We Have It All Here In Elgin

One of the many things I LOVE about living in Elgin is that we have it all here. We have a taste of city, we have a taste of suburbia and for a short 5 minute drive, we have country.

We have alpacas and sheep. See what I found in my travels west

Icelandic sheep and a "watch Llama".

The McNeil Mansion Holiday Open House

Wow, it's been way too long since I have written here. I am one of the lucky "over-employed" and while I do consider myself lucky, it leaves little room for blogging as I am trying to squeeze every last drop out of what tolerable weather we have left. Weekdays are work work work leaving the weekends to a series of forays into our community and the Fox Valley, to enjoy as many of the wonderful things there are to do and see as possible.

What a beautiful November we are having too. I will have to do a retro article on our excellent Halloween here in my northeast side neighborhood, but before it get's too late I want to let you know that today's foray will be the annual McNeil Mansion Craft Show.

I posted about this show last year HERE!!! The price of admission is worth it just to see this stunning mansion alone...then there's the merchandise. Wonderful gifts for the loved ones on your list.

This year it will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday the weekends of Nov 13-15 and Nov 20-22 from 10am to 5pm. There will be some of the same crafters that have been here in past years plus some new crafters.....I also thought I saw a sign out front that said "antiques"

Antiquing in Elgin and Kane County

One thing I have done plenty of this summer is take advantage of the best garage sales, antique shops and flea markets in the area.

Elgin is positively THE BEST place for garage and estate sales. With so many old houses, the chance for great antiques and vintage finds are many. Some homes contain items that are being liquidated after a resident who has been in the house for their whole life has passed on. Other old houses have owners who, like me, furnish their places with vintage elements, then after having collected way too much (like me) find it necessary to pass some of that on at their own garage sale.

I have frequented both the East Dundee Flea Market and the Kane County Flea Market (WHOA!!!!). The cost of 5.00 admission into Kane County is well worth the price. Yesterday I walked out of there with handmade pillows for my bed....the likes of which would have cost me 60.00 in a store. I purchased one handmade pillow for 6.00 and another antique, silky bolster pillow for 2.00. A pair of earrings for 2.00 and a couple cute little plants rounded out my deals.

I even had my own garage sale this year to purge treasures from days gone by to make room for the new ones I find.

The best thing about having a garage sale, or going to one of these events though is the people. I met so many nice Elgin residents this summer and it was a pleasure.

I also frequented Elgin's antique stores this year and made a purchase or two at each. Elgin Antiques and Uniques had a great sale event last Friday night. They've got some beautiful things in there.

The Elgin Windmill factory Antiques is one of of those wonderfully musty old antique shops with a treasure from the past tucked in every corner. The owner told me he was going out of business and he did have an auction last Saturday but I don't know if he shut his doors for good or not. I need to swing by there and check it out.

I also went to a great shop on Walnut Street. It to had a lot of great treasures tucked here and there and a nice owner who was a delight to talk to.

If you are an antique lover, please be sure to support our local antique dealers....antique shops are few and far between these days and Elgin is the perfect city for antiquing. The historic atmosphere here adds to the adventure. I would love to see it become a "destination" for shoppers from all over Chicagoland. It is up to us in Elgin to support our local businesses to make sure they survive. It benefits us all.

Pratt's Castle

Who in Elgin hasn't wondered why that castle stands on the banks of the Fox River, along the bike path at the foot of Cedar Street?

I know I've wondered and thanks to Books at Sunset, now I know the story.

Monday night, September 14th, Mike and I attended the dress rehearsal of Shadows In The Courtyard. A presentation by the nice folks who own Books At Sunset on South Street on the west side of the city. They are the same folks who bring you The Elgin SuperNatural Tour and although I've never been to that event, I am tempted to go after seeing first hand the uniqueness of their presentations.

On Saturday, September 19th, you too can learn not only the secret behind Pratt Castle and actually spend time in it's courtyard, but learn an urban legend or two while enjoying the company of others around a fire.

Listen to a wonderful reading of the stories of H.P. Lovecraft, by Curt Morley, author of "Fox Valley Phantoms", a CD that contains 7 local ghost stories.

A spooky, flashlight guided walk down the path towards Trout Park will enhance the evening while learning obscure bits of local history and Medieval lore.

This is a wonderful way to spend a fall night in a setting that will take you back to the days old, and if you've ever wondered who built that castle and why...well, it is probably not what you imagined.

I won't give it away here and now. I'll let the superb story tellers do that honor when you buy your ticket and attend the performance. Truly, this will be the most unique thing you do all summer here in Elgin.

Tickets are $22.00 each and you can get one by calling 847-888-1860, and reserving your space. Space is limited...call now.

House Walk 2009

Thanks to Mother Nature and another stellar job by Elgin's Gifford Park Association, the 2009 house walk was spectacular....it always is. Even last year with the torrential downpour, it was an activity well worth the price of admission.

This event takes place with hundreds of volunteers. There are not many organizations who can pull off such a feat and it is pulled off in a most professional manor by people who love old homes. It is people like this and organizations like the GPA that make Elgin an extra special city...a city on the cusp of a great re-birth, blending the new while preserving the old and moving toward sustainability and green initiatives.

There were 8 homes on the walk and while every single one of them were outstanding, my favorites were 426 Prairie Street, 163 Hill Street and 325 Liberty Street.

Thank you again to the Gifford Park Association and to the homeowners who shared their lovely pride and joys with all of us who were lucky enough to attend. Thank you also to the hundreds of volunteers who did a wonderful job describing the gorgeous rooms within the walls of these stately homes.

Will Recessionary Cutbacks Be Permanent???

I read with great sadness about the closing of our local zoo. Not having young children, I have never been there and I realize it was just some deer and buffalo but it was unique....something that has apparently been a part of Elgin for as long as most residents can remember.

I also think about the Fox Fire Fest I enjoyed so much two years in a row, turned into a "for pay" event only to be enjoyed by those with the price of admission.

I understand that right now the City needs to trim costs and of course it makes sense to close a zoo rather than lay off a City worker but it still makes me wonder....when the economy recovers and the tax coffers are once again primed....will the zoo ever re-open....will the Fox Fire Fest continue to be offered only to those with extra money in their pockets.

After 50 plus years on this planet, I've sort of come to expect that once something changes...it just doesn't go back to the way it was. Such is change...but some changes are just sad.

Another Great Walk About

Yesterday, I attended the last weekend of the "Walkabout - Theater on your feet" event. This was the Walkabout's second year and also my second year in attendance.

This year was better than last year in that not only were the short plays entertaining and professionally done but the addition of street musicians along the walk made it outstanding. I was a bit disappointed in the relatively few artists at the Alley of Art in DuPage Court at the end but that is not the fault of the Elgin Arts Commission. Times are tough for artists and I suppose these days it might not pay to get out there when the chance of making a sale is slim.

The Elgin Arts Commission and the numerous volunteers are to be commended for their hard work and their innovation.

This is truly a unique event for Elgin and was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. Mike even enjoyed it and he is not much of a theater goer. The Burns Malt supplied by Al's at the end was an unexpected treat.

My favorite theater company both this year and last was the "Nothing Special Productions" company, with "Janus Theater Company" coming in a close second, although all of the theater companies participating did a super job. I do plan on attending some of the plays at the Elgin Arts Showcase this year after seeing the amazing talent we have here locally.

The Elgin Arts Showcase building interior is worth the price of admission alone. If you've never been to a Walkabout...please mark your calendar to watch for it next year.