Are you tired of winter already and looking forward to the warmer months ahead?  Well, it just so happens that this weekend will offer you a brief reprieve from ‘ole man winter with the following events!

The 38^th annual Cubs Convention returns this weekend to the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers (301 E. Water St.) in the Streeterville neighborhood.  Get ready for an unforgettable winter weekend filled with fan-favorite activities which include autograph sessions and engaging panel discussions with Cubs legends, players, and coaches; exhibits such as the popular Archive Rooms; live Cubs Authentics auctions and memorabilia with items up for bid such as game-used jerseys, baseballs, bats, and more; player meet and greets; season ticket holder exclusive experiences; fan-favorites Cubs Bingo and Harry Carayoke presented by Budweiser; and much more!  Plus, new this year are Cubs Chats (learning firsthand from coaches), and Backyard Baseball (a nostalgic video game) where you will have a chance to compete against Cubs players.  In addition, the Cubs will also honor Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrating his life and legacy with a thoughtful conversation with alumni on Sunday.  Don’t miss this great opportunity to join your fellow Cubs fans at this action-packed weekend and let’s “play ball!”

The 3^rd annual NA Day, Chicago’s non-alcoholic tasting event, will offer two taste sessions (12 p.m.-2 p.m. & 3 p.m.-5 p.m.) this Saturday at the Loft on Lake (1366 W. Lake St.) in the West Loop.  This alcohol-free social gathering will showcase big name brands like Ritual Zero Proof, Seedlip, and others who will be offering a wide variety of non-alcoholic beers, wines, and spirits along with new and upcoming vendors at this growing sector of the beverage industry.  Whether sober, sober curious, cutting back, practicing dry, or trying something new, this event is open to everyone!

The West Loop’s restaurant PB&J: Pizza Beer & Jukebox (205 N. Peoria St.) will be hosting its Beer & Pizza Fest this Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  It’s an afternoon dedicated to the unbeatable combo of pizza and beer where attendees get to sample 15-20 beers and 5 different pizzas.  And, if you upgrade to a VIP ticket, you will have an extra hour (12 p.m.-1 p.m.) of beer tastings.  Whether you’re a beer enthusiast, a pizza lover, or both, this event will not disappoint!

Stephanie Izard, one of Chicago’s top chefs, has announced she will be hosting a fundraiser, the LA Fire Relief Brunch, at her West Loop restaurant, Girl & the Goat (809 W. Randolph St.) this Sunday (11 a.m.).  She will be teaming up with an incredible lineup of all-star chefs, which include Chicago chefs and Izard herself having LA connections, who will be serving up this brunch.  Best of all, ALL proceeds will go to the CA Wildfire Disaster & Relief Fund!

Need to get your kids to release their pent-up energy from being couped up too long?  It just so happens that the Harold Washington Library Center (400 S. State St.) in The Loop will be hosting a Family Fun Fest this Sunday (1 p.m.-4 p.m.).  It’s an open house celebration with winter play activities, music, art, and more for children of all ages and their families!  Registration is required.

This Saturday (9 a.m.-2 p.m.), the Rainbow PUSH Coalition National Headquarters (930 E. 50^th St.) in the Hyde Park neighborhood will be hosting a Day of Service and Learning Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..  This family-friendly, free event will feature a day-long resource fair, community service projects to participate in, breakout sessions, and more with Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., members of the Jackson Family, and the Rainbow PUSH coalition!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

“You will feel the warmth of relaxing on a sunny beach and the coziness of a mountain cabin in the comfort of Chicago”

Barcocina website

During the pandemic, restaurant-sponsored Igloos became the go-to for families to dine together in a safe, socially distanced setting. 

The concept proved so popular that some restaurants in Chicago have continued the tradition, where families can gather in a warm, cozy, elegantly appointed Igloo and enjoy a delicious brunch or dinner together.

One place that continues the tradition to this day is Barcocina, with locations in West Town and Lakeview. Barcocina fuses traditional Mexican cuisine and various multicultural cooking techniques into modern Mexican fare and a great experience for the entire family.

