Wednesday, May 13, 2020 — Kinky Boots - Paramount Theatre, Aurora, IL
A REGIONAL PREMIERE! This flashy, sassy, sexy story of big heels invading a small town shook Broadway and was universally adored by critics and audiences. Now it’s Paramount’s turn to try these shoes on for size.
Charlie Price is a reluctant shoe maker. Lola is a fierce drag queen. These two could not be any more different, but when they find common ground in shoes, they see a whole new world of possibilities open up to them that will turn their small town upside down, and just might save Charlie’s failing shoe factory.
With a Tony Award-winning score by Grammy Award winner Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein (Tony Award-winning star of Broadway’s Hairspray), Kinky Boots tears up the stage and never lets go. From its glorious costumes to its dizzyingly tall heels and songs you’ll be humming for days, no show on Broadway has captured what it means to do what you love and love what you do as much as Kinky Boots.
Before the show we will enjoy a buffet-style lunch across the street from the Paramount at their Meyer Ballroom. Menu will consist of Greek salad, rolls, Lemon Oregano Chicken, vesuvio potatoes, broccoli/cauliflower mix and baklava for dessert (meal subject to change). Coffee, water and soda is also included.
Don’t waste any time kicking up your heels and getting signed up for this entertaining day out with the Vista Club! Wait list only.
COST: $100
Fee Includes: Lunch buffet, transportation, performance, all taxes and tips. Cancellations will be refunded if we are able to fill your vacancy.
Pick-up Schedule: Depart LaSalle Flying J at 9:30 a.m., Mendota Civic Center at 10:00 a.m., Rochelle Petro at 10:40 a.m. We will depart for home from the theatre at approximately 4:00 p.m., returning to Rochelle at approximately 5:00 p.m., Mendota at 5:40 p.m., LaSalle at 6:10 p.m.
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 — 42nd Street - Lyric Opera, Chicago, IL
Nobody does Broadway-style productions quite like Lyric, and you will love the Tony Award winning song and dance spectacular “42nd Street”. The story of an aspiring actress from Allentown who gets her big break and rises from chorus girl to star status overnight. Based on the 1933 Hollywood film which focuses on the efforts of director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza at the height of the Great Depression, 42nd Street is filled with unforgettable tunes. The talented performers will sing and tap their way into your hearts with tunes like “Lullaby of Broadway”, “We’re in the Money”, and of course the famed title song “42nd Street” and many more. Are you humming yet?
In addition to the wonderful music and dancing, the acoustics and ambiance of the Lyric Opera House provide an even greater experience. If you have never attended an event at the Lyric Opera House, you will be amazed at the beauty and tradition of this iconic theater.
Prior to the matinee performance you will have lunch on your own at one of the area restaurants such as One North Kitchen & Bar (312-750-9700), Rivers (312-559-1515), Madison Tavern (312-559-5101), or South Branch Tavern & Grill (312-546-6177). Reservations recommended. We should arrive in time for an 11:30 reservation.
Following the performance we will travel to Millennium Park to explore the many points of interest found there. Millennium Park was originally established to celebrate the 2000 millennial year. Take your picture under the “Cloud Gate” gleaming bean shaped sculpture, stroll through the beautiful prairie inspired garden or people watch as you marvel at the Crown Fountain, an interactive video art piece where faces of Chicago residents are displayed on huge towers and fountains rise up from the black granite floor as people play in the water. The Crown Fountain also features two waterfalls cascading down 15 meter high walls of glass bricks with dancing lights. Feel free to take off your shoes and socks and splash along with the children. I bet you won’t be the only adult joining in the fun!
COST: $110
Fee Includes: Matinee performance, transportation, taxes and tips. Lunch is not included. Any cancellations will be refunded if we are able to fill your vacancy.
Pick-up Schedule: Depart LaSalle Flying J at 9:00 a.m., Mendota Civic Center at 9:30 a.m., Rochelle Petro at 10:10 a.m. Return to Rochelle at approximately 6:30 p.m., Mendota at 7:10 p.m., LaSalle 7:40 p.m.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 — What Happens in Vegas - Fireside Theatre, Ft. Atkinson, WI
Join Vista Club as we travel to one of our favorite venues, the Fireside Dinner Theatre. The Fireside offers unique entertainment, dining and shopping experiences.
For over 70 years Las Vegas has been the entertainment capitol of the world. Just about every great entertainer has appeared in Las Vegas over the last seven decades. The world’s best singers, dancers, musicians, and comedians have flocked to this city where dreams become reality. The Fireside will pay tribute to many of those legendary performers in an all new live band show featuring Steve Watts and the celebrated Fireside Band. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Judy Garland, Barry Manilow, Elvis Presley, Celine Dion, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Bette Midler, Cher, Olivia Newton John, Lionel Ritchie, Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Reba McEntire, Brooks and Dunn, and Lady Gaga are just a few of the great stars who have dazzled audiences in Las Vegas showrooms. The Fireside will feature the work of some of these great artists and many others in the most spectacular band show yet. What Happens in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas. It will be at The Fireside Theatre for all to see on stage!
Before the show we will enjoy a spectacular lunch and don’t forget about the Fireside gift shops and bakery. Don’t waste any time getting signed up for this entertaining day out with the Vista Club! Wait list only.
COST: $110
Fee Includes: Performance, lunch including coffee, tea and milk, transportation, taxes and tips. Cancellations will be refunded if we are able to fill your vacancy.
Pick-up Schedule: Depart LaSalle Flying J at 7:45 a.m., Mendota Civic Center at 8:15 a.m., Rochelle Petro at 8:50 a.m. We will depart for home from the theatre at approximately 4:20 p.m., returning to Rochelle at approx. 5:40 p.m., Mendota at 6:15 p.m., LaSalle at 6:45 p.m.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 — Innovators, Past and Present - Chicago, IL
Join Vista Club as we explore unique locations of innovation on this day trip to Chicago!
First, we will tour the 150,000 square foot Method Soap Factory. Long before we reach the front door, we will be aware of the differences this facility has from a traditional manufacturing facility. Method’s building includes a 230 foot tall wind turbine, computer driven solar “trees” that shift position with the sun and a 75,000 square foot hydroponic rooftop greenhouse that grows 500 tons of organic lettuce, kale and other produce. Given all of the environmental designs built into this factory, Method Soap Factory uses only about 1/2 the energy it would have needed to run a traditional manufacturing facility.
Next, we will travel to the nearby Harborside Golf Course for lunch. Harborside International is as exciting to view as much for what it used to be (428 acres of landfill and garbage dump) as for what it has been transformed into. The facility won top honors in the 1996 Superior Achievement for Excellence in Environmental Engineering competition sponsored by the American Academy of Environmental Engineering. This lush oasis in the city is one of the highest points around and affords beautiful views of the Chicago Skyline. Lunch choices include Chop House BLT Salad, Greek Quinoa Salad, Applewood Chicken Melt, Chicken Salad Sandwich or LTO Burger (please be ready to make your lunch selection when you register).
Then it’s on to the Pullman Historic District. George Pullman is well known for building luxury railroad and sleeper cars. As Pullman’s success grew, he began building his innovative residential community in 1880. His goal was to create “the World’s Most Perfect Town”. Pullman established behavioral standards that workers had to meet to live in the area and charged them rent. Pullman's architect, Solon Spencer Beman, was said to be extremely proud that he had met all the workers' needs within the neighborhood he designed. The distinctive row houses were comfortable by standards of the day, and contained such amenities as indoor plumbing, gas, and sewers. Our local guide, Ted Golat, will tell the story of Pullman’s dream, and help us navigate through the Pullman District. On our tour, we will see the factory site, hear the story about Pullman’s assembly-line operations, stop at Greenstone Church and then enter the Pullman Visitor’s Center. We are fortunate that 90% of this town remains intact and today is designated as a National Monument.
We will then return home having learned more about these amazing locations, each unique and innovative in their own right!
COST: $100
Fee Includes: Lunch, transportation, tours, taxes and tips. Cancellations will be refunded only if we are able to fill your vacancy.
Pick-up Schedule: Depart LaSalle Flying J at 7:20 a.m., Mendota Civic Center at 7:50 a.m., Rochelle Petro at 8:30 a.m. Return to Rochelle at approximately 6:00 p.m., Mendota at 6:40 p.m. and LaSalle at 7:10 p.m.
Friday, October 23, 2020 — Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories Show, Rosemont, IL
There is always something new at the Jewelry, Fashion & Accessories Show!! Whomever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping, that is why we are venturing to this tradeshow for our seventh year in a row where shoppers are able to purchase retail items at wholesale pricing. This show strives to bring you new and exciting merchandise and exhibitors to make your trip a successful one. You can shop-til-you-drop, browsing the huge selections of jewelry, scarves, purses, gold, silver, beads, gems, as well as home décor, toys, food (Nothing Bundt Cakes), clothing, leggings, and bedding! Fill your shopping bags with deals you won’t get anywhere else. Whatever your heart desires, this show will have it! Lots of stocking stuffers for everyone!!
The venue opens at 10:00 a.m. and our plan is to arrive at opening time to give you four full hours of shopping time! Each vendor accepts payments according to their own business practices; however, we have noticed in previous years that it is beneficial to have CASH on hand for smaller purchases and to make check-out faster.
After leaving the show, we will be enjoying lunch at Anyway’s Chicago Restaurant & Pub in Oakbrook Terrace. Partners George Lamberis and Brian Loprino purchased Red Wing Tavern & Grill and reopened it as Anyway’s Chicago Restaurant & Pub on February 13, 1995. The concept was to create a Pub & Restaurant similar to many of the establishments George would frequent in the north side neighborhoods of Chicago, which he felt the suburbs lacked. The idea for the name came from a local bar named ANY WAY in northern Greece where his family’s summer home was located. In naming the restaurant Anyway’s, George hopes his restaurant will be thought of in the same way each time the expression is used. Be ready to make your lunch selection when you register. Choices include: Pub Burger, Prime Rib Dip, Reuben, Chicken Caesar Salad and Anyway’s Pasta.
Call Vista Club today to reserve your spot and get a head start on your Christmas shopping on this very popular shopping extravaganza!!!
COST: $60
Fee Includes: Show entrance, lunch, motorcoach transportation, all taxes and tips. Any cancellations will be refunded if we are able to fill your vacancy.
Pick-up Schedule: Depart LaSalle Flying J at 7:20 a.m., Mendota Civic Center at 7:50 a.m., Rochelle Petro at 8:30 a.m. Return to Rochelle at approximately 5:15 p.m., Mendota at 5:55 p.m. and LaSalle and 6:25 p.m.
Thursday, November 5, 2020 — Voices of the Past - Skokie, IL
Join Vista Club as we remember our Veterans this November. On this trip, we will be hearing stories and experiencing lessons learned from the two most devastating wars the world has ever seen — World War I and II. From the formation of the first permanent division in the regular US Army during World War I, to World War II where that same First Division helped fight against the unspeakable inhumanity that was the Holocaust, forever memorialized in the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center.
Our first stop will be at the Cantigny First Division Military Museum for a self guided tour. The First Division was organized on June 8, 1917, for duty on the Western Front in World War I. This first permanent division in the regular US Army has seen action in all American wars since 1917, with the exception of the Korean War. Here you will learn about the different types of missions performed by the 1st Infantry Division with the information, in many cases, delivered by the voices of military veterans. Interactive exhibits apply virtual reality technology that is sure to leave a lasting impression. In addition to this, the museum also holds a tank park and historical vehicle fleet.
Vista Club will then experience a moving day at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie, IL. The architectural features of the building affirm its place as both monument and memorial. A theme throughout the building is the journey from darkness to light, explicit in the exterior’s starkly divided dark and light wings, and carried out as the visitor travels through the interior.
Our time at the museum will begin with an included, catered lunch. Your deli box will include 3 mini sandwiches - turkey, corned beef and egg salad sandwich, fruit, pickle, cole slaw, cookie and water (vegetarian and gluten free options are also available).
Next, we will experience a private, docent led tour of the exhibits. The docents at the museum weave survivor stories throughout the tour, making the experience both powerful and personal. The Zev and Shifra Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition is a place where those familiar with the Holocaust and those learning about it for the first time can experience pre-war European life, ghettos and concentration camps, liberation and resettlement around the world through more than 500 artifacts, documents, photographs and a German rail car of the type used in Nazi deportations. It has a special focus on post-war life in Skokie, Illinois, which had the largest per capita population of Holocaust survivors outside of Israel, and sparked the museum’s eventual creation.
Following our tour, we will share one of the most powerful experiences of the day. Our group will spend time listening to and interacting with an actual Holocaust survivor as they recount their personal experiences. In the unlikely event that a survivor is unable to attend on the day of our tour, we will experience the Abe & Ida Cooper Survivor Stories Experience. This holographic theatre provides a high-definition holographic interview recording paired with voice recognition technology which enables survivors to tell their deeply moving personal stories and respond to questions from the audience, inviting visitors to a personalized, one-on-one “conversation”.
“Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.” — Anne Frank’s Diary
Such powerful words from such a little girl...may we never forget.
COST: $100
Fee Includes: Lunch, transportation, tours, taxes and tips. Cancellations will be refunded if we are able to fill your vacancy.
Pick-up Schedule: Depart LaSalle Flying J at 7:50 a.m., Mendota Civic Center at 8:20 a.m., Rochelle Petro at 9:00 a.m. Return to Rochelle at approximately 5:30 p.m., Mendota at 6:10 p.m. and LaSalle at 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 — Christmas at SanFilippo Estate - Barrington, IL
What better way to experience the Christmas season than at the most memorable mansion we have ever visited — the Sanfilippo Estate! Don’t miss out on your chance to see this mansion all decked at Christmas time. Aside from being an amazing home, the Sanfilippo Estate features the World’s finest collection of automatic music instruments, over 2000 in total!
As the private residence of the Sanfilippo family (owners of the parent company to Fisher Nuts), we will celebrate in style as we dine in the outer building with the spectacular 1890 European Carousel serving as our backdrop. With dining tables nestled among the magnificent collections housed in this building including an 1881 Grant Railroad Locomotive, tower clocks, and numerous music machines, we will enjoy a delicious Christmas meal.
After lunch, we will enter the 44,000 square foot mansion for a live holiday concert featured in the 2-story indoor theater, home to the world’s largest restored pipe organ (8,000 pipes). Sit back and enjoy the illustrious “Sounds of Christmas” Concert. Following the concert, enjoy time strolling through this expansive estate which proudly displays a vast array of musical history from by-gone eras from Victrola phonographs to many collections featuring a wide range of other antique musical machines, player pianos, and more. Many of the automatic music instruments will have Christmas rolls playing.
Come along and get in the holiday spirit with all of your Vista Club friends!
COST: $135
Fee Includes: Lunch, transportation, concert, taxes and tips. Cancellations will be refunded only if we are able to fill your vacancy.
Pick-Up Schedule: Depart LaSalle Flying J at 9:00 a.m., Mendota Civic Center at 9:30 a.m., Rochelle Petro at 10:10 a.m. Return to Rochelle at approximately 6:30 p.m., Mendota at 7:10 p.m., and LaSalle at 7:40 p.m.
For more information on the Mendota departures please contact:
- Beth Hubbard: 815.539.1526 or [email protected]
- Deb Hochstatter: 815.539.1535 or [email protected]