Dear Friend of Grant Park,
 
We do much to improve the quality of life in the central city lakefront and Grant Park areas and our hard work shows in proven results.  Grant Park is Chicago’s front yard to the world and needs to be world-class in all of its 325 acres.  Along with the Chicago Park District, we have done much to green up Grant Park,  Chicago’s front yard, as well as promote and work on many environmental, architectural, art and design projects. 

You can support us by purchasing tickets to our Wine Down the Park event described below.  It is very convenient to purchase tickets and can be done on our web page described below. 

As you know, your support is very much appreciated and needed! In fact, our work in improving Grant Park and the surrounding area was publicly acknowledged this year by Mayor Daley and Superintendent Timothy Mitchell.

There is much information below about the event and a listing of our Board. 

Any help and support that you can offer are greatly appreciated.  Please spread the word about this event. 

Thank you! Bob. 

Please save the date, September 6, 2007, to be green and support the great work that the Grant Park Conservancy is doing in Chicago.  We invite you to be a part of our continuing environmental efforts to plant trees, help create greenspace, encourage environmentally-friendly living and “green” up Chicago’s front yard to the world, Grant Park.
To purchase tickets or to get further information on the Grant Park Conservancy please go to:  http://grantparkconservancy.com. 

In the lower right corner of the home page there is an icon to purchase tickets on line or you can mail a check to:
Grant Park Conservancy
410 South Michigan Avenue, Ste 467
Chicago, IL  60605

Food provided by the Art Institute of Chicago/Bon Appétit  
Chicago Park District
InPLAY 
Binny’s Beverage Depot
Entertainment provided by Roosevelt University and The Latino Cultural Center

The Construction Writers Association (CWA) will meet at the Hotel Allegro, Chicago, IL, from October 10 to 12, 2007.  The association’s midyear meeting will feature a tour of the Lakeshore East development, an education session focusing on digital media, a session featuring construction-related topics, and an awards dinner.

CWA’s Thursday morning education session will include:  Judy Schriener, formerly editor of McGraw-Hill’s construction website, on writing for the web; Toni Antonetti of Public Relations Chicago on new tools available to writers; and blogging, podcasting, and other new techniques with John Usherwood, eChannel Commercial Manager, MPSD – Global Brand Management, Caterpillar Inc. A wrap-up session will cover the pros and cons of digital and print media.

The $4 billion Lakeshore East development site was the largest available urban acreage in Chicago.  Previously a 9-hole golf course made out of a wasteland, it covers 28 acres east of Michigan Avenue along the Chicago River. Magellan Development Group LLC is creating this luxury village including housing, retail, recreation, and a school.  Three residential buildings have been completed, and three more were nearing completion earlier this summer. The spectacular 82-story Aqua Building is currently under construction.  CWA attendees will visit with the developer and tour the site on Thursday afternoon.

Thursday evening will feature the CWA Marketing Communication Awards and Website and Electronic Communications Awards Dinner.

On Friday morning, the midyear meeting session will highlight the 82-story Aqua Building, designed to combine condos, rental apartments, a hotel and retail spaces.  Ron Klemencic, president of engineering consulting firm Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Inc., Seattle and Chicago; David Alexander of the James McHugh Construction Co., Chicago, IL; and James Loewenberg, AIA, co-CEO of Magellan will be on hand to discuss the Lakeshore East development. Design architect Jeanne Gang has also been invited.

Building Information Modeling, commonly called BIM, will also be introduced.  Mark Woodburn, AIA LEED AP, of DMJM Design will be a panelist.  A software supplier, building owner, and a contractor have been invited to participate on this panel.  We are  also planning a session with representatives of the Illinois Tollway, who will discuss open tolling and variable pricing proposals, concepts that are becoming popular throughout the US.

The CWA Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday afternoon at the Hotel Allegro.  Observers are welcome at this session.  A welcoming reception has been scheduled for Wednesday evening at the offices of Concrete Products magazine, published by Penton, in the IBM Building.  Reservations are needed for the reception due to building security, but there is no charge for Wednesday events.

Rooms at the Hotel Allegro will be $219 per night.  The reservation cut-off date is Friday, September 14, 2007.  To book, call 800-643-1500 and mention the “Construction Writers Association.”

Registration fees for members will be $125 for the Friday midyear meeting, which includes the Thursday evening Awards Dinner, and $125 for the Thursday morning education session – or $240 for both.  Nonmembers will pay $150 for each session or $290 for both.  Nonmembers are encouraged to join CWA for $100 individual annual dues and attend the meeting at member registration rates. There is no charge to attend the CWA Board of Directors Meeting, the welcome pizza party, or the Lakeshore East development tour.

Construction Writers Association is a non-profit, non-partisan, international organization for journalists, publicists, photographers, and marketing communications professionals serving the information needs of the construction industry. By providing opportunities for networking, education, recognition, and fellowship, CWA helps foster a strong community — and improve the quality of construction writing. CWA’s website is http://www.constructionwriters.org/.

Magellan Development Group has published the Spring edition of the Currents Newsletter promoting Lakeshore East and the area.

Topics include: – Lakeshore East named “2007 Development of the Year” by the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, 340 Sales Office moved to Lakeshore East, Aqua Breaks Ground, Sales Office to Move to Shoreham, Jeanne Gang’s Aqua Design, Regatta Orientation Program, Cafe Roma to open in Shoreham, and 340 on the Park and Chandler “Top Out”.

 View the newsletter here – http://www.lakeshoreeast.com/pdfs/MGL_CurrentsSP07Pweb.pdf 

The Swisshotel expanding? You might wonder to where? According to an article in Digital50, into Lakeshore East. You might have wondered what will happen with the exact parcels between the Tides and Swisshotel (and the fire station), apparently Swisshotel is taking something, but the article does not say whether it is the space to the east or south.

From Digital50 – “Swissotel Chicago’s conference expansion will be in the Lakeshore East development, believed to be the largest parcel of downtown land under development in a major U.S. city. This $4 billion mixed-use development in the rapidly growing New East Side (sic)incorporates all the elements of a traditional city community” 

More info – http://digital50.com/news/items/PR/2007/04/20/AQF025/swissotel-chicago-announces-expansion-plan.html 

We went to Sayat Nova this Sunday. It located north of New Eastside, across the street from the Nordstrom. We have been there many times, we really like the food there.

The atmosphere is like middle eastern, very dim light, lots of decorations and many appetizers. Each time we just order lots of appetizers with one main dish. The best dish I like is the stuffed eggplant, very soft and tasty.

If you enjoy smoking the Hookah, that will be a perfect place to have fun!

Our baby Elizabeth is 10 months old, she found the lentil soup is very good, she managed to eat lots carrots.