A recent NY Times article explores and critiques that city’s current “boomlet” of high-flying residential buildings designed by big-name architects. Ouroussoff is ambivalent about the designs of the “preening, sometimes beautiful, sometimes obstrusive towers,” and much of what he writes, I think, could and should also apply to Chicago:

Yes, Craigslist is an easy way for lazy journalists to bust out a quick trend story (also see Facebook, Myspace, etc.). However, sometimes, tripe finds its way into the legitimate news trough.

Side-by-side contrasts have a way of crystallizing neighborhood architectural trends:

My mother was right. All these years she dressed me up, combed my hair, and marched me out the door on Sundays were working up to this. No, no, not my salvation, but I’m sure I’ll thank her for that later.

Since There Goes the Neighborhood began in January, it's been gratifying to hear from readers about some of the condos I've highlighted in posts. But it’s been decidedly ungratifying to discover some of those readers think I’m a reactionary philistine addicted to negativity. So herewith, responses to some recurring criticisms: I hate new buildings and want everything to stay the same.

I know this blog is about places to visit before you turn 30..however, due to an embarrassingly frequent occurrence, I am compelled to talk about a place that you never, ever, want to visit.

Photo by celikins

The caverns of Lower Wacker…otherwise known as “the scary place you go to get your car when it[s been towed”.

Every morning, as I will myself toward the Blue Line's Western stop and the Loop, I encounter this building

Seeing as we’re living through a politically charged period in American history, I thought I would follow the cues of our ground-breaking journalists and contribute to the ‘08 showdown with a political piece of my own.

So I was walking in Bucktown the other afternoon and I swear I saw Moby…..47 times. But then I realized the implausibility of that and remembered no…I was just in Bucktown.

On that same note, I went to dinner in the Gold Coast and had full-fledged conversations with David Hasselhoff…nine different times. It would have been 10, had the Hasselhoff look-alike’s girlfriend not angrily intervened. Then again, it’s hard to convey anger when your forehead doesn’t move…

Bored on a Wednesday afternoon and what do I do? Join match.com. I know, I know. I should have just cleaned my room. But I had been talking to a friend recently about dating and its unspoken application process. We realized that the first few dates are frighteningly similar to a rigorous job interview.

Even a few years ago, it seems doubtful that anyone could have predicted how simultaneously organized and fragmented our communities have become. How could they have foreseen local community forums for every issue under the sun, but not held in any city hall or community center, but from the living rooms and basements of families in every city across the nation.

The doldrums have passed and hopefully the frigid weather will follow. In a myriad NBA cities (not named Chicago), bold moves at the trade deadline have fans thinking championship thoughts. NFL free agency kicked off with a bang and MLB spring training is underway. Not to mention March Madness right around the corner. I can already feel my boredom melting.