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Since today is National “Go To a Museum Day” we thought we’d help you get into the holiday spirit while also getting in touch with your creativity! The holidays are fast approaching, and this gift giving season might present some new challenges with supply and demand.  And then of course there’s our mountains of “pandemic purchases” to keep us all entertained indoors…. So why not forgo the material items this holiday and opt for the experience of a lifetime!  Or perhaps skip the online shopping at Big Box Retailers this year and consider shopping small instead! Why not purchase a beautiful gift of framed artwork or a painting class or perhaps a day trip out with family to a local museum or gallery instead?  Museum or theatre memberships can also make a great family gift while also helping support our local arts scene.  Plus, it’s a great way to do a little family bonding and get out of the house so you all can enjoy a change of scenery and exercise your minds! Hop into your new car from Classic and let’s hit the road! So what are you waiting for? Grab a paintbrush and let’s paint the town silver and gold with friends new and old, and check out our picks for great art, fun day trips, and creative classes to give to your loved ones!  Take a look at some of the great experiences and artistic shopping options we’ve got for you on today’s blog. When you shop small, your dollars have a direct impact on the community and your neighbourhood.  Consider purchasing gifts directly from these artists and local galleries, and bringing joy to the holidays in more than one way! Local Art Galleries and Art Shops: Illinois Dandelion Gallery & Studio in Waukegan, IL Visual Arts Center in Powell Park in Waukegan, IL Valhalla Art Loft in Waukegan, IL Artpie Studio/Gallery/Art School in Waukegan, IL One Crown Studios & Art Gallery in Waukegan, IL Kapheim Studio by Artist Thom Kapheim in Waukegan, IL Lloyd Shin Gallery in Gurnee, IL Curtis Frame Back Alley Gallery in Libertyville, IL Renditions Art Studio in Waukegan, IL MasterWorks Art Gallery & Studio in Vernon Hills, IL Aaron Galleries in Glenview, IL Sip Dip’n Dab in Waukegan, IL Periwinkle Art Studio in Waukegan, IL Ceramics For You Studio in Gurnee, IL Bottle & Bottega Highland Park Rivellino School of Art in Long Grove, IL Board & Brush Creative Studio in Liberyville, IL The Studio Art School in McHenry, IL Local Art Galleries and Shops: Wisconsin Re:Vision Gallery & Artist Studios in Kenosha, WI Lemon Street Gallery in Kenosha, WI Countryside Wildlife Art Gallery in Kenosha, WI Left of the Lake Gallery in Kenosha, WI DeBerge’s Framing & Gallery in Kenosha, WI Kenosha Art Association Pollard Gallery & Gifts in Kenosha, WI Pinot’s Palette in Pleasant Prairie, WI Alpaca Art in Kenosha,  WI Picasso Vino in Racine, WI Young Rembrandts in Kenosha & Racine, WI Gifting a Museum Admission Membership or even just a day trip pass can be an unforgettable experience!  Explore history, learn more about arts and culture, and inspire your family and friends to be more creative with unique museums to visit. More Great Museums for Art and History Buffs to Explore Near Classic’s Car Dealerships and Beyond: Kenosha Public Museum in Kenosha Civil War Museum in Kenosha Dinosaur Discovery Museum Kenosha History Center Southport Light Station Museum Kenosha Streetcar Society Waukegan History Museum Ray Bradbury Experience Museum Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County Field Museum of Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Chicago History Museum Skokie Heritage Museum Museum of Art in Chicago Robbins Illinois History Museum Chicago Children’s Museum American Writers Museum Art Institute of Chicago Museum Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary ARt WNDR Museum of Chicago 6th Dimension Space + Gallery in Chicago Children’s Museum of Oak Lawn Newberry Library Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt Vernon NIU Art Museum in Dekalb Great Automotive Museums to Visit in Illinois: Volo Auto Museum Pontiac Oakland Auto Museum Klairmont Kollections Museum Wheels O’ Time Museum Rockford Auto Museum Franklin County 1910’s Garage Museum Historic Auto Attractions Museum

We’re excited for all of the upcoming festivities during the holidays, and look forward to spending time with family and friends doing lots of fun things in the holiday spirit!  Here are some great ideas for ways to reconnect with family and friends and find some unique gifts.  We encourage our customers to shop small and support local artists, artisans, and small businesses this year.  Let’s spread some holiday cheer and the giving spirit, right here in our own backyard. Check out these great markets, events, and activities in Southeast Wisconsin, Lake County, and the Greater Chicago Area! Your November and December Local Community Calendar On Tuesday November 9th, November 16th, and November 23rd from 10AM to 10:30AM, come over to the Kenosha Uptown Neighbourhood Library in Kenosha and enjoy a family story time for all children ages 2 and up.  Enjoy stories, singing songs, and lots of fun activities! Wednesday November 10th from 6:30PM to 8:30PM come out to Pinot’s Palette in Pleasant Prairie, WI and paint yourself a beautiful monogrammed piece of artwork for a holiday centerpiece! STarts at $38 per guest, supplies all included. On November 12th and 13th, get ready to rock your heart out at the Nightmare in November metalfest concert in Kenosha. Order your tickets here. Running from November 12th through January 2nd 2022, the Lightscape exhibit is a beautiful holiday lights spectacular at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, IL. Order your tickets and get more info right here! On November 13th, shop small and shop local at the Holiday Handmade Market at the Streets of Woodfield in Schaumberg from 10AM to 3PM. It’s a great way to support the community and find the most unique and beautiful gifts for loved ones! On November 13th, grab a ticket to the Lunar Tide Music and Arts Festival in Waukegan.  Event Runs from 7PM on Saturday through November 14th at 3AM. On Saturday November 13th from 3PM to 5PM, enjoy an afternoon of pumpkins and flowers in a painting class at Pinot’s Palette in Pleasant Prairie! $38 per person with supplies included. On Friday November 19th starting at 8PM, enjoy an evening of wonderful music with Phil Vassar’s Piano Bar Tour!  An intimate showcase of this singer-songwriter’s best work with limited seating. Check for Tickets here. Open Nightly starting on November 20th and running through January 2nd 2022, the Willow Hill’s Winter Magic Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Experience is great fun for the whole family! Check this link for ticket timeslots and a calendar of availability. From November 20th through November 21st enjoy an evening of fine holiday shopping with local artisans and craftsmen at the Island Lake Holiday Art and Craft Faire. Forget about the stress of shipping holiday gifts and check out these local exhibitors and artists isntead! Admission is $1 and includes food booths and artist shopping stands. On Saturday November 20th at 2PM and a second performance at 6PM, head over to Genesee Theatre to enjoy a bit of holiday tidings with “A Charlie Brown Christmas” play!  It’s fun for the whole family; check availability of tickets here. Saturday November 20th from 11AM to 1PM bring your family and friends to paint a beautiful autumnal turkey for just $25 per person at a Pinot’s Palette painting class in Pleasant Prairie! On Saturday November 20th from 11AM to 12PM at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha, come and visit The Young History Heroes Storytime session for ages 4 through 8. A new hero will be highlighted every month!  “How Kate Warne Saved President Lincoln” will be the topic of 11/20’s session.  The following storytime will be December 18th! Enjoy the celebrations of “Long Grove Vintage Holidays” from 11:30AM through 6PM in Long Grove downtown! This free event first runs on November 20th and runs again every weekend from 11/21, 11/27, 11/28, 12/4, 12/5, 12/11, 12/12,12/18, and 12/19.  Enjoy caroling and vintage carriage rides for the whole family.  Event is free but registration is required On Sunday November 21st from 10AM to 3PM, The Vault Banquet Hall and The Pine Blossom have partnered up to host the Winter Wonderland in Kenosha! Come and visit for a little early holiday fun, and kids can even meet Santa from 12PM to 3PM. On Friday, November 26th from 4PM to 5PM, head over to the Kenosha Public Museum and enjoy the annual “Lightin’ Up” celebration and Christmas tree lighting ceremony downtown!  It’s a free holiday program for all to enjoy. On Friday November 26th, skip the shopping madness and opt into a quiet afternoon of fun with friends and family by painting a snowy moon and stars landscape.  Or paint a festive Christmas Tree rustic truck painting from 6:30PM to 8:30PM Just $38 per guest at Pinot’s Palette in Pleasant Prairie. On Saturday November 27th from 4PM through midnight, come kick off the Holidays with the Holiday in the Park & Parade event in Glenview! Fun for all ages starting at Glenview road and going through town. On Wednesday December 1st, paint this cheeky little gnome from 6:30 to 8:30PM and gift it to someone special for the holidays! Painting supplies and a lesson are just $38 at Pinot’s Palette in Pleasant Prairie. On Saturday December 4th, paint a family heirloom winter painting of “The Perfect Tree” at Pinot’s Palette in Pleasant Prairie for just $38 per person with supplies all included! On December 4th, come listen to an evening of music by Yheti and Toadface at the Lakehurst Events Center in Waukegan. More event information here! On Saturday December 11th starting at 7PM, head on over to the Genesee Theatre for a wonderful festive evening as they host The Chris Isaak Holiday Tour!  Event and ticket availability may be limited, check here! Are you hosting a local event or market?  Got plans to take your family to a fun holiday event nearby? We’d love to hear from you! Tell us in a comment all about how you plan to spend your holiday season together.

