Celebrate 20 years of possible with By the Hand Organization. On Saturday, March 20, stop by between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 413 West Oak Street to see the unveiling of the By The Hand Memorial Wall—an interactive, 120-foot outdoor installation in Cabrini-Green. This is an outdoor, COVID-friendly celebration. https://bythehand.org/20-years/ Click here to see facebook page.
Seniors – Get Vaccinated at the United Center
Register at: https://www.zocdoc.com/vaccine
North Union Development – 2nd Community Webinar – March 24th at 6:00 p.m.
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) will host a second virtual community webinar to review updates to the plans that were last presented in November for JDL Development’s North Union site on the Near North Side.
The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24.
Registration for the Zoom webinar is open now, and the presentation will be posted on the City’s website in advance of the meeting.
JDL proposes to purchase and redevelop 8.1 acres of land from the Moody Bible Institute, which would continue to own and operate an educational institution and media ministry on its remaining 9.4 acres.
Generally bounded by the CTA Brown Line tracks and Oak, Chestnut and Wells streets, the North Union site is proposed to include a variety of low-, mid- and high-rise buildings that consist of approximately 2,656 residential units, 30,000 square feet of commercial space and approximately 2.5 acres of public open space.
Thorough details about JDL’s proposal will be provided during the meeting. Members of the public are welcome to email questions for the meeting ahead of time to DPD@cityofchicago.org, ward27@cityofchicago.org or ward02@cityofchicago.org by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23.
For more information, visit the City’s website. Questions and comments can always be directed to DPD@cityofchicago.org.
Women & Money – Complimentary Webinar by First Northern Credit Union
CAPS Beat Meetings – March 2021
We encourage all residents to participate in the CAPS Beat Meetings.
To find your District & Beat, click HERE.
What is CAPS? CAPS stands for Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy. CAPS is a partnership between police and community that is the foundation of community policing. CAPS uses Beats to develop relationships between the community and the police.
CAPS meetings offer city residents an opportunity to address crime and safety issues directly with the beat officers who patrol their neighborhood, as well as to provide ongoing feedback, which help the police to monitor crime issues. The beat meeting is a chance to meet your neighbors and come up with strategies that affect the community.
Beat Meetings will be held via ZOOM until it is safe to meet again. ZOOM links will be posted when available here and on RNRAChicago.org on the Events/Calendar page.
Beat 1823: March 16 (Tue) – 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Beat 1824: March 18 (Thur) – 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Beat 1831: March 23 (Tue) – 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Beat 1832: March 23 (Tue) – 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Beat 1833: March 25 (Thur) – 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Beat 1834: March 25 (Thur) – 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Beat 1214: March 17 (Wed) – 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
CLICK HERE to view the full 2021 shedule of District 018 CAPS Beat Meetings.
CLICK HERE to view the full 2021 shedule of District 012 CAPS Beat Meetings.
Other Resources for District 18
• Check https://twitter.com/ChicagoCAPS18
• Call 18th District CAPS Office at: (312) 742-5778
Other Resources for District 12
• Check https://twitter.com/ChicagoCAPS12
• Call 12th District CAPS Office at: (312) 746-8306
One Earth Film Festival – March 5-14, 2021
If you love movies and you care about your health, your community and our magnificent planet we call home, join the tenth anniversary season of the One Earth Film Festival, which takes place from March 5–14, 2021.
This year’s festival theme is “10 Years of Inspiring Change,” and you’re invited to watch more than 25 outstanding short and feature-length films that shine a light on the most important issues of our time. Learn solutions and actions addressing climate, environmental justice, conservation, waste and more. Watch online from the comfort of your own home, and participate in filmmaker and expert Q&As. Be moved. Be amazed. Be ready to create change.
Most film watch parties are free and advanced registration is highly recommended. Visit oneearthfilmfest.org for a festival schedule and to reserve your tickets.
River North Aldermen’s Current Newsletters
To see the latest newsletter publications from our Aldermen on RNRAChicago.org go to Community, Ward Contacts & Current Newsletters.
Ward 42 – Alderman Brendan Reilly – February 26, 2021
Ward 27 – AldermanWalter Burnet – February 26, 2021
Ward 02 – Alderman Brian Hopkins – February 22, 2021
Gilda’s Club Chicago – UNTAPPED – March 11th – Purchase Tickets Now!
Join the Associate Board of Gilda’s Club Chicago and
Goose Island Brewing Co. from the comfort of your own home for a virtual food and beer tasting event.
March 11th: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Each package consists of a three course meal and
three 32 oz growlers to compliment the food selections. Food and Beer pairing (enough food and drink for 2) – $100
Orders must be placed by March 5th. View Full Menu
RNRA’s Valentine’s Day Pet Photo Contest – The Winners!
Thank you to everyone who submitted entries to RNRA’s Valentine’s Day Pet Photo Contest. Six finalists were selected and an online ballot was conducted. The community voted for their favorites – and the winners are……..
First Place – Coco
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
Second Place – Louie
Woof You Be Mine?
Third Place – Domino
My Happy Place
Congratulations winners!
Winners were awarded Kriser’s Natural Pet gift cards in the amounts of $50.00, $25.00 and $10.00 respectively.
A special thank you to our generous partners at Kriser’s Natural Pet. Check out their deal on the My River North mobile app.
Download My River North FREE from the App Store or Google Play. The “My River North” mobile app provides convenient access to River North news, events and resources, plus special discount offers at a variety of participating local businesses.
City of Chicago Expands Indoor Dining Service

In the week of 2/15/2021, the City of Chicago increased capacity of indoor service at bars, restaurants and event venues to the lesser of 40% capacity or 50 people per room or floor. This increase is due to the significant progress that Chicago continues to make in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and is based on the framework for reopening that Chicago announced last week.
In order to ensure that the reopening does not endanger the progress made in recent weeks and months, all other existing regulations for businesses remain in place for now and are listed below:
- Indoor capacity restricted to the lesser of 40% or 50 people per room or floor
- Food must be available at all times in order to offer indoor service. This means that bars, taverns or breweries without a food license can operate indoors as long as they partner with a food establishment so that food is available to patrons at all times (e.g., making menus available and allowing delivery, allowing patrons to order from third-party delivery services).
- Outdoor service is allowed without capacity restrictions, which includes tables located within eight feet of walls that are at least 50% open, tents with at least 50% of their walls open, and single-party structures such as igloos or greenhouses
- Maximum of six patrons at indoor or outdoor tables
- Tables must be six feet apart
- Patrons can sit at bars, with six feet of social distancing between parties
- Face coverings must be worn at all times, except when patrons are seated and actively eating or drinking
- Patrons must be seated whenever they are eating or drinking
- Reservations are encouraged
- The sale of alcohol must end at 11pm, including alcohol sold for on-site consumption, delivery or carry out
- Establishments must close for on-site service at 12am
Health and Fitness Centers
- 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- Group classes of 15 or fewer can resume under the 40% capacity restriction
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
Indoor Recreation
- 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
Movie Theaters and Performance Venues
- 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
Retail Stores
- Grocery stores and pharmacies can operate at 50% capacity, all other stores at 40% capacity
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
- Alcohol sales from establishments with a Package Goods license must end at 9pm
Museums
- Can operate indoors at 25% capacity
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
Personal Services
- 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- Face coverings can be removed only for services that require their removal
Places of Worship
- 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- Special events capped at no more than 40% capacity or 50 people, while following indoor dining regulations
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
This cautious expansion of indoor service is possible due to Chicago recording fewer than 400 new COVID-19 cases per day, based on the seven-day rolling average, for each of the last three days. This means that all four metrics that Chicago is using to determine when and how to cautiously reopen have now moved into the “Moderate-Risk” level for at least three days, allowing for this expansion of indoor dining. The following metrics are being used to determine the process for continuing to ease COVID-19 regulations:
- COVID cases diagnosed per day: currently averaging 344, in the “Moderate-Risk” level
- COVID test positivity: currently averaging 3.6%, in the “Low-Risk” level
- Emergency Departments visits for COVID-like illness: currently averaging 62 per day, in the “Moderate-Risk” level
- ICU beds occupied by COVID patients: currently averaging 117, in the “Moderate-Risk” level