Spooky season has come to an end, but we have something new to celebrate: the winners of the 2022 Chicago Agents’ Choice Awards. All the professionals featured in this month’s cover story went above and beyond the past year to show they are the best of the best. Check out who was named Industry MVP, Best Dressed (my personal favorite category) — and more. It should all give you all plenty to gossip about…
Speaking of gossip, who else is binging “The Watcher” on Netflix? Queen Jennifer Coolidge spills all the tea in her role as Karen Calhoun: a cut-throat luxury real estate agent. Sound familiar? We may not relate to her vicious approach to winning bidding wars — no spoilers — but we certainly can get behind her massive glasses of sloshing white wine.
Those of you who prefer something harder, though, probably enjoyed Unobtanium, the recent real estate forum held at the legendary Lincoln Park Builders clubhouse. The boozy networking opportunity offered the chance to sip on some rare — and pricey — spirits. You already know I was there, hobnobbing with a glass of scotch in one hand and a nice cigar in the other. Chris Feurer, who graced last month’s cover of Chicago Agent, also made an appearance.
Meanwhile, across the country, the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AAREA) gathered in San Diego for AREAA Unplugged: a national, three-day convention. Held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel, Kurt Nishimura, a Coldwell Banker agent from Phoenix, was installed at the event as the new president, taking over for Tim Hur. Tommy Choi also stopped by — just before heading off to Mexico with the Weinberg Choi Residential team! Wish I was there, soaking up the sun … and tequila shots.
And finally, Scorpio season is upon us. Which means it’s time for some extra fabulous birthday shout-outs. Lots of agents are turning older on Nov. 9: Jim Roth, Ryan Steele, Kevin Green, Mack Alsaidi, Neena Vlamis and Missy Jerfita. Then the party continues as Yoni Pogofsky celebrates on Nov. 10, Alex Chaparro on Nov. 12 and, on Nov. 13, both Craig Hogan and Sandra Snaidauf. Three b-day buddies share Nov. 14: Joe Brocato, Jim Miller and Alan Lev, followed by Fritz Kaegi who will be partying on Nov. 15. The next day, Nov. 16, is Steven Baird’s birthday and two days after that, on Nov. 18, is Ron Ruby’s, followed by Steven H. Baumann’s on Nov. 19 and Paul Lazarre’s on Nov. 20. Then there’s a brief break before b-day twins Noel Christopher and Jenny Ames party on Nov. 26. Allison Ondrey-Malzone closes out the month with her birthday on Nov. 29. Transitioning into the next month, we have Maria Davies on Dec. 1, Maria Davies on Dec. 2, Dan Kieres and Erin Mandel on Dec. 2 and Kevin Dembinsky on Dec. 3.
That should tide us all over till the holiday parties begin.