When it comes to selling a Evanston or North Shore home, the backbone of any successful marketing strategy is proper pricing. That's because the highest volume of potential buyers sees your home within days of it hitting the market. So if your home is perceived as overpriced right off the bat, you've already missed a huge opportunity.
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10 Things We Love About Libertyville
18 Sep 2020 | 9:56 pmA town steeped in history; Libertyville provides all the creature comforts of a Chicago suburb while being surrounded by a significant amount of natural greenspace. This allows for abundant access to protected Forest Preserves along the Des Plaines River, and the rare opportunity to find a home on several acres of land. Established in 1836 as part of an Independence Day celebration, Libertyville features a charming downtown area built around Main Street, the town’s epicenter. Regardless of the season, you’ll find the area busy with events and entertainment. Come along as we show you 10 things we love about Libertyville! Independence Grove One of three Libertyville Preserves, Independence Grove not only features 1,114-acres of outdoor recreation, but ample event space capable of hosting gatherings of any size in a unique, natural setting. The Preserve is centered around a 115-acre lake reclaimed from an abandoned gravel quarry and is home to both a beach and marina. Independence Grove also has plenty of trails for hiking and biking along the Des Plaines River Trail. During the summer months, guests can enjoy an annual concert series in the facility’s amphitheater. Private events, including weddings and corporate functions, are held at the Visitor’s Center with various catering options. Inland Lakes, Outdoor Fun While the shores of Lake Michigan are just a short drive away, Libertyville has the added benefit of several small inland lakes. Similar to Independence Grove, Lake Minear Beach was created from a gravel quarry and is now home to the Libertyville Boat Club. Located in the heart of Libertyville, the lake provides a nautical escape where residents can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, concessions and plenty of picnic spots. Butler and Liberty Lakes also offer fishing, wildlife and summer camp options for kids. Photo by Lake Minear Beach Old School Forest Preserve[…]
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@ Loves Local Next Stop: Black Dog Gelato in Logan Square
18 Sep 2020 | 5:54 pmOur next @ Loves Local stop is Black Dog Gelato in Logan Square! Anyone else ready for delicious, Chicago-Style gelato? Owner and mastermind of Black Dog Gelato is Chef Jessica Oloroso, who has been putting her talents and knowledge into her own gelato creations for over 10 years. Each month you’ll find a rotating menu of signature and specialty flavors that are sure to take your taste buds on a ride. While Chef Jessie concocts creations like Malted Vanilla Pretzel and Hazelnut Crunch, she takes it a step further by collaborating with Chicago restaurants and breweries for truly unique flavors. Photo by Black Dog Gelato We were able to ask Chef Jessie questions about Black Dog Gelato, what Chicago-Style Gelato really is, and where she finds inspiration for her gelato flavors. She even shares her must-tries from the September menu. @properties: What inspired you to open Black Dog Gelato? Chef Jessie: My love of ice cream and the desire to build something. @properties: Black Dog Gelato specializes in gelato, specifically Chicago Style Gelato. Can you explain what Chicago Style Gelato is? Chef Jessie: It’s kind of something I made up to give my gelato a place in the world. I modeled my base recipe after the northern style of gelato: with milk, cream, and eggs, which is much richer than the style you find in the central and southern regions of Italy. Our gelato goes even further and has a higher fat content than traditional northern style, but not is still not as fatty as ice cream. @properties: You have three Black Dog Gelato locations in different neighborhoods in Chicago. We’ll be visiting Logan Square’s location – was there anything in particular about this neighborhood that drew you to it? Chef Jessie: My very first retail venture with Black Dog[…]
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How to Get Your Autumn Fix This Fall
16 Sep 2020 | 7:27 pmFall is right around the corner, and as you start swapping your shorts and t-shirts for pants and sweaters, you may be wondering how you can make the most of the season this year. Fortunately, we’ve done our research, and there are plenty of ways to safely experience fall 2020 throughout Chicagoland as well as Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Pick Your Own Apples and Pumpkins The Midwest is home to plenty of pumpkin patches and apple orchards. Boasting lush apple trees across a gorgeous landscape, Apple Barn Orchard & Winery in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, features 13 varieties of apples. Less than two hours from Chicago, the orchard has a versatile collection during prime picking season in October with apples that are great on their own, coated in caramel, or baked into pies. Meanwhile, County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana, invites visitors to its 40 acres with 25 apple varieties. Masks are mandatory for the U-Pick experience, which also includes pumpkins. The U-Pick fun doesn’t stop there. 45 minutes east of Hobart, Dinges’ Farm in Three Oaks, Michigan, has 20 varieties of pumpkins, 25 varieties of gourds, and 15 varieties of squash for you to pick, as well as Concord and Niagara grapes. With over 200 acres of fresh veggies and favorite fall items, Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center in South Barrington is one of the best spots in Illinois to pick pumpkins. Round out your visit to the farm with a taste of delicious apple cider donuts, seasonal fruit pies, and harvest cookies. Pumpkin pickers should also make their way to Lincolnshire, where Pumpkinfest at Didier Farms runs all season long until October 31. Visitors can pick pumpkins and gourds of all shapes and sizes to craft into their perfect jack-o-lantern. Catch a Drive-In Movie Drive-in movies have become a summertime[…]
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10 Things We Love About Evanston
11 Sep 2020 | 7:33 pmThere’s a place not far from Chicago that’s one part university town, one part quiet lakefront retreat, and another part city. We’re talking about Evanston, of course. With a population of just under 75,000, Evanston boasts excellent transit connectivity into Chicago, a lively downtown district with shopping and dining, and a string of lakefront beaches. In many ways, it could almost be viewed as a miniature version of Chicago itself, or at the very least, the link between the big city downtown and the quieter North Shore suburbs. Here are just a handful of reasons we love Evanston and why it’s a great place for any home shopper to consider. Homeownership is attainable Just like Chicago itself, Evanston features all types of housing, from condos to townhouses to contemporary single-family homes and vintage mansions. Home prices are just as diverse as the city’s housing stock itself, making homeownership within reach for many prospective buyers. It’s a hub for homegrown talent Laying claim to the 230-acre Northwestern University campus is not just a talking point, it’s an economic driver as well as a hub for homegrown talent. Currently ranked as the ninth best university in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, Northwestern’s reputation as a premier school draws some of the brightest and most ambitious minds from around the world to the Chicago area for their studies. Being a notable higher education destination also gives Evanston a more cosmopolitan vibe versus the usual midwestern college town. Commuting to Chicago is a breeze Walking along Chicago Avenue, you’ll hear a familiar rumbling and chimes indicating transit stops. This is the CTA’s Purple Line train, which has several stations within Evanston. The line connects Evanston and Northwestern University with downtown Chicago, meaning that students and office workers have an easy commute[…]
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Fall Into Autumn Sweepstakes + Official Rules
9 Sep 2020 | 4:03 pmAnyone else ready for all things fall? If so, we want to make sure you have essentials to set up for an autumnal picnic, the ultimate ‘leaf peeping’ excursion, or backyard tailgate. Read on to learn how to enter for a chance to win a Yeti cooler, Yeti tote, Bose Bluetooth Speaker, tumblers, and outdoor blanket. How to Enter Follow @atproperties on Instagram Tag a friend’s username on our post September 10, 2020 Instagram post For additional entries, tag a different friend’s username in separate comments *You may enter as many times as you’d like, but must include a different friend’s username each time* Official Rules SPONSORS. @properties’ Fall Into Autumn Sweepstakes is sponsored by @properties, 212 E. Ohio, Chicago, IL (“Sponsor”). PROMOTION PERIOD: Promotion begins at 4:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (“CDT”) on September 10, 2020 and ends on September 25, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (“CDT”). The Promotion computer, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, is the official time keeping device for the Promotion. AGREEMENT TO THE OFFICIAL RULES: By participating in the Promotion, all entrants fully and unconditionally agree to and accept these Official Rules and the Sponsor’s decisions which are final and binding in all matters related to the Promotion. Winning a prize (described below) is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. ELIGIBILITY. Individuals who reside in the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia and who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter. ENTRY. Enter on Instagram by following @atproperties and tagging a friend’s username on @atproperties’ September 10, 2020 post. You may enter as many times as you would like, but must tag a different username each time. No purchase is necessary. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. DRAWING. A random drawing will be held on or about[…]
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@ Loves Local Heads to Cocoa + Co. in Chicago’s Old Town Neighborhood
4 Sep 2020 | 5:06 pmThis week @ Loves Local is heading to a chocolate lover’s paradise in Old Town. Cocoa + Co. is a local chocolate café and coffee shop that awakens senses with freshly made coffee drinks, decadent bites and of course, chocolate. While you’ll find an array of unique chocolates curated from around the world and deliciously rich drinking chocolates, owner Kim Hack took dessert favorites to the next level. With salted caramel brownies and Rice Krispie treats topped with creamy peanut butter and thick chocolate ganache, we knew we had to share Cocoa + Co.’s creations with you. Photos by Cocoa + Co. We know you’re probably debating which treat to try, so while you contemplate, let’s learn how Cocoa + Co. came to be. @properties: What inspired you to open Cocoa + Co.? Cocoa + Co.: Although we’ve been open just over five years, the idea for Cocoa + Co. came to me in August 2001. I was in the wine industry at the time, and flying back after working with several European winemakers who were focused on the concept of Terroir, taste of place. I happened upon an article in the American Way magazine about Hawaiian cacao, and started to think of the concept of Terroir for chocolate. That’s where all this started! Just took me 14 years to figure out how to fund a store😉 @properties: What makes Cocoa + Co. unique? Cocoa + Co.: I think of our cafe as a playground where chocolate lovers can go to discover and explore new things. We work with more than 40 craft chocolate makers from all over the world, and have a wall of over 150 bars, not to mention all the other yummy things. There’s really nothing else like it in Chicago. @properties: Your shop is located in[…]
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10 Things We Love About Elmhurst
4 Sep 2020 | 12:17 amElmhurst’s slogan describes the town perfectly in just five words: Close to everything, unlike anything. This vibrant, bustling town is filled with colorful history, unique shops, an expansive theater and arts scene, and outdoor activities that will make you never want to come inside. Sounds pretty utopic, right? We think so, too. Here are 10 things we love about Elmhurst: History and Culture From the Elmhurst History Museum, which has a variety of interesting exhibits including an upcoming Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition, to the Elmhurst Art Museum that will be reopening in September with a calendar full of socially distant events and activities, Elmhurst has a wide array of cultural offerings. Meanwhile, COVID-19 isn’t keeping the Elmhurst community from enjoying its rich tradition of performing arts. The Elmhurst Choral Union is currently holding virtual auditions for its upcoming season. And Elmhurst Children’s Theatre is offering virtual theater workshops and, with their partner Broadway from Home, giving students the ability to be coached by Broadway professionals. A 5-Star Library The Elmhurst Public Library was established in 1912 and opened with only 830 books in its catalog. Today, the library has five-star status, a recognition it has earned three years in a row by ranking nationally in Library Journal’s annual review. Today, the local library has implemented social distancing practices to keep Elmhurst residents safely enjoying its many programs. And it continues to find ways to keep the community connected through virtual story times, art classes, remote learning, and meditation lectures. For more information, visit https://elmhurstpubliclibrary.org/. Elmhurst University – A Firmly “Rooted” Campus Elmhurst University (formerly Elmhurst College) is a private, four-year university that is known for its tradition of service-based learning. Ranked among the top collegiate intuitions by Forbes magazine, Elmhurst University offers over 60 undergraduate majors and 15 graduate programs[…]
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