North Shore Lifestyle

DIY Home Projects to Help the Time Fly During the Pandemic

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DIY Home Projects to Help the Time Fly During the Pandemic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:  Special Guest Contributor, Bob Shannon of Seniorsmeet.org

Staying at home more often means you’re doing your part to stop the spread of infection, but it doesn’t mean you have to be bored. When you’re not working or going out as much, there are plenty of DIY home improvement projects you can do to help pass the time. Working on small renovations can help boost your mood by giving you a fresh perspective. It can also boost your home’s value, which will come in handy when it’s time to list. Learn about a few of the best DIY projects you can do while staying closer to home below.

For exceptional real estate service, work with Lisa Finks, Lourdes Arencibia & Carolyn Duris! Call (847) 778-0540 or complete this form.

Give Your Cabinets a Makeover

Doing a full kitchen remodel might be tempting, but it’s a large scale project that requires the help of several professionals. If you’re trying to practice social distancing, it’s probably best to avoid such projects for the time being. Luckily, kitchens can be freshened up with many smaller-scale projects, too.

For example, there are so many possibilities for making your cabinets look like new. Repainting your cabinets or updating the hardware can give your kitchen an entirely new feel. Good Housekeeping says there are a lot of mistakes to be made when painting cabinets yourself, but knowing the pitfalls will help you get the best results. Plan ample time and buy the right materials, and you’ll love your refreshed space!

Revamp Your Master Bedroom

You probably spend a lot of time in your master bedroom, which is why it deserves a makeover every now and then. Looking at before and after is a great way to get inspired. Something as simple as a fresh coat of paint can enliven a dated bedroom. Or you can take it a step further by getting a new area rug, adding storage solutions or updating your window treatments to make the room look bigger.

Update Your Fixtures

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to revive your interior design is to update your hardware and fixtures. Installing new light switch covers, towel bars, door handles or shower heads is a great way to make dated features look new. You can replace all of these things with basic tools you probably already have around the house.

The best part of updating these fixtures is that the parts are small enough to be delivered to your house without racking up major shipping costs. You can also support small local businesses such as hardware stores by calling to order the parts you need. Many local businesses will ship items or allow you to pick up your order outside the store.

Put in a New Door

Many homeowners get fixated on interior improvements because it’s what they see the most. However, many exterior projects can be worth the time and money. In fact, when you consider the return on investment (ROI), many exterior renovations will give you a higher ROI than interior jobs. On top of that, you gain health benefits from being outside that are welcome at any time but especially during a pandemic, like stress reduction and an immune system boost.

Projects such as adding a deck, overhauling your landscaping or putting in a new garage door are great ways to boost your home’s value, but they usually require help from the pros. A smaller job to consider is a front door replacement.

Installing a new steel entry door costs about $1,300, but your return is around $1,200, according to Budget Dumpster. If your current door is in good condition, giving it a fresh coat of paint is a cost-effective way to boost your curb appeal.

When to Call a Pro

It’s not in your or your home’s best interest to attempt certain projects. Roofing, electrical, structural, and major plumbing work is best left to the professionals as tackling these projects on your own could be dangerous and possibly damage your home. For example, if you need a roof replacement or repair, reach out to the skilled and reliable professionals. If you want to surround the perimeter of your property with a fence, work with reputable contractors instead of doing the work on your own, as professionals will be aware of underground utility lines. As you vet fence companies, read reviews and feedback from past customers.

Doing DIY projects is a great way to be productive when you’re self-isolating. Many projects are cheap and easy to do, while also increasing the value of your home. Plus, when you take on small-scale projects, you can usually get the items you need delivered to your door, making it easier to practice social distancing.

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Bob Shannon created SeniorsMeet.org, along with his wife, Mary, to have a website that allows seniors to meet up and talk about topics that are relevant to their daily lives. They hope to build SeniorsMeet into a community of like-minded seniors.

Our Favorite North Shore Fitness Studios

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Our Favorite Fitness Studios on the North Shore

WORKING OUT IN 2020!

 

Fitness Studios on the North Shore

Fitness Studios on the North Shore

It’s February and time to reassess your New Year’s Resolutions – is working out one of them?? If you are new to town, or just need to shake up your fitness routine, here is a list of some of our favorite North Shore places to work out

BODY SCIENCE PFT – KENILWORTH

Body SciencePFT offers a unique workout experience designed to make fitness your lifestyle! You will be encouraged, motivated and given the tools to reach your goals. We map out a plan for you, support you along the way and celebrate your success. You will find an outstanding and highly qualified group of trainers, a beautiful state-of-the-art facility and a high-energy, fun environment.

NIYAMA YOGA – WILMETTE
Niyama Yoga has been located in Wilmette for over 15 years: providing room temperature vinyasa, yin & restorative as well as Niyama Hot yoga classes, not just to Wilmette, but also Winnetka, Evanston and the rest of the North Shore. They’ve been a space where individuals can find the time for moving with their breath, at their pace, while also becoming part of a community.

COREPOWER – WINNETKA
(additional locations in Skokie, Glenview)
Core Power believes in working every muscle and every emotion. The classes, instructor and network of over 200 yoga studios nationwide welcome you when you’re ready for a yoga fitness experience like no other.

ORANGE THEORY FITNESS – GLENVIEW
(additional locations Evanston and Highland Park)
Orange Theory is a 1-hour, full-body workout, focused on training endurance, strength and power. We use heart rate-based interval training, which burns more calories post-workout than traditional exercise. … Intensity is based on your own individual heart rate zones, making the workout effective for all fitness levels.

SALT NORTH SHORE – KENILWORTH
(additional location in Northbrook)
SALT approach blends fundamental elements to give you the freedom of a tailored approach. By bringing strength, cardio, flexibility and core workouts into our classes, SALT ensures the work you do with us adds up to more than the sum of its parts.

SHRED415 – NORTHFIELD
The Shred415 experience is an instructor-led high intensity interval training class that targets all levels of clients. The 60-minute workout alternates between treadmill and floor training and leaves its loyal members empowered and motivated.

SPENGA GLENVIEW
(additional location in Evanston)
Unlike any studio of its kind, SPENGA combines three essential elements of fitness to
create what’s simply known as the best workout ever. That’s why each 60-minute
SPENGA session boosts your endurance, strengthens your muscles and restores your body through a combination of spin, HIIT training and yoga.

SPYNERGY WINNETKA
Spynergy is a dedicated cycling studio that provides exceptional workouts fueled by
inspiring music in an intimate studio setting. One of the first boutique indoor cycling
studios, Spynergy has been a mainstay of the community for over 15 years.

 

‘Tis the Season to Skate

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‘Tis the Season to Skate on the North Shore and Chicago area

Ice skating on the North Shore and Chicago area

 

January is the perfect month to dust off your skates, bundle up and hit the outdoor skating rinks. Here are some of our favorite outdoor ice rinks on the North Shore and surrounding Chicago area

Wilmette Park outdoor rinks

Mallinckrodt Park (location: 1960 Elmwood Avenue) and Gillson Park (location: area west of tennis courts) can be used for recreational skating only (NO HOCKEY). When usable, Mallinckrodt and Gillson Park outdoor ice rinks are lighted until 10:30 p.m.

Thornwood Park (location: 2400 Thornwood Avenue) is available for pond hockey as well as recreational skating Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday & Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Schedules listed on website

Winnetka Park District outdoor rinks

Gullen’s Pond (Location: 460 Hibbard) is an outdoor refrigerated rink at the Winnetka Ice Arena. Skate rentals are available for $6 at the ice arena front desk. Check the website to confirm rink is open – weather permitting! You can rent the rink for broomball parties and hockey and skating

Indian Hill Park (Location: 31 Wilson Street) has rink hours from Dawn to Dusk December 15 through February 17

Northfield Park (Location: 240 Lockwood Avenue, Northfield) has rink hours from Dawn to Dusk December 15 through February 17

Glencoe Park district outdoor rinks

Watts Center (Location: 305 Randolph Street) has two lighted outdoor ice rinks and is located on more than three acres of land at Watts Park

Chicago area outdoor rinks

Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon (Location: 337 East Randolph) is in the heart of downtown Chicago, with the City’s skyline as a backdrop, a ribbon of ice winds through a rolling landscape providing an ice skating experience unlike any other. Complementing the ribbon are places to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and rent skates.

Rink at Gallagher Way ( Location: 3635 N. Clark) the new 8000 square foot ice rink right near Wrigley field

Skate Millennium Park ( Location: Michigan Ave between Washington & Madison Streets) Skating is free and open to the public

 

Heirloom Homes – Saving It For Your Family

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Reprinted from the Wall Street Journal

Heirloom Homes – Saving It for your Family

Passing down a family home can be wonderful but can also be rife with family problems if not well planned

lake home

This four-bedroom house in East Lyme, Conn., was built by Elisha Cooper’s great-grandfather in 1913. JULIE BIDWELL FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

By Amy Gamerman

Jeremy Wolff, a photographer based in upstate New York, is part owner of a six-bedroom beach house near Hyannis on Cape Cod in Massachusetts that has been in his family since the 1940s. His co-owners? Nearly 30 relatives, including eight cousins and their families, who book their visits on a family website.

“There’s sometimes some tension—like, ‘You always get the upstairs front bedroom’—little squabbly things like that,” Mr. Wolff said.

The joy of having an heirloom vacation home in the family sometimes comes with a side order of angst: costly upkeep, perpetual repairs and ancient yet enduring sibling rivalries. A legacy lake house or mountain lodge may be shared by scads of siblings and cousins, who have to figure out how to divvy up prime vacation weeks and holidays, to say nothing of property taxes and maintenance responsibilities. Basic decisions—like reupholstering Grandma’s sofa—are anything but basic when a dozen or more relatives have to sign off.

lake home

The living room of the East Lyme cottage, partly owned by Elisha Cooper, is lined with pictures, family mementos and books. PHOTO: JULIE BIDWELL FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

“The process of the family deciding and agreeing on replacing the fabric literally took five years,” said Mr. Wolff.

Elisha Cooper, an author whose children’s book “River” was just published, owns one-sixth of a 2,000-square-foot, four-bedroom cottage with a wraparound porch on Black Point in East Lyme, Conn., that his great-grandfather built in 1913.

“It’s basically a porch with a cottage attached,” said Mr. Cooper, 48, who lives with his wife and two daughters in New York City. The house, which was placed in a family trust in the mid-1990s, is shared by three branches of his extended family, in New York, Massachusetts and London. “I split my branch’s share with my brother,” said Mr. Cooper, adding, “at some point, we’re each going to own a toilet.”

lake home

Mr. Cooper owns approximately one-sixth of the cottage. PHOTO: JULIE BIDWELL FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

The uninsulated cottage occupies a prime 1.3-acre spot on a grassy hill overlooking the salt marsh and ocean. In 2016, the town assessor appraised its value as $945,000. Mr. Cooper’s share of taxes and insurance comes to several thousand dollars a year. This year, it is his turn as manager of the Black Point property, which involves overseeing its maintenance and the schedule: each branch gets 42 prime spring, summer and fall days, to be meted out among its individual members (the home is boarded up for the winter). Major holidays are divvied up, “so if somebody takes Labor Day, someone else is going to take July 4th,” Mr. Cooper said.

There are pitfalls to sharing an heirloom home that happens to be full of heirlooms. “My cat got obsessed with this old wooden model boat and knocked it off the piano—that was a family drama,” Mr. Cooper recalled. “I had to spend $3,000 to re-rig and fix the boat because it was an antique.” Some of his relatives prefer a more low-tech approach to home repairs: “There’s a broken chair and it’s just left with some tape on it—or twine, done in a nice bow.”

Family summits take place on Memorial and Labor Day weekends.

“We all gather—my aunt flies in from London—and we sit on the porch and we talk. These are big decisions, like ‘Do we cut the field?’ and ‘How is that going to affect the monarch butterfly migration?’ ” Mr. Cooper said. “We never argue, that’s because we are New Englanders. We silently and very politely disagree.”

lake home

Schuyler Grant’s cottage on Long Island Sound in Fenwick, Conn., built in 1868, has been in her family for three generations. JULIE BIDWELL FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Some farsighted matriarchs and patriarchs endow trusts so that legacy properties will stay in the family with minimal discord or generational financial strain. Gerry and Del Carrier, who own a 5,000-square-foot mountain ski home in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, created a trust in 2013 so that their five children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren can enjoy the house “in perpetuity,” in Mr. Carrier’s words.

“We estimated taxes, we estimated the maintenance—we are leaving them with very adequate financing so that it will not be a burden,” said Mr. Carrier, 84, a retired dentist who owns a second home in Vero Beach, Fla.

Mr. and Mrs. Carrier, who is 83, acquired the half-acre lot with views of Mount Washington for $1,500 in 1968, building a modest three-bedroom home where they brought their children every weekend. In 2005, they embarked on a $750,000 remodel and expansion, adding a wraparound porch, a dining room spacious enough for 25, a large bunkroom for the grandchildren and a bedroom suite for each of their children—a critical element for maintaining family harmony. There are seven bedrooms in all. At the time they established the trust, the house was appraised at $1.2 million, Mr. Carrier said.

lake home

Jeff Krasno and Schuyler Grant on the steps of their Fenwick home with their children, Phoebe, 15, Ondine, 12 and Micah, 9. PHOTO: JULIE BIDWELL FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

His children and grandchildren use the house throughout the year, coming for the fall foliage, skiing in the winter, hiking and kayaking in the summer. The entire clan gathers there every Christmas.

“For as long as I can remember, every Friday night my father piled his five children into a station wagon to go to a retreat where we could just bind together as a family,” said Michelle Carrier-Trial, 59, a lawyer based in southeastern Massachusetts. She and her younger brother are the home’s two trustees: ultimately, each of the siblings will own an equal share in the house. “After my parents are gone, we hope to keep it the same way for our children,” she said.

Sometimes, however, a beloved home can become an albatross for the current generation. As a child, Schuyler Grant spent every summer at her grandparents’ seaside vacation home—just down the beach from her great-aunt Katharine Hepburn—in the Connecticut borough of Fenwick, an enclave of grand Victorian-era cottages on Long Island Sound. Built in 1868, the six-bedroom shingled house has a deep porch, its own pebbly beach and four generations of Grant and Hepburn family history.

“Every time I would come through the door, I was bathed in this smell of the house—it was like a portal to this whole other world of tennis lessons and duck belts,” said Ms. Grant, who lives with her husband and three daughters in Los Angeles. “It was extremely buttoned up—I used to have to dress for drinks every night in Laura Ashley smocks.”

Ms. Grant, 49, founder of Kula Yoga Project, in New York, and her husband Jeff Krasno, 48, founder of Commune, an online learning platform, bought the 5,400-square-foot Fenwick home in 2009 from her aunt, the actress Katharine Houghton, for $1.8 million, public records show. Their family shares the house with Mr. Krasno’s father and stepmother, Richard and Carin Krasno, who contribute toward the costs of maintaining the property and who visit every August and September from their home in Coral Gables, Fla.

lake home

Three generations of the Carrier family use the house throughout the year. PHOTO: RACHEL SIEBEN FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

“Everybody has to be their highest self—it can get really difficult,” Ms. Grant said of the dynamics. Plus: “There’s always one leak in the house that they haven’t been able to fix in 160 years, so it comes with a certain amount of buckets.”

The family spends nearly $50,000 annually in property taxes, including a Fenwick borough tax. Standard maintenance and upkeep adds another $27,000 every year. That doesn’t include the cost of reshingling the house or replacing its rattling, circa-1970s windows; the latter cost about $100,000. Ms. Grant, who offsets these expenses by renting out the house for part of the summer, reluctantly put it on the market for $3.375 million last year.

“The expense is so great, the emotional and financial upkeep is so massive, that if you are not really there then it’s so hard to justify,” said Ms. Grant. “Our dream is that we find this awesome family that wants to buy the house, but they are a little cash-strapped and have to rent it back to us in August.”

Tips For Keeping Grandma’s House
In The Family

1. Make sure your descendants actually want the house. “It’s common sense: the heirs don’t always have the same values,” said Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers and Consultants. He advises clients “to really survey their family and have a talk about it—the children should be an active part of the planning.”

2. To head off family feuds, spats over remodeling, prime holidays, or a push to sell, transfer ownership of the house to a limited liability company, with a user agreement that sets out terms and conditions. Or create a trust for the property with its own bylaws. That way, Grandma can make sure that everyone plays by her rules for the cottage long after she’s gone.

3. That roof is going to spring a leak sooner or later. Create a dedicated fund for maintenance, taxes and other costs, supported by annual contributions from family members. Note: If you break a lamp or a doorknob comes off in your hand, fix it yourself or prepare for frost at the Labor Day clambake.

4. Have an exit strategy. Any long-term plan should factor in the possibility that descendants may need to sell. Outline provisions for doing so. “Personal situations are going to change,” said Mr. Miller. “Many of these owners are between a rock and a hard place, trapped between nostalgia and hard economic reality.”

5. Remember: It’s just a house. “It’s really more about the family itself than the real estate,” Mr. Miller said. “Those Thanksgiving meals and family get-togethers were special because of the occupants of the house—not the house itself.”

 

 

 

North Shore Halloween Fun for Kids – 2019

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The Ultimate Guide to North Shore

Halloween Fun for Kids!

Friday, October 18, 5:30 – 8pm, Halloween Spooktacular,(Kid friendly), 2400 Chestnut Ave, Glenview

Saturday, October 19, 4 – 8pm – Halloween Happenings (Kid friendly), Wilmette Park District

Friday, October 18, 4 – 6pm, Pumpkins in the Woods, (Kid friendly), Tower Road Beach, Winnetka

Saturday, October 26, 1 – 2:30pm – Spooky Skate (Kid friendly), Wilmette’s Centennial Ice Rink

Saturday, October 19, 6 – 9:30pm, Haunted Trail (age 10 & up – scary), Lloyd Beach, Winnetka

Saturday, October 26, 10 – 1pm Evanston Trick or Treat Trot, (Kid friendly), Charles Gates Dawes House, 225 Greenwood, Evanston

Thursday, October 31, 1 – 2pm, The Big Halloween Balloon Show, (Kid friendly) Winnetka Community House

Saturday, October 26, 3 – 6pm, Boo Bash, (Kid friendly) The Glen Town Center, Glenview

Saturday, 10/19 and 10/26, 12 – 1:30pm, Scream Scene – Lights On, (Kid friendly) 4701 Oakton Street, Skokie

Saturday, November 2, 5:15 – 8pm  Zombie Scramble, (Kid friendly) Ladd Arboretum, Evanston

If You Move Out of the City Move to Wilmette

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By:  Lauren Stevens, Chicago News
Gilson Park Sailboats
There’s that cliché that once you get married and start having children, the days of city life are behind you. With better schools in the burbs, backyards and just more space to roam, Wilmette has all of the suburban qualities families are looking for while maintaining a small thread of city throughout the village.

BACKGROUND

Wilmette is one of the first technical North Shore areas, while some people consider Evanston the first North Shore neighborhood, others beg to differ.  Wilmette offers simply spectacular views, has plenty of shopping, family friendly activities, plenty of parks and even a beach! The district has a rich history, stunning architecture and is home to the Baha’i House of Worship, recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois. The Village of Wilmette is also best known for its superior private schools and nationally renowned New Trier High School. In addition to its incredible school systems, Wimette has been awarded an AAA credit rating, the highest award proving the responsible financial management of its residents. 

With a population of nearly 28,000 recorded in 2013, with only a little less than 6-mile radius, the village remains a very tight-knit and welcoming community.  Personally I wouldn’t want to live in the suburbs, but I understand people’s needs change and sometimes the suburbs are the best alternative, but if I had to choose a suburb, I’d choose Wilmette.It has the cozy feel to it, while remaining relatively close to the city. (Sheridan connects you back to Lake Shore Drive and in turn the road back to the city.) With the Purple line ending in Wilmette at Linden, running express for daily city commutes, it’s possible to travel downtown in no time. This attracts me more than anything else, the fact that you are so separated, but if you so choose can have the city contact back in an instant. 

CUISINE


French Market

In general I love a good farmers market, but Wilmette takes it to the next level with their French Market. Running every Saturday during the warmer months, the fun and vibrant French-style market gives you all the farmers’ market classics with a twist.  You already know you’re going to find great cheeses and meats, but you will also be surprised with the quality of jewelry and craft items made available.

Walker Bros Pancake House>

A true classic! Do you remember the ending of the movie “Mean Girls” when Aaron Samuels offers Cady Heron two gift certificates to the Walker Bros Pancake House? It’s because this place rocks and delivers quality, delicious food every time. Dutch babies, Belgium waffles, breakfast food galore. If you can dream of a breakfast fantasy, chances are Walker Bros is cooking it up.  A serious breakfast staple on the North Shore, if you haven’t gone yet, what have you been waiting for? They have bacon pancakes, people. You’re welcome.

AO Sushi< A unique concept, AO Sushi serves up fresh sushi for all of your to-go needs. Not a standard sit-down restaurant, AO strictly gives your orders to-go or delivers them. The pricing is extremely reasonable, the fish is fresh and the concept opens up a whole new world of potential sushi parties. Just order up and get your sushi on with your closest buddies without breaking the bank. Try the Godzilla roll for a truly monstrously delicious sushi experience. Rock House
Eclectic is one word you could use to describe the vibe at Rock House. With everything you’d get from a funky coffee house, you also can add music lesson space and small venue to the list of Rock House duties. You can hit all of your funky needs in one spot, start you afternoon with some coffee, take a guitar lesson and end the day with a live show in the small space while grabbing a beer. Oh, and don’t forget they sell candy here too. A true entertainment one-stop shop.

Gillson Park/Beach
A beautiful park and beach in Wilmette that gets you stellar views, clean beaches and good fun. Like most North Shore beaches, Gillson charges a fee, but you do get free parking, cleaner beaches and on-duty lifeguards for added safety.  Definitely worth the $6-8 fee, you get what you pay for after all. 

Baha’i House of Worship
As previously mentioned, the Baha’i House of Worship is known as one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois. >The truly spectacular building is breathtaking. You don’t have to be a member of the religion or religious at all for that matter to enjoy the beauty and marvel of the magnificent temple. This is the only temple of its kind in North America which is truly something to think about. Of all the cities and communities in the United States and Canada, Wilmette was chosen to house one of only eight Baha’i temples in the world. While in Wilmette it is absolutely essential to pay a visit, stroll through the gardens and take in everything. 

Wilmette Hot Spots:

French Market
722 Green Bay Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091

Walker Bros Pancake House
153 Green Bay Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-6000

AO Sushi
3217 W Lake Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-4404

Rock House
1150 Central Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-7625

Gillson Park/Beach
800 Gillson Park Dr
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-9656

Baha’i House of Worship
100 Linden Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 853-2300
Source: If You Move Out of the City Move to Wilmette

How Can I Entertain When I Don’t Have Enough Time? Ask the Expert: Nancy Brussat, Convito Cafe & Market

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ASK THE EXPERT:  Nancy Brussat, Convito Cafe & Market

A guide to a quick and easy gathering, especially in the holiday season

Nancy Brussat

By Nancy Brussat

Convito Café & Market

Founder/Partner

 

Welcoming friends and family into my home is one of my favorite holiday activities.  It is such a festive time of the year.  But it is also a busy time of the year for everyone.  So I have figured out how to entertain simply.  Whether you have decorated a lot or very little, candlelight goes a long way in setting a festive mood.  Rather than a full bar, just offer wine and beer.  And with food, lately I have embraced an antipasti theme.  That only requires arranging some salami, prosciutto and cheeses on a platter accompanied by bowls of your favorite marinated vegetables or spreads – like olives, peppers and artichokes and tapenade.  And that is really simple – just opening a few jars.   Include some crackers and breadsticks and voila!  You have the ingredients for a perfect holiday gathering – big or small.   This can be a large platter,  or small. People can even make their own sandwiches on the bread with salami or prosciutto with a little tapenade and brie, and voila!  Your guests can either snack or fill-up!

Antipasto jars

IDEAS for YOUR LIST TO BUY/GATHER

  • Candles
  • Cutting boards, platters, bowls (arranged as photographed)
  • Red Wine : Like an every day Sangiovese (Banfi col di Sasso) or Montepulciano (La Masciarelli) from Italy
  • White Wine: New Zealand Saugvignon Blanc (Root 1 Organic) or Frascati (Fontada Candida)
  • Beer (maybe a lager like Moretti and an IPA like Revolution Anti Hero to please both palates)
  • Sliced salami (you can buy it in a pack already sliced, or have the deli slice it fresh)
  • Prosciutto (ditto)
  • Fontinella cheese in cubes
  • A wedge of Brie (just put out with a knife)
  • Jar of chutney (like Old Farmhouse Chutney from Stonewall Kitchens)
  • Jar of marinated artichokes
  • Olives (mixed and pitted are a good option, or some provencal)
  • Marinated roasted peppers, sliced
  • Fig almond cake from Spain, sliced or left on the plate for people to cut themselves
  • Slices of crunchy french baguette
  • Crackers (we love the Panzanella mini croccantini)
  • Tapenade to spread (black olive, or sun dried tomato is a great option)
  • Breadsticks (like Colleen’s homemade artisanal cheese breadsticks that come in a variety of flavors)

Cheese jars
For more details on our menus and offerings of Convito visit our website www.convitocafeandmarket.com

For more details regarding please contact Candace Barocci Warner at candaceconvito@gmail.com

Phone 847.251.3654

For details on Founder and Partner, Nancy Brussat’s blog on the beginnings of Convito visit her blog at https://nancybrussat.wordpress.com

 

Nancy BrussatFounder/Proprietor, Convito Café & Market
Nancy Brussat is the founder and moving force behind Convito Café & Market which opened its first location under the name of Convito Italiano in 1980 in Wilmette. A long time interest in Italian food blossomed during a three-year residency in England. Brussat made frequent trips to Italy, becoming increasingly enchanted by the regional wines, cuisine and character of the country.

When Brussat moved back to America in 1980, she decided to open Convito Italiano, a shop which would be part grocery, part pasta and sauces, part education center, part wine center, and part deli.

By 1982, the shop was too small to contain all of Brussat’s ideas, so she moved Convito to larger quarters in Wilmette’s Plaza del Lago, with three times the space and three new features; hot foods, an on-the-premise Italian bakery, and a 28 seat Italian cafe serving lunch and early dinner.

In October of 1984, a second Convito location opened in the Chestnut Galleria on Chicago’s near north side: a post-modern, Euro-style shop on two levels, that included a 62 seat white linen tablecloth restaurant and a 35 seat wine bar. The new location was larger (10,000 square feet) and grander than the Wilmette store, but was every bit as dedicated to presenting fresh, authentic dishes in the great Italian regional tradition. The Chestnut location has been closed (Spring 1994). A fire occurred in the kitchen in November of 1993 making it difficult to continue operation.

In 1992, Brussat opened a new, casual Riviera-style Bistro, Bêtise, in Plaza del Lago. It featured fresh and unpretentious dishes transported from the Cote d’Azur and the lively Bistros of Paris to a warm, honey-colored art-filled suburban setting.

Barocci was chosen to serve on American Airlines’ Chef’s Conclave in 1989, a group of 10 chef’s from around the country who strive to improve and maintain the quality of dishes offered on first and business class. She is also an active Past President in Les Dames d’Escoffier, an international women’s food & wine organization.

She is also an active Past President in Les Dames d’Escoffier, an international women’s food & wine organization.

Everything You Need to Know about Public and Private Elementary Schools in Wilmette

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By:  Rebecca Lee

District 39 elementary schools, like all other public schools of the North Shore, are among the best of the state and even the country. Yet, many parents choose to send their young children to local private schools, which often meet the various unique needs of students in ways even the most well-resourced public education cannot.

If you are a Wilmette parent of an elementary aged child, and you are exploring all of his or her options, here’s what you need to know:

 

D39 Elementary Schools

Central School Wilmette

Central School Wilmette

PUBLIC

The majority of Wilmette students are serviced by District 39 schools.  Only the northwestern area of Wilmette goes to District 37/Avoca/Marie Murphy Schools instead.  In D39, there are four public elementary schools that service grades K-4:  Central, Harper, McKenzie, and Romona! Children attend a school based on the location of their homes. This being said, all four schools offer equally rigorous and diverse education, and have been recognized throughout the state and country. In fact, Central and Romona have both received the prestigious Blue Ribbon School!  After 4th grade, all D39 students join together at Highcrest Middle School for 5th and 6th grades and then move to Wilmette Junior High for 7th and 8th grades.

The elementary education of District 39 is made up of a curriculum map, which dictates the topics of Math, General Music, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, Spanish, and Technology to be covered throughout the year. Teachers can control the timing and sequence of these topics based on the needs of their students. In fact, District 39 encourages teachers to not only assess but appreciate differences among students and adjust instruction to maximize their learning and growth. In addition, students regularly work in the library and attend art classes, both of which are exceptionally well-resourced. As students progress from first to fourth grade, they are exposed to different and more elevated material that prepares them for middle school.

The Parent Teacher Association at each school provides crucial support. Such relationships between parents and the schools are unique to public education at District 39. Specifically, these volunteers are responsible for the fundraising to support numerous field trips, guest speakers, events, and extracurriculars that enrich the education of students. Throughout the school year, students can join groups from Math Team to Robotics Club, take classes such as Cooking or Beading, and play sports and games before and after school. Events such as the International Festival at Romona teach students about the world around them in an interactive and exciting way.

The kind of well-resourced public education offered at District 39 elementary schools is very difficult to find elsewhere, which is why so many families move here to raise their children!

 

The Cove School

The Cove School in Northbrook

The Cove School in Northbrook

 

PRIVATE

In 1947, The Cove School was the first school in the country built exclusively for the education of children with learning disabilities. Originally founded as a residential facility for young children, the school later added a day program and a high school program and moved locations several times as enrollment grew. Ten years ago, The Cove School moved to its current location in Northbrook.

The Cove School, approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, serves approximately one hundred and fifty students from all over Chicagoland area. These students, who could not learn and thrive in other academic environments, find Cove to be a safe haven. To meet each and every need of each and every student, the academic program at Cove is based on small classroom sizes and a strong faculty. A specialized teacher and his or her assistant, supported by a speech and language pathologist, social worker, reading specialist, occupational therapist, and technology specialist, teach a class of approximately ten students. The teacher and specialists often teach together, and occasionally the specialists work with students in small groups outside of the classroom. Furthermore, the recently renovated campus of The Cove School provides students with spaces to exercise, socialize, express themselve, meet with social workers, receive therapy, and even explore potential career paths. As a result of such a strongly equipped faculty and state-of-the-art facility, education at The Cove School addresses not only academic but emotional and social growth of children, which is especially crucial to develop throughout elementary school.

Additionally, students at The Cove School are offered a wide range of extracurriculars! The Fine Art Department specifically offers classes such as drawing and printmaking, as well as music and dance programs that encourage students to perform. Students of all ages can also play on athletic teams, participate in the student council, contribute to the school newspaper and yearbook, or plan for Prom on a committee. All of these extracurriculars are overseen by highly qualified faculty members, who work to foster not only ability, but cognitive and emotional growth of students. Furthermore, to encourage community between families, the school hosts events such as the Cove 5K Run-Walk and Bowling Night.

Most students of The Cove School are funded by their home school districts. Those who pay tuition privately pay $39,500 a year. Financial assistance, payment plans, and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

 

Baker Demonstration School

Baker Demonstration School

Baker Demonstration School


Baker Demonstration School was founded as the laboratory school of National Louis University. In 2005, Baker became an independent school that currently serves approximately 360 preschool to middle school-aged students from all over the area!

Baker offers a progressive education, which fosters the physical, social, emotional, and cultural development of each student through hands-on teaching that challenges and cultivates.

Specifically, students of first through fifth grades are taught through a curriculum that coordinates all classes from Music to Mathematics to Reading to present one topic in a variety of ways. In doing so, the curriculum ensures that students expand the width and especially the depth of their knowledge! This has proven especially effective at Baker, where the student to faculty ratio approximates 9 to 1. In addition to core academic classes, students participate in physical education everyday and Spanish class two days a week. They also regularly attend music and art classes, work in the library, and use technology to supplement instruction. Baker also houses a state-of-the-art science lab, a swimming pool, an art studio, a music and drama suite, an auditorium, and a gardening and compost center!

Yearly tuition for elementary school students ranges from approximately $18,000 to approximately $20,000. Because Baker seeks to serve a socioeconomically diverse student body, the school offers financial assistance to those who demonstrate the need. This being said, Baker maintains a small and select student body, so the application and admission process is quite thorough!

 

St. Francis Xavier School & St. Joseph School

St. Joseph's School in Wilmette

St. Joseph’s School in Wilmette

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PRIVATE

St. Francis Xavier School (a Blue Ribbon school) and St. Joseph School both offer education that emphasizes academic excellence and social awareness in a distinctly Catholic environment. The core curriculums of both elementary schools are made up of Language Arts, Math, Science, Religion, and Social Studies.

Specifically, the curriculums are designed to support students of a wide range of learning aptitudes. At St. Francis Xavier, students who are deemed gifted are placed in elevated math classes so that they are appropriately challenged. At St. Joseph, beginning in third grade, students are grouped in every subject according to ability, which again ensures that they are appropriately challenged. Science and Social Studies teachings are dictated by a curriculum based on Catholic values. Additional music, technology, Spanish, and physical education classes are offered.

St. Joseph uniquely offers a number of organized service opportunities to students throughout the school year, as service is an aspect of the school’s mission. Similarly, clubs at St. Francis Xavier are dedicated to community service. Both schools also offer extracurriculars such as Girls on the Run, concert bands, student council and Cub Scouts. An integral part of Catholic elementary education is the development of the spiritual lives of children. Students participate in regular Mass, study Religion, and receive Communion and eventually Confirmation.

St Francis Xavier School in Wilmette

St Francis Xavier School in Wilmette

Yearly tuition at St. Francis Xavier costs approximately $6,160 for one enrolled child. Additional fees support the use of technology and purchase supplies. Yearly tuition at St. Joseph costs approximately $5,630 with an additional fee for technology use. Both schools offer payment plans.

Commuting from the North Shore? So Many Options!

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By:  Rebecca Lee

Wilmette and Glenview were ranked among the top five optimal suburbs for commuters

Wilmette and Glenview were ranked among the top five optimal suburbs for commuters

“The commuter rail station is to a suburb what the airport is to a city–the gateway to the world,”

-Joseph Schwieterman, DePaul University expert on public policy and transportation.

Wilmette and Glenview were ranked among the top five optimal suburbs for commuters in a report from the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University.

The towns at the top of the list are generally older suburbs that settled years before cars were a popular means of transportation. Thus, train stations are located in central areas so that much of the population can walk or bike then take car-free commutes to work. The study also evaluated facilities, amenities and services available to those without cars, retail areas surrounding stations, clocks and community information accessible to riders, cleanliness of trains, and even nighttime light level of parking lots. Stations were also rewarded for power outlets, free WiFi, and coffee places. Evidently, the stations that ranked high on the list are of towns that prioritize residents who are commuters to work and school. Therefore, those seeking suburban housing who also want a variety of options of transportation should consider towns such as Wilmette, Glenview, Highland Park, and Winnetka.

Specifically, Wilmette boasts two transit service stations: CTA and Metra. CTA Linden Station, found at 349 Linden Ave, runs on the Purple Line and takes passengers to Howard Station in Evanston at various times all days of the week, or stops throughout the Loop in Chicago at rush hours on Monday through Friday. Specifically, the express transit services from Linden Station to the Loop begin at 5:20 AM until 9:25 AM, then run again from 2:25 PM to 6:30 PM. From the Loop to Linden, trains run from 6:05 AM to 10:10 AM, then 3:10 PM to 7:15 PM. All of these arrive and depart approximately every fifteen minutes. These trains, of course, primarily and conveniently serve those who work and study in downtown Chicago. Riders can park their bikes in a sheltered area or pay $4 a day to park their cars at the station. A single ride on the CTA costs $3, and riders can purchase passes for as many rides as they need. Metra Train Service, located at 722 Green Bay Road, runs from Kenosha, Wisconsin to downtown Chicago. Metra trains are almost continuously available and stop more frequently than do CTA trains. A one-way ride costs anywhere from $3.50 to $7, depending on the time and location. Similarly, a monthly pass costs from $95 to $200. Both the CTA and the Metra discount ticket prices for students. Clearly, a resident of Wilmette has convenient access to not only Chicago, but a variety of other suburbs as well.

 

Metra Schedule

Click for North Shore Metra Schedule

The Metra Station at the Glen of Glenview, another North Shore suburb, was also highly lauded as an accessible, spacious, and even clean station. Both Amtrak and Metra trains depart daily from the station. Although most riders of the Amtrak are travelers, the Metra primarily serves commuters. As previously stated, the Metra arrives and departs during popular hours of commute from and to various areas of Chicago. The station stands at a prime location for residents of Glenview: the Glen. So, not only can one easily catch a train to virtually anywhere at almost any time, he or she can grab dinner, drink coffee, or even shop while waiting.

What Do Wilmette Teens Do For Fun

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By: Rebecca Lee

Many, if not all, parents looking to purchase homes in the North Shore are especially concerned with the types of environments in which they will raise their children. Not only do families of this community boast of spacious backyards and access to swimming pools their toddlers and elementary age children enjoy, their teenagers are also offered a great and unique variety of activity.

Panera in Wilmette

Panera in Wilmette


As a teenager who has lived in Wilmette her entire life, I have fond memories from sixth grade about the countless weekend evenings I spent with many of my peers at Panera Bread. All forty of us middle schoolers would have bagels and Mac ‘n Cheese for dinner, then spend hours running around the restaurant giggling and yelling. Every day throughout the summer, we would ride our bicycles to the Gilson Beach, Cocomero Frozen Yogurt, school playgrounds, Homer’s Ice Cream, and the local library. In the winter, we would hit Centennial Ice Rink for Friday Night Skate!  Along with the amount of free time I had, I played soccer and basketball and swam for years through various local programs, where I met some of my closest friends. Clearly, especially at an age when I had few worries, I never struggled to find something to do.

Wilmette Teens Enjoy Hanging at Old Orrhard Mall

Wilmette Teens Enjoy Hanging at Old Ocrhard Mall

Although I am now older, I find that I have an equally as abundant amount of options. My friends and I can drive to Westfield Old Orchard, where we shop, eat, and watch movies. Wilmette is home to both a Metra station and a CTA station, which we frequently ride to Evanston, Chicago, and Highland Park, among others. This being said, certain places, such as the local beaches, are timelessly popular locations. Although, as I am a student in high school, I find that I very frequently visit one of the many nearby locations of Starbucks to grab coffee, work on homework, or chat with friends. In general, teenagers in the North Shore have a great amount of freedom to walk, bicycle, and drive around our communities.