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My Chicago in Photos

Mark Konkol

By Mark Konkol on November 26, 2012 1:44pm

<p>Ebony Ambrose, left, whose son Kevin, right, was shot dead this week, said she raised her son to be respectful and hard-working.</p>
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Mother and son

Ebony Ambrose, left, whose son Kevin, right, was shot dead this week, said she raised her son to be respectful and hard-working.

PHOTO CREDIT: DNAinfo photos
THUMBNAILS
<p>Ebony Ambrose, left, whose son Kevin, right, was shot dead this week, said she raised her son to be respectful and hard-working.</p>
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<p>Mark Konkol found his missing lunch in the trash in this alley. Then, he ate it.</p>
Earl Pionke, the Earl of Old Town.
<p>Long after Earl Pionke, 80, closed his namesake bar, The Earl Of Old Town, he moved to a "castle" in Pullman, where he talked to everyone he met. Lucky neighbors got gifts of music and homemade wine. Pionke died on April 26.</p>
<p>“If you live in certain parts of this area, they title you,” said Phyllis Johnson, a 38-year-old hairdresser who grew up on the Gangster Disciples side of Division. “If you live over there, they assume you’re with that gang.”</p>
<p>Meredith Byers pours a tasty pint at her brother's new Beverly brew pub, Horse Thief Hollow.</p>
<p>Jive Turkey in Beverly the kelly-green, fresh-herb pesto turkey is special for St. Patrick's Day. The deep-fried turkey joint will open up special for the South Side Irish Parade.</p>
<p>Enforcers safety, Chicago police officer Mike Gaines, broke his leg while playing the NYPD Finest at Soldier Field in 2007. He hope to get revenge with a win when the two cop teams play in New York on April 20.</p>
<p>Enforcers linebacker, Chicago police officer Carl Suchocki takes a break in between plays during practice.</p>
<p>Enforcers captain Aaron Chappell rounds up teammates after practice.</p>
<p>Neil Byers, 29, names his Beverly Brew pub after the neighborhood's former name, Horse Thief Hollow. In the 1850s, thieves rested in a wooded area — near 109th and Longwood — before heading downtown to sell horses they stole in Missouri.</p>
<p>The historic Hotel Florence in Pullman got a $3.5 million makeover, but will it be enough to attract a restaurant?</p>
<p>Maharshi Patel, 26, of Rogers Park has the No. 1 spot in line to score Lebron James' new shoes. “For me, my outfit starts with the sneaker," he said.</p>
<p>Aaron Auruz, 19 of Kenosha Wis.(right) waited all night for his chance to buy Lebron James' new Nikes. He had to wait behind Bianca Rivera and Alex Cruz of Aurora.</p>
<p>Saint Alfred manager Frank DiGiovanni said Lebron James' new Nike's sold out in 15 minutes. For days, he had to shoe away "sneakerheads" who had started to line up for their chance to buy the limited edition shoes.</p>
<p> Shavac Prakash (top) and Scott Baity, Jr. perform in Crime Scene: A Chicago Anthology at Collaboraction Theater in the Flat Iron Building in Wicker Park.</p>
<p>Firefighter Kevin O'Grady at the North Side Fire Brigade, a no-scab club.</p>
<p>Retired fire Capt. Tom Luczak mans the bar at North Side Fire Brigade.</p>
<p>Former 'wine guy' Gregg Wilson's Hardboiled Coffee brings an artisan touch to the Beverly coffee experience.</p>
<p>A discarded mattress blocks the sidewalk on 106th Street at the Calumet River as a school bus drives past.</p>
<p>DNAinfo New York Managing Editor Michael Ventura proves his loyalty to the Chicago website by taking a shot of Malort at the urging of Writer at Large Mark Konkol.</p>
<p>A view of Chicago's southernmost beach at Calumet Park in the East Side neighborhood.</p>
<p>Chris Gros digs for treasure at a South Side beach. He found about $60 of loot, including a Victorian ring.</p>
<p>Chris Gros shows off treasures found at a South Side beach during Tuesday's record-breaking warm weather.</p>
<p>Mark Konkol (center) didn't listen to his mom. He quit baseball and played football at Thornwood High School.</p>
<p>David and Jackie Gervercer, owners of The Matchbox and The Silver Palm, plan to leave behind the tiny River West taverns to open a bed and breakfast in Mexico.</p>
<p>Former owner of The Matchbox, the late Israel Segal, tends bar at Chicago's most intimate tavern.</p>
<p>Yessir! On my way back from an appearance on WBEZ's Morning Shift, I spotted Bud Nanney, 62,and his pal Stan Motyko, 47 fishing on the north side of Navy Pier. Ol' Bud reeled in a keeper perch.</p>
<p>Floyd the dog's bark is worse than his bite. Or is it?</p>
<p>Argus Brewery Historian Nick Lubovich lives in the Historic Pullman district and really likes beer. A lot. Seriously. Beer. Loves the stuff.</p>
<p>Argus Brewery's father and son brewers, Bob and Patrick Jensen.</p>
<p>Malort’s pungent aftertaste — black licorice, glass cleaner and horse urine — punched DNAinfo New York Managing Editor Michael Ventura in the palate.</p>
<p>Cardboard pistol includes directions, "Use this for Zombies not on Kids."</p>
<p>Chicago phone book carved in the shape of a "Neener," street slang for a Glock 9mm pistol.</p>
<p>Paul Elevich, 3, visiting with his mother from German stretches to tip Chock the Cat.</p>
<p>This Hyde Park tribute to New Orleans fare that the list of Chicago's dirtiest restaurants had troubles with rodents, refrigeration and food prep. Close for weeks, the Big Easy has reopened.</p>
<p>will send someone new to Congress from the <a href=2nd District to replace disgraced former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

" />
<p>In Chicago's Grant Park, "Sitting Lincoln" show's no emotion over the success of Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," which is up for seven Golden Globe awards and is considered a top contender for the Best Picture Academy Award, or the fight to save the CTA's <a href=No. 11 "Lincoln" bus route.

" />
<p>Chief Keef's first album hits stores Tuesday.</p>
<p>Dashay Howard, 14, has seen Chief Keef driving around Englewood. She's ready to get the controversial rapper's album. "I just like his songs," she said. "People say bad things about out neighborhood, but he's making it out of here. I think that's a good thing."</p>
<p>On Monday, police patroled Chief Keef's old stomping grounds and the home turf of a fraction of the Black Disciples known as "Lamron," which stands for Normal spelled backwards.</p>
<p>Ulysses Gissendanner (right), whose family said he was a former stepbrother of Keith Cozart, also known as Chief Keef, was fatally shot in a car Wednesday afternoon.</p>
<p>With the winter parking ban in place, the Chicago tradition of claiming parking spot dibs with cheap furniture — technically illegal yet universally accepted during snow storms — gets a trial run on Rush Street on a rare warm night in December. Meanwhile, this bicyclist takes a casual ride the wrong way on a one-way street. It was unclear if he was looking for a protected bike lane.</p>
<p>Beloved beverly boxing coach Martin McGarry doesn't pack the same punch in the ring but he won't give up his fight against Amyloidosis, a rare, uncurable disease genetic disease.</p>
<p>Beloved Beverly boxing coach Martin McGarry once trained with Muhammed Ali, who once told him "Never let your opponent know you're hurt."</p>
<p>Before Martin McGarry became a well-known South Side boxing coach he was a Golden Gloves champion, Illinois State Champion and fought professionally.</p>
<p>Mayor Rahm Emanuel got blindsided on his 53rd birthday when staff threw him a surprise party. The mayor was allegedly joking when he told everyone in the room they were "fired," sources said.</p>
<p>The Tates on the front steps of their Englewood home.</p>
<p>Dorothy Tate walking down to the basement of her Englewood home.</p>
<p>Gucci, the Tates' dog.</p>
<p>Stray kitten that hangs around the Tate home, according to Tommy Tate.</p>
<p>This cyclist pedaling through South Shore near 71<sup>st</sup> and Jeffery — past a Fruit of Islam vendor hawking Final Call newspapers and scented oils — proves what North Side <a href=bicycle commuters are always saying is true: Riding without protected bike lanes takes, well, balls.

" />
<p>River North’s unofficial horsey night light glows high above 215 W. Chicago Ave. at Lightology.  It’s a joint where you can buy fancy imported lamps  — and in a pinch get <a href=wedding photos taken with your prince charming alongside a white horse.

" />
<p>In case you were wondering, disgraced former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Chicago) — who resigned from office on Nov. 21 citing the federal investigation of his “activities” and his ongoing battle with bi-polar disorder — lives in a house with peeling paint  that sits behind iron bars on a dead end street in South Shore.</p>
<p>Ryan McBride enjoys a slice of pizza and a PBR at the Boiler Room in Logan Square.</p>
<p>Sarah Ward, executive director of South Chicago Art Center, curated an collection of gun sculptures made by South Side kids and professional artists to raise money for her after-school arts program.</p>

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