SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (May 9, 2009) – The Arboretum of South Barrington will kick off a summer of spectacular events with a Memorial Weekend Block Party on Saturday & Sunday, May 23-24. The two-day celebration features a sidewalk/tent sale, family entertainment, and free concerts including nationally acclaimed group Poi Dog Pondering. Also on tap is a South Barrington Park District Fun Run set amidst the center’s verdant landscape of plazas, fountains, trees, and flora. According to Michael Jaffe, co-developer of The Arboretum along with RREEF, the event continues The Arboretum’s mission of creating an environment in which families and neighbors can gather for a variety of occasions.”We want everyone to experience shopping and dining as fun, entertaining and memorable.”
SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS: Daytime activities begin at 11:00 a.m., and include wandering performance artists, face painters, storytellers, outdoor games, and stage entertainers. There will be free rides and inflatables for kids, a climbing wall, a large sidewalk/tent sale hosted by participating retailers, and a $5.00 hamburger or hot dog meal sponsored by Pinstripes Bowling, Bocce & Bistro.
Evening entertainment will take place by the Munao Fountain Plaza, highlighted by a special performance by Chicago’s own Poi Dog Pondering at 8:00 p.m. The group was voted “Best Rock/Pop Act” in the Chicago Reader’s 2009 poll. Additional Saturday bands includeTJ Travelbee & Friends (3:30 p.m.) and Lubriphonic (5:30 p.m.). Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets, and to arrive early, as parking is limited. Refreshments are available for purchase at participating restaurants throughout the day.
SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS: Sunday starts off with the free South Barrington Park District Community Park Grand Opening “Path to the Park” Fun Run & Fitness Walk. Registration begins at 8:30a.m at The Arboretum next to the Munao Fountain. The two-mile run/walk, organized by the park district, will take participants through The Arboretum, ending at the all new South Barrington Community Park situated immediately to the north of the town center. (Details and registration for the run can be found at www.sbpd.net ).
Sidewalk sales, entertainment, and the Pinstripes cook-out will continue from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, and include the well known children’s entertainer Dave Rudolf at noon on the Family Stage.
The Memorial Weekend Block Party is the first of many events planned this summer at The Arboretum of South Barrington.Coming up are an Antique & Garden Market on Sunday, May 31, a children’s concert series beginning on Wednesday, June 17, and another “Arboretum Uncorked” wine and food tasting on Thursday, June 25.
For more information about events at The Arboretum of South Barrington, please visit www.ShopTheArboretumSB.com, or contact Aaron Gadiel at (847) 426-6200 or email him at info@shopthearboretumsb.com .
The Arboretum of South Barrington is a 600,000 square-foot retail town center in Chicago’s affluent northwest suburbs that opened in September 2008. The open-air center is named for the lush treescapes and gardens, and for the large tree farm that formerly stood on the site. Among retailers at The Arboretum of South Barrington are three unique anchors, including LL.Bean’s first Midwest outdoor gear and apparel store; the country’s first Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas, a luxury cinema experience and new way to go to the movies; and Pinstripes, Chicago’s own bowling, bocce and bistro concept. An upscale mix of fashion apparel brands, home furnishings, restaurants and other retailers will occupy spaces set amidst fountains, pathways and plazas -- all less than a mile from the four-way interchange at I-90 (the region’s major transportation artery), at the highly coveted intersection of Illinois Routes 59 and 72. The center is a joint venture between The Jaffe Companies in Northbrook, Ill., and RREEF Alternative Investments, based in New York.
The Jaffe Companies, developer with RREEF of The Arboretum of South Barrington, has been developing successful shopping centers and mixed-use projects for nearly three decades across the US, primarily in the Midwest. Firm principal Michael Jaffe has been involved in several notable projects, including Huebner Oaks Center, a 400,000-square-foot lifestyle center in San Antonio, Texas; Geneva Commons, a 450,000-square-foot lifestyle center in Geneva, Ill; and The Arboretum Shopping Center in Austin, Texas.
RREEF Alternative Investments, the financial partner in developing The Arboretum of South Barrington, is the global alternative investment management business of Deutsche Bank’s Asset Management division. RREEF Alternative Investments consists of three businesses: Real Estate, Infrastructure and Private Equity. Headquartered in New York, RREEF Alternative Investments employs more than 1,400 investment professionals in 17 cities around the world to help investors meet a wide range of objectives – from diversification, to preservation of capital, to long-term performance. Named one of the world’s largest alternative investments managers in Global Investor/Watson Wyatt’s Alternative Survey, June 2008, RREEF has €55.2/$87.0 billion in assets under management worldwide as of June 30th, 2008. For more information, visit www.rreef.com.
WEB LINKS:
The Arboretum: www.shopthearboretumsb.com
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The Arboretum of South Barrington
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