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June 14, 2023

The Music Gallery of Highland Park opened in 1974 as a guitar store, and has stayed true to a simple concept ever since: serve the guitar player. Whether you're shopping for your very first guitar, a one-of-a-kind Fender Custom Shop Strat, or dropping a guitar off for repairs, The Music Gallery aims to always provide top-notch customer service. If you're looking to fulfill your rock and roll dreams, a variety of music lessons are offered.

2558 Green Bay Road / 847.432.6350 / The Music Gallery of Highland Park

This year's slate of events on July 4, 2023, will provide multiple opportunities for the community to gather. For businesses planning to remain open that day, please note there will be road closures starting at 4 AM, with an anticipated reopening time of 2 PM. The road closure route includes Central Avenue between St. Johns and Sunset Road and St. Johns between Elm Place and Laurel Avenue.

The cross streets in this area will also have restricted access; please note closure points on the map. 

Visit the main events page to register in advance for specific events and to view the special events map.

Schedule of events for July 4, 2023:

• Remembrance Ceremony (10:00 AM, City Hall, Registration required)
• Community Walk (11:00 AM, City Hall or St. Johns & Elm, Registration required)
• Independence Day Community Picnic (11:30 AM - 1:30 PM, Sunset Woods Park, Registration requested)
• Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band Concert & Entertainment (5:00 PM Entry / 7:30 PM Concert, Wolters Field, Registration required)
• We Are Highland Park Drone Show (9:30 PM, Wolters Field)

The City’s online payment system for licensing will be temporarily disabled until July 18, 2023 at 8AM, as part of the City’s implementation of new computer software. During this time, all license online payments will be unavailable. Payments are not accepted over the phone. Payments can be made by mail or drop box, located in the parking lot adjacent to City Hall. Please contact the City Manager’s Office at 847.926.1000 or cityhp@cityhpil.com for more information.

The Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) filed an emergency rule on May 26, 2023, regulating the placement and display of co-branded alcoholic beverages in all retail establishments to prevent consumer confusion between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages of the same brand and to prevent the marketing of alcohol to children. A “co-branded alcoholic beverage” is any alcoholic beverage containing the same or a similar brand name, logo, or packaging as a non-alcoholic beverage. The emergency rule applies to all establishments in Illinois that sell packaged alcohol for off-premises consumption.

Under the emergency rule, establishments 2,500 square feet of retail floor space are prohibited from displaying co-branded alcoholic beverages immediately adjacent to soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled water, candy, or snack foods portraying cartoons or youth-oriented photos. Establishments under 2,500 square feet of retail floor space must either comply with the display requirements for establishments with larger retail sales floors or post clear signage on every display with a co-branded alcoholic beverages.

“Mistaking alcoholic beverages for non-alcoholic beverages is especially dangerous for those under the age of 21 and individuals with alcohol use disorders,” said Illinois Liquor Control Commission Executive Director Lisa Gardner. “This emergency rule aims to safeguard public health by preventing product confusion and prohibiting alcoholic beverage marketing that appeals to children.”

Click here for more information about the ILCC Emergency Rule.

Click here to access the co-branded alcoholic beverages signage.

We're thrilled to announce the broad entertainment lineup for featured events at The Lot, the City’s alfresco dining and entertainment destination! From national headliners to North Shore favorites, classic rock to yacht rock, DJs to a cappella, there's something for everyone on stage at The Lot this summer! 

If you are interested in participating as a vendor at The Lot in 2023 or 2024, please contact Ilyse Strongin, Event Manager with Ripple Public Relations at: info@ripplepublicrelations.com.

Season Lineup:

• Taste of Highland Park: June 23, 5 - 10 PM & June 24, 12 - 10 PM
• Bitter Jester Music Fest: June 25, 12 - 8 PM
• Artisan Market: July 2 - September 24, Sundays at 10 AM - 3 PM
• World Music and Food Fest: July 15, 12 - 10 PM
• Vintage Car Show: September 9, 12 - 4 PM
• Oktoberfest: September 30, 12 -10 PM
• Vintage Market: October 8, 11 AM - 4 PM
• Stews & Brews and Blues: October 13 & 14, 5 - 9 PM

You know it's summer because Food Truck Thursdays is now in full swing! Featuring over a dozen rotating food trucks and live music Food Truck Thursdays takes place in the Ravinia District weekly through September 21, 4:30 PM til dusk. This week, classic folk singer-songwriter Ian Leith opens for David Bowie cover band True Believers.

If you are interested in participating as a food truck vendor in 2023 or 2024, please contact Leslie Cahill, General Manager of The French Market/Bensidoun at: lcahill90@gmail.com.

Have you integrated solar technology and other green improvements into your business? Help inspire others to make the leap to solar and invest in green initiatives by participating in the Illinois Solar Tour!

The Solar Tour consists of a series of Solar Open Houses. Homeowners, small businesses, and nonprofits open their doors to the public and tell the story of how and why they decided to go solar. The event will be held September 30, from 10 AM to 3 PM and will be available in an in-person and virtual hybrid format. To learn more about the Solar Tour or sign up to showcase your business, contact the City Manager's Office at 847.926.1000 or email cityhp@cityhpil.com. 

Did you know the City of Highland Park has a dedicated composting program for businesses and local restaurants? Highland Park Composts is a collaboration between The City of Highland Park, the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO), and LRS to support the implementation of food scrap composting at local restaurants and businesses. Local businesses and restaurants who are interested in signing up for this program should email: cityhp@cityhpil.com.

The Sponsor-A-Planter Program offers residents and businesses the opportunity to sponsor an available municipal planter during the summer and fall seasons. An annual fee covers planting, maintenance, and a 5” x 7” commemorative placard in the planter. The placard may recognize the sponsor or honor an individual or family. Planters are located in the Central Business District and the Ravinia District and are maintained from May to November.

More information is available at cityhpil.com. Please contact the Office of Business Development at 847.926.1046 with questions. 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that Illinois will receive up to $354.6 million to administer programs as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The expanded program offering through SSBCI will enable Illinois to support small businesses across the state - helping them attract more capital investment and expand or launch business operations, while supporting key sectors. All of the new programs will launch in the coming months.

• Advantage Illinois (AI) Loan Guarantee Program (New Program)

Advantage Illinois' new Loan Guarantee Program will support business applicants who are having difficulty gaining access to capital by using funds to guarantee a percentage of loans provided by partner lenders.

• IN-VENT Venture Capital Program (VCP) (New Program)

Innovation Venture Fund (IN-VENT) will operate as a direct equity program with a focus on investing in businesses in key industries such as agriculture, ag tech, information technology, life sciences, manufacturing, quantum, and more.

• Climate Bank Finance Loan Participation Program (New Program)

This new program will be overseen by DCEO and administered by the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA), which will partner with local lenders to issue the loans. Climate Bank funds will be available to small businesses in the clean energy sector.

To receive program updates, please fill out the following form.

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.

SCORE recently added a new YouTube channel where all previously recorded webinars can be accessed.

To schedule an in-person or virtual session, visit score.org/northchicago 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.

The City encourages business owners and managers to share information regarding upcoming events, promotions or news for possible inclusion in the City's marketing modalities, including The Weekender, Enjoy Highland Park, and social media. Please send these items to the City via email to: businessdevelopment@cityhpil.com.

For general business inquiries and assistance, contact Business Development Manager Carolyn Hersch at chersch@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1027.

Questions regarding enjoyhighlandpark.com should be addressed to Amanda Bennett, Communications Manager, at abennett@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 businessdevelopment@cityhpil.com. The City reserves the right to edit and/or filter submissions.