Best of the Fox_October 2019

E AT LO CA L . D R I N K LO CA L . S H O P LO CA L . L I V E LO CA L .

Farm sourced flavors, from Kendall to Crystal Lake Page 18

Vintage treasures discovered in Batavia and Geneva Page 28

SPECIAL SECTION

Behind the scenes with our Best of the Fox Winners Page 39

Historic c venues play host to music and more PAGE 7

BOF_102419.indd 1

10/10/19 11:59 AM

COMMITTED

230 W. State Street | Geneva, Illinois | 630.232.2085 www.statestreetjewelers.com BOF_102419.indd 2

10/10/19 11:59 AM

Create

Signature Scent

100 + Fragrances Endless Custom Scent Possibilities

This Holiday Season Give the Gift of Experience

Candles | Room Sprays | Reed Diffusers | Wax Tarts | Lotion | Sugar Scrubs | Body Mist Parties | Fundraisers | Wedding Favors | BYOB

211 W. State St, Geneva, IL • 630.730.9302 BOF_102419.indd 3

10/10/19 11:59 AM

STAFF

Hello, and welcome to Best of the Fox, where we celebrate all the best things about living life in the bustling and beautiful Fox River Valley!

From Fox River Grove down to Plano, and all the places in between, it's your one stop for all the best of life in the region.

In the pages that follow, you’ll find delicious dining, exciting nightlife, fabulous family events and places to shop ‘til you drop!

Additionally, we introduce you to some of the winners of our Best of the Fox Reader’s Choice contests, where readers of our sister publications from all our Fox River Valley communities have chosen their favorite businesses, organizations and locales. We’ll share their stories of success with you in this issue!

Even more stories, dining reviews, features, and expansive events calendar can be found online, as well as great local deals on all the places you want to go!

Stay in touch with all that’s happening up and down the Fox River on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Even better, subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter, delivered right to your inbox …just in time for making weekend plans! It highlights some of the best things to see and do in the days and evenings to come. Sign up online for free!

From dining to date night, festivals and food, concerts, shopping, family events and more – take a look and discover why life is better along the Fox. Thanks for reading.

We hope you enjoy this premiere edition of our print magazine, but it’s just a complement to the tremendous online resource you’ll find in our digital edition, at www.bestofthefox.com.

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

Sherri Dauskurdas Editor bestofthefox@shawmedia.com

Subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter, delivered right to your inbox ...just in time for making weekend plans! It highlights some ofthe best things to see and do in thedays and evenings to come. Sign up online for free at www.bestofthefox.com/subscribe

4

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 4

10/10/19 11:59 AM

What's

Raue Center for the Arts gives voice to comics, poets and writers

9

12

St. Charles rocks, as historic Arcada Theater welcomes series of rock shows this fall.

14

A Friday evening in downtown Aurora highlights all that is offered in the City of Lights, by night.

Bag your old dinner routine for some messy fun at Crabby Boil.

SHOPPING

Hemmens Cultural Center showcases Elgin’s Growing arts community.

Farm-sourced flavors are the focus at restaurants across the region.

23

The Listening Room At Lakeside enters the season offering up music, comedy, poetry, dance in an intimate setting.

10

20

24

Armed with expertise, authors and a great cup of coffee, indie bookstores find a niche in the heart of our downtowns.

28

Shop ‘til you drop at vintage locales across Kane County, and beyond!

30

New Geneva store is one part Harry Potter, one part home, sweet home.

RECREATION

8

Whatever you're craving, there’s a local craft beer to satisfy in a city nearby.

32

SAVE THE DATE

Live jazz is making an impact for charity, monthly in Yorkville.

16

34

READER'S CHOICE

6

FOOD & DRINK

NIGHT LIFE

INSIDE

39

From turkey trots to chili chases, there’s a variety of seasonal runs and walks to keep you moving.

Mark your calendars for brilliant holiday events in towns up and down the Fox River Valley, and don’t forget to plan a trip to a Christmas Tree farm!

An inside look at some of the winners of our annual Best of the Fox awards.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 5

5

10/10/19 11:59 AM

z z a j MAKES C

LOCAL MUSICIANS JAM FOR CHARITY, MONTHLY IN YORKVILLE

BY KEVIN DRULEY

T C A P M I Y T OMMUNI ike Schwebke discovered his passion for jazz during college. A few years later, he helped transform his hometown into an understated destination for the improvisational music.

As “The Jazz Trials,” a monthly open jazz jam session at The Law Office Pub & Music Hall, 226 S. Bridge St., Yorkville, hailed its third anniversary this summer, Schwebke, happily reflected on the past while envisioning a vibrant future.

“Interestingly, there’s a ton of really fantastic jazz musicians way out in the suburbs,” Schwebke says. “There’s a lot of jam sessions in Chicago and in bigger cities, but this kind of fills a … need for these people to not quite have to go so far to participate in the jazz scene.”

Many musicians and attendees also spread their influence without even playing or hearing a note.

6

True to the oft- off-the-cuff nature of jazz, Schwebke and Law Office owner Boyd Ingemunson discovered the potential for a charitable element to the event shortly after “The Jazz Trials” started its run from 7 to 10 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month.

An idea that first conceived of “celebrity bartenders” from neighboring Yorkville establishments preparing and serving drinks during the jam soon did one better.

These days, the “celebrity bartenders” represent various non-profit groups, largely from northern Illinois, and all tips benefit the organization featured during that month’s jam.

Schwebke says many groups can earn between $300 to $500 in a night.

“They don’t have to rent the space, they don’t have to buy the alcohol, they don’t have to do anything like that,” Schwebke says. “And it usually

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 6

10/10/19 11:59 AM

takes only a volunteer or two to do it.”

Past participants include the Kendall County Veterans Association and Oswego Senior Center.

“A lot of the musicians who come out to the jam sessions ask, ‘Oh, who are we supporting tonight?’ and a lot of people that come out to the bar ask, ‘What musicians are playing?

What charity is here?’ So it’s a big, mutually beneficial, shared part of the experience.”

Schwebke, a steel pan player who splits time between Yorkville and New Mexico, where his fiancé lives, and also travels to perform in various jazz festivals, relishes the opportunity to collaborate, whether onstage or away from it.

Jazz styles and instrumentation change on the fly, as do musicians’ ZIP codes. Schwebke says some contributors have traveled from Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin to join in the southwest suburban fun. The more, the merrier.

While “The Jazz Trials” house band remains constant – Johnny Gifford on drums, Eric Smith on bass and Carla Robinson on keyboard – the venue invites and encourages any interested musician to join.

“That’s one of the other cool things about jazz,” Schwebke says, “is that you don’t have to just play what people expect. You can always try something different. You can do a jazz version of your favorite rock

‘nroll tune. You can do anything with jazz. It’s a very, very broad medium.”

For more information on “The Jazz Trials,” visit the event’s Facebook page or call The Law Office at (630) 882-9559.

The November jam session operates on Nov. 21 to avoid conflict with Thanksgiving and the event is not held in December.

Are you looking for ways to expand or streamline your business?

we are here to meet your needs.

St. Charles 10 Illinois Street | (630) 549-7065

www.sterbank.com

Local bank, Local lenders. | Your future Is with Us! BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 7

7

10/10/19 11:59 AM

Crystal Lake creative RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS GIVES VOICE TO COMICS, POETS AND WRITERS

t

hose familiar with downtown Crystal Lake have no witnesses a show or two at the Raue Center of the Arts. This historic theater plays host to rock bands, blues artists, gospel singers and big name comics. But this local gem’s true value is perhaps found in the voice it gives to independent artists, up-and-coming writers, and new talent.

Whether it’s via the William Street Repertory Theatre’s drama and comedy programs, open mic opportunities in the café, or author nights and discussions, Raue Center has established itself as a haven for creative souls, and a resource to anyone in the Fox River Valley seeking inspiration as well as entertainment.

 WSREP’S READING SERIES Select Mondays at 7 p.m.

Free admission This program is dedicated to showcasing new scripts and emerging playwrights, giving the audience an artist’s perspective of the play on the page and bringing audiences & theater artists together to share and discuss a wide range of exciting new work. Come for the reading and stay for our discussion afterward. The new play reading of today may become the MainStage production of tomorrow!

This season, a variety of such opportunities fill the Raue calendar. Here are just a few:

The next session is offered Jan. 13, featuring Bullets, Nickels, Dimes, and Life by Jeremy Kehoe, directed

by Pat Henderson.

 WSREP IMPROV COMEDY Select Thursdays at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $10 (at the door)

 LUCY’S COMEDY CAFÉ Select Friday nights at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets: $20 ($25 at the Door)

Sketch comedy is written, scripted, and rehearsed, honed through work and time. improv comedy is wild, spontaneous, and real, on the spot and on the line. WSRep Comedy has brought these two forms together for one glorious, glamorous, conglomerate show, and they hope to bring you in, too. Upcoming dates: Oct. 31, Nov. 21, Dec. 19

Now in its ninth season and selling out almost every event, Lucy’s Comedy Café is one of Raue Center’s longest-running programs and the cornerstone of our comedy programming. This hilarious series has featured amazing regional and national comedians including Dwayne Kennedy, Rocky LaPorte, Denise Medina, John DaCosse, Mike Preston, Pat Tomasulo, Tim Benker and many more.

Upcoming shows are on Nov. 8, Dec. 6, and Jan. 10.

 POETRY NIGHT Every second Wednesday of the month from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Raue Center Café Free admission Poetry night offers an evening excursion into the written word and an opportunity for anyone in the room to become a beatnik emboldened to sing songs or pen poems that delight and excite! Coffee, wine, and beer are available for purchase at Raue Center’s Café bar.  WRITER’S SERIES Select Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m.

Free admission Raue Center for the Arts hosts Writer’s Series every firstst Wednesday of the month in our cafe. We are looking for submissions of fiction, non-fiction, children books, and anything in between! Join us for a reading of an excerpt from the piece, a brief discussion and Q&A, and booking signing!

To discover more about all the offerings at the Raue Center for the Arts, visit online at www.rauecenter. org/ For information on Williams Street Repertory programs specifically, visit www.wsrep.org

t

he building that is now Raue Center for the Arts opened in 1929 as El Tovar. As a movie and vaudeville theatre, it showcased the thrilling new “talkies” and the troupes who wheeled into town on tour with their exotic, entertaining gear and costumes. During the 1960s, area theatre groups used the theatre for musicals and plays between film showings. El Tovar eventually became The Lake, and then turned into the downtown Showplace. It was renovated in 2001, thanks to a substantial donation toward downtown rehabilitation from longtime resident Lucile Raue, Today, the Raue Center enthusiastically brings you the opportunity to witness contemporary, vibrant performing arts on a state-of-the-art stage. These performances provide people with the unique opportunity to connect with an audience in a truly intimate and exhilarating space. If you’re interested in a historic tour, contact us today at cquinn@rauecenter.org .

8

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 8

10/9/19 4:16 PM

Listen locally THE LISTENING ROOM AT LAKESIDE ENTERS SEASON OFFERING UP MUSIC, COMEDY, POETRY, DANCE IN AN INTIMATE SETTING

BY KEVIN DRULEY

S

mall venues have long been favorites of musicians and fans alike, for the intimacy and connection between artist and audience they provide. Some of the best shows have no doubt been offered in dive bars, small clubs, or at private events.

But one of the best local venues on the smaller side is right in Crystal Lake’s famed Lakeside Legacy Arts Park. “The Listening Room” as it is known, has become a neighborhood treasure on its own merit, earning Best of the Fox recognition for “Best Place to Listen to Live Music” in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

Energized by new leadership, the brain trust at the venue located at the Dole Mansion, 401 Country Club Road, likes its odds to extend that even-year reign.

New co-executive directors Nancy Merkling and Janet Kay are striving to offer a vision intent on keeping McHenry County residents and other visitors enlightened and entertained.

“They are a dynamic duo who bring a wealth of experience and creativity to our Dole family,” Lakeside Arts Park event and program manager Betty Kay Swanson said. “With their guidance, we are bringing a fresh approach to all of our programming and expanding our offerings to appeal to the community we serve.”

Merkling and Kay, local residents who both share backgrounds in the arts as professional photographers, will look to provide a varied lens of offerings for visitors.

After the venue was slated to host a concert from Chicago-based singer-songwriter Pat McKillen and later a Harvest Dance Night featuring a 20-piece big band earlier in the fall, events for the remainder of 2019 include: 

On Nov. 2, from 6 to 11 p.m., a bash to honor the what would have been the 200th birthday of Charles Dole, the mansion namesake and original owner

known as Lakeland Farm when he purchased more than 1,000 acres of land overlooking Crystal Lake in the 1860s. 

On Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a familyfriendly “Winterfest” event featuring an artisan fair, pictures with Santa Claus and other children’s activities, tours of the Dole Mansion and live music and storytelling in the Listening Room.

For tickets or more information about either event, call (815) 455-8000 or visit www. lakesideartspark.com.

Swanson said additional shows – and an accelerated event landscape – are in the works for the new year.

“Beginning in 2020, the Dole will launch a fuller programming schedule of three to four live performances per month,” Swanson said.

“Programs will include musical performances across genres – jazz, rock, blues, classical, comedy/improv nights, poetry slams, open mic nights, theatrical performances and dance nights.

“This will continue to foster the Dole as a destination for live entertainment in Crystal Lake and McHenry County.”

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 9

9

10/10/19 11:59 AM

Hemmens Cultural Center SHOWCASES ELGIN’S GROWING ARTS COMMUNITY

BY VICKI MARTINKA PETERSEN

W

hile taking a stroll along the Fox River in downtown Elgin, visitors might be greeted by the sounds of a concerto drifting out of the majestic Hemmens Cultural Center during a concert. The 1,200-seat threatre sets the stage for a variety of concerts and theatrical productions.

The theatre is named after the late Hattie Pease Hemmens, a prominent Elgin resident. When Pease Hemmens passed away in 1957, she left over $1 million to the City of Elgin to create a community building and auditorium. Her gift kicked off a revitalization in downtown Elgin that led to the creation of a Civic Center featuring the Hemmens Cultural Center, city hall, post office and the Gail Borden Public Library.

Since opening in 1969, the Hemmens Cultural Center has set the stage for many famous performers, including B.B. King, Bob Newhart and Ides of March.

Today the center serves as an artistic haven for local performers and serves as the home of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

The Hemmens Cultural Center is easily accessible in downtown Elgin with two large street parking lots and a parking deck. The Civic Center lot, located at the corner of Douglas and Highland Avenues, is centered between the Hemmens and many local restaurants.

The center is also a short walk from one of Elgin’s Metra stations.

10

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 10

10/10/19 11:59 AM

A Wonderful Vintage Inn On 8 Acres Within the City of Geneva

Bed & Breakfast

Pet Friendly Accommodations

Weddings & Events Large or Small

 The Elgin Symphony Orchestra will perform the first weekend in November kicking off with the music of Ravel’s Mother Goose ballet during Inside the Music of Andrew Grams from 8 to 10 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 1. Then from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, and from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, violinist Adele Anthony will join the orchestra to perform the international journey of Bolero!

Chabrier, Edwards & Ravel.  Step into the Hemmens’ Cabaret Theater in the Round as improvisers create theatrical productions based on audience suggestions and stories during the First Friday Improvs presented by GreenRoom Productions. Upcoming performances will be from 8 to 9:45 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, and Friday, Dec. 6.

 Explore a whole new world when the Christian Youth Theatre presents Aladdin Jr. from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9.  The Children’s Theatre of Elgin will present The Legend of Hercules from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, and Friday, Nov. 15.

Additional showtimes will be 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16; and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17.

UPCOMING EVENTS Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday, November 28th (Two seatings 11:30 & 2pm)

 Kick off the holiday season with the 2019 Chicago Ballet Conservatory production of The Nutcracker, performed by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Local actors and dancers along with professional performers will bring this holiday classic to life. Performances will be 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8.

The Hemmens Cultural Center is located at 45 Symphony Way in Elgin. For more information, call (847) 931-5900 or visit www. hemmens.org.

Williamsburg Christmas Dinner Thursday, December 12th 7pm CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD HOLIDAY LUNCHEONS Saturday, Dec. 7th - Germany Saturday, Dec. 14th - Italy Saturday Dec. 21st - The Old South SM-CL1700923

Check out this piece of Elgin’s history for yourself during an upcoming event:

1800 West State Street, Geneva, IL 60134 (630) 232-0173 • nina@oscarswan.com www.OscarSwan.com BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 11

11

10/10/19 11:59 AM

St. Charles AT THE HISTORIC ARCADA THEATER

rocks

November is gonna be loud.

At the historic Arcada Theater, the schedule is set to bring listeners along the Fox some of the best live classic rock music they’ll find anywhere.

Tributes. Superstars. Veteran rockers.

You’ll be singing in the aisles and dancing in the streets.

There’s so much music to be had in November, that it starts on Halloween and doesn’t wrap until it’s time to go Christmas shopping.

Here’s just a taste of what’s to come this season at the Arcada. For a full lineup of music events, stage shows and more, visit www. arcadalive.com  LIVE DEAD ’69 50TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE Grateful Dead And Flying Burrito Bros.

THURSDAY, OCT. 31 | 7:30 PM LIVE DEAD ‘69: The 50th anniversary of the original Wwoodstock festival! Featuring original grateful dead pianist Tom Constanten with other special guests, performing the Grateful Dead’s Woodstock set and an all-star tribute to the flying burrito bros.  THE MUSIC OF CREAM: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CONTINUES! SUNDAY, NOV. 3 | 7:00 PM Ginger Baker‘s son Kofi Baker, Jack Bruce‘s son Malcolm Bruce and Eric Clapton‘s nephew by marriage Will Johns—have come together for the first time in North America to pay homage to the band’s extraordinary legacy with The Music of Cream.

12

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 12

10/10/19 11:59 AM

The Arcada Theatre is located in the heart of historic downtown St. Charles. The theatre was opened on Labor Day, September 6, 1926, engaging projection of silent movies and the staging of live vaudeville acts. Except for brief periods of renovation, it has remained continuously open. It now houses live concerts, arts events, comedy acts and community events.

Upstairs from the main theater, the Arcada houses a small supper club and speakeasy, Club Arcada, featuring a Roaring ‘20s theme and hosting cabaret singers, Broadway acts, comediens and more. The Original Club Arcada opened in the space in the 1930s, just as Prohibition was ending. Club Arcada is open Friday and Saturday evenings. Reservations are recommended. For a full lineup of scheduled performers visit clubarcada.com

 WINGER FEATURING JANET GARDNER FORMERLY OF VIXEN SATURDAY, NOV. 9 | 8:00 PM Winger is a hard rock band from New York City. Their debut album, Winger, came out on Atlantic Record’s label in 1988 and achieved platinum status in the United States and gold in Japan and Canada. It spawned such hits as “Seventeen” and “Headed for a Heartbreak.” The band toured for over a years with Bad Company, Scorpions, Cinderella, Bon Jovi, Poison, Skid Row and Tesla.  AMERICA FRIDAY, NOV 15 and SATURDAY NOV. 16 | 8:00 PM Founding members, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (along with former band mate Dan Peek) met in high school in London in the late 1960s and quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song “A Horse With No Name.” Forty plus years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound.  PATTY SMYTH OF SCANDAL THURSDAY, NOV. 21 | 7:30 PM Back on the road and raring to play for fans new and old! Come out and here the classics like, “The Warrior”, Only the Young”, “All I Want”, and “Another Bad Love”.

I am beyond excited to be VOTED BEST FOR BOARDING/DAYCARE! I really can’t thank you all enough for taking the time to vote for me. This truly has been a dream come true and I LOVE every minute of it.

 HUMBLE PIE SATURDAY, NOV. 23 | 8:00 PM

~Corie Gavin

Best known for blazing a trail of high-octane hits like “I Don’t Need No Doctor,” “Natural Born Boogie, and “30 Days in the Hole,” as well as for their acclaimed albums Performance Rockin’ the Fillmore and Smokin,’ rock icons Humble Pie represent the very pinnacle of early-‘70s British blues-rock.

815.509.8341 Sandwich

 CORNERSTONES OF ROCK The Buckinghams, The Ides Of March, The New Colony Six, The Cryan’ Shames, And The Shadows Of Knight SATURDAY, NOV. 30 | 8:00 PM Cornerstones of Rock featuring The Buckinghams, The Cryan Shames, The New Colony Six, The Shadows of Knight, The Ides of March and other surprise guests!!! The first special in the series will bring together Chicago area’s iconic rock groups of the 1960s and ’70s for a once-in-a-lifetime concert special.  1ST SHOW SOLD OUT! THE BEATLES’ WHITE ALBUM 50TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW #2 MONDAY, DEC. 2 | 7:30 PM In celebration of The Beatles 50th Anniversary of the White Album, Flower Power Concerts, Inc presents It Was Fifty Years Ago Today - Tour 2019 - A Tribute To The Beatles’ White Album feat. Christopher Cross, Todd Rundgren, Micky Dolenz (The Monkees), Jason Scheff (Chicago) and Joey Molland (Badfinger)! Musical Director: Joey Curatolo (the musical director of RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles).

We’re Flattered To Be Voted One Of The Best Massage!

Why Knot Massage?

Why wait? Start feeling your best by making your custom massage appointment today! Come feel what everyone is talking about.

Why Knot Massage?

Sandra Taormina,

BCTMB, LMT Board Certified Licensed Massage Therapist

By Appointment Only: 630.485.8148 or whyknotmassage12@gmail.com facebook.com/whyknotmassagetoday/ BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 13

13

10/10/19 11:59 AM

th he City of Lights

t h g i n y b

14

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 14

10/10/19 11:59 AM

DOWNTOWN AURORA BOASTS BRILLIANT NIGHTLIFE FILLED WITH FOOD, MUSIC, LIVE SHOWS AND MORE PHOTOS BY ANTHONY TORTORIELLO

The courtyard at The Venue is lit and walkable.

Late night at Endiro Cafe means wine and live acoustic music.

Art Bar, at Two Brothers Part of First Fridays in Aurora

A Two Brothers Roundhouse offer food, beer, comedy nights, live music and more.

s the “big city” along the Fox, it’s not surprising that Aurora has become a destination for after hours entertainment. The selection of bars and restaurants, theater and comedy, live music and festivals is second to none in the Fox River Valley. One of the city’s signature evening events, First Fridays, highlights all that’s at the ready, each and every weekend in Aurora.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 15

15

10/10/19 12:00 PM

Whatever YOU'RE craving, there’s a local craft beer to satisfy

By Diane Krieger Spivak

16

T

he art of brewing beer has been aroundd ffor liliterally ll thousands h d of years. The simple, five-step process uses four main ingredients: hops, water, malted barley and yeast. It’s the combinations of those ingredients and additives, devised through the creativity of craft brewers, that give craft beers their unique flavors.

No where is that more evident than in our communitites of the Fox River Valley, where independent brewers are popping up with taprooms and tasting shops up and down the Fox. It’s worth noting that more than a few of these brewers got there start from Ed Seaman at the Home Brew Shop in St Charles. Once an

engineer with an established tech career, he h followed f ll d his hi dream d off brewing b i his hi own beer and never looked back. He’s been operating Home Brew shop since 1990, brewing craft beer, making wine and cider, and perhaps most importantly, teaching classes of aspiring beermakers the craft. It could be said that Ed helped mold the craft beer cuture in the Fox River Valley, and for that we thank him. Visit his shop and bar, Broken Brix, at 225 W. Main Street in St. Charles.

But here in Best of the Fox magazine, we’re showcasing a few of the newest craft breweries, established in 2018 or 2019, where you can kick back and enjoy a cold one right here in the Fox Valley area:

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 16

10/10/19 12:00 PM

2019

 D&G BREWING 303 N 4th St Suite A, St. Charles (773) 203-2325 | andgbrewing.com

 HARDWARE 2000 W Orchard Rd North Aurora (630) 299-3977 | eathardware.com/

Former criminal justice professors Alex Drayer and Brittany Groot made their way back to Groots’ roots in the Fox Valley from their teaching gigs in Colorado when one of their contracts expired. Drayer told his wife he wanted to start a brewery, so last year they opened D&G Brewing in St. Charles

Although it opened in 2016, we include Hardware, an “avant garde sustainable gastropub and brewery,” because the brewery section of the establishment was basically reinvented in 2018 with a new brewmaster, Bob Salzman, former assistant brewer at Crystal Lake Brewery. Hardware has its own onsite greenhouse and organic hop farm.

“We just hired our first employee,” says Groot. The couple started home brewing 8 years ago. “We had just bought our house in Colorado and hit up a local brewery where a table of homebrewers behind us told us about each of the five or so different beers we were trying.” The couple joined their home brew club and the rest is history.

D&G Brewing has 12 beers on tap, including 11 unique varieties. “Most who walk into our brewery aren’t craft brew nerds, geeks or snobs.

We’re traditionalists and big fans of making the cleanest, best version of style you’re having,” says Groot. “We don’t add a lot of strange things. We like to offer a wide variety of beers and always trying to perfect a recipe.

We’re just trying to be your friendly neighborhood brewery.

As with most of the breweries listed here, D&G offers its customers the options of bringing in or ordering in their own food, or buying from food trucks.

“We have 7 year-round beers that run the gamut from cream ale, pale ale (Earl the Pearl is our flagship), porter, stout, Saison, and a couple extra tap handles for different other styles, says Salzman. Try their New England IPA, Belgian Dubbel and Imperial Stout. Salzman switches out new ones around every month, and keeps tabs on what customers want.

“A lot of breweries are doing fruit and milkshake beers. I don’t do that. I’m more traditional,” says the certified beer judge. “I learned the hundreds of years of old high-quality style beers.”

 HOLZLAGER BREWING COMPANY 150A S Eastwood Dr, Woodstock holzlagerbrewing.com Holzlager is the newest craft brewery in this group, slated to open in September, 2019 in a renovated former Ace Hardware building in Woodstock. Holzlager is the brainchild of friends Charles Moran, Mario Cortez and Travis Slepcevich, who met at their day jobs three years ago. Slepcevich, an electrical and automation engineer by day, was a

VOTED THE BEST BBQ IN KENDALL COUNTY!

VISIT US ON

FOR UPCOMING EVENTS

129 E. HYDRAULIC ST. DOWNTOWN YORKVILLE

630-385-2477

WWW.SOUTHBANKORIGINALBARBECUE.COM

Lunch • Dinner Cocktails Catering • Dine-In Carry-Out • Delivery

Thanks to our patrons

for Voting us One of the Best for Chinese Food in the area.

BATAVIA 9 S. Randall Road

(630) 879-5668

BATAVIA 140 W. Wilson Street

AURORA 3450 Montgomery Rd.

(630) 898-8889

(630) 879-7676 NORTH AURORA 915 Oak Street

(630) 896-8876

www.eastchinainn.com

SM-CL1705144

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 17

17

10/10/19 12:00 PM

Thanks For Your Votes!

We've built our reputation as a one-stop shop that helps friends and neighbors stay safe on the road with honest and reliable automotive service.

2019

LYLE'S AUTOMOTIVE SM-CL1705968

Brakes • Oil Changes • Motor Work 118 E. South St. (Rt. 34 & Hale St.), Plano

630.273.2052

From our entire team of dedicated professionals

Thank you for Voting LMM & Associates, Inc

The BEST Accountant in McHenry County!

11017 N. Woodstock St. Huntley, IL 847-458-2460 www.LauraMraz.com

FLOORING AND MORE

THE NAME YOU CAN TRUST Thank you for making us one of the only McHenry County carpet cleaning & flooring locations to win awards every year!!

We appreciate your Thank you for your vote business.

17 years in a row.

A DIVISION OF

Howell’s

CARPET CLEANING, INC.

815-459-0083

or visit our website WWW.HOWELLSFLOORINGANDMORE.COM for all of your flooring needs!

a r t f u l l y c r a f t e d , w o n d e r f u l l y w a t e r p ro o f

Family owned and operated since 1972

home brewer. “Travis had just built a miniaturized version of a full-size brew house in his basement, and with his background in automation, quality control was evident to us from the very beginning,” says Moran, who co-owns the brewery with Cortez and Slepcevich, and serves as operations manager.

“Our plan is primarily based on selling beer out the back door to bars, restaurants and retail distribution. We also have a tap room onsite. Travis has a good library of recipes he’s honed in on during his 10 years home brewing.?

Holzlager’s Trojan Unicorn is its flagship beer, but the brewery has four or five popular brews it keeps on tap. “We’ve got seasonal fare we do around different events. Says Moran.

“We want to source as much as we can locally, including grains, hops and yeast. It’s important to us to give back to the community here in Woodstock and to get feedback from local consumers. We want to make the community feel they have a stake in the brewery, as well.”  MCHENRY BREWING COMPANY 3425 Pearl St, McHenry (815) 403-2212 | mchenrybrewing.com It was a Vine to Wine class in college that set Bob Master on the road to craft beer, and a later Milwaukee brewery tour that clinched it. “I said, ‘That’s what I want to do for the rest of my life’,” says Master, owner/brewer of McHenry Brewing Company, in McHenry, A home brewer for three

years, and later assistant brewer for Chain O’ Lakes Brewing Company, Master bought the facility and renamed it. He started selling his craft beer June 30, 2018, and the beer’s still flowing.

“Right now we have New England IPA and a Tom Brady for football season,” says Master. McHenry Brewing carries “quite a few beers, depending on the seasons, and what I’m feeling. I do a lot of experimental stuff that I release on Fridays.”

“We’re more on the smaller size, but it’s nice — local and friendly,” says Master. “You meet nice people and get to chat.”  OSWEGO BREWING COMPANY 61 Main St, Oswego (331) 999-1991 | oswegobrewing.com Opened May, 2018, in Oswego – this spot is the result of yet another friendship. Chris Heinen and Marc Wilson have been home brewing for almost a decade. It was when Wilson started brewing professionally that the two decided to go for it. Heinen found investors and financing and Oswego Brewing took off. In fact, the brewery recently was awarded a bronze medal at the Illinois Beer Festival in Morris for its “Pickin’ Raspberries” beer.

“Oswego is a quaint little farming town but also in a growth area within the western suburbs of Chicago,” says Wilson, co-owner and head brewer.

The brewery is located in a former fire station, in the walkout basement where fire trucks used to park. “It’s

SM-CL1705499

18

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 18

10/10/19 12:00 PM

THANK YOU READERS

POTTAWATOMIE PARK

OTTER COVE

POTTAWATOMIE GOLF COURSE

St. Charles Park District

a great location. We look out on the river, so that makes it kind of fun,” says Wilson.”We’re not a large warehouse.”

“Hay’z For Horsez IPA - New England has been a mainstay since we first opened our doors,” says Wilson. “We try to keep a couple beers year round - Hefeweizen, and Kolsch style beer.

Many of the beer names are connected to the firehouse.”It’s a little charm we’re able to provide; not weird names people are embarrassed to ask for.”  RIVERLANDS BREWING COMPANY 1860 Dean St. Unit A, St. Charles (630) 549-6293 www.riverlandsbrewing.com/ St. Charles-based Riverlands Brewing opened St. Patrick’s Day weekend 2019, after four college buddies caught the craft brewery bug several years ago at a barbecue.

“We’re getting beer out in stores, restaurants, bars and in kegs,” says coowner and head brewer Eric Bramwell.

“The community has been extremely receptive and supportive, and the Chicagoland area seems to be taking notice, which is pretty neat.”

Riverlands’ 2,500-square-foot tap room holds more than 100 people. “We have a gorgeous bar and barnwood walls, thanks to a woodworker friend,” says Bramwell. Besides making beer, Bramwel, a home brewer for 10 years, writes all the original recipes. “We do seasonal beers and rotate about 50 different recipes. We cycle through what people like.”

Favorites include a series called Acid Rainbow — a sour beer with a lot of fruit. Another fan favorite is Murky Waters IPA. “Every couple months we do an imperial stout release,” said Bramwell. “They’re amazing; like candy,” says co-owner Steve Marck.

The tap room has 16 taps.

is honored to be chosen as

ONE OF THE BEST

for summer fun!

Discover it ALL at stcparks.org

SM-CL1705131

 SEW HOP’D BREWERY & TAP ROOM One Union Special Plaza, Ste. 113, Huntley | (815) 701-8819 www.sewhopd.com Opened in Huntley at the end of April, it got its name from three of its owners who also own an industrial sewing machine manufacturing company.

While on business in Germany, they learned about the beer industry, and utilized the home brewing skills of one of their colleagues. Located in a former Borden Milk plant, Sew Hop’d “brings a nice, laid-back vibe to the city,” says co-owner, brewer and lifelong resident Lance Lamb, who’s enjoying seeing his hometown revitalized. “We saved an old building and it looks pretty cool.

We’re very family- and dog-friendly; there’s kids and dogs in the beer garden.”

“We’ve got a nice summer Germanstyle lemon Hefeweizen, 4 IPAs, and a lot of flavored stouts like blueberry, s’mores, and vanilla, plus a guest tap, and gluten-free cider. We store all our finished beer in half barrels, which we serve out of,” says Lamb. “We feel we’re a local hometown option for people.”

Voted V t d the th

BEST BURGER

in Kendall County!

210 S. Bridge Street Downtown Yorkville 630-553-5054 rowdysbarandgrill.com BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 19

19

10/10/19 12:00 PM

LOCALLY SOURCED

and full of flavor

Farm fresh menus satisfy diners in the Fox River Valley

BY ERIN SAUDER

A

re you looking for a dining experience that features fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients?

You’re in luck because the farm to table movement is thriving in the Fox Valley area. This is good news for patrons who are looking for a more flavorful experience.

More benefits to local sourcing? It supports the local economy and minimizes the impact on the environment.

20

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 20

10/10/19 12:00 PM

Hereare are three three establishments establishments leading leading the the Here hyper-local food food movement movement to to put put on on your your go-to go-to hyper-local list this fall: list this fall:  DUKE’S ALEHOUSE AND KITCHEN

110 N. Main St., Crystal Lake | thedukeabides.com This Crystal Lake favorite sources many of its ingredients from local farmers who are either certified organic or practice sustainable farming methods. The result? Fresh, healthy, and environmentally-friendly cuisine.

Menu fare at this upscale-casual gastropub includes grassfed burgers, homemade mac and cheese, pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and more. Pair your meal with one (or a few) of the more than 140 different craft brews and Belgian ales, 21 of which are on tap.

What’s on the horizon for Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen’s fall menu? Patrons will find some seasonal favorites, such

as Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Coconut Curried Squash, Squash Soup, hearty stews, a fall-themed grain bowl, and more.

Also this fall, the popular downtown Crystal Lake destination will roll out its annual 13 Scary Beers of Halloween promotion, which runs from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31. Come into Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen throughout the month and drink this year’s picks of the fall-themed beers and get a commemorative hoodie.

Wondering which farms your food is coming from? Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen’s menu, which changes seasonally, includes a “Meet Your Farmer” section.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 21

21

10/10/19 12:00 PM

 CRAFT URBAN

211 James St., Geneva | crafturban.com The philosophy of this New American restaurant is “food is meant to be shared and enjoyed together.”

And patrons will find it hard not to enjoy Craft Urban’s menu fare, which features dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients.

Owner Bernie Laskowski changes up the offerings several times a year, based on product availability.

Craft Urban’s fall menu, for instance, will feature food dishes as well as cocktails, beer and wine, which coincide with the cooler temperatures. Just some of the offerings this autumn season will include Roasted Pumpkin Soup with cinnamon roasted apples and Apple Butter Toast, consisting of cracked wheat bread, ricotta cheese, local greens.

If comfort food is your pleasure, try the Chicken and Dumplings, featuring slow simmer chicken, house-made dumplings, local carrots and potatoes or the Pomegranate Glazed Pork Chop with roasted squash, toasted seeds, and a pomegranate glaze.

Satisfy your seafood cravings with the Roasted Sea Scallops with Roasted Corn and Wild Mushroom Ragout.

22

And don’t forget to save room for dessert. Indulge your sweet tooth with the Ultimate Urban Sundae or the Chocolate Mousse.

Also this fall, The Dude Returns to this Geneva locale. The cocktail is Craft Urban’s take on a White Russian and features house-made coffee liqueur, maple bourbon foam, and Sneaky Fox Vodka.

Craft Urban can also be your go-to destination during the holiday season. A Family Holiday Ramen Dinner is set for 8:30 p.m. to close the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and a Black Friday Brunch will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Gillerson’s gets first dibs. From beets to green beans to leafy greens, FulBuschel produce has been featured as the vegetable of the day, cocktail garnishes, and key ingredients for 4-course private dinners/events at Gillerson’s Grubbery.

At the end of October, Gillerson’s Grubbery is excited to roll out not only a new fall/winter food and cocktail menu.

33 W. New York St., Aurora | gillersons.com

A host of events are also on the docket. Kick off the spooky season early during the Surly Gourd Pumpkin Carving Party on Oct. 25. Presented by Gillerson’s and Surly Brewing Company, the event will feature Halloween candy with beer pairings. The following day kids are invited to get in on the fun during a pumpkin carving party.

A lot of restaurants say they are farm-to-table and tote the phrase, “sourcing and using local produce.”

But for Gillerson’s Grubbery, those words couldn’t be any truer thanks to having a local farmer as a team member. When Quinton Babusch isn’t pouring drinks and serving tables, he can be found at local farmer’s markets and tending to his crops at his Geneva-based farm, FulBuschel Farm and Produce.

Just some of the events on tap for the months of November and December include the Show Your Malort Face, set for Nov. 3, and the Ugly Sweater/ Bad Santa Night w/Samuel Adam, on Dec. 6. In addition, Gillerson’s also hosts Beer Bingo every month with its featured Brewery of the Month.

Keep up to date with all the events by following Gillerson’s Grubbery on Facebook.

 GILLERSON’S GRUBBERY

Before the locals get their hands on the produce,

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 22

10/10/19 12:00 PM

BAG YOUR OLD DINNER ROUTINE Head to Crabby Boil for some messy, tasty fun

C

rabby Boil in Batavia delivers the comforts of a backyard boil, overflowing with flavor, in a unique dining experience that’s sure to satisfy your taste buds. Created from the inspiration of a traditional beachfront crab boil, this convenient locale will transport your senses and feed your cravings for great, flavorful seafood without the fuss.

“Our seafood is boiled with Cajun inspired spices then dressed with the signature flavors of your choosing,” explains owner Lyndon Ferrer. “We finish it off with your choice of corn, potatoes, and Andouille sausage and serve it to you in a bag to seal in the flavor.”

Diners spread it out across the table, or eat it straight from the bag – no judgment.

“It’s a relaxed and fun atmosphere,” he says. “Expect to get messy.”

But don’t let the casual environment – complete with picnic tables – throw you off. This is top quality fresh seafood.

“Seafood boils are something that

BOF_102419.indd 23

have been around for a long time. It’s not necessarily a trend but the concept is only reaching the Midwest now and we’re excited to be a part of that,” Ferrer says. “Our approach is always making everything fresh and ready to order - we mix our spices in house for the main boil and all sauces are made to order for each patron. We intend to keep our featured seafood boil menu the same and add seasonal items that we switch out with the changing trends and season.

“We’re looking to provide an experience that engages more than just your taste buds, and have fun in the process,” Ferrer says.

And you can take the fun, and the flavor home with you…thanks to carryout options, and catering specials.

“We started experimenting and developing recipes at home about 10 years ago and finally took a leap of faith to open in 2018,” he says. “We imagined a restaurant where patrons can come in and enjoy a delicious meal together and feel like they are at home.

Batavia is a great city and our dining concept was unique to the area.”

And with a modus operandi of “faith, food, and service,” the folks at Crabby Boil hope to create a unique and one-of-a-kind dining experience with Crabby Boil.

“I’ve always wanted to start my own business and make a difference in my surrounding community. Being able to serve the community and support the high school and other organizations in the area has been a highlight.

“My wife and I want to set a good example to our children,” he explains “Your job should be more than self serving, but should also help others and should also be something that you enjoy and are excited about. I wanted to show my kids that even though it’s scary you should take a chance if it’s something that you believe in.”

So Ferrer took the leap from a corporate job, to pursue happiness and the chance to make a difference.

“We love serving others and being a part of this community and hope to do so for many years to come,” he says.

And in those coming years, Ferrer hopes Crabby Boil can grow, add delivery, and develop different

weeknight specials, potentially adding a specialty mix drink, and maybe something fun like an annual eating contest.

Beyond the basics, he hopes to create, or partner with non-for-profit organizations, or host events that would benefit communities and groups in need. A second location isn’t out of the question, either.

“We love cooking, eating, and serving our seafood boils to friends and family and we were excited to be able to introduce others to the taste and concept that we’ve loved for already a decade,” he says.

“Be prepared to make a mess… and some memories!

CRABBY BOIL

220 N Randall Rd, Batavia www.crabbyboil.com Hours: Tuesday - Friday - 4PM - 9PM Saturday 11AM - 9PM Sunday 11AM - 8PM Closed Monday

10/10/19 12:00 PM

Story corners Armed with expertise, authors and a great cup of coffee, indie bookstores finds a niche in the heart of our downtowns

By Chris Walker

A

happy.

ccording to bestselling romance author Sarah MacLean, books are happiness… and people want to be

“Happiness,” she wrote in “The Rogue Not Taken,” “That’s what books smell like.

Happiness. That’s why I always wanted to have a bookshop. What better life than to trade in happiness?”

People pursue happiness in many forms, and quite a few are finding it today in bookstores.

But we’re not talking about the mega-chains like Barnes & Noble, or online purveyors like Amazon.

According to the American Booksellers Association, the number of independent bookstores in the United State has grown by more than 50 percent in the past decade. A rebirth in an industry once devastated by major

24

market competition.

Elgin Books and Coffee, 66. S. Grove Ave., Elgin, is the home to over 60,000 used, hard-to-find and out-of-print books. It’s also the home to delicious coffee and espresso drinks as well as muffins, scones, cookies, candy and other snacks. While you can grab a book and run, you can also get cozy and stay for a while and truly enjoy reading and relaxing.

“People can come in and find a book that they like and some are hard-to-find and some still have their original cover,” says Elgin Books and Coffee co-owner Gloria Theofanis. “Some people still like the feel of the book so we help provide that and we have coffee and cold drinks and a nice patio to sit outside. People like to come here for coffee and to read or do office work.”

Owned by Geneva residents Roxanne and

Chuck Osborne, and named after their late Bernese Mountain dog, Harvey’s Tales, 216 James St., Geneva is a welcoming place for the community to come to learn, explore, escape and relax through books and other diversions.

“I think the community reception has been awesome,” says Chuck Osborne. The people have been very positive with us being here.”

Harvey’s was set to celebrate its one-year anniversary on Oct. 1 and has prospered thanks to its strong community vibe with book clubs for adults and young adults, special story time, Hazel’s Birthday Club and more.

“With the events we’ve done so far and with the community space, it’s full all the time,” Osborne says. “We think it’s gone well and we didn’t know what to expect. It’s been good.

Most days it’s fun to show up.”

Interest is high in area authors and community-

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 24

10/10/19 12:00 PM

A beautiful place to spend the afternoon discovering local literary talents as well as those from afar. A must see for a must-read for local residents and out of town guests.

Local author Joan Budilovsky

related topics, as is having a place close to home that’s an interesting and compelling place to not only come out to shop for books but to be a cool place to hang out with other customers and friends because of the mutual love of books.

well received,” Osborne says. “We don’t curate it. There’s just some criteria required and people check it out and some of it sells.”

Showcasing the works of local Kane County authors is something that Harvey’s Tales does extremely well. The staff randomly selects a certain number of authors each month and display copies of their book in its local author section for 60 days.

“It’s wonderful to find an in town treasure like Harvey’s,” she says. “A beautiful place to spend the afternoon discovering local literary talents as well as those from afar. A must see for a must-read for local residents and out of town guests.”

“It’s kind of more of a niche thing and it’s been

Local author Joan Budilovsky is one such author that has had a book showcased at Harvey’s.

Read Between The Lynes, 111 E. Van Buren St.,

McHenry also caters to local writers and their potential readers by featuring a Local Author Spotlight on Sunday afternoons from 1 - 2:30 p.m.

Such a relationship with authors is just one chapter in the novel of worthwhile offerings at Read Between the Lynes, where owner Arlene Lynes has created a unique bookstore that for the past 15 years has been home to thousands of great book titles as well as educational toys and delicious refreshments and snacks that make hanging out in a bookstore a delight.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 25

25

10/10/19 12:00 PM

We are fortunate to have a staff of passionate readers who can put the right book in the right hands. We constantly share and exchange book suggestions with long time and new customers.

DAVID HUNT Owner of Town House

Town House Books & Café, 105 N. 2nd Avenue, St. Charles, opened in 1974, the same year King published “Carrie,” Carl Bernstein’s “All the President’s Men” was a must-read, teens found Robert Cormier’s “The Chocolate War” and Judy Blume unleashed, “Blubber.”

Now, 45 years later, it’s still going strong despite the changing landscape of bookstores and how people prefer to read today. Certainly being housed in a historical building adds charm and a cool atmosphere, while having an adjoining café enhances business, but it’s more than that.

“We are fortunate to have a staff of passionate readers who can put the right book in the right hands,” says David Hunt, owner of Town House. “We constantly share and exchange book suggestions with long time and new customers. It’s gratifying that people make a point to mention they want to support local businesses and thank us for hanging in there when there is so much online competition.

And this is a people business - we see families grow up here.”

26

Other great local book stores to check out:  THE REPUBLIC OF LETTERS 1 W. State St., Ste. 103 | Geneva (630) 360-1902 | www.rolnfp.org  THE BOOK SHOP 15 N. River Street | Batavia (847) 337-3876 www.facebook.com/thebookshopbatavia  MODERN AGE COMICS 2210 East Algonquin Rd. | Algonquin (847) 409-6295 | www.modernagereader. com  BOOKVINE FOR CHILDREN 3980 W. Albany Street, Suite 7 | McHenry (800) 772-4220 | www.bookvine.com

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 26

10/10/19 12:00 PM

Kendall County Area THE VILLAGE GRIND

WWW.VILLAGEGRINDOSWEGO.COM 19 S. MAIN ST., OSWEGO | (630) 554-6678 MONDAY - FRIDAY 6 A.M.- 6 P.M. SATURDAY 7 A.M.- 5 P.M. | SUNDAY 8:30 A.M. - 1:30 PM At the Village Grind Coffee Shop, you’ll find the friendliest, most helpful stuff in the cutest vintage house sitting in downtown Oswego.

Enjoy real homemade baked goods, lunch items, soups and an extensive menu of hand crafted coffees, espresso drinks, teas, iced drinks & smoothies. Love our coffee? Take some fresh roasted beans home to brew. We can grind them if needed.

So come downtown & stroll through our quaint shops, and enjoy some really good ambience.

HARMONY AESTHETICS

WWW.HARMONYAESTHETICS.ORG 223 S BRIDGE ST, YORKVILLE | (331) 207-8149 HOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY | TUESDAY 11 A.M.-7 P.M. WEDNESDAY – THURSDAY 9 A.M.-7 P.M. | FRIDAY – SATURDAY 9 A.M.- 3 P.M. Harmony Aesthetics offers a full range of skin care services, such as facials and resurfacing treatments, as well as full body waxing, facial threading, eyelash lifting and tinting, eyelash extensions and microblading. Get treated like family with every service customized for you! “We work hard to provide the most amazing services to make everyone feel their best,” says owner Sandra Hurtado, “but it is an honor our supporters took the time to vote us as Kendall’s Best of the Fox for Skin Care.” Contact a skincare professional today to see how Harmony Aesthetics can make you feel your best!

ARTS ON FIRE STUDIO

WWW.ARTSONFIREPLANO.COM 217 EAST SOUTH STREET, PLANO | 630-273-2119 TUESDAYS-THURSDAYS 10:00AM-6:00PM FRIDAYS 10:00AM-9:00PM | SATURDAYS 10:00AM-6:00PM SUNDAYS 12:00PM-4:00PM | CLOSED MONDAYS Arts on Fire Studio in Plano allows you to paint on pottery, canvas or boards.

You can hand-build or wheel throw clay, try glass fusing, create holiday and hand print art, and more. No experience is needed for any of the options offered. Interested in learning more? Try a class or workshop.

For group fun, host a birthday party or other special event to get more people involved, creating their works of art!

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 27

27

10/10/19 12:00 PM

Very

Vintage 3

1

2

4 To take part in the next scheduled Vintage Shop Hop, or see a map of participating stores to peruse any weekend on a treasure hunt of your own, visit www.facebook.com/VintageShopHopEvent

28

5

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 28

10/10/19 12:00 PM

9

10

Vintage Shop Hop a treasure hunt for buyers and great way to support small business

By Sherri Dauskurdas

Twice a year, in spring and in fall, a shopping extravaganza takes place in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

8

Known as the Vintage Shop Hop, it is a two-day treasure hunt of antique, vintage and vintage-styled items at more than 400 participating stores across the region.

Shoppers come in and make a weekend of it, staying in local hotels and quite literally, shopping ‘til they drop, surveying the wares of up to a dozen purveyors a day. Special deals, Expanded stock, refreshments and in some cases, even entertainment are offered at individual shops and dealers.

Sunday brunch deďŹ nitely is in order to round out this trip!

7

I decided to take on the challenge and headed out centrally to hit vintage shops and dealers in three communities: North Aurora, Batavia and Geneva.

Here are some of the treasures I uncovered on my Vintage Shop Hop!

715 Vintage | Batavia (7) Little Red Barn Door | Geneva (9 & 10) Past & Present Shoppes | North Aurora (6 & 8)

6 BOF_102419.indd 29

The Gathering | Geneva (1 & 3) The Vintage Market | North Aurora (4 & 5) Villa & Barm | Batavia (2)

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

29

10/10/19 12:00 PM

One part Harry Potter.

One part home sweet home Scent shop blends fragrance with fun to stir up a magical personalized experience

By Wendy Foster

A

wall of individual fragrances takes some 20 minutes to peruse. Labeled with names like absinthe, campfire and old books, the tiny bottles read like a potion master’s collection, ripe for brewing up something charmed, indeed.

But what’s going on at this little shop in downtown Geneva isn’t conjuring, it’s candle-making.

that would allow people to create sometimes precisely the way they wanted it for their home.” After extensive research, the couple decided to launch the shop in which customers could create candles and other home and personal fragrance items. In addition to candles, customers can customize reed diffusers, room spray, body mist, fragrance oil and more.

Scentcerely Yours boasts more than 100 divine scents from which customers can custom-blend candles.

Whether for your own home, office or even as a gift, customers can create their own perfect blend from the array of olfactory offerings.

“We like to watch customers smell the different scents we have available,” he says. “Scent is powerful and impactful and reminds people of different places or times; it takes them back in time.”

“We often found that although we liked items when we bought them when we got home, they weren’t exactly what we wanted. We started talking about a business

30

“They see more than 100 different scents on the wall and think they’re buying a candle. They’re delighted when they find out they’re actually creating one,” Rob says. The process takes about 30 minutes to select fragrance blends and pour a candle, and 90 minutes for the candles to set.

“We don’t have a specific age group or gender,” Susi explains of the clientele. “In addition to individuals, we are drawing kids’ parties, corporate outings, baby and wedding showers, bachelorette parties, date nights, girls’ nights out and more.”

Furthermore, the business is pursuing fundraising initiatives, private labeling, wholesaling, and even business branding.

Rob Brucato, who with his wife Susi owns the shop, explains that the sense of smell is extremely evocative.

Scentcerely Yours, which opened in May 2018, is the innovation of the Brucatos. Career bankers, the couple talked for years about wanting to “launch and own something different.” Rob recalled that although they didn’t have a clear idea at first, they knew that they loved shopping for home goods.

know what to expect.

“Our candles are pure soy and have cotton wicks. They burn cleaner, truer to scent, and over a longer period of time,” Susi says.

The concept of Scentcerely Yours embraces the fact that today’s successful retail establishments must be experiential in order to thrive.

“Online shopping is convenient; everybody has busy lives,” Rob says. “But on the flip side, people are looking for unique experiences, and it’s even better when the experience permits people to be creative.”

First-time shoppers who come in off the street seldom

Scents include more traditional fragrances from fruits, florals and spices, such as agave, cherry blossom, crème brûlée, or brown sugar. Less customary scents include Dad’s den, mahogany, and first snow.

“We are committed to providing an over-the-top customer experience,” Rob says. “When customers leave, they’re talking about what a great experience it’s been. We do whatever we have to in order to make sure the customer feels that way.”

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 30

10/10/19 12:00 PM

1100 PROFESSIONAL CENTER

St. Charles Hazen Insurance Agency

1100 W. MAIN ST, SUITE B | ST. CHARLES (630) 485-5100 | WWW.HAZENINSURANCE.COM

At the Hazen Insurance Agency we have spent the past 40 years being the leader in providing dedicated independent insurance services to support our valued customers and great community. Our fully licensed and experienced staff in connection with the industry’s top rated carriers, makes Hazen Insurance your one stop insurance shop. We provide all customer benefits including; Annual Rate Comparisons, Personalized Yearly Policy Reviews and In-house Claims Service.

In an ever evolving and at times difficult to navigate market, we strive to uphold the industry standards for each one of our clients providing the peace of mind that comes from the right coverage, with the right carrier, at the right price, to meet your individual families or business needs.

Kuts & Kolor Salon

1100 W. MAIN ST., SUITE C | ST. CHARLES | (224) 385-6959 At Kuts & Kolor Salon we take pride in making you feel great about yourself from the minute you walk in our doors, to the time you leave. Although our doors have recently opened in 2019, my personal experience in the industry dates back over a decade. Having built a strong foundation at the Pivot Point Academy, one of Illinois highly regarded beauty institutions, I had the privilege to gain hands on experience and knowledge at multiple high end salons and major brands throughout the Chicago land area. I now feel honored to be able to use my extensive knowledge to give back to my local community through Kuts & Kolor Salon, where we can provide every client the lavish experience of a top tier Chicago Salon, at affordable pricing designed to fit the whole family.

Corporate Benefit Advisors, Inc. 1100 W. MAIN ST., D | ST. CHARLES (630) 377-1500 | WWW.CBA-GROUP.COM

Corporate Benefit Advisors, Inc., is a leading provider of employee benefits for small to mid-size companies.

CBA brings over 70 years of combined industry experience to solving our client’s needs. As an independent insurance agency, we have access to a wide range of resources. This gives us the ability to offer a variety of solutions that can best meet our client’s business and individual needs. We are committed to providing exceptional service, while utilizing the latest technology available. This approach allows us to provide our clients with the best solutions.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 31

31

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Gobble

wobble and run From turkey trots to chili chases, there’s a variety of seasonal runs and walks to keep you moving

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske

C

risp autumn air and leaves crunching beneath your feet are just some of the perks of the fall running season. With the promise of pumpkin pie and holiday cookies around the corner there is plenty of inspiration to keep those legs moving.

Check out these fantastic events for great ways that you and your family can earn some fun swag while enjoying the company of other running fans.

32

 OOH LA LA CHOCOLATE HALF MARATHON AND 5K RUN/WALK 7 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 All Chocolate Kitchen, 100 S. Third St., Geneva oohlalachocolate5k.itsyourrace.com When it comes to running, is there a more noble cause than to run for chocolate? Chef Roby’s All Chocolate Kitchen plays host to this truly sweet race where after completing either a halfmarathon, 5K run or walk participants receive a fresh pain au chocolat and the chef’s award winning hot chocolate. Optional swag includes a tech jacket or hoodie and there are finisher medals for the half-marathon participants too.

Enjoy running through the lovely downtown Geneva where runners can find a number of cute brunch spots to satisfy their hunger.

 GOBBLER HOBBLER 10K & MASHED POTATO MILE 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 10 Fox Chase Elementary School, 260 Fox Chase Drive, Oswego www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org Get a start on your pre-Thanksgiving workout with this fun race that also recognizes the Veterans Day. Participants register in advance to secure your patriotic Gob Hob hoodie. The course along the Fox River and scenic Oswego will make the miles pass quickly. Young and newer runners will enjoy the fun Mashed Potato Mile. After the runs stay and enjoy all this great community has to offer from quaint shops and restaurants to larger favorites as well.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 32

10/10/19 12:01 PM

 CHILI CHASE 5K RUN 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 Yorkville American Legion Post #489, 9054 Route 34, Yorkville www.yorkville.il.us/356/Special-Events If the cool fall weather has you thinking of warm bowl of chili than look no further than this favorite race. Participants are rewarded with a steaming bowl of chili provided by the Trinity United Methodist Men. Make this race the perfect way to start off a football-filled Sunday. The race course travels through the Heartland subdivision. This year the race will benefit Hope Fest of Kendall County, which supports the American Cancer Society.  THE FOX AND THE TURKEY 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 151 Houston St., Batavia foxrivertrailrunners.org/racing/the-foxthe-turkey/ A Fox Valley Thanksgiving Day tradition for the last 23 years this race combines

fun, beauty and community spirit. Enjoy a four-mile race along the beautiful Fox Fiver in downtown Batavia. Younger runners can enjoy the One Mile Youth Race and parents and older siblings are invited accompany young runners. In the spirit of Thanksgiving participants are invited to bring along donations of non-perishable food items to the packet pickup. Donations will be distributed through the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry  MCHENRY TURKEY TROT FOR HOSPICE 5K 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 McHenry High School East Campus, 1012 N. Green St., McHenry mchenryturkeytrot.com/ As if logging a few miles before delving into a day of eating wasn’t motivation enough this race includes prizes to top finishers while supporting a good cause. Choose to run or walk the 5K route that winds along the McHenry Country Club and the Fox River. This will be the 8th year for the race that

benefits JourneyCare Hospice & Palliative Services. The race was started in 2012 by the Siman Family Charities, in honor of Carlene Siman.  RUNNING WITH THE LIONS 5K 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 Life Time Fitness, 451 Rolls Road, Algonquin lionsclubofalgonquin.org/event/5kinfo?instance_id=393 Take a break from the marathon of cooking to enjoy this race as an individual or with the entire family. The event is hosted by the Algonquin Lions Club. Choose to walk or run the 5K course on Thanksgiving morning. There are awards for top finishers in age categories for men and women. Last year the race raised more than $5,000 which was then used to support the Jacobs High School’s Eagles Wings food program and the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry, in turn providing nourishment and a bounty for others in their time of need.

2019

THE VERDICT IS IN …

Thank you for voting

us One of The Best Law Firms in the 2019 Best of the Fox Readers’ Choice Awards.

E X P E R I E N C E D • C O M PA S S I O N ATE • KN OW LED G E A B L E • D E P E N DA B L E

100 W. Main St. • Downtown Plano • 630.552.8213 • www.ksshlaw.com BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 33

33

10/10/19 12:01 PM

BOF_102419.indd 34

10/10/19 12:01 PM

SAVE THE DATE for

holiday fun Mark your calendars for brilliant holiday events in towns up and down the Fox River Valley

By Pat Szepkowski

F

rom energizing electric light parades and tree lightings to holiday walks, this year’s festive season events bring Santa Claus and also a variety of bountiful community things to do.

Celebrations throughout the Fox River Valley offer food, music, and traditions to spark a holiday mood. Bundle up. Attend time-honored

favorites or explore something new. Here are some to choose from, from north to south.

The popular annual McHenry Area Jaycee’s Toys for Tots Parade on November 24 starts at the McHenry train station at 2:00 p.m. to Veterans Memorial Park on Pearl St. Toy donations to warm a child’s heart are gladly accepted. Bring toys to the box truck in the park after the parade.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 35

35

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Oh, tannenb aum!

Find the perfect live tree to fill your space, and heart this season Compiled by Jonathan Bilyk

For many, there is simply no substitute for a tromp through fields overflowing with row upon row of fresh firs, pines and spruces, hacksaw in hand, Jack Frost nipping at their noses, in search of the perfect, super fresh holiday tree.

And throughout the region, a host of local tree farms stand ready to help those families find the tree that will stand at the center of their holiday festivities, conjuring some holiday magic, even as a family member or two are tasked with crawling in the dirt under the lowest branches of the evergreen of choice to cut it down.

Here are some picks to consider for your family’s holiday tree hunting adventure this holiday season:  KUIPER’S FAMILY FARM 1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park 815-827-5200 | www.kuipersfamilyfarm.com Already famous for its fall apple- and pumpkin-related festivities, Kuiper’s offers visitors the chance to find and cut their own Christmas tree, before returning to the farm’s store and bakery to stock up on fresh apples, pies, cider donuts and other tasty treats.

The gift shop, decked in barn wood, offers antiques and an assortment of other unique items.  ONEY’S TREE FARM 16608 Route 14, Woodstock, 815-338-4108, www.oneystreefarm.com In business since 1960, Oney’s lays claim to the title of the oldest and largest tree farm in Northern Illinois. Oney’s offers nine varieties, totaling 60,000 trees on 60 acres. Oney’s barn offers a gift shop with an assortment of wreaths, centerpieces, garlands and bakery items. On weekends, visitors can enjoy free horse-drawn wagon rides with sleigh bells, pony rides and even a visit from Mrs. Claus in the farm’s North Pole House.  LEE’S TREES 45W002 Lees Road, Lily Lake 630-365-2116 | leestreesusa.com Lee’s operates a much larger farm in Hayward, Wis., which is where Lee’s assortment of pre-cut trees originate. But the 14 acres in

36

western Kane County is where Fox Valley visitors will be able to harvest their own trees.

Lee’s offers seven varieties of trees, along with a sales barn with free hot chocolate, coffee, popcorn and cookies..  LARSON’S FAMILY FARM 4404 Somonauk Road, Sandwich 815-786-2249 | larsonfamilyfarm.com Nestled in southeastern DeKalb County, near the Kendall County line, Larson’s Family Farm offers a true old-fashioned tradition.

Visitors simply drive out to the trees and park, before walking through the rows of evergreens, looking for “the tree.” Larson’s offers six varieties to choose from, and saws are provided. Larson’s offers hot apple cider and cookies for sale, along with a variety of antique, vintage and unique Christmas decorations and gift items. Larson’s does not accept credit or debit cards.  ANDERSON TREE FARM 508 W. Route 126, Plainfield 815-436-2140 | visitandersontreefarm.com Tucked just inside Kendall County’s eastern boundary, Anderson Tree Farm offers visitors the choice of either cutting down their tree or taking it home alive to decorate and then plant in the spring. According to their website, visitors can select a pre-dug tree, with the roots balled and burlapped. Guests can then place the tree in a stand indoors for the holidays, before taking it back outside to be planted in the yard.  RICHARDSON CHRISTMAS TREE FARM 9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove, 815-675-9729 | richardsonadventurefarm.com Richardson’s, located just south of the Wisconsin state line, was voted Best Christmas Tree Farm in Illinois by Good Housekeeping in 2018. The farm offers more than 50,000 trees to choose from on 75 acres.

In addition to the trees, visitors can visit the heated sales barn, with indoor restrooms, offering an assortment of wreaths, garland, decorations and bows, with most made on the farm. Fresh, homemade donuts are also available for sale. Coffee and hot chocolate are free. On weekends, visitors can take a free wagon ride to and from the fields.

