Historic Chicago Firehouse FOR SALE in Beverly Area, Chicago

There is a fantastic property available for sale in Beverly waiting for it's new creative owner! Be a part of the growing Beverly/Morgan Park Retail Establishment! Contact Dan Klaiber City of Chic. Ofc. of Community Development at 312-744-4470 or Alderman Rugai's Office at 773-238-8766 for details in regard to this unique property. The old Chicago Fire station on 95th Street just past the Metra tracks at Vanderpoel(approximately 1700W)This station would make a wonderful art gallery, art school, specialty market or restaurant,(without alcohol, not zoned).

The firehouse is located steps from the 95th street Metra stop, within a few blocks from new and exciting retail businesses that have recently opened as well as the new Chicago Public Library and New Chicago Fire Station. It is a short drive to the Dan Ryan going east and I294 going west. Call for info. and welcome to Beverly!

Olde Western Avenue in Blue Island, Illinois, A Cultural and Dining Experience!

You will kick yourself if you have not been down to Olde Western Avenue in Blue Island lately or EVER! There are new restaurants and businesses mixed in with the old and classic. An evening there can involve stopping in at the old Jeben's Hardware store to see what is new(or old) and then dinner at an Italian, Mexican or New Orleans Style restaurant, music at an Irish, Mexican or American Pub and dessert at a Mexican candy store! On a warm evening you can enjoy one of several patios and just sit back relax and enjoy the historic street scene dating back to the 1800's!

It's a little tricky getting to Olde Western Avenue, you take Western Avenue South, passing 129th Street keep going, you will go over the bridge, keep right and at the bottom of the bridge, turn right and then right again on to Olde Western Avenue, proceed back North on Olde Western Avenue to reach the shops and restaurants.

Here is a list of some of what you will find from 13300 to 13500 South Olde Western Avenue:

Maple Tree Inn - New Orleans Style Restaurant, Bar and Patio
Mario's Tacos - Mexican Restaurant, Bar and Patio
Mariscos 7 Mare's - Mexican Seafood Restaurant
Giuseppe's Trattoria Italiana - Italian Restaurant
Gayla's Irish Saloon - Irish Pub
Pepe's Groceries and Tortlleria - Grocery and Fresh Tortillas!
Dulcefiesta - Mexican Candy, Ice creams and treat store
Jeben's Hardware - Historic Hardware and Collectibles

Take a drive or even bike from Beverly/Morgan Park to this lovely little area! You will be back again and again!

Enjoy Patio Dining on the South Side of Chicago!

We have it all on the Southside including some great Patio Dining! So get out there and enjoy it while summertime in the city is here! Here are a few spots we love, if you know of other great patios please comment and I will be sure to add them!

Have fun early in the evening enjoy delicious pub food, play bean bag toss and toss a couple back at Quigley's Irish Pub at 4010 W. 111th at Pulaski, Oak Lawn in the corner of the shops.

It's Fiesta time on these lovely patios, enjoy a Margarita, a Mojito and some great Mexican cuisine at Mario's Tacos flower filled patio at 13325 S. Old Western Avenue in Blue Island or at La Fiesta at 3333 W. 111th Street in Mt. Greenwood.

The Maple Tree Inn also in Blue Island 13301 S. Old Western Avenue has a wonderful summer porch and the view here is amazing! Sit and watch the trains go over the massive steel bridge that looms in the near distance as you enjoy your New Orleans style cuisine, how perfect! See the photo above.

The ultimate bar patio is of course at Cork & Kerry's on 10614 S. Western Avenue. This legendary south side bar is the place to see and be "in the scene", this summer in particular for the college crowd.

The screened in patio at Limestone Grill at 13415 S. Ridgeland, Palos Hts.,keeps the bugs away and maximizes this wonderful casual fine dining experience.

Enjoy a wonderful cup of coffee, espresso or treat on the patio at any of our wonderful coffee shop cafes at Favia,107th and Hale, The Beverly Bakery, 10528 Western , The Blue Moon Cafe, 1742 W. 99th St. just East of the Metra Train Stop,pictured above! They have a great cozy "hidden courtyard patio" and on the weekends and for special events you can enjoy live music! Check their website for schedules.

We have some new entrants to the patio scene recently with Fat Tommys(3101 W.) and TaTa's Pizza(3019 W.)on 111th Street, located in Mt. Greenwood. They have really nice lovely outdoor seating for all to enjoy! Marco's Beef at 2547 W. 111th Street next to Cardinal Fitness also has a cute little outdoor dining area.

Please let me know if you know of any other great summer patio ideas on the Southside!

Beverly Yoga Center - Featuring Yoga in The Park!

I have enjoyed the benefit of taking only a few classes at the Beverly Yoga Center, located 1917 W. 103rd Street, 2nd Floor in the heart of "Downtown Beverly"773-239-YOGA (9642), but definitely plan to attend more. I found the entire experience to be enjoyable, peaceful, hard work and relaxing all at the same time. I was very surprised at how sore my body was after the first class. Not because the class was strenuous but because I had moved and manipulated body parts like never before! Now I get it! This could be addictive! I love how you do not have to pay a membership fee and can pay for one class at a time or a bunch at a time. There is so much going on at this cozy center that I can not begin to tell you. You have to check out the website by clicking on the heading above or go to www.beverlyyogacenter.com I will mention the program below because I just think it's great for the neighborhood and hopefully lots of neighbors will attend classes and it's only $5 per class! Hope to see you there!

Yoga in the Park
The very popular Yoga in the Park will return this summer and be held at Ridge Park,(9626 S. Longwood Ave.) on Saturday mornings from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Yoga in the Park will run in June and July and cost $5 per class. After a long winter, this is a great opportunity for the community to come together, practice yoga and feel connected to the outdoors. There is nothing more uplifting than a Saturday morning yoga class in the warm sun and fresh air! Go to the website for full details on this class and more.

Ms. Priss - Where Stylish Beverly/Morgan Park Women Love to Shop!

Ms. Priss 9915 S. Walden Parkway, is an adorable shop right in the heart of the 99th Street Metra shopping district with beautiful stylish clothing and accessories for women.

Owner/buyer and local resident, Stephanie Colson fills this cozy boutique with unique clothing and items from designers not seen anywhere near the South side! From designer jeans to T's, tops, dresses, suits, slacks and gorgeous blouses and sweaters you will also want to accessorize with a super hot jewelery, bag or scarf! You would have to go downtown to Armitage & Halsted to find the designers that are regularly stocked in this trendy shop.

When an occasion calls for something special or you are just ready to treat yourself to something that no one else has...stop by Ms. Priss and select something(s)fresh and new! Check out their website for more info: www.mspriss.homestead.com or call 773-233-7747.

The Merry Gentleman Movie - Filmed & Funded Locally starring Michael Keaton

The Merry Gentleman was funded by a local Beverly resident and filmed in many Beverly locations.

The film will be opening at Crestwood Theaters this weekend. This opening is a major development for the film and I encourage everyone to try and make it out to Crestwood. A strong opening weekend at this location would be great !

Click on the heading above to view the trailer and get screening locations for the film - or go to http://www.themerrygentlemanmovie.com

The Merry Gentleman was produced and financed by one of our own, Paul Duggan, a longtime Beverly resident. Filmed in Chicago, several scenes in the movie were shot on location at Paul's home in Beverly where he lives with his wife, Debbie, and children Samantha and Allison. Also starring in the movie is Tom Bastounes, another Chicagoan with ties to Second City.

The movie is garnering great early reactions, and in an interview with Michael Keaton, David Letterman said he loved the film, and hoped Hollywood would make more like it.

Click here for a feature on the movie from today's Chicago Sun-Times
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/movies/1548702,CST-FTR-merry29.article

We also have a Facebook page - become a fan of the movie at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1078104345#/merrygentleman ;

Rent an iGo car hourly! Pick it up in Beverly in the Ridge Park parking lot!

This service is amazing! Rent a car at a very reasonable hourly rate. No office, no hassle. Everything is done on line! Pick it up and GO!
I-GO Car Sharing and the Chicago Park District have joined forces to bring the Beverly community an I-GO Car Sharing vehicle. A silver Toyota Scion xB is now located at Ridge Park, 1817 W. 96th St., in a reserved parking spot generously provided by the Chicago Park District. The car is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to I-GO members. To apply for membership, just go to www.igocars.org.

I-GO members who want to reserve the car can search for it on I-GO’s website by address, neighborhood, vehicle type, or its specific vehicle ID number: 4479.

To celebrate this exciting, new joint effort with the Park District, I-GO is offering new membership applicants a special discount: $25 off the normal sign-up cost of $75. Anyone wishing to take advantage of this offer just has to enter the promotion code RIDGE50 in the “Promotions” section of the online application form.

I-GO is the only non-profit, locally based car sharing service in Chicago. I-GO’s 12,000+ members have access to 200 low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles in more than 30 neighborhoods across Chicago, Evanston, and Oak Park. Members don’t pay for gas, insurance, or reserved parking spaces, and reserve cars online or by phone for trips lasting from a half hour to all day. I-GO’s cars—ranging from hatchbacks to compact SUVs to plug-in electric cars—are self-accessed by means of an automated smart card that’s held over a windshield-mounted reader to unlock the vehicles. The ignition key is attached to a fob that, when removed from a glovebox-housed keypad device, triggers the recoding of personal trip data in I-GO’s computer network.

Members may choose either a standard I-GO smart card that accesses every car in I-GO’s fleet or the new www.igocars.org or call I-GO Member Services at (773) 278-4446.

Francesca's is now open on 95th in Oak Lawn!

Francesca's on 95th in Oak Lawn: Now Open!
The 18th Francesca's location is now open in the suburb of Oak Lawn!

With it's charming Italian trattoria setting, Francesca's on 95thfeatures seating for 140 guests in the dining room, 60 in the lounge and 2 fantastic party rooms for private dining.

Just 1-1/2 miles East of I-294, Francesca's will be part of Oak Lawn's newest lifestyle development, The Shops of Oak Lawn at the intersection or 95th Street and Mobile Avenue.

Historic former Library buildings FOR SALE in Beverly Area of Chicago, 2121 W. 95th Street

The Chicago Public Library/Beverly Branch Building is now available for purchase. The city is planning an RFP,(Request for Proposal). But in the meantime if you are interested call the Beverly Area Planning Assoc. office and indicate your interest. 773-233-3100. This building would make an amazing restaurant or cafe. It would also be the perfect space for an art gallery or unique retail business. The building is built with brick and Indiana limestone. The same stone that was used in the Beverly Castle and current Starbucks located at 103rd and Longwood Drive. There are unique stone carvings as well as stained glass and leaded windows. There are 2 separate buildings,(1 two story and 1 one story), and an enormous parking lot in between. Located at 2121 W. 95th Street. It is on a very high traffic street with easy access to the Dan Ryan and direct shot to I294. It is located across the street from the brand new multi million dollar Beverly Branch Library and new Chicago Firehouse(the old Firehouse building, located slightly east of here on 95th St., is also available). There is a considerable amount of new retail development within walking distance. This is a very special building and deserves a special owner!