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R E F R E S
5 north shore doings
Your go-to guide for all the latest local events in the weeks ahead
6 north shore sports
Bold efforts from defensive midfielder Honor Dold lift New Trier High School's girls' soccer team
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
9 #hashtag
Meet Anne Marie Allman, chair of a May 17 WINGS fundraiser held in Wilmette
10 man about film
Our critic reviews The Accountant 2, a sequel starring Ben Affleck, and Ludwig, a new series streaming on BritBox and Prime Video.
11 weekend fashion
These mellow yellow looks are perfect for spring
11 weekend home
Get the scoop on spring interior design trends
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
APRIL 26
HOLLYWOOD IN GLENCOE TRIVIA NIGHT
WHERE: Glencoe Union Church
Back by popular demand, the Glencoe Historical Society (GHS) is once again hosting Hollywood in Glencoe Trivia Night with trivia based on movies filmed on Chicago’s North Shore—including such classics as Risky Business, Home Alone, The Breakfast Club, and many more. The event will start at 6:30 p.m. and will include trivia, food, and drinks. Create your trivia team of eight or allow GHS to create one for you. Costumes are welcome! Tickets are $100 per person. glencoehistory.org
APRIL 26
WINTER MARKET
WHERE: Elawa Farm
Elawa Farm hosts its Winter Market every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market highlights locally sourced produce and eggs from Elawa’s farm partners, along with specialty pantry items from small businesses. elawafarm.org
APRIL 26
CELEBRATE EARTH
WHERE: Mellody Nature Preserve
Join Lake Forest Open Lands Association (LFOLA) in celebrating our amazing planet! Swing by to uncover Mother Nature’s finest offerings. There will be activities for everyone, tailored for all ages and all skill levels. Dive into wetland exploration, try your hand at birding, enjoy guided hikes, and pick up some restoration tips along the way. Children’s author, Ruth Spiro, will be doing scheduled readings at 10:30 a.m.,
11 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. in the Eldridge Classroom. Between readings, she’ll offer crafts and activities that tie into Celebrate Earth! and her stories for children and their families. lfola.org
NOW THROUGH APRIL 28
CONCEPTUAL COMPOSITIONS
WHERE: got?art contemporary studio Got?art contemporary studio in Winnetka is featuring a new exhibit that prioritizes form, color, and texture over representational or realistic depictions— featuring work by Piotr Antonow, Irena Siwek, and Voytek. gotartstudio.com
NOW THROUGH MAY 18
THE BOOK OF GRACE
WHERE: Steppenwolf Ensemble Theater Steppenwolf Theater Company’s 49th season continues with the Chicago premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks’ The Book of Grace—an incendiary family portrait from the Pulitzer Prizewinning writer of Topdog/ Underdog. Witness this startling reminder that the search for common ground can be a brutal journey for those on every side of the divide. steppenwolf.org
NOW THROUGH MAY 25
LATER IMPRESSIONS
WHERE: Evanston Art Center
Chicago Alliance of Visual Arts presents its Later Impressions exhibition. Step into a world where wisdom meets creativity. This collection unveils the depths of expression achieved through years of experience, reflection, and growth. The pieces range from paintings, photography, and prints to evocative sculptures. A learning symposium will be held on the last day of the exhibit; registration is required. wearecava.org
NOW THROUGH MAY 29
SPRING BIRD WALK
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden
From 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. every Thursday and Saturday through May 29, explore the best spots for locating latewinter bird residents and the early migrants of spring at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Each walk is approximately one to two hours long. Dress for the weather; binoculars and a field guide are encouraged. Participants will meet at the Visitor’s Center. The price for this program is $24 for members and $30 for non-members. chicagobotanic.org
NOW THROUGH MAY 25
LAKE FOREST SHOWHOUSE AND GARDENS
& Co. and Editor-in-Chief of FREDERIC magazine, and explore McDonald’s visionary work, design philosophy, and career journey. In addition to gaining access to the Showhouse, guests will enjoy a light lunch from SPACE 519’s The Lunchroom and receive an advance copy of Schumacher's new book Glorious Gardens: Private Edens of the World's Leading Interior Designers lakeforestshowhouse.com
MAY 1
WHERE: Pembroke Lodge
The Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago will transform a Georgian-style Lake Forest estate, designed in 1895 by architect Henry Ives Cobb, for the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens. Featured in the 1935 redesign of the majestic 30-room home is a pool house and pool designed by David Adler, a tennis court with a warming hut, and a reflecting pond with English walled gardens. More than 45 leading landscapers and interior designers will reimagine the 15,000-squarefoot mansion and its 3.5 acre grounds. Tickets are $50 per person. lakeforestshowhouse.com
APRIL 28
HONORARY CHAIR LUNCH
WHERE: Lake Forest Showhouse and Gardens
World-renowned Los Angeles-based interior designer Mary McDonald will be featured from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at this ticketed event. Known for her award-winning designs, bold aesthetic, and star power from Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators and Property Envy, McDonald has been named one of House Beautiful’s “Top 100 Designers” and a Veranda "Top 25 Designer." The talk will be moderated by Dara Caponigro, Chief Creative Officer of F. Schumacher
MAY 2
UNCORKED!
WHERE: Glen View Club
LADIES NIGHT OUT: RUN FOR THE ROSES
WHERE: Highwood City Hall
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the annual Ladies Night Out: Run for the Roses returns with a Kentucky Derbyinspired evening. Don your Derby Hat and make your way through town, enjoying themed drinks, delicious bites, and fun activities at a stellar lineup of local businesses—including a sneak peek of The Merchant's offerings before it even opens. Expect fabulous raffle prizes, Instagram-worthy moments, and all the small touches that make this one of Highwood’s most-loved traditions. The night concludes with a lively finale party at Ablaze Design Group, cohosted by 28 Mile. highwoodchamber.com
MAY 2
UNDER THE STARS
WHERE: Northmoor Country Club
Enjoy an elegant evening to support Family Services of Glencoe, a social and mental health service for Glencoe and the surrounding communities. Held from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., attendees at the Under The Stars gala will enjoy a chefcurated menu, dancing, live and silent auctions, and a powerful program highlighting mental health. glencoeunderthestars.org
From 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., enjoy 17 wines from the old and new world along with delicious hors d'oeuvres. Cases of wine will also be available for purchase. Tickets are $125 per person and all proceeds benefit the continuing education programs in the Rowe School outdoor classroom, operated by the Northwestern Settlement. There is a dress code for smart casual and no denim. The deadline to order wine is May 5. There will also be a raffle. uncorkedfornush.com
MAY 3
BLOOM INTO SPRING
WHERE: Elawa Farm
At 5:30 p.m., join the Women’s Board of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital for its annual benefit, Bloom Into Spring. Enjoy an evening of fine dining, engaging entertainment, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community. lfhwomensboard.nm.org
MAY 3
ARBOR DAY
CELEBRATION AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE SHOW
WHERE: Ravinia Festival West Lot
Celebrate Arbor Day and see electric vehicles (EV) at this special 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. event held by the City of Highland Park. There will be Arbor Day exhibits and giveaways. There will also be over 20 different EVs on display. Learn about the advantages of driving EVs and get all your questions answered from their owners. cityhpil.com
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
Celebrate Earth
BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER NORTH SHORE SPORTS
Hank Woodman isn’t just a student of water polo.
“Hank is also a student of those defending him,” says New Trier Township High School (New Trier) boys’ water polo coach David Rafferty-Flatter of his dominant senior utility player.
“He probes for the weakness of the guy guarding him, and once he finds it—a search that doesn’t take him long to complete—he exploits it,” adds the two-time state champion (2022, 2023) helmsman. One of the best players in the state, many would say. Hank’s competitiveness is off the charts.”
New Trier’s Trevians got off to an inauspicious 0-2 start in March but won their next 18 games, culminating with a 14-2 defeat of visiting Glenbrook South High School on April 19. Win No. 16 in the streak came against reigning Missouri state champion St. Louis University High School on April 12. Rafferty-Flatter’s squad trailed 4-1 in that test in the Show Me State and led by two goals with three minutes left in regulation before earning a 10-9 overtime victory.
“We showed our true character in that game,” recalls Rafferty-Flatter, who guided
HANKERING FOR GOALS
High-scoring senior Hank Woodman paces another elite boys’ water polo team at New Trier Township High School.
New Trier to a state quarterfinal berth last spring. “Big win.
“Our best win so far.”
Santa Clara University-bound Woodman averages between four and five goals per game, the coach notes. But opponents have to be aware of at least five other offensive threats, including senior utility Caden Adrianopoli and sophomore utility Philip Wesseman.
