News 
“Bon APpétit” Albany Park Restaurant Crawl a Rousing Success!
On a beautiful spring night, over 150 participants and 18 local restaurants took part in the successful “Bon APpétit” Multicultural Restaurant Crawl in Albany Park on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 co-hosted by the North River Commission (NRC) and the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber). “Crawlers” experienced tasty samplings of food, drinks and entertainment at venues up and down Lawrence, Kedzie, Kimball, Foster, Elston and Francisco Avenues in the downtown Albany Park and Mayfair communities.
Restaurants provided excellent food and hospitality and were well received by participants. One “Crawler” said, “The hospitality at Marie’s Pizza was the best, I felt like I came to a party.” Another noted, “The Ssyal Ginseng House had delicious Korean food; Mrs. Cho, the owner, went above and beyond.” Participants overwhelmingly said they would be back to enjoy Albany Park this summer and would attend the next Crawl NRC and the Chamber hosts.
The diverse spread of venues included award-winning and well-known local favorites like Marie’s Pizza and Liquors, Mayan Sol Latin Grill, Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant and Al-Khaymeih Restaurant, in addition to well-loved hidden gems like The Ssyal Ginseng House Korean Restaurant in Mayfair, and Merla’s Kitchen, the Roots Room Social Club and Beijo de Chocolat at Foster and Kimball Avenues.
Among the residents and out-of-towners attending the event on Tuesday night were 12 culinary students from Alabama attending the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Show downtown. They heard about the Crawl from advertising at the Cultural Center and took taxis up to Albany Park to participate in the event. “We really enjoyed seeing and visiting Albany Park,” said a student. “Ay Ay Picante’s owner, Jaime Chamuca, was so gracious he fell over himself providing a great selection of Peruvian dishes.”
Staff, interns, and volunteers from NRC and the Chamber and consultant Big Buzz Idea Group worked tirelessly to organize the event, Albany Park’s first ever Restaurant Crawl. “This event showcased our neighborhood’s diversity and assets,” stated NRC Executive Director Rev. Rodney C. Walker. “We are excited that so many new visitors came out to experience all we have to offer.”
Many local businesses, Chamber members and foundations helped sponsor “Bon APpétit” including: Charter One, LISC/Chicago, Harris Bank, The UPS Store, Jesus House Chicago, Albany Bank & Trust Company, N.A., Baladna Jewelry, Celebrity Properties, Chicago Chocolate Tours, John Tunnell Allstate Agency, Lawrence Kedzie Self-Storage, New Compass Solutions, and Rieck & Crotty, P.C.
“It’s clear that people loved this event,” Walker said. “The demand is out there for the Crawl to become an annual tradition. Mark your calendars for next year!”
LISC Brown Bag Lunch
Community Development Professionals Gather to Share Best Practices.
In January, the North River Commission (NRC) hosted a LISC/Chicago "Brown Bag Lunch" where community and economic development practitioners from non-profits around the city gathered for a vibrant discussion on “Best Practices” for marketing urban communities in today’s economy. The conversation centered on sharing tips for successful economic development initiatives that stimulate the local economy and attract tourists. Projects that work across the city include neighborhood tours, restaurant crawls, farmer’s markets and street festivals.
“We heard communities asking each other informally ‘What works for you?’” says Marva Williams, Program Officer at LISC/Chicago. “We wanted to take the next step and let community leaders share their experiences with each other.”
“Everyone benefits at a how-to session like this,” says Rodney C. Walker, NRC’s Executive Director. “We learned tips for running our upcoming Restaurant Crawl (in May 2010), and shared info on how to get a local tour started.”
Williams predicts the upcoming session will focus on initiatives that improve safety and stimulate job growth. The session is part of an ongoing series led by LISC/Chicago, a non-profit that organizes capital to support initiatives that will stimulate the comprehensive development of healthy, stable Chicago neighborhoods.
LISC/Chicago is a long-time supporter of North River Commission on projects such as Mayfair Commons Senior Housing, the Multicultural Sculpture Park and Healing Garden and the Great Neighborhood Funds program.