Slayed, A New Pilsen Salon, Brings Eyelash Extensions, Facials And Waxing To Racine Avenue

PILSEN — A new salon in Pilsen wants to be the go-to, “one-stop shop” for neighbors’ beauty needs.

Jessica Elabed dreamed of opening a beauty salon in Pilsen for nearly a year, she said. When a storefront just off West 18th Street became available, she jumped on it; within a matter of weeks, Slayed at 1840 S. Racine Ave. was open.

Slayed offers eyebrow and eyelash tinting, eyebrow and facial threading, eyebrow lamination, eyelash extensions, lash lifts, facials, body facials, face and body waxing, make-up and body scrubs. Appointments for services can be booked online.

Elabed worked out of a commercial office suite in Pilsen for about a year, but knew she wanted a bigger spot with more foot traffic in the heart of the neighborhood, she said. She has that with the new Racine Avenue salon in the former home of Pocha Pets Boutique.

“I think we’re in a very sweet spot,” she said.

Elabed said the shop’s affordable prices but luxurious-feeling ambiance is what’s going to set them apart from other salons and hopefully make them the go-to neighborhood spot.

“I want women to be comfortable here, relaxed,” Elabed said. “We take our time with our clients.”

Elabed, who grew up in West Rogers Park, said her interest in doing eyebrows grew out of watching her mom get her eyebrows threaded in shops on Devon Avenue. From there, she taught herself how to thread and would practice on family members.

In 2020, Elabed started offering mobile eyebrow threading. She realized a majority of her clientele lived on the South Side, so she decided to set up shop in Pilsen, sh said.

The reception from neighbors has been great, she said.

Juamarí Lazo, a Pilsen native who specializes in eyelash treatments at Slayed, said she’s excited to work in a beauty salon near the 18th Street business corridor, where her family members have run stores.

“I always saw my business growing in Pilsen,” Lazo said.

Lazo said she’s watched eyelash care in the beauty industry grow significantly as she’s gotten into the field. As a teen, she knew of only a handful of people who promoted the service on social media; now, sees a growing number of people being trained to offer eyelash treatments.

Elabed also said she’s watched eyelash treatments like lash lifts become more widely available and less pricey.

“You didn’t see it because it was a luxury thing that not everybody had access to because it was very, very expensive,” she said. “The beauty industry now is the best it’s ever been.”

Kiaralene Acevedo, a Slayed team member who does facials, waxing and body scrubs, didn’t know how to take care of her skin when she was growing up, she said. Now, as an esthetician, she wants to teach more people skin care can be accessible, she said.

“I’m just being more open about it and just getting people educated on taking care of their skin, because it’s not only for rich white women, it’s for everyone. And it’s not even just for women; it’s for men, as well,” said Acevedo, who grew up on the Northwest Side.

Slayed is opened 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The salon is offering grand opening specials on facials, lashes and make-up sessions until July 31.

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WESTCHESTER — James Gurley used to hate barbecue.

Gurley learned to cook as an adult, but he didn’t take to the grill until he got his first taste of decent barbecue in 2014, enjoying smoked meats that were moist and flavorful instead of dry and bland.

As the Austin native perfected his skills behind the grill, he incorporated his lightning-fast dance moves mastered through his years of making waves in the West Side footworking scene.

Thus, the “FootWerkn Grill Master” was born.

Gurley went viral this summer when a video of him footworking holding a pair of tongs while chicken sizzled on a low fire blew up on the Chicago Media Takeout Instagram page. Chicago names like actor Jason Weaver began commenting on the post, cheering Gurley on as he repped the city’s iconic dance. The video garnered more than 100,000 views.

That groundswell of attention came as Gurley, nicknamed “Beynze,” launched his own catering service, 10 Thirteen Cuisine.

Gurley’s footworking skills are good — but once more people get a taste of his famed recipes, they’ll discover his food is even better, he said.

“In my heart, I’m an entertainer,” Gurley said. ”Whether it’s putting a show on the grill, feeding everybody, hosting a party, performing on stage or dancing at a party, I always want to stay connected to the people.”

‘It’s Like An Urban Hibachi, With Its Own Twist’

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Gurley doesn’t dance for fun anymore, but it’s hard to give up your first love, he said.

“If you see me dancing, it’s because I couldn’t do anything about it,” Gurley said. “I’ll never throw away footworking. It’s a part of me.”

Gurley’s passion for cooking was born out of being a picky eater as a child, he said. His mother would whip up meals in the kitchen, and he’d “jump up and down and scream and holler” because he didn’t want to eat the food, Gurley said.

Gurley learned to occasionally prepare meals to satisfy his picky tastebuds, but it wasn’t until he was 18 and living on his own for the first time that he realized it was time to learn to cook, he said.

Gurley’s brother brought a bag of groceries to Gurley’s new home on his second day there, he said. Gurley “made the best of it.”

As Gurley’s skills grew, so did his love for bringing family together, he said.

Soon, Gurley started serving platters of tacos, spaghetti and fried chicken at family gatherings, he said. His family became his taste testers, telling him what worked and could be improved.

Gurley’s meals became a staple at every family function, he said.

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak crooned on the speaker on a recent night while Gurley navigated three grills filled with hundreds of pieces of chicken links and crispy wings.

It was a family affair, with parents and children scattered on the deck at Gurley’s Westchester home, summertime anthems and grill smoke filling the air.

“I am very passionate about family, and one thing that always brings a family together is good food,” Gurley said.

Before Gurley’s progression in the kitchen, he hated barbecue. Family members would host summer cookouts and serve up “tough ribs that got stuck in your teeth and flavorless chicken,” he said.

Gurley learned how barbecue is supposed to be done when he tried his aunt’s food in 2014. One taste told him he could recreate the flavors — and do it better, Gurley said.

Gurley started with jerk wings made with “a little bit of elbow and wrist in it to make it good,” he said. Next came a lemon pepper wing with sauce drizzled on the chicken before being tossed in a bowl.

Last up were the sweet heat wings, a recipe Gurley could “taste in his sleep” before he shared it with the world, he said.

“I woke up one day in the middle of the night and realized I wanted to make the sweet heat sauce,” Gurley said. “I didn’t have the name, but I woke up with the taste of it. I measured and measured in my kitchen that night until I created it.”

Gurley launched his catering business in June. The “passion was always there,” but it took him time to mature before he could take the work seriously, he said.

After days of contemplating a brand name, Gurley’s partner suggested he use his birthday: Oct. 13. 10 Thirteen “felt right,” he said.

“I’ve always felt like I was born for the people,” Gurley said. “I don’t do anything for me. Everything I do, I do it for everyone else. The name just made sense.”

Gurley’s schedule is booked and busy for the summer, he said. He’s got a car show and the Chicago Caribbean Carnival on his calendar, he said.

But Gurley’s already got bigger plans, like opening a chain of sports bars where he can get “up close and personal with people,” he said.

For now, Gurley will keep serving up his jerk, lemon pepper and sweet heat wings, he said.

If you catch Gurley at an event, you might see him footworking “if the vibe is right and the music is good,” he said. Every outing is an opportunity to perform his act live and “get people food that is fresh and hot off the grill.”

“It’s like an urban hibachi, with its own twist,” friend Alexander Davis said. “You can’t grill, dance, and give a home experience … he’s bringing it to you!”

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OAKLAND — A historical, more than century-old South Side church once known for its extravagant performances of Handel’s “Messiah” in the 1960s is officially a city landmark.

The City Council granted landmark status to Monumental Baptist Church, 729 E. Oakwood Blvd., last week, clearing the way for the 123-year-old building to get financial assistance for $1.5 million in sorely-needed repairs.

Pastor Cleophus Lee hopes to repair the roof and sanctuary ceiling; restore the mural above the choir section; and install a cooling system under the floor.

In March, Lee shared the church’s struggle to stay afloat, with its membership dwindling from 800 to 30 by the time he joined in 2018. He was able to grow it to 70 people before the pandemic caused it to drop again.

When the pandemic hit, he and other church leaders held virtual services to keep in touch with parishioners and provided onsite COVID-19 testing. The church also planned to expand its outreach to neighboring schools.

At its peak, Monumental was home to one of the most popular holiday performances in the city, with its sold-out Handel’s “Messiah” concerts drawing visitors from all over the country and a nod in Ebony/Jet Magazine. Hortense Love, a member of the congregation and its choir director, began the tradition, with the support of actor and baritone William Warfield, who starred in the 1951 musical film “Showboat,” according to a city report.

The church was built between 1899 and 1901 by architects Patton, Fisher & Miller in the Romanesque Revival style, which is derived from medieval European architecture — mostly churches — in the 11th and 12 centuries, according to the city. It cost a reported $60,000 at the time. It’s described as one of Chicago’s best examples of a “central lantern church,” a style modeled after H.H. Richardson’s Trinity Church in Boston.

A landmark designation report from the city’s Dept. of Planning and Development describes the church as “an enduring, fortress-like structure of brick and terra cotta with a picturesque roofline. The design conveys the strength and longevity of religious institutions and their houses of worship.”

It was originally known as Memorial Baptist Church and tied to the University of Chicago. It was rechristened Monumental Baptist Church when it was bought in 1934 by a Black Baptist congregation.

“During the Great Migration, African Americans brought with them a tradition of church attendance, and in Chicago houses of worship became vital institutions in the African American community that were not just about worship. Monumental was no exception,” according to the city report.

“Guided by skilled and energetic pastors it emerged as one of the largest and most active African American congregations in the city. In addition to spirituality, Monumental was a platform for social, intellectual and political uplift that was relevant to the daily lives of African Americans.”

For more on the history of Monumental Baptist Church, click here.

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