When: Tuesday, March 10th at 7:00 PM Where: Quantum LEEP Academy (1447 W. Montrose Ave)
We are thrilled to welcome Robert Loerzel, a renowned Chicago freelance journalist and photographer. Robert will be sharing stories from his new book, The Uptown: Chicago’s Endangered Movie Palace, co-authored with James A. Pierce.
He will take us through the history of the legendary Uptown Theatre—from its glory days to its decades of disrepair and its potential future. Robert will also present fascinating findings from his history project, The Coolest Spot in Chicago: A History of Green Mill Gardens and the Beginnings of Uptown.
Robert’s work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s, and WBEZ. This is a presentation you won’t want to miss!
While we’re excited to host an incredible guest speaker, these meetings are also a great way to meet the people living right next door. We’ll have time before and after the presentation to chat, catch up on neighborhood happenings, and meet your fellow Graceland Westers in person.
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Mark Riehle, a longtime neighbor, business partner, and devoted supporter of the Graceland West community. Mark passed away peacefully early Sunday morning at the age of 66, following a courageous battle with heart disease and brain injury.
To many, Mark was the face of the beloved Ranalli’s on Montrose. His restaurant wasn’t just a local business; it was a neighborhood staple where many of us shared meals and memories. Whether we were enjoying his famous quick delivery or stopping in for a slice, Mark always made his customers feel like family.
Beyond the restaurant, Mark’s dedication to our community truly shined at GWCAFest. For many years, he was the engine behind the food tent, tirelessly organizing and serving the neighborhood he loved. Most will remember Mark not just for the food he provided, but for his infectious warmth and generous spirit. He cared deeply for Graceland West and its residents, a devotion he proved time and again through his friendship and service.
Mark was a true friend to this neighborhood, and he will be profoundly missed. Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.
Can you believe it’s already Wednesday? That means we are just three days away from our Annual Neighborhood Bowling Event!
If you’ve been meaning to sign up but the week got away from you, this is your official Last Call. We have a few lanes left, and we’d love to see your family filling them.
When: This Saturday, January 24 Where: Timber Lanes, 1851 W Irving Park Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
As we welcome 2026, we wanted to take a moment to look back at a vibrant year in Graceland West. 2025 was defined by the launch of exciting new traditions, strong partnerships with our local schools and businesses, and a renewed focus on the future of our neighborhood.
Here is a look at what we accomplished together.
New Traditions & Community Milestones
This year we introduced new ways to gather and celebrated significant milestones for our neighborhood partners.
Warner Park Winter Wonderland: We launched a dazzling new tradition in November with the first-ever lighting of Warner Park. It was wonderful to share hot chocolate with neighbors as our park sparkled for the holidays.
First Annual Celebration of Cycling: We hosted our inaugural celebration of cycling, bringing together bike enthusiasts of all ages to promote safe riding and sustainable transit in our community.
Welcoming “The CheckOut”: We were thrilled to host the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Access Contemporary Music (ACM) at their new venue, “The CheckOut” (formerly the 7-Eleven). It is a joy to have a new cultural anchor in the neighborhood.
Neighborhood Fest & Garden Walk: We continued our longest-running traditions with the 44th Annual Fest—featuring Five Squared Pizza and Off Color Brewing—and the 43rd Annual Garden Walk, which showcased the incredible greenery of our community.
Greening Graceland West
Our commitment to sustainability and beautification reached new heights this year through collaboration and education.
Pollinator Pathways & LVHS Partnership: We significantly expanded our pollinator habitats, most notably with new installations at Lake View High School, supported by the LVHS JROTC and the school’s first-ever Gardening Club, and our annual Kids installation event at Warner Park.
Leaf Cleanup & Pumpkin Smash: Our eco-efforts bookended the fall season, from the “Pumpkin Smash” composting event to the Annual Street Leaf Cleanup, where volunteers cleared storm drains to prevent flooding.
Yoga in the Park: We kept moving all summer and early fall with our regular Saturday morning yoga sessions in Warner Park.
Governance & Community Voices
Our quarterly community meetings were packed with special guests and important dialogue about the direction of Graceland West.
Q1 (March): We kicked off the year at LEEP Academy with 46th Ward Alderwoman Clay and Jenson Allen from the Graceland Cemetery and Arboretum, who joined us to discuss ward updates, public safety, and the history of our beautiful neighbor to the east.
Q2 (June): We focused on environmental sustainability with a meeting at Warner Park and Gardens, hosting Olivia Reda from the Alliance for the Great Lakes and discussing green roofing initiatives with Kevin Serena.
Q3 (August): Following the ribbon cutting, we held our summer meeting at ACM’s “The CheckOut,” enjoying a special piano performance by Seth Boustead.
Q4 (November): Responding to your survey feedback regarding local history, we hosted Marty Sandberg and Cristina Gallo from Via Chicago to discuss adaptive reuse and preserving our neighborhood’s architectural legacy.
Looking Ahead
As we step into 2026, we are excited to continue these efforts but we need your input! Please help us define the next decade for Graceland West. The initial feedback from our “Shaping Graceland West’s Future” Survey directly led to the architectural preservation topic at our November meeting. If you have not yet completed the survey, please take a few minutes to share your priorities with the GWCA Council.
Thank you for your membership, your volunteer hours, and your spirit. It’s neighbors like you who make Graceland West a true community.
Our much-loved annual Next Gen bowling party is just around the corner, and we’re especially excited to invite all Graceland West families!
All Ages Welcome: Bowling is a sport everyone can enjoy. We’ll have bumpers available for the younger ones (or anyone who needs a little help) and lighter balls to make sure every throw is a fun one.
