DRINK WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY (IT’S OK) The jury may still be out on whether or not one can wear white after Labor Day, but who cares as long as you can drink it?! There is a whole world of white wine out there for the pickin’ and drinkin’! Sure, the standard go-to’s of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc all have their place at the table, but how about getting a little daring and trying something new like a Marsanne or a Viogner or better yet, a combo platter of both?! That’s right, today I am enjoying a 50/50 blend of Marsanne and Viogner from Treana Vineyards, 2010, a white Rhone blend. His particular wine has aromas of canned cocktail fruit, citrus, and pineapple. Flavors follow with floral notes, honey, minerality and hints of pineapple and pear. It is smooth, balanced, and creamy – delicious! So if you are reading this after Labor Day, go ahead and sport that bright white belt and wingtips and pour yourself a white wine made from a grape(s) that may be challenging to pronounce (kidding). When you do, feel free to drop me an e-mail and let me know about your experience. Sláinte! ABOUT THE WRITER Eric McMillan, The Chicago Wino, is your source for lighthearted reviews of wine. thechicagowino.com also features links to fun tools like wine/food pairing, ideal serving temperatures, and "must try" bottles! Visit thechicagowino.com for a simple look at some complex flavors. "Like" Eric on Facebook–The Chicago Wino #GlancerMagazine #DiningCabaret #TheChicagoWino #EricMcMillan #FeaturedBlog #September2015

MARY ZELLMER The Zellmer Wellness Foundation Most people don't know that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease; that’s why Mary, a Geneva resident, feels education can make a big impact. She co-founded the Zellmer Wellness Foundation in 2011 and has been raising money since 2004 when her son, Jim, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Finding a cure became her number one mission and the foundation operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes with initiatives including areas of mental health and diabetes. “We are continuing to work to help children through research, education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of chronic illnesses,” Mary says. “This year we created two college scholarships for high school seniors living successfully with diabetes. The scholarships will open for candidates in January 2016 through Diabetes Scholars.” In support of their efforts, cardiothoracic surgeon, author and television personality, Dr. Oz, represented the foundation in New York last year at the Cantor Fitzgerald offices in support of children with behavioral health issues. Join the fight by attending the fourth annual Trick or Trot 1/4 marathon and 5k run, the Mummy 1 Miler and the Monster Mash Kids' Dash on September 26 in Geneva. Register at www.signmeup.com/108926 –Kristen Kucharski, Photo by Lynn Logan

FIRE BREATHIN’ SOUTHERN BELLE WARNING: This wine is not for everyone. I innocently picked up a bottle of 2008 Southern Belle Shiraz (McLaren Vale), produced and bottled by R Wines, thinking nothing of it. Whoever came up with the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” was probably drinking this wine. The label features an ornate, charming southern belle, implying that this will be a graceful wine. From color, aromas, and taste this was anything but subtle. Don’t get me wrong, this wine is delicious and given the $20 price point I was even happier. Southern Belle was partially aged in American oak barrels for 18 months that were previously used for Kentucky Bourbon. Yeah, you heard that right…and with 17.6% alcohol content, some would even call this a manly wine. I’ve never had a wine like this and quite honestly, it was pretty awesome. The color is very dark and deep. Notes of confection, blackberry preserves, molasses, coffee, and spice make this a very rich and smooth glass. This is not an everyday wine, nor is it for the faint of heart as there are complex flavors of wine and whiskey involved. This bottle is best paired with a cigar and barbequed ribs or any red meat with barbeque sauce but the cigar is key. Don’t be deceived by the pretty southern belle – this is a stogie-smokin’ rib-eatin’ fire breathing Shiraz! Sláinte! ABOUT THE WRITER Eric McMillan, The Chicago Wino, is your source for lighthearted reviews of wine. thechicagowino.com also features links to fun tools like wine/food pairing, ideal serving temperatures, and "must try" bottles! Visit thechicagowino.com for a simple look at some complex flavors. "Like" Eric on Facebook–The Chicago Wino

