We’re not wasting any time here in Chicago as our first weekend in June is packed with our favorite festivals kicking off the summer season!  There’s no time to waste so let’s get started.

Celebrating the influence of this genre born in our great city over 80 years ago, the Chicago Gospel Music Festival kicks off summer in Millennium Park at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage (201 E. Randolph St.) in The Loop this Saturday (12 p.m.-9 p.m.).  This free inspirational music festival offers a roster of choirs and contemporary artists for a day of family-friendly music.  This year’s lineup of top talent includes the award-winning RIZE Youth Company, Grammy winners Karen Clark Sheard and Tye Tribbett, and more!  For a full line-up, visit the festival’s website.

The Midwest’s oldest juried art fair will celebrate its 76^th year at their annual 57^th Street Art Fair located along 57^th Street between Woodlawn and Kenwood Avenues in the Hyde Park neighborhood this Saturday (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-5 p.m.).  This art fair features nearly 200 artists offering art lovers the opportunity to view and shop original works of art from around the country for a one-of-a-kind shopping experience as well as speak with the artists about their creations.  Plus, live music will be presented by Buddy Guy’s Legends, a Food Court will be presented by the Ray School PTA, and there will be lots of activities for the children as well!  You’re sure to find something special, handmade, and one of a kind at this art fair!!

The Lincoln Park neighborhood will be celebrating Hellenic culture at their popular annual Lincoln Park Greek Festival on the grounds of St. George Greek Orthodox Church (2701 N. Sheffield Ave.) this Saturday (12 p.m.-11 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.).  Once again, this fest will bring the aromas, sounds, tastes, and traditions of Greece to all Chicagoans along with authentic flavorful food, great music, dancing, a craft fair, and pure fun!  Everyone will proudly be Hellenic for at least one day – OPA!

Another summer festival season opener is the Do Division Street Fest located on Division Street between Damen Avenue and Leavitt Street in the Wicker Park neighborhood this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.).  Catch performances on two stages programmed by local live music venues the Empty Bottle (booking talent for diverse and cutting-edge music for the east stage), and Subterranean (booking current and popular bands for the west stage).  Plus, check out the food trucks, a fashion show (Do Fashion), vendors for shopping, and the Family Fun Fest offering kids’ activities such as a petting zoo, mega slide, rocking kids’ music, and more!  There’s something for everyone at this fest as well!!

Chicago’s original German neighborhood will be celebrating Maifest this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) at 4700 North Lincoln Avenue at Leland Avenue in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.  This free fest welcomes in the street festival season with outstanding German and American food and beer.  So, grab a pretzel or full dinner, enjoy some lederhosen- and dirndl-costumed dancers, hoist a stein, and kick back for some great German and American bands providing entertainment throughout the fest!

The 2nd annual Windy City Hot Dog Fest takes place this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) at Six Corners (4000-4080 N. Milwaukee Ave.) in the Portage Park neighborhood.  Some of Chicagoland’s favorite hot dog stands will be competing for who has the best hot dog, as voted on by the festgoers.  In addition to tasty dogs, there will be live entertainment, arts & craft vendors, a kid’s area, a top dog parade on Sunday (show off your fur-baby), and a hot dog eating competition (down as many hot dogs as you can in 5 minutes) where the winner walks away with bragging rights and a trophy!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

I have two dogs, and I’m always looking for places we can go and take them along. In the summer, we’re very lucky to have so many restaurants in Chicago that allow man’s (and woman’s) best friends on their patios. 

While restaurants often have bowls of water and treats set out for dogs (I’m looking at you, Lakeview!) it’s much more rare to find a restaurant that serves its own menu created especially for dogs.

Imagine my surprise to run across River North’s Siena Tavern, whose Puppy Ciaomenu complements their upscale Italian fare in a 10,000 square foot hybrid of “a rustic Italian market, a fine dining restaurant, and a modern, industrial tavern, bridging old world comfort and  the approachable menu ranging from antipasti, pizzas and mozzarellas to fresh pastas, entrees and desserts,“ as their website says.

The brainchild of Top Chef: Season 5 fan favorite, Fabio Viviani, the restaurant espouses a “farm to fork” take on Italian specialties, including Neapolitan pies, homemade pastas, and even a mozzarella bar.

Dog parents can start with specialties such as a Burrata, made with tomato jam and basil oil. Or, their gluten-free Grilled Octopus, served with heirloom fingerling potatoes, red chilies, celery-chimichurri, and aged balsamic. Viviani kicks it up a notch with a Waygu Beef Meatball, served with roasted tomato sauce and bellwether ricotta cheese. 

Pastas are made from scratch daily, and gluten-free pastas are available. Don’t miss the Squid Ink Linguine, with grilled lobster tail and spicy lobster cream. Reviewers have also raved about their Rigatoni Alla Vodka, made with Parmesan, burrata, and bread crumbs. 

An entrée such as Brick Chicken Diavolo is served with sticky parmesan potatoes, arugula, blistered grape tomatoes, red onion, shaved parmesan, and grilled lemon. Roasted Salmon is paired with artichoke, fava bean, charred cebolita onion, aranci, and mint. 

