The one thing about Chicago in the summertime is there is no shortage of street fests, or other events for that matter, as this last weekend of July will prove!  Come join us and enjoy the tastes of summer!!

Returning for its 41^st year to the city’s street fests scene is the Taste of Lincoln Avenue this Saturday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) at 2500 North Lincoln Avenue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  This year it’s looking better than ever by offering fun things such as a variety of culinary delights from local food favorites; an amazing line-up of live music from bands across the Midwest; arts and crafts galore; a kids’ carnival with non-stop activities that include inflatables for hours of fun; a whiskey tasting by Delilah’s Chicago offering two sessions (3 p.m.-5 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m.) in celebration of some of the finest Midwestern Distilleries; and the 2^nd annual dog parade at Noon with a great prize and bragging rights.  This iconic street fest is a must visit as it offers a fun and engaging experience for all attendees!

Another iconic and popular annual street fest that celebrates the culture of the Far East returns with the 46^th annual Chinatown Summer Fair this Saturday (10 a.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-7 p.m.) on Wentworth Avenue from Cermak Road to 24^th Place.  This festive, vibrant celebration of culture, community, and tradition opens Saturday with a traditional dragon and lion dance procession (12:30 p.m.) and a welcome on the main stage (1 p.m.).  Afterwards, it’s time to enjoy the Fair which features samplings from Chinatown’s restaurants and unique gift shops, arts and crafts exhibits, street vendors offering an array of merchandise, Asian performances, kung fu demonstrations, activities for children and families at the children’s area, and more.  And don’t forget the 4^th annual COPI Fish Ball Eating Contest on Sunday (3:15 p.m.) with a $300 Cash Prize for 1^st Place, and a $50 Gift Certificate from Afusion for the 2^nd and 3^rd Place winners!

The 22^nd annual Chicago Disability Pride Parade is celebrating the 35^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act this Saturday (11 a.m.-4 p.m.).  The parade route kicks off from 401 South Plymouth Court then travels a ½ block west on Van Buren Street before heading north on Dearborn Street to the Daley Civic Center (50 W. Washington St.) in The Loop where post-parade festivities will be held!

Enjoy an unforgettable evening at the Chicago Water Lantern Festival this Saturday (5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.) at Humboldt Park (1301 N. Humboldt Dr.) in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.  A ticket includes festival access, a lantern kit, entry into their scavenger hunt giveaway, and a gift pack with card games and a drawstring bag.  In addition, your evening will be filled with tasty food trucks, fun music, and activities.  And, as the sun sets, release your personalized lantern into the water and watch it illuminate the night!

The 5^th annual Venetian Night Chicago takes place this Saturday (6 p.m.-10 p.m.) on Chicago’s Riverwalk which is being transformed into a vibrant homage to Venice, Italy and celebrating Venice’s cultural heritage through music, art, and a spectacular lighted boat parade at 8:30 p.m. down the river when the true magic of Venetian Night happens!

Lastly, the city’s second Cross Town Classic is this weekend as the Chicago White Sox host the Chicago Cubs this Saturday (6:10 p.m.) and Sunday (1:10 p.m.) at Guaranteed Rate Field (333 W. 35^th St.) in the Bridgeport neighborhood.  Who will you be cheering for?

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

As the self-proclaimed “Best Rated Italian Restaurant in Chicago,” Eduardo’s Enoteca offers a blend of traditional Italian techniques and modern cuisine. 

Each dish, from artisanal charcuterie to fresh pastas, as their website notes, is complemented by a curated selection of wines, ensuring a premier dining experience in a warm, inviting atmosphere. From artisanal charcuterie boards to freshly made pastas and pizzas, they were rated as a Diner’s Choice Pick of 2020 by OpenTable.

Start with an appetizer such as Citrus Marinated Olives, or Arancini, with Parmigiano reggiano, roasted butternut squash, and thym. Charred Brussels Sprouts is made with Pancetta, garlic, and olive oil. Polpette alla Napoletana is Hand-rolled pork meatballs, pancetta marinara, basil, and burrata on a toasted baguette. Crostini Funghi is a roasted mushroom medley with whipped ricotta, shallot, and thyme.

A nice, cool salad sounds good as the temperatures rise. Caesar Piccante has shredded kale, pickled chili, parmigiano reggiano, spiced croutons, and spicy caesar dressing.  Rucola Avocado has arugula, shaved walnuts, parmigiano reggiano, and white balsamic vinaigrette.

And then, there are the pastas! Fusilli Pesto alla Genovese has basil, pine nuts, and parmigiano reggiano. Orecchiette Puglia is made with Pancetta, broccolini, garlic, chili, and parmigiano reggiano. Pappardelle Bolognese hasEduardo’s famous eight-hour ragu of soffritto, tomato, pork, veal, parmesan, and parsley. Spicy Vodka Gnocchi comes with whipped ricotta and basil. Crispy Goat Cheese Salad is a summer dream with spinach, arugula, strawberries, candied walnuts, pickled shallots, and honey mustard dressing.

