Lifestyle Columns
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Sweet corn to share: Salad with ‘creamy’ vinaigrette the perfect side dish for late-summer gatheringsAug 20, 2025 5:22 am - Fresh sweet corn is one of the best things about summer, but it’s hard to bring as a side dish. That’s where this chopped vegetable salad with a “creamy” (but dairy-free) corn vinaigrette comes in.
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Tips for growing gladioli and lawn seeding in late summerAug 19, 2025 6:06 pm - I have fond memories of growing gladioli as a kid growing up in Nebraska — and at this point in summer I’m seeing them in bloom around the Chicago area.
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FHA appraisers are not home inspectorsAug 19, 2025 5:56 pm - Many homebuyers are unclear about the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection. Because of this, they forego a home inspection and are surprised when problems are discovered after the close of escrow.
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The story behind Geneva’s new ‘upscale dive bar’ Bad AliceAug 19, 2025 2:31 pm - “We wanted something affordable and friendly,” manager Chris Claboltz said of the inspiration for Geneva’s new “upscale dive bar,” Bad Alice.
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Fresh, fast and flavor-packed: A Tex-Mex trio to save the dayAug 13, 2025 6:32 am - If you’re looking to shake up your dinner routine without spending hours in the kitchen, this Tex-Mex inspired lineup is here to save the day (and your taste buds).
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Bacon gives sweet corn a Southern sensibilityAug 13, 2025 6:00 am - Thoughts of Illinois sweet corn inspired Don Mauer to put his own spin on this side dish from Millie Peartree using ingredients he already had on hand.
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From drive-in to fly-in: A canopy’s quirky taleAug 13, 2025 4:00 am - The canopy that once sheltered Rex's Driv-In restaurant in St. Charles has played an important role in the history of the Fox Valley Aero Club.
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Why you shouldn’t heat your home with a clothes dryerAug 12, 2025 11:14 am - Are dryer vent diverters sold in hardware stores and used to provide extra heat in a home illegal?
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It’s OK to keep planting in late summerAug 12, 2025 10:37 am - It’s OK to keep planting in late summer, but be sure to water new plants and those that are less established.
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‘Flying jewels’: Naperville man has seen 237 species of hummingbirdsAug 11, 2025 1:15 pm - Denis Kania of Naperville is fairly obsessed with hummingbirds. He’s been to 30 countries and has seen 237 of the 367 hummingbird species.