CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Bucktown and Wicker Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, River North, Logan Square, Evanston

Bucktown and Wicker Park: There’s no better place to ring in the New Year than at Parlor Pizza! There will be a heavy appetizer buffet, premium drink package, champagne, a midnight countdown, music, and more. The doors open at 9 pm and the party goes until 1:30 am! Find more information about ticket packages and purchase yours here.

Lakeview: Tuco and Blondie is hosting a Kids Movie Night! On Monday, December 30, they’re showing Home Alone at 5:30 pm. Kids can enjoy a buffet, popcorn, and a sweet treat. Adult tickets include a classic margarita, popcorn, chips and salsa. Tickets are just $8.84 and can be purchased here.

Lincoln Park: Need ideas for where to celebrate the New Year in Lincoln Park? We’ve got a couple options for you! Maplewood Brewing is hosting their 2nd annual NYE party from 8:30 pm to 1:30 am. They’ll have an open bar (including craft cocktails), an organic farm-to-table buffet from Arbor, a photo booth, a midnight surprise toast, and much more. Ring in the New Year like Gatsby at Kirkwood! Tickets start at $65 and include a premium bar package, heavy appetizers, and a champagne toast at midnight. For more ideas, click here.

River North: Spiked seltzers have blown up recently! Get your tickets now for the Hard Seltzer Fest at Old Crow Smokehouse River North on Saturday, January 11 from 12 to 4 pm. Tickets include 4 hours of hard seltzer tastings- with dozens of brands and flavors to try. Attendees will also win freebies, be eligible to enter a photo contest, and more. Tickets are just $20 and can be purchased here.

Logan Square: The Logan Theatre presents their Late Night Movie Series! Kick off your New Year with Caddyshack- showing at 10:30 pm from December 31 through January 2. Then, mark your calendars for Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory at 11 pm from January 3 through January 6. Next, catch Beverly Hills Cop at 10:30 pm from January 7  to 9. The fun doesn’t stop there- check out the full January lineup here!

Evanston: Get ready to party at the hottest venue in Evanston for New Year’s Eve! Whiskey Thief Tavern is hosting an amazing NYE party starting at 8 pm. Your ticket includes a carving station, passed appetizers, a champagne toast, live DJ, and much more. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased here.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO 

Restaurant Review – Christmas Day Restaurants

If you’re still in the city and don’t have someplace to be on Christmas Day, the following restaurants have got you covered!

Longman & Eagle isn’t just for millennials and whiskey lovers anymore. Today, it’s the place for fans of Chinese takeout to go for their spin on crab rangoons, General Foie’s fried chicken, pulled pork tofu, and duck confit bao. No reservations are required! Find more information here.

Craving pizza? Chicago’s Pizza in Lakeview is open Christmas Day for delivery, dine-in, and take-out. The Ravenswood location is open for delivery only and the other two locations are closed. 

If you’re looking for a classic Christmas cocktail, look no further than Sportsman’s Club in the Ukrainian Village. This is a Humboldt Park fan favorite, where there will be good music and ever better booze from 8 pm to 2 am this evening. Try a spiced Old Fashioned for $10, play a round of checkers, and soak up the Christmas spirit. 

Can’t decide between brunch and dinner? You don’t have to at Andie’s! This Andersonville Mediterranean mainstay has a buffet all day long. One side features dinner options like ham, gyros, grilled eggplant, kabobs, and falafel. The other features brunch favorites like chocolate pancakes and greek omelettes.  

Grassroots is cooking up a delicious three-course holiday dinner. You can choose from organic Harrison Farms free-range turkey, top loin roast, fresh fish, or vegetable gnocchi. There’s also smoky cream of cauliflower soup and salted caramel cheesecake. Yum!

Artango Bar & Steakhouse has a flavor packed prix-fixe with lobster bisque, ribeye, and branzino. There will also be a live guitarist playing Christmas songs, along with Latin jazz numbers. 

There’s plenty of restaurants in the city that will make you feel at home today! Merry Christmas from all of us here at Dean’s Team!

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

New Home? Here’s How To Save

Here are a few things new homeowners can do to save on energy and maintenance.

When you’ve just purchased a new home, there’s a ton on your mind. There’s moving, decorating, getting to know your new neighborhood, and more. Here are a few things that should be at the top of your to-do list, because they’ll save you a lot of money.

CHECK ON YOUR WATER HEATER

Set your water heater for 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is plenty hot enough for bathing, washing dishes, and any other household use of hot water, so heating water above 120 degrees is a waste of energy and money. And if your water heater is an older model, it’s worthwhile to invest in a water heater blanket to keep it insulated.

REPLACE AIR FILTERS

Sellers often put in a lot of cosmetic work to get the home move-in ready, but they often skip or forget about air filters in the HVAC system. Filters can be found at your local hardware store (just make sure to get the right size) and are easy to replace. Doing so will improve air flow and quality, and save on energy costs.

GET A SMART THERMOSTAT

A smart thermostat, such as Nest, will cost you some money up front but is well worth the long-term savings. It’s programmable so that your AC and furnace run at lower levels when you’re not home, so you’re not wasting money to cool or heat an empty house.

SET UP A SPACE TO AIR-DRY CLOTHES

Whether it’s a rack in your laundry room or a clothesline in the back yard, air-drying clothes is a big money saver over even the most energy-efficient dryers. Air-drying your garments will also help them last much longer.

CHECK FOR LEAKS

A leaky faucet or a constantly-running toilet will use up water unnecessarily, and that’ll show up on your utility bill. And in the worst case, they’ll cause expensive water damage and mold.

Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Lighten Up for the New Year

My husband and I are just past 60 and we are in downsizing mode. Unfortunately, we have lived in our present home for 33 years and the accumulation of stuff is not to be believed. For the last year I have been getting rid of things, but it feels like I’ve barely made a dent. I’m going to give you some hints on not just paring down your junk, but lightening your life. This is good for everyone- not just us downsizing Boomers. 

My old thoughts on things were, “I might need this someday. If I get rid of it, I’ll be sorry! I have a big house; there’s room.” Nothing could be further from the truth. For one, I have things I haven’t even looked at in years. From clothes I don’t remember to kitchenware I haven’t used in this century. Younger people- start now; don’t get to the point where you are overwhelmed. Right now, I need to pare down a 4-bedroom house to fit into a small ranch house. Of course, it’s easy to say, “Just get rid of it!” In practice, it’s a little harder. 

If you are moving, concentrate on the space you WILL have. Four bedroom sets will not fit in a two bedroom house. A complete dining set will not work if your new house has no dining room. I have noticed much of our furniture is not even used every day. I have entire chest of drawers full of stuff I haven’t looked at in years.

The year rule is a good one. Items you haven’t used in a year are not likely to be used in the next year. Of course you have sentimental or handed down items that you don’t see every day; you can keep those. But think too, “Can someone else use these?” Perhaps a young niece would love those dolls you were hanging onto. Do you have boxes of stuff in the basement or attic? Now is a good time to go through them. You might have boxes of old tech and most of this is probably junk. Know that anything with information still on it needs to be wiped. Many of these items are considered hazardous waste, so dispose of them accordingly. 

Much of our house clutter is paper. You need to keep hard copies of certain things, like social security cards and birth certificates, but most everything else can be digitized and stored in the cloud. This will eliminate a large amount of clutter. Deal with your daily paper clutter; mail should be dealt with immediately. Shred anything like credit card offers and recycle most everything else. CDs and DVDs can be digitized also. Think of the space you can save! 

Do realize that even with merciless purging, you may still have more stuff than you have space for. There are many space saving organizers on the market now, from under-bed storage to different styles of closet organizers. Perhaps a section of a spare room can be made into a makeshift closet. Use the space behind doors for hanging shoe storage. Add shelves and hooks for coats, gloves, and hats in the mudroom or entryway. 

