It took me one hour to walk from one end of Highland Park High School to another last Friday afternoon. On my way, I stumbled into an a cappella performance and a beat boxing and drum performance before finally arriving in room A217 for a discussion by Ravinia Festival's Student Advisory Board about bringing classical music to high schoolers. Then, while making my way back to where I'd first walked in, I caught the beginning of Big Top HP -- a woman hanging from a hula hoop high above the high school's auditorium. You may have figured out at this point that this was no ordinary school day. It…

The Highland Park Chamber of Commerce held its Holiday Celebration and 101st Annual Meeting last Thursday at Lexus of Highland Park. Guests included Highland Park business owners as well as Mayor Nancy Rotering, Councilman Daniel Kaufman and City Council candidates Carolyn Cerf and Alyssa Knobel.  Food was provided by Highland Park spots like Real Urban Barbecue, Moderno and Sunset Foods. Check out photos from the event above. For more news and updates, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Each week, Leslie Lewis brings her assortment of prepackaged, natural food to farmers markets throughout the Chicago suburbs. She's in Libertyville one day, Evanston another. On Wednesdays, you can find her in Jens Jensen park, along with 13 other vendors for Ravinia's Farmer's Market. "I love the area," Lewis said about Highland Park. "The demographics are good, the people here are educated, health conscious and they know what they're looking for." In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, market customers can also find crepes made on-site, get their knives sharpened, buy fresh flowers or …

In addition to the parade, the fireworks and Fourth Fest, this year's Independence Day celebration included the 5th annual Late Nite HP Bitter Jester Battle of the Bands. Want Highland Park news in your inbox every morning? Subscribe to Patch's newsletter. Winners from battle of the bands that went on throughout June in Highland Park got to perform at the city's pre-fireworks concert at Wolder's Field on July 4th, according to Bitter Jester co-owner Nic DeGrazia. The judges narrowed the five bands down to two, and then the audience picked the winner by its applause. This year's winning band …

Highland Park High School graduated its class of 2012 on Wednesday at Ravinia Festival. Want Highland Park news in your inbox every morning? Subscribe to Patch's newsletter. After a greeting from Township High School District 113 Superintendent George Fornero, the assembled seniors, family and friends heard senior Burt Chaikin address the crowd with the official address. The valedictorians are: Sophie Allyssa Friedman Perry Lee Rabin Michael Lewis Schoof The saludatorians are: Brett Alexander Glasner Zachary Jacob Weiner Bryce Robertson was awarded Highland Park High School's Medal of Honor. …

Highland Park fourth grade students released over 50 Rainbow Trout they raised in the classroom into the ravine stream at Millard Park on April 13. The release is the result of the combined environmental efforts of Trout Unlimited, the Park District of Highland Park, and the fourth grade class at Braeside Elementary School. The Gary Borger Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a national conservation organization committed to conserving, protecting and restoring coldwater fisheries and their watersheds, teamed with Braeside on the Trout in the Classroom project. Supplied with aquariums and supplies, …

Mayor Nancy Rotering joined members of the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce in welcoming the city's new gourmet popcorn place at Highland Pop's ribbon cutting on March 9. "This is awesome," Highland Park Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod said of the chocolate-banana flavored popcorn he sampled in Highland Pop's storefront at 464 Central Avenue. Elrod is a friend and neighbor to Highland Pop owner Kim Cohen. He's also a fan of her popcorn. He walked off with a few bags of different flavors. Cohen, a 20-year Highland Park resident, spoke with Patch columnist Ed Brill about her new business in …

If you walk into Highland Park's new frozen yogurt place more than once a day, you're bound to see a different crowd of people each time. After reading Ed Brill's column on Menchie's, the city's newest sweet spot, I decided I needed to check the place out myself. In addition to getting samples of Chocolate Banana frozen yogurt, I got the rundown on when you'll see who at Highland Park's newest hangout, according to Menchie's employee and Highland Park resident Christina Gilbert. "In the afternoons you get the moms coming in with their girlfriends," Gilbert said. "Anywhere between 2:30 p.m. …

Reggie the German wire-haired pointer knew a big change was coming in the upstairs meet-and-greet room at Tails of Hope no-kill shelter, 1628 Old Deerfield Road. The friendly, four-year-old shaggy brown-colored dog would finally get a home with Bill and Cathy Kummerow of Hawthorn Woods after a long wait for adoption at Tails of Hope.  Highland Park’s Kelly Moyer, who founded Tails of Hope in 2003, had another happy ending to record.  Read more. For more news and updates from Highland Park Patch, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Highland Park celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday with its third annual Day of Service at the Highland Park Recreation Center. Sponsored by School District 112 and the Highland Park Human Relations Commission, the event included an array of community service activities for people of all ages to participate in, according to event organizer Cheryl Levi. "It's really a special day for me, for the community and for everyone involved," Levi said. "It's very heartwarming." Activities included decorating squares on quilts going to hospitalized children, writing letters to …

2nd Street Bistro hosted a New Year's Eve bash Saturday, complete with dancing, dinner and a DJ. The North Shore's only BYOB location invited guests to bring their own booze to a party that offered everything else. Check out the photos above. For more news and updates from Highland Park Patch, "like" us on Facebook or follow us onTwitter!

Dave Limardi said farewell to the Highland Park City Council Monday night at what was his final meeting as city manager. He will resign from his post Jan. 1. “I’ll be in town, but I assure you one thing: You’ll never see me under ‘Business from the Public’ in a council meeting,” Limardi, 58, said Monday night. The Highland Park resident has held his position for more than 18 years and is the longest serving city manager in the Highland Park’s history. During Limardi’s tenure, the former Ft. Sheridan was redeveloped, Renaissance Place was built and the Taste of Highland Park became an annual …

The Downtown Highland Park Alliance opened its new outdoor ice skating rink last week at Port Clinton Square. Approximately 50-foot-square, it's made of a synthetic surface called “Xtraice”, and allows skaters to do everything they would do on ice. Unlike traditional synthetic surfaces, it isn't weather dependent and doesn’t make skaters stick or slide when skating and offers the best gliding performance. Public skating will be open Monday through Thursday 3:15 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday 3:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daytime skating hours may be …

The Highland Park Historical Society celebrated old and new treasures last Thursday evening, with the unveiling of its exhibit "Hidden Treasures Revealed." With help from YEA! Highland Park, the Historical Society secured a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), for a Basic Processing and Preservation Planning Project, which helped them to afford its new archivist, Nancy Webster. Since her arrival, the Historical Society has uncovered, revitalized, archived and made available to the …

The night after an "isolated blizzard" hit Central Avenue, real snow fell in Highland Park. Patch photojournalist Steve Handwerker was awake at 2:30 a.m., Friday, when he noticed winter's first snow. Only hours after returning from shooting the shopping event in downtown Highland Park, he went back to snap some shots of the season's first snowfall. See photos of the snow above. Want to keep posted on more photos and Highland Park event recaps? "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Shoppers flocked to Central Avenue on Thursday evening to enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, roasted chestnuts, live music and later store hours at Highland Park stores. Earlier: 'Isolated Blizzard' Hits Central Avenue Marking the kick-off for Shhhhhh…opping Highland Park, a three-day shopping festival organized by local merchants and the Downtown Highland Park Alliance, Thursday's event included deals from participating stores as well as a crepe booth, a drink booth and a s'mores booth. "The whole idea of this weekend is to bring people out to shop," said Leslie Blesius, owner of Jolie Maison…

Remember last week when ice appeared on Central Avenue? Well, now there's snow. To gear up for Thursday evening's Shhhhhh…opping Highland Park event, a three-day shopping festival, local merchants and business owners working with the Downtown Highland Park Alliance pitched in to deck downtown Highland Park in winter spirit -- meaning ice sculptures and snow. Read more: Downtown Keeps Getting Better "An isolated blizzard of some sort" is what Larry Hillman, one of the property owners behind the event, coyly called the snow along Central Avenue and by Port Clinton Square and Renaissance Place…

Local politicians, business owners and residents shared food, drink and conversation last Thursday at Lexus in Highland Park to celebrate the holiday season at the Chamber of Commerce's 100th annual meeting. Mayor Nancy Rotering, City Councilmen Paul Frank, Daniel Kaufman and David Naftzger as well as state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) mingled with chamber members and local merchants through the evening of Dec. 1. "This Holiday Celebration/100th Annual Meeting is a wonderful cap to the Chamber’s  Centennial Year," Highland Park Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ginny Glasner said …

There's ice on the ground in downtown Highland Park.  Nope, it's not snow. Ice sculptures popped up throughout the city Thursday to kick off Highland Park's first annual Ice Sculpture Walk, sponsored by The Downtown Highland Park Alliance and participating merchants. "We want to give a reason for people to walk around the whole city, and try to do what no one else is doing in the other suburbs," said Stash's and 2nd Street Bistro owner Bobby Dubin, who helped organize the effort. There are currently sculptures in front of stores like Uncle Dan's and Ross Cosmetics as well as the First Bank of…

Local politicians, artists, educators and others gathered Wednesday night at Bella Via for YEA! Highland Park and the Highland Park Community Foundation's sevent annual grant awards dinner.  About 30 local organizations, including the Highland Park Historical Society and District 112 School District, received $360,000 in grants at the event. "We're very proud of what we accomplished," said Highland Park Community Foundation chairman Andy Livingston. "It's a phenomenal nonprofit experience." According to Patty Pell, YEA! Highland Park president, the Highland Park Historical Society will use …