North Shore Views

Archive for the 'Evanston' Category

9/11 Remembrance Ceremonies on the North Shore

This Sunday marks the ten year anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. I’ll never forget where I was when I heard the news and I doubt anyone else will either. Most of us know someone who was directly affected by the tragedy, and the wounds still feel fresh, even after ten years. You can take time out to remember those who lost their lives at one of the ceremonies taking place on the North Shore this weekend:

Evanston

The community is invited to join local public safety members of Fire and Law Enforcement, elected officials and community partners to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Attacks of September 11, 2001.  Participants and guests are asked to gather for this event at 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, September 11. Members of Fire and Police Clergy, along with public safety officials and the mayor, will give speeches and music will be provided. A special dedication will also take place for the actual artifact from the World Trade Center.

8:45 a.m. Gathering
9:00 a.m. Welcome – Video Presentation
9:11 a.m. Moment of Silence
9:15 a.m. Comments from Mayors, Fire Chief, Fire Clergy, Police Chief, Police Clergy, Police/Fire Honor Guard Presentation, Ringing of the Bell 3-4-3 to Honor the 343 Fallen Firefighters; National Anthem; Dedication of 9/11 Artifact – Fire Chief; and Closing Comments

Winnetka

The Winnetka Village Council and the Winnetka Park Board cordially invite all Winnetkans, friends, and neighbors to attend a Ten Year Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday, September 11, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. on the Village Green.  Scout troops from the Village, students from NTHS, our public safety chiefs, and representatives from local religious congregations will participate in a brief ceremony honoring those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. In the event of rain, participants will gather in the Winnetka Club.

All are also invited to participate in the planting of the memorial flags on the Village Green, beginning at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 10th.

Glenview

You are cordially invited to join the Glenview community at an event commemorating the 10th anniversary of that fateful day as we gather in gratitude to and recognition of all first responders who every day put their lives on the line for citizens. 7:00-8:00 pm in Gallery Park (Patriot and Chestnut).

The evening’s tribute will include:

• Bagpipes & Drums of the Emerald Society
• Glenbrook South High School vocal groups Nine and Solace
• Boy Scout/Girl Scout Flag Ceremony
• Police 3-Volley Salute
• Firefighters’ Last Alarm Bell Ceremony
• The playing of “Taps”

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: September 11

Affordable Townhome in Northwest Evanston

If you are searching for a home in Evanston, you will see that there are lots of condos for sale and quite a few single family houses, but not many townhomes, especially in desirable Northwest Evanston.

This townhome at 3326 Culver St. lives like a single family house. It’s a half duplex with lots of space and lots of light. It has three bedrooms, one and a half baths, a large rec room on the lower level and ample closets. It’s been freshly painted throughout and has new carpet and tile as well as new vanities in the bathrooms and a new range and oven in the kitchen. Off of the living/dining room is a spacious patio and there is a parking space off the alley. It is listed at $199,000.

Other than the unit itself, this home has a number of other benefits:

• It is a fee simple home, which means that there are no assessments. It is not part of a condo association. (Of course, that also means you have to shovel your own walk and mow your own grass).
• It is located on a residential one-way street of single-family homes.
• Its private, fenced patio is like an outdoor room to enjoy in the summer.
• It is conveniently located, with easy access to I-94, Old Orchard and Central Street shopping. Public transportation is just steps away.
• It is in the award-winning Willard School elementary school district.

You can get more info here. If you’d like to see this home, please give me a call at 847-687-5957 or email me. I’d be happy to show it to you.

Tags: Evanston homes for sale

Race Against Hate on Father’s Day

Bond with your Dad and support a worthwhile cause this Sunday by running together in the Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate, a 10K run in Evanston along Sheridan Rd. and through the Northwestern campus. Even if you and your father aren’t up for running, you can still participate by walking the 5K.

This is the twelfth year of the event, which was created by Sherialyn Birdsong in memory of her husband, Ricky. Ricky was a beloved basketball coach at Northwestern, who was murdered in 1999 by a white supremacist, simply because he was African-American. Last year the race raised over $150,000 for the YWCA to use in its work with local schools on issues of racial justice and violence prevention.

The 10K starts at 7:30 am on Sunday, June 19. The 5K run/walk starts at 7:45. The youth mile for kids 9-13 starts at 9:00 and at 9:15 the kids under 8 can start.

Online registration is closed but you can still register in person tomorrow (Saturday, the 18th) at the Evanston YWCA at 1215 Church St., or on race day starting at 6:15 am. Go here for more details about the race.

Tags: Race Against Hate, Ricky Byrdsong

Old Neighborhood Grill in Evanston

“Anywhere but Corner Bakery,” I replied when my partner, Mo asked where we should go for lunch. I had already been there three times in the last week and needed a break.

“I’ve got a new place and it’s right near here,” said Mo. So we hopped in her car and headed down to Evanston.

Although it’s been there for two years, I had never been into the Old Neighborhood Grill until yesterday. It’s a casual spot located at 2902 Central St. in Evanston. It serves burgers, dogs, sandwiches and a number of Greek dishes like spanakopita, kebabs, souvlaki, Greek chicken, etc. The burgers are made from fresh Black Angus and the Greek dishes are homemade. I ordered the Greek salad, which was so big it overflowed my plate, and Mo had the pork kebobs with tzatziki, which I had to sample if I was going to endorse this place. They were yummy.

Not only was the food good but we were treated like old friends. The owners, John and Theresa Tasiopoulos, have to be two of the friendliest and most welcoming people there are.  John used to have a big corporate IT job with 190 people reporting to him. But he HATED it, so Theresa convinced him to go ahead and fulfill his lifelong dream of having his own restaurant. He did and has never looked back.

We commented on the gorgeous inlaid wood counter top…not the typical Formica type counter you would expect in a place like this. Turns out the counter and all the tables in the place were made by John’s father, Peter, who also happened to be on hand while we were there. When they went to convert the space from a mortgage company to a restaurant, Peter took all the black walnut door casings from the existing space and re-purposed them to make the furniture and counter top. How’s that for green?

The restaurant is open six days a week from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm and closed on Sunday. You can see the restaurant’s full menu here.

And when you go, tell John that Anne and Mo sent you, and you’ll get a 25% discount on any order over $20.00.

Tags: restaurants

End of August Festivals

Summer may be winding down but there are still plenty of fairs and festivals going on around the North Shore. Here’s what’s going on through the end of August:

Wilmette

Summerfest at Beth Hillel Congregation on Saturday, August 22 from 11 am to 4 pm. Live music, food, children’s activities, Israeli dancing and appearances by alumni Blackhawks players. Free admission.
3220 Big Tree Lane, Wilmette. Call 847-256-1213 for more information.

Evanston

American Craft Exposition. 150 juried craftspeople will exhibit baskets, ceramics, furniture, glass, jewlry and mixed media crafts. Friday, August 27 from 10 am to 8 pm Saturday and Sunday, August 28-29 from 11 am to 5 pm.  Tickets: $12 in advance; $15 at the door (good all 3 days). Proceeds benefit breast and ovarian cancer research.
Northwestern University’s Henry Crown Sports Pavilion, 2311 Campus Drive.

Skokie

Backlot Bash. A summer tradition featuring live music on the main stage at Oakton Avenue, amusement park/carnival, classic auto show, sidewalk sale and teen activities. Friday, August 27 from 6 to 10 pm, Saturday, August 28 from 11 am to 10 pm and Sunday, August 29 from noon to 8 pm. Lincoln at Oakton in downtown Skokie. You can see the schedule of events here.

Highland Park

Port Clinton Art Festival featuring works by 260  juried artists, live music, children’s activities and Taste of Highland Park. August 28-29 from 10 am to 6 pm. Admission free. Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave.

Tags: fairs and festivals

Independence Day on the North Shore

This year the weather promises to be absolutely perfect for 4th of July celebrations – sunny, clear and warm (not hot) from now through Sunday. There are lots of fun things going on all up and down the North Shore, and if you’ve got the energy, you can spread your celebration out over three days. As always, Wilmette holds its celebration on July 3rd, while Glenview waits til the 5th. (Thunderstorms are currently in the forecast for Monday, so if you live in Glenview you may want to join the festivities in another town on the 4th, just to be on the safe side.). Also, note that, in Winnetka, the parade begins at 1:00 pm and not 10:00 am, as in previous years.

Evanston

July 4
7:30 pm – Twilight Concert featuring the Palatine Concert Band
9:00 pm – The musical fireworks extravaganza will be launched from Clark Street Beach and can be viewed from any part of the lakefront area east of Downtown Evanston.

Wilmette

July 3
4:00 pm -  Games and rides for children, entertainment, roving performers, and a Tastefest at Gillson Park.
7:30 pm – A traditional concert of patriotic music by the Palatine Concert Band in the Wallace Bowl. It will be preceded by a sneak preview of this summer’s Starlight Theatre musical feature.
9:30 p.m – Fireworks begin. In case of rain, the fireworks will be rescheduled to a later date.

The easiest way to get to and from the Independence Day celebrations in Gillson Park is by using the special Pace shuttle bus service. Motorists may park at Edens Plaza or at the METRA commuter lot. To see a complete listing of events or for additional transportation information see the Wilmette Park District’s website.

Winnetka

July 4
1:00 pm – The celebration begins with Winnetka’s annual parade. (Note the change in time from past years). The parade sets off from the corner of Elm and Glendale Streets, and heads east to the Village Green.
2:00 pm – -A flag-raising ceremony, children’s flag parade, and family races follow the parade on the Green.
6:30 pm -  “Fourth Fest,” featuring food, children’s entertainment, and a pre-fireworks concert at Duke Child’s Field
9:15 pm – Fireworks begin

Northfield

July 4
9:45 am -  Bike parade kicks off from two locations — Somerset and Old Willow or the Ameritech Lot. Both routes end at Willow Park.
10:30 am -  Bike judging, music and amusement rides begin. Family activities include relays, wheelbarrow races, a hula-hoop contest and an egg toss. For more information, go to northfieldparkdistrict.org or call 847-446-4428.

Glencoe

July 4
8:00 am – Fun Run starts at the train station, 724 Green Bay Road
10:00 am – Games in Kalk Park, Park Aveune and Green Bay Road
2:00 pm – Parade
6:30 pm -  Barbecue on the beach with children’s entertainment and music
9:00 pm – Fireworks on the beach
847-835-3050

Glenview

July 5

11:00 am -  Bike Parade starting at the corner of Glenview rd. and Church St.
11:30 am -  Main parade starting from OLPH parking lot and ending at Johns Park.
7:30 pm – Twilight Show with patriotic concert by the North Shore Concert Band. The show’s finale will be fireworks synchronized to patriotic music.
847-724-5670

Highland Park

July 4
11:00 am – Parade in downtown Highland Park
12:00 pm – Fourth Fest at Sunset Woods Park
9:15 pm – Fireworks at Wolters Field on Park Avenue West
847-432-0800

Lake Forest

July 4
6:00 pm – Beer garden with kids activities and live music by Sixteen Candles at Deerpath Community Park
8:00 pm – KC and the Sunshine Band
9:30 pm -  Fireworks sponsored by the Lake Forest Symphony

Tags: 4th of july, Independence Day

North Shore Housing Inventory

Here is a snapshot of active listings (single family detached homes) on the market as of April 5, 2010.

Town	# Active Listings	Avg. List Price	Median List Price	Days on Market
Evanston	249	$694,910	$535,000	212
Wilmette	181	$890,392	$719,000	204
Winnetka	182	$2,120,724	$1,497,000	279
Kenilworth	44	$2,188,466	$2,245,000	327
Glenview	357	$754,771	$649,000	242
Glencoe	114	$1,759,373	$1,132,000	249
Northfield	58	$950,160	$659,500	349
Highland Park	295	$1,035,746	$666,000	287
Lake Forest	306	$1,887,223	$1,299,000	314
NORTH SHORE	1786	$1,245,590	$827,000	264

Source: MRED – Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Tags: North Shore market data

North Shore Market Update: 1st Quarter 2010

The North Shore housing market looks a whole lot better in 2010 than it did at this time last year. Driven by low interest rates, the home buyer tax credit, plentiful supply of homes to choose from and attractive prices, buyers have returned to the market. Prices are still soft but the rate of decline has slowed.

Housing sales on Chicago’s North Shore increased 56% in the first quarter of 2010 vs. the same period last year. All towns had healthy increases except for Northfield which had one less sale this year than last. The big winner in percentage terms was Kenilworth, which had nine sales this year vs. one last year.

Average prices for sold properties on the North Shore was down 7%. Lake Forest showed the biggest drop (-30%), followed by Winnetka (-21%). Highland Park had only a 1% decrease in average price, while Evanston and Wilmette actually showed increases. Kenilworth’s large increase in average price was driven by the fact that the only sale in 2009 was for an unusually low-priced property for this village.

Days on market for properties sold was down 8% for the North Shore, but the numbers varied widely across individual towns. The largest decreases in market time were in Wilmette (-70%) and Lake Forest (-58%). The largest increases were in Kenilworth (+48%) and Northfield (+38%).

North Shore Market Update – 1st Qtr. 2010 vs. Year Ago*

*Single family detached homes. Source: MRED – Deemed reliable but not guaranteed

Tags: North Shore market data, North Shore real estate trends, North Shore sales trends

North Shore Market Update: January-February 2010

For the first two months of 2010 sales of single family homes on Chicago’s North Shore were up 47% over the same period last year. The big winners were Highland Park and Lake Forest, which both more than doubled their sales vs. last year. Kenilworth, which only had one sale in the first two months of 2009, had five this year.

While prices were down 7% from this time last year, the rate of decline does seem to be slowing and the market may be nearing the bottom. Market times are up over last year but down versus previous months and there is less inventory on the market now.

North Shore Market Trends: Jan. – Feb. 2010 (vs. year ago)

Town	Units Sold % chg	Avg. Price % chg	Mkt Time % chg
Evanston	35%	18%	31%
Wilmette	20%	-14%	-27%
Glenview/Golf	16%	1%	3%
Northfield	-25%	-27%	84%
Kenilworth	400%	126%	65%
Winnetka	50%	-19%	11%
Glencoe	9%	-23%	1%
Highland Park	190%	14%	157%
Lake Forest	100%	-14%	-20%
NORTH SHORE	47%	-7%	8%

Source: MRED LLC -Deemed reliable but not guaranteed

Tags: North Shore market data, North Shore real estate trends, North Shore sales trends

Proof there’s a buyer for every house…at the right price

Do you remember that bizarre story about the Evanston woman who was living in her house with the bodies of her dead siblings?

As I recall, the bodies of her two sisters and brother were discovered in the fall of 2008 after a neighbor became concerned because she had not seen the woman’s sister around lately. When the police went into the house they discovered the body of one sister, who had been dead for 30 years, the body of the brother, who died in 2003, and the body of the other sister, who had died recently (all of natural causes).

Today there was a story in Crain’s saying that someone has actually bought that house (the owner has moved into a nursing home).  An Evanston couple made an offer on it just one week after it was put on the market. They knew about its gruesome past but were undeterred. It’s a pretty 1890s-era house in east Evanston and I guess once it’s gutted and redone  the new owners won’t find it so creepy.

Until the deal closes we won’t know how much they paid, but presumably they got a good deal. It just goes to show that, at the right price, every house will sell…even in this market.

Tags: haunted houses, pricing your house to sell, Strange real estate stories