CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS – PORTAGE PARK LINCOLN PARK LOOP GOLD COAST NAPERVILLE

CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS – PORTAGE PARK LINCOLN PARK LOOP GOLD COAST NAPERVILLE

This Saturday join the Chicago Cycle Swap at the Pulaski Park Field House. There you’ll meet with 50 bike shops nonprofits merchants and individual offering great deals. There will be education about cargo bikes winter bike commuting and more. Admission for the event is $10 (cash only) with kids under 12 attending for free. Proceeds from the Chicago Cycle Swap benefit the nonprofit Active Transportation Alliance and Chicago Bike Winter.

LINCOLN PARK

This weekend take a break and grab a free cup of Starbucks coffee on Saturday Feb. 26 2011 when you take a guided tour of the newish NOOK Color device at Barnes & Noble. The free coffee is available while supplies last hot or iced and no coupon is needed.

LOOP

The 2011 Raven Award for Excellence in Arts and Entertainment will be presented to Award winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz for Wicked. Wicked has been touted as the best musical of the decade by Entertainment Weekly and its themes are explored in the book The Wicked Truth: When Good People Do Bad Things by Suzanne Ross. Ross will be presenting the award at the event to be held Tuesday March 1 2011 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at Loyola University Museum of Art 820 N. Michigan Avenue. Tickets cost $50 and are available for purchase online.

GOLD COAST

Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control host tonight’s benefit Martinis and Mutts for the stray pooches and kitties of the city. From 7pm-9pm at Proof (1045 N Rush) your $50 admission ($75 at the door) gets you drinks passed apps from an assortment of local places including Mercadito and Swirlz Cupcakes. You’ll also get the opportunity to meet several of Chicago’s local celebs including Darren Haydar and Jason Krog of the Chicago Wolves and journalist Bill Kurtis.

NAPERVILLE

Spelling Bee excitement is upon us again. Local Grainger Middle School student Ujwal Kiran has earned the DuPage County Spelling Bee and is moving to the next round at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in June. Twenty-six students representing 16 districts and three private schools competed at the county level Feb. 23. With her first place finish Kiran earned a trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee among other prizes. The trip will be paid for by spelling bee sponsor Commonwealth Edison.

CATHY MALLERS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO