Another great gift idea, wine! Try 6 for 60 at WineStyles!

Let's not forget the best gift of all...wine! And lucky for my dinner party tonight, I scored 6 bottles for $60 of lovely, highly recommended wine at Wine Styles on Sherman.

The 6 for $60 section (pictured above) has nearly 100 wine labels from around the world and some have original prices of $18, so really, you're getting a great deal.

Be sure to stop by and tell Maggie that Lisa sent you, just don't be tacky like me and ask her for a quarter for the meter when you show up.

Wine Styles
www.winestyles.net/evanston
1741 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 328-4400

Holiday Pop Ups in Evanston

Twice this week I've scored affordable and unique last-minute holiday gifts at pop ups in Evanston. If you've got last-minute shopping to get done this holiday season, don't panic, Evanston has two very cool pop ups filled with merchandise for your shopping needs.

Adersonville Galleria Pop Up
1636 Orrington Ave.
Evanston IL 60201
Phone: 773-878-8570
Description: Local artists & unique gifts. Open until December 31.
Purchased: I scored two containers of dessert sauces (caramel and chocolate) created by an artisan sauce maker in Wisconsin. The two glass jars of sauce came packaged in a crafty, handmade wooden box that can be reused.
Gift recipient: my friend's parents who have everything to include an adorable grand daughter who will love this yummy sauce on the the ice cream sundaes grandma makes.
Damage: $30 (which I signed and paid for on an iPad, making the shopping experience feel so pop-uppy
Service: Awesome! The sales clerk let us in after hours (she saw us peering in the windows) and led us through the store and merchandise selections.

Pop Up Boutique
1307 1/2 Chicago Ave.
Evanston IL 60202
Phone: 847-205-1516
Description: Jewelry, clothes, art, baskets. Open until December 24.
Purchased: One lovely pair of earrings.
Gift recipient: My friend who has epic taste in fashion and has an amazing jewelry collection.
Damage: $24 (which I also signed and paid for on an iPad, making the shopping experience feel so pop-uppy
Service: Fantastic! The sales clerks asked me lots of questions about the gift recipient and then even shot down my original choice, recommending some a little more special. I totally appreciate that.

Let me know if you hear of any more pop ups in Evanston and I will add them to my list!

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Dec. 22: Last day to ride the Santa Train

Dear Readers, I am so sorry that I only got hip to the Santa Train yesterday but if you're organized, you can do one last ride today! Take the Yellow line from Howard and ride the train round trip into Skokie, click here for the schedule.

For the last three years, the CTA has created a Santa Train that rides around all the various CTA lines at designated times. You can board the train and see Santa and his reindeer, enjoy holiday music and get candy from elves! The inside and outside of the train is completely decorated, to include joke Christmas ads on the inside of the trains.

Today is the last day to ride so if you miss it, be sure to make time to go next year. The Santa Trains starts riding the CTA lines after Thanksgiving and goes until just before Christmas. For the full schedule and background info, click here.

Below is a short slide show of the Santa Train pulling in and out of the Dempster Street station last night.

From www.transitchicago.com:
About the train
The Chicago Transit Authority is getting into the holiday spirit with our popular Holiday Train! Santa and his elves will ride the train passing out candy canes and season's greetings.

The spectacular train is an amazing sight - during the daytime and at night. The outside of the six-car train is adorned with holiday seasonal images. Thousands of twinkling lights outline the shape of the train and windows, with even more lights running across the tops of the cars.

Interiors of the cars are decked out with thousands of multi-colored lights, red bows, garland, and red and green overhead lighting. The hand poles are wrapped to look like candy canes.

As the train pulls into each station, Santa waves to the boarding passengers from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar carrying his reindeer and decorated holiday trees.

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Fair Trade Holiday Gifts at Ten Thousand Villages

This holiday season my family is enjoying a lot of local shopping options and fair trade holiday presents for the ones we love. Today I visited Ten Thousand Villages on Main St. (across from Dave's Rock Shop) for the first time and secured some pretty awesome presents for my son's teachers and my new boss.

The jewelry choices are exceptional and there are numerous holiday ornaments to choose from. I spent around $50 for three lovely presents and can recommend this store for your next shopping spree. Because the inventory at Ten Thousand Villages is so eclectic, you're able to purchase gifts for all different types of people.

Here is some information on free trade and the mission of Ten Thousand Villages from evanston.tenthousandvillages.com:

Ten Thousand Villages in Evanston, IL, is a fair trade retailer of artisan-crafted home decor, personal accessories and gift items from across the globe. Featuring products from more than 130 artisan groups in some 38 countries, we are part of a network of over 390 retail outlets throughout the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products. The jewelry choices are exceptional and there are numerous holiday ornaments to choose from. I spent around $50 for three lovely presents and can recommend this store for your next shopping spree. Because the inventory at Ten Thousand Villages is so eclectic, you're able to purchase gifts for all different types of people.

As one of the world’s oldest and largest fair trade organizations, Ten Thousand Villages has spent more than 60 years cultivating trading relationships in which artisans receive a fair price for their work and consumers have access to distinctive handcrafted items. We seek to establish long-term buying relationships in places where skilled artisans are under- or unemployed, and in which they lack other opportunities for income. A founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Ten Thousand Villages sees fair trade as an alternative approach to conventional international trade. The jewelry choices are exceptional and there are numerous holiday ornaments to choose from. I spent around $50 for three lovely presents and can recommend this store for your next shopping spree. Because the inventory at Ten Thousand Villages is so eclectic, you're able to purchase gifts for all different types of people.

The story of Ten Thousand Villages in Evanston is one of rapid growth. We began in May, 1997, with 1400 square feet and two full-time managers. Today there are 2800 square feet and 5 full time employees, and more than 80 volunteers. In the past thirteen years, our sales of fair trade goods have tripled, making us one of the largest Ten Thousand Villages stores in the country and translating into vital fair income for hundreds of disadvantaged artisans around the world. At the Evanston store, we like to have fun! Come in to play the drums or the singing bowls, dance to the music, or challenge staff to a game of chess, bagh chal (tiger moving) or dakon. You'll find the perfect gift for everyone in your life and help an artisan family feed themselves and send their children to school. What a great combination! The jewelry choices are exceptional and there are numerous holiday ornaments to choose from. I spent around $50 for three lovely presents and can recommend this store for your next shopping spree. Because the inventory at Ten Thousand Villages is so eclectic, you're able to purchase gifts for all different types of people.

Watch our calendar for special events and check out our postings on the Chicago Fair Trade website at www.chicagofairtrade.org. The jewelry choices are exceptional and there are numerous holiday ornaments to choose from. I spent around $50 for three lovely presents and can recommend this store for your next shopping spree. Because the inventory at Ten Thousand Villages is so eclectic, you're able to purchase gifts for all different types of people.

Ten Thousand Villages in Evanston | 847-733-8258 | 719 Main Street Evanston, IL 60202

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Dec. 17: Julia Sweeney Workshop Performances for New Book at Space

For those of you who are huge SNL fans, you'll remember Pat, Julia Sweeney's character who really wasn't a man or a woman, she was just Pat. Well Julia Sweeney is coming to town this weekend and you'll have the chance to meet her and participate in a workshop for her upcoming book "If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother." Info below is from Sweeney's website.

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I'm writing a book currently entitled, "If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother." It's about parents and parenting. I plan to workshop material I'm developing for the book on 8 Saturday afternoons before the end of this year. I'll read new chapters, work on ideas, and probably vent a little. It's only going to be 45 minutes long and start at 4 p.m. Afterwards I'm going to grab pizza at Union Pizzeria, right in the building. So, please come and join me!

Where: Space in Evanston: 1245 Chicago Ave. Evanston, IL.

Time: 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

When: Oct. 15, 22, 29 Nov. 5, 12, 26 Dec. 3 & 17

Cost: $5 (donated to charity - The Cara Program) $3 for students $15 for all Saturdays

Just show up at 4 p.m.

http://juliasweeney.blogspot.com/

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See you there!

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

Shop Local: Holiday ceramics sale benefits the McGaw YMCA

20th Anniversary Ceramics Showcase
Holiday ceramics sale benefits the McGaw YMCA
Dec. 2, 3, 4, 2011

2011 marks the 20th anniversary of ceramics at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston, IL on the first weekend in December. This is an artist organized show that, despite changes and growth through the years, has remained a cherished community event.

The show has gone from a strictly local affair into an exhibition with nationally recognized, award winning artists. There are potters working in earthenware, stoneware and porcelain as well as sculptural approaches to clay. All sizes and price points are available for purchase, from ornaments to large scale pots and figurative work. 20% of all sales go directly to youth programming at the Y.

The show opens Friday, Dec 2 from 5 to 9, and runs Sat. Dec3 from 10 to 5 and Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon to 5. Admission is free.

Participating artists are: Mary Dye, Judy Disman, Paul Eshelman, Delores Fortuna, Nancy Gardner, Anne Maraviglia, Cory McCrory, Yuki Nyhan, Roberta Polfus, Layna Portugal, Gale Golovan Rattner.

McGawYMCA
1000 Grove Street
Evanston, IL 60201

Contact: Nancy Gardner, 708 524 9936, bisens@artic.edu

http://nancygardnerceramics.com

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni

I love being a volunteer at the Evanston History Center!

This Sunday is the Evanston History Center Annual Holiday Open House where the public is invited to pre-game the holidays in the lovely Charles Dawes Home. From the staff: Join us for an afternoon of holiday cheer at the Dawes House, decked out for the holidays. The event features house tours, crafts for kids, holiday treats, EHC’s 2nd Annual “Deck the Dawes House” Wreath Contest, a raffle, and live music in the Great Hall.

1-2:30pm: Classical String Duo
2:30-3:30pm: Music with Marian McNair and friends

This year’s event features a “green” theme, with EHC composting for the very first time.

In conjunction with the Holiday Open House, the Evanston History Center collects donations of nutritious, non-perishable food (no glass, please) to benefit area residents. The food drive is conducted in the spirit of the Dawes family. Every year, the family put together baskets of food and goodies. On Christmas Eve, all members of the family drove around Evanston, delivering the baskets to families in need.

1-4 p.m.
225 Greenwood Street
Evanston, IL 60201

I've been a volunteer at the center for just over a month and so far totally love every project and staff member I've dealt with. Despite my massive inadequacies as a decorator, I was invited to help decorate the Dawes House in time for the open house. Below is a slide show of staffers and volunteers decorating on Nov. 29.

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Thank you for reading my blog "Evanston Newbie", a project that I am using to chronicle my new life in Evanston. Do you have favorite Evanston bakeries, bike shops, events that you can recommend? Send me an email at thelisadshow@gmail.com and I will post my review on this blog. -Lisa Degliantoni