August 2026

AT A GLANCE

Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss

Ribbon Cutting Celebration:

Be Well: House of Good Energy

Join the Highwood Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate Be Well House of Good Energy with an official ribbon-cutting.

If you've been curious about this unique wellness destination on Sheridan Road, now is the perfect time to stop in, explore the space, and learn more about the holistic services designed to promote relaxation, balance, and well-being. Meet owner Jamie Rissman, connect with fellow Chamber members and community residents, and discover why Be Well House of Good Energy has become a valued part of Highwood's business community.

Come celebrate with us and discover one of Highwood's most unique businesses. All are welcome.

Thursday, August 20, 5:00 PM

Be Well House of Good Energy

448 Sheridan Road, Highwood

Breakfast before Business with Brooke Foley



Every successful business eventually reaches a point where doing what has always worked is no longer enough.

Whether you're looking to attract new customers, respond to changing markets, or simply take your business to the next level, the ability to evolve without losing your identity is essential.

Join Brooke Foley, Founder and CEO of Jayne Agency, for an interactive Breakfast Before Business designed to help you do exactly that. Through practical exercises, real-world examples, and proven branding strategies, you'll discover how storytelling, clarity, and thoughtful planning can strengthen your brand, sharpen your message, and position your business for continued growth.

You'll leave with actionable ideas you can put to work immediately, fresh perspectives from fellow business leaders, and renewed confidence in where your business is headed.

Don't miss this opportunity to invest in your business and connect with other Chamber members over coffee and a light breakfast. Reserve your seat today.

Wednesday, August 26

7:30 - 9:00 AM

Highwood City Hall, 17 Highwood Avenue, 2nd Floor

Sponsored by First Bank of Highland Park

Highwood has always done things a little differently. But why?

Join educator and historian Dr. John J. Murphy as he explores the people, places, and defining moments that shaped one of the North Shore's most distinctive communities. As Highwood approaches its 140th anniversary, discover the stories behind the city we know today.

Hosted at Mojo's Vinyl Bar, guests will enjoy one of Highwood's unique gathering places, complete with a welcome beverage, charcuterie by Hirsch's North Shore Chef, and the warm atmosphere that has quickly made Mojo's a local favorite.

You'll never look at Highwood or its neighboring communities quite the same way again.

Thursday, August 27

6:00 - 8:00 PM

448 Sheridan Road

Presented by Highpoint Living

Highwood Design Week | September 15–18

Some of the best design isn't found in a showroom. It's discovered through conversation, craftsmanship, innovation, and the people who bring great ideas to life.

Already recognized as one of the North Shore's favorite destinations for dining, entertainment, and festivals, Highwood takes on an additional identity during Highwood Design Week, becoming a regional destination for design, creativity, and innovation. Visitors from across the North Shore, Chicagoland, and beyond come together to discover inspiring spaces, remarkable businesses, and the people shaping Highwood's creative future.

Highwood Design Week invites you to experience design from a fresh perspective through four evenings of distinctive events hosted by local businesses. Each gathering offers a different lens on creativity, from timeless interiors and emerging technology to remarkable materials, exceptional hospitality, and the details that shape the places where we live.

Whether you're planning a renovation, work in the design industry, or simply appreciate thoughtful spaces and memorable experiences, Highwood Design Week offers an opportunity to explore, connect, and be inspired.

Join us September 15th –18th and discover why Design is Everywhere.

Highwood Design Week

Opening Night Preview Party

Be among the first to experience Highwood Design Week at its Opening Night Preview Party, an evening celebrating the grand opening of Old Plank Antiques' extraordinary new Highwood showroom. More than the official start of Design Week, Opening Night brings together designers, architects, interior designers, real estate professionals, business leaders, participating businesses, media, and design enthusiasts from Highwood, the North Shore, Chicago, and beyond for an evening of creativity, conversation, and discovery.

Opening Night celebrates everything that makes Highwood unique today while offering a glimpse of what's next. It's an evening that reflects the creativity, craftsmanship, entrepreneurial spirit, and sense of community that continue to define and inspire Highwood.

For more than three decades, Old Plank Antiques has earned an international reputation for sourcing extraordinary European antiques, architectural elements, vintage furnishings, and one-of-a-kind pieces. Opening Night offers guests an exclusive first look inside its remarkable new Highwood showroom, where history, craftsmanship, and timeless design come together.

Guests will also enjoy an exclusive preview of avec, the acclaimed restaurant from Chicago's award-winning One Off Hospitality Group. Before opening its Highwood doors this October, the avec team will offer guests a taste of one of the North Shore's most anticipated restaurant arrivals.

Adding another memorable touch, Hotel Chocolat, the renowned British luxury chocolatier, will introduce guests to its exceptional chocolates while providing an exclusive gift bag created especially for Opening Night attendees.

Throughout the evening, 4 Sure Entertainment will provide the soundtrack, creating the perfect atmosphere for guests to mingle, explore, and celebrate the beginning of Highwood Design Week.

This one-night-only celebration brings together these exceptional brands for an experience available only at our Opening Night Preview Party. Whether you're passionate about design, exceptional food, beautiful spaces, or simply discovering what's new, we invite you to join us as Highwood Design Week begins.

The event is complimentary, but advance registration is required.

Old Plank

210 Green Bay Road, Highwood

Tuesday, September 15

5:00 -7:00 PM

See how extraordinary lighting can transform the way you experience your home at 

Living in a Better Light, an exclusive immersive event during Highwood Design Week.

Hosted by Ablaze Design Group in partnership with Lutron and Davis Audio & Video, this complimentary experience showcases the remarkable possibilities of Ketra lighting, automated shades, and smart home technology, demonstrating how thoughtful design can enhance beauty, wellness, comfort, and everyday living.

Enjoy craft cocktails, curated hors d'oeuvres, premium swag bags, raffle prizes, and the opportunity to meet the award-winning team behind some of the North Shore's most exceptional homes.



To ensure an intimate experience, attendance is limited and advance registration is required.



Ablaze Design Group

259 Waukegan Avenue, Highwood

Wednesday, September 16

5:00 -7:00 PM

Design isn't just visual. It's tactile. It's acoustic. It's atmospheric.

During Highwood Design Week, Carpets of Highwood invites guests to experience Whiskey, Vinyl & Textures, an evening exploring how materials, music, and craftsmanship come together to shape the places we call home.

Discover beautiful flooring materials, experience the richness of natural textures, enjoy whiskey and light bites, and listen to music the way it was meant to be heard on vinyl. Along the way, you'll gain a new appreciation for how texture, sound, and thoughtful design create environments that are both beautiful and inviting.

Whether you're planning a renovation, work in the design industry, or simply appreciate exceptional craftsmanship, join us for an evening where great design is experienced through every sense.

Complimentary admission. Advance registration is required, and space is limited.

Carpets of Highwood

2699 Waukegan Avenue, Highland Park

Thursday, September 17

5:00 -7:00 PM

Designed to Pair at The Merchant

Design is about bringing the right elements together. Great food and wine work the same way.

Join The Merchant for a casual introduction to food and wine pairing. Enjoy complimentary light bites alongside four featured wine varietals, available for purchase, and discover how thoughtful pairings can elevate the dining experience.

Complimentary admission. Registration is requested.

The Merchant

122 North Avenue

Friday, September 18

6:00 - 8:00 PM

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

Bingo at Buffo's

Bingo Prize Providers: Ablaze Design Group, Beermiscuous, Bella Via, Bent Fork Bakery, Buffo's, Carpets of Highwood, Clucker's Charcoal Chicken, Disotto, Elements Massage,

Funky Boba, Il Forno, Katy the Butcher, Keeping IT Easy, La Plancha Loca, Local Leaf Farm, Modena Green Oaks, Pelago, Snap a Shot Photo Booth, The Merchant, The Silk Thumb,

The Mean Wiener, The Viti Companies and Toffee Traditions

Sponsored by Homewatch CareGivers

Spill Sessions: Meat, Mead, Medicine: Food and Feasting in the Middle Ages

with Dr. Ashley Castelino



Presented by Highpoint Living

Photos by Payton Carter Media

Special thanks to Nicholas Pignatari and Suzie Reeves of Disotto

Missed our medieval-themed Spill Session? Here's a taste of what you missed.

The Riddle

Once I was water, abundant with scaly fish,

But this nature ended through a new decision of fate.

When I suffer scorching torments amid the hot fires,

My face glitters like ash and snow.

What am I? Think you know the answer? Send us a direct message on Facebook or Instagram by Friday, August 7. One correct entry will be randomly selected to receive two complimentary tickets to our August 27 Spill Sessions when historian Dr. John J. Murphy explores the fascinating history of Highwood as the city approaches its 140th anniversary.

A Medieval Recipe

One of the evening's surprises was discovering that medieval cooks enjoyed a dish remarkably similar to macaroni and cheese. If you'd like to try authentic medieval cooking at home, Dr. Ashley Castelino recommends this recreated recipe for Almond Fritters ("Emeles").

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