Time to pack those coolers and thanks to this weather, the blankets! James Taylor is kicking off Ravinia of Highland Park’s summer concert series on June 6th and 7th at 7:30 pm.

Lawn, Pavilion and Terrace tickets are currently sold out on the Ravinia website, but don’t worry…North Shore Insider has you covered. www.acheapseat.com has lawn tickets running around $70 a piece - definitely the best deal found among various ticket brokers.

So whether you’ve got Carolina on your mind or are thinking about jettin’ off to Mexico, this two-day event may be your perfect fix! Check back soon to find out the tricks to avoid Ravinia traffic and enjoy a hassle free outing.

Ravinia
400 Iris Lane
Highland Park, Ill
60035

Technorati Tags: Ravinia, James Taylor, Highland Park Illinois, concerts

In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve been beefing up our real estate information here at NorthShoreInsider.com. All this talk about condos and townhomes has inspired me to let you in on a little secret - I live in a townhouse. Not that big a deal? Yeah - but I also have three school-aged kids. And it does work.

I suspect there’s a bit of a stigma on the condo and townhome market when it comes to families looking for a fit on the North Shore. As if strollers don’t blend when it comes to hipster urban living. Not so. When we moved from Michigan, we had that stereotypical two-story traditional home on a corner lot in a wonderful subdivision. And while there’s certainly plenty of that to choose from here, we dared to be different. And now we’re living that townhome dream in Glenview. Do I miss that yard? I won’t lie - there are times where I long for the benefits of havng a fenced yard I can shoo the kids into. That said, I have received so much in return.

For starters, I have more time to accomplish other tasks. No more grass to grow or yard to mow. And because we live directly across the street from a massive park, it’s not as if we don’t have greenspace. The kids just grab a walkie-talkie and they’re out the door to play football or soccer. Also? Our location is fantastic. We have restaurants, shopping, the parks and the middle school all just steps from our front door. It is so much nicer to just walk to a restaurant than have to hop in the car. The best part? I can leave a few minutes ahead and get our name on the list, while the kids can hold off for a few and catch up later. No more antsy wee wots creating all sorts of chaos in the restaurant lobby!

Family living in a condo or townhome may not be for you. However, I would encourage everyone to at least consider the possibility. These days, many new developments offer amenities that make your life so much easier - on site parking, health clubs, concierge services - and give you more time to spend together.

Technorati Tags: Family living in condominiums, family living in townhomes, advantages of families in condos, North Shore Chicago condominiums and townhomes