Every Day is Earth Day + Local Events, Deals & Business Resources

April 25th, 2012

Every Day is Earth Day
Keep up your efforts to go green and save money with some earth-friendly ideas that you can act on any day of the year:

Small Business Energy Savings Program

Small businesses receive expert advice on energy-saving improvements for their business, and assistance with the application for rebates on energy improvement investment. There are program freebies too, such as compact fluorescent lamps, faucet aerators, and pre-rinse sprayers! For more information, please click here.

10 Simple Things: WPB Green Designation

The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber's Green Committee has assembled a list of actions, ranging from simple, low-cost tasks to big ticket investments with long term pay-offs for member businesses that wish to go green and save money. Review the list, complete ten action items, and earn "WPB Green" designation. For more information, please click here.

Featured Green & Eco-Friendly Chamber Members:

Greenheart Shop is Chicago's premier eco-fair trade non-profit shop, carrying eco fair trade products made by artisans from around the world.

The ReBuilding Exchange, a project of the Delta Institute, offers reclaimed building materials at a fraction of the cost, keeping them out of our landfills, and available to residents at all income levels, particularly those who can't afford the rising costs of such materials. Classes and volunteer opportunities also available!

Reynolds Power/Zap My Bill is a commercial, medical, municipal and industrial full-service energy solutions company that offers a fresh and innovative process for helping you save money on electricity and natural gas.

For a complete list of Green & Eco-Friendly Chamber Member Businesses, please click here.

Win a Bucktown Poster

Take this 10-minute survey to tell us what kind of businesses you support in Wicker Park Bucktown. Include your email address and you've got a chance to win this beautiful screen-printed poster by StudioChris. Help shape our neighborhood and
take the survey now.

Summer Sidewalk Sales

When: Sat. & Sun., Jul. 21st-22nd & Aug. 25th-26th

These shopping events are open to businesses in the commercial districts of Wicker Park Bucktown: Division, Damen, Milwaukee, North, Western, and Ashland. Applications to participate in these neighborhood-wide events are being accepted now. For more information, click here.

Wicker Park Fest 2012

When: July 28th-29th, 2012

Where: Milwaukee Ave. from North to Paulina

The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for Wicker Park Festival vendors from retail, non-profit, food and art vendors. For an application, visit www.wickerparkfest.com or call (773) 384-2672 for more information. Also, be sure to "Like" the official Facebook fan page of Wicker Park Fest 2012!

Business Education Workshops

What: Small Business Building Blocks

When: Fri., Apr. 27th, 9:30-11am
Where: City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. Room 805

Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know before opening up a small business.

What: Q&A with City Inspectors
When: Wed., May 2nd, 3-4:30pm
Where: City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. Room 805

Talk to inspectors from four City departments who will provide insight to operate safely, stay compliant, help prepare for inspections and point out the do's and don'ts of operating your business.

For information on Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) or to register for an event, please call (312) 744-5344 or click here.

Tonight! WPAC Sneak Preview

When: Wed., Apr. 25th, 6-9pm

Where: 1635 W. Division

Cost: FREE!

Free classes and club tours! For more information, click here.

April Mixer at Chicago Financial Services

When: Thurs., Apr. 26th, 5-7pm

Where: 1455 W. Hubbard

Cost: FREE for Chamber Members

Chicago Financial Services, Inc. is hosting a networking mixer to welcome Wicker Pack Bucktown Chamber members to their new location and business. RSVP to Karen Zeppos at kzeppos@cfsmortgage.com.

Street-Level Youth Media Showcase

When: Fri., Apr. 27th, 6-8pm

Where: 1637 N. Ashland

Cost: FREE and open to the public.

Watch, listen, and engage with final projects and performances from both on-site and in-school media programs. For more info on Street-Level Youth Media including summer youth workshops, please click here.

