Grub

Grub is a little bit hard to find, it's not on a major street, which is great because it doesn't have the huge crowds on the weekends that other popular breakfast places in LA have. The restaurant is very cozy. It's a converted cottage, so you almost feel like you're dining in someone's house. Breakfast/brunch is great, and the menu has some creative options. Lots of celebs seem to eat here.

Willow Creek Community Church

This is a ridiculous mega-church in the Chicago suburbs. The building reminds me of a mall... I mean it has a coffee shop and escalators for goodness sakes! Mass is often somewhat like a big performace--they have actors, musicians, etc. The Christmas services are extremely popular and you have to get tickets long beforehand. If this is the kind of church you are looking for, it has everything. It definitely appeals to a certain kind of person. I think it's a good place to go once in awhile, but to me, it lacks the more personal, intimate feel of a smaller church.

Los Angeles Zoo

Maybe I am spoiled, but compared to most zoos I have been to, this zoo was below average. I was surprised that it was still somewhat pricey ($9 for admission) and the line was somewhat long to get in on a weekend. When I went, many of the animals were not on display. For a much better experience, it's worth driving down to the San Diego Zoo.

Bloomingdale School Of Music

This is a very small place in Old Town Bloomingdale with a variety of music teachers. Lots of kids go here from the local schools for instrument, piano, and voice lessons. It's somewhat pricey, but the location is convenient for people in the area. They have student recitals every few months. Very cute little school. You'll always run into people you know here.

Kiddieland Amusement Park

Kiddieland has been open since 1929, and I hope it stays open for many years to come! I went here a few times every summer as a kid with all my cousins and we loved it... I look forward to going back with my own kids someday. The rides here are mainly for younger children, but there are some newer rides that cater to everyone. Lines are never very long for anything. The tilt-o-whirl and "Little Dipper" roller coaster were always favorites. Kids will find plenty here to keep them entertained all day long. Kiddieland is a lot more sentimental kind of a place than more commercialized amusement parks, like Great America.

Peterson Bruce B OD

My whole family has gone to Dr. Peterson for many years. His practice is in a very convenient location and it's an easy, comfortable place to go. Dr. Peterson is friendly and efficient. You never have to wait too long... nobody wants to waste too much time at the eye doctor. He has a decent selection of glasses that is constantly updated, but you may end up wanting to look elsewhere to order.

Meacham Grove Forest Preserve

I have gone for walks here ever since I was really little, and I have a lot of great memories from this forest preserve. My dad would take me here, we'd do activities here for Girl Scouts, and later I would come here in high school with friends for scary walks at night.

The entrance is located on the west side of Roselle Road, just a bit north of Lake Street. At the entrance, there are picnic tables, restrooms, a water pump, and fire pits. From this point, you can take several different trails into the forest. It's a peaceful escape from suburban life, and nice all year-round. In the fall, the vivid oranges, yellows, and reds are breathtaking.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Just another amazing thing to do in Chicago... and it's FREE! The Lincoln Park Zoo sprawls across the lakefront in a gorgeous location. Take the El, get off at Fullerton, and walk a few blocks through Lincoln Park to get here. The monkeys here are so entertaining. Everytime I watch them I laugh so hard I cry. Since it's free, it's great to even just stroll through, you don't feel obligated to stay all day and get your money's worth. Nearby, you can paddle boat or walk through beautiful gardens. The zoo is open year-round, and it's fun in all seasons. Just be sure to get there early, because everything closes up at 5pm.

St Pascal

This Catholic church has a lot of meaning to me and my family. My mom and all her brothers and sisters went to school here. All of our family weddings, funerals, etc. are here. My grandparents used to take me here when I was little and we still meet the family here for mass every once in awhile.

You can tell a lot of the people who go here have gone here for years and years. Everytime I go, I meet people that my parents grew up with in the neighborhood, who now bring children of their own. The building itself is very old and beautiful, like a church should be. It's very big and the priest's voice echoes throughout.

Cache

This place gives me a headache. It's a perfectly decent mall, but it can be a frustrating experience. Parking can be bad, you may have to drive around and around before finding a spot. Leaving can also be bad, sometimes you have to wait a long time to get out of the garage. They used to charge a LOT for parking (2 bucks and then more after a couple hrs), which is ridiculous. I lost track of time one day and they tried to charge me $8 or something crazy like that... luckily I complained and they let me out for $2. Now I think they charge $1 for the first few hrs, which is still a rip-off but average for LA parking.

The mall itself is very upscale. Not really any discount-type stores. They even just got rid of the Gap. Love to look at the puppies at the pet store, though. There are also a couple good restaurants attached (Grand Lux, PF Chang's, Chipotle).