Mine is not the only positive review. Google and Open Table reviews are overall, very positive. 

“We loved the funghi crostini, the arancini and the pesto pasta!” said the Open Table review. “And the lemon martini was refreshing and delicious.”

“This place is a hidden gem!” said Google. “I work in the area and I had no idea this was here! I came here on a Wednesday night with a friend, and we were pleasantly surprised by how cozy and charming the place is. They have great happy hour options, and the space filled up quickly—which is always a good sign!

“We started with two appetizers: the burrata and the bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese. The dates were definitely our favorite—so flavorful and delicious—I’ll absolutely be ordering them again next time. For our entrees, my friend had the gluten-free pasta with pesto, and I went with the bolognese. Both dishes were fresh, tasty, and served in very generous portions. We actually had enough to take home leftovers!

To finish off the meal, we shared the pistachio cheesecake. It was incredibly creamy and the perfect sweet ending—highly recommend.”

Eduardo’s Enoteca is located at 1212 N. Dearborn. They are open Sunday – Thursday: 3pm – 9pm, and Friday and  Saturday, 3pm –10pm. For reservations, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

In today’s fast-paced real estate market, finding your dream home can feel like chasing a mirage—every time you get close, it vanishes into someone else’s contract. But don’t worry. With the right game plan, you can still land the perfect place to call home—even when competition is fierce.

Here’s how to stay ahead of the pack and score your dream home in a competitive market:

1. Get Pre-Approved (Not Just Pre-Qualified)

Sellers take offers seriously when buyers come ready with a mortgage pre-approval in hand. It shows you’re financially prepared and ready to move fast. In a competitive market, that edge could be the difference between acceptance and rejection.

2. Define Your “Must-Haves” vs. “Nice-to-Haves”

You may not find the “perfect” home, but you can find the “right” one. Make a list of your non-negotiables (like school districts, number of bedrooms, or yard size), and separate them from your “wishlist” items (like a pool or finished basement). Knowing what you can compromise on will speed up your search.

3. Work with a Local Expert Agent

A knowledgeable real estate agent is your secret weapon. They know neighborhoods inside and out, can alert you to listings before they hit the market, and help craft competitive offers. Look for an agent with a strong network and glowing reviews.

4. Move Fast, but Don’t Rush

In a tight market, homes can disappear in a matter of hours. Be ready to view properties and make decisions quickly—but don’t skip important steps like inspections or title checks. A rushed offer without due diligence can lead to regret.

5. Write a Stand-Out Offer

Money talks—but sometimes, so does emotion. Consider including a personal letter with your offer, sharing why you love the home. Also, be flexible with closing dates or contingencies. Small details can give you an advantage.

6. Expand Your Search Radius

If your ideal neighborhood is ultra-competitive, consider nearby areas with similar amenities and lifestyle. You might discover a hidden gem you hadn’t considered—and stretch your dollar further.

7. Stay Persistent and Positive

Rejection is part of the process. Many buyers go through several offer cycles before landing “the one.” Stay patient, stay prepared, and trust that your dream home is out there waiting for you.

Bottom-line

Finding your dream home in a competitive market is a challenge—but it’s far from impossible. With strategy, speed, and a bit of heart, you can turn the hunt into a successful ending.

Located west of the Kennedy Expressway, east of Humboldt Park, and south of the Bloomingdale Trail, known for its nightlife and food scene, Wicker Park is a cultural center; its Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is designated as a Chicago Landmark District.

Wicker Park and nearby Bucktown are hives of activity that draw shoppers hunting for unique finds, foodies looking for the trendiest eats, and bar hoppers searching for that late-night buzz.

In the Beginning…

As Wikipedia sources tell it, in late 1868, the Chicago Board of Public Works announced the desire to build a park “lying west of Milwaukee avenue and south of North avenue. The grounds are of considerable capacity and are laid out in a tasteful and attractive manner as a park.”

Who was Charles Wicker?

Wicker Park was named in honor of Charles Gustavus Wicker (1820–1889), an early Chicago settler, alderman, state legislator, businessman, and real estate speculator who helped develop the surrounding neighborhood. 

Wickerand his brother Joel purchased 80 acres of land along Milwaukee Avenue in 1870 and laid out a subdivision surrounding a four-acre park. 

Growth

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 spurred the first wave of development, as homeless Chicagoans looked to build new houses. Wicker Park was the abode of Chicago’s wealthy Germans and Scandinavians. The area provided an alternative to a population who had already been spurned by the Anglo- Protestant establishment residing on Chicago’s lakefront.

