It's that time of year again

A great time to celebrate with NSPB

12/20/2009 1:35 PM

By Bonnie McGrath

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Near South Planning Board threw a great holiday party Friday night. As usual. They did it in the atrium of the residential loft/condo building they have their offices in at 1727 S. Indiana. That is the former Eastman Kodak building, built in 1905, which had it’s front chopped off decades ago for an expansion of Indiana. (Kind of like what happened to the Auditorium building in 1952 when they expanded Congress Street.) The building appears to be no worse for the wear.

One would never know from the outside that in the red warehouse style building--in 1993, the first residential loft conversion in the Prairie District--there is a huge atrium, surrounded by the lower level business offices that are ensconced in the structure. The skylit atrium makes one feel like one is outside, down to the cobblestones on the floor. Although in the atrium one stays warm, toasty and weather-free, just as we were Friday, despite the snow showers all around.

NSPB invited a lot of restaurants to provide food. And it was good food. From the secret recipe chicken from Chef Luciano on Cermak to ribs, veggies and dip, huge subs, spicy rice, etc.--from places like Bar Louie, Café Society, Reggie’s, South Loop Club, Standing Room Only and Weather Mark Tavern.

There was a silent auction, too--to benefit Authors in the Schools. There was tons of stuff like gift certificates to South Loop restaurants such as Hackney’s, the Firehouse, Grace O’Malley’s, Wabash Tap and Lou Malnati’s. And hotel stays at the Hilton, the Holiday Inn, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and the new South Loop Hotel at 26th and State. There was sports stuff like an autographed baseball from White Sox slugger Paul Konerko, and Sox tix. And passes to Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium. Books from Sandmeyer’s on Printers Row, the show at Tommy Gun’s Garage, tix to DePaul’s Merle Reskin Theater, a tour of the Pritzker Military Library, sweatshirts from South Loop colleges, classes at Sherwood, a four hour trolley rental, a wine-tasting for 10 at WineStyles on South Michigan and chocolates from Canady LeChocolatier on South Wabash.

The guests--movers and shakers from the South Loop-- were fun to see. During the festivities, NSPB executive director Bonnie Sanchez-Carlson learned via her cell phone that her son had won a huge sports honor. NSPB program director Marisela Campuzano told several of us about how her mom got started in the tax business, and how she has helped her mom out through the years during the tax season. And South Loop Neighbors board members like myself, Carole Hanzyk and Dennis McClendon chatted with each other like we always do.

Alderman Bob Fioretti took complaints--you could tell by the faces on those who were talking to him, and from his face, too.

There was South Loop neighborhood issues expert Enrique Perez, who arrived a little late but had all that was leftover to himself. South Loop banker Roy Svenson made a nice appearance, like he always does--and retired school teacher Thelma Schwartz from South Michigan Avenue, who I hadn’t seen in years came out of hibernation and was fun to chat and catch up with. And last but not least, lots of South Loop business people from health centers to tent rentals moved and shook with each other while they ran back and forth to the makeshift, but well stocked wine and beer bar.


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