A Walk Through Time—Sunday, June 11, 2017

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Glessner House Museum

This very special tour provides attendees with the rare opportunity to visit the interiors of several historic homes in the Prairie Avenue Historic District. Following the tour, attendees are invited to return to the museum for a reception and silent auction, featuring theatre tickets, Chicago memorabilia, collectibles, architectural fragments, and other items of interest.

Homes included on this year’s tour:
-William Kimball house, 1801 S. Prairie Avenue (Solon S. Beman, architect; 1890-1892)
-Joseph Coleman house, 1811 S. Prairie Avenue (Cobb & Frost, architects; 1886)
-Elbridge Keith house, 1900 S. Prairie Avenue (John Roberts, architect; 1870)
-Charles Purdy house, 213 E. Cullerton Street, (Thomas & Rapp, architects; 1891)
-William Reid house, 2013 S. Prairie Avenue (Beers, Clay & Dutton, architects; 1894)
-Harriet Rees house, 2017 S. Prairie Avenue (Cobb & Frost, architects; 1888)

William Kimball House 1801 S. Prairie Avenue

Glessner House Museum is also included on the tour as well as historic Second Presbyterian Church with its landmarked Arts and Crafts interior and collection of Tiffany windows. Clarke House Museum will be open to the public for free that afternoon.

Following the tour, attendees are invited to return to the museum courtyard for a reception featuring a jazz trio, appetizers donated by Armand's Victory Tap, Cafe Bionda, and Tapas Valencia, wine and beer donated by Binny's Beverage Depot, and a silent auction that includes theatre tickets, Chicago memorabilia, collectibles, and other items of interest.

Pre-purchased tickets recommended.

$50 per person/$40 members (member coupon code required)

Purchase Tickets

Recap: Social Media 101 for Small Business Owners

The Social Media Code
The mystery surrounding social media was decoded this morning. Social Media 101 For Small Business Owners, an event sponsored by the Greater South Loop Association, served as a primer on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and more. Featured speaker Blagica Bottigliero helped attendees navigate what for many is a new business-marketing frontier.

Facebook and Twitter are two of the most popular social media tools.

Social Media Pioneer
Bottigliero is an award-winning blogger and social media pioneer. She is the director of social media for Motorola Mobility. Bottigliero is a regular blogger for Crain’s Chicago Business.

Blagica Bottigliero explains how powerful Facebook can be for small businesses

Historic Location
Social Media 101 was hosted at the Prairie Avenue Gallery,  1900 S. Prairie Ave. The gallery is housed in the historic Keith House, one of the few remaining mansions from the heyday of Prairie Ave., Chicago’s first gold coast.

An attentive crowd gets a primer on Twitter

More Social Media Meetings to Come
Bottigliero revealed that she will be facilitating future meetings addressing social media concerns in association with Alderman Fioretti’s office. Check this blog for future upcoming social media events in the South Loop.

Did you attend Social Media 101 for Small Business Owners? If you did, what did you think?

Social Media 101 for Small Business Owners

Are you a small business owner looking to incorporate social media into your marketing plan? Are you wondering if today's social media tools can help your business grow? Come to Social Media 101 for Small Business Owners on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the Prairie Avenue Gallery, 1900 S. Prairie Ave., Chicago, IL. There is no charge for this event.

R U on Twitter?
You'll learn how to harness the potential of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media tools for your small business. Social media is all about connecting with your customers and building community. Successful outreach and community building can turn into sales for your small business.

Meeting Details
Date: Saturday, March 19, 2011
Venue: Prairie Avenue Gallery
Phone: 312-907-7909

Agenda
9 a.m. Meet and Greet
9:30 a.m. Community updates, information
10 a.m. Social Media 101 For Small Business Owners

Social Media 101 for Small Business Owners is sponsored by the Greater South Loop Association, bringing neighbors together. You can follow the GSLA on Facebook and Twitter.


About the Prairie Avenue Gallery and the Keith House

Prairie Avenue Gallery was founded in the mid-1980s by Joy Darrow in the Prairie Avenue Historic District. The gallery had been dormant after her death in 1996, but in 2009 her daughters Marcy and Tracy Baim reopened the gallery as an eclectic showcase.

The Keith House at 1900 S. Prairie Ave. was built in 1870.

Completed in 1870, the Keith House was built and owned by Elbridge G. Keith. Elbridge, along with his two brothers (O.R. and Edison) opened a very successful millinery business in Chicago. Elbridge Keith later helped found the Metropolitan National Bank and served as its first president.  It was one of the grandest homes on Chicago's historic Prairie Ave.

Looking for a Unique Place to Have a Wedding or Special Event? Consider the Historic Glessner House Museum

The Glessner House was built in 1886.

A Gem in the South Loop

Of all the architectural gems in Chicago, the Glessner House in the South Loop more than holds its own. Built in 1886 by famed American architect, Henry Hobson Richardson, the 17,000-square foot mansion at 1800 S. Prairie Ave. is situated on the same street as the homes of Marshall Field, Philip Armour, and George Pullman. Those three homes are no more, but the Glessner House, now a museum, is a window on this glamorous period in Chicago’s history.

An outdoor reception set up in the courtyard

Museum Available for Rentals
Even though the Glessner House is a museum, it can be rented for weddings, meetings, and corporate functions. The coach house can accommodate up to 150 guests.  During the warmer months, the courtyard can also accommodate 150 guests as well.  For weddings, the former conservatory serves as a suite for the bride and bridal party. And because the house is a museum, special tours of the home can be part of any rental package.

The Glessner dining room

Perfect for Small, Intimate Gatherings
For smaller intimate events, consider the dining room. You can entertain up to 50 people for a sit-down dinner in this elegant setting. The Glessner’s storied dining room hosted some of the nineteenth century’s biggest celebrities, including famed Italian tenor Enrico Caruso.

The courtyard in the evening

Seminar and Meeting Space
If you’re looking for a space for a meeting or seminar, the east parlor on the second floor is an ideal space. Within walking distance of McCormick Place, it’s the perfect location for an offsite meeting or reception.

The home's architecture lends itself to some unique photographs.

Neighborhood Favorite
Neighborhood organizations like the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance and the Greater South Loop Association have found the Glessner House to be the perfect venue for their major events and fundraisers. The GSLA is having their Fall Classic event here on October 15, 2010 . The PDNA held their Toast of the South Loop event in the Glessner coach house and courtyard this past June.

The PDNA hosted the Toast of the South Loop this past June.

Lynne Mickle Smaczny, Assistant to the Director of the Glessner House Museum, manages museum rentals. She has plans and packages that can be customized to fit the needs of your family, group, or nonprofit organization.

For information on renting the Glessner House Museum for your reception or business meeting, call Ms. Smaczny at 312-326-1480 or e-mail her at rentglessnerhouse@sbcglobal.net.

Rent a Piece of History: The Historic Keith House

The Keith House was completed in 1870.

Located on 1900 S. Prairie Ave. is the Keith House. Once one of the grandest private homes in the South Loop’s historic Prairie Ave. neighborhood, it is now an art gallery as well as a rental space for both corporate and private functions. Owner/operator, Marcy Baim is ready to help you plan your next bridal or baby shower, birthday party, or corporate event. The home can comfortably accommodate from 25 to 150 people.

The historic home can accommodate up to 150

The Keiths’ Chicago Legacy
Completed in 1870, the Keith House was built and owned by Elbridge G. Keith. Elbridge, along with his two brothers (O.R. and Edison) opened a very successful millinery business in Chicago. Elbridge Keith later helped found the Metropolitan National Bank and served as its first president.

A reception is set up in the art gallery

The Prairie Ave Gallery
After Keith’s death in 1905, the home stayed in the family’s hands until the 1920s.  During the next few decades, the home was purchased and sold several times. Eventually in was purchased in 1978 by Joy Darrow and Steven Pratt, who established the Prairie Avenue Gallery in 1986. Today, it is still a gallery for emerging artists. During this year’s Festival on Prairie Avenue, Marcy Baim, a professional photographer,  will be exhibiting some of her work. The Festival will be held on S. Prairie Ave. on Saturday September 11 from noon to 6 p.m.

An elegant table set for a birthday celebration

Weddings and Showers and Birthdays, Oh My!
The Keith House has hosted all kinds of events: small, intimate weddings, book signings, birthday parties, and fund raisers. One of the most memorable events, according to Baim, was a fund-raising art show for an artist-friend who had recently been confined to a wheelchair. When the evening was over, 80% of the artwork was sold.  When Baim rents out space for parties, weddings, and corporate events, she helps fund the gallery, which is free and helps make it a “neighborhood cultural destination.”

One of the parlors is set up for a meeting

Mention Us and Save
The next time you’re looking for a special place to hold your next party or event, the Keith House should  rank high on your list. For information on scheduling an event, please visit the Prairie Avenue Gallery Web site or call Marcy Baim at 312-907-7909. Mention the South Loop Connection when booking your event and receive a 5% discount.

New book club in the South Loop

BookSpeak is a new free book discussion group that recently formed in the South Loop. Sponsored by the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance (PDNA), the discussion group has day and evening meetings.

Jackie Walker, PDNA vice president and local author, is leading the discussion at the historic Keith House, 1900 S. Prairie Ave. The first book they will be discussing is The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.

For more information, visit the PDNA's Web site or e-mail JAX6014@aol.com.