Lincoln Park Preschools

Cody O'Grady

A few days ago someone asked me about preschool options for little ones on the near north side which would include, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Gold Coast, Streeterville, New East Side, Loop. It's been a while since my kids were in preschool but I asked around and found the best ones....still. Here's the list:





Catherine Cook


Lincoln Park Co-op


Lake Shore Prep (Apple School)


Chalk Board


and a new one


Chalk





I know all about Chicago Public Schools- elementary and high school. My kids, Bethany 18 and Cody 15 went to LaSalle Language Academy and now go to Whitney Young High School. Both are magnet schools. They got into LaSalle by 'lottery' and for magnet high schools, it is necessary to test in. I will write about that next time.

Spring Real Estate Market and Time Change

If you don't already know, Sunday morning March 9th at 2am is when we Spring UP! and set our clocks ahead one hour. .That's exciting to me because it means longer and warmer days, flowers blooming and some fun spring holidays.

It also means the the Spring Real Estate Market is blossoming. The spring market actually starts in February, after the winter holidays and after the SuperBowl when buyers are tired of staying in, watching TV and are ready to go out find their perfect new home. Sellers too have prepared for this time and are ready to show off.

The real estate market is strong as usual this season. The slump is over, there are alot of available properties and rates are low! Sellers get ready to negotiate and Buyers-don't wait too long because prices will go up soon.

""Billionaire investor Sam Zell, sees a U.S. housing market recovery this spring""I think starts have already pretty much bottomed out," Zell said. "I think the housing market this spring will begin its recovery phase." NEW YORK, Feb 26 (Reuters)

What Clients Say About Jill O'Grady

I am thinking about sending out a marketing letter to get more clients. I have asked some of my past clients to write something about their experience in working with me. Here is what some of them have to say:


Jill's knowledge of the city was paramount for us in finding a condo for our daughter to live in. We bought a condo without stepping foot in Chicago. We trusted Jill and she didn't let us down.

BAM, Retired Trader

“Jill was very patient with me in finding my new home. She showed me many places that I had some kind of hang-up on and she kept looking until she found out I was happy with”.

KMacD, Accountant

You are the best! You sold my property in a down market in only week! Technically, you sold it before it went on the market to the broker in your firm.

FLW, IT Consultant

"We used Jill to help us buy our very first home. She was extremely patient with us. We were looking at a lot of places and being picky about our choices, but Jill was always there to help us see as many places as we wanted and help us choose the perfect place for us. She explained the buying process to us and was very helpful throughout the whole process. We loved her."

DW, Nutritionist

Winter Walk in Lincoln Park. 60614

What a great day! I got all bundled and walked about a mile to Lincoln Park in the snow. That's one of the wonderful things about living in LP, Old Town, or the Gold Coast...walking distance to the park, the lake, and Lincoln Park Zoo. Today the Sichuan Tapir was out and the Flamigo community was at their hot pink, finest, dancing around and flapping their wings with Chicago's 'concrete mountains' in the background. Also out for a walk in the snow were the Camels and plenty of birds.

For a change in climate I stepped into the Lincoln Park Conservatory for a view of some colorful. spring flowers as well as orchids, ferns, and and a jungle of other plants. The temperature went from cold outside to warm inside, to muggy in the fern room and a cool spring day of 55 degrees for the flower show.

For any information about these areas or other places in Chicago including real estate listings be sure to contact me!

Ice Artist/Millenium Park Chicago-60601

A very unique type of art will be in Chicago soon. "An installation by artist Gordon Halloran features an ice wall made of multiple panels of vertical sheets of ice (located on the Chase Promenade) and abstract ice paintings on the skating surface of the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink.Thirty-minute guided tours of the installation take place at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Feb. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24.Part of Chicago's Museum of Modern Ice."

"A colored ice wall and an ice painting you can skate on will be installed in Chicago's Millennium Park as part of a new winter celebration in February.
The "Museum of Modern Ice" installation will be on view Feb. 1-29. Both works will be created by Canadian artist Gordon Halloran. The ice wall, called "Paintings Below Zero," will be 95 feet long and nearly 12 feet tall and will be located on Chase Promenade behind the popular "Cloud Gate" sculpture. The work will be composed of brightly colored vertical sheets of ice."metromix

Artist in Bucktown/Chicago-60647

Another friend of mine who has a business in Bucktown is Tony Fitzpatrick tonyfitzpatrick.com. Tony is somewhat of a pioneer in Bucktown having opened his studio, Big Cat Press yelp.com/biz/big-cat-press-chicago twelve years ago at 2124 N. Damen. Tony is a great artist and print maker who spends most of his time in the studio/showroom creating his fabulous prints, drawings and collages where he has a staff of artists helping him produce his works.

In addition to being a fine artist, Fitzpatrick is also a published writer and poet as well as a radio personality, film actor, stage actor and all 'round Chicago persona.

You can catch Tony in his studio in Bucktown http://yochicago.com/neighborhoods/index.php or go to one of his exhibits around town.

Going Green in Bucktown/Chicago

Everyone needs to be 'eco-friendly' now. One of my friends, Michele Fitzpatrick, decided to take action a few years ago by opening a furniture showroom in Bucktown in Chicago. Verde verdedesignstudio.net is located at 2100 W. Armitage 60647. Verde means green in Italian and Verde's furnishings are designed to be eco-friendly or Green. Michele designs and has manufactured products that are 'developed in a manner that does the least amount of harm to the environment. Every component of the pieces are recyclable or biodegradable.' Her sustainable furnishings have non-toxic finishes and glues, natural rubber latex foam cushions, certified tropical hardwoods, reclaimed woods and construction techniques.








Kennedy Dining Chairs24w x 26d x 38h, seat 19h - arm 20w x 25.5d x 38h, seat 19h - side
Solid hardwood kiln dried frame Natural rubber latex seat cushioning Custom sizes and finishes available Hand built in Chicago COM - 3.5 yards (arm chair) COM - 3 yards (side chair)







Verde also features fabulous vintage pieces and custom design.

2100 West Armitage Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60647 773.486.7750 Telephone


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&sll=41.91785,-87.680211&sspn=0.019767,0.043645&q=verde+design+studio&cid=41917850,-87680211,15254408479141679265&li=lmd&om=1&ie=UTF8&ll=41.925207,-87.680168&spn=0.028737,0.057163&z=14&iwloc=A