Meet other local Black professionals...
The Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League is the Urban League's young professionals' auxiliary. Good opportunities for community outreach/volunteering, social, and professional networking; metroboard.org
The Chicago Black Professionals Meetup Group- "Meetups" are great for coalescing folks with similar interests. Go to blackbiz.meetup.com and click on The Chicago Black Professionals Meetup Group to learn about social networking opportunities with Black folk in our area. Both groups are particularly beneficial for individuals who are new to Chicago and want to meet people.
Do you miss New Orleans ???
Support the Common Ground Collective, who's mission is to provide short-term relief for Katrina victims and long-term support for rebuilding New Orleans. Send money or even take a service-project vacation to the Crescent City and provide hands-on assistance. Info at commongroundrelief.org. Also, support the People's Hurricane Relief Fund & Oversight Coalition. This is an advocacy group for Katrina survivors. Info at peopleshurricane.org. I have volunteered with both organizations and can highly recommend them. The New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity office also does great work...habitat-nola.org and get behind Brad Pitt's efforts...makeitrightnola.org
Give back..Looking to volunteer your time in your own neck of the
Give back...
Check out chicagovolunteer.net or volunteermatch.org. Find oppotunities to give back & make a difference in your community by utilizing the largest online network of participating non-profits.
Be prepared...
alertchicago.com is Chicago's emergency preparedness website. Arm yourself with information BEFORE disaster stikes.
Wanna visit multiple attractions for a reduced price...
Get a CityPass. Gives you admission to The Hancock Observatory, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science & Industry plus OMNIMAX for reduced price of $49.50 ($92 value). Go to citypass.com for more info. (Great for out-of-town visitors !)
DuSable Museum of African American History
The oldest museum of its kind in the country, 740 E. 50th Place, 773.947.0600, dusablemuseum.org
List of Job Fairs held by The State of Illinois in Chicago & suburbs...
Go to...
ides.state.il.us/info/event/default.asp or chicagojobresource.com
Looking for a Black business to support / Looking to have your business listed...
Hit goblackbiz.com and click on Illinois. Order your Black Card for discounts at businesses in the directory ! Also check out Black networking info at
http://blackbiz.meetup.com
Afro-Netizen.com
Great blog on subjects of importance to the African-American community. Created by Chris Rabb (a high school friend) and an under-appreciated star among Black activist/commentators.
You've Got Mail...
Send an email to Khalid Scott, daddykbs1@aol.com, and ask to be placed on his distribution list. Khalid will keep you informed with job notices, articles, items for sale, his famous "Question of the Week" responses, etc. Thanks for this great service Khalid !
Black bookstores
African American Images, 1909 W. 95th St., 773.445.0322, africanamericanimages.com
Afrocentric Bookstore, 4655 S. King Dr., 773.924.3966
Go jump in the lake !
The Windy City Seals, windycityseals.com, is an affiliate of the National Association of Black Scuba-Divers, nabsdivers.org. Join them for local or international dives and other group outings. Also, support Mike Parnell's Magnum Scuba Shop at 773.412.3723...He certified me to dive !
Hit the slopes with other Black skiers...
Check out the local affiliate of the National Brotherhood of Skiers (nbs.org), the Chicago Sno-Gophers Ski Club, sno-gophers.org.
63rd Street Beach
Good parking, concessions, volleyball, interactive sprinkler/play area for the kids, African drumming, especially on weekend evenings
Thought comedy was dead in Chi-Town ? Think again...
Check out:
- chicagostandup.com
- damonwilliamscomedy.com
- mikeyocomedy.com
- funnyfirstsaturdays.com
- itsacomedythang.com
- jokesandnotes.com
Wanna dine AND network ?
Check out the Diners Society of Diverse Professionals, dsdp.org
Chicago Public Library / Kraft Museum Passport Program
Borrow passes that allow Chicago residents to visit Chicago museums for free, available at all library branches, 13 participating museums
Running out of fun & educational activity ideas for the youngins ?
Click on ChicagoKids.com
Got golf ?
PlayGolfChicago.com offers free golf lessons every weekend,
New golfer starter class and amateur golfer tune-up clinic, free rental clubs, call Ron @ 773-592-6405
Price of gas too high? Don't wanna pay for parking on the Loop??
Take the CTA ...and pay your fare with ease by using the Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus. Go to chicago-card.com. Also, get CTA & RTA transit system maps and trip planner info at transitchicago.com
Do ya Gotta Have House ??
- Check out deephousepage.com and click "Chicago Parties"
- chicagosoundsource.com
- housearrestevents.com
- 5chicago.com
Little Black Pearl Art & Design Center
Classes for Kids & Adults, Everything from job readiness to pottery, 1060 E. 47th St., 773.285.1211, blackpearl.org
Hyde Park Art Center
Kids & Adult classes in ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, etc., 5020 S. Cornell, 773.324.5520, hydeparkart.org
Up, up, & away...
Hot air ballon rides at Blue Sky Ballon Rides, McHenry, IL; $145-500, 815.388.5056, sailthebluesky.com
Dinner & a movie...
Spice up your movie screening experience by heading out to the Hollywood Blvd. Movie Theater in Woodridge. It's a theater with full to-your-seat food & beverage service. Go to atriptothemovies.com. Also, there is the new Muvico Theaters, 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Rosemont, muvico.com. For an even more upscale dining & movie experience, check out the AMC Yorktown Premium in Lombard, 630.495.0048
Thought all the Drive-In movie theaters were closed ?? Think again...
Cascade Outdoor Theater, 1100 E. North Ave., West Chicago, IL 60185; $3.50-7.50, 630.231.3150 or cascadedrivein.com for shows & times, (A bit of a hike depending on where you live but you can't beat the drive-in !)
Looking for fraternity, sorority, masonic, & ethnic merchandise...
Alpha II Omega, 1838 W. 95th St., 773.445.9044 (Great party room for rent in rear too !)
Cooking classes...
- World Kitchen at The Gallery 37 Center For The Arts, 312.742.TIXS, 66 E. Randolph St.
- Calphalon Culinary Center, 1000 W. Washington Blvd., calphalonculinarycenter.com
- The Chopping Block, 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. & The Merchandise Mart, thechoppingblock.net
Extreme go carts...
Chicago Indoor Racing, Buffalo Grove, 847.941.9400, chicagoindoorracing.com
Great bowling & laser tag...
Brunzwick Zone-Homewood, 3043 183rd St., billiards & arcade too, 708.799.4749, bowlbrunswick.com
Camping, & hiking, & fishing oh my !
Wanna do something outdoorsy...take a ride out to Starved Rock State Park, cabin rental, rock climbing, horseback riding, canoeing, etc. & only 94 miles from Chicago, grandbearlodge.com
A 3-hour tour...
(Or a 2-hour tour) City Segway Tours, Cruise thru the Museum Campus or along the lakefront path on one of those wacky Segways, 400 E. Randolph, 877.734.8687, $60-70, citysegwaytours.com/chicago
McDonald's Cycle Center at Millennium Park
Guided Biking Tours & Bike Rentals, 239 E. Randolph, 888.BIKE.WAY, bikechicago.com
Don't drink the water...
But you can rent a boat and paddle on it ! Chicago River Canoe & Kayak, 3400 N. Rockwell St., 773.704.2663, chicagoriverpaddle.com
Sightseeing boat tours...
wendellaboats.com, odysseycruises.com, spiritofchicago.com, seadogcruises.com
Loop The Loop
Educational audio walking tour of the diverse cultural & entertainment offerings downtown, download to your iPod for free at chicagoloopalliance.com
Relationship chats...
Got relationship/dating questions, Check out artchatdaddysims.com and r-gap.com, Their events are ALWAYS entertaining & informative !!
Sports leaugues...
Basketball, football, softball, etc. officialinthezone.com, chicagosportandsocialclub.com
Running, walking, & marathon training program
Dream Team: ChicagoFitCamp.com
Not sure who your elected officials are...
Click on civicfootprint.org
Discovery Center
Take classes on everything from Belly dancing and photography to real estate investing and "How to Flirt". Classes meet all over the city but the main office is at 2940 N. Lincoln Ave., 773.348.8120, discoverycenter.cc
Signaturedays.com
Check out this site for cool local experience trips. Unique gift ideas !
Off to the races...
Find a list of area running, cycling, and swimming races...windycitysports.com
National Sex Offender Registry
See who's living next door to YOU ! Go to... familywatchdog.us/
Free home valuation tool...
zillow.com is a great site for real estate enthusiasts, professionals, etc !
Network with real estate investors...
Black Real Asset Investment Network / BRAIN Chicago, Inc., brainchicago.org
Theater for FREE...
Volunteer at performing arts events and see the show for free...great for retirees on a budget! Check out saintschicago.org
Tix At 6 : Half-price Goodman tickets
At 6p or 2 hours before matinee performances, Goodman Theatre sells unsold tickets for half-price. Must purchase in person, 170 N. Dearborn (Great way to see that play you couldn't quite fit in the budget !)
Hottix
Last-minute, half-priced theater tickets, hottix.org
Online restaurant resources...
- Wanna know what they serve at that new restaurant you've been wanting to try, and get the hours and exact location too? Check out chicago.menupages.com , diningchicago.com
- Can't remember where that great seafood spot is that you heard about on channel 11's Check, Please ! ? Check out wttw.com and click the Check, Please ! page under Programs.
- Book tables at hundreds of Chicago-area restaurants at opentable.com
This list keeps growing week-by-week, so keep checking back !
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