Saigon Sisters at the Chicago French Market is Part of the New F.I.T. City Initiative

Saigon Sisters at the Chicago French Market is proud to announce its place on the list of a new initiative called F.I.T. (Fresh, Innovative, and Tasty) City led by the Chicago Department of Health. This program supports restaurants that are conscious of having healthy yet tasty options for diners to choose from. For more information, visit healthierchicago.org. 

In other Saigon Sisters news, the popular Hen House sandwich has been named as one of Chicago Magazine’s top 50 sandwiches. To help mark the honor, they are offering the Hen House sandwich for $1 off when the Chicago Magazine list is mentioned. This offer is available one time only per person through January. 

As the year starts anew, Saigon Sisters wants to take a moment to thank its customers for supporting them and all the vendors at the Chicago French Market. Being a small business, the owners had a great opportunity to complete an intensive training on entrepreneurship through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. The program is designed to help small businesses grow and prosper, thus creating more jobs to help stimulate the economy. To learn more about this federally funded program, ask Mary Aregoni of Saigon Sisters or visit http:// www.ccc.edu/10ksb.

Congratulations to "Best New Restaurant" Glen Prairie

We at Kurman Communications, Inc. are proud to announce the May 2009 issue of Chicago Magazine named Glen Prairie as one of Chicago's "2009 Best New Restaurants." The magazine named 22 best new restaurants, putting the organic, locally-focused Glen Prairie alongside top names like C-House, Graham Elliot, and L20.

In case you haven't picked up a copy yet, here's what the mag had to say:

"... From the excellent local cheese to chef Daniel Ovanin's tender Indiana duck breast on white bean cassoulet with maple gastrique, GP keeps its promise. The big surprise is the terrific chervil-crusted Wisconsin northern pike--rarely seen on menus--set over sauteed green beans alongside a red crock of just about the best mac and cheese in the Midwest. A bonus: The how's-it-goin' chef and friendly staff make sure you have a good time." -Dennis Ray Wheaton

Congratulations to Glen Prairie and chef Daniel Ovanin for this honor. Be sure to catch chef Daniel in action live this Saturday, April 18 during CBS-2's 8 a.m. news broadcast, where he'll be talking about the environmentally-conscious restaurant and shopping at local farmer's markets.

Change in the air, first Obama, now StreetWise

Since we've all be wrapped up in the elections, another significant change may have gone unnoticed. A few weeks ago we wrote about StreetWise changing from a weekly newspaper to a weekly magazine. The day has come. Today, along with celebrating President Elect Obama's triumphant victory, we are celebrating the launch of the new StreetWise magazine.

You are invited to join us at CloseUp2 Jazz Club, 416 S. Clark St., Chicago, tonight (Nov. 5) from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. It's a benefit with a minimum donation of $25 at the door. A number of terrific restaurants have donated goodies including pizza from Bella Bacino's, More cupcakes, Eli's Cheesecake, couscous from Tallulah and Eve, lettuce wraps and salmon hors d'oeuvres from Nostalgic Catering and sandwiches from Corner Bakery.

But wait, there's more.

The launch party is a smooth jazz lover's dream. Chicago's star saxman, Ray Silkman and his band is the featured jazz artist. He will play shows at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Also playing is rising star jazz guitarist Lee Alec Barrie . Famed Chicago bassist and smooth jazz radio star Michael Manson plans to stop by to show his support, and other Chicago jazz artists are expected to drop in.

What:
- StreetWise Magazine Launch Party and fundraiser
- Interview opportunities with StreetWise founder Judd Lofchie, Executive Director Michael Speer, and Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Hanney
Where: CloseUp2 Jazz Club, 416 S. Clark St., Chicago
When: 6-11 p.m., Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Highlights:
After 16 years, StreetWise, the newspaper sold by Chicago's homeless and those at risk of homelessness, is turning into a full-color glossy magazine. The goal is to reach a broader readership, increase revenue to support its mission and to offer Chicago a vital, must-read publication.

StreetWise has directly helped more than 8,000 homeless or at-risk men and women since its founding in 1992. Currently more than 200 licensed vendors sell StreetWise in Chicago.
StreetWise's mission is more critical than ever as current economic hardships are creating more homelessness and unemployment.

The launch party is a smooth jazz lover's dream. Chicago's star saxman, Ray Silkman (left) and his band is the featured jazz artist. He will play shows at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Also playing is rising star jazz guitarist Lee Alec Barrie (right).Famed Chicago bassist and smooth jazz radio star Michael Manson (left) plans to stop by to show his support, and other Chicago jazz artists are expected to drop in.

StreetWise, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, has as its mission is to empower men and women who are homeless or at risk of being so, as they work toward gainful employment and self-sufficiency. Visit the StreetWise website at http://www.streetwise.org/.

StreetWise to Launch as a Magazine Nov. 5

StreetWise will begin a new life as a full-color glossy magazine on November 5. StreetWise—and the 200-plus vendors selling it—have become a fixture in Chicago, and StreetWise, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, is keeping ahead of the curve in a time of growing economic challenge. The new format and new content directly addresses the need to help the growing number of homeless people in Chicago and the suburbs.

"Our theme for the launch is ‘A Better StreetWise, A Better Life,’" said StreetWise’s executive director, Michael Speer. "It’s a great move forward for us and we have great hopes for the new format. During the past 16 years we’ve helped thousands of people who otherwise would have had no means to earn a living. The new StreetWise will be even better than before and we expect it will become a must-read for many Chicagoans." The goal is to increase readership, revenue, donations and involvement at a crucial time when economic distress and homelessness are on the rise.

Many Chicagoans don’t realize that StreetWise vendors are entrepreneurs who buy the publication at a wholesale price and sell it at the retail price on the streets. As a full-color glossy, StreetWise must raise the price to $2 per issue (it has stayed at one dollar for sixteen years) and the vendors, who will pay a higher wholesale price for the magazine, will nonetheless have the opportunity to earn more per issue. The new $2 price will help StreetWise provide new programs for its vendors and move the organization toward self-sufficiency. At the same time, StreetWise will launch it's new website.

Join us at the launch magazine launch celebration, Wednesday, Nov. 5

Streetwise will commemorate its new life as a magazine with a "A Better StreetWise, A Better Life" celebration and fundraiser to be held 6 p.m.-11 p.m., Wednesday, November 5 at the popular jazz club CloseUp2, located at 416 S. Clark Street.

"Everyone is behind StreetWise," said Frank Goss, general manager of the club. "We are pleased to be a part of the new StreetWise and we’re informing our lengthy mailing list about the event." Chicago’s own rising star, contemporary jazz saxophonist Ray Silkman and his band will be the featured performers, with sets at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Other noted contemporary jazz artists include Kurman's Lee Alec Barrie, will appear on stage as well. The minimum donation is $25 at the door with a cash bar and complimentary buffet.

Space is limited, guests are encouraged to RSVP to StreetWise by November 1 by calling Ben Cook at StreetWise, (312) 829-2526, or sending an email to bcook@streetwise.org. If you'd like, you can purchase tickets in advance, online through Paypal by going here.

To view the StreetWise press kit, go here.

About Kurman's Involvement

Kurman Communications, Inc. has been instrumental in helping -- from conception to implementation. Both Lee and I were enlisted two years ago to analyze the existing product, make recommendations and help plan for a successful transition. We've had a lot of help -- from the McCormick-Tribune Foundation, to an editorial advisory board, from Columbia College marketing students to hundred's of readers who offered their input.

For those of you who may not know, Lee, who now sits on the StreetWise board along with other commited Chicagoans, spent 12 years in the New York magazine business helping titles like Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Golf Digest and many others in transforming their editorial workflow and production to digital for prestigious companies including the New York Times Magazine Group, Hearst Magazines, and Times Mirror Magazine, as well as Miller Publishing and CMP Publications.

Congratulations to Kurman's "Best New Restaurants"

We at Kurman Communications, Inc. are proud to announce the May issue of Chicago Magazine has named several of our clients as the city's "2008 Best New Restaurants." In case you haven't snagged a copy yet, the magazine named 21 of their favorite new spots in the city:

Congratulations to Powerhouse Restaurant and Bar (215 N. Clinton St., Chicago; 312-928-0800), named by the mag as Best New American Restaurant, "Powerhouse is located in an imposing restored 1909 building that once housed railroad generators but now harnesses a different kind of power. Chef John Peters--an alumnus of Trio, Alinea and Naha--serves up surprisingly sophisticated seasonal fare emphasizing artisinal producers in a retro supper-club atmosphere." -Dennis Ray Wheaton

Kudos are also in order for Maijean (30 S. Prospect Ave., Clarendon Hills; 630-794-8900), who earned the title Best New French Restaurant. "Chef/owner Nadia Tilkian's comfortable art nouveau bistro is named after her grandmother, and it's obvious the lady would have approved. Maijean brings traditional French and slightly eclectic cooking to a lovely suburb, and locals have welcomed it with open arms and eager bellies." -D.R.W.

Kurman was also happy to see the new Uncommon Ground location earn props as Best New Contemporary Restaurant. The Edgewater restaurant opened last winter and boasts a commitment to sustainable and local ingredients.

And let's not forget Chicago Magazine's shoutout to Shochu (3313 N. Clark St., Chicago; 773-348-3313). Shochu's opening (in late April) has been highly anticipated. I know I'm ready...show me the shochu.