Closed Sales for 8004 - CHI - Lincoln Square

To the see how the number of houses and condos sold has change over the last three years, click below.

Closed Sales for Lincoln Square

Will the 30 Year Mortgage Disappear?

This is question you may want to consider. How will it effect your ability to buy a home in the future?

Will the 30 Year Mortgage Disappear?

Realty Times - The Joys of Homeownership

Is a house an investment? Yes, it is definitely an investment in your quality of life.

Realty Times - The Joys of Homeownership

Today is Food Day in Lincoln Square-North Center

It’s Food Day: Watch What You Eat

Monday, October 24, 2011

By Patty Wetli



Food Day promotes healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way, including organic farming. Credit: Flickr/suzettesuzette

Next Monday, the nation celebrates candy, er, Halloween. (Anyone handing out Heath Bars? Drop me a line.) But today, October 24, has been set aside as the first annual Food Day.

I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t every day Food Day? Technically, yes. But the point being made by organizers is that Americans need to alter the way they relate to the stuff they eat.

Created by the Center for Science in the Public Interest and boasting an advisory board that counts Alice Waters and Michael Pollan among its members, Food Day is intended not just to raise awareness of a broken food system, but to serve as a catalyst for change. Among its six fundamental principles: Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness.



A number of Food Day events are being held across Chicago, and residents are encouraged to create their own menus or forums for discussion. In Center Square territory, several restaurants are featuring special menu items made from healthy, organic and/or locally sourced ingredients (H, O and L in the key below); mention “Food Day” for additional discounts.

Angel Food Bakery, 1636 W. Montrose Ave., will feature a Butternut Squash and Apple Cider Soup. The squash is locally grown, from Liz’s Garden Goodies, and the cider is fresh Seedling Cider. Note: Angel Food is closed Mondays, so celebrate Food Day on Tuesday, October 25. (H/L)



Bad Apple, 4300 N. Lincoln Ave. Try a seasonal Curried Squash Salad made with roasted assorted squash, cauliflower, lentil and dried cranberry with a curried mint yogurt dressing. Also offered is the Chicken Caesar Soze, made with roasted chicken, romaine, tomato, bacon and Caesar dressing served on rosemary focaccia. Both items are offered at 10 percent off. (H)



Bistro Campagne, 4518 N. Lincoln Ave., offers a seasonally changing menu featuring products from local organic farmers during the Midwest’s growing season, and even from organic farms on the West Coast throughout the winter. Bistro Campagne is committed to the use of organic food products and strongly supports the sustainable, low-impact agriculture movement. Enjoy 10 percent off the entire menu. (H/O/L)



Café Selmarie, 4729 N. Lincoln Ave., will offer a Spinach Salad made with baby spinach, apples, celery, scallions and toasted walnuts with a port wine glaze. The spinach salad will be discounted 10 percent during lunch hours, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (H)



Drew’s Eatery, 2207 W. Montrose Ave. Drew’s specializes in healthy fast food and accommodates everyone from carnivores to vegans. All menu items are made with local, organic and sustainable ingredients. Enjoy 20 percent off any menu item. Note: Drew’s is closed on Mondays; celebrate Food Day on Tuesday, October 25. [H/O/L]



Earth’s Healing Café, 1942 W Montrose Ave. The cafe will offer two of its raw, gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free pies at 20 percent off: Chi-Lime Pie and Maca Cheesecake (maca is a root vegetable). (H/O)



Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen, 4750 N. Lincoln Ave., is offering 10 percent off a dozen organic eggs from Milo’s Poultry Farm in Bonduel, Wis. (H/O/L)



Julius Meinl, 4363 N. Lincoln Ave., has Hot Apple cider, 100 percent natural, made from locally grown hand-picked organic apples from Seedling Orchard in South Haven, Mich. Offered at 50 percent off. (H/O/L)



Jury’s Food & Drink, 4337 N. Lincoln Ave., offers many healthy menu items including fresh salads, turkey and veggie burgers, and seafood options. Receive a 10 percent discount on all menu items. Note: Celebrate Food Day at Jury’s on Tuesday, October 25. (H)



Sola, 3868 N. Lincoln Ave., is committed to farm-to-table cuisine. Dishes are made with local, seasonal ingredients. Take 20 percent off the entire menu. (H/O/L)



Urban Vegan, 1605 W. Montrose Ave. Enjoy half-priced pad thai during dinner hours. (H)

White Lights and Green Alleys in Lincoln Square/Ravenswood

A crew installs a open-bottom catch basin pavement design that allows storm water to filter into the ground. Credit: Jason Kreke

Long associated with garbage, rats and potholes, alleys in Lincoln Square and Northcenter are going green. Under pilot programs by the city, some alleys are receiving new lighting and surfaces to make them more environmentally friendly.
Ald. Ameya Pawar’s office recently announced that it will be installing new lights that are typically found at car dealerships in alleys around Lincoln Square and Ravenswood. The new metal halide lamps will use about half the amount of energy as the current vapor lamps that give off the familiar orange-yellow glow. Initiated by the Bureau of Electricity and funded by the federal stimulus act, the new lights fit into the city’s plan for a “green” infrastructure. The new alley lights are part of a larger city project that will replace current lights among a few major streets, such as Western avenue, with the new white lights. 
“The plan fits into the general framework of improving ‘green’ infrastructure by consuming nearly half the energy of old lamps,” said Pawar staffer Bill Higgins via e-mail. “[The Bureau of Electricity] saw this as an opportunity to start the process of improving the city’s aging electrical infrastructure.”
A major difference of the new lamps over the current sodium vapor lamps will be light color. The white lamps show a broader spectrum of color and are favored by car dealerships, the Chicago Police Department, and some transportation safety experts, according to Higgins. The old lights have an orange tint to everything, which can change a person’s perception of a color. The truer colors offered by the new metal halide lamps should make color identification easier. 
The effects of the new lights can sometimes be perceived as brighter because of the color of the lights. “The old sodium vapor lamps have roughly the same brightness—measured in lumen output—as the new metal halide lamps,” Higgins said.
Residents should not expect to find in their alleys car dealership-style lights, which are much higher wattage and in more density. “Shields or flat lenses can be installed if residents find the new lights to be a negative impact on quality of life. “In most cases, the old lights were just as much of a nuisance, which is why their extra fixtures were added,” Higgins said. “We are working with the Bureau of Electricity to have these replaced or find other solutions.” The new light will have “semi-cutoff” hoods and lenses that are dark sky-compliant and designed to reduce light pollution and provide uniform illumination. With the semi-cutoff hoods, 5 percent of light will be emitted upward and 20 percent or less at an 80 degree angle, Higgins said. With the new lights, the orange horizon of Chicago can be a thing of the past.
The new lights program is not the only green improvement to the area’s alleys. The city recently completed the last greening of an alley as part of its Green Alley program on north Ravenswood. The program, which just finished the last alley of its pilot phase, removes the familiar black top surface and replaces it with a permeable concrete.
“We tried to get the alley replaced for about four years,” said Maggie Finegan, a real estate agent with Keller Williams in Lincoln Square. “Under a new rule, all new alleys that are replaced need to be green.”
The alley runs along a stretch of Ravenswood that serves 16 townhouses. The blacktop was replaced with a permeable concrete material that allows water to filter through to the ground. After the original blacktop was removed, a limestone base was installed about 18 inches into the ground. The concrete was then poured on top.
Homeowners needed to foot the bill for the section leading to the garages because it is considered private property. Instead of having water pooling on the blacktop, it is now directed to two strips of permeable concrete the run along the center section. During the pouring of the concrete, the city conducted core sample inspections of the material to ensure it would allow the water to properly seep through. The result is an alley with a lower carbon footprint than its blacktop predecessor.
“Everybody here loves it,” Finegan said. “It doesn’t heat up as much when it is warm, and it is nice because it got rid of the black tar that people kept dragging into their garages and houses.”
The new lights and green alleys are part of a larger overall trend of ensuring neighborhoods and residences maintain environmentally friendly features. As a real estate agent, Finegan said she sees these green aspects becoming a factor in the value of homes in the future. “Green aspects of properties already are heavily featured on the west coast and are becoming a factor here,” she said. “Homeowners will need to start thinking of green aspects to their homes. Having a green alley is definitely a part of it. It is an important aspect. People are begging to get a green alley.”
According to Higgins, all newly reconstructed alleys will be within the guidelines of Chicago’s Green Alley program. In addition, the Chicago Sustainable Backyard program helps to reduce alley flooding.
The implementation of new lighting and green alleys is not the only project currently underway to help green the city. “We are also working to improve pedestrian, bicycle and public transportation infrastructure to give people more options than driving,” Higgins said.
For the 47th Ward, Ernie Constantino, Director of Constituent Services, is heading up a newly formed Green Council. The council will address several green and sustainable issues in the ward:

• Food Day Oct. 24
• Vacant lot assessment for urban agricultural application
• Fall energy efficiency outreach and workshop (date TBA)
• Developing a 47th Ward Green Guide based on a ward audit
• Developing policies for greening 47th Ward festivals in 2012
• Researching parkway biofiltration projects and possible grant application
• Establishing a 47th Ward Tree Corps
• Northcenter Neighbors corner gardens native plants initiative
• Various LEED and green buildings being constructed in ward
• Lawrence Avenue streetscape permeable areas/biofiltration

47th Ward residents interested in participating in the Green Council should email ernie@chicago47.org.

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Tags: Ald. Ameya Pawar, Bill Helm, Bill Higgins, Green Alley, metal halide lamps, sodium vapor lamps

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House Prices: Where They Will Be in the Spring

Lincoln Square Wine Stroll! November 3, 2011

Please join the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce as we transform the streets of the Lincoln Square Community into our very own "Wine Country."  The Annual Spring and Fall Wine Strolls are one of the most popular events in the Square!  While meandering through the business district you can expect to taste some great samples of seasonal wines, paired with delicious hors d'oeuvres at several different Lincoln Square establishments.  These highly anticipated evenings of sipping refreshing wines are a great way to get more familiar with the businesses of Lincoln Square, while spending quality time with family and friends!

To stay up-to-date with the Lincoln Square Wine Strolls join the Wine Stroll Mailing List.  Sign up through the "Sign Up" box on the right side of your browser.

*Fall Wine Stroll Tickets will go on sale Friday, October 14th at noon.

Buy tickets for Lincoln Square Fall Wine Stroll

2011 Fall Wine Stroll Details

Date: Thursday, November 3, 2011

Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: Various Lincoln Square Businesses

Price: $40 for one route, $60 for two routes

The Grape Route:

1. Bad Dog Tavern

    4535 N. Lincoln Avenue

2. Bistro Campagne

    4518 N. Lincoln Avenue

3. ENJOY, an urban general store

    4723 N. Lincoln Avenue

4. Gene’s Sausage Shop

    4750 N. Lincoln Avenue

5. Paciugo Gelato

    2324 W. Giddings Street

6. Pizza D.O.C.

    2251 W. Lawrence Avenue

7. Provenance Food & Wine

    2312 W. Leland Avenue

8. Savvy Seconds & 1sts

    4724 N. Lincoln Avenue

9. Steve Quick Jeweler

    4710 N. Lincoln Avenue

The Vine Route:

1. Barba Yianni

    4761 N. Lincoln Avenue

2. LM Restaurant

    4539 N. Lincoln Avenue

3. Gene's Sausage Shop

    4750 N. Lincoln Avenue

4. Granville Picture Framing at LSQ

    4757 N. Lincoln Avenue

5. Pizza D.O.C.

    2251 W. Lawrence Avenue

6. Planet Access Company Store

    4727 N. Lincoln Avenue

7. Provenance Food & Wine

    2312 W. Leland Avenue

8. Sacred Art

    4619 N. Lincoln Avenue

9. Steve Quick Jeweler

    4710 N. Lincoln Avenue

*Venues Subject to Change.

Halloween in Lincoln Square

Halloween Happenings

Bring the children out to Trick-or-Treat along the business districts of Lincoln Square. On Saturday, October 29th from 11am to 4pm participating businesses on Damen, Lincoln, Rockwell, and Western Avenues will provide candy or a small give away to area children.

In addition to trick or treating several other activities will occur at area businesses and within Giddings Plaza. Check below for complete details.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, October 29, 2011

Time: 11:00am - 4:00pm

Location: N. Damen, N. Lincoln, N. Western, N. Rockwell

*Events subject to change.

Trick-or-Treat Participants

Art in the Square | Bellybum Boutique | Bloom Yoga | Cafe Selmarie | Chicago Printmakers Collaborative | Davis Theatre | Degerberg Academy of Martial Arts | ENJOY, an urban general store | Fleet Feet Sports | Gallimaufry Gallery | Gene's Sausage Shop | Granville Picture Framing @ LSQ | Havana Spa | Homemade Pizza Company | Huettenbar | jookie, a portrait boutique | Lincoln Square Athletic Club | Little Green Baby | Marbles: The Brain Store | Merz Apothecary | Paciugo Gelato | Pickle's Playroom | Piggy Toes | Planet Access Company Store | Provenance Food & Wine | Richochets | Ruff Haus Pets | Salamander Shoes | Savvy Seconds & 1sts | Spex | Stanley Brown Jewelist | Steve Quick Jeweler | The Book Cellar | Timeless Toys | Trattoria Trullo | Sacred Art