It’s a sidewalk sale- revamped! Who wants to drag their kids down the sidewalk, kicking and screaming while simultaneously fighting off the crowds for that LBD (little black dress) on sale for 70% off?

To avoid this potentially very whiney dilemma, cruise over to Evanston’s Central Street Sidewalk Sale/ Family Fest and Budding Artist Art Fair. (* Insider tip…AVOID SHERIDAN ROAD AT ALL COSTS…Hello construction capitol of the North Shore! For a road with less rage, take Green Bay!) This is not your average sidewalk sale – although it comes equipped with quite the crowd, it stands above the rest because of the diversity in shopping opportunities. Where else can you find spices, antiques, restaurants, clothes, and distracting kid friendly entertainment all in one place?

Sizzling details:

Sidewalk sale
Date: July 10^th-12^th (Thurs –Sat)
Time: 10am-5pm
Location: 2100 Block on Central Street, Evanston

Family Fest & Budding Artist Art Fair (featuring kids artwork ages 6-17)
Date: July 12^th (Sat)
Time: 10am-5pm
Location: Independence Park (across from sidewalk sale)
Activities:
10:00 a.m. - Nili Yelin (The Storybook Mom)
11:00 a.m. - THE WEE HAIRY BEASTIES
(world renowned musicians with tons of family friendly songs)
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - KOHL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
(Crafts and activities for your inner child as well as your offspring)
1:00 pm - WILMETTE CHILDREN’S THEATRE
(Drama, Drama, Drama-Performances and theatre games)
3:00 p.m. THE CHANG BROTHERS BAND
(These talented young folks could be the next Rolling Stones)

Got those sidewalk sale munchies? RUN (don’t walk) over to Food Stuffs cookout to refuel and rest your body (and credit card) before your next shopping binge!

Technorati Tags: Evanston sidewalk sale, art fair, Evanston Central Street Shops

Like to mix your shopping pleasure with great deals and spectacular outdoor weather? Here’s a rundown of upcoming sidewalk sales this summer:

Evanston (Central Street): Thursday, July 10 – Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
What to do: Kids’ activities, Budding Artists Art Fair, Storybook Mom, Antique Fire Truck

Evanston (Downtown): Friday, July 25 - Sunday, July 27, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Glencoe: Friday, July 18 – Saturday, July 19

Wilmette: Friday, July 11 - Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
What to do: Music, kids’ activities

Lake Forest: Friday, August 1 - Saturday, August 2

Winnetka: Friday, July 18 and Saturday July 19, 2008
What to do: Jazz music in all three business districts, food, clowns, games, balloons, face painting, etc.

Highland Park: Thursday, July 24 – Sunday, July 27, beginning at 10 a.m.
Where: Central Avenue from Green Bay to Sheridan Road (and First and Second Streets, and Elm Place)
What to do: Prices at 50 - 75 percent off in most places, kids’ activities, etc.

Technorati Tags: North Shore Chicago sidewalk sales, Highland Park sidewalk sale, Glencoe sidewalk sale, Evanston sidewalk sale, Wilmette sidewalk sale, Winnetka sidewalk sale, Lake Forest sidewalk sale

Well, this was an interesting venture.

I’ve been out to Long Grove on occasion – mostly, it’s a place I can blow an hour or two in the summer and be able to tell the husband I did something with the kids that day. And because I can get a really good chocolate-covered strawberry. So, given the festivities of the past weekend, we thought we’d go as a family and partake that that is the Strawberry Festival.

Truth? I like visiting better when the town isn’t all crazy full of tents and booths hawking umpteen different strawberry concoctions. However, for sheer people-watching value, it was a blast. First, there were the tigers on display. The “Tiger Adventure” had set up shop in the parking lot next to the Mill Pond shops, where we ate dinner at the Long Grove Cafe. All I could think during dinner was that there was nothing but a chain link fence separating the tigers from me - their potential Saturday evening appetizer.

Then there were the crazies mixed in with all us suburban families listening to music on the green. The PlayDoctors were rockin’ out, and it brought out the fun, with little kids dancing around in front of the stage, the odd, in the group of drunken teenagers smoking and gyrating with pants around their kneecaps, in front of aforementioned little kids, and the downright bizarre, in the alternative lifestyle female couple behind us who got into a lovers’ quarrel. But mostly, just families hanging out and listening to the tunes.

I made a point to visit The Olive Tap, and walked out $20 poorer after picking up some seriously tasty raspberry balsamic vinegar (the Strawberry? Too sweet.) and martini olives for the Mister. I think I still prefer Oil and Vinegar at Old Orchard, but for a place to go when I do make the occasional jaunt out to LG, it’s a great store. I also ducked into the Pine Cone Christmas Shop to take a quick peek around, but found I’m just not in the mood…yet…to buy an ornament. They’ve got the whole smash on Department 56, and if you need a theme ornament, here’s the place to go!

You don’t need a festival to have a reason to go to Long Grove, but it does make the experience a little more entertaining.

Technorati Tags: Long Grove Illinois, Long Grove, North Shore Chicago shopping, North Shore Chicago boutique shopping, North Shore Chicago Christmas stores, Long Grove Confectionery, The Olive Tap, Long Grove Cafe