Things to Do in Des Plaines

Joe Roope, Sr., and his son have grown Castaway Fly Fishing Shop into an full-service fly-fishing shop abounding in guided trips, classes, and high-end tackle from the likes of Loop Tackle Design and Action Optics by Smith. They proudly carry locally tied flies, offsetting a selection of fly-tying materials to accompany single- and double-hand rods. Though hunkered down in scenic Coeur d'Alene, they lead fly-fishing trips in a number of area waterways, shepherding groups through Idaho, Montana, and Washington during guided jaunts down rivers such as the Blackfoot, Clark Fork, and Upper Columbia. They share their passion for perpetuating the wild-trout fisheries of the Inland Northwest in each of their classes, advocating responsible catch, release, and contract-signing techniques whenever dealing with fish.

When not outfitting customers with camping gear, fishing equipment, or trail-savvy llamas, Kirk and Laurie Bien can often be found out in a mountain stream in search of the elusive “Colorado Grand Slam”—the catch of brown, rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout all in one day. The owners of Kirk’s Fly Shop, the Biens share their passion for the outdoors by guiding visitors to lakes and streams whether via hiking trails or on the back of a pack horse or a llama—an animal suited to traversing the high mountain terrain’s blockades of delicious grass.

Throughout nearly two decades of collecting and reselling beads, owner Charlene Steele has gathered more than one million types of baubles including Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones, and Miyuki seed beads and Delica beads. In addition to a variety of beads and jewelry components from Czech glass buttons to crystal pendants, customers can drape themselves in the shop's finished jewelry. To learn techniques for making their own treasures, patrons can attend beginner to advanced classes, in which knowledgeable instructors teach students how to wire wrap a stone or preserve a small photo or dried flower in a resin pendant. The shop hosts private parties for kids and adults alike.

The quick-witted troupe of performers at pH Productions stirs up a rollicking concoction of comedy that bubbles with equal parts improv and audience interaction. Founded in 2002, the troupe's scientific moniker celebrates the onstage chemistry that leads to a great night of improv and leaves nothing but a neutral puddle of goo when incompatible performers accidentally touch. Classes teach would-be improvisers the arts of extemporaneous comedy with a focus on hands-on learning, and a slate of shows delight audiences with long- and short-form sketches, many of which have been recognized with the Chicago Reader's Critic's Choice award.

Students are in good hands with Chicago Yacht Share's Captain Norm Zable, who brings 45 years of sailing experience to his classes. Through CYS's progressive program, students can be out on the water this summer by earning their American Sailing Association credentials. They then move on to bareboat chartering opportunities aboard the performance cruiser named It's Your Time. This vessel is a 2012 Jeanneau 379, which was named "Boat of the Year" by Cruising World in 2012 due to its combination of speed and luxury. Bareboat charters allow sailors to enjoy a multitude of perks, such as never having to worry about upkeep, storage, or inconvenient mutinies. If students aren't quite ready to skipper, captained charters are also available.