DC Magazine - Fall 2021

INSOMNIA COOKIES COMING TO DEKALB KEG & KERNEL: MORE THAN A RESTAURANT AND BREWERY FUNME EVENTS HELPS YOU FIND INSPIRATION ON VACATION

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INSIDE THE PERFECT MIDNIGHT SNACK Insomnia Cookies coming to DeKalb.........................6 THE KEG & KERNEL EXPERIENCE More than a restaurant, more than a brewery............8 RUSTIC ROOTS Continuing a retail legacy in Sycamore....................10 1920s GLAMOUR, 2020s COMFORT Renovated movie palace a first-class experience......12 MELLOW MAMMALS Local couple produces CBD products for pets...........16 FIND INSPIRATION ON VACATION FunME Events caters to travelers..............................20

Project Manager: Lisa Angel Layout & Design: Julie Barichello Photography: Mark Busch, Ryan Ocasio Photography Writers: Stephen Haberkorn, Dana Herra, Katrina J.E. Milton, Kelsey Rettke, and Chris Walker Articles and advertisements are property of Shaw Media.

No portion of DC Magazine may be produced without written consent of the publisher.

4 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

FALL into SYCAMORE

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DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | September 2021 | 5

The Perfect

National cookie chain will set up sweet shop inside Plaza DeKalb building By: Katrina J.E. Milton

Midnight Snack DeKalb will soon have a late-night way to satisfy their sweet tooth: the national cookie chain Insomnia Cookies is coming to town.

Insomnia Cookies, whose tagline is “Warm, delicious cookies delivered until 3 a.m.,” will be located in Plaza DeKalb, 203 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.

Foti Pappas, vice president of Pappas Development, which owns Plaza DeKalb, said that Insomnia Cookies will be located in the remaining vacant commercial space of the building, about 2,500 square feet, with its storefront facing Lincoln Highway.

“Insomnia Cookies opening a storefront in downtown DeKalb is testament that the redevelopment efforts [of the city’s downtown area] have been nothing but a great success,” Pappas said. “It’s a fastgrowing company. They’ve been looking at the area for quite some time and settled on downtown DeKalb because they like the look and momentum that the downtown has.”

Renovation of the interior has already begun, and the shop is planned to open in the coming months. Pappas described the location as “one of their biggest locations, where they can bake cookies, distribute from here throughout the country and have a shop for walk-in customers.”

Other Illinois locations include Carbondale, Champaign, Evanston, Normal and five locations in Chicago: Hyde Park, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Rogers Park and Wicker Park.

Insomnia Cookies was founded in 2003 by then-college student, Seth Berkowitz, in his University of Pennsylvania dorm room. Insomnia Cookies, with offices in New York and Philadelphia, now has more than

6 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

200 locations, serving Deluxe cook­ies, Cookie’wiches (ice cream sandwiches), Big’wiches (buttercream frosting sandwiches), brownies, cookie cakes, special catering packages, ice cream and cold milk.

Insomnia Cookies offers a vegan, gluten-free chocolate chip cookie that is available at select stores for pick-up and delivery, and can be shipped nationwide.

Although not all products contain food allergens, all products are baked or prepared in an environment where eggs, milk, wheat, soy, peanuts and/or tree nuts are present.

Insomnia Cookies does not recommend consuming any of their products if you are allergic to those food allergens.

Most bakeries will deliver desserts to your doorstep until at least midnight, with numerous storefronts remaining open until 3 a.m. Insomnia Cookies also ships ready-toeat sweets throughout the continental U.S. Most stores deliver from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Monday through Friday and noon to 3 a.m. on weekends. On average, deliveries take 20 to 35 minutes.

Insomnia Cookies will also offer a “Deal of the Week” every week, as well as a membership club.

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663 S. Annie Glidden Road DeKalb, IL 60115 DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | September 2021 | 7

T

angled Roots Brewing Company was so impressed by what it saw in DeKalb that it’s creating a unique local brewpub for the town.

Keg & Kernel will become Tangled Roots’ next restaurant, which already has its flagship brewpub, The Lone Buffalo in Ottawa, as well as Lock & Mule in Lockport and Hangar Two in Glenview.

Another brewpub, The Rocket in La Salle, also is in development.

Experience MORE THAN A RESTAURANT. MORE THAN A BREWERY.

KEG & KERNEL WILL BE AN

By: Chris Walker

8 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

folks, which ultimately led to Tangled Roots.

Keg & Kernel is being renovated at the former location of Tavern on Lincoln at 124 E. Lincoln Hwy. A November opening is anticipated.

