Gift Guide - November 2013

Your complete local gift guide for holiday savings and events!

published by Enterprise newspapers, inc.

$4.99

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Holiday Gift Guide 2013

www.buglenewspapers.com

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Holiday Gift Guide 2013

Enterprise Newspapers, Inc. 23856 Andrew Road, Suite 104 Plainfield, IL 60585 (815) 436-2431 buglenewspapers.com

General Manager V.P Advertising and Marketing Michael James mjames@voyagermediaonline.com

Managing Editor Nick Reiher

in this issue ...

MUST-HAVE GIFTS The Bugle Staff has boiled down a seemingly endless number of options into a simple top 10 list of this season’s hottest gifts . . . . . . . . .

t r e c n o C ckets! ti

page 7 - 9

nreiher@enterprisepublications.com

Creative Director Andrew Samaan

andrew@voyagermediastudios.com

Advertising Manager Pat Ryan

pryan@enterprisepublications.com

Marketing Director Laureen Crotteau

lcrotteau@enterprisepublications.com

Assistant Managing Editor Jonathan Samples

jsamples@buglenewspapers.com

Sports Editor Scott Taylor

staylor@enterprisepublications.com

Staff Writers Sue Baker Laura Katauskas Jonathan Samples Alex Hernandez Mark Gregory Page Designer Shelley Holmgren

sholmgren@buglenewspapers.com

Graphic Designer Ryan Beavers

ryan@buglenewspapers.com

Graphic Designer Carolin Frusher

carolin@buglenewspapers.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS A breakdown of the upcoming holiday events in your area that you should keep an eye out for! . . . . . . .

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WHAT TO BUY A SPORTS FAN Have you ever had a problem trying to figure out what to buy a sports fan for Christmas?

Here is a guide to some different ideas, ranging from cheap to fairly expensive. . . . . . . .

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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Play the Spot the Difference game for a chance to win a $100 gift card! . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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TOP 10 Musthave

Aww !

ADOPTABLE PETS Check out the adorable pets that could use a new home for the holidays. . . . . . . .

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MEMORIES FROM YESTERDAY

ADOPTABLE PETS

Check out photos of past local holiday memories in your area. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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LETTERS TO SANTA

facebook.com/thebuglenewspapers twitter.com/buglenewspapers instagram.com/buglenewspapers

Children who attend Creme de la Creme Early Learning Centers of Excellence submitted letters for what they wanted from Santa this year. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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SHOPPING FOR YOUR SPORTS FAN!

Touchd own!

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Holiday Gift Guide 2013

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e h t r Fo ech T ver Lo

! s e v a h t s u M

iPad Mini with Retina Display

Price: $399-$699 The next generation of iPad Mini is not just dazzling to the eye…OK, this thing is really dazzling to the eye. The outer design of the new Mini is similar to the original, but the resolution is wholly out of this world. Retina Display doubles the resolution of the new iPad Mini to 2048 x 1536 and 326 pixels per inch. A new A7 chip with 64-bit architecture and M7 motion coprocessor makes the Mini with Retina Display 4x faster than its predecessor and helps it achieve 8x faster graphics.

“20/20 Experience” World Tour Price: Varies With two number one albums released, 2013 was a great year for Justin Timberlake. Experience the music of the pop icon, as he sets out across the U.S. on his 20/20 Experience World Tour. The tour will be in Chicago Feb. 16 and 17.

IMAGES COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

n i t s u J berlake T im

Few things are more rewarding (and more stressful) than finding the perfect holiday gifts for the people in your life. From concert tickets to jewelry and iPads to gaming consoles, the odds may seem stacked against you when deciding which gifts your loved ones will love most. Sorting through endless holiday catalogues usually only adds to the stress, but have no fear. This year, we have boiled down a seemingly endless number of options into a simple top 10 list of this season’s hottest gifts

Big Hugs Elmo Price: $49 Elmo’s back, and this year he’s bigger than ever! Big Hugs Elmo will not only return your child’s hugs, he can sing three fun songs, dance, and say more than 50 phrases, such as “Elmo loves getting hugs from you.” And after all those activities get your little one ready to nap, Elmo will get sleepy, too, and sing a lullaby.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2013

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FURBY BOOM

Price: $64.99 If you thought the previous Furby was a delight, wait till you lay eyes on the all-new Furby Boom. With more than twice as many responses, Furby Boom can remember its name, interact one-on-one to learn its personality and hatch little Furblings. Furby Boom comes in a variety of fab fur patterns and has five new personalities to discover.

! e t u So C

SPA DAY Price: $152 & up

r o f t c e f Per m!

Mo Razor Electric Scooters

With all the stress of the holiday season, sometimes the best gift is a little time off. Mario Tricoci day spa packages are thoughtful gift that will help your someone special relax. The stress will melt away with a package that includes a facial, message, body treatment, manicure, pedicure, hair design, makeup artistry and more!

id k e h t For t he move! on

IMAGES COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

Price: $116 Kids can now travel around in style with Razor’s line of electric scooters.

Hitting speeds of 10 mph, the Razor E100 is a quiet and fun way to get around. The 40-minute battery life will keep you on the move, and the high-torque, 100-watt electric motor is friendly to the environment.

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Playstation 4/ Xbox One Cost: $399.99-$499.99 The day hardcore gamers have been waiting for is finally here, as both Sony and Microsoft will release the next generations of their popular gaming consoles in time for the holidays. Each will improve upon graphics and speed, while a variety of upgrades unique to each console will add to a distinct gaming experience. A new share feature on the PlayStation 4 will allow gamers to post videos of their epic triumphs. Xbox One will include a more precise, responsive and intuitive Kinect sensor in each console.

HEARTS ON FIRE Cost: Varies The perfect gift for any occasion, Hearts on Fire diamond jewelry will help show off her beauty and ensure your gift shines brightest in her heart. With a variety of choices no matter what her style may be, Hearts on Fire offers brilliantly designed necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets.

For the Gamer Price: $99-$199 With a variety of color options, the iPhone 5c is a more vibrant upgrade from the iPhone 5 and cheaper alternative than the 5s. The 5c has also added a frontfacing 1.2 megapixel FaceTime camera.

It can shoot 1280 x 960 pixel images and records video in 720p HD. The 5c comes in 16GB and 32 GB models with green, blue, yellow, pink and white color options.

iPhone 5c

Nike Air Jordan XI “Gamma Blue”

Tag a photo of your spin on holiday decorations with #VMGIFTGUIDE for a chance to win a pair of Hollywood Blvd./Palms Movie Tickets!

#VMGIFTGUIDE

IMAGES COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

Cost: $185 The Air Jordan XI returns this holiday season in a new colorway -“Gamma Blue,” which features an all black upper, iconic black patent leather and a blue translucent sole. These are very limited so “Sneakerheads” around the nation will need to be extremely savvy and creative if they want to add a pair to their collection. Set to release December 21 at a Jordan Brand retailer near you.

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CALENDAR

upcoming Holiday events in your area Joliet Light Up the Holidays Parade and Festival

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, Downtown Joliet.

Activities the Renaissance Center Fun Fair, activities in the Joliet Historical Museum, Joliet Public Library, Gji’s Sweet Shoppe, Jitters Coffeehouse, Chicken-n’Spice, The Red Goose Bakery, and more. The Annual Festival of Trees held yearly inside the Rialto Square Theatre also adds to the holiday festivities.

Tree Lighting begins at 5:15 p.m. in Van Buren Plaza followed by the Light Up The Holidays Parade at 5:30 p.m.

Christmas in the Square

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, Central Square, 222 E. Ninth St., Lockport Come visit Santa and his reindeer, live from the North Pole. Santa will have a special gift for each child. Be sure to stop by the Gladys Fox Museum to see the Festival of Trees. The tree lighting ceremony will be at 4:30 pm on the front lawn of Central Square.

This event is sponsored by: Lockport Township Park District, City of Lockport, Lockport Township Government, Lockport Chamber of Commerce, and a variety of local businesses.

“A Christmas Carol”

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet Tickets: $47.25 to $117. 815-726-6600.

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“Jingle Bell Junction”

3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at Shorewood Village Hall We will be watching the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life,” while making ornaments to put on the children’s tree at the Village Hall. Santa will also be here for pictures. This will all lead to the lighting of the Village Christmas Tree. The Community Food drive drop off will also be taking place during this event.

Jingle Bell 5K Race

Sponsored by the Lockport Township Park District, 7:30 a.m. Dec. 7 at Prairie Bluff Golf Course, Crest Hill Certified and accurately marked and measured. The course features mostly rolling terrain with a few hills on paved roads and fairways, through scenic Prairie Bluff Golf Course. All participants will receive an official 5k race shirt and enjoy the post-race party, including chili lunch, cookies, and hot chocolate. Lunch is for participants only! RACETIME will keep the official time and results of the race. Prizes will be awarded to the Overall Male & Female runner. Awards will be given to the top two runners in each of the following age divisions: 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-

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64, 65 & up. Fees: $30/Pre-registration, $35/Day of Event. Register by Dec. 3, 815-838-1183.

Plainfield Candlelight Christmas Nov. 30 in downtown Plainfield For

details,

visit

plainfieldchamber.com

www.

or

call

(815) 436-0520.

Journey to the North Pole

4 to 10 p.m., Dec. 6 at Four Season Park, Lockport Street and Interstate 55 Families will be able to take a wagon ride to the North Pole. As they head to the North Pole, they will listen to the story of the “Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg.

When arriving at the destination, families will have a chance to see Santa and his elves. Every child will receive a silver bell from Santa. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served by campfire. Cost is $7 for residents/$10.50 for nonresidents. Rides are scheduled every half hour. For more information, visit www.plfdparks.org or call (815) 436-8812.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2013

Senior Christmas Luncheon

12:00 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Plainfield Fire Department Training Center, 23748 W. 135th St., Plainfield Hosted by the Plainfield Park District, the luncheon includes free food, entertainment and door prizes.

Each attendee is asked to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the Plainfield Food Pantry. To reserve a spot, contact Kathy at (815) 436-8812, ext. 13.

Holidays Around the World

6 to 7 p.m., Dec. 10 in the large meeting room of the Plainfield Public Library, 15025 S. Illinois St. Sample food and crafts from other countries in celebration of holidays around the world. Open to all ages and families.

Candy Cane Hunt

6:30 to 7:15 p.m., Dec. 13 at the Streams Recreation Center, 24319 Cedar Creek Lane, Plainfield Participants are urged to grab a flashlight to hunt for candy canes hidden around the building. Once all the candy canes are found, the group will warm up with hot chocolate, reindeer games and a treat. The Plainfield Park District event

will be held no matter the weather, so appropriate dress is suggested. Open to children ages 5-8. Cost is $12 for residents; $15 nonresidents. For more information, visit www.plfdparks. org or call 815-436-8812.

of free group exercise classes at the BRAC. Avoid feeling sluggish and keep those holiday pounds off. For more information, call (630) 739-1705.

Bolingbrook & Romeoville

Nightly Nov. 16 through December 31 at The Promenade, Bolingbrook

Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 27 at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Bolingbrook Free. Grab a clue pack from the nature center and wander through our different habitats to hunt for items. Turn in your clue sheet from this self-guided hike for a chance to win a prize! Registration is required.

Turkey Burner Free Workouts

Nov. 28 Thanksgiving Day at the LifeStyles Fitness Center Start the holiday right - work out early and feel great all day long with LifeStyles free Turkey Burner workouts.

Enjoy free use of both fitness centers on November 28 and take advantage

Symphony in Lights Holiday Light Show

Begins at dusk and runs every hour on the hour until 9 p.m.

Winter Wonderland

6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Romeoville Recreation Center, 900 W. Romeo Road The annual Winter Wonderland, Tree Lighting Ceremony, and Parade of Lights. The Romeoville Recreation Department and Fat Ricky’s have teamed up, once again, to combine Winter Wonderland and Hope for the Holidays into one spectacular event! All activities will be held at the Recreation Center.

Pajama Party with Santa Claus

6 to 7 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 13 at the Annerino Community Center, Bolingbrook All ages welcome. Come in your favorite Christmas pajamas and celebrate with Santa. Each child will get a picture taken

with Santa, tell him their wishes, and receive a special gift. Children will have the opportunity to listen to stories by Mrs. Claus, make crafts in the Little Elves’ workshop, join in the Reindeer games, and enjoy delicious cookies and milk. Children must be accompanied by a parent. Be sure to register early. No registrations will be accepted at the door. $15 for first child; $10 for each additional child. With resident ID, $10 for first child, $5 for each additional.

Holiday Movie-A Muppet Christmas Carol

Dec. 5 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the White Oak Library, Romeoville Enjoy this fun retelling of the famous holiday tale with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy and the gang! We’ll have hot cocoa, cookies, and other special holiday treats. All ages are welcome, but children younger than 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration is required.

