But not all of the city’s architects came from afar. Case in point: the celebrated architect Howard Van Doren Shaw. Born in Chicago on May 7, 1869 to prominent parents, Shaw grew up in the fashionable Prairie Avenue neighborhood, which was popular before the development of the Gold Coast in the 1890s. He went on to attend Yale University and then MIT.

After finishing school, Shaw went to work for William Le Baron Jenney at the Chicago firm of Jenney & Mundie. Known as the builder of the world’s first skyscraper, Jenney became Shaw’s mentor. Shaw worked with him for several years, eventually leaving the firm to establish his own. After designing the Lakeside Press Building, one of his more famous structures, Shaw found himself taking on more and more prominent clients.

Although Shaw was a contemporary and friend of Frank Lloyd Wright, their styles were dramatically different. Wright sought to create a distinctly American style that reflected social purpose and progress. In contrast, Shaw blended modern elements with classical design inspired by styles he had observed during his travels, particularly in England. Shaw avoided the formality of French architecture and was known for his mastery of well-conceived, open interior spaces and subtle interior design detail. He was especially enamored with the English Arts and Crafts movement where craftsmanship, not machines, dominated people’s lives. Appropriately, he utilized handcrafted architectural elements like leaded glass, carved wood and wrought iron whenever possible.

Over the span of his career, Shaw designed over 200 projects from Georgian-style townhouses in Hyde Park to country estates in Lake Forest to two of Chicago’s most prestigious cooperatives: 1130 N. Lake Shore Drive and 2450 N. Lakeview Avenue. Other important accomplishments included the design of America’s first outdoor shopping mall, Market Square in downtown Lake Forest, and the elaborate club house at the Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe, as well as churches, apartment buildings, and civic spaces. His 32-year career earned him the American Institute of Architects gold medal in 1927, their highest award, and many of his works have been designated historic landmarks.

A century later, Shaw’s notable residential works maintain their prominence. We currently have homes in two Shaw-designed buildings listed for sale: 1120 N. Lake Shore Drive and across the street at 1130 N. Lake Shore Drive. The original architectural detail in these homes have been beautifully preserved, and both are well worth a look.

If you’re interested in learning more about these or other pre-war apartments in Chicago, please contact me at (312) 440-7525 or jenny@jenniferames.com. My family has lived in the city since the mid 1800s, been active in Chicago real estate since the 1880s, and a passion for the city’s great architectural history is in my blood!

In the meantime, stay tuned as we will be adding profiles of other important Chicago architects in the coming months.

Located in the heart of Lincoln Park, the walk includes gardens within the Sheffield neighborhood, which extends from Halsted west to the Chicago River and from Armitage north to Fullerton.

Taking place on July 17^th and 18^th, this year’s garden walk offers the chance to visit more than 100 exquisite residential gardens on a self-guided tour. Other activities include guided garden tours given by a landscape professional; live music from national/regional headline groups; a kids’ corner with a petting zoo, pony rides, hands-on activities and food service; and several wonderful dining options.

The gardens are open from noon to 5:30 p.m., and admission is a donation of $7 before 3:00 p.m. and $10 afterward (proceeds support neighborhood schools, institutions and community projects). Tickets and guidebooks can be purchased outside St. Vincent de Paul Church at 1010 W. Webster by Sheffield.  For full details, visit www.sheffieldgardenwalk.com.

While in the area, you might also consider signing up for one of four free architectural tours. Much of the Sheffield neighborhood is a National Historic District and includes Victorian-era Italianate, Romanesque, and Queen Anne architectural styles dating to 1875. Sign up when you buy your garden walk tickets.

While you’re on the walk, we hope you will also pass by some of the neighborhood homes we have listed for sale including  2029 N. Seminary (one of the few homes in the area left standing after the Chicago Fire), 2132 N. Kenmore and 2216 N. Magnolia. Just last month, we sold 2140 N. Fremont, which was the first-place winner at the 2008 Sheffield Garden Walk.

Photo from www.sheffieldgardenwalk.com

While our city home has limited us largely to container gardening, for those who are more ambitious and want a true taste of what it’s like to work the land and turn a crop, hobby farms are one option.

As a residential agent specializing mostly in Chicago’s North Side, I never thought I would have a chance to list such a property. So, imagine my delight when I was approached to represent Salute! Farm and Vineyard in Woodstock, Illinois.

The ideal country property for a city dweller, this secluded 41-acre country estate is little more than an hour’s drive from downtown and is set in a charming historic community (made famous by the film Groundhog Day) easily accessible via the Metra. It is located on one of the highest elevations in the area, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and wetlands, the majority of which is a dedicated conservation district.

