If you live in Lakeview or have come to our building lately, you probably know of the new place that recently opened across the street from us, on the southwest corner of Broadway and Buckingham. I have to say, when Epic Kitchens was opening, I did not know what to make of it. The concept fascinated Abe and I so we ordered food from there and we were pretty impressed.

This week, Pastor Alka and I went to a workshop hosted by ONE Northside about the Bring Chicago Home resolution,which is about creating more Single Room Occupancies and Permanent Supportive Housing, both which are needed to combat rampant homelesssness in Chicago. The resolution would funnel $80 million every year to permanent supportive housing and SRO preservation. The money would be raised by increasing the Real Estate Transfer tax on properties worth over $1 million. This is a one-time tax paid at the point of sale, and our proposed increase would not affect 96% of property sales. 

I don't think I've done a French word yet (if I have and I'm misremembering... pretend I haven't?) Anyway. The word is élan (it's actually also the title of a song I like by a Finnish band called Nightwish) and it means...momentum, basically. Enthusiasm. The feeling that you get when you're passionate about something, that then drives you onward to continuing or finishing whatever that 'something' may be.