Countdown to Noon Year

11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at the White Oak Library, Romeoville Come to the library and enjoy ringing in the New Year, with our annual Count Down to Noon Year program. Kids

buglenewspapers.com of all ages are welcome to attend; we will play games, make party hats, and have count down until Noon. When the ball drops we will have a fun dance party! All ages are welcome, but children under 8 year of age should be accompanied by an adult. Register with the children services desk.

Downer’s Grove Westmont & Woodridge Westmont Holly Days Nov. 30, Various Locations Start your day in downtown Westmont as we provide many characters and activities for everybody. Frosty will be teaching a new dance called the Snowball Shuffle at the Center for Dance. Then you’ll be able to get your picture taken and watch “The Grinch.”

The Scrooge will be lurking around somewhere as well as the Nutcracker.

Uncle Bub’s will be providing a cookie decorating event as well. Santa’s reindeer and the elves will land at the Westmont Centre lawn at 3:45 p.m. and stay for pictures until 4:30 p.m..

After that, they will join the parade and return to the lawn until 6:45 p.m.. The Westmont High School Madrigals will be singing their favorite holiday songs in the Westmont Centre lobby. The Frosty & Friends Parade will begin at 5 p.m. and march down Cass Avenue from Chicago Avenue to Richmond Street.

The parade will conclude with Santa’s arrival and the lighting of the Village of Westmont tree! Children of all ages can join Santa in the Westmont Centre afterwards for treats and a visit.

Toy Drive 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 1 at All Nations Fellowship Church, 3700 Fairview Drive, Downers Grove Donations will benefit underserved children up to age 18 in DG Township.

In appreciation, a complimentary family portrait will be offered to each donor courtesy of Marcus Turner Photography. For a suggested list of toys, gifts or specific family wish list; Mrs. Verdun (630) 708-2229, or dverdun@ hinsdale86.org.

Santa Letters Dec, 2 at the Woodridge Community Center FREE to Woodridge Park District Residents Only Won’t your children be surprised to receive a personal letter from Santa? Just stop by the Community Center from November 25 – December 2 during office hours to give Santa’s helpers the necessary information. Letters will be sent the week of December 9.

Breakfast with Santa 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.on Dec. 7 at Faith United Methodist Church, 432 59th St., Downers Grove Eat pancakes with Santa, get your picture taken with Santa, make a Christmas art project! Free for the whole family. Visit www.faithchurchdg. org or call 630-968-0442.

Photos with Santa 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 8 at Baird & Warner, 724 Ogden Ave., Downers Grove Sponsored by Baird & Warner. Bring the kids for free photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus! Plus hot chocolate and cookies. For more information call the B&W office at 630-964-1855.

West Towns Chorus: Holly Jolly Christmas 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 at at Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove Enjoy new songs and old favorites with special guests, Midwest Crossroads Chorus. Reserved seats are $23 to $27 at www.westtowns.org or call 630201-5544.

Morton Grove, Park Ridge & Niles Santa Comes to Town 12 to 3 p.m., Dec. 2 at Prairie View Community Center, 6834 Dempster St., Morton Grove The Mor ton Grove Park District and the Village of Mor ton Grove proudly present the community’s annual Santa Comes to Town event. Santa will ride through the streets of Mor ton Grove from 12pm - 3pm passing out candy for all the good boys and girls of Mor ton Grove. Some of these pieces of candy will be specially marked as prize winners. For more information visit www.mor tongroveparks.com.

Breakfast with Santa 9 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Dec. 7 at Maine Park Leisure Center, 2701 W. Sibley Street, Park Ridge Join us at Maine Park for a great breakfast buffet catered by All on the Road Catering. You have two seatings to choose from. Children can talk with Santa and have a professional photo taken. Before or after breakfast join us for some holiday shopping at our Candy Cane Lane Shoppe.

Children must have an adult registered with them. Adults please note there is a

separate registration code. Registration deadline: Nov. 26. For more information visit www.prparks.org.

Grinch’s Candy Cane Hunt 1:30 to 3 p.m., Dec. 8 at Maine Park Leisure Center, 2701 W. Sibley St., Park Ridge The Grinch discovered that Santa’s elves have hidden red and white candy canes along with some specialty canes at one of their favorite places – Maine Park! The Grinch is planning to find all of Santa’s candy canes and turn them green! We begin our event with the story How the Grinch Stole Christmas inside the Maine Park gym. Then we head outside to find all the candy canes hidden in the park. The adventure concludes with a cup of hot chocolate and some yummy cookies, all while the Grinch hands out prizes to those that found the special candy canes. Preregistration is required by the deadline date since the candy cane supplies are limited and we want to be sure to have enough for everyone. Don’t forget to dress warm. In the event of inclement weather, the candy cane hunt will be held inside.

Registration deadline is Dec. 1. For more information visit www.prparks. org.

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Breakfast with Santa 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 10 to11 a.m., Dec. 14 at Howard Leisure Center Banquet Room, 6676 W. Howard St., Niles Join Santa for his annual breakfast buffet with Niles Park District. Every year, Santa makes a stop at the Howard Leisure Center, to enjoy breakfast, visit, and of course pictures with the children. It’s a jolly time. Register early, spaces fill up fast! All adults and children in attendance must register for this event. $10 for registered, $12 for non-registered. For more information visit www.niles-parks.org/.

Santa’s Holiday Express 10:50 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 15 departs from Dee Rd. Station, Park Ridge All aboard Santa’s Holiday Express!

Join Santa and his jolly holiday crew as we sing songs, talk with Santa, play games, and enjoy face painting and holiday tattoos. Please bring a NUT free sack lunch to enjoy as Santa reads us a story. We stay on Santa’s Holiday Express train all the way to Santa’s barn (Harvard) where it turns around and heads back home to Park Ridge (Dee Rd.) station. Departs from Dee Rd. Station. For more information visit www.prparks.org/.

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BY SPORTS EDITOR SCOTT TAYLOR Have you ever had a problem trying to figure out what to buy a sports fan for Christmas?

There are so many options, no wonder! Here is a guide to some different ideas, ranging from cheap to fairly expensive.

NIKE NFL JERSEY

Introduced in 2012, the NIKE NFL jerseys are still the best there are in any sport. No matter what team your sports fan roots for, there is a jersey sure to please him.

The stich work on them is great and they look great, especially the teams with the new designs. There are three different kinds: Elite ($250), Limited ($135) and Game ($100). Can be found at store. nike.com.

NHL Ticket

With a full season of play and the defending champions from Chicago, it is a perfect year to give your sports fan some hockey tickets. If they aren’t a hockey fan, substitute it for whatever sport they like. The Bears play the Packeres Dec. 29. Tickets for Blackhawks game will be $75-100 at the cheapest, depending on the game, while Bears vs. Packers tickets are around $200.

Fantasy Football Guidebook IMAGES COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football, by Sam Hendricks: This book is going on my wish list this year. Based on reviews, this is a book for both novice players as well as experienced players. With fantasy football becoming ever more popular, this is a great gift to give someone who plays. With the next season starting nine months after Christmas, there will be plenty of time to read! www. amazon.com. Cost: $20.

Team Mascot Gnome

These have become very popular lately.

It is a gnome that is dressed in your team’s gear. Some are even tailored with the theme of your mascot.

It is a perfect thing to show your team pride inside or outside your house. Cost: $25. Can be found on most team websites or online stores such as amazon.com.

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HAL

CANDI

WEST SUBURBAN

WEST SUBURBAN

RICO

RACHEL

WAGS 4 WISHES

WAGS 4 WISHES

FRANGO

TINO

4 PAWS 4 U 4 EVER

4 PAWS 4 U 4 EVER

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1950’s

he holidays are a time for remembering: remembering the ones who are most dear and remembering the times that you’ve shared. Look back on those times with us as we remember past holidays we’ve shared with our readers. Enjoy these scenes from the area’s past holidays.

(Top right) Young Billy Blazek sits on Santa’s lap – December 1956. (Right center) Ice Skating at Prince Pond, 1950s.

r o t s Hi

t e i l o J ic Bottom two photos courtesy of Joliet Area Historical Museum, IL

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Letters to Santa were submitted by children who attend Creme de la Creme Early Learning Centers of Excellence 724 Center Blvd, Romeoville, IL 60446 (815) 306-0307

All I want for Christmas is . .

FROM OLIVER

FROM YOYO

FROM NATALIE

FROM NOMI

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