St. Joseph Oktoberfest and Antiques Market

An annual event held in the church parking lot on the corner of Ridge and Lake in Wilmette, features antiques vendors from Sandwich and Kane counties from 9 am to 4 pm. There is also a Family Festival, with games, entertainment and a “biergarten” tent. In the evening there’s a traditional German dinner at 6:00 with an Oompah band, followed by a dance at 8:30 featuring HipHugger. Call 847-256-7870 for more information.

8th Annual North Shore Treasures Collectibles and Antiques Appraisal Event

If you’ve cleaned out your attic and are wondering whether those treasures you’ve discovered are family heirlooms or just junk, here’s your chance to find out. Just bring your treasure(s) to Plaza del Lago at 1515 Sheridan Rd. on Saturday, September 17 from 10 to 2 and get them appraised by Daniel Buck Soules or Simeon Lipman. A suggested $10 donation for each item appraised will go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Illinois. Call 847-884-0000 for more information.

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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.

Every summer Plaza del Lago hosts free concerts on Thursday nights at 6:00pm.

June 24 – Day Oh (steel drum music)

July 1 – The New Invaders (’60s British Rock)

July 8 – James Saunders & Conjunto (Latin jazz, salsa)

July 15 – Liquid Soul (R&B soul)

July 22 – The Ultimate Maliks (dance music)

July 29 – Big Bang Theory (classics with a jazz twist)

Plaza del Lago is located at 1515 Sheridan Road in Wilmette. You can sit outside at one of the restaurants (Convito Cafe, Starbucks, No Man’s Land) or buy something and take it with you. Convito usually does a BBQ on concert nights and sells brats, dogs, chicken and Italian sausage to concert-goers.

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Plaza del Lago

The development of the area included the Miralago Ballroom, the Teatro del Lago theater and a Spanish style shopping center called Spanish Court. Plans had also included two clubs on the east side of Sheridan Road, but they were never finished due to the Depression.

The ballroom and shops were destroyed by a fire in 1932. The theater was torn down in 1967 to expand the shopping center, which was renamed Plaza del Lago. The bell-tower is the the key architectural feature that remains from the original Spanish Court.

Today Plaza del Lago is still a vibrant shopping area, with a Crate and Barrel store, a Starbucks, a Jewel grocery store, and a Blockbuster, as well as restaurants, boutiques and services. it’s within walking distance of anywhere in the Cage and downtown Wilmette.

Restaurants
Convito Cafe and Market
No Man’s Land Pizza and Grill
Starbucks

Boutiques
Yellow Bird (gifts)
La Colonna (women’s clothing and accessories)
Three Wishes (toys and games)
Vibrato (women’s clothing, shoes and jewelry)
Huntley’s (menswear)
Giggles and Giraffes (children’s clothing)
Hanig’s Footwear (men’s and women’s shoes)
Glazed Expressions (paint your own pottery)
Artisan Shop (crafts and gifts)

In the summer Plaza de Lago has events such as a concert series, an art show, a classic car show and sidewalk sales.

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Free Concerts in Plaza del Lago