You are here: Home / Archives for Vernon Hills

Green Basil : Thai Oasis in a Strip Mall

July 18, 2010 By View Comments

Sometimes you get burned out on a place from eating there so often, and then wonder why you haven’t been there in so long. That’s what happened to us with Green Basil, a Thai restaurant in Vernon Hills. Green Basil sits in the middle of the Rivertree Plaza, between TJ Maxx and Office Depot. While the typical strip mall storefront doesn’t do much to draw you in, once you enter the doors, you’ll find a clean, friendly environment where after one visit, the owners and staff will remember you.

While we haven’t tried everything on the menu, I can suggest some of our favorites and you can see what others have to say about Green Basil on Yelp. Our personal favorites include: Basil Rolls, Seafood Rangoon, Drunken Noodles, and Filet Panang. You can view the entire Green Basil menu online.

So next time you’re looking for a Thai restaurant in the Vernon Hills area, visit Green Basil and then share your thoughts on the food, service and ambiance. And since Green Basil is open 7 days a week, we have no excuses not to get back there again this week ourselves!

For a sweet treat, just down the mall from Green Basil is Eloise Chicago, where you can have a espresso and cinnamon roll.

We always welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Lake County and Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play!

Thinking of living in Vernon Hills? Tim McDonald with @properties is your local REALTOR. Stop searching and start finding your home in Vernon Hills.

Filed Under: Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , ,

Aspen Drive Library Finally has a Home

July 18, 2010 By View Comments

The long awaited opening of the Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills finally took place on July 10, with a celebration attended by hundreds. The Aspen Drive Library is part of the Cook Memorial Public Library District.

While the Cook Memorial Public Library District had an interim home in the basement of Vernon Hills Village Hall, years of planning and a donation of the land from the Village of Vernon Hills finally brought the Aspen Drive Library to reality. Cook Memorial Public Library district has two locations. Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills and Cook Park Library in Libertyville. The Cook Park Library is currently undergoing major renovation and expansion and has a temporary facility appropriately name Temporary Library Center (TLC).

The Aspen Drive Library has plenty to offer besides books. The calendar of events has something going on every day! Of course during the summer, the libraries are closed on Sundays. But are open Monday-Thursday 9:00am-9:00pm, Friday 9:00am-6:00pm and Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm.

So go visit the new Aspen Drive Library and let us know what you think of the brand new facility! After you check out a good book to read, head over to Eloise Chicago for a latte to enjoy while you read.

We always welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Lake County and Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play!

Thinking of living in Vernon Hills or Libertyville? Tim McDonald with @properties is your local REALTOR. Stop searching and start finding your home in Vernon Hills.

photo of Aspen Drive Library from dailyherald.com

Filed Under: Libertyville, Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Vernon Hills Summer Celebration

July 15, 2010 By View Comments

Today marks the start of Village of Vernon Hills Summer Celebration. The annual event is held the 3rd week every July and will run this year from Thursday, July 15, through Sunday, July 18. The summer festival provides rides, entertainment, food and drinks for Vernon Hills and surrounding area residents and their guests.

This year’s entertainment headlines include: Vertical Horizon on Friday night, The Smithereens on Saturday night and Cavern Beat on Sunday evening. Thursday night will feature fireworks at 9:30pm.

The Vernon Hills Summer Celebration is held at Century Park in Vernon Hills. Free parking and shuttle are available at Westfield Hawthorn Shopping Mall located on the upper level near the Macy’s entrance. There are also limited number of handicapped spaces usually available near Century Park. Just north of Century Park is Lakeview Presbyterian Church which offers parking and a rest and water area. This space is provided by the church and fills up fast. If you live close enough, the best way to get there is to walk or ride your bike.

The $20 unlimited rides special is offered Thursday open to close (6:00pm-10:00pm) and Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2:00pm-6:00pm. A complete schedule of events for Vernon Hills Summer Celebration is available or you can visit the Vernon Hills Summer Celebration group on Facebook for the most updated information.

Don’t be shy! How does Vernon Hills Summer Celebration compare to other area summer festivals? We welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Lake County and Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play!

Thinking of living in Vernon Hills? Tim McDonald with @properties is your local REALTOR. Stop searching and start finding your home in Vernon Hills.

images from DailyHerald.com, images.pollstar.com and vernonhills.org

Filed Under: Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , ,

Order Burrito and Say Cheese Please

July 14, 2010 By View Comments

Qdoba Mexican Grill differentiates themselves from other area Mexican restaurants with their “signature flavors“. To us, the queso sauce is great by itself, but put it on a burrito and elevate it to another level. They call it their Queso Burrito. I say, just tell them to add the cheese sauce! There are other flavors to choose from, including Ancho Chile BBQ and Poblano Pesto. Another interesting item, which we haven’t’ tried yet, is the Mexican Gumbo. This unique dish combines rice, beans and tortilla soup, with salsa, cheese and sour cream, topped with homemade tortilla strips. We learned that this was actually the creation of employees who would combine the soup with elements of the Naked Burrito. If it was what the employees ate, we can’t wait to try it ourselves!

Qdoba Mexican Grill is now open in Vernon Hills. Qdoba is at 700 E. Townline Road, Suite 100, in the former Tweeter location at the out lot of the south east corner of Westfield Hawthorn Shopping Mall.

Another reason why we like Qdoba, is they make it easy to like them! Each week on the Qdoba Vernon Hills Facebook page, they have a free food trivia contest and give away free entrees to the winners. They also have a Twitter account.

We were invited to the VIP ribbon cutting ceremony on July 13, 2010, where representatives from Qdoba Mexican Grill, GLMV Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Vernon Hills celebrated the arrival of the first Qdoba Mexican Grill to Lake County.

So next time you are in Vernon Hills, stop in and check out Qdoba Mexican Grill. Be sure to mention if you’re a fan on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. And then let us know what you think!

Don’t be shy! We welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Lake County and Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play!

Thinking of living in Vernon Hills? Tim McDonald with @properties is your local REALTOR, ready to consult you!

Filed Under: Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , ,

Music to the Ears – Summer Concert

July 8, 2010 By View Comments

The Arbortheater in Vernon Hills will host the second of 4 scheduled Summer Concerts on Thursday, July 8, 2010. The Arbortheater Summer Concert Series will have 4 dates in 2010, including:

June 24 with “Tin Horse Band”

July 8 with “Soda”

July 29 with “Jammin’ Daddies”

August 12 with “Jazz Spectrum”

Every Arbortheater Summer Concert will be held from 7pm-9pm. The are open to everyone and the public is welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. In case of rain, the concerts will be moved indoors at the Sullivan Center at 635 North Aspen Drive.

The Vernon Hills Arbortheater is located at 50 Fairway Drive, just north of the Vernon Hills Athletic Complex on the west side of the street. Directions for accessing the Arbortheater during the Summer Concert Series , according to the Village of Vernon Hills website:

During the concerts the main parking lot is blocked off for handicap and seniors. Concert parking is in the Roger Executive Park II parking lot adjacent to the Arbortheater. The Arbortheater can also be accessed on the bike path through Deerpath Park just north of the “Castle”.

The Arbortheater was completed in the fall of 1995 and serves host for the annual summer concerts and other events, but one of the main purposes of the Arbortheater is to honor the Veterans who have served our country.

After the concert ends at 9:00pm you’ll still have time to visit Dairy Dream in Libertyville for a soft serve cone!

As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Lake County and Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play!

Thinking of living in Vernon Hills or Libertyville? Let Tim McDonald with @properties consult you!

Filed Under: Countywide, Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , ,

Get Ready for a Bang this Weekend

July 3, 2010 By View Comments

It’s officially the 4th of July weekend! The Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills area has something to offer every night this 4th of July weekend.

Here’s a breakdown by village:

Libertyville

July 4th Celebration, on Sunday, July 4, will be at Butler Lake Park starting at 7:30pm with the Village Band playing in the Butler Lake band shell. At dusk, approximately 9:30pm the fireworks will begin at Butler Lake.

Mundelein

Mundelein Community Days 2010 began on Friday and continues through Monday, July 5. Part of the many activities planned for the 4th of July celebrations include fireworks at 9:30pm on Sunday, July 4 and a parade on Monday July 5, starting at 2pm. the parade route will be Hawley Street from Prospect to Mundelein High Shcool. Be sure to check the official Mundelein Community Days 2010 site for all the details on a 4th of July weekend full of activities and entertainment.

Vernon Hills

Parade, music and fireworks all on Sunday July 4. To kick off the 4th of July celebration there will be a bike decorating contest for children ages 4-12. Everyone will meet at 8am at the corner of Deerpath and Atrium Blvd. in Vernon Hills. At 9am the parade will kick off and will follow a parage route south to Sullivan Drive and then west to Aspen. From 6:30pm-9:30pm in Century Park there will be music by J.P. and the Cats. Then at 9;30pm the fireworks will begin over Big Bear Lake and Little Bear Lake.

If you want to see fireworks tonight visit: Fox Lake, Grayslake, Great Lakes, Hawthorn Woods, Lake Zurich or Wauconda. The Daily Herald has a full list of the Lake County fireworks schedule.

As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Lake County and Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play!


Filed Under: Countywide, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Tee it Up

June 15, 2010 By View Comments

Enjoy a round of golf at Vernon Hills Golf Course, one of the top ten best 9 hole courses in Chicagoland. And if you do a one time registration with the Village of Vernon Hills, you’ll find a web special that gives you a coupon for $20 round of 9 holes including cart, that is valid on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Vernon Hills Golf Course is a very walkable 9 hole layout, that measures at 2,836 yards for men, par 34 with a course rating of 34.2 and slope of 120. Vernon Hills Golf Course has a full service clubhouse restaurant and bar which serves a lunch menu all day.

Don’t worry about the rain! Vernon Hills Golf Course has a rain check policy. There are also leagues, outings and other specials for juniors, seniors and families. Contact the course for details.

A round of golf at Vernon Hills Golf Course would make a great way to spend Father’s Day, but don’t forget about Vernon Hills Park District’s Father’s Day Family Camp Out on Saturday night.

As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play!

Filed Under: Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , , ,

Pitch a What?

June 14, 2010 By View Comments

Take the family on an overnight getaway without having to drive far. This Father’s Day weekend, June 19-20, the Vernon Hills Park District is holding it’s first ever Father’s Day Family Camp Out. Campers will have the Vernon Hills Family Aquatic Center to themselves. Check in is at 6:30pm on Saturday. You will get to pitch your tent, have exclusive use of the pool for a couple hours, enjoy a campfire and smores and finish the night with an outdoor movie. Don’t worry about breakfast either! In the morning,  you’ll will be treated to a Father’s Day pancake breakfast.

Space will be limited and advance registration is required. You must register in person at the Sullivan Center. Fees are $40 per campsite. Visit the Vernon Hills Park District website or call 847-996-6800 for more information.

Once you are done camping on Sunday, stop by Main Street Smokehouse in Libertyville and take home some barbecue for Father’s Day dinner.

Did you get your kids in grades K-6 signed up for The Whip Guy at Fremont Public Library tonight?

As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play!

Filed Under: Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Worms, Fish…It's Not Fear Factor

June 12, 2010 By View Comments

It’s Kids Fishing Day in Vernon Hills. The Vernon Hills Park District has partnered with the Libetyville Fishing Club to bring the event to Big Bear Lake in Century Park today from 9am-noon. The event is open to children ages 5-13. Although advance registration was required, I heard as of yesterday they still had a few spots and would accept some walk ups. The cost is $5 for residents and $6 for non-residents.

The day will start out with instruction and demonstrations dropping lines in the water at Big Bear Lake. Bait will be provided and there will be a limited number of fishing poles available. In addition prizes will be awarded in various ages categories for first fish caught and the largest fish caught.

So bring the kids by at 9am or just stop in and see how much fun all the kids are having catching some fish! After you are done, head over to Eloise Chicago (at Route 60 and Milwaukee Ave.) for some lunch.

As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play!

Filed Under: Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , , ,

Come for a Cinnamon Roll and Stay for some Coffee

June 10, 2010 By View Comments

When it comes to coffee, the Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills area has plenty of options, but one of my favorites is Eloise Chicago in Vernon Hills. They are one of the few, if not only, area Lake County coffee shop featuring Metropolis Coffee. But Eloise Chicago is much more than a coffee shop. A bakery and cafe would also be perfect terms to describe Eloise Chicago. Their cinnamon rolls are a sweet treat at any time of the day and what Eloise started with. But now they make homemade bread and muffins every day. So the sandwich and soup or salad selections make for a great lunch options.

Eloise Chicago has been in the same location at 701 N. Milwaukee Ave. #312, Vernon Hills for over 21 years. You can view the namesake of Eloise Chicago, Eloise Torres on a Vernon Hills video interview.

So don’t just go for the coffee. See their barista skills at work on an espresso or latte and enjoy it with a cinnamon roll! Or stop by for lunch after enjoying a canoe trip on the Des Plaines River from Offshore, located a few door down in Rivertree Plaza.

Special thanks to Jeff Harris who knew my affection for good coffee and suggested I try Eloise Chicago.

As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what makes Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills such a great place to live, work and play! // <![CDATA[
//

Filed Under: Vernon Hills Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Older Posts