Last week I walked you through some light fixes you can do before taking on large spring cleaning. Here are some more quick fixes to make your transition from winter to spring easier.
Clean sluggish drains. This reduces the potential for leakage, pipe damage and overflow.
Check out the toilet. Any cracks? Is it properly secured? A loose toilet may need tightening, but be careful, over tightening can crack the porcelain.
Check for proper ventilation in the attic and soffits. Make sure all outside drains are clear of debris and water is flowing freely. Clogged drains can cause leakage into the basement.
Seal asphalt driveways. This prevents water related deterioration.
Test the garage door. The garage door should stop and or reverse if something blocks the movement, especially important if you have children.
Remove vegetation growing along the foundation. Overgrown vegetation is an invitation to rodents, insects and moisture. Also, large roots can cause damage to the foundation.
Flush out the water heater through the drain valve. This removes sediment that can damage the unit. This will also make the unit run more efficiently and safely.
Check interior and exterior stairs for any possible tripping hazards. Make sure they all have properly secured handrails.
Test all the ground fault interrupter outlets in your house. These are located near water sources in the house. These automatically stop power flow with water contact. If you don't have them contact an electrician. This is a relatively inexpensive fix for better safety.
Next week is the start of spring, let's keep it safe.
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
Though automatic captioning was launched last November, it was in beta testing with several educational services. Now it's available to all YouTube users.
Think about it, now when you have a YouTube video that you want to watch, you can put it on mute and then watch without sound. This is something new that is going to be supported on all new video uploaded into the YouTube system.
The captioning is not perfect as it will be translated by Google's speech recognition software. As you add new video you can also edit the captioning which will be a great benefit to the software. It's unclear if Google Voice is the software being used, but it's still a great add on for information to be shared across the web.
If you have some older videos you'd like to receive the captioning, you can put in a request so that Google will add the captioning for you.
Time to go make some movies!
CATHY MALLERS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
I'm not talking save the environment here. But rather, a special time of year when here in Chicago we all become Irish! In case you haven't noticed, St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner. Since it happens to fall on Wednesday this year in the middle of a work week, and it's not a Federal, State, County or even City Holiday, which it should be, we'll just have to celebrate all weekend long! Hopefully, we'll make it into work on Monday!!
So, without further adieu, I hereby present St. Patrick's Day "weekend" in Chicago -
Saturday starts off early with this annual Chicago tradition, the Dyeing of the Chicago River at 10:45 a.m., so head on over to the Chicago River at Columbus Drive (399 N. Columbus Drive). Best views are the east side of the Michigan Avenue bridge, upper or lower Wacker Drive between Columbus & Michigan, or the west side of Columbus Drive. Click here for more information on this tradition.
Then it's time, rain or shine, for the 55th annual Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade, which begins at Columbus & Balbo Drives (300 E. Balbo Drive) at Noon on Saturday. Click here for more information.
If you haven't heard, the City's most attended and celebrated St. Patrick's Day Parade, known as the South Side Irish Parade, has been cancelled, but not forgotten.
This Saturday, the Beverly Arts Center of Chicago will be hosting the South Side Irish Parade Family Fest. A children's parade around the Center's grounds will be featured along with kids' activities, food, drink, Irish merchandise vendors, Irish dancers, a soda bread baking contest, and more. A heated, outdoor tent will provide live music too. Click here for more information.
Then on Sunday, the Beverly Woods Restaurant (11532 S. Western Avenue) will provide appetizers and soft drinks while mourning the loss of the South Side Irish Parade at the Parade Wake. Music and a eulogy will be provided as well. Click here for more information.
And finally, on Sunday, several North Side bars will be hosting the North Side Irish Barade, which also mourns the loss of the South Side Irish Parade, by touring several of those bars. The price includes trolley service along with food buffets and Bud Light drafts. Click here for more information and a list of participating bars.
But that's not all! There's still more -
Learn how the Irish have shaped modern Chicago on Shoreline Sightseeing Cruises' St. Patrick's Day Cruise this Saturday. This river tour includes an Irish lunch buffet with a cash bar, and has two tours, a pre- and post-parade one. Click here for more information.
And let's not forget St. Patrick's Day at the Irish American Heritage Center located in the North Park neighborhood at 4626 N. Knox Avenue. Their festivities run for four days and include more than 150 Irish dancers and live music as well as food vendors, kids' activities and more. Click here for more information.
Needless to say, many of the Chicago area bars will be celebrating with their own Irish food & drink specials, entertainment and possibly more. A few of those bars are -
Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery in the Loop, Timothy O'Toole's in the Gold Coast neighborhood, O'Donovan's in the North Center neighborhood, and The Smoke Daddy Rhythm & Bar-B-Que in the East Village/Ukrainian Village neighborhood.
Finally, to bring your St. Patrick's Day celebrations full-circle, wrap-up on Sunday with one or both of these -
St. Paddy's 5K Run/Walk at Diversey Harbor at the Lake (2800 N. Lake Shore Drive). Win a prize for best outfit by wearing a festive green costume. There's also a post-race party at The Trinity Bar. Click here for more information.
Northwest Side Irish Parade in the Norwood Park neighborhood at 6334 W. Raven. This is their 8th annual parade featuring performances by 65 units, including Mullane Irish Dancers, the Jesse White Tumblers, the St. Patrick's High School Jazz Band and much more. Afterwards, Immaculate Conception Parish will be serving up corned beef and cabbage dinners, soda, beer and wine along with a variety of live entertainment. Click here for more information.
Have a Happy & Safe St. Patrick's Day weekend here in Chicago! We truly know how to celebrate "Green!"
SUE MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
Good Morning, you dogs! On the way to get gas. I hate when I am almost empty. Will I make it to the Mobil station? Will I? Will I?
You may have heard that the Chicago Area long has had some of the highest prices for a gallon of gas almost anywhere in the U.S. I saw this clearly a couple of weeks ago, driving back from New Orleans, and the 2010 Keller Williams Family Reunion Conference.
Drive through LA, MS, AR, MO, even Southern Illinois, and you see regular gas these days for about $2.65/gallon. Here in Chicago - now over $3.00!
Used to be around here, if you wanted to save a few cents on a gallon of gas, you headed outside of the City of Chicago, for the nearest Chicago Suburb. The Chicago City Limits are only about a mile from the suburbs of Skokie and Niles IL - gas is usually about 12 cents cheaper in these towns.
That might change this summer, however.
As reported in The Chicago Tribune, in a story by Joseph Ruzich and Alicia Fabbre, many Chicago Suburbs, starving for more revenue in a tough economy, are looking to increased gasoline taxes to help fill their coffers. Real Estate Transfer Tax Revenue, and Local Sales Tax Revenue, is down, as fewer humans move, and fewer still buy big stuff.
Out west of the City of Chicago, the suburb of Elmhurst is considering a 1.5 cent new tax on gasoline. Further west, in Naperville IL, local gas taxes are already 2 cents on every gallon. City leaders are considering doubling that!
Suburbs seeking tax increases promise to use the incremental revenue for local infrastructure and road projects. Some community leaders feel the increased tax is less "obvious" than raising other local taxes - on real estate, for example, or the local sales tax.
But one troubling side effect might come to the gas stations owners themselves, as drivers in need of a fill-up might just pass them by, and search for gas in the next, and perhaps tax-cheaper suburb, further down the road.
In Naperville, the projected budget gap for 2011 is $5.5 Million. The proposed gas tax increase will bring in about $700,000 - hardly bridging the gap.
Nearby, the suburb of Boling brook IL has a 5 cent per gallon gas tax. Wheaton taxes at 4 cents per gallon, Woodridge and Downers Grove at 2.5 cents each.
The Chicago Suburbs of Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park, south and west of the City of Chicago, recently doubled their tax on a gallon of gas to 6 cents. Northwest Suburban Des Plaines - also recently doubled, to 4 cents per gallon. Glenview, Skokie, and Morton Grove IL also have implemented a gasoline tax to help fund local road and infrastructure projects.
Even towns in the nearby states of IN and WI are taxing gas more these days. No where, it seems, can we dogs seem to save a buck on our daily commutes.
Say, you dogs - can anyone spare a $50? Have to fill up my Lil' Honda?
Enjoy the weekend! Humans: take your lil' furry friends for frequent trips to the park! OK?
YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,
BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
PORTAGE PARK
This weekend don't miss the quadruple feature at Portage Park Theater. These are some real blasts from the past and truly an homage to the early horror flick.
You'll have the opportunity to see Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1953), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and The Ghost & Mr. Chicken (1966). Grab some extra popcorn for this one. It starts Sunday at 1:30 pm and lasts until 8:30 pm.
LINCOLN PARK
Starting this Thursday, Theatre Y presents the world premier of "I Killed My Mother," by award-winning Eastern European playwright András Visky, directed by Karin Coonrad at the Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Studio.
With Clip's (her soulmate) help she struggles to transcend the brutality of her surroundings and learns to "kill," that is turn her back forever, on parasitic bonds in order to realize her own extraordinary identity. To receive 20% off tickets, use the code ROMANIA when ordering tickets at 773.404.7336.
LOOP
With a program sure to inspire any dancer, the Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago will showcase their greatest hits in "Ovations." The group is coming back for their Spring show after critical acclaim last October.
They will be performing at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago's Millennium Park Friday and Saturday. With a robust program of six award-winning selections, this is surely somethng not to miss.
GOLD COAST
Okay Foodies, be prepared for this one. If you're a foodie, then you're very aware of Tru Restaurant. The new M Burger at 161 E. Huron opens this Thursday and replaces the old chef's table from Tru. There's not a lot of room to sit and dine, but this is sure to be a big grab-and-go lunch spot. By the way, they have a couple chicken items too.
EVANSTON
It's time to start learning more about what this great suburb has to offer. The Evanston History Center has a great deal of information about the growth of this near north suburb as well as a direct connection to the Burnham Plan.
With a newly re-opened Dawes House, you can view the exhibit "Daniel Burnham's Evanston." The tour showcases Burnham's home and a show of fashions from his era. Everything is viewable by tour only and tours are Thursday through Saturday from 1-4pm.
CATHY MALLERS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
TECHNICALLY, GUNS BANNED ACROSS CHICAGO - BUT U.S. SUPREME COURT CONSIDERING WHETHER TO OVERTURN LOCAL LAW!
Here in Chicago, the cynical among us beam that our city was the Birthplace of the Drive By Shooting. Gun rights advocates claim that restrictive gun laws do little, if anything, to curb violent handgun crimes, and extol the virtue of a citizen's right to bear arms.
Truth be told, however, gun crimes here in Chicago, especially those involving school-aged children, have skyrocketed over the last few years. This is despite the fact that, on the books anyway, the sale, use, and manufacture of handguns has been banned in the City of Chicago for over two decades.
In Washington, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a similar handgun ban in D.C. two years ago. That ruling has led to numerous lawsuits across the U.S. challenging the constitutionality of seemingly-common-sense gun prohibitions on a local level. The Chicago Ban is coming up before the court soon.
But Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is undeterred by the action of firearm advocacy groups, such as the Illinois Rifle Association, advocating that the Chicago law be overturned or weakened. As reported in Monday's Chicago Tribune by reporter Hal Dardick, the mayor wants to bring new legislation at the state level aimed at slowing the traffic of illegal weapons not only in the city, but statewide.
Daley advocates changes to the IL law that would require background checks for gun buyers at private sales, limit the number of guns that may be purchased, require the licensing of gun dealers, and a ban of military-style assault weapons.
He is asking the IL General Assembly to make it a serious felony to sell a gun to a known member of a street gang, strengthen the penalties for illegal use of a firearm, and require special high-tech stamping of the guns themselves to allow police to more easily tie a gun to a particular crime.
All of these ideas have failed in previous efforts at passage.
The Chicago Mayor also supports efforts to re-instate the Federal Ban on Assault Weapons, which expired in 2004. He wants a loophole that allows easy sale of guns at public shows to be closed, and a repeal of current laws which provide immunity to gun manufacturers from certain lawsuits.
Of course, gun rights proponents feel the right of a U.S. Citizen to own weapons for their own self defense should never be weakened. For many years, they have been successful.
The Supreme Court Ruling, however, could change how the city deals with gun crimes. But will it reduce or impact the number and severity of the crimes themselves?
Most feel - not likely!
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
HUGE CONDO BUILDING CRAZE IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO, THE LOOP LEAVES MASSIVE INVENTORY OVERSUPPLY. DEEP DISCOUNTS FOLLOWED!
Condos, condos everywhere. Often priced for a song, or just slightly higher.
That's the environment in many new Downtown Chicago Condo Buildings, thousands of which began construction several years ago, in a stronger Real Estate Market.
