It’s important to ensure your home is well maintained. I’ve outlined a checklist to help with this yearly task. First be sure to install and maintain CO2 and smoke detectors. They need to be installed outside of every bedroom and on each floor of the house, including the basement. In an average sized home, one centrally located device on each floor should be sufficient. While everyone understands the danger that fire poses, carbon monoxide is just as dangerous. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and can be poisonous in small amounts. Units that combine smoke and CO2 alarms are now available with batteries that last the life of the unit. Replace them after 10 years. Instruct family members that hearing the alarm means leaving the home immediately.

If your home has a second story or more, consider fire escape ladders. Teach everyone how to use them. You need two ways to exit a room. Fire may block the door and the only way out could be the window. 

Build an emergency kit and keep it in a waterproof tub. Check it annually for a refresh. You can find out what you need by going to www.ready.gov/kit. 

When it comes to the kitchen, this room can be full of fire hazards. It’s a good idea to keep a disposable fire extinguisher ready and handy. Check them monthly to ensure the pressure gauge is in the green zone and that the pins and seals are intact. Teach everyone the PASS method of using the extinguisher. Pull the pin to release the locking mechanism. Aim at the base of the fire. Squeeze the lever slowly. Sweep the nozzle from side to side. Extinguishers should only be used on small, confined fires. If fire is growing despite using the extinguisher, leave the house immediately.

Light stairwells with motion activated battery powered lights in case of a power outage. Keep them free of clutter. Make sure handrails are present and in good repair. If your stairs don’t have carpet, use slip resistant tape or treads. 

Have your furnace and air conditioner inspected and cleaned at least once every other year. Keep bushes and any other material away from the unit. The units need good air flow. The furnace filter should be changed monthly. The cheaper filters are sufficient and just as effective if you change them monthly.

Please check your home for risks of poison; especially if there are children or pets in the home. Always store all cleaners and chemicals in their original containers. Store anything harmful out of reach, with safety locks in tact. 

Check your sump pump, especially after a heavy rain. The pit should be clean and the pipe clear so water can flow freely. Call a professional if the unit is not starting when tested. 

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer; first among non-smokers. Radon comes up from the soil under our homes as a by product of decaying uranium. Levels can vary from house to house, so even if your area is not generally known for high levels, it still makes sense to test. Radon testing kits are available at home improvement centers. Follow the instructions carefully to get an accurate reading. If your level is higher than 4 pCi/L, do a second test. Still high? Contact a Radon Mitigation Specialist to see which mitigation method will be effective for you.  

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

Are you ready for another weekend that’s bringing Chicago lots of summer weather and fun?  I hope so because that’s what we’re getting!

Looking for a blast from the past? Check out the 24^th annual Retro on Roscoe, returning to Roscoe Street and Damen Avenue in Roscoe Village this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.). Three stages will offer live music playing oldies, throwbacks and popular hits along a six-block stretch. The beautiful tree-lined streets will set the scene for artisans, antique vendors, and cool merchants. Top local restaurants will serve up summer treats for the whole family.  Other festival features include a family area with crafts, balloon artists, face painting, music, rides, and more as well as Retro’s Antique Car Show showcasing over 50 antique, classic and muscle cars! It’s a ‘back in the day’ weekend!

The Wells Street Art Festival returns for its 46^th year to Chicago’s historic Old Town neighborhood on Wells Street between North Avenue and Division Street this Saturday (10 a.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-9 p.m.). On hand will be a diverse mix of more than 125 juried artists from both the region and across the nation where you can bid on original paintings, jewelry, photography and more at their two-day silent auction. Other highlights include tasty cuisine from the neighborhood’s restaurants, live music, and kids’ art activities! It’s a treasure trove of creativity!

The Firehouse Community Arts Center in the North Lawndale neighborhood will be hosting their community block party, Firefest One Lawndale, this Saturday (12 p.m.-9 p.m.) at 2111 S. Hamlin Avenue. This fest features an afternoon of hip-hop performances, breakdancing and more.  Plus, guests will be able to check out a graffiti showcase, take part in three-on-three basketball games, enjoy food from local vendors, and even win a prize or two!

Enjoy a fun-filled evening of Puerto Rican dance, music, and cultural celebration at Noche Caribeña this Saturday (6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.) at Navy Pier’s Polk Bros Park Lake Stage lawn (600 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood. This free, special concert is open to the public and features music ensembles from the Latin American and Caribbean diaspora and offers spectacular views of Chicago set against the backdrop of Navy Pier!

This triple-threat bill was supposed to rock Wrigley Field (1060 W. Addison St.) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood last summer, but it’s been rescheduled for this Sunday (5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.) and has been dubbed The Hella Mega Tour. Joining forces to co-headline this summer jaunt is the contemporary radio-friendly alt-rock titans Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer!  Enjoy listening to an alt-rock playlist as it comes to life!

Are you ready for some football? As you may or may not know, Chicagoans are also gearing up for the 2021-2022 football season. The Chicago Bears will take on the Miami Dolphins at their first NFL preseason game this Saturday (12 p.m.) at Soldier Field (1410 S. Museum Campus Dr.) in the South Loop. Will this be our year to win it all?  We’ll have to wait and see!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

On June 10, 1971—50 years ago—Chicago’s restaurant scene changed forever when R.J. Grunts, with its irreverent menu and innovative salad bar-opened across the street from Lincoln Park Zoo. The brash young owner, Rich Melman was dubbed a wunderkind, and the Lettuce Entertain You (LEYE) franchise (currently L Woods, Wow Bao, RPM, Wildfire, etc.) was born.

Named for the two owners and the sound a girlfriend made when she ate, R.J. Grunts explains that they cater to “the neurotic compensation of eating with our all-American menu that includes the tastiest burgers in town and hand-spun shakes and malts. That funky lifestyle of the ’70s is still exuded in our style, décor and music.”

What fascinated Chicagoans then…and now about Lettuce Entertain You restaurants is its personal commitment to serving the freshest ingredients in unique ways. All the clever names in the world wouldn’t matter if the meals and beverages didn’t live up to the LEYE motto, which was: “Our goal is not to be the biggest, but to be the best we can be.”

At R.J. Grunt’s,  half a century of quality and insouciance is blended into their handcrafted burgers and fries, as well as weekend brunches. The Gruntburger is described as “the cosmic cornerstone of culinary karma. Carefully hand crafted with fried onions, blue cheese & all that other stuff.” Medium rare or well-done? Please specify. This meal would be perfectly paired with a SEÑOR GRUNTS’ MARGARITA with tequila, agave nectar and lime on the rocks. Grunt’s Grinds is their own of coffee, blending the highest end arabica coffee & “filter the water to keep it from tasting crappy.” 

The legendary salad bar has changed with the times. Gone is the all-you-can-eat abundance of greens, tomatoes, mushrooms, cheeses, beets, and 50 other choices. Now, customers can experience the Digital Chopped Salad Bar, along with a lengthy explanation:

WHY I RE-INVENTED THE SALAD BAR BY R.J. GRUNT

“After many, many, many, many years of watching your failed attempts at a salad, I’ve found that some of your concoctions are quite disgusting, and frankly have gotten on my nerves. I mean come on, Broccoli-Cheddar Soup as a dressing? Flicking Garbanzo Beans across the room? Picking up Jell-O with your bare hands? Well now, welcome to my newest creation–the Digital Chopped Salad Bar. I don’t know how my chefs did it, but they somehow fit the salad bar into your phone. Alas, the future has arrived. Come on and take a byte.”

Start your meal with eclectic options like Pickle fries or Nachos Nirvana before unique dinner options including Steak on a Stick. “I had this bright idea after a night of camping with no cookware,” explained Mr. Grunt. “Tender cuts of steak untenderly assembled on an enormous toothpick with mushrooms, onions & bell peppers. assembled on an enormous tooth-“ Or this explanation for Cedar Plank Salmon, “I was going to reside my house but this seems like a better use of my old cedar planks. Maple Dijon glazed and served with grilled asparagus.”

Desserts are a must here. Giant shakes and malts come made with yogurt or premium-grade ice cream and in any flavor imaginable, including dreamsickle. You can also try their Cookie in a Bowl: a giant chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven, topped with vanilla ice cream & hot fudge. The sequel has caramel sauce and a cinnamon cookie.

R.J. Grunts is located at 2056 N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614. It’s a perfect place to take the kids for a treat, lunch or dinner after a day at Lincoln Park Zoo. For more information, click here. 

Alison Moran and Dean’s Team Chicago

If you own a home, there was certainly a lot that went into your decision to buy rather than continue to rent. Now you’re enjoying all the advantages of homeownership. Here are the top five.

Building wealth: When you own a home, you have an asset that will likely increase in value over time. It provides great security, and the opportunity to essentially live “rent-free” in your retirement years when the home is paid off.

Freedom to make it your own: Landlords can be strict about customizing rental properties. Most don’t even allow their tenants to paint. But when you own a home, the possibilities are endless. Get rid of a wall, or paint it any color you like. It’s your property.

Building equity: Every mortgage payment you make, and every improvement you make on the home, is putting money back into your pocket. Unlike with renting, owning a home gives you more than just a place to live. You can use your home equity to get loans and even cash for emergencies.

More freedom and stability: Studies show that homeowners have a better sense of pride and security than renters. When you relax in your own home, you know it’s the result of hard work and planning, and that you have the freedom to change it as you wish.

Tax advantages: Homeowners can deduct the interest paid on home loans and property taxes—that’s a big break that comes up every April 15.