The North Shore Weekend, January 20th, 2024

“People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.”

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Meet artist Jaclyn Mednicov, who employs nature as her primary medium p10

Winnetka’s Anna Chadwick Gardner shares her extraordinary gift for storytelling as the Executive Producer of Chicago Stories. pg8

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INDEX

NEWS 5 north shore doings Your go-to guide for all the latest local events

LIFESTYLE & ARTS 10 #hashtag

Find out what's trending in local painter and sculptor Jaclyn Mednicov's ever-changing world

12 north shore foodie Raise a toast to “His Airness” at Michael Jordan’s Steak House in Oak Brook

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NORTH SHORE DOINGS NEWS

EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

JANUARY 20

“IN VIEW” WHERE: Art Center, Highland Park The Art Center Highland Park’s (ACHP) annual “In View” art exhibit ends January 20. This exhibit features work created by ACHP’s faculty and members. It is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year marks the highest participation in the history of this exhibit with 140 artists showcasing their work. All exhibited work is for sale unless otherwise indicated.

Proceeds benefit the artists and programming at ACHP. theartcenterhp.org

JANUARY 20

SECOND HAND NEWS WHERE: James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, Grayslake Relive the performances of Fleetwood Mac through the band Second Hand News. The James Lumber Center at College of Lake County is hosting a show at 8 p.m. on January 20.

Through talented musicians and spot-on vocals, Second

Hand News captures the spirit of Mick Fleetwood, John and Christie McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham. Tickets are $20, 18 for seniors and military, and $10 for students. clcillinois.edu

NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31

HOLIDAY LIGHT RECYCLING WHERE: Northfield Northfield’s Village Hall and its Community Center will be providing bins where holiday lights and extension cords can be recycled.

Clean out your decorations stash and make room for new lights and supplies by recycling the old. northfieldparks.org

NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 12

17TH ANNUAL INCHWORKS SHOW WHERE: Community House, Winnetka The North Shore Art League is currently hosting its 17th Annual Inchworks Show. More than 115 pieces of art are being featured in the second-floor gallery of the Community House in Winnetka. Art is available for purchase and proceeds will go to the North Shore

Art League. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. villageofwinnetka.org

NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 15

THE GREAT SNOWFLAKE SEARCH WHERE: Wilmette Historical Museum The first snowflakes were photographed by a man named Snowflake Bentley, proving that no two are alike.

Join the Wilmette Historical Museum in a scavenger hunt to find all the snowflakes.

This event runs through February 15. Children ages 3 and younger can pick up a free scavenger hunt board at the Museum or Youth Services Department at the Wilmette Public Library to get started. The hunts begin at 9 a.m. wilmettehistory.org

NOW THROUGH JANUARY 21

WINTER CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL WHERE: Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music The annual Winter Chamber Music Festival is back for its 27th year. This year’s lineup will feature six performances, including the Balourdet Quartet and the Grammy-Award winning Parker Quartet. There will be music from Classical and Romantic-era composers as well as the works of Chicago Symphony Orchestra composer Jessie Montgomery and award-winning composer Thomas Adés.

Single tickets are $30 for the public and $10 for full-time students with valid IDs. music.northwestern.edu

NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 13

Book release party at The Book Stall THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Cinderella

“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 1977-1980,” celebrates Sweet’s work as a tribute to those who lived during that time. The exhibit will run through October 13, 2024. ilholocaustmuseum.org

NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 25

ENRICHING LIFE EXHIBIT WHERE: Brushwood Center Join the Brushwood Botanical Artists for the 9th Annual Botanical Art Exhibit: “Enriching Life” open now through February 25.

This fantastic art gallery provides a colorful respite from the wintery grays seen this time of year. The exhibiting artists are current and former students of Heeyoung Kim, founder of the Heeyoung Kim Botanical Art Academy. brushwoodcenter.org

JANUARY 21

KENILWORTH BINGO WHERE: Stuart Memorial Building Enjoy a Sunday afternoon with a few rounds of Bingo at the Kenilworth Histori-

cal Society. Participants will learn about Kenilworth’s history while playing on custom bingo cards that feature historical photographs. Prizes will be awarded to winners.

Registration is required on the Historical Society’s website and is $5 per person and is free for members. Bingo will run from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. kenilworthhistory.org

JANUARY 21

LOST IN AMERICA WHERE: Wilmette Historical Museum Discover the photography of historic buildings in Richard Cahan and Michael Williams’ book, ‘Lost in America: Photographing the Last Days of our Architectural Treasures.’ Cahan will be hosting a lecture at the Wilmette Historical Museum from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The book covers a large collection of buildings preserved in photographs dating back to the 1930s. The lecture will be preceded by a brief meeting of the Wilmette Historical Society. The event is free and participants can register on the Museum's website. Walk-in guests are also welcome to attend. wilmettehistory.org

JANUARY 21

BOOK RELEASE PARTY AND ANNIVERSARY WHERE: The Book Stall The Book Stall hosts Christopher Eilopoulos, author of “I Am Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” for a book release party. This event begins at 3 p.m. and celebrates the 32nd installment of The New York Times bestseller “I Am” series. This event is free with registration. thebookstall.com

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 10

ROSSINI’S CINDERELLA WHERE: Lyric Opera Experience the timeless classic of Cinderella at the Lyric Opera from January 21 to February 10. Rossini’s romantic comedy tells the tale of Angelina, who endures the horrible treatment of her father, Don Magnifico, and falls in love with a prince disguised as a valet. The musical score is conducted by Yi-Chen Lin in her Lyric Opera debut.

There will be seven matinee performances and a running time of 3 hours and 10 minutes with one intermission.

This show will be sung in Italian and feature English captions projected above the stage. lyricopera.org Continues on PG 6

SATURDAY JANUARY 20 | SUNDAY JANUARY 21 2024 |

5

Continued from PG 5

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 18

MUSIC INSTITUTE OPEN HOUSES WHERE: North Shore locations Join the Music Institute of Chicago for four open houses in Chicago, Lake Forest, Winnetka, and Evanston. Musicians of all ages and professions are welcome to try different instruments, speak with faculty and campus staff, learn about class and lesson options, and receive discount offers. Rolling admission is available for private instruction and the Spring semester group classes begin January 29. The Open Houses will be on January 21, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Evanston East Campus, January 27, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Chicago, February 4, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Forest’s campus, and February 18, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at

NEWS Winnetka campus. musicinst.org

JANUARY 22

PJ STORYTIME WHERE: Highland Park Public Library Put on pajamas and join Highland Park Library for a family story time. This event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature songs, stories, and more. Registration isn’t required, but space is limited.

Participants can check in at the Youth Department desk at 6 p.m. Stories are best suited for children 3 to 5 years old, but all ages are welcome. hplibrary.org

JANUARY 22 AND 26 ADULT CRAFT CLASS: HAND-QUILTED PINCUSHIONS WHERE: Glencoe Public Library Spend an evening crafting a hand-quilted pincushion and add some color to your winter. This program runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

on January 22 and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on January 26.

Sewing experience is helpful but not required and materials will be provided. Register on the library’s website. glencoelibrary.org

JANUARY 22 AND 29

SHORT & SWEET: TEAPOT WHERE: Evanston Public Library Celebrate National Hot Tea Month with a take home craft kit at the Evanston Public Library. Each kit includes a short story and a simple teapot craft. Kits are available while supplies last.

This program is for children and families. epl.org

JANUARY 22 AND 29

SCAVENGER HUNT: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WHERE: Evanston Public Library Join Evanston Public Library for its monthly scavenger hunt. This month features a search to find musical instruments. Find all

the pictures in the Children’s Room in order to enter a raffle for a chance to win a fun prize. This program is for families and children. epl.org

JANUARY 23

GARDENING CAN BE MURDER WHERE: Zoom Spend your Tuesday night with garden writer and bestselling author Marta McDowell as she discusses her latest book, “Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers.”

This event will be held on Zoom from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and registration is required. glencoelibrary.org

JANUARY 25

LAKE FOREST/LAKE BLUFF CHAMBER BUSINESS BREAKFAST WHERE: Deer Path Inn Join the Lake Forest/ Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce for its an-

6 | SATURDAY JANUARY 20 | SUNDAY JANUARY 21 2024

nual Business Breakfast. This year’s event will feature the presentation of the 2024 Community Leadership Award, the introduction of the 2024 Board of Directors, and the annual “State of Towns” presentation by Jason Wicha and Drew Irvin. The Community Leadership Award’s honoree is Melichar Architects of Lake Forest.

This event is from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and reservations are required. The cost is $40 and breakfast is included. lflbchamber.com

JANUARY 27

ELEPHANT & PIGGIE PARTY WHERE: Highwood Public Library Spend a Saturday with Elephant and Piggie at Highwood Public Library (HWPL). This program is from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and includes books, games, and tons of fun. Registration is free. highwoodlibrary.org

JANUARY 27

“LET’S PLAY!” WHERE: Joseph Sears School The Alliance for Early Childhood is partnering with Joseph Sears School, Kenilworth District 38, and the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library to host a “Let’s Play!” cardboard design event. Children will design their own cardboard creations and the Alliance will provide cardboard and other tools for these ideas to come to life. This event runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and registration is required. theallianceforec.org

JANUARY 27

PAT TOMASULO WHERE: James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts Enjoy an evening of comedy with Chicago-based comedian Pat Tomasulo at 8 p.m. on January 27. Tomasulo is a host of the WGN Morning News and his

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

NEWS

JANUARY 28 TO FEBRUARY 18

Pat Tomasulo

comedy shows bring the average person’s perspective to the stage through hilarious observations, stories, and commentary. Tickets are $32, $28 for seniors and military, and $15 for students. clcillinois.edu

JANUARY 28

MUSIC AT THE FORT RECITAL WHERE: Midwest Young Artists Conservatory

Enjoy an evening of music at the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory at Fort Sheridan. This recital is one of six monthly performances to be held. The performers will include winners of the 2023 Walgreens National Concerto Competition.

Wine and cheese will be served. The concert is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and tickets are $10. mya.org

JANUARY 30

ILLINOISE WHERE: Chicago Shakespeare Theater Chicago Shakespeare Theater debuts a new musical, Illinoise, based on Sufjan Steven’s concept album.

Illinoise is a genre-bursting experience that inspires hope. There will be an ASL dual performance on February 9 at 7 p.m. chicagoshakes.com

PIN TOGETHER YOUR GENEALOGICAL PAST WHERE: Zoom Join genealogist Debra Dudek for a Zoom program through Lake Forest Library. From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. learn how to use Pinterest to sort, share, and promote your genealogical projects.

This program is free for participants and reservation is required. lakeforestlibrary.org

JANUARY 30

FEBRUARY 1

TEDXWILMETTE SALONS WHERE: Wilmette Theatre Leading up to the TEDxWilmette April 2024 event, the Wilmette Theatre is holding several salons featuring Ted Talks from 2023.

This month, Lizzy Appleby’s “Say What’s True: Everyday Bravery Can Change The World” salon will be held on January 30. It will run from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. and will be followed by a moderated discussion. tedxwilmette.com

1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN CONTINUES WHERE: Lake Bluff Public Library Start your child’s reading journey with the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. It will help children learn key building blocks to literacy and language fluency. By reading aloud, children build social and emotional skills, spark creativity and imagination,

and encourage bonding.

Interested parties can sign up in the Youth Services Department. lakeblufflibrary.org

FEBRUARY 2

THE REAL PRETENDERS WHERE: Kenilworth Assembly Hall The Kenilworth Assembly Hall presents The Real Pretenders concert.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $20.

There will be a cash bar and the doors open at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased on Kenilworth’s Park District’s website. calendar.kenilworthparkdistrict.org

FEBRUARY 3

SWASHBUCKLING SOUSA FAMILY CONCERT WHERE: The Church of the Holy Spirit Musicians of the International Chamber Artists present a family concert featuring a musically scripted program with regimented

trumpets and heroic horns.

This program will be held at 11 a.m. at The Church of the Holy Spirit. There will be a special guest appearance by Rosie the Riveter. icamusic.org

FEBRUARY 6

A CONVERSATION WITH JERRY CRAFT WHERE: Lake Bluff Public Library Join cartoonist, author, and illustrator Jerry Craft in a conversation about life, art, and telling your story.

Jerry is known for his books “Mama’s Boyz” and “New Kid.” This program will run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is open to kids, teens, and adults. lakeblufflibrary.org To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.

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LIFESTYLE & ARTS ONCE UPON A TIME

From PG 1

BY ANN MARIE SCHEIDLER THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

When Anna Chadwick Gardner was a young professional living in New York in the late 1990s, she knew she had a story to tell.

“I graduated from Tulane with a degree in finance, and the job market was booming,” says Gardner, who now lives in Winnetka with her husband and three children. “There were so many job opportunities that I decided to move to New York City and see what I could do.”

Gardner then spent several years working in management consulting. Yet, even as her star was clearly on the rise, Gardner felt adrift. “I had always thought that writing and journalism would be part of my career path in some way—but as I moved forward in consulting, I moved further away from this idea,” she says. “Crunching numbers and creating spreadsheets wasn’t what I wanted to be doing. I couldn’t let go of the thought that there was something more for me.”

So, she made the decision to pivot professions and moved to Chicago to get her master’s degree at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.

When Gardner graduated from Medill, she accepted an associate producer role with Kurtis Productions, a Chicago-based production company founded in 1987 by award-winning journalist and Chicago legend, Bill Kurtis. Kurtis, along with his partner Donna LaPietra, created the company as a way to tell riveting, inspiring, informative, and provocative stories.

crime shows. We were producing 30 episodes a year—30 hours of programming per year. I was traveling out of town on shoots two weeks a month. That’s insane when I think about it today.

But we had an incredible team, and we were so proud of the work we were doing.”

Gardner went on to produce more than 30 documentaries in her nearly 20 years with Kurtis Productions. They have aired on networks including CNBC, A&E, Discovery, and Investigation Discovery. Show credits also include CNBC’s American Greed, a documentary series Gardner helped launch back in 2007, which is now in its 15th season. She was the producer and writer for the widely popular documentary Fyre Festival about Billy McFarland, who

Gardner on location

“It was a great job, but I had to pay my dues and work my way up,” Gardner remembers. And she did so quickly.

It was at Kurtis Productions where Gardner began to hone her craft as a documentarian working on the Emmy-nominated series Cold Case Files.

“Talk about an amazing training ground,” she says. “Cold Case Files was the first of its kind—not like today where there are tons of true

fraudulently launched a luxury music festival in the Bahamas, as well as story producer for The Decline of a Dynasty, a docuseries about the Murdaughs, a prominent South Carolina family that was brought down by murder and greed.

“Frauds, schemes, and con stories are certainly having a moment,” Gardner says. “Viewers can’t seem to get enough.”

Gardner approaches all her projects with skill, curiosity, and authenticity. She navigates complex

subject matters ranging from serial fraudsters and FBI agents to families of murder victims and survivors of heinous sexual assault to politicians and CEOs. “To say working in television production can be intense would be understating it,” says Gardner in her gentle, but authoritative way.

When you hear her speak, it’s easy to imagine that she astutely manages tight budgets—and even tighter deadlines—while still being a joy to work with.

After the birth of Gardner’s first daughter, she took on more of a freelance role with Kurtis.

“Bill and Donna have always been so good to me,” she says. “Kurtis has been like a second home. I was fortunate to be able to raise my kids, but also have rewarding work that I could continue to return to.”

With the arrival of her third child, Gardner knew it was time to take a little break. She and her husband moved to Winnetka and became immersed in the North Shore community that has been home to her extended family for years.

“When I was ready to go back after a fouryear hiatus, I decided to start my own venture,” Gardner says. “I kind of had to reinvent myself and put myself out there in a new way.”

Gardner launched her production company—Gardner Productions. “Having my own company gave me the freedom to take on new projects,” she says. Under her eponymous shingle, she created productions for streaming, corporate, and nonprofit clients including Hulu, Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago, and the Chicago Cubs.

“I was doing all of this great work when I got a referral from a colleague that PBS/WTTW needed an executive producer for the Emmy Award-winning documentary series Chicago Stories,” Gardner explains. “The timing was all wrong, but I was offered the job and decided to take a risk. It was supposed to be an eightmonth gig, but that was 17 months ago and we were just renewed for another season.”

As the Executive Producer, Gardner oversees the entirety of the series’ creation—from research

8 | SATURDAY JANUARY 20 | SUNDAY JANUARY 21 2024

and development to story pitching, budgeting, field producing, scripting, managing deadlines, interfacing with legal and promotional teams, and managing the post-production process.

“Chicago Stories has been a lot,” she explains.

“The role is challenging, and it was hard not to get in my head about the responsibilities and expectations. But it’s been some of the most satisfying production work of my career.”

The latest season of Chicago Stories premiered this fall to rave reviews. The eight episodes range from a heartbreaking profile of the 1958 Our Lady of the Angels School fire where 92 children perished to Candy Capital, a fun and sweet look through the candy companies that began in Chicago (think Mars, Wrigley, Brach’s), to a look at Mayor Richard J. Daley’s ambitious urban renewal plan that reshaped and modernized downtown, but also displaced poor communities and perpetuated racial segregation. If you missed them, the films are streaming on the PBS app and at wttw.com/chicagostories.

Gardner credits part of the success of working on this series to the fact that PBS/WTTW is a publicly funded station. “At PBS/WTTW, it’s truly about the content. It’s about finding and telling a really good story. The metrics and ad dollars don’t dictate the work we do. That’s an incredible gift.”

While Gardner continues to grapple with the push and pull of balancing motherhood with a successful career, she is grateful to have built a personal and professional life that allows her the flexibility to be fully engrossed in her family while producing television she’s immensely proud of.

“I don’t know what my career will look like in two years, or five years, or 10 years down the road,” she says. “But I could never have predicted that taking that chance on myself and switching careers would have brought me to where I am today. Life keeps me guessing and that’s a good thing.”

To learn more about Anna Chadwick Gardner, visit gardner-productions.com.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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9

LIFESTYLE & ARTS #HASHTAG EDITED BY DUSTIN O'REGAN ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

Currently, I have several books go-

ing, each offering a unique perspec-

Artist JACLYN MEDNICOV engages in painting, sculpture, and installation—exploring the concept of transformation and the evolution of memories over time. Employing nature as her primary medium, she incorporates plants to imprint various textures onto surfaces to create impressions. The surfaces then serve as the basis for constructing her tactile artworks in both clay and paint. Her latest ceramics and paintings, created during a residency at the European Ceramic Workcentre, will be showcased in a solo exhibition at Goldfinch Gallery in Chicago, running through February 24. Educationally, Jaclyn Mednicov holds a BFA from the University of Kansas, an MA in Studio Arts from Eastern Illinois University, and an MFA in Painting and Drawing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has participated in residencies at notable institutions including Vermont Studio Center, Ragdale Foundation, SEA Foundation, and European Ceramic Workcentre. Her solo and two-person exhibitions span locations like PLHK in Chicago, The SEA Foundation in Tilburg, and Tarble Arts Center in Charleston, Illinois. Mednicov’s artistic endeavors have garnered recognition in publications such as New American Paintings, Sheridan Road, Printmaking Today, and Luxe Interiors + Design. Currently, she serves as a lecturer in the Painting and Drawing Department at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. For more information about Jaclyn Mednicov visit jaclynmednicov.com. For more information about her solo exhibition, visit goldfinch-gallery.com.

tive. Among them are Stella Maris by

Cormac McCarthy, a work that delves

into its own distinct narrative, Survival

in Auschwitz by Primo Levi, providing a poignant account of resilience amid adversity, and Motherhood by Sheila Heti, exploring the complexities of maternal

identity. Despite their differences, each book is fantastic.

#ON MY MOBILE

When using my mobile, I often check

BBC to stay updated on global events.

Occasionally, I browse Instagram to

stay connected with the art world and keep up with updates from friends,

family, and colleagues. And most importantly, recipes. I love to cook!

#IN MY EARBUDS

There's an abundance of podcasts in my playlist! I particularly enjoy listening to artist interviews on shows like Sound

& Vision, Talk Art, About Art by Heidi

Zuckerman, and A brush with... Addi-

tionally, I delve into broader topics with podcasts like The Ezra Klein Show and The Daily. When it comes to music, I

often explore Spotify playlists, immersing myself in the nostalgic decades like the ‘70s and ‘80s.

10 | SATURDAY JANUARY 20 | SUNDAY JANUARY 21 2024

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Highland Park resident Linda S. had been experiencing the painful side effects of Peripheral Neuropathy, “my feet and legs were extremely painful and my doctor told me there was nothing they could do. That I would have to take Gabapentin for the rest of my life.”

Then she met Dr. Su.

P

“He Saved My Life”

eripheral Neuropathy is the pain, discomfort and numbness caused by nerve damage of the peripheral nervous system. Linda explained that daily tasks like opening doors and using the bathroom were overwhelminglypainful. “How can you live for the next 30 years when

you don’t even want to get out of bed to do simple things?”

Linda hasn’t worn socks in five years and was wearing shoes two sizes too big so that nothing would ‘touch’ her feet. She was experiencing the burning, numbness, tingling,and sharp pains that those suffering from neuropathy often describe.

“The way that I would describe it, it’s equivalent to walking on glass.”

Unfortunately Linda’s story is all too familiar for the over 3 million people suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy.

If you are unfortunate enough to be facing the same disheartening prognosis, you’re not sleeping at night because of the burning in your feet. You have difficulty walking, shopping, or doing any activity for more than 30 minutes because of the pain. You’re struggling with balance and living in fear that you might fall. Your doctor told you to ‘just live with the pain’ and you’re taking medications that aren’t working or have terrible side effects.

Fortunately, four months ago Linda read an article about a new type of clinic in Northfield that works with difficult to treat cases such as Peripheral Neuropathy sufferers, without invasive surgeries and medications.

Dr. Kuan Su, DACM, L.Ac., Dipl.OM founder of Acupuncture North Clinic is using the time-tested science of Acupuncture and technology originally developed by NASA that assists in increasing the blood flow and expediting recovery and healing to treat this debilitating disease.

“Now when I go to bed at night I don’t have those shooting pains. I don’t have that burning sensation. I don’t have pain coming up my legs,” Linda enthusiastically describes life after receiving treatment with Dr. Su. “I can wear socks and shoes!”

Now Linda and her sister operate a successful dog walking business, sometimes covering up to 5 miles a day. “It’s life altering. As far as I’m concerned, Dr. Su saved my life!”

Dr. Su has been helping the senior community for over 10 years using innovative integrative medicine. Specializing in chronic pain cases, specifically those that have been deemed ‘hopeless’ or ‘untreatable’, he consistently generates unparalleled results.

What was once a missing link in senior healthcare is now easily accessible to the residents of Northfield and the surrounding Northshore area. If you missed too many tee times because of pain or you’ve passed on too many games of pickleball because you’re afraid of falling, it is time to call Kuan at Acupuncture North Clinic.

Dr. Su is now accepting a limited number of new patients. In an effort to protect his patients, both Call (847) 868-0408 to schedule an initial consultation or visit acupuncturenorthclinic.com

current and future, he has made the difficult decision to limit the number of patients seen in his clinic.

1 9 1 WAUK E GA N RD SU I TE 1 2 0

It’s time you let your golden years BE GOLDEN!

N O RT HF I E L D , I L 6 0 0 9 3

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Only 8 new neuropathy patients will be accepted before the end of January 2024.

SATURDAY JANUARY 20 | SUNDAY JANUARY 21 2024 |

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A PERFECT SWISH LIFESTYLE & ARTS

NORTH SHORE FOODIE

Michael Jordan and his teammates from the Bulls dynasty years were inducted into the Ring of Honor recently in celebration of their contributions to the franchise. Raise a toast to “His Airness” with a field trip to Michael Jordan’s Steak House in Oak Brook—a restaurant as impressive as the former Highland Park resident’s NBA legacy.

The vibe is casual and family-friendly.

BY PETER AND KATE MICHAEL THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

There’s no use burying the lead: Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse may be the most-impressive athlete-owned restaurant concept in the country.

Elway. Arnie. Ditka. Brett Favre. They’re goldjacket legends, one and all, but not a single one would make my list of hall-of-fame restaurateurs.

When, after all, was the last time you ate at a restaurant with an athlete’s name on the marquee and didn’t feel the sudden urge to burn his or her jersey in effigy afterwards?

Let’s be honest: Most athlete-run grilles and cocktail lounges are glorified tourist traps.

I’ve eaten more sawdust-flavored burgers at sports bars owned by baseball players than I care to admit. I’ve eaten at restaurant run by championship golfers and Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks and guys who’ve hoisted the Stanley cup. In almost every case, I exited wishing I’d made a field trip to Hardee’s and

Photography by Ian McLeod

the nostalgia regarding MJ’s glory days acting as little more than feel-good reminder of glory days past.

I don’t think we were prepared, for instance, to love executive chef Cein Cid’s crab cake as much as we did. Visually speaking, it’s a stunner. It’ll arrive at your table looking like a perfectly baked Southern biscuit. It’ll stand two standard ring molds high, pan-friend and bronzed around its edges as if it’s been dipped in a lacquer of freshly browned butter.

23-layer chocolate cake

Prime Delmonico steak with balsamic ginger jus

they’d had the good sense to stick with their day job.

And then there’s MJ’s in Oakbrook. This one’s different—an outlier. I’d go so far as to say it’s a baller of a restaurant, which had us, by evening’s end, walking on air.

What you won’t find at MJ’s is your typical fireplace-and-cherrywood ambiance. MJ’s isn’t that kind of steakhouse. The vibe is more casual and family friendly. The color scheme of the restaurant—midnight meets maroons—was clearly inspired by the Bulls black and red unforms. Entire walls are devoted to black-andwhite photos of MJ in various stages of flight.

And on some nights, the kitchen staff gifts diners posters of Jordan emblazoned with the letters G.O.A.T. to remind everyone who is the greatest basketball player of all time.

Yet MJ’s manages to celebrate the achievements of its famous namesake without devolving into slavish sentimentality or overt hagiography. The food is the real lure, while

Crack into that thin veneer of crust and you’ll get at all the glory: sweet tangles and feathershaped bits of crab meat, which tumble down to the plate into a miniature pool of Meyer lemon aioli.

There are no cheap fillers—the goop and glue used by so many lesser steakhouses —to be found anywhere to be found in this preparation.

This is exactly what you want from a steakhouse crab cake. Waves of flavor. First comes the crunch of that that pan-seared skin.

Then the sweet spray of briny crab meat. And then a final undercurrent of citrus, delicate as a spritz of fresh-squeezed lemon. Good luck finding a more satisfying crab cake this side of the Florida Keys.

I’d argue that the two seafood offerings we ordered at MJ’s were every bit as impressive as its signature steaks. Our Lake Superior whitefish—two meaty oversize fillets—came drizzled with preserved lemon and brown butter. But ultimately, it was the dish’s briny relish—a piquant mash-up of caperberries, roasted almonds and tiny bits of fingerling potatoes—that I wanted to take home and bottle up for our next family fish fry.

I’m not sure there’s anything on MJ’s appetizer list I wouldn’t order again. Slabs of double-cut bacon candied with maple syrup.

A stellar Wagyu meatball platter. And, most impressive of all, the house’s signature garlic bread: Crispy planks of ciabatta bread, rubbed with garlic and glistening with oil. They’re stacked like a Jenga tower and then moated by thin blue-cheese dipping sauce, which tastes like a cross between a high-end Big Mac sauce and buttermilk-gorgonzola salad dressing.

The Cornerstone Restaurant Group licenses or operates five different MJ steakhouse locations, which run the gamut from a Michigan Avenue outpost in downtown Chicago to a global entry in South Korea. The restaurant is known for its “Steakmanship” program, a collection of premier steaks includes a 10-ounce Australian wagyu New York strip and $200-plus surf-and-turf steak flight, complete with butter-poached lobster and roasted garlic shrimp. Everything on that particular list is a special, but I’ve always been partial to MJ’s signature steak: a 45-ounce dryaged porterhouse.

The steaks at MJ’s are seasoned with kosher salt and black pepper, warmed to your desired temp, and then hit with the kitchen’s secret weapon: a brown butter-beef fat coating, which is twice as glorious as sounds.

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MJ’s dry-aged ribeye is one seriously unctuous steaks. Ours was encrusted with a slightly charred crust; a slightly pink ring of seared beef beneath it and an iron-red in the middle. If you opt for any dry-aged cut, expect all that beautifully controlled dehydration to give off a distinctive and delicious lilt of muskiness and campfire smokiness.

We recommend you pair your steak with the starch of your choice—perhaps the fourcheese mac & cheese made from a blend of sharp cheddar, Grana Padano; American and mozzarella. And then finish the evening by ordering a slice of the house’s decadent 23-layer cake—inspired, of course—by the number MJ work on the back of his jersey.

I don’t care if you’re a die-hard “Bad Boys Era” Pistons fan, who’s assembled the world’s largest collection of Bill Laimbeer bobbleheads.

Or if you laid down a massive wager that the Jazz would beat the Bulls in the 1998 championship. Or if you’re a charter member of the LeBron James Society, and have dedicated your life to getting into fiery Twitter spats with anyone who claims Jordan is the true NBA G.O.A.T. If you’re a beef eater—or a seafood lover— MJ’s Steak House is going to deliver nothing but net.

Michael Jordan’s Steak House is located 1225 W 22nd St, Oak Brook. 630.828.2932, michaeljordansteakhouse.com

JUMPMAN This may be the most iconic cocktail in Oak Brook. A frothy egg-white foam is spray painted with MJ’s famous Jumpman silhouette. It also happens to be one of the few pear-flavored tequila drinks I’d ever whip up at home.

Imagine a pisco sour cross-bread with an Asian pear martini. Trust us, it’ll make you fly.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

BEACH, PLEASE

Snag a faux glow for winter break.

EDITED BY ALLISON DUNCAN

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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New Listing 1476 Scott Avenue, Winnetka

Open Sunday, January 21st 2:00 -4:00

$975,000 This well built 3+ bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home is located in a prime Hubbard Woods locale near schools, town, parks and train. The open floor plan includes large, sunny rooms including a kitchen which opens beautifully to the family room which overlooks the back patio and yard plus a fabulous opportunity in the large unfinished basement with fireplace and high ceilings.

Attached garage is an added bonus!

Joanne Hudson 847.971.5024 joanne.hudson@compass.com

Laura McCain 847.347.4630 laura.mccain@compass.com

The Joanne Hudson Group is a team of Real Estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed Real Estate broker with a principal office in Chicago, IL and abides by all applicable Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, and changes without notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of Real Estate brokerage.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY JANUARY 20 | SUNDAY JANUARY 21 2024 |

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FRONT AND CENTER S U N D AY B R E A K FA S T

Former top-notch hockey center Bob Apter serves as president of the Northern Illinois Hockey League, a top-shelf consortium that shoots to provide highly competitive—and joyful—shifts for all of its skaters.

BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

Bob Apter was a pass-first, shoot-second hockey center when his adult league team needed him to be a shoot-often skater in a game decades ago.

So, he acquiesced, pummeling the puck past a goaltender seven times. The score stood Apter 7, Opposing Team 3 when Apter, a true-to-his-word guy, exited the rink in the middle of the game and changed into his civvies. He had a first date with a woman named Cindy. They hit it off that night.

His hockey team?

It hit rock bottom without its sensational center, blowing that four-goal lead and losing 8-7.

But Bob and Cindy would each net a spouse in 1994, when they said “I do” to each other. They raised five children, or exactly five-sixths of a starting hockey lineup. Their names: Robert, Ryan, Rachael, Randy, and Russell. Sing it: We ‘R’ family. Bob’s second family is a considerably larger bunch, one that owns enough hockey equipment to pack the insides of a pair of airplane hangars.

It’s the Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL), for which Apter has served as volunteer president since around 2016.

The NIHL boasts more than 50 youth travel hockey organizations and more than 300 teams, with the mission of “providing a competitive and enjoyable hockey experience for players throughout Illinois and surrounding states.”

North Shore- and near-North Shorebased travel hockey orgs in the NIHL, which turned 54 years old last fall, include those in Winnetka, Wilmette ( Jr. Trevians), Deerfield (Falcons), Glenview (Stars), Vernon Hills (Ice Dogs), Northbrook (Bluehawks), and Skokie/Evanston (Mammoth).

“I could skate before I could walk, and I loved hockey right away,” says the 56-yearold Apter, whose father, John, claims Bob was named after Chicago Blackhawks great Bobby Hull, and whose mother, Sherry, insists her son was named after her grandfather. “I still love hockey, especially at the youth level. I’m still in touch with three, maybe four, dozen of my former youth hockey teammates.

“It has always been important to NIHL leadership that male and female players, no matter their level, get to experience maxi-

mum enjoyment combined with balanced, competitive hockey,” the Orland Park native adds.

The NIHL is the largest youth hockey league in Illinois and the second largest in the U.S. What also separates it from other Land of Lincoln hockey leagues is its partnership with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The NIHL stages several of its year-ending tournament finals in February at United Center (UC), home of the Blackhawks.

Six NIHL championships—three Premier Select (ages 10-14), two College Junior Prep, and the Girls’ Division (1619)—will be held at UC on February 18. Several other NIHL squads will square off for titles at Inwood Ice Arena in Joliet on February 16-18 and February 23-25. An NIHL College Junior Prep team is scheduled to face a Wounded Warriors contingent at Inwood Ice Arena on February 25.

“Seeing NIHL kids’ reactions after games on championship weekend is one of the rewards of being affiliated with the league,” says Apter, a past

NIHL vice president. “There’s nothing quite like hearing, several times, ‘That was the best experience ever.’ A grandmother of a player once told me, ‘Your league put on such a great show. I’d never seen my grandson as happy as he was on that weekend.’”

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson, 26, stands a towering 6-feet, 6-inches— sans skates. Back in his youth hockey days, anybody who stood 5-foot-11 or taller was a skyscraper in shoes to his eyes.

Thompson was an NIHL PeeWee Elite champion in 2009.

“I can’t express enough how essential fun and confidence are for any young hockey player,” Thompson says in a statement on NIHL’s website, nihl.info.

“These aspects played a significant role in developing my game. The competitiveness that the NIHL provides sets it apart from other leagues. There’s no overwhelming pressure to excel, (and the NIHL) gives you an opportunity to play the game you love alongside friends and

Bob Apter

Seeing NIHL kids’ reactions after games on championship weekend is one of the rewards of being affiliated with the league. There’s nothing quite like hearing, several times, ‘That was the best experience ever.’

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competitors.”

Apter’s father coached men’s hockey and taught mathematics at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. Bobby Apter tagged along with Daddy Apter at games and practices and started hanging out with MVCC hockey players at the age of 4 or 5.

He would become fluent in hockey-speak in no time. At 10, he debuted as a … skating instructor. Some two years later, he taught the skill to a boy named Alexi Giannoulias, the same Alexi Giannoulias who raised his right hand on January 9, 2023, as he was sworn in as Illinois’ 38th Secretary of State.

Apter attended Andrew High School in Tinley Park, where he slapped shots for the school’s club hockey team and smacked tee shots for the Thunderbolts’ golf program. He then majored in finance and “minored” in hockey at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Apter once paced the league in scoring and helped ITT capture the league championship in his junior season.

He worked as a runner for Shepard International at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange before clerking the soybean pit at the Chicago Board Options Exchange and continuing his career in finance with the Chicago-based options trading firm O’Connor & Associates (later acquired by Swiss Bank Corporation).

The longtime Chicago White Sox fan— Apter’s all-time favorite Sox player is Oscar Gamble, and he once caught a ceremonial first pitch from former Sox hurler Chris Sale—now wears two caps (CEO and CFO) for AMG Structures, LLC, a manufacturer based in Elkhart, Indiana.

“We have found that the most effective way to do business is simple: do the best you can every day and treat everyone the way you would like to be treated,” AMG’s website notes. “When business becomes a team effort, everyone wins.”

Simply replace “business” with “hockey” and it would read like the crux of an NIHL team’s mission.

“I’ve loved hockey all my life and I enjoy volunteering my time and energy for the NIHL,” Apter says. “And what I’m doing in my position of leadership is for the right reasons.

“The league’s primary goal,” he adds, “is to keep growing the players’ love for hockey.”

For more information about the Northern Illinois Hockey League, visit nihl.info.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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