The 630 | February 2017

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February 2017 View more

COMMUNITY

Motor City

The Chicago Auto Show is an ever-popular attraction, this year held at McCormick Place from February 11 to 20. One million square feet of exhibit space features one thousand domestic and imported passenger cars and trucks, sport utility vehicles and experimental or concept cars. Special days include Women’s Day February 15, Hispanic Heritage Day February 17 and Family Day February 20. Tickets are $13 for adults and $7 for seniors or children 7 to 12. Bring three non-perishable food donations from February 15 to 17 for a reduced ticket coupon; donations will benefit clients of A Safe Haven Community Food Pantry, a nearby service organization. For tickets and info, chicagoautoshow.com.

Winter Ale Fest

Situated on a likely frozen Frontier Park (3380 Cedar Glade Road), the February 25 Winter Ale Fest features over 150 unique beers from craft breweries around the country. Pull out your long johns and parkas and experience winter’s best craft beers. The fest also features live music and Chicagoland’s favorite food trucks. Search for “Naperville Winter Ale Fest” on your phone to download an app with a map of the beer tents and food trucks, as well as a listing of the 150 unique American craft beers to taste. General admission is $50, which includes a sampling glass; designated drivers can maintain sobriety—and their dignity—with unlimited pop and water for $20. Be sure to leave the little ones at home, as this is a 21+ event. For tickets and info, napervillealefest.com.

Chocolate Walk

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the ones you love in support of a great cause: Downtown Naperville will again host 360 Youth Services’ Chocolate Walk on Saturday, February 11 from noon to 5:00 p.m. A $30 ticket affords you a badge and a map of participating downtown Naperville shops and restaurants. Use your souvenir chocolate tin to collect one chocolate item at each stop. Tickets are available at the 360 Youth Services office (1305 Oswego Road) or the Downtown Naperville Alliance office (55 South Main Street, Suite 351). Proceeds benefit 360 Youth Services, which provides services to youth through substance abuse prevention education, counseling and housing. For info, 360youthservices.org.

Éirinn go Brách

West Suburban Irish—yes, that’s an actual thing you now want to join—will celebrate its twentieth Emerald Dinner on February 25 at the new banquet space Elements at Water Street. Witness the crowning of the 2017 Parade Queen and enjoy entertainment by the McNulty Irish Dancers and Cirrus Falcon. Guests also will enjoy a discounted rate at Hotel Indigo next door. For info, wsirish.org. Sláinte!

Jump Zone

Small fans of NBC’s competition series American Ninja Warrior can now test their skills at Sky High Sports’ new Ninja Warrior Style Course. The obstacle course is a fun challenge for kids of all ages—don’t be surprised if this is the new “it” birthday party destination, moms. $12 will buy parents one hour of solitude and free wi-fi; $20 will get you two. Kids 11 and up can jump from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights when they turn down the lights and crank up the music. Ninja warrior skills are not required, but grip socks are.

OPENINGS

Andy’s Frozen Custard

Andy’s Naperville marks the restaurant’s seventh Illinois location, which serves frozen treats year-round.

3104 Anna Marie Lane
331.444.7001
eatandys.com

Elly’s Pancake House

Brunch lovers now have another option in Naperville Crossings. Elly’s serves breakfast and lunch from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in its seventh Chicagoland location.

2656 Showplace Drive
630.420.2300
ellyspancakehouse.com

Gentle Learning Preschool

This Lisle Park District facility offers programs for three- to four-year-olds. Registration is open for fall 2017.

1925 Ohio Street, Lisle
630.964.3410
gentlelearningpreschool.org

KUDOS

Cantigny Golf’s Director of Agronomy Scott Witte and Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents Executive Director Luke Cella have won the 2016 Bayer Bee Care Community Leadership Award. The award recognizes individuals who use their interest in honey bees to benefit a community. Cantigny Golf is home to six managed hives and two wild hives. Witte and Cella will receive a $6,000 grant to bring their program to other golf courses in the area. And the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, of which Cantigny Golf is a part, will match the grant two-to-one to set up a Pollinator Fund of $18,000 that will be used to promote diverse ecosystems on golf courses throughout Chicago. Bee-utiful!

The Naperville Central High School teacher who spearheaded a statewide effort to designate Global Scholar Certification on students’ diplomas and transcripts will have $100,000 to see his full vision realized. Social studies teacher Seth Brady won the generous grant as part of a teacher challenge by Farmer’s Insurance.

The Illinois Principals Association has named Bolingbrook High School Principal Dr. Jason Pascavage its Principal of the Year in Three Rivers Region, which includes Kendall, Will, Grundy and Kankakee Counties.

Continental Motors Group recently partnered with Loaves & Fishes Community Services to put eight area residents in need back on the road. The families were presented with cars as part of the “Driven to Care” event at Continental Toyota.

The My Favorite Things event recently hosted by local Iron Gate Motor Condos raised more than $8,000 to benefit Cal’s Angels, a Chicago-area non-profit that helps families with children battling cancer.

The PPG Foundation recently donated $15,000 to the Chicago Urban League to support the organization’s science, technology, engineering and math out-of-school program and summer camp for middle-school students, Project Ready. The donation was made on behalf of PPG’s architectural coatings facilities in Batavia and Aurora.

Ten Fox Valley students recently received the Ted Brattin Civic Youth Award for outstanding leadership, civic involvement and selfless community service. Brattin, a World War II Marine veteran and Aurora businessman, helped found the Aurora Navy League Council and Aurora-Naperville Rotary Club. From left are Austin Runde, Aurora Central Catholic High School; Guadalupe Romualdo, Waubonsee Community College; Nabila Qadri, Naperville North High School; Natalie McKee, Rosary High School; Noelle Kilpatrick, Oswego High School; Brooke Jensen, Yorkville High School; Benjamin Garcia, Marmion Academy; Archit Dhar, Neuqua Valley High School; Vanessa Cai, Neuqua Valley High School; and Yasmin Broy, Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy.