When you’re house hunting, it’s easy to fall in love with the house before you fall in love with the location.

You walk through the front door and see the kitchen you’ve been dreaming about. The living room gets plenty of natural light. There’s a backyard, a garage, maybe even that extra bedroom you’ve been hoping to find.

Then you step outside—and realize you haven’t really looked at the neighborhood yet.

Before you get too attached to a property, take a few extra minutes to explore the area around it. A quick drive can reveal things that a beautiful listing photo never will.

Here’s what to look for.

1. Pay Attention to the First Five Minutes

Start by driving a few blocks in every direction from the property.

What do you see?

Are the streets quiet and residential, or does traffic pick up quickly? Are there well-maintained sidewalks? Do neighboring homes and yards appear cared for? Is there easy access to the main roads you’d use every day?

You’re not trying to make a snap judgment about the neighborhood. You’re simply getting a sense of what everyday life might look like.

2. Test Your Actual Commute

A home can look perfect on a map and feel very different when you’re behind the wheel.

If possible, drive the route you would normally take to work, school, shopping, or other regular destinations. Notice how long it takes, where traffic builds, and whether the drive feels convenient—or exhausting.

For couples or families with multiple daily routines, try the routes that matter to everyone.

A few extra minutes on a map can become hours over the course of a month.

3. Find the Everyday Essentials

You probably know where the nearest grocery store is because you searched for it before the showing.

Now look beyond the obvious.

Where would you grab coffee on a busy morning? Where is the closest pharmacy? How far is the nearest gas station, park, gym, library, or restaurant you might actually use?

You don’t need every amenity within walking distance. But knowing what is nearby can help you understand how the home fits into your routine.

4. Look Beyond the Property Line

A house doesn’t exist in isolation.

During your drive, notice what surrounds the neighborhood. Are there shopping centers, schools, parks, office buildings, open spaces, or major roads nearby?

Also look for signs of future change, such as vacant parcels, construction projects, or newly developed areas.

The goal isn’t to predict exactly what the neighborhood will look like years from now. It’s simply to gather more information before making a major purchase.

5. Listen as Well as You Look

This one is easy to overlook.

Roll down the windows for a moment.

Can you hear significant road noise? Construction? Trains? Aircraft? Industrial activity?

A house may seem peaceful during a 20-minute afternoon showing but have a completely different soundscape at another time of day.

If the property remains a serious contender, consider visiting again during your typical morning or evening hours.

6. Imagine an Ordinary Tuesday

Forget the excitement of moving day for a minute.

Imagine an ordinary Tuesday.

You wake up, get ready for work or school, grab groceries on the way home, pick up dinner, and arrive back at the house.

Does the location make that routine easier—or more complicated?

This simple thought exercise can be surprisingly useful because buying a home isn’t really about how you’ll feel during the first weekend there. It’s about how the property works for the hundreds of ordinary days that follow.

7. Don’t Forget the Walk Around the Block

After your drive, park and take a short walk if the area and circumstances make that appropriate.

You’ll notice things from the sidewalk that you might miss from a car: how close homes are to one another, how people use outdoor spaces, the condition of sidewalks and streets, and whether the neighborhood feels connected or more car-dependent.

Again, there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer. You’re learning whether the surroundings match what you’re looking for.

8. Visit More Than Once

One visit can give you an impression. Multiple visits can give you a pattern.

If you’re seriously considering a property, try seeing the area at different times when practical. A neighborhood can feel very different on a weekday morning than it does on a weekend afternoon.

Pay attention to traffic, noise, parking, activity levels, and anything else that matters to your lifestyle.

The House Is Only Part of the Decision

Finding the right home isn’t just about the number of bedrooms, the countertops, or the size of the backyard.

It’s also about the life that happens after you pull out of the driveway.

That’s why a 10-minute drive can be so valuable. It gives you a chance to step away from the excitement of the showing and consider the bigger picture.

Because when you find a home you love, you want to make sure you love where it takes you, too.

Get ready for this weekend’s spectacular line up of Fall Festivals as we embrace and celebrate the official start of the fall season which is this coming Tuesday, September 22^nd!

Celebrating diverse cultures throughout Chicago and the world, the 6^th annual World Dumpling Fest is this Saturday (11 a.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.-8 p.m.) at its new home in Wrightwood Park (2555 N. Ashland Ave.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  This all-ages event features 10+ neighborhood restaurants sharing dishes that define their communities with more dumplings than you can ever eat.  However, this Fest is more than just a food festival, it also showcases plenty of energetic live music performances, traditional dances, and local artisans and makers who bring the same pride to their craft as the chefs bring to their creations!

