ENDLESS ADVENTURE, RIGHT WHERE I LIVE.

Fall Flavors: Indulging in Apple Orchard Treats

By Jessica Willis
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Fall activities like apple picking and pumpkin patches are fun in themselves, but you better believe we visited Jonamac Apple Orchard for the amazing treats! First, we ventured into the Cider House for a flight of apple wines and ciders, custom pressed and fermented in the orchard with the freshest apples. We tried these apple…

Fall Colors: Choosing the Perfect Pumpkin

By Jessica Willis
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Two-for-one experiences make me feel like I’m getting a little extra out of life. What better, then, than a duel apple picking and pumpkin patch experience at Jonamac Apple Orchard for my birthday weekend this fall? We loved it! Suited up in our rainboots, we wandered through the patch looking for the perfect orange gourd,…

Fall Family Time: Children’s Activities at Jonamac

By Jessica Willis
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While the adults take time sauntering among the apple trees at Jonamac Apple Orchard, the little ones they brought along, with their 10-second attention spans, prefer the lively children’s area. Filled with a number of interactive experiences, kids can participate in family fun like tractor rides around the property, a tricycle maze, miniature playhouses, a…

The Art of Glass Blowing: A Beginner’s Guide

By Jessica Willis
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This summer, I was obsessed with the Netflix show “Blown Away,” which is three seasons of glass blowing experts creating the most elaborate glass sculptures I’ve ever seen. They compete for cash, the title of champion, and a coveted guest artist residency at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. To celebrate my autumn…

Opening Day at the Museum of Ice Cream Chicago

By Jessica Willis
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It’s opening day at the Chicago Museum of Ice Cream, that means unlimited treats! Have you been to a MOIC near you? This popular tourist attraction also exists in New York City, Austin, Singapore and Shanghai, with occasional pop ups in places like San Francisco and Miami. Each experience is fine tuned to reflect the…

Grilled Octopus and Calamari at Coda di Volpe

By Jessica Willis
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My coworkers will be the first to tell you that Brandon and I haven’t quite got the hang of Chicago-style pizza yet. I find deep dish too cheesy and pub-cut too messy. And why, may I ask, add the toppings on the pizza before the cheese?? It just doesn’t make sense to me. Forgive me,…

Levi Strauss pt 1 – The History of American Jeans

By Jessica Willis
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When I married my husband, I didn’t realize how much his Jewish heritage would play a role in our life together. Brandon’s mom is Ashkenazi Jewish on her mother’s side, a fact the family learned late in their history. This discovery transformed the way the family thought about themselves, their traditions, and their relationship with…

Levi Strauss pt 2 – Retro to Modern Jeans

By Jessica Willis
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Welcome back to the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco! Now that you have read about Levi Strauss’s history as it began in San Francisco (click here to read that blog post, if you haven’t yet), your reward is to see all the beautiful and abstract ways these iconic jeans have evolved over the recent…

Asian Fusion Brunch at Little Goat Diner

By Jessica Willis
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See that little goat spinning up there? She’s the one we’re having brunch with. She’s the mascot of Little Goat Diner in the Fulton Market District of West Loop, Chicago, an upscale diner that serves breakfast all day. Our kind of place! Founder Stephanie Izard is well known for being the first female winner of…

Getting Fancy and Dancy at the Bridgerton Ball

By Jessica Willis
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We’re ready for the ball! The interactive Bridgerton Experience in Chicago gave us a rare opportunity to dress up in a way we haven’t since prom night (and our weddings!) I, of course, wore my best pineapple costume jewelry with a glitzy green dress from Amazon. All it required was sliding the straps to an…