As you could imagine, I gladly accepted the offer to take on Salute! (Italian for “To your health!”) as one of my listings.

A key feature of this property is the highly fertile soil that has not been exposed to any pesticides or fertilizers for over six years. Five acres are planted in organic vegetables, and another five acres are host to 1,580 trellised grape vines used in the production of award-winning red wine. In addition, there are blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, as well as bee hives.

The infrastructure on the farm includes a farmhouse, two barns, an automated greenhouse, a business office with cooler designed to hold produce, a mobile trailer, and a John Deere tractor and other essential equipment. The current owners are willing to provide transitional support to a buyer who is interested in continuing to maintain the vegetable business and/or grape vines.

If you’ve been thinking about a country retreat or are interested in getting involved in locally grown organic produce, I invite you to visit Salute! Farm and Vineyard. While in Woodstock, consider spending the night in town at the Town Square Inn and dining in one of the fantastic restaurants that downtown Woodstock has to offer.

For more information about this special opportunity, call me on my cell phone at (773) 908-3632.

Dyeing of the Chicago River

Chicago River at Columbus Drive – 399 N. Columbus Drive
Saturday, March 13 at 10:45 a.m.

If you haven’t seen it before, you won’t want to miss this famed tradition of dying the Chicago River fluorescent green. You can view the spectacle along the banks of the Chicago River between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive or by boat while dining on a traditional Irish buffet. St. Patrick’s Day Cruises will be offered at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

55th Annual Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade

On Columbus Drive in Grant Park
Saturday, March 13 starting at noon

After viewing the emerald green river (don’t worry… it’s temporary and eco-friendly), walk south through Millennium Park to Grant Park to catch Chicago’s 55^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Highlights include floats, Irish step dancers, bands, Clydesdale horses and more. The parade starts at Columbus and Balbo Drive (300 south), proceeding north on Columbus Drive to Monroe Street (100 south). It ends next to the Art Institute’s new Modern Wing.

St. Patty’s at the Gage

Between the river and the parade, you might be tempted to stop in for brunch at The Gage, owned by the Lawless Family from Galway, Ireland. Located at 24 S. Michigan Avenue just north of The Art Institute of Chicago, their March 13 – 17 St. Patty’s Day menu includes Irish offerings such as rabbit sausage, corned beef and cabbage, pepper and salt corned Irish salmon, fried egg and white pudding, toasted oatmeal cake, and apple parfait.

Other Festivities

Of course, the Northwest Side Irish Parade and countless pub bashes, dinners, and Irish-themed events are planned for throughout the city and suburbs on March 13. Check out this page on Metromix for all the details. Have a specific event you recommend? Leave a comment!

Valentine’s Day Dinner and Treats

Take your pick from across the city of romance-themed multi-course dinners (often complete with wine, champagne and dessert) over at Metromix’s list of Valentine’s Day dinner events. Book your reservations early as restaurants tend to fill up. Then, think outside the (heart-shaped) box with the selections from these Chicago sweet shops, wine cellars, and bakeries.

V-Day Massages for Two

Do the gray days of winter have you down, dinner is not enough, or you are simply feeling stressed? In that case, a Swedish couples massage with aromatherapy oil, Valentine’s Day cupcakes, and a bottle of red wine might be the perfect romantic retreat. That’s just what you’ll find at Lincoln Park Massage with their three separate holiday massage packages priced from $225 to $300, running from February 12th through 15th.

A Night (or Day) at the Museum

Valentine’s Day festivities are not just limited to restaurants. Chicago’s newest romantic hot spot, at the Art Institute of Chicago, is getting into the act! Enjoy light appetizers, drinks and dancing from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the Modern Wing’s Griffin Court on Valentine’s Day. Tickets are $35 per person and include a cash bar. Want to make an evening of it? For $75 a person, enjoy the party in Griffin Court plus a three-course prix fixe dinner in the museum’s new award-winning restaurant, Terzo Piano. Reservations can be made by calling (312) 443-8650.

Prefer a museum experience with some ancient mystique instead? Head on over to the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute, and walk among the hieroglyphics and relics of Egyptian and Persian empires past. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $7 per adult.

Strolling Chicago’s Conservatories and Gardens

Why settle on a single bouquet of overpriced roses when you can enjoy a quiet stroll through climate-controlled green houses lush with exotic plants and flowers? That’s the experience offered year-round and free of admission at Chicago’s fantastic Garfield Park and Lincoln Park conservatories. February 13 at the Garfield Park Conservatory is “Sweet Saturday” where visitors can sample natural flavors like the vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate grown there. And, if you’re open to venturing north of the city, the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe (free admission, $20 parking) boasts even more natural beauty, both indoors and out.

