One Million Mile Nissan Frontier

It's official! The Million Mile Frontier has made it to one million miles! Brian Murphy of Ringwood, IL, has achieved the huge milestone of getting his truck to drive one million miles. He purchased his 2007 Nissan Frontier XE from M'Lady Nissan brand new and has cared for his truck meticulously ever since.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, "Americans now drive an average of 13,476 miles per year." On average, Brian drives more than that in only two months. He averaged 350 miles per day during the week and drove his truck throughout the Chicagoland area for work.

Why did Brian choose the Nissan Frontier?

He chose the Nissan Frontier for the size, gas mileage, and the safety barrier between himself and packages for work. Brian wanted a different vehicle from the typical delivery van and the Nissan Frontier met all his needs. It continued to exceed his expectations by being incredibly reliable on the road.

Brian enjoys the durability and reliability of the Nissan Frontier and considers the truck to get good gas mileage at 26 MPG, especially with the combination of city and highway miles. When asked what the key is to getting his truck to the million mile marker, he said, "Maintenance, driving conservatively, and travel speed."

The Nissan Frontier continues to be your no-nonsense, mid-sized, pickup truck designed to transport and get the job done. First produced in 1997, the Nissan Frontier has evolved to either King Cab or Crew Cab sizes and is available in five different trim levels to chose from - S, SV, Desert Runner, Pro-4X, and SL.

Where did he service his truck?

M'Lady Nissan has always been Brian’s place for service and care for his Nissan Frontier. It has been serviced by master mechanic Joe Rygiel, each and every time he brought his truck in over the past 12 years. Joe replaced the clutch as well as completed any other needed maintenance work. Brian always brought his truck in whenever it had an issue and consistently took care of oil changes every 10,000 miles. He always felt M'Lady Nissan Service took excellent care of him and his vehicle.

When driving and delivery is your daily job for approximately 350 miles per day, it is important to make sure you have the vehicle that will get you where you need to go. The Nissan Frontier achieved this goal for Brian Murphy!

Congratulations on driving one million miles on your Nissan Frontier, Brian!

 

All the Holiday Happenings in Crystal Lake!

Tis the season for family, friends, and the Crystal Lake community for festive fun. The Festival of Lights Parade on November 29th was just the start! Santa Claus came to town to welcome in the holiday season, filled with lights, music, pageantry, and magic just off of corner of Williams & Crystal Lake Avenue!

 

Get crafty with the Winter Wreath Workshop or Sips and Succulents Holiday Fun on December 9th.  Winter Wreath Workshop, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM CST located 923 South Rand Road, Lake Zurich, IL 60047, grab a friend and join us for a creative and fun winter wreath workshop. Tools and materials are provided. You will walk away with your creative product, a lovely gift and lots of new friends! Sips and Succulents Holiday Fun!, Join us for a little Christmas Magic! Make a Sleigh full of succulents! Who says only the kids get to have Christmas Fun!? Make some of your own Christmas Magic by joining us to create this perfect planter! What says Christmas more than a sleigh full of succulents! Registration will include one Santa sleigh, approximately 12" long x 5" wide, your choice of (6)(woo hoo) succulents, holiday themed accessories, step by step instruction from the Trippots staff, AND a Lucky Monk beer, OF COURSE! 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM, located at Lucky Monk 105 Hollywood Boulevard South Barrington, IL 60010.

 

For more crafts throughout the holiday season, check out Holiday Paint & Sip December 10th. Come paint a holiday canvas with us & enjoy a drink! No experience necessary, this will be a guided painting. At 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST on Hermann's Rest A While, 300 Center Street, Port Barrington, IL 60010. Join in on all the holiday fun while making a piece of art you can display or give to someone special! Heather from Muse Art will be guiding us through an adorable canvas gnome painting. No painting experience needed, this is for anybody. You might just surprise yourself with your painting skills! This festive holiday treats is $40/person and  includes one canvas painting lesson & one drink of your choice.

 

Want to prove your movie holiday knowledge?! Then come by December 12th for Trivia Night - Holiday Movie Classics. From  7:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST at Mixin Mingle McHenry 1118 N. Green Street, McHenry, IL 60050. Welcome to a fun night of holiday cheer and trivia. Compete or team up with family, friends and compete with your community! Then party it with Mixin Mingle McHenry on the second Tuesday in December with the spirit of Clark Griswold help us kick off our monthly trivia nights! Put together your team of up to six people, wear your ugly Christmas sweaters, and get ready to answer questions about some of the biggest hit holiday movies. We will have a cash bar, prizes for the first and second place teams AND the ugliest Christmas sweater, and so much more fun for the night. Reserve a table in advance and get a head start with 5 bonus points!

 

Want to go dashing through the snow?  How about cross-country ski on trails lit only by candlelight! Skiers of every experience level and age are welcome, but you must bring your own equipment. Gather around the campfire for refreshments after your time out on the trail or leave the skis at home and enjoy a candlelight hike, some hot refreshments around a campfire and the allure of the winter woods. December 13, 2019 - December 14, 2019 at 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Located at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Rd. | Crystal Lake, IL 60014

 

Laughing all the way, check out Jane Lynch: A Swingin' Little Christmas Featuring Kate Flannery & Tim Davis with the Tony Guerrero Quintet December 13 & 14 at 8pm, starting at $50 tickets. Broadway and Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch dressed up  and decorations to throwback to the old WWII USO canteen and 1960's Christmas special. Joined by fellow comedic actress Kate Flannery ("The Office") and "Glee" vocal arranger, Tim Davis. Together they navigate in and out of tight three-part harmonies, backed by the Tony Guerrero Quintet, whose leader penned the original tunes, including the comedic "Sentimental Christmas" and the more elegant "Winter's Never Cold (When You're Around)." Covers include "We Three Kings" and an especially jaunty "Up on the Housetop." The show celebrates the album of the same name, with swingin' arrangements of Christmas classics and originals. Located at Raue Center For The Arts, 26 N. Williams St | Crystal Lake, IL 60014.

 

Dec. 15th, come together with your community with the family friendly at the  Community Christmas Concert Series. Come and enjoy a fun, festive and intimate candlelit holiday concert featuring traditional German, English and Norwegian Christmas songs sung in their native languages and translated for the audience.  Barb will also be bringing her box of handheld percussive instruments for the audience to sing and play along with! Sunday, December 15, 2019 2:00 PM at LaZy Boy Furniture Gallery - 935 South Rand Road Lake Zurich, IL 60047, US (847) 540-0202. Tickets are free. Parking is free, seating if "First come first served".  Please be aware that these concerts fill up fairly quickly.  

 

Meet both Santa and Mrs. Claus! The Nick’s Elves have flown from the North Pole to deck the halls because Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to visit their favorite family pizza restaurant. Monday, December 16th and Wednesday, December 18th from 4pm - 8pm at Nick’s Pizza & Pub. No lines, a warm fireplace, and food the whole family will love, just don’t forget to bring your camera! Located at Nick's Pizza & Pub, 856 Pyott Road, Crystal Lake, IL 60014.

 

For those looking for something a little less traditional,  check out Elgin Hauntings Holiday Bus on December 21st. From to 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST, Elgin Public House

219 East Chicago Street Elgin, IL 60120. A festive, frightful foray into the haunted history of Elgin on a cozy coach bust. Bring Your Own Booze! Elgin Hauntings Haunted Holiday Bus, tells  tales of the Elgin Casket Company, Bluff City Cemetery, and Channing School.

 

Happy Holidays! Check out a full list of events taking place near Crystal Lake, IL!

 

Need of a new car to all the attractions, stop by M'Lady Nissan in Crystal Lake, IL. Our Nissan car dealership is located near Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Carpentersville, Elgin, Rockford and Chicago. Nissan dealer inventory includes the Nissan Maxima, Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Versa, Leaf, Pathfinder, 370Z, Juke, Murano, Armada, Quest, NV, Frontier, and Titan. At M'Lady Nissan, our goal is to provide the best car buying experience for customers shopping Nissan dealers near Chicago

M'Lady Nissan is proud to support Habitat for Humanity projects in McHenry Country. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. They believe affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities, and we at M’Lady Nissan are happy to be a part of strengthening our community. 

There are several way to get involved in helping in this great organization, and you do not need any construction experience to lend a helping hand. All you need is a willingness to help and eagerness to learn and the Habitat construction staff will guide you along the way. Every task that is needed of our volunteers’ plays a volatile role in building a home from beginning to completion. Roofing, painting, landscaping, siding and framing, hanging door and windows and cleaning volunteers all work together to make a families dream of owning a home reality. 

Harvard University recently released a study entitled the 2019 State of the Nation’s Housing report. In this report, findings included several staggering issues regarding affordable housing. It is advised that no family should pay more than 30% of their income on housing, which can result in being ‘house poor’ and affect other areas of your financial health. Currently, over 31% of all households pay about 30% of their incomes, showing that too many people are paying too much of their income on housing. This is forcing low-income families to spend significantly less on healthcare, retirement savings, transportation and food. Recently, the rental market is targeting the high end of the market and most new single-family homes are larger and more expensive in the past – leaving less expensive starter homes harder to come by. The loss of low-cost rental homes has been exponential, shrinking by 4 million units since 2011, with nearly half of the remaining units being more than 50 years old. These rental homes are at risk for demolition or conversion, increasing the risk of displacement for the residents.  

Want to join us at M’Lady in working with this great organization? Here are some ways you can help:

• In partnership with the community, we have built 50+ Habitat homes in McHenry County since 1995. Construction projects run every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m.  – 3:00 p.m. Work-day goals and instructions are provided right away in the morning. Volunteers as young as 16 can help with parental permission needed for those under 18.  The only thing you need is a willing spirit and sturdy, closed-toed/heeled shoes and clothing that may get dirty or damaged. 

Ways to get involved other than construction also include home repairs, deconstruction, ReStore or Committee Members. 

• If getting your hands dirty isn’t your thing, “ReStores accept donations of new and used items from individuals, retailers and contractors, then resell them to the community at affordable prices. All proceeds help fund the affiliate’s work in McHenry County.” Donors, shoppers and volunteers all contribute to providing goods and services that ultimately benefit the Crystal Lake community. 
• Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County has assisted more than 100 homeowners with updating and repairing their houses when they were not able to do so themselves. Helping those homeowners who have transitioned to their later years in life and needed handicap accessible access to their home is one of the ways the organization can assist in helping home-owners stay in the home they love. Other updates or repairs include “re-shingling leaking roofs, replacing rotted or broken windows and doors, repairing structural framing problems, repairing or replacing dilapidated siding, replacing furnaces and water heaters, painting exterior wood siding and trim, removing dangerous trees and helping clean up overgrown yards. Our trained crew leaders provide all the instructions and tools, and volunteers work alongside the homeowner helping them make the repairs necessary for their home to remain livable. No skills or experience with tools or building is required.”
• Another service that Habitat for Humanity provides the Woodstock area is Deconstruction. By redirecting wasted building material from construction projects, our ReStore is able to use these materials to help families in need. Learn more at https://www.mchenry.edu/green/recyclingAtoZ.pdf
• Being a committee member of Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County allows for volunteers to attend monthly meetings to provide opinions and solutions to increase productivity. This ultimately helps to improve the impact that the organization makes in our local neighborhoods and is always in need of willing members. To sign up to volunteer for this much needed role, please visit https://www.woodstockilchamber.com/groups/.

To view our upcoming volunteer events, we encourage you to join us by checking into https://habitatmchenry.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=436629. Our next opportunity is November 17 at 209 Greenwood Ave in Woodstock, IL. If you would like to get involved or have any questions, please contact Sara Davis, our Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] or (815) 759-9002

End of Summer Fun

As summer quickly coming to a close, the official last day is September 23rd, we compiled a list of 10 end of summer events and recommended activities to do before the cooler weather sets in.

Head to the Farmers Market

Shop a traditional Farmers Market in Downtown Crystal Lake! Fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and more are all available for purchase throughout the market from 8 am-1 pm in Depot Park. Enjoy a leisurely stroll and find a plethora of treats for you and your family to enjoy.

 

Apples!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away and now is the time for APPLES! Apple cider, apple picking, apple pie, apple donuts and so much more apple options are available as summer comes to an end and the fall transition begins.

Events include Honeycrisp U-Pick Day, Long Grove Apple Fest, and Johnny Appleseed Festival are just a few of the fun apple focused events happening in the area. Check them out and enjoy a treat

Ski Jump

Enjoy food trucks featuring pizza, BBQ, Mexican food, gourmet grilled cheese, and dessert on September 21, 2019. You will also not want to miss out on seeing the ski jump competitions at the Norge Ski Club Autumn Ski Jump Food Truck Festival. View the event site for admission details, the gates open at 11 am.

Go on a Camping Adventure

Camping is a popular end of summer and fall activity so make sure to book your camping site before heading out on your adventure. Pack up the car and get on the road at any local campground near you. We also recommend having your car serviced prior to a road trip. Make a service appointment at M’Lady Nissan and they will get your car checked out quickly.

Enjoy Local Festivals

So many great local festivals to enjoy in the area! Check out all the fests in your area to enjoy food, drinks, crafters, live entertainment, carnival rides and so much more. Festivals are scheduled throughout the rest of September and into October. With so many options available you are sure to find a fun fest for everyone!

Sign up for a Run/Walk

Looking for activities designed to promote group fitness? Check out 5Ks going on in your area, much like festivals runs and walks are scheduled all over Illinois.

Hike Local Trails or State Park

Stay in touch with nature and head out on a hike to explore trees, plants, and wildlife!

Gardening

Now is a great time to transition your garden into the cooler months! Here is a list of some to-dos for your yard and garden areas: plant fall annuals, mow over leaves for compost and mulch, add mulch to landscaping and around strawberries, weed gardens, clean out the vegetable garden, fertilize the lawn, reseed the lawn and plant fall containers.

Enjoy a Wine Walk

Woodstock is hosting a Wine Walk on September 25, 2019!

The event includes 28 wine tasting samples at 15 unique Woodstock locations on and around the Historic Woodstock Square. - A souvenir Woodstock Wine Walk glass and lanyard. - Savories or sweets will be provided to partake in at each location while you enjoy your wine and shop each independent retailer's unique offerings.

Grab your friends and enjoy a fun night out in Woodstock. All proceeds benefit The D200 Education Foundation and The Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry, not-for-profits.

Host a Bar-B-Que

Fire up the grill and spend quality time with family and friends. What else is better than to end the summer season with grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, outdoor games, music, and quality time with loved ones.

Check out a full list of events taking place near Crystal Lake, IL

4th of July in Chicago

Independence Day is coming up before you know it, and there’s plenty to see and check out right here in the greater Chicago area. Here are a few ideas to get you and the family out of the house for the 4th of July:

• 4th of July Parade at Independence: There’s nothing like an old-fashioned parade to help put people in the mood for Independence Day. This parade begins at 3945 N. Springfield Ave. and includes fun activities for the entire family.
• July 4th Fireworks Dinner Cruise: Here’s a great way to enjoy the 4th in style! The Spirit of Chicago leaves the Navy Pier at 7:30 p.m. (boarding at 7:00) for a spectacular cruise around Lake Michigan, where you can take in the fireworks over drinks and dinner. There’s music provided by a DJ, a buffet and interactive games, as well as Silver, Gold and Platinum packages available.
• International Festival of Life: One of the biggest celebrations in Chicago, the 27th annual International Festival of Life brings together music, arts, food, crafts, games and more for a one-of-a-kind event. The festival runs July 4 through 7 at Washington Park.
• Grant Park Music Festival: There’s nothing more traditional than a full orchestra playing rousing renditions of Sousa marches and other patriotic standards on Independence Day, and that’s what the Grant Park Music Festival delivers. With Christopher Bell as conductor, the Grant Park Orchestra plays crowd-pleasing favorites beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Grant Park.

We hope this puts some ideas in play for your 4th of July plans -- from all of us here at M’Lady Nissan, we’re wishing you a fun, happy and safe Independence Day!

Father’s Day in Chicago!

Dad gets his own day once a year, so make it special if you’re in the Chicago area! Here’s a list of suggestions for Fathers’ Day around Chicago:

• 51st Annual Father’s Day Classic Car Show: Head to Oakbrook Center (100 Oakbrook in Oak Brook) to see some of the coolest and most interesting iron in the Chicago area. Hosted by the Greater Illinois Region of the Classic Car Club of America, this car show ranges from classic muscle cars to one-of-a-kind vehicles and cars that date back to the early part of the last century. More than 70,000 visitors are expected for this show!
• Father’s Day Family Friendly Cruise: This cruise leaves 200 Breakwater Access at 11:30 a.m. on Father’s Day and will take the whole family on a trip that shows a spectacular view of the skyline. The Anita Dee is docked on the south side of the Chicago River, at DuSable Harbor.
• Ledfoot News at Showcase Classics Lyons Father’s Day Show: This classic car show in Lyons, IL is getting bigger each year and will be handing out 250 dash plaques as well as over 120 trophies. Look for a beer tent, live band, DJ, food, arts and crafts and much more at this family-friendly show.
• Father’s Day Rib Fest: For all the BBQ lovers, there’s all-you-can-eat ribs with mac and cheese, cornbread, baked beans and potato salad, as well as craft beer from Spiteful Brewing and Pioneer Tavern Group. You’ll find the Ribfest at 4000 N. Lincoln Avenue, running from the 14th through the 16th.

We hope this little list of Father’s Day fun gives you some ideas -- from us here at M’Lady Nissan, we’re wishing you and Dad a fun day!