🌱 Patch AM: How Des Plaines quietly became McDonald’s true birthplace

Hello Des Plaines! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

Before we get to what's happening, a big thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Des Plaines PatchAM possible. Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

• Appliance Repair Park Ridge — (847) 449-5310
  Local Same Day Appliance Repair in Park Ridge

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

In today's newsletter:

• How Des Plaines quietly became McDonald’s true birthplace

Also on today's calendar: Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4.

Today's riddle: What did one magnet say to the other magnet? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Areas of morning fog, with a high of 48 and low of 30 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, afternoon mist, temps: high: 44, low: 37.
• Thursday: Cloudy with mist, with a high of 43 and low of 38 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Why Chicago Is The True Birthplace Of McDonald's (tastingtable.com) — Des Plaines gets a key spotlight here as the site of Ray Kroc’s first McDonald’s, the prototype that shaped the chain’s look and franchise model. The piece argues that this 1955 Des Plaines restaurant, not the original California stand, is where McDonald’s truly became the global brand we know today.
   

📸 Around Des Plaines

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Des Plaines

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday January 3

• Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4
  Willow Hill Golf Course, 1350 Willow Rd, Northbrook
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday January 3

• Master Bespoke Tailor Launches Hands-On Fashion Classes at E.W.S. Fashion Academy, est. 1995
  137 N Oak Park Ave , Oak Park
  9:00 am

📣 Des Plaines Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 23

• Film Screening: Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025)
  McKinley Park Branch Library , 1915 West 35th Street , Chicago
  1:00 pm
• Board of Fire & Police Commissioners Meeting 12/23/2025
  Village of Morton Grove Fire Station #4, 6250 Lincoln Ave, Morton Grove, IL, 60053
  1:00 pm
• Film Screening: Wicked (2024)
  Gage Park Branch Library , 2807 West 55th Street , Chicago
  2:00 pm
• STEAM Time with Mr. Eric
  Canaryville Branch Library , 642 West 43rd Street , Chicago
  3:00 pm
• Tech Tuesday
  Sherman Park Branch Library , 5440 South Racine Avenue , Chicago
  3:00 pm
• Winter Sunset!
  Bottle & Bottega by Painting with a Twist , 424 W Touhy Ave , Park Ridge
  3:30 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Snow Buddies !
  Bottle & Bottega by Painting with a Twist , 424 W Touhy Ave , Park Ridge
  12:00 pm

Friday December 26

• Puzzlemania for Adults
  Chicago Bee Branch Library , 3647 South State Street , Chicago
  9:30 am
• Stay and Play
  Canaryville Branch Library , 642 West 43rd Street , Chicago
  10:00 am
• Film Screening: A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
  Back of the Yards Branch Library , 4650 South Damen Avenue , Chicago
  10:00 am
• Public Skate — Nicholas Sportsplex
  Nicholas Sportsplex , 1501 Feehanville Dr #6012 , Mt Prospect
  12:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• "Best of the Best" Awards were held in the Orland Park Civic Center by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce —Syed Khalil Ullah Read on Patch
• Du Page Democrats hosted the annual holiday party. —Syed Khalil Ullah Read on Patch
• Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition Successfully Hosts “Annual State of the Coalition Brunch” —Syed Khalil Ullah Read on Patch
• The Illinois Muslim Chamber of Commerce has formally established a new office in Glen Ellyn —Syed Khalil Ullah Read on Patch
• A civic event was held at the Vernon Hills by the Unified Civic Engagement Forum (UCEF). —Syed Khalil Ullah Read on Patch

• Asbury Court posted a job opening for Activity Aide in Des Plaines. Apply here.
• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Des Plaines. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Des Plaines here.

🗞 Nearby News

Park Ridge

• 5K race, jog for kids added to Park Ridge ‘Stroll' holiday lineup: ‘We have a lot of fun together (chicagotribune.com)
• Cook County property tax troubles trigger school district losses, reform demands (chicagotribune.com)

Rosemont

• Children with life-threatening illnesses make a trip to the North Pole (suntimes.com)
• Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:WTFC) Sets New 12-Month High - Still a Buy? (marketbeat.com)
• FloWorks Acquires Cranford Equipment Company (apnews.com)

Skokie

Ok Des Plaines! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I find you very attractive!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook