Know How To Analyze Budgets? The City Council Wants You

Polish off the old resume!

Ald. Pawar tweeted:

"Want to prevent a repeat of parking meter deal? On 5/1 apply to run new independent budget office. Email resumes to: COFA@cityofchicago.org."

Progress Illinois writes, "Chicago aldermen approved a long-proposed plan to set up an independent budget office tasked with analyzing financial matters under consideration by the city council.

Chicago is the fourth major U.S. city to adopt such an office, which was originally spearheaded in the council by Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) and co-sponsors Alds. Michele Smith (43rd) and Pat Dowell (3rd).  The office, which will employ six staffers, is set to receive $485,000 in funding a year."  More here.

Good luck to all financial wizards who apply!

CPNA Residents Asked To Weigh In On Proposed Wine Shop

1025 West Sunnyside

If you live in the Clarendon Park Neighbors block club area (Montrose to Wilson, east of Broadway), this is for you:

"A new business would like to open in the Clarendon Park area, but would need a special use permit based on the current zoning.  Alderman Cappleman would like your input.

The proposal is to open a wine shop/liquor store in the former Salvation Army building on the southeast corner of Broadway and Sunnyside.  The proposed store would front Broadway. To do this, the owner would need to apply for a "special use" to solely sell liquor, which is not permitted by current zoning.

Alderman Cappleman would like to know where the Clarendon Park neighborhood stands on this, and has scheduled a meeting at his office for Thursday, May 1, from 6-7 pm, for us to meet with the prospective owner. Please come and share your thoughts. If you cannot make the meeting, please contact the Alderman's office to share your perspective on this issue.

Looking forward to seeing you on May 1 at the Alderman's office."

UU Note:  This is a zoning change, not a lifting of the packaged liquor moratorium that exists on Broadway north of Sunnyside.  If the "special use" is approved, it would affect this property only and this business only.  It would not allow any other businesses on the street to be able to sell packaged liquor or lift the existing moratorium that exists on Broadway north of Sunnyside.

Man Wanted For Attempted Kidnapping In Lincoln Square

This didn't happen in Uptown, but it was close enough that the creep might show up here.  If you have kids, it's a good time to review with them what to do in case they're ever approached:

Monday morning, a 12-year-old girl was walking to school through an alley near Montrose and Western. She was approached by an approximately 35-year-old man who tried to get her to get into his car.  She turned around and ran.

• The guy:  The driver was described as a male Asian, approximately 30-35 years old with short dark hair. The offender spoke with an accent.
• The car: The offender was observed in a white or light grey four-door car.

Please remind your kids not to walk through alleys, especially if they're alone.  This girl did exactly what she should have done: she didn't engage the guy in conversation, she ran, and she reported it.  Tell your kids to go to businesses or trusted neighbors should something like this happen to them.

If you have any information that might help the police in this matter, call (312) 744-8200 and reference case RD# HX242188.

Got E-Recycling? Need Documents Shredded?

Ald. Osterman's office is sponsoring an electronics recycling/paper shredding event this Saturday, May 3rd, between 9am and noon, taking place at the 46th/48th Ward Streets & San Yard (5853 N Broadway).

"Electronic waste will be accepted for appropriate recycling at an event at the 48th Ward Streets & Sanitation Yard co-sponsored by Alderman Harry Osterman, State Representative Kelly Cassidy, State Senator Heather Steans and the Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project.

It's against the law to put electronics into the regular trash so this is a great opportunity to clear out those old computers, laptops, phones, cameras, small appliances, monitors, etc. Basically anything that gets plugged in or runs on a battery will be accepted except for automobile batteries and very large appliances like refrigerators.

Free document shredding will also be available. You can watch your documents being shredded.  For more information, contact ginger@48thward.org."

WaveFront Music Festival Moving To South Side?

It's unconfirmed, but several music websites are saying today that the Wavefront Music Festival, which has been held for the past two years at Montrose Beach, will be moving to 31st Street Beach this year, due to complaints about the vibrations from the music.

According to an article yesterday in DNAinfo, Ald. Osterman had requested sound tests prior to signing off his approval on the fest.  UU's own experience is that noise complaints last year came from residents in the north part of Uptown and Edgewater, who heard the bass vibrations more strongly than people right by the beach.  People living on the 4200 block of Marine, near the festival itself, said the music sounded like someone was playing a radio.  People on the 5100 block of Marine told us pictures were falling off the wall due to the vibrations.

Right now the organizers of Wavefront Festival haven't confirmed or denied anything on Twitter or Facebook.  Treat this as a rumor until official word comes out.

Subway Sandwich Shop Re-Opens

If you've missed your five-dollar foot-longs at Wilson and Magnolia, you'll be especially happy to hear that the Subway there has reopened after seven months of repairs to the storefront.  A reader posted the above photo to UU's Facebook page and says she was happy to discover that the shop is still managed by the same owners.

It closed last September for a quick remodel, but then severe structural problems were discovered in the storefront and months of rebuilding were required.  We're happy to see them back in action.

Property Taxes -- They're Appealing

If you think your property taxes are too high, and have a good reason to appeal how they're assessed, it's time.

For taxation purposes, all of Uptown is in Lakeview Township (bordered by Western, Fullerton, Devon and the lake).  If you want to appeal your property taxes, there's a lot of information here, on Rep. Bridget Gainer's website.

Deadline is May 12, so get cracking!

Ald. Pawar sent out a notice that "Staff from County Commissioner Fritchey and Commissioner Gainer's offices will be hosting satellite hours in the 47th Ward Office this Wednesday, April 30th from 1pm to 5pm.   Please bring your most recent property tax bill (the "yellow form") and any additional documents, such as a recent appraisal, that may be helpful for your appeal."

Visioning Meeting For Sheridan North Of Ainslie

From Ald. Osterman:

"Dear Neighbor,

I would like to cordially invite you to a visioning meeting to discuss future business opportunities and/or development on Sheridan Road between Berwyn and Ainslie. With the arrival of Mariano's, the pending development of the Somerset and much excitement on Argyle Street, I strongly believe this area is ripe for quality commercial development. This meeting will be a time to share development ideas and possibilities.

Please share with your block clubs, neighbors or organizations.

Sheridan Road Development Meeting
Monday, April 28 at 6:00pm*
Tweet, 5020 N. Sheridan Road

*note new time

Sincerely,
Harry Osterman"

Nhulan Sandwich Shop Coming To Weiss Plaza

Photo of Nhulan on Lawrence courtesy of Gaper's Block

When U.S. Sub closed last year, there was a vacancy at 4810 North Sheridan in Weiss Plaza.  In March of this year, we found out a sandwich shop was going in.

Today, a sharp-eyed reader noticed the sign for the plaza's Grand Re-Opening mentioned Nhulan and put two and two together.

Seems like Nhulan Bakery in Lincoln Square is bringing its heavenly banh mi to Uptown.

We don't know if they're moving from the current location at 2611 West Lawrence or if this will be an additional location.  But we are looking forward to their presence.

Grand Re-Opening Of Weiss Plaza Happening Now

The Grand Re-Opening of Weiss Plaza, at the northwest corner of Sheridan and Lawrence, is going on now.  We hear rumors of police horses and firetrucks, speakers and lots of fun.

Many people have worked hard for the past year to make it a safe place in our community.  Please come out and join the celebration and hear about what's been happening and what's different.  The celebration lasts until 3pm.

Saturday Special Deals At The Shops of Times Square

According to Buena Park Neighbors, there's a lot going on for bargain hunters in Times Square today (the building with the bright blue awnings on Broadway between Gordon and Buena):

• Curious Creatures is having a Grand Opening
  
  

• La Boudoir (4141 North Broadway) is offering big savings:  "Get a 50% discount on any hair service (color, cut, etc.) two ways.  (1) Come in Saturday between 10am and 4pm for service. (2) Book an appointment for anytime online as long as you book  it  between 10am and 4pm on Saturday."
  
  

• Sparkle (4139 N. Broadway) is offering 50% off everything in the store on Saturday.  Come in for lovely gifts and home decor.

Bob Rehak's Photos On Display At Wilson Abbey

Today is the opening for the exhibit of Bob Rehak's 1970s portraits of Uptown and its residents at Wilson Abbey, 935 West Wilson.  The exhibit will run through the end of May, with a reception on May 2nd.  There are 13 signed and numbered prints on display, which are available for purchase.

If you love Mr. Rehak's work, as we do, you won't want to miss this.  If you'd like to see more of his photos, there are some on display at the newly opened FLATS building at 4875 Magnolia (where he is the featured artist whose work is on permanent display).  There are many portraits available on his website, and in his book, Uptown: Portrait of a Chicago Neighborhood in the Mid-1970s.  (Buy it directly from Bob and get an inscribed copy, something not available to Amazon and Barnes & Noble customers.)

If you're not familiar with his work, please check it out.  It shows an Uptown that is barely recognizable today.  As Mr. Rehak said after coming back to Uptown last autumn for the first time in many years:

"I was shocked by how much Uptown today has improved compared to what it was in the mid-1970s. The burned out buildings, bars, pawnshops and resale shops that defined Uptown in the mid-1970s are virtually gone. So are the litter, graffiti, abandoned cars, and run down houses. In their place are nice new buildings and trees – lots of trees. The businesses I visited seemed to be busy and prosperous. I sensed optimism and hope in the people I talked to. Property values seemed to be improving.  That’s a tribute to all those who never gave up on Uptown and saw something worth saving. It took a lot of hard work, vision, faith, creativity and dedication to make those improvements."

"Curious Creatures" Grand Opening Saturday

There's a new and unique business opening today in Buena Park:  Curious Creatures LLC.

The owners are Andrew Babbitt and Alison Pelletier, whose love of animals inspired them to open a pet store specializing in reptiles and all they entail.  Although chain stores like PetSmart and Petco have reptile sections, the closest dedicated reptile store is in Orland Park, so Andrew and Alison hope to become the North Side's go-to destination for all things reptilian.

Curious Creatures LLC is located at 4131-4133 North Broadway, in the Times Square Building (Broadway at Gordon Terrace).  They're still working on their website, but their Facebook page is up and running at https://www.facebook.com/CuriousCreaturesLLC.  The store's phone number is (773) 698-8333.

The Grand Opening hours are 10am-7pm.  For now, Curious Creatures will be open seven days a week while Alison and Andrew get to know Buena Park (and vice versa): 

• Monday thru Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What's in store for the Grand Opening?

The Grand Opening raffle prize

• The first 24 people to buy crickets will get a free cricket cage. (You can hear the crickets chirping inside the store, which provides a lovely backdrop to all the critters on view.)
• Everyone who makes a purchase today will receive a raffle ticket, and at the end of the day, a gorgeous terrarium will be given away to the winner (who need not be present).
• Dogs are welcome, as long as they're leashed.  Andrew and Alison have three dogs of their own who will hang out in the store.         

So here's what to expect when you visit:

The turtle condo, as soon as you walk in the front door

The snakes, which were shy when we were there

The store carries a full line of Repashy foods, from "Veggie Burger" to gecko chow.
There's also a small selection of cat and dog food.

The lizards were much more accommodating, and while we can't remember the names of all of the varieties in the photos, they were charming and even tolerated being petted. We learned that they are mostly herbivores, but a few eat frozen thawed rats and quail eggs. We highly recommend trying to get a glimpse of the blue-tongued skink, who does indeed look like he's been dipping his tongue in ink.

We wish Curious Creatures a very grand Grand Opening and much success.  Stop on by!

Clean & Green On Saturday

It's Clean and Green -- the city's annual spring cleaning!

If you're not part of your block club's efforts, and if you're not taking part in the 47th or 48th Ward activities, please consider helping clean up some of Uptown's public places:

• Sunnyside Mall
• Clarendon Park
• Buttercup Playlot

From Graceland Wilson block club's newsletter:

Join us for Clean and Green on Saturday, April 26th at Sunnyside and Magnolia at 9am. We'll have garbage bags for picking up trash as well as coffee and treats. Bring your own gloves or any other helpful tools. We'll be there until 10:30 or so; any help is appreciated!

From Clarendon Park Neighbors:

Hi Neighbors:  What better way to celebrate the appearance of spring in our neighborhood than to pick up some trash?!!! 

In coordination with the city's Clean and Green day, we will meet at 10 am this coming Saturday, 4/26 in front of Clarendon Park (Clarendon and Sunnyside) to clean up our sidewalks and parkways (that's what that area between the sidewalk and the street is called, dontcha know)! If you show up, your street will get cleaned.  

We will have rakes, shovels, and bags ready, courtesy of Streets and Sanitation. You should bring some gloves. In past years, we have gotten A LOT of cleaning done in just an hour or two.  

Wanna help in picking up rakes and shovels beforehand? Wanna buy some doughnuts for the cleaning crew? Let me know and I'll let you know how you can provide some extra help. Otherwise, we just need YOU on Saturday morning. 

