Letter to the editor in support of Ray Lodato's First District Congressional Bid

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posted by chicago pop
We have been asked to post this letter to the editor, rejected by the Hyde Park Herald and the Chicago Tribune, from Mr. Alex Gomez. Mr. Gomez is Campaign Manager for Ray Lodato's bid for the First District Congressional seat currently held by Bobby Rush.

To the Editor,

Democratic Congressional candidate Raymond Lodato has promised to "get the First District back to work." We share his concern with bringing jobs to the district, and are additionally concerned about Congressman Rush's dismal voting record, which was recently explored by The Chicago Tribune newspaper. Rush's claim to 'seniority' is absolutely hollow. He is not the ranking minority member on any committee. Five Democratic representatives who arrived in Washington the same year he did are, as are another four who arrived after him. But ranking minority members, like committee chairs, are chosen by their fellow representatives based on the respect they command. Rush commands little respect from his colleagues, so his constituents don't benefit from his many years in Congress. He has longevity, not seniority. Fortunately, we have an alternative in Raymond Lodato, who will be a forceful, independent and effective Representative for the District.

                                                                              Respectfully,

                                                                              Rebecca Janowitz
                                                                              Joan Merlin Palmer
                                                                              Linda Swift
                                                                              Duel Richardson
                                                                              Judy Jakush
                                                                              Edward "Ted" Fetters

Shoesmith and Murray Add Reformers to LSC's

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-posted by chicago pop
The results of yesterday's local school council (LSC) elections are in for the two most hotly contested races. At both Murray and Shoesmith, reformers were successful in gaining seats on both councils on the back of extraordinary voter turnout at both locations. This is a strong sign that Hyde Park and Kenwood residents are against two things: backsliding (Murray) and the status quo (Shoesmith). It is an equally strong sign that they are for maintaining and improving the public school options available to residents of Hyde Park and Kenwood - and are willing to put in the time to make it happen.
This could be the local impact of an overall spike in CPS (and Catholic school) enrollment, due in part to a continued sluggish economy that is sending more and more families into the public school system - as opposed to private schools or suburban districts. It could also be the buds of a distinctly local parent activism, akin to similar movements that have taken shape on the North Side, as a core of local parents commit to improving public education options in the neighborhood
At Murray, the reformist Parents for Murray group saw its top four "Slate for Change" parent candidates pull in the most votes, together with a community member endorsed by the group. Together this represents a significant contingent of new voices to agitate for change at HP-K's beloved magnet school:
Parents
Josephine Njoku-Sanders: 240
Thomas Hoffer: 230
Michael Ewing: 227
Julie Hammond: 198
Community Members:
Michael Scott: 81

A similar story at Shoesmith. Here is a school in the heart of the neighborhood that has just signed a new principal. She is open to new ideas and is testing the waters for ways to improve the school's performance and make it an option for more neighborhood children. Unprecedented voter turnout for an LSC election landed two community members on the council who are both education professionals: Lina Fritz and Tom McDougal.

Community Members:
Lina Fritz - 96 votes
Tom McDougal - 78 votes
Camille Hamilton-Doyle - 73 votes
Roxanne Brown - 36 votes

 Both of them not only know the data on urban education inside and out, but can collaborate with the administration and demand accountability, to make sure what's being done is what works, and that Shoesmith reaches out to the neighborhood.

Worth noting in both cases were the high numbers of community member (non-parent) voters: out of 153 eligible votes cast in the Shoesmsith LSC election, 81 were cast by community members, 72 by parents. I don't have a similar breakdown for the votes at Murray, but the word is that community turnout there was also very strong. Undoubtedly some of those community votes were parents of children attending other schools.

The message is pretty clear: wherever your students come from, you're in Hyde Park. We all have an interest in how well you do.

Orly's/The Big Easy: 'Evidence of Rodents on Site'

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-posted by chicago pop
Despite what was breezily reported in the Herald today ("Fridge Fritz Foils Big Easy," Lindsay Welbers, September 5, 2012), the recent shut-down of the culinary dark-star which, however many aliases it may assume in order to distance itself from its past, will always be known as Orly's, it appears that the restaurant's recent shutdown by the Chicago Department of Public Health was much more than a refrigerator problem.
Highlights of the recent report (dated August 27, 2012), written in mouth-watering detail and sure to annotate the next version of the menu, include but are not limited to: mice droppings in container of corn meal; sewage and waste-water backup on floor; a cooler with internal temperature of 95F; waste-water overflowing from drain; foul odor in women's toilet (and other places); evidence of rodents on site; mice droppings behind the bar, storage rooms, and dining area; my own personal favorite here - 'rodent rub marks'; extreme grease and food debris buildup; dirty surfaces; dust, debris, and spiderwebs (!); and broken tiles
But I guess that's all been fixed now.
Read for yourself below, or here:

August 27, 2012

Doing business as

Orly's/Jalapeno

License number

1978

Facility type

Restaurant

Risk

Risk 1 (High)

