Believe it or not, autumn has officially arrived this past Thursday and it’s the last weekend of September already!  But, there’s plenty of events throughout Chicago’s various neighborhoods this weekend to help us embrace our new season!!

Chicago’s upbeat jazz scene will be prominently featured this weekend during the 16^th annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival dedicated to the city’s most critically acclaimed artists along with nationally and internationally recognized talent.  This remarkable free festival will be presented on 11 stages with over 34 bands in a variety of settings throughout the Hyde Park neighborhood (South Woodlawn Avenue and Midway Plaisance) for over 18 hours of free, nonstop jazz performances! Come celebrate jazz’s great legacy and bright future on Chicago’s South Side. Afterall, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival is the essence of a first-class festival!!

Celebrate in the streets at Goose Island’s annual end-of-summer 312 Block Party on the pavement outside of its Fulton Street Brewery (1800 W. Fulton St.) on the Near West Side. Wrapping up this Saturday (gates open at 4 p.m.), this year’s event brings together a stacked lineup of performers for some great music, some great food vendors such as Goose Island Clybourn Pub, Harold’s Fried Chicken, Yum Dum and more, plus a great lineup of $5 beers! I’d say it’s time to party!!

Returning for its 19^th year of seasonal revelry this Saturday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.-7 p.m.) is the St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest taking place in and around St. Alphonsus Church (1429 W. Wellington Ave.) in the Lakeview neighborhood.  This autumn fest features Bavarian foods along with the requisite selection of suds, brats, and pretzels; craft beer tasting (separately ticketed); two stages of Bavarian music and cover bands; and the family friendly KinderFest! As they say, bring on autumn and pull out the lederhosen!!

Check out Chicago Gourmet’s new addition to its four-day slate of programming and events, Prost! In The Park this Sunday (1 p.m.-4 p.m.) on the rooftop of the Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph St.) in The Loop.  This newest event brings a German flair inviting local chefs to go “überboard” with riffs on classic German delights and is hosted by Monteverde’s chef Sarah Grueneberg. There will also be plenty of fun cocktails for your sipping pleasure, foamy steins of beer, and oom-pah bands!  It’s sure to be a can’t miss event!!

The 2nd annual Oktober-Family-Fest returns to The Northman Beer & Cider Garden (233 E. Riverwalk) in The Loop this Sunday (12 p.m.-5 p.m.). Live music kicks off at noon along with face painting, balloon twisting, and a craft and go table! And of course, plenty of Oktoberfest food and drinks for the entire family!!

Come and enjoy this weekend’s Randolph Street Market Festival at Plumbers Hall (1341 W. Randolph St.) in the West Loop. It’s one of Chicago’s Top Festivals with continuous live music, great foods, sensational treasures, and is a mecca shopping experience for interior designers, Hollywood set decorators and many others. This event is both indoors and outdoors (rain or shine) with over 200 vendors offering art, antiques, vintage, global goods and more!  After a three-year hiatus, it’s time to hunt for those new and old treasures again!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

“To think like a wise man, but to express oneself like the common people.

Lady Gregory’s motto (taken from Aristotle) 

There’s some interesting history behind Andersonville’s Lady Gregory’s Irish Restaurant and Bar, an upscale farm-to-table bar, with a large beer and whiskey menu, served in a ‘traditional’ Irish pub.

According to an archived Chicago Reader story, the restaurant endured a fire three weeks before its opening in 2011, and undaunted, owner Martin Cournane rebuilt the space, proving himself every bit as resilient as the Galway-born Lady Gregory, an author and co-founder of the Irish Literary Theatre and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Cournane pays tribute on the restaurant’s cozy, bookshelf-lined walls laden with books. 

Cournane described the menu to The Reader as “approachable gastrofare.” Well, that’s true. The American-Irish menu is heavy on traditional gastropub offerings as burgers, mac and cheese, and sandwiches, but pays homage to its Irish roots with entrees like Shepherd’s Pie, made with angus sirloin, carrots, potatoes, peas, herbs, beef gravy, and mashed potato, with a parmesan cheese crust. Other hearty offerings include a Chicken Pot Pie with roast chicken, onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, peas, chicken cream gravy, tucked in a pastry crust.

All can be washed down with a selection of 200 Irish whiskeys. 

Lady Gregory’s vegetarian and gluten-free patrons also have many delectable selections. Curried Veggie Pot Pie pairs cauliflower with mushroom, red potato, broccoli, squash and tomato. Or, try the Buddha Bowl, long grain brown rice with broccoli, baby bok choy, red peppers, kale, edamame, bean sprouts, and peanut glaze. 

