A commercial building on Chicago Avenue in Evanston Photo: Nick Number / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Shops and restaurants around the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Dempster Street planned a new fall tradition in September 2014: a charity wine walk on Thursday, Sept. 18, starting at 5 p.m. The Chicago Dempster Merchant Association organized the first annual event with Vinic Wine, the Chicago Avenue wine shop.
How it worked
More than 20 local businesses signed up to pour French wines supplied by Vinic, one to two ounces at a time. Participants began at one of three check-in points, Blue Pearl Studio at 517 Dempster St., Paramour Bungalow at 812 Dempster St. or Vinic Wine at 1509 Chicago Ave., where they picked up a wristband and a map of the stops. A donation of $15 per person was suggested, and wristband proceeds were to go to two local nonprofits.
Sandeep Ghaey of Vinic Wine said the organizers wanted to share their French wine and partner with the neighboring businesses.
The beneficiaries
No Boundaries, Train for Work, Train for Life, runs a workplace skills program for teenagers and adults with disabilities. The Evanston Art Center offers classes, exhibitions, public programs and community outreach in the visual arts.
A district in transition
The Chicago-Dempster area mixes older storefronts with newer independent shops, and the wine walk was designed to get residents moving from one door to the next instead of visiting a single destination.
The walk doubled as an introduction to newer businesses in the area. On Chicago Avenue these included Stumble & Relish, a gift shop; Dragonfly, a clothing and decor store; and Homestead Meats. On Dempster were Blue Pearl Studio, which makes custom countertops, and Paramour Bungalow, a home accessories store. They joined established neighbors such as Squeezebox Books and Music, Minasian Rug Company, Blind Faith Cafe, Lollie Kids Boutique and Union Pizzeria.
The event proved durable. Vinic Wine and the Main Dempster Mile later ran an Evanston wine walk of their own, and a Patch post described a third annual charity edition, benefiting Mudlark Theater Company.
Rachel Lindqvist covers community life, the lakefront, dining and the arts for The Evanston Edge.
