Another 21 for Illinois at 204

With the recent 30th anniversary celebration of my coming to Oak Park, it's so appropriate to turn my attention to celebrating the birthday of Illinois today and party like it's 1818.

In the spirit of celebrating my residency in Oak Park for 3 decades, here is another list of 21 to celebrate Illinois, focusing on the Chicago suburbs:

1. Illinois Beach State Park in Zion

2. Orland Grassland by Orland Park

3. Swallowcliff Stairs in the Cook County Forest Preserve near Palos Park

4. Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center near Willow Springs

5. National Shrine of St. Therese in Darien

6. Will County Barn Quilt Trail

7. Lambs Farm

8. Woodstock Opera House

9. Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston

10. The Tower in Western Springs

11. The Glen Town Center in Glenview, on the site of the former Glenview Naval Air Station

12. MainStreet Libertyville

13. National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe

14. Chain of Lakes State Park

15. Naperville Riverwalk

16. Volo Bog State Natural Area

17. Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve

18. Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago

19. Virginia Cassin, the longtime Oak Park Village Clerk

20. The new Candycopia Store on lake Street in Oak Park is a sure way to have a sweet day

21. The Kettlestrings Family was among the first to settle in what is now Oak Park, beginning a long lin of people who consider Oak Park so dearly, including me.

Happy Birthday, Illinois!

Partying like it's 1818 with an Italian-style beef sandwich for lunch today from Pete's Red Hots in far southern Oak Park

Not in the suburbs for this photo, but still partying: Mom photographed me near Wolf Point in downtown Chicago on the evening of December 3, after we viewed the light display at Merchandise Mart.  One of my former co-workers, a big Lincoln fan, sent me the scarf I'm wearing as  a gift, and it fit my mood for this day.