This July 4^th Holiday, celebrations will continue all weekend long with a variety of exciting events.  Are you ready for some long-awaited relaxation and fun?  If so, this weekend belongs to you!

NASCAR returns to the streets of Chicago for the third installment of the Chicago Street Race Weekend on Saturday (9 a.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (9 a.m.-5 p.m.).  The pulse-pounding action of NASCAR will once again bring the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series to the streets of downtown Chicago on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course in a festival-like atmosphere.  A ticket not only offers you two action-packed races, but it also allows you to enjoy fan-favorite experiences at Festival Field like the Freestyle Motocross Show.  In addition, Sunday-only ticket holders will have the opportunity to attend the Busch Light Summer Music Series on Saturday evening about one hour after the Xfinity Series ends with a live performance by multi-platinum, Grammy® Award-winning, Southern rock group the Zac Brown Band.  Whether you have a ticket for Sunday to attend the Saturday evening music series or not, this street race event is still a must-see family-friendly experience not to be missed!

In addition to the regular twice-a-week summer fireworks at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood, the Navy Pier Fireworks display for the July 4^th holiday will instead be held on Saturday at 10:00 p.m.  Once again, this annual spectacle will be set to patriotic music, and you can either catch this fireworks display along the nearby lakefront, at beaches, rooftop bars, parks, or on one of the many boat cruises available at the Pier!

Nothing says July 4^th like a good ‘ole BBQ!  Check out Somerset Patio’s Independence Day BBQ on Saturday (2 p.m.-5 p.m.) located at the Viceroy Hotel (1112 N. State St.) in the Gold Coast neighborhood.  Enjoy an elevated BBQ featuring chef-driven takes on cookout favorites along with chilled summer drinks for a relaxed holiday vibe.  Plus, new this year, is a complimentary cotton candy machine for some summertime nostalgia that’s fun for all ages.  Come surround yourself with great food and good company!

Up for a live sporting event?  We’ve got you covered as the Chicago Cubs will be wrapping up their series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday (1:20 p.m.) and Sunday (5:10 p.m.) at the Friendly Confines (1060 W. Addison St.) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood.  Come cheer on your Cubs and let’s send those red birds on their merry way with loses!  Or you can see the Chicago Dogs play the Kane County Cougars on Saturday (6 p.m.) at Impact Field (9850 N. Balmoral Ave.) in Rosemont for their Chicago Dogs Elvis Night as they pay tribute to the King of Rock-N-Roll with a pre-game performance — costumes are encouraged.  Afterwards, catch the post-game fireworks!

Here’s a link for other suggestions to enjoy your July 4^th Weekend in Chicago!

Have a Very Happy & Safe Fourth of July Weekend!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

On a blistering hot Pride Parade day, my friend and I had made plans to have brunch prior to the parade nearby.

We’d sweated through a couple of blocks in the 85-degree plus heat index when I came upon one of our old stomping grounds after Cubs games. 

“Kathy, let’s eat here!” I urged my friend. “I know this place!”

Uncommon Ground, at 3800 N. Clark Street, is known for contemporary comfort food with an emphasis on organic, locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant has won numerous sustainable business awards. From their  bottomless direct/fair trade organic drip coffee to their onsite Greenstar Brewery, the first certified organic brewery in Illinois, Uncommon Ground has remained unchanged from the commitment they made in 1991 to provide fresh, organic food and drink for their guests.

As Block Club Chicago reported, owners Michael and Helen Cameron opened Uncommon Ground in Lakeview in 1991, bringing a sustainable and locally sourced approach to their food service. Also known for hosting live music, the venue is now celebrating 34 years at the corner of Grace and Clark streets.

In 2017, the couple served as consultants to the city of Paris’ rooftop gardening initiative, similar to their (closed) location in Edgewater. 

Brunch is served here seven days a week until 3pm. I opted for their Vegan Hash, an unusual melange of sweet potatoes, roasted potatoes, onions, carrots, butternut squash, roasted crimini mushrooms, seitan chorizo, and ancho sauce. I added a scrambled egg for a $2 upcharge. It was so worth it! The portions are huge, and the ancho sauce added a spicy, fruity kick to the roasted vegetable hash.

I mentioned the large portions. As of Tuesday morning, I’ve still got a quarter of the order left in my refrigerator. Lunchtime treat!

Kathy ordered their Lemon Ricotta Poppyseed Pancakes with Wild Berry Sauce, whipped cream, and lemon zest. Three large pancakes, smothered in wild berry sauce, with a large swirl of whipped cream, zested with lemon. She reported, “The pancakes were tasty. The blueberries were really good. Kind of filling. The ricotta I don’t remember if it was inside the batter or between the stacks but you got three pancakes.” 

Sufficient to say, both of us enjoyed our meals! The friendly server was accommodating to our needs and refilled my coffee cup as many times as I asked. The kitchen was also accomodating to my need for making the vegan hash without onions, which I very much appreciated. 

Other brunch entrees include their Sunrise Sammy with scrambled eggs, bacon, swiss cheese, arugula, tomato, and lemon-pepper aioli on a toasted brioche bun, with your choice of crispy potatoes or side salad. Greek Yogurt Parfait has Michigan strawberries, housemade granola, and Greek yogurt, while Watermelon-Feta Salad, which I nearly ordered, has sugar snap peas, jalapenos, and pickled red onion, covered with a honey-lime vinaigrette.

For lunch, try Helen’s Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwich, with avocado, red onions, vegan cheese, arugula, and honey mustard on a vegan bun. Uncommon Ground’s Apple, Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad is a fresh mix of greens, diced apples, toasted walnuts, and blue cheese blended with balsamic vinaigrette.

At dinner, try a Petit Filet, a 6-ounce beef filet, served with rosemary scalloped potatoes, with bordelaise sauce. Or, a Summer Grilled Salmon, served with a weet pea puree, peas, fresh garlic, shaved shallots, and a garden greens salad. Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf is served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, bordelaise sauce, crispy fried onions, and an arugula salad.

Desserts include their colorful Rainbow Pride Cake, as well as their Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake, served with your choice of vanilla, strawberry or chocolate gelato. Classic Carrot Cake is frosted with a delectable cream cheese frosting. Brownie Sundae has homemade brownies, vanilla gelato, caramel & chocolate sauces, whipped cream.

Uncommon Ground is located at 3800 N. Clark Street. During baseball season, Uncommon Ground opens at 10am before Cubs weekday day games. 

Otherwise, they are open Monday-Thursday, 11am-9pm, Friday from 11am-10pm, Saturdays from 10am-10pm, and Sundays from 10am-8pm. Reservations are recommended, and can be made by clicking here.

 Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Summer is the season of sunshine, good vibes, and great company. And what better way to celebrate the season than opening up your home to friends and family for stylish, memorable gatherings? Whether you’re planning a backyard bash, an intimate patio dinner, or a spontaneous Sunday brunch, here’s how to entertain at home this summer—with effortless flair and style.

1. Create a Signature Summer Setting

Think resort vibes meets backyard charm. Start by setting the scene. Light up your outdoor space with string lights, lanterns, or flameless candles for an inviting glow as the sun sets. Invest in cozy outdoor seating with colorful cushions, rugs, and throws to give your guests a place to relax and linger.

Style tip: Incorporate natural textures like rattan, linen, and bamboo for that breezy, elevated summer look. Fresh flowers or a bouquet of herbs in simple vases make for charming, fragrant centerpieces.

2. Serve Up a Simple Yet Sophisticated Menu

Summer entertaining calls for light, fresh, and flavorful food that doesn’t keep you tied to the kitchen. Focus on shareable platters and easy-prep recipes.

Appetizers: Charcuterie boards, hummus with veggies, shrimp cocktail, or bruschetta.

Main course: Think grilled seafood, marinated chicken skewers, gourmet burgers, or fresh pasta salads.

Desserts: Mini fruit tarts, ice cream sandwiches, or grilled peaches with honey.

Style tip: Serve food on wooden boards, ceramic platters, or mismatched vintage plates for a relaxed but chic presentation.

3. Offer a Signature Drink (or Two)

Upgrade your beverage game with a DIY drink station or a signature summer cocktail. Think fresh mojitos, sangria, or a sparkling citrus mocktail.

Style tip: Use glass dispensers or pitchers with slices of fruit and herbs. Add a decorative ice bucket, pretty glassware, and reusable straws to take it up a notch.

4. Keep Entertainment Light and Fun

Great entertainment doesn’t have to be elaborate—just intentional. Set out lawn games like Cornhole or giant Jenga, curate a summer playlist that flows with the evening, or set up a projector for an outdoor movie night.

Style tip: Create a cozy movie corner with blankets, popcorn bags, and lanterns for an Instagram-worthy setup.

5. Curate the Guest Experience

The magic is in the details. Provide thoughtful touches like bug spray in cute containers, a pitcher of infused water, or fans for hot days. Make sure there’s shade with umbrellas or a pop-up canopy if needed.

Style tip: If you want to go the extra mile, create place cards for dinner or offer a small takeaway—like a mini potted plant or jar of homemade jam.

Bottom-line

Entertaining at home this summer doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few creative touches, good food, refreshing drinks, and a stylish setup, your place can become the go-to gathering spot of the season. Keep it relaxed, focus on connection, and most importantly—enjoy yourself. Here’s to unforgettable summer moments, made right at home.

Spanning the lakefront from Devon Avenue to Howard Street, at the Northernmost edge of the city, Rogers Park today is a diverse, vibrant neighborhood with a strong community, affordable housing options, an arts/theatre community, and activities for every season. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I lived in Rogers Park for a decade, and found that the area’s eclectic mix of cultures, dining options, green spaces, early 20^th-century architecture, live theater, bars, restaurants, and beaches, and public transportation options made my years there some of the most enjoyable of my life. 

After all, who could say that Lake Michigan was their backyard? 

In some of Rogers Park’s lakefront apartments, you can actually say that. 

History 

According to Wikipedia sources and the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society,  the area was home to small groups of Potawatomi, Ojibwe, Odawa, and others in the 19^th Century. It was a land of birch trees and majestic dunes crossed by Indian trails running along glacial ridges.

By the 1830s, immigrants, mostly German and Swedish, made the area their home. Philip McGregor Rogers, an Irishman from New York, acquired 1,600 acres of land from today’s Howard Street south to Devon Avenue. This land became the foundation of the Village of Rogers Park.

The modern suburb was officially annexed into the city of Chicago in 1893. By the turn of the 20th century, it was a residential hub for well-off business executives, high-ranking government officials and other wealthy people looking for the latest infrastructure of suburban life with ready access to the city. Real estate entrepreneurs and developers flocked to the area to fulfill the needs of this new market, and one of the most prolific was Charles Henry Thompson.

As the Northwestern elevated line was extended from Wilson (4600N) to Howard Street (7600N), St. Ignatius College moved to the lakefront in 1912 and changed its name to Loyola University in 1915. Successive generations brought about vast cultural changes to the former village. By 1930 the population was 57,094 making Rogers Park one of Chicago’s most densely populated areas. Chicagoans began to move to new planned communities in the north suburbs by the 1930s, which ushered in the migration of German, English, Irish, and Jewish families to Rogers Park. With the devastation in Europe following World War II, many additional immigrants found their way to Chicago and the Rogers Park neighborhood. A growing and vibrant Hispanic community has grown along Clark Street since 2000.

Today

Rogers Park has over 130 restaurants plus coffee shops and cafes and has been ranked “very walkable” by Walk Score.  Rogers Park is also home to the Glenwood Sunday Market, a farmers market devoted to providing local, sustainable foods.   

The Mile of Murals, as Choose Chicago notes, is a community-based, free public art initiative, along Glenwood Avenue. The murals include 14 bold, vibrant large-scale works reflecting the history, culture, and spirit of Rogers Park spanning five block-long pieces, seven viaducts, and one overpass.

And art lovers can’t miss the Glenwood Arts District, home to a vibrant mix of art studios and galleries, live music venues, and acclaimed theatres, including The Factory Theatre (creating original shows for 25 years) and newcomers like The Rhapsody Theater (bringing magic, cabaret, and more to a historic space). Lifeline Theatre interprets and reimagines books and other literary works for the stage.

Beach, Beach Beach 

Leone Beach, as Choose Chicago notes, is perfect for anyone looking to unwind on the sand, swim, or try out some water activities. 

There’s access to the Lake Michigan Water Trail for kayaking, canoeing, and other non-motorized paddle sports. 

The nearby park has almost two acres of native dune and oak savanna.

Or, Loyola Beach is a 40-acre park that’s popular for swimming and walking. In addition, there’s a fieldhouse, baseball field, courts for basketball, sand volleyball, and tennis, and a playground. The beach also features a 600-foot wall filled with colorful murals and beachfront eatery Ropa Beach Cabana, offering bites and refreshing treats.

Event: Pride North 

Rogers Park is celebrating Pride Month this Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, on Glenwood between Morse and Lunt Avenues, at the Glenwood Alfresco, with two days of music, food and fun from 12pm–10pm. Featuring DJs and live entertainment, this is a FREE event that takes place right off the Morse stop on the CTA Red Line.  For more information about Pride North, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Staying calm during times of stress is one of the best leadership tools you can possess. It means you can foster a good work environment even during difficult times. Psychiatrists call this state “the window of tolerance”. How does it work?

The window of tolerance is the optimal zone where you continue to think clearly, respond thoughtfully, and stay present even under pressure. When you are in the window you will still be stressed—but you will be able to stay grounded. 

Stress can often push us beyond our limits. We shift into survival mode. This can be presented in two different ways:

• When we are above the window you are hyper aroused where fight or flight modes reign. Emotions are intense, you may experience anger, anxiety or sleeplessness. You’re on the defense. 

• Below the window is hypoarousal, survival strategy is to freeze. You are emotionally flat and withdrawn, making it hard to engage with others. You avoid tasks like responding to emails and may shut down in a meeting. You are not responding from a calm grounded space. 

You can increase your window of tolerance. You can build your self-awareness to develop ways to stay calm under pressure:

• Improve your awareness with regular check-ins. Ask yourself how you are doing every day and recognize when you have an internal shift. 

• Label what you are feeling so that you can process it. 

• Use coping tools to help during pressure situations. You can practice deep breathing along with meditation. Simply taking a pause or stepping away briefly when you are being overwhelmed can help you cope with stress thereby widen your tolerance window

Remember to be kind to yourself in the process. Self-criticism only makes you more stressed. It takes time to develop these strategies. You will find yourself showing up more consistently and recovering faster. You will understand more where you are in the window—just be patient. 

The awareness of where you are in the window is half the battle. It will help you show up in difficult conversations and be calm under pressure. It will help you and your team move through change, conflict or crises. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago