PHOTOS: The Nook, Downtown Fountain Subject to Yarn Bomb

Ever heard of a yarn bombing? Unknown vandals--armed with yarn--adorned the front of the store, as well as fences and fountain decorations nearby sometime Friday night.

The Nook owner Kitty Murphy introduced her ravamped store to the public this spring, so it's fitting that some individual or individuals initiated the store into its first International Yarn Bombing Day by secretly decorating the storefront. They placed pieces of crochet "graffiti," including flowers, garlands, leaves--even capes and headbands for the animals in the nearby fountain. It's not the first time bits of crochet have popped up in the village. In 2011 fiber artist Carol Hummel fixed tiny yarn bombs around the Morton Arboretum's grounds. The pieces matched the tree she decorated in crochet for the Arboretum's "Nature Unframed" exhibit. Check out the full album on Lisle Patch's Facebook.   Don’t miss any downtown updates—subscribe…

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Nook Knitting Classes Are Underway

Thinking about trying out one of the Nook's new knitting classes? Test out their '101' class this evening, or check out these upcoming sessions.

Did you hear about The Nook's makeover? Knitting classes are officially underway. This evening The Nook hosts Knitting 101 at 6 p.m. Below you'll find information on the store's other spring sessions. (You can also locate these events in our calendar.) All evening classes are 6-8 p.m.; morning classes are 10 a.m.-noon. Students receive a 10 percent discount on materials bought for your class.     Socks 101: Tuesday evenings (April 17); $60 Cable Knitting 101: Wednesday evenings (April 11, 25); $40 Bandit Shawl and Hat: Wednesday evenings (May 9, 16, 23); $60 Knitting 101: Thursday evenings (April 5, 12, 19, 26), Saturday mornings (April 7, 14, 21, 28); $80 Entrelac (diamond pattern): Friday evenings (April 20, 27, May 11); $60  Knitting to…

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"What's Old Is New Again": The Nook Readies for Grand Opening Celebration

Nook owner Kitty Murphy explains her decision to take the Main Street store in a new direction.

  The abrupt closing of The Nook to remodel this winter caused a hiccup in the lives of some residents. The store is known as a social hub in the village, and boasts a long list of regular customers. Owner Kitty Murphy closed the store at the end of January, to much speculation from the public when it would re-open.  Murphy recalled a time during its renovation that her friend’s husband was painting the entryway outside. She said a man walking on the street approached him, and said his 3-year-old daughter wanted to know if the store would still sell candy. Of course, her friend’s husband said. Twenty minutes later, Murphy said the man came back with a crying child. “’She didn’t believe I was telling the truth!’” Murphy said a small fix of …

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Uncle Buckeye

12:12 pm on Thursday, April 5, 2012

Kittty and her husband have earned my respect. I wish you success!   more ›

What Do You Think of The Nook's New Look?

The Main Street shop re-opened last week with a few changes to its aesthetic and merchandise. Coming soon: knitting classes.

  Have you had a chance to take a peek inside The Nook since the wrapping paper came down from the windows? The store, which underwent renovations during the month of February, had a soft opening last Thursday. Attend a grand opening celebration on March 15. While the store retained many of its beloved features—a respectable selection of hot and cold drinks, its candy wall, plenty of seating, and a bevy of board games—customers will notice one significant change immediately: the Nook no longer sells magazines. (Customers may still purchase daily newspapers!) In addition, the store will no longer sell lottery tickets. The store's shelves now contain a craftier product: yarn, some of which is important from Germany and only sold in the …

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Riverside Author Talks Jane Austen With Lisle Book Club

The Women of Wisdom welcomed novelist Karen Doornebos to learn what inspired her debut novel.

Last Thursday the Women of Wisdom book club hosted a special guest—the author of their February book, “Definitely Not Mr. Darcy,” Karen Doornebos. The novel follows a Jane Austen Society member who finds herself participating on a “Bachelor”-style dating show set in 1812. (Read a full summary on Amazon.) Doornebos, a Riverside resident, said she used to write advertising copy full-time before she tried her hand as a novelist. Now, she’s working on her second book. Doornebos said she was "always into Austen," and spent some time with the North American Jane Austen Society in Chicago to conduct research for her book. The ladies' conversation floated from the book's high points, to period costume and hygiene, to what you're likely to find at …

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Businesses Gear Up for Holidays: Part Two

With the Lights of Lisle just around the corner, enjoy these shots of downtown businesses that have already gotten into the Christmas spirit.

Getting amped up for the Lights of Lisle, Once Upon a Christmas and Santa Parade this weekend? So is the village. Snowmen line the sidewalks of Main Street, and some festive downtown businesses have already decked out their storefronts with lights, Christmas trees, snowflakes and seasonal flowers. Do you know a Lisle resident with an impressive display of lights and decorations? Patch will be scanning neighborhoods looking for the most decked-out homes. Send your suggestions to karlie@patch.com.

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Benet's Flavin Still Mulling Over College Decisions

ESPN talks about the senior with 25 scholarship offers, and other interesting Lisle-related items that hit the Internet recently.

The Nerd comes to LSHS this weekend Today we mentioned five thing to know about Lisle Senior High School's fall play, The Nerd. Now check out a video preview that the students made. Benet's Flavin has one big decision to make... ESPN Insider mentioned Benet Academy senior Pat Falvin. The offensive lineman has 25 scholarship offers across the nation. Need Polar Express tickets? The Polar Express is on its way Dec. 5, and one resident has five spare tickets available on Craiglist to take a ride. Bid for a painting of the Arboretum So often we see photographs of the Morton Arboretum. For the next two days you can buy a painting of the Arboretum on eBay. Bono's joins Twitter You've been able to keep track of Bono's Pub on Facebook, but today …

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Don't Procrastinate; Read This Story

Procrastination expert Dr. Joseph R. Ferrari says his new book will help readers understand and overcome this human foible.

"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." Easy to words to live by if you are not a procrastinator. If you are, procrastination expert Dr. Joseph R. Ferrari can help. He was at The Nook in downtown Lisle Saturday to talk about and sign copies of his new book, Still Procrastinating? The No-Regrets Guide to Getting it Done. "Everybody procrastinates but not everyone is a procrastinator," said Ferrari. "Twenty percent of men and women are chronic procrastinators. Leonardo da Vinci carried the Mona Lisa around for 25 years before he finished it." His book is intended to illustrate "what we know about procrastination from a scientific standpoint, but for the lay person." In his book, Ferrari says that contrary to conventional …

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