Today, however, the overall weakness of the condo market here has left many prominent developers here doing the unthinkable - offering sizable discounts off their asking price. This counters recent practice of maintaining high price points, but offering special incentives - reduced-priced upgrade packages, free garage parking, even Hawaii Vacations or HDTV's - instead of a lower price.
As reported by Jeffrey Steele in the February 14th edition of the Chicago Tribune, roughly 7,500 new construction condo units hit the Chicago Gold Coast, Loop, West Loop, South Loop, Streeterville, and River North Neighborhoods in Downtown Chicago between 2008 and 2009. According to estimates by Gail Lissner of Appraisal Research Counselors, at a meeting last month of members of The Chicago Association of Realtors, about 2,200 of these new units are still available for sale downtown. That staggering figure is in addition to the 5,020 resale condo units available for sale in the same neighborhoods (Midwest Real Estate Data MLS Statistics for Downtown Chicago).
Experienced Real Estate Professionals covering Downtown Chicago see great equity building potential for those who buy now. Our Team agrees.
Projects such as The Private Residences at Ontario Place near North Michigan Avenue, and the 565 Quincy project in the West Loop, are discounting some condo prices to the low $200,000's - prices never seen for years in these neighborhoods. At the Quincy Street project, developer Alan Lev, President of the Belgravia Group, cut some prices in January as much as 30%.
Developers did try the incentive route, but, in this market, with the incredible inventory surplus, the condos just weren't selling fast enough. Hence, the unprecedented price moves.
Even with the once in a lifetime discounts, however, many buyers are left sitting on the sidelines. Far more stringent underwriting rules for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA Loans require more down payment of many condo buyers. In our Team's experience, the once-widely-available 5% Down Financing is only for those with top credit scores, and buildings with impeccable financial credentials and condo reserves.
Although building guidelines have moderated somewhat, many new construction projects do not have enough capital reserves in the condo association for approval of commonly-available financing options. Further, some of the older buildings have an association "Right of First Refusal" built into their Condo Declaration. This clause allows these condo associations to purchase condos in its complex that sell lower than they'd like - even finance them, if necessary - rather than potentially lower prices complex-wide.
Such Right of First Refusal used to be an automatic denial for FHA Financing - now practically the only option for buyers with less-than-10% down payments. That is not the case anymore, but those buildings still require up to a several week wait for FHA approval of the complex. Also, the specific language of some First Refusal Clauses might slow down the foreclosure process when buyers default, a situation not acceptable to lenders offering 5-10% Down Conventional Financing. Rules for those buying condominiums as investment - not owner-occupied - are even tougher.
In a nutshell?
Lots of opportunity in Downtown Chicago and The Chicago Loop to acquire condos at deep discount prices these days. But finding the money to buy them often is a bit tricky.
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
It's time to get started on your spring fix-ups now so you can enjoy the coming months. Here are a few items that usually need some revival after the winter months.
Seal roof flashings or replace missing shingles. This simple weekend project helps avoid those little roof leaks that, over time can create much bigger and more expensive problems.
Extend or install downspouts or splash blocks. This will help divert water away from the house, avoiding basement leaks and soil erosion. Remember, water is not our friend! Always make sure water flows away from the house.
Clean the gutters! With all the spring rains and runoff, it's imperative to keep gutters flowing. Clogged gutters cause rain to splash up under the shingles and cause roof damage.
Caulk exterior trim, windows and doors. The caulking you did in the fall may have deteriorated during the long snowy winter.
Clean the kitchen exhaust fan. Greasy buildup will cause the fan to work harder and may even be a fire hazard. The dryer vent can also be a fire hazard, so clean it out also.
Trim trees near the house and roof. Windy spring storms can cause winter weakened limbs to break off and possibly damage the roof and or siding.
Clean debris from around exterior air conditioning units. Unlike most systems in your home, your central a/c unit is generally hous
More next week!
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
IN IL, BENEFITS EXTEND TO 99 WEEKS! ARE SOME UNEMPLOYED BECOMING COMPLACENT?
Few would dispute the notion that high unemployment is dampening the Real Estate Market Recovery, here in Chicago and elsewhere. As we like to tell our clients, if today is Friday, and you are fearful whether or not you will have a job on Monday, you're not going out and buy a more expensive house over the weekend.
But today, IL Unemployment Benefits have ballooned from 26 weeks less than two years ago, to a full 99 weeks today - nearly two years! Have some of the long-term unemployed become so comfortable with the extended government dole to delay their plans to return to the work force?
To be sure, the job outlook may be looking up a bit in Chicago. As reported by Chicago Tribune Reporter Mike Oneal. a survey by Temporary Employment Company, Manpower, Inc., projects local companies plan to step up their hiring during the Second Quarter.
According to the Manpower Employment Outlook, 18% of those companies surveyed plan to hire more employees beginning next month. Only 3% plan to make payroll cutbacks this coming quarter - 75% plan to keep staff levels unchanged.
But for those out of work for a long time, the extension of guaranteed government checks, no matter how paltry, may actually disincentive some to look for jobs.
In his Chicago Tribune story from March 4th, Reporter Greg Burns points out that some economists feel the long benefit period might explain why roughly 40% of the U.S. Unemployed have been out of work for 27 weeks or more - the largest such figure since the Fed started keeping such records in the 1940's.
Robert Shinmer, a Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, estimates that the long-term unemployed - those playing out their benefits period - could make up as much as 15% of the total unemployment rate.
Across IL, the Average Unemployment Check totals $315 per week, with a Maximum of $535 for a head of household with dependent children. That's not a lot of money today, but it might have caused some out of work to spend more time finding a new job, rather than settling for a lower-level, and lower paying, position.
To say that the nation's high level of unemployment is only due to the ever-extending period for Unemployment Insurance Benefits is a gross over-simplification. Many experts say the U.S. stands mired in the deepest recession in over 70 years.
Changes in workplace technology, as well as the overseas outsourcing of jobs once held domestically, is a big part of the picture. The availability of credit for many small businesses and individuals has dried up, directly impacting the ability of these companies to grow and hire.
Further, the crash in Real Estate Prices, felt especially strong in many neighborhoods across Chicago and Chicago Suburbs, has kept many from selling their homes, realizing a small profit from the equity, and moving on.
But, even as extended, Unemployment Benefits will indeed expire, eventually. Will this spur more people back to the work force, and drive us past the recession?
Stay tuned!
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
Today, as I was cleaning out my old files and putting everything into storage, it dawned on me that spring cleaning should not only be limited to paper in your filing cabinet. Three bags of shredded paper later made me realize that I probably have a lot of information on my PC that's also a huge waste of space.
Here are some quick tips to clean out your PC, get it running more optimally and two of my favorite resources for cleaning my hard drive if I'm unsure what to do.
Clean up your old files
Look at the age of your files.
Copy those old files you really don't need often or haven't even opened for the past year onto a jump drive or any free
online storage area.
Once you've copied everything over, delete those same files into your Recycle Bin/Trash. Cleaning = purging.
Empty your Recyle Bin/Trash.
Remove Back-up and Temporary Files
Check your folders for file names that end with TMP, end with BAK or begin with a tilde (~).
Delete them into your Recycle Bin/Trash.
DO NOT empty your Recycle Bin/Trash.
Reboot your computer to make sure you have not removed any required system file.
Open all your applications to verify that they are still working properly. If they do not, you'll need to restore the files to their original location.
Once you have checked all applications are working correctly, you can empty your Recycle Bin/Trash.
Remember, if you are not someone who feels comfortable performing these tasks, then bring in a professional. You'll be thankful that you had someone who is proficient at cleaning your hard drive take care of the sluggishness and maximizing the speed of your operating system.
My two favorite computer companies are Bensky Data Solutions and Compucoach. Both of these service providers also have a remote login option so you don't even have to leave your desk.
CATHY MALLERS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
Good Afternoon, you dogs!
Well, before you know it, those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer will be back, and all of this Melting Chicago Snow will be gone. Can't be soon enough for me - I have a concrete sidewalk to spread across, and green grass to smell!
Zillow!
If you're a Chicago Homeowner, or have ever considered buying or selling a home in Chicago, you know this well-publicized consumer website. Since its debut here, during the boom market of 2006, many of our Team clients first checked the site before calling us for our opinion of value.
"We know our home value," some said. "We "Zillowed' it!"
Now, according to a study by an Academic Think Tank in Texas, as reported in the Chicago Tribune by Mary Ellen Podmolik, many of the Zillow Estimates for the sample it studied - over 2,000 homes in the Dallas TX Suburb of Arlington during 2006 - had their values grossly overstated.
