chicago: Architect Profile: Howard Van Doren Shaw
- 08/19/10 10:16 AM
One of Chicago’s many great qualities is its fantastic architecture. The style and craftsmanship found in the city is without comparison. After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, architects from across the globe came to Chicago to help rebuild, laying the foundation for the disctinctive skyline that we enjoy today. But not all of the city’s architects came from afar. Case in point: the celebrated architect Howard Van Doren Shaw. Read more at www.liveandplayinchicago.com... … (1 comments)
chicago: How to Spend Valentine’s Day 2010 in Chicago
- 02/08/10 04:05 PM
Valentine’s Day is approaching, and the City of Big Shoulders shows even bigger heart when it comes to offering ways to make your February 14th one to remember. Whether its a Swedish massage for two, a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan, or a stroll though a tropical conservatory, the options are many when it comes to spending Valentine’s Day in Chicago with your special someone. Read more at www.liveandplayinchicago.com... … (0 comments)
chicago: 2010 Summer Day Camps in Chicago - Don't Get Left Out!
- 01/31/10 04:08 PM
Winter in Chicago may not inspire thoughts of summer camp in most people, but if you want to get your child registered for some of the city’s many exciting camp programs this summer, now is the time to act. Whether you’re looking for a multi-day diversion or a month-long adventure, there is something for everyone available. Registration is now -- or soon will be -- open for most camp programs, and if years past are any indication, most of them will fill up fast. Below is a sampling of some of Chicago’s most popular summer camps. As always, consult the included … (1 comments)
chicago: Our Live & Play Chicago Magazine is Now Available Online
- 01/17/10 04:24 PM
The recent rollout of our Live & Play Chicago real estate magazine was a great success. Ten thousand copies were delivered to Chicago area homeowners as well as business and community leaders. If you weren't able to get your hands on one of the hardcopies, don't worry. The magazine is available in an online digital form here. Read more at www.liveandplayinchicago.com...
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chicago: Make the Most of Winter in Chicago (But Keep These Things in Mind)
- 12/15/09 11:56 PM
I love winter in Chicago. The city is full of tradition for young and old alike, especially where the holidays are concerned. My favorite childhood memories include watching the animated holiday displays in the store windows on State Street, getting my picture taken with Santa at Macy’s (then Marshall Field’s), seeing the Nutcracker Ballet with my grandmother, and visiting the Museum of Science and Industry’s wonderful Christmas around the World and Holiday Lights exhibit. These days, there are even more opportunities to enjoy, like ice skating at Millennium Park or Wrigley Field, strolling through Christkindlmarket with a cup of hot spiced … (0 comments)
chicago: Chicago Real Estate Market News Update
- 12/08/09 03:46 PM
Those of us with retirement accounts have likely noticed the upward trend in the stock market over the past several months, but it's also important to point out that some key figures are up in the national and Chicago real estate markets as well. Pending home sales - the sales that are under contract but have not yet closed - rose for nine straight months. This positive news is hardly surprising. Buyers came back into the market this fall looking to take advantage of some of the lowest home prices of the decade, super cheap mortgage rates, and the $8,000 home … (0 comments)
chicago: Teach Your Kids About Fire Safety the Hands-on Way at Navy Pier
- 12/03/09 01:57 PM
I've written twice before about fire safety, once after a friend’s home sustained significant damage after an appliance caught fire and again after I took my children to a fire station for a tour and safety demonstration. Now, I want to let you know about an important new exhibit on fire safety at the Chicago Children’s Museum on Navy Pier. Read more at www.liveandplayinchicago.com... … (0 comments)
chicago: 2009 Chicago Family Halloween Events
- 10/22/09 03:37 AM
Halloween is almost here again, and if you live on Chicago's North Side, there's a wide variety of family events available to you. I've once again compiled a map of the Halloween parades, park district events, and other activities being hosted on the North Side this Halloween holiday. Read more at www.liveandplayinchicago.com... … (0 comments)
chicago: Chicago Business Today: Chicago Home Sales Rise
- 09/28/09 03:24 AM
Last Thursday I was featured along with one of my clients in a Crain’s Chicago Business video reporting on the recent rise in Chicago home sales. I’d like to make one important correction. The reporter states in the video that in September, I received three “offers” on the luxury properties I had listed for sale. Actually, I’ve had three multiple offers (i.e. buyers bidding against each other for the same property) plus additional offers on four more homes I have listed, for a total of ten offers so far in September. The fact that there are once again multiple buyers vying … (1 comments)
chicago: 2009 Chicago Air and Water Show is This Weekend
- 08/13/09 03:17 AM
Don’t plan on any peaceful afternoon naps this weekend if you live anywhere near Chicago’s lakefront! High performance civilian and military aircraft will once again fill the skies over Lake Michigan for the nation’s biggest free air show, the 51st annual Chicago Air and Water Show. This year’s show runs Saturday, August 15th and Sunday, August 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. along North Avenue Beach. Performers will include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the Red Bull MiG, and many others. Both days feature the same performers, and while there is no set … (0 comments)
chicago: Got a Chicago Real Estate Question? Ask Me!
