New Eastside News June 2016

VOL. 4 NO. 6

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June 2016

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Chicago raises the bridges of summer

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GEMS World Academy’s new Head of School

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Chicago Loop Alliance patrols downtown with compassion

Page 9

Island Party Hut brings tropics to River Walk The Wabash Avenue Bridge raises for river traffic during a boat run on May 18. Photo: Daniel Patton.

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

To most people, Chicago’s movable bridges represent an engineering feat that lifts a ton of steel and concrete into the air while allowing boats to pass underneath. But to the crew that operates the structures, they are a full-time job. Here’s what it takes to get it done. Turn to page 8.

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— GRANT PARK —

333 E Benton Pl · 312 228 1333

www.MingHinCuisine.com — CHINATOWN —

2168 S Archer · 312 808 1999

2 / JUNE 2016

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

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, Kari Greczek Layout/Design: Daniel Patton Community Contributors: Jon Cohn, Elizabeth Johnston, Tracey Lewis, Matthew Reiss, Angela Gagnon, Reemaa Konkimalla 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 @2016.

All rights reserved.

Correction A reference contained in last month’s cover story, “Working in the sky over New Eastside,” implied that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois is an Anthem company. Reader Dan Wehrenberg noticed the misleading verbage and emailed us the following clarification: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is not an Anthem company. BCBS-IL is part of Health Care Service Corporation which includes Blue Cross Blue Shield companies in five states (IL, TX, OK, NM and MT). Anthem, Inc. includes Blue Cross Blue Shield companies in 14 states but Illinois is not an Anthem state.

New Eastside News regrets the confusion and, as always, appreciates the feedback.

— Elaine Hyde, Editor

www.neatside.com

Grant Park Music Festival a tradition for New Eastside residents

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NEWS

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

New Eastsiders have a penchant for venturing out on beautiful summer evenings, and combining a creative picnic with the finest music our city has to offer.

Movies in the Park at Lakehore East begin Thursday, June 30

We are of course talking about another season of the traditional Grant Park Musical Festival at Millennium Park, a Chicago tradition five minutes away from New Eastside.

The season kicks off on Wednesday June 15th with Carlo Kalmer and the Grant Park Orchestra. Friday June 17 and Saturday June 18, fans will be treated to Beethoven’s 1st Symphony.

Food and drink are available at the park’s concession stand. Local restaurants and grocery stores are also offering prepackaged concert picnic meals.

Now for some recommendations from your friendly newspaper contributing columnist:

One night every month throughout the summer, Magellan Development Corporation will turn the neighborhood into an outdoor movie theater.

The program begins Thursday June 30 with Dirty Danicing followed by This is Love on July 28 and Star Wars on August 25. Movies start at sundown (approximately 8:30 p.m.) Pre-show music starts at 6 pm.

Fireworks at Navy Pier. Photo: Chicago Genie.

1.

Get yourself a good comfy lawn chair and never mind the cost because your back and body will thank you;

Iron Workers Local 1 replacing the hardware on Upper Wacker Dr. Photo by Daniel Patton.

2.

Enjoy socializing with friends and family and neighbors before and after the concert, but once the music starts, reduce the conversation or, trust me, you will get shushed — not so gently — by nearby patrons. I learned this the hard way.

Street maintenance: Upper Wacker Drive reinforcement

I also learned this is an absolutely awesome way to spend a Chicago summer evening.

“But you get to know people and they become like family. I never thought that would happen on the job.”

When doorperson of the month Perry Jefferson began working at Harbor Point Condominium Association a decade ago, he soon discovered that the position was unlike any that he had held in the past.

“When I started, I just thought I’d do my job and then go home,” he says.

MILA Tower ready for renters to move-in

Concertgoers enjoy Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the Pritzker Pavilion. Photo by “TonyTheTiger.”

Doorperson of the month: Perry Jefferson, Harbor Point Tower

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

Landscaping at former Louis Vuitton hosts Chicago Spire site America’s Cup World Series event at Navy The gaping hole where the Chicago Pier June 10 Spire was to be constructed in 2008 was recently beautified with fresh grass, trees and other assorted greenery. Take a look for yourself via the newly opened access to the DuSable bridge via the south west tower stairs.

By Jon Cohn | Community Contributor

Again this summer, we will be treated to the best and brightest Chicago concert music at The Pritzker Pavilion every Wednesday night beginning at 6:30 p.m., Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday’s beginning at 7:30 p.m.

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

His resenthusiasm soon distinguished him as one of the best who had ever held the position, according to Elizabeth Onesto, Harbor Point’s Assistant Property Manager.

“He is the greatest example of a perfect lead doorman, a person who you want at every building,” she says. “He’s got such a good, positive attitude. He is attentive. He is friendly. You can never catch him being upset about anything.”

Prior to accepting the position, Mr. Jefferson worked for Sears and David Bancorp Armored Transportation.

“I don’t like firearms,” he says. “But I’m trained with them.”

When not on the job, Mr. Jefferson spends time with his wife, a nurse at Loyola Medical Center, and his daughter, a senior premed student at Atlanta Clark University who plans to study gynecology in New York next year.

Iron Workers Local 1 began replacing the links and pins of the expansion joints on Upper Wacker Drive, which connect the large sections of concrete that form the street, in May.

Besides its outstanding location Chicago’s Cultural Mile, MILA boasts a rooftop pool and offers room service and valet parking for guests of residents from the nearby Hard Rock Hotel.

For more information, visit www.milachicago.com.

The stainless steel links are attached to both sides of the thoroughfare’s elevated pavement sections. They hold the street together while allowing a roughly two-inch gap to remain so that “the roadway can move in the hot and cold,” says Iron Worker Scott Witry.

Meahwhile, G & C Construction replaced the black strips of plastic that extend from sidewalk to sidewalk and cover the joints on the street’s surface.

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

“We remove everything completely,” explains G&C’s Nick Garcia. “On the sidewalks, we recess one side and install a steel cover plate that will be flush with the existing concrete.”

Competing teams will be awarded points based on their individual performances in what the race committee considers to be “an early opportunity to put points on the board that carry forward into the next stage of the competition.”

Besides the defending champion ORACLE USA, teams from Sweden, Great Britain, New Zealand, Japan, and France will compete in the event.

Each team will race “on foiling, wingsailed catamarans — an updated version of the AC45 raced in the last series,” according to a press release.

To enhance viewing accessibility and celebrate the occasion, Louis Vuitton and a number of sponsors will host a number of attractions including a beer garden and food court at “Race Village” in Navy Pier. Admission is $29 for children, $59 for adults.

CAPS Wrap: attendee encourages residents to oust “hustlers” from Lower Wacker Dr.

Mariano’s encourages New Eastside residents to report unattended shopping carts A representative from upscale New Eastside grocery Mariano’s at 333 E. Benton Pl. underscored the store’s committment to reduce neighborhood clutter by encouraging residents to call (312) 228 1349 to report any sightings of unattended shopping carts.

Once the call is made, the representative said, “We’ll send someone over.”

Additionally, Mariano’s schedules a “cart person” who retrieves the mobile grocery transporters at least once every hour from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., every day of the week.

Friends of the Chicago River to host Summer Cruise On Wednesday June 22, the McCormick Bridgehouse Museum will host a twilight riverboat cruise on a 250-passenger Wendella vessel launching from the dock of the Trump Tower in River North and rolling down to Bubbly Creek in Bridgeport.

Appetizers, drinks, and three pop-up concerts will nourish and entertain guests along the way.

Tickets are $75. Proceeds will benefit the Friends Bridgehouse Museum. For more information, visit www.bridgehousemuseum.org.

During the June CAPS meeting at 400 E. Randolph, a local business professional urged residents to provide assistance in an attempt to evict the individuals who appear to prey on motorists and passersby near the intersection of Lower Lake St. and Lower Michigan Ave.

The process requires crews to work on the north side of the structure while suspended by canopy some thirty feet over the banks of the Chicago River.

“We come downtown on off days and get the DIVY bikes or do the Wendala boat tour. That’s very interesting. I recommend it to everyone.”

Left: Perry Jefferson. Photo by Daniel Patton.

The 41-story MILA Tower at 201 N. Garland Ct. began showing apartments to potential tenants and welcoming new residents in May.

The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series sails into the fresh waters of Lake Michigan — the first freshwater venue to host America’s Cup racing in the event’s 164-year history — on June 10. The event represents the initial stage enroute to the 2017 World Cup in Bermuda.

JUNE 2016 / 3

“They’ve got a little hustle there and they approach cars to ask them if they are lost,” the person explained afterwards. “I want the city to clean it up.”

The Mila Tower. Photo by Daniel Patton.

The person also supplied a number of “Criminal Trespass Affidavit” forms used by the Chicago Police Deparment to gain permission to enter premises and while homeowners and business operators are away.

New water feature along western wall of Lake Shore East Park. Photo by Elaine Hyde.

4 / JUNE 2016

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Island Party Hut adds a fleet of good times to the Chicago River Walk

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

“When you think about it, there’s nothing like this in the city,” says Mark Stern, one of three founding partners of the Island Party Hut on the Chicago River Walk. “A tiki bar on the water.

What a perfect thing to do.”

Now in its second year, the Island Party Hut is a bar and restaurant in a thatch-roofed yellow shipping container. It’s attached to a wooden deck, which is next to a riverfront lawn where guests lounge in Adirondack chairs and play outdoor games.

“We’ve got giant checkers and we’re going to add bocce ball and the Bimini ring game,” Stern says. “It’s where you toss the ring and try to hook it on a hook. It’s very contagious.”

Besides offering a menu that includes grilled shrimp with tamarind cocktail sauce and the spicy “Rastafarian” Jamaican jerk chicken wrap, the venue also features live music. Regular performers include

Vincent the Jamaican One-Man Band, who Jenny-the-bartender describes as “amazing,” and Samuel Wyatt, who fronts a group “that plays ‘Sweet Caroline’ and all those feel-good tunes.”

When it comes to rum, Mixologist “Z” transforms the spirit into a tropical daydream. After arriving from the British Virgin Island of Jost Van Dyke last year, he introduced the Painkiller, a specialty that was invented “in a little place called the Soggy Dollar.” A mix of dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and Coco Lopez, it’s topped off with ground nutmeg straight from the islands, adding a flavor that “Z” describes as “a cross between nutmeg and fresh cocoa.”

For those who like to get nautical, the Hut is also home to the river dock of Island Party Boats, the establishment’s sister operation. Founded in 2012 by the same partners who own the bar, it is a fleet of ten 6- to 65-foot pleasure cruisers available for rent. This year’s additions include the Ohana, a 35-foot Gemini Catamaran, and the Island Time, a 65-foot, 90-passenger Skipperliner that includes two bars, a 58-seat dining room and enough space on deck

for 40 people.

“We did one day of man-overboard drills and training on the boat and then we headed out,” says partner and captain Joey Koronkiewicz. He and a crew of five handled the first leg of the journey through the Gulf of Mexico, then switched out to allow the company’s other captains and crews to complete the 1,790-mile trek over four rivers and one lake enroute to Chicago.

For most of the trip, the seas were friendly, although they did kick up a storm in the Intracoastal Waterway near Pensacola. “There were like six to eight foot waves,” Koronkiewicz remembers. “She’s not meant for that, so we couldn’t power through it.”

When the work was done, the crew relaxed with Skinny Pirates, a river worthy cocktail of Diet Coke and Captain Morgan.

Island Party Hut: 355 Chicago Riverwalk, (312) 600-0488, www.islandpartyhut.com.

Left to right: A freshly shaken Painkiller , “Z” shaking a fresh Painkiller. Photos by Daniel Patton.

Make a splash this summer with swimming lessons for everyone nization that has been in operation for the past 35 years, comes to North Harbor Tower several times a week with a “swim school in a box” concept that is customized to each specific location where the program takes place.

By Angela Gagnon | Staff Writer With temps heating up, swimming may be just the thing to help stay cool all summer. There are lots of opportunities in New Eastside to get comfortable in the water, learn water safety techniques and perfect your stroke.

The British Swim School (www.britishswimschool.com), a franchise orga-

John Hale, Operations and Marketing Director, says BSS focuses on survival first in a small, intimate setting, which is unique to the industry. “Using muscle memory, we train children as young as three months to turn (over in the water) and cry for help,” he says.

Older children might work on turning, coordination, breathing, and stamina.

For adults, BSS adapts to specific goals like treading water, triathlon training, overcoming fear or lap swimming.

Coach Kathy Kelly and her team of four instructors have been offering her swim program at the Aqua pool for

the past five years (www.swkchicago. com). Kelly says they teach all ages starting at six months, but perhaps their biggest growing group is adults who are afraid of the water and want to learn to swim. “Swimming is not just a sport, it’s a life saving skill,” she says. “It’s also one of the best all body exercises you’ll find.”

There are also private instructors like Rachel Horol (www.swiminchicago. com), who has been sharing her aquatic expertise in individual New Eastside pools for the past three years. “I offer private and semi-private swim classes, focusing mainly on early childhood independence, safety and stroke development,” she says. “Swimming independently, reaching goals, and conquering the fear of water are such personal achievements that, when a child succeeds, it gives them confi-

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

“I love Chicago,” she says. “There was deserted train track, two buildings, nothing. So I live here forever and then we see the changes. It’s all very good.”

After consulting a map, he says, “we heaved to and went to the nearest sand bar, which was breaking the waves.”

dence in other areas of life.”

If indoor swimming pools don’t provide enough fun, summer beach season is upon us and Ohio Street Beach is likely the perfect training site for open water swimming. It’s possible to swim a half mile north towards Oak Street Beach without being more than a short distance from the seawall and shallow water. There are lockers, restrooms and Café Oliva right on the beach to help with refueling after a challenging open water swim.

Whatever your water goals might be for the summer, there are an abundance of local options to help you achieve them. Contact the instructors for more information on scheduling, pricing and other information.

Left: JJ Bhansali takes swim lessons at 400 E. Randolph St.

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

JUNE 2016 / 5

Urban Real Estate’s Vickie Liu has called New Eastside home for 40 years In In 1977, Vickie Liu immigrated from Kehluun, Taiwan to Chicago’s New Eastside. On the drive from the O’Hare Airport into the city, she saw snow for the first time in her life. It was, to her surprise, black from exhaust and pollution. When she arrived at Harbor Point Tower to join her husband, a student at UIC, she discovered a neighborhood that was little more than an empty plot of land. She stayed for 40 years.

To maximize the good times without sacrificing safety, the company employs nearly a dozen captains who have earned 100-ton licenses. “I don’t think you can run a boat business without having someone who knows boats,” says partner Steve Majerus, who earned the captonial distinction four years ago. The expertise came in handy when the company transported the 65-footer on the voyage from its former home in St. Petersburg.

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Ms. Liu has plenty of reasons to love the city. In the four decades since her arrival, she and her husband have raised two successful daughters — one who graduated with a law degree from Harvard, another with an MBA from Kellogg — and they have also helped each other through three fulfilling careers.

At the time she moved here, Ms. Liu was a senior manager in marketing analytics with China Airlines. After her husband completed his studies at UIC,

he attended dental school at Howard University and then opened a practice in Bucktown. When the landlord who owned the building where he held his practice hinted that she might be selling the property, Ms. Liu took action.

Unbeknownst to her, it would eventually mark the start of a stellar career in real estate.

“It was a rental,” she explains. “Not very stable. So we went to buy 2152 N. Damen Ave. It was a three flat down the street.”

Since she lacked the funds for the complete down payment, she formed a partnership with a friend who lived next door at 400 E. Randolph. “He is an attorney,” she says. “We each put in $10,000. We just worked out a successful investment.”

Ms. Liu retired from China Airlines in 2002, but continued to “do some investment with friends” for a few years.

“I find it interesting,” she explains.

In 2005, she earned her real estate license and started selling full time with New Eastside’s Urban Reality, where she has been ever since.

The neighborhood transformed during this time as well. The railroad tracks were temporarily replaced by a golf course before making way for Lake Shore East Park, an award-winning design concept that now anchors dozens of high-rise condominiums.

Last month, Chicago Magazine named Ms. Liu to their list of five-star realtors for the fifth time in the past six years.

The award is determined by customer votes, a fact that gives Ms. Liu “a good feeling.”

“They have a good appreciation, so they treat me well,” she says. “They refer friends. That’s how I expanded my business.”

In an average year, Ms. Liu completes hundreds of transactions. Many of them involve properties in New Eastside, an area that she finds easy to sell.

“I say this is a hidden gem,” she explains.” “I’ve lived here forty years and I will tell you why. And then I tell them the story... You know, the Magellan… this great investing, developing.”

Although she believes that the River Walk and the Wanda Vista Tower may

Vickie Liu. Photo by Daniel Patton

make the “hidden gem” a little more obvious, Ms. Liu finds nothing wrong with the neighborhood’s increasing popularity. After all, she got into the business by buying in Bucktown long before what she calls “the Bucktown boom.”

“Long story short,” she says. “I got it for 120k. I sold it for, like, 400k.”

Contact Vickie Liu at Vickie@urbanre. com or (312) 946-9999. Search for local homes or read more about Vickie at www. urbanrealestate.com.

Hear in the neighborhood

Cute pet alert Charlie is a seven year-old Pomeranian who came to Chicagoland as a birthday present “when he was a little baby,” according his owner.

Although he is named after a YouTube video featuring a British boy named Charlie who bites his brother’s finger, the Chicago dog named Charlie is anything but aggressive .

“All he wants to do is cuddle,” his owner continues. “He’s a little spoon and I’m the big spoon.”

Charlie has difficulty seeing in both eyes due to injury and glaucoma, but still “loves to be ouside” and brings a smile to most everyone he encounters.

“If I had a dollar for every picture people took with him,” says his owner. “I’d be rich right now.”

— Daniel Patton

The Chicago Traffic Jam is a quintet of former solo street performers who discovered that they play well together. The crowds that form when they jam near the McCormick Bridgehouse or the Cultural Center seem to agree. On a recent sunny afternoon, the band was making hips shake in every direction with a tight mix of old school soul, funky jazz and a dose of rock-n-roll.

Pictured, left to right: Bill Nevin on bass, Damian Rose on saxaphone, Mark Johnson on drums, David Walker on trumpet, and Ian Walsh on guitar.

— Daniel Patton

6 / JUNE 2016

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

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Kim Wargo takes over as new Head of School for New Eastside’s GEMS World Academy Chicago

By Daniel Patton — Staff Writer

generations.”

When Kim Wargo decided to take a hiatus from her doctoral studies at Tulane University and teach a grade school writing course in the mid-90s, she quickly learned one of the most valuable lessons of her life. “I thought I was going to be a college professor,” she explains. “I took all my PhD exams and was ready to defend my dissertation, but I realized that I loved teaching and working with kids.”

Before arriving at GEMS, Ms. Wargo headed three separate all-girls schools that were founded more than a century ago in the grandest neighborhoods of San Francisco, New Orleans and Dallas. All of them wield nearly perfect college acceptance rates and impeccable traditions.

So began a career path that would include leadership roles with some of the oldest and most respected college preparatory institutions in the nation.

In 2016, it led to GEMS World Academy Chicago, where Ms. Wargo was named Head of School in April.

“It’s the work that I love, but a different context,” she says. “It is a new school.”

Likewise, she feels that the role has come a long way as well. “Head of School has changed a great deal over the past century,” she says.

“You still have an affinity for the classroom — I certainly do — but there is also great responsibility for the day-today operations of a large organization, an independent school.”

Among the factors that prompted her to move was “the opportunity to be a part of building a school rather than leading a school that’s been around for

Although GEMS’ commitment to learning is similarly high — “academic rigor is incredibly important,” Ms. Wargo notes — the culture that complements it is being shaped in real time. Since the school was designed to expand one grade per year beginning with the first class that enrolled, the oldest of its 220 students are now in seventh grade. According to Ms. Wargo, “they see themselves as pioneers.”

“Our kids show the excitement of building a school,” she explains. “They are contributing to something that will last after they are gone. It’s a really wise way to build a program.”

It also frees them up to embrace the multiculturalism and technology that are becoming essential components of modern life.

“Our job is a lot deeper than making sure kids are prepared academically,” says Ms. Wargo. “Schools have to be a lot better at identifying and determining what kids need to be successful, to see that part of their mission in life

is to make a difference in the world around them.”

Besides equipping students with iPads and laptops “almost from the beginning,” GEMS maintains a commitment to international education and a campus where “kids are skype-ing and teleconferencing with people all over the world.”

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NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

GEMS World Academy – Chicago opens children's minds to the world around them — down the street and around the globe. Field Studies to Chicago's museums and research institutions bring classroom units of inquiry to life, where students have access to scientists and experts in their fields. Add in technology-enabled collaborations with students at GEMS campuses abroad, and no two days are the same for GEMS students.

Beginning with a new preschool program for 3-year-olds, our International Baccalaureate primary years and middle years programs immerse students in inquiry-based learning that nurtures curiosity, citizenship, and global perspectives to create lifelong learners and future leaders.

A recent project challenged students to determine which books would appeal to children in Malawi. In May, a Harvard University researcher visited to explain the importance of multilingualism.

“The point of the project was to study the cognitive benefits of learning a second language,” she explains.

GEMS World Academy Chicago new Head of School Kim Wargo. Photo courtesy of GEMS World Academy Chicago.

GEMS also takes advantage of New Eastside’s location to help students understand beyond “the four walls of the classroom.”

it will graduate its first high school class. Preparing them for college is a task for which Ms. Wargo is supremely equipped.

“Chicago is a destination city,” says Ms. Wargo. “People travel all over the world to visit places nearby. We can get there in a five-minute walk.”

“Admissions weighs on the minds of parents and students as they enter junior and senior year,” she says.

Likewise, she and her family have settled in the neighborhood and seem ready to accept everything that the city has to offer. “We made a family visit in February during what I think was the coldest weekend of the year,” she says. “It’s such an amazing place.”

This fall, GEMS will add 120 new students to its population. In 2020,

“We will offer college counseling for families and make it as meaningful as possible for students so they don’t feel battered by the process.”

Among the thousands who she has guided through the transition is her daughter, whom “has been in school with her mom for her entire life” and will be matriculating at Bowdoin College in the fall.

Schedule a tour today by contacting our admissions office at 312-809-8919 or admissions@gemschicago.org

gemschicago.org/eastside

Community Photo Page

Cute Kids Alert

Submit your photos to info@neweastsidecommunity.com

When does buying a home make sense?

By Urban Real Estate As Chicago’s rental season peaks, many would-be first-time home buyers take this opportunity to consider if now might be the right time to buy.

Rising costs of homeownership in Chicago translate to increased costs landlords must pass on to tenants, making lease renewal a critical time for renters considering their net move.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS reported in May that the median price of a home in the city of Chicago in April 2016 was $287,500, up 6.0 percent compared to April 2015, when it

was $271,325. Homes are steadily appreciating in Chicago, and thus might outweigh the burden, long-term, of increased city and county taxes.

The basic principles of buying, regardless of what “market” we are in generally are the same. Some of the questions you should often ask yourself include these main principles: 1) Can I afford to own? This is financial and emotional. This goes beyond “Can I afford the down payment?” This requires a buyer to evaluate their own lifestyle habits, upcoming expenses (i.e. private school for the son who

JUNE 2016 / 7

now is in day care), maintenance for the home, and whether or not they want to commit to being in one place for a semi-extended period of time.

Industry experts suggest buyers spend no more than 28 percent of their income on housing costs.

2) Know your first-time buyer benefits. There is a difference between a tax benefit and a tax deduction. Do some research into your own financial situation to help you determine what that bottom line means for you.

3) What’s your goal? Be honest with what your long-term goals are. Many

renters like the idea of not being responsible for the fixtures and maintenance of a home.

Learn more about first-time homeownership, and let one of our local Urban Real Estate brokers help you assess your buying power. Call us at 312-528-9200 or visit www.UrbanRealEstate.com.

Left What’s better than a picnic and some playtime at the park? Emma Bhansali in the Lakeshore East Park. (Photo by Brenda Bhansali); Center — Nathan Veprinsk is two years old and is a Coast resident. He loves tulips! (Photo by Michael Oz.); right — Vikram Konkimalla enjoying the various activities at the Fun Family Festival at the Art Institute on May 21 (Photo by Reemaa Konkimalla).

8 / JUNE 2016

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

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How to raise a bridge

Superintendent of Bridge Operations takes us behind the scenes of a “Boat Run”

homeless on State St. were in need of more than just basic assistance.

“The first time I dealt with someone who had mental health issues,” he recalls. “They would just reply and make no sense. For literally like twenty to thirty minutes, they would go on.”

He credits the CLA’s training and his education from Northeastern University, where he is pursuing a degree in psychology, with helping him develop the skill to handle these situations.

By all accounts, it will be another successful installment in a meticulously curated series that has become known for generating good times in underutilized public spaces for the past three years. But the soirees represent just a small part of the CLA’s much grander mission: to create a Renaissance in downtown Chicago.

Mr. Rouse has been running the operations of Chicago’s bridge system since 1994. He was promoted to the position after serving more than a decade as a bridge tender. Before that, he was a member of the International Carman’s Association for Burlington Northern Railroad, repairing freight trains and handling the duties of a traveling mechanical supervisor.

Every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8 a.m. from mid-April to late-July, the summer boat run takes place along the Chicago River. On these days, all the movable bridges from the 2600 block of S. Ashland Ave. on the South Branch to the 400 block of N. Columbus near DuSable Harbor are lifted in fifteen-minute increments

Chicago Loop Alliance works hard and plays hard to make downtown a clean and safe place for everyone The Chicago Loop Alliance’s next ACTIVATE celebration promises to bring art, music, refreshments, and, according to its online invitation, more than 4,000 guests to the alley that intersets the State St. Target store on June 9th.

“Every day kinda speaks for itself,” says Darryl Rouse, Chicago’s Superintendent of Bridge Operations. “On a boat run, we start at south Ashland with fourteen operators and trade support, so there are like 30 people.”

to accommodate vessels traveling to Lake Michigan. By the end of the operation, nearly two-dozen structures will have made way for floating traffic. By the end of the season, nearly 200 boats will have sailed through.

On days before boat runs, Mr. Rouse coordinates the trade support — a team of CDOT electricians, engineers, ironworkers and machinists — and the bridge operators. During the runs, the crew of about 30 is divided into two teams that “leapfrog from site to site to make sure that the bridges open.”

“Every time we lift, we troubleshoot,” he says.

The bridges are also tested weeks before the season begins. Besides repairing or replacing unsatisfactory mechanical parts that may be up to 100 years old, the crew also rewires safety gates, safety bells and stop signals.

Of the 400 bridges that span the Chicago River, 37 are movable. “They are mostly bascule bridges,” explains the Superintendent.

Bascule bridges work by attaching the bridge leaf, which is the part that people and vehicles travel on, to a counterweight, which is usually hidden from site. When the bridge leaf is given an initial push, the counterweight uses gravity to lift it into the air like a

balance scale, which is the definition for the French word “bascule,” after which the bridges are named. Because so many of the city’s bascule bridges pivot on a fixed axel or trunnion, the name “Chicago bascule” is also frequently applied to similar structures around the world.

“It’s like a teeter totter,” says Mr. Rouse. “It doesn’t take a lot of weight to tip it.” In Chicago, one to four 125 horsepower engines provide the initial push. Counterweights weighing 400 to 500 pounds finish the job. The real trick, according to Mr. Rouse, is ensuring that the weight is evenly distributed. “Even if you paint them,” he continues, “you have to make sure that the weight remains balanced.”

During a bridge lift, the tender’s main responsibility is to ensure the safety of nearby people and boats. “You’ve got to judge just right something as simple as the stop traffic lights,” explains Mr. Rouse. “If you throw them on too suddenly, you might have a traffic accident.”

They operate a console full of dials and buttons that analyze, control, and distribute everything from the warning bell on top to the motors underneath.

“It takes about three years

to get them really seasoned and know their craft,” he continues. Besides completing an in-house training program at the Calumet Bridge, new tenders are monitored closely once they are assigned to the downtown region.

“The operation can freak you out, as it did me when I was first up there,” says the Superintendent. But not enough to deter him from following a dream that he’s felt since growing up on Chicago’s near north side. “I’ve always been fascinated by bridges and railroads,” he says.

Left to right: The McCormick Bridge Tender House, The State St. Bridge makes way for river traffic, a gear that lifts the McCormick Bridge (at Michigan Ave.)

JUNE 2016 / 9

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer

Besides managing the administrative function of his 56-person department within the Chicago Department of Transportation, he also oversees the preparation and execution of the spring and fall boat runs.

www.neatside.com

“The ACTIVATE stuff wouldn’t work if people didn’t feel safe,” says CLA Executive Director Michael Edwards. “If a downtown is cleaner and safer, people will come back.”

Mr. Edwards has been in the business of improving city centers for nearly two decades. With a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, he has helped revitalize downtowns in a lot of cities admired for their revitalized downtowns, places like Pittsburgh and Seattle. He is dedicated to improving the Loop long before and long after the parties get rocking.

“The most effective thing you can do is kinda get back to the basics,” he says.

“In all the cities that I’ve worked in, Action at a CLA ACTIVATE event. Photo by Jennifer Catherine Photography.

“We’ve learned to be patient and try to piece together the bits of valid information in the conversation,” says. “It’s in there.”

Chicago Loop Alliance Street Team: (left to right) Joshua Feliciano, Jonathan Boyden, Terrence Shelton, Edmund Garcia, Octavian Thomas. Photo by Daniel Patton.

the things that are most important to businesses and property owners are that the city is clean and safe. The mistake is to go for some big silver bullet project.”

The cleanliness part of the deal is fairly straightforward. “Buildings on State Street pay an additional property tax in exchange for a higher level of services,” he explains, “landscaping, cleaning, power washing the sidewalks.” The program, which generates about $2.3 million annually, was renewed in 2015 for 15 years.

The safety aspect, on the other hand, is a much more nuanced approach to a significantly greater challenge.

“We count the number of people and cars along State Street,” he says. “In a week, there were 1,938,612 who came through.” At the same time, he acknowledges that before his arrival, “we weren’t addressing any issues with civility on the street.” So the organization started from the ground up. “We put together a street team,” he says.

The Chicago Loop Alliance’s Street Team is composed of emergency workers, nurses, social services experts and the like. They walk up and down State St. from Congress Blvd. to Wacker Dr. every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., all the while tracking progress on iPads, communicating with one another on walkie-talkies, and assisting whoever

appears to be in need, especially the homeless. They are easily identified by their bright green shirts.

“The initial year was to learn what’s going on down on State Street,” explains Mr. Edwards. “Who has homeless issues? Where do they like to stand?

What impact do they have on everyone else?”

Among the organizations to which he refers special cases are St. Peters Catholic Church on Madison, where a program to obtain inexpensive photo IDs helps open doors to health care and other benefits; and Breakthrough Ministries on the near Westside, where food and shelter are available to those who can follow basic rules.

Maintaining a rapport with people who ask for money and intevening in potentially hostile situations are among the team’s highest priorities, but they take a friendly approach to individuals who cause complaints from businesses and pedestrians.

“In most cases, they’ve built up a relationship,” says Mr. Edwards. “They can say, ‘Hey, something’s going on, can you move away for an hour?’ If it’s beyond them, they retreat and call the cops.”

CLA Executive Director Michael Edwards. P hoto courtesy of Chicago Loop Alliance.

Before requesting police assistance, however, they will employ their de-escalation training in an attempt to calm the situation and, if appropriate, connect people with organizations that provide food, shelter and mental health counseling.

Street Smart.

Edmund Garcia joined the Street Team about two years ago, advancing a career that began when he started teaching Kung Fu to children at the Waukegan YMCA in the early 2000s.

He quickly learned that many of the

Ideally, it will also help make the ACTIVATE series a safe celebration for everyone.

The objective of the Street Team reflects Executive Director Edwards’ feelings about people who are less fortunate. “The homeless are like you and me,” he says. “They have life stories; their situations are just different.”

“It’s a free event,” he continues. “Anybody can walk in.”

10 / JUNE 2016

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

www.neatside.com

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

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

Through June 21 Citizen’s Police Academy The Chicago Police Department offers residents the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the law and help keep the community safe.

Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m.

Chicago Police Academy, 1300 W. Jackson · (312) 745-4381

Through June 28 GEMS World Academy Chicago Admissions Coffee & Tour Get to know the people and facilities of GEMS World Academy Chicago.

Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Fridays at Noon.

350 E. South Water St. · www. gemsworldacademy-chicago.com (312) 508-5357

Through August 8 Kids Music in Lake Shore East park Come sing and dance with Mr. Dave.

The music will take place in the children’s play area. 11 – 11:40 a.m.

June 2, 16 · July 7 & 21 · August 4, 8.

Through August 28 Lakeshore East Movies in the Park Movies start at sundown, around 8:30 p.m. Early music at 6 p.m.

June 30: Dirty Dancing July 28: This is Love August 25: Star Wars

Through September 3 Free workouts in Millennium Park Saturdays: Tai Chi at 7 a.m., Yoga at

8 a.m., Pilates at 9 a.m.

Wednesdays: Yoga at 7:30 a.m. (through Aug. 31), Zumba at 10 a.m.

Free events at Lurie Garden

Chicago’s five-acre urban oasis offers free events every Saturday at 10 a.m.

June 4 Annual Lurie Garden Plant Sale

Through Labor Day Navy Pier Fireworks Watch spectacular fireworks synchronized to music on Lake Michigan.

Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m., Saturdays at 10:15 p.m.

June 22 – September 14 Jazzin’ at the Shedd Step out on the terrace at the Shedd Aquarium and enjoy cocktails, jazz, and fireworks in addition to enjoying the animals. Takes place every Wednesday night until September 9.

5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets $20 or $18 if bought in advance online. www. sheddaquarium.org/Jazzin

Through September 23 Free tours at Lurie Gardens Take a 20-minute guided tour to learn about the Garden’s design and history, perennial plants and wildlife.

Thursdays and Fridays 11 a.m.–1:15 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.–2:15 p.m.

June 3 - 18

June 3 - 4

“The Cure” by Walkabout Theatre An ensemble drama exploring “our individual and cultural relationships with mortality, disease and violence.”

Free. 8 p.m. Friday, Saturdays and Mondays. Chicago Cultural Center. 78 E. Washington St. · (312) 744-6630 · www.chicagoculturalcenter.org

Chicago Gospel Music Festival Enjoy listening to gospel choirs and soloists in Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center. FREE. www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/ dca/supp_info/chicago_gospel_musicfestival.html

June 7 – July 10 SpongeBob Musical A family show where you can find out who saves the underwater world. Oriental Theater, 24 W. Randolph St. $35 and up. www.broadwayinchicago.com/ show/the-spongebob-musical-2016

June 18 Insect Habitats

June 20 – August 21 Millennium Park Family Fun Festival Activities for kids of all ages including music and arts & crafts. Daily activities include Wiggleworms at 10 a.m., reading circle at 11 a.m., and performances at 1 p.m. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. · www.millenniumpark. org · (312) 742-1168

JUNE 2016 / 11

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Events

Events

Ongoing Events

www.neatside.com

June 26 & July 24 Art in the Garden

Thursday, July 14 Azymuth + Sidewalk Chalk

Thursday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Lee Fields & The Expressions + Makaya McCraven

Monday, July 18 King Sunny Ade + Ugochi & A.S.E.

Monday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m.

DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation + Kelan Phil Cohran’s Summer Solstice Ensemble

June 7

Sound of Music Go see this musical about the singing Von Trapp family at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. Runtime is 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. $52 and up. www. broadwayinchicago.com/show/thesound-of-music

Monday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Blonde Redhead + Ryley Walker

Thursday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m.

Nneka + Gina Chavez

July 12 & August 9 Wildlife!

June 7 - June 19

18 FREE outdoor concerts every Monday and Thursday at Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Monday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Rodrigo Amarante + Leyla MaCalla

July 10 & August 7 Stories, Songs and Circle Games

Dearly Beloved: A Tribute to Prince The show is for ages 17 and older.

There will be a DJ set plus lookalike Gabriel Sanchez with his backup band.

