VOL. 8 NO. 8
CHICAGOHSTAR
CHICAGO STAR
New Eastside NEWS H AT THE HELM Streeterville NEWS H CHICAGO STAR
Got a story tip or question? Call (312) 690-3092
CHICAGO STAR
August 2020
www.chicagostarmedia.com
FREE
Capt. Tom Hacker sails a season like no other
CHICAGO STAR
CHICAGO STAR
West Loop NEWS
Lakeshore East Food & Beer Garden opens in New Eastside
New Eastside NEWS Streeterville NEWS West Loop NEWS Page 3
Page 9
Capt. Tom Hacker of Chicago’s First Lady tells what to expect on the Chicago River architecture tour this summer. Photo by Daniel Patton
Restaurants, markets offer picnics to-go Page 8
2 / AUGUST 2020
New Eastside NEWS Streeterville NEWS HowLoop to Contact West NEWSUs info@chicagostarmedia.com 200 E. Randolph St. Suite 5100 Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 690-3092 Editor: Elaine Hyde elainehyde@chicagostarmedia.com Director of Brand Development Jay Kopp jaykopp@chicagostarmedia.com Managing Editor Daniel Patton danielpatton@chicagostarmedia.com Staff Writers: Angela Gagnon Nuria Mathog Doug Rapp Copy Editors: Vivien Lee Bob Oswald Layout/Design: Bob Oswald Community Contributors: Jon Cohn
Subscriptions info@chicagostarmedia.com Advertising Contact Jay Koop jaykopp@chicagostarmedia.com New Eastside News and Streeterville News are published by Chicago Star Media. New Eastside News and Streeterville News are monthly papers that use community writers and contributors. The views expressed by community contributors are their own. Chicago Star Media does not take responsibility for third-party announcements or events. Chicago Star Media is independently owned and operated. Published Aug. 1, 2020 Copyright ©2020. All rights reserved.
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
www.chicagostarmedia.com
| NEWS BRIEFS | Riverwalk murals celebrate art and people of Chicago Three birds greet a woman in a garden on a mural spanning an entire wall of the Chicago Riverwalk. Part of a colorful new installation titled, “The Radiance of Being,” by Kate Lynn Lewis, the scene is one of many adorning the promenade’s Community Marketplace west of Michigan Avenue. “The Riverwalk is surrounded on all angles by art deco architecture, so it felt like a great opportunity to expound on the immersive experience,” Lewis said. “I love that this experience is just one of countless examples of how Chicago has invested in the creative culture that makes it so beautifully unique.” Another example of the city’s cultural appreciation includes “The People in Your Neighbor-
“The Radiance of Being” by Kate Lynn Lewis. Photo courtesy of City of Chicago
hood,” 55 portraits of Chicagoans by street artist Dont Fret, set to be on display at the Riverwalk’s west end near Lake Street. The images celebrate the artist’s vision of people who “contribute to the hard work that defines our city.”
Wisconsin added to travel quarantine order list Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced July 28 that Wisconsin—along with Missouri, Nebraska and North Dakota—would be added to a list of states covered by an emergency travel order, which requires both Chicago residents returning from Wisconsin and travelers from Wisconsin to quarantine for 14 days upon entering the city. The full list of affected states can be found at chicago.gov.
Area crime reported in July A man was found unresponsive in the early hours of July 26 after being shot multiple times outside Streeterville’s W Hotel. Chicago police reportedly arrived at the scene just after 4 a.m., according to CBS 2 Chicago. An 82-year-old man was carjacked around 10 a.m. July 26 on Grand Avenue, west of Columbus Drive, NBC 5 Chicago reported. Video footage from the area reportedly showed a group of about a dozen men on Divvy bikes surrounding the
“There are certain character traits that I think define a true Chicagoan,” Fret said. “Tough, full-browed with a sense of ingenuity and midwestern humbleness, but always toiling, working, moving forward with an almost absurd laugh and
man’s car, pulling him out of the vehicle and stealing the vehicle. WGN reported a man was stabbed near the Swissotel on the 300 block of E. Wacker Drive around 2:50 a.m. on July 29. According to police, two groups of males were arguing in front of the hotel prior to the incident, the report stated.
Neighborhood museums, educational centers reopen Four Chicago cultural institutions announced they would reopen with facemask and social distancing guidelines after temporarily shuttering due to the pandemic. The Art Institute of Chicago announced that it will offer free admission to Illinois residents for one week after reopening to the public July 30. Hours are Mondays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) reopened July 3 and announced updates to its Chicago and Drake Family Skyscraper
grin about this crazy, wonderful city.” The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in collaboration with the Department of Assets, Information and Services helped make the project happen.
galleries, including the addition of more than 30 new models. The CAC requires visitors to enter the building via East Wacker Drive and exit through the design store into the Illinois Center and Chicago Pedway. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and closed Monday through Thursday. The Field Museum opened to the public July 24. The museum limits visitors to 25 percent of its capacity and requires guests enter through the east entrance. The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago reopened July 24. Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The MCA requires visitors to enter on Pearson Street and exit through the museum’s store. “We’ve made admission to the museum free for the months of July and August, so that there are no barriers to anyone who wants to find respite in the galleries,” Madeleine Grynsztejn, the MCA Chicago’s Pritzker director, said in a statement. “We know now, more than ever, the healing power and connection we find in art. We welcome you.” Continued on page 4
www.chicagostarmedia.com
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
| NEWS |
Guests celebrate at the Lakeshore East Food & Beer Garden grand opening in July. Below: an aerial view of the venu. Photos by Daniel Patton
Lakeshore East Food & Beer Garden opens in New Eastside By By Daniel Patton Staff Writer The Lakeshore East Food & Beer Garden energized the New Eastside with live music and a call to help Chicago’s young people during its grand opening celebration on July 9. Nestled in the corner of the neighborhood’s award-winning green space, the 75-table outdoor venue offers more than just a place to eat and drink. Resident Nicola Perry attended the event with friends including Ginger Menne, a partner in the
“Lancaster Core5” group that helped the neighborhood honor front-line workers every night during the peak of the coronavirus. She described the garden as an “exciting” way to strengthen the community. “They’re doing something that is very conscious of the life we’re having to live right now in the middle of COVID and the social distancing,” she said, adding that, “the margaritas are great.” Magellan Development Group Artist in Residence Kelsey Montanez performed
for the grand opening, and the entertainment will continue through Sept. 28 with regularly scheduled trivia nights, movie nights and shows featuring Montanez as well as Graham King. Lakeshore East Food & Beer Garden is also on a mission to raise $75K for Mothers Against Senseless Killing (MASK) through a “Paint for Change” GoFundMe campaign that will brand the names of top donors “in the center of a custom hand-painted, Chicago-flag inspired 8-foot picnic tabletop.”
EVENT SCHEDULE Live music
6-8 p.m. Thursdays 6-9 p.m. Fridays Noon-9 p.m. Saturdays
Movies
“Purple Rain” 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 15 “Onward” 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 29
Trivia
8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 9
N E W S
AUGUST 2020 / 3
4 / AUGUST 2020
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
www.chicagostarmedia.com
| NEWS BRIEFS | Continued from page 2
Parks foundation launches ‘Pitch in for the Parks’ Community groups, corporate teams and individual volunteers can help keep the city’s more than 600 public parks clean by joining a new initiative called “Pitch in for the Parks!” Guided by the Chicago Parks Foundation (CPF), the Chicago Park District and communities across the city, the program invites individuals and groups to focus on specific parks or join larger park cleanups. CPF provides volunteers with trash pick-up supplies and guidelines for coordination and safety. In the past few weeks, more than 1,000 people have volunteered their time and nearly 60 Park Advisory Councils, local businesses and community organizations have adopted a park. “‘Pitch in for the Parks’ shifts the stewardship opportunity back to the communities so they can build a stronger sense of pride and ownership of their parks,” said Willa Iglitzen Lang, executive director of the Chicago Parks Foundation. “When you invest in a park you are investing in the communities who love and use them.” The program is supported by the Chicago Bears, Chicago Association of REALTORS, and Boxed Water. For more information, visit chicagoparksfoundation. org/pitch-in.
Chicago removes Columbus Statue from Grant Park After “consultation with various stakeholders,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot directed the city to remove the Christopher Columbus statues in Grant Park and Arrigo Park “until further notice,” according to a July 24 news release. “This step is about an effort to protect public safety and to preserve a safe space for an inclusive and democratic public dialogue,” the release said. “In addition, our public safety resources must be concentrated where they are most needed throughout the city.” The move came one week after protesters attempted to remove the statue themselves. After allegedly breaking away from
a larger demonstration in support of Black and Indigenous people, the group caused unrest and assaulted police “with fireworks, rocks, frozen bottles and a variety of other objects” in the clash that ensued, according to NBC5 Chicago.
This last area has seen some of the largest family participation, said Matt Merrill, the theatre’s director of development. “That’s been really huge for us,” he said. “We’ve continued that work, and quite honestly, those families, I think, were hit hardest by some of these things.” The theater, which received a $30,000 grant through the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund, announced in July that it would be collaborating with other youth theater groups on a virtual rendition of “A Kids Play About Racism,” which premieres Aug. 1-2 on the Broadway on Demand streaming platform.
performed a double-lung transplant on a woman in her 20s with lung damage from COVID-19, the first known COVID-19 patient in the U.S. to undergo this procedure. Dr. Rade Tomic, pulmonologist and medical director of the Lung Transplant Program, said in the release that the first patient continues to recover “at optimal pace,” and added, “we’re optimistic that both patients will make a full recovery and return to their daily lives.”
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab retains No. 1 rank
FireLake Grill House’s first Chicago location is open at New Eastside’s Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel.
FireLake Grill House opens at Radisson Blu FireLake Grill House’s first Chicago location debuted July 8 at New Eastside’s Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. “We have a brand-new concept here in the restaurant—we have a farm-to-table concept, as opposed to before, which was Italian,” said Zyren Mae Posadas, a manager at FireLake Grill House. “Now, we’re more of a smokehouse, farmhouse cocktail bar.” The restaurant offers outdoor patio seating and a menu featuring handcrafted sandwiches and specialties such as coffee-rubbed smoked brisket and cider fish and chips. Hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for lunch and 4-11 p.m. for dinner; Saturdays and Sundays, brunch is served from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Chicago Children’s Theatre continues mission virtually While its physical facility may still be closed, Chicago Children’s Theatre continues to bring content to Chicago families in the form of virtual puppet shows and online camps, classes and theatrical experiences for youth on the autism spectrum.
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab earned the No. 1 spot for rehabilitative hospitals in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 rankings, marking the 30th consecutive year the Streeterville research hospital has received the distinction. “Although we have celebrated this honor every year for three decades, today’s recognition is no less sweet,” Dr. Joanne C. Smith, president and CEO of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, said in a hospital news release. “It is a tribute to our entire team—and the ingenuity and pioneering spirit that have propelled us to revolutionize our field.”
Second COVID-19 patient receives double-lung transplant Surgeons at Northwestern Memorial Hospital successfully performed a double-lung transplant on a second COVID-19 patient with lung damage during the Fourth of July weekend, according to a hospital news release. The patient, identified as an Illinois man in his 60s, contracted COVID-19 in late March and spent 100 days on a life support machine known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, the release states. A double-lung transplant normally takes six to seven hours, but the procedure took nearly 10 hours because COVID-19 had caused the patient to develop lung necrosis and severe inflammation in his chest cavities, according to the release. In June, Northwestern Memorial surgeons
Brewpub Crushed by Giants opened on the second floor at 600 N. Michigan Ave. Photo by Aubrey Boonstra
New brewpub debuts Streeterville locals and downtown visitors can now satisfy their craft beer cravings in the neighborhood. Crushed by Giants, a new brewpub on the second floor at 600 N. Michigan Ave., is the latest venture by Greg Shuff, who also owns three other Chicago-area breweries: Roebuck, Corridor Brewery & Provisions and DryHop Brewers. The business is Streeterville’s first brewery. “There was that hole that needed to be plugged, and that’s how we looked at it and how we approached it,” said Jesse Valenciana, Crushed by Giants’ marketing director. “On top of that, the space was very enticing ... It’s a very exciting part of Chicago.” The brewpub’s beer menu features creatively named brews such as the Radioactive Rainbow Blackberry Gose, which includes citrus and berry flavors, while the food menu includes a selection of sandwiches, tacos and salads. “You’re getting a really talented brewer who has a lot of experience,” Valenciana said. “He’s won several awards, and then on top of that, we’ve got a really talented chef in Pat Sheerin.”
www.chicagostarmedia.com
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
AUGUST 2020 / 5
| FEATURES |
Interactive test kitchens fuel restaurant creativity By Nuria Mathog Staff Writer In the era of social distancing, area restaurants haven’t stopped finding innovative ways to connect with customers— including helping guests shape the future of their menus. To bring diners into the creative process, Streeterville-based Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company recently launched an online “test kitchen” series that allows customers to sample potential pizzas and share their thoughts with chef and owner Robert Garvey. Chicago residents can enter the contest by “liking” a designated photo on the restaurant’s Facebook page, following its Twitter account and tagging a fellow pizza-loving friend. A free test kitchen pizza is delivered to the three winners and their friends, who then join Garvey virtually on a Facebook livestream to discuss the dish. During the livestream, Garvey and his
Robert Garvey, chef and owner of Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company in Streeterville, prepares a virtual test kitchen livestream. Photo courtesy of Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company
guests spend half an hour talking “food and pizza and whatever else may come up.” Garvey discusses his inspiration for the
dishes and the flavor profiles and occasionally brings another guest onboard. Smoking Goose Meatery was invited to one event to weigh in on how duck prosciutto is made. “I get real, sort of live feedback from them,” Garvey said. “I’m not looking for them to compliment me; I’m looking for them to tell me what they genuinely think about the pizzas.” Two of the newest dishes, “Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Pancetta” and “Magnificent Moulard,” were developed in the test kitchen. Bucktown resident Lisa Hermann, selected to participate in the restaurant’s first test kitchen, said she thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity. “It was a lot of fun,” she said. “(Garvey) is definitely a hands-on owner.” West Town resident Sophia Lin Kanno, another past test kitchen participant, had not eaten at Robert’s prior to stumbling upon the restaurant’s contest on Instagram. Getting to meet Garvey and talk about the
pizza was a great experience, she said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but he’s so down to earth,” she said. “He’s such a chill guy... It felt like he was inviting us into his home and eating pizza together.” Yolk, a chain of eateries specializing in creative versions of breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes, follows a similar philosophy of interacting with customers. The company’s test kitchen, based out of Bucktown, introduces new dishes to the community and takes diners’ feedback into consideration. “Usually, the test kitchen has a different menu each week,” said Michelle Ocampo, a manager at Yolk’s Streeterville location. “They’ll change certain items on the menu, and depending on how those menus do within that week, sometimes they’re incorporated into our menu.” “We’re always trying to keep it family-oriented, trying to give the best service we can to customers and to make people feel like they’re at home,” she said.
Summer Vib and Views
Await at Chicago’s Largest Rooftop Lounge Serving neighborhood eats and crafty cocktails
Streeterville Social is downtown Chicago’s go-to rooftop bar and lounge, serving refreshing cocktails and local fare with a unique view on the city. Now open Thursday–Friday from 4pm–10pm | Saturday–Sunday from 2pm–10pm streetervillesocial.com | 312.840.6617 | 455 N. Park Drive
158150_CHG_StreetervilleEastsideNewsAs_V2.indd 1
6/22/20 5:00 PM
6 / AUGUST 2020
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
www.chicagostarmedia.com
| NEWS |
Chicago residents enjoy parks with modifications By Nuria Mathog Staff Writer
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS
Send photos and captions of things going on in the neighborhood to info@chicagostarmedia.com for a chance for your photo to be featured. Featured photographers will receive $25.
New Eastside NEWS Streeterville NEWS West Loop NEWS
With summer in full swing, the Chicago Park District is welcoming visitors back to its facilities, in addition to offering modified programs and activities for families. Many of the city’s lakefront parks are open, with visitors required to wear a mask at all times and maintain a safe distance from others in the area. To educate the public on these safety measures, the park district has installed a series of social distancing ambassadors throughout the area, including at the Lakefront Trail. The portion of the trail between Oak and Ohio streets in Streeterville reopened July 24 following the completion of repair work in the area. However, other restrictions are still in place. Playgrounds, beaches and pools throughout the district remain closed, as well as other facilities and areas east of Lake Shore Drive, apart from golf courses and the Lakefront Trail. Drinking fountains are shut off, and the majority of park district fieldhouses are only available for washrooms and shelter 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. In a July 6 news conference, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said swimming pools and beaches would remain closed, describing these amenities as “ripe for congregate gathering and not social distancing,” but noted park splash pools would reopen to provide relief for children and families. Nearly 150 parks throughout Chicago are offering modified versions of their annual summer day camps, including Maggie Daley Park, Union Park in the West Loop and Lake Shore Park in Streeterville. Registration is limited to Chicago residents, and campers are placed in smaller groups, with a staff member to camper ratio of 1:9. Campers are also required to bring their own water. “While the 2020 camps will be different, the focus of offering a safe space for children to be healthy, active, make new friends and create lifelong memories remains the same,” the park district said in a statement. West Loop resident Michelle Page has
Near West Side resident Tonya Gross and her dog Mika take a walk around Union Park. Photo by Nuria Mathog
fond memories of the park district’s summer camp. She participated in the program as a young child and later became a camp counselor. When the first session of Union Park’s day camp for children ages 6-8 opened in July, she took her grandson Camden Wholley to the park so he could make those memories too. “It’s different from even when I was little, going to camp,” she observed. “There’s less kids and no pool, no sprinklers.” In-person activities offered by the park district include gymnastics, junior lifeguard and special recreation sports camp programs. The district is also hosting virtual classes on topics such as sports, arts and crafts, wellness and fitness. For information, visitchicagoparkdistrict.com. Many residents appear happy to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Near West Side resident Tonya Gross said she and her dog Mika have been going to Union Park two to three times a day to spend time together. “Over the last several months, I’ve noticed there are a lot more people at Union Park, which is really nice to see,” she said. “It’s not just those of us who live here, but obviously people have found that it’s a nice place to come.”
www.chicagostarmedia.com
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
AUGUST 2020 / 7
| FEATURES |
Local teens adjust to life during pandemic By Angela Gagnon Staff Writer The coronavirus pandemic has teenagers getting set for Zoom classes while facing a variety of challenges such as cancelled summer plans and uncertainty about the upcoming school year. “I am taking really challenging classes next year, so I am worried that the (virtual) instruction won’t be enough to prepare me for AP tests,” said New Eastside resident Tej Shah, an incoming sophomore at Walter Payton College Prep. “I’m also a little ner-
vous about how the kids are going to be in the sense of whether they’ll adhere to wearing masks,” he said. Shah has already been dealing with a summer of canceled camps. “I’ve had a lot of free time,” he said. “I’ve had time to listen to more music, paint a mural on my wall and do so many things I didn’t have time for before. I have also gone to Black Lives Matter protests.” Shah is concerned about the struggles essential workers are facing. “Not only front line medical workers who
have to quarantine away from their families and witness so much death without being able to do much of anything, but the brave grocery store workers, CTA staff and so many more,” he said. “I hate seeing their pain.” In March, Ixchel Hernandez was halfway through her freshman year at Choate Rosemary Hall boarding school in Connecticut when she had to suddenly return home to Chicago. “The abrupt environment change was really difficult,” Hernandez said. “The first few weeks at home were
stressful because I had to adjust to Zoom classes and didn’t have any real space to work.” Hernandez had planned to travel to Mexico in spring for a service opportunity to help build a school for kids in an orphanage. “I was so excited to meet the kids and hang out with the kids,” she said. “I was so disappointed when it was cancelled.” Hernandez is spending the summer doing an apprenticeship at Metro Achievement Center for Girls, taking Stem Lab, coding and watercolor classes.
Follow along on social media with the hashtag #GEMSatHome to learn more about the school’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accepting Applications for 2020 312.809.8910 | gemschicago.org | 350 East South Water St., Chicago, IL 60601
“The painting is very soothing and very therapeutic,” she said, “but my favorite class is Stem Lab.” In September, Hernandez will return to Choate and spend two weeks quarantined in her dorm room while taking virtual classes. Students will be expected to wear a mask at all times, except in their home unit, and they will not be permitted to leave school grounds, she said. Despite all these challenges, Hernandez has focused on staying in touch with her friends. “It’s easy to get caught up in your own world,”
New Eastside resident Tej Shah painted this mural (right) on his wall to keep busy during the pandemic. Photo courtesy of Tej Shah
she said. “Make an effort to talk to friends and family. It makes the quarantine easier when you can talk and laugh with others.”
8 / AUGUST 2020
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
www.chicagostarmedia.com
| FEATURES |
Local restaurants and markets offer picnics to-go per person, plus tax. Monday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., exploretock. com/rpmitalian.
By Chicago Star Media The only thing better than having a picnic is having a picnic with food made by someone else. A number of local venues are helping alfresco fans do just that by offering ready-to-go baskets and take-out specials designed to pair with the great outdoors. III Forks 180 N. Field Blvd., (312) 938-4303 3forks.com/location/chicago III Forks offers curbside pickup on a number of items including burgers that “are delicious and travel well,” according to Chef Proprietor Adrian Corkill. “We also offer a family meal kit with choices like braised short rib, chicken Marsala and chicken fried filet mignon, my personal favorite.” Monday through Sunday, 4 to 8 p.m. Beatrix Market 834 W. Fulton Market, (312) 733-0370 beatrixrestaurants.com/beatrix/ fulton-market Beatrix Market offers wine, craft beer, and carry-out cocktails to-go from Beatrix and other Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Snacks such as charcuterie, candy, chips and
The Goddess and Grocer’s Clucket Bucket includes fried chicken, two sides, chili-infused maple honey and brownies. Photo courtesy of Goddess and Grocer Beatrix Market’s basket includes cocktails to-go, along with snacks such as charcuterie, candy, chips and specialty spreads. Photo by Cara Yaffe
specialty spreads are available to customers for pick-up. Orders must be placed one hour before the preferred pick-up time. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Columbus Tap Grab and Go 200 N. Columbus Drive, (312) 565 6625 columbustap.com Columbus Tap offers a Grab-and-Go variety of breakfast items including fruit,
yogurt parfaits, cereal, hot breakfast sandwiches, smoothies and juices that can be picked up in the lobby. Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. RPM Italian 52 W. Illinois St., (312) 222-1888, rpmrestaurants.com/rpm-italian-chicago The RPM Italian Picnic Basket for parties of 4-8 includes Provolone-stuffed peppers, Giuliana’s Italian salad, prosciutto and ricotta toast, chicken Parmesan sandwich, Giuliana’s cavatelli pasta salad, and chocolate chip-oat cookies. $28
The Goddess and Grocer 1127 N. State St., (312) 265-1888 goddessandgrocer.com The Goddess and Grocer offers a “Clucket Bucket” with eight pieces of fried chicken and two sides, chili-infused maple honey and brownies for $39.95. Add-on servings, desserts and cocktails available. Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance at goddessandgrocer.com. Miki’s Park 109 W. Hubbard St., (312) 526-3511 mikispark.com The Korean-inspired River North venue has launched a picnic basket catering initiative featuring several options that feed parties of five. The Bang Bang Basket includes a choice of five Sliders or Korean Red Hots, K-Pop Chicken, Just Fries, and Banchans (house-pickled and Kimchi cucumbers) for $50. The vegetarian Buddha Basket includes 10 dumplings, RAD salad, Veggie Bap, Just Fries and Banchans for $40. Ordering 24 hours in advance is preferred, but guests can also swing by and place an order in person.
Streeterville residents celebrate neighborhood’s founder, history By Daniel Patton Staff Writer
Gail Spreen (center) celebrates with attendees at the second annual “Cap Streeter Run A’ Ground Party” at Streeterville Social. Photo by Daniel Patton
Dozens of Streeterville residents attended the second annual “Cap Streeter Run A’ Ground Party” at Streeterville Social on July 10. The event commemorates the day in 1886 when riverboat captain George Wellington “Cap” Streeter ran his 35-ton ship Reutan into the Chicago shoreline and declared it to be the “United States District of Lake
Michigan.” The incident occurred near Superior Street and marks the area’s transformation into the modern neighborhood that bears his name. The “Run A’ Ground Party” was hosted by sculptor Dennis Downes, who created the George Streeter statue at the corner of Grand Avenue and McClurg Court, and his wife, Gail Spreen, a Chicago real estate agent. The Streeterville couple provided a light-hearted but informative presentation about the myth and
relevance of the man of honor for the attendees, who mingled under a tent in Streeterville Social’s outdoor terrace on the second floor of the Loews Chicago Hotel, 455 N. Park Drive. Many guests paid tribute to Streeter’s style and nickname by wearing stovepipe and captain hats. Among them were Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois Executive Director Andrew Johnson and Chicago Maritime Arts Center Project Leader Toby Lindo.
www.chicagostarmedia.com
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
AUGUST 2020 / 9
| FEATURES |
Capt. Tom Hacker navigates tours on the Chicago river By Daniel Patton Staff Writer Capt. Tom Hacker and the crew of Chicago’s First Lady have a plan for almost every emergency situation. Man-overboard, fire fighting, abandoned ship—they cover pretty much everything to keep the ship and its passengers safe. This year, it’s masks, socially distant seating and operating at 50 percent capacity. “We do those once every month, as required by the Coast Guard,” Hacker said. “We go really in-depth about it.” Hacker is Deputy Director of Vessel Operations for Chicago’s First Lady, the architectural cruise line that operates on the Chicago Riverwalk. The Barrington native began working part-time as a deckhand for the company in 2006. After rising to senior deckhand, he earned his captain’s stripes by passing a four-part written test and logging 365 days at sea, which loosely translates to 365 six-hour shifts, in 2010. “I’m licensed by the United States Coast Guard to operate a vessel that weighs up to a hundred tons,” he said. “But the big thing is that I am legally permitted to take people out for hire.” Passengers have helped make Chicago First Lady’s Architecture Cruise the top tour in the city on the online travel platform Tripadvisor, which normally receives an average of 463 million visitors every month. They
have contributed more than 5,000 reviews of the experience, rating it “Very Good” or “Excellent” 97% of the time. Officially known as the “Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise,” the 90-minute excursion departs from the First Lady’s dock on the south bank of the Chicago River a few yards east of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. “It’s the number-one-rated Tripadvisor tour by user reviews, and the only reason is because of the docents,” Hacker said. The docents are the tour guides who stand before the passengers on the top deck of the ship and describe the architecture passing by. They endure rigorous training and testing before getting on the microphone. In addition to classes every Saturday, the 10-week course includes 25 hours of homework each week. Once that is completed, it requires applicants to pass a test that involves writing and physically presenting a custom narrative to an existing docent. “Our tours are not scripted,” said Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) President and CEO Lynn Osmond. “We tell them which of the mandatory buildings to talk about and they write the story.” Osmond, who worked as a docent when she joined CAC in 1996, said “remembering all the dates” was a challenge, but added, “people tend to be more interested in the stories.” “For the Willis Tower, we always tell the
Captain Tom Hacker is Deputy Director of Vessel Operations for Chicago’s First Lady. Left: Chicago’s Classic Lady sits in the dock. Photos by Daniel Patton
story of structural engineer Fazlur Khan and architect Bruce Graham,” she said. “They took a pack of cigarettes and tapped them out and kind of put two together and another two higher and another two higher and realized that the structure provided wind resistance that allowed it to go very tall.” Kahn and Graham’s model provided the basis for a structural system called the bundled tube, which Encyclopedia Britannica describes as “a group of narrow steel cylinders that are clustered together to form a thicker column.” It is a major element in the design of the 108-story Willis Tower, originally called the Sears Tower, which they created for Chicago architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1965. After construction was completed in 1973, the tower remained the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere until New York’s One World Trade Center surpassed it 2014. Hacker complements the docent’s narrative by allowing time for passengers to enjoy the sights and take photographs. “We go really slow, typically about 4-6 miles per hour,” he said. “There are people who ride their bikes faster than that.” Since the Chicago River only ranges from 75 to 300 feet wide, by Hacker’s
estimate, the task can get a little tricky. “It operates like the highway,” he said. “Your kayakers are like bicyclists. Your recreational boaters are like cars. We’re pretty much like semi trucks.” Hacker called himself a “big modern building fan” and said his favorite location on the river is Wolfe Point, where a cantilevered new building extends over the Riverwalk. “The biggest thing about the Chicago River is the variety of architecture,” he said. “You’ll be looking at an old school art deco building and then you’ll be looking at a glass and steel structure and then you’ll be looking at a really cool skyscraper like the Trump Tower or the Vista Tower.” When he’s not piloting boats in the architectural fleet, Hacker manages the crew, keeps the docks on schedule, and acts as a company spokesperson. He also takes the helm of ships rented for special events, which allows him to engage with passengers, one of his favorite parts of the job. “These people are on vacation or a wedding or a corporate trip, and nobody gets on the boat in a bad mood,” he said. “That carries over to the crew, and they’re happy because they’re dealing with happy, friendly people all the time.”
10 / AUGUST 2020
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
www.chicagostarmedia.com
| NEWS |
Local group aims to improve quality of life throughout Chicago By Daniel Patton Staff Writer On July 19, a small but concerned group of Streeterville residents participated in an “Anti-Violence Discussion” to address neighborhood crime, that saw an increase at the end of July with a number of shootings taking place in the area. Connecting remotely via Zoom on a Sunday afternoon, the group explored the idea that improving safety on a local level can only happen by improving safety throughout the city. “Years ago, crime was someone else’s problem, now we are the number one community for theft in the third largest city in the country,” host Craig Kaiser wrote in an invitation to participants prior to the event. “Drive-by shootings were somebody else’s problem, now they are common here.” In addition to facilitating the neighborhood’s Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meetings, Kaiser serves as an administrator for the Facebook group Streeterville Neighborhood Advocates (SNA), a grassroots community dedicated to “enhancing the safety and quality of life in our neighborhood.” SNA members share updates about crime in the neighborhood, along with posting information about parks, restaurants, and other topics of interest. Roughly eight hours before Kaiser launched the Zoom discussion, a 35-yearold Maywood man was shot and killed on the Wabash Bridge connecting the Stree-
terville area to downtown Chicago. He became the 413th homicide victim in the city so far this year, 50% more than the 275 that occurred by the same date in 2019. According to Ald. Brendan Reilly, the crime is part of a pattern emanating from the Riverwalk, where “large gatherings” of people tend to congregate in the wee hours of the morning. “We’ve been getting reports over the last few weeks that this has become a more frequent occurrence,” he told WGN Radio’s Bob Sirott during a July 20 interview. “And that’s a real concern for me and very frustrating because the city spends a fair amount of money on 24-hour security for that Riverwalk, which begs the question: what are they doing?” Reilly also described disturbances that have been occurring near Streeterville’s overnight public parking spaces. “They’re plugging the meter, but then spending the entire evening and into the morning hours drinking and doing drugs and causing a ruckus,” he said. “So those types of incidents invite trouble and invite violence and overnight shootings.” Reilly has asked police commanders to step up their presence in the area, but also admitted, “cops are spread thin during those hours.” Assistance may arrive from the U.S. Justice Department, which announced on July 22 that it would be sending approximately 200 federal law enforcement officers to Chicago as part of the “Operation
A man was reportedly shot near the W Chicago Lakeshore Hotel, 644 N. Lake Shore Drive, on July 26. Photo by Daniel Patton
Legend” anti-violence initiative. But in a city that employs more than 12,000 police officers, the increase would expand the ground-level presence by less than 2%. Additionally, there are obstacles that no amount of boots-on-the-ground can overcome. The victims of the Wabash Bridge murder are “not cooperating with the police,” according to Reilly, who speculated that the parties may have been “rivals or enemies and looking to settle the score.” Kaiser said engaging in dialogue, rather than “calling the police,” might help the situation. He encouraged the group to consider ways to “objectively and openly discuss the reality that we’re all different and try to understand as a community that partying at 2 o’clock in the morning on the corner is unacceptable.” One participant asked, “how about making sure that (Streeterville) is surrounded by safety so people don’t feel like they have to leave where they are to celebrate being outside and being alive?” The idea gained traction in Englewood, where Tamar Manasseh founded Mothers/ Men Against Senseless Killing (MASK), an organization that started around a
BBQ grill. In 2015, Manasseh began giving away free hot dogs at the same spot where an innocent bystander had been killed by gun violence in the neighborhood. She has since grown the effort into a community-wide program that builds schools and works with partners like Magellan Development Group to equip young adults with marketable skills and jobs. “All of the things that conspired to create gun violence, we started to address those issues individually,” she said. “Food and security, homelessness, unemployment, education: we started to address them all … we built relationships.” Streeterville is roughly 10 miles away from Englewood, but it draws people from all over the city. The popularity creates an obligation that, according to Kaiser, obliges the community to help “improve the quality of life throughout Chicago.” Or, in the words of one attendee, “Why disinvest in those neighborhoods and get upset at the products of those neighborhoods?” The discussion continues at 1 p.m. Aug. 2. To get involved, email Kaiser at sna60611@gmail.com.
Police plan to resume in-person community meeetings next month By Chicago Star Media The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) in-person meetings for Chicago’s 10-sector beats (including beats 111, 112, 113, and 114, which cover an area
that includes New Eastside and the Loop) are set to resume in September, according to a CAPS representative. The organization plans to host meetings in a venue that can safely accommodate 50 or more attendees while providing
adequate social-distancing space. The Community Room of the Chicago Police Station at 1718 S. State is among the venues under consideration. Updates will be posted to chicagostarmedia.com. From June 5 to July 2, 28 crimes
were reported in the area. The breakdown includes nine reports of battery, seven reports of theft, three reports of assault, and one report for each of the following offenses: interference with a public officer, offense involving chil-
dren, and public peace violation. During the same time frame last year, 43 crimes were reported. To contact CAPS, email Caps.001@chicagopolice.org or call (312) 745-4381. Also follow on Twitter, @ChicagoCAPS01.
www.chicagostarmedia.com
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
| FEATURES |
N E W S
AUGUST 2020 / 11
| OPINION |
Local parks are packed with play By Jon Cohn Staff Writer
Dominique LeBlanc Beers warms up with squats in the park during a workout with personal trainer Terra Schultz. Photo by Angela Gagnon
Personal trainers offer ideas for safe, creative outdoor fitness By Angela Gagnon Staff Writer Gyms may be back in business, but there are alternatives for those preferring to break a sweat in the sunshine. Nick Strutzel, Certified Personal Trainer at Lakeshore Sports and Fitness (LSF), shared some zero-equipment outdoor workout ideas. “You can do a lot with your own body weight for resistance,” Strutzel said. Walk or jog to a nearby scenic location, like Buckingham Fountain, the BP Bridge in Maggie Daley Park or the stairs that lead to the Riverwalk at Columbus Avenue and Wacker Drive. “Focus on getting your heart rate up and working on your cardio endurance,” Strutzel said, “then add in some strength work.” Head to Buckingham Fountain, do some pushups, complete a lap around the fountain and do
some squats before repeating the lap. Or use the staircase by the riverwalk, doing pushups at the bottom of the stairs. “The idea is to do some form of cardio like walking, jogging, or running, followed by body weight strength training work, like pushups, squats or lunges. You can also do core work, like planks or crunches,” Strutzel said. New Eastside resident and NASM Certified Personal Trainer Terra Schultz trains her clients in Lakeshore East Park. “It’s fun being in the park,” Schultz said. “We use the area by the fountains to do step-ups and balance, plyometrics, box jumps, tricep dips, leg raises, and reverse crunches.” “The sidewalk around the park has a hill, so taking ten minutes to walk laps is a great warmup. This works to get your heart rate up,” she said. For a change of scenery, Schultz brings her clients on a
“Walkabout,” which is a brisk walk around town incorporating exercises that don’t require equipment. “We will walk down Randolph Street and while waiting for the light to change, we will jog in place or do high knees. We can do step-ups or reverse crunches, or sometimes we bear crawl or sprint forward and backwards,” Schultz said. Dominique LeBlanc Beers regularly works out with Schultz. “There’s always challenges,” LeBlanc Beers said, “but I like being outside. It’s been nice during this time, especially getting some fresh air.” Schultz, who works with older adults as well as those new to exercise, is currently accepting new clients. She can be reached at terra.schultz@yahoo.com. Strutzel is currently leading personal training sessions at LSF. For more information, visitlakeshoresf.com
With most summer camps closed, children’s playgrounds still locked, and many of the normal recreational programs delayed or cancelled, people of all ages have been making the best of it by using the open green grass of our beautiful neighborhood parks. Recent visits to Lake Shore Park in Streeterville and Lakeshore East Park in New Eastside saw a wide variety of recreational activities. Some old, some new and some, well, I’m not quite sure how you would describe them. Volleyball is one of the most popular. It seems like the bump, set and serve crowd has adapted well to their new space. Highly athletic two-on-two games—as well as the much more traditional six vs. six version—can be seen in abundance, especially among the twenty-something crowd. SpikeBall is another game decorating the lush park greenery and also particularly popular with the twenty-something crowd. For the uninitiated, this game involves four players with partners hitting a small ball using an open hand off what can best be described as a mini ground-based trampoline. The rules? Haven’t a clue, but it sure looks like fun. Soccer is thriving in the parks as well, ranging from mom and dad kicking the ball around with their kids, to mini-games, all the way up to a full field games with goals. I even saw some coaches directing traffic
and instructing the kids. Just off the grassy knoll, danger lies ahead. Youngsters aging in range from 4 or 5 to 10 or 11 have mastered the art of scooters and bicycles, and their steering accuracy can best be described as erratic. It is definitely “walker beware” if you are on these sidewalks. Other activities include frisbee throwing (dogs much better at the catching part than humans), badminton and some old school games like hacky sack and whiffle ball—a relic from days gone past. Not quite falling into the active sports category, but still quite prevalent at the parks is adult groups simply sitting and socializing. The art of picnicking in Streeterville and New Eastside has taken huge strides during our “summer without.” Groups of four to ten (never more than ten if any law enforcement people are reading this), are seen sitting with blankets and chairs and just enjoying each other’s company. We have even seen impromptu birthday parties for kids, instead of inside, now outside at the park complete with balloons, cake and all the trappings. Whatever the activity, there is no question that, with normal summer programs cancelled, our local parks have been much busier with people of all ages just playing, relaxing and having fun. Kudos to all of us. We have successfully adjusted and adapted. Not that we really had a choice.
Recent visits to Lake Shore Park in Streeterville and Lakeshore East Park in New Eastside saw a wide variety of recreational activities.
12 / AUGUST 2020
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
www.chicagostarmedia.com
| FEATURES |
Holy Name mass part of Channel 7 programing By Bob Oswald Staff Writer The Archdiocese of Chicago has a regular time slot in the local Sunday morning TV lineup. Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, celebrates the weekly Roman Catholic mass from Holy Name Cathedral, 730 N. Wabash Ave., which airs from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Sundays on ABC Channel 7. Response to the broadcast has been phenomenal, according to Very Rev. Gregory Sakowicz, who concelebrates the liturgy with Cupich. “The goal is to get the community back together,” Sakowicz said. “It’s (just) different how we get together. The church finds new ways.” When Illinois churches were closed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s shut-down order in March, Director of Liturgy Rev. Marek Smolka and Assistant Liturgy Director Michelle Peltier found a way to get the video of mass at Holy Name for March 14-15 on the parish website, Sakowicz said. “I was celebrant,” he said. “We brought TV cameras into the cathedral from the Office of Radio and TV of the Archdiocese of Chicago.” The video racked up 25,000 views. Following that auspicious start, ABC offered the archdiocese air time to broadcast the weekly service with Cupich presiding. The mass has aired every Sunday since March 22 guided by Jim Disch, Brian Brach, Javier Garcia and Micheal May from the Office of Radio and TV. Sakowicz, who recently marked his fourth year as rector at Holy Name, said working with Cupich is “a joy.”
“The cardinal is a great shepherd with a laser-sharp mind and a great sense of humor,” Sakowicz said. Sakowicz said Cupich has done very well leading the archdiocese during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The cardinal really enjoys presiding,” he said. “It’s his way of shepherding Chicago.” Celebrating in front of the TV cameras hasn’t been a problem, Sakowicz said. “I hardly notice they’re there.” But working in the current environment offers a different set of issues. “I must wear a mask,” he said. “Our hands are sanitized.” While celebrating, they keep an eye on the clock to make sure the mass stays within the half-hour time limit. “The camera crew counts the time down for the cardinal,” Sakowicz said. “He likes to be at the ‘Our Father’ with five minutes to go.” As the few people attending the mass actually receive communion, Sakowicz recites the “Act of Spiritual Communion” for the viewers. The prayer, written by St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), according to VaticanNews, makes sense for those unable to be in the church. “People watching and praying (the mass) on TV are united with us spiritually,” Sakowicz said. Sakowicz said the exposure has people recognizing him outside the parish. “Mask and all,” he said. “People say ‘I saw you on TV.’” Does he regularly watch the broadcast? “I’ve watched a few times, but no,” he said. Sakowicz said he has received many letters from people thanking them for airing the mass on TV, which is taped Friday
A camera crew tapes Cardinal Blase Cupich celebrating mass in March during a mandatory suspension of public masses due to the Coronavirus. Photos by Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic
afternoons to be shared on the website by 4 p.m. Saturday. Viewers tell him that they respond out loud to the prayers because it makes them feel like they’re at the mass. “But you don’t want people getting too comfortable,” he said. “You’re missing the sense of community and receiving holy communion. It’s not meant to be a forever stop gap.” During the pandemic, the archdiocese has connected with parishioners through social media, according to Public Relations and Communications Manager Susan Thomas. “Our parishes are also using technology for streaming of masses, for virtual prayer groups, bible study groups and posting inspiring videos,” she said. Holy Name has opened its doors for mass on a limited basis. Participants are capped at 200 in the cathedral that can hold 1,200 people.
Cardinal Blaise Cupich (left), along with Fr. Greg Sakowicz, celebrates a mass taped at Holy Name Cathedral in June.
Smolka, Peltier, Lori Doyle and Ryan Pietrzak, along with “many parish volunteers” from Holy Name, were instrumental in getting the doors open, Sakowicz said. “Presiding at mass is different,” he said. “Smaller numbers with a sea of masks out there.” “The biggest fear is COVID-19 rears its ugly head again,” Sakowicz said. “We’ll have to close again or
capacity goes down to 50.” When people can’t go to church, “We have to reach out to them,” Sakowicz said. He believes the TV mass has brought people back to church and others will come back when they’re ready. “Churches are not closed, buildings are,” he said. “You are the church. We are the body of Christ.”
www.chicagostarmedia.com
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
| COMMUNITY CORNER |
Doorperson of the Month Jesus Lopez, Harbor Point Condominiums, 155 N. Harbor Drive
N E W S
AUGUST 2020 / 13
| NEWS |
Organizations look for new ways to raise funds By Nuria Mathog Staff Writer
Jesus Lopez, from Harbor Point Condominiums, 155 N. Harbor Drive, is Doorperson of the Month. Photo by Daniel Patton
By Daniel Patton Staff Writer Jesus Lopez learned the importance of family when he was growing up in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. “We were very close,” he said. “We all lived in a three-flat with my grandma in the basement, my family on the main floor, and my aunts and uncles on the second floor with my cousins.” Now he shares that passion with the residents of the Harbor Point Condominiums, 155 N. Harbor Drive, where he has been employed for the past five years. Lopez was working in the mailroom when the opportunity to join the door staff came along. He jumped at the chance to interact with others. “The people here are awesome, both the coworkers and residents,” he said. “The atmosphere and respect and friendship that we all share and try to spread are amazing. I love coming back every day.” Born and raised on Chicago’s northwest side, Lopez attended Theodore Roosevelt High School near Lawrence and Kimball avenues. He played wide receiver and cornerback for the football team and practiced with the basketball
and track teams. Outside of school, he spent a lot of time socializing with his cousins, an experience that he continues to cherish. “We didn’t have all the video games and cell phones, it was like old school,” he said. “It makes you appreciate that not everybody’s fortunate to have a situation like that.” After graduating from Theodore Roosevelt, Lopez got right to work. He was a hot food clerk at the Lakeshore East Mariano’s when he accepted the position with the Harbor Point mailroom, and worked both jobs until becoming a doorperson. Although Lopez likes to reunite with old friends when he’s not at work, he and his wife have been blessed with a new responsibility that they are joyfully devoted to tending. “Our daughter is 15 months old,” he said. “She’s up and talking and running around. She’s my everything.” To nominate your favorite doorperson, email info@chicagostarmedia.com with their name and why you think they should be the doorperson of the month. Winners will receive a $25 gift card to Mariano’s.
With COVID-19 restrictions preventing large in-person gatherings, charitable fundraisers in Streeterville and New Eastside are exploring alternatives to their traditional annual events. The Chicago Lighthouse’s Seeing What’s Possible Gala, typically held at the Four Seasons Hotel, went virtual this year. The annual event raises nearly $400,000 for The Chicago Lighthouse, which provides education, employment opportunities, assistive technology and rehabilitation services for veterans and individuals who are blind or visually impaired, said Lindsay Inglis, director of special events. This year’s gala is scheduled from 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, and is free to attend. “Just looking at what’s happening, we knew we were going to have to go virtual,” Inglis said. “So, we started researching and watching some other groups and seeing what we needed to do.” The online event includes performances and silent auction prizes. Sponsors who opt to host a virtual table will receive a catered meal and wine delivered to
The Chicago Lighthouse’s Seeing What’s Possible Gala, pictured at the Four Seasons Hotel in 2018, is moving to a virtual format this year. Photo courtesy of The Chicago Lighthouse
their home. In addition to the gala, The Chicago Lighthouse plans to adopt a digital format for another major fundraiser, the FLAIR fashion show, featuring Chicago designers and boutiques, Inglis said. The Chicago Lighthouse is working to create new websites for both events, which will provide a platform for attendees to participate in bidding, donating and registration. Red Sky Night, an annual gala supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is also transitioning to a virtual format. The event, part of the Leukemia Cup Regatta, is normally hosted by the Columbia Yacht Club. The 2020 fundraiser is planned for 6-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, set to take place over Zoom. “We’re having a full program, just like what was to be expected from an
in-person event,” said Dana Gudel, a senior manager at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “We’re having a silent auction, mission moments and speakers.” The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition has partnered with Wendella Boats for years to put on the Teal Lights Celebration Cruise, an annual fall fundraiser that includes a river architectural tour, auction and buffet. This year’s event, which would have marked the cruise’s 12th year, was canceled, said Karen Young, Illinois chapter manager for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. “We’re not actually doing it online, per se,” she said. “But we’re actually taking some components, some of the fundraising components we usually do on the boat, and we’re doing them separately this year, to see if we can still raise some funds for the organization.”
14 / AUGUST 2020
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
Naiya Mehta, Streeterville resident and Founder of Lyric Investment Group By Daniel Patton Staff Writer
unit washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances and whatnot.
Lyric Investment Group founder Naiya Mehta recently built and rented half-dozen micro-apartments in a West Loop brick two-flat. Equipping each of the nearly 300-square-foot units with high-end appliances and strategically designed interiors, the Streeterville resident leased all of the properties on the first day they were shown. “We had so many applicants,” she recalled. “We had a bidding war.” Miniaturizing the standard-sized dwellings tapped into a special brand of resourcefulness and determination that Mehta has been perfecting since she arrived in Chicago with her family, who emigrated from Gujarat, India, when she was a year old. “I was an illegal, yes—I was a dreamer,” she said. “We were living under the radar for those years, but—nose to the grindstone—we made it work.” After President Ronald Reagan legalized her family’s status by signing the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Mehta began pursuing a new dream to become a judge. She earned a law degree from the University of Illinois and worked nearly eight years as a federal attorney in Los Angeles, Calif. “I decided the law was just not right for me,” she said. Since then, Mehta built a successful company while finding time to get married and start a family.
How did your company, Lyric Investment Group, get started? In 2015, some of our neighbors asked if I could help them figure out where they should be investing. They were doctors, and I started a physician-only fund. We were earning anywhere from 12- to 20-percent returns. That morphed into property management and development.
How did you get involved in real estate? Fresh out of law school, I decided to buy an apartment building. My husband was with Amazon—traveling a ton, working crazy hours—and I needed something to fill up my time.
What was your first property? I bought my first house, my brick baby, in 2004 or 2005. Within a month, we had a drive-by shooting, and one of my tenants asked to get out of her lease. Before I knew it, I had let four tenants out of their leases. I called my dad and said, “I’m putting it back on the market,” and he said, “real estate is a long game—you can’t make a million bucks overnight.” It’s been fifteen or sixteen years now, and I’ve actually proven him wrong. How did you get involved in micro apartments? I was getting a lot of inquiries from flight attendants and pilots, medical students, residents who wanted a really nice place to live but they were never home. They would work 15-hour days or be home every third day and they just wanted to throw their clothes into a washing machine and enjoy their Uber eats takeout. So we create a very small space for them. How do you make them livable? We create high-end spaces that have all the luxuries you need: In-
www.chicagostarmedia.com
| EVENTS |
| LOCAL LEADERS |
Streeterville resident Naiya Mehta founded Lyric Investment Group. Photo by Daniel Patton
N E W S
How do you determine which properties to develop? Local developers bring me projects, and I vet about a hundred of them and choose three. How did your immigration status affect you when you were young? It was really scary. Whenever we saw a police officer, we would hide into our (car) seats. We were terrified of law enforcement, but also taught to respect them. It was a different type of terror than we’re currently seeing in the current climate. How has treatment of women evolved since you got in the industry? I think you’re seeing a lot more women and young people buying investment and cash-flow properties. I’m really proud of how many professional women will buy an asset on the side just to manage and get their feet wet owning property. What do you like to do in Streeterville? We’re really into tequila these days. We do tastings, the good stuff, and love the nightlife. We also like to bike ride and be at the lakefront. Kickboxing is my personal hobby that I love to just do on my own.
Schedules are subject to change. Call venues to confirm event information. To submit events or advertise on this page, email info@chicagostarmedia.com
Tuesdays through Oct. 27
SOAR Farmers Market Shop for farm fresh produce, baked goods and flowers from more than a dozen vendors at the plaza of the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art. Guidelines for social distancing, sanitation and contactless payment apply. 7 a.m.-2 p.m., free, MCA Plaza-226 E. Chicago Ave., (312) 280-2596, soarchicago.org
Through Aug. 24
Free movies at Navy Pier Outdoor movies on Monday nights, Aug. 3: “Crazy Rich Asians,” Aug. 10: “Casablanca,” Aug. 17: “Coco,” Aug. 24: “Cool Runnings.” 6:30-8:30 p.m., free, the Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park, 600 E. Grand Ave., (800) 595-7437, navypier.org
Through Aug. 21
Free jazz concerts at Navy Pier Free outdoor jazz concerts on Friday nights: Aug. 7: Live Concert Tribute to The Blues Brothers, Aug. 14: Corey Wilkes presents “Improvised Soul Projeckt,” Aug. 21: King Oliver’s Lawn Party. 6:30-8:30 p.m., free, the Lake Stage, Polk Bros Park, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., (800) 595-7437, navypier.org
Through Aug. 28
Open-air candlelight concerts Secret Chicago presents classical music in settings with musicians surrounded by candlelight. Performances include works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Miles Davis. Locations include the Ace Hotel, the Stan Mansion and the Hidden Courtyard at Salvage One. Various prices, performances and dates. secretchicago.com
Aug. 1
Adler drive-in concerts A socially responsible musical event series for people “in their cars, under the stars.” Sat. Aug. 1: SNBRN and Autograf, additional dates TBA. 7-10:30 p.m., $180 and up for vehicles with four passengers, Adler Planetarium lot, 1362 S. Linn White Drive, (312) 728-8022 www.lsdrivein.com
Aug. 5
CAC Live: Chicago’s Riverwalk Hear the story of the Chicago Riverwalk from Michelle Woods, a CAC docent and City of Chicago project manager. 7 p.m., $8 (free for CAC members), online via Zoom. (312) 922-3432, architecture.org
Aug. 6
Mariano’s Thirsty Thursdays Learn to mix cocktails with Matthew Jannotta of Effen Vodka. 5:30 p.m., free, online, (312) 228-1349, eventbrite.com
Aug. 8, 22
Live Virtual Meet and Greet with a Lincoln Park Zoo Animal An animal curator will talk about animals. Sat. Aug. 8: African Penguins, Sat. Aug. 22: Polar Bears. 10 a.m., $16.45, online via Zoom, lpzoo.org
Aug. 29
CAC Live: “Churches by Bus” Anniversary Program The program’s 25th anniversary tour visits three churches that exemplify the evolution of church architecture in Chicago, led by two Chicago Architecture Center docents. 1 p.m., $8 (free for CAC members), online via Zoom, (312) 922-3432, architecture.org
www.chicagostarmedia.com
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
AUGUST 2020 / 15
| NEWS BREAK |
Self checkout–It just took some getting used to
I
t wasn’t that long ago that grocery store self-serve checkouts first appeared on the scene. Fast forward a couple years from that Jon Cohn COMMUNITY initial nervous CONTRIBUTOR debut, and who woulda thunk it? Just like the “Hokey Pokey,” everyone is doing it now. Many of us stayed away at first, preferring
Jumble
OOLFABLT DDOAITNI SYA
the comfort zone of our normal cashier line, while occasionally glancing enviously at “the early pioneers” who dared traverse the still virgin territory of self checkout. Over time we tried it and even got used to it. The familiarity with the system started to kick in. We hesitantly tolerated the electronic voice talking to us through the screen. And we took strange pride in finding the bar code on our own, with the always rewarding “zap”. Not that there weren’t some learning-curve issues. The whole “please place the item in the bag” demand was a bit ag-
gravating at first. And figuring out why the credit card slot was on the opposite side from the rest of the buttons was certainly curious, but we soldiered on. The biggest obstacle still tripping up even the veteran self checkers? Those dreaded fruits and vegetables. Oh the possibilities. Do you weigh it, tray it, punch in their produce number, or hit the quantity button? Way too confusing, but nobody ever said it would be easy. Recent visits to Mariano’s in New Eastside showed more than half the customers easily cruising through the do-it-yourself
line. There are now more self-service checkout stations than there are regular cashiers on duty. The transition is nearly complete. The lesson? Just like self-serve gasoline (for those of us in the more senior reading group) and many other initially new and intimidating things we come across, we eventually do get used to it. Now, about those Zoom calls, talking with face masks on and the new rules in baseball. John Cohn is a New Eastside resident.
Community photos GRBA PEASLCI ISCDNAET
Send photos and captions of things going on in the neighborhood to info@chicagostarmedia.com for a chance for your photo to be featured. Featured photographers will receive $25.
The hot, sultry period of late summer. Previous puzzle answer: The state of being free from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority. LIBERTY
Where am I? Do you know where this is? If you think you know, email us at info@chicagostarmedia.com.
New Eastside
Answers to July Where am I?
Streeterville
New Eastside: 400 E. Randolph across from Lake Point Tower. Streeterville: WBEZ sculpture on Illinois Avenue near Navy Pier. Congratulations to Ed Klinenberg for correctly identifying the spot.
Shadows of the Chicago skyline reach into Lake Michigan. By Brian Sepanik, editor/ partner at The Colonie, a creative editorial and post-production house in Streeterville
www.chicagostarmedia.com 16 / AUGUST 2020
N E W
E A S T S I D E
N E W S / S T R E E T E R V I L L E
N E W S
www.chicagostarmedia.com AUGUST 2020 / 16