In a former life, (one I can barely remember anymore,) my husband and I considered ourselves foodies. We loved attending restaurant openings, loved finding new gems all over the city and ate out half the week. We savored our meals, lingered over wine and good conversation and never left without a hot cup of coffee and a scrumptious sweet.

Fast forward to the North Shore and two children, and our foodie status dropped drastically. We began searching desperately for family friendly restaurants that allowed us a relaxing meal away from the kitchen, but didn’t have happy meals, or train tracks running over head to distract the little ones. We have been lucky with a few, and I say that liberally.

My new favorite is Holly’s American Bistro in Lake Bluff. When Holly’s opened more than a year ago, my husband and I headed over for dinner on a week night. We went without reservations, were seated within 15 minutes and hoped for the best. We had a delightful server, an undergrad from Lake Forest College, and ordered a bottle of wine and had quite a delicious meal. Score one for the North Shore, we found a good restaurant, close by, with a great wine list, food to match and a relaxing environment.

After talking with some friends, we found out Holly’s had a kids menu, and if you get there early (between 5 and 6 on the weekends) the wait isn’t too long, and the service is quick. My husband and I have gone alone several times, but we tried it for the first time with kids just recently, and enjoyed our wine while the kids dined on pasta with grilled chicken, and a triple decker pb&j with a fruit cup. The staff was friendly, accomodating to our family, and we felt comfortable being there with the kids.

I must add, that when frequenting a “nicer” establishment with our children, we do prefer to go on the early side, in fairness to the kids and the other patrons at the restaurant. Even though our children are well behaved, we recognize that when diners are out without their children, they certainly don’t want to hear/see other kids at the next table.

I digress…..Holly’s serves a nice range of bistro food, including everything from a bistro burger or chicken pot pie to whitefish served with orzo, asparagus and lemon vinaigrette to beef tenderloin. There is plenty on the menu for everyone’s taste, including the children’s. So, drinking a glass of wine, while my kids feast on nuggets or a pb&j is just fine by me….

Holly’s American Bistro is located at 28 E. Center, Lake Bluff, IL. They can be reached by phone at 847-615-9400 or check out their website at www.hollysamericanbistro.com

[tags]Holly’s, dining, kids dining, Lake Bluff [tags\]

This ain’t your daddy’s bowling alley.

That’s all I could think passing through the doors of Pinstripes, a new restaurant/bowling/bocce venture located along Willow Road iin the new Willow Festival Shopping Plaza, straddling the Glenview/Northbrook border. It’s…beautiful. Really. Not a hard plastic orange chair or formica countertop to be seen.

We took the kids Saturday night for a couple of games and some pizza. After checking in, we were led to our reserved lane, replete with dark leather couches and the latest in bowling technology. After entering our names into the computerized scoring system, we were ready to go.

It was so nice, we played twice. The kids had a great time, and I took in the atmosphere - a graduation party in the corner, an older family in the lane next to us, and a couple with two younger boys on the other side - they hung back with a bottle of wine while the kids bowled. I took mental note of that, as when our bill came, I could see why it would be advantageous to just let the kids bowl - for the five of us, it came to $90 for two games - and that doesn’t count the two pizzas and drinks we ordered and ate laneside.

Next time, we’re checking out the bocce ball courts - four indoor, and two outdoor (try to get an outdoor court - there’s a great outdoor fireplace out there, patio seatiing for the bistro and a field full of fireflies that looks like a pre-Fourth of July event.)

Reservations can also come in handy, especially on a weekend. Check it out!

Pinstripes, Inc.
1150 Willow Road
Northbrook, Illinois
Phone 847-480-2323
www.pinstripes.com

Technorati Tags: bowling, North Shore bowling, Pinstripes, cool bowling alleys, Glenview bowling, Northbrook bowling, Willow Festival

OK, so this blog begins with my daughter walking into my bathroom inquiring as to why I am laughing my fool head off by myself.

And it’s going to end with me headed to Glenview’s LaBelle Swimwear and Lingerie.

Here goes: Last summer - halfway through taking-the-kids-to-the-pool-everyday season, I noticed that the bottom to my tankini suit had…faded. In a peculiar spot. I called up my mom and asked exactly how the portion of my suit bottom that covered my “derriere crevasse” could fade away when it’s not as if that specific area of the fabric is rubbing up against anything. Her theory is that is where the pool water…pools. The chlorine must eventually eat away at the fabric.

I was mortified. Like I said, it was mid-season. How many people in Glenview got the “Porn Mom” shot while taking their toddlers to the pool? Yikes. Luckily, Von Maur still had a few suits to pick from, just prior to all summer season clothing being swept away in place of fall fashion.

However, like an idiot, I wasn’t smart enough to throw the other suit away. I don’t know what possessed me to keep it. But I did. So what did I do yesterday, on the first official day of summer vacation? YANK OUT THE OLD SUIT AND WEAR IT TO THE POOL. I had completely forgotten.

So, when hanging the suit up this morning after a night drying on the tub ledge, I noticed the faded section and thought, “Did this suit fade too?” Then it hit me - it was the original Porn Mom version from last summer. So once again, there’s some gaggle of tween boys running around Glenview talking about the flash they got of my derriere crevasse. Grrrrreat. Thus, the laughing out loud hysterically. At least I have a sense of humor about it, right?

I do have my replacement suit from last year, but I do think I might hit up LaBelle to see what’s in for this season.

And while we’re at it, there goes my weekend quick pick - check out your local pool this weekend! It’s fabulous weather, and the pools are sparkly shiny clean since they have all just opened. Plus, who doesn’t get a kick out of watching cicadas try to swim?

Have a great weekend!

Technorati Tags: LaBelle Swimwear and Lingerie, Glenview pools, summer fashion, swimsuits