There was an interesting article in Preservation Magazine this month about Chicago's Historic African American neighborhoods. The author, Jennifer Farwell, tied her hope for the existing blighted areas to the historic election of Barack Obama. Written with an upbeat sense of optimism, she points out the importance of preservation and telling stories about history through the scant surviving buildings that remain in Chicago. One of the pictures in the article was of the Chicago Defender building at 3435 S. Indiana Avenue. The picture of the door, also in the article, is at 24th and Michigan (the newspaper was once located in this building.) I know because while taking pictures of Motor Row I came across the building and snapped a picture of the door. It's detail, although shabby and in need of repair, reflected the opulent times of that era.

Home of Taste of Chicago, Grant Park is comprised of 220 acres and beautiful lakefront views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Some yearly activities hosted at the James C. Petrillo Music Shell are the Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival and the Chicago Gospel Festival. Free music concerts at the James C. Petrillo Music Shell debuted in 1935 due to the efforts of James Petrillo who wanted to offer classical music available for all Chicagoans and their guests, and to secure employment for union musicians. Buckingham Fountain, seen below, sits in the center of Grant Park, overlooking all the activity. This fountain was a gift to the city from Kate Buckingham in honor of her brother Clarence. Its 150 foot plume of water is eye-stopping from May until mid-October. At night it is lit with 780 colored lights. Along this stretch of Lake Michigan you will see sailboats, yachts, bicyclists, runners, volleyball and softball games and plenty of sightseers.

Prairie Avenue Today

Members of Chicago's elitist society have always been sought out by people who want to know how the "rich and famous" lived. Chicago had two distinct areas in which the prominent people lived, the north side and the south side. Prairie Avenue, in South Loop, was home to many prosperous Chicagoans such as Marshall Field, George M. Pullman, Philip Armour, and Fernando Jones. The picture on the right shows what Prairie Avenue looks like today. The avenue experienced a rebirth when builders took an interest in this area. Building began in earnest in early 2000 and continues to flourish today. A handful of original homes from 1870-1890 still remain. Preservation is important in Chicago. Many dedicated individuals and groups work diligently to preserve what remains of Chicago's history.