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Taste of Algonquin Commons pairs with concert series

When you head out to the final concert of the season at Algonquin Commons' Summer Concert series this weekend, you can leave the picnic basket at home this time.

As part of a daylong series of concerts, the outdoor mall also will be hosting a daylong food event.

The mall is hosting a Taste of Algonquin Commons from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 29, featuring food from your favorite restaurants at Algonquin Commons.

You could sample one vendor during lunch, another for a snack, and then a third for dinner, all the while listening to the concerts.

On Sunday, concerts will begin at 1 p.m. From 1 to 3 p.m., Let's Dance will perform big band and swing music from the '40s, '50s and '60s.

At 3:30 p.m., the Fox Valley's own Josh Scholl will take the stage. Scholl, from Lake in the Hills, will perform from 3:30 to 4 p.m. He is the winner of ABC's 2011 “Karaoke Battle USA.” He will perform his single “City Lights,” along with other favorites.

The summer concert series will come to an end with 7th Heaven, returning to the mall for its third performance.

The popular band will perform from 5 to 7 p.m., and will play favorites from Bon Jovi, Journey, Def Leppard and more.

You'll want to bring out some chairs and blankets to enjoy the festivities.

In addition to the music and Taste of Algonquin Commons, kids will be able to enjoy crafts, entertainment and a prize wheel.

Spooky early: While many of us are planning for back to school, the folks at Yankee Candle in Geneva Commons already are thinking ahead to Halloween.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, they're holding a Halloween Preview Party at the Randall Road store.

You'll get to check out all of their items for the upcoming Halloween and fall season.

The store will be holding giveaways every hour for everyone who comes in to get a jump on the season.

Summer s'mores: While s'mores are a necessity around any campfire, they've also become a traditional part of eating at Niko's Lodge.

The Randall Road restaurant in Algonquin offers diners a chance to roast marshmallows and eat s'mores after their meal.

While Niko's Lodge has an appealing dessert tray filled with goodies, many diners are also drawn to the simpler dessert of s'mores.

The restaurant usually has one of two fires going outside — a wood-burning fire out front and a gas fire on the patio. There are wooden skewers for you to use to toast your marshmallows over the fire. And, after your meal, servers give you a baggie filled with graham crackers, a marshmallow and chocolate for you to create your own dessert — free.

Ÿ Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from South Elgin to Batavia. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or at (847) 894-5036.

  Niko’s Lodge in Algonquin Commons has fire pits in front for toasting marshmallows and making s’mores. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com ¬
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