AROUND TOWN
Serenades of the Summer
Concert series make their return for another music-filled summer
By Mia Jones
Sweet summertime calls for ample entertainment opportunities and good live music. Luckily, residents of...
FOOD & DRINK
Labriola Restaurant An Elevated Dining Experience
By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff| Photo by Laura Meyers
In an exciting move that promises to elevate the culinary scene, Rich Labriola, the visionary behind...
The Perfect Taste of Summer
A hot summer day, time by the pool or beach, or an evening at home means you need something to sip on. Try out...
GIVING BACK
Charitable Giving: DuPage County’s predicted wealth transfer has huge implications
By Dave McGowan
The 2020 Illinois Transfer of Wealth Study reveals an astonishing trend: DuPage County residents are transferring more wealth than ever before, and...
Ben’s Memorial Mile helps raise mental health awareness while remembering Ben...
By Maureen Callahan I Photos courtesy of Ben’s Memorial Mile
May marks the 75th anniversary of Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a time to consider...
ART + THEATRE
Lauren Lakeberg blends a love of photography, nature, and disc golf...
By Valerie Hardy
Lauren Lakeberg’s first word was “light” – fitting, given that she grew up to become a professional photographer. “Photography has been with...
BUSINESS + MONEY
Welcome In! The Drake Oak Brook’s elegance and charm are back...
By Maureen Callahan
One of the best things about luxury travel is the accommodation. What makes a hotel memorable? Décor? Amazing cuisine? Unparalleled hospitality? To...
Milestones: Downers Grove businesses celebrate landmark anniversaries
By Maureen Callahan
It takes courage to transform an idea into a business, along with hard work and dedication, to keep it running. Several Downers...
TRAVEL
Spring Break Travel Essentials
As the days get longer and trees start to bloom, we know that spring and summer travel are right on the horizon.
Whether you're planning...
Iceland
By Maureen Callahan
Consider checking out this European destination in winter. You’ll need to outfit carefully for outdoor activities, but average temperatures are not much...
HEALTH + LIFE
Fostering Love: Two local families offer foster children a safe place...
By Maureen Callahan
The second Sunday in May is the day we honor Mom. Hers is the first love we know in this world.
There’s a...
NEWS & EVENTS
Plans to improve livability, mobility, design, sustainability for future of Downers...
By Valerie Hardy I Photos courtesy of the Village of Downers Grove
If Downers Grove had a crystal ball, it would be Guiding DG, a...
A Downers Grove North alumna who has appeared twice on Jeopardy!...
By Maureen Callahan l Photos courtesy of Jeopardy!
Downers Grove North alumna and Plainfield High School teacher Erin Portman has a lot of curiosity about...
HISTORY VAULT
Back in Time: Leslie Goddard brings history to life
By Maureen Callahan
Most of us dream of finding an occupation we love- something for which we have a heartfelt passion while still making a...
Rudy! 30 years later, Rudy walks on with a new generation
By Maureen Callahan
Everybody loves an underdog. Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger is one of the most memorable in the history of film. Thirty years ago, audiences...
SPORTS
Next Level: Local area student-athletes continue athletic pursuits
Congratulations to the local student-athletes from the Class of 2024 who will continue their academic and athletic pursuits at the Division 1 collegiate level.
It...
Preparing for Princeton: DGN’s Stanton has cousin to thank for...
By Jeff Vorva
A little tough-love type of bullying between cousins helped kickstart Jack Stanton’s career.
The Downers Grove North grad, who is heading to Princeton...
HOME & DESIGN
One of a Kind — Architectural Gems in the Western Suburbs
There is no shortage of unique architecture in the Chicagoland area. In this issue, a handful of homes nestled in the western suburbs are...
Home & Design: A Slice of Americana
Sears Homes offer a glimpse of a past
that will stand well into the future
By Maureen Callahan | Photos by 726 Visuals
Instead of looking online...
IN EVERY ISSUE
Splash from the past: 70 years in the community.
A reflection of the Downers Grove Swim and Racquet Club as it celebrates
By Marty Blader
In 1954, the first Burger King opened in Miami building...
LATEST STORIES
Accepted! Despite competitive college admissions, triplets admitted at UofM
Despite the increasingly competitive college admissions process,
local triplets all admitted at University of Michigan
BY VALERIE HARDY
The landscape of the college admissions process has changed...
Splash from the past: 70 years in the community.
A reflection of the Downers Grove Swim and Racquet Club as it celebrates
By Marty Blader
In 1954, the first Burger King opened in Miami building...
A Full Plate: Bales Metal Surface Solutions celebrates four and a half decades
By Maureen Callahan
We kind of live in an episode of How It’s Made,” jokes Stacey Bales, President of Bales Metal Surface Solutions, when she...
Labriola Restaurant An Elevated Dining Experience
By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff| Photo by Laura Meyers
In an exciting move that promises to elevate the culinary scene, Rich Labriola, the visionary behind...
Danny Mucciolo completed a rare feat: running all six World Marathon Majors
By Valerie Hardy
For Danny Mucciolo, becoming a marathon runner happened by accident. He literally took a couple wrong turns.
Mucciolo, a seven-year Downers Grove resident,...
Plans to improve livability, mobility, design, sustainability for future of Downers Grove
By Valerie Hardy I Photos courtesy of the Village of Downers Grove
If Downers Grove had a crystal ball, it would be Guiding DG, a...
LETTER from THE ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
A Celebration of Summer… and Achievement
Welcome to the summer issue of Downers Grove Magazine. In the past months, our team has meticulously curated content...
