E-EDITION
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026
Seats for Everyone
Why Performance Needs Philanthropy by Laura Michaud & Melissa G. Wilson On a November evening in Chicago’s western suburbs, the lights go down, and a theater fills. Artists take the stage. Families settle into their seats. Students experience live performance for the first time. And people who might not otherwise be able to afford a…
A Heart for Helping
Mia Churma turns a passion for service into leadership By Julia Mazurek Mia Churma doesn’t have to go far to remind herself why her work matters. She simply walks out of her office into the warehouse at Sharing Connections. The facility is filled with donated kitchen tables and chairs, dressers and sofas waiting to become…
Writing ‘Bout My Generation
Candice DelPercio shares what life was like growing up as a millennial in her debut book By Valerie Hardy Candice DelPercio was tucking her daughter, Lola, now 7, into bed one night last year when Lola began asking questions about what life was like when DelPercio was growing up. DelPercio explained a world where phones…
Making a Run for It
Freshman Brynn Bartkus emerges at the top of Downers Grove South’s cross-country roster By Valerie Hardy She may only be in her first year on Downers Grove South’s cross-country team, but Brynn Bartkus already knows there is much more to running than simply putting one foot in front of the other. There’s strategic training, of…
More than a Store
The Renew and Rise resale shop celebrates its first anniversary of bringing secondhand shopping to the community By Valerie Hardy The proverbial saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” proves true daily at Renew and Rise, a charitable resale store located on Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove. Since opening its doors in December 2025,…
Rolling to the Top
DGS freshman Hariharan is one of the best artistic roller skaters in the USA By Jeff Vorva | Photos by Jeff Vorva There are certain sports in which a high school athlete can be one of the best in the world, but not a lot of people know about it. Take roller skating, for instance.…
Speaking Volumes
A recent DGS graduate starts her college career as a national speech champion and published research writer By Valerie Hardy When Zoya Siddiqui transferred to Downers Grove South from Fenton High School her sophomore year, she was terrified she wouldn’t make friends. However, she joined multiple activities, hoping to connect with other South students. Speech…
PLACES of HONOR
Across DuPage County, memorials and landmarks preserve the stories of those who served and sacrificed By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff Across DuPage County, reminders of military service can be found in community parks, civic spaces, and museums. Some honor local residents who never returned home. Others recognize generations of veterans or preserve the history of…
A Tale of Two Thanksgiving Parades
As Macy’s marks its 100th parade, two local balloon handlers share their experiences in New York and Chicago By Maureen Callahan It’s almost Thanksgiving. The all-American holiday that predates the formation of our nation itself. It’s a day of customs. We wake up to backyard football games and local turkey trots and end the day…
A League of Their Own
Books & Brunch brings the community together in support of Assistance League Chicagoland West By Anna Hughes This November, Assistance League Chicagoland West will bring members and supporters together for its annual Books & Brunch fundraiser, an event that helps fuel the organization’s work throughout Western Cook and DuPage counties. “We consistently look at what…
Santa’s Local Helpers
Toy Express keeps Christmas joy local By Maureen Callahan Sometimes, even Santa needs a hand this time of year. That’s where Toy Express Children’s Charity comes in. For the last 36 years, the 501©(3) non-profit organization has collected toys to help DuPage County families supplement Santa’s offerings for their children. While toys might not be…
Christmas Markets Worth the Trip
Five Christmas markets to inspire a future winter getaway By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff There is something about Europe at Christmastime that makes even winter skeptics reconsider the season. Centuries-old squares glow beneath thousands of lights, wooden stalls fill with handmade ornaments and gifts, and the scent of mulled wine and holiday treats drifts through…
Hitting the Slopes (or Bike Trail or Golf Course) with Friends
There’s more to Piccadilly Ski Club than stem christies By Maureen Callahan | Photos courtesy of Larry Himmelblau When you have a hobby you love, like skiing, there’s nothing better than finding a community of friends to share your passion. For the past 54 years, Piccadilly Ski Club has welcomed skiers and snowboarders, along with…
Come on Over
The dinner party is back, but the rules have changed By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff Maybe it was inevitable. After years of restaurant reservations, elaborate grazing boards and perfectly styled parties made for social media, entertaining is coming home again. But this time, we’re leaving some of the old rules behind. The new dinner party…
Strategic Year-End Giving
Thoughtful strategies for making the most of your charitable gifts By Dave McGowan Year-end charitable giving can accomplish more than supporting the organizations you care about. With thoughtful planning, it can also create meaningful tax advantages. If you don’t itemize, you could use a charitable bundling strategy whereby you estimate your charitable giving goals…
The Gifts We HAD to Have
A nostalgic look back at the toys that topped wish lists By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff Long before “going viral” entered the vocabulary, certain toys had the power to send shoppers racing to stores, empty shelves and turn an ordinary gift into a cultural phenomenon. A nostalgic look back at some of the things we…
More Than Holiday Shopping
What turns a trip to Oakbrook Center into an afternoon, an evening, or a reason to come back By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff | Photo courtesy of Oakbrook Center A trip to Oakbrook Center used to be fairly straightforward: you went to shop. Today, you might go to meet friends for dinner, catch a movie,…
The First Heisman
The remarkable life of college football legend Jay Berwanger By Maureen Callahan As college football prepares to crown its next Heisman Trophy winner this December, it’s worth remembering where the tradition began—and the remarkable local man who received the very first award. So today’s trivia question: Who was the winner of the first Heisman Trophy?…
