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

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

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