Broadway at Lawrence Avenue, where Shake, Rattle & Read sits beside the Uptown Theatre. Photo: Warren LeMay from Chicago, IL, United States / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Uptown business owners have an unusual two-stop networking night on the calendar. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Shake, Rattle & Read, the used book and record shop at 4812 N. Broadway.
The first stop features a practical demonstration. Brent Bodefeld of Pressure Washing Systems will show how his company removes acid etching, the scratched graffiti that vandals cut into storefront windows and that ordinary cleaning cannot remove. For owners along Broadway who have paid to replace damaged glass, the demo addresses a real expense.
Guests can also browse the shop, which is packed with old records, books and collectibles. Owner Ric Addy’s shop sits a few doors from the Uptown Theatre.
On to the Annoyance
The group will then walk a few doors north to the Annoyance Theatre, the improv and sketch company that moved to Uptown in July. Attendees will get drink specials, a look at the theater’s new space and discounted tickets to both of that night’s performances.
The Annoyance, known for long-running shows and an irreverent style, is part of a gradual return of nightlife to the blocks around Broadway and Lawrence. Along with the Green Mill, the Aragon and the Riviera, it gives the area a steady flow of evening visitors that restaurants and bars can draw on.
Come for an hour
Organizers say guests can stay for an hour or make a night of it. The event is hosted by Business Partners, the Chamber for Uptown, and reservations are requested by email.
Networking events in neighborhood business districts tend to be small, often a few dozen people, but they are one of the main ways owners of independent shops meet bankers, contractors and potential partners without leaving their own block.
Marcus Hadley covers business, transit and real estate in Uptown.
