Join in the celebration of Chicago’s “Big Thaw” this weekend with the following events to get us out and about again as we also bid farewell to this past week’s polar vortex – Good Riddance!

Come be a part of something great at this year’s Cupid’s Undie Run this Saturday (12 p.m.-4 p.m.) at Slugger’s Sports Bar (3540 N. Clark St.) in the Lakeview neighborhood.  The day kicks off with drinking and dancing, then at 2 p.m. it’s time for the chilly one-mile jog (at your own pace) then back to Slugger’s for the epic dance party.  This annual tradition raises money for neurofibromatosis (NF) which is a genetic disorder causing tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body.  So, toss on a pair of your best skivvies for this brief fun run and let’s get this party started for the 1 in every 3,000 births affected with NF!

It’s simply a bacon lover’s paradise at the Chicago Bacon Fest this Saturday (12 p.m.-5 p.m.) at the Old Crow Smokehouse (3506 N. Clark St.) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood.  A general admission ticket includes admission to the fest, a complimentary bacon-back whiskey shot and a bacon cocktail, access to special bacon cocktails and mocktails, a special bacon focused food menu, live music from Garrett Hicks, bacon photo ops, giveaways, and other sizzling fun stuff.  Plus, there may even be a surprise visit from Mr. Bacon Dude himself.  There’s no “hold the bacon” at this fest since there’s bacon on everything!

Enjoy all the wonders of nature at Polar Adventure Day this Saturday (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) at Big Marsh Park (11559 S. Stoney Island Ave.) in the South Deering neighborhood.  Enjoy this free journey as you explore the park to see Husky teams sled around the park; watch ice carvings being made; make nature-inspired winter crafts; meet live animals; take in a roaming puppet show; and more.  In addition, enjoy some live music, sip on hot cocoa, and/or purchase food onsite as you warm up.  It’s a great way to celebrate winter in Chicago without the polar vortex!

Sunday brings the Best Margarita Competition to Time Out Market Chicago (916 W. Fulton Market) in the West Loop from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in celebration of National Margarita Day.  Hosted by Time Out and powered by Patron Tequila, Chicago’s top restaurants and bars will be competing to see who makes the best version of the cocktail, as voted on by you.  The power is in your hands as the winner will receive a trophy, a cash prize, a Time Out article, and bragging rights.  Join us in raising a glass to National Margarita Day as we crown the #1 Best Margarita!

Heading back to Chicago for their first show of the season is MagicCon Chicago this Saturday and Sunday at McCormick Place Lakeside Center (2301 S. King Dr.) in the South Loop.  Once again, they’ll be bringing you the best play events, the coolest merch, and the most exciting experiences that the world of Magic has to offer.  One such unique experience is the Art of Magic where an abundance of amazing Magic artists will be in attendance for you to get cards signed or to pick up unique merch spotlighting your favorite art.  In addition, Dungeons & Dragons join the party to take you on an epic journey as you become characters you create, battle deadly foes, uncover secrets, and find treasures.  Plus, new this year is the Target Permanent Tattoos where you can get tattooed right on the show floor.  However, appointments are limited and must be made in advance.  This can’t miss event gives you the opportunity to create memories to last a lifetime!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

Andersonville is known for being “a little bit of Sweden — the eccentric bit to be exact,” according to Choose Chicago. 

However, what locals love about Andersonville is its artisanal flair and one-of-a-kind charm, Midsommarfest in June and St. Lucia Day celebration in December. And all that will be celebrated February 21 – March 2 at Andersonville Restaurant Week.

Presented by the Andersonville Chamberof Commerce, it showcases the abundance of great restaurants throughout the district. It’s a great way to try a new spot, and explore the diverse cuisine and fine dining in Andersonville, which ranges widely for all tastes and sizes.

The  restaurants will offer $30 / $45 / $60 special prix fixe menus to enjoy. (NOTE: Prices vary by location)

Take, for example, Uvae Kitchen & Wine Bar, 5553 N. Clark Street, offering a $60 per person menu featuring  their Cauliflower Bisque with chili oil and black pepper, Parmesan Bites, andWedge Salad with green goddess dressing, cherry tomatoes, lardons, scallions and smokey blue cheese. That’s followed by your choice of Salmon with garlic roasted potatoes, spring pea puree and asparagus, or Smoked Short Rib with goat cheese and creamed corn grits and horseradish slaw, or Jackfruit with hoisin glaze, quinoa, and pineapple ginger salsa. Finish off with Coconut Ladoo with green tea and strawberry. 

A few blocks down, Replay Andersonville, 5358 N. Clark Street, offers a variety of comfort foods at its sports bar. Their $45 per person menu includes such favorites as your choice of Wisconsin Cheese Curds, battered, fried and served with ranch dipping sauce, Crispy Cauliflower, deep fried, rice-flour coated cauliflower, spicy curry, and pickle salad, or Fried Pickles, which are panko-breaded fried pickle chips ser with Chipotle buttermilk ranch dressing. Entrées include their Double Smash Burger, a mammoth two quarter pound hamburger patties, applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, caramelized onions, tomato, arugula, and fried dill pickles on a buttery bun, or for vegetarians, an Impossible Burger Deluxe combining an Impossible Burger with smoked tomato aioli, avocado and provolone cheese, topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and dill pickle on a buttery bun. Their house-made desserts include Apple Bread Pudding house-made apple bread pudding made with Challah bread, topped with candied walnuts, bourbon caramel, and vanilla ice cream, or a Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet  (NOTE: Please pre-order, requires 30 minutes to bake,) a chocolate chip cookie baked in cast iron skillet, topped with vanilla ice cream and bourbon caramel. 

Many more restaurants are participating. For a complete list of restaurants and menus, click here.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Selling a home can be a stressful process, but it doesn’t have to be. One of the most effective ways to alleviate potential issues and streamline the sale is by getting a professional home inspection before listing your property. Here are seven compelling reasons why home sellers should consider this essential step.

1. Gain a Competitive Edge

In a bustling real estate market, homes that stand out tend to sell faster and for higher prices. An upfront home inspection can provide you with a clear understanding of your property’s condition and enable you to address any necessary repairs in advance. This transparency not only builds trust with potential buyers but also helps to justify your asking price.

2. Identify Issues Early

A home inspection can reveal hidden problems that may not be immediately apparent, such as electrical issues, plumbing leaks, or structural concerns. By identifying these issues early, you can address them proactively rather than waiting for a buyer’s inspection, which could lead to last-minute negotiations or the potential loss of a sale.

3. Strengthen Your Negotiation Position

When buyers know that a home inspection has been performed, they are more likely to view the property as a worthwhile investment. Additionally, when you address issues upfront, you eliminate much of the bargaining power buyers might otherwise have. This position can lead to smoother negotiations, as buyers may be more willing to meet your asking price without demands for significant repairs.

4. Avoid Surprises During Buyer’s Inspection

The last thing you want as a seller is to be blindsided by unexpected findings during a buyer’s home inspection. By conducting your own inspection first, you can manage your expectations and prepare for any potential obstacles. This foresight helps ensure a smoother transaction and may expedite the closing process.

5. Increase Buyer Confidence

Showing prospective buyers that your home has been inspected and certifying that it’s in good condition can increase their confidence in your property. Knowing that you have taken the initiative to identify and solve issues makes buyers more inclined to feel secure about their investment, which can enhance your chances of a successful sale.

6. Save Time and Money

Addressing issues found during a pre-listing inspection allows you to fix them at your convenience and potentially save money. Rush repairs or last-minute fixes can often be more expensive and stressful. By managing repairs ahead of time, you can make informed decisions about which fixes are worth the investment and which do not need immediate attention.

7. Enhance Property Value

Ultimately, a home inspection can help you put your best foot forward. By ensuring that your property is in peak condition, you can not only command a higher selling price but also attract a broader pool of buyers. A well-maintained home is appealing, and when you showcase your efforts through documentation and reports from reputable inspectors, it can significantly enhance your home’s perceived value.

Bottom-line

Opting for a pre-listing home inspection is a wise decision for sellers wanting to take charge of the selling process. The benefits are numerous, from gaining a competitive edge to enhancing buyer confidence. By investing in a home inspection, you ensure that you are not only protecting your investment but also paving the way for a successful and efficient sale.

The Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Avenue, was described as “landscape art under glass” when it opened in 1908. Today, it occupies two acres of public greenhouse space and 10 acres of outdoor gardens. Year-round, visitors can enjoy the lush flora and tropical temperatures indoors, and more than 10 acres of outdoor gardens, nature play spaces for children, water lily pond, and much more.

The beginning 

Garfield Park, originally called Central Park, was one of three parks on the city’s West Side (including Humboldt and Douglas parks), according to a feature produced by WTTW.  It was designed by William LeBaron Jenney,  opened in 1874, and was renamed in 1881 for President James Garfield after his assassination.

According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago History, conservatories grew out of 19^th  century citizens concerned with the ill effects of industrialization. City dwellers became fascinated with horticulture. This, along with advances in building technology, led to the development of conservatories in Europe early in the century.

In 1905, Jens Jensen was appointed as superintendent and chief landscape architect by a reform-minded board. He demolished three poorly maintained facilities to construct one centralized facility in Garfield Park, intended as the world’s largest conservatory.

While most conservatories in the era looked like palaces or chateaus, Jensen wanted the structure’s form to emulate the “great haystacks” of the Midwest. As the Encyclopedia of Chicago History noted, Jensen’s featured compositions with open vistas, surrounded by artfully arranged plantings.

Constructed between 1906 and 1907, the Garfield Park Conservatory was designed in collaboration with Prairie School architects Schmidt, Garden and Martin and the New York engineering firm of Hitchings and Company. It represented a unique collaboration of a prominent landscape architect with architects and engineers.

Jensen considered the Fern Room in particular, with its “prairie waterfall”—a stone and water element within a glass structure—to be one of his greatest achievements. 

Today

Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest and most stunning botanical conservatories in the nation. the conservatory. In the building’s haystack shape and walls of stratified stonework, about 120,000 plants representing some 600 species occupy the conservatory’s two acres and indoor spaces. Twice a year, flower shows premiere to celebrate the beginning of winter and spring.

Garfield Park Conservatory consists of several rooms of exotic and local plants, trees, flora and fauna. Take for example:

Sugar from the Sun 

As their website says, four themed botanical environments – water, air, sunlight, and sugar – help visitors discover how right now, inside every leaf, plants are capturing sunlight and using it to change small parts of air and water into sugar – the energy that sustains life on Earth.

In the Fern Room, the designers  wanted to give visitors a glimpse of what Illinois might have looked like millions of years ago. Lush ferns, rocky outcroppings and an indoor lagoon evoke the swampy landscape of prehistoric Chicago.

The Palm Room, at 65 feet high and 90 feet wide, is the largest room in the Conservatory. It is designed as an idealized tropical landscape, featuring more than 70 graceful palms, as well as other plants from warm habitats all around the world.

Conservatory Programs 

On Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am to 2:30pm, Nature Educators will provide activities for kids of all ages at their Budding Botanists stations. This program is included in all reservations to visit the Conservatory. You can stop by and interact with the materials at the station for as long as you want to.

Art After Dark

Join GPCA’s Nature Educators on Wednesday evenings to explore and discover together! This free, drop-in program is designed for kids and families meets every Wednesday from 4pm-7:30pm and is available for children ages 4 and up. 

Activities follow themes of nature and science, but with a special focus on learning, processing, and making personal connections through art. 

Families can enjoy open-ended collaborative or individual projects, nature journal prompts inspired by the Conservatory collection and conversations about Chicago’s ecosystems and our place in them, in a calm and inviting atmosphere!

Garfield Park Conservatory is open Wednesday from10am-8pm (last entry 7:15pm), and Thursday – Sunday 10am-5pm (last entry 4:15pm). They are closed Monday and Tuesday.

Reservations are required, and advance reservations are strongly recommended. They accept arrivals within 30 minutes of your reservation time. For more information and reservations, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

We know houseplants are a great addition to our homes aesthetically, and they also clean the air of some rather toxic chemicals and produce oxygen. Unfortunately, many common houseplants can still be toxic for pets, and some are downright deadly. Here are some pet friendly houseplants that won’t make your pets ill if they happen to be curious and take a bite. Many are also easy for those of us not born with a green thumb!

Rattlesnake plants have interesting variegated green leaves with purple undersides. They grow great in low light and in loose, fast draining soil. Fertilize monthly during spring and summer. Water when soil is dry to the touch and spritz if leaves are looking dry. 

Parlor palms are nice full plants with many thin stalks and slim pointed leaves. They only need a few hours of indirect sunlight. They are naturally slow growers and will take several years to reach 3 or 4 feet tall. Keep them out of direct sunlight and keep their soil evenly moist. 

Spider plants are excellent for cleaning the air and are incredibly resilient. They love low light conditions and temperatures between 60-80 degrees. Direct sunlight burns their leaves, and cats especially love batting the babies, so maybe consider hanging them up. 

Ponytail palms are especially good for novice plant owners. They don’t need much water and only need to be fertilized 2-3 times per year. They grow from a rather thick based center stalk and have long curling leaves. They do need direct sun but, unlike most, thrive on benign neglect. 

Boston ferns are another plant that needs little maintenance and is also beautiful. Fertilize every two months and keep in a cool place with indirect light. They do however need high humidity, so keep their pot in a tray filled with pebbles and water. Mist them twice a week and keep their soil moist. 

Polka dot plants are so pretty with their green leaves and pink dots. They only grow to about ten inches, so they are good for small spaces. They love bright, indirect light and rather warm temperatures of 70-80 degrees. Feed monthly during the growing season and keep moderately moist. 

Bromeliad plants will give a tropical vibe to any open area with plenty of air flow and indirect light. They have blooms that will last a few months. Thoroughly water every one to two months, but also mist them often, especially in winter as they need humidity. 

The date palm is not only pet friendly and easy to care for, it will become the focal point in any room you choose. It needs bright, indirect sunlight. Keep it on the drier side and don’t overwater. 

Herbs like basil, rosemary and thyme are great kitchen herbs and are totally safe for pets to snack on. They love direct light, so a bright kitchen window is good. Water them regularly and harvest often. 

Friendship plants have velvety crinkled leaves, and their small growing habit makes them a good choice for a side table. They love moderate to bright indirect light. Allow soil to dry out in between waterings and keep drier in the winter. 

Check out aspca.org and search toxic plants around pets for a list of plants to keep away from our furry friends. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago