51st Dearborn Garden Walk Will Feature Five New Gardens, ‘Author Inspired’ Designer Vignettes

June 3, 2009 - PRLog -- A first, in 50 years, the North Dearborn Association will present five new gardens during its annual Dearborn Garden Walk set for Sunday, July 19, 2009. The event runs from 12pm-5pm and begins at 1300 N. Dearborn Parkway, Chicago, IL 60610 (entrance at corner of Goethe and Dearborn streets). Tickets are $35.00 on July 19, 2009 and $30.00 in advance. Advance sales end on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 12:00pm. For ticket purchase information, please call: 312-632-1241 or visit: http://www.DearbornGardenWalk.com.

Take a self-guided walking tour of more than 20 private, rear gardens throughout the Near North neighborhood. This year’s Garden Walk will feature more new gardens than ever! Each year, the NDA seeks out only the best gardens in the neighborhood and this year, they are excited to announce the addition of five, never before seen gardens that range from beautifully balanced with an Asian tranquility to manicured French Provencal style garden.

Building upon last year’s “Designer Vignette” portion of the Garden Walk, the NDA is proud to announce this year’s designers who will be creating a thought-provoking and inspiring garden vignette based upon a story/poem of their choosing. This year’s talented designers and their author/story of choice are:
•   Brian Snow of Semel-Snow Interior Design Inc. who will be creating a theme based on John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
•   Susan Fredman Design Group Ltd.’s installation will be J.M. Barrie’s “Return to Neverland”
•   Meg Prendergast – who has been featured on HGTV – will be working with Stanley Smith using the finest in French china by Bernardaud to create “The Emperor and the Nightingale,” by Hans Christian Andersen
•   Soucie Horner Ltd. will be creating an outdoor room inspired by  Lewis Caroll’s “Alice in Wonderland"
•   Michele Fitzpatrick of Verde Design Studio who furnished the Museum of Science and Industry's eco-friendly Smart Home

Due to the overwhelming popularity of past years’ hour-long guided architectural tour of historic Dearborn Parkway; this year’s walk will include a new time! Visitors can now take advantage of this wonderfully entertaining and educational guided walking tour of the neighborhood at the following times: 1:30pm, 3:30pm, and 5:00pm. The tour includes both pre and post-Chicago fire structures, sites that have been used in movies, homes formerly occupied by famous celebrities including a U.S. President!

For out-of-town visitors, Hotel Indigo, located at 1244 N. Dearborn Parkway, Chicago, IL 60610 – just steps from the garden walk - is offering an exclusive Dearborn Garden Walk package that includes a one-night hotel stay and breakfast for two on July 18th and July 19th, 2009, for only $169. Guests can book their hotel stay by visiting http://www.DearbornGardenWalk.com under the ‘Garden Walk’ tab or by calling the hotel directly at: 866-521-6950 and mentioning the Dearborn Garden Walk.

Advance ticket purchasers will automatically be entered in a drawing for some fabulous hotel and restaurant packages including: dinner for four at Frankie’s Neighborhood Italian and a gift certificate from Mity Nice Grill.

Children 16 years of age and younger accompanied by an adult are free. North Dearborn Association Partner in Preservation members, receive one complimentary Garden Walk ticket.  Admission includes a Dearborn Garden Walk program with a map for a self-guided tour of the gardens, live jazz and classical music in select gardens, and guided architectural tours of historic Dearborn Parkway. To become a North Dearborn Association Partner in Preservation member and receive one free admission or to order advance non-refundable tickets, telephone 312-632-1241; order on-line http://www.dearborngardenwalk.com; send check or money order payable to NDA c/o Carol Truesdell, 1241 N. Dearborn Street, #1, Chicago, IL 60610; or fax with credit card and mailing info to: 312-944-9342.

Editors Note: Hi-res images of gardens and vignettes are available upon request.

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About The North Dearborn Association
The North Dearborn Association (NDA) is dedicated to the preservation and beautification of its Near North neighborhood. Proceeds from the Dearborn Garden Walk go back into the community for preservation and beautification efforts. The association recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, at which Mayor Richard M. Daley complimented it as “representing the best part of what is good about this city.” Among its recent projects, the NDA has led efforts to have vintage lampposts with hanging floral baskets installed at the intersections along North Dearborn from Division Street to the entrance of Lincoln Park at North Avenue. The new street lamps were installed in the spring of 2008 through the efforts and support of Alderman Brendan Reilly. The NDA is a member-supported organization. To become involved or for more information, please visit: http://www.northdearbornassociation.com.