Our Village Board of Trustees meets tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM. Some of the topics on their agenda include:
[Vote] An Ordinance Granting an Amendment to an Existing Special Use Permit to Allow an Addition to Countryside Elementary School, 205 W. County Line Road Ordinance 22 –
[Vote] A Resolution Adopting an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Cook County Assessor’s Office to Facilitate Access to GIS Data Resolution 22 –
[Vote] Plan Commission Appointment: Maggie Topping, term expires 2024
A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.
Making its rounds in the Chicago Land area, the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile will be coming today, January 16th, to Crystal Lake. It is expected to be at the Mariano’s on 105 Northwest Highway from noon to 5 PM. Come by and check out all 27 feet of this American icon.
Note: Ordinarily, we would not post events like this except for the fact that it presents such an excellent photo opportunity with children (and at least one village board member we had in mind).
Buffalo Creek Brewing hosts an indoor/outdoor New Year’s Day Alpine Fest from noon to 10 p.m.
(Note: Because of the uncertainty of COVID-19, events and specials listed may be subject to change. Call ahead or check the website before you go.)
Avante Banquets
1050 Northwest Hwy., Fox River Grove, (847) 287-1006, avantebanquets.com/events. Party the night away at the New Year’s Eve Gala from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Dec. 31. The $175 per person package includes 4.5 hours of premium open bar, a filet dinner with stuffed shrimp or lobster, unlimited wine, entertainment from Tony Ocean, dancing and more. Reservations required.
Broken Oar
614 Rawson Bridge Road, Port Barrington, brokenoar.com/. Broken Oar is planning a New Year’s Eve blowout bash from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, Dec. 31, featuring dueling pianos, dining at the upper level or in the Arctic bar and more. The special three-course meal includes an appetizer, entree (grilled rib-eye $50, surf and turf $60, twin lobster tails $60), dessert and a champagne toast. Reservations are required.
Buffalo Creek Brewing
360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, (847) 821-6140, buffalocreekbrewing.com/. The Long Grove brewery hosts the indoor/outdoor New Year’s Day Alpine Fest from noon to 10 p.m. featuring beer, table service, a food truck and The Unemployed Architects band outside and a gaming lounge upstairs complete with prizes.
Hampton Social
100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (224) 633-5414, thehamptonsocial.com/events/new-years-day-brunch. Refuel with Hampton Social’s New Year’s Day Brunch featuring fresh monkey bread, steak and eggs, an espresso martini and more. Reservations requested.
Martini Room
161 E. Chicago St., Elgin, (847) 741-0349, martiniroomelgin.com/index.html. Martini Room is hosting two drag shows on New Year’s Eve. The Early Bird show from 8-10 p.m. is $30, and the Ring in the Year show from 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. for $50 includes appetizers, tapas and freebies. There will be drink specials all night. Tickets are required.
Moretti’s
Locations in Barrington, Bartlett, Edison Park, Fox Lake, Hoffman Estates, Lake in the Hills, Mount Prospect, Morton Grove, Rosemont and Schaumburg; morettisrestaurants.com/. Make New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day easier with Moretti’s individual dinners or family four-packs. The honey-baked ham ($22.99 per person) and sliced sirloin ($24.99 per person) meals include a salad, au gratin potatoes, baked sweet potato mash and harvest veggies. The Italian Feast for $22.99 per person includes a salad, lasagna, meatballs, Italian sausage and penne pasta with marinara or vodka sauce. Order 48 hours in advance of pickup. Kids can have fun, too, at their own Kids New Year’s Eve Party at Moretti’s. Check kidsnewyearseve.com/ for full details on each location’s party and seatings, but they include a family-style dinner of pizza, pasta, salad and ice cream, plus a kids’ video countdown, balloon drop, confetti, party favors, DJ and dancing. It’s $12.95 for kids and $19.95 for adults. Reservations are required.
Pinstripes
7 Oakbrook Center Mall, Oak Brook, (630) 575-8700; 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (847) 844-9300; 1150 Willow Road, Northbrook, (847) 480-2323, pinstripes.com/. Bring the kids on New Year’s Eve as there will be a balloon drop and party favors at 8 p.m. for families, plus champagne for the adults and sparkling juice for the kids. Or come later without the kids for the midnight balloon drop. Live music will entertain all night. Reservations are required.
Port Edward
20 W. Algonquin Road, Algonquin, (847) 658-5441, portedward.com/. Port Edward starts celebrating New Year’s Eve at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 31. Dinner specials include Long Island oysters and champagne ($35), a seafood tower ($42.95), garlic crusted rack of lamb ($45), peppercorn rubbed 16-ounce chef cut rib-eye ($45) and cherries jubilee ($8). Plus, enjoy live music from The New Odyssey Guy at 7 p.m. and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Reservations are required.
Palatine man’s display wins Daily Herald holiday lights contest: How it started, how it helps others
Michael Murphy is the 2021 Daily Herald Holiday Lights Grand Prize award winner for the display outside his family’s home at 722 Pompano Lane in Palatine. Every year people leave decorations on his porch after Christmas that he uses the next year. – John Starks | Staff Photographer
Every year, Michael Murphy’s neighbors ask him what he plans to do differently for his holiday lights extravaganza.
“It’s kind of a challenge, because I have to get as creative as I can and keep it somehow fresh,” he said.
This year, Murphy, who lives at 722 Pompano Lane in Palatine, decided to forgo decorating his backyard and threw all he had into the front.
He painstakingly wrapped the second story of the house with thousands of multicolored lights, meticulously lined the roof with additional rows of lights, and placed more than a dozen snowmen, Santas, Christmas trees, candy canes, penguins, reindeer and more on the lawn.
He also set lights on bushes and trees, the latter requiring some jiggering.
“I run the wire from the basketball hoop up to one tree to the next and to the next, so people don’t trip on cords.”
The Penny Road Pub, a staple for food, drink and live music in South Barrington for nearly 50 years, will close Jan. 31. A “Farewell to Penny Road” concert is scheduled for Jan. 22.
Penny Road Pub, a live rock ‘n’ roll venue nestled among the trees of the Barrington area for nearly 50 years, will close its doors at the end of January.
But General Manager Kelly Cunningham said Monday that the shutdown may not be permanent. The building’s relatively new owner hopes to buy time to work with Cook County on getting the property rezoned for the improvements he wants to make, she said.
I things work out as planned, Penny Road Pub could return but even better, she said.
“There is hope,” Cunningham added. “He has some beautiful plans for it.”
The combination of a new owner along with the loss of some of the property’s grandfathered rights, COVID-19 and the cost of the planned improvements have created financial issues that make it easier to shut down and handle one thing at a time, Cunningham said.
The pub’s grandfathered 4 a.m. liquor license probably won’t return, as Cook County doesn’t give them out anymore, she added.
“That was our bread-and-butter, so to speak, for many years,” Cunningham said.
The news of the imminent closing was announced on social media Sunday.
“Barrington Children’s Charities will be hosting our celebration as an in-person event where we can truly celebrate our 10+ years of helping local children in need, alongside our sponsors, donors, and friends.
This year’s event will include all the festivities and more from past years. We look forward to your participation, however that may be – whether it be with us in person, sponsoring, donating, or a combination.
Rolling Meadows resident Ray Aviles won the Editor’s Choice award for the Northwest suburbs in last year’s holiday lights contest. (John Starks | Staff Photographer, 2020)
Monday is the deadline to enter the Daily Herald’s holiday lights contest.
The top vote-getter will receive a $250 gift certificate redeemable at Ala Carte Entertainment restaurants throughout the area.
Previous grand prize recipients are not eligible to win again.
The winners of Editor’s Choice awards for DuPage County, the Fox Valley, Lake County and the Northwest suburbs each will receive a $50 Ala Carte Entertainment gift card.
The winners will be featured in the Dec. 22 edition of the Daily Herald.
“When you step into our winter wonderland for your photo with Santa you will be able to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa as a family, write letters to Santa, and taste test some cookies that Santa will have on Christmas Eve! This family friendly event provides a special memory for families in our community while empowering families in Guatemala through HOPE’S IN’s work!”
Santa waves from his Barrington Christmas house. See Santa arrive in Barrington by fire truck to take pictures from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, during Barrington’s annual Holiday Festival.
Don’t miss Barrington’s annual Holiday Festival, Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa’s Arrival from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4.
Free, family-friendly entertainment includes horse-drawn carriage rides, a petting zoo, cookies, hot chocolate, Barrington’s White House Open House (enter a raffle for an Ambrosia gingerbread house), Toys for Tots collection, visits with Santa, and more.
Park once and ride the free holiday trolley from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stops include The Foundry, Ice House Mall, Barrington’s White House and Cook & Station Street.
Enjoy the Barrington High School Madrigals performance at 4:15 p.m. on the steps of McGonigal’s, stay for the tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m., and watch as Santa arrives on the fire truck to take pictures from 5:15-6:15 p.m.
The Barrington High School Fine Arts Department is proud to present the 2nd Annual Winter Wonderfest! Tickets for this district-wide event are now on sale.
Winter Wonderfest runs December 3-5, and it will be a spectacular walk-through event with lights, decorations, trees and performances from across the district. This year, the walking tour and hands on experiences will occur both outside and inside of BHS.
Please arrive during your time slot with your printed or electronic ticket to ensure that the event runs smoothly. All tickets are $10 per person. Click here to purchase a ticket.
Making its rounds in the Chicago Land area, the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile will be coming today, January 16th, to Crystal Lake. It is expected to be at the Mariano’s on 
