CHICAGO-A good time was had by all at last night's launch partyfor Real Estate Chicago Magazine. Among the many local real estateluminaries who attended the bash were Rhonda Mork of CenterpointProperties, Arvid Povilaitis of Equity Office, Dennis Hiffman ofNAI Hiffman and Roupp Group's Lynn Brisky.

Real Estate Chicago's first issue included an examination ofthree local TIF financings, a look at surging demand for tech spacein Chicago and an analysis of the booming North Loop developmentscene. The magazine is part of a group of locally focused magazinesthat Real Estate Media has recently launched across the country.Six publications are up and running so far, including magazines forthe New York, New Jersey and Southern California markets. RealEstate Forum, which has been publishing for over 50 years, is RealEstate Media's flagship publication.

Anup Bagaria of the New York investment banking firm WassersteinPerella & Co., Real Estate Media's parent company, said at theparty that he is comfortable with the strategy Real Estate Media ispursuing of focusing on local coverage in markets where the realestate industry is growing fast. Wasserstein Perella is the sponsorof the multi-billion dollar Equity Partners LP investment fund,which has several “vertical” media investments in companies likeAmerican Lawyer Media and Real Estate Media.