New Eastside News March 2016

VOL. 4 NO. 3

A NEWSLETTER FROM THE NEW EASTSIDE COMMUNITY

Got a story tip or question? Call 708-628-3652

March 2016

www.neatside.com

State of the Parks Report 2016 - Past, present, future

FREE

Table tennis anyone?

NYC’s “SPiN” ping-pong club expanding into Chicago Page 8

Meet your neighbor

Jackie Guthrie, Maggie Daley Park Supervisor Page 7

Green and seen Ron Sison from Manilla, Karlo Fel from Sacramento, and Jem Urmatan from Cleveland strike an item off their Windy City vacation bucket list on an unseasonably warm February afternoon at Millennium Park. “If you come to Chicago, you have to see the Bean,” explains Fel. Photo by Daniel Patton.

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer The Bloch Cancer Survivors Garden celebrates perseverance, Maggie Daley Park is just getting started, Millennium Park is sending people over the top and Grant Park may change the way we think about health care. New Eastside News presents the past, present, and future of our neighborhood greens in a special 2016 state of the parks report. Turn to page 6

2016 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand Distinction AUTHENTIC CANTONESE CUISINE HONG KONG STYLE DIM SUM Lunch Special Monday - Friday 11:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.

20% OFF HAPPY HOUR Monday - Friday 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (except holidays)

The hues of St. Patrick abound year-round in the New Eastside Page 4

— GRANT PARK —

333 E Benton Pl · 312 228 1333

www.MingHinCuisine.com — CHINATOWN —

2168 S Archer · 312 808 1999

2 / MARCH 2016

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

It’s a great time to take advantage of Citibank’s Jumbo Mortgage Products.

From pre-approval to closing, we will guide you through the homebuying process.

Jumbo Product Offerings: n

15 and 30 year fixed

n

5/1, 7/1 and 10/1 ARM

n

Loans up to $8 million may be available to qualified buyers on exception basis

To learn more please contact:

Loose weight, increase your energy with delicious, healthy eating!

Join us for fun, interactive Workshops, Culinary Classes, Detox Programs, annual Retreats and become part of a vibrant and supportive community.

Stephanie Chisti Home Lending Officer 312-618-9051 stephanie.chisti@citi.com NMLS# 206730



Terms, conditions and fees of accounts, programs, products and services are subject to change. This is not a commitment to lend.

All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Certain restrictions may apply on all programs. © 2015 Citibank, N. A. Equal Housing Lender, Member FDIC. NMLS# 412915. Citi, Citibank, Arc Design and Citi with Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc.

RAW FOOD C

▪

N

T

E

R

• rawfoodcentre.com • info@rawfoodcentre.com • 312.919.6997

HARBOR POINT

155 N Harbor Dr.

E

Changing Lives Through Healthy Eating

THE CHANDLER

2 Bed / 2.1 Bath

450 E Waterside Dr.

▪

2 Bed / 2.1 Bath

Recently renovated with breathtaking views from wrap-around windows on high floor. $1,000,000

Penthouse level home with 11’ ceilings, gourmet kitchen, & 2 beds PLUS a den. $1,100,000

THE BUCKINGHAM

340 ON THE PARK

360 E Randolph St.

▪

2 Bed / 2 Bath

340 E Randolph St.

Spacious & open 1300 sq. ft. home has been completely remodeled & redesigned. $530,000

400 E Randolph ▪ Suite 500

▪

2 Bed / 2 Bath

Large south-facing home feat. a private balcony w/unobstructed park & lake views. $1,690,000

312 ▪ 528 ▪ 9200

www.UrbanRealEstate.com

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

MARCH 2016 / 3

NEWS

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

The GEMS organization educates children aged kindergarten through 12th grade in 83 schools spanning 14 countries.

GEMS World Academy announces new head Lucas Museum may of school not be built in Chicago Kim Wargo, a 20-year veteran of the independent school world who has led private institutions in Dallas, San Francisco, and New Orleans, will assume the helm of GEMS’ Academy’s Chicago campuses in July, the school announced this month.

Before joining the independent, international educational organization that boasts two Chicago campuses, Ms. Wargo served as Eugene McDermott Headmistress of The Hockaday School, a PK-12 boarding school in Dallas, TX. According to a press release, she will transition into her new post this month by holding “the first of what is expected to be a series of meetings with GEMS families and teachers.”

She replaces Geoff Jones, GEMS Academy’s founding Head of School, who is retiring. Mr. Jones is credited with being among the visionaries who helped to shape GEMS’ respected reputation.

Neighborhood maintenance

The next monthly meeting to cover issues within police beats in and around Chicago’s 1st District will take place on March 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. at 400 E. Randolph. The 1st District extends from the Chicago River to 31st Street, and from Lake Michigan to Des Plaines. There are eleven beats within the area including the 14th, which is dedicated to the New Eastside.

The George Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, after announcing plans to locate in Chicago next year, may not be coming to the Windy City after all.

The Friends of the Park — a not-forprofit citizens’ organization with a mission to “preserve, protect, improve and promote the use of parks and open spaces throughout Chicago” — sued the museum last year on grounds that its Chicago intentions do not represent the public interest.

The museum almost immediately filed a motion to dismiss, but it was denied

by Chicago U.S. District Judge John last month.

According to some reports, the city of Oakland, located much closer to Lucas’ hometown and production company, is currently preparing a bid for the alleged $700 million dollar institution.

March CAPS beat meeting

S&J Construction replaced the pin and links that connect the large sections of Upper Wacker Drive north of Columbus Dr. The process required workers to remove the old bolts by melting them with a welding torch.

Early Voting From now through March 12, residents can participate in early voting for the upcoming March 15 primary in two nearby locations: · Museum of Broadcast Communications, 360 N. State Street · Board of Elections, 69 W. Washington Street

Chicago Public Schools cuts jobs Citing an $85 million budget cut, CPS Chief Executive Officer Forrest Claypool on February 29 announced that 62 employees, including 17 teachers, were to be laid off.

Although he referred to the move as “painful,” he said it was necessary “to secure fair funding for our students, bring Illinois up from last in the country for education funding and work with Springfield to start treating students in poverty fairly, so our students get the education they deserve.”

1916: The Irish Rebellion premieres at the Siskel Film Center commemorates the centenary of the Easter Rebellion, an action that was not initially considered a success.

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer The US premiere of 1916: The Irish Rebellion will take place at the Gene Siskel Film Center on March 21.

Narrated by Liam Neeson, the film documents The Easter Uprising of 1916, one of many attempts by the Irish people to rid their nation of British occupation. It also explores the event’s subsequent growth into one of the most celebrated moments in the modern day Republic of Ireland.

The documentary was created by the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Attendees at the premiere will include a discussion with writer and executive producer Bríona Nic Dhiarmada and executive producer Christopher Fox. Nic Dhiarmada, a Professor of Irish Studies at Notre Dame, also partici-

Like every other attempt by Irish people to rebel against the British Empire, innocent bystanders from both sides were killed, the nation did not unite and the political situation remained unchanged after that Easter Monday in 1916.

pated in much of the documentary’s production.

the Irish Revolution, the series “has the makings of a classic.”

Working with a $3 million budget, the film began as a three-part series that aired on PBS, BBC, RTÉ, the national broadcaster of Ireland.

“Americans will love this documentary,” she says.

But weeks later, when more than a dozen of the people who organized the action were put to death, it generated widespread momentum that, according to many historians, became the first step in Ireland’s rise to independence.

The production of the series was designed to ultimately accomodate a feature film, which runs 70-minutes and premieres, for the first time in the US, at the Siskel Film Center.

March 21, 6 p.m.

Gene Siskel Film Center 164 N. State. St. · (312) 846-2800 www.siskelfilmcenter.org

Accoring to Nicola Stathers, a writer for the collaborative online project between Ireland’s University College Cork and the Irish Examiner known as

The film is one of many events that

4 / MARCH 2016

How to Contact Us info@neweastsidecommuniy. com (708) 628-3652 Editor: Elaine Hyde info@neweastsidecommunity.com Managing Editor: Daniel Patton dpatton@neweastsidecommunity. com Copy Editors: Tracey Lewis, Shanti Nagarkatti, Kari Greczek Layout/Design: Daniel Patton Community Contributors: Jon Cohn, Elizabeth Johnston, Tracey Lewis, Shanti Nagarkatti, Matthew Reiss, Angela Gagnon New Eastside News is published monthly by Eastside Enterprises LLC. New Eastside News uses and values community writers and contributors.

Views expressed by community contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of New Eastside News. New Eastside News does not take responsibility for third-party announcements or events. New Eastside News is independently owned and operated.

Copyright @2015.

All rights reserved.

Community Contributors NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Green and seen in the New Eastside

The color of spring abounds in the neighborhood

By Jon Cohn | Community Contributor With Saint Patrick’s Day approaching, most of us like to celebrate “The luck of the Irish” and don green hues.

Although it may be difficult to locate anything green-colored in the cold, dark New Eastside winter, our newsletter always likes a good challenge.

It was tough, but here is a list of some of the “green we have seen”: • Some of the “ bumps” on the climbing wall at Lake Shore Fitness Club • Artificial grass surface outside the 175 Harbor Drive building • Award-winning portable johns at Maggie Daley skating rink • Giant-sized basket swings just west of the main playground at Maggie Daley Park • Argo University sign above Sweetwater’s • Upper half of the Chicago Trolley Car • A neon green headband of a jogger on Columbus Drive • Chairs and a bench outside at Brown Bag Restaurant You may have to look extra hard, but even in the winter, there is plenty of “green to be seen.”

Montage (clockwise from top center): Fairmont Hotel, E. Benton Pl. at N. Park Dr., 233 E Wacker, north lobby at 333 E. Benton Pl., Palm restaurant. Photos by Daniel Patton

Centennial Fountain, the first sign of spring Matthew Reiss | Community Contributor As a resident of the Shoreham, my apartment window faces the Chicago River and, during the warmer months, I enjoy watching the Centennial Fountain arc majestically across the river. It is my personal giant water clock. Since the fountain only operates during the first ten minutes of each hour, I keep track of my day by noting when it showers upon unfortunate tour boats.

For some people, the first sign of winter is the first freeze, or the first snowfall. For me, it’s the first day I wake up, gaze out expectantly, and realize the fountain has been silenced for the next six months. I miss my water clock during this time. It is like

a good friend who has moved away. I do not celebrate the arrival of summer when the geese reappear or the flowers bloom, but when the mighty swoosh of the Centennial Fountain returns.

My fondest memory of the fountain involves kayaking back in the days when the closest kayak rental was at the North Avenue Bridge. A friend and I decided to paddle to Navy Pier, a three-hour round trip. As we approached the mouth of the river, I looked back at the clock on the Wrigley Building and saw that we were seconds away from the top of the hour, meaning that we were about to get drenched by the Centennial Fountain. Rather than wait, we decided to go for it.

Imagining a 90-minute return journey in clothes soaked by river water, I paddled more vigorously than ever before.

I felt like Indiana Jones racing against a sliding door trap, except I wore a baseball cap rather than a fedora.

We made it by mere seconds. The fountain roared to life as we passed by it, cinematically sealing off the route behind us. We laughed and raised our paddles in victory.

Then we paddled back under the fountain to get doused. After all, we’d won, and when would we get another chance to paddle under a fountain?

Left, the Centennial Fountain showers the Chicago River. Photo by chicagoarchitecture.org.

Community Contributors

MARCH 2016 / 5

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

What’s new at the Radisson Blu Shanti Nagarkatti | Community Contributor The Radisson Blu Aqua hotel hosted a resident appreciation reception on February 22, from 6 - 8 p.m., giving New Eastside neighbors the opportunity to mingle, meet, and sample some of the hotel’s new offerings.

Held in the lobby and gallery areas, the event featured culinary demos by Chef Carolina, small bites from Filini bar’s menu, and samples of two new in-house crafted cocktails for spring 2016 — the New Eastside and French Paloma. DJ Stix kept the mood lively, spinning a mix of dance music and Latin jazz.

A table set for tea, in a corner of the lobby near the elevators, served as a sneak preview. Roman Suhs, Business Development Coordinator at the Radisson Blu Aqua, said that the hotel will soon be offering tea service. According to Suhs, the release date “will likely be sometime this spring.” Plans call for tea to be served Friday through Sunday, with a “TJ” playing music.

Reservations are required. “It’s our

RAW FOOD CENTER PRESENTS

Chocolate Mousse for Five

The lobby at the Radisson Blue. Photo provided

by Radisson Blu.

own take on the tradition of tea with a modern twist,” says Suhs.

New Eastsiders also had the opportunity to learn more about the benefits of this hotel right in their backyard; specifically, meeting and event space rentals and the “Art of Blu” free mobile app, previously reported in this publication, that allows guests to experience a curated, self-guided tour through the lobby and permanent art gallery. Departing guests could leave with sweet treats — bags of custom-mixed blue jelly beans — bearing tags reminding residents that special neighborhood hotel rates are available and to “Book at Blu!” whenever extra rooms are needed.

Hear in the neighborhood

Ingredients: 1 ripe avocado (cut and deseed) 1/4 cup young coconut meat (optional) 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup agave nectar or honey (adjust to taste) 1/2 cup made up of equal portions of carob & cacao powder (or coco) 1t vanilla extract pinch Himalayan pink salt 1/8t cinnamon powder Procedure: 1. In a high speed blender, blend coconut meat with water for even consistency.

2. Add avocado and rest of the ingredients and blend to smooth consistency.

3. Serve in dessert glasses and chill in fridge for 30 mins.

Note: Use ripe avocados for best results! The secret ingredient, avocado, makes it thick and rich, but it cannot be detected in the flavor.

Nutrition Note: Raw Cacao is one of the most powerful antioxidants on the planet!

Rich in essential minerals, including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese.

Carob Powder is caffeine free and contains 50% more calcium than cacao.

www.rawfoodcentre.com

Cute pet alert

Vibraphonist Preyas Roy started playing piano and drums in his upstate New York hometown when he was eight years-old. A few years later, when he was “halfway into high school,” he “sorta eased into vibraphone.”

Bentley is a 10-year-old Puggle who is also known as the mascot of 233 E. Wacker.

“He loves everyone,” explains his owner Ralph Dicosola, ”and he thinks he’s going to get a treat from all of them.”

These days, the University of Chicago graduate travels most weekdays from his home in Hyde Park to the corner of Michigan and Randolph where he enjoys playing “because I can really cut loose.” To hear his music online, visit preyasroy. com. Story and photo by Daniel Patton.

When he’s not working his charm, Bentley likes to swim in Lake Michigan, an activity he pursues every morning in the summer at Oak Street Beach. “We didn’t know he could swim,” Dicosola says. “The first time that he encountered water, he just jumped in mid-air and started swimming.” Story and photo by Daniel Patton.

6 / MARCH 2016

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Visionary “green fitness space” may replace Grant Park’s former skate park Jinaki combines a passion for fitness with an Ivy League MBA and a knack for organizational excellence. His ability to lead projects has helped him succeed as an associate director at Ogilvy & Mather’s New York office, an ad agency where he worked until returning to his hometown of Chicago last year.

Above: the volleyball court and former skateboard park a few bolcks south of Balbo and west of Columbus where advocates want to build a Green Outdoor Fitness Space. Photo: Daniel Patton

By Dan Patton | Staff Writer The idea behind the recently proposed “Green Fitness Space” in Grant Park is to start a revolution. From personal wellness to community participation to corporate health care, the lifestyle concept designed by Chicagoans Omari Jinaki and Ross Arena aims to change how the world thinks about staying in shape.

Jinaki and Arena presented their idea to a meeting of the Grant Park Conservancy and the Grant Park Advisory Council on Northerly Island in February. If the proposal gains approval,

it could mean that the old skate park near the intersection of Balbo Ave. and Columbus Dr. will become a thing of the past, replaced by a multipurpose facility covering 36,000 square feet.

Besides offering calisthenic-based exercise equipment, the space will boast an organic garden, a staff of professional fitness instructors and, most importantly, an all-inclusive free admission policy.

“Health is like a basic human right,” says Jinaki. “Nobody should have to pay to be physically active.”