So lighten up for the New Year! Remember, the junk man is your friend. For less than you think, they will come and dispose of anything you point to. Most of them will recycle and donate to lessen your footprint in the landfill. They are invaluable for us busy people- it’s there, then it’s gone!

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Create The Gallery Wall Of Your Dreams

Creating a gallery wall in your home is an easy, do-it-yourself way to bring your personal style into any room. There is no right or wrong way to create one and no limit to the possibilities. Before you get started, check out the following tips for creating an eye-catching gallery wall that you will love.

Find Your Wall

Creating a great gallery wall doesn’t require a huge area to work with. Select a nook or corner in your living room, a small stretch of hallway, or your entry area.

Choose A Focal Piece

Find a favorite piece of art and use that as the center piece for your gallery wall. This could be a large canvas painting, family portrait, metal feature piece, or stylish mirror. Then choose pieces that complement and highlight it.

Determine Your Theme

Is this gallery wall going to contain artwork and images of all the same texture, color, and materials? Or are you going to mix and match different prints, photographs, décor pieces, frames, and drawings?

Decide On The Arrangement

Gallery walls usually lean one of two ways — linear and orderly or abstract and dimensional. Select the one that matches the look you’re going for and start hanging!

Tie The Room Together

Your gallery wall doesn’t have to end where the wall hits the flooring. Considering tying in other aspects of the room by coordinating colors and materials on pieces such as rugs, furniture, lamps, plants, bedding, decorative pillows, and more. Or, if you’ve already styled the rest of the room, use those colors to inspire the pieces in your gallery wall.

THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Getting in the Spirit for Arrival of the Holidays!

This is it Chicago — your last weekend before the holidays are here!  Let’s all get in the spirit and take some time to enjoy ourselves.  You can finish your holiday shopping on Monday!!

This holiday season, the Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn St.) in The Loop will present (in the Owen Theatre) The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris.  Chicago favorite Matt Crowle makes his Goodman debut in a solo performance as the strapped-for-cash struggling actor who takes a job as “Crumpet the Elf” at Macy’s Santaland with his hilarious observations which are more naughty than nice!  This is a must see for those who prefer their eggnog spiked!!

Vicki Quade, creator of the smash hit Late Nite Catechism, invites you to get into the holiday spirit with her hilarious new show Christmas Bingo: It’s a Ho-Ho-Holy Night at the Royal George Theater (1641 N. Halsted St.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  Be sure to brush up on your Yuletide trivia as this is a uniquely interactive show where you’ll be playing for actual prizes!  Mrs. Mary Margaret O’Brien, the bingo caller and a former nun, will have you in stitches as she tackles the wackiest myths and most outrageous facts about Christmas, which include old St. Nick’s origins and where candy canes come from.  But she’ll also send disobedient bingo players (including you) to stand with their noses to the chalkboard!!

Laugh Out Loud Chicago (3851 N. Lincoln Ave.) in the North Center neighborhood will be hosting The Ha-Ha-Holiday Show this Saturday with two performances (7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.).  Watch Santa guess what the actors want for Christmas or sing along with an improvised carol about the worst presents you ever received.  It’s simple, you provide the inspiration and the actors provide the laughs to get you through the holidays or at least the end of the night!  BTW, the early show is family-friendly while the later show is anything goes!!

For 18 years, the American Blues Ensemble has treated Chicago audiences to a live 1940’s radio broadcast of It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago at Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont Ave.) in the Lakeview neighborhood.  The incredible cast recreates the entire town of Bedford Falls with Foley sound effects, an original score, and holiday carols.  Each actor tackles multiple roles, with the cast of eight creating the 30-plus characters who populate the fictional town.  And, after each performance, milk and cookies are served by the cast!  It’s the second longest-running holiday play in Chicago and not to be missed!!

Finally, this Saturday (4:30 p.m.-10 p.m.) take the Chicago Holiday Lights Tour which begins at O’Shaughnessy’s Pub and Grill (4557 N. Ravenswood Ave.) in the Ravenswood neighborhood.  You, your family and/or friends will board a deluxe motor coach with a variety of drinks and food for a 5-hour tour exploring all of Chicago’s Christmas and Holiday light displays.  Along the journey, there will be prize giveaways, free prizes, raffles, and nothing but fun and excitement!  In addition, this event is kid friendly!!

Hope You’re in the Holiday Spirit Now!  Best Wishes!!

CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Bucktown and Wicker Park, Chicago Loop, Lincoln Square, Oak Park

Lakeview: Looking for some pre-Christmas fun? Look no further than Sunday Brunch with Santa at Port & Park! Santa will be in the dining room for photos and cheers while you and your family enjoy a hearty brunch. Kids brunch is just $7.50 and includes breakfast, a drink, and a cookie. For adults, there’s a full Bloody Mary cart available with all the fixings, $15 almost bottomless mimosas or bellinis, $6 single mimosas, and $8 boozy frappes. Make your reservations now here.

Lincoln Park: It’s time for Winter Camp at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum! Beginning on December 30 from 9 am to 2:30 pm, campers can join for child-led outdoor play, science activities, live animal encounters, and more. Children ages 4-11 can join for up to four days of wintry fun. Session dates are December 30, 31, January 1, and 2. Find more information here.

Bucktown and Wicker Park: What better way to start the New Year than with a new workout program? Nature Yoga is offering a 4-week Beginning Yoga Intro Series beginning on January 5. It’s just $60 for the four-week series. The one hour class introduces a new practitioner to the techniques and application of yoga. The class is taught at a slower pace with an emphasis on building strength and flexibility with proper alignment. There will also be an introduction to breathing exercises and meditation. This series builds in information each week, revisiting poses learned the previous week and exploring the major movements of the spine and larger joints. Find more information and register here.

Chicago Loop: The best way to celebrate NYE is with a fantastic fireworks display along the Chicago River! At midnight on NYE, the Chicago River will come alive with a choreographed fireworks display. It’s free and can be viewed from many of Chicago’s top restaurants, bars, and hotels. The fireworks will launch from multiple points from Wolf Point to Lake Shore Drive. Find more information about specific launch sites here.

Lincoln Square: Jerry’s is the best place to celebrate New Year’s Eve with your family! It’s an early NYE for the kiddos- the festivities start at 5 pm. The evening features a special menu, games, sparkling cider, and bubble-pack popping. For the adults, the menu includes beef tenderloin, fresh tuna poached and marinated in olive oil and herbs, Japanese eggplant, and burrata. You can also order any of the sandwiches from the regular menu! Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling 872-208-6264. Find more information here.

Oak Park: Still looking for your New Year’s Eve plans? Time to party like its the 1970s at New Year’s Eve 1979! Head to the Beer Shop (1026 North Boulevard) for a good old fashioned house party. Come decked out in your best 70s holiday outfit and you’ll be entered to win some amazing holiday prizes! You’ll enjoy plenty of delicious draft beer, a complimentary champagne toast, and fantastic music. Find more information here!

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Restaurant Review – 5411 Empanadas

This week took me back to another favorite: 5411 Empanadas. Sometimes, you just have to go to a place you already know and love. I went to the location on Southport. It’s quaint, small, and charming. There are a handful of tables, as well as a long bar with seating. The menu is small but mighty, with 16 types of empanadas. I decided to start with their newest addition: Sriracha Pork. I also ordered the Mushroom, Thyme, and Blue Cheese: sliced mushrooms sautéed in garlic butter, thyme, and blue cheese; and the Bacon, Dates, and Goat Cheese: crispy applewood smoked bacon sweetened with thinly sliced dates and goat cheese. All three were fantastic! The Sriracha Pork was very tasty. The meat had just the right amount of spice and the soft, sautéed red cabbage gave it added crunch. It’s hard to narrow down, but I think my favorite was the Mushroom, Thyme, and Blue Cheese. The flavors are just fantastic- creamy, smoky, buttery- need I say more? The Bacon, Dates, and Goat Cheese is also wonderful. The goat cheese is tart and tangy, the bacon is fatty and rich, and the dates are perfectly sweet. My best friend ordered the Ham and Cheese: smoked ham, mozzarella, shredded parmesan, and oregano; the Mac and Cheese: macaroni elbows, smoked gouda, white cheddar, asiago cheese, pimento, and scallion; and the Banana Nutella: perfectly ripe bananas and Nutella. The Ham and Cheese was my favorite of the two savories! I don’t normally like ham that much, but this is just a great combination. The Banana Nutella was very nice as well! I’ve never had one of their dessert empanadas, but this has definitely converted me. 

5411 Empanadas has multiple locations in the city: Wicker Park, Lakeview, the Loop, Southport Corridor, and River North. You can find more information about their locations, catering, and delivery services here.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Get Rid of Distractions

We talked about reaching our business goals last week.  Many times, we find ourselves constantly multitasking. We shift our attention to responding to communications and managing interruptions, instead of making progress on our tasks. When you change what you’re doing several times an hour, you cause more stress and have to work harder to make up for the time wasted. We need to develop the ability to focus on a demanding task- without allowing distractions. This will produce better results in much less time. 

The first step is acknowledging you have a distraction problem. Be aware every time you catch yourself breaking away from tasks. Jot it down each time it happens, along with the reason. After a few days, you will probably see a pattern. Set a specific time to check emails, phone, social media, etc. If people interrupting you are the problem, set parameters. You can print a sign for your door “Working on a big project now, available 11-11:30.” Most people will understand and respect your boundaries.  A lot of our distractions are simply a way to get away from tasks we don’t enjoy, are boring, or repetitious. A good way to deal with these is to schedule them early in the day. Say to yourself, “As soon as I get this not-so-fun stuff out of the way, I can move on to something more interesting.” Give yourself a treat when done; a 15- minute break with a cup of coffee or snack. For more demanding projects, formulate a plan with specifics. Many distractions will come around if we don’t have a roadmap. When you can tick off specific bullet points, it will make you eager to move on to the next.

Distractions can cause burnout quickly. Even though we are busy and working many hours every day, we feel we are not accomplishing what we need to. Learn how to deal with these distractions and get your work done!

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Big Ideas For Small Spaces

Smaller rooms can be difficult to decorate, because if you don’t know a few important tricks, the space can end up feeling a little claustrophobic. Here’s how you can keep a room feeling airy and spacious, even if it’s just a studio apartment or an attic.

Breathing Room

Your first inclination might be to arrange all your furniture flush against the walls. Though this may add a little extra room to move through the room, it’ll make everything feel more crowded and congested. Instead, try arranging items at an angle, or pull them six inches away from the wall.

Mirrors And Strategic Colors

Dark paint will make the room feel smaller. Instead, opt for whites, light grays, and other light colors. A well-placed mirror will also expand the room’s appearance—think of the times you’ve been in a restaurant and a mirror made the space look twice as large.

Multi-purpose Items

Look for storage everywhere—you can keep books and DVDs inside an ottoman, or store blankets in a bench or hollow coffee table. If you don’t have room for a dining table, you can invest in a coffee table with a pop-up section.

Raise Your Window Treatments

It’s common to hang your curtain rods just a few inches above your windows, but to make the ceilings appear taller, you can hang them just a few inches below the ceiling. It can have a dramatic effect.

Swap Out The Sofa

The sofa is likely the biggest, most unwieldy item in your living room. What if you swapped it out for a settee or a pair of comfortable chairs? You won’t lose much in functional seating, but you’ll gain some precious space and room for foot traffic.