This Weekend In The South Loop

Trader Joe’s Grand Opening!
Ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Trader Joe’s is at 7:45 a.m. Friday, September 9. Probably the most anticipated business opening in the South Loop will finally be a reality. Second Ward Alderman, Bob Fioretti will be on hand for the ribbon-cutting, along with other South Loop community leaders.


Karaoke and Jazz

This Thursday Donna’s Café will have karaoke at 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. On Friday, Donna’s continues with jazz at 6 p.m – 9 p.m.

Family Fun
The annual Festival on Prairie Ave. is this Saturday from noon – 6 p.m. The family-friendly event is on Prairie and 18th St. There is a $5 donation.

Friday Fish Fry
It’s all-you-can-eat Friday Fish Fry at Weather Mark Tavern this Friday and every Friday. For $9.95 you get fish, fries, and red cabbage coleslaw. And don’t forget the homemade tartar sauce!

Art Opening
The Prairie Avenue Gallery is showing a new exhibit of mixed-media art this Friday from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served.

Free Social Media Workshop for 2nd Ward Businesses

Blagica Bottigliero

A free social media workshop will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2011 for 2nd Ward business owners. The event, focusing on Twitter, will be held at Prairie Avenue Gallery, 1900 S. Prairie Ave. from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

This is the third in a series of free social media workshops hosted by Blagica Bottigliero. 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.


The social media workshops are a joint venture between the Greater South Loop Association and the 2nd Ward Alderman's office. Bottigliero hopes to conduct similar workshops twice a month in different areas of the ward.

For more information on upcoming social media events, please visit the GSLA and The Daily Blagica Web sites. Or follow them on Twitter: @gr8southloop and @blagica.

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.

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.

Indie South/Indie Art Show at Prairie Ave. Gallery

An interesting exhibit of artwork by some local South Loop and Chicago-area residence is on display at the Prairie Ave Gallery, 1900 S. Prairie Ave.

The gallery describes the exhibit as “a group show of independent artists who live and work nearby the South Loop area.” The show features paintings, sculptures, photography, printmaking, and mixed media.

The artists featured include Elizabeth Buchanan, Elke Klaus, Sharon Vitali, Duk Ju L. Kim, Yvette Kaiser Smith, and Karen Wohlberg.

Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m.-3 p.m. The show runs until November 15, 2009. For more information, call 312-907-7907

Local artist, Karen Wohlberg stands in front of her artwork.