Archive for May, 2011

• Epic Roof Top CitySwarm Event

  Posted by admin | May 31, 2011 | No Comments » |

  Lakeshore East Residents are Invited to a CitySwarm Event!!! Tuesday June 7th at Epic Sky rooftop lounge. A special Lakeshore East rate of $10 includes 2 cocktails, light appetizers, a reserved area on the rooftop from 6-8, and a complimentary drink ticket for the future. More details can be found here:   http://cityswarmepicsky.eventbrite.com/?discount=MAGELLAN

  
  

• Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology

  Posted by admin | May 31, 2011 | No Comments » |

  Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology
  Dr. Carolyn Jacob

  Located in Downtown Chicago’s River North Neighborhood at 20 West Kinzie, Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, under the medical direction of founder, board-certified dermatologist and Harvard-trained Cosmetic and Laser Surgeon Dr. Carolyn Jacob, offers a comprehansive array of services dedicated to the largest organ of your body – your skin.

  From general dermatology (with most insurances accepted) for men and women, infancy through adulthood, to state of the art cosmetic and laser procedures to make you look your youthful best, CCSD is here to offer solutions for all medical aspects related to your skin.

  Magellan Reward Incentive:
  CCSD is offering free laser hair removal consultation and $100 off laser hair removal package of 5 treatments – and – a free microdermabrasion consultation, $25 off SilkPeel Microdermabrasion treatment.
  www.chicagodermatology.com
  20 W. Kinzie St., Suite 1130
  Chicago, IL  60654
  312-245-9965
  www.chicagodermatology.com

• 5 Star Fitness Boot Camp offerd in The Park at Lakeshore East

  Posted by admin | May 31, 2011 | No Comments » |

  Starting Monday, May May 19th 5 Star Fitness will offer 6 week intense boot camps in The Park at Lakeshore East.  Classes are Monday, Wednesday and Friday and for a total of

• 7 Tips For Preparing Your Condo For Vacation

  Posted by admin | May 27, 2011 | No Comments » |

  Preparing to leave for a vacation can be as stressful as it is exciting.  It’s important to remember that the environment you leave behind should be prepared for your absence.  With the onset of inevitable post-travel blues, the last thing you want to deal with upon your return is a major household calamity.  Protection and peace-of-mind are essential, and this compilation of safety tips is designed to help you prepare your Chicago condos for an ultimate, relaxing vacation.

  Here’s a list of 7 great tips to help you keep your home safe while you’re away:

  1. Ask a friend or neighbor for help. Preparing your home for vacation not only means ensuring the safety of your belongings, but it also requires pre-planning simple household maintenance such as watering plants and feeding your fish.  Ask a friend or neighbor who you trust to keep an eye on your condo and stop in once every few days to tend to those few chores that are necessary to preserve your living space.  If you’re a pet owner, you may even ask a close friend to ‘house sit’ for the duration of your getaway.  Your animals will be thankful for the attention, and you’ll rest well knowing a trusted colleague is taking care of your home.
  2. Be cautious of your web presence. In a world with ever increasing web presence, it’s important to be extremely cautious about announcing your personal business over various social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.  Regardless of how protected and private your site may be it’s important to remember that there may be hundreds of complete strangers who have access to your daily musings, not to mention the consistently impressive capabilities of Internet hackers.  Try not to reveal your detailed plans and whereabouts while you’re away, and contact your friends and family via personal email instead of using social networking sites. Though it’s tempting to update everyone on your adventures by posting fabulous pictures to Facebook, try to wait until your back home or, again, send a few pictures via email until you can share them more in person.
  3. Tip off your building manager. Whether you’re going away for a few days or a few weeks, you should always make your building manager aware of your travels.  He or she may be willing to check-in a few times while you’re gone and make sure your belongings are safe.  If something should go wrong, such as a leak, it’s important for the building manager to know you’re out of town so he or she can rectify the problem in anticipation of your return.  Not only does this alleviate your stress, but it also ensures that the maintenance will be taken care of immediately and will not worsen in your absence.
  4. Stop your mail. Put a temporary hold on your mail and newspapers, or ask a neighbor to collect it while you are on vacation.  Not only is this a more convenient option for you, especially if you’re expecting important bills, but it also prevents a large buildup of mail signaling your absence.  Stopping your mail is as easy as visiting the United States Postal Service Web site and placing a “stop” order.
  5. Pull the plugs. Right before you leave, you should walk through your home and unplug your television, toaster oven, lamps or any other appliances to protect them from power surges, while also saving power (note: many appliances still use power, even if they’re turned off).
  6. Protect your plumbing. If you live in a cold region like Chicago, it’s important to take extra precaution concerning your pipes.  If you have a friend coming by to water plants or check on your home, ask them to simply run some warm water in the faucets to ensure the pipes are not frozen.  Take other cautionary steps such as proper pipe insulation and keeping your heat on while away.  Make sure to show your ‘house-watching’ friend the location of the water main shut-off and give him or her the phone number of your building manager in case a pipe should break.
  7. Clean out the refrigerator. Last, but certainly not least, clean out your refrigerator!  This simple task can protect your home from unwanted odors and bacteria, not to mention make your post-vacation blues a little less depressing.  Remove any items that may spoil while you’re gone, and if you’re feeling ambitious, do a little scrubbing to keep your refrigerator and its contents extra fresh.  Most importantly, remember to take the trash out when you’re done!  If you always feel a little sad after traveling, the easiest thing to do is prepare your home to the best of your ability to ensure a stress-free return.

• Magellan Community Meeting Announces 345 E. Wacker Drive at Lakeshore East

  Posted by admin | May 19, 2011 | No Comments » |

  Magellan Community Meeting Announces 345 E. Wacker Drive at Lakeshore East

  Magellan Development Group recently held a community meeting to announce plans for the eighth high-rise tower at the blossoming 28-acre Lakeshore East community. The community meeting, held on Thursday, May 12th at the Magellan Sales Gallery, was attended by Alderman Reilly’s office (42nd Ward) as well as a number of residents of Lakeshore East and the surrounding neighborhood.

  Magellan representatives included David Carlins, president of Magellan, and other senior executives of the firm. The building’s design architect, Brininstool, Kerwin and Lynch (BKL), was represented by Brad Lynch, principal, who presented the design concept of the project.

  The yet-to-be-named 49-story rental tower, now designated by its address at 345 E. Wacker Drive, will front Wacker Drive, just east of the Swissotel, at the northwest corner of the complex. The tower, designed for Silver LEED certification, is designed by the recently-formed architectural firm of Brininstool Kerwin & Lynch (BKL), and is the first creation of a strategic alliance formed between Magellan and BKL in 2010. 345 E. Wacker Drive will be managed as a Class-A luxury rental community by Magellan’s affiliate management firm, NNP Residential.

  The sleek, modern design is described by BKL as “a composition of light and truancy.” A curtain wall on the east and west facades is a combination of translucent and fritted glass combined with aluminum while continuous inset balconies on the north and south elevations provide extraordinary views of the Chicago skyline, Lake Michigan and Grant/Millennium Parks.

  BKL was created in 2010 when Tom Kerwin resigned his post as a managing partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago, one of the largest and most respected international architectural practices, and formed a partnership with David Brininstool and Brad Lynch.

  The synergy of Kerwin’s extensive international experience during a 23-year career with SOM and David Brininstool’s and Brad Lynch’s well-established reputation for quality design in residential and corporate interiors and cultural institutions is projected to position the firm as a leading global architectural practice.

  The project will contain 499 apartments ranging in size from studios to three-bedrooms. 18,000 square feet of retail space is situated at the base of the building with an entrance off of Upper Wacker Drive. A 272-car parking facility will offer a connection to the Chicago Pedway system. A full-floor of resident amenities on floor 2 will include both indoor and outdoor entertainment and recreation including a deck and green roof.

  Two of the seven towers already completed at Lakeshore East also are rental buildings: The Shoreham, a 46-story building with 548 residences and The Tides, which rises 51 stories with 608 residences.

  http://www.bklarch.com/housing/lakeshore-east-apartments

  For additional information or questions or specific questions on 345 E. Wacker Drive, please contact Vanessa Casciano, Magellan Development’s Community Relations Director at vcasciano@magellandevelopment.com or 312-469-8159.

• Great Gadgets for Keeping Your Condo Clean

  Posted by admin | May 19, 2011 | No Comments » |

  Remember when spring-cleaning could take weeks of stress, pain and physical exhaustion?  Well today we say “out with the old, in with the new!”  In a world inundated with advanced technology, you no longer need to drag that bulky, heavy-duty vacuum cleaner around your home to get the job done.  In fact, it seems lately that better things come in smaller packages.  Embrace your cleaning and indulge a little in some high-tech gadgets to make your Chicago luxury condo sparkle like never before!

  Here is a list of some of the best gadgets for keeping your condo clean:

  Robotic Vacuum Cleaner: You’re simply not cleaning in the 21^st century if you’re not using robotics.  These intelligent, cordless cleaners navigate through your condo, picking up all the dirt and debris along the way.  Most robotic vacuums are equipped with a 3 stage cleaning system: two side brushes are used to pick up dirt from corners and along wall edges, two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes pick up pet hair, food crumbs and other debris, and lastly a powerful vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large bag-less dust bin.  The robotics’ intelligence can go as far as understanding room size, obstacles, anti-tangle technology to help to robot from getting stuck on cords and rugs and soft-touch bumpers that allow the robot to slow down when it senses an obstacle, gently touching it before changing direction.

  Steam Mop: Tired of the bulky mop and bucket act?  Try using a handy gadget known as the steam mop.  This item cleans hard floor surfaces in an easier, quicker, more effective and less watery way.  It is a hand-maneuvered electric mop, which gives your floors a deep cleaning without chemicals, fumes and residues.  It is safe to use on marble, ceramic, stone, vinyl, laminate, linoleum and sealed hardwood floors.  You release the steam on demand utilizing a trigger on the handle while you’re mopping, allowing you to have control over certain areas that might have some tougher dirt.

  UV Air Sanitizer: If you kept your condo’s windows closed to fight off that threatening Chicago winter, you might be feeling like that air inside is a little stale, making it difficult to freshen up your home for summer.  Try using a UV air sanitizer – a compact plug-in that uses UV-C technology to destroy airborne micro-organisms such as germs, bacteria and molds.  The gadget works by using a fan to pull room air into its germ-killing chamber, and once inside, the air is radiated with UV-C light, which is proven effective in destroying viruses, bacteria and mold spores.  The sanitizer then circulates the cleaned air back into the room.

  Fabric Shaver: This fantastic cleaning gadget is a small, hand-held device that removes lint, pills, fuzz, threads and pet hair from almost any fabric, restoring them to like-new condition.  Fabric shavers are uses to revive sweaters, garments, coats, upholstery, luggage, car seats, knits and woven items.  Running on two AA batteries, this little device uses a vacuum to help with its cleaning operations, collecting lint in a storage chamber that is emptied periodically.

• Cooking For the Summer

  Posted by admin | May 19, 2011 | No Comments » |

  Whether it’s indoors or out, the summer is one of the most exciting times to buy fresh produce, throw on the apron and try some new recipes for yourself, friends and family.  However, a summer in the city can be brutal, and the hotter it gets outside, the more things heat up in your kitchen.  Not only will you tire yourself out, but you can potentially make the rest of the house less comfortable and need to expend more energy for more cooling, leading to higher bills and carbon emissions.  If you rent or own beautiful downtown Chicago real estate, it’s vital to start thinking about ways to reduce your cooking heat, so you can thoroughly enjoy the fruits of your labor.

  Here are some great tips on reducing heat and energy while cooking:

   1. Thaw frozen food. You can easily reduce cooking times by thawing frozen foods in the refrigerator beforehand.  An added bonus: putting frozen items into the refrigerator also reduces the amount of energy it needs to use to maintain its low temperature.

  2. Use low settings. If you’re using a small pot or pan, use a burner size and setting that matches your appliance.  Turn the heat down to the lowest setting that maintains boiling; turning the burner all the way up allows the heat to escape around the side of the pot, and it does not increase the temperature of the liquid or cook its contents faster.

  3. Utilize the toaster and microwave. The less you use your oven in the summer, the better.  The stove produces a significant amount of heat and energy, and requires preheating and cooling down.  Try exploring more cold recipes or dishes that allow you to use your toaster oven or microwave.

  4. Clean appliances. Keeping your pots/pants and appliances clean allows you to save heat and energy.  The cleaner the surface, the more efficiently it can transfer heat, for both heating and cooling.  Make sure you learn the proper steps for cleaning your various kitchen appliances to maintain their effectiveness and prolonged existence.

  5. Optimize your hours. If you are planning a major meal or culinary undertaking, plan to do as much cooking/baking as possible during cooler times of the day, such as mornings and evenings.

  6. Keep the oven closed! Every time you open your oven, you lose 25 to 50 degrees, which not only requires more energy to reheat, but it also allows hot hair to move through your living space.  Keeping the oven closed will trap the heat and allow you to cook your dishes as efficiently as possible.

  7. Consolidate. Because heating the oven is half the energy battle, try consolidating your dishes or cooking in immediate succession so you avoid continuous opening and closing of the oven door.  More importantly, you only have to preheat and cool the oven once.

  8. Use a barbecue chimney device. If you’re planning to do a little backyard barbecue, put away the charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid, and use something a little more environmentally friendly such as a hardwood lump charcoal with a chimney device.  Not only does hardwood lump charcoal burn at a healthier, lower temperature, but this method also gives off a lot less CO2 and other chemicals and is great for utilizing old newspapers.

  Try some of these great summer recipes that don’t use your oven!

  Fresh Tomato Shrimp Pasta

  Ingredients:

  8 ounces dry fettuccine pasta

  3 cloves garlic

  ½ sweet onion, cut into wedges

  3 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves

  4 tablespoons olive oil

  4 medium tomatoes, chopped

  3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

  1 cup spinach leaves

  1 pound cooked shrimp – peeled and deveined

  8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, diced

  salt and pepper to taste

  Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add the pasta, and cook for 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain.
  2. In the container of a food processor, combine the garlic, onion and oregano.  Pulse until finely chopped.  Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion mixture; cook and stir until fragrant and almost golden.  Mix in the tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper.  Simmer for about 5 minutes while the pasta is cooking, stirring occasionally.
  3. Mix in spinach until it wilts, then just before the pasta is done, stir in the shrimp.  Cook until heated through.  Toss with pasta in a large serving bowl, and mix in mozzarella cheese.

  Watermelon Summer Salad

  Ingredients:

  ¾ cup halved, thinly sliced red onion

  1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

  1 ½ quarts seeded, cubed watermelon

  ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese

  ½ cup pitted black olive halves

  1 cup chopped fresh mint

  2 tablespoons olive oil

  Directions:

  1. Place the onion slices in a small bowl with the limejuice.  The acid of the lime will mellow the flavor of the raw onion.  Let stand for 10 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the watermelon cubes, feta cheese, black olives, onions with the limejuice, and mint.  Drizzle olive oil over it all, and toss to blend.

• MARKET ROOF TOP Lakeshore East Event

  Posted by admin | May 17, 2011 | No Comments » |

  Magellan Development invites Lakeshore East Residents to Market! Roof top exclusive event on Wednesday, May 25th! Be the first 100 to RSVP and enjoy complimentary vodka drinks fro 8-9pm! Market is located at 1113 W. Randolph. http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=oobdv8bab&oeidk=a07e3vy6lzj72239886