View as Webpage

September 1, 2021

Food Truck Thursdays will run weekly from 4:30 PM to dusk through September 9 in Jens Jensen Park - Roger Williams Ave. between St. Johns Ave. and Dean Ave. 

Food Truck Lineup for September 2

Louie B Fresh 

Aztec Daves

Billy Bricks

The Fat Shallot 

Da Pizza Dude 

Chicago Lunchbox 

Kona Ice 

Culinary Gangster

Puffy Houzz

Royal Ice Cream Truck 

Tacos Marios

Make It Memorable

Happy Lobster

Plus local favorites Abigail's and Ravinia Brewing Company

Music Lineup

September 2: Aloha City Strummers 4:30–5:45 PM

The Acoustic Generation (Folk Rock) 6:15–8:15 PM

September 9: Band of Peace 4:30–5:45 PM

The Hoyle Brothers (Country) 6:15–8:15 PM

For sneak peeks of weekly food trucks and event updates, be sure to like and follow RaviniaDistrict.HighlandPark on Facebook.

The Grand Finale Concert of the Bitter Jester Music Festival and the City's annual community fireworks display will be held this Sunday, September 5 at Wolters Field! The festivities begin at 3 PM when the top bands from this year's Battle of the Bands will take the stage. Learn more about these talented young performers at bitterjestermusic.org. The fireworks display will begin at 8:45 PM. As a reminder, masks are strongly encouraged in crowded outdoor settings like festivals and concerts, as well as for activities that require close contact with people who are not vaccinated.

On Saturday, September 11 from 3 - 6 PM Highland Park High School students will be painting shop windows to help everyone in town get in the Homecoming spirit. After painting, there will be pizza & music in Port Clinton Square. More information is available from the Highland Park High School PTO.

The Ravinia Farmers Market runs weekly from 7 AM to 1 PM through October 27 in Jens Jensen Park - Roger Williams Ave. between St. Johns Ave. and Dean Ave. 

The Park District’s Cunniff Park has been tapped as the location for the third annual Chicago Pickleball Open Tournament, scheduled for September 2– 5, making Highland Park a destination spot for players and fans of the sport. The event, which will be televised on CBS Network Sports, is a sanctioned U.S.A. Pickleball Association tournament. An estimated 500 players are expected to compete with a $60,000 purse for professional competitors.

Visit Tournaments - APP Tour for more information.

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.

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

Craftwood Lumber & Hardware has been refining its product selection for the Highland Park community since 1956. Designed to meet the needs of North Shore residents, Craftwood carries over 25,000 products in stock. The expert staff is always there to answer questions and assist customers in finding exactly what they need. Additionally, the online warehouse allows customers to access over 70,000 products.

Craftwood Lumber & Hardware - 1590 Old Deerfield Road

847.831.2800 / craftwoodlumber.com

Cybersecurity 101 for Small Businesses

Thursday, September 9

6:30 - 7:30 PM

Register Here

This webinar presentation will cover some of the core facts about the cybercrime landscape, including the nature of current computer crime activity, the basic technologies used to commit cybercrime, and the workings of the underground cybercrime marketplace. In addition, this presentation will provide some basic tools and techniques to mitigate the risk of cybercrime exposure.

Local Businesses Pop to the Top Using Google My Business (GMB)

Thursday, September 23

6:30 -7:30 PM

Register Here

Being at the top of Google search results offers two sure-fire ways to attract customers: your business profile is easy to find, and it is convenient to use.  No need for your company to be buried down the results list!  Learn how local businesses pop to the top of local search results if they have a Google My Business (GMB) company profile.

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.

State of Healthcare

Wednesday, September 22

9 - 10:30 AM

More info & registration

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 Business and Economic Development Advisory Group is currently accepting nominations for the 2021 Mayor’s Beautification Awards. The Award recognizes Highland Park property owners and business owners that have made improvements to enhance visual appeal consistent with the environment and the community. Given annually, award recipients will be granted a Mayoral Certificate; public recognition at a 2021 City Council Meeting, and publicity in The Highlander. Below is a list of business categories eligible for this award and the criteria by which businesses will be judged

Business Categories

Auto Dealership, Commercial / Mixed-Use Development, Service, Restaurant, and Retail. 

Award Criteria

Appearance, Cleanliness, Consistency, Window Clarity, Code Adherence, Façade Condition, and Landscaping.

Please complete a nomination form on the City’s website at cityhpil.com/HPawards or contact the Office of Business Development at 947.026.1046 or mrosen@cityhpil.com to request a form. Completed nominations must be returned to City Hall, 1707 St. Johns Avenue, Highland Park, IL 60035, Attn: Mayor’s Beautification Award. Nominations must be postmarked by September 17.

The Lake County Health Department and District 112 are seeking businesses to help share information about the prevention of underage drinking. Interested businesses will be supporting a marketing campaign for families of students at Edgewood and Northwood Middle Schools. If you would like to support this important campaign, please fill out this form and/or contact Stephanie Eisenberg at SEisenberg2@lakecountyil.gov or 847-377-8775. For more information, visit their website at prevention112.com/community. 

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.