Artists and designers are being asked for their ideas on a sculpture, plaque or artwork naming Eckhart Park benefactors. An call for entries this week frames the memorial as a "more thoughtful and creative" version of the inscribed brick pavers that mark contributions in other parks. It will be visible from Chicago Avenue, with three tiers of donors. Plans would be submitted in a two-page PDF file with a $25 entry fee. A prize for the winning submission, if any, was not announced. ("We're hoping to secure an award," said Eckhart Park Advisory Council president Nick Fotis.) A committee of Advisory Council directors, local design professionals and neighbors will judge entries Sept. 3. Applicants are advised to reflect the neighborhood and consider environmentally friendly materials. The winner will be announced Sept. 17 at the Eckhart Park 5K Run to Fun. The sponsoring Advisory Council said it has identified potential donors in working with the Chicago...

Bring a dish and make a friend at the East Village Association's spring picnic. Supplementing the potluck are two local Italian specialties, Roots Handmade Pizza and Black Dog Gelato. Linger for corn toss and other amusements. Contributors to EVA's East Village street sign project will receive a chance at great prizes including: Wicker Park Fitness: 6 month membership + 3 hourlong training sessions Boundary: $50 gift certificate Moonshine: $50 gift certificate Greenheart: $25 gift certificate Tres Bien Salon: Manicure The event starts at 7pm Monday night, Aug. 1 at Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice. RSVP Now that you've locked in Monday, here are events for the rest of the week: Friday, July 29 Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival, 4-11pm through Sunday, Milwaukee Avenue from California to Kimball. This weekend's street fair is in Logan Square, with galleries, performance art, music, and family activities. milwaukeeavenueartsfestival.org Bike Away From Work + P...

A weekly look at events in and around East Village (not "the East Village"): Saturday, July 23 Keeping It Real, 11am-1pm at the Chicago Police Academy 1330 W. Jackson. Learn from convicted burglars how to protect your home. ohsowe.com/local/discussions/350 Summer Sidewalk Sale, 11 am, Division Street, Milwaukee Avenue, North Avenue, & Damen Avenue. facebook.com/event.php?eid=212938208747599 Wicker Park Fest, noon-10pm, Milwaukee Avenue between Wood and North avenues. Chicago Reader calls it "one of the city's most reputable neighborhood festivals." Make what you will of that. Children's activities at Milwaukee and Evergreen include petting zoo (1-5 pm) and benefit Jose de Diego Community Academy. Headline band is Wild Flag, a Sleater-Kinney offshoot. Afterparty at Evil Olive. wickerparkfestchicago.com Wicker Park Neighborhood Tour, 1pm, Wicker Park. A Chicago Architecture Foundation guided walking tour of Victorian-era buildings. Repeated Aug....

By Marjorie Isaacson I was reading the report on the meeting with Manny Gonzalez and saw this: "Leaves and yard waste should be put in the garbage bins." Maybe Manny G said this (and sorry I missed it if he did) but this is incorrect. I am not sure about the "encouraged" statement below, but from my understanding it has been against the law since the late '90s to put yard waste in with regular garbage. It is supposed to be separately collected. In Beverly (the south side neighborhood which is well-known as having good recyclers and lots of single family homes with big yards and gardens), people are allowed to just designate one of their supercarts as a "yard waste cart." I think this is a great idea: It saves buying the brown bags, and even though it's OK to put it in plastic bags, who wants more plastic in the world? Another option is a composting site in the city, where the yard waste is taken and composted, and then people can come and...

A Streets & Sanitation crew clears the Honore-Thomas intersection July 12.  July 11, 2011 membership meeting minutes submitted by Dana Palmer Meeting commenced: 7:04 p.m. Guest speaker Ward superintendent Manny Gonzalez presented issues regarding streets and sanitation: Garbage cans/recycle bins: They are all owned by the city and are city property. If you need more or want some taken away, call 311. Be sure to get an SR # for your report/request. Currently the ward has 8 garbage trucks that pick up garbage weekly and 5 recycling trucks. Call 311 and follow up with Mr. Gonzalez for all issues regarding overflow of garbage or recycling or for issues regarding furniture removal from alley. Leaves and yard waste should be put in the garbage bins. Parkway: Although this is city property, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain the area. Homeowners who want to develop the parkway or around it should consult the alderman's office first for recommendati...

East Village Association tracks more weekend goings-on: Friday, July 15: The 2010 movie "How to Train Your Dragon" screens at dusk (circa 8:30 p.m.) at Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice. Bring a picnic and blanket; some snacks are available. "A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed." ( Internet Movie Database ) Chopin Theatre's schedule through Sunday includes a Friday-night magic act; "Trogg!" a musical loosely based on a Joan Crawford movie, and "The Rose of Stambul," an operetta set in an Istanbul harem. At 1543 W. Division; chopintheatre.com Saturday, July 16: Eckhart Park Advisory Council volunteers mulch the garden areas from 9 till noon at 1330 W. Chicago Ave. Bring your gloves and a shovel. Art, fashion and music at the Sound System Block Party from noon till 10 at Milwaukee & Evergreen; thesilverr...

Fallen tree at Thomas & Honore (Scott Rappe photo) A downed tree this morning at Thomas and Honore is a reminder that clearing the street is just as much an issue now as in deep snowfall. 1st Ward Streets & Sanitation Supt. Manuel Gonzalez is set to talk tonight about all things handled by his department, a talk put off after the February snow emergency. Parkway landscaping, debris removal, rat control and street sweeping are also likely topics for discussion. Last summer the ward started offering street-sweeping text alerts, reminding residents by cell phone to move their cars and avoid tickets. The ward also has experimented with grid system to pick up trash. Gonzalez can explain how that works and if it might save money citywide. He's also prepared to talk about who owns trash bins, where to keep them, and how to make better use of blue recycling bins. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott.

The monthly East Village Association meeting is Monday, delayed as usual from the July 4 holiday. EVA also is preparing for an Aug. 1 picnic in Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice. Here are selected upcoming events: July 7: Polish Triangle Marketplace. The farmers market returns from 2 till 8 p.m. at Division, Ashland and Milwaukee. Check out our slide show and the chamber of commerce's list of visitors . July 7 & 8: Cans Fest. Too White Crew and Naughty By Nature perform outside the bar at Damen & Concord. More on its Facebook page . July 9: Recycling Dropoff. Computer recycling and paper shredding in the Kmart parking lot at 1360 N. Ashland. Details here. July 9 & 10: West Fest. King Khan and Local H are headliners at this year's street festival, fron noon till 10 on Chicago Avenue between Damen and Wood. See the complete lineup (with links to band websites) programmed by the Empty Bottle nightclub. There's also a Kid Fest on Wolcott from Chicago to R...