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COOL Ministries has been working passionately since its humble beginnings in 1982, and has grown over the years into a fully-fledged non-profit social services organization.  COOL Pantry provides a comprehensive selection of ingredients for three square meals a day, including specialized options catering to diabetes, food allergies, as well as diverse selections in ethnic cuisine.  In addition, COOL offers safe housing options and assistance, counseling, life skills training, and other assistive programming, in order to help both veterans and families transition from homelessness to sustainable housing and stability. Image from Cool Ministries Website If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please click here to find out more information about the COOL Food Pantry or click here to access the COOL housing application. If you’d like to get involved with COOL ministries as a volunteer, click here to see what services are currently needed! If you’re interested in supporting COOL ministries with a financial contribution, you’ll find all of that information right here. Want to join hands together with our Classic dealerships and COOL Ministries Food Pantry?  Check out our partnership food drive information below: Driven by (Care) Fill our Sorento and fulfill a big need at the Cool Ministries Food Pantry (graphic – food in back of sorento with hatch open but not completely full of food) Right here in Waukegan, people are going hungry. Every day. This Thanksgiving, join us in being thankful for what we have by helping those who have less.  For every three items you donate, you can choose from these thank-you gifts: Kia shirt 6 free car washes $25 off your next service * Free oil change $500 off the purchase or lease of a new or certified pre-owned Kia WHAT COOL MINISTRIES FOOD PANTRY NEEDS Cash donations to buy 2000 turkeys Packaged stuffing Boxed mashed potatoes Green Beans Cans of mushroom soup Desserts (shelf stable) Juice (bottles) Dinner Rolls *excluding oil changes

It’s National Sandwich Day! There are a lot of “hot takes” online about what makes a sandwich.  Is it simply some vegetables, meats, and/or cheeses stuffed between bread or dough items?  Do hot sandwiches count or only ones with chilled deli meats?   Is a hot dog a sandwich?! Do Tacos or Quesadillas count? Do you call it a Hoagie or a Sub Sandwich?! more Okay, okay, we could sit here and debate it all day long, but we’re getting a little hungry, and we’ve still got lots of cars to sell!  So instead of dishing out our own opinions, we’ll just share some of our favourite local restaurants with the best sandwiches around. From traditional Chicago Style dogs (okay, we’re counting ‘em!) to Chicago Style Beef sandwiches and other regional faves, you’ll find plenty of top notch eats.  Check out our picks for pheNOMenal bites in Waukegan, Southern Wisconsin, and the Greater Chicago area! Best Eats Around: Hot Hoagies, Cold Sandwiches, and More! We’ve got a great roundup of delicious restaurants and delis in the area just for you: Leno’s Sandwich Shop at 1826 Grand Avenue in Waukegan George’s Gyros at 2122 Grand Avenue in Waukegan Potbelly Sandwich Shop at 760 S Waukegan Road in Waukegan Quonset Pizza at 2602 Grand Avenue in Waukegan Hoagie Hut in 2807 Grand Avenue in Waukegan Brown’s Chicken at 3150 Belvidere Road in Waukegan Shirl’s Drive-In Waukegan at 2132 N Lewis Avenue in Waukegan HealthyYums at 2724 Sheridan Road in Zion Rammy’s Sub Contractors at 834 Wheeling Road in Wheeling Frantonio’s Italian Deli & Cafe at 421 N Northwest Highway in Barrington Eleven City Diner at 1112 S Wabash Avenue in Chicago Giordano’s at 730 N Rush Street in Chicago J.P. Graziano Grocery at 901 W Randolph Street in Chicago Fat Shack at 2537 S Wabash Avenue in Chicago Capt’n Nemo’s Rogers Park at 7367 N Clark Street in Chicago Devil Dawgs on State at 767 S State Street in Chicago Cousins Subs at 3806 W 52nd Street in Kenosha, WI Morelli’s Deli at 7506 7th Avenue in Kenosha, WI Tenuta’s Delicatessen-Liquors at 3203 52nd Street in Kenosha, WI SoupDepot Breakfast Lunch & Dinner at 2731 18t Street in Kenosha, WI Rustic’s Subs at 1830 27th Avenue Unit 101 in Kenosha, WI Harborside Common Grounds at 5159 6th Avenue in Kenosha, WI Big Lou’s Standing Room Only at 635 75th Street in Kenosha, WI Final Inning at 9048 Sheridan Road in Kenosha, WI Curious as to ‘Wich Items Are Best for Taking Your Sandwiches to Go? Whether you’re going on a picnic, a road trip, or just your daily commute, we’ve got lots of great options for taking your sandwich with you safely. Check it out here: Check out the SnapLock sandwich keeper to protect your sandwich on the commute to work! Under $10, it’s a steal on Amazon! ​​ No matter whether you call it a Hoagie or a Sub, it still needs safekeeping!  Check out this great sandwich keeper specifically designed for long rolls. Under $25 and worth it to protect your artisanal eats, right here on Amazon! Steel yourselves for this next one, because it’s going to excite the environmentally conscious in our midst!  This plastic free option is made of stainless steel and is very sturdy. Protects both regular and gluten free sandwiches without judgement. Available here on Amazon!

Who doesn’t love a good calzone with that ooey, gooey melty cheese dunked in some warm fresh marinara?  Mmmm, delicious!  And since it’s national Calzone day, we thought we’d share our picks for great local options in the Greater Chicago area. We’re so happy to be part of the community in Lake County, and we love to support fellow businesses here in the Waukegan area. more Consider ordering a lunch out from one of these fantastic restaurants, or taking a road trip to grab a bite from one of the best calzones in Chicago.  And we’ve also got some great recipes to try your hand at one at home, or great food transport bags to ensure your order gets home hot and ready to eat. The Best Around: Great Local Calzones Calzone & Macaroni at 260 Hawthorn Village Commons in Vernon Hills Ron’s Italian Ovens at 2195 N Illinois 83 in Round Lake Beach Double D Pizza at 1500 N Lewis Avenue in Waukegan Louie’s Restaurant at 1009 North Avenue in Waukegan Luici’s Mundelein at 1130 W Maple Avenue in Mundelein Mama K’s Pizza and Grille at 1801 N IL-21 in Gurnee K & R Jesters at 1500 N Lewis Avenue in Waukegan Buddyz a Chicago Pizza at 860 N Illinois Route 83 in Mundelein Potestas Pizza at 434 S Green Bay Road in Waukegan Anasasia’s Restaurant & Sports Lounge at 3880 Northpoint Blvd in Waukegan Rosati’s Pizza at 5404 Grand Avenue in Gurnee Donat’s Pizza at 205 Waukegan Road in Lake Bluff Jimano’s Pizzeria at 938 N Green Bay Road in Waukegan Bongiorno’s Cucina Italiana & Pizzeria 405 N Wabash Avenue in Chicago Panino’s Pizza Chicago at 3702 N Broadway in Chicago Pizzeria Serio 1708 W Belmont Avenue in Chicago Homeslice at 938 W Webster Avenue in Chicago The StopAlong at 1812 N Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago Spacca Napoli Pizzeria at 1769 W Sunnyside Avenue in Chicago Lacoco’s Pizza & Sports Club at 3350 W 47th Avenue in Chicago Sarpino’s Pizzeria at 1852 N Damen Avenue in Chicago Damenzo’s Pizza at 2324 W Taylor Street in Chicago Coalfire at 1321 W Grand Avenue in Chicago Tano’s Pizzeria at 3038 W Irving Park Road in Chicago Chicago’s Pizza at 3114 N Lincoln Avenue in Chicago Great Gadgets for Traveling with Pizza and Calzones in the Car Whether you’re delivering Calzones for a living as a food service worker or you’re bringing some noms to a party, the Freshie Insulated XXL Food Bag is the way to go! With drink holders and food insulation to keep meals fresh and hot or cool and crisp. As the weather gets cooler, this Homevative Electric Heated Food Delivery Bag is the perfect option to ensure your Calzones arrive with all that ooey gooey bubbly cheese nice and hot!  It holds up to 3 large pizza boxes, perfect for Friday Game Nights and Saturday Date Nights! Got plans to Netflix and Chill with Calzones? The smaller option from Freshie’s Food Bag lineup is a great idea for smaller to-go orders. Great for taking to dates at the drive-in! Great Recipes to Make Your Own Calzone Like the Experts Got dreams of opening your own Pizzeria?  Try your hand at making a calzone from scratch for some practice.  We’ve got some great options for you: Incredible Homemade Calzones Classic Calzones Lidia’s Calzones Quick and Easy Calzones

October may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end! We’ve got a great roundup of family friendly activities and great events for adults and friends to enjoy this weekend.   Choose from our list of lots of festive events in the Greater Chicago Area and Southern Wisconsin regions! From Halloween Parties to Trunk or Treats to Pet Halloween Costume Contests and Spooky Exhibits, there’s lots of fun for everyone you know.  So pile everyone into your reliable car from Classic, and let’s paint the town orange for Halloweekend! more Today, October 29th from 4PM to 6PM in Zion, come on over to enjoy the Halloween Trail of Treats and some good old fashioned family fun at Shiloh Park! Tonight from 6PM to 8PM, head on over to the Northfield Neighborhood Library in Kenosha to enjoy a fun filled evening at the Nights at Northfield Howl-o-ween event with your family pet.  Come out to paint a pumpkin, enter the pet costume contest, and more! This evening from 7PM to 9:30PM  pile the family into your new car from Classic and drive on over to the Halloween movie Drive-in in Gurnee at Hunt Club Park for just $20 per vehicle! Pile the kiddos and their treat bags in the car and get ready for a fun filled day! Because on October 30th from 10AM to 4PM it’s “Boo At the Zoo” with the Racine Zoo in Racine, WI. Kids under 2 are FREE, and family member tickets will range from $5 to $10 by age and both Event participation and Zoo Admission is included in the price. On Saturday October 30th from 1PM to 2PM you can take the whole family out to Bach to Rock in Northbrook, IL for festive Halloween candy and celebrations for free to families with kiddos age 3 through 12. On Saturday October 30th from 1PM to 3PM come on out for the Halloween Trick or Treat Trail in Waukegan at Bowen Park!  Your kiddos can enjoy a 2 hour event with treat bags and lots of costumed characters for an early Halloween event. Saturday October 30th starting at 4PM come on out to the 5th Annual Trick or Treat on 6th Ave event in Kenosha, WI -- all families are welcome! At 6PM on Saturday October 30th, join in the Monster Mash Dash 5K Run & Walk at North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor. Looking for a night out on the town? Enjoy some chill Halloween Vibes from 7PM to 11PM with Stone Theory at The Kenosha Creative Space in Kenosha, WI. This Sunday October 31st in Gurnee, come down from 2PM to 5PM for family friendly Trick or Treating! Come in costume and enjoy the festivities for all ages. Scare up some fun this weekend in Chicago at the “Sweet Dreams Halloween Pop Up 2hr  Experience” at Rizzo’s Bar and Inn from 5PM to 11PM or 1PM to 11PM (depends on day of week!) Running all weekend through the 31st! It’s time to Eat, Drink and Be Scary at the Halloween Rooftop Movie experience at Whisky Business in Chicago happening on October 31st from 4PM to 10PM, starting at just $15. All month long the Museum of Illusions has been transformed into The Museum of Spooky Illusions! So head on out for some special Halloween Treats this weekend in Chicago.  Book your museum ticket and get ready to scare up some excitement with your whole family!

National American Beer Day We love supporting our fellow local businesses, and on National American Beer Day, we thought it might be fun to highlight some local brewing businesses, taprooms, and microbreweries.  These fantastic food and beverage establishments not only provide income via taxes and sales, but also provide a valuable source of tourism for the area.  People love to eat and drink local but it also provides a great draw for tourism to the area.  Visitors come for the brews and stay for the local entertainment, shop local stores, book at nearby hotels, and do plenty of regional sightseeing!  It’s a win-win for everyone. more In addition to drawing outside support, many taprooms and breweries also encourage regional visitors by hosting fun local events. They may hold tasting events for seasonal releases, frequently host open mic nights, sponsor a showing for local artists and galleries or vendor markets, hire musicians to perform on a regular basis, and book small independent artists to create beautiful murals or public artworks.  It’s a great place for community gathering and socializing amongst not just casual visitors but tradesmen, local business folks, and networking groups. Brewery tasting events are also a great way to provide customers with new and interesting concepts in food and beverage, while also being mindful of responsible alcohol consumption and ensuring a customer’s safety on the road post-event.  Local taprooms and brewpubs often feature specialty brews made with locally sourced ingredients such as fresh local honey, local fruits and berries, or even partner with local catering companies and farms for joint events. So as you can see, small brewing companies and tasting rooms are a valuable part of our community.  So check out some of the options on our list and help support local businesses in the Southeastern Wisconsin region and the Greater Chicago Area! And remember, please drink responsibly. Always ensure you have a designated driver or set up a rideshare service to pick you up and bring you home. Buzzed driving is drunk driving, so drive sober if you don’t want to get pulled over! Notable Local Microbrew Pubs, Taprooms, and Breweries Venture Brew Co in Milwaukee, WI New Barons Brewing Cooperative in Milwaukee, WI Biloba Brewing Company in Brookfield, WI Driftless Brewing Company in Soldiers Grove, WI Rustic Road Brewing Company in Kenosha, WI Eagle Park Brewing and Distilling in Muskego, WI Racine BRewing Company in Racine, WI PUBLIC Craft Brewing Co in Kenosha, WI The Runaway Micropub & Nanobrewery in Burlington, WI R’Noggin Brewing Co in Kenosha, WI Harbor Brewing Co Lakefront Biergarten in Winthrop Harbor, IL Nightshade and Dark’s Pandemonium Brewing in Waukegan ZumBier in Waukegan, IL Only Child Brewing in Gurnee, IL Mickey Finn’s Brewery in Libertyville, IL Bosacki’s Brewery in Mundelein, IL Liquid Love Brewing in Buffalo Grove Il B eermiscuous in Highwood, IL Ravinia Brewing Company in Highland Park, IL Sketchbook Brewing Co in Evanston, IL Alarmist Brewing & Taproom in Chicago, IL Metropolitan Brewing in Chicago, IL Dovetail Brewery and Taproom in Chicago IL Pilot Project Brewing in Chicago, IL Haymarket Pub & Brewery in Chicago, IL Lo Rez Brewing and Taproom in Chicago, IL Alulu Brewery and Pub in Chicago, I L Before we go, we wish to also take another quick moment to remind you all that drinking and driving is never a good idea!  So we’d like to share some sobering facts to keep in mind and remember to always ensure your party has a Designated Driver when attending beer tastings or brewery event days. Drunk Driving causes more than 10,000 deaths every year and ⅓ of all traffic related deaths. Drinking and driving costs over $40 billion in deaths and damages every year. Drivers aged 21 to 24 account for 27% of alcohol related fatalities, followed by 25% for ages 25 through 34. The Blood Alcohol Content limit for Illinois and Wisconsin is anything greater than 0.079%, and may result in a DUI/DWI and fines if operating a motor vehicle while drunk or buzzed. Remember to assign a designated driver to your group or schedule a ride share service. Please drink responsibly, and if you or someone you know has an alcohol abuse or drinking problem there are services to support you.

A Halloween Inspired Road Trip from Illinois to Wisconsin That Will Surely Haunt Your Memories! Grab your best ghouls and goblins and let’s end October on an exciting note with some great suggestions for spooky road trips!  Hop on in your new car from Classic and let’s hit the road, because we’re going on an epic quest to find the most Haunted Places in Wisconsin and Illinois. more Travel Most Haunted Illinois up to Haunted Wisconsin Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, IL (345 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) This is a historic site once home to an ancient Native American village, and it is rumored to be home to a host of spirits of the Natives who used to reside here. There have been reports of orbs, strange shadows, and balls of floating light.  Remains of the Native Peoples have been found on site.  Archaeologists believe the location coordinated with a stellar event involving a supernova shining day and night for a three year duration. Peoria State Hospital Museum and Cemetery in Peoria, IL (199 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) In its prime, the mental illness institution campus contained 63 buildings on site.  Many of the buildings have since been demolished, but the Bowen Building was the last one standing.  The grounds are also home to four different cemeteries.   Some paranormal investigators have even reported tastes of blood in their mouths, or smelling the pine scent used in cough syrups for ill patients. There have been sightings of patients walking through walls, echoes of footsteps, banging on the walls, and pushing or shoving of the investigators. Peoria Public Downtown Library in Peoria (196 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) Legend has it that this library was built on cursed grounds!  Mrs. Andrew Gray lived in the house in the 1830s, and when financial troubles ultimately led to foreclosure, she allegedly cursed the grounds for future owners and residents.  The house was eventually demolished and the library was erected in its stead in 1894.  Shockingly, the first three directors of the library died under quite mysterious circumstances!  Eventually the old library was demolished and a new improved building was built in its place in 1966.  Staff have reported feeling cold drafts, seeing apparitions of former directors lurking in doorways, and even whispering their name amidst the stacks. Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur, IL (221 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) It is believed that prior to the 1820s this was the site of a Native American Burial Ground until colonizers took over the site and used it as a graveyard from the 1820s on, becoming an officially recognized cemetery in 1857.  Visitors to the site have reported hearing screams and strange lights from inside some of the mausoleums.  Visitors report seeing apparitions of confederate prisoners in tattered uniforms wandering in a daze.  You might even come across The Greenwood Bride, a lonely figure in a wedding gown searching for her beloved! Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in Midlothian, IL (70 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) The local area was originally settled by English colonizers and homesteaders who relocated from New England in the 1830s.  It was originally named the Everden Cemetery after the original property owner Conrintha Everden, who bought the land in 1835.  There have been many reports of spooky phenomena such as floating orbs, strange lights, and even sightings of a phantom car!  If you are brave you may even witness a farmer with his horse, a white cloaked spirit of a woman with her infant, and a woman sitting atop a tombstone. Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, IL (41 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) From “The Eternal Silence” statue of a hooded cloaked monk to the isolated grave of Daniel Burnham to the imposing architecture of The Palmer Mausoleum, there is no shortage of haunts here!  You might hearcries of disembodied voices, or be overcome with an overwhelming sense of dread, or notice the eerie stillness and silence and cold spots.  You’ll just have to visit and see for yourself! Bloods Point Cemetery in Belvidere, I L (88 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) This graveyard was founded in 1935, and is famed for sightings of a nefarious woman buried on site named Beaula who murdered all of her children and now haunts the grounds for eternity.  Visitors have also reported the site has a very off putting stench. Kemper Hall in Kenosha, WI (18 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) Once used as a boarding school for young ladies it is now a recreation center, this is considered one of the most haunted destinations in Wisconsin!  Rumor has it that the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a headless nun who died when several students cornered her and shoved her down a stairway.  Some visitors have also reported apparitions of nuns peeking out of the windows. Fork in the Road Mukwonago, WI (60 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) We thought it might be nice to include a restaurant stop off on our trip, and what better than a haunted one!  Visitors to this establishment have reported seeing foggy apparitions out back, heard ghostly footsteps in the halls, and even heard the echoes of pool cues hitting pool balls and rolling across the floor. Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, WI (50 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) If you’re looking to take a break on your spooky road trip, why not spend the night here if you dare!  Spirits here are said to appear in your room and interfere with your television or radio. You may even hear a pounding or knocking on the walls at night, jangling your nerves and your wits.  Many MLB players refuse to stay in the hotel due to disturbances, yikes! Brumder Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Milwaukee, WI (51 Miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) If you prefer an even more frightening lodging experience, try this terrifying B&B.  Guests have reported disturbing nightmares, apparitions floating in the halls and in and out of rooms, and it’s even been said that blood was found in a bathtub that no one had been using.  Guests have been reporting hauntings in this four story building for nearly 100 years. You can read the reports and then decide from there, if you dare! Karsten Hotel in Kewaunee, WI (170 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) If you’re interested in strange spectral encounters, then this is the hotspot (or cold spot…) that ghost hunters like you are just dying to experience!  In fact, it’s so haunted that the owners have fully embraced the paranormal experience and accept it.  It has been in operation since 1912 and is home to at least three very active spectres.  Stay for the night, if you can make it that long... Maribel Caves in Maribel, WI (184 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) The grounds are the former site of the Maribel Caves Hotel aka Cherner Hotel, a site known for its wonderful activities and fine amenities, but which sadly burnt down to the ground with its guests still inside.  The hotel has had its fair share of notorious visitors from famed living gangsters and mobsters like John Dillinger to the spectral figure of the former owner’s ghost. High Cliff State Park in Sherwood, WI (182 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) If you like spending time in the great outdoors, you may enjoy the challenge of pitching a tent on one of the most haunted campgrounds in Wisconsin!  It’s considered a hotbed of supernatural and paranormal events, which some attribute to the fact that there are Native American burial grounds nearby the camping ground.  Some folks report strange figures and apparitions and otherworldly sounds in the dead of night. West Cove Lanes in Ladysmith, WI (341 miles from Classic Kia and Classic Toyota) Stop in for a bite to eat or explore the nearby campgrounds. But be on the lookout for the ghosts that frequent this bowling alley.  Folks have reported hearing footsteps with no figure in sight, and peals of laughter when no one is there.  Others have seen an apparition of a man in a flannel shirt.  Will you strike the big time and see a spirit or will you roll a gutterball and zero out? If you have been to any of these spooky locations and have a story to tell, let us know! We’d love to hear all about it in a comment! Have a safe and happy halloween!