Grilled Cheese Sandwich with spinach and tomato

Restaurant Review: For Fall Comfort Food, Nothing Beats Cheesie's Pub & Grub in Lakeview and Wicker Park!

The first day of fall is Saturday, September 23—the same day as the autumn equinox. For me and mine, nothing says “Cozy fall meal” more than a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup!
A young man holding a smoking electrical cable after electrical accident with dirty burnt face

Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Common Home Repair Mistakes

Everything you would ever want to do in your home now has a video on You Tube. It’s all well and good until you make a mistake, and it winds up costing you more in the long run. Here are a few tips to help with that DIY project.
Image of a living area with a side table, rug, and no sofa

5 Reasons Why Not Staging Your Vacant Home is a Mistake

The goal of every seller is to sell their home quickly, and for top dollar. Nobody wants to have to pay carrying costs while waiting for the right buyer to come along.
A humorous vector drawing of a beer festival

THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Kicking Off Another Fall Season!

Chicagoans will be kicking off the unofficial start of yet another fall season this weekend with some new fall festivities and other events sure to please everyone!
Photo of the St. Boniface Cemetery in Chicago

Neighborhood News: Uptown’s Graceland Cemetery a graveyard of Chicago history

There are few structures in the Midwest that double as an arboretum and a final resting place for hundreds of prominent Chicagoans. Set on 121 acres of prime Chicago real estate, Uptown’s Graceland Cemetery, 4001 N. Clark Street, provides a visceral memorial to Chicago’s growth and history as a city and urban oasis.
An assortment of traditional West African food dishes

Restaurant Review: For Black Restaurant Week Midwest, Dozzy’s Grill makes its mark in River North

Black Restaurant Week Midwest runs from September 10-24 as “part of a nationwide effort to boost the visibility of and support for Black-owned eateries,” as reported by Block Club Chicago.
Close up of growing grass

Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Good planting time

Early fall is the best time for planting many things in your landscape. From trees to shrubs to grass, the falls’ moderate day temperatures and cool nights are perfect to plant and get a head start before the long winter.
Woman hand holding credit cards and using smartphone for shopping online with payment on internet banking

No Credit? How to Build it From the Ground Up

Having poor credit isn’t a good thing, but neither is having no credit at all. Getting approved for a mortgage – or any other type of loan, for that matter – is pretty much an impossible feat if the lender has nothing to go on.
Retro styled smiled funny sun cartoon character on walk

THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Enjoying Summer’s Remaining Weekends!

Are you ready to give the remaining summer weekends all you’ve got? I hope so because there’s only two more weekends after this one before autumn officially arrives! So, let’s see what the city and its various neighborhoods have planned for us.
Chicago River with water taxi and boats sailing between the beautiful skyscrapers skyline

Neighborhood News: Chicago Water Taxis a great way to beat the rush hour blues!

There might be construction on the Kennedy and delays on the Eisenhower, but for commuters on the Metra Rail Lines and downtowners, nothing beats a Chicago Water Taxi ride from Ogilvie/Union Station to Michigan Avenue!
Happy friends enjoying happy hour drinking beer at brewery pub

Restaurant Review: With Oktoberfest upon us, North Center’s Laschet’s Inn serves up gemutlichkeit year-round

With Lincoln Square’s Oktoberfest coming up this weekend, it seems only fitting to stop by North Center’s Laschet’s Inn is in what was historically a German area along Lincoln Avenue.
Woman comforts her friend who has covered her face with her hands and is crying

Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Do we try to help too much?

Although I think there are many more women than men that suffer from this syndrome, I’m sure there are many men who have this problem too. Some psychologists are calling this the “Super Helper Syndrome”.
Kitchen in newly constructed luxury home

These Features Will Help Your Home Sell Faster

If you’re planning on selling your home and moving some time in the near future, you should think about the features in your house, and whether or not buyers want what you’ve got.
Happy Labor Day calligraphy lettering on Retro patriotic background in colors of flag USA

THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Labor Day Weekend Traditions!

Well, it’s here! This first September weekend takes center stage with Labor Day Weekend traditions here in Chicago as we unofficially close out the summer season. Don’t be disappointed though since the first day of autumn isn’t until September 23rd, so enjoy every day of summer that’s left!
Vector poster for jazz music festival and live music concert with golden saxophone and inscriptions

Neighborhood News: Be-bopping on Labor Day Weekend to all that Jazz!

September 5, 1882 was the United States’ first Labor Day, celebrating the social and economic achievements of American workers.
Group of friends having fun at bbq dinner outdoor in garden restaurant

Restaurant Review: In the Loop, Beatnik on the River a perfect end-of-summer adventure

As we turn our attention to September and Labor Day (Monday, September 4) Weekend, a staycation downtown wouldn’t be complete without a nice place to view the Chicago River and enjoy a cool drink.
Futuristic emotional and intellectual intelligence concept with glowing low polygonal human heads with heart and brain isolated

Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Boosting your emotional intelligence

The idea of emotional intelligence has been around for a while now. Its importance in business cannot be denied. It can have quite an impact, helping you feel less overwhelmed and more successful at work.
Caucasian female students unpacking in students room

Dorm Room Design on a Budget

It’s that time of year again. High school graduates across the country are packing their belongings into boxes and making the drive to the college campus they’ll call home for the next few years.
Close up of a large sunflower head, with a happyemoticon face, carved into seeds, in a field of sunflowers

THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Wrapping Up Another Summer Month!

WOW -- we were definitely hit by the dog days of summer this past week! However, this weekend plans on bringing us a cool down so we can wrap-up another summer month filled with lots of good eats and more! Are you ready?
Chicago Children's Museum near navy pier in Chicago Illinois

Neighborhood News: Believing in the Power of Play--Navy Pier’s Chicago Children’s Museum

Looking for a place where your children can play, have fun, interact and learn at the same time? Since 1982, the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier 700 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 127, has been creating experiences that are developmentally “just right” for children of all ages!
A corned beef sandwich with mustard and pickle on rye bread

Restaurant Review: For Iconic Restaurants Day… visit the Near West Side’s Manny’s Deli

According to HolidayInsights.com, Iconic American Restaurants Day, on Thursday August 24, celebrates the many great restaurants in this country, and the outstanding staff that works hard to make your dining experience pleasurable.
A happy mixed race family of three relaxing on the floor and being playful together.

Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Learning to relax

We all think we know how to relax, but do we really? We all need more rest than we think but we all aren’t adept at relaxing. We often feel guilty because there are so many things that need to be done.