Two upcoming local events are sure to entice the art enthusiast in all of us this weekend. And with a winter thaw on the way, what better way to get out of the house and embrace some culture. The first is a Fine Arts Festival being held at McClure Junior High on Saturday, February 26th from 9am – 12pm. The event will showcase student works of art along with an opportunity for visitors to participate in a variety of hands-on activities. Some of the on-site workshops and presentations will include ceramics, sock puppets, Battle of the Bands and drumming. Band, orchestra, choir chimes and a …

With temperatures hovering near 60 degrees this week, everyone is elated. The sleds have been thrown aside and the wagons are making their long awaited return around the block. Even the dogs seem to be smiling, (until they’ve gathered enough slush between their paws, that is). Call me a pessimist, but this is not going to last. And we all know it. It’s Chicago and it's February. I expect at least one, if not two major snow events to appear in Skilling’s forecast before we really get to spring. I’m thinking June. Don’t get me wrong, I'm as excited as any bleary-eyed kid in a candy story to get…

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and instead of making a mad last minute dash to Walgreens for a card and heart-shaped box of chocolates, try something a little more creative this year. Perhaps this is the year you're looking to celebrate the love with the whole family.The Western Springs Recreation Department fits the bill by hosting several special events to get even the smallest hearts pumping this season. The "Little Sweetheart Dance" is the perfect occasion for a dress up date with those special cuties who steal your heart all year long. It’s time for mom and son and dad and daughter…

The Blizzard of 2011 has come and gone and the brief anxiety-ridden thoughts over whether or not you will be able to leave your house again, and if Dominick’s will restock milk have passed. Wondering what to do with yourself now this week?  Here’s a few suggestions.  Play in the 5 ft. tall mound of snow you have so precariously shoveled onto the side of your driveway. With one of the worst blizzards in all of history to hit Chicago, there will no doubt be plenty of sledding, snowman building, angel making and snow ball fights to last the rest of the week and beyond. When was the last time …

Hey, if I were turning 125 years old I would definitely expect a blowout bash. And that is just what the Village will be hosting this Sunday, Jan. 30, in honor of the quasquicentennial celebration. Festivities will take place at McClure Junior High from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and several special events are planned throughout the day to showcase the grand milestone. Here’s a quick peek at the celebration schedule (and take note, it was recently updated!) 1 p.m. Welcome 1:05 p.m. Choral program featuring McClure 6th grade and Laidlaw 4th and 5th grades 2 p.m. Salute to the Citizens of the Year and …

Unless you live in a cave or under a rock, you are like every other true Chicagoan these days; freaking out about Sunday. Your blue and orange wardrobe, including your 1985 baseball cap and stainless steel Mike Ditka mug are ready for some action. Friends are coming over to your place, or you’re going to theirs, either way, there will be a whole lot of football watching going on. The last time this match made in heaven occurred was in 1941.Yep, it’s been 70 years since the two teams have met for a playoff game. In fact, the Bears and Packers have only been in the playoffs together in the same…

 If you are anything like me, you’re already starting to feel a case of the dreaded cabin fever coming on. I know it’s only mid-January (almost) but with two toddlers at home, there are only so many readings of Good Night Moon that can happen in one day before I start to lose my mind, just a little.  Lucky for me, the Western Springs Recreation Department has loads of early childhood classes to help keep my tots entertained and a bit of my sanity intact as we count down the days to warmer weather. Physical activity is paramount in the By-Gym-Mini class held Wednesday mornings at the Grand …

2011 is here and most of you are not thinking about food. Committed to the number one resolution shared by most Americans, losing weight, you are perusing the produce aisle with gusto these days. Out with the bad, in with the good, and bring on the low calorie snack packs. So who wants to think about pork? Apparently loads of people, as two out of the three new "The Whole Hog" cooking classes being offered at Vie restaurant this year are already filled. If one of your New Year's resolutions this year is to adopt a new skill, what could be more ambitious then learning how to cook an entire hog…

According to Wikipedia, the definition of a New Year's resolution is "a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous." We can all name the top New Year's resolutions that seem to keep coming back every year; stop smoking, lose weight, save more money, get organized. We also know that the majority of us who make these resolutions, come February, are back to our old ways.The fervent commitments we made on January 1st have easily slipped into a thought from the past. Why is the success rate so…

My favorite time of year has finally arrived! My increasing giddiness over the past several weeks is about to spill over into sheer excitement over the impending Christmas holiday. I am so looking forward to just about a million things. Catching up with family and friends, enjoying my grandmother's dinner, or my cousin's Christmas cookies, falling asleep with my kids watching old holiday movies under the Christmas tree lights…I can't help but love this feel-good time of year.   If your house is anything like mine, it's brimming with a host of tried and true traditions, as well as maybe a few …

Baby, its cold outside. Between shoveling the driveway, hustling to the mall with a million other people, searching for that hard to find gift for mom while squeezing in yet another holiday party, I for one, am already looking forward to spring. Or at least some downtime. Preferably indoors.  How about some theater?  A cushy seat, a dark warm room, a brief escape into the drama of other people's lives. I think it's just what I need to get me to January. This weekend only, the Theatre of Western Springs presents an evening of two one-act plays as part of their Director's Workshop program. This…

Western Springs is buzzing and no, it's not the Christmas lights. Hollywood magic is in the air as excitement grows for the filming of the new Warner Brothers movie Contagion, planned for today, Thursday. Although I haven't lived in Western Springs for too terribly long, I can't remember a time when there was this much anticipation. Who would have thought that our own Burlington Avenue would see the likes of Matt Damon storming the sidewalk?  It's enough to make even a grown man giddy.  These days I can barely get in and out of Casey's Market with a bag of groceries without overhearing some …

The turkey leftovers are no more. The Christmas tree has been resurrected from the attic. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone. Many of us are feeling a bit lighter in the wallet and a bit heavier in the middle. Yes, the holiday season is upon us. Besides the obligatory holiday party scene and joining bargain hunting shoppers at the mall, there are a few special events happening around town in the next few weeks that might help put a little Christmas spirit in your holiday season.  The Western Springs' Christmas Walk will be held on Saturday, December 4th. Santa Claus himself will…

Ask most anyone about their favorite part of Thanksgiving and most will tell you it's the food. I concur, and greatly look forward to the one day a year where I throw caution to the wind, hide the scale, unbutton my pants (or even better: wear elastic!) and partake in the annual, much anticipated Thanksgiving feast with the gluttonous masses. And no regrets in the morning! I usually make the same turkey every year. It's my grandmother's recipe from the old country, with lots of prep, soaking, seasoning, stuffing and baking. Traditions are wonderful, but it never hurts to spice things up a bit…

Even though I've lived in Western Springs since 2003, I recently decided to join the Western Springs Newcomers Club. Between working crazy hours and being stuck in the house with the kiddos, I must admit that meeting my neighbors has been sort of low on the priority list. Not so much for my curious looking greyhound. He actually has become quite popular in the neighborhood. No walk around the block is complete without at least three stops by kids wanting to pet his brindle coat or locals inquiring about his racing history. Good ice breaker for sure, but it usually ends there. I began to …

I love books. And what better time of year to start thinking about cozying up by a crackling fire with a soft blanket, a warm cup of tea and a good book. Much more appealing than constantly checking email, facebook or phone messages, I must admit. Most days I'm left wondering where the time has gone. After taking care of the kids, the house, catching up on work or my favorite show, the most I can do is reheat some dinner in the microwave. I know many of you can relate. How about carving in a bit of real relaxation time? Wouldn't it feel good to use the couch for more than just zoning out in …

It's an interesting time of year. You may find yourself finishing off the last of the Halloween candy, researching recipes for Turkey day or even feeling tempted to buy a box of gingerbread cookies. (Yes, Christmas has arrived in retail) No matter which holiday you find yourself gravitating toward, one thing is for certain; in the coming months there will be a whole lot of eating going on. If you're feeling like you just might bury your scale in the closet until March, have no fear. There are loads of ways to stay physically fit this holiday season and the Western Springs Recreation …

This is the first year I will be hitting the streets of Western Springs trick or treating with my children. Halloween has officially now become an event circled on the calendar for my family, as opposed to years past where I was probably working late, or getting home just in time to realize I forgot to buy any candy.  This year, I've been stockpiling mini kit kats, m&m's and hershey bars for weeks. I'm actually looking forward to seeing the ghosts, goblins and witches roaming the streets, and even more excited to see how my children (aka fierce green dragons) will embrace this new adventure. …

Ever since I attended the Big Band Concert at the Grand Avenue Community Center last month, I've been thinking about the Western Springs Senior Center. Before the concert began, the audience had the opportunity to learn a bit about the center, and was encouraged to stop by and enjoy some of the recreation opportunities. My inherent curiosity got the best of me, and of course I wanted to know more.  Since I write about Arts and Recreation weekly, this was an area I knew I needed to learn more about. One of the things I love most about Western Springs is that it is a multi-generational kind of …

Marriage, according Wikipedia, is a "social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship." I bet many of us wish it were that simple. Marriage is complicated. Marriage is work. And often times, it doesn't. The intricacies of what transpires between a first love-struck meeting, to ensuing nuptials, and then tragically, divorce, is the subject of the current production on stage at the Theatre of Western Springs. Dinner with Friends, by Donald Margulies and directed by Jim Wise, is a close examination of the unraveling of a relationship, and the aftershocks that transform even the…