From Buttercup Park Advisory Committee:

More About Buena Park Parking/Water Main Repair

From Ald. Cappleman's weekly newsletter:

"Starting today, the City's Water Department will start replacing a century-old water main at the following locations:

• Sheridan Road (Irving Park to Buena)
• Cuyler (Broadway to Sheridan)
• Gordon Terrace (Broadway to Sheridan)

The 46th Ward Office was only recently notified that the construction was going to begin now, so we are currently working with the Park District and other local businesses to check for alternative parking options during construction.

Please contact our office at 773-878-4646 to find out what is available.

We apologize for the inconvenience."

"Uptown Underground" Coming Soon To UBB

"Kiss Kiss Cabaret," part of Uptown Underground in the basement of the Uptown Broadway Building at Broadway and Leland, is making their new home at bit more official. A reader spotted a sign on the door at 4707 N. Broadway. Lots of activity on their Facebook page as well, so be sure to "like" it and check it out!

Buena No-Park-ing?

Parking is going to be a little, um, challenging in Buena Park for the next month, as a reader discovered Thursday.

Due to a water main project, there will be no street parking between 7am and 4pm Monday through Friday on many of Buena Park's streets until May 25th.

Our reader says, "From my brief trip looking for parking, I can say there is no parking on any street from Irving Park through at least Buena, including all of the side streets (Cuyler, Gordon Ter, etc).  This includes both Sheridan and Broadway. ... This is on top of Cubs games, plus they are still enforcing street sweeping this week."

At least there's still evening parking, and weekends, but there's no doubt that this is going to make a tough parking situation even worse between 7am and 4pm.  It would be nice if the owners of local parking lots would make some space available to residents during this time as a gesture of goodwill.

Update:  Ald. Cappleman tweeted Thursday afternoon, "Friday-water main construction on Sheridan,Irving to Buena-no road closure on Sheridan.Gordon Terr and Cuyler may be impassable."

Update:  We went over Friday to talk to the people at Curious Creatures, and there was plenty of parking on Broadway and on Buena.  West of Broadway, Gordon Terrace was closed off and work was being done. It may not be as bad as feared, at least judging by the first day of the project.

Update:  Ald. Cappleman has the exact streets where the water main will be replaced, and is working on parking solutions.  See his message here.

Be On The Lookout

No community is ever immune from thieves and break-ins, and Uptown is no different, as the post below from a reader confirms.

"Wednesday, April 23rd, the man in the photo entered a building through a ground floor window around 2:00pm in the 4100 block of North Kenmore.

The tenant was home and police were called.  However, the intruder fled the scene. He had the audacity to return again Thursday during the afternoon hours. The photos were taken at that time.

If anyone sees the  young man in the photo or anyone looking suspicious, please call 911. The police are looking for him."

Remember, if you think you see him, call the cops and let them handle things. Don't try to be a hero.  Let the cops be the ones to determine what to do. He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This is a big city and it's wise to take precautions from would-be thieves, especially now that good weather is here.  Don't leave windows wide open if they can be easily accessed from the outside. Don't leave valuables in plain sight of passersby.  The police have been distributing a variation on this article at CAPS meetings, which contains some good advice: "Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You."

Welcome Back Vintage Garage This Sunday!

A sure sign that spring is in the air -- the return of the Vintage Garage flea market, coming back to Uptown for its third consecutive season on Sunday, April 25th.

There will be bargains galore at the market, which takes place at 5051 N Broadway, in the parking garage, between 10am and 5pm. Admission is $5.

Because this is Opening Day, there are some extra attractions to make this a little more special:

• Musical guest Soda Gardocki of Wax will entertain us from 12am to 3pm and American Pickers' Danielle Colby will be manning the booth for her local Chicago store, 4Miles2Memphis. Chicago based dealers, Collector's Agency, Honkytonkstar, Closet2Couture, Audio Archaeology, The Brown Elephant, District and tons more.

After April, Vintage Garage will be held on the third Sunday of each month.  Each garage gathering has a few surprises and a theme.  Plan ahead!

• April 27th: Season Opener Vintage Style Ride
• May 18th:  Mid Century
• June 15th: Record Ramp
• July 20th: Rockabilly and Tiki
• August 17th: Refound Art
• September 21st:  1984
• October 19th:  Record Ramp

Some participants in last year's Vintage Bike Ride

You can read more about Vintage Garage on its website and Facebook page.  Happy hunting!

Update:  Sadly, the Vintage Bike Ride originally planned for Sunday isn't happening this month, but will later.  Ald. Osterman said in his weekly newsletter, "Due to the inclement weather forecast, the Vintage Style Ride with the Alderman will be rescheduled to later in the season."

4520 N. Beacon Status Check

Brick is rising above the former Hull House foundation at 4520 N. Beacon. The apartment building owned by developer Dave Gassman will feature 24 market rate apartments and parking on site. Neighbors will be happy to see the gorilla sculpture cleaned and restored and put back in its rightful place once the development is completed. More details on this project here.

Wilson & Magnolia Subway Reopening Very Soon

The Subway at Wilson & Magnolia has been closed quite a while due to foundation repairs needed on the building. Peeking inside today, the store has been completely remodeled and looks great. Workers are putting away supplies and it looks like opening day is imminent. Get ready to eat fresh!

Come To Weiss Plaza's Grand Re-Opening, New and Improved!

Free Staged Readings About Homelessness In Chicago, "Shelter/Chicago"

Come see SHELTER/CHICAGO, a play created by homeless Chicagoans, homeless shelter staff, theater artists, and journalists, investigating homelessness in Chicago and how the media covers the story.

Two FREE staged readings next week:

• Monday, April 28th at 5pm at Cornerstone Community Outreach, 4628 N Clifton 
• Tuesday, April 29th at 5:30pm at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington

On Tuesday, April 29, 5:30pm at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Cassidy Theater (78 E. Washington) in Chicago, SHELTER/CHICAGO will be part of a lively event called “Written Off?”   Following the performance, a discussion moderated by Laura Washington, Chicago Sun-Times columnist and ABC 7-Chicago Political Analyst will invite the audience to engage in a talk-back.

Both readings are FREE to the public, though reservations are recommended for 4/29, and can be made by emailing to events@prairie.org, or visiting the IHC website.

 For more info: livingnewsproject@gmail.org and see us on Facebook.

Missing Man May Be In Uptown/Lakeview Area

A South Side man, 24-year-old Tony Dukes, has been reported missing and was last seen at the Sheridan Red Line station on Monday, April 21st.

He enjoys riding the Red Line and often gets out and visits businesses and restaurants around the stations along the route.

He is 5'7", 340 lbs., and wears his hair in a short Afro.  He was last seen wearing a white long sleeve shirt, gray jeans, and gray gym shoes.

He may seem confused or disoriented if approached.  If you see him, please call 911 or the police at 312-747-8380.

Update:  The police put out an update Thursday evening saying that Mr. Dukes has been located and is in good condition.  No more details are available.

Dining Out For Life Thursday

We urge you to give yourself a treat -- and do some good -- today:  Eat at a local restaurant and fight AIDS at the same time.

The Dining Out website says:  "On Thursday, April 24th, 2014, join us to celebrate food, friends and a great cause at our 21st annual Dining Out For Life! Last year, Chicago raised over $115,000 to continue its mission of providing housing with life services to men, women & children living with HIV/AIDS. This year we hope to raise even more! You can help make a difference by joining us along with 60 other cities throughout North America and Nigeria and dine out on Thursday, April 24th!"

The participating Uptown restaurants are Crew, 4804 North Broadway (lunch and dinner) and Anna Maria Pasteria, 4400 North Clark (dinnner).  Please stop by if you can and help a very worthy cause.

There are restaurants all over the city participating, including many in Edgewater and Lakeview, but give the hometown heroes some love, okay??  We thank all the participating restaurants for their generosity.

Sonic Sets The Date

You might want to start a preemptive diet now, because limeades and tater tots are arriving in Uptown on....

May 6th!

Sonic Uptown ran a notice on its Facebook page today saying,

"Because you're our Loyal Fans...we want you to be the first to know...

SONIC of Uptown will be opening up to the public at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6th!!!

We have some fun things in store for our Grand Opening...so stay tuned for details!!!

We're SUPER EXCITED...are you?!?"

Update: Today's (4/24) message from Sonic---

"Hey there, Chi-Town!  Starting at 11 a.m. on the day of our Grand Opening...the first 200 people on our lot will receive a FREE Limited Edition Chicago Sonic T-Shirt!!! They're pretty sweet if you ask us...be sure to get there early to grab one!"

Uptown/Edgewater Mariano's Opens, And We've Got The Pictures To Prove It

The wait is over.  After months of rumors and conjecture, the former Dominick's at 5201 North Sheridan opened its doors to shoppers as Mariano's on Tuesday.  The mayor wasn't there, as he was on Monday -- and we didn't see Bob Mariano, but there were shoppers, lots of shoppers, eager to see what the new store was all about.

Uptown Update got a personal tour with a Mariano's representative (a former Uptown resident), who pointed out some of the features of the new store.  At 55,000 square feet, it's not as large as the monster 80,000sf store at Lawrence and Ravenswood, which we've been avoiding in order to judge the Uptown/Edgewater store on its own merits.  It may not be the biggest, but this Mariano's pretty much knocked our socks off.

From the outside, it looks very much like Dominick's did.  But big changes lie within.  400 new employees and services that we haven't seen in any grocery store before.  Customers were lined up at kiosks to validate their value cards, which work on the "punch system" -- for example, buy ten of a certain item, get the next one free.

When you enter the store from the Foster/Sheridan corner, you'll find yourself in the specialty food station area, perfect for people who want to grab a bite to go or eat inside at one of several cafe seating areas (with in-store wi-fi).  Much of the food prep takes place on the spot and right in front of customers (click all photos for larger versions):

Vero coffee and baked goods/breakfast items.

Squeez'd smoothie bar, with changing "Juice of the Day" selections.  We sampled
the kale smoothie, which (frankly) we expected to be nasty, but it was delicious!
Calorie and nutritional values are on display for each drink.

The gelato bar, with samples available for the asking.  We had coconut,
and yes, that is Ferrero Rocher flavor you see.  (Heaven.)

One of our favorite features, the build-your-own-meal station.  For $6, you can
buy a McDonald's meal across the street, or you can go to Mariano's and
get an entree and two side dishes of your choice.  A couple entrees are higher
priced ($10), but this is a healthier, and in some cases cheaper, alternative to fast food.

Buy a burger, seafood, or anything from the meat department, and the grill station
will prepare it right in front of you for no additional charge.  According to
our guide, Mariano's is known for its pub burgers and sausage.

Create your own salad at the huge salad bar
(there are also an olive bar and a soup bar).

Sushi chefs create rolls right in front of you, and on request.

Two different styles of pizza, meals to go, and sandwiches made to order.

A huge selection of cheeses from around the world.  The counter
wraps around and goes all the way to the wall.

Watch the cupcakes get decorated in the bakery, or buy one to go for just $2.25.

Cookies!  We particularly liked the shoe-shaped iced cookies.

Bread of all kinds, and you can buy it by the slice if you'd like.

At the front of the food specialty area, there are mini-checkout stands,
designed to help help people getting meals or snacks out the door quickly,
so they don't have to spend their lunch hour waiting in line

So those are the ready-to-go food stations.  Now on to the rest of the store:

Remember the meeting regarding the liquor moratorium, and the
unanimous vote to lift it for this area?  This is what it got customers:
a huge selection of craft beers, and a "build your own six-pack" option.
Mix and match 6 bottles for $9.  (No bottles are sold individually.)

An absolutely huge wine section, as well as personal picks from
Mariano's wine experts.  There's also a large spirits section.

An in-store nutritionist, Peggy Balboa, will hold seminars about health, particularly as
it relates to eating.  Check the stores Events page for these and other special events.
There were free cholesterol and glucose screenings Tuesday, with the glucose screenings
being held on a daily basis.  Peggy will also do nutritional counseling.  There is a
$4 prescription club for common generic drugs, similar to Walmart's plan.  

Two walls of organic produce, as well as filling a freestanding case.

A taffy apple and popcorn stand.  Get your fresh Chicago Mix right here!
You can also get taffy apples of all descriptions, after watching them
get dipped and coated on the spot.

Fresh herbs, eleven different kinds.

Got a hankering for exotic produce, like sugar cane, dragon fruit,
aloe vera leaves, or several varieties of papayas?  Get 'em here.

The floral department has beautiful arrangements of succulents,
an option to build your own floral bouquet stem by stem, and ....

.... if you've ever wanted roses with five-foot-tall stems, now you can get them.

The piano player will serenade customers on busy days, directly from the card and gift section.

There are foods from 20 different countries in the international aisle.
Where better than Uptown with our diverse population?

The store is open from 6am-10pm with some of the specialty stations closing a bit earlier.  The pharmacy is open 8am-10pm weekdays, and 9am-5pm weekends.  The Store Director is Megan Gleeson, and the phone number is 773-506-0558.  Hope you enjoy checking it out as much as we did.