New Eastside News December 2016

VOL. 4 NO. 12

December 2016

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A New Eastside charity is born

Volunteers pack care bags for New Eastside for Charity’s summer drive, which generated enough donations to fill 150 bags with essential items such as toiletries, bottled water, protein bars for the homeless population. A winter drive is planned for December 12. (photo, New Eastside for Charity)

A winter clothing drive happy hour event will be hosted from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 12 by the recently formed neighborhood organization New Eastside for Charity at The Chandler, 450 E. Waterside Dr. Volunteers will be accepting hats, scarves and underwear to be distributed to the local homeless population later this month. All neighbors are welcome. Turn to page 2.

Veteran bell ringers for the Salvation Army

Page 7

The tranformation of 400 E. Randolph

Page 9

Controversial streetlights coming to New Eastside

Page 8

2 / DECEMBER 2016

How to Contact Us info@ neweastsidecommunity.com (312) 690-3092

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A New Eastside charity is born “The idea was to bring awareness to the neighborhood of all the people who live in our area who are in need,” she explains. “We all live pretty well here and I thought, you know, why can’t we help the less fortunate in the New Eastside.”

Editor: Elaine Hyde info@neweastsidecommunity.com Managing Editor: Daniel Patton dpatton@ neweastsidecommunity.com

For Koht, the community-wide initiative is a follow-up to her personal efforts, which include “carrying peanut butter bars and water and offering them to the people I see every day on Wacker Dr. and Michigan Ave.”

Copy Editors: Robert Schmidt, Rebecca Baldwin, Kari Greczek, Tracey Lewis Layout/Design: Daniel Patton Community Contributors: Tricia Parker, Mischaela Advani, Rebecca Baldwin, Jon Cohn, Angela Gagnon, Elizabeth Johnston, Reemaa Konkimalla, Walter Miller, Shanti Nagarkatti, Matthew Reiss.

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.

NEWS

Coco Pazzo Café to close, merge with Tre Soldi After 20 years at 636 N. St. Clair, Streeterville icon Coco Pazzo Café will close December 31 and merge with sister restaurant Tre Soldi. The combined venture will reopen in January 2017 as a new Coco Pazzo Café, at 212 E. Ohio St. “We’re melancholy about leaving,” says owner Jack Weiss, “but the economics of doing business downtown are not what they used to be.” Weiss said escalating rents were a major factor in deciding to combine the two restaurants.

New Eastside for Charity volunteers prepare to make care bags for the summer drive to help the neighborhood’s homeless population. (photo, New Eastside for Charity)

From page 1.

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer Sonia Koht, who cofounded New Eastside for Charity with two of her neighbors — real estate agent Ginger Menne and lawyer Sujata Dayal — will be collecting donations of winter weather gear for the people living in the Lower Wacker Drive Area at the Chandler on December 12.

The cofounders and several volunteers will pack the items into care bags and distribute them throughout the lower steets later this month.

Explaining that, “Most of the recipients will be male,” she asks donors to favor men’s sizes large and extra large.

After noticing the November New The new Coco Pazzo Café will incorporate some familiar touches, including the Modigliani-inspired mural now wrapping around the main dining room. The menu will combine signature dishes from both the Tuscan-themed Coco Pazzo Café and Roman-themed Tre Soldi. While Weiss says he’s “optimistic” about the changes, nostalgia still lingers among diners and staff.

“I’m concerned that the intimacy of the current location is not going to be replicated,” says Streeterville resident Ken Hart. “It’s a shame they’re going to be losing their sidewalk tables during the summer.”

“It’s like a soul you can’t duplicate,” adds general manager Hicham Laadimi. “We’re gonna miss everybody.”

Eastside News’ story about the Chicago Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team, Koht launched an effort to expand the effectiveness of the organization’s efforts.

Koht is a mother, grandmother and board member at the Chandler who decided to act on her compassion for the homeless in January by creating the New Eastside for Charity.

This summer, the charity hosted a care bag drive at Lake Shore East Park.

Equipped with tables, snacks and wine from Mariano’s, the event generated enough supplies to fill 150 individual backpacks with personal items like toiletries, protein bars and bottled water, which were distributed to people living on the streets beneath New Eastside.

Neighbors are invited to share a complimentary glass of prosecco from December 26-31 as the restaurant gets ready to serve its next course.

— Tricia Parker

Icandy Sugar Shoppe Opens New Loop Location Icandy Sugar Shoppe is continuing its expansion into Chicago.

The chain recently opened its second store at 122 S. Michigan Avenue, near

When she told her friend Ginger Menne about her concern for the unsheltered, she made a soulful and instantaneous connection with Menne on the topic.

“It was January and Sonia was talking about these homeless people on Lower Wacker,” Menne remembers. “That’s where we came up with, you know what, these people live in our neighborhood, too. We as residents have an obligation to help out the less fortunate.”

Those who wish to donate but are unable to attend the happy hour — as well as anyone interested in volunteering for the charity — should contact or deliver donations to Sonia Koht at The Chandler, 450 E. Waterside Dr. facebook.com/NewEastsideforCharity sdkoht@aol.com

Millennium Park.

Touting a line of “delectable goodies for the sweet life,” Icandy Sugar Shoppe also operates a location at Navy Pier. Featuring sweet treats the whole family will enjoy, the candy emporium carries items such as retro candies, bulk candy, taffy, and gelato, in addition to novelties such as candy pizzas and champagne jelly beans.

Icandy is also known for its souvenirs and gifts. The store is stocked with a local focus and includes one-of-a-kind items by Chicago artisans.

Icandy Sugar Shoppe is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

— Shanti Nagarkatti Continued on page 3.

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DECEMBER 2016 / 3

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

NEWS From page 2.

Edison generating station at 1111 W. Cermak Rd. in 1976. He remained conscious for most of the time that paramedics attempted to free his right leg from the machinery, O’Shea explained.

After struggling for more than seven hours, they decided that amputation was his only hope for survival. The procedure took place in darkness while Watroba was still conscious.

During this time, the Alderman explained, Watroba’s greatest concern was for his fellow firefighters. “Is everyone alright?” he asked.

The extended family of the late Walter Watroba at the unveling of his memorial plaque. (Patton)

Engine Co. 13 unveils plaque in honor of Chicago firefighter Walter Watroba Although four decades have passed since firefighter Walter Watroba sacrificed his life while protecting the city from a fire on the West Side, his memory is honored every day by Engine Co. 13 at 259 N. Columbus Dr. The fire station next to the Aqua dedicated a bronze plaque to Watroba during a touching ceremony on Nov. 22. Among the 100+ attendees who paid their respects were CFD Captain John Jakubec, CFD Chief Jeffrey Lyle, Fire Fighters Union Local 2 President Thomas Ryan, 19th Ward Alderman Matt O’Shea, Engine Co. 13 gardener David Sudler and several members of Watroba’s family.

Engraved with a description of Watro-

ba’s heroic struggle, the plaque complements a bronze sculpture created in his name and dedicated to all fallen firefighters in a memorial garden at the front of the station.

Retired Engine Co. 13 Captain George Rabilea was a driving force behind the memorial’s construction.

“We’ve seen people from all over the world coming to look at the memorial and to take pictures, and it’s time that we have something there to let them know what it’s there for,” he explained.

Before recounting Watroba’s struggle in his opening remarks, Alderman O’Shea compared the firefighter to another great American hero. “It is fitting that we should honor Walter on the same day that John F. Kennedy lost his life,” he said.

Watroba became trapped underneath a coal conveyor that had collapsed upon him as he fought a multiple-alarm fire inside the former Commonwealth

Karen Wysocki, the eldest of Watroba’s three daughters, was among the family members in attendance. Wysocki remembers her father as a dedicated family man who “always had some exciting stories.”

On the morning that her father lost his life, she was a 15-year-old girl getting ready for high school. She learned of the tragedy when her grandmother called to say that Watroba’s name had been mentioned in a report about a large fire that she heard on the radio.

“It’s just a really touching tribute that they have that outside,” she continued, “and displayed so beautifully, too.”

The ceremony ended with a meal donated by a number of local restaurants and vendors, but not before all who were present honored the sacrifice of several other firefighters. Captain Jakubec and Chief Lyle announced the names of those who had made the ultimate sacrifice, and a bell was rung in memory of each one.

— Daniel Patton

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Community Contributors NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

4 / DECEMBER 2016

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Doorperson of the month: Al Hodsec, Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel the time moved to another position in May, Hodsec was next in line. No doubt, the position fits him well.

he exclaimed. “I’m going to be in the newspaper.”

“I love that it’s a job that is all interaction,” he continues. “I’m always dealing with guests.”

“He’s wonderful,” she continued. “He takes wonderful care of me. He immediately gets the cab for me. Helps me into the cab. Yesterday, when I was upset because my mother was sick, he was so kind and so giving.”

As the only person with the title of door attendant at the hotel, he is the first representative to greet guests and residents when they arrive and the last one to bid them farewell when they leave. For the duration of their stay, he handles a number of chores that are typical of such a position.

Al Hodsec, Doorperson at Aqua (Patton)

By Daniel Patton | Staff Writer Al Hodsec would be happy to keep his job at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel at 221 N. Columbus Dr. for the rest of his life.

“Someday, I’d like to be the GM of this place,” he explains. “But if not, I don’t mind remaining as a door attendant.”

He joined the staff when he learned about a bell attendant position last year from his father, who works in the housekeeping department. When the gentleman who was door attendant at

“We do everything from hailing cabs to picking up peoples’ laundry,” he says.

He also keeps a record of every person he enounters in a leatherbound, pocket-sized notebook.

Among the residents he serves are a number of artists, athletes and celebrities who have upped the location’s reputation as one of the city’s premiere properties. According to Hodsec, the’re just as friendly as the rest.

When New Eastside News caught up with him on the job, Hodsec was saying hello to one of his favorite residents, Ms. Jeannie Klauberg.

“Hey, Miss Jeannie, how are you!”

“Oh, good!” she responded.

Hodsec also handles the occasional — and often unique — one-off task.

“I had a lady ask me to get her pants sewn back together,” he remembers.

“She’s a resident here. She’s really nice.

I don’t mind doing anything for her.”

For many of the hotel guests, he’s the go-to source for tourist information.

“If they’re going shopping, I always tell them to go north,” he says. “If they’re going to museums, go south.”

“I also get, ‘what’s a good restaurant?’

I always recommend, for breakfast, Wildberry. That’s my favorite place for breakfast. For lunch, I would have to say Tavern at the Park. I’ve been to all of them. They treat me well because they know me so it’s a good thing.”

For the early birds willing to brave the Chicago winter, Hodsec recommends

the ice rink in Maggie Daley Park.

“That’s always a good thing to do to start the day off,” he says.

For those looking to explore the city’s bar scene, he recommends starting the night at Sweetwater Tavern & Grill on Michigan Ave. and finishing it off at Underground on Illinois St. When he’s not on duty, Hodsec hangs out at the same places that he suggests for guests and residents. He also prefers spending time with friends and family near his home in Edgewater, especially when his mother cooks her homemade Bosnian specialties.

“I was born in Bosnia,” he says. “I came here when I was four years old, right after the war. My mom makes the best Bosnian food. No other woman can compete. Meat, lamb. She makes pita.

You can put whatever you want in it.

My favorite is the one with spinach.”

Like most Bosnians, he’s also very fond of Rakia, the frequently home-brewed fruit brandy of the Balkans that is known by many, including Hodsec, as “a cure for everything.”

“You can buy it at Mariano’s,” he says.

“It’s good, but nothing can compete with the stuff from home.”

Prudential rolls out new electric bus fleet

By Tricia Parker | Staff Writer

A new fleet of 10 “nautically themed” electric buses aims to give Aon and Prudential workers a cleaner, more colorful commute.

On Dec. 5 the new shuttles, each featuring a different sea creature, will replace eight “loud and dirty” diesel buses, according to Prudential general manager Bryan Oyster.

“We recognized the tenants coming into the building were environmentally conscious,” says Oyster. “And, we wanted a design that stood out in the community.”

One of Prudential’s new nautically themed electric buses features an octopus wrapping its tentacles around two Prudential buildings. (Parker)

Design highlights include an octopus wrapping its tentacles around the Aon and Prudential Buildings, a bright red lobster whose claw bisects the Aon and Prudential Buildings and a limegreen seahorse carrying a checkered patterned picture of a diver on its back. According to bus manufacturer

Proterra, Aon and Prudential will be the first commercial office buildings in the country to lease a zero-emission electric shuttle fleet.

and from 4 to 7:30 p.m. each night. A new app-based ticketing system will enable commuters to purchase tickets online and track buses in real time.

Each building will lease five buses, with routes continuing to/from Ogilvie, Union, and LaSalle Street Stations from 6:15 to 9:30 a.m. each morning,

As the new buses are rolled out, shuttle fares will bump up a quarter, from $1.75 to $2.00 each way.

Community Contributors

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Perspectives

A moving experience

By Matthew Reiss | Community Contributor I have lived in Lakeshore East for a decade, all of it in the same apartment building, until last month.

For most of you, November 2, 2016, will long be remembered in Chicago lore as the day the Cubs finally won the World Series. I shall also remember that date as the day I chose to move from one Lakeshore East apartment building to another.

retrospect, because it was the hardest working “vacation” I have ever taken.

It was a full-day affair, moving out of one apartment into a second apartment, then coming back to the first apartment to clean it and turn in the key before midnight. By the end, I was an unpleasant emotional mélange of crabby and giddy from packing fatigue and physical exhaustion.

all had the game on in their vehicles and gave me updates upon request.

As my wife and I worked late into the night, we kept track of the Cubs game through the reactions of the only other people using the elevators — a horde of pizza delivery folks. They

I was elated that the Cubs were finally victorious, that the move was over — the only casualty being the mysterious disappearance of our cat’s miniature playhouse, which got lost in the shuffle — and that we could finally go to sleep in our hastily constructed bed.

Matthew Reiss has been a Lakeshore East resident since 2007 and a New Eastside News writer since 2015. He married his true love at the Blackstone Hotel and earned a law degree from the University of Kansas, but prefers to spend his evenings onstage, performing and directing for the local comedy group, The Stuntmen.

Coach’s Corner: Christmas every four years

By Jon Cohn | Community Contributor This month, “Coach’s Corner” travels into dangerous territory that will no doubt reduce my popularity with the 12-and-under crowd. Yet, due to its importance, I persist. The risky topic of December’s column is making Christmas, and the entire holiday season, like the Olympics by celebrating them every four years instead of every year.

Now, before I present my clearly lost and hopeless case — and before you suggest renaming the column “Grinch’s Corner” — let me first state that I love the holiday season. I truly do.

The decorations, the family gatherings, Christmas music, the cheerful holiday

spirit, the gift giving, office parties and all the trimmings are splendid.

Indeed, some of my greatest memories as a child were of Christmas mornings, coming down the stairs and seeing all the presents under the tree. Those memories still give me goosebumps.

arrives. We would really be celebrating!

Buying gifts, sending cards, attending parties, cooking, and gathering with the family would be truly special.

So, no: it is not due to a dislike of the holidays that I suggest the once-everyfour-year “Olympic” idea. It is more the sad reality that, as you get older and time goes by faster, the holiday season simply comes too often.

Maybe I will present this to our local alderman. That is, if I can get past the legion of angry 12-and-under protestors.

This month, our beautiful New Eastside will be all decked out in holiday regalia. The Santa sightings and the Mag Mile shops and the condo parties will deliver some holiday cheer, but, for many of us, the relentless “here it comes again” feeling will pervade.

How special it would be — with the anticipation and the wait of four long years — when Christmas season finally

Cute Pet Alert

We finished just as the Cubs were forced into extra innings. I had no TV and I was too tired to go anywhere, so I tracked the box score on my phone.

But I didn’t need the phone to know when the game was over. Ecstatic shouts, car horns and sirens erupted in a jubilant symphony.

If I had known that the Cubs’ fate was dependent on me moving, I would have done it years ago.

I took a vacation day for the occasion, which seems absurd in

DECEMBER 2016 / 5

Anyone with me here? Christmas once every four years instead of every year?

Anyone?

Jon Cohn is a native Chicagoan. He has worked as a high school coach, youth coach, recreational director and sports official. He has been a radio and TV sports announcer for many years.

Besides the New Eastside News, Cohn writes a weekly sports column for a suburban paper and has completed his first book, Stuff, People Might Want To Know (From Someone Who Really Shouldn’t Be Writing A Book).

Lilo — pictured with her owner, Matthias — is a Papillon who recently moved to New Eastside from Michigan.

She’s very playful and friendly to people as well as dogs, loves Lake Shore East Park and, according to Matthias, “likes to escape.”

— Daniel Patton

6 / DECEMBER 2016

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

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Holiday giving in New Eastside

By Angela Gagnon | Staff Writer Few things in life bring greater joy than giving to those in need. Several New Eastside businesses are providing bins for food collection in support of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Charitable opportunities will continue throughout the holidays.

Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys to distribute as Christmas gifts to less-fortunate children. There are two nearby drop-off boxes: inside Harold Washington College at 30 E. Lake St., and near the Glazed and Infused Donut Shop at 222 N. LaSalle St. Lurie Children’s Hospital also accepts holiday toy donations, which not only brighten spirits but also bring comfort and healing to children at the main hospital as well as their outpatient centers. To arrange (or schedule) a holiday toy donation, please email donations@luriechildrens.org by December 18.

The Chicago Bears and Jewel-Osco are now in their 28th year sponsoring the Chicago Bears Coat Drive to support The Salvation Army. New and gently used coats can be dropped off at any

Jewel-Osco location in the Chicagoland area through January 1, 2017.

The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program has inspired local resident Christina Lico to contribute through her job for the past fifteen years. “It was a tradition we started before our daughter was born,” she says. Her daughter, now four and a half years old, gets to select a gift for a child her age and pays for it with money she’s saved throughout the year.

“Families can also volunteer their time the week before Christmas to help distribute the gifts and meal boxes to the Angel Tree families,” says Lico. Interested New Eastsiders can get a “virtual tag” online at http://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/metro/angeltree/ and simply drop off gifts at any Salvation Army location.

And, if none of these stir your emotions, there is no shortage of additional opportunities to help those in need. Finding something that resonates with you can be as simple as going to a charity website to find what they need, or making a donation to spread cheer and warm hearts throughout the holidays.

Lend a hand up this holiday season As the holiday season begins, few gifts are greater than lending a hand up to those in our community who need it most. Chicago is filled with volunteer opportunities and ways to give back that will lead to many happy returns. Local real estate brokerage Urban Real Estate has made it a significant part of its mission to give back, year-round, to various organizations, on behalf of its brokers and clients.

Five places to check out today that are always looking for helping hands, and open hearts: The Greater Chicago Food Depository is always looking for volunteers, not just at the holidays, but year-round. According to its website, The Food Depository serves more than 812,000 individuals or 232,100 households each year. With an array of programs also focused on children, older adults and veterans, the organization also boasts a complete Volunteer Calendar where help is needed. Visit www.chicagosfoodbank.org for more.

ChicagoCares.org is a tremendous resource for learning more about getting involved.

In addition to holiday activities, the group promotes hundreds of monthly group volunteer projects to help with immediate needs for organizations across Chicago.

Union League Boys & Girls Club (ULBGC) was founded in 1919. Its mission, “To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens,” still holds true. Young adults from across Chicago have received scholarships, education, mentoring and safety from the ULBGC. www.ulbgc.org/volunteer All Chicago unites our community and resources to provide solutions that ensure and sustain the stability of home. Visit www.allchicago.org Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chicago Chapter supports funding and resources to cure cystic fibrosis, and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives. For more visit www.cff.org/Chicago

Wishing you and yours a heartfelt holiday season, from your friends at Urban Real Estate.

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DECEMBER 2016 / 7

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle bell ringers says Chez Ordonez, Public Relations Manager for the Salvation Army.

“Mortgage, clothing, utility, prescription assistance. If you need help, the Salvation Army is going to help you.”

One of the volunteers strengthening that devotion is Thurman Byrd, a Program Administrator for the Illinois Department of Human Services who started ringing a bell at the red kettle under the northern clock at the State St. Macy’s store five years ago.

Chanta Young, who rings the Red Kettle bell at Macy’s on State, says, “It’s all about the kids.”

By Daniel Patton — Staff Writer Once again, Chicago is under occupation. An unwavering force of more than three thousand red-vested do-gooders has established operating bases throughout the city. Armed with bells, kettles and smiles, they are on a mission to feed millions. And that’s just the beginning.

“We helped over 140,000 people with assistance in Greater Chicago last year,”

“It was around the coldest day of the year,” he remembers. “But that first experience got me hooked. Parents giving their children coins to put into the kettle, the excitement that they were feeling, the joy of people experiencing happiness… it’s a very positive environment.”

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle tradition was founded in 1891 by Captain Joseph McFee, who set up the first pot in San Francisco. Since then, it has spread to Korea, Japan, Chile and several European countries. Chicago’s kettles collected $2.3 million last year.

The Red Kettle at Macy’s is among the most popular of more than 1,000 in the city. Beginning December 12, it will host celebrity Bell Ringers of the Week. Radio personalities from WJKL 94.3 will join “Skates” and “Staley,” the

mascots of the Chicago Wolves and the Chicago Bears, on Tuesday, Dec. 13th.

“We look for people who are truly willing to give their time, who are humble and want to give back,” says Ordonez, a former radio producer who volunteered as a bell ringer in Milwaukee before becoming the Salvation Army’s PR Manager in Chicago last year.

“When you ring a bell, you get a rush,” he continues. “I rang here when I first started. I tried singing, but it doesn’t work because I’m a horrible singer.

People play music. Break dance. They’re engaging with the public.”

Thurman Byrd’s technique is to “just be who you are.”

“It never hurts to smile at somebody to get a smile back,” he says. “It’s values that I learned from my mom — open the doors for families to go into the store, thank them on behalf of the Salvation Army. It radiates with folks.”

Byrd arrived at the Macy’s Red Kettle location with a proven knack for giving back. He has spent years volunteering for the Chicago Hoop Squad, an organization that sponsors a basketball program for kids in Englewood.

“We teach them values during practice,” he says. “It’s important for them to have a career instead of a job. It’s important to them to have an education.”

Besides coaching and teaching, the Squad organizes seminars and guest speakers for the kids. The events frequently take place at the Salvation Army’s Chicago Temple Corps, one of 29 institutions that also contain churches.

According to Ordonez, the Corps “function like community centers” and support the Salvation Army’s mission “to meet human needs without discrimination.” In addition to sponsoring neighborhood athletic programs, they distribute food, offer substance abuse counseling, provide day care, offer children’s activities and help the homeless.

“Last year,” he continues, “1,200 men, women and children found shelter through the Salvation Army.”

