Long Grove Historic Village

Located northwest of Chicago, Long Grove is a charming historic village with a pastoral feel. The cobblestone walks are lined with a blend of unique stores tucked into original circa 1800 buildings - the perfect setting to transport a person back to an American town back in time. The whole village has an 1800’s vintage style with antique and contemporary stores and restaurants that bring the town to life. The reason why Long Grove is so special is because it literally takes you back in time starting with the drive through an original covered bridge. The town of Long Grove has so much to offer in dining, arts and shopping. There are over seven places eat, but I would highly recommend Mill Pond. After visiting Long Grove, it is one of my finest memories about the town. It is a beautiful, cozy place for lunch or dinner overlooking a beautiful pond with swans and ducks. Service was great and they have a wide variety of food.

Walking around the flower-filled, quaint town, I was amazed with how much variety there was in places to shop. Long Grove offers antiques, five apparel shops, home furnishings, ten specialty foods stores and fourteen specialty shops. They are stores that you would definitely not find anywhere else such as Paddy’s On the Square, the best Irish store I have ever been to, or Apple Haus, an apple and bread store that offers hundreds of different types of bread and delicious bakeries.

From the beautiful weeping willows to the historic buildings, the surroundings in Long Grove provide a bucolic setting that makes it easy to spend an entire day exploring and discovering. After spending a day there, I can easily say it will be one of my best memories of summer. It truly refreshed my spirits and I will be easily returning because there is always something new in Long Grove that everyone should see!

From September 5 -7, (Labor Day Weekend), Long Grove is hosting their annual “Irish Days” from 11 am to 7 pm. with many activities for the family such as twelve Irish Musical Performances, nine Irish Dance Groups and a Sunday Outdoor Mass at 10 am. Long Grove’s celebrated Apple Fest is takes place in early fall, October 2, 3, 4, and provides a delightful way to enjoy the crisp autumn days. Admission and parking are always free. Definitely take time to visit the wonderful town of Long Grove!

-Caitlin, 20, Student, St Charles, IL

IKEA

IKEA, one of the largest home furnishing retailers in the world, is located in Schaumburg, IL and offers a one-stop solution for all a family’s needs. The secret to shopping this massive store is to start your day off all the way at the top by taking escalators to the third floor. Walking into the magnificent store, you are welcomed with displays of kitchens and bedding. Though the three floors are expansive and at first seem overwhelming, they are very easy to navigate. IKEA has done a very good job with providing signs for all the different product sections and where the restrooms and elevators are located. All their signs are translated into Spanish. Employees in yellow and blue uniforms are everywhere and ready to help you at every turn. There is a wonderful customer service section on the lower level, which is divided into three parts - returns, pick-up and home delivery.


Starting at the top, the third floor has an “IKEA Restaurant” which is perfect, because no one likes to shop on an empty stomach! When I was shopping, it was the perfect place to get a quick drink. It is cafeteria-style, and all the food is fresh and ready to go. There are also free refills on coffee and soda drinks. The restaurant has a large selection of couches and tables for eating and sitting, and offer video games for younger children. The restaurant offers children’s meals, Swedish fare, Wednesday Rib Night, and everything from hot dogs to chicken fingers.


Both the third and second floors show a wide range of room displays - living rooms, bedrooms, offices, home organization, bathrooms, children’s furniture and accessories. You can find a very extensive assortment of specialty items such as mirrors, bathroom accessories from towels to tooth brush holders. IKEA has a fantastic lighting assortment, too. IKEA does a great job showing room displays more so than other stores do. They do a great job with visual merchandising. Walking around the store as a customer, I wanted to buy everything!


Random tip - while reviewing the IKEA website (http://www.ikea.com/) – keep an eye out for red tags. They give you the location numbers for large purchases. While yellow tags tell you to find an IKEA employee to discuss ordering.

The first floor is the main check out and loading area for large purchases. If you purchased a large item such as a chair, you can wheel it up to your car and an employee will help you put it into your car for you. The first floor is where you can grab either a regular sized shopping cart or a large, flat bed cart for larger items such as desks or sofas. There is a separate special escalator for the regular shopping carts so you can move those to from floor to floor.

The whole store is very family oriented and great for any family buying new furniture for their home or apartment. Or if your house needs updates, their wide selection of items can do a house wonders. (You can have IKEA plan out a brand new kitchen!!) There is also a children’s play area, ages infant to three, with a ball playpen and teeter totters, which is nice for young children to let out energy.


One of my favorite things about IKEA is their new “Low Camp” Price system, where they are permanently lowering prices on many items. It is not a sale, but an automatic lower price on an item and it will forever stay that way. For example, a cabinet I really liked was $149 last year and they permanently changed it to $129 this year. They have these types of reductions all over the store!

Another thing I noticed was how IKEA shows the same items in different colors. They had a desk I liked, and instead of showing a chip of the two other color options, they had three full-sized desks in black, white and brown. I could actually see the desks in my house instead of guessing what they might look like in another color. IKEA also gives out “Shopping Tools” including a pencil, a tape measure and a shopping list for you to write your purchases on. I found this very helpful, especially when shopping for larger items that need to be measured to determine whether they will fit in your space.

IKEA is located right near the Woodfield Mall and is open Sunday to Thursday 10am to 8pm and Friday to Saturday, 10am-9pm. It is a spectacular store with so much variety and fun; it is definitely worth going to see it and to see what bargains you can find!

-Caitlin, 20, Student, St Charles, IL

“What does the US have that Britain doesn’t?” A Night at the Chicago Improv

Thanks to the Woodfield Chicago NW Convention Bureau, my wife and I were able to enjoy an hysterical night at the Chicago Improv. Located in the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, I am ashamed to say that I have never been to a show there before. I think it falls into the category of “one of those things you just don’t do as often as you’d like” due to living so close. It’s like when someone from out of town comes to Chicago, goes downtown, visits Navy Pier, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Sears Tower (I mean Willis Tower) all in one weekend. But someone that actually lives in Chicago (or the suburbs) only gets to the Aquarium once every couple years (if at all).

I won’t make that mistake again.

The Improv is in the back of the mall off of Woodfield Rd near the P.F. Chang’s restaurant. For a 7:30 show, the doors open at 6 pm if you plan to eat dinner or 7 pm if you only intend to make the 2 purchase minimum per person. We arrived just before 7 as we intended to grab a bite after the show. Even though seating started for some guests at 6 pm, we were given great seats right in the front row. The stadium-type table seating offers great views from anywhere in the theater however. After ordering our 2 drinks and appetizers (which were surprisingly good and filling), the show started promptly at 7:30 p.m.

The two opening acts got progressively better leading up to the headliner, Angelo Tsarouchas. Yes he is Greek and a huge one at that. Much of his act centered on his weight (he is overweight not because of his thyroid but because of his mouth—he likes to eat—pointblank), his Greek family and culture, and his observations from doing shows around the world.

When talking about his mother, father, or the fact that he was the middle child (by weight anyway), I couldn’t help but think I was on the movie set of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. Given the reactions by the Greek men and women in the audience, Angelo’s rantings were spot-on. His act was fresh, original, and LOL funny. Even the couple seconds of actual improv he added to his bit was hilarious.

I definitely intend to check out the Chicago Improv again in the future. But if Angelo’s performance isn’t enough to convince someone (who thinks all the good comedy clubs are in the city) to give it a try, the upcoming line-up which includes Jon Lovitz and Tom Arnold validates that even if the Chicago Improv is not a huge venue, it can draw huge talent.

To put his act into perspective, I’d like to paraphrase Angelo…As his passport was being checked upon entry in Australia (where he was going to be performing), the customs representative asked him if he had any felony offenses to which Angelo responded, “I didn’t realize is was still a requirement”. The customs rep (not thinking he was very funny), asked Angelo “if he thought he was a comedian”. Angelo responded, “Well actually….yes”

And to answer the question posed in the title, “dentists”

Neil Rubenstein owns Creative Celebrations (a children’s entertainment company) with his wife. Neil’s background is in direct and database marketing. Follow him on Twitter @ChildrenParties or @ www.facebook.com/CreativeCelebrations

Schaumburg Flyers

Alexian Field, home of the Schaumburg Flyers, is one of the nicest sporting fields I have ever been to. Located in Schaumburg, IL, it is a great summer baseball getaway. The park includes free parking, with two huge lots in close walking distance to the field. There are plenty of signs and they have police to help escort anyone to the field. They cater to the handicap, where there is a ramp and plenty of parking spaces directly in front of the field. Inside the field, they have a handicap section right behind home plate with easy access for wheelchairs or strollers. After paying for your tickets and an easy walk right into the stadium you’ll see the gift shop, which provides a great opportunity to buy something to remember the experience. You can also buy programs at the gift shop with information about Alexian Field and the players, which can be a memorable purchase. Then you walk to the left, and you can either take the elevator or stairs up to the second level where most of the seats are, or third level if you opted for a rented suite or box.

Once you exit the elevator you clearly see the field and the exciting atmosphere overwhelms you. From the enthusiastic announcers, music playing, and the fans screaming and cheering, it is the perfect baseball experience. The field is beautifully maintained and every seat in the park has a great view. On the left and right sides of the field, there are lawn seats, which are great for anyone who wants to walk around during the game. One can bring blankets and chairs and see the game perfectly. On the right side of the field are two hot tubs that a person can rent for hot tub seats. Hot tubs can be rented for $225, which includes admission for 10 people with food and drink. There are plenty of concessions to get food and other refreshments. They all sell ice cream, candy, and food such as hot dogs and nachos. All refreshments are priced reasonably. Beer and wine are available for about $5. The Flyers Tiki Bar, near the hot tubs, sells more varieties of alcoholic beverages such as Margaritas. If your family would prefer a quiet place to eat, you can go to Schaumburg Club, which is a sit-down restaurant. It has beautiful views of the field and is very classy. It includes a huge bar with leather couches, a pool table and flat screen televisions.

While watching the game, I noticed how family-oriented the experience was. Fun activities such as free peanuts being tossed into the stands and a pizza give-away took place during the day. There is a mascot for the younger children called Bearon, who signed autographs. To the left of the field, is the “Kids’ Zone” which includes a moon bounce, a playground, and two batting cages. I would recommend getting in line right when you arrive to the field because the wait can be long, especially since it is such a children-oriented place. Behind the lawn section is an area where younger kids can release energy during the game and where parents can still watch the game. There is a picnic area right behind the Kids’ Zones for families to eat and watch the game as well. Behind the field, for those who prefer “Bleacher” type seats, is the Miller Lite Party Deck.

What I found about this park, which other ones lack, is the wonderfully maintained bathrooms. The women’s bathroom was very clean and painted pink which added a special touch.

Reserved Club seats cost $11.00 and are located closer to home plate. Reserved tickets cost $10.00, and lawn seats are $5.00. (Firework nights, all prices increase by $1). Many don’t know that following every home game on Saturdays, live bands perform on the field! There are group rates as well for renting out a skydeck suite or the Miller Lite Party Patio.

If your family wants a new, fun experience and wants to stray from the madness of Chicago’s MLB teams, the Schaumburg Flyers at Alexian Field is the perfect place. I would highly recommend everyone visiting this beautiful baseball facility that is clean, safe and fun for all ages!

Schaumburg Flyers Baseball - http://www.chicagonorthwest.com/MemberDetails.aspx?MemberId=249

-Caitlin, 20, Student, St Charles, IL