Shopping in Winnetka

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.

The conference kicks off on Friday night with a cocktail party and keynote speech by industry mover and shaker Kathryn Falk, CEO of RT Book Review Magazine.

Saturday and Sunday will feature craft-building workshops and informative panel discussions.

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 show off their elevated form in the Pour La Victoire Jaclyn wedges ($248), while the non tippy-toed also can continuously exaggerate height with the Pelle Moda Franky heels ($162). Ward off bad karma with an Evil Eye pendant necklace ($28), or transport tiny goods with a Melie Bianco clutch ($58). Lori's colorful spring trend items prepare for seasonal prances through the neighbor's peonies in a pair of Jack by BB Dakota shorts ($48).