Abigail Davoust, Wheaton Abigail Davoust has been drawing since she was a little girl and was recently honored for her talent in a very big way. Her in-laws, David and Lisa Davoust, wrote a book, Building Better Humans, for which Abi was the illustrator. Her first published book earned Abi the 2014 Readers’ Favorite Illustration Award, and most recently, the Silver Award for nonfiction cover design with Independent Book Publishers Association. “In both competitions, there were a lot of excellent submissions. It may sound cheesy, but I really was honored to be included and then to win. Wow!” she said. Each chapter of Building Better Humans, which is a parenting book, opened with one of Abi’s illustrations. “My challenge was to create a family of illustrations that accompanied a range of parenting topics--from Taming Technology to Kids in Crisis. It was such a great project to work on and now to have received this recognition--it’s really quite terrific,” she said. Abi works full time in a different field but said that illustrating is her passion. “I want it to always be part of my life, if not full-time, than freelance,” she said. Abi is working on other projects, encouraged by her recognition thus far. “I’m excited to see what happens next!” she said. -Wendy Foster 1. Who is your favorite artist/illustrator role model? Bill Waterson. I love his ability to tell a story in just a few images and the big expressions. Truthfully though, I don't have just one favorite. When I’m at a bookstore, I love wandering over to the children's book section to discover new artists and styles. 2. What do you like best about illustration? The chance to make someone smile! I love it when the picture comes together. When a drawing starts as an idea and then becomes a character with depth as well as flaws. The creative process is so personal but the outcome is something that can be shared with many. 3. What would a quick word of advice be to young people pursuing their passion? Draw, draw, draw! Try out as many media as you can. Listen to critics, they'll push you to be better but don't let them shape your style. That has to come from you. Sue Keenan, Glen Ellyn This local resident was recently awarded the American Association of Community Theatre’s Spotlight Award. Keenan was one of the fourteen founders of the Village Theatre Guild 52 years ago and is the only remaining founder still in the area. She said that she is not surprised at Village Theatre Guild’s longevity. “I believed in it from day one and continue to do so,” she said. Richard Gannon, board member of AACT who presented the award, cited Keenan’s name as being “almost synonymous with VTG,” adding that her credits include but are not limited to directing 22 productions, acting in 25 shows, serving on the board of directors for seven terms, and welcoming and mentoring the members of the theater community. The American Association of Community Theatre supports over 7,000 theaters nationwide and one million volunteers. In honoring Keenan, Gannon said, "Is there anyone here tonight who doubts that we are in the presence of someone who is truly one in a million?" -Wendy Foster Who would you say is your theatrical role model? Meryl Streep What is it you love best about theater? Creating shows, either on stage or directing. I truly love directing. What is a word of advice you’d share with others pursuing their passion in any field? If you love it, you’ll find a way to do it. Jim Brown, Naperville Commitment is a lifestyle for Jim Brown. He has been married to his wife, Marcia, since 1966, has lived in the same Naperville home since 1968, has been volunteer-coaching the Naperville St. Raphael football team since 1969, and has been the volunteer president of the St. Raphael Football League since 1975. Jim respects and admires athletes that are leaders on the field, deal with adversity well, act from their values, and give back to others on and off the field. He enjoys watching the St Raphael children learn the life skills necessary to be successful, and then seeing them teach them to others. “The St. Raphael football program uses football to develop these types of life skills; acts from its values, as opposed to allowing actions to dictate values; therefore, requiring participants to treat one another with respect,” Jim says. He used his experiences to author a book, More Than a Game, about values and life skills and their contribution to championship sports, family and corporate teams. As he retires this year, Jim will transition to an assistant role and begin working on his second book. -Kristen Kucharski Did you personally play football in your youth, high school, college years - if so, where and what position? I played high school football –quarterback - walked on at Northwestern for two weeks until school started. I did it to satisfy a spirit of adventure and to make friends. I had a significant talent deficiency. What inspired you personally to want to play football when you were young? It was fun - a developmental experience – competitive - and I made a lot of good friends. What is your favorite football play? 48 with the works (an end run with pulling guard and tackle; a crack back block; and a fullback kick out with tail back carrying the ball) Kerry Haake, Naperville Although born and raised in California, this Naperville resident is a fiery, independent Irish woman who loves the simple, rugged beauty of Ireland plus the hot fashions of big cities. “San Francisco has a tremendously diverse population; you knew which neighborhood you were in purely by dress and I found each style and the use of color incredibly interesting,” Kerry says. As a wife and mother, her style of choice is “Throw and Go!” Kerry’s favorite looks include leggings, boots, and an artsy top with layers of necklaces that she picked up on her travels. She also loves her gorgeous, airy, Chan Luu dress over a solid slip with cowboy boots. “I top it off with one of my favorite beaded necklaces that I picked up last summer in Hanoi,” she says. Locally, Kerry loves trying new looks “from amazing designers at Ootra” in Naperville. “I can always find something at Anthropologie; and Little Luxuries has a gorgeous selection of jewelry,” she adds. “I also love L'Apollinaire in Geneva.” Outside of the U.S., Kerry loves L'Atelier de Soierie in Lyon, France, for their long tradition of silk manufacturing, as well as N Silk in Hanoi for their gorgeous custom-made shirts and dresses. “I love the outdoor markets; fashion doesn't need to be expensive.” -Kristen Kucharski 1. What is your current profession - does it relate to fashion? I recently left my position as the children's director at The Compass Church, though I traveled to Vietnam with a team from the church in July to work with children and church pastors. I am on several boards as well--The Alive Center, CASA of DuPage. I'm an officer with the Sovereign Order of St. John and will be spending some time helping to promote Team World Vision. 2. Do you speak any languages other than English? A smattering of Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Russian. 3. In your opinion, what is the next hot fashion trend that we will see this fall/winter? Clean, fresh lines and funky furs and capes; and gold, lots of gold! Maddi Jane, Wheaton Like most west suburban 16-year-olds, Maddi Jane loves the song, “Honey I’m Good," by Andy Grammer, and looks up to classic R&B artists such as Whitney Houston, as well as girl pop icons Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry, Rihanna, JoJo, and Brandy; but, with over 1.3 million Facebook fans, 1.87 million YouTube subscribers, and her own name in the Billboard Social 50 chart, Maddi Jane is not your average teen with over 315,000 obsessed Twitter followers called "Maddians!” This singer, songwriter, and musician has been singing since she could talk and indulged her passion for her craft by performing locally at Spotlight Youth Theatre, the DuPage County Fair, Parkview Community Church, and fine arts events at her high school, Wheaton Academy. Then in 2010, she appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she stunned audiences with her rendition of “Breakeven” by The Script. Since then, her YouTube covers have accumulated over 360 million views. Maddi Jane just released her latest EP, “Maddi Jane,” on July 24. Be the first to download it from iTunes at https://itun.es/us/sD2E6. -Kristen Kucharski 1. What is your favorite social media outlet and why? YouTube because I get to share the full versions of my songs with my fans through it. 2. Was being on the Ellen show your biggest Hollywood moment to date? The Ellen show was definitely what gave me the initial push of having people come to my channel. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to write with Claude Kelly (won BMI songwriter of the year 2012) and his team of writers which was a huge learning and awesome experience for me. I’ve also been working with hip hop icon Chris Gotti, who has brought many opportunities to learn more about the industry and how to be better at what I do. 3. What has been your favorite fan moment to date? Last summer a girl a little younger then me ran over to me and hugged me in the lobby of my hotel before a concert. At first, I was surprised and caught off guard, but then her mom walked up and told me that they had driven about six hours to see me. They were so sweet and genuine. That memory has really stuck with me. Jon Bobbe, Sugar Grove When it comes to music, teaching is Jon’s passion. As the owner/instructor of The Right Pick in Sugar Grove, he loves seeing the joy his students experience when they have “light bulb moments” — a true understanding of their instruments, followed by the ability to play them on a whole new level. An encouraging and highly approachable teacher with 31 years of experience, Jon is most rewarded by the relationships he is able to form with his students. “Every student learns their own way and every student has different goals, whether it’s learning a few chords or going on to college as a guitar major,” Jon says. His passion for music translates to patience with helping all of his students grow, including students with special needs. His most rewarding moment to date includes a young boy on the autism spectrum who was able to fine-tune his motor skills through his enjoyment of music and playing the guitar. Jon provides lessons in students’ homes or his home studio, allowing for their personal comfort and convenience. -Kristen Kucharski 1. Do you only teach guitar lessons? I teach guitar (any genre besides slide), ukulele, banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, and drums. 2. Who is your musical idol? Choosing a musical idol is difficult too. There are so many accomplished guitarists: Andrés Segovia for bringing the guitar to be a recognized classical instrument; Mark Knopfler for his musical stylings, abilities and his loyalties to his band ages; and B.B. King for making electric blues what it is today. 3. What has been the age of your youngest student? Your oldest student? My youngest student was four (starting age depends on the individual and the focus that they can generate); my oldest, 72. Brayer Teague, Downers Grove Brayer Teague, the chairman of the fine arts department and band director at North High School, has touched the lives of thousands of students in his 21-year tenure at the school. As a resident of the community, it’s not uncommon for him to see people he knows around town. “It’s so much fun to run into former students and catch up with them, but my kids tease me about how often I’m stopped as we walk through town,” Brayer admitted. “We average 250 kids in the band program each year. Part of the job as the fine arts department chairman is to oversee visual arts and music. There are 500 students at any given time in music, and 500 in art. We’re proud of those numbers. They’re strong,” said Brayer. “Downers Grove is a community that really supports the arts. “ Brayer said that 15-20 of the students he’s taught through the years have decided to pursue music education themselves. “That’s very rewarding, to see students that want to continue to share their love of music.” Brayer, who is president-elect for Illinois Music Educators Association, has been named a quarterfinalist in the Grammy Foundation’s Music Educator Award. Only 213 music teachers nationwide are part of this unique group, of the more than 4500 teachers nationwide who were nominated. The award recognizes educators who have made a "significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education.” Finalists will be named this fall. -Wendy Foster 1. Who is your greatest musical role model? My greatest mentor and role model - both as a conductor of music and as an educator - was John P. Paynter. Mr. Paynter was the director of bands at Northwestern University from 1953 - 1995. He was revered worldwide as a brilliant musician and teacher, and I was very fortunate to have been his student. There’s not a day that has gone by in my first 25 years of teaching when I didn't think of Mr. Paynter or try to connect with students in a way that I think would make him proud. 2. What is one thing that you like best about teaching music? I love working with students to chart a course toward excellence, and helping them develop the collaborative skills to reach or exceed their goals. 3. What is a word of advice to students who want to pursue their passion? Regardless of the discipline that is your emerging “passion,” find others who have gone before you in that discipline, and talk to them. Find out what their journey entailed. Whatever obstacles or hardships they encountered along the way, a student should presume that they will be presented with very similar challenges. If those challenges sound exciting, or even motivating, then GO FOR IT! #LIfestyle #GlancerMagazine #August2015 #CoverStory #KristenKucharski

The Chicagoland area is known for many award-winning universities. Some have historical significance, some have international involvement and recognition. Here, we highlight seven of them, along with something that makes each program unique in a specific field. Lewis University Founded in 1932 by the Archdiocese of Chicago, this Romeoville-based university has a student body of approximately 7,000 students and offers majors in over 80 areas of specialty. Something Unique: some exciting new fields to major in at Lewis include cyber security and unmanned aircraft systems (drones!). www.lewisu.edu Aurora University AU sits atop 37 beautiful acres in Illinois’ second biggest city–Aurora. Something Unique: the institution’s John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School serves local 3rd – 8th graders and is staffed by teachers from partnering districts who are completing graduate work and have a desire to become leaders in mathematics and science education. www.aurora.edu North Central College This 150-year-old liberal arts college calls Naperville’s historic district home. Something Unique: For students looking for more than just a classroom experience, the “Distinctive Academic Opportunities” program is