After a long interlude, I now have another guest post to share from one of my Team members. This post comes from John Costa, our team’s Director of Marketing. While John spends his days spearheading the print and online marketing of our client’s properties, today, he’s offering up some advice on how to make the most of Christmas in Chicago.

Christmas in Chicago

Lights on palmetto trees. Playing a quick nine holes of golf. Wearing shorts in December. While this was Christmas as usual for me when I lived in Charleston, South Carolina, it didn’t feel truly like the holiday season to a New Jersey native such as me. So, when I moved to Chicago two years ago, I looked forward to enjoying “Northern” Christmases once again.

With so many holiday offerings in the city, I thought it would be helpful to provide a short list of some of the best ways to take in the season in Chicago. Here’s my picks:

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These past few days, Chicago has enjoyed an “Indian Summer,” a period of unseasonably warm weather in autumn. In short order, we’ve gone from 50 degree weather last week to 60 and 70 degree temperatures these past few days. It’s heavenly!

This fair weather brings to mind the old “Injun Summer” cartoon from the famed Chicago Tribune cartoonist John T. McCutcheon. While McCutcheon’s verbiage is unfortunately politically incorrect in hindsight, his wonderfully drawn cartoon is a good reminder of just how long beautiful autumn weather like this has been appreciated.

One thing that isn’t politically incorrect, however, is voting, and today’s Election Day weather is ideal for that. Reports from the polls tell of long lines out the doors at some polling stations, but that’s almost a blessing on a day like this. Of course, many polling stations are moving much smoother. I voted myself today and made it in and out in ten minutes.

The rally in Grant Park tonight for Chicago’s native son, Barack Obama, had obtained permits to sell hot chocolate, but there may be little demand for that tonight. Back when it was chilly, Mayor Daley predicted a million attendees for the event. Who knows how big the crowds will be now?

Whatever your plans for these next couple days, be sure you get out and make the most of this Chicago Indian Summer.

One of the really cool things about living in Chicago is the incredible diversity of unique cultural offerings including great theatre, improv, music, dance, opera, and of course, cinema.

The world renowned Chicago International Film Festival is now in full swing. North America’s oldest competitive international film event, the Festival’s goals are to discover and present new filmmakers and to acknowledge and award them for their artistry.

The first Festival opened in 1965 at which time actress Bette Davis was honored for her contributions to American cinema. Since then, the Festival has grown to become a world-renowned annual event introducing innovative new directors like Martin Scorsese and Peter Weir, to name a few. However, unless your children are into films such as subtle Hong Kongese social commentaries in English-subtitled Mandarin, this may not be an ideal activity for families like mine with young children.

Fortunately, Chicago is also host to the world’s largest festival of films produced specifically for young audiences (children ages 3 to 16). The 2008 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival opens today and runs through November 2^nd. Over 200 animated and live action films from 44 countries will be shown. 25,000 children, adults, and educators are expected to attend. The event is also the only Academy Award-qualifying children’s film festival in the world.

Approximately 150 filmmakers will be on hand to host interactive question and answer sessions after their movies have been screened. In addition, the festival includes interactive Take One! Workshops designed to introduce children to various aspects of the filmmaking process.

To check out the schedule, purchase tickets (only $6 for children and $8 for adults per movie), or sign up for workshops, visit the official Chicago International Children’s Film Festival website. Enjoy!

If you have even a casual interest in historic architecture, you may be interested in this chance to tour the work of the greatest American architect of all time, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Just west of the Chicago city limits, Oak Park, Illinois is home to the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes in the world. With 25 homes and buildings constructed between 1889 and 1913, the town is a monument to his innovative Prairie-style design.

On Saturday, May 16, 2009, The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust is hosting 2009 Wright Plus, a celebration of Frank Lloyd Wright including an all-day housewalk featuring eight privately owned Oak Park homes designed by Wright and his contemporaries. Other stops on the tour include Wright’s Home & Studio, the Unity Temple, and the Robie House.

This may seem like early notice, but tickets for Wright Plus events sell out well in advance, as architecture aficionados fly in from all over the world, and opportunities to experience an inside view of the homes Wright designed are rare.

Tickets are on sale here for $95 for non-members and $80 for members. If one day is not enough, you can register for “The Ultimate Plus Package” and enjoy four days of architectural activities as well as a three-night stay at a nearby Oak Park hotel.

I have had the opportunity to tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings at the SC Johnson campus in Racine, Wisconsin as well as The Unity Temple and Robie House in Oak Park. In addition, earlier in my career, I sold a Chicago area Wright-designed home to friends. All were truly inspiring sights to behold.

So, book your tickets now while the time is “Wright”!

Halloween may be a one day event in some parts of the country, but here in Chicago, there’s nearly a month’s worth of parades, haunted houses, pumpkin carvings, fun runs, spooky mazes, and other events dedicated to the holiday. Many of these events are cheap (or free), are geared towards children, and don’t involve the ingestion of mass amounts of candy. In others words, they make for good, wholesome family outings.

The Chicago Parks District has a list of all their Halloween offerings, and About.com has a good general summary of city-wide events.

For simplicity’s sake, however, I had a Google map made up of all the North Side Halloween events. Use it to find the upcoming events near where you live. Blue markers are Parks District events, red markers are parades, and yellow markers are all other events.

Please click through to the website for each marker to get the most up-to-date information for each event.

View Larger Map

Did I miss any great Chicago Halloween events? Let me know with a comment!

As you’re probably aware, both the Cubs and the Sox have made the playoffs, presenting the incredible possibility of a Cubs vs. Sox World Series. It’s truly an exciting time to be a Chicago sports fan, and if you live near Wrigleyville, you’re in for a truly exciting amount of fan traffic as well.

Here’s how the Cubs schedule is shaping up:

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, 5:30 p.m. (home game)

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, 8:30 p.m. (home game)

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008: (potential home game)

If you’ll be travelling in the area, be aware that there will be parking bans, street closures and buses rerouted on these days. This will happen two hours before and two hours after each game.  The westbound Addison bus will be boarded at Racine and the northbound Clark bus will be boarded on Clark just north of Waveland. There will be no limo drop off by the park, and taxis will be rerouted as well. The street closures are as follows:

Addison from Wilton to Racine

Clark from Waveland to Cornelia

Sheffield from Addison to Waveland

You can check the websites of Alderman Tunney, the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications and the Lake View Citizens’ Council for information as it becomes available.

Go Cubs…and Sox!

With increased down payment requirements and stricter lending criteria, some homeowners are opting to stay in their homes and renovate rather than move.

Others are taking advantage of the fact that builders are no longer bidding up the cost of land, so parcels can now be snatched up at better prices. These people are finally making their dream a reality and building custom homes.

If you are considering renovating or building a custom home, you won’t want to miss an upcoming design event. In celebration of National Kitchen and Bath Month, Chicago’s exclusive Merchandise Mart is opening its doors to the general public for an “Open House” showcasing the world’s largest collection of luxury boutiques for home building and renovation.

On Saturday, October 4^th, more than 30 luxury kitchen and bath boutiques including Waterworks, Ann Sacks, Kohler, and Christopher Peacock Cabinetry will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It’s a great opportunity to see what’s hot and what’s new while being wined and dined by showroom consultants.

The LuxeHome open house celebration starts with a keynote presentation from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with Monica Pedersen of HGTV’s Designed to Sell: Luxury Properties. Monica will explain how to transform a luxury property into a showpiece using the best brands which, of course, have showrooms in the Mart. Her presentation will be held in the north lobby. To register, log in to www.luxehome.com/openhouse.

Monica and her team of carpenters from Designed to Sell will be available for autograph signings and photo opportunities in the Mart’s new Design Resource Center, Suite 163, following the lecture.

Other scheduled celebrity appearances include:

Ed Sanders of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Addition

Ed will be speaking at The Kohler Store (Suite 100) at 11:30, 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. on the subject of Universal Design: Bathroom Design Solutions for Every Stage of Your Life.

Lou Manfredini a.k.a. “Mr. Fix It” on NBC5 Chicago’s House Smarts

Lou will be available for a “meet and greet” from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the American International Tile showroom (Suite 134).

If you have extra time, you may want to run up to the Mart’s 12^th floor and check out the International Antiques Fair. It will be open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15 and sold at the door.

It’s that time of year again. Soon, Chicago’s most important civic and cultural organizations will roll out the red carpet and we’ll open up our wallets - all for a night of entertainment and a good cause. The lineup of events this fall is pretty spectacular, and there is something for everyone. I encourage you to learn more about some of my favorite charities highlighted below. This list is by no means exhaustive, and I welcome you to comment with information about others.

Saturday, September 20^th - Botanical Ball

The Guild of the Chicago Botanic Garden is hosting the 10^th Annual Harvest Ball with cocktails starting at 5:30 p.m. and dinner and dancing at 7:30. One of Chicago’s most elegant charity events, this black tie gala is held in the romantic gardens of the Chicago Botanic Garden. There will be live and silent auctions. Projects funded by the Guild include the development of an outdoor learning campus including a children’s growing garden and activities designed to promote interest in the natural world. Tickets start at $400 each. For additional information, call (847) 835-6944.

Thursday, October 2nd - Antiques for the Animals

More than 100 of the world’s best dealers of antiques and fine art will be assembled for an exclusive Preview Night of the International Antiques Fair to benefit the Lincoln Park Zoo. Held on the 12^th floor of The Merchandise Mart from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., enjoy drinks, music and first dibs at the country’s premier antiques event. Tickets are $50 each, and can be purchased at www.merchandisemartantiques.com. (If you cannot attend the preview night, the fair is open October 3^rd through 6^th for a $15 general admission ticket.)

Friday, October 3^rd - Girls for Literacy

Sneak a peek at Michigan Avenue’s newest venue and join us for the open night celebration of American Girl Place to benefit the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Enjoy a night of private shopping, activities for girls, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a silent auction. The festivities are from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m. in the brand new American Girl Store located in Chicago’s Water Tower Place. Tickets start at $150 per adult and $50 per child. To RSVP, call 1-877-AG PLACE. Reservations must be made by September 22.

Friday, October 3^rd - Once in a Lifetime

Enjoy three of the most beloved performers: Frederica Von Stade, Barbara Cook, and Dianne Reeves together in concert at the Chicago Humanities Festival’s Benefit Evening. The event will be held at Chicago’s Symphony Center and begins at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails followed by dinner at 6:30 and the performance at 8:30. The evening benefits the Chicago Humanities Festival, which promotes the study and enjoyment of the humanities through yearly events and programs. Tickets start at $500 and can be purchased at www.chfestival.org or by calling (312) 661-1028, ext. 16.

Saturday, October 4^th - Spectacular Science

The Museum of Science and Industry is celebrating 75 years of inspiration with their 2008 Annual Columbian Ball, a black tie gala entitled “Unbelievable!” Held at the museum, the evening starts with cocktails in the Rotunda at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and a live auction at 7:30, and dancing with the Stu Hirsch Orchestra at 9:30. Tickets start at $500 per person. For more information, call (773) 947-3730 or email denise.hicks@msichicago.org.

Monday, October 6^th - The Greatest Show on Earth

CircEsteem is a really neat organization. Their mission is to help children build their self-esteem through the practice of circus arts, and they have helped many children including disadvantaged kids to get off the street. Their 5^th Annual Benefit will be held on October 6^th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington. This special night will include a performance by their Chicago Youth Circus, as well as a live auction and an opportunity to try to your shot at circus training. Tickets start at $100 per person.

Wednesday, October 22^nd - Movies for Kids

The 2008 Screen Gems Gala is in celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. Mayor Daley and Chaz and Roger Ebert are honorary Chairs. The gala will be held at The Arts Club. For additional information, email Megan Rafferty at meganr@facets.org.

Saturday, November 8^th - A Milestone Gala in the City’s Newest Addition

In celebration of 35 years of service to The Art Institute of Chicago, The Auxiliary Board is hosting a “Studio Party” in the incredible new Modern Wing. Only a limited number of tickets are available for this sneak preview of the most intriguing new building in the Chicago cultural scene. Tickets start at $500 per person. For more information, call (312) 443-3674 or email bkanzer@artic.edu.

Saturday, November 15^th - Diamond Ball

The Associate Board of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago  is hosting their 10^th Annual Bearcat Ball. Proceeds benefit the RIC’s Pediatric Care Program, which provides rehabilitation treatment and equipment to children with disabilities. The event will take place at the Merchandise Mart and feature music by Super Diamond, the acclaimed Neil Diamond cover band. Doors open at 8:00 pm. Tickets start at $140 each and can be purchased at www.associateboard.org.

Saturday, December 13^th - Celebrity Performance for Diabetes Research

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) will host their annual “Chance of a Lifetime” gala this year with a special performance by Steve Winwood. The inspirational evening will be held at McCormick Place Lakeside Center and Arie Crown Theater on December 13^th from 5:30 to 11:00 pm. This important event raises an extraordinary amount with the goal to help find a cure for this tragic disease. For more information, call (312) 670-0313 or visit www.jdrfillinois.org.

Friday, May 9, 2009 - The Modern Wing - Wow!

Save the Date! The Women’s Board of The Art Institute of Chicago will host the official opening of the new Renzo Piano masterpiece, the Modern Wing. Details will follow but you won’t want to miss this important Chicago celebration.

It is thanks to organizations like these that Chicago is a great place to “live and play.” Enjoy!

This past Sunday, the street where we live was cordoned off, traffic was turned away, emergency vehicles arrived with lights flashing, and neighbors poured from their homes. Was it a traffic accident? The scene of a crime? Nope. It was our first annual neighborhood block party, and it was a blast!

If the majority of neighbors agree to it, Chicago streets are given the city’s blessing to hold their own block parties, and that’s exactly what our street did. The event was simple in concept, but it ended up being a highlight of our summer. Here’s how it went down:

The party began at 10:00 a.m. with the street being closed off, neighbors congregating, and everyone donning nametags with their names and house numbers. The festivities were kicked off with a “wheels parade” - neighborhood kids riding brightly decorated bikes, scooters, strollers and roller skates. This was cinematic gold as far as home movies were concerned. The parade was then followed by a water balloon toss with the north side of the street pitted against the south. It was a great way for everyone to get acquainted (and/or wet).

At noon, a potluck lunch was served. Everyone contributed a pre-arranged dish, and the buffet was loaded with homemade salads, sliced fruit, chips, cookies and brownie bites. Two families fired up their barbecue grills and cooked brats, hotdogs, hamburgers and chicken wings, along with a pot of Italian beef.

After lunch, a live band composed of block residents started jamming while a tie-dye station opened up for kids and adults to create their own shirts. Later, Wine Styles (of 1433 W. Belmont) opened a wine tasting table offering samples of whites and reds. At the same time, a beanbag toss competition was hosted.

Later, a Chicago Fire Department fire truck arrived and set up shop for the neighborhood kids. The firemen, who were exceptionally friendly, invited the children to sit inside the truck and helped them climb up and down it. They also opened a fire hydrant with a sprinkler head, creating an arched spray for the kids to play in.

This was followed by a sponge race and musical chairs and the official end of the party at 4:00 p.m. However, all clean-up activity came to a halt when a neighborhood girl barely tall enough to reach the microphone gave an impromptu violin performance from the bandstand. Everyone - adults and children alike - stood in complete silence as she played a 10-minute classical piece. Needless to say, she brought the house down with the conclusion of her piece, and it was a fitting end to what had been a very successful gathering of friends, family and neighbors.

Throwing Your Own Block Party

As I said, almost any neighborhood can throw its own block party (provided they aren’t aiming to shut down a major artery to Wrigley Field during a Cubs Game).

The key to a hosting a successful block party is to plan ahead and get your neighbors involved in the organization process. With a few months notice, you’ll have a good chance of getting a fire truck, a Moonwalk, and retail sponsorship. You must apply for your block party permit through your alderman’s office, and they make the process quite simple. Don’t delay, however, because you must apply no later than one month in advance.

You can find the name and contact for your Chicago alderman here or here.

You may also want to check out these block party planning tips offered (via YouTube) by the representatives of some of the city’s North Side aldermen:

44^th Ward

32^nd Ward

While you’re in YouTube mode, you might also enjoy this series of videos called “Ask the Butcher” hosted by Ray Lekan of Lakeview’s Paulina Meat Market (one of my favorite city butchers). This three part series is very informative when it comes to outdoor grilling.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

This past week, I had the pleasure of attending an event where I heard Alice Waters speak. Alice is the founder of the Chez Panisse Foundation, a not-for-profit with the mission of promoting “edible education.” Specifically, the Foundation is seeking to change school lunch programs and improve the way we care for the health of our children, our communities and our environment.

The main point Alice raised was her concern over the poor diet that Americans - particularly our children - are adopting. Low quality, highly processed foods are increasingly dominating our meal plans and taking a toll on our health as well as the environment and local economies. Furthermore, the drive-thru dinner is steadily eroding the tradition of the family sit-down meal. Alice summed up this new lifestyle with a bumper sticker she had recently seen: “If we are what we eat, I’m fast, cheap, and easy.”

As a mother raising three children, I was struck by Alice’s presentation. Finding healthier food and the time to prepare “traditional” dinners is an ongoing challenge. Between our hectic work schedules, a desire to squeeze in some exercise, and spending quality time with our kids, my husband and I have minimal time to shop and prepare homemade meals. Dining out or “dialing for dinner” (aka ordering carryout) is a tempting option in a city like Chicago, but as a daily habit, it can be expensive and fattening.

The good news is that - fueled by the organic movement, a new emphasis on buying local, and an increasing desire to eat healthier - more “green” food options are sprouting up in Chicago. Some are more practical than others (raising chickens in backyards being on the ambitious side), but increasingly, there are many tempting options for those looking to buy healthy, local food.

Perhaps greatest among these options are the many Chicago farmers markets. These markets bring more than 70 vendors selling fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, and canned and baked goods to sites across the city. Most markets take place once a week, but several, including the Green City Market, are open more often.

As a Realtor, I am out on appointments seven days a week. Whenever possible, I try to swing by a farmer’s market between appointments. Just last Saturday, I squeezed in enough time to purchase an armful of corn on the cob as well as Michigan fruit and the ingredients for ratatouille. Saturday night, I cooked and organized and we have been enjoying the fruits of my labor (no pun intended) ever since.

For the epitome of local flavor, the City Farm sells produce grown right in the city on a garden lot at 1204 N. Clybourn. Its crops are often used by local restaurants including the Ritz-Carlton Dining Room.

Of course, the farmers markets are only a seasonal occurrence, which is where storefront markets come in. There are many organic grocers in the city, foremost among which is the Whole Foods Market chain. A portion of their selection is local (defined as shipped from no more than seven hours away), but by definition, out of season products and those that simply won’t grow in Chicago (bananas and pineapples come to mind) arrive from elsewhere. In addition to their six Chicago locations, Whole Foods hosts organic and sustainable cooking classes offsite including two upcoming classes at the Lincoln Park Zoo Farm House this month.

Chicago is home to numerous organic grocers including Newleaf Natural Grocery and True Nature Foods, as well as countless organic juice bars and green-minded restaurants. Sola Restaurant is hosting an organic five-course dining event, their First Annual Green Harvest Dinner, at 6:30 pm on August 11^th.

Of course, if you’d rather cut out the middleman altogether, you can look into planting your own backyard garden, joining a neighborhood garden, or growing produce on a terrace or in a planter box.

The appeal of green food may be coasting on a bit of extra hype these days, but with real benefits in health and taste, it’s not something to dismiss lightly. Plus, if the experience of buying, growing, and cooking green can enrich the lives of you and your family, who can say “no”?

To find the major farmers markets and organic grocers on the North Side, consult the map below. Green markers denote farmers markets and blue ones denote organic grocers. Click the markers to view locations and dates.

View Larger Map

keep looking »

Jennifer Ames

(312) 440-7525

jenny@jenniferames.com

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