Stories for you
Crushing 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,…
Community 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…
AWE Autumn
Oktoberfest Sponsored by the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 Friday, September 15 from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, September 16 from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Oktoberfest, held in downtown Downers Grove on Burlington Avenue between Main Street and Forest Avenue, is a two-day German themed celebration with live music, entertainment Kids…
David Rokos: A local musician’s new album makes a smooth landing
By Valerie Hardy | Photos by 726 Visuals When his second album, “This Is Landing,” was released in June, David Rokos reflected on his path to this point. Rokos recalled “falling in love with Blink-182” when he first heard their music. He asked his parents for a guitar and began taking lessons at the Lincoln…
Lore Swieca: Celebrating the turn of a century at the friendly confines
By Cynthia Maquet In 1930, Downers Grove resident Lore Swieca attended her first Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Ninety-three years later, she is still a loyal Cubs fan. On July 16, 2023, Swieca and 54 of her closest friends and family took a charter bus from Downers Grove to the Friendly Confines to celebrate her…
In the Spotlight: The Downers Grove Fire Department and its recent field-based training opportunity
By Valerie Hardy According to the National Fire Protection Association’s website, the annual Fire Prevention Week is scheduled for the second week in October “in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871.” The weeklong observance aims to educate community members of all ages about ways to stay safe from fire.…
Is Hair loss on your mind? Reclaim Your Crowning Glory
In a world where first impressions matter, the loss of hair can be a challenging journey to navigate. Your hair is more than just a part of your appearance; it’s a reflection of your identity, personality, and self-confidence. CSC Dermatology understands the impact that hair loss can have on your life and offers effective solutions…
Behind the Scenes: Meet the Downers Grove Magazine Team
Our goal at Downers Grove Magazine is to feature stories about you. But as we head into our fifth year of publishing, we peel back the curtain and give you some insight into this team and why these individuals dedicate their time and energy to the publication. They have researched, interviewed, and written about a…
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 Grove businesses are celebrating milestones this year. Whether a century, half of that, or five years, their successes deserve recognition. Cadence Kitchen – 5 Years When Tim Canning and Todd…
Bringing Visibility to Vincibility
In her documentary film, “Vincible” Kayla Redig reveals the unique trials faced by young adult cancer patients and survivors By Valerie Hardy When Kayla Redig noticed a lump in her breast and went to have it examined, the doctor told her it was probably just a cyst. Redig, a 2006 Downers Grove North High School…
In Bed By Ten: A new early-night show offers Chicago-quality comedy that is relatable and accessible to suburban audiences
BY VALERIE HARDY | PHOTOS BY MADELINE CRAIG Looking for some local laughs but not a night owl? In Bed By Ten, a newcomer to the suburban live comedy scene, is the answer. Founded and produced by comedians Bridget Frodyma of Downers Grove and Casey Alltop of LaGrange Park, In Bed By Ten, which opened…
Discover Arizona: From Cowboys to Hollywood elite, the American Southwest holds something for everyone
By Maureen Callahan The 1860s gold rush put Arizona on the map. Subsequent discoveries of silver and copper in the decades that followed brought more fortune-seekers. By the 20s, Route 66 offered a direct path out there, dotted with convenient stopping-off points. But it was the mainstreaming of air conditioning for residential use in the…
Airoom’s New Design Space: Maxx and Jack Klein take the helm of their family’s business
By Maureen Callahan Airoom has always been a family affair. Maxx and Jack Klein are the third generation to run this family business. Having grown up in a household that celebrated craftsmanship and design, they are right where they belong- at the forefront of the company’s visionary team. While they have completed over 500 projects…
Downers Grove Orthodontics
Meena Balakrishnan, DMD, MS Over 5,000 smiles have been transformed at Downers Grove Orthodontics since 2007 by Dr. Meena Balakrishnan. Congenially referred to as Dr. B. by her patients, she has created a patient-centric orthodontic practice that is affordable. She is passionate about orthodontic care being within reach of everyone. “Our practice exists in a…
Esplanade Dental Care
Sherif Albert, DDS Christine Snow, DMD Amy Feller, DDS Esplanade Dental Care in Downers Grove combines a team approach with a patient-centered care philosophy, advanced specialty training, and state-of-the-art technology. The result? A compassionate touch to make each patient experience comfortable and convenient. “We do not rush our appointments,” said Dr. Sherif Albert. “We have…
Shine Pediatric: Dentistry
Lynse Briney, DDS, MS Lexi Nash, DMD Opening Shine Pediatric Dentistry in 2019 in Downers Grove was a dream come true for Dr. Lynse Briney. As a resident of the community, she has the opportunity to treat and improve the lives of children every day from her hometown and beyond. “I love working with kids…
Out of the ashes: Six and a half decades later, Chicagoans still commemorate Our Lady of the Angels school fire
The first day of December ushers in the holiday season. It’s a promise of happiness and celebration. But it’s also the day that Chicagoans pause to honor the memory of 92 children and three nuns who perished in a fire at Our Lady of the Angels School (OLAS) on the city’s near west side. The…
SmilesHub: Sushant Dhadwal, DDS, MICOI Ritu Dhadwal, DDS
Established in 2019, SmilesHUB has been a labor of love between Dr. Sushant Dhadwal and Dr. Ritu Dhadwal for the last four years. Their private practice has steadily grown as patients have gained their trust from family-focused dental care to advanced smile makeover treatments with cosmetic and implant dentistry. “We know going to a dentist…
Celebrating A Century of Open Road
Now in its 100th year, this slice of Americana still beckons travelers By Maureen Callahan The open road. It’s still the holy grail of travel. Route 66 was the first road that made the offer back in 1923. And millions of Americans accepted. Mr Ford had introduced his Model-T over a decade earlier. Americans had…
Brightly Shining: Diwali reminds us to be a light to darkness
As the leaves turn, thousands of families in the western suburbs celebrate a five-day festival every fall. Diwali, the festival of lights, may encompass diverse traditions and customs by celebrants, but there are a few common themes. Curious about this festival? Read on for some answers to some common questions about this holiday. What is…
A Tennis Player’s Dream Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club
In the last few years, the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club (OBBTC) has made tremendous progress in becoming a viable entity. One real bright spot has been the tennis programming. Simply put, it has become a tennis player’s dream. To start with, the club offers Har-Tru clay courts, which are known for several features.…
