

Taking first place for “Best Business or Service Award” was Point B Communications (
RNBA board treasurer David Kover presented the River North “Best Entertainment or Hospitality Venue Award” to The James Hotel (
River North’s “Best Green Business Award” went to Greenheart (
Theory (
RNBA board secretary,
The final award category for “Best Retailer, Showroom or Gallery Award,” was presented by RNBA vice president Art Bryan. “While the nominees in this category are as different as day and night, they exemplify the diversity of our River North neighborhood,” said
Presenting sponsors of the awards and annual meeting were North Bank and the Merchandise Mart. Gold sponsor was
Goody bags distributed to all attendees included hundreds of dollars worth of goods and services including: gift certificates from
Dine Trio I
House Salad of Baby Greens, Organic Radish, Cherry Tomatoes& Balsamic Vinaigrette
Soup Du Jour
Please Select One
Angus Meatloaf with Whipped Potatoes & Organic Spinach
Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Sour Cream Potatoes and Cole Slaw
Beef Bolognaise with Penne Pasta
Finishing Touch
House made Ice Cream Du Jour
$20 per person
Dine Trio II
Please Select One
House Salad of Baby Greens, Organic Radish, Cherry Tomatoes & Balsamic Vinaigrette
Soup Du Jour
Please Select One
Grilled Norwegian Salmon, Warm Fingerling Potato Salad,
Roasted Amish Chicken Breast, Thyme Roasted Turnips, Melted Leeks
Finishing Touch
Lemon Pound Cake, Blood
$26 per person
Add A Glass of House Red or White Wine
$6 per glass
** Prices exclude tax and gratuity. No substitutions.
Please mention seeing this on Got Buzz @ Kurman when making your reservation by calling:
* 312-602-2100 or at dinerestaurant.com *
“Home owners who have been waiting to replace their furnaces and central air conditioning systems with new high efficiency products now have a good financial incentive to take the plunge,” according to Betty Pendley, owner of Premium Mechanical, Inc., one of only a few Chicago based woman-owned full service heating and air conditioning firms. The American Recovery and Revitalization Act of 2009, which was passed into law on February 17, gives homeowners significant incentives to install high efficiency units.
It’s a great time to go green with your heating system,” said Pendley, whose 8-year old company has earned a zero-complaint status from the Better Business Bureau. “Not only are there substantial tax credits from the new federal stimulus bill, but at least two local gas companies, People’s Gas and North Shore Gas, are adding to the deal by offering their own rebates on gas furnaces.”
The new federal law enables home owners who purchase qualifying heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) for their primary residence to receive a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost of qualifying equipment, including installation—with a maximum of $1,500 per tax credit.
“The new legislation covers purchases through December 31, 2010, but right now there is an even greater incentive for people to upgrade or replace their system sooner rather than later,” says Pendley. “North Shore Utility and Peoples Gas are offering rebates to customers who purchase these qualifying systems by April 30.” Energy star rated water heaters can earn from $75 to $400 in rebates, depending on their efficiency; boilers, from $350 to $600 depending on efficiency; furnaces,from $350 to $450 depending on efficiency.
“We are an authorized dealer of many different types of qualifying systems,” said Pendley,“and installation usually takes only one day.” Premium Mechanical receives many calls from homeowners because, increasingly, they are concerned about their utility costs. “We are working with a wide range of homeowners throughout the
The new tax legislation covers a number of different HVAC systems.
“We are an authorized dealer of systems from several major manufacturers and so we can recommend the right system at the right price,” says Pendley. “In addition to factory warranties on all products, we offer five years of free warranty labor.We want to help Chicagoans go green and save money—and there is truly no better time than now. But we do recommend that homeowners check with their tax advisors to get expert advice on how to get the most from these new tax benefits.”
Pendley also advises homeowners who aren’t ready for a new system to be sure and have their system checked and cleaned annually. They can save money on their utility bills while preventing costly repairs.
Premium Mechanical, Inc. is located at 5550 N. Kimball in
Betty Pendley has been in the HVAC business for nearly 20 years. She and her company have been featured on WIND-AM radio for providing free installation services for Habitat for Humanity. For more information, please contact Premium Mechanical at (773) 267-4477, or send an email to premiumheatair@aol.com. Visit the website at www.premiummechanicalinc.com.
Monday: Carolina BBQ
Inspired by the way Eastern North Carolina uses the whole hog for its barbecue, Sweet Baby Ray’s offers the Chopped Pork Sandwich. The chopped pork sandwich is made from a whole smoked pig, including flavors of the shoulder, butt, tenderloin, ham, ribs, belly and hocks, served on a bun with a side of Carolina coleslaw, hush puppies and Eastern Carolina’s unique vinegar based barbecue sauce (no tomato or sugar) on the side ($7.49). Rib lovers can add a one-third slab of ribs for just $4.
Tuesday: Memphis BBQ
Memphis is known for serving ribs either “wet or dry,” basted with sauce, or hand rubbed with Sweet Baby Ray’s own spice blend served “dry,” without sauce. Sweet Baby Ray’s offers the Mini Duce Sandwich, a unique signature sandwich with pulled pork, grilled beef bologna and coleslaw, with one-third slab of Memphis ribs (wet or dry) served with barbecue beans and collard greens ($8.49). The Tuesday special also offers a half slab of Memphis style St. Louis ribs smoked over hickory wood and charcoal, wet or dry, served with cornbread, barbecue beans and collard greens flavored with hocks, onions and ham. ($12.99/half slab, $18.99/full slab).
Wednesday: International BBQ and All-You-Can-Eat Ribs
Every Wednesday, the restaurant features an a la carte lunch special, full slab Baby Back Ribs ($12.99). For All-You-Can-Eat Baby Back Ribs ($16.99/person), come after 4 p.m. to enjoy Sweet Baby Ray’s award winning ribs. In 2008, Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Restaurant was awarded first place for Best Ribs and the second place award for Best Sauce at the Naperville Ribfest. Additionally on Wednesday, lunch patrons can savor the International BBQ that’s featured every Sunday.
Thursday: Kansas City BBQ
Since Kansas City is thought by many to be the ‘barbecue capital of America,’ the Sweet Baby Ray’s team is excited to add the city’s barbecue style to its all-star lineup. The restaurant’s rendition of Kansas City style barbecue is the Quarter Smoked Chicken with Burnt Ends, kind of like a brisket reduction, served with the Original Sweet Baby Ray’s Stovetop Recipe BBQ Sauce; a side of Kansas City style barbecue beans; Kansas City coleslaw; and white bread ($8.49). Guests can add 1/3 slab of Baby Back or St. Louis ribs for only $4.
Friday: Texas BBQ
Sweet Baby Ray’s introduces its version of Texas Brisket offered lean or “with flavor,” served with the rich flavors from the fatty part, or deckle, of the brisket. The special Texas menu includes a trio of Texas flavors with smoked brisket, smoked sausage (imported from Southside Market in Elgin, Texas) and pork spareribs, all served Texas style with Sweet Baby Ray’s own Texas barbecue sauce, barbecue beans and potato salad, complimented with all-you-care-to-eat pickles, onions, jalapeño peppers, saltines and white bread ($9.49).
Saturday: Chicago BBQ
Over the years, the Sweet Baby Ray’s team has learned the barbecue preferences of the Windy City patrons. North Side Chicagoans love baby back ribs while South and West Siders have a penchant for rib tips, the bottom of the spare rib that is separated from the rib when creating the St. Louis style rib cut; and Hot Links, a smoked sausage with a flavor and texture similar to the combined flavors of Italian sausage and breakfast sausage, with a spicy profile. The high quality of the baby back ribs is something for which Sweet Baby Ray’s prides itself, and is one of the restaurant’s most popular items.
Come in on Saturdays for the comfort of Chicago style barbecue. Customers can treat themselves to their favorite Rib Tips and Hot Links topped with fries, Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue sauce, served with white bread and coleslaw ($7.99). True Chicago barbecue fans will enjoy adding a one-third slab of Baby Back Ribs for an additional $4.
For chicken lovers, Sweet Baby Ray’s offers a Chicago-style value meal, 1/3 Slab Baby Back Ribs & ¼ Chicken (fried, jerk or barbecue; white or dark), with fries and coleslaw ($12.99).
Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Restaurant is located at 249 E. Irving Park Rd., Wood Dale, Ill., (630) 238-8261. The restaurant is open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sweet Baby Ray’s also features promotions, an e-BBQ e-mail club, weekly specials and offers extensive off-premise catering services and event planning services. To learn more about Sweet Baby Ray’s, call (630) 238-8261, or visit online on Facebook, at http://www.sbrbbq.com/, http://www.sbrcatering.com/, or visit their blog at http://goodfromthewood.com/.
Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast, White Bean Cassoulet, Organic Sage, Maple Gastrique - $20.00