Always Andersonville: The Podcast

This week, we are joined today by Ted Fournier, owner of Orange Shoe Personal Fitness Andersonville  located at 5609 N Clark Street. Orange Shoe is known for its amazing customer service and family-style vibe with options for cardio, strength, and cross training as well as kettlebell and yoga, and even nutrition counseling! Ted has quite the story to tell about overcoming life-changing injury with...

In this week's episode, Laura and Sara chat with Hallie Borden, owner of Milk Handmade and Honey Bridal  located next door to each other at 5137 and 5135 N. Clark.  Since 2012, Milk Handmade has been a destination women’s boutique that specializes in merchandise from local and independent designers and features not only apparel, but one-of-a-kind jewelry, accessories, soaps and candles. To view sh...

Sara Dinges and Laura Austin of the Andersonville Chamber give you a rundown of this weekend's Andersonville Midsommarfest  highlights, plus we are joined by Shelly Fuerte, Vice President of the Winona Foster Carmen Winnemac Block Club , otherwise known as the WFCW and singer in the Lakeside Pride Ensembles Latin Band. Shelly and her band will be playing Midsommarfest on Sunday on the Center Stage...

This week, we speak with candle creators Mark Towns and Stephen Pearlman, the duo behind our local favorite, Edgewater Candles . With scents like Cedar Lavender, Tobacco Tonka, and the ever-popular Fraser Fir during the winter months, these soy wax candles will warm up any office, home or studio. You can currently find Edgewater Candles stocked at Foursided in Andersonville, at many markets around...

Today we are joined by Harry Osterman, Alderman of the 48th Ward  in Chicago, which includes the communities of Edgewater, Andersonville and Uptown’s Argyle Street. Alderman Osterman is a lifelong resident of the 48th Ward and prior to becoming Alderman in 2011, Harry served in Springfield for 11 years as State Representative of the 14th District. He is known for boots-on-ground public service, fo...

We are treated to a special conversation with local author David Jay Collins . David is the indie author of Gaybash, a story about love, friendship, and consequences for trying to be someone else; and Summerdale, a haunted house thriller set in Andersonville and due to release this October. We even hear excerpts from both novels!  For episode show notes, please click here . 

Our guest this week is Julieanne Ehre, founder and director of  Pivot Arts  and the  Pivot Arts Festival . With a focus on creative producing, Pivot Arts bridges the gap between theatre, dance, and contemporary performances and has showcased in Andersonville several times, including a recent "Live Talk" engagement at  Hopleaf  (5148 N Clark). The organization is quickly approaching the 6th year of...

The newly redesigned 2018-19 edition of the Andersonville Neighborhood Guide  is launching at the end of this month, and we are so excited to share it with the neighborhood, Chicago, and beyond!  This week on the podcast, we sat down with one of the members of our design team, freelance photographer  Mike Rivera , to discuss his pathway to photography and what it was like to photograph over 20 of...

This week, we are joined by Searah Deysach, the owner of   Early to Bed , Chicago’s only women-oriented, trans-friendly, boy-friendly, queer, and all gender positive sex shop located at 5044 N Clark. This diverse business is dedicated to helping you explore your sexuality to the fullest, without fear, and they are one of the destinations for our upcoming  Andersonville Wine Walk , this Sunday, May...

In honor of opening day for the 2018 Andersonville Farmers Market  season (Wednesday, May 9), we have launched our first bonus episode of the podcast! In studio, we are joined by Katie Williams from Chicago Patchwork Farms and Joan Oberndorf, market manager of Andersonville’s Farmers Market. Chicago Patchwork Farms is an organization dedicated to rehabilitating unused land in the city into beautif...

This week on the podcast, we are joined by members of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble , an intimate salon-style theatre exploring the unique female perspectives of everyday stories (located on Andersonville’s north end at 5779 N. Ridge Avenue). In studio, we discuss Rivendell’s Midwest premiere of The Cake , by playwright Bekah Brunstetter with artistic director Tara Mallen and ensemble members Krystel...

This week, we met up with Maybelline Pereda, the owner and founder of Cescas Margarita Bar and Grill , a Mexican restaurant located in the heart of Andersonville at 5403 N Clark. Cescas is home to craft margaritas, expansive brunch and dinner menus, and a dog-friendly cozy patio to help you kick off the upcoming summer months! To view episode show notes, please click here .

This week, we chat with Rick Verkler, the General Manager of The Guesthouse Hotel (4872 N Clark). The Guesthouse offers affordably luxurious one, two, and three bedroom vacation condominiums designed to feel like home away from home. Rick divulges on what it’s like to meet a vast array of Andersonville dogs, hunting for handmade artisans around the neighborhood and Chicago, and how the hotel staff...

Meet Sonat Birnecker Hart, co-owner, president, and founder of Andersonville’s KOVAL Distillery (5121 N Ravenswood). KOVAL produces organic whiskey, liqueurs and specialty spirits, and was the first distillery to open in Chicago since the mid 1800s. Sonat and her husband/Master Distiller/co-owner, Robert Birnecker, pioneered the way for other small local distilleries to open all around North Ameri...

Meet Matthew Buccilla, co-owner of Andersonville's newly-established modern men's lifestyle and supplies store, Cowboys and Astronauts  (1478 W Summerdale Ave). He has lived and thrived in Andersonville for years, and now with his partner, Greg Lanier, has opened a shop where can you find that new date shirt, grooming products that will make you feel like a million bucks, and barware that shows yo...

This week, we chat with Karin Moen Abercrombie, Executive Director for the  Swedish American Museum  (located at 5211 N Clark) which has been an Andersonville institution since 1976, for over 40 years! Karin was born in Los Angeles, but grew up in Gothenburg, Sweden. She has lived in Andersonville for 25 years, raised her family here, walks to work daily, and possesses a wealth of knowledge about...

This week, the Andersonville Chamber team talks with Georgia Jones, owner of  Chicago Mindful Psychotherapy  located at 5537 N Clark. Georgia tells us all about her pathway to mindfulness, learning to incorporate mindful activities into everyday life, and wanting to promote a family friendly practice in Andersonville, the neighborhood she's called home for over 18 years.    To view show notes from...

For our first episode of #AlwaysAndersonville: The Podcast, we introduce you to Andersonville; a neighborhood full of rich history and an amazing collection of local and independent businesses owners. Get to know the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce staff as they dive into their first interview with Michael Bransford, owner of local bistro Vincent . Michael's story is a love story - one about fal...