|
Happy Friday, Antioch!
As we head into the weekend, I want to start with a little good news for our community. Chicago Magazine recently ranked Antioch No. 63 out of 205 suburbs in the Chicago area in its “Best Suburbs to Call Home” list. That is a strong showing, and it confirms what many of us already know: Antioch continues to be noticed as a great place to live, visit, dine, shop, and enjoy.
What is even more encouraging is that Antioch scored especially well in some of the individual categories within the rankings. In one of the entertainment and community-related categories, Antioch ranked in the top 5% among all Chicago-area suburbs. That speaks directly to the energy and character of our community and the work being done by our local businesses, restaurants, event organizers, and residents to make Antioch a destination people enjoy spending time in.
We have a downtown that is active, walkable, and full of local businesses that give our town its personality. Of course, we are not done. No. 63 is nice, but I think Antioch belongs in the top 20. We will keep working toward that by supporting our businesses, investing in our public spaces, and continuing to build the kind of community where people want to spend time.
There is plenty going on around town this weekend. PM&L Theatre has The Lyres Improv Troupe tonight and Rule 62 sketch comedy tomorrow (Saturday), with two shows scheduled. On Sunday, Chicago Blues Hall of Famer Michael Charles and his band will perform at Sunset Grill at 2 p.m. It is another good reminder that you do not have to go far to find live entertainment in Antioch.
The next Antioch Traveling Closet Corporation NFP giveaway is this Sunday, May 31, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 311 Depot Street. The event provides free clothing, toiletries, and essential items to families in need. It is open to residents of Antioch, Fox Lake, Ingleside, Milburn, Third Lake, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Volo, Spring Grove, Richmond, Johnsburg, Grayslake and Round Lake communities (please bring proof of residency). A big thank you to Lisa Fisher and all the ATC volunteers who make this event possible. For more information, click here.
Looking ahead, next week is one of our biggest weeks of the summer: Taste of Summer returns downtown June 4 through June 7. This year’s event includes a full schedule of live entertainment, food vendors, exhibitors, shopping, and the return of the carnival at the Bandshell area. It is a great opportunity to bring the family downtown, enjoy our restaurants and shops, and celebrate the start of summer in Antioch.
A few highlights: Taste of Summer opens Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday at noon, and Sunday at noon. The carnival opens Thursday and Friday at 5 p.m., runs all day Saturday, and continues Sunday until 8 p.m. There will also be a special needs carnival quiet time on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon for pre-registered families. Thank you to the Antioch Chamber, sponsors, volunteers, businesses, and Village staff for all the work that goes into making this event happen.
Also, the Latte Cafe at Sequoit Creek Park is open for the season! Please stop by and support them while you enjoy the park. We have also adjusted the splash pad hours to 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., so families with younger kids can enjoy it earlier in the day before the afternoon gets too busy and too hot.
Next week also brings us one step closer to the start of our “It’s Thursday” summer concert series. The kickoff concert is Thursday, June 11, with Everclear at the Antioch Bandshell. The show is free, all ages, and music begins at 5:15 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. That should be a great night downtown and a strong start to another summer of music in Antioch.
Finally, did you see the Antioch resident on Wheel of Fortune earlier this month? I've attached a clip of the May 14th Wheel of Fortune episode featuring Stephanie Hoetzer. Thanks for giving the Village a shout-out, Stephanie! How great was this?! The clip from the show is attached below.
Have a great weekend, Antioch. Get outside, support our local businesses, and enjoy everything happening in town. And as always, I will see you around the Village.
—Scott J. Gartner
Mayor of Antioch
| 
