Our fine day in Elmhurst got a little bit of a late start. We found plenty to keep us busy into the evening, however.
Early afternoon
The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art (220 Cottage Hill, 630-833-1616) offers the perfect indoor escape during a punishing winter. Tucked inside Wilder Park, it’s ideal for museum-goers with limited time and money. Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for children, and the entire site can be covered in less than 90 minutes. Fridays are free, and the exhibits are sure to wow. The museum houses more than 200 carvings, including an impressive collection of cameos and small jades. The dioramas — in this case, animals carved from gemstones — are a draw for the little ones. A 24-sphere ivory puzzle ball — think a sculpture inside a sculpture inside a sculpture — is a must-see. Carved from a single piece of ivory, the piece contains 24 separate “cages.” Each “cage” holds another smaller sphere, and all can move independently of one another. Words can’t do it justice. Visitors who venture downstairs will be treated to an 18-karat gold castle carving set atop an amethyst foundation with sparkling diamond windows. Be sure to leave time for the museum’s well-stocked gift shop.
Late afternoon
It’s hard to resist It’s Good To Be King (160 N. York Rd., 630-833-5060), a chess and toy soldier store. The shop boasts an array of chess pieces and boards, with one travel set going for just $4. Little boys will no doubt flock to the back, where bags of plastic soldiers can be had for the price of a hamburger. And the pieces are amazingly specific: Where else could you get a bag of Alexander the Great Greek soldiers for $10.99?
Evening
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In an age of mammoth theaters with impersonal service, it would be a shame to pass up Classic Cinemas York Theater (150 N. York Rd., 630-834-0675). The beautifully restored building, with its flashy red marquee, is a throwback to another era.
Ushers offer moviegoers a small mint as they file out into the lobby after each screening, and workers at the ticket counter never forget a “please” or “thank-you.”
Theater history enthusiasts will also enjoy the Theatre Historical Society of America on the building’s second floor. The free gallery contains changing exhibits and artifacts from the golden age of American movie palaces, according to the theater’s Web site.
Moviegoers looking for healthy eats after a show can venture just a few steps away to Sushi Nest (142 N. York St., 630-833-5088). The intimate and low-lit environment is ideal for a quiet date.