The North Shore Weekend, March 2nd, 2024

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6 north shore doings

Your go-to guide for all the latest local events

14 #hashtag

Meet Laura White, developer of the beauty line, ARCH, and learn more about her latest venture

16 sometimes i think about dying

Critic Rex Reed calls this film starring Daisy Ridley a dull and inert drama, giving only 1 star

16 material pursuits

Retro tech is back and Abt Appliances & Electronics in Glenview has some of the most in-demand gadgets

18 sunday breakfast

World War II veteran Sidney Wallach thinks the world of the personnel at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, and it was clearly mutual at his 102nd birthday celebration

As the flowers are starting to sprout and warmer air is making an appearance, now is the time to enjoy the wonders in our own backyard. The Midwest offers a wonderful lifestyle and places to enjoy. Here are just a few of the hidden gems.

1. Starved Rock - Oglesby, Illinois - Illinois’ first recreational park, it is full of history. Today, it offers numerous hiking trails, beautiful sites, rock formations, waterfalls, and Starved Rock State Park’s Lodge and Cabins.

2. American Club - Kohler, Wisconsin - This Midwest destination is famous for its spa, golf and walking trails. The American Club used to be part of a factory, which was later turned into a hotel.

3. Grandma’s Marathon - Duluth, Minnesota - Duluth is nestled along the coast of Lake Superior. One of the most famous Midwest marathons is the Grandma’s Marathon, which takes runners along the lakeshore of Lake Superior through downtown Duluth.

4. Harbor Country - Southwest Michigan - Harbor Country is just north of the Indiana state line and is a popular vacation getaway. With beaches, bed and breakfasts, wineries, and orchards, it offers fun and adventure for all ages.

If you are in Winnetka, Lincoln Park or Saugatuck/Douglas....don’t forget to stop in our shops to say hi!

Learn more at carlyjones.evrealestate.com

NORTH SHORE DOINGS

EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

NOW THROUGH MARCH

ALLEN FINNEY BROOKS COLLECTION EXHIBIT

WHERE: Kenilworth Historical Society

The Kenilworth Historical Society’s main gallery exhibit features more than 90 items from the Alden Finney Brooks Collection. Brooks was a well-respected American artist known for his portraiture and landscape scenes. He spent some of his life in Kenilworth, which is captured in several of his paintings — some of which are on display in the exhibit. This event will be open through March. kenilworthhistory.org

scientific and heart-bound discoveries. With music and math bursting forth onstage, Henrietta and her female peers change the way we understand both the heavens and Earth. citadeltheatre.org

NOW THROUGH MARCH 24

ORCHID SHOW OF WONDERS

WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden

Enjoy a hint of spring with 10,000 blooms from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Orchid Show of Wonders at Chicago Botanic Garden. Walk under Ferris wheel seats and marvel at unicycles on tightropes under the big top for this carnival-themed event. Tickets range from $10 for members to $21 for non-members. chicagobotanic.org

NOW THROUGH MARCH 17

SILENT SKY

WHERE: Citadel Theatre

Citadel Theatre’s Silent Sky tells the story of 19thcentury astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, who explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense

p.m. on Sunday afternoons at Everts Park to collect trash. Please bring gloves, trash bags, and a picker/reacher. All garbage collected will be disposed of in bins at home. This event is free to join and interested parties can sign up at meetup.com

NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7

CIRCUSVILLE: PLAY UNDER THE BIG TOP

WHERE: Chicago Children’s Museum

Bring your kids to the Chicago Children’s Museum to play at the circus! Children can try their hands at all of the vital roles in a circus: star of the show, ticket taker, acrobat, hot dog vendor, and more. Props and costumes for families will be provided. The circus will be in town until September 7. chicagochildrensmuseum.org

NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 13

“SHTETL IN THE SUN”

WHERE: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

In the late 1970s, photographer Andy Sweet took numerous photos of Holocaust survivors living hopeful and joyous lives in South Beach, Florida. Through his images, it provides a poignant display of life after tragedy. The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center’s exhibit, “Shtetl in the Sun: Andy Sweet’s South Beach 19771980,” celebrates Sweet’s work as a tribute to those who lived during that time. The exhibit will run through October 13. ilholocaustmuseum.org

and Roo on a musical adventure to rescue Christopher Robin from the mysterious Backson. This production will be held at the Heller Nature Center in Highland Park. There will be two shows each day at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and a newly added show this weekend at 1:30 p.m. on March 2. A waitlist will be available for tickets purchased on the day of the performance. highlandparkplayers.org

MARCH 2 TO 31 THE PENELOPIAD

WHERE: The Goodman

Uncover the history of your home with a workshop at Wilmette Public Library from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Author and local historian Julia Johnas leads you through a step-by-step process on how to research the history of your house. Participants will also have access to maps, ownership indexes, and other information. This program requires registration and will focus primarily on residences in Wilmette. wilmettelibrary.info

MARCH 2 TO 4 USED BOOK SALE

NOW THROUGH MARCH 31

PICKUP HIGHWOOD

WHERE: Everts Park

Looking for a way to maintain and connect with the community? Join Pickup Highwood’s weekly cleanup event where participants will meet from 2 p.m. to 3

NOW THROUGH MARCH 3

WINNIE THE POOH

WHERE: Heller Nature Center

Step into the HundredAcre Wood as the Highland Park Players take you on a magical journey. Join Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga,

It’s time for Penelope’s story to be told. For anyone who is not familiar with the Odyssey, Penelope is the queen of Ithaca who awaits her husband’s return from the Trojan War for 20 years. The Penelopiad follows Penelope’s domestic vigil and the 12 handmaidens who accompany her. This play is based on the novel by Margaret Atwood and will star Once Upon A Time actress Jennifer Morrison. Tickets are on sale on the Goodman Theatre’s website. goodmantheatre.org

MARCH 2

DISCOVER THE STORY OF YOUR HOME

WHERE: Wilmette Public Library

WHERE: Glencoe Public Library

The Friends of Glencoe Public Library is holding a used book sale March 2 through March 4. Thousands of respectfully used books, DVDs, and CDs for all ages will be sold. All proceeds will support the Glencoe Public Library. The sale is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, March 3, there will be a half-price sale from noon to 5 p.m. Monday March 4 will sell items for $4 a bag from 9 a.m. to noon. glencoelibrary.org

MARCH 3

2024 PRESERVATION AWARDS

WHERE: Gorton Community Center

The time has come to nominate a favorite historical property for the 2024 Preservation Awards. To learn more about the judgment criteria, the Gorton Community Center will host a program that outlines practices for preservation, maintenance, and updating historic homes from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 3. Each year the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation honors individuals and organizations who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in the preservation of Lake Forest’s architectural heritage. Structures and landscapes that are at least 50 years old are eligible for this award. Nominations can be made by the interested individual or by a second party and will be accepted online or at the office. RSVPs are required for the March 3 program. lfpf.org

MARCH 3

THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC

WHERE: Madame Zuzu’s Madame Zuzu’s Cinema Series continues at 5:30 p.m. in Highland Park. The March installment will feature The Passion of Joan of Arc with a live piano accompaniment by Anastasia Royal. The Passion of Joan of Arc is a silent blackand-white film from 1928. It

Continues on PG 8

Highland Park Players present Winnie the Pooh

Continued from PG 6

is in French and chronicles the trial of Joan of Arc. madamezuzus.com

MARCH 5

THE BERLIN LETTERS

WHERE: Froggy’s French Cafe

Join bestselling author Katherine Reay to discuss her new novel, The Berlin Letters, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Froggy’s French Cafe. The Berlin Letters follows an unforgettable tale of the Cold War and a CIA code breaker who risks everything to free her father from East Germany. Tickets are $65, which includes lunch and a copy of the book. Additional copies are available for purchase and signing. Space is limited so please call 847-234-4420 to RSVP.

WHERE: Winnetka

Lucky the Leprechaun will be hiding in different parks throughout Winnetka each week. A new clue will be posted on Winnetka Park District’s (WPD) Facebook page at noon every weekday. Lucky will travel to a new location weekly and find a hiding place. New clues will be posted to hint at his location. Bring a camera to take photos of Lucky in his hiding spot and share them in a private message to WPD’s Facebook. The first five people to share a photo each week will win a $10 gift card to a local Winnetka business. winpark.org

MARCH 7

ARTISTS ON THE BLUFF

WHERE: Lake Bluff Park District

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MARCH 5

SUITE ESCAPE MORNING BREW

WHERE: Suite Escape, Lake Forest Lake Forest College President, Dr. Jill Baren, will host a Morning Brew program from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Suite Escape in Lake Forest. Dr. Baren will share her personal story of finding her passion in medicine and teaching along with her perspective on liberal arts. This event will include a Q&A with Dr. Baren, networking opportunities with likeminded women, and coffee, tea, matcha, and Moll’s Muffins. Tickets are $40 per person and there is a 24-hour cancellation refund policy. lfsuite-escape.com

MARCH 5 TO 17

FIND LUCKY THE LEPRECHAUN

Join March’s Artist on the Bluff speaker’s event featuring Roslyne Smith at 6:45 p.m. at Lake Bluff Park District. Smith graduated in Graphic Design in South Africa before moving to the U.S. She is now a full-time artist. Her art is described as “vibrant, textural, and full of movement.” General admission is $10, but it’s free for those who are members of Artists on the Bluff and The Deer Path Art League. Admission is to be paid at the door. artistsonthebluff.org

MARCH 7

PREPARING FOR SPRING BIRD MIGRATION

WHERE: Northfield Public Library

Tim Joyce with Wild Birds Unlimited will be hosting a program from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Northfield Public Library discussing bird migration and how bird lovers can provide for their flying friends. Topics will include bird feeders, food, what to do to attract orioles and hummingbirds, and the best place to put feeders. Registration is required for this program. Families and adults are welcome to attend. wnpld.org

MARCH 8

GRAZYNA AUGUSCIK CD RELEASE CONCERT

WHERE: Studio5, Evanston Polish Jazz singer Grazyna Auguscik is holding a

concert for the release of her new CD, 2 The Light. The performance will be from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Studio5 in Evanston and will feature Ben Lewis on piano, Jon Deitemeyer on drums, Ethan Philion on bass, and John Kregor on guitar. There will be a cash bar, light snacks, and free parking right outside the venue. A livestream will be recorded and uploaded a week after the concert for those who cannot attend in person. Tickets are available now. studio5.dance

MARCH 9

MAKER FEST

WHERE: Wilmette Public Library

Join Wilmette Public Library for its Maker Fest from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Explore the library and meet the community’s makers as they demonstrate different pieces of art, technology, and design. Past events have included robotics, sewing, basket weaving, interactive video game art, circuitry, and more. This event is free and open to all ages. wilmettelibrary.info

MARCH 9

PAWS FOR PATRICK

WHERE: Lake Forest Public Library

Paws For Patrick will be holding a presentation and therapy dog visit from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Lake Forest Public Library. This event is open to adults and teens and registration is required. Paws For Patrick is a nonprofit organization that connects young people with emotional support dogs. Therapy dogs will be present at this event. lakeforestlibrary.org

MARCH 9

2024 HISTORY MONTH LUNCHEON

WHERE: Winnetka

Grazyna Auguscik

Congregational Church

Celebrate Women’s History Month with the League of Women Voters for a luncheon from 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Winnetka Congregational Church. This year’s celebratory event will feature a special discussion between Chicago Tribune columnist and journalist Heidi Stevens and author Brooke Kroeger to discuss Kroeger’s book Undaunted: How Women

Changed American Journalism. This event is limited to 48 attendees and the deadline to purchase tickets is March 3. Autographed copies will be available for purchase at the luncheon. Purchase your ticket and order your sandwich choice on the website. lwvglens.org

MARCH 12

GET LIT: PUB NIGHT

WHERE: American Writers Museum

Capture the inspiration to write in an Irish pub from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the American Writers Museum. Donning your finest green attire, this month’s Get Lit event celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a night of Irish pub-themed Trivia. Guests can customize and design a take-home pub coaster, hunt for hidden creatures in the Leprechaun Hunt, and enjoy beer, wine, and the night’s specialty cocktail called The Tipsy Cow. Tickets are available now. americanwritersmuseum.org

MARCH 12 MOVIE NIGHT

WHERE: Kenilworth Union Church

Every second Tuesday of the month, a group of movie lovers gather to enjoy a night of cinema. The film begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a discussion, which will end at 8:30 p.m. Contact Suzanne Hale for more information. kuc.org

MARCH 14 TO 17

EVANSTON DANCE ENSEMBLE “AMERICAN PORTRAIT”

WHERE: Northwestern University

Evanston Dance Ensemble will be performing “American Portrait,” a collection of world premier pieces choreographed by nine different artists. This performance is inspired by what it means to be an American and will be held at the Josephine Louis Theater at Northwestern University. Tickets are $15 for the premier show on March 14 and the performances on March 15 through 17 are $15 for children and $25 for adults. evanstondanceensemble.org

MARCH 16

EGGSTRAVAGANZA EGG HUNT

WHERE: Clarkson Park

Enjoy a fun family Easter egg hunt at Clarkson Park. Children ages 2 through 8 can meet the Easter Bunny at the gazebo from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. before the egg hunt begins. This event is free

and children are encouraged to bring Easter baskets to collect their eggs. northfieldparks.org

MARCH 16

VENETIAN NIGHT GALA EVENT

WHERE: Cuneo Mansion and Gardens

You’re invited to Midwest Young Artists Conservatory’s (MYAC) 2024 Gala Event. From 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., enjoy performances from MYAC’s Concert Jazz Band, Vocalpoint, and Symphony Orchestra. The evening will include Italian cuisine, themed cocktails, and dancing under the elegant architecture at Cuneo Mansion. This year’s take note attendee is choral director Stevi Marks. Tickets are available now. mya.org

MARCH 23

DOGGIE EGG HUNT

WHERE: West Elm Park

Spend your Saturday morning at an Easter Egg hunt for man’s best friend. Dogs will hunt for treatfilled eggs and have photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at West Elm Park. All dogs must be on a nonretractable leash at all times and wear a current rabies tag. Registration is required. winpark.org

To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.

BY MARGARET ATWOOD

DIRECTED BY SUSAN V. BOOTH

An unexpected remix of Homer’s The Odyssey, told by the celebrated and subversive author Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale).

It’s her turn. Penelope has waited 20 years for her husband to return from the Trojan War. Now, as authorial control shifts to Odysseus’ long-suffering wife—and the 12 faithful maids who have long tended to her—we discover a new perspective on the domestic vigil. This ancient tale told anew by “one of the most admired authors in North America” (NPR) gives voice to those left behind.

MARCH 2 – MARCH 31

BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Jim Staples got the travel bug at a young age. His father was an attorney, and often would travel to the firm’s offices scattered around the globe, taking the family with him. Staples was all too happy to tag along. A four-year rugby player at the University of Michigan, Jim spent a summer in Australia playing the sport and his passion to visit other countries and continents grew.

“When I was an early teen, I remember thinking as I walked along one of the stunning beaches of Rio de Janeiro with my dad how lucky I was to go on these trips every other year and see these sites and cultures I otherwise never would,” Staples says. “I would replay the tour in mind for weeks after returning.”

Staples also possessed a keen interest in business and started a lawn-moving service during his high school years. A few years later, while attending business school at

is evident in the company he founded in 2008 and continues to run, Orbridge. The company, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2023, partners with colleges and universities around the country to provide rich educational travel experiences for alumni.

“In a nutshell, the educational travel market solicits and markets to college and university alumni associations throughout the country. We work with 140 different alumni associations, including several in Illinois like the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, as well as the University of Illinois and Northern Illinois University,” Staples says. “We also work with many Ivy League schools, PAC-12 schools, SEC, Big 12 and ACC schools along with dozens of small liberal arts colleges, which happen to have wonderful travel programs.”

Orbridge’s economic model depends somewhat on how tight the connection is between the associations and the schools’ alumni. Staples mentions Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, which has a close-knit group of alumni who maintain an affinity for their college experience. Staples says those shared, formative years make

do exceedingly well on our programs,” says Staples. “It might surprise you. It’s not just the big schools that travel well.”

One key to Orbridge’s success is that the company often brings along professors from the respective universities on their trips, so the trips become highly educational because the professors give insightful commentary throughout the program, as well as several lecturers. Orbridge also employs top tier local guides, travel directors, and expedition leaders.

Although a niche market, the educational travel space is crowded and competitive. Orbridge is one of five major companies that offer tours around the world. It can put together a small ship for a tour to Alaska or the Galapagos Islands or a deluxe tour around the world by private jet. Wine and cuisine focused tours, in particular, are growing in popularity.

“We’ve developed connections over the years in these travel markets so whether it’s a food and wine tour or an African safari we have an advantage when it comes to buying power, knowing the top guides in the region, and knowing the behind-the-scenes authen-

Northwestern University, he took a job as a sales rep for an educational travel company owned by one of his lawn-service customers. After a decade moving up in the company, he struck out on his own.

Today, his passion for travel and business

for a collegial group of like-minded travelers eager to learn and immerse themselves in a local culture.

“Then you have Principia College in downstate Illinois, a Christian Science college and they love traveling together and

tic excursions,” Staples says. “That’s some of our secret sauce.”

Staples says the key to creating an authentic tour experience is having relationships with people on the ground, whether it be vineyard owners, a deluxe sailing ship com-

pany in Egypt, or a supplier in Africa that can provide high-end safari vehicles with open-air roofs and access to the best private properties.

“Our goal is always to exceed expectations and doing that can be difficult,” Staples says “In most cases, our guests are well-traveled, and the bar is high. By providing experiences that are immersive and meaningful, we’ve been fortunate that they keep coming back to us.”

For its higher-end programs, Orbridge only books 4- and 5-star hotels, five-star ships, and deluxe villas, particularly across Europe. The company maintains a large guest services team of 11, and its university partners often rely on that team to handle the needs of guests. Team members are in regular communication with guests to answer questions about everything from the weather to travel itineraries.

“We often say there are three parts of a travel program. There’s the pre-tour, the tour itself, and post-tour, and hearing from guests over the years we are hard pressed to discern which is most important,” Staples says. “The obvious choice would be the tour itself, but you’ve got to get all three right if you want your guests to have a memorable travel experience.”

Though his mom passed away a few years ago, Staples says she was on one the first Alaska tours Orbridge planned. They saw humpback whales roaming the waves and bears roaming the coastline. They went out on the water in kayaks and skiffs. He says the trip was “magical,” and she spoke about the experience at every major family gathering.

“We had a joke about wondering when she might bring it up,” he says. “It was lovely because it was so meaningful to her. She so loved wildlife and she showed the impact we can have first-hand in our business, and we take that charge very seriously.”

For more information about Orbridge, visit orbridge.com, and its sister company Sports and Entertainment Travel.

GLOBE TROTTER From PG 1

Jim Staples with colleagues Keith Camp and Vanessa Rosenberger

Jim Staples kayaking in Churchill, Manitoba, with beluga whales

#HASHTAG

EDITED BY DUSTIN O'REGAN ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

LAURA WHITE has been bringing the undeniably unique to the North Shore for years. An expert curator of vintage furnishings and jewelry; Winnetka store owner; and developer of the beauty line ARCH; she is drawn to beautiful things with a history. Most recently, White collaborated with designer Natalie Konstant of Konstant Home to create a line of furniture inspired by the work of French designers Jean Royere and Jean Prouve, sold exclusively at ARCH in Winnetka. As spring approaches, ARCH will change with the seasons, bringing the outside in with exquisite containers, planters, and botanical accents that celebrate the promise of new beginnings.

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

I am re-reading a book I enjoyed in college: A Natural History of The Senses by Diane Ackerman. Since developing my own natural beauty line in 2016, where scent has been such an important element of every product, I have a new appreciation for how exquisitely she writes about the five senses and how they tie to nature.

#ON MY MOBILE

I love following @animamundiherbals, one of our favorite herbalists from Costa Rica, who posts about natural medicine. I’ve also recently discovered @moro_dabron, a landscape architect and interior designer duo. Their creativity and collaborations inspire me to do things differently.

#IN MY EARBUDS

I’m always listening to music with an ear toward mixing up the playlists in the shop. Currently digging deep into the California dreamy vibes of Best Coast, vintage cocktail music, and ‘70s funk.

THIS is what we’re made for.

At Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, we’re working to solve tomorrow’s challenges today.

Individually and collectively, our faculty, researchers, students and partners are committed to bringing next-generation health care to the people and communities that we serve.

rosalindfranklin.edu

30+ Health Sciences Degrees | Research Park | Community Care

BY REX REED ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

RUNNING TIME:

1 HOUR, 31 MINUTES

RATING: 1 star

In the dull, inert drama Sometimes I Think About Dying, Daisy Ridley, the British-born actress who displayed much more animation, personality, and range in the 2015 Star Wars film The Force Awakens, tries a serious change of pace so solemn you can hardly find a pulse.

This time she plays a boring young office worker named Fran who searches for an identity for an hour and a half without a shred of success. Thanks to sluggish direction by Rachel Lambert and a screenplay by three entire women who fail to display the focused writing talent of even one, this is a slog-fest from beginning to end. The only test of any action will be determined by how fast you can get to the door marked “Exit.”

Despite the placid beauty of coastal Oregon where Fran lives, she finds nothing of any interest to relieve her state of empty, unfulfilled depres-

SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING

Daisy Ridley stars in a dull film about the working class lives of characters who slog through their days with little joy.

sion. Awkward and undefined, she rises each morning, eats the same microwaved breakfast, and walks into her job to assume the same daily position at her faceless computer. It is never clear what she does in the office, but it’s always the same routine, replete with paper clips and filing cabinets.

At night, she pours a glass of wine and puts a dreary dinner in the food processor. At 10:19 p.m. she turns the light out. Mostly, she just stares moodily at the window, wondering perhaps what’s going on outside in the real world. Sometimes she stares blankly at the floor. Her expression, which never changes, is a look of terminal despair. She demonstrates no sign of interest in anything except cottage cheese and says almost nothing in sentences of more than five words, communicating with co-workers through blunt texts, but as the title suggests, “sometimes she thinks about dying.”

Forty two minutes into the film, Fran shares a piece of pie with Robert (Dave Merheje), a banal, balding, and overweight new employee who is as tediously tiresome as she is. It’s not clear what he does, either, but at least he likes old movies. He takes her to see one, about which she has no opinion, followed by a meal which she does

MATERIAL PURSUITS

This weekend’s curated luxury trends

CHANGE IT

In celebration of National Retro Day earlier this week, Abt Appliances & Electronics in Glenview is rolling out some of its most in-demand retro gadgets. Crediting the resurgence of “retro tech” to flip-phone-loving, Generation Z hipsters, Abt—the nation’s largest independent, single-store retailer of electronics, appliances, and home goods—now sees onceobscure items like this Yamaha CD Player 5-Disc Changer back on trend. Engineered to harness Yamaha's extensive Hi-Fi technology, the CD-C603 promises a superior auditory experience that elevates even this most discriminating audiophile’s music collection. With the capacity to play up to five CDs or stream music files from a USB device, this changer is designed to produce sound that's dynamic, clear, and true to the original recording. Add it to your audio setup for $549.95 at abt.com

not enjoy because the restaurant does not serve cottage cheese.

Aha! Anticipation rises. A possible romance blooms. But nothing happens to guarantee any promise of emotional progress.

It’s a movie about the relentless, paralyzing lives of the kind of working-class people the great writer Paddy Chayefsky used to bring brilliantly to life in plays and films such as Marty, Middle of the Night, The Bachelor Party and The Catered Affair—works of social realism that reveal deep elements of humanity in the world of common

SHAKE IT

folk like the girl Daisy Ridley valiantly tries to play in Sometimes I Think About Dying

She works hard to find the sympathetic dimensions in Fran, but few are developed in a movie as blank as a sponged-down blackboard in an empty classroom. Nothing likely to inspire joy, pleasure, or surprise.

It all leads up to Fran’s vain attempt to connect with Robert one last time. “Do you wish you could unknow me?” she asks. “I don’t know you,” is the answer. Neither do I, but I do know a clumsy, clueless, and colossal bore when I see one.

When kids were singing along to Outkast’s hit single “Hey Ya!” back in 2003, the line “shake It like a Polaroid picture” had very little context. Today, the generation that grew up listening to that song at neighborhood block parties is giving the Polaroid brand a reboot. Abt says the retro, black and white Polaroid Now Generation 2 instant film camera is preferred for its autofocus 2-lens system and use of sustainable materials, with 40 percent of its components being recycled. The Polaroids are coming out with the same vintage quality but with today’s state-of-the-art technology—processing images at higher speeds and featuring a timer for the perfect selfie. Its classic design pays homage to the iconic Polaroid cameras of the past, which makes capturing photos a fashion statement. Pick one up for $119.95 at abt.com

TAKE IT

The return of vinyl is hardly new but the Victrola Revolution GO VSC-750SB portable record player is taking the trend to the next level. Billed as the world's first portable, rechargeable, and Bluetooth-enabled portable record player, this is hardly the orange plastic Close ‘n Play phonograph of your youth. The battery-powered device means you bring your classic vinyl to places you never would have imagined—from the back yard to the beach. The record player has a lid that can display five different albums and when it’s time to pack up and head home, do it in style by slinging the guitar strap over your shoulder (which can be changed out with one of your own favorite vintage guitar straps). Available for $199.99, just in time for spring, at abt.com.

THE GOLDEN VET

Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital fetes adored World War II veteran Sidney Wallach ahead of another milestone birthday.

BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

Sidney Wallach enters a spacious meeting room at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital. It’s February 16, a scheduled day for an afternoon treatment.

And two days before his birthday.

Family members and medical personnel and hospital staffers had gathered there among swaying balloons before the World War II veteran’s arrival.

“Happy Birthday!” the beaming folks bellow.

Wallach’s face lights up and temporarily blinds the band of well-wishers, including his four children. His highly infectious smile—it’s not on some CDC list, yet— melts his audience instantly. Wallach, still smiling, then closes his eyes, looks straight up, and raises his pumping arms as if he’d just won a world championship.

But if you know him well, or are lucky enough to have met him, you’re the true victor. The former Sears salesman oozes more positivity than the combined number of red clips in a truckload of jumper cables and has cornered the market in happiness.

He essentially wears joy, daily.

Wallach would turn 102 on February 18.

One. Hundred. Two.

Babe Ruth belted 35 home runs and knocked in 96 runs in the summer after Wallach was born. The first issue of Time magazine was published a few weeks after Wallach turned 1.

Wallach later sits near a table in the hospital’s meeting room and opens cards and gifts. The warmth of his smiles vs. the warmth of his hugs? Call it a draw.

One gift is a Northwestern Medicine zipup hoodie, likely to bump a sweatshirt out of his weekly wardrobe rotation for good. A sizable portion of his birthday cake’s icing depicts a gray runway; during World War II, Wallach—a corporal in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—built runways while serving in Greenland at Bluie West One (later known as Narsarsuaq Air Base), a secret air base where thousands of aircraft landed en route to the war in Europe and North Africa.

Wallach lifts a forkful of cake and toasts, “To the gang at Northwestern Medicine, I love you guys! The care you give me at this hospital, it’s great … it’s unbelievable, unbelievable.”

The endearing former Cub Scout and Boy Scout Scoutmaster has been a frequent visi -

tor to NM Lake Forest Hospital for about five years. His care team there adores him. The woman behind the moving birthday bash is Lake Forest’s Terry Girmscheid, a gregarious-to-the-bone patient access specialist at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital. Her late father, Paul Gerjol, also built runways, in Okinawa, Japan, in World War II. Paul’s boot camp was the same as Sidney’s.

“The first time I met Sidney he had his World War II cap on,” Girmscheid recalls. “My dad would never go out without his cap. That’s how Sidney and I started talking.

a trip from Shenango, Pennsylvania, to Boston Harbor. He then found himself aboard a Canadian ship that zigzagged for seven days en route to the Land of the Greenlanders, who often watch the sunrise at 9 a.m. and have to wave goodbye to the massive star only six hours later. They also shrug at backto-back days of 40-below-zero temperatures. A sergeant once ordered Wallach to fire his gun to obliterate an iceberg in a fjord near Greenland. Wallach obeyed and turned into a sharpshooting, Olympic-level biathlete—minus the cross-country skis—right then, right there.

To the gang at Northwestern Medicine (Lake Forest Hospital), I love you guys! The care you give me at this hospital, it’s great … it’s unbelievable, unbelievable.

ing matches versus his offspring, probably came close to matching the University of Oklahoma football team’s streak of 47 consecutive wins spanning three seasons in the 1950s.

“Mom told Dad, ‘Let them win once in a while,’” Mike says. “But Dad’s response to that was, ‘No. They’ll never learn that way.’ My father was competitive. I finally beat him in chess one day, after he had returned home from work, which was the best time to take him on.

“He was exhausted,” the son adds.

Dad Wallach typically earned more income than some of his superiors did because he worked on commission and had the consummate work ethic. He still trades stocks, and the avid Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan occasionally bets on sports—usually no more than $5 per game—but only after reading up on each matchup.

In 2019 he learned how to play the tilebased game Rummikub. There are 106 tiles in the game, or four more than the total number of years he’s been thriving and inspiring on Planet Earth.

“My dad is the Rummikub champion of our family,” Robyn Carlson says. “He’s good at games, good with numbers … ask anyone at the civic center he visits and they’ll tell you how sharp he is. But he’s also a wonderful storyteller. We loved hearing all about what he experienced during World War II.”

“I like everything about my father,” Wendy Ottosen says. “He’s the best.”

And more than happy to share two of the reasons the halo above his head is stuck on high beam.

“I don’t drink or smoke,” says Wallach, who also doesn’t eat an apple a day.

His healthy culinary maxim starts, “An egg a day … .”

Wallach’s daily breakfast fare is a fried egg, with spinach and toast.

On a mid-February afternoon inside his second home, surrounded by loved ones and an assemblage of admiring hospital employees, Wallach savors every heaping forkful of his birthday cake.

“Fabulous,” he says.

So is Sidney Wallach.

“He is filled with so much love for life and his family,” Girmscheid says. “When I spend time with Sidney, I feel like I have my dad back for a little while.”

“His approach to life has always been remarkable,” Mike Wallach says. “Everything about my dad, from his demeanor to what he says, is positive. He rolls with the punches, loves people. He loves … life.”

Sidney Wallach