Lee Bey
@leebey1.bsky.social
Architecture critic for Chicago Sun-Times and ABC7 Chicago. Author/photographer of Southern Exposure: The Overlooked Architecture of Chicago's South Side. I dig vintage TV/movies and 20th century funk, soul and jazz.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has announced the great Carmen de Lavallade has died at age 94. A dancer extraordinaire, of course, and could act too. Here she is with Harry Belafonte in the often overlooked 1959 noir, Odds Against Tomorrow. It's a small role, and she totally steals the scene.
December 30, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has announced the great Carmen de Lavallade has died at age 94. A dancer extraordinaire, of course, and could act too. Here she is with Harry Belafonte in the often overlooked 1959 noir, Odds Against Tomorrow. It's a small role, and she totally steals the scene.
Drum machines, synths, and an Emu emulator making the breaking glass sounds, Jenny Burton's incredible vocals -- I remember when this came out. What a jam. John Robie is a genius.
C Bank - One More Shot (Extended Version) 1982
YouTube video by Morgan Fako
youtube.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Drum machines, synths, and an Emu emulator making the breaking glass sounds, Jenny Burton's incredible vocals -- I remember when this came out. What a jam. John Robie is a genius.
Installation of the first of the 39 concrete panels containing the words from Obama's 2015 Selma speech has begun. Each panel weighs between 5.5 and 10 tons. The letters are a foot thick.
An Obama quote gets installed atop presidential center
The first of the 5-foot-tall concrete letters, quoting the former president's 2015 "You Are America" speech, are being placed on the 225-foot granite-clad museum tower at the Obama Presidential Center...
chicago.suntimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Installation of the first of the 39 concrete panels containing the words from Obama's 2015 Selma speech has begun. Each panel weighs between 5.5 and 10 tons. The letters are a foot thick.
A little Xmas reading. "The house was very ahead of its time, which is an often overused term," said Todd Zeiger, director of the Northern Regional Office of Indiana Landmarks. "Those other glass houses have their importance in architectural history. This one is due."
America's first glass house, built for the 1933 World's Fair, set to shine again
Workers have installed glass exteriors walls on the House of Tomorrow in Beverly Shores, Indiana, as part of a $4 million effort to restore the 12-sided home to how it looked 90 years ago.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A little Xmas reading. "The house was very ahead of its time, which is an often overused term," said Todd Zeiger, director of the Northern Regional Office of Indiana Landmarks. "Those other glass houses have their importance in architectural history. This one is due."
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Reposted by Lee Bey
Goff’s unconventional work isn’t easily categorized, but he left his mark on the Chicago area with some unusual residences.
Art Institute curators hope to introduce architect Bruce Goff to new generation with career-spanning show
chicago.suntimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Goff’s unconventional work isn’t easily categorized, but he left his mark on the Chicago area with some unusual residences.
Playing at the downtown's old LaSalle Theater in 1905, a musical with a title I can dig: "His Highness, the Bey."
December 19, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Playing at the downtown's old LaSalle Theater in 1905, a musical with a title I can dig: "His Highness, the Bey."
I was at the Inland Steel Building earlier today thought I'd grab some images of the seven-ton desk Frank Gehry designed for the lobby during that brief time he had an ownership take in the building.
December 17, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I was at the Inland Steel Building earlier today thought I'd grab some images of the seven-ton desk Frank Gehry designed for the lobby during that brief time he had an ownership take in the building.
Today's column: Graham Anderson Probst & White's old Marshall Field's in Oak Park gets landmarked. "The metalwork ... the mansard roof. Seriously, if you just saw that building, you would think you were on Michigan Avenue," Chicago Architecture Center CEO Eleanor Esser Gorski said.
One for the books: Oak Park landmarks former Marshall Field's store
The designation and an accompanying property tax break will assist a plan to bring a Barnes & Noble to the historic location.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Today's column: Graham Anderson Probst & White's old Marshall Field's in Oak Park gets landmarked. "The metalwork ... the mansard roof. Seriously, if you just saw that building, you would think you were on Michigan Avenue," Chicago Architecture Center CEO Eleanor Esser Gorski said.
Back in the day, this video was my intro to the great Joe Ely. When he hopped into that convertible, I was sold.
Joe Ely What's Shakin Tonight LA 135 4:13:84 MCA Records Red Car Chris Gabrin Limelight
YouTube video by TheRedCarChannel
youtube.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Back in the day, this video was my intro to the great Joe Ely. When he hopped into that convertible, I was sold.
I'm watching Fractured Fairytales on YouTube. I'm a kid again. These things are hilarious.
December 14, 2025 at 7:44 AM
I'm watching Fractured Fairytales on YouTube. I'm a kid again. These things are hilarious.
A great Xmas card today from my bud Shaun Fleischhacker. It included vintage postcards of Pullman's Market Hall, & the old Sears HQ at Homan and Arthington. Right on, right on. Shaun is the retired CPD Lt who got Milwaukee Ave outside of Schurz HS honorarily renamed for architect Dwight Perkins.
December 13, 2025 at 11:46 PM
A great Xmas card today from my bud Shaun Fleischhacker. It included vintage postcards of Pullman's Market Hall, & the old Sears HQ at Homan and Arthington. Right on, right on. Shaun is the retired CPD Lt who got Milwaukee Ave outside of Schurz HS honorarily renamed for architect Dwight Perkins.
Reposted by Lee Bey
What are the odds of the 600 condo, 50-story tower Metropolis Pointe, just south of McCormick Place, being more than a pipe dream? When you go to metropolisgpointebronzeville.com, you get a page saying "Website Expired"
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/b...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/b...
December 13, 2025 at 5:53 PM
What are the odds of the 600 condo, 50-story tower Metropolis Pointe, just south of McCormick Place, being more than a pipe dream? When you go to metropolisgpointebronzeville.com, you get a page saying "Website Expired"
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/b...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/b...
Halle Berry & Samuel L. Jackson at South Park Terrace apartments 6116 S. King in "Losing Isaiah." Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright associate Harry Hale Waterman, and a near twin of Wright’s since-demo'd Francisco Terrace. A 1909 carbon copy, Washington Park Terrace, stands at 6160-6212 S. King.
December 13, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Halle Berry & Samuel L. Jackson at South Park Terrace apartments 6116 S. King in "Losing Isaiah." Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright associate Harry Hale Waterman, and a near twin of Wright’s since-demo'd Francisco Terrace. A 1909 carbon copy, Washington Park Terrace, stands at 6160-6212 S. King.
Today's architecture column remembers Stanley Tigerman's late, great and short-lived 1970s Arby's restaurant at 115 E. Chicago Ave. “It was actually a fun thing — very lively there," Tigerman’s wife, architect Margaret McCurry said. "While it lasted.”
Stanley Tigerman-designed Arby's in Streeterville is long gone but not forgotten
"[It was] an Arby’s restaurant disguised as a mini Centre Pompidou in which to consume fast food instead of art," mused Chicago writer, editor and architect Iker Gil.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Today's architecture column remembers Stanley Tigerman's late, great and short-lived 1970s Arby's restaurant at 115 E. Chicago Ave. “It was actually a fun thing — very lively there," Tigerman’s wife, architect Margaret McCurry said. "While it lasted.”
An email sez today marks 6 years since I returned to the Sun-Times. I came back, joined the editorial board and didn't want to write about architecture. "I did that 20 years ago." Ha! Still, I feel like a young critic again, roaming the city w/a reporters' notebook -- and the occasional hard hat.
December 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
An email sez today marks 6 years since I returned to the Sun-Times. I came back, joined the editorial board and didn't want to write about architecture. "I did that 20 years ago." Ha! Still, I feel like a young critic again, roaming the city w/a reporters' notebook -- and the occasional hard hat.
One of the greats, actor director John Cassavetes would have turned 96 today. One of lesser-known efforts: the 1959-1960 tv show Johnny Staccato where he plays a jazz pianist who is also a private detective.
December 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
One of the greats, actor director John Cassavetes would have turned 96 today. One of lesser-known efforts: the 1959-1960 tv show Johnny Staccato where he plays a jazz pianist who is also a private detective.
My latest column: a look at the first completed building on the Obama Presidential Center campus. (This is an update on the project. My critique of the entire campus will come when it all opens in June.)
Obama Presidential Center's first building has opened — Here's an exclusive look
The 45,000-square-foot facility, called Home Court, has already hosted private events.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
My latest column: a look at the first completed building on the Obama Presidential Center campus. (This is an update on the project. My critique of the entire campus will come when it all opens in June.)
Doing interviews today for my Frank Gehry's obituary, one of his friends told me the architect was good friends with actor Peter Falk. I ran out of time before I could include that. But imagine the conversations those two must've had.
December 6, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Doing interviews today for my Frank Gehry's obituary, one of his friends told me the architect was good friends with actor Peter Falk. I ran out of time before I could include that. But imagine the conversations those two must've had.
Latest column. In addition to his Millennium Park and other work, Gehry traveled the world with the Pritzkers, briefly held an ownership stake in the Inland Steel Building, was nicknamed 'Frankgooch' by Stanley Tigerman & appeared on The Simpsons.
Architect Frank Gehry who designed Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion and foot bridge dies at 96
The visionary West Coast architect had deeply rooted Chicago connections and friendships.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Latest column. In addition to his Millennium Park and other work, Gehry traveled the world with the Pritzkers, briefly held an ownership stake in the Inland Steel Building, was nicknamed 'Frankgooch' by Stanley Tigerman & appeared on The Simpsons.
Today's follow-up to last week's column. "The idea of landmarking the 30 N. LaSalle hit a sore spot with some preservationists (and this architecture critic) because the unrelentingly drab tower replaced Adler & Sullivan's far superior 1894 building."
Loop tower that replaced historic Chicago Stock Exchange Building wins preliminary landmark status
The idea of landmarking the building at 30 N. LaSalle St. hit a sore spot with some preservationists (and this architecture critic), because the drab tower replaced a far superior structure.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Today's follow-up to last week's column. "The idea of landmarking the 30 N. LaSalle hit a sore spot with some preservationists (and this architecture critic) because the unrelentingly drab tower replaced Adler & Sullivan's far superior 1894 building."
Today's architecture column. The giant Illinois Medical District to get its first new park in 80 years, designed by the landscape architecture firm, site design.
Illinois Medical District getting its first park in 80 years
Officials and architects said the park would act as a place of activity and rest. It will also be the site of the memorial dedicated to COVID-19 victims and workers.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Today's architecture column. The giant Illinois Medical District to get its first new park in 80 years, designed by the landscape architecture firm, site design.
Man o man o man. My bud Bill Kurtis sent me a copy of his new book, Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News. I cannot wait to dig in.
December 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Man o man o man. My bud Bill Kurtis sent me a copy of his new book, Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News. I cannot wait to dig in.
In today's paper: The print version of my latest column.
December 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
In today's paper: The print version of my latest column.
The lovely Annazette Chase in this very cool and sophisticated 1970 commercial for Profile bread. A year later, the bread's makers skinned back the weight loss claims after getting sued by the FTC.
December 1, 2025 at 3:02 AM
The lovely Annazette Chase in this very cool and sophisticated 1970 commercial for Profile bread. A year later, the bread's makers skinned back the weight loss claims after getting sued by the FTC.