Inspection type

Complaint Re-Inspection

Results

Fail

Violations

2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE
Comments:REACH IN COOLER IN POOR REPAIR, INTERNAL TEMPERATURE 50F. INSTD TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE OF 40F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. ALL COOLERS ON PREMISES MUST BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURES OF 40F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES OR REMOVE COOLERS IN POOR REPAIR.
10. SEWAGE AND WASTE WATER DISPOSAL, NO BACK SIPHONAGE, CROSS CONNECTION AND/OR BACK FLOW
Comments:SEWAGE/WASTE WATER BACK-UP AND ACCUMULATING ON FLOOR FROM FLOOR DRAIN WHEN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK PLUMBING TURNED ON. ALSO WALK-IN COOLER DRAIN CLOGGED, WASTE WATER OVERFLOWING FROM DRAIN AND ONTO FLOOR. INSTD TO REPAIR SAME. FOUL ODOR NOTED IN SAME AREA.
11. ADEQUATE NUMBER, CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE, DESIGNED, AND MAINTAINED
Comments:WOMENS TOILETS IN POOR REPAIR, ONE WITH NO WATER, OTHER UNABLE TO FLUSH. FOUL ODOR NOTED IN SAME AREA. INSTD TO REPAIR SAME.
14. PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION CORRECTED, 7-42-090
Comments:CONTINUED NON COMPLIANCE, EVIDENCE OF RODENTS ON SITE. NOTED MICE DROPPINGS (OVER 30) SCATTERED IN VARIOUS AREAS BEHIND BAR,IN DRY STORAGE ROOM,(MICE DROPPINGS NOTED IN CONTAINER OF CORN MEAL), IN CORNERS IN DINING AREA,UNDER SHELVES AND ALONG SIDE COOLERS/FREEZERS IN OFFICE/STORAGE AREA, ALSO NOTED RODENT RUB MARKS ALONG WALLBASE NEXT TO DROPPINGS IN DINING AREA. STORAGE AREA BY EXIT DOOR. MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS. INSTD TO HAVE ADDITIONAL SERVICE FROM PEST CONTROL. NOTED REAR DOOR NOT RODENT PROOF AT THIS TIME, APPROX. 1/2 INCH GAP NOTED AT BOTTOM OF DOOR. INSTD TO RODENT PROOF DOOR AND HAVE TIGHT FITTING.
33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
Comments:MUST DETAIL CLEAN INTERIOR OF ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT AND PREP TABLES. MUST REMOVE ALL EXTREME GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP THROUGHOUT. MUST ALSO CLEAN SODA GUNS BEHIND BAR AREA AND INTERIOR OF ALL COOLERS. ALSO DETAIL CLEAN WINDOW SILLS AND ALL DIRTY SURFACES THROUGHOUT. CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTD TO CLEAN ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT FREE OF DUST, DEBRIS, SPIDERWEBS, DROPPINGS, TOOLS, SCREWS, ETC.
34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVERING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
Comments:MUST DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS UNDER COOK LINE,BEHIND BAR, IN DISH WASHING AREAS AND IN ALL STORAGE AREAS. MUST PROPERLY REPAIR BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN BAR AREA AND IN PREP AREA. FLOOR MUST BE SMOOTH, EVEN, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
Comments:MUST CLEAN WALLS NEXT TO FRYERS, DISH MACHINE, STOVE, & THROUGHOUT. MAKING ALL WALLS AND CEILING SMOOTH-EASY CLEANABLE AND TIGHT FITTING.
38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
Comments:MUST REPAIR LEAKY FAUCET AND PIPES AT 2 COMPARTMENT SINK
41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY CLEAN AND MAINTAIN UNUSED EQUIPMENT OR REMOVE

Children's Resources during Teacher Strike

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-posted by chicago pop
A few resources for school age children that we've been asked to publicize, in the increasingly likely event of next week's anticipated teacher's strike (beginning September 10):
From the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club:
 (Right-click on image and click 'View Image' to enlarge)

And this, from the Chicago JCC:

Dear JCC Families,

The prospect of a strikein Chicago Public Schools is a frustrating situation for teachers, administration,and most importantly, the families and children impacted by the possibilityof no school. We would like you to know that JCC Chicago will be able tomeet your child care needs with engaging safe and fun day long activities,should a strike go into effect.

JCC will offer specialprogramming at Bernard Horwich JCC, Florence Heller JCC, and Hyde ParkJCC.  Programming will run from 8:00am to 3:30pm.  If you needto extend your child’s day, late care will be available from 3:30-6:00pm. While engaged in programming, children will travel to Mayer KaplanJCC to participate in daily specialty curriculum including art, sports,swimming, and other educational experiences.

Program costs will be$50/day (8:00am-3:30pm) and late care will be an additional $15/day (3:30-6:00pm). For students enrolled in JCC AfterSchool, there will be no additionalcharge for late care.   Services will remain in effect until schoolis back in session; however, JCC will be closed on September 17 and 18.

We will open online registrationfor Monday through Wednesday .  Advance registration is recommendedand appreciated as space may be limited. Should the strike not go intoeffect, your registration fees can be applied to other JCC programs orwill be refunded.

For further information,please contact us at any time.



Julie Rash
Manager of JCC AfterSchool
773-938-8342
jrash@gojcc.org

Andrea Berlow
Manager of Vacation DayPrograms
224-406-9207
aberlow@gojcc.org

Andrea Berlow
Manager of Vacation Day Programs       
JCC Chicago
p: 224-406-9207
f:  224-406-9272
aberlow@gojcc.org
http://www.gojcc.org
 
JCCchicago
bringing Jewish values tolife!
 
Help the environment anddon't print this email unless you really need to!

  

Orly's Fails September 20 Inspection

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September 20, 2012 [go here for text of inspection at Everyblock]

Orly's/Jalapeno

Risk 1 (High)

Results

Fail

Violations

14. PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION CORRECTED, 7-42-090
Comments:CONTINUED NON COMPLIANCE, EVIDENCE OF RODENTS AND INSECTS ON SITE. NOTED MICE DROPPINGS (APPROXIMATELY 30) SCATTERED IN VARIOUS AREAS BEHIND BAR,IN DRY STORAGE ROOM, IN CORNERS IN DINING AREA,BEHIND BOOTH ALONG WALL BASE,UNDER SHELVES AND ALONG SIDE COOLERS/FREEZERS IN OFFICE/STORAGE AREA,BEHIND EQUIPMENT AND THROUGHOUT. MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND HAVE SERVICE FROM PEST CONTROL. ALSO NOTED LIVE INSECTS ON SITE. NOTED APPROXIMATELY 6 LIVE LARGE FLIES IN FRONT STORAGE AREA NEAR UNUSED OVEN,IN DINING AREA AND IN PREP AREA. ALSO NOTED 2 LIVE ROACHES ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE DISH MACHINE. MUST REMOVE INSECTS,SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND HAVE THE PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE AREAS.
32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
Comments:REMOVE RANCID GREASE ON INTERIOR OF FRYERS.
33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
Comments:MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF FREEZERS AND REMOVE FOUL ODORS. ALSO DETAIL CLEAN WINDOW SILLS AND ALL DIRTY SURFACES THROUGHOUT. CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT FREE OF DUST, DEBRIS, SPIDERWEBS, DROPPINGS, TOOLS, SCREWS, ETC.
34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVERING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY REPAIR BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN BAR AREA AND UNDER SMALL PREP COOLER. FLOOR MUST BE SMOOTH, EVEN, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY CLEAN AND MAINTAIN UNUSED EQUIPMENT OR REMOVE.

PREMIUM RUSH: As Silly As It Is Thrilling

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PREMIUM RUSH (Dir. David Koepp, 2012)


We first meet Joseph Gordon-Levitt in mid-air as he falls in slow motion off his bicycle to the opening synth progression of The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” in the first minute of this thriller.

We don’t learn how this accident came about until later in the movie, because this is one of those fractured narratives that backs up in time, moves forward, then back again, sometimes through the same scenes, but from other perspectives, with an onscreen clock popping up to let us know where we’re at.

It’s a gimmicky and self-consciously flashy approach, but it weaves as swiftly through the film as Gordon-Levitt does through the streets of Manhattan as a bike-messenger who just might have a death-wish, as his co-workers note.

You see, Gordon-Levitt, who dropped out from Columbia University's law school, doesn’t believe in brakes, and has fixed gears on his beat-up bike. His mind seems only set to quickly figure out the best route through traffic and pedestrians so we get to see his imagined scenarios for the disastrous routes he decides against, which is pretty neat. As are full screen shots of Gordon-Levitt’s GPS system, and CGI projections of the cityscape that show thick yellow lines representing his path.

Our hero’s dangerous job gets even more life threatening when he picks up an envelope that contains something that a corrupt cop (Michael Shannon) is after. This MacGuffin propels the big compelling cat and mouse game that is PREMIUM RUSH, an experience that’s engaging enough that one can ignore lame lines (Shannon actually yells: “Aw, come on! Give it to me!”), and a few overly contrived set-pieces.

None of that gets in the way of the fun. There’s spirited energy in the stunt-work (Gordon-Levitt did some of his own stunts - one of which led to a bust-up with a taxi), the sharp cinematography of the streets (shot by Mitchell Amundsen), and the largely likable casting, including Dania Ramirez as Gordon-Levitt’s tough girlfriend, Wolé Parks as his rival who's trying to woo Ramirez, The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi as a wise-cracking dispatch, and Jamie Chung as a scared young Chinese woman who’s wrapped up with whatever’s in that mysterious envelope.

Gordon-Levitt carries the movie with confidence, but in Shannon as the villain we just might have the best comic performance of the summer. I’m serious - his turn as the twisted sociopathic gambling-addicted cop chasing Gordon-Levitt is hilarious with his squeaky maniacal laugh, and cranky complaints about his pained predicaments. Shannon’s funnier than either Will Ferrell or Zach Galifianakis in THE CAMPAIGN, or nearly any other character in a recent comedy that I can think of. He obviously had a blast playing the part, and it's a blast to watch him steal every scene he's in.

The as-silly-as-it-is-thrilling PREMIUM RUSH isn’t premium entertainment, but it’s a good fast-paced piece of escapism for the late summer. When it cuts to a video clip of Gordon-Levitt taken right after he really smashed into the back window of a taxi during the end credits, you can see that even in injury they were laughing about it and having a great time. For a considerable amount of its 91-minute running time, I was too.
More later...

CELESTE & JESSE: Our latest anti-rom com couple

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CELESTE & JESSE FOEVER (Dir. Lee Toland Krieger, 2012)

Looks like another anti-rom com to me. Here we have Parks and Recreation’s Rashida Jones and SNL’s Andy Samberg as a Los Angeles couple who are getting a divorce, yet they are still inseparable. This greatly annoys their friends, Ari Graynor and Eric Christian Olsen, who are engaged, we learn at an opening restaurant dinner scene, in which Jones and Samberg do silly German accents, and giggle to each other.

We get the picture shortly afterwards that Jones is the responsible successful career woman, and Samberg is the underachieving artsy man-child, who would fit right in to a Judd Apatow movie. Samberg wants to reconcile, and that doesn’t seem so unlikely, as Jones is obviously hesitant to move on, but things get complicated when Samberg finds out that a woman he had a fling with (Rebecca Dayan) is pregnant.

Sounds like a rom com set-up, right? But hold on, the smart screenplay, co-written by Jones and Will McCormack (who also appears in the film as a pot dealer named Skillz), has better a more realistic sense to it. Adding to that is Lee Toland Krieger’s swift direction which gives it a slices-of-life feel.

The film is told from Jones’ point of view, and it’s an appealingly self-deprecating point of view. Her exchanges with a possible new suitor (Chris Messina - no stranger to anti-rom coms as he was just in RUBY SPARKS), refreshingly display that these are layered characters, not caricatures. So much so that when Messina asks Jones “You wanna be right, or you wanna be happy?” it doesn’t come off as a contrived line - it feels as natural and believable as just about everything else on screen.

Maybe there are some superfluous elements, such as Elijah Wood as a co-worker of Jones who seems to know he’s only there to be a saucy gay friend (especially since he says “Sorry, I was trying to be your saucy gay friend”), and Emma Roberts as a snotty pop star client Jones has to deal with, but they don’t get in the way of the emotional pull at all.

With the right balance of laughs and touching moments, CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER is an effective movie mediation on how difficult it can be to move on.

It’s also time well spent with a couple of up and coming talents. It’s nice to see that Samberg can dial back the excessive wackiness (don’t get me wrong – I love him on SNL and HOT ROD is actually a very funny film), and show off some dramatic chops, and Jones gets a choice chance to carry a movie in her first leading role (her smart parts in THE SOCIAL NETWORK and THE MUPPETS barely hinted at her range).

I believe that BRIDESMAIDS started a trend in re-thinking the tired rom com formulas, (though that was a pretty outlandish and fairly non-realistic take on the genre) and films like this are going to be more and more welcome. Like last spring’s FRIENDS WITH KIDS, this is a enjoyable addition to the anti-rom com community.
More later...

Frankly, My Robot, I Somehow Give A Damn

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ROBOT & FRANK (Dir. Jake Schreier, 2012)


“He’s my friend,” Frank Langella says of his robot partner in crime in the new comedy drama ROBOT & FRANK. It’s a simple line, but when quietly spoken by the grand actor, it’s utterly believable, and even a little moving.
Also soft-spoken and convincing is the robot, which looks like it was manufactured by the same company that created EVE from WALL-E, that is, before they could outfit them to fly. This relationship largely works because of the inspired choice of Peter Sarsgaard to voice the never-named robot.

Set in the near future, and mostly taking place in a rickety old house in upstate New York, this film’s premise is cute, even a bit flimsy, but its likability factor is high.

Langella, playing the kind of crusty cranky character he could play in his sleep, is a retired jewel thief, whose son (James Marsden) gives him the robot, and when Frank finds out that his new helper wasn’t programmed to obey the law (and can pick locks in record time), he’s back in the robbery game.

Langella has eyes for the local librarian (a fine but flightier than usual Susan Sarandon), who is dealing with the re-structuring, or re-imaging of her workplace into some kind of new-fangled interactive “library experience” by a group of snobby young rich hipsters headed by Jeremy Strong.

Strong is the target of Frank’s latest sting, but conflict arrives in the form of Liv Tyler as Frank’s hippy daughter who is a part of the anti-robot “human movement.” Although the film’s tagline is “Friendship doesn’t have an off switch,” Tyler has a password that de-activates the robot, and this makes for one of the weakest and least thought out sequences in the film. Frank never thinks to call Marsden for the password, and the way the situation is resolved is really lazy writing.

That doesn’t ruin the film though, not even the shoe-horned in detective character (Jeremy Sisto) on the trail can do that, as the charming camaraderie between Frank and his robot make this a breezily enjoyable 89 minutes at the movies.

