Downers Grove Magazine Issues
The Drake Legacy: From Chicago to Ethiopia
By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff Twelve years ago, a young man from a small village in Ethiopia walked through the doors of the Drake Hotel in Oak Brook, Illinois. He didn’t wear a suit. He didn’t know who owned the building. He only knew one thing: he wanted to be part of something great. That…
Read MoreDrive Time
Oak Brook Golf Club driving range offers year-round play For nearly a century, golf has been a way of life in Oak Brook, bringing together precision, passion, and community. At the heart of this tradition is Oak Brook Golf Club, a public gem with a private feel that blends rich history with an exciting future.…
Read MoreMidwest Style, National Spotlight
Oakbrook Center Named Top U.S. Destination By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff, Photo courtesy of Brookfield Properties Oakbrook Center has earned national recognition, ranking No. 4 in USA TODAY’s 2025 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best U.S. Shopping Centers. As the only Illinois destination to make the top 10, Oakbrook stands out for its unique blend of…
Read MoreNext Chapter, New Home
Should you upsize or downsize after the kids move out? By Amy Robey, Vice President, Marketing & Communications at Mainstreet REALTORS® Considering moving once your kids are officially out of the house? You aren’t alone. After owning their homes for a decade or more, and often raising a family there, buyers are dipping their toes…
Read MoreHead West for Fall Fun
West on I-90 to Route 20 for a great fall getaway By Maureen Callahan Thinking of heading out for a weekend this fall? Most Chicagoans leaf-peep in Michigan or Wisconsin. This year, take I-90 west to Route 20 west for some fun fall destinations. Rockford Originally named Midway, due to its situation halfway between Chicago…
Read MoreWish Granted
Reaching out a second time helps Schroder make it to Harvard By Jeff Vorva First, Grant Schroder was denied. But then things changed. The Downers Grove North track and cross country star is heading to Harvard in the fall. However, the process of getting there was not easy. After the high school cross country season,…
Read MoreMission Accomplished
After scouring the Midwest, Molinari finds her school By Jeff Vorva Ashley Molinari went on a fact-finding mission all over the Midwest to find a perfect college/soccer fit for her. Some of the stops the Downers Grove South defender made were Iowa, Northwestern, Indiana, Nebraska, and Illinois, among others. These weren’t just get-to-see-the-campus meetings. These…
Read MoreLife Under the Golden Arches
JJC Family Restaurants owns and operates 19 area McDonald’s locations By Maureen Callahan “One in eight Americans have worked at McDonald’s. You might see the golden arches and think, ‘big, global corporation,’ but it’s us behind it,” said West suburban businessman, John Carnagio. “All across the world, these [individual McDonald’s restaurants] are family businesses.” You…
Read MoreWhere Community Thrives
Downers Grove’s new Civic Center and the legacy of Mayor Betty Cheever By Catherine Dobrez Photos Courtesy of the Village of Downers Grove Home of the Village Hall, Police Department, and District 58 Administration, the newly constructed Civic Center lies at the heart of Downers Grove (850 Curtiss St.). This 80,000-square-foot building operates Monday-Friday from…
Read MoreThe Friendly Confines
Tales of a Wrigley Field groundskeeper By Maureen Callahan Ever wonder what the Friendly Confines are like long after the fans have left the ballpark? The stadium always looks great because of the dedicated grounds crew that takes care of the National League’s second-oldest ballpark. Whether it’s before, during, or after a game or concert—day…
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