Are you the artsy type? An aspiring bookbinder? Then head over to Columbia College Chicago’s Unstore for their Clearance Sale! (Hours are Friday 5:00 to 9:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM). Help them clear out their shelves for the summer and find decorative art papers, books and bookbinding tools and much more at low, low prices. Bring your cash!
The Center for Book & Paper Arts (CBPA) at Columbia College Chicago is located at 1104 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60605.
As we are all aware, the recession has affected many people—especially families. One of my clients, Chicago-based organization Family Focus is helping out by distributing food to local families in need.
You can help out by donating food, clothing or baby & household items to one of Family Focus’s distribution centers in Evanston, Highland Park or Chicago’s Lawndale and Hermosa neighborhood. See the website for a list what they need and how to contact them.
See ABC 7 News coverage of Family Focus’s Lawndale food distribution program here.
My readers know that I’m dedicated to supporting local businesses. Now you can help a small business grow with the click of a mouse: nominate them in the “Love a Local Business” campaign from Intuit. Typing a few kind words about your favorite coffee shop, painting company, or graphic designer (hint, hint) literally puts them “on the map”—not to mention gives them a chance to win a $1000 Intuit Growth Grant. Or nominate your own business and share why you love what you do.
Save the date! Neighborhood Networking is heading to Roscoe Village! Join us at one of my favorite Roscoe Village spots The Village Tap on Wednesday, August 19th from 5:30-8:00 pm. Connect with other businesses, as well as sample appetizers from the Tap. Great raffle prizes from local businesses too!
Register in advance online for $10 (or pay $12 at the door).
Neighborhood Networking is brought to you by Lidia Varesco Design and Elizabeth Lulu Miranda of Mercury Organizing Professionals.
South end of Chicago lakefront trail
Is there a park or other public space in your neighborhood that you love? Perhaps you pass a special place on your way to work every day? Nominate it in Placemaking Chicago’s “What Makes Your Place Great?” contest. See examples of some of the special places people have already nominated. It’s a great way to think local and support your community.
As PlacemakingChicago says:
Great places define our lives. They inspire us, relax us, encourage us to sit and talk awhile with our neighbors. From plazas to beaches, street corners to playgrounds, Chicagoland is a patchwork of thousands of great neighborhood places.
Hurry, the contest ends on Monday, July 27th!
Keeping with this week’s topic of staying productive while working from a home office (aka coping with summer fever), check out this article we wrote on Biznik.
Several Biznik members have left comments with great suggestions for how they stay motivated and productive in thier own home offices. How do you manage? Read the article and leave your own suggestions!
You have a home office. You’ve made the effort to work outside of your office at least one day a week. Still feeling disconnected? Miss the creative interaction of co-workers? Getting out there and meeting fellow business owners can help.
Where to start? Your local Chamber of Commerce is a great place to link up with like-minded biz folks. Most Chambers host regular networking events as well as business workshops. Another useful group for small businesses in Chicago (of which I’m a member) is Local First Chicago—a network of locally owned, independent businesses and community organizations.
There are also various “leads” groups around town, which offer a business the opportunity to be the only member in their industry represented. For specific business or networking groups, you can search MeetUp.com. And of course, we recommend Neighborhood Networking, a monthly networking event (which we co-host) that travels to different neighborhoods around Chicago.
A great suggestion mentioned in the comments of a Biznik artcile I posted was coworking, a collaborative work environment. See the article for resources for finding coworking spaces.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Francesc Esteve
It’s warm, it’s sunny and you’re finding yourself staring out the window of your office instead of working (and yes, I’m speaking from experience…). The solution: move your office to a “remote location” for the day. As we mentioned in our Tipsheet about working from home, working outside of your usual office environment can boost your motivation and creativity—especially on those warm summer days when you’d rather be out playing.
And don’t forget to shop local: visit the Delocator website to find an independently-owned coffee shop in your neighborhood.
Do you love to read? Can you spare an extra hour in your work schedule? Open Books needs you! The Chicago-based literacy nonprofit is seeking volunteers for their youth literacy program, Reading Buddies. Currently there are sites at elementary schools in West Town and Bucktown, more coming soon. Check out the Open Books Volunteer page for this and other ways to help kids (and adults) develop a love of reading.
Piles of unused books in your office or home? Clean off your desk and donate your books to Open Books. Not only will you get a warm fuzzy feeling, but a tax deduction to boot. Their bookstore and literacy center will be opening this fall in River North.
Yesterday I attended an organizing workshop presented by my friend Elizabeth Lulu Miranda of Mercury Organizing Professionals and I now have a new favorite place: @Work Design. This new addition to Madison St. in Forest Park is a dream for anyone who appreciates a well-designed, functional and organized office or home. The stylish shop (naturally, owned by a graphic designer) stocks smartly-designed pads, folders and desk accessories, not to mention furniture.
Inspire yourself with a clever notepad (at right) or organize your office with fun(ctional) accessories. As organizer Elizabeth Lulu says, organizing your desk can help boost your business—and you might even find money in the process!
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