Podcasts about Merchandise Mart

Members of the progressive  coalition that helped bring Mayor Brandon Johnson to the Fifth Floor worry their movement is stalled. Crain's politics reporter Justin Laurence discusses with host Amy Guth.Plus: Pathos raises $365 million in funding round, touts $1.6 billion valuation; higher patient volumes at CommonSpirit don't offset losses; Geico opens corporate hub in Merchandise Mart; and lawmakers seek to reverse Illinois law penalizing companies that boycott Israel.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Chicago’s startup incubator 1871 is giving up its office space at the Merchandise Mart. The group’s CEO says 1871 continues to perform but not at level that allows the organization to sustain its real estate footprint in the city. A letter […]

Illinois has marked five years of legal recreational marijuana sales. Crain's reporter John Pletz talks with host Amy Guth about the lessons learned along the way. Plus: Ad agency known for Super Bowl spots expanding office and moving to Merchandise Mart, Portillo's hires COO to help propel expansion, KeyBank nabs five people from Huntington to open commercial banking unit in Chicago and a piece of Pritzker's EV-manufacturing strategy is in peril.

This week Ariel is joined by a designer with her infectious energy and tireless work ethic, Alessandra Branca. Born and raised in Rome, Alessandra has called Chicago home for 30+ years. She acquired her love of classical beauty from her Italian upbringing and those roots still speak to her soul today. Her designs are anchored by classical details, rich colors, patterns and textures, paired with antique and custom furnishings, modern and European art, and distinctive accessories. As an Art History student, she started collecting architectural and natural history prints, and after attending College and then marrying an American, she opened a print business. Her shop, fashioned to look like a charming home, led to requests from customers to decorate for them. Gradually that evolved into her full-time businessHer work has been featured in countless magazines, including Architectural Digest, Town & Country, The New York Times, Veranda, and Elle Décor. She has been recognized within the industry with awards from House Beautiful Master Class and won designer of the year from the Merchandise Mart in 2016. Inspiration comes from all facets of Alessandra's life including, design, art, nature, travel, and culture and she continually seeks knowledge and explores new ideals. —Follow Alessandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abrancaLearn more about her work: https://branca.com/

On this episode Doug is by himself talking about his 19th NeoCon and what caught his attention. He also talks about the future of this time of year as OFS is moving to Fulton Market for Design Days. Doug also takes time to share memories of Phyllis Menke, Matriarch of OFS who recently passed away at the age of 98. Follow Doug on LinkedIn.Click here to get your copy of Doug's children's book—Design Your World.Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.

On Tuesday July 4th, 1944 at 11:15AM, the homespun Vic and Sade took to the air over NBC's WEAF in New York. First airing on June 29th, 1932, Vic and Sade was created by Paul Rhymer. Known as “radio's home folks,” the show was broadcast from The Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Rhymer wrote the script each morning before heading to watch the rehearsal and broadcast. On good days, one rewrite sufficed. On difficult days, the script would be ripped up again and again and poured over. The result was a standalone twelve-minute sketch that, over time, told the life story of Mr. and Mrs Victor Gook and their family and friends at “the small house halfway up in the next block” in a rural town somewhere in Illinois. The town was populated by strange eccentrics with some of the most wonderful names ever heard in fiction. Most of the characters were only spoken about and sound effects were purposely sparse, save for the ever-present telephone. In radio circles, the show was regarded as one of the all-time best. Among its devoted fans were Jean Shepherd, Norman Corwin, Jim and Marion Jordan, Carlton E. Morse, Stan Freberg, Ray Bradbury, and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Neil Koenig, Senior TV Series Producer and ideaXme board advisor interviews Cynthia Noble, Executive Director, Vornado Arts and ART on THE MART.

Votes on the anti-homelessness tax measure are set to be counted after the Illinois Appellate Court reversed an earlier ruling removing it from the ballot. Crain's politics reporter Leigh Giangreco recaps the contentious court battle with host Amy Guth.Plus: Grubhub moving HQ to Merchandise Mart, Tempus lab workers overwhelmingly vote for union, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association receives $21 million gift and Rivian's factory pause deals fresh blow to Georgia factory plans.

Baird & Warner is the latest to be hit with a copycat lawsuit over commissions. Crain's residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin and host Amy Guth discuss that and other news from the local housing market.Plus: Rivian eliminating a shift at EV factory in Normal, furniture maker Steelcase leaving Merchandise Mart for Fulton Market, VillageMD laying off dozens amid Illinois clinic closures and Oscar Mayer debuts vegan hot dog with help from a Jeff Bezos-backed startup.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Steelcase furniture is leaving the Merchandise Mart and moving its Chicago showroom to the Fulton Market District. The company, based in Grand Rapids, MI., has leased 28,000 square feet at 811 W. Fulton. Steelcase will occupy the showroom there that was […]

In another Rush Rash first, we get a smokin' hot, Double-Double Case 2112 with a visit from Tim Starce and Billy Alexander of YYNOT, in an exclusive right on the heels of the big Bubba Bash '24 weekend. Join the guys as they dish out the TMZ insider shit and behind-the-scenes dirt only Rush Rash can scratch out... - What was really going on backstage? - How envious of each other were all the drummers?? - With all that talent in one place, how did they keep all those massive egos in check?! - What's with the effin pickles?!?! TMZ ain't got nothin' on this episode of The Rash. The music, camaraderie, the fun, the fundraising...the guys dive deep with Tim & Billy on the magical spirit that unites all Rush fans, but particularly those there for another amazing, star-studded evening of music and memories and living, loving tribute to The Professor, Neil Peart. The latest on Billy Alexander's first solo album, Rock & Roll Diary, of which you can avail yourself a per-order vinyl copy now, visit his website!! YYNOT's plans for the rest of the year and where to get when you're around New Haven...join us for a very buttery slice of an episode. Don't forget the harsh lighting, bad coffee and pickles. And in an effin amazing spin-of-fate, the wheel spin lands on Ghost Rider off 2002's Vapor Trails. No...no coincidence there...(see Bubba Bash 24 poster.) And everyone at Rush Rash is thrilled to announce the launch of our official merch store, where 100% of the profits go to Human Animal Bond in Colorado. Visit the Rush Rash Haggis Shak & Merchandise Mart. Get yer Rush Rash merch here - an' share your afflicted status wit the world! As usual, we're joined by The Presence as we stop by the newsdesk at ⁠⁠RushIsABand.com⁠⁠, and we get in a bitchin' plug for Paul, our sponsor (and the artist for YYNOT album covers!!) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Danforth & Pape⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - go visit their kick-ass Facebook page!! The Scratch List - Scratch Yer Itch - LIVE! UK ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moving Pictures Scotland⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leoni Jane Kennedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ North America USA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YYNOT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Second Contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Solar Federation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Accidental Breakdown⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rush Archives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mood Lifters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Lotus Land⁠⁠ Canada ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠New World Men⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠2112⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rush news, general nonsensical disorderly conduct, lack of regard for correctness or truth, and reckless endangerment of your whole-brain. This is the only podcast dedicated to increasing opioid release in your anterior insula, your anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and your posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), in addition to the basal ganglia and the thalamus...and all that that implies.   Some thick North Jersey accents and they give you some royalty-free sound effects and movie clips too - what more do you need to indulge your urge to scratch?!  Join us - you know where to scratch - blah, blah...RushRash.

Dr. Producer Lauren hits the road to NeoCon 2023 with interior designer—and Inhabit nerd—David Cordell. She shares highlights from his panel on the Principles of Sustainable Design, then heads into the podcast booth with him and co-panelist Joey Shimoda to get their hot takes on sustainability in design. Also: the Diddy clan.Click here for show notes.  Follow us @inhabit.podcast.  Inhabit is a a member of the SURROUND Podcast Network.

This week the SOL Citizens tale a look at Star Citizen and Squadron 42 merchandise sold over the years by Cloud Imperium Games. Featuring: fastcart fc, GriffinGamingRPG, Subvegio, yoyMeg St, Jude PLAY LIVE Charity Fundraiser Help us reach out goal of $10,000! https://tiltify.com/@solcitizens/sol-citizens-play-live-charity-fundraiser Merchandise: Streamlabs Store: https://streamlabs.com/solcitizens/merch Design by Humans: https://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/SOLCitizens/ SOL CITIZENS are supporters and backers covering the development of Cloud Imperium Games upcoming games "STAR CITIZEN" and "SQUADRON 42". Patreon: patreon/solcitizens Twitch: twitch.tv/solcitizens Twitter: twitter.com/solcitizens

The summer of BTE continues as the pod travels to Chicago for Design Week where we sit down with Karli Slocum, the Vice President of Product and Marketing at 3Form, live from the SnapCab podcast studio at NeoCon (is that enough plugs for you??). Kicking off talking about the company's roots in Utah, Karli shares insights from a number of signature initiatives including her transformative partnership with Interior Design to create the 'DesignScene' showroom at the Merchandise Mart at Neocon. She then dives deep into the journey 3Form has been on to build out their MAD Award-nominated virtual showroom for the brand. Much like Salt Lake City in winter, you won't want to miss this conversation. Connect with Karli Slocum on LinkedIn! Moments to check out: (5:05) Partnering and prepping for Chicago Design Week (11:37) The origins and economies of exploring a digital showroom (19:29) Building a vision - and sales strategy - for how digital compliments physical (29:12) The future potential of the product Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn; Bobby Bonett Tessa Bain Andrew Lane References and resources: 3Form  DesignScene at NeoCon 2023 3Form Virtual showroom Visit Utah Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com.  This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced and edited by SANDOW Design Group. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Wize Grazette, Kasey Campbell Thompson, Rob Schulte, and Samantha Sager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we chat with Byron Morton, Vice President & Co-Head of Leasing at the Mart. Byron shares what to look forward to at NeoCon 2023 and gives us a sneak peek at the future plans for the show. If you are heading to NeoCon we want to pass along a special invitation:Monday, June 12 at 4pm at the OFS Showroom:  We'll be hosting an Imagine a Place alumni cocktail party which you are all invited!  That's right, please come and enjoy a few drinks and hors devours on and mingle with some of the past Imagine a Place guests as well as hosts from Imagine a Place network.   We have over 50 previous podcast guests and podcast hosts who will be there to chat, laugh, mingle, and inspire. See you there! Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journalFollow Imagine a Place on LinkedInConnect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn

Byron Morton is the VP and co head of leasing of the Merchandise Mart. The Mart has evolved over the many years that it has been hosting showroom businesses and NeoCon conventions and they are excited to announce new amenities offered by the facility at NeoCon this year.Bringing commercial companies into a space that had mostly been used for showroom purposes in the commercial interiors industry has shifted the industry of the merchandise mart. Now known as the center of tech in Chicago, the Mart is truly multifaceted. NeoCon continues to grow, expecting around 400 vendors and 300 of those being in the office interiors industry. The excitement coming to NeoCon 2023 is not only the new amenities offered by the Merchandise Mart but the trending growth that is beginning to feel more like pre-pandemic events that came before.Byron and I talk about some of the best ways to encourage return-to-work rates in the commercial interiors industry. By offering amenities and more inclusive hybrid work options, we can cater to the post-pandemic way of life while returning to a sense of normalcy.There is no substitute for in-person work in our industry and the community and collaboration that NeoCon brings to our industry pushes us to evolve for the future. Listen in to this episode to hear more about NeoCon 2023 and the wonderful things you can expect to see this year. In this episode:[01:38] Welcome to the show, Byron![02:50] Byron shares his background[04:12] What are some of the things we can expect to see in The Mart this year at NeoCon?[07:18] Details about cab pickup and drop-off locations for NeoCon.[08:30] New Restaurants on the second floor[09:44] Bringing tenants into the showroom space transformed the Mart[12:14] The tradeshows that The Mart does throughout the year.[13:04] What is causing some brands to leave The Mart?[16:10] How many vendors will be present at NeoCon this year?[17:11] Some of the things that Byron is most excited about for NeoCon this year.[19:59] The seventh floor is a hidden gem that is less traveled. It has been redesigned this year.[23:12] The most important things to keep in mind about NeoCon 2023.[25:02] The future of NeoCon.[27:26] Amenities in the workplace are key to encouraging return to work as well as increased inclusion of hybrid workers. [30:16] The best way to get in touch with ByronLinks & Resources:The InsiderSupport the Trend ReportJoin us at NeoConConnect with Byron:Email | LinkedInConnect with Sid:www.sidmeadows.comEmbark CCT on FacebookSid on LinkedInSid on InstagramSid on YouTubeSid on Clubhouse - @sidmeadowsThe Trend Report is proudly sponsored by the Insider, a weekly newsletter delivering a quick dose of insight to get your Monday off to a well-informed start. To learn more or to subscribe for free, please visit https://indeal.org/the-insider/The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Crain's residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin talks with host Amy Guth about news from the local housing market, including highest-priced home sales' first-quarter slip and demolition underway on embattled lakefront Winnetka properties. Plus: What lies ahead for Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson and Chicago; Democratic-backed judge wins Wisconsin Supreme Court seat ahead of abortion ruling; S&P puts debt for Merchandise Mart's owner on watch for a downgrade; and despite many workers shifting to hybrid or fully remote schedules, CTA chief says crime is to blame for slow ridership rebound.

Kathleen Hogan from The One of Kind Holiday Show joins the Steve Cochran Show to talk about Chicago's not-to-miss annual shopping extravaganza. Running December 1 through Sunday, December 4, 2022. Celebrating 21 years of pure magic, the One of a Kind Holiday Show brings together 500 talented artists, artisans, and makers to offer the best in everything from fine art and handmade goods to gourmet cafes, bar areas, live entertainment and activities fun for all ages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EntreArchitect Studio is a series of special bonus episodes where Mark invites inspiring, passionate people to share their knowledge and information about the building products and services to help you build better buildings. This week at the EntreArchitect Studio we are featuring: https://entrearchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/BethMaguire-BenjaminMoore-scaled.jpg ()Benjamin Moore – Beth Maguire Beth Maguire, Architectural and Design Representative with Benjamin Moore, has a passionate approach to color and design. While working as showroom manager for Benjamin Moore's Designer Showroom at the Merchandise Mart, she was able to share her knowledge and passion for color with the design community for 5 years. Beth holds an accredited degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and has 15+ years' experience doing retail design and marketing for several companies. In her 17 years with Benjamin Moore, Beth has worked on both the retail design side of the business, as well as with the Architect & Designer segments. In her current role as an Architectural and Design Representative for Benjamin Moore, she assists with product specifications and color recommendations, as well as delivering trend, color, and coatings presentations to designers, architects and students. This week at EntreArchitect Studio Podcast, Benjamin Moore with Beth Maguire. Learn more about https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us (Benjamin Moore),  and follow Beth on https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-heath-maguire-941b989/ (LinkedIn). If you offer building products or serve the AEC industry and want to join Mark at the EntreArchitect Studio, send us an email at podcast@EntreArchitect.com. Please visit Our Platform Sponsors https://arcat.com (ARCAT) is the online resource delivering quality building material information, CAD details, BIM, Specs, and more… all for free. Visit ARCAT now and subscribe to http://arcat.com (ARCATECT Weekly and ARCATAlert). http://EntreArchitect.com/Freshbooks (Freshbooks) is the all in one bookkeeping software that can save your small architecture firm both time and money by simplifying the hard parts of running your own business. Try Freshbooks for 30 days for FREE at http://EntreArchitect.com/Freshbooks (EntreArchitect.com/Freshbooks). Visit our Platform Sponsors today and thank them for supporting YOU… The EntreArchitect Community of small firm architects. The post https://entrearchitect.com/podcast/entrearch/benjamin-moore-beth-mcguire/ (EA Studio 002: Benjamin Moore – Beth Maguire) appeared first on https://entrearchitect.com (EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects).

Kristina had the unique opportunity to sit down with her original teacher! Laurie Pawli is the founder of the Feng Shui School of the Chicago and a student of the late Professor Lin Yun, who brought the BTB school of feng shui to the to US in the 1980's.  Laurie kicks off the episode with a jaw-dropping tale about a 3 hour conversation with her late mother and a psychic medium gave her the guidance she needed to step into her highest life purpose and dreams. If you think you know feng shui... just wait until you hear this episode.  Contact Laurie TheFengShuiSchoolOfChicago.com TheFengShuiSchoolOfFlorida.com CreateTheFeeling.com About Laurie Pawli Laurie Pawli is the Founder/Director of The Feng Shui School of Chicago & Florida and is a student of Grand Master Professor Thomas Lin Yun.  She received her Feng Shui Certification from The Integrative School of Feng Shui in San Diego, CA, in 2001 and has also studied with Lois Jean Lang, Eliot Tanzer, James Moser, Katherin Metz, Roger Green and Karen Kingston. Her background includes furniture showroom management at Chicago's Merchandise Mart, and design study at Northern Illinois University, In addition to home and business consultations, Laurie is available for seminars, corporate meetings and conference presentations.

Jordan Matthews is currently Of Counsel at the law firm of Jones Day in Chicago. She is a graduate of Yale University (2006) and the University of Pennsylvania Law School (2009). Jordan was an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois from September 2014 - March 2021. Here's some history on Chicago's iconic Merchandise Mart: https://www.themart.com/about/history-and-future/ 

NeoCon, the commercial design show held at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, takes place October 4-6. Today we're speaking with Byron Morton, vice president of leasing for the Mart, about what to expect at this year's show.

Cheryl Durst is a treasure trove of perspectives on work, place, design and how we navigate our surroundings. As CEO of the largest commercial design association with over 13,000 members in over 60 countries, Cheryl brings perspective to a practice that literally informs how we move through our world. Funny, blunt, deeply empathetic and fearless in what she'll talk about; Cheryl provided us with profound insights, laughs and hope. 

GUEST: Laura Perlman, Associate, Broker at PW Commercial Real Estate in Chicago, IL has commercial real estate listings for sale or rent on showcase.com. Topic: Canstruction Chicago (under the umbrella of Canstruction International) is a design/build event that benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Teams comprised of professionals from the AEC industry fundraise for, design, and build structures composed of non-perishable food items. These “Cansculptures” are housed on the first floor of the Merchandise Mart and are on display to the public as a giant art exhibition.

Laurie Pawli has a passion for Feng Shui and thrives on creating peaceful spaces for homes & businesses. She blends her flair for design, color, and intuition, to encourage balance and harmony in each environment. Laurie is a student of Grand Master Professor Lin Yun and received her Feng Shui Certification from The Integrative School of Feng Shui in San Diego, 19 years ago She studied design at Northern Illinois University and worked at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. Ms. Pawli is the Founder and Director of The Feng Shui School of Chicago and Florida, which are recognized Gold Level Schools from the International Feng Shui Guild.

A while back I attended the One of Kind art show at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago This is a huge show, very spread out, with lots of artwork and artists. In all of this, I spotted one collection of artwork that stood out to me from all others.  I pleased to share my conversation with Chicago artist Morgan Sims. Learn More at rickyartist.com Instagram: @morsims

Laurie Pawli has a passion for Feng Shui and thrives on creating peaceful spaces for homes & businesses. She blends her flair for design, color, and intuition, to encourage balance and harmony in each environment. Laurie is a student of Grand Master Professor Lin Yun and received her Feng Shui Certification from The Integrative School of Feng Shui in San Diego, 19 years ago She studied design at Northern Illinois University and worked at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. Ms. Pawli is the Founder and Director of The Feng Shui School of Chicago and Florida, which are recognized Gold Level Schools from the International Feng Shui Guild.

My good friend Sid Sharma and I discuss this classic radio show. Although we recorded it during the pandemic, I also want to recognize the Black Lives Matter movement currently happening in the US and beyond our boarders. Sid says it best in this episode, "Fight the good fight!" I support BLM and my friends (and all people) of Color now and forever! More about the show we cover in the podcast: developed at the Blackett, Sample and Hummert advertising agency in Chicago, Captain Midnight began as a syndicated show on October 17, 1938, airing through the spring of 1940 on a few Midwest stations, including Chicago's WGN. In 1940, Ovaltine, a product of The Wander Company, took over sponsorship. With Pierre Andre as announcer, the series was then heard nationally on the Mutual Radio Network where it remained until 1942. It moved to the Merchandise Mart and the NBC Blue Network in September 1942. When the U.S. Government broke up the NBC Red and Blue Networks, Ovaltine moved the series back to Mutual, beginning September 1945, where it remained until December 1949. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/richard-templeman/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/richard-templeman/support

- Laurie Pawli has a passion for Feng Shui and thrives on creating peaceful spaces for homes & businesses. She blends her flair for design, color, and intuition, to encourage balance and harmony in each environment. Laurie is a student of Grand Master Professor Lin Yun and received her Feng Shui Certification from The Integrative School of Feng Shui in San Diego, 19 years ago She studied design at Northern Illinois University and worked at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. Ms. Pawli is the Founder and Director of The Feng Shui School of Chicago and Florida, which are recognized Gold Level Schools from the International Feng Shui Guild.

- Laurie Pawli has a passion for Feng Shui and thrives on creating peaceful spaces for homes & businesses. She blends her flair for design, color, and intuition, to encourage balance and harmony in each environment. Laurie is a student of Grand Master Professor Lin Yun and received her Feng Shui Certification from The Integrative School of Feng Shui in San Diego, 19 years ago She studied design at Northern Illinois University and worked at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. Ms. Pawli is the Founder and Director of The Feng Shui School of Chicago and Florida, which are recognized Gold Level Schools from the International Feng Shui Guild.

The StoryQuake and Dave sample a bottle of Mionetto Brut Prosecco from their Prestige Collection. It is a light, crisp and delicious DOC Prosecco from the Treviso region in northern Veneto section of Italy. It may be crisp, light, and refreshing Bubbly, but it has loads of flavor: apple, lemon, pear, honey, and grapefruit, with light acidity. It is one of those wines where the bottle is empty before you know it - it is just so easy and enjoyable to take another sip.Mionetto has a whole line of tasty sparkling wines. The IL Collection, a light, and breezy bubbly that goes well with pizza. The Prestige Collection, which is this bubbly with the orange label. The Avantgarde Collection, the black label which we have not tried but it looks interesting. Then there is the Luxury Collection, with the Cartizze DOCG, the flagship wine. Mionetto is one of those "can't miss" bubbly wines. If you don't know which Prosecco to pick, grab the Mionetto.Quake and Dave also reminisce about a few terrific wine events we've attended, the Spring and Fall Galas at Mainstreet Wine and Liquors in La Grange, Illinois. Nancy and friends really know how to throw a party - these are great events!Also one of our favorite events, the LuxeHome Chill @ the Mart, is a truly unique wine and food event inside the showrooms at the Merchandise Mart on the Chicago River in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Each amazing high-end kitchen and bath showroom features food from a noted Chicago restaurant and several excellent wines. The Mart is huge and there are many showrooms along the block-long first floor and every showroom has something interesting to eat and drink.And last but not least we talk about Wine Condoms, an idea that at first, I thought was silly and then when I used them made perfect sense and they certainly are a conversation starter at a party. So listen up and enjoy!

Eve Fineman & Jamie Haynes stopped by to talk about the origins of “slow fashion” including some local textile makers. Both being teachers touch on some of the bad student reviews they have received which I have always wondered about. Also the ladies updated us on the League of Women Designers organization and the community they have created. As music makes the world go ‘round, it was the thread throughout this episode. Speaking on everything from old Chicago record stores like Hi-Fi (now closed), Gramaphone Records, to some upcoming RedBull Concerts.This week’s episode sponsor. We lounged in the Cappellini Cap Martin Sunset sofa and tables. Be sure to stop by their showroom at the Merchandise Mart, suite 312.

In this episode, we talk to Nick Boskovich, Founder and President of HI-Vibe superfood juicery which is a one stop shop for optimal day fuel. He shares his transition into juicing from two lucrative careers of being an ironworker as well as a commercial real estate broker. He shares some insight into the juicing industry as well as why he currently does not want his products in retail stores. Lastly he gives us some of his most useful wellness tips. You can currently find them either at the Merchandise Mart or at the Kinzie location. Please enjoy my conversation with Nick Boskovichwww.hi-vibe.comig: @hivibechi

As we know, charity begins in the kitchen. On today's Kitchen Chat, we are featuring Chef Didier Durand, Executive Chef of Marchesa and Chef James De Marte, Chef/owner of Pisolino along with his business partner, Rachel De Marte. These two chefs joined Chef Jaime Laurita and me in the Middleby Residential Showroom for cooking demos. Their restaurants are participating in CHILL on November 14, 2019, an annual event at the Merchandise Mart to benefit three Chicago charities: Saturday Place, The Lynn Sage Foundation and Respiratory Health Association Over 70 restaurants are featured this year and each showroom will have delicious food and wine. As Blair Loftspring, Managing Director of Leasing and Marketing at the Merchandise Mart says, "It's a great reminder that the showrooms are open to the public Monday through Saturday."

Network Next Gen LIVE at Design Chicago in The Merchandise Mart. Episode 4 features Donna Mondi ( Donna Mondi Interior Design ) and Daniele Busca ( Scavolini )

Over 16 million children in the United States experience hunger.  Common Threads is helping lead the way to empower and educate children across the country.  Recently, Linda Novick O'Keefe, the founding CEO of Common Threads joined Chef Jaime Laurita and me for a Kitchen Chat in the Middleby Residential Showroom in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. Linda shared with us her passion for educating school age children on how to prepare healthy affordable meals.  She also discussed how Chef Art Smith (Oprah's award-winning personal chef) experienced the power of bringing people to the table while cooking for families impacted after 9/11 in New York City. They felt the power of using food for change and education. Common Threads was born as a result of the experiences with these families in need.

Do you want more confidence at the grill? Today's guest, Chef Matthew Eads shares recipes and tips from his cookbook Grill Seeker: Basic Training for Everyday Grilling As a U.S. Marine for thirteen years, Chef Matt knows firsthand about basic training. He recently joined Chef Jaime Laurita and me in the Middleby Residential showroom at the Merchandise Mart for a Kitchen Chat.

It's kitchen confession time..... I grew up in the South and never actually made biscuits. My dear friend Chef Carla Hall along with Chadwick Boyd recently brought Biscuit Time to Kitchen Chat! How fun to learn how to make biscuits alongside Chef Jaime Laurita in the beautiful Viking and La Cornue Middleby Residential showroom at the Merchandise Mart.  Biting into a hot biscuit brought back tastes of my childhood and the delicious food that my father would make. This is a Kitchen Chat you will want to keep as a tutorial on how to make the perfect biscuits every time.  And of course you have the best teachers ever with Chef Carla and Chadwick.  They are our biscuit buddies!

Radio origins Sponsored by the Skelly Oil Company, the Captain Midnight radio program was the creation of radio scripters Wilfred G. Moore and Robert M. Burtt, who had previously scored a success for Skelly with their boy pilot adventure serial The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen. Developed at the Blackett, Sample and Hummert advertising agency in Chicago, Captain Midnight began as a syndicated show in 1938, airing through the spring of 1940 on a few Midwest stations, including Chicago's WGN. In 1940, Ovaltine, a product of The Wander Company, took over sponsorship. With Pierre Andre as announcer, the series was then heard nationally on the Mutual Radio Network where it remained until 1942. It moved to the Merchandise Mart and the NBC Blue Network in September 1942. When the U.S. Government broke up the NBC Red and Blue Networks, Ovaltine moved the series back to Mutual, beginning September 1945, where it remained until December 1949. PremiseThe title character, originally Captain Jim "Red" Albright, was a World War I U.S. Army pilot. His Captain Midnight code name was given by a general who sent him on a high-risk mission from which he returned at the stroke of 12. When the show began in 1938, Albright was a private aviator who helped people, but his situation changed in 1940. When the show was taken over by Ovaltine, the origin story explained how Albright was recruited to head the Secret Squadron, an aviation-oriented paramilitary organization fighting sabotage and espionage during the period prior to the United States' entry into World War II. The Secret Squadron acted both within and outside the United States. When the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor, which curiously was foreshadowed in the program, the show shifted the Secret Squadron's duties to fight the more unconventional aspects of the war. Besides the stock villain, Ivan Shark, the war years introduced Axis villains Baron von Karp, Admiral Himakito and von Schrecker. The Secret Squadron wartime activities were usually outside the continental United States, with adventures in Europe, South America, the Pacific, and continental Asia. War related subject matter included the theft of an experimental Flying Wing aircraft, radar coupled antiaircraft guns, jet aircraft and other weapons.

Make late night plans for May 4th and join the delicious celebration of Iconoclast Dinner Experience (IDE) with Lezli Levene Harvell, founder and curator.  Chef Jaime Laurita will be hosting this special event in the Middleby Residential Showroom in the Merchandise Mart.   Although the menu will be a surprise, several James Beard Foundation Award nominees (past and present) will be presenting this feast including : Chef Jerome Grant, Chef Gabriel Hernandez, Chef Mashama Bailey, and Chef Gregory Gourdet.   The mission of Iconoclast Dinner Experience is to broaden the culinary conversation to include the diverse voices from throughout the globe making significant contributions to food culture. As we all know, charity begins in the kitchen.  Net proceeds from the evening will benefit students at  Spelman College who are from Jamaica or Sub-Saharan African countries.   Lezli Leven Harvell attended Spelman and strongly believes that her eduction there propelled her to where she is today.  In addition to being a food enthusiast, she is also a pediatric dentist.

Sponsored by Hiretual.com H & M, Hennes and Mauritz Inc., one of the world’s largest fashion retailers famous for offering fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way, is happy to announce the launch of its latest Place of Possible (P.O.P) campaign; H&M’s employer branding campaign aimed at attracting the best in retail talent. The campaign aims to show people looking for a great place to start a career that H&M is truly the place of possible, the place to be! Featuring the brand’s own employees from H&M locations around the country, this year’s campaign builds on the intrinsic H&M value of “we are one team” and takes a deeper dive into the idea of community at H&M as represented by the phrase “me, us, we and you”.   Several key changes will be made to the part time employee benefit program beginning this year, offering opportunities for H&M employees that will put a focus on both their professional and personal needs. One of the most exciting changes is a weekly schedule commitment with options ranging up to 12 minimum hours guaranteed for part time employees from March through December.  This year, employees will also be able to use a new scheduling mobile application which will allow more flexibility and an easier process to pick up hours and swap shifts. In addition, H&M is proud to offer six weeks of paid parental leave to eligible part time employees. https://recruitingheadlines.com/hm-launches-new-employer-branding-campaign/ CHICAGO, March 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — BlueCrew, an on-demand platform for flexible W-2 work that connects motivated workers with sustainable employment, announced plans for its platform to be live across 30 markets nationwide this year, with expansion to Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis, and Phoenix among others. The company’s market expansion follows a year that saw revenue triple thanks to accelerated adoption from employers. On the heels of this growth, BlueCrew has appointed IAC executive Adam Roston as CEO, while founder Gino Rooney will resume his prior role as CTO overseeing all product and technology for the company. Today also marks the opening of BlueCrew’s new headquarters in downtown Chicago’s theMART (formerly Merchandise Mart), which will house more than 100 new hires across engineering, product, sales, and operations. BlueCrew is disrupting traditional staffing – a total addressable market worth more than $130 billion in the U.S. and $400 billion globally – with a platform that instantly connects quality workers with open jobs using proprietary data and algorithms to identify the best matches in real time. BlueCrew’s platform fills over 90 percent of employer jobs, many times within minutes, compared to traditional staffing agencies that fill 60-70 percent over several weeks. Unlike gig economy apps that are heavily fueled by contractor workforces, BlueCrew’s platform exclusively features W-2 jobs. https://recruitingheadlines.com/bluecrew-will-expand-to-30-markets-by-end-of-2019/ CLEVELAND, March 27, 2019 — EmployStream, the leading provider for onboarding automation to the staffing industry, today announced it has closed a $3.5 million Series A funding round led by JumpStart Inc., with support from several key investors including Ohio Innovation Fund, North Coast Angel Fund and Rev1 Ventures. EmployStream will use the capital to expand its product development, marketing and sales efforts in order to increase its footprint in the staffing industry. The funding will accelerate the company’s growth in the staffing industry, with a plan to expand to other industries with high-volume hiring needs and high turnover challenges. “This round of investment allows us to add the resources and capabilities we need to meet the rapidly growing demand from the customers and markets we currently serve, as well as bring our offerings to other market segments with similar needs,” said Gerald Hetrick, Chief Executive Officer of EmployStream. “The continued support of the local community, as well as the addition of the Ohio Innovation Fund, are all great accelerators that will set EmployStream on a path to success for the foreseeable future.” https://recruitingheadlines.com/onboarding-automation-tool-lands-3-5-million-in-funding/   Capterra, the leading online resource for business software buyers, released findings from its latest survey of small and mid-size business leaders across vertical markets to understand how SMBs are choosing talent management solutions and their implications on businesses. Capterra’s Talent Management Industry User Research Report revealed that price heavily impacts talent management solution decisions, surpassing ease of use as a key factor across SMBs. This focus on price creates a disconnect for small business leaders trying to choose the “right” software for their organization, as they’re using low price as the main driver when buying software. “Understanding how buyers successfully leverage talent management solutions can help small business leaders make wise decisions based on their company’s size, resources, and software needs,” said Brian Westfall, principal analyst at Capterra and the survey’s lead analyst. “While low cost may seem like the most important aspect of software, choosing a solution solely based on price can create more issues than most SMBs are prepared to handle.” Key findings include: Importance of price: Price has surpassed ease of use as the second most important factor behind functionality in talent management software purchase decisions for all SMBs and is the primary factor for the smallest SMBs. Software search expectation vs. reality: 45% of users took 10 months or more to research and choose their talent management software, despite only 18% expecting the search to take that long. https://recruitingheadlines.com/talent-management-software-buyers-are-choosing-cost-over-experience/ LinkedIn Targets SMBs With ‘Help Wanted’ Sign Download Option As first reported on ERE, In a move to engage small businesses, LinkedIn announced the ability for brick-and-mortar businesses to print out a Help Wanted sign to place in a storefront window or put on a tabletop promotion. Think of it as a traditional Help Wanted sign with more engagement and a bridge to the digital world. For brick-and-mortar business owners, the signage allows candidates passing by to apply for a job by scanning a QR code or going to the short link on the sign. LinkedIn says this solves the age-old challenge of managing two streams of applicants — those walking directly into the store and those applying online.

Candace Jordan is one of Chicago's most celebrated celebrities who loves charity and chicken. Over the course of her modeling career, Candace was featured eight times on the cover of Playboy and was a "bunny" during what was considered the golden age of the magazine.  Now Candace is the one who shines the spotlight on others, especially charities as a social columnist and media personality.  She hosts CandidCandaceTV and writes a weekly Chicago Tribune column called Candid Candace and also a blog.  She recently joined Chef Jaime Laurita and me in the Viking and La Cornue Showroom in the Merchandise Mart for a Kitchen Chat which turned into a fun Chicken Chat.

Using Christie Digital Boxer projectors, Obscura Digital worked with Vornado Realty Trust to project over one million lumens across the Chicago River and onto the façade of the famous Merchandise Mart building for a collaborative art piece. Dubbed “Art on theMART,” this collaboration is now the largest permanent projection mapping installation in the world. On this episode, Obscura Digital’s Head of Communications Will Chase and Associate Director of Software Matthew Ragan join us to share the digital signage story behind it all. For more information about this piece, click here.

You've likely seen them at O'Hare Airport, at the Merchandise Mart, the hospital or even on Chicago's many college campuses, but Farmer's Fridge has humble beginnings. The company is the brainchild of Luke Saunders, 32, who was sick of traveling and eating Cheetos, M & M's and Cinnabons. WBBM's Lisa Fielding explains...

Dante Lauretta is principal investigator of the OSIRIS-REx mission and a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. His research interests focus on the chemistry and mineralogy of asteroids and comets, and he is an expert in the analysis of extraterrestrial materials, including asteroid samples, meteorites and comet particles. Dr. Lauretta heads a research team at the UA working on this mission, which has included more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students.The mission was selected in 2011, launched in 2016, and returns samples back to Earth in 2023. Sample analysis continues until 2025. This project will help ensure that the University of Arizona remains at the forefront of planetary exploration for the next decade. NASA’s OSIRIS-RExMission The OSIRIS-REx mission will be traveling to Bennu, a carbon-rich, near-Earth asteroid. The spacecraft launched on September 8, 2016, and is scheduled to rendezvous with Bennu in 2018 and ultimately bring samples of the asteroid back to Earth. These samples will be the first for a U.S. mission and may hold clues to the origin of the solar system and the organic molecules that may have seeded life on Earth. The University of Arizona leads the mission for NASA, and it is also providing the science operations team and the spacecraft’s camera system. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center provides overall mission management. Lockheed Martin Space Systems built the spacecraft. United Launch Alliance built the mission’s Atlas V launch vehicle. The mission is in an exciting phase right now as the OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft is on its outbound journey to Bennu. This conversation was recorded at TWIN Global on Monday, September 25th, 2018, at Marshall's Landing, Merchandise Mart in Chicago.

Coming up on this week’s show, a canned artichoke challenge with the Chef and owner of The Chopping Block in Chicago, as she and I attempt to come up with an easy weeknight meal in 15 minutes or less, using just some artichoke hearts, plus five extra ingredients you can find pretty much anywhere. Shelley Young grew up in that mecca for all things gastronomy and innovation: Fort Dodge, Iowa. And we joke, but that rural upbringing shaped her philosophy about food. In the summer, she put up beans, corn and tomatoes for the winter. She pitted sour cherries for pie, hunted morel mushrooms and caught fresh catfish on camping trips. It was with these intense food memories and experiences that she launched The Chopping Block in 1997; quite simply, Chicago’s premier recreational cooking school. Guests have fun, drink wine, eat great food and learn a lot along the way. Shelley now oversees two locations, including a massive one inside the Merchandise Mart here along the Chicago River.

In this special on location episode, Emily and Michelle record in the lobby of the Holiday Inn in downtown Chicago before checking out the One of a Kind Show at the Merchandise Mart.  They mostly talk about OrangeBeautiful's event, Show of Hands Chicago (and why's it's better than all other events!), before doing some quick interviews on the OoaK showroom floor.  Interviews include Danielle from Soap Distillery, Joshua and Kelsey from Green Beetle Shop and (of course) Mark and Stephen from Edgewater Candles.

Jiobit CMO Lindsay Slutzky is helping to keep your kids safe. The company’s hardware gives parents peace of mind when they’re out in public with children. Parents can get GPS locating on their smartphone. Now the company is setting its focus on gun violence. Jiobit is joining forces with Motorola, Techstars Chicago and the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence to host an educational event at Merchandise Mart.

Panoskin and LCP360 CEO Wojciech Kalembasa is taking visual tours, like Google street view, to the next level. When Google wanted to get off the streets and indoors, Kalembasa saw an opportunity. He sold his car and decided to get into the 360 visual business. The first client was Merchandise Mart and other Chicago landmarks soon followed while on boarding thousands of photographers across the globe.

Cheryl Durst: From School Teacher to CEO of IIDA Today in The Lounge, we have a special guest. She's not a designer... but she is one of the biggest movers and shakers in the interior design world. Welcome Cheryl Durst: savior and CEO of IIDA. Find out how Cheryl went from school teacher to CEO and how she saved The International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Changing the Furniture Manufacturing World One Hinge at a Time Benchmade Modern is trying to disrupt the furniture manufacturing world by providing quality furniture at a reasonable price. Not only quality furniture but CUSTOM products at regular prices as well! Whether a customer comes to the interior designer to use the designer discount code or goes straight to Benchmade modern themselves, their services are available! Learn more about Benchmade Modern and their Trade Program at www.benchmademodern.com Getting to Know Cheryl Cheryl joins us from Chicago but she's usually on the road traveling about 35-40 weeks a year. Cheryl grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and went to school at Boston University for Journalism and Economics with a minor in Art History. After Cheryl graduated she moved to Washington, DC where she became a substitute teacher. One of the parents of her students liked the way she managed her class, as well as her level of enthusiasm, and asked if she ever thought about a career in sales. Bada bing bada boom, he hired her at Westinghouse Furniture Systems where she wrote product literature and worked as the showroom manager. Cheryl became very involved in the commercial side of design. Afterward, she was whisked away to work in marketing at the Washington Design Center. Interior design legislation was coming to the forefront in DC and Maryland so Cheryl was in charge of putting together curriculum and continuing education courses to satisfy those jurisdictions and requirements for designers. Later she was transferred to Chicago with her husband who worked for the Merchandise Mart as a trade show specialist. By now they had their first child, so Cheryl decided she could take a part-time job with two-year-old IIDA. She was hired to be the Director of Education and little did she know, 3 years later Cheryl would be CEO. This is Cheryl's 20th year with IIDA and her 17th as CEO. Her quick transition to CEO was brought about because of financial issues with the organization. The Board of Directors came to Cheryl and asked if  she wanted to step into "fix it." They needed a complete financial turnaround, IIDA was essentially bankrupt and was going to cease to exist. So Cheryl worked to make big changes like instituting an annual audit - nothing sexy at all- but all necessary to build sound infrastructure for an organization. Cheryl had always intended to go back to school for her MBA but ended up having on the job training for a real-life MBA AND she did ALL OF THIS while she was months PREGNANT. IIDA's Mission IIDA is a professional membership organization that has created an international network to connect members worldwide and most importantly, advance the profession of interior design. IIDA connects and creates a community to educate designers about the incredibly complex profession. Cheryl says that interior design is growing evolutionary leaps and bounds, as humans demand so much from the spaces we inhabit: from hospital rooms to homes, to hotel rooms. The people who create those spaces should be and be seen as utmost professionals. When it comes to creating a physical space there are so many choices: Do you use an architect, a contractor, a decorator, or an interior designer? IIDA promotes the profession of interior design by talking about its value. Interior Designers have the challenge of explaining their value to clients. Cheryl relays that we live in a world that loves design, without being able to articulate the value that design brings. We know that people feel better in a well-designed place and children learn more effectively in a well-designe...

Susan Suhar-Phillips: Interior Design Director at HDR Today in The Lounge, Susan Suhar-Phillips, Interior Design Director at HDR, joins Nick at the Porcelanosa showroom in the Merchandise Mart. Susan is Nick's longest-known friend to ever be on the show. Not only did they go to Junior High together but they also lived down the street from each other growing up! On this episode, Susan discusses how she got started in interior design and the variety of jobs she's had in the industry. Susan also talks about her big move from Chicago to LAand how it made a HUGE change in her networking pool. Getting to Know Susan Susan is the Los Angeles Design Director for HDR, which is a large country-wide firm. She assists with projects at these sister firms as well. Susan has worked with HDR for about a year now. Before that, she was at Eckenhoff Saunders as their Interior Design Director. Susan originally started out in the fine arts program at The Art Institute of Chicago when she found that being an artist was not a financially successful career path for her as she moved out of her parents home. So, she went in a different direction and tried environmental studies and sciences, but didn't really like it. On a whim, she decided to take a drafting class at her local community college and at 21, fell in love with it. It was the perfect marriage of her creative side and her science side. This class gave her the exposure to architecture, drafting and interiors that she needed for the “ah ha” moment she'd been waiting for. Susan first received her associate's degree in Interior Design and then continued her education back at The Art Institute for Interior Architecture. She describes her community college education as gaining the technical knowledge while The Art Institute taught her to push the design envelope. It forced her to look at the world and its interior environments completely differently. While Susan was in school she also did a couple of internships. Her very first internship was in community college with a furniture dealer. This experience allowed her to become familiar with vendors, materials, pricing, and application. While attending The Art Institute, she worked an internship with VOA which later turned into a full-time design position. VOA exposed Susan to the world of interior architecture and gave Susan a glimpse of how to collaborate with large teams, work on big projects, work with high profile clients, and work late nights. Don't forget to bring your portfolio to your internship interviews like Susan might have ;). Networking is Key!... But it May Take Some Time Susan just moved to LA from Chicago a year ago, and as a result, she now has to start over with her professional network. She feels like networking is the only way to broaden your project base. Susan explains that the more exposed you are, even with your industry peers including competitors, vendors, and clients, the more you're respected and understood as a contender in the industry. Moving can be stressful enough but it also took about a year for Susan to get used to her new routines, get acclimated with project deliverables, and accustomed to her commutes/travel before she started networking. She now has a good handle on everything and is ready to start. The Business Today As a BD, business developer, Susan can go out into the field and promote her company. She gave us some insight that HDR is moving away from hospitality and becoming more of a healthcare giant. Susan also mentioned that when Gary Wheeler joined HDR and took helm of the workplace, he made a significant change to the vision of HDR and where they are going design-wise. This vision is to become more interiors driven. HDR is going to be including the workplace and have strong market sectors between healthcare, work, education, science, and technology. As Design Director, Susan, has six designers that work underneath her with experience in design ranging from fifteen years to jus...

Susan Suhar-Phillips: Interior Design Director at HDR Today in The Lounge, Susan Suhar-Phillips, Interior Design Director at HDR, joins Nick at the Porcelanosa showroom in the Merchandise Mart. Susan is Nick's longest-known friend to ever be on the show. Not only did they go to Junior High together but they also lived down the street from each other growing up! On this episode, Susan discusses how she got started in interior design and the variety of jobs she's had in the industry. Susan also talks about her big move from Chicago to LAand how it made a HUGE change in her networking pool. Getting to Know Susan Susan is the Los Angeles Design Director for HDR, which is a large country-wide firm. She assists with projects at these sister firms as well. Susan has worked with HDR for about a year now. Before that, she was at Eckenhoff Saunders as their Interior Design Director. Susan originally started out in the fine arts program at The Art Institute of Chicago when she found that being an artist was not a financially successful career path for her as she moved out of her parents home. So, she went in a different direction and tried environmental studies and sciences, but didn't really like it. On a whim, she decided to take a drafting class at her local community college and at 21, fell in love with it. It was the perfect marriage of her creative side and her science side. This class gave her the exposure to architecture, drafting and interiors that she needed for the “ah ha” moment she'd been waiting for. Susan first received her associate's degree in Interior Design and then continued her education back at The Art Institute for Interior Architecture. She describes her community college education as gaining the technical knowledge while The Art Institute taught her to push the design envelope. It forced her to look at the world and its interior environments completely differently. While Susan was in school she also did a couple of internships. Her very first internship was in community college with a furniture dealer. This experience allowed her to become familiar with vendors, materials, pricing, and application. While attending The Art Institute, she worked an internship with VOA which later turned into a full-time design position. VOA exposed Susan to the world of interior architecture and gave Susan a glimpse of how to collaborate with large teams, work on big projects, work with high profile clients, and work late nights. Don't forget to bring your portfolio to your internship interviews like Susan might have ;). Networking is Key!... But it May Take Some Time Susan just moved to LA from Chicago a year ago, and as a result, she now has to start over with her professional network. She feels like networking is the only way to broaden your project base. Susan explains that the more exposed you are, even with your industry peers including competitors, vendors, and clients, the more you're respected and understood as a contender in the industry. Moving can be stressful enough but it also took about a year for Susan to get used to her new routines, get acclimated with project deliverables, and accustomed to her commutes/travel before she started networking. She now has a good handle on everything and is ready to start. The Business Today As a BD, business developer, Susan can go out into the field and promote her company. She gave us some insight that HDR is moving away from hospitality and becoming more of a healthcare giant. Susan also mentioned that when Gary Wheeler joined HDR and took helm of the workplace, he made a significant change to the vision of HDR and where they are going design-wise. This vision is to become more interiors driven. HDR is going to be including the workplace and have strong market sectors between healthcare, work, education, science, and technology. As Design Director, Susan, has six designers that work underneath her with experience in design ranging from fifteen years to jus...

On Friday, April 7, 2017 The First Friday Club of Chicago in Cooperation with the Authors Group (Union League Club)   Welcomes Mr. Mark Shriver President, Save The Children Action Network Author, PILGRIMAGE - My Search for the Real Pope Francis Who Will Address the Topic "My Search for the Real Pope Francis" Pope Francis very quickly has become one of the most fascinating and one of the most popular people in the world. He is adored by millions and disdained by many others. Who is he? Where did he come from? What motivates him? How did he become so compassionate to the poor and marginalized? Mark Shriver set out to find answers to those and many other elements in the life of Jorge Marie Bergoglio. In his journeys through Argentina to the places where Pope Francis was born, lived, educated and ministered as a Jesuit, Shriver not only entered into the heart of Francis, he also came into deeper contact with his own faith, values and his motivation for doing good for others. His biographical journey into the life of Pope Francis has also led him to question even his own work as head of the nonprofit, Save the Children. Mark Shriver is the son of Sargent Shriver, who ran the Merchandise Mart here in Chicago and became the first head of the Peace Corps, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, one of the founders of The Special Olympics here in Chicago.   Mr. Shriver will be joined in conversation by Rev. Pat McGrath, S.J., president of Loyola Academy and visiting priest at Old St. Pat's Catholic Church.  

The State of the Chicago Retail Market! In episode 5, Phil gets the state of the Chicago Retail market from one of Chicago’s premiere retail brokers, David Stone of Stone Real Estate Corporation. David discusses the recent soaring rents in the North Michigan Avenue riverfront area, the challenges and advantages of leasing a unique building such as the Merchandise Mart, and provides trends and forecasts of where this City is going and what both tenants and landlords are looking for in current economic conditions.

Lisa was awarded an Artists Residency at the Studios of Key West for 2016. She was one of six artists awarded a two year Residency from 2010-2012 at the Merchandise Mart of Chicago. Her art appears on the cover of NY Times Bestseller, Colum McCann's novel, TransAtlantic, which won the 2015 D&AD Award of Excellence in London, England. Domenic Iacono awarded Lisa Best of Show in the 2014 Less Is More Exhibition at the Mitchell Gallery in Annapolis, MD. She is featured on the Cable TV Show, Artist to Artist, is a multiple Award Winner through Manhattan Arts International, exhibits throughout the United States and has her art in private/public collections throughout the world.  

Carey Pinkowski, Race Director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, shares with us how the race has grown over the 26 years he has been race director and discusses the course. This year 45,000 runners from over 130 countries, including all 50 U.S. states, will help celebrate the marathon's 38th anniversary. The field is comprised of 55% male runners and 45% female runners. Since 2002, $135 million has been raised for charities, including $17.7 million from last year. Pulling off a marathon that goes through 29 neighborhoods of Chicago requires a near-Herculean effort, utilizing more than 12,000 volunteers, a stellar corp of medical professionals led by Dr. George Chiampas at 22 aide stations, coordination with local police, the Chicago Transit Authority, Mayor Rahm Emmanual's office, the park district, sponsors such as Bank of America, Abbott Labs and Nike, and of course the residents of Chicago. The city of Chicago and its residents open their arms wide to support and welcome the runners to their city. Carey discusses the course which starts at Grant Park, goes through the loop, also known as the central business district (be on the lookout and for the smell of Garret's popcorn, a Chicago tradition), and then heads up through River North, an up-and-coming area with many restaurants. Up next is the Lincoln Park Zoo area which is a great area for spectators, then on to Lake View. The course then takes you back through Lincoln Park with DePaul being at the heart of Lincoln Park. Next you head back to River North, through the Merchandise Mart, cross the river and start down to Adams which is a big spectator area nearing the halfway point. Runners cross the Chicago River five times during the marathon. The latter part of the marathon takes runners past the United Center (where the Blackhawks and Bulls play), Malcom X College, Greek Town (that's where our friend Dean Karnazes likes to hang out), Little Italy, Pilsen (Chicago's largest Hispanic neighborhood), Chinatown at the 20 mile point, then on to the area where the Chicago White Sox (also known as “Carey's team”) play, the UIC Campus (where A LOT of students cheer on the runners), back up Michigan Avenue and the south loop area. The course ends with a hill up Roosevelt Road (the only hill and they save it for the end, but runners are fortunate as previously there were TWO hills at the end) to the finish line at Grant Park. The Chicago Marathon is a great course for first time marathoners as it's very walkable to and from the finish lines from many downtown hotels. Friends and family can easily get to 8-9 cheers zones through riding the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority). Over 1.6 million fans are on the course cheering on the runners. Carey asks that runners read the participant guide, listen to announcements and look for the flags on the course, and check out the www.chicagomarthon.com website. He recommends that first time marathoners be conservative with their pace, trust their training, and stay within their pace. Aspects of the race are currently being finalized but it sounds like there will be even more entertainment on the course in 2015.   Our Runner of the Week, Dr. Kate Weymouth, MD, a psychiatrist, shares how she has had an "on again/off again" relationship with running, and it's currently ON! (Yay!) Kate discusses studies from the University of Texas (UT) and others proving how exercise can be as effective as anti-depressants for many people or in concert with medication for others. In fact, at UT, they're doing work with PTSD patients and exercise and seeing great results. There are numerous studies showing that people are more focused after they run. For students, a great way to “study” on the run is to run the same course as usual and create memory maps. If you're looking for new ideas or ways to solve challenges, set the intention at the beginning of the run, go a different course, and at the end of the run, see if any insights have come to you. Studies such as the Eureka Factor show the power of exercise. Kate was our Runner of the Week after donating the most in a month to Team Kari and Serena Run NYC and Chicago for Action for Healthy Kids. You too can have the chance to be Runner of the Month by clicking HERE ( https://donate.actionforhealthykids.org/events/kari-serena-run-new-york-city-chicago/e46192) and donating. Action for Healthy Kids provides school grants to expand school breakfast and lunch programs and provide fitness equipment. Serena Marie, RD, answers a listener's question about what Serena's take is on fruitarianism. While Serena applauds Jayne (the listener) for changing her diet, she recommends a more balanced diet that comprises fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Key nutrients that are not being met in a fruitarianism diet include iron, calcium, vitamin D, B12, essential fatty acids and others. There are many women endurance athletes who have iron deficiency and have a challenging time with menstruating. Serena recommends consuming Omega 3s instead of Omega 6s as Omega 6s are very pro inflammatory. Good sources of Omega 3s are walnuts and macadamia nuts. If Jayne would like to have a more balanced diet, Serena suggests eating beans and nuts, since those are “allowed food” for fruitarianism. The most dense source of iron is humanely raised meat. If you would like to create your own running lifestyle, head over to www.therunninglifestyle.com/join (hyperlink), and discover the 11 strategies to live a life of wellness through the gift of running. Serena and I have completely gone “Cray Cray” and graciously accepted Gore's invitation to run the Gore-Tex Philadelphia Marathon on November 22nd. This will be Serena's and my third marathon in six weeks and will also be an opportunity to run the Philadelphia Marathon again. Both of us ran in 2013 and had a rough day and are looking forward to creating better memories this year. Are you running Philly? Please let us know! A meet up is being planned! Contact: Carey Pinkowski: Website: ChigagoMarathon.com Facebook: /ChicagoMarathon Twitter: @ChiMarathon Kate Weymouth: Website: kateweymouthmd.com Serena Marie, RD: Website: www.SerenaMarieRD.com Facebook: /SerenaMarieRD Twitter: @SerenaMarieRD Instagram: SerenaMarieRD

Be the Groove is a rhythmic performance ensemble that believes rhythm is not just a beat—rhythm is a mode of expression. This Chicago based group fuses a variety of movement, percussion, and rhythmic techniques to create a unique style of its own. Through high-energy performances and a strong commitment to education, Be the Groove seeks to share its love of rhythm with people everywhere.Formed in 2006 by Artistic Director Stephanie Paul and founding Executive Director Davora Sides, Be the Groove has quickly established a reputation for entertaining audiences in the Chicago dance and arts community. The ensemble has performed at such venues as Millenium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion, Harris Theater, Ravinia, Old Town School of Folk Music, and festivals including, Dance Chicago, Taste of Chicago and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. In addition to these public celebrations, throughout the year Be the Groove can be spotted locally at various schools, dance studios and camps engaging audiences of all ages with interactive performances and educational workshops that meld percussion and movement. Be the Groove has also built a significant resume performing in private and corporate events including the International Home and Housewares Show at McCormick Place, NeoCon’s World Trade Show at Merchandise Mart and Sara Lee’s National Sales Conference. Experience the groove with us! Check out the performance page to see when and where the next public Be the Groove event near you will be. Visit our education page to learn how you can bring Be the Groove into your organization to lead fun energizing rhythmic programming. Book a Be the Groove performance or workshop for your next gathering. We look forward to seeing you at the next event!

Be the Groove is a rhythmic performance ensemble that believes rhythm is not just a beat—rhythm is a mode of expression. This Chicago based group fuses a variety of movement, percussion, and rhythmic techniques to create a unique style of its own. Through high-energy performances and a strong commitment to education, Be the Groove seeks to share its love of rhythm with people everywhere.Formed in 2006 by Artistic Director Stephanie Paul and founding Executive Director Davora Sides, Be the Groove has quickly established a reputation for entertaining audiences in the Chicago dance and arts community. The ensemble has performed at such venues as Millenium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion, Harris Theater, Ravinia, Old Town School of Folk Music, and festivals including, Dance Chicago, Taste of Chicago and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. In addition to these public celebrations, throughout the year Be the Groove can be spotted locally at various schools, dance studios and camps engaging audiences of all ages with interactive performances and educational workshops that meld percussion and movement. Be the Groove has also built a significant resume performing in private and corporate events including the International Home and Housewares Show at McCormick Place, NeoCon’s World Trade Show at Merchandise Mart and Sara Lee’s National Sales Conference. Experience the groove with us! Check out the performance page to see when and where the next public Be the Groove event near you will be. Visit our education page to learn how you can bring Be the Groove into your organization to lead fun energizing rhythmic programming. Book a Be the Groove performance or workshop for your next gathering. We look forward to seeing you at the next event!

Be the Groove is a rhythmic performance ensemble that believes rhythm is not just a beat—rhythm is a mode of expression. This Chicago based group fuses a variety of movement, percussion, and rhythmic techniques to create a unique style of its own. Through high-energy performances and a strong commitment to education, Be the Groove seeks to share its love of rhythm with people everywhere.Formed in 2006 by Artistic Director Stephanie Paul and founding Executive Director Davora Sides, Be the Groove has quickly established a reputation for entertaining audiences in the Chicago dance and arts community. The ensemble has performed at such venues as Millenium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion, Harris Theater, Ravinia, Old Town School of Folk Music, and festivals including, Dance Chicago, Taste of Chicago and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. In addition to these public celebrations, throughout the year Be the Groove can be spotted locally at various schools, dance studios and camps engaging audiences of all ages with interactive performances and educational workshops that meld percussion and movement. Be the Groove has also built a significant resume performing in private and corporate events including the International Home and Housewares Show at McCormick Place, NeoCon’s World Trade Show at Merchandise Mart and Sara Lee’s National Sales Conference. Experience the groove with us! Check out the performance page to see when and where the next public Be the Groove event near you will be. Visit our education page to learn how you can bring Be the Groove into your organization to lead fun energizing rhythmic programming. Book a Be the Groove performance or workshop for your next gathering. We look forward to seeing you at the next event!

In 1994 Paul Morris, Matthew Marks, Pat Hearn and Colin De Land had a vision.  That vision was that New York City would have an art fair. What began as the Gramercy International Contemporary Art Fair has become the the Armory fair, the jewel in the art fair empire the Merchandise Mart has amassed over the last 3 years; Art Chicago, The Armory, Art Toronto, Volta Basel, Next, and Volta NYC.This week, Paul "the 'marts Art Czar" Morris and Tony "Boss of Art Chicago" Karman break down why the Art Fair future is the future. Kathryn Born and Duncan MacKenzie listen with slack jaws and open minds.The weird thing that happened is that Duncan actually started to get behind Art Chicago and the 'marts future in the Art Business?  WTF?  Did he drink the Kool Aid? Was he bought off? Or is there reason to believe? Listen and find out...