The Corps are largely funded by the annual Christmas Drive, which relies heavily on the change that people toss into the Red Kettles during Christmastime. These donations are solicited by thousands of employees and volunteers, like Thurman Byrd, who work in the cold without expecting any sort of material gain in return.

But they happily accept gestures of kindness.

“One day a family brought my buddy and me hot chocolate,” Byrd says. “That was a very powerful thing, because they appreciated what we were doing.”

Dealing with holiday stress – and seizing the opportunities

By Walter Miller Community Contributor The holiday season can be stressful because of the pressure we feel from multiple sources.

These pressures can be as varied as financial stress, relations with siblings or in-laws, time pressures or simply the complex experience of increased family intimacy – however your family is defined. Most of us have longstanding cultural expectations for this time of year; we long for happiness and fulfillment.

As we spend more time with those we

are closest to, we think we “should” be happy. That expectation can sometimes leave us feeling disappointment and frustration. And if you are a caregiver, there may be a disparity between your personal goals and your caregiving responsibilities and commitments.

These relationship-based concerns can be exposed at the dinner table or some other event where family members come together.

How can we make the most of the opportunities the holidays present? Here are a few suggestions: • Even if your primary commitment is to fulfill your caregiving responsibilities, try to save at least a little time each day to take care of yourself.

Consider a little private time with your significant other, an hour at the gym, a

good holiday book or movie, or a soak in the tub by candlelight.

• If you can, de-focus on spending a lot on gifts and re-focus on having fun together. Take a walk in the woods or along the lake – something that costs little or nothing and provides time to talk, love and be loved.

• Give some of your personal time to those less fortunate. Doing so can be satisfying and may help you appreciate your own less-than-perfect life. After all, who has a perfect life?

• If the holidays remind you of times past with someone who is now gone from your life, let yourself mourn that loss. Think about how much you miss him or her, then do everything you can to make your life better right now.

• Finally, let yourself ponder the fact

that you are alive right now, at this moment in the history of this ancient world, and that you and your life are unique. You matter, and even if things are not what you might wish today, you are alive and can make good choices for yourself. No one knows where that act of self-caretaking can lead.

For those who just don’t feel up to any of the possibilities listed above, get help from a compassionate and skilled helper — a professional counselor or religious guide, a neighbor, a friend, or a mental health hotline such as the Warm Line at 1-866-359-7953.

My very best wishes to each of you for this upcoming holiday.

Walter D. Miller, LCSW, is a clinical social worker in New Eastside who specializes in children, adolescents and adults. He may be contacted at 312-856-0230.

8 / DECEMBER 2016

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NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Controversial streetlights coming to New Eastside College) and no further public hearing is scheduled for the lights, which could last upwards of twenty years — leaving some residents feeling left in the dark.

By Tricia Parker — Staff Writer The Chicago Smart Lighting Project, an initiative of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Chicago Infrastructure Trust (CIT), aims to replace nearly all the city’s 290,000 “amber” streetlights with “white” energy-efficient LED lights over the next four years. The change will affect all “orange” streetlights in the New Eastside and will be one of the largest installations in the world.

“It’s going to change the dynamics of Chicago,” said Lakeshore East resident Todd Guynn. “The LED lighting can be very harsh.”

The city began “test” installations of streetlights last year. Several people in the impacted neighborhoods have voiced concerns about the light they give off, which reminds them of “strip malls” and a “Greyhound bus station.”

The city declined to comment on when or where the “test lights” are, only saying about 1 percent of the 270,000 light fixtures have been replaced. (In total, currently 4,100 of the city’s 317,900 light fixtures use LEDs.) Research from the American Medical Association indicates that large amounts of blue light can cause “discomfort” and insomnia, finding that “white LED lamps have five times greater impact on circadian sleep rhythms than conventional street lamps.” The research also says that “blue-rich LED streetlights operate at a wavelength that . . . adversely suppresses melatonin during night.”

“When you return to your apartment after being exposed to all this high-energy blue, you’re likely to have trouble sleeping,” says Dr. Stuart Richer, OD, a

The entrance to Lake Shore East Park displays the variety of hues of electric light. (Patton)

practicing 35-year optometrist and human physiologist at the James Lovell Healthcare Facility in North Chicago.

“This is a very, very important public health issue. We’re potentially putting in streetlights disruptive to the retina and human physiology.”

The new lights, which will be funded by outside investors, will slash the city’s electricity bills by at least half, and will provide “more reliable and improved nighttime visibility, giving communities a greater sense of safety,” according to the mayor’s office. Stretches of orange lights currently ring the New Eastside, radiating out from Lakeshore East Park, which uses low-intensity LED lights, according to Chicago Department of Transportation spokesperson Mike Claffey.

A spectrum of LED lights are available on the market, including 4000 Kelvin (K) lights, whose

high levels of short-wavelength blue light can possibly cause retinal damage. “In my opinion, the best thing to do would be to put in a streetlight that mimicked the spectrum of natural candlelight but was energy efficient, such as sodium vapor 2700K or tungsten-halogen 3200K,” says Richer.

In advance of the Dec. 14 deadline for final vendor proposals from the CIT’s nine short-listed candidates, community members are voicing concerns about what is happening in their neighborhoods.

In an April 17 press release, CIT chairman Kurt Summers said that replacing the lights would be “complex,” and that “community participation in this process is critical.”

Even so, only one official meeting has been held regarding the lights (a May 3 industry “networking conference” at Malcolm X

In a statement issued following the May meeting, the CIT’s one-paragraph response about the new lights did not directly address health or wildlife concerns, and failed to explain where the public could find further information.

The CIT simply said it will provide “light where needed” and “light when needed,” and that it is committed to “shielding light and directing it downward,” as well as selecting lighting with “warmer colors.”

Similar installations around the country have garnered mixed reviews. In Brooklyn, public outcry over 250,000 new LEDs led to the city replacing about 29,000 lights with lower-intensity fixtures. Other cities, like Santa Rosa, Calif., enjoyed smoother installations, thanks to an involved process of responding to public feedback as the lights were put in.

Involvement is what residents here are looking for as well. “If I could see what they were, I’d like to have a ballot,” said Guynn.

“In a perfect world, Chicago would ask, ‘What are the parameters of the community lighting we’re providing?’” says Drew Carhill, board member of the Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Pictured: The GE Ecolux® Sodium (HPS) bulb, similar to streetlights that mimick the spectrum of natural light, according to Dr. Stuart Richer, an optometrist at the James Lovell Healthcare Facility in North Chicago.

Gift ideas for the New Eastsider SELF-CONTAINED SHOULDER-MOUNTED OUTDOOR CHAIRS Elevate the Millennium Park summer concert series experience next summer.

Sit comfortably on the lawn of Jay Pritzker Pavilion in a Kijaro dual lock chair.

With a cushioned head and seat and sturdy back support. $29.99, www.Dickssportinggoods.com

SLED FOR THE KIDS The perfect mini sledding hill for kids can be found on the slopes of Lake Shore East Park. You can’t beat the price. Don’t forget to get one for yourself. $5, www.Target.com

www.neatside.com

DECEMBER 2016 / 9

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

New Eastside architect rejuvenates 400 E. Randolph condos

By Daniel Patton — Staff Writer

tunity to live equally well, to enjoy the amenities.”

The dome that glows over the southeastern corner of Lake Shore East Park doesn’t just protect the swimming pool on the seventh floor of 400 E. Randolph Condominium. It is a testament to architect and New Eastside resident Rada Doytcheva’s commitment to design with the community in mind.

The revitalization of the main lobby at 400 East, completed in 2014, includes large lights that Doytcheva calls “lanterns.” Besides drawing the attention of residents and passersby to the “beautiful new front desk area,” they complement the panorama of Maggie Daley Park and the row of modern high-rises along Randolph Street.

“How can people live better walking by the swimming pool?” asks the founder of RADA Architects, located in Illinois Center. “I’m not even talking about the microworld of people who live in the building, but the whole neighborhood.”

By her design, the dome’s shifting hues transform the formerly dark “museum fixture,” reminding us that “there’s life there.” The kinetic light fixtures inside the dome radiate upward and interact with the transparent structure.

“It becomes like a diffusing glass,” she says. “So instead of letting the light go through and disappear in the sky, it glows.”

This was part of the first phase of RADA’s total rejuvenation of 400 E. Randolph, which began in 2005. Over the next decade, her influence extended to the entire complex.

“They hired me to redo, rethink, everything,” she says.

Rada was uniquely qualified for the job long before her firm won the contract, and it’s not just because she was a resident in the building at the time.

Born and educated in Sofia, Bulgaria, she grew up in a “dense and muscular city” where a number of buildings were inspired by the same Modernist principals as 400 E. Randolph. She became

“If I go to the Chicago Jazz Festival,” says RADA Senior Architect Doug Boldt, “that whole wall of residential buildings, when it turns dark, is one of the most beautiful sights in all of the city.”

The dome on the seventh floor of 400 E. Randolph Condomium. (Patton)

familiar with the style from her father, a visionary architect who introduced Modernism to Bulgaria and inspired her to enter the field.

“He was one of the premiere healthcare architects in Bulgaria,” she explains.

Doytcheva came to the States by way of the American Planning Association, which recognized her language skills and architectural education. After spending six years working for someone else, she struck out on her own.

“Architecture should be less of a business, more of an inspiration and of making peoples’ lives different, better,” she asserts. “This is my primary goal.”

Modernism was all the rage when 400 E. Randolph was completed in 1963.

Emphasizing practicality over decoration, the democratic style’s basic tenets continue to guide today’s architects.

“Don’t do long corridors where you can do compact,” says Doytcheva. “Don’t mix unrelated functions and make peoples’ lives difficult.” But though

ELECTRIC BARBECUE GRILL Are you lucky enough to have an apartment with a balcony? Sweeten the deal with your own electric grill.

Show your Illinois pride by buying Webber brand. Don’t forget to secure the grill and grill utensils safely on the balcony. $249, www.Homedepot.com

Modernist theories remain the same many Modernist buildings are ready for a facelift.

Making such a contribution to Chicago’s skyline has been a dream of Doytcheva’s since her school days.

Doytcheva convinced the board to reconfigure the seventh floor of 400 E. Randolph — which contained a health club, a swimming pool and several small offices — into a resident-friendly open plan that boasts an environment flooded with nature and sunlight.

“Being a student in Bulgaria in architecture means that you study a lot of history,” she explains. “Chicago was really central to this, with the first skyscraper, the Frank Lloyd Wright ideas about organic architecture and all the innovation...To me, it was like a God-given, almost, gift to [come] here and to explore Chicago architecture.”

“They were thinking, like, a few weight rooms and that was it,” she says. “Now we have winter gardens, we have children’s rooms, we have a pizza place, we have party rooms...I mean, we have all kinds of things going.”

Rada Doytcheva in front of a dividing wall at 400 E. Randolph Condomium. (Patton)

The easy access to everything on the 7th floor reflects Doytcheva’s enthusiasm for egalitarian design. She employed the same philosophy as architect and developer of Clybourn Point, a mixeduse facility in Old Town that combines residential units with office spaces and a club. “Everybody had access to the rooftop green garden,” she says. “It was my vision of giving people an oppor-

GROCERY CART Transport groceries easily back to your apartment with the essential city dweller’s personal grocery cart. A perfect gift for that friend you bumped into on your grocery run to Village Market who couldn’t stop to talk because their hands were too full. $25, www.Walmart.com

10 / DECEMBER 2016

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NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

Events

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

Ongoing Events

Art Institute of Chicago 111 S. Michigan Ave., 312-443-3600, www.artic.edu Holiday Thorne Rooms The beloved miniature rooms are decorated for the holidays.

