Shopping in Winnetka

Cromargan stainless steel fortifies the Provence Plus and Casa nine-piece cookware sets, arming culinarians with durable pots and pans that resist scratches and dents. Heat-resistant lids allow eyes to gaze at pots' contents, and TransTherm aluminum bases distribute heat evenly and play well with all stovetops. Between uses, chefs can swiftly clean their cookware in the dishwasher or by repurposing saucepans as shields during the neighborhood water-balloon fight. A lifetime warranty comes standard with both sets.

Valentina selects designer women's clothing for its ever-changing selection, nestling handbags, denim, and accessories next to eclectic displays of jewelry and hostess gifts. Hard-to-find lines such as Henri Lou Jewelry, Cut+Paste, and Lili Leather, along with brands Alice + Olivia, Trina Turk, three dots, and Splendid, deliver everything from jewelry and bags to basic layering pieces and party dresses, ensuring limbs stay stylishly swathed for occasions ranging from an elegant hotel brunch to a casual hotel dinner. Pull on a basic bobi T-shirt ($24+) or beglitter digits with a cocktail ring to dazzle visiting magpies ($24–$34). Shoppers can ward off fashion predators by shaking an armful of layering bangles ($18+) or donning a coveted Roberta Roller Rabbit tunic, which drapes and flatters physiques until they blush ($74).

Penny's From Heaven outfits newborns to tweens with clothes, toys, and accessories from top European and American brands such as Barbour, Hunter, Steiff, and Viva La Fete. Youngsters can cuddle plush stuffed animals ($8+) or expand their imaginations with whimsically styled wooden toys ($24+). Scores of dresses—including the mint-hued Ella Moss Infinity dress ($68)—await burgeoning fashionistas, and young lads can splash through the rain in Hunter yellow rain boots($60), which diminish germs with antibacterial lining and demolish menacing puddles with a single stomp.

StrengthTime's calculated approach to training emphasizes measured, low-speed movements on top-of-the-line, immaculately maintained MedX equipment. Under the tutelage of the gym's certified instructors, people forge muscle, improve cardiac health, and melt calories during a personalized workout as potent as homemade schnapps. The gym's trainers, who receive ongoing education, record and adjust the resistance and number of reps in each meeting, allowing them to target specific muscle groups with the optimal level of intensity. This precise, deliberate approach provides a high level of customization and prevents injuries associated with more hazardous workouts, such as bench-pressing a Komodo dragon.

Lori's Designer Shoes owner Lori Andre hauls her heels to Europe on a biannual basis to sheathe feet and decorate dames with the latest in global fashion. Calves can express their existential discontent with a pair of skull-adorned Fruit Graphite boots ($388), while the non tippy-toed can continuously exaggerate height with the Chinese Laundry heels ($122). Ward off bad karma with an Evil Eye pendant necklace ($28), or transport tiny goods with a La Regale leopard-print clutch ($28). Lori's colorful spring trend items prepare for seasonal prances through the neighbor's peonies in a pair of Hue corduroy jeggings ($24).

Students play the music they want to at North Shore Music Institute, where a staff of working musicians lead private and group lessons on instruments including guitar, keyboards, bass, ukelele, and buckets. The school's band program helps connect students of similar age, skill, and musical preferences in an eight-week program where they learn two assigned songs and two songs of their choice. Designed for garage bands with airport-size ambitions, the program guides groups through every step of the process, from instrument tuning to autotuning.