Enjoy a Special Breakfast with Santa at Westfield Old Orchard, December 8

Kids visiting Westfield Old Orchard are in for a special treat this year. Maggiano's Little Italy will be hosting Breakfast with Santa, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. December 8. Santa will be jolly and ready to read a special holiday story and visit with the kids. Additional activities will include face painting and a performance by the Niles North High School Choir. Breakfast will be a delicious buffet of pastries, fruits, eggs, sausage and beverages at $14.95 a person. Reservations can be made with Maggiano's at (847) 933-9572.

Throughout the season other Westfield Old Orchard retailers will host similar Breakfast with Santa events. Macy's offers numerous breakfast with Santa events at 9 a.m. on December 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23. The price is $17.95 for adults and $13.95 for children. Macy's reservations are accepted at (877) 556-2297.

Traditional Menorah Lighting Ceremony December 8

To celebrate the start of Hanukkah, Westfield Old Orchard will host a traditional lighting ceremony for patrons of the Jewish faith, 5:45 p.m. December 8. The 8 ft. menorah resembles other larger-than-life Magical Moments attractions displayed in the center's common area. The event will be facilitated by Beth Hillel of the Congregation Bnai Emunah. Enjoy the lively children's choir, hot beverages, sweet treats and a wonderful evening with family and friends.

Missed the big Powerball win? Here's a chance to spin and win prizes from Westfield Old Orchard

Westfield Old Orchcard has launched a Facebook promotion where you can instantly win certificates for prizes this holiday season. So if you were among the millions of people who missed  out in yesterday's big Powerball win - who wasn't? - here’s your chance to take home some shopping prizes from Westfield Old Orchard stores.

By simply entering your email to spin their prize wheel on the Westfield Old Orchard Facebook fan page, you will have the chance to receive percentages off shopping purchases as well as gifts and prizes from stores like Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon/Carvel Ice Cream, Frontera Fresco, Macy’s Marketplace Foods, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Mrs. Fields/TCBY, Noodles & Company, Galt Toys & Galt Baby, Francesca’s Collection, Sephora, Swim ‘n Sport, Subway, Lush, Aveda, and Wilde & Greene.

 

Check it out and while visiting the page, please "Like" them if you haven't already done so.

 

Westfield Old Orchard 5th Annual Harvest Festival

Westfield Old Orchard will once again host the Annual Harvest Festival.  In partnership with the Wfamily event series, Westfield invites you to enjoy a weekend full of autumn activities suitable for the entire family.  Entertainment will include arts and crafts, face painting, games and balloon sculptors.  Later, children can celebrate Halloween early by participating in the annual costume contest and trick or treating at participating Westfield retailers.

The annual Harvest Festival will take place noon – 4 p.m., October 27 and 28 at the north end of the shopping center near the Koi Pond.  This event is free and open to the public, no reservations are required.

Project Pink: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer North Shore Walk October 21

Project Pink, a 5k non-competitive walk, will be taking over the shopping center beginning 9 a.m. Sunday, October 21 for National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Westfield’s Project Pink is one of more than 250 nationwide events that aim to show support for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  It’s an energetic special occasion designed to express hope and celebrate Breast Cancer survivorship. Additionally, Project Pink will focus on raising awareness about steps women can take to help prevent the disease and raise money to find cures. 

The walk will commence and end in the West parking lot across from Macy’s and continue in and around the center. See schedule of event below.

8:00 AM Registration Opens
8:30 AM Opening Ceremony begins
9:00 AM Walk Begins

Participating Westfield retailers will feature special pink merchandise and donate proceeds from sales to breast cancer awareness.  There is no registration or fundraising requirement for Making Strides, however participants are welcome to raise money online or collect donations to turn in on the day of the event.  For more information and to sign up for Project Pink visit www.makingstrides.acsevents.org.

WFamily hosts Star Wars Reads Day at Westfield Old Orchard October 6

October 6 is National Star Wars Reads Day and Westfield Old Orchard (Skokie Blvd. & Old Orchard Rd.; 847-673-6800) is gearing up to celebrate it Wfamily style.  The monthly series continues 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, October 6 at Westfield’s Barnes & Noble, where the iconic movie trilogy will be celebrated with North Shore and Chicagoland families.  Kids will enjoy a story time followed by event activities such as coloring, Star Wars Mad Libs and card making. Participating kids will receive themed prizes to take home including stickers, tattoos, bookmarks and pins. 

As an added bonus, some of Star Wars’ favorite costumed characters will be present to take photos with their fans.  The hour-long event is open to pre-school aged children and will be facilitated by the Skokie Public Library.  Westfield’s Wfamily event series’ goal is to celebrate learning through literacy and creativity; it is free and open to the public and no registration is required

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer North Shore Walk at Westfield Old Orchard

Westfield is joining the fight against breast cancer this October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Project Pink, a 5k non-competitive walk, will be taking over the shopping center beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, October 21.  Westfield’s Project Pink is one of more than 250 nationwide Making Strides events and aims to show support to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  It’s a celebrated and special occasion designed to express hope and celebrate Breast Cancer survivorship. Additionally, Project Pink will focus on raising awareness about steps women can take to help prevent the disease and raise money to find cures. 

Participating Westfield retailers will feature special pink merchandise and donate proceeds from sales to Making Strides.  There is no registration or minimum amount to rise required for Project Pink, however participants are welcome to raise money online or collect donations to turn in on the day of the event.  For more information and to sign up for Project Pink visit www.makingstrides.acsevents.org.

Project Pink is looking for models to participate in this year’s survivor fashion show in support of the American Cancer Society.  All individuals whose lives have been touched by breast cancer are welcome to inquire -- children, men, women, survivors, caregivers, etc. Those interested in taking part can contact Jenna Kastan at jenna.kastan@cancer.org or 847-328-5147, opt 3 to find out more information.

Westfield Mobile App gets an upgrade and Free WiFi now available

Significant upgrades have been made to the Westfield App v2.0.  Shopping at Westfield has never been easier with new enhancements including expanded product search, enhanced retail offers, social media updates, voice command and online purchasing capabilities for movie ticket and dinner reservations. The more user-friendly App is both a time and money saver for the tech-savvy shoppers that are expected to flood the mall during the back to school shopping season. 
Westfield App v2.0 represents the convergence of mobile, offline, online and social experiences for shoppers, providing a one-stop shopping tool for anyone looking to more easily navigate their local Westfield shopping center.  Westfield Old Orchard, Westfield Fox Valley, Westfield Hawthorn and Westfield Southlake can now be accessed. The app is currently available for iPhone with an Andriod version to follow this September.

Westfield Old Orchard now has free WiFi available to all patrons. No cords, connector cables or hot spot devices needed!  Take a breather during your shopping excursion to get connected.  For more information contact the Westfield Concierge at 847-673-6800.

Win a back-to-school shopping spree from Westfield

Send the kids back to school in a big way with a chance to win a $500 shopping spree at Westfield Old Orchard.  A new school wardrobe filled with the best names in designer goods is at your fingertips. To enter, just visit Westfield’s Facebook page and let them know what is on the top of your back to school shopping list.  No purchase is necessary.

Westfield Wfamily Sing-a-long September 1

Warm up your vocal chords and bring the family to Westfield Old Orchard (Skokie Blvd. & Old Orchard Rd.; 847-673-6800) for the latest event in its WFamily series.  From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Saturday September 1, Westfield invites you to delight in a sing-a-long of some of you and your little one’s favorite childhood songs.  Afterward, enjoy a music-themed crafting session so kids can take home a souvenir from the day of singing and fun.  Westfield’s WFamily event series is free and is designed for Northshore and Chicagoland preschool aged children.  Partnering with the Skokie Public Library, WFamily celebrates learning through literacy and creativity.  This event will take place at the shopping center’s Barnes & Noble and is open to the public, no registration is required.

Last days for Monday Night Car Shows at Westfield Old Orchard

There are only two more chances to enjoy the classic and vintage cars on display at Westfield Old Orchard!  From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. September 3 and 10, come take part in Westfield’s Monday Night Car Shows, where as many as 200 cars will be featured in the West parking lot.  Music, food, prizes, hourly raffles, and fun will make the evening one to remember.  

Schedule of the final shows:

September 3 (5 – 9 p.m.)        
Truck Night with music by Tiny Miles and the Big Kids

September 10                         
 Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Night

Monday Night Car Shows, Inc. is a non-for-profit organization comprised of local businessmen and citizens dedicated to the Classic Car Hobby and the Community at large. The mission is to advance the Classic Car Hobby through community awareness, camaraderie, contributions to programs that teach automotive skills to the next generation through scholarships. To learn more about Monday Night Car Show, Inc., or if you want to register your vehicle, visit www.mondaynightcarshows.com.  You also can ‘like’ the show on Facebook.

Westfield's Sip & Shop Wine Series closes with Sip & Shop Style, August 30

Get excited about fall fashion 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, August 30 with Sip & Shop STYLE. The third and final event of the series gets you ready for the upcoming fall fashion season with expert advice from notable Chicago stylist Julie Watson.  Julie will show you insider tips and tricks on how to update a wardrobe on any budget; how to maximize the clothes in your closet, and how to spend wisely without the threat of buyer’s remorse.   Don’t miss out on your last chance to Sip and Shop at Westfield Old Orchard!  Space is limited; guests must be 21 years or older. To RSVP, visit www.westfield.com/oldorchard.

Westfield's WFamily series presents "Dog Days of Summer", August 4

Westfield Old Orchard will be hosting its monthly WFamily program 11:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. August 4.  Can you believe summer is drawing to a close? Come celebrate the Dog Days of summer with Westfield at Barnes & Noble where preschool aged children and their parents will enjoy a free story time and crafting session rejoicing all the best things about summer.    Westfield has partnered with The Skokie Public Library to offer this free event series to Chicagoland families to promote learning through literacy and creativity.  This event is complimentary and registration is not required.

New Store openings at Westfield Old Orchard

Westfield Old Orchard is looking forward to welcoming several new high end retailers to the shopping center this fall. 

Iconic retailer, Michael Kors will be opening at Westfield Old Orchard.  Known for classic American design and sophisticated silhouettes, this high end retailer will bring to the shopping center luxurious women’s apparel, accessories and small leather goods.  Michael Kors is expected to open this fall next to Ann Taylor.

Engineering affordable electric cars since 2003, Telsa Motors will be opening a location at Westfield this fall near Nordstrom.  Telsa values sustainable energy and is one of the leading manufacturers of electric cars in the United States.  

Rolex will be opening a boutique operated by the 3,500 square foot C.D. Peacock located next to Tiffany & Co. near Nordstrom.  The world renowned timepiece crafter and the Chicago-based jeweler will have its grand opening this fall.

Hugo Boss will be added to the list of Westfield Old Orchard’s luxury retailers this fall. The men’s and women’s designer, known for its sleek and stylish collections worldwide, will be opening in part of the old Akira space near Nordstrom. 

eCosway will be setting up a new location at Westfield Old Orchard this summer.  The new retailer specializes in health, beauty and nutrition products and will be located near Champps Americana.

Located next to Coldwater Creek and The Gap, The North Face’s new 6,278 square foot store will carry all of the high endurance and high performance apparel, equipment and footwear that it is internationally known. This will be the third location in the Chicagoland area, joining others in the John Hancock Center in Chicago and Sherman Plaza in Evanston.

Westfield French Market continues to grow, adding new vendors

The Westfield French Market is off to a rewarding start as the European-style, Bensidoun USA backed outdoor market adds new vendors and welcomes area patrons as they flock to enjoy the market’s offerings. 

Added to the growing list of vendors including B True Bakery, Hahn Bakery, KAP Farm, Organo Gold Coffee, The Blue Olive, Fraternite and Notre Dame. Also joining the line-up are Provence Imports, featuring table linens direct from Provence; Twin Garden Farms, bringing to the market their Mirai Corn, and The Bakeman which will offer gluten free products, most notably the Zen Brownie. 

To make the trip to the market easier for shoppers, Westfield has recently added ‘dots’ to all the Maps and Directories around the shopping center to guide guests to the French Market area.  A-frame signs also have been placed at five of the major entrances to help navigate eager market shoppers through the center.

The Westfield French Market is open every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. through September and is located near Macy’s by the Koi Pond. It offers a variety of local artisan products including fresh produce, breads and cheeses and gifts for the home and family. For more information, call 847-673-6800.

Xtreme Bugs on display at Westfield Old Orchard

No need to be afraid of these creepy crawlers!  From July 24 to August 14, shoppers at Westfield Old Orchard (Skokie Boulevard & Old Orchard Road) can experience the invasion of Xtreme Bugs at the gigantic, state-of-the-art animatronic bug on display near Nordstrom.   If you can’t get enough, Westfield will be offering two free admission passes to Brookfield Zoo, including two passes to see the Xtreme Bugs exhibit, to all shoppers who spend $200 or more on their shopping trip.

Bring the family back to Westfield’s Xtreme Bugs exhibit from noon to 2 p.m. August 4 for some hands-on fun, where kids will enjoy making crafts and receive giveaways by the Brookfield Zoo.

For more information on the Xtreme Bugs Brookfield Zoo giveaway, contact the Westfield Old Orchard Concierge at 847-673-6800.

The North Shore Festival of Art returns to Westfield Old Orchard July 27

The fifth annual North Shore Festival of Art presented by Amdur Productions will once again return to Westfield Old Orchard.  July 27-29 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., North Shore and other Chicagoland residents can come and enjoy the weekend long festival celebrating more than 150 of the country’s finest artists.  Their one of a kind works will be featured throughout Westfield’s inner court of the shopping center and will showcase works constructed from an array of mediums that include ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, sculpture, mixed media, paintings, drawings, photography, printmaking, wood and furniture. The open-air exhibition will span throughout the center.

 Additional fun and prizes will complement the art festival as live music will be featured with performances from celebrated bands and musicians.  Children will enjoy a train, crafting projects and more.  To top things off, daily drawings will take place giving festival-goers the chance to receive “Art Buck$” to spend on a piece of art at any future 2012 Amdur Productions festival. 

Admission and parking for the North Shore Festival of Art is complimentary.

Sip & Shop Wine Series continues with Sip, Shop SAVOR, July 26

Sip, Shop SAVOR is Thursday, July 26.  The second installment of the Westfield Summer Wine Series will get you on track to be the perfect summer hostess.  With grilling season in full swing, participants will learn how to give the best barbeque on the block with cooking demos and decorating tips from industry professionals.  Prizes and giveaways will be provided by participating Westfield retailers. Guests must be 21 and over to enjoy this complimentary event. Space is limited and registration is required.  For more information and to RSVP, visit www.westfield.com/oldorchard.

Westfield Old Orchard's WFamily series presents "Summertime Fun" July 7!

Summer is officially here and Westfield Old Orchard (Skokie Boulevard & Old Orchard Road) wants to celebrate by taking you down to the shore.  Saturday, July 7 from 11:30 a.m. -12: 30 p.m., Westfield’s Wfamily series will present its monthly hour-long story time and craft session for North Shore and Chicagoland families and their youngsters.  This month, families will enjoy a beach themed program entitled “Summertime Fun” with a reading presented by a staff member from the Skokie Public Library featuring a story about visiting the shoreline and an arts and craft project using beach sands.  Bring the family to the Westifield’s Barnes & Noble for the fun in the sun themed event.  This event is complimentary and registration is not required. 

Westfield French Market, now running every Thursday through September

The Westfield French Market is now open every Thursday from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. through September.  The outdoor market, located near Macy’s, offers a variety of artisan products including fresh produce, breads and cheeses and gifts for the home and family. 

This is the first time Westfield and Bensidoun USA have partnered together in an effort to create a completely new shopping experience for Chicagoland customers.  By adding the artisan outdoor market and selling fresh and local goods, Westfield’s goal is to create a greater sense of community in the area which includes residents of Chicago and surrounding suburban areas, as well as Westfield retailers.  In supporting the French market and participating vendors, Westfield hopes to provide a greater recognition and appreciate for local artisans.  For more information on the upcoming French Market at Westfield Old Orchard, call 847-673-6800