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Why Naperville #1
Naperville Versus Chicago Makes Sense
Chicago is one of America's biggest cities and certainly the biggest one in the Midwest region. It is a wonderful bustling city located right on beautiful Lake Michigan. Many people that must relocate to Chicago find the real estate prices and rent in downtown Chicago to be very
high. If they have children, that cost is even higher as most feel the need to have their kids in a private school. This article will discuss a great city nearby within commuting distance to Chicago called Naperville and what it has to offer. A Naperville handyman who does a lot of Naperville bathroom remodeling loves living and working there and highly recommends it.
Naperville, Illinois is considered within Chicago city limits so it makes for a very easy commute if you are working in downtown Chicago or want to go into the city for all of the wonderful things that Chicago offers on a regular basis. For several years in a row, Money magazine has voted Naperville one of the best small cities to live in. It is the 5th largest city in Illinois with over 100,000 residents and offers many positive attributes.
Naperville is an affluent community that boasts award winning schools. This is one of the biggest reasons why people with children that work in Chicago choose to move to Naperville. Their K-12 schools have been ranked nationally in the top 250 and there are some branches of larger colleges and universities located in Naperville too. Along with the great schools, there is quite a bit of its own industry happening in this city. It has been called the technology and research corridor for the many businesses that are technology or research based here. These thriving businesses are also supported by a large retail surplus. Naperville is known for its large selection and variety of retail shops for all of the residents that live here and outside of the city.
The housing in Naperville is also quite a bit more affordable than if you wanted to buy a place in a nice neighborhood in downtown Chicago. By moving a bit farther out to Naperville, you will get a much larger home for your money. It has large mansions all the way to nice apartment buildings in Naperville so there is a type of home for everyone that wishes to live in this nice community. Chicago has also been known for some crime problems whereas Naperville has a very low crime rate and the residents feel much safer raising their children here rather than in the larger city.
So, if you are planning to move to Chicago and have a family that needs a bit more space and great schools, consider Naperville as a great alternative within a short commute into Chicago. You have the benefits of living in a smaller city but also have the proximity to a much bigger city without having to deal with some of the negatives that living in a larger city present such
as a higher crime rate and cost of living.
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Connor Sullivan has been interviewing |
Why Naperville #2
Pair Some BBQ With a Chardonnay
Summer is BBQ time. With Father's Day, July 4th and summertime in general, many Americans enjoy traditional BBQ. At Naperville's Ribfest, pork BBQ ribs are king. If you are a little "porked out," grilled chicken and fish are a welcome change. A wine that pairs well with both of these is Chardonnay.
This can be a great patio wine while enjoying backyard grilling with family and friends this summer.
Chardonnay grapes prefer cooler climates. Chardonnay offers appealing flavors of tropical fruit, apple and butterscotch and has a creamy, full-bodied style. Quality Chardonnay is briefly aged in oak barrels to impart a creamy richness and a long, pleasing finish. Wine makers must be careful about the length of time the wine is in contact with the wood, as an
"over-oaked" wine can loose its fruit flavors and balance, and taste unpleasant.
Chardonnay's major growing areas include California and the Pacific Northwest, Chile, Australia, France, Italy and South Africa. The major difference is the "old world" style French Chardonnay tends to be leaner, crisp with mineral and apple notes, while American Chardonnay tends to be big and oaky with vanilla and butterscotch notes. As American tastes have shown preference for a lighter style of Chardonnay, American winemakers have moved away from their reliance on oak and are using stainless steel vats, resulting in a crisper, more food friendly wine.
The Wine Spectator's July issue reports that the 2007 vintage of California Chardonnay is outstanding, with the Northern California regions (Napa, Sonoma, Carneros) all receiving 96 out of 100 points. They described this vintage as "Ripe, complex, balanced and age worthy wines." This is great news to share and hopefully encourages you to try some 2007 Chardonnay soon.
Food Pairing
While Chardonnay is widely planted and consumed, it is not a food friendly wine for several reasons. Chardonnay's flavors tend to be complex, so it pairs best with simple dishes and sauces. Chardonnay tends to have a lower acidity level, which does not cleanse your palate after a sip.
California Chardonnays present additional food pairing challenges, as they tend to have a toastier oak flavor and higher alcohol levels.
So why the popularity? The rich, buttery character of shellfish pairs beautifully with Chardonnay's buttery taste (think Lobster). In general, seafood, shellfish and chicken offer a simple flavor profile that will not compete with Chardonnay's complexities. And Chardonnay's bold flavors can stand up to a rich sauce that might accompany your entrée.
We suggest that you consider trying both "old" and "new world" styles of Chardonnay. When charcoal grilling or smoking meat, a toasty California Chardonnay can compliment the smoky flavors of your BBQ.
An unoaked, stainless steel aged Chardonnay will pair well with light summer salads or fish and chicken dishes that are cooked on a gas grill. The wine label may specify either unoaked or unwooded Chardonnay -- or ask your local wine merchant for their suggestions. It always comes down to personal taste preferences.
Directionally, Americans have moved away from heavily oaked Chardonnay and are now seeking out less oaky versions. The good news is more quality unoaked Chardonnay is now being produced worldwide.
Bill's Wine Picks (with suggested retail prices)
Oak levels in descending order
Foxglove, Central Coast, CA. -- Light oak $12
Columbia-Crest, Columbia Valley, WA. -- Medium oak $8
Chateau St. Jean, Sonoma, CA. -- Heavy oak $9
Un-Oaked Chardonnay
Yalumba, South Australia $9
Four Vines Naked Chardonnay, Santa Barbara, CA. $13
Elderton, Barossa, Australia $13
The Wishing Tree, Western Australia $13
Wine of the Month
Foxglove Chardonnay
The Varner Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California consistently offer one of the of best values in the marketplace. Robert Parker gave the 2007 vintage 90 points and described this terrific medium-bodied cuvee as offering tropical fruit, pear and mineral notes. The good news is that 25,000 cases were produced, which should make this wine readily available.
This wine should be consumed within 2 years, $12.
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Bill Garlough is a Level 1 Master |