specifically geared towards preparing students for life after college. Experiences like spending a summer on campus as part of a research team or traveling abroad to influence public policy are just two examples. www.northcentralcollege.edu Northern Illinois University Located in DeKalb, NIU has approximately 25,000 students at any given time and is home to Division I NCAA athletics. Something Unique: The NIU School of Theater and Dance has a relationship with Moscow Art Theater, whereby undergraduate students can take part in a semester of training in Moscow. www.niu.edu Wheaton College Founded in 1860, Wheaton College describes itself as “an interdenominational Christian liberal arts college.” Something Unique: Their Conservatory of Music is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, offers two professional music degrees and boasts a rate of 100% of faculty members who hold doctorate degrees. www.wheaton.edu DeVry University With Downers Grove and Naperville campuses, DeVry offers the ultimate in convenience by offering online as well as on-campus classes. Something Unique: Their Cisco Network Academy is a collaborative effort with Cisco to give students top-notch training in information-based careers, from designing to building to managing networks. www.devry.edu Northwestern University Founded in 1851 by John Evans (fun fact: the village of Evanston is named after him) and eight other attorneys, to this day it is the only private institution within the Big Ten conference. Something Unique: For aspiring attorneys, Northwestern’s mock trial team is ranked consistently in the top 10 in the country out of 600 teams. www.northwestern.edu Watch For A Uniquely Themed “7 Spectacular”  List In Every Monthly Issue. View Upcoming Issue Themes Online Under Editorial. Share this List On facebook & Twitter www.glancermagazine.com #7SpectacularList

SIDESTEPPING THE MINEFIELD OF MIDWEEK On any given Thursday afternoon you can usually find me unraveling. Like a kid in line at Disney World who’s waited two hours to ride Space Mountain, I’m in the final countdown of my midweek meltdown…and trying to keep myself from jumping the line. Why? Because I can usually be found doing a whole host of very un-princess-like things. From getting the dog groomed to stocking up on toilet paper to picking up dry cleaning – Cinderella, Cinderella. A couple of weeks ago, I just happened to be in St. Charles and in full-fledge midweek misery. Although it wasn't raining, I was looking for a place to take cover; a place that felt exactly the opposite of how I was feeling – so no sharp corners, no rough edges and no darkness overhead. In short, I needed a place to come in from the storm and do what I do best: daydream! And voila, mid-musing I remembered a charismatic old friend, one that could fulfill my every wish like a genie in a lamp. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to my Prince Charming: Town House Books and Cafe. This little nook of a space that is located in the Century Corners historic district of St. Charles makes you feel as though Charles Dickens could be penning his next novel in the back room – it’s THAT old-worldly and quaint. This particular day my ever-present wanderlust led me directly to the travel section where I read about summers in France and hitchhiking with Larry David. I then meandered over to Adult Fiction where I saw Judy Blume’s new book – I couldn’t help myself, I squealed a little “Yay!” as I ran my fingertips over the dust jacket. Talk about travel – I took a little trip down memory lane as I remembered all of her books I read as a tween-ager. At one point, I even found myself in the Fishing section – just like travel, I like to go on reading adventures, as well. Finally, with an armload of books, I made a pit stop in their wonderful little gift nook. Notebooks, greeting cards and gift books…oh my! One look-see at the little book proclaiming coffee gives me superpowers and I was no sooner in the attached café, ordering up a cup! The whole time I was at Town House, I felt like I was getting lost, and yet somehow coming home...and was successfully sidestepping the minefield of midweek. Looks like I found my own little “happiest place on earth” right here in the western suburbs. OVERVIEW Town House Books is an independent bookstore for all ages, offering a friendly and inviting literary experience. Town House Café, which is attached to the bookstore, has many daily morning and lunch offerings of deliciousness. Located at 105 N. Second Ave., St. Charles, (630) 584-8600, www.townhousebooks.com. about the writer Tiffany Schultz resides in Sugar Grove with her husband, two kids and Shih Tzu. While seeking balance between her dueling roles as wife, mother, daughter, friend and professional, Tiffany spends as much time as possible daydreaming on her screen porch. She enjoys cooking, traveling and yoga and hopes to one day learn Italian and make the perfect crème brulee.

Don and Christy Seawall met in a rather unconventional way – on a flight from Chicago to Paris. “We were both going to study abroad and were seated together,” says Christy. “At one point, Don jumped up with a camera and snapped a picture of our group. We hadn’t even met yet…and I’m in that picture!” Today, Don is the director of IT Services for Batavia School District, but as a former chef he’s the designated cook in the house. Christy has dedicated her career to helping others reach their full potential, integral in introducing Junior Achievement to the Kaneland school district in 2001 and working over the years as a career coach, in human resources and currently for DeVry University. Don and Christy have two children. Veronica, who is 21 and will be a senior at Eastern Kentucky University, is an aspiring zookeeper who has worked at Brookfield Zoo and just spent a semester in Australia, interning at Cairns Tropical Zoo. Don (Seawall III) is 19 and entering his sophomore year at DePaul University and spent his summer interning at College Works Painting, learning all aspects of business ownership including marketing, hiring, payroll and customer service. It’s not surprising that every family trip the Seawalls take starts with the motto “Our journey begins…” because this family is all about living life fully and the wonderful journeys ahead. 5 Fun Facts About This Fabulous Family 1. Favorite Local Establishment: Kuipers in Maple Park has been a tradition since the kids were little. Apple Cider Donuts! 2. Most Memorable Family Vacation: We took a two-week trip to Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. Camping in Yellowstone was AWESOME! 3. On Sunday Night You’ll Find Us: Watching the Bears – football season, here we come! 4. We’re Most Like the Famous Family: The Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie. We like living simply in one of the oldest houses in town. Don would love to have been born in the 1800s; he's a hard worker and great provider. I (Christy) have a glass-half-full perspective, and I believe Carolyn did too. Veronica is a great student and motivated, which is very much like Mary, and our son Don is social and a bit mischievous, but very caring like Laura. 5. We Love Our Neighbors: We have a progressive dinner around the holidays with the Hills and the McCaffreys. It’s an awesome tradition that now involves our children, children’s spouses and even grandchildren. As our families grow, so does the celebration! Photos by Lynn Logan Nominate a FABULOUS FAMILY at kaneland@glancermagazine.com

A Colorful Affair, More than Painting Many of us have experienced the sip & paint events around town, but A Colorful Affair in Naperville has added new artistic opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy. Regardless if you are a preschooler who wants to finger paint or a senior who wants to reconnect with your creative side, there are a variety of project experiences to be found here. The tween group seemed very drawn to making their own candles, while I was personally drawn to trying out a fused glass project, as I have never worked with this type of art medium before. The energy and excitement in the studio was high as we viewed our options, which included designing our own jewelry, crafting a set of coasters, or a glass platter with sheet glass, rods, and stringers. Making your own candle or customized body scrub was like selecting the toppings at a frozen yogurt shop – trimmings and choices galore to completely personalize your scents, colors, textures, and style. Kids can make their own cupcake soaps, personalize a night light, or paint a penguin. The options were endless and the atmosphere was light and fun. You could literally spend several hours just hanging out – bring your own lunch or snack and unleash your creative side. If you are in the area but don’t have time for a specific project, you can stop by and play with the sidewalk chalk outside the front door. As the weather turns cooler and the holidays approach, the girls are excited to come back and make Halloween decorations, Thanksgiving centerpieces, and Christmas gifts. Personally, I was thinking it would be a great place to hang out with my adult friends, as they offer Ladies Nights Out events too. So whether you have a toddler or a grandma living in your house, it is likely you will find happiness and fun for everyone here! THE DETAILS Location: A Colorful Affair, 3027 English Rows, #105, Naperville, IL 60564 Phone: (630) 806-1915/(331) 229-3524 Website: www.colorfulaffair.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; private parties available Prices: Prices dependent on creative project selected Description: A creative space offering classes, events, and open studio times using a variety of art media such as canvas, ceramics, soap, scrubs, fused glass, and candle making! Sip & paint events offered several times per month. about the writer Naperville mom Kristen Kucharski graduated from Illinois State University in 1992 with an International Business Degree. She is married and has two energetic daughters and her house is always full of children. Kristen joins Glancer Magazine with her column titled, Mom's Little Black Book, a monthly feature written for moms who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy.

November 2011 - BOUNCE JUMP FLIP Extreme fun can be very affordable if you gather your friends and go together. A few months ago, I talked about the power of group rates. This is one adventure you will want to work in numbers, to get the best rate possible. Xtreme Trampoline offers hours of indoor fun, laughs, thrills, and exercise for everyone. On a recent day off of school, it was very easy to gather over 35 people and pay only $6 for two hours of bouncing, flipping, dodge ball fun. The normal rate per person is $16 for two hours, so you see how planning with friends can save a bundle. Form your group, have everyone pay you cash, and use with your credit card to secure your rate. Easy! The building is huge and overflowing with excitement. Trampoline pits positioned by foam pits provide plenty of opportunity to flip, twist, and dive. Trampolines formed to make a dodge ball court give a competitive edge to those who want to form teams to throw balls, jump, and lunge to avoid getting hit. There is a trampoline area specifically for the young ones so they can feel free to leap, hop, and bounce without being pounced on by older counterparts. There is a specific area for older kids so they can have their own space and feel free to push the boundaries of gravity. There are trampolines on the walls to give added dimension to your imagination and padding everywhere in case you fly wild. There is no admission rate, so if you choose to go and watch, there is no fee, but if you choose to participate, it’s a great form of exercise, a fun way to burn calories, and a fantastic way to tire the kids out. Xtreme Trampoline is located at 485 Mission Street, Carol Stream, IL 60188. Phone is 630-752-1400. Website is www.xtremetrampolines.com. Admission varies by the hour and by group size. The more people you bring, the more money you save! If you bring friends, be sure to have the waiver signed by the appropriate guardian prior to leaving home, there are no exceptions to their waiver rules. – Kristen Kucharski #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPerfectForTweensTeens #MBBSportsRecreation #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog #KidsTeens #November2011

January 2010 - CLIMB AND EXPLORE Cute, cute and cuter were the first words that came to mind when I walked into Little Monkey Bizness. This article is a Now and Later article as I will tell you about Little Monkey Bizness Now in Western Springs and lucky for us, is coming to Naperville in 2010. For now, from southwest Naperville, Western Springs is an easy 35 minute drive. Their tagline is ‘Where Kids Monkey Around’ is perfectly fitting for this incredible play place designed for children ages 6 and under. Children over 7 are not permitted on the equipment. Children and parents can both be entertained. There are built in carpeted benches in the play zone for the parents to enjoy coffee and socialize, while their children play. There is also a full service coffee house on the premise serving food and drinks. A bonus room to the main play place is the art room filled with paint, crayons, markers, smocks, and child size tables and chairs. A great clothesline hangs across the room to allow your creative artwork to dry while your child burns energy in the play area. Your child can play in the bounce house, explore the maze tower, slide down the slides, swing on the swing, play in the tree, pretend in the imaginary house, and explore the many other slides, tunnels, and bridges, while discovering a whole world of play. The entire play zone is enclosed with a half wall and locking doors so the children are contained in the space and separated from the café area, art room, bathrooms, and exit. The infant zone which is designed for children under age 2 is perfectly safe with padded hills, arches, mats and ride on toys. This area is enclosed to protect the little ones from their active preschool counterparts. Little Monkey Bizness is located at 4700 Gilbert Ave, Ste 51, Western Springs, IL 60558. Phone is 708-246-9600. Website is www.littlemonkeybizness.com. Parents, Guardians, and Infants are always free. Admission for children over 1 and walking is $7.50. Crawlers under age 1 are $5. Look for coupons. Hours are Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-12pm, and Sun 9am-12pm. Coming soon to Naperville! #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #January2010 #KidsTeens #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog

January 2011 - MAGICAL ADVENTURE Sometimes I give myself credits. Money credits. When I do so many free things, I get to do something a bit out of the ordinary price range, just because I have been so budget sensitive. So this next adventure took us to another kingdom. We entered the gates and left earth as we know it to explore another world. MagiQuest is best described by the company’s website as an interactive, live-action, role playing experience where players embark on quests and adventures in an enchanted fantasy world using magic wands to solve the mysteries of the game. You can consider this adventure as an investment to many adventures to come as your wands can be used over and over again and learn you as a player and learn what quests you have accomplished and still need to accomplish. There are various locations throughout the country and overseas. Great Wolf Resorts is home to several MagiQuest, as well as Six Flags Great America. So your wand can travel with you to other MagiQuest locations so you can continue your journey no matter where you are. I went with a group of kids ranging in ages from 4-9, but there were also many preteens, as well as adults playing. It is indeed a place to entertain both the kids and daddy so I consider it a very good investment! There is a preschool specific program for the younger kids that are not able to read. They are given picture clue cards to help with their adventures. The older kids are given guide books. I can best liken this adventure to a magical scavenger hunt where you use clues to accomplish quests so you can advance to the next level. You earn points as you go and can redeem those points to dual another player. This is where players are each trying to determine which spell to cast with their wand that will trump the spell casted by the other player to ultimately win the dual. The magic of MagiQuest is that there is no death or evil or inappropriate images. MagiQuest is located at Yorktown Center in Lombard, IL on the lower level. Phone is 630-932-6645. Website is www.MagiQuestChicago.com. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10am-9pm, Sunday 11am-6pm. Admission varies depending on length of adventure and if you have previously purchased a wand. Coupons are everywhere online. Kristen Kucharski #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #January2011 #KidsTeens #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog

December 2009 - HIGH SPEED RACING Whenever I see coupons for something FREE, at a new place we haven’t been to yet, we get very excited. I recently came across coupons for a free 5 minute race at Speed Alley Racing in Westmont. Five minutes didn’t sound like a lot of free time, so I was a bit concerned that this might be a pricey outing with six children in tow. Much to my surprise, this was a very affordable, very fun, new adventure for our crew. With the coupon, each child got a slot car and a five minute race. I paid $14 for four kids to each get a total of 20 minutes to race (so only $3.50/child). The two 3 year olds were content with their 5 minutes and playing with the remotes. The atmosphere is interesting as you kind of feel like you are in someone’s unfinished basement, but the staff is informative, helpful, courteous and especially nice. The room is filled with super sized race tracks for slot cars. There are many different tracks and different slot cars to choose from. Each track is color coded to a remote and matched to your color on the tv screens above to count your laps and keep track of your time. This sport is simple enough for three year olds and competitive enough for teenagers and adults. We learned very quickly that slot car racing is indeed a sport and can be competitive. We learned that it takes more to race your car than pulling the trigger on your remote, as hard as you can, to make your car go as fast as it can. Without skill and personal talent to corner the curves, you can wipe out very quickly. At times, the 3 year olds seem to do better than the older children because they didn’t pull the trigger so hard. Speed Alley Racing is located at 201 W. Ogden, Westmont, IL 60559 (630-493-4100). It is located inside Suburbanite Bowling Alley. Website is www.speedalleyracing.com. Hours are 11am-9pm, Monday-Saturday, Sunday 12-6pm. Car rental is $2/car, track rental starts at $2 for 5 minutes up to $17 for 60 minutes on the weekends. #GlancerMagazine #KristenKucharski #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBPlaygroundsPlayscapes #MBBPerfectForTweensTeens #KidsTeens #December2009 #FeaturedBlogger #FeaturedBlog