Wheaton, part II
We conclude our look at Wheaton with Part Two of our fabulous journey into an ambitious and energetic downtown revitalization.
SereneTeaz
118A N. Hale
(630) 784-TEAS (8327)
www.SereneTeaz.com
SereneTeaz lives up to its motto to "relax, rejuvenate and nourish" with a wonderfully rich and exotic choice of teas in an earth-toned setting. Owners Bob and Sarine Crotteau have done their homework in offering more than 100 flavors of teas, as well as organic teas, teas from far-flung locales such as Morocco and South Africa and accessories ranging from teacups to cosies to infusors.
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday -Wednesday; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.
DuPage County Historical Museum
102 E. Wesley St.
(630) 682-7343
www.co.DuPage.IL.US/museum
The historical museum, located in an 1891 Richardsonian Romanesque building in downtown Wheaton, offers more than 150 years of DuPage County history. The museum offers hands-on activities and exhibits, plus an HO gauge model railroad display on the lower level.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
Suzette's Creperie
211 W. Front
(630) 462-0898
www.suzettescreperie.com
This French bistro and Salon de The (tea) tempts with a big-city menu of teas, crepes (bananas foster and hot fudge banana), tea sandwiches (sliced egg, smoke salmon with dill and capers, and pate with whole grain mustard and cornichon), and desserts (baked fruit pie a la mode and assorted pastries from Suzette's boulangerie and patisserie). Cooking classes are also featured.
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
L'Anne Restaurant
221 W. Front
(630) 260-1234
The restaurant presents French-Vietnamese fusion fare in a romantic, lovely setting.
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Tuesday; 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5--10 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 5--10 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday-Monday.
The Theosophical Society in America
1926 N. Main
(630) 668-1571
www.theosophical.org
The Theosophical Society in America, founded by the eccentric Madame Blavatsky in the 19th century, has its headquarters in Wheaton. Blavatasky helped introduce ideas about Eastern philosophy and religion to the United States. The society runs a bookstore, a retreat center, and a publishing house, which publishes books on such obscure topics as shamanism and mandalas. The bookstore sells incense and meditation tools.
Hours: 9 a.m.-noon and 1:15--5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Library hours: 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday; 1--5 p.m. Saturday.
Bundles of Books
121 N. Hale
(630) 480-8000
Bundles of Books houses an up-to-the-ceiling collection of 11,000 used books collected by owner Rosemary Arellano, as well as handmade jewelry and gifts by craftswoman Melissa Fugiel and mosaic art and Fair Trade coffee provided by Ann Glenn.
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
Egg'lectic Cafe
145 N. Hale
(630) 690-9001
Clearly a Wheaton favorite, Egg'lectic Cafe draws big crowds for heaping plates of egg dishes ranging from the "Iron Man" egg-white omelette to the Tuscany omelette with Italian chicken sausage, tomatoes and spinach, as well as a rich variety of pancakes topped with your choice of fruit. A waitress carried a birthday cake with lit candle to a nearby table on a sunny Saturday afternoon and everyone serenaded the birthday celebrant in the home-spun, loft-like restaurant with plenty of room for larger parties.
Hours: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily.