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GSA Considering Demolition of Berghoff Restaurant for Federal Center Expansion

Since 2005, the General Services Administration has been acquiring buildings on the State Street block adjoining Federal Center to eventually demolish and build out new office space. The Chicago Loop’s historic Berghoff Restaurant, on the same block, has been protected from those plans. Until now.

A Hasty “Time Out” for Chicago Architecture

Two weeks ago, Time Out Chicago published the winners of a Chicago photo contest that asked readers to submit photos representing the Windy City. There were no restrictions placed on subject matter. So why did the magazine’s editors decide to completely disqualify photos of Chicago’s world-famous built environment?

Big Trouble Over Huge Sandwich

Yesterday, the Macy’s on State Street signage troubles that I uncovered weren’t the only public-relations blunder dogging the Cincinnati-based department store giant, Federated. Full-court press also went to the South Loop’s Eleven City Diner for daring to serve a sandwich named after the defunct Marshall Field’s–a sandwich that actually earned a cease-and-desist letter from Federated.

CHICAGO CARLESS Tips Citywide Media on Macy’s Blundered Signage

Yesterday, my blog post about signage in the new Macy’s State Street that invented names of Chicago streets made citywide news. Then it made national news. And none of that would have happened if Federated staff had simply bothered to look at a map of the Loop. Or proofread. Or realize that the correct street names are already printed above every exit in the former Marshall Field’s flagship store.

Who Should Pay for Chicago’s Sidewalk Maps?

If you’ve been in downtown Chicago this summer, you’ve seen them: ten-foot-tall metal pylons containing a glass-encased city map on one side and an ad or cultural announcement on the other. In recent months, 75 of the information signs have been installed on sidewalks throughout the Loop, paid for entirely with ad revenue. So what’s the problem? According to Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin, placing ads on the signs cheapens the public streetscape. I couldn’t disagree more.

Macy’s Invents Street Names on New Store Maps

I’m glad I had my camera with me today when I took a shortcut through Chicago’s new Macy’s State Street. All this week, workers have been busily installing new awnings outside the store and information maps within. Trouble is, no one actually proofread the new store maps before posting them throughout the store. Ever heard of Wabash ‘Street,’ or Washington or Randolph ‘Avenue’? Neither have I. But as these photos show, that’s how Macy’s labeled the streets on every new map in the store.

A Greater State Street

Marshall Field’s becoming Macy’s and Carson Pirie Scott’s flagship store becoming no more do not portend the end of commercial life on State Street. Really.

A Public in Civility

Recently, my Korean foodie friend, (‘I don’t freaking look like Margaret Cho!’) Rozella, and I were discussing what we liked about Chicago. Unlike me, Rozella’s a native, and we both stay here for different reasons. Rozella wants to be close to her family. I’m here simply because strangers say ‘hi’ to each other. It’s a friendly way of being completely absent from my NYC hometown.

CTA Introduces “Bemont Avenue” on 3,000 Wrong Maps

Sometimes I feel a bit guilty about the bad props I give the Chicago Transit Authority. Trouble is, as experience shows, time and again when you give the CTA enough rope, they just seem to hang themselves. Like they just did again, by installing 3,000 on-board system maps–without proofreading them first. ‘Bemont’ Avenue, anyone?