Chicago’s very first German neighborhood will come alive this Saturday (11 a.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.-8 p.m.) with its 2^nd annual Old Town Oktoberfest located at 1360 North Wells Street between Schiller Street and Evergreen Avenue.  Enjoy authentic German favorites like bratwurst and giant pretzels; sip on ice-cold beer; dance to German-inspired performers and popular bands; browse curated arts & crafts vendors; or compete in a crowd-favorite Masskrugstemmen (stein-holding competitions to win prizes); and more.  In addition, there’s a giant LED viewing area for sports fans to catch and cheer for their favorite teams as well as the Fest’s first annual Dog Parade on Sunday (11 a.m.) which requires registration.  Who knows?  This may very well become Chicago’s newest fall tradition!

Another one of Chicago’s most beloved street festivals, Retro on Roscoe, takes place this Saturday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.-8 p.m.) at 2000 West Roscoe Street and Damen Avenue in the Roscoe Village neighborhood.  Whether you’re a rock and roll fanatic, a lover of vintage, or just want to have a good time, this throwback extravaganza is packed with three stages of live music featuring tribute bands performing hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s; an Antique and Classic Car & Motorcycle Show with over 50 vintage and muscle vehicles; artisan booths, antique dealers, and local vintage merchants for some good old vintage shopping; a dedicated kids’ area with inflatables, rides, face painting, and more; and plenty of food and drinks from local restaurants and food vendors.  Enjoy your Blast from the Past!

Amdur Productions brings the Fall Magnificent Mile Art Festival this Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) to the plaza and sidewalks at 875 North Michigan Avenue in the Streeterville neighborhood.  More than 60 juried national artists from around the country will showcase their original works in a variety of mediums which include jewelry, fashion, painting, photography, and much more.  Afterwards, continue shopping at The Magnificent Mile’s world class luxury stores and boutiques!

Calling all punk rockers!  Returning to Douglass Park (1401 S. Sacramento Dr.) in the North Lawndale neighborhood this Saturday and Sunday (11 a.m.-11:30 p.m.) is Riot Fest.  This massive weekend punk rock festival brings a lineup of both legacy acts and emerging newcomers in rock, punk, metal, and emo along with headliners like Tool, Morrissey, Pierce The Veil, Alanis Morissette, and others.  This is always one of the biggest music fests of the season!

Our beloved Chicago Bears will host the Minnesota Vikings for their first home game of the season on Sunday (12 p.m.) at iconic Soldier Field (1410 Special Olympics Dr.) in the South Loop.  DA BEARS!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

It was the Monkey Bread that caught my attention at Southport Corridor’s Crosby’s Kitchen. 

That gooey cinnamon treat was a highlight of my childhood, whether it was making it with my grandmother or fighting my brother and sister to pull off the sections! 

At Crosby’s Kitchen, one of the few restaurants in Chicago that serves Monkey Bread, their recipe includes “Nana’s secret sweet dough recipe, cinnamon sugar, and cream cheese frosting.” The result:  Ooey-gooey goodness! 

 But there’s lots of goodness in its Midwestern-influenced menu, centering, as they say on their website, around rotisserie and comfort food, featuring favorites such as Lobster Deviled Eggs, Crab Toast, Iron Skillet Cornbread and of course, Monkey Bread. They are open for lunch and dinner daily and offer brunch on Saturday and Sunday.  

Kid-friendly!

Crosby’s Kitchen is also known as one of the area’s most kid-friendly spots, even offering a popular “kids eat free” daily special from 4pm to 6pm. For ages 12 and under, Kids Dinners include their choice of a Chicken Leg, Chicken Fingers, Peanut Butter & Jelly or Grilled Cheese Sandwich or Buttered Noodles, andserved with a drink and vanilla ice cream.

Kids Brunch options include Pancakes, French Toast or Cheesy Eggs served with a choice of bacon or sausage; Fruit and Yogurt, or a Peanut Butter & Jelly or Grilled Cheese Sandwich. All are served with a choice of milk or juice.

For Adults Only (Young Adults Too!)

Start with such tangy, spicy favorites as Jalapeno Beer Cheese, served with warm tortilla chips, or Iron Skillet Cornbread, served hot with maple butter. Or, Lobster Deviled Eggs, a specialty of the house, has three halves, loaded with lobster and sriracha mayo. 

Entrees include a must-try Lumache con Pesto, combining shell pasta with pistachio pesto, marinated tomatoes, and stracciatella cheese. Rigatoni isn’t just any rigatoni…it’s Jumbo rigatoni with pomodoro, garlic cream, fennel sausage, and burrata. Pike Place BBQ Salmon has garlic and ginger soy glaze, smashed cucumbers, peanuts, and cilantro. (Note: smashed cucumbers is also available as a side).  Bang Bang Steak Salad has a Hawaiian-marinated strip steak, arugula, mango, avocado, chow mein, peanuts, served with firecracker dressing. Rotisserie Chicken is a popular dish, and I can see why, serving a wood-roasted half chicken, coated with their signature spice blend, accompanied by mashed potatoes and chicken au jus. 

Other options include their Nice Little House Salad, with mixed greens, tomatoes, bacon, cucumbers, and a deviled egg, served with a slice of cornbread and a citrus vinaigrette dressing. The Wrightwood is a sweet-savory tangy combination of rotisserie chicken, tomatoes, craisins, avocado, corn, almonds, cornbread croutons, roasted red peppers, scallions, goat cheese, topped with a citrus vinaigrette.

And where it’s appropriate, we say “leave room for dessert!”  A light touch is their Peppermint Ice Cream with hot fudge. A perfect end to a Crosby’s Kitchen meal.  The Skillet Cookie is “Better than mom’s!” Is it because it’s served with vanilla ice cream and caramel? Key Lime Pie has a crumbly, unusual graham cracker-pecan crust and is served with whipped cream.

Weekend Brunch 

Brunch, served over the weekends, features Blueberry Cornbread, served hot with maple butter. Cornelia Omelette has mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, and mozzarella, served with hashbrowns or fruit, and choice of toast, while their Lakeview Omelette has pork shoulder bacon, cheddar, green bell peppers, onions, hashbrowns or fruit, with your choice of toast.Lots more options available!

Crosby’s Kitchen is located at 3455 N. Southport Avenue, They are open Monday – Wednesday: 11am – 9pm; Thursday – Friday: 11am – 10pm; Saturday: 8:30am – 10pm with Brunch is available 8:30am – 3pm, and Sunday:  8:30am – 9pm; Brunch is available 8:30am – 3pm. For reservations, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago 

There are certain home features that seem non-negotiable—right up until you actually live with them.

Maybe it’s the enormous backyard you pictured filling with summer parties, only to discover that Saturday mornings now belong to yard work. Or the beautiful open shelving you saved dozens of photos of, before realizing that every coffee mug you own is suddenly part of the décor.

The truth is, some of the features we dream about when imagining the perfect home can feel very different once they become part of everyday life. That doesn’t make them bad ideas. It just means the best home features aren’t necessarily the most impressive ones—they’re the ones that fit the way you actually live.

The Giant Backyard

A sprawling lawn can be hard to resist. There’s room for entertaining, pets, games, gardens and perhaps even a pool someday.

Then comes the maintenance.

Mowing, watering, trimming, fertilizing and keeping everything looking good can turn that gorgeous backyard into a surprisingly demanding hobby. For someone who loves gardening or spends every weekend outdoors, that may be part of the appeal. For someone who would rather spend Saturday doing almost anything else, a smaller, thoughtfully designed yard might actually be the greater luxury.

The Oversized Soaking Tub

Few things say “dream bathroom” quite like a beautiful freestanding tub.

And for people who regularly take baths, it can absolutely earn its place. But plenty of homeowners eventually discover that their magnificent soaking tub is mostly admired from a distance—or becomes an exceptionally attractive place to drape a towel.

The lesson isn’t to skip the tub. It’s to ask whether you’re designing for your real routine or your imaginary spa-going alter ego.

Open Shelving in the Kitchen

It looks effortless in photographs: beautiful dishes, neatly stacked bowls, a few perfectly placed glasses and maybe a trailing plant for good measure.

Real life tends to introduce a few more plastic cups.

Open shelving can make a kitchen feel airy and personal, but it also puts everything on display and requires a little more attention to keep things looking intentional. If you love styling your home, that’s hardly a drawback. If you’d rather close a cabinet door and call it a day, traditional storage suddenly has a lot going for it.

The Formal Dining Room

For years, a separate dining room was a fixture on many home wish lists. But the way we live has changed.

If Thanksgiving dinner, dinner parties and family gatherings are regular events at your house, having a room devoted to them can be wonderful. But if most meals happen around the kitchen island, that formal dining room may spend a lot of time waiting for company.

That doesn’t mean the room is wasted. Homeowners increasingly give these areas a second life as libraries, offices, homework areas, music rooms or flexible gathering spaces.

Sometimes the room you thought you needed simply turns out to be a different room altogether.

The Completely Open Floor Plan

For a long time, knocking down walls seemed to be the answer to nearly every design problem. Open layouts brought kitchens, dining areas and living rooms together, creating bright, social spaces where everyone could gather.

Then many of us spent a lot more time at home.

Suddenly, walls started looking pretty useful.

Open layouts are still fantastic for entertaining and creating a sense of spaciousness, but a little separation can provide privacy, reduce noise and give different activities somewhere to happen simultaneously. Increasingly, the sweet spot isn’t completely open or completely divided—it’s a home with good flow and just enough definition.

The Enormous Kitchen Island

If a six-foot island is good, a twelve-foot island must be twice as good, right?

Not necessarily.

A large island can provide incredible prep space, storage and seating, but bigger isn’t always more functional. An island that’s too large for the room can interrupt traffic patterns, make it difficult to reach the center and turn navigating the kitchen into an unexpected daily commute.

The best island isn’t the biggest one you can squeeze into the kitchen. It’s the one that makes the kitchen easier to use.

The Pool

This may be the ultimate example of a home feature that depends entirely on lifestyle.

For one household, a pool becomes the center of summer—the place where kids play, friends gather and weekends disappear in the best possible way. For another, it becomes something that requires cleaning, chemicals, maintenance and expense while everyone looks at it through the window.

Neither household is wrong. They simply use their homes differently.

And that’s really the point.

The Best Feature Is the One You’ll Actually Use

It’s easy to fall in love with features because they’re beautiful, popular or impressive. It’s much harder—and much more useful—to imagine an ordinary Tuesday.

Where will you drink your coffee? Where will everyone drop their bags? Do you actually take baths? Do you enjoy maintaining a yard? How often do you entertain? Do you want everyone together, or would you occasionally like a door you can close?

Whether you’re remodeling your current home or searching for your next one, those questions can be more revealing than any list of must-haves.

Because the perfect home isn’t the one with every feature you thought you wanted.

It’s the one whose features make the way you actually live a little better.

DID YOU KNOW…that at one time, women were barred from drinking in bars by local establishments?  As Oktoberfests begin this month, it’s worth exploring how these rules changed…and you wouldn’t believe how recently the changes took place!

Why were women barred? 

Several sources cite social taboos, moral regulations, and fears that female patrons would encourage prostitution or disrupt male-only spaces.  Saloons were treated as rough, masculine territory meant for male bonding.

In the post World War II era, a woman’s place was in the home. In the era of “Mad Men,” a bar was a place where men drank and made deals, and relaxed before before going home.

It took celebrated feminist Gloria Steinem, who passed away last week at the age of 92, to conquer the last holdout in Chicago…the Berghoff Restaurant, in 1969. 

That was 49 years after women achieved the right to vote, through the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and three years before Title IX was ratified. 

“It’s not the proudest point of Berghoff history, but it is part of it,” said Pete Berghoff, fourth-generation owner of The Berghoff, in an NBC5  interview. 

What Took The Berghoff So Long? 

As Chicago History notes in a Facebook post, in 1969, the Berghoff’s “men’s buffet” was one of Chicago’s last strongholds of all-male drinking. 

It’s worth noting that the Berghoff boasted an all-male staff of bartenders and servers as well.

Protests Change Everything 

Chicago History recounts that one night, seven female activists entered the hallowed space, bellied up to the bar, and demanded service. After initial resistance, the staff realized their shaky legal standing and served the Berghoff’s famous beers. They hoped it was just a one-off stunt.

The Berghoff Restaurant “raid” followed a similar raid, led by feminist Betty Friedan(“The Feminine Mystique “) on the Oak Room of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. According to the JStor Daily.com website, like many other hotel bars and restaurants, the Plaza excluded women during weekday lunch hours, from noon until three, so as not distract the businessmen from their deal-making.

According to JStor Daily, the action was part of a coordinated, nationwide effort by feminist organizers. During “Public Accommodations Week,” groups of activists from the National Organization for Women(NOW), staged “eat-ins” and “drink-ins” to protest the bans on women in public establishments. Feminists framed the issue of male-only accommodations as a civil rights violation, akin to racial segregation, calling them “Jane Crow” laws. 

In November 1969, a much larger “raid” on the Berghoff followed, led by Steinem. 

The Chicago History Facebook site said the male Berghoff staff, thinking themselves clever, was ready to turn the other cheek with “several smiling waiters eager to serve [the women].” “We stole their thunder,” the manager boasted, thinking he had won the battle. But with 20 women now drinking Dortmunders under the saloon age sign, it was clear the women had won the war.

Today: The Impact of Lifting Bar Bans

Lifting the ban on women in bars was catalytic in its impact. As The Guardian stated, the move normalized mixed-gender spaces, as public drinking shifted from an exclusively male domain to integrated social territory.  

It also dismantled the “Protective Patriarchy,”  as Rachel Hewitt’s Substack notes, documents used to exclude women (claiming bars were morally corrupting or dangerous) were legally dismantled as paternalistic excuses for discrimination. 

And most importantly, it offered access to employment. JSTOR Daily.com also points to the move leading to repealing bans on female bartenders opened viable economic citizenship and career paths for women in the hospitality workforce. Venues actively welcomed female patrons and staff, recognizing that integrated spaces increased overall economic vitality and altered marketing strategies. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago