before it gets cold?

   Sep 16, 2026

   Rob is right, get the audit first so you know where to focus your money. And PortageParkMom is 100% correct about the hose bib. While you're at it, go into the basement and find the interior shutoff valve for that pipe,...