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

Chicago New Year's Eve 2008

Today is New Year's Eve, Eve, Day and I get very nostalgic around this time. I think about New Years past, how I am going to celebrate this New Year's eve-in Chicago, and of course what 2008 will bring. Hopefully, the real estate market will pick up. It really will be interesting to see if some savvy buyers will take advantage of the lower property prices and low interest rates. www.homeloans.com/wfhm/kenneth-dickerson

Being a Chicago native and having spent every New Year's Eve in Chicago but one, (I was living in Monterey,CA when I was 23) I have a lot of memories. I remember sleeping over at my Grandparents' apartment at Marine Drive and Argyle. They would try to send us to bed at 11pm because the crystal ball had descended upon Times Square in NY. I would look out the window and watch the blinking red light atop the pink, stucco, Edgewater Beach Hotel which is near the condo that my clients are buying at 5701 N. Sheridan. The area is called Uptown or Edgewater where property is pretty affordable. http://yochicago.com/neighborhoods/index.php
I returned to that building at 4950 N. Marine Dr. last week to show some condos. Most buildings have converted to condos and the Edgewater Beach Hotel is a co-op.

Celebrating New Year's in Chicago could be a much fun as going to Zanies, a comedy club in Old Town and then to Ed Debevics (1986) with some old friends to the great snow storm of 1979 when I was stuck inside a high rise in Lakeview and the snow was so deep that no place would deliver food. I know there is a tremendous celebration at Navy Pier with fantastic fireworks but his year I am going out to an early dinner at J.Alexanders in Lincoln Park with my husband and the neighbor Syd and then back home to watch the ball drop and try to stay up until midnight.

Have a Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!!

The Importance of a Good Property Manager

I had a Real Estate Property inspection yesterday for a property at 5701 N. Sheridan, 60660 in Chicago, IL. I like the inspector we used...her name is Michelle Teague. Let me know if you want more info about her, she was very good. Anyway, there were some issues with plumbing and electric and my client was freaking out. After the inspection we went to the management office to get info about the condo docs, decs, etc. Tina and Joe in the office were so very helpful. They provided my client and I with all the information we need and reassured us that a quick close would be possible. We mentioned the inspection issues and the manager, Joe, went back up to the unit with us to take a look. He made my client feel so much better in letting her know that most of the problems were minor and would not cost as much as we initially feared. Thanks Joe. Now let's hope those issues can be resolved and my client will be happily purchasing the condo.