GETAWAY TO MILWAUKEE
SUMMER FUN GUIDE
SPOTLIGHT ON ELMHURST
JUNE 2016 WEST SUBURBAN
Dining
LIVING
Al Fresco
• DINING AL
27
of the Best Patios & Outdoor Eating Venues
FRESCO VOL. 21
Q&A WITH
• NUMBER
FOX NEWS HOST SANDRA SMITH
JUNE 2016
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Editor & Publisher | Chuck Cozette Managing Editor | Emily Cudworth Assistant Editor | Jessica McAdam Interns | Sarah Astra & Clay Curcio Art Director | Rachel Switall Contributing Writers, Joni Hirsch Blackman, Buzz Brandt, Erin Chan Ding, Myles Dannhausen, Kathy Johns, Denise Linke, Lynn Petrak, Diana Santos, Lisa Sloan, Sara Pearsaul Vice, Michele Weldon, Tom Witom Contributing Photographer Ed Ahern Advertising Sales Pam Loebel, Susan Reetz Accounting/Circulation Jennifer Cozette Reader Advisory Board Laurie Barton (Glen Ellyn), Karla Bullett (Lombard) Linda Cassidy (Campton Hills), Mary Ellen Coombs (Wheaton), Joan Hoff (Elmhurst) M Grace Grzanek (Batavia), Liz Hunka (Wheaton) Nancy Jensen (Batavia), Holly Jordan (Wheaton) Mary Ellen Kastenholz (Western Springs) Kate Kirkpatrick (Naperville) Molly Livermore (St. Charles) Pamela Peterson (Burr Ridge) Diana Santos (Woodridge), Darla Scheidt (Darien) Jean Stawarz (Oak Brook) Marilyn Straub Garazin (Winfield) West Suburban Living is a publication of C2 Publishing, Inc. 5101 Darmstadt Rd., Hillside, IL 60162 630.834.4995 / 630.834.4996 (fax) wsl@westsuburbanliving.net subscriptions@westsuburbanliving.net www.westsuburbanliving.net
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of C2 Publishing, Inc. Any views expressed in any advertisement, signed letter, article or photograph are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of West Suburban Living or its parent company.
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West Suburban Living (Vol. 21, No. 6 JUNE 2016; ISSN No. 1532-6705) is published monthly, except for July/August and November/December issues (10 times a year) by C2 Publishing, Inc., 5101 Darmstadt Rd., Hillside, IL 60162, 630 834-4995, fax 630 834-4996. Periodicals postage paid at Elmhurst, Illinois and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: 1 year $15; 2 years $24; 3 years $32. Single copy $3.95; back issues, as available, $7. West Suburban Living assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to West Suburban Living Magazine, P.O. Box 111, Elmhurst, IL 60126. Printed in USA.
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Contents |
June
|
2016
Photo courtesy of Donna Mondi Interior Design
West Suburban Living
Getaways
20
MILWAUKEE
From Summerfest, brewery tours and Harleys, to art galleries and nature conservatories, there is much to see and do in our sibling city to the north.
Home&Garden
56
TAKING THE PLUNGE
60
CONTEMPORARY STYLE
Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Tourism
60
Features 44
20
Farm fresh If you’re looking for the freshest fruits and veggies, you’ll find them — and much more — at dozens of area French and farmers markets.
Though serving different purposes, ponds and pools both have the capacity to transform a typical backyard into an inviting personal or family retreat.
The latest trends in modern décor and how to make them work for your home.
Town Focus
64
ELMHURST
With a convenient location close to everything, a vibrant downtown in the midst of a major expansion, and quiet tree-lined residential streets, this city has an attractive blend of the best community attributes.
ON THE COVER
48
Dining al Fresco
The outdoor patio at Maya Del Sol in Oak Park
We take you on a tour of 27 of the best outdoor dining venues in the western suburbs.
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Departments |
June
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2016
Photo by Kathy Johns
Photo courtesy of RiverEdge Park
West Suburban Living
Photo courtesy of Brookfield Zoo
16
34
25 Around the Towns
Perspectives
8 18
80
FOREWARD
Fresh veggies as an acquired taste LOOK TO THE WESTERN SKY
Working at Naperville’s Centennial Beach as a teen laid the groundwork for an unusual profession. LAST WORD
New variations on classic in-car games offer fun and humorous ways to help pass the time when taking a summer road trip.
12
Q&A
78
SCENE & SEEN
with Fox News host Sandra Smith
A photo gallery of recent notable charitable events
Style&Fashion
16
25
Dining
74
REVIEW: Nu Crepes in Elmhurst
73
NEW RESTAURANTS
76
CHEERS
STOPS & SHOPS
New stores and hidden gems
Out&About ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The best in music, theatre and other area events
34
westsuburbanliving.net The go-to site for the Best of the Western Suburbs at your fingertips!
Charleston on the River in St. Charles
Virginia is for wine lovers
SUMMER FUN GUIDE
From concerts and carnivals to fairs and festivals, your guide to what’s happening this summer in the western suburbs
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editor’s Note “If you can keep your head when all about
Cultivating Some Newly Acquired Tastes
you are losing theirs, it’s just possible you haven’t grasped the situation.”
I
think I may be the only person I know who doesn’t drink either beer or coffee. The reason is quite simple, I just never really liked the taste of either. Early on, I was told by proponents of both drinks that they were acquired tastes and that I would “learn to like them” if I just kept trying. That made no sense to me. Why force yourself to like something, especially since neither coffee or beer are especially good for you. Perhaps my unwillingness to learn to like something goes back to my childhood when my mom insisted I would eventually learn to like vegetables. At least that was her goal. So with that in mind, she insisted that my brothers and I eat a green vegetable at almost every evening meal. She tried introducing us to them all — peas, spinach, green beans, broccoli and the most dreaded of all, lima beans. While some were slightly more edible than others, by and large, even after countless platefuls, I would have much preferred to avoid them altogether. Perhaps not surprisingly, it also became fairly clear to me that the learningto-like-something-through-repeatedexposure concept was seriously flawed. I have since realized, however, that there is am important caveat. When it comes to food, at least, it’s all about the freshness of the food itself and the preparation. Growing up, the vegetables my mom served were mostly of the frozen variety. Great for convenience, obviously not so fresh and not so great on taste. It wasn’t until many years after leaving home that I was introduced to fresh steamed broccoli and realized I could
-Jean Kerr
“When you have to make a hard decision, flip a coin. Why? Because when that coin is in the air, you suddenly know what you’re hoping for.”
- Anonymous
“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” - Edmund Lee
“Destiny is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” - William Jennings Bryan
“For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul.”
actually like a green vegetable. Not ALL green vegetables, mind you — I don’t think I will ever like lima beans no matter how fresh or how well cooked. But at least I’m moving in the right direction. So while I am still obviously far from a vegetable connoisseur, I have come to appreciate the value of truly fresh produce. I am obviously not alone, as evidenced by the proliferation of local farmers markets in recent years. As you will see in our “Farm Fresh” feature on page 44, more than 30 west suburban communities now host farmers markets during the warm weather months. As a result, area residents have access to freshly picked fruits and veggies at a farmers market somewhere in the western suburbs literally every day of the week. That’s a good and healthy thing. I’m thinking maybe it might be time for me to give coffee and beer another chance. After all, I like jamocha shakes, so maybe with all the fancy new coffees I can find one I actually like. And the same with craft beers. I am regularly told by friends that many of them don’t even taste like beer. Sounds good to me! As always, thanks for being a reader, we hope you like this issue, and enjoy the warm weather!
- Matthew 16:27
Chuck Cozette, Editor & Publisher chuck@westsuburbanliving.net 8 JUNE 2016
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THE
AROUND TOWNS COMMUNITY
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STOPS & SHOPS
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LOOK TO THE WESTERN SKY
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Q&A
Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course
E
xperience the outdoors in a new and exciting way this summer at “Treetop Adventure,” a seven-acre, two- to three-hour trek through the forest canopy of Bemis Woods in Westchester. The treetop course, slated to open by early July, will be more than 40 feet in the air, and involve more than 40 fun and challenging
obstacles including rope ladders, zip lines and Tarzan swings. The program is being offered by the Cook County Forest Preserve in partnership with Go Ape, a national company that provides forest ecosystem experiences designed to promote exercise, team building and personal confidence building skills. Participants gain access to
forest canopies in a low-impact way, allowing them to experience and gain an appreciation for the forest’s richly diverse ecosystem. No public dollars are being spent on building the course and revenues from ticket sales will be shared with the Forest Preserve. For more information, visit fpdcc.com/zip-line.
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Q&A
Sandra Smith/ Photo courtesy of FOX Business Network
Wheaton native, Fox News host and business correspondent, and Republican debate moderator n What did you enjoy most about
growing up in Wheaton? Sandra Smith: I have fond memories of walking home for lunch in grade school. I went to Madison Elementary School and my house was a short walk away. I always looked forward to noon-time when the bell would ring and I walked over a small wood bridge to my childhood home, where my mother was always waiting for me with a smile and a warm lunch. n What did you and your friends like
FROM FINANCIAL RESEARCHER TO co-HOSTING ONE OF THis Year’s REPUBLICAN NATIONAL DEBATES, Wheaton native Sandra Smith’s career has taken some interesting and fortuitous twists. The daughter of a floor trader at Chicago’s Mercantile Exchange, the Wheaton Warrenville South grad became interested in financial matters at an early age. But Smith was also an accomplished runner who went on to compete for LSU, where she was on an NCAA Championship track team. Upon graduation, she took a job as a stock analyst at Aegis Capital Group in Chicago. Within a few years, she became Director of Institutional Sales and Trading at Terra Nova Institutional, where her boss tapped her to do guest TV analyst appearances. Soon thereafter, she was hired by Bloomberg Television.
In 2007, she moved to Fox Business Network, where
she now serves in a number of capacities, while also co-hosting Fox News Channel’s news and current events talk show “Outnumbered.” The 35-year-old Smith recently made news herself when she and Fox Business colleague Trish Reagan became the first dual
to do for fun in the area? SS: We loved to ride bikes growing up. It was a real treat in the summer to ride our bikes on the Prairie Path to downtown Wheaton to get ice cream or pick out some candy at the Popcorn Shop. n What were some of your favorite
subjects in school? SS: Math. Always loved math and still do.
n When did you become interested
n You were involved in track and
cross country at Wheaton Warrenville South, serving as a team captain your senior year, and continued at Louisiana State University (LSU), where your team won an NCAA Championship in track and where you competed with teammates like Olympian Lolo Jones. What sparked your interest in running, and who were some of your influential coaches, teammates or mentors? SS: My dad entered me in my first 5K when I was in about 1st grade. It was
1. If you could interview anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Vladimir Putin would be a very interesting interview at this moment.
12 JUNE 2016
in business, trading and investing? SS: In my early high school years, my dad started taking me downtown to the Chicago trading floors for summer work. He was a Eurodollar and S&P 500 floor trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and later developed his own quote platform. I would do various jobs for him, helping him at his office. I always felt like I had such a head start as far as understanding the business of trading compared to my peers.
wanted to pursue or did you have
And I have a German Short-hair
received and from whom?
pointer named “Whiskey.”
My boss, Roger Ailes, CEO of Fox TV,
5. New York or Chicago pizza?
2. Favorite places to eat when in
told me to “just be yourself.”
Chicago. Brick’s Pizza on Lincoln
town? Boka and GT Fish & Oyster
4. Interest or hobby that most
Avenue downtown!
are favorites, but we really like all
people don’t know about?
6. Favorite TV show or movie?
of Boka’s Chicago restaurants.
Fly-fishing and upland bird hunting.
TV:“The Voice.”Movie:“Sound of Music.”
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n
n
n
n n Was it an interest you always
3. Best words of wisdom you’ve
RAPID FIRE
n
y i S y s
n Do you still run or compete?
How does it fit into your daily life? SS: As much as I can! It is still my release. My daughter just turned three, and we have already run two races together. Just 1-mile fun runs, but it’s a start!
female team to host a national political debate.
Q&A
such a fun challenge and it really boosted my confidence being able to complete it. Running had me at hello. It was something I immediately enjoyed. I will always remember John Stacey, my coach at Wheaton Warrenville South, and my co-captains in high school — Kerry Kagi, Kate Kennedy and Jenny Graham. We really all had something very special going the four years we ran together in high school. I went on to run for the great Coach Pat Henry at LSU. He dramatically elevated my running career to the NCAA Division I level and it was an honor being coached by him.
o S t I t m
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r
other aspirations when growing up? SS: It was a very natural decision for me to study business in college. I never knew I would end up a business journalist, but that, too, was a very natural transition for me when the opportunity presented itself.
After only a few TV appearances, Bloomberg TV called and flew me to New York to pitch me on becoming a business television journalist. They made me an offer, and after careful consideration, I moved to New York to begin a career as a journalist shortly thereafter.
What is the first piece of advice
you’d give someone looking to begin investing his or her money? SS: Know your risk tolerance and do your own homework. Set goals and stick to them.
Was this move a natural transition
or a totally new venture for you? SS: It felt very natural to me. I had an amazing contact base for a young reporter. I tapped all my sources from my trading desk days to break and cover stories.
What is the biggest or most significant
change you’ve seen in the industry, having covered business news through some of the most turbulent years in the U.S. economy? SS: The electronic nature of the business has dramatically changed everything. Trading floors are nearly extinct. Also, regulation enacted as a result of the financial crisis has stifled the banking industry. Everything has changed. After college, you worked in Chicago
building experience in stock analysis, investment management and trading. What were your goals during this time? SS: To gain as much knowledge as possible and to build my contact base. Do you prefer the research and analysis
side of business or working with clients and portfolios? SS: Both. My nerdy side loves diving into earnings reports and analyst notes. My fun, outgoing side loves building relationships with customers. Your first television reporting role was
with Bloomberg Television. When did you first become interested in journalism and broadcasting? SS: I was sitting on the trade desk at Terra Nova Institutional, only a year or two out of college, when my boss asked me to start doing guest spots from the trading floor as a way of marketing our firm. I would go on various financial networks to discuss the news of the day and how it was impacting markets. I guess it was rather impressive to see a young woman on a trading floor on business television talking about customer order flow and S&P 500 charts.
You’ve stayed in television ever since
and contribute on a number of Fox Business Network and Fox News Channel programs. Walk us through your typical day-to-day schedule. SS: Every day is different. Many days I start at 4 a.m. to be live on “Mornings with Maria” (Bartiromo) on Fox Business Network from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Every day I host my own program,“Outnumbered,” on Fox News Channel from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Then there are days I fill in for Megyn Kelly on “The Kelly File” in the evening or on “Fox & Friends” on the weekend. I also still go on many other shows across both networks. My days are long and always different. There are lots of press and media events. It’s always a challenge. But it’s good to be busy in the business! And I very much enjoy it. What kind of work goes on behind
the scenes at networks like Fox Business Network and Fox News Channel? SS: Lots of research. Lots of preparation. Lots of planning. It never stops. What is your favorite part of your job
and what’s the hardest part? SS: Favorite: The people I meet. Hardest: Staying on top of every bit of news that is happening worldwide. Can’t miss a beat! What would most people find surprising?
SS: Getting hair and makeup done every day sounds glamorous, but when you do it every day, that too, becomes work. I love to wash my face and throw my hair in a pony tail right after my show is over! You recently made history with Trish
Regan as the first dual female team WEST SUBURBAN LIVING | WWW.WESTSUBURBANLIVING.NET | JUNE 2016 13
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Q&A to host a debate during the Republican primaries. Tell us about that experience. SS: Hands down, it was the highlight of my career. It was an incredible honor to moderate on the presidential debate stage. Twice! What kind of preparation was involved?
SS: Weeks of researching what candidates have said and done, and then constructing questions. How did you prioritize your questions?
SS: It constantly changes. The priority of questions constantly changed based on the news and current events. We would add questions, modify questions,
“
“I would go on various financial networks to discuss the news of the day and how it was impacting markets. I guess it was rather impressive to see a young woman on a trading floor on business television talking about customer order flow and S&P 500 charts.
Is there anything else you’d like to try
in the broadcasting business? SS: Yes! I feel like I try something new every day! You have to keep your options open. How often do you and your family get
”
back to the western suburbs for a visit? SS: I am literally answering these questions from the dining room of my childhood home in Wheaton as we speak! And it’s the first time I have been here since Christmas. We try to come when possible, but it’s not that often.
political debates again in the future? SS: Of course!
and many times just throw them out. This has been an intense political How did you keep the candidates
on track? SS: We set rules ahead of time. As far as timing, we used a buzzer and lights. And if we felt a candidate didn’t answer a question, we would follow-up. Would you like to moderate national
season, not just for the candidates but for the media as well. What do you see as some key differences this time around as opposed to previous election cycles you’ve been a part of (both in terms of the issues of interest this year and how the media has been covering the candidates and events)?
DESIGN BUILD ENJOY C.B.
What do you like to do and see when
you’re here? SS: See family and friends. I have two small children, ages 1 and 3. I love traveling back to the Chicago area with them so they can just play and be with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Family owned in Naperville for 31 years
conlin LANDSCAPES
Naperville 630.416.8998 www.cbconlin.com 14 JUNE 2016
SS: There are many differences. The electronic nature of this election has changed a lot of things for candidates and the media. Look at Trump, for example, and his use of Twitter to get a message across.
Innovative designs by Registered Landscape Architects specializing in all things exterior
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Stops&Shops
Photo by Diana Santos
Photo by Sarah Astra
Photo by Kathy Johns
Hidden Gems & Longtime Favorites
RESTYLE
FLAIR ON THIRD
MABEL’S MARKET
THIS WARRENVILLE SHOP (2S610 S. Rt. 59,
One of the CharmING ASPECTS
COMBINING THEIR CREATIVE TALENTS
630 637-8988) offers consigned home furnishings that range from traditional to trendy, and classic to clever, in a hip, loft-style atmosphere. “We’re all about repurposing, recycling, restoring,” says owner Andrea Lindsley. It’s not “uncool” to buy something somebody else is done with, she says. “Used doesn’t mean used up,” she adds. “There’s a big market for resale.” The store carries unique artisan pieces as well, like a dry bar, the cast iron legs of which originally supported a sewing machine, and a huge farm table made of reclaimed mill wood and metal pipe legs. “If you redo things slightly, it can be a whole new piece,” says Lindsley, pointing to a whimsical star-shaped wall hanging made out of wooden rulers. The store offers custom painting and refinishing services, as well as painting classes for more adventurous DIY customers. RESTYLE also has a sister store, ReLux Vintage, a home goods boutique in downtown Geneva. — Kathy Johns
of downtown Geneva is the many former homes which have been artfully turned into stores and boutiques. Flair on 3rd (312 Third St., 630 845-4030) is one such shop, tucked back in the corner of a former historic residence. Jewelry and women’s clothes are the first thing visitors see when they walk into the store, and the shop carries many different styles, catering to a wide range of fashion sensibilities. Items offered range from headbands for girls and clothes for women and children, to a small sportswear section for men. Part of the goal of owners Jeanna Gattuso and Debbie Love when they opened the store about two years ago was to support local artists and good causes. Consequently, they hand-pick all the custom jewelry they sell, including pieces made by local retirees and others from the Starfish Project, which helps empower abused and exploited women. On special occasions and holidays, children are invited to take part in special craft projects. — Sarah Astra
AND LOVE OF ANTIQUES, friends Sherri Kallemeyn and Sommer Steele collaborated in opening Mabel’s Market in Lemont (307 Canal St., 630 257-0901), a shop showcasing vintage furniture and home décor. Relying on their eye for design potential, Kallemeyn and Steele peruse estate sales to acquire new inventory for the store. Since opening five months ago, the shop has captured the attention of clients seeking the unexpected and unique in home adornments. The shop’s offerings are vintage pieces cleverly repurposed to give them a fresh edge that allows them to fit in with a variety of decorating styles. Fluted jello molds of the past become vessels for soothing greenery. A headboard becomes the back rest of a beautiful upholstered bench. After-hours mud paint classes are seasonally scheduled and allow customers to express their inner artist while personalizing a special home treasure. — Diana Santos
New Store Openings Following is a sampling of new shops that have opened in the last few months in the western suburbs. For a full list, go to westsuburbanliving.net. ARC’TERYX Outlet store offering technical high-performance outerwear and equipment for men and women. 1650 Premium Outlets Blvd., Aurora.
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BERETTA Firearms, accessories, safety and hunting gear, as well as men’s and women’s clothing. 1650 Premium Outlets Blvd., Aurora. 888 486-2802
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GYM CHIC Boutique carrying the latest in women’s fitness fashion and athleisure apparel in-store and online. 151 S. 1st St., St. Charles. 630 338-6092
JORI & JUNE Specialty shop offering hand-picked women’s jewelry, makeup, clothing and accessories. 25 S. Third St., Geneva. 630 845-0087
PEACE Provides conscious living home décor and clothing items for mindful and healthy lifestyles. 43 W. Jefferson St., Naperville. 630 358-9642
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TO THE
LOOK WESTERN SKY
By Joni Hirsch Blackman
From Summer Job to Dream Career Working at Naperville’s Centennial Beach as a teen laid the groundwork for an unusual profession
H
ow many TV show hosts set the foundation for their eventual career by cleaning toilets at Naperville’s Centennial Beach? At least one. Chris Perry of The Travel Channel’s “Epic Attractions” worked at the Beach from 1986-1991, which his father, Dick, managed from 1986-1997. The young Perry also checked beach passes and worked the concession stand. Once old enough, he became a lifeguard, then supervisor, instructor and manager — while also teaching swim lessons. Many generations of Napervillians have somewhat similar resumes, but likely few are still working in fields so similar to where they began. Perry is now executive vice president for WhiteWater West Industries, the largest supplier of waterpark attractions in the world. He has lived and worked in Dubai and Hong Kong, moving this summer to Thailand. As host of “Epic Attractions” — in reruns on The Travel Channel — Perry highlighted 37 attractions in five countries. He fed alligators while in the water with them, fed sharks while scuba diving and swam with penguins. Perry maintains that three activities from his teenaged job at the Beach — log rolling, pier tag and pump house climbing — served as a harbinger to his TV role. “The log was a big, long tree trunk — 15 feet long, with no branches — and thick enough that you could barely get your arms around it,” says Perry. “We would float it into the deep end on weekend mornings, try to stand up on it and spin it.” That feat was performed barefoot,
one staffer at a time. Pier Tag, a longtime Beach tradition, involved many coworkers at once. The game of tag is played on the pier that juts out from the deep end wall. “In order to get on or off the pier you had to ‘dip,’ or submerge your body to the waist before you could get on or off,”
California, where he was working for Ellis & Associates while in college. “He visited water parks that Ellis certified to check up on them — he acted like a patron and secretly audited how they did, sitting there unnoticed,” she says. Now one of the founders of the Middle
“
Perry still marvels at his journey. ”I don’t think
I could have possibly predicted where (working
at the Beach) would have taken me.”
recalls Perry. “We used this same principle to get from one side of the pier to the other, acting as if there were an imaginary wall running down the middle of the pier. You had to be in great shape to avoid being tagged and you ended up learning to hold your breath for quite some time!” Before attempting to climb the 15-ft-tall stone wall of the pump house, one had to tread water in the deep end. “It wasn’t easy, not everyone could do it,” says Perry, a not-so-humble comment that his younger sister, Becky Janeczko of Yorkville, says sounds just like the brother she knows so well. “Chris was ready to take on any challenge, he wanted to show you he could do whatever it was,” recalls Janeczko. “He would always say up front, ‘I’m going to do this’ or ‘I’m going to win’ and he typically did.” Janeczko and younger sister Julia Morse of Yorkville also worked at the Beach. One of Janeczko’s favorite memories was the summer week she visited Chris in
East & North Africa Leisure & Attractions Council, Perry still marvels at his journey. “I don’t think I could have possibly predicted where (working at the Beach) would have taken me.” Despite the amazing waterpark attractions he’s seen across the globe, Perry’s affection for the 85-year-old Beach remains unmatched. “The Beach offers the same great family experience it did in the early 1900s. Not many places can say that,” he says. “Centennial Beach is nostalgic without being outdated, old-fashioned but fun, relatively unchanged but loved by all.” Perry should know. He returns to the Beach each year with his sisters and their families so “our kids can have the opportunity to experience what we did.” And whenever the grown Perrys pay a visit to the Beach, they never miss the opportunity to play a rousing game of Pier Tag in the deep waters — no alligators sharks or penguins, but plenty of memories … not to mention inspiration. n
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Photos courtesy of Visit Milwaukee Photo courtesy of The WI Department of Tourism
Milwaukee
By Myles Dannhausen
I
Photo courtesy of The Harley-Davidson Museum
From Summerfest, brewery tours and Harleys, to art galleries and nature conservatories, there is much to see and do in our sibling city to the north.
n an era when many industrial cities are making comebacks by redefining themselves — Baltimore and Pittsburgh are among those that immediately come to mind — no transformation has been more swift and surprising than that of Chicago’s sibling city to the north, Milwaukee. One need only look to its status on the professional sports stage to understand how quickly Milwaukee has changed.
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Photos courtesy of Visit Milwaukee
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Photo courtesy of The Harley-Davidson Museum
Milwaukee’s increasingly vibrant downtown boasts a variety of cultural attractions, headlined by the iconic Milwaukee Art Museum (above left).
In 1994, Milwaukee was cut out of the Green Bay Packers home schedule, ending a tradition that had dated to 1933. In the late 1990s, it came perilously close to losing its Big League status, when the Milwaukee Brewers were considered for contraction by Major League Baseball. The city — defined for many by 1970s TV sitcoms “Happy Days” and “Laverne & Shirley” — appeared as stuck in the past as the shows themselves. And as recently as three years ago, many professional basketball writers were certain the city would lose its NBA team, the Bucks. But if it has been years since you visited the Cream City — so named not for the head of a perfectly poured beer,
but for the cream colored bricks on so many city buildings — you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you’ll find today. Milwaukee has taken big steps toward Chicago in the best ways — dining, cocktails and culture — while eschewing its most infuriating aspects, like horrific traffic and expensive parking. Milwaukee is a city that feels like a neighborhood, where you walk into bars expecting to see people you know, where you’ll need a day to adjust to the level of friendliness almost everywhere you go, and where you don’t need to use a traffic calculator to schedule your day. The city’s massive festivals provide great excuses for a trip north, but if you don’t make it on those days, don’t worry,
you’ll just have more time to explore a city offering more than you’d expect. Start with baseball. The Brewers, of course, are still here, and Miller Park offers one of the best and most affordable experiences in baseball — the Cubs are in town July 22 - 24 and Sept. 5 - 7. Start your day at the park by heading to the Old German Beer Hall and whet your appetite with a giant pretzel and Usinger’s sausage made fresh daily across the street — the bratwurst is a standard, but the Currywurst is worth a try, too. Wash it down with a giant mug of Hofbrau on draft, then catch the free shuttle to the ballpark (yes, free) that will deliver you back here after the game. Admire Miller Park’s remarkable
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Milwaukee
Photos courtesy of Visit Milwaukee
Getaways
Better by the Lake You’ll find a new favorite coffee shop on the lakeshore. Colectivo makes a great cup, but what it does better than any roaster in the country is create iconic coffee houses. Their flagship location rests below the bluff near the harbor in the old Milwaukee River Flushing Station, a beautiful brick building that dates to 1888 and is flanked by a sun-soaked patio. From there, a stroll along the lakefront is a must, where you’ll be amazed to find a path comparable to Chicago’s famed Lakefront Trail with a fraction of the traffic. Take a long run or bike ride along the lake and then head up the bluff to the Oak Leaf Trail, which takes you along the Milwaukee River on part of a web of urban and suburban trails. Take a pitstop a few miles in at the Estabrook Beer Garden, modeled after the beer gardens in Munich, Germany and featuring beers imported from the Munich Hofbrauhaus.
SUMMERFEST
THE CITY OF FESTIVALS
M
ilwaukee calls itself the City
to fill your annual quota and then some.
of Festivals, and for good
reason. With Chicago’s
Model T and Volkswagen displays,
Highlights include the Glockenspiel,
summer barrage of street festivals in full
Dachshund Derby, parades and fireworks.
force, it wouldn’t seem there would be
Oh, there’s a little beer to enjoy in huge
need to head north to experience out-
mugs, too.
door drinking, street eats and live music, but Milwaukee’s festivals are worth the
Irish Fest
trip, especially these three stalwarts.
Aug. 18 - 21
Summerfest
Milwaukee Irish Fest is billed as the world’s
June 29 - July 3, July 5 - 10
largest celebration of Irish music and
The world’s largest music festival,
Also held on the Summerfest grounds,
culture, though one would think Ireland
Summerfest hosts more than 900,000
might quibble with that claim.
visitors checking out more than 800 acts
on 11 stages over 11 days. Don’t think
traditional Irish music and dance
muddy fields or even Lollapalooza-ish
throughout the day, with fiddlers, pipers,
scenes, but rather more of a huge
folk singers and Celtic Rock around every
music tailgate. This summer’s headliners
bend. You’ll find plenty of opportunities
include Paul McCartney, Selena Gomez,
to tip back a pint or sample whiskey,
Alabama Shakes, Ray LaMontagne,
but you’ll also find dozens of chances
The Decemberists, The Roots, Blake
to learn about Irish culture, hear from
Shelton, Weezer, Sting and Pitbull. But
authors and experts, and dabble in
it’s not the headliners that make the fest
some traditions yourself.
The festival’s 16 stages feature
Photo by Donald S. Abrams
so much fun. Stroll the grounds with a general admission ticket ($20) and take in sounds from great local and regional bands on smaller side stages. German Fest July 29 - July 31
Held on the Summerfest grounds
POLISH FEST
since 1981, this all-ages, lakefront festival celebrates German culture, featuring
Other Great Festivals
hoards of authentic German food, tons
Polish Fest, June 17 - 19
of children’s activities and entertainment,
Wisconsin State Fair, Aug. 4 - 14
and enough authentic music and attire
Bastille Days, July 14 - 17
retractable domed roof that can be closed in inclement weather. The park offers the opportunity to walk around the entirety of the concourse without losing a view of play, with kid-friendly games and photo ops at every turn. Take in the famed sausage race in the sixth inning and a slide from Bernie Brewer in left field after each home run.
Cream City Culture One of the things you’ll notice quickly in Milwaukee is the ease of getting around. Your days need not be limited by geography, as even though the city’s attractions are spread out, it takes only minutes to get from one part of the city to another. And free or extremely cheap parking is readily available almost everywhere. Though it’s easy to get caught up in the sausage, cheese and beer circuit, Milwaukee isn’t without its cultural attractions, highlighted by one of the most stunning buildings in America — the ground-breaking Santiago Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavilion at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
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T o o a fe s t o s t a in c 2 s a A E a a c o W la W s c A S fe b in T M s b s r m w in T fo o s
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The building became the symbol than 2,000 mammals, birds, fish, of the city from the moment it amphibians and reptiles, all housed opened in 2001, garnering worldwide in specialized habitats spanning acclaim and notoriety. Its defining 200 wooded acres. This summer, feature is the Burke Brise Soleil, a the zoo will feature “Bugs! Larger sunscreen that opens and closes like than Life,” a special exhibit featuring the wings of a bird about to soar out 13 animatronic bugs that swoop, over Lake Michigan. flutter, crawl and spray water. Inside, more than 40 galleries If you’re a motorcycle buff, the spread over four floors feature more Harley Davidson Museum is a must. than 30,000 works of art, from Featuring more than 450 motorcycles antiquity to the present. Included and artifacts, plus interactive exhibits in the collection are 15th to 20th that share the story of one of America’s century European and 17th to most iconic brands. 20th century American paintings, A short walk away is the sculpture, prints, drawings, and folk Milwaukee Public Market in the and self-taught art. Historic Third Ward, considered The museum’s holdings of one of the best public markets in America. Grab a cup from Anodyne American decorative arts, German coffee bar if you’re here in the Expressionism, folk and Haitian art, and American art after 1960, are morning, or wine from Thief Wine Bar in the evening, to sip as you among the most extensive in the stroll and load bags with more country. The museum also holds one cheese, sausage and Wisconsin of the largest collections of works by specialties than you ever thought Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe. you needed. Another visually striking lakefront museum is Discovery Work off your sampling World, a 120,000-sq-ft interactive with a stroll up Water Street to get science, technology and history a picture with The Bronze Fonze center highlighted by the Reiman statue on the north Riverwalk, Aquarium and the S/V Denis which portrays the famous Sullivan sailing ship. The aquarium character from “Happy Days” features a number of separate tanks, played by actor Henry Winkler. Milwaukee has some great parks (top) including Miller Park based on geography or type of fish, (middle), home to the Brewers. Another popular attraction is the Milwaukee County Zoo, home to more than 2,000 animals. including its centerpiece Caribbean America’s Best Brewery Tour Tank and the 75,000-gallon Lake In a city synonymous with Michigan Tank — home to native beer, you’d be remiss not to take simply sit back, relax and enjoy the great species like rainbow trout, lake sturgeon, views of the city from the water. a brewery tour. The Miller tour offers buffalo fish, and largemouth and Lovers of nature can turn their sights a look at more than a century of brewing smallmouth bass. inland and head to the Mitchell Park history and is more than worth the time. But you won’t find a better brewery tour The S/V Denis Sullivan is a Horticultural Conservatory, better than the one offered at Lakefront re-creation of a 19th century threeknown simply as “The Domes.” These Brewery, located near the Milwaukee masted Great Lakes sailing schooner, three mammoth domes are visible from River in the aptly named Brewer’s Hill which provides a hands-on glimpse the interstate and house three distinct neighborhood. into the region’s rich maritime history. worlds of plant life — a tropical jungle, Two-hour day and evening rides — $45 a desert oasis and a floral garden. For $9, you can try four 6-oz pours for adults, $40 for children — are offered For those who enjoy fauna as much of beer and leave with a Lakefront Brewery on which participants can help set the as flora, another worthwhile stop is the pint glass and a card good for a free pint sails and take a turn at the helm, or Milwaukee County Zoo, home to more at a number of Milwaukee area bars. Photos courtesy of The WI Department of Tourism
Photo by John Nienhuis
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Getaways
Milwaukee
You’ll learn a lot about Lakefront Brewery Boone & Crocket is just four years and even more about the brewing process old but is already established as one of and the history of the industry in Milwaukee’s best places for a drink. Be Milwaukee. If you’re lucky, prepared for the hipster you’ll find a spot in the tour vibe amongst the taxidermy, lead by brewery co-founder but like all of Milwaukee, Jim or Russ Klisch, you’ll be welcomed into hilarious guys who love the fold quickly, especially their beer and this city. after sipping on brandy And at the very end Old-Fashioneds oak-aged of the tour, a thrill awaits in barrels suspended above for baseball fans, as the the bar. If you come here original Bernie Brewer hungry, you’re in luck, as chalet from the old Mitch Ciohon is outside at Milwaukee County Gypsy Taco, a food truck Stadium lives on in the built into the bar’s patio. The Milwaukee Art Museum. brewery. The brothers Palm Tavern wears bought the chalet and barrel the look of a 4-tap dive bar when the stadium closed after the 2000 but inside feels anything but, with red season, preserving a piece of city history textured walls warming the room. You’ll in the most appropriate place possible. find an extensive selection of rare beers and liquors you won’t know what to do If you stop in on a Friday, try the fish with, but the bartenders will. fry, one of the best in the city, and the cheese curds are fantastic. If you do hit the tavern crawl, plan on a hefty morning-after breakfast. For this, Classic Pub Crawl you can’t do better than Comet Café and Taverns don’t come any better than Blue’s Egg. Expect to wait for a seat, but those in Milwaukee, which boasts more know it will be worth it. bars per capita than any city in America. Another favorite is Honeypie, tucked If you can get comfortable around Packers into a quiet corner of Bayview, where you and Brewers hats, you can be comfortable can dart across the street for coffee at at a Milwaukee bar, for few waste breath Fuel Café while you wait for your seat on pretension. to open up. Tucked into a jagged side street where If breakfast isn’t your thing but you it blends into the homes surrounding it, need a greasy fix, head to Solly’s Grille Wolski’s is the definition of a Midwestern and plop yourself at the counter for the neighborhood bar with great bartenders, Solly burger — a third pound of ground free popcorn and real dart boards. If sirloin mixed with butter, cooked in you’re still around at closing time, you’ll butter and placed on an onion roll take home the iconic “I closed Wolski’s” with butter. bumper sticker from a bar repeatedly Finally, before you leave the city, hailed as one of the best in America. make a pitstop for a Wisconsin must-have If you’re in the mood for a classic — frozen custard. Some will point you cocktail, you’ll have plenty of options. to Gilles, others to Leon’s, and those are Bryant’s is Milwaukee’s oldest cocktail both fine choices, but the recommendation lounge — dating to 1938 with a feel to here is Kopp’s, where you can watch the match — and offers $5 Old Fashioneds custard ooze out of the machine like and other specials from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. concrete, teasing you into thinking you on weeknights. can eat more than is possible. n 24 JUNE 2016 | WWW.WESTSUBURBANLIVING.NET | WEST SUBURBAN LIVING
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OUT&ABOUT |
THEATRE
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COMEDY
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ART
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FAMILY ACTIVITIES
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HOME & GARDEN
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AND MUCH MORE Photo courtesy of RiverEdge Park
MUSIC
Hollywood Vampires JULY 7 The newly formed rock super-group — comprised of music legends Alice Cooper and Joe Perry along with actor Johnny Depp — released their first album last fall and made their television debut at this year’s Grammy Awards. See them at RiverEdge Park in Aurora on their first U.S. Tour. Call 630 896-6666 for tickets and more information.
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OUT&ABOUT
Calendar of Events
THEATRE |
When Not That Good Will Do | Through June 5, Fri − Sun, Fri − Sat 8 p.m. and Sun 3 p.m. Richard Culliton, an Emmy Award-winning author of “Days of Our Lives” presents the world premiere of his comedy show about a family reunion that goes awry. Cost: $28/23. Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W Main St., St. Charles. 630 587-8521
| Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike | Through June 11, Fri − Sun, Fri − Sat 8 p.m. and Sun 3 p.m. When an aging Hollywood actress arrives unannounced with her new boy toy, long-repressed sibling rivalries explode in a weekend full of costume parties, voodoo dolls, and an unforeseen romance. Cost: $18. Village Theatre Guild, 3S020 Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. 630 469-8230
June 12
| The Mystery Of Edwin Drood | Through June 12, Thur −
Sun, Thur − Sat 8 p.m. and Sun 3 p.m. This musical is based on the unfinished Charles Dickens novel and allows the audience to vote and select which ending they want to see. Cost: $23/20. Playhouse 111, 111 N Hale St., Wheaton. 630 260-1820
FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS See the legendary group, known for classic hits like "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry," at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. Call 847 266-5100 for tickets and more information.
| Next To Normal | Through June 12, Fri − Sun, Fri − Sat
7:30 and Sun 6 p.m. This Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical tells the story of what appears to be a typical American family, but their lives are anything but normal. Cost: $20/12. Vero Voce Theatre, 951 State Ave., St. Charles. 630 965-0825
| Decision Height | Through June 26, Thur − Sun. An uplifting, lyrical drama about the first women pilots pioneering the skies in World War II. For showtimes, visit www.mstoakpark.com. Cost: $20. Madison Street Theatre, 1010 Madison St., Oak Park. 708 406-2491 | Little Shop Of Horrors | Thur − Sun, June 2 − 12, Thur − Sat
8 p.m. and Sun 2:30 p.m.; Also, Sun, June 5, 7:30 p.m. and Sat, June 11, 2:30 p.m. A rock musical about a florist-shop worker who raises a vicious plant that feeds on human blood and tries to take over the world. Cost: $25/12. Theatre of Western Springs, 4384 Hampton Ave., Western Springs. 708 246-3380
senior class of 1959, including Danny, Sandy, Rizzo and Kenickie, in this musical comedy about growing up. Cost: $14/12. McAninch Arts Center Playhouse Theatre, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. 630 942-4000
| Guys And Dolls | Thur − Sat, July 8 − 30, Thur − Fri 7:30 p.m. and Sat 2 & 7:30 p.m.; No 2 p.m. show on Sat, July 9. The Tony Award-winning musical comedy tells the story of Nathan, a gambler, who tries to set up the biggest craps game in town, but when he turns to a fellow gambler Sky for the money, Sky ends up chasing straight-laced missionary Sarah. Cost: $17/12. Medinah Baptist Church, 900 Foster Ave., Medinah. 630 634-2100
COMEDY
3 p.m. This musical comedy tells the story of the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and includes songs from other Monty Python films like "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." Cost: $25/20. Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S Ellsworth St., Naperville. 630 637-7469
|
Deathtrap | Wed – Sun, June 16 – Aug 14, Wed 1:30 p.m., Thur 1:30 & 8 p.m., Fri 8 p.m., Sat 5 & 8:30 p.m. and Sun 2 & 6 p.m. When dramatist Clifford Anderson sends his new thriller to award-winning Broadway author Sidney for comments, Sidney plans with his wife how to plagiarize the play. For ages 13 and over. Cost: $60/45. Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Ln., Oakbrook Terrace. 630 530-0111
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| The Cemetery Club | Fri − Sun, June 17 − 26, Fri − Sat 8 p.m. and Sun 2 p.m. Three widows meet monthly to visit their husbands' graves, but conflict soon arises when a romance between the neighborhood butcher and one of the widows occurs. Cost: $18/15. Kimball Street Theater of Elgin Academy, NE corner of Kimball St. and Dundee Ave., Elgin. 847 741-0532
| Mo’Nique | Fri – Sat, June 24 – 25, Fri 8 & 10:15 p.m. and Sat 7 & 9:15 p.m. This Oscar Award-nominated comedian and actress, known for her roles as Nikki Parker on UPN’s “The Parkers” and Mary Jones in “Precious,” brings her humor to the stage. For ages 18 and over. Cost: $43 + 2 item min. Chicago Improv, 5 Woodfield Rd., Woodfield Mall, Store K120B, Schaumburg, 847 240-2001
| Pygmalion | Fri − Sun, June 18 − July 16, Fri − Sat 8 p.m. and Sun 7 p.m.; Also, Thur, July 14, 8 p.m. In honor of George Bernard Shaw's 160th birthday, Oak Park Festival Theatre performs his play about a phonetics professor who tutors a lower-class girl to speak proper English in order to pass for a "lady." Cost: $29/15. Austin Gardens, 167 N Forest Ave., Oak Park. 708 445-4440
| Gary Owen | Thur – Sun, June 30 – July 3, Thur 7:30 p.m., Fri 8 & 10:15 p.m., Sat 7 & 9:15 p.m. and Sun 7 p.m. This comedian, writer and actor starred in "Think Like a Man" and "Think Like a Man Too" and appeared in "Ride Along." For ages 18 and over. Cost: $27 + 2 item min. Chicago Improv, 5 Woodfield Rd., Woodfield Mall, Store K120B, Schaumburg, 847 240-2001
| Grease | Thur − Sun, July 7 − 17, 7 p.m. Join Rydell High's
|
Cristela Alonzo | Fri, June 24, 8 & 10 p.m. The cocreator, co-executive producer and star of ABC's "Cristela" takes the stage. Cost: $25 + 2 item food/bev min. Zanies Comedy Club in Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E Main St., St. Charles. 630 584-6342; Also, Sat, June 25, 7 & 9:30 p.m. Zanies Comedy Club in MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Pl., Rosemont. 847 813-0484
An Intimate Evening With Jeff Garlin
MUSIC | Janet Jackson | Sat, June 4, 8 p.m. The multi-awardwinning singer, songwriter, dancer, producer and actress, known for singles "Nasty," "That's the Way Love Goes" and "All for You," has sold over 160 million records. Cost: $125/30. Allstate Arena, 6920 N Mannheim Rd., Rosemont. 847 635-6601 | Twenty One Pilots | Sun, June 5, 7 p.m. This two-person
| Drew Lynch | Tue, June 7, 7:30 p.m. This comedian and actor, known recently for being the runner-up on season 10 of "America's Got Talent," brings his signature stutters and jokes to the stage. Cost: $25 + 2 item food/bev min. Zanies Comedy Club in MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Pl., Rosemont. 847 813-0484
| Spamalot | Fri − Sun, June 3 − 19, Fri − Sat 8 p.m. and Sun
8 − 9, Fri 8 & 10 p.m. and Sat 7 & 9:30 p.m. The star of ABC's "The Goldbergs" and HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" brings his iconic voice and jokes to the stage. Cost: $30 + 2 item food/bev min. Zanies Comedy Club in MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Pl., Rosemont. 847 813-0484
| Fri − Sat, July
band, known for songs such as "Stressed Out" and "Holding Onto You," brings their up-and-coming sound to the stage. Cost: $45/25. Allstate Arena, 6920 N Mannheim Rd., Rosemont. 847 635-6601
| Andrea Bocelli | Fri, June 10, 8 p.m. The award-winning and multi-platinum-selling Italian tenor, crossover artist and multi-instrumentalist performs. Cost: $375/75. Allstate Arena, 6920 N Mannheim Rd., Rosemont. 847 635-6601
| Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | Sun, June 12, 8 p.m. The legendary rock group, whose lives and career are portrayed in the Tony Award-winning musical "Jersey Boys," makes its Ravinia debut with hits like "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man" and "Sherry." Cost: $100/38. Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park. 847 266-5100 | June Jazz | Sat, June 18, 6:30 p.m. Join Grammy Awardwinning singer Patti Austin and the Elmhurst College Jazz band for an evening of music. The Mall at Elmhurst College, 190 S Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. 630 617-6186 |
Paul Simon | Sat, June 18, 8 p.m. Formerly of the band Simon & Garfunkel, the 12-time Grammy Award winner is known for songs such as "Bridge over Troubled Water," "The Sound of Silence" and "Mrs. Robinson." Cost: $160/49. Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park. 847 266-5100
| Bob Dylan & Mavis Staples | Fri, June 24, 7:30 p.m. Legendary and 11-time Grammy Award winner Bob Dylan introduces his 37th studio album, "Fallen Angels", and tours with the R&B and gospel singer, Mavis Staples. Cost:
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Out&about
Calendar of Events
$160/49. Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park. 847 266-5100
| Kool & The Gang | Fri, June 24, 7:30 p.m. The Grammy
Award-winning and seven-time AMA-winning group brings their Motown sound to the stage. Cost: $45/30. RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway St., Aurora. 630 896-6666
| Four By Four | Fri, June 24, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. This cover band performs music from The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Bee Gees and Motown. Cost: $47/30. Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia. 630 937-8930
| DuPage Symphony Orchestra | Sat, June 25, 7:30 p.m.
A patriotic program featuring music by Aaron Copland, Morton Gould, Ferde Grofe, Max Steiner, John Williams and more, plus a selection of new music. Cost: $35/25. Outside First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 260-8162
| Willie Nelson & Family | Sat, June 25, 8 p.m. With a 60-year career in music, over 200 albums and 11 Grammy Awards, this musician, singer, songwriter, actor and Country Hall of Famer brings his jazz, rock, honkytonk and blues sounds to the stage, along with special guest Kris Kristofferson. Cost: $50/40. RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway St., Aurora. 630 896-6666
hits "Jessie's Girl" and "Affair of the Heart," performs with Loverboy and The Romantics. Cost: $75/30. Festival Park, 132 S Grove Ave., Elgin. 847 468-7000
| Hollywood Vampires | Thur, July 7, 8 p.m. The American rock supergroup made up of Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry takes the stage during their first U.S. tour. Cost: $65/55. RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway St., Aurora. 630 896-6666 | Duran Duran: Paper Gods On Tour | Fri, July 8, 7 p.m. The new wave/synthpop English band, known for their songs "Hungry Like The Wolf" and "Come Undone", hit the stage with the disco band, Chic, featuring Nile Rodgers. Cost: $160/55. Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park. 847 266-5100
ART | Symbolism In Chinese Jade | Through Aug 21, Tue −
Sun, Tue − Sat 10 a.m. − 5 p.m. and Sun 1 − 5 p.m. This exhibit focuses on a selection of carvings from the Qing Dynasty and translates the hidden meanings in their visual motifs. Free with admission. Cost: $5/2. Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, 220 Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst. 630 833-1616
| Weird Al | Sat, July 2, 8 p.m. This best-selling comedy recording artist, known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and often parody specific songs, performs during his Return of the Mandatory World Tour Cost: $40/25. RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway St., Aurora. 630 896-6666
| Playboy Architecture: 1953-1979 | Through Aug 28, Tue − Sun 11 a.m. − 5 p.m.; Also, Fri 5 − 8 p.m. This exhibit features a collection of photographs, films, architectural models and more from Playboy magazine's inception through the 70s. Free with admission. Cost: $8/7. Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst. 630 834-0202
| Rick Springfield | Sun, July 3, 7 p.m. As part of the Grand Victoria Casino Concert Series, the Grammy Award-winning Australian singer and actor, known for
| New American Paintings: Midwest Edition | Through
Aug 28, Tue – Sun 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Also, Fri 5 – 8 p.m. In this exhibition, 39 artists showcase their work that spans the
spectrum of varying themes in contemporary painting, including figural representation, material studies, optical abstraction and spatial depictions. Free with admission. Cost: $8/7. Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst. 630 834-0202
| Michael Barton: Ordinary | Mon − Sun, June 4 − July
23, Mon & Sat 10 a.m. − 6 p.m., Tue − Fri 10 a.m. − 9 p.m. and Sun noon − 5 p.m. The artist uses photography, woodworking and ordinary objects to tell stories and display elements that take the work beyond an image that is simply archived on a piece of cloth or fine paper. Schoenherr Gallery, 171 E Chicago Ave., Naperville. 630 637-5375
| Third Friday Gallery Walks | Fri, June 17, 6 − 10 p.m. Stroll through the galleries in downtown Oak Park and speak with the gallery owners along the way. Harrison St., Oak Park. www.oakparkartsdistrict.com
FAMILY & GENERAL | Fun Unplugged: Childhood Memories | Through Sept 25, Mon − Sun, Mon − Fri 8:30 a.m. − 4:30 p.m. and Sat − Sun noon − 4 p.m. Learn about the various toys and games of the 19th and 20th century at this exhibit. Suggested donation: $4/2. DuPage County Historical Museum, 102 E Wesley St., Wheaton. 630 510-4941
|
Barn Farewell Celebration | Sat, June 4, 4 − 9 p.m. Celebrate the history of Naperville's Barn with food, drinks, inflatables for children, raffles, live musical performances, a trip down Memory Lane and more. The Barn, 421 W Martin Ave., Naperville. 630 848-5000
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Critics Classic Series
| Wed, June 8, 7 p.m. Enjoy a
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showing of the film, "Labyrinth," which is about a girl who resents her baby brother and wishes he would disappear, followed by a Q&A with film critic Peter Sobczynski. Cost: $6. Elk Grove Theatre, 1050 Arlington Heights Rd., Elk Grove Village. 847 228-6707
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| Dancing On Air | Wed − Thur, June 8 − 9, 7 p.m. Moves
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Dance Studio performs its 29th annual recital, showcasing each student's skills and artistry. Cost: $25. Paramount Theatre, 23 E Galena Blvd., Aurora. 630 896-6666
|
A Prairie Home Companion With Garrison Keillor | Sat, June 11, 4:45 p.m. Experience the final live national broadcast of the popular American Public Media radio show. Cost: $65/10. Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park. 847 266-5100
| Eldridge Adventure Day | Sun, June 12, 10 a.m. − 1 p.m.
Enjoy a fishing contest, petting zoo, guided nature walks and more. Eldridge Park, 363 W Commonwealth Ln., Elmhurst. www.epd.org
| Burr Ridge Car Show | Sun, June 12, 10 a.m. − 2 p.m.
View more than 100 unique automobiles from every era and enjoy concessions and a 90-minute live concert by The Blooz Brothers. Burr Ridge Village Center, 701 Village Center Dr., Burr Ridge. 630 654-8181
|
Magic, Music & Cars | Fri, June 17, 5:30 − 7:30 p.m. This family event features a professional magic show and live music by country rocker Joe Kalish. Visitors Center at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 668-5161
| Butterfly Ball | Fri, June 17, 6 − 8:30 p.m. Dads and daughters are invited to celebrate Father's Day with butterfly-themed activities, dancing, pizza and more. Advance registration required. Cost: $23/15. Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, 3795 Campton Hill Dr., St. Charles. 630 513-4393 | Downtown Naperville Classic Car Show | Sat, June 18, 9 a.m. − noon. View up to 100 classic cars in all makes and models. Along Jackson Ave., Naperville. www.downtownnaperville.com | Father's Day Brunch | Sun, June 19, 10 a.m., 12:30 & 3
p.m. Enjoy an award-winning brunch featuring a blend of contemporary and traditional fare, including a seafood, carvery and omelet station, salad, dessert and more. Reservations required. Cost: $42/18. Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St., Naperville. 630 260-8188
| 4-H Foundation Summer Luncheon & Silent Auction |
Fri, June 24, noon − 5 p.m. Enjoy a gourmet menu, more than 60 silent auction baskets, drinks and more to raise money for scholarships and community programs. Reservations required. Cost: $30. Cantigny Golf Course, 27W270 Mack Rd., Wheaton. 630 980-4773
| Elk Grove Movie Classics | Mon, June 27, 7 p.m.; Also,
July 25 & Aug 22. Enjoy a screening of "Blazing Saddles" in June, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" in July and "Jurassic Park" in August, followed by a Q&A with a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. Cost: $1. Elk Grove Theatre, 1050 Arlington Heights Rd., Elk Grove Village. 847 228-6707
KIDS | Toys: Inside Story | Through Sept 4, Mon − Sun, Mon 9:30 a.m. − noon, Tue − Sat 9:30 a.m. − 5 p.m. and Sun noon − 5 p.m. This exhibit features 12 different hands-on stations that illustrate simple mechanisms commonly found in toys, and allows guests to create toy-like combinations of gears, pulleys, linkages, cams, and circuits. Free for members. Cost: $12/11. Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. 847 832-6600 WEST SUBURBAN LIVING | WWW.WESTSUBURBANLIVING.NET | JUNE 2016 29
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Out&about
Calendar of Events
| History Alive | Thursdays, June 2 − Aug 28, 1 − 3 p.m.
Dress like a soldier, interact with artifacts, and participate in games and crafts to learn about specific wars. For ages 6 − 12. First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 260-8185
tour via minibus that visits 14 houses previously owned by reputed hoodlums including Tony Accardo, Paul Ricca, Sam Battaglia, "Tough Tony" Capezio and "Machine Gun Jack" McGurn. Cost: $30/27. Meet at Oak Park Visitors Center, 1010 Lake St., Oak Park. 708 848-1500
| The Wizard Of Oz | Fri – Sun, June 10 – 12, Fri – Sat 7:30
can help! Lawn Sprinkling System Installations, Service and RPZ Testing Since 1928
p.m. and Sun 3 p.m. Curtain Up Classroom performs the classic tale of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin Man as they journey to Oz to find the Wizard. Cost: $12/6. Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N Main St., Glen Ellyn. 630 469-1867
and dance, sing, jump and laugh as the "Windy City Kindie-Rocker" performs. Bandshell at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 668-5161
| Sensory Playground Play Days | Sat, June 18, 10:30 a.m.
|
| Seussical | Fri − Sun, June 24 − July 3, Fri − Sat 7:30 p.m. and Sun 2 p.m. In this musical, the Cat in the Hat tells Dr. Seuss' story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos. Cost: $18/12. Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E Benton, Naperville. 630 637-7469
|
| Night At The Mooovies: The Wizard Of Oz | Sat, June
www.muellermist.com
| Handcrafted With Love | Sat, June 11, 12:30 − 2 p.m. Learn what inspires Alan Price, Hancock & Moore’s lead designer, as he presents "Handcrafted With Love − Finding Inspiration In Aspiration," and enjoy wine and appetizers. Registration required. Wheaton Toms-Price, 303 E Front St., Wheaton. 630 668-7878
| Jeanie B! | Sun, June 12, noon. Bring a chair or blanket
− 12:30 p.m.; Also, July 16 & Aug 20. This playground is one of the only facilities in the country providing equal access to play and recreation to children of all abilities, with sound and fragrance gardens, sensory integrated sculptures and more. DuPage Sensory Playground, 2751 Navistar Dr., Lisle. www.playforalldupage.org
708 344-8680
HOME & GARDEN
25, 8:45 − 10:30 p.m. Enjoy this free showing of the classic film. Pre-movie activities, games and crafts begin at 7 p.m. and require additional cost. Interactive movie pack of bottled soda, peanuts, popcorn and candies require additional cost as well. Cost: $10/3. Primrose Farm, 5N726 Crane Rd., St. Charles. 630 513-4370
|
Miss Jamie's Farm | Sun, July 3, noon. This children's musician brings her guitar and barnyard friends to the stage for a fun and interactive performance. Bandshell at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 668-5161
HISTORY | Wedding Traditions Unveiled | Through July 31, Mon – Sun, Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Sat – Sun noon – 4 p.m. Explore 100 years of courtship rituals and wedding traditions in DuPage County, from the Victorian Era to WWII. For more information, visit www.dupagemuseum.org. Suggested donation: $4/2. DuPage County Historical Museum, 102 E Wesley St., Wheaton. 630 510-4941 | Historic Trolley Tour Of Naperville | Fridays, June 4 −
Sept 2, 11 a.m. A one-hour historic tour of Naperville that blends the past with the present, highlights Naperville's growth and includes stories. Cost: $15. Departs from Trolley Stop, Jackson Ave. and Eagle St., Naperville. 630 420-2223
| Dig Into History | Tue, June 7, 1 − 4 p.m. Play a preservation detective and explore the archeology box by learning with hands-on activities to explore what preservation is all about. Cost: $2/1. Beith House Museum, 8 Indiana St., St. Charles. 630 377-6424 |
History Connections | Tuesdays, June 7 − Aug 30, 1 − 3 p.m. Connect with the past through challenges or activities designed to explore military themes. For ages 6 − 12. First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 260-8185
| Oak Park River Forest Gangster Tour | Sun, June 26, 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. ; Also, July 17, Sept 18 & Oct 16. Mob historian and author John Binder conducts this exterior
Dreaming Big In Color | Fri, June 17, noon − 2 p.m. Color expert, interior designer, blogger, educator and consultant Tobi Fairley discusses color trends and how to work successfully with color, as well as what top colors she loves the most and why. Light lunch included. Registration required. Wheaton Toms-Price, 303 E Front St., Wheaton. 630 668-7878
Aquascape Water & Garden Showcase | Sat, June 18, 10 a.m. − 3 p.m. A self-guided, open-house style tour of private properties with an array of features including fire pits and bowls, bubbling urns, land bridges, rainwater harvesting systems, waterfalls, water and seasonal garden plants, aquatic life and more. For more information, visit www.aquascapechicagoland.com. Various locations in Geneva. 630 659-2057
| Preserving The Harvest | Tue, June 21, 6:15 − 8:45 p.m. Food blogger and cookbook author Emily Paster covers five ways to preserve your garden harvest from canning to freezing to drying and root-cellaring in this interactive presentation. St. Paul Church, 118 First St., Bloomingdale. www.bloomingdalegardenclub.org
| Garden Walk | Sat, June 25, 9 a.m. − 3 p.m. Join the Yorkville Garden Club and view five Yorkville gardens during this biennial walk. Cost: $12/10. Various locations throughout Yorkville. 660-553-8949 | From Home To Horizon: Sustainability In The Landscape |
Sat, June 25, 10 a.m. Ecologist and president of the Pizzo Group, Jack Pizzo, discusses native plants, rain gardens, lawn alternatives, formal landscapes, transition gardens, restored ecosystems and more. Registration required. Wasco Nursery & Garden Center, 41W781 Rt. 64, St. Charles. 630 584-4424
|
A Day In The Country | Sat, July 9, 9 a.m. − 4 p.m. This biennial garden walk features six local gardens and an exclusive garden gate boutique. Cost: $20/15. Will Call Booth, 4N558 Hidden Oaks Rd., St. Charles. www.pottagardenclub.org
| Elmhurst Garden Walk & Faire | Sun, July 10, 10 a.m. − 4 p.m. View seven different gardens that range in size from grand to modest, shop from vendors with garden accessories and one-of-a-kind pieces, and search through a selection of perennials for sale. Cost: $20/15. Faire takes place at Wilder Park, 175 S Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. www.elmhurstgardenclub.org
OUTDOORS | Paddle Boats On The Fox River | Through Sept 4, Mon
− Sun, Mon − Fri 5 − 8 p.m. and Sat − Sun 1 − 6 p.m. Take a leisurely ride down Fox River in a four-person paddle boat. Must be 16 and over. Cost: $10 per 30-min rental. Paddle boats launch at Batavia Depot Pond, 151 N Island Ave., Batavia. 630 879-5235
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| Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race | Sun, June 5, 7 a.m. − 2 p.m. This event features 11 canoe divisions, eight kayak divisions and one non-competitive division, followed by a post-race party with food, music, beer, prizes and more. Registration required. For more information, visit www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org. Cost: $25/15 per person. Post-race party at McCullough Park, W Illinois Ave. and N Lake St., Aurora. 630 859-8606 |
Ride The Trails | Sun, June 12, 9 a.m. − noon. Tour several forest preserves during this ranger-led, 15-18 mile bike ride along the North Central Regional Trail. For ages 12 and over. Registration required. Fullersburg Woods, Spring Rd. and York Rd., Oak Brook. 630 933-7248
FOOD & DRINK | Downtown Naperville Wine Walk | Sat, June 4, noon
− 5 p.m. Stroll through 12 of Naperville's shops while tasting a variety of wines and appetizers and enjoying musical entertainment along the way. Cost: $30. Various locations throughout downtown Naperville. www.arranmorearts.org
|
The Spirited Botanist | Tue, June 14, 6:30 p.m. Idea Garden Curator Liz Omura hosts a botanical cocktail evening which offers a demonstration and tasting of a hand-crafted botanical cocktail paired with a small plate. Registration required. Cost: $25. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 260-8162
| Wines & Finds | Thur, June 16, 5 − 8 p.m. Sample over
30 wines from participating businesses and enjoy their food and wine pairings. Cost: $35/30. Downtown Glen Ellyn. www.downtownglenellyn.com
| Summer Beer And Wine Walk | Sat, June 18, 2 − 6 p.m.
Enjoy an afternoon of sipping craft beers and varietal wines at over 20 shops, restaurants and wine merchants. Customers can begin the walk at any participating business by picking up a location map for the tasting. Downtown Barrington. 847 304-3400
SPORTS |
Windy City Rollers | Sat, June 11 & Aug 13, 6 p.m. Chicago's premier women’s flat track roller derby league plays a double header against teams from the Midwest. Cost: $20. Lombard Roller Rink, 201 22nd St., Lombard. www.windycityrollers.com
| Vintage Baseball Game | Sat, June 25, noon − 3 p.m.
Enjoy an afternoon of America's pastime as it was played more than 100 years ago with rules from 1858 as the DuPage Plowboys challenge the Aurora Town Club. Parade Field at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 668-5161
HEALTH & FITNESS | Cosley Zoo Run For The Animals | Sat, June 4, 7:30 −
9:30 a.m. Participate in this 5K/10K and 1/2 mile Zippity Zoo run and enjoy live music, awards and refreshments after the race. Registration required. Cost: $40/15. Cosley Zoo, 1356 N Gary Ave., Wheaton. 630 665-5534
| G.L.O.W. 5K | Sat, June 4, 8:15 a.m. Participate in this 5K family walk/run to support literacy, fitness and family, followed by a post-race party with awards, face painting, food, beverages and music. Registration required. Cost: $40/30. 5th Avenue Station, 200-300 5th Ave., Naperville. www.nicaricoliteracyfund.org
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Out&about
Calendar of Events
| 2016 Chicagoland Tour De Cure | Sun, June 12, 6:30 a.m.
RIBFEST CHICAGO
This fundraising cycling event features route distances that range from ten to 100 miles, followed by a post-ride festival with food, live entertainment, children's activities, giveaways and more. Registration required. Cost: $30. RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway St., Aurora. 630 896-6666
| Gildan Esprit De She Naperville Triathlon Expo | Sun, June 12, 7 − 11 a.m. This sprint distance race/relay features a swim, bike and run course in and around Centennial beach, followed by a post-race rendezvous and market. Registration required. Cost: $150/100. Centennial Beach, 500 W Jackson Ave., Naperville. www.espritdeshe.com
ANIMALS |
Wor th Going Downtown For - Soups, Stews, And Casseroles: 1976 - Through June 19, Wed − Sun. After a Chicago-based corporation aquires the main employer of Reynolds, Wisconsin, the workers and their families are left to fear for their livelihoods. For showtimes and tickets, visit www.goodmantheatre.org. Cost: $33/10. Goodman Theatre, 170 N Dearborn St., Chicago. 312 443-3800 - The Art Of Falling - Thur − Sun, June 9 − 19, Thur 6 p.m., Fri − Sat 8 p.m. and Sun 3 p.m.; June 16 show is at 7:30 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and The Second City present their critcally acclaimed collaboration braided around themes of risk-taking and letting go. Cost: $99/30. Harris Theatre, 205 E Randolph Dr., Chicago. 312 334-7777
known for songs such as "Pictures of You" and "Just Like Heaven," bring their Grammy-nominated sound to the stage. Cost: $84/54. UIC Pavilion, 525 S Racine Ave., Chicago. 312 413-5740
- Kevin James - Thur, June 16, 7 p.m. This actor and comedian, known for his roles in "The King of Queens," "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and "Grownups," performs a night of comedy. Cost: $80/45. Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St., Chicago. 312 462-6300 - Brew To Be Wild - Fri − Sat, June
17 − 18, 6 − 11 p.m. This second annual event features more than 75 specialty brews from over 35 local and regional breweries. For ages 21 and over. Cost: $89/20. Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N Clark St., Chicago. 312-742-2000
- Chicago Blues Festival - Fri − Sun, June 10 − 12, 11 a.m. − 9:30 p.m. The largest free blues festival in the world celebrates its 33rd year with performances by Lil' Ed, Irma Thomas, Fred Wesley and the New JB's, Shemekia Copeland and more. Grant Park, 337 E Randolph St., Chicago. www.chicagobluesfestival.us
- See Jane Sing - Fri − Sat, June 17
- Ribfest Chicago - Fri − Sun, June
June 21 − Aug 30, 6:30 p.m. Enjoy outdoor movies such as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Finding Nemo," "Grease" and "Thelma & Louise." Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, 201 E Randolph St., Chicago. 312 742-1168
10 − 12, Fri 5 − 10 p.m. and Sat − Sun noon − 10 p.m. Enjoy ribs from a variety of vendors, live music, children’s activities, the Echoes of Chicago Artist Showcase and the 7th annual RibMania. Along Lincoln Ave. between Irving Park Rd. and Damen Ave., Chicago. 773 525-3609
- The Cure - Fri − Sat, June 10 − 11, 7:30 p.m. This English rock band,
− 18, 7 & 9:30 p.m. Emmy Awardwinning actress and comedian Jane Lynch, known for her role as Sue in "Glee," returns to Chicago with her new musical-comedy cabaret show. Cost: $95/50. Lyric Opera Chicago, 20 N Wacker Dr., Chicago. 312 827-5600
- Summer Film Series - Tuesdays,
- Night Heist 2016 - Fri, June 24, 9 p.m. − midnight. Don your 1930sinspired cocktail attire and enjoy a night of hors d'oeuvres, pieces of art from the 30s and celebrity
mixologists. For ages 21 and over. Cost: $250/130. The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave., Chicago. 312 443-3600
- Book Of Mormon - Tue − Sun, June 29 − Aug 14, Tue − Fri 7:30 p.m., Sat 2 & 8 p.m. and Sun 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Additional 2 p.m. show on Thur, June 30. A Tony Awardwinning comedy musical about two mismatched Mormons who are sent on a mission to a local community in Uganda, which has been decimated by disease and ruled under an evil war lord. Cost: $342/67 PrivateBank Theatre, 18 W Monroe St., Chicago. 800 775-2000
Festival Of Flight | Through Sept 5, Mon − Sun 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. Nearly 20 bird species demonstrate their natural flight abilities during this 30-minute interactive show. Free with zoo admission. Cost: $18/13. West of Tropic World at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. 708 688-8000
| Pet Walk & Run 2016 | Sun, June 5, 8 a.m. − noon. This 5K run also features a vendor mall, demonstrations, food, music and more. Registration required. For more information, visit www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org. Cost: $40/10. Katherine Legge Memorial Park, 5901 S County Line Rd., Hinsdale. 630 323-5630 | World Giraffe Day | Sat, June 18, 10 a.m. − 5 p.m. Celebrate the long-necked creatures and learn more about them with informational and craft activities, Zoo Chats and more. Free with zoo admission. Cost: $18/13. Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. 708 688-8000
LECTURES | Combat & Other Shenanigans | Wed, June 1, 7:30 p.m. Author & 1st Infantry Division veteran Piers Platt discusses his book about his year as cavalry platoon leader with a focus on antics of the soldiers. First Division Museum at Cantigny Park. 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 260-8187
- James Taylor - Thur, June 30, 7 p.m. The five-time Grammy Award-winning singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, known for hits "You've Got a Friend" and "Fire and Rain," makes his Wrigley debut, featuring special guest Jackson Browne. Cost: $125/45. Wrigley Field, 1060 W Addison St., Chicago. chicago.cubs.mlb.com
| Haley Scott DeMaria | Wed, June 15, 7 p.m. The former Notre Dame swimmer and author of “What Though the Odds – Haley Scott’s Journey of Faith and Triumph” talks about her journey through paralysis, six back operations, and the struggle to walk again. Goodwin Hall Auditorium at Benedictine University, 5700 College Rd., Lisle. 630 829-6000
- Guns N' Roses - Fri,July 1 and Sun,
| Einstein, Black Holes And A Cosmic Chirp | Wed, June
July 3, 8 p.m. The award-winning hard rock band, known for hits "Sweet Child o' Mine," "November Rain," "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City," hits the stage during their "Not In This Lifetime" tour. Cost: $250/100. Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Dr. Chicago. 312 235-7000
- Taste Of Chicago - Wed − Sun, July 6 − 10, Wed − Fri 11 a.m. − 9 p.m. and Sat − Sun 10 a.m. − 9 p.m. This outdoor festival features a wide variety of food, drinks, live music and activities. Grant Park, 337 E Randolph St., Chicago. www.tasteofchicago.us
15, 8 p.m. Dr. Barry Barish, whose primary research interest has been the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO), discusses the physics of gravitational waves, the detection technique, the observation and its implications. Cost: $7. Fermilab’s Ramsey Auditorium, Kirk Rd. and Pine St., Batavia. 630 840-2787
| David Krugler | Sat, June 25, 2 p.m. This historian and novelist discusses his new novel, "The Dead Don't Bleed," followed by a book signing. Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, 7419 W Madison St., Forest Park. 708 771-7243 Information is as accurate as possible, but times and dates do sometimes change and events are occasionally canceled. Please call to verify all critical information. To have an event included in this guide, send information two to three months in advance to: Out & About, P.O. Box 111, Elmhurst, IL 60126, or wsl@westsuburbanliving.net.
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From festivals and fairs, to concerts, art shows, historical reenactments, waterparks, golf and theatre under the stars, the western suburbs offer a host of great things to do!
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Festivals & fairs | Vintage
Rides | Through Aug 26, Fridays, 5 − 9 p.m. No show on July 1. A different make or model of a classic car is featured each week during this summer car show featuring music, giveaways and more. Along Front St., Downtown Wheaton. 630-260-2000
| Summer Nights Classic Car Show | Through
Carnival, food, entertainment, beer & wine garden, train viewing at Saturday’s Railroad Day and more. Franklin Ave. and Calwagner St., Franklin Park. 847 671-4800
| festival of the fox | June 9 – 12, Thur 5 – 10 p.m. Fri noon – 10 p.m. and Sat – Sun 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Dragon boat races, carnival, food vendors, live music, family entertainment, demonstrations, water ski show and more. Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Ave., St. Charles. www.festivalofthefox.com
Sept 2, Fridays, 6 − 9 p.m. An array of classic cars line the downtown streets, including pre-1985 cars on Curtiss St., plus live entertainment. Along Main St. between Maple and Franklin. Downers Grove. 630 725-0991
| Chicago Blues Festival | June 10 – 12, Fri – Sun
| Taste Of Wheaton | June 2 – 5, Thur 4 – 9:30 p.m., Fri 4 – 10 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Sun noon – 6 p.m. Arts and crafts show, carnival rides, children’s games, live entertainment, beer & wine garden, business expo, food and more. Memorial Park, 208 W Union Ave., Wheaton. 630 690-4880
|
| Rose Festival | June 2 – 5, Thur 6 – 11 p.m., Fri 6 p.m. – midnight, Sat noon – midnight and Sun noon – 10 p.m. Carnival, entertainment, parade, food and beer garden. Cost: $20/15 for rides. Roselle Metra Station parking lot, Irving Park Rd. and Maple Ave., Roselle. 630 980-2000
| Barrington Cruise Nights | Thursdays, June 2 – Sept 1, 6:30 p.m. The weekly car show features various types of cars, food and ice cream vendors, entertainment by Bob Roig of Priceless Parties, and prizes. Harris Bank Parking lot, Cook St. and Station St. Downtown Barrington. For information, call 847 304-3400 or visit www.barrington-il.gov. | Two Brothers Summer Festival | June 3 – 4, Fri 5 p.m. and Sat 3 p.m. Music and beer festival to raise money for Make-A-Wish Illinois and Emmanuel House featuring headliners Cold War Kids, Lord Huron, The Lone Bellow and PHOX. Cost: $25. RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway St., Aurora. 630 896-7676
| Ahh! La Grange Carnival | June 3 – 5, Fri 5 – 10 p.m., Sat noon – 10 p.m. and Sun noon – 7 p.m. Rides, games, entertainment, beer garden, pet parade and food. Harris St. between La Grange Rd. and Ashland Ave., La Grange. www.lgba.com | Fine Arts Festival | June 4 – 5, Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Art exhibit and sale from more than 50 local artists featuring paintings, ceramics, mosaics, pastels, stained glass, photography, hand-woven textiles and jewelry. Graue Mill, 3800 York Rd., Oak Brook. 630 655-2090 | Frontier Park Kite Flying Festival | Sun, June 5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Gigantic kites, hands-on activities, demonstrations, stunts, live music, giveaways, games and more. Frontier Park, 3380 Cedar Glade Dr., Naperville. 630 848-5000 | A Day In Our Village | Sun, June 5, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Community festival featuring games, more than 100 activity and information booths, food and music. Scoville Park, Lake St. and Oak Park Ave., Oak Park. 708 358-5407 | Franklin Park Fest Featuring Railroad Day | June 9 – 12, Thur – Fri 5 p.m. and Sat – Sun noon.
11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Performances by blues musicians Fred Wesley and the New JB’s, Shemekia Copeland, Lil’ Ed and more. Grant Park, 337 E Randolph St., Chicago. www.chicagobluesfestival.us ottawa 2 rivers wine fest | June 10 − 12, Fri 5 − 10 p.m., Sat noon − 10 p.m. and Sun noon − 5 p.m. Wines from nearly 20 local wineries, craft beer from Tangled Roots Brewing Company, food including lobster, live jazz, an outdoor arts & crafts market and more. Lobster tickets are sold separately. For more information, visit www.ottawa2riverswinefest.com. Cost: $22. 101 W Main St., Ottawa. 815 434-2737
| Ribfest Chicago | June 10 – 12, Fri 5 – 10 p.m. and Sat – Sun noon – 10 p.m. Rib vendors, children’s activities and music featuring top musical acts. Lincoln Ave. between Irving Park Rd. and Damen Ave., Chicago. 773 525-3609 | Island
Rendezvous | Sat, June 11, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Historical reenactments from the 18th century, arts and crafts, storytelling, live music, food vendors and more. Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E Romeo Rd., Romeoville. 815 886-1467
| Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival | June 11 – 12, Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Art show of more than 125 juried artists, children’s activities, music and food. Burlington Park, 30 E Chicago Ave., Hinsdale. 630 323-3952 | Woodridge
Jubilee | June 15 – 19, Wed – Sun. Carnival rides, entertainment, fireworks, food, family activities and more. Woodridge Dr. and Center Dr., Downtown Woodridge. 630 353-3300
| PrairieFest | June 16 – 19, Thur 4 – 11 p.m., Fri – Sat 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Sun 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Business & craft expo, entertainment, petting zoo, pony rides, carnival, food and more. PrairieFest Park, 91 Plank Rd., Oswego. 630 554-1010 or www.prairiefest.com
| Old Canal Days | June 16 – 19, Thur 5 − 11:30 p.m., Fri 4 p.m. − midnight, Sat 10 a.m. − midnight and Sun 10 a.m. − 4 p.m. Carnival, live entertainment, car show, parade, craft show, games and more. Downtown Lockport. 815 838-0549 or www.oldcanaldays.com | Scottish Festival & Highland Games | June 17 – 18, Fri 4 – 10 p.m. and Sat 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Scottish contests, children’s activities, exhibits, food, drinks, entertainment, marketplace and more. Cost: $30-$5. Hamilton Lakes, 1 Pierce Pl., Itasca. 708 426-7149 | Blues On The Fox | June 17 – 18, Fri 7 p.m. and Sat 3 p.m. Blues festival featuring The Robert Cray Band, Marcia Ball, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, Larry McCray and Leland. Cost: $40-$10. RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway, Aurora. 630 896-6666 | Elgin Ribfest | June 17 – 19, Fri 5 – 11 p.m., Sat 11 WEST SUBURBAN LIVING
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SUMMER FUN GUIDE ROCKIN’ IN THE PARK & COUNTRY IN THE PARK, Rosemont
SUMMER CAMPS Camp #1 begins June 6
with performances June 17-18
Camp #2 begin July 25
with performances Aug. 5-6
June 17-18
a.m. – 11 p.m. and Sun noon – 9 p.m. Rib and food vendors, beer, wine, music, car show, family activities and entertainment. Cost: $5. Festival Park, 132 S Grove Ave., Elgin. www.elginribfest.com
July 8-30
| LISLE WINE EXTRAVAGANZA | Sat, June 18, 4 – 8 p.m. Wine tasting, live music and food from local restaurants. Must be 21 and over. Cost: $60/20. The Museums at Lisle Station Park, 921 School St., Lisle. 630 964-0052 or www.lislealefest.com
| ART IN BLOOM FINE ARTS FESTIVAL | June 18 – 19, Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. More than 80 juried artists plus live music and other activities. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 668-5161 | SWEDISH DAY | Sun, June 19, 9 a.m. Scandinavian music and dance, traditional foods, cottage walks, a Viking ship presentation, Maypole celebration, carnival games, live entertainment and more. Cost: $5. Good Templar Park, 528 E Side Dr., Geneva. 847 845-2640
August 5-6
| SWEDISH DAYS FESTIVAL | June 21 – 26, Tue – Sun. Midsommar Festival featuring carnival, parade, food, drinks, children’s activities, live entertainment and more. Downtown Geneva. 630 232-6060
August 11-13
Performing in Medinah, Illinois at 900 Foster Avenue
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beers from more than 40 different breweries and live music by the country rock band, Summer Son. For ages 21 and over. Cost: $55/50. Visitor Center Lawn at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. 630 968-0074
| LISLE EYES TO THE SKIES | June 29 – July 3, Wed 5 – 11 p.m. and Thur – Sun noon – 11 p.m. Carnival, parade, children’s activities, fireworks, food, craft fair, live music and more; Also, 5:30 a.m. Balloon Launch on Friday and Saturday. Free for children under 7. Cost: $8. Lisle Community Park, 1825 Short St. Lisle. www.eyestotheskies.org | FOURTH OF JULY BRAT TENT FESTIVITIES | July 1 – 4, Fri – Mon. Food, live musical entertainment, family entertainment and more. Metra Train Station parking lot, 201 Spring St., Barrington. 847 304-3400
| NAPERVILLE RIBFEST | July 1 – 4, Fri – Mon noon – 10 p.m. Rib vendors, music featuring 3 Doors Down, Sheryl Crow, Lee Brice, 7th Heaven and other artists, carnival and other activities. Cost: $20/15. Knoch Park, 724 S West St., Naperville. 630 259-1129
| 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL | July 3 – 4, Sun 3 – 11:45 p.m.
| TASTE OF JOLIET | June 24 – 26, Fri – Sat noon – midnight and Sun noon – 7 p.m. Live music featuring Trace Atkins, 7th Heaven, David Nail, Styx and more, as well as carnival, kids zone and food. Free for children under 12. Cost: $15/5. Joliet Memorial Stadium, 3000 W Jefferson St., Joliet. 815 741-7275
| TASTE OF CHICAGO | July 6 – 10, Wed – Fri 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Outdoor food festival with wide variety of vendors, live music by Billy Idol, The Isley Brothers and more. Grant Park, 337 E Randolph St., Chicago. www.tasteofchicago.us
p.m. More than 35 garden artists, live music, talks and refreshments. The Growing Place, 25W471 Plank Rd., Naperville. 630 355-4000
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TRI CITIES CRAFT BREW FESTIVAL | Sat, June 25, 1 p.m. More than 60 craft beers and ciders from more than 30 local and national craft breweries. Must be 21 and
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| CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL | Sat, June 25, 1 − 5 p.m. Local
| ROTARY GROVEFEST | June 23 – 26, Thur 5:30 – 10 p.m., Fri – Sat noon – 11 p.m. and Sun noon – 10:30 p.m. Carnival, food & business expo, handmade market, craft beer, car show and entertainment. Downtown Downers Grove. 630 729-0351
| GARDENER’S ART FESTIVAL | Sat, June 25, 9 a.m. – 5
TICKETS 630.634.2100 OVERSHADOWED.ORG
over. Cost: $70/17. Lincoln Park, W Main St. & N 5th St., St. Charles. www.facebook.com/TriCityBrewFest
and Mon 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Parade, music, games, 4th Annual Cerny Series Baseball Games, fireworks, food, 5K run and live entertainment. Cerny Park, River Rd. and Forestview Ave., Warrenville. 630 393-9427
| TASTE OF WESTMONT | July 7 – 10, Thur 5:30 – 9:30 p.m., Fri 4 – 10:30 p.m., Sat noon – 10:30 p.m. and Sun noon – 9 p.m. Live entertainment, carnival, beer & margarita tent, craft show, food and more. Cass Ave. between Chicago and Burlington Ave., Downtown Westmont. 630 829-9378 | WINDMILL CITY FESTIVAL | July 7 – 10, Thur 6 – 10 p.m., Fri noon – 11 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Sun
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11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Carnival, 5k, pet parade, music, food and more. The Riverwalk, 100 N Island Ave., Batavia. 630 879-5235
| GENEVA CLASSIC CAR SHOW | Thursdays, July 7 − Aug 31, 6 − 8 p.m. View classic, muscle and sports cars, vote on your favorite make and model, and enjoy music of the 50s, food and more. Kane County Courthouse parking lot, 100 S 3rd St., Geneva. 630 232-6083
| MILLENNIUM ART FESTIVAL | July 8 – 10, Fri 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Outdoor festival with more than 110 juried artists, live music, food and more. Lake St. and Michigan Ave., Downtown Chicago. 847 926-4300
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BARRINGTON BREW FEST | Sat, July 9, 3 – 7 p.m. Nearly 50 brewers showcasing more than 90 different brews, food and music. Must be 21 and over. Cost: $50/40. Metra Train Station parking lot, 201 Spring St., Barrington. www.barringtonbrewfest.com
| LA GRANGE CRAFT FAIR | July 9 – 10, Sat 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Craft show with more than 150 Midwest artisans showcasing unique arts and crafts items. La Grange Rd. between Hillgrove Ave. and Ogden Ave., and Harris Ave. between La Grange Rd. and Ashland Ave., Downtown La Grange. www.lgba.com | NAPERVILLE WOMAN’S CLUB ART FAIR | July 9 – 10, Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Original works from over 100 local and national artists, silent auction, children’s activities and more. Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St., Naperville. 630 420-9680
| ITASCA FEST | July 9 – 12, Thur 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. Fri 6
Shop, Dine,
p.m. – midnight, Sat noon – midnight and Sun noon – 11 p.m. Music, flea market, health fair, carnival, sports tournament, food, car show and more. Washington Park, 350 E Irving Park Rd., Itasca. 630 773-0835
| GLENDALE HEIGHTS FEST | July 13 – 17, Wed – Thur 6 – 11 p.m. Fri 6 p.m. – midnight, Sat 3 p.m. – midnight and Sun 3 – 11 p.m. Carnival, live entertainment, fireworks food and more. Camera Park, 101 E Fullerton, Glendale Heights. 630 260-6000 | NAPERVILLE ALE FEST | Sat, July 16, 1 − 5 p.m. More than 200 beers from craft breweries around the world, live music and food from local restaurants. For ages 21 and over. Cost: $80/20. Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St., Naperville. www.napervillealefest.com | ANONAPALOOZA
FAMILY SUMMERFEST | Sun, July 17, noon – 6 p.m. Family activities, live music, food and more. Good Templar Park, 528 East Side Dr., Geneva. 630 620-6616
| KANE COUNTY FAIR | July 20 – 24, Wed – Thur 3 – 11 p.m., Fri – Sat noon – midnight and Sun noon – 9 p.m. Live entertainment, demolition derby, bull riding, carnival, contests and more. Cost: $23/3. Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S Randall Rd., St. Charles. 630 584-6926
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FAMILY FUN FEST | Fri, July 22, 6 – 8:30 p.m. Face painting, inflatables, games and more. Lisle High School Commons, 1800 Short St., Lisle. 630 964-3410
| PUERTO RICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL | July 23 – 24, Sat – Sun noon. Authentic Puerto Rican food, folk music competitions and more. RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway
Experience the “History of Rock” as outstanding bands play tribute to our rock and roll roots!
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Mr. Blotto (Jam Band Tribute)
Mike & Joe (Modern Pop & Rock) Landslide (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)
One of a kind shopping & dining experiences, spend the day!
16 Candles (‘80s Theme Night) Kashmir (Led Zeppelin Tribute) 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, IL 630.420.6010
EnjoyBarrington.com
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Enjoy Barrington
American English (The Beatles Tribute)
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SUMMER FUN GUIDE St., Aurora. 630 896-6666
| GENEVA ARTS FAIR | July 23 – 24, Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fine arts show featuring more than 155 fine artisans, children’s activities, food and more. 100 S Third St., Geneva. 630 232-6060
| VEGGIE FEST | July 23 – 24, Sat – Sun 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Food, live music, children’s activities and speakers focused on vegetarianism. Science of Spirituality, 4045 Naperville Rd., Lisle. 630 955-1200 | DUPAGE
COUNTY FAIR | July 27 – 31, Wed – Sun 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Live music, carnival, youth talent show, demolition derby, livestock auction, beer tent and more. Cost: $10/4. DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Rd., Wheaton. 630 668-6636
| SUGAR GROVE CORN BOIL | July 28 – 31, Thur – Sun. Nonprofit festival with carnival, live music, food and more. Volunteer Park, 61 S Main St., Sugar Grove. 630 449-7999 | LOLLAPALOOZA | July 28– 31, Thur – Sun 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Music festival with multiple acts each day on various stages along with food vendors. Grant Park, Jackson and Columbus Dr., Chicago. www.lollapalooza.com
| STREAMWOOD
SUMMER CELEBRATION | July 29 – 31, Fri 5 – 11 p.m., Sat noon – 11 p.m. and Sun noon – 8 p.m. Entertainment, golf tournament, business expo, parade, contests, carnival and more. Hoosier Grove Park, 700 W Irving Park Rd., Streamwood. 630 736-3802
| KENDALL COUNTY FAIR | Aug 4 – 7, Thur 8 a.m. – 11 p.m., Fri – Sat 8 a.m. – midnight and Sun 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Carnival, Western Speed Show, livestock show, live music, food and more. Cost: $8/4. Kendall County Fairgrounds, 10826 Illinois Route 71, Yorkville. 630 553-2860
| SUMMER DAZE FESTIVAL | Aug 5 – 6, Fri 5 – 11 p.m. and Sat noon – 11 p.m. Music festival, business expo, children’s activities, car show, teen arena, rides, food and more. Car show begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Downtown Warrenville. 630 393-7279
| NORTH
AURORA DAYS | Aug 5 – 7, Fri – Sun. Car show, fishing derby, pet parade, 5k, music and more. Throughout North Aurora. 630 897-8228
| LA GRANGE ENDLESS SUMMERFEST | Aug 5 – 7, Fri 5 – 10:30 p.m. Sat noon – 10:30 p.m. and Sun noon – 10 p.m. Carnival, bands, human foosball, local food vendors, beer garden, entertainment and fireworks. Free for children 12 and under. Cost: $3 admission after 5 p.m. on Fri – Sat. Gordon Park, Ogden Ave. and Tilden Ave., La Grange. 708 352-1762 OF ROSELLE | Aug 5 – 7, Fri 6 – 11 p.m., Sat noon – 11 p.m. and Sun noon – 8 p.m. Carnival, craft fair, bingo tent, live entertainment and food. Main St. between Roselle Rd. and Park St., Downtown Roselle. 630 980-2000
cooking demos, food from local restaurants and music. Cost: $40/15. CityGate Centre, 2135 CityGate Ln., Naperville. 888 695-0888
| MONTGOMERY
FEST | Aug 12 – 14, Fri 5 – 10 p.m. and Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Carnival, parade, craft and business booths, music, petting zoo, car show, fishing derby, food and more. Montgomery Park, River St. and Mill St., Montgomery. 630 896-8080
| GREEN FAIR ON THE FOX | Sat, Aug 13, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Food, demonstrations, children’s activities, music and more that raise awareness on sustainable living, physical fitness and healthy living. Riverwalk, Peg Bond Center and City Hall. Downtown Batavia. 630 761-3528
| ELBURN DAYS | Aug 19 – 21, Fri – Sun. Parade, tractor pull, mud volleyball, live music and entertainment, carnival, food and more. Lions Park, 500 S Filmore St., Elburn. 630 365-6315 | CHICAGO AIR & WATER SHOW | Aug 20 – 21, Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Annual air show showcasing daredevil pilots, civilian and military pilots, parachute teams, jets flying in formation, traditional aerial stunt performers, watercraft stunts and more. North Avenue Beach, Chicago. www.chicagoairandwatershow.us
| FALL FESTIVAL OF FINE ART | Aug 20 − 21, Sat 10 a.m. − 6 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m. − 6 p.m. Juried art festival, live music children’s activities, art demos and educational booth chats. 100 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook. 847 926-4300 | ZOOBREW | Aug 26 − 27, Fri − Sat 5 − 9 p.m. Annual beer tasting event with more than 80 beers and entertainment by U.F.C. Band and No Alternative. Ticket includes admission to zoo. For ages 21 and over. Cost: $45/35. East Mall at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. 708 688-8000
| CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL | Sept 1 – 4, Thur – Sun. Multiple live performances of national and international artists. Millennium Park, 201 E Randolph St., Chicago. www.chicagojazzfestival.us | CAROL STREAM SUMMER CARNIVAL | Sept 1 – 5, Thur 6 – 10 p.m. Fri 6 – 11 p.m. Sat 1 – 11 p.m. Sun 1 – 9 p.m. and Mon 1 – 8 p.m. Carnival, games, food and more. Ferraro Town Center, 960 N Gary Ave., Carol Stream. 630 665-7050 | HOMETOWN DAYS FESTIVAL | Sept 2 – 4, Fri – Sun. Live entertainment, car show, Ultimate Air Dog Show, carnival rides, food and more. Beecher Community Park, 908 Game Farm Rd., Yorkville. 630 553-4357
| NAPERVILLE JAYCEES LAST FLING | Sept 2 – 5, Fri 5 – 11 p.m., Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Mon 10 a.m.
| TASTE
SWEDISH DAYS, Geneva
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WHEATON BREW FEST | Sat, Aug 6, 1 – 4:30 p.m. Craft beers, live entertainment and food from local restaurants. Must be 21 and over. Cost: $45. Memorial Park, 208 W Union Ave., Wheaton. 630 510-5064
| NAPERVILLE WINE FESTIVAL | Aug 12 – 13, Fri
– Sat 5 – 10:30 p.m. Wines from around the world, seminars,
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DURAN DURAN, Ravinia
– 6 p.m. Main stage entertainment by Toad the Wet Sprocket, Rusted Root, Sugar Ray, Foreigners Journey and more, food, drinks, carnival, parade and more. Downtown Naperville. 630 961-4143
| Lemont Heritage Festival | Sat, Sept 3, 3 – 11 p.m. Live music, children’s activities, food and more. Downtown Lemont. 630 257-1550
| The Sandwich Fair | Sept 7 – 11, Wed – Sun 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Harness racing, carnival rides, food, exhibits, live entertainment and more. Free for children 5 and under. Cost: $9/5. Somonauk Rd. and Pratt Rd., Sandwich. 815 786-2159 | Festival Of The Vine | Sept 9 – 11, Fri – Sat 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sun noon – 5 p.m. Wine tasting, food, craft show, flower market, live entertainment and more. W State St. and N Fourth St., Downtown Geneva. 630 232-6060
| Darien Fest | Sept 9 – 11, Fri 6 – 10:30 p.m., Sat 1 – 10:30 p.m. and Sun noon – 8 p.m. Carnival, live entertainment, business expo, food, beer tent and more. Darien Community Park, Plainfield Rd. and Clarendon Hills Rd., Darien. 630 968-0004
| Bartlett Heritage Days | Sept 9 – 11, Fri 6 – 11 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Arts and crafts show, car show, antique/flea market, carnival, live music, beer tent, food and more. Downtown Bartlett. 630 924-4263 |
Forest Park Rib Fest | Sat, Sept 10, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Rib and other food vendors, music, children’s activities and more. Forest Park Picnic Grove, 7824 Madison St., Forest Park. 708 771-7737
| World War II Days | Sept 10 – 11, Sat 9 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. and Sun 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Battle reenactments, aircraft flyovers, demonstrations, music, food, beer garden and more. Dellwood Park, Rte. 171 and Woods Dr., Lockport. 815 838-3621
| Downtown Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival | Sept 10 – 11, Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Juried art festival, boutiques, live music, children’s activities and more. Main St. and Curtiss St., Downtown Downers Grove. 630 725-0991
| Oaktoberfest | Sept 16 – 17, Fri
4 – 10 p.m. and Sat noon – 10 p.m. Microbrews and wines, food, live entertainment and children’s activities. Marion St. between Lake St. and North Blvd., Downtown Oak Park. 708 383-4145
| Heritage Fest | Sept 16 – 18, Fri 6 – 11 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Sun 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Art and craft show, car show, entertainment, fireworks, food, carnival and children’s activities. N 2nd St. and Lincoln Ave., West Dundee. 847 551-3800
| Riverwalk Fine Art Fair | Sept 17 – 18, Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Outdoor juried art exhibit and sale. Along the Naperville Riverwalk, Downtown Naperville. 630 355-2530 | West End Art Festival | Sept 17 – 18, Sat 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Juried artists, performance art, live music, culinary demonstrations, interactive art activities, food from local restaurants and more. Stone Avenue Station, Burlington and Brainard Ave., La Grange. 708 522-6467 | Lisle Depot Days | Sept 17 – 18, Sat – Sun noon – 5 p.m. History-themed events, food games, petting zoo, entertainment, contests and more. Museums at Lisle Station Park, 921 School St., Lisle. 630 968-0499 | Country Folk Art Festival | Sept 23 – 25, Fri 5 – 9 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Folk art and reproductions of antiques and traditional American crafts. Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S Randall Rd., St. Charles. 630-387-1151
| Lisle Ale Fest | Sat, Sept 24, 4 – 8 p.m. Craft beers, food and live music. Must be 21 and over. Cost: $75/15. Prairie Walk Pond, Garfield Ave., Lisle. 630 964-0052 or www.lislealefest.com
| Oktoberfest | Sept 30 – Oct 1, Fri 5 – 10 p.m. and Sat noon – 10 p.m. German beer and cuisine, live musical entertainment, family activities and more. Cost: $15/5. Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster, Naperville. 630 305-4044 | St. Charles Scarecrow Festival | Oct 7 – 9, Fri – Sat 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Handcrafted scarecrows, craft show, live entertainment,
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SUMMER FUN GUIDE FESTIVAL OF FLIGHT, Brookfield Zoo
carnival, petting zoo, food and more. Downtown St. Charles. 800 777-4373
MUSIC | LIVE on the lawn | Through Aug 31, Wednesdays, 5:30 − 9 p.m. Live music by various bands including Brock & Abrams “The Band,” formerly of the Buckinghams, and food and drinks on the lawn. St. Andrews Golf & Country Club, 2241 Rt. 59, West Chicago. 630 231-3100
| Afternoon Concerts | Through Sept 5, Sundays, 3 p.m. No concert on June 19 & Aug 14. Free outdoor concerts featuring a wide variety of music and artists. Red Bandshell at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 668-5161
| Sounds
of summer concert series | Through Oct 29, Fri – Sat 8 p.m. This concert series features live performances from local bands of many genres, including Frank & Dave, Chi-Town Soul, The Incognitos, The Messengers, Eleventh Hour and more. Eaglewood Resort & Spa, 1401 Nordic Rd., Itasca. 630 773-1400
| 14th annual summer concert series | Wed & Sun, June 5 − 29, Wed 6:30 p.m. and Sun 5 p.m. Free outdoor concert series including bands 7th Heaven, Hillbilly Rockstarz, Stereo Heart, Hi Infidelity and more. Courtyard at Geneva Commons, 602 Commons Dr., Geneva. 630 262-0044 | uniquely thursdays | Thursdays, June 9 − Aug 11, 6 p.m. This event features ten local bands, including 7th Heaven, Dixie Crush and The Breakfast Club, a beer and wine tent, vendors from local businesses and food. Burlington Park, 30 E Chicago Ave., Hinsdale. 630 323-3952
| blues on water street | Sat, June 11, 3 − 11 p.m. Enjoy performances by blues artists Toronzo Cannon, Edward David Anderson, Bubbles Brown, Ross Berman, Andrew Diehl and other artists, along with food and drinks. Cost: $20/15. Water Street Studios, 160 S Water St., Batavia. www.foxvalleymusicfoundation.com
| Rockin’ In The Park | Thursdays, June 2 − Sept 1, 7 40 JUNE 2016
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− 10 p.m.; Also Sun, July 3. This summer concert series features music of classic cover bands, food and beverage tents, as well as a musical fireworks show. MB Financial Park, 5501 Park Pl., Rosemont. 847 349-5008
| country in the park | Through Aug 30, Tuesdays, 7 − 10 p.m. This summer country concert series features some of Nashville’s most popular emerging country artists, along with food and beverage tents. MB Financial Park, 5501 Park Pl., Rosemont. 847 349-5008
| Millennium Carillon Summer Recital Series | Tuesdays, June 7 – Aug 23, 7 p.m. Carillonneurs from across the country and all over the world perform. Picnicking is encouraged. Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower, along Riverwalk’s Rotary Hill, Naperville. 630 848-5000 | Concerts on the green| Fridays, June 17 – Sept 2, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Free summer evening concert series of some of the area’s best artists. Burr Ridge Village Center, 701 Village Center Dr., Burr Ridge. 630 654-8181 | Wheaton Municipal Band concert series | Thursdays, June 9 – Aug 11, 7:30 p.m. The full symphonic concert band features a variety of music styles and themes including marches, overtures, show tunes and more. Memorial Park, 208 W Union Ave., Downtown Wheaton. www.wheatonmunicipalband.org | Concerts in Your Park | Sundays, June 12 – July 31, 7 p.m. A free summertime live music series that travels to select Naperville parks featuring bands from the Chicago area. For complete concert schedule and locations, visit www.napervilleparks.org. Various parks throughout Naperville. 630 848-5000
| Naper Nights Community Concert Series |
Fri − Sat, June 17 − 18, July 22 − 23 & Aug 19 − 20, 5 p.m. Enjoy music from various artists including American English, Mike and Joe, and 16 Candles, food, drinks and activities. Free for members and children under 4. Cost: $15/10. Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St., Naperville. 630 420-6010
| Evening Symphonies | Sat, June 25 & July 23 and Thur, Aug 4, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy three evening symphonies
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under the stars, featuring DuPage Symphony Orchestra, West Suburban Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Sinfonietta. Cost: $35/25 per car. First Division Museum Lawn at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 668-5161
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b96 summer bash | Sun, June 26, 6:30 p.m. This event features performances by Meghan Trainor, Charlie Puth, Ariana Grande, Calvin Harris, Iggy Azalea, Mike Posner and Daya. Cost: $115/30. Allstate Arena, 6920 N Mannheim Rd., Rosemont. 847 635-6601
| Riverpark concert series | Sundays, July 3 − 31, 6:30 p.m. Enjoy a variety of performances on the northwest bank of the Fox River. RiverPark, 201 N River Ln., Geneva. 630 232-7494 | lakeside pavilion concert series | Fridays, July 22 − Aug 12, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy outdoor live music with bands such as American English, Brass Transit and The Buckinghams. Lakeside Pavilion at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. 630 942-4000
| wdcb jazz series | Thursdays, Aug 4 − 25, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy free performances by Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters, Organissimo with Brian Charette and Marquis Hill. Lakeside Pavilion at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. 630 942-4000
FAMILY & GENERAL | Wednesdays,
Woods & Wine | Wednesdays, June 1 − Aug 31, 5:30 − 8 p.m. Enjoy live music and drinks. For ages 21 and over. Cost: $15/10. Arbor Court at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. 630 968-0074
| Movies In The Park | Fridays, June 3 − Aug 19, 8:30 p.m. Watch movies under the stars, such as “Cars 2,” “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Grease.” Bandshell at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 668-5161
| Children’s Concert Series | Sundays, June 12 – Aug 21, noon. Engaging, interactive and fun performances featuring ScribbleMonster, Jeanie B! Miss Jamie’s Farm and Super Stolie. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Rd., Wheaton. 630 260-8162 | Wednesday morning movie series | Wednesdays, June 8 − Aug 10, 10 a.m. A weekly series of G- and PG-rated films, including “Shaun the Sheep Movie,” “Goosebumps,” “Minions” and “Space Jam,” with games and costumed characters on hand at 9 a.m. before the movie. Cost: $1. Classic Cinema
CLASSIC CAR SHOW, Geneva
Theatres. www.classiccinemas.com
| camp naper: summer day camp | June 13 − Aug 5. A variety of hands-on day camps that range from cooking and treasure hunts to music lessons and drawing classes. For grades 1 − 8. Registration required. Cost varies per camp. Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St., Naperville. 630 420-6010
| Children’s Lunch Hour Entertainment | Tuesdays, June 14 – July 26, noon. Pack a lunch and enjoy performances that are geared to the young and young at heart at either Frontier Park or Naperville Riverwalk. Frontier Park, 3415 Book Rd.; Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 500 Jackson Ave., Naperville. 630 848-5000 | brookfield zoo: summer Nights | Fri − Sat, June 17 − Aug 13, 4 − 9 p.m. Enjoy cooler evening weather with dining, a beer & wine garden, live music, performers, children’s entertainment and a laser light show. Ticket includes admission to zoo plus one attraction. Cost: $16/11 after 4 p.m. East Mall at the Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. 708 688-8000 | Summer Art Series | Mon – Sun, June 17 – Sept 25. Enjoy art from seven different artists, see the sculptures at Legacy 3D, and view historical collectors cards on display. Gaylord Building, 200 W 8th St. and Illinois State Museum, 201 W 10th St., Lockport. Art will also be on display from dawn until dusk along the I&M Canal and at Lincoln Landing in downtown Lockport. 815 838-0549 or www.summerartseries.com
| lakeside pavilion movie Series | Thursdays, July 14 − 28, 8 p.m. Enjoy a free weekly showing of movies, beginning with “Mary Poppins,” then “Aladdin” and finishing with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Lakeside Pavilion at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. 630 942-4000 | park palooza | Sat, Aug 20, 5 − 10 p.m. This fourth annual event features music, children’s activities, food trucks, a beer garden and more. Berens Park, 493 N Oaklawn Ave., Elmhurst. 630 993-8900
| Shakespeare In The Park | Fri – Sat, August 26 – 27, 7 p.m. Wheaton College Arena Theater & Wheaton Park District present Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” a show performed by Wheaton College Alum, students and professional actors. Memorial Park, 208 W Union Ave., Wheaton. 630 690-4880
WATER PARKS | Bensenville Water Park & Splash Pad | A 2,527-sq-ft spray park featuring a 155-ft water slide with plunge pool, zero-depth entry pool, children’s interactive play area, drop slides and diving board, sand play area and more. 1100 W Wood St., Bensenville. 630 766-7015 or www.bensenvilleparkdistrict.org | Centennial Beach | Holding 6.2 million gallons of water, this local “swimming hole” features a zero-depth entry, sand play area, sand volleyball, waterslide, water play features and diving boards. 500 W Jackson Ave., Naperville. 630 848-5092 or www.centennialbeach.org | Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park | An award-winning water park featuring a spray playground with slides, water guns and a giant dumping bucket, a 600-ft lazy river, a zero-depth pool, three body WEST SUBURBAN LIVING
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SUMMER FUN GUIDE slides, a sand area and more. 8301 S Janes Ave., Woodridge. 630 353-3350 or www.cypresscove.org
| Hall Quarry Beach | The award-winning facility features a sand bottom swimming area covering 60,000 square feet of islands, slides and a diving area. 400 S Water St., Batavia. 630 406-5275 or www.bataviaparks.org
GOLF
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26W151 Butterfield Rd., Wheaton, 630 653-5800 or www.arrowheadgolfclub.org
hinsdale community pool| This pool facility features a 50-meter pool, a diving pool with a drop slide and diving boards, a zero-depth wading pool, water play features and a sand play area. 500 W Hinsdale Ave., Hinsdale. 630 789-7098 or www.villageofhinsdale.org
| Itasca Waterpark | This waterpark features an 8-lane lap pool with zero-depth entry, slides, children’s interactive pool with a 9-ft water spraying palm tree and slides, and more. 100 N Catalpa, Itasca. 630 773-1213 or www.itascaparkdistrict.com
181 Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, 630 529-6232 or www.bloomingdalegc.com
| BOLINGBROOK GOLF CLUB |
| Mount prospect| Features two outdoor pools: Big
16325 W Broken Arrow Dr., Lockport, 815 836-8858 or www.golfbrokenarrow.com
| Otter Cove Aquatic Park | Features a lazy river, lap pool, sand play area, tube and body slides, and a Splash Park with an interactive children’s water play area. 3615 Campton Hills Rd., St. Charles. 630 513-4377 or www.ottercove.org |
Paradise Bay Water Park | Award-winning facility featuring slides, diving boards, 8-lane lap pool, water basketball and volleyball, fountains, water sprays and more. 437 E St. Charles Rd., Lombard. 630 627-6127 or www.lombardparks.com
| Raging Waves | Illinois’ largest waterpark, featuring the signature Boomerang ride, 600-ft-long family raft ride, Kangaroo Falls for children, Cyclone, 2-seater speed tube ride, PJ’s Plummet, Tasmanian Twisters and more water slides. 4000 N Bridge St., Yorkville. 630 882-6575 or www.ragingwaves.com | Sea Lion Aquatic Park |Award-winning aquatic park featuring two 50-ft body flume slides, two drop slides, a vortex pool, splash playground, sand & kiddie water play area, teen pool and more. 1825 Short St., Lisle. 630 964-3410 or www.lisleparkdistrict.org
|
Ty Warner Park Spray Park | A zero-depth spray park with water shooting cannons, dumping
Summer Fun Guide FINAL.indd 42
| BLOOMINGDALE GOLF CLUB |
| BROKEN ARROW GOLF CLUB |
| Oak Brook Family Aquatic Center | Awardwinning indoor aquatic center featuring six 25-yrd lap lanes, three slides, a 105-ft water slide, water vortex, zero-depth splash area, 10-person whirlpool and interactive water features. 1450 Forest Gate Rd., Oak Brook, 630 645-9581 or www.obparks.org
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17211 W 135th St., Lockport, 815 838-1057 or www.bigrungolf.com
entry, lap pool, dive pool and more. 400 S Prospect, Roselle. 630 894-4200 or www.rparks.org
of the largest waterparks in Northern Illinois, featuring two 37-ft slides, drop slides, a 550-ft lazy river, cliff dives and a zero-depth pool with fountains, jet sprays and a dolphin slide. 2025 Miner St., Des Plaines. 847 391-5740 or www.dpparks.org
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| BIG RUN GOLF CLUB |
2001 Rodéo Dr., Bolingbrook, 630 771-9400 or www.bolingbrookgolfclub.com
| Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center | One
|
| ARROWHEAD GOLF CLUB |
| Kemmerling Pool | Amenities include zero-depth
Surf Wave Pool, one of only three wave pools in the state, and Meadows Aquatic Center, a zero-depth, flatwater family pool. For specific locations of each, visit www.mppd.org
42 JUNE 2016
bucket, three bucket sneaky soaker, mushroom cap water walls and spray spouts. 801 Blackhawk Dr., Westmont. 630 969-8080 or www.westmontparks.org
| CANTIGNY GOLF | 27W270 Mack Rd., Wheaton, 630 668-8463 or www.cantignygolf.com
| COG HILL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB | 12294 Archer Ave., Lemont, 866 264-4455 or www.coghillgolf.com | EAGLEWOOD RESORT & SPA | 1401 Nordic Rd., Itasca, 630 773-3510 or www.eaglewoodresort.com
| FOX BEND GOLF COURSE | 3516 Rt. 34, Oswego, 630 554-3939 or www.foxbendgolfcourse.com
| FRESH MEADOW | 2144 S Wolf Rd., Hillside, 708 449-3434 or www.freshmeadowgc.com
| GLENDALE LAKES GOLF CLUB | 1550 President St., Glendale Heights, 630 260-0018 or www.glendalelakes.com
| GLENEAGLES COUNTRY CLUB | 13070 McCarthy Rd., Lemont, 630 257-5466 or www.golfgleneagles.com
| THE HIGHLANDS OF ELGIN | 875 Sports Way, Elgin, 847 931-5950 or www.highlandsofelgin.com
| KLEIN CREEK GOLF CLUB | 1N333 Pleasant Hill Rd., Winfield, 630 690-0101 or www.kleincreek.com
| MAPLE MEADOWS GOLF CLUB | 272 S Addison Rd., Wood Dale, 630 616-8424 or www.dupagegolf.com
| MILL CREEK GOLF CLUB | 39W525 Herrington, Geneva, 630 208-7272 or www.millcreekgolfcourse.com
| MISTWOOD | 1700 Renwick Rd., Romeoville, 815 254-3333 or www.mistwoodgolf.net
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p ,
RIVEREDGE PARK, Aurora
| NAPERBROOK GOLF COURSE |
or www.tannafarms.com
22204 W 111th St. at Hassert Blvd., Plainfield, 630 378-4215 or www.golfnaperville.org
| VALLEY GREEN GOLF COURSE |
| OAK BROOK GOLF CLUB |
314 Kingswood Dr., North Aurora, 630 897-3000 or www.valleygreengc.com
2606 York Rd., Oak Brook, 630 368-6400 or www.oak-brook.org
| VILLA OLIVIA COUNTRY CLUB |
| ORCHARD VALLEY GOLF COURSE |
1401 W Lake St., Bartlett, 630 289-1000 or www.villaolivia.com
2411 W Illinois Ave., Aurora, 630 907-0500 or www.orchardvalleygolf.com
| VILLAGE GREENS OF WOODRIDGE |
| PHEASANT RUN RESORT |
1575 W 75th St., Woodridge, 630 985-3610 or www.villagegreensgolf.com
4051 E Main St., St. Charles, 630 584-4914 or www.pheasantrungolfresort.com
| VILLAGE LINKS OF GLEN ELLYN |
| PHILLIPS PARK |
485 Winchell Way, Glen Ellyn, 630 469-8180 or www.villagelinksgolf.com
1001 Hill Ave., Aurora, 630 256-3760 or www.phillipsparkaurora.com
| WHITE PINES GOLF COURSE |
| PRAIRIE LANDING GOLF CLUB |
500 W Jefferson St., Bensenville, 630 766-0304 or www.whitepinesgolf.com
2325 Longest Dr., West Chicago, 630 208-7600 or www.prairielanding.com
| RUFFLED FEATHERS GOLF CLUB | 1 Pete Dye Dr., Lemont, 630 257-1000 or www.ruffledfeathersgc.com
| WILLOW CREST GOLF CLUB AT OAK BROOK HILLS | 3500 Midwest Rd., Oak Brook, 630 850-5530 or www.willowcrestgolf.com
| SETTLER’S HILL GOLF COURSE |
9-HOLE COURSES
919 E Fabyan Pkwy., Batavia, 630 232-1636 or www.settlershill.com
| GREEN MEADOWS GOLF CLUB |
| SEVEN BRIDGES GOLF CLUB |
18W201 W 63rd, Westmont, 630 810-5330 or www.dupagegolf.com
One Mulligan Dr., Woodridge, 630 964-7777 or www.sevenbridges.com
| POTTAWATOMIE GOLF CLUB |
| ST. ANDREWS GOLF CLUB |
845 N 2nd Ave., St. Charles, 630 584-8356 or www.pottawatomiegc.com
2241 Rt. 59, West Chicago, 630 231-3100 or www.standrewsgc.com
| RIVER BEND |
| SPRINGBROOK GOLF COURSE |
5900 S Rt. 53, Lisle, 630 968-1920 or www.riverbendgolfclub.org
2220 W 83rd St., Naperville, 630 848-5060 or www.golfnaperville.org
| SALT CREEK |
| TAMARACK GOLF CLUB |
701 Thorndale, Wood Dale, 630 773-0184 or www.saltcreekgolfclub.com
24032 Royal Worlington Dr., Naperville, 630 904-4000 or www.tamarackgc.com
| ZIGFIELD TROY GOLF CLUB |
| TANNA FARMS GOLF CLUB |
1535 W 75th St., Woodridge, 630 985-9860 or www.zigfieldtroygolf.com
Check us out online
4
westsuburbanliving.net
39W808 Hughes Rd., Geneva, 630 232-4300
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Photo court
esy of Whea
ton French
Market
Photos courtesy of Oak Park Farmers Market
FARM FRESH O
If you’re looking for the freshest fruits and veggies, you’ll find them — and much more — at dozens of area French and farmers markets.
by Denise Linke
n a recent sunny Sunday morning in May, the Geneva train station parking lot looked and felt like a community party. Families, elderly ladies and young couples strolled among three rows of colorful booths, chatting and greeting friends while they browsed the fresh produce, bakery treats, spices, handcrafted jewelry, vintage books and other offerings on sale. The sounds of 1960s pop songs played by an acoustic guitarist floated above the crowd, while the smell of freshly made empanadas filled the air. A little boy pulled at his father’s hand and begged, “I want blueberries with honey now, Daddy!” The Geneva French Market is just one of more than 30 farmers markets that 44 44 JUNE JUNE 2016 2016
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set up weekly in parks and parking lots throughout the western suburbs, offering everything from organic vegetables grown five miles away to tea towels and tablecloths imported from Provence. And with a variety of vendors, locations, schedules and philosophies, there’s sure to be a market that suits any resident’s taste. “Each of our markets is different because we try to learn what each town wants,” explains Thomas Straus, marketing director of Bensidoun USA and manager of the Bensenville French Market. “It’s like a snapshot of the community that it’s in.” Bensidoun is the main player in the commercial farmers market scene, with seven markets in Kane and DuPage counties, plus one in Chicago and three in
North Shore suburbs. Brothers Sebastien and Pascal Bensidoun represent the fourth generation of the family business, which has run French-style, open-air markets in France and Europe before expanding to the U.S. in 1996, Straus says. “For centuries, markets have been a central feature of European life. Public markets are synonymous with French culture and style, as expressed through fresh food and drink, flowers, clothing, arts, crafts and jewelry sold by local vendors in open air,” according to the company’s vendor application form. Like their European counterparts, west suburban French markets mix fresh produce, baked goods, meats and other foods with handicrafts, home décor,
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Farmers Market Photos courtesy of Hinsd ale
jewelry, antiques and almost anything else vendors want to sell. At least one vendor in each market sells items imported from France; at the annual French Connection market at Cantigny Museum in Wheaton, scheduled for Aug. 14 this year, all of the vendors sell French-made or Frenchthemed merchandise, Straus notes. “This has proven to be one of the more popular markets in the area, both with our residents and with our vendors,” says Paula Barrington, executive director of the Downtown Wheaton Association and liaison with the Wheaton French Market. “Our vendors especially love the fact that Wheaton-area residents support them.” As at other area markets, the Wheaton market brings in fruit farmers from Michigan and vegetable farmers from northern and central Illinois. “You can’t beat Michigan fruit, but the best vegetables come from our area,” maintains Barrington. “People can come here and buy vegetables grown less than an hour away.” Local farmers who sell through the market include Windy City Acres in Geneva, Rustic Road Farm in Elburn and Naturally Special in Buckingham, near Kankakee. People who prefer down-home America to Parisian chic have plenty of open-air markets to choose from. While some of those venues, like the St. Charles Farmers Market, welcome crafters and other non-food vendors, others focus exclusively on natural or organic foods. “The danger of emulating the French markets is that, without strict control of who comes in and what they sell, you risk turning your farmers market into a flea market,” says Connie Weaver, manager of the Geneva Green Market. “The fresh food can get lost in the shuffle.” The Green Market, which operated
“Each of our m arkets is differe nt because we tr y to learn wha t each town wants. It ’s like a snapsho t of the community that it ’s in.”
on Thursdays in Geneva’s Riverfront Park for more than a decade, lost that site several years ago and is on hiatus this summer after relocating to the Geneva Ace Hardware parking lot proved unworkable. “We’re working with the city to get back into Riverfront Park or another centrally located public space so we can reopen next year,” says Weaver. The Fifth Avenue Station market, which runs Saturdays in Naperville, allows a few locally-produced, all-natural items like homemade salsa and soup mixes. But most of its space goes to local and regional farmers who sell fresh meat, produce and eggs, says manager Kathy Mortensen. “We still follow our founder’s dream,” says Mortensen of the 26-year-old market. “Jane Sindt suggested starting it when the building was being rehabbed as an opportunity for area farmers to sell their wares, and we still have a lot of the original farmers selling through us.” The one significant exception to locally sourced food, says Mortensen, is fresh shrimp from Galveston, Texas. Last year the Fifth Avenue Station market opened a special section for certified organic produce. “We’ve become a lot more detailed and vigilant about where our vendors’ products come from,” she explains. “People want more organic produce because the flavor is amazingly different than produce from the grocery store, and we’re searching out more vendors who can provide that.” At the Oak Park Farmers Market, people come for the fresh doughnuts and bluegrass music and leave with certified organic, naturally grown and/or local treats for their tables, says manager Jessica Rinks. “We’re very committed to being a producer-only market,” she asserts.
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“People can come here and feel confident that they’re getting what they think they’re getting. They can actually talk with the farmers who grew what they’re buying.” Market managers agree that chatting with farmers about the produce and other edibles that they’ve spent months nurturing gives customers more faith in the quality of their food and a greater appreciation for what goes into getting that food to their tables. “A lot of kids don’t know that produce is grown in dirt on a farm because they’ve only seen it canned or in bins at the grocery store,” observes Jan Hummel, manager of the St. John’s Farmers Market at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Naperville. “When they actually meet the farmers and hear them describe how the vegetables are grown and harvested, they’re amazed. And the adults really like to ask about the different types of peas or beans or lettuce and find out how to prepare them so they taste the best.” Most farmers feel the same way, asserts Joseph Wolf, who grows fruit and vegetables on the Michigan farm his great-grandparents started more than a century ago. “I like talking to customers and sharing information with them,” he says. “We sell a lot of produce wholesale to grocery chains, and it’s all business. Here, I can get to know the people who are eating what I grow — and I like the fact that talking with them gives them a face to put with the food they buy from me. It’s more personal this way.” On a market day, Wolf and other family members wake up at about 2:30 a.m. — instead of their normal 4 a.m. start during the growing season — so they can ||
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Photo courtesy of Naperville’s Farmers Market at St. John’s
FARM FRESH
7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Parking lot next to Village Hall, La Grange Rd. and Harris Ave. 773 759-6429 n Lemont – Tuesdays, June 7 – Oct 25, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Talcott Square Parking Lot, Stephen St. and Talcott St. 630 243-2700
Lisle French Market – Saturdays through Oct 29, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Adjacent to PrairieWalk Pond on Garfield Ave. 630 271-4100
n
n Morris French Country Market – Second Saturday each month through Oct 8, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Canal Port, 123 W. Illinois Ave. 815 513-5600 or www.3frenchhensmarket.blogspot.com n Naperville – Saturdays, June 4 – Oct 29, 7 a.m. – noon. Fifth Avenue Station parking lot, 200 E. Fifth Ave. 630 369-5638; Wednesdays, June 8 – Sept 21, 3 – 7 p.m. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 750 Aurora Ave. 630 355-0467 n Oak Park – Saturdays through Oct 29, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pilgrim Church parking lot, 460 Lake St. 708 358-5780
Quick Guide To Area Farmers Markets
Oswego Country Market – Sundays, June 5 – Sept 25, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Main St. 630 554-4433
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Plainfield – Saturdays, June 4 – Sept 24, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 15420 S. Rt. 59. 630 608-7344
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Aurora – Saturdays, June 11 – Oct 15, 8 a.m. – noon. Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway; Wednesdays, July 6 – Sept 28, noon – 5 p.m. West Aurora Plaza Shopping Center, 1901 W Galena Blvd.; Thursdays, July 7 – Aug 25, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 701 S. Eola Rd. 630 256-3370 n
n Barrington – Thursdays, June 23 – Oct 13, 2 – 7 p.m. Cook St. and Station St. 847 304-3400 or www.barringtonfarmersmarket.com
Fairview Ave. 630 968-6400 n Downers Grove – Saturdays through Oct. 15, 7 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Main Street Train Station South parking lot off of Burlington Ave. 630 968-8400
Elgin Harvest Market – Thursdays, June 2 – Oct 6, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 200 N. Grove Ave. 847 488-1456 Elmhurst – Wednesdays, June 1 – Oct 26, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. York St. and Vallette St. 630 832-4550
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Bensenville French Market – Wednesdays, June 15 – Aug 31, 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Village Hall, 12 S. Center St. www.bensidounusa.com n
Bolingbrook – Thursdays, June 9 – Aug 11, 4 – 9 p.m. (Aug 18 – Sept 15, 4 – 8 p.m.) The Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E Boughton Rd. www.makeithappenpronto.com n
Brookfield – Saturdays, June 4 – Oct 15, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Brookfield Village Hall parking lot, 8820 Brookfield Ave. 708 268-8080
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n Chicago Botanic Garden Farmers’ Market – Sat – Sun, July 16 – 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Esplanade at Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe. 847 835-5440
Darien – Wednesdays, June 8 – Sept 7, 3 – 7 p.m. Westwood Park, 75th St. and
n Geneva French Market – Sundays through Nov 13, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Metra commuter lot, 328 Crescent Pl. www.bensidounusa.com n Glen Ellyn French Market – Sundays, June 5 – Oct 30, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Crescent Blvd. between Prospect and Main. 630 469-0907
Hinsdale – Mondays, June 6 – Oct 10, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Burlington Park, 30 E. Chicago Ave. 630 323-3952
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n Joliet – Fridays, June 8 – Sept 21, 4 – 9 p.m. Chicago St. between Van Buren St. and W. Jefferson St. 815 774-6067
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Schaumburg – Fridays, June 3 – Oct 28, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Parking lot near Trickster Gallery, 190 S. Roselle Rd. 847 923-3855
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East Dundee – Sundays through Sept 25, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Dundee Township Visitor’s Center (The Depot), 319 N. River St. 847 426-2822 n
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Batavia – Saturdays, June 4 – Oct 22, 8 a.m. – noon. North River St. between Wilson and State St. 630 761-3528
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n Riverside – Wednesdays, June 1 – Oct 12, 2:30 – 7 p.m. Historic Water Tower, 10 Pine Ave. 708 447-2700
La Grange – Thursdays through Oct 27,
St. Charles – Fridays, June 3 – Oct 28, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 4th Ave. and Main St. 630 988-0705
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n Sugar Grove – Saturdays, June 4 – Sept 24, 8 a.m. – noon. Village Hall parking lot, 10 Municipal Dr. 630 466-1014 n Villa Park French Market – Sundays through Oct 30, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Park Blvd., west of Ardmore Ave. 312 575-0286 n West Chicago – Saturdays, June 4 – Sept 24, 8 a.m. – noon. Reed-Keppler Park, 129 W. National St. 630 231-9474
Western Springs French Market – Thursdays through Oct 27, 2 – 7 p.m. Hillgrove Ave. between Lawn and Grand Ave. 708 246-1800
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n Wheaton French Market – Saturdays through Nov 12, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Parking lot at the corner of Main St. and Liberty Dr. 312 575-0286 n Winfield – Wednesdays, June 1 – Oct 26, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Prairie Trail Center, SW corner of County Farm Rd. and Geneva Rd. 630 408-3712
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load the produce they harvested and washed the night before, make the three-hour drive to the western suburbs, and spend two hours setting up their booth before opening time at 9 a.m. Wolf Farms has sold at the Geneva French Market for 13 years and the Aurora Farmers Market for more than 25 years. Karen Stojan of Stojan’s Vegetables doesn’t get to sleep much later, even though she lives and works in Maple Park. “On market mornings I get up at 3 a.m. so I can pick the greens right before I leave,” she says. “Most of the markets I sell at open at 7 a.m., so I have to have everything ready before then.” She sells fresh vegetables at the Winfield and St. John’s farmers markets on Wednesdays; the St. Charles Farmers Market on Fridays; and the Batavia and Naperville’s Fifth Avenue Station farmers markets on Saturdays. Stojan, whose grandparents grew tomatoes for Campbell’s Soup in the early 1900s, notes that farmers markets help area residents adopt healthier, more natural diets. “A lot more people are conscious and concerned about where their food is coming from,” she remarks. “They’re trying to find safer food that isn’t loaded with chemicals. More people are growing their own vegetables at home, and they come to the markets to get advice from the farmers on how to manage their gardens. I’m always happy to help them, because it’s good to grow your own food when you can.” While some markets’ vendor fees are a closely guarded secret, most seem to charge between $10 and $80 per week, depending on the location, market size and products sold. Bensidoun charges non-food-related vendors more than farmers or specialty producers such as cheesemakers, and offers a 30 percent discount to fresh food vendors who get their merchandise from a single regional source. St. John’s market, which is a volunteer-run fundraiser for the church’s outreach mission, donates all of its vendor rental income to local and national charities, including Loaves and Fishes, Feed My Starving Children and the Naperville Police Department’s Association of Chaplains. So what else sets some markets apart
from others? When they operate can influence what atmosphere they create and what types of people they attract. “The weekend markets are a little like festivals,” Hummel observes. “They’re more laid-back because people have time to bring the kids or go with friends and make an outing of it. They usually have concessions where you can buy lunch or a snack to eat while you shop, and there’s often entertainment.” “Our market is a very social event,” Barrington adds. “Entire extended families meet up at the market and spend the day together. Many people come to the market and buy their produce for the week, then have lunch in one of the restaurants and shop in the nearby stores. It’s a great draw for the downtown shopping district.” In contrast, the St. John’s market — which runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the church parking lot — mostly serves busy moms looking to pick up fresh ingredients for supper on their way home from work or from picking up their children at school, says Hummel. “The two most-requested amenities our customers put down on last year’s survey were Michigan fruit and a concession stand where people could get freshly made natural meals to bring home,” she says. “I work with the farmers to find out what fruits and vegetables are in season each week and hand out free recipes that use those ingredients so people can take a recipe, find everything they need for it at the market and take it all home and cook it that evening.” The Bensenville French Market’s hours and location offer residents a unique chance for a weeknight out. Running from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays in the village’s Town Center, the market overlaps Bensenville’s WEST SUBURBAN LIVING
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summer concert series and cruise nights, which start at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays next to the market. “We have a lot of people who come to the market at 5:30, buy ready-made food as well as fresh produce, then stay for the concert or the auto show,” Straus says. “It’s a nice, family-friendly night out that doesn’t keep the kids up too late.” While the Bensenville market can piggyback on village-supplied entertainment, other markets arrange their own. Bensidoun books professional musicians into many of its markets. Some local markets, like the Geneva Green Market, offer a performing space for enterprising music students or amateurs to perform for tips. Many markets hold special events with children’s activities and cooking demonstrations to celebrate Independence Day or National Farmers Market Week (Aug. 7-13 this year). At the Oak Park market, area residents took matters into their own hands decades ago. “There’s an informal bluegrass band that has performed at every market since the 1980s,” Rink states. “It started as a bunch of musicians who just showed up and started playing together, and it’s become an institution that people really enjoy. They all just jam together for fun, and anybody can bring an instrument and play along. Nobody organized it — it happened organically, and we’re very glad to have them here.” This summer, the St. John’s market is partnering with the Naperville Public Library to provide a reading and crafting tent where children can hear a story and create some art while their parents shop. “We’re very excited about it,” says Hummel. “We’re providing a wholesome atmosphere for families, and the children’s tent fits right into that mission.” |
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MAYA DEL SOL, Oak Park
DiningAl Fresco By Erin Chan Ding
I
t felt uncharacteristically chilly for a spring evening, but still, the patio at Maya Del Sol in Oak Park buzzed, with dozens of people conversing under a sunset sky as “Oye Como Va” played in the background. Next to a dancing fire in the middle of the patio, Amy Juel and Jessica Daly sipped coyopa margaritas, one of the restaurant’s specialties, and noshed on its nachos del sol, topped with braised beef and cheddar-jack cheese. The Oak Park locals came out to celebrate their birthdays, even on this jacket-inducing night, lured by the prospect of feeling fresh air with their meal. “There’s nothing like it in the area, and it’s kind of like that indoors brought outdoors,” Juel says. “It’s so homey and comfortable. It’s like you’re on vacation, but you’re in Oak Park.” It seems nowadays that area restaurants grab at chances as weather warms to put tables and chairs outside, hoping vitamin D-deficient Chicagoans will patronize eateries in order
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of the Best Outdoor Dining Venues in the Western Burbs
to soak in some precious summer sun. There are, however, several restaurants in the Chicago suburbs, like Maya Del Sol, that excel at the al fresco dining experience, that succeed in transporting their guests to another environment, and cause them to forget about any prospect of an impending Midwest winter. Some throw an all-out party while others present a more intimate vibe, but all these restaurants allow for dining experiences that will tempt you outdoors again and again. Maya Del Sol, Oak Park The patio at Maya Del Sol, with its rectangular mirrors, blue and yellow walls, decorative lamps and fire pit, feels almost as if it’s a vibrant living room brought outdoors. But as its regular diners will tell you, it has become somewhat of a destination in itself. It has become so popular — despite its setting amid houses and a neighboring apartment building, which makes it so music can only be played outdoors on speakers instead of live — that it has been expanded twice since the Latin fusion restaurant opened nine years ago, according to General Manager Chris Ramirez. The patio seats 185 people, he says, 10 more spots than the indoor seating of 175. It also has its own bar to minimize the wait for Maya Del Sol’s margaritas. Seats outdoors are first-come, first-serve and open “whenever people are brave enough to come out here.” Amy Juel and Jessica Daly, both of Oak Park, say they come every few months and more in the summer time because of the patio, partly because they feel like they’re on a mini-vacation whenever they’re sitting outdoors, sipping drinks.
“We always know the food and the drinks and the service are going to be really good,” says Duel. “It’s not like any other restaurant, even downtown (Chicago).” Ramirez calls the area “a nice little escape” that has turned into somewhat of a de facto community center while also drawing guests from farther suburbs. (Maya Del Sol is, in fact, co-owned by Anan Abu-Taleb, who serves as the mayor of Oak Park.) TOPAZ CAFé, Burr Ridge
“It’s unique because it’s a meeting place for any type of vocation, really,” says Ramirez. “On any given night in the same room, you can have a first date, you can have a birthday celebration, you can have a family with kids, you can have a business meeting. It’s really turned into a style and a location that fits any occasion.” 144 S. Oak Park Ave., 708 358-9800, www.mayadelsol.com Il Vicolo Trattoria, Oak Park In Italian, “il vicolo” means walkway, and that typifies the experience of dining outdoors at Il Vicolo Trattoria in Oak Park.
Large, white, square-shaped umbrellas emblazoned with the restaurant’s logo shade the outdoor space, giving it a tent-like feel. Ferns, shrubs and flowers rise up from planters surrounding the alleyway area, setting it off from the traffic on Oak Park Avenue. Set in between two buildings, the patio seats about 100 people and more than doubles the space of the restaurant, which holds 92 people indoors, according to Manager Andrew Bejlovec. Bejlovec, who’s been working at the restaurant since it opened in August 2011, says “it’s just the atmosphere that we provide, once our flowers are completely grown in,” that makes the al fresco area special. He adds that the restaurant makes its pastas, which include eight-finger cavatelli and seafood linguine, fresh and in-house. Each day, it offers a long list of $20 bottles of wine that includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti and Pinot Grigio, which patrons can enjoy on the patio. “Tons of people tell us,” he says, “when they sit down — with the brick patio with the umbrellas hanging over and all the plants and the little bit of music that we play — people really say they feel like they’re in Italy, that they’re right in Naples.” 116 N. Oak Park Ave., 708 386-5801, www.ilvicolotrattoria.com Topaz Café, Burr Ridge Flames shoot out from two rectangular fire features. White curtains drift from a pair of cabanas and bright orange cushions adorn seats near picturesque birch trees. On Wednesdays, a Spanish guitarist strums rhythms through the air. It could be Miami, or poolside at a five-star hotel in Las Vegas. But it’s not.
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DINING AL FRESCO It’s Burr Ridge. Specifically, it’s the L-shaped patio at Topaz Café, set on a corner in the Burr Ridge Village Center. The patio seats about 150 people, says Becky Fleck, the special events director, and consists of three main areas — the patio bar, which has a small television; the dining area, which takes reservations; and the patio lounge, with its idyllic cabanas that are first-come, first-serve. The full menu, including diver scallops and ricotta gnocchi served with braised beef, is available to patio diners, and the seafood tower, replete with lobster, shrimp and crab, is a summer favorite outdoors. The dishes, combined with the patio and its cabanas, exude a bit of urban chic with suburban accessibility, not to mention tranquility. “It’s hidden away,” Fleck says. “You know, you’ve got a lot of green space. It just feels like you’re in another world when you IVY, Wheaton
get all the cushions and the curtains. Sometimes I see people out here, and they say, ‘Oh my gosh, I feel like we’re in Florida, or I feel like we’re somewhere else.’” 780 Village Center Dr., 630 654-1616, www.topazcafe.com Atwater’s at the Herrington Inn & Spa, Geneva Just beyond the courtyard of the outdoor dining space at Atwater’s, the Fox River rushes by. Inside the courtyard,
ATWATER’S, Geneva
a picturesque gazebo stands, overlooking countless outdoor weddings, and beside that, a heron sculpture perches above a stone fountain. A semi-circle of tables, chairs and a high-top table, with a couple of umbrellas for shade on sunny days, extend the cozy ambience of the upscale Atwater’s restaurant to the outdoors. The enclosed gazebo is also available for a rental fee for two to eight dining guests, with the chef creating a customized menu for the intimate experience on the waterfront. Birds chirp nearby on the patio as restaurant patrons cut into the restaurant’s well-known angus filet mignon or savor a glass from the extensive wine menu. A favorite way to unwind for Caitlyn Rachkova, a bartender at Atwater’s, is to bite into a steak salad while sipping a glass of Chardonnay. “It’s just a nice, relaxing escape,” she says. “There are few places in the suburbs where you can feel like you’re at a French chalet, looking at the river.” 15 S. River Ln., 630 208-7433, www.atwatersgeneva.com Carlucci Restaurant & Bar, Downers Grove If, while seated on the expansive patio at Carlucci in Downers Grove, you look over at the water spewing from multiple lions’ mouths and think, “This feels like Florence,” it could be because the fountain
has actually been toted over from Italy. “It’s kind of cool having a piece of Italy here at our restaurant,” says General Manager Sharon Borkowicz. “We try to make it an authentic Tuscan experience. You have the ivy on the walls. You have the hedges. You have beautiful scenery out there.” Though guests can dine on the patio any time they’d like, weather-permitting, Carlucci will host its official patio kickoff party at 5:30 p.m. June 9. Each $30 ticket ($20 for designated drivers) includes a buffet, drinks, entertainment, a photo WILDWOOD, Geneva
booth and several liquor vendors offering samples of various vodkas and gins. The atmosphere on the patio during the day is relaxed, says Borkowicz, with patrons coming out to enjoy the weather and food. But in the evening, she adds, particularly when the live entertainment starts — anything from blues to jazz to
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REDSTONE, Oakbrook Terrace
pop hits — the patio starts jumping. Typically, live entertainment runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays (when the patio is open) and from 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturdays. “It definitely kicks it up,” she says. “It’s very lively, very energetic. And just a great place to hang out.” There’s even a tableside magician from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Sunday. Food specials at Carlucci abound, and guests can enjoy calamari, pizza and other appetizers on weekdays inside and outside the patio from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for $5 each; they can snag $5 martinis on Wednesdays; they can bring their own wine on Thursdays without corkage fees and they can snag penny wine — two glasses of wine for a penny with an entrée — on Fridays. Of course, at any time, they can enjoy a Carlucci classic — linguine turned tableside in a hallowed-out parmesan cheese wheel with fresh basil and prosciutto. “It just gets cheesy and yummy,” Borkowicz says. She adds that there are “an awful lot of patios,” and “if you can put out a table, great. But a lot of patios, unfortunately, face parking lots, whereas ours is fully enclosed. So it’s like dining in a Tuscan backyard.” 1801 Butterfield Rd., 630 512-0990, www.carluccirestaurant.com
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Oak Brook Don’t be fooled by the location of Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse. Yes, it’s right by Oakbrook Center, but when you’re dining on the majestic, 5,000-sq-ft patio, it’s the sound of water — not cars — that you’ll hear. A 150-ft-long fountain, replete with miniature waterfalls, masks the vehicle noises from the street, says Manager Carlos Chaves. “It’s absolutely beautiful,” he says. “We’re just trying to recreate a suburban oasis. It’s got a nice, bright, elegant atmosphere outside.” Fire leaps up from a pair of pits to enhance the view for people seated at about 40 tables on Gibsons’ patio, and a separate bar area, with another fire feature, houses about ten additional tables. A DJ plays to the crowd — from 1970s to hip hop to electronic music — in the outdoor bar area from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday nights, Chaves says, “So it goes from
of Christian Louboutin shoes. So there’s that, plus the massive W.R.’s Chicago Cut, a 22-oz hunk of bone-in ribeye. “We are very consistent with our service and our product,” Chaves says. It’s a beautiful ambience. It’s gorgeous. We found that niche — when you find great service, great ambience and great food, it equals a great time.” 2105 S. Spring Rd., 630 954-0000, www.gibsonssteakhouse.com/oak-brook CiNe, Hinsdale The word “cine” in Spanish means “theater,” and in the serene outdoor patio at CiNe — a contemporary taqueria — remnants of the former iconic, 1920s-era Hinsdale Theater, which houses the restaurant, echo. The decorative patio, which seats about 40 to 50 people, features Mexican-style candelabras that hang from two steel bridges, and the outdoor area also
PINSTRIPES, Oak Brook
dining to kind of a party scene a little bit.” The outdoor bar is cigar-friendly, as well. Every night, there are drink specials, and if that’s not enough, on Tuesday nights there’s a DJ inside Gibsons, $9 red bottom ‘tinis, and a raffle for a pair
showcases original lamps from the theater, known for its Renaissance Revival style. Two huge garden pots, which contain flowers and peppers when in bloom, bring bursts of color to the patio. New this summer, says bar manager Luis
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Things get jazzy on Friday nights, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., when one or two live musicians play. And the late-nighters win every Sunday through Thursday, when bowling and bocce after 9 p.m. is just one dollar per person per hour. 7 Oak Brook Center Mall, 630 575-8700, www.pinstripes.com
FIORA’S, Geneva
Mendoza, guitarist Jim Perona and singer Michael Lynch — the latter of whom’s rendition of “Bailamos” made judges’ chairs turn when he competed on NBC’s “The Voice” — will move their live sets out to the patio. Perona and Lynch perform from about 6:30 p.m. to around 8:30 p.m.. on the last Thursday of each month. For the first time, the restaurant will also place a grill on the patio. “We’re going to have a chef pretty much cooking in front of everyone as they order,” says Mendoza. As for drinks, Mendoza says he makes most of them from scratch, using ingredients like Mexican chili powder, fresh sundried peppers, cucumber, prickly pears, tamarindos (tamarind), watermelon, sugar and spices. Mendoza says if he gets free time to enjoy the patio, he likes a hand-shaken margarita with fresh lime juice and cilantro with ceviche, a raw seafood dish made with citrus juices. CiNe offers a variety of specials, including 30 percent off bottles of wine on Tuesdays, $5 margaritas on Wednesdays, half-off appetizers on Thursdays, buy one get one half off of fajitas on Fridays and Saturdays, and kids eat free on Sundays. 29 E. 1st St., 630 590-5655, www.cinehinsdale.com
Pinstripes, Oak Brook The outdoor fun at Pinstripes in Oak Brook is not confined just to one story. The patio, fire pits and bocce courts are spread onto two levels, where the dining and bar menus are full service, whether you’re relaxing at one of the tables or playing in one of five enclosed bocce courts, which feature garage-style doors that can open
Charleston on the River, St. Charles When Charleston on the River opened earlier this year in the former home of Bistro One West, it retained one its predecessor’s most appealing assets — the sprawling wooden deck, now painted a walnut-colored brown, which just happens to overlook the Fox River in downtown St. Charles. The patio at Charleston on the River, opened by Marwan Taib, who also owns the Spotted Fox Ale House in St. Charles, seats about 150 people and places diners right next to flowing water as they enjoy crab cakes, mango mahi and steak merlot under hanging lights and green umbrellas. On Saturdays, Charleston on the River hosts a live piano player starting at 9 p.m. The restaurant also brings in occasional
MESON SABIKA, Naperville
up when the temps rise. (Six more bocce courts are located fully indoors.) If you feel like venturing indoors to play in any of Pinstripes’ 16 bowling lanes — eight downstairs and eight upstairs — you can do that, too, and order things like tomato-mozzarella bruschetta and yellowfin tuna flatbread off the menu.
rock and country acts. And if you fancy a drink outdoors, its bar pours at least eight different cocktails, including Scotch with apple juice and ginger ale and sparkling wine with pomegranate flavors. 1 W. Illinois St., 630 549-7712, www.charlestonontheriver.com
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Palmer Place Restaurant & Biergarten, La Grange For a beer and a burger outdoors, head to the roof of Palmer Place Restaurant & Biergarten in downtown La Grange. The family-owned restaurant thrives on the outdoors so much that it has more seating outside — 260 — than indoors, about 200. The tagline for the restaurant is “Where Neighbors Become Friends,” and the atmosphere outdoors is one of conviviality. “You feel comfortable out there,” says Gus Manriquez, a manager who’s worked at Palmer Place for 21 years. “It’s very friendly, very laid back.” The restaurant has more than 30 different kinds of burgers, including a couple made with Wagyu beef and the aptly named “Olive This Burger.” Its beer menu includes brews from all over the world. Manriquez says his ideal meal on the
Palmer Place deck or roof is just a “regular American cheeseburger with bacon on it and a cold Miller Lite. Very American.” 56 S. La Grange Rd., 708 482-7127, www.palmerslagrange.com
OTHER GREAT OUTDOOR DINING VENUES Adelle’s, Wheaton A few blocks west of the downtown area, this pergola-topped patio evokes the popular restaurant’s eclectic American bistro roots, with iron fencing and a flower garden accented by sculptures and 100 hand-made glass flowers. 535 W. Liberty Dr., 630 784-8015, www.adelles.com Ballydoyle Irish Pub, Downers Grove and Aurora While the Ballydoyle Irish Pub’s first outdoor eating area at its Downers Grove
VILLA VERONE, Geneva
location is set up in an alleyway that holds about 50 people, its newer Aurora location has a setup on a patio that overlooks the Fox River and can seat 150 to 200 people. 5157 Main St., Downers Grove, 630 969-0600 and 28 W. New York St., Aurora, 630 844-0400, www.ballydoylepub.com
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DINING AL FRESCO
EMILIO’S, Hillside
Country House, Geneva You’re truly on what feels like the deck of a country house at the Country House, where a bevy of umbrellas provide shade as you scarf down peanuts, salad and Country and Elk Burgers. 2095 S. Kirk Rd., 630 208-8181, www.burgerone.com Emilio’s Tapas, Hillside Enclosed by a stone wall and accented by large pots overflowing with flowers, this patio carries the Mediterranean restaurant’s festive atmosphere outdoors. Choose from a variety of Spanish tapas and enjoy sangria and other libations and live music. 4100 Roosevelt Rd., 708 547-7177, www.emiliostapas.com Fiora’s, Geneva The picturesque yellow building that houses the European- and Americaninspired cuisine at Fiora’s boasts a sun room, as well as an extensive patio, where guests dine on Coq au Vin and duck breast under archways of lights. 317 S. Third St., 630-262-1317, www.fioras.com Harry Caray’s, Lombard Delivering a blast from the past every Friday on its patio, Harry Caray’s offers up Retro Fridays. Enjoy classic arcade games, throwback food specials and 70s, 80s and 90s music.
COUNTRY HOUSE, Geneva
70 Yorktown Shopping Center, 630 953-3400, www.harrycarays.com Hillgrove Tap, Western Springs Situated on a corner at the edge of downtown Western Springs, this 60-plus seat outdoor area features comfortable, colorful cushions, umbrellas and outdoor heaters for cool nights. Enjoy classic American culinary favorites and choose from among a variety of craft beers. 800 Hillgrove Ave., 708 290-0055, www.hillgrovetap.com Ivy, Wheaton Ivy, the plant, gives outdoor diners a visual picture of the restaurant’s namesake, crawling up Ivy’s brick wall in the outdoor space, which seats about 90 guests. 120 N. Hale St., 630 665-2489, www.ivyofwheaton.com Jimmy’s Grill, Naperville Located in the heart of downtown just minutes from the Riverwalk, this is a great place to relax with a beverage, people watch, and enjoy traditional casual fare, from burgers and sandwiches to salads and small plates. 245 S. Washington St., 630 548-2500, www.jimmysgrillnaperville.com Mesón Sabika, Naperville The mansion elegance of Mesón Sabika extends outdoors, where tables
and chairs for about 170 people are set up. Out here, guests dine on the restaurant’s tapas against a backdrop of towering trees and amid walkways bursting with floral color. 1025 Aurora Ave., 630 983-3000, www.mesonsabika.com
PAZZI DI PIZZA, Elmhurst
Pazzi di Pizza, Elmhurst Cozy patio with seating for 50 at the south edge of the downtown area, offering woodfired pizza and other traditional Italian cuisine, along with boutique wines and hand-crafted cocktails, plus occasional live entertainment. 105 S. York St., 630 279-2323, www.pazzidipizza.com Pizza Barra, Oak Brook With both high top and low tables, this 80-90 seat patio overlooks a pond and contains a 12-seat bar and fire pit.
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Live music takes place on Friday and Saturday nights. 3011 Butterfield Rd., 630 861-6177, www.pizzabarra.com Poor Phil’s Shell Bar, Oak Park Poor Phil’s has been rich in seafood for decades. Tables and chairs stretch onto the sidewalk under the eatery’s tri-colored awning, awaiting guests’ orders of gumbo, shrimp creole and crab legs. 139 S. Marion, 708 848-0871, www.poorphils.com Roberto’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, Elmhurst The outdoor seating area of this 54-year-old Italian mainstay overlooks neighboring park Wild Meadows Trace in Elmhurst’s Spring Road business district. 483 S. Spring Rd., 630 279-8486, www.robertosristorante.net Redstone American Grill, Oakbrook Terrace Nestled in a corporate area and overlooking a small pond, Redstone American Grill draws business professionals and families to its outdoor seating area, covered by a roof overhead and filled with flowers and fire pits. 13 Lincoln Court, 630 268-0313, www.redstonegrill.com Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano, Geneva The patio sprawls out into the front yard of this classic Geneva Italian restaurant, where guests walk under an arch into what feels like the garden of a vintage home. 416 Hamilton St., 630 232-2201, www.villaverone.net Wildwood, Geneva Navy blue umbrellas shade diners at this restaurant near Geneva’s bustling Third Street, where they dine on oysters and burgers while facing a courtyard and listening to a gurgling brook nearby. 477 S. Third St., 630 377-8325, www.wildwoodsteak.com
Experience the Finest Selection of Italian Cuisine One-of-a-Kind Gourmet Specialties, Custom Created by Experienced Chefs 483 Spring Road www.robertosristorante.com
•
Elmhurst
630.279.8486
Mon - Thurs 11 am - 11 pm • Fri 11 am - midnight • Sat 4 pm - midnight • Sun 2 - 10 pm
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Taking the
Though serving different purposes, ponds and pools both have the capacity to transform a typical backyard into an inviting personal or family retreat. Photo courtesy of King’s Landscaping
by Sara Pearsaul Vice
ho can resist the sound and sight of water? After all, the most expensive real estate is usually near a lake or the ocean, families travel for miles to visit water parks, and resorts outdo one another on spectacular fountains and pools. So it follows that, for suburban homes that are far from a river or lake, adding a pool or pond to the backyard is a popular substitute for natural water features. In fact, local pool and pond builders are incredibly busy these days, as more homeowners are looking to bring a bit of the resort experience home.
The Aquatic Lifestyle “Once you have a pond, you just want to sit by it,” explains George Janowiak, president of Gem Ponds in Roselle. “It all starts with the sound of water in the backyard. Some people run their pond or waterfall all year. If you want to get more involved, a lot of clients are fish fanatics. They treat their fish like pets.” He has koi in his own home pond, which have lived 20 years, outlasting many of his other pets. George Campbell and Ken Micetich of Burr Ridge are now on their third generation of koi in their backyard pond and stream, which was built by King’s Landscaping Co. of Hinsdale. Campbell
likes to spend time pulling unwanted plants from the pond, outwitting herons with a fishing line “fence” in the pond, and tending the fish, which they give away when the number of fish outgrows the space. They enjoy dinners on the patio adjoining the pond, which is lit for night viewing. “We try to make it a different look every year, in terms of the plants we put in the pond,” Campbell says. For Lou Downes, president of Downes Swimming Pool Company of Arlington Heights, his own pool and spa are used almost year-round for entertaining family and friends. He even convinced visitors from California and Florida to take a dip
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dscaping
Photo courtesy of Downes Swimming Pool
in the pool in December, which was heated to 90 degrees. “Pools here are not for a three-month season,” Downes asserts. His company begins opening pools in March and many clients keep their pools open through December. For the true polar bears, he recommends a pathway with radiant heat from the home to the pool to make cold weather swims more inviting. Beyond the enjoyment of swimming, pools can be true objects of beauty. “We try to create yard art on a grand scale,” Downes says. “It’s an extension of your home.” Although pools are frequently built by homeowners with older children or grandchildren, he now sees greater demand from families with young children. One client shared that, thanks to the pool, his home is where his extended family now gathers. Downes points to after-school parties, graduation parties, and holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as perfect occasions for pool parties. For nighttime events, pools can now come equipped with their own LED light shows. “It’s like the Bellagio,” says Scott Poulos, owner of Naperville Pools, of the special lighting effects that can be incorporated into a pool. “You just hit a button and change colors in all different modes, which can sync up with lights on the steps, in the pool, and in laminar flow
Photo courtesy of CB Conlin Landscapes
fountains,” all from a remote control device or a smartphone. Design Options Almost anything is possible in the design of water features, which can be built in all shapes and sizes with a multitude of tempting add-ons like waterfalls, spillover spas connected with the pool, sun shelves for basking, bubblers, deck jets and fountains. Whether you prefer an elaborate entertainment area with a pool or a quiet place to reflect by a pond, the experts agree that the place to start planning is your budget. Ponds and recirculating waterfalls start at $5,000 to $8,000 and range all the way up to several hundred thousand dollars, depending on the size, depth and extras, explains Brian Helfrich, construction manager for Aquascape in St. Charles, a pioneer in the pond industry. In addition to installation costs, ponds and pools alike require electricity to circulate and filter the water. Helfrich says his first question to clients is what they are looking for in a water feature, whether a pond deep enough to keep fish in all seasons, a meandering stream to attract birds or an interactive outdoor classroom for kids. He then asks homeowners to think about the desired location. “Most people want
to put a pond in the area of the yard they haven’t done anything with, which is usually a back corner,” Helfrich observes. “The reason the back corner hasn’t been used is that nobody wants to go back there. I want to bring it up as close to the house as possible. We design it from the inside so they can see it from inside the house.” Mark Speers, landscape architect with King’s Landscaping, says that smaller, recirculating water features are also popular, such as fountains near entryways, spill walls where water falls from a vertical band into a basin, or small waterfalls that flow into a dry pond bed. He also designs for clients looking for the “wow factor” of a large pond, which can range up to 30 to 40 feet long. According to Jim Eiler, vice president of Aqua Pools in Homer Glen, the cost of an in-ground pool depends on the type of construction. Gunite (concrete) is the most expensive type of pool, followed by fiberglass in the mid-range and vinyl liner pools at the low end. His firm’s in-ground pool projects generally run from $30,000 to $60,000. In contrast, above-ground pools cost $5,000 to $7,000 installed, as excavation is not required, although leveling the ground is critical. Eiler explains that above-ground pools that are buried partially underground can cost almost as much as a vinyl liner in-ground pool, so it is important to compare costs.
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Photo courtesy of Aquascape Designs
TAKING THE PLUNGE
Get a Firsthand Look at Great Backyard Ponds Check out this summer’s Water & Garden Showcase
I
f you’ve always wanted a view
designed for size, functionality and
of the water, you don’t have
sustainability, including bubbling
to move near a lake or river to
urns, fire pits and bowls, rainwater
live your dream, as visitors to the
harvesting systems, land bridges
2016 Aquascape Water & Garden
that connect water and garden
Showcase will discover.
elements, three-tiered waterfalls
and gently winding streams. Also
Sponsored by St. Charles-based
pond specialists Aquascape Designs,
featured will be a variety of water
the showcase will consist of four
and seasonal garden plants, as well
community events featuring public
as colorful aquatic life including koi,
access to a series of private gardens
catfish, goldfish, turtles, frogs and
and water features. The free,
other species.
self-guided tours are open-house
style and participants can visit one
complimentary refreshments at
home or all.
a “Pond Central” location, where
experts will share inspiration, tips
The first three tours will take
Each walk will also feature
place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
and design ideas.
Saturdays starting on June 18 in
Geneva, which will include six homes,
all ages, provides ideas for patios
followed by a five-home tour in
and gardens small and large, and
Elmhurst on July 16, and a seven-
is an opportunity to experience the
home tour in Naperville on Aug.
unique beauty and serenity of a
20. The Showcase will culminate
water view right ‘at home,’” says
with a final tour of six properties in
Aquascape’s Brian Helfrich.
St. Charles from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on
Sept. 17, followed by an evening
Aquascape Water & Garden
celebration at Aquascape’s offices.
Showcase — including maps,
descriptions and locations — visit
The various properties will
spotlight an array of water features
POOLS_PONDS_06_16_FINAL.indd 58
He recommends that homeowners build in money for landscaping, including both the hardscape terrace and the plantings that will enhance the aesthetics of the pool. Speers of King’s Landscaping suggests planting perennials, grasses and sedges around a pond for a more natural look, but he cautions that irises and water lilies can take over the pond if not properly planted. At Paradise Pools in Plainfield, owner Jim Vowels recommends vinyl liner pools, which he constructs with steel and concrete walls. He estimates the average cost of $40,000 for a 16-ft by 32-ft vinyl liner pool or about half the cost of a gunite pool. “The vinyl liner can be replaced in 10 to 15 years, and there are 30 to 40 patterns that homeowners can choose from,” Vowels says. He does not recommend one-piece fiberglass pools, due to the damage that can be caused by our winter climate with its frequent freezes and thaws. High-end custom pools can cost well into the hundreds of thousands, depending on how elaborate the project, and the addition of major structures like pavilions can boost the total project cost even higher. Clearly, it pays to explore the options and to know what you are willing to spend for the entire project so that you can plan accordingly.
“Our summer showcase is fun for
For details about the 2016
www.aquascapechicagoland.com.
Easier Maintenance and Greater Safety Two of the main concerns that homeowners face when deciding on a pool or a pond are how much maintenance is involved and how they can ensure their family’s and neighbors’ safety. According to Helfrich of Aquascape, the advanced technology of pond filtration means that the time required for regular pond maintenance is about equal to the same amount of lawn. He estimates it takes just five to 10 minutes a week to pull weeds, but “if you don’t do it weekly, it will take more time,” he advises. For pools, the big advancement in maintenance and safety is the automatic
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ut
.
te
ol.
s.
Photo courtesy of Downes Swimming Pool Company
l.
pool cover. Downes explains that pool covers are installed below the level of the deck on parallel tracks. The covers work best for rectangular pools but they can also be installed on other pool shapes. “It takes a minute to turn the key and close the cover,” he says. Pool covers help keep operating costs down by retaining the heat of the water and also provide an extra level of safety for children and pets. He notes that new energy-efficient pool systems help keep energy costs down as well. Poulos of Naperville Pools says that salt water systems make pools “almost maintenance free.” He only installs salt water systems, rather than chlorine, in the pools he builds. “It sanitizes and creates chlorine but without the negative effects,” he adds, noting that swimmers can’t taste the salt in the water. He cautions, however, that salt water
systems can cause corrosion in gunite pools. He also recommends investing in an automatic cleaning system, which works like a sprinkler system at the bottom of the pool to sweep debris to the main drain, where it can be taken out. Plug-in robotic cleaners are also available, which climb all pool surfaces for cleaning. Of course, pool covers work to keep leaves and dirt out of the pool as well. Fences are another safety feature required
by many suburban municipalities for pools and ponds of a certain depth. Poulos notes that pool fences must comply with local regulations, with gates that open out and are self-closing and self-locking. For pools that have lasted a few decades or more, area pool builders offer remodeling services, which can include resurfacing the pool itself and replacing the coping and deck with new pavers or concrete. If you are inspired to add a pool or pond to your backyard this summer, the time to start is now. The permit process can take months, while installation can range from days to weeks, depending on the size and type of the project. But there is still time to put in a water feature by fall. “As long as the ground isn’t frozen,” says Janowiak of Gem Ponds, “we can start a pond project.” n
g
r.
d
ce
n
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Photo courtesy of Scott Shuptrine Interiors
Contemporary Style The latest trends in modern décor and how to make them work for your home.
B
y definition, contemporary style is dynamic — it’s ever-changing and eclectic, taking cues from a variety of design styles and eras and giving them a new slant. Typically, it’s a pared-down look, with an emphasis on shape and color. “When it comes to interior design, the word ‘contemporary’ can be a bit blurred. It can refer to any style that is trending currently,” says Therese Lewis, interior
by Lisa Sloan designer at Scott Shuptrine Interiors in Downers Grove. “However, most people associate contemporary design with sleek lines and unique architecture.” The look is enduring, says Donna Hall, president of Donna Mondi Interior Design in Hinsdale and Chicago. “Contemporary design will always be popular because it always leans towards the latest trends and incorporates the newest technological advancements,” she explains.
Simple and Comfortable
The simplicity of the contemporary look is especially appealing in light of today’s busy lifestyles. “With contemporary, less is more,” says Kathleen Newhouse of Toms-Price in Wheaton. “It’s not a cluttered look.” Bob Williams, co-founder and president of design at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, with 30 locations around the world including Oak Brook and downtown Chicago, says his business
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Though some might think contemporary design is more at home in the city, it can work just as well in the suburbs. Hall, who has locations in both city and suburbs, says she is seeing clients more interested in modern details in their suburban homes, especially those former city-dwellers who have moved to the suburbs. To make contemporary choices, she takes the architecture of the client’s home into account. “If it is a more traditional home in the suburbs, we’ll do rich moldings and interesting millwork but add in more clean-lined furniture and abstract art for balance. In the city, we’re seeing much more contemporary design with clean lines in the architecture.” Williams says modern or contemporary upholstery, with elements such as track arms, a simple shape, and clean, solid fabrics such as velvet or linen, can be a great way to introduce contemporary style into a more traditional home. He lives in a red brick Georgian colonial with columns, a marble fireplace and traditional moldings, but all of his furnishings are very contemporary or modern. “It doesn’t have to be all of one or nothing,” says Williams. “You can mix some of your favorite more traditional pieces with something like a big brass cocktail table with a mirrored top.” Fabrics and Finishes
Metallics and mixed metals are big in contemporary looks, and there is a movement away from the cool, shiny chromes to warmer metals, like copper, brushed brass and gold. “Gold finishes
Past Presence
Photos courtesy of Donna Mondi Interior Design
Beyond Urban
are on everything, from sleek plumbing fixtures to modern mirrors to furniture bases and legs,” says Hall. “It’s not your mother’s brass, but a more sophisticated and softer gold.” “I am seeing a lot of mixing of different elements of gold, silver, copper and bronze,” says Newhouse. During her recent trip to the spring furniture market in High Point, North Carolina, she saw many instances of traditional case goods, like tables, incorporating metal, stone, glass, acrylic and even ceramic elements. Such unconventional elements make the furnishings more than functional. “Each furniture piece is like a work of art,” says Lewis. Hot patterns in fabric are replicating natural materials but with a “glam factor,” says Hall, pointing to stone marble patterns, faux bois (looks like tree bark), concrete, and animal skins such as shagreen, alligator and snake. “The twist is in the finishing with patent shine, metallic sheens, or intense bold colors,” says Hall. “We like texture a lot,” says Kristin Petro, owner of Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc. in Elmhurst. “Right now, we lean on texture more than pattern. People like texture and tone on tone rather than pattern.” In addition to natural fabrics, like linens and wools, Petro has also seen many “outdoor” fabrics being used for interiors as people look for easy-care and durability.
Contemporary design can take many forms but often encompasses one or more of the following elements — clean lines; bright pops of color; varied patterns, textures and finishes; minimal clutter; eclectic furnishings; and the utilization of abstract or modern art. Photo courtesy of Scott Shuptrine Interiors
nteriors
focuses on modern style that is simple, beautiful and comfortable. “A lot of people think that contemporary is loud and harsh, but true classic modern is very subtle and serene,” maintains Williams.
“Current design trends have an ‘anything goes’ approach from rustic, reclaimed, industrial furniture to sophisticated, simplified, high-end styles rooted in traditionalism,” says Lewis. “Many of the lines are reminiscent of mid-century modern furniture, known for its simple, clean form.” Contemporary looks often borrow from the past. For example, at Mitchell WEST SUBURBAN LIVING | WWW.WESTSUBURBANLIVING.NET | JUNE 2016 61
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Photo courtesy of Toms-Price Home Furnishings
CONTEMPORARY STYLE of colors you use to two or three, or several shades of one color. “Limiting the number of patterns and colors makes decorating so much easier, which is important, because today life is so much more complicated than it used to be,” says Williams. “It’s really important that when you get home and close the door, you are in an environment that is very relaxing, soothing and calming.” Like Williams, Lewis favors solids over patterns when it comes to upholstery because they “allow the form of the individual piece to become the star.” Lighting and Art
unexpected fabric pairings. “It’s traditional turned on its ear,” she says. Contemporary looks are known for bright pops of color against neutral backdrops or a tone-on-tone, monochromatic sophistication. While the color story last year was a bit more muted, color is emerging again. “Grays are still very popular, but we’re seeing more black and brown, blues and pinks,” says Newhouse. Williams advises limiting the number
Color Cues
Though neutrals, like grays and beiges, will always have a place, richer accent colors are gaining favor, including jewel tones, like emerald and eggplant. “Saturated, rich colors with intensity are popular right now,” says Hall. “These can be mixed with the grays of the past decade to tone them down, or you can make the commitment and go with a rich and moody color scheme.” “People are still into the gray, but we are finding that it’s warming up a little more and leaning more toward rich earthy colors,” says Petro, noting that a recent client had grown tired of her gray walls and came to them seeking warmer tones. Newhouse has also observed a resurgence of color, particularly in accent pieces, like reproduction antique chairs painted in bright hues or featuring
Photo courtesy of Toms-Price Home Furnishings
Gold + Bob Williams, the 1970s is currently a big influence on some of their designs, from upholstery and chairs to lighting and accent tables. “The whole period is reemerging as being something fashionable,” explains Williams. “We are not recreating the 1970s, however, just using it an inspiration. We are taking some shapes from that period and updating them with modern fabrics and a fresh color palette.”
Lighting is the easiest way to define a style and make a statement in your home. “The two hot trends in lighting are midcentury inspired fixtures and sculptural, more glamorous options,” says Hall, who recently juxtaposed sculptural lighting against dramatic black lacquered walls in a client’s dining room. Choosing lighting elements with a modern aesthetic can make a whole room feel more contemporary. It’s also an easy way to incorporate a different material, whether that’s glass, stainless steel or vintage brass, adding another layer of interest to a
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Photo courtesy of Toms-Price Home Furnishings
room. “Lighting is amazing because it is a sculptural element with a lot of depth that comes from the texture, shape or material itself,” says Williams. Mixing in abstract artwork with traditional pieces is another way to introduce a bit of contemporary flair. “Contemporary art is really taking off. People are getting away from traditional art and doing a lot more abstract and multimedia,” says Newhouse. “There is less conformity and more of a need to express themselves.” One nice thing about contemporary and transitional looks is that they give you a relatively neutral palette and backdrop into which you can introduce different elements, like artwork and heirlooms. “We call that a collected look,” says Petro. “It looks like you have pulled pieces together that you love, and they all feel contemporary in nature.” Williams recommends being choosy about such pieces, using them to add limited touches of color to the room without overwhelming it. “When everything is screaming for attention, the whole room is shouting,” he says.
708-398-32 2 2 | www.silverleafconstruction.net
Renovations • Additions • Kitchens • Baths
Personal Preference
Before choosing a style, whether it’s contemporary, modern, transitional or something else, Williams and most designers recommend thinking about how each room will be used, which will help narrow your choices. “Decorating plays second fiddle to how you want to live in a room,” he says. Though many love the look, contemporary design is not for everyone. “As with any style, you have to feel it,” says Petro, whose clients tend to find that transitional looks are more accessible. “If it’s not your thing, you have to find your thing. Look on Houzz or Pinterest, and don’t just look at individual pieces but the overall feeling you get from the room. Find the thing that evokes the best reaction from you and embrace it. If you like it, it will last longer than picking something because it’s a trend.” WEST SUBURBAN LIVING | WWW.WESTSUBURBANLIVING.NET | JUNE 2016 63
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Elmhurst
With a convenient location close to everything, a vibrant downtown in the midst of a major expansion, and quiet tree-lined residential streets, this city has an attractive blend of the best community attributes.
by Lynn Petrak
City Centre Plaza (above right) has become a popular gathering point for residents and visitors alike. But Elmhurst also boasts a variety of other business districts as well as numerous parks, museums, and is home to the 3,300-student Elmhurst College.
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T
aglines are meant to sum up, in a pithy way, the attributes of a particular place, thing or person. In the case of west suburban Elmhurst, the tagline, “Close to Everything, Unlike Anything,” splashed around town in a variety of materials and sites, is more than apt. Elmhurst has long been a draw for its accessibility to downtown Chicago, nearby expressways, O’Hare Airport and other hubs. In that sense, its geographic location is a benefit. In another sense, Elmhurst is a distinct community because of its wide range of amenities, services and businesses and, say those who live there, its people. Indeed, Elmhurst is the kind of place in which people are born, raised — and stay. The current mayor, Steve Morley is an Elmhurst native and underscores the
fact that many of its current leaders, homeowners and business owners are lifelong residents. “With my generation, it’s a running joke that when you meet someone new in a group you ask, ‘Now, which one of you was born in Elmhurst?’” Morley says with a laugh. Scott Ahlgrim, a leader of the Spring Road Business Association, was born in town and continues a family legacy that began when his grandfather opened Ahlgrim Funeral Home in 1956. “Elmhurst is a magnet, with great schools, infrastructure, park district, hospital, library and all of those things that add to the quality of life, while the interstates and airports are close by,” says Ahlgrim. “Even when people move away for a while, when they think of settling down with a family, it’s a great place to come back to because of the tremendous things that Elmhurst has to offer.”
Longtime resident Richard Blass, who runs a law office and is a contender for the DuPage County Board, agrees that Elmhurst has always been close-knit. “I can remember as a child just walking out my front door to find a driveway full of neighborhood kids. We played baseball, went to York Commons Pool and stayed outside until the street lights went on. All the neighborhood kids and parents got along,” he says, adding that his wife, Katherine, also grew up in Elmhurst, and that their hometown remains a great place to raise their own children. While Elmhurst retains many of the inherent qualities that have long made it a popular place to live, visit and work, it’s also changing with the times. “Elmhurst has evolved by holding on to a tradition that is so hard to maintain these days. In so many ways, Elmhurst has also progressed,” observes Blass.
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Elmhurst
Photo courtesy of Elmhurst Park District
Resources
WILDER MANSION
Elmhurst Public Library Total
Holdings - 306,780 Items Checked Out Per Year - 1,296,435 Visitors Per Year - 579,525
Attractions
Elmhurst Choral Union 630 758-1100. Auditioned volunteer choir performing classical pieces as well as working with professional orchestras and soloists. Elmhurst College – 190 S Prospect Ave., 630 617-3000. Founded in 1871, it is a four year private liberal arts college with more than 3,000 students. Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra – 630 941-0202. Mix of professional and accomplished volunteer musicians has for 54 seasons played a series of concerts, now mostly at the Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church.
theatre restored and expanded to 10 screens.
Events Art
in the Park – 175 Prospect Ave., 630 993-8900. Festival featuring arts, crafts and food vendors in May.
Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot: A 5K Fun Run – Downtown Elmhurst, 630 415-2816. Annual 5K run to raise money for Thanksgiving meals for those in need in November. Festival of Lessons & Carols 190 S Prospect Ave., 630 617-3000. Annual holiday event featuring the Elmhurst College Choirs singing carols with prayers in December. Jaycees Charity Carnival Downtown Elmhurst. Annual event featuring carnival, rides, games and more, this year set for June 9-12. Jazz
GreenMan Theatre Troupe 630 464-2646. Local theatre troupe performing original plays, classics and more.
Mansion – 211 S Prospect Ave., 630 993-8186. Historic property that formerly housed the town library, now used for special events and weddings.
Festival – 190 S Prospect Ave., 630 617-3000. Annual 4-day jazz festival in February sponsored by Elmhurst College featuring local professional and student musicians.
Wilder
Wilder Park Conservatory 225 Prospect Ave., 630 993-8186. 83-year-old conservatory featuring flower shows and a variety of unusual plants. York
Theatre – 150 N York St., 630 834-0675. Historic
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Wilson St. & Spring Rd., 630 834-0300. Parade featuring floats, marching units, animated characters, dancers and more.
Museums American
Movie Palace Museum – 152 N York St., 630 782-1800. Features a variety of objects from the great movie palaces of the past. Also home to the
Theatre Historical Society. Elmhurst Art Museum 150 S Cottage Hill Ave., 630 834-0202. Art museum providing many different kinds of exhibitions, events and programs.
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art – 220 S Cottage Hill Ave., 630 833-1616. Features gemstones and promotes the study of earth sciences. Also offers a variety of weekly activities and programs. Elmhurst Historical Museum 120 E Park Ave., 630 833-1457. Collects and interprets original materials about the history of the town, housed in the former home of Elmhurst’s first village president, Henry L. Glos.
Recreation Courts
Plus – 186 S West Ave., 630 833-5064. Community recreation facility featuring an indoor lap pool; indoor tennis, racquetball and basketball courts; and a climbing wall.
The
Hub at Berens Park 493 N Oaklawn Ave., 630 782-4955. This park features a playground, four batting cages, 18-hole mini golf, and more.
Skate
Park – 665 S York Rd., 630 993-8900. Year-round skate park featuring 10 ramps, two rails, a half pipe and more.
Wilder
Park – 175 Prospect Ave., 630 993-8900. 17-acre park featuring a playground, tennis courts and picnic areas.
Downtown: Elmhurst City Centre The fusion of tradition and progress is apparent in the heart of the community. The main business district in Elmhurst has been called different things over the years — downtown Elmhurst, “uptown” Elmhurst and now, City Centre. Although businesses have come and gone — and many are remembered fondly in places like the “I Remember Elmhurst when I was a Kid” page on Facebook — the retail landscape in City Centre remains vibrant. Here, decades-long and often multi-generational businesses like York Furrier, Tellefsen Realty, Fruitful Yield, J.C. Licht Co., West Suburban Office Products, Unique Travel Services and others, mix with newer businesses like Kilwin’s Elmhurst and Hayzl Boutique, among others. In the face of competition from nearby shopping malls like Oakbrook Center and various big box stores in the vicinity, Elmhurst City Centre has distinguished itself with its boutiques and smaller stores that offer an array of goods — from apparel and jewelry (RedE, Cottage Hill Diamonds, Hartmann Jewelers, Enzee Boutique) to gifts and home décor (the Uptown Shop) to foodstuffs (Tannins Wine Bar & Boutique and Fuego Loco Sauce Merchant). If you visit Elmhurst City Centre on any given night, you’ll see people strolling along the streets on their way into and out of various eateries in town. Those interested in fast-casual meals can patronize chains like Meatheads and Chipotle, while others can order up a world of fare (including globally-inspired ethnic foods) at places from A, as in Armand’s and Angelo’s, to Z, as in Zanzi’s Italian Deli and many points in between. Throughout City Centre, there are also veritable institutions like Hamburger Heaven, Pizza Palace, Rainbow Restaurant and Two Brothers from Italy as well as newer spots like OMG Brunch & Boutique, Pazzi di Pizza and Nu Crepes (see review on page 74), among others. Coffee lovers can fuel up at the always popular Starbucks or order up any number of drinks at the independent Brewpoint Coffee or Elijah’s Specialty Coffee and Tea.
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Searching for snacks, sweet or otherwise? You can pop into places like Chow, Courageous Bakery, Fannie May and Brain Freeze, to name a few. Elmhurst City Centre offers multiple entertainment options as well, first and foremost of which is the York Theatre, a visual icon thanks to its historic marquee. It boasts 10 screens for first-run movies and, during the summer, offers a free series of weekly children’s matinees. Those looking for a more active form of entertainment can check out Fitz’s Spare Keys, which provides bowling and live music throughout the year. In an effort to help connect people with things to do and see in the heart of Elmhurst, the Elmhurst City Centre organization is offering a free “Elmhurst Express” trolley this summer that runs on weekends from the beginning of June through mid-September. The trolley connects businesses in the main district with other points of interest around town. Summertime events also draw crowds to Elmhurst City Centre — even more than the usual throng of people who gather in City Centre Plaza. The plaza — which includes decorative fountains as well as plenty of places to sit — will be home to a series of summer concerts on the first Friday of the month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with performances by groups such as the School of Rock in Elmhurst and various musical groups affiliated with York High School, among others. Live music will also take place on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., as part of the downtown’s Block to Block parties. If you’ve driven in downtown Elmhurst recently, you might notice some new and in-progress developments. A new mixed use retail development and parking garage recently opened on Addison Avenue and the historic Plass Appliance building was razed this spring to make room for another development. Closer to North Avenue is an additional new development, aimed at attracting new residents and businesses. Morley says that building for the future is essential, because more residences and businesses — done in a controlled and thoughtful way — expand the tax base and hence provide some relief to homeowners. WEST SUBURBAN LIVING | WWW.WESTSUBURBANLIVING.NET | JUNE 2016 67
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Elmhurst
Photo by Ed Ahern
Statistical Snapshot Population 2014 est - 46,832
Increase from 2000 – 3.2% Median age – 39.9 19 and under – 29.6% 20-24 – 5.6% 25-34 – 9.2% 35-44 – 13.3% 45-54 – 15.2% 55-64 – 12.2% 65 and over – 14.9% % Male – 49.4% % Female – 50.6% % White – 89.2% % African-American – 1.9% % Asian – 5.8% % Hispanic – 6.8%
VETERANS’ MEMORIAL
Education % High school degree or higher – 95.2% % Bachelor’s degree or higher – 57.2% % Graduate or Professional degree – 21.5%
Income Median Household Income – $94,148
Housing
Gross median rent – $1,380
Total households – 16,316 % Family Households – 71.9% Avg. Household Size – 2.8 Mean Price for Detached Houses – $362,860
Owner-occupied units – 13,224
Renter-occupied units – 3,092
“My preference is to maintain growth, and also foster a positive environment,” he says. Adding luxury residences for new commuters and empty nesters is one way to do that, the mayor adds. For more information, including listings and descriptions of stores, services, restaurants and special events in Elmhurst City Centre, visit elmhurstcitycentre.com. Tree Town Meets Boomtown: Other Commercial Districts In addition to Elmhurst City Centre, this western suburb of some 42,000 residents boasts several other areas of commerce. The north edge of town, dubbed the North York Corridor, has seen some redevelopment recently, with the teardown of the former Holiday Inn hotel and the building of new places like a large Mariano’s supermarket. A freestanding LA Fitness facility is also in the works. At the intersection of Route 83 and St. Charles Road, the Elmhurst Crossing shopping center includes a newly-opened Whole Foods, Kohl’s, Petco, Bath & Body Works, Chick fil A, Portillo’s and Nothing Bundt Cakes. Other businesses rim this
Business/Employment % Residents Employed – 97.2% % Residents Unemployed – 2.8%
Avg. Travel Time to work – 28.6 min Sources: U.S. Census, City-Data.com and usa.com
western edge of town, too, including Back Alley Burger, Total Hockey, MOD Pizza, and Smashburger. In the south part of York Road, near Valette, other businesses thrive, like the HB Jones and a new adjoining indoor mini golf facility called Halfway House. Here, too, are longtime businesses like Verlare Cleaners, Luscombe Music, Mama Maria’s Pizza, Riley’s Gathering Spot and Bachabee’s Flowers & Gifts. The Spring Road Business District, in the southwest part of Elmhurst, is a unique area as well. Set along the Prairie Path, this part of town was built up along the Aurora-Elgin electric railroad line that ran there at one time. “A lot of the businesses represented the things you’d find in a small town — a hardware store, bakery, bike shop, grocery store, meat market, gas stations, liquor store and carry-out pizza,” says Ahlgrim. “Some of the businesses here today have been here a long time, like Alan Heating and Cooling and Elmhurst Auto Partners, but now there are a lot of new service-oriented businesses. That’s probably been the biggest change.” Among these newer services providers
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Photo courtesy of Elmhurst Park District
East End Pool is one of two outdoor pools in town.
are dentists, chiropractors, real estate agents and attorneys. The Spring Road area also boasts popular eateries like Roberto’s Ristorante and Pizzeria and Silverado Grill. In March, Spring Road is awash in green and lined with thousands of people who come to watch or march in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Other events in this part of Elmhurst include an annual Easter Egg Hunt, concerts at the Gazebo on Thursday nights in the summer, and Spring Road Day on the third weekend in September. Modern Works: Elmhurst Art Museum Giving new meaning to a museum housed in an important building, the Elmhurst Art Museum is located inside an actual house that was a fixture in Elmhurst for decades. Built by famed architect Mies van der Rohe, the McCormick House was built as a residence on Prospect Avenue in 1952. It was moved and turned into the Elmhurst Art Museum in 1997, thanks to a collaborative effort led in part by Elmhurst painter and art teacher Eleanor King Hookham. “The house by Mies is one of only three in the country, and in fact is one of only three houses by Mies in the world in his iconic, mature style. It is the cornerstone of our collection,” explains Executive Director Jenny Gibbs. “In addition to the Mies house, we offer changing exhibits of art and design in our beautiful galleries, free public programs most weekends, and a robust year-round roster of arts and crafts classes for kids and adults, plus our popular spring break and summer camps.” This season, visitors can browse through exhibits on “Playboy Architecture, 1953-1979” (May 6-Aug. 19); “New American Paintings: Midwest Edition”
(May 21-Aug. 28) and “The Art of Science Learning” (June 11-Sept. 4). According to Gibbs, the Playboy Architecture installation has been custom designed for this museum. The Elmhurst Art Museum can be a work in progress, much like some other artworks and exhibits there. “Last year we opened both wings of the Mies van der Rohe house for the first time since the Museum opened in 1997, and we have expanded our programs to showcase the house,” notes Gibbs. Set in Stone, Amid a Green Jewel: Lizzadro Museum, Elmhurst Conservatory, Wilder Mansion and Wilder Park There are hidden gems, and then there are gems that are right there for open appreciation. That’s the case at Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, built in 1962 by local businessman and avid lapidary collector Joseph Lizzadro. (Lapidary is the art of cutting and polishing stone.). In addition to its collections of minerals, stones and gems from around the world, the Lizzadro Museum offers special exhibits, such as “Symbolism in Chinese Jade” that runs through Aug. 21. Children can take part in programs like a stone hunt on June 4, which allows children and adults to search for gems and minerals among more common rocks. On June 18, the museum offers a Fossil Collecting Field Trip to the Mulford Quarry in Rockford, where participants can collect marine fossils from the Ordovician Period. The campus, if you will, on which the Lizzadro Museum is built, includes other attractions for which Elmhurst has become known, including the Wilder Park Conservatory. Run by the Elmhurst Park District, the conservatory was remodeled in 2014 and hosts floral displays, in addition to offering youth education programs. “The greenhouses provide a temperate growing space for plants that are utilized throughout the community and the formal gardens offer a beautiful setting for a quiet stroll or wedding ceremony,” says Ginger Wade of the Elmhurst Park District. The visual centerpiece of the campus is Wilder Mansion, formerly the site of the WEST SUBURBAN LIVING | WWW.WESTSUBURBANLIVING.NET | JUNE 2016 69
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Elmhurst Photo courtesy of the City of Elmhurst
TOWN FOCUS
The touring Colgate University Chorus performs with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.
Check us out online
4
westsuburbanliving.net
Elmhurst Public Library. The grand 9,000sq-ft mansion, with its elegant white façade, hosts a variety of special events throughout the year and is available for private rentals, including weddings. The mansion sits within the 17.3 acreWilder Park, which features a playground, a large open green space with picnic tables, and a park district building. “If City Centre is the pulse of Elmhurst, then Wilder Park is its heart,” maintains Wade. “Children enjoy the recently renovated playground, families walk and bike the pathways, and groups of all ages gather on the greenspace for games, activities and picnics.” Also nestled in this space is the Elmhurst Public Library, which moved into its current building in 2003. More than just a repository for 300,000 books, magazines, newspapers, audio books, DVDs and a vast number of other types of electronic resources, the library is an educational center, offering programs for preschoolers, elementary school students, middle schoolers, teens, adults and seniors. Time After Time: Elmhurst History Museum Near Elmhurst City Centre — not far from the railroad tracks leading to the city of Chicago that spurred development in this suburb in the 19th century — is the stately Glos Mansion, a home belonging to an early Elmhurst leader that is now the site of the Elmhurst History Museum.
The Elmhurst History Museum has become known for its creative exhibits in recent years, such as the recent “Patios, Pools and the Invention of the American Backyard” and “But Wait, There’s More: Ron Popeil,” which will run from June 17 to Sept. 18, featuring the story of a famous Chicago area inventor and pitchman. Mayor Morley says that one of his favorite exhibits at the History Museum is called “By All Accounts,” an interactive timeline of sorts for different periods in Elmhurst history. “One of the best things about the museum is how they have figured out how to make history come alive,” he says. Making a Splash: Elmhurst Park District Pools, Places and Programs In the brief-but-blissful time of year that is summer, Elmhurst offers fun in the sun at its aquatic centers. Norman P. Smalley Pool features a zero-depth entrance, water bikes, geysers, umbrella waterfalls, a diving board and water slide, and, across town, East End Pool has two diving boards and a drop slide within its 12-ft diving well. “Between the two pools there’s something for every water lover on a hot day,” says Wade. “And for those looking for the excitement of running through a sprinkler on a much larger scale, The Hub at Berens Park offers a “spray ground” with nine exciting water features in addition to
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Photo courtesy of the City of Elmhurst
its batting cages, miniature golf course and playground.” In addition to outdoor fun at pools and water playgrounds, the Elmhurst Park District has a thick catalog of programs and attractions for both residents and non-residents. The 85,000-sq-ft Courts Plus is a fitness, health and sports center as well as a tennis facility that is a non-tax supported, fully self-sustained business.
“If City Centre is the pulse of Elmhurst, then Wilder Park is its heart.” “Profits generated go back to the community to finance capital projects throughout the Park District,” explains Wade. Elmhurst Park District offers programs for all ages, adds Wade. “The District reaches nearly every neighborhood and touches countless lives, from the very youngest who play at its playgrounds and participate in early childhood programs, all the way to its active adults who spend their time in social activities at The Abbey,” she notes. The range of audiences is also evident in the many programs that the Elmhurst Park District puts on throughout the year. This summer’s events, most of which are outdoors, include the Eldridge Adventure Day on June 12 in Eldridge Park with a fishing contest, petting zoo and guided nature walk; the 27th annual Elmhurst Jaycees Charity Carnival in Elmhurst City Centre from June 9 through 12; a Kite Fest in Berens Park on Aug. 6; and Park Palooza in Berens Park on Aug. 20 with food trucks, live entertainment and a beer and wine garden. A series of movies in the park — a tradition dating back a generation — take place in Wilder Park beginning at dusk on June 17, while Concerts in the Park enliven Wilder Park on July 12 and 14. Finding Harmony: Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra In addition to its vibrant museums, WEST SUBURBAN LIVING | WWW.WESTSUBURBANLIVING.NET | JUNE 2016 71
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Elmhurst
Photo courtesy of Elmhurst College
TOWN FOCUS
Authentic Italian Cuisine
Popular events include June Jazz at Elmhurst College, this year slated for June 18 and featuring Patti Austin.
OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE!
105 S. York St. • Elmhurst
630.279.2323
www.pazzidipizza.com DINE-IN • TAKE-OUT DELIVERY • CATERING
Elmhurst is known for other cultural attractions, including the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra (ESO). Comprised of musicians who hail from Elmhurst and other parts of the Chicago areas, the ESO performs several concerts a year, including five “main stage” concerts at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church and three Chamber performances at the nearby Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook. The reputation of the ESO has led to performances beyond the ‘burbs as well. “We did back-to-back concerts with the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, performing at Rockefeller Chapel on the University of Chicago campus. We have also performed with them at the Harris Theater in Chicago,” says Executive Director Cynthia Bergquist Krainc. The ESO has also collaborated with other performing groups, including the Spirito! Singers, also based in Elmhurst; Agape Ringers, DuPage Dance Academy, District 205 Brass Players and First Folio Theatre, among others. “We have commissioned new works and new arrangements to perform in these collaborations,” reports Krainc. Although the ESO does not offer summertime concerts, its new season kicks off Oct. 1 with an event featuring the music of the Beatles, Billy Joel and Elton John. Other highlights of Elmhurst include: • Elmhurst Hospital moved from its original home on Berteau Avenue near the eastern border of the city to a sprawling
new facility along the southwest part of town just off York Road in 2011. Another major change was the merger with Edward Hospital, resulting in the new EdwardElmhurst Health system. Currently, Elmhurst Hospital offers 259 patient “suites” and a new state-of-the-art cancer center, in addition to an on-site Starbucks and hotel-like lobby, complete with a piano. • Elmhurst College, a four-year liberal arts school with around 3,300 full- and part-time students, makes Elmhurst a college town of sorts. The College also offers programming and events to the general public, from lectures and workshops to performances by the well-regarded Elmhurst College Jazz Band. • Elmhurst’s award-winning public school district includes eight elementary schools, three middle schools and York Community High School. Elmhurst is home to private and parochial schools as well, including Immaculate Conception grade school, Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep high school, Visitation grade school, Timothy Christian grade school and high school, and Immanuel Lutheran grade school. • If there’s an interest, chances are Elmhurst has a club for it. The community’s many clubs include the Elmhurst Artists Guild, Elmhurst Bicycle Club, Elmhurst Garden Club, Crestview Garden Club, Elmhurst Running Club, Elmhurst Model Railroad Club, Elmhurst Neighbors & Newcomers, Elmhurst Jaycees, Rotary Club of Elmhurst and many more. n
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DINING |
REVIEWS
|
LISTINGS
|
CHEERS WINE COLUMN
|
AND MUCH MORE Photo courtesy of Charleston on the River
RESTAURANT OPENINGS
Charleston on the River
C
RECENTLY OPENED
harleston on the River, which
a seasonal patio overlooking the Fox River
who also runs the Spotted Fox Ale House at
opened in late March in Fox
that doubles the venue’s seating capacity,
3615 E. Main St. in St. Charles.
Island Square at 1 Illinois St.,
according to Manager Eric Hoffman.
Charleston on the River is open daily for
Reasonably priced comfort food
lunch and dinner. Brunch is offered Saturday
St. Charles (630 549-7712),
including burgers, sandwiches and salads
and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Live piano
original name — quickly changed because
star on the menu. Hoffman says the seared
music can be heard from a piano bar on
there was already a town in Illinois with the
salmon dinner entrée, served over a
Saturdays starting at 9 p.m.
name of Charleston.
mushroom-and-tomato risotto, has proven
pays homage to the town’s
The 150-seat eatery features an upscale casual atmosphere featuring 12 HD TVs plus
to be an early favorite with customers. The new place is owned by Marwan Taib,
Full bar service includes signature martinis and cocktails, a dozen beers on tap plus an extensive wine list.
–T. R. Witom
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Photos courtesy of Nu Crepes
GoOd food
By T.R. Witom
Nu Crepes Crepes for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Elmhurst
E
ver since its debut in Elmhurst in the fall of 2012, Nu Crepes has become a local magnet, attracting diners to its breakfast-lunch-dinner menu of exceptional savory and sweet crepes. Though the 45-seat restaurant is in the heart of town, seeking it out for the first time can be a logistical challenge, especially for those relying on GPS directions. Customers must approach on foot via an alley-like walkway on Schiller, a half block south of York Theatre between York St. and Addison Ave. But finding Nu Crepes is well worth the effort. The family-run business, owned by Niall Martin and his mother Diane, offers made-to-order crepes using quality ingredients, such as locally sourced bacon, sausage, chorizo and ham, as well as organic, farm-fresh eggs. It is also eco-friendly, serving its crepes on sturdy square plates made from a sugarcane by-product and providing utensils fashioned from birch. The base for its crepe batter is a mix of white and buckwheat flour. There’s no specific gluten-free menu, but the kitchen can prepare celiac-safe fare upon request. Arriving patrons walk down a flight of stairs or take an elevator to reach the cheery, well-lit compact dining room.
Orders are placed at a counter and the staff brings food to your table. Seven breakfast crepes, priced from $6 to $8.25, are available throughout the day. A complimentary 12-oz cup of joe, made from beans supplied by Dark Matter Coffee, an independent Chicago-based roaster, is offered with the purchase of any breakfast dish before 10 a.m. Tuesday through Friday. During a recent midday visit, settling on a single savory crepe was no easy matter. Of the dozen possible choices, every one sounded appealing. Especially satisfying was the Porko Loco — a large, meal-size crepe stuffed with a flavorful mix of bacon, maple-ginger sausage, chorizo and ham; cheddar and Swiss cheese; and a slathering of garlic mayonnaise. Swirls of Sriracha sauce atop the crepe provided a gentle kick that further enhanced the dish. Also commendable was a fellow diner’s Banger Toastie, the filling for which included caramelized onions, maple-ginger sausage, garlic mayo and Swiss cheese. Each entrée was accompanied by an agreeable slaw that included apple, celery, arugula, cilantro and lime juice.
Campfire Crepe with marshmallow, chocolate chips, Biscoff Spread and graham cracker
Among other savory options were Kickin’ Chicken with seasoned chicken, homemade spicy buffalo sauce, bacon, ranch dressing and cheddar; and Chicago Smog, with Italian sausage, a mild giardiniera, a provolone-mozzarella blend and a mushroom-green pepper-onion mix. Remember to also check out the placard describing the crepe of the month. For dessert, diners can’t go wrong sharing Nu Crepes’ Blonde crepe filled with sliced bananas, house-made caramel and Biscoff Cookie Butter spread — a sweet, creamy, hard-to-resist European treat. Other sweet crepes feature lemon curd, strawberry cheesecake and Nutella — a sweetened hazelnut and cocoa spread. No alcohol is served on the premises, but Nu Crepes carries assorted soft drinks and juices. n
QUICK FACTS
Nu Crepes/
115 W. Schiller Ct., Elmhurst 630 577-7558 www.nucrepes.com
Recommended Dishes:
Cost:
Hours:
Extras:
Porko Loco and Banger
Breakfast: $6 to $8.25
Tue-Fri 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Major credit cards.
Toastie savory crepes,
Savory or sweet
Sat 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Free Wi-Fi. Dine in
Blonde dessert crepe
crepes: $6.50 to $8.75
Sun 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
or carry out.
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DIning Listings Following is a sampling of some of the best dining destinations in the western suburbs, including reader favorites, advertisers and a cross-section of just plain good places to grab a bite. Bon appétit! n Central DuPage n Nw DuPage & Upper Fox Valley n Sw DuPage & lower fox valley n Se Dupage & SW Cook n Ne DuPage & nw cook n Adelle’s: 535 W Liberty Dr, Wheaton. 630 784-8015.
New twists on old American favorites served by seasoned professionals in a stylish ambiance. Capacity: 160 plus 50 on outdoor patio. Yrs in bus: 12. Chef’s Choice: White fish. Entrée prices: $18-$34. Extras: Bar, outdoor dining, banquets, wine room, carry-out, live jazz Th at 7 pm, live music on select other nights, lounge, fireplaces. T-Th 4:30-8:30, F-Sat 4:30-9:30, Sun 4-8. Reservations: Recommended.
n Anyway’s Chicago Restaurant & Pub: 5 E Roosevelt Rd, Oakbrook Terrace. 630 932-9323. Classic neighborhood restaurant and pub serving American cuisine. Capacity: 200 at 45 tables. Yrs in bus: 19. Chef’s Choice: Izzy’s jambalaya pasta and Black Angus burgers. Entrée prices: $7-$15. Extras: Bar, carry-out, banquets, outdoor dining, kids’ menu, daily specials. M-Th 11:30 am-1 am, F-Sat 11:30 am-2 am, Sun noon-1 am. Reservations: Yes, for 10 or more. Additional location at 304 W Army Trail Rd, Bloomingdale, 630 351-8870. n Arrowhead Restaurant & Bar: 26W151
Butterfield Rd, Wheaton. 630 510-5070. Classic American fare and premium spirits in a golf-themed décor and a panoramic view of the golf course. Capacity: 120 inside, 60 on patio. Yrs in bus: 8. Chef’s Choice: Cajun Ribeye. Entrée prices: $10-$23. Extras: Bar, banquets, seasonal outdoor dining, wine list, private rooms, carry-out, weekly and daily specials, 15 HDTVs. M-Th 11-11, F-Sat 11 am-1 am, Sun 11-10. Reservations: Yes. n Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano: 2752
Showplace Dr, Naperville. 630 428-8500. Classic and contemporary authentic Italian dining in a casual, friendly setting. Capacity: 240. Yrs in bus: 8.5. Chef’s Choice: Black fettuccini with lobster & wild mushrooms. Entrée prices: $10-$30. Extras: Exhibition kitchen, bar, wine list, children’s menu, gluten-free menu, carry-out, catering, private parties, family friendly. M-Th 11:30-9:30, F-Sat 11:30-10:30, Sun 11-9. Reservations: Yes. Additional location at 20560 N Rand Rd, Deer Park, 847 438-1850. n The Capital Grille: 87 Yorktown Center, Lombard. 630 627-9800. Classic American, fine dining restaurant known for hand-cut, dry-aged steaks, seafood and an extensive wine list. Capacity: 260. Yrs in bus: 8. Chef’s Choice: Bone-In Kona Crusted Sirloin with Shallot Butter. Entrée prices: $30-$50. Extras: Over 3,000 bottles of more than 325 Temperature-controlled wine kiosk, private dining rooms, bar, lounge, chef’s table with front-line view of open kitchen. Lunch M-F 11:30-3; Dinner M-Th 5-10, F-Sat 4-11, Sun 4-9. Reservations: Recommended. Additional location at 5340 N River Rd, Rosemont, 847 671-8125.
n Carlucci: 1801 Butterfield Rd, Downers Grove. 630 512-0990. Rustic Italian restaurant serving
Tuscan cuisine. Capacity: 300. Yrs in bus: 11. Chef’s Choice: Linguini bobonato. Entrée prices: $12-$33. Extras: Carry-out, private dining, outdoor dining, bar open later, daily specials, live entertainment. Lunch M-F 11:30-3:30; Dinner M-Th 3:30-9:30, F 3:3010:30, Sat 4:30-10:30, Sun 4:30-9:30. Reservations: Recommended. n Chinn’s 34th Street Fishery: 3011 W Ogden
Ave, Lisle. 630 637-1777. Seafood, steaks and pasta served in a casual maritime setting. Capacity: 200 at 46 tables. Yrs in bus: 19. Chef’s Choice: Dover sole and king crab legs. Entrée prices: $15-$49. Extras: Bar, carry-out, private parties, kids’ menu, family friendly. M-Th 11-9, F-Sat 11-11, Sun 3-9. Reservations: No, but call-ahead seating available. n Eddie Merlot: 28254 Diehl Rd, Warrenville.
630 393-1900. Upscale contemporary steakhouse with a lighter ambiance also known for its wine. Capacity: 260. Yrs in bus: 3. Chef’s Choice: Prime aged steaks. Entrée prices: $23-$51. Extras: Extensive wine list, private dining, outdoor dining, lounge with drink specials. M-Th 4-10, F-Sat 4-11, Sun 4-9. Reservations: Recommended. Additional location at 201 Bridewell Dr, Burr Ridge. 630 468-2098. n Gia mia pizza bar: 106 N Hale St, Wheaton.
630 480-2480. Old-world authentic Neapolitan pizza in a rustic restaurant. Capacity: 120. Months in bus: 4. Chef’s Choice: Sausage Rapini Pizza. Entrée prices: $6-$14. Extras: Newly renovated space, full bar, TVs, carry-out, large wine selection. M-Th 4-10, F 4-11, Sat 3-11. Reservations: Accepted. Second location opening soon at 13 N Third St in Geneva. n Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse: 70
Yorktown Center in the Westin Hotel, Lombard. 630 953-3400. Classic Italian steakhouse in a sportsthemed atmosphere. Capacity: 550. Yrs in bus: 7. Chef’s Choice: Prime steaks and chops. Entrée prices: $12-$45. Extras: Outdoor dining, bar, sports memorabilia, carry-out. Lunch M-Sun 11-5 (bar only); Dinner M-Sat 5-10, Sun 4-9. Reservations: Yes. Additional location at 10233 W Higgins Rd, Rosemont, 847 699-1200. n Holy Mackerel!: 70 Yorktown Center in
the Westin Hotel, Lombard. 630 953-3444. Fresh interpretations on fish house classics in a vintage décor. Capacity: 60. Yrs in bus: 7. Chef’s Choice: Kasu marinated sea bass. Entrée prices: $9-$46. Extras: Private parties, bar, carry-out. Breakfast M-Sat 6-11 am, Sun 6 am-noon; Lunch M-Sun 11-4; Dinner M-Sun 4-9. Reservations: Yes. n Labriola Bakery Café & Neapolitan Pizzeria: 3021 Butterfield Rd, Oak Brook. 630 574-2008. Europeaninspired café featuring freshly made breakfast, lunch, dinner and bakery selections. Capacity: 180. Yrs in bus: 6. Chef’s Choice: Three-cheese burger with truffle aioli fries. Entrée prices: $6-$15. Extras: Pastries, gelato, carry-out, catering, family friendly, kids’ menu. Sun-Th 7 am-9 pm, F-Sat 7 am-10 pm. Reservations: No. n Mesón Sabika: 1025 Aurora Ave, Naperville.
630 983-3000. Spanish cuisine in a multi-dining room mansion with well-manicured grounds. Capacity: 300. Yrs in bus: 23. Chef’s Choice: Tapas, Paella and Signature Sangria. Tapas prices: $5-$17. Extras: Carry-out, bar, outdoor dining, family friendly, Sun brunch 10:30-2, vegetarian and gluten-free menus. M-Th 11:30-10, F 11:30-11, Sat 5-11, Sun 4:30-9. Reservations: Recommended. n Morton’s: 1751 Freedom Dr, Naperville.
630 577-1372. Steaks and seafood in an upscale American steakhouse featuring an à la carte menu. Capacity: 120 for dining. Yrs in bus: 7. Chef’s Choice: Porterhouse steak. Entrée prices: $40-$60. Extras: Bar, valet parking every day but M, lounge, patio. M-Th 5:30-10, F 5:30-11, Sat 5-11, Sun 5-10. Reservations: Recommended. Additional locations at 9525 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Rosemont, 847 678-5155; and 1470 McConnor Pkwy, Schaumburg, 847 413-8771. WEST SUBURBAN LIVING | WWW.WESTSUBURBANLIVING.NET | JUNE 2016 75
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cheers
DIning
By Buzz Brandt
n Parkers’ RESTAURANT & BAR: 1000 31st St, located at 31st St & Highland Ave, Downers Grove. 630 960-5700. Casually elegant restaurant serving a contemporary American menu. Capacity: 250. Yrs in bus: 14. Chef’s Choice: Cedar-planked halibut; lavender and honey-glazed duck. Entrée prices: $14-$35, Avg: $26. Extras: Bar, outdoor dining, private dining, live music in lounge Th-Sat. Lunch M-F 11:30-2:30; Dinner M-Th 5-10, F 5-10:30, Sat 4-10:30, Sun 4-8:30. Reservations: Recommended.
Virginia is for Wine Lovers Could the area be destined for Napa-like notoriety?
D
uring the years 1771-1816, Thomas Jefferson — a passionate oenophile who firmly believed that great wines could be produced in America —labored in the gardens of his beloved Monticello, struggling to grow grapes with vines imported from Europe. In the end he failed miserably, his plantings the victims of inclement weather, fungus rot, and the dreaded Phylloxera pest that has decimated so many Old and New World vineyards. But today, 200 years later, this very same growing region is undergoing a remarkable renaissance — so much so that for some industry insiders, the Virginia wine industry seems poised for Napa-like fame. While wine is produced throughout Virginia, with currently over 250 wineries in operation, two regions stand out in quality — the Blue Ridge Mountain area in the northern part of the state and the clay-rich farmlands surrounding Monticello in Charlottesville. Though modern winemakers face the same problems that plagued Jefferson, they are aided by the latest advances
in viticultural technology, including help from soil scientists to choose optimal growing sites. As a result, top Virginia winemakers are producing world-class wines, a number of which have won international blind taste tests. Since Virginia’s fickle climate resembles that of Bordeaux or Burgundy, varietals like Merlot, Chambourcin, and even the gravel-loving Cabernet Sauvignon thrive here. Virginia’s most successful red grape is Cabernet Franc, producing wines that are earthy and medium-bodied with red and black fruit balanced by food-friendly
acidity. The mildew-resistant Norton — a 19th-century hybrid, also grows well — as does the inky, tannic Petit Verdot. In the realm of whites, the floral-perfumed Viognier is the stand-out grape, alongside Chardonnay and the sweet Vidal Blanc, another New World hybrid. Virginia wines are distinguished from oaky, fruit-driven West Coast varietals by their higher acidity and more delicate fruit. They have more in common with French, Italian, or Spanish wines than with their big, bold California, Washington, or Oregon counterparts. n
Expert wine recommendations • Alison Mochizuki Trader Joe’s (Downers Grove) - 2014 TJ Reserve Chardonnay Lot 135 $10, a full-bodied, creamy, classic Napa Chard, with pungent aromas of pineapple, melon and apple with notes of caramel, all mingling on the palate with flavors of oak and buttered toast. - 2014 Ormarine Picpoul De Pinet $8, from Languedoc,
Picpoul is a crisp, clean white, pale gold in the glass, and redolent with a nose of flower blossoms, passion fruit and lemony citrus. In the mouth, there’s a bit of creaminess with notes of citrus and tropical fruits. • David Poweska Binny’s Beverage Depot (Bloomingdale) - 2014 Neyers Sage Canyon $23, an impressive red Rhône blend,
smooth, lush, and complex, with layers of vibrant black raspberry, cherry and blueberry fruit flavors that meld together into a long, peppery finish. - 2014 Furst Gewürztraminer $18, a full-bodied, off-dry white, exuberant and seductive, offering a complex bouquet of tropical fruits, citrus, honey, roses and baking spices. This is a wine with finesse and nuance.
n PIZZA BARRA: 3011 Butterfield Rd, Oak Brook 630 861-6177. Artisan-crafted pizzas in a contemporary atmosphere. Capacity: 230. Opens Sep 7. Chef’s Choice: Coal fired Artisanal Pizza. Entrée prices: $7-$10. Extras: Bar, live music, outdoor dining, carry-out, catering, private parties, small plates. Sun-Th 11-midnight, F-Sat 11-1am. Reservations: Yes. n Redstone American Grill: 13 Lincoln Center, Oakbrook Terrace. 630 268-0313. Spirited, rugged and romantic upscale dining. Capacity: 350. Yrs in bus: 9. Chef’s Choice: Chilean sea bass. Entrée prices: $12-$39, Avg: $28. Extras: Bar, lounge, outdoor dining, private dining, firepit. M-Th 11-11, F-Sat 11 am-1am, Sun 10-10. Reservations: Yes. n Roberto’s Ristorante & Pizzeria: 483 Spring
Rd, Elmhurst. 630 279-8486. Italian cuisine served in a romantic, neighborhood setting accented by white tablecloths. Capacity: 250. Yrs in bus: 53. Chef’s Choice: Fish entrees. Entrée prices: $14-$44. Extras: Carry-out, bar, outdoor dining, catering, family friendly, banquets. M-Th 11-11, F-Sat 2-midnight, Sun 2-10. Reservations: Yes. n Sushi House: 830 E Ogden Ave, Westmont. 630 920-8948. Sushi, sashimi and other Japanese fare. Capacity: 100. Yrs in bus: 21. Chef’s Choice: Best West roll. Entrée prices: $9-$18. Extras: Carry-out, catering, delivery, private parties, children’s menu, full bar. M-F 11:30-10, Sat noon-10, Sun noon-9:30. Reservations: Yes. Additional locations at 950 Warren St, Downers Grove, 630 968-0088; 175 W Jackson Ave, Naperville, 630 717-8888; 1107 Lake St, Oak Park, 708 660-8899; and 281 Rice Lake Square, Wheaton, 630 221-8986. n Suzette’s: 211 W Front St, Wheaton. 630 462-0898.
Crêperie, pâtisserie, boulangerie, French country bistro and wine bar in a casual setting. Capacity: 75. Yrs in bus: 13. Chef’s Choice: Beef bourguignon crêpe. Entrée prices: $10-$30. Extras: Wine bar, bakery, carry-out, full bar, outdoor dining, private parties, cooking classes, pâtisserie open at 7 am M-Sat, Sun brunch 11-2, afternoon tea T-Sat 2 pm, Sun 1 pm. Breakfast M-Sat 7-11 am, Sun 8-11 am; Lunch M-Sat 11-4; Dinner T-Th 5-9, F-Sat 5-9:30. Reservations: Recommended. n Two Brothers Historic Roundhouse: 205 N
Broadway, Aurora. 630 892-0034. Regional American food and crafted beers in a historic 1856 railroad roundhouse. Capacity: 300 at 80 tables, 150 at bar. Yrs in bus: 3. Chef’s Choice: Fish tacos. Entrée prices: $4-$29. Extras: Bar, live music F-Sat, outdoor dining, banquets, gazebo. M-F 6 am-9 pm, Sat-Sun 8 am-9 pm. Reservations: Recommended for 5 or more. n Wild Monk Gastropub: 88 S La Grange Rd, La Grange. 708 255-2337. Casual yet upscale atmosphere featuring quality food on a chef-driven menu and unique, seasonal craft beer. Capacity: 90. Yrs in bus: 2. Chef’s Choice: Caramelized brussel sprouts with bacon jam. Entrée prices: $10-$15. M-Th 4-midnight, F-Sat 11 am-1 am, Sun 11-11. Reservations: No, but call-ahead seating available. n York Tavern: 3702 York Rd, Oak Brook. 630 323-5090. The oldest, continuously operating restaurant in DuPage County, restored and updated in 2006, serving burgers and American fare. Capacity: 60. Yrs in bus: 171. Chef’s Choice: Burgers. Entrée prices: $6-$20. Extras: Carry-out, bar. M-F 11 am-1 am, Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun noon-10. Reservations: No.
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Charitable Events of Note
FAMILY AND FRIENDS CHEERED ON LOCAL SUPERHEROES at the 13th Annual Run for the Kids: Superhero Hustle 5K Run/2-Mile Walk on Saturday, May 7, with Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley. With 600 runners and walkers coming together in Villa Park for the event, this was a record-breaking year for attendance and fundraising. Many personal goals were achieved, including Hannah Thompson’s of Elmhurst (above) to walk over a mile after extensive physical therapy and endurance training. Additionally, Occupational Therapist Celi Dietzen and daughter Clover (above left) of Lombard crossed the finish line together — days after Clover took her first independent steps. State Rep. Patti Bellock of Hinsdale (left) kicked off the event, which raised more than $60,000 to support the mission of Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley to enable infants, children and adults with disabilities achieve maximum independence, and to provide support for the families who love and care for them.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO recently hosted its 25th Annual Blossoms of Hope Brunch to support the Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS). The event, which featured brunch, a raffle, wine grab and pick-a-prize, raised more than $135,000 and attracted more than 1000 guests to Drury Lane of Oakbrook Terrace. Among those attending the event were (above left, from left to right) Sue Colgan of Palatine and Kim Haack of Elk Grove Village; and (center left, from left to right) Jennifer Bolanos of Chicago, Ruby and Gudelia Ochoa of Bolingbrook, and Elizabeth Cisneros of Romeoville. Also in attendance were (below left, from left to right) Ben Grossman and Be Solomon of Los Angeles and Carol and Hai Solomon of River Forest; and (above) Greg & Krista Leofanti of Naperville, with daughters (from left to right) Isabelle, Joslyn and Gianna.
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MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE attended the Kentucky Derby Benefit hosted by Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital’s Friends of SHARE on May 7, at Parkers’ Restaurant in Downers Grove. Among them were (above, from left to right) Sue Chin and Kathleen Forner of Darien, Gara Scott of Downers Grove, Kathryn West of Carol Stream, JoAnn Lipinski of Downers Grove and Aeran Garcia of Willow Springs. Proceeds from the event will be used to provide counseling and support to families experiencing grief, loss and challenges during and after pregnancy.
HELD ON APRIL 30 AT NAVISTAR, Naperville CARES’ 13th Annual Cuisine for a Cause raised almost $140,000 to help local families in financial crisis. Guests dined on signature dishes from over 20 Naperville area restaurants. The event also featured an auction and raffle, with Executive Director Janet Derrick and Auctioneer Bart Darfler (below) drawing the winning ticket for a trip to Mexico. Naperville CARES is a volunteer-driven organization that helps local families in financial crisis meet their essential needs by providing emergency financial support and resources.
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THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION of Alexian Brothers Ball de Fleur was held May 7 at the Four Seasons Chicago. Hosted by the Alexian Brothers Foundation, the event raised $425,000 to help address the community’s unmet behavioral health needs. Among those in attendance were (above, from left to right) Mark Frey, president and CEO of Amita Health and Alexian Brothers Health System, and wife Susanne; Clay Ciha, president of Amita Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Hospital, and wife Laura Faynor-Ciha, of Naperville; and John and Melanie Furlan, of La Grange Park. Melanie is vice president of advancement of the Alexian Brothers Foundation. Also enjoying the event were (right, left to right) Erin Clancy of Chicago and Kelley Clancy of St. Charles.
THIS YEAR MARKED THE 5-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the DuPage Human Race, a community 5K fundraiser that took place on Saturday, April 30 at the Esplanade in Downers Grove. The event benefits more than 70 participating local organizations serving people with special needs. Wheelchair athlete David Rash of Glen Ellyn (above), raced with his friend Matt Larsen, executive director of the Illinois Spina Bifida Association, of Downers Grove. Among the more than 100 volunteers who helped make the event possible were nursing students from Kappa Alpha Rho, (above
right) a nursing service sorority at Chamberlain College of Nursing in Addison. More than $85,000 was raised by the 1,551 participants. First place winners in the female and male categories were (below) Kayla Halsall of Downers Grove and Brian McCollum of Wheaton.
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Last Word
By Michele Weldon
Bringing Back the Summer Road Trip New variations on classic in-car games offer fun and humorous ways to help pass the time
O
ne way to avoid the impending hysteria this summer over the long airport lines at TSA security is to road trip it. I’m not suggesting you can do this for all your summer holiday plans, but for distances you can reach within 12 hours or less, I say skip the airfare, get behind the wheel, and go for it. Gas is pretty cheap and you might spend the same amount of time in the car as you would in line at the airport before you even get to the gate for your flight. And you can keep your shoes on. Growing up, my family did a lot of summer vacations by station wagon, and we played the predictable license plate games — what states, colors, numbers — creating point systems and teams to appeal to my ultra-competitive siblings. On car trips with my own sons, we sang along to Raffi — more like I sang along and they rolled their eyes. We played the “I Spy”game sometimes, but mostly they each played with their Power Ranger figures and I kept them separated by luggage and seats so they wouldn’t fight. But I have a road trip with friends planned again this summer — last year we drove from New Orleans to Gulf Shores, Alabama — and because we exhausted all pertinent topics last summer, I am planning to have these surefire gems on hand to break the monotony and increase the hilarity. Nickname That Friend or Relative. Brainstorm on best attributes (curly hair, big smile); talents or hobbies (cooking, biking); secret aspirations (singer, athlete, inventor); or favorite celebrity (actor, rock star, author). Now combine them into one name. You can go G-rated or R-rated,
“For distances you can reach in 12 hours or less, I say skip the airfare, get behind the wheel and go for it. Gas is pretty cheap and you might spend the same amount of time in the car as you would in the airport.”
depending on who is playing and whether it’s a moniker you might repeat in public. For instance, your talkative aunt Catherine can be Chatty Cathy — alliteration is always good. You can also assign a name based on a particularly notable story about that person, as when your friend set the tablecloth on fire with a candle. She is now Pyrotechnic. #Hashtag This. Anyone who is a Twitter follower or Twitter lover might want to observe something and immediately assign what could become a viral hashtag for the scene. For instance, you see a family coming out of a fast food restaurant with several bags of food, you might declare #largefries. A young woman driving near you on the highway and singing along with her car radio can be #TheVoice. You don’t have to ever tweet your hashtags, just coming up with them can be enough to make you smile. What’s Your Story? Zero in on someone in the next lane visually. Now get to work on creating a narrative for that person. You can go around to each passenger in the car and have each person add a piece of the puzzle. What is his or her name? Where are they driving to? What does the person do for work? For hobbies? Where did this person go to school? You can be as wild as you like. For instance, name the driver on the right Poindexter
Jones, who got his Toyota Camry from his grandmother. He is on his way to a job interview as a clown in a traveling circus, having dropped out of Princeton because he didn’t like the food. You get the gist. Crazy Eights. Any place on a truck, car, motorcycle or van where there is a number, count the times you see the number eight. It could be a phone number on the side of a truck, a license plate, or an address or name of a company on a van. You have to be the first person to spot the 8 in order for you to be able to count it. And your sighting has to be confirmed. Of course, you can also always rely on an old stand-by game like “Six Degrees of Separation.” Pick a famous person, then try to come up with six paths to someone in the car. For instance, someone says, “Katie Couric,” another person says “Today Show,” and then someone says the name of a person who worked as a producer on that show. Someone else says that producer lived across the hall from him in college. It’s always fun to see how you can all align your connections. More people may be taking to the highways this summer to avoid airport lines. But if you can keep your spirits up with a few laughs and a handful of games, you may arrive at your summer vacation destination in a sunny mood. And that wins every time. n
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