We just had our second Lunch Bunch, a new monthly dining experience. We eat at a different restaurant in the neighborhood every month for the very competitive price of $15.

Our inaugural Lunch Bunch was at Los Nopales in January, and they served us a wonderful family style meal that included fish, chicken and beef dishes. Fifteen of us enjoyed the experience. Many were impressed with the food and the atmosphere; it is a charming place run by a wonderful family.

This month we ate at Rockwell’s, at Eastwood and Rockwell. The burgers and chicken pasta salad were delicious, as was everything else. We were 14 this time but no men, where are you guys? We missed you Bert! Some know each other and others are there make new friends. But we were all there to share. We discussed our neighborhood, the senior CAPS meeting, and many other things. It was a great way to build our community.

We had great service and even better conversations.

Join us next month when we go to Café 28 on the 21^st of March! We changed our meeting time to 12 noon. There was also interest in going to Spacca Napoli in April. Save the date, the 3^rd Thursday of the month.

Helene Wineberg

Here is a little update for “Dara’s Report” and for Karen to use as a blog for Forward Chicago.

Yesterday was the coldest day here in 2 yrs!  Though not as cold as the weather you are having there. I am very happy that I brought my long down coat – I would have been miserable standing outside all day during the Inauguration.

We have had a fabulous time in our Nations Capitol during this time of celebration. Over and over we were reminded at the wonder of our country’s passing of leadership in a peaceful and orderly way for so many years and how lucky we are to be Americans!

Our view of the Inauguration was almost perfect; aside from a couple of ill-placed trees. What was totally perfect was the friendly, happy crowd. We met people from all over the country – even Alaska!  One of the benefits of staying with our daughter and son-in-law is that they live only a mile from the Capitol; walking everywhere makes the city so accessible. Yesterday we spent the morning with the team from Morning Joe as they broadcast from an Irish Pub in downtown DC.

I have attached a few photos; one from Congressman Quigley’s view of the inauguration.

Stay warm!

My husband and I were very daring on New Year’s Eve – especially because we are way past the age to “party hearty”. Not caring to be out at midnight, we had dinner at 8pm.

We went to a restaurant that is fairly new in the neighborhood and one we had on our list to try; Troquet 1834 W. Montrose. Our hope is that one day we will find a French bistro to replace Le Bastille. Anyway, Troquet has a small menu, but there is something for everyone. We had a delightful creamy brie wrapped in flakey filo as an appetizer, followed by a roasted kohlrabi soup that was very light vs. heavy with cream. My husband had steak, while I had trout – both came with salad and frites. Both of us were content with the smallish size of our portions and happy with our choices. Dessert was also quite light – chocolate/nutella mousse. The beer list had many choices – the kind waiter brought my husband two “tastes”; from which he chose a local IPI that he hadn’t had before. I ordered a celebratory kir royale – perfect for the occasion.

The service was impeccable, friendly, helpful and the bill didn’t break the bank.

Try it, I think you’ll enjoy yourself.

troquetchicago.com

Dära Salk

Constituent Services Liaison

Alderman Ameya Pawar – Ward 47

LINCOLN SQUARE — The neighborhood boasts its share of young families, as the planned annexes for Bell and Coonley Elementary Schools confirm, but it’s also home to plenty of residents like 89-year-old Tony Krier.

“I moved here in 1954 and raised nine kids,” said Krier, who has been retired for nearly 30 years, but still drives, exercises three mornings a week at Galter Life Center and does his own cooking and shopping (although he leaves the cleaning to someone else).

“I go to Gene’s Sausage Shop and notice most of the stores are geared to younger people in Lincoln Square,” he said. “It makes me feel if I need something, I’ve got to go out of the community.”

Trying to counteract that perception is precisely the goal of Forward Chicago, a new initiative by the 47th Ward’s Senior Council that aims to help seniors stay in the community.

“We want people to move to this ward, stay in this ward and retire in this ward,” said Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) at an event held at the Old Town School of Folk Music introducing the membership-based nonprofit organization.

The alderman pointed to a wealth of resources in the ward, including the Levy Senior Center on Lawrence Avenue, Old Town School, DANK Haus and faith-based institutions, all of which provide programming for older adults, who account for 7,500 of the neighborhood’s residents, according to 2010 census figures.

Forward Chicago was designed to serve as an information hub that connects individuals to these organizations, as well as relevant events and activities.

In establishing the program, the 47th Ward is ahead of other communities in accommodating and reaching out to its aging residents, according to Robyn Golden, director of older adult programs at Rush Medical Center and a speaker at Saturday’s event.

“These conversations are not happening everywhere; a lot [of communities] are in denial about demographics. We’re going to be caught off guard in terms of the graying of our country,” she said. A major obstacle, she noted, is the treatment of aging as a dirty word. No one wants to admit they’re getting older, said Golden, and yet “a 30-year-old should be concerned about aging well as much as a 90-year-old.”

Phil Ponce, Lincoln Square resident and host of WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, moderated a panel of older adults, all of whom embody Golden’s directive to “stay connected, keep doing new things, stay active and give back.”

Seventy-three-year-old panelist Audrey Kaufman retired at 69 and lost her husband six months later.

“I sort of slept for six months,” she said. “I was exhausted, depressed and didn’t know what to do with myself.”

Kaufman’s solution was to indulge old and new passions. She channeled her love of reading into a regular volunteer gig at Open Books, a nonprofit that promotes literacy, and recently took up the piano. “I’ve wanted to do that all my life, now I have time.”

Her biggest leap was to enroll in an improv class at Second City.

“Doing things that are out of your comfort zone, I think it makes you feel younger,” she said, although initially the experience had the opposite effect.

After the first class, Kaufman approached the instructor and said, “I’m the grandmother of this class,” as the only student over the age of 30. The instructor’s response: “If that’s what you want to be.”

Kaufman took the rebuke to heart. “This is a class, we’re all people,” she reminded herself. “I had a great time,” she said, and even wound up joining the “children” for the occasional drink.

“It expands your idea of who you are,” she said.

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20121203/lincoln-square/keeping-seniors-neighborhood-is-focus-of-lincoln-square-initiative#ixzz2EKjwFYxk

RAVENSWOOD — A mosaic depicting a deeply rooted tree encircled by a ring of protective hands is the centerpiece of a new art exhibit honoring the contributions made by senior citizens in the 47th Ward.

“Roots of Our Community,” a collaboration between the Chicago Mosaic School and 47th Ward office, is a nod to the positive influence that the community’s oldest generation has had on the area.

“Our older residents who’ve lived here for a long time created the fabric of what you see today,” said Karen Kolb Flude, a gerontologist by profession, who also heads the 47th Ward’s Senior Council. The group brings together members of the community for activities that are not age-specific, such as art.

“We’re trying to help increase the awareness and importance of people as they age,” she said, adding that they want to counter the “infantilism and marginalization that comes with age.”

The mosaic — along with the work of eight members of the Senior Artists Network who reside in the 47th Ward — will be on display at an exhibit at Dolce Casa Cafe on Damen Avenue Nov. 2 – 30.

“My greatest mentors are elderly people,” said Karen Ami, founder of the Chicago Mosaic School, the only such institution in the United States. Seniors, she added, also comprised a sizable contingent of the school’s students.

The low-tech aspect of the medium appealed to Mary Kirby, who’s in her 60s.

“We always have to do, do, do…turn your cell phones off,” said Kirby, who became hooked on the art form, which she’s admired ever since visiting the Art Institute as a 10-year-old.

Kirby, who formerly pasted up movie ads for the now-defunct Plitt Theatre chain, enjoys the meditative aspect of mosaics, particularly in a “society that won’t stop talking.” She learned about the school through a Groupon, she said.

The idea for the mosaic came from Ami’s desire to increase the school’s community outreach. Learning of the Senior Council, she contacted Dara Salk in the 47th Ward office and a partnership was formed.

The project eventually grew to include Annette Abajian, president of Chicago’s Senior Artists Network, which has been around since 1988. All of the artists are professionals, though some are just now returning to their chosen medium after a lengthy hiatus.

“One sculptor, his wife didn’t even know,” said Abajian.

The exhibit runs Nov. 2 – 30, with an opening reception set for Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20121019/ravenswood/47th-ward-honors-senior-citzens-with-mosaic#ixzz2DZcPMm1L

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The “Roots of Our Community” exhibit will be at Dolce Casa Cafe until Nov. 30.
By Sarah Flagg

The red brick of Dolce Casa Café framed more than 10 pieces of art and residents sipped wine while gazing at the proud work of area senior citizens.

Eight artists, part of the Senior Artists Network, held an opening reception Thursday night at the café.

(Read one artist’s touching story.)

The exhibit stems from a partnership between the Senior Artists Network, Chicago Mosaic School and Ward 47 Ald. Ameya Pawar’s office.

The Chicago Mosaic School approached the Ward 47 office with the idea of creating a mosaic that honored the area’s older adults. More than 30 senior citizens volunteered to put the 2-by-3-foot piece together.

When the piece was done, the ward invited other artists to display their work with the goal of uniting neighbors.

Pawar attended the reception and said the resilience of a community, especially in the wake of a disaster like Hurricane Sandy, could be measured by whether or not people know their neighbors.

After he was elected, Pawar enlisted the help of resident Karen Kolb Flude and ward community liaison Dara Salk to create a way for neighbors to get to know each other, especially as they aged.

The two started Forward Chicago, an organization that works to help residents remain active, engaged and involved as they get older. The group hosts events and has volunteer opportunities throughout the community, such as the art exhibit.

“Art is something you do throughout a lifetime,” Kolb Flude said, adding its benefits in keeping the mind healthy as it ages.

The mosaic and artwork will be on display at Dolce Casa Café until Nov. 30.

Related Topics: Ameya Pawar, Dara Salk, Dolce Casa Cafe, Roots of Our Community, Senior Artists Network, and Ward 47

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