Downtown Highland Park
Downtown Highland Park on the North Shore has developed immensely, and driving down Central Avenue, First and Second streets on a Saturday has become more of a challenge than the quiet days of the '70s and early '80s. Yet this development has brought family summer concerts to Port Clinton Square (a center plaza constructed in 1984) and a giant summer art fair that curves around side streets, attracting large crowds.
What began as a sleepy downtown area now offers more than one movie theater, restaurants, ice cream and coffee shops, clothing stores, gift shops and a surprisingly large Saks Fifth Avenue. We were charmed by the following places on a recent drive to this upscale, tree-rich suburb touching Lake Michigan.
H.P. Tops, 667 Central
(847) 433-0540
While attending our granddaughters' birthday parties, I saw boxes with the name of "H.P. Tops." What is H.P. Tops? A store where T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts and playful print cotton pants hang from ceiling to floor. They can all be personally initialed by selecting a favorite font from a chart. Then watch the process of imprinting and enjoy an old-fashioned demonstration. A favorite for gift-givers, this small shop owned by Larry and Myra Stone is nestled on the first floor of a brownstone on Highland Park's main drag.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
No. 1 Blue Engine, 675 Central
(847) 681-0782
Meet Thomas the Tank Engine! He sits outside of No. 1 Blue Engine on the corner patio of Central and Green Bay Road, waiting to take kiddies for a ride. This 2-month-old toy-train store brings W. Rev Awdry's 60-year-old children's book to life. The wooden railway system with happy-faced car trains can be assembled by parents and children. "It's a cult, a good cult!" says owner Larry Schwartz, as he points to toddlers reaching for the familiar cars they recognize from their books. Schwartz had just finished playing Sir Topham Hat for a birthday party held in the rear of the store, a service requested by customers.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Tales and Toys, 610 Central
(847) 433-2231
Where can I buy gifts for the newborn babies, I wail? My sister leads me to this inventive shop in Port Clinton Square, where games, toys, baby layettes, camp accessories, jewelry and Madame Alexander Dolls fill the shelves. Owner Robin Lieberman advises me to buy three graduated nesting bins with painted images (sports or animals for boys, flowers or butterflies for girls), which babies and toddlers can use for stacking toys, sitting or building, and small personalized or decorative step-stools on which toddlers and young children can sit or use as a mini-table.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Norton's Restaurant and Bar, 1905 Sheridan
(847) 432-3287
Edward Norton, memorable upstairs neighbor of a certain New York City bus driver, would have chuckled if he knew his photo hangs on the wall of a restaurant in upscale Highland Park along with other Norton notables (boxer Ken Norton and Ken Norton Jr., the football player). This lively neighborhood favorite offers succulent barbeque ribs ($19), barbeque chicken ($15), sandwiches and homemade coleslaw. Charming owner Richard (Richie) Holleb's eyes light up when he speaks of their popular homemade soups. Holleb and his partner, Jeffrey Mages, know customers by name, and by 11 p.m Saturday night they're ready to push back the tables and bring on the music (sometimes live rock bands) for late-night dancing, and karaoke about six nights a year. Who said the suburbs close down at 9 p.m.?
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Apple Tree Theatre, 595 Elm Place, Suite 210
(847) 432-8223
After an elevator ride to the second floor in the center of the brown brick shopping strip on Elm Place and Second Street, you will find 23-year-old Apple Tree Theatre, under the direction of Eileen Boevers. Two rows of seats were added to the intimate 177-seat theater to create a theater in the round for the current production of "Uncle Vanya," starring Ross Lehman. Brian Friel's version of Anton Chekhov's famous play, directed by Mark Lococo, runs through Sunday.