My architecture column today. "Pride Cleaners closing creates an uncertain future for one of Chicago’s most unique modernist sites — an absolute showstopper of a building with its original sign, neither of which are under city landmark protection."

Tyler knocks it out of the park again today with his photography of Metropolitan MBC in the @chicago.suntimes.com

Today's architecture column. Metropolitan MBC — once documented by photographer Gordon Parks and listed on the National Register of Historic Places — gets a $500,000 grant to help fix up the 125-year-old building.

The Archbishop Quigley Center, 835 N. Rush St. Gothic Revival to the bone. Completed in 1920, and designed by Zachary Taylor Davis. As seen by me today.

Jim Brown and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson chase a bad guy down Wells Street in the Old Town neighborhood in 1974's "Three the Hard Way."

Today's architecture column. "The 132-year-old Eugene S. Pike House might end up happily ever after, as the first phase of stabilization and repairs — initial steps toward turning the building into an arts center — is likely to begin this spring."

From WBEZ: "The late Rev. Jesse Jackson will be remembered for his decades of civil rights leadership and political campaigns. But he also carved a name for himself in pop culture. Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lee Bey joined WBEZ’s Clare Lane to talk about it."

Took a break from architecture today to write a column about the Rev Jackson as a presence in pop culture, from Sesame Street to SNL. "The combination of politician and preacher just made him a magnetic force," Charles Whitaker, dean of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism said.

Ever notice Robert Duvall's few-second cameo in the 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake?

I'm outside the Obama Center museum tower right now. The new letters -- an excerpt from Obama's Selma speech -- are tough read to me, giving off the lorem ipsum vibes.

My architecture column today: "The artist was picked in September to create a new terrazzo tile atrium floor at the base of the building. The job included a new decorative skin — possibly a mix of vinyl and stained glass — to adorn the atrium’s exposed 17-story elevator system."

For Valentine's Day: The intro to "Cupid," a 1998 sitcom starring @jeremypiven as Trevor Hale who may or may not be the God of Love, and Paula Marshall as Dr. Claire Allen who has to figure it out. Witty, set in Chicago, and a theme by The Pretenders. Deserved more than 1 season.

My architecture column today. "To show off these structures that are being developed in Chicago, I think it’s a really beautiful art," Chicago Architecture Center Chief Marketing Officer Lauren Bakos said. "And it’s sad that it’s kind of a dying one."

Remember Hill Street Blues' dark riff on Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne moving into Cabrini Green? Mayoral candidate Ben Fisk wanted to move into the Dante Projects and...

Dug these cats when I was in college. Still do.

I'm out again this cold morning taking pix for the West Side book. I want the book's images to reflect all four seasons, but geez! Anyway I'm at the Douglass Park Flower Hall.

Discover Card turned a closed Target at 86th & Cottage Grove into the Chatham Customer Care Center and Shine Bright Community Center a few years ago and chose two of my South Side images to turn into giant photo murals inside the place. I finally stopped by yesterday to see them.

My good buddy, Jill Petty w her copy of Southern Exposure. Jill was Northwestern U Press acquisitions editor in 2018 and suggested I turn my Chicago Architecture Biennial photo show into a book onSouth Side architecture. It hit that she doesn't have an autographed copy of the book. Now she does.

Today's architecture column looks at Ross Barney Architects Auburn Gresham Apartments "part of a notable come-up for that stretch of the Seven-Nine, bringing color, life — even open balconies and green space — to the corridor."

The city seeks landmark status for the building two months after the aldermen gave DePaul permission raze to four 1890s rowhouses and a 1925 apartment house to build a $60 million basketball and athletics center on the 2300 block of North Sheffield Avenue.

Soul Queen, 9031 S. Stony Island as seen by me in October 2005. Was built in 1961 as Jenny's restaurant. The building is a daycare center now.

Northwestern’s promised “premium for everyone” fan experience at the new Ryan Field, the $862 million stadium project under construction since mid-2024, will have to wait until October, the Sun-Times has learned.

Man, this still rocks.

He’s going to tear it down

Photographing William Drummond's fantastic Greater St John church at 5701 W. Midway Park this morning w middle daughter Cassie.

