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Post by title1parent on May 1, 2008 6:10:38 GMT -5
This thread is to put in activities/festivals that are occuring around the area.Since many are into Boxed Wine, or for those of us who make our own , right Rural? ;D Here is one of the festivals coming up this weekend. Uncorking the first festival of summerApril 30, 2008 You know summer is just around the corner when you start hearing about local outdoor festivals. One of the newest is Wine on the Fox in downtown Oswego. Saturday will mark the fledgling festival's second year. We went last year and had a great time. Some of the group we went with didn't drink wine, but enjoyed the music and food. This year's list of entertainment, food and wine offerings sound even better than last year. Thirteen of the wineries that attended last year are coming back to the festival, Michele Bergeron, Oswego's community relations coordinator, told me. Three new wineries -- Willett's Winery and Cellar, Vahling Vineyards and Mackinaw Valley Winery -- will participate this year. Tasting is a bargain. For only $10, you'll receive a wristband, souvenir wineglass and five tasting tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased for $1 each. The Rotary Club of Oswego is sponsoring a sign-up for designated drivers. If you sign up, you will receive free bottled water or soda. Admission is free for everyone; this is a great way to spend a Saturday with friends and family. Don't leave the kids at home -- they'll have a great time, too. Last year's crowd of 2,000 was like a gigantic block party. Kids in strollers and dogs on leashes had as much fun as the over-21 crowd. Hudson Crossing Park has an awesome playground, and it was full during the time I was at Wine on the Fox last year. Food is a must for outdoor festivals. Bergeron gave me the scoop on what will be offered. The Oswego Inn will serve its fabulous brats and burgers, the Knights of Columbus will entice us with pork chops. Also try tacos from the Optimist Club, pizza and popcorn from the American Legion, and cheese, crackers and fruit from the Village Grind. If that doesn't get your tummy rumbling, Periwinkles from downtown Oswego will have some wonderful offerings to tempt you. Last year my favorite snack at the fest was scrumptious chocolate covered strawberries. Locally owned Fun Foods will be back again this year with these delicious berries and other sweets that will be hard to resist. While enjoying your lunch or dinner at the fest, you will be treated with nationally renowned talent. One of last year's favorites, the Shawn Maxwell Quartet will start off the day at 11 a.m. with their smooth Jazz. Vocals will be performed by local favorite Jeff LaMarre of Oswego from 1:30 3 p.m.. Following Jeff at 3:30, the Flat Cats will wow the crowd with their mix of vintage and modern music, blues and swinging jazz. Last but not least, Howard and the White Boys will bring the blues to the fest. If you haven't seen them perform, you are in for a treat. They have a contagious energy that leaps from the stage to get your toes tapping and fingers snapping. They have opened for blues legend BB King and worked with some of the biggest names in the business: Junior Wells, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Buddy Guy to name a few. Howard and the White Boys will take the stage at 6 p.m. to serve up some Chicago-style blues to go with that glass of red or white wine. Start off your summer festivals right here in Oswego. Whether you stop in for an hour or spend the day; you can never go wrong with great wine, food, entertainment. laurahartman171@gmail.com
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Post by title1parent on May 4, 2008 6:37:09 GMT -5
Lt. Dan and his band return for concert to support troops Funds raised help group send care packages
May 4, 2008
By Hank Beckman Special to The Sun
Lieutenant Dan turned up in Lisle on Friday.
Gary Sinise, the actor who portrayed Lt. Dan Taylor in the 1994 film "Forrest Gump," helped kick off tickets sales for the third annual Rockin' for the Troops concert.
Proceeds from the concert, to be held July 19 at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, will go toward the postage costs of care packages for soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. IF YOU GO What: Rockin' for the Troops concert
When: July 19
Where: Cantigny Park, Wheaton.
Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online, by calling 800-594-8499, or at several area Jewel-Osco locations. For a list of participating stores or for more information, visit osotil.org. Operation Support Our Troops Illinois raises the money needed, ships the packages and has worked since 2003 for troops and families affected by the war. "This is quite an operation you have here," Sinise said, speaking to the volunteers gathered at the Lisle warehouse collating donations and preparing the care packages for shipment. "That this concert went from five or six thousand attendees to almost double that is a tribute to all of the volunteers."
Sinise also spoke of visiting the troops in Iraq.
"As long as they are in harm's way, they will know they are not forgotten," he said. "Don't take the gesture of these supplies for granted. ... It means so much to them."
