Long Grove Apple Haus Closing is a Heartbreak

Written by on January 26, 2012 · Leave a Comment

 Let Long Grove Apple Haus Closing Be a Wake-up Call!

Last fall when the Farmside Country Store and Winery in Long Grove closed, I was surprised. It had always been there. A sweet store sitting high on the corner of Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin Roads, it has been there in some form since 1869. Sure, the building is still there but it sadly stands empty. When I read the news that the Long Grove Apple Haus closed, I was shocked.

Having lived in Long Grove for over 25 years, I have seen stores come and go. But Farmside and the Apple Haus? These two stores were cornerstones of the village. Many a cider donut has been eaten in our house, brought to friends’ homes and to Coldwell Banker events. Our daughter Kristin rode her bike or walked to her first job at the Apple Haus. I’ve talked with others over the past few days and the sentiment seems to be the same: We haven’t just lost stores, we’ve lost a part of our community.

As a community we need to take action. We can’t just wait for the next small business to close and lament its passing. There are things that we can do right now and the very first is to shop at those businesses. I know that it’s sometimes easier to purchase a greeting card at the grocery store but I promise you that it’s not as much fun as shopping at Diane’s Hallmark in Lake Zurich. The women there are helpful and fun. It’s probably more convenient to run to the mall but have you been to Within Reach in Long Grove for a gift? You’ll be delighted by the beautifully arranged displays of unique items.

Next, tell everyone about your experiences at these establishments. When you eat at Enzo and Lucia’s, D&J Bistro or any of our local restaurants, let your friends know how great the food is. Tell everyone you know about the fine products and experiences at our locally owned businesses. Visit yelp.com and Yelp about it!

Adorable Baby Items at Within Reach

I’m committing to blog about at least one small business in the Lake Zurich area communities each week. If you know of one that you’d like to have featured, contact me. After you’ve read my blog posts, share them on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. Together we can get the word out and help our local business owners prosper.

Friendly Faces at Diane's Hallmark

 

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Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove Pumpkin Festival October 15th

Written by on October 13, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Community Event: Free Pumpkins! Games! Refreshments!

My fellow Realtors and I at Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove are excited to once again sponsor the Fall Festival! On Saturday, October 15th, stop by and see us between 11 am and 3 pm. We’ll be waiting for you with a free pumpkin (while supplies last), face painting and tattoos, games and prizes for the kids, and refreshments.

We’re also having a coloring contest. If you haven’t received an entry and would like one, give me a call or send me an email. I’ll be happy to deliver one to you or send it by return email. We’ll have a coloring station set up on Saturday if the kids want to create their masterpiece then. Prizes will be awarded in 4 age groups.The contest is being judged by Susan Dubin of the Buffalo Grove Countryside. Susan has been our judge in the past and also written about the winners in her column. Thanks, Susan!

Regional Manager Jeff Polanzi and Friend at a previous event

This event has been sponsored by Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove agents almost every year for the past 25 years or so. It’s always been fun and has evolved from dressing up and handing out pumpkins in the parking lot to today’s “festival” with added activities. This year we’re asking those who can to bring a nonperishable food item that we will donate to the Vernon Township food pantry.

Thanks to Lori Amato (American Home Shield), David Weinberg (PHH Home Mortgage), and Cindy Lachowicz (Burnet Title) for assisting us with the refreshments, decorations and prizes. They’re a very important part of our team and will be helping out at the Festival on Saturday.

Our Coldwell Banker office is located at 350 Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove. Our agents and support staff are working hard to make this our best event ever and we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

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Didier Farms Pumpkin Fest in Prairie View

Written by on October 11, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Quinn at the corn maze

Quinn at the corn maze

Fun For the Whole Family at Didier Farms

Several weeks ago I enjoyed a walk through a corn maze in Wisconsin with my daughter and her family. It was so much fun that I wanted to check out local corn mazes and pumpkin farms to recommend to readers. I had to look no farther than (almost) my own back yard.  Each day as I drive to my Coldwell Banker real estate office in Buffalo Grove, I pass by Didier Farms in Prairie View. Didier is the place where I took my children to purchase their pumpkins when they were small. But it sure has expanded over the years! The whole family can spend a fun-filled day there with a variety of activities.

The Didier Pumpkin Fest is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm through October 31st. In addition to buying the perfect pumpkin, here are some of the activities:

• Hay rides • Petting zoo • Corn maze • Straw maze • Pony rides
• Moon bounce • Mechanical rides • Bird exhibit• White tiger exhibit

Didier also has beautiful mums in a plethora of colors to decorate your home. Parking and admission are free. Check out the Didier website for information on activity costs. I recommend that you get there early; the parking lot is filling up when I drive by in the morning.

Things certainly have changed at Didier over the years. It’s nice to see that this family-owned, local business continues to thrive with support from the community.

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23rd Annual Long Grove Art Fest August 20-21

Written by on August 17, 2011 · 2 Comments

Acclaimed Long Grove Art Fest Returns

The Long Grove Art Fest draws people from near and far. And why not? With over 90 juried exhibitors showing in mediums that include oil, jewelry, photography, and sculpture, there is something to suit almost everyone’s artistic palate. Visitors will also enjoy free music, entertainment and the famous festival food!

This year my friend Sis Jones’ brother, Wes Cowley, will be exhibiting at the fest. Wes has come all the way from Florida to show his photography this weekend. Take a look at his website to see a sampling of his work. I found his “Faces” quite captivating!

One thing that I definitely want to see is ArtBeat Live. Elliot From creates speed paintings in under ten minutes! Elliot is a local artist and has been seen on local news shows. He has also done quite a few paintings at charity auctions. Check out his videos to see some amazing art. Seeing him work should be quite the treat. I wonder if we have to stand VERY far back?! Elliot will be painting at 3pm on Saturday and Noon on Sunday.

A festival in Long Grove would not be complete without great music. On Saturday at 3:30, popular 7th Heaven will be performing. If you’re a Cubs fan you’ll recognize their “This Summer’s Gonna Last Forever” from the telecasts. On Sunday, The Downhome Sophisticates will show their versatility as they perform selections from Johnny Cash to Bruce Springsteen. Howard Levy’s Acoustic Express entertains at 4pm on Sunday. Just as the name implies, there are no amps and sometimes no microphone!

Whew! That’s a lot of stuff to see in only two days! Festivals in Long Grove are always crowded, so get there early. Admission to the fest is free and free parking is available at Stempel Parking Lot. The Long Grove Art Fest is held in downtown Long Grove (intersection of Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin Roads) on Saturday, August 20th from 11 am to 7pm and Sunday, August, 21st from 10 am to 5 pm.

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Help a Lake Zurich Girl Scout Earn Her Gold Award!

Written by on July 15, 2011 · Leave a Comment

How We Can Help Miranda Flores Earn Her Gold Award

Miranda Flores is a Lake Zurich High School senior and a Girl Scout. She is working hard to earn her Gold Award which is similar to a Boy Scout’s Eagle Scout award. Miranda has chosen the St. Francis de Sales Jubilee Garden as her project. When I contacted Miranda, she explained that the Jubilee Garden benefits the poorer of our community and that she also wanted to help the Jubilee Garden to acquire more volunteers. Read on to learn how our community can help Miranda achieve her goals!

Miranda has organized a Fields of Faith Family Fun Day at the St. Francis de Sales Jubilee Garden to be held on July 23rd from 9 am to 11:30 am. Miranda is asking the community to help her and the garden by joining together and volunteering for a couple of hours in the garden. Volunteers will be helping out with the corn crop. Miranda told me that the corn needs lots of helping hands to weed in order to prosper. Corn provides one of the largest crops for the St. Vincent DePaul food pantry and the Emmaus House Community Dinner. The corn stalks themselves support the garden in fundraising when they are sold at the Fall Harvest Sale in October.

The St. Francis de Sales Jubilee Garden is located on Route 22 just east of Quentin. It is situated on land owned and donated for use by a local family who are also frequent volunteers. Last year the garden produced approximately 3400 pounds of produce which was donated to community food pantries including St. Vincent DePaul, Emmaus House Community Dinner and Faith Acres.

Miranda is a young woman with many achievements. In addition to her activities as a Girl Scout, she  is also involved in the Lake Zurich High School  Interact Club, National Honor Society, Art club, ski club, and band. We can help her to achieve her goal of earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. I plan to be there on July 23rd. I hope to see many of you there!

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Long Grove Summer Concert Series Begins July 10th

Written by on July 6, 2011 · 2 Comments

Free Sunday Concerts July 10th through August 28th

Long Grove’s sixth summer concert series begins next Sunday, July 10th at 4pm. With very diverse styles of music, the eight concerts will be held at the new Pavilion which was generously built by Sunset Foods. The first band to perform at the Long Grove Summer Concert Series is the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. “Klezmer” originally referred to ancient Hebrew musical instruments. Around the middle ages it became attached to Jewish folk musicians. The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band is one of the Midwest’s premier Klezmer bands. They will entertain us with rich, jazzy sounds of the swing era.

All of the Sunday concerts begin at 4 pm and will end about 6 pm. Arrive early and stop by some of the downtown stores. You can pick up a bottle of wine at the Glunz Family Winery and some snacks at the Farmside Grocery. Or pop by Timmy’s Sandwiches or Enzo and Lucia for some take-out fare to enjoy during the concert. Bring a blanket and enjoy a musical afternoon in Long Grove.

All concerts are held at the pavilion in Long Grove’s Fountain Square. Fountain Square is located between Old McHenry Road and Robert Coffin Road just northeast of the main intersection of Downtown Long Grove. The square is adjacent to the Archer Municipal Parking Lot. I can hear the music from my house but it doesn’t compare to actually being there. I hope you can take advantage of a few of the Long Grove free concerts!

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Lake Zurich Farmers Market is Back!

Written by on June 24, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Lake Zurich Farmers Market on Fridays

I took a stroll around the Lake Zurich Heritage Farmers Market when it opened last Friday, June 17th. Lake Zurich hasn’t had a farmers market since 2006 and local residents are excited to see it back. Sponsored by the Village of Lake Zurich, Lions Club and Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce, the market is held on Fridays from 3-7 pm at Lions Park. (81 E Main).

There are always interesting people to meet at farmers markets and the Lake Zurich Heritage Farmers market is no exception. I met Robert C Boyce of Natural Environments. Rob is the driving force that brought the market back to Lake Zurich. He is also the owner of Natural Environments Landscape and Design and Lake Zurich Florist. You can read my earlier blog post about Lake Zurich Florist here.

Available last week were fresh cut flowers, herbs, perennials, popcorn and kettle corn. Additionally there were several local business owners offering Tastefully Simple, Mary Kay and Tupperware products. The market is looking for more vendors of locally grown produce or handmade products.

Community support is needed if we want the market to continue. Stop by today and show them that we want them in downtown Lake Zurich. You can pick up some locally grown herbs and fresh flowers for your weekend celebrations. Watch my blog for my interviews with some other very interesting people who are committed to the success of the Lake Zurich Heritage Farmers Market.

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Long Grove Strawberry Fest This Weekend

Written by on June 23, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Visit Strawberry Fest June 24, 25 and 26

It’s that time of year again! June brings Long Grove’s famous Strawberry Fest, one of Chicagoland’s premier outdoor festivals. If you’re looking for things to do this weekend, put Strawberry Fest at the top of your list. I’ve attended Strawberry Fest for many years and I promise that you’ll enjoy it! In addition to the berry fine treats, there’s music, entertainment, and many of historic Long Grove’s shops will have strawberry inspired items.

The strawberries are what draw the crowd. In addition to fresh berries, you’ll find smoothies, pies, tarts, ice cream and my very favorite – festival donuts! Of course other food items will be available. I can smell the roasting corn all the way down at my house.

What would an outdoor festival be without entertainment? There will be continuous live music on six stages all three days. Kids will enjoy the rides, pony rides, face painters and balloon artists. There’s even an ice cream eating contest for all ages on Saturday and Sunday. If you crave an alcoholic beverage, there will be beer, wine and mai-tai booths for the adults.

Historic Long Grove is located in Lake County just northwest of Rtes. 83 and 53. Strawberry Fest will run Friday, June 24th through Sunday, June 26th. Hours on Friday and Sunday are 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm. There is abundant free parking available so bring a carload and spend the day!

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Long Grove Farmers’ Market Opens June 12th

Written by on June 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Visit Long Grove Farmers’ Market Sundays from 8 am to 1 pm

The Long Grove Farmers’ Market is opening next Sunday, June 12th at 8 am. It will be held every Sunday from 8 am to 1pm through October. 2010 was the first year for the market and I spent many a lovely Sunday morning there. Mary Ann at the Village Tavern organizes the weekly event and promises that this year will be even better than last!

In addition to tasty produce, there are flowers, handmade soaps, fresh baked goods, jams, jellies and other handmade items. I really have to stay away from the chocolate croissants! Childrens’ events and a featured one-of-a-kind artisan demonstration occur each week.

A visit to Long Grove Farmers’ market instills a sense of community. You get some great produce and other products and have fun mingling with your neighbors. The vendors are friendly, helpful, and always ready to take a minute to teach you about their products or just visit. I’ll be featuring some of the vendors in Terry’s Towns over the course of the summer.

The Long Grove Farmers’ Market is held in historic Long Grove at Towner Green across the street from the Village Tavern. For those who may not be familiar with the area, Towner Green is located on Old McHenry Rd just north of Robert Parker Coffin Road. On Festival weekends it moves to the Hotel parking lot, just north of Towner Green. I look forward to seeing you there!

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Fun Things To Do Around Lake Zurich This Weekend

Written by on May 27, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Parades, Barbeques and Festivals Around Lake Zurich

Memorial Day weekend is the official start of summer activities! Weather.com tells me that it will be a beautiful weekend for traditional celebrations like parades and barbeques. Here are some happenings in Lake Zurich, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Barrington an even one in St. Charles that is extra special. There’s always something fun happening in Terry’s Towns!

1. Whole Foods in Palatine  (1331 N. Rand),  is offering grilling demonstrations and tastings in their outdoor café today. Stop by on Friday, May 27th from 11 am to 4pm. It’s free and Whole Foods will be featuring kabobs, seafood skewers, veggies and burgers.
 
2. The Barrington Art Festival  is being held on May 28th and 29th from 10 am to 5 pm. Located at Village Center Station and Cook Streets, the event will feature live music, kids’ activities and food vendors in addition to the art offerings.

3. The Lake Zurich Memorial Day Parade  is on Monday, May 30th at 10 am. The parade route is from American Legion 51 Lions Drive, west on Main Street, south on Old Rand Road, ending at 200 Mohawk Trail at the Veterans Memorial, in front of the Police Facility.

4. Paulus Park Beach on Lake Zurich will be open on Sunday, May 28th through Monday, May 30th from 10 am to 8 pm. Season passes for residents and non-residents are available. If you prefer, you can pay by day. Paulus Park offers barbeque area, concessions, bocce courts and sprayground.

5. When I read about “Letters Home: A Memorial Day Remembrance”,  I just had to write about it. Pheasant Run in St. Charles will be featuring two concerts this weekend that will include World War II era music along with actual correspondence between soldiers. Also included are actual letters between a soldier and his wife. Concerts are at 8 pm on Saturday, May 28th and 2pm on Sunday, May 29th. Tickets are $20 and partial proceeds benefit Fox Valley Troop Support and Illinois Wounded Warriors program.

My weekend is full but not too full. I like to leave some time for something spontaneous. I’ll be taking real estate clients out on Saturday. If I finish early enough, I’ll be popping by some clients’ homes with a little surprise. My family is coming over on Sunday for an afternoon of fun and food. That leaves Monday. Botanic Garden?  Lake Zurich Memorial Day Parade?  Hanging out on the deck with a good book? So much to do, so little time. What are you doing this weekend?

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