Spex Spirit of Fiesta Grand Opening When: Fri., May 4th, 5-8pm
Where: 1407 N. Milwuakee

Attend this grand opening 'fiesta' for hot and sassy beats by DJ-X, appetizers by Salud Tequila Lounge, and Gift bags valued at $100 for the first 25 guests. A trunk show featuring iconic l.a.Eyeworks eyewear and sunwear collection will also be showcased during the festivities.

See more of this week's featured events and deals from local businesses on our website!

New LED Exit Sign Incentive for Local Businesses

Exit signs draw electricity 24-hours a day and frequently burn out. Wicker Park Bucktown businesses in the SSA can now reduce costs and go green by converting their signs with super low-wattage LEDs for only $39 per sign. The WPB SSA #33 is offering a special $10 per-sign incentive for the first 250 signs.

Schedule an LED exit sign retrofit for your business in just a few clicks! Sign up online and save almost $400 per sign over the LEDs' 10-year lifetime. Participants will also receive a free energy efficiency assessment. For more information call (773) 505-3817 or email Caitlin@gotogreenprojects.com.

Peasants' Plot CSA

Join Peasants' Plot CSA (community supported agriculture) and help fund the farm's harvest prior to the growing season, an investment used for seed and labor. In return, you'll receive a weekly share of fresh vegetables straight from the farm. The WPB SSA #33 is proud that the Polish Triangle Marketplace will be a pick-up location for Peasants' Plot CSA in 2012. Sign up soon to guarantee your share! For more info visit: www.peasantsplot.com.

Public Meeting on Miller's Lumber Proposed Development

When: Thurs., Apr. 26th, 6pm

Where: LaSalle II Elementary School, 1148 N. Honore, gymnasium

Alderman Moreno invites the public to this meeting for discussion on the revision to this proposed development to replace L. Miller & Son Lumber Co. at 1815 W. Division.

Closing of "Now You See It, Now You Don't" at the WPB First Fridays

When: Fri., May 4th, 6-10pm

Where: Flat Iron Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee

Cost: FREE! (donations gratefully accepted)

Presented by the Flat Iron Artists Association, come explore two floors of art displayed in artists' studios and living spaces. The WPB SSA #33 is a sponsor of this event.

Wicker Park Garden Club Plant Sale When: Sat & Sun, May 5-6, 10am-4pm
Where: Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen

Experienced gardeners and designers will assist you in choosing the plants that will perform best for you. Proceeds help maintain the garden and educational programming in Wicker Park. For more info, please click here.

Community Art Project to Benefit Pritzker School

When: Sat., May 5, 7-10pm

Where: 1505 W. Chicago

An auction of original toy-like objects created by local artists to benefit Pritzker School. For two weeks leading up to the auction, the Plaything creations can be viewed at over 20 local retailers including Stitch, Red Hen Bakery, Psychobaby, Elevenzees and Building Blocks Toys. For more info, please click here. This project is sponsored in part by the WPB SSA #33.

Donations Needed to Support the Bucktown Arts Fest

The all volunteer, no corporate sponsorship Bucktown Arts Fest is looking for fun, local donations for their silent and live auctions on July 27th at Jackson Junge Gallery. Due to City and Park District cutbacks, the Fest needs to raise money to put on the fest and maintain its mission of providing arts and education programming at Holstein Park and the community. For more information, visit www.bucktownartsfest.com. To donate, contact Susan at susansuhar@yahoo.com.

Sign up for the 1st Ward Street Cleaning Text Alerts
Alderman Moreno launched the first of its kind, Street Sweeping Text Alert system, just days after he was inaugurated. He pays for this service, so it is free for all 1st Ward residents. You will receive a reminder to move your car, the night before and the morning of your scheduled sweep. This will help residents avoid tickets and will also mean that 1st Ward streets are better cleaned. Sign up here.

Upcoming Commission Meeting

The next WPB Commission Meeting is May 16th at 7pm, with a "Meet & Greet" at 6:30pm. The meetings are open, and the public is encouraged to attend. The meeting will take place at the Wicker Park Field House, 1425 N. Damen. See the WPB SSA #33 website for the most updated meeting agenda and materials.