Urban Dictionary defines a plant parent as a person who thinks of their plants the way others think about their pets or children. The house plant fad has popped back up in the past few years and now Millennials are devoting their lives and instagram feeds to their shrubs.
Spring is time for renewal, change, and most importantly, growth and several businesses that have taken root during the storm of the pandemic are ready to sprout with the help of the community.
For 29 years, James Forrest has greeted the residents of Streeterville’s CityFront Place Court with nothing short of a warm smile and a genuine devotion to making sure everyone feels satisfied and welcomed.
Eleni and Ava Tsatsos started gymnastics in their preschool years.
Willy Jones, or Will Jones on the job, is a man of many talents. From traveling around the country playing blues, rock and R&B with numerous bands to styling the hair of big-shot celebrities such as Ice-T and other rappers for 25 years, Jones is as charismatic as he is well-humored and n…
“If you take care of the job, the job will take care of you,” are not only words but actions 38-year-old Antoine Lawrence lives by after 16 years of working at The Grand Ohio Condominiums, 211 E. Ohio St.
Israel "Izzy" Idonije finds that the beauty of sports lies in a simple truth: the lessons learned on the field are equally impactful when it comes to charting one's path in life.
I don't think there's ever been a better time to have an excuse to pamper ourselves. In the past, I've always felt guilty about even having a massage or a facial. I would lay there thinking of a 1,000 other things I should/could be doing that would be more productive. "Relaxation" has never …
Frank Wilson completed many journeys before arriving at McClurg Court, where he has been a member of the door staff for more than four years. After gaining experience in a multitude of industries, he considers the apartment complex at 333 E. Ontario a great place to be.
As the point of contact for tenants and visitors entering 233 N. Michigan Ave., Lynsay Lindsey handles a multitude of responsibilities.
Following a shooting spree last weekend where three people were shot and killed at random, the University of Chicago will hold a memorial Thursday, Jan. 14, in memory of Yiran Fan, a UChicago student who was one of the three lives tragically lost that horrific day.
Thousands of teachers reunite with their Pre-K and special needs students today after being physically apart since March, as all public school buildings shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The remainder of students, K-8th graders whose parents have chosen to keep them home, will return in-…
After what feels like an eternity of dining in the cold after indoor dining and drinking was shut down in November, Illinois can expect fewer restrictions this month, some of which may include allowing guests to dine inside again, at a limited capacity, of course.
I don’t know about you, but this has definitely been my annus horribilis. We lost family members, our dog died, my husband lost his two best friends and had a TIA (ministroke). Thank God Chuck is doing well, but the rest of these losses added to the already tough situation we’re all facing n…
Aon Center doorperson Darryl Richardson began perfecting the skills of his trade in the mid-1980s, when he accepted a job providing security for a summer program at Chicago’s Tilden High School. “After that I got hired at Zayre’s Department Store as a security doorman,” he said. “That really…
LeRoy Bronson adds a dynamic groove to the lobby at the Lakeshore Plaza. Besides serving as a member of the door staff, he is a professional drummer and a respected member of the city’s recording industry.
Will Rivera brings a unique philosophy to his role as lead concierge at One Bennett Park, 514 N. Peshtigo Court.
Creating custom cookies for neighbors, a booming business
Roger Gomez is pursuing an accounting degree while working as a doorperson at the Aqua Tower, but that does not mean he intends to move on after graduation.
Social distancing has pushed people a lot further away from one another than the six-foot recommendation issued by the Center for Disease Control. In-person activities have gone online, but declining entertainment revenues suggest that fans are not buying into the virtual substitutions. So w…
The honorable celebrity talks about his journey
One thing CityView Condominium doorperson Maureen Chacon-Batts has learned by traveling the world is that there is no place on earth she would rather be than Chicago.
When not battling blazes,
Stroll, eat, play downtown: A Guide for ‘Paw-rents’
Architect, real estate developer and Magellan Development Group Chairman Emeritus Jim Loewenberg passed away from cancer on October 14. A Chicago-born graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Loewenberg helped transform a former rail yard into what is now the city’s Lakeshore E…
Renee Moore dedicated her career to helping others when she decided to leave nursing school and launch her own caregiving business nearly two decades ago. “I made it all the way to clinicals (the hands-on phase of the nursing program), but I would come home crying because there wasn’t enough…
Resident's podcast shines spotlight on older women
Sarah Spain has risen to the top of a male-dominated industry by wielding an abundance of knowledge, humor, and righteousness. Besides writing for espnW and co-hosting Spain and Fitz on national ESPN Radio, she hosts the podcast, That’s What She Said, and makes frequent appearances as a gues…
For Streeterville resident Anita Balodis, some new feathered friends at the park have become a source of unexpected hope and joy at a challenging time.
The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago and Chicago Catholic Charities have long been known as city locations providing meals to those most in need. That need has increased exponentially during the pandemic, and both organizations have stepped up to provide much-needed extra assistance. Bu…
New Eastside resident Richard Hirschl has been a cellist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) for more than 30 years.
Sometimes it seems like Mike Keenon can handle anything. After working in a multitude of industries, he has perfected skills that could be useful anywhere. As doorperson at 777 North Michigan Ave., he seems to have found the place where they all fit perfectly.
The Goddess and Grocer has created the "Jilly" Bean Cupcake in honor of their Executive Chef Jill Dedinsky, who passed on Friday, August 28, after suffering a sudden brain aneurysm.
The end of a summer that never really happened is approaching. Although it passed without a lot of fanfare, many Chicagoans are determined to make the most of the dog days before nodding into autumn.
AON Center Guest Services Representative Alexandria Ward combines charm and authority with the best of them. Greeting visitors, checking IDs, and issuing passes, she is part of a team effort to guide people through one of America’s tallest buildings. But that’s just the start.
New Eastside resident Alan Goldman will run something of a victory lap on Sept. 13. A prostate cancer survivor, he will be competing in the virtual SEA Blue Prostate Cancer Walk and Run.
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is offering a powerful glimpse of its mission in a documentary-style summer fundraising video.
Capt. Trevonte Battle spent years acquiring the expertise to keep passengers safe on the Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture Tour. As a graduate of Columbia Yacht Club’s captain course, he offers a full range of skills including charting, navigation, and emergency procedures. But on an averag…
Derrick Wynn adds a winning dose of camaraderie to the service he provides at Lake Shore Plaza, where he has been a member of the door staff since 1993.
Lyric Investment Group founder Naiya Mehta recently built and rented half-dozen micro-apartments in a West Loop brick two-flat. Equipping each of the nearly 300-square-foot units with high-end appliances and strategically designed interiors, the Streeterville resident leased all of the prope…
“We were very close,” he said. “We all lived in a three-flat with my grandma in the basement, my family on the main floor, and my aunts and uncles on the second floor with my cousins.”
With most summer camps closed, children’s playgrounds still locked, and many of the normal recreational programs delayed or cancelled, people of all ages have been making the best of it using the open green grass of our beautiful neighborhood parks.
The coronavirus pandemic has teenagers getting set for Zoom classes while facing a variety of challenges such as cancelled summer plans and uncertainty about the upcoming school year.
With COVID-19 restrictions preventing large in-person gatherings, charitable fundraisers in Streeterville and New Eastside are exploring alternatives to their traditional annual events.
A group of New Eastside kids recently traded rocks for charitable donations.
Rene Mendez offers a distinct advantage to residents at the Grand Ohio Condominiums, where he has worked as a member of the door staff for nearly a decade. In addition to a homegrown regard for courtesy, he brings a well-tested range of experience to the front desk.
Irene Pettus radiates charm throughout the lobby of the Shoreham Apartments. Working the night shift, her kind, optimistic and helpful manner seems to exude a natural instinct for graciousness.
Most 21-year-olds have big dreams, but not on the same level as Ablavi Ayikpo.
The damage from Saturday night’s George Floyd protests on Michigan Avenue has diminished slightly thanks to residents and workers who are determined to clean up and show their love for Chicago.
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