Buying a car is a big investment and a nerve-racking process. But now, there’s help: Veteran car dealer Gary Eisenstein of Northbrook will act as your consultant and advocate, helping you find a great deal on a car, for a flat fee. And he loves it: “I get to help people do something they […]
Highland Park homegrowns Jordan Rappaport, a pastry chef, and Peter Rauser, a former golf pro, have teamed up to start a new bakery. The Baker Boys features a variety of sweets, including cupcakes—many filled with ganache—and a rotating menu of nine homemade frozen custards in flavors such as “Red Velvet Cake and Ice Cream.” The […]
When former caterer Meg Dhamer of Libertyville sent her children off to college, they encouraged her to share her fabulous cooking with a broader audience. The result is Pigtale Twist: Ridiculously Garlic Blue Dressing, Three Berry Vinaigrette and Buttery Caramel Sauce. All are bottled at Lamb’s Farm by adults with developmental disabilities—and the organization receives […]
Arlington Heights native Connie Grundschok has opened a cozy, new knitting shop, Knit Happens. Complete with a flat screen TV, she offers a variety of classes and a Thursday night knitting group. The shop is for knitters or wannabes, and people who “enjoy fine yarns—something that feels good,” Grundschok says. And, the shop is offering […]
Preschool teacher Judy Rundell of Highland Park couldn’t find a CD that would occupy the children who couldn’t nap during rest time. So she started recording her own—she now has two volumes of Quiet Time Stories, each with more than an hour of contemporary fairytale adaptations set to music by Chicago composer Derrick Procell. Many […]
Yes, the right chocolate can be good for you. Xoçai dark chocolate is cold-pressed, so the beans retain their nutritional value—one square has as many antioxidants as half a pound of spinach—which was a dream come true for chocoholic Michelle Myers of Northbrook. Eating a nugget three times a day, Myers sleeps better, and her […]
Necessity Baking Company, owned by Ellen Carney Granda of Lake Bluff, specializes in loaves of European-style bread, and sweet and savory pastries made with high-quality ingredients, including unbleached flour. The “Faux-caccia” loaf is ciabatta on the bottom at foccaccia on top, and the Plum Crazy is studded with prunes and chocolate chips. Necessity Baking Company […]
Inventor mom Karen Tobey of Wilmette created the Gogglemate to keep goggle straps from getting caught in her daughter’s hair. Little did she know, the product helps everyone because it makes goggles float and the bright colors make it easy to find your kid at the pool. Plus, new colors and designs let swimmers of […]
This olive oil is a family affair. Mary Jo and Themis Vlahos, owners of Winnetka’s Caffe Buon Giorno, import olive oil from Themis’ hometown in Greece—Lalas, a village 2,000 feet above ancient Olympia. The pure, light green olive oil, made from hand-picked olives from the Vlahos’ orchard, gets rave reviews from local gourmands. Cost is […]
If you’re looking for the latest trend in North Shore fashion, we’ve found it in this Libertyville foursome. Sex-&-the-City-style foursome Kim Struik, Debbie Broughton, Beth Kraft and Heather Scheuneman of Libertyville have channeled their woman power into the fashion company Revelari. Stylish shirts and totes are branded with empowering words like Courageous, Adventurous and […]
