Mother/Daughter Tea Time In Plainfield

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The Plainfield Park District is hosting a Mother's Day Tea Party on May 9th from 6:30-7:15 PM at the Streams Rec Center. Girls and their mothers/grandmothers will be creating fun crafts, sipping tea, and having fun. This event is geared towards kids ages 2-6 and the cost for this event is $12 for residents and $18 for non-residents. For more information, call (815) 436-8812 or visit www.plfdparks.org.

Soup Recipe For A Rainy Day

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With all of this rainy weather we have been having, it's a great time to cozy up to a hot bowl of soup. Below is a recipe for delicious Corn Chowder:

Corn Chowder With Wild Rice
Courtesy of www.countryliving.com

Ingredients

• 4 large ears of fresh sweet corn, kernels removed (You can substitute 4 cups of frozen corn, thawed)
• 6 slices of thick cut bacon, diced
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 large Vidalia onion, diced
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons of fresh rosemary, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 cups cooked wild rice
• 5 cups of vegetable stock

Directions

1. In a pot over medium heat, cook bacon, stirring often, until cooked but not crispy. Remove the bacon from the pot and lay it on a paper towel lined plate. Add the sweet potato, onion, and butter to the pot. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cook for about 15 minutes until the potato and onion are soft. Add the garlic and rosemary and cook for one minute. Add the corn kernels, 5 cups of vegetable stock, pepper and remaining salt and bring everything to a simmer.
2. Put half of the soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Once smooth, transfer the soup back into the pot and add the wild rice and bacon. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Plainfield Culver's Superhero Night

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Kids 12 and under are invited to come to the Plainfield Culvers tonight between 5 and 8 pm dressed as their favorite superhero. In honor of National Superhero Day, Culvers is hosting this event to benefit the Plainfield Law Enforcement Explorer's Group.  Kids who come dressed up as a superhero will receive a 99 cent kids meal with the purchase of a value basket. There will be Plainfield officers attending the event as celebrity guests as well as a variety of law enforcement vehicles to check out including the DARE Dodge Viper.

Culver's Superhero Night, April 28th 2014, 5:00-8:00 PM
13449 Illinois Route 59
Plainfield, IL 60544
(815) 439-4442

Live Music At Plainfield's Katie O'Connor's

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David's Bazaar, a solo vocal and acoustic guitar performer, will be playing at Katie O'Connor's in Plainfield tomorrow, Saturday April 26th from 7-9 pm. He covers a wide range of music styles from rock to pop to folk. There is no cover charge for this event and all ages are welcome!
Katie O'Connor's Pint House
13717 U.S. Route 30
Plainfield, IL

Farmer's Market Coming Back To Plainfield

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The Plainfield Farmer's Market is returning to Lockport Street and Route 59 this June. The 7th annual market will reopen on Saturday June 14th at the southwest corner of Lockport and Route 59. This may be the last year that the market resides at that location; next year the event may be moved to the riverfront. For more information, call (630) 608-7344 or (815) 436-1342.

Glitz, Glam, And More at Nevin's Brewing Company

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Glitz, Glam, And More-A Shopper's Paradise will take place at Nevin's Brewing Company tomorrow, Thursday April 24th from 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm. Vendors at the event include Premier Designs, Scentsy, For Tails Only, The Bottom Line Decorated Apparel And More, The Final Touch, Origami Owl, Grace Adele, Bizzibands, Mary Kay, Organo Gold Coffee, Avon, It Works, Chloe & Isabel & Tagliere Design & Events, Ornaments By Mary, and Tastefully Simple. Nevin's Brewing Company is located at 12337 South Route 59 in Plainfield.

Kids Eat Free At Plainfield Chili's Today

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Why not take the kids out to eat tonight? Kids eat FREE every Tuesday at the Chili's in Plainfield. Every adult meal purchased earns a free kids meal.
Chili's
12740 S Route 59
Plainfield, IL 60544
(815) 254-0639

Comedy Show To Benefit Plainfield Animal Rescue

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Help Save Pets, an animal rescue located in Plainfield, is hosting "Raise The Woof: A Standup Comedy Show" on Friday May 8th at Copley Theater.  The show will be family friendly and tickets will be sold for $40 each. The night will start with appetizers before the show and a cash bar at the theater.  A raffle with prizes including Disney World tickets and air line tickets will take place. Copley Theater is located at 8 E. Galena Blvd in Aurora. Only 200 tickets will be sold so get them now! To buy tickets and for more information, contact Minday at 708-945-7800 or email at hspfundraisers@gmail.com.

Hugs For Hounds

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Hugs for Hounds, the 6th Annual Doggie Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 19th at 11 am.  This event is presented by Shorewood H.U.G.S. and the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The egg hunt will benefit Jullo, the Forest Preserve Police Department's K9 officer. The event will take place at Hammel Woods Dog Park in Shorewood. All dogs taking part in the event must be on a leash and accompanied at all times. A $5 fee per dog will be collected. Registration can be done the day of the event beginning at 10:30 am but pre-registration is encouraged. To pre-register, visit ReconnectWithNature.org or www.shorewoodhugs.com or you may call (815) 722-8193.

Plainfield YMCA Celebrates Healthy Kids Day

www.plainfield.patch.com

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The C.W. Avery Family YMCA is celebrating Healthy Kids Day with a free community open house on April 26th from 9 am till noon. This special day aims to educate about the importance of keeping kids active throughout the summer. The Y would like to offer the following tips:

• Ensure that kids get at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
• Read to and with your kids
• Participate in charity walks, races, and fun runs with your kids
• Volunteer together; find a cause that your kids care about and invest in it
• Be an example-lead a healthy lifestyle

The C.W. Avery Family YMCA is located at 15120 Wallin Drive in Plainfield.

April Contest

Plainfield Community-Don't forget to head over to my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/remax.dause, to enter my April photo contest to win a prize!!

Nut Free Bakery Opens In Plainfield

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Callie's Cuties Nut FREE Bake Shop opened in Plainfield last month and is the western suburbs only nut free bakery. Owner Laura Meehan opened the bakery to allow other families affected by nut allergies, like her own, to enjoy sweets and treats. Customers can outsource birthday cakes, wedding cakes, holiday treats and more. Callie's Cuties Nut FREE Bake Shop is located at 16108 S. Rt. 59 Unit 110B/REAR Plainfield, IL 60586. For more information, visit www.ccnutfree.com.

Forest Preserve District Of Will County's Community Volunteer Work Day

www.shorewood-il.patch.com

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Volunteer to help the Forest Preserve District of Will County improve a preserve on Earth Day weekend. Volunteers will help with trail maintenance, garbage removal, wood chipping, and brush clearing. Employees from Comcast, JULIE Inc, Saratoga Food Specialties, Bill Jacobs Auto Group, BMO Harris Bank, Enbridge Energy, CITGO Lemont Refinery, CARCARE Collision Centers, Exelon Generation, ExxonMobile Pipeline, TransCanada, and Homer Tree Service will be participating in this event along with other volunteers. The work day is Saturday, April 26th at Whalon Lake Preserve from 8 am until noon. Pre-registration can be done by calling (815) 722-9387 or emailing kmuentnich@fpdwc.org. Participants will be continental breakfast and lunch provided by Comcast. Whalon Lake Preserve is located on Royce Road, west of Route 53.

Attention Plainfield Community!!

Head over to my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/remax.dause, to check out my April Picture Contest! The winner will receive a gift card to the place of their choosing-see my Facebook page for details! Good luck!

Attention Plainfield Residents!!

Head over to my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/remax.dause, to check out my April Picture Contest! The winner will receive a gift card to the place of their choosing-see my Facebook page for details! Good luck!

Alter Ego Playing At Gruben's Uptown Tap In Plainfield

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Alter Ego, one of Chicagoland's hottest classic rock bands, will be performing at Gruben's Uptown Tap in Plainfield tomorrow, April 12th from 9 pm to 1 am. Special guest musicians include Ron Romero, who performed with The Buckinghams and Gary Puckett as well as Tom Yurik, one of Chicagoland's most critically acclaimed guitarists. Gruben's Uptown Tap is located at 24035 W Lockport Street in Plainfield. Admission is free.

Plainfield Central High School's Funny Girl

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Plainfield Central High School students are performing the musical 'Funny Girl' starting tomorrow through Sunday. Catch the show Friday April 11th at 7 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Plainfield Central is located at 24120 Fort Beggs Drive in Plainfield. Enjoy the show!

April Picture Contest

Head over to my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/remax.dause, to check out my April Picture Contest! The winner will receive a gift card to the place of their choosing-see my Facebook page for details! Good luck!

Pancake Bars

www.plainfield.patch.com

Credit: Freedigitalphotos.net By: David Costillo Dominici

Are you short on time in the morning and looking for something quick for breakfast? Try these bake ahead pancake bars!

1. Mix your favorite pancake mix to create a batter. Be careful not to over mix the batter; there should be some lumps.

2. Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray and spread the batter evenly into the dish.

3. Add granola to the batter for a healthier pancake bar or add both granola and chocolate chips for a treat.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until the batter is fully cooked. The cooking time will depend on the amount of ingredients you add to your batter.

5. Take the baking dish out of the oven and allow the bars to cool down. Cut the pancake bars into equal pieces and serve immediately or freeze. Enjoy!

Stroller Strides

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If you are a mom in the Shorewood area looking to get fit, check out Stroller Strides. Stroller Strides is a fitness class involving power walking and intervals of strength training and body toning exercises using the stroller, the environment and exercise tubing. The classes are lead by certified fitness instructors and is for any level of fitness. The classes are designed to entertain the baby while mom gets her workout in. Classes meet at Fuel, located at 400 Earl Road in Shorewood. Classes are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 am. The initial class is free but enrollment needs to be completed online at www.plainfield.fit4mom.com. For more information call Eryn Kubinski at (815) 290-9276 or email at erynkubinski@fit4mom.com.

More Illinois Fun Facts

www.rebootillinois.com

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• The highest point in Illinois is Charles Mound standing at 1,235 feet
• Illinois is home to the world's only river that flows backwards
• Aurora is known as the City of Lights because it was the first U.S. city to use electric street lighting throughout the entire city
• There is a fire-breathing dragon in Vandalia, IL known as the Kaskaskia Dragon
• The term 'jazz' was coined in Chicago in 1914 by Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa
• The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is the nation's oldest public zoo and is one of three major free zoos in the country
• Twinkies were invented on April 6, 1930 in River Forest, IL
• Morton, IL is the pumpkin capital of the world with more than 85% of packaged pumpkin coming from here
• The world's tallest man was born in Alton, IL. Robert Pershing Wadlow was 8'11" tall, weighed 491 pounds, and wore a size 37 shoe
• The first public office that Abraham Lincoln took was as postmaster in New Salem, IL
• The first farming tower silo was created in Spring Grove, IL
• The first all-color TV station debuted in Chicago (channel 5)
• Almost 80% of the state's land area is farm land
• April 1st was officially named "Cheap Trick Day" in Illinois

A Few Insights For Sellers

www.trulia.com

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• This is a great time to sell: Mortgage rates holding steady at historical lows as well as the fact that many potential homebuyers were waiting out the brutal winter to buy makes this a great time to list your home.
• 60% of all homes in 2014 will be bought and sold from May to August: Putting your home on the market at the beginning of the busy season gives you a better shot at getting a great offer before buyers start thinking about school again in late summer.
• Price your home right: It is crucial to get your home on the market at the right price point. A Realtor can help you determine the best price for your home in order to get it sold quickly. Call Dawn Dause at (815) 954-5050 for a FREE market analysis to help give you an idea of the market conditions in your area.
• Put your home in the spotlight: Dawn and her team will ensure that your home is front and center to potential buyers. Quality pictures will be taken and displayed using various outlets and your home will also be marketed using Social Media tools.

Pet Supply Outlet And Purrfect Fur Pets In Plainfield

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Plainfield Pet Supply Outlet has been providing all natural, holistic, and organic dog and cat food for over 25 years. The pet supply outlet is open 7 days a week and enjoys being a part of the Plainfield community by participating in different fundraisers and auctions as well as hosting various monthly events. Purrfect Fur Pets is located within the Plainfield Pet Supply Outlet building and uses all natural products as well as filtered water to groom and care for your pet. The groomers at Purrfect Fur Pets have a combined experience of 36 years and they provide individual attention for each pet. A vet is on site Mondays through Saturdays as well. Both of these businesses have recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Plainfield Pet Supply Outlet and Purrfect Fur Pets are located at 23907 W. Industrial Drive N. Plainfield, IL 60585.

Celebrate The Earth

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Celebrate the Earth with the Plainfield Park District on Tuesday April 22nd from 6:30 PM till 7:15 PM at the Streams Rec Center. Children ages 2-6 along with a parent can make crafts from recycled materials including a mini rain barrel. Instructor Darlene Finck will teach kids how to keep the Earth clean and healthy.  The cost for this event is $12 for residents and $18 for non-residents. For more information and to register for this event, call (815) 436-8812 or visit www.plfdparks.org.

Easter Eggstravaganza With The Shorewood Park District

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The Shorewood Park District is hosting an Easter egg hunt event for kids ages 1-8 on Saturday April 12th at Towne Center Park in front of Village Hall. Gates open at 9 am and the hunts are grouped according to age: 1 and 2 year olds will begin their hunt at 10 am, 3-5 year olds at 10:30, and 6-8 year olds at 11 am. Don't forget a basket for the eggs! Some eggs will contain a slip of paper to win a prize!

Normantown After Dark

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The Plainfield Park District is hosting Normantown After Dark at the Normantown Equestrian Center on April 25th from 6-11 PM. This event is open to horse lovers ages 9-16. The children will be able to help with night-time chores and closing up the stables for the night. After the chores are finished everyone will meet in the clubroom to have pizza, watch a horse movie, and play games. The cost is $35 for a resident and $45 for a non-resident. For more details and information about registering, call (815) 254-1950 or visit www.plfdparks.org.