Issues
Welcome In! The Drake Oak Brook’s elegance and charm are back to stay
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 get a local look at all three in the same place, check into The Drake Oak Brook, Marriott Autograph Collection. You’ll feel like you’re at home. And among family- specifically…
Read MoreA cornerstone of the community
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church celebrates 75 glorious years of faith and service in Downers Grove BY VALERIE HARDY | Photography by Madeline Craig Founded in 1948, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church initially operated out of Downers Grove’s Masonic Temple. Carl Otterness, a septuagenarian who has been a member of the church since birth, recalls how during…
Read MoreWest Suburban Humane Society Barkapalooza
By Anna Hughes | Photos by 726 Visuals For three decades, the West Suburban Humane Society has been hosting the Barkapalooza: a fundraiser to help bring homes to animals in need throughout the Chicagoland area. Over 500 people gather yearly for the 5K, the Waggin’ Tails Walk, the pet costume parade, and more. The event…
Read MoreDowners Grove Oktoberfest
By Anna Hughes | Photos by 726 Visuals The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 presented the village’s 10th annual Oktoberfest, where residents got to experience a traditional German atmosphere right in their hometown. While enjoying beer and brats, music groups spanning genres from classic rock to traditional German polka serenaded attendees. The event…
Read MoreLego Art Installation
Photos by 726 Visuals If driving down Belmont Road the last few months, you may have wondered about the life-size Lego building just north of the train tracks. Thanks to one of Downers Grove’s newest businesses, The Lytle Auditorium, the construction of the building turned into a temporary Lego Art Installation visible to many in…
Read MoreRemembering Linda Kunze: A special resident who had Downers Grove first in her heart
By Maureen Callahan Linda Kunze was the kind of person every town needs. The connector of people she knew should meet. The organizer of festivals and community-building activities. The welcoming recruiter who constantly looked for ways to improve the look and feel of Downers Grove. “Downers Grove was kind of like our third child,” laughed…
Read MoreBack 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 living. Leslie Goddard has managed to do just that. This home-grown historian brings the past back to life – in a fun and entertaining way – through character impersonations and…
Read MoreRudy! 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 watched him muscle his way into one of the country’s most selective institutions, the University of Notre Dame (UND). This non-scholar of less athletic ability than his teammates worked harder…
Read MoreCrushing It: Downers Grove native, Chrishon Lampley, celebrates her successful wine label’s first decade
By Maureen Callahan Wine shopping can be complicated and intimidating if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Former Downers Grove resident and owner of Love Cork Screw Wine, Chrishon Lampley, has changed that. She’s spent the last ten years moving ahead in a crowded industry by making wine shopping simple and fun. Her labels,…
Read MoreCommunity Scene: Westmont Chamber of Commerce
Welcome to Westmont: a tight-knit community of hard-working business owners and an intimate downtown of familiar faces. At least, that’s how Chamber of Commerce President Becky Rheintgen sees it. Rheintgen, owner of Oakwood Electric & Generator, leads approximately 230 chamber members, who represent the best of what Westmont and its surrounding communities have to offer. From…
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