Have you experienced live music at The CheckOut yet? Below is a special invite to Graceland West neighbors from Seth Boustead, Executive Director of ACM, for TONIGHT’s show:
National Space Week lands at The CheckOut with a concert of music inspired by the cosmos Saturday night. You’ll hear new works for string quartet evoking orbiting satellites, the awe-inspiring Apollo moon landing missions, and a meditative journey through space by one of the founders of minimalism.
We’ll also feature two striking pieces for cello and interactive video that incorporate human voices to create an elaborate tapestry as part of the Earthling Project, a recording which was launched to the moon as part of the Arch Mission Foundation’s Lunar Library.
As our neighbors, you’re invited to join us at half off the regular ticket price with the code “graceland”
Walk up and be part of this unforgettable evening of music, community, and space-themed slushies!
Music of the Cosmos featuring Terry Riley Saturday, October 4th – Doors at 6:30, concert at 7:30 $20 – half off with promo code “graceland” https://thecheckout.org
Terry Riley’s Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector
The rain has cleared, and the sun is out, making today absolutely perfect for our annual Neighborhood Fest!
Come on out and join us from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Greenview Ave. It’s the perfect time to meet up with neighbors, enjoy some great food and entertainment, and support our community.
Caricatures by Kenny Durkin: Get your own custom caricature drawn between 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM.
Access Contemporary Music Performance: Enjoy a special piano performance at 4:30 PM.
Euchre Tournament: We have one spot open for the tournament. The fun kicks off at 3:30 PM. Reach out to Paul at pmonzella@gmail.com to join.
Andy Head Comedic Juggler: Prepare to be amazed by his incredible show at 5:30 PM.
Five Squared Pizza: Grab a slice of one of Chicago’s best pizzas, available from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
We’ve got something for everyone—from the bounce house and carnival games for the kids to a silent auction and craft cocktails for the adults. We can’t wait to see you there!
4100 North Greenview between Belle Plaine & Warner
Get ready to connect with your neighbors and celebrate our community this Saturday at the Graceland West Neighborhood Fest! This is our largest fundraiser of the year, and it’s a great opportunity to have a blast while supporting our special corner of Chicago. Everyone is invited, so bring your family, friends, and anyone who wants to join in the fun.
We’ve got a fantastic lineup of activities this year, including some exciting new additions we can’t wait to share with you.
Can’t-Miss Main Attractions
This year’s fest features an incredible new group of performers and artists to keep you entertained all afternoon and into the evening.
Andy Head Comedic Juggler • 5:30-6:15 PM: Prepare to be amazed! Andy Head brings a trunk full of tricks and a ton of laughs to his show. With hilarious audience participation and incredible circus stunts, this performance is perfect for all ages. As one fan said, it’s “the perfect blend of juggling, comedy, and audience participation.”
Caricatures by Kenny Durkin • 3:30-5:30 PM: Take home a fun and personalized souvenir from the fest! Kenny Durkin is a professional cartoonist with over 20 years of experience, including work with Disney, AMC, and The Jim Henson Company. You may have seen his work on TV or in his online comic strips—now’s your chance to have him draw you!
Access Contemporary Music • 4:30-5:00 PM: Join us for a special piano performance by Seth Boustead, the Executive Director of Access Contemporary Music (ACM). Seth is an award-winning composer and visionary who will be kicking off the completion and grand opening of The CheckOut, ACM’s new venue at 4116 N. Clark. Stop by their booth to learn more about their mission and the new space.
Food, Drinks, and More!
We’ve got something for everyone to eat and drink.
Five Squared Pizza • 4:00-8:00 PM: The legendary Five Squared Pizza is back! Known for their “non-standard Detroit style pizza using organic ingredients & scratch-made everything,” they were called one of the “Best 25 pizzas in Chicago” by the Chicago Tribune. Don’t miss this tasty local favorite.
Off Color Brewing Beer, Wine & Craft Cocktails: Our friends at Off Color Brewing will be on hand with a selection of delicious beer, wine, and cocktails.
$1 Bake Sale: Bring a handheld, wrapped treat to share and grab one for just a dollar. We’ll also have cotton candy, popcorn, and other snacks available.
All-Day Activities and Entertainment
The fun doesn’t stop there! Get ready for a day packed with activities:
Live Music: DJ Dan Larson will be spinning tunes all day.
Games & Fun: We’ll have a bounce house, carnival games, basketball hoop, and cornhole.
Creative Stations: Kids can get creative at the sensory play station and collaborative art mural, and everyone can participate in the piñata, egg toss, and musical chairs. You can also create your own custom tie-dye t-shirts from 3:30-5:30 PM.
Friendly Competition: Test your wits at the Youth (5-5:30 PM) and Adult (6:30-7:00 PM) Trivia Contests with Stewpendous Trivia.
Euchre Tournament: Ready to play? Join the Euchre Tournament Fundraiser from 3:30-5:30 PM. It’s a $30 buy-in per player with cash prizes. Contact Paul at pmonzella@gmail.com to sign up.
Silent Auction & Raffle: Bid on amazing items in our silent auction and try your luck with the 50/50 raffle.
S’mores & Glowsticks • 7:00-8:00 PM: End the night with a special treat and some glowing fun!
Don’t forget to stop by the booths from Friends of Lake View High School, Lakeshore Sport & Fitness, Quantum Leep Academy, and Access Contemporary Music. And while you’re there, you can purchase your GWCA membership and grab some new GWCA tumblers, cozies, and magnets!
Graceland West Community Association Hosts YOGA IN THE PARK at Warner Park and Gardens (1444-46 Warner Ave).
Join us Saturday, September 6th, from 9:45 – 10:45 am for a yoga session in the beautiful Warner Park. The event is free and open to all Graceland West residents over 18 years old.
Bring your own mat or throw rug. Weather Permitting.
Recent water main and drain work on Greenview appears to have stirred up rat populations, leading to increased sightings in our neighborhood. We believe this construction may have disrupted their nests, forcing them to seek new homes.
What We’re Doing:
We’ve requested rat abatement from the 47th Ward for all alleys bordering Greenview, from Pensacola to Belle Plaine. We’re ready to extend this to Montrose or Irving Park if needed, so please keep us informed!
We’ve also contacted the 46th Ward to address alleys between Clark and Southport, from Belle Plaine to Irving Park.
How You Can Help:
Your participation is crucial in curbing this issue. Please report all rat activity:
Immediately report rat holes, droppings, and sightings using the 311 app or by contacting Alderman Martin’s office directly.
Clean up: Scrubbing walls and sidewalks with biodegradable soap where you’ve seen activity can disrupt rat scent trails. Regularly clean your garbage and recycling bins.
Inspect trees: We’ve found rat nests in trees, so please check them.
Pick up pet waste and litter: Dog feces and even the slightest food scent on wrappers are major attractants for rats.
Remember, 311 can also provide abatement for individual properties or alleys. Let’s work together to make Graceland West rat-free!
Graceland West Community Association Hosts YOGA IN THE PARK at Warner Park and Gardens (1444-46 Warner Ave).
Join us Saturday, August 23, from 9:35 – 10:45 am for a yoga session in the beautiful Warner Park. The event is free and open to all Graceland West residents over 18 years old.
Bring your own mat or throw rug. Weather Permitting.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a special community meeting this week at the new home of Access Contemporary Music (ACM). It was great to see so many of you officially welcome our new neighbor.
The former 7-Eleven at 4116 N. Clark has been transformed into an inviting space, and we’re excited for its official opening. During the evening, we learned from ACM’s Executive Director, Seth Boustead, that the location will be called “The CheckOut,” a clever nod to its history. He also shared plans to host two evening events per week and a desire to partner with other organizations to use the space, such as a local church. Seth also treated us to a wonderful piano performance!
Stay up to date with The CheckOut’s events and sign up for lessons on their website: https://thecheckout.org/. The official opening is Friday, September 12.
We were also honored to have 46th Ward Alderwoman Angela Clay in attendance. She shared some important updates, including that funding is available for 100% city-funded sidewalk replacements in her ward—so if you’re in the 46th Ward, be sure to contact her office to make a request.
During the meeting, GWCA members reelected Colin, Matthew, and Janice to the Council for terms running through December 31, 2026. Congratulations to our dedicated leadership.
We Need Your Input
To help us plan for the future, we have launched a new survey to gather your ideas and find out where you’d like to volunteer. Your feedback is crucial for shaping our community’s future.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. You can access it by scanning the QR code or visiting the link below:
Just a quick reminder that our special community meeting is TONIGHT, August 12, at 7 PM!
Join us at the new home of Access Contemporary Music (ACM), located at 4116 N. Clark. This is your chance to get an exclusive first look at the transformed space, meet ACM’s Executive Director Seth Boustead, and give them a warm welcome to the neighborhood.
46th Ward Alderwoman Angela Clay will also be there to greet ACM and answer questions.
In addition to celebrating this new community member, we will be holding a vote for three council seats.
Our August 12 GWCA Community Meeting at 7 PM is a special one! We’ll be gathering at the new home of Access Contemporary Music (ACM) at 4116 N. Clark.
ACM’s Executive Director, composer, and musician Seth Boustead, is hosting an exclusive open house for Graceland West residents. He’ll even perform a short piano piece for us! This is a fantastic opportunity to be among the first to see the transformation of the former 7-Eleven into ACM’s new space and officially welcome them to the neighborhood.
GWCA is represented by both the 46th and 47th Wards. 46th Ward Alderwoman Angela Clay will attend to welcome ACM and answer any Ward questions Graceland West 46th Ward residents may have. (Residents/businesses on the 1300 block of Irving Park, 4000 block of Clark, and east side of the 4000/4100 blocks of Southport are in the 46th Ward).
In addition to this exciting welcome, GWCA members will also vote on three council seats. We hope to see you there to participate in shaping our community and to give a warm Graceland West welcome to Seth and ACM! You’ll also catch Seth at our Graceland West Neighborhood Fest on Saturday, September 13, from 3-8 PM in the 4100 block of Greenview.
