Read More

The new book Modern in the Middle spotlights 53 iconic homes — and their original residents.Read More

Read More

Summer 2020 was a far cry from a normal summer and it looks as though Summer 2021 may be the exact same as the city announced yesterday that they have not budgeted to hold either the Air and Water Show or the Taste of Chicago next summer.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on and projects to make large public events and gatherings obsolete for the time being, the city is choosing not to schedule out events that draw massive crowds downtown. Per the city’s website, the Taste itself attracts more than 1.5 million people to the internationally known culinary experience while the Air and Water Show uses its August weekend and draws nearly 2 million towards North Avenue Beach and surrounding parks.

When it comes to Chicago’s summer destination events, these two might as well be the Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of things to do in Chicago.

Now, it’s important to note that the events haven’t been canceled yet. Special Events Commissioner for the City of Chicago Mark Kelly reiterated this to city council during an annual budget meeting. However, considering it takes $9 million to run these two events and the fact that they have not been scheduled, makes it easy to connect the dots.

Due to the pandemic, the city’s budget has been slashed and the special events department relies heavily on tourism and other tourist-centric sources to pay for the events it puts on. As we know, tourism is way down in 2020, nearly half of the $40 million Kelly was counting on for the year has actually come in, and events such as the Taste and Air and Water Show were two of the larger cancellations. Kelly cites that his expected 2021 budget will be around $25 million, making it incredibly difficult to put on events of such scale despite the fact that events like the Taste generally result in positive financial gain for the city.

---

BREAKING: THE UM MERCH LINE HAS DROPPED!

You may not be able to wear anything to the Taste of Chicago or Air and Water Show this year, but, don’t let that stop you from copping Chicago’s latest merch deals.

Introducing the UM Chicago Merch Line

---

It’s about safety at this point, as well as money. But the mayor has been vigilant in her efforts to keep Chicagoans safe and with the sheer uncertainty of where we’ll be in eight months from now let alone eight days, it makes sense as to why the Special Events Commissioner and the Mayor’s office would table the commitments to two massive events.

They’re iconic. And they’re fun, make no mistake about that. I lived in River North high rises with accessible rooftops and I’ve lived in the South Loop directly overlooking Grant Park. These are events that are woven into the fabric of this city and become destination events for people who are looking for their experience of Summertime Chi. However, 2020 has been a wildly different year, and 2021 projects to be the same way.

The city will continue to be creative in their efforts to provide entertainment to people with ideas like reimagined festivals and concerts, safe block parties, and more even if events of size like the Taste of Chicago and Air and Water Show are simply too big, and too much of a draw, to safely put on as it stands right now for 2021.

At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Taste of Chicago Facebook

 

READ MORE LIKE THISDOWNLOAD THE URBANMATTER APPFIND PARKING 

The post Taste of Chicago, Air and Water Show Not Budgeted for in 2021 Due to COVID-19 appeared first on UrbanMatter.

Read More

The Chicago Bulls have more than likely found their favorite prospect at pick no. 4 in the upcoming NBA Draft. With 12 days to go before the 2020 NBA Draft, it seems like the Chicago Bulls are more and more likely to use that no. 4 pick on one guy in particular. While there is […]

Chicago Bulls Rumors: Favorite draft prospect emerging at pick no. 4 – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

Read More

File photo of a deer check station sign. | Dale Bowman

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced the protocols for the CWD deer check stations during the pandemic.

Protocols for deer check stations during the firearm seasons were announced today by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The IDNR had the protocols ready for weeks, but final approval needed to come from the Governor’s office.

The final protocols are pretty much what a source said the IDNR had prepared. Frankly, the protocols pretty much make sense. The one that will hurt and that I will most miss is the interaction among hunters BSing about their deer and other deer being checked in.

Here is the breakdown from the IDNR:

IDNR Announces Health and Safety Procedures for Firearm Deer Check Stations in CWD Counties

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced changes to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) check station procedures during the 2020 seven-day Illinois Firearm Deer Hunting Season (Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 3-6). The changes, health and safety protocols implemented in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, will provide greater protection to both the hunting public and IDNR staff during the season.

Hunters should follow all public health guidelines issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Through responsible actions, hunters can help ensure that site hunting programs continue to offer Illinoisans healthy outdoor recreation opportunities.

IDNR is reminding deer hunters that in the counties of Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will, and Winnebago, successful firearm deer hunters must take their deer (either whole or field-dressed) to a designated firearm deer check station on the same day it is harvested. Daily check station hours are 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. For the dates Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 3-6, all deer harvested by hunters using a firearm deer permit in CWD counties are required to be checked at a CWD check station; these deer should not be checked through the online or telephone system.

*New for 2020*

Carroll County now has a CWD check station at Mississippi Palisades State Park on Illinois Route 84 north of Savanna. All deer harvested in Carroll County during the seven-day Firearm Deer Season must be taken to a CWD check station. More information can be found on pages 20-21 of the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations or online at https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/programs/CWD/Pages/default.aspx

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the following changes will apply to CWD check stations:

1. Hunters should remain in their vehicles until approached by IDNR staff. Hunters are encouraged to arrive at check stations with their deer positioned so that the head and neck are accessible. Hunters entering the vehicle line at a CWD check station should be aware of updated signage and possible changes to previous traffic flow patterns. IDNR requests hunters stay in their vehicle until approached by a check station worker who will provide additional information. IDNR staff will ask one member of each hunting party to exit the vehicle at a time.

2. Hunters will be asked to wear a face mask at all times when out of their vehicle. All IDNR staff will be wearing face masks and gloves when interacting with the public at CWD check stations. IDNR is asking any hunters who must exit their vehicle to wear a face mask while out of the vehicle.

3. Hunters will not need to enter any indoor areas of check stations. Laminated maps will be moved outside at all check stations; hunters will have no need to enter the building at any check station.

4. IDNR staff will practice regular cleaning procedures. Check station workers will regularly sanitize maps, tables, and other commonly-used areas of check stations. Hand sanitizer will be made readily available.

5. Hunters will be encouraged to leave the check station as soon as their deer has been checked. In previous years, hunters would often remain at the check station to greet other hunters and view deer as they come in. To limit vehicle congestion and crowding at the check stations, hunters should move on once IDNR staff informs them they have successfully checked their deer.

These procedures may be further amended if health and safety protocols require changes prior to the firearm deer season. Hunters should check the IDNR website for updates at https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr

Locations of CWD check stations can be found below:

Boone

Boone County Fairgrounds, 1/2 mi. N. of Rt. 76 and Bus. Rt. 20, Belvidere

Carroll

Mississippi Palisades State Park, 3 miles N of Savanna at 16327 IL Route 84

DeKalb

Shabbona Lake State Park, 4201 Shabbona Grove Rd., Shabbona

Grundy

Gebhard Woods State Park. 401 Ottawa Street, Morris

Jo Daviess

Elizabeth Community Building, 210 N. West St., Elizabeth 1/2 mi. W. of business district on Hwy. 20, next to Highland C.C. Elizabeth campus

Kane

Use Boone, DeKalb, Kendall or McHenry check station

Kankakee

Kankakee River State Park Visitors Center, 4 mi. NW of Bourbonnais at 5214 W. State Rt. 102

Kendall

Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area, 4.5 mi. W. of Yorkville at 13608 Fox Road

LaSalle

Buffalo Rock State Park. 3 mi. W. of Ottawa on Dee Bennett Road

Livingston

Pontiac Sportsman’s Club, 1/2 mi. N.W. of Livingston Co. Ag Fairgrounds at 18663 4-H Park Road., Pontiac (just west of I-55)

McHenry

Moraine Hills State Park, McHenry Dam Day Use Area, East of McHenry on River Rd., 2.2 mi. S. of Rt. 120

Ogle

Castle Rock State Park, Rt. 2, 3 mi. S. of Oregon

Stephenson

Stephenson County Fairgrounds, 1 mi. E. of Rt. 26 and Fairgrounds Rd., Freeport

Will

Des Plaines Game Propagation Center. East of I-55 at 30550 S. Boathouse Road, Wilmington

Winnebago

Rock Cut State Park, 6425 Hart Rd., Loves Park: 0.9 mi. E. of N. Perryville Rd. on Hart Rd.

Read More

Read More

The new book Modern in the Middle spotlights 53 iconic homes — and their original residents.Read More

Do you have $19M just laying around? No? Neither do I but that didn’t stop me exploring this $18.75M mansion in Gold Coast as if purchasing it was a legitimate option of mine. I did the same thing a couple of weeks ago when we wrote up the $45M mega-mansion in Lincoln Park that broke records for the neighborhood as the single-most expensive listing in Chicago when it hit the market.

Just a little bit south of LP, right on the edge of Gold Coast and Old Town sits 3 W Burton Place—a 20,000 sq ft. gaudy monstrosity that’s equal parts stunning and perplexing. The house was built before 1980 but it went through a renovation in 2000. It sits in the area of Gold Coast that you know exists just south of North Avenue’s parks but also that you never ever think to walk through because you know by doing so, you’ll just feel insanely poor and bad about yourself. It’s also just one block north of the original Playboy Mansion which is pretty neat. The house was previously owned by millionaire philanthropies Jay Jordan. Jordan is the founder of The Jordan Company, a private equity firm that specializes in leveraged buyouts. The irony.

Now I took a scroll through these pictures of 3 W Burton and I have to admit, this house raises a few questions. For starters, the game and recreation room, or whatever it is, kind of looks like it belongs in a cabin in the mountains somewhere while probably like two floors down you have a master bathroom that’s draped head to toe in black marble probably worth more than 40x my yearly salary.

---

View the Best Pizza Restaurants in Chicago, Ranked

Are you trying to find the best pizza places in Chicago to visit? View our list of the top 42 pizza restaurants in the city.

Scenic Motorcycle Routes Near Chicago

---

However, that’s not to knock the structure. It’s gorgeous head to toe. In fact, the 6-bed, 13-bath house boasts hallways that would make Hogwarts look silly. And the craziest part about all of it? It’s like a four-minute stroll to the closest Jeni’s Ice Cream. I mean, does it get much better than that? A couple of other cool things about the house includes a theater room, a wine cellar that’s more like a wine basement, a home gym, and a laundry room that is bigger than my apartment. When Big Sean sang about his closet, this is the house he was referring to.

The listing belongs to Katherine Malkin of Compass. She can expect a decent little commission off this sale, as I’m sure it will fly off the market. To look at all the pictures and for more information, you can see the full Zillow listing here. 

For more real estate content keep on coming back to UrbanMatter Chicago. We have the latest in updates, house listings, and commentary regarding some of the most obnoxious, gaudy listings this city has to offer.

At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Compass via Zillow

 

READ MORE LIKE THISDOWNLOAD THE URBANMATTER APPFIND PARKING 

The post $18.75M Mansion in Chicago’s Gold Coast Hits the Market appeared first on UrbanMatter.

Read More

One of the things that makes Chicago so unique is its rich tapestry of neighborhoods, each one with a different vibe no similar to its neighbor in any direction. Any one of The Chicago 77 is a badge of honor that its citizens wear proudly, representing which section of the quilt is theirs. They wear it loud and they wear it proud. And now you, too, can represent your city and your neighborhood proudly with the BRAND NEW UrbanMatter Chicago merchandise line.

Chicago has traditionally been divided into three sides: the North Side, the West Side, and the South Side, using the Chicago River as its divider. And while you can’t most certainly signify that with the Chicago flag, why not represent where you live proudly across your chest? Need a sweatshirt for the impending frigid weather? We got you with one of our colorful “Chicago Against the World” hoodies. Perhaps you just want to rep the brand with our high quality, comfort-fit t-shirts or softball style shirts in a color of your choosing. The possibilities are endless and ever-updating.

But, unlike anywhere else in Chicago, this is your time to really represent the neighborhood you live in, grew up in, or identify with. This is your calling card. Rep it proudly. I personally have my Jefferson Park over Everything shirt and wear it basically every time I head into Andy’s Deli on Milwaukee Ave. That’s my spot, and UM’s merchandise is the perfect accompaniment for you wherever you stroll to within your neighborhood.

But it doesn’t stop there. Not only will UM Chicago give you a shot to represent your neighborhood, whichever one you live in, or your city as a whole, various merch items in addition include our spin on a political satire with two of Chicago’s iconic food items in Dogs/Beef 2020, UrbanMatter Chicago mugs to satisfy your work from home coffee obsession and various graphic tee’s including iconic Chicago landmarks you know and love.

All of UM Chicago’s gear is preshrunk and fits true to size with soft material and non-fade embroidery or screen printing. It’s great for yourself or to give as a gift this holiday season and at a comfortable price point, you can buy one or four or fifteen. I’m not going to be the one to pressure you to do so, but do so. From now until the end of November, use code UMATTER15 to get 15% off your first purchase!

Take a look at the entire catalog of UrbanMatter Chicago’s merchandise shop right here!

 

At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Provided

 

READ MORE LIKE THISDOWNLOAD THE URBANMATTER APPFIND PARKING 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Introducing: The All New UrbanMatter Merch Line! appeared first on UrbanMatter.

Read More