The magical Lighting of the Square in Woodstock begins on November 29 at 7:00 p.m. With the flip of a switch, thousands of twinkling lights come alive on park trees and buildings.

Take a stroll, visit the local shops, and see the beautiful trees decorated by area organizations.

Santa Claus officially comes to Downtown Crystal Lake at 7:00 p.m. on November 29 during the Festival of Lights Parade.

This year’s theme, “A Dr. Seuss Christmas”, fills the evening with an abundance of lights, music, pageantry, and the official Christmas tree.

2019 marks the 32nd year of the popular Dickens in Dundee holiday weekend celebration in West Dundee on November 30 and December 1. View “Living Windows” on November 30 from

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.on storefronts in Downtown West Dundee on Route 72. Enjoy special winter and holiday-themed window displays decorated by local organizations and businesses.

The City of St. Charles sparkles during its Holiday Homecoming on November 23 at 5:00 p.m. with the Lighting of the Lights on the First Street Plaza. The Electric Christmas Parade takes place on November 24 at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street.

These night-time capture hearts with seasonal music, holiday movies, sleigh rides and Santa visits. The event is sponsored by the Downtown St. Charles Partnership.

The Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles is the setting for two popular events. Art of the Heartland presents its Christmas on the Fox Arts and

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 36

10/10/19 12:01 PM

THANKS FOR VOTING US

THE BEST IN KANE COUNTY

39w963 Midan Dr. • Elburn, IL 60119 39

630-845-3343 • orangehomeservices.com • 630-761-3343

Everything For Your Planting Pleasure!

• Open Year-Round • Seasonal Home & Garden Decor Crafts Show on November 23 and 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a $3.00 admission and free parking.

Set within warm country Christmas vignettes, live trees, and an antique sleigh, crafters offer a variety of true handcrafted items of the highest quality and creativity.

Holiday strolls continue at the Downtown Geneva Christmas Walk on December 6 from 6:00-9:30 p.m.

Highlights include: arrival of Santa Lucia; the first candy cane; Santa Claus; lighting of the tree at the courthouse square; and living Nativity.

Yearning nostalgia? Visit the Garfield Farm Museum in Campton Hills for its two- day reception, Candlelight at the Inn, on December 7-8. It’s filled with music and volunteers wearing 19th century period clothing depicting holidays of times-gone-by.

Holiday Lights at Mooseheart, located at the Mooseheart residential

childcare facility in Batavia, shines with over 80 lighted displays from November 23-December 31. See one of Chicagoland’s largest light displays with a route that’s almost 2 miles long.

With a paid per car entrance fee, the whole family can enjoy a free Santa visit, crafts, games, hot cocoa and cookies in the fieldhouse.

The downtown Oswego Christmas Walk, presented by Allied First Bank, is held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on December 6. Enjoy a tree-lighting ceremony, Belgian horse-drawn wagon ride, and illuminated fire truck parade.

More free activities include: skating on the faux ice skating rink, giant inflatable sled hill, and Toyland train.

Find out more detailed information on each event’s website, or visit www. bestofthefox.com for a full calendar of upcoming events and activities, for the holidays, and beyond!

• Fairy Garden Accessories • Shade & Ornamental Trees • Evergreens

Christmas Open House Nov. 29 & 30 8am-5pm Refreshments & Door Prizes

• Flowering Shrubs • Fruit Trees • Perennials • Gift Certificates Voted BEST Garden Center & ONE OF THE BEST Home Decor/Gift Shops

Millbrook, IL • Open 7 Days A Week 8-5 630.553.7211 • www.windingcreek-nursery.com 5 miles South of Plano on Corner of Fox River Rd. & Millbrook Rd. BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 37

37

10/10/19 12:01 PM

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST STEAK FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW! Also for voting us as One of The Best for Italian food!

Flavor & QUALITY That Make the Cut L A K E V I E W G R I LLE G I F T CA R D S - A G I F T I N G OOD TA STE

TUESDAY NIGHT: RIB NIGHT:

Half Slab $17.99 • Full Slab $23.99

WEDNESDAY: ALL YOU CAN EAT CRAB LEGS & WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY $6 Any Premium Glass Of Wine THURSDAY NIGHT & ALL DAY SUNDAY: PRIME RIB

8 oz. $16.99 • 12 oz. $22.99 • 16 oz. $26.99

Daily Specials Posted On Facebook | All Special Entrees Include Soup Or Salad, Potato & Vegetable Our private banquet room is perfect for your rehearsal dinner, shower, anniversary party and other special occasion. Seating for 40-60 people.

Open Tues-Thurs 4-10, Fri & Sat 4-11, Sun 11-8, Closed Mon 630-553-3055 • WWW.LAKEVIEWGRILLE.COM • 604 W. VETERANS PARKWAY • YORKVILLE (AT 34, 1/2 MILE WEST OF 47)

Thank You For Voting Us BEST Coffee Shop!

One Of The Best For Bakery • Breakfast • Lunch

Craft Coffee, Quality Food Entrees & Intriguing Wines Visit Our Drive-Thru!

Follow us for our LIVE MUSIC schedule on Instagram and

Facebook

42 W. Countryside Parkway, Yorkville | gracecoffeeandwine.com | 630.385.2148 BOF_102419.indd 38

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Best of the Fox

An inside look at some of the winners of our annual Reader's Choice Awards

T

he Fox River Valley is a great place to live, work and play – a place where local residents loyally support the businesses and organizations they love, and those owners and operators become a part of the fabric of the community.

Each year, our readers across McHenry, Kane and Kendall Counties honor their favorite local places by voting them a "Best of the Fox" winner.

In the pages that follow, discover the people, the products and the philosophies that helped make these local treasures the best on their business!

BOF_102419.indd 39

10/10/19 12:01 PM

St. Charles Park District SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, ALL YEAR LONG

P

icture a family vacation that included golfing on a Robert Trent Jones-designed course, shooting down a waterslide into a crystal clear swimming pool, relaxing aboard a paddlewheel cruise on an historic riverboat, strolling through lush gardens teeming with native plants, and lingering over a casual summer picnic near an open-air amphitheater while your children competed at minigolf or scrambled over playground equipment. Not only would you be hard-pressed to find all these activities in one place, you would probably pay dearly for the privilege of enjoying them.

Vacationers looking to maximize their summer fun while minimizing their travel expenses will be happy to learn that such one-stop summer fun is as close as the St. Charles Park District’s Pottawatomie Park, a 47-acre park along the east bank of the Fox River in the heart of downtown St. Charles. There’s truly something for everyone, from tennis buffs to golfing duffers, and from people who like to catch fish to those who swim like fish.

With a hop, skip and jump over to the west side of town, you’ll find yourself at Otter Cove Aquatic Park featuring new racer slides, a zerodepth entry activity pool, a shallow pool just for toddlers, a splash park with a sand/water play

40

area, and rides that twist, turn, and twirl through water that shoots, sprays, and spins. And that’s not all! Just when you think you’ve encountered all the excitement of a day at the waterpark, there’s even more splish’n and splash’n fun as staff plan a variety of special events to keep you, your family and your friends coming back all summer long.

Have you heard of the nationally-trending ‘park prescription’ programs? Doctors are prescribing a dose of nature and a walk in the park to better one’s health. It’s easy and everyone can do it!

Several St. Charles parks now feature trail maps with loop distances so you can monitor your progress. At Mt. St. Mary Park, you can log ¾ of a mile while viewing artwork from this year’s Sculpture in the Park exhibit.

Whether you’ve got a family of four, you’re empty nesters looking for something fun to do or you just want to spend quality time with someone, St. Charles Park District provides parks and amenities for everyone. Dance in Lincoln Park at the free Concerts in the Park every Thursday night from June to August. Hit the links at Pottawatomie Golf Course for nine holes of challenging fun or try disc golf. Help feed the animals at Primrose Farm drop-in programs. Whatever you like to do, do it with the St. Charles Park District.

 ST. CHARLES PARK DISTRICT 8 North Ave., St. Charles www.stcparks.org | 630-513-6200

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 40

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Ream’s Meat Market F A M I LY

O W N E D

F O R

6 5

Y E A R S

By Diane Krieger Spivak

F

or three generations, the Ream family has been turning out the freshest cuts of meat and homemade sausages in the Fox Valley. In fact, those same three generations still are active in the family business.

“My grandparents, Bob and Phyllis, bought the old Elburn Hall downtown in 1954. They lived upstairs and ran a little butcher shop downstairs,” Joel Ream says. His dad, Randy, worked there, and in the ’80s and ’90s got more involved in making sausage and smoking meats. The Reams had a restaurant next door for awhile, which eventually closed and became part of the meat market. Then in 2016, as part of a major expansion Ream’s moved down the street, where it operates today. Randy, mom Janelle, Joel, brother Stewart and grandma Phyllis all remain part of the business.

Most of the products Ream’s sells are made onsite.

“Now we do what dad did, but with more variety and volume, and a lot more dry aging,” Joel says. It’s no wonder they stick to the carefully crafted plan Randy refined. He has won more than 200 awards in state and national competitions and was named to the Cured Meat Hall of Fame.

“I enjoy being a part of something where you see

BOF_102419.indd 41

customers are genuinely satisfied with something that you worked hard on,” Joel says.“We like to cover a lot of different regional and ethnic food groups. Our main categories are fresh, smoked, cured and aged meats.

We make a lot of different sausages from around the world that maybe people who grew up in Kane county were never exposed to. We use German, Italian and Spanish sausage making techniques.”

Ream’s doesn’t use artificial preservatives or flavors, “and we don’t follow the marketing gimmicks,” Joel says. “Most of our products are gluten-free, but we don’t put a big, shiny sticker on the label.”

Loyal customers travel from far and wide to Ream’s.

Favorites include bier stix, jerky dip, bratwurst and hot dogs. “We sell a lot of those,” Joel says.

Joel says the goal is to continue to grow and streamline operations and keep making customers happy.

“We’ve got everything you’d want from a meat market, and more.”

The family recently made a delightful use of its old location in the historic Elburn Hall. The building, which is over 100 years old, is now an event venue with a full bar, hot food and live music, featuring broad flavors of jazz. “We’re open on Wednesday nights,” Joel says.

“Lots of people are coming out. The music has been really good.”

Joel Ream attributes his family’s longstanding success to three factors: variety, quality and competitive pricing all under one roof. We’re not too expensive but we have high quality at a decent price. There’s not a lot of other meat markets that can hit all those things like we do.”

Ream’s business philosophy? “Show up, work hard, do a good job, make good products, take care of employees and customers the best we can.”

As the Ream family looks to the future of its business,

 REAM’S MEAT MARKET 250 S. Main St. Elburn, IL 630-365-6461 reamsmeatmarket.com Hours: M-F: 9-6 , S: 9-4, N: 10-4

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Discover

THE DOLE

Beauty and grandeur along the shores of Crystal Lake

By Pat Szepkowski

A

mong the attractions of the northwest suburbs, the Dole stands out. Cherished for its rich history it has been transformed over the years, encompassing Dole Mansion, Country Club, Franciscan Order, First Congregational Church, and The Dole. It was saved from destruction in 2002 when Erv and Louise LeCoque became aware that it was slated for demolition.

In 42 days with an appeal, the community raised over $1 million dollars to form the Lakeside Legacy Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.

connect people with the arts consistently through events and programs at The Dole. We will fill up our artist studios with artists who take their work and their placement in a healthy community of artists seriously.”

Today, The Dole is a thriving center to celebrate the arts, striving to consistently freshen and evolve the way people experience art across visual, performance and culinary genres. That focus is accomplished through freshly created monthly art events, programs, and opportunities for artists from amateur and emerging to the established.

Both Merkling and Kay say they love the small town feel of the Fox River Valley area with its big city opportunities.

Popular events are part of the treasured activities that bring the community together to this special place. The Lakeside Fest has taken place here for the past 40 years over the Fourth of July weekend.

It offers live music, family friendly entertainment, food tents, rides, watermelon eating contests and many other fun games.

The Dole has a board of directors and its current team is a mix of long time dedicated employees and the new leadership of Nancy Merkling and Janet Kay, who serve as co-executive directors. Already active in the local arts community, they own a company called NMP (Nancy Merkling Productions) after merging three years ago as colleague professional photographers in the commercial and portrait industry.

“We want to start a revolution that makes boring art events and art experiences a thing of the past,” Merkling says. “Through strong teamwork, we will

42

This year The Dole’s annual gala, Charles Dole’s 200th Birthday Soiree, will be held on November 2, the actual birth date of Charles Dole. This date serves as “Charles Dole Day” since officially declared by the Mayor of Crystal Lake in 2003.

Tickets are available online.

“We truly feel the community is hungry for the arts and appreciate the opportunity to provide a place for them at The Dole to call their art home,” Merkling says. “Being recognized as ‘Best of the Fox’ means to us that the community sees and feels the difference in how we create art experiences that are about everyone.,” she says. “We simply want to do things that help others and if we are doing that well, being recognized is just a way to keep that going.”

 THE DOLE 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake 815-455-8000 thedole.org

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 42

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Paul Hyland Salon and Day Spa

INNOVATIVE SALON SERVICES FOR OVER 35 YEARS

hile Paul Hyland was in college, he dabbled in cutting hair for friends and family with an electric razor…and thought he was pretty good at it. He decided to go to cosmetology school and his first job was working for a small salon in Crystal Lake.

His goal was to own his own business by the age of 30, and he made this goal a reality.

It was 35 years ago when Hyland started his business as a small salon on Oak Street and Route 176, with himself and two part-time stylists. Over the years he would move and expand three more times, adding staff and more services,: nails, facials, makeup, massage, body waxing, eyebrow threading and most recently, lash services.

Paul Hyland Salon & Day Spa now employs more than 30 salon and spa professionals and support personnel, including Shelly Hyland, who co-owns the salon with her husband.

Paul Hyland Salon is professionally proactive, consistenly examining and selectively implementing new services and products that will benefit clients.

“We were one of the first salons in the area to expand our service offerings by diving into nail and spa services,” says Shelly. “We try to be pioneers.”

The Hylands are committed to education and constantly host in-salon classes or send their

BOF_102419.indd 43

professionals to continuing education classes outside of the salon.

“The salon and spa industry is very dynamic and we are constantly looking at new services and products, evaluating whether innovations are a good fit for our guests,” adds Shelly.

The salon recently launched LED light therapy, currently using it in the facial room for wrinkles and acne. In the next year the studio plans to expand LED light therapy use to its massage area for pain management. “We are also committed to offering more natural products to our guests and reducing our environmental footprint,” says Shelly.

“I think our guests also appreciate that we are residents of Crystal Lake and we have raised our kids here,” Shelly says. “We have a true love for our community and over the years we have participated in supporting many social service and charitable events.”

Paul Hyland Salon & Day Spa offers a “3-visit coupon” for new clients and service/retail purchase reward programs for existing clients. Subscribe to their monthly newsletter featuring new services, product, specials, etc. by visiting their website at paulhylandsalon.com.

Critical to the salon’s success is maintaining staff longevity. The Hylands offer a “family-friendly” work environment and are flexible with staff’s important engagements.

“We try hard to offer a work environment that encourages our staff to stay and grow with us,” Shelly says.

That family-friendly philosophy is also an important feature for salon guests.

“We welcome all ages and all genders,” Shelly says.

It’s been such a wonderful experience to share in all the important family milestones and events in both our staff’s and guests’ lives over the years.

CELEBRATING 35 YEARS PAUL HYLAND SALON & DAY SPA 318 Memorial Drive, Crystal Lake 815-455-0780 | paulhylandsalon.com Mon, Wed, Thurs – 8 AM-8 PM Tue – 9 AM-8 PM, Fri – 8 AM-4 PM Sat – 8 AM-3 PM, Sun – closed

10/10/19 12:01 PM

FoxFire

Come for the steak, return for the ‘family’ feel

By Diane Krieger Spivak

F

ine dining may be FoxFire’s passion, made clear by the restaurant’s numerous culinary awards, including “Best of the Fox.” But fatherand-son team Curt and K.C. Gulbro want you to feel at home while you taste their top-rated steaks, chops and fresh seafood.

“We have been family-owned for 16 years in the same location,” says K.C. “We love the people who come here. We don’t just want you as customers – we want you as a part of our extended family.”

Located just a half-block west of the Fox River in Geneva, FoxFire originally was opened by Curt and a few partners, but slowly became a father-andson establishment in 2008, and more than just a steakhouse.

The duo believes FoxFire’s secret to success is to, “Love what you do – and always be on top of things,” says K.C. The father and son “keep on top” by excelling in customer service, making sure their guests receive the best dining experience they can provide – including

44

both service and quality.

K.C. Community is important.

It’s intimate, yet elegant setting offers original brick and wooden trellises dating from the early 1900s. Live entertainment greets guests both inside and as they dine on the outdoor patio. FoxFire is also favorite for private parties.

“The people of the Fox River Valley are genuine, friendly and kind — Midwest Values,” says K.C. “It’s an honor to be voted Best of the Fox. It is one of our top goals every year! We are so happy to win this award back to back. Thank you Kane County!”

But FoxFire is best known for its food, serving up such favored dishes as filet Diane, filet of Oscar, porterhouse, shrimp, scampi, Asian calamari, and salmon with honey glaze, plus a tempting selection of Cajun-inspired dishes and awesome, elegant salads.

Steaks – including ribeye, strip, porterhouse and more – all aged, prime beef, are prepared to perfection.

Foxfire also accommodates vegetarian requests, and an extensive wine list and cocktails are available from the full bar to satisfy most every palate.

“We are a family, from the hostess to the owner, and we are all happy to have you dine with us,” says K.C. Curt and K.C. hope to grow FoxFire within the community, with the possibility of expanding, while “staying true to our customers and our values,” says

 FOXFIRE

17 W. State St., Geneva, IL 630-232-1369 | www.foxfiregeneva.com Mon. - Thurs. 11 a.m.-3pm. 4p.m.-9 p.m.

Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m-3 p.m. 5 a.m-10 p.m.

Closed on Sunday - Bar closes 1 hour after kitchen during week.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 44

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Hart Chiropractic A NATURAL, SURGERY-FREE APPROACH TO PAIN

By Diane Krieger Spivak

D

r. Matthew S. Hart has always been drawn to helping others, but it was his own back pain experience that made him realize the career path for him lay in chiropractic.

“My back pain was so bad I couldn’t even walk around a grocery store without getting shooting pain,” says Hart. “While all other doctors were sending me to physical therapy and surgeons, it was a Gonstead chiropractor who looked at my spine in a way no one else had.”

The focus of the Gonstead adjustment is to be as specific, precise and accurate as possible, addressing only the problem areas (areas of subluxation). Great care is taken to ensure a bio-mechanically correct position and precise thrust to provide the most accurate and painless adjustment possible. “ He treated me for the severe rotation I had in my spine — something no other doctor, even other chiropractors, ever looked for,” Hart explains.

“Chiropractic saved me by giving my life back. Now it’s my turn to give others their lives back.”

Hart opened his practice in 2001 in Geneva, choosing the Tri-City area because of the hometown family atmosphere. His mission — to treat everyone as if

BOF_102419.indd 45

they were a part of his own family, giving them the care and attention they needed to live their lives free from pain naturally. Today, Hart Chiropractic has a staff of eight, offering chiropractic full-spine x-rays, spinal adjustments, massage therapy, spinal decompression, acupuncture and functional rehabilitation.

Hart’s approach to care is full body, addressing the underlying issues as to why someone is having pain.

Pain is common, but not normal, Hart says. His treatments are geared towards fixing the problem and not just treating the symptoms. His Palmer College education, combined with thousands of hours of additional training, has given him the knowledge to investigate and treat in a way very different than many general chiropractors.

“The body has an innate ability to heal. As a healthcare provider thinking natural care first, it’s my job to facilitate this by working with the body and removing the interference in the spine called subluxations in order for the body to heal naturally,” Hart says.

“If you have seen a chiropractor in the past but it didn’t ‘work’ for you, it’s time to try our approach,”

he says. “We utilize x-rays analysis of your spine and hands-on spinal adjustments geared towards making specific spinal corrections based on your individual needs.

“It’s the best compliment to hear that the community you live in and work in thinks that highly about what you do,” says Dr. Hart, on being named a Best of the Fox. It’s a humble honor that I take very seriously because I know I am making a difference in this community by being a leading resource when it comes to healthcare.

“I get to help people every day. It’s not a job to me, it’s a calling.”

♥ HART CHIROPRACTIC 1803 W. State St. | Geneva, IL 60134 630-262-1421 | www.hartchiropractic.com Mon-Thurs 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Sat 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Cary Travel Express Helping you travel the world

By Diane Krieger Spivak

D

id you know that even in the techsavvy world of Internet, a travel agent can be your best and most economical resource for a dream vacation?

With 30 years serving the Cary - Fox River Grove, McHenry County area, Cary Travel Express has the expertise and advisors who have traveled the world, bringing experience to the table when it comes to making travel plans.

“Travel agents are still relevant in the age of the Internet, as we offer personalized service and value where the Internet cannot,” says owner Neelie Kruse. “In most cases, we match or beat Internet pricing! Plus, our advisors travel to the destinations and resorts, so we have first-hand knowledge for our clients.”

Cary Travel Express is a full-service travel agency with specialties in the leisure travel market to include all-inclusive packages to Mexico and the Caribbean, ocean and river cruises, Disney Vacations, Destination Weddings, Honeymoons, escorted group travel, multi-generational trips, unique itineraries to Europe, Asia, African safaris… all around the world.

Kruse is a natural in the travel industry. “I always wanted to be a travel agent since a young age,” says

46

Kruse. “I graduated from Cary-Grove High School, and after completing my degree in marketing I worked for several other agencies in the Northwest suburbs before opening my own storefront travel agency here in Cary.”

Cary Travel Express has been at its current location for 15 years, after relocating from the Jewel Plaza in Cary. Kruse says the key to its success over the last three decades has been customer service, repeat business and referrals from clients.

“This is one of the best honors and recognitions as it is from our customers and clients,” says Kruse.

“Thank you for your support!”

Cary Travel Express’s dedicated team of travel advisors look forward to assisting you in your travels throughout the world. Save the date for its annual travel show: Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020 at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn, for destination seminars and travel specials.

“This speaks to how we service each vacation,” Kruse explains. “We love to plan the perfect vacation and make those dreams come true!”

Cary Travel’s knowledge of destinations and resorts throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii is coupled with the strength of its team of advisors and their dedication to their field.

“It is exciting to have advisors that travel and get out to experience the world,” says Kruse. “ By the end of 2019, we will have traveled to all seven continents, and thus, are able to plan our clients’ travel to all the exciting destinations over the world.”

Cary Travel Express’s philosophy, “Care about your customer” is evident in the agency’s being named a Best of the Fox.

 CARY TRAVEL EXPRESS 9 Jandus Road, Cary 847-639-3300 | carytravelexpress.com Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Sat. 9 am. -2 p.m.

Evenings and Weekends by appointment only

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 46

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Pamper the skin you’ re in! at Simply Crystal Electrolysis and Skin Care

By Diane Krieger Spivak

A

fter experiencing poor service for her unwanted facial hair, affecting her selfconfidence and self-esteem, Crystal Krueger decided to head to electrolysis school herself.

Nearly 25 years later, Simply Crystal Electrolysis and Skin Care in St. Charles offers a wide assortment of services and products for skin care, specializing in permanent removal with electrolysis, and temporary removal with waxing. At Simply Crystal, all of Crystal’s services, including facials and other skin treatment, are performed with top quality products for a wide range of skin types.

“I wanted to help women like myself see real, permanent results,” says Crystal, who later returned to school to become a State Licensed Esthetician as well, now offering clients a full range of knowledge, services, and solutions for a variety of skincare needs.

Located in InStyle Salon Suites, Simply Crystal provides clients with a private haven for their services.

“It’s very rewarding to have a more private space where my clients can come in and feel secure and more relaxed,” she says, adding she can empathize with women who suffer with unwanted facial hair because she’s been there herself.

“When I was in my teens I struggled with unwanted facial hair and received unsuccessful treatments from an inexperienced electrologist for four years, which actually made my hair problem much worse,” she says. “I couldn’t tell anyone because I was so embarrassed. I am still very self-conscious from this experience.

“I know what it feels like to be uncomfortable in the skin you’re in,” she says. “I also take my profession very seriously, because giving women back their self confidence and helping them feel beautiful is everything to me!”

She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Electrology Association of Illinois, and a huge advocate for continuing education, traveling several times a year to participate in seminars and workshops.

“I always want to provide my clients with the best, most current treatment options possible,” she says.

“My clients love that I attend conventions. It helps make them even more trusting of me.”

Now, this skin care sevice expert says says it’s important to never lose sight of the reason she got into her industry.

“I want to help women feel amazing, beautiful and happy in their skin. I am here to listen to their truth, their concerns, and I will do my best to get them to the end of the finish line as fast and efficiently as possible,” she says. “We are in this together!”

“What makes our community stand out is how we all pitch in to help our local charities and other small businesses. I know that I can refer my clients to other small businesses, and feel confident that they will be taken care of with the utmost respect,” she says. “I never take for granted how extremely blessed I am to be in this business, and to have clients who continue to trust me with their concerns and care.

It’s honestly hard to put into words just how very grateful I am.”

 SIMPLY CRYSTAL ELECTROLYSIS AND SKIN CARE 457 Dunham Rd., St. Charles, IL 60174 (630) 587-3700 | simplycrystalskincare.com

BOF_102419.indd 47

10/10/19 12:01 PM

Gonzo’s Rock and Roll Pizzeria

Music, mouth-watering pies on tap at this local favorite

W

ho doesn’t love a good pizza? We all do!

But if you’re looking for the best pizza in Sandwich, however, head to Gonzo’s Rock and Roll Pizzeria.

The family-owned business serves up awardwinning, mouth-watering pies made with only the freshest ingredients. But you’ll find more than just pizza at this local rock-and-roll themed destination. The pizzeria’s menu also includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and more. And often that fare is paired with live entertainment.

“Our entire selection of product, combined with our unique concept of offering live music which gives our local artists the opportunity to share their talent here be it original or cover or just having music in general in the background, within the rock and roll-saturated ambiance... all this puts Gonzo’s Rock and Roll Pizzeria in a kind of its own,” says Art “Gonzo” Garza, who runs the business with his wife, Jenny.

That’s also why the restaurant has been garnered a Best of the Fox award for 2019.

The Garzas appreciate the honor.

48

“There’s something to be said about hard work, staying consistent and taking pride in what you do and over and above all caring about the customer,” he said.

In pursuit of that mission, the pizzeria strives to follow a business philosophy of “always doing the very best you can while staying consistent in all areas for the customer.”

That, Garza says, is the secret to restaurant’s longevity.

and delivery are all available at Gonzo’s Rock and Roll Pizzeria, which has been in its current location for nearly eight years.

Garza enjoys having business roots in the Fox River Valley community.

“Born and raised in Aurora, I’ve found through the years that there’s just so much diversity in culture and food and a deep, rich history of music to go along with it, for as long as I can remember,” he says.

“With the help of a strong, loyal and committed management and staff. We feel that consistency and pride in what whatever it is that you do is a huge key in contributing to any success,” he said.

Also a contributor to that success?

“Several years ago we were given the original 60-plus-year-old recipe of Gary “Gario” Schaffer, Fox Valley’s one and only “Gario” and to this day it hasn’t been compromised,” Garza says. “This December we’ll be going on 12 years of being in business.”

The husband and wife team hope to expand in the coming years, bringing the pizzeria concept to other locations. Dine-in, carry-out,

 GONZO’S ROCK AND ROLL PIZZERIA 9 N. Main St., Sandwich 815-786-3322 | www.gonzospizzeria.com 3 to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Closed on Tuesdays.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 48

10/10/19 12:02 PM

Gulgren Appliance “The Store Service Built” celebrates 60 years

By Diane Krieger Spivak

W

hen you walk into Gulgren Appliance in Crystal Lake, what you feel first is attention: interest in what you need as a customer, helpful (but not pushy) staff members, and a whole lot of experience.

And that’s to be expected from a family business that’s been rooted in the community since 1959. The highest level of customer service has always been the focus – from the day of the sale, to the day of installation, and on through day-to-day use by families.

“We help our customers and go the extra mile to make sure they are getting something they understand how to use, and make sure it is working properly,” says Mike Gulgren, who owns the Crystal Lake store with his brother-inlaw Greg Danielson.

As teenagers, Gulgren and Danielson worked after school in the family business, delivering appliances to neighborhood customers, installing them, then servicing the products.

These days, you’ll still see them out and about, doing delivery and installation and servicing appliances, working elbow deep in the heart of the family business.

“There always are questions after an installation,” Gulgren says. “Maybe something doesn’t work quite right or it needs an adjustment. You can call me, and I’m going to take care of it. You won’t wait two weeks or have to call an 800 number to get help.”

The second-generation-owned business, now located at 424 West Terra Cotta Avenue, prides itself in selling only the best quality appliances such as GE, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Bosch, Maytag, SubZero, Big Green Egg, Viking, Fisher & Paykel and many more.

“From the office staff to our service technicians, to our delivery drivers, sales team and parts department – all are essential for keeping things running smoothly and making Gulgren’s what it is today,” Danielson says.

Even the array of products that fill the store are chosen to make an impact.

“The brands we sell are picked because they are the most reliable,” Gulgren says. “We don’t stock items that experience a lot of problems.

We wouldn’t push that on our customers.”

That attitude is what’s kept Gulgren woven into the fabric of the community for so many years, and a continual choice by local families.

“We live in such a wonderful area” says Danielson. “We also feel very fortunate to win Best of the Fox consistently. We take it very seriously and it’s a great feeling knowing our customers vote for us year after year.”

With the holidays upcoming, many folks will be looking to update and upgrade the appliances in their homes. Gulgren adds this is a great time to check out seasonal specials and get ready for holiday cooking. The store has all the latest smart appliances available and experts on hand to help make sense of all the new technology.

And as the appliance industry changes, rest assured the team at Gulgren is changing with it.

“Being an independent family business from the local area, we support our community,” Gulgren says. “We hope you’ll support us as well, and allow us to be your appliance experts, now and in the future.”

From the moment you walk in, you’ll feel the difference at Gulgren.

“At a big box store, you’re pretty much on your own as you look around,” Gulgren says. “But our people have a lot of experience. And we can help you decipher the difference in the products, and get you exactly what you need for your home.”

Co-owners and brothers in law, Greg Danielson and Mike Gulgren run the family business, a part of Crystal Lake since 1959.

BOF_102419.indd 49

Another advantage to buying locally from Gulgren? Short delivery windows – usually two hours – mean you don’t sit home all day waiting on a truck.

 GULGREN APPLIANCE 424 W Terra Cotta Ave. Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815-459-4380 | www.gulgren.com Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri. 8:30-5:30, Thurs. 8:30-8, Sat. 8:30-4

10/10/19 12:02 PM

Photos provided

Stockholm’s Brew Pub E V E R Y T H I N G ’ S F R O M S C R AT C H . . . I N C L U D I N G T H E B E E R !

B Y D I A N E K R I E G E R S P I VA K

Michael Olesen remembers sitting on top of the bar as a little kid tagging along with his grandfather at the tavern at 306 West State St., in Geneva. Today, Olesen owns that tavern.

Stockholm’s opened in May 2002, and on July 5 of that year, Olesen poured his very first handcrafted beer, State Street Pilsner, still Stockholm’s most popular brew. The pub offers a diverse menu ranging from homemade soups and fresh salads, to burgers, pasta, seafood and more.

“Everything is made to order fresh in our from-scratch kitchen,” Olesen says. “We brew our own beer in an Old World Tradition – unfiltered and cask-conditioned for full, complex flavor.” For those not drinking craft beer, Stockholm’s also brews its own root beer.

Olesen fell in love with the restaurant industry in college when he worked as a bartender. He wrote what was, essentially, a dissertation on how to run a successful restaurant as part of an independent study program. This allowed him to graduate a semester early from University of Illinois Urbana -Champaign.

Stockholm’s employees are like family – most have been with the brew pub for many years, not so common in the restaurant industry.

“Our employees have become very close with each other as well as having the opportunity to get to know our large group of regular customers,” he says.

“We have a long-tenured professional staff in both the kitchen and the front of the house. It is their dedication to quality that makes Stockholm’s the best overall restaurant in the area.”

50

Stockholm’s staff works hard to create an atmosphere and experience that guests will want to come back for, time and again.

“We have something for everybody – a wide variety on our menu and a kid- (and parent-) approved kid’s menu,” Olesen says. “Stockholm’s is great for a quick lunchbreak, a date night, a family dinner, some craft beers and delicious appetizers while watching a game. The list goes on and on. Give us a try. You will not be disappointed.”

Stockholm’s is proud to be a member of the Fox Valley community. “We enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with some of the other small businesses in our area that are just as passionate about what they do as we are!” he says.

On being named a Best of the Fox, Olesen says he was honored and pleased to see the community valued what they do at Stockholm’s.

“After over 17 years of putting our hearts and souls into this restaurant, it’s truly an honor to know that our efforts are appreciated by those we serve,” he says. “It is confirmation that we’re still on the right track. Not only is our food and beer exceptional, but you will feel welcomed and well taken care of, because what’s great food without great service?”

STOCKHOLM’S BREW PUB 306 West State Street, Geneva 630-208-7070 www.stockholmsbrewpub.com Open M-Thurs 11a-11p, Fri & Sat 11a-Midnight, Sun 10a-11p (Sunday Brunch 10a-1p)

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 50

10/10/19 12:02 PM

ALTHOFF INDUSTRIES YOUR HEATING, COOLING, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL EXPERTS FOR HOME AND BUSINESS

BY DIANE KRIEGER SPIVAK

W

hen Jim Althoff founded Althoff Industries in 1961, he concentrated on heating and airconditioning services. Through the ensuing years Althoff added plumbing and electrical services to the company’s offerings. What started as a residential firm, grew to provide commercial and industrial customers the same types of services.

The family business, owned by Tod Althoff and Tom Les, also includes family members Patti AlthoffSiwicki and Megan Althoff. Originally opened in McHenry, Illinois, Althoff Industries moved to its current location in Crystal Lake in 1989.

“The company’s culture has always been to provide its clients with high quality solutions and customer service,” says Blake Wiltshire, Althoff Industries director of residential services. “Jim Althoff always said that the company’s reputation was most important, which means the customer must always come first.”

Althoff Industries prides itself on its responsible approach to customer service. “No business is perfect,” says Wiltshire. “Equipment will fail. Things will happen. For Althoff Industries, it is how our company responds when things go wrong that separates us from our competition. Each employee is empowered to act with a sense of urgency, resourcefulness and, if necessary, creativity to not only resolve the problem quickly but also to exceed the customer’s expectations. For most companies the largest celebrations come from big sales. At Althoff Industries a successful customer resolution is much more revered.”

BOF_102419.indd 51

Without question, Althoff believes the reason it has been so successful for more than a half century is because of its total dedication to customer satisfaction. “Every employee is empowered to, above all else, take care of the client,” says Wiltshire.

Althoff Industries’ three core values include: COMMITMENT TO OUR PEOPLE. “Our people with their competencies, skills and attitudes, differentiate us in what we deliver to our customers. Our average employee tenure is over 10 years with many employees with over 20 years at Althoff.”

COMMITMENT TO OUR CUSTOMERS. “Our aim is to build a lifelong relationship with our customers. Each employee is empowered to work with a sense of urgency, resourcefulness, and creativity to exceed our customer’s expectations.”

COMMITMENT TO QUALITY. “We deliver the highest quality products and services by being committed to continuous improvement and uncompromising ethics.

We believe that there are no shortcuts to quality.”

Wiltshire also says he believes its location in the Fox River Valley is ideal.

“People in the Fox River Valley are friendly, downto-earth, kind and welcoming,” says Wiltshire. “The residents here have a sense of pride in their homes, their community, and one another.

“To be nominated for Best of the Fox by our customers is a great honor and privilege,” says Wiltshire. “We love going to work every day to take care of such loyal and appreciative clients.”

@ ALTHOFF INDUSTRIES 8001 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake 815-455-7000 www.althoffind.com Hours of operation: 24 hours

10/10/19 12:02 PM

W

When you’ve spent more than a half century successfully helping people experience the vacation of a lifetime, you must be doing something right. That’s why it’s no surprise Crystal Lake Travel was named a Best of the Fox winner.

“Thanks to our clients, Crystal Lake Travel has sustained growth and progress since 1960, giving us the ability to provide preferred levels of pricing and inventory from our vendors to you,” says Patty DeRoo, who owns the travel agency with Susan Swett.

The all-female-employed travel agency has been at its original location, at 13 Crystal Lake Plaza, since it opened.

Personalized service, dedicated employees, loyal customers and 60 years of experience have been Crystal Lake Travel’s key to success.

Crystal Lake Travel

Traveling the world since 1960

By Diane Krieger Spivak

Whether you’re planning the ideal getaway, a quick weekend for two, extended journey with the kids or a family reunion, you want your vacation to go smoothly, without any unnecessary interruptions or inconveniences. The anticipation of arriving at your destination can quickly turn into disappointment and frustration when you discover what’s involved in the planning process.

“That’s where we come in,” says DeRoo. “Leave the hassle of navigating through the endless options to someone with experience, to someone who has been there, done that, and has the T-Shirt to prove it...and the Awards!”

Major suppliers provide Crystal Lake Travel’s website with fantastic weekly specials. They change every week, so Swett and DeRoo encourage travelers come back often to see what is on sale. Get 2-for-1 cruise deals, try a luxury river cruise, or take advantage of air-inclusive or all-inclusive vacation offers. You can even build your own vacation package. As always, feel free to call the professionals at Crystal Lake Travel for assistance in planning your dream vacation.

As Crystal Lake Travel looks to the future, its owners would like to grow and continue to be the top agency in Crystal Lake.

“Our travel professionals quickly navigate the Internet, travel the world, and keep themselves trained with educational seminars and trade shows provided by the industry.

“To have this long-term presence and success in our community and industry is a direct result of ‘doing it right,’” says DeRoo. “Our commitment to ‘doing it right’ starts with a professional and caring staff, working with preferred suppliers and providing the best in price and value to our customers. Customer service means something to us...and is expected by our customers.”

 CRYSTAL LAKE TRAVEL 13 Crystal Lake Plaza 815-459-2500 | www.cltravelagency.com Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

52

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 52

10/10/19 12:02 PM

Excel Automotive Repair

“TRUST IS EARNED: NEVER GIVEN”

By Diane Krieger Spivak

I

n November of 2014, Minor Mobley left the corporate world to go into business with his wife Jennifer, opening Excel Automotive Repair.

“I felt I could offer better service to the clients that used our services,” Mobley says.

“We believe that a happy customer is a loyal one, and our goal is to put the customer first every time.”

The couple has offered automotive services and tire repair at their shop at 1207 Foundry St. in St Charles, for the past year, relocating from 17th St., where they had operated for four years prior. And while the shift from one career to another was a big one, it wasn’t without passion. Mobley, a U.S. Marine veteran, grew up loving cars and the way they work.

“From an early age I can remember helping my dad change oil and fix things like brakes, radiators and carburetors,” Mobley says.

Excel’s philosophy is simple: Trust is earned; never given.

And by loving what they do and focusing on service, Mobley hopes to prove that trust is deserved, time and time again.

“We follow a strict process and never sway from it,” he says. “It is like going to your favorite fast food chain and getting a burger. If that burger tastes different than usual, then, well, something must be off or something has changed. We want you to know what to expect and how it will be presented every time.”

As the business thrives, Mobley hopes to expand the Excel

BOF_102419.indd 53

team to eight people, and make a difference on folks who may just be starting out in their automotive careers.

“I would like to hire more high school kids that are unclear with their future and give them a chance to learn and possibly make a career in the automotive industry,” Mobley says. “I would also like to hire more veterans and give them a place to reestablish themselves as civilians.”

Part of that initiative comes from a sense of pride in the community Excel serves. It also drives the Mobley’s to do more, beyond the scope of the business, itself. The Mobleys’ Big Hearts of Fox Valley NFP provides items to those in need for local children.

“This year marks the 6th year that we started the outreach and it is getting stronger every year,” Mobley says. “I love this community. My wife and I spend most of our free time giving back to it.”

That commitment to service, to excellence and to community is no doubt part of the reason Excel Automotive has been named a Best of the Fox winner four consecutive years.

“What an honor that we were blessed enough to win this title four years in a row,” Mobley says. “We by no means take this honor for granted. Winning it 4 straight years is a testament to my team and our process and to our amazing clients that vote for us. We thank you!”

“I get to help people every day. It’s not a job to me, it’s a calling.”

@ EXCEL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR 1207 Foundry St., Unit A | St. Charles www.excelautostc.com Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

10/10/19 12:02 PM

A A+

Dog Training

Pet training facility gets two paws up

By Erin Sauder

A

re you looking for to teach your four-legged friend new tricks and have fun doing it? A+ Dog Training can help.

“There are so, so many ways to have fun with your dog that most people think they can’t do,” says Lindy Sander, owner and director of training for the Lake in the Hills-based company says. “We can show you how.”

A+ offers a host of training classes for all levels, such as puppy kindergarten, beginners and advanced obedience, Canine Good Citizen, nose work, agility, behavior modification, and more.

After working with dogs and horses for more than 30 years, Sander wanted to offer dog owners a way to help them communicate more successfully with their pets.

“I have always loved working with animals and I was lucky enough to have several experienced mentors in my life to share their incredible knowledge,” she says.

In 1998, she established A+ Dog Training in a 900-square-feet facility in Crystal Lake.

54

“I saw a need in the community for something and I was at a point in my life that I needed to decide to either stay in the corporate world or do what I truly loved,” Sander says.

As her clients succeeded in their journeys and goals with their dogs, A+ developed more fun options for training. Soon, new digs were needed to keep up with the business’s growth.

And it’s that client-centric approach which earned A+ Training a 2019 Best of the Fox award.

“I want more dog owners to have fun with their dogs and learn new skills,” she says. “There is no one way to train every dog or owner. A+ trainers have the experience and the knowledge to find a method that obtains the desired results.”

The company’s next locations included a small industrial space on Virginia Road in Lake in the Hills and then a slightly larger location on Trinity Drive. Recently, A+ Dog Training moved to its current 5,000-square-feet facility on Virginia Road.

Sander’s secret to success?

“I truly love helping dog owners obtain the results they’re looking for. I stuck with it even when the economy says to let the business go,” she says. “I listen to what my clients want and need and find a way to help them get it. I never stop learning.

There is always some new method/equipment on the market. I do my research, test for results with my team and determine if it’s worth learning more and incorporating into our methods.”

 A+ DOG TRAINING 9362 Virginia Road, Lake in the Hills 815-337-5907 www.aplusdogtraining.com Classes are scheduled on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Other hours by appointment.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 54

10/10/19 12:02 PM

Innovative Home Concepts, Inc. Happy customers make lifelong clients for family business

BY ERIN SAUDER

F

or one Crystal Lake company, mixing business and family has been a recipe for success.

Rhett Wilborn is president of Innovative Home Concepts, Inc., a full-service exterior remodeling contractor. His business know-how came from his father, who started a gutter business in 1974.

“When I was little I would go to work with my dad. He was actually one of the first contractors in McHenry County to have a seamless aluminum gutter machine,” Wilborn says. “He built up his business primarily working for builders and general contractors.”

Wilborn worked for him during holiday and summer breaks in high school and college as a laborer, and after college, as an installer and later a crew leader and salesperson.

When his father sold the company in 2000 to a large Fortune 200 company, Wilborn joined the staff.

“But after three years I got fed up of the corporate cutthroat environment and left there,” he says. “I figured at that time I was out of construction

BOF_102419.indd 55

for good but I went back into the industry and took a job working for a gutter guard company. I learned about selling home improvements to homeowners as opposed to builders.”

He was given a brochure from his father for a gutter guard product called Gutter Shutter. Initially, Wilborn wasn’t sold. But after a visit to the corporate office in Cincinnati and learning more about the operation, Wilborn changed his tune and with the help of his father, launched Gutter Shutter of Chicago in 2005.

“The company grew quickly from its start and we expanded to keep up with the demand,” Wilborn says.

“Because of the many requests from customers and the opportunity for the growth it presented, we soon added roofing and insurance restoration work. We then added siding and finally windows.”

The addition in services prompted the name change to Innovative Home Concepts, Inc. The business has continued to flourish, spurring the January opening of a second

location in Romeoville.

The secret to Innovative’s success?

“Our company mission statement is, ‘Make Happy Customers and Lifelong Clients.’ We do this by always looking for better products to offer, better ways to deliver these products, and by always looking for ways to improve our customer service and communication,” Wilborn says.

Today, Innovative is ranked in the top 500 contractors in the nation by Qualified Remodeler Magazine and has garnered several local awards.

The company has also been named a 2019 Best of the Fox winner, which Wilborn calls “one of the biggest honors we have achieved.”

“Best of the Fox is voted on by real people who care about your business and feel you do a great job for your customers and for the community as a whole,” Wilborn says. “It really is a huge honor and we are extremely appreciative that we have received this award so many times.”

Innovative’s staff also includes

Wilborn’s significant other, Courtney Wander, general manager of the corporate office in Crystal Lake; his brother, Toby, one of Innovative’s top salespeople; and his oldest son, Skyler, who works in marketing and heads up the drone technology division.

“I still consult with my father about decisions pertaining to the business,” Wilborn says.

He hopes to continue to serve the area for years to come.

“We realize we are not going to win every project.

We just want to be in the conversation whenever a homeowner or commercial property owner has a need for a new roof, siding, gutters, or windows,” Wilborn says. “If you are going to get three quotes, make sure one of those is from Innovative Home Concepts.”

INNOVATIVE HOME CONCEPTS, INC. 4410 IL-Route 176, Crystal Lake 815-356-9020 | InnovativeHomeConcepts.com Monday through Friday - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

10/10/19 12:02 PM

GIRKA GROUP Home renovation with a personal personal touch

By Diane Krieger Spivak

A

fter more than 25 years in the remodeling business, Nick Girka decided to strike out on his own. So in 2017, Girka and his wife Jennifer formed Girka Group, a full-service home remodeling business, speicalizing in kitchens, baths and basements.

“Our vision for Girka Group is to provide superior quality refinements, renovations and remodels for our customers,” says Nick Girka. “We strive to provide our customers with peace of mind that the end result will exceed expectations.”

The Girkas say they are committed to treating every customer as family.

“We listen,” says Nick. “We truly enjoy seeing our customers delighted with their new space. We are continually honing and improving our process to differentiate ourselves in the industry, and we strive to achieve a level of satisfaction for our clients that exceeds our competitors.”

Nick, grew up in the business. His father was a master carpenter. Jennifer brings 18 years experience to the company.

“We understand the business of renovations, and this allows us to focus primarily on the client’s needs,” he adds.

The Girkas believe that the key to success is hard work, dogged determination, and listening to the needs of your customers.

56

“Most important to our success is always striving to improve,” Nick adds. “Our focus is to align with clients who appreciate attention to detail and who grow to trust our process. Our industry is filled with unscrupulous companies that have made it hard for people to trust contractors. Our mission is to shatter that mentality and make the home renovation experience positive and exciting.”

The couple appreciates the fact that home renovation projects are not inexpensive, with clients often saving years for a new space.

“We don’t take that lightly, and we do all we can to make the process enjoyable and valuable for the client. This is their home and it’s an honor to be asked into their space to help bring their vision to life,” he says.

“We are not a run-of-the-mill contractor. We are here to serve you and develop a partnership for the betterment of not only your home but your life,” says Nick. “We are a family, we are your neighbor, we support other local businesses, we support local charities, we have core values of honesty and integrity. We would love to meet with you, discuss your dreams and will work tirelessly to bring them to life. Our clients are like family, so we invite you to become a part of our growing family. If you are looking for a stress-free experience with a home renovation project, give us a call and let’s have a thoughtful discussion.”

 GIRKA GROUP 5N653 Farrier Point Lane, St. Charles 630-486-0783 | www.girkagroupllc.com

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 56

10/10/19 12:02 PM

ARVIDSON Pools & Spas

Three generations of quality and service

By Diane Krieger Spivak

A

rvidson Pools & Spas has been a family owned and operated business since 1958.

But the company’s history truly began in 1924 when a 17-year-old named Bengt Arvidson traveled to America from Gammelstad, Sweden with not much more than a tool belt and the integrity to work hard and produce quality products. Now, well into its third generation, the expanded business family includes a highly knowledgeable and competent staff of swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and residential water treatment professionals. Family members include company President Dennis Marunde; VP of Construction Douglas Marunde; and VP-at-Large Daniel Arvidson.

Today, Arvidson Pools & Spas specializes in luxury, custom pool construction of in-ground swimming pools and pool remodeling and renovation.

Services offered by Arvidson include pool and hot tub repair and maintenance, and for DIYers, the company offers a full line of parts and supplies for pools and hot tubs. We are an industry-recognized retailer of hot tubs, swim spas, above ground pools, water care products, and saunas.

Previously located in McHenry, the business has been at its current Crystal Lake location for 51 years. It began as a residential construction company founded by the current owners’ grandfather. Over the years it has evolved into a full-scale pool construction, service and retail operation with stores in Crystal Lake, Palatine and St. Charles.

“In a deeply granular and organic way, we strive to understand and ‘do right’ by our customers, our employees, and our vendors,” says Dennis Marunde. “We grapple with challenges and address our mistakes with forthrightness and a constant consideration of the golden rule.”

That ideal extends beyond business considerations, as well.

“Every day, our wonderful team performs many small and unheralded acts of kindness all on their own, says Marunde. “Year after year, we consciously strive to be a good place to work and to do business.”

things: Maintain a good name. Do the right thing. Be an honest business. Treat customers respectfully.

“Doing business with customers is a privilege never to be taken for granted,” says Marunde, who notes that the reason his family business has called the Fox River Valley home for more than a half century. “Every day we see random acts of kindness all around us. Being named a ‘Best Of The Fox’ is important validation that our community generally sees us just as we seek to be seen.

“We’d love to see interest in and demand for our products and service increase and our team to grow in alignment with that increased demand, Marunde says. “We believe this will happen as awareness of the many benefits of recreational water in our lives are realized.

The family philosophy is based on these simple

 ARVIDSON POOLS & SPAS 3209 S. Route IL 31, Crystal Lake 815-459-0660 www.arvidsons.com M-W-F – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

TUES. – Closed SAT & SUN – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

BOF_102419.indd 57

10/10/19 12:02 PM

Verlo Mattress Custom made mattresses key to good night’s sleep, business success

BY ERIN SAUDER

If you are in the market for a new mattress, why not purchase one that has been customized to fit your needs?

That’s just what patrons find when they shop at Verlo Mattress.

“The brand is unique because we are one of the only companies that build the mattresses locally and are direct to the customer,” says Ray Westman, owner of Verlo Mattress locations in Crystal Lake, McHenry and Lake Geneva. “The customer can pick out a mattress from the selection on the showroom floor, but then at no additional charge can ask us to make the edge softer or firmer, add more lumbar support, make the mattress softer or firmer. There’s not much that can’t be done before we build it to exactly how the customer wants it.”

Another perk?

“All of this is done at below average retail pricing because we cut out the middleman markup,” Westman says.

Westman has been in the industry for more than three decades. He got his start working at the Crystal Lake location in 1985, building mattresses and making deliveries.

“After nine years of working my way up to manager, I was given the opportunity to purchase the franchise and become the owner,” he says.

His business philosophy? To be the most successful, trustworthy, and customer-oriented mattress company in the communities he serves.

“We take better care of the customer during the comfort testing process, ensuring they select a mattress that works well for them,” he says.

mattress store for so many years,” he says.

Westman, born and raised in Woodstock, enjoys serving the McHenry County and Fox River Valley areas.

“They are a great place to build a business and source a workforce,” he says. “Listening to some of our customers come back years after their purchase and thank us for building them such a phenomenal mattress that lasted many years is very rewarding.”

Westman is looking forward to continuing to expand his customer base and getting the word out that Verlo mattresses are made to order.

“Even after doing this for 34 years, I love seeing a customer’s eyes light up when they walk into the store in McHenry and see the guys in the production area building the mattresses,” he says. “They always say ‘You actually do build them right here.’”

That is one of the reasons Verlo Mattress has been named a 2019 Best of the Fox winner.

“It means a lot to all of us at Verlo Mattress to know that the customers who sleep on our products think so highly of us to continually vote us the number one

 VERLO MATTRESS Crystal Lake, McHenry and Lake Geneva, WI 815-578-8375 www.verlo.com 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

58

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 58

10/10/19 12:02 PM

Murphy’s Flooring Family owned and flush with experience

M

urphy’s Flooring in Woodstock is a local family-owned and operated business launched by Keith and Natalie Murphy in 2013. Their decision to open stemmed from Keith’s over 30 years of extensive knowledge and experience in the flooring industry and serving customers throughout the entire McHenry County area. Keith grew up in the flooring industry and chose to branch out on his own.

The entire team – including Keith and Natalie’s son Steven, Keith’s brother, Patrick Murphy and sales associate Sarah Olson – is dedicated to providing customers with a wide selection of quality flooring products with professional installation and workmanship. All flooring services are coupled with reliability and excellent customer service for the complete satisfaction of homeowners and businesses.

that pride in tied directly to the flooring team’s broad knowledge. They continue to educate themselves regarding the recurring changes of products and techniques in the flooring industry. Relationships with their flooring installers are solid and go beyond the years since the business was opened. Some have been working with Keith Murphy for over 20 years.

Thinking of a flooring change? Every type of flooring is available at Murphy’s to complement any type of decorating style. Choose from the newest styles and brands in carpet, tile, luxury vinyl, hardwood and laminate flooring that’s offered in a wide price range to suit any budget.

Another important aspect of the business is the continuity and experience of the team at Murphy’s.

With more than 75 years of combined flooring industry experience, sales associates are true professionals who know the current trends and assist in finding the right floor options for customers’ needs. They listen and help with any questions by putting the customers’ concerns first. Quality always comes first, too, with an emphasis on both supplying quality products and providing quality installation, Keith says.

Every business has a uniqueness that makes them stand apart from the rest. For Murphy’s Flooring,

Being named as a “Best of the Fox” business is just as meaningful to the Murphy’s.

BOF_102419.indd 59

“It’s an honor that consumers voted for us,” says Keith. “We have high respect for our community and to be voted one of the best makes us very proud. The community is friendly and downto-earth and very supportive of family-owned businesses.”

♣ MURPHY’S FLOORING 2104 South Eastwood Drive, Woodstock (815) 334-5985 murphysflooring.net

10/10/19 12:02 PM

s ’ n i v Mar ore t S y o T

ment n o ir v n e e th g n ti c e p s re e Sparks imaginations whil

By Diane Krieger Spivak

A

mother/daughter team with roots in education and environmentalism are the masterminds behind Marvin’s Toy Store in Crystal Lake.

“Inspired by a want for toys that put the child at the center of play and imagination, we sought to build a business that respected the serious work of childhood,” says Lori McConville, who owns the business with daughter Katelyn. “To select and curate the products for our store, we created nine guiding principles for the selection of products, looking for companies that express social and environmental justice and practice an ethic of care in their governance.”

The family puts those values to practice in its company as well, practicing flexible scheduling, respectful wages, using less, reusing and recycling. They also subscribe to wind-powered electricity, encourage a walking community, and participate in green-friendly events such as Earth Day and the Green Living Expo at McHenry County College.

Lori, a former educator with experience in child development, is a life-long environmental advocate and current president of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County. Katelyn, with experience in social work and social media, is a young mom wanting a healthy world for her children.

their families by choosing products that are good for the earth and the mind. As Katelyn says, "We strive for play with a hidden agenda to learn."

Knowledge, honesty and trustworthiness – a clear business direction that respects people and the earth, is Marvin’s Toy Store’s secret to success.

“Contribute and work knowing we are a part of something bigger,” she says. “Our actions will ripple out into the world, so we make decisions knowing they have consequences. We want our decisions to make a positive impact on today and tomorrow, all the while knowing the kids are having fun.

“The Fox River Valley is a caring, family-centered community, with respect for its beautiful and unique natural resources,” McConville says. “In the downtown, we work together and enjoy the benefits of having a variety of independent shops and unique places to visit, and that’s great for the locals and visitors alike.

We work hard to be your neighborhood toy store, a place where everyone feels comfortable, excited to visit, and have fun! Being named a ‘Best of the Fox’ means that that message is getting out there. We are grateful for the community’s support, because we know we couldn’t enjoy our little store without sharing it with the community.”

Marvin’s carries toys, games, gifts and books for children of all ages, and the McConvilles offer specific knowledge about their products and the companies that produce them, as well as complimentary gift wrapping and friendly helpful customer service.

60

The mother/daughter team, which will soon ring in Marvin’s 7th holiday season, will be joined by John, husband and father, as Marvin’s plans to open a second independent location at110 Station St. in downtown Barrington in November. Marvin's also has a third place to visit, sharing space at Read Between the Lynes on the Woodstock square.

 MARVIN’S TOY STORE 64 A N. Williams St., Downtown Crystal Lake 779-220-4179 www.MarvinsToyStore.com

“We are future friendly, striving for success by putting people first,” McConville says. “Our goal is to contribute to the healthy development of children and

Mon. Tues. Wed. Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Thurs. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 60

10/10/19 12:02 PM

Pediatric Associates of Barrington Family-centered practice a prescription for success

By Erin Saude

W

hether it’s the sniffles or a more serious condition, you want the highest quality of care for your child.

And that’s what you’ll find at Pediatric Associates of Barrington. A division of PediaTrust, LLC, the practice offers a skilled team of pediatricians, nurse practitioner and lactation consultant, nurses, medical assistants, front desk representatives and medical office personnel.

TOP Row: Darryl Colen, D.O., Sandra Graba, M.D., Judith Brown, M.D. Patricia Giannoni, Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Margaret Stefani, D.O., and Jonathan Kaufman, M.D.

“We provide the highest quality of pediatric primary care in the area, serving generations of families,” says Dr. Jonathan Kaufman, MD. It’s no wonder Pediatric Associates of Barrington physicians have been recognized in “Top Doctor” listings for both U.S. News & World Report and Chicago magazine. For the fourth year in a row, the practice has been a Best of the Fox Winner!

“It’s an honor that is not easy to achieve and validates our work ethic, philosophy and goals, as well as the confidence and trust of our patients and families,” Kaufman says.

services such as behavioral health, lactation, and nutrition,” he says. “We look forward to many years ahead to provide pediatric services, being involved in community services and adapting our services to the unique and special needs of patients in the area.”

Whether it’s an acute care visit or a routine well child checkup, look no further than Pediatric Associates of Barrington.

“We are passionate about what we do and are fully committed to guiding patients and families in pediatric care,” Kaufman says.

We are honored to have been trusted with your children’s care for nearly 40 years! Our Fox River Grove office will be relocating just down the road in December to the medical office building on the campus of Good Shepherd Hospital. Our new address will be 27750 W. Highway 22, Suite 150, Barrington, IL 60010. We are excited to share our new home with you.

The practice’s philosophy, shared by all the staff, is to provide high value, quality pediatric care, with an emphasis on continuity of care and apediatric medical home. This has been the driving force of the practice since it was opened nearly four decades ago by Dr. Judith Brown.

What does Kaufman most enjoy about serving in the Fox River Valley community?

“Engaging with the diverse populations and cultures of the area, providing pediatric care, and community service,” he says.

The future is bright for this family-centered pediatric practice. How does Kaufman see it evolving in the next five years?

“Growth and expansion to meet the needs of our patients - providing more access to ancillary

BOF_102419.indd 61

 PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES OF BARRINGTON 525 E. Congress Pwky., Ste. 220, Crystal Lake 815-459-6780 | www.Pediatrust.com 912 Northwest Hwy., Ste. G-7, Fox River Grove 847-381-6700 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to noon; Evening hours until 7 p.m. on variable basis - call for dates.

10/10/19 12:02 PM

Kind Hands Senior Care I T ’ S L I K E L I V I N G AT H O M E

By Diane Krieger Spivak

W

hen seeking living arrangements for an aging loved one, we all would like a secure environment that feels like home.

Kind Hands Senior Care Homes, in Yorkville offers just that, in an actual home setting.

The residential care home offers regular senior care, respite care and hospice care, says Patrick Skinner, who owns and runs Kind Hands with his wife Linda.

Kind Hands partners with home health agencies to provide physical and occupational therapy and rehab services, as well.

“We have quite a few services available that people often think you can only get in a nursing home,” says Skinner.

Instead, life at Kind Hands begins with two houses, and caring staff that’s more like family.

“We purposely have less than eight people in two ranch-style homes, so the ratio of care is better,” says Skinner. “The ratio of care in a nursing home is 1 caregiver to 25 or 30 people. Our ratio is never higher than 1 to 5.”

One home houses five residents and the other houses three, of an available four. Care is 24 hours.

62

While the cost of a nursing home averages $220 to $250 a day, Kind Hands’ cost is $135 to $140 per day. “That’s 35-50 percent less than institutional care, and it’s a group home setting,” says Skinner.

The calling to serve seniors came to Skinner through a personal trial, while he served people in another capacity, as a church pastor for 20 years.

“Then my first wife got breast cancer at 42 and passed away at 46,” says Skinner. “I was able to see first hand the value of hospice care.” Skinner then served seven years as a hospice chaplain. He married Linda, who has 30 years experience as a home health visiting nurse and is currently a wound care nurse, and in 2012 the couple opened Kind Hands.

The experience is quite rare among senior residential living because there are fewer people to compete with for care, notes Skinner. “People’s needs get met more quickly. It’s a more familyoriented situation, like the houses they came from.

We have ‘house moms’ who are at the houses for 12 days in a row. Then they’re off for 2 days.

“People realize that we really love our seniors and we take care of them,” says Skinner. “We have a compassion for their needs. We remember their

birthdays with the cakes they like and help them feel as much at home as possible.”

There is a natural ebb and flow in senior care, with the average person residing in a care facility around 3.5 years, the final years of their lives, explains Skinner.

“Our goal is to make that as easy as possible for them and their loved ones. People trust us because my wife has the medical expertise and I have the hospice experience,” he says. “We believe we have the sensitivity and spirituality that help seniors be at peace with their lives.”

 KIND HANDS SENIOR CARE HOMES 124 Naden Ct., and 112 E. Kendall, Yorkville 630-508-8357 | www.kindhands.me

BEST OF THE FOX

OCTOBER 2019

BOF_102419.indd 62

10/10/19 12:02 PM

200 South Third St. Geneva, IL 60134 (630) 208-1011 www.pbkitchendesign.com

Better

By Design Quality cabinetry. Honest service. Great value.

SM-CL1698771

BOF_102419.indd 63

10/10/19 12:02 PM

Fiora’s

TM

Celebrating 10 Years of Casual American Fine Dining in the Heart of Beautiful Historic Geneva

Experience Fiora’s and find out for yourself why we’ve been voted Best Restaurant so many times 317 S 3rd Street | Geneva | 60134 630.262.1317 | www.fioras.com Call or make reservations online at www.fioras.com We thank our wonderful guests for 10 fantastic years

BOF_102419.indd 64

10/10/19 12:02 PM