Lisa Finks, Compass Real Estate

Lisa Finks, Lourdes Arencibia and Carolyn Duris, REALTORS on Chicago's North Shore.

Archives for October 2016

1630 Sheridan – Best Value on Wilmette’s Lakefront!

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Incredible resort-like living on the North Shore! Amazing views of Lake Michigan from this gorgeous 3 Bedroom co-op unit with added Den, private balcony, in-unit laundry, 2.5 baths, many updates and every building amenity imaginable to make life as easy and enjoyable as possible for you. This premiere building offers attentive on-site management, 24 hour doorman, manicured grounds with BBQ grills, pool, heated garage with deeded parking space (#126), fitness room, private storage locker (#15), party room and rentable guest unit. Walk to Plaza del Lago, shopping and dining. NOTE: Property taxes INCLUDED in monthly assessment.

 

Video Tour of 5406 Crain – Home For Sale in Skokie, IL

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Missed our open house?

No worries – check out our video tour of this fabulous home!  Contact Lisa Finks or Lourdes Arencibia for more details or a private showing.  5406 Crain, Home For Sale in Skokie.

Welcome Home! This Must-See Georgian Home Boasts Traditional Style and Ease of Living. Meticulously Kept and So Many Updates! New Kitchen & All New Appliances (2012), Gut Rehab of Upper Bathroom (2012), New Doors Throughout (2014), New Tile, Sink, Toilet in Powder (2011), New Tile in Basement Bath (2016), New Fixtures Second Floor (2012), New Brick Paving (2015). On the First Floor, a Formal Dining Room, Large Living Room, Updated Kitchen, Large Sunlit Family Room, Powder and Mud Room Make Day to Day Living a Breeze. Home Features 3 Generous Bedrooms Upstairs and Lots of Closet Space. Basement is Finished with Second Full Kitchen, Rec Room, and Additional Office/Extra Bedroom. Basement Could Easily be Used as a Self-Contained In-Law or Nanny Area. Oversized 2.5 Car Garage and Large Yard with Deck Off Back of Home. Convenient Mud Room with Fabulous Storage. Gorgeous Tree-lined Street With Easy Access to Top Schools, Public Transportation, Shopping and Parks.

 

If You Move Out of the City Move to Wilmette

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By:  Lauren Stevens, Chicago News
Gilson Park Sailboats
There’s that cliché that once you get married and start having children, the days of city life are behind you. With better schools in the burbs, backyards and just more space to roam, Wilmette has all of the suburban qualities families are looking for while maintaining a small thread of city throughout the village.

BACKGROUND

Wilmette is one of the first technical North Shore areas, while some people consider Evanston the first North Shore neighborhood, others beg to differ.  Wilmette offers simply spectacular views, has plenty of shopping, family friendly activities, plenty of parks and even a beach! The district has a rich history, stunning architecture and is home to the Baha’i House of Worship, recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois. The Village of Wilmette is also best known for its superior private schools and nationally renowned New Trier High School. In addition to its incredible school systems, Wimette has been awarded an AAA credit rating, the highest award proving the responsible financial management of its residents. 

With a population of nearly 28,000 recorded in 2013, with only a little less than 6-mile radius, the village remains a very tight-knit and welcoming community.  Personally I wouldn’t want to live in the suburbs, but I understand people’s needs change and sometimes the suburbs are the best alternative, but if I had to choose a suburb, I’d choose Wilmette.It has the cozy feel to it, while remaining relatively close to the city. (Sheridan connects you back to Lake Shore Drive and in turn the road back to the city.) With the Purple line ending in Wilmette at Linden, running express for daily city commutes, it’s possible to travel downtown in no time. This attracts me more than anything else, the fact that you are so separated, but if you so choose can have the city contact back in an instant. 

CUISINE


French Market

In general I love a good farmers market, but Wilmette takes it to the next level with their French Market. Running every Saturday during the warmer months, the fun and vibrant French-style market gives you all the farmers’ market classics with a twist.  You already know you’re going to find great cheeses and meats, but you will also be surprised with the quality of jewelry and craft items made available.

Walker Bros Pancake House>

A true classic! Do you remember the ending of the movie “Mean Girls” when Aaron Samuels offers Cady Heron two gift certificates to the Walker Bros Pancake House? It’s because this place rocks and delivers quality, delicious food every time. Dutch babies, Belgium waffles, breakfast food galore. If you can dream of a breakfast fantasy, chances are Walker Bros is cooking it up.  A serious breakfast staple on the North Shore, if you haven’t gone yet, what have you been waiting for? They have bacon pancakes, people. You’re welcome.

AO Sushi< A unique concept, AO Sushi serves up fresh sushi for all of your to-go needs. Not a standard sit-down restaurant, AO strictly gives your orders to-go or delivers them. The pricing is extremely reasonable, the fish is fresh and the concept opens up a whole new world of potential sushi parties. Just order up and get your sushi on with your closest buddies without breaking the bank. Try the Godzilla roll for a truly monstrously delicious sushi experience. Rock House
Eclectic is one word you could use to describe the vibe at Rock House. With everything you’d get from a funky coffee house, you also can add music lesson space and small venue to the list of Rock House duties. You can hit all of your funky needs in one spot, start you afternoon with some coffee, take a guitar lesson and end the day with a live show in the small space while grabbing a beer. Oh, and don’t forget they sell candy here too. A true entertainment one-stop shop.

Gillson Park/Beach
A beautiful park and beach in Wilmette that gets you stellar views, clean beaches and good fun. Like most North Shore beaches, Gillson charges a fee, but you do get free parking, cleaner beaches and on-duty lifeguards for added safety.  Definitely worth the $6-8 fee, you get what you pay for after all. 

Baha’i House of Worship
As previously mentioned, the Baha’i House of Worship is known as one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois. >The truly spectacular building is breathtaking. You don’t have to be a member of the religion or religious at all for that matter to enjoy the beauty and marvel of the magnificent temple. This is the only temple of its kind in North America which is truly something to think about. Of all the cities and communities in the United States and Canada, Wilmette was chosen to house one of only eight Baha’i temples in the world. While in Wilmette it is absolutely essential to pay a visit, stroll through the gardens and take in everything. 

Wilmette Hot Spots:

French Market
722 Green Bay Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091

Walker Bros Pancake House
153 Green Bay Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-6000

AO Sushi
3217 W Lake Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-4404

Rock House
1150 Central Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-7625

Gillson Park/Beach
800 Gillson Park Dr
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-9656

Baha’i House of Worship
100 Linden Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 853-2300
Source: If You Move Out of the City Move to Wilmette

Top 10 Scariest Haunted Houses on the North Shore and Beyond. . .

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North Shore Scary Houses

Scream Scene, 7:00 – 10:00 pm, daily through 10/31, 4701 Oakton Street, Skokie

 

Fright Fest, Six Flags Great America, weekends through 10/31, 1 Great America Pkwy, Gurnee

 

House of Torment, (13 and over) 7:00 pm – 12:00 am, daily through 10/31, 8240 N. Austin Ave.,  Morton Grove

 

Disturbia, Screams in the Park, (13 and over) 7:00 pm – 12:00 am, daily through 10/31, MB Financial PArk at Rosemont,

 

13th Floor Haunted House, (13 and over) 7:00 pm, daily through 10/31, 1940 George St., Melrose Park

 

Dungeon of Doom, (13 and over), 7:00 pm, daily throguh 10/31, (13 and over), 600 29th Street Zion

 

Statesville Haunted Prison, (13 and over), 7:00 pm daily through 10/31, 17250 S. Weber Road

Crest Hill

 

Midnight Terror, (13 and over), 7:00 pm daily through 10/31, 9531 S 52nd Ave, Oak Lawn

 

Insanity Haunted House, (13 and over), 6:30-10:00 pm weekends through 10/31, 3800 E Main St, St. Charles

 

Hell’s Gate, (13 and over), 7:00 – 10:00 pm weekends through 10/31, Lockport Metra Lot, 1300 South State St., Lockport IL 60441

Top 10 Kid-Friendly Halloween Haunts

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Halloween Haunts

Friday, October 21, 5:30-8:00 pm, Halloween Spooktacular, (kid-friendly), 2400 Chestnut Ave,

Glenview.

Saturday, October 22, 6-9 pm – Halloween Happenings (Kid-friendly), Wilmette Park District

 

Friday, October 28, 5:00-7:30 pm, Pumpkins in the Woods, (Kid-friendly), Tower Road Beach, Winnetka

 

Saturday, October 22, 1-2:30 – Spooky Skate (Kid Friendly), Wilmette’s Centennial Ice Rink

 

Saturday, October 22, 6:00 – 9:30 pm, Haunted Trail, Lloyd Beach, Winnetka

 

Sunday, October 29, Evanston Trick or Treat Trot, (Kid Friendly), 9:00 am, Evanston Lakefront

 

Friday, October 28, 10 am – 2 pm – Not So Scary Haunted House (Kid Friendly), Winnetka Community House

 

Saturday, October 15, 10:00-11:30 am, Boo Bash, (kid friendly) Glen Town Center

 

Friday, October 28, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Haunted House (8 and older), Winnetka Community House (Halloween Party from 6-8)

 

Saturday, 10/22 and 10/29, 11:30 am – 2:00 pm, Scream Scene – Lights On – 4701 Oakton Street, Skokie

 

Saturday, October 22,  Zombie Scramble Loraine Morton Civic Center – Evanston

September Showing Activity

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While the peak of the real estate market is generally the spring, fall often offers robust buyer activity as well – we call it the “September-October Bump”.  Below are a tally of the number of showings that occurred in various pricepoints from $300,000 to $2.5M for single family homes in Wilmette, Glenview and Chicago.

I suppose it comes as no surprise that the city would have highly concentrated activity in the entry level pricepoints, whereas Glenview and especially Wilmette, have a better distribution of activity across several different pricepoints.

It is important to note the final column in the lower chart which measures showings per listing as this takes into account the number of homes that are actually on the market in each pricepoint and gives you the truest picture of where the majority of activity lies.  For example, averages above 4 showings per listing indicate that it is a very popular pricing band. If you are in the market to buy, you should check out how competitive your price range will be to get an idea of how quickly you may need to move when you find that dream home!  For sellers, if you are between two pricepoints, you may want to opt for the pricepoint with more showings per listing as it will show the price band with the greatest demand.  Of course, if you need more details or data for another market area, please contact me, I’d be happy to run some numbers for you!

CHICAGO:

Chicago - SFH Showing Activity for September 2016

Chicago – SFH Showing Activity for September 2016

 

Glenview:

Glenview - SFH Showing Activity September 2016

Glenview – SFH Showing Activity September 2016

Wilmette:

Wilmette - SFH Showing Activity Sept 2016

Wilmette – SFH Showing Activity Sept 2016

Amy Schumer’s Apartment Isn’t Selling—Here’s Why

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Pricing is Key!  Even for Movie Stars!
Comedian Amy Schumer’s apartment in New York City has been sitting on the market since last November with no buyers. Here’s why.

Amy Schumer’s Apartment Is a Real Estate Train Wreck—Here’s Why

Comedian Amy Schumer may know how to get the laughs rolling, but it turns out there’s one thing she’s not so hot at: selling real estate! Case in point: Her New York apartment has been sitting on the market since last November with no takers.

Amy Shumer building

So what’s the problem?

For starters, it’s certainly not because the place is “tiny” as Schumer so modestly put it in (at least) one interview. Sure, it’s a one-bedroom unit, but it’s also a penthouse—the top floor of a gorgeous brownstone. It also has roof access and a fireplace in the living room and bedroom.

So, although the bona fide star comedian was probably overdue for a real estate upgrade, her poor-me-in-my-tiny-one-bedroom schtick is truly a laugh riot. Seriously, check out a pic of the interior below.

Amy Schumer apartment

So what’s really the problem with Schumer’s apartment? Why hasn’t it sold yet? Allow us to elaborate on a few reasons why:

Reason 1: The price

It was listed in November 2015 for $2,075,000. But just recently she switched real estate agents (neither of whom could be reached in time for comment) and slashed the price to $1,625,000. That’s a significant price cut, which suggests her original asking price was just too high for New Yorkers to stomach.

Reason 2: It’s an expensive walk-up

Amy Schumers stairsNew Yorkers generally don’t blink an eye when they see a studio selling for millions. But what makes them quake in their Jimmy Choo heels is the thought of trudging up flights and flights of stairs, which is what they’ll have to do to reach Schumer’s penthouse apartment. In fact, her place is a fifth-floor walk-up. Hel-lo, my own building has an elevator, and it’s only four floors!

“Right off the bat, the five flights of stairs jumps out as a potential show stopper, especially in Manhattan where you’re competing with elevator buildings,” says Florida Realtor® Cara Ameer. “While a penthouse is nice along with having access to a rooftop deck and garden, you have to weigh the trade-offs The good news is you will be able to skip going to the gym in lieu of getting a stair workout each day!”

Reason 3: It’s a co-op

A co-op, or cooperative, for anyone lucky enough to be spared the hassle of learning its many intricacies, is a form of housing where you don’t just go and buy the place you want to live. That’s way too simple for New York! Instead, you purchase shares in a corporation that owns the building. This means that the home-buying process is a lot more complicated.

“The application process could be lengthy, and it usually includes the presentation of a board package with a lot of financial information and meeting in person with the board of directors of the building,” explains Chris Leavitt, Director of Luxury Sales for Douglas Elliman. Going co-op is often a fact of life in New York, since co-ops comprise roughly 75% of Manhattan’s housing inventory. But co-ops are on the wane, with most new buildings being sold as condos instead.

Reason 4: You can get more space for less cash in Brooklyn

“This price point can get you far more space in a much nicer building in Brooklyn’s new developments,” says Emile L’Eplattenier, a real estate marketing and sales analyst at Fit Small Business. “The decision to live in Manhattan or Brooklyn has moved from a matter of pure economics to one of preference. Many people with Manhattan budgets are now choosing to live in Brooklyn.”

Reason 5: No pets allowed

And let’s face it, it’s hard enough to get by in New York and trudge up a five-story walk-up you paid over a million for without a cute furry face to greet you once you open the door, right?

All of which adds up to five good reasons Schumer’s apartment may continue to sit on the market untouched—or perhaps five good reasons she decided to move out. Who knows? Maybe she was pining for a house cat to keep her company. And oh yeah, an elevator.

 

Source: Amy Schumer’s Apartment Isn’t Selling—Here’s Why ~ Realtor.com

The Best Paint Colours for Home Staging or Selling

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Reprinted from Kylie M. Interiors.  http://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-benjamin-moore-paint-colours-for-home-staging-selling/

The skinny on colors from a very talented designer out of Canada who offers online consultations!

To be perfectly honest with you, I’m not a designer who believes that all homes sell better when painted light, neutral colours.  In fact, many homes sell faster and for more money because they are painted ‘the right colour’ based on things like flooring/countertops/tilework/etc…

However, if you don’t have a designer/decorator on-call to help you choose the PERFECT colour and are just looking for some basic colour ideas to tidy up your walls then this post should help you out…

the-best-benjamin-moore-paint-colours-for-home-staging-neutrals-beige-greige-and-gray

Are these colours visually stimulating?  Not all of them.  Are these colours rich and wondrous?  Again…no.  These are colours that give buyers the best view of your space with regards to size, shape and mood.  It also gives them the opportunity to picture their own furnishings in the space without being influenced heavily by your tastes. 

Benjamin Moore Ballet White OC 9

Is Maritime White too orange-base for you?  Then check out Ballet White.  Ballet White has the appeal of a light tan/beige colour with a bit more warmth.  It has just a drop of yellow in it, compared to Maritime White’s slightly more orange bits.  And don’t worry, your walls won’t look ‘yellow’ – they will just look soft, neutral, warm and inviting.

benjamin-moore-ballet-white-is-popular-for-home-staging-or-selling-because-it-is-a-light-slightly-warm-neutral-shown-with-dark-wood-floors

Ballet White is great for:

  • Your entire home

Avoid Ballet White in…

  • Dark rooms.  It will get lost in the shadows

Benjamin Moore Lenox Tan HC 44

Lenox Tan is about as rich and dark as you’d want to go if you are repainting your room for the purpose or selling.  It is a warm tan with a slightly orange undertone (meaning it’s not toooo yellowy).  You will see colours like this in a lot of new homes – although I think it’s waaay overdone.

benjamin-moore-lenox-tan-paint-with-white-trim

Lenox Tan is great for….

  • North facing rooms (will visually warm up the space)
  • Large spaces
  • Exteriors
  • Woodsy feeling

Avoid Lenox Tan in…

  • Small rooms
  • Rooms with pink flooring/countertop/pink undertoned cabinets
  • Darker basements – while it’s a warm colour it’s a touch heavy
  • As an ‘overall home colour’, while it can be so lovely in many rooms, dark rooms or hallways will be weighed down by this colour

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC 172

Revere Pewter is a lovely warm soft gray.  Sounds contradictory, right?  While many grays pick up a blue or purple undertone, Revere Pewter is more likely to pick up a faint muddy green tone that makes it feel warmer than the average gray.

bedroom-painted-revere-pewter-soft-warm-gray-by-benjamin-moore-with-upholstered-headboard

Revere Pewter is great for….

  • Homes with espresso/dark wood flooring or cabinets
  • Bathrooms
  • Southern facing bedrooms (to balance out the warm exposure a bit)
  • Small or large rooms
  • When lightened by 25-50%, it is great for dark rooms or hallways

Avoid Revere Pewter with…

  • Pink or purple.  This will bring out the green.
  • In rooms with cream trim, it will bring out the green

 

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist OC 27

Are you looking for a gray that is a soft and subtle, with a feather light feeling? Then check out Balboa Mist.  This is a gray colour with soft taupe undertone.  Compared to more cool toned grays, this one is soft and warm feeling.

popular-paint-colour-for-staging-or-selling-a-home-is-benjamin-more-balboa-mist-soft-gray-colour-with-taupe-undertones-shown-in-espresso-bathroom

Balboa Mist is great for:

  • Almost any room in your home
  • Dark wood furniture, cabinets, flooring

Avoid Balboa Mist with:

  • If you have yellow or orange toned wood, this will bring out the purple tones

 

Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray HC 168

Looking to make an impact?  Then check out Chelsea Gray.  This medium toned gray colour makes for a striking feature or accent wall or can completely envelope a room in it’s loveliness!  Is it brave?  Oh yes, but if you have the right style of home (generally quite modern or with off-white walls) you can make a great statement with it.

benjamin-moore-chelsea-gray-in-a-dining-room-with-white-cove-ceilings-best-dark-gray-paint-color

Chelsea Gray is great for…

  • Feature or accent walls
  • Media rooms

Avoid Chelsea Gray in…

  • Every room – it is best for 1 room only, not more multiple rooms

 

Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan HC 81

Manchester Tan works well in almost every room as long as there is a reasonable amount of light coming in.  It is primarily a beige colour that is pretty darned neutral except for a tiny bit of warm in it, compared to more cool, greige toned beige paint colours.

benjamin-moore-manchester-tan-is-one-of-the-best-paint-colors-for-home-staging-for-any-room-light-or-dark

Manchester Tan is great for…

  • Any room in your darn home!  Small, big, dark, light

Avoid Manchester Tan with…

  • Pink tones.  The smidge of yellow in it can look sickly when paired with pink/rose

 

Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere 2138-60

I have mad love for Gray Cashmere.  It is a green/blue/gray.  Personally, Gray Cashmere is one of my all-time fave colours as it sits so well in a space and seems to appeal to both men and women without being ‘too colourful’ for selling purposes.

gray-cashmere-is-the-best-for-home-staging-and-selling-for-a-fresh-look-in-a-bedroom

Gray Cashmere is particularily great in…

  • Bathrooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Beautiful way to modernize the look of Forest Green (countertops/carpet)

Avoid Gray Cashmere in…

  • Rooms that are dark and dreary, there’s not enough colour in it to support itself in a dark room.
  • In rooms with a lot of wood (flooring/cabinets/furniture) it can be hit and miss.  If you want to accent the wood it will do the trick, however, if you are wanting to blend in the wood and neutralize it won’t work at all

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC 52

This is the most ‘gray’ colour on this page.  It is also the coldest colour as it’s a gray with a subtle blue/green undertone.  This undertones doesn’t always show up, but in the right conditions it will.

benjamin-moore-gray-owl-one-of-the-best-neutral-paint-colours-for-home-staging-shown-in-entryway

This photo shows how soft and pretty Gray Owl can look.  Keep in mind though, it can look DRASTICALLY different from one room to another, depending on the exposure, furnishings, etc…

Gray Owl works great with

  • South facing rooms, north facing rooms
  • Wood tones and whites

Avoid Gray Owl

  • If your target market is 60+, generally speaking they prefer more neutral/warmer colours
  • In a north facing, dark room – it will feel too cold

Still not sure what to do?  Contact Kylie via her Online Consulting services – starting from $45!

How Can I Entertain When I Don’t Have Enough Time? Ask the Expert: Nancy Brussat, Convito Cafe & Market

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ASK THE EXPERT:  Nancy Brussat, Convito Cafe & Market

A guide to a quick and easy gathering, especially in the holiday season

Nancy Brussat

By Nancy Brussat

Convito Café & Market

Founder/Partner

 

Welcoming friends and family into my home is one of my favorite holiday activities.  It is such a festive time of the year.  But it is also a busy time of the year for everyone.  So I have figured out how to entertain simply.  Whether you have decorated a lot or very little, candlelight goes a long way in setting a festive mood.  Rather than a full bar, just offer wine and beer.  And with food, lately I have embraced an antipasti theme.  That only requires arranging some salami, prosciutto and cheeses on a platter accompanied by bowls of your favorite marinated vegetables or spreads – like olives, peppers and artichokes and tapenade.  And that is really simple – just opening a few jars.   Include some crackers and breadsticks and voila!  You have the ingredients for a perfect holiday gathering – big or small.   This can be a large platter,  or small. People can even make their own sandwiches on the bread with salami or prosciutto with a little tapenade and brie, and voila!  Your guests can either snack or fill-up!

Antipasto jars

IDEAS for YOUR LIST TO BUY/GATHER

  • Candles
  • Cutting boards, platters, bowls (arranged as photographed)
  • Red Wine : Like an every day Sangiovese (Banfi col di Sasso) or Montepulciano (La Masciarelli) from Italy
  • White Wine: New Zealand Saugvignon Blanc (Root 1 Organic) or Frascati (Fontada Candida)
  • Beer (maybe a lager like Moretti and an IPA like Revolution Anti Hero to please both palates)
  • Sliced salami (you can buy it in a pack already sliced, or have the deli slice it fresh)
  • Prosciutto (ditto)
  • Fontinella cheese in cubes
  • A wedge of Brie (just put out with a knife)
  • Jar of chutney (like Old Farmhouse Chutney from Stonewall Kitchens)
  • Jar of marinated artichokes
  • Olives (mixed and pitted are a good option, or some provencal)
  • Marinated roasted peppers, sliced
  • Fig almond cake from Spain, sliced or left on the plate for people to cut themselves
  • Slices of crunchy french baguette
  • Crackers (we love the Panzanella mini croccantini)
  • Tapenade to spread (black olive, or sun dried tomato is a great option)
  • Breadsticks (like Colleen’s homemade artisanal cheese breadsticks that come in a variety of flavors)

Cheese jars
For more details on our menus and offerings of Convito visit our website www.convitocafeandmarket.com

For more details regarding please contact Candace Barocci Warner at candaceconvito@gmail.com

Phone 847.251.3654

For details on Founder and Partner, Nancy Brussat’s blog on the beginnings of Convito visit her blog at https://nancybrussat.wordpress.com

 

Nancy BrussatFounder/Proprietor, Convito Café & Market
Nancy Brussat is the founder and moving force behind Convito Café & Market which opened its first location under the name of Convito Italiano in 1980 in Wilmette. A long time interest in Italian food blossomed during a three-year residency in England. Brussat made frequent trips to Italy, becoming increasingly enchanted by the regional wines, cuisine and character of the country.

When Brussat moved back to America in 1980, she decided to open Convito Italiano, a shop which would be part grocery, part pasta and sauces, part education center, part wine center, and part deli.

By 1982, the shop was too small to contain all of Brussat’s ideas, so she moved Convito to larger quarters in Wilmette’s Plaza del Lago, with three times the space and three new features; hot foods, an on-the-premise Italian bakery, and a 28 seat Italian cafe serving lunch and early dinner.

In October of 1984, a second Convito location opened in the Chestnut Galleria on Chicago’s near north side: a post-modern, Euro-style shop on two levels, that included a 62 seat white linen tablecloth restaurant and a 35 seat wine bar. The new location was larger (10,000 square feet) and grander than the Wilmette store, but was every bit as dedicated to presenting fresh, authentic dishes in the great Italian regional tradition. The Chestnut location has been closed (Spring 1994). A fire occurred in the kitchen in November of 1993 making it difficult to continue operation.

In 1992, Brussat opened a new, casual Riviera-style Bistro, Bêtise, in Plaza del Lago. It featured fresh and unpretentious dishes transported from the Cote d’Azur and the lively Bistros of Paris to a warm, honey-colored art-filled suburban setting.

Barocci was chosen to serve on American Airlines’ Chef’s Conclave in 1989, a group of 10 chef’s from around the country who strive to improve and maintain the quality of dishes offered on first and business class. She is also an active Past President in Les Dames d’Escoffier, an international women’s food & wine organization.

She is also an active Past President in Les Dames d’Escoffier, an international women’s food & wine organization.