The Art Institute of Chicago,  111 S. Michigan Avenue, is a global icon in the world of art. But ask tourists and locals alike how you’d recognize the building in Chicago’s Loop, at the south end of Grant Park, and there’s one universal answer: 

“It’s the one with lions,” they’ll say.

Through the holiday season, the Lions are standing guard wreathed for the season in brilliant red and green. But those two lions have also celebrated every Bears Super Bowl victory, Chicago Sky championship, Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup championships, and Chicago Bulls championships with official logo helmets and face masks covering their majestic visages. 

Why Lions?

It started with a prominent animal sculptor named Edward Kemeys, and his  wife Laura, also a sculptor.  According to an Art Institute blog, Kemys and his wife came to Chicago in 1885, when the Art Institute decided to hold an exhibition of some of Kemeys’s small animal sculptures. They also were working on sculptures to be used at the 1893 Columbian Exposition, later the permanent home for the Art Institute on Michigan Avenue. 

During this period, Mr. and Mrs. Kemeys were approached by benefactor Mrs. Henry Field, who commissioned the animal sculptors to create the two Art Institute lions in memory of her husband. In May 1894, the bronze lions took their place on pedestals in front of the museum. 

Fun fact: The Art Institute of Chicago’s blog says the lion on the north pedestal is “on the prowl.” The other, “in an attitude of defiance” on the south pedestal was, according to the artist, “the most difficult I have ever attempted. The design called for two lions “to stand upon the flanks of the great external entrance stairway.”

And what happened to the Kemys? According to Wikipedia sources, they created other important works, including ‘Panther and Deer,’ and ‘Coyote and Raven.’ A colossal head of a buffalo for the facade of the station of the Pacific railroad at St. Louis, Missouri. Kemeys died in Washington, D.C., on May 11, 1907. He and his wife are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Free and lovely to look at 

As the Loop Business Alliance notes, The Art Institute of Chicago is the second largest art museum in the country, with a collection of approximately 300,000 works of art. But unlike most of the works of art in this renowned structure, the two-ton lions can be seen 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year…for free.  But don’t go further than the lion’s green-bronzed eyes after hours…no one knows what the night can do!  

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Yes, we are in the middle of the holiday season and who has time to even think about the New Year. But studies show that the most successful people always set out their goals for the year! It’s best to separate your business goals and your personal goals. Don’t forget the personal ones. For a balanced life we need to pay attention to our personal life also. 

To get serious about our goal setting we need to use a good formula. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym used to describe and formulate your goals. If we want to have goals that are attainable, we need to make sure our goals fit the S.M.A.R.T. system. 

S stands for specific. You can’t just say I want to lose weight, or I want more clients next year. Exactly how much weight? How many more clients? I want to work out more, how many times will you work out a week? The more specific you get will ensure that you will be successful. Many times, goals are too vague with no sense of direction. 

M stands for measurable. Instead of saying I want to make more money next year, put a number there. Weight loss, the same. Knowing your numbers here is important. Business wise especially. If you are in sales, how many connections do you need to make in order to procure a piece of business? Without a way to measure progress how can you tell you’re progressing?

A stands for attainable. Goals must be realistic. Of course, you want to challenge yourself but to state a goal that has little or no chance to be achieved sets you up for failure. Losing 20 pounds in January sounds great but not likely to happen. Remember, goals achieved quickly can be changed easily. Start out small. 

R stands for realistic. Realistic, as we have mentioned before. You need to think about whether that goal is reachable considering your resources. Most importantly, are you able to commit to achieving this goal? 

T stands for timely. Goals need to be time bound. Hear is where your small steps come in. You may want to lose thirty pounds this year but break it down to 2-3 pounds per month, which is the healthy way it can be attainable. Business goals need a deadline too. Monthly or quarterly, we need to assess how our plans are progressing. Adjustments can be made early before you get off track. 

