The Badgers will be playing an away game against Northwestern University on Oct. 8, which is the perfect excuse for a fall road trip to Chicago’s North Shore. Plan to stay the weekend and check out Westfield Old Orchard while you’re in town, because it’s never too early to start your holiday shopping.
This beautifully landscaped shopping center is home to more than 100 stores, including powerhouses such as Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom, plus dozens of select retailers. Think shops like Apple, Anthropologie, Lululemon, Free People and Zara. At Blank Mason Candle Bar, you can purchase candles or pour your own during a one-hour workshop. San Francisco-based Marine Layer, one of the newer arrivals, sells premium casual apparel designed and manufactured in California.
There are plenty of restaurants at Westfield Old Orchard, too, like Uncle Julio’s, which offers made-from-scratch Mexican fare, and Shake Shack, where you can snag burgers, chicken sandwiches and, of course, shakes of every kind. (Chocolate churro shake, anyone?) The Hampton Social is a good choice for dinner, where you can nosh on crab cakes, salmon poke or spicy rigatoni, then retire to the Rosé All Day lounge for a glass of wine or craft cocktail. At Bar Siena, the downtown Chicago hot spot that just opened a new location here, you can indulge in Italian street food and shared plates.
Head here later in the month, when the Chicago Botanic Garden will be hosting its Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns event, taking place Oct. 12-16 and 19-23. Wander through the garden and check out the 1,000-plus hand-carved pumpkins on display, some of which will be carved by professionals. The event includes costumed entertainers and live carving demos.
Plan your visit now at chicagonorthshore.com.
Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II
If you love World War II history, head to the Illinois Holocaust Museum to catch the exhibit “Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II.” This intriguing exhibit tells the story of the U.S. military’s top-secret Ghost Army, which helped win the war in Europe by creating illusions of massive Allied forces in the distance to fool German troops. Featured artifacts include some of the original inflatable tanks used in the creative scam. Now through Jan. 2, 2023
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Lightscape Celebration
Nov. 11, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023
The holidays are still a few months away, but if you want to catch the über-popular Lightscape celebration at the Chicago Botanic Garden, buy your tickets now before they’re sold out. The evening event features blazing colors, music, lights and fire that bring to life a 1 1⁄4 mile path meandering through the garden and around its main island. The fan-favorite Winter Cathedral feature will be back, along with a reimaged fire garden. Hot drinks and light snacks will
be available for purchase at the beginning and middle of the route.