Their separate gluten-free menu offers Fish and Chips, with crisp fresh haddock, and tartar sauce, served with gluten-free chips and slaw, and a Grilled Scottish Salmon, with a lemon beurre blanc, and served with asparagus and mashed potatoes.

Sandwiches and burgers, served with fries, includes a Blackened Chicken Club, with Swiss cheese, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, onion, and herb mayonnaise on Tuscan bread.Their Ultimate Grilled Cheese (with bacon) pairs four cheeses –swiss, sharp white cheddar, mozzarella, and brie, with roasted tomato concasse, crispy fried onions, candied bacon confetti, served on parmesan-crusted sourdough bread. Lady Gregory’s Impossa Burger isall-natural all-veggie, vegan bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, daiya cheddar, and their special “impossa” sauce. Their Hatch Kick-Ass Burger hasAmerican cheese, hatch green chile, grilled onions, and Marie Rose sauce. 

Google reviews are generally good, with a 4.5 rating. As one wrote, “The vibe and the foods were good. The grilled cheese was fantastic, with the perfect crisp from the bacon, some sweetness from the jam and abundant cheese over the whole thing. Shepherds pie is delicious too with the melted cheese over smash potatoes. Skillet cookie and ice cream was the highlight for this meal as the cookie is just so good. However, they require a 2.9% transaction fee if you’re using a card, so consider paying with cash.”

Lady Gregory’s Irish Bar & Restaurant is located at 5260 N. Clark Street. They are open Monday-Wednesday from noon– 10:30pm, Thursday from noon– 11pm, Friday and Saturday from noon-11:30pm, and Sunday from 11am– 10:30pm. For reservations, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

When it comes time to sell your home, take a close look around and see if your place has the goods that buyers are looking for. Considering the magnitude and expense of such a purchase, buyers want to fall in love with the home they plan to buy, and certain characteristics can help make that happen.

It might be worth your while to add or upgrade features in your home to help attract more buyers, and thereby draw in more offers.

Here are 6 features in a home that buyers look for before making an offer.

Open Concept Layout

Newer homes offer spacious floorplans and soaring ceilings that older homes simply don’t have. Homeowners love to be able to entertain guests and converse with them no matter where they happen to be, and parents love the idea of being able to see their kids from every angle of the living space. An open concept layout is a must-have for situations like these.

Eat-In Kitchen

Just about every buyer expects to see an eat-in kitchen when they’re searching for a new home, especially if they’ve got kids. The kitchen is the hub of the home and is much more than just a space to prepare meals. If your kitchen doesn’t currently have the space for a table and chairs, you might be able to create this space by removing a wall rather inexpensively, as long as there is no additional repair work that has to be done.

Garage Storage Space

Storage is often a huge issue for homebuyers, especially those with growing families. Of course, smart indoor storage options are critical, which include walk-in closets and oversized linen closets. However, added garage storage space is a bonus, especially when it comes to storing larger items, such as Christmas trees, lawn furniture, and large tools. This added space helps to cut down on the clutter inside the home and is just a few feet away for easy access.

Spacious Laundry Room

Homebuyers want a laundry room that’s not just conveniently located, they also want it to be spacious enough that they can do all the pre-washing, folding, and ironing all in one space. Having a space like this can help keep the mess out of your bedroom or living space, and prospective buyers will see that as a major advantage.

If you don’t currently have an existing laundry room, you don’t necessarily have to create an addition to get one. The basement is typically the easiest place to put one and can cost as little as $1,000 to create.

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood flooring offers a more modern, clean look compared to other flooring options. It’s durable, easy to maintain, and doesn’t induce allergies like carpeting can. Good quality hardwood can last a lifetime and can be easily refinished every so often to achieve a new look. Buyers have come to expect hardwood in the homes they plan to purchase, so if your home currently has dated flooring, you might want to consider installing hardwood. The cost to install 120 square feet of hardwood is approximately $1,400, which you can easily recoup come sale time.

Energy Efficiencies

Homebuyers are much more environmentally conscious these days, and anything that they can do to contribute to the health and protection of the planet is a welcomed idea. One of the most effective ways to minimize their carbon footprint on the earth is having a home that operates much more efficiently. In particular, energy efficient appliances and windows can help to significantly reduce wasted energy, and even slash utility bills. The combination of saving the planet saving money is something that just about every buyer finds extremely attractive.

When you’re thinking about selling your home, it’s helpful to understand exactly what buyers are looking for. If your home is currently not equipped with any of these highly coveted features, you might want to consider making a few upgrades to your home before listing it for sale. Done right, they could increase the value of your property and allow you to command more money when you sell. Just make sure you seek out the advice from an experienced real estate agent to make sure the changes you plan on making will bring you the return on investment you’re looking for.

Lakeview is often known as “the community where Wrigley Field lives,” but in actuality, it’s so much more!  

Bordered by West Diversey Parkway on the south, West Irving Park Road on the north, North Ravenswood Avenue on the west, and the shore of Lake Michigan on the east, according to Choose Chicago, Lakeview is also known as a go-to for arts and culture. You’ll find a thriving theatre, dance, and comedy scene. This includes the decades-long performance of Blue Man Group. Additionally, the Belmont Theater District is home to more than 20 theatres offering musicals, dramas, and family-friendly shows The Music Box Theater is home to classic and current cinema, hosting annual events like ‘Sing-Along Christmas.’  On the east end of Lakeview is DuSable Lake Shore Drive and the magnificent lakefront of Lake Michigan, home to beaches, Belmont Harbor, paved lakefront paths, and all forms of beach sports (volleyball, etc.)

It’s also a residential mecca for families and dogs. And for that, Lakeview is also known as the home of Wiggly Field Dog Park, at 2645 N. Sheffield Avenue, established in 1997. 

As one local site notes, Wiggly Field was the city’s first official dog park, and is located in Noethling Playlot Park. Within the fenced-in, tree-laden path, pooches can enjoy dog-sized wading pools, a doggie drinking fountain, and commiserate with their neighborhood companions, or enjoy some solo play in a zoned-off area. As its Wikipedia site says, it’s “one of the most popular and well known of Chicago’s dog parks, and has been featured on Animal Planet’s show ‘K-9 to 5,’ in Chicago Magazine, InStyle, Bark Magazine, and Chicagoland Tails.”

Their operations, maintenance, cleanup and events are overseen by Wrightwood’s Wiggly Field Advisory Council. 

Reviews of Wiggly Field mostly go like this on Google:

“Fun park and usually dogs there. There’s also a zoned off area in case you and your dog need to use it solo at any point. (Timeout, or play with a new toy).”

And at Wrigley Field this week…

Movies at Gallagher Way ends its summer run with the Freddie Mercury biopic, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ on Wednesday, September 21. Gates open at 6pm and the movie begins at 7:30pm. According to their website, guests are encouraged to bring carry-out food from Gallagher Way restaurants, such as Big Star tacos or Smoke Daddy. For tickets and more information, click here.  

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

We all have minor annoyances that plague us every day. You are late to a meeting because there was an accident on the expressway. You forget your phone and miss your train. The Wi-Fi goes out just as you need to be on an important Zoom meeting. We think of these happenings as part of everyday life and rather innocuous. But experts say these “micro-stressors” can be a big problem. They disrupt our lives and can make you feel powerless and drained. Low-level stress can add up to feelings of anxiety and even depression. It can impact your health and immunity, which isn’t good with nasty viruses hanging around. Doctors have noticed that during the pandemic people did manage the big stress in their lives, but let the minor things get them down. 

To the outside world these micro-stressors may seem trivial, people may actually think you have anger issues, but it is just the accumulation of all these minor things taking their toll. Of course, you also won’t get the same support you would receive with major stress like losing a job, but the effects on your health can be just as bad. Nobody is going to send flowers if you have a bad commute. So, we soldier on and don’t mention these minor stresses.

So, how do we cope with these micro-stressors? Acknowledge these moments and think of why they bother you. All situations are different as to how we deal with it. The way you feel about these stressors could have to do with how you are feeling physically in the moment. Are you eating well? Are you well rested? Sometimes we tend to do the opposite of what we need to do when stressed. We work through lunch. We cancel dinner plans. We exercise less. These stressors can lead to bad decision making. Drinking, junk food, and simply hiding yourself away is exactly the wrong way to deal. 

So, stay fortified to prevent bad reactions to stress. Eat a good diet. Get daily exercise, especially outside as we talked about last week. Get enough good sleep. Realize and acknowledge these stressors as they come up. Stay healthy and aware. You too can be that type of person that just lets these minor annoyances slip away rather than letting them stick and ruin your health and life.  

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago