Shannon Boland: South Loop Ambassador

Blackstone head concierge, Shannon Boland

Even though she lives in Uptown, the South Loop has a great ambassador in the person of Shannon
Boland, head concierge at the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel. She was recently profiled in the Chicago Tribune where she shares her experiences helping guests and visitors navigate the ins and outs of Chicago.

I met Shannon via Twitter about three years ago. As a newcomer to the South Loop, she was building a network of followers who could help answer questions about happenings in our neighborhood. We still share news and information to this day. In fact, every time I get my hair cut, I stop by the Blackstone afterward to catch up.

Shannon is from a small town in Missouri. A fine arts major (drama), she came to Chicago to join the city’s theater scene. Shannon became a concierge to pay the bills and realized that she loved helping people and solving problems.

For a link to the entire article, click here.

South Loop Sidewalk Stewards

Whether summer or winter, sidewalk maintenance and beautification is a big part of being a good neighbor. Starting in 2014, the Greater South Loop Association will celebrate neighbors that go above and beyond to make the public right-of-way safe, clean, welcoming and attractive – thus, the South Loop Sidewalk Stewards!

Winter awards will be given for consistent and thorough snow and ice management of the public right-of-way: including sidewalks, parking areas, ADA ramps, bike lanes, Divvy stations, etc.

Recognize this spot? Not a likely Sidewalk Steward Award nominee!

Awards for the rest of the year will be given for landscaping quality, litter and debris removal, public art, and supporting an active, walkable neighborhood.

How it works:

Nominate a South Loop Sidewalk Steward by sharing photos (or video) of laudable sidewalk upkeep via the GSLA Facebook page or on their Twitter feed, then send a quick e-mail to GSLA Board member Josh Ellis with some supporting information. Be sure to note the address, date, and business name (if applicable) of your nominee – anything to help build the case. Be sure to include your name as well.
Nominations for Winter 2013-2014 are due by April 1, 2014.
Nominations for Summer 2014 are due by October 1, 2014.

• A public online vote will be held and the results will be taken into account by the judging panel.
• That evidence, in addition to site visits and general knowledge, will be used by a panel of judges to determine winners in 3 categories –residential, commercial, and institutional (i.e. church, park, school, etc.). The judging panel will be announced soon.
• Winners will be announced at the May 17, 2014 GSLA Community Updates meeting and November 15, 2014 GSLA State of the South Loop meeting.
• Self-nominations will be accepted, but nominations of your neighbors and neighborhood businesses are encouraged.
• Use of environmentally sustainable practices is also encouraged – not too much salt, use native plants, water conservation, etc. Wonder what we call sustainable? We go by the Lawn to Lake standards, a program of the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Want to know more about native plants? The City of Chicago has a list you can use.
• This is meant to reward GOOD behavior. We all know that some folks in the neighborhood do a pretty pitiful job of maintaining the public right-of-way. We get it. But we want to acknowledge and celebrate those that do things right.

Questions? Contact GSLA Board member Josh Ellis, joshua.nb.ellis@gmail.com . Additionally, GSLA is actively seeking a sponsor for the South Loop Sidewalk Stewards – please contact GSLA Board member Josh Ellis if interested.

Food Trucks at the 2012 Bash on Wabash!

Food truck roundup at the Bash
Have you had a tamale on Taylor Street? A cupcake on Clinton? A sandwich on State? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ve probably enjoyed a meal or a tasty treat from one of Chicago’s food trucks. The recent rise of food trucks in the city is one of the things that makes living in Chicago fun and exciting. Food choices range from simple to gourmet, comfort to healthy. In other words, there’s something for everyone.

Wagyu on Wabash
At this year’s Bash, you’ll be able to enjoy food and treats from some of the best food trucks around. You can feast on pancakes from Babycakes, “samiches” from SamichBox, and delicious frozen treats from Starfruit. And that’s just Saturday’s lineup! On Sunday there’s homemade cupcakes from GiGi’s Bakeshop, Wagyu Beef and other tasty meats from Wagyu Wagon, and awesome tamales from Tamale Spaceship!

GiGi’s Bake Shop at the 2011 Bash

Food Truck Schedule and Twitter Handles—Tweet them and say you’re coming to the #Bash12!

Saturday August 25, 2012
Babycakes-@BabyCakesTruck
SamichBox-@SamichBox
Starfruit-@StarfruitCafe

Sunday August 26, 2012
GiGi’s Bakeshop-@GigisBakeShop
Wagyu Wagon-@TheWagyuWagon
Tamale Spaceship-@tamalespace101
The Bash on Wabash is the South Loop’s annual street festival that benefits the Greater South Loop Association. For more information, please visit the GSLA website. For up-to-the-minute Bash info, visit their Facebook page.

Metropolitan Veterinary Center in the South Loop

If you’re a pet owner living in the South Loop, you’ve probably noticed Metropolitan Veterinary Center at 1556 S. Michigan Ave. But did you know that it’s a state-of-the-art pet clinic that offers in-house laboratory services, dental care, ultrasound exams, and overnight care?

Dr. Kjerstin Jacobs, DVM (far right) with staff

Two vets on staff
The two veterinarians on staff, Dr. June LaFave, VMD and Dr. Kjerstin Jacobs, DVM are the founding partners of Metropolitan Veterinary Center. Both have experience in emergency and critical care medicine and surgery, which they do at the Center.

Bright location

The Center includes a state-of-the-art operating theater.

The corner location at 16th and Michigan is ideal. The entire space is bathed in natural light. When rehabbing the building, they incorporated the existing windows on the east and south sides of the building into the design, creating a welcoming atmosphere that includes separate waiting areas for dog and cat owners. The walls are decorated with images of cats and dogs photographed in and around Chicago. To make dogs feel comfortable, there’s even an red fire hydrant applique on the wall.

Convenient hours
Hours at the Center are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. For more information, you can visit their Web site. You can also like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. If you have immediate concerns regarding your pet, please call them at 312.583.1921.

16th Annual Chicago SummerDance Returns to Grant Park July 19

The largest annual outdoor dancing series in the United States, Chicago SummerDance returns for its 16th year of “jumping, jiving and bringing joy to Chicago’s residents and visitors.” SummerDance will take place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon from 4 to 7 p.m., weather permitting, from July 19 through September 16.

Chicago SummerDance will kick off at the 32nd annual Taste of Chicago, July 11 – 15, with DJs spinning a different genre of music each night in Grant Park. Chicago SummerDance then moves to the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, 601 S. Michigan Ave. July 19 – September 15 for introductory one-hour dance lessons taught by professional instructors followed by two hours of live music and dancing.

The final evening of Chicago SummerDance is schedueld to take place in Millennium Park on the AT&T Plaza in front of Cloud Gate (The Bean!). Further details on the kick-off events, Jully 11-15, and grand finale September 16 event, will be announced at a late date.

Updates and announcements will be available on Facebook and on Twitter @SummerDance2012. Weather announcements will be available on the SummerDance Hotline at 312.742.4007. For more information, visit Chicago SummerDance Web site.


Thanks to Madeline Long from ExploreChicago.org for the above information.

New Businesses Coming to the South Loop

Some new businesses are getting ready to open in the South Loop.

A new pet-grooming place is opening up at 1400 S. Michigan Ave., just north of Waffles and Sanctuary. At 606 S. Wabash, a new Pita restaurant, Pita Belly is “coming soon.” You can follow Pita Belly on Twitter @thepitabelly. Their Facebook page is in the works and we couldn’t find a Web site, so one may assume it’s in the works too. And at 71 E. 16th St. a tableware product store, Cardinal International, looks like it’s ready to open.

There is a Cardinal International Web site, but it doesn’t give any retail store location details. According to the company Web site, Cardinal International is “the leading supplier of tableware products to the food service industry.” Based in Pine Brook, NJ, the company has been in business since 1935.

Still Time To Order Valentine’s Day Treats From GiGi’s Bake Shop

GiGi has gluten free cheesecakes too.

Look for the Purple Bus
If you live in the South Loop, there’s a good chance you’ve seen GiGi’s Bake Shop on wheels, affectionately know as the Purple Bus. At least twice a week, GiGi is at 13th and Michigan selling cupcakes.

Luscious Cheesecakes
Currently, GiGi’s Bake Shop is offering “luscious” cheesecakes and cupcakes for your Valentine’s Day celebrations. It’s not too late to order cheesecakes (heart-shaped cheesecakes serve two) and cupcakes.

Easy To Contact
You can find GiGi’s Bake Shop on Facebook and follow her on Twitter to check her schedule and find out when she’ll be in your neighborhood or near your office. GiGi’s Bake Shop takes special orders for cakes, cupcakes, and more all year long.

To place an order, call 312.613.0956 or send an e-mail to gigisbakeshop.com.

Christmas on Prairie Avenue: Nineteenth Century Style

This Christmas card depicts the Glessner House decorated for the holiday.

When Prairie Avenue was home to the “sifted few” back in the late nineteenth century, Christmas wasn’t the extravagant celebration it is today. Oh, sure, they exchanged gifts and had parties, but home decorations weren’t as elaborate or displayed as long as they are today. In fact, it wasn’t until fairly late into the 19th century before Christmas trees displayed were over three-feet tall. During most of the century, small table-top trees were the norm. Decorations for the tree were often hand-made, even on Prairie Avenue!

Tasteful Celebration
The Glessner House at 1800 S. Prairie, and one of the few surviving mansions from those glory days, helps shed some light on the Christmas traditions of the period. If you were to visit the home during the 1888 celebration, you’d have seen a small tree in the schoolroom, where Glessner children George and Fanny would have had it displayed on their desktop. For many years, holiday decorations were displayed mostly in the schoolroom. In later years, the Glessners had a large tree shipped by train from their estate in New Hampshire. The tree was displayed in the main hallway of the home. When you visit the museum today, you’ll see a large tree in the main hall. You’ll also see greenery tastefully hung throughout the house, as illustrated in the photograph here.

Collectable Christmas Cards
If you haven’t sent your Christmas cards yet, there’s still time. And you can purchase the Christmas card seen here at the Glessner House Museum gift shop. For information on these collectable Christmas cards call 312.326.1480. And for more insight into nineteenth life along Prairie Avenue, visit the official blog of the Glessner House Museum, The Story of House. You can also find the Glessner House Museum on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

On Target: The Burger Point

If you’re like many people in the South Loop, you’ve been anticipating the opening of The Burger Point at 1900 S. State St. Well the wait is over. Their official grand opening date is November 4, 2011, but they’re in the midst of their soft opening, so we decided to try a burger and meet with co-founder and Chicago native, Asha (pronounced ah-sha) Mathew this afternoon. The owner and the other co-founder is David Esterline, who is originally from Harrisburg, PA.

 I’ll Have The “Crunchy Burger”
The corner location seems the ideal place for a restaurant like The Burger Point. Their “limited soft opening menu” currently features 10 burgers with names like #6 The Jersey Shore, #8 Spanish Revolution, and #10 The Gobbler, which is a turkey burger with philly cream cheese and a cranberry reduction sauce. For our visit, we opted for #1 The Burger Point, which included roasted chile peppers, fried egg, smoked bacon, and pepperjack cheese on a pretzel roll. It was moist and tasty with all the toppings nicely blending together in my mouth. We also ordered the sweet potato fries, which were sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon. It was a taste we weren’t expecting, but we found ourselves gobbling them up. Also on the menu were 10 types of chicken wings. We’re guessing the “3 Mile Island” wings are pretty hot.

 iPod Ordering
The space itself is pleasant and nicely decorated. The windows wrapping around the corner make it bright and comfortable inside. The Burger Point was bustling when we arrived at 2 p.m., so it’s hard to imagine it being any busier once they officially open next Friday. In the not so distance future, you’ll be able to electronically order your burger, customizing it any way you want, by punching your burger and toppings choices on one of three iPod stations waiting to go live.

 Happy Beef, Better Burgers
One thing to consider when ordering. All burgers are cooked to order and are made from fresh AGA certified 100% grass-fed beef. None of their chop meat is ever frozen, which means you may wait a little longer for your burger, but we think you won’t be thinking about the few extra minutes once you’ve had a bite.

You can find The Burger Point on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Waffles to Stay Open Late on Fridays

Waffles, the new breakfast and lunch spot located at 1400 S. Michigan will be open until 8 p.m. on Fridays. Since opening in August, Waffles has been doing a brisk breakfast and lunch business, especially on the weekends. It’s not uncommon to see a dozen or so customers waiting outside on any given Saturday and Sunday.

Alex Hernandez, General Manager, says they will be adding some salads, fish and meat dishes to the menu for the dinner crowd. Some of these new additions may be seasonal selections.

Crowds waiting for tables outside Waffles this summer

For more information on Waffles and their menu, check out their Web site. You can also find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Hernandez is open to suggestions as far as Friday night dinner items go. If you were planning the Waffles menu, what would you serve for dinner?

Food Trucks Putting on the Brakes?

   

Food trucks use social media to
alert customers of their schedules

In today’s ChicagoBusiness there is a piece on the Southern Mac & Cheese Truck opening a storefront location in the Loop. As of yesterday, the successful food truck vendor was serving up its famous macaroni-and-cheese at 60 E. Lake St. The co-owners of Southern Mac & Cheese wanted a downtown location, due in part to their success serving Loop lunchtime crowds from the truck.

5411 Empanadas near the Willis Tower

According to ChicagoBusiness, Nicolas Ibarzabal, co-owner of 5411 Empanadas, said his success with the truck helped him secure loans for the street front location he is planning to open in Lincoln Park.

While most people love buying lunch and snacks from Chicago food trucks, brick-and-mortar restaurants complain that they’re stealing their business. In some locations, food trucks can be ticketed, rather steeply, if they’re parked too close to a restaurant. To promote themselves and to get the word out, food trucks rely on social media. Most announce their schedules in advance on Facebook and Twitter and update customers live if they have problems parking or if they’ve run out of food or treats (the goal is to sell everything).

The owner of GiGi's Bake Shop is from the South Loop

Working on a food truck is far from glamorous. Food trucks have to navigate traffic in the city, find parking, and deal with mechanical issues. In March, I wrote “Cupcake Wars Chicago Style” about all the cupcake trucks in the city. They still exist and thrive, but you can also buy tacos, sausages, frozen yogurt, and meatball sandwiches from food trucks in Chicago. Legislation is in the works to allow trucks to cook onboard, something they’re not currently allowed to do. Once that legislation passes, it will be a whole new ballgame.

Have you eaten anything purchased from a food truck? Do you have a favorite truck that you follow on Facebook and/or Twitter? Tell us about it here.


Editors note: Look for a story coming soon about life on a food truck, an insider's perspective.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: Back to School

Adjustable shelves can help create
 more storage space

Pooja Gugnani


As a perfect addition to your Back-to-School efforts, here is a great product. Everyone loves their locker and I think you'll agree that lockers can become quickly crammed. These adjustable shelves from The Container Store hold about 15 lbs. each and create more vertical space instantly!

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

No Waffling: Waffles To (Really) Open August 17, 2011

It’s been a long journey, but Waffles is really ready to open next Wednesday. Like The Scout, Waffles had set and missed several opening dates, but the 17th looks like the real deal. We’ll be attending Waffles’s “friends and family” event on Tuesday and you can be sure we’ll have a review of the space and, we hope, the food, soon thereafter.

The crowd at The Scout was standing room only last night.

Most Anticipated
Of all the recent restaurant openings or rumors of openings, Waffles has by far received the most attention. When we first reported on June 11 that Waffles was opening at 1400 S. Michigan Ave., the post garnered over 200 reads in less than two hours. That original post eventually racked up over 690 reads. The follow-up post on June 13 has received over 1,060 to date!

Ready For Restaurants
It’s pretty obvious that the South Loop is ready to support new restaurants. Since The Scout’s soft opening on August 10, the place has been packed. We predict the same will be true of Waffles. You can find Waffles on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to stay up to date on their opening and other news.

“Ask Pooja” from Organizing With You in Live Facebook Event

Pooja Gugnani wants your closets to look like this!

Pooja Gugnani from Organizing With You will be holding two Facebook events on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. The first Facebook event will be from noon – 1 p.m. CST. The second from 7 – 9 p.m. CST. Pooja requests that your questions be related to your home (and one question per person, please). In an effort to answer as many questions as possible, she may group together questions with a common theme.

Make sure you're a fan of Organizing With You on Facebook to participate in the live event.

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Has Goose Island Sold Out?

A Deal with the Devil?

From all the chatter on Twitter and Facebook, you’d think Goose Island owner and founder, John Hall, had sold his soul to the devil. Today’s Chicago Sun-Times asked if Goose Island has “sold its craft-brewed soul?” The article goes on to quote one disgruntled fan, calling the deal “The end of the world.” Why all the angst over this sale?

Craft Beer Sales Up

According to Hall, who will remain as chief executive officer, Anheuser-Busch isn’t buying the company to ruin it, as some fear, but because Goose Island has a successful business model. While traditional beer sales have increased in the single digits, craft beer sales were up 11 percent last year. That growth in craft beer sales happened while overall beer consumption was down by 1 percent, according to The Brewers Association, a group that represents small craft brewers.

Multi-Million Dollar Deal

Anheuser-Busch paid $38.8 million for Goose Island. This includes $22.5 million for the 58 percent owned by Fulton Brewery and $16.3 million for the 42 percent stake owned by Craft Brewers Alliance Inc., out of Portland, OR., according to the article in the Sun-Times and other sources.

John Hall, founder and president of Goose Island

Goose Island has been distributed by Anheuser-Busch since 2006, which owns a one-third share in Craft Brewers.

New Jobs in 2011

In 2010, Goose Island increased staff by 20 percent (currently there are 115 people working at Fulton Street brewery). With the continued success of the company and now with the sale to Anheuser-Busch, that number could increase by another 20 percent. In a statement posted yesterday to the company Web site, Hall had this to say about the sale: “Today’s agreement to consolidate ownership of Goose Island under Anheuser-Busch will provide us with the best resources available to continue along our path of growth and innovation.”

The Goose Island brewpubs at 1800 N. Clybourn and 3535 N. Clark are not part of the sale.

 

What do you think? Has owner John Hall sold out or is he just a good business man? Please feel free to vote in the very unscientific poll at the top of the page and/or comment on this blog.

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.

Cupcake Wars Chicago Style

When I was a kid, cupcakes were a staple of school birthday parties. For my birthday, my mom would bake just enough cupcakes for my entire class, including one for the teacher. Today, cupcakes have gone upscale. Bakeries specializing in cupcakes have sprung up everywhere in the last five years. And Chicago is doing its best to contribute to the craze. A simple Google search with the keywords “cupcakes Chicago” will confirm this.

Today's cupcakes have gone upscale.

Cupcakes are now replacing cakes at weddings. Less expensive than traditional wedding cakes, newlyweds serving cupcakes can avoid paying a cake-cutting fee—$1 apiece or more—which many caterers charge. Anyone planning a wedding today knows that those costs can add up.But what I find most intriguing are the companies selling cupcakes out of vans around the city.

The Flirty Cupcakes van is a common sight around Chicago.

First there was Flirty Cupcakes, but now others have gotten into the act. The drill is the same: you follow them on Twitter and/or Facebook to find out when they’ll be in front of your home or office. And like a kid chasing after the ice cream truck, you’re outside waiting for your Curious George cupcake.

Sweet Miss Givings sales support Chicago House.

Mintel, a market-research firm with offices in Chicago, predicted that cupcakes would be the fastest-growing part of the baked-goods industry between 2008 and 2013. Part of the reason for this growth is attributed to the recession. A cupcake only costs a few dollars as opposed to a cake from a bakery that can cost more than $20. For many, a freshly baked cupcake is a luxury they can afford, making cupcake sales recession-proof.

The More cupcake van may be the coolest in the city.

Have you purchased cupcakes from one of the several mobile cupcake trucks in the city? Are you following any of them on Twitter or Facebook? Let me know which cupcake bakery—mobile or stationary—you think is best.

Trader Joe's: The "Traditional Press" Catches up

What we can to look forward to when Trader Joe's comes to town

If you've been reading this blog or following folks on Twitter or Facebook, you know this is old news, but here it is from Crain's.

Trader Joe's plans new grocery store in South Loop Consumer Crain's Chicago Business