Thursday, December 22, 2011

Holiday Romance at Jane's in Chicago

Known as a vanguard in the revitalization of Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, Jane's restaurant (now owned by Julie Greenwalt) has been serving contemporary comfort foods in a unique and romantic (considered one of the most romantic restaurants in Chicago!) setting since 1994. I recently had the pleasure of dining there for a holiday affair and it was wonderful.
Situated near the city of Chicago’s original northern-most boundary, the Bucktown block which Jane’s calls home maintains the quaint, “main street” appeal that was reintroduced in 1891, as the area was revitalized, following the Great Chicago Fire.
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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Are You a Rare Bird?

A rare bird can be an entrepreneur or in this instance, Rare Bird Preserves is Elizabeth Madden's company and she is in fact an entrepreneur.
Every jar of Rare Bird Preserves is handmade in small batches in our quiet kitchen. Our artisanal preserves are thoughtfully crafted in the French tradition, with only the freshest seasonal fruit and our own naturally extracted pectin.

My love affair with preserving fruit began as a student at the French Pastry School in Chicago, where I was moved by the beauty and simplicity of the process. It is this passion, combined with a close attention to detail, that ensures the quality and richness of our products.
Learn more about Elizabeth's company here.  Shop at Rare Bird Preserves.

Illustration credit (top):  Rare Bird Preserves 6 Jar Sampler

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Calling All Entrepreneurs: Let's Spark An Economic Recovery!

A word from Charles R. Schwab, founder and chairman of the Charles Schwab Corporation, on how every job requires an entrepreneur:
The simple fact is that every business in America was started by an entrepreneur, whether it is Ford Motor Co., Google or your local dry cleaner (pictured). Every single job that entrepreneur creates requires an investment. And at its core, investing requires confidence that despite the risks, despite the hard work that will certainly ensue, the basic rules of the game are clear and stable.
Read the entire commentary here.

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Going It Alone and Making It Work

You can graduate from college and get a "real job." But after a couple of years, are you really happy?

Have you thought about pursuing your passion? That's what Emiko Abe did when she went after her love of music.
But going it alone as a self-employed DJ and music consultant was a bit more difficult than she expected.

Not the business end of it. Abe made fast connections and was soon able to leave her old job to undertake her new venture full-time. She now compiles and manages music for places such as spas and upwards of 700 hotels, along with traditional DJ duties at weddings, fashion shows, hockey games and other events.
Read more about Abe's story and how she became comfortable being by herself.

Going in business for yourself, and making it work