CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS – PORTAGE PARK, LAKE VIEW, LOOP, LINCOLN SQUARE, OAK PARK
PORTAGE PARK
The new year has settled in nicely and now it's time to start thinking about your goals and resolutions for 2010. It's also the time when parents and their kids start viewing colleges. There is one location in Portage Park that's of particular interest, DeVry University.
The college has several programs available for those interested in attending the college so you can get a true feel for the day-to-day. You can Crash-a-Class and shadow a friend, sibling or DeVry Ambassador to view classes in action. You can choose to take a Passport2College where high school students can earn college credits in business and technology with the only cost for books. If those two options don't work, make an appointment to take a Tour on Thursdays.
LAKEVIEW
Can you say cabin fever? Thankfully this current weather is great and you can go outside during the warmer part of the day with the kids. For those not so great days, there's Toddlers' Playhouse (featured today on Daily Candy).
Toddlers' Playhouse is a location for children ages 6 months to 4 years old. You can sign up for a membership and enjoy such things as "sing-a-long music, independent play, arts & crafts, festive parties, and programmed group activities." Children must be accompanied by their care provider and can have a play date with up to 25 kids. Time to get out of the house...
LOOP
Chicago is primarily known as the Windy City and traditionally "The Loop" is where our main government and business happen. Due to the efforts of the Chicago Loop Alliance, once again the city is making changes in how you perceive our expected norms.
PopUp Art Loop is one initiative that is breaking through these conventional norms and providing a new way to view what Chicago's artistic scene offers. PopUp Art LoopTM transforms empty storefronts in the Loop into a moveable feast of public art galleries, exhibits and studios. With a map of installations on the main page, plan a free art walk before going to a show at one of the local theaters.
NORTH CENTER/LINCOLN SQUARE
And the crowd goes wild!!! Local brewery Half Acre Beer Company is making quite a splash in the North Center neighborhood. With tours happening every Saturday at 1pm, be sure to call early and get on the list because tours fill up quickly.
Local owner, Gabriel Magliaro, started the company in October 2006 in Wisconsin and opened a new brewing facility here in Chicago in October 2008. The brewery space is rented from the Murphy family - as in Murphy's Bleachers across from Wrigley Field. According to Magliaro, "This company was founded on the basis of having a good time. But we have times when we work pretty hard. Long hours."
OAK PARK
The new 2010 concert series has been announced by the Department of Music at Concordia University Chicago. The series will feature choral and instrumental ensembles, faculty and student musicians.
The concerts are free to the public, take place on the Concordia campus and offer free parking. With a full complement of music from classical to jazz this is sure to be a series not to miss.
CATHY MALLERS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
