… that two Evanston businesses will open their spaces to the public as part of Open House Chicago the weekend of October 16-17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by the former Mount Moriah Masonic Temple at 1229 Emerson St., a 1929 building designed by Walter T. Bailey, the first African American architect to receive a license in Illinois. Then head over to Creative Coworking at 922 Davis St. to view the space and the current collection of art by local artists.
… that the City, together with volunteers from local Rotary clubs, planted a few dozen new trees in Butler and Twiggs parks last weekend.
The Lighthouse Keeper hears …
… that, speaking of parks, the Arts Council has asked the Human Services Committee to approve and accept a donation of public art to be installed between Bates and Fullerton Parks at Lincoln Street and Ridge Avenue. Artist Rudolph Seno‘s estate has offered the City the copper, bronze and steel sculpture titled “Ice Cream Throne.” The estate will pay for transportation, installation, repairs and maintenance.
… that on Friday, Oct. 8, any Illinois resident under 75 can obtain or renew their driver’s licenses, State ID or register to vote at a Mobile Drivers Facility at the Levy Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
… that the City and Northwestern are co-sponsoring a Hispanic Heritage Month Community Celebration with music and dance performances, food, and arts & crafts at the Evanston Ecology Center on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Finally, an anonymous reader asked the Lighthouse Keeper about this 2017 mural by artist Rubén Aguirre. The reader wondered about the cutoff steps that appear to go nowhere. What do they represent? Were they ever as wide as the steps above? What are they for? Are they some kind of metaphor?
Do you have a favorite piece of public art or a question for the Lighthouse Keeper? Submit your questions – and answers – in the comments.
The stairs at Dempster and Sherman used to be full steps that led up to a train platform that extended all the way from the Davis St station. The old Chicago and Northwestern RR, prior to using double decker coaches had a number of long passenger trains that would extend down to Dempster.