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November 1, 2023 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com

Laramie Bank project gets new development partner

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Details on page 2

EATS special section page B1

Garfield Park’s community gardeners turn vacant lots into Edens

Work on the new apartments, bank renovations start in January By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The redevelopment of the historic Laramie Bank building and the adjacent vacant lots is back on track after Austin United Alliance development team secured a new project co-lead, West Chester, Ohio-based developer Pivotal Housing Partners. As part of the Invest South/West initiative, the Chicago Department of Planning and Development sent out a call to redevelop vacant, mostly city-owned properties in neighborhoods facing chronic disinvestment. In March 2021, the city chose Austin United, which was spearheaded by Oak Park Regional See LARAMIE on page 5

PROVIDED

Gina Jamison is Kuumba Tre-Ahm garden.

Gina Jamison’s Kuumba Tre-Ahm is among those bringing fresh produce to the West Side’s food deserts

By ROB REID Contributing Reporter

Over the span of a century, a Late Victorian mansion filled up with new arrivals during the Great Migration, emptied out, and crumbled into ruin – leaving space for rebirth as an urban garden. When Gina Jamison’s grandfather ar-

WS ! NEF H S A L

rived in Chicago from North Carolina in the 1940s, he bought that mansion and coach house on West Warren Boulevard. As he rented out the dozen or so bedrooms to relatives transitioning to the new city, Jamison herself grew up next door. See GARDEN on page 6

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2 Austin Weekly News, November 1, 2023

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Austin Weekly News, November 1, 2023

Austin’s neighborhood high school reports shockingly low math and reading scores Nearly no students met proficiency levels in those subjects

By ERIKA HOBBS Editor

“It’s worked in other places, too.” CPS representatives did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

So few students at Austin College and After the pandemic Career Academy High School met proficiency standards in reading and math Each year, the state releases its Illinois that their scores don’t register on the Report Card to offer a look at students/ state’s annual report card. academic achievement at the state, district, This year’s snapshot showed that “0%” and school levels. It also offers student and of students met the state’s benchmark for teacher information, as well financial data, proficiency in English Language Arts and at each level. in math. In ELA, that’s a drop from 9.4% The Illinois State Board of Education in 2022. In math, that’s down from 3.8%. reported that in 2023, schools statewide Some students, of course, may have met proficiency rates rose and hit the highthe standards. But there were not enough est graduation rate in 13 years. Academic statistically to be counted in the score. gains for Black students, who were disproEducation advocates met portionately impacted by the the news with a mix of fruspandemic, improved signifitration and resignation. cantly in many areas. “It’s par for the course,” Despite the strides, offisaid Dwayne Truss, a forcials said proficiency rates mer Chicago Board of Eduacross the board remained cation member and combelow pre-pandemic levels. munity activist. Across the state, profiNeighborhood schools ciency rates in both ELA are complicated, he and and math remain below others explained. Selective pre-pandemic levels. State enrollment and charter officials, however, pointed schools all have ways of out that Illinois has some of choosing the “best” stuthe most rigorous standards dents. Neighborhood high for proficiency in the nation, schools accept all students and its benchmark for profiwhose applications did ciency is higher than that of DWAYNE TRUSS not make the cut, who do 45 other states, according to Former CPS board member not have the resources to the National Center for Edunavigate the CPS system cation Statistics. or who need remediation However, the statewide other schools may not be averages of Black students’ able to give. growth and proficiency rates still lag be“These kids, they’re 30 yards behind the hind other students. This, officials said, is starting line,” Truss said. “The question is a result of being served disproportionately can we design education to focus on a sup- in underfunded schools. port system to create a different culture for Chronic absenteeism remained “alarmwhere these kids are coming from?” ingly” high, they said, while pointing out Such a system would offer intensive so- that more work was needed to ensure stucial-emotional counseling and resources dents are able to recover from the social, to help families with what they need, emotional and academic impacts of the whether it’s help paying bills or mental- pandemic. Learning gains, or the growth a student health therapy. It’s not a “magic pixie dust” fix, he makes in a year, however, has been strong said. But Chicago has stopped offer- in the state, education officials said, and ing such support even though evidence they have accelerated faster than they have in pre-pandemic years. showed it helped.

“These kids, they’re 30 yards behind the starting line. The question is can we design education to focus on a support system to create a different culture for where these kids are coming from?”

Austin College and Career Academy High School The overview focuses on Austin College and Career Academy High School. We’ll look at Frederick Douglass Academy, Orr Academy, Manley Career Academy and Collins Academy in coming days. You can find out more about your local schools at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. The high school enrolled 172 students in 2023 — a small school by any measure — nearly all of them Black and low-income. More than a quarter have IEPs, or a legal document developed for each publicschool child in the country who needs special education.

English language arts and math Austin scored shockingly low in ELA and math, in contrast to state averages: a 34.6% proficiency rate. That’s up from 29.9% — or a 16% increase year over year. Black students saw the highest gains here, with a 33% increase in the ELA proficiency rate. Statewide, math on-level rates crawled to 26.9% in 2023, from 25.8% the year before. In Austin, that figure was 0. Science, however, was a bright spot for Austin, with 12% of those tested meeting the state’s benchmarks.

Absenteeism Chronic absenteeism skyrocketed during the pandemic, but attendance has not bounced back in the state. The average rate dropped to 28.3% from 29.8% the year before. However, Black students’ rates increased dramatically. That’s because, state board officials said, they had disproportionately had less access to in-person instruction during the COVID-29 period and are now better able to attend classes. Austin’s remained steady at 83.6%

Graduation rates Austin’s four-year graduation rate remained flat at 54.9%, while the state’s average graduation topped 87.6%, the highest in 13 years, officials said.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer HOW TO REACH US 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 773-626-6332 • FAX 708-467-9066 CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE www.AustinWeeklyNews.com Austin Weekly News is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. It is distributed free of charge at locations across Austin and Garfield Park. Our hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advertising rates are available by calling our office. Printed entirely on recycled paper. © 2023 Growing Community Media NFP.

4 Austin Weekly News, November 1, 2023

With her ‘taco life,’ Taylor Mason aims to give back to the West Side The North Lawndale native and restaurateur is bringing her talents back home

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

In an interview earlier this month restauranter and North Lawndale native Taylor Mason described her story as “pretty straightforward.” “I didn’t expect to be in ‘taco life,’” she said. “I always joke that the ‘taco life’ chose me.” There is, of course, more to this story than that. Mason became fascinated with California-style tacos while attending college in the Golden State, and decided to do her own take on it when she ended up moving back to Chicago. She and the woman who eventually became her wife decided to turn the idea into a business. East Garfield Park’s Hatchery Chicago food business incubator gave them the support they needed

to get the business off the ground. Since then, Taylor’s Tacos catering company grew into a restaurant, which just so happens to be located on Taylor Street in Little Italy. It opened in May. Now, Mason is giving back, joining the panel of judges for the Dec. 1 food and beverage business pitch contest organized by the Hatchery and Grubhub delivery platform. The winner will be able to use one of the Hatchery’s private kitchens for free. The deadline for the contest was on Oct. 30 at 5 p.m, after this issue’s print deadline. The pitch contest is part of the Hatchery’s annual fundraiser, the tickets for which are available online. While the tickets would normally cost $150 a person, West Siders can request free tickets. Mason recalled that while she liked Cali-

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fornia, she had to come back to Chicago during her senior year to help take care of her ailing mother. By the time Mason’s mother recovered, she was “too broke to go back to California.” “I missed the California taco, and I decided to take an authentic Mexican-style taco and put my soulful spin to it,” she said. Mason made her first Taylor’s Taco in 2014. When she tried selling some at The VIBE ColPROVIDED lective artists showcase, the line went Taylor Mason (left) with her wife, Maya Mason (right) around the corner. But it was when Mason met artist and former ballerina Mason isn’t stopping there. She is part of Maya Mason in 2016 that the concept truly a team that has been chosen as a finalist by turned into a business. The two were part the city to redevelop a site in West Garfield of one of the first cohorts of entrepreneurs Park on the 3800 block of Madison Street. to move into the Hatchery when it opened She said that having grown up in North in 2018. Lawndale, she felt the impact of the shortHatchery members start out using age of grocery stores and restaurants on shared kitchens, and they become eligible the West Side, and she was “stoked” to be to rent out one of the 56 private kitchens. involved. The Masons won the right to use a private “I really want to take the part of having kitchen for free during the Hatchery’s first the West Side [become] great again,” Maever pitch contest. son said. “It would be a dream come true They stayed at the Hatchery for three and exactly the reason why we started years. Taylor Mason said that they found [Taylor’s Tacos] to begin with.” the experience valuable for reasons beyond She said that even if Garfield Green team the cooking equipment. For example, they doesn’t get the bid, opening a restaurant on learned business fundamentals, such as the West Side is her long-term goal. how to make balance sheets. Mason said that she was “super excited” “Just being in the incubator space in to be chosen as a judge for the same contest by itself, and working with entrepreneurs that gave her an opportunity to use a priwho have the same skills, drive, [being able vate kitchen five years ago.” to] talk about things that are going well, “They could’ve chosen anyone, and I’m talking about things that aren’t going well, happy to be part of this amazing panel,” and that’s priceless,” she added. Mason said. Taylor’s Tacos started out as simply a catering company. In 2022, they opened a comTo purchase tickets or find out how you mercial event space called “Taylored.” In can get free tickets, visit https://thehatchMay 2023, the couple opened a restaurant. erychicago.org/events/

Austin Weekly News, November 1, 2023

LARAMIE

Work starts in Jan. from page 1 Housing Center and Heartland Housing, an affordable housing arm of Heartland Alliance, to redevelop the 5100 block of Chicago Avenue. But Heartland Housing ran into financial trouble during the pandemic and the properties it managed ended up in receivership in late May. This led Athena Williams, OPRHC’s executive director, to scramble to find another project co-lead. She reported that Austin Alliance’s plans for the property haven’t fundamentally changed. The historic bank building will have office space, retail and a bank branch, and as Williams mentioned, a “coffee shop or a juice smoothie shop opening inside. They will build a brand-new 78-unit, six-story apartment building with a public plaza on vacant land west of the bank. Out of the 78 units, 45 will have rents that are affordable to residents earning at least 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and six will be affordable to tenants

earning at least 50% AMI. The rest will be co-lead at Ald. Emma Mitts’ (37th) monthly community meeting, which took place on market-rate. As of May 15, 2023, 60% AMI is $46,380 Oct. 26 at the 37th Ward office. She introfor a tenant living alone and $52,980 for a duced Pivotal to the community, gave the two-person household. Williams said that updated project timeline and refreshed the residents’ memories on assuming construction is their plans. Williams said on schedule, residents will she wanted to reassure the be able to apply for the afcommunity that the project fordable units as soon as isn’t dead in the water. Spring 2025. “We’re looking for this Williams said that the project to start construcsearch for a co-lead took tion, hopefully no later than her four months. She said end of January, but it’s goit was a close call, but she ing to happen, ladies and settled on Pivotal because gentlemen,” she said. “they had a little bit more ATHENA WILLIAMS Wyllys Mann, Pivotal’s passion toward this projOak Park Regional Center senior vice president of ect” than the others. With

“Tonight is our coming out party, to let you know that we’re back.”

the developer now chosen, Williams said she expects the construction of the new mixed-use building to begin no later than January 2024, and the renovations of the historic bank building to kick off three to four months later. Austin United is expected to begin the leasing process by May 2025, with the goal of having the entire development up and running by around September 2025. Williams officially announced the new

development for the Upper Midwest region, said that his employer always tries to take on projects that are “catalysts.” Helping to restore a historic building and do their part to revitalize the Chicago Avenue corridor certainly fits the bill, he said. “These are going to be state of the art, modern apartments in a truly special building,” Mann said, adding that it’s “amazing” to work a project that inspires

so much passion in the community. Addressing the damage early July flooding that devastated the area, Williams said that the building will have an underground water detention reservoir to ensure that too much water wouldn’t go into the sewers all at once. Williams also answered questions about local hiring. The city requires that at least half of the construction work must be done by people who live in Chicago, but there is no requirement that they have to live on the West Side specifically. At least a quarter of the work must be done by through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 3 program, which provides job opportunities for low-income residents, including those who live in public housing development or benefit from any HUD voucher program. Williams said Austin United’s community outreach, which has been paused during the search for a new co-lead, will be getting back in full swing. “Tonight is our coming out party, to let you know that we’re back,” she said. “There’s going to be a plethora of different events, from closing all the way up to lease-up. If you really want to get involved, be ready.”

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6 Austin Weekly News, November 1, 2023

GARDEN

Garfield Park oasis from page 1 As the neighborhood declined in subsequent decades, Jamison moved to Oak Park, but never lost connection to her birthplace. In 1984, she bought the mansion from her uncle who owned it. By that time, people were stealing bricks from the crumbling structure. The city demolished the building in 1986, but Jamison

held onto the vacant land even as other properties in the area fell prey to outside speculators. In the ensuing decades, she slowly began to envision a space to teach gardening to children and adults while providing a supply of fresh produce for the surrounding neighborhood. In 2011, she planted the first seeds and named the garden Kuumba TreAhm Community Garden after her grandchildren Trevon and Ahmari, then aged 10 and 12. They were “the only ones who saw my vision,” she said.

A community of gardens Jamison’s dream is particularly relevant for East Garfield Park, a community area in which more than half of residents must travel over a half-mile to reach a supermarket, ranking it 60th of Chicago’s 77 community areas, according to Chicago Health Atlas. Kuumba Tre-Ahm is one of many formerly vacant lots now productively addressing the food supply problem. The Fulton Community Garden, the Madison Street Vegetable Garden, and other gardens in the Garfield Park Garden Network

all engage community members in local food production and distribution. They each supply fresh produce to the biweekly Garfield Park Neighborhood Market. Thanks in part to this market, 62% of East Garfield Park adults now say it’s easy for them to find fresh produce, ranking the area 32nd among 77 communities, according to Chicago Health Atlas.

‘More beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it’ The word “Kuumba” derives from the Swahili word meaning “to create.” It also represents one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, “leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.” In 2010, Jamison met community leader Angela Taylor, who shared ideas with her for improving the vacant lot. Over time they’d become like “two peas in a pod,” collaborating in building community and supplying fresh produce. She also credited former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration with nurturing her dream. “Daley was all about beautification, gardening,” she said, referring to his “City in a Garden” vision. The Daley-initiated Sustainable Backyards Program offers rebates to homeowners for compost bins, rain barrels, native plants, trees, and compost bins, while NeighborSpace, a nonprofit land trust, protects gardens through a nonprofit urban land trust. But she’s particularly interested in building community with the neighborhood’s children and engaging them with opportunities to learn gardening. Elementary school students from Willa Cather experi-

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ence Jamison’s garden firsthand — they see, touch, and taste the beautiful crops, including sweet potatoes, Italian plums, cherries, kale, horseradish, and tomatoes. They also participate actively by assisting with watering and other basic gardening tasks. “You’ve got to grab them babies and teach them,” Jamison said, “because when they’re older they might have to grow their own.”

sweet potatoes. In this setting, children in Hunter’s program “roam, learn, and play through nature” as they learn science, math, literacy, and nutrition while developing social skills. As they water plants, measure the nutritional content of produce with a refractometer, and listen to stories, their parents participate in a parent support group.

Teaching Future Gardeners

Produce for the People

Across the street from Kuumba, Nicole Hunter runs Limes Smiles for Miles, an outdoor program for low-income children ages 3 to 5. Noticing the lack of an early intervention program for children of color with autism or Down Syndrome in West Garfield, North Lawndale, and Austin, Hunter started her own program after having been a preschool teacher for 20 years. Launched this summer, the program runs from a lot that Jamison picked up for $1 in 2015 as part of the city’s Large Lots program. A predecessor of today’s ChiBlockBuilder, Large Lots encouraged community stewardship by selling vacant lots to property owners on the same block on the condition that they hold the land for at least five years. The land is now lush with rainbow chard, kale, bell peppers, tomatoes, squash, and

Two Saturdays per month from June to October, community growers sell their fresh produce at the Garfield Park Neighborhood Market. The market has been supplying organic produce to neighbors since 2012. Located in a parking lot in front of the Hatchery, a food business incubator built in 2018 at 135 N. Kedzie, the market moves indoors in the winter and spring. Jamison and Hunter are joined by Angela Taylor, who sells tomatoes, kale, and collard greens. Last fall, Taylor began coordinating an effort to deliver surplus produce to neighborhood senior centers. “Who’s chronicling our story about this?” Taylor said. “It’s a wonderful thing we’re doing.” As the story in Garfield Park progresses, the community of gardeners of all ages continues to grow.

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8 Austin Weekly News, November 1, 2023

Julian Middle School teacher takes nontraditional path to the classroom Reardon teaching his eighth grade students to never give up

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

You don’t always get it right the first time around, and that is okay. That is the lesson former janitor turned eighth grade social studies teacher Keith Reardon wants to teach his students at Percy Julian Middle School. “My first go around for college was a failure and that is okay,” Reardon said. “It is important to tell my students that it is okay to fail but it is never okay to give up. You can fail but it teaches you a lesson. Life is all about failures. It is the journey, the obstacles, that is what makes everything great.” Reardon, 35, grew up in Oak Park and attended Brooks Middle School and Oak Park and River Forest High School. He set foot into the halls of Julian Middle School, on Ridgeland Avenue, for the 2023-24 school year as a first-year teacher upon completion of his degree from Dominican University in River Forest. While Reardon comes from a family of educators, with both of his grandparents being teachers in the community along with one of his sisters being a special education teacher in Hinsdale, the road to the classroom wasn’t a smooth path. Reardon attended Illinois State University after graduating from high school to pursue a degree in history but did not graduate, leaving after three years. “I wasn’t doing badly in school but I had no direction. I wasn’t taking it seriously. It was a big university and it was easy to get lost there,” Reardon said. “I wasn’t ready for college or that kind of career at that point.” After dropping out of college, Reardon returned home in 2011 and began working for Oak Park Elementary School District 97, where his dad worked in the Custodian Building and Parks department as an electrician for over 30 years before his retirement two years ago. “District 97 is a great place,” Reardon said, adding he went through the district as a child. “It is a great community. The buildings and grounds department was excellent and they supported my dream of

TODD A. BANNOR

History teacher Keith Reardon helps students with their assignment at Julian Middle School on Wednesday Oct. 25, 2023. going back to school.” Reardon attended Triton, taking advantage of the district’s education stipend of $1,000 a year, before transferring to Dominican University. “I think it is important that the district cares about its employees and wants them to do better in life,” Reardon said. During his time as a janitor with the district, Reardon worked in multiple buildings and cultivated relationships with teachers and students, recalling he was particularly inspired by a special education student at William Beye Elementary School who would point out areas in the building that needed janitorial attention. It was through that relationship that Reardon experienced firsthand the difference he could make in the lives of students. With encouragement from his family and co-workers, Reardon, who at the time was pursuing a career as a Chicago Police officer, decided to go back to school to become a teacher. The road to earn his degree took eight years, said Reardon.

Juggling a full-time job to support his wife and his two children while taking classes at night was hard, said Reardon, adding that his wife’s support helped him pull through the tough moments. “She saw something in me and knew I could achieve more,” Reardon said. Reardon graduated in May 2023 from Dominican with a degree in elementary education with an endorsement in middle school social science. The second time around, Reardon graduated Summa Cum Laude, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, and was awarded the ‘Distinguished Senior in Education’ award. “Because I am a 35-year-old man, I took it very seriously the second time around,” laughed Reardon. “I’m serious about this now. Let’s get it done.” While he was working towards his degree, Reardon student taught at Julian Middle School during the day before switching uniforms and working his night shift as a janitor. “It was amazing that I was able to do it,

work and provide for my family,” Reardon said, adding that the five months of night shift was difficult because he didn’t get to spend much time with his family. Upon graduation, Reardon was hired by D97, adding that he believes his reputation has spoken for itself. “I have a great relationship with all the teachers, I have worked here for a very long time,” Reardon said. “I have been given this amazing chance and I am not taking it for granted at all.” “Whether he was serving as a custodian or classroom teacher, Keith’s work ethic, dedication, and positivity have been an example to our students and staff,” said William Lee, interim principal of Julian. “He understands the vital role that every staff member at Julian plays in creating positive relationships and learning environments. Over the past seven years working together, it’s been a pleasure to see his journey.” As Reardon settles into his first-year teaching, he said the school year has kicked off to a great start and he has had the full support of other teachers and staff in Julian. “The community has been great, everybody wants me to succeed,” Reardon said, adding he is enjoying teaching children he had previously taught during student teaching. For Reardon, sharing his non-traditional path to a career in teaching goes hand in hand with his role as a social studies teacher. It is by reading or listening to someone else’s stories that others are able to connect to each other, said Reardon. His story, the one that isn’t always told, is the one he is the most passionate about sharing, hoping it helps students and others to continue pursuing their dreams and be okay with taking the nontraditional paths that make the journey more special. “Everyone thinks you graduate high school and then you go through all four years of college and then you start a job and that is not the case for most people,” Reardon said. “Most people have a nonstraight path, the path is not straight, and that is important to tell kids.”

Austin Weekly News, November 1, 2023

Library hosts program to engage ‘girlz’ in tech Middle school girls will learn how to program Edison robots

and materials needed to host either face-toface or virtual workshops, along with providing training to volunteers. By creating opportunities for girls to be exposed to tech outside of the classroom, Britton said, the hope would be they can see all the possibilities available in the world of technology. By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ “We want them to see that there are all Staff Reporter kinds of different opportunities in the land Middle school girls interested in STEM: of tech that are not necessarily sitting beThe Oak Park Public Library will be host- hind a computer and coding,” Britton said. ing an event with TechGirlz Thursday for “We want to get them exposed to different girls who want to learn how to build robots. careers so they can actually see themselves As part of the workshop, participating in that [field].” The partnership between the library girls will learn how to program Edison, a LEGO compatible robot, using EdScratch and TechGirlz began a few years ago through a grant used to purto navigate obstacles through chase tech equipment, ina maze, said Amy Hofmockel, cluding Edison robots, a 3D creative technology librarian printer, 3D pens, and a video at OPPL, adding that robot-cendrone, items the library tered programs are popular. could use for the program. TechGirlz is run by Comp“When girls are allowed TIA Spark, a nonprofit and to have a space where they social extension of CompTIA are not competing for at-- a nonprofit trade association tention, then they become that offers technology industry much more interested in certifications -- that works to STEM projects and actividirectly fund and provide proAMY HOFMOCKEL ties,” Hofmockel said. gram support through content Technology librarian For the upcoming event, the and curriculum for students to 20 Edison robots will be used. gain knowledge into the world “The cool thing about these of technology. robots is that they come alAs part of their commitready with some pre-proment to igniting that ‘spark,’ grammed stuff on them that TechGirlz, a nonprofit program of CompTIA Spark, provides learning op- allows the girls who have not been exposed portunities for girls ages 11 to 14 to engage to that kind of thing not be intimidated by it,” Britton said. “It gently eases the girls with technology. into exposure and to see what they can Gwendoline Britton, vice president of external relations for CompTIA Spark, do … and it gives them the opportunity to said the goal is to unlock girls’ potential learn how to engage and interact with the robot and use coding.” in technology. Hofmockel calls the program “empower“We want to bring high quality technical education to middle school kids,” Britton ing” for young girls. “You get the results right away and it said, adding they offer both in-school and out-of-school programs. “TechGirlz re- makes a big impact on the girls feeling like ally focuses on narrowing the gender gap ‘I am a programmer, I program robots,” because as we know, there are not nearly Hofmockel said. Registration for the TechGirlz: Programas many middle school girls interested in ming Edison Robots event is available ontechnology as there are young men.” TechGirlz is the only out-of-school pro- line at oppl.org under the events calendar. gram offered by CompTIA Spark. It works It will be held in the Creative Studio located alongside community partners, such as on the third floor of the main library, on OPPL, to provide them with the curriculum Lake Street, on Thursday, Nov. 2.

“It makes a big impact on the girls feeling like ‘I am a programmer, I program robots.”

Chicago disrespects Black citizens with its policy on migrants

ear Austin: In recent times, the city of Chicago has witnessed a disturbing pattern of disrespect toward its Black residents, a community that has faced systemic challenges and marginalization for far too long. I shed light on a pressing concern — the city’s handling of Venezuelan migrants and its apparent lack of support for its own citizens. Austin has been grappling with several issues that leaves its residents feeling unheard and marginalized. One of the most glaring issues is the apparent preference for supporting Venezuelan migrants over addressing the longstanding challenges faced by the Black community. One concerning issue is the allocation of resources. While Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker have dedicated millions to support migrants, Black families who have been displaced for years have seen little relief. Empty buildings and park districts are converted into shelters for migrants, while Black Chicagoans find themselves sleeping on bus stops and in tents. A striking example of this disparity occurred when a group of migrants was moved into a courtyard building on Central Avenue, managed by Ehresman Management, just feet away from a black woman sleeping at a bus stop. This stark contrast in treatment clearly reflects the skewed priorities of our city’s leaders. The situation becomes even more disheartening when we consider the attempted takeover of Amundsen Park, a cherished space for Austin’s active senior population and the Windy City Dolphins football program for our children. This move not only disregards the needs and history of Austin’s residents, but also signals a lack of respect for the community’s efforts to build and maintain vital spaces. The anger and pushback from Austin residents are entirely valid. It’s a testament to the determination of the community to

protect what they have fought hard to build. The energy and organization around saving Amundsen Park exemplify the need to continue showing up for ourselves and our neighborhoods. This situation has revealed a stark reality: Some of our leaders have prioritized the welfare of migrants over the needs of their own constituents. It’s a slap in the face to the Black families who have long hoped for help and support. The time has come for the city of Chicago to acknowledge its obligations to its residents and take concrete steps toward addressing the longstanding issues that have plagued Austin and other Black communities. In the face of this adversity, it is crucial for the Black residents of Austin to unite, stand together, and demand the respect and resources they rightfully deserve. It’s a call for change, justice, and equity — a call that cannot be ignored any longer. The situation in Austin is further complicated by the fact that the current mayor himself resides in this very community. However, he is facing increasing backlash for his decisions and perceived lack of support for the community he once built his campaign on. The very people who elected him into office now question whether their concerns are truly being heard and addressed. For Austin residents, it’s vital to pay close attention to leaders and organizers who have chosen to lend their support to housing migrants while seemingly turning a blind eye to the struggles of their own displaced Austinites. The decisions made by these leaders will not be easily forgotten. It’s time to advocate for the interests and well-being of the community they represent. It’s a reminder that the power of the community lies in its unity and the accountability of its leaders. Austin residents have the right to demand the support, respect, and resources they deserve, and it is up to them to ensure that those who represent them in positions of authority prioritize the well-being of the community above all else.

AISHA OLIVER

10 Austin Weekly News, November 1, 2023

HELP WANTED METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT

MARKETPLACE WANTED TO BUY

WANTED TO BUY

Carpenter (Original)

IT Security Analyst (Original) Additional information regarding salary, job description, requirements, etc. can be found on the District’s website at www.districtjobs.org or call 312-751-5100.

An Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D

POLICE DESK CLERK FOREST PARK, IL

The Forest Park Police Department, seeks a Full-Time Police Desk Clerk. Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check. Qualifications include computer skills, the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, good knowledge of English language, general office skills, including handling non-emergency calls and walk-up customer service, and good verbal and written skills. EVENING AND HOLIDAY, OVERNIGHT HOURS ARE MANDATORY. Open until filled. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. or at www.forestpark.net and should be returned Attn: Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk, Village of Forest Park, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130. Email: vmoritz@forestpark.net.

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Engineering Technician II in the Public Works Department. The employee performs layout, draft and design drawings from field survey information and field notes for various engineering and planning projects including existing improvements, right-of-way and various utilities and performs a variety of field inspections. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will be accepting applications for the following classification(s):

Engineering Technician IV (Original)

HOME SERVICES

CLASSICS WANTED CLASSICS WANTED Restored or Unrestored

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Ferrari’s, James Jaguars,• 630-201-8122 Muscle Cars, Collector Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ allWANTED makes, Etc. CLASSICS Collector James WANTED MILITARY ITEMS:

TOOLS WANTED:

I want to buy all your old tools American tools, Wilton Vise, Wood working tools, Machinist tools.

Restored or Unrestored Call, Justin C 708-822-8822 Cars630-201-8122 & Vintage Motorcycles H 708-445-0164 Call Domestic Uncle Gary / Import Cars: NO TEXTS

Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

708-522-3400

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, HELP WANTED Mustang & Mopars ASSISTANT VILLAGE

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ENGINEER/ TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER

Collector James

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Assistant Village Engineer/ Transportation Engineer in the Public Works Department. The employee will be responsible for leading the planning, design, and operation of the Village’s transportation system; designing and managing capital improvement projects; supervising and directing the Transportation Engineering Division; assisting in directing, supervising, and coordinating activities of the Engineering Division; and providing administrative support to the Village Engineer and Director of Public Works. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application..

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST; Plaintiff, vs. CALVIN DOSS; DELLA M. BARNESDOSS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 20 CH 5053 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-15-224-016-0000. Commonly known as 4317 West Vanburen Road, a/k/a 4317 West Vanburen Street, Chicago, IL 60624. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. Matthew C. Abad at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Altman, Strautins & Kromm, LLC d/b/a Kluever Law Group, 200 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (312) 2360077. SFL000021-20FC1 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3230919

ments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 7949876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-21-00811 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2022 CH 00248 TJSC#: 43-3450 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2022 CH 00248 I3231406

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION ASSOCIATED BANK, NA Plaintiff, -v.JEFFREY J. ALEMAN, MARK GUIDUBALDI, AS TRUSTEE OF THE JEFFREY ALEMAN RESIDENCE TRUST, U/T/A DATED DECEMBER 14, 2011 Defendants 2022 CH 00248 1725 N. MARSHFIELD AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60622 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 29, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 28, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1725 N. MARSHFIELD AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60622 Property Index No. 14-31-423-0080000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assess-

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION VAN OAK CAPITAL, LLC Plaintiff, -v.ALBANY BANK AND TRUST AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE TRUST AGREEMENT DATED JULY 27, 2011 AND KNOWN AS TRUST #2683, EPIFANIO BARBAN, CITY OF CHICAGO Defendants 21 CH 3398 2451 S. MILLARD AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60623 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered

AustinWeekly News, November 1, 2023 11

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

in the above cause on October 2, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 16, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: LOT 4 AND LOT 3(EXCEPT THE SOUTH 9 FEET THEREOF) IN BLOCK 4, IN MILLARD AND DECKER’S SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST 1/2 OF THE EAST 1/2 OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 26, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS Commonly known as 2451 S. MILLARD AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60623 Property Index No. 16-26-117-0130000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $158,202.00. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact D. KAUFMAN LAW LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 185 N. FRANKLIN ST., 2ND FLOOR, Chicago, IL, 60606 (312) 993-0030. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. D. KAUFMAN LAW LLC 185 N. FRANKLIN ST., 2ND FLOOR Chicago IL, 60606 312-993-0030 E-Mail: dan@kaufmanlaw.info Attorney Code. 64273

Case Number: 21 CH 3398 TJSC#: 43-3818 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 21 CH 3398 I3231199

(HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 7949876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-23-06118 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2022 CH 01421 TJSC#: 43-3964 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2022 CH 01421 I3231903

subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 6706-186960 ADC INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3231643

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC; Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF MARKEE COOPER; CITY OF CHICAGO; MARKEE COOPER JR.; DAMON RITENHOUSE AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR MARKEE COOPER; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 22 CH 9500 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, December 4, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-04-407-014-0000. Commonly known as 1015 N. Laramie Ave., Chicago, IL 60651. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the

essential news. essential voices.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO USA HOLDINGS INC. Plaintiff, -v.WANDA CARTER, AKA WANDA C. CARTER, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS NOMINEE FOR CITIMORTGAGE, INC., ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF HAROLD E. CARTER, AKA HAROLD CARTER, AKA HAROLD EARL CARTER, SR., DECEASED, WILLIAM P. BUTCHER, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF HAROLD E. CARTER, AKA HAROLD CARTER, AKA HAROLD EARL CARTER, SR., DECEASED Defendants 2022 CH 01421 1301 NORTH PARKSIDE AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60651 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 18, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on December 5, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1301 NORTH PARKSIDE AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60651 Property Index No. 16-05-223-0180000 The real estate is improved with a residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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12 Austin Weekly News, November 1, 2023 Sponsored Content

Planned Parenthood of Illinois Provides Comprehensive Reproductive Health Care

lanned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) is dedicated to ensuring each one of our patients receives the full range of reproductive health care they need and deserve. PPIL offers vital services including prenatal care, cervical cancer screenings, pap smears, comprehensive birth control options, STI testing and treatment, rapid HIV testing, PrEP for HIV prevention, HPV vaccines, vasectomies, and genderaffirming care. Bridges to Prenatal Care Because PPIL understands that accessing prenatal care can be challenging, we launched Bridges to Prenatal Care to provide early prenatal services and connect patients with care providers for the length of their pregnancy. The Bridges to Prenatal Care program provides: inintal prenatal lab work, gestational dating ultrasound, help finding full-service prenatal care providers,

navigation and support connecting to wraparound services (i.e. birthing classes, doulas, food assistance, etc.), and more. This program is at four PPIL health centers in the Chicagoland area: Austin, 5937 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago Englewood, 6059 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago Roseland, 11250 S. Halsted Ave., Chicago Flossmoor, 19831 Governors Hwy., Flossmoor Breaking Down Barriers We are dedicated to eliminating obstacles that may stand in your way in when accessing reproductive care. Uninsured? Our team is here to help you enroll and navigate through available insurance plans. We also connect patients with services to address issues such as food insecurity, transportation, housing insecurity, and provide follow-up to reduce gaps in services for patients.

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Make a Difference in the Health of Our Community Join RUSH Oak Park Hospital’s Community Engagement Council and help us improve the health and well-being of our community. We’re looking for passionate, engaged people from Oak Park and surrounding communities who want to provide input and feedback on important local health issues.

Visit rush.edu/rophcec to learn more about responsibilities and eligibility requirements — and to submit an application. Apply to be a member of the RUSH Oak Park Community Engagement Council today!

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EATS B2 November 1, 2023

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The joys of dining

ike every meal well served in a local restaurant, our annual EATS special section is a collaboration of creative people, fully focused on a great outcome. Gathering so many local restaurants into one section reflects the spectacular diversity of cuisines and attitudes that we all enjoy in the eight communities represented in this year’s EATS section. Oak Park, Forest Park, Elmwood Park, Austin, Berwyn, River Forest, Brookfield and Riverside have, each in their way, become dining hubs drawing not only locals and but also curious diners from across the area. So many people are living out their dreams of creating a restaurant, building it up, opening it to change and welcoming their customers to enjoy that hospitality. We have thanks to offer, too. This year, our lead sponsor for EATS is Takeout 25. This nonprofit sprang into ac-

tion during the pandemic with a goal of sustaining our local restaurants during a spectacularly hard time. They created motivation and an infrastructure for generous and hungry people to still enjoy a great meal even during COVID. Now, Takeout25 is perpetually innovating to support restaurants and doing it across a wider range of nearby neighborhoods. Ours is a natural partnership in promoting the joy of good and curious eating. A final thanks to Risé Sanders-Weir, who has stepped up as our lead freelance writer for this section. When she told us she was a devoted local diner, she was speaking the truth. Hope you enjoy this year’s EATS. And happy dining.

Adorn your table... deliciously. Broken Tart cakes, pies, and cookies are getting all dressed up for Thanksgiving. Stop into our shop or visit brokentart.com to place your holiday order today!

BROKEN TART Cakes. Bakes. Coffee. 1108 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park www.brokentart.com

Dan Haley Publisher

Contributing Reporter and Photographer Risé Sanders-Weir Digital Manager Stacey Coleman Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Editor Erika Hobbs Publisher Dan Haley Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

B4 November 1, 2023

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Longtime friends now partners at Victory Italian

Pair grew up in Melrose Park so Oak Park felt like home

ictory Italian is the collaboration of Chef Joe Farina and restaurant and real estate developer Tony Gambino. Joe and Tony grew up in Melrose Park together and would meet occasionally over the years to discuss doing a project together. Farina was the culinary director of Rosebud restaurants for years and Gambino was in the Mexican restaurant business with Taco Fresco and Fuego Loco. Finally in 2016 they were able to do a joint restaurant in South Loop called Victory Tap. Growing up in Melrose Park, a location in the Oak Park, River Forest area was familiar and something both were enthusiastic about. When the pair

found the location at South Blvd. and Marion Street, they both loved it and could see that the overall space would work well for a Victory Italian restaurant. The entrepreneurs enlarged the bar and changed the floor plan of the former wine and cheese market into a traditional looking Italian restaurant. The look is not trendy, instead they chose an old school approach to the room with darker wood, copper and white marble to give the room an upscale but warm and comfortable feel. The food too is traditional Italian. They like to say it is Chicago Style Italian food. Homemade pastas, Chicken Parmesan, Brick Chicken and Farina’s

famous meatballs are featured on the menu. Victory also always has a few strong steak, chop and seafood entrees on the menu as well. Those include the popular Chilean Seabass, Lamb Chops Oreganata and the New York Strip Steak Gambino style. Gambino, formerly a resident of Oak Park who lived on South Blvd.,

only blocks away from the restaurant, loves the area and the town. Victory is now in its third year and its owners believe they have brought something to Oak Park that will become part of the neighborhood and the community. Victory is open daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is open for lunch on Friday and Saturday. Victory also has a great catering menu with family meals and for the holiday’s items like seafood salad, baked or raw clams, calamari. ... to help anyone attempting the seven fishes.

Victory Italian victoryitalian.com

100 South Marion, Oak Park

Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm Friday - Saturday: 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm

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A year in the life of Broken Tart Sisters connecting bakery with the villages

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

roken Tart did it. Surviving the first year is a milestone for small businesses. What was once a coinlaundry at 1108 Chicago Ave. has established itself as a beloved bakery. The owners, sisters Krissy and Katie Mack, are humbled and overjoyed that their sweet dream was embraced by the community. Katie Mack remembers the opening. “When we were trying to plan for this, we just didn’t know. How many scones are we going to sell in a day -- like 12, like 24?” She got her answer, “The demand has been crazy. Thank you to the community for such amazing support since day one.” Customers have quickly picked favorites. Some have called the kale scone “life changing.” Others are devotees of the overnight oats, ginger crème cookies, sweet or savory biscuits, or the citrus-glazed olive oil cake. Chef Krissy Mack is attracted to ingredients that are both intriguing and, of course, delicious. She says she doesn’t follow trends, but she does enjoy introducing flavors. “I like buckwheat flour. Not everywhere, but it has the most amazing texture.”

Broken Tart brokentart.com

1108 Chicago Ave, Oak Park Hours:

Tuesday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Katie Mack who came to the endeavor with marketing skills adds, “Being in the culinary scene you want to try something that’s interesting. But I think we have something for everybody.” For lunch, there is a daily focaccia and at the end of the week, “Sandwich Friday.” Cakes continue to be an important part of the business too. To satisfy demand they usually require a seven-day advance order. Not to be forgotten, the sisters are also proud of their beverage program, which includes coffee from Big Shoulders and Ruby Coffee Roasters. Supporting other local businesses is something Krissy and Katie are excited to have the opportunity to do. One example is on select Saturdays this year they have partnered with Mood, just across the

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Broken Tart pastries street, to host Le Marche, a Parisian-style street market with a curated selection of food, fashion, antiques, and art vendors. The sidewalk patio in front of Broken Tart has also become a draw. “We like to be a community spot,” said Katie Mack. To keep that going as the weather turns

crisp, the two are already imagining how they can extend the patio season, especially when Christmas trees arrive in the lot across the street. Both sisters agree. “We want people to bring their kids and get a hot chocolate. It’s very Hallmark. We want to continue to deliver delicious products and experiences.”

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

B6 November 1, 2023

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More seating, a bigger kitchen and growing menu at Poke Burrito

P PHOTOS COURTESY OF POKE BURRITO

Lake Street spot expanding into space next door

oke Burrito has announced its expansion into the retail space just next door to its longtime current location at 1025 Lake St., Oak Park. The new space will expand both the dining space and the kitchen and allow for several new items to be added to the menu. “It took us over a year to finish up our new dining space with additional kitchen

space,” said Jimmy Chen, the enthusiastic owner of the restaurant. “Now you are able to dine in a bigger and newly renovated pleasant environment with many of our new specialty food menu items,” he said. According to the very limited space in our current store, we couldn’t serve many customers at once, which we are very unhappy about.”

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Poke Burrito

pokeburritochicago.com 1025 Lake St., Oak Park Hours:

Monday/Thursday: 11 a.m to 9 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Chen said adding more space for dine-in customers while expanding the kitchen space for his crew has “always been the first thing on my mind.” Chen announced the Oak Park store will be launching new menu items including Korean Corn Dogs, Japanese Ramen, Mochi Donut, Hong Kong Bubble Waffle, Waffle Ice Cream, Funnel Cake, and additional Japanese appetizers. Korean corn dogs are an upgraded version of regular hot dogs. It has a corn-like shape, wrapped in amazing batter, filled inside with hot dogs, mozzarella cheese, rice cakes, or fish cakes fried in a batter on a stick. You can also dress with sugar, ketchup, mustard, and/or mayo to make it into your favorite style. They are a sweet and savory treat that can be made in a variety of different ways. Pulling cheesy strings out of corn dogs is an additional fun fact.

Mochi donuts, also known as Poi Mochi, are a fusion pastry crossing traditional American doughnuts and Japanese mochi. The mochi donuts are Poke Burrito’s own special mixture of “hybrid batter” made out of glutinous rice flour and tapioca flour which makes a doughnut more fluffy, and moist, and will give you the most satisfying chew. Mochi donuts are uniquely shaped into eight mochi balls connected into a circular flower shape that is easy to pull apart and designed to share with your loved ones. The “new” bubble waffle has a different unique shape which is rolled up into a cone and stuffed with deliciously flavorful ice cream and eye-catching colorful toppings. When you take your first bite, says Chen, you will instantly feel cheated. It’s like a soft pancake disguised as a bubbleshaped waffle. Since winter is coming, Chen said it’s the perfect time to bring back their Japanese Ramen. “We’ve got a newly developed kitchen to create the most delicious and savory bowl of ramen to warm up your day.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF POKE BURRITO

B8 November 1, 2023

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Inari welcomes beginners and connoisseurs

A kaleidoscope of fresh tastes at Inari

I FILE

Real flames are on the menu when customers order the flaming dragon specialty roll at Inari Sushi in Elmwood Park.

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

nari Sushi wants to introduce diners to both the elegant and fun sides of sushi, sashimi, maki, poke. Many of us love the taste of sushi but are a bit intimidated when faced with the terminology that comes with it. At Inari Sushi on restaurant row in Elmwood Park, you can sit back with a glass of sake (Japanese rice wine), hot tea, or a cocktail and know you are in good hands. Alcoholic drinks are 50% off during

their happy hour each day from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Other drink specials extend into the full day: Monday is half priced wine and sake; Tuesdays bring $6 martinis and $3 inari sushi (fried tofu pockets stuffed with rice) which makes a great sweet/sour appetizer. The restaurant features the freshest ingredients possible in both their traditional and innovative menu. Here’s a primer: sashimi is simply thin slices of raw fish and other seafoods meant to be eaten after a quick dip in soy sauce. Sushi are the same slices, but now served over vinegarseasoned rice balls. Vegetables and eggs join items on the sushi menu. Maki is where Inari gets seriously creative. Their rolls come filled with a

! P O O C

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7428 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park Hours:

3 Vienna

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Friday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. kaleidoscope of tasty combinations. Summer rolls feature vegetables and sashimi without rice. Samurai, Hamachi-Kama, and White Tuna Crunch rolls are on the specials list as well. All are under $17. One stand-out is their Flaming Dragon Roll. Filled with tempura shrimp, scallions, and sweet and spicy mayo inside, the roll is topped with salmon, super white tuna, black tobiko and sesame seeds. But wait, there’s more. When the dish arrives at the table, it’s set on fire. Inari also offers the increasingly popular poke bowls (pronounced po-KAY). This Hawaiian dish respects the island’s deep ties to Japanese culture. Think of the bowls as deconstructed Maki. Cubes of fish are served over rice, accompanied by a variety of vegetables and toppings. Lunch specials are a great way to explore

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Wednesday

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF INARI SUSHI

1/4 Lb Double Cheeseburger

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SAWA’SOld OLD Warsaw WARSAW Sawa’s Authentic Polish-American Smorgasbord

and find out what you like. A sushi sashimi combo goes for under $20. There is even a vegan lunch combo! A recent diner commented that Inari helped his son get into the spirit. Their server gave him connected chopstick trainers to help eat the authentic way. Inari is on a mission to help everyone enjoy sushi.

Restaurant • Lounge • Banquets • The Jazz Room Authentic Smorgasbord DinePolish-American In • Carry Out • Catering • Delivery

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B10 November 1, 2023

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Culture, taste blend at Anfora Wine Merchants

nfora Wine Merchants, 128 S. Marion St., is a combination retail shop enoteca (wine library), named after a two handled terracotta vessel used in Ancient Rome to store or transport wine. Since opening three years ago, the Pleasant District storefront has become a regional wine destination and captured national attention because of press received from the James Beard award winning drinks publication, Punch. “Our approach to wine at Anfora is not how a standard sommelier would approach it,” said Adrian Weisell, co-owner of Anfora Wine Merchants “Wine is about more than taste to us. We look at wine drinking through a cultural and historical lens.” The Marion Street shop honors and celebrates, particularly, but not exclusively, Italian wines; a country with more indigenous grape varieties spanning well beyond the more well-known international varietals.

So many ways to engage with wine at Anfora

ANFORA WINE MERCHANTS

A welcoming retail space engages customers upon entry, floral murals cover walls and terracotta pendant fixtures hang from the ceiling.

Wooden shelves house bottles of wine and a set of double doors give way to a cozy room with a counter suitable for hosting small classes and enjoying a glass with friends. Anfora’s knowledgeable staff strive to make the shop a festive gathering space where people come to select a bottle to open at home or enjoy a bottle of wine onsite with friends. Anfora has a dynamic wine by the glass list, but Weisell is quick to point out the entire shop is available to be enjoyed for a modest corkage fee. The shelves are a retail wine list filled with unique offerings, where you’ll find bottles for the everyday, celebration, or collection. Anfora is building a deeper sense of community through its wine club, annual store membership, and Sunday tastings. Between their monthly wine club, and the annual store membership, the shop welcomes hundreds of local wine-lovers each

month to pick up their curated collections, or to an exclusive monthly wine tasting for annual store members. Approximately twice a month Anfora hosts $5 Sunday afternoon casual tastings, which are open to the public to taste through five wines the proprietors love right now. The best way to learn about Anfora’s events is to sign up for its email list (anforawinemerchants.com), or to stop into the shop and check out the monthly calendar. Anfora Wine Merchants is a social destination where people embrace the thoughtful approach the entire staff takes to curate a wine tasting experience no matter if it is a private event or casual outing with friends.

Anfora Wine Merchants Anforawinemerchants.com 128 S. Marion St., Oak Park 708-613-5388

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Wise Cup a mix of coffee and artisan specials

Don’t miss monthly Indian food pop-ups

month. Customers can pre-order off a menu of Indian street food dishes for carryout as well as limited dine-in tables. The menu changes from month-to-month, rotating among different regional Indian cuisines. Past menus have included: Pav bhaji, a popular vegan stew of assorted vegetables and Indian spices from Mumbai; Summer specials like samosa chaat with stewed chickpeas topped with a golden samosa, chutney, yogurt, onions and tomatoes; Creative lentil flights with garlic naan satisfy curious diners; and Wise Cup’s roti tacos, which bring a taste of Calcutta to Lake Street.

ise Cup is independently owned and operated by Shivangi and Naveen Khetarpal, Oak Park locals who opened the coffee shop six years ago in Downtown Oak Park. It is located at 1018 Lake St. Wise Cup offers an array of traditional as well as innovative coffee drinks, baked goods and special Indian treats including samosas. Every fresh item at this hip spot in Downtown Oak Park is thoughtfully created by local artisans including the locally roasted coffee, sweet and savory treats, and unique hand thrown mugs. Newly added to the menu are Seasonal Chutney Jars -- a very flavorful dipping sauce for everyday use. It’s an authentic family recipe! In 2020, Wise Cup also began hosting pop-up meals featuring regional Indian fare. The pop-ups were a hit and the Khetarpals have since continued the program on the first Saturday of every

Shivangi Khetarpal says, “We want to sprinkle the taste of India in this community and want people to know what Indian moms love to make.”

Wise Cup owner Naveen Khetarpa

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Whether you’re looking for a place to meet friends, get some work done with a wonderful cup of coffee or tea, grab something quick before a movie at the

Lake Theater, or try some of their unique offerings, you really can’t beat this very special and vibrant spot in the heart of Downtown Oak Park.

Wise Cup

wise-cup.business.site 1018 Lake St., Oak Park 708-628-3707

B12 November 1, 2023

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A local culinary legend prepares for her final bow

rom her humble start as a personal chef serving four clients, Angie Montroy has seen her business, Angie’s Pantry, grow into a successful weekly meal service offering healthy, homemade fare with a client list of over 1,700 families.

After 25 years in the business, Angie has announced plans to retire in early 2024. She is seeking to sell her business which has deep roots in these villages. Angie got her start in the mid-90s when she offered her personal chef services to four clients and grew to include small catered events. Eventually, she started a food blog at AngiesPantryBlog.com, sharing recipes, food stories, cooking and budgeting tips. Her success paved the way for multiple appearances on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight in 2010, and her meal service business kept growing. Angie initially worked out of the kitchen in her home in River Forest, then moved on to renting space at the 19th Century Club until 2018 when she opened

and trans fats. There are about her doors to the storefront two dozen recipes she offers kitchen of Angie’s Pantry at that she says are client “faves,” 809 South Blvd. in Oak Park. including one she crafted for the “The storefront combined Beyond Hunger “Healthy Chef with the ability for people to Challenge.” She was crowned order online really helped me the winning professional chef expand,” she said. “I hired a both years she entered the really incredible staff to assist competition -- 2018 and 2021 with certain areas, but I am -- beating out renowned chefs at still the chef in the kitchen Angie Montroy local restaurants. every week. It’s physically demanding work, but we all put a lot of But Angie is more than just a chef. love into it.” She has a passion for giving back to the The Angie’s Pantry staff includes Nancy Walker, Julie Scheuring, Maureen Pond, Jonathan Reedy, David Snyder and Barbora Zamboni. Angie credits her success to the team effort of her staff. “They are the most amazing people to work with. I couldn’t do anything without them!” she said. Working together, they currently create up to 300 individual meals every week, full of healthy ingredients and thoughtfully curated gluten- free and vegetarian options, and free of preservatives, artificial ingredients

community. “I believe in helping however I can, and I know a lot of my clients feel the same way,” she said. “So I gave them an option to make it easy to make a difference.” On her weekly order form, a line item was added offering patrons the opportunity to make a donation. Through the years, Angie and her loyal patrons have collectively donated over $28,000 to charities close to her heart, including Beyond Hunger, Housing

Forward and UNICEF/Help Ukraine. As Angie steps into the next chapter of her life, she looks forward to a slower pace, cherishing moments with her family. With her youngest off to college and her eldest son recently married, she playfully hints at the prospect of future grandkids. “I do have some other things in the works, like an Angie’s Pantry cookbook,” she said. “I also have a special place in my heart for the homeless community, and I am hoping to direct some energy toward a project to benefit them.” In February 2024, Angie will present her final menu, marking the end of a remarkable 25-year journey. She’s in talks with potential buyers for her business, hoping to pass on her legacy to someone who shares her unwavering love for it.

Angie’s Pantry angiespantry.com

809 South Blvd., Oak Park

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November 1, 2023 B13

Scan the QR code for our full Catering Menu or visit jimandpetes.com

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, December 9, 2020

B14 November 1, 2023

Taste is the identity of Harvest 365

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Self-serve buffet serves good food and God

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

ated as one of the best self-serve family-style restaurants in Illinois by Yelp, Harvest 365 is dedicated to fresh, bountiful, and affordable food. From their beautifully renovated location at 7610 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park, their kitchen prepares foods from around the world with Asian, Mexican, and Italian options. But a special focus is put on Southern and Soul dishes. Fried chicken and fish, collard greens, cornbread, peach cobbler and other homestyle favorites anchor the hot portion of the food bar. A cold bar serves salad fixings, fruits, and desserts. Special grilled entrees can be had for an additional charge. Recent offerings include Atlantic salmon, smoked brisket, ribeye steak, jumbo shrimp and lamb chops. “Our lamb chops are known to be the best in the on this side of town! We are all about fresh. You won’t find canned and frozen foods here,” says Sister Mary Lyons, director of Planning and Operations for both the restaurant and the Living Word Christian Center. The restaurant is literally and figuratively backed by Bill Winston Ministries, led by Sister Mary’s brother Bill Watson. His stated vision is to build strong community relationships and to serve the community with integrity, excellence, and value.

PROVIDED

Fried fish

PROVIDED

Lamb chops

Harvest 365 harvest365grill.com

7610 W. Roosevelt Rd., Forest Park Hours:

Tuesday through Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Monday Sister Mary elaborates on the reason for a church to run a restaurant, “Our goal is to serve the community. And to provide a place where families can come, have a nice place to dine, and maybe host a party. God replenishes us for serving. We sew seed because it will return in a harvest.” The price for dine-in is $16.99 for adults and $10.99 for children. There is a take-out option as well, where you fill containers and pay $9.99 per pound. Catering is also a vibrant part of the business. Trays can be ordered and picked up when a crowd needs to feast. There is a focus on healthier eating, but it’s more about

providing options according to Sister Mary. Strengthening community from the inside and out is what this organization is all about. But it does come down to good food. Taste is Our Identity is the motto emblazoned over the grill.

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November 1, 2023 B15

#fantasticfungi • caffedeluca.com

#mealservice • angiespantry.com

Celebrate fall flavors at Caffé De Lucca with a hearty wild mushroom risotto. Shaved Parmesan takes this rich dish to the next level.

Try our home meal service! No menu planning, prep or contracts - just fresh, healthy and delicious meals you can warm and serve.

Caffé DeLuca

Angie’s Pantry

7427 Madison St, Forest Park

809 South Boulevard, Oak Park

anforawinemerchants.com Aperitivo has never been more fun. The perfect mix of nibbles and the very best bottles. Cin Cin!

Brokentart.com

Anfora Wine Merchants

Cakes. Bakes. Coffee. Made fresh daily in our tiny bakery. Come for the baked goods, stay for the good vibes.

128 S Marion St, Oak Park

Broken Tart 1108 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park

Cafecubanochicago.com Join Cafe Cubano for an authentic Cuban lunch or dinner. Have your pick of hand crafted tropical drinks. Fall featured drink is our homemade Sangria.

Café Cubano 7426 W North Ave, Elmwood Park

B16 November 1, 2023

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November 1, 2023 B17

Betty’s Pizza & Pasta mixes classics and a fresh vibe

Pizza and, increasingly, much more

t Betty’s Pizza & Pasta, 1003 South Blvd., Oak Park, now in its second year of operation, the familiar scent of melting cheese and baking dough greets customers upon arrival. What once was a cozy, vintage style interior, however, has undergone a significant transformation. New lighting, a new ceiling, and more appealing colors all encompass the warm and inviting interior. The walls, once adorned with simple framed pictures, are now decked with an array of vibrant and striking artwork, all created by the talented staff itself. Customers remain engaged in the ageold debate of whether to fold their extralarge New York style slices or savor them flat. Some still adhere to the tradition of folding to prevent the infamous “flop,”

while others, determined to keep their hands clean, indulge in a no fold policy, embracing the challenge of finishing their slices in multiple bites. Betty’s Pizza & Pasta has become a staple in the Pleasant District showcasing the creative talents of its own team alongside its scrumptious menu. While retaining its fun and unpretentious vibe, the restaurant now exudes a contemporary charm, balancing the nostalgia of the past with the energy of the present. The homage to Oak Park’s founding figure, Betty Kettlestrings, remains intact in the restaurant’s name, but the South Boulevard establishment has fully embraced its own unique culinary identity. Betty’s has perfected its pizza recipe and expanded its menu to offer an even wider array of tantalizing options.

The signature 18-inch pizzas, still cut into eight generous slices, maintain their unique texture, boasting a crispy bottom and a fluffy, soft top. Alongside the classic pies featuring whole milk mozzarella and flavorful toppings, the menu now includes a variety of specialty pizzas, including the Mikey’s Hot Honey Pie and the famed Garlic and Zucchini Pie. In addition, Betty’s Pizza & Pasta now offers a “slice happy hour” offering slices for purchase every day from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Also, check out Betty’s Family Dinner Special. Beyond the ‘za, Betty’s has expanded its offerings to include an array of delectable appetizers such as eggplant parmesan, garlic parmesan chicken wings and retains the famous meatballs and the irresistible garlic knots. Additionally, the menu features an enticing selection of pasta dishes. The salads, available in small and large sizes, have also garnered attention, with the arugula and quinoa salad, featuring apples, blue cheese and

crispy bacon, emerging as a particular favorite among patrons. Kettlestrings Restaurant Group is thrilled to invite everyone to experience the revamped Betty’s Pizza and Pasta. With its updated interior and the added charm of the staff’s own artwork, the restaurant continues to be the go-to destination for a slice of both New York and the creative spirit of its own team.

Betty’s Pizza & Pasta bettyspizzapasta.com

1003 South Blvd., Oak Park 708-434-5526 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 4pm - 10pm Sunday 4pm - 9pm

B18 November 1, 2023

N Rebozo continues tradition with a twist

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Happily relocated from Oak Park to Forest Park

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

here is nothing quite like Chef Paco’s enthusiasm for his food and his customers at N Rebozo. Nowadays he exclaims, “Oh my God,” from a location at 7403 Madison St. in Forest Park. During the fall and winter months his Chile Nogada is the seasonal star of the menu. The dish is a Poblano pepper filled with a sweet and savory mix of beef, nuts, dried fruit, blanketed with a creamy walnut sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds. This mixture of flavors goes beyond the kitchen for Paco, “When you taste sweet, sour, spicy, this is the same for the life. Sometimes the life is sweet; sometimes the life is spicy. When you get the balance, that’s my philosophy for the restaurant and for everything. This balance.” Fiesta Mole is the dish that made Chef Paco a fixture in the local restaurant scene. The platter features six enchi-

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Chef Paco ladas with a choice of cheese, chicken, chorizo, guacamole, hibiscus, or grilled steak inside. Each one finished with a different mole. Those six are chosen each week from a total of 40 mole recipes, two of which are the chef ’s original creations: Poblano and Pipian. The mescal margaritas are a blissful match with either

N Rebozo

newrebozos.com

7403 Madison St., Forest Park Hours:

Tuesday through Saturday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday

PROVIDED

Chili Nogada

Fiesta Mole platters

of these two featured entrees. The extensive drink menu focuses on fresh and authentic takes on traditional recipes. An Agave Old Fashioned recalls cocktail culture of the past the with a modern Mexican twist. And Micheladas bridge the beer and cocktail divide. And when you are done with the main course, don’t sleep on dessert. Paco encourages you to try the flan, “People say they don’t like flan. Don’t worry. … I make authentic Mexican flan, creamy. If you try my flan, you’ll love it.” The elegant space where N Rebozo has landed on Madison Street previously was Heritage restaurant. Chef Paco believes it is the perfect environment for his unique take on Mexican food. The open dining room also allows him to be more present with his customers, whom he loves dearly. “You love what you eat … everybody happy. Paco happy. This is gives me mas energy.” Expect nothing less from Chef Paco.

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victoryitalian.com

This is a Cucina classic. Chicken Pistachio is pan-fried with pistachio breadcrumb crust, red pepper cream balsamic sauce, creamy polenta, grilled asparagus.

Don’t just carve pumpkins, carve out some time for family this fall with Victory’s family meals! We’ll bring all the cozy fall favorites to you! More cheese, please! Get all the warm and cozy fall flavors from our orecchiette rapini & sausage.

Cucina Paradiso

Victory Italian

#mycucina | cucinaoakpark.com

100 S Marion St, Oak Park

814 North Blvd, Oak Park

#morethanpizza | bettyspizzapasta.com Did you know that Betty’s serves up more than NY Style pies and delicious pastas. Stop in soon to try our garlic parmesan wings and other new menu delights.

Betty’s Pizza & Pasta 1103 South Blvd, Oak Park #harvest365grill | harvest365grill.com A trio of fresh lamb chops are grilled to order when you add a premium entrée to your allyou-care-to-eat food bar meal.

Harvest 365 Restaurant and Fresh Grill 7610 W Roosevelt Road Suite 120, Forest Park

#encorebylittlegem | encorelittlegem.com Our eggplant rollatini. Dining and live music Tuesday through Saturday.

Encore! by Little Gem 187 N Marion St, Oak Park

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Cucina Paradiso satisfies local Italian lovers Menu is built to thrill and satisfy

C RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Sweet spicy pepperoni pizza

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

ucina Paradiso has thrived at 814 North Blvd. for 28 years. The secret, according to owner Anthony Gambino, is attention to detail. Every delicious detail. The menu is a balance between an homage to cozy red-sauce Italian cooking and a forward view of flavors diners are hungry for now. “We have some main staples that we started with. I could never substitute them with anything because our customers would be upset with us. Then obviously we create those dishes with our unique touches and quality ingredients,” said Gambino. One dish that’s always on the menu is Rigatoni Bolognese with homemade meat sauce, tomatoes, cream, onions, fresh mozzarella. One of the most popular is a fresh egg noodle pappardelle with tricolor peppers, a light cream sauce and blackened shrimp. Another fresh pasta offering is a giant rigatoni egg noodle with a brandy

Cucina Paradiso www.cucinaoakpark.com 814 North Blvd. Oak Park

Hours: Everyday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. cream sauce and shiitake, button and cremini mushrooms, spiced with fresh thyme and garlic. The four seasons drive most changes to the menu. Gambino is proud that they print their menu every day, responding to what is at the height of flavor. Three to four dishes rotate on and off every few weeks. The bounty of summer zucchini is the taste inside cheesy Cucina puffs. A similar approach is taken at the bar. Gambino credits mixologist Karina Nunez with revising old favorites with fresh ingredients. Try for example their Blackberry Old Fashioned with fresh, muddled blackberries and house-made sage syrup. Gambino gives credit to his staff, “They

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RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Fresh rigatoni with mushroom are Cucina.” It’s worth noting that key personnel have been at the restaurant for more than a decade. This includes managers Jeremy Troyer and Kim Rozhik who hold down the fort since the restaurant is open every day of the week. Chef Mike Bouse executes the tightrope walk between tradition and trends. The pepperoni pizza is an example of how to invent. The current iteration is both spicy and sweet. Gambino describes the pie, “We’re using top ingredients and then drizzling it with a Calabrian chili honey. So that’s where we bring a twist and up the game.” Gambino says when he started out, he was, “…young, eager, and either extremely determined or very foolish.” The gamble has paid off, with many wins for locals who love to eat.

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Cucina puffs

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

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Est. 1955

Specialy Subs & Italian Delacacies Elmwood Park has a long standing reputation for being home to outstanding As a reputation Village we are Elmwood Park has restaurants. a long standing forproud being to share this reputation and work hard to promote home to outstanding restaurants. As a Village we areit.proud

to share this reputation and work hard to promote it. RESTAURANTS

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Ashleys Café & Tap 7650 W Ave Ashleys Café & Tap Ave 7500 W North Grand

7500 W Grand AveJuice Ashleys Café & Tap Bon Vivant & 7500 W Grand Burger King Smoothie Bar Ave

7201 W. Grand Ave 16 Conti Pkwy Dunkin Donuts 16 Conti Pkwy 7230 W North Ave Eggsperience

Great American Bagel 16 Conti PkwyAve Gringo & 7230 WBlondie North

7308 W North Ave

7400 North Ave 1621 Thatcher Ave Panera

Russell’s Barbecue 7400 North Ave Spizzico & Senor 1621 Thatcher Ave Jefe

7514 W North Ave Bagel Spizzico& 7446 W North Ave Great American Russell’s Barbecue Gringo & Blondie Senor Jefe 7230Wok WNorth NorthAve Ave 1621 7514 W 7446 WThatcher North Happy Sports NookAveAve

7334Vivant W. Diversey Ave 1742 Bon Juice & Gringo & Blondie 1750 Harlem Ave N Harlem Ave Happy Wok 7514 W North Ave 1742 N Harlem Ave Smoothie Bar Burger King Burger Moovementt Inari Sushi 1750 W. Harlem Ave Ave Inari 7334 Diversey Happy Wok 7512 W North Ave 7428 W North Ave 7428 Ave 1742W NNorth Harlem Ave Burger King Moovement Burger Café Cubano Jim & Pete's 7512 W North Ave 1750 Harlem Ave Jim & Pete’s Inari 7426 W North Ave 7806 W North Ave 7806 Café Cubano 7428W WNorth NorthAve Ave Burger Moovement Caputo's Jimmy John's 7426 W W North North Ave Jimmy John’s 7512 Ave Jim & Pete’s Fresh Markets 1702 N Harlem AveAve 1702 Caputo’s 7806NWHarlem North Ave Café Cubano 2400 N Harlem Ave Johnnie's FreshW Markets Johnnie’s 7426 North Ave Jimmy John’s Circle2400 Tavern N Harlem Ave 7500 7500 North WW North AveAve 1702 N Harlem Ave Caputo’s 18 Conti Pkwy Circle Tavern Massa Café Massa Café Fresh Markets Johnnie’s 18 Conti Pkwy 7434 North Culvers WW North AveAve 2400 N Harlem Ave 7434 7500 W North Ave 7542 W Grand Ave Culvers McDonalds McDonalds Circle Tavern Massa Café 7542 7217 W Grand Ave Donny G's W Grand Ave 18 Conti Pkwy 7217 W Grand Ave Ave 7434 W North Donny 7308 W NorthG’s Ave New Star Restaurant Culvers New Star Restaurant McDonalds 7308 W North Ave 7444 W North Ave Dunkin Donuts 7542 W Grand Ave 7444 7217 W Grand W North Ave Ave 7201 W Grand Ave

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Tacos 2 Go The Barre Studio Tacos Go Ave 7530 W2Grand & 7530 Café W. Grand Ave The 12 W. Barre Conti Studio Parkway The Barre Studio & Café Tony D’s & Café 12 W Conti Parkway 7725 W Belmont Ave

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Wing Stop Union Tap

Union Tap Ave 7707 #1A 1740 NWestwood Harlem

Owned and operated by The Bonaccorsi Family

7538 West North Avenue • Elmwood Park, Illinois (708) 453 - 3505

Golden Wok Restaurant 1122 N. Maple - 17th Ave. LaGrange Park • 708-354-3930 www.wok138.com

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1740 N Harlem Ave 1740 N Harlem Ave

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"The Best French Food Outside of France" "First-rate dining destination" Pat Bruno, Chicago Sun-Times

Hemmingway’s Bistro Serving Lunch and Dinner daily, 11am - 9pm • Champagne Sunday Brunch with Live Jazz, 11am - 3pm • Live jazz and discounted martinis every Wednesday • $2 Oyster Happy Hour, daily 2:30 - 5:30pm

• Full service bar and wine list • Reservations recommended

• 1.5lb Maine Lobster every Monday & Tuesday - $39.95

211 N. OAK PARK AVE., OAK PARK, IL (Steps away from Hemingway’s Birthplace and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home & Studio)

708.524.0806 • WWW.HEMMINGWAYSBISTRO.COM

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144 s oak park ave mayadelsol.com

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7407 Madison St, Forest Park, IL 60130 708.771.3063 | www.fiorebakes.com

Monday - Thursday 11:30AM – 9PM

Friday 11:30AM – 10PM

Saturday Brunch | 10AM - 2PM Dinner | 2PM - 10PM

Sunday Brunch | 10AM - 2PM Dinner | 2PM - 8PM

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner! Don’t miss the meatballs! 7841 Grand Ave, Elmwood Park

Sun - Fri: 9 am - 2 am, Sat: 9 am - 3 am

(224) 833 - 1800 • sportznook.com

GAMING MACHINES!

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Sportz Nook is a restaurant but looks like a bar

A growing menu of delicious fare

ave Carlson is putting his own culinary spin on the Sportz Nook menu while keeping alive the memory of its former owner with a weekly meatloaf special. With more than 35 televisions tuned into sporting events across the globe, The Sportz Nook, 7841 W. Grand Ave., invites hungry locals to “come in a stranger and leave a friend.” Carlson, the general manager, has 12 beers on tap and put considerable attention to detail in the menu that keeps customers coming back for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “Our customers like to say we are a restaurant disguised as a bar,” said Carlson with a smile. “You can come in at 9 a.m. for a Denver omelet, play some games in the afternoon, or have a dinner that will really surprise you.” The diminutive bar opened in May 2022 and Carlson took over the role of general manager just two months after the opening. His love for food service blossomed at age 13 when he took his first job as a busboy and dishwasher at a banquet hall. Over the years he worked in restaurants across the city and developed his own arsenal of recipes. And now he is bringing his own culinary

Sportz Nook sportznook.com

7841 Grand Ave., Elmwood Park 224-833-1800 touch to the Elmwood Park bar menu. “I’ve been cooking for 45 years and I have a palette,” said Carlson. “I started working on my meatball recipe when I was 15 years old and I’ve perfected it over the years.” Today, Carlson serves up his “dense yet tender” bocce meatballs at Sportz Nook. They start with a combination of beef, pork and veal, Pecorino-Romano brings flavor and Carlson swears by the addition of Liborio breadcrumbs. He is singularly devoted to the bakery located just around the corner from the bar. The meatballs are baked and then simmered in a scratch made red sauce. The menu is being expanded to include grilled whiskey BBQ shrimp and a hummus plate to please vegetarians. Carlson is also proud to serve white wine steamed mussels at the restaurant that masquerades as a bar. “We are getting the reputation for hav-

FILE

Hummus plate

FILE

The “bocce” meatballs are a menu specialty at Sportz Nook in Elmwood Park. They are slow simmered in house-made red sauce and full of flavor. ing really good food and that matters to me,” said Carlson who credits his longtime friend Terry Harb for bringing him to The Sportz Nook. Harb, who owned several restaurants and bars, was “always begging” Carlson to come to work for him. Carlson refused until Harb pitched him the management position at The Sportz Nook. “I’d known him for 16 years and I always said no until he mentioned Elmwood Park,” said Carlson. “I grew up here; this is my home — I just can’t say no to Elmwood Park.” Harb loved Carlson’s homestyle dishes and had insisted that he put his famous meatloaf on the menu when the weather turned cold.

Sadly, Harb died before winter, but Carlson honors his friend’s memory by offering the meatloaf entrée every Friday evening. “The meatloaf is made with love, and I know how much he loved it,” said Carlson who credits the dish for keeping Harb’s memory alive. The Sportz Nook brings a surprisingly robust menu to a traditional bar. Carlson credits his friendly staff and growing customer base for their gaining popularity. The bar offers patio seating in the summer, occasional live music on the weekend and filling menu options every day of the week. Come in for a limoncello martini and stay for the meatballs.

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White wine steamed mussels

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Rocky’s Cheese Steak

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A special light, a simple welcoming at Little Gem Café

magine you are in Paris or London on a chilly autumn day where leaves of burnt orange, yellow and green go swirling and dancing through the crisp clear air. A rosy warm glow fills your cheeks and the newness of fall fills you with vigor! On North Marion Street framed in rich dark oak, you see flickering shimmers of amber and gold through tall, wide windows encasing The Little Gem Cafe. A stylish little restaurant. Intimate. Elegant. Romantic and warm with a friendly welcoming feel. Here you are treated to a relaxed fine dining experience. Casual or smart all feel at ease.

Celebrating its 9th anniversary on Marion Street it’s because of the lighting that saturates the gold ornate ceiling and bounces off the mirrors, the bar and candlelit tables or maybe because of the overall cuteness of the space? The exposed brick, mahogany bar, solid wood tables and cherry wood chairs. However, as we celebrate our 9th anniversary heading into our 10th year, we think it’s time to spill the beans. It’s you! You are The Little Gem. Everyone in this lovely spot on Marion Street looks forward to serving you.

The Little Gem Café offers regional cuisine with seasonal specials served for lunch, brunch and dinner. While reservations are recommended, walkins are always welcome. Lots of people have asked where the name The Little Gem came from. Everyone thinks

189 N Marion St, Oak Park, Ill Info@Thelittlegemcafe.com 708.613.5491 | thelittlegemcafe.com

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Introducing ENCORE!

Dinner, dancing, cocktails, live music

ittle Gem, one of Oak Park’s small and happy dining discoveries, has expanded with the opening of ENCORE! And true to its owner’s musical roots, the new spot, right next door to the old spot on Marion Street, in music infused. Live jazz and country blues featuring Chicago artists in an intimate venue will be the core of the music at ENCORE! Along with great food and drinks. The new restaurant is cozy, cheerful and warm. You’ll find music that comes from the heart and the hearth right in front of an antique oak fireplace. At ENCORE! there are two beautiful bars to choose from with a specialty bourbon collection that also feature fine wines, craft beers and cocktails. Service is always upbeat and friendly, for example your server Kyle is happy to say he has been at Little Gem since Day 1. That was in 2014. The owners are very hands on and there is always laughter in the air. Little Gem and Encore! are perfect for any occasion. Catering and private parties are available. And did we mention dancing. Dining, dancing, cocktails. What could be better? Come in and say hi. We will love to see you.

The details Encore!

The Little Gem Cafe

187 N. Marion St. Oak Park. Visit Encorelittlegem.com

189 N. Marion St. Oak Park. Visit Thelittlegemcafe.com

708-613-5491 Gift cards, private parties and customized menus are available. To book a party call 917-327-8997 or email us: info@thelittlegemcafe.com Outdoor dining weather permitting.

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Always changing, La Lupita stays true to its roots New bar, new kitchen and, coming soon, an upstairs lounge

T Quesabirrias

LA LUPITA

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

here’s lots to love on the revised menu at La Lupita. Quesabirras is a flavor sensation. The dish is made of marinated goat meat, cooked in a rich broth. The tender meat is then folded into a tortilla nestled with cheese. The reserved broth is served as a side for dipping. The owner Sal Figueroa says, “When we added the quesabirras, there was a video that went viral on TikTok and Instagram. We have been bombarded with people who want to try it.” Back when Covid shut down the dining room, Figueroa opened an al fresco patio on the sidewalk out front and made good use of the downtime to renovate inside. A new kitchen was built in the back, allowing the dining room to expand, and that made room for a full bar.

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La Lupita

lalupitaberwyn.com

6539 Cermak Rd., Berwyn Hours:

Monday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Two hits have emerged from the expanded drink offerings. One is the margarita flights. Pick from a selection of guava, mango, lime, tamarind, d, cucumber, and strawberry. Another nother is mescal-based options. tions. The liquor’s smokey profile adds a depth and nd complexity to classicc drinks, but it also opens up new options like the popular hijass por dios: a combination ion of berries and a house-made e-made mezcal and organic agave syrup. And just added – a variety of mojitos.

But that is not all that’s new. Brunch, Mexican style. French toast leads the menu filled with favorites like chilaquiles and huevos divorciados. A mimosa flight m makes it a celebration. c Elsewhere on the Elsewh menu are vegetarian and even vegan options ve waiting to be w tried: Bistek tr de Soya a la Mexicana, NoMexi palitos Azteca, Chilies Az Rellenos de Queso, and many more. “We are, the only are I believe, belie

LA LUPITA

Mexican restaurant in the area with vegan options,” he says. Each weekday La Lupita features a different happy hour drink special from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. And one more new feature in the works is a lounge on the second

floor, which is slated to open at the end of the year. Change is fun, but don’t worry. Lupita, Figueroa’s mom whom the restaurant is named for, is still there, handmaking her signature blue and yellow tortillas.

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Inside story of Spilt Milk

What’s your specialty? We are a bakery specializing in homemade pies and American-style pastries. We bake everything from scratch, right here at our shop in Oak Park -- and we strive to use local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible. We love partnering with local farms and purveyors to feature “The Best of the Midwest” in all of our pastries!

When did you open Spilt Milk? Molly and I started our business in 2014, and initially we baked out of Molly’s apartment kitchen for farmers’ markets, weddings and events. We eventually started renting space at Kitchen Chicago, a commissary kitchen in the West Loop. But we were growing quickly and knew we needed a kitchen of our own and a retail space to continue to keep up with demand. In 2016, we rented a small storefront in Oak Park and opened Spilt Milk Pastry in October 2016. The rest is history! We are inspired by all sorts of things -- but to be honest, most of our recipes are rooted

Two sisters, one story of love for baking and community

in family tradition. Growing up, our mom and dad were always baking and cooking -- and we draw a huge amount of inspiration from our parents and grandparents. Cooking was such a part of our family tradition, as it is for so many folks!

selection of butter shortbread cookies is so yummy, I could eat about a million of the rosemary shortbread cookies. I also love our Ham and Gruyere sandwich with homemade pickles and lots of butter.

What is the best thing about Spilt Milk?

We worked with the wonderful Theresa Jurgus from Baird & Warner to help us scout our current location. It was a mad scramble to get our current location open in just 6 weeks from lease signing to opening day. That included doing a full kitchen build-out (with permits!). It truly takes a village -- I still marvel at the community effort that went into opening our current shop and am so grateful for the support of our neighbors and friends who helped us along our journey!

We love Oak Park and the community of folks that really make this village special. The customers have sustained us through some pretty difficult years as we’ve grown our business and had to pivot in every possible direction over the past few years to keep things humming along. We are proud to be part of the community here and feel so grateful to our customers and the folks who trust us to cook and bake for all their celebrations big and small.

What’s your most popular dish or item? What is your favorite dish? Our bestsellers are Key Lime Pie and our Savory Breakfast Quiche. Personally, my favorites are always changing ... but our

How did you choose your location on South Blvd.?

How do you differentiate yourself from other bakeries? Honestly, we don’t worry too much about this. We try to focus on our product and making it the best it can be. I think it’s incredible that Oak Park has so many stellar

bakeries in town, and the wider Chicago community is spoiled for excellent pie and pastry shops. It’s an inspiration to be part of the bakery community here. There’s always something delicious to try!

Where do you see Spilt Milk in 5 years? Hopefully still standing -- ha! Molly and I love Spilt Milk, and we hope to be here for many years to come. My daughter Winnie recently told me that when she grows up, she wants to help mommy and Aunt Molly run the bakery. That brought some tears to my eyes. We have worked so hard to build this bakery, and we love our team, we love the community, and we love the food!

Spilt Milk

spiltmilkpatry.com

811 South Blvd., Oak Park

B32 November 1, 2023

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Kinslahger Taproom encourages a return to pub life Bring friends or make friends at Kinslahger

Y WWW.ALEXANDERMOROZOV.COM

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

ou can sip Kinslahger brews all over town. Ordering them in restaurants or picking up a pack to enjoy at home is great, but the Kinslahger Taproom is an experience all its own. The cozy storefront space at 6806 Roosevelt Rd. fronts the brewery. Its early 1900s vibe harkens back to a time when local bars were neighborhood gathering places. Owner Keith Huizinga wants to encourage that kind of interaction again, “It’s intimate. There’s no TVs. I want people to come down here, have a conversation with a friend or spouse or whoever, and enjoy the space.” An ideal night at the taproom for him is one table with a group playing cards, another full of friends reconnecting, but the best is when new connections are made. “It’s been so much fun since we’ve been open and I’m behind the bar

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Special Advertising Section to see people develop friendships.” Kinslahger offers a variety of beverages beyond beer: craft wines, a rotating selection of unique cocktails, regionally made sodas, and even non-alcoholic brews. The menu celebrates small and often local businesses. Pretzels are served up from the Daly Bagel with house-made mustard. Other snacks are similarly curated: Japanese almonds, peanuts and a meat and cheese board. Customers are also welcome to order in or bring food from home. Kinslahger’s reputation has soared over its almost 8 years in operation. Oak Park’s original brewery is focused on lager-style fermentation where the ingredients are the star of the show – rather than the brewing process itself, which is more common with ales. The bar’s draft line-up is a trip around the beer world: German dunkel, Baltic porter, New World lager. One of their most popular offerings is the Chicago Common, an ode to the bricks of the same name. The deep, earthly red is full-bodied with piney hops and rye spiciness. Onsite Huizinga offers more limited-run options, “We do different flavors that we call the Weekly Kinsman, just something that’s always rotating through as a small batch. It’s fun for us to be creative.” A favorite is a pilsner infused with a hint of jalapeno peppers and a Berlin

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Kinslahger Kinslahger.com

6806 Roosevelt Rd., Oak Park Hours:

Thursday and Friday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Available for private events Credit card only

weiss augmented with a dash of raspberry syrup. These are only poured in the taproom. Luring us in and providing a place to reconnect with community, make new friends, and enjoy conversation, just like our great-grandparents did before TV. … and we did a bit more before the pandemic.

WWW.ALEXANDERMOROZOV.COM

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Sushi & Sashimi Lunch Special

Dine -in / Carry Out Delivery Catering/Bar / Banquet

Chinese • Thai • Japanese Cuisine • Hibachi Steak House

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

• FREE PARKING • ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

708-453-8242

Hours:

Mon.–Thurs. 11:30am–9:30pm, Fri. & Sat. 11:30am–10:30pm Sunday 12:30pm - 9:30pm

7444 North Avenue • Elmwood Park FAX 708-453-3044 • NewStarRestaurant.com

Fresh flavors are the star at New Star

Small touches, fresh ingredients make New Star shine By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Contributing Reporter

reshness is the most important element in New Star’s success, according to owner Jinny Zhao. That is the way to ensure the best quality and consistent flavors. When she bought the restaurant almost a decade ago, Zhao transformed the kitchen to follow that rule. And it guided her as she turned an underused banquet room into a hibachi steak house. Tucked in the back of New Star are eight teppan grills, where chefs cook in front of diners. It’s dinner and a show. More than one group of diners sit together around each grill, so it’s best to make reservations if a larger group wants to be seated together. Japanese steak houses are famous for flaming onion volcanos, acrobatic feats

with eggs and even whole bowls of fried rice. While New Star doesn’t disappoint on the stage show, the real draw is the quality. “Japanese style cooking uses fresh meat, fresh everything and just cooking for you. People love it,” says Zhao. To keep improving the dining experience, New Star doubles down on freshness by making its own hibachi sauce. Better known as Yum-Yum sauce, the ingredients include fresh apple, fresh peach and tomatoes. “Even myself, I put some on a bowl of rice, my Yum-Yum sauce, and just eat it. It tastes so good,” says Zhao. That joy comes through in everything Jinny Zhao does. As she updated the restaurant space and menu, she wanted to attract a new generation of customers looking for even more options. “I was thinking that the young people, they do love sushi,” says Zhao. So, she added a sushi bar and an

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Special Advertising Section extensive Thai menu. Both of those benefit from the freshest vegetables. None come from a can at New Star. Generous portions are standard too. There is a full bar which features tropical drinks. This expansive take on Asian foodways means that diners at one table can sample many different styles at one meal. The smallest detail does not go unnoticed by Zhao. She designed the colorful bags covered in sunflowers that await take-out customers in the warmer months. When the weather takes a turn for the chilly, the restaurant switches to a zipped, insulated bag. The investment in high quality take-out bags is worth it to Zhao. “Chinese foods need to keep warm. If you order in cold weather like Chicago, when you get home, I don’t want it to get cold,” she says. For dine-in customers there are special touches too. Coloring pages, crayons, and even small toys to keep children occupied while they wait for their adults to be done talking. But it’s the rack of umbrellas that really sets New Star apart when it comes to customer service. Years ago, when Zhao was on vacation in Taiwan with her children, she was caught in the rain and needed to make a run for it to get to the airport on time. A kindly store owner told her to take an umbrella. She insisted that she couldn’t because she would be unable to return it. Zhao took the umbrella and returned with a lesson in customer service.

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“I came back to the United States, thinking, wow, I should do something like that. When older people or people with kids come in, when it’s raining, we say take one and bring it back next time when you visit.” The location on Elmwood Park’s North Avenue restaurant row creates an atmosphere and advantage for customers that Zhao loves. “The people you can walk up and down here and say, ‘Hey, I want to eat this. I want to eat that.’ Also, we’ve got a parking lot on the corner.” The parking lot actually belongs to Zhao. It came with the restaurant when she purchased it, but she shares it with all the restaurants on the row. What is good for the customer is good for New Star, says Zhao. Zhao, who had previously owned another restaurant, came out of retirement to undertake the challenge of New Star. She is proud of what she has accomplished, “I am enjoying doing this.”

New Star

newstarrestaurant.com

7444 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park Hours:

Monday: Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday: Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday: noon to 9:30 p.m.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Teppanyaki chef at work

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Committed to Oak Park and River Forest. Left to right: Denise Warren, Oak Park Branch Manager; Susie Goldschmidt, Oak Park River Forest Market President; Michael Starrick, River Forest Branch Manager

Whether you’re seeing a movie at the Lake Theatre or heading for a hike in the G.A.R. Woods, we think you should be able to get all of your banking done in your neighborhood… with people who love the area as much as you do. Byline is privileged to be a part of the Oak Park and River Forest community, and we are proud to partner with local nonprofits like Beyond Hunger and sponsor local events like Thursday Night Out in downtown Oak Park.

To learn more about our commitment to Oak Park and River Forest, visit bylinebank.com/oprf