A Chance to Connect: It’s a fantastic opportunity for kids to hang out with their neighbors from different schools, and for parents to socialize and meet other families in the area.
No Experience Necessary: Never bowled before? No problem! Our event is the perfect chance to try something new in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Boost Your Community Spirit: Events like these strengthen the bonds within our neighborhood. Let’s show our kids the value of community.
The event is Saturday, January 24 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Timber Lanes (1851 W Irving Park). To sign up, see our neighborhood fest page. The cost is $50 per family (up to 5 family members) and that covers the lane and shoe rental, plus snacks for the kids. Timber Lanes has a cash bar for the adults.
Get ready to experience some winter magic right here in the neighborhood!
We’re thrilled to announce a new neighborhood fixture: the Warner Park Winter Wonderland. Every evening from November 23rd until mid-January, the park will be lit up with beautiful displays from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
To celebrate the launch, we are planning a neighborhood gathering this Sunday, November 23rd!
The lights will turn on at 4:30 PM, but we encourage neighbors to stop by a little early—say, 4:25 PM—to gather and share the excitement.
GWCA will provide hot chocolate to make the evening extra cozy. Mark your calendars, bundle up, and bring the family out to enjoy the lights. We can’t wait to see you there!
The GWCA Annual Street Leaf Cleanup is nearing the finish line this weekend, so get those final bags of street leaves collected by Sunday, November 23rd!
Don’t forget our Q4 community meeting at ACM (4116 N Clark) this Thursday, November 13th at 7:00 PM, featuring Via Chicago, and our council member elections.
Then…
…It’s time to don your gloves and grab your rakes! GWCA is thrilled to announce the return of our Annual Street Leaf Cleanup, an essential community effort that helps keep our neighborhood clean, safe, and beautiful all winter long.
Kickoff Event & Celebration
The cleanup officially kicks off on Saturday, November 15th, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM! Meet at Greenview and Belle Plaine, Berteau or Cullom. Please bring a rake or a dustpan to scoop leaves into bags and 3 bags. We will have extra bags at Greenview and Belle Plaine.
Join your neighbors in raking leaves from our streets and crosswalks. This short, high-energy volunteer effort is a fun way to connect with the community and make a big impact.
The kickoff will culminate in a well-deserved celebration: Pizza in Warner Park! We’ll gather at the park around 11:30 AM to share a slice and celebrate our collective hard work.
The Full Cleanup Period
While the kickoff is a fun way to start, the GWCA Street Leaf Cleanup runs from November 15th through November 23rd. We encourage all residents to continue cleaning their streets and parkways throughout this period. Streets and sanitation will pick up bagged leaves on parkways after November 23rd.
Why Your Participation Matters
The Annual Street Leaf Cleanup is a crucial part of our neighborhood’s Eco, Gardens, and Green Space initiatives. By getting street leaves into bags, we accomplish several important goals:
Reduce Flooding: Loose leaves are the primary cause of clogged storm drains, leading to standing water and basement flooding. Clearing the sewer grates is our #1 priority!
Improve Safety: Piles of wet leaves can create slippery hazards for pedestrians and drivers, especially at crosswalks and intersections.
Prepare for Winter: Removing leaves makes winter snow shoveling significantly easier.
In previous years, our incredible volunteers have collected hundreds of bags of leaves, making a noticeable difference across the entire area (Montrose, Clark, Irving Park, and Ashland borders). Let’s make this year our biggest and best cleanup yet!
Get ready for a colorful conversation that connects Chicago’s past with its future!
Our 4th Quarter Community Meeting is just around the corner, and the topic is exciting—thanks to you! Responses thus far to our Shaping Graceland West’s Future survey showed that over half of you expressed strong interest in architecture, so we’re delivering.
Join us on Thursday, November 13th, at 7:00 PM at Access Contemporary Music (ACM), 4116 N Clark.
We’re thrilled to welcome Marty Sandberg and Cristina Gallo, the principals of Via Chicago. They’ll be sharing insights on how preserving and reimagining our city’s historic buildings breathes new life into our neighborhoods. Learn how adaptive reuse connects our rich architectural legacy with a sustainable and vibrant future.
Don’t miss this chance to see how our community’s architectural heritage is being built upon!
In addition to our guests, the meeting will include elections for council members. Council members typically serve 18 month terms. If you’re interested in serving on our council, please reach out to info@gracelandwest.org.
It’s time for one last celebration of the Halloween season—the annual Pumpkin Smash!
Thanks to the incredible community spirit and effort, everyone’s commitment has made the Lake View High School location the largest smash and compost event in the city! Last year, with the help of our partners like Lake View High School, their JROTC, and the 47th Ward, we composted over 19,000 pounds of pumpkins, keeping a huge amount of organic waste out of landfills.
This year, we’re challenging ourselves to reach a new milestone: Let’s double the tonnage! Join us in this fun, eco-friendly way to green your Halloween and support the environment.
Event Details
When:Saturday, November 8, 10 am – 2 pm
Where:Lake View High School parking lot, Greenview entrance from Irving Park
How to Participate
Bring Your Pumpkins and Gourds: All decorative squashes are welcome.
Prep Your Pumpkins: Please ensure you remove stickers and candles first!
Show Your Spirit: Halloween celebrants are encouraged to wear their costumes one more time.
Go Green on Transport: We love how many neighbors biked or brought their pumpkins in Radio Flyer or other wagons—it’s the best way to get them to the smash!
Let’s beat last year’s record and make an even bigger impact on our composting efforts!
