North Shore Views

Archive for the 'Living here' Category

Dining Al Fresco on the North Shore

After a long, cold and dreary winter, nothing beats sitting outside to enjoy a meal in the balmy summer air.  Here are my picks for the best spots to eat al fresco on the North Shore.

If you think I’ve missed one that should be on the list, please leave a comment!

Lake Forest

Deer Path Inn
255 E. Illinois Rd.
800-788-9480

Francesca’s
293 E. Illinois Rd.
847-735-9235

South Gate Cafe
655 Forest Ave.
847-234-8800

Highwood

Bridie McKenna’s
254 Green Bay Rd.
847-432-3311

Froggy’s French Cafe
306 Green Bay Rd.
847-433-7080

Highland Park

Bella Via
1899 Second St.
847-681-8300

Cafe Central
455 Central
847-266-7878

Tamales…A Mexican Joint
493 Central
847-433-4070

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: outdoor dining, restaurants

Pete Wentz’s Favorite Chicago Spots

We haven’t heard much about Wilmette celeb Pete Wentz since Fall Out Boy broke up, but Pete will be back in Chicago in August to perform at Lollapalooza. Wentz has a new band called Black Cards, described as a reggae-infused, 80’s British Rock sound. The lead vocalist is Bebe Rexha (pictured above with Wentz).

In this video Pete names his favorite Chicago area spots, and three of them are in Wilmette: Walker Brothers, where he and his family used to go after church on Sundays, Chuck Wagon and Lou Malnati’s. Keep a lookout for him in August, as he’ll probably stop in to one or more of these places for a meal. But you may not recognize him now that’s he’s ditched the black eyeliner and bangs.

Tags: Black Cards, Chuck Wagon, Pete Wentz, Walker Brothers

Race Against Hate on Father’s Day

Bond with your Dad and support a worthwhile cause this Sunday by running together in the Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate, a 10K run in Evanston along Sheridan Rd. and through the Northwestern campus. Even if you and your father aren’t up for running, you can still participate by walking the 5K.

This is the twelfth year of the event, which was created by Sherialyn Birdsong in memory of her husband, Ricky. Ricky was a beloved basketball coach at Northwestern, who was murdered in 1999 by a white supremacist, simply because he was African-American. Last year the race raised over $150,000 for the YWCA to use in its work with local schools on issues of racial justice and violence prevention.

The 10K starts at 7:30 am on Sunday, June 19. The 5K run/walk starts at 7:45. The youth mile for kids 9-13 starts at 9:00 and at 9:15 the kids under 8 can start.

Online registration is closed but you can still register in person tomorrow (Saturday, the 18th) at the Evanston YWCA at 1215 Church St., or on race day starting at 6:15 am. Go here for more details about the race.

Tags: Race Against Hate, Ricky Byrdsong

Summer Concerts at Plaza del Lago – 2011

One of the things I love about summer on the North Shore is the number of outdoor concerts you can enjoy, many of them free. One of my favorite music venues is Plaza del Lago in Wilmette.

Every Thursday evening for six weeks in the summer, Plaza del Lago hosts free summer concerts in the parking lot. The concerts run from 6:00 to 8:00 pm (weather permitting) and you can bring a picnic or purchase your dinner from the restaurants in the plaza and eat al fresco as you enjoy the music.

Here’s the line-up for 2011:

June 30 – Moss/Realtime (original post-modern instrumental)

July 7 – The Dang-Its (Honky Tonk, Western Swing and Americana)

July 14 – Gone 2 Paradise (The Ultimate Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band)

July 21 – The New Invaders (British Rock)

July 28 – Ac*Rock (a cappella Rock ‘n’ Roll)

August 4 – Conjunto (Chicago’s premier Salsa Orchestra)

Plaza del Lago is located at 1515 Sheridan Rd. in Wilmette.

Tags: Plaza del Lago, summer concerts

Winnetka Children’s Fair 2011

For 65 years, the Winnetka Children’s Fair has been a tradition of community and family fun, fellowship and participation.  The Fair kicks off the summer with an end-of-school celebration that includes rides, games, craft booths, face painting and food.

The Fair is coordinated by the Board of Directors of Winnetka Community Nursery School. More than 1,000 volunteers donate their time, energy and enthusiasm to bring this event to life. It was conceived of as a fundraiser for the school. Today, there are probably a lot more efficient and less labor intensive ways to generate the same amount of money. But the fair has become part of the fabric of summertime in Winnetka, so the school continues to put it on for the enjoyment of the community.

This year’s fair is on Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Winnetka’s Village Green (Maple between Oak and Elm).  Hopefully, the weather will be more cooperative this year. Last year the fair was interrupted by torrential rains, which put a real damper on the fun.

Tags: summer fun, Winnetka Children's Fair

Summer Fun on the North Shore – June 2011

It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy! Especially up here on the North Shore, where there are tons of outdoor events and activities to enjoy:

Deerfield Festival of the Arts

Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5 from 10:00 am to 5;00 pm
Robert York Rd. and Jewett Park District, Deerfield

150 artists show and sell their work. This festival also includes music, food booths and kids’ activities. (847) 726-8669

Family Movie Night in the Park

Saturday, June 4 at dusk
Hubbard Woods Park, 939 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka

The Winnetka Park District will show “Despicable Me”. Hot dogs and snacks will be available for purchase. Bring blankets and chairs. Rain date is June 6. (847) 501-2042 for more info.

Winnetka Children’s Fair

Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11 from 10:00 to 5:00
Winnetka Village Green, Maple between Oak and Elm, Winnetka

Rides, games, and food. Geared to kids 12 and under. Entrance is free but the rides and games cost money as this is a fundraiser for the Winnetka Community Nursery School. You can read more about the fair here.

St. Norbert Block Party

Saturday, June 11 from 3:00-10:30 pm
St. Norbert Church, Walters Ave. and Meadow Lane, Northbrook

A fun-filled day of children’s activities, games, food tents and live music from Vertigo (a U2 tribute band). $5 before 7 pm and $10 after 7 pm.
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Tags: art fairs, Family fun on the North Shore, street fairs, summer fun

Birdhouse Garden in May

I first wrote about this delightful garden back in April, when there wasn’t much to see.

Here it is again in the middle of May, when the tulips were in bloom and other perennials were starting to sprout. And the birdhouses have come out to join the flowers.

Here’s how it looked just one month before:

Tags: gardens, Kenilworth Gardens

Travel Soccer Tryouts on the North Shore

It’s that time of year when all of the soccer clubs are holding tryouts for the coming year (which starts in late August 2011 and runs through June 2012).  If you live on the North Shore, and your child wants to play club soccer, you have several options available to you, but all of the clubs are holding their tryouts at the same time – the week of May 31 – so your child may only have the option of trying out for one. My advice is to do your homework ahead of time to determine which club would be the best fit.  Last spring I gave some tips on trying out for a travel soccer team, based on my own experience as a soccer mom. You can read that here.

Here are the clubs on the North Shore and links to their web sites. There you will find more information about registering for tryouts:

Wilmette Wings www.wilmettewings.com Tryouts: May 31-June 5, 2011

Trevian Soccer Club www.treviansoccerclub.com Tryouts: May 31-June 5

Euro Soccer Club www.eurosoccerclub.net Tryouts: May 31-June 5

Team Evanston www.teamevanston.org Tryouts: May 31-June 12

Chicago Fire Juniors North www.chicagofirejuniorsnorth.com Tryouts: May 31-June 3

Glenview Soccer Club www.glenviewsoccerclub.com Tryouts: May 31- June 5

Spartan Football Club www.spartanfc.org Tryouts: May 31-June 4

Tags: travel soccer, youth sports

Memorial Day Parades on Chicago’s North Shore

Enjoy a parade and honor our fallen heroes this Memorial Day at one of the North Shore’s annual parades:

Glenview

Glenviews annual parade starts at 9:00 east of the railroad tracks on Pine St. and continues to Glenview Rd. The ceremony will be held at the Veteran’s Memorial at Glenview Rd. and River Drive and will include a color guard, remarks by Joseph Sesterhenn of the American Legion and and address by Village President Kerry Cummings.

Wilmette

The procession kicks off at 10:30 on the corner of Lake and Ridge (St. Joseph’s parking lot) and proceeds down Lake to Park Ave. , then south to Wilmette Ave. and east to Village Hall, where there will be a ceremony to honor our war heroes.

Winnetka

The parade steps off at 10:30 am at the corner of Glendale and Elm and ends with a ceremony at the Village Green at 10:30.

Glencoe

Glencoe’s parade begins at 10:30 am from Greenwood Ave., proceeds north to Hazel, east to Vernon, north to Park and east to Old Green Bay Rd. It ends at the Veterans’ Memorial Park (299 Park Ave.) with a service at 11:00.

Lake Forest

Lake Forest’s parade originates at the City Hall parking lot and marches to Market Square, where the American Legion will conduct ceremonies to honor the Village’s deceased veterans.

Tags: parades

10 Tips for Downsizers with Too Much Stuff

North Shore baby-boomers, if you are planning to downsize to a smaller place anytime soon, this Forbes article by Ashlea Ebeling is worth a read.

It’s got great advice on how to maximize the return on all that great stuff you’ve collected over the years and how to minimize the tax consequences. Here’s a summary of her tips:

1. Accept that downsizing is tough.

Most people have an emotional attachment to their stuff, even if it has been up in the attic for years. It’s hard to let go of family heirlooms, old scrapbooks or souvenirs from your honeymoon. Give yourself time to reminisce so that you can let go more easily.

2. Find trusted experts.

Make sure you know which things have value beyond your sentimental attachment before you rush off an sell them on Craig’s List.

3. Call an appraiser to get an objective assessment of value.

4. Be wary of family lore.

Just because Grandma said that chair or vase is a one-of-a-kind doesn’t mean that it is.

5. Don’t toss things out prematurely.

Some things that look like trash aren’t (and vice versa).

6. Call an auction house.

For rarer or more valuable pieces this gives you access to a broader (even international) audience than an estate sale would.

7. Donate and deduct.

You can get a charitable deduction on your taxes if you donate something, but you do need to itemize if it is worth $500 or more.

8. Pass your heirlooms down before you die.

You can gift up to $13,000/year tax-free to as many people as you want (and that includes stuff as well as money).

9. Watch out for capital gains.

10. Remember the tax return.

Tags: downsizing