Neighborhood Tourist June/July 2019

DAYTRIPPERS GUIDE TO FUN IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS

neighborhood

TOURIST June/July 2019

THE FABULOUS FOX RIVER PAGE 10

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REMEMBERING D-DAY PAGE 18

• EXTRAORDINARY ATHLETIC EVENTS PAGE 48

PLUS+ SUMMER FESTIVALS, FOOD FAIRS, CONCERTS AND MORE! NT_MAY 2019.indd 1

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PERSONALIZED SANDBLASTED ROCKS July 13

GEORGE EASTMAN PROGRAM | August 6

SWEDISH DAYS June 18-23

BOOK SIGNING WITH TESS KOSSOW July 13

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STAFF

School’s out for summer!

can take in.

Or if not, it will be soon. And that means days filled with sunshine, lazy mornings and late, breezy nights.

Don’t let boredom set in! Fill those summer hours with great events, short road trips, marvelous museums and fantastic festivals.

If you’re looking for more fun from that time period, try some Shakespeare in the Park. The Illinois Shakespeare Festival is a short road trip away in Bloomington, but there are plenty of opportunities for great Shakespeare right here in our communities as well.

In northern Illinois, we are luckier than most, as we have the world at our fingertips! So much to see and do that sometimes, it is downright hard to decide. So turn to us, at Neighborhood Tourist, for a look at some of the finest entertainment, outdoors activities and arts events you will find around our towns.

Looking for music? How about two living legends of their genres? We chat with YES, the acclaimed and creative rock band of the past five decades, and Coco Montoya, blues guitarist extraordinaire. Both hit the stage in Aurora this June.

In this edition, we head outdoors to enjoy the summer weather, and embark on a journey along the famed Fox River, chatting with local advocates of this resource of wildlife, ecology, activity and watersport. Find out more about this incredible local waterway, and the partnerships that keep it all flowing.

Summer is certainly festival season, and we highlight a bunch of the best taking place over the next two months, including a favorite, right across the border – the Bristol Renaissance Faire.

At this enclave of arts and history, theater and sport, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in history, amidst all the bold, bawdy and British fun you

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We round out the edition with tasty upcoming food festivals, summer running events, the wild ride that is professional wrestling and the highspeed, hot racing of NASCAR. There’s so much to see and do around northern Illinois in the months ahead, so pack up, head out, and enjoy as much as you can!

J.TOM SHAW Vice President of Audience & Revenue

LAURA SHAW Publisher Daily Chronicle & Suburban Weekly Group

ALLISON LAPORTA Designer

JACLYN CORNELL Local Sales Manager Niche Products

Thanks for reading.

Sherri Dauskurdas Editor sdauskurdas@shawmedia.com

Additional copies of Neighborhood Tourist are available for $6.99 each.

Email your order to TOURIST@shawmedia.com

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OUR CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS ¢ AIMEE BARROWS is an

instructor in the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University, teaching media and journalism classes, and the news editor for the Kane County Chronicle. A busy single mom of three, Aimee is an avid fan of Indiana University Hoosiers basketball and Louis C.K., and tries to attend as many concerts as she can.

¢ MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE loves sharing stories and taking time to spotlight the amazing things people are doing in the community. A graduate of Loyola University Chicago she is especially proud to be a Rambler after watching her team advance to the Final Four earlier this year.

Along with her studies at the university’s campus she spent more than a year studying and working in Rome, Italy and day dreams of her return to the land of pasta and gelato.

As a freelance writer for Shaw Media her work appears in the Kane County and McHenry County magazines. In between writing she is a busy mom of three active, young boys who are teaching her what it takes to be the ultimate sports loving mom. ¢ KEVIN DRULEY is a St. Louis transplant who lives in the western suburbs with his wife, Shannon. What Chicagoans call “pop,” he calls “soda,”although it’s really rather moot since he gave up such carbonated beverages for Lent in 1999. Kevinenjoys day

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tripping, reading, moviegoing and playing pickup sports.

He recently encountered recreational pickleball, and is over the moon.

¢ DIANE KRIEGAR SPIVAK

Diane Kriegar Spivak, a lifelong journalist and author of more than 5,000 published articles, after talking to literally thousands of people, she’s learned that everybody has a story to tell. From firsthand experience taking off at 500 mph with the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds to an interview with the Archdiocese of Chicago’s exorcist, Diane shares the stories of real people - politicians, CEOs bishops, laborers, soldiers, toddlers, centenarians and even a clown or two.

¢ ALLISON HORNE

Allison Horne is a freelance writer who works full-time as an application director for 120 Sports in the West Loop. She graduated from Millikin University, where she played soccer and studied English, and went to DePaul for her Master's Degree in Journalism. Allison resides in Lakeview, Chicago but most of the time, she'd rather be hiking and exploring in Colorado (especially Telluride), or hanging out with her dog, Cooper, a boxer/shepherd mix.

of the coolest things. He has plenty of great stories, but it’s writing and sharing yours that he loves doing most. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him parenting, watching or umpiring baseball, listening to music or reminiscing about his wiffle ball field.

¢ JON BILYK

Jonathan Bilyk has dedicated his career to finding and telling the stories of those around him in ways that not only inform, but entertain - and, as the case may be, drive people to act. Working as a journalist for almost a decade and a half, Jon has won numerous awards recognizing editorial excellence in business and finance reporting, science and technology reporting, news reporting, column writing and even an award for best sports story.

¢ L. KENT WOLGAMOTT

L. Kent Wolgamott has written about music and visual art for Lincoln Nebraska newspapers

¢ DAVE GIL DE RUBIO Dave Gil de Rubio is an awardwinning writer with significant professional experience covering arts,entertainment and sports for a wide range of regional and national publications, including the Detroit Free Press,Sacramento Bee, Time Out New York, New York Observer, East Bay Express,American Songwriter and Long Island Weekly.

NEEDLE THINGS Yarn Shop and Handcrafted Boutique

Discover Our Many Handcrafted Specialties

¢ CHRIS WALKER

Chris Walker loves stories.

He’ll tell you how seeing Jane’s Addiction at The Riv in 1989 changed him, why Noah Baumbach’s “Kicking & Screaming” is his favorite film and why being a dad is one

for more than 35 years. A Nebraska native,Wolgamott worked for the U.S. Senate before joining the Lincoln Journal and Journal Star.

His work has appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers. He also has been an Associated Press sports stringer, covering college football and basketball. He was a fellow in the U.S. State Department's International Institute in Arts Journalism and received the (Lincoln) Mayor's Arts Award in 2018.

Knit Hats & Gloves | Jewelry | Pottery | Cards | Field Artwork & Antiques from Africa Toys | Tutus Large Variety of Yarn & Supplies Classes are scheduled & private lessons can be arranged, but complimentary advice is always available!

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¢ WINTER IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS 8 FROZEN FANTASY Take a hike through Starved Rock State Park, to gaze at the beauty of this frozen winter wonderland.

20 GOT SKATES? Hit the ice at outdoor rinks across Northern Illinois. We share some great options, with amenities galore.

36 ITALIAN EVENING Visit Milan with your Valentine and be home by bedtime with the help of Chef Isacco Vitali.

22 MUST LOVE DOGS Get up close and personal with real sled dogs, at the Morton Arboretum’s Husky Heroes Day.

38 AS FRESH AS NEW LOVE Clean, creative American cuisine is focus for Glen Prairie Restaurant’s Mike Max.

T HE PATH TO BETTE R ORT HOPAEDI C CAR E STARTS HER E.

14 ALL THE RAGE Hit the slopes at Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park and finds other fabulous slopes around Greater Chicago to soar with your board, your skis, or your sled.

24 CALL OF THE WILD Big Run Wolf Ranch puts you closer to nature, for a howlin’ good time with some out-of-the-ordinary animals.

18 VIKING QUEST 29 WINTER BLUES? Continuing your pursuit of wild winter Escape the cold at Bird Haven Northwestern Orthopaedics offers specialized care, close to where you live and work. adventures, with theMedicine low down on the Greenhouse in Joliet. We take you Whether you need care for common injuries or complex issues, we offer a complete range Norge Winter Ski Jump Tournament, on a tour of this warm and wonderful offor orthopaedic care including nonsurgical and surgical treatment options. From back pain to set January. local delight, and others like it around

hand conditions to joint replacement, the area.our nationally ranked orthopaedics program* combines innovation and expertise to get you back on the path to living a better life. To schedule an ¢ DESTINATION DINING appointment, call 630.938.6100 or visit rmg.nm.org/orthopaedics VALENTINE'S DAY

34 FARM TO FORK At 1776 in Crystal Lake, enjoy *Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital ranked #32 inbeautiful local food that is worthy of Adult Orthopaedic Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, 2018-19 great romance.

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WHAT'S INSIDE ¢ WHERE WE LIVE 10 FOXY LADY The historical heart of so many communities, the Fox River flows with beauty and diversity.

18 EXPERIENCE D-DAY Historic WWII anniversary marked with events at Cantigny Park.

¢ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 22 GOOD MORROW Bristol Renaissance Faire whisks guests back to medieval times for summer fun.

24 THESE ARE THE DAYS With festivals at the ready there’s always fun to be had in northern Illinois

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30 50 YEARS OF YES Band celebrates divergent history on Royal Affair tour.

34 BLUES AND GOLD Coco Montoya continues to shine, ‘for the love of music’.

36 FINE TIMES The Fine Line celebrates a history of artisan achievement with seasonal events for all.

38 A BEVY OF BARD From the acclaimed Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington to spaces across the suburbs, there’s plenty of drama (and tragedy, and humor) to be found.

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PLAN YOUR

SUMMER OF RACING

NASCAR FESTIVAL WEEKEND JUNE 27 – 30, 2019 SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series CAMPING WORLD 400 – 2:00 PM CST • Pre-Race Concert feat. Country Music Artist Lee Brice in the Infield

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 NASCAR Xfinity Series CAMPING WORLD 300 – 2:30 PM CST • Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pole Qualifying

FRIDAY, JUNE 28 Gander Outdoors NASCAR Truck Series CAMPING WORLD 225 – 7:00 PM CST • Post Race Fireworks

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 ARCA Menards Racing Series BOUNTY 150 – 6:00 PM CST

CARNIVAL

¢ DESTINATION DINING 44 FOOD AND DRINK FRENZY From barbecue to beer and tacos to trucks, there’s plenty to eat all season long.

¢ SPORTS AND RECREATION 48 NEED FOR SPEED? Joliet plays host to NASCAR race June 30.

50 KICKING FOR GOLD 2019 Gold Cup title game sets sights on soldier field.

52 ACROBATICS, ANTICS AND ALLURE Major League Wrestling’s “Kings of Colosseum” event comes to Cicero July 6.

COME EXPERIENCE THE WORLD’S

56 RUN THE WORLD (OR AT LEAST OUR CORNER OF IT) with abundant opportunities to get outside and get moving.

¢ HIT LIST 62 FROM MASSIVE LEGO SCULPTURES TO THE SPORTS OF KINGS Here’s a not-to-miss list of great June and July fun.

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y d a l y Fox Where We Live

The historical heart of so many communities, the Fox River flows with beauty and diversity

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By Jonathan Bilyk

Paddling the length of the Fox River is no easy feat.

Running from its headwaters near Waukesha, Wis., to its junction with the Illinois River more than 200 miles south in Ottawa, the Fox can, in many ways, present a paddler’s dream: Long stretches of glassy, flat water, with a mostly gentle current running through varied terrain, flowing between towns offering abundant recreational opportunities, with many easy points of entry and egress.

In other ways, the Fox can present even the most seasoned voyageur with

challenges. A network of dams and portages can intimidate many paddlers, while well-developed communities that line the river’s banks create traffic, drawing in those who prefer to ply the waters with a little more horsepower.

But it is in such variance that the Fox River finds it strength and its attraction, says Kane County Executive Planner Karen Miller.

And it is an attempt to synergize those seeming contrasts that drives the effort behind the creation of the Fabulous Fox Water Trail, a new venture to chart

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July 6 the Fox River’s entire length in a new way, and offer new opportunities to locals and visitors alike to explore this waterway that lies at the heart of a region that is home to more than 1 million people.

deeper, calmer stretches in northern Kane County, and in LaSalle County, amid the towering bluffs that form the banks near the Fox’s southern end.

“What’s stunning about this river is how diverse it is,” says Miller.

“Every place is so different,” she says. “We want to help people experience it from a totally different perspective.”

She says she has personally paddled the river in McHenry County, in the Chain O’Lakes region, as well as the river’s

The history of the Fox River flows from long before the arrival of Europeans in the region. Native peoples built

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Provided by the St. Charles Historical Society

villages and made camps along the Fox’s expanse, using the river as a highway and fishing and hunting grounds.

When Europeans arrived, they found members of the Potawatomi Nation at home on the river, thanks to their canoes, according to the 1888 book titled “Commemorative Biographic and Historical Record of Kane County, Illinois.”

Around the 1830s, however, white settlers began to press into the region, drawn by the river’s abundance of natural resources.

Where We Live

Water from the river, aided by dams, would power mills and other industry, while forests along the river provided building materials and fuel.

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By the late 1800s, the now-familiar array of towns and cities had cemented themselves along the river, with populations reaching into the thousands.

And in the decades that have followed, the pace of development has rarely slackened. In McHenry and Lake counties, the Chain O’Lakes became

a popular summer tourist destination for visitors from Chicago, before crystallizing into the network of modern communities, pulsing with marinas.

In Kane County, manufacturing in the river towns boomed, before fading, replaced in the most recent decades by sprawling suburban-style development.

Yet, in recent years, the attention of those who call the region home has turned again to the river itself, recognizing the waterway for the regional lifesource it is.

In the last five decades, the Fox River Trail, running from Algonquin to Aurora, and the paths associated with it, which stretch beyond, have offered new generations the chance to bicycle, run or simply stroll the banks and connect with the river and its ecosystem.

Miller says the partnership behind the Fabulous Fox Water Trail would like to create a similar kind of buzz for the river itself, as they ask the National Park Service to officially designate the Fox River as a National Water Trail.

The partnership, which includes representatives of communities along the length of the Fox River

from Wisconsin through the Chicago area to Kendall and LaSalle counties, has worked at the project for years, accumulating, sorting and mapping streams of data on the river and its surroundings. That work is reflected in an interactive map on the project’s website, FabulousFoxWaterTrail.org, which provides users with a chart of paddling ports and amenities along the river, such as campgrounds, boat launches and parking lots and recreational opportunities ranging from bird watching to boat rentals.

When the work is completed, the Water Trail project will produce signage and printed information to help would-be paddlers successfully navigate any of the 14 segments into which planners have divided the river trail.

Miller says data to aid that effort is still being collected, and planners will be presenting the project to the public in a series of public open houses in coming weeks and months.

Should the waterway earn the NPS Water Trail designation, Miller says planners believe the project will sharply boost tourism to the region, offering visitors and locals alike information to

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“What’s stunning about this river is how diverse it is. We want to help people experience it from a totally different perspective.”

VISIT US

- Kane County Executive Planner Karen Miller

find just the right spot to dip their oars.

Kim Compton, education coordinator at the McHenry County Conservation District, says, for her, there are few better experiences than launching a kayak on a warm, sunny spring morning from the boat launch at the Hickory Grove Riverfront near Cary, and floating a couple of miles downstream.

“At that time, there’s almost no other traffic on the river, and the route takes you past such beautiful natural areas tucked away there,” Compton says.

She noted that area includes a large heron rookery on the river, which also regularly offers views of a variety of other wildlife and water fowl.

“It’s a very easy stretch of

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“It’s a heavily used recreational waterway, there’s no question... but it doesn’t stop it from being such a wonderful, high- quality natural area, too.”

- Kim Compton, McHenry County Conservation District

river, with the current gentle enough to go in either direction without working too hard,” Compton says. “It’s great for beginners, and just so relaxing.”

Miller says paddlers in other areas, including Kane and Kendall counties, can also experience similar tranquility, thanks to restoration efforts

conducted by cities, forest preserve districts and the state of Illinois all along the river’s course.

In Yorkville, visitors can find Silver Springs State Park, offering an abundance of options for accessing the Fox River and enjoying its natural offerings.

But just upstream, visitors can

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Run To The in Lee C ounty!

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Upcoming Events

Ashton Lions Club Car Show also find the city of Yorkville’s Marge Cline Whitewater Course. Opened in 2010 by the state of Illinois, the facility offers an 1,100-foot-long “chute,” or bypass of the Glen D. Palmer Dam, without having to portage.

As the water drops 6 feet from the east end of the chute to the west, the facility gives paddlers a chance to play in the river, before either continuing downstream to sites like Silver Springs, or carrying their craft along a concrete path to the beginning of the chute to try again.

The project has been embraced by the Yorkville community and padding community, alike, leading other communities along the Fox River to explore similar plans.

St. Charles is considering plans to remove its dam, and replace it with a new adjustable dam, allowing the city to create a whitewater amenity of its

own, which could be used for kayaking or rafting. That proposal is a key component of a larger vision to remake that city’s riverfront.

Planners in the villages of Algonquin and Carpentersville in 2015 concluded such a course was not feasible for their region. Instead, they promoted a plan to improve portages, remove the Carpentersville dam and open new access points for motorized boating north of the Algonquin dam, and new paddling sites to the south.

Compton, like Miller, says this diversity of opportunity and access serves as the river’s great strength and its continuing draw, as the heart of the region.

“It’s a heavily used recreational waterway, there’s no question,” Compton says. “But it doesn’t stop it from being such a wonderful, high-quality natural area, too.

“It’s one of our most important assets.”

JUNE 9 • ASHTON

World War II Re-Created JUNE 21-23 • DIXON

55th Annual Petunia Festival JULY 3-7 • DIXON

Lee County 4-H Fair & Jr Show JULY 25-28 • AMBOY

Harvest Festival & LHAEA Antique Tractor Show AUG 2-4 • FRANKLIN GROVE

Depot Days & Car Show AUG 22-25 • AMBOY

Lions Club Labor Day Celebration SEPT 1-2 • PAW PAW

Nachusa Grasslands Autumn on the Prairie SEPT 21 • FRANKLIN GROVE

PLUS: PARADES, CAR SHOWS, ARTS & C RAFTS SHOWS AND MORE! DON’T MISS A THING!

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Photo Credit: Ron McKinney Photography

Walkable historic district of shops, dining and fun in one charming gem of a downtown to lift your spirits and tempt you to fall in love!

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EXPERIENCE

D-Day hon t57itssk h75th tiw anniversary yrasrevinna yat lim af fo etPark ats llu Cantigny yByliDiane maKrieger f foSpivak eta yPhotos limProvided af foby eCantigny ta Parkts 18

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y

O

n June 6, 1944, some 160,000 Allied troops landed on 50 miles of beaches in Normandy France, to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany. Known as D-Day, the amphibious invasion — Operation Overlord — remains one of the largest in military history. More than 9,000 were killed or wounded on that day, better known as D-Day. This year, on June 6, D-Day, and the troops who fought and died there, will be commemorated in a 75th anniversary event at Cantigny Park, in Wheaton.

The family-friendly day of educational activities starts with a 10 a.m. memorial service.

“We’re encouraging families to participate and bring youth to that ceremony,” days Laura Sears, Public Programs Coordinator for Cantigny’s First Division Museum. “We really want to tie in the future generations that are going to be remembering D-Day and actively have them participate in the ceremony.”

Families are encouraged to spend the rest of the say checking out related activities, such as virtually stepping into the boots of a WWII soldier and learning a little about training for D-Day.

“One thing we’re really excited about is partnering with Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble,” Sears says. “They’re bringing out costumed performers who will be doing first person monologues, during the day, sharing the stories of D-Day soldiers.”

One is a medal of honor story, another is a soldier who landed in the first wave, and the third is a medic attached to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion — an African-American unit that landed on the beach that morning.

Later in the evening, at 7pm the museum will host The Voices of D-Day. “We’re going to be sharing some of our oral histories from the McCormick Research Center from veterans from D-Day, letting them share in their own words that event,”says Sears.

“We’re also bringing out a sculptor from Woodstock, Illinois who’s going to be creating a very large sand sculpture to commemorate the landings on Omaha beach, and part of the sand that’s being used is actual sand from Omaha Beach that we had sent to us from France, that he’s going to be incorporating into the design. It’s going to be a pop-

up memorial to Omaha Beach,” adds Sears.

A special temporary exhibit inside the gallery, called Surviving D-Day, asks visitors how they would have navigated D-Day during the assault on Omaha Beach. “A lot of it is drawn from actual stories of what happened on the beach, where even turning right or left could have meant life or death,” Sears says.

A highlight of the day is a large World War II U.S. encampment.

“They’re going to have World War II reenactors and vehicles out there, so that will be exciting,” says Sears.

Most activities take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. A schedule of activities can be accessed at www.cantigny.org or www.fdmuseum.org. The event is free with paid parking.

“We’re really encouraging families to come out that day, participate in the memorial ceremony in the morning, and then really enjoy the rest of their day learning a little more about what D-Day was, how it impacted World War II and our First Infantry Division soldiers that served on the beach,” says Sears.

