Things to do Saturday Afternoon
There will be about 4 hours between post-Bat Mitzvah luncheon and dinner cocktails. If you’d like to see the sights in the North Shore of Chicago, here are some ideas. (Click on the addresses for maps)
Visit the Baha’i Temple. Located at 100 Linden Ave in East
Wilmette (847-853-2300), this is the only Baha’i Temple in North America. It is
a beautiful white structure, with a visitor center downstairs. The main hall is
open to the public unless there are services; Saturday afternoon it is usually
open. It’s well worth a visit. For more information see www.bahai.us/bahai-temple. - Old Orchard Shopping Mall: With Nordstrom’s at one end and Bloomingdale’s at the other, this mall has a wide range of stores, restaurants and coffee shops. The Barnes and Nobles Bookstore is quite large, and there are 2 movie theaters with 14 screens. This is easiest to get to from either hotel – it runs from Golf Road to Old Orchard Road, just west of Skokie Blvd. The Doubletree is across the street at the SE corner of the mall, and the Hampton Inn is across the highway at the NW corner. For more information see westfield.com/oldorchard/.
- Downtown Evanston: The downtown area of this small city has a wonderful mixture of restaurants and shops. It runs from Church to Grove (N-S) and between Maple and Hinman (W-E) – the main drags are Chicago and Sherman. It’s one part College town (borders on Northwestern University), one part suburban shopping district, it has a wonderful range of eclectic stores. Great Ben and Jerry’s store, if you haven’t had enough dessert. Features both a Barnes and Noble and a Border’s bookstore, fun dress and jewelry stores, World Market, great pubs, etc. For more information see http://www.downtownevanston.org/.
- The Glen: This is a wonderful shopping area, recently developed. It has a lovely movie theater, terrific small shops as well as department stores, book stores, restaurants, bars, etc. (For the Canadians: it even has a Bernard Callibeaut shop, the only one in Chicagoland!) And it is less than a mile from the Glenview Park Center, which is the dinner location. It is just west of Patriot Blvd, between Lake and Willow roads. For more information see www.theglentowncenter.com/home_abou.html .
The Chicago Botanic Gardens: Located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe , this garden has 385 acres of
beautiful greenery. Even if it is still cold weather, there are three greenhouses to explore, and a range of styles of
gardens, from English to Japanese and everything in between. There’s a
trolley that runs around the grounds, and a wonderful, peaceful way to
spend a few hours. For more
information see www.chicago-botanic.org/. 
The Illinois Holocaust Museum:
This is a brand new museum – so new that we haven’t been there yet. Located very near the hotels and
Old Orchard Mall, at 9603 Woods Dr., Skokie, IL 60077, it is not a
“light” place, but is reputed to be powerful and informative. For more information see www.ilholocaustmuseum.org.
Especially for Kids:
Kohl’s Children’s Museum: Located
at 2100 Patriot Blvd (at the northwest corner of the intersetion of Patriot Boulevard and West Lake Ave) in Glenview, this delightful museum has a great
range of educational and fun hands-on exhibits for those with younger
kids. From a tiny imitation grocery store to dress-up clothes, learning
activities with sound, light and other sense, this museum is small enough
for a few hours’ play but very entertaining. It’s a little out of the way,
but worth the trip if you all have the energy. This is very close
to the Glenview Park Center, where the dinner party will be. For more
information see www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org. 
The Glenview Park Center Splash
Landings Indoor Aquatic Center, or fitness center: The same building that
houses the room where the dinner party will be held, the Glenview Park
Center at 2400 Chestnut in Glenview, also has a fabulous fitness center
and wonderful indoor pool. There are giant slides, lap pool, whirlpool,
etc. You can swim with the kids, change in the locker rooms, and walk down
the hall to the dinner party. For more information see www.glenviewparks.org/Swimming/Splash-Landings/Splash-Landings.htm (water park) or www.glenviewparks.org/Fitness/fitness-center.htm (fitness center)
Please e-mail or call us with any other questions you have-- contact information is on the right!
--Beth & Dane
And here's a longer list of Chicago area highlights that I stole from another web site, in case you're kicking around Chicago-land a bit longer and want to know what's where:
Chicago Area Attractions & Activities
- Gross Point Lighthouse: Built by the United States Government in 1873 as the lead lighthouse marking the approach to Chicago after several shipwrecks demonstrated its need.
- Navy Pier: Family attraction featuring entertainment, shopping, dining, cruises, and events, featuring more than 50 acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, and more.
- McCormick Place: Chicago’s premier convention facility.
- Shedd Aquarium: Known as the World’s Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium has been a Chicago icon and a leader in the zoo and aquarium profession.
- John Hancock Observatory: The Hancock Observatory in the John Hancock Tower offers spectacular views spanning up to 80 miles and four states.
- Millennium Park: Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, the park is bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street to the North, and Monroe Street to the South.
- Westfield Old Orchard: Beautifully landscaped outdoor shopping center located on Chicago's prestigious North Shore. Conveniently located in Skokie at the intersection of Old Orchard Road and Skokie Boulevard, Westfield Old Orchard features popular retail leaders, surrounded by more than 145 specialty shops and boutiques. An abundant variety of dining options are located on the sprawling grounds, including full service restaurants and fast casual choices in the Orchard Food Court.
Other Noteworthy Chicago Attractions
Sports Stadiums
Wrigley Field - Home of the Chicago Cubs Baseball Team (6 miles)
Soldier Field - Home of the Chicago Bears Football Team (15 miles)
United Center - Home of Chicago Bulls/Blackhawks (19.6 miles)
Ryan Field (7 miles)
Allstate Arena (17 miles)
Theater & Cinema
Lighthouse Opera Works
Wilmette Theater (2 miles east)
Aragon Ballroom (8 miles south)
Riviera Theatre (8 miles south)
Century Theaters (3 miles east)
Old Orchard Cinemas
Civic Opera House (19.75 miles)
Shopping
Westfield Old Orchard Center
Lincolnwood Town Center
Northbrook Court
Gurnee Mills Outlets (30 miles north)
Magnificent Mile, Chicago (15 miles south)
Downtown Evanston Sherman Plaza
American Girl Store, Chicago
Colleges & Universities
Northwestern University
Loyola University
National Louis College
Golf Courses
Peter N. Jans Community Golf Course
Evanston Golf Club
Westmoreland Country Club
Robert A. Black Golf Club
Weber Park Golf Course
Indian Hill Golf Club
Bryn Mawr Country Club
Chick Evans Golf Course
Wilmette Golf Course
Winnetka Golf Club
Cultural Destinations
Art Institute Museum
Mitchell Indian Museum (2 miles)
The Museum of Science and Industry (28 miles)
Field Museum (15 miles)
Chicago Children Museum (14 miles)
Museum of Contemporary Art
Mary and Leigh Block Gallery
Brookfield Zoo (34 miles)
Lincoln Park Zoo (11 miles)
Pick Staiger Concert Hall
Evanston Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra (16 miles)
Adler Planetarium (15 miles)
April 10, 2010
Jordan, whose actual birthday is April 8
Contact Information:
Beth Rubin & Dane McGregor,
with Jordan & Elinor Rubin-McGregor
207 Kilpatrick Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
Home: 847-920-9219
Beth: 847-274-4373
Dane: 847-274-4353
Beth:
Dane: danemcgregor@rubi-mac.com
Elli:
Jordan: