Mar

12

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2009 Chicago-Style

Filed Under Chicago Events, Dining, Family Events, Parks | 6 Comments

Bagpipes on the march

It is almost St. Patrick’s Day, that time of year when Chicago’s Irish heritage is put on display in dazzling, emerald green fashion. If you’re looking to get out and enjoy some of the festivities, consider these options. Note that some of these events are held in advance of March 17th, the official holiday.

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Mar

11

Clean Out Your Closets for an Important Chicago Charity

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Time to clean out your closets!

It’s spring cleaning time! If you are busy sorting through your closets preparing to sell your home (or just because you need to), consider donating your unwanted men’s and women’s professional attire, handbags, accessories and shoes to the Bridge to Success program. The program also accepts unused cosmetics and toiletries, including all those little bottles you may have collected from hotel bathrooms.

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Mar

11

How Chicagoans Can Find Great Vacation Homes Across the Country

Filed Under Home Values and Pricing, Luxury Homes, Real Estate | 2 Comments

PeekaCity knows it!
Top agents across the country, like my colleague Barbara Puff, can help you find great vacation properties such as this one in Arizona.

Around this time of year, many Chicagoans are ready for a vacation, my family included. In our case, however, with three children under four years of age, hotels are not a good option. Shuttling the boys to a restaurant and back for all their meals is anything but relaxing, and we need more than just a place to sleep.

In anticipation of this, we purchased a condo in the Colorado Rockies – an area that offers year round recreation. We head out there when we can to ski, fly-fish, hike, swim, and generally decompress. A couple days of clean mountain air and crisp blue skies is a fantastic way to recharge, and our boys love it.

If you are suffering from a bout of spring fever, you might also consider buying a vacation home instead of renting or staying in a hotel. Prices in many resort destinations have fallen significantly – far more than home values here in Chicago. There are some amazing opportunities out there. Someday, we will look back at 2009 and wish we had picked up an extra property or two when prices and interest rates were low.

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Mar

4

Happy Birthday Chicago!

Filed Under Chicago Events, Family Events, Lincoln Park, News | 3 Comments

Chicago-Style Birthday Cake

Happy birthday, Chicago! On today, March 4, it has been exactly 172 years since Chicago was granted its charter, having been founded on a short, swampy portage near the Chicago River and named after a wild onion (humble beginnings, yes).

Since then, Chicago has been the hog butcher for the world, the birthplace of the skyscraper, and the home of more cultural contributions than can be listed.

This year, times are tough (though the city has seen tougher), but there are also many exciting potential opportunities on the horizon (such as this and this). As a Chicagoan from a long line of Chicagoans, today is a proud milestone.

If you’re up early reading this and have an open schedule today, you can celebrate Chicago’s birthday with your kids at the Chicago History Museum where they’re throwing a party with music, crafts and cake from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Museum admission will be free from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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