Main and Luxe Magazine

Main & Luxe Naperville

Issue 1 | October 2021

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distinctively

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Main & Luxe, October 2021

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Contents and Credits Features

6 Social

See and be seen

8 Editorial

Founder’s Message

10 Dine

Reviewing Good Eats

14 Community

Matt the Music Man

16 Curated Splurge Confidential Closet

18 Luxe Life

Through the Iron Gates

20 At the Library Launch Your Idea

22 Give Back

24 Live Here

Stone Surfaces

26 Throwback History in Bronze

30 Profile

Megan’s Enchanted Mind

SCORE

Founder / Direction Ashley South Senior Editor Christina Balsano Wichmann Associate Editor Elsie Bailey Design Katie McGraw

Matt the Music Man page 6

Main & Luxe, October 2021

Consultants Ross Creative Works Publisher Bluehouse Publishing Inc Naperville, IL bluehousepublishinginc.com

© Katie Braga

The man behind the music at two downtown institutions.

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Photography Cover - Megan Drane, Firefly Nights Photography Katie Braga, Katie Braga Photography Jean Hess, VoicePrintz Photography

Advertising Inquiries sales@mainluxe.com All rights reserved

33 W. Jefferson Avenue, Naperville 630-355-1311

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Social

See and Be Seen Witches Night Out Naperville ~ New Orleans Style Benefiting Naperville Women’s Club Wednesday, October 6th 4:30pm to 9:30pm Naper Settlement witchesnightoutnaperville.org

(21+) $65, Come dressed in your most creative witch costume for this entertaining Girls’ Night Out. We hope you’ll use our New Orleans theme for costume inspiration!

Howlin’ at the Moon

Benefiting the Naper Settlement Friday and Saturday, October 22nd and 23rd 5:00pm to 10:00pm, each night Naper Settlement napersettlement.org

(21+) $20, each night. Let your curiosity take hold with special performances by the Carnival of Curiosities, an illusionist, fire dancers, liquid lights, and more. Costumes are encouraged!

Halloween StoryWalk at the Riverwalk

Presented by Naperville Public Library and Naperville Park District Saturday, October 30th 9:00am to 12:00pm Riverwalk Grand Pavilion napervillepl.librarycalendar.com © Dan Klenck

Free. Come in costume and enjoy a Halloween StoryWalk® at the Riverwalk that combines the benefits of literacy, physical fitness and family fun.

VIRTUAL History at Home: Witchcraft in Illinois?

Presented by The Forest Preserve of Will County Thursday, October 28th 6:00pm to 6:45pm Zoom webinar - Registration required. Up to 99 registrants. reconnectwithnature.org © Paul Dacko

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Encounter Illinois’ early spooky tales of the unexplained, mysterious and magical. Curl up in front of your computer as we learn about the fascinating and spooky history of early Illinois.

Main & Luxe, October 2021

1559 W OGDEN AVE 630041330690

NAPERVILLE, IL 60540

JAG U A R L A N D ROV E R , N A PE RV I L L E TAKING CARE OF YOU EVERY DAY, THAT’S THE PATRICK PROMISE! At Jaguar of Naperville and Land Rover of Naperville, our dealerships are proud members of the Patrick Dealer Group.

Family-owned and operated for four generations, our team knows what it takes to provide each of our customers with the ideal customer service experience.

From the moment you arrive in our showroom through the Fr life of your vehicle, you'll find much more than an extensive collection of luxury vehicles and a state-of-the-art service center — you'll find a team that is committed to putting your needs first.

It’s a Patrick Thing!

jaguarofnaperville.com

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Our promises are what make the Patrick Dealer Group different. For us, it isn’t just about making a sale, but creating a positive relationship that will hopefully have a long-lasting future. Our Patrick Promise includes these exclusive member benefits with the purchase of a vehicle from Jaguar Land Rover of Naperville: • Patrick Direct Pick-Up and Delivery Concierge • One Year Tire & Wheel, Dent & Ding, and Windshield Coverage • 3 Year Collision Deductible Rebate¹ • 10% Off Transmission Services, Fuel Services, and Accessory Products²

¹ Collision rebate is 10% of repair costs up to a maximum $500 rebate ² Must present when service order is written. Not applicable to prior purchases. Not valid with any other offer. Maximum discount of $250 per service.

Does not include tax, shop supplies, hazardous waste fee, if applicable

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Editorial

Message from our Founder W

elcome to the first issue of Main & Luxe Magazine in Naperville!

It is a new season, new magazine, and for me: a new beginning. The world is different. Almost 65% of people are considering changing employers or careers. Work-life balance is more important than ever, and many of us cultivated varied interests over the last year and a half. We baked bread, turned into near-professional bartenders, and became foodies! We learned to knit and craft with abandon. Guitar? Beer brewing?

Writing? We cultivated lingering ideas that had been relegated to “if only I had more time…” This magazine was born of exactly that. I am part of that 65%.

Passion. Fascination. Enthusiasm.

Obsession. That is what many of us found.

With the extra time, passion pushed us to seek or create the best. When I talked with people about what they were doing, I became energized and thrilled to listen.

The passion made those conversations compelling and turned the wheels in my own brain.

I spent two decades in a traditional work setting. Along with my cohort of the forty percent, including many of you, I came out of the last eighteen months changed. I had taken so many things for granted and want to continue the rich conversations and be out and about while doing it. We are reentering the roaring 20s; and we are going to hustle, sing, and dance our way through this next decade. Everything will now be viewed through a new passionate lens.

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This magazine itself is my passion project.

Bluehouse Publishing Inc. and Main & Luxe Magazine were born after many of those conversations and much self-reflection about my professional future.

Main & Luxe, October 2021

My corporate career could not have been going any better, but I found myself enjoying the various side projects I started – a monthly mobility-focused “unmuted” meeting, mentoring, and casual journaling.

My wine club pals, neighbors, and friends all had ideas about what could be included in a magazine. Eventually, I ended up on the doorstop of Quad Printing, the largest printing company in the United States (think Time and People Mag). Ken Lipske took my call and agreed to work with me directly after listening to my ideas. From there, we began to snowball and materialize.

We are a resident-owned startup. Our staff live and work in Naperville Everything we bring to you will have a tie to our local community and pride behind it. To ensure we always keep our finger on the heartbeat of our community, we have pulled together an advisory board to help guide content creation. And to support our local community, each month we will give a charitable contribution to support local resources for our residents.

Our goal is to weave community, passion, and the finer things in life together.

As residents, we stand by everything we will bring you: the stories, the recommendations, and especially the paid advertisements.

Everything has been curated to the highest degree. Within the magazine, we will highlight what is great about Naperville. We will focus on the unique and truly special within the 4th largest city in Illinois.

At the beginning of each season, we will bring you The Luxe List of Naperville. Each list will be based on feedback received from our readership. We plan to offer the opportunity to vote on different categories pulled from as many submissions as we receive. You, the readers, will tell us which restaurants, shops, and service providers should be heralded and added on to The Luxe List!

© VoicePrintz

Ashley South This issue brings you details on the man behind the downtown live music scene, a resident food blogger couple with a passion to review every single restaurant within our borders, the business library that helped me get this idea off the ground, and we will introduce you to our small business mentor that continues supporting “solopreneurs” including this one!

Whatever your passion, come along with us to learn more about the city, to dabble in something different, and to experience Main & Luxe Naperville!

Ideas / ad inquires may be sent to: ceo@bluehousepublishinginc.com

Follow Us on Instagram: @ tinker_childrens_boutique www.tinkerboutique.shop Located at 227 South Main Street in Downtown Naperville

Main & Luxe, October 2021

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Dine

Reviewing Good Eats

By Ashley South

ames and Menda Lippe started NapervilleFoodies.com as a passion project two years ago.

Their self-built and managed website hosts their reviews. Thus far, the duo has reviewed over 75 restaurants in the downtown Naperville area. “We definitely enjoy finding a great restaurant. We both grew up in families and communities where heart and soul were brought to every meal, and where the table was a place of conversation and sharing life,” says Menda. “We’ve also been fortunate enough

to travel to and live in several different countries in Europe, Asia, and Central America and a big part of our travel is finding local hole-in-the wall restaurants that give a glimpse into local customs, cultures and flavors.”

When James and Menda moved near downtown Naperville a few years ago, they found themselves going to the same few favorite restaurants over and over (haven’t we all??), and while that was fine, they decided to challenge themselves to broaden their experiences.

Sushi Bar. Blue Sushi Sake Grill, 123 Water St

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After several of their friends asked for recommendations, they decided to go on a quest to try every single restaurant in downtown Naperville and record those experiences through a website that they could share. “When we started out, it was just a quirky website that we built for our friends.

I wanted to remember what dishes we liked and didn’t like at each restaurant so that we could order it again if we went there. Also, it was easy to tell people to just go to NapervilleFoodies.com when friends ask

for a restaurant recommendation,” said James. Unsurprisingly to us as foodies here at M&L, the website has taken off and has had tens of thousands of views.

“Yes, it was really surprising to see how

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many people shared our passion for food,” said Menda. “During the pandemic, when we weren’t eating out as much, we still had people contacting us for more reviews.”

James tells us that they have even hosted

We both grew up in families and communities where heart and soul were brought to every meal, and where the table was a place of conversation and sharing life.

“

J

© James Lippe

twenty of their followers on an ice cream shop tour. Five shops were selected: Cold Stone Creamery, Cookie Dough Creations, Kilwins, Midici (now closed), and Sweet Home Gelato. They spent a few hours tasting and learning how the different ice creams were made and have provided their favorites on the website. Mmmmmm…

Followers ask for specific recommendations on where to take out-oftown guests, which eateries have the best outdoor spaces, or which restaurants have private dining available for 10 to 20 guests. James and Menda welcome and enjoy these questions.

For them, helping and interacting with their followers to find the perfect place for their specific needs is a fun mental revisit of their adventure.

So how is the quest to review all restaurants going? “Well, of the 75 or so restaurants in downtown Naperville, we’ve been to 64. We still have a few to

Salmon Velasco.

Rosebud, 22 E Chicago Ave

visit, but we’re also excited about some of the newer restaurants that have opened, so we might reprioritize,” Menda tells us with a wink. “Something tells us that this quest will never be finished, and we’re absolutely fine with that,” said James. He continued, “It’s a pretty enjoyable process.” They post regularly on their website and to their respective Instagram and Facebook pages using the same handle as the name of their website.

In addition to eating great food and sharing their experiences, James and Menda have also especially enjoyed meeting incredibly dedicated managers and wait staff along the way. James says, “The people who prepare and bring you your food really do care about also bringing you a great experience.

© James Lippe

The pandemic caused so much disruption for this industry, and we were thoroughly impressed with how restaurants continued to innovate and work to serve their patrons.

There are a lot of heroic stories shared during the pandemic. The restaurant industry and the people who support it is one that cannot be overlooked.”

Head over to NapervilleFoodies. com to see what restaurants James and Menda have visited recently, what dishes should not be missed, and who has the best staff bringing you that experience. There are a ton of hidden gems when you venture outside of your go-to places, and Naperville Foodies is a place to help you find it.

Strawberry & De La Casa margaritas.

Fat Rosie’s, 47 E Chicago Ave

© James Lippe

NapervilleFoodies.com

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You’re going to want to try these.

A LA FOLIE 2728 Forgue Drive, Unit 108, Naperville, IL 60564 www.alafolieco.com

Community

Matt the Music Man

By Ashley South

e want to introduce you to the man behind the always lively restaurants you are likely already familiar with. Matt is the manager of Potter’s Place and Jimmy’s Grill in downtown Naperville, as well as Base Camp Pub in the Four Lakes Community in Lisle.

These restaurants are locally owned and known for the people watching, as much as for the music scene. We found this is with good reason: Matt Galanes We chatted at 9am because his days are hectic and long. He tells us, “The start of my day is usually the best time to catch me. Otherwise, I am running around all day trying to keep everything running.”

Matt has been at Potter’s for 10 years.

He started out bartending and quickly learned the business side of the house.

He became manager in recent years and turned his attention to the music scene at the restaurants.

Growing up in Wheaton, Matt found himself tagging along as the roadie for his older brother’s high school band.

At 14, his parents negotiated with The Metro for him to set-up his brother’s sets. That routine with his brother became part of his identity, and he immersed himself in his new passion to support his brother. During this time, he also began to notice how music impacted the audience. Eventually big in Europe and on tour there, the Waiting Game turned into The Super Happy Fun Club which was a spin-off of the original band that featured the lead singer of Lucky Boys confusion, Matt’s brother, and some other local musicians.

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For Matt, the correlation between the music and the people it brought together became a formula. The change in scene or style introduced a different subset of people. He thought about how that influence would work within the restaurants and the type of people he wanted to attract to the space.

Matt describes his philosophy in the acronym “MALT,” which stands for Music, Atmosphere, Lighting, and Temperature.

He attributes the long-standing success and yet to be challenged downtown dominance to this thoughtfully cobbled experience.

Potter’s has three different experiential zones catering to the full range of residents in Naperville. There’s a sports bar in the

The Walk-Ins Trio(band).

Back patio, Potter’s Place

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Matt describes his philosophy in the acronym “MALT,” which stands for Music, Atmosphere, Lighting, and Temperature.

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front with multiple TVs, a patio in the back with an almost beachy feel, and an upstairs lounge. Each has its own identity and client expectations. Because of this, Matt has a full rotation of acts and defined parameters. Entertainment of some kind exists every single day of the week. On Saturday nights, the patio typically hosts an opening band in the early evening followed by a full band in the later hours. Upstairs in the lounge a DJ spins mashups and favorites. Multiple concepts under one roof and certainly a unique venue in that regard.

Jimmy’s, on the busiest downtown corner of Washington and Chicago, is our favorite people watching post. We are coming off a summer of brews and as much outdoor dining as possible.

Jimmy’s does not disappoint. Unlike Potter’s, the central focus and real people draw is outside on the front patio. You can relax and peruse the solid draft beer list while relaxing to an eclectic range of live bluegrass to classic rock to slow acoustic melodies by local crooners. The MALT formula is working there too.

Adding in a comment about Base Camp Pub, Matt tells us “Specifically we have had a number of national acts perform over the years including Nathaniel Rateliff, Snoop Dog, Robert Delong, Bob Moses, David Nail, Bad Flower, and many more.” We are sad to have missed Snoop and quickly made a note to check the schedule periodically.

Matt’s voice lit up when he talked to us about his varied music tastes and acts he has brought to each zone within his purview. Country, techno, blends of music, rockabilly, blues, and more.

His passion covers all different types of

Matt Galanes, Manager.

Potter’s Place, Jimmy’s Grill, and Base Camp

© Katie Braga

music. He explained to us his observation that the range serves to evoke nostalgia across the swath of people that may be there on a given day. The music program is there to complement the service, environment, and food.

We asked him how the different music styles are selected for Potter’s vs Jimmy’s. His philosophy is paramount in this space. Depending on the day and what he is trying to achieve, the music varies. He places himself in the shoes of the visitor and selects what he would want to listen to as a patron on a given day of the week―higher energy on Friday or Saturday, acoustics, solos, and trios during the slower mid-weekdays.

Finally, Matt wrapped up by telling us that Potter’s and Jimmy’s tries to give a chance to rising talent who can keep an audience entertained for a few hours. He told us about a local doctor who taught himself guitar, a 19-yearold DJ who came in and asked for Matt to give him a listen, and rotating local downtown neighbor residents who play everything from Elvis to Sinatra to Cage

the Elephant. In a few months, they plan to host a few open mic and open format DJ sessions.

Potter’s and Jimmy’s: They have the downtown music scene cornered and curated with care. Look for Matt and give him a thumbs up for keeping the music scene in downtown lively.

We encourage you to take a new look at the local standbys pumping out a reliably solid experience.

Potter’s, 29 W Jefferson Ave Jimmy’s Grill, 245 S Washington St

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Curated Splurge

Confidential Closet Whether a night on the town or in front of the fireplace, the small business owners in Naperville have you covered with the latest trends and unique finds!

Joseph Ribkoff Dress.

Dean’s Clothing, 226 S Main Street

Go Out Locally-made Kleman Pottery.

Peace, 143 W Jefferson Avenue

Larissa Loden & Gorjana Necklaces.

Lauren Rae Boutique, 14 Jackson Avenue Naperville Candle.

SaraBoo Creek, Necklaces, Lauren Rae. 107 W Jefferson Candle, SaraBooAvenue Creek

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Soapstone Jewelry Dish.

Peace, 143 W Jefferson Avenue

Stay In

Cuff Bracelet.

Karisma Boutique.

232 S Washington Street

We The Free Sweater. Stone & Metal Necklaces.

Karisma Boutique.

232 S Washington Street

Capri Blue Pumpkin Candle.

Karisma Boutique.

232 S Washington Street Main & Luxe, October 2021

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Luxe Life

Through The Iron Gates

By M&L’s version of The Stig

he 45-acre campus at Route 59 and Ferry Road is the best kept car enthusiast secret in the western suburbs. Iron Gate Motor Condos is a community offering custom garage condos to outfit as you wish. Pulling into the drive from Ferry Road, you could never imagine the sprawling space tucked behind the gates. It’s class meets style and sophistication all wrapped up in a batman-type lair unknown to the outside world.

Tom Burgess, who founded Iron Gate Motor Condos in 2014, embodies a harmonious balance of work, family, kids, house and his car “addiction” as his wife lovingly refers to it.

Tom’s interest in cars started as a young kid, undoubtedly passed down from his dad, a Mercedes enthusiast. A developer by trade, he initially made his own car condo in a warehouse but quickly realized it lacked his family and friends, equally as important to him as his luxury cars. He needed a clean place to store his beloved acquisitions, desired a community to share his passion, and wanted somewhere comfortable where his wife and kids could come and hang out.

After some “if you build it, they will come” encouragement from his dad, Tom founded Iron Gate Motor Condos and continues to honor his dad’s legacy through this amazing community.

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Each garage condo is climatecontrolled, secure and private.

The first floor of the condo offers museum-type conditions to store your classic cars and up a short flight of stairs is a loft that includes a luxury

kitchenette and sitting area for families to relax. Each unit is completely customizable and can include a car lift, basketball half court or anything else you can dream up.

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It’s class meets style and sophistication all wrapped up in a batmantype lair unknown to the outside world.

Community is at the heart of Iron Gate. In the center of the property is a clock tower playfully always set to 5 pm – calling Jimmy Buffet!! Tucked inside the tower is a speakeasy that plays host to quarterly social events. In addition to the speakeasy events, many owners have started wine nights, road trips, and smaller gatherings to hang with the other enthusiasts.

Tom told us he feels he has truly exceeded his own expectations and allowed himself and others to enjoy their passions along with their family and friends.

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Iron Gate Motor Condos is open to the public once a month for owners to display their prized possessions. For $10, you can drive through the gates and see different makes and models from all over the world and time periods in one place. Money collected from each visiting carload of people is donated to charity. It’s worth coming to see what Iron Gate is about. As Tom says, car enthusiasts tend to the best kind of people, and we agree!

Iron Gate Motor Condos, 2212 Ferry Road irongatemotorcondos.com

Many of the owners are not merely car collectors but invest a significant amount of time getting into their car’s specific minutia. Iron Gate campus includes an on-site car detailing shop, auto insurance agent, and mechanic. Services include battery changes, oil servicing, and tire maintenance.

Interestingly, most car condo properties aren’t actually places you can live. New zoning was recently approved by the city of Naperville to allow Iron Gate to house people and their cars in the townhomes on the northeast side of the community. Each row of townhomes plays on Chicago’s Northshore city names. There will be a Wilmette, Glencoe, and Kenilworth. All set up for new residents in the fall. Soon you can live, play, and work (from home) here!

Main & Luxe, October 2021

Speakeasy.

Iron Gates Motor Condos

© Iron Gates Motor

CREATING BEAUTIFUL INTERIORS FOR 30 YEARS 630.848.2119 | WWW.INTERIORPLANNING.COM Joan M. Kaufman, FASID, LEED AP INTERIOR PLANNING & DESIGN, INC.

2020 Winner of American Society of Interior Designers Award, Universal Design 2019 Winner of American Society of Interior Designers Award, Bathroom Design Main & Luxe, October 2021

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At the Library

Launch your Idea L

indsay Harmon.

You will need to know this name if you have a great idea and don’t know where to begin with launching a business. Lindsay is the Naperville Library business librarian in charge of NaperLaunch.

The program is housed at the Nichols Library and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs over the seven years of its existence.

Lindsay has worked for the Naperville Library for three years. She explains

that her prior experience was in academia at Lewis University. She and her family moved to Naperville when she landed the job.

Like so many of us, she had no idea that NaperLaunch existed. She explained how unusual it is to have this resource.

“Larger cities with bigger budgets do not have what we have here in Naperville at the Naperville Library. Our city has a dedicated department, a business librarian, and specifically allocated space for

NaperLaunch Conference Center.

Nichols Library

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Main & Luxe, October 2021

© Katie Braga

entrepreneurs. We owe gratitude to the tenacity of Kent Palmer.”

NaperLaunch Academy was just an idea in 2012. Known then as BiblioTech, was shaped into what it is today

by Kent Palmer, a Naperville Library reference librarian with a unique resume, including a business degree, an advanced degree in Library Science, career coach and entrepreneur.

We spoke with Anne Bultman, Kent’s supervisor in 2012.

She tells us “Kent and I went to 1871 (Chicago startup incubation lab) and the Junto Institute to talk through the curriculum.

We settled on five different topics: how to start a business in Illinois, developing a business visibility model, how to develop professional selling skills, how to write a business plan, and how to develop leadership.” The library’s marketing

department came up with the design and worked with Kent on pulling in documents online. BiblioTech was renamed to NaperLaunch and officially marketed in 2014.

“

Kent’s experience coupled with his education and steadfast drive catapulted the program. First, Kent reached out to SCORE (more on page 22) and then the small business development center at College of DuPage. Equipped with established resources to get the program going, he moved onto solidifying the format of the roundtable sessions. After the speakers and facilitators were in place, NaperLaunch welcomed its first cohort. The partnerships have been enduring with the overall common goal to help the future of business.

With resources for support, people in classes, and a space to visit, a community

Our city has a dedicated department, a business librarian, and specifically allocated space for entrepreneurs.

has been established.

There is a women’s roundtable and two mastermind groups (set to a limited number of people whose businesses are operating and generating revenue).

These peer groups form additional support and aid in business ideation.

NaperLaunch Academy provides a focused curriculum of eight workshops and two roundtable discussions that are provided in either a live or virtual, self-guided format.

With a library card, you simply sign up.

Everything is funded by tax dollars, making immediate out of

“

By Ashley South

pocket costs zero. The rich trove of resources is all fully available, and appointments are available for one-onone orientations. As Anne reminds us, “Most public libraries do not have what we are offering. Other libraries refer wouldbe entrepreneurs to Naperville.”

NaperLaunch has seen many ideas “launch” over its seven years.

Anne told of us an entrepreneur with a science background who brought a test to market that works with the invitro fertilization process to increase a couple’s chance a of successful pregnancy. Another one that we love here at Main & Luxe, A Crate to Celebrate is the business of birthday parties in a box and is marketed to busy parents. The most visible success story is Mark Quigley, CEO and founder of Dezinger Software. His idea was to create a template to help startups with their business plans.

He marketed the product to libraries as

a resource for resident entrepreneurs, and the product is being used

by Naperville Library today!

This is the baton that has now been passed to Lindsay. Kent retired in June and

being launched by the program. She is hyper focused on fostering our small-town flavor and aiding in business success.

Lindsay Harmon.

Business Librarian, NaperLaunch

has been traveling.

His legacy is carried on by all those who have found success and guidance through NaperLaunch. Lindsay now has a chance to further the success of the businesses

© Katie Braga

NaperLaunch Nichols Library Lindsay Harmon naperlaunch.org

Main & Luxe, October 2021

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Give Back

Score

By Ashley South

huck, as he told us he wants to be called, met us right on time and immediately began to describe the ground rules, how mentorship would work and then outlined expectations for both mentee and mentor. Our first meeting together was focused. He gets to the point, asks a lot of questions and metabolizes quickly.

You want Charles Turack in your life when starting a business and if you are a person like Chuck, please join SCORE and help us newbies get our wild ideas off the ground!

SCORE is our featured non-profit for the month of October. Main & Luxe believes in directly supporting and giving back to the community. Each month a different organization within the borders of Naperville or immediate surrounding cities will be featured and a direct cash donation given. During the month of October, the SCORE website link will be posted to our M&L website so you too can support this valuable organization or learn more about how you too can become a mentor.

The Service Core of Retired Executives as it was originally known (now shortened to simply SCORE) was started in 1964

Charles Turack.

SCORE Mentor, Fox Valley/Naper Chapter

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Main & Luxe, October 2021

as a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The volunteer network spans all of the United States and has 11,000 active volunteer mentors. It is the nation’s largest network focused on helping small businesses.

According to their website “SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. We aim to give every person the support they need to thrive as a small business owner. At SCORE, we hold that: Clients matter. Our clients’ success is our success. The quality of their experience at SCORE is the truest measure of our success as an organization.”

To become a mentor, each volunteer must complete a training course to ensure a consistent experience for each mentee, have had proven success in executive level leadership with an organization, and have the passion/resilience to work with startups. The Fox Valley/Naper Chapter serves people from Joliet all the way up to DeKalb.

Our man Chuck is a retired steel sales executive. He worked his way up from salesperson to running a $130M business

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Our clients’ success is our success. The quality of their experience at SCORE is the truest measure of our success as an organization.

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unit in a $4B company. This is exactly what M&L needs. The man’s core competencies are in Sales, Relationship Management, Product Management and Niche Product Development. Apparently, steel is not too different than a magazine when you get to the basics – who knew?

Being a “solo-preneur” means getting zero feedback. In most cases, you might have an idea but need guidance to even know where to begin. This is exactly why SCORE exists. This non-profit is there to help you to cultivate those ideas and turn them into viable companies through discussion, focused roundtables and programming.

There is no cost to request a mentor. You fill out an application and can select from the available mentors. SCORE is closely aligned with NaperLaunch (more in the Library section on page 20), where many of the mentees find mentors but you may request one independently.

..and back to our experience with Chuck…

He becomes immersed and transported during our conversations putting back on his executive hat for 30 minutes. It’s motivating to interact with him and ask questions. His goals with his mentoring are pure and simple: to keep his mentee focused and help with decisions on what to do next. Chuck started mentoring to give back to the community and help enrich it. After retirement, he remained curious about the pulse of the business community and still wants to keep a finger on it. Over the last seven years, Chuck has mentored over 300 people. He is meeting with M&L monthly to give us a sanity check and continue to fuel our passion.

If you have an idea, connect with SCORE and apply for a mentor like Chuck. Build your brand and get the help needed to succeed! www.score.org

Main & Luxe, October 2021

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Live Here

Stone Surfaces C

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ountertop surfaces set the tone for your space. The multitude of natural and engineered stone options provide unlimited opportunities to make individualistic design statements.

There are also a number of other factors to consider besides the look when choosing countertops.

First, you want to determine common uses within the location, level of durability you desire, and your willingness to maintain the stone.

Kitchen countertops will be exposed to food including acids such as lemon juice and vinegar. Bathrooms may be exposed to many chemicals, which include whiteners found in toothpaste, acetones in nail polish and removers, dye products and more. Commercial spaces may be exposed to harsh cleaning agents and heavier traffic.

Natural stone varies in durability due to pits, imperfections, and porosity. Natural stone include marble, granite, and quartzite.

Engineered countertops includes quartz and solid surfaces like Corian.

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Granite countertops can actually dull your knives, but can withstand heat up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.

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By Joan Kaufman

Marbles ($$) are characterized by the flowing vein patterns with variety of colors available. Marble is porous. Especially when using for countertops,

Marble

a high-quality sealer is strongly recommended.

Sealers should be re-applied every 3 to 12 months depending on usage.

Make sure you specifically ask for a non-toxic one, if you have littles! Be aware, proper maintenance of marble is essential to ensure enjoyment long term. If maintenance is not something you are willing to do, skip it.

Main & Luxe, October 2021

Granites ($$) are characterized by crystals of varying size. Granite is less porous than marble, but still requires maintenance. Granite is a highly durable siliconebased stone that is more resistant than marble to the acids found in lemons, vinegars, and cleaning products. As most granites do not etch, it is often used in outdoor applications.

Granite countertops can actually dull your knives.

But, it can withstand heat up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep knives on a cutting board and trivets in the drawer!

© The Tile Shop

Quartzite ($$$$) is essentially an interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals and even less porous than granite in most applications. The surface is glassy in appearance; you can even see interlocking quartz crystals underneath the polish! True quartzite contains at least 80% quartz by volume. Be

Quartzite

sure to ask questions when selecting the stone to ensure that it is a true material.

While exceptionally beautiful, quartzite can be extremely brittle in certain applications.

Accent pieces need to be at least three centimeters thick, or they will break. Curved shapes are out. Work closely with your professional designer to navigate these details!

Quartz ($$$) slabs are engineered stone.

To make the product, roughly 90 percent ground quartz is blended with about 10 percent resins, pigments and various compounds. The finish has a depth that can’t be produced with other manufactured solid surface materials like Corian. Quartz is non-porous, very durable, attractive and requires little maintenance.

© Joan Kaufman

At the start of any building or remodeling project ask yourself these important questions: What am I doing with the space?

How durable do I need my surfaces to be?

How much do I want to maintain it? And, what is the project budget?

© ASID

M&L Live Here Author: Joan M. Kaufman, FASID, MBA, MPH, LEED AP, Native of Naperville Joan is passionate about improving lives through good design. Joan and her team at Interior Planning & Design Inc have been designing beautiful interiors for over 30 years.

welcome HOME

339 W. FRANKLIN AVE. $1,549,000 5 Bedrooms | 5.5 Baths 6,848 sq. ft.

With a prime location, this beautiful masterpiece is just a quick walk to Downtown.

Interior is on trend with updates throughout the 4 finished levels.

For more photos, visit http://339f ranklin.info.

917 JACKSON AVE. $2,490,000 6 Bedrooms | 5.5 Bath 7,354 sq. ft.

At the end of Jackson Avenue on an oversized lot, this ultimate, custom-built estate offers privacy and the perfect place to entertain.

For more photos, visit http://917jackson.info.

THE VILLE TEAM – COLDWELL BANKER REALTY Walt Burrell, Owner & Partner | Bridget Salela, Owner & Partner Nikki Genthner | Tom Maschmeier | Luke Salela | Serena Drendel | Kristy Garcia | Amy Hill

630.420.8834 | THEVILLETEAM.COM Main & Luxe, October 2021

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Throwback

History in Bronze B

lack and white photographs do not always express the heroic proportions or downto-earth humanity of a person quite like a statue. To bridge this gap, Brand Bobosky established Century Walk to tell the 20th Century stories of Naperville. The artists engaged by Century Walk used their talents and skills to bring these historical figures to life. Here are just a few of the many bronzes located around Naperville that tell our rich history.

Naper Namesake

Town settler, Joseph Naper, needs little introduction.

Vermont native Naper was a ship builder, Great Lakes ship captain, and businessman who saw an opportunity in 1831 to better his position in America and establish a legacy.

Naper brought 13 families from Ohio and New York and shaped the physical, cultural, and spiritual construction of Naperville. The collaboration between Pulitzer-prize winning artist Dick Locher and nationally known artist and foundry owner Jeff Adams was a creative history lesson for both.

Using a single photograph of a 59-year-old Naper and various written accounts and images of relatives of Naper, Adams and Locher created Naper’s likeness as an energetic, 30-something pioneer.

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Main & Luxe, October 2021

John Naper Artists: Dick Locher and Jeff Adams Jefferson and Mill

Naper brought 13 families from Ohio and New York and shaped the physical, cultural, and spiritual construction of Naperville.

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By Bryan J Ogg

Veterans Honored

Riverwalk Royality

Carillon Couple

It is Naperville’s most recent memorial to the many Naperville men and women who have served our country in the military.

The pair represents Jim Moser (Harold’s brother) and Mayor Chester “Chet” Rybicki as they worked on their plan to honor the 150th anniversary of the founding of Naperville in 1981.

The Riverwalk is now considered one of Naperville’s finest “crown jewels” and is visited by people from all over the world.

The Great Depression was hitting most people hard.

Moser, however, was a restless businessman who operated a coal and lumber yard and founded a newspaper (The Naperville Sun). He had a knack for seeing a need and creating a solution. Moser sold lumber, bought lots and built homes for the growing community.

California artist, Shirley Moss’ Veterans of Valor is located at the west entrance to Naperville’s Central Park.

Leo Kueffler Artist: Shirley Moss Naperville’s Central Park

Moss is best known for her realism and authenticity, which she achieves through research and photographs from family members and verifying uniform details.

The five veterans of Naperville represent four branches of the military. They not only defended theircountrybutalsocontributed to their hometown, each in their own way. Leo Kueffler (pictured) who worked for School District 203 for 38 years after he sold his gas station located at the corner of Aurora and Eagle. Kueffler was also a member of the Naperville Civil Defense Unit protecting Naperville’s home front during the Cold War.

Riverwalk Visionaries by Kathleen Farrell located near Water Street and Main Street on the Riverwalk.

Rybicki was twice-elected mayor of Naperville (19751983) during a critical period of town growth and downtown revitalization. Artist Farrell included a drawing in Rybicki’s hand of volunteers planting flowers and setting bricks as a representation of the hundreds of volunteers who worked hard to make the Riverwalk a reality.

Flash forward a century from Naper’s arrival to 1930 and we meet our next town builders, Margaret and Harold Moser.

Like the artists and metal foundries that melted and crafted these bronzes, the people represented in these statutes cast their molds in the making of the culture and spirit of Naperville. Public art is an incredible way to convey the history of a place.

So, comb your hair, stand tall, and say “cheese!”

Head to the nearest statue and take a selfie! Become a part of Naperville’s rich history!

Mr and Mrs Moser Artist: Barton Gunderson Base of The Carillon Tower

Statue detail

Moser’s company would eventually be responsible for developing one-third of the subdivisions and neighborhoods of Naperville.

Chester Rybicki Artist: Kathleen Farrell Main and Webster, Riverwalk

Barton Gunderson’s statue Mr. and Mrs. Naperville illustrates the Moser’s community-building efforts from solid ground.

© Mike Mantucca

M&L Throwback (Quarterly) Author: Bryan J Ogg Bryan knows a lot about the town he now calls home. He is a dedicated researcher, tour guide, and author with more than 30 years of experience. His last title, Naperville: A Brief History is at local bookstores and libraries.

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www.katiebragaphotography.com

Profile

Megan’s Enchanted Mind

By Elsie Bailey & Ashley South

egan Drane of Firefly Nights Photography, M&L’s cover photographer, has never lacked in creativity.

She has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember.

She would say that she lives in a world of dreams, constantly daydreaming and having movies play out in her head. “I may be slightly insane,” she jokes. “Doesn’t everyone have stories going all the time in their head like a movie?”

Growing up, Megan always wanted to be a writer. But, her professional career took her down a totally unplanned path and into photography.

“I never planned on being a photographer. It just sort of happened.” While her career choice may have been accidental, Megan’s success certainly is not. Her creative and unique work has garnered international fame, having won several international awards. The two she is most proud of winning are the 2019 International Child Photographer of the Year by Rise International and being

one of only 16 photographers to represent Team USA in the World Photographic Cup. “I’m still shocked that anything I created was put up on a global scale!”

The pictures that have gotten such attention are not the run-of-the-mill portraits.

Megan offers commissioned art pieces where she created photographic art that spans outside of reality. “I always joke that I make my own reality.” Megan’s reality is something magical and better than reality. Just take a look at our cover to see what she created for our first issue.

She tells us, “I have always been a storyteller, and now I am a visual storyteller. When I have a consultation about an art piece, I literally have images flickering in my mind.

The more the client talks, the more I see, and I will suddenly get the exact image I want to create. When I’m shooting it, I totally see what it will be, which is not at all what it is in that moment.” Main & Luxe

Special effects makeup

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Main & Luxe, October 2021

Megan-made leaf corset

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What is at the core of the story we want to tell?

Is it about a relationship?

Is it wonder?

Magic? Love?

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M

asked Megan to help us bring a new magazine, coming out in the fall, to life. Her vision was born and brought into reality, and we could not be more pleased!

“Being a portrait artist is the creative side of my business as opposed to the regular sessions I do such as families, newborns, and high school seniors. Portraits allow me to be creative and stretch my skills which is the best

Test shot

© Firefly Nights

part of my job. When I do these creative sessions, it is always a risk – will I succeed in engineering what’s in my head? Will the client love it? It is scary and exciting at the same time, but it is the number one thing that keeps me evolving in my work. The day I have nothing else to try or nothing else to learn is the day I guess I’ll retire.” (We do not see that happening anytime soon.)

Megan says that she knows how lucky she is to be able to make a living doing something she loves in the arts. It is a rarity for which she is grateful. “Having people like my normal photography is great, but that is mostly about skill. Having them like

Final Cover

© Firefly Nights

The Dog Walker.

2019 Team USA, World Photographic Cup

my commissioned art pieces is so much more personal because they are MY visions which come directly from my heart and soul.”

Another reason Megan loves creating visual stories is about the passion ― both hers and her clients. “These pieces are a significant investment. They are sold as framed art, so clients need to love them. That means when we are discussing about what we want to do in terms of the story, it has to reflect the client on a deep level. What is at the core of the story we want to tell? Is it about a relationship? Is it wonder?

Magic? Love? The goal is to create something meaningful to them but through my

© Firefly Nights

eyes.” Commissioned art pieces bring to life the stories in Megan’s head for the rest of the world to see.

Ideas are never lacking for Megan as she weaves her visions into her consultations.

Most clients come to her just knowing they want something “wow”. Megan tells us, “I love characters! Making people into something else is awesome.”

Megan tends to love fairytales, magic, and a sense of wonder.

“That is the essence of my business name and probably the essence of myself, as well.

If I had to pick one word I would want people to feel from my work, it would be enchanted.”

Firefly Nights Photography, 120 S Webster fireflynightsphotography.com

Uncaged.

Finalist, international competition

Main & Luxe, October 2021

© Firefly Nights

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