“I couldn’t have chosen a better REALTOR® than Cory. Cory is the kind of REALTOR® you feel ‘lucky’ to have. You just know you’re in good hands. I, unexpectedly, had to buy and sell within two months. Cory got the job(s) done! I am now living in my dream home. I had never bought or sold a home, and he made the process so manageable. It was an extremely stressful time in my life and Cory guided me along the entire way. He kept in constant communication with me, and I was always well informed. My mom and dad are now using Cory to buy their next place to live. His calm and patient manner, along with his great business sense, is well worth it. His experience speaks volumes. We’re glad to keep him in the family!”
—Aimee Farkas, Highland Park
HIGHLAND
NEWS
5 north shore doings
Find out what’s happening in your neighborhood with our weekly calendar of local events
6 north shore sports
Lake Forest High School quarterback Braden Hoskins talks leadership and New Trier Township High School boys cross country coaches motivate
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
8 #hashtag
After nearly two decades working finance, Pete Rosenstein starts new chapter writing children’s books
18 north shore foodie
This delicious Shrimp and Pea Risotto recipe is a fresh addition to any weekend menu
19 happy hour
Mix up this tasty Lady in Red bourbon cocktail, courtesy of Twisted Alchemy
20 out & about
Stay on trend with all the latest fundraisers and events on the North Shore with photos from recent soirees
16 weekend looks
Beauty picks that put you in the red zone and fabulous fashion finds by female-owned brands
13 vintage finds, gatsby vibes
Winnetka’s beloved Antiques + Modernism Show fundraiser returns for its 53rd year
21 man about film
Our critic reviews The Lost Bus, a film streaming on Apple TV+ that tells the real-life story of a deadly California wildfire
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
22 sunday breakfast
Billy Corgan fan Ed Parks relishes the opportunity to co-star with the Smashing Pumpkins' frontman
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
OCTOBER 25 TO 26
NIGHT OF 1,000 JACK O’LANTERNS
Experience Chicago Botanic Garden’s annual autumn event, which concludes this weekend. This ticketed display of Jack O’Lanterns includes food and drink items available for sale, themed Jack O’Lantern carvings, and artist demonstrations. chicagobotanic.org
OCTOBER 25 TO 31
DEBRA DELBECQ EXHIBIT
Stop into Vivid Art Gallery in Winnetka to see Indiana artist Debra Delbecq's work through the end of the month. Her paintings are threaded with the changing rhythms of each season and daily weather patterns over the fields of her farm. vividartgallery.net
OCTOBER 25
ST. JUDE DREAM
CHICAGO
At 5 p.m., St. Jude will be taking over The Old Post Office, featuring food booths, bars, and activities with unique experiences and tastings from Chicago’s best restaurants. This fundraising event will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. stjude.org
OCTOBER 25
GHOST IN A JAR
Join Highwood Library to create a ghost friend in a jar. From 11 a.m. to noon, participants can create glow in the dark ghost terrariums. All materials are provided. highwoodlibrary.org
NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 2
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Downtown Highland Park is excited to announce its second an-
nual Dia De Los Muertos. This weeklong celebration honors life, culture, and tradition with activities and experiences with local businesses.
hpculturalarts.org
OCTOBER 26 SOUL MASS
The Episcopal Church of St. James the Less in Northfield is having a soul and gospel worship concert featuring music from O’Jays, Smokey Robinson, Al Green, and more. The worship service will begin at 10 a.m. stjamestheless.org
OCTOBER 26
ARTEMIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA FREE CONCERT
Enjoy a free concert at Trinity Episcopal Church in Highland Park at 3 p.m. Reserve seats online. artemischamberorchestra.org
OCTOBER 27
TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THE LIBRARY
Children, teens, and adults can come to Lake Bluff Library for Trick or Treat. Check in with staff at the first floor circulation desk for treats. Costumes are optional but encouraged. lakeblufflibrary.org
OCTOBER 28
HALLOWEEN BABY AND TODDLER RAVE
Families with young
children can come to Highwood Public Library from noon to 2:30 p.m. to dance and play with a spooky twist. There will be glow-inthe-dark lights, streamers, fun Halloween music, and other goodies. highwoodlibrary.org
OCTOBER 28 TO NOVEMBER 18
TUESDAY ON THE TRAIL
Join Lake Forest Open Lands staff from noon to 1 p.m. for a midday hike on the trail. There will be a different preserve to explore each week. lfola.org
OCTOBER 30
SIT AND KNIT
Spend an afternoon with fellow knitters from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Northfield Public Library. All levels of experience are welcome. Basic supplies will be available and a library staff member will be present to help beginners. Registration is required. wnpld.org
OCTOBER 30
HALLOWEEK IN THE STUDIO
Stop in the Wilmette Public Library from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to work on your Halloween costume. Supplies will be available. Ideas and works in progress are welcome.
wilmettelibrary.info
NOVEMBER 1 AND 8
PUMPKIN PITCH
The Village of Wilmette and Go Green Wilmette present a Pumpkin Pitch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pumpkins can be dropped off at Village Hall and Centennial Park parking lots. This Pumpkin Pitch will properly dispose of pumpkins and keep them out of landfills. Be sure to remove all candles and decorations before composting. gogreenwilmette.org
NOVEMBER 2
FALL CONCERT
The Music Institute of Chicago is hosting its Fall Fundraiser Concert at 3 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall. Donations are encouraged and there will be a photo booth, meet and greet, and sweet treats following the concert. musicinst.org
NOVEMBER 5
REVEL HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE
Club of Hearts Presents Revel 2025, its fourth annual holiday shopping boutique at North Shore Country Club from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Gather your friends for a day of festive holiday shopping featuring more than 25 specially curated vendors, raffle, and a fun-filled community atmosphere. All proceeds benefit Charles H. Walsh Sr. Academy & Career Tech High School. clubofheartsil.com
NOVEMBER 7
SHINING STAR FOR YOU TO SEE
From 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., join the Hadley Woman’s Board for its annual benefit in support of Hadley’s mission to empower older adults adjusting to vision loss to adapt and thrive. Enjoy cocktails, a buffet
dinner, and more while supporting Hadley’s free programs, which serve more than 160,000 people across the country and around the world. Tickets are available online. hadleyhelps.org
NOVEMBER 8
MATTHEW HAGLE: JESTERS AND GARGOYLES
At 7:30 p.m., Music Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Concert Hall will host pianist Matthew Hagle for a night of humor and harmony. Tickets are $35 for general admission. musicinst.org
NOVEMBER 13
CHICAGO’S GREATEST BUILDINGS
Join the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff at 7 p.m. for a free discussion of Ellen Shubart’s latest book, Chicago’s Greatest Buildings. Registration is required and copies of the book will be available for purchase. lflbhistory.org
NOVEMBER 14 TO JANUARY 4
LIGHTSCAPE
The enchanting afterdark illuminated trail created just for the Chicago Botanic Garden dazzles with brand new installations from around the world
and vistas transformed with light, art, and music. On November 19, December 4, and January 2, enjoy a festive, adults-only evening where you can let your merry side shine, complete with specialty cocktails and mocktails. chicagobotanic.org/lightscape
NOVEMBER 16
KENILWORTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY FALL OPEN HOUSE
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., join Kenilworth Historical Society for an open house. Visitors can tour exhibit space, and request information about their Kenilworth homes. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required. kenilworthhistory.org
NOVEMBER 20
HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE
The Women’s Board of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital hosts its annual Holiday Boutique at the Forester Hotel with an opening night on Thursday, November 20, followed by two full days of shopping on Friday, November 2, and Saturday, November 22. lfhwomensboard.nm.org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
Dia De Los Muertos in Highland Park
Tuesday on the Trail
BY BILL MCLEAN
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
GEORGE PFOERTNER AND JOEL LERNER NORTH SHORE SPORTS
BY
RUNNING SMOOTHLY
Knowledgeable, passionate coaching staff inspires New Trier Township High School’s boys’ cross-country runners—and their parents.
When New Trier Township High School (New Trier) sophomore crosscountry runner Martin Issa clocked a time of 15:11 to finish in eighth place at the Peoria Invitational earlier this month, the Trevian had pared 30 seconds off his previous personal-best at Detweiller Park—the state meet’s course.
The feat on October 4 was a testament to Issa’s endurance and will power.
But Issa—the varsity’s top runner— pointed to something else for being able to motor that swiftly against an elite field.
“Our coaches’ incredible knowledge,” he says. “Everything they make us do at every practice is well thought out.”
Matt Sloan, a 2004 New Trier graduate and a science teacher at the school, is in his sixth season as the varsity boys’ cross-country coach. Only the fourth head coach since the program started in 1955, he guided last year’s team—paced by state champion Ben Crane (Class of 2025)—to sixth place at the Class 3A state meet in Peoria.
His staff, across all levels, comprises assistants Greg Harper, Jamie Klotz, Brian Loring, Shawn Lucas, Mike Richardson, Erik
Saszik, and former Prospect High School head coach Mike Stokes, who was inducted in the Illinois Track and Cross-Country Coaches Association (ITCCCA) Hall of Fame in 2013.
“Matt Sloan,” Klotz says, “is super respectful and loyal to the kids and to the program. He wants excellence. We, in turn, raise our level as coaches because of that standard.
Q & A with Lake Forest HS senior quarterback BRADEN HOSKINS
The Lake Forest High School (LFHS) senior quarterback and his teammates played rival Libertyville High School in a road game on the same date.
“The birthday gift I want the most?” the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Hoskins asked, repeating the question he’d just been asked to field on the eve of the big day. “You know it has something to do with our football game. I want a win.”
LFHS, alas, lost 31-6, dropping the Scouts’ record to 3-5 with one game—a home game vs. Mundelein High School on October 24—left on their schedule.
Hoskins did get to celebrate a significant victory the next day. Older brother Richie
Hoskins, a wide receiver, and his Vanderbilt University teammates defeated Louisiana State University 31-24 in Nashville, Tennessee.
You’re a football captain this year.
What’s your leadership style?
Bring energy to every practice and every game and be a good leader for my teammates. The most important part of being a captain is holding myself accountable while holding my teammates accountable.
The team’s top highlight to date?
Beating in Zion-Benton (High School). It was our homecoming game. We were down at the half (before winning 28-24). Third quarter, we got our run game going, march-
Matt’s a learner, too, always seeking new information about the sport and the best ways to train.”
Sloan never estimates the power of positive affirmations, snappy statements that athletes repeat to themselves to expel negative thoughts and beliefs during training or races. “Onward Trevians” is the boys’ crosscountry program’s primary mantra.
ing down the field for a big score after our defense had made a big stop.
How big is the LFHS-Libertyville High School rivalry in football?
It’s one of the best in Illinois. I don’t think a lot of people realize just how intense it is.
How often do to talk with your brother at Vanderbilt?
He calls me before and after every one of our football games.
Things you like to do in your free time?
Fish. I fish a lot—bass, muskie, northern. I also like to work out with my friends. Working out is always better when you’re around people close to you.
Words that come to mind when you think of your head football coach, Chuck Spagnoli?
He’s loyal to the program and to his players. I like his commitment, too. He cares deeply about Lake Forest High School football. I appreciated it when he told me early this season, “Come to me anytime when you want to talk about anything.”
You get to travel back in time as an 18-year-old and talk to your 8-year-old self. What advice would the teen give to the third-grader?
Those two words often appear on the Remind app, a communication platform for Sloan’s runners and their parents. Parents, too, seize their days after reading the app’s motivational content.
“I also like ‘Win the Moment,’” says Sloan. “There’s so much going on in a race, and this sport is such a grind, with no timeouts. A runner can begin to turn his race around when he strives to win a moment.”
Adds senior varsity captain Ryan Park, “(The positive affirmations) get us in the right head space. You say those to yourself while competing, and the next thing you know, you’re either reengaged or you’re on your way to closing in on the pack of runners in front of you.
“Our coaches are so good at motivating us and preparing us for meets. They live cross country and love what they do.”
Sloan also raises funds for the Active Hearts Foundation, a nonprofit organization that conducts humanitarian efforts in rural Nepal.
New Trier vies for Class 3A sectional berths at the Loyola Academy Regional meet (Munz campus in Glenview) at 11 a.m. October 25.
Probably something my grandfather Richard liked to say. I’d tell the young me, “Don’t worry if you get nervous. When you get nervous about something, it means you care.”
If football didn’t exist, what would you do in the fall?
No football? Really? I’d fish and play lacrosse.
Members of New Trier Township High School's boys' cross-country team, foreground, race at the Niles West Invitational on October 4.
PHOTOGRAPHY
EDITED BY REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
After nearly two decades in the world of finance, PETE ROSENSTEIN wore many hats—trader, investor, mentor, husband, and dad. But his newest title, children’s book author, might be the most unique yet. Betty Biz and the Great Lemonade Stand Showdown is the first in a new series of short, illustrated chapter books designed to introduce kids ages 5 to 12 to foundational business concepts. In this debut, readers meet Betty, a scrappy young entrepreneur who launches a lemonade stand and learns about profit, competition, taxes, and savings through a fun neighborhood rivalry. The idea came from watching his kids start little businesses—selling scrunchies, bracelets, slime, and more—and realizing that while their creativity was incredible, they had no tools for thinking about money, cost, or value. In elementary school, kids learn math and science, but financial literacy is rarely introduced. That gap inspired Rosenstein to create something that would feel as engaging as a bedtime story, while also planting the early seeds of business understanding. With storytelling instincts, that he doesn’t often use in his day job, Rosenstein wanted to bring business school basics to life in a way that’s both fun and empowering. The book is selfpublished on Amazon, and he hopes to see it in schools, libraries, and bookstores soon. More than anything, he hopes it sparks conversations between parents and kids about how to earn, manage, and save money, and how to use it with purpose. His goal is to encourage the entrepreneurial spark that so many kids already possess, and he wants them to view business as something creative and exciting, and to understand that numbers aren’t intimidating—they’re just a way to tell the story of the choices you make. This is just the beginning of the Betty Biz series. Future books will cover topics like budgeting, marketing, teamwork, and giving back. But more than a character, Rosenstein hopes Betty becomes a symbol of possibility for young readers.
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia with Bill Gifford. I’ve been inspired by my wife’s passion for holistic health and think his concepts of medicine 3.0 are super exciting.
#ON MY MOBILE
Markets. I’ve been a trader for nearly 20 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever gone a day without checking prices.
#IN MY EARBUDS
A lot of country music— Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, and Sturgill Simpson. It’s great outdoor music.
BY RONI MOORE THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Desiree Vargas Wrigley believes in the power of building something where you are. For her, that place is Chicago—a city she has called home for much of her career, and one whose grit, diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit have shaped her own journey.
Over the past 16 years, she has emerged as one of the city’s most enthusiastic champions for innovation—a serial entrepreneur, investor, and community builder working to make Chicago a top destination for startups and venture capital.
The oldest daughter of a single working mother in Kansas City, Wrigley was motivated at a young age to build a career with impact. After earning her degree in Latin American Studies from Yale University, Wrigley began her career at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she specialized in entrepreneurship, and later at Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors.
Those early years honed her ability to connect big ideas with practical impact—a skill that would define her future ventures.
“Building enduring companies and scaling opportunity has been my personal mission throughout my career,” Wrigley reflects.
In 2008, she co-founded GiveForward, the first-ever peer-to-peer crowdfunding platform designed to help people facing major life events. The idea was personal and urgent—to create a way for communities to rally around individuals in need. Under her leadership, GiveForward facilitated nearly $200 million in contributions before being acquired by GoFundMe. It was an early proof point of her ability to spot gaps, move quickly, and scale a solution.
Wrigley’s entrepreneurial streak continued with Pearachute, a platform that made it easier for parents to discover and book activities for their children. But her vision extended far beyond her own companies—she recognized the need to bring more women into venture investing. This led to the founding of The Josephine Collective, Chicago’s most active angel investment group for underrepresented investors, and her role on the steering committee of All Raise, which is dedicated to driving the success of female and nonbinary founders and funders in the tech industry.
In 2020, she joined P33, a nonprofit dedicated to driving inclusive tech growth in Chicago, as Chief Innovation Officer. There she launched and led TechRise, an initiative that provided critical funding, resources, and pitch opportunities for more than 300 earlystage Illinois startups founded by women and BIPOC entrepreneurs. In under three years, these companies secured more than $200
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES GUSTIN
Desiree Vargas Wrigley
million in follow-on funding—a testament to her ability to build pipelines for equity and growth.
But Wrigley knew Chicago faced a deeper challenge: too much startup capital was flowing in from outside the city while too little capital was staying within the city. Local investment accounted for as little as 5 percent of startup funding in some years. To change that, she launched the Velocity Catalyst Fund, a $50 million hybrid venture fund designed to back the next generation of Chicago-grown multi-billion-dollar businesses and the venture funds that will support them.
Wrigley’s goal is bold: position Chicago as a top-three venture ecosystem in the United States. Velocity Catalyst isn’t just about injecting capital—it’s about reshaping the culture of investment in the region so that more entrepreneurs can grow without leaving the city they love.
Along the way, Wrigley’s impact has been recognized nationally. She has been named to Inc.’s “30 under 30,” Crain’s “40 Under
40,” Forbes’ “Women to Watch,” and Parents magazine’s “Moms Who Inspire Us.” She even landed one of the largest deals in Shark Tank history. But to her, the real reward is seeing more founders from overlooked communities succeed.
Ask her why she stays in Chicago, and her answer is simple: the city has everything it needs to compete on the global stage. Its mix of industries, diverse talent pool, and collaborative spirit make it an ideal launching pad for ideas. She is committed to ensuring that future generations of founders don’t have to leave to find the support they need.
For Wrigley, Chicago is more than a backdrop—it’s the heart of her mission. Her life’s work has been part of a larger vision: to contribute meaningfully to a city where innovation is inclusive; investment is local; and opportunity is open to all. In building that future, she’s also building a legacy rooted firmly in the city she loves.
For more information, visit velocityinitiative.com, techrise.co, and joinjosephine.com.
Wrigley hosting a Women's Investor event at the TechChicago Capital Summit.
Wrigley hosting a Women's Investor event at the TechChicago Capital Summit.
VINTAGE FINDS, GATSBY VIBES
Winnetka’s beloved Antiques + Modernism Show fundraiser returns for its 53rd year.
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Pumpkins on porches and crisp autumn air can only mean one thing in Winnetka—it’s time for the Antiques + Modernism Show at the Community House.
Now in its 53rd year, the much-loved event opens with a roaring 1920s themed, “Golden Hour, Gilded Night” preview party on Thursday, October 30, followed by a full show weekend, October 31 to November 2.
This year’s show features 47 dealers from across the U.S. and abroad, offering everything from fine art, jewelry, and curated vintage fashion to one-of-a-kind furnishings that span historic to contemporary styles. Making a debut this year is UK-based Jesse Davis, known for English majolica and European ceramics.
More than just a marketplace, the show is also the biggest annual fundraiser for the Winnetka Community House—a nonprofit hub offering everything from youth sports and theater to lifelong learning, fitness, and community events.
“That means everything from early childhood programs to youth sports, theater, and dance, plus our fitness center and beautiful event spaces,” says Shayne Welch, show co-chair with Laura Senner.
While fees for its events, programs and services help sustain the House, they only cover about 75 percent to 80 percent of the cost of operations.
“Which is why charita -
ble contributions and fundraising events like the A+M Show are so important!” says Welch.
The duo has been readying the show since January.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding,” says Senner. “Serving on the Woman’s Board is a fun, meaningful way to give back.”
“Working alongside such a talented team of women has been inspiring—and I’ve learned so much!” Welch adds.
New this year, the show is partnering with Melissa Carter of Kameo Vintage to curate six new vintage fashion dealers showcasing items that run the gamut from chic western wear to highend designs, to classic children’s wear for the littlest wardrobes. Also getting a refresh? The preview party.
“We’re so excited to unveil our ‘Golden Hour, Gilded Night’,” says Welch. “It’s going to transport guests to the roaring 1920s—think glitz, glamour, champagne, and a surprise speakeasy tucked away for guests to discover.”
The evening kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, with live music, stylish guests, and food by One Off Hospitality.
Community House extends a special thanks to this year’s show sponsors: Aaron Wealth Advisors, Compass, JWC Media, On Off Hospitality & Events, Marvin Design Gallery by Evanston Lumber, North Shore Community Bank/Wintrust, Bent Fork Bakery, Compass/Paige Dooley & Joanne Hudson, DG Kitchen & Bath–Dan DeGiulio, Framebridge, Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, J. Hilburn–Cindy Monnig, Nest Estate Sales, The Bar Method–Catherine James, and The Reel Northshore.
For ticket and more information, visit mycommunityhouse.org/AMShow.
901 WESTERFIELD DRIVE: Enjoy East Wilmette’s
This updated end unit in the wonderful Westerfield Square offers modern comfort, seamless indoor-outdoor living, an idyllic outdoor patio, and a pet-friendly location in prime east Wilmette, near Langdon Beach and Plaza Del Lago. Enjoy the best of Wilmette living with Langdon Park’s beach access, tot lot, and seasonal fireworks—plus shopping at reimagined Plaza del Lago. This home features light-filled living spaces, including a large living room with a fireplace that opens onto a private patio—perfect for relaxing or entertaining. The 2024 renovated kitchen boasts beautiful finishes that are both stylish and functional. Upstairs, the primary suite features an updated en-suite bath, along with two additional spacious bedrooms and a renovated hall bath, all of which offer ample closet storage. The finished lower level offers flexible space for a recreation room, gym, or office, along with ample storage and laundry facilities. Major updates include a new electrical panel and sump pumps (2025), as well as the 2024 renovation of the kitchen and updates to the bathrooms throughout—providing modern functionality and style. Enjoy low-maintenance living with garage parking just steps away and your own outdoor space in East Wilmette’s quiet beauty.
OPEN HOUSE Sunday, 12pm - 2pm
Set on a lush, private .85-acre lot with a gated drive and mature trees, this charming home offers tranquility and serenity in the heart of town. Inside, enjoy a spacious living room with fireplace, an updated kitchen, formal dining room, and a large family room with fireplace leading to a patio and expansive yard. The first floor also includes a large mudroom with Dutch door and laundry and an updated powder room. Upstairs, the primary suite features a fireplace with sitting area, beautifully renovated bath, and lush views of the beautiful surrounds. Three additional bedrooms and a renovated hall bath complete the second floor. A versatile third floor offers space for play, work, or guests. Major updates include new roof and gutters (2023), exterior paint (2022), renovated baths (2018) and electrical and plumbing updates. Move in and enjoy as it is or expand to make it your forever home in a 10+ location.
“We just installed all new windows at our house and we love them! Before we made our decision we went to the manufacturer’s plant to see how the windows were made. We were concerned at first because Russ’s price was more than half of his competitor’s quoted price. After our tour we were very comfortable with our decision. Installation day was quick and painless. Our house was left in great condition. I highly recommend this company!”
FABULOUS FINDS
EDITED BY ALLISON MELONE
PROUDLY SERVING THE NORTH SHORE
SHRIMP AND PEA RISOTTO
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS FOOD EDITOR THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
I once wrote a book about risotto for Rizzoli called Risotto & Beyond, which featured 100 of Chef John Coletta’s recipes for Italian rice. Testing each dish, writing the text for the book, interviewing rice experts in Italy, and photographing there, I learned that Italy grows more than 200 types of rice, making it Europe’s largest rice producer. Americans only consume about 1 percent of the rice Italy exports, so in the U.S., we rarely go beyond the arborio and carnaroli superfino rices commonly used to make risotto. However, when making this lovely shrimp and pea risotto, you can use arborio, or do as the Italians do, and use Vialone Nano, the semifino Italian rice traditionally favored for seafood risottos (available online at Amazon). To begin this vibrant dish, you’ll make a simple shrimp stock and a puree of peas and lemon zest. These create the creamy risotto, which you will finish with sautéed shrimp, a few extra peas, and more lemon zest. So fresh!
Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
For the shrimp stock:
• Shrimp shells and tails from 2 pounds raw, headless 21 to 25-count shrimp. Reserve the raw shrimp to sauté and add to finished risotto
• 1 white or yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, smashed
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the pea puree:
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• Finely grated zest of 2 lemons
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
For the risotto:
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small white or yellow onion, finely chopped to make ½ cup
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1¼ cups arborio or Vialone Nano rice
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 1 to 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (optional)
• Sautéed shrimp (from the 2 pounds you shelled to make the shrimp stock)
• Additional ½ cup thawed peas
• Additional zest from 1 fresh lemon
METHOD
Make shrimp stock:
In a heavy-bottomed pot, combine all shrimp stock ingredients with 8 cups water over medium heat. Heat to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer. Discard all solids. Rinse the pot and return the strained shrimp stock to the pot. Return to a simmer while you make the pureed peas.
Puree peas:
Place peas in food processor with lemon zest, salt, pepper, and olive oil OR place in a bowl and use a stick blender. Pulse to puree into a creamy paste with some chunky bits still visible. Cover and refrigerate.
Make risotto:
Place all measured risotto ingredients on a worksurface near your cooktop with the simmering shrimp stock on one burner of the cooktop. Place a heavy sauté pan over medium-low heat on a second burner. Add olive oil and onion to the sauté pan and cook, stirring until onion is soft and translucent (it’s okay to add a tablespoon or two of water to help the onion soften without browning; just be sure the water has evaporated before moving to the next step). Stir in the salt and pepper. Add the raw rice and stir until kernels are well coated. Add wine and stir until wine has completely soaked into the rice. Add ½ cup of the shrimp
stock to the rice and stir until mostly soaked in. Add another ½ cup of stock and stir in again. Repeat this until most of the stock has been soaked into the rice and rice kernels are tender but not mushy, with a creamy consistency (you may have as much as a cup of stock left over). Stir in the cold butter, if using. Turn off heat.
Sauté shrimp: In a second sauté pan over medium-high heat, quickly sauté shrimp in batches in 1 to 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.
Finish dish: Stir pureed pea mixture into risotto. Add the ½ cup additional thawed peas and half of the sautéed shrimp. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Divide risotto into serving dishes. Top each with remaining sautéed shrimp. Garnish with fresh lemon zest. Serve immediately.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
LADY IN RED
MAKES ONE INGREDIENTS
• 2 ounces KOVAL Bourbon Whiskey
• 1 ounce Twisted Alchemy Pomegranate Juice
• 0.5 ounce Twisted Alchemy Lemon Juice
• 3 ounces ginger beer, chilled
• Dried lime wheel or rosemary sprig for garnish
METHOD
Fill a glass with ice. Add bourbon, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice. Top with chilled ginger beer and stir gently. Garnish with a dried lime wheel or rosemary sprig for a bold finish.
This recipe is a collaboration between two trailblazers in the beverage industry. KOVAL Distillery, founded by Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart, is one of the nation’s largest independent, woman-owned craft distilleries and Twisted Alchemy is led by female founder and CEO Kim Oster Holstein. Cheers to them and other power women shaking things up.
For more information, visit twistedalchemy.com and koval-distillery.com.
LURIE CHILDREN’S DINNER ON THE BLUFF & PRO AM
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR
On June 22 and 23, the Founders’ Board of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago hosted the 65th Annual Dinner on the Bluff and Pro Am Golf Championship, presented by Wintrust. On the evening preceding the tournament, more than 560 guests gathered at Shoreacres in Lake Bluff to enjoy cocktails and dinner overlooking Lake Michigan. The tournament featured 55 foursomes of golfers, each paired with a pro, competing to be crowned the 65th Annual Pro Am’s newest winners. The two record-breaking, sold-out events were co-chaired by Abby Baine Dunn and Annie Barlow and raised more than $2.23 million for Lurie Children’s Heart Center. foundersboard.luriechildrens.org
RAVINIA GALA
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF RAVINIA FESTIVAL
The Ravinia Festival’s annual fundraising gala, hosted by the Ravinia Women’s Board, was a dazzling success, raising funds to support the festival’s Reach Teach Play education programs, which serve more than 50,000 people across Chicagoland, ensuring that many area schools and communities have equitable access to music. The highlight of the evening was a captivating performance by Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra led by Marin Alsop. The night concluded with an elegant dinner, performances, and a paddle raise led by Alyssa Quinlan of Freeman’s | Hindman. ravinia.org.
Clare Colnon, Barb Steinhauser, Susan White
Abby Baine Dunn, Annie Barlow
Dan Broderick, Lisa Berghorst, Debbie and Ted Berghorst
Dinner tent
Jeff Yehle, Margie Stineman, Abby Baine Dunn, Annie Barlow, Stu Lansing
Sutton Foster
Devi Koya, Prianka Koya
Reach Teach Play alum
Wanye Williams returns to play with the CSO.
THE LOST BUS
A new film streaming on Apple TV+ tells the real-life story of the deadly 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California.
BY
VERDICT: Courageous performances and Greengrass’s visceral direction set this truelife rescue drama ablaze—but its refusal to grapple fully with the larger fire makes it thrilling rather than transcendent.
With his signature hand-held intensity and documented cast of ordinary people thrust into catastrophe, Paul Greengrass approaches the true-story of the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern
California as though it were his own personal urgent dispatch from hell on earth. The result, available now on Apple TV+, is at once hallucinatory and alarmingly grounded—but it doesn’t entirely escape the clichés of the disaster genre.
The setup is deceptively simple: Matthew McConaughey plays Kevin McKay, a bus driver suddenly commandeered to evacuate 22 children and a teacher, played by America Ferrera’s Mary Ludwig, while a wall of flame overtakes their town. From that seed of duty and desperation, Greengrass sets the pace: a racing evacuation road-trip in reverse, or rather into the inferno, rendered with his trademark immediacy.
McConaughey is in fine form. He brings a controlled desperation to the driver’s seat—the reluctant hero at the wheel, low on luck, high on spirit. Ferrera, by contrast, offers the steadier moral center: a teacher who must summon every reserve of courage and compassion amid collapsing normalcy. Their chemistry anchors the film’s humanistic core, just as the surrounding spectacle threatens to swallow it whole.
Visually the film is dazzling. The camera plunges into the flame-front with almost first-person urgency; the rotoscope of smoke, ember-wind and traffic gridlock becomes a hellish gauntlet. Critics noted that Greengrass “gives audiences the wildfire’s point of view”— and indeed, at times the fire itself feels like the protagonist.
Yet for all its visceral power, The Lost Bus is cautious in its thematic ambition. The negligence of the spark, the flawed electrical company, the context of climate-enabled disaster—all appear in silhouette rather than in full relief. This doesn’t spoil the ride, but it leaves you wishing for a sharper edge beneath the blistering heat.
In terms of pacing, the film locks into bullrush mode and rarely relents. That relentless forward momentum is both its strength and limitation: immersive almost to the point of discomfort, but with little breathing room to reflect.
Whether one leaves the theater in awe or in need of more, it achieves the rarer aim of being unforgettable.
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FELIX MCMILLAN, MAN ABOUT FILM
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
‘SMASHING’ BARITONE
Classical singer and Grammy Award-winner Ed Parks can’t wait to perform on stage with fellow Highland Park resident and Smashing Pumpkins co-founder Billy Corgan at Lyric Opera of Chicago next month.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
Ed Parks was 12 and growing up in Indiana, Pennsylvania, when he first listened to “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” the third studio album by the alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins.
“I loved it and became a huge Billy Corgan fan,” says Parks of the band’s frontman, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter.
Corgan, 58, lives in Highland Park. So does Parks, 42.
Four world-class opera artists were cast in May to join Corgan for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness, a series of seven world-premiere performances from November 21 to 30. The series celebrates the 30th anniversary of the era-defining album and features operatically expanded new versions of the Smashing Pumpkins’ hits.
One of the esteemed classical vocalists?
Parks, a baritone who won a 2019 Grammy Award for Opera Recording. The three other performing artists: soprano Sydney Mancasola, mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams, and tenor Dominick Chenes.
The concert will harness all of Lyric’s technical and artistic forces—including costume design by House of Gilles, led by Gilles Mendel and Corgan’s wife, Chloe Mendel Corgan—for an immersive sonic and visual experience that blurs the boundaries of opera, rock, and performance art.
“I was super interested as soon as I found out about it,” says Parks, who last appeared at Lyric as Valentin in Charles Gounod’s Faust in the 2017-2018 season. “I do a lot of new music. I told my agent that I wanted to be considered as a performer.
“I’m excited to create something that pushes boundaries and lets these two musical worlds speak to each other in a whole new way. All my singer friends are incredibly envious of my opportunity to collaborate with Billy Corgan on stage.”
The son of a coal miner, Parks started
Conatser
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taking voice lessons at the age of 8. His in-
opportunity to collaborate with Billy Corgan on stage.
pounds heavier then,” says Parks, a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan who also competed as a first baseman for American Legion baseball teams.
baritone roles in classic repertory, Park is noted for his interpretations of new works, including Steve Jobs in the world premiere of Mason Bates and Mark Campbell’s The
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Bill McLean, Roni Moore, Redding Worth DESIGN
Natalie Phillips PRODUCTION MANAGER/ADVERTISING COORDINATOR
Mimi Lee GRAPHIC DESIGNER
(R)evolution of Steve Jobs at Sante Fe Opera. He has also performed in several worldwide stadium tours alongside superstar tenor Andrea Bocelli.
“My favorite part of singing is performing,” says Parks. “Some artists prefer the process. For me, there’s nothing like the adrenaline rush I feel while performing live on a stage. What also excites me about the upcoming concert series with Billy Corgan at Lyric is knowing opera lovers won’t be the only ones in attendance; we’ll get to introduce classical music to alternative rock fans.”
Parks’ wife, Julie, has a background in performing in musical theatre and served as a casting director of halftime shows at several Super Bowls. Their daughter, Willow, is 10. The family lived in New York and Evanston before moving to Highland Park eight years ago.
“My wife is the rock of our family, and our daughter is my everything,” he says, adding the couple’s only child sings and has played the piano, the cello, the ukulele, and the trombone. “She’s strong-willed, funny, and genuinely kind. Loves basketball, too. We’ve been working on her rebounding.”
In his free time, Parks, who’s on the road for three to four months per year, likes to fix things at home. The singing man is a handyman.
But he’s also something else.
“A lucky man,” Parks says. “I’ve been blessed my whole life. I grew up with very supportive parents, and now I’m surrounded by all kinds of wonderful people, personally and professionally.”
In less than a month, he’ll share a stage in Chicago with the Smashing Pumpkins’ only permanent member.
“It excites me, just thinking about performing with Billy Corgan,” Parks says. “That’s a dream.”
Visit edwardparksbaritone.com for more information.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART
James Gustin, Joel Lerner, George Pfoertner, Robin Subar, PHOTOGRAPHY
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