By Trent Modglin

Fire + Wine
608 W. Touhy Avenue, Unit C2 in Park Ridge
224-985-9990
FireAndWine.net

The BG Hospitality Group — owners of highly rated suburban restaurant brands like Gia Mia, moto | imoto Asian kitchen, Livia Italian Eatery and Ella’s Italian Pub, took over the former Zaza Cucina space and opened its second Fire + Wine location in February. The original Fire + Wine has been serving downtown Glen Ellyn since 2012, and a third installment is destined for St. Charles by the end of the year.

The goal: “Creating an atmosphere that seamlessly blends comfort, sophistication and a laid-back vibe, making it the ideal spot for a memorable dining experience.”

And judging by our two visits in February and March, including the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce “State of the City” event, BG Hospitality has absolutely crushed it yet again.

Besides a striking interior and inviting bar area (which is much more open than its predecessor), guests can expect a carefully curated menu featuring seasonal fare and signature dishes, as well as some specialty crafted cocktails and an extensive wine selection.

We focus on family-oriented communities, and providing great hospitality and family values has been the driving force behind BG Hospitality. … “It’s important to have that hometown feel.”

We’ve personally enjoyed the chicken carbonara with bacon, spinach and a parmesan cream, as well as the blackened whitefish in a lemon butter sauce and fig & prosciutto pizza.

Noteworthy: You can enjoy half-price pasta Mondays (yes, even the lobster diavolo), and don’t miss Wine on Wednesdays (WOW), where selections of wine are half off.

“We focus on family-oriented communities, and providing great hospitality and family values has been the driving force behind BG Hospitality,” says BG Hospitality rep Natalie Johnston. “Those qualities are prevalent in all of Brian Goewey’s restaurants. It’s important to him to have that hometown feel.”

Grind N Gears Cafe
8030 W. Oakton in Niles


If you’re looking for a break from the normal, everyday coffee shop, this is your place.

Grind N Gears is a former gas station, convenient store and auto body shop turned cafe, motorcycle thrift store and customized accessory shop.

“We don’t do engine work, but we can handle basic motorcycle repairs and create customizations for handlebars and various metalwork accessories,” owner Joel Peters tells us.

In his previous life, Peters worked in finance and his dad was living in Oregon, but they always enjoyed working on motorcycles together. So when he began discussing opening up a shop, his dad moved back to help. They purchased the property in June after working with the city of Niles and the EPA, and after some serious renovations, Grind N Gears officially opened this winter.

Look for them to continue adding more seating and decor, as well sandwiches, bagels and snacks. And down the road, they have plans for food trucks and various events like art displays, wine tastings and even car shows.

Perry’s Gallery and event space
1314 W. Touhy
PerrysGallery.net

Longtime Park Ridge resident and realtor Tim Perry has turned his passion for painting into more than just a hobby, opening Perry’s Gallery in February to not only showcase his work and the work of other artist friends, but host events as well.

“Over the years I found that a lot of people liked my work, so I stated getting commissioned for different projects (from dogs and family portraits to celebrities) and found myself getting better and better at it with the more painting I did, and I really enjoy it as a way to spend my free time,” Tim tells us. “I would originally paint things that I liked, and a lot of them sold at different art shows or when I’d post them on Facebook, but I ended up having a surplus of pieces I’d done over the last couple of years and had this office space that wasn’t being used, so it seemed like a natural fit.”

I think Park Ridge needs something like this. I think there’s a pent-up demand for performing artists and display artists in our community that want to have their voices heard.” — Tim Perry

Perry also sees the potential for the gallery serving other purposes, like a First Friday open-mic outing each month and hosting private or public parties and events.

“I think Park Ridge needs something like this,” he adds. “I think there’s a pent-up demand for performing artists and display artists in our community that want to have their voices heard.”

To schedule a gallery visit or discuss hosting an event, visit PerrysGallery.net

MD Ventures Medical Spa expansion

222 S. Prospect Ave. in Park Ridge

224-377-9577

MDVentures.us

Marta Druzbacka, whose career in the medical field includes serving as a nurse in interventional neuroradiology and pediatric cardiology, as well as creating programs for Lurie Children’s Hospital, is at it again.

This winter, she expanded her state-of-the-art practice — which specializes in PDO threads, PRF joint injections, Sculptra, IV vitamin infusions, Botox, healthy weight-loss treatments and more — for a third time in less than four years. MD Ventures also has locations in Palos Hills and Roselle.

“This space would never have happened without the support of my staff and friends and family,” says Marta, who added an art collection in the new space and regularly works with a host of non-profit organizations. “A lot of people are nervous coming in for the first time as new clients, so it’s our job to build trust and make them feel comfortable, even if they are coming in as a referral, which we got lots of.”