If there’s one restaurant group in Chicago that knows how to have a good time, it’s Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. And no one who deserves it more that our Administrative Professionals. Celebrate them today (April 26) and everyday at River North’s Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.Their special lunch menu ensures that your devoted, loyal staff will know they are appreciated and loved. 

According to several sources, the inception of Administrative Professionals Daydates back to World War II, when admin positions were difficult to fill. National Secretaries Day was started in response to show appreciation for administrative staff report, and the day was eventually broadened to include all administrative professionals. The observance was launched in 1952 by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Charles Sawyer. Today, we celebrate these professionals on the Wednesday of the last full week in April of each year.

What makes Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab the perfect place to celebrate your Administrative Professional? For one, its upscale menus fit every taste and dietary restriction, whether it be vegetarian or gluten-free. Second, Joe’s professional wait staff ensures that your needs will be taken care of while you dine there. 

Start with their Spinach-stuffed mushrooms, or a fresh Shrimp de Jonghe. Those with a more daring palate should try the Ahi Tuna Tartare or Charred Octopus, served with Corona beans, Kalamata olives, and arugula. Or, big spenders should try ‘The Whale,’ a market-price combination of King crab, lobster, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and Littleneck clams.

Do not miss their King Crab Louis Salad, lively with King crab, asparagus, tomato, onion, chopped egg, hearts of palm, avocado, and Louis dressing.  

Lunch entrees include a Seared Ahi Tuna Salad  with crispy sushi rice, bok choy salad, and Ponzu dressing.Since Joe’s is known as one of the best steakhouses in Chicago, lunch is a perfect time for a 12-ounce NY Strip Steak, or a Joe’s Classic Lunch, an all-inclusive spread of a 6 oz. Petite Filet Mignon Jennie’s mashed potatoes, Joe’s grilled tomato, and a delectable piece of their Key Lime pie. 

Google reviewers are mad for Joe’s . “One of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to in Chicago! We started with appetizers of jumbo shrimp and fried calamari which was wow! The other servers brought us hot towels to wipe our hands throughout the night and kept topping our water which was just impeccable service. My Main was grilled fish platter and steamed asparagus and my boyfriend got the fish pasta and lobster Mac n cheese! Superb! Some of the best food I’ve ever had. To our pleasant surprise our waitress brought a free chocolate brownie with a candle for my boyfriend for his birthday and I got a free key lime pie cause it was my first time there! Been to lots of so called top tier restaurants in Chicago but this place takes top spot cause our dinner was fantastic, attentive services, great music not too loud that you couldn’t have a conversation, good ambiance in your own little booth and an alright evening!”

Joe’s is located at 60 E. Grand Avenue. They are open Sunday-Thursday, 11:30am – 9:30pm, and Friday & Saturday, 11:30am 10:00pm. Reservations are highly recommended, and can be made here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Nothing can compare to the gratification that comes from successfully completing a home remodeling project yourself. Whether you’re retiling your bathroom or finishing a basement, there are many things you can accomplish yourself with hard work and determination.

However, there are a few things you should avoid trying to do yourself, whether for your own safety, your own sanity, or a combination of both. Here are some instances where you should seriously consider bringing in a professional before tackling a job yourself.

Electrical Wiring

Of all of the home remodeling projects you can turn over to a professional, electrical work is the most important. Attempting to do this work yourself can lead to serious injury and even death, so it’s extremely important to bring in a professional. A skilled electrician will also ensure the job is done correctly, which will reduce the risk of a fire and keep your utility bills low.

Plumbing

When your bathroom or kitchen remodel involves plumbing work, you’ll likely regret it if you try to do it yourself. You may think you can simply follow along with a do-it-yourself video or website article, but in truth, professionals have trained for years to do this kind of work. If your pipes aren’t fitted correctly, you could end up with a slow leak, causing your pipes to freeze in the winter and eventually break. When it’s time to reroute the plumbing during your remodeling project, call in a professional and save yourself future headaches.

Home Additions

If you’re adding a room onto your house, you could get yourself in hot water if you don’t work with a professional contractor. Contractors can handle securing the permits you’ll need to get the work completed and they’ll ensure the work follows local codes. This is important if you ever plan to sell the house, since potential homebuyers will want to see evidence that the work was done properly. It will also keep you in good standing with your homeowners association, if you have one, since they’ll know the work is being done correctly. Most importantly, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing the construction will hold up over many years of use.

Tree Removal

Homeowners usually remove trees for a couple of reasons. The primary motive for removing a tree is that it has become damaged during a storm. However, trees can also be removed as part of a home remodeling project, especially when a deck or extra room is being added. It can be tempting to get out the chainsaw and cut the tree down yourself. However, this can be dangerous. Professional tree trimmers wear protective gear and use the right equipment to safely take a tree down. When you hire a professional tree-trimming service, you’ll stay safe and you’ll know the job will be done correctly.

The Bottom Line

While there are many home remodeling projects you can handle yourself, there are some jobs you should leave to the professionals. Make sure you thoroughly research local providers before choosing one and get more than one bid to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

When you think of Chicago’s landmark museums, such as the Museum of Science and Industry or the Art Institute of Chicago, one forgets that the new kids on the block—the experiential, interactive experiences that have opened in the past decade, gives us even more to explore about the world, and in doing so, we discover more about ourselves.

Take, for example, the West Loop’s WNDR Museum, 1130 W. Monroe. 

Opened in 2018, and voted one of the Top Five ‘Immersive Art Experiences in the Country,’ WNDR (pronounced ‘wonder’) “reimagines the traditional museum excursion and engrosses guests with an eclectic mix of interactive installations, “ according to the website Secret Chicago. Through interactive, floor-to-ceiling immersive art displays, WNDR is a collective of thinkers, artists, poets, and designers working at the intersection of art and technology.​

As guests travel through WNDR Museum, you are “taken on a multi-dimensional journey in which they serve as an extension of each creator by interacting with various installations.”

Take, for example, their Infinity Room exhibit, ‘Let’s Survive Forever,’ which is closing April 30. As their website describes it, the exhibit features Yayoi Kusama-designed stainless steel balls suspended from the ceiling and arranged on the floor; an enclosed column within the room offers yet another mirrored environment accessible through peepholes. A sense of infinity is offered through the play of reflections between the circular shapes and the surrounding mirrors on the room’s walls.

Polka Dots Are Coming… 

A true springtime feast for the eye, the museum‘s upcoming three-story art installation, designed by Kusama, who at age 94 designed a series of “floating yellow spheres with black polka dots in a mirrored environment that guests can walk alongside and peep through.”

WNDR After Dark: 

Every third Friday of the month, from 6:30-10:30pm, WNDR’s doors are open late to enjoy our immersive interactive art experience after hours. The next WNDR After Dark on Friday, May 19 is, appropriately enough, MAY FLOWERS, presented by Bumble, which invites guests tocelebrate spring blooms. Following that, enjoy a floral arrangement workshop while sipping on floral cocktails created by Bueno Nights, and vibe to a curated mix by DJ MO Mami. While all ages are welcome, the alcohol will be available for purchase for guests 21+.

The WNDR Museum is open daily. Monday-Thursday, it’s open from 12pm – 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am – 10pm, and Sunday from 10am – 8pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

As consumer demand for fresh, affordable produce has risen, more homeowners than ever have become interested in growing their own. But with homes so tightly packed together in newer neighborhoods, finding space to design and nurture a garden can be challenging.

With a little creativity, however, you can grow fresh fruits and vegetables in your own back yard. Here are some great ideas for creating a winning garden in limited space.

Grow Upward

Some types of crops require extra space, but there are still plenty of options available. Even in a small area, some crops can thrive through the use of trellises and stakes. Tomatoes and peas grow upward rather than outward, making them ideal for limited square footage. Peas will need a trellis with a height of approximately three to four inches, while tomatoes require a tall stake to anchor them as they grow.

Zucchini and yellow squash can also be grown in a small space, since their growth can be driven up a trellis. You’ll just need to tie each individual item to the trellis by its stem to make sure it has the support it needs as it grows.

Grow in a Window

You don’t even have to go outside to grow some types of vegetables. Items like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant can be grown indoors, using the sunlight coming through a window. To effectively grow vegetables indoors, you’ll need a window that gets at least six hours of sunlight on a daily basis. You can use window boxes or hanging baskets to contain your vegetables as they grow. With the type of vegetables that grow upward, you may need to situate your boxes next to a trellis or stake as an anchor.

Ideal vegetables for indoor gardening include bush beans, bush and patio tomatoes, carrots, peas, spinach, radishes, and scallions. Indoor vegetables may not have the strength of flavor as those you plant outdoors, so be aware of this before choosing this option.

Grow Container Vegetables

Some vegetables can be grown in a small area like a patio, deck, or balcony. Called container gardening, this type of cultivation allows you to grow vegetables in a very limited space. Ideally, your containers should be placed in an area that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Vegetables like tomatoes and peppers should be situated in an area with plenty of air circulation to prevent disease.

To ensure your vegetables flourish, you’ll need a container with plenty of room for the plant to grow, while also having holes that allow excess water to run off. As a general rule, each pot should be at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches deep. An oversized pot or large container such as a bucket would work perfectly.

You don’t need to have a five-acre piece of land to grow delicious vegetables. Using these tips, you can set up a garden in a small space and enjoy fresh vegetables throughout the year. Experiment with different types of gardening and plant options to find the right combination for your own space.