The 2010 Taste of River North Makes History!!!

Thanks to our Sponsors, Vendors, Exhibitors, Volunteers and nearly 10,000 attendees!!!

Photos by Chuan D. Vo for Metromix

Photos by fotoSB.com for yourtrendy.com

Photos by Katerina, Leslie & Brian (RNRA)

Guinness World Record Smashed

Taste Page

Lost & Found - We recovered several items at the event.  If you are missing something, please call 312-235-2617 to identify and retrieve your lost item. 

Margaret Lapcewich - please call the RNRA office to claim the item that you purchased from "Put A Ring On It".

More to come...

RNRA Summer Film Festival - 5th Season!

Peter Berg's 2008 film stars Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize Theron. It tells the story of a vigilante superhero, John Hancock, played by Smith, from Los Angeles whose reckless actions routinely cost the city millions of dollars. Eventually one person he saves, Ray Embrey, played by Bateman, makes it his mission to change Hancock's public image for the better.

Showtime is approximately 8:45 pm on Tuesday August 3. Pack a picnic and join us for dinner and a movie under the stars in Erie Park.  The film and the popcorn are always free!

Brought to you by our friends at:

Visit our film Festival page

Become a Film Festival Sponsor!  More...

Become a Film Festival Picnic Vendor!  More...

Free Yoga on the Riverfront in Erie Park

(weather permitting)

Power Yoga, provided by Tru Harmony Yoga, is an energetic 60 minute power vinyasa class that flows through Sun Salutation, Warrior, Balancing, Triangle, Backbending, Abdominal, Inversion, Hip Opening, Forward Bending, and Relaxation series. By the end of this fast paced vinyasa class, you will be ignited and renewed to engage the rest of your day with a clear, steady mind and open heart. From 9:00 to 10:00 am on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

Erie Street Farmer's Market

Please support our local market so that it can endure, prosper and expand!  Sunday mornings from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm on Erie west of Kingsbury.
More...

River North Water Taxi Service

The Erie Street dock is located on the north branch of the River at the north end of Erie Park at Erie and Larrabee Streets. Commuter service runs Monday through Friday to Michigan Avenue or Willis (Sears) Tower/Union Station through October 1, 2010.

Schedule:
Mornings: 7:00 - 9:20 am
Evenings: 4:00 - 6:30 pm
Fares: $2 each way, ten-trip pass: $15
Buy tickets at Shoreline kiosks or as you board the taxis
More...

River North Walking Club

The group meets at the entrance to Erie Park on alternate Saturdays at 10:30am for a neighborhood walkabout! All that is required is a good pair of walking shoes, a water bottle and a desire to connect with your fellow walking neighbors. The group will decide on distance and route.  Contact the walk coordinator here to confirm the next date.

Calendar

A Medicine for Melancholy: click here

Proposed River North Landmark Protection District on Indefinate Hold

January 30, 2009:(Crain’s) — An Illinois appellate court has struck down the city of Chicago’s landmarks ordinance, saying it is unconstitutionally vague, putting in jeopardy the city’s protection of more than 250 buildings and 50 historic districts.

More on this issue...

Scoop the Poop!

The RNDOA and the RNRA respectfully ask all who walk dogs in River North to clean up after them and please, encourage others to do the same. Thanks!

Chicago Dog Policies

Save Cleanslate! 

Help to reinstate our beloved weekend street cleaning program by encouraging local hospitality businesses to sign on and provide financial support support.

After-School Resource Chicago Program
Through this website, young Chicagoans and their families can easily learn about and choose from thousands of different afternoon, evening and weekend after-school programs throughout the City.

Users simply input their address or zip code and choose from a variety of program interest areas, including: academic, career, creative, health, life skills, religious, community and sports. Search results are plotted on an interactive map, complete with descriptions of each matching program. The web address is www.afterschoolchicago.org

M&R Development, which last year, acquired the property located at 469 West Huron from Lennar Communities, will develop the lot as approved under previous ownership and supported by the RNRA.  The Parc Huron will consist of a 21-story rental apartment building with 241 units and approximately 14,000 square feet of park space that will be open to the public.  4 town homes may be constructed on Hudson at a later date. M&R is seeking the coveted Leed Certification as an environmentally friendly project. Construction is now underway and the project is expected to be completed soon.  Click here for info.

Proposed Post Office Site Redevelopment

In light of the significant impact of this project on the River North community, we have created a special page of our site dedicated to the Fort Dearborn redevelopment initiative.

Click here to access the page and check back often for updates.

Local Development News

Please visit our Development Page for updates on:

• Kinzie, Canal and

• Lake and Canal

• Clark, Grand and Illinois

• LaSalle, Illinois and Hubbard

• Franklin and Illinois

• State and Illinois

• Kingsbury and Huron

• Orleans and Chicago

• Wolf Point

• Kingsbury and Huron

• Erie, Franklin and Huron

• Fort Dearborn Station USPS Redevelopment (see above)

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

As well as information on RNRA's real estate development perspective.

Check out our downloadable Development Matrix and map!

Developers: access our new  Project Review Form

(click image for more information)

 Lost & Found - We recovered several items at the event.  If you are missing something, please call 312-235-2617 to identify and retrieve your lost item. 

Follow us on Facebook

The lineup for our 5th season has been confirmed!

• Tuesday, June 22nd – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• Tuesday, July 13th - Indiana Jones
  
• Tuesday, August 3 – Hancock
• Tuesday, August 24 – Monsters vs Aliens
• Tuesday September 7th – Seabiscuit

Visit our film Festival page

Become a Film Festival Sponsor!  More...

Become a Film Festival Picnic Vendor!  More...

Vote Erie Park: "Favorite Undiscovered Space"

Essays must be submitted by July 26. Contest organized by the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Chicago Architecture Foundation. 

Playground Construction is Complete!

The long awaited "Erie Park" playground is here! Construction on the 6,900 square foot state-of-the-art facility began in early september and was completed in late November. Stay tuned for information about the dedication ceremony. More...

Geese Nuisance in Erie Park

This past year there were numerous complaints about the amount of geese droppings in Park #511 (Erie Park). Residents complained of it being nearly impossible to find any place on the grass that was free of droppings to sit or lie out and enjoy the park. And parents were concerned their child may ingest the droppings. Because of the number of complaints, and because the presence of geese droppings attracts rats, the River North Park Advisory Council felt this was an important issue to address. We have done extensive research around non-toxic, animal friendly ways to discourage the geese from congregating at Park #511 and pooping all over the grass and have shared this with the Chicago Park District. 

First Application of Goose Repellent in Erie Park Planned for Thu & Fri June 17-18

The River North Park Advisory Council is pleased to announce that the Chicago Park District has arranged for "Flight Control" (FC) to be applied in Erie Park this week. FC is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, spray repellent that will be applied to the grass areas of Park #511 to discourage geese from congregating and pooping all over the grass and sidewalks. FC will not harm wildlife, but causes intestinal discomfort when treated grass is ingested. It also produces an ultraviolet reflectance that the geese can see and associate with the unpleasant experience.

While FC is not a cure-all, it can help reduce goose use of grass in targeted areas.  It must be reapplied after mowing and heavy rains until the geese learn to forage elsewhere, so please stay off the grass when signs are posted.

New, Permanent Dog Friendly Area (DFA)

Unlike the majority of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods, River North is fortunate to have an abundance of "dog-centric", including two separate designated off-leash areas. A permanent, city-owned facility called Ohio Place Park between Kingsbury and Orleans on Ohio, and a temporary facility in the north section of Park 511.  More...

Your Neighborhood Needs You!

Committee Members!

WBEZ's "Eight Forty Eight" program recently featured an excellent panel discussion about the gaps in condo law and what changes are needed to help condo owners.

Panel:
Evan McKenzie—Political science professor at UIC
State Rep. Harry Osterman—Served on the General Assembly’s condo advisory council
Mark Pearlstein—An attorney who specializes in condo law

Click here to listen...

Historic 2009 Taste Souvenir T-Sirts!

Our hood is featured in a national TV ad! Note: this does not constitute an RNRA product endorsement.

Historic Structures Ordinance

Introduced by 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, the ordinance was passed by the City Council in August. The purpose of the ordinance is to broaden the possibilities for redevelopment and reuse of structures with historic significance or landmark status. With this amendment, owners seeking to redevelop their property can seek relief from zoning restrictions while providing for public process and community input as these changes to the urban landscape occur. More...

Chicago Central Area Action Plan (CAAP)

On April 2 at Erie Cafe', Alderman Reilly and representatives from the Department of Community Development reviewed a range of significant transportation, urban design, open space and waterfront projects that comprise the implementation phase of the city's sweeping Central Area Plan. Attendees from River North and the Fulton River District were invited to ask questions and provide feedback.

In August, the CAAP was endorsed by the Chicago Plan Commission.  We encourage residents to review the complete plan documents at the Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning's website by clicking here.

Other City of Chicago News

ATM Card Theft

The 18th District Community Policing office advises that enterprising thieves are stealing ATM cards by installing an unobtrusive "card trap" in ATM machines and then conning unsuspecting users out of their PINs.  Click here to learn how the scheme works and avoid being victimized.

Call the Community Policing Office at 312-742-5778 for more info.

Emergency Notification Service

The Office of EmergencyManagement and Communication's new system automatically alertscitizens in case of emergency via phone, pager, fax or email.

Simplyclick hereand select Notify Chicago to register for this free service.

Latest 18th District CPD Newsletter

Click here for information on significant recent arrests.