Thursday, September 18, 2014

Lutz Bakery

I love a good, old fashioned bakery and in Chicago they can be hard to find.  This summer we popped into Lutz Cafe and Pastry Shop (2458 W. Montrose) for a special treat and we were not disappointed.  When you walk in the door the first thing you see is several large glass cases filled with all sorts of appetizing treats and then there is that amazing bakery scent that hits you.  Further back into the bakery is a little cafe with a seating area where you can have lunch.  We never made it that far - just couldn't get past the baked goods.  The girls, of course, had a hard time choosing between the cupcakes, cookies, cream puffs, and fancy chocolates.  Ultimately they decided on large decorated cookies.  I had a hazelnut log, which is hard to describe but was really delicious, although quite sweet and rich.  The girls also picked out a cupcake for their dad, which was enjoyed by all.  Lutz has some specialty Christmas treats so we are looking forward to going back in a few months.

Lutz Cafe and Pastry Shop is open seven days a week, most days 7 AM until 7 PM but doesn't open until 7:30 AM on Mondays and stays open until 8 PM on Friday and Saturday.  Lutz also takes online orders at their website http://www.chicago-bakery.com/.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Green Genes

Green Genes, located at 5111 N. Clark in Andersonville, is just beyond cute with the shelves bursting with eco-friendly toys, books, and clothing. I went into this store looking for a baby gift for a friend who was having her fourth and fifth baby.  She pretty much has all of the practical stuff so I wanted to get her something special.  I would definitely say the items in this store are for that type of occasion, meaning the merchandise is on the pricier side, of course you have to pay more for quality and responsible vs. mass produced products.  The store is definitely not just for babies and toddlers, however.  There are lots stuff from Plan Toys, organic clothing in baby and children's sizes, art kits, and lots of reusable lunch items.  I ended up getting a couple of adorable burp clothes for my friend and some eco-finger paint for my son.  I know it will end up in his mouth so it's great to know the paint is all natural.  The saleswoman was super nice and helpful, even going out of her way to track down the price on something that was not marked.  I was able to find parking easily on Clark, however on the weekends parking can be quite difficult in Andersonville.  I will definitely keep Green Genes in mind the next time I want to get a special gift for a new baby or kid's birthday.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Lucky Platter

So hands down the best meal to eat out with kids is breakfast/brunch.  Most kids like breakfast foods, there are always other families dining, and those without kids tend to be more tolerant of the noise and mess.  We recently enjoyed a really great breakfast at the Lucky Platter, 514 Main St., Evanston.  We went on a Sunday morning around 9:30.  We were meeting friends so we were a large group of seven people.  We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table but the wait was much less for smaller parties.  The food was delicious.  I had a make your own scramble and upgraded one of my sides for the apricot cheese flaky.  Totally worth it.  They don't specifically have a kid's menu but you can order one pancake or one egg a la carte.  The girls had pancakes, which they devoured. 

We were able to find street parking about a block down.  The restaurant is open from 7:30 AM until 9:00 PM every day except for Sundays when it closes at 8:00 PM.  We haven't had a chance to stop by for lunch or dinner yet but will definitely do so soon.  For more information see their website http://luckyplatter.com/

Splash Landings

Now that all of the outdoor pools have closed until next summer, Splash Landings is is a great option for swimming with your kids in the fall and winter.  Located at 2400 Chestnut Ave. in Glenview Splash Landings is housed within a large complex of buildings that are all part of the Glenview Park District.  The easiest way to access the pool is to park at the back of the parking lot and enter the building near the gym.  There is a front desk in the swimming area where you pay for one time admission, which is $6 per person with children under 2 years free, or purchase a punch card or family pass for discounted per visit admission.  The fall schedule for family swim is currently posted at  http://www.glenviewparks.org/pool-hours-rules/.

When I went with my two daughters we had a great time swimming.  There are two pools.  One is deeper with some of the lanes divided for lap swimming.  The other pool, where we spent most of our time is shallower and has a water slide and some spray fountains.  I believe the pool is zero entry so even a toddler would have a great time here.  My girls love to swim and this is such a nice facility that we had a wonderful time.  It is a perfect place to burn off some energy during the cold months.  The locker rooms were super clean and modern.  In fact the whole pool area was very clean.  There are, of course, male and female locker rooms and then a couple of family changing rooms if you come with a child of the opposite sex.  We are all looking forward to going back this winter