Hoffman Estates is home to Cabela’s, the world’s foremost outfitter of hunting, fishing and camping clothing and equipment. Besides supplying outdoorsmen with all of their equipment needs, the 185,000 square foot retail showroom is an educational and entertainment attraction featuring museum quality animal displays, 2 large fresh water aquariums, indoor play shooting range and large trophy animals interacting in a realistic recreation of their natural habitat. On one of my visits, my son and I watched them do a feeding in the bass tank. What a great learning experience to see how fish feed.

Cabela’s also features a restaurant and delicatessen offering wild game entrees as well as traditional sandwiches. Menu items include deli sandwiches made from Elk, Wild Boar, Bison, Ostrich and the traditional other deli meats. On a recent visit with a friend, we enjoyed the Bison Burger as well as a Venison Brat. Both were delicious and reasonably priced. Also, if you are planning a meeting in the Northwest suburbs try the Fox River Grill, a deluxe banquet facility and meeting room accommodating from 12-50 people for a lunch part or banquet.

Cabela’s is located at 5225 Prairie Stone Parkway in Hoffman Estates, inside the Prairie Stone Business Park.

CLICK HERE for driving directions. CLICK HERE for store hours and a video tour.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra has become a drop-off site for a food drive organized by the city of Elgin, and as an incentive to get the community involved they are offering 1 free ticket for every 10 nonperishable items donated. The donations must be made in person at the ESO box office which is located at 20 DuPage Court in Downtown Elgin, IL. All free tickets will be redeemable at any of the upcoming performances at the Hemmens Theatre through June 2009. The box office is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you wish to donate food, the items that are most needed include:

• Canned Vegetables
• Macaroni
• White Rice
• Peanut Butter
• Jelly
• Spaghetti
• Ravioli
• Canned Fruit
• Beans
• Crackers
• Ramen Noodles
• Tuna
• Chili

If you live in or around the Schaumburg IL area and are looking for fun activities consider taking a trip to Legoland Discovery Center, a 30,000-square-foot play arena located across from the Woodfield Shopping Center.  It is the first of its kind in the United States, and is modeled after two similar attractions in Germany.  Click here for an interactive map or check out some of the special features of the Schaumburg Legoland Discovery Center below!

FACTORY TOUR

A unique chance to learn exactly how LEGO bricks are made - from the raw materials to the perfect finished product with close-ups of all the manufacturing stages, with machines, animated workers and sound effects.

DRAGON RIDE

Climb aboard the giant green dragon for a journey of twists and turns through our medieval castle. Watch out for the moving LEGO models - drunken monks, cooking in the kitchen and watch the royal banquet.

ADVENTURE TRAIL

Get your trekking boots on for your quest through the jungle with our Johnny Thunder. Meet the curious characters and creatures along the way and take the quiz card challenge competition.

MINILAND

Think small - see Chicago in miniature - and perfect in every detail. Made from nearly 1.5 million LEGO bricks, you’ll enjoy a day in the life of the city and its inhabitants - all model citizens of course! The Sears Tower used 190,000 bricks and weighs over 200 pounds!

BUILD AND TEST

Use your imagination and get creative with thousands of LEGO bricks in the Build + Test Center! All ages welcome - and parents can join in too! And after the challenge of building your creations, there’s the added thrill and excitement of seeing just how well they perform!

Prices are $19 for adults, $15 for children and $17 for seniors.  Children under 2 years old receive free admission! Save 25% on ticket prices at the door. Click here for your online discount tickets or call 1-888-209-7172.  Save 50% off of ticket prices by donating some of your old lego bricks!

The Schaumburg Legoland Center is located at 601 N. Martingale Road (at the intersection of Higgins Rd and Martingale Rd) Schaumburg, IL 60173.  Click here for directions

One major bonus of living in Hoffman Estates is its famous entertainment district, which has been growing rapidly with the birth of the Sears Centre Arena in October 2006. The Sears Centre Arena has become the largest entertainment venue in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. It seats 11,000 and is home to the Chicago Storm (Xtreme Soccer League), the Chicago Slaughter (Continental Indoor Football League), and the Chicago Shamrox (National Lacrosse League). The massive arena also serves as a venue for concerts and theatrical performances.  Matchbox Twenty, Lionel Richie, and Billy Joel are just a few of the many musicians who have held concerts at the Sears Centre Arena.

The Sears Centre Arena is conveniently located in Prairie Stone Business Park, immediately north of the Northwest Tollway (1-90) and west of Illinois Route 59.  The center provides 43 luxury suites with two lounges on the private suite concourse, 1,000 club seats with a private club and parking for 3,200 vehicles, with an additional 1,500 spaces available! To find out how to get tickets for an upcoming event at the Sears Centre Arena, Click Here.

To show the country’s appreciation for our troops stationed overseas, Xerox Corporation has developed a nationwide program aimed at saying “thank you” to our troops. Through the Let’s Say Thanks program, postcards designed by children from across the country, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images are available at www.LetsSayThanks.com for people to select their favorite and write a personalized message to the troops. There are 10 pre-written messages or you can elect to write your own personalized message. Xerox will then print the card on its paper and equipment and mail it in care packages to deployed troops through the  military support organization Give2TheTroops.

Give2TheTroops, a non-profit organization formed to support the physical, moral and spiritual health of America’s armed forces in combat zones around the world through the letters and packages prepared and shipped by volunteers.

If you would like to send a soldier a postcard, CLICK HERE. In three easy steps, you can send a message of support to the troops:

1. Select a favorite postcard design, drawn by U.S. children, ages 6-14

2. Enter your personal message.

3. Click “submit.”

Take 5 minutes of your time and make a soldiers day.

Have time off for the holidays and looking for things to do in Chicago and throughout the suburbs? Here is a list of upcoming holiday events:

Chicago Christkindl Market

Running currently through December 24th at the Daily Center.  Chicago’s largest open air market featuring cherished German and European tradition with international flair. A unique shopping experience with typical German food and drinks, diverse holiday entertainment, and a place to enjoy the city during the winter season. Click here for a calendar of events.  Click here for times and directions to this event. Admission is FREE.

Vernon Hills, A Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show

A Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show, a drive thru holiday light show is held annually on the grounds of the Cuneo Museum and Gardens. Running through January 3rd, hours are 6:00-10:00pm everyday. The cost is $5 per car Monday thru Thursday and $10 per car Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Credit cards not accepted. The entrance to the light show is located north of Route 60 on Lakeview Parkway.

Chicago, Zoolights

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Zoolights has more than one million lights greeting you and illuminating the animals.  Events include musical light show, photos with Santa, festive family crafts, temporary tattoos, LPZoo Holiday Express train rides and so much more. Open everyday (except 12/24 and 12/25) through January 4 from 5:00-9:00PM. Admission is FREE.

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Schaumburg Holiday Wonderland

The Schaumburg Park District is sponsoring their Holiday Wonderland Festival at the Community Recreation Center located at 505 N. Springinsguth Rd in Schaumburg on Saturday December 13^th from 12:00-3:00 PM. Come out and enjoy games, crafts, toys, entertainment and prizes. Other activities include caroling, kiddy train rides, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, concessions and much more.

Pre-registration (Deadline Dec. 12) cost is $5 per child. Day of event cost is $7. Parents and children under 1 are FREE.  Call 847- 490-7020 for more information.

The Hoffman Estates Park District is sponsoring the FREE Annual Celebration of Lights on Saturday December 6th at the Willow Recreational Center located at 3600 Lexington Drive in Hoffman Estates from 6:00-8:00 PM. Children are invited to take part in crafts, play holiday games, and enjoy light refreshments and entertainment as they wait for Santa to visit. There will also be a tree lighting at 6:30 PM.

The Hoffman Estates Park District is also sponsoring Breakfast with Santa at Poplar Creek Country Club on Sunday December 14th from 9:00-1:00 PM. Come and enjoy a fabulous breakfast buffet while meeting Santa.  Adults - $14.95,  Children 4-10 yrs.  - $9.95, Children 3 and under - FREE. For reservations, call (847)781-3655.  Click here for the menu.

Immediately following at 6:00 p.m. will be the annual Bartlett Holiday Tree Lighting sponsored by the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce. Events also include holiday singing and refreshments. For full details, contact the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce at 630-830-0324 or visit www.bartlettchamber.com.

Date: Saturday September 27, 2008
Place: Vogelei Park - 650 West Higgins Road
Time: 12pm-3pm

Hoffman Estates is hosting the 1st Annual Scarecrow Festival this Saturday!  This is a wonderful opportunity to have a great time with your kids. There will be plenty of food, games and entertainment for everyone in the Chicagoland Northwest Suburbs, so expect to have a good time! Parking will be available at the AT&T Building just one block from the Park.  Have fun!