|
Dear Neighbors,
Valentine’s Day is almost here, and the neighborhood is full of ways to make the weekend memorable. The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce's Valentine's Day Guide includes fun activities like painting nights and dance lessons, Galentine’s parties with friends, afternoon tea, theater shows, and plenty of nearby spots to pick up beautiful flowers and the sweetest treats around. They’ve also released a Black History Month Guide to spotlight Black-owned businesses that help shape the culture and energy of Lakeview, including places like the Blind Wolf Speakeasy, Dat Donut, Comfort’s African Cuisine, Truth Training, and more.
The Cubs Home Opener is just over a month away on March 26th, and we invite you to join us for our Annual Wrigley Field Community Meeting on Tuesday, February 24th from 6:00-7:30pm. We’ll bring together City departments and the Cubs to discuss safety, traffic operations, sanitation, neighborhood beautification, summer concerts, and more as we gear up for the 2026 baseball season.
We’re excited to welcome Jujin (2845 N Broadway) to southeast Lakeview! This cozy new café is a perfect neighborhood spot for coffee and breakfast. Jujin offers a creative menu of mortadella sandwiches, shakshuka, tiramisu, and more, with plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. They also offer catering services for all your special events. Be sure to stop by and support this great new addition to our local small business community.
 
In public safety news, we are aware of a tragic fatal shooting that occurred around 4:00am this past Wednesday in the 700 block of Waveland, just outside our ward. Our office is coordinating with the 46th Ward and the 19th District of the Chicago Police Department as detectives continue to investigate what appears to have been a carjacking that resulted in a heartbreaking loss of life. If you have any information that may assist investigators, please contact the Area 3 Detectives Violent Crimes Unit at 312-744-8261.
Mark your calendars for our Free Shredding Event on Saturday, May 9th from 9:00am-12:00pm outside the 44th Ward Office at 3223 N Sheffield. Residents may bring up to two boxes of papers for secure shredding (please remove heavy-duty staples, paper clips, and other metal fasteners in advance) to declutter for the Spring cleaning season ahead.
With the March 17th election approaching, early voting is now officially open downtown at the supersite at 137 S State and at the Chicago Board of Elections, 69 W Washington, 6th Floor. You can view site hours and details of these downtown sites here. As a reminder, early voting in all 50 wards begins Monday, March 2nd at 9:00 a.m. and will run through Election Day—including here in the 44th Ward at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 814 W Nelson. You may also apply to Vote By Mail through March 12th, though it’s strongly recommended to apply as early as possible to allow time for processing and return.
 
We also want to share that the Cubs have proposed two additional projects related to their properties near Wrigley Field. First, they have acquired the House of Good Shepherd property adjacent to their Camry Lot at 1126 W Grace, and are seeking to combine these properties to accommodate additional off-street game day parking. Second, they are proposing the addition of one backlit sign each on team-owned buildings at 3639 N Sheffield and 1030 W Waveland. We are currently reviewing both requests and seeking your feedback. You can read more about the parking proposal here and about the signage proposal here.
Beyond these projects, if you'd like to stay up to date on Wrigley Field-related news including special events, changes in game times, and other ballpark updates, the Cubs invite residents in the 60613, 60614, 60640, and 60657 zip codes to join their neighborhood email list here. You can also fill out the Cubs' survey here before 5:00pm on Wednesday, February 18th to leave your feedback on their events, the game day experience, Gallagher Way programming, and more.
Consider taking advantage of an upcoming Family Preparedness Plan Workshop on Wednesday, February 25th hosted by the City’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights. You can RSVP here. This virtual session will help families prepare for potential encounters with federal law enforcement or immigration authorities, including how to create an emergency family plan, organize important documents, and understand your constitutional rights. Chicago Public Schools has also released a comprehensive Family Resource Guide outlining Know Your Rights information, CPS protections and protocols, immigration-related resources, and a list of trainings and workshops available through February.
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to get more civically involved, consider serving on one of the City of Chicago’s more than 100 boards and commissions. These bodies advise on a wide range of issues—from public health, mental health services, housing, landmarks and historic preservation, and police accountability, to parks, libraries, transportation, animal care, cultural affairs, and more. Whether your background is in health, law, marketing, finance, education, community organizing, small business, or simply lived experience, there may be a board that could benefit from your perspective. We encourage you to browse the full list here and consider where you might lend your time and talents.
Please note that our office will be closed on Monday, February 16th for President's Day.
|
