Kevin

Greeter since 2011, lives in North Center.  

What is your current profession or your previous profession? 
Realtor at Coldwell Banker, worked and traded for 20 years on the CBOE

What neighborhood do you live in?
North Center

What is your favorite thing about Chicago?
People and accessibility

What is your favorite neighborhood and why?
I like downtown. It is clean, friendly, and there is always a corner or building you have not yet discovered. You can never know it all.

Favorite summertime activity?
Biking on the lake front

Where can you find the best view of the Chicago skyline?
My favorite is probably heading North on thee Dan Ryan Expressway (not very friendly place to look). Next is probably from the bike path on the back of the Shedd Aquarium. Both offer completely different perspectives on the same canvas.

What are your favorite places to show visitors?
I like to take them on a bike ride through Grant Park and back up the Lake front path, if time and/or energy allow you can hit North Ave Beach or Northerly Island, if adventure allows I like to hit the streets and either ride to Bucktown or Lincoln Park.

What is your favorite restaurant?
Smoque

Favorite pizza place?
Pete’s Pizza

Deep Dish or Thin Crust?
Thin usually

Favorite Chicago tradition?
It was July 3rd fireworks…looking for a new one

Favorite place in Chicago?
Downtown

Favorite hidden spot?
Still looking for it, it is hidden

Where do you like to go for fun?
Outside

Why did you become a Chicago Greeter?
I became a greeter as a way to possibly augment my business and increase my exposure in the city. It was originally self serving, who knew it could be so much fun. I enjoy it because people are fun and discovery is best part of life.

What was your most memorable Chicago Greeter experience?
I am new, so my experiences are few…but the last one may live for awhile. I had a group from France, and a colleague also from France who was curious about the greeters. I brought my colleague in to meet the French, they hit it off famously and made plans to meet both here, and later in France. I took the visitors for an extended tour of the park and lake front by bike, we went in to Wabash and discovered that Buddy Guy’s has free music on Friday’s at lunch (blues were high on their list of Chicago things). They took a lot of pictures, we laughed all day, and the kids had a blast.