Village Free Press 101922

Voters to decide on workers’ rights amendment

Opponents, backers debate the measure

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois voters will be asked in November to decide whether the right of workers to form unions and engage in collective bargaining should be enshrined in the state constitution.

The first clause of the amendment contains two sentences. The first would establish a “fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively and to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions, and to promote their economic welfare and safety at work.”

The second would prohibit the state or any local unit of government from enacting “any law that interferes with, ne gates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety.”

The provision is intended to prevent passage of any state or local “right to work” laws, which prohibit employers from requiring workers to be union members to keep their jobs.

The second clause states that the amendment would be controlling over another part of the

Bellwood Aldi staying, planned Westchester store scrapped

One Aldi in the Proviso Township area is poised to undergo significant renovations while plans to build another one have been scrapped.

The Aldi at 400 Mannheim Road in Bellwood could be slated for about $1.6 million in improvements, said Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey on Oct. 14.

“Hopefully work starts this year,” the mayor said. “We’re waiting for the ag reement to be sent back to us and plans drawn up and submitted to the village soon.”

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

The mayor said the village has been ne gotiating with Aldi “for a while.” The ne gotiations, he said, resulted in the village deciding to give the company about $400,000 to spur the remodeling ef fort.

Harvey said the $400,000 subsidy will come from a sales tax fund created many years ago. The fund has since been eliminated but there’s still money in it, he added.

“Years and years ago, we had a business district sales tax [along the Mannheim

Mayor Andre Har vey said Bellwood store is due for remodeling while Aldi, reversing course, says it has no plans to build at Roosevelt and Mannheim

Maywood school gets a new garden,

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Prov iso East’s defense attempts to intercept a pass on Oct. 8, during a ag football game against Proviso West at Oak Park and River Forest High School’s football stadium in Oak Park. Read the story on page 6.

Lourdes

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Broadview mourns prominent pastor

Broadview is mour ning the death of Rev. Johnnie R. Haynie, the longtime pastor of Garden of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church, 2001 S. 17th Ave. in Broadview. Haynie’s death was confir med by members of his church and his funeral information has been announced by Wallace Broadview Funeral Home.

There will be a musical celebration in honor of Haynie on Friday, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m., at

Garden of Prayer M.B. Church, 2001 S. 17th Ave. in Broadview.

The public viewing will be on Saturday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The wake and funeral will be on Sunday, Oct. 23, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. All three services will be at Garden of Prayer.

The inter nment will take place on Monday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m., at Queen of Heaven cemetery, 1400 S. Wolf Rd. in Hillside

Par t of Westchester Boulevard designated honorary ‘Frank Perr y Way’

The portion of Westchester Boulevard spanning from Roosevelt Road to Canterbury Street is now Frank J. Per ry Way in honor of the village’s late mayor who died last year

During a re gular meeting on Oct. 11, the village board voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance authorizing the designation, which calls for the installation of an honorary sign. The street name will not of ficially change, village of ficials said at a meeting on Se pt. 27.

Per ry was elected village president in April last year, after the village’s for mer president, Paul Gattuso, announced that he was retiring. Per ry died in December from cancer. He was 50 years old.

The late mayor grew up on Westchester Boulevard and owned two businesses on the street – Joe’s Place Restaurant and Concetta’s Salon. He was also deeply

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involved in the community

At the Oct. 11 meeting, acting village President Nick Steker read part of the petition that went out to residents and that listed his litany of contributions and achievements.

Village of ficials did not give details at the meeting on when the new signs will go up.

Fundraiser launched for Melrose Park families displaced by fire

Community members are raising funds for multiple Melrose Park families who were displaced after a fire destroyed their home.

Melrose Park firefighters and paramedics responded to the two-story residence at 125 N. 17th Ave., at around 5:42 p.m. on Oct. 6.

When they ar rived on the scene, the entire top floor of the building was in flames, according to reports.

Multiple attempts to contact the Melrose Park Fire department for comment last week were unsuccessful.

On Oct. 7, Rose Ocampo, the family liaison at Lincoln Elementary School, 811 Chicago Ave. in Maywood, launched a GoFundMe campaign for the displaced families. Ocampo said three families

“A kindergarten student from Melrose Park Elementary School lost all his toys and lived on the first- floor,” Ocampo wrote

“The fire destroyed another mom’s rent money, and a four-year-old that lived on the second-floor baby girl lost her dog, Betsy, in the fire,” she said.

Another tenant living in the basement of the building “lost everything except the set of clothes that he was wearing,” Ocampo added.

So far, the campaign has raised $2,015 of its $15,000 goal. To donate, visit: https://bit. ly/3s2jnvP

Two juveniles issued citations after prompting ac tive shooter scares at

Forest Park Walmar t

Two male juveniles were apprehended on the early after noon of Oct. 16 after a gun-shaped lighter in their possession set of f speculation on social media that there may have been an active shooter event at the Forest Park Walmart, 1300 Des Plaines Ave.

“It was just a replica gun. No one was shot,” said Forest Park Mayor Rory

Hoskins told the Review after it initially reached out for comment.

Hoskins said Forest Park P0lice infor med him at around 12:53 p.m. on Sunday that they had received a call from Walmart’s loss prevention department, which detects shoplifting at the store.

A witness who was in the area shortly after police ar rived at Walmart said she saw people run into the parking lot.

Living Fresh Market, which is located nearby in Forest Park Plaza, locked their doors and bar red patrons from entering as a precaution, the witness said.

According to the of ficial police report of the incident and an inter nal memo shared with the Review, the store’s loss prevention of ficer spotted a 15-year-old boy and his 12-year-old cousin riding around on scooters, and a 15-year-old showed what looked like a gun and shoved it in his pants The loss prevention of ficer called the police at around 11:57 a.m., showing them the surveillance footage of the incident when they ar rived.

The of ficers were able to locate the two teens. The of ficers approached the teens with the weapons drawn and took them into custody without any issue It was only then that the of ficers that the object was a gun re plica lighter

It tur ned out the two teens were in the store with their grandmother, who was their le gal guardian. The 15-year-old said that his cousin gave him the lighter after realizing that he forgot to leave it in the car

The two were issued local ordinance citations for Disorderly Conduct-Breach of Peace and Disorderly ConductUnreasonable or Of fensive Act, and released into their grandmother’s custody.

Maywood man murdered in Westchester

A Maywood man was killed in Westchester on Oct. 11, according to reports by police and the medical examiner’s of fice

The medical examiner said 22-year old Carlos Barefield, of Maywood, was murdered on the 10000 block of Chaucer Ave. in Westchester on Tuesday evening. The incident happened at around 8:08 p.m., the medical examiner re ported.

In a statement released Tuesday, Westchester Police said of ficers ar rived on the scene and found Barefield lying on the floor He had apparently sustained a gunshot wound.

Westchester paramedics took Barefield to Loyola University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at around 9:07 p.m., the medical examiner re ported.

“Westchester Detectives along with the West Suburban Major Crime Task Force have been working the crime scene, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses,” Westchester Police stated on Oct. 12. “The incident is isolated and no threat to the public.”

Anyone with information re garding this incident is being asked to contact the Police Department Investigations Unit at (708) 345-0060 (Ext. 449).

Maywood Police looking for suspect in teen’s murder

The Maywood Police Department is looking for a suspect in the murder of a teenager last month.

Police said on Oct. 12 that two men — Rigoberto Estrella, 32, of Melrose Park, and Christian Corona, 23, of Maywood — were involved in the homicide of 17-year-old Dyron Underwood on Sept. 16 in Maywood.

Estella was identified as the driver of the vehicle that was driven during Underwood’s murder and has been ar rested and charged with first de gree murder.

Police said Corona, known as Bless, is “a known Latin King gang member, who

New Hillside Police Chief Daniel Murphy is getting used to the job

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

New Hillside Police Chief Daniel Murphy was swor n-in on July 11. He succeeds retired chief Joseph Lukaszek.

During a brief interview at Autumnfest on Oct. 8, Chief Mur phy spoke about his first several months on the job.

“With any transition, there are growing pains to figure things out but I’m enjoying it,” he said.

“We’ve restructured the department a little bit and tried to streamline the leadership of the department. I haven’t made too many dramatic changes yet,” he added. “I’ve only been in the spot for two-

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frequents Chicago’s west side, as well as the wester n suburbs of Melrose Park and Maywood.”

Corona, who was identified as the co-of fender in Underwood’s murder, is cur rently not in custody.

“If anyone has any knowledge of Corona’s whereabouts, exercise extreme caution and call” 9-1-1, police said.

Residents can also call the Maywood Police Department’s Det. Reilly at (708) 2506452 or the Maywood Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at (708) 450-1787.

Marshall High charity basketball game raises money to help find Maywood woman’s killer

Dyanla Rainey’s hardwood heroics helped the Marshall High School Commandos win a state title in 2018. Recently, the team paid homage to its for mer star by playing a charity game to raise money to help solve her tragic murder

Rainey, 22, was fatally shot outside of her Maywood home on July 24. In August, Maywood Police said that they suspect someone driving a 2004 Buick Re gal was involved in the shooting.

Police said the car’s Illinois license plate is BE25791 but that the plate may have changed. They said the four-door vehicle

is black with grey trim. All of the car’ windows are darkly tinted

On Oct. 14, the Marshall High gir basketball program hosted a charity game at the school in Chicago’s East Garfield Park community to raise money for reward in Rainey’s murder case, which still not been solved. Tickets for the game were $15 each.

Le gendary retired Marshall High girls’ basketball coach Dorothy Gaters, longtime Maywood resident, said Rainey mother, Margo Rainey, asked her coordinate the charity game. DeDe play for Gaters when the team won state in 2018.

“When her mom asked me to do this I didn’t even hesitate,” Gaters told CBS Chicago. “It’s kind of hard to go through it again. I was just devastated.”

Suburbs close out Hispanic Heritage Month

Communities across Proviso Township, including Bellwood, Broadview and Maywood, have been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which was from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

The Maywood Park District paid homage to the annual commemoration by hosting the TPW Wrestling Show and fluoric dancers, among other activities at its celebration on Oct. 14.

VILL AG E people

and-a-half months now. I’m just getting my footing under neath me and meeting with other chiefs.”

Chief Mur phy said while he hasn’t been at the helm of the department long, he’s already noticed what may be a historic inflection point in the police profession.

There are fewer and fewer people applying to become police of ficers just as a possibly unprecedented number of departments across the state are getting new leadership.

“I did a class with the Illinois State Training and Standards Board for new police chiefs and they had almost 90 new chiefs in this class,” Chief Mur phy said.

“They usually average about 30 chiefs a year and they said this was one of the biggest classes they’ve had.”

According to a survey administered this year to members of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and Illinois Sherif fs’ Association, respondents ranked “recruitment and retention” as their

greatest challenge.

The law enforcement trade Police 1 reported that, according survey, resignations and increased by 29% in 2021 Resignations alone jumped by from 2020 while retirements jumped within that time period.

Additionally, survey reported hiring 895 police of ficers and 2021, with nearly half of hires of of ficers who were alread and working for dif ferent agencie Chief Mur phy said he shortage firsthand.

“When I took the test for Hillside 26 years ago, it was about 500 or 600 people who took the [test],” he said. “We just had applications and just had a test a few weeks ago. We had 51 people take out the application but only 36 passed the written test.”

The chief said he hopes at least 30 eligible candidates land on a list of prospective

Meanwhile, Bellwood held its annual National Hispanic Celebration on Oct. 15 at Roosevelt Middle School. The event featured perfor mances by the Ballet Folklorico Sones Mexicanos Dancers.

And Broadview hosted a Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Oct. 15 at the Beverly Center, with perfor mances by Alexandra Salgado and Isabella Mota.

CONTAC T: michael@oakpark.com

women recruits.

“This test we just did looks like a pretty diverse reflection of Hillside, which is what I would strive for,” Chief Mur phy said.

CONTAC T: michael@oakpark.com

Cour tesy Mayor Nathaniel George Booker/Facebook Fluoric dancers perform at the Maywood Park District on Oct. 14.

Maywood school welcomes new garden

PAEC Center School students are enjoying a new outdoor garden thanks to donations by Home Depot

By SHANEL ROMAIN Staff Contributor

Students at PAEC Center School, 1000 Van Buren St. in Maywood, are enjoying a brand new garden thanks to donations from Home Depot.

PAEC stands for Proviso Area for Exceptional Children and addresses the needs ofspecial education students ranging in age from three years old to the day before their 22nd birthday,” according to its website.

During a grand opening for the new garden held at the school on Oct. 14, Inga Ezerins, the school’s assistant principal, said the center started a new gardening project this year.

“Little hands and big hands were all very

busy creating this beautiful garden for us to call our own,” Ezerins said.

“From now on, our students will be able to enjoy growing tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, beans — you name it,” she said. “They’re also going to be able to have a butterfly garden. We will be planting flowers to attract butterflies and our students are going to be able to learn about the butterfly cycle. We’re going to take classes and learning outdoors. This handson experience is what our students need. This will benefit all of them.”

Dorothy Clark-Smith, a member of the Bellwood School District 88 Board of Education and a board liaison to PAEC, said the new garden reminds her ofher childhood.

“I love this garden,” she said. “I’m a country girl. I was born and raised on a farm, so I’m going to get my fingers in the dirt. Ms. Ezerins we have to plant some collard greens and mustard greens.”

Michael James, PAEC’s executive director, said the garden idea was welcomed by the center’s board and administration.

“Everyone was super excited that

Shanel Romain/Staff PAEC teacher Paula Parat, second from right, helps Dalila Delgado Flores, a PAEC student, cut the ribbon on th eir new garden at 1000 Van Buren St. in Maywood on Oct. 14.

this was even a possibility,” he said. “This project can come to have so many fruitful results. You’re going to see and taste the fruits of your labor. We really look forward to seeing what comes ofthis garden.”

PAEC Principal Lim Baratta thanked Home Depot and all ofthe volunteers who were responsible for making the garden

possible.

“We have a brand new garden thanks to all of your hard work and thanks to the support ofhome depot for all your donations,” she said.

CONTAC T: michael@oakpark.com

Girls y the ag for football Chicago Bears and Nike cosponsor new flag football eam at OPRF that includes Proviso East and Proviso West

Flag football resembles a touch football game that kids would play in the park

Each player wears a belt with two flags. A player is “tackled” when a defensive player grabs a flag, really more of a ribbon, off of the belt. The athletes wear foam helmets without facemasks that look like old fashioned leather helmets football players wore a century ago.

By BOB SKOLNIK ontributing Reporter

the only students playing football this fall. The Chicago Bears and teamed up to cosponsor a new football league at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park. The new league features five other West Subur-

Seven players, not 11, are on the field for each team at one time. Everyone is eligible to run the ball or catch a pass. A defensive player cannot rush the quarterback until after a count of three and the referee yells go. Teams have four plays to go 20 yards, not 10, for a first down. The game is played on an 80-yard field and no runs are allowed within 20 yards of the goal line. Blocking

East High School in Maywood and Proviso West High School in Hillside.

Second-seeded Proviso East will play in the semifinal game at OPRF on Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. The league championship will take place on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. All playof f games will be at OPRF’s Lake Street athletic fields. The league champion will face of f against the Chicago Public League champion in a game to be played on the Bears practice field at Halas Hall on Oct. 29.

ticipation opportunities for high school student-athletes is at the core of the IHSA’s mission,” said IHSA Executive Director

Craig Anderson in a press release issued by the Bears in May about girls flag football. “Thanks in large part to the ef for ts of the Chicago Bears, high school girls flag football in Illinois is experiencing unprecedented growth. On this current trajectory, it seems destined to become an official IHSA sport in the future.”

