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Today’s National Mutt Day, so we thought we’d get into the pawliday spirit a little bit with another great gift guide blog!  This time, we’re covering fun and convenient items to make traveling with your furry companions a real dream.  No matter whether you’re traveling across country living that #VanLife, or flying a few states over to visit loved ones, or even just taking a trip to the local dog park, you’ll love our finds for great pet friendly travel items.  We’ve got feeders and carriers and creature comforts galore. more Pawfect House has this adorable Personalized Car Sunshade for $35.99 plus free shipping!  You can choose up to 6 pets to feature on the car shade to show your love for your furry friends while keeping the car nice and cool while it’s parked. Mollymutt’s gorgeous Papillon Car Seat Cover measures 56”x56” and fits most vehicles with front and back seat headrests for convenience and comfort!  Forget vacuuming muddy paw prints, fur clumps, and other dust and dirt away!  This will keep your car’s upholstery clean and tidy and be comfortable for your hiking companions. If you’ve got a large and in charge pup who takes up the backseat, we’ve got just the thing for you! This backseat extender with storage option from Orvis is the perfect way to give your dog the space they need to stretch, but not lose any storage space or passenger room!  It’s under $100 and is conveniently portable to stow and store when you don’t need it, making it a real great buy. If you’re constantly on the go exploring the wilderness, running the trails, camping in the great outdoors, or just generally spending time with an active pet, chances are accidents are bound to happen.  Be prepared for just about everything with the Adventure Medical Human and Pet First Aid kit for dogs!  A great gift idea for the person who is always on the move with their canine companion, it’s just $45 on sale at the time of publication. If you’ve ever had to leave your home or hotel due to inclement weather disasters such as flooding, hurricanes, or even tornados, you know that having a go-bag is an essential survival need for evacuations.  Be sure that your pet is prepared, too! The Pet Evac Pak Big Dog Pak Pet Emergency Kit will keep you covered for 72hrs with everything you need right in a handy back pack. It includes drinking water packets, emergency basic dog food rations, portable water bowls and leads, and can keep your pet fed and watered til you can reach safety.  It’s also great for those who travel road trips and long distances, just in case of emergency! Traveling with your pals means bringing their favorite food and special treats along, too! We love the Travel-Tainer by Vittles Vault for taking your pal’s meals safely to your destination.  It’s conveniently portable and you can use the handy attached lids for food and water, too! Taking your small to medium dog with you on an airline?  Need a portable carrier for hotel and RV stays? No problem! The Roverlund Out of Office Pet Carrier is a 3-in-1 design that holds dogs up to 15-25lbs and comes with a bonus leash for easy travel! Doubles as a travel bag for your pet as well as a bed. The Mobile Dog Gear Week Away Tote Pet Travel Bag comes in four different color and pattern options that make it easy to take all of your pet essentials on the go!  It’s lightweight and built for convenience: 1 large main storage area, mesh side and back pockets, a luggage ID tag, a placemat, 2 collapsible silicone bowls, and 2 carriers for food and treats!  Perfect for picnics, beach days, camping, and visits to grandma's house. The Headrest Back Seat Protector from 3 Dog Pet Supply is made to fit most vehicle’s backseats to provide your dog with comfort and your car with an added layer of protection from grit, grime, and doggy dirt.  Offered in two colors, this easy to clean upholstery protector is a must-have for active pets.

We’re back with another fun and festive edition of our Classic Community Calendar of events!  You’ll find plenty of ideas for families, friends, and even date nights for events happening right here in the Lake County and Greater Chicago area. more December 3rd is the GO Waukegan Winter Wonderland Park at the Jack Benny Plaza from 4PM to 5PM.  These outdoor walks are a community effort to encourage folks to socialize and get at least thirty minutes of exercise every day!  Join the Waukegan Parks District for their upcoming events! December 3rd is the Kris Kringle Art Market at Karcher ArtSpace Lofts in Waukegan.  With more than 20 local artists and artisans in two large gallery spaces, you’ll find plenty of unique holiday gift ideas! Shop local, shop small, and support the community. On December 3rd at the Dandelion Gallery and Studio in Waukegan, come on down with Artist Sunny Corba for an intro to epoxy resin crafting and create a molded ornament that’s one of a kind! December 4th is the 2022 Toys for Tots Run from 8AM to 11AM and After Party event taking place from 11AM to 4PM at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. December 6th is the Annual Holiday Open House at the Haines House Museum in Bowen Park! Take a step back in time to Christmases Past in the 1800s with this special seasonal event. Gather your best friends or your date and enjoy a charming Afternoon Tea at Oaken Bistro + Bar in lake Firest from 12PM to 3PM inside the Forester Hotel. On December 7th at the Lake Forest Library, kids K-4th grade can use their Math, engineering, and other skills to create and decorate a personal gingerbread house as part of t he Gingerbread House STEAM challenge event for kids in Lake Forest. On December 9th at the Buena Vibra Plant Shop in Waukegan, bring your friends and kids to enjoy a DIY Handmade Paper Poinsettia Class for just $25/adult and $15/child from 6PM to 8PM. On December 10th head over to the Waukegan Harbor and Marina to join Lake County Audubon Society and Guide Donna Kenski on a bird spotting adventure! Explore the local harbor birds and waterfowl together with friends. Remember to dress warmly and BYO binoculars and camera. December 10th is the perfect time to gather your family and friends to enjoy a youthful craft activity making Snow Globes while enjoying festive seasonal music, holiday cookies, and warm cocoa together at the Dandelion Gallery & Studio. On December 10th at the Village of Mundelein from 12PM to 3PM, come on down for a day of family festivities at Santa’s Cottage! On December 10th, grab breakfast with Santa at Lambs Farm in Libertyville starting 9AM to 12PM. Join the local community toy drive in Gurnee from 12PM to 3PM at 4181 Grove Avenue, and bring a toy for kids ages newborn to 16 years old, or something that adult women may enjoy.  As a special thank you, you’ll get to take a picture with Santa before you go! On December 11th, gear up to meet the big man himself with a Santa Meet and Greet, Pizza Lunch, Games and other fun holiday activities at the Holiday Inn Express Chicago NW-Vernon Hills in Vernon Hills. December 11th from 11AM to 12:30PM, Maggiano’s Little Italy is hosting a charming holiday fun cooking class for kids! On December 17th, catch a special open house and screening as part of #ArtWauk at the Belvidere Cinema inside the Belvidere Discount Mall.  They’ll be showing a screening or two of Batman Returns as part of the Mallrat Movie Cult series from 12PM to 6PM.  Admission and popcorn are both free!

Today is National Mississippi Day, and we’re celebrating with some great places to visit in Mississippi for an unexpected winter vacation destination!  From holiday events to wonderful indoor activities, we’ve got you covered for fast and easy vacation planning.  Take yourself on a winter wonderland getaway down south for a unique and memorable road trip through these fantastic areas. more JACKSON This is the capital of Mississippi and its largest city! The Mississippi Children’s Museum is such a wonderful place you could get lost in the fun for a whole day.  Families with kids of all ages will enjoy all of the activities and displays that the facility has to offer in STEAM and Health based topics! It’s got plenty of hands-on and engaging interactive exhibits that are so enjoyable your kids will hardly know it’s educational. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is perfect for history buffs. It chronicles the American Civil Rights movement from 1945-1970 through educational stories and documentary materials.  It’s adjacent to the Museum of Mississippi History, which highlights the 15,000 years of state history through its earliest days through the present!  You’ll find live educational programs, interactive exhibits, and hear stories from the people who live in the state. The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is the largest museum in the whole state.  This impressive 73,000 square foot facility houses a 100,000 gallon aquarium, houses live reptiles, fish, and amphibians, and has more than 200 living species on display.  Additionally, you’ll find a wall of fossils to examine, and loads of educational science exhibits and greenhouse.  It’s also located inside a state park, getting you up close and personal with nature. The Mississippi Museum of Art is the state’s largest art museum, housing multiple galleries, an outdoor garden,a performance stage, and on-site cafe.  The core of the museum’s permanent collection is free to explore, but there may be small fees for traveling exhibitions. LeFleurs Bluff State Park is a gorgeous 305 acre park that has nature trails, camping, fishing, RV park, and plenty of other recreational opportunities. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1961 to commemorate the achievements of Mississippi native athletes, and its corresponding museum opened in1996.  It honors more than 300 athletes, coaches, and influential legends of the sports industry. GULFPORT This is the second largest city in Mississippi! While you’re exploring Coastal Mississippi, we recommend checking out these great destinations for a refreshing winter vacation: The Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum is a unique way to connect with local coastal Mississippi culture as well as where we source and gather our food! The Infinity Science Center is more than 70,000 square feet of incredibly interesting and hands-on experiences in STEAM related activities. The Walter Anderson Museum of Art is a gorgeous facility with more than 1,000 paintings, wood carvings, and ceramic pieces from Walter Anderso and his brothers. The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is another must-see destination in the area with contemporary and historic exhibits, featuring the works of George E. Ohr as a focus. In addition, you can also try your hand at creating your own pottery and take two clay pots home! If you’re visiting for the holidays, we recommend the winter festival. Th e Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival runs now through December 31st at Jones Park. With more than 1,200,000 twinkling lights across Jones Park,  it’s an unforgettable family experience.  What started as a smaller event in 2015 by ISland View CAsino & Resort and the City of Gulfport has evolved into a brand new family tradition year after year!  And each season is bigger and better than ever for a one-of-a-kind experience.  Choose from a walkthrough by foot or hitch a ride on a heated trolley.  It’s a can’t miss holiday experience that will make your winter break vacation truly memorable. VICKSBURG This city was the historical site of a key battle in the Civil War. If you’re around for the holidays, we recommend checking out the Walking Holiday Spectacular, beginning at the McRaven House and including an hour-long tour of the home as well as Christmas Stories and plenty of festive decorations and holiday lights! The tours run nightly from now through January 1st 2023 from 6PM to 9PM. The Beidenharn Coca-Cola Museum is a beautifully restored historic building where the iconic American soda was first bottled in 1894. It features a charming vintage soda fountain, and a beautiful exhibit of historic equipment and memorabilia for Coca Cola company. The Old Courthouse Museum is the cultural center of Vicksburg, and the city’s most historic landmark structure. This court house turned historic museum was once host to esteemed guests and presidential figures such as Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, and Booker T Washington to name a few!  You’ll find a beautiful collection of artifacts and research along with very unique architecture and a wonderful view of the river. The Strand Theatre of Vicksburg is dedicated to showcasing screenings, presentations, and other productions about regional life and people of Mississippi and related US history and culture.  It’s also home to special limited showings of cult classic movies as well as seasonal live performances. The Vicksburg Civil War Museum has a wide variety of exhibits including the Civil War, the Black experience of living in the South before, during, and after the war, and the world’s largest collection of civil war gun boat models, and an 8 foot by 20 foot diorama of the Siege of Vicksburg. It’s a great destination for any US history buff!

Today is Giving Tuesday, and we’re celebrating this charitable event by highlighting a great local organization that needs our help, as well as amazing ways to support our most vulnerable in the community. Taking care of one another is what community is all about!  If you’ve been following our page or blog for a little while, you’ve probably heard us mention local nonprofit COOL Ministries.  We have partnered with this organization for all sorts of community giving including coat drives, food bank donations, community cookouts, and more!  We look forward to each and every one of these special events, and we find it reassuring to know that COOL Ministries provides so much support to the people of our community.  Let’s learn more about ways you can help! more COOL Ministries is a not for profit charitable organization serving families in Illinois.  Their aim is to provide support and assistance to families in need by reducing hunger, homelessness, and empowering people with confidence and life skills.  COOL Ministries believes in supporting vulnerable members of the community by sustaining personal growth, job skills, and leading to eventual self-sufficiency and stability. Founded by members of six Lutheran Churches, the organization first opened its doors to the community in 1983 with its inaugural COOL Food Pantry project.  They opened an additional location in 2007, COOL Pantry West, in Ingleside by way of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, which remained in operation through 2018. COOL pantry provides local families and veterans with breakfast, lunch, and dinner; they also provide accommodations for cardiac and diabetic diets, as well as options for those with allergies, and a wide array of ethnic food offerings. Since 2015, COOL Ministries is now a fully recognized social services organization run by the COOL Board of Directors who put their heart and soul into their work.  In 2016, after 30 years of operation out of a storefront in downtown Waukegan, headquarters relocated operations to a beautiful facility downtown at the Glen Flora Building on West Glen Flora Avenue. The COOL pantries receive an immense amount of community support from everyone here in Lake County; everyone from churches to individuals to the United Way of Lake County, and incredible grant funding and corporate donations.  We are also proud to count ourselves in the midst of those who support the efforts of COOL Ministries as they help local families and veterans find their footing on stable ground!  The support for COOL Ministries and the COOL Pantries is as diverse as the beautiful community we all love, work, and live in. Please, join us in supporting our community by helping raise funds and collecting donation items for COOL ministries from this list: Other fantastic ways you can support your community: Donate your time and physical presence to helping stock food pantries or serve meals Give blood at local blood banks or blood drives Offer ride share service to your neighbors, local seniors, and disabled individuals. Oftentimes these folks may need rides to important appointments, picking up their meds, and gathering groceries! Providing transportation as needed can be a great help! Start a community garden and urban agriculture project and encourage your friends and neighbors to join in planting, cultivating, and harvesting fruits and veggies and other edible plants. Ask if your employer will contribute a “gift match” to your personal donation, and make a few contributions to local organizations like COOL ministries and others. When shopping on Amazon, set http://Smile.Amazon.com as your homepage and contribute a percentage of your purchases to the charity of your choice. Create care packages for the local unhoused population and distribute, or bring to warming stations around the city. Remember to include some additional bags for pets; many unhoused individuals do care for family pets, have service animals, and general animal companions. Providing food and water and treats for peoples’ pets can help as well! Collect gently used toys, books, and clothing in good condition which has been laundered and folded neatly, and bring them to a local family shelter or to warming stations around town.  Remember to include extended sizing from infant to toddler to juniors as well as adult XS to XXXXL when purchasing or collecting clothing! All bodies deserve comfortable clothing and warmth. Volunteer at a local animal shelter to do dog walking and animal playtime sessions, drop off canned and bagged animal food and kitty litter, donate gently used blankets and sheets and towels, bleach, pet safe salt/gravel, and other daily use pet items. Contribute specialty food goods, seasonings, and allergen friendly items to local food banks, pantries, and community fridges.  Just because someone is unhoused does not mean they no longer have dietary restrictions or don’t deserve a healthy, delicious meal! Remember to contribute personal hygiene items such as diapers, diaper rash cream, sunscreen, deodorant, soap and shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, over the counter medications such as fever reducers and children’s meds, and toilet paper to local food drives, shelters and collection banks in addition to food. Spend some time at local senior centers, nursing homes, and care facilities, especially around the holidays!  Due to the Covid19 pandemic, many elderly and disabled people have had a difficult few years in isolation, and spending time with fellow community members can lift their spirits!  Remember to protect our vulnerable populations, though, and adhere to social distancing and vaccination/mask requirements. And of course, all of us here at Classic Auto Group send a comforting virtual hug to you all in thanks for your support and dedication to building a better community!

There’s nothing quite like a twinkling display of festive holiday lights and creative illuminated sculptures in the great outdoors.  Whether you’re flying solo, enjoying a romantic date night out, or a family friendly evening, nothing brightens the holiday spirits more!  Lose yourself in the magical winter wonderland of seasonal light displays with these fantastic suggestions on today’s blog. more Now through January 1st 2023, the Lake County Fairgrounds and Events Center is bringing back its popular Santa’s Rock N Lights show! This gorgeous one mile stretch of lights is all set for a drive-through experience complete with holiday tunes!  And new for this year is the Pop Up Village with photo ops, ax throwing, face painting, ornament crafts, and visits with Santa! You’ll also have plenty to snack on with local food trucks as well as free hot chocolate! Now through January 9th from 4:30-10 on Weekdays and 4:30-11 on Weekends in Northbrook, “Let it Shine” presents the area’s largest drive through Christmas Lights at Northbrook Court synchronized to holiday classic music! Goebbert’s Christmas Lights Show at Goebbert’s Pumpkin farm is running now through January 3rd from 5-10 and 5-11 (varies per day of week.)  You’ll enjoy more than one million twinkling lights set to music from the cozy comfort of your own car. Now through December 25th, head to downtown Antioch for the annual Christmas Musical Light Show! There are two shows alternating each day which run about 20 minutes long between the hours of 6PM and 9PM. On December 2nd, Genesee Theatre is hosting A Very Electric Christmas spectacular hosted by the Lightwire Theater! This unique and one-of-a-kind show takes place in a totally dark environment where the theatre group uses their own bodies to manipulate light into puppetry style storytelling.  It’s a completely jaw-dropping experience, and a memorable holiday gift for the ages! On December 3rd, head over to Waukegan Main Street at 10N Martin Luther King Jr Avenue in Waukegan for the annual official Tree Lighting Ceremony in Waukegan. The tree lighting ceremony is also accompanied by the Holiday Lights Parade and Holiday Walk on Main Waukegan! On December 8th, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is rolling through Gurnee with a 5-5:10PM arrival, bringing in our good pal Old St. Nick for a visit of holiday cheer!  Stick around after it departs at 5:30/5:40PM and enjoy some christmas caroling, food trucks, snacks, hot chocolate, holiday crafting, s’mores, a petting zoo and so much more. December 11th-13th, 18th-23rd, 26th-31st, and January 2nd and 3rd, kids will love the hands-on experience of controlling the holiday light show themselves with a glowstick wand at the Kohlights Walk-Thru Experience at the children’s museum! Opening  December 17th through January 2nd 2023, Shiloh Park in Zion is bringing you Home for the Holidays Lighted Christmas Trail! A drive through holiday light trail with more than 100,000 lights and 50 one-of-a-kind displays.  And, as rumor has it, you may be able to catch Santa himself on opening day, so keep your eyes peeled. Now through January 1st 2023, drive on over to Wintrust Field in Schaumburg for the Shine Light Show. This winter wonderland features more than one million lights, all synchronized in beautiful displays to classic holiday tunes and merriment! Other Wonderful Drive Through Holiday Experiences in the Area: Hampton Reserve Neighborhood at Timber Pass Road and Midlothian Road in Mundelein has nearly 100 homes who have worked in tandem to coordinate holiday light displays! Libertyville’s Golf Road and Dymond Road neighborhood is home to an annual display of coordinated milk-carton luminaries that are truly a sight to behold! Lights on Chantilly in Lake on the Hills features more than 50,000 christmas lights in a synchronized musical and light show! Grayslake Heritage District and Center Street’s historic downtown are picturesque displays of lights against historic architecture and cozy scenery. The Tarkowski Family home at 1256 Bradford Lane  in Antioch is an impressive family affair full of twinkling lights and festive merriment synced to music which you can hear when tuned in to radio 88.7 in your car! The Gandor Family Light Show in Lake Zurich runs through January with synchronized music and light shows and twinkling holiday light displays for the season!

Today is Small Business Saturday.  As fellow business owners and local Waukegan area residents, we want to take a moment to shout out our appreciation for all of the small business owners that make our community such a vibrant, bustling, and beautiful place to live!  We encourage everyone to shop small and shop local if you’re able to do so this holiday season. more You’ll find plenty of unique, one-of-a-kind, and memorable gifts from the beautiful shops, businesses, and organizations that make Waukegan and Lake County so wonderful!  Check out the local area calendars for a plethora of regional holiday markets happening just before the holidays, perfect for last minute shoppers.  Not sure what specific item to get, but know what your recipient loves the most? Why not get a gift card!  They’re a perfect option for your gifting this holiday season, and a fantastic way to support a local business with patronage. We are sure that you’ll find just what you’re looking for right here in your own backyard! Here’s an eclectic mix of different businesses in the area that would love your support this holiday season!  Grab something from a local bakery to bring to family and friends dinner parties.  Gift your loved one an experience or a lesson in art or music.  Book a photoshoot to make some memories with your family.  There’s so many things to choose from! Great Local Businesses: El trigal del potosí Poparazzi gourmet treats Art-park Waukegan artists Tufo art gallery One crown studios Family piano co Sidecar studios Natural balance massage therapy Your this and that shop waukegan Horsefeathers inc A cuban experience Dylan blake photography The parlor art gallery The stitching bevy Insty-Prints Print Shop Drip and Culture Real human beings supporting other real human beings has a real world impact.  Each sale of their work or dollar towards funding campaigns means folks can put a roof over their heads and food on the table. You might also be helping to support a side-hustle that is helping put someone through school without debt, paying back student loans, caring for a relative, affording childcare, paying for medical costs, etc. Many chronically ill and disabled business owners and creators use their studio practices as an alternative to the prohibiting tasks of most traditional work environments; running your own business means setting an accommodating, flexible schedule to work at their own pace and within their personal limitations. Each independent creator and small business owner has their own “WHY” behind their work — don’t be afraid to ask about their passion and motivation.   Small business owners love sharing our motivations and inspirations with others; connecting with other cool humans is one of the best parts of being an independently run creative business!  No matter how you slice it, you’re helping to support the local economy, and making our town a better place to live and work and play in, and a safe and happy community is the best gift of all!

One of the things we love to do most when we’re not buying, selling, and leasing cars is to take our show on the road!  From road trips to vacations to visits with loved ones, we love to be on the go.  And of course, that means we need plenty of coffee to keep us going and stay awake for all those miles of highway. more Today, we’re sharing our gift guide to great portable espresso makers!  From camping to the football field to the dog park to the office, we love these on-the-go coffee makers that are travel friendly and fit in totes, work bags, and even backpacks.  You or your gift recipient can have fresh, smooth java anytime, anywhere! Plus, we’re sharing some great local coffee shops that you can support this holiday season with a gift card or two for your friends and family!  And feel free to let us know your favorites in the comments on any of our social media.  Cheers to the start of the holiday season! First up we have the WACACO Minipresso portable espresso machine, currently on sale at the time of publishing this blog for just $54.90! It’s manually operated, making it convenient for hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities with no batteries or electricity required.  You just need a camping stove or fire to boil some water, and you’re good to go! The Wacaco Picopresso is another pocket sized option with it’s own secure carry case, but a little higher end in model and price point at $130~ish.  It’s one of the more luxurious options in small portables, creating very little bitterness and a deliciously lush crema!  You’ll have cafe ready drinks whether you’re on the beach or at the top of a mountain, or even your kids hockey game at 9AM on a saturday. The Aeropress is a classic and a household name for a reason! It’s affordable, convenient, and makes a great brew!  You can make an espresso or even some cold brew, making it a great all-weather option for your outdoor adventures. Affordably priced on Amazon for just $34.99 on sale right now. Best Local Spots for Espresso Prairie Espresso + Wine Bar in Lake Bluff, IL Drip and Culture in Waukegan, IL Hansa Coffee Roasters in Libertyville and Lake Bluff IL It’s All Good Coffee & Espresso in Zion, IL AREA Coffee in Mundelein, IL Tina’s Italian Bake Shop in Gurnee, IL Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea in Vernon Hills, IL Gurnee Donuts in Gurnee, IL Coffee Break and Lunch in Waukegan, IL Milkcow Cafe in Vernon Hills, IL Birdy’s Coffee House in Libertyville, IL Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters in Libertyville, IL Dalton’s Cakes in Grayslake, IL Something’s Brewing in Grayslake, IL Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe in Libertyville, IL He Brews Coffee Shop in Winthrop Harbor, IL

The Annual Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago is just around the corner, and we’re here to help you find the best ways to view the parade up close and personal. This year’s annual procession will be making its way North up state street from Ida B. Well Drive to Randolph Street from 8AM through 11AM.  Today we’re covering some details on this year’s performances, when to arrive for both VIP and free access, and how to secure the best spots for viewing. Special staged appearances this year are scheduled in the main stage area between Washington and Randolph Streets from 8AM to 9AM with: American Blues Theater, Chicago Korean Dance Company, Cirque Experience, Country music recording artist Donnie Lee Strickland, Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline, Danza Azteca Xochitl-Quetzal, Jesse White Tumbling Team, Music Theater Works. There will also be marching bands from 19 different schools and colleges/universities, as well as multiple Equestrian Demonstrations, and dozens of floats and gigantic helium balloons!  And of course, dear ol’ Saint Nick will be bringing up the close.  Esteemed and honored guests this year also include Monica Nia-Jones, crowned Miss Illinois 2022, and Mia Fritsch-Anderson, crowned Miss Outstanding Teen 2022 You can catch the parade from the comfort of your own couch on its new home of CW26 hosted by Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch, but VIP tickets are available for a close-up look at the fun for just $60 per person VIPs will have private portable restrooms and general admission bleacher seats for maximum comfort;  VIP opens at 7AM, and it’s recommended to arrive no later than 7:30!  Otherwise, the parade is free to attend, but it should be noted that it may not be the most accessible for disabled attendees due to high crowds, lots of walking and standing for three hours or more  in order to view.  People begin lining the streets starting around 6AM, and many bring folding chairs and blankets to keep warm (it’s not called the Windy City for nothing, after all!)  Dress in layers, wearing plenty of warm winter weather attire,and consider wearing lip balm and moisturizer to prevent your face and lips from becoming chapped in the cold!  Expect long lines for exiting at 11AM, and plan your afternoon accordingly. Public transit and local area hotels/restaurants will be very busy! Veteran parade viewers recommend sending out a few adult representatives from your group to go on up ahead and save space so younger family members can take a little extra time to walk and meet them.  After the parade, you can stop over to the Christkindl Holiday Market at Daley Plaza at 50 W Washington Street, which will be open on Thanksgiving day from 11AM to 4PM. Looking for a direct live stream of the parade to watch at home from your laptop or tablet? You can check out this Official Live Stream of the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade on YouTube which goes live at 9AM! ​​

Looking for gifts for your mechanic with a more personal touch than a box of donuts and some coffee?  Need a gift for that hard-to-shop-for car lover instead of a gift card to the local detailer?  Want something shiny and new for the race track fan in your life? We’ve got you covered on the second edition of our Gift Guide for Gearheads!  You’ll find options for every car lover, and things both great and small, yes folks that’s right our list has it all!  We’re also keeping this list “big box corporate” this time for all you last minute gifties who need items fast. Plus, all the items on this list are extremely budget friendly and under $50! more We love this versatile gender-inclusive tee  that comes in 4 different colorways. The “Just One More Car I Promise” tee is perfect for the mechanic or car collector in your life! Best of all, it includes “free delivery by” deal options to ensure you get it in time for the holidays. It’s also a steal for under $20! Know someone who spends more time in the garage than anywhere else? Does that person also find every opportunity possible to cram in some “shop talk” about their latest project car?  Well, then the “I Love Cars More Than People” tee is the perfect choice. It comes in multiple cuts and colors, and won’t break the bank at a price under $25! What could be more fun than writing your own plot for Fast and Furious movies? The Highway Heist Game from Funko puts you in the driver’s seat as Dom, Brian, Letty, Roman and more and race through one of three different scenarios. The game is a great choice for adults as well as teenagers!  2-4 players can finish a game in about an hour, making it a fantastic party game. At the time of publishing this post, the game is on sale for $13.08, but it’s regularly priced just under $30! Ever find yourself stuck in traffic and wishing you could zip through a secret passageway to freedom?  Well, with the ThinkFun Rush Hour Traffic Jam Brain Game, you can live vicariously!  It’s perfect for families and adults alike, and has lots of combinations for configurations allowing for fresh game play over and over.  It’s also great for traveling, and is at an affordable price of $21.99. Much as you may love your best pal or family member, it’s not really in everyone’s budget to gift a whole car, but you can give them a lot of cars…In book form, that is! The “Secrets of the Barn Find Hunter: The Art of Finding Lost Collector Cars” book by Tom Cotter is a wonderful choice for the gearhead who has everything. They’ll get a great look into the collecting business, and maybe learn a few tricks.  Best of all, it’s budget friendly at $20.49 at the time of publishing this blog, and the book cover looks so beautiful. Save a few dollars while turning a few heads with this impressive tome. For the automotive historian in your midst, you may want to try something a little different.  You’ll find in depth profiles on more than 70 vehicles in Classic American Muscle Car history, along with anecdotes and stories of iconic events in automotive history.”Muscle and Chrome: Classic American Muscle Cars” is sure to please any gearhead on your list, including the kids! For the nostalgic car lover on your list, we recommend “ My Dad Had That Car” which takes a look back in time to some of the most memorable vehicles spanning 70 years! At the time of publishing this blog post, this gorgeous hard cover book is on sale for $30.23, and it’s regularly priced under $40!

We’re back with some more helpful service tips for winter weather driving!  It’s essential to prepare for wintry conditions and hazards of inclement weather.  Our handy guide is chock full of reminders and pointers to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape for chilly temps and then some. more Make sure you have a winter emergency kit stocked up and ready to go. In a bin, box, or duffel bag we recommend keeping the following on hand in your trunk or backseat: thermal blankets and fleece blankets, a clean set of warm clothes, extra winter hats & gloves, kitty litter and/or small container of rock salt, a small portable or foldable snow shovel, flares, hand-crank LED flashlight or LED lantern, hand warmer packets, jumper cables, a fully stocked first aid kit, an ice scraper and snow brush, and a tow rope. These can all help you should your vehicle become stuck in any ice or encounter any other inclement weather related accident. Check your front and rear brakes, emergency brake, and brake light system.  Do not skimp on this checkpoint. A  good solid set of brakes and quality rotors can be the difference between a safe stop and total decimation of your vehicle and serious injuries.  It is important to make sure that your braking system and brake light are in perfect working order before you’re faced with a split second decision to swerve, stop short, or avoid dangerous snowbanks or black ice.  If you hear any sort of scraping, whining, or squealing when you brake, bring your car in for a service call straight away. Check your tires.  Check your tire pressure and make sure the PSI matches the manufacturer requirements (can be located in your manual or on a label on the side door pockets or frame.)  Look for signs of wear and tear such as bulges and bubbles, cracks or small tears, or significant tread wear leaving bald spots.  Consider rotating your tires if you’ve not done it in awhile.  Any damaged tires should be replaced, and any summer tires swapped out for all-weather or winter tires should be considered if you live in an area that gets particularly rough winter weather! Inspect your wiper blades and ensure they are clean and not showing significant signs of wear.  As the weather gets colder, it’s vital to your safety that you have properly working wiper blades to clear away frost and snow or other inclement weather. Before it gets too cold out, consider applying a thorough application of a water-repellant such as RainX to the glass surfaces on your vehicle to aid in visibility during storms. Check your heater and blower.  It’s important to check the defroster and heat blower functionality, as these two elements must be functioning properly to ensure wiper efficiency and clear visibility.  When cars are iced or frosty, gradually warming the window to loosen the ice before scraping can save you from windshield damage and scratches. Additionally, it can save you time by melting the frost and ice as well as bringing your car to a comfortable temperature for driving.  If you become stranded or broken down for an extended period of time, the heat can also keep you safe and comfortable. Check your car battery.  Colder months mean we’re more apt to leave our car running to “warm it up” so we don’t face a frosty morning commute, but this also means a higher potential for draining the battery through accidental means.  Cold weather can put additional stress on your battery, and can cause it to lose around 20-30% of its charge when the weather hits 32 degrees.  If a vehicle is going into or coming out of storage, the battery should definitely be checked and replaced as they do lose charge while sitting. Clean your headlights and replace any dim or broken bulbs.  There is nothing more frightening than encountering a white-out storm or horizontal icy rains and not benign able to see more than 2 feet ahead of you.  Having bright, clear headlights is going to make all the difference in getting where you’re going safely and in one piece.  Be sure to apply a headlight cleaner and swap out your bulbs for bright clear ones if yours are not up to par. If you’ve got any questions about vehicle maintenance or wish to schedule a service appointment, please reach out to our representatives.  We would be happy to get your vehicle winter-weather ready!

The holiday season is here, and with it comes Classic Auto Group’s 2022 Gift Guide for Gearheads!  No matter what you celebrate, it’s always good fun and cheer to share gift exchanges with your friends, family, and loved ones, and of course, there’s the annual company party with coworkers.  If you’re looking for a little guidance to get the perfect gift this holiday season, we’ve got you covered with some great gifts for car enthusiasts and serious gearheads. more The last few years of shutdowns, lockdowns, and pandemic related woes have hit small businesses the hardest, so if you’re able we’d love to encourage you to shop small whenever possible. Get a jump start on your shopping check out our gift guide featuring lots of independent businesses this year! Apparel Some people are more subtle and wear their heart on their sleeve, but these gifts will let the recipient wear their passions emblazoned across their chest for all to see. This “Still Plays with Blocks” shirt from CrazyDogTShirts on Etsy is a fantastic gift for your favorite mechanic. It comes in two color options for tees, as well as a hoodie.  It’s got fairly fast shipping options, too! These Check Engine Ties from Cyberoptix on Etsy are the perfect gift for any automotive enthusiast, and of course would be perfect to wear on New Years Eve. This item comes in three different colors and ships free to the US. These custom embroidered car sweatshirts and hoodies by MadeMyDays on Etsy are sporty, soft, and really unique!  Who doesn’t love snuggling into a cozy hoodie on a cold winter's day? Exactly!  They’re also customizable, and you can leave your requests and reference images with the seller via Etsy Messages for a personal touch. This is the perfect T-Shirt to purchase for the gearhead who gabs about their car at any given moment. 