Untitled. Credit: Flickr/Brokin.Glass

A Guide to Lincoln Square: Where to Eat, Shop, and Play [Chicago Magazine]

How to Harness your Chamber of Commerce [NBC5]

Fine dining meets BYOB in Ravenswood [ABC7]

ABC7 In Your Neighborhood: Lillstreet Art Center [ABC7]

Michael Mann | Interview outtakes [Time Out: Chicago]

Combining stand-up comedy with parenting [Chicago Parent]

Pencil This In: Sola’s Wahine Tailgate [Chicagoist]

Faulty boiler forces evacuation of 60 kids from North Center child center [Chicago Tribune]

Ed. Note: My three year-old son goes to this day care, a truly wonderful place that experienced a minor blip one day. I don’t know why Chicago Tribune chose to write about this story, since minor fire drills happen all over Chicago every day. The Trib’s coverage is totally out of context and fear-mongering. According to my son, who was on the scene that day, the worst part of the episode was that the fire trucks were loud and that they came during nap time. – Mike Fourcher

Da Coach takes part in Story Bus storytelling. Credit: Mary Hanlon/courtesy of Story Bus

Once upon a time, Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) formed a public school initiative–Grow 47, co-chaired by Dan Hynes and Paul Rosenfeld. In 2011, they came across a golden goose: $10 million in state funding for an annex at Bell Elementary and $10-13 million in TIF dollars allocated for a Coonley Elementary annex. Now, with those brick-and-mortar investments under its belt, Grow 47 is turning its attention to academics.

After looking at a number of enrichment options, the committee found one that was just right.

In conjunction with the Kohl Children’s Museum and McCormick Foundation, Grow 47 is bringing the Story Bus experience to Coonley, Courtenay, McPherson and Waters elementary schools for pre-K and kindergarten students.

Using the Story Bus program, which involves professional development for educators, teachers take a single children’s story, like Goldilocks and the Three Bears or The Three Little Pigs, and build an entire semester’s worth of inter-disciplinary curriculum around the tale. Goldilocks becomes a social studies lesson on where to find bears around the world; Three Little Pigs turns into a phys ed game of “duck, duck, goose” played as “pig, pig, wolf.” The goal: Books become such a fun, interactive experience that children develop a lifelong love of reading. The entire program culminates in a visit from the traveling Story Bus exhibit.

“This is something schools have used, usually as a one-off,” said Ald. Pawar. “We want to make sure we can find partners to fund this every year.” (To launch the program, Pawar and Rosenfeld are picking up the portion of the tab not covered by grants.) “The hope is that we can get a couple of these enrichment programs in place each year at every school.”

Celebrate Mardi Gras at Pizza D.O.C.

Pizza D.O.C, 2251 W. Lawrence Ave., is celebrating Kappenabend (think German Carnival) with a Crazy Hat Night, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.

Wear your crazy hats, celebrate Mardi Gras and welcome Chicago’s German Prinz Franz Josef and Prinzessin Sandra. Enjoy live music by the Phoenix and dine on a special menu just for the occasion:

• Bayerische Schweinzhaxn mit Semmelknödel & Krautsalat (roasted pork shank and dumplings)
• Schnizel mit Frischem Gemüse & Kartoffelnbrei (chicken schnitzel, fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes)
• Wiener Würstel mit Kartoffelsalat (wieners with German potato salad)
• Mardi Gras donuts

If you’re not partied out, head back to Pizza D.O.C. for a special prix fixe Valentine’s menu available Feb. 10-14. For $50 each, you and your sweetheart will be treated to a glass of champagne, appetizer, salad, dessert and choice of pasta, salmon or prime rib entree.

Reservations are required for both the Mardi Gras and Valentine’s events; please call  773 784-8777 or online at www.mypizzadoc.com.

MPC rendering of Western Avenue after development of BRT corridor.

Oh the irony of the term Bus Rapid Transit, given how long it might take to move this concept from idea to reality in Chicago. But BRT just gained some much needed traction with an endorsement from the Metropolitan Planning Council, which included BRT among the organization’s policy initiatives for 2012.

MPC, an independent non-profit that develops and promotes solutions for regional growth, has pledged to work with the city, CTA and other stakeholders to advance potential routes. Following an exhaustive study, MPC identified 10 priority routes, including a more than 20-mile stretch of Western Avenue, running from Howard Street to West 95th Street.

With benefits such as expanded transportation choice and improved transit times for commuters, BRT has proven a popular choice among urban planners in Las Vegas, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, where BRT systems boast features like dedicated lanes, signal prioritization, and pay-before-you-board stations. Whereas the cost to build new heavy rail transit systems can run upwards of $100 million per mile, Vegas built its BRT for a mere $2.7 mllion per mile.