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Summer Fun in DeKalb County It’s summer at

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Sycamore Performing Arts Academy Monday, June 17 - Thursday, June 20 Camp A Ages 3-9: 9:30 - 11am Camp B Ages 10 & Up: 11am - 1pm Step right up and join the fun! Our Circus Friends will have the opportunity to explore some basic circus skills while gaining strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and more.

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Early Bird May 15 / After May 15 Camp A: $100 / $110 Camp B: $130 / $140 Summer Dance Workshop Monday, June 24 - Thursday, July 25 Storybook Ballet, Jazzy Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Aerial Silks, Circus and Jazz Classes Available

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Great Getaway near Starved Rock with our dog!

We had a great 2 day stay at the Commanche cabin. It is so hard to find nice accommodations that are pet friendly, and this is definitely one of those places. I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the cabin, it was so nice to just sit out by the fire pit as the sun set. I was happy to be able to buy wood on site and the fire starters worked amazing, even after a quick rain storm (I bought a few extra to take home). Steve H

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Arts & Entertainment

Good morrow!

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Bristol Renaissance Faire whisks guests back to medieval times for summer fun

By Aimee Barrows Photos provided by Bristol Renaissance Faire

Take a step back in history to the time when kings and queens ruled the land, and jesters, jousting and sword fighting took center stage to entertain the masses.

And you don’t have to travel very far from Illinois to have that medieval experience. Just a few miles over the border near Kenosha, Wisconsin is the famed Bristol Renaissance Faire, which transports guests back to 1574 when Queen Elizabeth visited the English city of Bristol.

The 32nd annual event is open on

Saturdays and Sundays beginning July 6 through Labor Day, Sept. 2.

Visitors will be entertained by a variety of performances on 16 stages, including music, daring stunts, comedy and much more. Returning favorites “The Swordsmen,” ropewalker and juggler MooNiE the Magnif’Cent, Guinness World Record-holding fire whip artist Adam Crack, Barely Balanced acrobatic comedy troupe, the Sturdy Beggars Mud Show, Cirque de Sewer featuring a trained

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The Bristol Renaissance Faire is open rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for nine weekends from July 6 through Sept. 2. Tickets are $25.95 for adults, $11.50 for children ages 5 to 12, and children 4 and under are free. Discount tickets are available in advance at renfair.com, at Menard’s stores or by calling 847-395-7773.

riding rides or even suiting up in armor and participating in a mock battle.

Kids will also love having their picture taken as they sit upon the six beautiful thrones at the entrance to the Kid’s Kingdom.

rat and confused cat, and the Washing Well Wenches all will take the stage this summer.

This year’s live music performers include Bounding Main, featuring harmonic versions of traditional maritime songs, duo Billy Miller and Misti Bernard, who will perform enchanting melodies, and Steam Powered Giraffe, singing musical autmatons that combine comedic sketches and robot pantomime.

As always, knights in shining armor will be putting on several jousting matches, while Queen Elizabeth and her court will be out and about, mingling with guests. Children will love Kid’s Kingdom, where they can spend hours playing games, making crafts,

One of the most highly-anticipated events at the Faire is the live action fantasy-play game, RenQuest. It allows guests to be a part of an interactive theatrical gaming experience by becoming either a hero or villain and completing quests to save the city. Younger Faire-goers can be a part of Kids’ Quest, which provides children ages 4 to 11 an opportunity to embark on their own age-appropriate adventures.

The Faire will have a number of special themed weekends this summer, including RennCon for cosplayers of all genres July 27 and 28. The convention-like weekend will feature panels, photo meet-ups, special guests and a costume contest. Other themed weekends include Swashbucklers July 13 and 14, Monsters and Magic Aug. 3 and 4, and Heroes and Villains Aug. 17 and 18.

A visit to the Bristol Renaissance Faire wouldn’t be complete without partaking in the Pub Crawl, where guests are joined by a raucous crew of villagers as they meander through the streets, stopping to enjoy cider and beer at the city’s taverns and public houses.

Don’t forget to indulge in the Fire’s iconic turkey legs, sip some sassafras or homemade English toffee. Other offerings include portabella burgers, pork ribs, grilled chicken on a stick, fish ‘n’ chips, shepherd’s pie and more.

Select vendors feature vegetarian and vegan items, as well as children’s menus.

Nearly 200 artisans display unique wares ranging from swords, Scottish kilts, handcrafted leather goods, tapestries, sterling silver jewelry, royal costumes and more in the Faire’s Marketplace. Guests will enjoy live demonstrations by potters, glass blowers, blacksmiths and other working artists and they create their goods on-site.

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THESE ARE THE

days

Arts & Entertainment

Summer days are filled with great festivals, from taste of the towns to celebrations of music, agriculture, and community heritage. Here is an assortment of some of our favorite festivals of the season, sure to make your calendar a busy and bright one!

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 MAY 31-JUNE 2 HARVARD MILK DAYS Location: Milky Way Park, 300 Lawrence Road, Harvard

country breakfast $15 in advance, $20 at the door if space allows.

Visit: milkdays.com

Going strong for more than 78 years this festival celebrates farming and the community.

In addition to music, food and games enjoy some of this festival’s unique features like the country breakfast, a milk drinking contest and a cattle show. Cheer for your favorite team as there are Big Wheel Races and the Bed Race finals. Check out the farm tractor and equipment display.

Bring to watch the parade which has been known to span more than two-hours. Saturday morning get in a workout at the 5K, 10K race and walk. There’s a community talent show, chain saw carving and a petting zoo. There are fireworks shows each evening at dusk. Admission: parking $5;

 JUNE 7-8 RHUBARB FESTIVAL Location: downtown Aledo Each year this small-town festival draws crowds to celebrate the rhubarb. Locals prepare more than 3,000 rhubarb pies so be sure to snag a slice and try some of the other rhubarb delicacies too. Shop at the crafts, antiques and flea market and enjoy the live entertainment too. Check out the recipe contest and bake sales.

Still hungry? Arrive early Saturday for a pancake breakfast prepared

by Aledo Volunteer Firemen (cost by donation) or make lunch plans at the Masonic Lodge Fish Fry. Hop on the free trolley tours and

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WITH FESTIVALS AT THE READY THERE’S ALWAYS FUN TO BE HAD IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS

BY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE

Hear the best BLUES

Sip the finest BREWS

Enjoy delicious BBQ’s Petersen Park, McHenry IL www.mrbbb.com Presented By:

see this small town or lace up the shoes and join the annual 5K race Saturday morning.

Festival planners bet you’ll love the rhubarb as much as they do, that’s why each year they give away more than 12,000 rhubarb seeds so you can bring a taste of the festival home to your garden.

Admission: Free Online: aledorhubarbfest.com  JUNE 20-23 GROVE FEST Location: downtown Downers Grove This annual festival packs in the fun with all the favorites including a carnival, music and food and so much more.

The music lineup includes some of the areas favorite cover bands but that’s not all.

Catch the annual Battle of the

Come get your hot deals at the Treasure House.

A great place to shop and donate!!!

Bands to see who is crowned the winner as well as local talent performing on stage.

There is plenty of fun for the family and adults too.

Saturday afternoon check out the Craft Brew Fest featuring local craft brewers and tap houses. Sunday includes the favorite Festival of Cars with a display of art on four wheels. Admission: Free; fees for some events. Online: rotarygrovefest.com  JUNE 22 CORKLESS IN GALENA Location: Depot Parking Lot, Galena Sip elegant locally produced wines in a beautiful setting in this favorite festival celebrating fruit of the vine.

The festival highlights locally

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produced wines by family-owned wineries. Enjoy wine tastings, light snacks. Admission includes a festival wine glass and 5 tasting tickets.

Check out the art exhibit and the live entertainment. Admission: $20; $5 for designated driver ticket. Online: corklessgalena.com

Admission: tickets $12 adult, $10 child when purchased in advance; additional fees to purchase at the gate. Visit: kendallcountyfair.org/rodeo/

 JULY 5-6 FOX VALLEY RODEO Location: Kendall County Fairgrounds

Get ready to eat, shop and then eat some more at this annual festival featuring authentic Greek dishes, many prepared by the church members.

Visitors will be asking for seconds of Grecian chicken, souvlaki, pastichio and don’t forget the loukoumades.

Discover what happens when fries and feta cheese meet for a delicious treat.

Hold on to your hats as the rodeo comes to town for a two-day event featuring multiple competitions including bareback riding, cowgirls barrel racing and yes, Bull Riding too.

There will be family-friendly clowns, games for all ages, food and a beer garden too.

Watch real cowboys and cowgirls as they demonstrate calf roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and barrel racing. The highlight is the bull riding competition where contestants with an average weight of 150 pounds seek to stay on bulls, who weigh in excess of 2,000 pounds for a goal of eight seconds.

 JULY 12-14 SAINT SOPHIA GREEK FEST Location: 525 Church Road, Elgin

Take a break from eating to shop at the indoor marketplace featuring hand-made crafts as well as local vendors. Try to resist the urge to join in when the music starts and performers demonstrate traditional Greek dancing.

And then refuel with, more food Admission: Donations accepted. Visit: stsophiagreekfest.com/

 JULY 18-20 LIBERTY ARTS FESTIVAL Location: downtown Morris Described as an arts festival but visitors will soon see there is so much more.

Come hungry for the festival’s Steak Fry to start the fun and then take a moment to vote for the festival’s Artistic Pets Photo Contest and cap the day with a free concert on the Courthouse Lawn.

Friday features plenty of family fun with a storybook character parade, an opportunity for children to express their creative side with hands-on activities and an ice cream social and live entertainment. Lay on a blanket for a family-friendly movie under the Stars at Goold Park.

On Saturday stroll through the art show, enjoy musical performances in town and on the stage. Feeling inspired then pick up a paintbrush and find your own inner artist at a local class (fees vary). Don’t miss the Sip and Shop through the business district.

Admission: Free; some activities have fees. Visit: downtownmorris.com

It’s All About Community.

Enjoy live entertainment in the heart of Downtown Downers Grove!

FRIDAY 5:00 - 6:30 7:15 - 8:45 9:30 - 11:00 SATURDAY 12:00 - 1:45 2:30 - 4:15 5:00 - 6:30 7:15 - 8:45 9:30 - 11:00 SUNDAY Noon - 1:25 1:25 - 3:15 4:00 - 5:30 6:15 - 7:45 8:30 - 10:00

June 21 ARRA Modern Day Romeos Sixteen Candles June 22 Battle of the Bands Winner Valius Wild Daisy Fool House 7th heaven June 23 Dance Academies Garage Band U / Rock Academy Sushi Roll Maggie Speaks Semple Band

*NOTE: Bands and times are subject to change without notice.

HOSTED BY

Rotary Club of Downers Grove

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d or an pons unity s d ban mm Be a your co e time! help he sam at t

CE LE B

R ATING 10 YEAR S

Each year, many families plan their summer vacations around Rotary GroveFest. It’s a true community event for all ages and all walks of life!

www.RotaryGroveFest.com

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 JULY 24-28 KISHWAUKEE FEST Location: DeKalb, Sycamore and Malta

 AUG. 2-4 NORTH AURORA DAYS Location: North Aurora, multiple venues

This multi-day festival features something for everyone. The Kish Fest Parade of Parades on Friday night which includes live bands, floats, pageant queens, marching bands and even steel drum bands. Past years have included more than 90 entries in the parade.

From fireworks to shopping and don’t miss pets on parades in this annual multi-day festival. Early birds can grab their worms and join the fishing derby at Willow Lake. For runners there is a 5K, 10K and for young ones a 1-mile fun run in the Run for the Riverfront race through the Mooseheart campus.

Catch live music at Riverfront Park and Clocktower Plaza, which is also home to the family activities, food vendors and beer tent. Catch the Vehicle Lights & Sirens Parade to show support for local emergency personnel. Judge the best dressed pups at the annual Pet Parade. And as the sun sets be sure to catch the fireworks show to cap a great day.Admission: Free; fees for some activities. Visit: northauroradays.org/

Throughout the week check out the full schedule of sports, dancing, music, food and a carnival too. There are plenty of opportunities to be part of the fun. Be sure to check out the BaconPalooza Swine and Wine Festival where the featured menu item is bacon and wine. From bacon-themed products to different bacons, raise a toast to a love of bacon. On Sunday the festival concludes with a huge car show that has included as many as 1,000 vehicles in the past.Admission: varies by event. Visit: kishwaukeefest.com

 AUG. 24 COLOR ALOFT BALLOON FESTIVAL Location: Central Park, Grayslake Watch a dozen hot air balloons launch in the late afternoon sun and glow to light up the evening sky in this annual

festival celebrating those last days of summer.

Pack a picnic and enjoy a day at the park with storytelling, children’s games and musical entertainment. There are carnival games for all ages. A small business expo gives visitors a chance to learn more about the community.

Before the balloons take in a game of Civil War Era baseball and see the game in this historical re-creation. As the sun sets balloons will light up the evening sky in what is called a Balloon Glow to cap this fun fest. Admission: free Visit: grayslakechamber.com  AUG. 31-SEPT. 1 ROCK ISLAND GRAND PRIX Locartion: downtown Rock Island Racing through the streets is this annual kart race that has become a festival featuring music, family activities, food and much more. This Labor Day festival has become a tradition and racers take their sport seriously as they vie for prizes and bragging rights too.

Go beyond the race to explore the downtown, restaurants and shopping too. Admission: Free. Online: rockislandgrandprix.com

SM-ST1653481

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MEET THE BAND

50rs of YES

yea

Divergent history celebrated on Royal Affair tour

BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO | PHOTO BY GOTTLIEB BROS.

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L

ast year, Yes hit the halfcentury mark as a band that has been touring and recording music. Aside from a hiatus that ran from 2004 to 2008, some lineup of the group has existed for the past five decades.

Guitarist Steve Howe was not a founding member and first came aboard in 1970. While his initial stint with the group was for 11 years, he spent the 1980s as a cornerstone in a number of other groups including Asia and GTR before rejoining Yes two other times, with the most recent reunion coming in 1995 and lasting to the current day.

instead of just moving around with production, basically every song has a different look and this has been a major step for us in production terms.

We have the images from the albums that we’re featuring at that given time, so we can move around and hopefully we’ve been fairly discerning about what to play. Some of it may get potentially

This year, Yes is headlining the Royal Affair tour, which also features John Lodge of the Moody Blues and Carl Palmer’s ELP Experience, plus Howe joining Asia for a special performance.

Howe may not get mentioned in the roll call of influential guitarists that emerged out of England in the late 1960s—Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck—but the reed-thin string-bender was no less impressive. In addition to Atkins, inspiration also came from Les Paul and a coterie of post-Charlie Christian guitarists—Tal Farlow, Kenny Burrell and Herb Ellis. Most interestingly was a love of country music that led to his embracing and incorporating pedal steel into what he was doing, starting with the 1972 Yes album “Close To the Edge.”

“Basically, the steel has had an overly incredible influence on my thinking and playing. But what I don’t do is try to play what a steel player does on a guitar,” he says. “Now other people do that very well—Brad Paisley and some of the great players like Clarence White from the Byrds. I love The Byrds very much. So there’s a lot of influence on my music that comes from a variety of places. But no smaller place than the huge place of country music—Chet Atkins and Les Paul.”

Making things more interesting for fans is the fact that a rival faction, Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman, is also active, although that group hasn’t announced any tours of the states for this summer.

And while he declined to comment about the current scenario regarding the two factions, Howe is enthusiastic about delving into Yes’ deep canon and being on the road with his group that is rounded out by drummer Alan White, keyboardist Geoff Downes, vocalist Jon Davison and bassist/keyboardist Billy Sherwood.

“We’ve been playing ‘Astral Traveller’ and ‘Time and a Word’ over the last nine years, because this line-up has basically been a development from what Chris [Squire], Alan [White] and I started in 2008 and pushed along through various changes. So basically from that period, we were able to draw from our experience. But of course, this has a different and lovely shape to it that gave us a chance to show the development of the music,” he explained. “It’s not just picking out songs and deciding to play them, which is what most bands do. This choreographs a line through the development of the music, the writing, the members, producers, recordings and the albums. Because in our show,

buying a record called “Teensville,” because it had a guitar hanging on the front in the picture—that was it.”

easy for us and other bits made it very challenging for us. So it’s a nice mix.”

While Howe was very much influenced by the sounds of American rock and roll artists like his peers growing up in late 1950s England, it was country legend Chet Atkins who resonated the most for the then-teenage London native.

“There was a huge guitar boom.

In 1957, I was about 10 and it was monumental. Every record was a guitar and every one was an instrumental.

It was an amazing time, besides the general rock influence. At the time I got influenced by The Shadows, The Ventures and Duane Eddy, who I still love today,” he says, “But as soon as I heard Chet Atkins when I was 13 after

THE ROYAL AFFAIR TOUR FEATURING YES, JOHN LODGE OF THE MOODY BLUES AND CARL PALMERS ELP LEGACY STOPS AT RIVEREDGE PARK IN AURORA ON SATURDAY JULY 6. TICKETS AND SEVERAL VIP PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE AT RIVEREDGEAURORA.COM

While the 1980s found Howe stretching out in a more commercial direction with Asia and GTR, Yes was and continued to remain his creative mothership.

And despite his deep ties to the group he’s most associated with, the septuagenarian Rock and Roll Hall of Famer felt his musical hiatus was a necessary and rewarding decision that he made.

“It’s like [former Yes drummer] Bill Bruford says, ‘How can you keep playing the same songs with the same people?’” Howe says. “I do think you do need variety in your career to make it worthwhile and coming back to Yes after I’ve done other things has always been great fun. It’s not been like a monotony, where I’ve always been in Yes for 50 years. That’s not been the case at all and I’m really glad. I think it’s musically much more helpful and exciting to have moved away and come back and find out how the ball continues to keep rolling.”

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Family Vacations Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

9 Jandus Road, Cary, IL, 60013

847-639-3300 carytravelexpress.com

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MEET THE BAND

Coco Montoya continues to shine, ‘for the love of music’

By L. Kent Wolgamott Photo by Joseph A. Rosen

MORE THAN 40 YEARS AFTER HE JOINED ALBERT COLLINS’ BAND AS A DRUMMER, COCO MONTOYA SAYS HE’S GOT TWO GOOD REASONS FOR CONTINUALLY GOING OUT ON TOUR. “The love of music is it,” he said in a recent phone interview. “Plus, that’s what I do to make a living. That’s a couple great incentives to hit the road.”

The music is blues -- and, like his mentor Collins, Montoya plays it with bite and verve on guitar. That can be heard all over “Hard Truth,” his eighth studio album released on Alligator Records, the label for which Montoya previously did three records in the 2000s.

The songs on “Hard Truth,” all variations on the blues, range from funky to

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gospel-drenched and include a steely take on Collins’ “The Moon Is Full.”

out on the road with him. He kind of watched over me and educated me.”

“I always take a good look at his catalog to see if there’s a song I want to do,” Montoya said. “His music is very valid and important to the blues. If I can do justice to the song, I look to put it on the record. If it happens, it happens. “

After leaving Collins’ band during the disco-driven downturn for blues in the early 1980s, Montoya was working as a bartender, figuring that his days as a professional musician were over.

But one day he was jamming in a Los Angeles bar when British bluesman John Mayall walked in.

For Montoya, the Collins connection is more than just an appreciation of the music of the artist who was known as the “Master of the Telecaster.” Montoya, who started out playing guitar then switched to drums, got the call to join Collins after loaning his drums to the band for a Los Angeles gig. In joining the group, he found more than just his first job as a professional musician.

“Everything is what I got from him, not just musically, teaching me how to live on the road,” Montoya said. “We were very close, a father and son type thing. I was a very young man when I first went

Montoya quickly played a Mayall song as a tribute and, soon thereafter, got the call from Mayall, who was looking for a guitarist to join his reformed Bluesbreakers. Montoya filled the guitar slot in the band that had been previously occupied by Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor.

In 1993, Montoya, who along with fellow Bluesbreakers guitarist Walter Trout, often opened the band’s shows, decided to go solo. Three years later, he won the Blues Music Award for Best

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New Artist in 1996, the year after he released his debut album “Gotta Mind To Travel.”

Consistently making records, the left-handed guitarist had his biggest seller in 2000, with his Alligator debut “Suspicion,” and he’s continued to be a mainstay on festivals and the blues circuit for three decades.

Fittingly, Montoya began a tour the day “Hard Truth” was released. Now his sets are filled with songs from the new disc.

“That’s the idea, you tour to support the record,” he said. “We want to play as many as we can off the album. We’re playing quite a few songs now. Everything has been real positive. It seems to be going over well.”

Montoya says he’s starting to see some younger faces at his show and the festivals alongside the older faces of those who discovered the blues in the ‘60s and ‘70s. That,

he said, is good for the future of the blues.

“Like everybody else who plays roots music and blues, we’re hoping for rediscovery by youth,” he said. “They’re the people who get up and go out and see music. I think that’s very possible...It’s starting to make movements toward that. It’s new to them and the pop thing’s getting tired. They’re starting to rediscover it. It’s a good place to be.”

And he’s hoping that some of the young people will follow in his footsteps as well, taking inspiration from the music they hear coming on stage to decide they want to play the blues -- just like Montoya did after seeing Albert King in the late ‘60s “You’ve got to pass it along,” he said. “Once I’ve gone, somebody else has to do it. I don’t think that’s changed at you. You learn from the people before you and hopefully pass it along.”

 CATCH COCO MONTOYA AT

AURORA’S BLUES ON

THE FOX FESTIVAL IN RIVEREDGE PARK JUNE 14-15 Visit riveredgeaurora.com for information and a full lineup of artists.

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FINE TIMES AT THE FINE LINE Fine Line Creative Arts Center marks 40 years of art experiences

by Sherri Dauskurdas

I

nnovative and experiential.

Creative and collaborative.

These are the words that come to mind when talking about the Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles.

The nonprofit organization, founded in 1979 by Sister Denise Kavanagh, has become a haven for the arts, the artist community and anyone who appreciates the arts.

Arts & Entertainment

Now the community of artists and artisans is marking 40 years, and there never has been a better time to come out and explore.

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The Fine Line’s Fine Arts Festival is a must-see event on June 1. Offered for more than 25 years, this interactive day of demonstrations including watercolor, pastel painting, basketry, and blacksmithing by Fine Line instructors, hands on opportunities to create your own art, beautiful artisan creations for sale and live local music to enjoy.

Throughout the season, return to the Fine Line campus for a bevy of classes and workshops, from ceramics to wood carving, metal smithing, leather work, glass

blowing and more.

Work by local artists will be available for purchase in the Dempsey Artisan Shop. These artists create one-of-a-kind items, including jewelry, pottery, scarves and more.

Situated in the barn at Fine Line and open year-round, the inventory is continually changing.

For those who have never visited Fine Line before, it is home to the Kavanagh Gallery, which hosts six to seven gallery exhibitions each year. These exhibits range from nation-wide invitational and juried shows of paintings, pottery, textiles, photography and sculpture, to one and two person shows, faculty, and member exhibits, and our annual holiday extravaganza, the Christmastime at Fine Line Show and Sale.

Currently, sculpture is on display at the Kavanagh through June 29. The next exhibit is focused on Textures, to be displayed July 12 - August 9.

For more information about the courses, events and offerings at the Fine Line Creative Arts center, visit fineline.org.

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Illinois Shakespeare Festival

42 years amidst the romantic gardens of Ewing Theatre make this fest worth a weekend jaunt

Arts & Entertainment

hrough the centuries, the works of William Shakespeare have been presented in countless venues throughout the English-speaking world, and beyond.

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But as John C. Stark sees it, few can compare to the atmosphere offered at Ewing Theatre in Bloomington-Normal, home of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

“It’s such an intimate space, there on these beautiful grounds, with the manor home and its gardens, under the stars on a warm, summer night,” said Stark, the festival’s artistic director. “There’s not really a much more

beautiful location to take in Shakespeare.”

Now in its 42nd season, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, associated with Illinois State University, is expected to again draw thousands to again soak in summer nights filled with the words of the Bard of Avon.

Scheduled to open June 28, the 2019 edition will feature three plays.

Two will be adaptations of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and “Julius Caesar.”

The Festival will also stage their rendition of “Pride and Prejudice,” based on the novel by Jane Austen.

The Festival will run until Aug. 10, when the curtain closes on “Caesar.”

“As You Like It” will be offered outdoors in Ewing Theatre. Directed

by Robert Quinlan, the already music-filled play will feature additional music from Chicago-based singer, songwriter and actor Jordan Coughtry.

The play recounts the classic tale of Rosalind, who, disguised as a man, teaches Orlando the way to a woman’s heart, until they flee to the magical forest of Arden.

While the production will feature the words of Shakespeare, the piece will be set in a bit more recent

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Drink it all in!

THE BOLD SPIRITS OF DEKALB COUNTY

time, Stark said, with costumes and set designs pulled from the very early 20th Century.

“Caesar,” adapted and directed

by Quetta Carpenter, will feature an even more recent feel.

Stark said the characters will all be there, as will their familiar lines, including “Et tu, Brutus?”

However, the play, which will be staged indoors at the ISU Center for the Performing Arts Theatre, will set the plot in the 21st Century, with the fight between the warring factions played out in politics, on social media and in the “24-hour news cycle.”

“The play is dedicated to using Shakespeare’s prose, poetry and verse,” said Stark. “But in today’s world.”

He noted some of the roles traditionally played by men, will be played by women in this version, which he said continues the Festival’s emphasis on promoting “gender equity” on stage.

Plays run Tuesday-Sunday, with Mondays off. They are acted by the Festival’s 23-member Company, featuring 7 equity actors and 6 non-equity actors, plus aspiring professional actors from U.S. colleges. Most actors hail from Chicago, but others this year are from New York, Texas and Colorado, Stark said.

While the plays take center stage, the grounds and the stages remain a real draw, as well.

Stark said visitors often make a day, or even a weekend of their trip, taking in plays at night, while spending the day picnicking and strolling

the Ewing Manor’s grounds, complete with Genovese and Japanese gardens and a fountain. For productions Thursday-Sunday, the Festival offers a food truck, in addition to their concession stand, which offers beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks.

In the courtyard, the actors can be found performing a special “Green Show,” focusing on Shakespeare’s plays.

And on Saturday evenings, live jazz will be offered in the courtyard 90 minutes before that evening’s play.

Stark said the Festival generally recommends families bring children over the age of 5.

For children, the Festival also offers a special 40-minute free children’s production on Thursday and Saturday mornings on the Ewing Manor lawn. This year’s production is titled “Who Stole Cleopatra?” and tells the story of a young Shakespeare’s journey, encountering people who would later form the basis for the characters in his plays.

Ewing Theatre seats 434 patrons, and Stark said Saturday evening performances can sell out, so advanced ticket purchases are recommended.

He noted the Festival will offer three weekends in late July and early August in which patrons will be able to take in all three performances in one weekend.

Tickets are $20-$55, and are available on Ticketmaster or through the Illinois Shakespeare Festival box office at 309-4382535.

ILLINOIS WINES • CRAFT BEERS • WHISKEY, BOURBON, RYE, VODKA HARD CIDER, APPLE WINES, & APPLE ALE Taste all of the bold spirits made right here in DeKalb County!

Plan your Bold Spirits tour on our website to visit these great local breweries, wineries, and distilleries:

The Forge Brewhouse Jonamac Orchard Prairie State Winery Waterman Winery & Vineyards, Inc. Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.

BOLD SPIRITS FEST!

At Jonamac Orchard: 19412 Shabbona Rd., Malta, IL

SATURDAY, JUNE 1 • 5-9PM LIVE MUSIC, & FOOD FROM HICK’S BBQ AND CRAFT URBAN Tickets are $25 online at jonamacorchard.com & includes: Event Entry, 10 Tasting Tickets, & Souvenir Glass.

This event is for 21+.

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A bevy of Bard to be found across the region Arts & Entertainment

BY JONATHAN BILYK

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SUMMER NIGHTS ABOUND WITH ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS. But few can boast the simultaneous levels of cultural delight and enrichment offered by an evening of Shakespeare under the stars.

The comforting spectacle has been offered for decades in both Oak Brook and Oak Park.

Staged in Oak Park’s Austin Gardens,

the Oak Park Festival Theatre has presented Shakespeare to the community since the mid-1970s.

admission, $28 for seniors and $15 for students with student ID. Children 12 and under are free.

This year, Oak Park Festival will offer Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” from July 25-Aug. 31. Directed

by Melanie Keller, the production will feature actors Eunice Woods as Beatrice, and Bryan Wakefield as Benedick. The play tells how Beatrice and Benedick come to realize their love, even as they spar in a battle of words and wit, even as Benedick’s friend, Claudio, struggles with disquieting news about his fiancée, Hero.

In Oak Brook, the professional theatre company from First Folio Theatre has presented Shakespearean productions at their custom outdoor stage at the Mayslake Peabody Estate Forest Preserve for 23 years.

Oak Park Festival performances will be staged Thursdays-Sundays, weather permitting. Tickets cost $35 for general

The theatre has earned a listing in the Shakespeare Book of Lists as one of the “150 Great Places to See a Shakespeare Play.”

This summer, First Folio will present Shakespeare’s “Henry V.” Directed by Hayley

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Oscar Swan Presents Rice, the production will feature actor Diana Coates as King Henry V. It will be presented Wednesdays-Sundays, from July 13-Aug. 18.

The play tells the tale of Henry V’s quest to invade France and prepare for the Battle of Agincourt to cement his reign, even as he seeks to win the hand of a French princess.

Tickets cost $34 for adults, $29 for seniors and students on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and $44 for adults and $39 for seniors and students on Fridays-Sundays.

Admission for children ages 13 and under, accompanied by an adult, costs $10 for all outdoor Shakespeare performances.

Elsewhere in the Chicago area, Shakespeare performances will pop up at various parks throughout the summer.

In the city itself, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, which normally performs at Navy Pier, brings the Bard’s works to life in neighborhood parks. This year, the

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program will present “A Comedy of Errors” from July 18-Aug. 18. The free performances of the play, adapted and directed by David H. Bell, will tour around the city to 18 neighborhood parks on the city’s south, west and north sides.

More information about the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program will be available on the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s website, ChicagoShakes.com.

Meanwhile, the Stone Soup Shakespeare tour will bring the Bard’s “Twelfth Night” to community parks in various locations throughout Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin. All performances are free.

The Stone Soup Shakespeare players will take the stage in DeKalb’s Huntley Park on May 31 and in Geneva at Island Park on July 7, with both performances at 6 p.m.

All performances are free.

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According to Stone Soup Shakespeare’s website, more performances and locations will be added and announced at a later date on their website, StoneSoupShakespeare. com.

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• Visit Ronald Reagan’s Boyhood Home • Adventure & Explore at Lowell Park • Kayak Along the Rock River • Rest at our Excellent Bed & Breakfasts or Hotels • Experience the History of John Deere at the John Deere Historic Site • Shop in Beautiful Downtown Dixon

Explore Dixon and the Surrounding Area. Plan a Day Trip or Spend the Week!

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From barbecue to beer and tacos to trucks, there’s plenty to eat all season long

By Diane Krieger Spivak | Photos by Shaw Media

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Whatever direction your taste buds take, northern Illinois has a host of food festivals this summer to satisfy most every palette, from wine to craft beers, ribs to tacos, and all the way to food truck heaven.

Save some room for these upcoming food-focused festivals and events:  JUNE 1 DEKALB COUNTY BOLD SPIRITS FEST Saturday 5 – 9 p.m.

Jonamac Orchard, 19412 Shabbona Rd. | Malta From award-winning wines to signature craft beer to hard spirits enjoyed by visitors from around the world, the brewers, winemakers, and distillers of DeKalb County produce bold flavors that can’t be found anywhere else.

All located within a short drive of DeKalb, travelers can visit five different establishments with a wide variety of offerings and sample some of the finest spirits in the nation.

Make the trip. Visit the makers.

Grab your passport and complete all five stamps. At the end of your journey, you’ll have sampled some of the finest spirits to be found anywhere.

Visit jonamacorchard.com/ product/dekalb-county-boldspirits-fest/ for details and tickets.  JUNE 7, 8, 9 OTTAWA 2 RIVERS WINE FEST Friday, Saturday, Sunday Downtown Ottawa Ottawa partners with the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Ottawa Visitors Center – to bring the best of Illinois wine, outstanding jazz and fresh grilled lobster from the Ottawa Noon Rotarians. In Ottawa’s scenic setting – comprised of the 2 rivers and the beautiful historic architecture. ottawa2riverswinefest.com

 JUNE 8 8TH ANNUAL MUNDELEIN CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Saturday 1 – 5 p.m.

300 Plaza Circle | Mundelein Rain or shine, at Village Plaza, Mundelein’s 8th annual Craft Beer Festival features over 40 craft beer vendors, music food and more. Tickets are $45 in advance; $50 at the door.

Includes a commemorative logo glass and unlimited beer tasting.

Designated Driver - $15 (NonDrinker). Must be 21 to enter. No pets.

Tickets: www.mundeleincraftbeer. eventbrite.com or in-person: Tighthead Brewing Company, 161 N. Archer Avenue.  JUNE 14 CANTIGNY FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL Friday 5-9 p.m.

Cantigny Park (South Lot) 1 S 151 Winfield Rd. | Wheaton Featuring more than 15 of Chicago’s best food trucks, beer garden, local vendors, the Red Oak Farms Playground for kids, the Cantigny Park grounds (garden, nature trails and tank park) plus live music by Final Say (5-8:30 p.m.) and Movie in the Park (The Goonies 8:30-10 p.m.). General admission free. $5 parking. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.  JULY 3, 4, 5, 6 EXCHANGE CLUB OF NAPERVILLE’S RIBFEST Knoch Park 724 South West Street, Naperville It’s Ribfest’s 32nd year and final year at Knoch Park before relocating. The fest is one of the largest in the Chicago area.

Dedicated to the elimination of domestic violence and child abuse, The Naperville Exchange Club has raised more than $17.5 million from its service activities at Ribfest. Entertainment: Wednesday-Billy Idol with Living Colour, Thursday-Flo Rida, FridayBrantley Gilbert, Saturday_TBA. For extensive information on fest dos and don’ts and tickets visit http://www.ribfest.net/

 JULY 13 NAPERVILLE ALE FEST SUMMER EDITION Saturday Noon to 5 p.m.

Naper Settlement 523 S Webster St., Naperville

 JULY 18-21 NORTH SHORE TACO FEST & HIGHWOOD DAYS Thursday through Sunday Highwood Park Metra Station, 317 Green Bay Rd. Highwood

A festival for lovers of craft beer, food trucks, and sunshine, the Naperville Ale Fest, Naperville’s original craft beer festival has lined up more than 200 unique craft beers, live music and some of Chicagoland’s favorite food trucks. Situated on the grounds of the Naper Settlement. For tickets visit www.napervillealefest.com/

Rain or shine, enjoy live music, cocktails and tacos under the big tent. Highwood’s oldest festival turns 51, with carnival rides, live music and tons of food from local vendors, beer and margarita gardens, the North Shore Taco Fest brings the region’s best tacocentric restaurants, caterers and food trucks to offer a wide range of mouth-watering taco creations.

Vote for your favorite taco. Free Admission.

 JULY 14 FOX LAKE BLOODY MARY FEST Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Downtown Fox Lake The best Bloody Marys the region has to offer. Tickets are $25 and include: 6 - 8 oz. bloody mary samples, admission, bloody mary voting tickets, and a mini mason jar.

Day of Event Ticket: $10 at the door based on availability. For event updates, and the latest list of participating bars, and live music visit the Fox Lake Bloody Mary Facebook Page.

Questions? Call (224) 225-1404 or email bloodymaryfest@ foxlake.org. Must be 21 or over.

No animals. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ fox-lake-bloody-mary-fest-2019tickets-57416328785

www.celebratehighwood.org/ highwood-days-north-shore-tacofest/  AUGUST 3 WHEATON BREW FEST 2019 IT’S A BREWTIFUL LIFE Saturday Noon to 4:30 p.m.

Memorial Park 208 W Union Ave.Wheaton Wheaton’s annual outdoor craft beer fest features more than 80 unique brews from more than 35 local and national breweries.

With a '90s theme, the band, Fool House, takes the stage from 2:30-4:30 p.m. with two additional bands playing earlier.

Several ticket types are available, including General Admission, VIP, and Designated Driver tickets.

Food vendors will be onsite. No one under 21. No animals.

Visit: https://wheatonparkdistrict. com/events/brewfest/ for details and tickets.

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GENEVA’S MIDSOMMAR FESTIVAL TIVAL JUNE 18 – 23

Celebrate 70 SwÍde years with us Since 1949, Geneva’s Midsommar Festival – Swedish Days – has provided fun for the whole family. Join the celebration and enjoy fabulous food, carnival rides, live music and entertainment, plus Sweden Väst, our tent that’s everything Swedish. This year’s festival kicks o Tuesday, June 18th with Midnight Madness – shops open until 9 pm!

Summer doesn’t get any swÍder than this!

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Sports and Recreation

JOLIET PLAYS HOST TO NASCAR RACE JUNE 30

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BY CHRIS WALKER PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY

After coming up on the wrong end of a frantic finish against Kyle Busch in last year’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, runner-up Kyle Larson acknowledged that despite losing he helped put on a helluva show for the fans.

“That’s got to be one of the best NASCAR finishes of all time,” Larson said. “I was on the short end, but that was a lot of fun.”

Those fans who saw it live may never forget it. Those who chose to stay at home, doing yard work or relaxing at home, may have enjoyed seeing the highlights but likely we’re kicking themselves for not taking the family out to Joliet to see it live.

Don’t let that happen again this summer when the stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cruise into Chicagoland Speedway for the Camping World 400 on June 30.

Early bird parking opens at 7 a.m. for those looking to truly make it a full-day experience, although the race won’t begin until 2 p.m. Of course, there’s plenty to do before the engines are roaring, including a pre-race concert from Lee Brice at noon.

Brice is a two-time Country Music Association/Official Academy of Country Music/Grammy Song of the Year nominee who is known for his raucous live shows and contemplative songs. Without a doubt, some incredible live music from a wellregarded country performer is worth the price of admission alone.

Visit www.chicagolandspeedway.com for more info and to get your tickets, including exclusive ticket packages and special discount offers.

?

Through May 1, last year’s winner, Kyle Busch, is atop the NASCAR standings with 430 points, thanks to three victories and six Top 5 finishes. Joey Logano is Busch’s stiffest competition with 415 points with a single victory and six Top 5 finishes as well.

Denny Hamlin (367 points), Kyle Harvick (350) and Brad Keselowski (337) round up the rest of the Top 5 drivers. (Sorry, Ricky Bobby isn’t for real.) Obviously, the standings will change before June 30 as drivers are fighting to qualify for the playoffs.

While the 267-lap, 400-mile Camping World 400 is the pinnacle of the weekend, there’s a full NASCAR weekend schedule beginning on June 27 with the ARCA Menards Series, featuring up-and-comers and wily veterans. On June 28, NASCAR’s newest stars will try their luck at tackling the tri-oval during an all-out battle, and on June 29the drivers of the XFINITY Series will race against some of NASCAR’s biggest stars in the Camping World 300.

And this year, bring an appetite as the inaugural BBQ Smoke Down is scheduled the same weekend and will feature BBQ Hall of Famers like Myron Mixon, “Dr. BBQ” Ray Lampe and Chris Lilly as well as Champions BBQ Teams and leading brand like Big Green Egg, Treager Grills, Weber and many more for a sanctioned competition for chicken, pork and brisket.

So burnt rubber, gas and oil aren’t the only scents that will dazzle your senses.

Finally, attendees this year will be treated to pit bike racing for the first time as former professional supercross/motocross racers are set to duke it out on pit bikes on Saturday and Sunday.

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22nd Annual

Vintage Rides

Antique Car Show in Historic Downtown Wheaton

Living WHEATON

We are back on Front Street!

Shop • Dine • Enjoy

Join Us

Date & Time: Friday Nights May 24 – August 23 • 6pm – 9pm

Location: Front Street in Downtown Wheaton May 24

Featuring: DJ: Cesar (Poppy) Garcia of Ultimate Muzik Productions

— Pistons & Pin-ups/New Front St. Reveal

July 12

— Buick Night/Swing

May 31-June 1 — Taste of Wheaton (Karlskoga Ave.)

July 19

— Ford Night/Country

June 7

— Chevrolet/Easy Rock

July 26

— Cadillac Night/R & B

June 14

— Convertibles/Diner Tunes

August 2 — Camaro Night/Southern Rock Thank you to our sponsors

August 9 — Volkswagen Night/ Roller Skating

June 21

— Truck Night/Country

June 28

— Corvette Night/70’s

August 16 — Dodge Night/Country

July 5

— Hot Rods Night/Disco

August 23 — Hollywood Night

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The Rotary Club of Downers Grove is celebrating 10 years of Rotary GroveFest!

This volunteer-run, non-profit event has become the can’t-miss event of the summer!

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Thousands of visitors come to GroveFest every day of this 4-day festival, and Downtown Downers Grove comes alive! The 2019 Fest will include incredible live entertainment, a large beer garden, a unique no-cover Craft BeerFest, a fun-filled midway, a dynamic car show, delicious food vendors, local businesses, and many more attractions over a weekend to kick off your summer season!

Runs Thursday through Sunday | June 20-23, 2019 HOSTED BY

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2019 GOLD CUP TITLE GAME SETS SIGHTS ON SOLDIER FIELD

BY CHRIS WALKER

The U.S. Men’s National Team will attempt to defend its CONCACAF Gold Cup championship this summer, and if the Americans advance to the title game, Chicago area fans will have a great opportunity to see them play near home.

The 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will be the 15th edition of the biennial international men’s soccer championship of the North American, Central American and Caribbean region, has matches set in Costa Rica, Jamaica and the United States with the final to be played at Soldier Field on July 7.

Sports and Recreation

This will be the third time that Soldier Field will be the venue for the CONCACAF final.

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“CONCACAF is very excited to bring once more our premier tournament to Chicago,” says CONCACAF President Victor Montagliana. “This is truly a remarkable city that welcomes and unites fans from across the region, who share the love for our game. Celebrating the final of this expanded edition of Gold Cup at Soldier Field, honors the tradition of a world-class competition that is embedded in the culture of our football fans.”

The U.S. Men’s National Team has participated in every one of these tournaments and are in pursuit of a seventh championship which would tie Mexico for the most wins in tournament

history. The U.S. Team was the first winner in 1991 and the most recent one in 2017.

Stationed in Group D of the Gold Cup, the U.S. Team will begin play against Guyana on June 18 at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minn. That match has already sold out so it’s apparent that one of the hot tickets this summer will be seeing the U.S. Men’s National Team in action. Tickets sold out for the Guyana match faster than any previous game in this tournament’s illustrious history!

excited to get into camp at the end of May, then develop the team and be able compete in the Gold Cup, which is a fantastic tournament.”

The Gold Cup serves as the initial competition of the 2022 FIFA World Cup cycle and it will be the U.S. Team’s first appearance under Berhalter.

The U.S. Team also will play in Cleveland, Ohio on June 22 and Kansas City, Kansas on June 26.

Can history repeat itself? And if it does, can you afford to miss it? The U.S. Team celebrated championship victories on the natural surface of Soldier Field in2007 and 2013 and if you count the number of years between 2007 and 2013, it’s the same as between 2013 and 2019.

“I think we have a great and challenging group,” says U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter. “When you prepareyourself to get through a difficult group like this, it sets you up for good things to come. We’re

“Our Gold Cup keeps on growing and we are excited about where it is today,” says CONCACAF General Secretary Philippe Mogglio. “We know that this edition is going to be the best ever in terms of audience, in terms of fans going to the games.”

Tickets to the Gold Cup are available by visiting www.GoldCup.org or calling Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Fans can also contact Soldier Field for box office hours, tickets and other information.

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ACROBATICS & ANTICS

ADD TO ALLURE OF MAJOR LEAGUE WRESTLING “Kings of Colosseum” event comes to Cicero July 6

By Chris Walker

E

Every week, wrestling fans can get their fill on the latest news and highlights by tuning in to Major League Wrestling’s television show, Fusion, from the comforts of home.

But get up off the couch, because for just $10 a ticket, fans can see all of this great wrestling in person as Major League Wrestling (MLW) presents MLW: Kings of Colosseum, a national TV taping for Fusion on July 6 at Cicero Stadium in Cicero.

“Our plan is to run at least four or five times in Chicago and to kind of make it one of our home bases for the Chicagoland area,” says MLW Chief Executive Officer and founder Court Bauer. “It will be a live national television broadcast via satellite and the best part is that with the escalation of ticket prices (elsewhere), our tickets are still $10 so a father can take his son and get a little something out of it, even be on TV and see some of the nation’s biggest wrestlers.”

While it’s too soon for MLW to leak too many details about Kings of Colosseum, including a full list of bouts, Court didn’t hold back with a little teaser about the main event as Dr. Wagner and Dr. Wagner Jr. will battle L.A. Park and his son, La Parka II. “That will be a big attraction and a big fight,” Bauer says. “A lot of Mexican wrestling aficionados are looking forward to it.”

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MLW was in Cicero in March for the Intimidation Games with “Filthy” Tom Lawlor retaining his title against Low Ki in a Steel Cage World Heavyweight Title rematch among other big bouts. Expect more of the same in July.

“A lot of wrestling fans like the authentic feel we have,” Bauer says. “And because 50 percent of our roster is Mexican or MexicanAmerican, we’re targeting some first and second generations and they really enjoy the acrobatic aspects, and it’s like Marvel characters coming to life with the vibrant masks and costumes.”

Fans that don’t want to miss out on seeing the MLW live should move quickly in purchasing tickets. The event in March sold out so they added 200 additional tickets that morning and those sold out as well. Bauer expects tickets to go quickly for this one too.

Last November, MLW hosted Fightland in Cicero, which Bauer acknowledged drew the most fans in MLW history at that time.

“We can make history and make it a threepeat(of sellouts) in Chicago,” Bauer says. “And growing up a Bulls fan, I like the thought of it.”

While wrestling has evolved thanks to social media and podcasts, fans are able to stay connected daily with happenings in the MLW, but still, nothing truly matches the experience of packing into a venue with other fans for a

night of non-stop wrestling action.

“Our digital product is very easy to get into,” Bauer says. “We’ve got 20 different podcasts and some are beating stuff from NBA and NFL guys, so people have a real appetite for this, but they also want to see it (themselves).”

Head to MLWTickets.com today to snag your tickets and then tune in to Fusion on Saturday nights at 8 p.m. on be IN Sports to gear up for a great night of wrestling later in July.

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D L R O W co r u o east

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By Kevin Druley

Summer recreation offers abundant opportunities to get outside and get moving.

As usual, running fits the bill for thousands of people in the suburbs, regardless of seasoning.

Whatever your age or stamina level, chances are there’s an organized run waiting for you. It’s also likely there’ll be upbeat supporters lining the course, offering a boost with their endless applause and chants of "keep going!"

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Here, Neighborhood Tourist offers a glance at runs throughout the Chicago area in June and July.

Included are websites to check updated times and registration information.  JUNE 2 NORTH SHORE CLASSIC Downtown Highland Park Get the running season going in style with a 5K or half marathon along a course that features some of Chicago’s marquee attractions along Lake Michigan. The 5K begins at 7 a.m., while the half marathon starts at 7:30.

Log on for more: www. northshoreclassic.com

 JUNE 2 PURE PIKERMI HALF MARATHON & RELAY Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove Whether going it solo or as part of a two-person, half marathon relay tandem, traverse a smooth, paved course along the Virgil Gilman Trail that covers the southern part of the western suburbs. Race starts at 7 a.m. Log on for more: www.runandachieve.com/purepikermi  JUNE 8 NOT ALL WOUNDS BLEED 5K LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, St. Charles A benefit run for Not All Wounds Bleed, a non-profit organization

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With miles and miles of trails throughout St. Charles connecting to adjacent communities, there is ample opportunity to explore the fox Valley area!

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• Improve self esteem & mental well being • Reduce risk of coronary heart disease & stroke • Help control weight & reduce body fat • Increase bone density

• Lower blood pressure • Reduce high cholesterol • Boost immune function • Live longer

Visit these beautiful parks & trails in St. Charles and get walking!

stcparks.org

Delnor Woods Park • East Side Sports Complex Fox River Trail • Great Western Trail Mt. St. Mary Park • Peck Road Trail Randall Road Trail • River Bend Community Park River Bend Trail • Virgil L. Gilman Trail Come & learn how Ronald Reagan got from a white house in Dixon, Illinois to

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that is working toward raising awareness and reducing the stigma of post-traumatic stress disorder. Race starts at 9 a.m.

Log on for more: www. notallwoundsbleed.com  JUNE 8 KENNETH YOUNG CENTER HUSTLE FOR HEALTH Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove Village Take part in this 5K run/walk to benefit the non-profit Kenneth Young Center, whose mission is to “help people of all ages overcome life’s challenges and achieve their goals through personalized behavioral health and older adult services.” Race starts at 9 a.m. Log on for more: www.kennethyoung.org  JUNE 8 NATIONAL 5K SCADADDLE FOR RESEARCH Danada Forest Preserve, 3S580 Naperville Road, Wheaton

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Run to benefit Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, a little-known condition that is the leading cause of heart attacks among women under 50, pregnant women and new moms.

Race starts at 9 a.m. Log on for more: www.scadresearch.org  JUNE 14 AND 15 CHRISTMAS IN JULY ENDURANCE RUNS Lisle Community Park, Lisle Moved up one month due to construction, this weekend of longer-than-your-averagereindeer distances offers not only a 5K, but six, 12- and 24-hour solo and relay runs. There are no penalties for walking, and relay teams can structure mileage as they see fit. Log on for more:

www.runners4wellness.com/ events/christmas-in-july-races/lisle  JUNE 15 A SALUTE TO SERVICE 5K 800 N. River St., Batavia Batavia American Legion Post 504 hosts this annual event, which this year celebrates patriotism in addition to the centennial anniversary of the American Legion. A shorter, military cadence run at 8 a.m. precedes the chip-timed 5K at 8:30. Log on for more: www. facebook.com/sts5k  JUNE 15 HARD CIDER RUN Jonamac Orchard, Malta This fun run with a tasty twist has all kinds of benefits and inclusions! You get entry to the 5K run or walk, an Ultra Soft T-shirt, perfect for the spring days ahead, a 2019 finisher’s medal and Commemorative bib, Chip timing with text/email notifications, a Glass of hard cider (regular cider also available) made locally at the orchard, with a Keepsake glass and free professional race photos.

Looking for more? Sign up for the Hungry Apple Challenge and you will enjoy a scrumptious donut at each mile marker. Eat all three, cross the finish line, and you’ll receive a second, exclusive The Hungry Apple Challenge medal! Find out more at www. thehardciderrun.com/events/ chicago-il-2019  JUNE 16 FATHER’S DAY 5K RUN/WALK Danada Forest Preserve, 3S580 Naperville Road, Wheaton Round up dear old Dad to work off some of that barbecue before

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you consume it. Race starts at 8 a.m., and the registration fee includes a T-shirt, water bottle and finisher medal (first 100 to register). Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed. Log on for more: www.runsignup. com/Race/IL/Wheaton/ FathersDay5kRunWalk  JUNE 16 FATHER’S DAY 10K & 5K Cary-Grove High School This event of the non-profit Trojan Track, Field & Cross Country Association celebrates fathers and sons, as well as men’s health.

Choose your distance and bring your appetite. A breakfast will be held in conjunction with the awards ceremony. Log on for more: ttcca.org/fathers-day-10k5k  JUNE 29 ROCK ‘N’ RUN THE RUNWAY Chicago Executive Airport, Wheeling Ever yearned to run or walk on an airport runway? Stop dreaming and start shuffling. Race starts at 8 a.m. Log on for more: www. rocknruntherunway.com  JULY 4 FREEDOM CLASSIC 5K Loch Lomond and Keith Mione parks, Mundelein If you can’t wait for evening fireworks, the exhilarating pop of a starter’s gun can be the next best thing for running enthusiasts. The first 400 paid registrants will receive a T-shirt.

Race starts at 8 a.m.

Log on for more: www. mundelein.org/mcd/node/76  JULY 6 REAGAN RUN 5K Dixon As part of the Dixon Petunia Festival, runners set off on this 20th annual 5k to benefit a bevy of local causes, including the athletic boosters, Dixon Main Street, the Dixon Park District, and YMCA Strong Kids. Entry includes options for a kids run and a corporate team challenge.

Visit www.reaganrun.com for details.  JULY 7 UNCLE SAM 5K Tap House Grill, 56 Wilson St., Palatine Keep your holiday weekend moving with a Saturday morning run that features an after-part at the Tap House following the festivities. Race starts at 9 a.m.

A half-mile Kids Dash begins at 8:40 and covers part of the 5K course. Log on for more: www. unclesam5K.com  JULY 20 THE GLO RUN HOFFMAN ESTATES 2046 Lakewood Blvd., Hoffman Estates This national running series includes a stop in Hoffman Estates and offers both a timed and “fun run” 5K. Wear something bright as you run under parts of an illuminated course. Race begins at 8:55 p.m. Log on for more: www.theglorun.com  JULY 20 HEMINGWAY 8K RUNNING OF THE BULLS Oak Park Toro! Famed American author Ernest Hemingway had a welldocumented fondness for the annual Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. This 4.97-mile event aims to capture some of the ambiance while treating runners to a fast, flat course that’s devoid of big, horned animals. As far as we know. Race starts at 7:45 a.m., with kids events and awards to follow. Log on for more: www. hemingway8k.com  JULY 24 SUMMER SUNSET 5K AND YOUTH RACES Geneva High School Athletic Complex, 799 Gray St., Geneva Round up the whole family for this 21st annual staple of the Tri-Cities, which offers a onemile race for youth as well as a junior jog and toddler trot before the marquee event, which starts at 7:05 p.m. Proceeds for the event benefit the Fox River Trail Runners Youth Scholarship Fund. Log on for more: www. foxrivertrailrunners.org/racing/ summer-sunset-5k/  JULY 28 CHRISTMAS IN JULY 5K 101 N. Johnson St., Woodstock Get active and festive for this themed run that benefits the Woodstock Christmas Clearing House. Race awards for eight age groups are distributed, and there’s also a prize for the best Christmas contest. Registration fee includes a T-shirt and reindeer antler sunglasses. Race starts at 8 a.m.

Log on for more: www.runsignup. com/Race/IL/Woodstock/ ChristmasinJuly5KWoodstock

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Dijon Brussels Sprouts 6 Cups Brussels Sprouts, trimmed and cut in half 2 tsp Olive Oil 4 tsp Agave Nectar 4 tsp Dijon Mustard 1 Tbs White Miso 3 Garlic Cloves, minced Quinoa prepared according to package directions

Toss the Brussels with the oil and spread out on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 for 10-15 mins, or until fork tender and nicely browned. In a bowl, stir the agave, mustard, miso and garlic. Add the cooked Brussels to the mixture and stir. Serve atop the Quinoa. Enjoy!

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WHY WAIT

— for the —

WEEKEND?

Located less than two hours from Chicago, it’s hard to believe that stunning scenic overlooks, majestic canyons and seasonal waterfalls are waiting for you to explore their beauty. All of this and historic Starved Rock Lodge are nestled within Starved Rock State Park located near Utica, Illinois.

Why wait for the weekend? Escape to Starved Rock!Take our suggestion and book a midweek getaway.You’ll find a greater sense of peace and quiet than you would on the weekends.Kick back and unwind in the indoor pool, hot tub and sauna or schedule a therapeutic,hot stone massage.

At Starved Rock Lodge, the past is powerfully present in the warm, old-fashioned hospitality that has never gone out of style. It’s been the hallmark of this charming destination since guests first stepped through the doors back in the late 1930’s. Built by the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the ambiance of yesteryear is still present in the Lodge and cabins.

Outdoor adventure awaits with a hike to the top of the Rock being first on the list of fun things to do.

Add a river cruise aboard the Eagle I with lunch or dinner included in your ticket price. Hike the trails on your own or go with an experienced guide like Geology Joe. He’ll tell you fun facts and turn your walk in the park into a wonderful memory.

A wide variety of midweek overnight packages are available from “History on Horseback” at Cedar Creek Ranch to the “Hops & Hideaway” option which lets you try craft beer at Tangled Roots Brewing Company.

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Celebrate a special occasion and toast to it with Starved Rock Bubbly or visit August Hill Winery and see why their award-winning wines are among the best on the market.

Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner in the Main Dining Room. Outdoor dining on the Veranda combines great food with the best view in LaSalle County.

There’s no better way to learn about the rich past of Starved Rock than on a Historic Trolley Tour (offered daily from June-October).One of the most popular activities are the musical tribute shows in the Great Hall.These matinees are paired with a delicious lunch buffet.From Nashville to Broadway,the talented vocalists will take you on a nostalgic walk down memory lane when you attend a “Tribute to the Stars” performance.

Call the friendly staff toll-free at (800) 868-7625 or visit the Lodge website to learn more: starvedrocklodge.com W H E R E T H E PA S T I S A LWAY S P R E S E N T T M

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THE 27th ANNUAL

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HIT LIST Sights to be seen and adventures to be had around the region, and throughout the season!

The giant trolls on view at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle have inspired fantasy, play and a touch of treasure hunting. This season these sculptures remain, and joining them is another display and a hands-on sculpture program, thanks to the folks at LEGO and artist Sean Kenney.

From May 24 through Sept. 15, check out the craftsmanship of 15 displays created entirely from LEGO bricks, found along pathways through the Arboretum’s east side. New highlights of the 2019 exhibition include a bee midflight, an oak tree sprouting from an acorn, and a pileated woodpecker with a bright crimson crest. The imaginative displays are the work of Kenney, a New York– based artist and “professional kid.”

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 SUBURBS TO BECOME THE LAND of LEGOS THIS SUMMER

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Kids and families can create their own LEGO brick masterpieces in the Arboretum’s Children’s Garden from May through September. An updated schedule of events will be available closer to the exhibition’s opening, at mortonarb.org.

Still longing for LEGO? Head to Brookfield Zoo for Brick Safari. The temporary exhibit, which continues through September 29, features more than 40 life-size animal sculptures created from millions of individual colored LEGO® bricks.

Brookfield Zoo is the first venue in North America to display the international traveling exhibit. The menagerie of animals will be located along a winding wooded pathway on the east side of the park.

Many of the sculptures are based on some Brookfield Zoo favorites—the giraffe, snow leopard, and pangolin. After checking out

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these amazing figures, guests can go visit their live counterparts that reside at the zoo. Additionally, guests will encounter some animals they would not normally see at Brookfield Zoo, including an elephant holding its trunk high and a giant panda with its playful cubs.

Colorful graphics featuring interesting animal facts and statistics such as the size of each figure, how many bricks were used to build each one, and the

 SPORT OF KINGS TAKES TO THE FIELD IN OAK BROOK and OSWEGO If you like horses, and doing something new, and spending a day in the sun, check out a polo match. Considered by many as “the sport of kings,” polo offers a glimpse at an activity once reserved for regality, which still carries with it a majesty not often found at the ballpark or soccer field.

At the Oak Brook Polo Club, the sport has become a Sunday staple for those in a small town once considered the “polo capital” of the world. Founded in 1922, the Club’s long and storied history has nicknamed the Village of Oak Brook “Polo Town” by many in the global polo community. Its founder, Paul Butler, has been coined as the “Patron Saint of Polo” for resurrecting the sport following World War II and making a home ‘the town that polo built.’

The upcoming 2019 season will feature the return of popular matches such as Horses & Horsepower (at the June 9 season opener), Butler Challenge and Jaguar Concours along with the highly attended “Horses & Hops” beer festival on August 18. Two new sideline events that will take place in conjunction with matches include “Horses & Harleys” on August 4 and and “Sips & Saddles” champagne and

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amount of time it took to create each sculpture are displayed.

Open during zoo hours, admission to Brick Safari is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and over. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Brookfield Zoo members receive half off admission price. General zoo admission is $21.95 for adults and $15.95 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and over. Park is $14.

wine festival Sept. 15.

In addition to the signature International Polo Series, Oak Brook Polo will host two USPA sanctioned 8-goal tournaments, the prestigious Chicago Polo Open and newly formed Oak Brook Polo Open, presented by Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse.

Matches are held at the Prince of Wales Field (2606 York Road), located just 17 miles from downtown Chicago. Make it a day with a pre-polo brunch at the adjoining Drake Hotel.

Visit www.oakbrookpoloclub.com or call 630.368.5095 for ticket options and availability.

Further west, at Arranmore Farm and Polo Club in Oswego, the mood is decidedly more casual. Weekend polo is laid back and family friendly.

There’s a cash bar, food vendors, and a halftime divot-stomp everyone can enjoy.

SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDE: • June 30 – Women’s Invitational, which will bring in the best of the best of women’s polo from across the country.

• August 17 – the Arranmore Classic, a signature tournament event.

Group pricing, private tents and rental spaces are available.

Midweek, guests over 21 can relax with casual, tailgating B.Y.O.B. Wine Down Wednesdays – the ultimate polo tailgating experience – where a late afternoon match is open to the public, who chill out to watch with blankets, folding tables and chairs. The evening events are followed by live music as part of Arranmore’s Flatbed Concert Series.

Visit http://www. arranmorefarmandpoloclub.com for a complete schedule and details.

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 GREAT SCOT! ANNUAL FESTIVAL RETURNS TO NORTHWEST SUBURBS Tartan-clad dogs, whiskey tastings, and haggis hurling?

It’s a weekend you wont want to miss as the largest Scottish cultural organization in North America, the CHICAGO SCOTS, provides entertainment and Scottish culture at their annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games.

On Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 at Hamilton Lakes in Itasca the events will showcase an extravaganza

 GO BIRDWATCHING WITH THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF WILL COUNTY A series of naturalist-led bird hikes will be offered at several Forest Preserve District of Will County sites. This is the perfect time of the year to spot migrating birds because tree leaves are still emerging.

The programs are for both beginners and experienced birders. The free bird hikes will take place from 8-10 a.m.

of Scottish activities and attractions, all without buying a plane ticket. Proceeds from the festival benefit CHICAGO SCOTS’ two principal charities, the Caledonia Senior Living Center, which includes The Scottish Home and the Caledonian House.

This lively event is a chance to enjoy friends and family, good music, good food, and more. For more information, event schedules, competition registration forms or to purchase tickets, visitwww. scottishfestivalchicago.org for more details.

on these dates and at these locations: • June 1, Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete Township • June 2, Hickory Creek Preserve – LaPorte Road Access, Shagbark Grove Shelter, Mokena • June 8, Rock Run Preserve – Black Road Access, Joliet Registration is required at the June 8 bird hike.

Program registration and details are available atReconnectWithNature.org.

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