Here at Classic we’re thrilled to be a part of a diverse community, and we’re very excited to support and celebrate National Immigrants Day.  We’ve rounded up our picks for wonderful museums and organizations in the local region which celebrate diverse perspectives and cultures.  Check it out and plan your next road trip today! more The United States of America is a proudly diverse country including an immigrant population from nearly every country in the world.  Over 45 million people living in the United States were born in another country with their over 35 million first generation relatives and offspring.  Immigrants accounted for nearly 14% of the US population as of 2018, and together with 1st generation Americans they account for about 25% of our nation’s population.  Every year more than 1 million people emigrate to the US, with the top countries for immigrants arriving from China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines. Want to learn more about the history of immigrants in Chicago area? Check out this interesting article from PBS. Check out some of these fabulous places to learn more about the history of immigration, explore the diversity in the US, and get in touch with the creativity and cultural traditions of our diverse population.  They’re all just a short drive away from our dealerships here in Waukegan, and make a great day trip or activity during a weekend getaway. Museums, Organizations, and Galleries Supporting Multicultural Studies, Diverse Perspectives, and Outreach: One Two Pru Exhibit via Gallery Guichard in Chicago Trickster Cultural Center in Schaumburg IL The Chinese American Museum of Chicago in Chicago The DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago Heritage Museum of Asian Art in Chicago Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago The Field Museum of Chicago in Chicago Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago National Indo-American Museum in Chicago Roots and Culture Contemporary Arts Center in Chicago National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago The Great Migration Exhibit at the Chicago History Museum in Chicago National Hellenic Museum in Chicago The Ukraonian National Museum in Chicago National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Chicago The Polish Museum of America in Chicago Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago The Swedish American Museum in Chicago Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration in Chicago Oriental Institute at University of Chicago in Chicago Hatian American Museum of Culture in Chicago Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture in Chicago Zia Gallery in Winnetka, IL Sevan Gallery in Skokie, IL Northwest Cultural Council in Barrington, IL Skokie Heritage Museum in Skokie, IL Racine Heritage Museum in Racine, WI Jewish Museum of Milwaukee in Milwaukee, WI Livsreise Norwegian Heritage Center in Stoughton, WI Mahogany Gallery in Racine, WI Johnson Art Center at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI The Anderson Arts Center at the Kemper Center in Kenosha, WI Finding yourself inspired by all the art you’ve seen, the stories you’ve read, and heritage museums you’ve visited and want to support all of our diverse communities?  We’ve also got a great list of charitable groups and organizations which supply funding and support to Immigrants and Refugees arriving in America!  Check it out below: American Immigration Council The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services The International Rescue Committee The American Civil Liberties Union Immigrant Families Together Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights Doctors Without Borders USA for UNHCR Save the Children Project Corazon Kids in Need of Defence (KIND) Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law Movimiento Cosecha United We Dream Mano a Mano Family Resource Center in Waukegan “Recognize yourself in he and she who are not like you and me.” - Carlos Fuentes

