In 1908, Henry Ford built his first Model T, Robert Peary set sail for the North Pole, and Margaret Wyatt was born.

On Wednesday, Oct. 6, Wyatt celebrated her 102^nd birthday with a visit to the beauty parlor and a small family dinner at Marion Street Grille.

On Thursday evening, the festivities continued with dinner at Dominican University's Recipe Box Café. Diners sang happy birthday to Wyatt as she blew out a candle.

"I feel great. I plan to live to be 202," said Wyatt, who lives in River Forest with her daughter and son-in-law, Joy and Donald Wieczorek.

"I take good care of myself, don't eat too many sweets, and get a lot of sleep," she said. "I don't take any medicine. I'm very healthy." Joy Wieczorek believes her mother has never touched pizza or Coke.

Wyatt spent much of her life in Chicago. She worked in business and for the government, married twice, and retired to Arizona, where she was on her own until age 95 when she realized she needed more help. "It was her decision" to move back, said Wieczorek, her only living child.

Wyatt climbs up and down the stairs of their two-story home several times a day. She's partial to "Dancing with the Stars" and recalls her own days as a "very good dancer," she said.

"We take her out as much as we can," said Wieczorek. She and her husband are long-time regulars at The Recipe Box Café and began bringing Wyatt seven years ago.

Part of the nutrition sciences undergraduate program at Dominican, the café dates back to 1959. It relocated to the atrium of Parmer Hall when the new building opened in 2007.  Students in the quantity food preparation class plan, prepare and serve a three-course meal to about 85 people (70 guests who pay $10 each and 15 back-of-the-house staff). For many years it was lunch only; now the students serve lunch in the spring and dinner in the fall, once-a-week for 10 weeks.

It has become a favorite with River Forest neighbors like the Wieczoreks.

"People clamor at the door; it's $10 well spent," said Judy Beto, nutrition sciences professor and café supervisor. Short of "illness and death" she lets the students take the lead and learn, she said. Diners are asked to fill out evaluations at the end of each meal.

In the last few years, the focus has been on healthy low-fat foods with fresh ingredients. Dinner Thursday included apple walnut salad, roast turkey with cranberry glaze, acorn squash, wild rice salad and pumpkin parfait.

"I usually check 'outstanding'  right down the line on the questionnaire," said Wieczorek.

After dinner, Beto presented Wyatt with a bracelet she brought back from a recent trip to Brazil.

Wyatt shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

"I feel like I'm 18-years old," she said. "I shall live forever."