Des Plaines’ extensive streetscape projects continue to develop along Miner Street. The new curbs, sidewalks, outdoor furniture and more are expected to be under construction until the fall, according to the City of Des Plaines. Jose Marquez and Miguel Ornelas, of LoRusso Construction, recently worked on excavating soil and rock to prepare the area for planting trees. Des Plaines budgeted approximately $2.8 million for streetscape construction work in 2013, which is part of a total $13.2 million budgeted for infrastructure improvements this year. Click here to see the tentative construction …

When temperatures breached the 70’s and 80’s on Wednesday, residents from Des Plaines and elsewhere in the Chicago area wasted no time retreating outside to soak up the warm weather. After two weeks of rain, flooding, gray skies, and more of the same expected this weekend, on Wednesday babies were wheeled in strollers, dogs jumped for Frisbies, kids huddled in groups outdoors and, as seen in this picture, anglers trekked to local fishing holes. The break in the weather afforded the opportunity to kick off work and hang a sign in the window with the timeless proclamation: Gone Fishin’. A …

When the rain poured last week, and streets, homes and businesses flooded, we asked Patch readers to share pictures and information. Readers responded with dozens of pictures and lots of helpful information about the impact of the flood in Des Plaines and Park Ridge. One picture sent to us was especially notable for its creativity. In it, Jesse Arnold, 20, of Des Plaines, appeared to be bathing in his backyard. "I woke up and noticed the awesome opportunity in my backyard,” Arnold stated in an email to Patch. “Rain is a gift, no matter how full your basement may be. I liked the idea of taking…

Think warm thoughts. That’s what you have to do to be optimistic about springtime when living in the Chicago area. Michele Kolar, of Brookfield, her dog Loki, Natalia Piegat, of Des Plaines, and her 1.5 year old son, Robert Piegat, were all about it in downtown Des Plaines on Tuesday afternoon, when the sun gave a brief reprieve from the recent stretch of gray, wet days. Kolar and Piegat, both University of Illinois at Chicago alumni (check out their matching UIC T-shirts the pair said was a coincidental wardrobe choice), said they were having fun having some “girl time,” soaking up some rays…

Preparations for the holidays were underway in downtown Des Plaines on Nov. 21. Jose Telles, of Aurora and an employee of Oswego, IL-based Temple Display, attached green garland and bright red holiday bows to the lampposts in Metropolitan Square the day before Thanksgiving. Workers from Temple Display, the company hired by the city to install holiday lighting and decorations in the downtown area, also wrapped white lights on trees in the commercial and residential development. The Holiday Lighting Ceremony in Des Plaines is scheduled for Nov. 30, and will include the annual appearance of …

Construction was underway on the new Chase Bank being built at 1555 Lee St., on the northwest corner at E. Oakton Street in Des Plaines on Nov. 19. The Chase Bank will be across from KFC, 1195 E. Oakton St., and across from a Pace bus stop and Bank of America, 1300 E. Oakton St. Sign up for Patch’s daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox with news, information and community. Find Patch on Facebook and click the like button. Related: Check out all the photos of the day. The last one was of the Hurricane Sandy relief effort in Des Plaines.

The tractor-trailer parked in front of the Des Plaines Police Department, 1418 Miner St., is beginning to fill up with donated items for victims of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast. On a chilly Monday afternoon, Des Plaines Patrol Officer Tom Stancato organized some of the donated products in the Dayton Freight trailer. Dayton Freight Lines, 1000 E. Northwest Highway in Des Plaines, is donating the shipping portion of the relief drive. “Des Plaines Has New York’s Back” began when a police sergeant approached Police Chief William Kushner with the concept, Kushner told city council members at …

The Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 W. Algonquin Road, is a 30-acre operation that includes lush gardens, a walking and bicycle path, soccer field, playground, greenhouse, atrium, courtyard, rental facility and more. Jacki Ley, center director, said not everyone knows about the conservatory for a couple reasons. While it’s part of the Mount Prospect Park District, it is located in Des Plaines. Also, it is set back south of Algonquin Road, and not everyone looks past the sign to the lush gardens, walking path and park facilities. Ley said the conservatory is enjoyable for all, once they …

The Des Plaines Theatre has stood at 1476 Miner St. since opening in 1925. The theater was redecorated in 1935, and turned into a twin movie theater in 1987. Today the historic landmark Des Plaines Theatre has been renovated into its former state as a performing arts theater. Upcoming shows include the following: Premiere of the independent film The Just at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6. Judas Beast: The Iron Maiden Experience. Also appearing The Mob Rules, Diver Down and 2112 Tribute to Rush at 8 p.m. on Oct. 13. Related: Check out all the photos of the day. The last one was about a tricycle tour of …

Why walk around Metropolitan Square in downtown Des Plaines when you can ride a tricycle? Jacob Lau, 2, shows the way on Monday. Janet Tseng, Jacob’s mother and owner of ClearVision Eye Care, 1533 Market St., said he attends a daycare in Des Plaines and spends some time at the office. “[Jacob] likes to ride his bike on a sunny day like this,” Tseng said. Related: Check out all the photos of the day. The last one was about Fall Fest. Sign up for Patch’s daily newsletter, delivered to you inbox with news, information and community. Find Patch on Facebook and click the like button.

Ketchup, creamy dill and taco may not be the first flavors that come to mind when you think about popcorn, but you can experience these and dozens more unusual popcorn flavors at Pop-o-licious, 1460 Miner St. Pop-o-licious has been serving gourmet popcorn and other goodies in downtown Des Plaines for about a year-and-a-half. George Limberopoulos, one of the friendly staff at the snack shop, said they also fill orders of their popcorn and handmade chocolates for favors at weddings, bridal and baby showers and other events. Limberopoulos said his favorite popcorn flavors included pizza, bacon …

A perch atop the public parking garage next to the library affords a bird’s eye view of the City of Des Plaines skyline. Earlier: Check out our Des Plaines Yesterday and Today column and share by adding your pictures and stories. Stay connected: Receive an email from Des Plaines Patch with headlines. Des Plaines Patch is on Facebook; click to like. Related: Check out all the photos of the day. The last one was about two young guys on a tandem bike.

Jonathan Schramm and Tony Atck, both sophomores at Maine West High School, chose a stylish mode of transportation downtown last week — a tandem bicycle. Schramm said the bicycle belonged to his uncle, and the pair borrowed it to go to a friend’s house. Stay connected: Receive an email from Des Plaines Patch with headlines. When asked why they chose the tandem bicycle over other transportation options, Atck joked, “Because we’re goons.” They said the real reason was because it was easier since the bike could take both of them. Earlier: Lake Forest native heads to the Olympics for the second …

Preparations for Summer Fling were in full-swing on Ellinwood Avenue on Wednesday as workers from D&J Amusement, based in Bourbonnais, set up carnival rides. Stay connected: Receive an email from Des Plaines Patch with headlines in the morning. Dan Driskill, owner of D&J, said one of the new rides this year was the “Cliff Hanger,” which puts riders in a hang-glider position as they are lifted up and spun around. Driskill said the “Cliff Hanger” was first produced three years ago and was a new ride to the area. This is the first year D&J Amusement has worked at Des Plaines Summer Fling. …

Three fire engines lined up next to the parking garage downtown on Friday as more than a dozen Des Plaines firefighters completed a training exercise. Earlier: Piranha bites off toddler's fingertip. Captain Scott Peirson said the exercise was intended to simulate fighting a fire in an apartment building. Stay connected: Receive an email from Des Plaines Patch with headlines in the morning. Chris Jannusch and Colin Moon also participated in the exercise. Jannusch was sworn into the position of Des Plaines Firefighter/Paramedic at the mayor’s office in April. Related: Check out all the photos …

If you drove by the city hall over the weekend you may have noticed the U.S. and City of Des Plaines flags at half-staff. The flags were lowered in accordance with an order by Gov. Pat Quinn to fly U.S. and state flags at half-staff on the funeral day of every fallen Illinois soldier, and on the two days preceding that day, according to the state’s website. Flags were flown at half-staff on behalf of Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Witsman, U.S. Marine Corps, from June 8 to June 10, a press release from the governor’s office stated. Witsman, of Covington, IN, was supporting combat operations in …

A customer walks through the aisles of flowers in a greenhouse at Pesche’s Flower Shop and Garden Center, 170 S. River Road, on Friday afternoon. Pesche’s has a wide variety of plants for sale including flowers, vegetables, herbs, bushes, trees, grass and hanging plants. Earlier: Teens can read for Starbucks gift card. Pesche’s has been contributing garden tips on Des Plaines Patch. If you would like to contribute on Patch, click here. Related: Check out all the photos of the day. The last one was of the River Road bear. Stay connected: Stay connected: Receive an email from Des Plaines Patch …

Driving on S. River Road you may have noticed a curious onlooker in the front yard of a house in the 1300 block — a giant wood bear sculpture. The smiling bear stands upright, approximately 10 feet tall, atop a tree stump, and was created by Eric Widitz of ArtWood Designs in Fox River Grove. Alexandra “Sande” Kozlowski and her husband Norman Kozlowski had a bear sculpted out of their old tree last August, after they had to take the tree down due to disease, Norman said. Sande said it was going to cost additional to have the stump removed, and the tree trimmer gave them the idea of having a …

Kathy Passi and Randy Balsano, both Des Plaines residents, discuss framing Balsano’s Janis Joplin posters. Passi has been framing pictures at Prairie Lee Print & Frame shop, 1381 E. Prairie Ave. in Des Plaines for 24 years. Balsano, 65, inquired about framing his Janis Joplin posters on Friday afternoon. Balsano said he saw Joplin perform in Chicago in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and one of his favorite songs by her was “Proud Mary.” “You don’t hear her much anymore,” Balsano said. “But I still like it.” Earlier: Shake your family tree at the Des Plaines Public Library. For Passi, it’s all in a …

Manny Perez, a freshman at Maine West High School, kicks it into overdrive in the 800-meter relay at a track meet at Maine West on May 8. Maine West finished in second place in the event with a time of 1:48.3. Niles North took first place with a time of 1:45.8. The all-freshmen meet was also attended by students from Deerfield, Glenbrook North, Highland Park and Maine East high schools. Related: Check out all the photos of the day. The last one was of a soccer game. Stay connected: Do you have something to share? Patch makes it easy. Click, type, click again. Adding Events and Announcements …