free
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Dear 2014, bring it! Bring on the people I’ve yet to meet. I know they’re out there heading my way. Cosmic hitchhikers, wild-eyed visionaries, creative playmates, spiritual sherpas, new friends with old souls, teachers of one important lesson, messengers who don’t even realize they have a mission, survivors and lost souls, beauty mongers and partymakers, temporary seatmates and sturdy companions for the long haul. Bring on the big moments, the hard roads, the everyday hallelujahs. The falling down and getting back up, the vault of heaven on a fall day, the brokenness and being healed, the
ship that comes in, the tide that goes out, the first day of spring and the last day of school, glitter and gold stars, the pop of corks and the best haircut ever. Bring on heartbreak and foolishness, mistakes and making up, good intentions and reinvention, wide eyes and open hearts. Bring on everything I have yet to be. Cover copy by Nikki Hardin, art by Ali Douglass
“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” Meister Eckhart
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2014
jan/feb
Founder Nikki Hardin
THE TICK TOCK ISSUE
Publisher Kathy Mitchell publisher@skirtchicago.com Creative Director Caitilin McPhillips caitilin.mcphillips@skirt.com
From the Publisher
Editor Elisa Drake editor@skirtchicago.com Regional Vice President Patti Ruesch Patti.ruesch@morris.com Account Executives Christine Griffith christine.griffith@morris.com Ad Design Cristina Young CHSads@skirt.com Contributing Writers Tracy Marks Beth Geraci Photography Shelby Kroeger shelbykroeger.com Heath Sharp aheathphoto.com Advertising Sales 312.566.5221 publisher@skirtchicago.com Calendar Submissions Send information to editor@skirtchicago.com, or mail to skirt! Chicago 224 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 370, Chicago, IL 60604 skirt! is published bimonthly and distributed free throughout the greater Chicagoland area. skirt! reserves the right to refuse to sell space for any advertisement the staff deems inappropriate for the publication. Unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Letters to the editor are welcome, but may be edited due to space limitations. Press releases must be received by the 1st of the month for the following month’s issue. All content of this magazine, including without limitation the design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content, as well as the selection, coordination and arrangement thereof, is Copyright © 2014, Morris Publishing Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this magazine may be copied or reprinted without the express written permission of the publisher. SKIRT!® is a registered trademark of Morris Publishing Group, LLC.
Women make more than 80% of all purchasing decisions.
Women spend almost 2 of every 3 healthcare dollars.
Women control 2/3 of the nation’s disposable income. About the Cover Artist Ali Douglass lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and has been working as an illustrator for over 14 years, illustrating magazines, newspapers, greeting cards, advertising, and more than 30 books. Her award-winning work has been used by clients including MasterCard, American Girl, Georgia-Pacific, The Wall Street Journal and more. alidouglass.com
Diana Scharf
Looking back over the past year, I realize I didn’t finish all the projects I set out to do. The boxes of photos are still waiting to be put in albums; I never got to that barre class I wanted to attend; and the flower pots on my terrace are still bare. It wasn’t like I was doing nothing: These projects were pre-empted by other unexpected priorities that pop up every day and throw us off our game. Every year comes with challenges, change, success, defeat, happiness and sorrow. It’s our response that sets us up for success or failure. With New Year exhilaration, I’ve got renewed hope and motivation: to break bad habits, re-organize my closets, set weight loss and fitness goals. And I’m not alone. More expectations are set on January 1 than any other day of the year. Is it the magical feeling of a clean slate at the beginning of a new year? In 2014, we face endless possibilities. I’m doing something new this time around, though. I am going to set a resolution each day, whether it’s something specific (fill those flower pots) or an overall attitude to do my best today, to be kind and considerate of others, to be more patient, or simply to fully enjoy one thing I do everyday. The late Nelson Mandela once said, “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.” While I might not be bolstering a nation, I’m improving me, and I hope that change reflects in a positive way on the people I work with and my friends and family. After all, there’s no time like the present.
Features 40 Effed Up Things About Being 40 Amy Wruble ....................................... 8 Lessons From the Road Stephanie Young................................24 In Every Issue He’s So Original ...............................12 We ❤ .................................................13 Calendar.............................................14
Kathy publisher@skirtchicago.com
Typewriter .........................................16
From the Editor
skirt! Style ........................................20
Despite niggling sciatica, bizzaro dreams, a total revulsion to water as doctor-demanded hydration and taunting dreams about water, I really rather enjoyed being pregnant. Mama elephants wait for 22 months to give birth. Talk about tick, tock! That is decidedly too long. Forty weeks seemed doable. In fact, with my first daughter, it was just 38. I’d been waiting patiently, but she wasn’t. She came two weeks early, and I was totally unprepared. My water broke at work at noon, and I stayed until 5 o’clock without telling anyone, scrambling to get everything prepared for my three-month-long absence. I expect our profilee, Natalie Levine, has her shtuff together a little better than I did. Watching the clock or ticking days off the calendar can mean waiting for the thrill of something good or the fear of the unknown. It can be as tedious as studying for an exam or as nerve-wracking as waiting for the results. It can be blissfully stressful, like Colleen O’Keefe’s wedding planning. Or, for army wife Heather Ramirez, it’s a matter of patient, unwavering support and forced smiles for her little boys when the worry is unbearable. I can’t imagine. As we dive into 2014, let’s make waiting part of the wonder. After all, we can spend our lives waiting; we can live for the moment. Or we can find a happiness somewhere in between. Elisa
25 Things That Make Us Happy ......................22 skirt! Says..........................................28 Crave ..................................................31 Profiles............................... 29, 30 & 32 Local Loves ........................................33 Meet ....................................................34 Skirt of the Month ...........................35 Take Six ..............................................36 XOXO Kathy ....................................38
editor@skirtchicago.com
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JANUAR Y /FE BR UARY 2 0 14
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Illustration by The Pretty Paperie. theprettypaperie.com
ABOUT BEING
I’m old enough to drink, vote, rent a car and be elected to the highest office in the land. All that’s left on my age bucket list is admission to the AARP. Thanks, I’ll wait.
Amy Wruble
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40 Effed Up Things About Being 40
After a few years of not being able to read the fine print (apologies to my kid for the guess-the-dose Infant Advil), I broke down and bought my first pair of reading glasses. At the drug store counter, it was like the reverse of a teen nervously buying condoms. “First pair of reading glasses,” I informed the clerk, just to prove that I’m not at all embarrassed. “My mom wears those,” she smiled. And now I’m mortified. Here are 40 other effed up things about being 40: 1. Other than Teen Mom, I have no clue what’s on MTV. 2. When people say “middle-aged,” they might mean me. 3. I can’t wear sequins or I’ll look like a cougar. 4. I’m more likely to forget to have sex than to forget to floss. 5. If I eat chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, I’ve gained a size by dinnertime. 6. Even if I finally get a full night’s sleep, I still look like I was up all night. But not up all night doing something cool. 7. At the doctor’s office, I bypass Cosmopolitan and reach for Redbook. I’ll even read Family Circle. There are some great recipes in there. 8. I’m probably never going to be a Solid Gold Dancer. 9. Going out without makeup is beginning to seem more and more like an aggressive act. 10. The “me” in my head is like the foxy little sister of the “me” in the mirror. 11. Any girl can look cute like Rachel on Friends in her 20s. Only Jen Aniston looks cute like Rachel on Friends in her 40s. 12. If I strolled across a college campus, people would assume teacher, not student. (Upside: instant PhD!)
EARN YOUR GRADUATE DEGREE: n
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14. Most days, I choose comfort over style. I’m a traitor to my stilettos.
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15. All the tanning I did in college is showing up now as brown blotches. Get a Sharpie and you could draw a cow on my chest.
n
HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
13. I’m old enough to drink, vote, rent a car and be elected to the highest office in the land. All that’s left on my age bucket list is admission to the AARP. Thanks, I’ll wait.
16. The Psychedelic Furs, Duran Duran and The Cure are now considered oldies.
View all master’s degrees at nl.edu/info
17. Everything I wore in high school has been appropriated ironically by hipsters. 18. Only a fortysomething is old enough to remember the TV show Thirtysomething. More irony. 19. Oooh, my back. 20. Other than the Kardashians, I don’t recognize anyone in the tabloids. Who are these people and why are they famous? 21. Ages 31-39 are a total blur. I’m scared I’ll blink and be 200. 22. All of sudden my tight mini-skirts make me look like I’m trying too hard. Hey sluts, incoming at Goodwill! 23. Uhhh, my back. 24. The Real Housewives and I are, like, the same age. Where’s my butler? 25. It’s occurring to me that I might not ever visit every single beach on the planet, and I’m actually okay with that, which feels weird.
CHANGE OR
ADVANCE YOUR CAREER
WITH NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY.
26. When I flirt with the cable guy, I don’t get extra channels for free anymore.
National Louis University is Chicago’s original adult-focused university.
27. I still think 21-year-old guys are hot. And they’re like, “Mom?”
For more than 125 years, NLU has been preparing adults to lead,
28. Why didn’t I take naked pictures of myself when I was 30?
inspire and educate in communities, classrooms and companies.
29. I fantasize about taping up the sides of my face. Try it with your fingers— it takes 10 years off instantly.
NLU offers online, on-campus, day and evening courses. Connect with
30. Cripes, my back. 31. Touching my toes is not a guarantee. 32. Forget Fifty Shades of Grey—my nightstand is full of wrinkle cream and Bengay. The apothecary is open!
accomplished instructors and peers as you build your professional credentials and career network. Spring term starts March 31— call or visit online to connect with an Advisor today.
33. I even have one of those days-of-the-week vitamin boxes. 34. If I buy a turtle it might outlive me. 35. The bad habits I still have are probably here to stay.
www.nl.edu/info
36. I say things like, “What’s the name of that actor, you know, he was in that thing?”
855.NLU.INFO (855.658.4636)
37. I get a hangover from looking at liquor. 38. The next milestone birthday is 50. 39. Did I mention my reading glasses? 40. One word: “Ma’am.” Amy Wruble is the author of carriagebeforemarriage.com, named a Babble Top 100 Mom Blog. Her writing has been featured in Parenting, Babytalk, Lifetime Moms, What To Expect, Pop Sugar, In the Powder Room, Families in the Loop and the St. Martin’s Press anthology What Was I Thinking: 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories.
CHICAGO
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Photo by Shelby Kroeger
he’ssooriginal
Kishan Shah found himself by losing a lot. Kishan Shah is half the man he used to be. Literally. When a 5-foot measuring tape failed to reach around his waist, he began a journey to lose more than 200 of his 400 pounds. Goal achieved, he changed careers to pay it forward, becoming CEO of Downsize Fitness, the world’s first overweight-only gym. And today, the former private equity investor is proud that his clients are winning by losing, too. A veteran of hundreds of gyms in dozens of countries, Kishan says that most are intimidating and isolating, especially for those with a lot of weight to lose. “People come to Downsize and feel accepted,” he says. “They make friends, have fun.” Together, those people have lost 5,500 pounds in two years. For Kishan, fitness is no longer about a number on a scale or a pants size. “When I eat well and work out, I feel great, and feeling great makes me look better, too.” What do you like about wearing a skirt? “Some very nice compliments about my legs!” What do you like about reading skirt!? “Discovering where in Chicago women disappear for girl talk, and finding out what they are saying!”
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jan/feb
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Elevated Chardonnay City Winery 1200 West Randolph St. 312.733.9463
TOLA’S Ruthie Clutch The Silver Room 1442 North Milwaukee Ave. 773.278.7130
Tru Blooms Chicago Larkspur 2123 North Damen Ave. 773.489.2898
Double-layer Cotton Muslin Baby Blanket Monica + Andy monicaandandy.com
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2014
jan
1.
Hangover cure here: 33-foot Bloody Mary bar, plus champagne station at Filini Bar and Restaurant. filinichicago.com
19, 20
9-19
Laugh your butt off at the annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, the largest of its kind in the country, thank you very much. stage773.com
Truly commemorate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday this year at a concert with the Chicago Sinfonietta featuring the U.S. premiere of JacobTV’s multimedia work “Mountaintop.” chicagosinfonietta.org
14 jan/febw2014 skirt!magazine
4.
16. 21.
Goran Coban Salon’s Monarc menswear trunk show doubles as fundraiser for Make a Wish. $25 minimum donation gets you drinks, hors d’oeuvres, live DJ and warm fuzzies. 9 W. Hubbard St.
Can you imagine the winter without a hot toddy or two? It was that way during Prohibition, which is why Untitled pays homage to “repeal day” with a high-class casino night and the weekly Unbridled entertainment. untitledchicago.com
Join the Movable Feast craft dinner series at Found that showcases its partnerships with local farmers, artisans and purveyors. Translation: amazing food in a welcoming, warm milieu. foundkitchen.com
6.
17. 25.
Today begins the end of your diet with the Centered Chef’s Detox Workshop, a four-week course of healthy cooking techniques, nutritional support and a little exercise, too. centeredchef.com
It’s root, root, root for Harry Caray’s Tavern, hosting a benefit for the Wood Family Foundation, raising money for children’s charities. Get a drink from celeb bartenders. 8-11 pm. woodfamilyfoundation.org
Women Taking Action challenges you to “Don’t Dare to Dream! Dare to Do!” Network, shop, eat, be inspired and educated at this all-day event at UIC Student Center West.
8.
18. 26.
Pick up words of wisdom from ABC-7 reporter Karen Meyer at the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago’s “Beating the Odds” networking luncheon at the Union League of Chicago.
Laugh at winter in your plush robe in front of the crystallized fire, with sizzling flame shot in hand at Vertigo Sky Lounge’s Fire & Ice Patio, opening today. vertigoskylounge.com
Kids are VIPs at the Chicago Children’s Museum’s Family Snow Ball, helping fund transportation to the museum for underserved groups. 5-7:30 pm. chicagochildrensmuseum.org
”GOALS ARE DREAMS WITH DEADLINES.” Diana Scharf
2014
feb
1.
8. 21.
Fashion yourself in purple and raise money for the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation at the Purple Affair for the Bear: With a 1920s Flair. bearnecessities.org
The monthly free Family Day at the MCA exposes kids to art in a hands-on way, focusing this time on Alexander Calder and art projects that move.
It’s all about networking, so learn how to do it with less sweat at The Business Women’s Alliance half-day Mini Boot-Camp. Pre-register at eventbrite.com.
2.
11. 23.
Newly engaged and raring to go? Get yourself to the Windy City Wedding Show in Rosemont, putting more than 250 pros at your disposal. windycityweddingshow.com
Cultivate some corporate connections over margaritas at the Network After Work event at Moe’s Cantina River North from 6 to 9 p.m. networkafterwork.com.
Girls’ road trip idea! The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis turns into a grown-up play space, i.e. casual-chic cocktail lounge for the eve.
2.
13. 25.
Last chance to catch the Lookingglass Theatre’s imaginative rendition of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince,” produced with gravitydefying help from the Actors Gymnasium.
Hey, “Sex and the City” fans, Aiden (aka John Corbett) takes his bonafide country music talent to City Winery. citywinery.com
Potluck! 11.0 is subtitled a “smorgasbord of ideas” and gathers interesting Chicago folks like Samantha Irby blogger of “Bitches Gotta Eat.” BYO food and drink. Pre-register. macncheeseproductions.com
6.
18. 27.
Get your cowgirl hat out because it’s live band country karaoke time at Old Crow Smokehouse in Wrigleyville. It’s free. We suggest some moonshine beforehand.
Entrepreneurs get the inside scoop at the Get Out There! PR and Word of Mouth Marketing networking and speaker presentation. 6-8:30 p.m. at Chopin Theatre.
Put your poker face on and raise some bucks for Thresholds, providing healthcare and housing for people with mental illnesses. $200 to play. thresholds.com
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2014
zazzle.com
10 Resolutions I Won’t Keep Lose weight. (LMAO—the only way that will happen.) Start running. (Only if someone is chasing me.) Run for office. (If I won, I’d be a politician.) Learn French. (I already know how to say “how much?”) Become a morning person. (Nothing fun happens in the am.) Get off Facebook. (The narcissism is like digital crack.) Eat more kale. (I’m waiting for the kale pill.) Swim with dolphins. (Oh my god, leave them alone!) Read Lean In. (Even the book jacket made me tired.) View the glass as half full. (Only if it’s half full of wine.)
~Nikki
16
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Perchance
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JAN/FEB STYLE
L.K. Bennett
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Frye
Barneys
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Beyond Boutique
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4
1
5
2 Rebecca Gilman’s world premiere at the Goodman.
3
Chicago Children’s Theater. [Photo by Kathleen Joyce]
Rockit Burger Bar’s Mac Attack, as seen on “Today.”
$10.99 for anti-wrinkle eye cream at Sally Beauty Supply.
6
Mary Barra is named the first woman to lead a major U.S. automaker
8
Frozen toes? We love our ThermCELLs.
45,000-strong 36th Chicago Marathon.
7 Loving “Chicago Fire” spinoff “Chicago PD”!
Free webcast of Riccardo Muti directing CSO’s Verdi’s “Requiem.”
11
9 Things That Make Us Happy
skirt! Girls Club Wine Tasting Marianos 5-7pm
Eddie Merlot’s carrot cake perfection.
12
10
Wine Wednesdays at dana hotel and spa.
16
Headphone hats from Essential Elements.
19
17
15 Garrett. Not just for tourists.
Chicago-based Bucketfeet shoes coming to Nordstrom. Indulgent cashmere travel sets. shoppingposh.com
20
Figure eights in Millennium Park.
18 Winter rolling with Absolutely Segway.
Love the label on these Docker jeans.
14
13 Herbal Zap. Ayurvedic immunity boost. herbalzap.com
Looking shimmery with glo*minerals dusting powder. gloprofessional.com
Bun-ups from Blowtique pony and bun bar.
21
Stars, stripes and good food at American Junkie. [Photo by Nick Nguyen]
22 23 Chillcations at the Conrad Hilton and Palmer House. 22 jan/febw2014 skirt!magazine
2014 color of the year.
24 Margarita’s from Moe’s.
25 Disney’s world at MSI.
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LESSONS FROM THE
I must say, at the outset, that there is nothing more relative than the experience of speed and time.
I
S t e p h a n i e Yo u n g
’m dating a 6’2” Glaswegian with a motorbike. Three weeks ago I sent him an email with the subject heading “I Am, Like, So Superficial” and wrote: I want to see you in your leathers. He showed up three days later on a big motherschtupper of a bike, kitted with gear and a spare set of leathers he demanded I put on. Well, mine weren’t leathers— they were reinforced Gore-Tex with more zips than an Air Force jumpsuit—but I managed to catch a glimpse of myself in the window of a Land Rover, ostensibly to clip on the helmet, and although no one would have mistaken me for Lucy Liu in Charlie’s Angels, neither would I have been taken for a black nylon, moon-suited incarnation of the Michelin Man. “Why do you have such tiny clothes?” I asked as the wrists, waist and collar all snapped snugly into place. “For my daughter,” he said, putting on his helmet. He paused and grinned. “And my girlfriends.” Contrary to received wisdom on this subject, I like hearing that men I’m dating have had other girlfriends. Multiple girlfriends, even. Heck, wives. I benefit hugely from all the awareness my sisters have infused into the vocabulary, attitude, and sexual confidence of the guy I’m going home with. I wish one of those girlfriends or wives, however, had carved a little message onto the back of the Glaswegian’s helmet that I could read before I was riding pillion on the M25 going 70 mph: “This man is a maniacal speed freak and he will try to kill you.”
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Lessons From the Road
I must say, at the outset, that there is nothing more relative than the experience of speed and time. Einstein knew it and pointed it out, and we’ve been toasting him in our GPS-equipped vehicles ever since. (Without Einstein’s law of relativity the satellites could not coordinate accurately with your car—who knew?) I understand the fly sees the world in slow motion and that’s how it’s able to avoid the swatter. One woman’s saunter is another woman’s dash. I get it. However. This awareness did not make for a less artery-hardening, terrifying experience when the Glaswegian, who up till this point had obviously just been puttering along, now decided, crouching over the engine of his royal blue Ducati, to make good use of a bit of open highway and speed up. I could have sworn that he started to hum. Some tuneless little melody that speed freaks sing as they trifle, murderously, with the psyche of their passengers. All of me pressed up against quite-a-bit-of-him could feel his shoulders, back and legs quivering with increasing delight. He was in heaven. Whereas I couldn’t hear the traffic around us because of the throatrending screams inside my head. I couldn’t feel my arms around the Glaswegian’s waist because my body was sending all useful blood to my vital organs. I was on the verge of losing consciousness, not because I was channelling the airman whose uniform I seemed to be wearing and was pulling G, but because going that fast so close to the ground was an experience I just wanted to get away from. How could I make this stop? And suddenly, in a blinding flash of insight, the answer occurred to me: Jump Off. It’s at this point in the narrative that I’m reminded of what it’s like, at times, to be a writer co-running a production company. Christine, my managing director, and I are rather ambitious. Our desires for our work hurtle at breakneck speed across the cosmos of our lives. We adore developing scripts. We are passionate about our mission to showcase women over 35 and have attracted a board of directors (with credentials up the wazoo) who support us and want a worldwide audience for the stories we love to tell. These dreams are fast dreams. And if we don’t keep up, if we look down, we can tense up, get scared and want to abort. In mid-leap. Yesterday I dropped off a script we’ve been refining for the whole three years of our incorporation at a good London theater with West End connections. I parked my bike and strode up to the theater, glancing at the five-star reviews on the posters in the window sporting names like Antony Sher and Anton Chekhov, and before I opened the doors, I thought “What if they don’t like it? What if they say ‘No’? What if I fail?” Part of my brain shouted “Get back on the bike! Go home! Go to bed! Go to sleep! FOR YEARS.” Because sleeping is something I can do quite well. And no one ever tells me my sleeping isn’t what they’re looking for or something they’re already producing, but many thanks for letting us see it and good luck elsewhere. But. There just isn’t that much uninhibited, heart-launchingly, spiritquickeningly, life-affirming joy in sleeping. And desire and ambition as intense, as fuelled, as large as ours requires another technique. The Glaswegian slowed down to neatly duck the cluster of cars ahead, and I gasped a whisper of air into my lungs, allowing some blood to flow back to my brain. This gave me the resources to question the wisdom of avoiding terror by leaping under the oncoming rubber, chrome and steel, leaving my heart—and lungs and kidneys—in Buckinghamshire forever. We took the next exit, and while idling at a traffic light, I lifted my visor with a shaking hand and whimpered, “That’s a bit fast for me.” He put a warm, gloved hand on my thigh, nodded, and from that point on we had a leisurely motor through green and pleasant countryside. Apologizing for my wimpiness over a pub lunch, I reconfirmed We Wouldn’t Go That Fast Again. He was receptive and kind and assured me we wouldn’t. “I was just trying it out,” he said smiling. “Different passengers, different speeds.” I wondered if he was thinking of other, racier girlfriends. I imagined them, clutching his middle and urging him on to greater and wilder miles per hour. I saluted them. “How can you enjoy it?” I said, my lunch all the tastier after the adrenaline rush. “How come that doesn’t scare the hell out of you?” He didn’t have to think about it. “I’m relaxed,” he said. Which, in the face of both raging artistic desires and land-speed-recordbreaking highway journeys, seems like a pretty good choice. Stephanie Young is the author of 17 produced scripts for radio, television and theatre and Artistic Director of Mofardin Young Production Company. She lives in London, UK.
33 W. Superior St. • Chicago (312) 266-1094 www.MaryWalter.net skirt!magazine
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I WILL DRIN K 8 GLASSES OF WAT E R A N D EAT M ORE VEGETAB LE S . I WILL REMEM B E R TO RECYCLE .
I W IL L HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR MY ALARM C L OC K.
Pick up after your dog so someone’s shoe doesn’t.
I WI LL TAS TE B E FO RE I S ALT M Y FO OD.
I WI L L L IG HT EN U P EVE RY DAY.
I WILL TREAT MYSELF TO PEONIES.
Your beautiful smile is worth 10 email smiley faces.
I WILL A LWAYS HAVE Q U ARTERS I N MY C AR.
I W I LL N OT DRI N K CAFFE I N E AFTE R 1 PM .
Changing Today For A Sweeter, Sunnier, More Spectacular TOMORROW.
It’s cheating to sneak peeks at your phone instead of locking eyes with your date. I W ILL START WA L KIN G M ORE AND MORE AN D MORE.
I W I LL N OT BE T H E FI RS T ONE AT T H E PARTY.
I WILL NOT BE THE LAST O N E AT T H E PARTY
I WILL TREAT MYSELF TO A CRANIAL SACRAL M ASSAGE.
I WILL NOT CLICK MY PEN...I WILL NOT CLICK MY PEN...I WILL NOT CLICK MY PEN...IN THE OFFICE!
Make your
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i n the mor ni ng i n c as e y ou have a surprise visitor tonight.
I will hug friends for no reason.
I will not interrupt.
I WILL STOP FALLIN G ASLEEP WITH M Y COM PUTER.
I WILL TREAT MYSELF TO A PAIR OF CASHMERE SOCK S.
sign today might greenlight another tomorrow. I W I LL TRY T H E OCTOPUS O N THE M E NU.
I WILL ONLY H AVE ONE GLASS O F W IN E... MAB YE TWO... SHOULD WE JUST BUY A B OTTLE?
I WILL TREAT M Y CAR TO A DETAILIN G.
f
mm
Bring someone A SURPRISE LATTE.
f
i
"
That toilet seat? Down, boy!
I WILL T REAT MYSELF TO A MOVIE M AT INE E ON A W E EKD AY.
Wearing earphones on a plane means they’re either the pilot or they really don’t want to talk. Shhh.
p!
tvot
I WILL GO TO YOGA EVERY DAY AND I WILL BE EARLY.
Obeying the
o ij
Slow down, life is not a moving sidewalk.
Leave them with a
Unless you’re in labor, there’s time to let another car in ahead of you.
YE S , I W I LL ORDE R TH E W H O L E F R U I T, N O - S U G A R - A D D E D SORBET INSTEAD OF THE S A LT E D C A R A M E L T R U F F L E I CE CRE AM .
instead of a shrug when your voice message picks up.
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SKI RT! SAYS: Be as singular as a snowflake.
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Photo by Shelby Kroeger
GoodTiming
Natalie Levine awaits her newest creation: bun in the oven. Natalie Levine’s childhood was filled with mouthwatering foodstuffs, combining her Mexican homeland and her Jewish culture—chiles and latkes, cilantro-infused matzoballs and gefilte fish,Veracruzana-style. Levine is expecting her first child in March and, as director of public relations and marketing at Mercadito Hospitality (Mercadito, Double A Lounge, Tavernita, Barcito, Little Market Brasserie and soon-to-open Tippling Hall and Mercadito Counter), it’s no wonder she’s craving Tavernita’s spicy-savory Bloody Mary—virgin, of course. “I’ve always enjoyed them, but now… I feel I actually need them… sometimes several times a week!” she says laughing. A slow food devotee, Natalie believes, “Good things are worth waiting for.” And true to form, she is savoring every moment of her pregnancy. “I’m enjoying these months of anticipation and constantly amazed how differently I look and feel,” she says. “And now that I can feel the baby moving, it’s like I always have company!”
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Photo by Shelby Kroeger
GoodTiming
Heather Ramirez holds down the fort, waiting…and worrying.
She doesn’t watch the news anymore, and unexpected knocks at the door make her heart jump. Like every military spouse, Heather Ramirez anticipates the worst possible news. Her husband Robert is a Marines staff sergeant. Between training in California and overseas deployments, he’s lucky to spend a few weeks a year with his family, which includes their two sons, ages 14 months and 4 years.They stay connected through photos, video and sporadic phone calls, and Robert records himself reading books aloud so the boys can hear a story by Daddy when he’s away, but it’s difficult. “He has to miss milestones like birthdays, first steps and first words,” says Heather, who also ended up the one teaching their eldest son how to pee standing up. The wait for Heather and other military families is eased a bit with gestures of kindness through organizations like Military Family Support, militaryfamilysupport.org.
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2014
jan/feb Chill Champagne for 45 minutes in a bucket of ice to reach the ideal serving temperature.
From the skirt! Test Kitchen Pink Champagne Tasting Party Instead of the usual wine and cheese party, invite friends to a Pink Champagne blind tasting party. You’ll need plenty of glasses for sampling and four different brands of bubbly placed in bags labeled A through D. Have everyone take notes and cast their votes, and then do the big reveal. Serve mini Shortbread Cheesecakes for an impressive yet easy accompaniment.
Crust: 2 cups of crumbled shortbread cookies 1/2 cup of melted butter 1/3 cups sugar Combine and press into the bottoms of the cup. Refrigerate to set.
Cheesecake Filling: 8 oz cream cheese 1 1/4 oz sweetened condensed milk 1/3 cup of lemon juice 1 tsp vanilla, 2 tbsp of brandy Shaved chocolate & nutmeg for dusting Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add milk and beat until smooth. Stir in lemon juice, vanilla and brandy. Top with shaved chocolate and a dusting of nutmeg.
Have all the ingredients (cream cheese and liquids) at room temperature before blending.
Microwave the butter in 5-second increments so it does not burn.
Taste of the Town
Local Spirit Like Chicago, CH Distillery is raw and refined. Its industrial design drives the vibe, but the buzz swirls around the cocktails. All the liquor here, from the gin and vodka to the rum and whiskey, is locally made and distilled on-site. If F&B Director Krissy Schutte can dream it, the distillers can make it. Tip: The Cease and Desist cocktail ($12) pairs perfectly with the corned duck. chdistillery.com
That Bites Big things really do come in small packages. Case in point? Cake Bites. These mini-cakes from baker Jamie Arlin started as treats for her loved ones. But it wasn’t long before Arlin’s hobby blossomed into a full-fledged business. She tops cakes with cream cheese frosting, dips them in chocolate and finishes with adorable toppings almost too cute to eat! The best part? You can customize them however you like for celebrations. Where’s the party? cakebitegirl.com
Cupcake Class Hershey’s Chocolate World has served up sweet deals for years, but none as tantalizing as its 45-minute cookie and cupcake decorating class. Experiment with frosting and candy toppings while a baker explains decorating techniques. At the end of class, you get a tour of the Hershey's kitchen, the only time it’s offered. Daily 10 am-noon for kids and 7-10 pm for adults. $15.95. 822 N. Michigan Ave. 312.337.7711 Sizzling Decor If the Loop’s dining scene offers anything more psychedelic than this bacon tree at Yonder (from the folks behind Wishbone), we certainly can’t think of it. The artistic arbor stands at the proud center of the crazy decor, which also includes pickup trucks painted on the walls—the truck beds are tables. It’s all part of the charm of this new Southern-style restaurant tucked up into the third floor of Jewelers Center. yonderchicago.com skirt!magazine
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2014
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Photo by Heath Sharp
GoodTiming
Colleen O’Keefe masters pre-wedding “wait” management.
Colleen O’Keefe and Jon Briars met and became friends at Marquette University. A year later, Colleen’s sister pointed out just how cute Jon was, and Colleen began to see him in a different light. It took another five years for them to get engaged, and the proposal itself—a re-creation of the couple’s most treasured dates—unfolded over several days. Yes, Colleen knows a thing or two about anticipation. Now that the date is set (Oct. 4, 2014)—the planning is in full swing. First task? Streamlining the invitee list. “My mom is one of seven children; my dad is one of 23!” Colleen explains. “On my side of the aisle, alone, we’re talking 100 immediate relatives!” As they make decisions and sign contracts, the couple is trying to keep an eye on what is important. “We’re having great conversations, not just about the wedding, but about our future together.”
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2014
jan/feb
Photo by Peter Svenson
localloves
Hooray for our local girl and for more
s h o p l o c a l ly Independently United If you spend $100 at a local store, about $68 of it stays in the community; spend that C-note on a chain and only $43 is retained. Economics is just one of the reasons Local First Chicago was formed in October 2005. The network of locally owned, independent businesses, community orgs and residents also touts the many environmental and social benefits of shopping locally. localfirstchicago.org
Latino actors on TV.”
Two Words: Better Snacks
Granola bars taunt and tempt, but most are loaded with refined sugars and additives, are sickly sweet or taste like squirrel food. Avert your eyes and try twofold, launched in January by corporate warriors, Paula Morawski and Jennifer Blaeser. Their seriously addictive vegan-certified and non-GMO granolas are chock-full of healthy nuts and sweetened with pure maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon. twofoldfoods.com
Justina Machado
One to Watch Set your DVR to catch Chitown’s own Justina Machado in the
new NBC comedy “Welcome to the Family.” Justina’s heritage is Puerto Rican, but she grew up in Chicago, graduated from Lane Tech High School and performed with Latino Chicago Theater Company before landing plum roles on “Six Feet Under,” “Private Practice” and more. Hooray for our local girl and for more Latino actors on TV.
So Long, Mass-Produced Made in China? No way. Not the fashions from Neesh by D.A.R. Founded by Denise Allen Robinson (who picked up the nickname Neesh from a friend’s daughter), the flirty, whimsical, wearable styles have been designed and produced in Chicago for 20 years. Each vintage-inspired piece holds a delicate detail, like vintage buttons, exposed seams or ribbon trim, so you can flaunt your homegrown originality. neeshbydar.com
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jan/feb
Photos by Shelby Kroeger
skirt!meets
Meet: Ellie Thompson, the jewelry designer who’s a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll and a whole lot glamour.
Favorite Shoes: My Mavics bike shoes
One Item Always In My Purse: My purple Leatherman
My Gadget: My KitchenAid Mixer
Favorite Accessory: An 18K gold and diamond pendant
I Splurge On: Bikes
Favorite Restaurant: Bistro Campagne in Lincoln Square Where I Shop Locally: It’s all about bikes and boots: City Soles, The Pony Shop, Johnny Sprockets, Alcala’s Dream Vacation: Mountain biking in New Zealand Shoes I Covet: Coclico’s Tecla Boot My Workout: Russian Kettlebells at Morning Bird Studio; Tuesday morning Cyclocross practice at Montrose Favorite Label: Chicago designer Thierry Roger and Anett Roestel from Berlin Where I Get My Coffee: Caribou Coffee on Michigan Avenue and Madison My Coffee Order: Dark roast, black My Handbag: Does my Timbuk2 messenger bag count? I also have an awesome drawstring bag by Issey Miyake Favorite Flower: Orchids Where You’ll Find Me On Friday Nights: The Millennium Knickerbocker piano bar listening to Chad Willetts Where You’ll Find Me On Saturday Mornings: On my mountain bike My Guilty Pleasure: Listening to live music; I love Neko Case, Josh Ritter and Calexico 34 jan/febw2014 skirt!magazine
Illustration by Monkey Mind Design. monkeymindesign.etsy.com
I dreamed I packed my skirt (and Italian dictionary) and rented a room with a view.
Thierry Roger 3166 N Lincoln Ave, #201 312.316.2756
WHERE Will Your Skirt take you
next?
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takesix RUN
WELL SAID
11
Jan. 11, 8am Grant Park Lakefront Trail
14 mile, 10K and 5K along the waterfront beginning in Grant Park. chicagopolardash.org
North Shore Cupid's Love Dash
FEBRUARY
JANUARY
WHERE WE WILL BE EXERCISING OUR HEARTS THIS MONTH
Chicago Polar Dash
Feb. 9, 8:15am 445 Central Ave, Highland Park.
9
A 10K and 5K with candy stations along the course and costumes encouraged. northshoreloverun.com
Dear self,
T O D AY Y O U W I L L S H I N E .
EVERY DAY Tip:
Breathe deeply and hold stretch for 25 seconds for maximum benefit.
WAKE UP AND
stretch
like a cat to send oxygen-rich blood to all your muscles. Your body will thank you.
TRY IT
THE ANSWER TO: “How can I compete with grandma's secret tomato sauce recipe?” The Splendid Table on NPR never fails to showcase interesting recipes and food news.Their website recently rated canned tomatoes for taste, and the hands-down winner was Muir Glen Whole Tomatoes, even beating out the revered Cento brand of San Marzano tomatoes. Bonus: Muir Glen cans contain no bisphenol A. 36
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Q &A
JUST IN
Front and rear biking lights are most important in winter, when cyclists battle dark roads every night. DO ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND SURGERY GO TOGETHER?
A. Research suggests that some antidepressants may cause bleeding and complications before and after surgery, and some hospitals recommend stopping two weeks in advance. Before you do, get your doctor’s opinion based on the medication you’re taking.
Knog’s front and rear Blinder bike lights give off some intense LED beams and come in a variety of colors and patterns. Bonus:The rear light can be set to flash in random patterns to give an extra alert to drivers. knog.com
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xoxokathy
The holidays are over, and Chicago's long winter has set in. It's cold and snowy, but a reason for hibernation isn't such a bad thing. The slow-down means time to think about the future. Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman puts it this way: "We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential."
W h a t ’s k e e p i n g m e a w a k e a t n i g h t :
Looking forward to:
Launching our new skirt! website
The Oscars
Keeping New Year’s resolutions (what was it again?)
Playing in the snow
Planning my winter getaway
Continuing to explore Eataly
To do’s for work Buyers’ remorse How to keep my toes warm
Ice skating at Millennium Park
To color my hair or not Did the sidewalk get shoveled?
End-of-the-season sales I am jealous of:
Too many flagged emails An upcoming gala. What to wear?!
W h a t ’s o n m y i Pa d :
W h a t ’s o n m y m i n d :
I’ve been sucked in by Nowness.com, which features videos and photos on food, fashion, culture, beauty, music and more. I’ve found things like a short interview with one of my heroes, Peter Beard, and American Autumn, a parody of a Woody Allen movie acted by elementary school kids. It’s defies easy description but keeps you coming back for more.
Happy New You! I always look forward to new starts, do-overs, a clean slate. We join health clubs, throw out the junk food, cut back to only one…OK, two…glasses of wine at night, all with the intention of being a better “you,” but as the days turn into weeks, and the weeks turn into months, we somehow accept are shortcomings and always know there will always be a “next year,” but in the meantime, we’re OK just how we are.
Note to self:
ore ong c r t s A
THE BEST USE OF
$13.00
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Body Scrub, Target
“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” –Oprah Winfrey
Must haves this month: White fur gloves from LOFT
L.K. Bennett red-hot stilettos 38
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JF Aesthetic R-nol 20 Serum from The Few Institute
Leopard clutch at L.K. Bennett, The 900 Shops
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