Outdated kitchen. Overrun backyard. Unusable basement space. If you have a home renovation project on the mind, the first thing you have to consider is how you are going to finance it. Here are the most common options to make your dreams become a reality.

Cash. Paying in cash is the most straightforward financing option, just save until you have enough money to cover the expenses. This will help eliminate spending outside your budget; however, it can also extend your timeline.

Mortgage Refinance. If you’ve been making payments on your home for a few years and your interest rate is higher than current market rates, you may be eligible for a mortgage refinance, reducing your payments and freeing up some money.

Cash-Out Refinance. You can tap into your home equity and borrow up to 80 percent of your home’s value to pay off your current mortgage plus take out more cash to cover the renovations. This option is encouraged only when you’re making improvements that will increase the value of your home, as it can add a lot of interest and fees.

Home Equity. Getting a home equity line of credit allows you to borrow money against the value of your home. You receive usually up to 80 percent of your home’s value, minus the amount of your loan.

Retirement Funds. Homeowners can consider pulling money from a 401K or IRA account, even though they aren’t specifically meant to cover a home renovation. This option might incur additional penalties or tax payments, but may be worth it when making improvements that will benefit them financially in the long run.

Wicker Park: Are you a big Prince fan? Then you definitely won’t want to miss Aniba and The Sol Starz pay tribute to one of the most iconic artists of all time. Aniba and the Sol Starz are a funk-rock band from Chicago made up of six members. With three vocalists, a bass player, lead guitarist, and drummer, they’ll have you remembering what you love so much about pop-rock music. Aniba and the Sol Starz will be playing at The Point located at 1565 N Milwaukee Ave at 7 pm on Wednesday, June 16. This talented group will be playing all of Prince’s classics. It’s been a long time since most of us have seen live music, what better way to get back into the groove of things than to hear some of your favorite timeless classics! Tickets cost $25. Find more information here.

Fulton River District: With the weather warming up this is a perfect opportunity to get outside and exercise. Working from home has definitely made exercise harder to come by lately. Essence of Life Chicago makes it easy with an Outdoor Pilates Sculpt class! This class will take place outside of their studio in their garden area. They encourage everyone to come and offer modifications to accommodate all skill levels. They ask that you bring your own mat and pre-register for your class. Classes will be held at 641 W Grand Ave and are held on Sunday mornings and Monday through Thursday in the evenings. The classes will continue through the month of June. Find more information here.

The Loop: Experience the Loop like you never have before with the Chicago Haunted History Tour. Chicago is home to many ghosts and spooky buildings and this tour will show you the scariest ones. The tour will start at the Congress Plaza Hotel, and you’ll work your way through The Palmer House Hotel, The Alley of Death, and much more! You’ll get to learn about a dark side of Chicago that not many people know. They’ll even teach you about real Chicago monsters like John Wayne Gacy. The tour is about two hours long and 1.5 miles. It is free to take but groups of 6 or more will have to pay a prepaid fee of $10 per guest. For more information click here. 

Logan Square: We all are in need of a good laugh every now and then, and what better way than with a comedy show? A perfect place to relax and have a good time is at the Lincoln Lodge Comedy Showcase every Friday and Saturday at 8 pm. Enjoy a nice beverage from their bar as you sit and watch their stand-up comics. Be careful, because these comics will have your drink coming out of your nose with how much you’ll be laughing! Each week there is a variety of comedians that perform, and they tend to showcase Chicago’s best up-and-coming comedians in the business. In the past, they have had performers such as Amy Schumer, Hannibal Buress, and Fred Armisen from Saturday Night Live. This isn’t a show you’ll want to miss. You can find more information here. 

ALLIE BERTRAND AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Sometimes we don’t realize how some things we say can be taken differently by others, especially in the workplace. We may inadvertently give a wrong impression with the words we choose.

Think about when you say the phrase “I’ll try.” This can leave people doubting your commitment. When you ask someone to try, they may feel like you are not confident in their ability to complete the task.

If you have concerns about being able to do an assignment, be specific about your challenges. Instead of saying “I’ll try,” try asking for clarification. 

If you always answer “I’m so busy” when asked how you are doing, others may think they are taking up too much of your time. They might think you are positioning yourself as more important than them. To avoid this, try saying, “I would love to talk but I have a client meeting in a few minutes,” then offer a time later that you can converse.

Sometimes we feel the need to be self-deprecating before we contribute to a meeting. When you start with “This might not work” or “This might not be a good idea,” it can immediately dilute others’ confidence in you. Simply state your idea instead. 

We all often cringe when someone says “With all due respect…” Who wouldn’t? What follows is likely not respectful or productive! If you feel angry, take a few moments to collect yourself and merely say what you have to say. 

Then there’s that great word “but”. If you are answering a co-worker with “That idea is good, but…” it makes it seem like you are dismissing their idea entirely. Instead, leave out the but. Try, “That sounds workable, we can look at it more closely.” It will help that person feel more valuable.

It is always a good idea to think a moment before you speak. We feel people should automatically understand what we mean or what our intentions are, but often they don’t. Attempting to leave these words and phrases out of your vocabulary can help ensure a more positive workplace.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

This first weekend in June is going to be a hot one (temperature wise) so be sure to stay hydrated when venturing out to any of the following events for your weekend enjoyment!

Support Lincoln Park Zoo during this critical time by participating in their virtual Run for the Zoo! Choose between a 5K or 10K run or walk while enjoying nature in your community at your own pace between this Saturday and next Sunday. All participants will receive unique swag and be able to stay connected to the zoo community through motivational emails and a Facebook event page to connect with other participants. There’s even a virtual Safari Stampede event for the kids to get them outside and active! Plus, access to special zoo events is available with the Premium Care and Safari Stampede Packages only!!

The Get Growing Foundation is offering its first Get Growing! Expo presented by Wintrust Bank this weekend at Pioneer Court (401 N. Michigan Ave.) on The Magnificent Mile beginning at 11 a.m. each day. This event features free educational and make-n-take workshops, interactive gardening exhibits, ten inspirational and themed garden vignette displays, and Plant Truck Chicago (mobile plant boutique)! Best of all it’s free to the public and designed to attract a blossoming gardening audience as well as seasoned gardeners!!

The Maxwell Street Market is reopening this Sunday with a new schedule: 1st & 3rd Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (weather permitting) through December 19 of this year. This outdoor market is located at 800 S. Des Plaines St. in the Little Italy/University Village neighborhood and has been a Chicago tradition since 1912 with an eclectic mix of handmade crafts, resale clothing and housewares, live music, some of the best street food in Chicago and plenty of family fun! The market was immortalized in a scene in The Blues Brothers, provided a venue for rising Chicago blues musicians, and even introduced the Maxwell Street Polish sausage!!

The popular 57th Street Art Fair will unfortunately be virtual this year through May 2022. However, it will give you something to do when indoors by featuring over 100 incredible artists selling their original works of art which include ceramics, mixed media, paintings, jewelry, photography, sculptures, hand-crafted furniture, and more! Plus, you can learn more about the artists with daily introductions on the art fair’s Facebook page!!

If you plan on heading to Chicago’s Riverwalk, then stop by The Northman Summer Music Series at the Pergola Stage located at the Northman Beer & Cider Garden (233 E. Riverwalk). This FREE live music series by the river kicked off this past Friday and will run through Labor Day. Check their website for full listings.

Check out exhilarating dance performances every Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. through September 4 at Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Moves. This dance series is presented in partnership with See Chicago Dance, showcasing an eclectic selection of Chicago dance companies, ensembles, and choreographers.

Take in a Chicago Dogs game this Saturday (7 p.m.) and/or Sunday (3 p.m.) as they take on the Gary SouthShore RailCats at Impact Field (9850 Balmoral Ave.) in Rosemont. Remember, fans of all ages are welcomed for a one-of-a-kind experience where every game is fan appreciation day!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

Chicago native Chef Donald Young, one of the youngest chefs awarded a Michelin star in the states, brings his culinary expertise of French dining to the recently opened Venteux, located at 224 North Michigan Avenue inside the Pendry Hotel. 

Blending classic and iconic French staples with a welcome and adventurous twist, the menu and presentation at Venteux make this new Loop restaurant a must-visit for those looking for French cuisine that mixes the classics with a touch of welcome boldness.

The hors d’oeuvres portion of the menu at Venteux welcomes visitors with a plethora of outstanding French favorites. French onion soup is well represented with a smothering of Gruyere cheese, chives, and onion ash that leaves your taste buds in a trance thanks to the medley of flavors. 

The Brie en Croute featuring Brioche, honey, fig, and olive chutney, and mussels with Merguez and harissa are both worthy of repeat visits to Venteux. Chef Young’s superb lobster pasta with winter truffle and chorizo is a tour de force of taste, while the Eggs Five Ways with Delice de Bourgeon cheese, leek, and potato offers a creative spin on this breakfast classic.

Seafood fans will delight in the Grand Tower featuring oysters, mussels, clams, and shrimp. Or go all out for a memorable dinner with the Venteux Tower starring oysters, mussels, clams, shrimp, lobster, and delectable king crab.

Dinner service at Venteux features a greatest hits of French cooking, with the succulent whole dry-aged duck diner for two being a top choice for date night. The pan-fried Dover Sole Meunière with brown butter powder, lemon puree topping, and parsley looks like it belongs as the winner on a cooking competition show. Be sure to try out the 5 day braise short rib with soubise and a rich Perigueux sauce that is as delicious as it is eye-popping on the plate. Both the dry-aged duck breast and dry-aged ribeye are classics with a modern flare sure to delight even the most critical foodie. 

The beer and wine selections at Venteux have everything you would want; however, it’s the cocktails that genuinely shine at this new Loop establishment. Highlights include The Honey Badger with Bombay Sapphire, grapefruit juice, cucumber, lime, and honey. The French Alchemist with Grey Goose, St. Germain, Liquid Alchemist Prickly Pear, lime, mint, and Chandon is something you will want seconds of. The Spill the Tea made up of a delicious concoction of Mallorca Melon Tea Infused Casamigos, Casamigos Mezcal, serranos, lime, agave, and Tajin may be the best drink to hit the Loop in recent memory. 

The 4,000 square-foot space at Venteux is made up of two sections- the daytime cafe featuring 40-foot windows welcoming plenty of natural light via Michigan Avenue offers breakfast and lunch service while the radiant brasserie complete with Persian rugs, comfortable seating, and a shellfish and champagne bar creates an ideal a mise-en-scène for the memorable meal ahead.

Venteux is open from 7 am to 3 pm for breakfast and lunch and from 4 pm to 10 pm daily for dinner service. 

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO