The Spirit of Giving Lasts All Year Long

The holiday spirit lives 52 weeks a year at the First St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church located at 1301 N. LaSalle Drive, in the Chicago Gold Coast neighborhood. The church was the first Lutheran church in Chicago, founded in 1847 and has remained in the same spot ever since.

Every Saturday morning for over 30 years volunteers have manned the kitchen to serve what the modestly call “Community Meals”. The volunteers come from the community and also from corporations like Allstate Insurance. There are 6 rotating teams made up of 10-12 people who arrive at the church around 9 am, roll up their sleeves and start cooking. Under the benevolent guidance of the program leader, Sandy Wilborn, they heat up the ovens, haul out the tables and chairs and get ready for their guests. The program is mostly funded by individual church parishioners, but also from outside companies including a grant from American Express. From time to time there are volunteers from The Latin School and Concordia College.

Generally there are 120 to 180 guests served each week. People find out about it by word of mouth. There has been a marked increase in recent months, reflecting these difficult times. The guests are served a hot meal consisting of a meat course, a vegetable, bread, and fruit. Coffee and juice are offered. The guests begin lining up outside the church a couple of hours before the doors open at 11 am. The meal time is over around noon. All together, the volunteers are there from about 9am until 1pm when everything is cleaned up.

Two generous area Podiatrists come in once a month and volunteer their services to help people with foot problems. They give away socks and shoes, and occasionally other items. Their service is confidential and invaluable.

I have gone to help out a couple of times, brought into the program by my husband Phil, who has volunteered there for about 1.5 years. We are not members of the church, but we live nearby and enjoy helping.

I was especially struck by two gentlemen whose record of service is nothing less than heroic. One of the regulars is Jim Warneck, from Allstate, who has come almost every week for 6 years. The other is Pat Laure, also from Allstate, who has been coming for 2 years. These two incredible men have been known to shlep to places like Costco and Walmart hunting down bargain socks and gloves, like those given out one cold morning to each guest. That’s a lot of gloves and socks! Jim and Pat are two of the many people who give their time, their smiles and their hard work to people who truly are grateful for that warm meal. And ladies….they are single.

It’s exciting to live in the Gold Coast and see that in the heart of one of the wealthiest communities in the world there are people who care for those less fortunate and do something about it. The program is always in need of volunteers and donations. If you would like to help, please give Sandy Wilborn at call at 312-642-7172

Hello Chicago Gold Coast Neighbors and world! Today I am reflecting on this holiday season. The year has been amazing in many ways. Between the stock market, economy and the scandals, the politics and the election results, we haven't been bored. Chicago in December has it's beauty and it's challenges. We've been snowed and iced, tomorrow we expect to be frozen stiff! So, whether you are reading this from the comfort of your Chicago home or from your vacation or family retreat, I want to wish everyone the happiest of holidays and the very best in the coming new year. Below I have copied a newsletter from 42nd Ward Alderman, Brendan Reilly. There is a lot of great information here. Enjoy! Happy Holidays from Alderman Brendan Reilly!

Alderman Reilly's Illegal Billboard Ordinance Approved by City Council The City Council voted this week to approve Alderman Reilly's ordinance to crack down on sign companies that erect and operate billboards illegally without the required city approvals and permits. This ordinance increased the fines to $10,000 per offense for off-premise advertising billboards that are larger than 499 square feet. There are hundreds of billboards operating illegally in the City, many of which are located downtown in the 42nd Ward, and enhanced fines for violations will help ensure that the City's ordinances and approval processes are respected and followed by sign companies. _____________________________________ Kingsbury Alley Update Alderman Reilly successfully resolved the "Kingsbury Alley" issue, a blighted and inoperable extra long private alley that runs east-west between Orleans and Kingsbury Streets. Representatives from the two condominium associations who owned the alley signed the property plats over to the Chicago Department of Transportation, and Alderman Reilly will sponsor the enacting ordinance to memorialize the official dedication. The City of Chicago has a mandatory "construction moratorium" during the holiday season and winter weather conditions will preclude any large-scale reconstruction efforts prior to this Spring 2009. However, at Alderman Reilly's request, Commissioner Tom Byrne of the Dept. of Transportation graciously agreed to perform temporary patching to improve the alley for the winter months until the permanent improvements commence. We are pleased to report that this temporary patching has been completed. Alderman Reilly is looking forward to delivering a brand-new, fully reconstructed public alley to River North this coming spring. _____________________________________ Snow and Ice Removal With the accumulation of more snow last night and this morning, the Department of Streets and Sanitation has been working around the clock to plow and salt the streets to ease today's commutes. While the City streets are being cleared, we would like to remind business owners and residents to please keep sidewalks free of snow and ice, for the safety of our entire community! For special concerns with snow removal, please do not hesitate to contact our office or the Office of the 42nd Ward Department of Streets and Sanitation at 312-744-5026. If you need assistance outside of regular office hours, please contact 3-1-1. ____________________________________ Join the 42nd Ward USPS Customer Advisory Council! Alderman Reilly is working with the United States Postal Service to recruit volunteers to participate in a neighborhood-based USPS Customer Advisory Council for downtown Chicago's 42nd Ward. This Advisory Council with help local postal officials and managers to clearly identify customer needs for the purpose of improving postal service for residents and businesses in downtown Chicago. Alderman Reilly is eager to work with the United States Postal Service to address the many challenges that local residents and businesses are experiencing with postal service in downtown Chicago. By working directly with the Postal Service and the USPS Customer Advisory Council, Alderman Reilly is looking forward to developing a keen understanding of customer expectations; resolving general service issues; improving community partnerships; and significantly improving mail service for the residents and businesses in the 42nd Ward. Members of the Postal Customer Advisory Council will be asked to provide postal officials with recommendations and will be invited to assist Alderman Reilly's office with the implementation of solutions to help improve mail service. The next Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for January 14, 2009 at 6:00 pm at Fort Dearborn Post Office, located at 540 North Dearborn. Please consider joining the 42nd Ward Postal Customer Advisory Council to help Alderman Reilly and the United States Postal Service develop creative solutions and fresh ideas to improve USPS customer satisfaction in downtown Chicago. If you are interested in joining the Advisory Council, please contact Nuntida Sirisombatwattana in Alderman Reilly's Constituent Service Office at (312) 642-4242 or via e-mail at Nuntida@ward42chicago.com. _____________________________________ 18th District Police Department Events and Holiday Safety Reminders Warm Hands, Warm Hearts Join the 18th District Police Department in a holiday drive to help Chicago's elderly! Donations of new gloves, mittens, scarves and socks are needed. Donations can be dropped off at the 18th District community policing office at 1160 North Larrabee Street. For more information, please contact Officer Ferguson at 312-742-5778. Holiday Food Drive The 18th District Explorer Scouts need your help in collecting donations for their annual food drive. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off in the lobby of the 18th District police station at 1160 North Larrabee Street from November 1 until December 19, 2008. For further information, please contact Officer Robert Minor at 312-742-5778. Holiday Safety Reminders The Chicago Police Department is committed to your safety and security, and would like to encourage the use of crime prevention methods and safety techniques, in the spirit of cooperation with the public they serve. The Chicago Police Department would like to offer the following safety tips to make sure that your holidays are safe and secure: If you will be away for the holidays, give your home an "occupied appearance" by leaving some lights on, and let a trusted neighbor know if you will be gone for an extended period of time. Return the favor, and create a "neighborhood watch"! Never leave your purse in a shopping car or upon a counter unattended while you shop. Transfer valuables and shopping bags to the trunk of your car before, not after, you reach your destination. Keys should never be carried in your purse-- keep your keys in your pocket. Remain alert at all times! For more tips please contact the 18th District Community Policing office at 312-744-5778, or visit www.chicagopolice.org. ____________________________________ Use an I-GO Car For Your Holiday Shopping! Alderman Reilly is a vocal proponent of many initiatives that are helping Chicago to become an environmentally-friendly and sustainable city, including the I-GO Car Sharing program. I-GO is a Chicago-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing economical and environmentally-sound transportation choices. I-GO's goals are to reduce car ownership rates, lower family transportation costs, reduce urban congestion and improve air quality in all neighborhoods. There are I-GO cars at numerous locations in the 42nd Ward, within walking distance of thousands of households. To view a complete location map, please visit www.igocars.org/locations. Alderman Reilly requires that all new residential and parking garage developments include I-GO cars, ensuring that this program will continue to expand and serve even more Chicago residents. In further effort to improve transportation options in the City of Chicago, last month the Chicago Transit Board approved a proposal by the Chicago Transit Authority and I-GO Car Sharing to launch a joint smart card that can be used to gain access to I-GO cars and ride the CTA. For additional information, please read recent press releases here. _________________________________ Home Depot Weatherization Vouchers Winter is just around the corner, and Chicagoans will soon be faced with the challenge of heating their homes amidst rising energy costs. Our office has a limited number of $40 vouchers available for the purchase of a variety of weatherization materials (such as programmable thermostats, filters, insulation and weather stripping) at all Chicago Home Depot locations. Please call or stop by our Constituent Service Office for more information or to receive a voucher. _________________________________ Save Energy with a FREE Light Bulb Alderman Reilly, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and the Department of Environment want to help you save energy and money this summer. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs are available at Alderman Reilly's Constituent Office (one per person). In order to receive a free bulb, please be prepared to sign up with your name, address and email. These bulbs last up to 9 years and use of up 75% less energy. That's 10 times longer than regular light bulbs! Feel free to stop by the Constituent Service Office during our normal business hours to pick up a free light bulb. For more information please visit www.citizensutilityboard.org or www.cityofchicago.org/environment. __________________________________ Street Closures and Construction Due to building work at 664 N. Michigan Avenue, the west sidewalk of Michigan Avenue between Erie and Huron and the north sidewalk of Erie between Michigan Avenue and Rush Street are closed. In connection with construction at 108 North State Street (Block 37), the underground Chicago Pedway from Dearborn to State remains temporarily closed. Dearborn, Washington and Randolph Street vehicle lanes are reduced, and sidewalks are closed around the construction area. The construction also affects some bus stop locations and one rail station entrance. The streetscape project continues on Wabash Avenue between Wacker Drive and Harrison Street. Two lanes of traffic and pedestrian access are maintained. For more information, see the CDOT website at www.cityofchicago.org/transportation The northbound curb lane and east sidewalk on Wabash Avenue from Wacker to Kinzie Street is closed through the end of December 2008 due to viaduct replacement for the Trump Tower building. ---- For the most up-to-date information regarding Chicago street closures affecting you, please click here for the Office of Emergency Management & Communication's Street Closure Permit database. This database provides online access to all street closure permits granted in the city. ____________________________ 42nd Ward Website The 42nd Ward website is designed to help local residents, businesses and community groups find quick answers to questions about city services and programs. On this site you'll find links to the most requested city services and other useful resources located within downtown Chicago's 42nd Ward. Please visit the Alderman Reilly's "virtual office" at www.ward42chicago.com. _________________________________________________________________________________

Office of Alderman Brendan Reilly 311 W. Superior St., Suite 212 (312) 642-4242 (312) 642-0420 (fax) Office of Alderman Brendan Reilly City Hall 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 300 (312) 744-3062

Mario's Gold Coast Ristorante - A Place To Call Home

Mario’s Gold Coast Ristorante
21 W. Goethe, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 944-0199
Dinner: Monday-Saturday 4:30-10:30; Closed on Sunday


Mario Stefanini grew up in his family restaurant business. He learned a thing or two working as a 13-year old line-cook and pizza maker. So much love went into that time in his life. So, years later, after his advertising career took him many times to Chicago’s 5-star restaurants, an idea grew in Mario’s mind. Why can’t there be a neighborhood-style restaurant that serves excellent quality at reasonable prices in an environment that makes everyone feel at home? 14 years ago Mario set out to give the Gold Coast residents a neighborhood place like the one he envisioned. The Gold Coast area is known for touristy big shot restaurants like Gibson’s, Hugo’s and Tavern on Rush, where steak is king and socialites gather to be seen. At Mario’s you will see everyone who lives in the neighborhood. We walk over from our condos with our spouses, friends and kids. We gather there for special occasions or just because it’s Monday night and we don’t feel like cooking. The 25 table/15 bar stool Italian restaurant always makes us feel right at home.

As Mario says, the neighbors dine here on average 3 to 4 times a month. It is a neighborhood oasis! Mario’s Ristorante and Mario himself are warm, inviting, and offer an authentic Italian restaurant with that “everybody knows your name” feeling. His motto is: “The answer is yes, what’s the question?”

Located on the corner of Dearborn and Goethe on the first floor of a residential high rise building, Mario’s feels like a hideaway. From the minute you walk in, you know you are welcome. The place oozes Italian food heaven. The menu and wine list is full and robust. Being in tune with the neighborhood is also what makes Mario’s so special. Over the years he has changed the menu to fit the desires of his clientele. Here you can have the naughty delicious or the healthy delicious choice. If you’d like some Calamari as a starter, you can get the lightly fried version or the char-grilled. In fact, you can get a combo if you cannot decide! My crowd pleasing favorite meal starter is the Palm-Cuke Salad, loaded with hearts of palm, asparagus, cucumbers, tomatoes, pine nuts and fontinella and dressed with raspberry vinaigrette on a bed of fresh greens. In fact, I don’t think I have ever eaten there and not had that salad! Did I mention the pizza? 10” extra thin and crispy individual pizzas are to die for. With 7 different choices, there is sure to be one you will love.

Mario only cooks with canola oil, olive oil or butter. The Chicken Vesuvio was changed from the traditional style to one made with boneless chicken breasts. It’s so good, you never feel like you gave anything up! Same for the Chicken Parmesan which is grilled instead of breaded and fried. Of course Mario’s would not be truly Italian without an excellent selection of pasta dishes. Mario offers whole wheat pasta primavera along with the traditional pasta dishes like spaghetti and meatballs. Less traditional and absolutely fabulous is his Tortellini Jambalaya which Mario tells me is a neighborhood favorite. The seafood is always fresh and high quality. I often have the grilled salmon, which is done to perfection. Mario also serves the finest quality steaks, chops and veal. One thing I just learned by talking to Mario about this article; he claims to have the best hamburger around! I can’t wait to try that the next time I am there. Here is something truly awesome - half-portions are offered on just about everything! You can therefore save room for desert! I recommend that you treat yourself to the sweet homemade Tiramisu made with a little less liquor than the usual, which I find to be just perfect.

Mario Stefanini cares about his neighborhood. Mario banned smoking in his restaurant a full 2 years before the city of Chicago did. The neighborhood appreciates what Mario has done here. Regulars are Mario’s biggest joy. He so appreciates the loyalty that he has established. He has shared his clients’ most personal celebrations and hardships. He has been known to deliver dinner to a loyal customer’s home when they become sick. He is a member of the family and a member of the community. Mario supports Chicago Police through CAPs, the Gold Coast Neighborhood Association and the North Dearborn Association generously. Mario truly enhances our Gold Coast neighborhood. Yet another reason why I love living in the Gold Coast!

The Cold Side of The Real Estate Market

Good morning Chicago! It's 17 degrees and we are expecting snow today. Hello winter. It is, after all mid December. It is the holiday season and a time when most are in a frenzy of preparation. Are you shopping with the same budget this year as last? Probably not, I know I am not spending. My kids are adults and they get it. What I am wondering is, what is the best way to share our holiday tradition this year and not have it focused on gift exchanges?
With that question stated, here's my next question. Real estate activity is always slow in December. Only super serious shoppers are looking for a new home in December. So, if you are thinking of buying or selling, are you in the market or are you waiting? My favorite clients contacted me yesterday to ask about a new listing in their building. They are thinking about making an offer based on their perception of the market. They are basing their decision to act on the message that all of the real estate experts are sending. It's a buyer's market! So, for them, why wait until more buyers and sellers appear on the scene in late January? Why not approach this seller right now. Of course, their offer will be really low. Again, their perception of the market tells them that this is what a savvy buyer should be doing. I wonder how they will react when a buyer approaches them with that truly low,low bid to buy their current home. It is a give and take venture. You take from the seller, your buyer will want to take from you.
Back to the opening question. If you gather together with your loved ones for the holidays, can you have a wonderful time without maxing out credit cards? Here is what my family has decided to do this year. Each of us will offer a service that we can perform, at no or very little expense, for a family member. We will draw names to be sure that everyone gets the opportunity to give and to take.
Can buyers who are also sellers get to a place of understanding that in this market you may win some on the buy side and lose some on the sale side, but ultimately, you get what you want. They both have something the other side values. Find a way to make each other happy.

Blog-ovich!

Once a month my book club meets at one of the club member's homes. Tonight book club is at my house. I'm also the book reviewer tonight. This month we read "The Kitchen Boy", by Robert Alexander. I love reading and love changing gears. The book relays the story of Russian Tsar Nicholas and his wife, Alexandra. The Romanov's as we know them best. The story of tells about their last days on earth as told by their young kitchen boy. Without a doubt, the Tsar ruled over a bloody time in Russian history. But here in this story we see a soft side of the ruler. We see him as a loving husband and father. A ruler who wants what he thinks is best for his country. Misguided as he may have been. Sometimes it seems as though he has no clue about his pograms that killed hundreds of his countrymen. Could the head of state be that out of touch?
How about my Illinois Governor? Ever hear of Rod? Who hasn't? First we Chicagoans give America and the world our favorite son, Barak Obama and we are beyond proud. Now, we are again monopolizing the headlines in America. This time we give you our Illinois Governor who may be the most corrupt politician of all times. A dark time is upon Illinois politics again. Rod Blagojevich needs to be jailed. Give him a nice cell next door to ex-governor Ryan. What is it about power?

Tis This The Season to List?

Have you heard the news? Mortgage rates are falling and it is predicted that this trend will continue. Will we see the 4.5% mortgage rates as was predicted last week? May be we will. Either way, if you are contemplating listing your home, you should know that this is still very much a buyer’s market.

That being the fact, should you list your home if you don’t have to? Should you hold out until the market recovers? When will that be? Some experts are saying it could be years before we return to a healthy real estate market. Put your life on hold?

Let’s say you don’t want to wait. Now you have to ask if you should list your home in December. During the holiday season, real estate business traditionally slows down. Good to know, but this is not a traditional real estate market! So when a young Lakeview/Wrigleyville couple with a new baby called me this week asking me to give them pricing information on their town home, I thought long and hard.

A: Should we list during the holiday season? My first thought would be no. This is a slow time of the year. They may just build up market days. That usually hurts salability. If the home sits on the market, it won’t be “fresh” when the spring market kicks off. They could wind up loosing their pool of buyers who plan to start shopping after the holiday season. So, does that mean that it is better to wait until January and then reassess the market?

B: Mortgage rates are falling. Maybe the “ideal buyer” is out there waiting for low rates and this great town home. Buyers have been waiting. They’ve got money, good credit and they are ready. We should get this listing up right away!

C: Is that “ideal buyer” also going to wait for the holiday season to pass? I also wonder if that buyer will wait for rates to fall to 4.5%. So, I beg the question again, list now or wait?

Now, if we aren’t confused enough, we have to complicate matters. Every real estate professional knows that pricing a listing correctly is critical. We need to attract buyers and close the sale successfully. By that I mean getting my seller a price they can leverage in a timely manner. This particular little family would like to take advantage of declining prices in the suburbs. That opportunity exists right now! So we have to grab buyers now by correctly assessing the value of their three year old town home. And let’s face it--most home values have flattened or deflated, including theirs.

According to data from Chicago MLS, a total of only 84 new and resale condos and lofts were sold in Lakeview in October, down 39.5 percent from a year ago, when 139 units were sold during that same month in 2007. The sales price fell to a three-year low in Lakeview during Oct. 2008, down more than 6% from a year ago, nearly 10% below from the peak in October 2006.

When this family bought three years ago they got caught in a robust bidding war that drove the purchase price up nearly $15,000 over asking! Now look what’s happened. According to neighborhood comps, they have to price it below what they paid. Can they make it up on the other end?

As we talked more about their reasons for wanting to sell it came to light that what they really want is to have more children and the sooner the better. Doesn’t that change the game a bit? It does if you are measuring the quality of life. In my life, “family first” is my heartfelt motto. So, for their family I think that being extremely smart on their buy in the burbs will smooth the way to living with the loss on the sale. And they get their big house for less now while the rates are on the way down than possibly later. So with that in mind, I say, life is short! Sell the town home and never look back. Family trumps everything.

Yes, they will lose some on the sale side, but they will gain at least that much on the purchase of their larger, suburban home. It’s reasonable to assume that when values go up in Lakeview, they will also go up in the burbs, so what do they gain by waiting?
My final advice: price it right, and put it on the market now, and be open and reasonable about any reasonable offers.

Why I live at 1230 N State Parkway

Standing between Scott and Division, three blocks west of Lake Michigan in Chicago’s famed Gold Coast, stands 1230 N State Parkway. This highly desirable building, also known as State Tower, represents quality construction and all the amenities you need to live in comfort. Built in 1980 there are 92 total units and various floorplans that include 1 to 3 bedroom homes. There are only 4 units per floor allowing neighbors their privacy and peace.
The building offers a superior 24 hour door staff, an exercise room, bike storage, extra large storage units for each condo and a 24 hour maintenance staff that is exceptional!
I call 1230 N State Parkway my home. Our home has two big bedrooms, central air, two full baths, a huge living room and defined dining area, plus a large galley kitchen where I actually enjoy cooking, a generous balcony and best of all an in unit washer/dryer. We also have a deeded heated garage space that gives us enough room for our car and our motor scooter. There is also one more thing that is really great. So great that it’s difficult to put into words but I am going to try. Ready? Free guest parking! Shhhhh! Please, don’t tell everyone! It’s an outdoor row of about 8 spaces in the alley behind the building. First come, first serve for guests and service men, a true value and luxury! With some buildings on this street that have no parking at all, it’s truly a treat.
I thoroughly enjoy how friendly the building is. People here are not snooty or overly stuck on rules. The staff is so helpful. The building is managed by Draper and Kramer and our in-house manager is great.
Personal lifestyle choice means everything in these days. We may not be able to hold on to our 401k, but we can still enjoy our leisure time. Living just three short blocks from the lake, a short walk to Rush Street, the night life capitol of Chicago or a few more blocks to the magnificent mile, gives us all the excitement and beauty we need. This is above all, our neighborhood. I walk to my office on the corner of Michigan and Oak. I walk to my hairdresser, my bank, my bookstore, my drugstore, my coffee shop and my grocery store. I walk or ride on the lakefront, eat at any one of a dozen restaurants, walk to the park just 4 blocks away or hang out in Old Town, also 4 blocks away. So many choices and all if it grand.
So, this is why I choose this area. Perhaps you would too. Right now there are 4 units actively listed on the market at 1230 N State Parkway. They range in price between $449,000 - $615,000 and boast between 2-3 generous bedrooms, two baths and are offer various floorplans and finishes. The deeded garage parking generally is offered for an additional $40,000. If you are thinking about value in the Gold Coast think about 1230 N State Parkway. For the money, I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
If you would like more information about this building or about others in the Gold Coast please contact me at 312-264-5878 or email me at rsimborg@rubloff.com.

Today's Mortgage Rates Rock!

Amid all of the bad news that you can find about our economy, and I know there is plenty, here is a great signal for good news. Today the conforming 30 year fixed rate is around 5.375%. It could be as low as 5.25% with excellent credit and a 30 day closing time frame. What does this mean? It means that the Feds are trying to bring buyers back to the market with sweet, historically low rates. That's terrific for everyone! Here's the thing, everyone knows real estate in Chicago is in overdrive. There are oodles of listings for desirable homes. If you have good credit and a down payment you should be looking! If your credit isn't quite what it needs to be, you should be doing everything you can to correct that. It's not that hard and more than worth the effort.
Don't forget that refinancing can give you money and options to improve what you may have lost in this economic crisis.

If you or anyone you know can benefit from these low fixed rates, please contact me. I know about no-cost refinances available too. I am just a real estate agent with fabulous connections! email me at rsimborg@rubloff.com.

Starting New Made My Sweet Home Chicago

I have been living in the city now for over 12 years. Having come to the city from a lifetime of suburban living was a huge adjustment. I thought I would have a hard time, and at first I did. My two kids were in college and I was truly on my own for the first time in my life. I had moved into a congested area with my suburban overload of things and my car. I was a renter in the Lakeview neighborhood which I chose because my sister and brother-in-law lived only a couple blocks away. I had to have a safety net of sorts! I didn’t know the area and I found out that I was quite a bit older than the other residents of my building. I felt a little bit like a house-mom from my old sorority days. I also had no idea about the logistics of owning a car in the city. I didn’t rent a parking space for my car. I had no idea what a challenge that would represent! However, being a smart woman, the lesson was learned quickly. Having had a car of my own for over 25 years, I could see that this would be my next great change. I gave up my car and began riding the city busses. What freedom! On a bus I could go anywhere, anytime with only my CTA card in hand. I began to work in the loop, an adventure of its own. I also decided to change things up a bit in my commute. Some nights I’d stop off at the Water Tower shopping mall on my way home, grab a goody or two and then hop back on the bus (for a tiny transfer fee) and ride home. I got to know the city much better. I found most people to be quite pleasant and I looked for a new stop every week. I challenged myself to find one new thing about the city every day. Some days it was just a sandwich shop I never noticed before. Other days I discovered small jewels like a farmer’s market or the lagoon in Lincoln Park. In the winter my ride had to be through Lincoln Park and the Zoo to see the holiday lights and decorations. I walked the neighborhood and found gorgeous single family homes, row homes and interesting condo buildings. The vintage buildings really appealed to me. Walking became my favorite weekend past time. I often walked from Lakeview to Lincoln Park and beyond. I loved peaking into the Marlborough at 400 W Deming with its beautiful vintage charm. I was entranced by the Benjamin Marshall building at 1550 N State. I can still not think of a more beautiful building in the city! The inkling of a new career was just at the fringe of my plans.
As time past and my life as a city dweller became so natural and exciting I realized that change is my friend. I’ve made many changes over the past 12 years. I’ve remarried and moved to the Gold Coast then to Streeterville and then back to the Gold Coast. I have become a successful real estate agent. I have once again become a car owner, but this time I have a garage space and parking karma! Being a real estate agent has forced me to become adept at finding my way around the city, the neighborhoods and take advantage of the public transportation system in all kinds of ways. I love the neighborhoods and all their character. I love the restaurant offerings, especially some of the great ethnic foods I never heard of when I lived in the burbs. I love all of the different styles of architecture. I love the window shopping and the real shopping! But most of all, I love the people. Chicago is a big, warm, beautiful city even in the coldest of winter days. I am a city girl and I can reinvent my world and love it!

You Have To Start Somewhere

I started the day with the best of intentions. It is Tuesday. Tuesday is broker's open house day. I really enjoy getting out there and looking at the newest listings in my neighborhood. That would be the Gold Coast, River North and Streeterville area. I pulled up the offerings and found 10 that I was excited about. In this market, 10 is easy! I decided to skip the new construction this week. I've seen most of it already. So, it was going to be resale day. I was most excited about two listings at 1550 N State Parkway, a building I think is really special. These are pretty high end, luxury condos. Both priced over the $2Mil mark. Phew! Pretty pricey, but what a building, what a location! I was really looking forward to seeing them. I also chose a couple of other listings on North State Parkway and Astor that were of various sizes and prices. I scouted out my route and made my schedule. Then, best intentions in hand, my phone rang.
You know that sound in someone's voice when they tell you they need you and they mean it? Well, my mommy ears were tuned up when I heard my daughter say, "Mom, I need you to come over. I am so sick". So, there went the open house tour. I'm off to nurse my poor kid who has caught the stomach flu. You have to start somewhere...but not today!