The research found that 40% of the home values provided by the Zillow Proprietary Formulas - they call them "Zestimates" - were actually overstated in value by 10% or more. Less than one percent of the test sample had their home value under estimated. The entire study was published in last winter's edition of The Appraisal Journal, an industry trade magazine of The Appraisal Institute.
We might have suggested the same here in Chicago, as some of the "Zestimates" provided by our clients over the last few years have been very high, especially as many sectors of the Chicago Real Estate Market went into steep declines beginning late in 2006.
Professor Ron Rutherford, one of the authors of the study, selected Arlington TX because of its stable real estate market at the time, and because Zillow gave its estimates in that market "Four Stars" for reliability.
By contrast, the Internet Valuation Site gives Chicago a lower, "Good" Rating. Zillow says 70% of its home price estimates are within 20% of the likely or actual sales price, with a Median Error of 11.5%. This Median Error means half of all the homes the Internet Site values in the Chicago area are off by 11.5% or less - the rest are off by greater than 11.5%.
Homeowners themselves, by comparison, inflate their homes value by only 5-8%, according to the TX Research. Rutherford attributes this to more in-depth, personal knowledge of the features of the home, of course. But, although generally optimistic, most homeowners have friends or family members who have experienced today's market challenges first hand locally, and uses their input to factor their own estimates.
As you might imagine, Zillow disputes the validity research findings.
But these days, a Real Estate Practitioner has to use more than a computer-generated model to estimate home value - especially in a still-shifting Chicago Real Estate Market. Specific location factors have to be taken into consideration, as well as traffic and noise patterns, in addition to how the interior and exterior of the house actually shows as compared to the competition, and its level of upgrades.
Geez - even a Lil' White Dog with an IL Real Estate Broker's License understands that!
However, you dogs, in this day and Internet Age, there will always be room for an online opinion. It's just important not to consider it as the ONLY opinion a homeowner uses to establish value.
My two bones of an opinion, anyway!
Enjoy the weekend - make sure your humans take you on regular walks!
YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,
BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
It was so good to see the sun again! I thought we lost it for good!! Warmer days are ahead, and of course, not soon enough, but here in Chicago, and its surrounding area, we'll be gearing up this weekend just for that.
The 16th annual 2010 Chicago Flower & Garden Show begins this weekend at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Avenue). This year's theme for the show is "Cultivating Great Performances," which will feature displays inspired by "Wicked" and other great Broadway shows. Also featured will be hands-on demonstrations, horticulture competitions, classes, gardening seminars, a marketplace, kids' activities, culinary demos by 36 local chefs and more. What a great way to gear up for spring. Click here for more information and a schedule of who (chef) and when for the culinary demos.
Another great gear-up for spring is the 48th annual O'Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels relocating this year from McCormick Place to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (5555 N. River Road). Get a close-up look at 500 souped-up street machines, hot rods and race cars, as well as signature motorcycles. And, you definitely don't want to miss the celebrity appearances, dance competitions, karaoke and more being featured at the show. Nothing says spring like cruising the streets in your lean, mean cruising machine! Don't delay, click here for more information.
Then there is the Kane County Flea Market opening this Saturday and Sunday at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles (525 S. Randall Road). Be one of the first to view the antiques, collectibles, new merchandise and crafts being displayed and sold by nearly 1,000 dealers. While you're out there, St. Charles also has a little main town with quaint shops and restaurants along the Fox River. Click here for more details.
Lastly, you know you're definitely approaching spring when it's Oscar time, and I'm not talking hot dogs! I'm talking about the 82nd annual Academy Awards. So, here's the low-down for an evening at the Oscars -
Meet the Oscars - The Shops at North Bridge (520 N. Michigan Avenue) is hosting an exhibition featuring historic statues and how the statuettes are made. You can even take a photo with the Oscar being given to the Best Actor (Jeff Bridges perhaps?). Click here for more information.
On the Red Carpet Oscar Party - Fairmont Millenium Park Hotel (200 N. Columbus Drive). Walk down a paparazzi-lined red carpet in your special designer dress for the occasion to watch the Academy Awards on TV. Click here for more information.
Academy Awards Viewing Party - Hollywood Palms Cinema (352 South Route 59) in Naperville. Besides watching the Academy Awards, you can bid on a chance to win hotel accommodations, spa packages and other silent auction items. Click here for more information.
