Finally, an issue about videos! I’ve been waiting to use that headline for years, and now I have an excuse. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that many of you young whippersnappers have no idea what it means. No matter! All you need to know is how to make a cool video to sell listings and market yourself, which you’ll get in the cover story. If you want to know about an inappropriate video that an agent posted on their Instagram, then that’s what I’m here for (hint: It was someone in a suburban market).
In other real estate gossip news, Matt Laricy had the honor of interviewing Windy City Rehab’s Alison Gramenos on his podcast. An alternate title to this column could’ve been podcasts killed the radio star, but that’s for another day.
Speaking of “Windy City Rehab,” the show has been ordered by the city to stop all work on the property located at 1846 N. Damen Ave., which used to be the Miko’s Italian Ice building. It’s not because of protests from Italian ice lovers like myself, but it seems there are some code violations happening around town. In fact, Greymark Development Group, the developer associated with the show’s projects, apparently no longer has permit privileges in the city of Chicago due to “bad behavior.” Yikes!
Summer parties are the best! On July 11, CAR hosted the 2019 Golf Classic at a new location: Harborside International Golf Course. Of course, CA made an appearance, and enjoyed games, contests, and networking while staring agape at the beautiful Chicago skyline. One agent decided to wear doughnut shorts with a pink polo, and it was confirmed that he also enjoyed at least one doughnut at the clubhouse. Another wore a polo from a university that he clearly didn’t attend, but good for him for giving it the old college try.
And the event of the year finally arrived, as honorees gathered together to toast one another and drink oodles of cocktails at the big Who’s Who party on July 16. Everyone — and I mean everyone — was in attendance, which meant lots of debauchery and good fun! This year the shindig was expertly placed at NEMA Chicago in the South Loop. The tower isn’t even fully completed yet, and it’s still managed to be completely stunning. Folks from developer Crescent Heights were on hand to show us Who’s Who-ers around and I may or may not have snuck off from my tour to play some clandestine Skee-Ball.
Summer birthday roundup! Connie Antoniou and John Federici share a July 22 bday, while real estate marketing “dude” Mike Cuevas may drink some Cuervo on July 23 to celebrate his. Marj Carpenter will get a solo shout out on July 25, while Fran Broude, Ryan Holden and Paul Dincin will hear a trio of good wishes on July 26. Gordon Munden snuck his birthday onto the last day of July (that’s the 31st in case you don’t want to use your knuckles to figure it out), while Benjie Burford and Michael Shenfeld celebrate Aug. 1. John Gormley, Jeff Bushaw and Janet Owen are a fearless threesome celebrating Aug. 3, and insurance agent extraordinaire Kevin Grady will party down on Aug. 4.