Prince previously rented the mansion in Beverly Hills where the Menendez Brothers killed their parents. They had a pre-planned alibi for the night of the murder & tried to buy tickets for the 1989 film Batman but it was sold out. And who wrote the movie’s soundtrack? That’s right, folks…Prince.

The Patterson-McCormick Mansion, located at the NW corner of Burton & Astor in Chicago’s Gold Coast, is a Neoclassical design w/Roman brick & terra cotta trim created by Stanford White of the firm McKim, Mead & White in 1893.

I’m officially an old lady, shaking my head at kids today while I was giving an architecture tour. A group and I were standing at the corner of Astor & Schiller when a young guy driving west rolled down his car window & shouted at us, “You stupid fucks. It’s old as shit.” Definitely killed the mood.

Are we sick of seeing these kind of pictures yet? Sorry not sorry.

I still occasionally think of an argument I had with a longtime friend after she discussed with me how she wanted to pick & choose how her taxes were spent. It got so heated that she walked out of the restaurant, and we never spoke again. I wonder what she thinks about how her taxes are spent now?

Throwback: As a former Oak Parker, remembering when both Lake and Marion Streets were pedestrianized. Lake from Harlem to Forest 1974-1988. Marion from Lake to North Blvd 1974-2007.

Another gem from everyone's favorite digital creator Vanished Chicago - "In 1882, industrialist Joseph Sears asked the young firm of Burnamon Route to design his new home at 1815 South Prairie." MY FAVORITE BURNAMON & ROUTE BUILDING!!!

Remember when Rick Perry wanted Americans to pay taxes on postcards? It was only 14 yrs ago but we all know one year of a Trump presidency feels like 14,000 lifetimes. youtu.be/5D6vZ_vMKIc?...

As your architecture obituary queen, I will remember my boy Louis Sullivan, who died on this day (April 14, 1924), with four buildings that should never have been demolished imo. But hey, it’s the Chicago way! (I’d like to add that house built for his brother Albert Sullivan is still an empty lot.)

Thank you. I had some thoughts on Richard Nickel and the possibility of forever losing the Chicago Stock Exchange Room.

Remembering Richard Nickel who went missing #onthisday inside the partly demolished Chicago Stock Exchange in 1972. We are grateful to him for documenting architect Louis Sullivan's work, senselessly torn down during urban renewal. Ironically he died almost 48 yrs to the day of Sullivan’s own death.

A photographic reminder from when I lived in Chicago’s Lincoln Park in the early 2000s. Notice the "First German Hungarian Bakery" sign. These buildings were demolished shortly after I took this photo. I believe they were located at Lakewood & Dickens or somewhere nearby.

The McMansions of South Barrington. As quoted in the Chicago Tribune, South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie said her residents chose to live in the village for “the way it looks and feels.” Yeah, I guess if they want to feel hot because they’re living in hell. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/12/j...

I have also never been friends with Jeff Epstein, the New York financier with the island I have never been to. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Like a miracle, in the land of McMansions, you find the only decent home in South Barrington. You can talk shit about your neighbors’ dumb houses in the conversation pit! I never expected a design by a Mies student (Peter Roesch) to exist in this godawful suburb. www.redfin.com/IL/South-Bar...

I was raised by a single mom so my grandpa was the closest I ever had to a father figure when I was a kid. Thinking of him today on his birthday.

My great-grandfather’s two-flat at 2147 N. Latrobe. He lived to be 90. When I was a kid I remember being creeped out by the guy who lived upstairs, and also being bored because my Polish grandfather didn’t speak English, except for “Two dollars” & “Chicago Cubs.” My family sold it for $36K in 1987.

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine? I learned our Government must be strong, it’s always right and never wrong Our leaders are the finest men and we elect them again and again And that's what I learned in school today That's what I learned in school.

Timeline Cleanse: Easter Puppy Edition 🐣 🐶 🐰

The Easter Bunny and I at the Harlem Irving Plaza Mall aka “The HIP,” with an expression on my face that says “WTF? Why am I hugging a freaking bunny!?!”

As someone who works on the next block, I’m always interested in seeing “before and afters” of the neighborhood. This historic image of the 1400 block of North Lake Shore was taken by Charles R. Clark in 1905. We have stone mansions owned by Ogden, MacVeagh, and Armour.

Sorry it’s impossible. We just can’t cancel the $1.5 trillion in federal student loan debt. But $1.5 trillion for the defense budget? Sure. Here you go! www.npr.org/2026/04/03/n...

I was researching something else but came across these two photos: on the left is Philip Maher's architectural office at 157 East Erie & on the right is his father, George W. Maher, standing in his own office inside Burnham & Root's Insurance Exchange at 218 S. LaSalle. We need a book about them!

Instead of a ballroom, the White House should just construct a bungalow "pop top." Or better yet, just add an entire Chicago style bungalow to the top of the building. Here are some "pop tops" for those who need a refresher.

I’ve only ever seen one episode of Star Trek in my life, and it was during a Humanities class where the teacher showed us different ways racism has been portrayed in the media. I remember how my friend Kim, who absolutely hated school, ended up loving the class.

“Super Callous Fragile Racist Sexist Nazi POTUS”

Happy 10th Anniversary to when IL Governor/Venture Capitalist Bruce Rauner furloughed Easter. We've come a long way, folks.

Happy 140th Birthday to Mies van der Rohe!

For my birthday on Saturday, I hope everyone shows up for the “No Kings 3” rallies. I have to work but hope I can attend if I finish early enough. My aunt asked me what’s the point? Because we can. Don’t comply. Show the world that Americans don’t want this.

Before & After: With busy Roosevelt Rd/Route 38 directly behind it, this Federal Style residence was built in the 1840s for Jesse Wheaton, who founded the town named after him along w/his brother Warren & friend Erastus Gary. The house was kept in the family until it sold for the first time in 2010.

Abandoned baby shoe, slightly worn.

Has anyone else noticed that no one seems to know how to park anymore? It’s either someone struggling to fit their giant vehicle into a space or someone else spending 10 mins attempting to parallel park. Also, what’s with everyone just sitting in their cars all the time? Jerry Seinfeld rant over.

The dogs and I sat outside all day today. Highly recommend it!

I think this home at 5834 W. Addison in Portage Park was likely built for George Herron, but I’d be interested in what @dmercer.bsky.social finds! It was designed by the Grotz-Waegelin Company in 1928. Architect Charles J. Grotz designed several homes in Logan Square & lived at 3514 W. Wrightwood.

Super excited to NOT vote for Raja today. Just call him loser.

I really need this “Shitty Weather” t-shirt. Maybe a possible birthday present to myself? Although I was born in March, I will always be a March hater. This month’s weather has been increasingly shitty and I don’t know how much more I can take!?!

Congrats to Chicago’s very own Chanice Kobolowski on her Oscar win!

I’ve seen so many green bros walking down Schiller that at this point I’m beginning to think it’s a simulation. ☘️

It appears the longtime owner of this Harold Zook-designed home in Highland Park recently died at the age of 96. The fact that it wasn’t staged at all makes me worried it will be a teardown. It was originally built in 1927 for lithograph artist Willard F. Elms. www.redfin.com/IL/Highland-...

It’s crazy to think that the Velvet Underground & Nico album, released #onthisday, will be turning 60 yrs old next year. That’s a long time. I wonder why young people stare at me blankly when I start talking about the Victorian era. Because *that*, ladies & gentlemen, might as well be the Stone Age.

1. Chicago History 2. 20th Century Architecture 3. Art & Artists 4. The Oscars 5. British Royalty 6. True Crime

Let me tell you that I *really* appreciated Fake Spring 2 (or is it 3?) today, especially after I saw that the temperature's supposed to drop to the 20s a week from now. Like, WTF!?!

Timeline cleanse: What a gorgeous day! Here’s to the birthday girl, a lover of humans and chaser of squirrels, who enjoyed two long walks today. I’m forever grateful for my pets who keep my sane during these crazy times.

Here’s an adorable “Little Tree Library,” complete with its own forest gnome entrance, that I saw while walking through downtown Des Plaines today.

How do I feel today? Like a falling clock tower. Elgin National Watch Company, founded in 1864 and the producer of 60 million watches during its 100-year history, was torn down in 1966 and today the site is a strip mall called Clock Tower Plaza.

As a perimenopausal woman with insomnia I have every right to be even bitchier than usual today with this “spring forward” crap. Fuck this shit.

I've seen more crashes in the last year or two around Chicago than I had in the preceding decade. It's the pandemic, it's phones, it's touchscreens, it's the lack of enforcing traffic laws, it's just a general callousness and lack of any kind of sense of responsibility to your community...

Earlier today my cousin had the turning signal and was hit by a driver who ran a red light. She had to be cut out of the car. Since the pandemic people are driving more recklessly than ever. Having nearly been hit by a car myself a few months ago, and now this, I can honestly say I’m on edge.

Maybe it’s because I’m a middle-aged architecture and history geek, but I just don’t understand these young people who want to have “careers” as influencers and content creators, yet they can’t get basic information right on their short-form videos. Okay old lady rant over.

When you haven’t left your historic house museum for 5 hours, but have somehow “walked” several miles and climbed the equivalent of 15 floors. This old house makes me tired.