“New rules were introduced, opening up offenses,” Rafferty-Flatter, in his 10th season as head coach, says. “Our program has prided itself on having a strong defense; it got us far in postseasons. But, for the first time in a long time, our offense is considered a strength because we’re getting productive efforts from a lot of players.”
The Trevians’ assist leaders are Wesseman and senior utility Brendan Fijol.
“Such a good facilitator,” Rafferty-Flatter says of Fijol. “He often sees a passing lane before it appears.”
Senior Tyler Leung and junior Zach Asinski have split time in goal for New Trier. Leung will continue his water polo career at Occidental College in California.
The Trevians’ forces on defense are senior David Rhee and junior Ethan Kim.
“Our defense is anchored and driven by those two,” Rafferty-Flatter says.
Woodman, Adrianopoli, and senior 2-meter set Holden Hiebeler serve as captains.
New Trier defeated visiting Maine South High School 14-8 on its Senior Night April 15. The teams might clash again in next month’s state playoffs.
“The expectation is to get there again,” Rafferty-Flatter says of claiming another sec tional title and advancing to an Elite Eight state game at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. “But nothing is a given with teams like Evanston (Town ship High School) and Maine South around. You need some luck, some bounces to go your way.
“We have to be healthy, too.”
A LOOK BACK: Woodman scored six goals in New Trier’s 10-9 loss to eventual state champion Township High School in a state quarterfinal last spring. He finished with 83 goals for the 26-6-1 Trevians.
POLO PROGRESS
Numbers, skill level continue to rise in the boys’ water polo program at Lake Forest High School.
(LFHS) in 2023.
He was able to field only nine Scouts.
But his roster grew to 12 in 2024 and expanded to 14 this spring, including four sophomores and four freshmen.
“We’re all about development,” says Strellner, a 2004 HPHS graduate who played high school water polo for the Giants and hasn’t stopped battling as a center in the sport since, whipping shots for clubs teams in college before joining a local Masters/Open men’s squad.
“Our program is in a growth period, working hard to develop skills,” he adds. “What’s been especially encouraging to me is their work ethic in the pool; they all compete hard every second of every game.”
His crew fell 16-7 to visiting Warren Township High School on its Senior Day April 17. Scouts Rudy Malnati, an attacker, Peter Janowicz, a center, and Felix Gu, an attacker/defender, were recognized for their commitments to the program before the
match’s swim-off.
Janowicz and Malnati are the team’s top scorers. Gu shines at the other end of the pool in front of either Davood Sariri, a junior goalkeeper, or Thomas Marquis, a sophomore keeper.
LFHS sophomore defender George Dunnick ranks among the Scouts’ leaders in assists and steals. Junior Zachary Chermak, like Gu and Dunnick, thwarts attacks.
The Scouts’ two wins through April 17 came against Latin School of Chicago and Maine East High School. Strellner’s side won the former by five goals—at the LFHS Tournament on April 12—and the latter by one goal.
“Our guys did a good job in transition against Latin School,” Strellner says. “They were aware and responsive to the game plan. Against Maine East, we got a lot of contributions from a lot of players, both offensively and defensively.”
Other members of the varsity include Peter
Yajseel Diogo Arellano Riveros.
“We welcomed some wonderful additions to the team this year,” Strellner says. “It’s a unique group of personalities, each of them keeping me on my toes. They all also make me laugh all the time.”
LFHS, which was scheduled to travel to Glenview for a game against Glenbrook South High School on April 25, visits Hoffman Estates High School on April 28 and Vernon Hills High School on April 30.
REID’S WATER WORLD: After “falling in love with water polo” while attending HPHS, Strellner revived the men’s water polo club team at the University of Rhode Island. Two years later he transferred to the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, where he played club water polo. Not even pursuing a master’s degree at Northwestern University could keep Strellner from donning a water polo cap and chucking shots for another men’s club team.
Former Highland Park High School (HPHS) Giant Reid Strellner had a small issue when he took the helm of the varsity boys’ water polo team at Lake Forest High School
Wade, Scott Garcia, Lincoln Salbilla, Nicolas Damidot, Makai Salbilla, Nariman Ussenov, and
Peter Janowicz
Hank Woodman
Q & A with New Trier Township HS senior soccer player HONOR DOLD
No need to remind Honor Dold of the importance of defense in soccer.
A poster in her room takes care of that.
“I see it every day,” says the New Trier Township High School (New Trier) senior defensive midfielder and daughter of Danielle Dold, a former center back at Colgate University. “It says, ‘Defense wins games.’
It wins state titles, too. Dold, a varsity member since her freshman season, helped the Trevians capture the Illinois High School Association Class 3A girls’ soccer state championship last spring in Naperville.
The program’s 2025 edition—guided by the Trevians’ seven-time state championship coach, Jim Burnside—has won 11 of its first 13 matches, battling to ties in the other two and outscoring opponents by a combined 40-1.
Dold has been adept at disrupting attacks, distributing the ball to midfielders, and dictating the tempo of games as the squad’s primary facilitator at the outset of transitions.
“Honor is an amazing leader in that she helps her teammates become the best versions of themselves through unwavering support and mentorship,” Burnside says of the future McIntire School of Commerce student at the University of Virginia, where she’ll play club soccer. “She never asks anyone to do anything that she is not willing to do herself.
“She’s an utterly genuine person,” he adds. “Honor shows that through her love of the game, her desire to compete, and her pride in her team. Truly one of a kind.”
We volleyed questions to Dold on the eve of last weekend’s Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic title match.
What was your first impression of girls’ soccer at New Trier?
Summer camp, before my freshman year, I looked around, saw all these athletes in attendance, and instantly thought, “This is a big deal, this is something special.” What I also realized right away was, “Coach Burnside knows how to run a team the right way.”
You’re a two-time National Strength
and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-American. How did you get involved in powerlifting?
New Trier soccer players lift heavy weights. We lift next to boys’ lacrosse players and baseball players. Coach Burnside makes sure we lift using the right form because safety is important in the weight room.
Please recall the minutes immediately after your team won last year’s state title. What did you think? What did you do? I was overcome with emotion. We’d seen a film about our program before the final; it was made before NTGS (New Trier Girls’ Soccer) completed its three-peat at state. It fired us up. Lots of hugging and crying after we’d won, knowing I’d never get to compete again with some of my best friends. But there was so much joy. Definitely one of the best moments of my life.
What are lunch-table conversations with your friends like at New Trier?
I’m usually in the library during lunch, studying. Some of my close friends, in addition to my teammates, are (future) Division I athletes in lacrosse and water polo. I like being around driven athletes.
How would you define New Trier girls’ soccer?
We’re committed to having “Serious Fun” (the program’s motto). It’s a team that’s focused on one goal, on caring about all, on being fully invested. Our coaches, all of them (Burnside, Molly Lombardi, Bina Rexhepi, and Jeff Cobb), do just a great job creating an ideal culture. We’re a tight-knit group because of that culture.
Are New Trier girls’ soccer team members treated like rock stars at school?
No. Winning a state title is not a rarity at New Trier. The field hockey team wins state practically every year. Girls’ lacrosse has a shot at winning state every season. So many sports teams at New Trier expect postseason success and usually do what it takes to achieve it.
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BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Some childhood memories are sensorily deep—that tummy clenching swoop of the backyard swing, the salty sweet summer taste of a melting ice cream cone licked off the back of your hand, or even the antiseptic shock and chill of Bactine squirted over a banged-up knee. Remember?
For writer and independent bookstore co-owner Gayle Brandeis, who grew up on the North Shore, vivid childhood memories like these brighten books she has published as a renowned essayist, memoirist, poet, and novelist. They also informed the book she wrote when she was only 8 years old and titled, The Secret World
That Gayle and husband Michael Brandeis would return to the North Shore after decades away to open an independent bookstore of the same name in Highland Park, seems like good karma come full circle.
Their Secret World Books & Comics (Secret World) celebrates its first anniversary on April 27 and is going strong.
Looking back to her childhood, Gayle says she loved Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden so much, it inspired her to write her own “novel.” Impressed with the writing, Brandeis’ teacher at Evanston’s Lincoln Elementary had the story included as a book that could be checked out of the school’s library.
“My first published work!” she laughs.
As an adult, Gayle would go on to publish nine books—one of them, The Book of Dead Birds (Harper Collins) won the PEN/Bellwether Prize. Another, a novel in poems titled Many Restless Concerns (Black Lawrence Press,) was shortlisted for the Shirley Jackson Award. And currently, she has two nonfiction books in the works and teaches writing through workshops in Chicago, and low residency MFA programs at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Together with Michael, who has fond memories of working in comic bookstores in his youth, she says the couple “dreamed and schemed” of owning an independent bookstore one day. “We just didn’t think it would happen this soon,” she adds.
But after relocating to the North Shore in 2022, the Brandeis’ noticed a former Christian Science reading room standing vacant on 2nd street in Highland Park. The building’s striking Mid-Century Modern architecture was uncannily similar to that of the home the couple had just bought less than a mile away.
“The same stone, same wood, same vibe,” says Gayle. “It looked like an annex to our home.” And when she and Michael peered
through the window and caught a glimpse of a “secret” garden at the back, “it was like, “Whoa!” We knew we had to do a bookstore here,” she continues.
The shop’s homey feeling was very much the Brandeis’ aim. New releases fill the front, a used-book section is in the middle, and at the rear, the gaming and gathering area is cozily set up with game tables and chairs in front of a fireplace with a big win-
the-candidate events before local elections, to readings, concerts, storytelling events, writing and craft workshops, and weekly Dungeons & Dragons game nights,” Gayle explains.
Curating the book collection, the Brandeis’ say that, given the small amount of space, they are very selective with the used books they take in, choosing books that are both beautiful objects and beauti-
will want to do a small wedding there, “which would be magical.”
But whether hosting an event, or quietly stocking the shelves, the couple says they very much enjoy interacting with visitors— those who ask Michael about comics and upcoming game events, and those who ask Gayle for book recommendations.
“Matching the right book with the right person is such a joy,” she concludes. “That
dow looking out over the enclosed garden.
“We wanted to make Secret World a welcoming space with a living room feel to it. A safe haven,” says Michael.
“That’s really important to us,” Gayle agrees. “Independent bookstores have always been a sanctuary for folks—a bastion for free expression. A safe place where people can connect and have fun but also learn and be in solidarity with other likeminded people.”
Enhancing the community connection, Secret World hosts many events.
“We love being a space that can be used by so many different groups, from meet-
fully written. With new books, they skew progressive. But in addition to what’s on offer in the store, customers can also come in to special order whichever books they desire, or can order through Secret World’s bookshop.org website.
As for the no-longer-secret garden?
It’s been the site for concerts and readings. “And we encourage folks from Curt’s Café next door to bring their coffee and a book to hang out there,” says Gayle. She also thinks it would be fun to do a “SpeakTea-sy” in the garden—“a tea party where you have to say special word to gain admission,” and dreams that someday someone
there is a whole world inside each book, and within each person, is a marvel that plays to the name of our store.”
Today, April 26, is Independent Bookstore Day, which means Secret World is part of a bus tour taking readers door to door from one indie bookstore to the next. And tomorrow, on the shop’s one-year anniversary, there will be a 2 p.m. Highland Park Poets event, and a 4 p.m. sci-fi reading.
For information on these and other upcoming events or to sign up for Secret World Books & Comics weekly newsletter, visit secretworldbooks.com.
Gail and Michael Brandeis, owners of Secret World Books & Comics. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
EDITED BY REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Reading is my peace, my haven, my favorite thing to do in a magical place, and the greatest escape. The Marriage Portrait written by Maggie O’Farrell (who also wrote the gutting Hamnet) is just so beautifully written, that I couldn’t put it down! This woman can help you sink into a dark story. I am also loving The Lion Women of Tehran. Reading this book makes me remember that handful of friends of mine who have been there through thick and thin. Who’s that friend for you?
#ON MY MOBILE
Once I have my morning coffee, I grab a quiet spot and check out my Oura ring app. I think I probably had one of the first Oura rings, and since I’ve worn it, it’s changed my life! I am a historically poor sleeper and the Oura ring has helped me improve both the quality of my sleep as well as my overall restfulness. Other than that, Wanderlog helps me find my next great family adventure, and Block Blast! is an addictive favorite.
#IN MY EARBUDS
Andrew Huberman created the podcast Huberman Lab a few years ago as a means to encourage people to live stronger, happier, and healthier. Life is good, and this podcast shows you how to realize that. He’s had dozens of speakers over the last several years who have the unified goal of helping you strive to live better. I learn something every single time that I listen to him. Last, I’m not afraid to admit that the SmartLess podcast still makes me laugh out loud. It’s such a random trio of guys who don’t have great interviewing skills. What could go wrong?
When not running her favorite race or supporting her 6th grade twins on the softball, football, and rugby fields, ANN MARIE ALLMAN has dedicated much of her life and love to animal rescue. She and her family have focused on rehoming desperate senior dogs searching for a final place to call home. She mentions that every dog they’ve welcomed has had a beautiful grace about them and that they enter their house as wise old souls, teaching so much about humility and courage. She loves to see life transform and thrive, which is why she is thrilled to be chairing the 4th annual fundraiser for WINGS, a nonprofit that provides shelter, support, and counseling for those fleeing domestic violence. This year’s luncheon will be held on May 17 at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette. Allman sets aside event planning duties to share how she stays on trend. For more information about the WINGS luncheon, visit wingsprogram.com.
THE ACCOUNTANT 2
This sequel about an autistic math savant starring Ben Affleck is emotionally bankrupt, but impressive.
VERDICT: The Accountant 2 is meticulously made, implausibly plotted, and emotionally bankrupt—but like a high-yield tax shelter, it’s oddly impressive in its cold, calculated precision.
There are films that feel like continuations, and then there are films that feel like apologies. The Accountant 2 is something stranger—it’s a sequel that leans into its own absurdity with such conviction that one is almost forced to admire it. Almost.
Ben Affleck returns as Christian Wolff, the autistic math savant with a penchant for long-range rifles, highyield spreadsheets, and morally flexible ledgers. If the first film flirted with the idea that emotional detachment and elite military training made for a compelling antihero, The Accountant 2 proposes marriage. And then throws in a car chase.
The plot—such as it is—involves a cybersecurity breach, a private military firm, and a mysterious ledger filled with names powerful enough to destabilize governments. It’s all very red-stringon-a-corkboard, and very serious about being serious. The film moves briskly from boardroom to bunker, peppered
LUDWIG
with Affleck’s now-trademark thousandyard stares and bursts of crisp, precision violence.
Jon Bernthal returns as the estranged brother with fists and feelings, bringing much-needed unpredictability to an otherwise symmetrical structure. Cynthia Erivo is underused as a government analyst who may or may not be the moral compass, and J.K. Simmons is still grumbling around like he’s doing an expositional TED Talk in every scene.
Director Gavin O’Connor doubles down on the first film’s icy tone—greys, beiges, and tungsten-lit warehouses. There’s elegance in the action choreography, but little heart. The Accountant 2 seems convinced that its central character is fascinating. He’s not. He’s a spreadsheet with a trigger finger.
Still, there’s something oddly satisfying about a film so polished in its own peculiar vision. It knows exactly what it is—even if you’re not entirely sure why it exists.
This dramedy series now streaming on BritBox and Prime Video is soft-lit and Cambridge-crisp.
There’s something both quaint and quietly radical about Ludwig, BritBox’s offbeat detective dramedy that manages to stitch together identity theft, emotional grief, and logic puzzles—then politely offer you a cup of tea.
David Mitchell, in his first leading role since Peep Show drifted into cult retirement, plays identical twins—John, a reclusive crossword compiler, and James, a missing police inspector. When James vanishes under murky circumstances, John slips—tentatively—into his brother’s shoes, badge, and existential unease.
VERDICT: Ludwig is a sly, understated gem—equal parts logic puzzle, ghost story, and slow-brew identity crisis. David Mitchell hasn’t been this good since he was talking to a camera and losing at life.
The show’s conceit is clever, and its pacing oddly gentle. Each episode presents a modest mystery (a stolen urn, a missing dog walker) wrapped in greater tension: what happened to James, and why is everyone so comfortable with a stranger solving crimes through sudoku logic and mild panic?
Mitchell is marvelous—his double performance never showy, always rooted in mild discomfort. As John, he
twitches, blinks, and calculates his way through small-town constabulary life, wielding deductive logic like a man trying not to spill his tea. The writing by Rob and Neil Gibbons (of This Time with Alan Partridge) is droll, exact, and emotionally sharp. At its best, it feels like Columbo directed by Wes Anderson’s slightly less confident cousin. Visually, the series is soft-lit and Cambridge-crisp—manicured gardens, historic libraries, and the occasional corpse. Supporting performances are warm and essential: Anna Maxwell Martin, as James’s emotionally disoriented wife, adds depth and doubt in equal measure. The show never mocks its characters, even when they're fumbling through grief, confusion, or dry academia.
If the central mystery feels secondary, that’s by design. Ludwig is less about solving crimes and more about occupying someone else’s identity—then wondering if it might suit you better than your own.