The fire also Influenced the architecture of Wicker Park, according to the Encyclopedia of Chicago. Having witnessed the vulnerability of wood construction, many Wicker Park residents built large mansions made almost entirely of brick and stone. By the 1890s the area was an architectural showplace, in a variety of styles, including Victorian Gothic and Italianate. 

Many of these houses circled the four-acre park after which the community was named.

Not everyone who settled in Wicker Park, however, was wealthy and resided in a large house. By the late nineteenth century, Bell Avenue had become home to working-class African Americans and Eastern Europeans, especially Poles, who lived in small cottages dotting the street. Labor activists also resided in Wicker Park, including the martyrs of the Haymarket Affair.

With the end of the 19^th century the area was subsumed into the surrounding. Polish Downtown, which gave the neighborhood its name, also became known as the “Polish Gold Coast”. The area around Division, Milwaukee, and Ashland was known as ‘Kostkaville,’ and the intersection retains the names “Polonia Triangle – Polish Triangle” today.

20^th Century and Revitalization 

Past the turn of the century, the provisional government of Poland met in Wicker Park during World War I.

Polish immigration into the area accelerated during and after World War II, when as many as 150,000 Poles are estimated to have arrived between 1939 and 1959 as Displaced Persons (DPs). They clustered in established ethnic enclaves like this one that offered shops, restaurants, and banks where people spoke their language. Division Street was referred to as ‘Polish Broadway.’ 

The novelist Nelson Algren’s literary output lionized the Division Street strip in books such as The Man with the Golden Arm and Never Come Morning, focusing on the stories of junkies, gamblers, hookers, and drunks in some areas of that neighborhood.

Today 

As with many areas of Chicago, urban escape was the norm from the 50’s to the late 70’s. But then…efforts by community development groups like Northwest Community Organization (NCO) to stabilize the community through new affordable-housing construction in the 1980s coincided with the arrival of artists attracted by the neighborhood’s easy access to the Loop, cheap loft space in the abandoned factories, and distinctly urban feel. 

It was through this revitalization that Wicker Park became the artistic urban oasis it is today.

As Choose Chicago notes, the intersection of North, Damen, and Milwaukee Avenues (known as the Six Corners) is a great place to start.

If you’re looking for vintage clothing, dig through the racks at Vintage Underground, Kokorokoko, or Belmont Army. 

Consider visiting the Flatiron Arts Building for a glimpse into the area’s artistic past, or catch a show at The Den Theatre. Don’t miss the Wicker Park Farmers Market for local produce and goods. 

And for specifically enjoying these summer days, consider a stroll or leisurely bike ride along The 606 trail, (aka Bloomingdale Trail) where you can exploring the many parks, public artworks, murals, bars, and restaurants along the way.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

We know if we want more flowers we need to prune and deadhead. It enhances the appearance and encourages more blooms. But some prolific bloomers do not need deadheading! It may actually prevent the plant from coming back next year. It will also prevent wildlife from reaping food from these plants. Here are a few you should let be for the summer:

Those beautiful Black-eyed susans will encourage small birds like sparrows and finches to feast on their abundant seeds. So let these lovelies go to seed. Besides feeding the little birds it will grow more flowers as they will self-seed. 

Snapdragons provide continuous blooms throughout the season with little or no maintenance. They are usually grown as annuals. They come in a variety of colors to add beauty to your landscape with little care. 

Columbine comes in a variety of vibrant colors. The blooms last for four weeks or so then begin to fade and turn brown. If you leave the flower on the plant the columbine will reseed itself and give you beautiful blooms year after year. The seeds are a rich source of food for birds and other wildlife. 

Foxgloves attract pollinators like butterflies and bees as their trumpet shaped flowers have easy to reach nectar. These flowers produce hundreds of thousands of seeds that will germinate the following year. Plants will often be different colors as they cross pollinate. 

Protip: foxgloves are toxic to pets! You should always research any plant before adding it to the garden if you have pets. 

Nigellas have beautiful flowers with blue-green foliage and is also low maintenance. The seed pods that appear after blooming are visually appealing and they will be reseeded for next year. Fallen seeds are great food for birds.

Coneflowers are a great native plant that’s easy to care for. Leave them in place into the autumn and winter months. They still add a lot to the landscape, while goldfinches, cardinals and pine siskins will love to sit on the flowerheads to consume the nutrient rich seeds, a valuable food source in the colder weather. They will also self-seed.

Hydrangeas, especially the Big-leaf varieties, are best left alone. The flowers will add protection for the new buds that appear in the spring. 

Sometimes deadheading comes with the risk of cutting back the growing points for next year. Research the particular types of flower, as some do need pruning at the correct time!

So leaving many of your blooming plants alone will have benefits for you and the wildlife that lives around your landscape. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago