God has a plan for everyone. It’s the refrain of preachers, pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and bible-thumpers everywhere.
Jew, Muslim or Christian, God’s got a plan for you.
Believing in God’s plan, though, one has to question the purpose of prayer. Are we asking God to change his plan for us or do we think we have a better plan?
The latter would certainly be a remarkable degree of audacity and/or hubris.
If you have a Facebook account, you’ve undoubtedly seen at least one post from someone asking you to pray for someone else. It could have been some rando or it could have been from someone you know.
How do those folks think that works and how would my praying for someone I barely know influence an omnipotent God to alter THE PLAN for that person?
Is there some threshold, some minimum number of likes or people praying that get God’s attention? What does it take to change the Lord’s plan to allow a human being to live a a little longer?
The other thing that’s kind of curious is why, when God is everywhere and even sees us when we’re sleeping (or is that Santa?) do we have to go somewhere else to pray?
Is that just a preacher’s ploy to have someone to pass the plate to on Sundays?
All of this may seem irreverent, blasphemous or sacrilegious, but what sort of faith is there that can not be examined?
There are Bible camps, Bible study, Bible groups, Bible gateways, Bible apps, even an audio Bible narrated by James Earl Jones, which is interesting, considering that Jones is also the voice of Darth Vader.
Apparently, there’s a great deal of interest – and profit – in discussing the Bible.
As a fallen angel, I’m interested to know what all the prayer is about. If your faith is strong, isn’t it enough to just believe that God will do the right thing? Or at least the thing that an all powerful being wants to do no matter what you or your Facebook buddies say?
Each Friday night during football season in Texas, you can find every high school team on their knees, praying for victory over that night’s opponent.
They pray to a God who created the Heavens and Earth in just 6 days as if God has a vital interest in the outcome of every single football game in Texas.
Last night in SoFi Field in Englewood, CA, as the Cincinnati Bengals and L.A. Rams prepared to face off, both teams, no doubt, beseeched God to grant them victory.
Obviously, the prayers of one of those teams went unheard, or, at least unanswered. A clever preacher would frame it as God’s answer to the Bengals last night was No.
Perhaps though, the King of Kings had some action with BetMGM. It is, after all the king of sportsbooks.
Since the Rams didn’t cover the spread last night (4 points), I wonder if the Most High bet the Bengals or the under (48.5 points was the over/under line)?
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Bob “RJ” Abrams is a political junkie, all-around malcontent and supporter of America’s warriors. After a career path that took him from merchandising at rock concerts to managing rock bands to a 27-year stint in the pits of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, he’s seen our nation from up and down.
As Regional Coordinator of the Warriors’ Watch Riders (a motorcycle support group for the military and their families) Bob plays an active role in our nation’s support of America’s warriors and their families.
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Be intentional about how you grow Grow in character, not just in stature Be more than old when you grow Learn from experiences that you capture Be open so you can grow Explore opportunities that have no end Be consistent as you grow And faithful, unlike a forever changing trend Be different when necessary as you grow Don’t stay within, but grow out Be who you are meant to become as you grow Expand and evolve for that’s what it’s all about.
I’m Jerry Partacz, happily married to my wife Julie for over 40 years. I have four children and eleven grandchildren. I’m enjoying retirement after 38 years of teaching. I now have an opportunity to share my thoughts on many things. I’m an incurable optimist. I also love to solve crossword puzzles and to write light verse. I love to read, to garden, to play the piano, to collect stamps and coins, and to watch “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.
Gianmarco Soresi’s comedy has inspired some notable events. His pandemic comedy special Shelf Life, available on Amazon Prime, was nominated for three Emmy awards. Billy Crystal rewrote a movie scene for him. And worst case scenario, he once had to figure out how to keep an audience laughing at an election night comedy show … in 2016. What’s his secret?
Gianmarco explains, “Comedy comes from a unique perspective. When you have a different vantage point, you can see an angle that other people are not seeing.” Gianmarco’s life has provided many unique vantage points and they’ve made all of the above scenarios come true. He’s also been flung across a grassy field in South Africa and he’s lit up small screens as the spokesman for General Electric.
Gianmarco identifies as a pessimist and enthusiastic complainer, but to watch him on stage is to be captivated by his warmth and energy. His Italian father and Jewish mother divorced when he was a baby, but that experience only forged his ability to transform pain into critically acclaimed comedy – and the ability to deliver it with verve.
Watching Gianmarco’s Shelf Life, I was awestruck by his ability to gift pandemic-weary New Yorkers sitting on hard chairs in an outdoor courtyard, with nonstop laughter and optimism. Sure, he was interrupted by a sudden downpour and a parallel parking calamity across the street – surprise situations which were eerily on-brand – but he just recast them into instant opportunities to make even more comedy.
He also hosts the The Downside with Russell Daniels, a podcast where complaining is encouraged and celebrities reveal their lives’ unseen dark side. Gianmarco was the winner of Amazon’s Comics Watching Comics Season 8 and has appeared opposite Jennifer Lopez in the movie Hustlers, Billy Crystal in Here Today, on TBS’s The Last OG with Tracy Morgan, CBS’s Blue Bloods, ABC’s Deception, Comedy Central and more.
Like the New York fans who gave him a standing ovation, audiences attending Gianmarco’s show at the Lincoln Lodge this Thursday, February 17 will depart super-charged and ready for whatever this world throws at us next.
Gianmarco kindly spoke with me by phone about his upcoming Lincoln Lodge appearance and how he created a comedic perspective that is original, relatable and therapeutic for all.
A CAPITAL BEGINNING
Teme: I heard you’re from Potomac, Maryland! I grew up in D.C. and almost never meet anyone else who grew up there.
Gianmarco: Well, sometimes I lie. I tell people D.C because Potomac is so bland. I don’t know what the culture is other than people getting divorced.
Teme: What did you love or not love about growing up in the D.C. area?
Gianmarco: I’m a city kid and I can’t drive for shit. I have a driver’s license, but I’m so terrible I had girlfriends in high school who drove me. But I love D.C. I could get around on my own. There was theater. There were comedy clubs. D.C. taught me that I wanted to live in New York City and not New Jersey.
Teme: How did you get started in comedy?
Gianmarco: I guess just by failing as an actor. I moved to New York City determined to make it in theater, TV and film. I was the spokesman for General Electric for a year, but otherwise was hitting a wall. So I wrote a play for myself. I said, “If no one’s going to make me the star, I’ll write a character with my actual name so they have to cast me.” I spent a lot of the play talking to the audience. A friend saw it and said, “You should focus on this.” After the shows, too, people never complimented me on the scenes, just the part where I was talking to the audience. I’m stubborn but after a year or two of that, I was like, “I’m noticing a pattern.” That’s when I decided to pivot to standup comedy.
Teme: What experiences shaped you as a comedian?
Gianmarco: I think my biggest one is my parents divorced when I was a baby. I grew up going back and forth. I think that gives you a very unique perspective because my role in the world was constantly shifting. When I was at my dad’s house, I was the apple of his eye. I was number one. Then I’d go to my mom’s house where I had siblings. I had a stepfather who was a stark contrast with my own father, very strict, very stern. I was very much not the one celebrated. Then my father would get married and that relationship would shift. Then my mom got divorced and that relationship shifted. Whenever you have a life that has different, unique circumstances, it gives you access to a bird’s eye view that lets you make commentary on life as it is.
THE DOWNSIDE
Teme: What inspired your podcast The Downside?
Gianmarco: I knew I wanted to do a podcast, but it took me a long time to come up with an idea. I kept coming back to the question: “What would I be willing to do on my worst day?” because whenever you do these projects it’s a lot of work. My answer was, “On my worst day, I would still want to complain and take the piss out of things.”
Teme: I thought of you last week. I eavesdropped on a friend at an online networking event. Everyone was greeting each other, “How are you?” and every single person answered, “Everything is great!” I thought, “These people are full of it. I know an honest, funny podcast called The Downside that they need to hear!”
Gianmarco: People lying about how they’re doing is nothing new, but I think social media encourages a very specific kind of response and it’s bleeding into our lives. No one likes it when you’re like, “How are you?” And the response is, “I’m terrible.” But in comedy, there’s a way you can express these things that’s fun and enjoyable.
As a Jewish man, I feel that in Jewish culture there’s an understanding that complaining doesn’t mean you’re miserable. I say complaining is just a way of communicating. I could be having the time of my life, and I’ll still want to complain or point out things. I have a girlfriend now, but I could always tell a date wasn’t going to work out when she would say something like, “Oh, you sure like to complain!” And I was like, “Oh, you better believe it. This is just a warm-up.”
Teme: I’m Jewish, too, and totally get that. It’s just being a realist. Also, if you can complain to someone, you will never feel alone.
Gianmarco: Yes. When people have to put on that false positivity, they do feel lonely and everyone is convinced that everyone is doing better than them because no one says they’re not. It’s a fun thing to fight against.
Teme: How did you and Russell begin working together?
Gianmarco: Russell and I were in this dreadful Off Broadway show called That Bachelorette Show. It was very degrading, a horrifying acting experience. I played some Italian stereotype. I got replaced by Vinnie from Jersey Shore. But then Russell and I became part of a sketch team called Uncle Function that’s still in practice today. We fell in love as a group.
Russell and I are both very shy at first, but we both have very dark sensibilities. We found ourselves texting each other about specific kinds of complaints and just the ways people were full of shit. He’s my go-to for all the comedy thoughts I would never say on stage. There are so few people where I’m like, “I want to talk to them about these things every week.” And he was one, and I’m just so lucky he was willing to do it with me.
DIE KRAUTERFRUCHTIGE LIMONADE AUS DER SCHWEIZ (the herbal fruity lemonade from Switzerland)
Teme: You’ve done so many cool, interesting things on big and small screens. Do you have a favorite story that stands out for better or worse?
Gianmarco: I did a German soda commercial in Cape Town, South Africa. I auditioned and the next day I was flying out. They were basically ripping off the Old Spice commercials where random things happen and then they show you the product. It felt very dangerous. I take a sip and then all of this wild stuff happens to me. There was one scene where I’m soaring through a grassy field in Cape Town. It’s 4:00 in the morning in America. They’re like, “Alright, you’re going to grab onto some poles and we’re going to drag you through this field.” And this grass was high. I’m stepping around looking for rocks and they were like, “Oh, you’ll be fine.”
Thank God I only ate a couple bugs as they dragged me through this field. Then there was something where a little person hit me with sticks. I’m sure it would no longer be allowed in contemporary society. My face was bleeding from the sticks and I had to ride a mechanical bull and I almost got very hurt. Listen, it was a great gig. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Actors will sometimes seem a little overly precious about their safety but when you’re on set, your safety is the last priority. It’s about getting the shot. You’ll come off like such a wet blanket, but you have to advocate for yourself. But the commercial itself for Rivella, it’s a fun one.
A BIG IMPRESSION
Teme: What was it like to be in the Billy Crystal film Here Today?
Gianmarco: It was very cool. I’ve always been a Billy Crystal fan. I got rewrites one day where my character does a Jeff Goldblum impression. My jaw hit the floor. I’m not good at impressions, but I have one and it’s Jeff Goldblum. When I read it, I said, “Oh my God, what are the odds?” I saw Billy at the next rehearsal and he said, “I was looking up your name on YouTube. I saw you had videos doing the Jeff Goldblum impression, so I put it into the script.”
What’s so wild about that is the Jeff Goldblum videos I had on YouTube were from a Tonight Show parody that I was just a guest on. It must have been in 2016 for an audience of four people in a very large theater. I remember doing that show and feeling like, fuck, I put so much work into this goddamn impression and there are four people here! And yet, somehow four years later, there’s Billy Crystal watching YouTube and writing a script where I get to showcase it because of that moment.
THE CHALLENGE: WRITE A COMEDY SPECIAL IN A PANDEMIC
Teme: I loved your special Shelf Life! How did you stay so funny when 2020 was so unfunny?
Gianmarco: Shelf Life was driven by not knowing what the future of standup comedy was going to be. There were people saying stand up won’t come back for three years. Some people theorizing that we would never have gatherings in person again. It was very scary because I’d put all my eggs in that basket. It became a necessity to figure out how to use those skills of being funny on Zoom and then doing outdoor shows. I was really freaking out. I remember a couple months of being like, “Man, am I fucked? Am I never going to be able to pursue my dreams? Is it over?” I felt angry almost at older comedians. I was like, “You got to really do it and I’m never going to get to do it.”
So the comedy was comedy out of necessity. The thing that also made that special possible was that we were all unified. Everyone was in lockdown. Everyone was looking at the news. It gave you a common ground to play off of. So it came out of, “Fuck, we’re outside. New York is about to get too cold to do outdoor shows. I have got to make the most of this moment.”
If I were to film this special now, I would run it in full every headlining weekend for months. But because there were only outdoor shows, I ran that whole set one time featuring for another comedian in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was wild because I’m a perfectionist. I’m trying to move past that. Because of the pandemic, I have to force myself to be like, look, you just got to make something right now. Everyone understands that it’s a pandemic, that yes, it is only twenty people outside with street noises. And that kind of gave me permission to be okay with not being perfect.
FUEL TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
Teme: One of the many things I love about your comedy is that you identify as a pessimist, but you have great energy that is actually really uplifting. How do you maintain that energy and resiliency?
Gianmarco: As an actor, you don’t necessarily get feedback. You can be unemployed for an insane amount of time and you don’t know what to do about it. Is it you? Is it your talent? Is it your agent? As a standup comedian, you still have all those [questions], but I still work every night.
I can be in the shittiest place career-wise where nothing’s working out and I’m in a very dark place and I’m losing motivation. Then I will perform, maybe even at one of the worst comedy clubs in the world, for an audience of twenty people who are decent audience members, and I’ll do a new joke, and I’ll crush. That’s enough fuel to fight another day. It recharges me in a way that’s hard to get in other artistic professions. It’s very visceral. That’s how I knew that standup was the right thing for me. When I was doing plays, there were some nights that I was like, “Pursuing this sucks. I’m not even having that much fun.” But that’s just how much I love standup. There’s so much social media work you have to do these days and it’s very tedious. But when I get on stage at night and there’s a bunch of people there, I just feel ready to do it all over again, and it all feels worth it.
Teme: What does your comedy says about you?
Gianmarco: I think my comedy says that I’m aware of my own faults and narcissism and selfishness and I’m trying to do better. I think it says about me that I can see the ways people are full of shit, but I don’t think of myself as above those people either. I am of the world of which I speak. I have a lot of stuff about being what I consider a failed actor and a dreamer, and the fact that I’m still on stage and performing shows that I think there’s value in talking about it. Even as pessimistic as the comedy might be, the fact that I’m doing it is a testament to the belief that I still think the art is worth making. I still think that we should gather in groups and laugh about these things. So I think my art is very cynical, but I think anyone who makes art is quite the optimist.
THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE LINCOLN LODGE
Teme: Of course, I want to ask you about your show in Chicago! What would you like people to know?
Gianmarco: It’s going to be very sharp. It’s going to be dark. It’s going to be a fantastic show. If you’re into the Anthony Jeselnik type humor and twists, Mulaney and Sebastian Maniscalco, I got plenty of that. It’s going to be the best that I have. So if you got a fucking sense of humor, you like to complain, if you’re Jewish of course, or if you identify as Jewish, even if you’re not, it’s going to be a very fun time.
Teme: What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago when you’re not on stage?
Gianmarco: I’ve only spent a little bit of time in Chicago and that’s why I’m dying to find what else to do there. Every time I go there, I try the pizza and I ask myself, “Okay, which is better?” So I’m definitely going to get another deep dish pizza while I’m there, but I’m just trying to stay warm. That’s all I think about when I go there, I’m like, “Fuck, why did I go here in February? I’m out of my mind!”
Teme: I know! I ask myself that same thing. What are you doing or thinking right before you go on stage?
Gianmarco: Part of me is just trying to get out of my head. I listen to music just to leave my thoughts, but I’m usually thinking about a couple new jokes and I’m like, “If this doesn’t work, I will refuse to enjoy the night.”
Teme: Do you have a most memorable encounter with a fan or audience member?
Gianmarco: Well, there’s one or two back in my single days that I won’t mention for this. It’s been a weird time with COVID. One woman at a casino was celebrating her 70th birthday and she wanted a picture. She was annoyed because I wanted to keep my mask on. I was like, “I’m doing this for you. I’ll be fine. I’m in my early thirties. This is your 70th birthday. What are you doing out? Are you out of your mind?”
Once, when I joked about a pharmacist telling me that I could mix the booster and the original [vaccine brand], this audience member said, “Oh, I didn’t know you could mix. I’ll go get my booster tomorrow.” I was like, “I’m glad, but is this how you get all your medical advice? At comedy shows? I’m right. But this is wrong.” I felt like I was the anti-Joe Rogan in that moment.
INSIGHTS
Teme: What is something unexpected about you that people might be surprised to know?
Gianmarco: Other than I have a girlfriend willing to put up with me, I have plenty of fans that are surprised that I’m straight. Every time I post a picture with my girlfriend, I swear I lose a couple hundred follows on Instagram. Hmm. I love doing escape rooms. That’s definitely what I’m going to do while I’m there, if I can find enough people to do one with me. Despite how negative I can be, I love group activities. I love social interaction with a common goal. I think it curbs my social anxiety. So that’s what I’d say, that I’m always down for an escape room and I hope someday I’m known for that so people invite me to do it with their friends.
Teme: What is a question no one’s ever asked you, but they should?
Gianmarco: I don’t know if I’m in a place to say it, but fuck it. Based on my parents’ divorce, I would say the key to a successful marriage is to arrange a life so if you got divorced, you would both be okay. Whenever there’s not a sense of independence, it creates shaky ground. Then if there is a divorce, it’s chaos, financially especially. Chaos.
If you are not preparing life for the worst that can happen, you’re not preparing yourself for the reality and so you’re not able to enjoy it fully. People think cynicism means you can never enjoy anything. But cynicism, I think, can be about being able to prepare for the future. I have a lot of friends getting married, having kids, and you see them believing that they’re somehow special and so they don’t prepare for the worst that life can bring. But cynicism is not about not enjoying life. It’s about being ready when life is not enjoyable.
Teme: Awesome advice. Absolutely anything else we should include?
Giancarlo: Check out my comedy online. Check out my Comedy Central clip if you want to see what I’m about. If you like jokes, if you like a lot of punchlines, I’m your guy and it’ll be a really fun Thursday night.
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Gianmarco Soresi is at the Lincoln Lodge on Thursday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets and more informationhere.
Gianmarco’s comedy special Shelf Life is available on Amazon Prime and as an album released by 800 Pound Gorilla Records.
I’ve been a comedy fan since age four when Moe Howard asked me, “What’s your name, lil’ goil?” Fortuitously somehow by way of Washington, D.C., Poughkeepsie and Jerusalem, I ended up in Chicago, the comedy Mecca of the world where comedians are kind enough to give me their time and where I was lucky enough to meet the great Dobie Maxwell who introduced me to the scene. You can reach me at: [email protected]. (Please remember the “w” there in the middle.)
I am often very reasonably asked, “How DO you pronounce that?” The spelling is Teme, but it’s pronounced Temmy.
A dog whisperer who can turn a 40 lb Labradoodle into a lap dog.A friend who charges nothing for interior design advice.A volunteer who can’t leave the healthcare environment behind.A chef who knows how to complement a delicious meal with a colorful plate.A Neil Diamond super fan, even if I am the only one who ever wears a Neil Diamond concert tee shirt.A community leader, always striving for improvement and beautification of the world around her.A needle-pointer extraordinaire, for whom the photographs of her handiwork above cannot begin to demonstrate the exquisite quality and magnificence of her work, or the love she pours into each canvas, each embellishment, and each and every stitch. (The hearts are from me!)A Nana whose grandchildren adore her.A mother who will drop everything to help her kids.The woman who is my wife of 43 years, the love of my life, my soulmate, my duet-partner. The woman who shares my brain.
Just remember, through it all, I Got You, Babe.
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Hi! I am Les, a practicing pathologist living in the North Suburbs and commuting every day to the Western ones. I have lived my entire life in the Chicago area, and have a pretty good feel for the place, its attractions, culture, restaurants and teams. My wife and I are empty-nesters with two adult children and a grandchild. We recently decided to downsize, but just a bit! I will be telling the story of the construction of our new home, but also writing about whatever gets me going on a particular day. Be sure to check out the “About” page to learn more about where we plan to go with this blog!
The romantic myth of Valentine’s Day would have you believe that your love is delivered in a box of chocolates or bouquet of flowers.
The cards offer rhymes and flowery prose, proclaiming how wonderful it is to be in love; gushing over times together when feelings are so intense, we feel overwhelmed in bliss. And therein lies the myth and the danger of Valentine sentimentality.
It is self-love that provides the foundation for loving others.
Self-love does not mean being a narcissist, overly involved with yourself and lacking compassion for others. Self-love is about being aware of your needs, setting boundaries and believing you are both loveable and worthy of being loved.
Your love for yourself allows you to feel positive about the person you are, enabling you in turn to sustain an intimate relationship with another, without losing yourself in the swirl of emotion that characterizes what the Valentine advertisements call love.
Over time, when mutual trust becomes established, you allow powerful feelings to surface, knowing the shared, tender emotions make you vulnerable. And front and center, therein surfaces the absolute necessity for the existence of self-love. It allows you to be in unity with another, but not merged with your identity lost. The love you feel grows, built on a foundation of trust and intimacy. And that cannot be ordered on-line from FDT or Amazon
The positive traits you bring to a relationship enable you to dance joyously in the “feeling” of love and stay firm in the sustained commitment that true love requires. The vow intrinsic to “I love you” is the commitment to continue sharing emotionally meaningful communication, each with the other, unwaveringly betting on a positive outcome despite knowing the risk.
As Psychologist Erich Fromm maintained in his book The Art of Loving, the “feeling” of love is superficial in comparison to one’s commitment to love as a concept; thus, love is not a feeling at all, but is an adherence to loving actions towards another, oneself, or many others, over a sustained duration. Love, then, is an activity, not simply a feeling.
Paradoxically, the one characteristic always included when defining love, is wanting what is best for the other.
Candies and flowers are thoughtful nods to the Valentine tradition, but the real gift is sharing the joys of a close, loving relationship while simultaneously remaining whole unto yourself.
Howard is the author of “Cheating Death: How to Add Years of Joy and Meaning to Life,” an inspiring series of essays that describe how reframing his attitude toward growing older – the inevitable losses in physicality and social influence – added personal fulfillment to his senior years. The book is available at the Amazon.com/Books web site.
He is the co-author of The In-Sourcing Handbook: Where and How to Find the Happiness You Deserve, a practical guide and instruction manual offering hands-on exercises to help guide readers to experience the transformative shift from simply tolerating life to celebrating life.
Fiction includes “73,” a collection of short stories exposing the social-media culture that regards people in their seventies as if they were old cars ready for the junk heap. The stories are about men and women running the gamut of emotions as they struggle to resist becoming irrelevant in a youth-oriented society.
Chicago’s most expensive condo sale in 2021 was in this building at 840 N Lake Shore
A couple of weeks ago I posted on how the Chicago luxury home market was on fire last year with a record setting 24 deals closed on the MLS. The focus of that post was single family homes but usually there are quite a few more luxury condos sold in a year. 2021 was exceptional in that regard with a record setting – at least a 15 year record based on the data available to me – 42 condos sold at or above $4 MM. That’s compared to only 10 the previous year.
As is usually the case just a few buildings account for the bulk of those sales:
11 at The St. Regis with prices ranging from $4.1 – $8.5 MM
7 at No. 9 Walton – $4.0 – 6.9 MM
7 at Tribune Tower – $4.0 – 8.1 MM
5 at One Bennett Park – $4.0 – 6.0 MM
I first covered No. 9 Walton in my recap of the most expensive condo sales of 2018. Interestingly, the building was completed in January 2019 and these units were listed by several different agents so I’m assuming these are resales. However, the prior sales information is spotty with strange sounding LLCs included in the chain of title. If these recorded sales were arms length then it looks like the sellers did OK. For instance, unit 2802 was bought for $6.14 MM in December 2019 and sold in March 2021 for $6.85 MM.
The sales at The St. Regis, One Bennett Park and Tribune Tower are all new units. Clearly the market for new construction, high end condos has been hot. I provided an overview of One Bennett Park in my 2019 recap of the most expensive condo sales.
The St. Regis sits on Wacker Dr. overlooking the Chicago River
The St. Regis (formerly known as the Wanda Vista Tower) had the 3rd and 4th most expensive condo sales last year at $8.5 MM and $8.2 MM. Located at 363 E Wacker, it’s technically part of the Lakeshore East development and it’s the third tallest building in Chicago with 101 stories. It started life as a joint venture between Magellan Development and the Wanda Group out of China but eventually Magellan bought out Wanda and replaced them with St. Regis Hotels – hence the name change. The building contains 393 condos and 191 hotel rooms and was designed by Studio Gang Architects, which is Jeanne Gang’s firm. Amenities are on the 47th floor and include a sky terrace, outdoor pool, lounge, dining room, fitness center, conference center, theater room, golf lounge, and a children’s activity room.
The St. Regis started closing on units in November 2020 and thus far has closed on 192 units – at least the ones recorded on the MLS. They currently have 7 units pending at prices higher than the ones that closed last year, the most expensive of which was unit 7101 listed at $18.5 MM. For that price you get the entire 10,000 square foot floor with 11 foot ceilings. If I come back in another life as a full commission realtor I’ll buy one of those.
The two most expensive St. Regis units that closed last year were units 7501 and 7801, which were both full floor, 4 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath units but unit 7501 was 5734 sq ft while unit 7801 was 6121 sq ft. Keep in mind that the building does not have straight sides so the floors are not the same size. Interestingly, unit 7501 actually sold at a higher price even though it was listed lower than unit 7801. This could be due to the fact that it went under contract later, possibly when the developer was feeling more confident about the prospects for the development. Unit 7801 sold at a 10% discount to its list price, which is a bit unusual for new construction.
To make matters even more interesting unit 7801 is back on the market as a resale, listed for just under $10 MM. It will be interesting to see what it ends up going for.
Last year’s second highest condo sale is perhaps the most architecturally interesting of the top 4 so I’ve included a slide show with some of the photos at the bottom of this post. (In particular pay attention to the views out the windows in the background of some of the photos.) Unit S3801 in Lincoln Park’s 2550 sold as 8167 sq ft of raw space on the top two floors of the building (38 and 39) with 3 parking spaces for $6 MM in late 2015 to Daniel and Megan O’Keefe. Daniel was a portfolio manager with Artisan Partners and it appears as though they may have bought and sold multiple units in the building. After finishing out this duplex unit they put it back on the market with 5 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, and 6 parking spaces (3 more than they started with) for $13 MM in July 2020, finally selling it in January 2021 for $9 MM to an unknown buyer. Finishing out 8167 sq ft could easily cost $3 MM or more and, given the list price and the 3 additional parking spaces, it’s entirely possible this was not a good deal for the O’Keefes.
The highest priced condo sale last year was the full floor 8800 sq ft penthouse on the top floor (26) of the Lucien Lagrange designed building at 840 N Lake Shore Dr. The unit was bought by Bruce and Elizabeth White in 2005 as raw space (price unknown) and built out into a 6 bedroom condo with 6 full baths and 2 half baths. It was listed in April 2019 for $13.5 MM and finally sold in July of last year for $11.25 MM with no price reductions in between.
Bruce White is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of White Lodging, which is a hotel management company, but he also happens to be the son of a billionaire, Dean White. The White’s sold their condo because they were moving to their ranch in Wyoming. Unfortunately, the buyer’s identity is unknown.
Gary Lucido is the President of Lucid Realty, the Chicago area’s full service real estate brokerage that offers home buyer rebates and discount commissions. If you want to keep up to date on the Chicago real estate market or get an insider’s view of the seamy underbelly of the real estate industry you can Subscribe to Getting Real by Email using the form below. Please be sure to verify your email address when you receive the verification notice.
After 20 years in the corporate world and running an Internet company, Gary started Lucid Realty with his partner, Sari. The company provides full service, while discounting commissions for sellers and giving buyers rebates.
As we stare down the barrel of another Valentine’s Day, I’d like to send a few words of encouragement to the 124.6 million single US adults out there. I also want to encourage those within relationship limbo, situationships, and those that have hit a snag in their longstanding partnerships.
Truthfully, Valentine’s Day can breed discontent regardless of your relationship status.
By the time you read this, you’ve probably heard Muni Long’s “Hours and Hours” several times, and have seen weekend proposals that were more dramatic than a soap opera, and/or numerous declarations of love that just let’s be clear, seem way too perfect to be real-life situations.
It’s almost like people are shoving their love down your throats!
Sex Therapist Dr. Kres Snyder
But before you decide to give up on the day, allow me to put some things in perspective. February 14th is 24hrs only. Just like any other day, there are so many things you can do to alleviate the exposure to love overload. I reached out to Sex Therapist Dr. Kres Snyder of Minds Empowered Counseling Services and Sex Confidence Coach, Coco the Conversational Freak to offer their advice on how to make the day special whether you have a boo or not.
Sex Confidence Coach, CoCo, The Conversational Freak
TIP 1. LEAN INTO YOUR FEELINGS
Dr. Kres: “Everyone says don’t be sad. No one says it’s ok. We don’t always get to have what we want. It’s called balance. We have to take good with bad. Reflect in times of sadness. Celebrate in those of joy. Sadness at times can fuel us. It can create the push to be better, do more, and find love in a good way.
TIP 2. We don’t need to have a person just to say we have one. We need what belongs to us.
TIP 3. GET YOUR SEXY ON!
Coco, Sex Confidence Coach: “Feeling sexy is inner work and has nothing to do with your relationship status.
TIP 4. Being single on Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to focus on yourself and be your own best lover because at the end of the day, who knows your deepest desires better than you?
Learning to cater to yourself sets the tone of the lover you want to attract and the standards that they will have to meet. Make sure to love on yourself and celebrate self-love and pleasure this Valentine’s Day.”
TIP 5. CELEBRATE A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE
Dr. Kres: “The thing is love is awesome. Love though comes in many forms. We can’t forget to express and welcome love in all its ways. The more we lean into it the more we have the opportunity to enjoy it when it comes romantically. Spend time connecting with yourself, your friends, and your kids if you have them. I’m going to have a FaceTime dinner with my daughter, and we’re watching one of our favorite romantic comedies. It doesn’t have to be a grand overture, but being in tune with your Circle of Excellence, the people that matter in your life can help you enjoy your day.”
Coco, Sex Confidence Coach, adds the final tip:
TIP 6. How do you feel about yourself? Changing perception and mindset is key.
Thus, whether you’re treating yourself to something nice, or calling your bestie, love is all around us, we just have to pay attention to what we have. Just remember one thing, you’re special. Being in a relationship doesn’t define your worth, and if no one told you today, I’m rooting for you. Your path is already written and love will find you.
Sep 12, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson (27) is stopped by ChicagoBears inside linebacker Roquan Smith (58) after a short gain in the first half of the game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
For the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Rams showed the importance of having a dominant player on the field at all times on Sunday as the Rams’ defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl 23-20. The Rams received a dominant performance from defensive tackle Aaron Donald and wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
Donald had two sacks on Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow on Sunday including the sack that secured the game on fourth down during the Bengals’ final drive in the fourth quarter. Kupp, on the other-hand, compiled 92 receiving yards on 8 receptions and 2 touchdowns. Kupp’s second touchdown of the game was the game-winner for the Rams.
The performances by both Donald and Kupp showed the true importance of having impact players on both sides of the ball. Kupp and Donald took over during the second half of the Super Bowl on Sunday night and that is the reason why the Rams are waking up on Monday as Super Bowl champions.
The closest thing that the Bears have gotten to a dominating performance in the Super Bowl in the 21st century is when Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff of Super Bowl 41 against the Indianapolis Colts for a touchdown. However, even with Hester’s historic return, the Bears still wound up losing the game 29-17.
The Chicago Bears need to find their version of Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp before they can contend for a Super Bowl.
Outside of the performance by linebacker Khalil Mack during the first 8 games of the 2018 season, the Bears have failed to the have a player that can take control of the game and will the team to victory the way that Donald and Kupp did for the Rams on Sunday night.
The Bears are going to need to find that player before they can be seriously considered as a Super Bowl Contender. Here are three predictions for who that player may be.
With February being Black History Month, it would be wrong to not feature some awesome black-owned foodie spots, right? But did you know Chicago has our one-of-a-kind Black Restaurant Week as well? The Chicago Black Restaurant Week (CBRW) is a week-long event designed to celebrate amazing food and beverage businesses, owned by African Americans in our community. It has been running since 2015 and is easily the best time of the year to discover black-owned spots that will keep you coming back.
So, what are some of the tastiest black-owned restaurants participating in CBRW this year? Let’s take a look!
Speaking of hidden gems, Hidden Manna Cafe is about as good as it gets. This place is so gosh darn good that it has a waitlist currently! Come enjoy some saucy cajun soul food in the warm and welcoming environment. Boasting flavorful cuisine and heartwarming customer service, Hidden Manna Cafe is undoubtedly the local’s favorite in Matteson, IL.
Maybe it’s the weather but lately, we’ve been having those days when… ya know… we just crave K+K’s lobster mac and cheese. Should we be ashamed?! Jokes aside, Kitchen and Kocktails has been a superstar since day one with their elevated yet still intimate ambiance and outstandingly innovative menu, plus seasonal special plates. So, if you’re looking to really make this Chicago Black Restaurant Week worth it, come check out K+K!
Do you hit a home-life blue and just don’t want to cook whatsoever? Well, we do. That’s why you need to check out Flippin Flavors. This place is so good that they’ve had people driving all the way in from Indiana just for the Jerk Chicken salad. The amazing humans behind Flippin Flavors have a lifetime mission of providing good, clean & all-natural marinades, foods, and seasonings. You can order from their restaurant menu, or check out the catering option for your next gathering!
Solid drinks, sophisticated vibes, and the most lit live music — do we need to say anything more? If you’ve never been out to Copper Still in Homewood, IL, you’re missing out big time. This black-owned martini lounge and speakeasy promises that there will never be a dull night at The Still. So, check out their live music schedule, martini making classes, karaoke nights, and even the secret speakeasy events “Under the Still!”
Literature and coffee lovers? Come to Afro Joe’s Cafe for a good classic cup of coffee and some private reading time. This cozy little joint features delicious beverages and quick bites, rotating art features, live performances, and first Friday open mics. Whether you’re reading a modern business book with your espresso, or losing yourself in a good old Emily Dickinson with some freshly brewed loose leaf tea, Afro’s the place for you!
No worries, we aren’t forgetting you lovely veggie eaters. We’re actually saving the best for the last! So, may we present you… the Black Vegan Restaurant right here on 23rd and S. Kedzie? Known for their ridiculously tasty jackfruit sliders, The Black Vegan is a hidden gem only true vegan foodies know of! Other menu items that keep us coming back include the sweet or tangy vegan chicken wraps, the portabella wings, and the tofu-based BBQ ribs…
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