Our architecture critic has his doubts. But the group’s work could impact Chicago projects such as the O’Hare Airport expansion, Union Station improvements and the planned redo of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

One more, from her SCTV days.

Catherine O'Hara in one of my favorite movies, Scorsese's "After Hours."

When this is finally over — and it will end — the brave citizens who ran into the street to confront ICE, to blow whistles and have teargas sprayed in their faces, will be seen as American heroes, like the Minutemen at Lexington and Concord. I thought I'd get a jump on history and point it out now.

If you'd like to support my work further then sharing and liking my photos, consider becoming a one time donation to the Chicago Sun-Times or becoming a member today! chicago.suntimes.com/become-a-mem...

Ryan Coogler’s blues-steeped vampire epic “Sinners” led all films with 16 nominations to the 98th Academy Awards on Thursday, setting a record for the most in Oscar history.

Walser column update. “It is not currently for sale and steps have been taken to request removal of an unauthorized online listing. We are completing initial services & debris removal and will then begin preparing the property for listing,” Fannie Mae sez.

Tribune film/tv critic @ninametz.bsky.social talks about movies that instead should've have been series, and series that would've been better off as movies. Saw the '12 film Lawless last night. 2hrs wasn't enuf time for all that talent: Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Guy Pierce, etc. Shoulda been a series.

The publisher of the Daily Herald filed notice with the state earlier this month that it is considering a sale of the northwest suburban newspaper.

Last week's online column made today's print edition of the @chicago.suntimes.com And for my social media friends, here are some original B&W images from @somdesign.bsky.social

My blog post today: www.everygoddamnday.com/2026/01/one-...

Today's architecture column. “It’s going to be an expensive house to restore, but I think it’s one really worth restoring,” Preservation Chicago Executive Director Ward Miller said.

I have always dug this. Ali makes history here in 1964, then pauses it in front of the world to acknowledge his friend Sam Cooke. Muhammad Ali: Sam Cooke! Let that man up here...Am I pretty, Sam? Sam Cooke: You're beautiful. Ali: Did I shake up the world? Cooke: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Today's architecture column. “It’s just a beautiful setting as well as a beautiful building,” urban planner Jim Peters said. “And it’s a shame to think about it vanishing and being replaced by a strip mall or another box bank or something like that."

Oh well. Looks like my time as ABC7 architecture critic is over. The 6pm broadcast changed producers and since then, the station has stopped having me on. But stay tuned: I'm working on finding a new tv home. Or maybe a YouTube channel? Meanwhile, keep on reading me in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Thanks to Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield for inviting me to talk today abt West Side architecture & show pix from my next book. They worship in a 1937 Paul Schweikher-designed church (w a 1956 addition by William B. Fyfe). My bud Catherine Hudon took pix of that great mod wall. Dig the hymn

After lunch in Oak Park today following an architecture talk at Third Unitarian Church. Taken by Cassie aka Daughter #2.

Print version of this weekend's column. (And go Bears!)

From reelblack's YouTube: Cutter, a 1972 pilot with Peter De Anda as P.I. Frank Cutter who is resourceful & hip w/o the stereotypes. And Chicago looks great. Had it gone to series, Cutter would've joined the NBC Mystery Movie wheel w Columbo, etc. Here's the intro. reelblack has the whole movie.

Latest architecture column. "It was absolutely beautiful back in the day,” South Shore resident and parks advocate Carol L. Adams said of the building. "So I’m really happy to see us reclaiming our spaces and preserving them instead of destroying them."

I'll be the guest speaker this coming Sunday at 11:30am at Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield. Come check me out. The talk is free. I'll be discussing and showing images from my upcoming book on West Side architecture. And the church itself, designed by modernist Paul Schweikher, is a beaut.

Aw! They let us all go. I was ready to make with some Law & Order too. But at least I got some jury money. Last time I served, it was $17 a day.

Btw, the jury summons recommends bringing something to read so I brought the history of Architectural Iron Workers Local Union 63 that the author, the union's historian Richard Rowe, gave me last year. Gotta say it's really good. Don't know if it's available in bookstores, but it oughta be.