It *is* a good friday

I had today off from work, so I slept in an extra half hour, took the dog on a rare weekday morning walk, and got a long-awaited haircut. Indeed it was a Good Friday!

I then planned on embarking on a project for work, which was to take photographs of homes in the Wicker Park neighborhood for a new client specializing in real estate consulting in the area.

I strapped on a fancy schmancy Nikon D80 borrowed from a friend, and off I went, traipsing through Wicker Park. What was intended to be a quick shoot for work turned into more of a personal exploration of my neighborhood by foot as I began to open my eyes to the lovely details that I never noticed before.

If you ask me, the other neighborhoods in Chicago have a defined, distinct personality: Lincoln Park – expensive single family homes, young college students, and yuppy professionals; Streeterville/Gold Coast – old money and swanky condos; Andersonville = Boystown! But Wicker Park has always perplexed me because there is no one predominant reigning culture. Here is my photographic essay of the neighborhood as I set out to figure out once and for all "What is Wicker Park?":

I started the trek through my immediate neighborhood, and saw many old brick homes along my street boasting original exteriors. The photo on the far right is the home I want to buy, it's only a cool three quarters of a million dollars.

Spooky old Pulaski Fieldhouse built in 1912 with Eastern European architectural style. It's really THE perfect setting for the Halloween haunted house and hay rides.

Easter window display in the curious little dentist office at the corner of Ashland and Blackhawk. I've walked by at different hours of the week and weekend, and I have never seen anyone in there, either as an employee or a patient – and yet somehow overnight the window display is elaborately changed out each holiday!

I found a surprising amount of murals and paintings than I realized existed in Wicker Park, all along Milwaukee Avenue – some more random than others, like this happy penguin opposite a weird older man with sunglasses. Anyone know who that's supposed to be?

Bob Marley mural: "Rise All Freedom Fighters – Rise and Take Your Stance Once Again"

Winding my way down Milwaukee Avenue; Earwax Cafe (mmmm) was the first place The Fella and I ate at when we moved to Chicago in 2007.

More eclectic buildings, restaurants, and shops along Milwaukee Avenue.

Found myself wandering off Damen Avenue to the residential areas, lined with graceful, old homes full of charm.

Strolled down Damen by the Blue Line, then down to the bustling intersection of North / Milwaukee / Damen avenues.

See Cheetah Gym on North Avenue? It used to be MTV's Real World House Chicago.


Flash Taco and Hollywood Grill Diner, both long-standing eating establishments in Wicker Park, as you can see from the AWESOME 70s color palettes and graphics.

So, what is Wicker Park?

After today's jaunt through town, I say it's a neighborhood suffering from an incoherent identity crisis caused by an eclectic artist vibe mixed with a rough past of gang history still felt today, colorful, cultural touches of ethnic Mexican and Polish minorities, gentrification by young, white Caucasians, and old and new buildings alike with a lot of character and a touch of the gritty.

And I love it all. This is my neighborhood.