BY FELIX MCMILLAN, MAN ABOUT FILM ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
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WEEKEND HOME
MELLOW YELLOW TREND REPORT
EDITED BY ALLISON MELONE THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
01 Soho Home Dining Chairs, sohohome. com 02 Laetita Rouget Dessert Plate, porta-nyc.com 03 Soho Home Conall Sofa, sohohome.com 04 Soho Home Table, sohohome.com 05 Hadiya Williams for Schumacher Wallpaper, schumacher.com 06 Model of Mulling: The Pascaline, 48 x 48 inches, clay, watercolor, paper, wire, ribbon, acrylic on canvas, 2024, ancestral-home. com 07 H&M Home Vases, hm.com 08 Trove Object Gallery Haniwa Sculpture, troveobjectgallery.com
CABBAGE & WALNUT PARMESAN WITH PANKO GREMOLATA
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS FOOD EDITOR THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Who knew that simple, homey cabbage could be transformed into such a delicious dish? We have Chef Joshua McFadden to thank for the building blocks of this recipe: fresh cabbage quickly roasted at high heat and then tossed with breadcrumbs, toasted walnuts, olive oil, lemon, garlic, and Parmigiano. Oh—and a splash of balsamic vinegar!
I’ve adapted the recipe a bit, slicing the cabbage into ribbons before roasting, rather than cutting into large wedges, and adding parsley to the ingredient list for the gremolata made crunchy with the addition of gluten-free panko breadcrumbs and toasted walnuts.
I’ve prepared this dish using regular green cabbage, and I’ve also made it with savoy. Both are good, and each variety has its benefits. The regular cabbage yields a slightly juicier result while the savoy, with its thin ruffled leaves, cooks faster. Either way, this dish is great for a light lunch or as a side with a main course.
SERVES 4
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
Roast Cabbage
• 1 head savoy or regular green cabbage, quartered, cored, and sliced into ribbons
• 2 teaspoons freshly cracked pepper
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted OR 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 small bunch parsley, leaves minced and stems discarded
• Zest of one fresh lemon finely grated to make 1 tablespoon
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup gluten-free or regular panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Small piece Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated to make 1/3 cup, plus more for table
Preheat oven to 475 degrees. After slicing the cabbage into ribbons, pull out any thick white pieces and save for another use. Spread cabbage ribbons on a rimmed baking sheet and grind pepper over the top. Drizzle with melted butter or with olive oil. Place in oven and roast for 5 minutes.
Make Panko Gremolata
While cabbage roasts, make gremolata by combining minced parsley, lemon zest, and garlic. Stir in olive oil. Add chopped walnuts, panko, and salt.
Toss Cabbage
Open oven and toss cabbage to rearrange a bit. Continue roasting for 3 to 5 more minutes until most of the ribbons have browned and crisped on the edges. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar. Roast for 1 more minute.
Finish Dish
Remove cabbage from oven and place in a bowl. Toss roasted cabbage with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Finish by tossing with panko gremolata and grated Parmigiano. Serve hot, along with a little extra cheese for garnishing.
WILD BERRY MOJITO
INGREDIENTS
• 1.5 ounces Patron Roca Silver Tequila
• 1.5 ounces sparkling water
• 0.75 ounce simple syrup
• 0.75 ounce Twisted Alchemy Persian Lime Juice
• 0.5 ounce assorted berries (blackberry, blueberry, raspberry)
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters (optional)
• 2 fresh mint sprigs
METHOD
In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle berries and one sprig of mint with simple syrup. Add spirits and lime juice. Shake vigorously with ice to chill. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain onto fresh ice in a Collins or highball glass. Top with sparkling water and stir. Garnish with berries and the remaining sprig of mint.
DRAWING UP A PLAN
Lake Forest illustrator extraordinaire Leslie Gould has designs on pairing her passion for art with her devotion to advocating for people with special needs after receiving her master’s degree.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
The Lake Forest artist known for drawing striking illustrations of local doors—see the cover of the 2024-2025 Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce community guide for her winsome depiction of Gorton Center’s double-door entryway—sees a figurative door opening for her soon.
Former advertising art director and current Cherokee Elementary School (Lake Forest) teaching assistant Leslie Gould, 60, is working on earning a master’s degree in Early Education and Special Education.
“My goal is to integrate art and special needs, creating a more inclusive and creative environment for all students,” says the single mother of son Wyatt, 22, and 18-year-old twins Lucy and Cole. “I hope to use my skills to make a positive impact in this area and I’m excited to combine my passion for art with my commitment to supporting individuals with special needs.
“My twins and I will all be in college this fall, just not together.”
After working in New York on a slew of high-profile advertising campaigns—awardwinning Absolut Vodka print ads and Ray Charles’ Diet Pepsi (“You Got the Right One”) Super Bowl XXV commercial in 1991, to name a couple—Gould moved to Chicago in the late 1990s.
“I wanted to be closer to my niece, who was about 3 at the time,” Gould says. “She has special needs. She’s now 30 and living at Misericordia in Chicago.”
Misericordia provides a continuum of care and support for children and adults of all faiths and cultures who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Gould has called Lake Forest home since 2003.
“I rediscovered my passion for art while raising my children in Lake Forest,” says Gould, who was born in Palo Alto, California, lived in Boston and Columbus, Ohio, and attended Eldorado High School in
New Mexico, before earning her B.A. in Advertising and Communications with an emphasis in Graphic Design and Illustration at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California.
“When I was living in Columbus, from the second grade until I was 16, girls from my cul-de-sac and I spent Saturdays at the Columbus College of Art & Design, learn ing from the college’s students and inter acting with them. We loved those afternoons.”
Drawing doors
creating the way others are obsessed with working out or with pouring all of their energy into something that’s meaningful to them. I’ve always been appreciative of all artists here, and I don’t look at their artwork as competition; it’s work that should be celebrated.”
After she submitted her first piece—a black-andwhite drawing of a door—for the Spirit of 67 Foundation Home Tour, Gould produced hundreds of other illustrations in ensuing
I like how the community of Lake Forest supports my art and me. I’ve always been appreciative of all artists here, and I don’t look at their artwork as competition; it’s work that should be celebrated.
for the 2008 Spirit of 67 Foundation Home Tour in Lake Forest drew attention to Gould’s artistic gifts and gave rise to other opportunities to produce art work, from drawings of North Shore houses to hundreds of commissioned pieces to pro bono works to silent-auction items.
Leslie Gould Designs Inc., was launched in October 2009.
“I like how the community of Lake Forest supports my art and me,” Gould says, adding she also finds the time to meet one-on-one with students interested in considering art for a major and knowing the available careers in the field of creative arts. “I’m detail-oriented. I’m obsessed with
years for “a variety of meaningful occasions,” she says.
Her drawings have created real estate closing gifts, enlivened wedding invitations, depicted cottages cherished by families, and delighted countless others who had commissioned her to illustrate this, that, and the other.
It sometimes takes her two weeks to complete an illustration, but not because she’s slow. Work at Cherokee keeps Gould busy, plus she cares deeply about getting it right and at least meeting the expectations of her clients.
“I think of art as active meditation; it calms you down,” Gould says. “Artists find
comfort while in the zone, similar to what needlepointers and surgeons experience when they’re concentrating on their craft, on their work.”
Gould dreams of becoming an art teacher. She took her first step on that path last year, working as a full-time substitute art teacher at Waukegan-based Lyon Magnet Elementary School, a Title I school with 600 students. Title I services focus on children who are most at risk of failing to meet state academic standards.
She began her tenure as a teaching assistant at Cherokee Elementary School in Lake Forest at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
“This experience has been incredibly rewarding, and I am eager to continue contributing to the educational and artistic growth of our community,” says Gould, whose father, Glenn F. Hohnstreiter, became a fine art photographer and printer in New Mexico after retiring as a nuclear physicist. One of his images adorned Dulles Airport in Virginia and the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. in 2013.
Gould’s brother, Mark Hohnstreiter, took up oil painting in his 40s.
“My family has a tradition of pursuing creativity as a second career or as a side job,” Gould says.
Receiving a diagnosis of esophageal cancer last November threatened to derail Gould’s quest to land either a special education or an art department teaching position “when I grow up,” she cracks. But she survived.
“I’m in a good place now, happy and eager and grateful for how Lake Forest and its people have inspired me,” Gould says. “I’m also grateful that my cancer was caught in an early stage.
“I’m looking forward to completing my master’s degree and seeing what’s next for me on my journey.”
For more information about Leslie Gould and to view her artwork, visit lesliegoulddesigns.com.
John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER
Jennifer Sturgeon ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Gaven Conatser ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Michelle Crowe, Erin Donaldson, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Megan Weisberg
FOOD EDITOR
Monica Kass Rogers
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Cheyanne Lencioni, Bill McLean, Redding Worth DESIGN
Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Natalie Phillips ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART
George Pfoertner PHOTOGRAPHY
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