Start your engines! Be prepared to speed up for this deal!

Today Groupon is offering a racing package for Chicago Indoor Racing in Buffalo Grove and Addison. The package includes a one year license plus 4 arrive and drive races. A bonus free race emailed to you on your birthday as well. Reach speeds of 30-35 mph that feel twice as fast! For only $50, you can save up to $75 by using this Groupon. While the majority of the Groupon deals are for places in the city, this one features a Lake County business.

Groupon is basically a coupon on steroids. Each day they have a Deal. If enough people agree to take advantage of the deal, everyone gets it. It’s that simple. You must agree to purchase it that day and deals only last a day. Or as Grupon puts it:

How It Works

  1. Each day we feature something cool to do at an unbeatable price.
  2. You only get it if enough people join that day… so invite your friends!
  3. Check back the next day for another awesome Groupon!

Click here to get your first Groupon!

While your on their site, but sure to be notified of the deal of the day via email, Facebook or Twitter.

I will get $10 toward a Groupon for myself if you click through here and you buy one. So buy away! ;-)

IHSA Boys Football Playoff First Rounds Days and Times Announced

First round game schedules were released this afternoon for the IHSA Boys Football playoffs. Below are Lake County teams (in bold) and their match-ups for the first round. Click on the Class bracket to see the entire playoff bracket and match-ups on the http://www.ihsa.org website.

Class 5A (Lower Bracket)

#11 Chicago (Brooks) (6-3) at #6 Vernon Hills (7-2), Sat. 1:00 p.m.

#15 Lake Villa (Lakes) (5-4) at #2 Chicago (Senn) (8-1), , Sat. 7:00 p.m.

Class 6A (Lower Bracket)

#9 Highland Park (6-3) at #8 Chicago (Mather) (7-2), Sat. 4:15 p.m.

#12 Deerfield (6-3) at #5 Chicago (De La Salle) (7-2), Fri. 7:30 p.m.

Class 7A (Lower Bracket)

#10 Mt. Prospect (Prospect) (7-2) at #7 Mundelein (Carmel) (7-2), Fri. 7:00 p.m.

#11 Lake Zurich (6-3) at #6 Rolling Meadows (7-2), Sat. 7:00 p.m.

Class 8A (Lower Bracket)

#11 Chicago (Curie) (6-3) at #6 Gurnee (Warren) (7-2), Sat. 5:00 p.m.

Snatch a Stellar Deal at Vitner’s Celler Winery Libertyville

Vinters Cellar logoDowntown Libertyville will be losing a store by the end of the year. According to an email I receive from them, Vintner’s Cellar Winery of Libertyville will close before the end of the year. Co-owner, Vanessa Oien, plans to embark on a new journey–she has begun work on her masters of wine degree. The store closing means some great savings.

This paragraph from their email summarizes the savings and offerings:

“With this announcement, starting tomorrow, Thursday, October 22nd, everything in our store which includes merchandise and fixtures will be up for sale. Wines by the bottle will be 30% off and we have several batches in production that will be available for 30% off as well. If you are looking for reasonably priced gifts for the holidays, you now can purchase a customized bottle of wine for as low as $8.50. Also, if you know any home wine makers, we are willing to sell the juice, yeast and other packets bundled with a carboy.”

For more information I would suggest calling the store at 847-918-9463.

I wish Vanessa and Stan Oien much success as their shop has always provided very friendly service and a nice stop on a Saturday afternoon for a wine tasting! The store, located at 529 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048, hours will be :

Wednesdays: Noon-6 pm
Thursdays: Noon-8 pm
Fridays: Noon-8 pm
Saturdays: Noon-5 pm
Sundays: 1pm-4pm
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

For more information on other stores, restaurants and events in downtown Libertyville, visit Mainstreet Libertyville.

And as always, if I can help you buy or sell a home in Libertyville, please let me know!

The Fielders – Lake County's Pioneers in Frontier League Baseball

The new Lake County Fielders baseball team from Zion, IL, has been making a lot of news lately. The 2010 expansion team for the independent Northern League, of which Kevin Kostner is an owner, just hired Fran Riordan as the field manager. Riordan was the winningest manager in the Frontier League history this year before joining the Fielders for the 2010 season, which will have 100 games beginning on May 20, 2010 and running through September 6, 2010.

LakeCountyFieldersVisit the Lake County Fielders website to take a peek at the stadium, see where they will play and to get in on some great ticket prices for next season. There will also be many job opportunities, especially as the 2010 season gets closer.

So are you looking forward to having baseball come to Lake County? Don’t be shy. Those who leave comments are known to live longer lives. (or at least that’s what we say to get you to leave one!)

Another of Tim's Haunted House Calls – X-Treme Hauntings Haunted House in Fox Lake Illinois

Another Lake County haunted house in Fox Lake, IL, X-Treme Hauntings offers 8000 square feet of fear!

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Highwood Pumpkin Festival

Highwood holds it’s first Pumpkin Festival on Wednesday, October 21 from 3-8pm. Gearing up for a Guinness world record in 2010! Should be quite a site both this year and next! Check out some of the news coverage they got on CBS

Highwood prepares for Guinness world record

By: Blair Chavis/Triblocal.com staff reporter
10/12/09 02:46 PM 316 hits


Highwood purchased 1,000 pumpkins that are being stored in a warehouse in preparation for the “Great Wall of Pumpkins.”

One thousand pairs of eyes will be lit up in Highwood this October when the city holds it first ever pumpkin festival.

Prelude to the Great Pumpkin Festival of 2010 is a run-through for when Highwood tries to break the Guinness Book of World Records’ number for most lit jack-o’-lanterns on display.

In 2010, the city is looking to have 32,000 jack-o’-lanterns aglow.

As of now, Boston’s Life is Good Pumpkin Festival still holds the title from 2006, with 30,128 jack-o’-lanterns lit, according to the Guinness Web site. Before Boston, The Keene Pumpkin Festival in Keene, N.H. held the title.

Highwood’s 4th Ward Alderman Eric Falberg said he got the idea to start a similar event after living in Vermont and visiting the Keene festival.

“It was just a spectacular site,” Falberg said. “There’s nothing like it. It’s just awe-inspiring.”

Falberg said he hopes this event eventually draws people from throughout the Midwest. This year, however, Highwood is starting small with 1,000 pumpkins. They will be propped on an approximated 32-foot-high by 90-foot-wide wall of scaffolding, or “Great Wall of Pumpkins,” in front of city hall, as similarly seen at Keene’s festival. In addition, jack-o’-lanterns will line the streets alongside the local businesses.

“It takes a lot of logistics to break a world record,” Falberg said. “If we could really do this and do it right…we could knock the socks off of everybody.”

Falberg said next year he plans to invite the Guinness Book of World Records to the event to count the pumpkins.

“We’re going for two records next year,” Falberg said. “[The second] will be for the world’s tallest tower of jack-o’-lanterns—we plan on scaffolding up the entire water tower and having jack-o’-lanterns lit all the way up. It would be quite a sight.”

Next year, Falberg said he envisions that the entire city will be enveloped. The water tower will be lit, storefronts will feature pumpkins, the streets will be lined with jack-o’-lanterns propped on multi-tier milk crates and throughout the parks and residential streets, he added.

Falberg is also in discussion with the city regarding turning the festival into a country pumpkin music festival—a play on the phrase “country bumpkins,” he said.

“That’s why this is so important, the success of this particular prelude,” Falberg said. “Because it really will help us lead off to [next year].”

This year’s festival will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 21 in conjunction with the city’s last farmers’ market of the season.

Pumpkins will be on sale for $5 each, and can be carved in a tent from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Falberg said Highwood Mayor Charlie Pecaro, who is expected to be dressed as the Headless Horseman, will kick off the pumpkin lighting at approximately 6:30 p.m. once the pumpkins are brought to the great wall. About 36 volunteers will also help in lighting.

The festival will include live music, hot cider and coca and $1 hayrides from 3 to 8 p.m. Residents can trick or treat at Highwood’s local businesses from 3 to 6 p.m., and the businesses will be offering discounts to families with at least one member in costume.

“We’re going to have our specials, not only at the shop that day, but we will offer [them] and free sampling at our booth[s] that night,” said Pastificio! owner Patricia Galli, who is on the city’s special events and public outreach committee with Falberg.

For those who want a head start on carving, a 30-foot long booth will be set up at Highwood’s Last Call Art Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.

Additionally, pumpkins can also be carved at a fun fair from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 18, at Oak Terrace School, 240 Prairie Ave.

Families can pick up their carved pumpkins from Oct. 22-24. Remaining pumpkins will either be donated to local families or composted at The Resource Center of Chicago.

—By Blair Chavis|Triblocal.com reporter
Triblocal.com photo by Blair Chavis

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Highwood Last Call Art Fair: Chicago art festivals, fairs, fine art summer art fairs

Maybe a stretch to call it a “summer” arts fair, but what a great way to enjoy an October weekend with great opportunities on the art, music, food and beer. (I didn’t hear Oktoberfest, but that’s what comes to my mind) It on our schedule for Sunday. Hope you get a chance to check it out and if I’m there Sunday, you know I’ll be letting you know!

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Triblocal guide to trick-or-treating in Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Mundelein and Lake Zurich

A guide to trick-or-treating

By: Heather Leszczewicz/ Triblocal.com staff reporter
10/15/09 12:26 PM 156 hits

Little ghouls and goblins are eagerly anticipating the chance to scoop up all the tastiest treats this Halloween. Villages have announced the official trick-or-treating hours.

Deer Park
Trick-or-treating is from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 31.

Hawthorn Woods
Trick-or-treating will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Island Lake
Trick-or-treating starts at 4 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Kildeer
Trick-or-treating is from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 31.

Lake Zurich
Trick-or-treating is from noon to 4 p.m. Oct 31.

Libertyville
The village has two times for trick-or-treating. Businesses in downtown Libertyville will have trick-or-treating from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 31. Residential trick-or-treating will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Lincolnshire
Children can trick-or-treat from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Long Grove
No set hours, parental discretion.

Mundelein
Trick-or-treating is from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Vernon Hills
Trick-or-treating is from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Wauconda
Trick-or-treating is from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Have the best or spookiest decorations on the block? How about the cutest child in costume? Share your Halloween photos on Triblocal.com!

—By Heather Leszczewicz, Triblocal.com reporter

Check out you neighborhood’s trick or treating times. Thanks to Heather Leszczewicz at Triblocal.com!

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The Realm of Terror Haunted House – One of Tim's Haunted House Calls

Realmofterror

Voted as top 3 haunted houses in Illinois. Located in Round Lake Beach, this haunted house is definitely not for the young ones!

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Dungeon of Doom – Illinois Haunted House – Zion Illinois – Lake County – Chicago

Prepare to be scared at the Dungeon of Doom in Zion, IL!

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