Since introducing its line in 2008, Cleveland has seen travel times improve 25 percent and ridership increase 47 percent. MPC’s models suggest that BRT corridors could encourage as many as 7,000 drivers to ditch their cars and jump on board the bus bandwagon.

Tap that--meet Mabel, Metropolitan Brewing's draft-pouring robot. Credit: Patty Wetli

“Who drinks Miller Lite anymore?”

Certainly not Derek Lindskog, one of the lucky 525 craft beer lovers who snagged a coveted ticket to the inaugural Winter Brew, held last Saturday at DANK Haus.

A joint effort of the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce and the Square Kegs Home Brew Club, Winter Brew was, by all accounts, a smashing success. “We were hoping for 200,” said LSCC’s Katie Kraus. “We sold out in a week and a half.”

“People connect over a good beer,” said Lindskog, himself a home brewer. “I think one of the best things about Chicago is the food scene, and now the home brewing and craft brews.”

Patrick and Kate Kasch, a couple of self-professed beer lovers, couldn’t agree more. “You come as strangers and you meet a bunch of friends you’ll never see again,” said Kate. “It’s a great thing to bond over.”

The pair gave the organizers thumbs up for a well-ordered evening–”We’ve been to some disastrous first-time events”–and the choice of venue. “I’ve never been in this space before,” Patrick said of DANK. “It’s fun to walk around.”

Representative from participating craft breweries were equally enthusiastic. “The crowd is very nice, friendly and considerate. They truly seem interested in tasting beer, not like at other beer fests,” said Tracy Hurst, co-owner of Metropolitan Brewing. Not that she needed to draw more attention to Metro’s brews, but Hurst brought along “Mabel,” a draft-pouring robot of sorts that proved to be one of the evening’s most popular attractions, if only because people were likely waiting for her to blurt out “Warning, Will Robinson.”

“I’d be willing to bet a quarter have beer blogs,” Rog McGuin of Half Acre said of attendees. “It’s a really understanding crowd of Chicago craft beer fans. They’re discerning and educated, really appreciative beer drinkers. It’s really rewarding to be part of that.”

DANK Haus provided an elegant back drop for Winter Brew. Credit: Patty Wetli

Spread over two floors at DANK, Winter Brew also featured Square Kegs first ever home brew contest. “We had 475 entries,” said Rich Forsythe, Square Kegs founder, which translated into more than 1,000 bottles of beer to sample and judge, counting multiple brews per entrant. “We knew there was the love of beer, but we didn’t know what to expect.”

Forsythe already has an expansion plan swirling in his head for 2013. “I could see doing two sessions,” he said. “It’s great to sell out but we hate to turn people away. We want to be able to accommodate everybody.”

Among those not in attendance: the home brewers judged third-, second- and first-place finishers in Square Kegs Best in Show competition, which made for a slightly anti-climactic awards presentation. Third place went to Dustin Davidson for his chocolate peanut butter stout; second place to Mark Gres for his wood-aged Dziadzia (pronunciation unknown); and first prize to Greg Irving’s Tiffani Amber Thiessen, an American amber ale that begs the question of whether Irving is a pseudonym for Mr. Belding.

As winner, the alleged Irving will have his beer produced by Broad Shoulders Brewing, a new craft brewery set to open in July in the South Loop. Head brewer Frank Lassandrello, who earned his stripes at Goose Island, aims to ferment the Amber Thiessen in December and offer pours at next year’s Winter Brew.

Brewer Matty Kemp works the taps for Revolution Brewing. Credit: Patty Wetli

“I don’t have my federal license yet, but I wanted to be involved somehow,” said Lassandrello, whose in-laws live in Lincoln Square, which he calls “my home neighborhood.”

Looking back on his early days at Goose Island, Lassandrello says, “It’s impossible for me to anticipate this level of interest in craft beer nine years ago. Goose Island gave the movement a launching a point, it taught Chicagoans to expect more. Now that [craft beer's] officially arrived, it’s inspired the entire city to become involved. Things have taken off so quickly, and it’s all supported by people in the city–the whole community from consumers to distributors to bars and retail.”

The cast of Signal Ensemble Theatre's "Motion." Credit: Johnny Knight

We’re not sure Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., got the memo about how to counter-program for Super Bowl Sunday; think a Jane Austen marathon on PBS or back-to-back-to-back airings of The Notebook on Lifetime. Instead, Signal is offering a special production of its world premiere play, Motion, which is, get this, all about football.

On Sunday, Feb. 5, the curtain rises an hour early on Motion, at 2 p.m., and following the 90-minute performance, ticket holders are invited to watch Brady vs. Manning with ensemble members.

Motion centers on hotshot sports agent Jerry Maguire Drew, bent on making his blue chip, but troubled client the number one pick in the professional football draft. Obstacles, including Renee Zellweger Drew’s ex-wife, compound the situation, while labor discord threatens the very existence of the game.

Motion runs through March 3, 2012, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. (excepting the Super Bowl early start). There will also be a Monday night performance Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets by calling 773.698.7389 or online at www.signalensemble.com.

Chicagoans discuss bike routes and needs at a 2011 open community meeting. Photo from CDOT.

The Chicago Department of Transportation is assembling a master plan for bicycling throughout the city. To determine where the city should focus its resources, CDOT is hosting a series of open meetings to discuss the plans; the final opportunity for public input is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave., 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

“Our efforts to develop the Streets for Cycling Plan 2020 depend on the input, ideas, and experiences of residents in many communities,” said Gabe Klein, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation. “We want the public to help identify streets for new types of on-street bikeways, including protected bike lanes. It’s going to be a plan developed by current bicyclists and those interested in bicycling.”

If you miss the meeting, which will be chock full of maps and planning documents, you can join webinars on Friday, Feb. 3, or Monday, Feb. 6.

Fifty thousand fans. Fifty thousand pounds of BBQ. Twenty-five hours of fun and music.

Ribfest Chicago is returning in 2012 with more smokin’ music and barbecue than ever before. The Committee is cooking up some new twists for Chicago’s favorite festival, which will take place:

Friday, June 8, 5 – 10 p.m.
Saturday, June 9, noon – 10 p.m.
Sunday, June 10, noon – 10 p.m.

What ignited in 1999 as a community block party has exploded into one of Chicago’s most anticipated street festivals. Averaging 50,000 pounds of ribs and BBQ from more than 30 restaurants, Ribfest Chicago 2012 is expected to draw more than 50,000 people.

As a nationally recognized music festival, we host a hot blend of Indie, pop, Indie Roots, rock and alt country for one of the most unique band lineups in the city. The 3rd Annual RibMania features a dozen professional eaters in the Midwest’s only sanctioned rib-eating contest on Friday night, and families can spend the whole weekend in Kids Square to enjoy live entertainment, inflatables, games and more.

Sponsored by the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce; a $5 donation is requested. Northcenter neighborhood on Lincoln Avenue between Irving Park Road (4000N-2000W) and Berteau Avenue (4185N-2100W).

Proceeds benefit Northcenter Chamber initiatives, annual community programming, greening and beautification efforts, the School Grant Program and charitable funding approved by the Chamber Philanthropy Committee. For more information, visit www.Ribfest-Chicago.com or call the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce at 773.525.3609.

Founded in 1946, the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce is a community and business development organization on Chicago’sNorth Side. By promoting and supporting commercial, professional, financial and non-profit enterprises, its members are dedicated to making Northcenter a great place to live, shop and grow. The Northcenter Chamber’s highly anticipated and attended community events, such as Ribfest Chicago, make it one of Chicago’s premier neighborhood organizations. For more information about the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce, visit www.northcenterchamber.com.

Exterior rendering of proposed residential development at 4232-38 N. Western Avenue.

For the second time in as many months, a developer is proposing the construction of apartments, not condos. First the Ravenswood Terrace project on Lawrence Avenue was announced as rentals, and now Earthwood Development is presenting revised plans for 4232-38 N. Western Ave., currently the site of a vacated laundromat. We smell a trend.

In its zoning application, Earthwood states: “We are seeking to build 18 units, but of smaller size than a previous plan for 12 at the site. This, of course, is due to the radical change that the real state market has experienced in the last few years. Three-bedroom 2 1/2-bath luxury units are no longer what’s practical to construct for sale or for rent.”

If approved, construction is projected to begin in spring 2012, with completion scheduled for spring 2013. Earthwood estimates the development will cost $3 million (no city financing, aka TIF money, is being sought) and will create 30 part-time construction jobs.

According to its application, Earthwood will seek Chicago Green Home Two-Star certification; the development will feature permeable paving in its parking area, high-efficiency HVAC equipment, and Energy Star lighting and appliances.

A public meeting to review the project is being held tonight, Jan. 30, 7:00 p.m., Revere Park Fieldhouse Auditorium, 2509 W. Irving Park Rd. Neighbors are encouraged to attend, meet the developers and pose any questions or raise any issues they have with the proposal.