The North Shore Weekend, October 3, 2020

FIND US ONLINE: DailyNorthShore.com

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

SUNDAY BREAKFAST

Grateful Dead fan Ilyse Strongin rocks at Ripple Public Relations in Highland Park P42

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LIFESTYLE & ARTS Inside Kristi Kohut's North Shore studio P34 FOLLOW US:

NO. 416 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION

HIGH FLYING MARKET LONG STAGNANT, THE MARKET FOR LUXURY HOMES ON THE NORTH SHORE HAS EXPLODED THIS SUMMER DUE TO HIGH DEMAND FOR LARGER LIVING SPACES.

Erica Conaty Goldman

Diana M. Peterson, Esq., President and CEO,

Diana M. Peterson, Esq., President and CEO,

Designated Managing Broker President & CEO AW Properties Global AW Properties Global BROKER DESIGNATED MANAGING

Designated Managing Broker

dianap@awproperties.com

dianap@awproperties.com

312.218.6102 dianap@awproperties.com 312.218.6102 312.218.6102

Erica Conaty Goldman Global Real Estate Advisor

Global Real Estate Advisor

Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty GLOBAL REAL ESTATE Jameson Sotheby’s International ADVISOR Realty egoldman@jamesonsir.com

egoldman@jamesonsir.com 773.682.0546

773.682.0546

egoldman@jamesonsir.com 773.662.0546

The historic Pabst Mansion at 443 Sheridan in Glencoe. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MANSUETO

Story on PG 16

MARKET RECAP NORTH S H OR E AUGUST 2 02 0

*

Winnetka

Wilmette

Kenilworth

Glencoe

New

7

14

6

12

Under Contract

11

21

7

8

Closed

51

64

10

36

105

106

308

76

Avgerage Market Time

The Fall market is in full swing with homes selling quickly. There is low inventory and high buyer demand. Contact Laura if you are looking to make a move. She is available to discuss pricing and marketing strategy to get your home from staged, listed to sold.

N E W T R I E R R E A L E S TAT E . C O M *MRED Source LLC 8/1/20-9/1/20

- ACCO M P L I S H M E N TS -

12 YEARS

MORE THAN

RANKED IN

$81 M

96%

IN CLOSED CAREER SALES**

AVERAGE LIST TO SALE PRICE***

TOP 5% O F R E A LT O R S ®

3 1 2 . 2 1 7. 6 4 8 3 laurafitzpatrick@atproperties.com

OF REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE

1100 Central Avenue Suite E | Wilmette, IL 60091

2

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

FOR 2019

BY NSBAR

**MRED Source LLC 9/1/2009-9/1/2020 ***Broker Metrics Past 12 months

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

work h ar d...

...at

312 WO O D L EY ROA D winnetka

play har d...

...at

111 WO O D L EY ROA D winnetka

$4,299,900 | 1+ Acre

$3,550,000 | 1+ Acre

or maybe...

The Ultimate

north shore luxury compound

do both?

A once-in-a-lifetime chance to own two Paul Konstant masterpieces

LuxuryWoodleyCompound.com

312.925.9899 | jradnay@atproperties.com *BrokerMetrics LLC, 1/1/19-12/31/19

For the inside scoop on new listings

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

@JenaRadnayRealEstate

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

3

OPEN HOUSE OCTOBER 4 | 12PM-2PM

Privacy and solitude on a level never before imagined. Custom designer’s own home situated on a spectacular 1 acre lot featuring cascading waterfalls, a magnificent swimming pool, jacuzzi spa and cabana. Luxurious first floor primary bedroom. Enjoy epic views of this magical property from every room.

To Learn More, Contact Us

847.878.5235 • 847.910.0146

JUST LISTED

4

1925 E M E R A L D W O O D S L A N E . I N F O

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Spectacular 3 year expansive gut-renovation of the former Pabst Manor Estate set on the only 2 plus acre lushly landscaped property in Glencoe.

Encompassing a wealth of modern luxurious amenities whilst preserving the property’s rich historic importance. A masterpiece like no other.

1

# AGENT IN

GLENCOE 2019*

Crain’s 2019 Notable Residential Real Estate Broker** 2020 Who’s Who in Chicagoland Residential Real Estate*** America’s Best REALTORS® 2020: Illinois Award**** Named Top 100 Real Estate Brokers by Chicago Magazine 2020†

For a Private Showing of This Upper Bracket Home, Call 847.878.5235

JUST LISTED

4 4 3 S H E R I D A N R OA D , G L E N C O E

*Source: BrokerMetrics LLC - #1 individual broker by sales volume in Glencoe 1/1/2019-12/31/2019 **Awarded by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of their 2019 Notable Residential Real Estate Brokers’ ***Awarded by Chicago Agent Magazine **** Awarded by The American Registry †Named one of Chicago’s Top 100 Real Estate Teams by Chicago Magazine. MRED SOURCE All residential sales 01/01/2019 - 12/31/2019

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

5

226 LAUREL AVE, WILMETTE IL 60091

OPEN SUNDAY

1-3 PM

East Wilmette...fabulously sited on a 75’ wide lot overlooking Canal Shores Golf Course this wonderfully updated and expanded home enjoys sweeping views of the golf course (from every room), privacy and a terrific neighborhood. The home features solid masonry construction, hardwood floors and a casually elegant circular floor plan. The center hallway flows easily throughout the main floor. The living room is surrounded on three sides by windows with lovely views. There is nicely sized formal dining room and a private office with built-ins. A perfectly designed addition seamlessly added a spacious wonderfully appointed kitchen and eating area with custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, and amazing counter space and storage. The adjacent family room is fabulous with vaulted ceiling, soaring windows and French doors opening to the deck.

The back hall mudroom accesses the attached 2 car garage and backyard. A distinctive curved staircase leads to the second floor where there are 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. The master suite is lovely, surrounded by windows and featuring a dressing area, walk-in closet and spa-like bath.

The 3 family bedrooms are well-sized bright and cheerful with big closets and many windows.

The basement is impeccably clean and bright w storage and laundry. There is a two car attached garage. The location is ideal...close to the beach, 4th and Linden, trains and downtown Wilmette.

VIEW ONLINE: 226LaurelAve.BHHSChicago.com

9 ROOMS 4 BEDROOMS 2.1 BATHROOMS $1,295,000

BETSY BURKE

847.565.4264

BBURKE@BHHSCHICAGO.COM

6

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

2130 IROQUOIS RD WILMETTE IL 60091

OPEN SUNDAY

1-3 PM

All the things you’re looking for in the always popular Kenilworth Gardens area. This great-looking classic red brick Georgian Colonial sits under large trees on a wide, quiet corner lot. The house has been carefully updated and impeccably maintained, it features a spacious main floor accented by hardwood floors, 7-foot windows and a wonderful circular flow. The center entrance foyer is flanked by generously-sized living and dining rooms. The well-sized family room has a gas fireplace and wet bar. The updated white kitchen with table area opens to a private deck and is adjacent to the first floor laundry/mudroom, a private office and an attached, 2-car garage.. The spacious 2nd floor features a master suite with large closets and updated bath with double vanities and a great shower. Three family bedrooms are exceptionally well-sized with big closets, they share a hall bath plus a bonus half bath. The basement is bright, cheerful and dry with finished rec room, storage areas, 2nd laundry. This home is in wonderful condition, the layout is comfortable and livable, the room sizes are great and the neighborhood is quiet yet convenient to all things Wilmette: schools, parks, transportation and shopping!

VIEW ONLINE: 2130IroquoisRd.BHHSChicago.com

10 ROOMS 4 BEDROOMS 2.2 BATHROOMS $915,000 VIRTUALLY STAGED

VIRTUALLY STAGED

BETSY BURKE VIRTUALLY STAGED

847.565.4264

BBURKE@BHHSCHICAGO.COM

© 2020 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

7

find your

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place

A BOUTIQUE TWIST ON SENIOR LIVING Modern apartments and maintenance-free living. Connection, community, and on-site care resources. Delight in boutique rental living that is uniquely Mather, in the heart of the North Shore.

Inquire today: MatherPlaceWilmette.com or (847) 999.4966

ATTEND OUR VIRTUAL EXPLORIENTATION!

OCTOBER 15 AT 1:00 P.M.

Learn about exclusive move-in offers, floor plans, pricing, and so much more!

Call (847) 999.4966 or visit matherplacewilmette.com to register.

10/20 PB NSW

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| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 20MAT047_MatherPlace_Comfy_Event_NSWeeknd.indd 1

2801 Old Glenview Road | Wilmette, IL THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND 9/22/20 2:24 PM

LUXURY. PRIVACY. SPACE. 1793 Reserve Court • Highland Park • $1,550,000

T

his beautiful piece of property, located on a cul-de-sac with only 7 neighbors, provides ultimate privacy. This gracious home with 5 bedrooms and 6 full bathrooms, includes an enormous eat-in kitchen with two large islands and tons of living space. Situated on .9 acres, you can enjoy your own private oasis with a large yard, including a stone paver patio overlooking the in-ground pool with waterfall, slide and laminar jets and invisible waterfall hot tub flowing into the pool. *Property is co-listed with Maxine Goldberg

312.391.3170 • carly.jones@evrealestate.com carlyjones.evrealestate.com

Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore

847.441.5730 • chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com 903 Green Bay Road • Winnetka, Illinois Some sales sold while affiliated with another brokerage. ©2020 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

9

WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING YOU HOME NOAH & JANET

Our business style is professional and high-touch.

We listen closely to our clients’ needs, aligning our strategies with their goals in mind. We both prize integrity and transparency, and we share a strong work ethic.

Noah Levy

Janet Karabas

312.203.2416 • noah.levy@evrealestate.com

847.331.2051 • janet.karabas@evrealestate.com

noahandjanetgroup.evrealestate.com • 903 Green Bay Road • Winnetka, Illinois Some sales sold while affiliated with another brokerage. ©2020 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

10

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

NEW SEASON. NEW BEGINNINGS. FALL IN LOVE WITH A NEW HOME...

Thinking about making a move? It is a great time to sell your home! Let us share what’s happening in your neighborhood, our local knowledge, and the elevated marketing that we offer. Contact us for a complimentary evaluation!

NOAH AND JANET Noah Levy

312.203.2416 • noah.levy@evrealestate.com noahandjanetgroup.evrealestate.com

Janet Karabas

847.331.2051 • janet.karabas@evrealestate.com

Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore

847.441.5730 • chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com 903 Green Bay Road • Winnetka, Illinois *Some sales sold while affiliated with another brokerage. ©2020 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

11

Chicago North Shore Portfolio of Fine Homes LA

KE

F

N RO

TL

OT JU

NE

W

TO

R MA

KE

NE

W

TO

R MA

KE

KENILWORTH

NORTHFIELD

$999,000 205 Latrobe Avenue 847.287.5114 Suzi Beu

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 12PM - 2PM NE

W

TO

R MA

KE

$1,075,000 847.372.6389

E CR 5A Y IN IT TS UN LO MM 4+ CO

T

HIGHLAND PARK

WINNETKA

D

$3,600,000 2550 N. Lakeview #S2803 $3,850,000 155 Melrose Avenue 773.908.3632 Andreas Holder 312.505.5142 Amy Rowe

T

2009 Skyelar Court Janis Kirshner

OL

LAKEVIEW

HIGHLAND PARK

75 Prospect Avenue Jennifer Ames

S ST

HIGHLAND PARK

$550,000 Heritage Development 773.495.4835 Ames & Arenson

$300,000 773.908.3632

Starting at

T

JEFFERSON PARK

WILMETTE

134 Green Bay Road #103 $250,000 4660 N. Austin Ave #101 $193,000 627 Ridge Road #305 Noah & Janet 312.203.2416 Monika Sobolewski 847.269.5300 Jackie Thom

$170,000 773.617.7361

Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore

847.441.5730 • chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com 903 Green Bay Road • Winnetka, Illinois Some sales sold while affiliated with another brokerage. ©2020 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

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| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

13

INDEX

NEWS 30 unbridled brio

New Trier Township High School sophomore Leigh Nanda is ready to gallop for gold

John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING Jennifer Sturgeon

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Wendy Franzen, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Sherry Thomas

32 north shorts

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

A trail of one's own

Allison Duncan, Mitch Hurst, Bill McLean

34 color me kohut

1500 N. LAKE SHORE DR. #6A

1448 N. LAKE SHORE DR. #19AB

$3,545,000

$3,200,000

DESIGN

Kristi Kohut takes a no rules approach to art

Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Amanda Alvarado ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

38 north shore

foodie Cider-steamed mussels usher in October

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATOR Robin Subar PHOTOGRAPHY Kirsten Ulve ILLUSTRATOR

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Mindy Kovco ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

ALL ADVERTISING INQUIRY INFO SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO 847.370.6940 & JENNIFER@JWCMEDIA.COM

42 sunday breakfast

FIND US ONLINE: DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM

Meet PR pro Ilyse Strongin, Ripple's co-founder

MB

ING • SEW E

R

P

LU

R AVINIA $2,485,000

$1,850,000

EA

• • • • •

ST JU CED DU RE

TIN

I

C

1500 N. LAKE SHORE DR. #7A

H

1304 N. RITCHIE CT.

G • ELEC

TR

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! © 2020 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND A PUBLICATION OF JWC MEDIA 445 SHERIDAN RD., HIGHWOOD, IL 60040

Recommended to keep things flowing

Faucets and fixtures Sumps and battery back-up pumps Sewers and drains Pipe repairs Water heaters

• • • •

24/7/365 emergency service Licensed and insured Major credit cards accepted/Financing available Discounts, extended warranties and expedited service through our Home Care Club • The North Shore’s most trusted name for plumbing, sewers, heating and cooling, and electrical service

O ily

wned Since

19

28

m

Fa

“I’ve lived on the North Shore for 62 years and you are the best I’ve experienced for plumbing.” ~ Winnetka customer 773.394.4717

1314 W. MONROE ST. $1,199,000

SUZANNEGIGNILLIAT.COM SUZANNEG@ATPROPERTIES.COM PL055-003586

RAVINIA PLUMBING, SEWER, HEATING & ELECTRIC

14

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

847-579-5274 RaviniaPlumbing.com THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

T H E R E ’ S N O P L AC E L I K E SO LD

SO LD

U N D E R CO NTR AC T

524 WOO D L AWN

82 9 G R E E NWOO D

2 60 O LD M I LL

home SO LD

1 0 8 3 E LM

SO LD

SO LD

SO LD

9115 E WI N G*

95 4 MAR IO N *

50 LI N D E N *

SO LD

SO LD

SO LD

SO LD

1 82 2 WI L SO N *

2 321 CLOVE R *

32 3 LECL AI R E *

2 20 0 E LMWOO D*

TOP 1% INDIVIDUAL BROKER IN THE NORTH SHORE & IN COOK COUNTY

TheotokosPanagia

TheotokosPanagia

2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014**

TOP 1% IN STATE OF ILLINOIS BY REAL TRENDS 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015***

CONNIE@CONNIEDORNAN.COM 847.208.1397

NAMED ONE OF CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS’ NOTABLE RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERS 2019 & 2018****

*Buyer side represented **Top 1% ranking based on closed sales volume in the North Shore and Chicago area, all companies. Based on information from MRED LLC for the period 01/1/2014-12/31/19. ***Top 1% in State of Illinois by Real Trends 2015-2019. This data is informational and cannot be guaranteed accurate. Data maintained by MRED LLC may not reflect all real estate activity in the market ****Awarded by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of their 2018 & 2019 Notable Residential.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

15

NEWS HIGH FLYING MARKET

From PG 1

BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

In early September, the iconic Mayflower Place (better known as the Schweppe Mansion) in Lake Forest sold for $5 million after spending 13 years on the market. The 28-room mansion is just one of many multimillion-dollar homes to sell in what has become nothing short of a North Shore luxury boom.

“Throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond, people are rediscovering the North Shore,” says Ann Lyon, broker for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services of Lake Forest, which has listed the Schweppe property for several years. “In Lake Forest, we have experienced buyers who are searching for space, land, and serenity—buyers who value the city’s natural beauty, dedicated open lands, historic downtown, and spectacular beachfront.”

The numbers don’t lie. In New Trier High School District, closings of properties valued at more than $2 million were up 59 percent in August 2020 over 2019 and are up 106 percent in September. In Glencoe, luxury sales were up 74 percent in August over last year and 80 percent in September. In Highland Park, more of the same: A 49 percent increase in August and a whopping 179 percent in September. In Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, there have been nine closings on homes over $3 million already in

Susan Maman with @properties recently listed this stunning 1925 Emerald Woods Lane property in Highland Park, featuring cascading waterfalls, pool, jacuzzi, and cabana.

2020 compared to just three all of last year.

The need for larger and more comfortable living spaces, preferably with amenities that help keep the fun at home, has city dwellers flocking to the North Shore, and suburbanites looking to upsize. Large houses and estates that have been on the market for years—or have come on and off the market multiple times—are selling. The result has been a tightening of the market due to both high-demand and a decrease in new luxury listings.

But a larger confluence of factors is giving the luxury market across the North Shore renewed appeal. The desire for couples and families to exit urban areas due to COVID19 and other considerations are driving up demand in the

16

market as a whole. The pandemic, and the uncertainty moving forward, is causing a serious rethink of what our lives are going to look like in the future.

North Shore real estate brokers say the current luxury buyers—ranging from young couples still waiting to have children to retired grandparents moving back to the community to be closer to their children or grandchildren—are being deeply mindful about their home searches and purchases knowing our world might never go back to the way it was.

“Buyers are beginning to think that our way of living Continues on PG 18

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Clancy Green | 815.382.0170

2 HOMES, 238 ACRE FARM

Randy Erwin | 815.900.2122

103 Lake Vista Cir | Fontana, WI | $980,000

Donna Brongiel | 262.581.6554 LAUDERDALE LAKEFRONT

W3888 Potter Rd | Elkhorn, WI | $2,299,000

THE CLIFFS OF FONTANA

N3697 Clowes Rd | Darien, WI | $1,350,000

Bob Webster | 262.949.1933 178 ACRE ESTATE

N2481 Forest Rest Ln | Lake Geneva, WI | $1,395,000

LAUDERDALE LAKEFRONT N7432 Country Club Dr | Lauderdale Lakes, WI | $1,200,000

25 ACRE HOBBY FARM

Mick Balestrieri | 262.949.3996

5985 Alvin Howe Rd | Lyons, WI | $1,175,000 T. Forbeck | 262.745.1145, J. Hartley | 262.745.3630 LAUDERDALE LAKEFRONT

Randy Erwin | 815.900.2122 4,200 SQFT CUSTOM HOME

18611 State Line Rd | Harvard, IL | $2,599,900

Rob Edwards | 262.903.0566 GENEVA LAKE ACCESS

Lt2 Highway NN | Lake Geneva, WI | $440,000

W5135 Sterlingworth Ct, #30 | Lauderdale Lakes, WI | $429,900

Jerry Kroupa | 262.949.3618 GENEVA LAKE ACCESS

EQUESTRIAN ESTATE

38.7 ACRE FARMLAND

SECOND CITY. SECOND HOME. SECOND TO NONE.

1114 Sauganash Dr | Fontana, WI | $499,900

Tom Martin | 262.215.0806

Tricia Forbeck | 262.745.1145

29 S Wisconsin St | Elkhorn, WI | $699,000 T. Martin | 262.215.0806, R. Edwards | 262.903.0566

GENEVA LAKEFRONT

W5725 Ridge Rd | Lauderdale Lakes, WI | $624,900

Clancy Green | 815.382.0170 11,000 SQFT APT BUILDING

W7478 & W7486 Martin Ln | Fort Atkinson, WI | $1,650,000

N1926 Bluff Ln | Geneva Lake, WI | $1,449,000

Bob Webster | 262.949.1933

800.690.2292 | keeferealestate.com Headquartered in Lake Geneva, WI since 1943, Keefe Real Estate has eight offices across Southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois and over eighty highly experienced agents to serve you. Our family-owned company is the market leader and has served Chicagoland buyers for 3 generations. With over forty lakes, dozens of charming towns, and boundless beautiful countryside, your perfect Wisconsin get-away awaits.

ILLINOIS REALTOR REFERRALS WELCOME AT 262.248.4492

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY SATURDAY SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 26 | 3SUNDAY | SUNDAY SEPTEMBER OCTOBER27 2020 4 2020 |

17

289 PROSPECT AVENUE HIG HLAN D PA RK AVA I L A B L E

Offered at $3,750,000 Built in 2005, this house HAS IT ALL! In-ground pool, indoor basketball court, exercise room, movie theater, and more! All this on 1-acre of beautifully landscaped yard located between town and the lake. 7,591 square feet above grade luxurious living and a total of 14,982 square feet.

BRI D G I N G CO NSTR U CTION K NOWL EDGE

with

R EAL ESTATE E X PE RTISE

TED PICKUS 847.417.0520 tedpickus@atproperties.com

18

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

815 LAUREL AVENUE #307 HIG HLAN D PA RK AVA I L A B L E

Offered at $1,049,000 MAGNIFICENT, GORGEOUS, AND SPECTACULAR are just a few words to describe this totally upgraded NEW condo.

The owners have left no stone unturned, and are very sad to leave having only lived in the condo for 6 months! Every interior finish has been upgraded along with the layout and design. This is a MUST-SEE spacious and open floor plan.

we are in this together. OU R

TEAM IS ALWAYS AVAIL ABL E. CON TACT US TODAY!

TED PICKUS 847.417.0520 tedpickus@atproperties.com

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

19

NEWS HIGH FLYING MARKET

From PG 16

really has changed and it’s going to change for a longer period of time,” says Susan Maman, a broker with @properties in Glencoe. “Some of these things we’re experiencing now may become permanent.”

Maman says luxury properties are particularly attractive at the moment because they offer space where guests can socially distance outdoors and indoors, and bedrooms are far away from each other on multiple finished floors for hosting friends and families overnight. The properties include many amenities that have become more appealing since the pandemic started.

“It’s not all young people, but I’m seeing young people who don’t have children buying these luxury homes,” Maman says. “They’re coming from the city and they’re creating a new lifestyle for themselves.”

While the migration to the North Shore from the city might be driven by practical considerations to the pandemic, Lori Neuschel, an @properties broker based in Wilmette, sees a deeper, more reflective force at work.

“People had two-and-a-half months sitting in their houses with their families and a lot of what I would call humanistic thinking took place,” Neuschel says. “I’ve never seen such a shift in thought about lifestyle priorities that I’ve seen in the last five months. And not just a change in thought; action has taken place, too.”

The issue of space extends beyond just room to roam. For those families that do have children, or for parents working at home, they need living spaces that meet the pressing, practical needs of our current times.

“The luxury market has picked up and is very strong, particularly around $2 million,” says Louise Eichelberger, with @properties in Winnetka. “In this environment, families want more interior space. They need it if they’re working from home, if they’ve got boomerang kids who are attending college from the base, or even grown kids living back home.”

Eichelberger adds that in addition to the need for space, proximity to the downtown areas of North Shore towns and being able to develop a sense of community is especially important

20

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

This luxury property at 68 Locust Road in Winnetka was listed by Jena Radnay of @ properties and closed in June. The home features a restaurant-quality bar, pool and spa, wine cellar, theater, and garages for nine cars. during times of uncertainty.

“What I find interesting is that it’s all community, village, and family based,” she says. “These are the right foundations of finding the right place in the world for you to live and raise your family and see your family.”

“The biggest factor today is needing amenities all under one roof,” says Ellen Chukerman, a broker with Baird and Warner in Highland Park. “Interest rates are a part of it, but having an office, a workout space, and outdoor space to entertain and be on the safer side is important.”

Scott Lackie, Designated Managing Broker with Griffith, Grant & Lackie in Lake Forest, says that whether COVID-related or not, a lot of what’s driving the current luxury market is couples and families simply deciding to speed up the decision they would have eventually made anyway.

Continues on PG 24

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

H I G H L A N D PA R K ’ S # 1 AG E N T, CLOSED LISTINGS AND UNITS FOR SALE

FOR SALE

3 6 2 9 N WAY N E AV E . | C H I C A G O

1 1 0 9 D E E R F I E L D P L . | H I G H L A N D PA R K

FOR SALE

SOLD

2223 W COURSE DR. | RIVERWOODS

1 0 5 SYC A M O R E P L . | H I G H L A N D PA R K

SOLD

SOLD

9 6 0 C A R LY L E T E R R . | H I G H L A N D P A R K

1 7 8 L A K E WO O D P L . | H I G H L A N D PA R K

1 4 9 9 S H E R I DA N R D. | H I G H L A N D PA R K | FO R S A L E

KPS

KAREN POTESHMAN SKURIE realtor KAREN.SKURIE@BAIRDWARNER.COM | 847.361.4687

01/01/2020 - 08/31/2020 All Construction Type: 35 Residential: (Detached Single, Attached Single) Broker Metrics

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

23

NEWS HIGH FLYING MARKET

From PG 20

“The people leaving urban areas are accelerating their decision to move north and making that decision a little bit sooner,” Lackie says. “There are probably four or five solid reasons why,” One of those reasons, Lackie points out, is the ongoing favorability of interest rates, which could be motivating buyers to lock into a mortgage on a home larger than they originally planned to purchase.

“You can’t ignore the interest rate environment.

It is definitely part of the equation,” Lackie says.

“Somebody can buy a house this year and if they’re under the same budget constraints from year-toyear can buy $75,000 to $100,000 more house due to favorable interest rates.”

Not only is this the year buyers can get more, they can still get a good deal. While the market has tightened, prices have not increased significantly. Karen Mason, an @properties broker in Glencoe, says from a pricing standpoint, buyers can’t look at the North Shore market as a singular one.

“Inventory is definitely low, and markets are hyperlocal, so some markets have lower inventory than others,” she says. “In some markets, the demand is driving up the price a little bit and in some markets the prices are still pretty flat.”

Jena Radnay, broker with @properties in Winnetka, also says it’s important to recognize differences in the luxury market on the North Shore, especially as the market has heated up.

“Luxury on the lake is one market and luxury not on the lake, that’s a second market. These two are very different markets,” Radnay explains. “This is a very big thing to understand.”

Radnay says that when she looks at the luxury lakefront market this year, she sees that houses have turned on the lake, attracting significant sums. That, in turn, drives the market away from the lake upward.

“We have a very good lake luxury market, and when you have a good lake luxury market you have an inland luxury market … $3 million to $5 million, that has really popped this year,” she says. “I think if anything, the luxury market has expanded.”

Radnay points out that high water levels on Lake Michigan, which is causing stress on decks and eating into private shoreline, is also a factor in buyers looking more inland on the North Shore.

In addition to prices staying relatively flat, another unusual aspect of the current luxury market is who’s buying. Peggy Glickman, with @properties in Glencoe, says she noticed a trend when the market started to take off.

“One of the things that I noticed pretty early on that I thought was really interesting was that there were buyers looking at substantially-sized homes who weren’t even married yet and didn’t have kids,” Glickman says. “It was interesting that we had these young couples looking at these big homes on the shore.”

While the market for older homes heats up, the custom home luxury market is along for the ride.

Meg Gallagher and Katie Hauser of the Meg + Katie Group, are seeing an uptick in demand for custom luxury homes in Wilmette, especially for buyers moving from Chicago who don’t want to be too from what brought them to the big city in the first place.

“We have two buyers who are moving from the city with their families due to COVID-19 and everything that’s happening,” Gallagher says. “Their intention was to move to the suburbs eventually, but it’s moved it along quicker. After looking at many houses in the $2 million range we hooked them up with a builder we work with and they are building a custom home based on their specific

24

This home at 289 Prospect in Highland Park was recently listed by Ted Pickus of @properties. Featuring a home theater and full-sized basketball court, it's just one of many sought after properties in a hot luxury market on the North Shore. needs, because their work environment has changed.”

“People are looking at homes differently, not just looking at home as a commodity,” adds Hauser.

“They’re looking at home as a place where they live,

and we think that’s what’s driving the luxury market and why people are willing to spend more.”

As with existing housing stock, the market for new construction luxury homes across the North Shore is tightening as well. Victoria Birov and

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

Steven Aisen are brokers with the Newgard Team at @properties North Shore and owners and operators of Newgard Custom Homes, which builds Continues on PG 26 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

FA B U LO U S E A S T W I L M E T T E P R O P E RT Y

1241 RICH MON D L AN E , WILM ET TE

$799,000

AM AZ ING VA LUE ON OV E RSIZ E D LOT 8 4 7. 2 2 6 . 5 7 9 4 LORINEUSCHEL.COM LO R I . N E U S C H E L @ AT P R O P E R T I E S . C O M

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

25

NEWS HIGH FLYING MARKET

From PG 24

luxury homes throughout the North Shore.

“New construction that stayed on the market— which we didn’t build—finally cleared, so we ran out of inventory very quickly,” Aisen says. “We had only one or two properties on the market at the beginning of the pandemic and those sold very quickly.”

The lack of inventory and having nothing to offer as calls rolled in prompted Aisen and Birov to look for opportunities to build new construction sooner than they otherwise would have. Some of the same factors that are driving the hot market in older luxury homes are also driving up the demand on new construction.

“Some people are moving up to bigger spaces even without selling their prior home, even willing to rent to get into a bigger space,” says Birov. “They want more luxury space because they’re not spending that money on vacations or other high-end luxury goods.”

This notion of having more to spend due to cancelled vacations and other activities might be another smaller, but not insignificant factor in the pop in the luxury home market.

“A lot of people are taking their extra resources and they’re making it more of an everyday luxury,” says Carly Jones, a broker with Engel & Völkers

The historic Pabst Mansion at 443 Sheridan in Glencoe, recently listed by Susan Maman of @properties, is one of the most luxurious properties on the North Shore to come on the market in recent years. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MANSUETO who lists homes both in Chicago and the North Shore. “People are now spending more money on houses. For a while we saw a trend where a lot of

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people who could spend more were spending less because they wanted to travel or have a second home. People are realizing it’s worth it to spend a

little more and have that lifestyle on a daily basis.”

Part of having that lifestyle is the amenities.

Homes with cinemas, workout rooms, spas, wine

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

cellars, and multiple office spaces are hot. Pools are also back in vogue.

“The buyers, the families want recreation space outside. They’re looking for pools. Pools used to be a detriment and you figured you could cut your showings by half if you had a pool in the backyard for sale with the house,” says Karen Skurie, a broker with Baird and Warner in Highland Park. “Now all the agents are looking for pools.

Skurie says for a long time the market in Highland Park was soft because of uncertainties with the school system, but those issues were sorted out before COVID-19 hit, and once Easter came around homes that had been on the market for a while began to sell.

“Once those houses started to sell you had sellers who became move-up buyers,” Skurie says.

Ted Pickus is with @properties in Highland Park and he, too, has seen a significant increase in demand for luxury, citing requests for showings of a recently listed 7-bedroom, 7-bathroom house with an indoor basketball court and movie theater in Highland Park.

“We’re finding that people who have smaller homes, their houses are sellable,” Pickus says. “Midmarket is moving and enabling those to move up to the next level house. The market wasn’t strong, but now big houses are great value in that upper range.”

While there’s no predicting if the current trend in luxury homes on the North Shore will be shortterm or long-term—a lot depends on how the pandemic, and a response to it, continues to evolve, one thing that is certain is that home means more than it ever has.

“I think a lot of it is just people are really focused on their homes. There aren’t any other distractions in their lives,” Karen Mason says. “When everyone’s at home you think about, where do I want to invest our money? The most important thing we have now is family and having everything that we need in our house.”

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Fall in Love with One of These Lifestyles.

Pick a View. Two one-of-a-kind Opportunities at 1420 Sheridan Road in Wilmette!

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3 Bed | 3.2 Baths | $950,000

Carrie Healy carrie.healy@compass.com 847.507.7666 851 Spruce St • Winnetka IL 60093

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Carrie Healy is a Real Estate broker 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. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of Real Estate brokerage.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

27

Gorgeous Newer Construction in East Wilmette

1336 Elmwood Avenue, Wilmette From the welcoming front porch to the exceptional details and layout, this outstanding Nantucket-inspired shingle home in the “CAGE” area has it ALL! Enjoy the fabulous features, luxury designer finishes, generous spaces and up-to-the-minute vibe that works perfectly for today’s busy at-home lifestyle. Gorgeous large white Kitchen has the finest cook’s appliance, Carrera marble countertops & island, walk-in pantry, Breakfast Bay with built-in benches and open to sharp Family Room with fireplace.. Four family Bedrooms, 3 stylish Baths + Laundry on the 2nd floor. Primary Suite is a luxe oasis with generous walk-in closet and spa-quality marble bath. Attractive 3rd floor offers appealing Office, charming Bedroom and full Bath. This 4-story beauty is completed by the excellent light-filled Lower Level with fun areas for all ages: large Recreation Room, Playroom, Bedroom/ Fitness room + bath. Enjoy village life at its best and being close to restaurants, the train, bike trail, beach, schools and playgrounds. Offered at $1,895,000

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

29

NEWS

UNBRIDLED BRIO UPSTART NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE LEIGH NANDA IS PUMPED AND POISED TO GALLOP FOR GOLD ON NATIONAL STAGES.

BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

The North Pole and the South Pole.

A sumo wrestler and an ant on a low-calorie diet.

A jumbo jet and a tyke’s tricycle.

A horse named El Casper and a New Trier High School sophomore named Leigh Nanda.

Pairs of polar opposites, all of the above, none more so than the El Casper-Leigh Nanda duo.

“He’s really big, sweet, and mild-tempered,” Nanda, 15, says of the 13-year-old El Casper, the horse she rides competitively at jumper shows and works out at Lance Williamson Stables in Gurnee. “Plus he’s pretty quiet. Sometimes he’s a scaredy-cat.”

Nanda, meanwhile, is fearless, outgoing, wise beyond her decade-and-a-half on Planet Earth, and confident in the saddle.

“Dominant, as a rider, with an unbelievable work ethic,” says Lance Williamson, Nanda’s trainer since the spring of 2019. “Leigh draws courage from El Casper. They’re completely different, Leigh and El Casper.”

But they’re practically perfect together—and a formidable team in the Children’s Jumper division (1.1 meters). Nanda, a Wilmette resident, is ranked No. 1 in the Washington International Horse Show organization (WIHS) and No. 3 in the North American League (NAL), another elite organizing body in the realm of horse shows.

Nanda is set to make appearances in two national showcases over the course of four weeks: NAL, held earlier this week (September 28-29) at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio; and WIHS, October 21-25, at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

“If those events were Triple Crown events, Leigh and El Casper would be the morning-line

New Trier Township High School sophomore Leigh Nanda is getting ready for fall competitions.

favorite in each,” says the 65-year-old Williamson, who has trained 22 national championship

30

riders. “Leigh has natural ability, with great eyehand coordination, and she was built to ride. She

rides through exhaustion. And you have to remember, she’s working with another mind—a feeble one—when she’s competing.

“The best riders,” he adds, “have to adapt well, have to be aware of what could happen at any moment. The successful rider has to know when to change speed and when to change stride length. It might be necessary for a horse to step horizontally instead of straight ahead because of something the horse had seen.”

Nanda mounted a horse for the first time on a beach in Costa Rica. A trail horse transported her. She was 6. She later took her first horsebackriding lesson at a stable in Morton Grove, and it didn’t take her long to realize a Leigh Nanda on a horse was a better fit than a medium-sized

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

hand in a medium-sized glove.

“Got hooked right away,” Nanda says.

The activity inside fences turned serious when Nanda was a fourth-grader. The daughter of Ranjeev and Belinda, she learned more about the elegant discipline at another Morton Grove stable and got her competitive hooves wet at horse shows shortly thereafter.

“It’s a physical sport … a very physical, demanding sport,” Nanda insists. “The horse has to be in top shape; you have to be in top shape.

A rider’s core and legs must be strong to guide a horse well. Riding keeps me in shape. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work and perseverance, but I love it … love everything about riding.”

Continues on PG 32 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

JUST LISTED 982 ELM RIDGE DRIVE GLENCOE Absolutely stunning renovation of this charming all brick Glencoe home! From the moment you enter the gorgeous foyer, you will experience the elegance this home exudes throughout.

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

31

NEWS UNBRIDLED BRIO

From PG 30

Her passion for it increased a hundredfold, at least, soon after connecting with Williamson at his stable in Gurnee. It’s where she first came human face to long face with El Casper (She calls him “Casper,” for short).

Leigh and her family bought the animal from Williamson this past spring.

“Lance Williamson has taught me a lot,” Nanda says.

“He’s been so helpful, especially these past three months in between shows and at shows. He’d given me opportunities to ride a bunch of horses, between maybe 10 and 15. Those are wonderful opportunities, opportunities to learn and grow as a competitor.

“Lance is more than a trainer,” she adds. “He’s also a good friend.”

CWD Sellier is a premier international custom saddle maker based in France. It sponsors promising and established riders.

Nanda recently joined its corporate-sponsorship stable.

Free, top-of-the-line saddles to a rising rider is akin to free Nikes to a promising professional basketball player.

“Leigh, at her age, is ahead of the national champions I’ve trained,” says Williamson, who established his stables in Gurnee 30 years ago. “She’s more developed as a rider, sharper. In jumping, you’re shooting to be the fastest without knocking anything down. That’s not easy, but Leigh reached a high level in a short period of time. And she’s wonderful under pressure.

“Think about a father watching his child play tee-ball for the first time and realizing that child has the skills and the natural ability to do well, right away, after those first few swings with the bat. Leigh came to our stables pretty much as a novice. But I could tell, immediately, she had what it took to compete against the best.”

Nanda has outgrown the Children’s Jumper division and could make noise versus equestrians in prestigious Junior Jumper events this year, Wil-

liamson notes. That’ll have to wait until 2021.

Nanda hasn’t thought much about jumping for a college team. There’s the U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Team, which develops the nation’s best and prepares them for world competitions. Maybe Nanda is on the trail to that squad. Forgive her if that’s not on her mind these days. She’s wearing her horse blinkers (or blinders) now, focusing on those imminent national tests in Ohio and North Carolina. Then there’s her remote-learning course load at NTHS. Her favorite class this semester? Modern World History.

The start of college life is more than two years away for her, but ask any high school senior and they’ll tell you those final two years at the prep level fly by in no time.

Faster than Secretariat in 1973, for some.

“I hope riding sets me apart from other applicants when I apply to colleges,” Nanda says. “It would be amazing if I were to get the opportunity to compete beyond college and for my country. Right now, I’m thinking I’ll major in business, because I’d be able go anywhere with that.

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll get to run my own stables someday.”

Leigh Nanda of Wilmette and her horse, El Casper.

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

NORTH SHORTS

FALL INTO AUTUMN WHY WE ALL NEED OUR OWN TRAIL IN THE WOODS.

BY MIKE LUBOW ILLUSTRATION BY KIRSTEN ULVE

You know a secret trail in a North Shore woodland. You’ve been coming to this isolated spot for a little alone time since you were quite a bit younger, and you like it still.

Leaves are starting to fall. Seems like autumn is inevitable now, both as a time of year and a time of life, to be honest. You stop and lean against a tree, standing still. Feels like you’re hanging out on a street corner, watching the world go by.

Well, you’re hanging out, OK, but instead of watching the world go by, you’re watching the world stand still. There’s a hush on this wooded

32

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

trail, away from the current batch of woes and worries found in the outside world. It’s like a still photograph in here.

You stand in the trees, and the trees do what they do best. They stand with you. So you stay for a while in this still photo that’s not a photo.

But a place you like to visit after all these years, still.

This column was adapted by Mike Lubow from his book: Wild Notes: Observations over time about birds and other fleeting things. Available on amazon.com.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Whitehall

This architecturally significant English country estate, with ties to Marshall Field and Daniel Burnham, was built in 1925. Whitehall sits gracefully upon nearly six acres of rolling green grounds with stunning views of its impeccably maintained English gardens. A large, well maintained, inground pool is the centerpiece of this home’s expansive and impressive backyard entertaining areas.

bathrooms, 6 fireplaces, garage parking for five cars, an apartment over one of the garages, and an English pub style entertaining area and bar on the third floor of the home. Appointed with exquisite materials not commonly used in today’s construction, from the clay roof, zinc gutters and intricate millwork imported from England throughout, this home would be prohibitively expensive to build today.

This stately manor home with its brick and stone exterior features timeless interior finishes, including many recaptured from England’s Shrewsbury Castle circa 1500’s. Arguably one of the finest estates designed by Burnham, it boasts both grand entertaining rooms and intimate spaces, high ceilings throughout, eight bedrooms, five full and five half

This is a truly unique opportunity to own a piece of history. Place your winning bid today and begin making your memories in this storybook setting only a lucky few have called home.

ERICA C GOLDMAN 773.682.0546

Pre-auction offers highly encouraged! This property is expected to sell prior to the online auction.

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DIANA PETERSON 312.218.6102

VISIT WWW.AWPROPERTIES.COM OR CALL #847.509.2757 FOR MORE DETAILS.

Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. Although information, including measurements, has been obtained from sources deemed reliable, accuracy is not guaranteed.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020 |

33

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

COLOR ME KOHUT KRISTI KOHUT TAKES A NO RULES APPROACH TO ART. the world a bit better, together.”

Kohut finds inspiration from color, nature, and fashion. She loves butterflies, flowers, and bugs and considers nature the best artist.

From childhood, hues flashed to her like a spark: the red strawberries in the garden hanging toward green grass, the blue of a summer sky against a ripple of darker blue water, or a shiny ROYGBIV beetle on top of matte textured bark. To Kohut, every glance is a rainbow, drawing her in and fueling her energy.

In recent mixed-media, Kohut includes a floral Gucci scarf that was inspired by a Botticelli painting and originally made for Grace Kelly, combined with nature-inspired references like glitter and actual elements from nature: butterflies and flowers. She’s naturally drawn to the work of fashion houses, like Gucci, Mary Katrantzou, and Alexander McQueen, and other artists, like Ashley Longshore and Logan Ledford, whose works she personally collects.

“It’s easier today than ever before to start collecting because of the internet and social media,” says Kohut. “Follow different artists on Instagram, start a Pinterest board with works you like and that speak to you. When you step back and look at all of it as a whole, you’ll get a sense of what you like and are drawn to.”

Fans of Kohut love her ever-popular 3D Bloom series and her crystal-coated Symphonic Atlas work.

“Art is so subjective, and that’s what makes it fun,” says Kohut. “It’s like matchmaking. One can justify art as an investment but, ultimately, if it doesn’t give you that ‘I just have to have it’ feeling, it’s not worth it.”

BY ALLISON DUNCAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Kristi Kohut’s art philosophy is quite simple: there are no rules. Using bold brights, shiny crystalline touches, mixed mediums, and unexpected materials, Kohut creates special pieces that radiate joy, all from the studio she established on the North Shore in 2014.

Fast forward to today, and Kohut has collaborated with brands like Anthropologie and One Kings Lane; hosted pop-ups at Art Basel and in the Hamptons; currently has a waiting list for her originals and commissions are now sold out through 2021; and her business is now well within the seven figures. Did we mention her recent installation at of the celebrity green room at the Kelly Clarkson Show, and appearance on the show? All of which, of course, shatters the myth of the starving artist.

But before she was the impressive entrepreneur she is now, Kohut worked as an art director in advertising on big campaigns for big brands. When her son was born, she decided to leave the world of advertising and create her own world, focusing on art.

Instead of being restricted by what she feels is a one-sided gallery-system, Kohut bucked the norm at the time and began to think about her work as a brand, using the skills she’d learned in the advertising business and finding inspiration in the stories of other female designers, such as Tory Burch. With an entrepreneurial spirit, she opened her studio and began bringing her work to the world online.

“So much of the art world is behind closed doors or within intimidating galleries, and it’s part of my mission to break down the barriers that separate collectors and artists. Together we can figure out what collecting means, not just in the grand scheme of things, but to them, personally,” says Kohut. “Because collecting art is nothing if not deeply personal. I love connecting oneon-one with collectors, so I started selling my art online and began sharing my story on Instagram. In one click, we could begin a dialogue, which could eventually lead to them owning an original and becoming a part of my collector family, which is really exciting!”

Kohut believes the traditional gallery model is shifting, as artists begin to sell directly to consumers and as the younger generations discover fine art. The direct-toconsumer approach was not only personally fulfilling for Kohut, but it was also a strategic decision to prove that fine art could be sold and scaled online. Her pieces now sell within minutes of being shared on Instagram or on her website, and the value

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ABOVE: Kohut at work in her Studio RIGHT: Happy Hour Agate Rug PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHELSEA MAZUR

of her work has increased 25 percent every year since 2014.

“I like to think I’m reinventing the way we interact with art,” says Kohut. “I know art can be expensive, and sometimes the investment just isn’t manageable. I want to help people own my work in whatever way they choose, whether it’s through the purchase of a $10,000 original or a print that they may ask me to personally embellish for them.”

So, she expanded, of course, and launched a collection of home décor and accessories, transforming her signature art into textile patterns, prints, pillows, wall coverings, rugs, poufs, trays, and more.

Kohut realizes that all of this is much bigger than her and as part of this philosophy,

Kohut has woven giving back into the fabric of her business, whether that’s by mentoring younger artists or by financially supporting causes close to her heart.

One such cause is FEED projects, with 1 percent of her profits going to FEED to help combat hunger and to the charities they support.

“I believe food is a fundamental right and a building block for everything else in life,” explains Kohut. “Each individual effort really does add up to create change and to make

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

Kohut’s success shows there is no onesize-fits-all solution to artistry—for her, fine art and digital commerce go hand-in-hand.

She’s happy being an outlier—or, more aptly, an artlier.

For more information, visit kristikohut.studio.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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LIFESTYLE & ARTS

NORTH SHORE FOODIE

CIDER-STEAMED MUSSELS WITH SHALLOTS, GARLIC AND PARSLEY STEAMED MUSSELS CAN BE AN ELEGANT STARTER FOR A DINNER PARTY OR A FAST AND EASY WEEKNIGHT MEAL FOR TWO.

RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY WENDY FRANZEN SERVES 2 INGREDIENTS:

• 1 teaspoon sea salt

• 2 pounds mussels

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 3/4 cup hard dry cider

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 3 tablespoons crème fraîche

• 2 large shallots, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 baguette, sliced, brushed with olive oil, and lightly toasted under broiler

• 5 sprigs thyme

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Rinse mussels under cold running water, scrubbing shells with a vegetable brush. If mussels have beards, grab and pull toward hinge end to remove. Discard those with broken shells and any that do not close if tapped.

Melt butter over medium-low heat in a large pot with a tight fitting lid. Add olive oil, shallots, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until shallots have softened and become translucent, about 8 minutes.

Increase heat to medium-high. Pour in cider and bring to a simmer. Add mussels, stir well to coat, and cover tightly with lid. Let steam,

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

stirring a few times during steaming process, for about five minutes or until they open.

Transfer mussels to a large bowl with tongs or a slotted spoon, discarding any that have not opened. Cover bowl with a dishtowel to keep warm.

Remove pot from heat and whisk in crème fraîche and parsley. Test for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper if needed. Return mussels and any remaining liquid to the pot.

Toss to coat, then divide mussels and broth between two shallow bowls. Serve with toasted baguette.

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5 Bed | 3.2 Bath Meg + Katie 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. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of Real Estate brokerage.

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

LET THERE BE SONGS TO FILL THE AIR RIPPLE PUBLIC RELATIONS CO-FOUNDER ILYSE STRONGIN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARING HER VARIETY OF CLIENTS FOR THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA.

BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

Have tie-dye T-shirt, will travel.

To Europe. To Canada. To Maine and to California. And to states in between. Highland Park resident and public relations maven Ilyse Strongin attended hundreds of Grateful Dead concerts. Only true die-hards of the iconic rock band can say that, along with the roadies in charge of setting up the sound equipment.

“Everybody smiling, everybody happy,” Strongin says of one of the guaranteed attractions at a Grateful Dead show. “You’d never come across judgmental or materialistic or competitive people at a concert.

“And you’d always feel a strong sense of community, from start to finish,” the 54-year-old adds.

Community—it’s what emboldens Strongin and her co-founder and co-partner, Tali FarisHylen, at Highland Park- and East Lansing, Michigan-based Ripple Public Relations. Ripple was born in 2009, with the tag line, “We take the good word and make it Ripple … .”

“Ripple” happens to be the title of a 1970 Grateful Dead song. It was featured in the movie Mask, starring Cher and Eric Stoltz.

“One of the best Grateful Dead songs ever written,” Strongin insists. “I still smile every time I hear it.”

Strongin welcomes prospective Ripple clients with similar warmth, and she does dead-serious research after getting the green light to represent them.

“We love our clients and we make sure we get to know them very well,” Strongin says. “Many of our clients are municipalities, and not just those close to our Highland Park office. We also work with Long Grove and Gurnee and Wheeling, among others. We help all of our municipalities build awareness and bring their residents together. But we don’t just promote. We promote and help stage events, like festivals in Highwood, downtown Highland Park, and the Ravinia District.”

The pandemic, sadly, has put up a phalanx of stop signs to fests and most other events traditionally associated with large gatherings. But Strongin and her resilient Ripple professionals aren’t running idly at intersections in Lake and Cook counties. They’re brainstorming constantly, directing meaningful pivots for their clients (for-profit and nonprofit entities), and envisioning an outbreak of rainbows in 2021 and beyond.

Ripple has created virtual trivia tours and a drivein movie night at a makeshift site to reintroduce

42

the world to home-tethered-since-March families.

The PR firm is also listening closely to businesses and engaging community members.

“Everything’s changing, seemingly daily, because of COVID-19,” Strongin says. “We had to jump right in, as a public relations company for our clients, after it appeared.

There’s fear out there, as well as angst and negativity.

People, though, are thinking of others now more than

ever. The not-so-well-off people are on others’ minds. I’m a forever optimist. We’re going to come out of this stronger. We’re surrounded by people with good hearts. Behind every business there is a big heart. Businesses have stories to tell.

“Telling those stories,” she adds, “is what PR is all about.”

Ilyse Strongin

| SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 2020

One of Strongin’s early chapters unfolded as a student at Niles North High School in Skokie.

The daughter of Ray and Barbara, she participated in track, softball, tennis, and gymnastics. She didn’t win a state championship in any sport, but you couldn’t display what mattered to her—developing relationships with teammates, embracing the challenges of competition, enjoying wall-towall fun—in a trophy case.

“I did what I was supposed to do in high school,” says Strongin, who lives in the Ravinia District and still considers her baby brother, Marc, her best friend. “I got social. I got my driver’s license. I was, and still am, a ‘people person.’ I had 50 million groups of friends back then. I was a social butterfly. I was the epitome of a social networker.”

Strongin flitted her way to a degree in broadcast journalism at the University of Illinois and a Master of Print Journalism at Columbia College-Chicago.

Her mother’s best friend advised a twentysomething Ilyse to explore opportunities in media relations. Strongin landed a position with S & S Public Relations in Northbrook in the late 1980s and later launched a PR department for an advertising agency. One of her first department hires was Faris-Hylen.

She also has experience as an adjunct professor of Public Relations at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, not far from the location of her beloved lake house, home to legendary pre-pandemic bashes in the summers.

“Want to hear something exciting?” blurts the excitable-since-birth Strongin, the mother of Brandi Rae, 16, and Joie, 13, and a decades-long boater, hiker, cyclist, and kayaker. “I just learned one of my former students is an anchorwoman in Arkansas.”

Old, wonderful news: Strongin still loves her job. She gets to get the word out on fun, community-galvanizing events like Highwood’s Pumpkin Festival, Bloody Mary Fest, and Garlic Fest, and Ravinia District’s Harvest & Harmony Fest. Ripple PR celebrates every time it gets to work with Celebrate Highwood and back its mission of bettering Highwood’s community through events and festivals.

In one particularly busy year, Ripple PR had a hand—and two tireless feet—in 74 client events.

Seventy-four. That’s one organized happening every 4.9 days.

“We’re quick to give our secrets away,” Strongin says. “If another community wants to hold a Pumpkin Fest, for example, we’re more than willing to share what it takes to make that happen. We love to partner, to collaborate. I look at all of our clients as if they were my businesses. And start-ups are great; I enjoy working with them and promoting them. Some start-ups are scared and want to crawl at the beginning, but others want to stampede.”

All, eventually?

Grateful.

For more information about Ripple Public Relations, call 847-432-6000 or visit ripplepublications. com.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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