ORNOT Gallery Opening this Saturday featuring local Jamaican-American Artist Kenrick McFarlane

Ready... ORNOT New Gallery Opens with Local Jamaican-American Artist Kenrick McFarlane  Show opens Saturday, July 7 - Runs through September 30  The "ORNOT" Gallery (located within READY Coffee, 1562 N Milwaukee Avenue Chicago, IL 60622, 773-360-7041) opens with its first show 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 27, showcasing the works of promising local Jamaican-American artist, Kenrick McFarlane. The show runs through September 30.The show is being curated by Cody Davis, a READY Coffee barista, photographer and manager of the ORNOT Gallery. Still in his early twenties (born in 1990) and with plans to graduate from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA, 2014), McFarlane has already built an impressive résumé, having his works featured at exhibitions,  public and private galleries and publications while earning the respect of other artists. His works have been featured at numerous galleries including the Little Black Pearl Art Center and Gene Siskel Film Center, and have been published in several publications including a feature article in HAS Magazine, "Welcome to Kenrick McFarlane's Twisted Reality." His work also was shown at the international Expo Chicago 2012 in Chicago (2012 / Eclectic Coherence / Curated by Dawoud Bey). In the summer of 2010, McFarlane worked as a studio assistant under famed Chicago artist Hebru Brantley. Brantley has become one of several high profile artists or collectors to own pieces by McFarlane. Other owners include Patric McCoy and Bill Savage of Diasporal Rhythm, collectors or contemporary art by African-American artists. McFarlane has donated his works to River North Dance Chicago¬ and the Golden Apple Foundation. Such success at a young age can be attributed not only to his talent, but also his philosophy as an artist. "In the world there are many kinds of verbal languages. There are also a variety of visual languages. Within my practice, I'm trying to find paintings that are engaging to make and have a unique pictorial language," says McFarlane. About ORNOT Gallery READY Coffee brings to the Bucktown-Wicker Park area of Chicago a new space to feature local artists whose passion often involves controversial, poignant, and social statements. "We are looking to be a real player in the Chicago art scene," said READY Coffee's owner, Adam Banks. "We're used to coffee shops hanging art up on the walls as a secondary attempt to 'be local', but we are focused on being local in the best sense of the word.  We are looking to really support local artists and we're not afraid of pushing the edge." To further showcase artwork, READY Coffee has an Art-o-Mat machine, a uniquely refurbished vintage cigarette vending machine that has been converted to sell small pieces of art wrapped in cigarette boxes. The art sells for only $5. "The Art-O-Mat is the coolest machine that I have ever seen," said Banks. "There is one in the National Portrait Gallery (a Smithsonian Museum) and it's really a beautiful piece of art in and of itself." Anyone interested in providing art objects for READY's Art-o-Mat should call the store at (773) 360-7041. Like ORNOT Gallery on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ornotgallery and follow on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ornotgallery. Interested artists should contact Cody at ornot@readycoffee.com. About Cody Davis, curator Cody Davis is a READY Coffee barista and manager of the ORNOT Gallery. A native of rural Arkansas, he moved to Chicago to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and to escape the oppression of living in the south as a gay man. A photographer  whose work is displayed at READY Coffee, his work has evolved to include in various media.  We would love for you and a guest to attend  this Saturday's opening at 6 p.m., July 27 Please join the team at ORNOT Gallery and READY Coffee  as well as Artist Kenrick McFarlane  for a lovely evening of art, nibbles and  Certified Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.  Please RSVP to kurmanstaff@kurman.com.  ORNOT Gallery 1562 N. Milwaukee Avenue  Chicago's Bucktown-Wicker Park Neighborhood

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READY Coffee, New Indy Coffee Shop in Wicker Park, Starts the Final War in the Quality Coffee Game – the Price War

READY Coffee, a new independent coffee shop at 1562 Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago’s Wicker Park (773-360-7041; http://readycoffee.com), has opened with enthusiastic customer buzz about its high quality, locally roasted coffees, and unbeatable prices.

While the mood is informal and creative, the owners demonstrate that they are serious about challenging the coffee world with a refreshing take on coffee shops. “We are fully committed to offering customers a quality experience at down-to-earth prices,” said owner Adam Banks, a recent MBA graduate of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, who wrote his senior business plan on squaring off with the coffee industry at low prices. This research plays out in the logical $1, $2, and $3 drink menu.

“The last frontier in the coffee world has to be price; cups of coffee are now normally higher than a gallon of gas,” said Banks. “We’re offering truly outstanding coffee, roasted daily in Chicago, at prices that make sense. Our house brew starts with a “buck cup” for $1.”

All of the READY Coffee blends are roasted locally by legendary Chicago coffee roaster Greg Stivers. “With 28 years of artistry under his belt, a roasting facility in Pilsen, and his ability to roast to our specifications daily, we can guarantee an ultra-premium cup of coffee.” Banks said.
READY Coffee is an instant success among the locals for the shop’s price, quality and unique offerings. It is a vibrant local hangout and is spacious, with enough room to accommodate more customers than most coffee shops. It has a clean, contemporary feel, a great art collection, and serves excellent coffee beverages, pastries, sandwiches, soups and other homemade goodies.

John Grbac and Banks developed the READY Coffee concept. Grbac is a noted Chicago restaurateur who was one of the first in Bucktown/Wicker Park with Jimo’s, and one of the first to energize the neighborhood, leading to its resurgence. “We are obsessive about our quality,” said Grbac. “I have been in the business many years and we can give people what they want, a great cup of joe at a great price. Starbucks just announced a 10% across-the-board price increase. That level of pricing just doesn’t make sense,” said Grbac.

“There is a war going on in the ultra-premium sector of coffee, we are seeing $7 coffees on menus – and you have to wait in line to get that cup of coffee.   We built ready on the concept that there is a large percent of the public that just wants a quality cup at a great price.  Ready is just that, quality and price, no pretense, and no waiting,” explains Banks.

The better-than-reasonable prices start with READY’s one-dollar “Buck Cup”, a 12 oz. cup of premium drip coffee made from the 100% Arabica house blend. Larger cups of drip coffee are served for $2 (16 oz.). An additional shot of espresso can be added to the drip coffee for $1.
In another nod to quality, all iced coffee beverages are made to order and served with coffee ice cubes, which enhance the richness of the brew rather than diluting it. Drip iced coffee is $3 for 12 oz. and $3.50 for 16 oz. 

For coffee aficionados, READY Coffee also offers ten global all-Arabica coffee blends from Greg Stivers that can be used for pour-overs (single cups of coffee made using special drip filters). 12 oz. pour-overs are $2.50; 16 oz. cups are $3. READY serves its pour-overs either hot or iced (using coffee ice cubes). These exquisite small batch blends can also be purchased by the pound as whole beans or freshly ground to order. 

The smooth but wonderfully intense espresso-based beverages are made with Greg Stivers small batch roast espresso; all start with double shots. The espresso menu is refreshingly straightforward: A double shot espresso or Americano is $2. Flat whites, cappuccinos and lattes are priced at $3 for 12 oz. and $3.50 for 16 oz. An extra shot of espresso in any espresso beverage is $1. READY Coffee also presents a variety of natural flavor syrups, which can be added to any coffee drink for fifty cents. 

There is more to the READY Coffee story than coffee. Food items also reflect READY Coffee’s emphasis on serving the best at good prices. All food items are made for READY Coffee by some of Chicago’s finest bakers. READY is the first wholesale customer of Dinkel’s donuts, which are made with no GMO flour. “We are thrilled to carry Dinkel’s doughnuts—we love that we are selling the best doughnuts in town,” exclaims Grbac. “Dinkel’s has been baking for 80 years, and for good reason.” READY Coffee’s delicious croissants, brownies, pastries and sandwiches are from Delightful Pastries.

READY Coffee also serves free filtered still and sparkling water. Customers who want to add a shot of natural flavor syrup to a glass of sparkling water can enjoy having a house-made Italian soda for $2.

READY Coffee also is serious about making customers comfortable and relaxed inside its spacious

walls. Every smooth, white-topped table has its own AC power nearby; READY has installed super high-speed internet in order to make web-browsing fast and reliable. The tables are easily moved around to form two-tops, four-tops or more. There also is a community table for larger groups. Customers are encouraged to stay, enjoy a respite, meet friends or do work at their leisure.

To further showcase artwork, READY Coffee has an Art-o-Mat machine, a uniquely refurbished vintage cigarette vending machine that has been converted to sell small pieces of art wrapped in cigarette boxes. The art sells for only $5. “The Art-O-Mat is the coolest machine that I have ever seen,” said Banks. “There is one in the National Portrait Gallery (a Smithsonian Museum) and it’s really a beautiful piece of art in and of itself.” Anyone interested in providing art objects for READY’s Art-o-Mat should call the store at (773) 360-7041.

READY Coffee, located at 1562 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. For more information, call (773) 360-7041 or visit the website at readycoffee.com, like them at Facebook.com/readycoffee and follow them on Twitter @ReadyCoffee.

Lavazza – The Official Supplier of Wimbledon

Lavazza – The Official Supplier of Wimbledon

Congratulations to Lavazza. They are the official coffee supplier of Wimbledon

http://www.lavazza.com/corporate/opencms/en/lavazza-world/events/wimbledon-2013/

Lavazza and Wimbledon: The perfect match of taste - from June 3rd, 2013 through July 7th, 2013 Purchase three pounds of whole bean coffee, and receive your complimentary Limited Edition Wimbledon Espresso Cup (*offer valid while supplies last).