Glancer Magazine, April 2020 : simplebooklet.com

2. LEARN ABOUT THE WWII HOME FRONT HISTORY EXHIBITS, EVENTS, AND PROGRAMS ONLINE NAPERVILLE–To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, Naper Settlement will explore how the HomeFront responded to war and connect Naperville to national stories of wartime economic and cultural shifts. Though the museum is currently closed due to the Pan-demic, readers are encouraged to visit online to learn about the upcoming exhibits that are coming to com-memorate the end of WWII. The list is awe-inspiring! www.napersettlement.org/595/WWII-Home-Front-1940s SPRING 20205 Things to Do1. SHOP ONLINE FOR SPRING TRENDS URBAN ECHO SHOP–Send a Message of Hope throughout the Day with this Graphic Tee. It’s Simple Yet So Powerful ♥ Available In Black and Blush • S, M, L, XL • $28.95 Cotton/Poly Blend • Made In USA www.urbanechoshop.comGlancer Magazine • APRIL 2020 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 74. PLAN FOR FUTURE KITCHEN, BATH & BASEMENT HOME UPDATES AT MYHOMEWERKS.COM NAPERVILLE– Recognized as a premiere remodeling company, with a 10,000 square foot showroom in Naperville, HomeWerks has a beautiful online gallery of photos and ideas to help you plan your next remodeling dream come true. Now’s a great time to start planning your next kitchen, bath or basement project! Family owned and operated since 1996, HomeWerks specializes in full service remodeling. The kitchen and bath displays are in-teractive, allowing visitors to experience many product features first hand. With the focus of providing high quality products, pro-fessional installation and exceptional customer service HomeWerks Kitchen and Bath • www.myhomewerks.com 3. GET A BEAUTY PLAN IN PLACE AND SAVE WITH ONLINE DEALS NAPERVILLE & GENEVA Offering many online specials during this time at home! Concierge Med-ical Spa is a luxury medical spa with highly trained physicians, nurse practitioners and estheti-cians offering the most compre-hensive esthetic medical services. From body contouring to highly advanced future-for-ward restorative and non-surgi-cal cosmetic procedures, our esthetic experts are some of the best in the industry. As the number one provider of Cool-sculpting in the Midwest and Top 200 in the country of Allergan injec-tors, our services produce excellent results and have high client satisfaction. www.conciergemedspa.com/glancer 4. CONNECT WITH THE GROWING PLACE BLOG AURORA & NAPERVILLE– Prepare for gardening season with a local leading garden center, The Growing Place. During this time at home, con-nect with their blog for planting and gardening tips, ideas and more. Once the Shelter in Place is lifted, visit for a wide selection of outdoor and indoor plants, trees, shrubs, vegetables and herbs tucked in amongst theirgardens. The Growing Place www.thegrowingplace.com April2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 9:06 AM Page 7

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COVER STORYSHOP ONLINE LOCALLY DURING THE SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER & GET TO KNOW THESE SHOPS CNN Reported this past month that the future of a successful mall retailers is apparently outside of the mall. Beauty, haircare, and skincare chains are seeing huge opportunity in brick and mortar locations in neighborhood and strip centers, inclusive of the downtown Naperville area. “Unlike other retail categories, health and beauty is more insulated from online buying, ladies like to try on new cosmetics to see if it’s the right shade for them, smell the perfume, see the new lip colors,” says Katie Wood, Executive Director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance. “It’s a sen-sory experience that you can’t do easily on-line, and for that reason, this segment continues to expand.” Some big names that have moved into the downtown Naperville area include Bluemercury, MAC Cosmetics, Sephora, Ulta, Benefit, and most recently, LUSH. Bluemercury (www.bluemercury.com) founder, Marla Beck, says she created the makeup, skincare and spa as a haven for beauty lovers - a place to learn a new tip or trick about makeup and skincare, or to pop in to the spa for a facial or brow styling. A place to always receive honest, expert advice, and to find the best beauty products in the world, right in your neighborhood. You can’t get an oxygen facial, glycolic peel, or waxing and microdermabrasion online! Similarly, Sephora offers ongoing events and experiences to celebrate top brands with friends, and try new products while learning new application skills such as 15 Minute Mini Sessions for brows, lashes, makeup, foundation, lips and full face makeovers. “Naperville is a very business friendly community,” Ms. Wood adds. “Naperville is a destination and whether big or small, national or local, as long as the busi-ness’s plans align with our city’s zoning guidelines we welcome commerce. Furthermore, Downtown Naperville is a unique shopping district where you get the best of both worlds – nationally popular businesses mixed with local favor-ites … where, as an example you have the Apple Store across from Anderson’s Bookshop, Lululemon across from Naperville Running Company, Gap across from Deans and so on. Customers like to be able to shop at both and that ‘blend’ is one of Downtown Naperville’s unique characteristics; or, as we say, “tried and true” and “just for you” businesses – national and local. It makes for a great shopping experience.” Each business has their own specialty and loyal customer base. Some businesses not only have products, but also offer services that supplement what they sell. LUSH (www.lu-shusa.com), which offers uniquely hand-made skincare and cosmetic products that are vegetarian and fresh opened recently at 119 S. Main at the end of February in Down-town Naperville and there was a buzz all over Naperville for their grand opening event. Just down Main Street, MAC Cosmetics (www.maccosmetics.com) offers year-round events ranging from immersive one-on-one tuto-rials (M·A·C 123 and Technique classes), to excit-ing collection launches, previews and exclusive global parties with the biggest names in fashion, film, music and art – M∙A∙C events bring their dynamic culture to life. All Ages, All Races, All Genders. Also, on Main Street is Benefit Cosmetics Boutique & BrowBar Lounge (www.benefitcosmetics.com) where you can host an after-hours private beauty bash including bubbly, small bites, make-uppers, and brow wax or shaping. Best known for their motto, “laughter is the best cosmetic...so grin and wear it,” and their whimsical candy store atmosphere, the boutique is famous for deliver-ing quick fixes for every gal's peskiest beauty dilemmas. Ulta (www.ulta.com) has grown to become the largest U.S. beauty retailer and has a storefront on Washington Street offering cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services of more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 beauty brands across all categories and price points. They also believe in giving back and have a long-standing partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, as well as other local nonprofit organi-zations. Ms. Wood reiterates that Naperville is a vibrant town and it doesn’t go unno-ticed by big box retailers. “Numerous health and beauty brands cluster together in many areas across the country,” she says. “Having a variety of options is beneficial to consumers.” The Beauty Shop BoomDOWNTOWN NAPERVILLEby Kristen Kucharski Photos by Mike CatuaraGlancer Magazine • APRIL 2020• WESTERN SUBURBS • 9April2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 9:08 AM Page 9

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Glancer Magazine • APRIL 2020• WESTERN SUBURBS • 11All Things Beautiful by Kristen Kucharski Soon again you will be enjoying the calming scents of the aromatic candles that will engage your senses from the moment you step into the historic log cabins of Velvet Grace in Oswego. The creative displays in cozy vignettes en-hance the shopping experience while you pe-ruse the beautiful home décor; timeless and trendy women’s apparel, jewelry and acces-sories, as well as hats, scarves, handbags, and much more. Look forward to encompassing yourself into the welcoming shopping environment splashed with an array of gift selections - Capri Blue, Eleven Point, and Himalayan candles, in addition to frames, vases, bas-kets, wall art, pillows, and throws. Design specialists are also just a phone call away, on-hand, and online to help you with personalizing your home and inform you how the easy-to-use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® can transform your old furniture, cabinets, frames, lamps and much more with little or no prep. Oswego residents and store owners, Mary Blanchflower and Nicole Menard promise that when you shop Velvet Grace you will receive a bit of retail therapy and leave with a little grace. These two friends and neighbors have a passion for creating beautiful things and believe in giving back and supporting growth in their hometown. What began with an idea in 2014 became a reality in October 2015 when Nicole’s background in custom home building, interior/exterior selections, accessorizing, wholesale buying, and retail merchandising paired nicely with Mary’s graphic design, marketing and promotion resume to open Velvet Grace in two historic log cabins as a gift boutique and workshop hosting events using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. In Fall of 2018, Velvet Grace Studio evolved from Annie Sloan Workshops to re-tailing trending women’s apparel and accessories, which has been a successful addition to boasting the most current season trends such as mini floral patterns, flowing tops and sun dresses; puffed sleeves, wrapped ankle pants, bralettes, bold color accents, and even a touch of neon! The Spring and Summer sea-sons will feature fun, graphic tees under sweaters, and jackets from top women’s apparel lines by Lush Clothing, Elan, Love Stitch. Jewelry from pop-ular name brands such as: Kendra Scott, Summer Ellis, Larissa Loden, My Saint My Hero and their personal designer Lush Designs. Although they have converted their workshop into an apparel studio and do not offer workshops on site, fans of these special events will be pleased to learn Velvet Grace will be offering workshops this summer at a different location. Clients can con-tact the shop at (630) 636-6570, check the Vel-vet Grace website at www.velvetgrace.net, and follow social media sites like Instagram or Facebook @velvetgraceoswego for up-to-date events and promotions or to receive in-formation on any upcoming classes. “We are an unexpected surprise,” says Nicole. “From our ever-changing displays, to our unique products, to the warm and welcoming atmosphere, it’s a destination you don’t want to miss. Our design specialists are here to help you make your house a home, choose a new outfit with jewelry to accent, and find the perfect gift for that someone who has everything.” At Velvet Grace incorporating a bit of all styles separates their design look from many other boutiques. This Spring expect to see a very earthy, natural vibe. Dried botanicals, beautiful art, textures from fur to tas-sels and wood bead strands. A vibe that is very warm, comfortable and wel-coming in a home. Mary and Nicole believe their customer service is the secret to their success coupled with the boutique style cozy atmosphere that delivers a sense of per-sonable attention to our clients. The talented staff offers dedicated design and apparel assistance and contributes greatly to building relationships with clients. They try to touch all the senses when merchandising, from burning the calming scents of our candles, to paying close attention to lighting, textures, trends and unique apparel items that clients really enjoy paired with excellent customer service. Over the past four years, Mary and Nicole have also contributed to local organi-zations by donating to Hesed House, Habitat for Humanity, Oswego District 308 schools and teachers, Bickford of Oswego, Young Life, Oswego Junior Women’s Club, American Heart Association, Hoops for Healing and many more. Velvet Grace is located at 4025 US Highway 34 in Oswego. The store is cur-rently in compliance with state mandates during this difficult time so please fol-low their social media sites @velvetgraceoswego or their website at www.velvetgrace.net for current hours of operation and services available; latest arrivals; and inspiration for your closet, home, or special gift for a friend. home, or special gift for a friend. Velvet Grace of OswegoALL THINGS BEAUTIFULby Kristen Kucharski Photos by Mike CatuaraApril2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 8:47 AM Page 11

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FAMILY DENTISTRY WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES Valley View Dental offers an array of general and cosmetic dentistry, peri-odontal, dental implants, oral surgery, and orthodontic procedures, including traditional braces, Invisalign, teeth whitening, CEREC one-day crowns and even same day emergency visits. With a large staff of multi-lingual doc-tors, on-site labs at each location, and extended business and weekend hours, Valley View Dental has the ability to treat patients according to their own schedules and convenience. Stop by and see why others in the com-munity have trusted Valley View Dental for almost 20 years. Valley View Dental www.vvdental.com. Located In Naperville, Montgomery & Romeoville.PERSONABLE, ENERGETIC & CREATIVE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SUSAN COLELLA OF BAIRD & WARNER This proud Naperville resident shares that helping local sellers and buyers doesn’t feel like work making it easy to be dedicated and results oriented When she is hired to list a home she gains much of the mar-keting inspiration from her sellers when she asks “ what do you love about your home?” From there she designs high end customs booklets with professional photography & drone shots, descriptions of updates, & develops unique ways to target the right buyers on the internet. Restyling her listings with professional staging , 3D tours great for out of state buyers and constant follow up with all parties are all included for her recipe of success! Susan is currently meeting with sellers & buyers now in anticipation of a thriving Spring market~ Call luxury listing agent Susan Colella anytime to discuss your real estate goals for 2020. Susan Colella, Baird & Warner, (630) 946-3813Glancer Magazine • APRIL 2020 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 13COMMUNITY NEWSCREATIVE MARKETING STRATEGIES PENNY O’BRIEN – One word that consistently comes to clients’ minds when they think of Penny O’Brien is “hustle.” As a Seller Representative Spe-cialist, she loves meeting with sellers to discuss pre-market home improvements and guide them to make their home “showtime ready” when it hits the market. She strongly believes in professional stag-ing and offers it as a complimentary service. With a reputation for “good-looking listings,” she helps clients realize a higher return and quicker sale. Penny says “Staging transforms a home from aver-age to amazing”. Penny O'Brien Broker | Relocation Specialist Negotiation Expert • (630) 207-7001 • penny.obrien@bairdwarner.com Read Penny’s Local Industry Expert Column at www.GlancerMagazine.com SUPPORT LOCAL AUTHORSGRETCHEN BERG, THE OPERATOR Chicago area author, Gretchen Berg’s maternal grandmother was a switchboard op-erator in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, back when it was possible for an operator to listen in on all your calls, and according to Gretchen’s mom, she did just that. “I was working in the field of Genealogy, compiling narratives for clients,” says Gretchen. “It was while researching my own family history that I was inspired to write The Operator.” The Operator is the story of Vivian Dalton, a small-town operator in 1950’s America who relishes listening into her neighbors’ phone conversations until one day when she overhears an exceptionally shocking secret – and it’s about her. As secrets are un-earthed about her family she is catapulted through a maze of unexpected twists. “I had to do a lot of research for the time period,” says Gretchen. “It was important for me to get all the details right.” Along with general research, she spent many hours watching television programs and movies from those times and was thankful to have Turner Classic Movies available for an enjoyable variety. The Operator was published by William Morrow/Harper Collins last month and can be found online and in bookstores now with an audio version coming soon. Do You Know a Local Author? Introduce Us at editorial@glancermagazine.com Literary LocalsGET TO KNOW V FUSION STUDIO + JOIN THEIR NEWSLETTER GENEVA–V Fusion Studio trainers (pictued above) take consideration to increase your quality of life when creating classes - and now also virtually (join facebook page). Local area owner, Rachel Kowal, is currently pursuing her master’s de-gree in exercise physiology, and she bases all classes in the latest research. The current schedule has a variety of effective, fun, and unique classes. V fusion will improve your core strength, endurance, and physique safely so you “train for life” with this popular fitness studio. You’re invited to come out and see why so many love it! Enjoy 30-days of unlimited classes for just $95 or try one week for FREE when you mention Glancer Magazine. V Fusion Studio, 129 W State, Geneva, www.vfusionstudio.comS P O T L I G H T SApril2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 8:49 AM Page 13

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14 • WESTERN SUBURBS• APRIL 2020 • Glancer Magazine MY DAUGHTER’S DRESS IN OSWEGO It’s about that time. High schools are making their plans for prom and the girls are out in droves to find that perfect dress. The boutiques and depart-ment stores are proudly displaying their designs in hopes to lure interested buyers, but prices can be high for that cov-eted dress, and not everyone will be able to shell out the money needed to buy what they need to attend their dance. Many just end up not going because they cannot afford the special ware. Oswego’s Mary Garcia, Founder and President of My Daughter’s Dress, believes no one should miss a spe-cial dance or occasion in their lives because of the outrageous costs. In 2017, when one of her daughter’s close friends did not attend home-coming for this reason, she got the idea of collecting donated formal wear and selling them for an afford-able price – just a small donation to their organization. The project garnered an overwhel-ming response from local moms and has since expanded to offer dresses, shoes and accessories for occasions including prom, homecoming, wed-dings, quinceaneras, bridesmaids, flower girls, and semi-formal parties. They have also just recently added a young man’s line of formal ware needs. “The very first dress we donated was my daughter’s $800 quinceanera dress,” says Mary. “We donated it to a young lady in Lemont for her prom, and that’s where the name for our or-ganization came from.” To date, My Daughter’s Dress has helped 867 girls find their dresses, not including the 24 wedding dresses and the 13 quin-ceanera dresses. “I love when a girl or woman finds ‘the dress’ and they cry and smile at the same time,” says Mary. “That’s why we do it.” The organization is run completely with volunteers and donations, both financial and formal ware. They pay rent and utilities at a space (44 Mon-roe St., #4, Oswego) to house their inventory and allows them to stay open for shopping and donations all year long. If you are interested in more information about My Daugh-ter’s Dress, donating or volunteering, please visit www.mydaugh-tersdress.org . Mindy’s April Giving Inspiration: Find opportunities to give compli-ments. It costs nothing and could make someone’s day. Don’t just think it. Say it. The shop is currently closed due to the COVID-19 Shelter In Place. Follow online to learn more and to stay connected to this special organiza-tion. ABOUT THE WRITER Mindy Kyle is the owner of Be Inspired Studios and is passionate about helping people discover what brings them joy and to live a full, healthy and happy life. She has her Masters in Fine Arts degree in creative writing from DePaul University and lives in Naperville with her husband, three children and the cutest dog in the land. MONTHLY COLUMNTo Give, To Inspirecommunity livingApril2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 8:55 AM Page 14

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Dining Delights continues to deliver too! Many west surburban restaurants are still open for business and still offering delivery and take out during this national time of uncertainty. With all the negative news right now let’s throw in a few positive things from II Pog-giolo Ristorante in Hinsdale who is still open for curbside carry out and DoorDash – plus enjoy your favorite bottle of wine from Poggiolo HALF OFF with your to-go order! You can also purchase $125 gift cards for only $100! Il Poggiolo showcases fresh Italian fare with a modern interpretation of classic dishes and the wine list fea-tures more than 50 wines from various Italian regions. Bottle of red...Bottle of white...Whatever kind of mood you’re in tonight...Traverso’s Italian Restaurant Pizzeria of Naperville has been given approval for carryout beer and wine sales to accompany their old-world recipes including handmade pas-tas, specialty chicken, beef, pork, and seafood dishes, along with many gluten-free options. Traverso’s will continue to offer carry out, delivery, and catering to their valued customers. Barone’s of Glen Ellyn has you covered for feeding and entertaining your kids! Order a Jr Pizza Maker kit with your next order and kids can have fun making their own pizza's at home. Each kit is only $5.95 and includes pre-rolled pizza dough, tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and a Jr. Pizza Maker Hat! With schools closing, local restaurants understand the struggles some families in our community might go through. Therefore, Chef Abdul Mediterranean restau-rant in St. Charles is offering free kids meal with every adult purchase to ensure that families don’t go through more struggles during this rough period of time. The restaurant will be open for take-out meals. Savor all the many flavors and the genuine generosity of our community establish-ments. Eat and be well! –Kristen Kucharski Dining + ENTERTAINMENTDining Out at HomeWEST SUBURBAN DININGDINING + ENTERTAINMENTUmai Aji-Ya 760 Rt 59, Suite 112, Naperville (630) 423-772 • www.umai-ajiya.com Owner: Hill Investment Group Chef: Jenny Espinoza SIMPLY DELICIOUS Noodle shops have been popping up everywhere with ramen in demand. These days ramen is so much more than what you would find in a college dorm! Devin and Laura Hill found the perfect location in Naperville and opened their doors last November. Along with Chef Jenny Espinoza they have been satisfying customers ever since. We found Umai-Aji-Ya Japanese grill and ramen stop trendy and fresh. The delicate layers of flavors can be found in every dish. The simple clean design, comfortable ambiance and delectable menu makes it a great meeting spot for friends and families. Starting with the crispy brussels with umai sauce, cayenne, lemon and garlic chips is a good option. Another customer favorite is the Gulf Shrimp Buns with umai sauce and scallions, they bring great textures to the dining experience. Ramen is a Japanese dish that translates to pulled noodles and dates back to 1910. Every region in Japan has its own variation. What makes ramen so appealing? The smell of the savory broth, the bright colors, gooey egg, perfectly cooked ramen noodles, the crunchy sprouts all make it a culinary and sensory delight. Espinoza has embraced the authentic Japanese style, from the eighteen-hour cooking pro-cess for the ramen broths to the precise presentation. Tonkotsu is the traditional ramen with a rich pork broth, marinated chashu pork belly, bean sprouts, Naruto, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, seaweed, sesame seeds, green onion, soft boiled egg, and drizzled with garlic oil. Umai rice bowls are light and refreshing with a choice of brown or white rice. We enjoyed the burst of flavor in the Salmon Crunch. Like a deconstructed sushi roll the raw salmon marinated in their signature sauce sits on top of the rice along with avocado, masago, red onion, spicy aioli, nori, sesame and jalapeno. The kid’s menu is just as fun! Ramen mac and cheese, rice bowls and mini ramen bowls are a few choices. What child doesn’t enjoy slurping up a noodle? Umai Aji-Ya offers lunch or dinner along with a good vibe. But most importantly the food is simply delicious. Due to the recent COVID-19 Shelter In Place Order, Umai-Aji-Ya is offering free delivery, free kids meals and discounts for the first responders and local medical personnel. Call direct to support this local business. New hours are as follows, closed Sunday and Monday, Tuesday through Thursday they are open 4:00pm until 8:00pm, Friday and Saturday they are open 4:00pm until 9:00pm. ABOUT THE CRITICS Stephanie (right) & Tiffany (left) Schmoker are west suburban sisters who have always shared a love for dining out and they also enjoy cooking together. They came from a family of 7 and grew up on farm with fresh fruits, veggies and more. Watch for their review of a different west suburban restaurant in each issue of Glancer Magazine. Invite them to your eatery at editorial@glancermagazine.com. Savory & Sweet Sisters WEST SUBURBAN EDIBLES TO LOVEGlancer Magazine • APRIL 2020 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 15April2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 8:57 AM Page 15

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GLEN Ellyn16 • WESTERN SUBURBS • APRIL 2020 • Glancer Magazine Pay It Forward CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE– Stop into Paying It Forward, Glen Ellyn’s newest ladies’ luxury con-signment boutique, to find all the brands you want for less—while also shopping for a cause! 20% of all proceeds are donated to local breast cancer charities. With a large selection of shoes, hand-bags, dresses, workout clothes, and more from brands like Gucci, Burberry, Tory Burch, Hunter, and Lululemon, you’ll walk out looking good and feeling good. 546 Duane St., Glen Ellyn www.payingitforward.life (630) 450-6891 The Gnome Colony BOUTIQUE– Come experi-ence why people all over Chicago and surrounding suburbs are seeking out this unique one of a kind shop-ping destination! With women's apparel in all sizes, home decor, accessories, jewelry, skincare, makeup, fine fragrances and more, you will see first hand why women are flocking to this shopping experience on Main St. in downtown Glen Ellyn! 485 N Main St, Glen Ellyn, (630) 793-5284 Shawn Sargent Designs CREATIVE BOUTIQUE–Treat yourself to an at-home spa! Enjoy 15% OFF our handcrafted, all-natural bath, spa and lotion products (now available online). Relax with organic lavender Satin Eye Pillows and a warm Sea Salt or Fizzy Bath. Soothe your skin with Essential Oil Soaps, Goat Milk Lotions and amazing Lotion Candles – simply burn and apply warm lotion for that spa feeling. Order your favorite scents online! Use code TREATYOURSELF (thru 4/30). Receive free shipping or local drop off and a gift with every purchase. 501 Pennsylvania Ave, Glen Ellyn (630) 474-9359 www.shawnsargentdesigns.comGather & Collect THRIFT SHOP– Local neighborhood thrift shop, packed to the rafters with an ever-changing array of eclectic home goods with a side order of snarky, fun, and edgy novelty gifts. Offering a mix of vintage art, books, pottery, industrial finds, upcycled treasures, and global goods. With cele-brated local makers in jewelry, soaps, can-dles, stationery, and honey. You will enjoy curated BOHO clothing, purses, scarves, and ties. Specializing in Potentially Offen-sives – patches, pins, stickers, mugs, and inappropriate cards and political satire. 473 N. Main, Glen Ellyn, (630) 469-2558, www.vintageshopglenellynil.comCourier Travel TRAVEL AGENCY– Their qualified experts have been assisting travelers for nearly 30 years, plan-ning every detail of unforgettable vacations and seamless business trips to perfection. They have personally been to destinations worldwide, stayed at the top hotels and resorts, sailed aboard a wide range of cruise ships and embarked on the most memorable tours. They also have established re-lationships with the travel industry's best cruise lines, hotel chains and tour providers, enabling them to provide special offers and amenities you won't find anywhere else — even online. They help you travel better. 532 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn, (630) 469-0511, www.couriertravelinc.com ON TREND IN DOWNTOWNThe Prince’s Table GIFT & COLLECTIBLES SHOP Gracious Style for Castle and Cottage. Showcasing the Best of American and European Artisans. Beautiful statement jewelry. A treasure trove of unique gifts as well as engraveables from baby cups to curated photograph frames to serving trays all with a 1 -2 day turn-around. Most trays include free monogram. Premium cashmere wraps and scarves, lus-cious candles and scents. The perfect gift and free giftwrap awaits you at The Prince's Table. Trending Now: Romantic Valentines Follow Us and Like Us - Mention This Ad and Receive a Free Gift w/Purchase 530 Duane St, Glen Ellyn • (630) 469-4150 www.theprincestable.com April2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 8:58 AM Page 16

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Camp Naper For Grades 1-8 NAPERVILLE - Camp Naper offers kids in grades 1-8 fun, unique, hands-on ac-tivities, with advanced tracks for older campers. With over 20 camps to choose from, campers can mix it up with a new camp each day in a Camp Naper Sam-pler pack, or adventure for a full week in one theme. All camps run from 9AM-3PM and drop off begins at 8AM. For more in-formation, call (630) 420-6010 or visit www.NaperSettlement.org/Camp Summer Camp ay B.R. Ryall YMCA In Glen Ellyn GLEN ELLYN-Few experiences are as spe-cial as camp, where kids and teens have fun while building self-confidence, gaining independence and creating their own com-munity. The B.R. Ryall YMCA summer camps provide youth with supervised activ-ities that nurture their spirits, challenge their minds and strengthen their bodies—while teaching values, teamwork, conflict res-olution and leadership skills. Chose from Traditional Full-Day Camps (K-8th); Billy O'Donnell Basketball Camps (3rd-6th); Summer Sports Camps (3rd-6th); Camp Fantastik (ages 3-6); Boys Only Camp (grades 2nd-4th) www.brryallymca.org/child-care/campHoneyRock Camp WHEATON–By design, HoneyRock camp programs build upon each other year after year, challenging campers with appropriate responsibility to reveal and nurture their God-given gifts. Away from the distractions and pressures of every-day life, campers can ask big questions, learn how to navigate life away from home, and see God at work in new ways. This is what makes HoneyRock "a place apart" - a powerful learning environment for youth and young adults. www.wheaton.edu/honeyrock/ summer-camp/Summer Camp at Geneva Park District GENEVA - The Geneva Park District offers traditional day camps, specialty camps, gymnastics camps, nature camps, and sports camps. Our camps focus on providing opportunities to all participants to grow personally by devel-oping a positive self-image and learning to treat themselves and others with re-spect. Camps teach participants to ap-preciate diversity, become better leaders, and develop a variety of specific skills and assets through various outdoor ex-periences. For ages 3 to 18 years. www.genevaparks.org/programs/camps/18 • WESTERN SUBURBS •APRIL 2020 • Glancer Magazine April2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 9:04 AM Page 18

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Glancer Magazine • MARCH 2020 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 25WHAT MOMS LOVEMom’s Little Black BookMONTHLY COLUMNBuon Appetito! I grew up surrounded by women who loved to cook! My mom, my grandma, my aunts, my cousins – we have strong food tra-ditions in our family, and we love to eat – especially pasta! Ho-wever, after all these years, the one thing I never learned to do was make homemade pasta; so, when I saw Al Dente Pasta Artists would come to my home and teach us – I was so ex-cited; and although over the next couple of months they will need to operate slightly differently, they are going to be posting pasta making and pasta projects videos via www.facebook.com/aldente-pastaartists/ with their own kids while we all practice social distancing! So, join them online from anywhere around the world and have fun at home learning from the best! Soon enough, regardless of where you live in the western suburbs – from Hins-dale to Naperville to Wheaton to Os-wego to Geneva, they will bring all the equipment to your homes, pots, pans, forks, ladles, ingredients - and – the Ital-ian accent. In our previous personal experience, we all loved Monica and Valentina - who not only brought their cooking expertise; but also shared their passion, authenticity, and genuine love for teaching others about their Italian heritage. Tessa in-vited a couple of her friends, along with their mothers to join us in our session. Three moms – three teenagers – zero iPhones for two hours! Our hands were busy mixing flour and egg to make our dough from scratch. We then chopped, grated, and sautéed items for our sauce of choice, and proceeded to rollout our dough through the pasta machine. Next came the big aha! moment where we sliced it and voila – we had noodles! We were all so excited when we unrolled the noodles and saw that we did it! We actually made noodles! We then sat as a group and enjoyed dinner together and felt so proud of our work! It was pos-itively delicious and such an enjoyable af-ternoon for us moms to spend with our daughters! As they say in Italy –Esattamente perfetto! Knead. Laugh. Eat! OVERVIEW Al Dente Pasta Artist Owners, Mon-ica and Valentina are two Italian women who moved from Milan 4 years ago and love teaching the west suburban com-munity how to make homemade fresh pasta and the best sauce to pair with it. They bring it everything and clean up ev-erything – all you need to do is gather around the table, roll up your sleeves and get ready to knead your own dough, laugh together, and eat an authentic pasta dish made by you. For the time being – join them online! Al Dente Pasta Artists (630) 636-1025 (954) 646-2571 www.aldentepastaworkshop.com Hours: Call to schedule a time and date that works best for you! Price $: Purchase gift cards with $20 off the prices shown on their website. ABOUT THE WRITER Naperville mom Kristen Kucharski graduated from Illinois State Uni-versity in 1992 with an International Business Degree. She has two energetic daughters and her house is always full of children. Kristen’s column titled, Mom's Little Black Book, is a monthly feature written for moms who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy. Read her past columns at www.glancermagazine.com/bloggersApril2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 9:08 AM Page 21

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4. THIRD STREET, GENEVA A stroll through Down-town Geneva leads you through historic store fronts and dozens of charming Victorian homes that now house over 100 unique specialty shops and quaint eateries. Third Street is a must for chocolate lovers. Find homemade chocolates at Graham’s Fine Chocolates and Ice Cream and amazing chocolate sculptures by award-winning, Chef Alain Roby at the All Chocolate Kitchen. 3. LOCKPORT STREET, PLAINFIELD Visit Downtown Plainfield for a vibrant experience of shopping, dining and entertainment. Share a moment and a glass with friends at the Wine and Cheese Co. or a treat at Hazel Marie’s Ice Cream shop. Among a variety of restaurants and bars is Station One Smokehouse (BBQ) and Garage Band Brewing (crafted beer) built in the historic fire station. 1. MAIN STREET, ST. CHARLES Walk down the brick-lined streets along the Nationally Registered Historic District, and shop in those same buildings. Specialty shops like The English Shop and Mad Hatter Antiques will keep you browsing for hours. When you are hungry, there are over 25 restaurants in which to choose. Take your pick from local pub, patio or maybe a picnic on the river-front. 4. MAIN STREET, DOWNERS GROVE The perfect blend of historic down-town and modern shopping/dining is in this quaint, friendly area of Downers Grove. Long-time busi-nesses like Busy Bee Bakery, An-derson’s Bookshop and Heritage Florist are gems to visit along with more modern boutiques and entertaining pubs and restaurants. If there’s time, catch a flick at the old Tivoli Theater, built in 1928. 2. JEFFERSON STREET, NAPERVILLE You’ll find it all in Downtown Naperville. Na-tional favorite shops such as Apple, Anthro-pologie, and lululemon mix with local favorites like Naperville Running Company, Karisma Boutique, and Bows and Babes. Whatever your taste buds are craving, they have, including several options of pizza, Mexican, Italian, sushi, burgers and steakhouses. You’ll need to visit many times to try them all. 7. MAIN STREET, OSWEGO Start your day with hand-crafted coffee and treats at The Vil-lage Grind or visit My Sister’s Lil Donut Shop for its large va-riety of donuts and much more. The vibe of local artists permeates through this historic downtown next to the Fox River. A craft beverage at the Oswego Brewing Company or lunch at Tap House Grill is a welcome break in your adventure. 6. MAIN STREET, GLEN ELLYN Discover unique dining experiences, shops and spas with small town charm. Try original dishes and flavors at the Nobel House, Maize + Mash and A Toda Madre, among others. Make sure to take some time out to treat yourself at one of the many spas that are just around the corner from all the fantastic boutiques and gift stores. As we dream of better days ahead when we will be able to venture out and enjoy all that our beautiful towns have to offer, here is a list of what you will find on some of the most cherished local blocks in the western suburbs. Rich with award-winning dining, exquisite chefs, quaint local coffee shops and one-of-a-kind shopping experiences, many of the businesses you see lining our streets are also online and welcome you to follow them in social media to stay connected. 1.LOCAL BLOCKS TO eSHOP + eDINE6.5.4.22 • WESTERN SUBURBS • APRIL 2020 • Glancer Magazine 7.3.2.by Mindy Kyle, Features WriterApril2020_28pp_Layout 1 3/31/2020 9:09 AM Page 22

Glancer Magazine, April 2020

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