The Best of Chicago, for Chicago
Meet Julie Maddox, creator of NBC’s “Chicago Today”
By Cynthia Maquet
Lifestyle, fashion, food, health, and beauty are just a few of the trending topics that...
Next Level: Local area student-athletes continue athletic pursuits
Congratulations to the local student-athletes from the Class of 2024 who will continue their academic and athletic pursuits at the Division 1 collegiate level.
It...
Preparing for Princeton: DGN’s Stanton has cousin to thank for hoops success
By Jeff Vorva
A little tough-love type of bullying between cousins helped kickstart Jack Stanton’s career.
The Downers Grove North grad, who is heading to Princeton...
Serenades of the Summer
Concert series make their return for another music-filled summer
By Mia Jones
Sweet summertime calls for ample entertainment opportunities and good live music. Luckily, residents of...
Charitable Giving: DuPage County’s predicted wealth transfer has huge implications
By Dave McGowan
The 2020 Illinois Transfer of Wealth Study reveals an astonishing trend: DuPage County residents are transferring more wealth than ever before, and...
Draft Day OK for J.J.
Naz star ready to start NFL career with Vikings
By Jeff Vorva
While many members of Nazareth Nation gathered in the Stadium in McCook for...
A Fair to Remember
It’s 70 years for DuPage County Fairground’s signature celebration
By Maureen Callahan
For more than a century and a half, the DuPage County Fair has drawn...
The Perfect Taste of Summer
A hot summer day, time by the pool or beach, or an evening at home means you need something to sip on. Try out...
A Page Out of History: Downers Grove’s Baseball History
BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN I PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOWNERS GROVE MUSEUM
Baseball. It’s the American game. Not only is it the country’s earliest seriously organized sport...
Nazareth Academy Roadrunners return with hopes of defending their repeat state titles
By Anna Hughes
It takes a lot to make a great baseball player: determination, grit, talent, and commitment.
The Nazareth Academy varsity team has lots of...
Summer is right around the corner, and we’ve rounded up the best events of...
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Paramount Theatre
April 24-June 16
paramountaurora.com
Enjoy an evening at one of Chicagoland’s most highly esteemed theatres for their production of Beautiful: The...
A Downers Grove North alumna who has appeared twice on Jeopardy! Who is Erin...
By Maureen Callahan l Photos courtesy of Jeopardy!
Downers Grove North alumna and Plainfield High School teacher Erin Portman has a lot of curiosity about...
A local 24-year-old’s expertise in typewriters led to a thriving business and book
By Valerie Hardy
Lucas Dul is a self-described simple person with a passion for complex machinery – specifically typewriters. Dul’s interest in typewriters may come...
Top Shelf: Pasta Pappone makes for a delicious dinnertime… anytime
By Valerie Hardy
Though neither is Italian, Jon and Mary Beth Mulholland created a lucrative pasta business lauded for its products’ authenticity, efficiency, and -...
Ben’s Memorial Mile helps raise mental health awareness while remembering Ben Silver
By Maureen Callahan I Photos courtesy of Ben’s Memorial Mile
May marks the 75th anniversary of Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a time to consider...
Fostering Love: Two local families offer foster children a safe place to belong
By Maureen Callahan
The second Sunday in May is the day we honor Mom. Hers is the first love we know in this world.
There’s a...
Lauren Lakeberg blends a love of photography, nature, and disc golf to create a...
By Valerie Hardy
Lauren Lakeberg’s first word was “light” – fitting, given that she grew up to become a professional photographer. “Photography has been with...
Anchor on Main Street: Remembering Mochel’s Hardware
By Maureen Callahan
Sometimes, a community business becomes like a town’s anchor. For 111 years, that place was Mochel’s Hardware on Main St. Charles Mochel...
Dr. Karen Wolowick & Dr. Susan Mitchell
This summer, Susan Mitchell, MD, is joining forces with Karen Wolowick, DO, to begin a new journey for Wolowick Women's Health. Although the practice's...
Dr. Michael Halkias – Naper Grove Vision Care
Tell us about yourself.
I grew up here in the Western suburbs, and I have been an owner of Naper Grove Vision Care since 2008....
Beaming on the Beam: Three DG gymnasts finish in the top 10 in...
By Jeff Vorva | Photos courtesy of Downer Grove South
Genevieve Herion became just the second gymnast in Downers Grove South history to win a...
Three local authors work themselves into three interesting and diverse book genres
By Maureen Callahan
Kelly K. James – Downers Grove
Ever wondered if you pushed the envelope too far at work? Worried you might get fired for...
The Thrill of the Dill: The unexpected rise of Pickleball
By Cynthia Maquet
For the third year in a row, Pickleball has earned the title of the fastest-growing sport in the nation. Is the pickleball...
Center Stage: Dan Aykroyd at Oakbrook Center’s Wonderverse
By Larry Atseff
There is absolutely no substitute for talent. And there is no substitute for being a genuinely nice guy. That is Dan Aykroyd...
DuPage Pads
At this year’s Taste of Hope event in late February, DuPagePads once again proved the power of a community that believes everyone deserves a...
Guiding DG Kick-Off Celebration
The Village of Downers Grove hosted a Kick-Off Celebration to launch the process of creating the Guiding DG Plans in early April. The free...
Roadrunners Soccer Club
Photos by Madeline Craig
In January, the Roadrunners Soccer Club hosted their eighth annual “Kickin’ Up Some Laughs Comedy Show” at the Tivoli Theatre in...