Upon arriving back in the Windy City, he noticed a lack in the type of public fitness areas that had become part of his everyday life in the Big Apple.

He was so impressed with New York’s community-building effects that he actually helped secure and design one for his Inwood Hill Park neighborhood with funds from the city’s discretionary budget last year. He was inspired to do the same thing in Chicago.

He presented the idea to Bob O’Neill, President of the Grant Park Conservancy, who not only recommended the unused location of the former skateboard park, but also recognized the concept as “a new idea that’s never been done anywhere else in the world.”

“It’s part of a bigger picture,” he says.

“We want to do something that really attracts people to get healthier. We want this to be a beautiful space.”

The location is exactly what Jinaki had envisioned, largely because it is accessible to people “who would normally feel intimidated by sports where you have to buy equipment,” he says.

Arena, who earned a PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and heads the Department of Physical Therapy at UIC, has long advocated for national wellness. When he heard about Jinaki’s concept in a local newspaper, he recognized it as a potential shot in the arm for America’s quality of life.

He incorporates public health and wellness into a community outreach class that has been part of UIC’s curriculum for years. In addition to enlightening students, the class helps him perfect the method for bringing fitness to the masses. He is also growing an organic garden on campus, one that he hopes will become the model for what ultimately grows in Grant Park.

The presentation was so well received that O’Neill has since asked the firm that designed the skateboard park, Altamanu, to sketch out a few ideas for the green fitness space. He hopes to present those to the public within the next few months.

Bloch Cancer Survivors Garden — The story of a neighborhood oasis

By Ophelia Dodds | Community Contributor Nestled between the Maggie Daley and Peanut Parks is a small oasis known as the Bloch Cancer Survivors Garden. It is a secluded refuge where people can sit quietly to reflect upon loved ones who have suffered from cancer, ponder their own mortality or simply enjoy the majestic beauty of nature.

The garden was built in 1996 on approximately 2.25 acres of land. Two 40-foot Corinthian columns, which were salvaged from Chicago’s 1905 Federal Building, grace the entrance.

Prior to being put in the garden, these columns were used to reinforce a breakwater under the Lake Michigan shoreline during the 1980s.

The gardens are funded by the R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, which was founded by Richard and Annette Bloch. The couple dedicated their lives to helping others suffering with the disease after Richard waged and won a war with lung cancer.

Features that promote healing are incorporated into the landscaping, including 14 bronze plaques carrying messages of inspiration, and a “positive mental attitude” walkway lined with greenery and flowers.

There is a pavilion, which signifies the road to recovery, with plaques that define cancer and ways to help overcome it.

The Bloch Cancer Survivor’s Garden has overcome its own challenges over

the years, including crab apple trees that were attacked by rabbits, the theft of the inspirational plaques, and even a consideration of moving the garden to gain access to Lake Michigan.

The garden’s annual replanting budget is an estimated $60,000, which has traditionally been managed through the Parkways Foundation, the park district’s nonprofit arm. Although revenue generated by renting the garden for weddings and private events may offset costs of maintaining it, its fiscal situation remains controversial and relies considerably on private donations.

Anyone wishing to make a donation should contact the Chicago Park District (773) 685-7235.

The Bloch Cancer Survivors Garden.

Photo by Ophelia Dodds

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

MARCH 2016 / 7

Meet your neighbor: Maggie Daley Park Supervisor Jackie Guthrie “I am able to work with a team of talented and dedicated staff, supportive community, and each day brings new opportunities. I would argue that I have the best job in the Chicago Park District.”

During her lunch hour, she often strolls through the lakefront greenery to admire how visitors are enjoying the space.

Maggie Daley Park Supervisor Jackie Guthrie.

Photo by Angela Gagnon.

By Angela Gagnon — Staff Writer Jackie Guthrie might be the first friendly face you see behind the desk upon entering the Maggie Daley Park field house. “A day in the life of the Maggie Daley Park Supervisor…is an honor,” says Guthrie.

“Some areas of the park are very active, while others are quiet and serene,” says Guthrie, who has been Park Supervisor for over six years.

As Park Supervisor, Guthrie focuses on balancing the needs of the community while also catering to the demands of tourism.

During the park’s transformation over two years in 2013 and 2014, Guthrie was involved in planning and designing the field house. “The Chicago Park District team and the architects were

committed to designing the best use of our space,” she explains. “Our team understood the importance of our programs and special event space for the community.”

The facility was designed to accommodate the people who participate in the park district programs as well as the skaters and climbers who use the park’s amenities.

“The use of the space has changed,” says Guthrie. “What once was a big kitchen and shower rooms is now a well thought out space that is program focused.” In addition to offering activities for children, teens, and seniors, the field house has a multipurpose room for meetings and special events.

This month, an Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled on March 24 from 10am – 12pm, and Guthrie played a big role in organizing the event. There will be children’s activities in the field house, including holiday crafts and a bounce

house, with the egg hunt taking place outside.

The park is also part of a migratory bird path. “In the spring, there are plans for some organized bird walks to take advantage of the nature,” says Guthrie.

Recently, the park even boasted its own unofficial mascot. A calico cat named “Maggie” took up residence in the area until a resident rescued her.

According to Guthrie, the options for outdoor activity in Maggie Daley Park are endless. The new tennis courts at the east end, which will offer reservations and charge fees for usage, are scheduled to open in spring. Plans are in the works to host musical performances and movies in the summer.

“Maggie Daley Park is still developing its personality because it’s so new,” says Guthrie.

The Freezin’ Gator Zip energizes Millennium Park “You can’t beat the skyline view,” said travelingmom.com editor Cindy Richards, who journeyed from Indiana on the coldest weekend of the winter to give it a whirl. “If you think your kids might like to zip line, this is a great test.”

Among the kids who agreed with her was Chicago student Sommer Stone, who said that she was initially nervous because “the platform got shaky” while the harness was reeled into place, but started enjoying the ride as soon as she took off.

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer During the weekend of February 13, thousands of Chicagoans soared over Millennium Park on a 200-foot zip line that stretched from a platform near the northern end of the promenade to a landing area steps away from the Bean. Although the ride lasted only a few seconds, the thrilling experience created lasting memories.

Officially known as “The Freezin’ Gator Zip,” the event was created by Experience Kissimmee, the tourism council of Osceola County, Florida. It was designed to tempt Chicagoans into visiting the subtropical destination with a chilled-down version of a thrill that can be enjoyed there year-round.

According to Experience Kissimmee’s CEO, D.T. Minich, a gravity-powered

pulley contraption of this sort has never been erected in a place like downtown Chicago before.

up more excitement than the complimentary hot chocolate just a few feet away.

“We worked with the City of Chicago Parks & Rec,” he said. “They were great, but when we first started this idea I was like, ‘I don’t know if we can get them to buy in.’”

The spectacle was kept safe by two animal handlers from Gatorland named Cooter and Bubba, who had secured the animals’ jaws with electrical tape before the event began and wore coveralls the rest of the time. Additionally, explained Cooter, the predators are generally harmless unless they are provoked. “Alligators are like couch potatoes,” he said.

The company plans to take the show on the road next year, most likely to New York City, but was determined to hold the inaugural run in the Windy City. “This is such a special market for us,” explained Minich. “We love the people up here and it’s a great setting next to the ice rink and everything.”

The event also featured two live alligators from Gatorland, a theme park located within the headwaters of the Everglades that flow near Kissimmee.

The carnivorous reptiles not only remained calm as guests held them for photos in the “warming tent” next to the landing area, but they also stirred

Over the nine years that he has worked for the family-owned, 110-acre theme park that houses 1,730 alligators, 51 crocodiles and hundreds of additional poisonous creatures, Cooter has only been bitten twice.

It happened during feeding time. “We hold chicken over the water,” he says.

“Kinda like a person hanging from a zip line.”

Above, left: a zipliner soars over Millennium Park. Photo by Daniel Patton.

8 / MARCH 2016

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Table tennis anyone?

NYC’s SPiN ping-pong club expanding to Chicago Shanti Nagarkatti | Community Contributor Chicago table-tennis enthusiasts have more reasons to celebrate this spring with new ping-pong clubs opening nearby. SpiN, a “ping pong social club” will take over 16,000 square feet of long-vacant space at Marina City, 344 N. State Street. SPiN describes itself as “an unusual mixture of sport, design, and entertainment.”

Plans call for 15 to 20 ping-pong tables, which will be available for rental by the half-hour or hour. Players of all ages are welcome until 9 p.m., when the club becomes 21+. Nightly events, tournaments, and private instruction with professional players will be offered, as well as a full bar, restaurant,

and multiple VIP Lounges, according to the website wearespin.com. A membership plan offering reserve tables at cheaper rates is also in the works.

The SPiN concept began in a loft in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood. Coowned by actress Susan Sarandon, a reputed “table tennis ninja,” SPiN has locations in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Dubai and now Chicago. Given the city’s size and enthusiasm for sports, Chi-

cago was an “obvious spot” to expand, says SPiN spokesperson Shawn Topp.

According to Topp, ping-pong is a catalyst for connections, culture, and community. “SPiN is a place that’s open and inviting to everyone. You’ll find an eclectic mix of young and old, beginners and more experienced players, from all walks of life,” says Topp.

It is one of the world’s most popular sports, played by some 300 million people, according to the International Table

Tennis Federation. Long a mainstay of garages and basements, the game has experienced a boom in popularity.

SPiN is not the only venue looking to capitalize on its resurgence. It will compete against the Killerspin House, a high-energy venue at 135 S. LaSalle Street filled with ping-pong tables, televisions, and upbeat music that has been open since January 2014. Additionally, the British table-tennis club, Bounce Ping Pong, is heading to the corner of Clark St. and Wacker Dr., at 230 N. Clark St., according to a liquor license application and signage. Closer to home, New Eastside residents can take their own paddles and balls to a table open 24 hours a day within My Storage Suite, on the Pedway level of 225 North Columbus Drive.

Opinion:

Paper or paper? Plastic bag ban stifles consumer choice Shanti Nagarkatti | Community Contributor

to contaminate the bag which then cross-contaminates the next purchase.

It is recommended that meat purchases be bagged separately in-you guessed it-plastic, before being placed into the reusable bags. Sanitizing reusable bags with chlorine bleach and regularly washing them in a washing machine, making sure they are thoroughly dried, is the best way to fight the bacteria.

Returning to O’Hare from a recent trip to St. Louis, I expected to be stopped by the authorities any second. You see, I had contraband in my carryon.

Small, lightweight, and folded inside one another, the items in question are no longer available at Target, CVS, or the Lakeshore East Mariano’s. This is why I feel the need to replenish my stockpile, gathering up lightweight, single-use plastic bags from the pile kept by my mother in her suburban garage.

As I unpacked my suitcase and placed a single-use plastic bag in the small trash can, I was reminded yet again just how ill-conceived Chicago’s now seven-month-old plastic bag ban seems to be.

Put forth as a bill by Ald. Joe Moreno and passed by a 36-10 vote in the city council, the law went into effect August 1, 2015, forbidding chain stores of 10,000 square feet or more from doling out single-use plastic

bags. Smaller chain stores have until August 2016 to phase them out; small businesses and restaurants are exempt. Chicago is one of more than 100 U.S. cities to have banned the bags in recent years, in hopes of encouraging consumers to adopt reusable bags.

Not only does this ban appear to be riddled with confusion, it infringes on the rights of businesses and consumers to choose how to transport their

goods. This ban might also literally be making us sick to our stomachs.

According to studies by Loma Linda University and the University of Arizona, reusable bags tested positive for E. coli, salmonella, and coliform bacteria. The largest problem comes from cross-contamination. By reusing a bag without sanitizing it between uses, which the studies found 97% of consumers do not do, foods are allowed

Another aspect that’s galling about throwing plastic bags under the bus is that the light, strong, waterproof bags are so useful. Many consumers reuse plastic bags for other purposes, such as containing sweaty gym clothes, packing shoes in luggage, and picking up dog waste, to name just a few.

In the scheme of problems, plastic bags do not rank among the largest concerns that the city faces. Seven months into the ban, a post-bag society doesn’t seem that far off. A trip to Whole Foods, where I had purchased a half-dozen items without a reusable bag, found me facing the question, “Do you need a bag today?”

MARCH 2016 / 9

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Doorperson of the month:

James Henri, 340 On The Park

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

James Henri, doorman at 340 On The Park, has always enjoyed working with people. Before assuming front desk responsibilities at the city’s second tallest residential building, he spent decades in hospital administration, hotel security, and public education.

But the immeasurably professional Mr. Henri, who also earned a degree in Education from Cornell College in Iowa, credits the tenants of the building for his success. “We have doctors, lawyers, CEOs,” he says. “They are down-toearth and they’ve embraced me and included me in their families.”

He came to 340 by way of a recommendation from a tenant in a condominium where he worked before pursuing the position.

Now Enrolling

Preschool through

8th Grade

Experience the Future of Education. Today.

Chicago’s Premier Preschool through 8th Grade International School Located in the heart of Lakeshore East, GEMS World Academy – Chicago’s inquiry-based curriculum empowers student exploration and critical-thinking. Our technologyrich campus helps students forge rewarding relationships in a valuesdriven environment. As students make connections to the world, they gain the solid academic foundation necessary to become successful life-long learners.

“She was moving out and I said, ‘I hate to see you leave,” he recalls. “And she said, ‘you ought to come with us.’”

Mr. Henri joined the team that helped inaugurate the high-rise when it opened in 2007 and has fostered a number of admirers ever since.

To learn more about GEMS World Academy - Chicago, meet with the admissions team, and reserve your spot, visit: www.gemschicago.org/eastside or call: 312-809-8910

This respect for other people has been a part of Mr. Henri’s character since he was a child growing up in the Chatham neighborhood on Chicago’s south side.

“I am from a mixed-race family,” he explains. “My father was African-American and my mother was white. It could be intense.”

Mr. Henri was taught about patience, respect and ambition by his parents, who remained together throughout their entire lives.

“We couldn’t use the word ‘hate’ in our household,” he explains. “Because it’s a learned behavior.”

The rule was applied to every aspect of the family’s life. “I don’t like asparagus and I don’t like Brussels sprouts,” he says. “But I can’t say I hate them.”

To nominate your doorperson, please email info@neweastsidecommunity.com.

James Henri of 340 On The Park. Photo by Daniel Patton.

I Love Sushi is a Pedway favorite “I bring all my clients here,” says a buyer from Hearst Publishing. “They love it. The Fire Roll’s the best.”

Owner Julie Chung opened I Love Sushi eleven years ago, after immigrating to Chicago from Osaka, Japan, where she spent nearly two years learning the art of sushi from an authentic Japanese chef.

I Love Sushi’s Fire Roll. Photo by Daniel Patton.

Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

Schedule a Visit and Tour

“There isn’t a person whose name he doesn’t know,” says Betsy Gilfillan, a tenant in the building. “He set the standard for great service and he is a joy to see every time we walk through the lobby.”

I Love Sushi, a cafe serving Japanese and Korean cuisine in the Pedway underneath 233 N. Michigan Ave., has been igniting tastebuds for nearly twelve years with its unique brand of Asian-American cuisine.

“I’ve been coming here since I started working upstairs about two years ago,” says an architect in the building.

“I’ve tried a bunch of other places, but

this place always beats them on taste, flavor and craftsmenship.”

Among the most popular and innovative dishes on the menu is a flamebroiled maki called the “Fire Roll.”

Filled with crab and topped with a crunchy spinach, the entree lives up to its name by including a sub-layer of shrimp that is bruleed with a special blue-flamed torch right before customers’ eyes.

“In Japan, they’re not that much into using sauce,” she says. “In America we use a lot of sauces, but I love it.”

Besides serving customers in the six buldings connected to the Pedway corridor, Chung’s restaurant also caters for business and private events.

Athough she opened a dry cleaning business in the area before founding I Love Sushi, she explains that the restaurant perfectly suits her passion.

“I like eating,” she says.

10/ MARCH 2016

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Events

Schedules are subject to change. Call venues to confim event information.

Ongoing Events Through March 31

Through March 19

GEMS World Academy - Chicago admissions coffees and tours GEMS World Academy offers coffees and tours on select days each week.

