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Enzo & Lucia’s Ristorante and Fiddler on the Roof By: Jayne Nordstrom

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:24:00 +0000

My friend Georgia agreed to take my husband’s ticket to “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Marriott Theatre. First, we decided to go to a later lunch and since I had not had the chance to eat at Enzo & Lucia’s in Long Grove, it seemed like a good time to go. I’ve heard wonderful things about the restaurant as they offer gluten-free pasta, the food is good and they are great for group dining.

It’s a lovely, two-level restaurant right across from the Visitor Center. Our server gave us a lovely basket of bread and (I should have asked the Italian name of this) mixture of garlic, olive oil, tomatoes and such for dipping. I tried a sample and it was so wonderful – lots of garlic. I have to tell you, bring lots of mints with you.

I ordered Pollo Saltimbocca which is a flattened chicken breast topped with prosciutto and mozzarella cheese. There was also sautéed spinach and grilled veggies. As I learned from Georgia that saltimbocca means “jump in your mouth” and boy, did it ever. A truly enjoyable meal and I had the leftovers the next day for lunch. Georgia ordered Eggplant Parmigiana which she could hardly touch after eating all the bread and garlic mixture! We had a bit of time to visit the shops in Long Grove and were glad to get back to the car with all of our bags.

As always, the Marriott Theatre never disappoints with the quality of talent and the variety of the shows. “Fiddler on the Roof” was a true joy. Tevye was played by Ross Lehman who also portrayed Edna in “Hairspray”. Ross’ interpretation of the main character was a little different than what I remember in the movie. I had never seen the musical done live before so that was my only comparison. His portrayal was a little less gruff and more loving I think. The strong themes of the musical were still there, giving us a glimpse of what it must be like to be driven from a home they have always known. That even during oppression, hope and love can continue on; faith, family and friends will carry us through.

Breakfast at Wildberry

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Mertens) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:30:00 +0000

Growing up we had a lot of traditions in my family. I never realized how much of an impact those little special moment had on my childhood until I reflect back now. One of those traditions was big breakfasts with my whole family on the weekends. Now, as we've expanded our family to four, it is important to me that we make fun traditions for our family to enjoy as well. So I've continued this tradition of weekend breakfasts with my husband and kids. Sometimes we make a big breakfast at home and other times we head to local restaurants.
Last weekend we decided to head to Wildberry for breakfast. Wildberry is one of our favorite places to go for breakfast. It is located in Libertyville right on the corner of 137 and Milwaukee. One of the reasons we love Wildberry is the uniqueness of the items on the menu. In addition to standard pancakes, or French toast, they have options like Banana Bread French Toast and Tiramisu Pancakes and other creations like that. Each time we go I try to order new things because there are so many things that sound good and I have to say I haven’t been disappointed!
Depending on the time you arrive on a weekend morning for breakfast, there may be a bit of a wait, however, the great thing about Wildberry is that they have a little café in the lobby where you can get coffee and a little something to hold you over if needed.

On this visit I decided to have the whole wheat crepes with fresh berries. These had a little bit of powdered sugar on them with fresh strawberries and blueberries inside the crepes and on the top. They were delicious; however, the best part for me is that I left feeling like I had a good healthy breakfast which is important to me too.
My husband Luke decided to go with a skillet. He chose a ham, cheese and onion skillet. They also put potatoes in all of the skillets. He really liked it and I had some as well and thought it was great. My daughter Reese loves the pancakes at Wildberry so she had an order of the Silver Dollar Pancakes and was a happy camper (not to mention she had plenty leftover to bring home for a snack later too).
My father also joined us for breakfast. He ordered a Dutch Baby Pancake. This is a German pancake that takes around 25 minutes to make (he arrived early to get his order in so we didn’t have to wait too long with the kids!). He’s had this before and loves it. It is served with powdered sugar and lemon slices. It is very light and tasty…worth the wait.

We enjoyed our breakfast at Wildberry and look forward to returning to try some of the other things on the menu. I’m glad we’ve carried on this tradition!

Come Along to Historic Long Grove By: Linda Gardner Phillips Contributor on Behalf of the Illinois Bureau of Tourism

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:33:00 +0000

Current events tend to overshadow Chicago’s history, and most early buildings (and trees) succumbed long ago to grander projects. I frequently visit Forgotten Chicago to learn about the traces and erasures of things that were, and waste a lot of time wondering about history I will never know.

Horst's Polka Band

In my past life (as a frequent I-94 commuter), I often saw brown signs along the highway pointing to “Long Grove Historic Village,” but never took the time to stop. What a mistake. Long Grove was settled in the early 1800’s, and the buildings from that time remain alive and well. It’s a thrivingshopping destination that hosts car- and busloads of visitors from near and far. Historic Long Grove’s small downtown area includes 120 businesses and provides family-friendly events all-year round. Pick an event and mark your calendar (the local’s choice: Chocolate Fest in May). Recently lured by Oktoberfest, my family and I parked just off Old McHenry Road and followed the sound of music to Fountain Square. Underneath a tent, Horst’s Polka Band from Racine, WI, pumped out rounds of deutsche Musik to a happy audience.

Kitchen at Long Grove Historical Society

After our appetites for food, drink and dance were sated, we crossed the road in search of the Historical Society. Their farmhouse museum stands just south of the covered bridge, across the parking lot. Our friendly guide wore an authentic costume, and shared the house’s history with us (it had been rescued from a different location). Another visitor chuckled at the sight of the iron wood-burning stove, and remembered her grandmother cooking up burnt biscuits in Mississippi with a similar set-up.

