Bonnie McGrath asks, “How come Rahm has to talk the future of the Lucas Museum with George and Mellody and not us?

With all the controversy surrounding the Lucas Museum, you would think the messaging would be a tad bit better. Now that the Friends of the Parks' lawsuit is proceeding, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is going to “talk things over with his pals George and Mellody” instead of asking the citizens of Chicago, more specifically, residents of the South Loop, what we think.

Whether you’re for or against the museum, it’s worth checking out McGrath’s complete editorial. Click here to read it.

South Loop Food Pantry looks for volunteers

Clients in line at food pantry

South Loop Community Church Food Pantry, 1347 S. State St., is looking for volunteers to help with their food pantry and clothes closet ministries. The church will be holding a brief introduction meeting on volunteer opportunities, Wednesday July 16, 2014 at 7:15 p.m.

In operation for over two years, the food pantry serves between 85 and 100 walk-ins every week. If you’re looking for a way to serve or give back to your community, volunteering at the food pantry might be for you. The food pantry needs volunteers on Saturday mornings, when food distribution takes place, as well as during the week to help with accepting food deliveries and restocking shelves.

Food distribution is every Saturday, 9-11 a.m. Three times a month, the pantry also offers fresh produce. The clothes closet distributes clothes and accessories for men, women, and children twice a month. The clothes closet operates the second and third Saturdays of every month during the food distribution. After food pantry clients get their food, they can look at clothing.

Click here to download flyer.

The food pantry has partnered with local businesses, like Overflow Coffee Bar, Marianos, Pret A Manger, and Urban Re-Mix, and community organizations like Greater South Loop Association (GSLA). The GSLA contributed $1000 to the help the pantry buy turkeys last year for Thanksgiving baskets.

For more information, visit the church’s Web site or contact them via e-mail at southloopcommunitychurch@gmail.com or call the church office at 312.566.9076.

For a look at how the food pantry operates, check out this post from local South Loop blogger Bonnie McGrath.

If you would like to promote this volunteer event in your building or office, click here to download flyer.


Full disclosure: The writer of this blog is a regular volunteer at the South Loop Community Church Food Pantry. It’s been a rewarding experience serving folks in need from our  neighborhood.

Sam's Wine Shop to close this Sunday

Another one bites the dust

According to the Chicago edition of Crain's, Sam's Wines & Spirits will be closing their South Loop store at Wabash and Roosevelt this weekend. The owners are blaming the "moribund" real estate market and the slow down of development in our once hot neighborhood.

"Incompetent snobs"

If you talk to folks in the South Loop you might hear another story. Many residence said Sam's wasn't an inviting place to shop. The staff was aloof and unfriendly according to several people we spoke with. Chicago Journal comumnist, Bonnie McGrath, went so far as to call the staff "incompetent snobs." McGrath's very entertaining and enlightening blog post is worth reading. It could be a primer on how to run a business into the ground.

It is a shame that the former bus station will be empty; it's a beautiful landmark-worthy structure that deserves decent tenants.