Fire escape Springboro, PA

No trespassing Sledge, MS

Two-story outhouse Gays, IL

pulled the production file at the newberry library for this palm tavern postcard for @mckiesdjlounge.bsky.social; i guess the best way to share the contents is a thread? (the palm tavern was a legendary bronzeville bar and music venue: mascontext.com/observations...)

TFW your local chamber of commerce doesn't practice what they preach on snow clearance at their own commercial properties.

If the building of 30 North LaSalle and the demolition of the Stock Exchange are inextricably linked in representing a significant moment in the development of the preservation movement in Chicago, than the landmarking of 30 North LaSalle represents a significant moment in its deterioration.

Betty Boop St. Thomas, ND

I look forward to these awards every year from @langealexandra.bsky.social @cmonstah.bsky.social and @mlamster.bsky.social!

Some news of interest to local architecture nerds and preservationists in Chicago!

Landmarking 30 North LaSalle Street would be more cynical than ironic: (thread incoming)

Read here about (I may be biased) the greatest cultural loss in Chicago in 50+ years. Some photos from Gerri's album - Quincy Jones, Flip Wilson and Jimmy Smith

For MAS Context, I investigated what happened to Gerri's Palm Tavern, a legendary Bronzeville venue established in 1933 that survived World Wars, urban renewal, disinvestment, and urban attrition, but ended up a victim of aldermanic prerogative, and an ill conceived development plan.

Real dream-team situation going on over here. @katewagner.wehwalt.net / @anjulierao.bsky.social / @nyreviewofarch.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/c...

Cafe Alexis, IL

Marge’s Durand, WI

Rock shop Benson, AZ

River Front Opry House Cave-In-Rock, IL

Timeline cleanse courtesy Graceland Cemetery yesterday, looking more gorgeous than any cemetery has a right to look

Preservation Futures is looking forward to opening up our office this coming Wednesday, October 29th from 4pm-6pm as a part of the Chicago Architecture Biennial's series of studio and office tours! Register here: chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/program/stud...

Pizza King Winamac, IN

Rust Lakeview, OH

Stemz Foley, AL

Honor boxes Moscow, IA

Tammy’s Hair Studio Potlatch, ID

Crappy’s East Wataga, IL

Think Pink Benson, AZ

Metal awning Alexis, IL

Joy receptacle Joy, IL

Lottery Calumet, MI

Security bars Boron, CA

Danz Video Oconto, WI

Post Office What Cheer, IA

Preservation Futures is looking forward to opening up our office this coming Wednesday, October 29th from 4pm-6pm as a part of the Chicago Architecture Biennial's series of studio and office tours! Register here: chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/program/stud...

Tickets are still available for tomorrow's Everything Chicago Symposium at the Driehaus Museum! See you there!

✨The Everything Chicago Symposium is a FREE one-day public event organized by the Chicago Architecture Biennial on Friday, October 17th at the Driehaus Museum! I will be moderating a panel at 3:30 titled 'Common Chicago: Collective Space.' More information in the link below. See you there! ✨

I wrote about the incredible collection of modernist architecture in Chatham commissioned by Black professionals looking to make their mark on Chicago in the midcentury

Update: The Roger Brown Home and Studio is on the agenda for the October 9th Commission on Chicago Landmarks Meeting!

Chicago Architecture Biennial outtakes. Read my review! www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

once again: the correct unit of analysis for municipal budgets is not dollars but "cost of policing" days/hours how many CoP hours would it take for this to be a funded position? i bet it's less than the overtime budget i bet it's less than the "settlements from police misconduct" budget

Unpaid labor at a municipal planning agency is not okay--it devalues the expertise required for these positions, and drives inequity. Chicago's Department of Planning and Development can and should do better!

This is gross. All the buildings to be demolished were built ca. 1906, according to building permits. They will be replaced by a SFH. chicagoyimby.com/2025/09/thre...

I signed it and thought I’d share in case you also want to show support for the preservation of the Roger Brown Home & Studio. The letter co-written by @blaservations.bsky.social and @susannahribs.bsky.social now has almost 500 signatures. Link here: forms.gle/zEHarFNqgYCZ...

Students, alumni and faculty of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago are speaking out about the significance of the Roger Brown Home & Studio as a part of their creative lives! Nearly 500 people have signed this letter @susannahribs.bsky.social and I wrote together!

For my monthly column in MAS Context I visited the Archives of Michigan, home of the Yamasaki, Inc., Architectural Firm Records, to consider what remains of the World Trade Center. Thanks, as always, for reading! mascontext.com/observations...

Newsletter this week: Ford pulled off the impossible by restoring the derelict Michigan Central Station, a $1 billion renovation. But now Ford is demolishing its longtime HQ, the Glass House, tearing down a key Dearborn landmark. What gives? www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Grateful to have this op-ed on the sale of the Roger Brown Home & Studio written by myself and @susannahribs.bsky.social in the Chicago Tribune. This is precisely the type of civic engagement we learned how to do as students in historic preservation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

First, if this place ever meant anything to you, here is an open letter (co-written by me & @blaservations.bsky.social) that you can sign: forms.gle/63wfeDPcur46...

SAIC's decision to sell the Roger Brown Home & Studio building at 1926 N. Halsted St. is extremely at the intersection of my work in real estate, preservation, & Chicago art history. Some thoughts & info, for those interested.🧵 www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is selling the National Register of Historic Places listed Roger Brown Home and Studio in Lincoln Park--a gift from Brown to the school in 1996--as a potential teardown. www.bhhsmichiganrealestate.com/single-famil...

Just a normal day at the Everett McKinley Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Posting for no reason.