Closing Time

I've only lived in my Ukrainian Village apartment for 2 1/2 years but so much has changed in that time... businesses that opened the same time we moved in have now closed. Dominicks grocery store is obviously still going strong, but the popular brunch spot JAM replaced the short-lived Dodo, piccolo gelato shut its doors last autumn, several florists went out of business, a small Ukrainian grocery store, a coffee shop... the list goes on. Sadly today I found out that one of my beloved bakeries, located only three blocks from my apartment has now closed, without any warning. Sweet Cakes bakery had THE best blueberry scone I've ever tasted, they also had mini cupcakes in flavors like mint chocolate chip and last year my surprise birthday cake was from there... to be honest I'm not sure how people can live in a place for DECADES and not get upset about how things change. I'm all for progress but it's like an old friend is gone now.

Monday Holiday

Another meandering journey today so again lots of photos to share. I was off from work today for MLK Day so my old roommate and I met up at our old brunch/lunch haunt, Milk & Honey cafe on Division. The photo of the flowers was taken there as well as the 2 men... we were amused by the 'old timers' who looked like they were more used to eating at greasy spoon diners rather than Ukrainian Village/Wicker Park cafes.

Feeling a bit aimless after lunch I decided to hop on the blue line and go to Logan Square, hoping to grab a doughnut & coffee at New Wave cafe. Unfortunately it was packed wall-to-wall with people (someone definitely needs to open up another independent coffee shop in that neighborhood!) so I decided to walk along the boulevards for a bit and take some more pictures. My favorite is what I call the 'sidewalk to nowhere' a bit of pavement that no longer serves a purpose.

After my walk I managed to snag a seat at New Wave but alas they no longer sell doughnuts! Got a vegan chocolate chip cookie instead to satiate my sweet tooth.

On the way back to the El stop I ferreted out the Hemingway book from the free book box on the corner, it's a 1956 edition. We never read it in high school and I think it's time for me to read more of the literary classics.