East Village Association membership meeting Feb. 7, 2024 at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave.; President Christina Slaton presiding EVA members will vote March 13 whether to accept new liquor licenses on the 1900 block of Chicago Avenue. The two business owners presented their plans Feb. 7. A moratorium now restricts new liquor licenses, with restaurants as the only exception, on Chicago Avenue between Damen and Wood in the 36th Ward. The vote would advise Ald. Gilbert Villegas on whether to lift the moratorium for at least a year. Passages Wine and Books : The wine cafe at 1911 W. Chicago will serve glasses of wine as well as pour-over coffee and other nonalcoholic beverages, as well as snacks, popcorn and tinned fish. "It is time to start something that brings me and others joy," said business ownber Amanda Sadowski a social worker in Chicago for 15 years. The bookstore's bar would not qualify for the restaurant exception for new liquor licenses. The building...

A chessboard overlooks the playground at Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice St. East Village Association membership meeting July 10, 2023, at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Christina Slaton, president By Jenifer Goldsmith The Commercial Park Advisory Council joined EVA to discuss upcoming events in the park, followed by plans for the East Village Block Party on Saturday, Aug. 19, a brainstorming session about engaging local artists and galleries, and an open floor discussion of neighborhood news. Commercial Park Advisory Council President Michelle Hitsch and Treasurer Amy Bilton presented all the upcoming fall and winter events at Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice St.. There are many opportunities to get involved and enjoy the park and your neighbors! These include: Rhonda Locke Movies in the field: Puss in Boots, 7/22 at 8:15 pm; Top Gun: Maverick, 8/17 at 8 pm (bring a blanket or chair; concessions benefit the committee) Block Party: The Commercial Park party on 9/9...

The Arts for Illinois Relief Fund supports the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art and other local arts groups and artists. Chicago thanks EVA for its $1,000 donation to support local artists in the COVID-19 crisis.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater brings a puckish summer production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to Eckhart Park. Artistic director Barbara Gaines directs the 75-minute abridged production, in which four young lovers, an amateur theater troupe and the spirits of nature meet in an enchanted forest. Elizabeth Nungaray of Chicago Shakespeare Theater gives East Village Association members a preview at the next membership meeting July 10 in the Happy Village beer garden at 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Chicago Shakes is known to take liberties in its family-friendly performances: "I'm pretty sure the Bard never said 'dude,'" the Tribune noted in reviewing the play's spring Navy Pier performances, which later toured Chicago schools. Skate to where Puck is going, and stake out a stretch of lawn for the 6:30 p.m. Aug. 3 performance at 1330 W. Chicago Ave. The summer revival opens July 25-28 at Navy Pier and tours for the next month. Othe...

A storefront mural stands out at Chicago Truborn, 1741 W. Chicago. East Village Association membership meeting May 9, 2018 Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Presiding: Michael VanDam, president Sprout Home: Urban Gardening Chicago presents challenges for the gardener, according to Stephen Hill, general manager at Sprout Home , 745 N. Damen Ave. Nevertheless, "be a little daring," Hill told members gathered at the Happy Village patio. The city is more plant-hardy than the rest of northern Illinois, and four hours of sun most likely will support "full sun" plants. For inhospitable backyard decks, trees and shrubs can thrive in big pots insulated with foam board . Chicago Truborn: West Town Street Art A mural from Rotterdam artist Eelco van den Berg makes the storefront stand out at Chicago Truborn , 1741 W Chicago Ave. Gallery owner Sara Dulkin described how the West Town SSA business district administers grants to support murals on buildings, scaffold...

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks returns Aug. 4 to Eckhart Park with a free, 75-minute production of "Romeo and Juliet." A specially equipped truck rolls into the park at 1330 W. Chicago Ave. A stage unfolds and a company of professional actors shares Shakespeare’s story. The 6:30pm performance is part of an annual Chicago Shakespeare Theater summer tour. Other locations include Humboldt Park, 1301 N. Sacramento Ave., on Aug. 11. The series opens July 26-28 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. Adapted and directed by Marti Lyons, the abridged staging features Nate Santana as Romeo and Emma Ladji as Juliet. The feud between the Capulets and Montagues divides a city. From these two proud families, Romeo and Juliet fall in love. Can these star-crossed lovers bring peace to Verona? Since the first park tour six years ago, more than 100,000 Chicagoans have seen the free performances. This year's presentations are sponsored by the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, B...

Taiko Legacy drummers perform last August at the Polish Triangle. Tuesday commuter concerts resume May 23 at the Polish Triangle, the fountain plaza at Ashland, Division and Milwaukee. The East Village Association, Wicker Park Committee and other groups in the Polish Triangle Coalition are finalizing performers, food vendors and sponsors. Blue Line commuters and neigbors can catch the concerts from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Tuesdays through August. The Tuesdays at the Triangle schedule includes nationally recognized performers such as Matt Ulery’s Loom , along with neighborhood ensembles such as the series-opening Near North Montessori school band, Latino Experimental Theater and the Adventure Stage Chicago Trailblazers. Ald. Brian Hopkins has expedited utility connections for the plaza to give this year's performers a silent power source. Businesses and residents can donate to support not only the concerts but also planters and other beautification efforts at the Nelson Algren...

Plans for improving the Blue Line station at Division and Milwaukee and other Polish Triangle features will be reviewed at the June 1 East Village Association meeting. Katherine Darmstadt and Kristen Moreau of the Latent Design architecture firm have been involved in "placemaking" efforts to create a more pleasant and lively plaza. They'll speak to EVA members at 7pm in the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. The Chicago Department of Transportation, which controls the park above the CTA station, is planning renovations with EVA and other community groups in the Polish Triangle Coalition . Separately, Centrum Partners plans a walkway between Division and Milwaukee, as part of a retail and apartment development at 1660 W. Division St. The coalition's Tuesdays at the Triangle events have started for the summer. June 2 activities include sidewalk games and an Adventure Stage Chicago performance. The schedule through September includes jazz, folk and ethnic ...

Chuck Osgood photo for Chicago Shakespeare Theater Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks returns to Eckhart Park this summer with "Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits," a durable adaptation of Shakespearean scenes by Chicago Shakespeare Theater founder Barbara Gaines. The troupe presents its 70-minute mashup at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and 15 at the park, 1330 W. Chicago Ave. It's one of the final stops in a summer tour of 17 parks that starts July 21. Part of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's touring repertoire for 25 years, "Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits" combines popular music with scenes from "Romeo and Juliet," "Macbeth," "The Taming of the Shrew," "As You Like It" and other plays. The production is staged by Jeff Award-winning director Dominic Missimi, and presented by the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District, Boeing and production sponsor BMO Harris.

Oberon (Nathan M. Hosner) and Titania (Lanise Antoine Shelley) will rule over the mystical woods of Eckhart Park Aug. 16 and 17 in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night’s Dream." (Chuck Osgood photo) By Nancy A. Cortés Chicago Shakespeare Theater returns this summer to Eckhart Park for two free performances. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" comes to the park at 1330 W. Chicago Ave. at 6:30pm Aug. 16 and 4pm Aug. 17. Come as you are: Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair . Shakespeare's popular comedy will be staged in  18 neighborhood parks  across Chicago. A specially equipped truck rolls into each park, a stage unfolds and a company of professional actors shares the bard of Avon with families and neighbors of all ages. Director David H. Bell has adapted this Shakespeare favorite into an acrobatic and riotously sprightly staging. A quartet of mismatched lovers, a gaggle of hapless actors and mischievous sprites cross paths with the king and queen of the f...