Igloos offer a family-friendly experience for groups of up to 15. For $75 per person, groups can sample four brunch, dinner, and drink items from their menus. 

Choose from such items as Barcocina Guacamole, with cotija cheese and pasilla balsamic reduction, Elotes Corn Salsa, with crema,  cojita cheese, and arbol chili. Street Corn Taco Salad has “grilled & chilled” corn, kale,  bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and cotija cheese, with chili powder and  santa fe dressing, served with tortilla.  Mexican Onion Soup has melted pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, and pico de gallo,  served in a taco bowl skillet.  

Tacos are the draw at Barcocina, and the chefs have some fun with incorporating other specialties into tacos. For example, Cheeseburger Tacos are made with gound beef,  smoked cheddar, and spicy pickles, served with mango ketchup, lettuce and tomato. Chicken Tinga has a fiery Jalapeno lime slaw and pickled onions. Greek Chicken has an herb marinade, feta cheese, and cucumbers. Bang Bang Shrimp is tempura-battered, with togarashi and sweet chili sauce. Pineapple Pork is made with raised pork shoulder, crema, and charred pineapple salsa. Tuna Poke has chilies, soy, and avocado, served in a wonton shell. 

Brunch options include their own Hangover Omelette, with your choice of chorizo or cactus,  tomato and onion,  jalapeno, and chihuahua cheese, topped with crema drizzle and pico de gallo. Sunny Side Toast has egg, avocado, capers,  scallions and tomatillo. For something sweeter, their S’mores French Toast isstuffed with nutella, and topped with graham crackers and torched marshmallows. Cornbread Benedict has a poached egg, smoked short rib, and covered with a spinach hollandaise.

Barcocina Chicago – West Town is located at 1814 W. Chicago Avenue, and Barcocina Chicago – Lakeview is at 2901 N. Sheffield Avenue.  

Lakeview’s hours are Monday – Thursday, 12pm -12am; Friday is 12pm -Close; Saturday from 11am – Close; and Sunday from 11am – 12am. 

Barcocino’s West Town hours are Monday – Thursday, 5pm – 12am; Friday from 12pm-Close; Saturday from 11am – Close, and Sunday from 11am – 12am. For information and reservations, click here.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Embark on a journey towards a more harmonious and simplified way of living with our exploration of effortless living and the art of streamlining your daily schedule. In a world filled with constant busyness and distractions, finding peace and balance amidst the chaos is a valuable pursuit. 

Discover how embracing mindfulness and presence can transform your everyday experiences, and learn how to overcome challenges to stay committed to a life of ease and balance. Join us on this transformative path towards effortless living, where less truly becomes more.

Understanding the Benefits of Simplifying Your Daily Schedule

Improving Overall Well-being through Simplification

Simplifying your daily schedule isn’t just about having more time for Netflix binges (although that’s a perk). It’s also about reducing stress, boosting mental clarity, and improving your overall well-being. By decluttering your calendar and focusing on what truly matters, you can pave the way for a more balanced and zen-like existence.

Enhancing Productivity and Efficiency

When you streamline your daily schedule, magic happens. Okay, maybe not magic, but you do become a productivity ninja. By cutting out time-wasting activities and honing in on what needs to get done, you’ll find yourself breezing through tasks like a pro. Say goodbye to that never-ending to-do list and hello to getting stuff done like a boss.

Strategies for Streamlining Your Daily Routine

Identifying Time-consuming Tasks and Processes

Let’s face it, we all have those tasks that seem to suck up more time than a black hole. Take a good look at your daily routine and pinpoint those time bandits. Once you identify them, you can come up with game plans to tackle them more efficiently and reclaim your precious minutes.

Implementing Time-saving Techniques and Tools

From fancy apps to good old-fashioned sticky notes, there are plenty of tools and techniques out there to help you streamline your daily grind. Whether it’s setting up reminders, creating time blocks, or outsourcing tasks, finding ways to save time can make a world of difference in how smoothly your day flows.

Prioritizing Tasks and Eliminating Time Wasters

Effective Prioritization Methods for Daily Tasks

Prioritizing tasks is like playing a game of Tetris with your to-do list. By figuring out what needs to be done first, what can wait, and what can be delegated (hello, intern), you can avoid the stress of feeling overwhelmed and ensure that the important stuff gets done without breaking a sweat.

Identifying and Eliminating Time-wasting Activities

We all have those sneaky time-wasting activities that creep into our day like uninvited guests. Whether it’s getting lost in a social media vortex or reorganizing your sock drawer for the fifth time this week, identifying these culprits is the first step to kicking them to the curb. Time to say goodbye to the vampires draining your precious minutes and hello to a more efficient and streamlined daily schedule.

Creating Habits for Sustainable Simplicity

Developing Daily Rituals and Routines

Incorporating simple daily rituals and routines can streamline your schedule and create a sense of structure. Whether it’s starting your day with a calming cup of tea or ending it with a reflective journal session, find habits that resonate with you and help simplify your life.

Cultivating a Minimalist Mindset for Long-term Simplification

Embracing a minimalist mindset involves valuing quality over quantity, decluttering physical and mental spaces, and focusing on what truly matters to you. By adopting this approach, you can create lasting simplicity in your life and prioritize the things that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Embracing Mindfulness and Presence in Everyday Life

Practicing Mindfulness Techniques for Increased Awareness

Mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation, can help increase your awareness of the present moment. By being mindful of your thoughts and feelings, you can navigate daily challenges with more clarity and calmness.

Fostering Presence and Engagement in Daily Activities

Engaging fully in your daily activities, whether it’s washing dishes or taking a walk, can bring a sense of fulfillment and joy to even the simplest tasks. By focusing on the present moment and immersing yourself in what you’re doing, you can cultivate a deeper connection to your surroundings and yourself.

Overcoming Challenges and Staying Committed to Effortless Living

Addressing Common Obstacles to Simplification

From procrastination to self-doubt, various obstacles can hinder your journey towards effortless living. By identifying these challenges and developing strategies to overcome them, you can stay on track and maintain a simplified lifestyle.

Maintaining Motivation and Consistency

Finding motivation and staying consistent in your efforts to simplify your life can be challenging. Celebrate small wins, seek support from friends or family, and remember why you started this journey in the first place. By staying motivated and consistent, you can embrace effortless living with ease.

Bottom-line

Embrace the power of simplicity, prioritize what truly matters, and cultivate a life rich in ease and balance. By committing to streamlining your schedule, practicing mindfulness, and overcoming challenges with resilience, you are paving the way for a more fulfilling and harmonious way of living. Here’s to a future marked by simplicity, presence, and the joy of effortless living.

“A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language”

W. H. Auden

Here’s a classic Chicago trivia question to start the new year: Who discovered poets Gwendolyn Brooks, James Merrill, and John Ashbery? 

The answer lies in the heart of Chicago’s Near North Side, at the Poetry Foundation, 61 W. Superior Street. The Poetry Foundation’s Library is the Midwest’s only library dedicated to poetry. 

As told by the Chicago Tribune, the $21.5 million, two-story structure is the home of the venerable Poetry Magazine, now over a century old, which advanced the careers of such luminaries as T.S. Eliot and Langston Hughes.  

The modern structure is full of the history of poetry, its relevance to today, and its everlasting impact on life itself. The ground floor houses an acoustically fine-tuned, 125-seat room for poetry readings and a non-circulating library whose volumes of poetry stand side by side on wood shelves, “like skinny soldiers,” according to the Tribune at its opening. There even is a ceremonial, visiting office for whoever happens to be America’s poet laureate. (NOTE: It’s currently Ada Limón, who began an historic second term in September 2023.)

Visitors may browse a collection of 40,000 volumes of poetry, experience audio and video recordings in private listening booths, and view exhibitions of poetry-related materials. In addition to providing public access to its collections in a reading room, the library hosts interactive workshops, programs, and book clubs to inspire a wider readership for poetry in people of all ages. 

History 

According to its website, Poetry Magazine was founded in Chicago by Harriet Monroe in 1912. 

Poetry Magazine is the oldest monthly journal devoted to verse in the English-speaking world. Harriet Monroe’s “Open Door” policy, outlined in volume one, remains the most succinct statement of Poetry’s mission: to print the best poetry written today, in whatever style, genre, or approach. In recent years, nearly half of the poets published in Poetry have been first-time contributors. 

Their website chronicles the long march of the poetry community to remain relevant in a digitally changing world. The 21^st Century version of the Poetry Foundation was established in 2003 after receiving a major gift from philanthropist and poetess Ruth Lilly. Back then, it was called the Modern Poetry Association, which was a literary organization founded in 1941 to support the publication of Poetry Magazine. 

Lilly’s gift allowed the Poetry Foundation to expand and enhance the presence of poetry in the United States and established an endowment that will fund the advancement of poetry for many generations through grants, awards, preserving the archives, and hosting events. 

Part of the Lilly bequest was used to build the Poetry Foundation structure. Designed by architect John Ronan, the building opened in 2011. It houses the poetry library, reading spaces, and free events, all open to the public, and provides office and editorial space for the Poetry Foundation and Poetry magazine staff.

Poetry Library

The library presents a wide selection of modern and contemporary poetry in English or translation. It includes original author works and rare volumes. It also includes representative samples of earlier eras, and includes a 3,000-volume children’s section. In addition to the reading room, there are listening booths for poet audio recordings and broadcasts related to poetry and interactive displays. 

Upcoming Event 

On Monday, January 13, from 6pm-8pm, author Maggie Queeney will present ‘Forms & Features: Fear & Failure,’ a generative poetry workshop for adults 18 and older, exploring how fear and failure shape our creative practices. Participants will read and discuss a wide variety of texts and poems before composing poems of their own.  Many other events are scheduled for the month of January. The Foundation hosts several events a month for amateur and professional poets, and can be found by clicking here. 

The Poetry Foundation is open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 11am–5pm, and on Thursday from 11am-6pm.  They are closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. For more information, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

We all want to de-clutter and downsize. We are tired of looking at things that don’t bring purpose into our lives. But, sometimes emotional reasons keep us from taking any real action. Studies have found that those who hang onto a lot of household objects have more of the stress hormone cortisol. Here are some suggestions from professional organizers to finally deal with all that “stuff”:

Rethink your relationship to your stuff. Instead of thinking about how much you love something, think about how well it serves your life. Don’t give away precious physical or mental real estate to things you don’t use. Yes, you may love that sweater, but have you worn it in the last year? Trash, recycle or donate!

Try “clear 10” — then do it again. Take half an hour to gather up 10 items you haven’t used in a long time. Don’t think, just toss! Categories don’t matter, volume does. Yesterday I threw out 5 beauty products I haven’t used in ages. Then 5 utensils out of the junk drawer. It can be tough but I’m sure we all could find 10 things to toss that we don’t need. Even the best professional organizers can have a hard time. 

Practice the “one comes in, one comes out” method. This is especially important for folks who live in a small space. When you bring something in it has to have a space to live. This will help you when you find yourself impulse buying. If you have to think first, “what am I going to get rid of to bring this in?” –  it will curb some of those mindless purchases. Try not to order online. It’s way too easy to buy without thinking. 

Schedule your organizing time. Consider these as important as any work appointment. Pick out a few hours to file paperwork and pay bills, taking care of business. Another day can be your home day. 2 hours to tackle a closet or pantry. Set a time limit. The task seems less daunting if you know you’ll be done in a few hours. You’ll be surprised how the time flies. Not done? Stop and finish at the next home appointment or keep going to finish, your choice. 

Staying organized doesn’t mean being perfect. It’s about finding systems and ways that work for you. It can get emotional, but the effort is worth it. Make your living space work for you, not the other way around.

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago