Mmmm, breakfast (Blackberry's Pancake House, Tinley Park)

Greek-owned/themed diners and brunch spots are a dime a dozen. In fact, there are probably at least a dozen on LaGrange between 135th and 179th St. If you count the ones just off LaGrange I've been to at least five.

But Blackberry's (9536 179th St, Tinley Park) is just a notch above most of these, I gotta say.

I needed an easy place to meet my family on their return from the Quad Cities. Didn't want to make them go too far of I-80. So this place fit the bill.

It's in a smallish strip mall, across a quiet road from some cornfields and maybe a mile off I-80. It was pretty busy on Sunday around noon, but not slammed and we were seated pretty quickly. The decor is nice, and seating is a bit crowded but relatively comfortable.

The menu is huge, but with some nice twists over the typical stuff -- seems like 85%+ of these greek diners and pancake houses have the same menu, you know? But Blackberry's has variations on French toast (nut-crusted, with Bananas Foster), omelets you don't see everywhere (like bacon-avocado-jack cheese) and tasty-sounding skillets, plus wraps, burgers, chicken, etc., etc.

I had a veggie skillet (I forget the precise name of it) that came with broccoli (which I opted out of -- and there wasn't a piece in it), zucchini, mushrooms, onions, roasted red peppers and goat cheese with hash browns and two eggs (plus toast or pancakes). The veggies were roasted perfectly, the eggs were just right and it was the perfect portion size to feel full but not gluttonous -- although I did not finish my toast, and pancakes would've been too much.

I also tried a little of my brother's chicken-rice soup; he got a big bowl along with his burger and fries (not just a little cup) and it was really creamy and delicious.

Service was friendly, coffee was refilled promptly; they seemed a little scattered but I can imagine a busy Sunday morning will do that to you.

Basically, the next time we need a place for a brunch with my in-laws, I'm going to suggest Blackberry's -- it's a nice change from the generic "pancake houses" of the world.

2011 Farmers markets in the suburbs

It's that time again, folks! An incomplete list of suburban farmers markets, with thanks to the Chicago Tribune.
These are arranged by day of week, but to quickly find your town, hit Ctrl-F and type it in -- please note that some larger suburbs have multiple markets.

Monday
Countryside: Parking lot of William Tell, 6201 Joliet Road, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., through Oct. 24
Hinsdale: Burlington Park, 30 E. Chicago Ave., 7 a.m - 1 p.m. June 6-Oct. 10 


Tuesday
Aurora: Spring Lake Park, 3500 McCoy Drive, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., July 12-Aug. 30
La Grange Park: Memorial Park, Sherwood Avenue between Oak and Homestead avenues., 8 a.m.-2 p.m., through Oct. 25
Schiller Park: Metra station, Lawrence and Ruby streets, 3-7 p.m., June 14-Sept. 27

Wednesday
Aurora: West Plaza Shopping Plaza, 1901 W. Galena Blvd., 2-6 p.m., July 6-Aug. 3
Country Club Hills: Country Club Hills Theater Complex, 4116 W. 183rd St., 8 a.m.-2 p.m., June 1-Oct. 5
Elk Grove: Biesterfield Road at Wellington Avenue, June 1-Aug. 31
Elmhurst: York and Vallette streets, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., June 1-Oct. 26
Evanston: Ridgeville market, Ridge Avenue and South Boulevard, 4-7 p.m., June 1-Oct. 12
Evanston: Central Street market, Independence Park, Central and Stewart streets, 3-7 p.m., June 1-Oct. 26
Highland Park/Ravinia: Dean Avenue between Roger Williams and St. Johns avenues, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., June 8-Oct. 26
Highwood: City Hall, 17 Highwood Ave., 4-9 p.m., June 15-Aug. 31, then 4-8 p.m. through Sept. 14
Lombard: The Shops on Butterfield, Butterfield Road and Highland Avenue (Yorktown Mall). 3-7 p.m., June 1-Oct. 12
Northbrook: Our Lady of the Brook Catholic Church, 3700 Dundee Road, June 22-Oct. 12
Oak Lawn: Behind the library, on Dumke Avenue just west of 52nd Avenue, June 1-Oct. 12
Palos Heights: Municipal parking lot, 122nd Street and Harlem Avenue, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. May 25-Oct. 5
Riverside: Municipal parking lot, 27 Riverside Road, 2:30-7 p.m., June 29-Oct. 26
Thornton: At Ridge Road at corner of Hubbard and Margaret streets, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., June 15-Oct. 12
Warrenville: Courtyard Banquets, 3S200 Route 59, 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays, June 8-Sept. 21
Winfield: Prairie Trail Center, County Farm and Geneva roads, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wednesdays, June 1-Oct. 26



Thursday
Algonquin: Municipal parking lot, Washington and Harrison streets, 2-7 p.m., May 26-Sept. 29
Antioch: Toft Avenue parking lot behind Main Street, 3-7 p.m., June 16-Sept. 29
Barrington: South Cook Street at Lake Cook Road, 2-7 p.m., June 16-Oct. 20
Burr Ridge: Burr Ridge Village Center, 701 Village Center Drive, off County Line Road South, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., June 16-Sept. 1
Elgin: Old Gail Borden Library parking lot, southwest corner of Kimball Street and North Grove Avenue, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., June 2-Sept. 29
Evergreen Park: Yukich Field, 89th Street and Kedzie Avenue, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., June 2-Oct. 27
La Grange: Behind Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Road, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. May 12-Oct. 27
Maywood: Hines Veterans Hospital, 5000 S. Fifth Ave., 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. June 16-Sept. 29
University Park: Governor's State University, 1 University Parkway., 1-6 p.m., June 2-Sept. 29
Western Springs: French Market, Hillgrove Avenue between Lawn Street and Grand Avenue, 2-7 p.m., through Oct. 27
Wheaton: Town Square, 271 Town Square, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursdays, June 9-Sept. 29.


Friday
Bartlett: Bartlett Town Center, Railroad Avenue at Main Street, 2-6 p.m., June 3-Sept. 9
Flossmoor: Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., 8 a.m.-1 p.m., June 17-Oct. 14
Forest Park: The Grove, 7824 Madison St., 3:30-7:30 p.m., June 10-Oct. 14 (no market Sept. 9)
Glen Ellyn: French Market, 400 Main St., 8 a.m.-1 p.m., May 27-Oct. 28
Lake Bluff: Village Green, Scranton Avenue and Sheridan Road, 7 a.m.-noon, June 10-Oct. 14
Mundelein: Park and Seymour Streets, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. June 3-Oct. 14.
Orland Park: Village Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave., 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., June 3-Oct. 7 (no market Aug. 5)
Palos Park: Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church, 12312 S. 88th Ave., 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., July 1-Oct. 7
Roselle: American Legion front lot, 344 E. Maple Ave., 3-7 p.m, June 17-Sept. 30
Schaumburg: Olde Schaumburg Centre, 190 S. Roselle Road, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. June 10-Oct. 28


Saturday
Arlington Heights: Parking lot at Vail Avenue and Fremont Street, west of the library, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. June 11-Oct. 22
Aurora: Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway, 7:30 a.m.-noon, June 11-Oct. 22.
Batavia: Downtown on South Water Street, 8 a.m.-noon, June 25-Oct. 15
Brookfield: Village Hall parking lot, 8820 Brookfield Ave., 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. June 4-Oct. 29
Crystal Lake: Train Depot Park, 70 E. Woodstock St., 8 a.m.-1 p.m., June 4-Oct. 15
Deerfield: Deerfield Road and Robert York Avenue, 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m., June 18-Oct. 15
Downers Grove: Main Street train station at Burlington Avenue, 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m. through Oct. 15
East Dundee: Dundee Township Tourist Center, 319 N. River St., 8 a.m.-2 p.m., through Oct. 29
Evanston: East Railroad Avenue and University Place, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. through Nov. 5.
Evanston: West End market, corner of Church Street and Dodge Avenue, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., June 4-Oct. 29
Glencoe: French Market, Village Court, near Hazel Street, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., June 11-Oct. 29
Glenview: Wagner Farm, Wagner Road and Lake Avenue, 8 a.m.-noon, June 25-Oct. 8
Lake Forest: Behind City Hall, 220 Deerpath Road, 7 a.m.-noon, Saturdays, June 18-Sept. 24
Lisle: French Market, adjacent to Village Hall, 925 Burlington Ave. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. through Oct. 29
Lombard: French Market, Metra lot, 115 E. St. Charles Road, between Main and Grace streets, 8 a.m.-2 p.m, May 21-Sept. 24
Morton Grove: 8930 Waukegan Road, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., June 4-Oct. 15
Naperville: Fifth Avenue Station, 200 E. Fifth Ave., 7 a.m.-noon, June 4-Oct. 29
Northfield: Happ Road one block south of Winnetka Road, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m, May 28-Oct. 22
Oak Park: 460 Lake St., May 21-Oct. 29
Palatine: Metra station, Wood and Smith streets., 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. through Oct. 29
Park Forest: Orchard Drive and Indianwood Boulevard, 7 a.m.-noon, through Oct. 29 
Park Ridge: Prairie Avenue south of Metra station, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. May 28-Oct. 29
Tinley Park: Metra station, 173rd Street and Oak Park Avenue, 7 a.m.-noon,, June 4-Oct. 15
Wheaton: French Market, Main and Liberty streets, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 5
Wilmette: French Market, downtown Metra parking lot, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 5

Sunday
Buffalo Grove: Spray 'n Play Park parking lot, 951 N. McHenry Road, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., June 19-Oct. 16 (no market Sept. 4)
Cary: Metra commuter lot on Route 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., June 5-Oct. 9
Geneva: French Market, Metra parking lot at South and Fourth streets, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. through Nov. 6
Long Grove: Village Tavern parking lot, 135 Old McHenry Road, downtown Long Grove, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., June 12-Oct. 16
Mt. Prospect: Metra lot at Northwest Highway and Route 83, 8 a.m.-1 p.m, June 12-Oct. 23
Skokie: Village Hall, 5127 Oakton St., 7:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., June 26-Oct. 30
Villa Park: French Market, Park Boulevard at Ardmore Avenue, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. through Oct. 30

Thai one on -- Thipi Thai, La Grange

I love Thai food, but I don't get it nearly often enough. So when a friend wanted to meet for lunch, I was happy to suggest somewhere roughly in the middle in charming downtown La Grange -- the newly moved Thipi Thai (25 W. Calendar Ct., La Grange). It's very pretty and chic inside, with lots of elephants and red and sleek wood.

The menu is nicely varied, with specialties and old favorites and little peppers to indicate spice-heat level. I started with jasmine tea and tom yum soup and then decided on lemongrass beef. I will say that I'm used to Thai food being a few dollars cheaper per entree than this is, but for the quality -- and the lovely decor -- it's not unreasonable.

The jasmine tea was just the right temperature for drinking and I was offered refills promptly. The tom yum soup, while not quite as spicy as I've had other places, had a great flavor and was packed with mushrooms. And three lovely plump perfectly cooked shrimp, which I must admit I ate with my fingers. Hey, they still had their tails...

The lemongrass beef had great flavor, plenty of veggies, and the meat was pretty tender and well-cooked. It was served with just the right portion of rice and I admit it, I polished off the whole plate.I don't get to La Grange as often as I'd like, but the next time I need a classy place to meet someone in that area, you'd better believe I'll suggest Thipi Thai.

Swanky steak time -- 94 West, Orland Park

The husband and I are not normally fancypants steakhouse sort of people. We appreciate finer dining when we get it, but are not the sort to seek out a restaurant where the average entree is $25 or more.

But  when it's Christmas and your in-laws want to take you out for a lovely dinner after Christmas Eve mass, you put on a nice top and go with it.

94 West (15410 94th Ave., Orland Park) is a swanky suburban steakhouse with dim lighting and high prices. It's a special occasion sort of place. I have heard that it didn't use to include much with your meat, and I can see why that would be really off-putting, since the prices are high enough as it is, but entrees now include choice of potato (or veg) and soup or salad, plus complimentary bread and "green noodles" (an Italian-dressing flavored pasta salad heavy on the neon aqua food coloring).

Service was very good and in the two years we've gone for the holidays, there was nothing I ate that wasn't delicious. Besides an assortment of steak choices, they offer shrimp, multiple fish choices prepared to your liking, ribs and chicken.

Last year I had a wonderful mahi mahi with a plate-lickingly good red pepper sauce; this year I stepped it up a notch and ordered a 6 oz filet and shrimp (three HUGE fried shrimp) with a delicious Bearnaise. The filet was cooked perfectly, completely tender and so good. The potato selections are pretty standard (baked, double-baked, fries, sweet potato fries, etc) but done well.

While chances are good we won't be back until/unless it becomes a Christmas Eve tradition, I would recommend 94 West to anyone looking for a fine dining experience in the southwestern suburbs.

Spooky fun

Looking for some last-minute Halloween plans? Want something scary to do this weekend? Check out these suburban ghost tours for some eerie entertainment:


Historic Ghost Tours of Elgin:
Where: Meet at Mel's Pizza, 728 W. Chicago St., Elgin, (847) 695-8180, historic-ghost-tours-elgin.com
Price: $30
What: Nobody under 16 allowed. Van travels to some of Elgin's scariest spots, including a haunted elementary school, a cemetery and the Elgin State Mental Hospital. Tour participants can carry an electromagnetic field sensor, a tool used by paranormal investigators. Three hours; ends at Mel's for a hypnotism demonstration. Tarot readings are available at the restaurant for an extra fee.

Ghost Tours of Naperville
Where: Meet at Central Park, 36 S. Washington St., Naperville, (630) 205-2664, naperville-ghosts.com
Price: $20, $15 for students and seniors
What: Led by paranormal investigator Kevin Frantz. Two-hour tour through the city's downtown area. Stops can vary, but typically include Central Park, the YMCA, the city's old library and the Red Geranium, Naperville's most notorious haunted house. Visitors are encouraged to bring cameras to snap pictures looking for ghostly images.

Historic Ghost Tours of Naperville
Where: Meet at Quigley's Irish Pub, 43 E. Jefferson St., (630) 978-7033, historicghosttoursofnaperville.com
Price: $15, $10 for kids younger than 14 and seniors
What: Two-hour walking tour through downtown Naperville runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 15. Learn about the Great Naperville Train Disaster and hear local legends and ghost stories like “Charlie Yellow Boots” and the “Weeping Bride” and tales of paranormal encounters. Special trolley tours also are available on a few dates.

Historic Roundhouse Ghost Tours of Aurora
Where: Meet at America's Historic Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora, (630) 978-7033, historicghosttoursofnaperville.com
Price: $13
What: Tours run at 7:30 p.m. Mondays and walk around the historic Roundhouse, which is said to be very haunted.

Ghost Walk of Palatine
Where: Durty Nellie's Pub, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine, (847) 358-9150
Price: $5
What: Tour areas of Palatine said to be haunted and help the Haitian relief effort at the same time. Remaining walks are at 6 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 24 and 31, and start with a short presentation at Durty Nellie's.

Excursions into the Unknown
Where: Westfield Chicago Ridge Shopping Mall, 444 Chicago Ridge Mall, Chicago Ridge, (708) 425-5163, ghostresearch.org
Price: $35-$45
What: A bus tour of south and southwest Chicago, Excursions into the Unknown makes 10 to 12 stops including Jane Addams Hull House, the Glessner House and the Marshall Field Jr. Mansion. Guests are encouraged to bring an open mind and a camera to look for spirits.

Local in Schaumburg?! Mad Mark's Mystic Pizza

As everyone in the Chicago area knows, Schaumburg is filled with chains. It's the big-box, retail capital of suburbia, what with Woodfield Mall, IKEA, and endless amounts of chain restaurants. It's often cited as a prime example of what city dwellers hate about the suburbs.

Now, not every suburb is Schaumburg, and in fact I've made it a point to highlight the many suburbs with their own sense of culture, with small and local stores and restaurants, unique downtowns, and so forth.

But as it turns out, even Schaumburg is not totally devoid of interesting places. I was recently invited to a free Yelp event at Mad Mark's Mystic Pizza, 871 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, in the former location of the Alumni Club.

Upon entering, I was amused and a little overwhelmed by the decor -- with brightly colored dragons, a tye-dye motif, and random "stuff" everywhere, it looks like a hippie had an acid trip in a ski lodge. There's certainly plenty to look at. The interior has a large dance floor, a big bar, and plenty of seating. Outside features a patio with a good amount of seating, a bar, a bags court and a sand volleyball court (netted, so that patrons don't have stray balls knocking over their beers).

The atmosphere was inviting and casual, a great place for a summer's evening. But the real star was the food we sampled. Featured was pizza (pepperoni, cheese, sausage and the oh-so-decadent mac & cheese pizza!), jalapeno corn mashed potatoes (just a little kick, very creamy), firecracker shrimp (spicy perfectly-fried shrimp served over a bed of julienned veggies and greens, lightly dressed) and some of the BEST broasted chicken I've had in a long time -- a fabulously spiced crispy skin and tender juicy chicken underneath.

We were also plied with some free beverages, and the bartenders and servers were super-friendly and attentive.

Mad Mark himself made an appearance, talking up the food and personally thanking us all for being there.

While yes, our food was free and we were shown a great time, I would absolutely go back as a paying customer -- I want more of that great firecracker shrimp and broasted chicken! And while the place does have "pizza" in the name, their menu is nicely varied with sandwiches, salads and more.

If you're spending a long day shopping in Schaumburg, I very much recommend a quick trip up to Mad Mark's - take a break from the chains and enjoy a tasty meal.

Summer suburban festivals 2010

Sorry I haven't put this up before! Please let me know if I missed any... It's festival season in the suburbs!

JUNE
24-27: Bloomington Gold Corvette Show, Pheasant Run, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $17 One Day Pass ($15 for Corvette owners), $40 Three Day Pass. Kids 13 and under are admitted free. All Corvettes, all the time.
22-27: Free! Midsommar Festival Swedish Days, 3rd Street, Geneva. Crafts, food, parade, music, carnival, more.
25-27: Free! Strawberry Fest, Robert Parker Coffin Rd, Long Grove.


JULY
2-4: Eyes to the Skies Balloon Festival, IL-53 & Short St, Lisle. $5, free under age 5. Hot air balloon launches, nationally known music, a carnival (July 30-July 4) and fireworks at the biggest suburban summer celebration.
8-11: Rockin' Ribfest, Miller Park, Lake in the Hills. Ribs, music, more.
8-11: Free! Itasca Fest, Washington Park, Itasca. Carnival, food, music, kids' activities, more.
10-11: Free! Art in the Park, 1320 Shermer, Northbrook. Art, sculpture, jewelry, food, music, kids activities, more.
12: Barrington Microbrew Fest, Main & Barrington Rds, Barrington. $30. 3-7 p.m.
16-18: Free! Art at the Shops, Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard. Art, live music, food, more.
16-18: Big Greek Food Festival, St. Haralambos Church, 7373 Caldwell Ave. , Niles. $2 ($1 for seniors, free for kids); free for all 3-5 p.m. both days.
17-18: Free! Buffalo Grove Invitational Fine Art Festival, 120 McHenry Rd., Buffalo Grove. Art, food, entertainment, more.
17-18: Free! Ethnic Arts Festival, 1700 Sheridan Rd., Evanston. Ethnic art, food and music in a lakefront setting.
23-25: Free! Pierogi Fest, 1900 Indianapolis Blvd., Whiting, Ind. Pierogis, polka bands, a parade and more.

AUGUST
7-8: Free! Art at the Glen Town Center, Glenview. Art, live music, food, kids activities and more. Ranked as one of the top art festivals in the U.S.
13-15: West Suburban Italian Festival, Centennial Park, Addison. $3-$7. Food, entertainment, merchandise, more.
13-15: Free! Prairie Fest, Wood Dale Rd & Commercial St., Wood Dale. Food, live music, carnival, pet parade, fireworks.


SEPTEMBER
3-6: Last Fling, Naperville. $10-$12 for Mainstage events; free on Monday, and for kids 3 and under. Live music, a carnival, beer, kids activities and a Labor Day parade.
11-12: Free! Downtown Downers Grove Art Festival, Main Street Downers Grove.
10-12: Free! Festival of the Vine, 3rd Street, Geneva. Wine tastings (free and paid), crafts, food, entertainment.
25-27: Free! Fall Fest, Lee St. from Touhy to Howard, Des Plaines. Food, beer, games (including daily baggo tournaments), car shows, a market and live entertainment in Lake Park.

Pizza, pizza all over the suburbs

When you think of quintessential Chicago food, pizza inevitably comes to mind. We've sampled quite a lot of deep dish and thin-crust around the suburbs, so I present to you a totally not-exhaustive list of local chains and suburban pizzerias worth checking out:

ALGONQUIN:
• Generoso's Pizza (1006 E Algonquin Rd; others) has extremely tasty deep-dish that has the most cheese on it of any pie we've tried. Seriously, this stuff was mutant, and the pie weighed about 5 lbs. Good crust, nice sauce, but what I remember most is the cheese.

ADDISON:
• Aurelio's (1455 W Lake St.; others) is some of my favorite thin crust. The sauce is zippy and a little sweet, the cheese is just right, and the crust is crispy around the edges with an excellent flavor.

• Home Run Inn (1480 W Lake St.; others) is neck and neck with Aurelio's for great thin crust. Their crust is a little butterier. the sauce a little more garlicky.

• Zio Tony's (613 W Lake St., carryout only) has great deep dish (called "pan" on their menu), with some of my favorite deep-dish sauce -- lots of garlic, a little spice, excellent.


ELK GROVE VILLAGE:
• Lou Malnati's (1050 East Higgins Rd.; others) is possibly my favorite deep dish. The sauce is excellent and the crisp, wonderful garlic-butter crust can't be beat.


ITASCA:
• Tree Guys Pizza Pub (101 E Irving Park Rd) has great food all around, but their pizza definitely merits a mention. We've had thin, thick and stuffed here and you can't really go wrong. The sauce is chunky and zippy on the deep dish; smooth and savory on thin-crust.

OAK LAWN:
• Palermo's on 95th (4849 W 95th St) has my husband's all-time favorite thin-crust. (This is also an Italian restaurant where everything is excellent.) Their sauce is a bit on the sweet side, the crust nicely browned and crispy around the edges with a hint of caramelizing on the cheese.


WOOD DALE:
• White Cottage Pizza (350 N Wood Dale Rd) is a solid local choice for thin crust, with plenty of cheese. I also recommend their garlic cheese-stuffed breadsticks. :)

Also worth mentioning:
• Marino's Pizza, 136 E Irving Park Rd., Wood Dale
• Barraco's Pizza, 7926 W 159th St., Orland Park
• Gino's East, 15840 S Harlem Ave., Orland Park (and others)
• Beggar's Pizza, 11329 West 143rd St., Orland Park (and others)
• Giordano's, 1323 W Lake St., Addison (and others)

Mmmm, breakfast-- Moondance Diner, Burr Ridge & Westmont

With locations in Burr Ridge (78 Burr Ridge Parkway) and Westmont (844 Ogden Avenue), the Moondance Diner is not exactly around the corner from us. But oh, I wish it were.

We had a wonderful brunch here last weekend, and I am still thinking about it. That should tell you something. :)

We ate at the Burr Ridge location, which is in a swanky upscale "lifestyle center". AKA strip mall for rich folks. It's really cute inside, with moon-themed decor and fiestware cups, mugs and dishes.

Like any good diner, they have a large menu covering the breakfast bases, plus salads, pizza crisps, sandwiches and wraps. Service was friendly and attentive.

Among the many small touches that make this place great: First, a big ole pitcher of ice water to pour into your adorable little fiestaware glass. Second, a big carafe of delicious coffee, served with real cream. Real. Cream. I don't know about you, but I am always wary of those little shots of half-and-half that may never get refrigerated.

I ordered the veg out omelet (subbing bell peppers for the mushrooms); others at the table got the Yacht Club (a club with avocado and cheddar), the Legal Alien (breakfast burrito with chorizo) and the Clucker (chicken salad sandwich).

My omelet was huuuge. It was cooked perfectly. The veggies were fresh and scattered throughout and it had tons of cheese. The hash browns (cubed home fry style) were AWESOME. Perfect. Just the way I want my taters, crispy on one side, flavorful and soft inside.

Everyone else at the table raved over their food as well, and everyone cleaned their plate.

Worth noting: This place is strictly breakfast and lunch, and closes at 2:30. It was fairly busy at 11:30 on a Saturday, but we were seated right away.

In the mood for a great breakfast or brunch? I can't recommend Moondance enough.

Farmers Market time!

Yes folks, it's that time of year. With a few already going, and most set to start in May and June, suburban farmers markets are springing up all over.

For a complete list, visit The Sun-Times website. But here are a few highlights (thanks to the Sun-Times for info):

Barrington Farmers Market
South Cook Street and Lake Cook Road
Barrington, IL
(847) 382-3829
http://www.barringtonfarmersmarket.org
Hours: 2-7 p.m. Thursday

Now in its seventh season and running June 19-Oct. 13, The Barrington Farmers Market will offer fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, meats, cheeses, honey, breads, dog treats and pasta.


Deerfield Farmers Market
Deerfield Road & Robert York Avenue
Deerfield, IL
(847) 945-5000
http://www.deerfield-il.org
Hours: 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday

It's a cinch to get to this market, conveniently located in the Metra train parking lot. Running June 14-Oct. 11, you'll be able to purchase seasonal vegetables and fruit locally grown by farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin; fresh-cut flowers, potted flowering plants, annuals and perennials; freshly baked breads, muffins and cookies; hand-crafted Wisconsin cheese, maple syrup and honey, and other specialty products.


Elk Grove Village Farmers Market
1000 Wellington Ave.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 228-3511

Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Wednesdays

Of course there's fresh produce, but you'll also score homemade items such as salsas, jewelry, flowers, and dog treats. The market runs June 4 to Sept. 24.


Mount Prospect Farmers Market
Corner of Northwest Hwy & Rte. 83
Mount Prospect, IL
http://www.mountprospect.org
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday

The Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market runs June 8-Oct. 26 at the Mount Prospect Train Depot West Commuter Parking Lot, where it offers a bounty of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and other goodies.


Naperville Farmers Market
N. Loomis St. & E. 5th Ave.
Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 369-5638
http://www.visitnaperville.com
Hours: 7 a.m.-noon Saturday

Held every Saturday morning from the first Saturday in June through the last Saturday in October in the parking lot of the 5th Avenue Station Shops, you'll find locally-grown produce, cut flowers, potted plants, crafts and gourmet foods. Leave Fido at home; this is a pet-free market.



Oak Park Farmers Market
460 Lake St.
Oak Park, IL
(708) 358-5780
http://www.oak-park.us
Hours: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday

The Saturday market, which runs June 7-October 27 at Pilgrim Church, is an Oak Park tradition that has been selling the good stuff since 1974. Described as a "gastronomic event," you'll find the air full of bluegrass tunes and the scent of freshly made old fashioned cake donuts, whose wafts of doughy goodness have proven potent enough to rouse even the most determined sleeper. You'll also find a wide variety of just-plucked-from-the-tree produce, flowers and plants, artisanal cheeses, honey, vinegars, herbs and more.


Wheaton French Market
200 S. Main St.
Wheaton, IL 60187
(630) 260-2000
http://www.ewheaton.com
Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday

Running Saturdays through October, you'll find fresh produce, flowers, plants, cut flowers, local crafts, cheese, meat and more at this French Market.

Rolling in the fun--Pinstripes, Northbrook

I recently attended a Yelp event at the fabulous Pinstripes, at their Northbrook location (1150 Willow Road, Northbrook; a second location is at 100 W. Higgins Road in South Barrington).

Pinstripes is a unique destination, as far as I know--there are plenty of bowling alleys around, even fancy ones, but I've never seen an indoor bocce court before!

This place is big. About 50,000 square feet with 18 bowling lanes, a bar, restaurant seating, and 10 indoor and outdoor bocce courts (plus a big patio). It's also very pretty, with a rustic Italian feel to it.

While there, we sampled the menu's extensive list of pizzas and flatbreads. All were delicious, with toppings ranging from fig and prosciutto to truffled cheese to pepperoni. Staff and bartenders were very attentive and friendly.

And we had a lot of fun playing bocce and bowling. I'd never played "real" bocce before, and the staff patiently explained it to us.

This seems like an excellent place for an event, or just a night out with friends. There's plenty to do, great food and a lovely atmosphere.

Steak, sports and more -- Prime Time, Hickory Hills

My husband's grandparents are the sweetest people ever. And they are stereotypically good at the Old Folks Stereotypes. As in we eat dinner with them at 4 p.m.

Last weekend visited them again, and Prime Time, a lunch-dinner-late night sports bar-meets-steakhouse (7750 W 95th St in Hickory Hills) was suggested. I was really glad it was, too. It's nicer looking than you might expect, with lots of stone and wood, though it does have a sort of steak house meets sports bar confusion to it. Feels sort of like a Champps, but a little nicer. The owners also run the breakfast/lunch spot next door, so there's plenty of parking.

The menu was also sports bar meets steakhouse, with a good selection of appetizers, sandwiches, steaks, chops, and chicken. I know now not to order appetizers there unless that's ALL we're getting. Oh, the nachos we had were good, very good, but then we got bread and soup before our main meal (me: fish tacos - husband: chicken parm sandwich) and could barely eat them!

Okay, so the nachos were good. The bread was crusty but soft, with a lovely whipped cinnamon-sugar butter. The soup, oh my god. We both got the chicken dumpling and it was out-of-this-world velvety and delicious. I don't even want to think about how much cream and butter was in it.

By the time I got to my fish tacos, I was nearly full. I did eat one, and it was good though not the best I've ever had. The homemade chips were cooked well and had that great crunchy outside while still tasting like potatoes.

Service was good, not perfect maybe but I have no complaints.

They have an extensive drink menu, and a decent beer and wine list, not amazing, but Woodchuck on tap is always welcome.

All in all, a great choice for dinner, and we would come back, hopefully after 5 p.m. :)

Brews and burgers at The Lucky Monk, South Barrington

Something interesting happened to me last week.

I drank an entire glass of beer.

I never touched the stuff in college. I would go alcohol-free for the evening before I had a drop of beer. Of course, that wasn't helped by the fact that the de facto beer at my alma mater was Natty Lite, but still. No beer for me.

I attended a great event at The Lucky Monk, 105 Hollywood Blvd. in South Barrington, and among the offerings were house-brewed beer. And to find that I actually liked the porter The Lucky Monk offered up? Shocker. Hints of chocolate and coffee, went down smooth with very little bitterness. I still would generally prefer a hard cider or glass of wine, but it was pretty tasty stuff.

On top of that, the food I sampled was really good -- tiny perfectly cooked burgers, thin-crust pizza, awesome chili and sweet-salty nuts. The staff was super-attentive (even handing out multiple large bottles of water and glasses at the end of the night to hydrate everyone), and I had a fantastic time overall.

The restaurant is very near the AMC 30, making it perfect for a bite or a drink before or after a movie. It's nicely decorated with a sleek wooden motif. All in all, definitely recommended and a place I'm likely to make the trek out to again.

Rockin' the Indian food in La Grange

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to attend a fabulous dinner party at a new Indian bistro in La Grange, thanks to my membership on the website Yelp.

And I'm still thinking about the food, so I simply must spread the word about the wonderful Kama Indian Bistro, 8 W. Burlington Ave. in La Grange. It's very easily accessible by Metra line, so those in the city or along the BNSF line have no excuse.

It's a cozy space, not too small but not too big, with great purple walls and interesting artwork - no pictures of the Taj Mahal here! The walls are lined with bench seating with lots of pillows, for an intimate feel. But while it feels slightly communal, the quarters are not too close for comfort.

And the food is simply amazing. I am no expert on Indian food, being a white chick and Indiana native, but I did grow up eating it from a recent immigrant's kitchen, and it is comfort food to me. Everything I tried - even the mushroom pakoras, and I've never been a huge fan of mushroom - was full of wonderful flavors and textures. We were given loads of food and probably tried half the menu, and I thought it was all pretty fantastic.

Especially worth mentioning are the chicken lemon tadka, the chilly crispy potatoes, the chicken tikka, and the lamb biryani. But honestly, I doubt you could go wrong with any of it. The owner and his wife - and the owner's father, a classically trained chef - were delightful and inquisitive and explained their food philosophy to us: authenticity and fresh ingredients. No cans here. They even make their garam masala from scratch, which is pretty amazing.

Prices are reasonable, food is plentiful and the atmosphere is friendly and sophisticated -- great for a dinner with friends or romantic night out. And seeing as I won a gift card from the Yelp drawing to come back, we will be revisiting Kama Bistro in the near future.

I highly recommend this gem of a restaurant - and La Grange is a pretty cute little town, too.

Holiday fun at the zoo

Christmas is such a great distraction from the fact that the weather sucks, isn't it? We put up sparkly lights and Christmas trees and buy a lot to distract ourselves from the short days and gray skies.

And three area zoos do fun, festive things for the holidays -- because who would ever want to go to the zoo in December otherwise?

But if you bundle up, and bring a few extra dollars for hot chocolate, you can have a lot of fun at these holiday events.

Festival of Lights at Cosley Zoo
1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton
630.665.5534, Wheaton Park District
Price: Free
Time: 3 to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 30
Features: 2,200 trees for sale, plus wreaths, animal-related gifts and ornaments; decorative lights; holiday music; hot chocolate. During the weekends of Dec. 5 and 12, kids can visit with Santa and make a holiday-themed craft project from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a $2 donation.


Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
3300 Golf Road, Brookfield
708.688.8000, Chicago Zoological Society
Price: $12; $8 for seniors and kids ages 3 to 11
Time: 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 20 and daily Dec. 26 through 31
Features: More than 1 million lights; a light show synced with music; ice-carving demonstrations, a train ride, live music, dance performances, storytellers, magic acts, caroling and visits with Santa, and much more.


ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark St., Chicago
312.742.2000 Lincoln Park Zoo
Price: Free
Time: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 13 and daily Dec. 18 through Jan. 3
Features: Mix of indoor and outdoor attractions; 1.5 million lights outside; hot chocolate and spiced wine; ice carvers; musical light show on the zoo's south lawn; free visits with Santa in the lion house through Dec. 23; more.

Rockin' Oak Park

I've been a bad blogger. Work has been busy, our trips out haven't been as frequent, and I've often put off or forgotten to talk about the cool places we've been.

But I wanted to highlight a great suburb I'd not previously spent much time in: Oak Park. The surrounding area of River Forest and Forest Park (how confusing is *that*?) is also quite nice.

Bordering the city, Oak Park's downtown runs along Lake St (US 20) and a few blocks north and south, starting at and continuing east from Harlem.

There's a great variety of shopping, restaurants and stuff to do along this stretch. Just on the other side of Harlem is a shopping center with grocery, chain restaurants and more, and free parking (always a bonus in this area). And downtown Oak Park has bookstores, a movie theater, plenty of restaurants, shoe stores, clothing, crafts, food and more.

A few highlights of places to go:

Ten Thousand Villages, 121 N. Marion St.: a fantastic store full of home goods, crafts, accessories and more made by artisans in developing countries and sold at fair trade prices.

Pumpkin Moon, 1028 North Blvd.: A funky store jam-packed with creative gifts and odds and ends from Pez dispensers to political t-shirts.

Barbara's Bookstore, 1100 Lake St., and The Book Table, 1045 Lake St.: Two locally-owned bookstores offering new and used titles -- and a great local alternative to the third bookstore on the block, Borders.

Bleeding Heart Bakery, 1010 North Blvd.: A "punk" bakery started in Chicago, and made famous on Food Network Challeges, this cozy place offers fresh, local, sustainable baked goods including a wide variety of cupcakes.

Wells St. Popcorn, 1119 Lake St.: Serving the quintessential Chicago snack food guaranteed to turn your fingers orange, with cheese corn, caramel corn, kettle corn and buttered.


There's plenty more in Oak Park and the surrounding area to explore, including a very cool-looking forest preserve, but there are a few highlights. Take note, suburbanites: Most parking is metered, except on Sundays. You can park in the Whole Foods shopping center lot on Lake for free for three hours; there is also a Metra and Green Line station on Harlem.

Not just for Christmas...

A quickie: Love Christmas lights? A guy in Forest Park does it up high-tech for Halloween, too. Check out all the info you need at that link.

Emmett's Ale House, from Cook to Kane County

One thing must be said -- I love, love, love breweries.

That also means I hold them to a higher standard than your average pub or bar.

Luckily, a locally owned option called Emmett's Ale House exists. Also referred to as Emmett's Tavern and Brewing Co. in West Dundee, the ale house has locations in both Downers Grove and Palatine. And soon, they'll be expanding to Oswego in Kendall County.

(Special thanks to That Girl, for letting me know after a recent trip to the Downers Grove spot that there was another one closer to where I live in McHenry County.)

A couple weeks ago, my boyfriend and I met a friend for a few drinks at Emmett's. My friend had raved about Emmett's homemade microbrews, and I was eager to give them a try.

Three beers later, I walked away completely happy and ready to come back again.

I tried the Double Barrel Oatmeal Stout, the 1 a.m. Ale, and the Munich Light. All three were delicious and distinct in flavor, though the best was probably the Double Barrel. It tasted close to a Guinness, but better. The 1 a.m. Ale was probably my second favorite because of its sharp bite. The Munich Light mostly resembled somewhat of a cross between a good light beer and a Belgian lager, like Stella. A refreshing tang coupled with a smooth body.

My boyfriend and friend tried the two remaining beers on their handcrafted list, the McCarthy Red Ale and the Victory Pale Ale. I had a sip of the Victory and it was a little bitter for my taste, and I'm usually not a fan of red beers so I didn't try the other one.

As for the food, we ordered a couple appetizers that were just OK: the potato skins and the nachos without meat. But, my visit wasn't food-oriented, anyway.

In any case, I'm sure I'll be back at one of these locations again, as it's becoming that time of year to bring out the seasonal brews. I look forward to Emmett's new creations.

Get your park on

Over the weekend, I visited the in-laws for some burgers and fireworks. And while we were there, I once again was impressed by a fantastic park in the southwest burbs.

Centennial Park, at 15600 West Ave. in Orland Park, is one of the best parks I've ever seen, anywhere.

What makes it so great is the use of the space -- it blends natural areas with attractions and activities for all ages. It's huge. Included are soccer fields, baseball diamonds, fishing piers, a playground, volleyball courts, picnic areas, a large and elaborate aquatic center, and even an ice skating rink for winter. (And more.)

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to post -- we were there at night for a fireworks display and then again the next day to let a 4 year old run rampant -- but it's a really lovely, well-kept area with tons to do for the whole family. If you live in the SW burbs, or find yourself down in Orland Park for a day, I can't recommend a better park than Centennial.

Great suburbs to visit this summer

Looking for some fun this summer? Like to explore new towns, visit cool shops, maybe see a movie or have some dinner? Here's a list of seven great towns to visit this summer that you may not have been to:

1. Geneva: This far western suburb has top-notch restaurants and shopping, not to mention several great festivals, including Swedish Days, which starts Monday the 22nd. It's right on the Union Pacific West line, and the historic downtown stretches along Third and State for about 4 square blocks north. Noteworthy: Riverside Park, Bien Trucha restaurant, Kernel Fabyan's popcorn, The Little Traveler, Graham's 318.

2. Mount Prospect: Tucked into a corner of Cook County, Mount Prospect is a quintessential suburb, with coffee shops, restaurants and stores galore. On the Union Pacific Northwest line. Noteworthy: Farmer's market held on Sundays from May - October.

3. Arlington Heights: The next stop up the UP-NW line, Arlington Heights has big box shopping, a horse-racing track, and a fairly fancy downtown with great nightlife. Noteworthy: Fuego, Peggy Kinnane's.

4. Glen Ellyn: Halfway between Chicago and Geneva lies affluent Glen Ellyn and its adorable downtown. With a fantastic mix of stores (from bike shops to bookstores to wine bars), and an eye toward revitalization, there's something for everyone in these tree-lined streets. Noteworthy: Glen Art movie theater, Cabernet & Co. Wine Shoppe, Shannon's Irish Pub, Bells & Whistle's Snackery.

5. Elmhurst: Another favorite of mine -- on the same train line as Geneva and Glen Ellyn -- Elmhurst has great restaurants, a large and modern movie theater, museums, and some stellar shopping, all in a pedestrian-friendly City Centre. Noteworthy: Lizzadro Museum, Flight 112 Wine Bar, Sushi Nest, SereneTeaz.

6. Itasca: Small but nice, Itasca is compact and easy to love. In a few square blocks, there's wine, ice cream, parks, pizza and more. Noteworthy: Wine With Me, Delia's Deli & Ice Cream, Tree Guys Pizza Pub.

7. West Dundee: Not a lot to West Dundee -- it shares a downtown with East Dundee -- but in a few blocks there's a candy store, a lovely park, and several great restaurants. Noteworthy: Emmett's Brewpub, Francesca's.