Glancer Magazine, January 2024 : simplebooklet.com

CELEBRATING A NEW YEAR Happy New Year! As we step into 2024, filled with endless possibilities and opportunities, we want to take a moment to reflect on the impor-tance of feeling healthy and happy. In this issue, we bring you stories that inspire self-empowerment and encourage a holistic approach to well-being. Our cover story, 4 in Their Forties features four remarkable individuals in their forties who have achieved significant milestones in their lives. They share their journeys of self-empowerment and how they have found a true sense of purpose and fulfillment. Their stories serve as a reminder that it is never too late to pursue your dreams and make pos-itive changes in your life. We also highlight 10 Trends In Fun Ways for Friends to Bond Lo-cally. In today's fast-paced world, it is crucial to nurture meaningful con-nections with those around us. Enjoy 7 Spectacular Shops for a Healthy Mind & Spirit that cater to the health of the mind and spirit. Take a moment to visit these shops and discover new ways to enhance your well-being. As we embark on this new year, we wish you all a year filled with joy, abundance, and good health. May you find in-spiration within these pages and continue to prioritize your own happiness and well-being. Lindy Kleivo Founding PublisherDECEMBER 2023TABLE OF CONTENTSPUBLISHER Glancer Magazine, Inc. Lindy Kleivo, Founder PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Lindy Kleivo Sales & Marketing / West Suburban EDITORIAL Kristen Kucharski Associate Editor / Writer Mindy Kyle Writer Brianna Bartemeyer Writer PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Catuara Event Photographer Ruta Drulia Feature Photographer Laura Ramirez-Nunez Feature Photographer C O N T A C T U S EDITORIAL Press Releases, Community News & Events editorial@glancermagazine.com ADVERTISING Digital Advertising + Local Marketing Solutions advertising@glancermagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Monthly Download + Daily Digital www.glancermagazine.comGlancer® Magazine, highlighting the best of the best in DuPage, Kane & Kendall Counties, is produced by Glancer® Magazine, Inc., a privately owned and operated corporation lo-cated in Sugar Grove, Illinois You’ve Been Glanced® and the Glancer® logo are registered trade-marks of Glancer Magazine, Inc. Magazine reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. All Rights Reserved Copyright 2024-Glancer® Magazine JJAANNUUAARRYY 22002244®Glancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 55 Hello From Glancer Magazine 7 5 Things to Do 8 10 Trends: Ways for Friends to Bond Locally 10 Cover Story: 4 in their Forties 18 Dining + Cocktails: Blue Sushi Saki Grill 20 Wedding Showcase 2024 22 Seasonal Fun in DuPage County 24 Unique in Suburbia: Witchcraft & Wizardry 26 Million Dollar Listing: Glen Ellyn Beauty 29 Literary Local: Jennifer Hayes 30 Mom’s Little Black Book: Wonderverse 32 Community Living: Support Local 38 Trendy Traveler: Margaritaville At Sea 30 On Stage: Price Is Right LIVE in Chicago 42 To Give, To Inspire: What’s New at Diveheart 45 Shop Gallery: Local Boutiques in the New Year 54 Kid Stuff: Cupcakes, Parties and More! 60 7 Spectacular: Shops for Healthy Mind & Spirit GlancerMagazine.com Lindy is Pictured with Her Husband John at Wonder-verse Last Month in Oak Brook

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WINTER 20245 Things to DoGlancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 75. 38 Special & More at Rialto Square Theatre THROUGH JANUARY 10 JOLIET–Historical Rialto Square Theatre is consid-ered one of the 10 most beautiful theatres in the na-tion. Located in Joliet, the theater will welcome 38 Special, Dinosaur World LIVE, Swan Lake Ballet and so many more to the stage this season. Visit online today! www.rialtosquare.com1. Beat The Brewer vs. Go Brewing WHIRLY BALL • JAN 16 TUESDAY • 6-9 PM NAPERVILLE–Meet the Go Brewing team and discuss Dry January non-alcoholic craft beer at WhirlyBall in Naperville. Free games + raffle prizes + swag! www.whirlyball.com4. Star Walk Chicago THROUGH JAN 10 CHICAGO–Experience the wonder of space like never before - with aug-mented reality glasses, the universe is yours to ex-plore in Interactive 3D! In-teract with www.versechicago.com3. Yoga and Wine at The Farmhouse JAN 19 • 6-9PM PLAINFIELD–This is a 3 hour event hosted and led by Eva Chinetti in the beautiful and peaceful setting of the Farmhouse Plainfield. The event starts with a one hour Vinyasa Flow yoga class followed by re-storative yoga. Please stay after for a two hour social event to enjoy some light appetizers around our indoor fire-place. Bring your own bottle of wine to com-plete your evening of relaxation as well as a yoga mat. Complimentary wine will be provided. Ad-ditional class dates: Feb-ruary 2 and 10 Tickets Available at Eventbrite.com2. Fiddler on the Roof DRURY LANE • JAN24 - MAR 24 OAK BROOK–Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story of Tevye and his five daughters has been touching audiences worldwide with its humor, warmth, and honesty for generations. Rich in histori-cal detail, Fiddler on the Roof’s universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nation-ality, and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy, and sadness. www.drurylanetheatre.com/fiddler-on-the-roof/

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10TRENDSFabulous Ways for Friends to Bond LocallyGrab Your Bestie and Bond!!! Winter may be a time when many people prefer to cozy up indoors, but there’s value in getting out and about to enjoy the community together. Amidst the chilly months, venturing out with friends not only brings warmth to our hearts but also strengthens the fabric of our com-munities. So let's bundle up, grab our friends, and embark on new adventures as we embrace the joys of winter around us and the power of local bonds. 10 TRENDS#1 | FLOW FOR A CAUSE WITH YOGASIX NAPERVILLE/GENEVA–Plan an event together that shares your love for yoga and giving back to those in need. A donation-based YogaSix class will be organized based on your selected local organi-zation or charity to support and give back to. YogaSix will provide a VIP memorable event with an in-spiring Y6 Instructor and staff to facilitate your yoga fitness experience as well as access to the community room for a social gathering after your flow. How perfect! www.yogasix.com/flow-for-a-cause #2 | BOLLYWOOD HANGOVER NAPERVILLE–Saturday January 20th will be rocking at The Matrix in Naperville with hype and soulful music from top Chicago DJs who turn up the notch every party! HB Entertainment | SANJ Entertain-ment | RAJSHI Events Presents: BOLLYWOOD HANGOVER 2024 with ladies free all night with valid RSVP. Grab your tickets before it’s too late. www.matrixvenue.com 8 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine

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10 TRENDSGlancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 9#3 | BUBBLY NIGHTS WEST SUBURBS–Bubbly Nights Out creates custom night outs for busy women and their friends. They plan it all so you can just enjoy unforgetta-ble experiences from cozy girls night in, adventurous girls night out, large group events, or celebrating significant milestones in life. They take pride in crafting unique experiences tailored to your specific needs, ensuring your events are as unique as you are. www.bubblynightsout.com #4 | HOT TUB BOATS CHICAGO–Not letting Chicago cold stop the outdoor adventures this year, Chicago Electric Boat Company, has launched private Hot Tub Boats as the newest way to enjoy the river this winter season. Launching from Ma-rina City, the heated six-person boats will center cruises on the main branch of the Chicago River, taking riders as far east as Michigan Avenue and as far west as Wells Street. BYOB drinks with floating cup holders and complimentary coolers are available. www.chicagoelectricboats.com #5 | COMEDY VAULT BATAVIA–Nothing bonds better than laughter. Among many of the comedy acts ongoing is Laurie Milbourn and “Going To My Happy Place COMEDY Yoga” which is a one of a kind experience for Non-Yogis and Yogis alike! Enjoy a stand-up comedy set, blending into basic yoga, poses and comedic commentary including relaxation with a gong savasana and a free drink ticket on January 21st! www.comedyvaultbatavia.com #6 | GENEVA RESTAURANT WEEK GENEVA–Geneva Chamber of Commerce is pleased to highlight culinary excellence by offering the Geneva Restaurant Week from January 20-28. For NINE DAYS ONLY foodies will be able to eat their hearts out at partici-pating restaurants that will offer lunch and dinner menus reflected for DINE ON THE $9’s. Some are per person, some are for two and some are options you will only find during Restaurant Week. www.genevachamber.com #7 | LADIES' NIGHT OUT ST. CHARLES–The St. Charles Women’s Club welcomes members to join together for a relaxing, fun evening at Sage Healing Collective for an evening of four spa events: Self Cleanse Facial, Yoga, Wellness Acupunc-ture, and Sound Bath on January 26. www.stcharleswomensclub.com #8 | TITANIC - THE EXHIBIT CHICAGO–Embark on an awe-inspiring journey with friends and explore history together in an immersive, interactive tour of the Titanic with vast, jaw dropping, recreations of the ship’s interior and exterior. Visit the dock, explore the galleries and suites, and see the Grand staircase while rem-iniscing in the greatest story of love and loss. www.thetitanicexhibition.com/chicago/ #9 | GAME SHOW BATTLE ROOMS LOMBARD–Game Show Battle Rooms is one of the nation’s only game show experiences available for everyone: friends, family, and coworkers providing an immersive game show arena, engaging hosts, and a mix of different game shows to create an unforgettable experience. Games in-clude Classic Games such as Survey Battles, Spin and Solve, What’s That Co$t, MatchUp Wars, and TimeRush Games. www.gameshowbattlerooms.com/chicago-lombard/ #10 | GILDED WINTER SOIREE DOWNERS GROVE/NAPERVILLE/MONTGOMERY–Embrace the sea-son’s splendor at Cooper’s Hawk Gilded Winter Soiree on January 15-16th. Wear your favorite winter whites or the most radiant golden hues, setting the stage for a night of pure opulence and gentle smells of winter. This will be a night where the season of light comes alive, full of golden ra-diance, comfort dishes, and wines that warm the soul. www.chwinery.com/wine-club/

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Glancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 11GENEVA/MAPLE PARK–Widowed at the age of 26, Tanya (Meier) Smith learned early on to live with no bounds after suf-fering the profound loss of her first true love. That’s what makes the words of Emily Dickinson speak to her so much….it will never come again is what makes life so sweet, so she has learned to take the chance, grow, evolve, set goals, allow space to change, and always remember that the hardest decisions in life often lead to the most rewarding places! Against the odds, Tanya opened her first storefront Addelise (named after her daughters, Addison (13) and Elise (11)), at the end of the pandemic, and helps clients with visual branding, web design, print design, storefront and merchandise design. She is passionate about ex-pressing their perseverance and desires through branding and online marketing mediums. Now married to her husband David of 14 years, everything is about family which also includes two mini pygmy pet goats, a Quarter Horse, a Mini Schnauzer, and a cat. They are an outdoors family into motorsports, horses, 4-H, and community events. “Despite the bumps in the road and con-tinuous moments of self doubt, my great-est moments are knowing I am doing something right as a mom, having my daughters come to me and share their life with me,” Tanya shares. “As you enter your 40's, you release so much of what doesn't serve you, and allow yourself to focus on what really is important. Tanya hopes to always revel in the spe-cial moments, travel to Germany and Ire-land, horseback ride on a cattle drive, and someday own a Mini Cow Farm! tanya smith

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12 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine DOWNERS GROVE–Originally from New York, Kirsten has lived in Downers Grove for the past 10 years with her husband Tom, and three kids, Brian (13), Drew (12), Kacie (6). She recalls her Sweet 16th birthday, when her mom planned the most incredible day designed to make each guest feel important. Kirsten’s mother passed away shortly before the party date; ho-wever, the imprint of the carefully constructed details left a last-ing impression. Although bittersweet, Kirsten was empowered by the life event and found the courage and strength to pursue her hopes and dreams and carry on the mantra. She lives by the words of Maya Angelou, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. She eventually opened Signs & Love Event Rentals, a professional party rental company for high quality, custom made rental props and designs for any event. In her thirties, she worked a lot of nights and weekends; ho-wever, now that she is sailing into her forties, Kirsten is loving every moment being fully present for her kids and cheering them on in whatever the season may be. Loving, straightforward, and hardworking, Kirsten is also heavily involved in the community, donating time and products from her company, as well as joining Chamber 630 and maintaining ex-cellent relationships with the Downers Grove schools. As she sores through her forties, she has high goals to give back as much as possible and take more vacations with her family while the kids are still young. -Kristen Kuchasrki, Photos by Mike Catuara kirsten swanson

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NAPERVILLE–The majority of Lauren’s life has been spent in Naperville where she and her husband Mike now also raise their three children. Most weekends you will see them around town at little league games, on the basketball court, at a swim meet or volunteering at St. Thomas the Apostle Church within the Children Ministry. Prior to her forties, Lauren was a teacher at a therapeutic school which pushed her to become a better, well rounded person, and share those techniques on the homefront to create happy, healthy relationships with her husband and children. With a solid family foundation, she is now the co-owner and manager of Pro Image Sports in downtown Naperville. Most days, she is in the store running the floor, getting to know the customers, and helping them find their favorite teams’ ap-parel and accessories. Her overall abil-ity to be a deci-sive, optimistic, empathetic, yet confident woman allows her to balance family and work while allow-ing grace for mistakes, as she realizes they too are vital to growing and accomplishing goals when anchored by hard work and commitment. Lauren hopes to grow their new adventure into a successful destination for sports fans around the Chicagoland area while also ensuring personal time for building meaningful relation-ships with friends and family, exploring new travel destina-tions, and the hopes of purchasing a lakehouse one day. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Mike Catuara Glancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 15lauren wierzbinski

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ON THE COVER16 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine YORKVILLE–At 40 years old, Erica is the proud owner of Mama K's Quality Comfort Cuisine and Klean Freaks house cleaning services in Yorkville, as well as the mother of Destiny (21), Iden (18), Gabriel (14), and grandmother of Saylor (9 mos). After working 9 to 5 careers and grueling sales jobs, Erica dreamed of being her own boss, providing what she constantly overheard her clients and colleagues longing for - - home cooked meals after the end of a busy work day. Blessed with accrued business skills, the natural ability to cook, a discerning palate, and the imagination of creating unique dishes, Erica launched her own company at 35 years old. She believed in empowering herself and creating her own happi-ness. Erica is a strong, loving, hard working woman who enjoys cre-ating comfort meals and snacks. Beyond her catering service, she hopes to one day also own and operate a restaurant or food truck, put her salsa on store shelves nationwide, and build her forever home with a pole barn and the most amazing commercial kitchen ever! “My abuela always told me, full bellies make happy hearts,” she says. “And when I see people enjoying my food it makes me happy because I am a part of a new memory for those people.” Erica takes great pride in the ability to donate meals and cleaning services to those in need while always making time for her kids travel sports, family road trips, game nights, and hosting fabulous parties! -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Laura Ramirez-Nunezerica kauffman

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18 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine SUSHI BOAT, ANYONE? NAPERVILLE–Welcome to Blue Sushi Sake Grill, the ultimate destina-tion in Downtown Naperville for a truly extraordinary sushi dining experience. The vibrant atmosphere combines with an exquisite selection of creative ingredients and premium cold sake to bring you an unforgettable journey into the world of sushi. At Blue Sushi Sake Grill, they believe that sushi is meant to be shared, which is why the menu encourages you to explore your favor-ite sushi dishes in new and unex-pected ways. Indulge in a variety of mouthwatering maki, nigiri, and sashimi from the sushi bar, and complement your meal with delectable starters from the grill. This local eatery takes pride in curat-ing a dining experience that allows you to savor every bite and make the most out of your sushi cravings. Not sure where to start? Join them for Happy Hour, where all guest favorites –the sushi, grill, and drink menus – are available. Experience the joy of trying different flavors and combina-tions to come together while enjoying a delightful culinary adventure. Discover a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi while immersing yourself in a lively ambiance that will leave you craving more- head to 123 Water Street in Downtown Naperville today! www.bluesushisakigrill.comDININGDINING + COCKTAILSBLUE SUSHI SAKE GRILLLOCAL DISH, JANUARY 2024

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DINING + COCKTAILSSt. Charles Has a New Hot Spot – Rock 'N Ravioli GRAB A SEAT AT THE ORIGINAL AL CAPONE BAR ST. CHARLES–Opening soon, Rock 'N Ravioli is a classic Italian Restaurant, located in the Arcada Theatre Complex, in downtown historic St. Charles. The menu has a wide variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Grab a seat at the original Al Capone bar and enjoy drinks before or after dinner. And don't forget to check out our unique guitar wall. You will not be disappointed in this gem! OPening soon – currently scheduling special events. www.rocknza.com/rockn-ravioli/CCoocckkttaaiillssCocktails Galore at Fogo de Chão ENJOY SOUTH AMERICAN COCKTAILS & MORE NAPERVILLE–Fogo de Chão is an internationally-renowned steak-house from Brazil that allows guests to discover what's next at every turn. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo elevates the cen-turies-old culinary art of churrasco - roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame - into a cultural dining experience of discovery. Their casual Bar Fogo is the perfect place to enjoy a meet-up experi-ence with friends. www.fogodechao.com Cheers to the New Year with Perry’s OAK BROOK–Located in beautiful Oak Brook, Perry’s is serving its award-winning menus, iconic signatures, tableside presenta-tions and impeccable service at Oakbrook Center. Meet a friend or two for dinner and drinks in the spacious main dining room, boasting a refined, yet warm and inviting atmosphere where guests can savor Perry’s redefined Steakhouse signatures. The bar is exquisite with an extensive wine list that comes to life with Perry’s Oakbrook’s magnificent wine tower, featuring wines from around the world to perfectly pair with your Perry’s favorites. www.perryssteakhouse.com Glancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 19

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20• WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine A Beautiful Event is Planned for January 20 at Naper Settlement Featuring Over 60 Wedding Vendors Engaged couples will plan their special day with the help of over 60 local wed-ding vendors at Naper Settlement’s annual Wedding Showcase on Janu-ary 20, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wedding Showcase gives couples the chance to enjoy personal consul-tations with photographers, florists, musicians, and other professionals in the wedding industry from Naperville and the surrounding western suburbs. With the addition of the new Birck Family Innovation Gateway as well as the Mary and Richard Benck Family Agriculture Center, Wedding Showcase will include more wedding professionals than ever before. Spread throughout Naper Settlement’s museum campus, couples will meet one-on-one with the best in the wedding business to find out how to make their special day one to re-member. The first 20 attendees at Wedding Showcase will receive a free ice cream scoop coupon from Jeni's Ice Cream. Guests who visit each vendor booth can enter a raffle to win a prize, in-cluding gift cards, hotel room stay certificates, and more from Wed-ding Showcase vendors. “Wedding Showcase provides couples the opportunity to truly connect with local businesses through personal consultations,” said Melissa Huffman, guest serv-ices representative at Naper Settle-ment. “Couples will get a better understanding of their wedding vision after speaking with dozens of wedding pro-fessionals, and this will help them immensely as they plan their big day.” Tickets to Wedding Showcase are free and now available. For more information and to register for tickets, visit www.napersettlement.org/weddingshowcase For Engaged Couples!

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Winter Fun In DuPage22 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine SEASONAL FUNSledding, snow tubing, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and more available in DuPage forest preserves Embrace winter with a flurry of outdoor fun in the DuPage forest pre-serves, which offer residents plenty of reasons to get outside and play this season. When there’s plenty of packed snow on the hill (usually more than 3 inches), thrill-seekers can snow tube down the 800-foot run on Mount Hoy at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville. If conditions allow, the hill is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on weekends Dec. 2 – Feb. 25 and District 200 school holidays, which are Dec. 26 – Jan. 5, Jan. 8 and 15, and Feb. 19. Only District inner tubes are allowed. Rent-als, which are at the base of the hill, are $10 per tube per day and end at 3:30 p.m. Visitors can also explore Blackwell and Fullersburg Woods forest preserves by snowshoe. When there’s plenty of snow on the trails, snowshoe rentals are available at the Blackwell tubing hill (when open) 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Snowshoes can also be rented at the Ful-lersburg Woods Nature Education Center Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. All rentals are $10 per day. For Fullersburg Woods, call 630-850-8110 for snowshoe availability. For fans of cross-country skiing, rangers groom more than 50 miles of trails at forest preserves including Blackwell in Warrenville, Ful-lersburg Woods in Oak Brook, Danada and Herrick Lake in Whea-ton, Greene Valley and Springbrook Prairie in Naperville, Mallard Lake in Hanover Park, Meacham Grove in Blooming- dale, and Waterfall Glen in Darien. Visitors who aren’t classic skiers should use the inside of the trails to avoid damaging the set tracks. Ice fishing, ice skating, and sledding are allowed at most forest pre-serves except Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale and Herrick Lake in Wheaton. Additionally, sledding is not allowed at Mount Hoy at Blackwell or the closed landfill sites at Greene Valley and Mallard Lake. The Forest Preserve District does not monitor ice conditions, so vis-itors go on ice at their own risk. As a guideline not a guarantee, there should be at least 4 inches of clear ice for any activity for one person and 8 inches of clear ice for a group. Anglers can find complete reg-ulations at dupageforest.org/things-to-do/recreational-activities/fish-ing. Finally, when there’s adequate snow conditions, mushers can dog sled on the Thunderbird Spur Trail at Greene Valley and on the West Branch Regional Trail, Bobolink, and connector trails north of Mack Road at the McKee Marsh area of Blackwell. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connect-ing people to nature for more than 100 years. More than 5.5 million people visit its 60 forest preserves, 166 miles of trails, seven edu-cation centers, and scores of programs each year. For information, call 630-933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org, where you can also link to the District’s e-newsletter and Facebook; X, formerly known as Twitter; Instagram; YouTube; and TikTok pages. www.dupageforest.org

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WITCHCRAFT & WIZARDRY WHEATON • APRIL 27 Embark on a captivating journey through Wheaton, Illinois on Saturday April 27th, 2024 with Witchcraft & Wizardry: Murder by Magic! Perfect for groups of families and friends, each ticket to this extraordinary outdoor ex-perience allows up to 6 adults to become de-tectives in a magical murder mystery set in a realm of sorcery and spells. Along the way, you'll hunt for clues, solve perplexing puzzles, and uncover the secrets of the city like never before. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure and be the first to crack the case! HIGHLIGHTS • 2-6 adults per team (kids play as extra for free) • Average Game Duration 2-3hrs • Start anytime between 9am-2pm • Just 1 ticket needed per team • Explore city streets like never before • Prizes to be won for five categories, including: best dressed and fastest team BUY WITH CONFIDENCE With the Flex Pass, there's no need to worry if you or one of your team can't make it on the day. You can exchange your ticket for any future event with no hassle. Simply visit onlin and add to the cart - you'll be able to add your Flex Pass, or you can find more information there. Enjoy! www.cluedupp.com/products/mbm-wheatonUNIQUEUNIQUE IN SUBURBIAin Suburbia24 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine

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26 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine MILLION DOLLAR lliissttiinnggLocated Near Lake Ellyn Nestled in a tranquil wooded area of Glen Ellyn near the serenity of Lake Ellyn, sits this breathtaking masterpiece of architecture and de-sign - an all brick, stately residence which stands as a testament to luxurious living offering an unparalleled blend of elegance, comfort and natural beauty! With a location that cannot be beat this amazing home - featured in two issues of House Beautiful - will exceed your expectations with its 4 fabulous levels of approximately 7,000 square feet of upscale living space!(630) 545-5055 Presented by: Pat Murray Brokered by: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices ChicagoREAL ESTATE$1,995,000 630 Forest Ave, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 5 bed, 5.5+ bath, 6,994 sqft

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by Mindy Kyle Photos SubmittedJennifer Hayes The Extraordinary Imagination of Jenny Figment SUGAR GROVE–Former Oswego elementary teacher and Sugar Grove resident Jennifer Hayes has stepped into the arena of her favorite reading genre – children’s books. With her first published book The Ex-traordinary Imagination of Jenny Figment hitting the market this month, she is already booking grade school visits to introduce Jenny, her imag-ination and her many adventures. “I was inspired to write the book when my grandpa passed,” says Jen-nifer. “I had a door in my house that would randomly close on its own, and I thought what if that was my grandpa playing tricks on me.” The idea for a book about a little girl with trickster ghost friends was born. The Extraordinary Imagination of Jenny Figment follows Jenny as she explores a magical world with these clever ghost friends. Whether she is riding her noble steed or shrinking to spider-size, her world has no limits. When her town faces trouble, it’s her imagination and a cast of remarkable characters that come to the rescue. While currently writing the second book in the Jenny Figment series, Jennifer is also following a second passion taking classes to earn her Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate. “There’s a lot of fun foods in the book, and I include the recipe at the end for Jenny’s favorite pinker-doodle cookies.” After January 5, you will be able to find The Extraordinary Imagination of Jenny Figment at Town House Books in St. Charles, online at major booksellers, and at www.jennyfigment.com.LITERAARRYYlocalKNOW A LOCAL AUTHOR? editorial@glancermagazine.comGlancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 29

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Immerse and Indulge Mom’s Little Black Book was first on the scene of Sony Pic-tures Entertainment’s very first immersive experience Won-derverse, which opened doors this past December. What made the adventure even more fun was the Publisher of Glancer and her family joined in on the fun! This multimedia adventure brings to life Jumanji, Ghostbusters, Bad Boys, Uncharted and more through virtual reality experiences that feel like real life through sound, touch, movement, visuals, and the like. Our group ranged in ages from elementary school through adults and we equally all had a fantastic time. We enjoyed suiting up in our proton packs and working together to trap ghosts in the Ghostbusters VR Arena, as well as taking it to the next level sitting in the driver’s seat of an ECTO hover-craft and participating in a high speed race challenge. We successfully conquered the Uncharted movie escape room while working together to discover how the intricate workings of the space provided clues and keys to unlock the ultimate secret codes through unexpected thrills. MOM’S little black bookA New Adventure Monthly30 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine

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The Pacific Playland was filled with the most in-novative advanced arcade games that were a mix of old school fun combined with VR technol-ogy that mimicked the most realistic experi-ences– from dodgeball to extreme roller coasters. We next jumped into the bumper cars and giggled as we rotated from humans to zombies with each bump and bounce! The highlight was indeed the Jumanji virtual re-ality experience where we suited up and trans-formed into the characters of the movie having to work together through a maze while uncover-ing evidence to reverse the curse. The 30 mi-nute journey was interactive, thrilling, and incredibly realistic while balancing on logs, riding elevators, and defeating zombies through var-ious terrains. This experience was unlike any other I had done before, as you truly felt like you were walking, jumping, riding, and engaging with the characters in the imaginary world. Beyond the physical entertainment, Wonder-verse offers even more hidden escapades once you find the hidden speakeasy that provides magical paranormal activity and spectacular specialty cocktails. After all of our excitement, our group fully appreciated the extensive menu and complete allergy sensitive dining experience offered at the on-site Commissary Restaurant. The upscale food, dessert, and cocktail options perfectly align with the unique entertainment ex-perience throughout this grand 45,000 square foot facility. OVERVIEW Wonderverse 100 Oakbrook Center, Level 1 Oak Brook, IL 60523 www.wonderversechicago.com Hours: Check website Price $: Varies depending on experiences ABOUT THE WRITER Kristen Kucharski’s days are never dull, her kids are never bored! Over the years #MomsLittleBlackBook has explored hun-dreds of kid friendly things to do in our sur-rounding community and on the road. As her girls have grown and gone away to col-lege, she continues to enjoy unique activ-ities, excursions, day trips, weekend get-a-aways, and road trips while rediscovering my own passion for adventure with friends, girls nights outs, and date nights. In her words “Life is a journey–might as well have fun along the way. Go, fly, roam, travel, voyage, explore, discover!”MOM’S LITTLE BLACK BOOKGlancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 31

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32 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine COMMUNITY LIVING 2024OAK BROOK Wine, Women & Shoes! Bridge Communities Invites You to Kick Up Your Heels at Dazzling Wine Women & Shoes Fundraiser OAK BROOK–Sip, strut and sparkle at the most glamor-ous soiree of the season! Bridge Communities will host its fourth annual Wine Women & Shoes event at the Oak Brook Hills Resort on Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 11am-4pm. Bridge Communities’ sip-sational event will feature delec-table wine and bubbly tastings, a shoppable multi-de-signer marketplace, a savory lunch, exciting live and silent auctions, a fabulous fashion show, a chance to win your dream closet, and much more. Tickets are on sale now. Proceeds from the event benefit the 100+ families facing homelessness served annually by Bridge Communities. Join Us! Be Fabulous, change Lives! For more information, visit online today. www.winewomenandshoes.com/ bridgecommunities

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DOWNTOWN NAPERVILLE Girls Night Out Fun! NAPERVILLE–Springl is here! Plan a GNO. Pinot’s Palette is the best night out in Naperville! It’s a fun-filled, party at-mosphere where you and your friends, family or date can talk, laugh, paint and sip. You don't need any art experience – their talented local artists will guide you step-by-step through the night painting. Follow their instructions or go rogue and end up with a one-of-a-kind masterpiece! They also offer Mosaic Classes, Chunky Knit Blankets, Take Home Painting Kits, Virtual Live Streaming, In Studio and Vir-tual Private Parties! • Aprons and supplies provided • Snacks are welcome • Real wine glasses – no paper or plastic • There’s always rockin’ music Pinot's Palette Naperville 175 W. Jackson Avenue Downtown Naperville www.pinotspalette.com/naperville be creative!COMMUNITY LIVING 2024Glancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 33

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COMMUNITY LIVING 2024Glancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 37DOWNERS GROVE Welcoming New Businesses Downtown Downers Grove DOWNERS GROVE–The variety of small businesses, amazing owners and community support makes downtown Downers Grove the destination it is today. The area welcomed Costello Jewelry and Lu-kumadness and they look forward to welcoming Vintage Charm & 1126 in the coming months! The Annual Ice Fest will be held February 2-4, 2024! Join in for a fun winter weekend when more than 50 ice sculptures will line the side-walks of downtown Downers Grove, aling with live ice carvings taking place and great shopping and dining! www.downtowndg.org

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TRENDY TRAVELERTrendY All Aboard Margaritaville at SeaTraveler38 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA ADDS SECOND SHIP WITH EXPANDED CARIBBEAN ITINERARIES Entirely Redesigned “Margaritaville at Sea Islander” Sailing Summer 2024 from Tampa to Key West and Mexico Announced today, Margaritaville at Sea is offering an entirely new way to float into island time aboard their new flagship vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander. Starting June 14, 2024, the fully-re-imagined ship will sail four- and five-night cruises with sun-soaked stops in Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso, expanding the growing cruise line’s itinerary availability to the Gulf of Mexico along with en-tertainment-packed sea days designed to fully immerse guests in the Margaritaville state of mind. Guests can reserve 2024 sailings online starting today and take advantage of exclusive preview in-centives available for a limited time. “Since we launched our first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, last year, we’ve been working to expand what our guests have been asking for: more amazing views, longer itineraries, and new ports of call,” said Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea.

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TRENDY TRAVELER“The addition of the Islander is an exciting moment for Margari-taville at Sea and marks the next chapter of growth for our busi-ness.” Christopher continued, “We are also pleased to add Tampa as a new homeport – the perfect location to provide ac-cess to our adventurous new itineraries in and around the Gulf of Mexico.” “We’re honored Margaritaville at Sea has chosen Port Tampa Bay to homeport this new addition to their fleet and we welcome them to the Gulf Coast,” said Paul Anderson, President and CEO of Port Tampa Bay. “Our port’s cruise terminals are easy to navi-gate and provide a variety of unique and interesting activities just steps from the Margaritaville at Sea Islander. The ship will be a great addition to our portfolio of cruise lines and a fantastic new option for cruisers from Florida’s west coast.” The Margaritaville at Sea Islander spans 12 passenger decks accommodating 2,650 adventure-seeking passengers and was originally built for Costa Cruises. Currently undergoing an ex-tensive transformation, Margaritaville at Sea will fully redesign all 1,100 staterooms with custom styling reminiscent of the sand, sea and sky and all new furnishings including Margaritaville’s signature bedding, pillows, and linens. With more than 700 Breezy Balcony staterooms, Grand Terrace Suites, luxurious Corner Suites, and ultra-exclusive Islander suites, couples, fam-ilies, and friends alike can chase the sunset from their spacious balconies with endless gulf breezes. The ship will feature a soaring 14-story atrium with a unique nau-tical Margaritaville flip flop and a lively atrium bar with three awe-inspiring multi-story floating margarita glass chandeliers. Exclu-sive innovations like the only three-story poolside LandShark Bar at Sea and a Margaritaville-inspired cornhole and mini-golf course alongside new family-friendly spaces like the Caribbean Amphibian Splash and Slide and signature favorites like JWB Prime Steakhouse and Rita’s Taco House will make sailing aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Islander a journey of discovery. The more than 250,000 guests who have sailed aboard the Palm Beach-based Margaritaville at Sea Paradise will find several fa-miliar favorites, including Paradise Pickleball at Sea, Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria, Margaritaville Coffee Shop, and Cheeseburger in Paradise, surrounded by unforgettable new spaces and ex-periences to explore. “We are excited to expand our cruise line with the launch of Mar-garitaville at Sea Islander as our flagship vessel,” said John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville Holdings. “The addition of this ship will allow our guests to visit more island destinations and, while at sea, enjoy a broader and more elevated range fun and signature Margaritaville onboard experiences.” Margaritaville at Sea Islander’s first available sailing will be June 14, 2024 on a 4-night itinerary from Port Tampa Bay, Florida fea-turing a stop in Cozumel, Mexico and two sea days. For additional news, updates on the vessel’s progress, and ex-clusive access to preview incentives on the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, visit and book now at MargaritavilleAtSea.com. www.margaritavilleatsea.comGlancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 39

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40 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine Chicago Theater CHICAGO–Fans of "The Price Is Right" are invited to "come on down" to The Chi-cago Theatre when the venue hosts a live traveling adaptation of the iconic televi-sion game show this March. The Chicago Theatre will stage two performances of "The Price is Right Live" on Saturday, March 2 at 3pm and 7:30pm, according to an announcement from Madison Square Garden Entertainment on Monday. Randomly-selected members of the audience will have a chance to win prizes by playing classic games like Plinko, Cliffhangers, The Big Wheel, and the Showcase, the statement said. Prizes range from household appliances and electronics to dream vacations, and even a brand-new car. Some lucky attendees might also win prizes from their seats. Tickets for both shows can be purchased online at Ticket-master.com or in person at The Chicago Theatre Box Office. www.ticketmaster.comThe Price is Right LIVE! ON STAGE

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Glancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 41KKiittcchheenn bbeeaauuttiiffuullKITCHEN REDESIGN ‘Tis the season to spice up your kitchen with Tupelo Lane Designs Inc.'s cabinet refinishing transformations! If you are lucky we may be able to squeeze one more project in before Christmas. Say goodbye to bland cabinets and hello to a burst of color and style. Let your personality shine through as Tupelo Lane's expert cabinet painters work their magic, turning ordinary cabinets into works of art. From sleek modern tones to playful vintage vibes, We've got a palette for everyone. Picture mornings in a kitchen that feels like a cheerful haven. Tupelo Lane Designs Inc. doesn't just paint cabinets; we create experiences. Elevate your space with a splash of color – be-cause life is too short for dull cabinets! FREE QUICK QUOTE (Looky-lous welcome) Text pictures to 630-200-3295 or Email pictures to TupeloLaneDesigns@gmail.com www.tupelolanedesigns.com

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What’s New at Diveheart DOWNERS GROVE–Since 1976, Downers Grove based Dive-heart founder and president Jim Elliott knew that scuba diving was therapeutic and beneficial for people in general, and especially for individuals with dis-abilities. The son of an Army veteran with a disabil-ity, Elliott spent time a Hines V.A. hospital in Maywood dodging wheelchairs when he visited his father. The father of a blind daughter, Elliott was tutored through boy scouts by a one arm scout master and walked his Cub Scout friend Timmy with Cerebral Palsy to school so that bullies would not pick on him or steal his lunch money. This background gave Elliott the solid footing in dealing with individuals with a variety of disabilities and the sometimes-not-so-friendly-world around them. As a young journalist at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, with no special interest in scuba diving, Elliott took a scuba class in the event he ever had to interview someone like Jacques Cousteau. When El-liott did his first open water dive, It was love at first dive! Decades later in 1997, after guiding and teach-ing blind skiers since the mid 1980s, Elliott would be-come a scuba diving instructor, working with people with a variety of disabilities, and then go on to found Diveheart in 2001, a non-profit based in Downers grove and dedicated to serving children, veterans, and others with all types of disabilities, using adaptive scuba and scuba therapy as tools to help them “Imag-ine the possibilities” in their lives. Just as in the blind skiing world, Elliott never dreamt that Diveheart would be more than a small local charity. Ho-wever, when covid hit, after serving thousands around the world, Elliott had to cancel two hun-dred pool programs around the U.S. alone, and fourteen adaptive scuba trips for people with disabilities. To say the least, Diveheart had grown since 2001. Covid gave Elliott & Dive-heart a chance to retool and focus on the vision of a deep warm water ther-apy pool facility that they wanted to build as a desti-nation that could be used for research, rehabilitation, education, training and provide vocational opportuni-ties for veterans and others, not just with disabilities, but of all abilities. Fast forward to 2023! Two patents later and millions of dollars in pro-bono services and land donation guarantees, Diveheart has completed a feasibility study and revealed its deep pool design in the hope of garnering millions of dollars to build the worlds first deep warm water therapy pool facility in the United States. Elliott says anyone who wants to partner with an international non-profit and be part of a multimillion dollar project that will change the world for those with disabilities, should check out and contact www.Diveheart.org for details. “We need to do it here in the U.S. before someone else decides that they can do it before us “. Elliott said. “Not everyone honors U.S. patents”. www.diveheart.com VIEW THIS MONTHLY FEATURE AT www.GlancerMagazine.com/to-give-to-inspireIt was Love at First Dive: The Dream of Building the Deepest Therapy Pool in the World! CARING + SHARINGGlancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 43

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44 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine PERSONABLE, ENERGETIC & CREATIVE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SUSAN COLELLA OF BAIRD & WARNER As a full-time high sales producing Realtor with Baird and Warner’s Naperville office for 10 years, Susan shares that helping local sellers and buyers doesn’t feel like work—making it easy to be dedicated 24/7 to her clients. “I realized early on that I was obsessed with real estate when my close friends remarked, ‘Susan tell us another story about real estate’ or when I helped a client secure a home contract on my birthday and I remarked, ‘I sold a house on my birthday—what a great gift!’” Life is all about perspective for Susan, and her positive work ethic, cre-ative solutions, and working above and beyond allows her to offer clients extraordinary experience. The old saying that if you do what you love in life you never work a day applies for Susan since LISTING HOMES is her passion. Reach out to Susan today! Susan Colella, Baird & Warner, (630) 946-3813Susan Colella

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OVER 45 VENDORS trend + relic Featuring Only the Best and Most Unique Furniture, Jewelry, Art, and Other Bespoke Items ST. CHARLES–trend + relic is an experience that shoppers re-member, as this unique multi-vendor marketplace has carefully selected experienced merchants who are artisans, builders, re-finishers and painters, boutique owners and more each offering the most special items to adorn your home and make you feel beautiful. The talented merchants work hard to create and curate unique items, both vintage and new. Many of the treasures that you will find at trend + relic have been handcrafted including jewelry, candles, furniture & art and they have a variety of clothing & accessories, too. Each of the wonderfully talented merchants have created beautiful spaces in the shop as well as local mar-kets so you will find some of your very favorites here. trend + relic, 1501 Indiana Avenue, St. Charles, Illinois (630) 803-5253 • www.trendandrelic.comShop Gallery48 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine

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Shop GalleryON TREND ESSENTIALS TWO SPACES AT THE RUSTIC FOX NORTH AURORA–Urban Echo Shop features on trend essentials for the stylish at heart– from clothing and acces-sories, to home decor, unique furniture, gifts and seasonal trends. Owned by local mom, Lindy Kleivo and her daughter in Sugar Grove, Illinois, Urban Echo Shop was created to be an adored virtual hometown boutique where only the latest styles and trends are featured. Residents are invited to sit back and relax while browsing the shop’s simplified trend collections online or shop at The Rustic Fox, where you will find over 120+ unique vendors. Each day is a new day at Urban Echo Shop. ON TREND ESSENTIALS FOR THE STYLISH AT HEART Located Inside The Rustic Fox 1790 Town Centre Dr., North Aurora • Vendor #3 At the Entrance to the Left & Near the egister50 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine

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GORGEOUS STYLES CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR Stop in for some DRESS Inspo! Gowns are arriving daily and we are so excited to help you get ready for your next Special Occasion. Follow online today: instagram– @special_occasions01 facebook– @SpecialOccasionsBatavia website– www.specialoccasionsontheavenue.com Become a part of Special Occasions. Make an appoint-ment to find your dream dress or just stop in! Founded by Mary Marconi-Popiel in 2009, the shop’s at-tention to detail makes the ordinary more extraordinary, giv-ing you a shopping experience that you will not forget. Special Occasions does not simply sell dresses– this local dress boutique sell dreams! Visit today for your next Spe-cial Occasion. Special Occasions 2 N Batavia Ave., Batavia, Illinois (630) 406-1515 www.specialoccasionsontheavenue.com Shop Gallery52 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine

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Kid StuffBook a Birthday Bath Bomb Party! MAGNOLIA SOAP & BATH IS LOCATED DOWNTOWN ST. CHARLES ST. CHARLES–Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. in St-Charles provides plant-based essentials for the whole family. This local area shop offers the most adorable, plant-based, phthalates and paraben free products for you and your lit-tle ones AND it makes the perfect place for a party. www.facebook.com/ magnoliasoapandbathstcharlesil54 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine Disney Music BINGO Night FAMILY FUN AT PINZ! FRIDAY • JAN 12 • 7PM YORKVILLE–Come sing some Disney songs while playing a fun form of BINGO. Plenty of prizes along with a ton of other stuff will make the night super exciting! Plus a special appearance by Mickey Mouse and pos-sibly his sweetheart Minnie. • $13 16-inch Cheese Pizza • $16 domestic buckets • Specialty themed cocktails and mocktails for the kids www.pinzyorkville.comCupcake Decorating GRAHAM’S 318 • FEBRUARY 11 • 10-11AM GENEVA–Join Graham's 318 for a Valenetine's Cupcake Dec-orating Class! Utilizing piping bags of buttercream, sprinkles, and decorations, the kids will have a blast while also learning a bit about cupcake decorating. This is the perfect activity to celebrate Valentine's Day. Everyone will be instructed by one of our bakers on how to decorate their four unique cupcakes that will go along with the Valentine's Day theme, and then you get to take them home & enjoy! YUM! www.318coffeehouse.com

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KID STUFFMAGICAL FUN IN NAPERVILLE Indoor Fun for Everyone at DuPage Children’s Museum BEAT THOSE WINTER BLUES WITH A NEW EXHIBIT & MORE NAPERVILLE–Keep little ones active with a trip to DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM)! Make a splash in AWEsome Water, “fly” through the Wind Tunnel, build with real tools in the Construction House, freeze your shadow in Creativity Con-nections, and so much more. Refuel for more play in Bean Sprouts Café located on DCM's lower level. The Museum is the perfect place to build strong brains, strong bodies, and strong bonds this winter. Get ready for a new exhibit opening in February – The Questioneers: Read. Ques-tion. Think. PLAY! Be an engineer, an architect, a scientist, and more with Ada Twist and friends. (630) 637-8000 www.dupagechildrens.org adventure awaitsGlancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 55

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Glancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 57DANCING IN ST. CHARLES 3rd Street Dance ST. CHARLES–In the heart of historic downtown St. Charles, 3rd Street Dance stands as a testament to the vision of owner and di-rector, Alice Williams. Williams grew up in St. Charles, and 27 years ago, embarked on a mission to create a non-competitive dance stu-dio that inspires students to believe in themselves, spread joy and build lifelong friendships. It’s a home where, as she says, “Kids can be kids, have fun, and find their best friend.” At 3rd Street Dance, students embrace the beauty of dance without worrying about external pressures. As the only local St. Charles studio affiliated with the national organization More Than Just Great Dancing®, they takes pride in providing a quality curriculum and a safe and nurturing environment for its young dancers to grow and flourish. Dance has the power to bring about positive change in a com-munity. 3rd Street Dance give back, organizing charity events and fundraisers, using passion for dance to raise awareness for local causes. These experiences teach young dancers the value of em-pathy, compassion, and the joy of helping others. The studio’s non-competitive approach to dance has allowed count-less children to discover the joy of movement and creativity without the fear of judgment. As Williams continues to champion the belief that “kids should be kids for as long as humanly possible,” the 3rd Street Dance legacy lives on by offering a variety of classes focus ing on fun, learning, and growth. Join this exciting journey of devel-opment, creativity, and friendship at 3rd Street Dance. www.3rdstreetdance.comdance!KID STUFF

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CAREER VISION APTITUDE TESTING CAN HELP STUDENTS CHOOSE MAJORS AND CAREERS What are you doing after high school? You know further edu-cation is important. Do you need help finding the right career choice? The Career Vision Aptitude Advantage can help. Aptitudes identify your strongest talents, the jobs you would enjoy and be good at doing. Combining your aptitudes with your interests, Career Vision reveals your career choices. You also receive resources about college majors, job outlook, and preparation needed for those careers. If you have asked “What should I study?”, “What will I do after college?” and want to learn how Career Vision can help, give them a call. Their assessment process is a positive and an objective way to give you confidence to make good career choices. And your Personal Career Consultant will take time to discuss the test results with you and go over all your choices. If you are going to college and want to know what to study, reach out to Career Vision today. If you have graduated col-lege and still haven’t found your best fit, the professional con-sultants at Career Vision can help you, too. For over 30 years they have been helping students and adults find their best ca-reer choices. Career Vision • www.careervision.org • (630) 469-6270CCOOLLLLEEGGEE TTIIMMEEGlancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 59FITNESS

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4. From Scratch Wellness ST. CHARLES–By incorpo-rating her culinary background as a professional chef into her natu-ropathic practice, Traditional Naturo-path, Jennifer Stanley and her team of certified holistic practitioners empower coura-geous people to reclaim their health by using nu-trition and natural wellness treatments to overcome a variety of health challenges through holistic treatments to soothe, detox, and replen-ish! www.fromscratchwellness.com 2. Ginger Thomas Soap Company OSWEGO–Handcrafted soaps and specialties in the heart of downtown Oswego. Woman owned and operated, this boutique prides itself on sugar scrubs, bath bombs, body butter, lotions, bar soaps, and incredible scents per-sonalized for everyone’s senses. www.facebook.com gingerthomassoap 3. Home Sweet Spa GLEN ELLYN–Home Sweet Spa promises professional skincare and spa services with a healing touch using Eminence Organic Skincare derived from nature. These pro-ducts are results driven and contain no harmful chemicals, achieving results through a holistic ap-proach. Home Sweet Spa also offers handmade bath products crafted with natural skin loving ing-redients to experience the spa at home. www.homesweetspainc.com 5. Sparrows Nesting Place YORKVILLE–All purpose, chemical free cleaning and general room sprays, handmade by local Yorkville resident Jessica Gaul and are especially designed and made-to-order to keep your home clear and free of toxins. She is now also branching her products to ModStitch in Yorkville as well - a locally curated boutique with modern styles, mindful self-care products, and handcrafted home decor. www.facebook.com/sparrowsnestingplace/ 1. Lena Rose NAPERVILLE–New to Naper-ville, this holistic spa and salon’s mission is to see a world where slow, clean, and sustain-able beauty is the standard of beauty using only good ing-redients and packaging to better the health of humans and our planet home. Lena Rose, named after the owner’s daughter, focuses on vegan, non-toxic, “farm-to-facial” services and pro-ducts that are 100% safe for your body. www.lenarosebeauty.com IT’S A NEW YEAR! TREAT YOURSELF INSIDE AND OUT Discover a world of inner peace and holistic wellness at these 7 spectacular shops for a healthy mind and spirit in our community. These unique destinations offer a wide range of products and services designed to nurture your well-being. Whether you're seeking spiritual guid-ance, natural remedies, or simply a moment of tranquility, these shops are a haven for those on a path to self-discovery and personal growth. Explore the hidden gems that will uplift your soul and transform your wellness journey.SHOPS FOR A HEALTHY MIND & SPIRIT2.1.3.5.4.60 • WESTERN SUBURBS • JANUARY 2024 • Glancer Magazine

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6. Kerwell DOWNERS GROVE–Experience the relief and comfort of a home-like environment where local experts, curated-product selections, and natural ingredients come together. During founder Kerry Aiyash’s own wellness journey, she discovered plant-based products through in-depth research, speaking with others, expanding her knowledge, and creating wellness products with descrip-tions, ingredients, and labels you can trust. Her mission is to support every individual journey to optimal wellness by offering premium remedies that are both natural and ef-fective. www.kerwellness.com/pages/downers-grove 7. Kryssage BATAVIA–Well known in the Chicagoland area as "The place to go for compassionate care", Krys-sage is a welcoming and warm healing center for anyone with issues ranging from IBS, Crohns and GERD to PCOS, Fibroids and Endometriosis. Kryssage special-izes in releasing pain and illnesses through scar tissue and detox therapies while focusing on improving health through holistic health care. www.kryssage.com 7.6.Glancer Magazine • JANUARY 2024 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 61

Glancer Magazine, January 2024

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