Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/198792
ON THE TOWN IN THE SPOTLIGHT Where: A corner table in Inspiration Kitchens' industrial-chic Garfield Park location. 3504 W. Lake St., 773-801-1110; inspirationkitchens.org When: A sunny Wednesday afternoon during the lunch rush. What: Contemporary Southern-inspired fare from the café's all-day menu. CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Sol Flores and Rev. Stan Sloan meet at Inspiration Kitchens to chat about nonprofit work in Chicago over comfort food like fried green tomatoes. Helping Hands WORKING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHICAGOANS, NONPROFIT LEADERS REV. STAN SLOAN AND SOL FLORES LOOK AHEAD TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON. BY J.P. ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN KIRKMAN C hicago House CEO Rev. Stan Sloan and La Casa Norte founding Executive Director Sol Flores have both experienced significant triumphs in 2013: July saw the opening of Chicago House's TransLife Center, which offers the nation's most comprehensive services for the transgender community, while La Casa Norte has recently opened two new shelters for homeless youth. As each organization prepares to enter the crucial holiday giving season, Sloan and Flores met with Michigan Avenue at Garfield Park's Inspiration Kitchens to talk food, fundraising, and their goals for 2014. Stan, you recommended that we meet here. What is your experience with this place? Stan Sloan: Both Sol and I have worked with Inspiration Kitchens for decades. The original concept was for the homeless community to prepare 92 food and serve it for one another, and then they opened a real restaurant in Uptown and did really well. At this location in Garfield Park, they offer a sliding scale to let customers pay whatever they can. It's a great concept, the food is always good, and the workers are always fantastic. It's a nice experience. Sol Flores: The space is beautiful. I sit on the jury that gives out the annual Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design, and Inspiration Kitchens was a winner last year. So not only is it wonderful food, it's an amazing space. [Basil lemonade and iced tea are served.] What do you think of the location? SS: They get a wide range of clients from all over the city, and yet we're in Garfield Park. Part of the magic of it is just helping to create a welcoming space in a part of the city that people wouldn't normally venture to. continued on page 94 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 092-094_MA_Taste_OTT_Nov13.indd 92 10/21/13 10:33 AM