Jahmal Cole helps restaurant donate 2,000 meals

 

[VIDEO] Cole's My Block, My Hood, My City partnered with Oooh Wee It Is restaurant in the Chatham neighborhood on Thanksgiving to donate food to needy families. As Cole stated in the above report from WBBM-TV it matters to him if someone in Pilson or Jefferson Park is hungry. It should matter to all of us if someone in the city is hungry.

I hope everyone had a very festive holiday in these uncertain times.

Stossel: Coronavirus cans the bag ban (taxes)

[VIDEO] Grocery stores and pharmacies are considered essential business as people still want to pick up prescriptions and over the counter medication. People also still have to eat and while many restaurants are open for take out orders only, your best bet is still go to the grocery store and find your ingredients so that you can cook.

I noted this a while ago in a post about coronavirus numbers and the effect of the pandemic on "essential" retail. A few grocery stores aren't allowing for the usage of re-usable bags I know for sure the Jewel-Osco, Whole Foods Market, and Target if you go to a cashier they won't package your items in your reusable bags.

Personally reusable bags are very convenient, however, what's noted in this John Stossel video is that there are many of us who don't take the time out to clean them. Sometimes I throw them in the washers, however, sometimes it's just something that I don't take the time to do. If you don't clean them then you could be carrying microbes on your reusable bags that are often dangerous.

Stossel takes aim at the attempts by governments around the nation to ban plastic bags. Chicago has asserted a 7 cent bag tax to encourage use of reusable bags. It's understood that they want to discourage use of those plastic "Jewel" bags. Unfortunately whether or not you use a "Jewel" bag or a paper bag, you still get charged a 7 cent tax. And paper is not only better for the environment not only because they are reusable (even if fragile as you see in video above) they are also recyclable, yet if we use a paper bag from a store we STILL get charged a tax.

Another thing of note is that while Whole Foods, Target, and Jewel that I know of for sure seemed to have waived collecting the city' bag tax. If you go to Mariano's and use a bag with them they will still charge you the 7 cent tax.

In my opinion, who knows if this is going away. Since the pandemic has caused the shut down of many businesses, surely tax revenues are down. Since in many places there is already a bag tax enacted, my idea is this is one convenient tax that won't go away. Especially since people during this difficult time still got to go out to shop for "essential" items.

Any other retailer - especially grocery stores - still charging you the 7 cent bag tax? Let us know...

Fire destroys food pantry #Ward09

[VIDEO] Been quite a while since I've shared a local story on this blog. On Monday there was a fire in Roseland near 111th/Michigan where a church operated a food pantry. You see the story above from WGN.

There is a GoFundMe drive page [CLICK HERE] for this church and also it was reported that Rev. Jesse Jackson is pledging help for this church as well. From ABC 7

Rib Hill Restaurant in Pill Hill

Something see on Pete Kastanes' Vanished Chicago Businesses on instagram. This business was located at 9129 S. Jeffery Blvd. What you see here is a menu from that long gone business.

Treasure Island is closing down...

Treasure Island was always a nice store to shop at, especially the one in Hyde Park. Unfortunately I've never been to that location when it was formerly the Hyde Park Food Co-op, but I had the opportunity to shop at a local European grocery store.

I'm disappointed to find out that Treasure Island - a family-owned company - is forced to close down operations. I'd be curious what could replace them in that spot near 55th & Lake Park.

Well, there we go. @Suntimes obtains the letter to employees stating that all #TreasureIsland stores in the area will close within a week or so. Another local long-time grocery name falls by the wayside https://t.co/fNRnBM76TA

— Steve Daniels (@stevedaniels27) September 30, 2018

You might recognize Steve Daniels, he did some good reporting on what happened with Seaway Bank. When the news broke he hammered out some tweets about Treasure Island and one of those is a link to a Sun-Times article about the impending closure.

Here's another tweet from someone who has been to the Hyde Park store recently. Kind of a shame the shelves are just about empty already.

Walked over to the Hyde Park Treasure Island this morning and it feels eerily apocalyptic. pic.twitter.com/mU2qFKHJ0E

— “...starring Jamie as Busty McShort.” (@thewayoftheid) October 1, 2018

Finally in recognizing that an employer is closing down it's bound to be difficult for the employees. I would be somewhat disappointed that a company isn't doing right not just by their employees, but by their suppliers as well.

What happened at Treasure Island? Crain's @Brigid_Sweeney gets an earful from workers, who describe the grocer's failure to pay health insurance premiums, unsafe food practices and more: https://t.co/ybGWhPrdZQ

— Crain's Chicago (@CrainsChicago) October 3, 2018

Finally I wanted to share this tweet for those who are employed at Treasure Island. I suppose there are groups out there who want to look out for those who were affected by this.

If you are or know a Treasure Island worker in Chicago--workers report being given 1-day notice of stores closing and losing their jobs. This may be a violation of the Illinois WARN Act. Contact Arise Chicago to learn your rights! 312-715-8141 pic.twitter.com/7877csNXj5

— Arise Chicago (@AriseChicago) October 2, 2018

5 Loaves suffers a temporary set back this past weekend...

5 Loaves tagged us on a ig post that we regrammed on Sunday and Worlee Glover shared this on Concerned Citizens of Chatham also. It's a shame that a neighborhood eatery on 75th Street has been knocked out by copper thieves that keeps this business from operating - in this case no electricity. For a quick buck thieves prevent a legitimate business from making long-term money.

No sooner did I finish this post last night I saw this quick announcement on 5 Loaves ig that their electricity has been restored. I'm sure there is a whole story behind it, but it seems the folks at 5 Loaves got to work - with the help of the community - is back up and running and hopefully they'll see you as a customer on Tuesday and beyond!

What is "Dining on the 5"?

This isn't something I've taken advantage of, but it's great that the Greater Chatham Initiative is getting publicity for this. "Dining on the 5" is the subject of an article for the hyperlocal Block Club Chicago. The article is about dining on 75th Street - which over the years is known as Black Wall Street or Renaissance Row.

The potential here as I think was noted here on this blog, 75th Street could become a culinary, entertaining, or nightlife center. There are a number of restaurants or eateries on 75th, perhaps there's an opportunity there that the community should take advantage of. Perhaps "Dining on the 5" is key.

What is "Dining on the 5"?

Six of the strip’s most popular restaurants are offering discounts and outdoor seating to customers who come in through July 23.

“There are 77 neighborhoods in Chicago, and in greater Chatham we have four neighborhoods,” Greater Chatham Initiative director Nedra Sims Fears said. “We have to get our name out there to get our name recognition out there and have people come and visit us, and having an event like ‘Dining on the 5’ attracts people from all over.”

Fears said “Dining On The 5” started last year as a pilot program with help from the city’s Department of Transportation and Dept. of Planning.

Rebranding Chatham is at the core of organizing the event, Fears said. At previous events, people have traveled from as far as Ohio and Indiana.

The participating establishments:

• Original Soul Vegetarian, 205 E. 75th
• Lem’s Bar-B-Q, 311 E. 75th
• Mabe’s Deli, 312 E. 75th
• Brown Sugar Bakery, 328 E. 75th
• 5 Loaves Eatery, 405 E. 75th
• Flammin Restaurant, 641 E. 75th

Ahhhh very interesting line-up and dine on some Lem's on the sidewalk or grab a baked good from Brown Sugar - never been BTW. Better yet another establishment I've never eaten at get some chicken from 5 Loaves.

Either way there's an opportunity here. Can 75th attract more than locals and become a culinary, entertainment, or nightlife center for the south side?

King Food & Deli #6WardChicago

Photo by Richard Wooten

On Nextdoor Richard Wooten a prominent leader in the 6th Ward posted this picture of a business that moved into the former Church's Chicken on 87th & King Drive. The complaints made by Wooten and others is based upon the signage and also the products they offer. What you see would be acceptable in other neighborhoods - I could dare say low-income - but for Chatham well not acceptable.

Apparently enough people complained that 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer had to release a statement on this.

• Ald. Sawyer, community leaders speak out about new problem business in Chatham
  
  CHICAGO (July 5, 2018)--Ald. Roderick T. Sawyer (6) stood with community leaders on Thursday to speak out against a newly opened business in the Chatham neighborhood.
  
  Ald. Sawyer joined Chatham-Avalon Community Council President Rev. Dr. Marc A. Robertson, Greater Chatham Alliance President Richard Wooten, and Chesterfield Community Council President Elizabeth Prowell to voice outrage at the King Food & Deli located at 87th Street and King Drive. Ald. Sawyer said he had heard from a number of neighborhood residents who were offended by the store’s use of bulletproof glass and merchandise for sale, including blunts and unhealthy snacks.
  
  “This store is an affront to our community,” said Ald. Sawyer. “Chatham is a family-oriented neighborhood. By marketing unsavory items and using bulletproof glass, the store fails to treat our residents--its potential customers--with the respect we deserve.”
  
  Ald. Sawyer said he had been unable to prevent the opening or regulation of the opening of the store, and called on his colleagues in the City Council to pass 7th Ward Ald. Greg Mitchell’s proposed ordinance to require aldermanic approval of these sort of retail food licenses.
  
  “Unfortunately, this is a problem we see far too often in African American communities,” said Ald. Sawyer, who is chair of the City Council Black Caucus. “I believe this could be at least partially addressed by increased local control over licensing decisions for aldermen. That’s why I support Ald. Mitchell’s ordinance, and hope it is passed quickly by the City Council.”
  
  Ald. Sawyer said he would continue to fight to protect the 6th Ward against problem businesses, and was seeking solutions to address community concerns about King Food & Deli in the immediate term.

This could beg the question of how does Chatham and the surrounding areas that want to be attached to Chatham attract these so-called family-oriented businesses? How do we keep businesses such as the King Food & Deli from opening in the community?

REMINDER: Mabe's Deli opening on 75th Street on Saturday #6thwardchicago

Via Worlee Glover

This grand opening is happening on Saturday- that's today - if you can pay a visit and then feel free to share any feedback in the comments! Below I'm reposting the press release that you should've seen on Tuesday. The deli itself is across the street from Lem's BarBQ.

• Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening for Mabe's Deli on East 75th Street
  
  Mabe's Deli is celebrating their grand opening with Alderman Roderick Sawyer and members of the community at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, June 30 at 312 East 75th Street, Chicago.
  
  Who: Alderman Roderick Sawyer, Mabe's Deli owners and staff, community and business leaders
  What: Mabe's Deli ribbon cutting and grand opening
  When: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 30
  Where: 312 East 75th Street, Chicago, IL
  
  The grand opening celebration celebration begins at 11 a.m. with the ribbon cutting ceremony beginning at 11:15 a.m. Attendees will be able to try free samples of Mabe's smoothies and enjoy special discounts throughout the day.
  
  For pictures of the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, please visit Mabe's Deli on Facebook following the event.
  
  ###

Mabe's Deli opening on 75th Street on Saturday

Got a new eatery coming to 75th Street. My last visit to Lem's Bar-B-Q I noticed the sign. Look at it this way another option with Soul Vegetarian on 75th/Indiana, Brown Sugar Bakery doors away, and of course with Lem's across the street. I'm liking some of the options that you can see on their website that it's worth paying a visit in the future.

Below is a press release sent to us:

Healthy Homes Thursday, June 28, 2018

Saw this in an e-mail blast from the office of 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer. This event will take place on June 28 at Whole Foods Market Englewood at 832 W. 63rd Street. Refer to flyer below

Leon's Barbecue is back, thanks to Denzel Washington

[VIDEO] Though not at the location I know about on 83rd/Cottage Grove though there remains a BBQ place there along with Dat Donuts. The new Leon's Barbecue restaurant is located near the site of the future Obama library at 63rd/Stony Island. Looking forward to visiting this location in the near future.

BTW, you're going to see references to Denzel Washington - legendary Hollywood actor - who was in a viral video from last year prompting the return of this longtime establishment. It's too bad that I'm never "hip" to these viral videos, I'd have gotten a kick out of it. For now he will get his fix.

ALSO, I know that Leon's closed their locations a few years ago. How do they explain the locations under Leon's on Archer Ave & 106th Street? I think Rev. Finney needs to check that business out! Here's their webpage referring to themselves as the Original Leon's.

Below is Denzel's video found via the Sun-Times who's tweet on the reopening of Leon's is also below. [VIDEO]

The remodeled SMG Chatham gets a thumbs up...

SMG Chatham 14

The launch of Chatham Center Chicago last Wednesday gave me the opportunity to check out the new SMG Chatham 14 on Wednesday. Didn't get a chance to catch a show there on this day, however, I was there for that program and saw a lot of changes to the lobby since before the many changes that were finally complete last spring.

The last time I came to watch a movie here was in 2014 for the Seth Rogen & Zac Efron comedy Neighbors. At that point there was still no bar in what used to be the lobby and things really look the some from since the theaters ownership under ICE Theatres.

Bar in lobby SMG Chatham

Then I see the changes to the concession stand, a kitchen where the video games used to be, of course the bar and seating in the lobby, a stage where the fabled & often closed Chatham Grill used to be, and also there were more games in the hallway towards the auditoriums those are gone now. Now the theater is truly a great place to come watch a movie.

Hallway to auditoriums

Think about it, for those amenities you can expect to get in downtown Chicago such as AMC Dine-in Block 37 or Kerasotes Theatres Showplace Icon one needs not go that far. Just come to 210 W. 87th Street and you can have those same downtown amenities. Not just the bar, food service in the auditorium during the movie, reserved seating, even purchasing advance tickets online.

Purchasing tickets online is especially key for when the next hot release from the Marvel Cinematic Universe Black Panther hits theaters around the country February 16, 2018.

BTW, I know that with this new Chatham Center moving forward SMG Chatham is poised to be one of the main businesses. And I promise to come here every once in a while to watch a movie. Or perhaps come in and try some of the menu offerings also.

5 after 5 at Whole Foods Market Englewood

The following post was on the Englewood store's ig page promoting their weekly Friday event at that store located near 63rd & Halsted. Goes from 5 PM to 7 PM and on this occasion will have DJ Dap for music. This event features as you will see below wine tasting and food. Enjoy one of the first events of 2018!

This Friday enjoy the First 5 after 5 of the New Year with music, wine tasting and food. Here's to a great 2018 with old and new friends and great food and wine and the musical vibes of DJ Dap. See you there!

A post shared by Whole Foods Market Englewood (@wholefoodseng) on Jan 3, 2018 at 11:29am PST

Chicago's Best Fried Chicken: 5 Loaves Eatery

[VIDEO] Recently a 6th Ward business 5 Loaves Eatery was show on Chicago's Best TV which airs both on WGN & CLTV. We shared an Instagram post from 5 Loaves early last month letting us know that CBTV host Britney Payton was dropping by to film a segment hear and invited people to drop by.

I'm sorry to say I've never visited this place, however, since they are located near 75th/King Drive they're worth a visit. Also it's a plus that they're not far from Lem's Bar-B-Q which is down the street on 75th also.

Has anyone else been? How do they like the food? Also what would you recommend for a first timer to that restaurant?

Carter Temple Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner

This notice is from Carter Temple, at 7841 South Wabash Avenue (79th & Wabash, across from  Taylor Funeral Home)  Chicago, Illinois 60619



----

Dear members and friends of Carter Temple, 

We are just a few short weeks away from our 1st Annual "Your Home for the Holiday: Pre-Thanksgiving Community Dinner" on Wednesday, November 23rd! This vision initiative is an opportunity to engage in fellowship and relationship-building with our community neighbors. First and foremost, however, it gives us an opportunity to serve. 

If you know of any individuals or families who are in need of a free meal during the Thanksgiving holiday season, please forward this email or have them call the church office at 773-874-0175 to register for this event. They can also visit www.ctcme.org and click the Thanksgiving banner to register.  The registration link can also be found below. *There is no income or demographic requirement to participate in this meal.*

Register Here

We are looking forward to a great turnout and expecting wonderful connections to be made during this meal and engagement opportunity! 

A comic book cafe

In recognizing that Chatham has a history of entrepreneurship, I found this concept of a comic book cafe interesting. In Philadelphia, a young lady Ariell Johnson - who understands "geek culture's importance to marginalized groups" - is about to open up this community oriented establishment.

I realize that over years there have been attempts at having an independent cafe on our part of town. For example Englewood has Kusanya Cafe and Chatham had the now closed Flecks Coffee. It's a great idea to have a shared space that's community oriented and certainly offer beverages and snacks for that purpose. The concept of a comic book cafe is very unique, and hopefully a success for Ms. Johnson in Philadelpia.

As much as I don't often enjoy being called a geek having been a Star Trek fan in addition to many comic books you can firmly place me into that category. Many of us are eagerly anticipating the release of the new Avengers movie coming out later this month. In addition to that I'm definitely going to see that Batman/Superman movie coming out next year.

Could such an establishment be welcome in our community? Check out this video from the future owner and let us know what you think of this unusual concept. Also refer to this future establishment's FB page.

Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse from MoolaHoop on Vimeo.

Tribune: 'Vulnerable' cafe makes a stand in a tough part of town

We've been hearing about Kusanya Cafe - 825 W 69th St - over the years from its conception to the eventual opening. I'm glad that such an establishment is in the Englewood community and hopefully it will be there for years to come. All it took was someone with the vision to make it real. We hear from the brains behind the operation:

When Phil Sipka and some of his Englewood neighbors opened a cafe a year ago this week, skeptics had suggestions.

How about rolling security gates over the wall-size windows? Or a permanently locked door, with a buzzer to buzz customers in? Maybe a nighttime security guard.

Sipka and his neighbors had a different idea.

"Let's be vulnerable," he said Thursday, sitting at one of the tables he made from reclaimed wood. "I think people respect intentional vulnerability."

The cafe is named Kusanya, a Swahili word that means "to gather," and though it's in a neighborhood that makes news most often when someone makes trouble, it has managed to stay safe since it opened last Nov. 19.

And more about Mr. Sipka:

Sipka, 34, is a man of several talents. A native of Alma, Mich., he studied at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. He honed his coffee skills at the popular Robust Coffee Lounge in Woodlawn. "The Steve Harvey Show" featured him (video available on YouTube) quitting that job in song, backed by a doo-wop group.

When he moved to Chicago seven years ago, he immediately settled in Englewood, just a block from the cafe. He is white in a neighborhood that is predominantly black.

"A lot of people thought I was a cop for a long time," he said. He laughed. "I'd be the worst undercover cop ever."

He built Kusanya's coffee counter and wooden tables himself. He studied YouTube videos to learn how to hang a door.

"I've always liked making things beautiful out of things people throw away," he said.

You know, I wonder what brought him to Englewood. Why Englewood for him instead of other parts of the city?

Either way he had a vision and gained the support of the neighborhood. He had some help from the community getting this place ready for business.

I'm going to put this on the list of places I should visit on the south side.

DNA Info: South Side Baker Impresses Food Network Judges Before Elimination

Stephanie Hart on Food Network

To be honest, I've never been to Brown Sugar Bakery and never had any tasty treats from our local baker Stephanie Hart. It's great to know how much support she has gotten from her appearance on Food Network as part of a competition. Unfortunately she was eliminated early on, however, surely this may have gained her more supporters.

And you know that this means, I need to make my way to Brown Sugar in the future. This means the next visit to Lem's just across the street I can find out what sweet treats are available from Ms. Hart.

DNA Info: Jim's Original, 24-Hour Restaurant Near 95th Red Line, To Close Monday

16 E. 95th St.

DNA Info has more of the impending closing of the Jim's Original hot dog stand located near the 95th Street CTA terminal. Reflected are the many quotes of disappointment by many of the customers of this hot dog stand where they could get a quick bite when then get off of the CTA bus or Red Line.

There appears to be some compensation for the closing. CTA is finalizing some relocation fees with Jim's so perhaps it's possible that in the future we can have a Jim's Original stand in the area in the future. However for now there are other places on the South Side to get your fix for a Maxwell Street polish sausage. Or you can always go to the stand @ 1250 S. Union Ave. near UIC.

ALSO, I noticed in some of the comments at DNA Info that the building where Jim's currently resides has been around longer than 24 years. The building has housed a number of businesses there over the years although I'm unsure of how long it has been at this spot.