St. Patrick’s Day in Old Town

St. Patrick’s Day in Old Town is right around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to take advantage of all the fantastic food and festivities that Old Town has to offer. Here’s how to celebrate in the neighborhood while staying safe! Festive Drinks and Eats –Corcoran’s Grill & PubThis Irish-American Grill & Pub is

Get to Know Deborah’s Place

An Introduction to Deborah’s Place Since the very beginning of Deborah’s Place, we have been a part of the Old Town community. Back in 1984, an amazing group of women saw a need to assist women experiencing homelessness in Chicago. At that time, the first year-round overnight emergency shelter for unaccompanied women in Chicago opened

OTMRA Designing Park Underneath CTA Tracks

On February 3, 2021, the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association (OTMRA), Old Town Neighborhood Foundation (OTNF), and the Lakota Group hosted a Community Open House for a park being designed on the 1400 block of North Orleans.    The OTMRA and OTNF had for many years the desire to build a community park at

Bert Haas Reminisces on the First Episode of Talk of the Old Town Podcast

In our inaugural episode of the OTMRA podcast, Talk of the Old Town, Bert Haas (executive vice president of Zanies Comedy Clubs, Inc.) reflects on both his time at Zanies and the Old Town neighborhood. Listen to his farewell interview with OTMRA Executive Director, Ian Tobin, on PodBean here.

Add Your Voice to the Future of Wells Street

In late 2020, the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association and Special Service Area #48 began the process of hiring an urban planning firm to help create a corridor plan for Wells Street. Wells Street in Old Town has a storied history, from being a vice neighborhood to the epicenter of arts and culture, all