If you have never heard of the Bob Filler Orchestra, the easiest way to experience its music is to visit YouTube, where video clips of its past live events are posted; favorites include vocal performance of hits such as My Girl and Let's Stay Together. The Bob Filler Orchestra is a home-based musical group known in the North Shore area for its tried and tested musical performances for weddings, holidays, parties and corporate events. Soloists, guitarists, pianists, strings, wind musicians and percussionists are all included in the orchestral ensemble.
Phase Recording Studios is located on the second floor of a quiet, dead-end street in Highland Park. The studio is run by three managers. There's a wide range of equipment for recording artists to use, including mixers, mics, recorders and software, guitars, pianos, drums and amps.
Pieces Gallery LTD is a unique shop in downtown Highland Park. The shop offers accessories and wearable art as well as great clothing and jewelry. Pieces Gallery also features unique pieces of art for the home. They also provide gift wrap, gift certificates and a gift registry.
Located in Highland Park, Amdur Productions is an arts-festival production company that acts as an organizing and directing service for Chicago's summer art festivals. For application information, visit the website or call the number provided.
Fired Works is a make-your-own pottery store and workshop in downtown Highland Park. The store offers walk-in services and assistance, but the real focus here is on hosting parties for small groups. Prices vary by size of the group as well as the pottery items desired, such as cups, plates or both. Children ages seven and up are encouraged to come to Fired Works to paint and bake their creations.
Chelsea's Beads is on Saint Johns Avenue, just south of Central Avenue. It sells everything a person needs for beading, including a large assortment of beads and chains, along with pendants, plated cast beads and other items. The store hosts beading classes and beading parties for adults and children.
Princeton Frame & Art Gallery started in a house in the late 1970s, where it quickly gained a following and outgrew its space. Princeton offers custom framing for any piece of art, whether a classic painting or a children's drawing. All employees have years of experience in the industry. Princeton Frame also has a variety of artwork for sale.
If you are into independent and foreign films, and you happen to be in the North Shore area, you will like Landmark Renaissance Cinema. True to its name, it features art films that are otherwise passed over by other cinemas. An added feature to this cinema: moviegoers can now buy their tickets online. This modern cinema is favored spot by locals and film-loving visitors.
Sunshine Arts and Crafts is a Highland Park based pottery and crafting studio specializing in lessons, the hosting of birthday parties, after school programs and child care services. Additionally, the business offers walk-in painting and pottery crafting opportunities.
Since 1966, the Highland Park Historical Society has been fulfilling the role of preserving, discovering and sharing history of this upscale North Shore town. Here's one fact that is in the organization's archive: Elisha Gray, a telephone inventor known as the direct competitor of Alexander Graham Bell , grew up in Highland Park. And did you know that the red Ferrari scene of the 1986 cult movie, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was filmed here? In fact, the society sponsored an architectural tour in 2009 featuring the house in that scene.
In 1969, the society found its permanent home in the two-story Italianate Victorian house donated the year before, by long-time resident Jean Butz James. The house, now also a museum, was built in 1871, the same year as the Great Chicago Fire. Two years prior to that, Highland Park was incorporated as a town.
The museum's collection includes a beautifully-preserved Victorian-era study table, an elaborately designed Chicago piano and an old typewriter. It also features a beautifully-restored parlor and kitchen reflecting the Victorian era.
"We have so much to share with the world," said Linda Marshall, program and development director of the museum. Marshall said initial efforts are underway to digitize the museum's files, including old pictures of Highland Park, and it's historic Laurel and Prospect district, where many of the oldest houses still stand. The history of Ravinia Park, the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is also preserved here.
Last year, on its 40th year anniversary, the society honored its long-time resident and world-famous athlete Michael Jordan to the Hall of Fame. Former CIA director, Admiral Stansfield Turner was also inducted.
The Highland Park Historical Society also sponsors an annual guided architectural tour and special exhibitions. It also provides information about the historic houses in town.
Spiffy Pictures is a production company that has been operating in Highland Park for 16 years. The specialty of the company is children's programming, with an emphasis on puppets and music. Spiffy's bread and butter is Jack's Big Music Show, about three dogs and their band's musical adventures. Spiffy also works to create educational children's programming.
This non-profit arts center was founded more than 50 years ago, as an outlet for North Shore artists. Just north of downtown Highland Park, the experience begins before one even walks inside. The grounds of the center are alive with sculptures of various types. Inside, information about classes, exhibitions and workshops are offered. The center is supported by donations, and those who donate receive special privileges as members.
Harris Kal Productions is an events company located in central Highland Park. The owner, founder and main source of entertainment is Harris Kal himself. An entertainer from way back, Kal's claim to fame is a stint on Happy Days as well as many other productions. Currently, Kal's specialties are comedy, speeches and roasts - former clients of his testify to his ability to truly enliven any event.