Make It Better - November/December 2018

P O W E R F U L. P O S I T I V E. C O N N E C T I O N S.

CH I C AG O A N D B E YO N D

Celebrations ‘TIS THE SEASON

OF FAMILY AND FAITH

TOASTING THE SEASON ON CENTRAL AVE ADDS UP TO A BRIGHTER TREE LIGHTING THAT’S WILMETTONOMICS

Over $ 5 million from local sales are reinvested back into Wilmette every year, making it one of the most special places on the North Shore. This holiday season, remember, it pays to shop locally. Show your local love and use #wilmettonomics.

BUYING THE HOTTEST GIFT ON WILMETTE AVE ADDS UP TO A STELLAR FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT’S WILMETTONOMICS

Happy s y a d i l o H

Over $ 5 million from local sales are reinvested back into Wilmette every year, making it one of the most special places on the North Shore. This holiday season, remember, it pays to shop locally. Show your local love and use #wilmettonomics.

Nov. 30 – Jan. 6

The most wonderful time of the Pier is here.

This holiday season, there’s no better place to make warm family memories than at the Fifth Third Bank Winter WonderFest. With indoor wall climbing, inflatable sledding hills, a huge indoor skating rink and tons of other rides and games, it’s a jolly time for the whole family.

SAVE WHEN YOU BUY TICKETS ONLINE Centennial Wheel ticket included with each ticket purchase at navypier.org

Contents

NOVEMB ER / DECEMB ER 2018

53

Features 38 Holiday Survival 101 A primer on stylish, stress-free entertaining for hosts and guests alike.

53 Better Gift Guide Our annual round-up of presents with purpose for everyone on your list.

6 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

MALLMO

46 The Giving Season Fun, family-friendly ways to raise charitable children.

halo

ME... halo

ME not FOREVER CHICAGO

I

ADDISON

I

RAZNY

H I G H L A N D PA R K

SM

JEWELERS

I

HINSDALE

Contents Your Chicago 23 Fashion Three ways to style the season’s chicest little black dress.

81 Dine The very best restaurants around.

26 Conversation Chicago’s spiritual leaders contemplate the future of faith.

88 Flavor 11 local eateries worthy of special-occasion dinners.

33 Currents New Year’s Eve plans, one-stop holiday shopping, unexpected ways to celebrate, and more.

91 Better Makers Our community champions and their incredible impact.

67 Go A motherdaughter duo embarks on a trip to the Balkans.

Out & About

23

88

Chicago Home 99 Backstory A Lincoln Square couple’s bright, colorful abode.

67

IN EVERY ISSUE 16 Editor’s Letter 18 New In Town 20 Connect 102 Reflections

73 Calendar Things to do and see in Chicago and beyond.

78 Theater Editor’s Picks: The hottest shows in town.

GREEN TIDINGS Rich evergreen and twinkling gold make for a fresh and festive party palette.

Turn to p.38 for lots more ways to make your holiday celebration sparkle.

8 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

99

FROM TOP: ALAN SHORTALL; COURTESY OF DESIGNER; MELANIE HAIKEN; DUSTIN HALLECK

Destinations

NOVEMB ER / DECEMB ER 2018

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© 2018 IPB

MAKEITBETTER.COM

FOUNDER & CHIEF VISIONARY OFFICER Susan B. Noyes

Editorial EDITOR IN CHIEF Brooke Geiger McDonald EXECUTIVE EDITOR Cara Sullivan DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Anna Carlson SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Macaire Douglas ASSOCIATE EDITOR Emily Stone COPY EDITOR Cynthia Rubin CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Julie Chernoff, Dining; Tracy Clifford, Fashion Robert Loerzel, Theater; Danielle McLimore, Books CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brittany Anas, Danielle Braff, Erin Chan Ding, Tate Gunnerson, Melanie Haiken

Art ART DIRECTOR Tonya Sutfin DESIGNER Brian Von Kaenel PHOTOGRAPHER Todd Rosenberg

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11/1/18 11:23 AM

INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE B U I LT W I T H I N T E G R I T Y

REYNOLDS ARCHITECTURE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

FOR A C O N S U LTAT I O N O R TO L E A R N A BO U T R E Y N O L D S A R C H I T E C T U R E C O N TAC T D OU G R E Y NO L D S 8 4 7 . 5 0 1 . 3 1 5 0 R E Y N O L D S A R C H I T E C T U R E . C O M

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Editor’s Letter

recently, I marveled at the breathtaking beauty of the fall trees—the brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds at their peak right now as we move into November. Blink, though, and it’s gone! Having lived in Chicago much of my life, I know how fleeting this season is and how important it is to appreciate all this gorgeous color while it’s here. Before we know it, the trees will be bare and snow-covered and we’ll have moved on to dreaming of spring.

Lately, I find myself talking a lot about the passage of time; no doubt, my two boys are to blame. Every night, their pajamas fit a little more snugly; every morning, they spill less milk as they get a little bit older and a lot more independent.

It seems each milestone, big and small, from the changing of seasons to a birthday to growing out of another pair of shoes, serves as yet another reminder of how precious every moment really is.

Isn’t that what “the most wonderful time of the year” is really all about? Pausing to reflect on those ephmeral special moments? Sure, it can get a little bit hectic, but it’s punctuated by so many meaningful opportunities to press pause, gather our most beloved close, and say thank you for this life we have. Helping you to create and savor these moments is at the heart of what this issue is all about.

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Drop me a line at brooke@makeitbetter.com and catch me on Instagram @brookejmcdonald

16 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

Brooke McDonald, Editor-in-Chief

THE BEST OF MY 2018 Here, a favorite moment from my year: a gold-panning excursion in Skagway, Alaska, during my family’s first Disney cruise. Look out for my full report coming soon on makeitbetter.com.

TOP: COLIN LYONS

A

S I DROVE my kids to school

One of the easiest—and most poignant—ways to stop and recognize all we have to be grateful for is to look beyond our own families to those who are struggling. This holiday season, why not start a new tradition of family giving? In “The Giving Season” (p. 46), we share engaging and impactful ways families with children at every age can spend time together on an activity that will make a real difference for someone less fortunate. It’s an ideal time—before all of those parties and presents descend—to remind kids that there really is more joy to be found in giving than receiving.

Speaking of parties, are you assuming hosting duties for a holiday soiree or the big meal this year? Dining Editor Julie Chernoff’s “Holiday Survival 101” (p. 38) is packed with tips, tricks, and genius hacks to help you throw a Pinterest-worthy fete yet still have the time—and remaining strength—to actually enjoy it. Even if you’re just along for the ride, there truly is an art to being an elegant and gracious guest.

And while we all know it’s not all about the parties and presents, we’re sure you’ve made that list and checked it twice. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that when you buy gifts for your nearest and dearest, you could also be doing something to make the world a little bit better? In some small way, the purchase of every single item in our 2018 Better Gift Guide does just that. Turn to page 53 to find something fabulous for everyone on your list, and feel good knowing you’re spreading that love even further.

In between all the partying and gift-giving, my goal this season is to spend as much time with my family as possible. On our list: Illumination at Morton Arboretum, the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker, and the BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, where our favorite Disney pals Mickey and Minnie will be marshaling the TreeLighting Parade. Come join us—and check out page 73 for lots more festive happenings around town. From my family to yours, here’s to a joyful holiday season and a happy new year.

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New in Town ANNA CARLSON

EDUCATION

FITN ESS

› The House Studying

› Club Pilates Glenview

just got a whole lot cooler thanks to this “Soho House-style” luxury tutoring lounge in Glencoe. A membersonly, Chicago Academic concept, The House features on-demand tutoring help; a library; a kitchen with snacks, beverages, and meals from Osteria Langhe chef Cameron Grant; cool furniture and study spots. the.house

Get a jump start on your fitness-related resolutions at this Glenview Pilates club that opened in September. No matter your goals or your level of experience, you’ll find a class that’s right for you, from a CP Intro Class to CP F.I.T., CP Cardio Sculpt, CP Center + Balance, and more. clubpilates.com

SHOPPING

› Redline VR The future

Walton Street Kitchen + Bar

E ATS

› Tinker to Evers The Wrigleyville makeover continues with this baseball-themed craft cocktail lounge, which opened in October. As you wait for the start of another baseball season, snack on bacon and sea salt “Cracker Jack” popcorn and sip cocktails like The Ol’ 6-4-3 (George Dickel #8, St. George Spiced Pear, Meyer lemon) and Empress of the Blues (Yama Japanese Whiskey, Amontillado sherry, Drambuie, lavender syrup). unionpizza .com/tinker-to-evers

› Lost Larson In Sweden, fika is the concept of taking a break

over coffee and a treat to catch up with friends, both new and old. We don’t know about you, but we could use a little more fika in our lives, and this Andersonville bakery is the perfect place to take part. Opened by former Grace pastry chef Bobby Schaffer, Lost Larson offers croissants, cakes, breads, tarts, and sandwiches in addition to coffee and tea. lostlarson.com

approach to the neighborhood restaurant and bar concept with refined yet unpretentious American-leaning fare.”