Try to fit in a little goal setting during your holiday season. Start out small with some achievable goals and keep track. You will find out you can really improve your business and personal life with a little planning. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

As we inch closer to the Christmas holiday, there is no shortage of holiday activities to get you, your family, and friends in the spirit of the season!

Chicago’s multitude of holiday shows will not only entertain you but will most likely get you into the spirit of the season. Here are just a few –

A holiday tradition since its debut in 1978, A Christmas Carol has entertained millions of Chicagoans, both adults and children alike, for over four decades. This timeless tale of Scrooge and his voyage into Christmas past, present, and future can be seen at the Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn St.) in The Loop now through December 31^st. The music, the dance, the awe-inspiring effects that accompany the arrival of the ghosts, and the antics of Scrooge as he rediscovers the joy of Christmas Day will undoubtedly leave the audience with a thrilling experience that can only happen in a live theater performance!

Come and celebrate the magic of the season at the Lyric Opera House (20 N. Wacker Dr.) in the Loop with the production of The Nutcracker now through December 27^th. This annual holiday tradition shares the rich cultural heritage of Chicago as it is set against the backdrop of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition as Marie sets out on an unforgettable journey of sights, sounds, and enchantment performed by none other than the Joffrey Ballet!

Experience the enchantment of Christmas at A Magical Cirque Christmas this Saturday and Sunday at the CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) in The Loop.  The world’s greatest entertainers unite for the world’s greatest variety show featuring jaw-dropping, breathtaking circus acts as the audience is transported to the golden age filled with stunning costumes, extraordinary talent, and more! Plus, all your favorite carols will be sung with the assistance of incredible live musicians on stage. This family event will surely get you into the spirit of the season with lasting memories as well!!

Whether you’re just beginning your holiday shopping or need a last-minute gift, check out the Revolution Craft Holiday Show this Saturday (12 p.m.-6 p.m.) at Revolution Brewing (2323 N. Milwaukee Ave.) in the Logan Square neighborhood. This show is free to enter, offers hand-crafted goods from 40+ local artists, and provides a unique mix of crafts, beer from Revolution Brewing, and food trucks!

Journey into the ultimate holiday adventure at Jack Frost’s Winterfest at Goose Island (1265 W. LeMoyne Ave.) now through January 1, 2023. This outdoor winter extravaganza has something for all ages by offering a selection of nine fun-filled outdoor activities featuring a Christmas tree farm, ice skating, snow tubing, bumper cars, after-dark light display, photo ops, and much more! Stroll under 10,000 holiday lights with a festive drink in hand and dive into the seasonal fun offered here!!

A premier holiday destination for families is the Sparkle Light Festival held at Impact Field (9850 Balmoral Ave.) in Rosemont now through January 1, 2023, from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Come explore their five illuminated villages which include the Frozen Forest, Snowflake Circle, Winter Wonderland, the North Pole, and Deck the Walls. Additional attractions include winter tubing on the Alpine Slide and free train rides on the Holly Trolly. New attractions this year include Rudolph’s Kids Zone and a two-story ice slide! Plus, a special menu of festive food and beverages will also be available for purchase. All are sure to enjoy the evening with its breathtaking display of millions of holiday lights!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

The December clock is ticking down to the highest of holiday celebrations, and Chicago’s restaurants are going all out to make sure your celebrations are memorable and stress-free. Whether you’re celebrating Hannukah (starts Sunday, December 18), Christmas (Sunday, December 25) or Kwanzaa (Monday, December 26), there’s a place for you to celebrate time-honored traditions with friends and family!

 Oh Hanukkah, the sweet celebration (December 18-26)… 

Lincolnwood’s L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge, 7110 N. Lincoln Avenue, offers both Hanukkah and Christmas specials, but one spoonful of their Matzo Ball Soup, with a fluffy matzo ball surrounded by not-so-salty chicken broth, and you’ll be a believer for life! Follow that with their home-smoked braised brisket,  potato pancake, and green beans, and finish off with their gooey chocolate cake, and you’ve got a festive celebration! The meal is available a la carte for dine-in or carry-out. For more information, click here. 

In Uptown, Sam and Gertie’s,1509 W. Wilson, ‘Chicago’s First Vegan Jewish Deli ‘ is serving up “Tradition & Geshmak (delicious),” as their website proclaims. The deli features mostly Ashkenazic delights, including their Maccabee Feast, for Hannukah which includes noshes such as olives, pickles, chopped ‘Livah/Whitefish’less/Egg’Less Salad & Bagel Chips,’ Matzo Ball Soup with Challa Knot, Latkes (potato pancakes) with cran-orange applesauce and sour cream, followed by Brisket Cholent and Lentil Roast with mashed potatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and pineapple kugel. Leaveroom for the macaroons! To reserve your feast, or to order ala carte, click here. 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree… 

In River North, STK Steakhouse, 9 W. Kinzie Street,proclaims it’s “not your daddy’s steakhouse.” Indeed, it’s open on Christmas Day, which immediately sets it apart from most restaurants, which take the day off. Another way… their prime rib dinner is a feature on their ‘Holiday Cheers Menu,’ which includes wagyu beef , caviar, and many other ala carte delights. For reservations, click here. 

If you prefer Mediterranean specialties, another restaurant open Christmas Day is Cira, 200 N. Green Street. For starters, try Muhammara, withroasted red pepper, walnut and date, served with pita. Or awarm Piri Piri Spinach Artichoke, fragrantwithgarlic breadcrumbs, and toasted sesame sourdough. Then, to quote a recent Google reviewer, “The pistachio ravioli is to die for.” And it’s green, like Christmas! Must-try small plates include the Chilled Porchetta “Tonnato” with creamy tonnato sauce, mustard greens, and capers. Large plates include Fire Roasted Chicken Thighs, with pomegranate glaze, baby Yukon potatoes, bagna cauda, and pickled fresno, and Piri Piri Whole Dorade, with a citrus-herbed marinade, pickled peppers, and charred lemon. But save room for desserts like Apples & Almonds, with almond whip, honey crisp apples, spiced cider sherbet, and honey almonds. Or Salted Honey Budino, with brown sugar pears, candied hazelnut, and brown butter. So much more! For reservations, click here. 

Kwanzaa… “First fruits of the Harvest”

Kwanzaa honors African heritage in the African-American culture. Meaning ‘first fruits of the harvest’ in Swahili, the weeklong celebration devotes one day each to their seven core principles, known as Nguzo Saba. One of those principles is creativity (Kuumba), celebrated on Sunday December 31. Food counts! In Rogers Park,  Yinkres Nigerian Restaurant, 2407 W. Lunt Avenue, is highly rated for its fresh food and friendly service. Start with Oxtail Pepper Soup, with beef and oxtail marinated in a spicy pepper soup broth, Yam and Plantain, or Fried Broiled Yam with an Omelette. Several reviews mentioned the jollof rice with goat. “I’m obsessed,” said one recent Google reviewer. Literally THE BEST African food on the north side!” There’s no website available, but you can call them at 773-836-0451.

Another African spot worth noting is Irving Park’s Zebda, 4344 N. Elston Avenue. According to one Google reviews, Zebda is a “cozy and intimate family owned North African/Maghribi restaurant, featuring Algerian, Moroccan, and Tunisian cooking.” Another reviewer gushed over chicken kabob platter. The chicken was so flavorful, the rice was was great, also their sauces were amazing too. I would go back just for the sauces.” Again, no website, but call them at 773-545-7000.

Happy holidays to all! 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Think about all those past purchases that you’ve later regretted. And while you may have wasted your money on these items that were seldom used, they pale in comparison to the amount of money you’d be spending on a home. That’s one major purchase you definitely don’t want to suffer ‘buyer’s remorse’ from.

Buying property is likely the biggest investment you’ll ever make in life. It’s is an exciting thing, but it can also send you up the creek if you’re not careful.

If you’re a home-buying newbie, steer clear of the following common mistakes that rookies tend to make throughout the buying process. Your wallet will thank you.

Not Finding Out What Your Credit Score is

Your credit score plays a key role in whether or not a lender will say “yes” to your mortgage application. And even if you do get a stamp of approval, your credit score could affect the interest rate you get stuck with. The higher your score, the better. Generally, if your score is 700 and up, you’re looking at getting the lowest interest rate that the lender can offer, which can shave off thousands of dollars from your mortgage.

You’ll want to find out what your credit score is before you even look into getting a mortgage pre-approval. And that means getting your hands on a copy of your credit report. Chew on this fact – over 40 million credit reports have mistakes in them! And these mistakes can have a grave effect on the credit scores that Americans are walking around with. Catching these errors and disputing them before you apply for a mortgage can ensure that the interest rate you’re given accurately reflects your actual score.

So if you find any errors that could affect your credit score, make sure they’re fixed right away. Check your credit report at least three months before house hunting, and if you spot an error, kindly ask the credit bureau to fix it.

Not Visiting With a Mortgage Specialist

How will you know what you’ll be able to afford if you don’t get your finances in order and get pre-approved for a loan? Even if you’ve got a decent handle on your money, that doesn’t necessarily mean the bank will say “yes” to financing a certain purchase. There are a lot of factors that affect your mortgage application aside from just the listing price of the home.

Before you start pounding the pavement in search of a new house, it’s wise to get pre-approved for a mortgage first. While this doesn’t exactly guarantee that final approval will be granted, it’ll at least give you a specific price range to look within, and it’ll show the seller that you’re serious about buying and that you’ve done your due diligence.

If you’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage that would cover no more than a $600,000 home, there’s no point in looking in neighborhoods where the average home goes for $900,000+.

Falling in Love With a Home That You Haven’t Bought Yet

This is a biggie. Newbie homebuyers have a tendency of falling head-over-heels in love with a home while on the market prowl, only to wind up losing the home for whatever reason. This ends up leaving homebuyers heartbroken and jaded about the market, which does nothing put put a wrench in the process.

You may come across a home that you absolutely adore, but getting emotionally attached before you’ve even signed on the dotted line is a bad idea. What if there’s a bidding war and you lose out? What if you can’t get financing for the place? There are several reasons that could prevent you from snagging that prized possession, so keeping your emotions in check can is important.

Remember – there’s always going to be another house out there. The more homes you visit, the better.

Waiving the Home Inspection Clause

Even the home you’re thinking of buying is new-ish, it still needs to be inspected by a professional after you’ve signed a purchase agreement. You just never know what might be lurking up in the attic or in the plumbing pipes that you might not have noticed during your own inspection of the home.

New homebuyers might skip this step because they get emotionally attached to the property (see #1) and want the place no matter what. Maybe they’re competing with another interested buyer and want a clean contract to get the deal done. Whatever the case may be, waiving the home inspection is a bad idea.

This clause will help protect you should the inspector find something that would otherwise be a deal-breaker. You’re then legally able to walk away from the deal if something is found that you just can’t live with, or you can even ask the seller to fix the issue or drop the price in compensation. Don’t be afraid to include this clause, and speak up to get things fixed before you seal the deal.

Not Using an Agent

Just about everyone who’s looking for a home will look to the internet to search listings and see what’s out there. That’s fine and all, but when your search starts to get serious, there’s no substitute for a real live agent.

A good real estate agent will find homes that you won’t necessarily see advertised on the net. They’ve got the inside scoop on properties that might not even have hit the market yet. And aside from what the home is priced at and what it looks like, you’ll be able to get a lot more nitty gritty details about properties that the average joe won’t be able to find, such as recently sold comps, neighborhood walk scores, and so on.

You’ll be better armed at the negotiating table if you’ve got a professional real estate agent in your corner.

This last one is probably the biggest mistake you’ll want to avoid, as an agent will help prevent you from making the other blunders in the first place.

Jumping into the real estate market for the first time is exhilarating, and so it should be. But taking precautions is totally necessary if you want to avoid getting stuck in a money pit.