The much-anticipated opening of Evanston's Whole Foods Market on Green Bay Road happens this week, Wednesday, July 29.  Following Whole Foods Market's traditional bread-breaking communal ceremony (think ribbon-cutting, but with a large loaf of bread instead), the store will open its doors at 9 am.  Start your day at the new store with a free cup of coffee, lots of treat samples, and live entertainment, including a local student jazz trio.  The store's first 500 customers will receive a Whole Foods Market gift card with a mystery value between $5 and $50; one lucky customer will even receive a special $500 gift card.

In addition to its excellent location, there are lots of things to like about this store, including smoked fish department, in-house baked goods, juice bar, in-house BBQ venue, a Cuban-inspired taqueria, and fried seafood department.  If you don't make it to the store Wednesday morning, come that evening to enjoy the store's Good Times Pub, featuring a rotating tap with local and hard-to-find draft beer and traditional pub grub.  There's also Shore, the store's wine bar, which hosts food pairings, gourmet cheeses, and fresh pasta plates. 

Thanks in advance to Whole Foods Market GBR (Green Bay Road) for donating 1% of net sales in the first couple of days of its opening to the following community organizations:

• Wednesday, July 29: Evanston Public Library 
• Thursday, July 30:  Mitchell Museum of the American Indian 
• Friday, July 3:  Evanston Animal Shelter & Adoption Center 
• Saturday, August 1:  Wilmette Park District 
• Sunday, August 2:  Winnetka Community House

Additionally, from Wednesday, July 29 through September 30, the store's One Dime at a Time reusable bag program will provide all of its donations to Curt's Cafe in Evanston. 

Finally.  More than 18 months after Safeway/Dominick's exited the Chicago market and closed two Dominick's grocery stores in Evanston, both stores will reopen within a week of each other, both employing mostly Evanston residents.  The other former Dominick's location in the Evanston Plaza is now Valli Produce, which opened its doors last week.

There's no food desert in Evanston, as it's a food rain forest now.  

Bring your friends and blankets to Ryan Field on Thursday, August 13 to watch Disney's "Big Hero 6" on the big videoboard, located at the north end of the football field.  Gates will open at 6:15 pm to find your spot on the grassy field and the movie will begin promptly at 7 pm.  Complimentary popcorn and beverages will be provided courtesy of Coca-Cola.  In the event of rain, the movie will be moved inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.  For more information, click here. 

Canal Shores Golf Course has never looked better, especially with the large numbers of young golfers learning the game through summer camp programming.  To book your tee time, click here. If your swing needs a tune-up, call the Pro Shop at 847-475-9173 or email info@canalshores.org to book a private or group lesson.  

In March 2016, two Divvy bike share stations will be installed on Central Street in north Evanston.  One will be located at the Central Street Metra Station and the other, sponsored by the NorthShore Evanston Hospital, at the Central Street CTA station.  City staff is working with Divvy, traffic engineers, and NorthShore Evanston Hospital to determine the best 12 ft. by 42 ft. site at those locations for the 15-bike installations.   The City of Evanston will join the City of Chicago in this expansion of the bike share infrastructure and contracting for the equipment and installation. 

Following Northwestern University's announcement in March to build a new on-campus Lakefront Athletics and Recreation Complex, the university has filed construction permit requests with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and other agencies.  The IDNR's Office of Water Resources issued a public notice that is effective until August 18, 2015 for public review and comment on plans for the building.  A complete copy of the University's construction permit application can be viewed online, click here. 

Plans for the project may also be seen as part of this permitting process and written comments should be sent to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Water Resources, Chicago Office, 160 N. LaSalle St. Suite S-703, Chicago, Illinois 60601.  Inquiries and requests to review the plans may be directed to Jim Casey of the Chicago Office at 312-793-5947 or james.casey@illinois.gov.

The approximately 5-acre athletics and recreation complex, designed by Perkins + Will Architects, will be located on the northeast corner of the University's campus, north of the soccer and lacrosse fields, and within the University's 1961 land conveyance from the State of Illinois (the landfill). 

The Lakefront Athletics and Recreation Complex will include:

• A full-sized indoor athletic field which will also be used for campus events, such as Dance Marathon
• Portable seating for approximately 1,000 people, with capacity to expand seating for use of the facility for University convocations and other events
• Three basketball courts for intramural sports and recreational activities
• An indoor running track
• Locker rooms for women's and men's varsity sports teams
• Training facilities and equipment
• Sports medicine facilities
• Continuation of the lakefront path