Oscar Night America - Gene Siskel Film Center/School of the Art Institute of Chicago (164 N. State Street) in the Loop. This year's event is being hosted by Amanda Puck, former WTTW-Channel 11's "Check Please" host. Click here for more information.
I hope you're as excited as I am about the arrival spring! But as all Chicagoans know, there's no guarantee that it will arrive on time - March 20th!!
SUE MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
PORTAGE PARK
There are lots of things to do and see in the Portage Park neighborhood and one of my favorite local haunts is the Empty Bottle. It's a unique venue with lots to offer and this weekend is set to start out fantastically.
With local bands headlining tonight (for free I might add) you're sure to get a feel for new sounds constantly coming out of the Chicagoland area. This weekend is sure to be a hoot as well with Hard Country Honky-Tonk by The Hoyle Brothers. As always Empty Bottle rarely disappoints.
LAKEVIEW
If I were to say name three movies with Judd Nelson, I bet you'd pick The Breakfast Club. It was one of those movies from the 80s that is part legacy, part cult classic.
The movie has now been set to music by Studio BE and opens tomorrow night at 3110 N. Sheffield. This is an adaptation of the 1985 John Hughes film, not a parody. Music and lyrics by pH Productions founder and artistic director Jason Geis and musical director Jessica Hunt.
WEST LOOP
The weather is starting to break with sunlight and warmer temperatures teasing our senses. As we start to look at the new season we're looking in our closets and all we see are bulky sweaters, scarves and layers. So rest assured when I tell you now is the time to start looking at Spring 2010 fashions. You can even re-design or re-work what you have in your closet.
Starting this Thursday, March 4 through next Thursday, March 11, Image Studios presents Spring Boutique Week. Don't miss out on these fabulous designers and stylists who will give you and your wardrobe an instant boost. Tomorrow night's champagne reception requires an RSVP. Have fun!
OLD TOWN
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Chicago History Museum, Happy Birthday to you.
In celebration of 173 years, the CHM is opening its door for free from 9:30am - 1pm. If you're really feeling festive then come on by between 11am and noon to listen to music and snack on cake. With so many fantastic exhibits currently available now is the time for you to take a day off and enjoy the sunshine.
NAPERVILLE
It's a time to get together with your gal pals. Starting Thursday, March 4, with a kick-off event at Club Mamalu, Downtown Naperville is hosting its GIRLS WEEKEND: Spring Shopping Extravaganza.
This is a great event which will feature breakfast fashion shows, specials from local vendors and other exciting events. Tickets to the fashion shows are selling quickly so get online and get yours now.
CATHY MALLERS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
With all the snow we've had lately around Chicago it's hard to believe spring is just around the corner. Take advantage of the slightly warmer temperatures to come in the next few weeks by gathering up all the garden tools and give them a good cleaning and sharpening.
Give tools a bubble bath to remove grit, grease and grime, use a heavy duty household cleaner. A wire brush will come in handy. For fine soil and rust, steel wool will do the trick. For stubborn rust, try sandpaper. If you've neglected your tools, you may need to use a little sweat equity to get the rust off, so be prepared to roll up your sleeves and use some elbow grease.
To polish the blade of a shovel or trowel, use a soft cloth with a lubricating oil to prevent rust. When you are polishing, don't forget the wooden handles. Household furniture oil will keep the wood from cracking and keep them in tiptop shape.
To sharpen pruners, take them apart and use steel wool to get rid of fine dirt and rust. Use a whetstone, pushing out towards the edge. Finish with a lubricating oil polish.
Take care of your tools and they will reward you with ease of use and better performance, not to mention longer life. With the price of good garden tools these days, that means a lot!
Good Gardening!
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
I get notifications on a fairly consistent basis about new apps for iPhone anb Blackberry. This one is particularly fun and actually a good idea.
Let's say you want to propose. You text your significant other's best friend to arrange a place and time to "casually meet." You really, really want to keep this secret and you're not consistent about deleting messages. By the way, you and your significant other have the exact same phone and sometimes get them mixed. You definitely want to make sure there's no trace of messages about that special surprise.
This new app, called TigerText, is the way to go. It's a way for you to cover your tracks. The texts you send will look exactly the same as others. The difference is that the content of your message is never sent to the recipient’s phone. They are able to view it but it doesn't route itself through the server giving you control of when the message is deleted and the lifespan of the message!
CATHY MALLERS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
