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≤≤ Access the full September/October issue here |
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 Dining Guide 2010
With a virtual smorgasbord of culinary options from which
to choose, use this comprehensive guide to find just the right dining destination for any and every occasion.
PLUS:
Q&As with Restaurant Owners
Phil Cullen of Ballydoyle Irish Pub (pdf)
Paul Woodard of Ditka's (pdf)
Mike & Ann Anastasio of Fiora's (pdf)
Terry Thulis of Marion Street Grille (pdf)
Peggy Maglaris-Kopley of Prasino (pdf)
Pasquale Moreci & Rosalia Egbert of Roberto's Ristorante (pdf)
and...
Where to Hobnob with the Chef (pdf)
Great Meals Made Easy (pdf)
Launching a Brewery (pdf)
(For the full dining guide, see the September/October issue or search dining listings by location, cuisine and average entrée price here) |
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 Charitable Events Planner
Welcome to our first-ever Charitable Events Planner, a resource we hope will evolve to become the
western suburbs’ most comprehensive guide to non-profit and charitable fundraising activities and events.
For those of you who are regular readers of West Suburban Living, this booklet is a natural outgrowth of our commitment to helping the many organizations in the area that support important programs and serve worthy causes.
(For the full planner, see the September/October issue, view the entire planner online here or search for events by date and location on our Out & About page under "social & charitable" here.) |
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 Room To Unwind
From retooled great rooms to remodeled basements, homeowners crave flexible spaces
for relaxing with family and friends.
By Lisa Sloan
It’s been said that the family that plays together stays together. If that’s
the case, great rooms and recreation rooms might be among the most important in the house. Having space where the family can kick back and relax, as well as welcome friends and
extended family members, remains a top consideration for those considering home remodeling.
In the current economic climate, people have decided
to stay put and bring their home up to modern
standards, and rooms centered around family are most popular,” says Marty Meadow, senior vice
president for Airoom and manager of the firm’s
Naperville showroom.
“It’s all about making the house more comfortable,” says Maureen Buckley-Rogers, general manager of Walter E. Smithe’s Naperville store. “Homeowners are still investing in rooms like the kitchen and great room. It is really the hub or epicenter of family life, and they are willing to put their money there.”
(For full story, see the September/October issue) |
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 Classic Courtyards
Creating Intimate Outdoor Spaces
By Sara Pearsaul Vice
For centuries, courtyards have been central to the architectural design of homes. In the Middle East and Africa, courtyards keep the cooling breezes flowing. In Europe, courtyards adorn everything from
cottages to estates to the cloisters of cathedrals. In China, traditional homes are built around a square courtyard that serves as a gathering place for extended family. In modern-day America, courtyards are designed to suit decidedly contemporary purposes. What courtyards have in common is a sense of enclosure, protection and privacy from the outside world, while providing a direct connection to the great outdoors.
(For full story, see the September/October issue) |
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 Breast Cancer
Better screening and more effective treatments are making the disease
easier to detect and more manageable to live with, but the battle continues.
By Denise Linke
The bad news about breast cancer is that more than 200,000 people — about 1 percent of all Americans — will hear a doctor telling them this year that they have it. In the same 12 months, more than 40,000 breast cancer patients will die from the disease despite undergoing months or years of treatment.
The good news is that medical researchers have come up with a bonanza of new tools doctors and patients can use to lower those numbers. Even patients who can’t seem to eradicate their breast cancers can hold them at bay while they enjoy years of extra life.
(For full story, see the September/October issue) |
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 Oak Brook Town Focus
While perhaps best known for its upscale shopping and fine dining, the village also offers
an unusual blend of corporate commerce, relaxed residential life and scenic open spaces
By Lynn Petrak
Standing on the banks of Salt Creek at the edge of Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook and gazing at the spectacular fall foliage reflected on the water’s surface, it doesn’t take much to imagine what this patch of land must have been like when
settler Benjamin Fuller arrived in the 1840s, followed by other pioneering spirits like Frank Osgood Butler in 1890.
When you go back to the parking lot and drive past the historic and still-operating waterwheel at Graue Mill to travel to other parts of Oak Brook, you’ll note that the
legacy of this community, about 15 miles west of Chicago, is alive and well. Benjamin Fuller’s namesake Fullersburg Woods remains a popular respite and field trip destination, while the man’s great-great-great-great
granddaughters run a successful baby boutique in the Oakbrook Center shopping mall. The Butler name,
too, remains synonymous with Oak Brook, whether through polo matches on fields founded by Paul Butler in 1922, the Butler National Golf
Club, Butler School or the many philanthropic initiatives championed by his descendents.
History meets progress throughout Oak Brook, in fact. For all of the gently rolling hills, winding roads and even an equestrian crossing or two, this western suburb is home to some of the best-known and most leading-edge companies in the world. Scores of fine hotels, restaurants, department stores and shops that rival the Magnificent Mile also make up the landscape of Oak Brook.
(For full story, see the September/October issue) |
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 Q&A
With "The Biggest Loser” winner, Bartlett resident Michael Ventrella
By Brittany Ashcroft
Michael Ventrella has lost a lot recently – of weight, that is. The 31-year-old Bartlett resident is the newest winner of NBC’s The Biggest Loser: Couples.
Ventrella’s starting weight was 526 pounds — the heaviest contestant in the show’s history. But his determination to save his life and finally do something for himself
— coupled with intense personal trainers Bob and Jillian — helped him lose 264 pounds, just over 50 percent of his original weight. In addition to his hard work at the ranch, Ventrella is quick to credit his mom and fellow contestant, Maria, for helping him towards his goal, and he plans to get her a surprise gift with his winnings.
But he’s not stopping there. Ventrella is looking to slim down even more to improve his health, which for him no longer correlates to a number on the scale. Keep an eye out and you may see Ventrella biking around the western suburbs — one of his favorite activities since losing the weight.
(For the full interview, see the September/October issue or download a pdf here.) |
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Best of the West '10 |
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Menu Guide '10 |
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Gift Guide '09 |
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