The first reader to answer wins a Sun-Times T-shirt. Tell your pals.

Who is Clybourn Avenue named after and what made the guy famous?

Here's a clue: That's him over there --->

David Saginur of Lake Bluff. He wins a Sun-Times T-shirt.
Mr. Saginur was the first reader to post the correct answer to last week's quiz question: When did Chicago's tradition of having an "official Christmas tree" begin, where was it on display and what mayor flipped on the lights?
The answer: Mayor Carter Henry Harrison lit the city's first Christmas tree in 1913. The tree was on display in Grant Park.

Meet Jim Mullen: Chicago's top paraplegic apple sauce purveyor.

The guy has quite a story ...

This is hilarious and fitting:

Lie Down, Chicago Bears" is a parody of the official "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" fight song. The lyrics were written by Joe Schmitt (follow him on Twitter @joeschmitt) and performed by friends and colleagues on December 17.
For the complete lyrics and other videos and stories about the fight song, check out Joe's website.

Has the influx of Chicagoans working for the Obama White House brought the Chicago tradition of reserving street parking with lawn furniture during a snow storm to Washington D.C.?

Probably not.
But ...

To the people of Santa Claus, Ind.,

Normally, we'd send our Christmas wishes to the North Pole, but the mailman isn't delivering there this year. Turns out, one of Santa's little helpers up there is a pedophile and the postal service put the kibosh on the whole Santa letter operation.
Word is you folks have picked up the slack, so we're begging for your help.
We're self-actualized enough in Chicago to understand our city deserves a lump of coal this Christmas for a year filled with corruption, Olympic-sized boondoggles and Milton Bradley.
I'm sure you saw the worst of our dirty laundry, our indicted ex-governor Rod Blagojevich and his hair, on Letterman.
Hoosiers still watch Letterman, right?
So forget about us. What we want is something special for a guy you know -- that kid from Heritage Hills High with the golden arm. Remember him?

Be first to answer to answer the question correctly to win a Chicago Sun-Times T-shirt.

When did Chicago's tradition of having an "official Christmas tree" begin, where was it on disply and what mayor flipped on the lights?

We all know this guy is a true Chicago character. Merry Christmas from the U.S. Senate.

Over a tasty glass of rum, I contemplated a question that might arise in the life of any out-of-place, casually dressed, plus-size newspaper writer: Is wearing borrowed fat-woman slacks embarrassing?

What you are about to read is embarrassing tale of one night at the Union League Club, where polite rich people will make you comfortable by not only offering you a loaner blazer (think Jerry Seinfeld) but also "complimentary trousers." Click here for my confession.

Marvez Cane, who knew the oldest building in Chicago is the Clarke House., which was owned by Henry B. Clarke. Contact me to collect your prize.

Actually, loyal reader Walter Brzeski had the correct answer first, but was nice enough to forgo the T-shirt because he's a repeat winner.

Keep coming back for your chance to win free stuff.

Just so you know: Henry B. Clarke was a wealthy hardware dealer who died in 1849; thereafter, the building became known as the "Widow Clarke's house."

It was moved from its former location in the 4500-block of South Wabash, to its current site in 1977, where it is part of the Prairie Avenue District.It was moved from its former location in the 4500-block of South Wabash, to its current site in 1977, where it is part of the Prairie Avenue District.

On the sage advice of the man behind SportsPro(se), Konkol's Korner is going viral.

Follow me on twitter: @Konkolskorner.

Consider this a practice tweet.

Ate lunch with Frank Main today at LaScarola. Yummiest Chicago mob hangout, ever. Frank swears John "No Nose" DiFronzo was there. I don't believe him.

How's that?

The marketing savvy brokers at DreamTown.com are offering a new version of their Chicago neighborhood map for FREE. They bill the map as the "most current and complete map of current Chicago neighborhoods available for free."

Their claim is technically true -- the map is free.

But "current and complete" is a bunch of bunk.

The neighborhood map has become a popular marketing tool for real estate companies who want to expand the boundaries of popular hoods to ... MAKE MORE MONEY.

This is how DreamTown.com came up with their boundaries: "The team consulted neighborhood associations and tapped the knowledge of agents in the field to create an accurate and detailed representation of Chicago neighborhoods." It's pretty brilliant really.

But the problem with these maps are that they distort the truth -- expand the size of a popular neighborhood such as Roscoe Village, or fail to include entire neighborhoods such as Canaryville or The Bush. Yes, The Bush.

What really ticks me off is when these companies completely disregard South Side neighborhoods south of Hyde Park, and anything south of Midway Airport.

The most ridiculous example of the real estate "neighborhood map" is this one form @properties.com.

There are some cool Chicago neighbhorhood maps that are more artistic and less informational. Here's my favorite.

But if you want to know exactly which neighborhood is which I recommend the city of Chicago's official -- accurate and complete -- neighborhood map.

No matter what my cousin Taters says, there's more than just football at Mount Carmel.

A group of students at the South Side Catholic high school are out to help the "Invisible Children" -- kids from war torn countries who have been displaced by the war or are forced to become child soldiers.

The guys (Mt. Carmel is still an all-boys school) in the Invisible Children's Club work to spread the word about the difficult conditions kids face in Uganda, where a civil war has raged for 20 years.

This year, the group's book sale collected a few hundred bucks for the Gulu Secondary School in Uganda. That cash helps fund student scholarships, construction of facilities, supply of books and teaching aids, among other things.

Here are some of the good guys:

Mount Carmel High School students Jack Carey (left), of Beverly, and Josh Albury with representatives of Schools for Schools, a program dedicated to improving educational opportunities for children in war-torn Uganda.

GOT SOMETHING GOOD TO SHARE: E-MAIL KONKOL

The quiz is back .... and just in time for Christmas.

You know the drill: The first reader to submit the correct answer scores Sun-Times gear (the perfect stocking stuffer) courtesy of the fine folks in marketing.

This week's question:

What is the oldest building in Chicago and who lived there?

Here's a clue:

Good luck. Keep checking back for more chances to win.

Watch Mr. Moughrabi make his signature dish:

I know, I'm one of those Sox fans. Get over it.

Regardless, today's news that figure skating will make its debut outside Wrigley Field, a Christmas gift from the Rickett's family, the Cubs' new owners, is good news for the neighborhood.
The full-sized Rink at Wrigley isn't so much a gift as a business venture, playing off last year's NHL Winter Classic game between the Blackhawks and Red Wings.

Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for kids. And, of course, Levy Restaurants will be serving grub -- probably at concession stand prices.

The grand opening celebration is set for Sat. Dec. 19. Have fun.

Here's a video from 2006 that has South Side Christmas spirit.
White Sox, White Sox, Go Go White Sox!

If today's driving snow doesn't get you in the jingle bells mood, perhaps a wacky Christmas lights display will do the trick. The folks at Chicagolandchristmaslights.com have put together their annual list of holiday displays -- 243 in all -- stretching from Kenosha, Wis. to Matteson and from St. John, Ind. to DeKalb.
Mapped by address, the light displays are marked by the number of lights (15,000 or more), and which stops are animated, pay displays or places that are worth a mere drive-by.

Happy Holidays.

Courtesy of Uptown Update:

It's the Experience Uptown Christmas Cocktail Crawl

Here's the deal: "The pub crawl is slated for Sunday, December 20th. Each bar or restaurant Uptown will create a signature drink -- they're going for $2 to $4 -- so long as you buy a cocktail crawl mug for 12 bucks. For more details and a list of bars check out the Wilson Area Merchants Association website.

While exploring the South Side on Tuesday, I spotted a flier at an off-the-map coffee shop in Woodlawn (more on that soon) promoting an fund raiser auctioning off some rather weird stuff.

If you've got a neo-hippie (or someone special with an artist/activist bent) on your Christmas shopping list, the Chicago 3rd Annual Wants & Needs Auction might be for you.

Somethign for the casual Sunday afternoon blog reader....

John J. Curtis takes pictures. He's not a "real photographer" -- which is why his website is notarealphotographer.com.

Here's how he describes himself:

John is occasionally a photographer, but never a real one. He's more of a writer, just an unpublished one. Perhaps it would be best to describe him as a businessman, though not a successful one.

Through an odd sense of observation and a digital camera complete with a shoulder strap, John is able to bring these several mediocre and few interesting photos to you

Take a look at John's shots:

Loads of e-mails and comments rolled in Friday following the story of how Bridget Seemann's mugging in Rogers Park turned into a huge ball of holiday cheer.

The best of them was a note from reader Christine Scalzitti, who had a suburban Good Samaritan story to share.

Here's the tale of her family's "Christmas Angel":

The folks at Hegewisch.net have posted this warning to their Southeast Side neighbors.

I'm not sure when this notice was posted, but I can appreciate the heads up.

Don't get pinched.

Alright, that's cheesy. But it doesn't mean it's not true.

Regardless, I'm back trolling the side streets and back alleys for the best stories Chicago's neighborhoods can muster. My goal is to introduce you to true Chicago characters and tell their stories.

Maybe you've already noticed the first two installments: He's a Character about Bernard Payne, River North's friendly neighborhood homeless man.

And... Something Good, the first in an occasional good-news series. Today's story was of a mugging that went terribly well.

If you have someone to suggest as a True Chicago Character, e-mail me.

Keep checking the blog for these features and more:

HOOD NOTES: : Brief listings of the best of what's going on in the hoods -- whether it's from neighborhood blogs, stuff those pesky PR flacks send my way or tips from you, dear reader. Got something good? Send it my way.

DISPATCH FROM THE HOOD: Post card-like notes from your neighborhood that capture a moment. Pictures, videos, overheard conversations, I'll post it all. If you're interested in posting your own dispatch, send it my way.

SOMETHING GOOD IN ... If you, like me, have grown tired of hearing about all that's wrong with city life -- and all the random gunshots -- Something Good is a welcome respite. A focus on just the good news, whether its a unsung hero, standout teenager or random act of kindness by one of your neighbors.
This idea (and a good one) born in a South Side garage after a few Budweisers. Thanks, Capt. Ziemo.

And soon, I'll revive the popular HOODS QUIZ.
Answer a neighborhood trivia question win a T-shirt.

Welcome to Konkol's Korner. It's good to be back.