the daily

Christmas Walk 2009 offers an evening of festivities

The 18th annual Christmas Walk takes place Saturday (Dec. 5) in downtown La Grange.

Click here for a schedule of events and a map of merchants holding open houses this year.

Knead to receive village's first BYO liquor license

UPDATE: As anticipated, the La Grange village board of trustees Oct. 26 approved a new BYO license for Knead Marketplace.

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Knead Marketplace received a recommendation of approval Monday night from the La Grange liquor commission for the village's first-ever "bring your own" license.

A final o.k. from the village board of trustees likely will be granted at its next meeting Oct. 26. Liquor licenses routinely are listed on the board's omnibus agenda, whose items generally are approved without discussion.

Knead's proprietors, Chris Spagnola and Mary Libsch, who opened their  downtown bakery/deli/cafe at 13 S La Grange Rd two years ago, said they will begin offering BYO service early next month in conjunction with the introduction of their first dinner menu, which will be available Thursday through Saturday nights.

The BYO option is among several new liquor license categories approved in August by the village board. The new licenses are effective Nov. 1.

"When we first heard about the [BYO license] we thought it would be a perfect thing for us because we only have 20 seats," Spagnola said.

Knead does not have adequate room or staff to operate with a full-service bar like the one the couple had as owners of Emilio's Sunflower Bistro, he said. They closed that restaurant, which also was located downtown, earlier this year to focus their efforts on Knead.

Spagnola said BYO service would offer diners a low-cost alternative in today's tight economy.

He said the couple plans to approach a fine-wine retailer, possibly Trader Joe's, with the idea of doing some cross-market promotions encouraging patrons to pick up a bottle of wine while on their way to Knead for dinner.

Spagnola said they will carry "dram shop" insurance to cover alcohol-related liability, and also will have their employees undergo TIPS training for intervention procedures in handling intoxicated patrons. Both are required by law for full-service license holders, but not for a BYO license.

To help defray those costs, he said BYO patrons will be charged a service fee of "two or three dollars" per bottle.

"We'll see what kind of feedback we get," Spagnola said.

"We'll be curious to see how it goes, what works and what doesn't," Mark Langan, a village trustee who is one of three members of the liquor commission, said. Langan voted to recommend approval of Knead's license, as did Elizabeth Asperger, who also serves as village president.

The liquor commission's third member, Trustee Mark Kuchler, could not attend Monday's meeting. But Asperger said Kuchler asked her to express his support for the application, adding that Kuchler believed Knead's plans "were exactly what our BYO ordinance hoped to attract."

LaPidus steps down as business association president

Michael LaPidus today resigned as president of the La Grange Business Association (LGBA), citing the need to focus solely on his new restaurant, Q-BBQ.

LaPidus announced his resignation in an email sent this afternoon to LGBA members.

Honor Lorenzini, the association's vice president and a co-owner of Urban Sole boutique, will become its new president, LaPidus said.

Ryan Williamson, owner of Horizon Wealth Management, will replace Lorenzini as vice president and also will retain his current position as secretary of the association. Cindy Lautner will continue as its treasurer.

LaPidus' email did not give an effective date for his resignation, nor indicate whether the appointments of Lorenzini and Willingham to their new positions would require the approval of the LGBA membership.

The next regular meeting of the LGBA is scheduled for Sept. 10.

LaPidus hopes to open Q-BBQ later this month at 70 S La Grange Rd, where he operated Roly Poly Sandwiches for several years before closing the franchise eatery last month.

Click here to read the full text of the email LaPidus sent to LGBA members announcing his resignation.

Ed. Note: An earlier version of this post mistakenly reported that Ryan Willingham would become the new vice president of the LGBA. Willingham is the director of public works for the Village of La Grange and is not a member of the LGBA. We regret the error.

WGN-TV gives a boost to "best downtown" kudos

Having read in Chicago Magazine's August edition that La Grange has the "best downtown," WGN-TV reporter Marcus Leshock last week visited the central business district to check out firsthand "what makes it so special."

Leshock spoke on camera with Village President Elizabeth Asperger, toured the La Grange Theatre with one of its owners, JohnRot, dropped into Horton's hardware department and also spoke with Chris Spagnola and Mary Libsch, proprietors of Knead Marketplace.

Here's his report...

 

Asperger on Chicago mag's "best downtown" kudos

In her opening remarks at last Monday's meeting of the village board, President Elizabeth Asperger thanked local business owners, village staff and residents for efforts that resulted in Chicago magazine citing La Grange as having the "best downtown" among Chicago suburban communities.

"This designation really affirms the positive momentum that we have enjoyed, the work that has taken place in our central business district for at least the last couple of decades," Asperger said.

Related story:

• La Grange has "best downtown," Chicago Magazine says

Proposed ordinance to expand drinking options for diners and others on tap for board consideration

UPDATED: Aug. 10, 11:00 p.m. -- The La Grange village board tonight unanimously adopted the ordinance outlined in the story below. It's effective date is Nov. 1.

A proposed overhaul of village liquor laws would greatly expand the number and types of venues where alcoholic drinks could be served in La Grange, and even allow diners and patrons of certain businesses to bring their own beer and wine, according to a report authored by village staff.

The report recommends that the village board adopt an ordinance granting the changes at its regular meeting Monday night.

This comprehensive update of the liquor code has been in the works since 2007 and is needed "to better reflect the changing needs of our businesses, the growing popularity of our downtown, and the marketplace chanhes related to the sale and service of alcoholic liquor," the report said.

Under the new ordinance, licenses would be created specifically to permit food and wine boutiques, cabarets and movie theaters to sell alcoholic beverages by the glass under prescribed conditions.

New tasting licenses would allow grocers and other food retailers that already hold a package beer and wine license to routinely offer sample portions by the glass to customers.

Almost any retail or service business wishing to serve complimentary drinks at a grand opening or other promotional occasion could apply for a "single event" license, with a maximum of four events per business annually.

Another new and somewhat controversial "bring your own" license would allow restaurants patrons to consume beer and wine they obtained from outside sources. BYO licenses would be available to any restaurant, whether or not they already possessed a license to sell alcoholic beverages.

Businesses offering craft-making or make-your-own meals also could obtain a BYO license to allow  consumption of beer and wine by customers while actively engaged in those activities.

The new licenses were approved earlier this year by the village liquor commission after public hearings and discussions with representatives of the La Grange Business Association (LGBA), during which concerns were raised about the BYO concept.

Some restaurant owners already holding "full" liquor licenses felt that allowing any restaurant to offer BYO service would create additional competition and weaken the value of their existing sales licenses.

As initially proposed, full-service license holders were excluded from offering BYO service, but the classification was expanded to include existing licensees as a compromise, according to the staff report. However, many existing licensees told the village they likely would not offer BYO service.

Concerns about public safety also were raised over the BYO licenses. Full service licensees are required to have their servers and sellers undergo training in order to recognize and deal with intoxicated patrons.

Restaurants who hold only a BYO license would not be required to undergo training or background checks, But they, and all holders of any new liquor licenses would be required to maintain an adequate level of liability insurance.

Restaurants currently licensed would enjoy a couple of additional perks under the new ordinance. They could sell packaged bottles of wine to diners who had just finished a meal, allowing patrons to enjoy at home the same wine they had consumed with their meal. Also, those restaurants could sell bottles of wine in volume that would then be stored on premises for the purchasers to enjoy with meals consumed at the the restaurant at later dates.

The ordinance also sets new hours during which alcohol can be consumed. For restaurants: i1 a.m. until 1 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For all other businesses: 8 a.m until 11 p.m., seven days a week.

In a separate but related item on its omnibus agenda, the village board Monday night likely will approve two liquor licenses for Q Barbeque, a new restaurant opening this fall  at 70 S La Grange Rd, replacing Roly Poly Sandwiches, which is closing. Both businesses are owned by Michael LaPidus, who also serves as president of the LGBA.

If approved, one license would allow Q to sell beer and wine by the glass. The second is a liquor license for its catering operation.

Click here to read the full staff report and ordinance.

Fireworks, festivities to mark park district's 80th year

The Park District of La Grange tonight will mark its 80th anniversary, and its 8th annual Family Fest with a fireworks display at 9:30 in Gordon Park. Also new this year is a beer garden.

The free event, which begins at 5 p.m., offers something fun for everyone, according to park district officials, such as raffles, face painting, a petting zoo and dunk tank. Other offerings include:

• Bingo, 5:30 - 7:30
• DJ, 5:00 - 7:30
• Beer Garden, 5:00 - 8:00
• Kids Carnival Games, 5:00 - 8:00
• Food Vendors, 5:00 - 9:00
• Fun Jumps, 5:00 - 8:00
• Pony Rides, 5:00 - 8:00
• Dueling Pianos, 8:00 - 9:30

The entrance to Gordon Park is located on Ogden Ave east of La Grange Rd. Free parking is provided.

La Grange has best downtown, Chicago mag says

La Grange has the "best downtown," according to the August edition of Chicago Magazine, which annually ranks the best things to be found in the region.

Noting that La Grange was not unlike many suburbs whose downtowns had attracted "appealing restaurants and stylish boutiques" in recent years, the magazine found it unusual that "tried-and-true old-timers like the hardware store, the art league and the camera shops have stuck around, too."

Kudos also were given to the weekly farmers market and police patrolling on Segways.

"It all feels like a Mayberry for the 21st Century," the magazine wrote, echoing a description often invoked by Village President Elizabeth Asperger.

Ed. Note: A hat tip to reader Barista...Kook for the heads up on this story.

Village Potters offer some bowls for life's cherries

Local residents who take classes at the Terra Incognito clay studio and gallery in downtown La Grange know the joy of sharing one's work with family and family. Clay bowls and sculptures make lovely gifts.

But after several months of taking classes, their creative output was accumulating while their lists of likely gift recipients was dwindling. Who else might appreciate their clay craftwork? they wondered.

They found their answer at the La Grange Farmers Market, where 19 of the students have been offering their wares for sale every Thursday morning under the moniker, Village Potters.

In the video below, one of students, village resident Juanita Davis, talks about the group's venture and shows off some of their offerings.

This video was shot in mid-May soon after we acquired our camera. The footage was edited earlier this month as it took some practice to get the hang of our new editing software. Sales at the Farmers Market have grown significantly for the Village Potters, Juanita reports. Two weeks ago, the booth sold 40 pieces. All 19 potters have sold at least one piece so far this summer.

President Asperger touts new downtown restaurants

VIDEO: La Grange Village President delivered a roundup of new restaurants and other food-related businesses that are opening or, in some cases, already have opened this summer in the village's downtown business district.

The presentation was made during Asperger's opening remarks at the regular meeting of the village board of trustees held July 13.

Additional video footage of the businesses mentioned has been added.