Northbrook Knitting Studio Sale Stars Wednesday

Three Bags Full has released their Spring 2013 newsletter, which includes dates for spring knitting and crochet classes.

The following letter was released by Three Bags Full Knitting Studio in downtown Northbrook. Dear Fellow Knitters and Crocheters, It's finally feeling like there may be a Spring yet!  During this vacation week, we've been busy creating displays for our new spring yarns and preparing for our upcoming sale.  Yes, mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 3rd through Saturday April 6th for our 11th Anniversary Sale. April 3rd we'll stay open until 8:00 p.m. to accommodate all our hard-working customers.  What's on sale?  A lot of all different fibers of all gauges. That's as much as I'll give you. You'll just have to come and see. Come prepared with patterns you've been wanting to make and we'll help you find a yarn that will work.   The new …

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North Shore Foodie Finds

Leonidas Chocolate Cafe Serves Crepes To Downtown Northbrook

Marie Douailly has opened her second Leonidas Cafe on the North Shore, and this time, she's introducing a brand new treat.

Leonidas Chocolate Cafe opened in downtown Northbrook in December, bringing fine European chocolate, Metropolis coffee and handmade crepes to the corner of Meadow and Shermer roads. Owner Marie Douailly grew up in France, eating traditional Leonidas chocolates since she was a girl. She said her family used to visit nearby Belgium to get the beloved, 100-year-old sweets. It's the third Leonidas Douailly has opened, but the first to serve crepes. One opened in Wilmette eight years ago, followed by another in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. The crepes are made from scratch with fresh fruits, Nutella or even Grand Marnier liqueur. The cafe also serves savory crepes, made with ham and cheese. Patch caught Northbrook's Susan Young and Lynn …

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Northbrook Speed Dating At Kamehachi

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Mingle Around is bringing its speed dating and networking event to downtown Northbrook.

The Mingle Around speed dating and networking mixer is coming to the Kamehachi Japanese restaurant in downtown Northbrook on Wednesday, Feb. 13. Until now, Northbrook locals would commute to the city for Mingle Around events, but now they won’t have to. For those anyone still looking for a Valentine, Mingle Around makes it fun and easy to meet new people, build relationships and enjoy a memorable evening. The Valentine’s season is Mingle Around’s busiest time of the year, so there's plenty potential to meet a special someone. Parties and meetups are offered for guests of all ages. Sign up for the Northbrook Patch morning newsletter to learn about the latest local event in your email. 

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Shermer Road Lane Closure at Downtown Northbrook Railroad Crossing on Sunday

Maintenance from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. will delay Shermer Rd. traffic where it crosses the Metra railroad in Downtown Northbrook.

The following update was provided by the Village of Northbrook. On Sunday, Nov. 11, Metra will be conducting repair work at the Shermer Rd. railroad crossing in Downtown Northbrook. The work will involve re-setting rails and replacing portions of the rubberized panels. One lane of Shermer Road will be closed while crews perform the work between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Metra personnel will conduct traffic control at the crossing, so a detour will not be necessary. There will be slight delays, so motorists should allow for extra time.  "Like" Northbrook Patch on Facebook to see future community updates in your news feed.

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Downed Pole Causes Power Outage in Downtown Northbrook

Businesses on the north side of Shermer Rd. between Meadow Rd. and Walters Ave. have no power.

Update Sept. 29 12:00 a.m.  According to the ComEd outage map, power has been restored to the area.  Original Story Around 11:30 a.m., a truck driver backing his 18-wheeler out of a parking lot behind Yogen Früz Cafe in downtown Northbrook knocked down a ComEd pole, taking out power to several businesses in the area, according to the Northbrook Fire Department.  According to ComEd technicians at the scene, temporary power from a generator should be restored by 5:00 p.m., and permanent power could be restored by midnight tonight. The traffic light at Shermer and Meadow is not working either, but Northbrook Public works placed temporary stop signs at the intersection.   "I called someone to take care of the traffic signals," said Paul …

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Traffic Is Key to Downtown Redevelopment

Blogger Kati Byrne Spaniak talks about how downtown Northbrook's lack of traffic — both car and foot — could be its undoing.

Trustees Take Sides Over Eminent Domain, Draft Downtown Plan

Village board members discuss draft plan for downtown development, funded by a $100,000 grant from the RTA and an additional $25,000 from the village.

Presented with a draft plan for downtown development, some Northbrook trustees said the $125,000 planning process was a waste of time and money, while others said it provided valuable information—even if implementation would be a challenge. “It is not a blueprint. The developers are not going to start bulldozing tomorrow. It is an outline,” explained trustee James Karagianis, who reviewed the plan along with other board members at a public meeting Tuesday. “It is a signal to the development community of what we would like to see.” Karagianis chaired a steering committee composed of property owners, developers and concerned citizens, who fine-tuned the plan over the last several months. The planning process began with a community survey and…

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Dollar Tree To Fill Former Blockbuster Space

One of the vacancies in Meadow Plaza will be filled with a discount store.

The lights are set to go back on at the former Blockbuster Video in Northbrook, where a Dollar Tree store is in the works.  Property owner Jay Heitman told Patch that he signed a contract with Dollar Tree last week, and that demolition has already begun inside. Operating thousands of stores around the country, Dollar Tree is a Virginia-based chain that sells a variety of merchandise for $1 or less.  Northbrook’s new discount store will occupy an 8,000-square-foot site on the northwestern side of Meadow Plaza that was vacated by Blockbuster Video about two years ago. Heitman also owns the former Walgreens site next door, which still remains empty. Walgreens has paid its lease through 2024.  In the past, community members have criticized …

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Village Board to Review Draft Downtown Plan

Trustees will likely consider issues of eminent domain and tax increment financing at tonight's meeting.

Issues of eminent domain and tax increment financing (TIF) are likely to be the subject of discussion Tuesday, when the village board meets to review a draft plan for downtown development. Presented by a team of consultants, the plan includes such proposals as a revitalized Meadow Plaza, a parking garage at the Metra lot and a river walk winding between Meadow and Shermer roads. How those proposals would be implemented—and financed—has yet to be determined. Members of a downtown development steering committee established to oversee the process recently concluded their study and sent the plan to the village board for approval. Among other suggestions, the steering committee recommended that the village should consider establishing a TIF …

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Kati Byrne Spaniak

4:24 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Very good point, Jennifer. Most residents probably don't realize that every board meeting and even committee meetings are open to the public. There are very few residents that attend these meetings, however. That is why we rely on the capable journalism skills of people like you!!!   more ›

Eminent Domain On the Table Along With Draft Downtown Plan

Steering committee recommends village board approval of plan to revitalize central business district.

Downtown Northbrook has sometimes been deplored for its retail vacancies, dearth of parking and lack of a unified identity.  But the members of a steering committee who helped craft a new, 116-page plan for the central business district hope to change all that—provided the economy, local businesses and developers cooperate.   “I was approached many times by people asking, ‘When are we going to get this done?’” said 14-year Northbrook resident and committee member Carolyn Ferber. “I think there is a sense that this is a to-do list, not a wish list.” After a roughly six month-long planning process that included a survey, public hearings and meetings with residents, business owners, property owners, developers and village staff, consultant …

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