As we say here, (only when warranted,) leave room for dessert! Sorbettos deserve a mention with flavors like Strawberry Prosecco, Malted Milk Chocolate, S’mores and Salted Caramel.

Puppy Ciao for Fido

A portion of the proceeds from their Puppy Ciao menu benefits PAWS Chicago. Dinner or brunch starts with a simply grilled choice of Chicken Breast or Burger Patty.  Both are coated in extra-virgin olive oil. Their Doggy Desserts include Woof-Cream, Dairy Free Gelato, a Doggy Doughnut, and Pawsibly the Best Sundae Ever! 

Google reviewers were laudatory:

“Started off with bourbon and the grilled octopus and never have I been served it this way, but it was a great mix of flavors and would order again, but I’m sure they switch it up, as a good restaurant would. I don’t see it on the current menu anymore, but they had what was called, “carbonara in a jar,” and yes it came to us in a jar and our server prepared it for us. I’ve never seen it and I kind of like it, but besides that point it was hot and quite delicious. A little showmanship is always fun, plus great octopus and pasta, yes please.”

“Had a wonderful time at Siena Tavern. Taylor our waitress was wonderful, insightful and very helpful. She asked about allergies which was a plus. Also her recommendations were spot on. The atmosphere was awesome and the food delicious, serving sizes enough for 2 or 3 to share. We are big fans of Top Chef and Fabio was one of our favorite chefs, that is why I chose this place, but after visiting the restaurant Taylor made it more appealing, and well worth our visit.”

Siena Tavern is located at 51 W. Kinzie Street, and is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Their hours are Monday-Wednesday, 11:30am –11:30pm, Thursday, 11:30am–12am, Friday, 11:30am–2am, Saturday, 10am-2am, and Sunday, 10am-11:30pm. For reservations, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Small houses offer the promise of a simpler life with less material possessions, less maintenance, and a lower mortgage. Despite the benefits there are some tradeoffs that warrant consideration. Before taking the plunge, it’s definitely worth thinking about the pros and cons of going small in the world of real estate.

Here are some big questions you should ask yourself when it comes to buying a tiny house.

How Often Do You Entertain Guests?

Having one or two friends over at a time is one thing, but hosting a large dinner party with 10+ guests might not exactly be comfortable – or even possible – if your living quarters are short on square footage. Unless you plan on entertaining guests in the backyard, having more than a handful of people over at once won’t be practical. If you like things small and quiet, great. Although if you’re the type to throw big bashes, you might want to consider going a little bigger in the housing department.

If You Have Pets, How Well Can You Coexist?

If you’ve got any pets, or plan on getting one in the near future, consider the fact that they’ll have to put up with minimal indoor space. A small house is fine for a cat who only makes use of a litter box, sofa, and kitchen. A larger, more active dog, on the other hand, might find it tougher to coexist and be happy in a small space.

Are You an Avid Collector of Things?

Living in a small house means keeping a lid on the amount of belongings you’re able to accumulate. If you have a large collection of items, you might have to scale down if you’re considering moving into a tiny home. In addition, if there are any sentimental items like passed down family furniture, the likelihood of all your belongings fitting decreases.

For instance, if there’s an oversized hutch that’s been in your family for generations that you simply cannot part with, will it fit neatly in your home? Or will it not even fit through the doorway?

Are You Prepared to Spend More Time Outside?

Living small usually means spending a lot more time outside. One of the things about small homes is that a lot more living tends to take place outdoors. If home is just a place for you to lay your head between work and life, a lot of space probably isn’t necessary. And if you’re a big outdoorsy kind of person, a tiny space may be all that you need. However, if you’re home-body and home is where most of your time is spent doing the things you love, you’ll probably need more space.

What Are Your Hobbies?

Certain hobbies obviously take up a lot more space than others. In a small house, that might be space you can’t afford. If you love drawing, paining, knitting or cooking, a small house shouldn’t pose a problem. On the other hand, if you have an affinity for pottery, woodworking or shooting videos, a tiny house might be an issue. Consider if a small house would make your hobby more difficult to participate in, and decide if you’re OK with that in favor of less space (and most likely a smaller mortgage).

How Good Are You at Sharing Your Space?

Will you be living alone or sharing the space with someone? If you live with others (or plan to in the future), consider how well you’ll be able to share your space. If you grew up in a big family with minimal room indoors, you probably won’t have any issues. Horrible memories from bad dorm experiences? Then take a moment to reconsider.

There’s a certain charm and freedom associated with tiny homes. And of course, there’s always the much cheaper price tag (depending on the location). There’s a lot to think about and weigh before making this decision. Regardless of whether the home you buy is big or small, this type of purchase is an important one. Do some soul searching, and as always, discuss your options with an experienced real estate agent before you make the next move.

As Chicago moves into summer, Memorial Day Weekend means one thing to beachgoers:  it’s time to discover (or re-discover) the greatest 26 miles of beaches off of Lake Michigan! From Loyola Beach in Rogers Park to Oak Street Beach to Rainbow Beach on the South Side, there’s a stretch of sand and water fit for everyone in your family. And often, a cocktail or beach picnic! 

Beach season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day (May 26,) through Labor Day.Swimming is only permitted when lifeguards are on duty, from 11am to 7pm, in designated swim areas. And then, at your own risk. Water temperatures run pretty cold right now. According to seatemperature.info  the temperature is currently right around 56°F. Brrr… 

Are Chicago’s Beaches Real? 

Chicago’s entire 28-mile Lake Michigan shoreline is man-made, according to the Encyclopedia of Chicago History. As they tell it, the original sand dune and swale topography has been dramatically altered by erosion and severe weather conditions. Today, step-stone and rubble revetments and offshore breakers withstand wind, waves, and the freeze/thaw of the seasons. Beach sand is held in place by groins or armored with revetments or sea walls. In the 1860’s, as commerce grew  accommodate the Illinois Central Railroad, breakwaters were built and the lake filled in, extending the lakefront from Michigan Avenue almost to its present-day shoreline. 

Public Beach History 

Beaches were often privately owned, or were the property of hotels and businesses. According to The Encyclopedia of Chicago, the city opened its first public bathing beach in 1895 in Lincoln Park, at the shore between Fullerton Avenue and Diversey Parkway, primarily as a response to the efforts of the Free Bath and Sanitary League (formerly the Municipal Order League) According to WTTW.com, the group began as a women’s reform organization. But the organization didn’t have recreation in mind: The push for public beaches was motivated by hygienic concerns, like public access to the lake for washing off. One element of the campaign involved persuading the city and state governments to designate certain spaces as beaches for public use. The second element involved ensuring that the city would clean up and maintain these beaches so that city residents could enjoy the benefit of access to clean water. 

While the primary motivation of middle-class reformers in opening the bathing beaches was to improve the health and sanitary habits of the working class, the campaign also demanded that city dwellers have recreational use of the lake.

Today:  The Lakefront Trail

As Yoda might say, “Recreation, it has.” As Choose Chicago tells us, the Lakefront Trail is an 18.5-mile, multi-use path along the shores of Lake Michigan. Run, walk, bike, or skate from its northernmost point at Ardmore Avenue south to 71^st Street, touring diverse and vibrant neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park, Streeterville, the Loop, and Jackson Park as you go.

Today: Doggy Paddles and Recreation 

As WTTW and Choose Chicago note, two of Chicago’s beaches, Montrose Beach and Belmont Harbor Beach, have reserved dog-friendly areas for canines to “kick up some sand!” 

The Montrose Harbor Dog Beach, located at 4400 N. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, is a 3.83-acre area open year-round where dogs can roam leash-less. 

At the eastern end of Montrose Beach is 11 acres of dedicated natural habitat referred to as Montrose Beach Dunes. Dunes began to naturally form at this location. The Dunes supports state-listed and locally-rare plant species, and over 150 bird species.

The fenced-in dog beach at Belmont Harbor is much smaller, requires dogs to be leashed and may be a bit more crowded. It’s located at Belmont & Lake Shore Drive. 

North Avenue Beach

Rent a powerful WaveRunner at Jet Ski Chicago, or hit the waves with a wave board or paddleboard at Great Lakes Board Company, according to Choose Chicago. Or do a little outdoor yoga with Sun and Moon Beach Yoga. And if you love volleyball, the Chicago Sport and Social Club runs the largest volleyball league in the world. 

Happy Trails, Everyone! Enjoy summer at the beach! 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

As we get older our senses change. These changes take place in the organs themselves as well as the brain. Neurons naturally die, and we become less able to process information, store memories, and perceive sensations. We are less able to learn whether neurons die from nature or injury and disease. For example, organs like your eyes and ears start to deteriorate with age. Studies find that deterioration of sight may limit the ability to do exercises to strengthen the brain. Make sure to get your eyes and hearing tested after 55 to get the help you need!

Injury and disease can hasten this decrease in our brain cognition. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is diagnosed if two or more brain functions are significantly impaired. Functions like memory and language skills are the most typical. All forms of dementia involve neuron destruction. A stroke would be considered an injury. It happens in an instant when an artery breaks, or a blood clot cuts off blood flow to the brain. This causes brain cells to die. Retaining function depends on how quickly you receive medical attention. 

There are practical ways to combat memory loss. Exercise has been found to improve mild cognitive impairment. It seems also that different types of exercise have different effects on our brain. Weight training is a bit better for the ability to remember things in context, associative memory. Aerobic exercise works more on verbal memory. Scientists think that cathepsin B, which is released by muscles during exercise builds cells in the hippocampus, a brain region essential to memory. So, education, cognitive puzzles, sensory challenges and exercise will all help to improve blood flow to that most important organ, our brain. 

Believe it or not, some mental ability increases with age. Elderly brains typically have sharpened language skills and a larger vocabulary. Healthy mature brains perform as well as younger ones when it comes to any task requiring analysis, organization of information and planning. There may be a decrease in processing speed but we can still keep up with the young ones!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago