Downers Grove Issue May-June 2023
Grand Finale: Downers Grove North band director Brayer Teague will leave a lasting legacy when he retires
BY VALERIE HARDY | Photos courtesy of Brayer Teague For District 99 students, school will soon be out for the summer, but for Downers Grove North High School’s longtime band director and fine arts department chairman Brayer Teague, school is about to be out forever. Teague is set to retire at the end of the…
Read MoreGaining Momentum – Hinsdale Alum Cathy Richardson
By Scott Jonlich | Photos by Victor Hilitski Cathy Richardson is one of Hinsdale Central’s most famous Hall of Fame members. She lived in Burr Ridge while attending Hinsdale Central and graduated in 1987. To quote her induction statement as a 2020 Hall of Fame inductee, “Her music career was in full swing at Central,…
Read MoreNeat Kitchen and Bar
neatkitchenandbar.com 246 North Cass Avenue downtown Westmont Lifelong friends John Taylor and Matt Verde, owners of Neat Kitchen and Bar in Westmont, met in sixth grade at Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst. After graduating together from high school, their careers took them separate ways, but both pursued careers in the restaurant industry. Between John’s…
Read MoreTaurasi
taurasirestaurant.com 14 North Cass Avenue downtown Westmont Raffaele Cirillo, the owner of Taurasi, was born in Gragnano, Italy – two miles from the Sorrento coast – into an entrepreneurial family with a passion for hospitality and cooking. Born into the hospitality business, his father began Raffaele’s cooking lessons at the age of nine and declared,…
Read MoreSnapshot: Vasili’s
VASILISMEDITERRANEAN.COM 135 WATER STREET DOWNTOWN NAPERVILLE Authentic. This word aptly describes Scott Harris Hospitality’s Vasili’s Mediterranean restaurant, nestled in Naperville’s downtown riverwalk. Named after the father-in-law of the renowned restauranteur Scott Harris (Papou is Greek for grandfather), the restaurant pays homage to the warmth and charm of Papou, whose legacy inspires Vasili’s hearth-fired Mediterranean fare.…
Read MoreHome & 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 or working with a realtor to find your ideal home, imagine being able to order it from a catalog. Choose the number of bedrooms, room dimensions and finishes…
Read MoreExotic Summer Destinations
This summer, get far away from it all By Maureen Callahan Travel, of any kind, enhances us as people. It’s a great way for kids to learn. It’s an opportunity to see firsthand that our way of life is just one of many, and for all our differences, there are quite a few commonalities. The…
Read MoreFood & Wine: The Perfect Pair
BY VALERIE HARDY Spring is in the air, and it is time to shift from comfort foods to lighter fare. Give this guide a glance to find the best fork + cork combos. Scott Harris Hospitality’s Davanti Enoteca’s Wine Expert, Kristen Jackson, shares the best wines to pair with some favorite dishes.
Read MoreCommunity Scene: Wine Women & Shoes
In early March, Wine Women & Shoes took place at the Oak Brook Hills Resort. Hundreds attended to sip, savor and shop for a cause. The high-energy event featured fun and philanthropy combined with wine and bubble tasting, boutique shopping, fashion show, gourmet luncheon and chances to win vacations and experiences. Proceeds of from the…
Read MoreCommunity Scene: Hinsdale Kitchen Walk Luncheon
Photos by Marcello Rodarte Dozens of ladies from Hinsdale and surrounding communities gathered at Hinsdale Golf Club for the Hinsdale Kitchen Walk luncheon on March 8. The annual event hosted by the Hinsdale Historical Society (HHS) Women’s Board featured a panel discussion including Lauren Ashley Allan of LAA Interior Design, Corbin Horn of Hindman Auctions,…
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