Chicago, Illinois¶
Steve Adams — IIT / Hyde Park from August 1981 (AWLL1.5 ch 16, 34). NIKA Consulting HQ city (Woodlawn → Hyde Park → West Loop campus). Full site history: NIKA_Consulting.md Offices.
Last updated through AWLL3.6 ch 069 (NIKA HQ path noted; early IIT rows retained).
Description¶
Chicago metro. Hyde Park / IIT student years; Woodlawn Avenue house; NIKA successive Chicago sites (house office, Union hall 53rd, purchased Hyde Park building, Glass/West Loop original, adjacent + skyway, 550 West Jackson temp during adjacent rebuild). West Loop original rebuild = future canon beyond AWLL3.6.
Key events¶
| Series | Book | Chapter | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 16 | June 1981 | Apartment lease; IIT scout; Katt/Laura skate meet |
| 1 | 5 | 34 | August 1981 | Steve departs Milford on I-275 toward Chicago with Kara and Nancy Blanchard |
| 1 | 6 | 1–60 | Aug 1981–May 1982 | IIT freshman year; Hyde Park apartment (Elyse, Stephie); Cicero Outfit work |
| 1 | 7 | 21–41 | Jul–Dec 1982 | IIT sophomore year; Stephie dorm key; Tatyana week (Aug); vet sale closes; tutoring; karate belts; proposal prep |
| 1 | 8 | 1–82 | Dec 1982–Dec 1983 | Post-Kara apartment; Woodlawn Avenue house co-owned with Dad (closes Apr 22, 1983); sauna/basement; Think Tank; housemates |
| 1 | 9 | 1–82 | Dec 1983–Dec 1984 | Kara reunion; Nuvatec Downers Grove; coach house (Jennifer/Josie); senior IIT; Mercy ER (Wen shooting) |
| 1 | 10 | 1–84 | Dec 1984–Dec 1985 | NIKA opens June 3, 1985; Woodlawn office; Jessica/Kara wedding Dec 15, 1985 (Arrowhead, Wheaton); honeymoon Sweden |
| 2 | 1 | 1–54 | Dec 1985–Jun 1987 | Jesse born; NIKA Union hall 53rd / Hyde Park path; Bethany restoration/Kohler trip; Stephanie CEO; Orthodox Pascha Carol Stream; Thanksgiving recruit dinner; Matthew born Jun 1987 |
| 2 | 2 | 14–25 | Nov 1987 | Hyde Park office building purchase close Nov 2; move mid-Nov |
| 2 | 6 | — | ~Dec 4–7, 1992 | Move into Glass / West Loop original (REIT swap) |
| 2 | 8 | 1 | Sept 4, 1994 | West Loop primary narrative; Japanese suite remodel later in book |
| 3 | 5–6 | — | late 2002–May 2003 | Adjacent raze/rebuild; temp 550 West Jackson; new adjacent floors ~June 2003 path |
Key people¶
| Person | Context |
|---|---|
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | IIT student; Hyde Park/West Loop resident; NIKA founder |
| Kara Anne Blanchard | Moves to Chicago with Steve (ch 34) |
| Elyse Natalie Clarke | Apartment roommate (ch 5, 16); NIKA CFO |
| Laura Thornton | Figure skater; hotel room 608 (ch 16) |
| Katt Sundström | Skate competition host circle (ch 16) |