By Janie McGann
Villager Contributor
Jeff and Camila Juracka have lived in many places both in and out of Chicago, but for them there has been no place like Beverly/Morgan Park. Jeff grew up in nearby Oak Lawn, spending much of his teenage years in Beverly/Morgan with friends he made at while attending St. Rita High School. He knew it was a place he wanted to come back to for its slower pace and unique environment.
Camila grew up in Florida and came to Chicago for college to be closer to her sister who lived in the city. Camila and Jeff met while they were both studying at Loyola University. Since then, they have lived in Wicker Park and River North. They also spent some time living on the road and even lived in Italy for a period. About a year ago, they moved to Beverly/Morgan Park and enjoyed exploring the neighborhood. They appreciate that the Beverly/Morgan Park area allows them to be within the city while still living in a place with a strong sense of community and in closer proximity to nature.
Jeff is an outdoor enthusiast and loves hiking, fishing, running, or anything that gets him outside. An unexpected appeal of Beverly/Morgan Park was the amount of wildlife you see here compared to other places in Chicago.
“You hear birds here that you don’t hear anywhere else in the city, which feels weird to say but it’s true,” he said. “It feels good to be back home but also in a place that’s a bit more rooted in the Chicago environment.”
Jeff works in sales, but when he’s not working, you can likely find him watching a Chicago Bears game or going on a run. Camila works at a logistics company and loves all things creative. In her free time, she enjoys trying different forms of art or attending concerts with her friends. Camila is also very passionate about fitness and works as an instructor at 312 Fit. She has recently been getting into running and is excited to participate in the Shamrock Shuffle, which is something she’s been looking forward to since moving here. Jeff is also a runner and is hoping to create more running clubs in the neighborhood.
Aside from fitness, the two love to travel. Whether it’s finding new places in town or embarking on a road trip, they love to try new things.
“We’re always planning our next restaurant outing or vacation,” Camila said. “We have too many spreadsheets because I love to constantly figure out what’s next.”
As far as upcoming activities, Camila is looking forward to the Beverly Art Walk, and Jeff has already registered for BAPA’s Clean and Green event. They are also frequent customers of Beverly Bakery and the Beverly Phono Mart. At home, they enjoy spending time with their two dogs Buck and Alamo and will celebrate their two-year wedding anniversary in a few weeks.
