By Karie Angell Luc
Beautiful weather prevailed June 17 for the first ever Grapes on the Green, an adults-only annual event presented by the Village of Northbrook and Northbrook Park District downtown at Village Green Park.
An estimated 450 ticket holders could sample twelve, one-ounce sips of wine poured by Chicago Wine, a company based in Glenview.
Attendees received a voucher for an entree from the food truck, The Fat Shallot, plus a dessert charcuterie board were enjoyed while they listened to live jazz music by the Nite Hawks. The band played in the renowned Village Green Park gazebo.
Attendees could visit a caricature artist, test their knowledge with wine trivia and try games and activities. People also received a keepsake stemless wine glass.
“It’s an absolutely beautiful day to enjoy,” said Nancy Eschker, the Park District’s youth program manager and Grapes on the Green event organizer; adding that the experience is, “just a really nice community event with a variety of offerings for everyone to enjoy in a 21 and over environment.”
“Our community said they wanted more things for adults,” said Joan Scovic, the Park District’s director of marketing and communications. “When we did our comprehensive master planning and when we did our communitywide survey, that was one of the things that rose to the top; was more things for adults, more adult programming.”
Northbrook Village Board President Kathryn L. Ciesla and daughter Kylie Ciesla, 21, were among the throngs of visitors at the inaugural event.
“It’s beautiful; it’s like Ravinia in Northbrook,” said Kathryn Ciesla. “People have brought lawn chairs and blankets and tables and it’s absolutely lovely.”
Allie Beagles, of the Glenbrook North High School Class of 2016, and mother Holly Beagles, of Northbrook, were among other pairs of mothers and daughters enjoying the afternoon.
“It’s a really fun thing to do together,” Allie Beagles said.
Paula and Mike Widmaier of Glenview, principals of Chicago Wine of Glenview, were among pourers offering nine versions of wines, including varieties from wineries hailing from France, California, New Zealand, Spain and Italy. Their wine-consulting business in Glenview is located at 1047 Waukegan Road.
“We’re all neighbors. We’re all having a good time,” Mike Widmaier said. “It’s something that brings us all together and certainly there’s a lot of diversity in the styles and palate of wines; there’s a lot of different taste profiles.
“The pairing of food and wine always brings people together, I think,” Mike Widmaier added.
Noting that Northbrook Days is no more, patron Julie Parkal said: “It’s great to have events back on the Village Green since Northbrook Days isn’t here anymore, so it’s nice that they’re bringing other events and adult events are nice too.”
Bonnie Siegel of Northbrook, part of the village’s Arts Commission, was among several artists from Northbrook, Northfield and Glenview who exhibited their works during the event.
“This pop-up exhibit is kind of unique,” Siegel said. “It lets us expose some of our newer work.”
Sarah and Jim Ogle of Northbrook were also among the Northbrook visitors.
Jim Ogle enjoys cabernet and merlot red wine and Sarah’s preference is sauvignon blanc, a white wine.
“I also like pinot noir,” Sarah Ogle said, adding about the event, “It’s super fun. The music is great. I love stuff like this.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
