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Old Town Merchants & Residents Association10/29/2010
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Happy Halloween!!!
DEAR OLD TOWN NEIGHBOR, 
Do you know what costume you'll be donning this weekend yet?  Better figure it out quickly.  It seems everyone is having a Halloween Party this year.  Take a look at what else is up in Old Town -- you don't want to miss anything!  Also -- take a look in your cupboards -- the office is collecting non-perishable food items from now until November 19th.  Bring them in anytime Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.  Help support the neighborhood!
Thanks Guaranteed Rate, China Doll, and Kilwins!
The final networking social of 2010 occured last night at Guaranteed Rate (1212 N. Wells) and was catered by China Doll (1246 N. Wells Street) with dessert provided by Kilwin's (1405 N. Wells)social 2










Attendees were treated to beverages from the House of Glunz courtesy of Dan Moran, manager of the Wells Street branch of Guaranteed Rate -- a local Chicago company that's making a big name for itself.

Hosting a networking social for the membership of OTMRA is a great way to introduce your neighbors -- business and residential -- to your space and your business.  If you're interested in hosting a social down the line, don't hesitate to contact the office at 312-951-6106.
Thanks to Old Town Gardens for yet another Generous Plant Giveaway!

The good folks at Old Town Gardens have done it again.  Notice all the mums up and down Wells Street?  See the harvest display in Burton Place?
plant give away
All the tropical plants were removed at the beginning of October and given away for free -- yes FREE to the first people at the corner of Evergreen and Wells.  Thanks to Old Town Gardens for their generous neighborhood spirit and to Chris and Aladio for their hard work on Monday and Tuesday October 11th and 12th.
Missed your chance to get some tropicals for your home or office?  Keep your eyes peeled next year and you might be the one going home with a bird of paradise or an oleander!  Next up?  Holiday decorations up and down the street.  Let's enjoy the mums a little while longer.

WE HAVE FRIENDS!  

The Old Town Merchants and Residents Association facebook page is up and running and we need YOU!  If you have a facebook page, find us HERE and LIKE us!
If you are a local business member, send us your information, news, photos, and videos.  Send us links to your website.  Send us whatever you want the fans of Old Town to know about and the office will post it.  We're well over 100 friends, which means people are paying attention.  Don't be left in the cyber-dust.  Get online and get seen by the masses!  Click HERE to check out the OTMRA Facebook page.
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Thanks for your continued support of the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association!  The Association takes pride in the neighborhood and works tirelessly to support and promote it's member residents and businesses.  If you have any questions, would like to learn more about membership, or just get involved in the neighborhood; stop in or give us a call!
 
Sincerely,
 

Old Town Merchants & Residents Association
In This Issue
Thanks To Guaranteed Rate
Plant Give-Away!
FACEBOOK!
Annual Dinner -- Save the Date!
Latino Fashion Week
CAPS Meetings
Halloween in Old Town
Franklin News
Save the Date: OTMRA Annual Dinner
The Annual Dinner Committee is working hard to put together another fabulous event for all the friends, family, colleagues, and residents in Old Town.  Whether you're a business or a residential member, SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, January 27th, 2011
preston bradley hall
The location for the 2011 Annual Dinner has been set at the Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center.  The Preston Bradley Hall features one of the largest Tiffany stained glass domes in the world and looks out over Millennium Park. 

Mark your calendars for a great way to kick off the year -- and the 40th anniversary of the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association!
Latino Fashion Week is Coming!
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Latino Fashion Week is coming to Chicago and with it a shopping extraveganza on Wells Street featuring some of your favorite local shops and boutiques.  Latino Fashion Week begins on Monday, November 8th and runs through the week culminating in a Fashion Sense Pop Up Store upstairs at Trattoria Roma (1535 N. Wells) on Saturday and Sunday November 13th and 14th.
The action spills out onto Wells Street where the clothing stores will be having mini fashion shows and everyone will be offereing specials to celebrate Latino Fashion Week.
For more information visit www.latinofashionwk.com
 
CAPS MEETINGS
Wednesday, November 3rd, 6:30pm:  Beat 1821 at the Near North Library, 330 W Division for 43rd Ward residents between North Avenue and Division from LaSalle to Larrabee. 
 
Wednesday, November 3rd, 3:00pm: Hospitality Sub-Committee at Shenanigans, 16 W. Division.  Attendance Required for all late-night liquor licensees.  All interested parties encouraged to attend.  
 
Feel free to contact the OTMRA office with any questions!

Palermo Celebrates Halloween with the Kids!  Creepy Organ Concert at St. Michael's!
Pasticceria e Gelateria Palermo is one of the newest businesses on Wells Street and wants to get to know the local families and kids who go to school in the neighborhood.  How better to do this than to throw a party on Halloween.  On Sunday, October 31st between 3pm - 5pm, Palermo (1533 N. Wells) will be hosting a Halloween party for local kids.
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The first 25 kids will receive a gift certificate for a birthday cake valued up to $30.00.  All kids and parents will get treats and goodies.  There will be face-painting and holiday music - you won't want to miss out.

As if that weren't enough, there is an organ concert at St. Michaels on Sunday October 31st at 3pm.  The concert will feature music from your favorite creepy scores and movies.  Check out the organ concert in costume at 1633 N. Cleveland this Sunday!
What's been going on at Franklin?!
Did you see the Halloween Parade at Franklin Fine Arts today?  The kids all processed up Wells Street to show off their costumes.  Every year the lower level's Halloween parade adds character to their corner of the neighborhood.   
principal for a day
Another annual event occurred recently at Franklin Fine Arts: Principal-for-a-Day.  OTMRA sent a representative to go through the school, attend classes, and intereact with students and faculty -- something OTMRA does on a regular basis.  Franklin is OTMRA's Adopt-a-School and the relationship couldn't be any brighter.  Thanks to Franklin families, faculty, and students for being such an enriching presence in the neighborhood!