Volunteers, most of whom had no idea Sinise would be there, gather once a week to work in a production line effort to prepare needed items for troops.
Almost anything that can fit inside a 25 to 30 pound package is likely to be found in a typical shipment.
All sorts of nonperishable foods are sent, from Pringles to Snickers to Starbucks coffee. CDs are in great demand, as are magazines and books. Practical items such as batteries, sunscreen and even mousetraps find their way to troops in need.
Small bags contain kits for hair and tooth care.
And every box contains a personal greeting from schoolchildren, many beginning with the greetings, "Dear Hero," or "Hello soldier."
OSOTIL ships about 230 care packages every week and has sent more than 16,000 since 2003.
Ginger Teckenbrock thinks the personal greetings are the most meaningful things in the packages.
Teckenbrock's son, Army Spec. Alex Teckenbrock, a 2005 graduate of Naperville Central High School who has been deployed in Iraq since May 2007, wants to stay connected with home.
"They want to know what is happening here ... to be able to talk to people back here is important."
Teckenbrock has almost daily contact with her son through e-mail, instant messaging and cell phone conversations
"Sometimes the phone might just go dead," she said. "But then he calls you back and lets you know he's alright."
Lisle resident Jim Filliung's daughter is a combat nurse in Iraq.
"This makes us feel good, my wife and I," he said. "She takes the packages in to the wounded soldiers and she can testify what it means to them."
Others have no family serving, but feel called to help.
"It's a great cause and you get such positive feedback," said Naperville resident Brianna Bartemeyer. "At home, we take these creature comforts for granted."
OSOTIL is the creation of Naperville resident Debi Rickert, who began the operation in 2003 "out of my living room."
"I grew up in the Vietnam era and we were so torn politically, we took it out on our troops," she said. "They're doing the bidding of our country ... I want to do my part."
Rickert's son, Lt. Dan Rickert, is a West Point graduate who will be deployed to Iraq in July.
Dan Rickert, a 2002 graduate of Naperville Central High School, was affected by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 and gave up a track scholarship to attend the academy.
"It's an attitude of sacrifice that I've seen again and again in these kids," Debi Rickert said.
Tickets for the Rockin' for the Troops concert are on sale now.
For further information, visit Operation Support Our Troops Illinois at osotil.org
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Post by title1parent on May 18, 2008 6:37:43 GMT -5
This is a personal favorite for our family...as my hubby does Civil War Skirmishing. Abe and the Babe [ Mary ] are always fun to meet.Civil War event's a blast History comes to life at Naper SettlementMay 18, 2008 Sun staff History is repeating itself at Naper Settlement's Civil War Day this weekend. President Abraham Lincoln, Gens. Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee and Underground Railroad figure Harriet Tubman are among the more than 300 people portrayed by re-enactors to transform the 13-acre site into a Civil War encampment. Paul Wood, who portrays Lee, said it is important for him to accurately depict the general, who served the country for 32 years despite his opposition to the war. Yet Lee was related to most of the major land-owning families in Virginia. » Click to enlarge image Members of Grant, Lee, Custer & Co. fire a cannon Saturday afternoon during a battle re-enactment at Naper Settlement. (ebastian Szyszka/Special to The Sun) IF YOU GO Naper Settlement's Civil War Days When: Continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today Where: The historic museum village at 523 S. Webster St. in downtown Naperville Tickets: $9 adults, $8 seniors and $6.50 youth 4 to 17 Call: The event hot line at 630-305-5555 or visit www.napersettlement.museum. "I think it is important for people of the 21st century to understand people of the 19th century," Wood said in a news release. "They were just like you and I - they built this nation that we call home." Jerome Kowalski, a re-enactor for 15 years, portrays Gen. George Henry Thomas, commander of the Union Army of the Cumberland. Kowalski plans to read from the emotional letter that Sullivan Ballou wrote in 1861 to his wife shortly before he was killed in the first battle of Bull Run. And Rick Benson, a newcomer to Civil War re-enacting, debuted his portrayal of Capt. Henry Wirz, commandant of the infamous Andersonville Prison in southwest Georgia. During his research of the captain, Benson utilized the only known photograph of Wirz to have clothing custom-made to complement his portrayal. It is research like Benson's that makes history come to life at Civil War Days. Music, food, cannon and gunshot blasts, battle cries, marches and cavalry demonstrations will round out the day's events. A battle between blue and gray, or the Union and Confederates, will take place at 2:30 p.m. Naper Settlement's Civil War Days will continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in the historic museum village, at 523 Webster St. Tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6.50 for children ages 4 to 17. For more information call the event hot line at 630-305-5555 or visit www.napersettlement.museum.
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Post by title1parent on May 22, 2008 5:51:59 GMT -5
Fox Valley marks Memorial Day with parades, ceremonies, racesMay 22, 2008 Area communities have scheduled a variety of activities for the Memorial Day weekend. Aurora • Parade: Annual Memorial Day Parade begins at noon Monday at South River and Benton streets. The parade route will be east on Benton Street to Broadway, north on Broadway to Downer Place and west on Downer to Middle Avenue. • Services: Roosevelt-Aurora Post 84 will hold services at the following cemeteries and other locations Monday -- 8 a.m. at Lincoln Memorial Park, Route 30; 9 a.m. at Marywood Cemetery, 1820 Church Road; 9:30 a.m. at St. Michaels, Route 25 and Mitchell Road; 10 a.m. at River Hills Memorial Park, 1650 S. River Road, Batavia. For information call (630) 859-1549. • Civil War Service: A GAR Memorial Day Cemetery Service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at West Aurora Cemetery on Lake Street. The program honors those who served in the Civil War. Fox Valley • Flavors of Greece Festival: St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church in Aurora will host the Flavors of Greece Festival Friday to Sunday at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles. There will be Greek food, and the Apollo Dance Troupe will perform. • Veterans Legislative Breakfast: Veterans in the 25th Senate District may join State Sen. Chris Lauzen and his colleagues for a Veterans Legislative Day at 9:30 a.m. today in the Hall of Flags in the Howlett Building on the State Capitol Complex in Springfield. The day's program will begin at 11 a.m. Call (217) 782-1650 or visit www.vets.ilsenategop.org. Batavia • World War II re-enactment: The WWII Historical Re-enactment Society and the Batavia Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1197 will host a USO dance, displays and battle re-enactments over the weekend. A USO-style canteen dance is set for 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Batavia VFW, 645 S. River St. The dance is free and will feature swing and big-band music. The public is encouraged to attend in vintage costume. The re-enactors will open their encampments and displays of uniforms, vehicles, weapons and equipment from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. There will be public re-enactment battles of a small unit engagement in Normandy at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. The Batavia VFW will host its Memorial Day remembrance ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday. The event will feature music from the Batavia High School Band, and Mayor Jeff Schielke will be keynote speaker. For information about the re-enactment, call (847) 347-7470. For information about the memorial ceremony, call the VFW at (630) 879-9630. • Batavia Kids Bicycle Race: Batavia MainStreet will hold a Batavia Kids Bicycle race at 11:45 a.m. Monday as part of the new Batavia Criterium. The entry fee is $3 per child or two children for $5. Registration is onsite starting at 9 a.m. at the white MainStreet tent outside Prairie Path Cycles, 122 W. Wilson St. Children must wear a helmet to participate. The race takes place on Route 31 between Wilson Street and Main Street. • Batavia Criterium: The Batavia Criterium in downtown features professional bicycle racing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. The Batavia Criterium hosts Masters bicycle racing categories for professional races over 30 years of age. Races are held at 9, 9:30, 10:15 and 11 a.m., and 12:20, 1:15 and 2:05 p.m. Spectator parking is encouraged near the Riverwalk area and by City Hall or the east side of the river. For information call Mike Farrell at Prairie Path Cycle, (630) 406-9749 or visit www.abdcycling.com for registration and full race details. Geneva • Parade: The Fox River Geneva American Legion War Veterans Post 75 will host the Memorial Day Parade, stepping off at 10 a.m. Monday at the train station. The parade will proceed north on Third Street to the cemetery where a ceremony will be held. • Poppy Days: Legion members will distribute poppies today at the train station and Saturday in downtown Geneva. Contributions received from the distribution of poppies are used to aid hospitalized and disabled veterans and their families. Call (630) 232-4790. • Rifle Salute: The American Legion Post Color Guard will perform a rifle salute at 6:15 a.m. Monday at the East Side Cemetery, then proceed to the State Street bridge and the Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave. A final salute will be given at the Geneva Township Flag Memorial. Hinckley • Service: Hinckley American Legion, Wade Post 598 will hold a Memorial Day Service at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Hinckley Community Building, 120 N. Maple St. Montgomery • Ceremony: The Montgomery Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7452 will observe Memorial Day with a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Memorial in Riverside Cemetery. A complimentary lunch will be served after the ceremony at the post home, 121 N. River St. Naperville • Parade: Annual Memorial Day Parade will start at 10:30 a.m. Monday from the parking lot of Centennial Beach in downtown Naperville. Call (630) 357-4615. St. Charles • Fundraiser for Soldier Cooling Vests: At 10 a.m. Monday, CrossFit Tri-Cities, 602 S. 1st Street, St. Charles, will join other teams of elite athletes from other CrossFit gyms, fire departments and military units around the world to raise money for cooling vests for soldiers serving in Iraq. Each team works in a timed event to complete 300 pull-ups, 400 push-ups, 500 sit-ups and 600 squats. Entrance fee per team is $160, which purchases and ships one cooling vest overseas. Call (630) 738-0638. • St. Charles Fine Art Show: The 10th annual St. Charles Fine Art Show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 1st Avenue and East Main Street. Admission is free. • Services: Services will be held at 5:45 a.m. Monday at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St. An Honor Guard will raise the flag, and the U.S. Civil Air Patrol firing squad will give a rifle salute. Call (630) 584-5166. Following the service, members of the American Legion, the VFW, the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Civil Air Patrol will proceed to the St. Charles South Cemetery on Seventh Avenue, where they will repeat the flag-raising ceremony and rifle salute, and decorate the graves of those who have fallen. The ceremony will continue at St. Charles North Cemetery, then again at Union Cemetery. A ceremony also will be held at 10 a.m. at the St. Charles Freedom Walk, north of the police station, 2 State Ave. • Pancake Breakfast: The Men's Fellowship at the Congregational United Church of Christ will hold a Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday at the church, Fox Mill Boulevard and LaFox Road. Donations accepted. Call (630) 584-0929. Yorkville • Services: The Yorkville American Legion Post 489 will hold a Memorial Day service Monday at the following locations: 8 a.m., Yorkville Post 489, 9054 Route 34; 8:30 a.m., Cross Lutheran Church Cemetery, 8609 Route 47; 9 a.m., Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Immanuel Road; 9:30 a.m., Pavilion Cemetery, Pavilion Road; 10 a.m., Bristol Cemetery; 10:30 a.m., Elmwood Cemetery, West Somonauk Street; and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Yorkville Town Square Park. Call (630) 553-0153.
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Post by title1parent on Jun 13, 2008 4:47:04 GMT -5
Naper Days starts Friday
By Ann Piccininni | Daily Herald Correspondent Published: 6/12/2008 12:09 AM
Get your dancing shoes ready, along with your taste buds. Naper Days is back this weekend on the grounds of Naper Settlement near downtown Naperville.
The three-day festival at 523 S. Webster St., an homage to the city's heritage and to founder Joe Naper, may be a smaller-scale hometown summer bash than Naperville's July 4th Ribfest or the city's Labor Day Last Fling.
But it's packing a big punch this year in terms of marquee entertainment and children's activities, organizers say.
"We're very proud we're having the Gin Blossoms perform," event co-chairman Jason Altenbern said. "We're very delighted that they're able to come. This is big news for us."
The band will take the main stage at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Area teen bands will get their chance to play the main stage Sunday afternoon during the Teenage Band Showcase.
A stage dedicated to children's entertainment will feature performances by musicians Jim Gill and Amy Lowe, a disc jockey from Radio Disney, theater troupes from Kidz Kabaret and Summer Place Theatre, the Naperville Chorus, McNulty Irish Dancers, a karate demonstration and entertainment from Midwest Soarring, a Native American group.
Children also can enjoy trolley rides, arts and crafts projects, a child-sized train and cooking demonstrations aimed at kids.
"There's really an increase in the amount of children's activities," said John Buckley, the settlement's director of institutional development.
Naper Days visitors also can check out the blue-ribbon baking competition, participate in craft projects presented by the Naperville Cultural Center and other groups, and experiment with guitar and dance games such as Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution.
"We're trying to keep up with the latest rages," said Altenbern. Gourmands won't be disappointed, either. No less than 12 local food vendors will prepare samples of their cuisine for the Taste of Naperville, a culinary festival that will set up on the settlement's village green. Naper Days also will bring a dash of wackiness to Father's Day weekend. A hotly contested rivalry between veteran teams is expected to heat up the bed races down Porter Avenue.
"We've got the reigning champs, the Nuns on the Run," said Altenbern, referring to the bed race team from St. Patrick's Residence. "The teams are jockeying to see if they can take them down. That's always a family crowd-pleaser."
And then there's Barnyard Bingo, a game wherein winners are determined by who can best predict where a calf, goat, pig or chicken will leave its post-digestion mark. The event debuted as Cow Chip Bingo several years ago.
"It's more than just cows. We've brought in other barnyard animals," said Buckley.
Naper Days is a fundraiser for the Naperville Heritage Society. Last year, Buckley said, the festival netted about $125,000.
"It supports the preservation and education activities of Naper Settlement," he said.
Altenbern said between 130 and 150 volunteers help make Naper Days work. Many sign up as groups.
"It's not uncommon for me to get calls - 'Hey, my family wants to come and work together,'" he said.
Altenbern said several volunteer spots remain available, especially on Sunday, and he urges those interested to get involved.
"We'll find fun things for them to do," he said.
If you go
What: Naper Days
Where: Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville
When: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $5 for adults; free for 8 and under; $10 after 5 p.m. Saturday
Info: (630) 420-6010 or naperdays.org and napersettlement.museum
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Post by title1parent on Jun 13, 2008 4:49:54 GMT -5
Blues on the Fox performers top Blues awardsJustin Kmitch | Daily Herald Staff Published: 6/13/2008 12:06 AM Summer is the season for festivals and festivals are the reason Kenny Wayne Shepherd loves summer. "Once it warms up, man, that means we get to play our music outside and have fun with the crowds," the platinum-selling blues rocker said during a tour stop Sunday in Springfield, Mo. "Outdoor shows can have between 5,000 and 50,000 people there and there's nothing cooler than playing off that energy." The Grammy-nominated Shepherd will have plenty of energy to feed off this weekend when he headline's Aurora's 12th annual Blues on the Fox music festival. "We know we have a huge fan base in the Chicago area and they always give us a great turnout," he said. "This weekend should be no different." The two-day fest, which begins at 6:45 p.m. today, is the city's annual celebration of the history of the RCA Bluebird recordings that were made in the 1930s at the Leland Hotel's famous Sky Club in downtown Aurora. Aurora's Special Events Manager Gina Morga said hundreds of songs were recorded by John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy, and others, clearing the way for the urban blues movement that spawned rock 'n' roll. "Because we're celebrating that history, we make sure each year's lineup includes performers from each era and blues style so something appeals to everyone," Moga said. Three of this year's performers are recipients of the 2008 Blues Music Awards. Shepherd is a recipient of best DVD for his "10 Days Out - Blues from the Backroads " DVD. Hubert Sumlin, who will be performing with Kenny Wayne, was awarded best "Traditional Blues Male Artist" of the year. Bettye LaVette, who also will be performing Saturday, was awarded best "Contemporary Blues Female Artist". All of the other Blues on the Fox performers are either past recipients or nominees. Marcia Ball is a three-time recipient of the Blues Music Awards including "Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year". Friday night's performers - Elvin Bishop and Eddy Clearwater - and Corey Harris, Saturday afternoon's entertainment, are all past nominees. Friday night's entertainment will be headlined by Elvin Bishop. Festivities will begin with a performance by Chicago blues favorite Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater at 6:45 p.m. At 3 p.m. Saturday, the Hix Brothers' Junior All-Stars will launch the day of performances featuring young Aurora students of the blues. Acoustic blues artist Corey Harris will take the stage at 4 p.m. Next up will be 2008 Grammy nominee and Detroit legend Bettye LaVette who will belt out blues and soul. Marcia Ball will bring her boogie-woogie, New Orleans-flavored piano and vocals next. Shepherd will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. and he's bringing his "Chicago guys" with him, including longtime Howlin' Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin and Willy "Big Eye" Smith from Muddy Waters. "We're bringing it big so Aurora should be prepared for a great show and some soulful performances," Shepherd said. "And I'm bringing some living legends on the stage with me so this is a show not to be missed." For the festival schedule, artists' biographies and other information visit www.BluesOnTheFoxAurora.com or call (630) 844-4731. If you go What: Blues festival that celebrates the historic RCA Bluebird recordings made in Aurora in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Where: Downtown Aurora When: 6:45 to 10 p.m. today and 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Cost: Free Info: www.bluesonthefoxaurora.com or (630) 844-4731
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Post by title1parent on Jun 13, 2008 6:57:12 GMT -5
PrairieFest 2008 - Father's Day WeekendThe Oswegoland Park District invites you to be part of the area's largest community celebration by joining us at PrairieFest 2008 as we celebrate 20 years of community fun. Join us for the yearly favorites, like Bucket Brigade and the PrairieFest Parade, as well as many new activities and events. www.prairiefest.com/default.asp
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Post by title1parent on Jul 11, 2008 10:10:23 GMT -5
If you are a collector or a lover of antiques, here is the website for a best kept secret of mine. www.antiquemarkets.com/This is the Sandwich Antiques Market which is held once a month from April to October, Rain or Shine at the fair grounds. Around 500 dealers are there. The range of stuff is from furniture to lunchboxes to comic books, you name it they seem to have it. Many of the vendors will make deals with you. I am a lover of antiques and have bought several unique pieces of furniture there. Some things have been refurbished and some are authentic. There is food [tempura, porkchop sandwiches, lemonshakeups/ black cows, funnel cakes, etc] It is always a good time .... walk around and see all the unique stuff. Sadly I havent been there yet this year and am having withdrawls.
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Post by momto4 on Jul 14, 2008 7:32:26 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/foxvalleysun/news/buchenot/1045060,2_6_5_FV10_JUDY_S1.article Lots of free events this summer in Aurora July 10, 2008 Now that everyone has been out of school for an entire month, summer boredom has set in. With gas prices soaring, many families are wondering if a vacation is possible. The Fox Valley Park District and others have been suggesting "staycations," which refer to doing things as a family that are close to home. I have to admit that some of the most memorable parts of our family vacations were the times we were just together doing something that we could have done at home. The boys still talk about the night we sat around a hotel table and played a card game for hours. It was a game that required partners and whoever was Grandma's partner would always win. We discovered that Grandma was somewhat of a card shark that night and all of the kids had fun winning when partnered with their 80-year-old grandmother. Just being together without other distractions can seem like a vacation no matter where you are. Simply get out of the house and do something together even if it is just for an afternoon or an evening. Many places offer free family fun during the summer months. Nova 8 movie theater on Route 59 offers free movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. On July 15 and 16, they will be showing The Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep . On July 22 and 23, the film will be Alvin and The Chipmunks . The City of Aurora also offers a free summer movie series on Saturday nights at Phillips Park. The movies are shown outdoors on a huge inflatable screen. Bring a blanket, lawn chairs and your own snacks. Since many people arrive early to claim a spot, the city has activities for children beginning at 8:15 p.m. The movie starts around 8:45 or 9, depending on when the sky is dark. The screen is set up near the big sledding hill. On July 12, the movie will be Evan Almighty . The feature on July 19 will be Elf and on July 26, Daddy Daycamp will be shown. Speaking of Phillips Park, the Phillips Park Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is free. The reptile house hours are 9:30 until 4:30. This zoo is a perfect size for young children because they can enjoy a few animals without having to walk too far. The zoo has llamas, and yes, they do spit occasionally. The zoo also has a cougar, an animal that has been given media attention recently after one was shot wandering around in Chicago. I recently learned that cougars don't roar. They chirp, whistle and sometimes scream but they do not roar. My personal favorite at the zoo are the river otters. They swim around like they have wind-up motors and when they get out of the water, amazingly, their fur is completely dry. If you would like to journey to a bigger zoo, the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is also free. Another great place for a family adventure is Red Oak at 2343 South River Street. There are several short trails that can feel like you are hiking into the wilderness. There is also an interactive Nature Center where kids can learn a few things or just explore. The Fox Valley Park District offers a free neighborhood art camp for children in grades 1 through 5 on Tuesdays from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. in Wheatland Park on South Eola Road and Barrington Drive during July. The Eola Branch of the Aurora Public Library offers game days on Wednesdays this month. Children between the ages of 4 to 6 can enjoy games or crafts from 10 until 10:45 p.m. The same program is offered for children ages 7 to 10 from 2 until 3:15 p.m.. The library also offers a family story time at 7 p.m. on Mondays. The City of Aurora continues its Downtown Alive concerts, which are also free. On July 11, The Moods will take the stage at 7 p.m. at Downer Place and Stolp Avenue to play Motown, blues, pop and rock and roll. The Beatles cover band American English plays at 7:30 p.m. on July 18. The Rocks the Fox weekend will take place Aug. 1 and 2 with a lineup of bands including Blue Oyster Cult. The full schedule can be found at www.downtownaliveaurora.com. If nothing else, turn off the cell phones, send the neighborhood kids home, ignore the laundry, unplug the Nintendo, invite Grandma over and try a family game night. Fun can happen at home too. buchenot@comcast.net
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we4
Junior
Let's Go Yankees......Let's Go Yankees
Posts: 204
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Post by we4 on Jul 17, 2008 8:17:33 GMT -5
I guess this doesn't have to be a weekend activity. Here is the link on the new Yorkville water park. Anyone been there yet? www.ragingwaves.com/
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Post by WeNeed3 on Jul 17, 2008 12:33:31 GMT -5
DuPage County Fair runs from July 23-27th. Headliners include Little Big Town, Steven Curtis Chapman and Jars of Clay, Corbin Bleu of "High School Musical", a Pink Floyd laser light show and demolition derby. Visit www.dupagecountyfair.org.
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Post by title1parent on Jul 31, 2008 7:12:12 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1083991,2_1_AU31_ROCKFOX_S1.article Downtown Alive! salutes you with classic rock bandsJuly 31, 2008 By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com Later this week, members of classic rock band UFO will board a plane in London, headed for Chicago. They'll only be in the United States for a few days, and while they're here, they'll play only one show. That show will be Aurora's own Downtown Alive! Rocks the Fox, the inaugural classic rock weekend festival that kicks off on Friday. And the fest's lead organizer, Gina Moga, head of the Mayor's Office of Special Events, can barely disguise the excitement in her voice. "They're flying in from Europe just for this show," she said. "They're coming to the United States to play in Aurora, Illinois!" UFO will join Blue Oyster Cult and Molly Hatchet in headlining the first Rocks the Fox, an experiment that Moga hopes will set the tone for Downtown Alive! in the future. She envisions the annual Friday night music fest transforming into a series of weekend events, to be held at the new performance venue planned as part of RiverEdge Park on Broadway. That venue won't be open until 2010, if all goes according to plan, but Moga wants people to get used to the idea of bigger festival-type events -- larger acts, themed weekends, targeted audiences. Rocks the Fox is meant to serve as a bookend with the successful Blues on the Fox festival, which drew thousands this year by booking big-name musicians like Kenny Wayne Shepherd. The Rocks the Fox lineup grew organically from the audience for Downtown Alive! over the last 10 years, Moga said -- usually an over-45 crowd, who would be more familiar with bands like UFO and Blue Oyster Cult. While she often uses others as a sounding board, asking which acts she should book, Moga said Rocks the Fox was easy for her -- this is the kind of music she grew up with. "This combination just seemed to come together," she said. "They're all the same era, the same type of music." In some ways, booking UFO to close out this year's summer lineup is a crowning achievement for Moga -- the group played the first concert she ever attended, and its draw is impressive. In April, UFO performed a two-night stand at the House of Blues in Chicago and sold out both nights. The British band, voted #84 in VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, is touring behind its latest album, The Monkey Puzzle, released in 2006. They are best known for 1970s hits like Lights Out and Too Hot to Handle. Since announcing the lineup, Moga's office has been flooded with calls, mainly from people who can't believe they'll soon get to see UFO for free. She said she's fielded calls from as far away as Massachusetts, from people willing to fly in for the show. While UFO is clearly the big name, the other acts on the bill are no slouches. New York's Blue Oyster Cult will forever be known for their biggest hit, 1976's (Don't Fear) The Reaper, but they've actually released 13 albums, the most recent in 2001. (They had a minor resurgence in popularity when Reaper was used in a Saturday Night Live sketch a couple of years ago -- More cowbell!) And Molly Hatchet, out of Jacksonville, Fla., is a southern rock giant known for hits like Flirtin' With Disaster. They continue to record and tour -- their last album was 2005's Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge. The bill is rounded off with three local bands: AC/DC tribute act Problem Child, Chicago cover group ARRA and rockers Dbl. Shot. Moga said she deliberately chose an equal number of national and local groups to give the locals some exposure they might not get otherwise, especially those bands with a harder edge. "It's a good opportunity to use some local bands I can't use very often," she said. Even with all the firepower on stage, Moga isn't sure what kind of crowds Rocks the Fox will draw. She thinks she's giving the Downtown Alive! crowd more of what they want and isn't concerned that the weekend lineup is the loudest and heaviest downtown Aurora has ever seen. Still, she's not sure what kind of success the festival will be. "I've been seriously wrestling with what kind of crowd we will get, and I'm not sure what to expect," she said. "Will people take the time to come down? Is this what they want?" Even though the name and caliber of musician is different, Rocks the Fox has the same goal Downtown Alive! has had for the past 10 years: bring more people to Aurora and show them what the city has to offer. What would success look like for Moga? "The streets packed, full of people," she said. "I'd like to bring as many people downtown as we can."
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Post by title1parent on Aug 24, 2008 6:23:02 GMT -5
I thought I would post this....a former colleague of mine at Yorkville used to teach aviation at the HS. He told me about this program. It is supposed to be pretty cool for the younger kids.Young Eagles offers free airplane ridesBeacon 8/24/08 The Young Eagles program will offer free airplane rides for kids ages 8-17 at the Aurora Municipal Airport (Routes 30 and 47) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and on Sept. 28 and Oct. 26, weather permitting. Young Eagles is a program offered by the EAA to introduce young people to general aviation. The flights usually last 15 to 20 minutes. Back on the ground, there will be additional time to ask questions. Participants also receive a photo of themselves and their pilot and an official Young Eagles certificate. For more information, call (630) 466-4579 or visit www.EAA579.org.
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Post by title1parent on Aug 27, 2008 5:44:35 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1128684,6_1_NA27_LASTFLING_S1.article Last Fling around the cornerWatch out for downtown street closures August 27, 2008 Sun staff While Last Fling mostly is fun for everyone, the inevitable closing of some downtown streets can be an inconvenience for those who just want to run errands. To make those quick trips easier, the city of Naperville wants to make those closures and parking restrictions clear to residents. Some closures start at 5 a.m. today, including Jackson Avenue between Eagle and Ewing streets, and Mill Street between Jackson and Jefferson avenues. IF YOU GO Last Fling When: From 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday Events: A carnival; pre-parade run; antique auto and craft show at Naper Settlement; food vendors; beer garden; business expo; and a concert stage starring Dennis DeYoung, The Doobie Brothers, Gavin DeGraw, The Hat Guys and more. For more information: Call 630-961-4143 or visit www.lastfling.org. COMING THURSDAY For a complete guide to Last Fling festivities this weekend, check out The Sun's Thursday Out&About pullout section. Others start at 5 a.m. Friday, including Eagle Street from Jefferson to Aurora avenues; Jackson Avenue from Eagle to Main Street; and Webster Street from Jefferson to Jackson avenues. Eagle Street will close at 9 a.m. Friday. Closures continue through 5 a.m. Tuesday. Porter Avenue also will be closed west of Webster Street from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Other streets will be designated "no parking this side of street, tow-away zone" beginning at 4 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Tuesday. For a color-coded map of these streets, go to www.naperville.il.us/lastfling.aspx and click on the map link. Additional closures and restrictions will go into effect Monday for the annual Labor Day Parade and the Fling Mile. The parade begins at the corner of Mill Street and Fifth Avenue by Naperville North High School. It will travel south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street, west on Porter, and end in the parking lot behind Naperville Central High School. Streets will close at 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday and a no parking, tow-away zone will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Parade starts at 10 a.m.* Participants must enter off Benedetti or Ogden, as Mill Street will be closed. Free public shuttles serving Last Fling festival-goers will run to and from several remote parking locations. Shuttles will run continuously to the festival from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday; from 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday. Remote parking locations include the Burlington commuter parking lot at the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Washington Street; North Central College, 30 N. Brainard St.; and All Saints Academy, 1155 Aurora Ave. On-site handicap parking will be available at the Rotary Hill parking lot, off Aurora Avenue, and in the lower level of the Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. (Visitors must use the entrance off Webster Street.) Off-site handicap parking will be available at All Saints Academy, 1155 Aurora Ave., with shuttle service available at about every 30 minutes. There is one handicap spot per bus for wheelchairs.
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Post by title1parent on Aug 31, 2008 7:24:26 GMT -5
Monday
Parade: The 2008 Naperville Jaycees Day Parade will take place beginning at 10 a.m. The parade route is as follows: The parade begins at the corner of Mill Street and Fifth Avenue, by Naperville North High School. It will proceed south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street, west on Porter, and end in the parking lot behind Naperville Central High School.
Both of our HS bands march in this parade.
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