Beal Properties On Fall-ing In Love With Chicago

The air is crisp, and the leaves are showcasing their magnificent hues. The subtle hint of pumpkin spice emanates from local scratch bakeries, while pop-up pumpkin stands virtually appear overnight. Fall in Chicago is a magical experience that lifelong residents, and new transplants, look forward to equally. Though Fall 2020 may be a little bit different in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many wonders to check out and appreciate in the Windy City. A staple in Chicago for thirty years, Beal Properties is a leading apartment management giant. Living and working in the midst of Chicago’s unique neighborhoods, the professionals at Beal Properties share their tips for making the most of this fall in Chicago, and adding a festive flair to any Chicago apartment.

Kick Up Some Leaves

For the property managers at Beal Properties, Chicago’s falls are synonymous with the beautiful hues of falling leaves. In late September, the city’s parks and streets are blanketed with crunchy beds of yellow, amber, and brown. This fall, devote some extra time to taking in the natural wonders of the changing trees. In the daily pre-Coronavirus hustle and bustle, nature’s changes have long been ignored by countless busy professionals scurrying along to their intended destinations. Now, with the pace of the world seemingly slowed down, fall foliage welcomes the adoration it deserves.

The professionals at Beal Properties encourage Chicagoans to walk over to their favorite parks, cemeteries, or historic tree-lined streets for a glimpse of the leaves. From the famed Lincoln Park, to the West Side’s Garfield Park, the city offers countless natural escapes that are transformed by fall. While many park installations and group activities may be closed in light of continued social distancing guidelines, Beal Properties’ local experts tout the value of a simple, socially distant, scenic walk.

Turn Apartments Into Fall Havens

The sights and smells of fall elicit memories of friendly grandmothers baking apple pies, toasted marshmallows, and falling acorns. These warm, cozy, and comfortable feelings can be evoked with a few seasonal apartment changes. Committed to providing unparalleled customer service for countless Chicago apartment dwellers for thirty years, the professionals at Beal Properties tout the power of a fall “glow-up”. This season, as individuals spend more time at home, creating a fall haven is more important than ever.

First, to maximize the effect of aromas, the professionals at Beal Properties recommend stocking up on plug-in air fresheners, and linen sprays alike. These are safer alternatives to candles, and create a permanent cozy smell. Other alternative aromatics can include potpourri, and concentrated room sprays. For fans of sweet smells, fall’s offerings include pumpkin spice, apple pie, and even toasted marshmallow varieties. For nature lovers, various companies provide lines that promise to smell like “sweater weather”, and “falling leaves”.

For smaller spaces, Chicago’s Beal Properties experts tout the transformative power of accent pieces. Ceramic pumpkins, plush throw pillows, and seasonal welcome mats create a perfect fall ambiance without requiring a total space overhaul. To stretch out the cozy feelings of fall even further, consider creating decor from naturally sourced objects, or via a group arts and crafts project. Nothing screams “fall” like sipping hot apple cider while creating a wreath out of acorns. 

Sip A Cup Of Fall

When it comes to sipping, Chicago’s quaint coffee shops are revered for their unique fall-in-a-cup recipes. These to-go craft beverages are the perfect accompaniment to a crisp walk in the park, or for late nights crafting seasonal decor. Beal Properties has an extensive apartment building portfolio that spans each bespoke Chicago neighborhood, and staff members visiting varying locations often discover the best local coffee shops during outings. These experts recommend ducking into coffee shops for a sip of fall.

With many local roasteries, Chicago is home to artisan coffee that rivals famed Seattle hotspots. The professionals at Beal Properties remind visitors to check out each shop’s social distancing policies and guidelines to make the most out of every caffeine quest. From Fulton Street’s Metric Coffee Co., to Wicker Park’s ultra-cool Wormhole, the city’s bespoke coffee shops offer something for every fall-aholic’s palette. From pumpkin spice everything, to spicy chai lattes, there is a perfect fall drink for everyone.

Celebrate Oktoberfest

With outdoor dining offering a socially distant compromise, spending a crisp afternoon with a locally brewed beer is the perfect way to celebrate Oktoberfest. Scattered across Chicago, various pop-up beer gardens are offering a safe space for the beloved annual celebration. Whether set up on a scenic patio, or behind the best grungy dive bar, Chicago’s pop-up beer gardens combine the best of outdoor adventures, seasonal ales, and revelry. The professionals at Beal Properties remind visitors to check websites for instructions, and to make reservations ahead of time, as seats will be limited.

In Ravenswood, local hang Fountainhead made the most of vertical space by creating a rooftop beer garden that can’t be missed. At Marz Community Brewing, the extensive parking lot has been magically transformed into an outdoor beer hall, complete with socially distant tables, and safe food ordering methods. The West Loop’s Kaiser Tiger highlights the city’s best micropub offerings under balmy string lights, making it the perfect destination at dusk. 

Bake (Or Order) Up A Pie

While Thanksgiving pies may not be baking quite yet, this transitional time is perfect for whipping up a comforting treat. For those who consider themselves skilled bakers, the aromas of warming ovens can transform an apartment into a fall-centric bakeshop for hours. For everyone else, Chicago’s famed patisseries offer up the taste of fall, without the mess. At Chicago’s Beal Properties, staff members bond over sampling treats from their local bakeries, a tradition that has been aided with the mainstream adaptation of socially distant food delivery services. They recommend ordering online, and enjoying seasonal pies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

No Chicago fall is complete without a pie from Hoosier Mama Pie Company, a staple for fall treats. Now, visitors can enjoy their Hoosier Sugar Cream pies on the patio behind the retro shop, or order pies on-the-go from expanded locations. Open for pick-up orders in Logan Square, Bang Bang Pie’s treats are well worth the walk. From apple cider to chocolate caramel pies, this sweet shop brings fall home. 

The Financial District in Chicago

Chicago, Illinois is an amazing place to visit and explore. Many natives have grown up to become some of the most influential people in the world. For example, Michelle Obama, Hilary Clinton, Walt Disney, Harrison Ford, Ken Kurson, and John Cusack have all been raised on deep-dish pizza. One of the most affluent areas of Chicago in the Loop, also known as, the financial district.

Corporations stretch the 35-block area and many are now finding home in The Loop. The reasoning for that name is because back in the 19th century, the Chicago Union elevated Railway looped around this district. Thus, the name will stand strong today and the beautiful views of Lake Michigan never disappoint.  There are so many fun places to attend when in the financial district. At the Money Museum, there is a revolving spare filled with a million dollars. Touring the Burnham Library is also a great place to stay indoor if it rains. Most buildings allow for visitors so getting some great photo ops is never a problem. Documenting a financial district tour is a great way to remember facts learned throughout the day. Ken Kurson enjoys blogging about his travels and recommends it to anyone he knows!

Chicago V. New York City

Chicago has an infinite number of fun activities to do and so many natives that grew up and changed the world. Some include Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Michelle Obama, Ken Kurson, and Hillary Clinton. So many political figures and talented musicians grew up on the beauties the windy city had to offer. Having the midwestern charm is something New Yorkers could never do. Rather than giving a cold shoulder, natives of Chicago are just more willing to strike up a conversation and smile. 

New York City is the most popular city in the world. That being said, their food there is undeniably rich with flavor and history. It’s also crazy expensive. Compared to Chicago, New York City is luxurious. Something many misinterpret is how hard it is to be a homeowner in New York. Renting usually ends up costing more money than home-owning, to begin with, and for a fraction of the space.  New York City tends to be slightly more filthy then Chicago. There is always trash piled up on the sidewalks and there is definitely a certain smell the streets poses. However, both cities have lots of pride. Usually, whoever lives in either city loves it, and calls it their home. Ken Kurson has had the opportunity to see what living in both cities was like first hand and he will always choose Chicago over New York. Home is home for people. There are so many memories associated with our upbringing which is why it’s hard to decide which city is better in a non-biased fashion.