365CarMods on Etsy offers this fun shirt in 4 different colorways and up to a 3XL. Spend over $35 on items from their shop and the shipping is free! Know someone who carries around pics of their car like other people do of their kids and grandkids? We sure do! This customized car hoodie from MotorElement on Etsy makes a fabulous gift! Send in a photo of that special car and have it personalized for the recipient. Comes in White or Black in sizes up to a 5XL, and your choice of custom backgrounds. Home Decor Bring a little bit of the garage into your home, but without the mess!  Here’s some great ideas for automotive decor that don’t include oil stains, grease marks, and other under-the-hood gunk. Got a DIYer in your midst? These spark plug coat and hat hooks from CJ7Designs on Etsy are the perfect gift. These are a great swap in for the crafty handyperson to create their own one-of-a-kind coat rack or hat rack! Get that special someone some custom lighting for their den or office, or heck even their garage workspace. These really cool custom automotive desk lamps from CustomHarleyLampShop on Etsy make a fine luxury gift item for your significant other or family member. For a more modern touch, we recommend these beautiful personalized cut metal signs from YourWeddingPlace on Etsy. They can be personalized with any text up to 10 characters per line. You can choose from 5 different colors and finishes, and 6 different sizes.  It’s one of the most sought-after automotive gifts on Etsy right now, too! Your loved one will (hopefully) never be late to another family get-together again if you get them this awesome Wall Clock made from an upcycled clutch pressure plate from ANGWheelsIn on Etsy! As an added bonus, it ships free to the US! Trendy gift recipients will be elated to receive this custom car gearbox neon sign from KudetaStore on Etsy! It comes in 3 sizes and fully customizable color options from more than 10 choices.  It also ships free to the US, and comes from an Etsy Star Seller.  This would make a great group gift for friends or several family members to chip in on. Stay tuned for another edition of our Gift Guides for Gearheads later this month!  We’ll be back with fresh new options and suggestions for personalized and unique gift giving for all the car lovers in your life. And feel free to leave your gift suggestions in the comments!

Did you know that every minute, around 26 vehicles are recycled in the US per minute? Conversations around ecological conservation, global warming, and renewable energy are becoming more and more frequent as politicians, citizens, and businesses work together to create a greener future.  In light of that, we thought it would be a great idea to celebrate America Recycles Day by highlighting efforts the automotive industry is doing in order to recycle and reuse metal and other materials in efforts to be more eco-conscious! more Automotive recycling accounts for 14 million tons of recycled steel, or the equivalent of more than 13 million cars.  In fact, vehicles are the most recycled item in all of the US, with around 95% of decommissioned and defunct vehicles being recycled annually.  More than 27 million vehicles are recycled around the globe annually, and 12 million of those are from right here in the US! Automotive recycling industry in the United States provides jobs to over 100,000 people, and nearly $25 billion in revenue.  And the North American (US/CA) auto recycling saves 85 million oil barrels each year, and enough reclaimed steel to create 13 million new cars! Everything from steel and aluminum to car batteries (a whopping 98% are recycled) windshield glass, carpets,rubber hoses, and even seat belts can be repurposed or recycled!  Even tires can be recycled and repurposed into new goods such as rubber for shoes and sandals, filler for playground surfaces, etc.   Experts anticipate that scrap metal recycling will total upwards of $60 billion by the end of 2021, with about 60% of scrap metals being recycled from the automotive industry over the next 10 years. Did you know that 86% of your car’s parts can be recycled? Here’s a great list of parts that can be reclaimed, repurposed, or recycled for use in other vehicles by automotive enthusiasts and mechanics: Vehicle batteries Select computerized elements Gently used or new tires Hoods Bumpers and fenders Transmissions Other specialty parts in good condition Other materials from your vehicle that can’t be salvaged for use in another vehicle, but are upcycled and repurposed everywhere include: Glass which is recycled into concrete, glass bottles, insulation, jewelry, and even countertops. Oil gets cleaned, refined and repurposed for use in other applications. In fact, 85 million barrels of oil are saved every year through recycling. Rubber tires are shredded and broken down into things such as mulch, playground surfaces, running and race tracks. Steel and aluminum from vehicle bodies and frames. Did you know that even consumers and car owners can find ways to reuse auto parts at home?  We’ve got a great list of ideas for you to incorporate those old car parts into decor and more! Rustic Industrial Kid’s Chairs by “My Repurposed Life” - made from recycled vehicle jacks! A Reclaimed Licence Plate Map by “C.R.A.F.T .Blog” - collecting old license plates and cutting them up for each state in the US! Car and Tractor Tire Rim Ottomans from “Country Living” - create the perfect outdoor seating for your firepit by repurposing old car rims as a seat base! Seatbelt Buckle Key Holder by “Walyou” - a clever way to thwart the family member who always loses their car or house keys! Reuse Old Car Tires in the Garden List by “Backyard Boss” - create a veggie garden, planters, and more with your old discarded tires! Got a garage that needs reorganization and updating?  Try implementing these handy ideas for storage from old coffee cans, soup cans, and more!  Got some room to do cutting and welding? Why not turn some aluminum cans into art in your garage-turned-workshop. DIY Coffee Can storage DIY Storage Options from PVC Pipe and more DIY Tin Can Storage DIY Soda Can Art and Decor DIY Tire Swing from Bob Vila Not interested in upcycling or DIY projects? You can still take part in recycling your old car parts of your own accord. Check out this handy list of suggestions on how to do so!