Andersonville Honors Awards Preview: Welcome Addition Award

The final award to preview before the voting starts tomorrow is the Welcome Addition Award, for the best new Andersonville business to open in 2012.  If you follow us on Facebook, we have been posting some teaser photos this past week.  And a photo of each of these six businesses will be featured on our Andersonville Honors Gala poster, which you will start to see pop up around the neighborhood tomorrow!

We had an incredible number of new businesses open their doors in 2012, and whether they were a first time venture or a second or third location, we are so grateful and lucky they chose to make Andersonville their home.  The following are the nominees up for the Welcome Addition Award:

• Bongo Room is an original restaurant that strives to serve fresh, seasonal breakfast and brunch food in a unique way.  They brought their long brunch lines and fluffy, delicious pancakes to Andersonville in 2012 with their third Chicago outpost on Clark Street south of Foster Avenue.

• Andersonville became a sweeter place in 2012 with the opening of the First Slice Pie Cafe.  They also sold their homemade creations at the 2012 Andersonville Farmers Market.   The proceeds from this not for profit go towards helping to feed the needy and the homeless.  

• Found Vintage Living, a lifestyle store specializing in unique vintage furniture, barware, lamps, art and accessories.is also the newest business on this list, opening during the 2012 holiday season.  But even in just a few short months they have drawn attention to their side street location on Bryn Mawr!.  

• Jameson Loves Danger has obviously made a splash in Andersonville, with nominations for Retailer of the Year and the Good Neighbor Award in addition to the ‘best new business’ honor.  A friendly neighborhood pet store that sells pet supplies, grooming services, and has supply delivery.

• Jerry’s opened their second location in Andersonville in 2012, taking over a long vacant space and adding some new energy to a quiet part of Clark Street.  And the neighborhood responded, also giving Jerry’s a nomination for Restaurant/Bar of the Year!.  

• Milk Handmade garnered a lot of attention in 2012 when she opened in a small space south of Foster, and that attention lead to Time Out Chicago’s Best New Boutique award!  This shop selling handmade clothing and accessories is also nominated for the Retailer of the Year Award.   

These awards will be presented at the Andersonville Honors Gala on Thursday, April 18th at the Swedish American Museum.  In additional to final voting starting on March 1, tickets to this fun event also go on sale that day.  To vote and get more information about tickets, visit www.andersonville.org! You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andersonville or follow us on Twitter @avillechamber for more updates.

Andersonville Honors Awards Preview: Good Neighbor Award

The past two days we have shared the nominees for all of our ‘of the Year’ awards that make up the Andersonville Honors:  Arts Organization, Health/Service Organization, Retailer and Restaurant/Bar.  Today we cover the awards that cross through all categories of businesses - the Good Neighborhood Award and the Welcome Addition Award!  Because of ties during the nomination process, both of these awards each have SIX nominees.  

The first is the Good Neighbor Award.  This honor goes to the business that best exemplifies the spirit of community support and customer service.  And the nominees are:

• Brown Elephant is a resale shop that sells everything, from clothing to furniture to jewelry to kitchen supplies. The revenue generated by donations and purchases at the Brown Elephant Shops help fund services for the more than 50% of Howard Brown Health Center clients who are under or uninsured.

• A welcome addition to Andersonville in 2012, First Slice Pie Cafe is a not-for-profit organization whose proceeds go toward helping to feed the needy and the homeless.  First Slice offers a wide variety of homemade pies, salads, sandwiches, community plates, and more.  Plus a weekly meal plan service!   

• GreenSky is a truly local store: they live, work and employ from the neighborhood, and did an historical renovation on the Victorian building that houses the shop and First Slice Pie Cafe. They sell fair trade products made by local not-for-profits and small artisans from recycled or repurposed materials, and 20% of their sweet sales benefit Care For Real, the Edgewater Food Pantry. GreenSky was named ‘Best Eco-Boutique’ by Time Out Chicago in 2012.  And you might see co-owner Thom Greene walking up and down the sidewalks of Andersonville pruning trees!

• Hamburger Mary’s, also nominated for Restaurant/Bar of the Year, supports Chicagoland non-profits with their weekly Hambingo fundraisers, sponsors many sports teams and provides a performance venue independent theater organization and performers in their Mary’s Attic space.  They also take pride in being one of the greenest businesses in Andersonville, for which they received the Eco-Andersonville Award at last year’s Andersonville Honors Gala.  

• Hopleaf has long been a neighborhood favorite, as evidenced by their Restaurant/Bar of the Year award at last year’s Andersonville Honors Gala.  But owner Michael Roper, also honored last year with the Mathiasson Award for Community Service in Andersonville, has also been a huge supporter of our neighborhood schools, creating the popular Kegs For Kids fundraiser.  

• Jameson Loves Danger has been charming the collars off of Andersonville since they opened in 2012, and their weekly Woof & Wine Wednesdays welcome pet owners and their furry friends into their store for a social (and playful) evening.  They also offer 10% off of purchases to the owners of newly adopted pets!   

This award will be presented along with seven others at the Andersonville Honors Gala on Thursday, April 18th at the Swedish American Museum.  In additional to final voting starting on March 1, tickets to this fun event also go on sale that day.  To vote and get more information about tickets, visit www.andersonville.org! You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andersonville or follow us on Twitter @avillechamber for more updates.

Andersonville Honors Awards Preview: Restaurant/Bar of the Year

We have covered the nominations for Arts Organization of the Year, Health/Service Organization of the Year and Retailer of the Year.  However, this next category seems to be the nearest and dearest to the hearts of many in Andersonville because it was the category that BY FAR had the most nominations - the Restaurant/ Bar of the Year Award.   This honor goes to a favorite drinking and/or dining establishment in Andersonville, and the lineup this year features two newcomers, two relatively established restaurants and one old, old, OLD neighborhood favorite!

The following are the nominees up for the Restaurant/Bar of the Year Award:

• Hamburger Mary’s serves a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, and soups with a twist. Hamburger Mary’s also has a sports bar, brewery, and an entertainment venue upstairs.  They were the winners of the Eco-Andersonville Award at last year’s Andersonville Honors Gala!

• Jerry’s was a newcomer in 2012 and features a 100+ menu of warm and cold sandwiches, burgers, sausages, po boys, and entrée salads along American craft beer and whiskey.  Look for their patio to open in the spring of 2013!  

• Lady Gregory’s had their soft opening during Midsommarfest weekend 2011 and have been packing in the crowds ever since.. Their menu features distinctive specialties with an emphasis on farm-to-table, sustainable, and local ingredients. A nominee last year for the Welcome Addition Award!  

• Another newcomer in 2012, the menu at Ombra is inspired by the regional flavors of the Italian Tre Venezie which features cured meats, vegetables, bruschetta, and tramanzzini along with a full bar menu of cocktails and beer. All served in one of the most eye-catching interiors in the neighborhood!

• Famous across Chicago for their delicious glogg served during the holiday season, Simon’s Tavern is a friendly neighborhood bar whose blue and yellow neon ‘herring holding a martini glass’sign has welcomed visitors to Andersonville for a long time.  In fact, next year will mark Simon’s 80th anniversary!

This award will be presented along with seven others at the Andersonville Honors Gala on Thursday, April 18th at the Swedish American Museum.  In additional to final voting starting on March 1, tickets to this fun event also go on sale that day.  To vote and get more information about tickets, visit www.andersonville.org! You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andersonville or follow us on Twitter @avillechamber for more updates.

Andersonville Honors Awards Preview: Retailer of the Year

This week we are previewing all of the nominees for the 2013 Andersonville Honors Awards, recognizing the outstanding businesses in Andersonville.  Yesterday we revealed the five nominees for both the Arts Organization of the Year and the Health/Service Organization of the Year, and today we turn our attention to some of the most visible businesses on Clark Street: our bars and restaurants and our retail stores!

Our neighborhood is known as a great shopping destination filled with fantastic locally-owned, independent stores.  The Retailer of the Year Award is given to a favorite retail store in Andersonville.  After receiving hundreds of nominations, the following are the finalists for this prize:

• With their distinctive red awnings, Akira has built a reputation in Chicago for offering the latest styles in clothing for men and women.  Akira has sexy dresses, denim, jewelry, and handbags from over 200 design brands and smaller fashion houses.

• Foursided is a custom framing store dedicated to bringing imagination to life with art, custom framing, ephemera, and antiques. Foursided also offers a variety of cards and gifts.

• In Fine Spirits is wine, spirit, and craft beer store who updates their offerings regularly to ensure value, quality, and selection.

• Jameson Loves Danger a newcomer to the neighborhood in 2012, this neighborhood pet store (and multiple Andersonville Honors nominee) sells pet supplies, grooming services, and has supply delivery.

• Milk Handmade is another newcomer to Andersonville in 2012 (and another multiple Andersonville Honors nominee).  It has gained recognition around the city as a unique boutique selling chic handmade clothing and accessories, offering well-made and fashionable items at affordable prices.

This award will be presented along with seven others at the Andersonville Honors Gala on Thursday, April 18th at the Swedish American Museum.  In additional to final voting starting on March 1, tickets to this fun event also go on sale that day.  To vote and get more information about tickets, visit www.andersonville.org! You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andersonville or follow us on Twitter @avillechamber for more updates.

Andersonville Honors Awards Preview: Health/Service Organization of the Year

This morning we previewed the nominees for the Arts Organization of the Year, and now we take a look at the five finalists for the Health/Service Organization of the Year.  This award recognizes outstanding businesses in the service industry.  The following are the nominees in this category for the 2013 Andersonville Honors.

• Athletico is a leading physical therapy and rehabilitation company providing quality service and care to their clients.

• Cheetah Gym is contemporary gym providing state of the art equipment, dedicated training professionals, classes and  numerous amenities and services to cater to their clients wellness and lifestyle.

• Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services Center is a nonprofit organization that serves older adults in Chicago. CMSS has the most extensive senior services network on Chicago’s North Side offering supportive living, rehabilitation, subsidized senior housing, outpatient wellness services and many other programs.

• Restoration Salon is a unique salon whose focus is on hair and whose goal is to restore. Their desire is to make their clients happy and bring them a relaxing and professional environment.

• Sir Spa is a premier Chicago spa for men offering massage, skin care, and grooming services. Their state of the art spa amenities include a fully appointed locker room, steam room and rain showers, grooming club room, and a relaxation lounge.

This award will be presented along with seven others at the Andersonville Honors Gala on Thursday, April 18th at the Swedish American Museum.  In additional to final voting starting on March 1, tickets to this fun event also go on sale that day.  To vote and get more information about tickets, visit www.andersonville.org! You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andersonville or follow us on Twitter @avillechamber for more updates.

Andersonville Honors Awards Preview: Arts Organization of the Year

The Andersonville Honors Awards recognizes outstanding businesses in the Andersonville neighborhood, and over the course of two weeks in February we received hundreds of nominations for six different awards:

• The Welcome Addition Award, for best new businesses opened in 2012 in Andersonville.
• The Good Neighbor Award is for the business that best exemplifies the spirit of community support and customer service.
• Arts Organization of the Year
• Health/Service Organization of the Year
• Retailer of the Year
• Restaurant/Bar of the Year

We have narrowed it down to the top five in each category (two categories have six nominees because of ties), and final voting begins this Friday, March 1.   Over the next few days we will be posting a preview for each award category to showcase all of our wonderful nominees! The first award is the Arts Organization of the Year Award, for the top organization or business in the arts industry. And the nominees are:

• Founded by the legendary Gus Giordano, the Gus Giordano Dance School teaches the highest quality of dance instruction for all dance forms, offering dance classes and summer programs.

• The pH Comedy Theater was a new addition to the neighborhood in 2012.  This comedy theater specializes in improv, sketch comedy, musicals performances as well as offers comedy classes. They also organize the annual Zombie Pub Crawl.

• Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is another recent addition to Andersonville and is Chicago’s only professional theatre company dedicated to the work of women theatre artists.  Rivendell Theatre Ensemble  provides audiences with artistically challenging, thought-provoking plays that explore the female experience.

• Swedish American Museum is a nonprofit museum and cultural center for the education, celebration, and interpretation of Swedish American history in Chicago, offering museum tours, special events, and family programs. It will also host the Andersonville Honors Gala on Thursday, April 18th!

• The Neo-Futurists boasts the longest running show in Chicago theater history, their ground-breaking ‘Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind’, an ever-changing line up of 30 plays in 30 minutes.  Over the years they have also brought many critcally-acclaimed full length original shows to the neighborhood as well.

All six awards, plus the Eco-Andersonville Award and the Mathiasson Award for Community Service in Andersonville, will be presented at the Andersonville Honors Gala on Thursday, April 18th at the Swedish American Museum.  In additional to final voting starting on March 1, tickets to this fun event also go on sale that day.  To vote and get more information about tickets, visit www.andersonville.org! You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andersonville or follow us on Twitter @avillechamber for more updates.

Reminder: Show your favorite businesses some love today!

The 2013 Andersonville Honors Gala:

 

Show your favorite businesses how much you LOVE them, nominate them now!

Just a friendly reminder to show your favorite Andersonville businesses some LOVE and nominate them for an award in the following categories:

Welcome Addition Award

Good Neighbor Award

Arts Organization of the Year Award

Health and Service Organization of the Year Award

Restaurant/Bar of the Year Award

Retailer of the Year Award

Mathiasson Community Service Award

The nominations period ends TOMORROW at 12pm so make sure to make your nominations today!

Visit our online ballot here.

 

The Andersonville Honors celebrates the unique spirit of Andersonville, its thriving, local business community and dedicated community members. The Gala will be celebrated Thursday, April 18^th at 6pm at the Swedish American Museum. Tickets go on sale March 1^st. Please visit www.andersonville.org for more information!

How do you celebrate your gals in Andersonville? Win prizes!

UPDATE: We have winners! Congratulations to

• Tracy Hurst, winner of the $50 gift certificate to Presence 
• mrhovious, winner of the $50 gift certificate to Deana Rose Handmade Jewelry
• Ifigenia Susana, winner of the hat & scarf from Mr. & Mrs. DIGZ

Winners, please email jhammer (at) andersonville (dot) org to let us know where we can mail your prizes. Thanks for letting us know how you celebrate the special ladies in your lives!


This morning, I celebrated GALentines Day by having brunch with 15 of my girlfriends at Ann Sather. Good food, good conversation, and lots of laughs (as well as quite a few yawns...I won't get up at 6:00am for just anyone).

If you don't know what GALentines Day is, check out this clip from Parks and Recreation that explains everything.

So today, when you tell us how you like to celebrate your ladyfriends in Andersonville, you'll be entered to win some great prizes!

We are giving away:

A $50 gift certificate to Presence - This women's clothing boutique is one of my go-to places for great accessories & cute clothing. Scarves or cocktail rings from their huge selection are some of my favorite gifts for friends, sisters-in-law, and moms.

A $50 gift certificate to Deana Rose Handmade Jewelry - Deana Rose's handmade, beaded creations (found online, in her studio, or at the Andersonville Galleria) are perfect for any special occasion. She also has a gorgeous line of lockets and sterling pendants that I want to wear all the time.

A hat & scarf from Mr. & Mrs. DIGZ - This boutique on Andersonville's north side carries a gorgeous selection of vintage and gently used clothing, high-end designer consignment, as well as new and handmade items from exclusive local designers. With such a wide range of items and many different price points, Mr. & Mrs. DIGZ is sure to have something that will want to come home with you!

How to enter:

1. All entries must be posted by 12:00noon CST on Friday, February 15.
2. Required entry:  Leave a comment below answering the following question: What is your favorite way to celebrate your ladyfriends in Andersonville?
3. Additional entries: “Like” one or more of the participating businesses on Facebook and leave separate comments stating which you “liked.” Here are their Facebook pages:

Presence (https://www.facebook.com/presencechicago)
Deana Rose Handmade Jewelry (https://www.facebook.com/DeanaRoseJewelry)
Mr. & Mrs. DIGZ (https://www.facebook.com/mrandmrsdigz)

Winning:

• Each individual is only eligible to win one prize.
• Prizes will be assigned at random.
• Winning entries will be chosen at random by Andersonville Chamber of Commerce staff members.
• Winners will be posted on the ‘All Things Andersonville’ site on Friday afternoon. We will update this post with the winners. If you are chosen as a winner, you must contact us with a valid email address so that we can arrange to get you your prize. If you do not contact us by Wednesday, February 20, we will re-draw new winner(s).

Good luck!

Also...if you want to spread the love some more, don't forget that nominations for the Andersonville Honors are open until noon on Friday, February 15. Nominate your favorite businesses in categories like "Welcome Addition" and "Retailer of the Year." Click here to learn more!

Andersonville Honors Gala 2013: Nominations are open!

Now that February 1st has rolled around, it’s time to nominate your favorite Andersonville businesses!  The Andersonville Honors Gala celebrates the unique spirit of Andersonville, its thriving, local business community and dedicated community members. The Andersonville Honors Gala will be celebrated Thursday, April 18th at 6pm at the Swedish American Museum. Tickets will go on sale beginning March 1!

Nomination categories are as follows:
Welcome Addition Award is a business related award for the best new Andersonville business opened in 2012, giving you the opportunity to vote for your favorite locally-owned new businesses within the "classic Andersonville" boundaries.
Good Neighbor Award is for the business that best exemplifies the spirit of community support and customer service.
Arts Organization of the Year Award for the top organization or business in the arts industry.

Services Organization of the Year Award for the top organization/business in the service industry, for example: chiropractors, mental health professionals, accountants, realtors, etc.
Restaurant/Bar of the Year Award is for the best drinks or dining establishment in Andersonville.
Retailer of the Year Award goes to the best retail business in Andersonville.
The Mathiasson Community Service Award, established to honor Kurt Mathaisson, affectionately known as the "Mayor of Andersonville," is an award the Chamber bestows on an INDIVIDUAL who most exemplifies Kurt's devotion and commitment to the ongoing vitality of the Andersonville community. Nominations will come from the community at large; the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce Board will select the winner.

The nomination period will begin on February 1^st and continue until February 15^th at 12pm. At that time, the top five businesses with the most nominations will be selected for consideration in the FINAL community wide vote, launching March 1. Award winners will be announced at The Andersonville Honors Gala. To cast your vote today, visit our nominations page!

For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities or ticket sales please visit www.andersonville.org.