Director Schreier, who was the keyboardist for the indie band Francis and the Lights who provide the film’s soundtrack, shuffles pleasantly through the screenplay by Christopher D. Ford, and it’s a promising full-length film debut for both of them.

Even in such a light movie, Langella is a heavy presence. ROBOT & FRANK is capable enough to both capture his poignant power and hold our attention.

More later...

James Cameron's Populist Classic TITANIC Now Out On Blu ray

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Having not seen it since its release in 1997, I had forgotten how damn long TITANIC is. I mean it’s an hour and forty minutes into James Cameron’s enormous money-making machine of a movie, which releases this week on Blu ray, before the ship even hits that infamous iceberg! 

Until then we have to wade through a set-up in which the historical background competes with the lame Leonardo Dicaprio/Kate Winslet love story, and that can be really tough going. 

Especially when the dialogue heavily appears to pander to teenage girls; take for instance this bit of Gloria Stuart’s (as the elder version of Winslet’s character) narration in the present-day wraparound: “It was a ship of dreams…to everyone else. To me it was a slave-ship, taking me back to America in chains. Outwardly, I was everything a well brought up girl should be. Inside, I was screaming.”

But the impressive scale of the film, happily obscures much of that ickiness. 

The almost full-scale replication of the ship makes for an astounding set, and there are many sweeping shots that show it off nicely. The history lesson embedded in the narrative also distracts from the sappy cheesiness of the star-crossed lovers scenario, but we all know that that scenario was what made the movie such a huge hit.
The Blu ray transfer looks fantastic, bringing out the shiny cinematography of Russell Carpenter which is undoubtedly his best work - though for a resume that includes SHALLOW HAL, MONSTER IN LAW, and a couple of Katherine Heigl films, that’s not saying much. I did find myself thinking that the lighting during the end scenes was unrealistic for the situation, but that's one of those things you can let slide with the ole 'eh - it's a movie' excuse.
Only a real cynic would deny that the “disaster related peril” (per the PG-13 disclaimer) that dominates the second half of “Titanic” - i.e. the ship sinking - is pretty spectacular stuff. It’s in those bombarding chaotic sequences that the film is able to truly bring together its themes of class divide, and depictions of the best and worst of humanity.

On an 1998 episode of Seinfeld that aired a few months after the release of TITANIC, George Constanza (Jason Alexander) tells Jerry that he just saw the movie and asks: “So that old woman...she’s just a liar, right?”
That nails what’s one of the most unsatisfying and frustrating aspects of the film: Why did that old woman throw the diamond, the “Heart of the Ocean” into the ocean at the end? Felt like a stupid selfish choice after Bill Paxton and his crew flew her to their Titanic-stationed salvage ship, and heard her tell her long detailed story, in hopes of finding that precious artifact, and she secretly discards the diamond when she’s finished. WTF?

Paxton tells the old lady’s granddaughter (Suzy Amis, who probably has 3-4 lines tops) that after three years of thinking of nothing but Titanic, he never really “got” it before. Well, that’s good because he’s sure not getting that diamond.

This new spiffy Blu ray of TITANIC, which follows the film’s 3D theatrical re-release, contains two and a half hours of new special features, in addition to the four hours that were previously available on DVD, so if you can’t get enough of TITANIC you are in for a treat. The bonus material includes 30 deleted scenes, 60 featurettes, and something called “Titanic: The Final Word With James Cameron,” that I bet isn’t his final word.
Interestingly, this week also brings the release of Bob Dylan’s 35th studio album, “Tempest,” which just happens to have an almost 14-minute track about the 1912 Titanic sinking. Dylan references the movie, name-drops DiCaprio, and describes the disaster in time to the Celtic country flavoring of his backing band.
Obviously, one hundred years later, folks are still making a fuss about the Titanic tragedy. Cameron uber successfully made the event into an event movie, that brought about years of backlash, but must be regarded as a populist classic. 

I'm sure Film buffs will still scoff at it, even when appreciating the excellent visuals of this exquisite new Blu ray edition, but I bet even they will admit that it’s much more preferable to our current TWILIGHT times, at least in the realm of teen romance epic wannabes.

More later...

As Dracula, Adam Sandler Is Required To Suck

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HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 
(Dir. Genndy Tartakovsky, 2012)


Those who have been waiting for a new fix of animated Adam Sandler hi-jinks - it’s been ten years since EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS after all - will surely overdose on his hammy take on Dracula in HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA, the new 3D CGI spectacle from the studio that brought you THE SMURFS.
Sandler, who also executive produced, does the typical Bela Lugosi impression for the voice of the famous vampire, except that he denies ever saying “bleh-bleh-bleh,” plays the ukulele, and can bust out a rhyme, you know, if the occasion calls for MC Dracula.
As the owner and creator of the lavish Hotel Transylvania, a vacation place only for monsters, Sandler’s Dracula is preparing for the 118th birthday of his precocious daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez), when trouble arrives in the form of an airheaded backpacking teenager named Jonathan (SNL's Andy Samberg).
Dracula does what he can as an overprotective father to shield Mavis from the intruding human, but she feels what screenwriters Peter Baynham, Robert Smigel (a Sandler collaborator since their SNL days), along with director Genndy Tartakovsky who did a re-write, insist on calling a “zing” (love at first site) for the wacky kid. Not sure why, she’s a hundred years older than him and should know better than to fall for such a doofus, but, oh well.

The huge cast of supporting celebrity voices features Frankenstein's Monster (Kevin James) and his wife Eunice (a more annoying than usual Fran Drescher, but that description fits almost everybody here), Wayne and Wanda Werewolf (Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon), and the party-monster Murray the Mummy (Cee Lo Green).

There’s also Griffin the Invisible Man, voiced by Sandler’s old fellow SNL buddy David Spade, who is a good example of how each of the classic creatures are just one joke characters, and the joke isn’t funny in the first place.
In fact none of HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA is funny, despite how energetic and over-the-top it is. It could have something to do with the sizable percentage of pee, poop, and fart jokes that take the place of wit. At least there’s only a few pop culture references, but the ones that are there (a Dave Matthews mention, a viewing of TWILIGHT on an iPad) are huge groaners.
The animation is fine but not especially inspired, and there’s no sense of stakes (I’m not making a vampire joke here) in the story-line, since we know Samberg’s Jonathan is no threat to anybody, and Sandler’s Dracula is really a good guy with a big heart who will see the light. Yawn.
By the way isn’t natural light supposed to kill vampires? The big over-caffeinated chase scene finale takes place in the pure sunlight of the morning, and Dracula only gets a little singed.
The ending has Samberg and Sandler show off their rap skills to a big obnoxious auto-tuned pop song, capping 90 minutes of crap aptly. My nephews (ages 8, 14, and 15), who I took to the screening, said they liked it, but I seriously doubt it will take up much space in their memory.


