Remember, summer is short lived here in Chicago!  So, when we have a weekend that’s going to be a “Fest Full” one, we better take advantage of it!!  Here’s what it looks like.

The grills are being fired up for the Midwest’s best Patty Party!  Returning for its 16^th mouth-watering year, the Roscoe Village Burger Fest sets up at 2000 West Belmont Avenue at Damen Avenue this Saturday and Sunday (11 a.m.-10 p.m.).  This annual celebration of succulent, beef patty cuisine offers grilled creations from local restaurants as well as two stages of live music, an action-packed Kids’ Zone, and arts & crafts.  Plus, the most popular burger will earn the Visitors’ Choice Award so don’t forget to vote for your favorite!

Another rollicking street festival returns to Chicago Avenue between Wood Street and Damen Avenue for West Fest Chicago this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) in the West Town neighborhood.  This Fest features food vendors, food trucks, local restaurants, local artists/retail vendors, and a musical lineup provided by Empty Bottle Presents.  Plus, there are two fests within the main fest.  The first is a Kid Fest (12 p.m.-7 p.m.) featuring pony rides, bounce houses, train rides, and it even comes with its own vendors and live entertainment stage!  The second is a Pet Fest (12 p.m.-6 p.m.) featuring a dog obstacle course, pet retail and services booths, paw painting, and various pet related demonstrations!

The Southport Corridor (West Waveland and North Southport Avenues) is hosting its Southport Art Fest this Saturday (10 a.m.-9 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-7 p.m.) steps away from the Music Box Theatre and Wrigley Field in the Lakeview neighborhood.  This annual Fest features an assorted mix of fine art from some of Chicago’s best and most diverse artists in a wide range of art mediums, shopping at Southport Avenue stores, and food and drink specials at local restaurants.  Guests can also bring their children as a special Kids’ area will be packed with interactive games and activities for their enjoyment!

A nice music and craft beer street fest known as the Square Roots Festival takes place this Saturday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.-9 p.m.) at 4700 North Lincoln Avenue and Leland Avenue in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.  This Festival offers a great lineup of live music, local restaurants and vendors, family fun, and the best craft beer showcase of any of Chicago’s other street fests!

All are welcome to the Edgewater Greek Fest this Saturday (3 p.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church (5649 N. Sheridan Rd.).  They’ll be serving up authentic Greek food as well as featuring Greek music and a performance from ‘80s cover band The Breakfast Club, Greek dancing, and fun and games for the kids!  Come and experience some Greek hospitality!!

It’s time again to pull out your lawn chairs and load up on snacks for the Chicago Park District’s 2023 Movies in the Parks with dozens of free movie screenings from June through September at neighborhood parks across the city!  Here’s this Saturday’s line-up all beginning at 8:30 p.m.:

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” – Dvorak Park (1119 W. Cullerton St.) in Pilsen
“Minions: The Rise of Gru” –Humboldt Park (1440 N. Humboldt Blvd.) in Humboldt Park
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” –Loyola Park (1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.) in East Rogers Park

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

For a new Chicago sports star, there’s one question that’s always asked in their introductory press conference:  

“Hot dog or deep dish?” They asked Chicago Blackhawks’ 2023 #1 pick Conor Bedard. 

“Probably the pizza,” Bedard told YahooSports. “I think I hear a lot about the deep dish here, so I’m excited to give that a try.”

I rarely recommend multiple-unit restaurants of any kind, always feeling that Mom-and-Pop restaurants are a better representation of our city. 

But Lou Malnati’s is an exception, because Lou was a real Chicago person, and ever since I tried the pizza while going out to lunch with my girlfriends on my first job, Lou’s family has kept my family happy with their buttery, crunchy, cornmeal crust, flavorful, original combinations, and most importantly, attentive service. Its original spot in Lincolnwood served as the locale for one of my “big” birthday parties, and their party packages fed and watered nearly 50 people, ages three to 80! 

As their website notes, Lou Malnati’s is considered the oldest family name in Chicago pizza. Lou Malnati got his start in the 1940’s working in Chicago’s first deep dish pizzeria. He was the son of Rudy Malnati, who was instrumental in developing the recipe for Chicago-style pizza. In the 1950s, they co-managed Pizzeria Uno. As the website, says, he took his pizza expertise to Lincolnwood, a northern suburb of Chicago, where he and his wife Jean opened the first Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria on March 17, 1971. 

“Lou was known for his fun-loving character as well as making Chicago’s best pizza,” says the website. “Lou always thought it was funny that an Italian should open a pizzeria in a Jewish neighborhood on an Irish holiday, but that was just Lou’s style.” 

Today, they’re still a family-owned business, 52 years later. 

The Malnatis were innovators in business as well, pioneering the concept of sending pizzas nationwide through its Tastes of Chicagoshipping business. Mr Bedard might be well-advised to try their Garrett’s Popcorn and Pizza Combo, in a Chicago Blackhawks tin. And maybe, send one to his family in Vancouver, British Columbia! 