Olivia's Past boutique

Time travel is imaginable in Long Grove. Just squint your eyes, ignore the passing cars, and pretend you’re off to market. The shopkeepers pack their cozy stores with friendliness. Many tend a bit towards the touristy, but there are some real gems in the midst. Visiting the boutique Olivia’s Past feels like visiting the closet of a friend with fantastic taste. It’s filled with unique items that are completely wearable and gorgeous. Next door, the new European Flower and Gift Market (fomerly the Fairy Garden) actually does import some of its unusual flowers from Europe, and caters to out-of-town orders as well. Needlecrafters should certainly visit the yarn studio, I’d Rather Be Knitting (which pointedly welcomes crocheters too), for one of the most color-charged yarn walls I’ve seen, and an accommodating, enthusiastic attitude. There are so many more: over 47 shops and businesses appear on the walking map.

I'd Rather Be Knitting yarn shop

After all that dancing, learning and shopping, it was time to eat again. We picked The Village Tavern, a family-friendly restaurant that’s been operating continuously since 1849. It’s so refreshing to sit in an authentic space that’s still being used. You can even see the original cut-marks in the timbers. The Tavern also hosts live music. When we were there, a bunch of little kids jumped up on the stage to dance, and a grandmother was celebrating her 93rd birthday. The food was great, the service excellent.

Historic Long Grove, it took a long time, but you’ve got me now. See you again soon.

Happy Exploring!

Bring out your inner kid at the Lake County Forest Preserves.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Zuniga) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:29:00 +0000

It’s kind of funny how our views change over time. As kids we loved snow storms because it usually meant a day off from school along with countless hours of fun in the snow. As adults we seem to have forgotten those times, we now often correlate snow with having to get up extra early to clear off the driveway only to battle long commutes.

Luckily we all still have an inner kid buried within us and there is no better way of putting the fun back into winter then by visiting the Lake County Forest Preserves. After last week’s snowfall I took my family to the sledding hill located at the Wauconda Forest Preserve. The hill is a decent size and it’s lit up after dark. We all had so much fun zipping down the hill. It truly brings back the childhood enjoyment of winter. I highly recommend checking it out. Also you can get all the latest sledding hill and other winter sport conditions at http://www.lcfpd.org/.

Great Food at Sushi Thai

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Mertens) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:10:00 +0000

I love Japanese and Thai food, however, I haven’t been able to find many places around Gurnee that have a great selection of these foods….until now. Over the weekend, I was craving Japanese food so we decided to try Sushi Thai which is located in Libertyville. I have driven by this restaurant so many times but hadn’t actually tried it. We were excited to see what it was like.

The inside of the restaurant is smaller than I pictured it would have been, but it has a nice feel to it. The menu has a lot of options for both Japanese and Thai cuisine. We decided to go with Japanese food this time, however, we plan to return soon to try the Thai food.

We started out with an order of egg rolls and pot stickers. We really liked both of these. I especially loved the sauce that came with the pot stickers. It was a little different than your typical pot sticker sauce so it made the taste a little more unique. I also had a green salad with ginger dressing. I enjoyed this as well.

For our main course, my husband Luke had teriyaki chicken, fried rice and vegetables. I had a California roll. I normally would have ordered more than one roll as my main meal, however, the roll had eight pieces which is bigger than I’ve normally seen, so it was plenty for me. Both of our meals were delicious.
We ended our meals with smoothies made at the smoothie bar in the restaurant. The smoothies are made with fresh fruit and green tea. I had a mango smoothie and Luke had a strawberry banana smoothie. These were so good!

We both really enjoyed our dinner and definitely plan to return to try out more things on the menu. The prices were very reasonable and the wait staff was great. We didn’t have a set waitress, there were several wait staff in the restaurant who stopped by our table to deliver food and take our orders, so we felt that we were well taken care of.

Winter at the Chicago Botanic Garden By: Claire Prendergast Contributor on Behalf of the Illinois Bureau of Tourism

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:39:00 +0000

Chicago Botanic Garden

In my last post, I provided information on some of the great indoor things to do during Chicago’s winter months. While I’d generally advise tourists and Illinois residents alike to avoid outdoor activities in freezing temperatures, there is one spot that should be enjoyed outside, year-round.

The Chicago Botanic Gardenin Glencoe is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 24 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. It’s my favorite place to visit when I need to get out of the city and enjoy a natural and peaceful environment. (I often go with my mom for long walks or with girlfriends on bike rides.) And while one might think the only suitable time to visit the Garden is in spring, summer, or fall, I strongly suggest a visit during winter months as well.

“Even though the branches are bare and there is snow on the ground, the Garden is a beautiful place in winter,” says Jodi Zombolo, Director of Visitor Events & Programs. “From the warmth of the tropical greenhouse to the exhilarating rush of snowshoeing on fresh fallen snow to the introspective exploration of an art exhibition, the Garden is a destination worth visiting.”

Throughout the year, the Chicago Botanic Garden holds events, programs, and activities for all ages. Whether you’re interested in plant science, gardening, cooking, exercise, or art, there is definitely something for you.

Learning about bonsai trees

This weekend the Garden presents “Three Friends of Winter,” a silhouette bonsai show from Friday, Jan. 29 through Sunday, Jan. 31. Deciduous bonsai trees lose their leaves in winter, revealing the intricate structure of their branches and trunks. Visitors can see the trees on display, attend a lecture on bonsai, browse the Lunar New Year Market for a blooming plant to take home, and participate in family activities. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on all three days.

From now through April 4, Garden visitors can also visit the “Losing Paradise?” exhibit in the Regenstein Center which showcases 44 botanical illustrations of endangered plants from North America and around the world. Curated by the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) and developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, “Losing Paradise?” seeks to draw attention to plants that are in danger of disappearing from the planet.

The Garden is open every day of the year. Admission is free, but parking will set you back $20 per car. I’d advise to “go green” and bike, take public transportation, or carpool with friends.

