One of the biggest milestones you will reach in your life will be deciding to become a homeowner. But before you take the leap, make sure you set yourself up for easy transaction and a good homebuying experience. Check out the tips below to ensure it!

Do your research. Familiarizing yourself with the home buying process before beginning your house hunt and finding a knowledgeable, experienced agent to represent you can make all the difference in securing your dream house and paying the best price for it.

Pay off other debts. Before you take on such a big, expensive purchase like buying a home, dedicate yourself to paying off your student loans, car loans, and credit card debt. Not only will this allow you to live more comfortably while you’re in your new home but it will allow you to be a better candidate for a home loan.

Save for the down payment. The majority of home buyers don’t pay in cash for their home, but the more you are able to put down, the better financial position you will be in. Create a budget early on, stick to it, and start saving well before you start seriously looking for your home. This will also help you determine the price range to search in.

Be patient. If this is your first home purchase, the process can feel intimidating and overwhelming and you may feel like you’ll never find a home that meets your wish list and is in your price range. But don’t lose hope. Stay patient and trust the process and your agent.

The Loop: Art lovers rejoice! The Art Institute of Chicago, located at 111 South Michigan Avenue, will open its “Monet and Chicago” exhibit on September 5. Featuring 68 paintings and 14 rarely seen sketches by French Impressionist Claude Monet, this presentation is a splendid way to get out of the house and observe some truly amazing art pieces. The exhibit highlights the connection between Chicago and the artist’s work going back to the late 1800s. You can see Monet’s brilliant masterpieces up close and personal now until January 18, 2021. Tickets are $7 in addition to the museum admission price. Find more info here.

North Park: Chicago’s Hell in a Handbag Productions brings their zany and hysterical productions outdoors and under the Chicago moonlight with their Under the Stars with Handbag: A Drive-In Festival. Taking place at the Redbox Workshop parking lot, located at 4242 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, you can catch Caged Dames on the big screen Friday, September 4, and Saturday, September 5, at 7:30 pm. Advanced reservations are required, and you have the option of viewing from your car or bring lawn chairs for this socially-distanced event. Tickets range from $40 to $60, and space is limited. Find more info here. 

Lincoln Park: The sixth annual Craft Brews at the Zoo goes virtual this year. The 21 and over event takes place on September 18 and 19. Tickets are $49 and include an exclusive t-shirt, a 6-pack of local brews selected by the Lincoln Park Zoo, and 6 videos going into detail about each beer hosted by a brewery representative. Each ticket also includes a virtual event hosted by Josh Seago, owner of Lou Dog Events, with topics discussed by local animal experts and a conversation with a local craft brewery on the industry. Proceeds go to caring for the animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Find more info here.

Logan Square: Cult movie fans have had it tough this year with film festivals canceled and drive-ins sticking to mainstream hits. So on Wednesday, September 9 at 8 pm, come out to Comfort Station, located at 2579 North Milwaukee Avenue, for an outdoor screening of the surrealist comedy Crime Wave. Admission is free and limited to just 30 people. As expected, face coverings and social distancing are required to attend. Find more info here.

Wicker Park: Memes are ubiquitous these days. The hilarious pics and accompanying captions spread rapidly across the Internet and into our daily lives thanks to their clever (and sometimes not so clever) messages. So how about a museum catering to the most humorous online jokes? Head over to 6th Dimension Space + Gallery, located at 2511 West North Avenue, to check out The Meme Museum. The funniest memes across the web are collected and on display every Thursday through Sunday until September 27. Admission is free, but reservations are required to browse the two floors of memes for each 90-minute visit. Only 10 patrons are allowed in at a time to maintain safe social distancing. Find more info here.

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

It is interesting how people react differently when faced with a crisis such as the recent pandemic. Many people took the time to work out and improve their bodies, while others sought to learn new things. Many spent more time in the kitchen; I have not seen so many different pictures of homemade sourdough bread in my life! No wonder yeast and flour were in short supply.  

As the pandemic and springtime coincided, there was a crazed interest in gardening. Sales of all things gardening, from plants and seeds to dirt and implements, were up 35% over last year. Internet searches about gardening were 6 times higher than the previous year. Garden centers were declared essential, and lines were around the parking lot. 

I think people understood subconsciously that gardening was just what we needed. There are microbes in soil released when digging and handling dirt. Mycobacterium vaccae may stimulate serotonin levels. It could have the same effect as Prozac on your brain neurons. There is a new book out called “The Well Gardened Mind” by Sue Stuart-Smith, a British Psychiatrist. She goes beyond the thought that simply getting out in the garden is good for you. Stuart-Smith goes deeper into the unconscious aspects like symbolism and metaphor. When we plant a seed, we plant a narrative of future possibilities. Gardening can be that space where your innermost thoughts and the real world can meet. 

Gardening can also be helpful for people suffering from P.T.S.D. and similar afflictions. There are no expectations, just quiet. Working in the soil is restorative to many suffering bereavements. Gardening has reparative power. It can make a person feel they are good, rather than just feeling good. The repetitive and meditative aspects of gardening can be like play for adults who have long stopped playing. 

This interest in gardening during crises is not new. Soldiers in the First World War planted not just vegetables but flowers in their trenches. Gardening allows us to have some control in a world increasingly out of our control. We long for the regenerative power of nature. Your garden can be a fantastic mess or the most manicured, and it will still give you the same benefits. It is a process, sometimes thriving, sometimes hibernating, and even dying. So, get into an in-depth relationship with your garden and see how much better your outlook on life, and this pandemic will improve.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

The first week of home school, for most kids, is in the books, and I’ll bet you’re ready for the weekend! Whether you venture out or stick around the house, here’s some available events for a fun and relaxing weekend before the start of week two!!

Old Grounds Social located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood at 950 W. Wrightwood Avenue between Sheffield and Lincoln Avenues will be hosting a BBQ Cooking Demo this Saturday (5 p.m.-7:30 p.m.). They’ll be smoking up some BBQ favorites and showing you some tips on how to become a pit-master yourself! It’s an all-you-can-eat BBQ serving up smoked chicken breast, smoked pulled pork, made to order burger, and smoked wings along with coleslaw, mac & cheese, and chips. This $40 experience also includes guaranteed entry, preferred seating, and one White Claw Hard Seltzer per guest plus drink specials. Due to current occupancy regulations, it is strongly suggested for ticketed commitments or reservations. Events are subject to strict arrival, socializing rules, and closing times.

The Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce and Old Town School of Folk Music will be joining together to host the Virtual Square Roots Festival. In addition to the online concert this Saturday at 6 p.m., there are incredible packages highlighting the best food, craft beer, and artisan goods available to enjoy in the comfort of your home! The community looks forward to enjoying the crowd down Lincoln Avenue next year!!

One of Chicago’s earliest summer festivals on the calendar and a popular kickoff to our summer was rescheduled to this weekend. However, due to current circumstances, the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association will be hosting a virtual Old Town at Home in lieu of the in-person Wells Street Art Festival. The event will feature content from iconic Old Town businesses, studios, and music from local artists. Enjoy all that Old Town has to offer while supporting its small businesses!

In the mood for some good ‘ole blues music? Then tune-in this Sunday (2 p.m.-8 p.m.) for a new six-hour virtual festival Chicago/Kalamazoo Blues Party. It’s a celebration of Blues music, culture, and history combined with performances by top Midwest and Chicago Blues talent such as Billy Branch, Johnny Burgin, and others from Chicago, and AMays and Blue, Larry McCray Trio and Out of Favor Boys Trio from Kalamazoo. This is also a pay-what-you-can Blues stream with a virtual tip jar inviting donations to benefit the musicians and related local and national non-profit organizations!

The Chicago Dogs will once again be hosting baseball at Impact Field (9850 Balmoral Ave.) in Rosemont. This weekend they welcome the Milwaukee Milkmen. Saturday’s theme night is Star Wars, where you can visit a galaxy far, far away in a ballpark close to home! Sunday is Family Sunday presented by Coca-Cola, where you can enjoy catch on the field, $3 bottomless popcorn, and $3 bottomless drinks!

Lastly, this weekend’s Chi-Together: Drive-in Movies & Music will feature Glass (Saturday) and Shark Tale (Sunday) at Soldier Field (1410 S. Museum Campus Dr.) in the South Loop with doors opening at 7 p.m. and the movie beginning at 8:30 p.m. Each ticket includes a 90-minute music showcase by a locally featured musician or DJ, followed by the movie on 3 jumbo screens for up to 6 people and includes a bucket of popcorn for the group!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

Logan Square has a brand new pizza joint to check out the next time you savor a slice. Pizza Lobo, located at 3000 West Fullerton Avenue, offers mouth-watering pies with a New York-style crust and beer and cocktails. The best part? Despite the pandemic, patrons can eat here thanks to the 4,000 square-foot patio at the recently opened restaurant. 

I recently checked out this new joint with friends on a warm August night. I was pleasantly surprised at the pizza offerings that stood in stark contrast to the typical delivery fare I’ve been living off since March. The sixteen-inch pizzas on the menu are varied and definitely worth repeat visits to knock more off of my pizza bucket list. 

The Armatric’ Yo-Self is a delight for the taste buds. The pizza, topped with red sauce, Calabrian chili, roasted tomato, garlic, pancetta, and pecorino, was a showstopper and justified the $29 price tag. Between my friends and I, there was nothing left on the pan. We unanimously agreed this dish was a must-have for any occasion in the future when our appetites demanded pizza.

The rest of the pizzas on the menu include the eye-opening Brussels sprout highlighted by charred lemon honey, white sauce, pancetta, and pecorino for $27. The provolone and ‘nduja pie features pink sauce, smoked provolone, ‘nduja, and bay leaf ricotta (definitely my choice the next time I visit, which I can see happening before this review is posted) for $28. The spicy broccoli rabe is undoubtedly off the beaten track with garlic jam, fresh mozzarella, and creamy pesto, which will run you $25.

If you’re in the mood for something of your own creation, Pizza Lobo lets you build your own pizza. The 10-inch option is $11, and the 16-inch regular size is $20. Each choice comes with a foundation of hand-grated mozzarella and toppings of your choice, including Anaheim peppers, roasted tomato, obvious favorites like pepperoni and sausage, and much more. Toppings range in price from $1 to $3.

It’s not all pies at Pizza Lobo. The menu offers starters such as fried cauliflower with gremolata, Calabrian chile honey, fennel pollen aioli for $8, wings with house buffalo and bleu cheese dressing for $10, and chopped antipasti featuring truffled buttermilk dressing and bitter greens for $14.

Craft beer, wine, and cocktails round out the drink menu. Fans of 3 Floyds will enjoy the Gumballhead wheat ale and Zombie Dust and Alpha King pale ales on tap. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the double chocolate Fernet cookie or the creamy buttermilk Speculoos ice cream for $5 each. 

My friends and I sat outside in the 4,000 square-foot patio, which was the perfect setting to enjoy the good eats at Pizza Lobo. The indoor dining room remains closed due to COVID-19, so be sure to take advantage of the patio while the weather permits. 

Pizza Lobo is a welcome new addition to Logan Square’s restaurant scene with vibrant ingredients that create a spectacular menu featuring pizza that tastes and thinks outside of the box. This new establishment is open Monday through Friday from 4 pm to 10 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 10 pm. 

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO