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Welcome to our new members: Blue Room Training, Cityside Center for Spiritual Living, Compassionate Veterinary Hospice and In Home Euthanasia, Nathaniel J. Baskin: Certified Personal Trainer, Peak Wealth Planning, Salon Élan Vital, Smooth House Laser, The Silver Line, and Yoga Horizons of Chicago.
And a thanks to our returning members for their continued support: Big Teeth Productions, Common Pantry, Flora 47 Peace Merchants, Gnome Brew, German International School of Chicago, Groundswell Coffee Roasters, LaSalle Street Development, Lena Rose Beauty, My Buddy's, Neighborly, R&A Sourdough, RENTGREAT.COM, and The Attractivators.
| | There's a Facebook group just for Ravenswood! Click here to connect with neighbors about community issues, events, neighborhood-specific questions, and more. | | |
·CBS News: Crystal Cleaners and Mint Home in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood destroyed by fire - "Firefighters fought the still and box blaze for nearly an hour before the fire was struck out." Read More
Donate directly to support relief for Crystal Cleaners and Mint Home via their GoFundMe pages.
·WGN Radio 720: ‘Elvis Presley was A Black Man Named Joe’ at Black Ensemble Theater through April 20th ONLY! - "It is likely that this show’s title caught your attention. Well, in reality, this is the intimate and very personal story of Black Ensemble Theater founder and CEO Jackie Taylor who also wrote and directed this autobiographical work." Read More
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·Block Club: Line-Dancing Seniors Take Over Carol’s Pub - "It’s 4 p.m. on a chilly Tuesday afternoon, and even though beloved country music bar Carol’s Pub just opened for the day, the dance floor next to the raised stage and portraits of Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson is filling up with those itching to get their groove on." Read More
·Chicago YIMBY: Work Continues Below Grade At 1950 West Lawrence Avenue - "Work continues below street level on the new residential building at 1950 West Lawrence Avenue in Ravenswood. Vista Group Realty is developing up a five-story, 12-unit building here, formerly the site of a terra-cotta faced furniture store, and long before that, a Jewel grocery." Read More
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4/17, Munch March Dessert & Appetizer Crawl
Emerge from your winter hibernation for an evening of delicious sweets and crunchy treats! This April, Ravenswood businesses are teaming up for the Munch March - an evening of bite-sized snacks, drinks, and exploration along Montrose Avenue. SOLD OUT!
Participants Include:
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The Munch March will be highlighted on WGN's Spotlight Chicago on Wednesday, April 16th! Tune in to learn more about the participating businesses and what they'll be sampling.
Tickets include 14+ tasting-sized portions of desserts, appetizers, and beverages, a Ravenswood canvas tote bag, and some goodies from our partners. This event is 21+ and will be held rain or shine. 5:30-8:30pm, along Montrose Ave, $26 More Info
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·4/17, Guided Meditation at Bergen Counseling Collective - Experience a candlelight guided meditation designed to align your mind, body, and spirit with the energy of spring renewal. 7pm, 4525 N Ravenswood Ave Suite 202, FREE More Info
·4/18, Sober Self-Defense Workshop at Bender Martial Arts and Fitness - This sober-friendly event is designed to teach practical self-defense skills in a supportive environment. This hands-on workshop will cover essential techniques to help you feel empowered and confident in any situation. 9:30-10:30am, 5547 N Ravenswood Ave, FREE More Info
·4/19, Ravenswood Clean Up Day - Last year, Ravenswood Neighbors Association joined forces with over 60 neighbors, students, and local elected officials to grab coffee, have a conversation, and pick up over 470 pounds of trash in our streets and alleys. Meet at the corner of Sunnyside and Ravenswood Ave for coffee, tool pickup, and the official event kick-off! 9am-12pm, Ravenswood Ave and Sunnyside Ave More Info
·4/19, Last Day on Damen Avenue at Ponnopozz and District - Join two of your favorite Ravenswood small businesses to wish them well as they prepare to relocate their storefronts! Sales, specials, and celebrations will commence! 10am-6pm, 4839-4835 N Damen Ave More Info
·4/19-20, Wrestlemania at Begyle Brewing - Head to Begyle's taproom for two full nights of epic WWE championship match ups! On Saturday, American comfort food will be available for purchase from The Urban Dining League. On Sunday, the taproom gets a visit from the El Zorro Tacos food truck. 6-10pm, 1800 W Cuyler Ave More Info
·4/20, Easter Brunch at Rojo Gusano - Hop into Easter Sunday with a festive brunch at Rojo Gusano, featuring delicious food specials and bottomless mimosas. Celebrate the holiday with vibrant flavors, exceptional service, and a lively yet welcoming atmosphere. 11:00am-3:00pm, 4217 N Ravenswood Ave More Info
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·4/24, 19th District Council Monthly Meeting - Hear from a representative of the Avondale Restorative Justice Community Court (RJCC) about their community-based, healing-centered approach to reducing recidivism. A representative from the State’s Attorney’s Office will also share info about their First Time Weapon Offenders Probation Program. 6:30pm, 2936 N Southport, RSVP Requested More Info
·4/24, Creating Sustainable Local Food Systems Panel at Common Pantry - Join Common Pantry for an evening of discussion among local leaders on Chicago's food ecosystem, current trends impacting the food system, and ways we can improve its sustainability. 6:30-8pm, 3908 N Lincoln Ave, FREE More Info
·4/26, Pretzels On The Playground at German International School of Chicago - Join GISC for a special family event series: Pretzels on the Playground! For this special open house event, the team will welcome families on their new nature playground for a fun time for all ages. 10am-12pm, 1726 W Berteau Ave More Info
·4/27, Ravenswood Run - The 29th annual Ravenswood Run returns! The event also serves as a fundraiser for Ravenswood Community Services' Food Pantry and Community Kitchen, a staple in the community that provides meals and groceries to neighbors in need. Read More
·4/27, Spring Studio Opening at Sophia Reyes - Shop the new Sophia Reyes spring collection at the atelier! The event will feature guest jewelry designer Michelle Starbuck and ceramicist Jessica Egan of Little Fire Ceramics. 10am-5pm, 4039A N Ravenswood Ave More Info
·5/3, Mom Market at Dovetail Brewery - Show ma how much you love her at Dovetail Brewery's annual Mother's Day market with a gift from more than 20 local artists and makers! From candles to ceramics, to sweets and small delights, there's something for every mom within a talented round-up of vendors. 12-6pm, 1800 W Belle Plaine Ave More Info
·View Our Full Community Calendar
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·Punch: The Who’s Who of Beer Cool in 2025 - "Is/Was is another resounding vote for specialization in craft brewing—and, like Continental lagers, also provides a repertoire skewing low in alcohol—but founder Mike Schallau has committed to an even narrower niche." Read More
·Pollo Express Now Open - Calling all Pollo lovers! Pollo Express, the family-owned Mexican restaurant well-regarded for its authentic dishes, has officially opened up their Ravenswood location at 1967 W Lawrence Ave. Stop in on Mondays and Wednesdays to buy a Whole Chicken Combo and get a Half Chicken FREE! Read More
·New Brunch Menu at Gio's Bar & Grill - Gio's is proud to serve brunch to the Ravenswood community on Thursday and Friday nights from 3:30-10pm and weekends from 11am-2pm with $20 bottomless mimosas! Plus, during the entire month of April, Gio's will be matching donations up to $200 for the Evanston Animal Shelter at check out time! Read More
·Home Brew Stammtisch at DANK Haus - Calling all homebrewers! Join this special Stammtisch Open Haus to celebrate the art of homebrewing! This month, DANK Haus is calling all homebrewers to share samples of their handcrafted beers. Attendees will vote on their favorite brew and the winning brewer will receive a portion of the donations collected at the door! Read More
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What's Up on Malt Row?
·4/16, Houseplant Workshop at Dovetail Brewery - Do you love plants? Need an excuse to make some plans? Join the Uncommon Plant Guy, Chicago’s houseplant expert, for an evening at Dovetail for some hands-on fun where you’ll learn to craft your own kokedama- a stunning Japanese moss ball planter. 6:30-8pm, 1800 W Belle Plaine Ave, $75 More Info
·4/26, Ravenswood Makers Market at KOVAL Distillery - Community. Art. A good time. Join the fun to explore 25 makers with a drink in hand at KOVAL Distillery! 1-6pm, 4241 N Ravenswood Ave, FREE More Info
·4/17, Jazz and Wine at VIN312 Winery - Join VIN312 for an unforgettable evening of live jazz with the Isabella Isherwood Quartet and wine tastings featuring a selection of exquisite wines. Take a tour of the venue and immerse yourself in the ambiance of full functioning urban winery hosted by the winemaker! 7-11pm, 4710 N. Ravenswood Ave. Rear, $20+ More Info
·5/24-5/25, Mayfestiversary - Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery host their annual spring party! Welcome back Chicago’s best season, celebrate Dovetail's 8th anniversary, and help raise funds for The Friendship Center food pantry. The weekend will include food trucks, live music, family-friendly fun, and of course lots of excellent beer! 11am-10pm, 1800 W Cuyler Ave More Info
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·Sketch Journal Art Retreat in Portugal with Anne Leuck - Join Anne Leuck this June for a week of creativity inspired by touring Portugal's beautiful coastline, back roads, and bairros. Classes will be inspired by daily experiences and the beautiful locations you'll visit. There are only two spots left! More Info
·Pottery Painting Classes at Color Me Mine - Pottery painting is a truly magical and inclusive experience that transcends age and skill levels. Unlock your inner artist, create cherished memories, and take home beautiful ceramic masterpieces at Color Me Mine! More Info
·Spring Shorts at Chicago Printmakers Collaborative - These abbreviated courses focus on techniques that are not usually covered in our traditional classes. Learn drypoint, monotype, mezzotint, watercolor screen printing, or see demonstrations of a number of different printmaking techniques. Visiting Artist Sarah Smelser will be in town again to offer her very popular Monotype workshop. More Info
·Spring Registration Now Open at Lillstreet Art Center - Spring is in the air—and so are new opportunities to learn, make, and explore! Class and workshop registration is now open, with offerings across Ceramics, Metalsmithing, Printmaking, Textiles, and more. Whether you’re looking to try something new or build on your skills, there’s a seat waiting for you. More Info
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Creative Calendar
·4/17, Pressed Flower Frame Workshop at BonFemmes - Join Bon Femmes for a dreamy evening of floral crafting to celebrate spring! Using a curated selection of gorgeous dried florals, you’ll craft your own floral collages and assemble them into beautiful pressed flower frames. 6-8pm, 4917 N Damen Ave, $55 More Info
·4/26, Playing with Ink and Water at Jenny G's Art Supply - Taught by artist Larry Wolf, you'll explore how the ink and water interact, taking whatever strokes made and giving them a life of their own. Surprising forms arise on the paper - an interaction of our intentions and the nature of the materials. 10am-12pm, 1926 W Montrose Ave, $45 More Info
·5/5, Intro to Neon (4 Week Workshop) at Lightwriters Neon - This introductory class teaches basic glass bending, cutting, and splicing. The workshop includes all necessary supplies and will cover safety techniques for working with glass and glassblowing torches. No experience required. 7-9:30pm, 4222 N Ravenswood Ave, $540 More Info
·5/10, Colorful Clouds Shoe Embroidery at Maydel - Do your shoes need some pizazz? Want to jazz them up with embroidery? Learn how to embroider your canvas shoes with colorful clouds. Don't miss this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn with visiting Seattle artist Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ! 10am-12pm, 1746 W Wilson Ave, $70 More Info
| | Business Resources & Workshops | | |
5/22, Women Leaders in Business: Spring Networking
The Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to invite you to a special edition of our Women Leaders in Business event on Thursday, May 22 at KOVAL Distillery. This year marks the 10th anniversary of both our organization and this impactful program—so we’re celebrating in style!
| | Tickets include admission, your first drink, savory and sweet small bites, and plenty of opportunities to get creative. 4-6pm, 4241 N Ravenswood Ave, $25 for GRCC Members/$32 for General Admission. More Info | | |
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) recently announced that the Community Development Grant (Small and Medium sized funding) is currently accepting applications through August 15th, 2025. Apply Now.
The City of Chicago helps support business and neighborhood vitality through Small, Medium and Large Community Development Grant (CDG) awards to support a variety of eligible, business-related investments that create and maintain jobs and quality-of-life improvements for local residents. Applications are open to business owners, property owners, non-profit organizations, community developers and entrepreneurs.
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Each month, Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection hosts a variety of free business resource webinars.
·4/18, Navigating Challenging Conversations - Whether you're managing a team, serving your clients, or collaborating with peers, delivering and receiving difficult feedback is inevitable—but it doesn’t have to be destructive to the receiver, the giver and the relationship. This workshop is designed to equip you with the tools, mindset and strategies to handle these interactions. 9:30am on Zoom, FREE w/ RSVP More Info
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·4/25, Building Your Small Business Team - Presented by Kylie Ruscheinski, Director of the Uptown Business Center. Learn how to maximize your business's potential by investing in the right tools and partners. Build your small business team for legal, financial, and management support. This webinar will also cover all of the free resources provided by the 8 Chicago Business Centers funded by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. 9:30am on Zoom, FREE w/ RSVP More Info
·View Upcoming Free City Workshops
| | Updates from Special Service Area #31 | | ·Power Washing Update - In a continued effort to beautify our neighborhood’s commercial corridors, enhancing the overall appeal and attracting more customers to the area, Special Service Area #31 will begin offering power washing services. This year, our crews are prioritizing Clark Street and Lawrence Avenue. | | |
·NEW: Sunny Kids Land LLC Seeks Infant/Toddler Lead Teacher - The Lead Teacher will plan and implement a daily curriculum, provide responsive care, and lead classroom staff to ensure a high-quality learning experience for every child. More Info
·NEW: Sunny Kids Land LLC Seeks Assistant Teacher - The Assistant Teacher will support the Lead Teacher in providing a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for children, helping implement daily activities, and contributing to a positive classroom culture. More Info
·NEW: Rooted Connections Counseling Seeks Intake Coordinator - Rooted Connections Counseling is seeking an intake coordinator to manage their large referral base, request for services, and connections to their clinical team. More Info
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·Maydel Seeks Retail & eCommerce Specialist - Maydel is looking for an energetic, detail-oriented person to help with in-person and eCommerce retail operations. Maydel is a fast-growing craft company whose mission is to encourage accessibility and responsibility in craft. More Info
·Common Pantry Seeks Bilingual Social Services Coordinator - The Coordinator will work with the Social Services Program Manager to provide direct supportive services and targeted referrals to clients of Common Pantry. More Info
·Half Acre Seeks Seasonal Taproom Associate - This is an hourly, seasonal position that requires availability during business hours, which includes weekends and nights. More Info
·View Our Job Board
| | ·Careers in Manufacturing at JARC - Jane Addams Resource Corporation's free job training courses can help you gain employment in the manufacturing sector. You'll learn valuable skills, including CNC, welding, and mechanical assembly. More Info | | |
·Mother's Day Sale at Lucila's Alfajores - Lucila's beautiful alfajores cookie gift boxes are the perfect gift for Mom on Mother's Day - use Code RAVEN10 for 10% off! Boxes can be shipped anywhere in the US or picked up locally in Ravenswood. Contact hello@lucilas.com for any corporate gifting or catering needs. Offer valid through 5/12/25. More Info
·Spring Promotion at Salon élan Vital - Buy 4 get 1 free single laser hair removal sessions. Plus, new massage clients will receive $10 off and can pre-book at end of the session to get $5 off your next appointment! Offer valid through 5/31/25. More Info
·Onboarding Trial at Bolt Fitness - New to fitness or looking to ease into group training with confidence? Bolt Fitness' 2-Week Onboarding Program is the perfect way to experience Bolt Fitness while receiving personalized guidance to set you up for success. Offering ongoing for new clients. More Info
| | Volunteer & Donation Opportunities | | |
·Call for Donations to McPherson Elementary's Badger Bash - McPherson Elementary School's 8th annual Badger Bash is right around the corner, on May 10 at the DANK Haus! Help support McPherson by donating items or experiences to their largest annual fundraiser. Whether it’s sports tickets, concert passes, gift cards, or unique experiences, your generous contributions will make a big difference for students and our school community. More Info
·Support the Ravenswood Community Services Food Pantry & Community Kitchen - Every Tuesday, RCS distributes groceries and hot meals to neighbors. Volunteers are welcome and asked to sign up in advance (info can be found on the RCS website under the Volunteer tab). Other ways to help include donations of pasta and rice within their expiration dates, financial support for the food pantry and community kitchen, and words of encouragement posted to RCS's Facebook page. Pasta and rice donations can be dropped off Tuesdays between 1-7:30pm at 1757 W Wilson Ave. More Info
·Volunteer at The Friendship Center - The Friendship Center operates a food pantry, serves weekly hot meals, delivers groceries to seniors and other individuals who are homebound and cannot visit the pantry, and provides pet food for those in need. Volunteers are needed in a variety of roles, including in the pantry, in the kitchen, and helping with weekend deliveries. While most opportunities are for adults, the Friendship Center has two after-school programs for younger volunteers. More Info
·Call for Volunteers and Donations to Common Pantry - Chicago's longest operating food pantry is looking for new volunteers! If you can't volunteer, consider making a monetary donation. Direct monetary donations are the best way to support the pantry, as it allows them to purchase high priority supplies for their clients. More Info
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