by Oak Park Arts District | Aug 5, 2019 | Blog
By Kelly Pollock, feature writer for Buzz Cafe
Growing up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Chad Keast loved percussion and considered studying music performance in college but didn’t think he had the required discipline. Instead, after studying accounting at a technical college, he decided to go to hair school. Chad went on to work for the largest chain of Aveda Concept Salons and then to train all over the world learning different methods of haircutting. In 2011, he began working for the founder of Aveda, Horst Rechelbacher, in his second start-up company Intelligent Nutrients which was the first hair care line to receive USDA organic certification. It was a transformative experience and one that continues to influence him.
“Horst was the greatest mentor that I have ever had in my life. He taught me that sharing with other people helps you to figure out who you want to be. I learned to be open to possibilities to better myself and in turn to better the people around me. As a result, I feel like I’m in a constant process of self-development.”
It was this openness to possibility that prompted Chad and his partner Casey Gustafson to relocate to Oak Park in February for Casey’s job. As Chad stated, “After twenty years in Minneapolis, it was a little like being pushed out of the nest. But there is nothing more liberating than picking up and moving to a new city.” They were immediately taken with the community, and six months later, they continue to love the ease of living just a few blocks from Downtown Oak Park and the Green Line. “I can walk to Sugar Beet, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Target, and I can get anywhere in Chicago in 45 minutes.”
Unable to find a salon in the area that felt like a good fit, and despite never having been a business owner and not yet having a clientele, Chad decided to take the leap and open his own salon. He is in the midst of transforming the storefront at 31 Harrison Street from Kathy Reller Designs to Chad Keast Hair. “I love the energy of the space, and the Oak Park Arts District is a great fit for me. I was a member of different arts organizations in the Twin Cities, and I’ve always been inspired by art, sculpture, and photography.”
Chad is passionate about being “the cleanest salon space in existence” and uses all organic products from three different lines—Intelligent Nutrients, Organic Chemistry, and Innersense Organic Beauty. “I try to find the best thing possible and disclose all the ingredients,” says Chad. He would eventually like to add makeup and an apothecary that would enable him to custom blend essential oils.
Another way Chad is reducing his salon’s waste footprint is his association with Green Circle Salons which is a company that enables the beauty industry to repurpose or recycle everything used in their businesses. If something can’t be recycled locally, then it is sent to them and disposed of responsibility; even cut hair is made into oil spill pillows.
Education is another of Chad’s passions. He has a curious mind and is a lifelong learner and is also a teacher. Chad believes, “Teaching is the ultimate form of being a student because when you share information with other people it reinforces your own knowledge.” While Chad often teaches other stylists, he also wants to be a resource for the community. He plans to hold workshops and be an advocate for using cleaner beauty products. “Wellness is so important. I want to make it fun and accessible.”
Chad’s clients are like his family, and after twenty years in Minneapolis he couldn’t just walk away. To accommodate these long-term relationships, Chad plans to spend one week out of every five in Minneapolis. His calendar is set through the end of 2020. “Customer service is my number one thing. My goal is to take care of people and to provide them with a special and exceptional experience. I want every client to feel like they’re my only client.”
Chad Keast Hair will typically be open Tuesday through Saturday. Contact Chad directly for an appointment at 612-209-6146 or chad@chadkeast.com.
chadkeast.com
by Oak Park Arts District | Jul 8, 2019 | Arts Camps, Blog
by Kelly Pollock, feature writer Buzz Cafe
Gigi Hudson discovered her passion for acting in college and has been teaching theatre for almost thirty years. This year, she is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of The Actors Garden which originally launched out of space shared with Musikgarten on Harrison Street which was generously offered by Amy Pappageorge. Four years ago, she moved to her current location at 909 S. Lombard Avenue in the Oak Park Arts District. Gigi chose the name of her business partly to pay homage to Musikgarten but mostly because her philosophy is that, “It’s about the process not about the product.” As Gigi states, “It’s not my goal to produce Broadway actors but to develop audience members who understand what it takes to put a production together. It’s about planting the seeds of interest.”
While The Actors Garden offers classes and workshops throughout the year for both adults and children, it is the summer camp that really helps to lay that foundation. A unique aspect of the program is that the productions are original works by Gigi’s husband, Dave Hudson, who is an award-winning musical writer. When she started working with children, Gigi produced the “junior” versions of Broadway musicals. But she was frustrated that she couldn’t find shows that “didn’t talk down to kids.” And she wanted to “spread the wealth on stage” rather than focusing on just a few lead roles. Dave was already writing for adults and offered to have a go at writing for children.
Now thanks to their collaboration, The Actors Garden summer camp rotates through seven different musicals that have been written by Dave and are customized to Gigi’s needs. “The seven-year rotation is perfect for us because our campers range in age from 8-15 so that’s the typical length of time that they spend in our program.” And each child has an opportunity to speak, to sing, and to dance. “They all have a moment in the spotlight,” says Gigi.
The summer camp is a huge undertaking with a staff of thirty made up of counselors and professional guest artists. Although The Actors Garden studio is on Lombard, the camp takes place at Dominican University. Seventy-five campers register for each of the two sessions. Camp runs Monday through Friday from 9-3 for four weeks and is followed by a weekend of six performances. Each production is triple-cast so that each camper performs twice over the weekend.
Camp sessions involve much more than staging and rehearsing the show. Camp is run like “middle school” with campers rotating between activities every forty minutes. Many activities are theme-based around the current production. This year’s show – “Off to Olympus!” – is a story about Greek gods and goddesses so one activity is a “purpose workshop” with River Forest resident Susan Lucci who is helping the campers to discover what makes them powerful.
For younger children, The Actors Garden started offering a mini camp last year that runs in the mornings for two weeks. Designed for campers ages 4-7, the mini camp runs in “blocks” like the regular camp, and the eight campers put on a short performance for family and friends in the Lombard studio on the final day. This year’s production is “Super Summer: Superhero Squad!” and there are a few openings left in the second session that begins on July 29.
Gigi says that she has “the greatest job in the world” and parents are equally enthusiastic about her and The Actors Garden. “Gigi puts the young people first and the theater second. Our daughter has grown into a confident young person willing to risk a little to achieve something even bigger,” says Stephan Benzkofer whose daughter Audrey is a current camper.
Lacey Sikora, whose daughter has “aged out” of camp but is hoping to return as a counselor, says, “After seven summers, my husband and I agree that enrolling Kiki in Gigi’s camp was the single best thing that we have ever done for our daughter. Gigi and her counselors provided something that can be so rare in programming for kids: they see the whole child and help each child grow and be the best that they can be.”
This summer’s performances of “Off to Olympus!” will be the weekends of July 12-14 and August 16-18 at the Dominican University Performing Arts Center. For more information about The Actors Garden, visit their website at www.theactorsgarden.com.
by Oak Park Arts District | Jun 3, 2019 | Blog
By Kelly Pollock, feature writer for the Buzz Cafe
Early in his career, Rene Medina worked as an internal auditor at the headquarters of Allstate Insurance Company in Northbrook. He became familiar with their agencies, and his interest in the insurance industry was piqued. More than twenty years have passed, but Rene has now realized his longtime dream of being self-employed as the owner of Renmar Insurance Agency at 235 Harrison Street in the Oak Park Arts District.
Rene is a CPA with a Masters in Taxation from DePaul University but after almost 30 years working in accounting and finance, he was ready to own his own business and wanted to change careers. When a former co-worker posted on social media that she had recently opened an Allstate agency, Rene’s interest in insurance resurfaced. He asked his friend to “tell me more” and she connected him with an Allstate recruiter. After clearing the initial hurdles of interviews and assessments, Rene passed his insurance licensing exams in Property & Casualty and Life & Health.
Working in insurance offers Rene “good income potential and the opportunity to help a broad spectrum of people.” As he stated, “Customer service is my strength, and insurance is all about helping families to protect their walls, wheels, and wealth.” As an exclusive agent for Allstate, Rene has the full backing of a recognizable brand that is one of the largest insurance providers in the United States. Like all independent contractor agency owners, Rene is provided with marketing and training along with commissions and bonuses for the policies he sells.
Born in Mexico and raised in Chicago, Rene moved to Oak Park seventeen years ago. He and his wife Maria live on the northwest side of town with their young daughters, Ana and Emily. “I wanted to live in a central location with easy access to my family in the city. And Oak Park’s diversity was a huge selling point.” So when Rene needed to find office space for his new business, choosing to open in the Arts District was an easy decision. “People tend to think of Lake Street as Oak Park’s commercial district, but I like the vibrancy of Harrison Street.” Luckily, the space was already built out as an office and only needed “a coat of paint and a sign.”
Since leaving his full-time job at the end of March, it’s been a whirlwind. In addition to getting the office into shape, Rene completed several weeks of Allstate training and hired a staff of licensed sales producers – Dennis Zims, John Cantero, and Lisa Pompa Adams – who all came on board in mid-May. The agency started binding coverage on June 1 and can write policies anywhere within Illinois. They are a bilingual office in English and Spanish.
“We might not be the cheapest insurance,” Rene acknowledged, “But we’re not the most expensive either. We stand behind our product. It’s all about customer service.”
Renmar Insurance Agency is open Monday through Friday from 9-5. The office phone number is 708-622-0800. Rene Medina’s email address is rene.medina@allstate.com.
by Oak Park Arts District | Apr 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
“Her Voice”
3rd Annual Art Exhibition, June 1 – July 26, 2019
SHOW PROSPECTUS
“Her Voice” is an exhibition of women printmakers and their guest artists. The event brings women from different art backgrounds together to interact in a shared studio space.
Who is Eligible: Women artists and those who identify as female.
Must be 2-dimensional artists (i.e. painting, drawing, collage, printing, etc). There will be a $25 fee per person to cover costs of this event.
Juried Show: Fees are only collected from those whose pieces are in the show.
Jurors: E.G. Board of Directors & Liz Born of Hoof Prints Workshop
Reception: Friday, July 19, 6:30-9:30 pm
. Special Guest Lecture TBA
PRIZES!
First place- $50
Second place- TBA during the reception!
Spend a day in our studio! All participating artists will be invited to spend a day in our studio and try different types of printmaking.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Please Register online
Work must be submitted by May 12th!
Images must be in JPEG or PDF format ONLY
Include brief write up about your piece(s)
2D work ONLY, maximum 22” x 30”
Unframed work ONLY
Email your images by May 12th to egmail@mac.com
Hanging Fee to be assessed if selected: $25 (1-2 pieces)
Hanging Date: June 1st, 10:00 am
Sales: E.G. member retain 60% of sale, Non members retain 50% of sales
Expressions Graphics has the right to refuse any works of art.
by Oak Park Arts District | Jan 9, 2019 | Uncategorized
by The Eastgate Cafe
Over the years, the Oak Park Arts District has become well-known as a showcase for local musical talent like the Farmers Market Band and other groups that play folk, country-western, rock, and pop favorites. All of these genres can be heard at family friendly venues like the Buzz Café and the District Kitchen and Tap. Not to mention the talent and musical resources provided by Val’s halla Records for over four decades. But now the Eastgate Café offers sophisticated music lovers’ access to a treat rarely experienced outside of a handful of downtown Chicago clubs – a weekly jazz jam session for top tier professional musicians. What’s more – this entertainment is available without the drawbacks of cover charges, expensive parking fees and late hours.
Of course, the Eastgate Café has long been a venue for great jazz, rock and pop bands. But the bistro’s Sunday jam sessions offer a different perspective on America’s most unique musical art form. Jam sessions are a venue for high-quality musicians and singers to meet, practice their craft, share original compositions, and develop new connections. Audience members, on the other hand, have the opportunity to see and hear how the music they love is created. Now, every Sunday, jazz fans can unwind with their favorite drink, enjoy a delicious meal, and hear some of the top musicians in Chicago sit in with the Eastgate’s talented house band, the Doug Lalli Trio.
For local talent, the Eastgate’s jam session has been a welcome addition to Chicagoland’s jazz scene. For years they’ve had to go into town or to a few geographically scattered sessions to jam with their peers. Now players in Oak Park, Forest Park, River Forest, Berwyn, LaGrange, Elmwood Park, and other nearby suburbs can connect close to home. Joined by their neighbors, friends, and family members, they can offer their own unique contribution to Chicago’s justly famed jazz scene and Oak Park’s own arts community.
by Oak Park Arts District | Oct 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
By Whitney Parchman
Owner Elizabeth Madden celebrated the grand opening of Rare Bird Preserves late last month in the Oak Park Arts District. The space at 211 Harrison houses a commercial kitchen and multi-use retail area designed to host classes and parties.
With a background in fine arts, Madden attended the French Pastry School and quickly fell in love with small batch artisan preserve making. Thousands of jars later, the opening of the Rare Bird Preserves storefront represents the culmination of these efforts.
Upon entering the new space, visitors immediately note its relaxed elegance and are quickly drawn in by the selection of handmade goods from local and international artisans. An artisan herself, Madden’s support of others in complementary vocations highlights a movement she fell in love with over 20 years ago.
It’s no accident that her selections, much like her preserves, reflect a beautiful merging of tradition and modernity. Beyond the retail area the commercial kitchen provides the perfect setting for Madden and her team to practice and grow their craft. Inspired by the seasonal availability of locally and sustainably grown fruit, Madden uses a traditional combination of French and British preserving techniques to create modern flavor pairings.
Classic Preserves and Signature Curds such as Strawberry Rhubarb and Blackberry Lime are available year round online and in stores throughout the US. Those fortunate enough to grab an inspired exclusive blend (sometimes as few as 20 are made) enjoy unique flavor combinations such as Cherry Lime, Red Berries Rosé and Meyer Lemon Rosemary.
When asked how Madden develops these combinations she relates a cycle of experimentation, failure and reattempts. Persistence and passion have regularly guided Madden through this creative cycle and, to the delight of many palates, success. Tasting Table, an online guide for food and drink enthusiasts, describes Rare Bird Preserves as, “Deeply flavored… with intriguing combinations.” Whole Foods Market refers to it as, “Deliciously unique.” While Chicago Magazine has declared it, “The season’s perfect present for foodies.”
Patience is an equally important part of the practice. Traditional copper kettles and unrushed production methods allow the fruits’ natural pectin to be extracted. This traditional extraction method is an art in itself. According to Madden the process is simple, however, any-one who has attempted to make their own jam knows the best intentions can lead to either a syrup-like or overly dense consistency. In an effort to thwart failure, hobbyists and mass-producers alike frequently use a combination of animal gelatin and additives. The consistency may be a relative improvement, however, the flavor is often less vibrant.
Each jar of Rare Bird Preserves, in contrast, celebrates each ingredient’s natural beauty, taste and texture. When asked what she loves most about making her preserves and curds, Madden responds, “Just a few ingredients, put together properly, can have spectacular results.” We agree!
Check out Rare Bird Preserves in per- son at 211 Harrison Street right here in the Oak Park Arts District and online at RareBirdPreserves.com. Follow their mouthwatering Instagram @rarebirdpreserves.
by Oak Park Arts District | Sep 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
by Whitney Parchman
In 2015 neighbors Jen Gold, Lauren Elliott and Lindsay Monroe became fast friends while in the throes of caring for their young children. They shared labor and delivery stories between carting their kids to various activities and navigating life as new moms.
They reflected on the challenges of transitioning into postpartum life. Through this sharing they realized women weren’t hearing and talking enough about the birth process. They also saw a deficit in resources for women who wanted to make educated decisions.
Fast forward to May 2018 when this trio of moms-turned-doulas opened the Birth Boutique.
Established in the vibrant and family-friendly Oak Park Arts District, the Birth Boutique provides childbirth and postpartum doula services, professional photography, a lending library and classes for expectant and new parents and a thoughtful collection of retail items perfect for gift giving.
Doulas are more than just birth companions or coaches. They’re professionals trained to provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to mothers before, during and after childbirth. Doulas provide these support measures so families feel empowered to advocate for themselves.
Says Gold, “There are so many options when it comes to birth and postpartum. We want to pro- vide women with as much information as we can to enable them to make the best decision for themselves. Ultimately the decisions are yours and should reflect what is best for you and your family.”
The popularity of doulas has increased over the years, however, there are still lingering miscon- ceptions about their role. People often assume doulas are only for home and/or unmedicated births. In reality, the majority of births attended by Gold, Elliott and Monroe take place in the hospital. Of those births about half require some type of medical intervention.
Regardless of what type of birth a woman plans, the consistency of doula support provides com- fort and positive outcomes in potentially stressful circumstances. Many women see a variety of medical care providers throughout their pregnancies. It’s difficult to predict who will be on call when a woman goes into labor.
States Elliott, “There’s comfort knowing the person next to you. They’re there to help you in whatever way you need at any given moment. You won’t receive that attention without a doula.”
The underlying philosophy at the Birth Boutique is that support is available no matter what kind of birth you’ve planned. This support also extends beyond birth into postpartum. According to Monroe, “We have an incredible line-up of free community workshops for families to learn, grow and connect with others.”
When asked why she was drawn to the role of doula Elliott replies, “I was fortunate to have a doula by my side for my first birth. She made me realize that I have the power within myself to do anything. From that moment on, I knew I needed to support women in the way that my doula supported me.”
For more info on the Birth Boutique check out their website. For convenient and up-to-date info on their free community workshops and to view a sampling of their beautiful photography follow them on Insta- gram @thebirthboutique. Welcome them to the neighborhood in person at 128 Harrison Street right here in the Oak Park Arts District.
by Oak Park Arts District | Aug 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
August 31st, 1998 was a momentous day in our lives, and, as it turns out, the lives of many Oak Parkers.
After purchasing the vacant building at 905 S. Lombard and renovating it for 3 months, Buzz Café opened at 6am that day. The walls were largely bare, the chairs were plain wood, there were no planned events or live music… We served coffee, tea, juices, so- das, cookies, scones, muffins, pastries and a handful of sandwiches. Not to mention, we only had me and 3 employees to run the place.
Over the next few days, weeks and months, Buzz Café changed in order to meet the demands of our customers. We immediately hired 12 people in the first week to manage the amount of business, then customers started asking if we would serve eggs, toast, sausage, bacon etc…SO, we started making hot breakfast items.
Then an artist came in and asked if he could hang his art on the walls and advertise them for sale—I said, sure, and we started selling local art. A musician came in and asked if she could play live music in the evenings, I said, I think that would be great, and we began scheduling live music. A political organizer came in and asked if he could schedule an event at the café, I said, of course, and we started hosting events.
We also listened to our customers asking us for different food items and longer hours, so we expanded our menu to include organics, vegan, vegetarian etc…and our lengthened our hours. By the end of our first year in business, it was almost unrecognizable from our initial concept of a simple coffee shop. In 1999 we moved into the apartment above the café, as we realized how much easier it would be for us to do so.
We lived there for 8 years and had 3 out of our 4 kids while living there. In those days, the Café was a way of life for us, not a job. We did it 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. Those were not easy years. I think back on them fondly now, but at the time, it was tough. Somehow we were able to manage through tough times—9/11 terrorist attack, the recession, rising food costs, power outages and a million more crisis! Through it all, customers kept coming.
We also formed meaningful friendships with MANY customers during that time. Friendships that continue on today and have enriched our lives in incredible ways.
Buzz Café, as you know it today, is the way it is because of YOU. All of the many customers that came through our doors and asked for something new.
We have built our business by listening to and doing what YOU have asked and now we are thought of as an “institution”. I am humbled and grateful everyday for the opportunity to serve the Oak Park community for an unbelievable 20 years.
This year, we decided it was time to refresh the restaurant. We are open 361 days per year and have done that for 20 years. The wear and tear that we have put this building through is incredible. The time has come for new floors, storefront, equipment and lighting. We will be closing for 2 weeks to accomplish this momentous task.
We hope you will join us on our official 20th birthday for a celebration to honor our customers. We will have FREE coffee and cake all day, live music throughout the day and our awesome partner Metropolis Coffee Company will be giving out free samples. The renovations at Buzz Café, will hopefully improve the customer experience as well as take care of some sorely needed repairs and updates.
The timing could not be better, as our neighbors, throughout the Oak Park Arts District are also in renovation mode! It is a very exciting time for the area, the neighborhood and for Oak Park. I have been pleased to be a part of the re-birth of the Arts District and help further define it as an “Arts” District.
Our re-investment in the building and neighborhood, will hopefully sustain us for the next 20 years. In the picture at the top of this page, you will see my family. Some of you may even know my daughter Lydia and Irene as servers in the café. Next year, Henry will join the Buzz work force. My hope is that the café will be here as an anchor for the foreseeable future and perhaps, one of my kids will choose to take it on as their own, one day…who knows!
by Oak Park Arts District | Sep 20, 2017 | Uncategorized