Rep. Mike Quigley (center) and Ron Wachholtz speak to EVA members at Happy Village. East Village Association membership minutes for June 2, 2014, submitted by Catherine Garypie PRESENTATION BY RON WACHHOLTZ OF COLLABORACTION THEATER This group is 18 years old and on the 3rd floor of the Flat Iron Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. The 14th annual "Sketchbook” show runs thru June 15; 19 shows in two hours (30 sec to 15 min) from around the country, in two adjoining theaters. “Crime Scene Chicago: Let Hope Rise 2014”: July and August this summer, partnering with the Chicago Park District, this production will be presented in four parks. On Fridays there will be peace rallies, barbecue and dance competition. “This is Not a Cure for Cancer” was the spring 2014 production. Collaboraction has a new board of directors, with 11 people on board. One big reason to support the theater: For every dollar spent in theater, $11 goes to the community. Free tickets were given to EVA member...

Collaboaraction Theatre's Sketchbook festival runs till June 15. Monday's East Village Association meeting will have updates on Trader Joe's, street festivals and other issues, a presentation from Collaboraction Theatre, and possibly a visit from U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley. You're invited to attend at 7 pm in Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Trader Joe's Developer Smithfield Properties has met with the EVA board and LaSalle II school council about plans for a Trader Joe's grocery at 1815 W. Division St., the former Miller Lumber site. Both groups reviewed a draft traffic plan from consultant Kenig Lindgren O’Hara Aboona. It would change the direction of two streets, Honore to the south and Marion to the north. The consultant told EVA that the plan would not improve Division Street traffic, and that Augusta Boulevard would have to be removed from the boulevard system to allow trucks. The location across Honore from LaSalle II also makes liquor sales agains...

The Polish Triangle's prototypal transit-oriented development has a long history. The 1611 West Division location was a YMCA , a Pizza Hut and (at least on the drawing boards) a Walgreens drugstore. Next month it opens with 99 apartments above a PNC bank and Intelligentsia coffee bar. This site has posted more than 700 articles since 2007, not counting archived editions of the East Village Association newsletter . Names have changed for prominent sites: News about the 1611 West Division address is filed under Pizza Hut and lead anchor PNC Bank. Similarly, the several Fifield Cos. apartment proposals for 1822-50 W. Chicago Ave. are known for the vacant site's last building, the AAA Distributing news agency, and its onetime prospects for renovation as the Chicago Bowl nightclub. Search engines and real-estate blogs such as Curbed cite this site for background on these developments. Some of our most often-viewed posts date from several years back, including stubbornly p...

East Village Association membership meeting minutes, Aug. 5, 2013 Submitted by Meghan Quinn Guest Speaker: Congressman Mike Quigley Mike Quigley stopped by to talk about his work representing Illinois’ 5th Congressional District. He pointed out that there are approximately 750,000 people in his district, which covers a wide geographical area, and includes Old Town as well as Hinsdale. He touched on the well-known legacy of the 5th district, and infamy of a few of its past representatives, namely Dan Rostenkowski and Rod Blagojevich. Quigley has proposed smart policies to crack down on corruption and increase government transparency. He introduced the State Ethics Law Protection Act with Sen. Mark Kirk to target pay-to-play politics. Quigley supports issues such as environmental protection, equal rights, and ethical, open government. According to Quigley's website , during his time on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Quigley sponsored every piece of major environmental le...

Rep. Mike Quigley ( Chicago Tribune photo ) As the U.S. House of Representatives heads toward its August recess this weekend, Rep. Mike Quigley has set the Happy Village as an early stop on his return to the 5th Congressional District. Quigley says he will attend Monday's 7pm East Village Association meeting at 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Quigley will speak for 15 minutes and answer questions. In recent weeks, the House Appropriations Committee member fought to restore a $190 million cut from Asian carp control and Great Lakes cleanup , fund community policing and roll back an increase for the B61 nuclear bomb . He also pushed for reduced nuclear stockpiles and increased firearms tracking and National Security Agency oversight . The Aug. 5 EVA meeting will also continue discussion of the Ashland Bus Rapid Transit plan. Joe Iacobucci, the Chicago Transit Authority's planning and policy manager, has agreed to attend. Neal McKnight and Scott Rappe of EVA met with CTA and Chicago ...

By Scott Letscher Adventure Stage has the perfect indoor and outdoor events to keep your family thoroughly entertained. For your indoor enjoyment, Adventure Stage is bringing Guerra: A Clown Play to our theater as a special treat for our audience. It’s a three performer 55 minute barrage of sketch, mime, pratfalls, paper airplane throwing and gags, gags gags. And lord, is it funny. - NYTheatre.com Guerra is presented by Mexico City-based theater company La Piara in collaboration with Chicago writer-directors Seth Bockley and Devon de Mayo, and it is at our space at 1012 N. Noble St. for one performance only. This is a great chance to introduce your family to something fresh, unique and totally hilarious.  For outdoor fun we are extending a special ticket offer: For every ticket you buy to Guerra, you get one free general admission pass to Brookfield Zoo. So for only $12 to $15 a ticket, you can enjoy a hilarious play and a day of your choosing at the zoo. You can purchase ticke...

By Jennifer Mathews Adventure Stage Chicago’s youth mentoring program, the Trailblazers, presents the premiere of "Stuff: A Curious Collection," created in collaboration with playwright Sandra Fenichel Asher. The free, hourlong all-ages shows are at 7pm May 20 & 21 at the Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St. They're followed by snacks and interactive theater games. To reserve seats, call 773-342-4141 or visit adventurestage.org .

Billboard at 1934 W. Chicago Ave. East Village Association membership meeting minutes for April 1, 2013 Submitted by Meghan Quinn Business Minute: Steve Quick Jeweler Store manager Sarah Wortman recently opened Steve Quick Jeweler at 1909 W. Division St. Steve Quick opened his flagship store in Lincoln Park 26 years ago, expanded to a second location in Lincoln Square five years ago, and just this past fall opened his Wicker Park store. Wortman said that Quick looks for spots with a lot of character. The jeweler is known for bridal sets but offers a large selection and can fix watches. Customers can create their own wish lists so loved ones know exactly what to get for special occasions. The business has been running an electronic billboard ad for the past three weeks or so, and residents are concerned that this doesn’t mesh with the community’s negative stance on the billboards. An EVA member pointed out that she is keeping track of which local businesses are advertising, and will...

About 50 community members testified at an April 8 meeting on the Peabody-Otis school merger. Next hearing is 5-7pm Friday at Clemente High. East Village Association board meeting minutes for April 8 Submitted by Kok Keng Goh Speakers for May 6 Congressman Mike Quigley , Mary McInerney of Nextdoor.com. Business Minute: MB Financial (home mortgages, loans), Comrade Cycles. Consider reaching out to Polish Museum, Hoosier Mama. West Town Library community event sponsored by Redbox Redbox contacted the West Town library to fund a community connector event, to promote the creative-artist community. Redbox has chosen five U.S. cities, Chicago being one of them, and only West Town library was selected. Gladys Anselmo is spearheading the event, expected by July or September. Other community organizations (Chicago Grand, Eckhart Park, Commercial Park) were contacted. Suggested ideas include displaying artwork on building and library windows (vendor contacted for projection on building); f...

By Jennifer Mathews Adventure Stage Chicago uses true stories from West Town neighbors to create its next production, the world premiere of "Augusta and Noble." Gabi has graduated from Peabody School and is starting high school across the city at Northside College Prep. As she encounters new people and possibilities, Gabi begins asking questions about her heritage, including the truth about her parents' journey to America. Get a sneak peek of "Augusta and Noble" during a free open rehearsal at 4pm March 24. Register at 773-342-4141 or visit www.adventurestage.org . Managing Director Scott Letscher will discuss the production at the East Village Association's April 1 meeting, starting at 7pm in Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave.