Block Club Chicago

2 days ago | blockclubchicago.org | Becky Vevea

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newslettersCHICAGO — The buildings have sat empty for 12 years. Several are architecturally significant with striking details and character taking up multiple city blocks. But many are in rough shape, with copper stripped from the pipes, broken windows, and graffiti covering walls. One had to be torn down after an extra-alarm fire last year.

2 days ago | blockclubchicago.org | Melody Mercado

DOWNTOWN — Residents can learn more about a proposal to reseed Washington Square Park at a community meeting Wednesday night. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., and is being hosted by the Washington Square Park Advisory Council, according to flyers posted at the park. The council will discuss a proposal to aerate and reseed all four quadrants of the nearly three-acre park at 901 N.

2 days ago | blockclubchicago.org | Ariel Parrella-Aureli

HUMBOLDT PARK — “The House on Mango Street,” a world-renowned Chicana coming-of-age story with Humboldt Park ties, is now an opera. The book by acclaimed writer and Chicago native Sandra Cisneros will debut as an opera in July at the Glimmerglass Festival in New York. The opera, co-written by Cisneros and composer Derek Bermel and in the creative pipeline since 2017, has also been shown in a series of workshops around the United States. “I grew up listening to opera in Grant Park,” Cisneros said.

2 days ago | blockclubchicago.org | Melody Mercado

DOWNTOWN — New restaurants and bars have opened Downtown in time for summer, and more are coming soon. Here’s the latest. Momento Taquería debuted as a pop-up last year at Lollapalooza and operated through the summer in Grant Park. The Mexican-owned spot has now opened a full-service restaurant at 36 E. Monroe St. in the Loop with self-order kiosks. Momento brings Mexico City tacos to Chicago with bold and spicy flavors, according to its website.

3 days ago | blockclubchicago.org | Madison Savedra

ROGERS PARK — One of Loyola’s buildings on Sheridan Road is going to be torn down this summer to make room for a building for its nursing program. Campion Hall, 6551 N. Sheridan Road, is one of Loyola’s few buildings outside of its main campus to the south, and it’s also the university’s oldest residence hall, built in 1954, according to the school. It needs to be torn down because the upkeep of its “deteriorating condition” is costly, according to the university.