Upcoming I-GO Car Sharing Events

2nd Annual Auburn Gresham Earth Day Celebration
Thursday, April 23, 9am-noon
518 W. 79th

The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, in association with Alderman Latasha Thomas (17th Ward), and the Winneconna Lakes Improvement Association are hosting their 2nd Annual Earth Day Event to raise environmental awareness. I-GO reps will be there to demonstrate economical and environmental transportation alternatives.

University of Chicago Earth Fest
Friday, April 24, 11am-2pm
Rosenwald Building (Main Quad)

The Sustainability Council of the U of C is providing an opportunity for students and faculty to become acquainted with local business, organizations and other groups in Chicago. I-GO will be there spreading the good word. I-GO does not need any volunteer help for this event, but we’d love to see you if you’re in the area.

North Lake Shore Earth Day
Saturday, April 25, 9am-4:30pm
Loyola (Rogers Park Campus)

Loyola University Chicago and the communities of Andersonville, Edgewater, Ravenswood, Rogers Park, Uptown and West Ridge are hosting the 2nd North Lake Shore Earth day celebration. I-GO has been invited to help inform community members about global and local environmental issues such as clean air and energy alternatives, as well as practical, everday ways to green one’s home and business. I-GO is looking for a few volunteers to help staff this event. If you’d like to help out, please send Lauren an e-mail at lauren@igocars.org.

Green your Cocktail with VeeV

The I-GO member holiday party was a smashing success last week! Thank you to all who came out and rang in the start of the holiday season with us! We welcomed over 200 I-GO members into our LEED Platinum Certified building for food, raffle prizes and drinks.

VeeV was kind enough to sponsor the drinks at our holiday party and it was an exciting new liquor to try out. VeeV has created the world’s first acai (pronounced: ah-sigh-EE) berry spirit. Acai berries are grown only in Brazil and are considered to be a “superfood”- they have 57% more antioxidants than pomegranates or blueberries and 30 times more heart-healthy anthocyanins than red wine! Check out what Lenette, an I-GO member and raw foodist, had to say about the exciting new drink on her blog GO Raw: Chicago.

Have you heard of this new drink?

The vote yesterday? Rocked it.

Some big news, apparently – America picked a new president, a rather popular guy from Chicago, in fact. There was some party or something in over in Grant Park.

Kidding aside, among the many bits of historic and exciting news that came out of our TVs and computers last night was that first time voters were a huge factor in the outcome, especially the young and elderly.

A few of these folks from the South Side got to the polls in I-GO cars.

I-GO partnered with Rock The Vote and K.L.E.O. Community Center to help people vote and threw a “Party at the Polls” featuring performances by Robert Jones, The Youth for Christ, and the insanely talented Jessie White Tumblers, who would make terrific ninjas if anyone is hiring:

These guys rocked the vote – how did you?

I-GO Membership Drive: Edgewater

I-GO Membership Drive
Tues., Oct. 28, 5-7pm
6301 N. Sheridan Rd.

Hello, Edgewater! We recently added a new car at 6301 N. Sheridan Rd. (vehicle I.D. #4404), and I-GO staff will be there to answer all your questions about our service and to sign you up! Come for the membership sign-up discount (just $25 – a savings of $50 off the standard rate!), stay for the wine and cheese. Get a friend or family member to join, and we’ll give you $20 worth of driving credits!

The Center for Neighborhood Technology Celebrates 30 Years!

The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)—the larger non-profit org that first conceived and rolled out I-GO Car Sharing in 2002—celebrated its 30^th anniversary in style last night at Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory. The evening featured a lineup of eco-conscious speakers, including Sadhu Johnston– Chicago’s resident green guru, as well as a festive soundtrack furnished by the post-bop Patrick Mulcahy jazz quartet and a New Orleans-style Mardi Gras marching band.

The verdant landmark venue, designed in 1908 by legendary landscape architect Jens Jensen, is celebrating its own significant birthday this year—100 years of cultivating plants, folks—so the setting couldn’t have been more apropos. Garfield was green long before green was cool.

CNT is a creative think-and-do tank that focuses on issues related to climate change, energy, natural resources, and transportation and community development. Founded in 1978, it has been a leader in promoting more livable and sustainable urban communities, both in Chicago and around the country. I-GO is proud to be affiliated with CNT, and we wish them many more decades of successful innovation.

I-GO at UIC’s Sustainability Roadshow

I-GO had the honor of appearing at the University of Illinois’ Sustainability Roadshow this past weekend. The Sustainability Roadshow is made up of a group of environmental activists and educators who are traveling around the U.S. highlighting issues related to sustainability, with an emphasis on going local and renewable. I-GO participated in the event, along with other Chicago-based green businesses; there were booths on green education, sustainable clothing, toxic-free cleaning products, natural health and environmental activism.

The event had an interactive and informal feel to it, with live music and games. According to Zach Carson, co-founder of the event, they wanted to “bring in the circus vibe, the music. It’s education and entertainment”. Click here to check out a recent article on the roadshow from the the Chicago Flame, UIC’s school newspaper. Next up, the Sustainability Roadshow travels to Knoxville, New Orleans and Austin, TX.

I-GO Car Sharing Weekend Events

The weekend is once again upon us and I-GO is gearing up for a busy weekend around Chicago. If you swing by any of the events below, make sure to stop by our booth and say “hello”!

Edgewater GRalley Festival
September 13; 12-6pm
Corner of Glenwood & Granville
Event will feature 18 bands and a Battle of BBQs staffed by Chicago’s top culinary schools and restaurants competing in dueling pig roasts. Ecoscene, one of my favorite online eco sites, will also be there handing out organic lollipops and educating people about their great new website and newsletter.

Q101 Block Party
September 13-14; noon-6pm
3320 N Campbell
Come by the I-GO booth at Q101’s annual block party for $50 off the cost of membership and to pick up a copy of the second annual Audio Emissions cd.

DePaul University Involvement Fair
September 14; 1-5pm
2250 N Sheffield
Interested in learning more about I-GO Car Sharing? Ready to join I-GO? Visit us at DePaul University’s involvement fair to join I-GO for only $25!

Hope to see you around town this weekend!

I-GO Car Sharing’s September Events Around Chicago

Can you believe Labor Day weekend is already upon us? While I’m sad to see summer start to fade, we’ve got a bunch of great events going on in Chicago this September that I-GO is going to be a part of. So come on by and join us or- better yet- lend a hand and be an I-GO volunteer at one of the events and earn free driving credits! If you’re interested in volunteering, please email Sheena, our Outreach Coordinator, at sheena@igocars.org

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Whole Foods Market Eco-Fair
September 6; 1-4pm
1111 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL
Join I-GO along with other sustainable organizations like Greener Cleaners, Twist Sponges and more to show Chicago how to green up!

Magellan Rewards “At Your Service” Festival
September 6; 11am-2pm
The Park at Lakeshore East
Magellan Development will showcase partner organizations

Boulevard Lakefront Tour
September 7; 1am-5pm
59th & Woodlawn
Choose from 15, 35, or 62 mile routes through the City’s parks, boulevards and neighborhoods. After the ride, cool down with live entertainment and a picnic lunch by Goose Island- with Goose Island beer and soda as well!

Sustainable Living Roadshow
September 12; 10am-6pm
UIC Campus
I-GO fits right in this eco-carnival, with experimental learning villages, workshops, speakers and entertainment

Edgewater GRalley Festival
September 13; 12-6pm
Corner of Glenwood & Granville
Event will feature 18 bands and a Battle of BBQs staffed by Chicago’s top culinary schools and restaurants competing in dueling pig roasts

Q101 Block Party
September 13-14; noon-6pm
3320 N Campbell
Lots and lots of bands!

DePaul University Involvement Fair
September 14; 1-5pm
2250 N Sheffield

University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Fair
September 15; 4:30-6pm
5807 S Woodlawn

Estrojam
September 23-27
I-GO Car Sharing is co-sponsoring Estrojam this year! Events will be held all over the city and proceeds will help fight human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assult

Lincoln Square Garden Walk

Join I-GO Car Sharing at the Lincoln Square Garden Walk this Saturday, August 2^nd. I-GO will be participating in the Green Fair portion of the walk, which will be held at Giddings Plaza on Lincoln Ave. The Green Fair includes info on composting, recycling, natural gardening treatments, tree health, neighborhood space, green building materials and environmentally-oriented organizations. In cooperation with the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce and Alderman Schulter, the Green Fair helps to highlight all the city is doing to beautify and protect the environment. I-GO will be at the event from 10 am to 5:30 pm Saturday, August 2^nd.

I-GO All Over the City

I-GO Car Sharing will have booths at two Chicago festivals this weekend- Wicker Park Fest and Taste of Lincoln. Stop by the I-GO booth at either festival to get discounted I-GO memberships, information on car sharing, free I-GO tee-shirts & buttons, and enter to win a free I-GO membership!

Wicker Park Fest is a free, 2 day event at the six-way intersection of Damen, North and Milwaukee. This year’s Wicker Park fest features performances by Bassnectar; Prefuse 73; Bob Schneider; Charlie Hunter Trio; Future Rock; Daedelus; Nomo; Dub Trio; Van Ghost; Skybox; Company of Thieves; Algernon; and Dark Party featuring Elio Lipp & Leo123.

The Taste of Lincoln is also this weekend; located on Lincoln Ave between Fullerton and Wrightwood, the event includes food vendors, crafts for sale, 5 stages and a Kids’ Carnival Area. Performers at this year’s Taste of Lincoln include Trippin’ Billies; Big Sky String; Radiators; JJ Grey & Mofro; Big Ray and Chicago’s Most Wanted; The Lee Boys; Vanessa Davis Band.