Wicker Park Fest last weekend was, as you would expect, awash with dirty hipsters and tattooed, stroller-pushers struggling to hold on to their youth. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

I popped by on Sunday to grab a bite and a beer and catch A.M. Taxi, a local pop/punk band that should be more popular than they are. They're the best thing since Dave Hoekstra to ever come out of Napervillle.

While munching on a tasty pork belly taco from Salud, I spotted a crowd of folks screaming toward the top of a building. "I'll take one," a guy in a yellow shirt yelled.

Then, an orange five-gallon bucket tethered to a rope descended to the Milwaukee Avenue sidewalk. The guy in the yellow shirt tossed some cash in the bucket, signaled to the man on the roof, who was holding an empty Gatorade bottle that acted as a pulley. Then, the bucket quickly rose to the rooftop.

A few seconds later, the bucket gently returned to the sidewalk. Inside was a tiny pile of ice and a cold can of PBR. The man in the yellow shirt lifted the beer skyward in celebration.

But the darn bucket headed skyward before I could toss in my cash. I quickly craned my neck and spotted a woman on the roof signally that beer sales were over.

I'm not sure if they ran out of PBR, or if they didn't want to sell beer to a square who might rat them out. (Is it wrong to tell you about it? Am I a snitch?)

Before I walked away a Wicker Park native on the street told me not to worry, the beer bucket sale would most certainly return.

"It's not just for the festival," he said. "They do it all the time on the weekends."

Or at least they did ... until some square ratted 'em out.

Local H frontman Scott Lucas slurped a smoothie while we talked about things he has learned over the years.
At a tiny table at Filter, the reincarnation of Wicker Park's favorite hipster coffee joint. (Konkol warning: While Filter's second life remains still a hipster fav, it also is a magnet for crying babies.)
the 39-year-old rocker talked about living in Wicker Park, going on tour, love, heart break, why Mayor Daley should be voted out of office and much more. Find the story in today's Sun-TImes.
Typically, I'd leave the music commentary to guys like Jim DeRogatis. But I can't pass up an opportunity to turn you on to Lucas' new project, Scott Lucas and the Married Men.
The album, George Lassos the Moon, is sweet, romantic storytelling -- a true story mind you -- of a guy (Lucas) longing to win back lost love. Most of the songs were written in a weeks time as Lucas' attempted to reconnect his then-estranged girlfriend. (It worked.)
With the Married Men, you see a softer side of Lucas, who's better known for playing loud, crowd surfing, whiskey drinking and at least once angrily chasing an audience member off stage.

Give a listen to Cut a Hole and Extra Special Bitter and Weatherman -- stand out numbers on an album from a band that's unfortunately still flying still under the radar.

I don't know how many people watch CAN-TV, Chicago's cable access channel.
On any given night, I figure there's at least 50 of you out there. Give or take.

Once in a while, I'll check it out — mostly because I like watching kooks on TV, specifically, — 3 Guys Pickin' (Check it out on Channel19, Monday's 10:30 p.m.)

But what CAN-TV is best for is getting a good look at your alderman, especially if you only see your ward boss around election time. For 30 minutes a pop, they tackle important issues in the hood.

That is if you consider the "Dos and Don'ts" of Chicago's trial recycling program super important or even necessary.

It's enough to make you ask yourself, "People really voted for these guys?"

If you're into doll heads, puppets, costumes and voodoo love oil, whatever that is, Jojo Baby of Wicker Park is your guy.

You can find his studio at the Flat iron building, but beware it's a tiny closet of a space, and there are hundreds, maybe thousands of glass doll eyes staring at you at all times.

Below is his story.

(If you know someone in the city with a great story to tell, drop me a line.)

Due to plumbing problems at the Konkol abode, the blog will be delayed today.

But to entertain you, here's Flat Iron resident and traveling folk singer Jaik Willis singing "Leaving Vancouver" ...

Filter, that urban hipster coffee joint, at Six Corners along with hot dog stand Swank Franks are on their death bed, set to be replaced by a Bank of America branch. Could this mean ...