Alex Rogals/Staff Photographer

Le , a Prov iso East player runs w ith the football on Oct. 8. Below right, Prov iso West’s o ense makes a play on Oct. 8.

Offered by

Broadview gets newly renovated ADA-accessible park

Community members cut the ribbon on new and improved Pioneer Park on Oct. 15, event comes after $750K wor th of enhancements

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Community members gathered at Pioneer Park, 2400 S. 14th Ave. in Broadview, on Oct. 15, to cut the ribbon on what could be one of the most ADA-accessible parks in Proviso Township.

The newly renovated park has a host of features that are sensitive to the needs and challenges of young people with disabilities.

While the adults spoke during the ribboncutting ceremony, young children played on the park’s new rubber surface and cozied inside of the new sensory dome. The dome doubles as a climbing apparatus and helps calm children who have conditions that sometimes lead to sensory overload.

Young children also enjoyed the aboveground trampoline, which Broadview Park District Director Brian Dawson said was flown in from Poland. He said the park may be the only one in the state with an inground trampoline.

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson said even the slide is sensitive to the needs of everyone, particularly people with limited mobility.

“Even if you have arthritis, you can slide on this slide to trigger your bones to give you some relief,” she said, adding that Pioneer Park is the village’s second ADAaccessible park.

Beverly Park at 2600 S. 13th Ave., is the first ADA-accessible park in Broadview, Thompson said.

An ADA-accessible park or facility is one that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which fleshes out the accommodations that are necessary for people with disabilities.

Joyce Prowell, the president of the

Young children play on a slide in Pioneer Park in Br oadv iew on Saturday

Broadview Park District Board of Commissioners, said the newly renovated park was years in the making.

“It took two years to do this,” she said. “We are very proud. […] Our main goal was to just get something that caters to everyone.”

Dawson said the idea for a rare inground trampoline was the result of Commissioners Yara Buchanan and Alice Johnson, who learned about it at a conference last year in Nashville and wanted to bring the concept back to Broadview.

For Dawson, the moment was particularly poignant because he played at Pioneer Park as a young child. On Saturday, his daughter, Maya, who is is on the autism spectrum, helped cut the ribbon on the new park.

“This is really coming full circle,” he said. “Now, to be able to renovate it for the next generation is phenomenal but I feel we can go even higher.”

Dawson said the Pioneer Park renovations cost approximately $750,000 and were paid for, in part, by a state grant that matched 50% of what the park district contributed.

He added that the renovations are phase one of a two-phase process. Phase two includes resurfacing the tennis and basketball courts that are adjacent to the newly renovated park That work should be completed next year, Dawson said.

CONTAC T: michael@oakpark.com

Michael Romain

AMENDMENT

Onconstitution that of home rule units meaning those still be subject to the amendment.

Lawmakers measure on the spring session. chambers with the Senate and 80-30 in the House

Like any constitutional there is considerable what those words they would ha adopted.

The proposal large labor unions, but it has drawn opposition from groups such as the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.

To gather a sense of the arguments for and against the measure, the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors convened an online forum with Joe Bowen, communications director for a Vote Yes for Workers Rights, the only organized political committee campaigning on the issue They also spoke with Mailee Smith, director of labor policy and a staf f attor ney with the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think tank that opposes the measure.

Bowen and Smith were asked at the outset what they believe the amendment would mean and the implications of adopting it.

“The workers’ rights amendment will guarantee your fundamental rights in the workplace to organize and bargain collectively with your coworkers to ne gotiate for things like better pay, safer working conditions, and crucially, it will also protect Illinois voters from politicians who try to take away their rights in the future,” Bowen said.

He said it gives Illinois workers an opportunity “to vote for themselves on Nov. 8.”

Smith, on the other hand, asserted that the amendment would apply only to public-sector workers because privatesector workers are already covered by the National Labor Relations Act, which would supersede any state law or state constitutional provision.

As a result, she argued that it would drive up local property taxes by giving

Teachers and their suppor ters march down the road holding signs as dr ivers honk in suppor t during the Proviso teachers st rike in March.

FILE

ALDI Change of plans

from page 1

Road cor ridor], in which businesses in the district paid higher taxes than others and that money was used to improve and beautify businesses in the cor ridor,” the mayor said. “We haven’t spent any of that money, so this is an opportunity to spend some and give incentives for a good cause.”

A department report included in a Sept. 21 village board meeting agenda indicated that the village “has entered into ne gotiations with Aldi, Inc. for the grocery store to remain in the Village, on line of the Aldi, Inc relocating its grocery store the Village has agreed to provide Aldi with certain economic incentives.”

board unanimously voted in favor of two purchase and sale ag reements that would tur n over the two properties, one of which is the site of Westchester’s Village Hall and police station, to Glazier Development, a Chicago-based real estate development company.

Glazier was supposed to purchase the properties for $4.7 million and build a retail complex that would have included an Aldi, Starbucks and a Panera Bread, among other smaller retailers

But that ag reement was never finalized after ne gotiations fell through. Hribal said the village has since parted ways with Glazier and is cur rently ne gotiating a letter of intent to purchase the property with another developer Hribal said he isn’t comfortable identifying the developer yet because ne gotiations are ongoing.

public employee unions power to negotiate a broader range of issues, including “economic welfare,” which isn’t defined in the amendment or other state law.

Bowen countered that the amendment has nothing to do with taxes but, instead, protects only the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively in the workplace.

If it were adopted, he said, it would apply unifor mly statewide to all workers in both the public and private sectors. He also said it would protect workers from politicians who attempt to enact right-to-work laws, a reference to for mer Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who tried unsuccessfully to push such le gislation through the General Assembly.

Constitutional amendments have two paths to passage in Illinois. If the measure receives 60 percent of the vote from those voting on the question, it passes. But if it fails to reach the 60 percent threshold on the question but still musters “yes” votes from more than half of those voting in the election, it would still pass.

Election Day is Nov. 8, but early voting has already be gun.

CONTAC T: michael@oakpark.com

The agenda item prompted concer ns among some community members that Aldi could be threatening to move, particularly as a new Aldi store located the north parking lot of North Riverside Park Mall in North Riverside approaches completion and as Aldi was reported year to be planning another store on cor ner of Roosevelt and Mannheim road

In a statement the company emailed Village Free Press earlier this week, Aldi spokesperson said the Bellwood store “will remain open and operating as usual.” And Harvey said there was no discussion with Aldi of ficials that involved the village approving subsidies in exchange the company’s commitment to continue operating its store in the village.

Aldi representatives could not immediately reached on Friday after noon to confir m and discuss details about Ma Harvey’s announcement of the pending remodeling.

But in the email, the Aldi spokesperson did state that the company “does not have any plans to pursue a development in Westchester,” indicating a tur n of events from just a year ago, when Aldi was mentioned in a draft purchase and sale ag reement as one of three major retailers poised to move into town.

In an interview on Oct. 14, Greg Hribal, Westchester’s interim village manager, said any serious proposal to build an Aldi on the site of village-owned land at 1107 S. Mannheim Road and 10300 W. Roosevelt Road went out the door along with the developer that brought the proposal to the village.

In June 2021, the Westchester village

Earlier this year, the village board retained Klein, Thor pe and Jenkins, a municipal law fir m, to represent Westchester in the negotiations.

e Bellwood Aldi may undergo remodeling, said the suburb’s mayor, Andre Harvey Meanwhile, plans for a Westchester store have been scrapped, Aldi said.

FILE

Hribal said while the new developer has not identified any specific retailers it seeks to lure to Roosevelt and Mannheim, the new proposed development will have a similar design and footprint to the one proposed by Glazier The new developer also looks to bring a fast casual dining establishment to town, he said.

CONTAC T: michael@oakpark.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at the election to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, the following binding referendum will be submitted to the voters of the Village of Melrose Park:

Shall the Village of Melrose Park cease to be a home rule unit?

The polls at the election will be open at 6:00 A.M. and will continue until 7:00 P.M. of that day.

Dated: October 19, 2022

Hon. Mary Ann Paolantonio Clerk of the Village of Melrose Park, Cook County, Illinois

19, 2022

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PNC BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; Plaintiff, vs. NORM G. MERTEL AKA NORM MERTEL; HEIDI G. MERTEL AKA HEIDI MERTEL; PNC BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 14453

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, November 21, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-18-231-015-0000.

Commonly known as 34 North Elm Street, Hillside, Illinois 60162.

The mortgaged real estate is im proved with a single family resi dence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act.

Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call The Sales De partment at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. F19120039

ADC INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3204924

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER Plaintiff, -v.-

SAUNDRA COLLINS, AS INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH LEE COL LINS, SANDRA ELAINE COLLINS, SAUNDRA COLLINS, SARAH COL LINS, JOSEPH L. COLLINS-ELLIS TON, JR., UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF JOSEPH LEE COL LINS, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2021 CH 03201 1246 MARENGO DRIVE FOREST PARK, IL 60130

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 7, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on Novem ber 15, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the follow ing described real estate: Commonly known as 1246 MARENGO DRIVE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130

Property Index No. 15-24-203-0200000

The real estate is improved with a duplex. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER EN TRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLO SURE LAW

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-21-01895

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2021 CH 03201

TJSC#: 42-3568

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector at tempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2021 CH 03201 I3204214

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

FIFTH THIRD BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.-

ROBERT E. ROBERSON Defendants 2022 CH 03037 2247 S. 20TH AVENUE

BROADVIEW, IL 60155

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on August 5, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 9, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following de-

scribed real estate: Commonly known as 2247 S. 20TH AVENUE, BROADVIEW, IL 60155 Property Index No. 15-22-105-026 0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Cer tificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLO SURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORA-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

TION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-22-02259 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2022 CH 03037 TJSC#: 42-3065

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector at tempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2022 CH 03037 I3204289

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC; Plaintiff, vs. RODNEY DANIELS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD) CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 21 CH 4571

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tues day, November 15, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-16-212-057-0000.

Commonly known as 1000 Cernan Drive, Bellwood, Illinois 60104.

The mortgaged real estate is im proved with a single family resi dence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act.

Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for in spection.

For information call The Sales De partment at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. F20030290

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3204403

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION THE BANK OF NEW YORK MEL LON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2006-18CB, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-18CB Plaintiff, -v.-

CECILIO PANCHO, MARIA CHONIE PANCHO A/K/A MARIA V PANCHO A/K/A CHONIE V PANCHO, MEB LOAN TRUST Defendants 22 CH 03292 464 MAJOR DRIVE NORTHLAKE, IL 60164

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on August 10, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corpo ration, will at 10:30 AM on Novem ber 17, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the follow ing described real estate: Commonly known as 464 MAJOR DRIVE, NORTHLAKE, IL 60164 Property Index No. 12-32-207-069

0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence with garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assess ments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the as sessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION,

Le t the sun shine in...

Notice: Your right to know

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

RAYMER LEIBERT

No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-21-02891 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2021 CH 05596 TJSC#: 42-2664

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector at tempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2021 CH 05596 I3204336

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MERRIL LYNCH FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1 Plaintiff, -v.-

JANICE M. COLE A/K/A JAN ICE HARRIS, JOHNNY B. COLE, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. Defendants 17 CH 09897

2018 S 24TH AVE BROADVIEW, IL 60155

NOTICE OF SALE

representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgag ee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLO SURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

DIVISION

MORTGAGE FUNDING

Plaintiff, -v.MARY KAY FECAROTA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - SECRE TARY OF HOUSING AND UR BAN DEVELOPMENT, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF RAYMOND PENCE A/K/A RAYMOND V. PENCE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, GERALD NORDGREN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR RAYMOND PENCE A/K/A RAYMOND V. PENCE (DECEASED), CHARLES PENCE, JERRY PENCE, SHARON PENCE Defendants 2021 CH 05596 1229 HOWARD AVENUE BERKELEY, IL 60163

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 12, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on Novem ber 14, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the follow ing described real estate: Commonly known as 1229 HOWARD AVENUE, BERKELEY, IL 60163 Property Index No. 15-07-202-0150000 The real estate is improved with a residence Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLO SURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 17, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on Novem ber 15, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the follow ing described real estate:

Commonly known as 2018 S 24TH AVE, BROADVIEW, IL 60155

Property Index No. 15-15-316-0320000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Cer tificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORA TION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-17-09846 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 17 CH 09897 TJSC#: 42-3612

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector at tempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 17 CH 09897 I3204498

Maywood Fine Arts thanks everyone for making our

Fine Arts thanks

a

for

a success!

A

Present

to

2022

Celebrating our 18th year on Madison Street

Celebrating our 18th year on Madison Street

Direct online ordering is available

Direct online ordering is available

Sunday brunch (10am-2pm)

Sunday brunch (10am-2pm)

Catering (please give 48 hours notice)

Catering (please give 48 hours notice)

Private parties on our 2nd floor (bridal, wedding, and baby showers, birthdays, meetings)

Private parties on our 2nd floor (bridal, wedding, and baby showers, birthdays, meetings)

2nd floor outdoor patio dining (subject to private party schedule)

7427 Madison Street www.caffedeluca.com 708-366-9200

2nd floor outdoor patio dining (subject to private party schedule) 7427 Madison Street www.caffedeluca.com 708-366-9200

Mama DeLuca

Mama DeLuca

EATS presented by

Born in 2018 and served fresh by Growing Community Media, Eats gives you a weekly taste of everything diningrelated in Oak Park and its surrounding Berwyn, Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Riverside, Brookfield, Proviso Township and Elmwood Park are home to a rich collection of established and emerging eateries. Known for serving up healthy portions of food and restaurant news, Eats exists to connect you to the people and stories behind the dishes you love to eat.

The majority of all Eats content is editorial in nature, but once a year our dedicated advertising department gives local restaurants the opportunity to join in this gorgeous celebration of the eateries that keep us coming back for more. Our designers are responsible for making the

Eats Dining Guide look good enough to eat. This publication is the result of layers of local talent, and I am proud to call the people behind it my colleagues.

All of us at Growing Community Media are exceptionally grateful for the support Byline Bank has shown to local restaurants and the commitment they have made to help us tell their important stories through the Eats brand — this special section would not have been possible without their support. We are grateful that Alberto Paracchini, CEO of Byline Bank, and Susie Goldschmidt, Oak Park and River Forest Market President for Byline Bank, recognize that local businesses and restaurants form the backbone of communities.

No matter where you look, you’ll find inspirational stories in our multiple Eats communities, but at the heart of it all there are countless crave-worthy dishes we love to celebrate. We’ve shared Persimmon Kitchen’s love of Ssamjang, lined up for a

slice of olive oil cake from Broken Tart, and slurped one of the first bowls of noodles at Kyuramen. We are counting the days until Chubby’s Char House opens in Forest Park and look forward to Takeout 25’s next Taste the Town and event, all while celebrating the enduring legacy of places like Cucina Paradiso and Khyber Pass. Stay up to date: Use the QR code to sign up for my weekly newsletter

Enjoy this celebration of all things Eats! Happy reading and eating,

Eats Editor/Individual Donor Manager Melissa Elsmo

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Designer Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Sales and Marketing Representatives

Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck

S ales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan

Sales & Digital Development Manager Stacy Coleman

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Publisher Dan Haley

HOW TO REACH US

141 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Pak, IL 60302 Phone 708 524 8300

Fax 708 467 9066

by Growing Community Media NFP.

© 2022 Growing Community Media NFP.

MELISSA ELSMO

Sweet sisterhood at the heart of Broken Tart

Sisters, Krissy and Katie Mack, are raising their families in Oak Park and have made their brick-andmortar bakery dreams come true in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. Broken Tart brings “undone” cakes, classic cookies and a sense of whimsy to 1108 Chicago Avenue.

Settling in Oak Park allowed Krissy, a celebrated pastry chef, to dive into businesses with her media-savvy sister, Katie. Both sisters have sons who are two and six years old. Katie is a Lincoln mom, Krissy is a Hatch mom — and both half expected to find a line of first graders out the door on opening day

“We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders,” said Katie Mack. “We grew up disagreeing with each other, but we’ve learned to move through issues quickly Now we are a motivating force for each

other and looking forward to nurturing what we have here.”

The sisters “called in every favor” they could to complete the gut rehab that transformed a former coin laundromat into a space worthy of the vibrant cakes and array of sweet and savory treats Broken Tart is known for making.

434-5682

Broken Tart customers can collaborate on the creation of elaborate “undone” layer cakes with interest and contrast coming om unique combinations of avor, crunch and cream. The one-of-a-kind cakes, often topped with fresh flowers and a pile of marshmallowy meringue, are connected by a sense of whimsy and offered on an in-house sweetness scale.

Though the sisters will willingly create special occasion cakes for bakery goers, they are clear Broken Tart will be an approachable eatery where people can enjoy delicious things on an everyday basis from breakfast through lunch.

Cookies with crisp edges and gooey centers join olive oil cake with orange glaze, “kale salad” scones and cinnamon coffee cake on a rotating and evolving daily menu. The bakery is set to launch a thoughtful lunch menu with offerings like loaded vegan focaccia, broccoli salad with Aleppo pepper and house pickled chilis, and seasonal panzanella with peaches, tomatoes, and feta. Parisian ham on baguette, baked falafel sandwiches, and lunch boxes for kids will also be available.

Abundance is a theme at the bakery where the coffee program will share equal billing with the baked goods. Coffee aficionados should expect the shop to offer coffee from Big Shoulders and Ruby Roasters.

“We love Oak Park and this supportive community of people,” said Katie “We are raising our families here. We’ve both put down roots. Why wouldn’t we want to grow a business here? We are both all in.”

Katie and Krissy Mack and a cake from Broken Tart

Melissa Elsmo

Poke Burrito to enter the donut game A

donut is a glorious thing and Poke Burrito, 1025 Lake St., Oak Park, is adding some of the fried golden rings to their repertoire. According to owner Jimmy Chen, adding subtly sweet and thoughtfully decorated mochi donuts feels like the perfect novelty addition to Poke Burrito’s colorful menu of poke bowls, sushi burritos, maki rolls and boba teas.

Mochi donuts, also known as pon de ring, were first popularized by Mister Donut shops in Japan. The dough, made with sweet rice flour, is shaped into eightball rings before being fried, glazed and decorated. Mochi donuts are lighter and chewier than their American counterparts and come in flavors like berry, cookies and cream, ube, and matcha.

“They are a completely different kind of

donut and gaining in popularity every year,” said Chen. “We went on a mochi donut tour, and I thought they were something unique in that Asian-fusion style we are known for.”

Chen spent several months perfecting his version of mochi donuts; they will be made in Poke Burrito’s central kitchen located in suburban Geneva and delivered to the Oak Park location daily

For six years, Chen and his dedicated staff have been bringing fresh poke bowls to life at the Downtown Oak Park shop. They are known for consistent food quality, thoughtful service and a genuine commitment to the community In fact, Chen is regarded as a source of positivity in the village and sees the value in supporting other restaurants, businesses, and

organizations in Oak Park and beyond.

Chen was born to hardworking parents in Fujian, China on the southeast coast of the country. They tasked him early in life with whipping up simple dishes for himself. Chen recollects scrambling eggs with tomato for himself as a boy and developing a deep appreciation for fresh seafood thanks to Fujian’s proximity to the ocean. Chen emigrated to the United States with his family when he was 13. He spent 20 years working as a sushi and teppen chef at his family’s restaurant on Chicago’s north shore before opening his first Poke Burrito in North Center Chicago Today Poke Burrito has 10 locations in Chicagoland and Oak Park is Chen’s busiest store.

”This is a journey I have always been on,”

said Chen. “I have always wanted to be a restaurateur I am always asking myself how I can make my restaurant the best in their class — I only compete against my own standards.”

Chen is clear he would not be where he is today without his devoted staff. His employees are part of a profit-sharing model because Chen knows they are the reason for the success of Poke Burrito And now they are set to bring trendy mochi donuts to town!

Poke Burrito

1025 Lake St., Oak Park (708) 573-3668

pokeburritochicago.com

Celebrating Kribi Co ee’s hyperlocal roasting revolution

Since opening in January 2019, Jacques Shalo has been working diligently to carve out a unique identity for his independent coffee roastery in the congested and competitive coffee shop business. Shalo credits Kribi’ Coffee’s “four tenets,” freshness, method, sourcing, and giving back, for the br quick rise in popularity.

Kribi Coffee is located at 7324 W. St., Forest Park and just opened their second location. The opening of Kribi’ sibling spot was plagued by delays, but eager coffee lovers and commuters can grab a cup of joe from Kribi’s location at Cross Function Flexible Workspace at the Boulevard Arcade building, 1033 South Blvd., from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily Regular hours begin Oct. 30.

“My wife Cindy was driving down South Boulevard and saw the available café space,” said Shalo, owner of Kribi Coffee. “It seemed like a great opportunity for

acques Shalo stands outside Kribi Forest Park location.

Kribi to enter Oak Park.”

Kribi’s Cross Function location is open to the public and capitalizes on all the recognizable design elements popularized at the Forest Park location. The colorful palette, conceptualized by Shalo’s

Kribi Coffee

7324 W. Madison, Forest Park 1033 South Blvd., Oak Park 708-689-8896 www.kribicoffee.com

son Jeremiah, is a nod to the family’s ameroonian heritage and regional coffee cing practices.

Kribi Coffee sources historically significant fees with a growing focus on beans own in Cameroon. In addition to sourcing with regional specificity in mind, Kribi is dedicated to putting more money into the pockets of coffee farmers by disrupting the value chain of coffee and donates to local social justice causes.

Kribi Coffee now has an app available for download via the Apple Store and Google Play. The easy-to-use app allows users to earn rewards, skip the line and order air roasted coffee for nationwide delivery from

the palm of their hand.

Use the app or visit in person to order up a seasonal Pumpkin Patch Latte or any of Kribi’s specialty creations. La Catrina features indulgent Omanhene chocolate chai, a dash of spicy cayenne and a sprinkle of warming cinnamon. Everyday delights include classic cappuccinos, lattes, blended drinks and teas.

Looking for more than a beverage? Kribi has got you covered. Menu items include French-style croissants sourced from Bonjour Bakery located in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood as well as an array of breakfast sandwiches and grab and go lunch items. Expect a selection of dishes like Southwestern veggie bowls, chicken wraps, and vegan quinoa salads.

Shalo’s devotion to his coffee revolution has made an indelible mark on Forest Park — the Oak Park location was worth the wait. We can’t wait to see the next phase of Kribi’s evolution.

Melissa Elsmo

Gather together at Anfora Wine Merchants

Anfora Wine Merchants, 128 S. Marion St., is a combination retail shop and wine education center, named after a two-handled terracotta vessel used in Ancient Rome to store or transport wine. Since opening two years ago, the Pleasant District destination has become a regional wine destination and captured national attention because of some press from the James Beard award winning drinks publication, Punch.

“Our approach to wine at Anfora is not how a standard sommelier would approach it,” said Adrian Weisell, co-owner of Anfora Wine Merchants “Wine is about more than taste to us. We look at wine drinking through a cultural and historical lens.”

Anfora Wine Merchants is destination for wine lovers in Oak Park, River Forest and beyond.

Anfora’s knowledgeable staff strive to make the shop a festive gathering space where people come to select a bottle to open at home or enjoy a bottle of wine on the patio with friends. Anfora has a limited number of wines available by the glass, but Weisell is quick to point out the entire shop is available to be enjoyed for a very modest corkage fee. Anfora is building a deeper sense of community through its wine club and classes as well.

Anfora Wine Merchants

128 S Marion St, Oak Park (708) 613-5388 www.anforawinemerchants.com

The Marion Street shop honors old world traditions and celebrates Italian wines. A

welcoming retail space engages customers upon entry, floral murals cover walls and terracotta pendant fixtures hang from the ceiling. Wooden shelves house bottles of wine and a set of double doors give way to a tasting room with a counter suitable for hosting small classes.

The close bond between Anfora and Carnivore, the artisan butcher shop located around the corner at 1042 Pleasant St is one of the best kept secrets in Oak Park. Earlier in the spring Anfora partnered with Chef Brad Knaub of Carnivore to curate a onenight-only, Sicilian-inspired meal driven by the high-quality wines crafted by visionary winemaker, Frank Cornelissen.

The regional wine exploration featured a four-course dinner and a tasting of seven wines from the superior cluster of Cornelissen vineyards nestled in the northern valley of Mount Etna. More special collaborations between the Pleasant District powerhouses are planned through the fall and winter

Added bonus: the entire Carnivore menu is also available to Anfora patrons daily

Anfora Wine Merchants is a social destination where people embrace the thoughtful approach the entire staff takes to curate a wine tasting experience no matter if it is a private event or casual outing with friends.

Lights Ca me ra EAT :

What Food Movie are you?

We can’t resist a good food themed film! Complete this crave-worthy quiz and add up the numbers of each of your answers. Then go to pages 48-49 to find out what food movie you are. We’ll give you some local dinner suggestions, too!

my boy says he can eat

eggs, he can eat

eggs.”

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

having

with

Eat Pray Love

– Goldfinger (1964)

me what are you drinking.

Limoncello from Cucina Paradiso

Just a water bottle, thanks.

4. Chocolate and peanut butter Fried dumplings and Champagne Grilled cheese and tomato soup lot of wine and a little cheese

5. Matcha pudding with red bean from Kyuramen

6. Beignets from Nola Louisiana Kitchen

7. Babygold coffee from Babygold Barbecue

“Sometimes spaghetti likes to be alone.”

- Big Night (1996)

An

lager Kinslahger

Homemade hot chocolate from Twisted Cookie

The Immune Boosting Juice Shot from Sugar Beet

A cucumber Mojito from LaVergne’s Tavern

A wine flight from Cooper ’s Hawk “Jenny and me was lik peas and carrots.”

Forrest Gump (1994)

a pairing:

Olive oil and ice cream

Sancerre and sole meuniere

Fresh mango and chili powder

e elves try to stick to the four main food oups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.”

Elf (2003)

OK, now pick a sweet treat: Chicago pot hole gelato from Croissant bread pudding from bag of Lilly’s Chilis from

You’re home alone. What are you ordering for dinner?

1. Joe’s Mama’s Meatballs from Victory

2. Linguine and Shrimp Fra Diavolo from Il Viccolo

3. Braised beef nachos from Maya del Sol

4. I’m just gonna GoPuff an assortment of candy

5. Too many maki rolls from Sushi Junki

6. A Cuban sandwich from Café Cubano

7. A burger with Brie cheese, bacon, caramelized onions from Duckfat Tavern

“A martini. Shak not stirred.”

presented

“Is butter a carb?” – Mean Girls (2004)

Let’s indulge:

1. Caesar salad, fettuccine alfredo and a glass of Chianti for the win!

2. I want a baguette with brie and butter. And a glass of Champagne.

3. Gather the family for some whole roasted branzino, crispy octopus and cauliflower.

4. Give me a birthday cake milkshake!

5. Waygu beef cheeks, matsutake mushrooms, o-toro—oishii!

6. A molten lava cake!!!!

7. A second glass of wine, please.

“Anyone can cook.”

- Ratatouille (2007)

Describe your kitchen skills.

1. I am a serious cook -- to eat good food is to be close to God.

2. There is an artist living inside of me and my cooking skills are underrated.

3. You’ll find me whipping up tacos, ice cream sundaes, and chili because I love toppings!

4. I am all over the place, but I can rank every dish I’ve made from least to most scrumdiddlyumptious.

5. I repeat the same recipe over and over and see myself improving little by little.

6. I may not do everything great in my life, but I’m a good cook and want to share my skills.

the answers on page 48!

7. Ummm…cook? No, I’ll go out, but if anyone orders merlot I am leaving.

Keeping a legacy alive at La Maison de Bonbon

Chicagoland has a historical fondness for sweet confections, and a sliver of that history is housed at La Maison de Bonbon, 7353 Madison St Forest Park.

In between the 1920 arrival of Fannie May and the first batch of Frango Mints crafted at Marshall Field’s in 1929, La Maison de Bonbon made its debut on Chicago’s competitive candy scene in 1921. More than a century later the jewel-box sized shop maintains a century long chocolatemaking legacy in the diminutive storefront capable of holding just a few shoppers at a time.

“Granddaughters come in today because their grandmothers bought our chocolates for them when they were little girls,” said Esthela Gonzalez, manager of La Maison de Bonbon. “The chocolates we make are a family tradition for our customers more than anything else. Especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

Artisan chocolatiers first came to Madison Street when the Stejr family made their way from Germany to Forest Park and opened Stejr’s Candy Kitchen. The family began making French Crèmes and other bonbons before they transitioned the business to the Jerome family who continued selling the popular chocolates.

La Maison de Bonbon

he business continued to change hands, but every owner continued the tradition of selling the indulgent artisan chocolates.

im Shanahan bought the business in the early 1990s and created a dedicated storefront for La Maison de Bonbon. He now has more than 30 years of experience turning out the popular chocolate-meetscaramel confections with 100 years of history in every bite.

In addition to the silky-smooth Original French Crèmes, La Maison de Bonbon also offers chocolate dipped French Crèmes, salted caramels and nut-covered English toffee. The English toffee comes in both milk and dark chocolate varieties.

The key to La Maison de Bonbon’s quality

craftsmanship is small batch production. In fact, chocolatiers in the Madison Street kitchens still rely on a 100-year-old copper pot to make their chocolate treats. The pot was passed down from one owner to the next to ensure the La Maison de Bonbon tradition would endure from one generation to the next.

As far as Laurie Kokenes, executive director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and Development, is concerned, chocolate is “one of the essential food groups.” She admits to personally indulging in La Maison de Bonbon’s Original French Crèmes for nearly half a century and appreciates they have been sold from the same location since 1921.

“Longtime traditions are part of Forest Park’s history. They tell a story and remind us of what shaped our community and help us feel that we are part of something unique,” said Kokenes.

Khyber Pass: Lake Street mainstay for 27 years

Lovers of dainty potato and pea samosas, orange-hued chicken tikk masala, and fluffy garlic naan bread have trusted Khyber Pass, 1031 Lake St., to satisfy their cravings for more than a quarter of a century

“I always believed I would make it because I gave it my all,” said owner Malik Jawid with just a hint of pride. “I had a passion for the business and knew good food and good service could get me through anything.”

Jawid emigrated from Punjab, Pakistan to Chicago in 1987 where he immediately found a job as busboy at Viceroy of India in East Rogers Park. Though the restaurant is now permanently closed, Jawid worked his way up from busboy to manager and learned the ins-andouts of the restaurant business. He never worked in the kitchen but has a deep appreciation for nuanced Indian dishes and the Pakistani fare of his homeland.

In the mid-90’s, a case of wanderlust brought Jawid on an accidental trip to Oak Park. He liked the cosmopolitan feel of the village and discovered a culinary gap in his serendipitously discovered community — Oak Park needed an Indian restaurant. In 1995 Jawid opened Khyber Pass, named for a mountain pass linking Pakistan to

Afghanistan and central Asia, and began serving reliable meat based and vegetarian Indian fare with notable Pakistani influences.

Khyber Pass employs two chefs; one has been with the restaurant for 20 years and the other for 12. The consistency of their house-made dishes is unwavering. Over the years their cuisine has evolved to include more vegetarian dishes to keep up with local and national trends, but Jawid is clear that 70% of orders include rich and creamy chicken tikka masala. The perennially popular

yogurt-marinated curried chicken dish is complemented by lamb dishes like karahi gosht featuring braised meat in spiced gravy with peppers, tomatoes and onion. An assortment of Pakistani rice dishes called biryani also feature prominently on the Khyber Pass menu.

Over the years, Jawid has both expanded and collapsed his restaurant’s square footage, but loyal customers have helped Khyber Pass endure for 25 (plus two) years. The owner reflected on the joy he felt upon earning the coveted “four fork” rating from the Chicago Tribune and grappling with a line of customers snaking around the block. He remembers the uneasy feeling he had as a Muslim restaurant owner in the wake of the Sept. 11 attack but cherishes the memory of the Oak Park community rallying around him during those uncertain times. But without hesitation, Jawid named the generations of customers as his biggest source of pride.

A bountiful meal from Khyber Pass.

Melissa Elsmo

Chocolates from La Maison de Bonbon.

Melissa Elsmo

Oh my God, N Rebozo spic

Since opening New Rebozo in 1991, chef and owner, Francisco Lopez, known to all as Chef Paco, was a mainstay on the Oak Park culinary scene. Now, with a slightly updated name, Lopez has become a culinary standout in Forest Park. After moving his staff, art collection and repertory of 26 moles just a half-mile west on Madison Street, N Rebozo, 7403 Madison St., Forest Park opened in spring of 2022.

“Oh my God, Oak Park opened up to me and gave me the opportunity to make my dreams come true,” said Chef Paco. “I am a little sad because I love Oak Park. But I am super excited about being in Forest Park, too.”

Chef Paco had a career in banking in Mexico before coming to the United States. He was in the states to learn English and took over El Rebozo in 1991. Language, though, wasn’t his only barrier. The first-time restaurant owner didn’t know how to cook.

N Rebozo

7403 Madison St., Forest Park (708) 445-0370 newrebozos.com

With the help of his wife, Chef Paco added mole poblano to the menu, but beyond offering the first of what would become many future moles, N Rebozo’s early dishes focused on classic homestyle fare like tacos and burritos. Eight years into the endeavor, however, Chef Paco began to think there could be value in adding a fine dining twist to his restaurant.

Chef Paco struggled in his academic classes at the now defunct Illinois Institute of Art, but his chef-instructors saw his potential and encouraged him to fight through his language barrier because he was a “good example” to the younger aspiring chefs in the program.

Co ee and much more at Wise Cup

WISE CUP, in Downtown Oak Park, 1018 Lake St, offers an array of traditional coffee drinks, pastries, muffins and breads (baked goods provided by Reuter’s Bakery) as well as an enticing selection of Indian dishes including flavorful samosas and yogurtbased mango lassis. Wise Cup also makes its own authentic Masala Chai blend, which is brewed fresh per customer, or available in bags for home brewing.

Coffee drinks at Wise Cup are made with Sputnik Coffee roasted in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood and the list of favorites is long. On a recent visit to the bustling café, we enjoyed a bit of spice—we sipped their perennially popular Mayan Mocha boasting dark chocolate and espresso with a dash of cinnamon and cayenne pepper We paired the luscious drink with a handmade samosa filled with potatoes and peas. It was a perfect lunch

Wise Cup 1018 Lake St, Oak Park wise-cup.business.site (708) 628-3707

unique in our Oak Park community!

Wise Cup is owned by Naveen and Shivangi Khetarpal, who opened the coffee shop six years ago In 2020, they began hosing pop-up meals featuring regional Indian fare. The pop-ups were a hit and the Khetarpals have since continued the program on the first Saturday of every month. Customers can pre-order off a menu of Indian street food dishes for carryout. The menu changes from month-to-month, rotating among different regional Indian cuisines. Past menus have included Pav bhaji, a popular vegan stew of assorted vegetables and Indian spices

“Oh my god, my customers would help me with the grammar in my papers and help me understand dif Paco “They would come for dinner and stay late to help me learn. I worked har still took me four years to program. I could not have done it without them.”

Now, more than three decades into his restaurant adventur perseverance has helped tr Rebozo into a local His elevated cuisine focuses on r specialties and artful plating.

According to Chef ownership comes with “the good and the bad,” but his kitchen philosophy doubles as a philosophy for life.

“Spicy, sweet, need them all, in a dish and in life,

A mocha and samosa at Wise Cup

from Mumbai, and summer specials like samosa chaat with stewed chickpeas topped with a golden samosa, chutney, yogurt, onions, and tomatoes. Creative lentil flights and garlic naan satisfy curious diners, while Wise Cup’s roti tacos bring a taste of Calcutta to Lake Street.

To get more information on the popups, call the shop or follow Wise Cup on Facebook and Instagram to learn how to place an order “We have repeat customers who have been very satisfied,” said Naveen, adding that they frequently sell out.

Alex Rogals

Melissa Elsmo

at Cucina Paradiso, and now those children are adults, bringing their own kids.

“They’re beyond customers,” said Gambino, “They’re family “Our staff recognizes the regulars. We know what they want to eat, what they drink and where

their favorite table is.”

Gambino has made his restaurant an integral part of the Oak Park community from the start. Through hosting local

ates 27 years in business

radiso

814 North Blvd., Oak Park

butter white wine sauce, and crisp sage as well as orecchiette Calabrese with chiles, sausage, and pesto to turn up on the Chef ’s Specials menu. These attractive specials join Cucina Paradiso’s timeless repertoire of classic creations like shells country style, chicken pistachio, and San Gennaro pizza.

ts and events and fering the kind of food that keeps customers returning again and again. Gambino notes that the emphasis at adiso has always been on fresh, he menu evolves slightly every few weeks and food selections rotate

adiso keeps its tables full by striking a balance between old favorites and innovative new dishes. Core dishes like customer favorite Rigatoni Bolognese and the Chicken Pistachio have been on the menu from the start and Gambino works to introduce new, contemporary dishes to reflect seasonality and their customer’s evolving palates as well. Expect to find dishes like pumpkin ravioli with brown

Raising a glass in a celebratory birthday toast at Cucina Paradiso is an easy task. The well-stocked bar boasts a cocktail list brimming with drinks like a blackberry old fashioned, Sazerac and the Hemingway District Daiquiri. A wide array of martinis including classic gin and vodka offerings as well as innovative creations like the Firefly made with sweet tea vodka, lemonade, black tea, and fresh lemon juice.

As Gambino looks ahead, he promises Cucina will continue to evolve, looking towards restaurant updates and menu changes in the future, but one thing will never change: Cucina Paradiso will always be the hometown favorite for authentic Italian food.

Anthony Gambino

presented by

Enjoy the sweet side of life at Candycopia

Two teenagers were seated on a bench in Downtown Oak Park. One held up a strip of sugar-coated, rainbow-hued gummy candy while the other manipulated a gummy shark in front of it as if it was swimming through a colorful ocean.

“Look at us we’re making a scene,” said one of the teens with a laugh. Obviously, the duo had been shopping at Candycopia — the welcoming Oak Park candy shop that is redefining teens making a scene.

Located in the historic Medical Arts building, Candycopia was brought to life by Oak Park residents, Patrick and Alycia Mason, along with their school aged daughters Addison and Campbell, earlier this summer Candycopia eagerly welcomes all people into the large retail space boasting vintage vibes and a festive teal, violet and magenta color palate. The product of a patchwork of

Candycopia

717 Lake St Oak Park 708-434-5251 candycopia.com

community members, local designers and contractors, the Masons are proud to say Candycopia is a “100% Oak Park effort.”

Built in shelving filled with retro candies like Abba Zaba bars, wax bottles, Necco Wafers, and Clove chewing gum beckons visitors to make their way deeper into the cheery shop After customers feel those throwback vibes, Candycopia revels in its mission to highlight harder to find makers of small-batch caramels, marshmallows, toffee and chocolate. Their goal is to make lesser-known small batch producers, like Lily’s Chilies, XO Marshmallows and Dallas Caramel Company, household names in Oak Park.

A candy-focused ice cream menu elevates the in-store experience with employees offering sundaes topped with cotton candy, caramel corn and Pop Rocks among other sugary options. A bar boasting 100 gallonsized apothecary jars filled with gummy candies sold by the pound is a delightfully fun addition to the shop.

Candycopia is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shop is conveniently located across the hall from a dentist’s office.

Sweet dreams do come true!

Candycopia employee, Marin Balaz, praised Candycopia’s hiring process while doling out custom combinations of gummy candy

The Cordial Inn will always be The Cordial Inn

When veteran bar owner Joe Kenny went in search of an establishment to purchase, he knew what he was looking for and The Cordial Inn, 9207 31st St., Brookfield, proved to be the perfect fit. After months of negotiation, Kenny and his business partner, Ronnie Milchhoefer, took over ownership of the long-standing neighborhood bar on Aug. 1.

Kenny spent months visiting The Cordial Inn in advance of the purchase — he was attracted to the robust number of regular customers and longtime loyal staf members. He qualified it as a place that catered to people from all walks of life where anyone could feel comfortable.

Kenny brings 25 years of experience to the new endeavor including 22 years owning and operating Finley Dunne’s in Chicago Milchhoefer was the proprietor of R Place in Forest Park for 16 years before selling the building and closing the bar in January 2020. Though both men left the business

behind, they missed the people who made up their regular clientele and the sense of community that came along with owning a bar Looking to re-enter the hospitality industry, the two teamed up to purchase The Cordial Inn from the Volpe family who had owned the watering hole since at

least 1965. In the 1940’s The dial Inn was owned by ank Kvasnicka before being sold to the Volpe family his is a legacy business that had been owned by one family for a long time,” said Kenny “They were no longer living in the area and our ownership will allow new local families to oversee the business and honor what they built.”

enny, who oversees operations, resides in La Grange Park and his children attended Riverside Brookfield High School while Milchhoefer, who oversees the physical plant, is raising a family in North Riverside. Their proximity means both are capable of being on-site in minutes though Kenny has been working at the bar from open-toclose since the sale went through. You can

even find him behind the bar grilling up Cordial Inn’s beloved cheeseburgers and backing up veteran bartender, Nancy Barry, who has been behind the bar, pouring drinks and grilling burgers for 29 years.

“People were really afraid we’d turn this into some kind of lounge,” said Kenny “But we are never going to be a place that has bottle service; we are a shot and a beer kind of place and always will be. The Cordial Inn will always be The Cordial Inn.”

The Cordial Inn is open from Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Stop by to see that nothing has changed.

The Cordial Inn

9207 31st St., Brookfield (708) 485-9753 www.facebook.com/thecordialinn

A Cordial Inn burger.

Melissa Elsmo

Melissa Elsmo

Sweetgreen arrives in Oak Park

Sweetgreen is a mission-driven restaurant brand serving healthy food at scale. Every day, across nearly 200 restaurants, Sweetgreen team members create plant-forward seasonal, and earth-friendly meals from fresh ingredients that prioritize organic, regenerative, and local sourcing.

Sweetgreen aims to empower our customers, team members and partners to be a positive force on the food system. That ’s why we’ve built a transparent supply network, cook from scratch, and are building a community of people who believe in the power of real food.

Sweetgreen was founded in 2007 in a 560-square-foot restaurant in Washington, DC by three college students who were simply looking for a healthier way to eat.At the time, they found that there were only two dining options: food that was slow, expensive, and fresh, or meals that were fast, cheap, and unhealthy. They saw an opportunity to create a business in which quality was never sacrificed for convenience.

Sweetgreen’s strong food ethos and investment in local communities have enabled the company to grow into a national brand.

Harnessing the power of technology to enhance the customer experience, sweetgreen launched a mobile app in 2015 that enables customers to order ahead of time, select dietary restrictions,

share nutritional info to Apple’s health app, and pay for their meals. In 2020, the brand added order status tracking and push notifications in real time, allowing the customers to know when their order is received or ready Sweetgreen also

has its own delivery service that can be accessed through the app.

Often when opening locations in a new city, sweetgreen partners with local chefs and restaurants on time-limited menu items. These collaborations have included chef duo Jon and Vinny in Los Angeles, Nancy Silverton, Chris Shepherd in Houston and more. In February 2020, sweetgreen partnered with David Chang to launch the Tingly Sweet Potato and Kelp Bowl. The collaboration brought attention to ocean acidification and its effects on marine life through the use of sustainable kelp.

After sweetgreen’s successful firstever partnership with national athlete ambassador Naomi Osaka in 2022, the brand, together with Osaka, partnered this year with athlete, entrepreneur and advocate Devin Booker to launch our new “Create Your Own” campaign that highlights the most ordered item on the Sweetgreen menu: the custom bowl.

Sweetgreen is located at 1143 Lake Street in Oak Park. Check out the menu at sweetgreen.com. Follow sweetgreen on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @ sweetgreen.

Real food, locally sourced, simply satisfying.

Redeem $5 credit Order on our app or online for challenges, rewards, collabs, and more.

sweetgreen Oak Park 1143 Lake Street

Imagine you are in Paris or London on a chilly Autumn day where leaves of burnt orange, bright yellow and green are swirling and dancing through the crisp clear air. There’s a rosy warm glow in your cheeks with the newness of fall and a day of bustling vigor!

As the holidays approach you are filled with a magic of readiness and potential in this place so far away and yet so familiar…You walk through the park and around the corner and right there before you nestled on the street of Marion, framed in rich dark oak, you see flickering shimmers of amber and gold through the tall, wide windowed facade of The Little Gem Cafe.

This Stylish Little Restaurant is Intimate, Elegant, Romantic and Warm with a Friendly Welcoming Feel.

A Relaxed Fine Dining Experience.

Casual or Smart - All Feel At Ease. Regional Cuisine with Seasonal Specials for Lunch, Brunch and Dinner.

It’s The Little Gem ~ Reservations Recommended - Walkins are always Welcome. We look forward to serving you!

Lots of people have asked how we came up with the name The Little Gem ....everyone thinks its because of the lighting that saturates the gold ornate ceiling and bounces off the mirrors, the bar and candlelit tables or maybe because of the overall cuteness of the space? the exposed brick, mahogany bar, solid wood tables and cherry wood chairs. However .... As we Celebrate our 8th Anniversary we think it’s time to spill the beans .... it’s YOU! You are The Little Gem.

Introducing ENCORE!

Now we bring you another great restaurant with live jazz and country blues, a new music venue for dinner and drinks right next door.

ENCORE! by Little Gem. Cosy, cheerful and warm where the music comes from the heart and the hearth right in front of an antique oak fireplace.

Here are two beautiful bars to choose

from with Speciality Bourbon Collections that also feature Fine Wines, Craft Beers and Cocktails.

Encore hosts Chicago Jazz + Blues for your listening and dancing pleasure.

Catering and Private Parties are Available.

The Little Gem Cafe

189 N. Marion, Oak Park

Building a beer community at Exit Strategy Brewing Co.

Exit Strategy Brewing

Madison St., is the only brewery in Forest Park and their portfolio of both approachable and inventive ales have kept beer drinkers coming back for more than seven years. This pool of regulars, lovingly referred to as the “Exit St family,” have become the lifeblood of co-owners Katherine and Chris Valleau as they continue to build the brewery of their dreams.

“When our regulars interact with time visitors and speak about us with pride it really does warm my hear Katherine Valleau. “I wake up every day thinking about how I can make this place better for them.”

Exit Strategy focuses predominantly on an all-ale portfolio of beers. The stylistic choice is as much passion driven as it is space conscious. With just four fermenters in the microbrewery every second counts with 16 taps at the front of the house. Ales ferment at a higher temperature and only take 2-3

weeks from brew day to tap Exit Strategy might turn out a longer fermenting lager a couple of times a year when time permits, but the brewing schedule is serious business for the couple turned business partners. Valleau proudly declared her

ewer-husband is “at the

e brew it and we serve it,” said alleau “Our beer travels 500 feet from the brewery to the taps. You can’t get more hyperlocal than that.”

tegy serves 8-12 flagship beers including the Exit Strategy American Pale where hops are front and center A nuanced combination of hop varietals balanced with malt minimizes bitterness. The resulting beer boasts flavors of citrus, grapefruit, and pine.Another perennially popular offering at the Forest Park brewery is Persephone, a refreshing pomegranate wheat ale known for balancing tart fruit,

malt, wheat and barley It is an ideal brew for folks who don’t consider themselves beer lovers.

The brewery’s restaurant menu, served Wednesday through Saturday, is designed to play a supporting role to their arsenal of craft brews and aims to feature beer as an ingredient in every dish. The seasonally rotating, beer-driven offerings include pairing suggestions. Valleau suggests enjoying the Scaramouch Bohemian Pilsner with a garlic oiled and salted pretzel with pub mustard and beer infused queso Korean Q-tine comprised of seasoned hand cut fries, spicy BBQ sauce, fried cauliflower and kimchi calls for a pint of the brewery’s double IPA, Judgmental Dick.

The husband-and-wife team behind Exit Strategy set out to create a place where they would want to hang out. Today the brewery exists as a comfortable gathering place where all are welcome, and patrons can get a proper beer and some quality grub Cheers to that!

Katherine Valleau

Alex Rogals

mmm...

Melissa’s Memorable Meals

Brisket Sandwich from Babygold Barbecue, Berwyn:

Basking in the sun at the American Musical Festival set the scene perfectly to enjoy this solid Barbecue offering. Great bark, smokey flavor, pickles and just a smidgen of sauce made this handheld sandwich the ideal summer meal.

Hummus from Petra Falafel, Forest Park:

We could eat this hummus all day every day. This small, but mighty eatery knows what they are doing from their schwarma wraps spiked with pickles to this smooth, creamy and deceptively complex chickpea dip. We love it with falafel or pita!

Beef Pho from Na Siam, Oak Park:

After a pandemic pause, this spot in the North Avenue District is back to serving Beef Pho brimming with Vietnamese rice noodles and topped with sliced meat, bean sprouts, fried garlic and scallions in a rich homemade broth. They offer five noodle soups to warm you up this winter.

The Ruth Bader Gins-burg

Made by Forest Park cookbook author Dave Hudson. This is the drink he crafted to represent September 2020 in “A Year of Magical Drinking: Cocktails in the Time of Covid.”

According to Hudson, the addition of Aperol, an Italian aperitif, is a subtle nod to Ginsburg’s longtime friendship with fellow Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Curry Basil Puffs from Habrae, Forest Park:

This standout Thai spot in Forest Park is known for serving up complex dishes with bold flavor. These little basil chicken puffs are as decadent as they are flavorful.

Award winning and Voted best Middle Eastern restaurant in west suburbs. We are open for business and continue to take orders for pick up and delivery. We are taking steps to follow the latest CDC guidance to help minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus for our staff and guests.

Jerusalem Cafe

Award winning cuisine! Voted best Middle Eastern restaurant in western suburbs.

1030 Lake St. Oak Park, IL 60301 (708) 848-7734

1030 Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60301 (708) 848-7734 • 11am-9 pm Dine-In, Takeout and Delivery

11:00 am – 9 pm

JerusalemCafe-OakPark.com

JerusalemCafe-OakPark.com

Addis Café blending old and new on Oak Park Ave.

In 2016, Kalkidan Tesfaye offered her homemade scones to the owner of the coffee shop on the east side of Oak Park Avenue and he responded by offering her the entire storefront. Figuring fate had intervened, Tesfaye accepted the offer and opened Addis Café. She called the space home for six years before the chef-owner and her coowner-husband, Michael Kumela, moved their café across the street to a bright and cheery new home at 801 Van Buren St

Tesfaye wasn’t looking for a new space, but project managers with The Community Builders who oversaw the construction of “The 801” at the corner of Oak Park and Van Buren, encouraged her to move into the retail storefront on the lower level of the building offering high quality, yet affordable apartments.

“They would keep asking ‘what is it going to take to get you in here?’” said Tesfaye. “They offered to build a full kitchen to my specifications and that was

too good to pass up.”

The capable cook likes the freedom a full kitchen offers her bourgeoning business. Prior to relocating to Oak Park and opening Addis Café, Tesfaye and her brother spent 11 years operating, Addis Restaurant, an Ethiopian eatery located in Berkeley, California. A native of Addis, Ethiopia, Tesfaye has periodically hosted pop-up dinners featuring her vegan Ethiopian fare. After each successful pop-up calls for her to begin serving regular dinners have grown louder.

The new space is equipped with a professional ventilation system and industrial cooking appliances allowing Tesfaye to expand her café menu to include Ethiopian dinner offerings. The chef indicated she is going to take some time to “introduce herself

Addis Café

801 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park (708) 712-1558 www.facebook.com/Cafeaddis/

to the new space,” but expects dinner service to commence soon.

In the meantime Tesfaye is serving up the pour over coffee, elaborate waffle creations and berry jam and cream-filled scones customers have come to love. The light-filled space with generous outdoor seating has become a celebration of the old meeting the new that the community had hoped it would be.

“Coffee in Ethiopia is meant to be shared — one pot would serve many people so friends, neighbors and sometimes even strangers would share a pot,” said Tesfaye. “My customers have spent time getting to know my customs and they have become like a family to me. ”

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–Michele Zurakowski, Executive Director, Beyond Hunger

EATS presented by

In the f s Pizza and Pasta

To fold or not to fold? It is debatable whether extra-large slices of New York style pizza should be folded in half before eating. Some folks do it to avoid the dreaded “flop,” while others collapse the crust to keep the cheese from sliding off in a gooey avalanche. Anti-folders keep their meal a two-handed affair likely preferring to double the number of bites it takes to finish their coveted slice. No matter how you prefer to eat your pie, Betty’s Pizza and Pasta, 1003 South Blvd., Oak Park, brings a taste of the Big Apple to the Pleasant District.

Brought to life by Wil and Justine Greenwald, Rob Guenthner and Katie Ashton and Pete and Fran Lisnic coowners of Kettlestrings Tavern, 800 S. Oak Park Ave., and Kettlestrings Grove, 105 S. Marion St., Betty’s Pizza and Pasta completes the Kettlestrings’ trifecta.

Betty’s fun and unfussy vibe is meant to reflect the pizza joint co-owner Rob Guenthner remembers frequenting as

a child. Expect traditional red and white checkered tablecloths and traditional red cups to evoke a throwback vibe.

While the restaurant’s name pays homage to the founding British matriarch of Oak Park, Betty Kettlestrings, the menu at the South Boulevard establishment is decidedly Italian-American. Dan Swartz,

operations director, and consulting chef, Tanya Baker worked to develop Betty’s pizza recipe and broader menu from the ground up.

The pizzas, available in the traditional 18inch size, are pie cut into eight generously sized slices. The bottom of the crust is crispy while the top remains fluffy and soft. A regular pie features whole milk mozzarella and up to two toppings — if you order pepperoni expect it will be properly cupped. Toppings are thoughtfully distributed across the pie and leftovers reheat beautifully in a hot oven. A quartet of specialty pizzas like Buffalo chicken, are also on the menu. Guenthner is pleasantly

surprised at the popularity of Betty’s garlic and zucchini pie—the white pizza features herb butter, sliced summer squash, mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh thyme.

In addition to pizza, Betty’s offers appetizers like meatballs, mozzarella sticks, garlic knots. The menu features four pasta dishes including wild mushroom fettuccine with garlic cream sauce as well as salads in small and large sizes. The arugula and quinoa salad with apples, blue cheese and bacon is also proving a popular choice.

Owners are keenly aware there has been pent up demand for New York Style pizza in the community and look forward to giving everyone an opportunity to give Betty’s pizza a try

Betty’s Pizza and Pasta

1003 South Blvd., Oak Park (708) 434-5526 bettyspizzapasta.com

Pepperoni and sausage pizza from Betty’s in Oak Park

Melissa Elsmo

Wolf it down at Okami Sushi

Tom Uiprapassorn, chef and co-owner of Okami Sushi, 6818 W. North Ave., Chicago, combines his love for Japanese anime and architectural sushi at his restaurant nestled in the North Avenue District. In Japanese, Okami can mean “Great God” or “wolf,” but owners of the sushi centric restaurant bearing the name took inspiration from Ōkami Amaterasu — a white wolf goddess character at the center of a video game launched in 2006.

Born in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Uiprapassorn earned his degree in architecture prior to emigrating to the United States and settling in Chicago with his sister, Wow Morales. Though excited to be in the States, he was not passionate about pursuing a career in architecture — after his arrival he went looking for “any job” to make ends meet. He spent his first years in the city working at a small-scale sushi bar with a lean, but dedicated staff. In time, Uiprapassorn partnered up with his

Okami

sister and brother-in-law, Moses Morales, to bring Okami Sushi to life.

Uiprapassorn enjoys tossing ideas around with his chef-friends who work at Momotaro, but also relies heavily on his own imagination to keep dishes coming out of Okami’s open kitchen. Okami welcomes guests to experience Uiprapassorn’s creative take on sushi and ramen. The Chin ramen is a rich and memorable combination of pork bone broth, thin ramen noodles and garlic oil crowned with crispy chicken karaage, bamboo shoots, kizami seaweed, chili threads and a softboiled egg. Warming Yuma udon boasts a clear chicken soup broth with thick noodles topped with marinated shiitake mushrooms

with tempura fried shrimp, oyster, scallop and kanikama. Both offerings are hearty, complex and well executed.

Folks looking to embrace the energy of free-style Japanese cooking will do well to order some of Okami’s signature maki rolls or chef ’s selection of sushi. The Princess “Monoke” Roll gives a nod to another character in Japanese anime and features shrimp tempura, BBQ eel, avocado, cucumber topped with seared

super white tuna, honey mayo, unagi sauce and crispy shallots. The Davy Jones roll, topped with fried beet, is stuffed with octopus, cilantro, and jalapeno before being deep fried. Traditional maki rolls and nigiri are also available.

Uiprapassorn feels at home in his restaurant kitchen and wants to invite everyone to pay them a visit in the North Avenue District.

The Princess “Monoke” Roll as served at Okami Sushi

Melissa Elsmo

mmm...

Melissa’s Memorable Meals

Jimmy’s Creation from Poke Burrito, Oak Park:

This colorful tuna and salmon poke bowl is the brainchild of Jimmy Chen, the mastermind behind the Lake Street restaurant. Ingredients including avocado, pineapple, cucumber, and edamame come together in perfect harmony on a bed of brown rice.

Chili Crisp Biscuit and Kale Salad Scones from Broken Tart, Oak Park:

Basically everything Krissy and Katie Mack are turning out at their Chicago Avenue bakery is completely sublime, but we are over the moon for kale salad scones and smitten with the chili crisp biscuit.

This Bountiful Meal from Khyber Pass, Oak Park:

Malik Jawid celebrated a major anniversary this year and learning more about the beginnings of this Downtown Oak Park mainstay makes every meal eaten at Khyber Pass even a little more delicious.

This Taste the Town Bite: When Takeout 25 throws a party no-one leaves hungry and their first in-person fundraiser to support local restaurants was no exception. Multiple eateries put up delicious dishes and this surf and turf cup from the chefs at Babygold was unforgettable!

Chopped Chicken Liver from Fritzi’s Delicatessen, Oak Park:

Some things are worth the wait and the roasted chicken livers chopped with hard cooked eggs, caramelized onions, and schmaltz was a delightful introduction to this Oak Park newcomer.

EATS presented

Give thanks for Spilt Milk

Since opening in 2018, Meg and Molly Svec, sisters and co-owners of Spilt Milk Pastry, 811 South Blvd., have navigated the bakery business with grace and humility. Their increased kitchen capacity has afforded the delightful duo noteworthy opportunities to explore the savory side of life while staying true to their sweet traditions.

The Svec sisters work tirelessly to ensure the quality of their pastries, cookies, breads and biscuits remain unwavering in their quality and flavor — the dynamic duo is already preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday Pre-orders for holiday pies are being taken now

Heirloom Apple Pie is sure to be among Spilt Milk’s best sellers on their 2022 Thanksgiving menu. In 2018, former Chicago Tribune dining critic, Phil Vettel, called this pie “a work of art.” It features a timeless mixture of several rotating varieties of heirloom apples, baked in an all-butter

Spilt Milk

811 South Blvd, Oak Park (708) 613-4403

spiltmilkpastry.com

double pie crust.

Georgia Pecan pie joins traditional pumpkin, apple cranberry, and pumpkin pecan praline to round out Spilt Milk’s Thanksgiving pie selections. Homemade whipped cream in classic vanilla and chai vanilla varieties can be added to any order as well.

In addition, the pie shop will offer savory quiches, pumpkin bread with maple glaze, banana bread, “Bake At Home” buttermilk biscuits, wine, and more. Meg and Molly are encouraging interested customers to order early for the best selection. They will sell out and typically reach production capacity around Halloween.

The cheery bakery now serves wines by

the glass and recently launched a grab-andgo lunch program featuring sandwiches, snack trays, quiche and puddings. Their chef-driven Friday night dinners have been gaining in popularity as well. Meals, available for pre-order on their website, serve four and are prepared by Spilt Milk newcomer, Michael Forman.

Chef Foreman’s menu offerings have included roasted chicken, fresh squash and

roasted rosemary potatoes as well as baked sausage manicotti featuring house made Slagel Farms pork sausage in a homemade tomato sauce with fennel & herbs.

The savory meal program is a bourgeoning part of the business that brings a genuine sweetness to every endeavor Oh! And don’t forget, Spilt Milk’s pre-orders for the Christmas season will be available starting Black Friday, Friday, Nov 25.

Tina Harle’s photo of Spilt Milk’s pumpkin pie.

Spilt Milk

Visiting Berwyn,

you will find that the township has 4 distinct districts where much of the everyday buzz and bites are centered. There is Cermak Road, often heralded as the Main Street of Berwyn, where you can not only spend the day running errands, but catch a break and have some amazing tacos or desserts as you recharge. Then, formerly known as 12th street there is Roosevelt Road, a hotspot for entertainment — but most importantly, the variety of food available down a single corridor makes planning for dinner with friends or family a breeze. Next there is Ogden Avenue, famously a part of old Route 66, where among all the automotive businesses you can find smokey meats and other great eats. Last but not least is the Depot District. This district is home to vibrant pubs, lounges, and family restaurants that often come together to support the many events hosted in the Depot. Let the smell of amazing foods guide you across Berwyn on your next visit!

Curb a craving on Cermak

There is a restaurant suited to curb just about any craving on Cermak Road in Berwyn. It is easy to show some love to the array of restaurants scattered throughout “The Corridor.” No matter if you are hungry for a savory supper or a sweet treat.

Zacatacos

Zacatacos prides itself for serving up their famous charbroiled skirt steak tacos as well as El Pastor tacos with pineapple, onions and cilantro. The famous salsa roja serves up a non-traditional papa taco that flies low under the radar on a menu boasting many traditional Mexican favorites. An indulgent bite, the papa taco is filled with fluffy mashed potatoes before being deep fried to a crisp golden brown. Topped with lettuce, tomato and cheese, the crave-worthy parcel is like eating a comforting hug.

Las Islas

Folks looking for a seafood fix should swing by Las Islas. The restaurant was once part of a larger restaurant group, but the now independent establishment takes pride in their approach to seafood preparation. Guest should enjoy a refreshing michelada alongside tilapia ceviche and serrano chili salsa. The spicy tomato juice-based beer cocktail spiked with lime and rimmed with tamarind paste is Las Islas’ signature drink.

Anthony’s Pizza

People might not realize Anthony’s Pizza serves an Italian beef sandwich that is one of the best things on their timeless menu. This no-frills joint simmers seasoned, thinly sliced roast beef in jus, or gravy, before piling it high on an Italian roll stuffed with sweet green peppers. Though Anthony’s has been slinging pizza slices since 1986, their beef sandwich recipe goes back as far as the sandwich does in Chicago history. Purists will appreciate Anthony’s classic take on this iconic and slightly messy sandwich.

Zacotacos

Las Islas

Anthyony’s Pizza

Anthony’s Pizza 6237 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-1100

• anthonyspizzaplace.com

Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza 7122 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5293

• blazepizza.com

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar #330 7130 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-2319

• buffalowildwings.com

Burger King #5984 2147 S Oak Park Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-3253

Canton 8 Sport Bar & Grill 6312 Cermak Rd, Berwyn Chipotle Mexican Grill 7140 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 303-5049

• chipotle.com

Domino’s Pizza 6613 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-4949

• diminos.com

EATS presented by

Overseas China Restaurant

Overseas China Restaurant has been churning out classic Chinese dishes for 20 years in Berwyn. The restaurant’s unassuming exterior gives way to a surprisingly modern interior where friendly service is a hallmark of the diminutive establishment. Overseas China offers a wide array of Cantonese and Szechuan dishes -- for less than $11 hungry diners can enjoy the generously sized Overseas China Special Platter featuring shrimp, chicken, BBQ pork and an array of vegetables in a garlicy brown sauce.

La Michoacana Classic

ou can snag some Dorilocos, Taki con queso, or chicharrón preparado for a creative and crunchy snack at La Michoacana Classic on Cermak, but local dessert lovers head to this bright and cheery shop to satiate their sweet tooth. An assortment of cream and water popsicles in flavors including Fruit chocolate Abuelita, and Tamarind join a wide array of traditional ice cream offerings available by the scoop or as part of sundaes like this beast of a banana split.

The Cermak District

El Nuevo Vallarta Sports Bar and Grill 6801 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5929

• elnuevovallarta.com

Five Guys Burgers and Fries 7150 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-9940

Flight 22 Wine Bar 6518 Cermak Rd, Berwyn (708) 956-7648

• flight22winebar.com

Guadalajara Grill & Bar 6814 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-2600

Happy & Healthy NutritionHerbalife 6628 Cermak Rd (708) 473-4492

• genesis7.goherbalife.com

Home Run Inn Pizzeria 6825 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-8877

• homeruninnpizza.com

Jelly Jam Pancake House 6300 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-9840

• facebook.com/jellyjam02

Jimmy John’s 7028 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-7800

• jimmyjohns.com

KFC/A&W #Y313102 6200 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-4012

La Lupita Restaurant 6539 W Cermak Rd #1 Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-8226

• lalupitaberwyn.com

La Michoacana Classic 6533 W Cermak Rd, Berwyn (708) 637-4075

• lamichoacanapremium.com

La Parra Restaurant - Bar 6710 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5339

• laparrarestaurantandbar.com

Las Islas Bar and Grill II 6516 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 795-1300

Las Quecas Berwyn 6311 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 956-7371

• orderlasquecas.com

LongHorn Steakhouse 7115 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-6350

• longhornsteakhouse.com

Los Tarritos Restaurante 6241 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5842

• facebook.com/lostarrito

McDonald’s #2546 (Cermak and Ridgeland) 6401 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-3002

• mcdonalds.com

McDonald’s #6928 7181 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-9716

• mcdonalds.com

Old Fashioned Candies 6210 Cermak Rd, Berwyn (708) 788-6669

• oldfashionedcandiesinc.com

Overseas China Restaurant 6846 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-5447

• overseaschinaberwyn.com

Panera Bread 7050 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402

• panerabread.com

Popeye’s Chicken 6935-43 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-2737

• popeyes.com

Tony’s Fresh Market 7111 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 683-4072

• tonysfreshmarket.com

Vesecky’s Bakery 6634 Cermak Rd, Berwyn (708) 788-4144

Waldo Cooney’s Pizza 6733 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-7997

• waldocooneyspizza.com

Wanda’s Chinese Kitchen 6301 W Cermak Rd, Unit D Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-2868

• wandaschinesekitchen.com

Zacatacos - Cermak 6212 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-8460

• zacatacos.com

Divine dining in the Depot District

The Depot District, with its downtown vibe, boasts a bevy of noteworthy independent restaurants and bars that are all easily accessible by foot, car, bike, or from one of the three Metra stops and many bus routes.

La Malquerida Latin Fusion

Expect complex flavors and attention to detail at La Malquerida Latin Fusion. This Depot District destination creates an inspired array of cultural Latin dishes and uses many cooking techniques. The unique blend of flavors can be evidenced in their artfully plated Sopesitos appetizer boasting a trio of bite sized corn sopes with black beans, chicken tinga, sour cream, and queso fresco We also crave the homestyle Cochinita Pibil — the Yucatan Style braised pork is wrapped in banana leaves and served with cilantro rice, black beans, pickled onions, and habanero sauce.

Lavergne’s Tavern

Known for serving up some serious burgers, street food inspired tacos and even a mighty fine brunch, Depot District fans know Lavergne’s Tavern serves up decadent Chicago-style eggrolls. People should believe the hype behind the Italian beef eggrolls — the appetizer has a near cult-like following for good reason. Brimming with beef, giardiniera, and cheese, these crispy rolls are sliced on an extreme bias and served with au jus for dipping. Grab a napkin and indulge!

Flapjack Brewery

Flapjack Brewery is known for turning out practically perfect wood-fired pizzas to pair with their small batch beers. Paul and James Macchione grew up in Berwyn and now own Flapjack Brewery where they keep eight beers on tap to pair with their tavern style and Neopolitian pies. Check out the four-cheese arugula topped with smoked scamorza, fresh mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, shaved Parmesan, fresh garlic, wild arugula, olive Oil, and fresh lemon juice

The Depot District

Connie’s Family Restaurant & Cocktails

3271 S Harlem Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-3447

• conniesberwyn.com

D’Cache Latin Cafe 3244 S Oak Park Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5008

• dcachelatincafe.com

Familia Fresh Market & Danesi Café

3308 S Oak Park Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 956-7026

• familiafreshmarket.com

Flapjack Brewery 6833 W Stanley Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 637-4030

• flapjackbrewery.com

Gaia Ristorante Italiano 6822 Windsor Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-4238

• gaiaitaliano.com

The Garage Smokehouse & Bar 3202 S Grove Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 956-7274

• facebook.com/Thegarageberwyn

La Borra del Café Berwyn 6801 W Stanley Ave (224) 580-0965

• laborra.us

La Malquerida Latin Fusion

6906 W Windsor Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 956-7219

• lamalqueridaberwyn.com

Lavergne’s Tavern 6546 Windsor Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402 708-956-7405

• lavergnes.com

MediaNoche Berwyn Cafe 6836 Windsor Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5093

• medianochecafe.com

N-Joy II Asian Cuisine 7140 W Windsor Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-5310

• njoy2.com

Perception Lounge 6814 W Windsor Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-2484

• facebook.com/PerceptionLounge Tastee Corner Cafe 3207 S Oak Park Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-1173

• yelp.com/biz/tastee-corner-cafeberwyn-2

Taz Deli 6932 W Windsor Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 956-7583

Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits 6727 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 775-8122

• autremondecafe.net

Babygold Barbecue 6613 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 637-4364

• babygoldbbq.com

Berwyn’s Culver ’s 6943 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-8000

• culvers.com

Big Guys Sausage Stand 7021 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5213

• bigguyssausage.com

EATS presented

Take a ride on Roosevelt

Roosevelt Road has earned its reputation as an entertainment hub in Berwyn. Drawing visitors and locals a like, this walkable block showcases the true spirit of the community.

Autre Monde

Autre Monde opened more than a decade ago to immediate accolades including a notable three-star rating from the Chicago Tribune. Chef Pancake earned a coveted Jean Banchet nomination for Chef of the Year in 2013 and the restaurant has achieved Green Seal Certification. The restaurant recovered from a significant fire in 2012, hosted a James Beard Foundation dinner in 2015, and has executed myriad pop-up events over the years including an elaborate ode to the foodie film “Big Night.” Expect their rotating menu of Mediterranean inspired dishes to make any meal memorable.

Babygold Barbecue

Music lovers have no trouble making their way to FitzGerald’s nightclub in Berwyn, but now food lovers have a big reason to visit the Berwyn hot spot. Babygold Barbecue has made Berwyn-style barbecue like brisket, turkey and even cauliflower synonymous with the FitzGerald’s experience. Babygold also offers a noteworthy weekend brunch with hearty main dishes like this All-American Breakfast featuring two gorgeous sunnyside up eggs, crispy breakfast potatoes, and smoked brisket.

Bodhi Thai Bistro 6211 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-9250

• mybodhithai.com

Buona Catering 6833 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-2333

• buona.com

Buona Restaurant 6745 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-2555

• buona.com

Burger King #213 6701 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-4144

Di Nico’s Pizza 6627 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-9900

• dinicospizza.com

J Wok See Thru Chinese Kitchen 6641 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-3888

• j-wok.com

McDonald’s #2543 7135 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-1555

Monse’s Tapas Bar 6609 Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5204

• monsestapasbar.com

Sushi Junki 6639 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-3888

• sushijunki.com

Taco Yo Inc. 6629 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-2300

• ordertacoyo.com

Tasty House Restaurant 7101 W Roosevelt Rd, Unit A Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-1800

• tastyhouseberwyn.com

Turano Baking Company 6501 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn (708) 788-5320

• turano.com

Wing Boss

6625 W Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 637-4424

• thewingboss.com

Memorable meals on the rest of the map:

Just because a restaurant falls outside of a named district in Berwyn doesn’t mean they don’t have memorable menu items to keep you coming back again and again. You’ll discover a world of delicious things to eat on 26th Street, Ogden, Harlem and all the streets in between!

Neveria Naranja Dulce

Visit Neveria Naranja Dulce for an authentic Mexican ice cream shop experience in Berwyn. Co-owner Angelica Chavez and her family traveled back to Jalisco to perfect their artisan ice cream making techniques. The sweet side of the menu features fruit-forward paletas (popsicles) and classic favorites like hot chocolate ice cream made from Abuelita chocolate. Adventurous sorbet lovers should check out a mangonada. This sweet and sour dessert treat is made from mango sorbet, Tajín, and piquant chamoy Fresh mango and a tamarind coated straw finish this memorable Berwyn dessert.

Juice Vibe Bar

Feel the good vibes at Juice Vibe Bar Berwyn. Owner Annabelle Martinez grew up in the Berwyn-Cicero area and transformed a former medical office into an inviting space where she introduced her arsenal of dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free juices and smoothie bowls to healthconscious customers. The smoothie bowls served at Juice Vibe Bar are all named after famous Latina artists like Selena and Frida Kahlo. The Jenni bowl, named after musician Jenni Rivera, features a robust combination of almond milk, spirulina, blueberries, banana, granola, oats, chia seeds and Amaranthus.

Tacos y Salsa

Ms. Laura Guerrero, mother of six and owner of Tacos y Salsa honors her ancestors by preparing her family’s traditional home-style recipes, including an array of soups and stews. All her soups fly out of the restaurant when the weather turns chilly, but we simply adore the Caldo de Cameron. Made fresh every daily, a single bowl of this deceptively complex and highly satisfying soup includes a dozen shrimp Special spices like bay leaves and oregano help elevate the warming tomato-based soup, while a garnish tray filled with onion, cilantro, avocado and lime allow diners to customize their meal.

EATS presented by

Anthony’s Pizza 6237 W Cermak Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-1100

• anthonyspizzaplace.com

Avito Caffe 6510 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402

• avitofilm.com/caffe

Baby BBQ Fire 6715 26th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 637-4236

Benny’s Pizza 6806 26th St, Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-1771

• bennyspizzaberwyn.com

Berwyn Tap Room 6330 16th St, Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5067

• www.facebook.com/ berwyntaproom

Betty’s Bistro 6969 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5577

Big Mama’s Kitchen ToGo 6920 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 303-0050

• bigmamastogo.com

Bob’s Belgian Hot Chocolate 6412 W 27th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (630) 430-4730

• bobsbelgianhotchocolate.com

Cake Bros Bakery 6737 W 26th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-2504

• cakebros.com

Cien 100% Naturalisimo 2709 S Ridgeland Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5679

• 100naturalisimo.com

Los Corrales

Discover a street food staple at Los Corrales. Any proper Mexican food exploration would be incomplete without a taste of tacos al pastor. Inspired by the spit-roasted shawarma dishes that influenced Mexican cuisine in the early 1900s, “the shepherd’s taco” is a delicious blending of Mexican and Lebanese culinary traditions. Charred bits are the best part of the flavorful marinated orange-hued pork that stars in Los Corrales tacos al pastor

Cigars and Stripes BBQ Lounge 6715 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-1043

• stripesbbq.com

Crepas Culichi 2713 S Ridgeland Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 637-4998

• crepas-culichi.com

Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins - Harlem 2945 S Harlem Ave (708) 749-0689

Berwyn, IL 60402

Harlem Ave Lounge 3701 S Harlem Ave (708) 484-3610

• harlemavenuelounge.com Berwyn, IL 60402

Jelly Jam Restaurant and Pancake House 3205 S Harlem Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 777-1967

Juice Vibe Bar 2137 Oak Park Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 232-3385

• juicevibebar.com

Junior ’s Bar and Grill 7011 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-9465

La Flor de Michoacan 6316 W 26th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 317-5052

La Michoacana & More 2707 S Ridgeland Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 477-8117

• lamichoacanamenu.com

Las Delicias De Michoacan 6807 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-5357

Lalo’s Restaurant 3011 S Harlem Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-9311

• lalos.com

Little Caesar ’s 6801 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-4174

Little Fenix Restaurants Inc. 3250 S Grove Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (312) 735-3763

• littlefenix.com

Los Corrales Taqueria & Restaurant 6713 W 26th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-9063

• loscorralesberwyn.com

Lucky Dog III 7151 W 16th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-0330

McDonald’s #6808 7031 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-8047

• mcdonalds.com

Mr. Submarine 6341 W 26th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 795-9633

Mr Submarine 7103 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-2911

My Uncle’s Place 2615 S Ridgeland Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (239) 777-5382

Neveria Naranja Dulce, Inc 6252 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 714-0074

Nicco’s Bar and Grill 6300 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 670-2042

Nonno’s Pizza 6969 W Ogden Ave Unit D Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-1100

• nonnospizza.com

Novi’s Beef 6746 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-0895

• novisbeeftogo.com

Nuevo Poncitlan Inc. 6322 W 26th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-5944

• nuevoponcitlan.com

Paisans Pizzeria & Bar 6226 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-5325

• paisanspizza.com

Parrilla Express 6401 W 34th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 637-4799

• parrillaexpress.com

Skyview Restaurant 6334 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 795-0088

Slice Factory 6900 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-1700

• theslicefactory.com/berwyn Subway Store # 27939 6919 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-9302

Taco Bell #2433 6956 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-4747

Tacos Y Salsa 6346 W 26th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-3581

• tacosysalsarestaurant.com

Tamales Ogden 6333 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 795-6859

Taqueria El Meson Express 6831 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-1470

• elmesonexpress.com

Tastee Freeze 6621 W 26th St Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 749-7377

Viva la Frida 7117 Ogden Ave, Berwyn IL 60402 (708) 788-4333

• palaceregency.com

White Castle 7155 W Ogden Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 795-6811

Wok N Roll Express 6969 W Ogden Ave, Unit C Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788-0088

• woknrollberwyn.com

Zacatacos - Harlem 3837 S Harlem Ave Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-1300

• zacatacos.com

Misc. Districts atacos com

Sips and Sweets gaining ground thanks to community support

rista Brazel, owner of Sips & Sweets Café, 1 Riverside Rd., Riverside, opened her bakery and coffee house nearly a year ago Brazel lost her job due to the pandemic in 2020 and in the face of considerable uncertainty, she harnessed her entrepreneurial spirit and formulated plans to start her own businesses.

Brazel sold hot chocolate bombs and cinnamon rolls out of her car to 2,000 loyal Facebook followers before finding her way to a brick storefront in the center of the quaint village. The prospect of heavy foot traffic and convenient placement next to the downtown train station drew the Westchester resident to Riverside where she fell in love with the town’s charm and authentic sense of community. Brazel proudly set up shop in the circa 1870 Arcade Building. The oldest commercial building

Cinnamon rolls are synonymous with Sips and Sweets — owner Krista Brazel has been perfecting the decadent recipe for years.

in Riverside is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“This is a place where kids go after school, a place where moms and dads spend their mornings,” said Brazel. “We are proud to be a part of the community.”

When guests walk through the doors of Sips and Sweets, they can expect an assortment of fromscratch treats ranging from cookies and cupcakes to toaster-inspired pastries. Coffee drinks, quick breads, breakfast sandwiches, and specialty sandwiches round out the menu. Expect the sandwiches to be named after local streets. “The Parkway” features turkey and Swiss while “The Forest” is a vegetarian offering brimming with avocado A weekly rotation of soups, including chicken noodle, broccoli cheddar and chili offer a fine way to warm up on a cold day.

The shop’s flagship cinnamon rolls are

also a customer favorite. The indulgent and labor-intensive rolls are topped with a mouth-watering buttercream and best served warm. Sips and Sweets is packaging “take and warm” and “take and bake” cinnamon rolls for holiday pre-order Brazel is promising to add to the bounty of your Thanksgiving feast by offering house-made honey crisp apple pies and chocolate bourbon pies (made with Quincy Street Distillery bourbon) as part of their holiday menu.

In addition to satisfying your holiday dessert needs, Sips and Sweets has launched a Friday dinner program designed to rescue busy families at the end of a hectic work week. Expect menu selections to include Bohemian pork, potato dumplings and sweet and sour cabbage, chicken teriyaki with rice and sautéed peppers, and linguine Bolognese with garlic bread. Sips and Sweets Friday dinners can be pre-ordered and picked up hot on Friday evenings.

Melissa Elsmo

mmm...

Melissa’s Memorable Meals

Branzino at Amerikas, Oak Park:

This whole fish, with crispy soy-glazed skin, is served on a bed of rosy-hued fried basmati rice spiked with garlic, scallion, cabbage and tomato. Spicy serrano chili salsa adds an option to heat things up. Delicate herb and radish salad adds visual intrigue to the rich and satisfying dish.

Dumpling appetizers at a GCM event, Oak Park:

Dumplings in any form are a delight, but these little treasures were extra special because they were made with love for friends and supporters of Growing Community Media.

Pina Colada Matcha from Brewpoint Craft, Oak Park:

This is a summer specialty and is one refreshing beverage — matcha has magical “pick you up” properties and when you mix it up with luscious oat milk and pineapple juice it’s like a vacation in cup.

A double smash burger from Circle Tavern, Elmwood Park:

Served tavern style, this unassuming burger ticks all the boxes when it comes to a griddled indulgence. Don’t underestimate this offering — Circle Tavern burgers are among the best around.

Pasta tossed with Capuliato at the Carnivore/Anfora Etna Wine Dinner, Oak Park:

This one-time-only event was a celebration of big bold wines from the mountains of Italy. The meal, designed by Chef Brad Knaub, was intended to let the wines shine — he succeeded; the pairings were perfect, but this bowl of pasta tossed with a traditional Sicilian condiment based on dried tomatoes was more than memorable.

presented by

Instant grati cation in Elmwood Park

The Polaroid camera sold out in a buying frenzy following a single in store demonstration in 1948. Some eateries in Elmwood Park have been serving up timeless fare for longer than the camera has been on the market. These recognizable photos cultivate a swift sense of nostalgia just like so

Circle Tavern: Whether ordering a single, double, triple or mammoth quad burger, fans of the smash will be pleasantly surprised that Circle Tavern, 18 Conti Parkway, is putting up a practically perfect version of this simple burger style.

many of the dishes served inside the colorful collection of eateries that lure customers with a diversity of cuisines, ample parking, and an honest sense of camaraderie. The Village of Elmwood Park tirelessly supports the restaurants lined up on North Avenue and throughout the village—that ongoing

commitment is one of the reasons why many Restaurant Row establishments have endured for decades. So whether you “say cheese” or “hold the cheese” there is classic dish worthy of capturing in Elmwood Park!

Alpine Food Shop:

“It ’s not just a sub—it ’s an Alpine.” Few places have a truer tag line than Alpine Food Shop, 7538 W North Ave.--the popular sandwich shop has been a part of the neighborhood since 1955.

Massa Café Italiano: Angelo and Giovanna Lollino craft a variety of authentic Italian dishes at Massa, 7434 W North Ave. Their award-winning gelato and fresh sorbettos are made fresh daily using time-honored Italian techniques.

Eggsperience: Nothing beats a breakfast joint to bring out those retro vibes. Eggsperience, 16 Conti Pkwy., has a perfect mix of old school classics and innovative fare to curb your cravings!

Johnnie’s Beef

Johnnie’s Beef: Folks lined up for this instant camera just like they queue up for a Johnnie’s beef sandwich A counterservice force of nature, Johnnie’s Beef, 7500 W North Ave., first started serving their sandwiches in 1961.

f u s

Armand’s Pizza: Armand’s pizza, 7650 W North Ave., has been serving up pies and sliced for more than 60 years. Their signature pizza, featuring artichoke, fontinella, and roasted peppers puts a full color twist on toppings.

Eggsperience

Ar mand’s Pizza

Burger Moovment:

Alpine Food Shop 434 d an

This quick-service establishment, 7512 W North Ave., flips every patty to order using locally sourced bakery buns, 100-percent Angus beef and locally grown produce. They also fry up a Banh Mi inspired chicken sandwich if you are looking to put some cluck in your moo!

Massa Cafe Italiano

Burger Moovement

Circle Tavern

Gringo & Blondie

Gringo and Blondie:

Spizzico: For twentyfive years the Spizzirri family has been offering baked clams and crispy calamari to set the stage for an array of entrees including pastas, sandwiches and pizza at Spizzico, 7446 W. North Ave.

Russell’s Barbecue

New Star: A mainstay on North Ave., New Star, 7444 W. North Ave., had been serving up Cantonese cuisine since 1954, but Jinny Zhao’s ownership has brought fresh life to the restaurant row and their classic eggrolls!

An assortment of tacos, cemitas, and burritos await at Gringo and Blondie, 7514 W. North Ave. The Mexican street-food spot also serves up photo-worthy pozole!

A a B M se

Cafe Cubano

Café Cubano: For 20 years, Mayra and Javier Fernandez Jr. have been honoring Javier Fernandez Sr by bringing authentic Cuban fare to Restaurant Row. Located at 7426 W. North Ave., Café Cubano uses nostalgia and comfort as key ingredients in every dish—including lechon, oxtails, jibaritos and empanadas.

Spizzico

Russell’s Barbecue:

Tradition is alive and well at 1621 N Thatcher Ave. The original meat sandwiches, slab ribs and bone-in chicken continue to be slow roasted and served just as they were in 1930. The tender and simply seasoned meats are all designed to be doused with Russell’s barbecue sauce.

Jim and Pete’s: Since 1941 this Restaurant Row outlier has, has been serving up old world favorites with a modern twist. The well-appointed restaurant, 7806 W North Ave., is known for serving up a reliable arsenal of traditional Italian dishes and specialty menu items like giant housemade rigatoni with pinenuts, spinach and ricotta.

Jim & Pete’s

Old Word Pizza: In 1963 the Bambini family opened their first restaurant and nurtured a loyal customer base. Though ownership of Old World Pizza, 7230 W North Ave., has changed hands several times, the same collection of century old recipes make is easy to savor a slice of history.

Old World Pizza

Inari: Sara Kate, owner of Inari Sushi, 7428 W. North Ave., takes a “sushi first” approach to turn out a creative assortment of maki, nigiri and poke. Bento boxes, ramen and kitchen entrees complement an array of cocktails and sake options.

Inari

EATS presented by

c P s r

Elmwood Park has a long standing reputation for being home to outstanding restaurants. As a Village we are proud to share this reputation and work hard to promote it.

RESTAURANTS

Alpine

7538 W North Ave

Armand’s Pizzeria

7650 W North Ave

Ashleys Café & Tap

7500 W Grand Ave

Bon Vivant Juice & Smoothie Bar

7334 W. Diversey Ave

Burger King 1750 Harlem Ave

Burger Moovement

7512 W North Ave

Café Cubano 7426 W North Ave

Caputo’s Fresh Markets 2400 N Harlem Ave

Circle Tavern

18 Conti Pkwy

Culvers 7542 W Grand Ave Donny G’s 7308 W North Ave

Dunkin Donuts 7201 W. Grand Ave

Eggsperience

16 Conti Pkwy

Great American Bagel 7230 W North Ave

Gringo & Blondie 7514 W North Ave

Happy Wok 1742 N Harlem Ave Inari 7428 W North Ave

Jim & Pete’s 7806 W North Ave

Jimmy John’s 1702 N Harlem Ave

Johnnie’s 7500 W North Ave Massa Café 7434 W North Ave

McDonalds 7217 W Grand Ave

New Star Restaurant 7444 W North Ave

BARS

Celtic Corner Circle Tavern Dugout George’s

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Melissa’s Memorable Meals

Green Star Hunters On The Rocks

Phil’s Sports Bar

Old World 7230 W North Ave

Panera 7400 North Ave

Russell’s Barbecue 1621 Thatcher Ave Spizzico& Senor Jefe 7446 W North Ave Subway 2836 N. Harlem Ave 7230 W. North Ave

Tacos 2 Go

7530 W. Grand Ave

The Barre Studio & Café

12 W. Conti Parkway

Tony D’s 7725 W Belmont Ave

Trattoria Peppino’s 7440 W North Ave

Union Tap 7707 Westwood #1A

Wing Stop 1740 N Harlem Ave

The Italian at Mercato di Fiore:

This Chicago style sandwich, filled with mortadella, capicola and salami, gets a hyperlocal and noteworthy twist, with the addition of Honey G, a craft giardiniera developed by Jeff Mauro, River Forest resident and Food Network star.

Fatty Hamachi at Okami, Chicago:

This North Avenue District sushi and ramen shop, flies low under the radar, but their rolls and noodles are topflight. Chef Uiprapassorn surprised us with this fatty Hamachi bite on a recent visit and we clamor for more!

A lovely latte and a Croissant from Whirlwind, Oak Park:

Simple is sometimes best. This super flakey croissant from Publican Quality Bread paired perfectly with a frothy, artistically adorned latte made with locally roasted Whirlwind coffee.

This jam and cream-filled scone from Addis Café, Oak Park:

A cup of Ethiopian coffee needs a companion and the entire menu at Addis Café is appealing, but this berry filled breakfast was as cozy and comforting as it can get.

Cocktails for Two at Kettlestrings Grove, Oak Park:

Behold the Euclid Treasure and the Oak Park 75 — two lovely libations to enjoy at the end of a busy week. Drinkers should expect to find an array of chef driven dishes to enjoy between sips. We love the olives!

Tiny Tap Union Tap

presented

Next Level Hibachi Dinners at New Star

More than 30 years ago, Jinny Zhao took her first job at a Chinese restaurant. Eventually she bought the place and grew the staff from five to more than 150 before retiring. Thankfully, retirement did not stick for the dedicated restaurateur — Elmwood Park and surrounding communities have benefitted ever since.

Zhao left her leisurely lifestyle behind in favor of purchasing New Star in 2015. The veteran restaurant owner immediately turned her attention to updating the Elmwood Park mainstay After all, New Star had been serving up traditional Cantonese cuisine since 1954.

Jinny Zhao, owner of New Star, smiles proudly in her state-ofthe-art hibachi room in Elmwood Park.

While Zhao is proud to carry on the New Star traditions started by the Moy family decades ago, she eagerly expanded the cuisines available at the North Avenue establishment bringing both Thai and

La

For 17 years La Lupita has been a celebration of the hard work and grit it takes to succeed in the restaurant industry.

“The restaurant is named after my mother, Lupita Figueroa, and you can still find her in the kitchen,” said Salvador “Sal”

Figueroa, the manager “Our dishes are all homemade with her recipes, her seasonings, and her special touch.”

The origin-story of the Cermak Road mainstay takes us far from the Berwyn thoroughfare. Though Sal is American born he and his family returned to Cuernavaca in Morelos, Mexico when he was just two years old.

As a boy, Sal watched his mother set up a dining table in their front yard.

Japanese dishes to the menu.

In 2017, Zhao turned her attention to the banquet room in the back of the restaurant. The outdated space was underutilized, and Zhao had a vision to bring entertaining

hibachi dinners to New Star. Today the fiery meals are drawing customers by the hundreds seven days a week. On busy nights the room welcomes more than 300 hungry hibachi fans.

“I am always improving my restaurant,” said Zhao “There was no hibachi in the area, and I thought offering the meals would be attractive to younger people and bring a new generation to New Star.”

Every table features a trained hibachi chef who puts on a show while deftly cooking dinner Flaming onion volcanos and fried rice beating hearts enchant guests while tossing delicate eggs and flipping full bowls of fried rice draw applause from onlookers. Every hibachi meal at New Star comes with a soup and salad and sides including a vegetable medley, chicken fried

rice and soft long noodles. Zhao points out the teriyaki steak is the most popular protein selection among patrons because of the fresh meat and skilled preparation.

Note that lines to enjoy a hibachi dinner at New Star are often long; guests have been known to wait more than two hours for a table. To minimize wait times Zhao suggests calling to see if reservations are available on the evening you are hoping to dine and always advises arriving for an early dinner is the single best way to dine without a wait.

Zhao’s respect for both tradition and innovation are a key reason New Star remains a destination for both special occasions and everyday fare in Elmwood Park.

New Star

7444 W. North Ave. Elmwood Park (708) 453-8242 newstarelmwoodpark.com

celebrates a mother’s touch in every dish

Sal would come home to find strangers eating in their apartment kitchen. Before long Lupita’s casual cooking turned into a vibrant catering business.

Friends and strangers would take a seat and Lupita would bring out an array of homemade dishes like pozole blanco and

a deep dark mole with origins in her hometown located in the Guerrero region of Mexico The money she earned helped the family, but more importantly she was honing the recipes that would eventually form the spine of La Lupita’s menu.

In 1992 the Figueroa family returned to the United States and settled in Chicago While Lupita took factory jobs, she proved to be an insatiable cook and began offering her culinary services to local businesses and neighbors.

Then, in 2004 Sal drove past a vacant restaurant on Cermak Road. More kitchen than dining room, the diminutive space held just four tables and offered the perfect steppingstone for Lupita to take her culinary career to the next level. Thanks to her loyal customer base the transition to restaurant ownership went smoothly for the scrappy cook.

“Looking back, now I can see my mother is a true example of an entrepreneur,” said Sal proudly “She passed along that mindset to all three of her children.”

Today La Lupita is going strong and keeps home-style Mexican food front and center on Cermak. The restaurant continues to offer Lupita’s complex mole and three variations of pozole daily.

Melissa Elsmo

Melissa Elsmo

Inari is on a (Maki) Roll on Restaurant Row

When served in Japan, sushi is a celebration of simplicity and freshness while in America extravagant maki rolls tend to dominate menus. Building on a traditional trio of ingredients including seaweed, seasoned rice and fresh fish these rolls create opportunities for creative chefs to distinguish themselves from the multitude of spots serving up sushi in the states.

Inari Sushi and Sake Lounge, 7428 W. North Ave., keeps with tradition by offering straightforward sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls that honor owner Sara Kate’s career long devotion to sourcing quality ingredients, but their specialty rolls have evolved well beyond the typical California roll. Consider Inari’s Flaming Dragon Roll — this baked inside-out roll is stuffed with shrimp tempura, scallions and sweet spicy mayo before being topped with fresh salmon, super white tuna, black and red tobiko, scallions and sesame

Inari Sushi

583-2300

seeds. The offering is literally set on fire before landing on a customer ’s table. The showy offering is a favorite among Inari’s regular customers.

Folks looking for a different type of heat will appreciate the Diablo Roll filled with spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber, cilantro and fresh jalapeno. This spicy offering, garnished with tempura crunch, spicy mayo and sweet soy, is sure to please hot heads everywhere.

The creativity continues with Inari’s alphabetically inclined S.T.A.Y Rolling Roll featuring letter focused ingredients:

salmon, tuna, avocado, and yellow tail. The offering is a delicious spelling lesson. The festive X’mas Specialty Roll lets a well-known color palate drive the dish. Look for ruby-hued tuna, snow crab and tobiko to join green-hued cucumber and avocado in this ode to a festive time of year. The memorable roll is meant to be enjoyed all year long.

Precede any Inari maki roll offering with a piping hot bowl of housemade miso soup or an innovative appetizer offering. A healthy summer roll, found among Inari’s rotating menu of daily specials, appeals to health-conscious visitors. In lieu of nori and rice this maki-inspired starter is wrapped in carved cucumber and sweet sauce. Inari’s spicy tuna ravioli boasts an especially memorable presentation with tuna and crab meat mixed with ponzu sauce hidden behind scales of thinly sliced avocado.

Though rooted in Japanese tradition, Inari’s offerings celebrate the best side of American sushi cuisine while remaining both elevated and refined. The decade old sushi lounge offers deceptively complex, chef driven creations with customer comfort in mind — a noteworthy combination on North Avenue.

The flaming dragon specialty roll at Inari Sushi.

Melissa Elsmo

Flaming Dragon

Spicy garlic miso ramen

Salmon & Tuna poke bowl

Sashimi Deluxe

XiangWen Ma, Marco A. Hernandez, Sara Kate, Sophie Bebis

EATS

Carnitas Don Alfredo, at the corner of Lake Street and First Avenue, is one of three local outposts of this Mexican restaurant group Attached to a gas station, this small to-go restaurant specializes in carnitas, pork slow-cooked in its own fat. This is also the way French duck confit is prepared: simmered in fat, the meat becomes richer, more tender, lush and delicious.

At Carnitas Don Alfredo, the nice lady behind the counter asked, “Would you like the meat with or without fat and skin?” She added, wincing, “Without is less greasy.”

When asked “Which one do you like,” she replied, “I like it with fat and skin,” so we bought a pound of carnitas with and a pound of carnitas without fat and skin, just to compare the two. A pound of carnitas is priced very reasonably

Carnitas Don Alfredo advertises carnitas

“estilo Michoacan,” in the style of the Mexican state of Michoacan, which is where carnitas were thought to have originated (sometime after the sixteenth century invasion of the Spanish, who brought pigs to the New World). The carnitas at Don Alfredo are chopped into small pieces to make it easier to use in tacos.

We’ve enjoyed carnitas at a number of places in Mexico and in Chicago’s largely Hispanic Pilsen area, many times at the legendary Carnitas Uruapan. Never before have I been asked if I wanted carnitas with skin and fat: traditionally, carnitas just come that way. At Carnitas Don Alfredo they

Brad Knaub of Carnivore likes a blend of both styles of carnitas, saying, “The mix is the truth. Also, handmade tortillas. I buy for my staff anytime I’m nearby.” If you’re a little hesitant about the greasy version, you might consider getting a mix.”

more flavorful than just the chopped meat. With your order, you’ll be asked if you want red (chili arbol) or green (tomatillo) salsa with your carnitas. Both are made in-house, and they are fantastic: you want both.

– David Hammond

mmm...

Melissa’s Memorable Meals

Try a new restaurant this week!

The Tijuana Dog from Cigars and Stripes, Berwyn:

The Tijuana dog features a smoked, bacon-wrapped, allbeef hot dog served on a flour tortilla topped with cheese, onions, pico de gallo and a grilled serrano pepper to put some spice in your life. What may seem like a mishmash of ingredients comes together in a bold and harmonious bite.

Betty White’s favorite meal from Mickey’s Gyros and Beef, Oak Park:

Earlier this year GCM and the business community honored what would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday in epic style. Mickey’s served up a plain hot dog, French fries and a Coke worthy of our favorite Golden Girl!

A Ropa Vieja Sandwich from Cubanito Express, Riverside:

Looking for more than your average grab-and-go establishment? In a twist on a Cuban tradition, Cubanito Express serves up a pressed Ropa Vieja sandwich featuring shredded beef in creole tomato sauce, house made black beans and sweet plantains.

Pizza in a bag from Bertolli’s, River Forest:

Frank Bertolli grew up in the pizza business and River Forest is better for it. Their classic pies are thin crust pizza lover’s dream. Ripping open the bag is just as good as opening a present — a gift with ooey gooey cheese!

An outlier taco from Beach Ave. BBQ, Brookfield:

Known for slinging Wagyu brisket and whole hog pulled pork, Beach Ave. BBQ also has a notable special menu including unexpected things like this mighty good fried fish taco on a hand-made tortilla!

aboutandtellthemyouread themin

Sugarbeet Co-op a grocery for the community

Independent grocery store, Sugar Beet Food Co-op is embedded in the community and dedicated to providing a one-of-a-kind shopping experience in Oak Park. The small, but mighty store is community-owned in the truest sense of word. The ownership model gives invested shoppers the opportunity to be actively involved in co-op governance, but Sugar Beet, 812 Madison St., Oak Park, is open to the general public.

“People still worry if they walk in the door they will get kicked out,” said Lissa Dysart, Sugar Beet’s marketing manager. “But the number one thing people need to know is that you do not need to be a member to shop here.”

Though it can be difficult to decipher what is going on behind the tinted window of the historic building housing the co-op, shoppers should expect Sugar Beet to be a welcoming and fun place to shop. The colorful produce section is 99% organic

Herrod, of Oak Park, grabs some groceries at the Sugar Beet Co-op.

and relies largely on locally sourced fruits and vegetables to stock the department.

Spur Farms, owned by Veronica Cibotaru of Oak Park’s Delia’s Kitchen, is among the produce purveyors for the co-op Of course, available produce rotates with the seasons, but Cibotaru grows items like cucamelons, ground cherries, eggplant, green and

Sugar Beet Food Co-op

yellow beans, and beet bunches for Sugar Beet.

Sugar Beet’s café is also a celebration of all things local. They offer sweet treats from Chicago-based, Latina-owned, You’re a ookie — makers of vegan, nut-free and gluten-free items. The dough is offered for sale in the co-op’s freezer section for a takeand-bake option, but freshly baked cookies are also available in the in-house café. Other pastries are sourced from Holcomb Hollow, West Town Bakery, Mindful Bakery, and Silverland Bakery. The café proudly serves freshly brewed hyperlocal Whirlwind coffee, nitro cold brew, healing turmeric lattes, and fruit smoothies with optional nutritional add-ins.

Though unassuming compared to larger grocery stores, Sugar Beet has a robust prepared foods section. There are not traditional service counters, but all the sandwiches, soups and salads are made fresh, on-site daily by a team of 40 employees. Peek into the upright case and discover the famous “VLT” sandwich made with veggie bacon from Chicago-based Upton’s Naturals and Mighty Vine tomatoes. A rotating menu of soups include gluten free varieties like Chicken Tortilla, Ginger Carrot, Quinoa & Sweet Potato Chili.

This month Sugar Beet will debut a reflowed shop they have designed with guidance from National Co-op Grocers whose mission is to optimize operational and marketing resources, and strengthen purchasing power for grocery co-ops across the nation. A reception and new owner drive is planned for October 22. Plan to pop by — after all the co-op is owned by the community and open to everybody!

EATS presented by

Grape leaves of oak park Moroccan Restaurant · Tagines

The Answers:

If you scored 8-13 you are BIG NIGHT (1996):

You are uncompromising in your desire for perfection and prize authenticity above all else. Behind your retro-cool exterior you have exacting standards, but your friends and family are in awe of your skills and talent. People may not understand your point of view all the time, but when you let your guard down you can be completely warm and loveable. Have dinner at Tre Sorelle or Rustico before streaming Big Night on Netflix..

If you scored 14-19 you are RATATOUILLE (2007):

You are an idealist with genuine entrepreneurial spirit. You see potential in everyone and believe passion, tenacity and dedication will make your dreams come true. You value partnership and believe everyone (including you) has greatness inside them. Order ratatouille from Hemmingway’s Bistro and some strawberry cheesecake from Schweet before streaming the movie on Disney+.

are TORTILLA SOUP (2001):

Family connection is at the heart of everything you do Some may say you are a bit of a worrywart, but you know how to manage all the different personalities in your life. You

respect tradition but have a modern flair and sincere zest for life. You use all your senses to bring love, laughter and respect to your life and the lives of others. Get some fare from Taco Mucho, Mexican Republic, or Margaritas before streaming the film acock.

If you scored 2732 you are WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE CTORY (1971):

Despite some hardship, you find a ally enjoy the sweet side of life. You are humble, optimistic, honest and caretaking of those around you. Though you may doubt yourself from time-totime, you believe your imagination and creative side will take you far Make a donation to the Community Fridge and gather treats from Oak Park Bakery, Candycopia, Spilt Milk and Happy Apple before watching on HBO Max or Amazon Prime.

If you scored 3337 you are JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI (2011):

SU

You are a music lover with a pristine aesthetic. You take comfort in routine and repetition and your consistency has made you a standout in your field. You don’t claim

ax or

to be perfect but focus every day on improving your skills incrementally.

Immersing yourself in tasks has helped you earned the respect of your peers. Grab some sushi from Sen, Inari, or Sushi House and watch the documentary on Netflix.

If you scored 38-43 you are CHEF (2004):

When you feel like you are in a rut, you are inclined to leave the mundane and frustrating behind and embark on an adventure. You can be a little hot headed at times, but your heart is in the right place, and you are willing to work for your ou have a strong desire to make meaningful memories and nurture family connections. Snag some food from Cubanito Express or Media Noche Café, get off Twitter and stream the film on Hulu.

If you scored 44-48 you are SIDEWAYS (2004):

Devoted and intelligent, you are a true friend who likes to express a wide range of emotions. You like wine (like a lot) and will try your best to help those you love navigate life’s challenges. Life has thrown you some curveballs and you know you still have some growing up to do, but you are resilient and willing to help lift others up when life gets them down. Cheers to that! Visit Anfora Wine Merchants before you watch Sideways on HBO Max or Amazon Prime.

y e me w up to and up w o you M

AllDay

kribicoffee.com

Coffee

Madison,

#foodcoop #garlicspread

#yummy

!! Grocery Manager Marcus loves spreading this creamy garlic on

burgers, and wants everyone to try out this smooth garlic spread perfect for adding a bit more zing to

Sugar Beet Co-Op

Park

#broastedchicken • billsfastfood.com

Since 1983 owner Bill Konstantapoulos has cooked at his open kitchen restaurant. It’s proof that he is confident and proud of his staff and the food they serve.

Bill’s Place

Ave, La Grange Park

#yappyhour #dogfriendly • beershophq.com

When Apollo had to choose between sitting like a good boy and running for the rosé, he chose chaos. Other four legged friends are as prim and proper as they come. They have been pouring beer and petting dogs at Beer Shop since 2015.

Beer Shop

North Blvd, Oak Park

#MoroccanFood • grapeleaves.us

eat grape leaves at Grape Leaves! And falafel and baba ghanoush and hummus, too. Grape Leaves of Oak Park offers something for everyone.

Grape Leaves

S. Oak Park Ave,

Park

#hotdog

stripesbbq.com

newrebozos.com

cucinaoakpark.com

Sushi and Sake

Cucina Paradiso

Hungry for more?

EATS

is pleased to welcome these ne new establishments to Oak Park's food scene!

OPENED IN 2022 SO FAR:

OPENING SOON:

Committed to Oak Park and River Forest

Byline is privileged to be a part of the OPRF community and is proud to have contributed more than $90,000 in sponsorships and support to the Oak Park and River Forest area this year, alone. Our team looks forward to continuing our commitment to customers and businesses in the Oak Park and River Forest community.

To learn more about our commitment to Oak Park and River Forest, visit bylinebank.com/oprf