One Home. 250 Flags.

Read about Western Springs' K.P. Lansing, a prolific collector and displayer of flags.

A small sampling of K.P. Lansing's more than 250 flags.

There are plenty of flags that adorn the homes of Western Springs. These flags are what you'd expect, typical of any town — American flags, flags of sports teams, the occasional political flag.

After a few years of living in the village, I realized there is one Old Town home where the flag changes every day. Every single day.

K.P. Lansing lives on the corner of Grove Avenue and Oak Street. He's resided in Western Springs for 25 years. Originally from Iowa, Lansing says the village was the perfect place for him and his wife to raise their daughter.

You'll see a variety of flags at Lansing's house on any given day: everything from an Arkansas Razorbacks flag to a Tottenham Spurs flag to a Formula 1 flag, to ones that feature March Madness, the Chicago Bears, Iowa Hawkeyes, Misericordia House of Mercy, Taylor Swift, and many, many more.

While the flags are diverse, they are often sports themed and timed with recent or upcoming events. On Sundays in the fall, for example, it's a safe bet that a Bears flag will be flying. When Iowa women's basketball went on their run with Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes flag was featured after big wins.

Lansing, who works for Deloitte, is partial to the University of Iowa (where he went to college) and Texas Tech (where his wife went and K.P. earned his Master's). He also favors the University of Arkansas, as his daughter ran track for the Razorbacks. He has the flags of every Chicago sports team – with one exception.

"I have at least ten different Bears and ten different Cubs flags. I have the Blackhawks, Bulls, Sky, Stars, and Fire flags," he says. "Basically, every team except the White Sox, and I occasionally get some grief for that."

Lansing also unfurls music-themed flags, such as one featuring the band Kiss, Snoop Dogg, and Elvis. He has major brands such as Starbucks, Dr. Pepper, and McDonald's. Sometimes the more random the banner, the more intrigue it creates.

"Most flags have some correlation to a sporting event happening that day, but then I have several random wildcard flags that I fly just to make people smile or ask themselves, 'Why in the hell is that guy flying that flag?'"

His collection has swelled to more than 250 flags, he estimates. Lansing has quite the following in Western Springs, but also nationwide.

"I have a text thread where I send out flag pictures to more than 30 friends and family members across the country," he says. "They seem to really enjoy the pictures and reply with their thoughts or comical remarks."

And Lansing's favorite flag? There are several. And they all have a deeper meaning for him.

"My favorites hold sentimental value. For example, the Pink Ribbon Fight Against Breast Cancer flag is one that I fly for a dear friend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who is currently undergoing radiation treatments," he says.

"My many Los Angeles Dodger flags represent a longtime buddy from Huntington Beach, California, named Dan Campbell. He passed away a few years ago and I miss him every day," says Lansing. "I have several John Deere and Pioneer Seed Corn flags in memory of my grandfather."

Locally, he has a great deal of support. One Western Springs neighbor told him that he changes his flags more than she changes her underwear. He gets feedback from postal carriers and delivery drivers. There are many flag followers who make it a point to walk, bike, or drive by his house to see what flag is hanging.

In summertime, Lansing is often outside tending to his garden and always looks forward to chatting with neighbors about the flags.

"That’s the best part about Western Springs and why it is so extraordinary," says Lansing. "There are so many sweet and kind people in this neighborhood."

Coming Soon: A Dress Boutique

In recent weeks, crews have been working into the night getting Jolie ready for business.

There's apparently a new women's “dress boutique” moving into retail space that formerly housed Berkshire Hathaway. It's located at the corner of Hillgrove and Lawn. There are some renovations going on right now – and it appears that the new store will be called Jolie.

• It's great to get a shop in a prime space, especially one that's been relatively dormant for years.

Upcoming Events

• The Western Springs Park District is hosting a grand opening for their new pickleball courts at Spring Rock.

  • The event takes place at 10 a.m. on April 26.

  • The ceremony will be followed by a tournament for all skill levels.

• Composting is again available after the annual winter hiatus.

  • Starting April 1, roll those compost buckets out to the end of your driveway for pickup on designated days.

• The Park District is hosting an Easter Candy Walk on April 19 in Spring Rock Park.

  • The event runs from 10 am to noon. The Easter Bunny will be in attendance.

Local Food Review

• Brunch at Barrel House (La Grange): There are limited brunch options in the area, but Barrel House fills this void with solid (and greasy) food and a range of draft beers and Bloody Marys. Pictured here is the Sunny BLTE: with fried eggs, tomatoes, bacon, arugula, smoked gouda, and garlic aioli on sourdough - served alongside breakfast potatoes.

  • You won't lose any weight eating this, but it will yank you out of the gutter.

    • Barrel House also has the best patio in the area once the weather warms up.

Thanks for reading. We'll see you back here — or around town — sometime soon.