A section of an abandoned office building on the former Brach’s candy factory site at Cicero Avenue and Lake Street on the West Side was partially blown up last Wednesday afternoon for a scene in next year’s Batman sequel.
At 2:15 p.m., Aug. 29, one half of a four-story, gray building imploded, thanks to the efforts of a film crew. The entire former Brach’s site, located at 401 N. Cicero Ave., covers 32 acres and includes a large factory plant and smaller buildings.
The building imploded for the film, which is due out next summer, is located near a large parking lot along Cicero, and next to the Metra rail tracks just north of Lake Street.
The site was transformed into a hospital location for filming. A rehearsal, minus the explosion, took place shortly after 2 o’clock with actors and extras, some dressed like doctors and nurses in green and white, running from the building. A black helicopter hovered above to film the scene.
Neighborhood residents stood across the street on Cicero watching the filming. Safety and security personnel cleared the side of the street near the blast site and Chicago police blocked off Cicero from Kinzie to Hubbard streets.
At 15 minutes after, several booms sounded. Several more small explosions and then two larger ones went off while watchers cheered. Filmmakers rigged things to have only half the building explode. A massive plume of black smoke rose to the sky afterward.
The Batman Begins sequel, titled The Dark Knight, wrapped up summer filming in Chicago last week, most of which took place downtown. The sequel is scheduled for release on July 18, 2008.
Cucina to continue 9/11 tradition
Despite a fire that temporarily closed Cucina Paradiso, 814 North Blvd., in June, restaurateurs Nick and Anthony Gambino still intend to hold their 5th Annual Oak Park Firefighters Local 95 Night Out Serving Others fundraiser.
As the damaged restaurant undergoes repairs, this year’s fundraiser will be held Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the 19th Century Club, which, along with the Wednesday Journal, has donated space and services to the fundraising effort.
The event, which runs from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., will include cocktails, popular Cucina dishes, a raffle, silent auction and dancing with a live deejay. Representatives from Local 95 will serve as “celebrity wait staff.” Cucina Paradiso will donate a third of all proceeds to the three charities selected by the men and women of Local 95.
Tickets for the event are available for $35 ($40 at the door) and $300 for tables of 10. Tickets can be purchased by calling Cucina Paradiso, 708/848-3434, and leaving a message (no credit cards accepted), or by contacting Local 95 Firefighters Mike Henkelman at 847/366-5499 or Joe Pantaleo at 630/878-9797.
Urban legend: ticketing tree-crushed car
Village Communications Director Dave Powers sent us an urgent communique last week in an effort to dispel an apparent urban legend:
“I was copied on an e-mail from a citizen to a trustee who claimed a car on Division Street crushed by a tree felled by the storms had been ticketed. To set the record straight, there was a car on Harvey near Division damaged by a tree that apparently had a parking ticket envelop on the windshield. However, our records indicate no ticket was written for that vehicle. Our parking enforcement officers are tough, but not heartless. Obviously, someone has a cruel sense of humor.”
This is how rumors get started.