If you’re new to Lou’s, I recommend his namesake pizza, The Lou. Imagine this…a spinach mix (enhanced with garlic, basil & onion), mushrooms and sliced Roma tomatoes, covered with three cheeses, on a garlic Buttercrust™. Or, Deep Dish Malnati Chicago Classic,™ made with Lou’s lean sausage, extra mozzarella cheese and vine-ripened tomato sauce on Buttercrust™, which is one of my brother’s favorites. My mother swears by their Thin Crust Spinach, with vine-ripened tomato sauce, topped with spinach mix (enhanced with garlic, basil & onion) and mozzarella cheese. 

For those who’d rather have pasta, Lou Malnati’s comes through with Penne Ala Malnati, which pairs cream and Romano cheese, folded into meat sauce, then  topped with baked mozzarella. Their Lasagna has layers of spinach and three cheeses topped with your choice of meat or marinara sauce.

Paired with a Malnati Salad, it’s a meal fit for a training table for any Chicago athlete. The Malnati Salad boasts of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, mushrooms, Volpi salami bits and gorgonzola cheese with sweet vinaigrette and romano cheese.  

But leave room for Malnati’s Chocolate Obsession, a decadent melange featuring luscious layers of thin brownie, fluffy mascarpone chocolate mousse, and chocolate ganache. Or their Tiramisu, with ladyfinger cookies soaked in espresso, layered with mascarpone cheese and topped with cocoa powder.

Lou Malnati’s has 59 locations, and there’s one near you in virtually every Chicago neighborhood. For locations, reservations, and information,click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Small spaces certainly pose a set of design challenges, but there are plenty of savvy decor tactics that can be employed to make a room seem larger than it actually is, while keeping it stylish at the same time.

Here are some creative ways to decorate your home to make it appear bigger if it’s short on square footage.

Declutter

Too many knick-knacks in a tight space will make it feel even tighter. Get rid of anything that you haven’t used in over 6 months. You might have an affinity for all your little figurine collections or like to have stacks of magazines available at your discretion, but too much “stuff” in a room will make it feel smaller.

Light Color Floors and Walls

Darker colors tend to be rich and sophisticated, but they don’t often work in large amounts in smaller spaces. Go for lighter colors on your walls and floors so that light is reflected rather than absorbed, creating a sense of more space.

Keep the Flooring Consistent

If your living and dining area are linked, make sure to keep the same flooring throughout. Breaking it up with hardwood in the living room and ceramic tiles in the kitchen will just cut the space in half, which does nothing for visually expanding the space.

Ceiling Height Shelving

Adding a wall bookcase or floating shelves that extend all the way up to the ceiling can help create the illusion of more space. This helps generate a focal point that draws the eyes upward and visually expands the area by pushing the ceiling and walls out.

Multi-Functional Furniture

A small room obviously doesn’t have the luxury of housing a variety of furniture. As such, try to find pieces that serve double-duty. For instance, an ottoman that also acts as a coffee table can serve more than one purpose without having to outfit your room with two separate pieces that will take up extra space.

Scale Down Your Furniture

Furniture that’s sleeker and less bulky will make the room look larger.  Instead of a puffy sofa with a skirt, for instance, a thinner sofa with exposed legs that offers the same amount of seating is perfect for a smaller room.

Lots of Mirrors

Mirrors obviously have reflective properties, which can be harnessed to reflect light all around a room and make it seem bigger. Hang your mirrors across from windows or lights so that they can more effectively allow the light to bounce off them and illuminate the surrounding space.

‘Float’ Your Furniture

If the space permits, try pulling your furniture away from the walls a few inches. Lining up your sofas and chairs against the walls will only make the room seem tight.

Natural Lighting

The less obstructed your windows are, the more natural light will be allowed in. If you want some privacy, you can always hang blinds that can be drawn up when not required. These offer more versatility compared to curtains, which tend to make the room feel cramped.

Color With Consistency

Creating harmony in a space can be done by using two different shades of the same color. For instance, a leather sofa can be effectively paired with off-white throw pillows to create coherence and make a room feel much more open and airy.

“Imagine… if every child, family and community could achieve their highest and best purpose in life because that one single life story inspired them.”

Walt Disney House and Museum website 

From Steamboat Willie to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to The Little Mermaid remake, the name Disney has always meant something special to the wide world of entertainment. 

It all started with the dream of a young boy named Walt Disney, who was born in Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood at 2156 W. Tripp, on December 5, 1901. 

Perhaps the creative gene came from his parents. His mother Flora drew up the architectural plans, and his father Elias built the two-story, 18 x 28 foot wood cottage in 1893.

Disney, according to Wikipedia sources, was their fourth and youngest son. Aside from Walt, Elias and Flora’s sons were Herbert, Raymond and Roy; and a fifth child, Ruth, was born in December 1903.

“A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes”

According to the blog ‘The Disney Classics,‘ Disney developed an early interest in drawing. He took art classes as a boy and drew cartoons for the newspaper at McKinley High School. drawing patriotic pictures about World War I. According to Walt Disney.org, in the most serious of times, everyone could rely on Walt, a prankster, to lighten the mood. He said, “My mother had a terrific sense of humor. My dad was sort of straight-laced and very slow to catch on to a gag, a joke—but when he did, he would laugh until he had tears in his eyes.”

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It’s Off To Work You Go

The Disney family left for Missouri, where Elias ran newspaper routes and employed his sons to deliver the newspapers year-round, which took a toll on Walt’s health and schooling. They moved back to Chicago when Elias got a job at The O-Zell Soda Company. 

When Walt was in high school, according to the website, Elias couldn’t understand his son’s ambitions, but he agreed to pay for Walt’s extracurricular art classes at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.

Once he got his first job as an animator, it was the catalyst that set off his dream of opening his own studio. 

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

According to Wikipedia sources, Disney and his brother Roy opened Laugh-O-Gram Studios in Missouri. Before Disney created Mickey Mouse, he made Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Then, Disney lost the rights to Oswald. The loss of his first character inspired the birth of the Mouse. Disney got the inspiration from a tame mouse at his desk. Disney altered Oswald’s appearance and created a new character that he named Mortimer Mouse; at the urging of his wife, Lillian, every bit the creative partner that his mother was for Elias, Disney rechristened him Mickey Mouse.  Fromhis first silent film, Plane Crazy, in 1928, to 1940’s Fantasia, the mouseinspired hundreds more Disney characters and became an icon known the world over. 

The rest…Disneyland, Disney World, the Disney Channel, the Mickey Mouse Club, Bambi, Mary Poppins, Old Yeller, and multiple multibillion-dollar enterprises, as they say, is Disney magic.  

Your Heart Will Lead You Home

While Walt was making Disney magic in Los Angeles, the two-story cottage in Hermosa remained an unmarked single-family home. In 1991, according to the home’s website, Chicago attempted to designate the property as a historical landmark but the owner fought the designation and won, putting the home at risk of demolition.

Dina Benadon and Brent Young purchased the home on Tripp for $169,000 in 2013 and turned it into a heritage site, and it became a historical landmark, according to an article in Business Insider.

They bought the home after hearing through their jobs working on theme-park animations that the property had fallen into disrepair.

“It was very sad to us because this is a part of very important history in our country,” Benadon told Chicago ABC affiliate ABC 30 Action News in 2018.

As the Insider notes, a grant from the Walt Disney Company and crowdsourced funding helped restore the home to its original state.

The Future’s In My Hands

While the museum is not open for touring just yet, they do host annual, free Creativity Days, a community block party and arts festival, in late June. They also host holiday celebrations on Walt Disney’s birthday, December 5. 

Co-presented with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and the Hermosa Neighborhood Association, Creativity Days is an important part of The Walt Disney Birthplace’s long-term goal of supporting arts education for children. 

At Walt’s 121^st birthday party in 2022, the YMCA of Chicago tweeted “We had a blast celebrating Walt Disney’s 121st birthday at the @WDBirthplace on Dec. 5! It was a fun-filled evening of special guests, treats, and a community gathering to celebrate limitless creativity and imagination!” 

Walt, who died in 1966 at the age of 65, would be proud.  For more information, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

The term was coined by a psychologist in 1971 named Wayne E. Oates who described it as “an uncontrollable need to work incessantly” as an addiction. We of course would associate this with working long hours but the two don’t necessarily go hand in hand. You can work long hours without being obsessed with work. There are people that barely work 45 hours or so that are unable to detach from work and would be considered workaholics. 

Workaholics often have a higher RMS (Risk for Metabolic Syndrome). This is a reliable gauge of one’s risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Researchers have found that the number of hours worked was not an indication but being a workaholic was. The inability to psychologically detach from work goes together with anxiety, stress, depression, and sleep problems. Stress can literally become chronic. Elevated stress hormones can increase cortisol which can raise blood pressure. When stress is removed the body goes back to regular set points. Chronic stress resets those points to higher than normal hence the danger of a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Even people who love their work are at risk of a high RMS. Just because you love your work doesn’t mean you are unable to disengage but the risk is slightly lower than those who hate their work. Although both are bad even a small difference in risk is important. Being aware of workaholism is part of the battle. Realize that the number of hours worked does not make you a workaholic. It’s necessary to fully disengage from work. Off time is off. 

Managers can help employees find motivation and can provide support. Reduce red tape and other barriers. Provide ample resources, with autonomy and feedback. Help with time management skills, with weekly and long-term goals. Family and friends can work to provide real and emotional support at home.  

Ultimately, the challenge for everyone is to identify if we have a compulsive work mentality and how to prevent the consequences associated with it. We all need to have the ability to switch off so we can have rich and healthy lives. At work and at home too. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago