E-EDITION
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026
Seats for Everyone
Why Performance Needs Philanthropy by Laura Michaud & Melissa G. Wilson On a November evening in Chicago’s western suburbs, the lights go down, and a theater fills. Artists take the stage. Families settle into their seats. Students experience live performance for the first time. And people who might not otherwise be able to afford a…
From Egypt to Fullersburg Woods
Four generations of the Girgis ENT Family recollect their favorite memories By Maureen Callahan | Photos by Courtney Kelly As we looked for a multi-generational family in Oak Brook to profile, the Girgis family lent us an ear – and nose and throat! Since Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist Matthew (Matt) Girgis, MD, moved…
Oak Brook Takes Shape as a Furniture Destination
Retailers and corporate headquarters are fueling a growing furniture economy Furniture is emerging as an economic development success story for Oak Brook, with sales tax revenue from the category reflecting a notable increase over the last 5 years. This growing segment of the Village’s sales tax revenue reflects the strength of a business sector that…
OAK BROOK MOTOR CLUB
Deep local roots drive the vision The proposed Oak Brook Motor Club promises a landmark destination for automotive enthusiasts, extending the Village’s private club tradition. Just as polo helped establish Oak Brook’s identity, this automotive country club would give collectors a distinctive place to celebrate their passion without leaving the Village. The project is homegrown.…
Cocoa, Lights & Community
Warm up and give back at Winter Lights Photos courtesy of Oak Brook Park District Winter Lights at Central Park gets a little warmer this season with the return of Cocoa Cabin. Open from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on select evenings in November and December, the cabin invites visitors to sip hot chocolate, enjoy cookies…
Oak Brook’s Distinguished Young Woman
Hinsdale Central student stands out on statewide stage By Anna Hughes Myra Dhillon has an impressive resume. At Hinsdale Central High School, she’s president of the Women in Engineering Club, the South Asian Student Union, and CHXX (Confident Hardworking Women Who Lift). She’s a member of the varsity Science Olympiad team and the Chamber Choir.…
A BRAINY IDEA
Hinsdale Central senior brings neuroscience education to the Oak Brook community By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff What began as an interest in neuroscience became a year-long project for Oak Brook resident and Hinsdale Central High School senior Sulaiman Samee. On August 22, Samee’s work culminated in the Brain Fair at the Oak Brook Public Library,…
Making a Splash
Clarendon Hills’ Becky Cavanagh Shines as Ducky Derby Ambassador By Julia Mazurek | Photos courtesy of Special Olympics Illinois The banks of the Chicago River were packed several people deep on a Thursday afternoon in August as more than 90,000 bright yellow rubber ducks hit the water for the 21st annual Chicago Ducky Derby. Amid…
A Shared Tradition
Oak Brook and Hinsdale Chapters come together for Mistletoe Medley For decades, Mistletoe Medley has been a holiday tradition in the western suburbs, raising funds in support of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. This year, the signature event takes on a new collaborative spirit, with members of the Oak Brook and Hinsdale Chapters coming…
PLACES of HONOR
Across DuPage County, memorials and landmarks preserve the stories of those who served and sacrificed By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff Across DuPage County, reminders of military service can be found in community parks, civic spaces, and museums. Some honor local residents who never returned home. Others recognize generations of veterans or preserve the history of…
A Tale of Two Thanksgiving Parades
As Macy’s marks its 100th parade, two local balloon handlers share their experiences in New York and Chicago By Maureen Callahan It’s almost Thanksgiving. The all-American holiday that predates the formation of our nation itself. It’s a day of customs. We wake up to backyard football games and local turkey trots and end the day…
A League of Their Own
Books & Brunch brings the community together in support of Assistance League Chicagoland West By Anna Hughes This November, Assistance League Chicagoland West will bring members and supporters together for its annual Books & Brunch fundraiser, an event that helps fuel the organization’s work throughout Western Cook and DuPage counties. “We consistently look at what…
Santa’s Local Helpers
Toy Express keeps Christmas joy local By Maureen Callahan Sometimes, even Santa needs a hand this time of year. That’s where Toy Express Children’s Charity comes in. For the last 36 years, the 501©(3) non-profit organization has collected toys to help DuPage County families supplement Santa’s offerings for their children. While toys might not be…
Christmas Markets Worth the Trip
Five Christmas markets to inspire a future winter getaway By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff There is something about Europe at Christmastime that makes even winter skeptics reconsider the season. Centuries-old squares glow beneath thousands of lights, wooden stalls fill with handmade ornaments and gifts, and the scent of mulled wine and holiday treats drifts through…
Hitting the Slopes (or Bike Trail or Golf Course) with Friends
There’s more to Piccadilly Ski Club than stem christies By Maureen Callahan | Photos courtesy of Larry Himmelblau When you have a hobby you love, like skiing, there’s nothing better than finding a community of friends to share your passion. For the past 54 years, Piccadilly Ski Club has welcomed skiers and snowboarders, along with…
Come on Over
The dinner party is back, but the rules have changed By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff Maybe it was inevitable. After years of restaurant reservations, elaborate grazing boards and perfectly styled parties made for social media, entertaining is coming home again. But this time, we’re leaving some of the old rules behind. The new dinner party…
Strategic Year-End Giving
Thoughtful strategies for making the most of your charitable gifts By Dave McGowan Year-end charitable giving can accomplish more than supporting the organizations you care about. With thoughtful planning, it can also create meaningful tax advantages. If you don’t itemize, you could use a charitable bundling strategy whereby you estimate your charitable giving goals…
The Gifts We HAD to Have
A nostalgic look back at the toys that topped wish lists By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff Long before “going viral” entered the vocabulary, certain toys had the power to send shoppers racing to stores, empty shelves and turn an ordinary gift into a cultural phenomenon. A nostalgic look back at some of the things we…
More Than Holiday Shopping
What turns a trip to Oakbrook Center into an afternoon, an evening, or a reason to come back By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff | Photo courtesy of Oakbrook Center A trip to Oakbrook Center used to be fairly straightforward: you went to shop. Today, you might go to meet friends for dinner, catch a movie,…
The First Heisman
The remarkable life of college football legend Jay Berwanger By Maureen Callahan As college football prepares to crown its next Heisman Trophy winner this December, it’s worth remembering where the tradition began—and the remarkable local man who received the very first award. So today’s trivia question: Who was the winner of the first Heisman Trophy?…
