February 2012 Vol. 32 No. 2 Visit Beverly Hills/Morgan Park at www.bapa.org Friend Us On Facebook! SearchBeverly Area Planning Association Published by BEVERLY AREA PLANNING ASSOCIATION Survey Says: Deals of the Day a Winner By Marcia Walsh Village bag, and clustering the Deals in a BAPACoordinator of Economic Development certain area on different days. The Shop the Village Deal of the Day Feedback from participating businesses was very popular, according to the 206 was also very positive. Most reported people who responded to BAPA’s email seeing many new faces in their shops or survey of residents who participated in restaurants as a result of the Deal of the the holiday shopping campaign. Feed- Day. Comments like, “It was splendid! back was overwhelmingly positive with We were packed all day!” were typical. many suggestions to continue or repeat Business owners also reported increases this type of program. in their sales. Among these successes: The 95th Street Business Association, Calabria Imports sold 35 foot-long subs Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Asso- compared to 3 on a regular day; Heritage ciation and Beverly Area Planning Associ- Gallery saw a 30% surge in sales over Membersof the BAC Auction committee meet to discuss the upcoming event. They are Kathy Olivi (from ation organized the campaign and 42 local the previous weekend; Original Pancake left),Eileen Holderbaum, Rita Swanberg, Betsy Spolarich, Anna Marie Brodsky, Sal Campbell and Kathy merchants participated by offering special House served over 100 apple pancakes Figel. deals on merchandise, food and services (so many that their oven broke); the Bev- between Nov. 25 through Dec. 24. erly Review sold 29 new subscriptions; 21 new people signed up for a 1 month The Feedback For the Love of Art -- Drop-A-Size class at FitCode Bootcamps; Most of the survey respondents agreed Mount Greenwood Cemetery sold more that their favorite thing about the cam- gravesites in one day than all of last year; paign was the encouragement to sup- BAC Benefit Auction is Feb. 11 Figlia Accessories Boutique had double port local business. Many people said A trip for two to Miami and one of the The show also showcases performance the usual sales; Kingston’s Jerk Chicken they shopped or dined at businesses that world’s most important art show. An ex- art, public art projects and video art, sold over 10 Deals; Town Liquor sold 55 they’d never been to before. Respondents clusive dinner party for 20 prepared by and is a critical resource for art lovers cases of Heineken and Amstel beer on also mentioned that they liked the wide one of Chicago’s finest chefs and served interested in contemporary, emerging the first day of their Deal (compared to 5 variety of Deals from a wide variety of in a suspended glass room. An “every- and museum caliber works. Included in on a regular day); Munro Landscape sold businesses across the neighborhood, and one’s Irish” package that includes passes the Auction package are airfare, three- over 50 poinsettias, Southtown Health in many cases they discovered “hidden to the Chicago Irish Film Festival and night oceanfront accommodations at the Foods sold 20 gift cards; 17 people pur- treasures” in Beverly/Morgan Park South Side Irish Family Fest as well as historic, romantic Beacon Hotel South chased a Deal at Running Excels. Many Survey respondents also offered sug- access to a special viewing area for the Beach, admission to the art shows, and businesses told us they look forward to gestions for improvements to future return of the South Side Irish Parade. A an exclusive tour of the exhibits by Cris- the next Shop the Village promotion. shopping campaigns. Their ideas include chance to watch a Chicago Bulls game tin Tierney Art Advisors. BAPA, the Morgan Park/Beverly Hills getting more businesses to participate, from box seats. According to Holderbaum, the BAC and 95th St. Business Associations are advertising more, sending daily emails or Whether you’re a traveling art lover, a Auction will offer travel, entertainment, appreciative of all the input and are al- texts about the Deals, making the Deals sociable gourmet, a family that loves to sports and cultural packages, as well as ready planning more efforts to encourage simpler, creating a punch card that when celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, or a Chicago an outstanding variety of service pack- people to Shop the Village! filled earns the shopper a free Shop the sports fan, there is an experience package ages including a bedroom makeover and just right for you at For the Love of Art, unique items including a City traffic light the 41st Annual Auction, Sat., Feb. 11, at that really works! the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th “The Auction is a great time,” said com- Kids: Get Ready for Youth Mile! St. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event mittee member Sal Campbell. “Bidding will feature a professional live auction on live and silent auctions items, danc- More than 50 percent of American kids offering an outstanding array of unique ing to the Smiley Tillmon Band, enjoy- become significantly less active during experience packages and items. ing delicious food and cocktails -- it all their teenage years. The Ridge Run com- The Beverly Arts Center Auction mixes adds up to a great night out and supports mittee is hoping we can turn those num- the thrill of bidding on silent and live auc- one of the area’s most important organi- bers around in Beverly/Morgan Park! tion items with the pleasure of an evening zations.” The majority of the 350 to 400 kids who run the Ridge Run Youth Mile come from of entertainment by the Smiley Tillmon The Auction is the Beverly Arts Cen- our community, and we want them – and Band and the Grace Notes, savories by ter’s biggest fundraiser of the year and all the rest of our community’s youth! - Leona’s and sweets by Favia Cafe, and a BAC Auxiliary volunteers spend months - to be healthy, fit and active throughout cash bar for a great night of socializing. working on it. Serving on the this year’s their entire lifetimes! Last year’s event was sold out with more Auction Committee are Ellen Murphy, “The Youth Mile is a great way to get than 400 people attending. Sal Campbell, Kathy Figel, Kathy Oli- kids started on setting and attaining fit- “Every year the BAC Auxiliary Board vi, Stacey Dixon, Penny Golden, Betsy ness goals,” said Ridge Run Race Direc- does an outstanding job planning, orga- Spolarich, Rita Swanberg, Anna-Ma- tor Pat Rohan. The Youth Mile, open to nizing and presenting the Auction,” said rie Brodsky, Carol Lett, Kerry Winters, kids age 6 to 12, is one of very few runs BAC Executive Director Michael Nix. Edris Hoover, Colleen Doherty and Ei- for kids in Chicagoland. “And every year they find spectacular leen Holderbaum. Even for the youngest of the runners, one mile should be a reachable running packages like this year’s trip to Art Basel “We are a group of people who appreci- goal. “If kids start training now, they’ll Miami Beach to offer up for bidding.” ate having a vibrant art center in Beverly, be ready for the race on Memorial Day,” “One of the most prestigious art shows and we work to support it,” Holderbaum Rohan said. in the Americas, the 11th Art Basel Mi- said of the BAC Auxiliary Board. “We Some local schools have running clubs, ami Beach [to be held Dec. 6 to 9] will are always looking for new ideas and but, generally, fitness facilities don’t of- run. Devoting just 30 minutes a day to feature works by more than 2,000 artists fresh faces.” Anyone interested in vol- fer programs for kids. No problem! By exercise can help kids maintain a healthy and from more than 260 leading galler- unteering on Auction night or joining the using their native ingenuity and youthful weight, build stronger bones and mus- ies from North America, Europe, Latin Auxiliary Board should call the BAC, imagination (and with a little guidance cles, improve general fitness and even make them more cheerful! America, Asia and Africa,” explained 773-445-3838. from Mom and Dad), kids can develop Eileen Holderbaum, BAC Auction chair. effective fitness regimens that will help CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 them be healthier and get in shape for the CONTINUEDON PAGE 22 Shop Smith Curran is Dohertys Locally for Residents RedHawks ChairCrystal Your OfferPlant Lacrosse Heart Ball INSIDE Coach Valentine Rescue Page 18 STORY Page 5 Page 9 Page 17 February 2012 Page 2 Village Viewpoint By Matt Walsh, BAPA Executive Director A neighbor dropped by the BAPA of- for The Villager or our weekly e-news- Company of Mary’s Crystal Heart Ball, does not allow me to list. fices last week asking for information. letter, and assist with our initiatives. The the Beverly Art Center Auction and the But what if each of us made a commit- She had decided to get more involved in Ridge Run alone has more than 200 vol- Beverly Breast Cancer Walk. The Mor- ment to do our part? What if everyone do- the community and wanted our advice on unteer workers. gan Park Juniors has multiple charity nated to a neighborhood charity or joined what volunteer opportunities were avail- We need people to attend our events - events throughout the year. The Ridge a community group? What if everyone able. It seems like a simple question but - the Home Tour, the Beverly Hills Cy- Historical Society is always looking for decided they would become involved at it posed some difficulties.