Lakeview: A new gelato shop is opening in the Lakeview neighborhood next month. Frio Gelato, an Argentinean shop, will fit right into the “Argentine Alley” that includes an Argentinean steakhouse and empanada restaurant. This is the second outpost of Frio Gelato (located at 3721 N. Southport Ave.), with the first in Evanston. Their Argentinean gelato is billed as a cross between regular ice cream and rich Italian gelato.  Their flavors are unique and varied. My eye was caught by the Malbec con Frutos Rojos: malbec wine with berries; as well as the Tramontana: vanilla streaked with milk caramel and chocolate chips. Check out more information about this exciting new venue on their website.

Lincoln Park: A new exhibit has opened at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park. “Our House: Rethinking Home in a Changing Climate” opened last Saturday. Geared towards kids, the exhibit is very hands-on. It encourages children to think about how homes will deal with global warming.    On April 6, there will be a special forum called “Thriving in a Changing Climate” with experts giving their opinions. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is very affordable, coming in at $9 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, $6 for children between the ages of 3 and 12, and free for children under 3.

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Ipsento 606, a Bucktown coffee shop (1813 N Milwaukee), has been working on their doughnut recipe for months. Owner Tim Taylor thinks they’ve “finally nailed it”. To celebrate, they will be giving away free doughnuts this Friday, March 31. The doughnuts are made from scratch with milled kamut (an ancient, high-nutrient grain) and sweet potato, and are fried in coconut oil. Starting Friday, they will be offering a slew of new doughnut flavors, including: chocolate ganache and pistachio, cinnamon and sugar, blueberry glaze, lemon, and a special flavor based on their latte. This doughnut will be flavored with honey, espresso, coconut, and cayenne. Customers will receive a free doughnut with any purchase on Friday. The shop opens at 7 am and will serve doughnuts until 2 pm.

Logan Square: Logan Square’s restaurant scene continues to expand with the addition of the hip new Indian spot, The Spice Room. Formerly Two Lions Pub and Grill, The Spice Room is located at 2906 W. Armitage Ave. The menu is large and incredibly varied. Their website bills their food as “modern interpretations of classic dishes using high-quality ingredients”. Glancing through the menu, I’m intrigued by the classic Butter Chicken: chicken cooked in a tomato based sauce with fragrant spices, butter and cream. I also want to try the Keema Samosa, filled with spiced minced lamb and peas. Hours are daily from 4-10 pm. The restaurant is  closed on Tuesdays.

Gold Coast: Renowned chef Derek Rylon (of Lincoln Park’s Batter & Berries) has just opened a new restaurant, Palette, in the Gold Coast neighborhood. Located at 1204 N. State St., the menu is varied and eclectic. During the day, Rylon will serve waffle flights and crawfish omelets. For the evening menu, he promises upscale dishes like lobster spaghetti with sautéed herb sauce, crab cakes with pineapple chutney, and filet mignon with lump crab and a red wine glaze. A waffle flight is just $11 and will be available until 5 pm on weekends. You can also make your waffles “boozy”, by pairing them with a shot for $3. Predicted hours are from 9 am to midnight on weekdays and 9 am to 2 am on weekends. Find more information on their website.

Oak Park: Looking for your next musical fix? The Fantasticks opens this weekend at Madison Street Theatre, presented by Concordia Collective. This timeless musical tells the story of two young lovers, their parents, and the journey we all take through the growing pains of hurt and betrayal. Performances are this Friday, March 31, at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm. Next weekend’s performances are the same time, on April 7th, 8th, and 9th respectively. Student and senior tickets are $15 and general admission tickets are $20. Buy yours today, here!

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Laundry is either a large or small job, depending on the number of people in your family. If you have children, unfortunately it will be a daily chore. Nevertheless, everyone in the family should be responsible for bringing their own laundry down and even younger children can help with sorting and folding. Make sure you DO the laundry. Just getting it into the dryer is not done. Folded and put away is finished!

The kitchen can get messy fast. The best idea here is to always clean as you go. Wash pots and pans as you cook, or at least fill them with soapy water. I’ve never had a dishwasher, but if you do, always rinse and load as you cook. Wipe down counters and cabinets as you go. If you let the counter get sticky, a little baking soda and a damp cloth works well and deodorizes too. Sweep or vacuum the floor daily and mop every few days. The Swiffer mop makes this easy and quick. The microwave can be a mess sometimes but prevention here is the best solution. Always cover everything. If there is an accident, clean it immediately. Once a week, quarter a lemon and heat it in a bowl of water. The steam will loosen any stuck-on gunk and the lemon will deodorize.

Bedrooms often suffer from clutter overload. We have so many items we use every day. Use a plastic caddy for makeup and lotions. Other items like brushes and hair tools can be stored in pretty baskets. I keep a Swiffer duster in the bedroom for quick daily dusting. Hang up clothes. The most important bedroom chore is making your bed daily. It only takes a few minutes and really makes the room look put together.

The bathroom is another room that benefits from a little attention every day. Use a hair catcher and clean it after every shower. Run the water for a minute to rinse all the soap and hair products away. This keeps the shower clean and prevents clogs down the line. Keep some paper towels in the bath and wipe down all the surfaces while they’re still moist and steamy.

The rest of the house can usually be kept tidy by not allowing clutter to overcome us. Pare down on the knickknacks, all they do is gather dust. Go through the mail daily. Shred anything that has any personal information. The Swiffer duster is a great help here also. They make one that extends to reach ceiling corners and fans. Vacuum weekly.

Keeping the house clean needn’t be an all-day affair. Just a few minutes a day will keep everything ship shape. 

KATHY WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

As wintertime events begin to wrap-up their season, springtime events are springing up all over the city and the Chicagoland area!

Celebrating its “Spring Fling” weekend this Saturday and Sunday (10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.), the Randolph Street Market transforms Plumbers Hall (1340 W. Washington St.) in the West Loop neighborhood into an ultimate shopping, eating and drinking experience.  Attendees will experience three floors of 125 vendors selling vintage objects and decor, antiques, indie designers, global goods, fancy foods, and fab drinks, as well as a #MenOfMarch vendor section!  Live music and a great variety of locally made sweet treats and savory goodies to enjoy onsite or take home also add to the best and most unique Chicago shopping under one roof!!

Kicking-off its 2017 season this Saturday, Seadog Cruises (600 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood, springs upon us its Seadog River & Lake Architectural Tours at 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.  You’ll enjoy a 75-minute river cruise  from the lakefront through the historic Chicago locks along the Chicago River for up-close views of famous bridges, all the way to Willis Tower and back; as well as with entertaining and up-close views of Chicago’s architecture and famous landmarks!  It’s the best way to hear fascinating stories about some of Chicago’s most famous buildings and more!!

As the Chicago Flower & Garden show wraps-up this Sunday at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood, so does the Spirit of Chicago Flower & Garden Cruises hosted by Spirit of Chicago.  These cruises (11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) include a delicious brunch buffet or lunch menu, DJ entertainment and a professional floral arrangement demonstration!  Not to mention the spectacular views of Chicago’s skyline you’ll enjoy!!

If you don’t have sea-legs, or should I say “lake-legs,” perhaps you’ll enjoy Brunching with Flowers for Dreams at Travelle (330 N. Wabash Ave.) in the River North neighborhood.  Participants put together an assortment of flowers to create beautiful and unique floral arrangements. All necessary tools and flowers are provided! There is also brunch from Chef Ricardo this Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. after you learn the techniques to create your bouquet!!

Neighborhoods of the World wraps-up its seven-week run at Navy Pier, Crystal Gardens (600 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood this Sunday (12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.) At this festival celebrating the Greek culture, you’ll experience the country of Greece with lively folk music, traditional dance, authentic Greek cuisine, crafts and more!  It’s a great way to travel without leaving the City – OPA!!!

Finally, the Chicago Home Show – Central Dupage sets-up at the beautifully remodeled Sheraton Lisle Hotel (3000 Warrenville Rd.) in Lisle, just west of the city, this Saturday and Sunday (10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).  There are hundreds of ideas for home improvement projects at this one stop shop for your home, landscape, and interior/exterior spring or summer projects.  Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss projects with local contractors and tradesmen who are repeat exhibitors and who take pride in their work!  There’s even a marketplace where you can browse and shop for items.  It’s time to plan and get those projects done so you can enjoy your summer!!

It’s Time to Get Sprung!  Who’s Going to Join Me?

When you obtain a mortgage, the interest rate that you are given will have a significant impact on how much the loan will cost you. Obviously, the lower the rate, the more affordable your mortgage will be. In this case, a larger proportion of your payment will go towards the principal portion compared to a mortgage with a higher interest rate. 

One of the best ways to secure a lower interest rate is to apply for a mortgage with an excellent credit rating. The higher your score, the better the odds of a lender extending a lower interest rate. Of course, the rate you end up with will also depend on what the current posted rate is.

However, you may also consider buying discount points to help lower your interest rate on your mortgage. In exchange for these points, you will have to pay certain pay lender fees. It should be noted that while buying points can sometimes lower mortgage interest rates, other times this purchase can cost more than it saves.

That’s because these points increase your closing costs despite lowering your interest rate. Whatever the amount these discount points cost you will be payable up front at closing. It’s important to crunch the numbers before you consider this purchase in order to ensure it makes financial sense.

How Can Discount Points Save You Money?

One mortgage point usually costs 1% of the loan amount. For instance, one point on a $300,000 mortgage would cost $3,000. Depending on the lender, one point can typically lower your interest rate anywhere between 0.125% to 0.25%. The lender gets the money in interest in a lump sum at closing instead of collecting it as the monthly mortgage payments are made.

If your 30-year fixed-rate mortgage of $300,000 comes with an interest rate of 4%, then your monthly mortgage payments would be $1,432. If you bought one point for $3,000, your interest rate would be reduced to 3.75% (assuming one point lowers the rate by 0.25%). In this case, your monthly mortgage payments would be lowered to $1,389. for a savings of $43 per month.

Of course, you need to account for that $3,000 that you had to pay up front to realize these monthly savings. In order to recoup that $3,000, it would take almost 70 months, or nearly 6 years to break even. After that, it’s all money in your pocket.

Discount points can also be tax-deductible in the year that you purchase your home because they’re considered a type of interest. Just make sure that you talk to your accountant or bookkeeper to make sure you’re eligible for these deductions.

Does Buying Discount Points Make Sense For You?

Purchasing discount points might be a great option if you plan on living in your home for the long haul. As illustrated above, you would realize savings after nearly 6 years have passed. If you plan on sticking around for 20+ years, you could be saving quite a bit of money. Consider how long you think you’ll be staying put.

Generally speaking, if you decide to buy discount points, you’ll want to live in your home for longer in order to get back all the money you spent buying the points. If you sell over the short-term, not only will you risk not being able to break even, you can even lose money.

Using the above example, if you sold your home after 3 years, you would actually lose money. That’s because it would take almost 6 years to make that $3,000 back. If you sell before that time, that’s as good as money lost.

Another consideration to make is the size of the down payment you’re able to come up with at closing. If you’re already scrambling to come up with the upfront costs associated with closing, it might not be worth it for you to be strapped for cash in order to gather up an extra $3,000 at closing.

The Bottom Line

In general, you’ll be able to save more money if your mortgage amount is bigger, the interest rate is higher, and the mortgage length is longer. If the current posted interest rate is already rather low and your mortgage is only short-term, you might not realize much savings at all. Carefully consider your current situation and where you see yourself in the future, and speak with your mortgage specialist to determine whether or not buying discount points is worth it for you.

Dawn dishwashing liquid is one of the best de-greasers there is. We have all seen the commercial where it’s used to clean birds after oil spills. It is effective on grease while being gentle on birds’ feathers and skin.

Dirty, greasy hands on adults and children are gone in a minute with a few drops of Dawn and warm water. Mix Dawn with corn oil to remove even oil based paint from hands. This method is much gentler than using paint removers.

Use in the laundry as a pre-treater. Rub into stains and agitate with an old toothbrush. This is especially effective on oily stains like butter, cooking oil and lipstick.

Dawn makes a great all-purpose spray cleaner. Mix 3 drops with one gallon water and use in a spray bottle. Use on counters, sinks, windows and woodwork. For heavy jobs, mix Dawn and vinegar, 1:1. Spray down shower wall, doors and tubs. Let sit for a while then rinse well.

Make a reusable ice pack with Dawn. Pour full strength into a heavy-duty freezer bag. Leave a little room for expansion. This will stay pliable even when closed and can be re-frozen many times.

Use Dawn as a clarifying shampoo once a month. It removes all the residue from shampoos, conditioners and styling products. Bathe the dogs in Dawn, as it kills fleas on contact and leaves a shiny coat.

Use one drop in a spray bottle to repel insects on houseplants. Spray all over the leaves, paying special attention to the undersides where insects often hide.

Dawn will clean and sanitize children’s toys. Use on kiddie pools with a sponge. It’s much safer for the material than bleach sprays that can cause deterioration in the sun.

KATHY WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO