Cloud Gate, also affectionately known as “The Bean,” will be the site of caroling on Friday, December 4th, 11th and 18th at 6 pm. Cloud Gate is located on the western edge of Millennium Park and is easily visible from Michigan Ave.

Chicagoans and visitors are invited to hear the beautiful voices of a variety of choral groups and join in a holiday sing-along. For more details on the event, click here.

1555 Wabash is minutes away from Cloud Gate and everything else Chicago has to offer. Located a few blocks west of Soldier Field in the city’s South Loop, 1555’s condos are the perfect home base for you to relax and recharge after enjoying the Windy City. For more information on 1555 Wabash and to schedule an appointment for a showing, click here to get started!

Image courtesy of Flickr user @dharma_for_one

With another winter season quickly approaching, Chicagoans will no doubt be gritting their teeth as they walk through the city, wondering why exactly they tolerate such weather. In general, it’s safe to say winter gets a bad rap in the Midwest. With cringe-inducing terms such as “below freezing” and “wind chill,” it’s easy to forget winter is a beautiful time of year. With that in mind, here are some photos of Chicago as it’s blanketed with snow and ice. You might say it’s a reminder that even amid the coldest weather of the year, it’s still a great place to be.

All images were obtained from talented Flickr artists. Credit is given to the respective artist below each image.

Photo by @kern.justin

There’s always something to do in the Windy City, and this weekend is no exception. This week we’ve headlined a classic silent film brought to life with music, great live shows in the area, and a fun art project for the whole family. Let’s get to it!

The Golem film screening with music by Fulcrum Point, Friday @ 7 pm at the Chicago Cultural Center

The Golem is the classic 1920 silent horror film (click here for reviews) from motion picture pioneer Paul Wegener. The film depicts an ancient Jewish morality story about power, politics, magic and survival.

Fulcrum Point is a 5-member (string quartet and clarinet) group that will provide the film’s original score to go along with the film. The Golem will be shown at the Chicago Cultural Center and admission is free! Click here for complete details.

Family Days: Art without Borders, Saturday from 11 am – 3 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art

The new season of Family Days continues as families explore the work of contemporary artist Liam Gillick, whose work is now on view in the museum. Families can experiment with their own designs, stories, and ways of making art by learning how Gillick draws from his world to create art.

Admission to this event is also free of charge, and it’s a great way to provide some intellectual and creative stimulation for your kids on the weekend. Click here for full details on the event.

Sunday Salon Series: Baroque Band, Sunday @ 3 pm at the Chicago Cultural Center

This Chicago Cultural Center event features Chicago’s period instrument orchestra performing a program of early music from Latin America. The event is presented in conjunction with the Latino Music Festival. Like the others, the concert is free to attend! Click here for the full details.

Eastgate Village is New West Realty’s beautiful near-South Side community of townhomes and condominiums. The spacious homes give you the perfect nest to help you relax and recharge after taking in everything Chicago has to offer. Click here for more information on Eastgate Village or to schedule an appointment!

If you’ve got an itch for some live music on Halloween weekend, here are some live events in and around Chicago that are right up your alley.

Friday, October 30th:

Rob Thomas @ The Venue (Hammond, IN)

Type O Negative @ Metro

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds w/ Frankie Beverly and Maze @ Arie Crown Theater

Saturday, October 31st:

Bob Dylan @ Aragon Ballroom

Forever the Sickest Kids @ House of Blues

Casting Crowns @ Life Changes Church (Hoffman Estates)

Click here for more info or to schedule an appointment with New West Realty!

The 2009 housing market is looking bright!

First time home buyers have been responsible for over 40% of homes sold in the past year. Home sales are up 9.2% overall in September 2009 compared to September 2008, which experts attribute to the first-time buyer tax credit that is in effect on all homes closed between now and the end of November, according to CNN Money.

“To help boost home prices and sales, lawmakers are considering extending the tax credit and expanding it to all but the wealthiest homebuyers.

While keeping the credit would help lift housing prices, senior economist at PNC Robert Dye says it would only be a temporary effect until the program stopped, as was seen with Cash for Clunkers.

In the Midwest, sales were up by 9.6% to a pace of 1.25 million, which was 7.8% higher year-over year.”

Click here for the full CNN Money article.

With the combination of record low prices and the $8,000 tax credit (that we are matching at 1555 Wabash), now is the perfect time to close on your new home! 1555 Wabash can be that new home for you, with beautiful condominiums located in the heart of Chicago’s South Loop and minutes from virtually anywhere you’d want to go in the city. To get your journey started, click here to visit New West Realty and to get more information or request a showing at 1555 Wabash!