Andersonville

Crime

Vandals smash Palestine flag window display at Women & Children First bookstore

A window of the Andersonville feminist bookstore displaying a Palestine flag and a sign calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war was shattered early Wednesday. Police are investigating.

By Kade Heather

LGBTQIA+

Trans activist Elise Malary honored with honorary street designation in Andersonville

Ald. Andre Vazquez, who sponsored the legislation to designate part of West Catalpa Avenue as “Elise Malary Way” along with Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, said it was the first street in Chicago named after a Black trans woman.

By Violet Miller

This mural of a squirrel was created by Andersonville artist John Airo.

People are going nuts over this North Side mural

By Sun-Times staff

The 1600 block of West Foster Avenue in Andersonville.

Crime

Firefighter charged in shooting of driver in road rage incident released on electronic monitoring

“You call the police and you report it,” a Cook County judge told Chicago firefighter Omotayo Kassim, who is accused of critically wounding a driver in Andersonville.

By Mohammad Samra, Cindy Hernandez, and 1 more

Crime

Firefighter charged with attempted murder in road rage shooting — ‘Don’t move or I’ll shoot,’ witness recounts

Police say Omotayo Kassim shot a motorist who hit his car and attempted to flee on New Year’s Eve in Andersonville. Kassim is in custody. The victim is on life support.

By Mohammad Samra and Cindy Hernandez

Crime

Man shot in suspected road rage incident in Andersonville

The man attempting to make a U-turn in the 1600 block of West Foster Avenue about 7:55 p.m. Sunday was shot by another motorist. The victim is in critical condition.

By Sun-Times Wire

Obituaries

Jeffrey Carlson, Chicago actor who played transgender character on ‘All My Children,’ remembered as ‘stellar’ stage performer

Mr. Carlson, who acted at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater as well as the Goodman, died July 6 at 48.

By Mitch Dudek

Iggy Ladden, a co-founder of Chicago Therapy Collective, stands in front of a mural in the Andersonville neighborhood for Elise Malary, a transgender activist who went missing and was found dead in Lake Michigan last year.

LGBTQIA+

Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community ‘visible, vibrant’ — but concerned for transgender members’ ability to live freely

As Pride Month comes to a close, the Sun-Times spoke to advocates, service providers and members of the LGBTQ+ community about issues affecting them — and what more needs to be done to protect them.

By Tina Sfondeles

Candidates running in the 48th Ward, (top row, left to right) Larry Svabek, Nick Ward, Joe Dunne, Andre Peloquin, Brian Haag. (bottom row, left to right) Isaac Freilich Jones, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, Roxanne Volkmann, Andy Peters, Nassir Faulkner.

Elections

Two North Side wards, two retirements — and 16 choices for voters

Ten people are elbowing for position in the 48th Ward, angling to succeed Ald. Harry Osterman, and six are eyeing the neighboring 46th Ward, hoping to succeed Ald. James Cappleman

By Kade Heather

A painting of the Vasa outside the Swedish restaurant SVEA at 5236 N. Clark St. in Andersonville, the once-heavily Swedish neighborhood.

Andersonville mural features 17th century ship that was the pride of the Swedish navy (just very briefly)

By Sun-Times staff

Avondale artist Jeff Pak painted this pink tiger in July on a viaduct in Andersonville.

Jeff Pak’s mural of a pink tiger in Andersonville speaks to his Korean heritage (and creating cool art)

By Nicky Andrews

Austin Bumgartener performs a trick at the Chicago Magic Lounge, 5050 N. Clark St., a sophisticated cabaret hidden behind a fake laundromat. The club is open seven days a week.

Columnists

Drawing fun out of a hat

Chicago Magic Lounge — hidden behind a fake laundromat, complete with spinning dryers — honors the city’s history of cabaret magic.

By Neil Steinberg

Obituaries

Shirley Haas, writer, reporter, raconteur, bookstore owner, dead at 97

Her Fiery Clock Face bookstore in Andersonville was a gathering spot for bibliophiles and her annual New Year’s Eve party was an ‘A-list’ event.

By Thomas Frisbie

Searah Daysach began Early to Bed, her Andersonville shop, 20 years ago because she felt the experience of buying sex toys was not as fun as it should be.

Columnists

A man walks into a sex toy shop ...

Early to Bed, an Andersonville shop selling a colorful array of sex toys and devices, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

By Neil Steinberg

Former Chicago police Sgt. Eric Elkins was sentenced Thursday to probation for his role in beating two men outside an Andersonville bar in 2018.

Crime

Ex-cop gets probation for off-duty beating outside Andersonville bar

Erik Elkins, 47, also has to perform 40 hours of community service and is banned from working in law enforcement.

By Matthew Hendrickson

Andersonville

Andersonville Farmers Market opens with higher capacity, fewer restrictions

Shoppers visiting the Andersonville Farmers Market can now bring furry friends and touch products before making their purchases. Masks, social distancing and the use of sanitizer are still required though.

By Mari Devereaux

Chicago

Car window shattered by ‘dibs’ chair in Andersonville

A man found his friend’s car window smashed by a chair he says was on the sidewalk when he parked last weekend.

By Matt Moore

Jun Phan (left), a student at EKF Martial Arts spars with owner and head coach Tony Marquez during a boxing class in June. While group classes are no longer offered under new statewide restrictions, one-on-one classes are still allowed in gyms.

News

Local businesses brace for impact new COVID restrictions: ‘We’re not Amazon. We’re not Google.’

“There are guidelines that we’re trying to follow as best we can ... but it does make it very difficult to make ends meet,” said Tony Marquez, owner of EFK Martial Arts in Edgewater. “We’re not this giant company that can take a sustained hit.”

By Sam Charles

Shops line busy North Clark Street, one of the main drags in Andersonville, where downzoning is common.

City at the Crossroads

Chicago zoning is a mess that we need a plan to fix

We haven’t produced a comprehensive land-use plan since 1966. Without one, Chicago will not grow, City at the Crossroads columnist Ed Zotti writes.

By Ed Zotti

Police investigate after a woman was found dead in a burning car Nov. 22, 2019, in the 1400 block of West Farragut Avenue.

News

Woman found dead in burning car in Andersonville: police

Officers responded to reports of a car fire in the 1400 block of West Farragut Avenue and found the woman’s body in the back seat, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire