Staging your home is all about putting the best foot forward for potential buyers. By highlighting its most desirable features, you can draw more interest for your home and leave a lasting impression that is sure to help you sell it more quickly. Here’s what you should keep in mind as you prepare for your next open house or viewing!

Help them visualize it as their own. Make it easier for buyers to imagine themselves making your house their home by removing personal memorabilia, knick-knacks, and photos. Instead replace them with simple décor, such as paintings, nature images, and plants.

Think sleek instead of comfy. Modern-day buyers are leaning toward modern, crisp, clean interiors over comfy, homey looks. When staging your home, keep a minimalist mindset and incorporate bright colors and metal accents.

Deep clean the small spaces. It’s obvious to say you should clean your home before viewing, but don’t forget to cover your bases by deep cleaning the small spots. Take time to scrub porous areas like grout that may hold on to stains and baseboards where small pet hairs and dust love to cling.

Spruce up your landscaping. The first impression of your home gives to potential buyers is its exterior. Ensure you have a freshly mowed lawn, neat hedges and shrubbery, bright flowers, and a clean driveway.

Set the mood. A home is so much more than just the way it looks, so you need to appeal to the other senses. Prior to having potential buyers over, set the mood by burning delicious smelling candles and selecting an upbeat, happy soundtrack to play in the background.

Given that so many of us in Chicago are stuck at home for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus, we decided to change things up this week for the Neighborhood News and focus on things to do inside. So without further ado, here is our list of some of the best Chicago-based films over the years that we recommend you check out or revisit since we are all cooped up at home at the moment. The majority of these films are available on Netflix or to rent/buy on Amazon.

The Blues Brothers: Is there a movie that shows off the city more and is so quintessentially Chicago as this 1980 flick from director John Landis? Starring Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi as Elwood and “Joliet” Jake Blues, this beloved Chicago film virtually covers the whole city with scenes ranging from Southside churches to the climactic and hysterical downtown ending. From the comedic stylings of the former SNL favorites to the music and locals showing off 1980s Chicago, The Blues Brothers rank high on any list of best Chicago-based films. 

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: Another Chicago cinematic gem from the 80s, this Matthew Broderick flick, directed by the late great John Hughes, captures the city beautifully on celluloid. In what is basically a love letter to Chicago, Hughes takes Bueller’s decision to skip class (and the comedic hijinks that ensue) to give us iconic scenes featuring Wrigley Field, the Art Institute, and of course, the downtown parade scene. This 1986 movie increased the workload of school attendance officer’s across the city and burbs as hordes of high school students ditched class and did their best to recreate these iconic scenes. 

Home Alone: This holiday popcorn film starring Macaulay Culkin was a massive hit when it opened in 1990. Directed by Chris Columbus and written by Chicagoan John Hughes, Home Alone focuses on Culkin’s Kevin McCallister character as he attempts to thwart off two robbers after being left home alone by his family during Christmas break. The flick filmed the majority of its scenes in suburban Winnetka with the residential home located at 671 Lincoln Avenue serving as the primary setting for this beloved Chicago-based comedy classic. 

Road to Perdition: Tom Hanks stars in this 2002 mob revenge film directed by Sam Mendes. Taking place during the Great Depression, the film utilizes plenty of Chicagoland locations ranging from the University Club of Chicago downtown and the Charles G. Dawes House in Evanston to the Chicago Pullman neighborhood and the suburb of Geneva. Hanks plays a mob hitman whose son witnesses a murder he shouldn’t have. This results in Hanks having to take on the mob to protect his son after the rest of his family is murdered by his former boss’s henchmen. This beautifully shot film highlights the Chicago of the early 30s and features standout performances by Hanks, Jude Law, and, in his last movie, Paul Newman. 

Thief: Off the beaten path a bit, this 1981 film starring James Caan and directed by Michael Mann shows off Chicago without bothering to hit the tourist traps. Caan stars a skilled jewel thief trying to pull one last job for his gangster boss (when is it ever the second to last job in these films?). Of course, things don’t’ go as planned as Caan has to get down and dirty to free himself from a crime syndicate that won’t let him be. The film features the late, great, and former Chicago cop Dennis Farina in his first role. Thief showcases a gritty, damp, and dreary Chicago setting that perfectly mirrors the dark characters and tone of the film. 

The Untouchables: No Chicago movie list would be complete without Brian De Palma’s 1987 mob masterpiece for which Sean Connery took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The story depicts G-man Elliot Ness (played by Kevin Costner) as he assembles a team to take down Al Capone (played by Robert De Niro) during Prohibition-era Chicago. From the unforgettable Union Station shootout to scenes showing off the Michigan Avenue Bridge underpass and the film’s police headquarters located at 209 S. LaSalle Street, The Untouchables shows off a Chicago of a bygone ear with unique style and scope. And of course, who can forget Connery’s famous “That’s the Chicago way” speech? 

That does it for this week’s list of great Chicago-based movies, but it is by no means a final tally. Next week we will focus on more films that highlight the city of big shoulders. Since staying indoors is a smart move presently, check out these flicks that display the beauty of Chicago in the comfort of your own home.

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Last time we talked about good habits to make concerning diet and exercise, but we didn’t really look much at what we are eating. Many of us are busy, working more and more hours per week and haven’t the time for that home-cooked meal. We often settle for fast food full of carbs and salt without the fiber we need.  Below are some tips to help eliminate processed foods in your diet.

Look at labels when you’re going through your grocery store. Most processed foods contain more than 10 ingredients, many undecipherable. Those are chemicals added to extend shelf life and improve the taste. Most of them also have an inordinate amount of sodium. This large amount of salt gets you used to it, and you crave it, not realizing how food really tastes. 

Most low-fat foods simply substitute sugar for fat, which does no one any good at all. Fat is not our enemy, just make sure it’s a good healthy fat. Olive oil, avocados, and nuts are and have good fats. Eggs contain fat and cholesterol but are good for you, providing a large amount of protein for their size and calories as well as vitamin D, B12, phosphorous and riboflavin.

So, what can we eat?  Real dairy products are best, even butter. A small amount of real butter adds much flavor. It’s rich, and a little goes a long way. Melt a small pat along with some olive oil to quickly sauté vegetables. Add sliced grilled chicken or steak for a healthy, vitamin-packed dinner. Roasted root vegetables are great for a sweet tooth. Slather a variety of cut-up root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, and parsnips with balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil. Roast in a 400- degree oven till tender, 30 minutes or so depending on size. 

Another healthy idea is to make homemade dressing for your salad. Try different kinds of flavored oils and vinegar, using a 2:1 ratio of oil to vinegar. Great choices include cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or lemon juice. Add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard for a significant boost of flavor. This homemade concoction is excellent on fruit too. Another great dressing for fruit is orange juice with a little balsamic. 

So, when you’re thinking of “what can I eat?” think of your plate. Half of your plate should be a variety of vegetable. One-fourth should be good protein, lean beef, pork, chicken, or fish. One-fourth should feature carbohydrates, brown rice, sweet potatoes, bulgur, polenta, or similar whole grain. Cook them in broth for even more flavor. Do try and buy organic when you can. It can be more expensive but as they become more plentiful prices come down. Aldi has gone all organic now at a better cost. 

Try utilizing these tips to get away from processed foods and begin enjoying a healthier lifestyle.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the City has canceled the Dyeing of the Chicago River and the following parades: St. Patrick’s Day Parade in The Loop, the South Side Irish Parade, and the Northwest Side Irish Parade.

Since St. Patrick’s Day falls on a weekday this year, Chicago will be celebrating all things Irish this last winter weekend of the season! The following events are still on; however, check their websites before heading out in case they’re canceled.

Returning for its 19th year of green fun, the St. Paddy’s 5K & 8K Run/Walk will take place on Saturday (9:30 a.m.) at Cannon Drive and Fullerton Parkway (2410 N. Cannon Dr.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Participants are encouraged to don green attire or wear a costume to celebrate the Emerald Isle as awards will be given for the best dressed. They will also receive a long-sleeve tech shirt and a finisher medal (new in 2020)! There’s even a post-run party at Compass Bar located one block from the race site at 433 W. Diversey Pkwy. Why not kick off the spring running season at the Windy City’s oldest St. Patrick’s Day sprint!!

The 8th annual ShamROCK 2020 takes over the entire venue at the House of Blues (329 N. Dearborn St.) on the Near North Side on Saturday (doors open 8 a.m.). This event will feature Irish food specials, plenty of green beer, live entertainment, and giveaways all day long! The Music Hall Lineup includes Wedding Banned, UltraBeat, Hello Weekend, and DJs all day, while the Restaurant Lineup includes New Element, Great Whiskey Project, and the Celtniks. This is going to be one heck of a celebration with pints, music and plenty of partying!!

Celebrate all things Irish at the annual St. Patrick’s Fest on Saturday (1 p.m.-12 a.m.) at the Irish American Heritage Center (4626 N. Knox Ave.) in the Irving Park neighborhood. Enjoy plenty of traditional and contemporary Irish music, dance, food and drink for purchase, kids’ activities, and an arts & crafts fair selling Irish gifts! Highlights include Tim O’Shea and Friends (direct from Ireland), Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band, The Chancey Brothers, Irish Heritage Singers, Trinity Irish Dancers, and others. Or, visit the library, art gallery, and museum for programming and exhibits. This is one of Chicago’s largest St. Patrick’s Day events!!

For those of you looking for a crawl, check out one, or all, of these taking place on Saturday:

Shamrock Crawl (8 a.m.-2 p.m.) at Wrigleyville’s best bars. Ticket includes admission to all the participating bars, a free t-shirt, a breakfast buffet, gift card to use on the crawl, drink specials, giveaways, and more! 

Be sure to come all decked out in your finest green!!

St. Paddy’s Day Bar Crawl (6 p.m.-10 p.m.) at Wrigleyville’s hottest bars and pubs. Ticket includes complimentary cover at all venues, 4 drink tickets to use on the crawl, drink specials, green beer, DJs, St. Paddy’s themed venues, swag, giveaways, and more! Come dance with leprechauns and celebrate the Irish spirit!!

Lucky Charms Bar Crawl (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) at Lincoln Park’s best bars. Ticket includes entry up to 8+ venues (“no cover”), drink specials, DJs at all venues, a Lucky Charms t-shirt (while supplies last), beads, party swag, gift cards, giveaways, and more! There’s even a Lucky Charms treasure hunt (look for Lucky Charms boxes along the crawl for giveaways and cash). So, follow the rainbow – you may get lucky!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

This week I stayed in my stomping grounds of good old Rogers Park. I visited the recently opened Honeybear Cafe, located at 7036 N. Clark. The site is the former location of the A & T Pancake House. I was eager to see what the new owners (a husband and wife team) have done with the joint since opening in early February of this year.

A bear statue greets customers as they enter the Honeybear Cafe. The open space floor plan provides plenty of room with both tables and booths, as well as a coffee bar and open kitchen.

Honeybear Cafe focuses on the breakfast and brunch, my two favorite meals of the day, so I was eager to see what this new Rogers Pak spot had in store.

The menu offers all your breakfast faves for prices that make it a great place to eat for college students or anyone on a budget. I started my meal with the 2x2x2 consisting of two pancakes, two eggs your way, and two slices of bacon or sausage for $9. The pancakes were hot and delicious without feeling overly heavy. The scrambled eggs I ordered were perfect and didn’t last long on my plate. The two slices of bacon were the ideal consistency, not too hard and not too fatty, and booming with taste. 

The 2x2x2 meal was quickly finished, and before the pancakes had a chance to sit in my stomach, I order the avocado toast featuring grilled artisan bread covered with a tasty avocado spread, tomatoes, radish, and red onion. This was a real highlight off the menu, and the extra virgin olive oil and lemon sprinkled on top created a fantastic blend of flavors that I was not expecting. 

I was definitely full, but I wanted to try one more item off the menu. Luckily a friend met me at Honeybear, and they ordered the Rogers Park Extreme French Toast. I didn’t think I had it in me to eat more after devouring the pancakes earlier, but the cream cheese stuffed French toast, featuring fresh blueberries and bananas, and homemade strawberry compote and whipped cream were out of the world. The $11 meal provided a plethora of taste, and the homemade whipped cream really put a tasty stamp on the whole dish. 

The menu at Honeybear Cafe features plenty of items I look forward to trying out shortly, including Ella’s Very Berry Crepes, the Sloppy Skillet, and the Nutella Strawberry Waffles. Not to mention the great sounding lunch menu offering burgers, wraps, and sammies. 

It’s great to see the old A & T Pancake House transformed into a new Rogers Park must-visit restaurant. Honeybear Cafe features a splendid menu that’s both traditional and just adventurous enough to entice foodies looking for a local spin on breakfast and brunch classics.

Honeybear Cafe is open Monday thru Sunday from 7 am to 4 pm. The great prices and even better food made it easy for me to add this new restaurant to my list of local spots to revisit time and time going forward. 

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO