May 1, 2008 Newsletter - Vol. 2, Issue #18

This week we welcome:

Kaplan Paving
Bruce R. Entman

We’ve all heard the term “fashion forward” but then the question is where do you find it?
At SHE – the acronym for She Has Everything. This sweet new boutique carries not only the hottest designers and looks for the season, but makes its claim to fame as the destination spot for your Ultimate Party Dress… click here to learn more and hear it directly from SHE owner, Nicolette Prpa!

Event: Long Grove Chocolate Festival
Date: Friday, May 2 - Sunday, May 4
Location: downtown Long Grove
Time: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Restaurants open beyond festival hours)
Cost: None
Phone: 847.634.0888
Web: www.longgroveonline.com/chocolate.html

You have to check out the Highland Park Earth Festival is this Saturday!
Why? Because it’s the most painless way to learn about living a more “sustainable” lifestyle which in a nut shell means preserving the planet for those in generations to come.

Plenty of things for the kids including Chicago Botanic Garden activities, eco makeover workshops, a Captain Planet Superhero appearance, bicycle education, the Quintin Marx Band, and rickshaw rides!

Insider Tips: Walk or drive to the event to get comped raffle tickets for your chance to win a kick-butt bike donated from Higher Gear.

Oh, they’ll also be plenty of organic and earth friendly food samples provided – thanks to Sunset Foods.

Event: Highland Park Earth Festival
Date: Saturday, May 3
Location: Ravinia Metra Station, Highland Park
Time: 11 a.m.
Cost: None
Web: www.hpearthfestival.org

Calling all professional women! Here’s your chance to network with like minds, enjoy inspiring words and enhance your career at the North Shore Women's Conference & Expo! Meet and greet with dynamic women making it happen and make sure to buy a ticket for lunch to see keynote speaker Judith Wright.

Event: North Shore Women's Conference & Expo
Date: Friday, May 2
Location: Holiday Inn North Shore/Skokie Banquet & Conference Center, 5300 W. Touhy Ave
Time: 10 a.m.
Cost: None for Expo, $25 per person for conference

It’s time to head north to Gurnee and catch the third annual “Coasters For A Cause” – a charity event that offers a chance to experience the thrill of Six Flags’ phenomenal stable of coasters before the summer crowds have you standing in line! Support multiple charities in raising $45,000 through ticket sales.

Event: Coaster For A Cause
Location: Six Flags Great America, 542 N. Route 21, Gurnee
Date: Saturday. May 3
Time: 9 a.m.
Cost: $30 - $55

Need a good laugh tonight? Check out comedienne Caryn Bank’s one-woman show, “Diary Of A Skokie Girl.” It takes you back to the 60s, in a good way! The show has received boatloads of accolades from local papers and will definitely deliver laughs!

Event: Diary Of A Skokie Girl
Date: Tonight! Thursday, May 1
Location: Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Phone: 847.251.7411
Cost: $15 students/$22 General Admission

Wow … the Joffrey Ballet is on the North Shore. This troupe has performed in more than 400 cities throughout the U.S. and internationally, they’ll present choreography by Gerald Arpino and Laura Dean.

Event: The Joffrey Ballet
Date: Saturday, May 3
Location: North Shore Center For The Performing Arts
Time: 8 p.m.
Phone: 847.673.6300
Cost: $65

Just eight people banging it out, old-style is a truly one-of-a-kind experience and fabulous way to introduce kids to a theater experience. The rhythms will keep you entertained from the moment the show begins right on through to the finale.

Event: STOMP
Date: Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7
Location: Genesee Theatre, 203 Genesee St., Waukegan
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Phone: 847.782.2366
Cost: $31 - $51

The Chicago Radio-Controlled Sailing Club will hit the pond at the Chicago Botanic Garden this weekend, the first of three events this season. Ten-pound boats up to 65 inches tall will be cruising by the Waterside Terrace on the Esplanade – what a sweet way to get the guys to the Garden!

Insider Tip: Next Wednesday, the 7th marks the opening of plant giveaways at the Garden every Wednesday through Sunday through September – to get more info ask the volunteers in the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Event: Model Sailboat Sundays - Sailboat Races
Date: Sunday, May 4
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe
Time: 11 a.m.
Phone: 847.835.5440
Cost: $15 parking for non-members

There’s something to be said for prairie grass – less mowing, for one. So, if you’ve ever thought about taking your landscape in a more natural direction, here’s your chance to get some tips from expert John Mariani of Mariani Landscape.

Event: Native Landscaping Workshop
Date: Saturday, May 3
Location: Lockhart Family Nature Center, 350 N. Waukegan, Lake Forest
Time: 10 a.m.
Phone: 847.482.1928
Cost: $10/$14 for non-members
Web: www.lfola.org/programs_public.html

Get a head start on Cinco De Mayo by breaking bread at the Deerfield Public Library! There’ll be a Mexican fiesta, complete with traditional food, music, games and crafts. It’s family friendly and a great Saturday afternoon activity.

Event: Cinco De Mayo Celebration
Date: Saturday, May 3
Location: Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Rd.
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Phone: 847.945.3311
Cost: None

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is taking another spin this weekend, in Evanston with a decided focus on area churches in Romanesque, Neoclassical, and Georgian styles, and residential styles from Italianate to Queen Anne, Tudor to Modern.

Event: Evanston Architecture Walking Tour
Date: Sunday, May 4
Location: Raymond Park, corner of Hinman and Lake, Evanston
Time: 2 p.m.
Phone: (312) 922-3432
Cost: $5 - $10

Last chance to catch “Barrel Of Monkeys” in Wilmette – a fantastic one-hour show written by kids and performed for kids. This group works with school-age kids to adapt their written works for the stage, making it family friendly and fun for all.

Event: Barrel Of Monkeys
Date: Saturday, May 3
Location: Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central, Wilmette
Time: 11 a.m.
Phone: 847.251.7411
Cost: $10/$12 at the door

It’s time for the Third Annual Touch-A-Truck Family Festival! It’s a North Shore family-friendly event, and all proceeds go to support the Kohl Children’s Museum, a North Shore destination. There’s all sorts of activities, including a fire engine, construction vehicles, the Kohl McCormick StoryBus, raffle prizes and refreshments. Clifford The Big Red Dog will also be on hand!

Event: Touch-A-Truck Family Festival
Date: Sunday, May 4
Location: Fields Auto Group, 670 Frontage Rd., Northfield
Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Phone: 847.832.6917
Cost: $25 per family

You can get your errands done, and let the kids serve another master -- the Lego Master! Lord & Taylor and Northbrook Court are sponsoring an R2-D2 Lego Building event, where kids will get a packet of Legos and instructions to help a master builder construct a life-sized R2-D2.

Event: R2-D2 Lego Building
Date: Friday, May 2 – Sunday, May 4
Location: Northbrook Court
Time: Friday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Cost: None

It’s one of women’s biggest clothing complaints – bras. Seriously, shopping for one can be like pulling teeth.
Here’s a chance to make it a little easier – Wacoal is coming to Bloomingdales for complimentary fittings! It’s an awesome product, and the company will donate $2 for each fitting completed to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Buy one, and they’ll donate $2 more!

Event: Wacoal Fit For The Cure Event
Date: Friday, May 2
Location: Bloomingdales Intimate Apparel, Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie
Time: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Phone: 847.675.5200 x.2317
Cost: None

One of our favorite children’s book authors, Mo Willems, is making his way to Winnetka on Friday! Come see Mo as he introduces us to his newest book, “Pigeon Wants A Puppy.” It’s an evening of way cool books, drawing, cookies and fun!

Event: Mo Willems at The Book Stall
Date: Friday, May 2
Location: The Book Stall At Chestnut Court, 811 Elm, Winnetka
Time: 7 p.m.
Phone: 847.446.8880
Cost: None

Learn how to make fish tacos tonight! Head over to Whole Foods Market in Deerfield where staff chefs and seafood experts will lead you through a cooking class featuring Mahi Mahi and Halibut. There’s even “beverage pairings” with house margaritas and Mexican beer! Call ahead to make sure there’s space still available!

Event: Fish Taco Fiesta!
Date: Thursday, May 1
Location: Whole Foods Market, 760 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield
Time: 6 - 9 p.m.
Phone: 847.444.1900
Cost: $25 per person

Or....check out Bloomingdale’s demo kitchen on Saturday, where Chicago chef and restaurant owner Geno Bahena of Tepatulco will share his passion for native Mexican dishes during a free cooking demonstration.

Event: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Tepatulco Restaurante
Date: Saturday, May 3
Location: Bloomingdales, Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie
Time: 1 p.m.
Cost: None

Here’s a few of our favorites:

That Little Mexican Cafe
1010 Church St.
Evanston
847.905.1550

San Gabriel Mexican Cafe
2535 Waukegan Rd,
Bannockburn
847.940.0200

El Jardin
1831 Tower Dr
Glenview
847.729.9888

Frontera Fresco (Just opened!)
Macy's Old Orchard
1 Old Orchard Shopping Center
Skokie
847.329.2638