Gina Grillo

Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

The Water(color) for the Soul: Music of Lake Michigan allows participants to seek intersections between sound, poetry, and visual art, to aid composers in giving form to their music. (Gina Grillo/ for the Pioneer Press)

Water(color) for the Soul uses music and multi-sensory approach to help veterans heal

January 14, 2025 at 10:50 a.m.

Veterans at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods are using a multisensory approach to create music as a way to heal from the past.

This year’s Annual Christmas Pageant at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest With over 80 participants, has become a long-standing over 50-year tradition, that brings the congregation together as a family during the holiday season. (Gina Grillo/ For the Pioneer Press)

Standing room only for annual Christmas Pageant at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest

December 16, 2024 at 5:16 p.m.

At 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec.15, The First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest at 700 North Sheridan Road was filled to the rafters, with a standing-room-only crowd filled with anticipation.

Fallen Hero Wreaths Fort Sheridan National Cemetery began with a 9 a.m. public ceremony and wreath laying on Saturday, Dec 14, in appreciation for those who served in our nation’s military and for their sacrifice for our freedom. (Gina Grillo/ For the Pioneer Press)

Families and volunteers participate in 11th annual Fallen Heroes Wreath Laying ceremony at Fort Sheridan

December 16, 2024 at 3:33 p.m.

Under crisp sunny skies, family members and volunteers gathered Saturday morning to to adorn the tombstones of those in military service at Fort Sheridan National Cemetery, with fresh wreaths for...

Mathew Warner, 4, and Sofia Warner, 1, join Santa during the annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast with Santa held on Saturday, Dec 7 at Grace United Methodist Church in Lake Bluff. (Gina Grillo/ For the Pioneer Press)

Children enjoy pancakes with Santa Claus at annual Lake Bluff-Lake Forest Kiwanis Club Breakfast

December 9, 2024 at 3:41 p.m.

The Kiwanis Club of Lake Bluff and Lake Forest fulfills an important agenda item each holiday season by coordinating a special visit with Santa Claus for area children.

Gereltseteseg Enkhbaatar and Azalea Shaw, 1, from Deerfield, enjoy the life-sized snow globe inflatable during Deerfield’s Winter Holiday Market Saturday at the Patty Turner Center. (Gina Grillo/ For the Pioneer Press)

Deerfield Winter Holiday Market’s celebratory atmosphere showcases local artisans’ work

December 9, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

The Deerfield Winter Holiday Market was held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Patty Turner Center 375 Elm Street in Deerfield.

Nell Nixdorf, 8, and Andrea Zumpano, 3, pose for a photo with Santa during the 40th Annual Lake Forest Tree Lighting Holiday Celebration on Friday, Nov. 29 at historic Market Square. (Gina Grillo/ For the Pioneer Press)

Residents gather in Lake Forest’s Market Square for 40th Annual Tree Lighting Holiday Celebration

December 2, 2024 at 3:04 p.m.

The 40th Annual Lake Forest Tree Lighting Holiday Celebration took place Friday, Nov. 29 at historic Market Square accompanied by chilly temperatures and a dusting of snow.

Author, Shelby Van Pelt takes part in a book signing of her debut novel,..Remarkably Bright Creatures, during the Lake Forest Reads Meet the Author event at the Gorton Center on Friday, Nov. 1. (Gina Grillo/ For the Pioneer Press)

Lake Forest Reads welcomes Wheaton author to discuss her award-winning book

November 4, 2024 at 3:33 p.m.

This fall’s Lake Forest Reads selection, Remarkably Bright Creatures is author Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, published by Harper Collins and first released in 2022.

Pets and their owners get ready for Northbrook's 3rd Annual Halloween Pet Parade to begin, hosted by the Northbrook Park District Oct. 25, 2024, at Techny Prairie Park and Fields. (Gina Grillo/for Pioneer Press)

Northbrook puts on the dog for Halloween pet parade

October 29, 2024 at 10:35 a.m.

Surrounded by the vibrant colors of fall, area pets and their humans gathered at Northbrook's Techny Prairie Park and Fields for a costume-clad autumn day. This was the third year...

Vittorio Bichucher and Natalie Bichucher of Highland Park during the 36th Annual Recycled Art Sale in Highland Park, one of The Art Center’s most important fundraisers, offering a potpourri of thousands of pieces of art donated from private collectors, galleries, estates, corporate art collections, and institutions throughout the year. The 10-day sale opened Friday and runs through Oct. 26, 2024, with an array of paintings, prints, ceramics, decorative objects, vintage posters, sculpture, art glass, jewelry, and more. (Gina Grillo/ For the Pioneer Press)

36th Annual Recycled Art Sale in Highland Park continues journey of artwork

October 21, 2024 at 3:37 p.m.

In the vintage tradition of the Parisian flea market, The Art Center Highland Park, became the destination for art lovers and treasure hunters from all over Chicagoland this weekend –...

Harold McEntee 6-years-old and brother Conor McEntee 3-years-old of Winnetka participate in pumpkin painting during Fall Fest at Elawa Farm.

Saturday’s activities included a garden market with fresh produce for sale along with seasonal and local vendors and artisans selling clothing and culinary treats, live music, games in the paddock, pumpkin painting, caramel apple making, a flower crown craft, visits with farm animals and a scavenger hunt, with an open door and outdoor seating available at the new Café at Elawa Farm. (Gina Grillo/ For the Pioneer Press)

Fall Fest at Lake Forest’s Elawa Farm celebrates harvest, change of season

October 14, 2024 at 2:42 p.m.

Colorful leaves, golden sunlight and a chill in the wind, just in time for Saturday’s Fall Fest at Elawa Farm.

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