Contact the school for details. Free.

350 E. South Water · (312) 809-8900 www.gemsworldacademy-chicago.com

Romeo And Juliet at the Lyric Opera In French with subtitles. $20 - $239.

Feb 22 - 7:30 p.m.; Feb 25, 28 - 2 p.m.

Lyric Opera of Chicago 20 N. Upper Wacker · (312) 332-2244 www.lyricopera.org

Through March 6

Present Standard art exhibition at The Chicago Cultural Center Works that address the word “standard” as “a flag, pennant, measurement or principle.”.\ Free.

10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Chicago Cultural Center 78 E. Washington St. · (312) 744-6630 www.chicagoculturalcenter.org

Peace On Earth Film Festival at The Chicago Cultural Center A selection of international films based on themes of “peace, nonviolence, social justice and eco-balance.”

Special Events. Free.

Monday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Chicago Cultural Center 78 E. Washington St. · (312) 744-6630 www.peaceonearthfilmfestival.org

Through March 13 Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier presents Twelfth Night A unique interpretation of the Bard’s romantic comedy. $48+.

Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier 600 E Grand Ave. · (312) 595-5600 www.chicagoshakes.com

Through April 24

Through May 28 Pedway Walking Tour & Brunch Explore underground Chicago from the Radisson Blu to Macy’s. Brunch at the Hyatt Regency. $50 - $70.

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Saturdays Radisson Blu · 221 N. Columbus Dr. www.chicagosfinesttours.com/winter-tours/pedway-brunch-tour/

March 6

Mariano’s Mimosa & Bloody Mary Bar Appetizers, Mimosas and Bloody Marys in the store. $5 per cocktail.

10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Mariano’s Lakeshore East 333 E. Benton Pl. · (312) 228-1349 www.marianos.com

Neighborhoods of the World at Navy Pier Traditional music, dance, food, and crafts from around the world. Free.

Italy, March 6 · Lithuania, March 13 Philippines, March 20 · Greece, March 27 Noon - 4 p.m.

600 E Grand Ave. · (312) 595-7437 www.navypier.com

Raw Food Centre’s Spring Renewal Chef Sunita Vira & Dr. Cristina Torres demonstrate how to use food as medicine. Appetisers, wine and dessert. $50.

2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Radisson Blu Hotel 221 N. Columbus Dr. · (312) 919-6997 www.rawfoodcentre.com

Joffrey Ballet World Premieres at the Museum of Contemporary Art The Joffrey Academy of Dance, in association with the Museum of Contemporary Art, presents three choreographed performances by the winners of the academy’s 2016 “Winning Works” program — Jeffrey Cirio, Christian Denice and Mariana Oliviera — and a fourth by Joffrey Academy Artistic Director Alexei Kremnev. $24.

March 5 · 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

March 6 · 3 p.m.

Museum of Contemporary Art 220 E. Chicago Ave. · www.mcachicago.org · (312) 397-4010

March 8 - 20

March 17 - 20

42nd Street at the Cadillac Palace A young dancer dreams of performing on America’s famous stage. $16 - $200.

2 p.m., 8 p.m.

151 W. Randolph St. · (312) 384-1502 www.broadwayinchicago.com

Hubbard Street Dance Spring Series at the Harris Theater Favorites from recent seasons and a world premiere. $30 - $99.

3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m.

Harris Theater 205 E. Randolph St. · (312) 850-9744 www.hubbardstreetdance.com/spring

March 11 - 12 Magic at the Ritz-Carlton Renowned illusionist Ivan Amodei’s Intimate Illusions show. $75 - $100.

2 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m.

160 E. Pearson St. · (866) 811-4111 www.ivanamodei.com/on-tour

March 12 - 20

March 5

March 5

Winning Works

March 8 - 13 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Performance includes new versions of classics created by the late founder himself. $33 - $113.

7:30 p.m.

Auditorium Theatre 50 E. Congress Pkwy. · (312) 595-7437 www.auditoriumtheatre.org

Chicago Flower & Garden Show A lush presentation of cuisine, gardens and seminars, presented by Mariano’s.

Some discounts available. $17 - $19.

Sunday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Festival Hall · Navy Pier 600 E. Grand Ave. · (312) 241-1250 www.chicagoflower.com

March 14 Chicago Sinfonetta’s BYOB: Bring Your Own Beat “The most primal element in music.” includes Still’s Festive Overture, and Lorenz’s Maracas Concerto. $18 - $60.

7:30 p.m.

Orchestra Hall of Symphony Center 220 S. Michigan Ave. · (312) 284-1554 www.chicagosinfonietta.org

March 15 Chicago Cultural Mile Town Hall The March meeting focuses on the 2016 Halloween Parade. Appetizers and refreshments. Free.

Holiday egg hunts Maggie Daley Park March 24

For children as young as 6-months and adults who are young at heart.

Cost $5. 10 a.m. - Noon Maggie Daley Park 337 E. Randolph St. (312) 742-3918 www.chicagoparkdistrict. com

Mariano’s TBD

The neighborhood favorite, traditionally held on the day before Easter. For details, contact Marianos.

333 E. Benton Pl. (312) 228-1349 www.marianos.com

MARCH 2016 / 11

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Events

Schedules are subject to change. Call venues to confirm event information.

CHICAGO

SPRING RACES Fight for Air Climb 7am, Sunday, March 6, 2016 Presidential Towers Get Lucky Half Marathon, 14K & 7K 9am, Saturday, March 12, 2016 Soldier Field Leprechaun Leap 5K/8K 9:30am, Saturday, March 12, 2016 Lincoln Park Live Grit Lakefront 10 Miler & 5K 9am, Saturday, March 19 Montrose Beach Bunny Rock Chicago 5K run/walk and Egg Hunt 9am, Saturday, March 26, 2016 Montrose Harbor Chicago Quarter Marathon 9:15am, Saturday, March 26, 2016 Soldier Field 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Studebaker Theater 410 S. Michigan Ave. · (312) 332-9000 www.chicagoculturalmile.org

March 16 Mid-America Club Member Reception Tour the 80th floor of the Mid-America Club. RSVP Required: susan.marzec@

clubcorp.com or (312) 861-1100. Free.

5:30 - 7 p.m.

Aon Center · 80th Floor 200 E. Randolph Rd. · (312) 861-1100 www.midamclub.org

March 18 Whisky Festival at the Hyatt Annual celebration of spirits. $275.

Hyatt Regency Chicago 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

151 E. Upper Wacker Dr. · (312) 514-3849 www.whiskyadvocate.com/events/ whiskyfest-chicago

March 19 Open house at CHALK Preschool managed by Bright Horizons Learn about the exciting things at this year’s summer camp. Free.

11 a.m. - Noon 360 E. South Water St. · (312) 565-7300 www.child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/.com

March 19 Star Trek at the Chicago Theatre The Ultimate Voyage in The Windy City. $43.50 - $78.50.

Chicago Theatre 8 p.m.

175 N. State St. · (312) 462-6300 www.thechicagotheatre.com

Cruises on Lake Michigan

Spirit Cruises on Navy Pier offers scenic, exciting and romantic cruises on the Odyssey, Mystic Blue, Seadog and Spirit of Chicago.

Below is a small selection of what’s in store for March.

To review the entire schedule, go to www.spiritcruises.com.

March 5 · 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Spirit of Chicago Dinner Cruise Enjoy a crisp night of dining, dancing and taking in the Chicago skyline. $120-$136.

March 18 · 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

March 27 · Noon - 2:30 p.m.

Spirit of Chicago Mystic Blue Flower & Garden Show Cruise Easter Sunday Brunch Cruise Enjoy cuisine prepared with fresh Includes a freshly prepared brunch and organic ingredients while cruis- buffet featuring a selection of deliing Lake Michigan. $36.90. cious new dishes. 129.90.

Spirit Cruises on Navy Pier 600 E Grand Ave. · (866) 273-2469 www.spiritcruises.com

March 20 - April 3 Macy’s Flower Show Macy’s on State Street presents “a stunning celebration of our country’s vast and varied landscapes—from purple mountain majesties and across the wilderness!” Free.

10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Sun. to 7 p.m.)

111 N. State St. · (312) 781-1000 www.social.macys.com/

Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts at the Chicago Cultural Center

St Patrick’s Celebrations

The international music foundation presents free weekly concerts under the exquisite dome of Preston Bradley Hall.

Parade · March 12 at noon

March 9 · 12:15 p.m.

Pianist Wayne Went performs Schubert’s Moments musicaus and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12.

March 23 · 12:15 p.m.

Pianist Cornelia Herrman performs Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 12, Bach’s Italian Concerto and Schubert’s Impromptu No. 2.

March 30 · 12:15 p.m.

March 16 · 12:15 p.m.

Pianist Jiayi Shi and Violinist Vincent Violinist Francesca Anderegg and Pianist Matthew McCright perform Meklis perform Violin Sonata and Guerra-Peixe’s Três Peças, Lobos’’ Three Preludes by Debussy and Nocturne and Tarantella, by Szymanowski. Sonata-Fantasia, Piazzolla’s Libertango and Ginastera’s Pampeana No. 1.

78 E. Washington Presented by the international music foundation (312) 670-6888 · www.imfchicago.org/hess/main#/hess/schedules/395

March 26 · 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Odyssey Champagne Dinner Cruise Includes appetizers, entree, and dessert prepared fresh by the Odysse’s executive chef. 129.90.

Watch or march in this year’s parade from Balbo and Columbus to Monroe and Columbus. To march, contact Ald. Reilly at 312 274-0042 or rsvp@reillyforchicago.com.

River Dyeing · March 12 at 9 a.m.

Watch city officials turn the Chicago River into a lucky shade of green.

Best viewed from the east side of the Michigan Ave. bridge, the west side of the Columbus Dr. bridge or Wacker Dr. between Michigan Ave. and Columbus Dr.

March 22 Lollapalooza four-day passes on sale Secure your entry to the music festival’s new extended schedule. $335.

10 a.m. (tickets go on sale) www.lollapalooza.com

March 24 Jarvis Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon release dinner at III Forks Celebrate the release of the 2007 Jarvis Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with appetizers, dessert, and a three-course menu that includes prime New York strip. Reservations required. $150.

6:30 p.m.

180 N. Field Blvd. · (312) 938-4303 www.3forks.com

March 31 Wine tasting at Mariano’s Learn about the aesthetics of wine and half a dozen varieties. Includes appetizers. 21+ only. $10.

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Mariano’s Lakeshore East 333 E. Benton Pl. · (312) 228-1349 www.marianos.com

12 / MARCH 2016

A World of Opportunities

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Apply now to become part of the only private school in Chicago offering personalized, international education to 15 grades of students under one roof. Applications for the 2016-17 school year are due January 4, 2016. www.bischicagosl.org/admissions