OFFICE WORKERS, NEIGHBORS TAKE A BREAK
Groups of chair-carrying office workers streamed down the walkways, and baby-toting moms climbed from the cars as the soothing harmonies of bebop, Beach Boys and even a Gregorian chant wafted toward them across a manicured lawn.
The Chicago-based Acafellas, a male a cappella quintet, were entertaining a mixed crowd of about 100 corporate types, shopkeepers and families at what is arguably one of southern Lake County’s best kept cultural secrets: a free, noontime five-concert series held in the unlikely setting of a business park.
Specifically, the series is set against the backdrop of a shimmering 36-acre lake outside the One Overlook Point office building in the Lincolnshire Corporate Center.
The unusual juxtaposition of bucolic serenity, corporate dealing and family togetherness happens each summer compliments of Van Vlissingen and Co., which developed and manages the business park.
In its seventh season, the series injects a range of upbeat notes from country and calypso to movie themes and magic into the hectic business day every three weeks from June through August.
The concerts, which the Acafellas jump-started this year with chants, gospel, contemporary rock and pop on June 7, draws most of its audience from Van Vlissingen’s three developments: the Corporate Center, The Corporate Grove in Buffalo Grove and The Corporate Woods in Vernon Hills.
But the public is invited to join the fun, children and all, according to Van Vlissingen marketing director Vicki Burchard.
“Many of the tenants in our parks encourage people to have their families come. They genuinely like family involvement,” Burchard said.
And the corporate developer also genuinely welcomes the surrounding communities.
“It’s nice. Over the years the concerts have developed a following in the community,” she said.
Van Vlissingen President Charles Lamphere saw the concerts as something the company could do for its tenants and the parks’ neighbors.
“We want to create a good work environment. And we want to give something back to the community,” Lamphere said.
The concerts, which last an hour, continue on June 28 with the Brew City Sisters, a hot Milwaukee country duo, singing the best of their CDs.
“They’re very much in demand. And they really are sisters,” Burchard said.
The Midwest Young Artists follow with show tunes and movie themes on July 19. Comedic magician Ken Schultz, known as the Flying Fool, comes on Aug. 9. The season closes on Aug. 30 with the Caribbean islands sounds of the Steel Express.
“This year will be very interesting. We’ve got a good blend of very talented professional groups. And we will also have the Young Artists, which is an orchestra of very talented high school musicians,” Burchard said.
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Concerts run from noon to 1 p.m. The closest entrance to One Overlook Point is at Tower Parkway, about one-half mile south of Illinois Highway 22 on Milwaukee Avenue. Take the first left on Tower Parkway, which is Overlook Point, to the end. Parking is available behind the office building.
