Family business?

Amalia's home design. Not sure what all the items are in the key.

I hope one or more of my four kids end up in the business with me in some way or another.  I pegged my 6yr old daughter for my Ivy League attorney but it appears she may be our architect.  We've also offered to send our 3yr old to work with Artistic Construction to pick up some trades. 

Weather bad? Kid's Island in Lincoln Park

Stanley plays with buddies in the indoor sandbox at Kid's Island in Lincoln Park.

The winter weather sends shivers down parents' spines... and it's not only the cold weather.  It is the prospect of entertaining our kids over the months of darkness. Every little play area and niche helps.  On a cold, rainy early October day our au pair and youngest checked out Kid's Island in Lincoln Park.

The kids had a great time over the better part of two hours. A two hour pass is $12.00 for the first kid, $10.00 for each sibling and you can check the many updates at their Facebook page.  The location at 1358 W Webster is fantastic.  Lots of lunch places (Potbelly!), a movie theater and Clover play-lot (in good weather) are steps away from the cafe.

The twist of this place is for the parents. A cafe featuring Julius Meinl goods and nail spa round out the offerings while the kids play.

Free kids fun: Sculpture, spelunking and giraffe calling in Lincoln Park

Tree climbing on "Steelroots" by Steve Tobin near the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum at Fullerton and Stockton.  (photo Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker)

Me and the three kids drove the 15 minutes from Lincoln Square to the Zoo and Nature Museum area of Lincoln Park.  We parked on Stockton Drive after a few trips around the block (no meters) and spent an easy going (free) few hours exploring the parks (except for the $4.00 popcorn at the zoo).  Here's a few scenes from last Thursday morning.

Giraffe calling!

Spelunking!  Well, more like rock climbing in the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

The Lily Pool paths provide plenty of challenges and adventures.

We walked the grounds at the Lincoln park Conservatory... what a backdrop! (Photo Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker)

Chicago Local: Family stroll in east Lincoln Park, Cummings Playground

We often walk along the paths near Fullerton and the lake and between Lincoln Park West and the lakefront with our kids. Whenever we run errands in Lincoln Park or visit the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum we tend to end up at Cummings Playground as well. Our kids love this park's sand feature. The zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, the beach, harbors and plenty of open fields and gardens are all here to enjoy.

The surrounding real estate across from the park is fantastic! I usually talk my wife into bringing the kids to RJ. Grunts just west of the park for an early dinner. For more posts on Lincoln Park, click HERE

Last chance! Camp Hollywood Family Films in Lincoln Square

Our kids have enjoyed the Davis Theater Camp Hollywood Family Films series this summer in Lincoln Square. Tuesday August 16th and Wednesday August 17th are the last days this summer. Many days sell out, so get tickets in advance!

Chicago Local: Architecture, nature and views in Lincoln Park

It make great sense to offer bike rentals at the nature museum along Cannon Drive and Fullerton at the lakefront in Lincoln Park.

Having a fun family day for mom, dad and the kids is no problem in Lincoln Park. Last week we hit one of our favorite spots along the lakefront where we could enjoy views, nature and architecture.

A visit to The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum followed by a walk up and down the lakefront parks provides hours of entertainment and exercise. We love it as parents for the atmosphere and architecture. The kids, we believe, get terrific stimulation in an urban environment. There is always something new to see or notice for the first time.

Views from Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Gorgeous views and architecture at the nature museum itself.

Chicago Local at LPAC: Kids play, parents workout in Lincoln Park

The Kid's Club at Lincoln Park Athletic Club is the place to be while mom and dad hit the gym next door. Many businesses in and around Lincoln Park cater to active city families.

Hawthorne Scholastic Academy in Lake View...smart family fun!

One of the cooler school campus facilities tucked into the Lake View neighborhood is at Hawthorne Scholastic Academy at 3319 N Clifton Avenue. Click the link for the great web site... better the web site, better the school?

I took a couple shots of their back to school "Family Fun Fest". This campus features a turf field and new playground enjoyed by the neighborhood year round.

Hawthorne is a magnet school... learn how to enroll your kids in the top public schools of Chicago! New protocol has given more weight to "neighborhood kids". I like the changes.

Considering an Au Pair? Attend this reception August 18th and learn more!

Au pair Charmaine with our youngest Amalia.

My wife Jillian and I will host a casual wine and cheese reception for those interested in au pairs. This is a great way to learn if this child care option is right for you. We've hosted an au pair for eight months and love the relationship. Learn ins -and -outs, shatter some myths and meet other parents curious about au pair programs. It can be very affordable and flexible compared to full time nannies.

*Please contact me (Eric) at 773-510-1597 or by email at erojas@rubloff.com for specific information. Just mention the au pair meeting. Below is the general time, date and location.


What: Au Pair informational wine and cheese reception
When: Wednesday, August 18th at 7:00PM
Where: Lincoln Square area (location will be sent in an e-vite)

Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago: New Nature Boardwalk for family fun

With two kids and an Au pair at home, my wife and I are always looking for fun (free) ideas to keep them entertained while we're working. Lincoln Park Zoo is a great destination, but they've also created a new habitat at the South Pond (south end of Zoo adjacent to Cafe Brauer).

Check out the info for the Nature Boardwalk HERE:
Here's descriptions and plans from the Lincoln Park Zoo website

Babies move condos; More clients selling with kids

When I began my real estate business in Chicago, I worked with mainly single/no kids and married/no kids people by chance. Suddenly this year many of my clients are squeezed into their condos thanks to "recession babies" ...as my circle likes to call them. It seems everywhere I turn, new and old clients have "one on the way", a two year old, a couple of them, or another one on the way. Just look at all the property photos with cribs in them (actual baby cribs, not MTV "Cribs"). I've even had several conversations lately at weddings and parks with frustrated sellers (and current owners that would like to move) who have kids. A baby boom has become a real nich market for me.

It's sort of a catch 22. It's really great having your first kid in the city, even in a small condo. The ability to walk to retail, restaurants, parks and free stuff is fantastic. The diversity of friends in the community (age, sex, marital status, socioeconomics, educations etc...) keeps us vibrant and is why we live in the city besides our jobs. It's all good until #2 shows up or you just plain outgrow your current situation. It's at this very moment where it becomes harder to keep your home in good showing condition. Showing your home also becomes much more of a hassle on your lifestyle and schedule when you have kids.

Even though city condo values are lower now in general than in the last several years, many of my clients have the ability to sell and move on to suburban single family homes, a city town home or even a single family. The core Chicago neighborhoods have held up pretty well and even selling at a loss is not a disaster if you really need a bigger place. As the saying goes, you'll save on the "move-up" property. That's, of course, if you have the ability to sell and walk away with a few bucks still in the bank.

The key is to prepare the home to show at it's best and price at the true lower end of the market. My job is to get this to happen one way or another. You will sell quicker, get the top dollar allowed in this market and keep your stress level to a minimum. The main obstacle is going to be you, the seller. If you really have to move the family then it's time to let go of markets past. If you live in the now with your loved ones (and listen to your Realtor when preparing the home for sale), you'll sell your home and begin your next phase of life.

You have to be committed 100% to move or be prepared for frustrations.

Family of Four: Can You Buy in Chicago for Around $350,000?

I have a pretty good gig. Recently, I've been helping friends of mine, a family with two young kids, find a home in Chicago... or close by. The catch is, they'd like to be in an area with "things to walk to".

This is personal. They are not only friends but they are in a very similar point in their lives as my wife and I are. They want a cool neighborhood and just a little elbow room. They don't want to mortgage their lives.

Luckily, Jillian and I pulled it off a couple years ago. We will soon be a family of four and have a nice duplex home we'll enjoy for a long, long time. Sure, Ryne (pictured above) basically plays in a parking lot out back. But so did I growing up and that worked out okay.

It can be done. I just read in the latest Dwell magazine about a couple with two kids living in a great Manhattan location who renovated their... get this... 700 sq/ft home to accommodate the new baby (the 4th family member). So, I got a little embarrassed knowing I've once felt like 1800 sq/ft was not enough. It's all about the layout and location (and adding storage).

That said, for many it's really hard to imagine having a couple kids in a three bedroom condo (with a family room please). But it only takes a little thinking about how you live life and what you want outside your door. So, if you want to live in the city... live in the city and make it work. Don't think you're supposed to have a house somewhere far, far away where you clean the gutters and mow the lawn rather than take the kids on the Brown Line to Millennium Park on a Saturday morning.

Now, to find that city home for a family of four in a good loaction for around $350,000... I'm open to suggestions.

Sneaking in Blog Posts on Mother's Day

My wife and I spend a lot of time together, but have few days just catching up around the house. Thanks to Jillian, and the fact we have a son, we spent the day at home and I was not allowed to work (mostly).

Happy Mother's Day Jill, and thanks for the day off too.