The show starts at 8:00 p.m. at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn. For discount tickets at $10 visit www.goldstar.com/events

Millennium Park Summer Music Series June 6 – August 26

Thursday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Maceo Parker + Marrow

June 10-12 America’s Cup World Series event Watch sailboats race, and visit the beer garden & food court in Race Village at Navy Pier. $29 for children and $59 for adults. www.lvacws-chicago.americascup.com/tickets/event-guide

June 11-12 Chicago Tribune Printer’s Row Lit Fest Events include author readings, interactive programs, and panel discussions. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. FREE and open to the public. Located on Historic Printers Row on Dearborn Street between Congress Parkway and Polk Street, and extended to include Harold Washington Library Center. www. pulitzer.org/event/chicago-tribuneprinters-row-lit-fest

Monday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra + Ecos del Pacifico Thursday, June 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Givers + Lower Dens Monday, July 4 and Thursday, July 7 NO SHOWS Monday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Femi Kuti + The Positive Force + ProbCause

Thursday, July 21 Heritage Blues Orchestra + Toshi Reagon Monday, July 25 The Jones Family Singers + Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir Thursday, July 28 NO SHOW Monday, August 1 Jose Gonzalez + Tall Heights Thursday, August 4 Sinkane + Mark de Clive-Lowe Mondays, August 8, 15, and 22 NO SHOWS Thursday, August 18 Eephant Revival + Mandolin Orange Thursday, August 25 Tortoise + Homme

Visit www.cityofchicago.org for more information and exceptions

June 15 FREE Cancer Screening Register for this free screening online at www.eventbrite.com/e/ annual-free-skin-cancer-screening-at-northwestern-medicine-registration-16793426591. 8 a.m. to noon at Northwestern Medical Group: Chicago Campus, 676 N. St. Clair St., 16th Floor. You must register online

June 11-12

June 17 – 18

Wells Street Art Festival There will be 225 juried artists in addition to music, beer, and local restaurant food. N. Wells St. from North Ave. to Division. Morning is quieter.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. www.wellsstreetartfest.us

Chicago Ale Festival Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park will be the sight for this beer festival.

There will be more than 200 beers from over 100 American craft Breweries. Tickets: $50 for general admission or $25 for designated driver. Friday

6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. and Saturday 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. www.chicagoalefest.com/summer

June 17 –19 Taste of Randolph 20 restaurants featured with some of the nation’s hottest new bands and a DJ. Friday 5:00PM-10:00PM, Saturday and Sunday Noon-10:00PM. W. Randolph Street from Peoria St. to Racine Ave. Donation. www.starevents.com/ festivals/taste-of-randolph

June 18 9th Annual Chicago Zombie March Meet at the Bean at Millennium Park dressed up as a zombie! Walk around the area like a zombie. You can also

get a zombie makeover. In the past they have walked through Museum Campus and Daley Plaza. 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. www.facebook.com/ events/1511471882496105

June 18 - 19 Gold Coast Art Fair in Grant Park One of the top juried art festivals in the country. Food, and live music. Butler Field and E. Monroe St. 10:00AM6:00 p.m daily. Suggested donation of $5. www.amdurproductions.com/goldcoast-art-fair-at-grant-park

June 20 - 26 Techweek at the Merchandise Mart Speakers, vendors, recruiters, parties, and a 2-day summit. Expo is FREE. Tickets for Limited Fest is $50, All Access $150, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza. www.techweek.com/chicago

June 22 Friends of the Chicago River Summer Cruise Roll down the river from the dock of the Trump Tower to Bubbly Creek and back again while enjoying appetizers, drinks, and three pop-up concert performances from select riverbank locations. 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wendella Dock at Trump Tower. Tickets are $75 or two for $125. www.chicagoriver. org/events · (312) 939-0490.

June 25 Chicago Cares Serve-a-Thon Over 5,000 Chicagoans will volunteer for Chicago’s largest day of service.

Check-in is at 7:30 a.m. at Daley Plaza.

After party with food, drink, and music at 3:30 p.m. $10 fee includes a T-shirt, light breakfast, lunch, plus a party with food and beer (21+).

Register on their website. www.chicagocares.donordrive.com

June 28 River North Challenge Test your brains and brawn! Teams will compete in mental and physical challenges at different venues. 5 p.m.

– 9:30 p.m. You can register as an individual for $50 or as a team of four for $180 at www.rivernorthchallenge.com

CHICAGO

JUNE RACES Cancer Survivors’ Celebration 5K Run / Walk Sunday, June 5 · 9:30 a.m.

Grant Park The Color Run 5K Sunday, June 5 · 8 a.m.

Grant Park United Run for the Zoo 5K/10K/Safari Stampede Sunday, June 5 · 7:45 a.m.

Lincoln Park Gibbons Run 5K/3K Thursday, June 16 · 6:25 p.m.

Grant Park The Chardonnay Run 5K Saturday, June 18 Grant Park Divine Nine 5K Saturday, June 18 · 8 a.m.

Jackson Park Chicago Bears 5K Saturday, June 25 · 8 a.m.

Soldier Field Proud to Run – Chicago 10K/5K – Saturday, June 25 · 8 a.m.

Montrose Harbor Your Next Step is the Cure 5K Sunday, June 26 · 9 a.m.

Montrose Harbor Tiki Run 5K/10K Thursday, June 30 · 7:45 p.m.

Montrose Harbor

June 28 Lakeshore Sport & Fitness summer rooftop kickoff party Members and non-members are invited to take in the view while enjoying complimentary small bites, beer, and wine courtesy of Press Kitchen. 5:307:30 p.m. 211 N. Stetson. Dr. Free, RSVP ICEvents@LakeshoreSF.com.

(312) 856-1111.

12 / JUNE 2016

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NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

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