Downers Grove

National award-winning guitarist and harp-guitarist Muriel Anderson returns to her native Downers Grove once a year to continue her beloved neighborhood tradition. Her 18th annual performance begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, in Downers Grove North High School Auditorium.

Her parents, family and friends chip in to provide the legendary homemade refreshments and hot apple cider served at intermission. Guest harp-guitarist and humorist Andy Wahlberg from Florida joins her this year.

Muriel Anderson and her harp-guitar. She also will teach a guitar workshop that weekend. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Andy Wahlberg SUBMITTED PHOTO

Award-winning, singer-songwriter Greg Trafidlo will perform Friday evening, Nov. 27, at the Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove, where doors open at 7:30 p.m.

The tenor has appeared from Wrigley Field to the U.S. Capitol, from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to Cork, Ireland, and as far as Beijing, China, singing his distinctive blend of folk, country, blues and bluegrass.
 
He’s shared the stage with such artists as Bill Monroe, Kathy Mattea, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Tom Paxton and John Hartford. National Public Radio airs his song “(I Got Stuck Behind) Buford” on its nationally syndicated show, “Car Talk.”

The late Mike Fleischer of WDCB-FM in Glen Ellyn said, “Greg Trafidlo’s songs tickle your fancy, tickle your funny bone, tickle your thought processes, tickle your heart, and tickle your soul.”

For ticket information, contact Two Way Street Coffee House at (630) 969-9720 or www.twowaystreet.org.
 

As an antidote to stressful schedules and solitary online pursuits, family game nights are back in a big way.

Whether they feature board game classics or playful new offerings, they stand ready to sharpen minds at any age.

“Game nights are more about staying close to family; people are enjoying the quiet, family moments,” says Rosaleen Tully, co-owner of Learning Express of Homer Glen.

She says Gather ‘Round Dinner Game is specifically designed to keep kids at the dinner table longer.

Dan Pasquale D’Andrea, who recently launched the new season of the Salt Creek Sinfonietta in Hinsdale, takes the chamber orchestra on the road for a holiday benefit concert by the Combined Church Choir of Itasca. A busy music director, the Downers Grove resident also conducts the Senior Suburban Orchestra and College of DuPage Chamber Orchestra.

Salt Creek Sinfonietta is one of the musical ensembles conducted by Dan Pasquale D’Andrea, who grew up in Itasca and now lives in Downers Grove. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Don't eat those gumdrops and candy canes. Instead, use them to show off your creativity for the holidays with Downtown Downers Grove's First Gingerbread House Contest.

Entries are welcome in two divisions, Family/Individual and Business. Winners in each division will be chosen by viewers choice during "It's A Wonderful Weekend." Entry forms are due by 3 p.m. Thursday, November 19, and Gingerbread Houses need to be delivered on by 3 p.m. Friday, November, 27, 2009.

Gingerbread houses will be on display throughout downtown Downers Grove from Friday, November 27 to November 29.

For more information, call (630) 729-0380.

Delta Sonic Car Wash, in an effort to honor the men and women who have served our country, offers free car washes to all military veterans Wednesday, Nov. 11. Veterans need to inform a cashier to receive their free wash.

“We hope to make this an annual program, where we can show our support for armed forces personnel and reward all veterans for their service,” says Kim Canna, director of marketing.

Delta Sonic Car Wash, also known as “The Kissing Clean Car Wash,” opened it first car wash in 1967 in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Today, there are 28 locations in Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania, with services including car washing, detailing, oil changes, gasoline, convenience stores and food service.

In the Chicago suburbs, locations include Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Naperville, Palatine, Tinley Park, Joliet, Melrose Park, Glenwood and Crestwood. For location details, call (800) THE KISS or visit www.deltasoniccarwash.com.
 

Grove Players will launch its 74th season with the musical “Man of La Mancha,” inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quixote.”

Dave Callaghan (from left), Jess Iovinelli and Martin Gonzalez are in the cast of “Man of La Mancha.” SUBMITTED PHOTO

It plays at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 6 to 8, 13 to 15 and 20 to 22, in Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Ave., Downers Grove. The musical is by Dale Wasserman, with lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh.

For tickets, call (630) 415-3682 or visit www.groveplayers.org. They can be purchased in advance at Consider it Done, 5133 Main St., Downers Grove. Season tickets offer savings.
 

Children can explore with Dora the Explorer who will make a special Halloween appearance at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., in Downers Grove.

The event includes the theater's 17th Annual Costume Contest with prizes and free popcorn and a movie - "Igor," the story of a hunchbacked lab assistant who has big dreams of becoming a mad scientist and winning the first place prize at the annual Evil Science Fair.

Take advantage of savings with businesses in downtown Downers Grove tonight from 5 to 10 p.m.

During Moonlight Madness, as the evening gets later the savings get greater at participating downtown businesses. It's a night of progressive sales changing every hour.

Several west suburban restaurants are offering cooking classes, complimentary meals and a Halloween adventure to customers during the next two weeks.