Moments Before Dawn

05/04/2026

If you could step into your grandmother's kitchen just the way it was in the 1950s, would you?

Or, if for you, this was your mother's — or even your own kitchen! — would you like to relive those smells of homemade baking?

Or would you choose another decade instead?

Would you rather listen in on the sounds of the 60s?

Or travel to the 20s to taste the cocktails crafted during that time?

But, wait a minute…

⏰️

What if I told you that there's a chance for you to experience all these eras???
And more???

⏳️

Time Travel through 9 decades of fashion, food, and furniture:
From the psychedelic styles of the 70s
through
the then-modern innovations of the 90s — the 1890s, that is! 😄

👗 🍸 🥧 📻 ☎️ 📺 📼 🧮

If you are like me and love interactive experiences that fully engage all of your senses;

if you want to do more than just read about the past or look at an exhibit;

then this is the event for you!

Beyond that,
NOW is the perfect TIME for you to experience The La Grange Area Historical Society 👇

05/02/2026

Point of View: Arriving at La Salle Street Station for the first time in almost 1½ years and seeing this view!

No matter how many times I have rode the Metra Rock Island train line into the city since my first time in the early 90s, no matter how many pictures I have snapped of La Salle Street Station over the years — dating back to the film era — if I have time, I am still going to stop and take a photo or video when my eyes see a view like this, the train engine with, what I will always naturally call the Sears Tower, if I'm not thinking about it, protuding out tall above it in the city lights. Even if I look like a tourist. Those are the

04/21/2026

Yeah, I am so appreciating (noticing???) the spring blooms this year!

04/17/2026

🌷 "Tulip Time" ⏰️

I love tulip time of the year!
But, I hate how, if you blink, you miss it! That's why I hurriedly ran to capture these images last night (in under a minute's time!) while our train was already pulling into the station — much to my hubby's worry!

But, I knew I had to do it, that I had to make TIME to capture this view right now — or risk waiting until another year! 🌇 Besides, it was also the most perfect time of day. Just look at the gorgeous colors of that sunset sky!

So, I personally had to seize this moment; no, capture this moment! And, (don't tell the hubby, 😁 but) even if I had missed the train and had to wait another hour for the next inbound, it so would have been worth it (to me).

After all, sometimes, you just have to 🛑stop and👃smell the 🌹tulips!!!

📸 And, photograph the flowers, "tu."


Featuring some flowers
found in the
during the spring

04/07/2026

Rainy night in the city. 🔊 Volume up!

02/04/2026

🥂 Cheers to the citizens of 💚La Grange!💙 Enjoy a complimentary 🍸drink & pizza 🍕 — courtesy of the CCLG — TONIGHT, 2/4/26 at Opry Provisions ⤵️

One of my favorite Video 'Moments (Before Dawn)' of this past year was my "Faces of Love Grange" reel. Although it was created for a Citizens' Council of La Grange promo, the message, up until the event info — as well as the last several seconds — is still the same.

💙 If you love La Grange…
— if you love living here and visiting the filming locations in this video;
— if anything said by these Faces of La Grange resonates with you personally;
— if you want to keep La Grange vibrant and learn how to have a voice that matters within our community;

We will SEE YOU tonight!

ALL residents of the Village of La Grange are invited to attend:

🗳 The first event of 2026 for the Citizens' Council of La Grange;
• Brief agenda + open discussion, followed by casual conversation with the board, members, and other residents.

TODAY!
☀️ Wednesday 🗓 February 4th
🕖 7 to 9p.m.
at
🍷Opry Provisions
📍4354 Johnson Ave,
🗺Western Springs, IL 60558

🍸Complimentary first drink and pizza 🍕 on behalf of CCLG.

More info in the comments
⬇️

NOTE 📝 Yes, this event is being held in Western Springs, but for those living in the northwest part of the village, the venue is several blocks closer than La Grange Village Hall! It's a great opportunity for those La Grange IL residents in the north and west especially to check out the council, which is divided into 11 districts and seeks representation from all. Only you know the unique challenges of your neighborhood streets!

01/24/2026

ME 🌅: Let's see anyone who claims that they'd rather have the temperature 🧊far BELOW FREEZING than at 🔥100°F actually sitting outside today & enjoying this 🥶 -10 DEGREES🌡temp!

Tommy MOOSE 🫎:

01/12/2026

The views of downtown from the Heart of Chicago, like on the Pink line platform at Western, have become some of my favorite of the city, depicting Chicago from a different perspective not often seen.

Do you have a favorite view of Chicago (or your city) not commonly featured or captured in images?

captured in
of the

01/09/2026

Be careful out there tonight, La Grange! 💧 Coming back into town, we turned off Brainard at 55th when cars ahead were turning around. Rather than take another side street, we went to La Grange Road, which was not much better. Worrying about everyone's basements…

On a side note, just in case you still think you can trust AI, when I Googled the amount of rain that fell today, AI confidently says 0.00 inches!

ETA:
📌 Flooded Streets in La Grange, Illinois
🎥 taken: Thursday, January 8, 2026, 9:14p.m. – 9:18pm.

12/20/2025

Wonderful organization and people!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/181vXssq2X/

What a night to remember! ✨

Huge thanks to Moments Before Dawn for capturing these incredible moments from last night at Fourteensixteen and to our amazing guest bartenders, Katie & Ashley, who brought the energy, heart, and hospitality.

This was our most successful guest bartending event in our history, and the flatbread? Self-proclaimed Top 5 of all time for guest bartending events at Fourteensixteen!

More photos coming soon, but for now, we couldn’t imagine a better way to finish 2025 strong. Thank you to everyone who showed up, showed out, and were Making Spirits Bright:!