It's Time for a Post-Holiday Coffee Talk

Betsy and Sal want to know how your holidays went, what gifts you got, what you liked a latte and want to venti about. So grab a cup of joe and join their post-holiday coffee talk.

The wrapping paper has been recycled.  The tree’s at the curb and the menorah is back in its cupboard. So what we want to know is this: Is your coffee-mug half full or half empty? In other words, what did you like a latte? What do you want to venti about? Did you get something grande? Or, are you pouting because you got a skinny, no foam, non-fat, decaffeinated cup of what-the-joe-is-this? We want to establish an early disclaimer: We loved everything we got. Oh yes we did. All of the stories forthwith were relayed to us by “friends.”  Okay. Wait. Before we recount the holiday highs and lows of others, allow us to confess to our own personal moments of celebratory gluttony, because with every cup of coffee, there’s always a little nosh.  …

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Holiday Shopping: Spending Limits For Kids’ Presents?

How much is too much to spend on children and teens? We want to hear your thoughts, Northbrook.

Holiday Guide 2012

Visit our Holiday Guide to keep up with the latest Th anksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah stories as the holidays approach.

Yuji and Kai

Celebrating Hanukkah, and Christmas, Too!

Anticipating a week of special moments.

We are one of THOSE types of families. Yes, we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah.  Well, kinda, sorta.  We have a Christmas tree and a menorah. And our Christmas tree has a dreidel ornament. But please don’t ask me too many questions about the Maccabees.  My knowledge only goes so far. My wife and I grew up celebrating Christmas, so the Jewish holidays are still rather new to us. The details of why we now celebrate them are for another time. Suffice to say that we now have dear family members who are Jewish. Because of our joint celebrations, this is a huge week for our son.  The past two years, there was no overlap between Hanukkah and Christmas.  Last year, for example, Hanukkah began in early December. So there was a clear …

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Betsy and Sal

Holiday Movies 2.0

TV: Twenty-first century family time.

Families gathering, wine glasses filled, fireplaces roaring and TV screens flickering.  What? TV? Yep – that’s right. This is Holidays 2.0, the latest version of twenty-first century family time. Forget about toasting marshmallows and singing carols, we’re talking quality screen time for one and for all. Nothing rings in the holiday season better than a family viewing of White Christmas or Miracle on 34th Street. Not so fast. While the old standbys have their place -- on Turner Classic Movies,VHS, DVD, DVR, BluRay… NetFlix, Hulu, OnDemand… iPod/iPad/iPhon/iVey… in the cloud and, probably, on a sphere of our gray matter that will be accessible sometime in the near future for a nominal monthly fee… a few of us have expanded the holiday movie…

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When Trimming the Tree Means Another Thing Entirely

For ComEd, the struggle to keep vegetation and power lines separate is a year round activity.

In the name of festivity countless people place wires filled with electricity on trees, bushes and other vegetation this year. The irony lies, however, in the fact that, trees and vegetation are among the leading causes of power outages, according to ComEd.  Of course, decorating trees and more with approved holiday lights is perfectly safe. But keeping trees a safe distance from power lines in a place like Northbrook, which has tens of thousands of trees of nearly every type, is a year-round activity for the utility.  Evidence of that was clear on a recent Friday when a six-man crew was cutting back trees on Oak Street after a recent vegetation-related power outage.   "These are junk trees, box elders, mainly, and some mulberries," said a…

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Glenbrook Confidential

Holidays Mean Family, Friends

New gifts will turn old but loved ones never go out of date. High school columnist Britni Berg reflects on the meaning of this year's holiday season.

With the holiday season in full gear, I've been reflecting on everything that I'm thankful for. Now you're thinking, isn't that Thanksgiving? But as families reunite and December snow falls, 'tis definitely the season to be jolly— and grateful. I love the end of the year because it's filled with holidays and breaks from school and work. Families fly in from out of town and friends celebrate the New Year approaching.  This year I'd like to think that I have a more mature outlook on the holidays. A few years back, the holidays were my favorite time of the year for one reason, and one reason only. Presents, obviously. But as I move through my teen years, I've come to realize how selfish that really is. Of course, it's natural to enjoy …

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Elizabeth Manaster

7:49 am on Friday, December 17, 2010

Beautiful, Britni.   more ›