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October 27, 2021

The City's 2022-2024 business development strategic planning process is underway. Your input and feedback are important to help support efforts to retain and expand existing businesses and attract new and exciting restaurants, shops, experiential and other businesses. The following sessions are available:

• Property owners: Oct. 28 (4 – 5:30 PM); Nov. 1 (9 – 10:30 AM)
• Restaurant owners & managers: Nov. 4 (2 – 3:30 PM)
• Office businesses: Nov. 1 (2 – 3:30 PM)
• Service businesses: Nov. 2 (3:30 – 5:00 PM)
• Retail businesses: Nov. 15 (2 – 3:30 PM)
• Realtors: Nov. 10 (2 – 3:30 PM); Nov. 17 (9 – 10: 30 AM)
• Residents: Nov. 9 (6:30 – 8:00 PM); Nov. 15 (6:30 – 8:00 PM)

Translation services or other accommodations will be available upon request. Please contact cityhp@cityhpil.com. 

City staff will also attend the Ravinia Farmers Market on Wednesday, Oct. 27 (8 – 9:30 AM) to connect with residents and vendors. Please complete this form to sign up for one of the sessions.

Spooky celebrations are coming to Highland Park next week!

Oct. 28: Festivities at Port Clinton Square & Rennaissance Place

Kick off a fun Halloween weekend with trick-or-treating in Port Clinton Square, Rennaissance Place, and other Downtown Highland Park Businesses on Thursday, October 28, 3 - 6 PM - rain or shine!.

Enjoy live music and a free store-to-store candy stroll!

Special thanks to all the participating businesses, Port Clinton Management & Rennaissance Place for coordinating this event.

Oct. 29: Ravinia District Candy Stroll

The Ravinia Business District's Halloween Candy Stroll will be held on Friday, Oct. 29 from 2 - 5 PM.

*In case of inclement weather, the event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2- 5 PM.

Be sure to snap a selfie or two at one of the District's fall displays! Tag @enjoyhighlandpark and @raviniadistrict for a chance to be featured on social media.

Stop into Jeff Cohen Photography (485 Roger Williams) and get a free photo of your costumed trick-or-treater. You'll receive a digital file to share on social media!

Special thanks to all the participating businesses and the Ravinia District Special Service Area 17 property owners for coordinating this event.

Oct 31: Free Magic Show & Trick or Treating at Madame Zuzu's - 1876 First Street

Join Madame Zuzu's on Sunday, October 31 at 3 PM for an exciting Halloween magic show with the great North Shore magician, Gary Kantor!

Bring the family in costume and enjoy this spooktacular show (for kids of all ages)! There will be allergy-friendly candy for everyone on Halloween!

This event is free. Register HERE.

Interactive Fall Stroll

October – November

Plan to stroll the Ravinia District to enjoy the fall decorations October 10 - November 30. In conjunction with the décor, a Kids Halloween Candy Stroll is scheduled throughout the Ravinia Business District on Friday, October 29 from 2 PM to 5 PM. The stroll will feature four interactive Harvest Vignettes for visitors to sit and take selfies to post on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The Vignettes will be located at the northeast corner of Broadview and Roger Williams, southeast corner of Pleasant and Roger Williams, on Roger Williams just west of Happi Sushi, and the southeast corner of St. Johns and Roger Williams.

After Thanksgiving, the District will feature holiday décor, and the public will be invited to participate in a holiday stroll with giveaways.  

Light the Night

Saturday, November 6

3 - 5 PM

Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Avenue

Joan Mayor Rotering and the City Council for the lighting of over 200 trees, a visit from Santa, and performances from the outstanding young performers of:



·  Ballet Makkai

·    The Children's Theatre Company

·    Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Choir

·    Soul2Sole Dance

New this year, join the CBG Institute for Dance and Health in a special dance mob! Learn the choreography in advance so that when the music starts, you'll know when to jump in. CBG's choreography of two dances, "Oh Chanukah" and "All I Want for Christmas Is You," is designed for dancers of all ages and ability levels. A rehearsal is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 4 at Port Clinton Square - more information to come. Find all the instructional videos for these dances at cityhpil.com/lightthenight.

The City of Highland Park is proud to be part of the leading communities in the growing Dementia Friendly America (DFA) movement. We invite your business to be among the first businesses in Highland Park recognized as Dementia Friendly.

AgeGuide has created a new training program to assist businesses in becoming Dementia Friendly. The self-paced training is conducted online and consists of two 15-20 minute modules.

The ComEd Energy Efficiency Program offers Instant rebates - up to $4,500 - on qualifying energy-efficient commercial kitchen equipment when purchased from these participating suppliers.

These energy-efficient products offer energy savings of 10 to 70 percent over standard models, depending on the product category. For more information, visit IL-FoodserviceRebates.com.

The redevelopment of the Ravinia Fire Station has begun! Temporary construction fencing has been installed at Brown Park, off Roger Williams and Burton Avenue, which will be the site of the temporary fire station. The fencing is anticipated to be in place for approximately 60 days while the foundation is established for the temporary station. The temporary station will include an apparatus bay and trailer that will be on-site for 12- to 15-months while the new station is constructed. The relocation to the temporary fire station will not impact the Fire Department’s ability to respond to calls for service.

Special thanks to the Park District of Highland Park for granting the City approval to use a portion of Brown Park for the temporary station. To find the latest updates on this project, bookmark cityhpil.com/raviniafire.

The City of Highland Park’s new social media campaign, #EnjoyHighlandPark, highlights the unique shopping and dining, exceptional natural spaces, and vibrant arts and entertainment offerings you can't find anywhere but Highland Park. Learn more at our new website enjoyhighlandpark.com. The City will continue to add content on an ongoing basis - check back frequently!

Help spread the word, and be sure to follow @enjoyhighlandpark on Instagram and @EnjoyHighlandPark on Facebook.

Explore. Experience. Enjoy Highland Park: enjoyhighlandpark.com. 

Accessorize Me is owned by Elyse Fisher, who is also a North Shore mom of three savvy, high-styling girls. Her passion is finding new and trendy items for her customers at the best prices possible. At Accessorize Me you'll find everything you need to make your outfit fabulous - from jewelry to handbags, to scarves, and more. In Addition Accessorize Me carries gifts for Mitzvahs, Communions, and Birthdays for people of all ages.

Accessorize Me - 1438 Old Skokie Road

847.926.7346 / accessorizemeinstyle.com

SCORE offers in-person or virtual sessions using phone, email, or video

All sessions are free and confidential. SCORE mentors are successful business professionals, some retired, some working, from all

industries and experiences.

Visit northchicago.score.org and register to “Find a

Mentor”. You will be asked to provide the nature of your business interest.

Please include whether you prefer in-person or virtual mentoring (phone,

email, video) and note, the Highland Park Public Library even

if you prefer a virtual session.

Charitable Giving: Improve Your Impact

Thursday, October 28

10:30 - 11:30 AM

Despite a commitment to giving, many donors are unaware of the various giving methods available that can benefit both the donor and the charities they support. In addition to exploring a variety of giving methods, this webinar will also discuss how to deepen the relationship between existing donors and non-profits.

Register

First Wednesday Connections

Wednesday, November 3

Bluegrass Restaurant

1636 Old Deerfield Road

Register

Interested in sharing your profession with a high school student exploring their career options? The Highland Park Career Exploration program (HPCE) provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable insights into a potential career path and goals. Students are matched and meet with professionals to discuss career aspirations, work initiatives, and other professional inquiries.

On August 26, 2021, the Governor signed Executive Order 21-20 which requires all individuals over the age of 2 and who can medically tolerate a face covering to wear a face-covering when in indoor public places. The Executive Order also requires health care workers, school personnel, higher education personnel and students, and employees and contractors of state-owned or operated congregate facilities to be fully vaccinated, as described in the Order.

Please place this Face Mask Required Sign in your place of business to remind customers to wear a face covering.

Face Covering FAQs

The State of Illinois has launched Get Hired Illinois to connect job seekers with employers and training opportunities as well as employers who are looking to fill open positions with available workers. Visit GetHired (illinois.gov) for more information.

The City of Highland Park has a matching grant program to assist restaurants and retailers with operational costs incurred to provide a safe environment for customers and staff in compliance with state and federal public health guidelines for the coronavirus pandemic. The program will accept applications from qualifying restaurants and retailers located and operating within a commercial building in Highland Park with a net worth of less than $2 million and generating less than an average of $200,000 in profit per year for two years after taxes. Qualifying restaurants and retailers may apply for reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible expenses related to COVID-19 public health mitigations, to a maximum of $10,000 for restaurants and $5,000 for retailers, for costs incurred between August 15, 2020, and December 31, 2021, or until funds are depleted. More information is available here. 

For general business inquiries, contact the City's Business Development Manager Carolyn Hersch at chersch@cityhpil.com.

For more information on the City's response to COVID-19, contact the City's Communications Manager Amanda Civitello at acivitello@cityhpil.com.

This newsletter is produced by the City of Highland Park's Office of Business Development. If you have information you would like to include in this weekly mailing, please submit information, photos, and news to Melissa Rosen at mrosen@cityhpil.com. The City reserves the right to edit and/or filter submissions. No pricing information will be published.