How to Drive Safely During the Holidays

Monk’s

Monk’s has been located in The Loop for more than 30 years and serves up traditional German beers and food in a dark,medieval dive setting. Located steps from short term rentals,this bar is ideal for working professionals and those with temporary housing.

Cindy’s

The Chicago Athletic Association is a destination itself,but head to the rooftop bar,Cindy’s,for high-end cocktails served in a bright,vibrant setting. Located near AMLI,Cindy’s rooftop bar provides spectacular views of downtown Chicago.

The Berghoff

The Berghoff has been a Loop mainstay for a century,and beer and food lovers alike still flock to this classic Chicago institution.

The Game Room

For Chicago Athletic Association-goers that aren’t interested in the rooftop bar Cindy’s provides,The Game Room is a great alternative. Chess boards,pool tables and poker tables,paired with high-end cocktails,make The Game Room one of the busiest bars in The Loop.

Revival Food Hall

Revival Food Hall isn’t just a bar,it’s a full-fledged dining hall located steps from tons of corporate housing and business apartments. Revival Food Hall features restaurants from some of Chicago’s most popular neighborhoods like River North,West Loop and Lincoln Park.

City Social

City Social in Chicago has a nice balance of good drink options and televised sports. It’s not a sports bar,but you’ll definitely be able to watch the big game. This place is packed every night,mostly with young professionals just getting off work.

Brando’s Speakeasy

Brando’s Speakeasy is a speakeasy in the purest sense. Cocktails are served in this dark lounge,perfect for a date night or quiet solo outing.

Sky Ride Tap

This classic spot serves up polish sausages for lunch and cheap beers for dinner. Located near the Chicago Board of Trade and many serviced apartment rentals,Sky Ride Tap is a favorite of traders and other working professionals for a quick spot to get a bite to eat and a beer after a long day at work.

Myth One

Myth:Wall decals are stickers

Reality:No. A “true” wall decal is cut from vinyl. Vinyl is a synthetic material that appears like a thin plastic,but it is not plastic. A decal will have a backing paper and a low tack application tape on the front. It will be very thin so it appears hand painted.

Vinyls are self adhesive,much thinner than a sticker,and are able to withstand heat which can be used to ensure it sticks properly to the surface. A sticker would just bubble,but vinyl likes the heat and will contour to the surface.

Stickers are on a sheet,and you peel up the corner of the design and pull it off the backing paper and then stick onto another surface. Basically a sticker is a print onto paper which has adhesive. Sometimes this paper is glossy,sometimes it is plastic coated etc. They can be made of vinyl,but are much thicker and don’t look like they are hand painted. Generally stickers look cheaper and more temporary than a true decal.

Myth Two

Myth:Decals are only for walls

Reality:No. In fact,decals are best applied to the hardest,flattest surface possible. They love drywall,glass,formica,painted wood,steel,plastic. Can be applied to painted plaster,(might require heat to assist in application),and absolutely does not work with stucco and brick surfaces.

In reality,decals and surface graphics can be applied to any surfaces that you imagine as long as they fit with the above. Try applying decals to a ceiling! A floor! A fridge! A filing cabinet! A reception desk! Decals and surface graphics work on many surfaces.

-

Myth Three

Myth:Wall decals and surface graphics are as easy as PEEL AND STICK.

Reality:No. This is not true. Wall decals come with a backing paper and a low tack application tape. These are used to assist in applying the pre-spaced letters and designs to the surface. You need to follow the instructions,work slowly and often require two sets of hands to complete the application. However,once applied they are absolutely worth the effort!!!!

Myth Four

Myth:Surface graphics ruin the paint.

Reality:Mmmmm. Always a hard one when it comes to paint. If your paint is poorly applied or old,anything will ruin it,not just decals. Bubbling paint will lift simply by running your hand over it,so never mind having something stuck to it.

We always recommend using heat to remove the decals or surface graphics. Heat will loosen the adhesive and make removing the vinyl a simpler task. If you paint was good to start with,it will survive having a surface graphic placed on it.

Myth Five

Myth:Decals can only be used inside.

Reality:Decals and surface graphics can be used inside and outside. The rule is that decals won’t stick to rough surfaces,so if you are trying to apply to a rough surface outside,no,it probably won’t stick. But,if you are sticking the decal to the outside of a garden shed,or applying the decal to an outdoor patio as a feature,then absolutely it work. Exposure to UV,rain and other environmental elements will be okay for the vinyl for up to 7 years (depending on the level of exposure).

-

Myth Six

Myth:Wall decals are reposition-able.

Reality:No. They are not. Many companies claim they are,but the fine print is they accept no responsibility if they don’t. Very convenient for those companies. You have already paid your money for something you think will restick and then it doesn’t.

Decals are made of self adhesive vinyl. Good decals are made of ultra thin vinyl. So if you can imagine lifting a very thin sticker off a hard surface,it will most certainly be damaged where a) you have picked at the corner to lift it and b) where it stretches as it is lifted away from the hard surface. Plus,some of the adhesive is left on the surface,so the next time you apply the stretched,damaged decal,it won’t stick for very long.

The team at Cool Art Vinyl know their stuff. When purchasing wall decals or surface graphics,think of it as a single application purchase and you won’t be disappointed.

Myth Seven

Myth:Decals look like hand painted murals and designs on the surface.

Reality:Right On! Well-made,good quality decals are absolutely fantastic as a decorating item. Generally they are low cost and beat the price of someone hand painting or doing calligraphy on the wall. We regularly do comparison quotes against painters and our prices are a third if not a half of the competition.-

There are two types of home inspections; a pre-foreclosure inspection along with a post-foreclosure inspection. In the instance of a pre-foreclosure review,the contractor will typically examine the general state of the home and the plumbing,heating,electrical and other systems to ascertain if they are in good working order. After the home has passed the review,the home owner can negotiate for a lower cost price on the property. If a buyer believes that there’s a critical problem,the vendor can contact the inspector,who can provide a solution,if it be repairs or upgrades. The home inspection cost of these home inspections can vary from location to location.

Post-foreclosure home inspections are more thorough and may incorporate a comprehensive review of the interior and exterior of the home. The contractor will conduct a walkthrough of the home with the buyer so as to inspect the appliances and other important products. When a buyer purchases a home with a review,he or she’s basically agreeing to a warranty that covers any damages or repairs. It’s also a way to make certain the homeowner is selling the home with a comprehensive comprehension of the property. If a buyer believes there is a problem with their residence and wants a remedy,they should discuss it with their vendor,who’s more than willing to help their client.

These two types of inspections differ greatly,but both are significant to the home buyer. A pre-foreclosure inspection informs a potential home buyer the way the residence is now functioning and if there are any potential repairs needed. A post-foreclosure review,on the other hand,is designed to ascertain if or not a buyer has bought a property that will hold up in the end. As stated before,home inspections aren’t generally required,and they are conducted by licensed home inspectors who have the proper qualifications and training to do so. Home buyers may use a professional home inspector to come to their home and evaluate the state of the home and determine if there are any issues that require immediate attention.

A home inspection is basically an assessment of the state of a specific property,typically in connection with the sale or planning of the house. The process is also sometimes referred to as a house clearance,an audit or a review. The process entails the inspecting the construction and making sure that it is safe for people to dwell inside.

It will also inform you about the state of your dwelling. You should expect to see such information as the number of rooms you will find,the state of its plumbing and electrical systems and whether or notthere is fire and smoke damage. Sometimes the home inspector may also show pictures of the entire house and tell you what part of it’s issues or that portions of it appear to be good. If you find something that doesn’t seem to match with the other information,then you need to repair the issues before you enter into the contract. Otherwise you’ll end up paying more for repairs at the long run.

Once you understand the state of your dwelling,it is now time for youto register the contract along with also the home inspector will start his work. The home inspector may take measurements of all of the rooms in your home and ensure they have all been correctly prepared. After the work is done the report will be provided to you along with the inspector’s recommendation of fixes. If you want to go ahead with these repairs it is possible to request the inspector to explain to you the way to do so or you could find help from a professional firm that offers these services.