The Dempster station on the CTA Purple Line, near the Main-Dempster area just east of the Chicago-Dempster district. Photo: Cards84664 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Shoppers in Evanston’s Chicago-Dempster district can sample Chilean wine from more than 30 local businesses on Thursday, Sept. 17, when the second annual charity wine walk takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. The Chicago Dempster Merchants Association and Vinic Wine, a shop at 1509 Chicago Ave., are the hosts.
Who benefits
Proceeds from ticket sales, a raffle and a portion of participating merchants’ sales go to two nonprofits that serve people with disabilities. One is JJ’s List, a program of the disability services organization Search, Inc. that provides workplace skills training for adults with disabilities. Its participants help organize, promote and host the walk. The other is the Woman’s Club of Evanston’s annual grants program.
The Woman’s Club has about 400 members, who together give more than $100,000 and 5,000 volunteer hours a year to area nonprofits, according to club president Jan Hartwell. The club also runs the Fairy Tale Trail, a Halloween event now in its 25th year that is designed for children of all abilities.
The first walk, held in September 2014, raised nearly $6,000, according to a post on JJ’s List’s blog, with $3,000 going to No Boundaries.
How the evening works
Tickets are $30 and include a bottle of wine and one raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets sell for $5 each or five for $20, with prizes of local goods and gift certificates. Ticket holders can collect the bottle at Vinic through Sept. 27.
On the night, walkers pick up a map of pouring locations and a wristband at one of three spots: Soapies Cleaners at 1231 Chicago Ave., Paramour Bungalow at 812 Dempster St., or Vinic Wine. From there they move between shops at their own pace for tastings and appetizers.
Participating businesses include Studio Armadi, new to the district, along with Paramour Bungalow, Homestead Meats, Dragonfly, Stumble & Relish, Trader Joe’s, Squeezebox Books and Music, Hewn Bakery, Blind Faith Cafe, Four Finches, Spex, Soapies Cleaners and Union Pizzeria.
Jaime Leonardi, owner of Stumble & Relish, said customers asked after last year’s walk when the next one would be. Sandeep Ghaey of Vinic said the Chilean selection spans several of the country’s wine regions.
Details come from the organizers’ announcement and the JJ’s List blog.
Rachel Lindqvist covers community life, the lakefront, dining and the arts for The Evanston Edge.
