Yorkville, IL

Perhaps when you picture Yorkville, iL you don't think of sushi, but after visiting Sushi Bay in the strip mall on the corner of Rt. 47 and Route 34 (Ogden) earler this year Yorkville and Sushi are no longer that far apart.

With its great location minutes from down town Yorkville and centrally located from both the older sections of town and the newer subdivisions such as Grande Reserve, for sushi lovers that discover this place its definitely a find. I have visited the local Panera Bread many tims before and really had not paid attention to this other restaurant but I am glad that some close friends asked me to meet them there and now I don't have to travel to Naperville or Batavia for sushi!

Not as large as its Naperville location, the food is just as good or even better. They were doing a brisk carry-out business while we were eating so many have discovered this great spot.

Make sure that when you are in the Yorkville/Oswego/Sugar Grove area you make a stop at this great spot!

Here is their website: http://www.sushibay.us/

As this old farming community changes to another bedroom community of Aurora/Chicago the number of properties that allow horses that are not actually farms continue to dwindle in Yorkville, IL.

As a horse lover this is sad but those that are left are truly unique. I found 7 properties that indicate that horses are allowed.

Currently we have a small 5 acre parcel that is quite a steal for the right buyer. Build your own home where the current farm house sits and a horse barn to enjoy this great piece of property. Below $400K you will have a bargain!

Our 2nd property on 10 acres is a wonderful home which affords you tons of privacy and a place for your favorite horse priced at $474,900 the 2202 sq. ft. home is comfortable and affordable

If you need a much larger home our 3rd property will fit the bill at $524,900. With 5,000 sq. ft. you have plenty of room to stretch out and your horses will love the 7 stall barn and arena. Some updating needed to give it your special look.

Our 4th property is a country estate home on 4 acres built in 2002. All the updating has been done on this beauty and the views are incredible. With a wonderful paver patio, fire pit and of course a place for your favoite horse everyone will be happy you found this one. Listed at $589,000!

The 5th property on our list is an amazing retreat on 22 built in 1991 on 4 acres that backs to a wooded area. You really have to view it to appreciate its beauty. The home is brick and stone English Tudor style delight with 4,000 sq. ft. Reduced over 200K the seller is motivated and you will enjoy your own private retreat - You deserve it!

How do you top this last property? Well, how about a 4.3 acre riverfront property with 157' feet of river frontage! Built in 2009 the home is 4649 sq. ft. and has everything you always wanted!

Last, but certainly not least, is our 7th property - a Historical Home completely restored on 17 acres on Ashly Road. Build in 1845 own a bit of history. This Italianete Design home with coupla with its wrap-around porch is a true classic. Perhaps you always wanted your own B&B...well now is your chance. Or you may want to make this your family home and enjoy the rural lifestay while having easy access to major highways like I-55/I-80. Why buy another cookie cutter condo in Chicago or high end home in Naperville when you can have something as unique as this to call your own. Priced at only $1,195,000 and you can have plenty of land for your horses to romp in.

They say more millionnaires are made during a down market than during a high. Hopefully, that will be the case for Mike Eikleberry & Joy Bozzeli's endeavor during this recession. Located on Rt. 34 next to Kay Hatcher's office, the newest Farmer's Insurance agency has opened to serve the Yorkville and surrounding area.

Joy and Mike both have many years of corporate background. Joy has been in sales for a variety of companies from AT&T to a medical related company. Mike experience in sales consulting took him to different parts of the country and world. Utilizing their vast experience to bring the personal touch in providng not only Auto and Home insurance but Life and Business coverage.

It pays to get a quote every few years to see if you are getting the most coverage for the best price. So, if you have not had your insurance reviewed recently stop by the Eikleberry Farmer's Insurance Agency and talk to Mike and Joy about your insurance needs. Call 630-768-6039. Tell tell them Evelyn sent you...don't worry they still will treat you well! Yorkville welcomes another brave set of entrepreneurs to town!

As I speeded (legal) down Rt. 47 several weeks ago, a sign caught my eye...and I made a quick decision to check it out. I was heading towards Yorkville to do a couple of errands but did not have a time deadline. The small strip mall like so many that cropped up during the heady days of the housing market was about 50% full.

Could it be an art gallery? Or perhaps some sort of art therapy company? I took my camera to document my visit. As I entered the store I noticed that the location next to it was being worked on.

What a pleasant surprise when I entered the Olive Gallery..rows upon rows of gourmet olive oil! The ambiance was like a good Italian restaurant with warm earthy colors and diffused lighting. I introduced myself to the owner and asked her about her business. A short summary of my interview follows with my impressions of one of the new companies opening up in a small town in the Fox Valley area.

After marrying a local man from Yorkville and many years of living and working in Chicago's Loop, Catherine Bucaro made her home in Yorkville. She always wanted to open up her own business, but was not sure what type. On a visit up to the northern suburbs she went into a store that specialized in olive oils and she finally had her answer. After much research she took the plunge about a year and a half ago and opened up the Olive Gallery. Marrying her love of Italian cooking with her business experience and a small business entrepreneur was born!

Her personal touches are apparent as you walk through the store. With every purchase of one of her gourmet olive oils you receive a recipe card to try at home. She has added Italian bakery items and gelato's and sorbets to her product line. Business has been very good and she is expanding to the space next door.

So you lover's of gourmet cooking, Italian food and those of us that are always searching for unique gifts, search no more and travel closer to home. Stop by the Olive Gallery and keep Catherine in business and enjoy the wonderful array of olive oils available. BTW, the tiramiso gelato is out of this world!!

Located at 2671 N. Bridge St. (Rt. 47), Yorkville, iL 60560 vist: www.theolivegallery.com

The 20 Most Frugal U.S. Cities

Source: Wallet Pop | January 21, 2011

Known for Coca-Cola, peach trees and Gone With the Wind, Atlanta now holds yet another honor: It is home to some of the most frugal shoppers in the country. According to data collected by Coupons.com, residents of Atlanta used the site's online coupons more than any other city in the country, printing an average of more than $1,000 in coupons in 2010, almost doubling the average of $531 they printed in 2009. It was the second year in a row that Atlanta ranked at the top of the site's Most Frugal U.S. Cities list. Tampa maintained its position as the city with the second most savings. On average, regular users of Coupons.com in Tampa printed $863 in savings over the course of the year. Following on the savings heels of Atlanta and Tampa were Cincinnati, Saint Louis and Minneapolis, according to the site. Other Southern cities on the list include Charlotte (#6), Nashville (#7), Raleigh (#10), Oklahoma City (#13), Miami (#13) and Dallas (#14). [Read this article]