Spend 20 to 30 minutes, or as long as you can stand the temperature that day, and enjoy a walk through the Garden – especially the Malott Japanese Garden and the English Walled Garden – my two favorites. For a quick tropical experience, take time to warm up by visiting theGreenhouses, and then grab some tea or hot chocolate in the Garden Café. A winter visit provides a different and fresh perspective of the Chicago Botanic Garden that might just surprise you. Dress warmly, and enjoy Illinois!

Enjoying Winter at Frostyfest

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Mertens) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:05:00 +0000

We are now halfway through winter and I feel like we haven’t been outside in ages. The kids could definitely use some fresh air, however, it’s too cold to be out there for me! Last Friday, though, I decided it was time to bundle up and spend some time outdoors at Frosty Fest which is held outside of Viking School in Gurnee…luckily it was a milder night!

I was surprised at the turn-out, there were a lot more people there than I anticipated. Right as we walked into the area where the festivities were being held, a horse drawn sleigh went by us which was all it took to get my family excited. There was a long line for the sleigh ride, so we decided to check out some of the other activities.

We started out roasting marsh mellows over a fire pit and then watched a professional carve a big block of ice into a horse. I never gave much thought to how that is done – they use a chain saw to carve out the design, it’s really neat. They had several other ice sculptures around this area as well. After that we checked out a big group of people participating in a snow man building contest, everyone seemed like they were having a great time.

By this point we were getting pretty chilly so we went inside Viking Dance Hall where the junior high band was performing (they are VERY good by the way) and they had hot cocoa and animal crackers for the kids. They also had some crafts set-up for the kids to work on. We thawed out for awhile and then headed back outside to see the snow sled dogs. There were a lot of dogs there and many were up for adoption. They had a dog sled all set-up and in motion. It was fun to watch. Those dogs are amazing.

We ended our night with a sleigh ride. This was the highlight of the night for us. They had three sleighs going so the line moved quickly and the ride was a lot of fun. We really enjoyed ourselves and ran into several people we knew which was fun too. It was nice to actually enjoy the winter weather a little for a change!

Football Sunday at Bill's Pub North by: Christine Frentz

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:26:00 +0000

This past Sunday my family and I decided that instead of watching the NFL playoffs at home, we should go out somewhere new. I picked Bill’s Pub North because we all had a taste for pizza and we have never been there before. It is located right off of Washington Street in Grayslake, right by the College of Lake County. So it is really easy to get to.

Bill’s Pub North is a great pick for a place to watch different games. The dining area is all open so you can see the score from almost every seat in the restaurant. The atmosphere is really relaxed, so it wasn’t too loud. It is nice to still be able to have a conversation during the playoffs without having to yell across your table.

When the hostess seats you, she gives you your menus and a basket of peanuts. After you eat the peanuts you throw the shells on the floor. This really added to the great atmosphere of the restaurant.

Bill’s Pub North has a variety of items on their menu, but it is also nice and compact. It doesn’t take forever to decide what you want to order. If there are a ton of picky eaters, like in my family, you can always split the pizza toppings in half.

We ate so much pizza that we didn’t have enough room for dessert. Next time we go we have to save room because their chocolate chip cookie sundae sounded amazing!

Friends Gather at the Anastasia's Sports Lounge North by: Christine Frentz

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:56:00 +0000

My friends and I are always looking for a place to go that is close to home and that has great drink and food specials. Anastasia’s Restaurant Sports Lounge North is the perfect place to meet with friends to hang out or to watch sports. It is located off of Lake Street in Downtown Antioch so it is very easy to get to.

At Anastasia’s Restaurant, all of their prices are very reasonable. My friends like to go on Thursdays for the all you can eat pizza for only $4.95. There are good drink specials that day too, so it ends up being a very cheap night out.

The servers and bartenders are always in a good mood, and they do everything they can to make sure that your experience there is a good one. I have not been to their other location in Waukegan, but I am sure the restaurant is great too.

The atmosphere at Anastasia’s is nice because it isn’t too dark or noisy so it is a perfect place to go to with friends. If you do go alone, there are always people at the bar that are probably watching the same game and rooting for the same team as you are.

I would say that the best time to go is in the summer. Wintertime is good because there are so many games on, but the summertime is great because Anastasia’s has outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is nice because they have a server that goes outside and it is accommodating when you are with a large group.

I am looking forward to this summer and spending time at both Anastasia’s and shopping in the historical downtown Antioch!

Christmas Shopping at Gurnee Mills by: Christine F.

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:06:00 +0000

This year, like every year I did most of my Christmas shopping at Gurnee Mills. It is the perfect place to get your shopping done for everyone. There are stores that even your strangest relative would want a gift from.
Most of Gurnee Mills’ stores are outlets, which is perfect when you are looking for deals. The best is when the outlets even have sales, which most of them do. I went shopping there on Black Friday, and I do have to say that it was not even necessary. Most of the stores in the mall have the same if not better deals all month long.

This year I felt like Gurnee Mills was definitely ready for the holiday rush. All of the stores that I went to had plenty of people working the registers and enough people there to help you find what you need. That is so helpful, you can go into the store that what you want and move on to the next store without any hassle.Aside from Christmas shopping, another great deal time is the week after. All of the stores have their spring stuff out, so all of their winter clothes are so cheap! Gurnee Mill’s keeps adding stores to keep up with what their customers want, and I know for me, they are definitely making their customers happy! Keep the shopping coming!

Wonderland Express at the Chicago Botanic Garden by: Christine Frentz

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Before all of the running around on Christmas, I wanted to do something new and relaxing before the busy holiday. I thought that the perfect solution would be to go to the Wonderland Express at the Chicago Botanic Garden. From what I saw on their website, it was perfect!

Once I got there I realized that what I saw on the website was just a small part of all of the holiday activities that they had going on. My favorite part was the Wonderland Express train that ran on tracks for days. The display was huge! I couldn’t believe it! They had mountains and trees that the train ran through, and they looked so real! There were also cute little houses and villages that were in the display.

Since it gets dark out so early, we were there to see the Christmas lights that the garden put up. They were beautiful! All of the decorations were festive and really wonderful to look at.

When I was at the garden, Mrs. Claus was there and you could visit with her and have hot chocolate. Later that night, there was supper with Santa that people could go to. They even had a festive dinner and festival of lights that was put on for people who celebrated Hanukkah.

One thing that I did not do but I wish I did was the ice skating and snow shoeing that the garden had new for this year. They do not rent out the skates, but if you bring your own they have a big rink and it’s surrounded by all of the lit up trees. This is something that I definitely want to do the next time I go. The Chicago Botanic Garden Wonderland Express is running until January 3rd, so it is great for people with family in town looking for something to do.

It’s Like Stepping Back in Time – Long Grove at Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Judi Tschappat) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:04:00 +0000

If you want traditional holiday charm, there is no need to go any further than Long Grove at Christmas time! You’ll find fantastic shopping and activities for the whole family. It is an opportunity to SLOW DOWN and enjoy the season.

And don’t think that because it is December 22nd, the festivities are over…not so! Activities continue through the end of the year.

I walked around the village on the 13th and really began to get in the spirit of Christmas. I was excited to see that there were carolers right outside the Long Grove Apple Haus. They were dressed in full “Dickens” garb. I grabbed a cup of hot cider and sat down to listen. It was really fun to see people of all ages stop and begin singing along.

I moved from one thing that warmed my heart to another. I just love a horse-drawn carriage ride. My husband and I were married in Long Grove and took a ride on our wedding night. The memories came flooding back as we sauntered around the shops. It was quite cozy under that warm blanket!

After warming up with hot cider, Christmas carols and a carriage ride under a warm blanket, I was ready to shop! But where should I begin??? There are so many unique shops all around town. I try to make time for as many as I can!

I love the homemade chocolate candies as well as the chocolate dipped strawberries. After walking out of there, I could have died a happy woman!

The next stop was The Olive Tap. It is a must-see for me when I get to Long Grove. Where else can you enjoy a Tasting Emporium AND Gourmet Market! It is always hard to choose which olive oil and balsamic vinegar I MUST take home!

There were quite a few little “home” type gifts on my list to buy this year so I ran into Mangels and found everything I needed! The selection is amazing; from Mark Robert Fairies to home accessories, to the most beautiful Christmas tree decorations you’ll find. I wish I could buy complete rooms and just “install” them in my home. Love it!

Seasons of Long Grove has had quite a few activities for young and old alike. The Nutcracker Tea runs through the 27th. You may bring your own hat or borrow one from their collection. The Santa’s Breakfast ran through the 20th and all children received a special gift (whether they were naughty or nice). And finally, this past weekend was the Dickens Dinner, with Victorian Buffet and live music from their Christmas Carolers.

Check out the Long Grove website www.longgroveonline.com. You’ll see all of the scheduled events through the end of the year AND you can check out the festivals that go on throughout the year. I can’t wait until they have their 2010 dates. I need to mark my calendar early!

Jump into the Holiday spirit in Downtown Antioch

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Zuniga) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:28:00 +0000

Once again time seems to have flown by and the Holiday season is upon us. To help get in the Holiday mood my family and I decided to escape the shopping mall madness by taking a trip to the hometown atmosphere of Downtown Antioch. Our first stop was “Santa’s Enchanted Castle” located on Toft Ave.

For $5 dollars we had our picture taken with Santa Claus and received a nice goodie bag that contained treats for the kids along with several coupons for local merchants. One of coupons was for a free cup of hot chocolate which was a nice since the weather was pretty cold that day. Upon leaving the castle the next door building has a huge tank on display which our boys thought was really cool. I truly had them convinced that it was there to protect their present’s lol.

Next we took a stroll down Main Street to do some Holiday shopping. The kid’s kept busy counting snowmen in the store front displays for the “Find Frosty Contest”.We did find the special snowman for the Baskin Robbins treat, but I won’t ruin it by mentioning the location. After turning in our contest entry form we took a “Horse- Drawn Carriage Ride”.

The ride took us for about a 10 minute loop around the downtown area. Our boy’s really liked “Nell” (the horse pulling the carriage) and it was a perfect way to end our visit. Happy Holidays!!!

Zion...a new Christmas tradition for our family!

noreply@blogger.com (Judi Tschappat) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:04:00 +0000

I think our family has found a new Christmas tradition! Last year, we took our "then" two year old to Zion’s Festival of Lights, a light show and walk through Kringle’s Kingdom. We loved it – so we decided to go back again this year. At the end of the evening, Mark asked if we could make this an annual family event with Maggie!

The event takes place in Shiloh Park, off of Sheridan. There are several activities during the festival; you have to leave yourself enough time to see it all.

A walk through Kringle’s Kingdom included over 450 lit Christmas trees, some small and some very tall. They were beautiful!! In and amongst the Christmas trees, individuals, groups and business decorated dioramas filled with all different Christmas themed scenes. Every scene was different, some simple and some elaborate, some were animated and some had music; however all were very creative! I giggled when I saw the Subway scene; snowmen selling “Snoway” sandwiches! What a great play on words.

The walk through the trees was actually placed in the Zion park district’s pool area. Picture a tall, winding slide lit with Christmas lights and HUGE wrapped presents coming down! AND, at the bottom of the slide, you see some sort of a runway, lit with green and red lights, only to realize it is Santa’s sleigh’s runway and the lights directing his arrival.

We turned the last corner and what did we see? Santa’s home! Now let’s just say that in the past, meeting Santa has been much more fun to talk about than actually do, for Maggie. Well she saw him sitting inside in his chair and she ran up the stairs, opened the door and gave him the biggest hug! She told him that she wanted princess gifts and I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Never once has she been comfortable enough to sit on his lap. This time, she tackled Santa – it was awesome!

As we exited Kringle’s Kingdom, we heard the trolley bell ringing. We boarded it for a fun ride around the neighborhood. We passed the “Shiloh House” and were given the opportunity to run in and take a look around the museum! I swear there was a fireplace in every room!

The trolley took you on a tour of the Festival of Lights too! We drove through dinosaurs and dragons, under an archway of jumping reindeer, a frog jumping into the pond, snowmen playing baseball and so many more light displays. It was just beautiful!

Before we knew it, our ride came to an end and so did our time in Zion for one more year, but like I said in the beginning, we will be back next year! Visit the Festival of Lights website http://www.cityofzion.com/fol/index.html. They have listed all of the activities and taken photos to get you excited about going! The site says that you won’t find a collection of holiday events like it anywhere in northeast Illinois – THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!! The event runs through December 30th and activities generally begin around 7:00 p.m. although the drive-thru display opens at sundown.

This is a must-see!

Grab the Spirit at the Vernon Hills Winter Wonderland

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Mertens) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

I still can’t believe that Thanksgiving has come and passed and we are nearing Christmas, where does the time go? We always start putting out our Christmas decorations and light up our house the day after Thanksgiving. For some reason we were dragging our feet this year so we decided we needed some inspiration. We packed the kids up after dinner and headed over to the outdoor Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show.

This light show is located on the grounds of the Cuneo Museum in Vernon Hills. It opens at 6pm every night. The drive through the light show takes about 20 to 25 minutes and they have you tune into a radio station that is playing fun Christmas music. You enter through huge lit up arches that start out the 12 Days of Christmas (there is a countdown). There is also a challenge given at the beginning of the show – to count how many snowmen you see throughout the ride. I can say we were way off (we missed a lot of them apparently)! It was so great this year to see the light show through our daughter Reese’s eyes. She was so excited about everything she saw which made it that much more fun for my husband and I.

One of our favorite parts as we drove through were all of the Disney characters. Those are a big deal in our house these days so seeing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and all of the other characters from the movies we love was very exciting. Every tree is lit up and there are shapes of animals, elves, presents and candy canes everywhere. There were some really creative things too, like a horse drawn carriage with lights that made it look like it was moving and a ferris wheel. Another spot we loved was Santa’s workshop set-up with Santa and the Elves all around it as well as the reindeer.

Well I can definitely say that if inspiration for the lights on our house is what we were looking for, we got what we came for. We had a great time and it truly put us into the holiday spirit. While our house doesn’t look anywhere close to what we saw, we did get in the spirit and got all of our decorations and lights out.

Ho! Ho! Ho! It's Santa Time at Gurnee Mills!

noreply@blogger.com (Michele DeGoey) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:33:00 +0000

HO HO HO……It’s Santa at Gurnee Mills!

It’s that time of year again….our annual visit to see Santa! We have always visited the Santa at Gurnee Mills, they do a nice job with Santa’s village and Santa himself. This year did not disappoint!

We arrived at the mall on Friday afternoon. We parked near Entry B and walked to the Information Booth to ask were we could find Santa. Jessie at the Info Booth was very friendly and told us that we could visit Santa near the Food Court behind the carousel. As we made our way to Santa’s Village we were approached several times by people handing out Hershey’s Bliss chocolates. The chocolates were so good that we walked around a bit and ate more chocolate before we actually went to see Santa! I also noticed that Gurnee Mills will be open at midnight on Thanksgiving – what a great time to do some holiday shopping while the kids are in bed!

We found Santa! As we walked up to Santa’s village we were greeted right away by Santa’s helper. My kids ran up to Santa holding their gift lists, they were very excited! Santa was very welcoming and got out of his chair to greet us with a big smile. He looked at their lists and asked questions about their list and if they were good throughout the year. Santa’s helper told me we could get a professional picture if we wanted, take our own pictures or just visit with Santa. The photographer told me the price of the pictures and I took a flyer listing the different packages available. I chose the $24.99 package that included one 5x7 and four 3.5x5’s. The photographer took several pictures of the kids with Santa and we chose the best one. She printed the pictures right away, only took a few minutes. During the short waiting time, the kids talked with Santa some more.Then it was time to go, there were other children waiting to see Santa as well. The kids promised to leave some cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve. We really had a nice visit this year and look forward to next year.

Children's Imaginations Take Over At the Round Lake Park District Children's Neighborhood Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Mertens) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:26:00 +0000

Kids love to play and use their imagination. Pretending they are adults, driving cars, taking care of babies, cooking and more. The Round Lake Park District Children’s Neighborhood Museum is the perfect spot to bring your kids to let their imaginations take over.

Admission is only $5.00/child (no charge for adults) – and there are certain days and times when admission is free. The museum is in the Round Lake Park District building. It is set-up as a town with a lot to do. The town has many different spots to stop at including a grocery store, a fire station, a gas station with cars, a gym with tot-sized workout equipment , a construction site and much more. There is also a great area for toddlers where soft mats are set-up for tumbling.
Our first stop was the pizza stand. My daughter Reese pretended she was making pizza for us and serving us, this followed up with a visit to the grocery store. There were a couple play cash registers and shopping carts to make the experience realistic for the kids. Next Reese drove one of the cars to the gas station where she filled up her tank and washed her windshield.

The spot we spent the most time was in the workout area. There is a mini stationary bike, treadmill and workout bench set-up. Reese loved pretending in this area. There was also a big tree house with a slide in this area as well. Throughout the different areas in the museum were posters hung informing the kids about what the area was about. For example, in the grocery store there was a poster explaining what a farmer does and how they grow food that we buy and by the big fire truck there was a poster explaining what a fireman does.

One area we didn’t spend any time at but definitely plan to on our next visit was the stage. While we were there, we saw several kids using the dress-up clothes there and putting on little plays – so fun for the kids!

Before we left, we heard that there is also the Prairie Grass Nature Museum at the Round Lake Park District, it is in the building across the street so we decided to check that out before leaving. The Nature Museum has a mock trail that brings you on a walk through nature where the kids can see wildlife and learn about it as well. There were real snakes, rabbits and guinea pigs. There were also some stations set-up where the kids had the opportunity to color nature pages and do other fun activities.

Both museums were entertaining and a lot of fun for kids. It is a great spot to hit as the weather gets colder to get you out of the house and keep the kids amused and using their imagination. We will definitely be back there this winter.

Hairspray rocks at the Marriott Theatre! by: Jayne Nordstrom

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0000

This is the best show I’ve seen at the Marriott Theatre besides Les Miz! I had only seen the more recent film version on TV and now wondered why I had waited so long to see it live. I laughed. I cried during “I Know Where I’ve Been” and honestly, I could hardly sit still in my seat – the music was so much fun and the dancing was inspiring. I was kind of wishing it was a sing-a-long version and we’d all get up and dance and sing like Mamma Mia. Songs such as “Welcome to the 60’s” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat” are so much fun; hubby, Steve really liked it too!
We were discussing on the way back to the car that it wasn’t that long ago (in my lifetime) that issues such as integration were a struggle in our nation. This show offers great discussion afterwards besides the tunes continuing to run through your head. Ross Lehman was great as Edna Turnblad and it was fun to hear the young girls behind me at intermission talking about that they figured out he was a man. Ross will be playing Tevye in Marriott Theatre’s upcoming Fiddler on the Roof in February 2010. It was cool to see some favorite performers such as Bernie Yvon (he was the Pharaoh in Joseph…) playing Corny Collins and he will be Harold Hill in Marriott Theatre’s upcoming The Music Man at the end of next season. I like that I’m watching some of these actors every few months.

Every year when our renewal comes up for our Marriott Theatre subscription, we wonder if we should budget for it again. However, it’s a great value basically getting one ticket free with each subscription for the year. It’s close to home, no cost for parking and we see awesome (and sometimes familiar) talent. And I get 20% off in the gift shop and it’s an awesome gift shop!

APPLE PICKIN’ AT APPLE HOLLER ORCHARD BY: DEBBIE KALINOWSKI

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Something I look forward to every fall is going to pick apples with the whole family. We get to Apple Holler at 9:00 a.m. and some of the grandkids that are there are already playing out in front of the orchards for awhile while we wait for the others to arrive. They really enjoy climbing on the hay, going thru the hay tunnels, and going thru the crazy corn maze. They play non-stop until the entire family arrives and we all take pictures around the pumpkins and in front of a poster that measures how much they have grown within the year. Then we go past the country store & gift shop, at least the rest of the family does, Grandma has to take a peek in it to see what items they have. I love to look at all of the fall decorations and items they have because I love fall!Before we head into the orchards we stop to see the farm animals and also watch the antics of the goats crossing a suspended bridge. We pass a lot of beautiful flowers, scarecrows, and a popcorn and apple cider stand. Apple Holler also has wagons for rent but you can bring your own and believe me you will want one because the bag of apples weighs about 25 pounds. There are 30 varieties of apples and picking is August thru early November. But it is best to check the website or call ahead to see which apples are ready for picking when you are planning your outing.
As the family proceeds into the orchard we follow the signs to look for our favorite apples. On the way we try many other kinds. It seems like every year I discover a new favorite apple this way. The grandkids help by putting the apples into the bags. It is great to see the grandkid's get so excited about apples and not fast food or candy.

In the middle of the orchard there is a resting/play area that we all gather around. The kids all run up and down the circle of haystacks and the adults sit and chat awhile. We all wave to the people that are going by in a hayride. Every year we ask someone walking by to take a family picture of the group of us. As we go back on our way to the exit we make sure that our bags are completely filled and after checking out we buy some freshly made kettle popcorn. We take a couple more pictures around the fall decorations before we leave.

Everything about this day is always so perfect that I wonder why I haven’t gone to a breakfast or a dinner play that they have here at Apple Holler. The restaurant this morning was very busy and smelled very good! Next year I am coming earlier to have breakfast here. It is amazing all the different activities they have here at Apple Holler and not just apple picking. You can check this out by going on their website.The hours are: 10:00-6:00 Saturday & Sunday 10:00-4:00 Monday thru Friday.
The address and phone number: 5006 S. Sylvania Ave. Sturtevant, WI
1-800-238-3629

A bag of apples(2 couples to a bag) $40.00
Parking if you don’t park on the street for free: $5.00
Going out for lunch after: $30.00
Family Memories Priceless

Highwood – I Have Been Welcomed by the Precious Gem!

noreply@blogger.com (Judi Tschappat) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:53:00 +0000

If you wander onto Highwood’s website (http://celebratehighwood.com/), it talks about it being “…the North Shore’s precious gem” or “offering all the comforts of home”. I was interested.

I saw on the website that Highwood was going to hold its Prelude to the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival on October 21, 3-8p at City Hall. It was the city’s “practice run” for The World Record Attempt in 2010. I packed up my little “Cinderella” (kids dressed up) and headed east.

The “Great Wall of Pumpkins”; can you picture scaffolding holding 1,000 pumpkins, and a guy standing in a “cherry picker”, 32 feet in the air, lighting each one of them? Each pumpkin was carved by children, adults and seniors in the area for the festival. Again…there were 1,000. Next year’s goal is 32,000!! That will be amazing!

There was the farmer’s market, (that has been held every Wednesday since June), local vendors, live music, trick-or-treating all around the downtown and even a hayride. We had a blast!

While I was there, I got the opportunity to talk to some of the residents of Highwood. It was an opportunity to find out what to try the next time I come back (which will be on my date night, this next weekend)!

You really HAVE to go to the website. There are coupons and descriptions for each of the merchants in the area. You’ll find a large assortment of dining opportunities. I don’t know where to start! Do I try a place called Froggie’s or Buffo’s or Bridie McKenna’s? Do I want steaks, shrimp, Indian or pizza? The options are endless.

I really enjoyed strolling down the streets of Highwood, even though it was after dark, peering in the windows of the local shops. The festival was all a buzz in the background and Maggie and I got our own “prelude” to what we will experience again. Can’t wait to go back!

Fun & Pumpkins Galore at Didier Farms Pumpkinfest

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Mertens) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:53:00 +0000

Nothing says fall like seeing pumpkins out on people’s doorsteps. My daughter Reese, now three really understands Halloween and that pumpkins are a part of the celebration. She has been asking for a couple weeks now when she will get to pick out her pumpkins so we decided to take a ride to Didier Farm this weekend to not only pick out pumpkins, but also enjoy an afternoon of family fun.

Didier Farm is a cute place with a lot to do, located in Prairie View. They have several rides for the kids, a petting zoo, giant jump houses, a corn maze, a hayride, an arts and crafts area and much more!
The first spot we hit was the pig pen. There were 5 or 6 piglets under heat in the pen, they were so cute. We also went into the petting zoo where Reese was able to not only pet the animals (goats, pigs, etc.), she was also able to feed them out of her hand which she got a kick out of.
Next we checked out the rides. Reese went on a dragon “roller coaster”, a mini ferris wheel, the train and the scrambler (multiple times)! She also took a pony ride as well.
The area we spent the most time this year was the pumpkin area. Didier Farm has SO many pumpkins to choose from – lots of different sizes and even colors. Reese had a hard time deciding which ones to pick so she walked up and down each row checking them all out before finally making a decision on a few. I had a great time snapping pictures of her surrounded by the pumpkins.
We went into the store to pay for our pumpkins and ended up leaving with not only our pumpkins, but an apple pie, pumpkin bread mix (that we were able to sample), apple cider and two Halloween decorations. Their store has a ton of fun and homemade treats to choose from.
We had a great time at Didier Farms. It was a chilly day, however, it was fun to bundle up, get into the fall spirit and let Reese burn off some energy. Next up is carving those pumpkins we bought…can’t wait!

Doomed to be Scared at the Dungeon by Teraya Lewis

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Around this time every year people from all over go out to get spooked, scared and frightened by the things that haunt them the most, this season would be Halloween. Why not go to the “Best Haunted House in Chicagoland” this year, the Dungeon of Doom which people from all over have gone to when it was at the Lake County Fair Grounds. It moved to Zion, Illinois in the Warwick building which in itself is said to be haunted. Be prepared for a scare of a lifetime as you enter the parking lot and all the way through the two-story Dungeon of Doom building.

While waiting to get in, you could see people quickly leaving the line not wanting to go inside. Outside there are clowns and dead guys roaming the area looking to scare you. Be careful what you do because they will come after you, even if you’re not scared they’ll find a way to make you jump out of your socks.
In my experience the best part was the mental hospital that they have set up with crazy doctors and patients. It’s unavoidable not to be scared when turning the corners in the different mazes, because everywhere you look someone jumps out and scares you. I would advise people not to antagonize the characters because they will retaliate to make sure you are scared out of your mind the whole way through. This is said from experience, because three different times I was escorted an alternate way then my group was and left to find my way back to them. It’s tons of fun and I’m positive you’ll have a blast.

The Dungeon of Doom is fun for the whole family; bring everyone out to see the clowns, games, mysteriousness and plain scary looking characters that have been successfully created to scare you. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth. Thanks to everyone who works at the Dungeon of Doom for making this the best Halloween scare in town.

Autumn in Lake County is spelled A-P-P-L-E-S!

noreply@blogger.com (Judi Tschappat) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:51:00 +0000

Wait…what happened? We went from summer to fall pretty quickly here in Lake County! And what makes you think of fall more than apples? Well, I can’t really think of anything!

Long Grove’s 17th annual Apple Festival was this past weekend. It was packed with people there to enjoy their favorite fall treat; apples in every possible recipe!

After parking, we headed straight to the Apple Haus. They sure were ready for the crowd by serving customers inside AND outside of the store. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted hot or cold cider so I tried both. While in line, I couldn’t leave the store without an apple fritter and cider donuts…and don’t forget a caramel apple Brown Bag Apple Pie for dessert tomorrow. I could have died a happy woman right there!

The festivals of Long Grove have so many things planned; you are never looking for something to do. There was live entertainment whether you walked north or south. The entertainment schedule was packed on five different stages with over 25 performers to watch – unbelievable! It was really fun seeing people sitting and listening, dancing and singing along.

Walking through the main intersection of Long Grove, you saw vendor booths of all kinds. Village restaurants drew you in with their yummy food and even some drinks to keep you warm (caramel apple lattes and apple martinis to name a couple).

Kids were the main focus right off of Old McHenry Road. There were kiddie rides, pony rides and face painting. The Amazing Josh (the balloon guy) was back with a line too. I must tell you he makes a butterfly that my daughter LOVES. You saw smiles everywhere even in the midst of a few raindrops. Maggie had her favorites; the train, the berry spinning ride and the mini carousel which she rode multiple times.

We walked in and out of the shops and galleries and had a blast. As we walked to our car, we couldn’t forget picking up a bushel of apples and some cider to go. Now I’ll keep the fall feeling for a while at home.

Long Grove’s next event is Oktoberfest, the weekend of October 17-18. Don’t miss it. They will be sure to have beer, brats and traditional German entertainment. Visit http://longgroveonline.com/oktoberfest.html for additional details.

A Mouth-Watering Dinner at Flemings

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole Mertens) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:11:00 +0000

You know you have had a great meal when your mouth is still watering the next day every time you think back to the meal. This was the case for me after eating at Flemings on Saturday night. Flemings is a steakhouse and wine bar located in Lincolnshire.
When we arrived at the restaurant we were greeted with free valet parking which is always a plus. We were able to sit down within a few minutes of arriving. Being a wine bar they have over 100 wines offered on their menu and they also had suggested wines to order based on the meal you were getting which is helpful since we aren’t wine savvy. They also have a drink menu with a lot of martini’s and other fun drinks. Luke ordered a glass of Pinot Noir and I decided to go with a Classic Margarita with salt.
The meal starts out with warm bread and a really good sun dried tomato butter spread. Flemings has a large menu, however, they also have what they call a “Trio” menu where you can pick a salad, a choice of three main courses, a side and a dessert for a very reasonable price. We both decided to go with this option. We also ordered their Sweet Chile Calamari appetizer which we both loved. We order calamari as an appetizer a lot at restaurants and this one was great because it had a unique taste and flavor.
For our “Trio” meals, we both chose the spinach salad as our starter. This was spinach, tomatoes, bacon, onion and cheese with balsamic dressing. It was delicious. I chose to get the scallops as my main course which was served over orzo pasta with a really good sauce. I had green beans with almonds as my side. I loved my meal. Luke went with the peppercorn crusted filet which came with a few small pieces of fried cheese and the mushrooms as a side. He really enjoyed the filet and I have to admit it was pretty amazing as well.
We both ended our meal with Banana Crème Brule. This came with a side of homemade whipped cream. All I can say is WOW. The dessert was wonderful. I love Crème Brule, however, I have never had it with bananas on top and it was delicious, especially with the whipped cream.
At the end of our meal, the waiter came to take our valet ticket so that when we left the restaurant our car was already waiting for us out front…how great is that!? Luke and I both noticed and commented on how great the service was. Everyone we encountered was very professional and truly made our dining experience better. Our waiter knew the menu well, was able to give us suggestions and brought us our food quickly (which I always like!). There were so many nice touches like the hostess putting the napkins on us, bringing out a cold fork to eat our salad with, etc. We really enjoyed ourselves and left feeling very full and satisfied!

Laid-back Urbanity: Lake Forest’s Market Square By: Linda Gardner Phillips contributor on Behalf of the Illinois Bureau of Tourism

noreply@blogger.com (Lake County CVB) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:58:00 +0000

I live in the country, but I love the city, too. Sometimes I want the best of both worlds and decide to take a trip to Lake Forest’s Market Square. Like a great cup of tea, Market Square delivers a refreshing dose of laid-back urbanity, plus it’s easy to reach via train or car (just 30 miles north of Chicago).Market Square charms me because it takes visitors back in time without a spec of nostalgia or kitsch. It’s a slice of slow life in a fast lane world; the graceful buildings and long village green remind me to calm down, breathe and shop (of course). It’s as if a dollop of southern hospitality plunked itself down here in the Midwest and decided to stay awhile.Market Square was designed by architect Howard Van Doren Shaw in 1916 to create a defined city center. He certainly succeeded; beloved by Lake Foresters and copied by cities around the country, Market Square consistently draws shoppers, fine diners and commuters who disembark at the Metra train station across the street.I, along with many pedestrians, tend to linger in the grassy park. When the weather’s nice there’s no better place to sit and chat with a friend. Shady benches along the brick-lined walkways provide a sense of public privacy. Small shops line the longer north and south sides and many have been there for generations, such as Kiddle’s Sports and Helanders Stationers on the northwest corner.

My kids love to picnic on the lawn – if I can get them out of The Toy Station – so we grab snacks at Einstein Brothers Bagels to eat near the fountain. If I’m on my own, I usually slip into the Lake Forest Bookstore or grab a bite one block north at Foodstuffs.On the Square’s west side, a snappy J. Crew store now brightens the impressive anchor building (formerly Marshall Field’s and Macy’s). Avid shoppers also enjoy Three Sisters, Penny’s From Heaven, and The Lake Forest Shop. Moving to the southwest corner, you can sit outdoors to dine at the Bank Lane Bistro or Southgate Cafe (this building housed Lake Forest’s first fire department). The tiny Bank Lane leads to more taste bud treats. The Green Teaist helps visitors experience the joy of Japanese tea, and Sweets makes the finest toffee this side of London.If the day starts to get late and you’re going to stick around for drinks and dinner, do what the locals do and walk a block north of Market Square to The Lantern, a long-time kid-friendly favorite with on-tap specials and model trains running on tracks suspended from the ceiling. Visitors who plan ahead can spend the night nearby at the historic Deerpath Inn. Other accommodations include the Hilton Garden Inn and Residence Inn, both just west of the highway in rural Mettawa.

Fans of Market Square’s architectural style might also want to drive by Ragdale, Howard Van Doren Shaw’s 1897 Lake Forest summer home (now an extensive artists’ retreat).

To get a taste of Market Square in downtown Chicago, take a moment to step into the small church courtyard that’s just across the street from the Hancock Center. Those only peeking in from the sidewalk cannot imagine the peaceful environment experienced by visitors to the Shaw-designed “Children’s Fountain”. If this small taste of urban tranquility leaves you hungry for more, no worries. Just take a trip north to one of my favorite places, Lake Forest’s Market Square, and plan to stay awhile.

More resources: map and list of stores, history, a book about Howard Van Doren Shaw, and upcoming Lake Forest events.

- Linda Gardner Phillips

- Read more blogs about the state of Illinois at http://www.enjoyillinoisblog.com
- To learn more about Linda, check out her bio.