Romance on Lake Michigan

Another option is to get away from the city altogether with an afternoon or evening cruise. Enjoy a view of Chicago’s magnificent skyline as you dine in comfort on The Odyssey or The Spirit of Chicago. Both are offering Valentine’s Day brunch cruises at $55 a person and dinner cruises starting at $100.

Get Close in the Winter Chill

Finally, if you’re willing to brave the winter cold, nothing says old school romance like ice skating for two at an outdoor rink or taking a ride in a horse-drawn carriage down Michigan Avenue. Skate rentals go for $10 a person at the Millennium Park and Wrigley Field rinks, while buggy rides are $40 per half hour.

Romantic Retreat

Looking for a more permanent way to get away with your loved one? Ask our team how we can help you find a pied-à-terre or city residence of your own in one of Chicago’s charming neighborhoods. That would be a Valentine’s Day gift your sweetheart would never forget!

Regardless of how you celebrate, Valentine’s Day offers an important opportunity to tell the people you love how you feel about them. Over the weekend, I ran over to Walgreens and picked up cards to send to my out-of-town parents and in-laws. Last night, I wrote notes thanking them for all the wonderful things they do for me and my family. I also found a couple of cute cards for my husband. (After seven years of marriage and three kids, the tone is predictably more humorous than romantic!) The bottom-line is that time passes far too quickly and we are all very busy, but we should never be too busy on Valentine’s Day or throughout the year to take a few minutes to offer a hug, a kiss, an “I love you” or a thank you to those special people who are a part of our lives.

The following article originally appeared in our Chicago real estate magazine,

We all know that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to selling your home, buyers will definitely be judging your property on its presentation.

With that in mind, taking some time to ensure that your home shows well before putting it on the market can really pay off – both in terms of a better price and a quicker sale. Best of all, you can see these benefits without the need to remodel bathrooms or pursue major renovations.

Here are a few of the simple, inexpensive tips our Team gives clients when preparing their homes for sale:

Closets

Most sellers don’t realize the importance of organizing all of their closets. Buyers care about having sufficient storage, and overstuffed closets can give the impression that your storage is anything but “sufficient.” Before you put up the “for sale” sign, thoroughly clean out your closets and get rid of everything you no longer need.

Here are some easy ways to make your closets feel more spacious and inviting:

- Remove all dry cleaner plastic.

- Group your clothes by type and then by color.

- Toss out your old hangers and replace them with new, matching hangers. Bed Bath & Beyond sells ultra-slim, non-slip velvet covered hangers that are attractive and inexpensive. Generally, avoid wood hangers (they are expensive and bulky), except for with men’s suits.

- Use matching clear plastic boxes to organize your accessories.

- Move everything off the floor and onto shoe racks, shelving or hangers.

Bedding

Upgrading your bedding is a great way to help your home feel new and fresh, and you can use the items in your new home! Simply get rid of your old linens and start from scratch. Before shopping, look online at the bedding collections at Restoration Hardware. Note how they furnish their beds with well-pressed sheets, a stylish blanket tucked in tight around the mattress, lots of pillows, and comforters folded down at the top of the bed. Regardless of where you shop, your objective should be for your beds to present a similar look of refinement and coordination.

Bathrooms

Imagine the most luxurious of hotel baths. A set of fluffy new white towels and a crisp new cotton or linen shower curtain can go a long way toward creating that feeling in your own home. Also, consider displaying extra towels rolled in baskets or neatly folded. Move all of your shampoo bottles and personal care products out of sight. Cutting out and replacing old caulk and upgrading bath hardware or lighting can also make a significant difference. Finally, look at your colors. Out-of-date finishes like cultured marble are less noticeable when you put an appealing, contemporary color on the walls. Again, Restoration Hardware – and Pottery Barn – are good sources for design ideas.

Lighting

Most sellers don’t give much thought to their lighting, yet it is critical to a home’s presentation. A dull, poorly lit home is much harder to sell than a crisp, brightly lit one.

Easy suggestions to improve illumination include:

- Put away all of your new fluorescent and low-energy light bulbs and save them for your next home.

- Install halogen floodlights in all your recessed ceiling fixtures. Halogen gives off a brighter, cooler light and is used to illuminate the merchandise in upscale retail stores.

- Install clear incandescent bulbs in light fixtures where you see the bulb, like bath sconces.

