Dinner for Two?

Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and the Chicago Southland has plenty of options to make your loved one swoon.

You’ve probably heard the saying “Food is the way to a man’s heart.” Well, in case you didn’t know, food is the way to a woman’s heart too!  Earn yourself some brownie points by taking your valentine to one of the amazing restaurants here in the Chicago Southland.

Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery, Flossmoor
This special menu prepared by Chef Eduardo Camarena will make your heart skip a beat.  Your entrée includes two 4-ounce beef tenderloins grilled to perfection with imperial porter porcini mushroom demi-glaze sauce and is served alongside two golden ale battered jumbo shrimp poached in butter zephyr. This is served with your choice of soup or salad, parsley buttered red potatoes and roasted asparagus.  What would a meal be at the brewery without a delicious beer pairing? Enjoy a pint of your favorite brew and finish off the meal with the Pullman Brown Ale chocolate mousse.
$27.99 per person
Call 708-957-2739 to make your reservation. Click HERE for more info.

Chuck’s Southern Comforts Café, Burbank
Win the way into your loved ones heart with a romantic dinner at Chuck’s Café!  They will be featuring Cajun Surf and Turf: prime filet mignon, lobster tail grilled to order and topped with an andouille sausage etouffee served with pasta magnifique- a creamy Cajun Alfredo sauce with crab and crawfish over a bed of fettuccine topped with blackened shrimp and scallops, broccoli and fresh grated parmesan cheese.  Save room for dessert, this includes Chuck’s homemade Crème brulee & profiterloes w/ dark chocolate ganche.
$24.95 per person
Call 708-229-8700 to make your reservation. Click HERE for more info.

Maple Tree Inn, Blue Island
Enjoy a delicious meal at “One of Chicago’s Best Restaurants” as rated by urbanspoon.com. Over Valentine’s Weekend (February 13^th-15^th) enjoy a chef special of an 8-ounce filet topped with jumbo lump crab meat and fresh sautéed asparagus finished with Bearnaise Sauce or a 6-8 ounce lobster tail and 3 jumbo shrimp topped with Maple Tree’s Bienville sauce and melted provolone cheese. Both specials are served with Pommes Truffade.
$29.95 per person
Call 708-388-3461 to make your reservation. Click HERE for more info.

Cooper ’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Orland Park
This Valentine’s Day bring your loved one to Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant where you can expect upscale dining with a signature menu that is designed to pair perfectly with signature wines that are made in Cooper’s Hawk private winery. The restaurant is offering a special chef’s recommendation menu of Herb Roasted Salmon served with Lemon Butter Asparagus and Fingerling Potatoes or Surf and Turf with Parmesan Lobster Tail-2 3oz.filets (one topped with Parmesan crust and one with horseradish crust) along with a Parmesan Herb Rubbed 7oz. Lobster tail with Mary’s Mashed Potato and Asparagus ($23-$36). Finish off your delicious pairings with Chocolate Raspberry Silk pie ($8). They will also be offering their full menu options as well.
Call 708-633-0200 to make your reservation. Click HERE for more info.

For a listing of other fabulous restaurants in the Chicago Southland, click HERE.

Who Doesn’t Love Chocolate?

We all know that a box (or two) of chocolates is the way to go when spoiling your loved one.  The Chicago Southland has plenty of specialty chocolate shops for you to pick up some sweets for your sweetheart.

Gayety’s Gourmet Chocolates & Ice Cream
3306 Ridge Road, Lansing
708-418-0062

Mitchell’s Premium Ice Cream & Candies
18211 Dixie Highway, Homewood
708-799-3835

Cunis Candies & Ice Cream
1030 East 162^nd Street, South Holland
708-596-2440

Kernel Sweet Tooth
17258 Oak Park Avenue, Tinley Park
708-444-7677

Kernel Sweet Tooth
11 South White Street, Frankfort
815-464-4466

Dan’s Homemade Candies
11400 West  Lincoln Highway, Mokena
815 464-0827

 

Pampering

Indulge in a day of pampering and candy? Yes, please!  When you purchase a $75 Massage Envy of Tinley Park gift card you will receive a free ½ pound box of Dan’s Homemade Candies.  That sounds like a pretty sweet deal!

Massage Envy
7270 W. 191st Street, Tinley Park
815-469-4400
Click HERE for more info.

Snowshoe Under the Stars: Sweetheart Style

Saturday, February 15, 6PM-9PM
Monee Reservoir
27341 Ridgeland Avenue, Monee
708-534-8499

What better way to warm up and get your heart racing than by strapping on some snowshoes and hiking the 2.5-mile trail under the stars with your sweetheart?  Afterward, cuddle up next to your sweetie, relax by the fire, and enjoy some wine, fruit and chocolate.  Click HERE for more info.

Getaway for a Night

Whitney’s Cafe (Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn)
Friday, February 14th & Saturday, February 15th
9333 South Cicero Avenue, Oak Lawn
708-425-7800
Enjoy a delicious meal at Whitney’s Cafe for only $95 per couple. This includes Freixenet Sonoma champagne, an abundant appetizer platter, salad, filet Mignon entree and delicious dessert! Click HERE for more info.

Georgios Comfort Inn of Orland Park
Saturday, February 1st – Friday, February 28th
8800 West 159th Street, Orland Hills
708-403-1100
Take advantage of this great deal for you and a loved one! This package includes champagne and chocolates for 2, complimentary late checkout at 2PM as well as a $25 gift certificate for Zante Lounge & Eatery.  The rates are $125 for a standard king room and $175 for a whirlpool suite. Click HERE for more info.

 

 

Looking to stave off those winter blahs?

Great festivals and events await you in the Chicago Southland! Get all the information about the over 275 fun festivals and events taking place in Chicago’s 62 south and southwest suburbs by requesting a free November 2013 – April 2014 Chicago Southland Festivals & Events Guide today.

There’s something for every member of the family:

+Enjoy several holiday celebrations:

• Tinley Park Holiday Market at the Oak Park Avenue Train Station December 6-8, 2013 in Tinley Park, Ill.
• Lunch with the Grinch at Chuck’s Southern Comforts Café December 20-23, 2013in Burbank, Ill.
• Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo on Saturdays & Sundays December 1-22 & 26-31, 2013 in Brookfield, Ill.
• Christmas at the Brewery at Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery on December 23, 2013 in Flossmoor, Ill.

+For a slice of the Iditarod race in our own backyard, check out the 19^th annual Musher Mania event on January 11, 2014 at the Monee Reservoir in Monee, Ill.
+Indulge during Chocolate Fest on February 15, 2014 in Homewood, Ill.
+Celebrate the Irish heritage of the region at the Fleadh on March 8, 2014 in Oak Forest, Ill.
The easy to use guide is broken down by month with color coding to identify the type of event, whether it has an admission fee and is handicapped accessible. The guides are distributed by the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau outside our region in response to visitor inquiries, web and leisure advertising, public relations efforts, and at various visitor information centers in Illinois.

Check out VisitChicagoSouthland.com for updated festivals and events listings or to order your free copy of the Chicago Southland Festivals & Events Guide today. You can also call the Chicago Southland CVB at (708) 895-8200 or email at Info@VisitChicagoSouthland.com for your copy.

This could easily be one of the busiest weekend in the Chicago Southland if you love unique festivals!

From Super Night at Balmoral Park to the Butterfly Festival at Lake Katherine, and Food & Wine Festival in Mokena, there is something happening every waking minute this weekend in the Chicago Southland!

 

You can always find more information about Chicago Southland Festivals & Events here!

 

Saturday, September 14, 2013 SUPER NIGHT Balmoral Park Race Track, 26435 South Dixie Highway, Crete, IL 708-679-1414 Balmoral Park’s biggest night of the year! Special 6:30 PM Post Time Great time to see the best in Illinois harness Racing. Free Admission and parking! Free drawings throughout the night. Check out their site for more details!     GREEN THUMB SATURDAYS Village Hall, 2020 Chestnut Road, Homewood, IL 708-206-3393 Putting Garden to Bed – Co-sponsored by University of Illinois Extension Master Gardner Program and The Village of Homewood’s Tree Committee. 9:30-10:15AM

NATURE TALES: MIGRATION CELEBRATON Sand Ridge Nature Center, 15891 Paxton Avenue, South Holland, IL 708-868-0606 Children in grades 1-4 are invited to learn about birds as millions of them get ready to make their annual trip south for the winter. 1:30-2:30PM

WOOFSTOCK Bailey’s Crossing, 9910 South Melvina, Oak Lawn, IL 708-857-2200 4th Annual festival for dogs and people. The event will include: Contests, Dog Fashion Show, Doggie Dashes, Vender Booths and Concessions. 1-4PM

MOKENA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL Historic McGovney-Yunker Farm, 10820 LaPorte Road, Mokena, IL 708-479-2468 Join us for our 10th Annual Festival of Food and Wine on the grounds of historic McGovney-Yunker Farm. Taste a variety of wines specially paired with dishes from local restaurants. Enjoy the festival atmosphere, browse the artisan booths and listen to live performances. Ages 21 and over ONLY. ALL TICKET SALES FINAL. (This is an outdoor event. For your comfort please dress accordingly). 12-6PM

SPANK! THE FIFTY SHADES PARODY The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, One University Parkway, University Park, IL 708-235-2222 It’s time for the saucy book that caused a world sensation to get SPANKED! SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody is the hilarious new musical that brings all the naughty fun of the best-selling book to life. Your inner goddess will be laughing out loud with this new imagining of the characters as they come to life with sharp-witted comedy, musical numbers, steamy and fun performances from the hunky leading man, plus lots of surprises! Get there early for pre-show cocktails, then stay to meet the cast after the show, and pose for a photo with the fetching star himself. 8PM

NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL EVENT Breidert Green, Oak & Kansas Streets, Frankfort, IL 815-469-2177 x243 10AM-4PM

CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER TOYOTA PARK, 7000 South Harlem Avenue, Bridgeview, IL 888-MLS-FIRE The Chicago Fire sit one point out of a playoff spot and take on a tough New England Revolution Club. Get their early for your free scarf at Sustainability Night presented by Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program 7:30PM

CREEK PEEK Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 West 111th Street, Lemont, IL 630-257-2045 How clean is the water? Learn how to measure a creek’s quality by what is living in it. 1PM

FLOSSMOOR 5K RUN/WALK Leavitt Park, 1010 Leavitt Avenue, Flossmoor, IL 708-957-0300 9AM

SPORTS COLLECTIBLE SHOW Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park, IL 708-403-6200 Sports Cards, Toys, Nascar & More 9AM-2PM

GOODENOW GROVE FALL FEST Plum Creek Nature Center, 27064 Dutton Road, Beecher, IL 708-946-2216 Celebrate the arrival of autumn at this annual festival. Live music, children’s activities and vendors are just a few features of this family program. 11AM-5PM

Sunday, September 15, 2013 OLD MILL FALL FEST H.A. Rathje’s Peotone Mill, 427 West Corning Avenue, Peotone, IL 708-258-6797 Explore three floors of this German Windmill built in 1872 filled with antiques, exhibits and demonstrations of old time crafts. 11AM-5PM

ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOUR Begins at Masonic Temple, 12757 Western Avenue, Blue Island, IL 708-371-8546 Our Architectural Walking Tour will begin at the Masonic Temple and progress through the neighborhood on foot. This walk will be just under one mile in distance. Be sure to wear walking shoes. Refreshments will be served. Call for information on pre-sale tickets. 1PM

MONARCH BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens, 7402 West Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights, IL 708-361-1873 Butterfly Tent, Live Music, Rock Climbing Wall, Hayrides, Children’s Games and Crafts, Make and Take Garden Activities, Scarecrow Making, Arts and Crafts Fair, Potato Dig, Canoe Rentals, Amateur Photo Contest, Face Painting, Food Vendors, Farm Animals, The Frog Lady, Reptile Road Show, Children in Butterfly Costumes will Receive a Free Gift While Supplies Last 11AM-4:30PM

SEPTEMBER SUNSET MUSIC SERIES Breidert Green, Oak & Kansas Streets, Frankfort, IL 815-469-2177 x243 5PM

 

 

Nine travel writers toured the Chicago Southland on Friday August 23, 2013. As part of Travel Media Showcase 2013 in Rockford, IL, the journalists boarded a bus early Friday morning and made their way for the #Southland Tour (check out our 200-tweet Storify from the trip). The travel writers were graciously hosted by the Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn & Conference Center.

The travel writers visited:

Pullman Historic District

Pullman State Historic Site

Homewood Rail Park & Viewing Platform & Richard Haas Murals

Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery

Park Forest Rail Fan Park

Historic Downtown Frankfort

The Pickwick Society Tea Room, Gifts & Antiques

Chicago Fire Soccer Club at Toyota Park

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Check Out our Gallery From the Event!

Representatives from the Villages of Park Forest and Matteson and Canadian National Railway cut the ribbon to open the Railfan Park.

Representatives from the villages of Park Forest and Matteson and Canadian National Railway cut the ribbon to open the Park Forest Railfan Park Saturday, July 27, 2013, at the at the corner of Homan Avenue and North Street in Matteson, Ill.

The Railfan Park features a 35-foot high handicap accessible platform overlooking one of the country’s largest rail intersections, where the Canadian National north/south main line intersects the east/west rail arc. The only other intersection like this is out of public view in the mountains of California.

Interpretive signage telling the story of Park Forest and railroads in the Chicago Southland are spread throughout the 500-foot ramp and on the ground near the restored EJ&E Caboose #531.

 The park has already garnered the attention of a popular talk radio program amongst railroad enthusiasts, Let’s Talk Trains, which aired live from the park during the grand opening event.

Park Forest officials, a Canadian National representative and the Chicago Southland CVB’s Public Relations Manager Scott Bort were interviewed for the broadcast.  Scott’s portion begins about 38:30 into the broadcast.

The opening of the Park Forest Railfan Park is a significant portion of the Chicago Southland’s Illinois Central Rail Trail which features four great stops along the old Illinois Central Line (now the Metra Electric District).  Other stops include the Homewood Railroad Platform & Park, Flossmoor Station Resturant & Brewery and Pullman Historic District. The Chicago Southland CVB is continuing to position the region as a destination for railfans with new advertisements in train-centric magazines and the new Chicago Southland Rail site. ChicagoSouthlandRail.com is your home for railfanning in the Chicago Southland.

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Travel writer Jim Winnerman visited the Chicago Southland for a feature story about train watching in the region in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Pullman Historic Foundation President Mike Shymanski, left, talks with travel writer Jim Winnerman at the Pullman Visitor Center.

From left, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, Homewood Special Events Coordinator Allisa Opyd and travel Writer Jim Winnerman at the Homewood Viewing Platform.

Chicago Southland CVB Public Relations Manager Scott Bort brought Jim to several rail-oriented sites in the Chicago Southland including stops along the Illinois Central Rail Trail: Pullman Historic District, the Homewood Rail Park & Viewing Platform, Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery and the Park Forest Rail Fan Park.

 

 

 

 

 

Train Spotting at the five steel bridges near Broadway Street in Blue Island, Ill.

 

Jim also visited Blue Island, Ill., and Dolton, Ill., for train-spotting opportunities.

He also had the opportunity to check out the Richard Haas Murals and Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood, Ill., The murals along the Illinois Lincoln Highway, Historic Downtown Frankfort and the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park in University Park, Ill.

 

 

 

Jim was surprised by the number of rail-oriented attractions and viewing locations in the Chicago Southland. He was also impressed by downtown Frankfort and the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, particularly the scale of  “Paul.”

Travel writer Jim Winnerman takes a picture of his foot next to Paul Bunyan’s foot at the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park.

 

 

 

The article will appear in the St. Louis Post-Dispacth in August.