Fort Sheridan was originally developed as a US Army installation in the late 1800s, and it has…read moresince been designated as a US historical landmark property. Fort Sheridan was officially closed in 1993 and portions were renovated and sold as private residences. The Town of Fort Sheridan, divided between Highland Park and Highwood, consists of ninety-four historic buildings on 640 acres of prime Lake Michigan property. The center is the 54 acre, oval parade ground and the 228 foot tower. The Town of Fort Sheridan is unique on the north shore due to its proximity to the beach, the lake, the forest preserve, its landmark status, walking paths, historical significance, stopping point for migratory birds, and more. Things I've seen: the thin red line at the horizon before sunrise which blooms into a red and purple sky; coyotes sauntering down the street at dusk; black and brown squirrels tossing nuts from the trees; hawk circling overhead and the early warning system of screeching bluejays; rocky pebble beach with thundering waves; the lake which can be a cold grey or cobalt or Caribbean blue; walkers, runners or racing jersey wearing bicycle packs; eye contact with a family of deer silently watching; red fox scrambling out from under a bush; technicolor display of leaves in the fall; butterflies and dragonflies in the meadow; other moments that may have significance to me but more than 100 years ago someone is standing where I'm standing and experiencing the exact same thing.

Waukegan Harbor Lighthouse is about a couple of hours away from Downtown Chicago and is located out…read moreon the lake with a small concrete walkway that connects it to the mainland. To get a better idea of what I'm talking about, feel free to check out the couple of pictures I shot & uploaded to this page. Because this is located out on the lake, it is pretty windy out towards the end. I got about just under three quarters of the way out and it just got too windy and slippery to feel safe going any further. If you look at the pix I took, the further you go out, the more the waves crash over the wall and then ices over the walkway during this time of year. This may all sound a little dangerous, and if you don't exercise some common sense, it probably is, but it was beautiful out there with the waves crashing over the wall, the birds circling above, and the sun out providing just that hint of warmth as you take in the view. Lighthouses are generally in remote locations, so the draw for me is the solitary calm amongst the sounds of the distant birds and the crashing waves. As lighthouses go, this is a smaller one than say Grosse Point Lighthouse, but I was digging the serene vibe that this place gives off. It allowed for an impromptu moment of meditation that you sometimes don't get in these hectic times. When all's said and done, this is not your grandma's lighthouse, and I doubt most people will come all the way out to this particular place for this little landmark, but for those lighthouse aficionados out there, and I know there are a few, this is one to check off if you happen to find yourself in Waukegan Harbor, Illinois... Whatever you do, be a traveler and not a tourist and get out there and explore your world people! :-)

It's a 4 star if you are into this type of thing...it's not really my thing, which is why it's a 3…read more This is Chicago's oldest house, according to the literature. Pros: The guides are extremely knowledgeable. Our guide was a history major & she knew every little thing about the house & and its history. She also grew up in the neighborhood. One guide was a biology teacher & when we were outside, she told us all about cicadas, more than the generic info you read about in the news. It's really pretty & the interior was filled with old wedding dresses & it's history. Interesting fact I observed... wedding dresses don't seem to go out of style. The wedding dresses were numbered & correspond to a phamlet detailing its history. It's a recommendation of $5-$10, affordable & you do your part on old building restoration. Cons: It's a very small house.

Check out some old Chicago history. If looking for the oldest place in the city then come here for…read morea look. The Noble-Seymour-Crippen House is the oldest structure. Even though it wasn't a part of the city for a long time, it is now and it's older than anything else. Pretty much this is used for banquets and stuff mostly even though it's also a museum but you can make an appointment to visit. Before coming here it should be known this isn't like a museum that a lot of people know about. It's used mostly for events. Things like weddings and that. It has pretty limited hours if just coming to look around. This is open only Saturdays. It's the oldest known structure in the city. The oldest part was built in 1833, and the addition was built in 1868 or so. Among the artifacts are a collection of things found in the ground collected in an archeological dig. There's objects like buttons, guns, toys, and more. Other exhibits show the history of Norwood Park and what it was like. This place is also the home of the Norwood Park Historical Society and is where they have meetings. Good place to check out if you can make the limited hours. It's a must if wanting to learn more about the local history and what it was like back then. This is also pretty popular for those looking to have some big event like a wedding or whatever.

Probably one of my favorite communities on the North Shore. At least 3-4 times a week my hubby and…read moreI take a drive up the lakeshore and end up in Lake Bluff as our northern most destination point. The town is quaint and small, and when passing through the neighborhoods, everyone waves. Some of the homes have a lovely farmhouse vibe, and I especially adore the pink-ish one on the main road heading in and out of town. At the eastern most point of the community you'll end up at the top of the hill overlooking Lake Michigan. It's sooooo pretty. There is a super cute downtown, and my favorite apple fritter in the whole world (ginormous and sugary) can be purchased at Hansa Coffee Roasters. I might add that the coffee is outstanding! They serve a fantastic smooth brew mixed with friendly and excellent service. (Link to Hansa Coffee review: https://bit.ly/ASHansaCoffee) You'll see in the attached photos that the village has done a great job offering outdoor patio dining by the town square for those who want to safely gather with friends and family. Town secret: There is a house that has an outdoor model train in their yard that runs year-round around a mini elevated track. We stop by every single time to watch it loop around. I'd love to know the story behind it. *Worth the trip up north.

Lake Bluff is a pleasant little town. It's too far to really be a suburb; maybe "exurb" is proper…read more On the one hand, Lake Bluff has some aspects of a typical Illinois farm town, where everyone pretty much knows everyone else. On the other hand, it's a haven for the super-rich, a Lake Forest without the ostentatious pretension. There's a very pretty town square with a good summertime farmer's market, an interesting mix of good restaurants, small shops and a lot of banking services (no surprise there). I've never felt uneasy walking through town after dark, as crime appears to be very low.

I just got off the phone with Aldo from the call center. He was of no help…read more I asked to speak to a supervisor. He transferred my call to a different department where no one picks up. Nothing against Aldo, maybe he's new. But he gave me false information. He said I filed a document in 2017 which was false, then he said the case was made a pdf. I just wanted to speak to someone that could help me. I've been on the phone since 8:30 am now it's after 12 noon. These calls just keep going from one person to another and some people don't answer. What's going on at the court house, Please hire people with knowledge and the resources to help us. Thanks.

All Men Must Serve…read more And there was my jury duty summons-almost three months to the day from the last time I punted. With summer adventures ahead I answered the call and shifted our staycation Memorial Day trip ahead a few days to make the date. During the Voir Dire many potential jurors were asked about their trips and of any reservation or ticket documentation to corroborate. Don't skip out on your civil service people. Speak the truth, that's what Voir Dire means. Civil Court of Cook County. Damages case. I knew I would be seated on the jury the minute I agreed with Plaintiff Counsel that people should face consequences for their actions. It was a fascinating experience being part of this jury at the same time a jury in New York was deciding the fate of an ex President. The cross examinations of expert witnesses became a tennis match of volleys that seemed like a tedious search for who ordered the Code Red and expertly executed dodges like the Who's on First routine. It was amazing to see the fencing that went on between witness and counsel. Well crafted questions elicit the answers you look for. This was more impressive than watching sideline reporters getting a word with coach, just before he storms into the locker room to rip his team that's getting smoked. After the judges instructions, the case was ours and we retired to the jury room to deliberate. Sidenote-thankfully we did not have the fifty three pages of instructions the Trump jury was read, yet could not have a copy of. Our jury of twelve from all walks of life talked out all the issues of the case. Everyone was welcomed to express their opinions, and everyone was heard. There is common ground out there for those that seek it. We all came to agreement and delivered our verdict. Justice, and civic duty, served. Valar Dohaeris

Incredibly helpful. It is one of the smallest post offices you will ever go to so don't complain…read moreabout a line. But usually no one is there in front of me when I go in. I love this place.

I'm tempted to gatekeep this spot since a lot of folks don't realize there's a post office here…read more It's tiny but they pretty much do everything including passports. It's staffed with usually just one person so if there's more than one customer waiting, it'll be a little bit but the lines and wait are not nearly as long as a regular post office. Usually I'm in and out and they're super helpful. They are very patient with all my questions especially when you need tracking or need to mail letters in a specific way.

I work near this memorial which sits within walking distance from downtown Skokie. I discovered it…read moreone evening when I parked right next to it before work, so I decided to check it out. It is a dedication to Army Sgt. Kraig Foytek, who was on a routine patrol in Baghdad on October 30, 2006, when he came into contact with enemy fire. Foytek, who is from Skokie was hit and died a short time later. As a military veteran myself (United States Marine Corps), it is heart-warming to see memorials like this, and I do believe that there should be more of these memorials for fallen service members who have lost their lives in combat. In my opinion it shows inner-and-outer residents that the neighborhood has produced a brave citizen that was willing to take that challenge of joining the United States Armed Services and later going off to combat. With that being said, I leave you with this quote from Barack Obama, who once quoted "Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay, but we can honor their sacrifice." Thomas Gouard

Over the past year, I have become a regular visitor and patron of the Winnetka branch of the…read moreWinnetka-Northfield Public Library. I have conducted a large quantity of advanced genealogy research and Chicago and Winnetka history research through this library. This library has provided outstanding customer service, excellent research resources, excellent research support, and has helped me tremendously in my own genealogical research work and Chicago history research work. This library has enabled me to discover some very important new stories and facts about my own family history. I would like to thank this library and its excellent, friendly, and very professional staff of employees for being a wonderful part of both the Winnetka community and the Chicagoland community. I look forward to being a long-term patron of the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library. God bless!

This branch might be small but it's mighty. I had some time to kill with my 3 year old and was…read morepleasantly surprised. The toddler section has a tiny table for reading at and a puzzle table as well -- a major hit with my boy. I liked the selection of books too. Despite having a small selection, the librarians have done a good job choosing what to carry. And they are so helpful and friendly as well! There is a young readers section with booths for kids to gather. When we were there there were a couple of groups of kids studying together. There's an open reading room with magazines and newspapers and a fireplace. It looked so inviting I've been back for a quiet break. The library has a limited DVD section but has a decent selection. The audio cd section is very small. There are multiple computers to use and an adult fiction/non fiction section. Considering this is a branch library, the librarians have done a great job maximizing the space so people can feel invited in and making smart choices in the items they'll have. Kudos to them. So next time you're in the area, be sure not to overlook this little gem.