Recently, I had a real estate colleague from D.C come to town. His name is James Nellis and he is a vegan. Our plan was to meet for dinner and a few beers. The beers were not the hard part. It was pre-determined that, if the weather was good, we were going to have some cold ones under the stars at Palmer Place in LaGrange IL.

The hard part was “What am I going to do with a vegan at dinner time?”

So I forwarded James a list of local restaurants. After interviewing whoever answered the phone at these west suburban restaurants, her chose Prasino Restaurant in LaGrange IL. Prasino was not unfamiliar to me as I had eaten there previosuly-two or three days after they opened. Here’s the review of my first Parsino experience.

Prasino is definitely a keeper.

If you have never eaten with James Nellis you could not know that he carries a video camera with him everywhere. And he has a natural Mike Wallace-like propensity toward interviewing everyone he meets. Here’s the video of that experience:

By the way, I was there on a Tuesday night.Based on the amount of business being done, you would not know there’s a recession going on.

Bottom line: Eat at Prasino.

In the near western suburbs of Chicago, the most sought after suburbs tend to be LaGrange, Western Springs, Clarendon Hills and Hinsdale. Unlike the other towns, LaGrange is unique in that it has a downtown that rocks.

Downtown LaGrange has so much going for it and so much energy that it has its own theme Ahhh LaGrange for good reason. There are great restaurants, bars, candy stores, coffee shops and stores. It is just flat out fun. And if you can imagine it, this town of 16,000 (small for those of you unfamiliar with suburban vernacular) has two commuter train stations. That’s right, two Metra stations to get you downtown in about 22 minutes. Ask your co-worker from Naperville about their rail commuting experience to gain a true appreciation for the one offered in LaGrange.

Now that we have established the coolness of LaGrange IL, let us talk about 800 S. Ashland in LaGrange.

If you are looking for a house that needs work, you are looking in the wrong place. This house is in absolute move in condition. There is not a lick of work to do. And to top if off, the home is completely updated. That means bathrooms, mechanicals, decor, you name it, it is done. In fact, the kitchen is not only updated, it has been expanded by way of an impressive atrium-style all glass breakfast room. Can you imagine a better way to informally dine that to be in the natural light and warmth of a sun room that is designed to be eaten in?

The lot is unique as well. While most homes have 50-foot wide lots, this one is 75-feet wide. And while that might seem like not-so-big of a difference, tell that to the moms with kids who enjoy that extra 50% of width on a daily basis.

Priced at just $639,900, you will find this home to be best in its class. For your viewing convenience, I have assembled all of the LaGrange homes that are for sale between $500,000 and $800,000. When you are ready to see this awesome home for yourself, contact Bryan@BryanBmba.com for a private viewing.

In the meantime, here’s a peek at the interior:

Main Level

Foyer
Traditional entry door
Oak flooring
Staircase with carpet runner
Traditional dentil crown molding
Decorative light fixture
Guest coat closet

Living Room – 19 x 12
Oak flooring
Fireplace with stone surround and traditional mantel
Traditional dentil crown molding
Ample recessed lighting
Four divided light windows
Built-in cabinet/shelving system

Dining Room – 12 x 10
Oak flooring
Divided light window
Built-in corner cabinet
French door access to Kitchen and Family Room
Dentil crown molding
Decorative light fixture

Kitchen – 12 x 9
Oak flooring
White wood cabinets, some with glass fronts
Granite counter tops
G.E. appliance package includes refrigerator with through-the-door water and ice; oven/range/ dishwasher; microwave; garbage disposal
Ample recessed lighting
Decorative light fixture
Pantry

Breakfast Room – 12 x 11
Ceramic tile flooring
Floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides
Sky lights
Ceiling fan
Direct access to decks on both sides

Family Room – 14 x 14
Oak flooring
Two triple banks of divided light windows and two additional divided light windows allow an enormous amount of natural light
Tray ceiling
Ceiling fan

Powder Room
Nicely updated
Oak flooring
Pedestal sink
Kohler plumbing fixtures
Decorative mirror
Recessed lighting
Cove molding

Second Level

Second Floor Hallway
Oak flooring
Window seat
Walk-up access to attic

Master Bedroom – 13 x 12
Oak flooring
Walk-in closet with Elfa organization system
Ceiling fan
Recessed lighting
Two windows

Bedroom 2 – 11 x 9
Oak flooring
Reach-in closet with Elfa organization system
Chair rail
Two windows
Ceiling fan
Access to attic

Bedroom 3 – 13 x 9
Oak flooring
Reach-in closet with Elfa organization system
Ceiling fan
Chair rail
Two windows

Full Bathroom
Beautifully updated
Slate tile flooring
Subway tile tub surround
Pedestal sink
Kohler plumbing fixtures

Basement

Recreation Room – 19 x 14
Carpeting
Masonry fireplace
Look-out, above-ground windows
Cedar lined closet
Ample recessed lighting

Office/Homework Area – 12 x 10
Heated, ceramic tile flooring
Built-in desk and cabinets
Recessed lighting

Laundry Room/Storage Room – 9 x 8
Upper and lower cabinets
Washer and dryer

Full Bathroom
Heated, ceramic tile flooring
Ceramic tile shower surround
Pedestal sink
Kohler plumbing fixtures

Storage Room – 14 x 13
90%-plus efficiency furnace (second furnace)

Miscellaneous Features

Mechanicals/Miscellaneous
90%-plus efficiency furnace
April Aire humidifier
Honeywell electronic air filter system
40-gallon water heater
100-amp electric
New windows

Exterior Features
All face brick exterior
40-year roof
2 ½ car garage
Patio
Two decks
Covered front porch

 Schools
All school scores can be viewed online at www.BryanBomba.com
Spring Avenue Grade School, District 105
William F. Gurrie Middle School, District 105
Lyons Township High School, District 204

Village Link