Palatine welcomes sweets shop, kung fu school

Palatine recently welcomed a couple of new businesses located just a few blocks from each other, giving patrons more options to exercise their bodies and taste buds.

The first is Signature Sweets, 220 N. Smith St., near the train station. The shop features six daily flavors of homemade gelato and gourmet popcorn, including the traditional Chicago-style cheddar-and-caramel mix.

Several panini sandwiches round out the menu, in addition to other desserts, coffees and teas.

Owner Camelia Traistaru and her store recently celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce representatives and Mayor Jim Schwantz. For more, see signaturesweetsinc.com, or call (847) 221-5657.

To the east, at 291 N. Northwest Highway, is the Soaring Eagle Kung Fu School, which moved Oct. 1 from Buffalo Grove to a more spacious Palatine location.

The Chinese martial arts school offers Shaolin-style kung fu training, including bare-hand self-defense and classical weapons for sport and competition, as well as Tai Chi classes. There are separate classes for kids, teens and adults, each with beginner to advanced levels.

The school was founded by Master Kaifei Song, who said he's won numerous nationwide championships in China and has taught throughout China, Indonesia and the U.S.

for more, see soaringeaglekungfu.com, or call (847) 701-5588.