More later...

Children's Resources during Teacher Strike

To contact us Click HERE

-posted by chicago pop
A few resources for school age children that we've been asked to publicize, in the increasingly likely event of next week's anticipated teacher's strike (beginning September 10):
From the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club:
 (Right-click on image and click 'View Image' to enlarge)

And this, from the Chicago JCC:

Dear JCC Families,

The prospect of a strikein Chicago Public Schools is a frustrating situation for teachers, administration,and most importantly, the families and children impacted by the possibilityof no school. We would like you to know that JCC Chicago will be able tomeet your child care needs with engaging safe and fun day long activities,should a strike go into effect.

JCC will offer specialprogramming at Bernard Horwich JCC, Florence Heller JCC, and Hyde ParkJCC.  Programming will run from 8:00am to 3:30pm.  If you needto extend your child’s day, late care will be available from 3:30-6:00pm. While engaged in programming, children will travel to Mayer KaplanJCC to participate in daily specialty curriculum including art, sports,swimming, and other educational experiences.

Program costs will be$50/day (8:00am-3:30pm) and late care will be an additional $15/day (3:30-6:00pm). For students enrolled in JCC AfterSchool, there will be no additionalcharge for late care.   Services will remain in effect until schoolis back in session; however, JCC will be closed on September 17 and 18.

We will open online registrationfor Monday through Wednesday .  Advance registration is recommendedand appreciated as space may be limited. Should the strike not go intoeffect, your registration fees can be applied to other JCC programs orwill be refunded.

For further information,please contact us at any time.



Julie Rash
Manager of JCC AfterSchool
773-938-8342
jrash@gojcc.org

Andrea Berlow
Manager of Vacation DayPrograms
224-406-9207
aberlow@gojcc.org

Andrea Berlow
Manager of Vacation Day Programs       
JCC Chicago
p: 224-406-9207
f:  224-406-9272
aberlow@gojcc.org
http://www.gojcc.org
 
JCCchicago
bringing Jewish values tolife!
 
Help the environment anddon't print this email unless you really need to!

  

Orly's Fails September 20 Inspection

To contact us Click HERE

September 20, 2012 [go here for text of inspection at Everyblock]

Orly's/Jalapeno

Risk 1 (High)

Results

Fail

Violations

14. PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION CORRECTED, 7-42-090
Comments:CONTINUED NON COMPLIANCE, EVIDENCE OF RODENTS AND INSECTS ON SITE. NOTED MICE DROPPINGS (APPROXIMATELY 30) SCATTERED IN VARIOUS AREAS BEHIND BAR,IN DRY STORAGE ROOM, IN CORNERS IN DINING AREA,BEHIND BOOTH ALONG WALL BASE,UNDER SHELVES AND ALONG SIDE COOLERS/FREEZERS IN OFFICE/STORAGE AREA,BEHIND EQUIPMENT AND THROUGHOUT. MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND HAVE SERVICE FROM PEST CONTROL. ALSO NOTED LIVE INSECTS ON SITE. NOTED APPROXIMATELY 6 LIVE LARGE FLIES IN FRONT STORAGE AREA NEAR UNUSED OVEN,IN DINING AREA AND IN PREP AREA. ALSO NOTED 2 LIVE ROACHES ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE DISH MACHINE. MUST REMOVE INSECTS,SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND HAVE THE PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE AREAS.
32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
Comments:REMOVE RANCID GREASE ON INTERIOR OF FRYERS.
33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
Comments:MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF FREEZERS AND REMOVE FOUL ODORS. ALSO DETAIL CLEAN WINDOW SILLS AND ALL DIRTY SURFACES THROUGHOUT. CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT FREE OF DUST, DEBRIS, SPIDERWEBS, DROPPINGS, TOOLS, SCREWS, ETC.
34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVERING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY REPAIR BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN BAR AREA AND UNDER SMALL PREP COOLER. FLOOR MUST BE SMOOTH, EVEN, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY CLEAN AND MAINTAIN UNUSED EQUIPMENT OR REMOVE.

Brawley's Beverage looking to add on-premises consumption license

To contact us Click HERE

Charlotte beer and wine shop Brawley's Beverage is seeking a rezoning in order to open a space for people to drink on the premises, a move owner Michael Brawley hopes will help the store stay competitive.

"All the new stores have one," Brawley said of on-premise consumption licenses. "If someone can have a pint while they shop, it's a tremendous advantage."

A number of new stores with on-premise licenses have popped up, including Salud Beer Shop in NoDa and Good Bottle Co. on Remount Road. Common Market now has two locations, in Plaza-Midwood and South End, and even Whole Foods in SouthPark has four taps and more than two dozen wines available to drink in the store. Charlotte's breweries also offer on-premise consumption.

"We were kind of kind of the first beer geek store in town," said Brawley, who opened the store about 9 1/2 years ago. "When we started, there really wasn't any competition to speak of, and there wasn't any competition for on-premise except for Common Market."

The Park Seneca Lawnmower repair shop adjacent to Brawley's moved to Old Pineville Road after their lease was up in August, opening up the possibility of rezoning the beer and wine shop, Brawley said.

In addition to letting customers sip and shop, an on-premise consumption license would let Brawley hold special events at his store, instead of at restaurants or bars like he does currently.

Brawley stresses that he's not seeking to open a bar. Hours wouldn't change much, and the whole thing would be family friendly. He hopes to eventually add food to the store's offerings, but that's on the back burner for now. If all goes well, Brawley hopes to have renovations done by May, in time for the store's 10-year anniversary.




A hearing on the rezoning request is set for Nov. 12. You can see Brawley's rezoning application here.



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Fuzzy Peach fro-yo headed to Charlotte area

To contact us Click HERE

A Wilmington-based frozen yogurt company is wading into the area's region's crowded desert marketplace, with three stores near Charlotte and more to come.

The Fuzzy Peach said it has signed agreements to bring franchises to Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Lake Wylie. The self-serve fro-yo company said it also has plans to open two new stores in Shallote and Jacksonville, N.C.

The company was founded by UNC-Wilmington roommates Rocco Quaranto, Wells Struble and Jason Nista. From their About Us: "With business degrees in hand, a couple years in the corporate field and some money saved, the three came together again . The young entrepreneurs opened the doors to The Fuzzy Peach two years after graduation and brought to Wilmington a new sensation in frozen desserts."

The company is now focused on expanding into Raleigh, Fayetteville, Charlotte, Winston Salem and Greensboro, as well as South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Charlotte has seen a slew of new self-serve fro-yo locations open over the past few years. The Fuzzy Peach will be joining a market that includes stores by TCBY, Tasty Yo Menchie's, Freshberry, The Frozen Isle and Pinkberry.

The Fuzzy Peach currently has five locations in and around Wilmington, where my colleague Andrew Dunn, who used to work there (Wilmington, not The Fuzzy Peach) told me they were very popular.

7-Eleven selling Charlotte franchises

To contact us Click HERE

Months after buying 55 Sam's Mart locations in and around Charlotte, 7-Eleven is converting many of them to franchises and selling them to local owners as 7-Eleven stores.

The retailer said it has sold three of the 55 stores, which reopened as 7-Elevens, to local franchisees. The January deal, for an undisclosed price, brought 7-Eleven back to the Charlotte market 24 years after the  convenience store operator left.

About 5,000 of the company's U.S. stores are operated by franchisees. One of those new franchisees in Charlotte is Bob Powers, who took over the store at 7740 Bruton Smith Boulevard on Oct. 8. Powers plans to buy two more 7-Eleven franchises this year, the company said.

"We expect our inventory of available stores to move quickly," said Doug Doyle, the company's manager in the Charlotte region. The company requires seven weeks of training for franchisees at an existing location, and provides support with functions such as payroll.

If you're interested in becoming a 7-Eleven franchisee, you can sign up for an informational seminar at the Embassy Suites in Concord here. The company is holding monthly meetings.

Bob Powers, courtesy 7-Eleven

And lest you think Slurpees, Big Gulps, and those hot dogs which will forever remind me of late nights in college are cheap, remember this: 7-Eleven has 48,000 stores globally, and generated more than $76 billion worth of sales last year. 7-Eleven said it plans to continue growing through franchises, acquisitions, and a program under which existing businesses can covert to 7-Elevens.

Letter to the editor in support of Ray Lodato's First District Congressional Bid

To contact us Click HERE

posted by chicago pop
We have been asked to post this letter to the editor, rejected by the Hyde Park Herald and the Chicago Tribune, from Mr. Alex Gomez. Mr. Gomez is Campaign Manager for Ray Lodato's bid for the First District Congressional seat currently held by Bobby Rush.

To the Editor,

Democratic Congressional candidate Raymond Lodato has promised to "get the First District back to work." We share his concern with bringing jobs to the district, and are additionally concerned about Congressman Rush's dismal voting record, which was recently explored by The Chicago Tribune newspaper. Rush's claim to 'seniority' is absolutely hollow. He is not the ranking minority member on any committee. Five Democratic representatives who arrived in Washington the same year he did are, as are another four who arrived after him. But ranking minority members, like committee chairs, are chosen by their fellow representatives based on the respect they command. Rush commands little respect from his colleagues, so his constituents don't benefit from his many years in Congress. He has longevity, not seniority. Fortunately, we have an alternative in Raymond Lodato, who will be a forceful, independent and effective Representative for the District.

                                                                              Respectfully,

                                                                              Rebecca Janowitz
                                                                              Joan Merlin Palmer
                                                                              Linda Swift
                                                                              Duel Richardson
                                                                              Judy Jakush
                                                                              Edward "Ted" Fetters

Shoesmith and Murray Add Reformers to LSC's

To contact us Click HERE

-posted by chicago pop
The results of yesterday's local school council (LSC) elections are in for the two most hotly contested races. At both Murray and Shoesmith, reformers were successful in gaining seats on both councils on the back of extraordinary voter turnout at both locations. This is a strong sign that Hyde Park and Kenwood residents are against two things: backsliding (Murray) and the status quo (Shoesmith). It is an equally strong sign that they are for maintaining and improving the public school options available to residents of Hyde Park and Kenwood - and are willing to put in the time to make it happen.
This could be the local impact of an overall spike in CPS (and Catholic school) enrollment, due in part to a continued sluggish economy that is sending more and more families into the public school system - as opposed to private schools or suburban districts. It could also be the buds of a distinctly local parent activism, akin to similar movements that have taken shape on the North Side, as a core of local parents commit to improving public education options in the neighborhood
At Murray, the reformist Parents for Murray group saw its top four "Slate for Change" parent candidates pull in the most votes, together with a community member endorsed by the group. Together this represents a significant contingent of new voices to agitate for change at HP-K's beloved magnet school:
Parents
Josephine Njoku-Sanders: 240
Thomas Hoffer: 230
Michael Ewing: 227
Julie Hammond: 198
Community Members:
Michael Scott: 81

A similar story at Shoesmith. Here is a school in the heart of the neighborhood that has just signed a new principal. She is open to new ideas and is testing the waters for ways to improve the school's performance and make it an option for more neighborhood children. Unprecedented voter turnout for an LSC election landed two community members on the council who are both education professionals: Lina Fritz and Tom McDougal.

Community Members:
Lina Fritz - 96 votes
Tom McDougal - 78 votes
Camille Hamilton-Doyle - 73 votes
Roxanne Brown - 36 votes

 Both of them not only know the data on urban education inside and out, but can collaborate with the administration and demand accountability, to make sure what's being done is what works, and that Shoesmith reaches out to the neighborhood.

Worth noting in both cases were the high numbers of community member (non-parent) voters: out of 153 eligible votes cast in the Shoesmsith LSC election, 81 were cast by community members, 72 by parents. I don't have a similar breakdown for the votes at Murray, but the word is that community turnout there was also very strong. Undoubtedly some of those community votes were parents of children attending other schools.

The message is pretty clear: wherever your students come from, you're in Hyde Park. We all have an interest in how well you do.

Orly's/The Big Easy: 'Evidence of Rodents on Site'

To contact us Click HERE

-posted by chicago pop
Despite what was breezily reported in the Herald today ("Fridge Fritz Foils Big Easy," Lindsay Welbers, September 5, 2012), the recent shut-down of the culinary dark-star which, however many aliases it may assume in order to distance itself from its past, will always be known as Orly's, it appears that the restaurant's recent shutdown by the Chicago Department of Public Health was much more than a refrigerator problem.
Highlights of the recent report (dated August 27, 2012), written in mouth-watering detail and sure to annotate the next version of the menu, include but are not limited to: mice droppings in container of corn meal; sewage and waste-water backup on floor; a cooler with internal temperature of 95F; waste-water overflowing from drain; foul odor in women's toilet (and other places); evidence of rodents on site; mice droppings behind the bar, storage rooms, and dining area; my own personal favorite here - 'rodent rub marks'; extreme grease and food debris buildup; dirty surfaces; dust, debris, and spiderwebs (!); and broken tiles
But I guess that's all been fixed now.
Read for yourself below, or here:

August 27, 2012

Doing business as

Orly's/Jalapeno

License number

1978

Facility type

Restaurant

Risk

Risk 1 (High)

Inspection type

Complaint Re-Inspection

Results

Fail

Violations

2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE
Comments:REACH IN COOLER IN POOR REPAIR, INTERNAL TEMPERATURE 50F. INSTD TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE OF 40F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. ALL COOLERS ON PREMISES MUST BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURES OF 40F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES OR REMOVE COOLERS IN POOR REPAIR.
10. SEWAGE AND WASTE WATER DISPOSAL, NO BACK SIPHONAGE, CROSS CONNECTION AND/OR BACK FLOW
Comments:SEWAGE/WASTE WATER BACK-UP AND ACCUMULATING ON FLOOR FROM FLOOR DRAIN WHEN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK PLUMBING TURNED ON. ALSO WALK-IN COOLER DRAIN CLOGGED, WASTE WATER OVERFLOWING FROM DRAIN AND ONTO FLOOR. INSTD TO REPAIR SAME. FOUL ODOR NOTED IN SAME AREA.
11. ADEQUATE NUMBER, CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE, DESIGNED, AND MAINTAINED
Comments:WOMENS TOILETS IN POOR REPAIR, ONE WITH NO WATER, OTHER UNABLE TO FLUSH. FOUL ODOR NOTED IN SAME AREA. INSTD TO REPAIR SAME.
14. PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION CORRECTED, 7-42-090
Comments:CONTINUED NON COMPLIANCE, EVIDENCE OF RODENTS ON SITE. NOTED MICE DROPPINGS (OVER 30) SCATTERED IN VARIOUS AREAS BEHIND BAR,IN DRY STORAGE ROOM,(MICE DROPPINGS NOTED IN CONTAINER OF CORN MEAL), IN CORNERS IN DINING AREA,UNDER SHELVES AND ALONG SIDE COOLERS/FREEZERS IN OFFICE/STORAGE AREA, ALSO NOTED RODENT RUB MARKS ALONG WALLBASE NEXT TO DROPPINGS IN DINING AREA. STORAGE AREA BY EXIT DOOR. MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS. INSTD TO HAVE ADDITIONAL SERVICE FROM PEST CONTROL. NOTED REAR DOOR NOT RODENT PROOF AT THIS TIME, APPROX. 1/2 INCH GAP NOTED AT BOTTOM OF DOOR. INSTD TO RODENT PROOF DOOR AND HAVE TIGHT FITTING.
33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
Comments:MUST DETAIL CLEAN INTERIOR OF ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT AND PREP TABLES. MUST REMOVE ALL EXTREME GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP THROUGHOUT. MUST ALSO CLEAN SODA GUNS BEHIND BAR AREA AND INTERIOR OF ALL COOLERS. ALSO DETAIL CLEAN WINDOW SILLS AND ALL DIRTY SURFACES THROUGHOUT. CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTD TO CLEAN ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT FREE OF DUST, DEBRIS, SPIDERWEBS, DROPPINGS, TOOLS, SCREWS, ETC.
34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVERING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
Comments:MUST DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS UNDER COOK LINE,BEHIND BAR, IN DISH WASHING AREAS AND IN ALL STORAGE AREAS. MUST PROPERLY REPAIR BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN BAR AREA AND IN PREP AREA. FLOOR MUST BE SMOOTH, EVEN, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
Comments:MUST CLEAN WALLS NEXT TO FRYERS, DISH MACHINE, STOVE, & THROUGHOUT. MAKING ALL WALLS AND CEILING SMOOTH-EASY CLEANABLE AND TIGHT FITTING.
38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
Comments:MUST REPAIR LEAKY FAUCET AND PIPES AT 2 COMPARTMENT SINK
41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY CLEAN AND MAINTAIN UNUSED EQUIPMENT OR REMOVE

Children's Resources during Teacher Strike

To contact us Click HERE

-posted by chicago pop
A few resources for school age children that we've been asked to publicize, in the increasingly likely event of next week's anticipated teacher's strike (beginning September 10):
From the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club:
 (Right-click on image and click 'View Image' to enlarge)

And this, from the Chicago JCC:

Dear JCC Families,

The prospect of a strikein Chicago Public Schools is a frustrating situation for teachers, administration,and most importantly, the families and children impacted by the possibilityof no school. We would like you to know that JCC Chicago will be able tomeet your child care needs with engaging safe and fun day long activities,should a strike go into effect.

JCC will offer specialprogramming at Bernard Horwich JCC, Florence Heller JCC, and Hyde ParkJCC.  Programming will run from 8:00am to 3:30pm.  If you needto extend your child’s day, late care will be available from 3:30-6:00pm. While engaged in programming, children will travel to Mayer KaplanJCC to participate in daily specialty curriculum including art, sports,swimming, and other educational experiences.

Program costs will be$50/day (8:00am-3:30pm) and late care will be an additional $15/day (3:30-6:00pm). For students enrolled in JCC AfterSchool, there will be no additionalcharge for late care.   Services will remain in effect until schoolis back in session; however, JCC will be closed on September 17 and 18.

We will open online registrationfor Monday through Wednesday .  Advance registration is recommendedand appreciated as space may be limited. Should the strike not go intoeffect, your registration fees can be applied to other JCC programs orwill be refunded.

For further information,please contact us at any time.



Julie Rash
Manager of JCC AfterSchool
773-938-8342
jrash@gojcc.org

Andrea Berlow
Manager of Vacation DayPrograms
224-406-9207
aberlow@gojcc.org

Andrea Berlow
Manager of Vacation Day Programs       
JCC Chicago
p: 224-406-9207
f:  224-406-9272
aberlow@gojcc.org
http://www.gojcc.org
 
JCCchicago
bringing Jewish values tolife!
 
Help the environment anddon't print this email unless you really need to!

