This really isn't a place...it's an event that's held at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park to…read moreremember Lauren Kiefer. She graduated from Willowbrook in 2000 and her mother still works there. This event is held in her honor because she was brutally taken from friends and family on Dec. 25, 2006. So this is a 5K walk/run that is going to take place every year around the third weekend in June. I believe it is $25 to enter and then donations are also accepted which benefit a number of charities including two scholarships that are given out to Willowbrook students. This a fun event for a great cause and in honor of one very special woman! Go to rememberlaur.com to check out the details under events! Hope to see you there!

The real highlight here is the carnival Giant Drop ride. Go…read moreon it with someone who is scared of heights, you'll doubt yourself.

This past weekend Glen Ellyn sponsored their annual Taste. This was my first time to Glen Ellyn's…read moreversion of a family fun weekend that most times is overrun by annoying teenage punks. Lombard Taste, you know what I'm talking about. I would say this is your average, run-of-the-mill, get what you pay for (it was free) local festival. For being a "Taste" there wasn't all that much being offered from local vendors. There were maybe 4 vendors with local treats like Tap House Grill, Chicks 'n Salsa, Chicago Prime Meat Market and a pizza joint. The rest of the food was your "eat with caution, likely to induce some serious commode time" typical carni-culprits like gyros and meat on a stick. Who doesn't love deep fried snickers that are advertised as "tastes like warm fudge"? ughhhhh. The arts and crafts were a sight for sore eyes. Actually, eyes that hurt really, really bad. They did have a climbing wall that seemed to be quite a hit with the youngsters. And I totally would have scaled that thing if not for the fear of ripping my pants open in front of the school-aged innocent. The free concerts on Saturday night made up for what could have been a bust of a weekend. Tin Horse, a country chick's band, and The New Invaders, a 60's cover band, kept us highly entertained throughout the cold night. Part of that might have had to do with the beer tent and those little $5 red tickets. My advice to next years Taste Committee - pick it up a notch, think about what people actually want to see/do at a festival, not just what's always been done. Promote local biz but do it in a modern way that will make people want to come back next year.

What a surprise to find this mural in Lombard! I love murals and public art in general, and am a…read morebig fan of Kelsey Montague's #WhatLiftsYou public mural project. I've visited the one she did in Nashville, and have considered taking a trip to visit the one in Indiana as well. So I was delighted when, on the way to an early morning breakfast at Honey Berry Cafe in Yorktown, I found this purely by accident since I took the long way round the mall. It's between what is currently (as of August 2019) a Barre Studio and Amazing Eyelash. It's really the definition of blink-and-you'll-miss-it. I hate to name an anchor store, since it was Carson's and that's a dead brand, but JCPenney is the next closest. I was there at 8:30 on a Monday, so the mall wasn't open and the only people here were people heading to workout at Barre or Orange Theory. So it's possible that people stop here all the time and everyone knows about it, and I just am a city slicker who's out of the loop (um... so to speak). Though it should go without saying, if you do stop here for a photo, be mindful that you're in a mall parking lot, and the place where the mural is happens to be right by a sharp curve where the driver would probably not see someone who wasn't standing on the sidewalk. Exercise great caution! But take a moment to appreciate a really nice bit of public work.

As a new resident, I contacted Republic Services--the provider contracted by the City of…read moreElmhurst--on the day I moved in to confirm how to dispose of moving boxes and packing materials. I was explicitly instructed to place the items at the curb for pickup during the next scheduled trash collection. I followed those instructions exactly. The items were not collected. I called again the following day, explained the situation, and was told a truck would be sent out that same day. No one came. I then contacted the City for assistance. I was told the issue would be handled. Instead, within 30 minutes, a code enforcement officer arrived at my home and issued a violation for the very items I had been directed--by their contracted service provider--to leave at the curb. This experience reflects a breakdown in coordination between the City and its contractor, and a lack of accountability when their guidance leads directly to a resident being penalized. As a new resident trying to follow the rules, it's frustrating to receive conflicting direction and then be cited for complying with it.

OMG I love Elmhurst lived there for 7 year and I still miss it. Everything is walking distance…read more I would always walk to the Movies and walk to the Museums just over all Elmhurst has it all and free parking for everything. I wish I ACN go back to live in Elmhurst it is so close to the expressways and to Chicago. They have the most exciting shops banks Doctors and dermatologist all in the same block. Not to mention all the best Italian restaurants are in Elmhurst

Med, 3 topping (any) Thursday Special. I was pleasantly surprised with this pizza. It was…read moredefinitely delicious. The lady that took m y order asks if I wanted it crispy or regular. I opted for regular. I should have taken her suggestion of crispy. Nonetheless the pie was on point. Def will be ba,k

The food here is pretty good it just seems to be hit or miss. Most time it hits! Items on the…read moremenu other than pizza are pretty good as well.

What a fabulous spot for comforting & delicious Italian foods! This place has a ton of charm - it…read moreis a converted house with dining inside and on the covered porch out front. Their name describes it well - they have fresh and delicious food, in a laid back environment. Our waitress was so incredibly friendly and attentive, and enhanced the experience. I'd go back for an easy date night or girls night out in a heartbeat!

This place has a unique look -- it's styled like a house on the outside, which gives it a cozy…read morefeel. It's a newer spot, and I haven't eaten anywhere quite like it before. We got seated right away and started with a couple of mocktails. The Amaretto Sunshine was a 10/10 -- perfectly balanced and delicious. The Rosemary Grapefruit was more of a 7/10 for me -- a bit too strong on the soda and grapefruit flavor. For an appetizer, we got the Caprese Salad. It was simple and fresh, but for $10, I expected a little more than just a few slices of mozzarella and tomato. For entrées, we tried the Gnocchi alla Sorrentina and the Baked Eggplant Parmigiana. The gnocchi was excellent -- soft, doughy, and full of rich tomato flavor. The eggplant dish was just okay for me. I got pasta on the side, which was tasty with the sauce, but the main dish itself had a lot of cheese between bites, making it hard to really taste the eggplant. Service was great -- very attentive and friendly. Overall, I'd come back to try something new!