We’re celebrating all things creative by highlighting some great reasons you should support The Arts in our local community!  Join us as we explore ways you can support local artists and arts councils, and why art is vital to our society. Why Should You Support The Arts? Artists and the arts are an integral part of society, helping us frame the world in creative ways so we can better understand humanity. Our society does not exist without creativity and ingenuity provided by exploring the arts.  By enjoying freedom of self expression, we are encouraging people to think outside the box and create a sustainable future! And that’s something we’re very passionate about.  Encouraging exploration and experimentation in The Arts can absolutely lead society to a brighter, better future!  In fact, many industrial designers and engineers got their start as children experimenting with creativity. more Artists and the arts are an integral part of society, helping us frame the world in creative ways so we can better understand humanity. Everything from industrial design to culinary arts to engineering and architecture revolves around Art.  The phones you use, the cars you drive, the tech gadgets you depend on, the movies you stream, the shows you binge...all of them were created by someone who was passionate about the arts!  The songs you listen to and music videos you stream are all created by performance artists and musicians who have a passion for self-expression and creativity. It’s no secret that the Arts invite people to become innovative thinkers and inspire others to do the same, fostering ingenuity and higher thinking.  It has been proven that participating in the arts can improve academic performance amongst students of all ages, and provide creative reasoning skills, and students achieve higher scores on standardized tests.  The act of creating can also provide an outlet for self expression which can promote better mental health, as well as physical health. Not to mention a thriving Arts program or district can improve any local community on multiple levels: aesthetically, via tourism, economically, and also socially!  Art can beautify and unify a community through public art installations, group art events, classes, and more.  Art provides citizens with a common ground to communicate and express themselves, and understand each other on a non-verbal level.  The Arts can also provide income via local tourism to view exhibits, installations, markets, and local businesses, galleries, and museums. Encouraging exploration and experimentation in The Arts can absolutely lead society to a brighter, better future.  Art is everywhere and Art is for everyone! So hop in your new car and let’s hit the road on an amazing quest to find the most interesting artwork around. Explore Public Arts programs and projects throughout Wisconsin! Explore Public Arts programs and projects in the Chicago Area! Museums, Studios and Galleries to Explore in Illinois and Wisconsin Robert T Wright Comm Gallery in Grayslake, IL Blue Moon Gallery in Grayslake, IL Jack Benny Center in Waukegan, IL Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County in Libertyville, IL The African American Museum at the England Manor in Waukegan, IL Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL Artpie Studio, Gallery and Art School in Waukegan National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago, IL DePaul Art Museum in Chicago, IL Design Museum of Chicago in Chicago, IL WNDR Museum in Chicago, IL The Art Institute of Chicago Kavi Gupta Gallery | Washington Blvd in Chicago, IL Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago, IL Addington Gallery in Chicago, IL Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art in Chicago, IL National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, IL Smart Museum of Art in Chicago, IL Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, IL Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago, IL ECHT Gallery in Chicago, IL The Richard Driehaus Museum in Chicago, IL Latvian Folk Art Museum in Chicago, IL Masterworks Art Gallery & Studio in Vernon Hills, IL Aurora Public Art in Aurora, IL Gary Brown Art in Aurora, IL Schin Goethe Museum in Aurora, IL Seven Setting Suns Art Gallery in Aurora, IL Water Street Studios in Batavia, IL Du Page Art League Gallery, School and Gift Shop in Wheaton, IL Kenosha Public Museum in Kenosha, WI Lemon Street Gallery in Kenosha, WI Re:Vision Gallery & Artist Studios in Kenosha, WI Left of the Lake Gallery in Kenosha, WI Anderson Arts Center in Kenosha, WI Kenosha Art Association in Kenosha, WI Learn a Little About Car Design and Industrial Design Have a recommendation of your own for a gallery, museum, or artist you love? Let us know! We may even feature your suggestion in a future blog!