Jazzing Up July
By Emily Ferber
As summer sets in, so does the excitement surrounding summer sales. And this year, the annual Jazzing Up July, Winnetka’s sidewalk sale, is shaping up to be better than ever.
Taking over Winnetka’s sidewalks, streets, and shops on Friday, July 16th and Saturday, July 17th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the sidewalk sale promises to bring fun, food, and irresistible savings for all. Retailers will display a wide range of goods from fashion and jewelry to sporting goods and books at discounted prices. With local shops providing all the bang without the buck, shoppers need only worry about the weather.
Along with specialty merchandise, shoppers can browse food vendors, charity organizations, and other professional services as they enjoy the day. Adding to the festivities, Phil Passen and Petra van Nuis will be performing live music during the two-day event. Passen, musician and singer, will perform a variety of traditional American music. Playing the hammered dulcimer, Passen says his music will “capture the essence of old-time music. The beautiful sound and versatility of the dulcimer shine in this captivating performance.” Consistent with the theme of the weekend, Chicago based jazz vocalist Petra van Nuis will perform several songs from her extensive repertoire on Saturday.
Adding some star power to this years sale, Winnetka will also welcome Kathryn Stockett, the author of the best-selling novel The Help to the sale. The novel, set in 1960s Jackson, Miss., deals with the issue of segregation in the South a century after the Emancipation Proclamation. “The book was selected as the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District’s One Book Two Villages novel, and the library is hosting a variety of programs related to the book. The program is designed to get all of Winnetka-Northfield reading and talking about the same book,” said the library’s PR specialist, Erin Maassen.
As part of the program, the library is sponsoring a cocktail party and a book lecture with the author on Thursday, July 15, as well as a book signing at the library’s booth at the Winnetka Sidewalk Sale on July 16. Tickets for the cocktail reception and book lecture are available at www.onebooktwovillages.org. Ms. Stockett will be at the Winnetka-Northfield Library’s booth from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. that day. The book will be available for purchase at The Book Stall at Chestnut Court.
The library will also sponsor programs for kids at the event. Kids can apply to be vendors at the sidewalk sale. For $10, children can purchase a booth and sell their own handmade wares or services. “Kids are encouraged to be creative. Past participants have sold beaded bracelets, duct-tape wallets, manicures, etc,” Maassen said.
The sale will take over three areas of Winnetka: Hubbard Woods, East Elm Street, and West Elm Street. For more information, call the Winnetka Chamber of Commerce at (847) 446-4451.
Emily Ferber is a 2010 graduate of New Trier High School. She will be attending the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in the fall.