Racers Speed through Sun-Filled Darien Dash (PHOTOS)

Part one in a three-part gallery of race day photos.

Hundreds of racers—from as far away as Rockford—gathered in Darien Community Park Sunday for the 12th annual Darien Chamber of Commerce Darien Dash. This year's event included a 5K, 10K and 1-mile fun run. View our photo gallery of the day's races and add your own pictures. Don't see your picture here? Check Tuesday's gallery for more photos! Get Darien Patch directly in your inbox by signing up for our daily newsletter.

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Darien Dash Races into Town

There are a number of new features to this year's race. Also inside: An interactive map of the courses.

More than 400 runners are expected to stream through Darien’s Hinsbrook neighborhood Sunday for the 12th annual Chamber of Commerce Darien Dash. The springtime tradition, however, got a bit of a facelift this year. For the first time, runners will be timed more precisely with an electronic chip inside their bib. The chip will trigger the timer once runners pass through the starting gate and shut off as soon as they cross the finish line. The Darien Dash also got an endorsement this year from the Chicago Area Runners Association. The seal means that it’s a high quality race and that CARA members can earn points toward distance and participation awards. Though the race will start at Darien Community Park, from there runners will follow new …

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J. Vincent's Salon & Spa Toasts New Ownership

The salon held a ribbon cutting Friday with the Darien Chamber of Commerce.

It's been several months since J. Vincent's Salon & Spa changed hands, but the Darien Chamber of Commerce officially marked the changeover Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Chamber board members and city officials including Mayor Kathleen Weaver were in attendance. 

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Business Meets Fashion at Darien Chamber Spring Event (PHOTOS)

The Darien Chamber's Women in Business Committee hosted a fashion show Wednesday featuring clothes from Dress Barn.

The Darien Chamber's Women in Business Committee hosted a fashion show Wednesday at the Midtown Athletic Club featuring warm-weather looks from Dress Barn.  “We thought it would be fun because it’s a great opportunity for women in business to network,” said Barbara Gilleece, of Barbara’s Elegant Touch Staffing, who co-chaired the event with Kim Consentino of DeClutter Box.  Each of the models—all local businesswomen—wore three outfits: a casual daytime look, a more conservative business outfit and an elegant evening dress. Mary Kay consultants did the models’ makeup and Celestine Salon & Spa styled their hair.  Dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studio performed several routines throughout the show. 

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Darien Chamber Helps Women 'Spring into Fashion'

The Women in Business Committee will host its first-ever fashion show Wednesday at Midtown Athletic Club in Willowbrook.

If you’re looking for ideas on how to perk up your wardrobe for spring, the Darien Chamber’s Women in Business Committee is here to help.  The committee is hosting a fashion show on Wednesday at the Midtown Athletic Club featuring warm-weather looks from Dress Barn.  “We thought it would be fun because it’s a great opportunity for women in business to network,” said Barbara Gilleece, of Barbara’s Elegant Touch Staffing, who is co-chairing the event with Kim Consentino of DeClutter Box.  Each of the models—all local businesswomen—will wear three outfits: a casual daytime look, a more conservative business outfit and an elegant evening dress. Mary Kay consultants will do the models’ makeup and Celestine Salon & Spa will style their hair.  …

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Chicago Rush Arena Football Hosts Darien Community Day

Register by April 31 for special savings.

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DarienFest to Feature 2 New Showcases for Stars in the Making

Young musicians and singers will have the opportunity to compete for a chance to perform at DarienFest.

Young musicians will have the chance to share their talent with the whole community at this year’s DarienFest, Chamber of Commerce President Clare Bongiovanni said Tuesday. This summer, the chamber plans to sponsor a Battle of the Bands, the winner of which will open for the Friday night headliner at DarienFest. Then on Saturday, Sept. 8, aspiring singers will compete before a live panel in Darien Idol for the chance to perform on Sept. 9, the last day of the festival.  Both of the competitions will be geared toward younger artists, Bongiovanni said. “We’re trying to get the kids more involved with the festival,” she said.  Battle of the Bands will be open to ages 15-20, while the exact age range for Darien Idol has yet to be decided. A …

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Local Leaders Talk Revitalizing Darien at Economic Forum

City and park district officials, business owners and real estate brokers gathered at Indian Prairie Public Library to share their thoughts on Darien’s business climate

You have to position yourself for the goals you want to achieve, Darien Chamber of Commerce Chair Mary Kay Slowikowski said at Wednesday’s Economic Forum. By the end of the morning, a theme for that position had emerged: revitalize Darien’s economy.  Leaders from across Darien, including city and park district officials, business owners and real estate brokers gathered at Indian Prairie Public Library to share their thoughts on Darien’s business climate and how they want to see it grow. “When we’ve got an exciting, revitalized community, we’ll have no problem getting the community here. They’ll be here,” said Slowikowski’s husband and business partner, Norb Slowiskowski. With the impending sale of property at Cass Avenue and 75th Street to…

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Darien Chamber Focus Group Talks Economic Development

Local business people offered their ideas on building Darien's business community.

Members of the local business community gathered Tuesday at the Darien Police Department for a focus group aimed at growing business through the Darien Chamber of Commerce. As the participants shared their thoughts on bolstering the local economy, a surprising theme emerged among the suggestions: compassion. “I think we’ve got to do a lot of different things to keep this economy and people going. Small businesses have really been hit hard,” chamber Chairman of the Board Mary Kay Slowikowski said. Nearly all the ideas bounced among the group centered on the idea of helping businesses through human connections. Attorney Elizabeth Bacon, of the Naperville firm Brooks, Tarulis & Tibble, suggested an internship program that would connect young …

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New Chamber Chair Presents Vision for 2012

Mary Kay Slowikowski shared plans for helping the Darien business community grow in the new year.

The new year will be a busy one for businesses in Darien — at least if new chamber Chairman of the Board Mary Kay Slowikowski has anything to do with it. Slowikowski presented her 2012 vision for the chamber and the Darien business community at Tuesday’s annual State of the Chamber Address at Carrabba’s in Woodridge. Central to her mission is positioning Darien as a growing business community — and she called on her fellow businessmen and women to follow suit. “You have to have the right intention,” she said. “When you have the right intention, a mechanism (for success) will come. And when you have the right mechanism, you will get results. My intention is to grow business for the businesses in Darien.”  In the short time since she took …

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