Exhibit on Superior, a new apartment tower in River North, now has its own park – publicly accessible and secured by building management 24/7. Alderman Reilly recently helped dedicate the 8,000-square-foot park. He is seen here (third from left) with architect Tom Kerwin (far left) and artist Pal Svensson (right of Reilly), along with representatives of Magellan Development Group and the City of Chicago.
July 28, 2017 By
Taste of River North recap
July 21-23 at Kingsbury & Erie
RNRA celebrated its 20th Anniversary with an interactive booth that showcased the past, present, and future of our neighborhood. Included was a beautiful Visual History of River North mural and more than 40 fun trivia questions.
As part of RNRA’s 20th Anniversary celebration, the first ever Best of the Taste Awards were held, sponsored by The Hudson. The winners are…
| Best Band Sixteen CandlesBest Unique Menu Item BIG & little’s Raw Ahi Poke Taco Best Slider Best of the Fest |
Thank you again to our event sponsors, Kids Zone sponsors, Pet sponsors, and Echoes of Chicago, our artwalk partner.
Special thanks to our event production team from Ravenswood Special Events and Duff Entertainment, and to Motor Brand Design for their wonderful creative work.
Download Visual History banner
June 28, 2017 By
18th District National Night Out – August 1, 2017
National Night Out is a nationwide event designed to build strong community partnerships that promote safe neighborhoods.
Family Style Barbecue, Kids Activities & Games, Clown Face Painting, Chicago Police Canine, Mounted, SWAT, Chicago Fire Department Engine, Informational Tables: Cook County Treasurer’s Office, Citizen’s Untility Board Walgreens
August 1, 2017, 18th District, 1160 N. Larrabee, south parking lot: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
All are welcome!
Sponsors: Target, Ala Carte, Pepsico, Jewel-Osco, McDonald’s, Mariano’s, Marriott
May 26, 2017 By
Alderman Reilly Collecting Items for Homeless Veterans through Operation Help-A-Hero
Operation Help-A-Hero, a citywide household item collection drive to assist formerly homeless Veterans moving to permanent housing, runs between Memorial Day and the 4th of July. Residents can donate new, store bought products for a formerly homeless veteran at one of over 60 designated drop-off locations throughout the City.
Last year’s inaugural collection drive raised $500,000 worth of goods to help formerly homeless veteran. The items help assist thousands of veterans to successfully live independently.
Led by Alderman O’Shea and the 19th Ward, the Operation Help-A-Hero drive includes partnerships between Aldermanic Ward offices – including the 42nd Ward, the Chicago Park District and Military Outreach USA, a faith based non-profit organization supporting those who have served in the United States’ armed services
For a list of the most commonly requested items or more information on Operation Help-A-Hero, including a complete list of drop off locations, visit www.cityofchicago.org/helpahero
May 25, 2017 By
2017 Movies in the Park
We’re pleased to bring you the 12th season of Movies in the Park!
Thank you for taking the survey. The results are in. These are the movies you have chosen for 2017! Save the dates, call a friend, grab a blanket and join us in A. Montgomery Ward Park for a movie under the stars! Fresh, hot popcorn is FREE for the first 150 to 200 people!
All movies begin at dusk, weather permitting. To confirm weather-related cancellations call the Movies in the Park Hotline (312-742-1134), go to My Chi Parks mobile app or RNRA social media. Follow us and Like us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
Please remember, the Chicago Park District prohibits dogs in this section of Ward Park.
The 2017 Movie Line-up
June 20, 2017: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off PG 13
July 11, 2017: Rogue One PG 13
July 18, 2017: La La Land PG 13
August 8, 2017: Sully PG 13
August 22, 2017: The Secret Life of Pets PG
Thank you to our generous RNRA Sponsors who make these movies possible. Please check out their websites and patronize their businesses.
Erie LaSalle Body Shop & Car Care Center
Studio 41 Home Design Showroom
May 24, 2017 By
Compete in the River North Business Association’s River North Challenge on June 27, 2017
Gather your friends and colleagues to compete in the River North Business Association’s Annual River North Challenge on June 27. Win prizes and have fun!
Participants start the evening at The Holiday Inn Mart Plaza and venture out to other River North hotels and checkpoints to conquer fun challenges.Teams are faced with new challenges at each location providing competitors the chance to earn points towards a grand prize.
Clues to find Bonus Spots along the way offer teams the opportunity to gain a competitive edge over others. Food and beverages at each Challenge Location will keep you fueled for the fun! Dress as your favorite Chicago Character because the team with the most creative attire will win the Best Costume prize!
Register your team of four for $200, or purchase a single ticket for $50 and be placed on a team. If you have more than one team from your company, register for a Corporate Challenge Squad (3 teams from the same company) for $480.
The Platinum Sponsor for the Challenge is Comcast Business and Wintrust Bank Chicago is the Gold Sponsor.
May 15, 2017 By
Alderman Reilly Rejects Dana Hotel’s “Erie Street Hotel” Expansion
Based upon his review of the proposal, and the continuing neighborhood quality-of-life concerns surrounding the Dana Hotel’s operations, Alderman Reilly has informed the Developer that he will not support their proposal and it will not move forward.
For more information, click here.
May 14, 2017 By
Neighborhood Video Spotlight | River North
Historic architecture, eclectic dining and thriving nightlife make River North one of the city’s most vibrant and desirable communities…
May 3, 2017 By
Chicago Lights Urban Farm Stand Open Every Saturday May through November – Community Plots also available!
Attention River North. Did you know we have a produce farm in the neighborhood? Yes, it’s true! Chicago Lights Urban Farm, a local gem located at 444 West Chicago Avenue, offers a farm stand every Saturday, as well as community plots and a Fresh Produce Program.
The farm is run in conjunction with Chicago Lights, a non-profit and community outreach program run and funded by the First Presbyterian Church. The Chicago Lights program works with at risk youth, offering day camps, job training, programs for community-members, and the Sprouts Academy. The Urban Farm teaches youth the fundamentals of urban agriculture, as they learn how to cultivate and harvest crops. River North’s famous Farmhouse restaurant partners with the Urban Farm for fresh, local sustainable produce.
But just don’t take our word for it. This lovely little farm offers subscription farming to local residents, where for an annual membership fee of $100, residents can harvest their own produce on a 3-foot by 9-foot plot filled with organic soil, communal garden supplies (tools, compost), water access, and technical support. Gardeners are expected to become part of the Chicago Lights Urban Farm community and contribute to the life of the Farm. This includes mandatory volunteer hours and helping maintain communal plots. Gardeners are responsible for their own seeds, plants, and personal garden tools.
In addition, fresh, organic produce is offered for sale during the summer months at their onsite Farmstand every Saturday, May-November, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All produce sold is grown onsite and selection varies according to the season, ranging from greens and beats, sweet peppers to seasons. It is an impressive variety.
Please check out the following link and video to learn more about this Urban Farm. Volunteers are always appreciated, and there are many opportunities to get involved.
https://www.chicagolights.org/our-programs/urban-farm/
April 24, 2017 By
Join Friends of the Chicago River for a Ward Park clean-up on Saturday, May 13 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Join us for an exciting morning along the banks of the Chicago River as we kick off the 25th Annual Chicago River Day!
Register now! Only 2 spots left! To register, click here.
Work side-by-side with other volunteers beautifying our river, collecting garbage and sorting for recycling, removing invasive vegetation, sprucing up river-edge trails, and planting native seedlings at over 60 locations throughout the Chicago River system. As a special thank you, you’ll also get to take home a commemorative Chicago River Day t-shirt!
Each location has different restoration needs and volunteer activities available. If you have any questions about a particular site or its activities, please email riverday@chicagoriver.org.
Registration will remain open until Monday, May 8, 2017 or until the site is at capacity.
LIABILITY WAIVERS
All volunteers must sign Friends’ liability waiver upon arrival. If you do not sign the waiver, you will not be able to participate. NOTE: Some sites require additional waivers that you must print out and bring with you the day of the event.
The following waiver(s) need to be completed and signed for this location:
IMPORTANT NOTES
•Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to participate on Chicago River Day. Children without parents/guardians will NOT be allowed to participate unless they are part of a school or scout group with a teacher or group leader, and bring signed waivers from their parent or guardian.
•Volunteers must be at least 8 years old to participate. As each site is unique, some are more suitable than others for families and children. If you have questions about whether the site is family-friendly, please email riverday@chicagoriver.org.
For general Chicago River Day questions, please visit Friends’ Chicago River Day FAQ page, or email mjones@chicagoriver.org.
