Lincoln Park: It’s almost time for Taste of Lincoln Avenue! This is the 36th year and the event is bigger and better than ever. On Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28 from 12 to 10 pm, Lincoln Avenue between Fullerton and Wrightwood will be taken over by this fantastic fest. Over 100 food, arts/crafts, and other vendors will be featured. There are also two stages of live music featuring both national and regional acts; a Kids Carnival with entertainment, arts activities, pony rides, kiddie rides, and more; Wine, Whiskey, and Tequila tastings for the adults; and a Chocolate Fest with tasting and sales. There is a suggested $10 donation for entry. Find more information here. 

Lakeview: Do you love the X-Files? You’ve got to check out “I Wanna Believe: An X-Files Musical Parody” playing at Annoyance Theatre! A deadly dancing epidemic is spreading among suburbanites and Mulder and Scully are finally forced to confront their feelings for each other, all while singing and dancing. Hurry, you only have a couple of weeks to catch this show! It runs on Thursday nights at 7:30 pm until July 25. Purchase your tickets here now.

Bucktown and Wicker Park: 826CHI is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Their services are structured around the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. Support this amazing cause by attending 826FORK 2019! On Thursday, July 18 from 7 to 9:30 pm, you’ll experience live acoustic music adapted from poems and stories by 826CHI students. 11 local bands will present 11 pieces written by students aged 6-18. Temperance Beer Co. and Revolution Brewing are generously providing free drinks. Tickets are $5, and all proceeds will will support 826CHI’s tuition-free literary arts programs, which serve over 3,500 Chicago students annually. Find more information here.

River North: Celebrate summer with the Wet Hot American Cider Fest! On Sunday July 21 from 12-5 pm, Headquarters Beercade in River North is hosting a fantastic summer festival. This fest features over 30 of the country’s most desirable hard ciders, camp games, summer food favorites, and more. You can bob for boozy apples, smash apples with a sledge hammer, nosh on corn dogs and funnel cakes, and play free arcade games! Your ticket purchase includes admission to the event, as well as 6 tickets to be used at your discretion. You can also purchase extra ticket packages on site in quantities of 6, 12, and 24. Each cider and summer camp game is worth 1 ticket. General admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.

Logan Square: Bring the kiddos to a Free Family Summer Lawn Party! Hosted by Smart Love Preschool, this event is sure to be fun for the whole family. On Saturday July 20 from 10 am to 1 pm, you’ll enjoy a summer outdoor extravaganza. They’ll be serving up Miko’s Italian Ice, hosting arts and crafts activities, gardening activities, bubbles, balloon animals, games, and a special performance by Mr. Singer and the Sharp Cookies at 11 am. Check out their website for more info.

Oak Park: Mark your calendars for the 45th Annual Oak Park Ave. Lake Arts & Crafts Show!  The show is Saturday, August 24 from 11 am to 7 pm and Sunday, August 25 from 9 am to 5 pm. Artists from far and near will exhibit their work, ranging from paintings, glass works, jewelry, wood arts, art wear, and much more. You can also experience Art in Action, as some artists will be working and demonstrating at their booths during the show. Free programs are available, that list exhibitors, their mediums, and their locations in the show. Admission is free. Find more information here!

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation tactics buyers should avoid:

LOWBALL OFFERS

Going far below market value when you make an offer damages your credibility as a buyer and can be insulting to the seller. The seller has a range in mind that they’ll accept, and if you’re not even approaching the low end of that range, they won’t even consider the offer.

INCREMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS

Don’t continue to go back to the seller with small increases in your offer ($1,000 or less). The constant back-and-forth can grow tiresome and lead the seller to consider other opportunities.
“Take it or leave it”: Try not to draw a line in the sand with your initial offer. The seller can get defensive and consider other offers if you immediately show that you’re unwilling to budge. Even if it’s true, don’t make a show of it.

NITPICKING AFTER INSPECTION

Obviously if inspection reveals a major issue, it should be factored into the final sale price. But insisting on a lower price for every minor repair can put negotiations in a stalemate.

ASKING FOR MORE, MORE, MORE

Some buyers will request that the sellers throw in add-ons like furniture or appliances that weren’t included in the listing. Try to avoid giving the seller a reason to build up resentment and think that you’re being greedy.

THE BOTTOM LINE

While there are things you can do to help boost your odds of a successful deal, there are a number of others that can prevent the sale from happening. WHEN BUYING A HOME, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT.

The Fourth of July may be behind us but here in Chicago the celebrations continue all weekend long!

West Fest Chicago is an annual street festival in the West Town neighborhood this Saturday and Sunday (12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.) on Chicago Avenue between Damen Avenue and Wood Street.  The festival features neighborhood retailers and restaurants, artisans, crafters, two stages of cutting-edge music with one stage featuring bands and one with DJ sets, and more.  There are even two other fests within West Fest! Pet Fest (12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.) features pet vendors and a variety of dog activities for charity while Kid Fest (12:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.) features family-friendly vendors, a family stage, games, and activities!  It’s a unique festival due to its heavy emphasis on “local” artists and offerings!!

Andur Productions is launching a brand new pop-up art market in the Wrigleyville neighborhood located outside Wrigley Field in Gallagher Way (3637 N. Clark St.) on Saturday (11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.).  The Wrigleyville Art Market will feature 50 unique artists from across the country offering unique pieces of art at a variety of price points. There will be sports themed pieces, jewelry, DIY themes, up-cycled art, functional art for beer and wine lovers, wearables, and more!  Plus, artists will be available to talk about their sports and DIY inspirations, giving insight into their artistic processes!!

Now that summer is finally here, there’s no better way to celebrate it than on top of a gorgeous rooftop at Rooftopalooza 2019.  This is a three-rooftop themed event with three very different, yet fun, summer style parties.  This weekend’s event takes place on Sunday (2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.) at the Estate Ultra Bar (1177 N. Elston Ave.) in the Goose Island neighborhood with a Fourth of July Rooftop Party.  This sprawling 4,000 square foot rooftop offers a StarDeck overlooking the city of Chicago, music from a custom-made sound system, plush leather booths for lounging, and drinks a foot away from the river with an unbeatable 360-degree view of the skyline!  And don’t forget to wear your patriotic colors!!

The 11^th annual Windy City Ribfest continues its 4^th of July celebrating this Friday and Saturday (12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.) at 4800 N. Broadway Street (Lawrence Ave. & Broadway St.) in the Uptown neighborhood.  Beyond the flavorful offerings of top local and national ribbers with their tasty, saucy slabs and some cool summer tunes, this popular fest also features arts & crafts and an activity area for kids and families!  This year’s ribbers include Austin’s Texas Lightning BBQ, BaseHit BBQ (Galewood neighborhood), Chicago BBQ Company (Burr Ridge), I-94 Ribs (47^th St.), and Rancho Mateo (southwest side)!!

The cross-town classic takes place this Saturday and Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field (333 W. 35^th St.) in the Bridgeport neighborhood as the Chicago White Sox host the Chicago Cubs!  Yours truly will be attending the Saturday game!!

Finally, this weekend’s Movies in the Parks are:

Friday
“Aquaman” – Augusta Park (4433 W. Augusta Blvd.) – Humboldt
“Ralph Breaks the Internet” – Kelly Park (2725 W. 41^st St.) – Brighton Park
“Yankee Doodle Dandy” – Indian Boundary Park (2500 W. Lunt Ave.) – West Ridge

Saturday
“Mary Poppins” – O’Hallaren Park (8335 S. Honore St.) – Auburn Gresham 

Happy Birthday America!

Meet People Chicago is hosting a fantastic summer bash. Rooftopalooza is here! This summer celebration is three rooftop themed events celebrating three different summer events. The parties take place on three different dates at three different locations. Confused yet? Don’t worry, I’ll explain! 

July 7: Fourth of July Party at Estate Ultra Bar from 2-6 pm

Continue your Fourth of July celebration with a rooftop Sunday Funday. Wear your most patriotic colors and celebrate in style! You and your friends will have access to the 4000 square foot rooftop, The StarDeck, with great views of Chicago. There will be a DJ spinning tunes, you can lounge on the plush leather booths, and enjoy cold drinks. Your ticket includes 1 complimentary drink and free appetizers for the first hour. You’ll also be able to purchase $7 vodka cocktails and $7 red and white wine by the glass. 

July 28: Tropical Rooftop Party at Joy District Rooftop Lounge from 11 am-3 pm

This party is going to bring Hawaii straight to you! Bring out your best Hawaiian shirt or dress in your favorite, bright, tropical colors. You’ll get a Hawaiian lei at the door to start your night off right! You’ll also receive 1 complimentary drink and have access to drink specials throughout the day. 

August 18: House Music Party at Estate Ultra Bar from 2-6 pm

Chicago House music is world famous- and what better way to celebrate than a rooftop party? There will be multiple house DJs on deck spinning classic dance music that originated right here in Chicago. You’ll receive 1 complimentary drink and free appetizers for the first hour. You can also purchase $7 vodka cocktails and $7 glasses of red and white wine.

Tickets for each rooftop party are just $15- or you can purchase tickets to all three for $25. What a steal! Check out this page for more information.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

With all the technology we have today, it is hard to turn off. Smart phones, tablets, and computers make it easy to stay in touch with work and allow us to work virtually anywhere. While this can be advantageous for people who like to work from home, it can often lead to overwork and burnout. 

Burnout is different than simply being tired after a particularly difficult week at work. Burnout manifests in distinct ways. Along with poor performance, you will find yourself becoming increasingly cynical about your job. You have too many priorities with unclear expectations. You will stop taking pleasure in completing tasks and begin dreading the next. You will have poor time management with a distinct imbalance between work and life. 

Fortunately, realizing burn out is coming or is already here is half the battle. You need to work smarter not harder. Working in overdrive is not productive, no matter what you think. Multitasking is also not productive. You usually start a lot of jobs that don’t get finished. Identify priorities with accurate labels. What absolutely needs to be done first? Make a plan and use a visual aid, like a whiteboard. List all the tasks and steps for each one. This works great with a team. Team members can be assigned tasks depending on their strengths. Use dates for completion, they can be changed as needed. 

Finally, always schedule your off time first. This is your recharge time to spend with your family and yourself. You don’t need to completely remove yourself from your email or phone, but schedule few and specific check times.  Remember, no one on their deathbed ever said, “I wish I had worked more”! 

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO