Junk in the Trunk is Back

Mark Your Calendars!

Junk in the Trunk is back on July 13 and August 3, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM!

If you haven’t attended previously, it’s Highwood’s Open Air Flea Market and it’s always a good time.

Come explore unique treasures, enjoy live music, and grab food or a drink from La Plancha Loca. It’s a fun, family-friendly event that brings the community together.

Vendors: Register online to reserve yours—we’d love to fill the Metra lot.

Buyers attend for free. Whether you're shopping, selling, or just browsing, we can't wait to see you there!

Attention Business Owners – Don’t Miss This Opportunity!

Don’t miss out on this game-changing event for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs! Join Brooke Foley of the Jayne Agency as she reveals powerful brand strategy tools that will take your business to the next level. Add in hot coffee, a delicious breakfast, and high-quality networking, and you’ll be brainstorming new ideas and making progress before you even get to your desk. Clear your schedule, register now, and prepare for a morning that could transform the way you think about your brand and ignite your business growth! Thank you to First Bank of Highland Park for their sponsorship of this event.

Brand Strategy that Makes Neighborhood Businesses Iconic

How can your business promise what customers truly care about? And how can you, and your team, deliver on that promise every day? Not just logos and taglines, but evidence-based brand strategy. Jayne Agency is joining the Highwood Chamber on July 16 to talk about how local businesses can stand out, using everything solid brand strategy offers. From niche positioning to hyper-local storytelling and bringing your brand’s personality to life, we’re going to look at businesses right here in Highwood doing it right.



photo credit: Julie Kaplan Photography



Most people confuse brand strategy with awareness. So, if you think about it, when there is a good economy, people want to advertise because they are flushed with cash flow, they want it to “work harder for them”. But when there is a down economy, they want solutions that do not require that kind of cash investment. The truth is, you should invest in marketing and advertising tactics 100% of the time that serve your audience, and your position and promise – not the economy. And if you do that, then most brands remain stable even during chaotic times.

Want Jayne to make your brand story epic? contact us@jayneagency.com

Bingo at Buffo's is Back

Bingo at Buffo's has quickly become one of the Chamber’s most beloved events! Is it the lively atmosphere, the fantastic prizes, the pure fun, or the great camaraderie? We’re not sure, but we do know we’re excited to have it back on our July calendar!



Join us at Buffo’s on Sunday, July 27, at noon for another round of Bingo. Be sure to register early to guarantee your spot, and arrive a bit early to grab some delicious food and drinks. We can’t wait to share a fun-filled afternoon with you and your friends!

Bella Via Ristorante Italiano's New Location Celebration

Bella Via Ristorante Italiano has been thriving at its “new” Highland Park location for just over a year. Here at the Highwood Chamber, we feel a bit possessive, after all, they’re geographically and virtually (almost) in Highwood!

We’re excited to celebrate their anniversary together with the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, July 17, at 4:00 PM at 431 Temple Avenue, Highland Park.

We've stocked up on ribbon and hope that you will join us to celebrate Bella Via. All are welcome!

Event Recap: Ribbon Cutting at IC Signs and Graphics

On June 13, friends, family, and community members gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting for IC Signs and Graphics’ new space at 522 Sheridan Road.

Have you seen the transformation of the building? It’s hardly recognizable, inside and out! You can’t miss the vibrant new signage. Guests enjoyed exploring the new location and connecting with one another, while Highwood showed its appreciation for all that Cory and his team bring to the community.

Congratulations to IC Signs and Graphics on this exciting new chapter!

And on a Personal Note…

I’m often asked about my job as Executive Director of the Highwood Chamber. Do you like it? What do you actually do?

The short answer: Yes, I absolutely love it. Of all the jobs I’ve ever had, this one is my favorite. No two days are the same. One moment I’m promoting businesses on social media, the next I’m networking, securing sponsorships, producing newsletters, submitting information to publications, brainstorming events, or helping organize educational and fun activities for the community. I also serve on committees for some of our member businesses.

But the truth is, I don’t do this alone. I’m lucky to work alongside a fabulous Board and to have the support, cooperation, and participation of my entire family. In fact, my daughter MacKenzie says it’s not a "real day" unless one or more of us is in Highwood!

I mention this because my daughter Addie, who many of you know from Bingo or from working at Toffee Traditions, got married this past weekend to Daniel McCarron. And of course, I couldn’t have my daughter’s wedding without a little participation from the Highwood community!

• Thank you to Kristen at Toffee Traditions for providing toffee for all the guests. If you haven’t tried her toffee yet, you really should stop by and stock up!
• Thank you to Cory at IC Signs & Graphics for creating a life-size cutout of Addie and Daniel’s dog, Eddie, so he could “attend” the festivities. Cory can produce anything from wrapping cars to signage to (apparently) giant dog heads!
• And thank you to Tanya from Street Level Studio, who kindly lent us her Street Level Studio-branded Giant Jenga for the reception (this was a personal favor). We at the Chamber can recommend Street Level Studio's marketing talents with complete confidence as they have been a long-term partner of ours.

To each of these businesses and to the entire Highwood business community, thank you for the support you show me in my role at the Chamber, and for the way you embrace my family and the Chamber itself. It truly is a pleasure to spend my days (and often my evenings) in this special role.

Choose Local, Thrive Local

Let’s continue celebrating everything that makes Highwood unique. By supporting our Chamber members, we can keep our community strong and help our businesses thrive all year long