Find out what’s happening in your neighborhood with our weekly calendar of events
6 ticket to positivity
Lake Forest Police department rewards good behavior with its new Positive Tickets Program
8 north shore sports
We spotlight a Silver (Lake Forest High School tennis/lacrosse player Phoebe) and the Rambler with a golden arm (Loyola Academy softball ace Hunter Lewis)
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
10 hashtag
Meet Chloe Cucinotta, a veteran of the art world who’s now helping companies revamp their marketing strategies
14 man about film
Our critic reviews Americana, an eclectic crime dramedy starring Sydney Sweeney
16 north shore foodie
Evoke the tropics this weekend with our delicious Coconut Mango Tapioca Pudding recipe
17 happy hour
Nothing elevates an end-of-summer celebration like this Wild Berry Mojito cocktail
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
18 sunday breakfast
Lake Forest's Rob Pasinato delivers hope for families as Beacon Place's operations manager
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 24
PORT CLINTON ART FESTIVAL
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., see paintings, sculpture, mixed media work and more at the Port Clinton Art Festival in Highland Park. Get your steps in while browsing thousands of art pieces from over 200 of the best artists in the country. Kids can enjoy the Kids Art Zone and vendors will provide drinks and food. amdurproductions.com
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 25
FOOD TRUCK MONDAYS
Enjoy food trucks and live music at Kenilworth Assembly Hall from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. kenilworthparkdistrict.org
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 26
“VISUAL RHYMESDIPTYCHS, TRIPTYCHS AND MORE”
The Chicago Photographic Arts Society’s latest exhibit is on display now in the second floor gallery space at the North Shore Art League. Artwork is available for purchase, and a portion of the sales will be donated to the North Shore Art League. northshoreartleague.org
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 31
FLOW: PAINTINGS ABOUT WATER
“Flow: Paintings About Water” is on display this month at Grove Gallery in Evanston. Forty percent of all sales from this exhibit will be donated to Alliance for the Great Lakes. grovegallery.shop
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21
PATTERNED BY NATURE
Celebrate our universal attraction to patterns through playfully planted gardens and nature-inspired artistic installations that stretch the imagina
tion at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s “Patterned by Nature” event. Visitors are invited to explore garden beds and installations throughout the garden that feature dynamic patterns, transformational art, and upcycled fashion. chicagobotanic.org
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21
RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR
The Writers Theater 2025/2026 season begins with Rachmaninoff and the Tsar, a tale of Sergei Rachmaninoff, who recently escaped Russia in 1917. This new musical from Hershey Felder features him as the pianist and main role accompanied by Jonathan Silvestri. writerstheatre.org
AUGUST 23
ANGELS WITH TAILS
Paws Chicago will host its ninth annual Angels with Tails Winnetka adoption event.
From 12 to 3 p.m., PAWS and five other local rescue groups will bring dozens of adorable, adoptable pets to 20 participating retailers along Elm Street, Chestnut Street, and Lincoln Avenue in downtown Winnetka. Several retailers will also be donating a portion of the day’s sales to support PAWS. pawschicago.org
AUGUST 24
NORTHBROOK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Northbrook Symphony Orchestra is kicking off its 46th season at 4 p.m. with a family concert titled, "Mozart's Magnificent Voyage.” This show will be a collaboration with Classical Kids Music Education. northbrooksymphony.org
AUGUST 25
OUT OF OFFICE: ON THE TRAIL
Join coach Dave O’Connor at Middlefork Farm Nature Preserve’s George Beach Trail from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for a private, small-group coach-
ing experience designed for senior-level leaders who are navigating tradition, burnout, or big decisions. lfola.org
AUGUST 26 TO SEPTEMBER 23
SUNSET YOGA
From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Tuesday in August and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in September, immerse yourself in the beauty of Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s Mellody Farm Nature Preserve while relaxing into a gentle, restorative yoga session that will incorporate breathwork and mindfulness. All abilities welcome! lfola.org
AUGUST 28
SAVOR AND SHARE
COOKBOOK CLUB
Join Northfield Library from noon to 1:30 p.m. for a lunchtime cookbook club. Bring a dish and recipe to share. Registration is required for this event. wnpld.org
AUGUST 28 TO 31
CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Enjoy all forms of jazz through free, high-quality music programming at Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park. The festival showcases Chicago's local talent alongside national and international artists to raise awareness and appreciation for one of the city’s most beloved art forms. chicago.gov
AUGUST 29 TO 31
NASHWOOD
Celebrate Labor Day Weekend with live music in downtown Highwood. Don your cowboy hats and boots and enjoy live music and food vendors. celebratehighwood.org
SEPTEMBER 4
LIBRARY QUIZTACULAR
Come to Lake Bluff Library for a family friendly quiz night from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Put together teams of four and test your knowledge. Registration is required. lakeblufflibrary.com
SEPTEMBER 4
SIT AND KNIT
Spend an afternoon with fellow knitters from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All levels of experience are welcome. Basic supplies will be available and a library staff member will be present to help beginners. This program will take place in the Community Room. Registration is required. Wnpld.org
SEPTEMBER 5 TO 6
GET MOVIN’ HIGHLAND PARK
Get ready to move, breathe, and connect at this two-day celebration at Upside Events to support mental and physical wellbeing, featuring inspiring wellness classes and workshops from local Highland Park practitioners. Whether you're a wellness enthusiast or new to the scene, there's something for everyone to explore. Tickets are available now. chicagodancetherapy.com
SEPTEMBER 6
CHLOE JENSEN PERFORMANCE
Dancer and choreographer Chloe Jensen will perform at noon with Aerial Dance Chicago. Jensen’s troupe of eight aerial dancers will perform original dance-in-flight choreography outside on the lawn of the Woman’s Club as part of The Wilmette Block Party. womansclubofwilmette.org
SEPTEMBER 6
THE LOVING FARM SUMMERTIME GALA
Enjoy a memorable night of celebration, community, and compassion to support the lifelong care of rescued, retired, and unwanted horses. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., there will be dinner, drinks, a silent auction, and live music. Tickets are available now. thelovingfarm. org
SEPTEMBER 6
VINTAGE CAR SHOW
Step back in time and experience the elegance, craftsmanship, and nostalgia of a bygone
era with the Vintage Car Show from noon to 4 p.m.
Spend the day in Highland Park’s vast St. John’s Parking Lot, perusing an eclectic display of vintage, antique, and classic vehicles, pop culture icons, hot rods, muscle cars, and more—all while enjoying a live radio broadcast, food and libations from local vendors, and kid-friendly activities. e njoyhighlandpark.com
SEPTEMBER 13
COLORFUL COCKTAILS WITH PROJECT COLOR CORPS
Join Paige Loczi and Jonny LeRoy in Wilmette from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a vibrant fundraiser with colorful cocktails and light bites. All proceeds benefit Chicago Chapter’s impactful projects. Tickets are on sale now. givebutter.com
SEPTEMBER 14
BENEFIT OF ART 2025: TOUR D’ARTISTES
Experience exclusive studio tours of three North Shore artists, viewing their works with options to purchase, and continue to Genesis Highland Park for a collaborative art installation with cocktails and hearty bites to support Art Impact Project’s 11th year in enhancing emotional wellness through guided arts programming.
Artimpactproject.org
SEPTEMBER 20
BUSKER FEST
Get ready for the North Shore’s first Busker Fest
from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Celebrate street performances in Evanston with this free event. centralstreetevanston.com
SEPTEMBER 25
CHICAGO’S BEER WARS Join Lake Bluff Library for this adult program from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Learn about prohibition and Al Capone. lakeblufflibrary.com
OCTOBER 3 TO 4 CARMEN
Chicago City Opera will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Carmen at Horatio N. May Chapel in Rosehill Cemetery. Tickets are on sale now. chicagocityopera.com
OCTOBER 3 TO 5 THE GREAT HIGHWOOD PUMPKIN FEST
This year's Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is benefiting SaLT (Service and Learning Together). Enjoy live music, pumpkins, skeleton displays, and spooky fun. Leashed dogs are welcome. celebratehighwood.com
OCTOBER 15
JOSSELYN’S COCKTAILS FOR A CAUSE
On October 15, Josselyn invites you to an evening of celebration and impact at its signature fundraising event, with all proceeds benefiting Josselyn programming. This event will be held at the Glen View Club. josselyn.org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com
Get Movin' Highland Park
TICKET TO POSITIVITY
In Lake Forest, rewarding good behavior is just the beginning. Police are also building trust and redefining community connection.
BY TRICIA DESPRES THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Deputy Chief Kevin Zelk loves nothing more than seeing kids outside, riding their bikes and enjoying their summer in Lake Forest. So why are so many of these same kids begging for a ticket from him?
“The kids in our community are really smart,” laughs Zelk when asked about the wildly popular Positive Tickets Program. “They're being told by their parents that the police are out there looking for good behavior, so they're not shy about coming up and asking if we have a good ticket.”
Indeed, in partnership with the Lake Forest Police Foundation, the recently reinstated and much-loved Positive Tickets Program recognizes Lake Forest youth who demonstrate responsible behavior.
“It's not just about getting a free scoop of ice cream,” says Zelk, who has been with the Lake Forest Police Department for nearly 20 years. “It's about having a positive interaction with the police.”
From wearing a bicycle helmet to walking their e-scooter through Lake Forest’s always bustling Central Business District, the goal of the Positive Tickets Program is to ultimately encourage children and teens to do the right thing.
“Anytime a police officer walks up to anybody, there can always be that momentary skipping of a beat of your heart,” laughs Zelk. “But for the most part, the Positive Tickets allows us to have a great interaction between our officers and the youth of this community. The minute you tell them that, ‘hey, you did something right and I'm going to give you a free slice of pizza or a coupon for a scoop of ice cream,’ they immediately light up.”
But while the Positive Tickets Program brings a lot of smiles to resident’s faces, it also serves a bigger purpose by building trust and creating positive moments between kids and local police.
And that feels more important than ever these days.
“There are a lot of scooters and electric powered bicycles being ridden by kids in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, and some of these bikes are very powerful and fairly fast,” explains Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke. “We don't want to come at this and make it a negative experience. We just want to urge safety. If they're going down the sidewalk at, let's say 18 miles an hour, and somebody's walking the same direction they are and they whiz by them, it could be a tragedy in the making. We don't want to see anybody get injured.”
”The safety within the community is not just a police department responsibility,” adds Zelk.
Of course, the Positive Tickets Program couldn’t flourish without the support of multiple businesses in the community such as Donati’s Pizza Inc., Sweets of Lake Forest, and The Peanut Gallery––as well as support from various members of city government.
“The program itself has a hundred percent support from the mayor, city council, the city manager –– all the different entities within the city,” concludes Chief Burke. “They've also talked about what else can we do since this program has been so successful.”
Chief Burke believes this is part of a much bigger conversation that needs to start at home. “Most of these kids do not know the rules of the road,” he explains. “It hasn’t been introduced to them at this point, but it’s a discussion that the parent should really have with their kids. It’s all about being good neighbors.”
With strong support from local businesses, city leadership, and the community at large, the Positive Tickets Program has proven that small gestures can make a big difference. By celebrating good behavior and fostering positive relationships between officers and young residents, this beloved initiative continues to make Lake Forest's streets a little safer and its community a little stronger—one positive ticket at a time.
Officers Paul Daizovi and Marina Chernikovich, along with Community Service Officer Yair Guerrero are creating positive moments between kids and police. PHOTOGRAPHY BY THAIS O’MALLE
Jakob Dumler, Grace Rathod, Tate Upham and Maria Dumler are rewarded for good behavior by Officers Paul Daizovi and Marina Chernikovich.
BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
LA AWE
Fresh off helping Loyola Academy’s softball team earn its first sectional title in 16 years, ace pitcher Hunter Lewis seeks to hone her formidable repertoire.
Hunter Lewis’ laurels had better get used to being in a state of isolation. The Loyola Academy (LA) star softball pitcher has no plans to rest on them as she enters her senior year.
A Highland Park resident and future Northwestern University student-athlete, Lewis aims to focus on improving her elite skills rather than bask in the blindingly bright all-state season she had in the pitcher’s circle and at the plate this past spring.
“I’ll continue to work hard on small things like pitch location and what to throw in certain hitter’s counts,” says Lewis of her plans for the start of next month’s fall season with her summer/fall travel team, Chicago Cheetahs.
The most successful athletes subscribe to the creed “Be where your feet are” or look forward to reaching another level tomorrow. But, for others, it’s worth revisiting what Lewis accomplished in LA’s stirring 2025 season.
LA went 18-16, with Lewis notching 15 of the wins (including a pair of no-hitters), and captured the program’s first sectional championship since 2009 as an 11th seed. She finished with an earned-run-average of 1.29 and 274 strikeouts. Batters hit only .145 a against her. At the plate, Lewis hit .492, smacked eight homers, and knocked in 31 runs, mostly from the No. 3 hole in coach Leah Herlocker’s lineup.
No wonder the Illinois Coaches Association named her to its Class 4A All-State First Team.
“Super fun—fun the whole time— and pretty cool,” Lewis says of her memorable junior season. “Our seniors (Emilia Bartholomew, Claire Tibshrany, and Gwen Coleman) were such good leaders, full of energy that carried us. Every team we faced in the playoffs thought they’d beat us, but our underdog status, game after game, motivated us.
“Next spring’s playoffs,” she adds, “should
be just as exciting because we showed what we’re capable of doing in big games and we’ll have many returning players.”
Lewis’ 2025 season got off to a bumpy start. While playing first base in the second game, a ground ball glanced off the base and struck her in the head, resulting in a concussion. She missed about two weeks of action.
A healthy Lewis returned and later played pivotal roles in LA’s impressive 12-1 season-ending run, which included playoff wins over seventh-seeded New Trier Township High School, second-seeded Warren Township High School, sixth-seeded John Hersey High School, and fifth-seeded Mundelein High School.
Oak Park and River Forest High School finally halted the Ramblers’ exhilarating ride in an Elite Eight game held in Chicago on June 9.
Hurling for the Cheetahs (as a starter and a closer) followed shortly thereafter
for Lewis. Her free time in August featured well-deserved downtime.
“I like spending time with friends, sometimes driving around with them, sometimes sitting in my room with them,” she says.
“We do nothing,” adds the can-doeverything softball standout.
Q & A with Lake Forest HS tennis/lacrosse player PHOEBE SILVER
Mere months after being named a captain for next spring’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team, Lake Forest High School (LFHS) senior Phoebe Silver started serving as one of the girls’ varsity tennis captains (with seniors Charlie Axus and Carm Ventura) last week.
“Keep everyone motivated,” she says of her primary role as captain this fall. “I’ll also be there for teammates after hard losses, making sure they don’t fall off.”
Silver and 2025 LFHS graduate Nastia Belova competed in doubles at last fall’s Class 2A state meet, rebounding nicely after a second-round loss to post three wins in the back draw.
How’s your summer going? First month, I committed to play lacrosse at Kenyon College. I like its combination of academics and athletics, along with the opportunity to study abroad in my junior year. For tennis, I worked on my backhand and improving my serve’s consistency.
You get to borrow one of your teammates’ strokes, volleys, or serves for one match. Pick that teammate’s weapon Charlie Axus’ volley. She’s got great hands. I especially like the way she comes in aggressively and hits her drop volley. It’s a beautiful shot.
What do you like about this year’s tennis team in the early going? It’s a nice mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen, and everybody is meshing well already.
Who wins this year’s U.S. Open? I like Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Navarro. Carlos is so much fun to watch. What I like most about Emma’s game is her grit.
The Scouts’ lacrosse team (17-5 overall, 5-0 in the North Suburban Conference) lost a highly competitive 8-6 game to eventual state champion New Trier Township High School in the state playoffs last spring. Your memories of that setback? That was a tough one, a
back-and-forth game from start to finish. New Trier usually doesn't get assigned to the same sectional as we do. We would typically face such a top program in the state semifinals or final. But we’re going to use that loss as motivation. We’ll field another strong team. I’m super excited now, just thinking about the 2026 season.
You get to eat dinner with anybody in the world. Who’s sitting across from you, and what would you ask your dining mate?(Retired tennis great) Rafael Nadal. I’d ask him, “How’d you keep doing it, keep winning, again and again and again?”
Complete this sentence: The most important thing in my life is … . … my family, of course. I’m the youngest, and everybody has been incredibly supportive of me as a student and as an athlete. I’ve received such good advice. My family is the best.
Phoebe Silver
#HASHTAG
EDITED
BY
REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Right now, it’s The Potent Self by Moshé Feldenkrais, who developed an influential movement system centered on mind-body connection. Inspired by Feldenkrais’ lessons I’ve taken with certified practitioner Nicolette de Saint Amour, reading this book has been a fascinating dive into the body’s intelligence. It’s also fueling the movement publication that I hope to debut this year. Books always seem to push me toward creation. Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels made me want to write and Rachel Cusk’s Second Place deepened my interest in painting. Another thing on my nightstand is castor oil. It works wonders on my cuticles. Lately, I’ve seen health influencers raving about its detox benefits, so I’m curious to explore the elixir’s full potential.
#IN MY EARBUDS
These days, its equal parts music, podcasts, and radio. Cooking dinner with my partner means anything from 2000s throwbacks to Montreal pop band TOPS (a decade-long favorite). When I need something deeper, it’s Jay Shetty for self-empowerment or the archives of On Being with Krista Tippett for spiritual reflection. In my beloved 2010 Honda Element, it’s NPR.
#ON MY MOBILE
I take pride in a low-notification lifestyle. My only alerts are pre-flight updates and my Imperfect Produce delivery. I check everything else on my terms, when it makes sense, throughout each day. When I choose to pick it up, my phone is my portal to real-life, embodied experiences. I use it to schedule classes to deepen my fitness practice. I’m a regular at Zen Yoga Garage in Wicker Park, where I take barre (shoutout to the relentless Lisa Conlon, one of Zen’s very talented instructors). My phone is also an important hub for my go-to-market work, and my primary means for connecting with incredible professionals, scheduling coffee chats, and keeping my calendar packed with the kinds of conversations that move ideas and projects forward. I’m all about sending someone on my mind a quick text so we can lock in a time to meet up. I like looking for opportunities to build amazing things with curious and ambitious people.
CHLOE CUCINOTTA moved to Chicago at age 18 and has called the Midwest home ever since. She began her career in the art world, driving marketing initiatives at EXPO CHICAGO before transitioning into tech with leadership roles at Amazon and Docker. Now a founder, she launched Cucinotta & Co. earlier this year, an advisory helping companies revamp their marketing and revenue strategies. Cucinotta keeps one foot firmly in the arts, whether attending gallery openings and performances, catching up with friends in the industry, or following market trends. She’s also kicked off work on an art publication focused on movement. Here is how this art-lover stays current between client meetings.
BY
At 6 p.m. on a recent Thursday night, a group of North Shore art patrons enthusiastically gathered at the Great Harvest Bread Company on Evanston’s Central Street to see artist Amy O. Woodbury’s latest work.
Across the exposed brick walls, the artist’s distinctive paintings full of whimsical figures and shapes pulled viewers in for a closer look. For Woodbury, a fixture in the Chicago art world for close to 50 years through careers in modern dance and visual art, the show is poignant.
It leads up to September 6, when from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1931 Colfax Street in Evanston, she’ll host the 25th—and last—of her beloved Evanston front yard art sales.
Over the years the sale has become a much-anticipated community event.
“I did the first one in the Spring of 2001,” says Woodbury. “Back then I was still developing as a visual artist, not ready to approach a gallery. But I had this idea percolating to do something alternative. A front yard art sale which would give me great exposure with no overhead, and which would hopefully sell some paintings.”
Response to that first sale was overwhelmingly positive. Woodbury sold much of her work and the neighborhood loved the event. The decision to do the sale once a year ever after made it a celebrated community event, drawing families, artists and art patrons to Woodbury’s front lawn to explore the work, visit with one another and talk about art.
“I’ve gathered some amazing stories,” she says. “Artists talking about their art, as well as some crazy-wonderful feedback from children whose unfiltered, unedited responses to art are fantastic. It’s just been so fun.”
The sale also became something of a reset button for Woodbury.
“After the event it was always like, “OK, now you move forward to create a completely new body of work, move in a new direction,” she says.
New directions abound for Woodbury whose mixed media works have embraced many themes. Among them? Abstract depictions of the dramatic horizon where earth meets sky, and pieces featuring whimsical dancing figures, imaginary creatures and female figures in many forms. The work is both grounded and surreal, deeply personal and often playful.
But Woodbury has spent her life moving in expressive directions. Born in the farmlands of Mendota, Illinois, near where her mother owned one of the first cattle ranches to raise grass-fed beef, Amy’s view out the backdoor was of blissful blue skies, vast stretches of cornfields, and open space—visions the artist took with her.
She became a dancer, getting a degree in the renowned modern dance program at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Moving to Chicago afterward, she performed and taught modern dance for 25 years, first with Shirley Mordine and Company at Columbia College, and then through her own modern
dance company, Osgood Dances, as well as longtime association with the Moming Dance and Arts Center. Meeting her husband Richard (also a dancer,) at Mordine led to many collaborative works, especially as Richard moved into sound design and music composition.
The transition from modern dance to modern art in 1998 was a seamless leap for Amy, who had already been painting—on costumes, set pieces and even the walls of her home, while still a dancer.
“Movement, line, musicality, texture, and spatial awareness all translated perfectly from one medium to the other,” she says.
In fact, there has long been overlap for Woodbury between visual art and dance, both inspirationally and in her creative efforts.
“As a choreographer, for example, Henri Matisse was a huge presence for me,” she says. “So much so that I created an hourand-15-minute dance called ‘Ode to a Wild Beast,’ with each section based on a different paper cutout or painting by Matisse.”
Years later working with mixed media collages, Woodbury says she felt she was “channeling Matisse all over again!”
The more than two dozen pieces in Woodbury’s current portfolio were almost all painted this year. The hues in many are
harmoniously muted and the textural aspect to each is very strong. After her September 6 front yard sale, Woodbury will head to Boulder, Utah, where she and Richard recently built a house, to continue painting.
“25 years with the front yard sale has been great” she says. “We had a good run.”
With this being her last Evanston front yard sale, Woodbury’s painting, ‘Home Bench,’ feels particularly symbolic.
“Home Bench is a land formation between the town of Boulder and wilderness,” Amy explains. “In the work, I painted the woman to be bigger than the bench—at ease and calm, while near her, two figures spin, either arriving, or departing. Boulder is a vortex where people are constantly moving in and out of the place, always in flux. It’s a fact of life, the coming and going, and that’s okay. That tumbling in the vortex—it’s what we do.”
Amy O. Woodbury’s paintings will be on display at the Great Harvest Bread Company, 2126 Central Street, Evanston, until September 5, followed by Woodbury’s 25th Annual Front Yard Art Sale on Saturday, September 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., (with a rain date of Sunday, September 7) at 1931 Colfax Street in Evanston.
MONICA KASS ROGERS
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Home Bench
AMERICANA
An eclectic crime dramedy starring Sydney Sweeney is stylized, aesthetically, but falls short in the end.
BY FELIX MCMILLAN, MAN ABOUT FILM
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
VERDICT:
Americana is a visually intriguing but narratively uneven Western-infused crime dramedy. Its strongest asset is its lead pair—their sincerity cuts through the chaos—but the scattered tone and undercooked themes prevent it from truly delivering.
Director Tony Tost’s Americana brings a tangled Western-crime comedy to the screen, anchored by a quirky ensemble and a dream of soaring ambition. The film unfolds around Penny Jo (Sydney Sweeney), a shy waitress with a stutter, who dreams of escaping her diner life in South Dakota for a singing career in Nashville. Her path crosses with Lefty Ledbetter (Paul Walter Hauser), a lovably awkward vet who's tried proposing to multiple women this year. The duo soon becomes embroiled in a townwide hunt for a stolen Native American “Ghost Shirt,” a sacred and mystically potent artifact.
The screenplay, heavy on eclecticism, places Penny Jo at the narrative’s emotional center. Sydney Sweeney delivers a quietly powerful performance—her hesitance feels authentic, and her eventual spark of confidence is wound into the film’s emotional arc. Hauser complements her with likability and understated depth, making their scenes together the most grounded of the film.
Unfortunately, much of the supporting cast slips into caricature. Halsey’s Mandy and her
young brother Cal (Gavin Maddox Bergman) veer into broad, sometimes jarring territory with their oddball energy. Zahn McClarnon as Ghost Eye offers occasional gravitas, though it often gets lost in the film’s tonal unevenness.
Visually, Americana alternates between evocative landscape shots—wide, dusty, and atmospheric—and abrupt bursts of melodrama. The aesthetic feels like a stylized homage to Coen Brothers or Tarantino, but without their precision or cohesion. The story’s momentum has a hard time keeping pace with the eccentricity of its characters, and sequences feel disconnected. Despite its flaws, the film isn’t without moments of resonance. Thematically, it grapples— clumsily—with cultural appropriation, the pursuit of fame, and the exploitation of heritage. These complications feel underdeveloped, but they gesture toward a deeper emotional core.
At 107 minutes, Americana attempts to balance dark humor and pathos, yet often settles into labyrinthine quirkiness. Sydney Sweeney and Paul Walter Hauser salvage what they can, but the film’s broader ambition outstrips its execution.
COCONUT MANGO TAPIOCA PUDDING
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS FOOD EDITOR
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
This delightful tropical dessert has lots to recommend it. Free of gluten, grain, dairy, and egg, it’s easy to make, creamy rich, and delicious. To prepare it, you’ll use tiny tapioca pearls, coconut milk, sweetener, and a splash of vanilla. We like to garnish with a little mango puree, diced fresh mango, and slivers of fresh young coconut. But you can add other fruits—banana and pineapple, fresh berries, or whatever strikes your fancy.
In Southeast Asia, this dessert is called sago pudding whether it’s actually made with sago (from tropical palm plant innards) or with tapioca (from cassava root.)
Soaking the uncooked tapioca pearls in coconut milk for a half hour softens them a bit. Then simmered with sweetener, the pearls will plump up and become translucent— swelling and gelling even more when you refrigerate the puddings after cooking.
To source the tapioca pearls, coconut milk, fresh young coconut, and mango, visit one of the Chicago area’s Asian markets, if you can. These give you several varieties of mango to choose from as well as different kinds of banana and many other tropical fruits.
SERVES 6 TO 8
INGREDIENTS
• 1/3 cup small tapioca pearls (not instant)
• 2 ½ cups full-fat coconut milk
• 1/3 cup sugar OR ¼ cup maple syrup
• Pinch salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh mango, diced
• 1 cup fresh or frozen mango, pureed
• 1/2 cup fresh young coconut slivers
METHOD
SOAK TAPIOCA PEARLS Place tapioca pearls and coconut milk in a bowl and stir to keep them from clumping. Let rest for 30 to 40 minutes.
COOK PUDDING Scoop mixture into a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
Whisk in sugar or syrup. Add pinch of salt. Once mixture just begins to boil, reduce heat to low and stir, simmering for 10 to 15 minutes until thickened into a pudding. If too thick, add a bit more coconut milk. Remove pot from heat and whisk in vanilla.
POUR INTO CUPS Spoon warm pudding into 6 to 8 small cups and refrigerate for 2 hours.
PREP TOPPINGS Chop young coconut in half. Using a spoon, carefully scoop out the soft white coconut flesh. Cut into thin strips and slivers. Set aside. Puree one cup of fresh or frozen mango with a blender. Dice one more cup of fresh mango.
ASSEMBLE Spoon small amount of pureed mango onto each chilled pudding. Top with fresh diced mango and small strips of young coconut. Serve.
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.
COURTESY OF TWISTED ALCHEMY
RAYS OF HOPE
Lake Forest resident and Beacon Place Operations Manager Rob Pasinato—a former trader—is bullish about the unique nonprofit’s mission.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
You have to hand it to Rob Pasinato. The man needs only a handful of words to capture the essence of a vital place in Lake County.
“Everything we do for families is free, but we’re not a handout organization,” says Pasinato of the Waukegan-based nonprofit Beacon Place. “We’re a hand-up one.”
Exactly. Launched by mostly North Shore women in 2012, Beacon Place is a neighborhood community center with programs for children and families that focus on academic growth, improved health, and building the skills that allow individuals and families to see their own path to a brighter tomorrow.
Pasinato has been Beacon Place’s operations manager since May 2022. He lives in Lake Forest, 15 minutes from the nonprofit’s base in southeast Waukegan. It had begun transitioning to more of a professional organization—paid employees, with a board, a executive director, and other officers—circa 2019, Pasinato notes.
“Then COVID-19 hit,” he adds. “But Beacon Place never shut down. It continued to be there for students, K through 12, and their families. It was, like it is now, small but mighty, and nimble. We’ve never been a nonprofit that tells our families what to do. Instead, we try to come up with a plan that creates a future in which they’re prepared to thrive.”
Pasinato is quick to praise Beacon Place’s grassroots founders, calling them “a fearless group of can-do volunteers.”
Beacon Place’s shift to its current organizational chart has been tricky at times, he admits.
“But they’re good challenges, fights worth fighting,” says Pasinato, who worked as a trader for 26 years before stepping away from the field in 2020. “Most people enjoy challenges. We’re a nonprofit, but we’re also a small business in a way because costs are involved. We strive to be accountable to our donors.”
The slew of effective programs under
John Conatser
Jennifer
Rob Pasinato
I hear laughter, sense a wonderful buzz, feel the energy, and see kids of all ages interacting.
Beacon Place Executive Director Maha Worden include Education & Enrichment (for K-8th-grade students); LAUNCH (for high school students); Moms’ Group; and Summer Lunch Bunch (K-8th-grade, Mondays and Thursdays).
Education & Enrichment provides support in math, reading, writing, STEM, SEL (Social Emotional Learning), and art; LAUNCH’s three pillars are college and career preparation; life-skills building; and social emotional learning; the Moms’ Group seeks to build a social support network for mothers to educate, foster positive relationships, and build a sense of empowerment among community residents.
“Beacon Place becomes a destination spot for families during our Summer Lunch Bunch season,” Pasinato says, adding the fare provided is heavy on the nutrition. “Siblings, cousins, and friends show up, creating such a lively environment outdoors. What I love the most about those days is seeing camaraderie develop everywhere I look.”
Indoors? Activities there also trigger smiles from Pasinato.
“I hear laughter, sense a wonderful buzz, feel the energy, and see kids of all ages interacting,” he says. “Then I’ll look over at a corner of a room, where 10 kids are sitting on a blanket while one of our volunteers is reading a book
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to them. Beacon Place is a place where kids learn without knowing they’re learning.”
All 10 of Beacon Place’s high school seniors during the 2024-2025 academic year were accepted at a post-secondary institution. Each will continue their education.
“A high percentage of our high school kids are A or B students,” he says.
Pasinato attended Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook and became a first-generation graduate after majoring in Finance and Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a trader with Marquette Partners, he worked in London, in Frankfurt, and, for six years, in Milan.
He and his wife, Julie, were high school sweethearts who attended a pair of proms together, They raised three sons, all of whom are in their 20s. Their youngest, Robert, plays linebacker at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.
The elder Robert enjoys golf, hiking, and skiing.
“Still searching for perfection,” a smiling Pasinato says of tackling challenges across 18 holes.
Before accepting the post as Beacon Place’s operations manager, he huddled with a good friend who serves as the nonprofit’s finance manager and volunteer chef, Ernie Sadera, and then uttered one question.
“I asked Ernie, ‘Does Beacon Place make a difference for its registered families?’” Pasinato recalls.
“Absolutely,” was Sadera’s quick reply. That was all Pasinato needed to hear.
“Everything I do for Beacon Place—everything we all do for it, really—is for Beacon Place’s families; we work with between 65 and 70 now,” Pasinato says. “They’re all I think about in my position as operations manager.
“Our biggest advocates are our families.”
Beacon Place is located at 603 South McAlister Avenue in Waukegan. Visit beacon-place.org for more information.
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Heidi Prassas Ziomek
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