by annette coffee | Feb 28, 2022 | Blog
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By Kelly Pollock, feature writer for The Buzz Cafe
Dima Ali doesn’t usually have things come easily for her. “I spent the first 28 years of my life in a war zone. So when something comes together easily, I think that it was meant to be.” And while Dima is still marveling about how quickly her new studio space materialized, she is excited about what lies ahead for her at Dima Jewelry Atelier + Boutique at 41 Harrison Street in the Oak Park Arts District.
Dima was born and raised in Baghdad, and she came to the United States in December 2002 just three months before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Although she has a master’s degree in Family Law, Dima could not practice after immigrating. She worked on and off doing English to Arabic and Arabic to English translation, but after having her children, Dima focused on being a mom to Luna and Sam.
It was the 2016 election and the subsequent Muslim Ban which ignited her passion for activism. “I am culturally Muslim. It’s my culture and my identity, and the former President’s attacks on immigrants and on Muslims made me feel that I needed to do something.” Dima had always enjoyed making jewelry, but she lacked the self-confidence to think that her pieces were good enough to sell. But she wanted to make a difference and so she started donating her jewelry to causes she cared about and giving public speeches about her immigrant experience and her journey to U.S. citizenship.
“People loved my work and I started getting orders. I wanted to support a cause so I chose to donate a percentage of my sales to RefugeeOne,” says Dima. Bit by bit, her sales increased. She focused on pop-up markets and her Etsy shop and last year when things really took off, she realized she needed a separate studio space.
“My studio was in my basement, but at home, the lines between work and family are blurred. There are constant interruptions and creativity is not concentrated.” So it was serendipitous when a friend forwarded a Facebook post about a space for rent on Harrison Street. “I responded to the post, I stopped by, and I left with keys,” Dima marvels. With the help of friends, she was able to put the space together in just a few weeks, and on February 12, she celebrated her soft opening. “Sometimes when opportunity falls in your lap, you take it and run.”
While the space is her full-time studio, she will also be keeping some regular hours for customers to stop by. And she’s hosting “Sundays at the Studio” from 2pm-6pm to give other people working on projects a space to find some concentrated creativity of their own. “Productivity is infectious,” says Dima.
Dima describes her jewelry as “very dainty and feminine,” “made with good quality materials,” and “well-priced.” Nothing costs more than $75. “I’m selling to my neighbors, to my friends, to my community,” says Dima, “Good quality and affordable prices are my priority.”
“I love to work with gemstones. What is really in right now is pearl and gold. Earrings have been selling like crazy. Everyone wants earrings so they look good on Zoom calls,” Dima laughs.
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Dima also feels strongly about supporting and promoting other crafters in the community. “When I started, nobody wanted to give me an opportunity.” She’s determined to break that cycle and has set up a small area in her boutique for other crafters to sell their wares.
Dima is proud of her journey and her new venture. “The hardship I lived through made me the woman that I am today. I went through trauma after trauma after trauma, but I carry my scars with pride. I reached a point in my life where I needed to prove to myself and to my kids that, like air, I’ll rise. For a long time, I was just a mom, but now, I’m a mom with a business.”
Dima Jewelry Atelier + Boutique is located at 41 Harrison Street. Dima Ali can be reached at [email protected]. Visit her Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/dimajewelrydesigns or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
by annette coffee | Feb 20, 2022 | Blog
It all began in 1972. To be factually accurate, it began several years before as NMC Discount Records, but for what we now know as Val’s halla Records, this July marks the big 50.
Celebrate with them:
The first item up is our SHARE A MEMORY project. If there is one thing Val was known for, it was telling stories. Please share a memory or two from the last 50 yrs. Val stories, music stories, pet stories, whatever you’ve got! We can’t think of a better way to honor Val than by telling stories. CLICK HERE to share.
Next, they are compiling a list of the Favorite 50 albums of Val’s halla customers from the last 50 years, so they need your input! Please nominate an album (or many) to be considered for this list. Later in the year, they will compile all of the nominees and take a vote, so CLICK HERE and get nominating!
A photo was taken on the last day at the old store and it was amazing. They are hoping to create a little photo magic again this year. If you were an employee of Val’s halla Records, a friend of Val, or anyone who has been impacted by this amazing place (they are going to need a wide lens), they’d love for you to join them. Tentatively, they are hoping to take a picture in the morning on Sat, Jul 30th before a huge day of festivities. To start, they want to start gathering contact information for everyone, so please CLICK HERE to sign up and they will keep you posted! Please forward this to anyone you can think of and don’t assume they have already contacted someone!
They are having a kickoff party – ‘Cue the Record in partnership with our friends from Fitzgerald’s and BABYGOLD BARBEQUE. How does this sound? Your $39 ticket gets you:
- All You Can Eat BBQ
- A BABYGOLD COLDBEER
- A night of amazing music spinning on sweet, sweet vinyl. All selections curated from Val’s staff will be from the year it all began…1972.
- The Val’s halla shop inside of BABYGOLD BARBEQUE will be open for business and just might have some specialties to add to your collection!
The event will be held at BABYGOLD BARBEQUE located at 6613 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, IL 60402. This amazing event may sell out, so CLICK HERE and get your tickets today. It’s time to treat yourself.
by annette coffee | Jan 3, 2022 | Blog
By Kelly Pollock, feature writer for The Buzz Cafe
The art on the walls at Buzz Café is such a part of the experience that many customers might not stop to wonder how it ends up there. The answer comes from Charlie Doyle, the art manager and new full-time morning manager. “The process is very relaxed. You contact me, sign the artist agreement, we correspond, we meet, and then your art is on the walls,” he says. “We’re very flexible with what kind of art we consign. It just needs to be family-friendly since no one wants to answer complicated questions over pancakes.”
The restaurant takes a 25% commission from all sales and art tends to sell exceptionally well over the holidays. “Some people stop in just to buy a piece of art. No coffee, no pastries, no food. Just art.” says Charlie. Since taking on the role of art manager in the spring, he has enjoyed becoming immersed in the diversity of the art and the artists who are showcased.
Meet three of those artists below:
Mimi Comerford
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Mimi and her husband Rick live on Harrison Street just down the street from Buzz Café. A few years ago, they purchased the commercial building that formerly housed Magical Minds Studio and converted it into their home. “The project took about eighteen months, but we love it. It’s a fun space to live in,” says Mimi.
Her family has a long history of involvement in the arts. “My great-grandfather was a prominent architect in California, my grandmother attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1913, and my father was an artisan tinsmith,” says Mimi. When the time came for her to go to college, however, she took the advice of her business-minded mother and majored in marketing. “My mom told me that I would never be able to support myself as an artist and that I should get a business degree. So that’s what I did,” Mimi laughs.
Since then, she has spent her professional life working in sales and currently has her own consulting company working in the art supply industry. So how did she end up with her art on the walls at Buzz? “I started getting free products from my work and I just started dabbling. I found it therapeutic and satisfying to create something out of nothing,” says Mimi.
Mimi’s current passion is fused glass and she makes ornaments and wall art using the kiln housed in her home studio. She starting selling at Buzz over a year ago and gives part of her ornament sale proceeds to Dawn Center Rescue, a non-profit that specializes in hard-to-adopt dogs. “I’ve always loved that Buzz features community artists. It really makes for an interesting space.”
Jen Keller, Jen Keller Art
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Jen Keller has been an artist her entire life. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs where she “was always involved in art and theater as a kid and throughout high school.” She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume Design and a Master of Fine Arts in Traditional Illustration and in between spent five years as the owner of a dog-walking company.
She describes her work as “Stylized Realism.” Says Jen, “It’s not quite realistic, but it’s based in reality. The work at Buzz Café (part of the Keller Kiddo Designs line) is all researched heavily to get the animal’s anatomy correct, then it is hand-drawn and hand-inked. Then I scan it into the computer and add the color. It has a modern, clean style that works well in decor.”
In addition to her children’s art, Jen also creates pet portraits and greeting cards and has done illustration work in the publishing industry. When she’s not working as a full-time artist, Jen keeps busy as a full-time mom and loves spending time with her husband (a professional soccer coach) and daughter.
While art and family are her primary focus, the passion that inspired her years as a dog walker continues to show up in her work. “I love animals which is why I’ve dedicated my artwork to showing them in all sorts of different lights. From my nursery art to my pet portraits I hope to bring joy and a sense of connection to the world around us.”
Rebecca LesStrang, Artimiss
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Rebecca is the youngest artist on the walls at Buzz Café. She is ten years old and a 5th grader at Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest. Her dad Christian lives in Oak Park on Lombard Avenue just up the street from the restaurant. “Buzz is my local hangout and I asked about getting Rebecca’s art on the walls. Charlie has been a great champion and took Rebecca under his wing,” he says.
Abstract art is Rebecca’s specialty. “Sometimes I drizzle the paint on the canvas like Jackson Pollock or I might paint the canvas all one color and then drizzle glitter on top of it,” says Rebecca. Her business name is Artimiss because “my business is art, and I’m a young miss. And one of my favorite books is Ready Player One and I like the character Art3mis.”
While she doesn’t have her life mapped out yet, Rebecca knows that she wants an artistic career like fashion design or interior design. “I’m really into fashion and the way things get put together. When I buy an item of clothing, I can see my entire closet in my mind and I think what would go great with it.”
But for now, Rebecca is just excited to have sold some of her pieces and plans to rotate her inventory in the new year. And what’s her favorite Buzz treat? “Definitely the hot chocolate,” she says with a grin.
by annette coffee | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog
By Kelly Pollock, feature writer for The Buzz Cafe
Need to do some holiday shopping? Check out the businesses of the Oak Park Arts District. They have gifts for everybody on your list!
For Her…
Purple Sun Arts (142 Harrison Street) is celebrating the season with a holiday lights sale—find a tag with a colored gem and save 10-25% off the price. They have beautiful handmade cards, jewelry (get three pairs of $10 earrings for just $25), and bath items (felted soap for $16). Visit www.purplesunarts.com or call 708-948-7443.
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For Him…
Trying to buy for the man who has everything? Pamper him with the Presidential Treatment at Valdo’s Barbershop (128 Harrison Street). This $75 package includes a clay mask to remove impurities, a haircut, and a hot towel shave with steam. It’s the ultimate luxury! Visit www.valdosoakpark.com or call 708-628-3025.
For The Kids…
Do the kids already have too much “stuff?” Why not gift them something a little more “experiential” this year? The Oak Park Arts District offers an abundance of classes for kids of all ages including acting (The Actors Garden at www.theactorsgarden.com), dance (INTUIT Dance! at www.intuitdance.org), and art (Kidcreate Studio at www.kidcreatestudio.com). Many classes start in January and would make a great holiday gift for your budding actor/dancer/artist!
For The Family…
Want to start a new holiday tradition? Stop by Bead in Hand (145 Harrison Street) for their Snowflake Ornament Drop-In workshops on December 20, 21, and 23 from 1pm-4pm. Ornament kits are available in three sizes—Small ($6), Medium ($12), and Large ($15)—and are appropriate for ages 6 and up. Visit www.beadinhand.com or call 708-848-1761.
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For The Host…
Headed out to a last minute gathering? Pick up a pie to share from The Happy Apple Pie Shop (226 Harrison Street). Flavors vary week to week but Signature Apple, Apple Crumble, and Chocolate Chess are always available and prices start at $24. Or if you need something savory, call ahead for a quiche ($22) and it can be ready in an hour. And don’t forget to plan ahead. December 13 is the last day to place your Christmas pie order. Visit www.happyapplepie.com or call 708-606-0037.
For The Music Lover…
Pop in to Val’s halla Records (239 Harrison Street) for a Mystery Gift Package of five records for $20. Sure to please anyone who loves vinyl. Or jump in with a Starter Kit that includes a turntable and two powered speakers for $249. It’s ready right out of the box for quick set-up on Christmas morning. Can’t decide? Buy a $50 gift card for someone special and get a $5 bonus gift card just for you. Visit www.valshallarecords.com or call 708-524-1004.
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For The Crafter…
Dye Hard Yarns (210 Harrison Street) has everything for the knitter on your list. Want to give a gift that will bring joy throughout the year? Consider a Sock-of-the-Month subscription. For $179.99, your gift recipient will receive a skein of hand-dyed yarn and a sock pattern every other month for a year—a total of six shipments. Visit www.dyehardyarns.com or call 708-613-4456.
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For The Taco Lover…(And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love tacos!)
Taco Mucho (220 Harrison Street) is a recent addition to the Arts District but their tacos, margaritas, and churros are already quite popular. After a long day of shopping on Harrison, sit back and enjoy some delicious Mexican food or stop in for a gift card that would make a great stocking stuffer for everyone on your list. Visit www.tacomucho.net or call 708-434-5740.
Happy Holidays from the businesses of the Oak Park Arts District!
by Nicole Sankowski | Nov 3, 2021 | Blog
By Kelly Pollock, feature writer for The Buzz Cafe
After more than 30 years as a professional artist, Tia Etu of Whatever Comes to Mind Studio feels like she has finally arrived. “Of course, I want to arrive higher than this,” she laughs, “But 2021 has been a good year.”
Growing up in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago, Tia had a troubled childhood. “My mother was mentally ill and I was on my own a lot. Sometimes I was sent to live with relatives. Once in junior high, I had done something wrong. I was sent to the office where they asked me to draw a picture of Mickey Mouse for the bulletin board. They liked my drawing and from then on, art is the thing that kept me OK. No matter what, I had this thing that I was good at. And people praised me for it,” says Tia.
When she was a senior in high school, Tia’s counselor got her a scholarship to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. “College hadn’t even crossed my mind. But that’s how I wound up really serious about art.”
Wanting the best for her biracial son is what brought Tia to Oak Park in the 1980’s. “I didn’t want him in an all-black neighborhood or an all-white neighborhood, but I knew in Oak Park that he would fit right in,” says Tia. At that time, the Oak Park Arts District did not exist as it does today. “There was a live/work space available at 11 Harrison Street and I applied for it. I was surprised when I got it, but it was great space. Unfortunately, I struggled to make a living and then the building was sold and I had to move.”
It was only about 10 years ago that Tia returned to the Arts District when she opened her current studio at 27 Harrison Street. “The first couple of years it was a struggle, but then I started getting more commissions. And it kept growing and growing. And now I’m finally getting to a place of being respected enough that I haven’t looked for one job that I’ve had recently. They have all come to me,” says Tia.
Earlier this year, Tia had a mural unveiled at the Walmart at 4650 W. North Avenue in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. The mural is called “Generations” and was selected as part of the Walmart Community Mural Program. It features the iconic “Pink House” that has been a neighborhood landmark for more than 30 years.
More recently, Tia completed her largest and highest-paying mural to date. It’s located at 810 Beloit Avenue in Forest Park and took her about three weeks to complete. “The owner of the building wanted something with movement that was colorful and playful,” says Tia. The result is “Imagine” and depicts three goldfish swimming against a background of clouds.
Closer to home, Tia has been brightening the front of her studio at Humphrey and Harrison with a floral sculpture garden. “I started the first garden because nothing would grow there and so I decided to make some flowers out of metal. Now things grow like crazy,” laughs Tia. Her newest addition is a bright orange flower made out of a “Road Construction Ahead” sign. “I had the sign for several years, but I finally cut it and got it ready. I always wanted a flower made from a reflective sign and I couldn’t be happier with it.”
Looking to the future, Tia would love to complete a building-size mural. “The idea scares me to no end since I have problems with heights. But before I leave this earth, I would like to do one huge mural.” She is also hoping to bring her metal flowers in larger-than-life form to the Morton Arboretum.
Although Tia works in a lot of different mediums and has a lot of different styles, “they all look like me,” she says. “That’s why my business is called ‘Whatever Comes to Mind.’” To see more of Tia’s paintings, drawings, murals, sculptures, and jewelry, visit Whatever Comes to Mind Studio at 27 Harrison Street. She can be reached at 708-299-2878 or through her website at www.whatevercomestomind.com.
by Nicole Sankowski | Oct 6, 2021 | Blog
Theater, at its heart, is storytelling. When Open Door Theater found itself unable to produce live theater, due to the pandemic, the company needed to find another way to tell stories, to connect with its communities. The answer was to look into its communities to share the stories of people whose efforts enrich the lives of our communities. These individuals may do so through their businesses, their non-profit organizations or their volunteer commitments.
The heart of these stories is two-fold: WHY do they do this work? And WHAT was the journey that brought them to that place?
The first series of interviews is with the editors/publishers of local community newspapers, as they continuously inform people about life in their communities, and, with the owners of two diners/family restaurants as their establishments are the places people go to meet as much as to eat. Newspapers and diners connect people one to another.
Starting October 12th, one interview per week will be posted on Open Door’s website. Each interview is approximately 20 minutes in length. They are free of charge but supporting donations will be gratefully accepted. Click on “The BackStory Project” and enjoy these amazing stories.
Interview #1 will be with Dan Haley, editor of the Wednesday Journal Oak Park River Forest and publisher of Growing Community Media. In it we learn which elected official Dan calls “a terrific, terrific lady” and why. Check out the video HERE!
www.opendoortheater.net