- Do not rely solely on overhead lighting, and especially not on a single overhead source like a ceiling fan or center fixture. Lamps are a must in bedrooms, your home office, etc.

- Make sure all your bulbs in a single fixture, like a chandelier or bath strip light, are of the same wattage.

If your bath fan and light are on the same switch, consider getting an electrician to “split” the switch so they can be controlled separately. There is nothing worse than showing a bath to a potential buyer and having to speak up over the sound of a noisy exhaust fan.

If you have questions about preparing your home for sale, feel free to call us at (312) 440-7525. We always provide a complimentary evaluation for our clients. More often than not, our clients have just one complaint after they finish staging their home for sale – they regret not doing it sooner.

Best of luck!

Lincoln Park Zoo Conservation Camp 2010

What: Weeklong, full or half-day camp sessions introducing children to the Lincoln Park Zoo, its animals and habitats, and various conservation topics. My oldest son went there for two weeks last summer and loved it.

Where: The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago

Who: Four and five-year-olds through eighth graders

When: Sessions running from June through August

How: Registration open February 23, 2010. Priority and early registration is available to zoo members and supporters of the Donors Club. Prices range from $150 to $300 a week depending on the program. Visit here for more information.

Nature Museum Summer Camp

What: Camp that connects children to the wonders of nature through a combination of art, music, movement, hands-on science activities, and live animal encounters led by Nature Museum staff

Where: The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago

Who: Children aged four through ten

When: Two-week, 4-6 hour per day sessions running in June, July and August

How: Registration for returning families began on December 4, 2009. General registration begins on February 1, 2010. Prices range from $375 to $525 depending on the session selected. Discounts are available for museum members.

Summer at Latin

What: A variety of education and recreational programs ranging from nature hikes, arts and crafts, and swim lessons for younger children to digital video production, upper level mathematics, and SAT prep for middle and high school students

Where: The Latin School of Chicago

Who: Three-year-olds through twelfth graders. Participants need not be Latin School students

When: Various summer dates

How: Online registration is now open. Tuition ranges from $255 to over $2,000 depending on the program selected.

Summer Programs at Parker

What: A variety of multi-week summer camps offering activities such as arts and crafts, sports, beach visits, scavenger hunts or chess

Where: The Francis W. Parker School

Who: Junior kindergarteners through twelfth graders

When: Multi-week sessions throughout the summer

How: Registration is open now online, prices range from several hundred dollars to over a thousand depending on the program and length

Summer at Sacred Heart

What: A number of day camps and programs offering a variety of educational, recreational, athletic, and fine arts activities

Where: Sacred Heart’s facility at 6250 N. Sheridan Road in Edgewater, Chicago

Who: Children aged three to fifteen

When: Various summer dates

How: Registration is open now. Prices range from less than $100 for day sessions to over $300 for multi-day sessions

Chicago Park District Summer Camps

What: Various camp programs (day, morning and extended afternoon) at over 190 Chicago parks offering water fun, field trips, athletic activities, and cultural experiences

Who: Details available starting April 5

When: Length of camp programs vary, but most begin the week of June 28 and run for six weeks

How: Online registration opens on April 19. Fees vary by camp, but most are affordable at between $1 and $3 per hour. Full details will be available online starting April 5

Camp at Lakeview

What: Multiple programs (including day and overnight camping) featuring activities such as swimming, canoeing, hiking, rope climbing, singing, and arts and crafts

Where: The JCYS George W. Lutz Family Center, JCYS Camp Henry Horner (an hour from Lakeview) and other Chicagoland locations

Who: Two-year-olds through tenth graders

When: Various summer dates

How: Registration is available online here. Prices range from the low hundreds for one-week sessions to the mid thousands for six-week sessions

Language Stars Center Summer 2010

What: Themed language lessons in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Mandarin Chinese

Where: Language Stars’ center in Lincoln Park

Who: Twelve-month through ten-year-olds

When: Flexible dates and hours from June 14 through August 21

How: Registration is available online here (.pdf). Prices range from just over $100 to over $1,000 depending on the hours of instruction

Fred’s Camp

What: Four or eight-week day camp programs encouraging campers to participate and challenge themselves through activities such as field trips, swimming, and bowling.

Where: The DePaul University Athletic Training Center and Ray Mayer Fitness and Recreation Center

Who: Four-year-olds through eighth-graders

When: June 21 – July 16 and July 19 – August 13

How: Registration forms are available online here. Tuition ranges from $1,900 to $3,615 depending on the age group and program length.

Emerald City Theatre Summer Camp

What: Various one or two-week theatre programs with themes ranging from fairy tales and Doctor Seuss for younger children to CSI and Wicked for older campers.

