Our Blog:
Happening in Lakeview
and Roscoe Village
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
It’s Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month! Take the time to acknowledge the importance of honoring the heritage of the AAPI community and celebrate by supporting local AAPI businesses.
Low-Line Market Vendors Are Announced!
The Low-Line Market is back for its ninth year under the tracks! This year, we welcome vendors new and old to our Thursday farmers market, running from June 3rd to October 28th, 3:30pm-7:30pm (3pm-7pm in September & October). Check out this year’s vendors and sign up for our market eNewsletter!
SBAC Action Call: Support Illinois Small Businesses!
Small businesses and local communities are attempting to recover from the pandemic. BIG Legislation for Small Businesses and the RISE Act will help. These bills will help businesses keep their doors open, recover and thrive.
Local Business Spotlight - August House
Meet Marya Veeck, owner of August House in Roscoe Village, an art gallery that also offers painting and drawing classes along with a summer camp for kids. Marya Veeck creates elaborate and beautifully detailed tableaus of dollhouse furniture, natural objects, and old toys that reveal elliptic metaphors of submerged feelings. She started her business to represent regional artists and build a warm and welcoming environment to provide affordable, interesting artwork. Read on to learn more.
ComEd Small Business Assistance Program
As of 1/1/21, the ComEd Small Business Assistance Program provides eligible small business customers, with a one-time grant of up to $1,000 towards a past due balance, once every 12 months. Eligible customers may also place a remaining balance into a payment plan of up to six months.
Local Business Spotlight - Waxman Candles
Meet Mitch Werts, owner of Waxman Candles. His father founded the business in 1970 based upon success grown from a $5 candle hobby kit. Mitch grew up and worked in the business throughout high school and college and now uses his father’s personal formulations of wax, fragrance and color to create a full line of handcrafted decorative and utility candles. Read our interview with Mitch to learn more about his favorite moments of running the business and hobbies he has outside of running Waxman Candles.
City Announces Updated Phase Four Regulations and Chicago Bridge Phase
Following two weeks of stable or declining COVID-19 reopening metrics, the City of Chicago announced a loosening of COVID-19 capacity regulations under the Phase Four Guidelines. Effective immediately, Phase Four capacity restrictions have been eased across a number of industries – the full details can be found below and on this capacity overview document.
Mom’s Night Out in Roscoe Village
Roscoe St stores are staying open late from 5-8pm for a mom's night out! Grab some friends to shop spring and summer collections at local boutiques and treat yourself with a gift for Mother's Day. Shops will have a spin to win game for your chance to win a discount or local prizes! Plus, some retailers will offer tasty treats and host pop-up vendors for more shopping fun, and you can sign up for a mini photography sessions for you and your ladies with Wildwood Photography!
Mother’s Day Stroll in the Southport Corridor
Southport Corridor shops are celebrating Mother’s Day by giving out roses from Primrose Chicago and chocolate treats from Candyality to moms who stop in on Mother's Day! Retailers are also offering special promotions and hosting pop-up vendors for more shopping fun. Plus, Angela Garbot Photography will be stationed in front of the Ouizi mural from 11am-2pm for moms to enjoy a mini photo session with the family! This program is funded by SSA 27.
Roscoe Village Streetery Begins This Friday!
Organized by neighborhood restaurants, Roscoe Village Streetery will kick off this Friday at 2pm! The Streetery will run weekly on Fridays - Sundays with Commonwealth Tavern, Orange On Roscoe, Volo Restaurant Wine Bar, Same Same, and Kitsch'n On Roscoe offering expanded outdoor dining. Come by to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend and make plans to explore the neighborhood and support local businesses while you’re there!
Local Art on Earth Day
There was some beautiful art in the neighborhood for Earth Day! B Collective beautified an SSA 27 trashcan on the corner of Paulina & Roscoe with gorgeous flowers and greenery, and the quote, “Be the change you want to see”. Plus, local artist Emma Moss created this beautiful chalk mural outside of the Paulina Station, funded by SSA 27. We hope you enjoyed these installations in the neighborhood!
Help us Create a Community Mosaic!
The Lakeview Public Art Committee is spearheading an exciting new initiative to bring an eye-catching mosaic to West Lakeview! Our goal is to engage the local community in the project design and execution, starting with collecting your ideas for the mosaic theme. We will launch this project at a community design workshop via Zoom on Monday, May 3rd, 2021 at 6:00 PM, or submit your ideas for the mosaic theme in advance of the workshop.
Give the Gift of Supporting Local This Mother’s Day with the Lakeview Roscoe Village Gift Card!
The Lakeview Roscoe Village Gift Card is the perfect gift for the moms in your life. Not only will they be able to pick out exactly what they want, but you’ll also help keep local dollars local and support our neighborhoods businesses. Redeemable at 40+ participating locations — there is truly something for everyone!
Local Business Spotlight - Leigh Marcus
Meet Leigh Marcus, owner of Leigh Marcus @properties with his wife Lindsay. Leigh has sold over 1,600 homes and has built an amazing team. Read our interview with Leigh to learn more about how he and his wife started their business, what they love about running their business, and why he loves waking up at 4am in the morning!
City Council Passes Vaccine Anti-Retaliation Ordinance
The Office of Labor Standards recently passed the Vaccine Anti-Retaliation Ordinance. Effective immediately, all Chicago workers – including independent contractors – are granted several protections to make it easier to receive the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine. The only way we will fully recover from this pandemic is by ensuring the vaccine is easily accessible to all Chicagoans. This new regulation ensures workers can get the vaccine during their work shift, if necessary, without fear of retaliation from their employer.
Sign Up to Be a Porch Host or Perform at PorchFest or our PorchJams Series
We are excited to bring a summer of porch concerts to the Lakeview and Roscoe Village communities! PorchFest features local musicians performing on front porches within our neighborhood boundaries throughout the afternoon. PorchJams Series is a series of concerts taking place on a different porch each week in Lakeview or Roscoe Village with two local musicians performing at each concert. Check out the dates and locations for this year’s PorchFest events and our new PorchJams Series here.
3 Things to Know About the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)
The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
Lakeview & Roscoe Village in the News
We have seen a lot of great press featuring Lakeview and Roscoe Village businesses! Check them out to learn more about what our neighborhood businesses are up to and watch them shine!
Celebrate Earth Day the Local Way
Buying local from independent businesses can make a positive environmental impact alongside the economic and social benefits. You can almost wrap it up in one word – transportation. The less your products have to travel, the better for our environment. That’s just one of many benefits of shopping locally. We deeply admire the commitment of our small businesses towards creating a healthier planet. Show your support with these ways to shop small AND green in Lakeview & Roscoe Village.
Sign Up For RVN’s Clean & Green Day!
In honor of Earth Day, the Roscoe Village Neighbors are looking for volunteers to take part in their annual Clean and Green Day on April 24! Sign up to help clean up the neighborhood. All volunteers will be provided with tools, clean-up bags and gloves. Participants will meet outside of Commonwealth Tavern at 9 am. Register here to participate.
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