  

Orly's Fails September 20 Inspection

To contact us Click HERE

September 20, 2012 [go here for text of inspection at Everyblock]

Orly's/Jalapeno

Risk 1 (High)

Results

Fail

Violations

14. PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION CORRECTED, 7-42-090
Comments:CONTINUED NON COMPLIANCE, EVIDENCE OF RODENTS AND INSECTS ON SITE. NOTED MICE DROPPINGS (APPROXIMATELY 30) SCATTERED IN VARIOUS AREAS BEHIND BAR,IN DRY STORAGE ROOM, IN CORNERS IN DINING AREA,BEHIND BOOTH ALONG WALL BASE,UNDER SHELVES AND ALONG SIDE COOLERS/FREEZERS IN OFFICE/STORAGE AREA,BEHIND EQUIPMENT AND THROUGHOUT. MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND HAVE SERVICE FROM PEST CONTROL. ALSO NOTED LIVE INSECTS ON SITE. NOTED APPROXIMATELY 6 LIVE LARGE FLIES IN FRONT STORAGE AREA NEAR UNUSED OVEN,IN DINING AREA AND IN PREP AREA. ALSO NOTED 2 LIVE ROACHES ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE DISH MACHINE. MUST REMOVE INSECTS,SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND HAVE THE PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE AREAS.
32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
Comments:REMOVE RANCID GREASE ON INTERIOR OF FRYERS.
33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
Comments:MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF FREEZERS AND REMOVE FOUL ODORS. ALSO DETAIL CLEAN WINDOW SILLS AND ALL DIRTY SURFACES THROUGHOUT. CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT FREE OF DUST, DEBRIS, SPIDERWEBS, DROPPINGS, TOOLS, SCREWS, ETC.
34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVERING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY REPAIR BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN BAR AREA AND UNDER SMALL PREP COOLER. FLOOR MUST BE SMOOTH, EVEN, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY CLEAN AND MAINTAIN UNUSED EQUIPMENT OR REMOVE.

Children's Resources during Teacher Strike

To contact us Click HERE

-posted by chicago pop
A few resources for school age children that we've been asked to publicize, in the increasingly likely event of next week's anticipated teacher's strike (beginning September 10):
From the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club:
 (Right-click on image and click 'View Image' to enlarge)

And this, from the Chicago JCC:

Dear JCC Families,

The prospect of a strikein Chicago Public Schools is a frustrating situation for teachers, administration,and most importantly, the families and children impacted by the possibilityof no school. We would like you to know that JCC Chicago will be able tomeet your child care needs with engaging safe and fun day long activities,should a strike go into effect.

JCC will offer specialprogramming at Bernard Horwich JCC, Florence Heller JCC, and Hyde ParkJCC.  Programming will run from 8:00am to 3:30pm.  If you needto extend your child’s day, late care will be available from 3:30-6:00pm. While engaged in programming, children will travel to Mayer KaplanJCC to participate in daily specialty curriculum including art, sports,swimming, and other educational experiences.

Program costs will be$50/day (8:00am-3:30pm) and late care will be an additional $15/day (3:30-6:00pm). For students enrolled in JCC AfterSchool, there will be no additionalcharge for late care.   Services will remain in effect until schoolis back in session; however, JCC will be closed on September 17 and 18.

We will open online registrationfor Monday through Wednesday .  Advance registration is recommendedand appreciated as space may be limited. Should the strike not go intoeffect, your registration fees can be applied to other JCC programs orwill be refunded.

For further information,please contact us at any time.



Julie Rash
Manager of JCC AfterSchool
773-938-8342
jrash@gojcc.org

Andrea Berlow
Manager of Vacation DayPrograms
224-406-9207
aberlow@gojcc.org

Andrea Berlow
Manager of Vacation Day Programs       
JCC Chicago
p: 224-406-9207
f:  224-406-9272
aberlow@gojcc.org
http://www.gojcc.org
 
JCCchicago
bringing Jewish values tolife!
 
Help the environment anddon't print this email unless you really need to!

  

Orly's Fails September 20 Inspection

To contact us Click HERE

September 20, 2012 [go here for text of inspection at Everyblock]

Orly's/Jalapeno

Risk 1 (High)

Results

Fail

Violations

14. PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION CORRECTED, 7-42-090
Comments:CONTINUED NON COMPLIANCE, EVIDENCE OF RODENTS AND INSECTS ON SITE. NOTED MICE DROPPINGS (APPROXIMATELY 30) SCATTERED IN VARIOUS AREAS BEHIND BAR,IN DRY STORAGE ROOM, IN CORNERS IN DINING AREA,BEHIND BOOTH ALONG WALL BASE,UNDER SHELVES AND ALONG SIDE COOLERS/FREEZERS IN OFFICE/STORAGE AREA,BEHIND EQUIPMENT AND THROUGHOUT. MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND HAVE SERVICE FROM PEST CONTROL. ALSO NOTED LIVE INSECTS ON SITE. NOTED APPROXIMATELY 6 LIVE LARGE FLIES IN FRONT STORAGE AREA NEAR UNUSED OVEN,IN DINING AREA AND IN PREP AREA. ALSO NOTED 2 LIVE ROACHES ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE DISH MACHINE. MUST REMOVE INSECTS,SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND HAVE THE PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE AREAS.
32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
Comments:REMOVE RANCID GREASE ON INTERIOR OF FRYERS.
33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
Comments:MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF FREEZERS AND REMOVE FOUL ODORS. ALSO DETAIL CLEAN WINDOW SILLS AND ALL DIRTY SURFACES THROUGHOUT. CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT FREE OF DUST, DEBRIS, SPIDERWEBS, DROPPINGS, TOOLS, SCREWS, ETC.
34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVERING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY REPAIR BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN BAR AREA AND UNDER SMALL PREP COOLER. FLOOR MUST BE SMOOTH, EVEN, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
Comments:MUST PROPERLY CLEAN AND MAINTAIN UNUSED EQUIPMENT OR REMOVE.

Brawley's Beverage looking to add on-premises consumption license

To contact us Click HERE

Charlotte beer and wine shop Brawley's Beverage is seeking a rezoning in order to open a space for people to drink on the premises, a move owner Michael Brawley hopes will help the store stay competitive.

"All the new stores have one," Brawley said of on-premise consumption licenses. "If someone can have a pint while they shop, it's a tremendous advantage."

A number of new stores with on-premise licenses have popped up, including Salud Beer Shop in NoDa and Good Bottle Co. on Remount Road. Common Market now has two locations, in Plaza-Midwood and South End, and even Whole Foods in SouthPark has four taps and more than two dozen wines available to drink in the store. Charlotte's breweries also offer on-premise consumption.

"We were kind of kind of the first beer geek store in town," said Brawley, who opened the store about 9 1/2 years ago. "When we started, there really wasn't any competition to speak of, and there wasn't any competition for on-premise except for Common Market."

The Park Seneca Lawnmower repair shop adjacent to Brawley's moved to Old Pineville Road after their lease was up in August, opening up the possibility of rezoning the beer and wine shop, Brawley said.

In addition to letting customers sip and shop, an on-premise consumption license would let Brawley hold special events at his store, instead of at restaurants or bars like he does currently.

Brawley stresses that he's not seeking to open a bar. Hours wouldn't change much, and the whole thing would be family friendly. He hopes to eventually add food to the store's offerings, but that's on the back burner for now. If all goes well, Brawley hopes to have renovations done by May, in time for the store's 10-year anniversary.




A hearing on the rezoning request is set for Nov. 12. You can see Brawley's rezoning application here.



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