- 08/03/09 07:04 AM
If you’ve got a question about the Chicago North Side residential market, be it regarding luxury townhomes, bargain foreclosures, home financing, or any other relevant topic - now is the time to ask. I’ve always had my contact info up on my blog for those who want to reach me, but there’s no longer any excuse for the inquisitive to be shy. I’ve added an “Ask” page to the website menu, with a handy form for submitting real estate questions to me. Use it, and your question, along with my answer, could appear as a future “Ask Jenny” post on the … (0 comments)
chicago: Lincoln Park Prices on the Verge of Collapse? I Beg to Differ
- 07/27/09 09:49 AM
A recent article in Forbes, "America's Most Troubled Luxury Neighborhoods," quoted me and implied that prices in Chicago's Lincoln Park were on the verge of collapse. In truth, I couldn't disagree more with this sentiment. While it didn't make Forbes' cut, I have plenty of evidence, both statistical and anecdotal, why Lincoln Park will not be ground zero for the next real estate downturn. Read more at www.liveandplayinchicago.com... … (0 comments)
chicago: Volunteer Opportunity: Help Refugees Become Chicagoans
- 04/02/09 02:30 AM
The economic downturn has seen many American families relocate after losing their homes amid financial difficulties. Here in Chicago, however, there are those who have left their previous homes under much harsher circumstances - warfare or persecution. While other forms of immigration to the U.S. have dropped off recently, refugees from Burma, Bhutan, Iraq, and various African nations continue to arrive in American cities like Chicago. Aside from limited government assistance, these refugees rely largely on local charities to help get them started in their new lives. Here in Chicago, the Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries (IRIM) is one such not-for-profit … (0 comments)
chicago: Notice to Chicago Parkers - Street Cleaning is Back
- 04/02/09 02:22 AM
It’s that time of year again! City street cleaning starts on Monday, March 30th and runs through November. During street cleaning days, you cannot park your car on a specific side of the street in order to accommodate the street cleaner. The way the city communicates the schedule varies by neighborhood. In parts of the Gold Coast for example, you are notified of street cleaning by permanent signs. In other areas, temporary bright orange cardboard signs are posted one day before the street will be cleaned. The problem with both methods is that depending on where you park, your view of … (0 comments)
chicago: Chicago's Big Five
- 03/22/09 07:47 PM
When I think about Africa, my mind goes straight to the “Big Five.” These are the “trophy” animals that visitors often hope to see while on safari. They include the rhinoceros, elephant, leopard, buffalo and lion. Here in Chicago’s urban “jungle” we may not have thousand pound mammals roaming our streets, but we do have what I call my own “Big Five.” Many of my favorite childhood memories tie back to the time I spent in each of these places. Whether you are a lifelong resident or a tourist in our fair city, be sure to explore these world-class institutions when … (1 comments)
chicago: How to Price Your Home in Today's Chicago Market
- 03/22/09 07:38 PM
When I meet with prospective home buyers, one of their first questions is inevitably, “How low below the asking price should I expect to pay?” My answer is always the same… it depends! Some homes are priced fairly and others are grossly overpriced. I cannot recommend a generalized strategy as we need to weigh the merits of each home individually against their prices. When my team and I work with a seller to list their home, our strategy is to determine the home’s approximate market value, and then offer it for sale for as close as possible to (or even slightly … (0 comments)
chicago: How to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2009 in Chicago
- 03/12/09 02:16 AM
It is almost St. Patrick’s Day, that time of year when Chicago’s Irish heritage is put on display in dazzling, emerald green fashion. If you’re looking to get out and enjoy some of the festivities, consider these options. Note that some of these events are held in advance of March 17th, the official holiday. Read more at www.liveandplayinchicago.com... … (1 comments)
chicago: Clean Out Your Closets for an Important Chicago Charity
- 03/11/09 04:05 AM
It’s spring cleaning time! If you are busy sorting through your closets preparing to sell your home (or just because you need to), consider donating your unwanted men’s and women’s professional attire, handbags, accessories and shoes to the Bridge to Success program. The program also accepts unused cosmetics and toiletries, including all those little bottles you may have collected from hotel bathrooms. On Saturday, March 14th from 9:00 a.m. to noon, you can stop by the Bridge to Success headquarters at 661 W. Lake Street just west of the Loop to donate your spare items. Program volunteers will meet you at … (0 comments)
chicago: Happy (Belated) Birthday Chicago!
- 03/05/09 02:03 AM
Happy birthday, Chicago! Yesterday, March 4, was exactly 172 years since Chicago was granted its charter, having been founded on a short, swampy portage near the Chicago River and named after a wild onion (humble beginnings, yes). Since then, Chicago has been the hog butcher for the world, the birthplace of the skyscraper, and the home of more cultural contributions than can be listed. This year, times are tough (though the city has seen tougher), but there are also many exciting potential opportunities on the horizon (such as this and this). As a Chicagoan from a long line of Chicagoans, this … (1 comments)
chicago: Is the Chicago Housing Market Seeing the Effects of the Stimulus Bill?
- 02/24/09 04:42 AM
Yesterday, President Obama signed into law one of the largest pieces of legislation in American history, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (a.k.a. the economic stimulus package), a $787 billion mix of tax breaks and government spending intended to jumpstart the U.S. economy. I’m no macro economist, so I can’t comment on the broader implications of the bill. However, I do understand the Chicago residential real estate market, and from what I’ve seen lately, the passage of the bill seems to be having some effect, whether direct or psychological, on homebuyers in Chicago. Read more at www.liveandplayinchicago.com... … (0 comments)
One of Chicago’s many great qualities is its fantastic architecture. The style and craftsmanship found in the city is without comparison. After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, architects from across the globe came to Chicago to help rebuild, laying the foundation for the disctinctive skyline that we enjoy today.
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