We’re just one day away from our annual Graceland West Neighborhood Fest, and we still need a few more volunteers to help bring everything together! Whether you can spare an hour or more, your support will make a big difference. If you’re able to lend a hand, please reach out to sarah.maxwell@gmail.com to volunteer. Thank you for helping make this year’s fest special!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
3:00 – 8:00 pm
Greenview between Belle Plaine & Warner
Join us for Graceland West’s largest fundraiser of the year! Come out and meet-up with your neighbors while supporting our special neighborhood. All are invited including those outside GWCA.
Day-Of Volunteers Needed
Fest Contributions
Silent auction donations (gift certificate, goods, or services)
Fest Sponsor Donations
The George Pullman ($100)
The Ernie Banks ($250)
The Ruth Page ($500)
The Conrad Sulzer ($750)
The Daniel Burnham ($1000)
DJ Stew of Stewpendous Productions
Euchre Tournament
3:30-5:00 3 rounds of round robin, $30 buy-in per player with cash prizes. Contact Kate Guilfouyle (keguilfoyle@gmail.com) to sign-up
Magic Show By Randy
3:30-4:00
Silent Auction & 50/50 Raffle
Create Custom Tie Dye T-Shirts & Spin Art
4:00-7:00
Painting Booth with Art City
4:00-7:00
Painting for adults and youth. Get creative with this local art class & gallery venue.
Five Square Pizza & Snacks
4:00-8:00
Detroit style pizza using organic ingredients& scratch made everything.
‘The best 25 pizzas in Chicago’ -Chicago Tribune; ’13 best pizzas in Chicago’-Conde Nast Traveler
Trivia Contests with Stewpendous Trivia
Youth (4:30-5) & Adult (6:30-7)
Face Painting
5:00-7:00
Off Color Brewing Beer, plus Wine & Craft Cocktails
Cotton Candy & Sno Cones
Friends of Lake View High School, Sit Social & Lakeshore Sport & Fitness Booths
Below is an important update from the Alderman’s office about the Ashland #9 Bus extension. If missed the June 6th meeting hosted by the 47th Ward notes from the GWCA Council can be found here. The feedback form from the Alderman’s office is still open if you have comments. It can be found here.
Alderman Martin is excited to share that the CTA has set the start of the extended #9 Ashland bus route to its new terminal at the Ravenswood Metra Station for Tuesday 9/3.
After hearing concerns from neighbors about the integrity of the street, CDOT has identified problem areas where they will grind and patch the street with new asphalt before buses begin running along it. CDOT has informed us that they intend to start that work next week.
In preparation for the September start date, the CTA will be working to install new bus stop signage along the route later this month.
This extension will expand access to one of the busiest bus routes in the city to within ½ mile of an estimated 21,000 additional residents and 15,000 more jobs. The extended route will also provide direct connections to the Metra, the #78 Montrose bus, and the #81 Lawrence bus.
Best,
Joshua Mark
Chief of Staff
Categories
Thank you, gardeners!
Thank you to our gardeners, visitors, and volunteers who made the 42nd annual Graceland West Garden Walk a success!! We look forward to seeing you again next year!
Join us Saturday, September 14, for our annual Graceland West Neighborhood Fest.
The 42nd Annual Graceland West Garden Walk kicks off this Sunday, July 28th at 1:00 at Warner Park and Gardens at 1446 West Warner Ave. See gracelandwest.org/garden-walk/ for more information and get a sneak peek at the map here:
It’s your last chance to sign to show your garden or to volunteer during the 42nd annual Graceland West Garden Walk!
Sunday, July 28, 1-5pm with potluck following in Warner Park & Gardens. The Graceland West Garden Walk welcomes gardens of all stripes and sizes. Sign up at gracelandwest.org/garden-walk/. Contact info@gracelandwest.org for more info.
Did you know that GWCA received a Chicago Excellence in Gardening Award last year? The award reads:
In recognition of hard work, creativity and commitment to making Chicago a healthier and more beautiful place, the Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards Committee is proud to award an honorable mention to Graceland West Community Association (GWCA) Native Pollinator & Stormwater Absorption Sites on this day, September 24, 2023.
Enjoy our many beautiful neighborhood gardens during the walk on July 28th.
Yoga in the Park, tomorrow, Saturday 7/13, 9:30-10:35 at Warner Park and Gardens. Free event hosted by GWCA. Weather looks great. Bring a mat or throw rug. Arrive a little earlier. RSVP to info@gracelandwest.org.
Dear Neighbor,
We are just one month away from the 42nd annual Graceland West Garden Walk! Details include:
- Sunday, July 28, 2024
- 1-5pm
- Garden Walk Potluck to follow at 6pm
Please use this online form to sign up for the 2024 Garden Walk. Please fill out as much of the form as you are able to today; you can come back to the survey to add additional details through early July.
We will follow up with additional details, including day-of logistics, more information on the potluck, and opportunities for volunteering, which include:
- Staffing the registration table at Warner Park & Gardens
- Set-up at Warner Park & Gardens
- Takedown after potluck at Warner Park & Gardens
Similar to last year, we are directing attendees to Warner Park & Gardens as a central hub for information tables, sign-in, and a limited number of paper maps. An online map available through will be included on publicity materials and signage (available through a QR code or hyperlink).
Please contact the Garden Walk Committee with general questions. Please email Chad with specific questions about the form or to sign up directly (chad.rathmann@gmail.com).
Between June 19 and today, June 25th, we have had 5 separate vehicle incidents:
- Car parked at Cullom and Greenview had window smashed
- Car parked on the 1400 block of Warner had window smashed
- Car parked in driveway on 1400 block of Belle Plaine was broken into
- Car parked on 1400 block of Warner near north/south alley east of Greenview had Catalytic convertor stolen
- Unlocked car on 1400 block of Warner near north/south alley east of Greenview was entered and were contents tossed around.
Please contact info@gracelandwest.org if you know of any other vehicle or other crime incidents.
Please help deter crime in the neighborhood by doing the following:
- Maintain a bright front porch light from dusk to dawn all year.
- Maintain either a bright rear door light or motion lights.
- Install and a video camera.
- Always lock your vehicle, house and garage and secure open windows on 1st and 2nd floors.
- Remove all valuables from your vehicle.
- Lock bikes and vehicles that are garaged.
- Look outdoors when you’re up at night. Not a bad idea to have a few indoor lights on timers.
- Report all alley and street lights out. Report all suspicious activity.
- Attend the 19th Police District Council meetings (tonight and July 24th, flyer attached) and the next Police 1912 Beat Meeting, July 16, 6:30 pm, Sulzer Library.
- Please be extra alert to suspicious activity and sounds at any hour.
Please join the Graceland West Community Association, GWCA. Membership dues help support our website, newsletters, meetings, events, an annual donation to Warner Park and Gardens and a scholarship for a college bound Lake View High School student.
SUMMER SOLSTICE POTLUCK AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY MEETING
After a wonderful yoga session in the park last Saturday, we’ll be back at Warner Park & Gardens, 1444 W Warner, this Thursday, June 20, 6:30 – 8 pm for our quarterly community meeting.
Judy Pollock, President of Chicago Birding Alliance (former Chicago Audubon) will return by neighborhood request and share information on local and migrating birds and their needs.
Neighbors Ben and Sarah Conley are certified TreeKeepers, who will provide support information on habitat for birds and tree care.
Neighborhood updates, Garden Walk sign-up, semi-annual Council election.
Summer Solstice Potluck, bring a finger food app, main or dessert to share. BYO beverages, compostable plates and reusable utensils.
Yoga in the Park, June 15, 2024
