MORNING
Ah, the complexities of being an avid cyclist whose life is defined by riding, eating and sloth. A real fine day for me would be waking, doing a hard 50-miler, having a double-entree breakfast, then sitting on the porch with my wife, reading the Sunday papers and watching critters (chipmunks, rabbits, a predatory cat, deer) frolic in the yard.
However, you might want to try beginning the day with a jaunt along the North Branch cycling trail. Sure, everybody and their mamas are on this path, which runs from the Chicago Botanic Garden south to Caldwell and Devon Avenues and back. But an early start will take advantage of the fact that people on the North Shore don’t really get up and about until after 9 a.m. This trail is a nice 20-mile trip that, after stopping in the garden to smell the flowers, will leave you refreshed and ready for breakfast.
Breakfast in Highland Park means Walker Bros., right? Wrong. We, along with many in-the-know HPers, prefer Country Kitchen, 446 Central Ave. (847-432-7500). The food is fabulous, more home-style than at Walker Bros., the service is excellent, and the kiddie factor is much lower. Try the multigrain pancakes. Trust me.
AFTERNOON
The trick to having a nice day in Highland Park is finding things to do that don’t involve other people being around. Highland Parkers can be prone to louder-than-normal conversations, ringing cell phones and the like: “We’re just back from a month in France! Fraaaannnce!” Downtown HP on nice weekends is a human zoo, but an excellent spot to get away from it all is the Landmark Renaissance Place Cinema, 1850 Second St. (847-258-7282). This multiplex features nifty art-house films that rarely draw huge crowds, so even if you aren’t sure that you want to see something here, it’s worth seeing something here because of the tranquility.
We also like the Suburban Fine Arts Center, 1957 Sheridan Rd. (847-432-1888). The gallery shows good taste, parking is abundant, and you can’t beat a free visit to high-quality art for a nice, soothing time. Currently up is “In Good Company: Selections from the JP Morgan Chase art collection,” through June 30.
EVENING
We really hate to admit this, mostly because it’s so obvious, but it’s hard to go wrong at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Rd. (847-266-5100). It’s the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as most folks know, but it’s also so easy to deal with. Park in downtown HP and take one of the free shuttle buses. Five minutes later, you’re there. This Sunday’s program, featuring Branford and Ellis Marsalis, should rock.
Another really nifty thing to do is to attend a lecture at the Highland Park Public Library, 494 Laurel Ave. (847-432-0216). During Lyric Opera season, primer chats are held in the cozy, welcoming confines. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, you can hear a talk by Charles Billington, author of “Wrigley Field’s Last World Series.” No, it’s not a curse. It’s a gander at the 1945 World Series.
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