Through December 31 Neapolitan Crèche More than 200 figures staged in a spectacular Baroque cabinet with a painted backdrop.

Through December 31 Free days at the Adler, Field Museum, and Art Institute Illinois residents with valid proof of residence receive free general admission or discounted upgraded admission to the Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, and Art Institute, when they purchase on-site.

Adler Planetarium: Dec. 3 - 9 Field Museum: Dec. 18 Art Institute: Thursdays, 5 - 8 p.m.

Island Party Hut Christmas Tree Sale Mon - Fri · 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sat - Sun · 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

355 E. Riverwalk South (312) 600-0488 www.islandpartyhut.com

December 2-January 8 Winter Wonderfest Get your thrills without the chills at Chicago’s biggest indoor winter playground. Attractions include an inflatable slide, a “snow tubing” hill, and a Blackhawks skating rink. $10-23. Hours vary. Navy Pier, 312595-5155, www.navypier.com/winter-wonderfest LSF’s Bubbles, Bites and Berries Bash Toast the holiday season with complimentary champagne and bubbly inspired cocktails, while nibbling on small bites and sweet treats.

Non-members welcome. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Lakeshore Sport and Fitness, 211 N. Stetson Ave., 312-856-1111, www. eventbrite.com/e/lakeshore-sfs-bubbles-bites-berries-holiday-bash-tickets-29593190028

Tuesday, December 6 GEMS World Academy hosts Parent University talk on digital citizenship Dean DeLisle, founder and CEO of Forward Progress and an expert in digital networking, offers guidance on topics including how much “screen time” is too much and how to protect children from inappropriate material. Free. 6 p.m. RSVP at www.gemsworldacademy-chicago.org. 312-809-8900, 350 E. South Water St.

Wednesday, December 7 SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players presents Meet Me In St. Louis A professional cast including original Grease director Guy Barile and former ABC-TV anchor Joel Daly revive the Golden Age of Radio with a performance of this timeless romantic musical set in the 1904 Worlds Fair. Free. 7 p.m. Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater. 78 E. Washington. 312-7446630. www.cityofchicago.org

Exclusive Lakeshore East Event

Meet&Greet

with Santa

and his Elves! at the Swissotel Chicago

Sunday, December 11, 2016 Visit with Santa’s Elves in the Lobby | 11:00AM - 11:30AM Visit with Santa in the Edelweiss Penthouse Suite | 11:30AM - 1:30PM

Bring your own camera for photographs Refreshments will be served

Thursday, December 8 Tastemakers Evening Craft the perfect cocktail with Columbus Tap’s most noted Tastemakers.

Private family-style dinner to follow. $150. 8 p.m., Columbus Tap, 200 N. Columbus Dr., 312-444-9494, www. fairmont.com/chicago/dining/columbus-tap

Friday, December 9 Caroling at Cloud Gate Belt out your favorite Christmas carols as the British International School chorus leads a special sing-along. Free.

6-7 p.m. (continuing December 16 and 23), Cloud Gate sculpture, Millennium Park, 312-744-3316, www.cityofchicago.org

Saturday, December 10 Ugly Sweater Skate Wear your tackiest holiday sweater for a chance to win a special surprise.

10 a.m., Maggie Daley Skate Ribbon, 337 E. Randolph Street, 312.552.3000, www.maggiedaleypark.com/things-to-do-see/programs-events

Santa Claus House at Millennium Park Naughty or nice? Santa’s Midwest headquarters will reveal the answer, as well as offer a fantastic (DIY) family photo op.

Free. Noon-6 p.m. (repeats Dec. 16 and 17). Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., 312-742-1168, www. cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/ supp_info/santa.html

December 10-30 The Nutcracker See Chicago’s mysterious 1893 World’s Fair through the eyes of a child in the Joffrey’s new version of the Christmas classic. $40-110; times vary. Auditorium Theater, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., 312341-2300, www.joffrey.org/nutcracker

Sunday, December 11 Visit Santa at the Swissôtel Santa Suite Visit Santa and his elves in the lobby of the Swissôtel (11-11:30 a.m.), then ride up the elevator to the Edelweiss Penthouse Suite on the 41st floor.

Exclusive Lakeshore East event! 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Swissôtel, 323 E. Upper Wacker Dr., 312-565-0565, www. swissotel.com/hotels/chicago/meeting-events/special-venues/santasuite

Wednesday, December 14 “Globalization in an Age of Division” Lecture Yale Dean Emeritus Jeffrey E. Garten explores global challenges facing the next administration. $20 ($10 mem-

www.neatside.com

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

DECEMBER 2016 / 11

Events

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

New Eastside Neighbors Meetup Thursday, December 8

Christkindlmarket Excursion

Journey through the Pedway, from the top of the stairwell at the northwest corner of the Lake Shore East Park to Macy’s, to Chicago’s most popular Christmas attraction. At 8 p.m. the group will warm up at Atwood Café before heading home.

6:30 p.m., top of the stairwell at the northwest corner of Lake Shore East Park.

Saturday, December 17

Pre-Holiday Lunch at Island Party Hut

Kick off the holidays with a special late lunch and presentation by neighbor Thet Soe, founder of DineHero.

2 p.m., Island Party Hut 355 E. Riverwalk South www.meetup.com /Lakeshore-East-New-Eastside-Neighbors

bers). 6-7:15 p.m. Chicago Council on Global Affairs Conference Center, 130 E. Randolph St., 312-726-3860, www. thechicagocouncil.org

Friday, December 16 Wired Fridays Let loose at this lunchtime dance party featuring DJs Cordell Johnson and James Vincent of “Excursions.” Free.

Noon-1 p.m. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., 312-744-3316, www.cityofchicago.org

Saturday, December 17 Skate with Santa Join Santa on the skate ribbon and in the fieldhouse for photos, crafts, and games. Advance registration required; ages 2-16. $10 (rentals $14). 10 a.m.noon, Maggie Daley Skate Ribbon, 337 E. Randolph St., 312-552-3000, www. maggiedaleypark.com

December 19-December 30 Weekday Polar Express Train Whisk your kids away on a magical one-hour tour of Chicago’s railyards, tunnels, and neighborhoods. $35-55, 12:10 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 7:05

Harris Theatre MIX at SIX: What Moves You An intimate collaboration between “jookin’” dancer Lil Buck and cellist Mihai Marica. $10 December 6 - 6 p.m.

In War & Peace: Harmony Through Music Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato explores discord and harmony in times of war, through select Baroque arias. $35-$125 December 9 - 7:30 p.m.

Brandenburg Concertos The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center presents its annual performance of Bach’s “Six Concertos for Various Instruments.” $25-$55 December 19 - 7:30 p.m.

HARRIS THEATER 205 E. Randolph Drive · 312-334-7777 www.harristheaterchicago.org.

CAPS meeting

Meet and discuss neighborhood issues with residents of the New Eastside and police who patrol the area. 130 N. Garland. 7:30 p.m. Thursday December 15, www.ward42chicago.com/public_safety.html p.m., and 8:45 p.m., Union Station, 500 W. Jackson Blvd., 312-471-2501, www.chicagothepolarexpressride.com

Wednesday, December 21 2016 Wrap-Up Party Celebrate “the Hut’s” first winter season with drink discounts and a special Christmas tree sale.

Noon, Island Party Hut, 355 E. Riverwalk South, 312-600-0488, www. islandpartyhut.com

Thursday, December 22 Holiday Small Plates Sample the best of the holidays with a Thursday-night-only seasonally inspired menu at the Art Institute’s Museum Café. 5-7 p.m., Museum Café at the Art Institute, 111 S. Michigan Ave., 312-443-3600, www.artic.edu

CHICAGO

NOVEMBER RACES New Year’s Eve Parties A trio of festive races offers the perfect opportunity to have fun—and shed pesky seasonal pounds—while the inaugural Rise and Shine 5K brings a special New Year’s celebration right to our doorstep.

— Tricia Parker

Navy Pier Parties

Chicago Resolution Gala $109 and up, 8:15 p.m.-2:15 a.m.

Grand Ballroom Crystal Gardens Party $99 and up, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Crystal Gardens

Ugly Sweater Run 5K Dec. 10 - 11 a.m. — Soldier Field

www.navypier.com/new-years-eve/

Rudolph Ramble 5K Dec. 11 - 9 a.m. — Lincoln Park

Chi-Town Rising Viewing Party Free and ticketed options available, 9 p.m., Upper Wacker between Michigan and Columbus, www.chi-townrising.com

Jingle Bell Run 5K Dec. 17 - 9 a.m. — Soldier Field Rise and Shine 5K Dec. 31 – 9 a.m. — Millennium Park

Homeless Charity Drive Happy Hour

Donate scarves, gloves, hats, and undershirts at a community happy hour. Free.

December 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Chandler Community Room, 450 E. Waterside Dr.

December 23-24 Michelle Thomas and Further Definitions at Winter’s Swing into Christmas with jazz singer Michelle Thomas and Chicago saxophone/rhythm octet Further Definitions. $10-20, 5 p.m.-12 a.m., Winter’s Jazz Club, 411 East Illinois St., 312344-1270, www.wintersjazzclub.com

December 27-January 8 Charlie Brown Christmas Morning Performances Peanuts pals puzzle out the meaning of Christmas, in special morning performances. $15-$78, 10 a.m., Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., 312- 977-1700

Saturday, December 31 Chi-Town Rising’s Family Countdown Celebration Discover New Year’s customs from around the world, and enjoy a “Kids Countdown Spectacular” at 6 p.m. Free.

3-6 p.m., Wrigley Square at Millennium Park, www.chi-townrising.com

Hard Rock New Year’s Soirée $125 and up, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

230 N. Michigan Ave., www.blog.hardrockhotelchicago.com/ events/2017-chicago-new-years-eve

Neighborhood Specials The Palm Primetime Half off Palm Bar’s Prime Bites menu, Sunday through Friday 4-6 p.m.

Swissôtel, 323 E. Upper Wacker Dr. 312-616-1000, thepalm.com/Chicago MingHin Happy Hour 20 percent off all menu items, Monday through Friday 2:30-5 p.m.

MingHin, 333 E. Benton Pl. 312-228-1333, minghincuisine.com III Forks Happy Hour $1 oysters and half off draft cocktails and draft beer, daily 4-6 p.m.

180 N. Field Blvd., 312-938-4303 3forks.com/chicago Park Grill 5/5/5 Thursdays $5 draft beers, $5 wine by the glass, and $5 specialty cocktails 5-8 p.m., Thursday Park Grill, 11 N. Michigan Ave. 312-521-7275, parkgrillchicago.com

12 / DECEMBER 2016

340 ON THE PARK

340 E Randolph St.

www.neatside.com

NEW EASTSIDE NEWS

▪

THE BUCKINGHAM

2 Bed / 21/2 Bath

360 E Randolph St.

▪

1 Bed / 11/2 Bath

Floor-to-ceiling windows & a unique floor plan offer rare lake, park & skyline views. $1,772,000

North and east views of Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, and the New Eastside park. $300,000

THE CHANDLER

OUTER DRIVE EAST

450 E Waterside Dr.

▪

Studio / 1 Bath

400 E Randolph St.

Luxury finishes with designer kitchen, marble vanity, & lake/city views from balcony. $300,000

400 E Randolph ▪ Suite 500

▪ 1 Bed / 1 Bath

Spacious & bright with 18 ft. balcony features park & lake views, tip of Navy Pier. $299,000

312 ▪ 528 ▪ 9200

www.UrbanRealEstate.com