DevCorp North What's Now: Rogers Park, Chicago

Attend an artists reception this weekend

Interior Exterior is an invitational exhibit featuring five students from instructor Darrin Hollowell's Interior/Exterior metal sculpture class at the Evanston Art Center.  The exhibit will run from February 1 thru February 22, 2006 at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center at 927 Noyes Street in Evanston.

Robin Langer, one of the students featured is a long time DevCorp North member.  The other artists featured are David Kearns, Dean Raffaelli, John Reed and Reinhold Schmid.  Meet the artists reception will be held on Sunday, February 12, from 2 to 4 pm.

For more information, call (847) 448-8260.

Local restaurant popular with the media

Bar-B-Que Bob's located at 2055 W. Howard Street has been recognized recently by various media.  Of course, those of us from the neighborhood are aware of Bob's great BBQ.  The Daily Herald raved about Bob's BBQ in their December 9, 2005 edition.  The Red Eye promoted Bob's on January 4th, and Metromix spotlighted Bob's the first week of January, 2006.

If you love BBQ Chicken, pulled Pork, Rib Tips, or BBQ Turkey, Bob's is the place for you.  Don't forget to leave room for the Sweet Potato Pie.  For more information, contact BBQ Bob's at (773) 761-1260.

Special offer for DevCorp North members

You've seen their marketing packets, now as a member of DevCorp North, you can be a part of the Neighborhood Direct family, at a discount.  Neighborhood Direct is pleased to offer DevCorp North members a $100 savings on a target direct mail advertising campaign for Rogers Park.

You can reach 25,000 homes per advertising zone using Neighborhood Direct.  They help area businesses increase customers, sales and profits with low-cost direct mail advertising campaigns that target your most likely new customers - your neighbors.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call Craig Lieber at (773) 907-2220.

This offer is not valid with any other offer.  Limit one $100 discount per client.  Limited to new clients only.

Camelot Development Wins Good Neighbor Award

Camelot Development won its sixth Good Neighbor Award in three years from the Chicago Association of Realtors. The Good Neighbor Award recognizes the exceptional efforts of individual property owners, developers, community and civic organizations whose contributions have significantly improved Chicago neighborhoods. It acknowledges those companies who go far beyond their peers to provide creative, innovative ideas to Chicago neighborhoods.

This year’s award goes to 2611 Magnolia, a newly constructed luxury single-family home in Lincoln Park. The ultra-modern 5 bedroom / 3.1 bath contemporary home features grand, wide open floor plan; commercial grade gourmet kitchen with Italian imported cabinetry; spacious master suite and luxury stone spa bath with multi-head steam shower and air jet soaking tub; ultra high tech, state-of-the-art wiring for stereo, telephone, cable, internet and alarm; 2,500 square foot deck/porch/patio outdoor entertaining space connected by a custom spiral staircase; Asian and minimalist architecture complemented by custom, commercial storefront windows and doors.

For over 10 years Camelot Development has lived up to its commitment to integrity and providing the highest quality of development to the Chicago-area real estate market.

For more information, please contact Rich Aronson at (773) 294-8888, or raronson@stagedevelopment.com

This year's city sticker designed by a local student

By now most of you have purchased your city sticker, but did you know that this years design was created by Sabeena Khan a recent graduate from St. Scholastica Academy.  Sabeena's design won first place in the City of Chicago’s annual parking sticker design contest.  Her design will be on approximately 1.3 million windshields this year.  Sabeena’s design received 1,829 votes out of 8,000 cast on the city clerk’s website over the Thanksgiving weekend.  She researched the tradition of stained glass windows in Chicago’s architecture and used Chicago’s famous performing arts scene as the inspiration for her design.  Sabeena won a $1,000 savings bond for her first place entry.  This marks the third year in a row that Scholasticans’ designs have made it into the semi-finals of this contest.

Congratulations Skylight Wellness

Skylight Wellness (1220 W. Morse Ave.) is listed in the June 9-16 issue of Time Out Chicago magazine as one of the recommended or notable "Well & Good" listings.  Time Out Chicago states that Skylight's "reputation comes from an emphasis on a personalized approach to care.  Bodywork such as therapeutic massage forms the basis of services, with a particular focus on catering to the needs of dancers, actors, athletes and musicians - those whose livelihood depends on achieving and maintaining peak pderformance.

For more information on Skylight  Wellness, call (773) 856-6091.

Rogers Park weekend: Dinner and a show

This week we debut a regular feature called "Rogers Park weekend," where we share ideas on how to have fun over the weekend in Rogers Park.

How about dinner and a well-reviewed show?

Start the night at Shut Up and Eat, the quirky eatery run by the gals behind Ennui Cafe. They offer a single, different entree at a fixed price each weekend night. Click here for this weekends menu.

After dinner, head over to The Side Project theater at 1520 W. Jarvis to see Oscar Wilde's "Salome." Both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Reader have given it rave reviews. The Trib calls is a "clever production [that] is sensual, smart, visually compelling and quite literally in one's proverbial face."

After the show, why not head over to Morseland at 1218 W. Morse for some live music or a late-night snack.

Utrecht Art Supplies to host Feb. 23 networking event

Utrecht Art Supplies (6429 N. Sheridan Road) will host this month's Rogers Park BizArts Networking event on Wednesday, February 23 at 5:30pm.

Join us for refreshments, in-store demonstrations, free samples, and 20% off your purchase during the event.  Cost is $10.

Rogers Park BizArts events are sponsored by DevCorp North and Rogers Park BizArts.

For more information, or to host an upcoming event, contact Sandi Price at (773) 508-5885 or sprice@devcorpnorth.org.

Member Spotlight - Big Star Cafe

Big Star Café, located at 1439 West Jarvis Ave. in eclectic Jarvis Square, offers great coffee, food and desserts.  Previously known as Don’s, the current owner has created a fun and funky neighborhood hangout for all ages.

Owner Cheryl DeFranceschi’s house blend coffee, a southern pecan roast, is available daily along with other special blends, lattes and exotic Asian teas.  Menu items, served daily from 7:00 a.m. to late night, include five varieties of turkey sandwich, tuna salad or chicken salad sandwiches, veggie burgers and homemade soups. The pastry selection changes daily. 

An artist friendly Café, Big Star offers live music every Thursday from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and open mike every Friday from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.  The Big Star Café book club meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month.  Cheryl has plans to add a weekly chess night as well as an afternoon High tea.

The Café is also available for private parties and events.

For additional information contact Cheryl at 773/764-0413.

Rogers Park BizArts Networking Breakfast

The next Rogers Park BizArts networking breakfast will be on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 from 7:30 - 9:00AM at the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society (7344 N. Western Avenue).

The Rogers Park and West Ridge communities are fortunate to have an outstanding Historical society dedicated to restoring the community's history.

Come see the Rogers Park/West Ridge HIstorical Society's new digs at 7344 N. Western Avenue.

This month's meeting will also feature local artist Mary Jo Bowers, who will display her beautiful handmade quilts and talk for a few minutes about her craft.

As always, the BizArts function offers its attendees and guests plenty of time for networking.

Cost $6, includes breakfast.

DevCorp North and RPBizArts co-organize RPBizArts events.