> Home

Elaine Coorens

With a professional background that includes advertising copy writer, corporate manager in advertising/marketing/manufacturing for multiple industries, international newspaper editor/publisher, needlework designer and retail shop owner as well as IT consultant and programmer, Elaine can "speak" in many "languages." A native Chicagoan, her passion for all things community is what led her to become a local author, historian, tour guide and now Editor/Publisher of Our Urban Times. She authored Wicker Park From 1673 Thru 1929 and Walking Tour Guide.

Stories from Elaine Coorens

Congress Theater's liquor license revoked, venue remains open in Logan Square

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/24/2013
CongFrnt

Though the Chicago Local Liquor Control Commission revoked the Congress Theatre's liquor license on May 24, they remain open during an appeal that was filed at 2:04 p.m. Fri., May 24. 

Related:

Totally new McDonald's opened at midnight in Bucktown

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/24/2013
McDExterior

As May 24 inched into existence just after midnight, the doors opened to the spotlessly clean new  McDonald's facility at Western and Milwaukee Avenues (1951 N. Western).

Related:

St. John Church and School redevelopment in Ukrainian Village is moving forward

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/23/2013
WaltonYoyne

St. John Church and School, located on the corner of Walton St. and Hoyne Ave. (913-25 N.) is being developed by Mokin Development, who purchased the site in February. The architect is Orest Baranyk, Baranyk Associates, Ltd. 

Related:

East Village Association and 1st Ward Alderman Moreno have community growth and sustainable development agreement

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/23/2013
GardenGourmet

A plan agreed to by the East Village Association (EVA) and 1st Ward Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno to promote growth and sustainable community development, within the East Village Association's boundaries, is the result of intense study and discussions regarding liquor related licensing. 

Related:

East Village and East Humboldt Park have no neighborhood schools...Raise Your Hand Coalition makes statement about closings

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/22/2013
Parent

UPDATE:
U.S. District Judge John Lee, on May 23, set 4-day hearing starting July 16 to determine whether Chicago school closings should be halted. 

Related:

Beyond Influence and stories of obsessions at Intuit

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/22/2013
TaubersChopin

"They are aware of popular culture and there are some influences, but they are unconcerned with what is happening in the art world,"  says Frank Tumino, about the artists with work in the 50-piece show Beyond Influence: The Art of Little City.

Related:

No school closings chant and demands for CPS Board answers by parents, teachers and Alderman Moreno

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/22/2013
MorenoAtRally

"No school closings" was chanted between speakers outside the Alexander von Humboldt Elementary School and Ana Roque de Duprey Elementary School building, 2620 N. Hirsch, late Tuesday afternoon, May 21. Parents, teachers and 1st Ward Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno demanded that the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board respond to the community plan to save the two schools through merging them. 

Related:

Local hero Abraham Lindsey given Social Act of Courage Award

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/18/2013
JensenLindsey

Abraham Lindsey was working handing out fliers for Jimmy John's, 1552 N. Milwaukee Ave., on April 28, when he heard the screams of a young woman on Winnebago near Western Ave.

Related:

Silk Painting: Window into summer by Ukrainian artist

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/18/2013
MarksOfLight

"Silk Painting: Window into summer” is a one-man-show of works by Oleg Chuyko in the Ukrainian National Museum, 2249 West Superior St.

Related:

Wicker Park resident brings art to Library's gallery space

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/16/2013
MarkPlus

A volunteer at the Bucktown-Wicker Park Library and a frequent visitor with his children, Mark Yee talked with the library's Branch Manger Lisa Roe about using the second floor wall space as a gallery.

Related:

Billion dollar apartment investor buys Bucktown property

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/16/2013
1845NWestern

Purchasing 1845 N. Western Ave. appears to be part of Laramar Groups' 2011 strategy to focus on Chicago neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lakeview and now Bucktown. 

Related:

Moreno and Fritchey have uncomfortable exchange at CGNA development meeting: Residents say "NO"

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/14/2013
CentralState

Updated:
See below...

Domus Group, LLC,  1746 W. Division St., proposed to a group of residents that they wish to build 8 totally residential buildings on property zoned commercial.

Related:

Zoning change discussion at Chicago Grand Neighbors Association May 13 meeting

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/12/2013
houses

UPDATED 05/13:
See below.

Related:

Artur Popek's demonstrates many examples of texture on canvas in Bestiarium & Around

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/09/2013
Armadillo

Internationally known Polish artist Artur Popek has a fascinating exhibition, Bestiarium & Around, in East Village's 1112 Gallery, The Society of the

Related:

Kevin Pierce, architect, sustainability pioneer and Wicker Park resident loses war with cancer

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/08/2013
KPierce

Ahead of the curve on green architecture and sustainable development, architect Kevin Kurtz Pierce, 55, longtime Wicker Park resident, lost his battle with brain cancer (glioblastoma multiforme) on May 2. 

Related:

CPS school closing hearing officers oppose closing 14 schools: East Village and Humboldt Park schools NOT included

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/08/2013
HueryPayne

Hearing officers oppose closing 14 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for reasons of safety and failure to show students would be going to a better school, according to the release of documents just before midnight Mon., May 6,

Related:

Cook County Sheriff personnel anxious to call former 13th District Police Station home

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/07/2013
EMBurkeJr

"We have never had all our divisions in the same location since we were created," said Edward M. Burke, Jr., Cook County Assistant Chief Deputy Sheriff, at the East Village Association's (EVA) May 6 meeting in Happy Village, 1059 N.Wolcott St.

Related:

Body pulled from Chicago River basin at North Avenue

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/04/2013
LkngNEonNorth

A passerby, having seen what appeared to be a male standing on the North Ave.

Related:

Moreno weds as sun sets

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/03/2013
MorenoWedding

Beachside in Vieques, Puerto Rico, Celena Roldan, Executive Director of Erie House, and Proco "Joe" Moreno, 1st Ward Alderman, wed.

Related:

Ukrainian Village and Wicker Park projects receive 3 Chicago Landmarks Preservation Awards

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
05/03/2013
943NHoyne

Of the 14 projects recognized for significant contributions to the preservation of the City's historic buildings and places, one building in Ukrainian Village and two in Wicker Park received a Preservation Excellence Award. 

Related:
  • Print
  • Email