“We believe in small towns and doing big things,” says Scott Struchen, founder and chief commercial officer for Tangled Roots Brewing Company. “And the idea is not just that we love small towns, but we love economical development and we get to hire local people. We see a renaissance in DeKalb with Ferrara Candy and Facebook and all these things happening, and Sycamore is growing like crazy. It seems like the right move and the right place to be.”

Tangled Roots brings its ambition to provide the finest craft beer experience possible to a town like DeKalb and intertwines it with the city’s own story. Here, much of it is corn.

At the Lock & Mule it’s the canal that linked the Great Lakes to the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and the mule-pulled boats that made it all possible.

“The Tangled Roots brand is unique in that it integrates itself into the city it locates,” says Lockport Mayor Steve Sreit.

“In Lockport, Tangled Roots embraced the I&M Canal and its rich history. It will be exciting to see it blend into DeKalb’s character.”

That’s what Tangled Roots has been able to do so well in such a short time after opening its first restaurant and its original craft brewery in Ottawa.

“After we opened over five years ago we set our sights on different

projects,” Struchen says. “This past year we were able to open our second location with Lock & Mule in Lockport, and it’s great to try to do things that tie in with the history of the town and make an impact with the restaurants.

The Hangar Two is a nod to Glenview in conjunction with the Naval Air Museum.”

Brewing its beers with hops and barleys grown on its own farm in Starved Rock Country, Tangled Roots calls itself Illinois’ leading brewer of Farm to Foam beers, which complements a diverse menu that caters to all sorts of taste buds.

“Our goal has been to make sure that this great beer and food can be enjoyed by as many people as possible, whether or not they consider themselves ‘foodies’ or ‘beer connoisseurs,’” Struchen says. “We want things to be fun and accessible. We’re using local ingredients and going to open people’s eyes to a culinary experience they haven’t seen before in DeKalb.”

Struchen and Tangled Roots CEO Keith Pearse, who grew up in South Africa and built breweries in the United Kingdom, had a chance meeting with a married couple of entrepreneurs from Ottawa, Inga Carus and Peter Limberger, who had grown up in Germany.

“Almost eight years ago, four people got together from around the globe looking for better hospitality and a little more fun and Tangled Roots is the story about people getting together and tangling their roots,” Struchen says. “It’s family and friends and meeting new people for the first time in a brewery setting over beer with chef-driven menus. What could be better than that?”

Having kernel in the brewpub’s name is not only in homage to DeKalb, but will be reflected in some menu items. Obviously, barb wire really doesn’t have a place in or around any kind of menu or restaurant. Besides, if you want to celebrate an invention that is closing in on 150 years, you can always arrange a visit to the Glidden Homestead and Historical Center and include it as part of your Keg & Kernel adventure.

“We really differentiate ourselves from others in hospitality,” Struchen says. “There are a lot of restaurants doing the same thing, but we don’t want to just be a restaurant or brewery. We want to be an experience where you leave knowing it was a great experience, and you want to tell people about it.”

“I got to see a preview of the menu and we’ve got a lot of cool, fun stuff on there,” Struchen says. “There are these elote (Mexican corn) riblets which are unbelievable.

It’s Cajun-boiled corn charred on the grill. We change things to be fun and accessible with local ingredients. Braised duck poutine, adobe chicken nachos. We’re opening peoples’ eyes to a culinary experience they haven’t seen before in DeKalb.”

Perhaps some of those dining experiences at Keg & Kernel will be life changing, similar to the chance meeting between four

When Struchen says that those who come to Keg & Kernel are destined for a one-of-a-kind experience, he means it.

Keg & Kernel certainly anticipates being the place to be for memorable dining experiences.

“On the brewery side we’re going to be have a small economical brewing system where we’ll be using local ingredients like Whiskey Acres does and we’ll brew beer with you,” he says. “They can come in for an educational class and learn how to brew beer and a lot of people are into home brewing so they’ll brew with our brewmaster and then we’ll put it on tap for them in a few weeks.”

Call it a ferment launch party or something like that, or have the marketing department come up with something clever. It may test your patience waiting a few weeks to return to drink your brews, but it sure beats the same ho-hum celebrations or yet another gender-reveal party gone wrong.

“It’s a few-weeks-long experience, but it’s an experience that you’re not able to have elsewhere,” Struchen says. “As an example, a group comes in together and has fun brewing and then they come back for a launch party and have great food among friends while enjoying the beer they brewed.

It’s something totally different.”

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | September 2021 | 9

CONTINUING RETAIL LEGACY IN HISTORIC SYCAMORE LOCATION By: Kelsey Rettke

Lacey and Devin Goodeill bought the Sycamore branch of Rustic Roots, a local boutique shop on Maple Street birthed from its sister store in Dixon.

“We were keeping the idea kind of quiet,” Goodeill said. “Sweet Earth had a name of itself. The Paras had been there for 25 years, so a lot of people knew them and had a relationship with them and can’t wait now that we are going to take over the space.”

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Fast forward 498 days and the Goodeills just recently sold their home in Sycamore to so they could buy the location at 341 W. State St., the longtime local retail haven that most recently had been Sweet Earth.

Sweet Earth owners Rich and Roseann Para retired in December, and Goodeill is more than ready to fill the vacancy by laying down roots and building a home for her family of five in Rustic Roots’ soon-to-be new location.

The Goodeills will be the fifth business owner to call the historic building home. In 1909, G.H. Lindberg and Oscar Johnson opened the Economy Variety Store at the downtown space. Twenty years later, the store was remodeled and rebranded The Ben Franklin Store. In 1936, the neighboring building to the west was added as an expansion, with an archway cut through the middle to connect the two stores, which were at that point operated by the children of the original founders.

“Oh my goodness, it’s amazing,” said Lacey Goodeill, 28, of the response she’s received since making the relocation announcement in late August on social media.

Another remodeling occurred in 1957, according to records from the DeKalb County History Center, with Gerry and Carol McLain the next couple to take over operations of the Ben Franklin store, where they remained for nearly three decades. In April 1996, after 28 years, the McLains sold the business to the Paras.

ON MARCH 1, 2020,

Rustic Roots features farmhouse and bohostyle decor, including textiles, planters and pots, ceramics, pillows, signs and home goods, among others.

10 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

The store remained the Ben Franklin store until 2009, when it was rebranded as Sweet Earth until the Paras closed it to retire on Dec. 31, 2020 after nearly 25 years.

Just a few months later, enter the Goodeill family. Lacey and Devin, who works with his family’s pest control business, and their three children: Myles Goodeill, 7; Lainey Goodeill, 5; and Aniston Goodeill, 2.

“Lacey and Devin will be able to pursue their business dreams and achieve their goals just as we did 25 years ago,” Rich Para said.

The Goodeills will undertake this new adventure together. They recently sold their home in Sycamore to pay for the downtown building, and plan to renovate the top floor above Rustic Roots’ new home, where they’ll live.

“I don’t remember the exact date we made an offer to the Paras, but they accepted right away and that was awesome,” Goodeill said.

“Within a week, we had our house on the market. It took us about three weeks to sell it. It’s just one of those things. We knew we couldn’t do both, so we just decided to go all in.”

Find Rustic Roots online at www.sycamorerusticroots.com Contact rusticrootssyc@hotmail.com • 815-991-5761

Goodeill a former massage therapist, runs Rustic Roots at 120 S. Maple St., which her sister, Amy Nicklaus, opened in April of 2018. Nicklaus founded the Rustic Roots brand and opened its first location in Dixon, then sold the Sycamore side of the business to her younger sister, Lacey, in March 2020.

“My sister and I are very close,” Goodeill said of Amy, who’s six years her senior.

“She’s one of my biggest supporters, and has helped me through all this with packing, my kids, my sale of my home.

She’s just there and cheering me on, so that’s been a huge help for me.”

When asked what her younger self would think of her current goals – the official open date for Rustic Roots’ new move downtown is set for Sept. 1 – Goodeill paused. Then laughed.

“I think that I would be surprised,” she said. “My husband is the adventurous one. I don’t see myself doing new things or trying new things, but he kind of brings it out in me. So I love that he is completely on board with this. Whereas some husbands might be like, ‘You’re

completely crazy,’ he’s like, ‘No, let’s do this.’ We make a great team.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and forced nonessential retailers to shutter their doors for in-person shopping for months, Goodeill went into planning mode, taking advantage of the pandemic era’s reliance on technology to keep life going.

She and her team of two – Carly Herman, who was the only one employed at during the height of the pandemic, and Tessa Pfortmiller – revamped their online presence through social media and began posting regularly, publishing videos of the store’s inventory, delivering orders and holding sales.

“Our customers are so loyal to us that we got through it,” Goodeill said. “I got my website up and running right away, did curbside pickup even with my kids in the car. I would schedule some appointments as well and then as soon as we were able to open back up, we did.”

Goodeill said she’s ready for what comes next.

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1920s

glamour 12 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

202

Co

20s

omfort

Renovated Egyptian Theatre provides a first-class experience in an historic building By: Dana Herra

R

ecent renovations have transformed the Egyptian Theatre, long the jewel of downtown DeKalb, into a destination that seamlessly blends 2020s convenience with 1920s glamour. Executive Director Alex Nerad can’t wait to show audiences what’s inside.

Especially the bathrooms. Nerad admits it might be a long time before he stops urging visitors to go see the bathrooms.

“I’ve had people come to me over the years and say, ‘We had a fantastic experience, but we’re never coming back,’” Nerad said.

“They’d say the theater is gorgeous, the parking’s free, the downtown restaurants are great, the show was fantastic, but they had to wait 20 minutes to use the bathroom. …Our challenge now is to reach out to those people frustrated by the lack of amenities in the past and let them know we’ve addressed those issues. Come give us another chance.”

Before the renovation, the women’s bathroom had only three stalls. Now, there are 14 on the ground floor and another six on the balcony level. The remodel also replaced the circa1980s pink steel and commercial tile design of the ladies’ room with an elegant Art Deco motif consistent with the rest of the building’s décor. The men’s room was given a similar upgrade, with Art Deco décor in a more masculine style and color palette.

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | September 2021 | 13

Throughout the renovation, it was critically important that renovations fit with the aesthetic of the original 1929 movie palace.

Woodwork was meticulously matched, and original elements like doors and windows were reused whenever possible. The nondescript 1980s carpeting was replaced with a riotous custom pattern of scarabs, cobras, and lotus flowers.

“This was a movie palace,” Marketing & Communications Director Jeanine Holcomb said. “In 1929, the carpet would have been a big pattern – borderline gauche. …We found a company that creates historic carpets. We were able to say, ‘We have an Egyptian art deco revival theater from the late 1920s,’ and they could go to their archive and create something historically accurate.”

The renovations, including the long-awaited installation of central air conditioning, were completed last June. The Egyptian promptly got busy filling the summer with touring shows and children’s dance and theater performances.

“Usually, we host recitals for three dance studios,” Holcomb said. “This year we had at least nine.”

Studios from as far away as Algonquin and Naperville hosted recitals at the Egyptian,

14 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

Nerad said. He was delighted to introduce new audiences from the suburbs to the historic theater. More than half of the studios that hosted dance recitals at the Egyptian this year have already booked for next summer.

“We’re hoping that’s a glimmer of what the future is going to look like for the Egyptian,” Nerad said.

When out-of-town visitors attend a show at the Egyptian, they have the opportunity to discover the rest of what downtown DeKalb has to offer, which benefits the entire community.

“When the Egyptian is busy, downtown is busy,” DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Matt Duffy said. “It’s a great resource for both large events and local events.”

That the theater’s renovation coincided with COVID-19 shutdowns was a mixed blessing.

The plan was to keep hosting shows as much as possible while the renovations were going on. The shutdown meant the entire timeline could be accelerated, Holcomb said. And the theater’s reopening coincided with pent-up demand from performing arts programs that hadn’t been onstage in more than a year.

“It was humbling the number of parents coming up to us and thanking us for giving their kid the opportunity to get onstage,” Nerad said. “Many schools figured out how to do sports, but the arts just kind of fell to the side. So many of these kids weren’t able to do what their passion was.”

Televisions built into the lobby walls thank sponsors and show coming attractions, but during a performance switch to a live feed, Nerad said. Live audio is also piped into the lobby and bathrooms so patrons who have to step out of the theater won’t miss any part of the show.

Nerad said the memory of a dance recital in 2019 drove home the importance of those high-tech touches. A mother with a fussy newborn stepped out of the theater to calm the baby in the lobby, he said. While she was out, she missed her 3-year-old’s performance.

“They paid for a year of dance classes, they paid for her costume, they paid for a ticket to the performance, and the one time she was onstage, her mother missed it,” Nerad said.

“I thought, ‘We’ve got an opportunity here to make sure parents don’t miss things like that.’”

The air conditioning was what truly made the summer performances possible. In the

past, the Egyptian shut down in the summer because it was so unbearably hot. Air conditioning extends the theater’s season – and revenue opportunities – from nine months a year to 12.

DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes said the Egyptian’s extended season is a boon to the entire downtown business community.

Performances at the Egyptian draw people downtown, where they also patronize bars, restaurants, and shops, Barnes said.

Losing that foot traffic at the same time that Northern Illinois University students leave the city on summer break is a double whammy for those businesses.

“To maintain a business when you have revenue just go away for three to four months a year is very difficult,” Barnes said. “I think the Egyptian being open year-round will attract even more businesses downtown.”

Controlling the heat and humidity is also crucial to preserving the plaster and wood that make up a building nearly 100 years old.

“Even in those peripheral months you can have some odd hot and humid days,” Nerad said. “We had a show a couple of years ago on Oct. 1 and it was so hot we had somebody pass out in the balcony. …

Sometimes people would say, ‘Back in the

day we didn’t have air conditioning; it’s just a creature comfort.’ But people expect it now. And it’s one thing to pay 50 cents to go see a movie; it’s another to spend $75 to see a first-class performance and sit there sweating.”

In truth, air conditioning was part of the original plans for the building, Nerad said.

The Egyptian was built in 1929; the stock market crash that year launched the Great Depression and forced cuts to the theater’s budget. When the building was restored in the early 1980s, air conditioning was on the table again, but the nonprofit Preservation of the Egyptian Theatre group couldn’t afford it.

“This really is a project that was 90-plus years in the making,” Nerad said.

The air conditioning system was carefully designed to run quietly so it won’t interfere with audiences’ enjoyment of performances.

A separate system onstage cools performers under the heat of stage lights.

The temperature isn’t the only thing that will keep audiences at the Egyptian more comfortable. The renovation extended the first-floor lobby, doubling the size of the concession stand and providing new space for people to mingle. Upstairs, the second floor has its own concession stand

and a similar mingling space.

“We’ve never had a concession stand upstairs,” Nerad said. “We’ve gone from two serving stations in the building to six; that’s huge. We also have our own liquor license now, which is huge both for the patron experience and, as a nonprofit, for the financial benefit.”

When the theater hosted its first shows after reopening, Nerad said, he watched people moving freely through the lobby and wondered how the theater had made do with its previous cramped quarters for more than 90 years.

Now, Nerad said, the hope is that the community will visit the Egyptian and experience the change firsthand. He’s excited to welcome back regular patrons, and possibly even more excited to welcome back those who haven’t been to the theater in a long time.

“We feel fortunate that the community stepped up and supported the theater through COVID. No organization is prepared to go a year and a half with no income,” he said. “Now we’re hoping they will come out and see some amazing shows and be as excited about all the improvements as we are.”

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | September 2021 | 15

M

ELLOW AMMALS

Local Couple Produce CBD Products for Pets By: Stephen Haberkorn

T

he story of Mellow Mammals CBD pet products is first and foremost a love story. The Genoa-based family business specializing in CBD oils and treats for pets, began as the passion project of Garrick Cline, with the support of his wife, Christina. The road to starting and growing the fledgling business in Genoa, Illinois was guided by many setbacks along the way.

Garrick Cline grew up in the small town of Greenwood, Missouri, just outside of Kansas City. It’s about the same size as Genoa, Illinois, where he currently lives. “I like small towns,” said Cline. In 1995, at the age of 24, Cline joined the Army. He became a combat engineer and worked with explosives. He learned how to clear landmines and blow up obstacles and bridges, and was deployed to BosniaHerzegovina from 1998-1999 as part of the stabilization force.

After being in Bosnia for nine months, Cline came home to an empty house and divorce papers. As his unit was deployed to Afghanistan, the Army made him a recruiter, which he tried to get out of, but couldn’t. He eventually ended up stationed in Janesville, Wisconsin. He

16 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

was only there for one year, but that was just enough time to meet his future wife, Christina, who is originally from Genoa, IL. Growing up, people in Genoa knew her as Chrissy Sweeney. Her interest in science began with her love for animals.

When she was young, she wanted to be a veterinarian or work at a zoo. In 1993, she graduated as valedictorian of the Genoa-Kingston High School class of 1993, before enrolling at Illinois Wesleyan University and majoring in biology.

The two met at a Memorial Day party in Janesville through a mutual friend while Christina was living in Rockford. As chance would have it, while working on a long paper about advising students on careers after high school, Christina used Garrick as a source for the military. “It just evolved into us spending a lot more time together, and the rest is history,” Christina said.

After the couple dated for just four months, Garrick gained custody of his three children and was honorably discharged from the Army on a family emergency plan and moved back to Greenwood, Missouri. “I loved the military,” said Garrick Cline, who attained the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Army.

“I had full intentions of retiring from the

military, but life had different plans. My family needed me more than Uncle Sam.” Garrick and Christina were married in 2004 after dating for four months.

In 2012, Garrick got a job with the Union Pacific Railroad and the couple moved to Christina’s hometown of Genoa, along with their now six children and a 7th on the way.

Even though Garrick Cline maintained his job as a laborer for the railroad, he continued to pursue businesses on the side.

animal we are targeting,” said Garrick Cline. “Most every other CBD brand will offer lots of products for people and, ‘Oh, by the way,’ have a product for pets.

It’s usually just one of their products for people with a different label put on.”

Garrick explained the problem with that approach is that animals have different physiologies and metabolize the CBD differently from people, so dosing is completely different and the effects of the cannabinoids are different from species to species.

There are also certain ingredients that could be very dangerous for an animal that are safe for humans.

“We do what we do to help people and pets live a healthier and happier life.”

Around the same time, Christina was in graduate school and had friends who were selling CBD oil. She started using it because she was stressed and anxious, but she was extremely skeptical at first. She put a few drops on her tongue when she got up in the morning and before she went to bed at night. After taking the CBD oil regularly, she was able to sleep through the night for the first time in months and she didn’t feel the stress in her body like she used to. “I was sold on the product very much,” said Christina Cline.

Garrick was very much against marijuana and had a hard line stance against any kind of drug. “This was a very, very tough sell,” said Christina. Garrick looked into it, though, and discovered that CBD products for animals was the fastestgrowing segment within the CBD market, but there weren’t many producers who focused on the pet products first and foremost.

“What makes us different from almost every other CBD brand out there is that we tailor our products for the specific

Their business officially started in August of 2018 when they secured the domain name for Mellow Mammals. Christina is actually the one who came up with the name of the company. “It was about trying to come up with a word that would be calm and encapsulate the idea of what CBD helps with,” said Christina Cline.

And while the focus of Mellow Mammals is CBD products specifically for pets, the name also alludes to the fact that they sell products for people as well. “It’s difficult for people to sometimes remember they’re in the animal kingdom,” said Christina Cline.

Christina Cline earned a Master’s Degree in Biological Sciences with a focus in Anatomy Education from Northern Illinois University and is now teaching full time as an Anatomy instructor at NIU while completing her PhD. Her main role for the company is as an advisor, by reading and deciphering a lot of the science behind

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | September 2021 | 17

the products. “It gets pretty intense. It’s a lot of neurobiology and biochemistry.” said Christina Cline.

TO LEARN MORE about Mellow Mammals and order their products, you can visit their website at mellowmammals.com

With his artistic abilities, Garrick designed all the packaging, labeling, websites, and business cards, even though he’s not a graphic designer. Garrick regularly attends animal expos to promote their products.

Their dog, Buddy, a chihuahua and corgi mix that they rescued, is their chief tasting officer (CTO), and Mellow Mammals doesn’t sell any product for dogs without Buddy trying them first. The couple said that the CBD products have helped Buddy tremendously.

“We are now and have always been ‘pets before profits,’ and we do what we do to help people and pets live a healthier and happier life,” Garrick Cline said. Of course, they also want to make money so Garrick can retire from the railroad. “Not that it’s a terrible place to work for, but I’m 50 now and pounding spikes is not as exciting as it was earlier on,” said Garrick.

Garrick Cline said that one of the challenges of selling CBD products is that people have a hard time understanding the difference between CBD and marijuana. CBD (Cannabidiol) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) are the two main phytocannabinoids of the Cannabis plant.

“Phyto” refers to the fact that they are naturally produced. All of the CBD in

18 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

Mellow Mammals’ products comes from hemp, which is a Cannabis plant that contains .3 percent or less of THC. They have also, from day one, made the decision to remove the THC from any of our quick absorption products (oils) for pets. They did this because animals are highly sensitive to the effects of THC and even the smallest amount can have a negative effect on them. In fact, THC is toxic for dogs.

Currently, 90% of Mellow Mammals’ sales are local. They started out branding themselves as “Chicago’s premier CBD pet brand.” In 2019, they partnered with a small organic hemp farm in Ashton, IL. Next, they found local manufacturing partners so they could develop unique products for their brand. Mellow Mammals main manufacturing partner is in Monee, IL, and they manufacture everything except the dog treats. The dog treats are manufactured in a facility outside of Elburn, IL. They have very recently signed a partnership deal with a formulator in Texas that will make some very specialized base formulations for them to add CBD to over the next year. They are super excited about this partnership, as it will give them specialized products for pets and people that are unique to their brand.

Their goal is to eventually own the farm, manufacturing, research and development, in order to be completely vertically

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Ann Seisser of Genoa has had her own dog grooming business for almost 15 years and has worked for a total of 19 years grooming. She initially started giving CBD oil to her border collie, Spyce, who was having anxiety—which Seisser said is typical of older dogs. “I loved it. It changed the whole demeanor of her.” She said that Spyce can now enjoy the 4th of July, too. She used to pace and pant during fireworks, but with the CBD oil she was fine.

Seisser also said her mini pin terrier developed some allergies. They tried the Mellow Mammals dog conditioning CBD shampoo on her, and it calmed down the skin irritation. Seisser now uses the CBD shampoo not just her own dogs, but on over 50 dogs she’s groomed. She likes the fact that the shampoo works great on different breeds and for both younger and older dogs. And as a bonus, she said it’s good on her hands, too. Seisser also volunteer grooms at Raven’s Husky Haven and Rescue in Sycamore every week. She uses the Mellow Mammals shampoo on some of the dogs there that have high anxiety.

“I just feel that this is a way that we can give back to our community,” said Seisser, “as well as having a fabulous product from Mellow Mammals, which is in Genoa and easily accessed.”

Bedding Plants � Asparagus � Tomatoes � Homegrown Bi-Color Sweet Corn Cucumbers � Zucchini � Onions � Squash (fall & summer) � Muskmelons Gourds � Peppers � Pumpkins � More

Homegrown and locally grown in-season fruits and vegetables.

Taste the difference!

1 1/4 miles East of Somonauk Rd. on Hwy. 38

(815) 756-6005

www.yaegersfarmmarket.com DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | September 2021 | 19

FIND

Inspiration

Vacation ON

FunME Events caters to travelers who want to absorb experiences By: Chris Walker

M

ichael Embrey has seen a lot of things, been to many places and lived an adventurous life, so he’s quite the planner and guide when it comes scheduling unforgettable trips for today’s traveller.

Trips begin once you to decide to get up and go.

“I really tell people do not wait until you get older to travel,” Embrey says. “Experience these things before you’re too old.

And if you’re a first time traveler, I encourage you to travel with a group.”

Embrey created FunME Events Entertainment and Excursions in DeKalb. He has been active in special events, hospitality, entertainment and international travel for the past 35 years. His FunME tour and travel company specializes in tours and travel related to the entertainment, special events and history markets.

“We actually cater more to the experiential traveler,” Embrey says. “In the old days, you’d go wine tasting, well we want you to go wine making. We want to give the travel that personal experience. So we find out what our travelers want to do. We don’t hold their hand, but we also offer that security that we can get them that ticket, the dynamic that we can find that location.

We evaluate our travelers’ needs and wants, and as their friend give them that experience they’re looking for.” Embrey also created The NICE Society, a travel program for the 30 + age markets. Under this brand, they offer destinations and activities for the more Free-Spirited type traveler. Some of these tours are more experiential and soft-adventure in nature. Many of these tours include world-class entertainment. “Niche travel is also becoming popular, including women-only programs, single

20 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

travelers, gourmet programs, and more,” said Embrey.

One possible FunME trip that is quickly approaching is the Tournament of Roses Parade featuring a Gala New Year’s Eve Party at the end of December and into the new year.

Guests will arrive in Southern California for the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade and enjoy seeing the beautiful pageantry and tradition of magnificent floral floats, high-stepping equestrians and spirited marching bands. Also on the docket are some wonderful sightseeing opportunities, including tours of Los Angeles and Hollywood and a visit to the new Academy Museum of Motion Picture before New Year’s Eve festivities including dinner and champagne toast to ring in 2022.

And, of course, there’s the actual 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade and a chance to watch the game on TV or purchase tickets.

More important, Embrey will be in the Rose Parade as a member of the first All-American Band Director’s Band. This group of 250 highly known band directors will be making their first national appearance.

Many FunME Events for 2022 have been announced while a number of domestic tours

catered to those seeking shorter and closer to home travels are expected to be announced soon.

The Pubs & Castles Tour of Ireland is the most sought-after vacation offered by FunME Events. It’s offering two seven-night tours, including March 23-30, 2022 and Oct. 19-26, 2022.

“We tell people if you have not traveled to Europe before your first and best destination is Ireland,” Embrey says. “They speak English, the food is good and they love tourists over there. You need to learn that there’s a learning curve for traveling. People think, ‘Well, I can go to Indiana, so I can go to Italy,’ but Indiana is not like going to Italy. We encourage people that with an experienced concierge we only take people to where we have been so we know everything from restaurants to attractions.”

To learn more about your own bucket list dream vacation You can contact Michael Embrey at (815) 756-1263 or by email, FunMEevents@aol.com. Pull out your suitcase and visit www.funmeevents.com to get your adventure started.

Hearing a smiling traveler ask, “How did you find these things?” has become a common occurrence for Embrey and his staff, and it never gets old.

“We know where the secret waterfall is, and if you’re on your own you’ll drive right by it,” he says. “We don’t specialize in cookie cutter

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | September 2021 | 21

We don’t specialize in s g in th l ia c e sp o d e w s, cookie cutter thing e il h w t n re fe if d d n a e u to make trips uniq having a good time. -Michael Embrey things, we do special things to make trips unique and different while having a good time.

“I have clients call me all the time. I had one say they wanted to go to cooking school in Sicily and we’ve done that for them. We find out the dynamic of the traveler while they are on vacation.

Another client called and wanted to surprise his wife for her 60th birthday, so we arranged a long weekend in Paris.”

The Ireland tour begins and ends in Dublin and is specifically tailored to include many of the most popular visitor attractions in the country.

The Greece: Footsteps of Apostle Paul is set for April 29 - May 10, 2022. It will allow travelers to experience Greek history and culture while walking through the ancient village of early Christianity.

This inspirational vacation will take folks to the iconic religious sites retracing the footsteps of Apostle Paul and to historic wonders such as the Acropolis in Athens and ancient islands by way of the Aegean Sea. “Our tour will feature two nights in Athens at the beginning, allowing time to explore the historical areas on your own as we adjust to the jet lag,” Embrey says. “The tour will end in Athens for one last evening with our new found friends

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before returning to the United States.”

If a weekend getaway in a beautiful resort in upper Wisconsin can’t shatter your writer’s block or allow you to escape into the dreamlike world of reading fiction, you probably need to try harder.

Finally, since the COVID-19 pandemic continues there may be some fear with regard to travel. Embrey says people still want to travel and can feel safe doing it with any of the FunME tours.

The Poems From The Worlds Tour is a year away, Sept. 23-25, 2022. It’s a great opportunity to get away, read and write poetry and prose, and have your works published.

“We will travel by deluxe motorcoach to our destination from the Chicagoland area to Door County to our weekend retreat at Gordon Lodge,” Embrey says. “Nestled on Door County’s quiet North Bay, Gordon Lodge features 130 beautiful acres of natural tranquility. From the moment you arrive, you will feel the peacefulness of being surrounded by water, forest, and comfort.”

Guests will be encouraged to write poetry and prose, and at the conclusion of the weekend attendees will become

published authors as many of the works they create during their time in the woods will be included in a new book called, “Poems from the Woods.”

Some of the other FunME Events for 2022 include the Cowgirl Divas Tour in Colorado (May), a New York Theater Tour, with Tony Awards (June), a

DeKalb County CVB...................................23 Eric Hill Enterprises.....................................11 First National Bank.......................................2 Hampton Inn by Hilton.................................7 Home2 Suites by Hilton................................7

22 | September 2021 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

Colorado Train Tour (June), a Nashville Tour (July), the Best of Scotland with Edinburgh Tattoo (Aug,) and the New England Fall Foliage trip (Sept.)

“There is a lot of concern about travel and we are trying to be that positive and informative company that provides the traveler with some comfort and up-todate travel info,” he said. “We provide so many options to protect the traveler as they select a destination. From insurance options, to cancellation options, to what destinations require to enter and leave.

People want to travel and do something and I have a lot of options to share.”

Travel information is changing daily, sometimes even hourly, according to Embrey, but that constant movement shouldn’t derail one’s plans to live life to the fullest by exploring the world and experiencing new things.

“People that travel with our company feel comfortable knowing we look after each person like family,” he says. “Our travel concierges have visited all 50 states and over 100 countries.”

Larry Gregory Photography .........................3 NIU Dept. of Visual Arts.............................24 Pizza Villa....................................................19 Sycamore Chamber of Commerce...............5 Yaeger’s Farm Market.................................19

O D O T E R O M S ’ E R y E t n u TH o C b l a K e D in

> Hiking & Trails

> Orchards

> Historical Sites

> Self-Guided Tours

> Bold Spirits

> Charming Downtowns

ExperienceDeKalbCounty.com

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | September 2021 | 23

Artistry. Applied.

Find out more about the arts at NIU.

niu.edu/cvpa

College of Visual and Performing Arts

2020 - 2021 Season Presented By

est. 1851