Henry Grimm built it in 1871 as a grocery store for the up and coming neighborhood. It came to be known as "The Boulevard House" and among its many incarnations was a saloon and a millinery store. And darn if it isn't a miracle that it still stands!

I featured this intersection below in a "Throwback Thursday" post back in June, relishing that some corners actually have stayed nearly the same for the past 110 years.

And when you see Frank and Fotios at the Metro, thank them for keeping the little wooden building going since 1993.  Remember, they are the "new" kids on the block, but since the Times wrote about their having taken over this building to bring us the Metro, diner culture has begun to vanish.  Or so they say.

So, fellow Bloomingdalers: it's time again to locate that element! You remember the rules. The blog feature "It's Elemental" is our version of Name that Tune. Tell me what and where the architectural element at the top of this page is.  As always, extra points for any additional history you might know.

Put your answer in the comments or email: blog@w102-103blockassn.org.  Stumped and have to know? Check back and at the top of the next "It's Elemental" post, I will reveal the location.

And stay tuned for more lore about the Building Grimm.

By Caitlin Hawke

Ok, so this feature, "It's Elemental," was supposed to be regular and somewhat interactive.  I send out apologies for the lag time between posts.  But we did have a few respondents, all answering correctly that the red "Restaurant" sign featured on November 26, was indeed a detail from the sign of the Broadway Restaurant pictured on this page in fuller context.

So, fellow Bloomingdalers, it's time for another round: locate the element below! Tell me what it is and where it is.  Extra points for any history you know about the element.

Put your answer in the comments or email: blog@w102-103blockassn.org.  Stumped and have to know? Check back and at the top of the next "It's Elemental" post, I will reveal the location.

By Caitlin Hawke

A block association is about nothing if not people and place.  This blog leaves a lot of room to depict our members pursuing activities like the Halloween Parade or planting day together. And we've been featuring a lot about our place, but in historical context.  So now here's a new occasional feature: It's Elemental, My Dear Bloomingdale!

This space will be reserved for pieces of our neighborhood. Literally, morsels.  Disconnected from their other context.  Think of it as a sort of "Name That Tune" game but in an architectural edition.  We may get creative.  If you have something you'd like to submit once you get the hang of the game, send a shot my way: blog@w102-103blockassn.org.  The ground rules are simple:  it should be an architectural or abstracted detail that one could see on a stroll around our catchment.  And you should provide in your email an exact address or location so the element you submit may be found. 

So here goes:  name that tune, er, I mean, locate that element!  Put your answer in the comments or email: blog@w102-103blockassn.org.  Stumped and have to know? Check back and at the top of the next "It's Elemental" post, I will reveal the location.

Game on!