Walls, Windows, Awnings, Ribbons, and Celebration at Church and Dodge this week

Wednesday night was such a great night on the corner of Church and Dodge!

This post--written in a hurry--won't do it justice, and I'll post more soon.

But ...

Here are the two culminating scenes of the evening.

It's been a long time coming, but this area -- the historic and present heart of Evanston's Black community -- is getting a well-deserved facelift.

On the east side of Dodge, a stunning mural, called "Vision Board" by Chicago Public Art Group artist Damon Lamar Reed, brings inspiration, hope, and historical context to the exterior wall of the Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center.

And on the east side of the street, new classy awnings, new windows, and other improvements show off the area's businesses--some new, some decades old--changes that are long overdue.

If you don't frequent this area, it's time you checked it out. Grab an ice-cream, a meal, a snack or a necessity at C & W Market and Ice Cream Parlor; try the food at Gyros Planet; get a new "do" at Ebony Barber Shop, Church Street Barber Shop, aka "Sam's", or Cutting Edge Hair Gallery, grab coffee and hang out at Gibbs-Morrison (or record an album in the Delores Holmes Recording Studio). Explore the other businesses and get to know the neighborhood.

Congratulations to Robin Rue Simmons, 5th Ward Alderman, all the businesses and business owners, and ... to Evanston.