The real highlight here is the carnival Giant Drop ride. Go…read moreon it with someone who is scared of heights, you'll doubt yourself.

This past weekend Glen Ellyn sponsored their annual Taste. This was my first time to Glen Ellyn's…read moreversion of a family fun weekend that most times is overrun by annoying teenage punks. Lombard Taste, you know what I'm talking about. I would say this is your average, run-of-the-mill, get what you pay for (it was free) local festival. For being a "Taste" there wasn't all that much being offered from local vendors. There were maybe 4 vendors with local treats like Tap House Grill, Chicks 'n Salsa, Chicago Prime Meat Market and a pizza joint. The rest of the food was your "eat with caution, likely to induce some serious commode time" typical carni-culprits like gyros and meat on a stick. Who doesn't love deep fried snickers that are advertised as "tastes like warm fudge"? ughhhhh. The arts and crafts were a sight for sore eyes. Actually, eyes that hurt really, really bad. They did have a climbing wall that seemed to be quite a hit with the youngsters. And I totally would have scaled that thing if not for the fear of ripping my pants open in front of the school-aged innocent. The free concerts on Saturday night made up for what could have been a bust of a weekend. Tin Horse, a country chick's band, and The New Invaders, a 60's cover band, kept us highly entertained throughout the cold night. Part of that might have had to do with the beer tent and those little $5 red tickets. My advice to next years Taste Committee - pick it up a notch, think about what people actually want to see/do at a festival, not just what's always been done. Promote local biz but do it in a modern way that will make people want to come back next year.

Love Greek food? Come to Greektown in Chicago…read more In the 1840s, ship captains came to Chicago. This led to the captains' families following who became food peddlers who eventually opened restaurants. Initially, Greektown was near the Harrison and Halstead area, but was forced to relocate due to the expansion of University of Illinois-Chicago and then the construction of the Eisenhower Expressway which forced the neighborhood to move a few blocks north. Many of today's Greektown was built during the 1970s-1980s. Are you a fan of gyros and saganaki (flaming cheese)? Thank Chicago's Greektown. Both were introduced in 1968 at the Parthenon Restaurant. Today, there are so many great choices for traditional Greek restaurants. Our favorites are Greek Islands and Athena. At Greek Islands, start with an appetizer like the saganaki or the cold spread sampler or get the combination plate. The combo gives you such a nice variety-leg of lamb, Moussaka (we switch to the vegetarian), Dolmades, veggies and roasted potatoes. So delicious! At Athena, sit in the open courtyard on a sunny day and get transported to Greece. Start with a delicious Greek salad full of feta cheese, kalamata olives and crisp cucumbers. The saganaki is a great show and the warm cheese is so good. Get a combo dip platter. The taramosalata and melitzanosalata are delicious. For entrees, our favorites are the sea bass, leg of lamb, gyros and vegetarian Moussaka. Walk and enjoy the shops. Start your day with a cup of coffee or tea and a baklava. Or enjoy a lazy Sunday brunch at a cafe. Learn more with a visit to the National Hellenic Museum. Check the website for hours.

I love Greektown-whether you are looking for classic and authentic pastries such as baklava, or…read moreappetizer tzatziki dip with pita to classy sit down upscale Greek Cuisine to a24 hour Gyro Joint-there is something for everyone! The statues, art, and authentic Greek themed structures that embellish the pedestrian sidewalks is truly spectacular. Truly a special and unique neighborhood in Chicago with something for everyone of all ages to enjoy.

This really isn't a place...it's an event that's held at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park to…read moreremember Lauren Kiefer. She graduated from Willowbrook in 2000 and her mother still works there. This event is held in her honor because she was brutally taken from friends and family on Dec. 25, 2006. So this is a 5K walk/run that is going to take place every year around the third weekend in June. I believe it is $25 to enter and then donations are also accepted which benefit a number of charities including two scholarships that are given out to Willowbrook students. This a fun event for a great cause and in honor of one very special woman! Go to rememberlaur.com to check out the details under events! Hope to see you there!

I love ghost stories! I really, really do. So, it came as a delightful surprise to learn that…read moreNaperville is a very haunted place. Fright Night Tours runs several different tours focusing on the paranormal in the area and I think they do a phenomenal job. We arrived and our guide (the formidable Dan) was waiting in full, scary regalia. He then took us up into the headquarters to begin the tour with the haunting of their own space. After that, we set out into the streets of downtown Naperville to hear all about the creepy stuff that packs the history of this upscale suburb. First off, I highly recommend Dan as a tour guide. He has obviously done a lot of his own research and he is very knowledgeable about his topics. He's also such a great performer that he could make a nursery rhyme send a chill up your spine. It's so weird looking at these buildings that I drive past everyday and knowing that, not only have they been around for over a century, there may be dead people peekin' out. To sum up: Awesome. I give it 2 tombstones up.

West Fest happens to be my favorite fest in Chicago. It is one of the smaller festivals with DJ's…read moreon the East Stage and Bands on the West Stage of Chicago Avenue. People who attend this fest seem to be all inclusive and not afraid to express themselves. Nice selection of retail and food vendors. The crowd, food, and music keep me coming back every year.

One of my favorite fests! It's not huge. Between Damon & Wood on Chicago ave…read more 2 stages at either end. One has house music DJ's. Such a great vibe & people watching. The other end (Damon) is bands. They always have great ones. Model/Actress was so good. Good amount of food vendors. Lao peng You is great with their noodle dishes. Happy Lobster, Tola, classic corn dogs too. I miss the polish vendors with the classic polish plates. They haven't been here in a few years. Lots for kids & dogs too. Chicago T-shirt's, handmade jewelry. Fun to shop & grab a drink at the beer tent.

Beautiful space & people. Unlimited wine & cocktails. Exceptional savory bites & balanced desserts…read more All-star chef lineup live & in the flesh.

One of the main things that attract me to Chicago's north-side is its diversity, and Little India…read moreis just another piece of that. Little India is a strip located on Devon avenue in West Rogers Park; comprised of dominantly Indian restaurants and retail markets. I have only visited Little India on foot, and while cycling a handful of times, but drive through on a daily basis because for me it's the gateway from Lincolnwood to Edgewater neighborhood. One negative that I can say about Little India is that it is the worst area to drive in. If you choose to drive through Little India my advice is to be aware of pedestrians that will literally walk out in front of your car, and drivers that will cut you off, or even drive out in front of you when you clearly have the right-away. I end this with Little India is unique in many ways, and will leave you pondering at times if you are really in Chicago. It is a taste of India! Enjoy!

A lot of monuments are along the Naperville Riverwalk, and this is one of the many. Dick Tracy is a…read moreclassic comic strip character, and he got a statue. It makes you wonder why that was. Because the assistant to the creator lived here. That sounds like not much of a reason, but the statue is nice though. For those interested, there's a story behind it. In the mid 1900s Dick Tracy was a lot more popular. The comic strip was created by Chester Gould, from Woodstock. Dick Locher was from Naperville, and was his assistant a few years, then took over after he retired. There's not a huge connection of Dick Tracy to Naperville, but this was enough for a statue. Have some fun taking pictures in front of it. It's located along the Riverwalk. This is close to the intersection of Water and Webster.

Good thing they moved this guy to higher ground because he was waist-deep in water half the time…read morewhen he used to be down closer to the river. People frequently ask "why is this statue in Naperville?" Well, Dick Locher, the assistant of Dick Tracy's creator Chester Gould, lived in Naperville and drummed up civic interest in it. I sometimes wonder if in the middle of the night our old gumshoe here ever meets up with "Darth Naper" who hangs out a few blocks away....