Where: The Emerald City Theatre School and Theatre Building Chicago in Lakeview

Who: Three-and-a-half through twelve-year-olds

When: Various dates from June through July

How: Registration is available online. Tuition ranges from $255 to $750 depending on the age group and program length.

Paul Green School of Rock Music Summer Boot Camp

What: A two-week-long music camp focused on all things rock including music lessons, daily band rehearsal, rock history, and a studio recording culminating in a rock show.

Where: The Paul Green School of Rock Music in Highwood, Illinois

Who: Eight to seventeen­-year-olds who have basic proficiency with an instrument or vocal work

When: June 14 through 25

How: Tuition is $1,100 before April 1. Visit www.schoolofrock.com for more information.

You can find even more Chicagoland summer camps at this list on About.com. It’s from 2009, but many of the camp programs listed are ongoing.

Know a great Chicago-area summer camp but don’t see it above? Post a link in the comments section and share it with our other readers!

Live & Play Chicago was designed as an extension of this blog. The goal was to elevate the homes we sell beyond their bricks and mortar and show how they are a part of a larger, dynamic community. After all, your home is more than just an investment. It’s the place where you spend your free time, celebrate holidays, hang out with your family, unwind after work, and generally enjoy your life.

Unless you plan to stay home all the time (not likely), your decision to buy a home should include an understanding of the surrounding community and all that it has to offer. When we work with buyers, we encourage our clients to take a few minutes to assess which amenities matter most in the community. Would you like to be able to walk to neighborhood restaurants? Do you have kids and need access to parks, schools and a library? How do you get to work? If you don’t drive, which public transit routes would be most convenient? Is it important to have a gym close by?

Each of the homes featured in our magazine includes additional information about the architect, the location or a special aspect of the neighborhood. We had a lot of fun putting this section together, and we welcome your suggestions for our next edition.

On that note, if you are considering selling your home anytime soon, we still have openings for our Spring/Summer 2010 edition! For more information, contact me at jenny@jenniferames.com.

While you’re enjoying winter in the city, though, don’t forget some of these practical seasonal considerations.

Winter Street Parking Restrictions

Chicago’s Winter Overnight Parking Ban is back in effect. This yearly ban restricts parking between 3:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on 107 miles of Chicago’s most critical streets regardless of snowfall. Those violating the ban risk having their vehicles ticketed and towed, incurring as much as $250 in fines. And don’t think the city isn’t serious about this – 398 cars were towed on the first two nights of December.

While waking up to a sparkling blanket of virgin snow is part of the Chicago winter experience, it can mean trouble for area residents who park on another 500 miles of city streets. If more than two inches of snow falls at any time (day or night) and your car is parked in an affected location, it will be ticketed and relocated.

You can learn which streets are restricted by clicking here. Otherwise, keep a sharp eye out for winter weather restriction signs when parking your car on the street.

Frozen, Inoperable Parking Meters

With the recent drop in temperatures, Chicago’s new computerized parking meter kiosks have been freezing up – literally. Apparently the cold snap caused buttons to jam, rendering the machines unable to accept payment from parkers. The city and LAZ Parking, which manages the parking scheme, claim only 2% of meters have been affected, but The Expired Meter blog claims 60% of the 40 meters they surveyed had frozen components. I myself was recently unable to operate a frozen kiosk on North Clark Street and had to walk a block in freezing temperatures with my four-year-old son to pay for my spot.

Should you happen to park in a space with an inoperable meter, you are advised to contact LAZ and inform them of the problem. If you get ticketed, use the reference number on your ticket to dispute the fine.

Protect your Home

It is important to remember to follow common sense cold weather precautions and protect one of your most valuable assets, your home. This is especially applicable to the growing number of vacant homes that are on the market for rent and for sale. As a Chicago area real estate agent, I have seen a number of homes suffer damage when temperatures fall. During last week’s single-digit chill, we went to check on each of the vacant homes we have on the market. We discovered that one of our clients forgot to put the gas bill into their name after their tenants moved out, prompting the gas company to disconnect service. Their home was dangerously cold inside. Another day or two and the water pipes would have frozen and burst. If your home is vacant, don’t forget to obtain vacant home insurance so you are covered if there is a problem.

Speaking of protecting your home, keep in mind that the holiday season is a time when your home may be more vulnerable to burglary. Last year at this time, I wrote about precautions you can take to protect against this, and my advice still applies.

Conclusion

So relax and enjoy all that Chicago has to offer this winter season, but be aware and be safe.

Photo by yuan2003