The Chicago Tattooing Company in Lakeview Represents Alternative City History

By Jill Miskevics and Katherine Harry

The Chicago Tattooing Company displays original tattoo drawings and pieces of the company’s history for clients to enjoy. (Photo by Jill Miskevics)

Audio Slideshow: Interview with Robert Perez at the Chicago Tattooing and Piercing Company.

Belmont Avenue in Lakeview is known for housing quirky shops, vintage stores, and the historical Chicago Tattooing Company.  Chicago Tattoo has been around for 39 years and takes the title of Illinois’ oldest tattooing studio.

Both the locals and Chicago tourists pay visits to the Chicago Tattooing Company to experience the history, art and body modification specialties that the shop is known for providing.

“Tattoos are a way for me to get something permanent on me that means something, that tells a story and then I just keep on telling the story, you know, keep on expressing myself through it,” said Robert Perez, 26-year-old United States Marine.

Perez and fellow marine, Leonardo Fortolis, came to Chicago from Washington D.C. for work-related business at the May 20-21 NATO Summit and spent the following Tuesday evening at Chicago Tattoo.  Fortolis has visited Chicago Tattoo on a previous trip to the city and had his daughter’s name tattooed on his arm.

Poll: Should Loop Residents Evacuate for the NATO Summit?

Listen to the audio NATO summit statistics, then vote in the poll.

Storify: NATO News in Chicago

My Storify summary on NATO summit news from Chicago and global media outlets. Check back regularly for updates.

NATO Summit: Closings Throughout Chicago May 18-21

The NATO Summit is scheduled to take place in Chicago at McCormick Place on May 20 and 21.  Places throughout the city are reacting differently, but many are opting to close for the duration of the summit. Closings will take place for various reasons, but primarily to keep people and property safe.

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Wachowski Spells Out DePaul’s NATO Summit Plans

Bob Wachowski, director of public safety at DePaul University, spoke out about NATO security and campus safety. (Photo by Mike Reilley)

The safety of college students has been a priority of Bob Wachowski, DePaul University’s Director of Public Safety, for over 29 years.  With the NATO summit just around the corner, Wachowski has been working hard to keep the DePaul community out of harm’s way. With Secret Service keeping the plans under wraps until four weeks before the summit, detailing the safety plan has not been an easy task.

Wachowski has been Director of Public Safety for 14 of his 29 years at DePaul University.  He has 74 officers responsible for monitoring campus safety and reporting back to him with each incident.

Due to the high level of secrecy revolving around the specific plans, Wachowski said that the ultimate outcome of the NATO summit, scheduled for May 20 and 21, cannot be predicted.  He has been working to take proper precautions to keep the downtown campus safe and DePaul students out of harm’s way.

“We have an excellent relationship with the Chicago Police Department,” Wachowski said.

Working closely with the police, the Public Safety team, and other school administrators decided to close DePaul’s downtown campus for the duration of the summit.