Besides enjoying dishes like roasted king crab, 12-hour short rib, and lamb Wellington, diners will also find The Lounge below the restaurant the optimal spot to enjoy drinks in a cozy, librarylike setting that seats just 18. walton streetchicago.com

› Walton Street Kitchen

› Stan’s Donuts &

+ Bar In September, restaurateurs Ryan and Anna O’Donnell (Ballyhoo Hospitality) and chefs Jon Keeley and Ji Yoon opened this “thoughtfully executed

Coffee This favorite destination for coffee, ice cream, and doughnuts like Glazed Old Fashion and Lemon Pistachio Old Fashioned opened

its second suburban location (10th overall) at Woodfield Mall in September. Next time you’re planning to shop -till-you-drop, take a break from the racks with one of these delicious treats. stans donuts.com

is officially upon us with this virtual reality arcade and escape room—suitable for both newbies and pros—that’s opening soon. Even select drink orders come with VR headsets, so you can experience your cocktail being prepared in a whole new way. redlinevr.com

› Gigi’s Closette A staple in Glenview for more than 40 years, Gigi’s Closette has a new location on Waukegan Road. Stop by to see the new space and experience the store’s fresh concept: daily wear and special occasion dresses. gigisclosette.com

Stan’s Donuts & Coffee

New in Town is an ongoing bulletin on new businesses in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. To be considered for future listings, email anna@makeitbetter.com.

18 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

NEIL BURGER; COURTESY OF STAN’S DONUTS & COFFEE

EXPERIENCES

CONNECT WITH US

TOP GRAM

Want your photo to be featured in print? Tag us on Instagram @makeitbetterns

20 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

AUBRIE PICK

In September, when Chrissy Teigen released her second cookbook, “Cravings: Hungry for More,” you were drooling over the photo we shared of her Everything Bagel Cream Cheese Breakfast Bake (and for good reason).

Get the recipe—just in time for cozy winter weekends—at makeitbetter.com/chrissy

Top 5 Online Stories Right Now 1 Chicago’s 25 Most Powerful Women In our last issue, we revealed this year’s list of Chicago-area women who are making an impact in major ways.

From a senator and Supreme Court justice to CEOs and presidents, find the full list online at makeitbetter 0.com/powerfulwomen2018

A World Apart Minutes away from Honolulu and the excitement of Waikiki, tranquility awaits you.

2 Where to Donate Unwanted or Unused Beauty Products to Women in Need Got a pile of beauty products you never use taking up space on your shelves? Don’t toss them! Instead, learn how you can donate them to make difference for a woman in need at makeitbetter.com/donatebeauty 3 12 New Chicago Restaurants to Check Out (Plus 5 More on the Horizon) Earlier this fall, we highlighted the many amazing restaurants opening their doors throughout Chicagoland. Haven’t made it to all of them? Revisit the list at makeitbetter.com/newrestos 4 10 Fabulous Chicago Food Halls You Need to Visit If the words “food hall” bring images of 1990s mall food courts to mind, you clearly haven’t been hitting up the spots on this list. For those nights when your spouse is craving tacos, you’re feeling sushi, and your kids want pizza, look no further. makeitbetter.com/foodhalls 5 8 Health Conditions That Could Be Disrupting Your Sleep There’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep—but it’s not always easy to get the ZZZs you need, especially if you have one of these health conditions. Find out if you could be sleeping better at makeitbetter.com/sleephealth

live the kahala life

7thAnnual

Philanthropy Awards The Make It Better Foundation is accepting applications for the 7th Annual Philanthropy Awards through Jan. 10, 2019. makeitbetter.com/apply

1.8 00.36 7.25 25 KahalaRes or t.com

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M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 21 10/30/18 7/24/18 12:18 4:36 PM PM

Investments in our community yield the greatest return William Blair is a premier global boutique with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management.

We have a global financial footprint and a personal commitment to each of the communities where we work and live. MetroSquash is one of the many valued partners William Blair invests in with our volunteer time and financial resources.

Your Chicago / FASHION

Party Trick

‘Twas the start of the season, but she wasn’t stressed—though her schedule was crazy, she had the perfect dress. Swapping only her accessories, she’d wear it on repeat. Sound too good to be true? You’re in for a treat.

BY TRACY CLIFFORD AND CARA SULLIVAN

Look 1

DRESS: COURTESY OF DESIGNER; COURTESY OF LOEFFLER RANDALL; BOUNKIT RING: CHARLES DEROSA; SANDAL: DAVID BROOK

The Dress

A.L.C. Fiona long-sleeve mini dress, $445, saksfifthavenue.com

T

HIS GORGEOUS SHIFT

is eye-popping on the page and even better in person. The exaggerated, pleated shoulder creates a slim silhouette that flatters most body types, while gathered sleeves provide the perfect amount of non-matronly coverage, eliminating the need for fussy cardigans, shawls, and other winter toppers. The best part? Its sturdy crepe construction—effortlessly opaque, easy to spot-treat on the fly, and resistant to wrinkles—means it photographs like a dream. Here, three festive ways to wear it.

THE BAG Mint-hued, featherembellished leather in an on-trend circle shape adds just the right amount of color and texture—plus a dash of editorial whimsy to boot.

Loeffler Randall Zadie tote, $350, zappos.com; also see loefflerrandall.com for Chicago-area retailers

THE SHOES A shimmering stiletto heel and sleek ankle straps amp up the formality of this dress while making legs look impossibly long. Sophia Webster Rosalind sandals, $495, farfetch.com THE JEWELRY A unique and eye-catching cocktail bauble pulls this entire look together. For extra credit, keep the rest of your jewelry sleek and minimal—think gray pearl studs and a sleek bangle.

Bounkit amethyst and pearl ring, $275, bounkit.com

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 23

Your Chicago / FASHION

THE SHOES Tall, slouchy boots give this dress a cool downtown vibe.

Tamara Mellon Lucent suede boots, $995, lyst.com

THE JEWELRY A long necklace adds dimension, breaks up all that black, and softens what could otherwise be a super-intimidating look. Marie Laure Chamorel necklace, $375, elementschicago.com

THE JEWELRY If an outfit doesn’t feel quite ready to par-tay, tassel earrings that complement the colors of your kicks are the answer. Lizzie Fortunato Modern Craft earrings in rose, $156, space519.com

Look 3

THE BAG A shoulder bag that triples as a clutch and a cross-body and grounds the entire outfit with its smart gold hardware? Yes please. Yuzefi Asher small leather shoulder bag, $450, yuzefi.com

THE BAG Burgundy velvet screams both holiday and sex appeal. Say no more. Boyy Romeo clutch, $835, net-a-porter.com

THE SHOES Hit three of the season’s biggest trends—a cheetah print, a sleek, almond-shaped toe, and a comfortable kitten heel—in one chic shoe.

Alexandre Birman Kittie bootie, $824, goop.com

Looking for more LBD options? Try one of these stunners on for size. « MODERN

« PURE ELEGANCE

« VINTAGE CHARM

LUXURY Striking a balance between masculine and feminine, this red-carpet-worthy double-breasted satin number puts a refreshing spin on eveningwear. Milly stretch satin blazer mini dress, $695, neimanmarcus.com

Designed with women of all shapes, sizes, and ages in mind, this understated closet staple requires just a beautiful pair of shoulders to wow. Roland Mouret, Darley Offthe-Shoulder Crepe Dress, $1,365, saksfifthavenue.com

This Audrey-inspired mini boasts a flattering A-line silhouette, a fun ruffly skirt, and a hiked-up hemline that’s tempered by a conservative scoop up top. Mestiza New York Lauren Godet bubble mini dress, $565, lordandtaylor.com

24 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

R E A D MO R E AT M A K E IT B E T T E R .COM / FA S H I O N

BOYY ROMEO CLUTCH: YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP; ALL OTHERS COURTESY OF DESIGNERS : BOTTOM ROW: GREG KESSLER/KESSLER STUDIO; COURTESY OF DESIGNERS

Look 2

the LOOK P RO M OTI O N

HOLIDAY GLAMOUR AND GIFTS With Gigi’s Closette launching their holiday Collection at their New Location, we’re feeling the Spirit more than ever! HeadTurning dresses and Jumpsuits, on Trend Jewelry and Gifts...They have it all. Mother of the Bride and Bridemaids 2019 Collections are arriving daily.

MAD FOR PLAID Plaid is a huge trend this season and this cashmere sweater is a perfect way to introduce a little into your wardrobe. Stop by Juniper to see more ways to get your plaid on.

GIGI’S CLOSETTE

1029 Waukegan Road Glenview, IL 847.729.5110 gigisclosette.com

JUNIPER BOUTIQUE

1346 Shermer Road Northbrook, IL 224.326.2412 juniperboutique.com

25 MIX AND MATCH OUTFIT COLLECTION

SUMPTUOUS STYLE Staying warm and looking great is always in style! It’s easy in this luxurious alpaca side zip coat with a removable fox collar by Autunno.

Discover a curated 25 mix-andmatch outfit collection when you shop with Hanna, Hanna Lee Style.

Enter a beautifully organized dressing room with four stores’ merchandise for a convenient and easy two-hour fitting.

Made from the finest materials with expert craftsmanship, these leather, fur and shearling coats and vests will always be with you...

Keep what you love and Hanna will return the rest.

VIBRATO BOUTIQUE

Plaza del Lago 1515 Sheridan Road Wilmette, IL 847.853.1434 vibratoboutique.com

She’ll have outfits ready to try on prior to your arrival so whether you need holiday event outfits or a new winter wardrobe, she’ll have you taken care of from headto-toe.

HANNA LEE STYLE

312.972.1814 hannaleestyle.com

18054 Black M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 25

Your Chicago / CONVERSATION

The Future of Faith 26 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

As millennials move away from organized religion in favor of a more spiritual experience, new patterns of faith are forming across the city and, more broadly speaking, the world. We asked some of Chicago’s most prominent faith leaders for their thoughts on the changing landscape—and how they plan to keep the next generation engaged.

J

BY ERIN CHAN DING

MARCO_PIUNTI

A MES K A NG GREW up as a pastor’s kid a couple of generations

ago, attending church services and weekend retreats and surrounded by the accoutrements of the Christian faith. The environment felt familiar and comfortable, with praise songs wending their way into his memory. And yet. “I was churching a lot,” he says. “But I wasn’t really living out my faith.” Kang’s spiritual journey has undergone a series of evolutions, from the time he first came to a personal relationship with Jesus in 1982 to the programmatic elements of a megachurch to dedicating his life to global and local ministries to his current spiritual journey, in which he responds with “the balance of individual faith and community faith.” “I’m realizing that programs and activities are one part of our faith journey,” he says. “I think the other part of it is just relating with one another without any agenda, goals or programs—in just sharing our lives and our struggles and being there for one another and praying for one another.”

The desire for a sense of authentic belonging extends across faiths, from Protestants to Catholics to Jews to Muslims, say multiple faith leaders throughout Chicago who are rethinking their own institutions in ways that will better engage their congregants. Clary Butler, an adjunct professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Bannockburn, a north Chicago suburb, and a former pastor of young adults, says “The church can do better by listening. It confuses me when there’s someone hurting, and the church comes in and says, ‘Oh, we can fix that’—without asking the person what they need or how their ache can be served. We’ve developed a ministry of busyness in which we feel if you’re serving in a mission field in El Salvador and providing clean water in Zambia, it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re doing the Lord’s work.’

Sometimes we’re just checking a box to make ourselves feel good. We’re not sitting with people who are hurting.”

Brandon Bernstein, campus rabbi at Northwestern Hillel, which is the center for Jewish life at Northwestern University in Evanston, says “What people are really looking for, and this is my personal philosophy and theology coming in, we’re all looking for connection. We’re all looking for that sense of belonging and that connection to something greater.” The craving for community, he says, is marked in the internet age, which has magnified digital connections that often reveal themselves as much more illusory than face-to-face interactions. “It’s kind M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 27

Your Chicago / CONVERSATION

of like the difference between being hungry and eating a nice, home-cooked meal and eating a bunch of junk food and candy you bought at the store,” he says. “Sometimes you’re so ravenous you don’t have a choice but using the fast food option, so spiritually, you’re getting unhealthy.”

28 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

Reclaiming Evangelicalism.” “What I’ve found is that’s just not true.

People aren’t leaving because they’re losing their faith. They’re leaving because they’re looking to deepen their faith and engage their faith more deeply,” she says. “They’re leaving because a lot of them feel betrayed by the institutions that may have supported policies in the church, perhaps locally or nationally that to them, contradict the message of the gospel they’re following.”

HARNESSING THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY Father Tom Hurley, the priest at Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago’s West Loop, sees the way people practice their faith as qualitatively different from when he was ordained in 1993. “I think the formal institutional church isn’t as strong for people as it once was, perhaps a generation ago, two generations ago,” he says. “Yet I do think people are very engaged in the life of faith, but it might not necessarily be through the institution, particularly [not] through Sunday Mass.”

Jerry McQuay, senior pastor at Christian Life Center Church in the south Chicago suburbs and in Hammond, Indiana, expressed a similar sentiment about evangelical churches, saying his church is focusing on becoming integral to its community in different ways. “In the past, if people wanted to grow in their faith, if they wanted to express their faith, everything pretty much evolved around church programs at the building, and the only way for them to express their commitment was to attend,” he says. “Our goal is to get engagement Monday through Saturday and not just on Sunday mornings.” One way to accomplish that is to harness technology to create more than limited-charactercount connections. For years, religious organizations have streamed and archived their services online. In the past year, however, McQuay’s church has been using an interactive community hub called Pray.com

MARCO_PIUNTI

RETHINKING ATTENDANCE POLICIES Re-envisioning the roles of spiritual institutions comes as attendance at religious services has dropped with each subsequent generation, according to a Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study conducted four summers ago. Drawing from a sample size of more than 35,000 adults, the study says 51 percent of those born between 1928 and 1945 attend services weekly, compared with 38 percent of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), 34 percent of Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) and 27 to 28 percent of millennials (born 1981-1996).

This does not mean, however, that people are becoming less spiritual. According to the study, 41 percent of religiously affiliated adults say they rely mainly on their religious beliefs for guidance on the difference between right and wrong, a figure up from 34 percent in 2007.

Practical reasons for the attendance dip can be attributed to a confluence of activities on Sunday mornings, especially those tugging young families to soccer games and karate classes. “One thing I’ve seen that has shifted is the local church going from being a priority to being an option,” Butler says.

“Today, it seems as though the local church is treated like a fitness center, and people go if they have the time, but they don’t necessarily understand the necessity of being in community.” Other explanations stem from moral and philosophical issues. Deborah Jian Lee, host of “Kaleidoscope,” a podcast about identity, faith, and social engagement, says there’s a mistaken belief that young people do not attend religious institutions because they don’t care about their spiritual development. “I think one of the really common misconceptions is that people are leaving because they’re losing their faith,” says Lee, who’s also the Chicago-based author of “Rescuing Jesus: How People of Color, Women and Queer Christians Are

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to share prayer requests throughout the week. Though congregants had been periodically sharing prayer requests over Facebook, “one of the unique things about Pray.com is that we have something just for our congregation, so everyone that participates in ours attends our church. They know the people with whom they’re sharing the prayer requests. One member will request prayer, and almost immediately, you’ll see about a dozen people respond. There’s the sense that we’re in this together, and the camaraderie.”

INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR A

BELIEVING IN THE BELIEVERS Hurley says he’d like for Old St. Pat’s, as his church is commonly known, to be more intentional about creating community and small groups, much like evangelical churches have done. Several groups, he says, have already sprung up organically within the congregation. He adds, however, that the larger church needs to address systemic issues, particularly when it comes to the sexual abuse and misconduct scandals that have shaken people’s trust and undermined its credibility. “I think we’ll continue to atrophy, and we’ll continue to lose people until we see some real changes,” he says. “People who have been lifelong Catholics are fed up with the archaic model. There’s gotta be real change in terms of structural changes, systemic changes—we need more laypeople in leadership, for example. The credibility of leadership is compromised right “Today, it seems as though the now, and I think people are very anxlocal church is treated like a fitness ious and very upset. They do want a center, and people go if they have faith community to connect with, but we need a change of leadership, and we the time, but they don’t necessarily need transparency.”

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understand the necessity of being in community.”

CLOSING THE DIVERSITY GAP Across the board, there appears to be an overarching need for churches to address what Lee calls “inconsistencies between institutions and the faith that those institutions say they profess and how they actually practice, whether it’s in terms of institutional policy or public policies they support.” Churches, she says, need to listen to people who see contradictions between what they believe and how it’s expressed in the institutions and take those people seriously. Even more, these younger generations, especially those who are women and minorities, can see through efforts at diversity and inclusion that are made at a superficial or ornamental level, such as ensuring a certain number of people of color are in a church brochure.

“They’re looking for something that’s authentic,” Lee says of younger generations. “Leadership often limits who they let into leadership to people who all subscribe to the exact same beliefs. So it’s ‘OK, you can look different, but you have to believe exactly what we all believe here, the dominant theology, or the dominant culture.’ Authentic diversity means including people who not only bring a different identity or background but are really allowed to bring their whole selves.”

EXTENDING INTO THE COMMUNITY Sandra Marie Van Opstal, who pastors at Grace and Peace Community Church in Chicago’s Hermosa and Austin neighborhoods, says urban

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churches, immigrant-centric churches, multiethnic churches and global churches in Africa, Latin America, and the U.S. have experienced growth due to how they’re interwoven into their communities.

“I definitely think we do church differently,” says Van Opstal, a Colombian-American who grew up in the northwest Chicago suburb of Buffalo Grove and who’s the author of “The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World.” “The role of the church in immigrant and urban communities, in the life of the family and in the practice of faith—not only attending a service but in living life—is central,” she says. “Look at Asian immigrant churches or Latino immigrant churches. People find jobs in the church through networks. Families that move into apartments get their furnishings. It’s a place where you retain a language. We see more people come through our doors Monday through Saturday than we do on a Sunday.”

Grace and Peace Church and its community center have a food co-op, a summer program for kids, and bill payment assistance. Van Opstal says half the job responsibilities of the children’s pastor consist of community outreach. “The building of Grace and Peace Church and Grace and Peace Community Center is a place where people are doing life together, they’re accessing resources together,” she says. “So there’s a way in which the church functions that extends into the community, and I believe that is something that is incredibly compel“Women and minorities can see ling to this generation.” through such efforts at diversity and

inclusion that are on a superficial or ornamental level, such as ensuring a certain number of people of color are in a church brochure.”

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NURTURING A MINISTRY OF ACTIVISM Amir Fulton, youth organizer and community outreach coordinator at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, or IMAN, says for him, personal beliefs became intertwined with community activism. Amir, who’s 20, says when he was hospitalized because of behavioral issues and depression, he told God, “Get me out of this situation, and I will try to find you.” After a transfer to Gage Park High School on Chicago’s Southwest Side, he became emanored of activism and youth-led initiatives there, which addressed poverty, housing, food access and police accountability. The activism led him to IMAN, which mobilizes people of all faiths around community issues, and he began asking staff questions about Islam. Fulton converted to Islam four years ago, and he sees it blending with the hip-hop he loves (he cites references to Islam by Muslim artists like Mos Def and Brother Ali) and his own narrative as a young black American man. “You begin to connect spirituality to the hip-hop culture,” he says. “That’s always big for me.” Community activism, he says, mirrors the core of his Muslim beliefs. “People forget,” he says, “that a lot of Muslims organize around justice reform and equal rights.”

Ultimately, spiritual leaders agree that this advocacy for equity, in both individual and institutional ways, should be an intrinsic part of faith institutions. “Jesus was a social justice guy,” says Hurley of Old St. Pat’s. “That was at the heart of who he was. I think the church being engaged in social justice issues is synonymous with what it means to be a Christian and what it means to be a person of faith.”

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Your Chicago T H E P E O P L E . T H E P L AC E S . T H E C AU S E S .

COURTESY OF MACY’S

STATE STREET, THAT GREAT STREET

Holiday windows may not have been as technologically advanced in the 1940s as they are today, but they were every bit as magical. Here, just one of Marshall Field’s elaborate dioramas. To see how far they’ve come, visit the State Street store (now Macy’s, of course) between now and early January. DANIELLE BRAFF M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 33

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SHOP

GIFTS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST Think of the Merchandise Mart’s annual One of a Kind Show & Sale as a chicer, more curated version of Etsy­—and in physical form to boot. Peruse the modern, unique, and stylish wares of more than 600 incredible vendors (this is not your grandmother’s craft fair­!), checking names off your shopping list as you move through the building. Pro tip: Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore, as there is just so. much. to. see.

For more info, visit oneofakindchicago.com.

SEE

ZOO LIGHTS: BY THE NUMBERS If you’ve ever been to the Lincoln Park Zoo while crews are setting up for its annual light extravaganza, you know how much work goes into it. (And if you ask us, anyone who spends weeks on a ladder wrapping strands of lights around tiny branches deserves a bear-style hibernation!) To ogle the display, which is celebrating its 24th year aglow, bundle up the family for a post-sunset stroll around the grounds between November 23 and January 6. (For specific dates and times, visit lpzoo.org/zoolights.) Here’s what to expect: 100 LED displays • 2,200 gallons of mulled wine 7,200 hours of installation 51,000 pounds of carved ice • 51,958 cups of hot chocolate 2.5 million tiny twinkling lights PA R T Y

New Year’s Eve: 3 Ways NAMASTE SOBER We’ve got great news for anyone whose definition of a dream night is working up a sweat in a yoga studio: You can stretch and meditate your way into 2019 with a hot yoga class at 105F (the South Loop and Lincoln Park locations). Land in your final savasana just before the stroke of midnight—and feel better than most of Chicago in the morning.

Click over to 105f.com for more.

34 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FUN If hanging with the people you love most while drinking beer, listening to music, and eating pizza is more your speed, snap up a few tickets to Brew Year’s Eve at Architectural Artifacts.

(Never been? Now’s your chance!

The 80,000-square-foot antique shop, which is closing early in the new year, is one of the coolest venues in the city.) Visit brew yearseve.com for all the info.

HIGH-OCTANE REVELRY Plant yourself right in front of the fireworks (but not outside—you’ll freeze!) at the 7th Annual Resolution Gala at Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom.

Dressed in your NYE best, you can eat, drink, and dance the night away with more than 3,000 like-minded revelers until a champagne toast kicks off the fireworks at midnight. To book, head to chitownevents.com.

TOP: TODD ROSENBERG; BOTTOM: JACLYN SIMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY

There’s no better time than this season of giving to explore Chicago’s poverty narrative— and reflect on how we as a community can do better. Enter Ben Austen’s new book, High-Risers.

Through personal stories of those who lived in Cabrini-Green, the former public housing experiment that was built in the 1940s and completely demolished by 2011, serving up to 20,000 residents at one time, Austen explains public housing’s effects on race, class, politics, and life in the Windy City.

C E L E B R AT E

Holidays Around the World

Whether you’re eager to do a deeper dive into the diversity that surrounds us here in Chicago or excited to explore your own roots, you don’t have to go far to experience the season from a new perspective. Start with the Museum of Science and Industry’s annual Christmas Around the World extravaganza, on display from Nov. 15 through Jan. 6. The gorgeous annual exhibit dates back to 1942 and includes 50 beautifully decorated Christmas trees that represent different cultures around the globe, plus live performances on the weekends. Visit msichicago.com for more—and to really immerse yourself in a different culture, consider these five fantastic events.

1

FRANCE: LYCEE FRENCH MARKET November 17-18 If you can’t jet to France for the holidays, this event, which transforms Chicago’s Lycee Francais school into a bona fide Parisian market, is the next best thing. Shop for everything from cheeses and macarons to jewelry and home decor, and pop into the bistro for an authentic French lunch. lyceechicago.org

2

SWEDEN: JULMARKNAD December 1-2 This annual holiday bazaar at Andersonville’s beloved Swedish Museum includes crafts, games, and a visit from Santa for the kiddos, plus a kaffestuga (coffeehouse), St. Lucia processions, and folk dance performances. swedish americanmuseum.org

SIP

TOP: JB SPECTOR

Craft Brew for Days For beer aficionados, the most wonderful time of the year isn’t the holiday season, it’s the Festival of Wood & Barrel Aged Beer (#FOBAB), the country’s largest celebration of—yep, you guessed it—wood and barrelaged beer. Get your tickets now, then make your way to the UIC Forum on November 16 and 17 to experience the most innovative beer, cider, mead, and perry from more than 200 craft breweries. After you sample the goods, stick around to see who steals the spotlight during the National Barrel Aged Beer Competition. Fun fact: Last year, More Brewing Company from Lisle, Illinois, won Best in Show for their BA Karma, an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with coconut, cinnamon, and chocolate. The stuff was so tasty, it was gone within the first 30 minutes of the festival. Visit fobab.com for more.

3

IRELAND: IRISH CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON December 7 Experience traditional Irish food, carols, and even an emerald-hued Santa Claus—plus plenty of mixing and mingling—at this annual lunch.

Plan to wear green, and bring an unwrapped toy to benefit the Catholic Charities Celebration of Giving Toy Drive. irishfellowshipclub.org

4

JAPAN: TSUKASA TAIKO 29TH ANNUAL WINTER SOLSTICE CONCERT December 21 This unique performance features students from Tsukasa Taiko (a renowned Japanese drumming program based in Chicago) as well as its executive director, jazz double bass player Tatsu Aoki, and renowned jazz percussionists Hamid Drake and Michael Zerang. taikolegacy.com

Christmas Around the World at the MSI

5

AUSTRIA: SALUTE TO VIENNA NEW YEAR’S EVE CONCERT December 30 Time-travel back to Vienna’s golden age with an authentic performance of waltzes by champion ballroom dancers, operettas performed

by European singers, and music by the Strauss Symphony of America featuring the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra. This is Viennese tradition at its best. salutetovienna.com

M OV E

FITNESS FOR A CAUSE The Chicago marathon is behind us, but it’s hardly the end of race season. Sign up for one of these (way less intense) themed runs—each of which benefits an incredible charity—and prepare to feel good inside and out. « November 10: Hot Cider Hustle 8K Walk or run to raise awareness and funds for Best Buddies Illinois, an organization that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s plenty of motivation—like hot cider and caramel apples at the finish line. Visit hotciderhustle.com to register (and for 10 percent off the registration fee, use the code BESTBUDDIES2018 at checkout).

November 22: Turkey Trot This Thanksgiving Day event is popular with adults and children alike for its costumes, low-key competition (there’s a 5K, an 8K, and a kids’ race) and post-run activities like turkey bowling and cornhole. Work up an appetite and give back to the community, too: At packet pickup, you’ll receive a food drive bag from the Greater Chicago Food Depository that can be deposited at one of the donation drops along the start line on race day. Head to turkeytrotchicago.com for more.

December 31: New Year’s Eve 5K Before you ring in the new year, bid a brisk farewell to 2018 with a 3.1-mile run through Lincoln Park and along Lake Michigan. A solid sweat session is the perfect way to offset some of that inevitable NYE indulgence. Runners will receive a custom winter wearable and enjoy a Finisher Toast, hot chocolate, and warming blankets after the race. Best of all, the 5K supports charity partner Special Olympics Chicago. For more information, visit newyearseve5k.com.

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 35

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checkup or are suddenly faced with a serious medical condition, you want the best care for you and your family. NorthShore University HealthSystem is transforming healthcare, creating new approaches to improve everyday care and providing the latest treatments to handle major challenges.

NorthShore believes the best overall healthcare begins with advanced primary care. They’re personalizing care on a whole new level, integrating genetics as part of each patient’s care plan. Their primary care physicians now have the most advanced genetic screenings, and can use patients’ own DNA to identify risk factors and help detect the onset of diseases at their earliest, most treatable stages. And they’re creating personalized treatments based on patients’ genetic profiles.

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Whatever your health issue, NorthShore offers the specialized expertise you need.

For cancer patients, they’re using nextgeneration DNA sequencers to analyze the genetic makeup of tumors and target them more precisely. Their cardiovascular specialists are performing leading-edge minimally invasive heart surgery and implanting the world’s smallest pacemakers.

NorthShore’s orthopaedic experts are advancing joint replacement and regenerating patients’ own knee cartilage to help them get back to healthy, active living. Their renowned neurological team is developing new treatments for epilepsy, offering promising clinical trials for Parkinson’s Disease and actually preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s.

36 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

RANKED HIGHEST FOR QUALITY CARE

Recently, NorthShore received the 5-Star CMS Rating for quality care, the highest ranking in the federal government’s Hospital Compare program. Less than 10% of hospitals nationwide achieved the 5-star rating. All four NorthShore hospitals did. NorthShore has also been on IBM Watson Health’s Top 100 Hospitals list a record 19 years in a row. They’re the only Illinois hospital with this impressive track record. NorthShore’s nursing team is one of only 6% nationally to achieve the prestigious Magnet status

for excellence in nursing. And NorthShore hospitals are among the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for clinical excellence, according to HealthGrades’ annual list.

Offering convenience for patients with more than 100 doctor’s offices and multispecialty facilities throughout Lake and cook counties, NorthShore is home to award-winning Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park and Skokie Hospitals.

To learn more, call NorthShore University HealthSystem at (847) 7335707 or visit northshore.org today.

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From personalized care to personalized medicine.

Healthcare for what’s next.

At NorthShore, we’re precisely tailoring your care. From simply taking the time to talk to integrating genetics as part of each patient’s primary care plan. We’re mapping your unique genetic profile to identify safer, more effective medications, and analyzing the DNA of tumors to target them more precisely. And we’re doing leading-edge research to predict, prevent and halt neurological disease.

At NorthShore, we’re here for you, now and for what’s next in your life.

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38 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

PHOTO CREDIT

Sprigs of red holly berries make striking centerpieces— simply place single stems in clear glass bud vases or water glasses of varying heights, then arrange them in a row down the middle of a long table (as pictured) or cluster them in the center of a round one. Add white candles of varying heights, and voilà ! Party perfection.

Holiday Survival 101 The big four—Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve—are nearly here. But you can take a deep breath, because a last-minute panic attack is not on the agenda. On the following pages, we’ll show you how to throw a party with all of the panache and none of the stress, whether you’re entertaining 10 guests or 100.

BY JULIE CHERNOFF

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 39

1

2018 Holiday Survival Guide

No.

ABSOLUTELY DO:

PLEASE DON’T:

Get organized. Lists are your friends. Don’t be afraid to get granular in terms of detail.

Try a new recipe. This is not the time to guineapig your guests. Go with what you know, or make it at least once before the party.

Understand your limits. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. (No one will know the difference!)

BE THE HOST WITH THE MOST EVEN THE MOST SEASONED HOME ENTERTAINER COULD USE A LITTLE BACKUP.

Get ready early. Set out your party clothes the night before (see page 23 for more on that), and shower before noon. That way, all you have to do is change quickly before guests arrive.

Rent chairs and tables. Twelve chairs and a dining table for 60 guests does not compute.

Know your crowd. Do you need vegetarian/ vegan options? Non-alcoholic drinks? Whatever you do, don’t leave your friends hanging.

Stock up on ice. You’ll need it for the ice buckets, the punch bowl, and to fill cooling tubs for bottles and cans. In this case, more is more.

Have plenty of water available. Tell servers to offer glasses at every turn. Rule of thumb: One glass of water after every serving of booze.

Enjoy yourself. About that waiter thing: By all that is holy, hire some service staff. It’s worth it.

Expect perfection. Stuff happens. Deal with it and move on (and laugh about it later!).

Disappear. Rule one of hosting is to be present for your guests. You are the glue of the party, so if you ghost off to bed at 11 p,.m., the party will end—and the questions will follow.

Overextend yourself. If you need help, ask for it.

Whether that means hiring a caterer, having dinner delivered, or hosting a potluck, do whatever you have to do to be able to enjoy yourself.

(See: “Understand Your Limits” at left.)

Play party DJ. Make a killer playlist beforehand, and study it. Pro tip: Lull in conversation? Start talking about whatever music is playing!

Get sloppy drunk at your own party. It’s just tacky. Repeat after us: Club soda with a twist.

Forget to tip. That incredible service staff you hired deserves a happy holiday, too!

“When hosting a party, you should always remember to ‘BE A GUEST!’ Hire others to do the work and clean up.” — JODI FYFE, FOUNDER & CEO, PARAMOUNT EVENTS

Download This Playlist ON SPOTIFY

The Pastiche Dinner Party (think Willie Nelson, The Shins, and Leon Bridges) ON VALSLIST.COM

Holiday Best Ever (great covers from unexpected sources, plus a few soon-to-be classics) ON PANDORA

Hipster Cocktail Party (mellow grooves with some pep to them for the ironically mustachioed crowd)

40 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

3

Make Plans For Your Pets

Yes, Fido and Meow-Meow are a part of your family.

But not all pets are party friendly, and not all of your guests will be down with your hairy, 80-pound dog wandering around sniffing crotches or a moody cat slinking through everyone’s legs and eating food off of people’s plates. And if your animal is anxious, territorial, or (gasp!) a serial barker?

Fuhgeddaboutit. But, you’ve got some options. » If your dog isn’t a big barker, crate him in the basement, the mudroom, or an upstairs bedroom—and be sure to have someone take him for a nice long walk right before the party.

Corral your cat in a closed-off bedroom (extra points for tossing in a special catnip treat).

» Send your fuzzy pal to a trusted neighbor’s home and pay the kids in ice cream to pet-sit. » Ask the vet to prescribe a mild sedative or recommend a natural alternative, then make

your pet comfortable in an out-of-the-way spot in the house. A little something to take the edge off might be just what the doctor ordered, especially for an overly anxious animal.

EMILIA JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

2 No.

No.

4 No.

PREP LIKE A PRO

SET YOUR DINING ROOM TABLE AND BUFFET THE WEEK BEFORE—ASSUMING THAT YOU CAN EAT IN THE KITCHEN IN THE MEANTIME. LAY OUT ALL SERVING DISHES AND UTENSILS; USE STICKY NOTES TO LABEL. Polish your silver up to a month ahead of time. If you wait until the last minute, it’s too daunting. Holiday greens last awhile, so buy early for the best selection. Keep cut flowers in a bucket of water in the coolest section of the home (basement, near the porch, etc.). Buy three days ahead so that they open up. Build your floral arrangements around one or two big statement blooms.

Floral foam is your friend. Don’t underestimate the wow factor of those tiny battery-operated twinkle lights. Pile them in a glass hurricane lantern with evergreens and pinecones sprayed with metallic paint, and leave them in your greens on the mantle. Swap your regular lightbulbs for amber-tinted bulbs for that flattering holiday glow. Consider an edible centerpiece: a long, low bowl of fresh pears in a few varieties for color and size variation with a few sprigs of lemon leaf, rosemary or eucalyptus tucked in, or perhaps a lovely cake on a stand for a smaller dinner party. Don’t have the time or the inclination? Hire a florist to style your house for the holidays.

•

•

•

•

•

PHOTO CREDIT

•

A green-and-gold color palette screams holiday party no matter the occasion. Here, votive candles; sprigs of greenery tucked into clear and gold-hued vases; and rented Chiavari chairs and velvet tablecloths make a gorgeous, festive, “How’d they do that?!” statement.

Hint: Contact BBJ Linen in Niles for help with the rentals (bbjlinens.com).

•

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 41

“I think we’ve come to a tipping point with cellphones. As a guest at a dinner or party, I don’t see phones much anymore, other than to show a photo — but definitely not to check social media. I have hopes this will be the new normal.”

— COOKBOOK AUTHOR AND “BREAKFAST QUEEN” INA PINKNEY, WHO BANNED CELLPHONE USAGE IN HER EPONYMOUS RESTAURANT

PHOTO CREDIT

It’s the little things—a callligraphed place card (outsource it!), the use of a charger (rent it!), flatware set on the plate (so easy!), a sprig of rosemary as cocktail garnish (let the bartender take care of that!)—that make the biggest impressions.

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2018 Holiday Survival Guide

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6

BE THEIR GUEST OFF THE HOOK FOR HOSTING THIS YEAR? LEARNING TO BE A GOOD GUEST IS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT.

No.

Eat, Drink and Be Very Merry

BRING A HOSTESS GIFT Please, no scented candles. You want to be invited back, don’t you?

SERVE IT UP Some Like It Hot: Our new favorite hot sauces, from Phoenix’s Cutino Sauce Co., will be your friends’ favorites, too. They come in traffic-light colors and are packed with flavor (think tangy Verde, smoky Chipotle, sweet-hot Habanero and just-spicyenough Jalapeño). Opt for the four-bottle gift pack and shipping is free. Hot-sauce gift pack, $32, cutinosauce.com

That’s My Wine: These reusable, brightly hued merino wool glass markers from Graf Lantz come in sets of 12, and they’re odor, bacteria and stain resistant.

Pair with a nice bottle of vino… no Three-Buck Chuck allowed! Wine-O’s wine glass markers, $18, graf-lantz.com; also available at Cowboys and Astronauts, 1478 W. Summerdale Ave., Chicago

Breakfast On Us: American Spoon Foods understands the importance of a good breakfast the morning after the big bash (and so do you, Best Guest Ever). Their Fall Breakfast Box hits all the highlights with Wheat & Malt Pancake Mix, Maple Syrup, Bartlett Pear Preserves, Salted Maple Caramel and Heirloom Apple Spoon Fruit. Fall Breakfast Box, $60, spoon.com

The Spice of Life: In the history of host-gift giving, no one has ever been disappointed by a piece of home and tableware by designer Michael Aram.

His designs are inspired by the shapes and patterns of nature, as with this glamorous nickelplate salt and pepper set.

Botanical Leaf Salt & Pepper Set, $100, michael aram.com; also available at Bloomingdales

READ THE INVITATION—AND THE ROOM If the invite said 7 p.m., plan to get there at 7 p.m.—or a few minutes later. It’s a party, not a sold-out movie.

Do offer to help. If you unintentionally arrive early, (Hey, you can’t help it if your Uber driver has a speeding problem!) roll up your sleeves, tie on an apron, and start styling those appetizers.

Don’t spend the evening talking to one person. Sure, you know your neighbor—but that doesn’t mean you have to spend the whole night talking to her. Spread your wings, you social butterfly, you!

Don’t be the guest who wouldn’t leave. Unless you’re a weekend houseguest, you’ve overstayed your welcome once the host starts yawning pointedly. When in doubt, leave them wanting more.

Do say goodnight. Even if it’s the last thing you feel like doing, make the effort to touch base with your hosts and thank them for a lovely evening before reaching for your coat.

EMILIA JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

INTRODUCE YOURSELF Remember, even if you don’t know many of the other guests, you all have one thing in common: the host! Work that angle, and work it good. Here’s a primer.

Step One: Introduce yourself. (“Hi, I’m Julie. I went to college with Josh back in the ‘80s! How do you know him?” is a reliable starter.)

Step Two: Establish a connection—geography works well—and remember to ask questions. (“I work in the city, but I live in Evanston. What about you?”)

Step Three: Work the connection. (“Winnetka? I know it’s a long shot, but do you know…” or perhaps, “Winnetka? I love Avli up in the Laundry Mall.

Have you been?”)

Step Four: Know when to cut bait. If the conversation dwindles, smile and say you’re going to freshen your drink, find your spouse, etc. (“So nice meeting you! Happy Holidays!”)

SAY THANK YOU You brought a gift, you’ve thanked your host in person, you’ve waved goodbye. Guess what? You’re not done yet.

According to modern etiquette site thespruce.com, a written thank-you note is best. If you’re lazy, an email might suffice—but go the extra mile to make it genuine and heartfelt. Want to really impress? Send next-day flowers.

What best drives the decision about different serving styles, and how do you know which is best for your party? Jim Bailey, of Chicago’s J&L Catering, spells it out for us.

Family Style “Guests are big eaters, and budget isn’t a concern. It’s a less formal style, but you have less control over portion size, plus there is additional cost of platters and utensils for each individual table.”

Buffet “The next most expensive style of service, also less formal. It’s less stressful for the client, in that all they need to provide is a guest count, but there is the expense of the buffet equipment rental, and also no control over portion size.”

Sit-Down “The most formal style of service, but can also be the most cost effective, depending on the menu, as the chef can control food cost knowing the portion size of each course.”

Cocktail Party “Most appropriate for a short event when you aren’t planning on serving dinner.

Very popular during the holiday season and for corporate events.” Shorter time span and lower food cost.

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2018 Holiday Survival Guide

No.

SET A HIGH BAR

WE CHECKED IN WITH SANDEEP GHAEY, PROPRIETOR OF EVANSTON’S VINIC WINE, FOR THE INSIDER’S TAKE ON HOW TO STOCK UP FOR YOUR FÊTE. “FOR A TWO-HOUR DINNER PARTY, A GOOD RULE OF THUMB IS TO HAVE ABOUT 2.5 GLASSES PER GUEST—ABOUT HALF A BOTTLE,” SAYS GHAEY. “YOU MAY HAVE TO ADJUST IF YOU KNOW THE GUESTS ARE LIGHTER OR HEAVIER DRINKERS.” TIME OF DAY (PEOPLE DRINK LESS AT DAYTIME EVENTS) AND LENGTH OF PARTY ARE ALSO FACTORS.

DOT-COM THE MATH

STOCK IT LIKE A PRO

Did you know that evite .com has a drink calculator to help you plan how much alcohol to have on hand? Just plug in how many guests you’re expecting (they even break that down into light, average, and heavy drinkers), the duration of your party, and what kind of booze you plan to serve (beer, wine, liquor).

If you really need help with a DIY party, they also have other handy planning tools, including a budget estimator and party checklist.

A basic home bar should have “vodka, gin, bourbon, and tequila, along with sodas, club soda, tonic, juices, and water,” Ghaey says. But you don’t always have to offer a full bar, because sometimes a signature cocktail or two will do the trick—along with offering wine and beer. “If you have a set cocktail, prepare it ahead of time in bulk—I like to keep it simple with drinks people will recognize, and put a little twist on it.” For your punch bowl or pitcher, Ghaey suggests a fruity mojito: “Muddled mint, fresh lime juice, rum and club soda, with a dealer’s choice of fresh-cut fruit—raspberries, peach, mango, strawberries, really anything that’s seasonal is fun.” And of course, lots of fresh ice!

“When picking stemwear, plastic is not an unholy sin. Remember, the setting is important. If it’s a big cocktail party, grab the plastic cups. Glasswear is only truly necessary when you are opening very nice bottles of wine, and even then, it’s your call. I can’t say I haven’t enjoyed Grand Cru burgundy out of tumblers!”

— SANDEEP GHAEY, OWNER, VINIC WINE, EVANSTON

8

No.

Stockpile Sweets

Why bother baking when these local bakeries are so on point?

FLORIOLE CAFE & BAKERY Lincoln Park’s answer to Paris. Gâteau Basque, seasonal fruit galette, chocolate-hazelnut Tarte, and so much more. floriole.com THREE TARTS BAKERY This all-butter bakery has delicious down to a science. Flourless chocolate cake, The Great Pumpkin Layer Cake, mini cupcakes, and custom-decorated cookies are local party faves. threetartsbakery.com PATISSERIE CORALIE Evanston’s boutique French pastry shop, known for its dazzling bûche de Noël and rainbow display of perfect almond macarons, each with a unique filling. coraliecoffee.com

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9

No.

Book It

These three compulsively readable cookbooks are filled with easy, delicious recipes and entertaining ideas.

» Whiskey in a Teacup:

» Sister Pie: The Recipes

» Carla Hall’s Soul Food

What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits

by Reese Witherspoon

and Stories of a BigHearted Bakery in Detroit

by Lisa Ludwinski

by Carla Hall with Genevieve Ko

Yes, THAT Reese Witherspoon.

But let me tell ya, this gal has the Southern charm thing down. She shares her beloved Grandma Dorothea’s best recipes for entertaining, along with her best entertaining advice (involving lots of love… and maybe a barn).

Her masterful pie recipes with detailed, easy-to-follow directions make pie-making a joy, but don’t miss the Peanut Butter Smoked Paprika cookies and other tasty treats from this beloved Detroit bakery.

Your guests will thank you later (as will whoever eats the leftovers).

“The Chew” may be off the air, but its hostess with the mostess (and Top Chef alum) remains entrenched in our hearts. Her Tomato Pie with Garlic Bread Crust recipe is reason enough to buy the book, but throw in Sea Island Shrimp and Grits and a Poured Caramel Cake and you’ve got yourself a super-approachable soul-food classic.

10

No.

SAY CHEESE

REPEAT AFTER US: DAIRY PRODUCTS BRING JOY. Nationally renowned cheese expert Nat Caputo of Caputo Cheese Markets has been in the family business for 35 years. This year, his 150 employees will sell nearly 30 million pounds of cheese retail and wholesale. The man knows his fromage—and so do his well-trained cheesemongers, who wrangle over 1,000 different cheeses from around the world.

MAKE NAT CAPUTO’S FAVORITE CHEESE BOARD Caputo recommends that a third- to a halfpound of each cheese is enough “to make a statement.” Here, his fail-proof picks.

Beemster’s Vlaskass, a Dutch semisoft Goudatype made from cow’s milk. “Very unique, sweet buttery finish with a sharp finish. Pairs great with fig jam, ales, and zinfandel.”

Crotonese, a Calabrian sheep-milk cheese. “The Italian cheesemaker’s answer to manchego, piquant and sharp in flavor with a nice salty finish. Pair with a good baguette and Chianti.”

Fromager d’Affinois, a double-cream, French cow’s milk cheese. “A young d’Affinois can be smooth, creamy and clean in flavor. I love a bubbly or still rosé with it, but any white [wine] will do.”

Applewood smoked cheddar, an English cow’s milk cheese. “Let me tell you, I was not a smoked cheese guy until I tried the applewood.”

PHOTO CREDIT

Sartori Bellevitano with Balsamic, a Wisconsin cow’s milk cheese. “It’s a cross between Parmesan and Asiago. After aging, the rind is soaked and/ or rubbed with a balsamic glaze that is edible like candy. Sweet and savory in the same bite.”

As a finishing touch, “fill out your cheese board with some fresh strawberries, marcona almonds, and maybe dried candied apple slices,” suggests Caputo. “Or consider charcuterie to add a different dimension to the board. Some of my favorites include speck, hot coppa, and mild soppressata.

Each one has a different look, flavor, and function.”

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BY BRITTANY ANAS • ILLUSTRATIONS BY TANEBEAU

46 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

PHOTO CREDIT

Expensive electronics might deliver the wow factor on Christmas morning, but the most meaningful gift you can bestow upon your child is something that money can’t buy.

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wonderful this time of year may be at its core, the pressure to consume—ever-growing wish lists! Sisyphean shopping trips! skyrocketing credit card bills!—can easily overshadow all that warmth and fuzziness. If that sounds familiar, it may be time to add a new tradition to the list: family giving. “Teaching our children the joy of volunteering and ritualizing time spent with loved ones will have a far more lasting impression than a toy or game that they want at the moment,” says David Klow, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Chicago and the founder of Skylight Counseling Center.

In fact, spreading good cheer may be the key to joy during the holiday season: A study by the American Psychological Association found that giving makes people feel better than receiving. The best part? You’re never too young to give back. Read on for ideas to suit every age group; then make this the year that giving brings as much joy to your children’s faces as receiving.

O M ATTER HOW

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Turn your preschoolers into elves, inspiring them to spread cheer throughout your community.

MAKE CARDS FOR SOLDIERS Who doesn’t love an art project? Hold a “Dear Hero” workshop for your little ones and their friends to make holiday cards for service members, or talk to your child’s preschool teacher about integrating it into the curriculum. (Check out The Red Cross “Holiday for Heroes” card drive program at redcross.org.) Explain that the cards can help lift the spirits of soldiers who are away from home during the holiday season while thanking them for their service, then set out paper, crayons, markers, and stickers and let them have at it (save the confetti and glitter for another project). It’s best to get these letters out before Thanksgiving in order to allow them enough time to be sent overseas and arrive by Christmas.

DELIVER PET SUPPLIES Whether you have a dog or cat at home or your little ones simply love animals, consider donating to an animal shelter. Local organizations including Felines and Canines, Paws Chicago, and Wright-Way Rescue (felinescanines.org; pawschicago.org; wright-way.org) are always in need of items like food, treats, towels and blankets, kitty litter and boxes, heating pads, cleaning supplies—the list goes on and on. Bring your kids to the store to pick things out, and let them tag along to deliver the goods, too. Who knows? They may even have the opportunity to hang out with a four-legged friend or two.

BAKE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Another great way for little ones to express gratitude is by baking holiday treats for local firefighters or police officers. While the cookies are in the oven, talk with your children about how these first responders protect the community (Richard Scarry’s A Day at the Police Station is a great way to get the conversation going).

Your kids will have a blast dropping them off—and if you love the tradition you can keep it going by bringing treats to the stations on 9/11, the Fourth of July, or at random.

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Talk with your elementary-school-age children about income inequality and homelessness, motivating them to give from their hearts—and their piggy banks.

SHOP FOR A GIFT While your family is shopping for presents this year, encourage your child to use a portion of his or her own money to purchase a toy or game for a low-income or disabled child. The Chicagobased nonprofit Grant a Wish, for example, holds an annual holiday drive where companies and individuals can shop for children who may not otherwise receive gifts during the holiday season (grantawish chicago.org). Among the common items on the wish lists are toys, games, shoes, coats, dolls, electronic educational games and coldweather accessories—and gift givers are asked to cap spending at $60.

MAKE CARE PACKAGES Encourage your children to spend some of their allowance to purchase items for care packages that can be donated to homeless shelters. Before you go shopping together, it’s a good idea to call ahead to see what items are most needed, including clothing sizes that are in the highest demand. Items shelters often request include unopened travel-size toiletries, such as shampoo, conditioner, soaps, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, disposable razors and lotion, and you can also consider donating multivitamins, tampons, reading glasses and new or gently used clothing. For a list of organizations in your community, visit makeitbetter.com/donate.

ORGANIZE A FOOD DRIVE Talk with your kids about how one in five children in Cook County struggle to access healthy food and are at risk of hunger, then offer to help organize a food drive at school or in your neighborhood. The Greater Chicago Food Depository (myfooddrive.org) has hundreds of drop-off spots in the city and suburbs. In addition to gathering nonperishables, your child can drum up financial donations online. Incredibly, the Food Depository’s wholesale purchasing power allows it to double or even triple the amount of food your dollar can purchase at a grocery store.

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Teach your teens the value of volunteering by encouraging face-to-face interaction with the less fortunate in your community.

SERVE MEALS AT A FOOD PANTRY Serving a meal to the homeless or delivering groceries to the elderly can be a great volunteer opportunity for teenagers. Check out Common Pantry, an organization that’s been helping combat hunger in Chicago for more than five decades (commonpantry.org). The nonprofit delivers food to elderly clients, has a hot lunch program, and distributes fresh fruits and vegetables on a monthly “Produce Day.” Families can even sign up to bag groceries to be delivered to elderly clients. Note that this is an option recommended for children who are at least 8 years old and are accompanied by a parent or caregiver. The pantry also hosts Thursday shelf re-stocking and welcomes children who are 10 and older with an adult.

SPEND TIME WITH A SENIOR During winter break, teenagers can also find a wide variety of volunteer activities through Chicago Cares, which links volunteers with projects (chicagocares.org). Among the opportunities are playing Bingo with low-income seniors, who may feel lonely or isolated; reading to children to help improve their literacy; or assisting in a food pantry that serves lowincome individuals affected by HIV and AIDS.

BE A GOOD SAMARITAN On a more informal basis, your teenager can keep an eye on the weather reports (holiday breaks are a great time for this). When a snowy day is in the forecast, they can wake up early and help shovel walkways for elderly neighbors who have mobility issues or might slip on the ice. Your teen can even use social media to help gather fellow shovelers. That’s exactly what a community organizer in Chatham did last year: A tweet asking for 10 volunteers ended up netting 120, and the story of a community coming together to shovel together went viral.

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TH E 2018

BE TT ER G I F T G U I DE

MALLMO

I

one red and one green. Purchase the red one, and you’re the only one who gets to enjoy a delicious apple. Purchase the green one, and someone who’s hungry gets to enjoy a delicious apple, too.

The choice is obvious: Green apples all day long. This is social impact at its core (see what we did there?), and it’s a value that applies to every single decision we make, not least of all to the gifts that we give. This year, we didn’t have to dig as deep to find presents with purpose, not only because so many incredible companies are donating their time, money, and products to causes they champion, but also because there are more small, locally owned businesses than ever before. We’re proud of the products we chose for this year’s Better Gift Guide, and we encourage you to strive for that same feeling of pride—go for the green apples, if you will—as you shop for your loved ones this season. From all of us here at Make It Better, happy giving! BY CARA SULLIVAN MAGINE TWO APPLES,

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Bling

Here’s proof that the most dazzling gifts don’t require diamonds to shine (but we’ve included a few of those too because hello, #girlsbestfriend).

Ushmama washable paper wine tote, $59, shop.ushmama.com and Norcross and Scott Home in Andersonville.

EVEN BETTER: Ushmama is a Tuscany, Italy-based cottage industry that relies on local men and women to sew each bag by hand with a sustainably cultivated fiber that doesn’t contribute to deforestation—and can be washed and reused over and over.

Ann Sisteron 14K rose gold palmier leaf diamond earrings, $7,855, annsisteron.com E V E N B E T T E R : The Beverly Hills jewelry designer commits to donating 20 percent of her profits to nonprofits including the I Have a Dream Foundation and the Children’s Burn Foundation.

Mineralogy champagne, Asscher cut diamond ring, $2,180, mineralogy design.com and the brand’s Ravenswood studio.

EVEN BETTER: Owner and metalsmith Theresa Cowan has committed to donating a portion of all proceeds to charitable organizations including The Toolbox Initiative (toolboxinitiative.org), which provides materials to jewelers in Africa, allowing them to selfsustain through their trade of metalsmithing.

Westward Leaning x Alexis Bittar Big TV 06 sunglasses, $325, alexisbittar.com, westwardleaning.com, and Alexis Bittar Bucktown. EVEN BETTER: This collaborative collection was inspired by the molten metals of volcanoes—and a percentage of its net profits will benefit the National Park Foundation.

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IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Sharks” watch, $12,200, visit iwc.com for concierge services and various Chicago retailers. EVEN BETTER: Proceeds from this special-edition watch benefit the Charles Darwin Foundation, which was founded in 1959 to ensure the conservation of the environment and biodiversity in the Galapagos archipelago.

Laudi Vindi leather hip pack, $275, laudivindi.com and Laudi Vindi’s Lincoln Park store. EVEN BETTER: When this Chicago custom leather shop’s co-founder, Grace Tsao-Wu, passed away from cancer in 2017, co-founder Laura Kofoid, committed to supporting Tsao-Wu’s favorite nonprofit, One Million Degrees, which empowers low-income college students.

Dana Rebecca Designs onyx and diamond earrings, $1,650, Frances Heffernan, 810 Elm St., Winnetka, 847-446-2112, francesheffernan.com EVEN BETTER: By purchasing Chicago jeweler Dana Rebecca’s baubles at Frances Heffernan in Winnetka, you’re supporting two local, womenowned businesses in one fell swoop.

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Entertaining

Super chic and seriously unique finds to delight every host, oenophile, and gourmand on your list—even the ones who have everything.

7-Inches for Planned Parenthood box set of seven-inch vinyl records (featuring John Legend, Margaret Atwood, Bjork, Bon Iver, and more), $100, 7inchesforplannedparenthood.com E V E N B E T T E R : Planned Parenthood receives a whopping 100 percent of the profits from the sale of this box set—and the streaming listens, too.

Assouline The Impossible Collection of Wine book, $945, assouline.com and Book Bin Northbrook EVEN BETTER: Every tome in this limited-edition series is hand-bound using traditional techniques, with color plates hand-tipped on art-quality paper. Each page bears the unique imprint of the artisan.

Sea Island Forge oyster knife and chain mail shuck guard set (fun fact: it doubles as a bottle opener), $120, seaislandforge.com E V E N B E T T E R : These heirloom-quality sets are hand-forged by blacksmiths for a familyowned business in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Vine box wine subscription, $288 for 4 deliveries of 9 different single pours of wine per year, getvinebox.com E V E N B E T T E R : Each of the wines your recipient will sample (36 over the course of the year) is sustainably sourced from a small vineyard. If your loved ones like what they taste, they can purchase as many bottles as their hearts desire at a discounted rate.

Compartes gourmet luxury chocolates 40-piece gift box, $89, compartes.com E V E N B E T T E R : Each all-natural, preservativeand additive-free truffle boasts fresh, locally sourced ingredients and is handmade in the company’s Los Angeles kitchen.

Tea Bloom bamboo teapot and blossoming tea, $36, teabloom.com EVEN BETTER:

Teabloom has partnered with water.org to provide access to safe water and sanitation in underserved communities.

Cacao y Leche set of S, M, and L poured resin bowls, $275, cacaoyleche.com E V E N B E T T E R : The EPA-compliant, LEED-applicable bowls are sustainably produced by hand in the company’s San Francisco studio.

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Toys

From a colorful stack of the classics you loved as a child to a doll with a big-hearted mission, these goods guarantee smiles from kids of all ages.

Kind Culture Grace Doll, $59, kindcultureco.com E V E N B E T T E R : Each doll comes with 10 tokens for children to give as random acts of kindness— and for every doll sold, another goes to a child less fortunate.

Toymail Hank the Dino, $59, toymail.co E V E N B E T T E R : Using this adorable stuffed animal, kids can record, send, and receive messages to and from faraway friends and relatives who sign up for the Toymail app, encouraging screen-free communication.

Two Bros Bows kids archery set, $23, Learning Express Toys, various Illinois locations, and twobrosbows.com E V E N B E T T E R : This sibling-owned business produces handcrafted toys, individually made in the USA, that promote old-school, nonviolent play.

Bears for Humanity xtra large 24” sherpa bear, $80, bearsforhumanity.com E V E N B E T T E R : For every bear purchased—each of which is manufactured by men and women from underserved communities and meets the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)—another is donated to a child in need.

Yoobi 24-pack of multicolor gel pens, $15, yoobi.com and Target E V E N B E T T E R : For every set purchased, one is donated to a highneed school in the United States.

Puffin Classics set of 10 children’s books (including The Wizard of Oz, Matilda, The Call of the Wild, and more) $150, juniperbooks.com E V E N B E T T E R : Juniper Books promotes childhood literacy by donating books to nonprofits around the world—and by giving the gift of reading, you’re doing the same.

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One World Play Project futbol, $39, oneworldplayproject.com E V E N B E T T E R : These balls never deflate or require pumping, and the company’s buy-one-give-one model has provided over 2 million futbols to organizations working with youth in disadvantaged communities worldwide.

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Tech

Gizmos and gadgets so impossibly cool you’ll turn green with giver’s remorse.

(On that note, buy two—one for them, and one for you. They give back, remember?)

Away The Carry-On smart suitcase with ejectable battery for charging, $225, awaytravel.com EVEN BETTER:

Every sale supports Peace Direct, a nonprofit that aims to build long-term peace in high-conflict environments around the world.

GoPro Fusion 360 camera captures 360 video and photos, $599, shop.gopro.com E V E N B E T T E R : GoPro provides nonprofits with cameras, financial support, video producers, and content distribution.

Motiv sleep and fitness tracking ring (also available in rose gold), $199, mymotiv.com E V E N B E T T E R : Not only does this gadget make it easier to prioritize your health, but by purchasing one, you’re supporting a small, San Francisco-based biz with big dreams.

Samsung The Frame TV, from $1,498, abt.com This TV looks like art when it’s off (users can curate highquality art “screen savers” through Samsung’s many museum partnerships), and purchasing one supports initiatives like Samsung’s Digital Villages program in South Africa, which provides solar power to needy schools and hospitals.

EVEN BETTER:

State Filmore nylon and leather laptop backpack, $335, statebags.com and nordstrom.com EVEN BETTER:

For every bag purchased, a child receives a backpack filled with school supplies.

Shinola Runwell turntable, $2,500, multiple Chicago locations and shinola.com EVEN BETTER: This beauty is manufactured in Shinola’s Detroit factory, where its employees, many of them men and women who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to work, are paid above-market wages and receive above-average benefits.

Relay cellphone alternative, 2 for $149, plus $6.99/month per device, relaygo.com E V E N B E T T E R : This cellphone/walkie-talkie hybrid offers safe, screen-free communication between tweens and teens and their folks, friends, and anyone else in their parent-approved network.

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Experiences

Whoever said memories can’t be bought clearly isn’t familiar with the concept of experiential travel. Slide a couple tickets for one of these over-the-top trips under the tree, and get ready to win the holidays.

BY AMBER GIBSON

FOR THRILL SEEKERS…

F O R C O S M O P O L I TA N HUMANISTS…

FOR ANIMAL LOV E R S …

FOR FEMINIST FOODIES…

FOR DIE- HARD CHOCOHOLICS…

Go on safari at British Columbia’s Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

Treat yourself to a stay at Switzerland’s Beau-Rivage Genève

Support baby sea turtles at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Southwest Florida

Enjoy a kaiseki meal at Tokyo’s women-run restaurant Tsurutokame

Make bean-to-bar chocolate at Copal Tree Lodge in Belize

This may be glamping at its finest, but don’t get your heart set on breakfast in bed; there are so many black bears in the pristine Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve that all guests are strictly prohibited from bringing any food into their tents. And though you won’t likely come face to face with a bear, you will have plenty of opportunities to view orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, bald eagles, and even cougars. wildretreat.com

Geneva is the most international city in Switzerland and home to the European headquarters of the United Nations. The Beau-Rivage Genève was Kofi Annan’s favorite hotel and Eleanor Roosevelt stayed here while working on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The newly renovated presidential suite is named after her, although all 95 rooms are spacious and elegant. Enjoy panoramic views of the Jet d’Eau, St. Peter’s Cathedral and Mont Blanc from your private terrace. beau-rivage.ch/en

The loggerhead sea turtle nesting season runs from May to October in Southwest Florida, and guests at LaPlaya in Naples can book a “sea turtle suite” to help save this endangered species. The package includes dinner on the white sandy beach, adopting a sea turtle, and visiting the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, and you’ll even receive “turtle tweets” throughout your stay, alerting you to on-property sea turtle sightings and upcoming releases. laplayaresort.com

Tour the 120-acre criollo cacao nursery, the largest organic cacao plantation in Belize, then taste fresh, fruity cacao pulp straight from the pod before learning to crack, winnow, roast, grind, conch and temper it to a smooth liquor. The sweetest part? Making your own bar to take home. copaltreelodge.com

EVEN BETTER:

LaPlaya donates a portion of proceeds from this package to the conservancy, whose mission is to protect Florida’s unique natural environment.

Sexism is still alive and well in the Japanese restaurant industry, but one Tokyo restaurateur is narrowing the gender gap. Three years ago Osamu Mikuni opened Tsurutokame, a restaurant operated entirely by women serving a traditional kaiseki tasting menu. The constantly changing menu features sashimi-style and grilled fish chosen daily from a renowned local fish market, miso-based soup and delicate small plates. All the women live communally in an apprentice-style environment, attending opera together and taking classes in traditional calligraphy and tea ceremonies. They’re proving doubters wrong one exquisite bite at a time. tsurutokame.jp/en

EVEN BETTER:

Sustainability is at the heart of this resort, where all seafood served is Ocean Wise certified and 3 percent of every stay funds an Environmental Legacy Program to preserve and protect the rainforests and enhance native salmon stock.

The last family-owned hotel in town, Beau-Rivage continues its humanitarian legacy as the main sponsor of the Red Cross Ball and defending children’s rights with the Buakhao White Lotus Foundation.

58 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

EVEN BETTER:

EVEN BETTER:

Here, aspiring female chefs find a level of culinary training that women cannot find elsewhere in Japan.

EVEN BETTER:

Conservation and local economic development are core values here. Sustainably caught seafood is purchased from local day boat fishermen, chocolate, coffee, and rum are produced on-site, and 70 percent of the food served to guests is from native and heirloom crops grown on the resort’s 3,000-acre organic farm.

BE TT ER

R

I S FO R

Relaxation

For that special someone in your life who wears stress like a badge of honor, we present CBD-infused lip balm, silk pajamas, the most beautiful bathtub you’ve ever seen—you get the idea.

Vertly CBD-infused lip balm (contains 22mg of hemp-derived CBD), $22, vertlybalm.com and Credo in Bucktown E V E N B E T T E R : This glorious potion is the brainchild of a husband-and-wife-owned clean beauty company based in Northern California.

The Citizenry Noche blanket, $275, the-citizenry.com E V E N B E T T E R : The cozy, hypoallergenic throws are handwoven with 100 percent baby alpaca in a fair-trade environment in Peru.

Feathered friends Swift 20 YF down sleeping bag, $449, featheredfriends.com EVEN BETTER:

Tatine soy wax candle in Peace Rose, $24, tatinecandles.com and Fleur in Logan Square E V E N B E T T E R : The nontoxic, clean-burning candles are made in small batches right here in Chicago.

Incausa for Still brass incense set (with Palo Santo incense sticks), $112, incausa.co EVEN BETTER: Incausa works with indigenous artisans and donates 100 percent of wholesale profits to the producers.

Feathered Friends partners with Team Survivor Northwest, which supports women cancer survivors through physical activities and sports-centered adventures.

Badeloft freestanding bathtub, $2,890, badeloftusa.com and Chicago-area Ferguson Plumbing locations EVEN BETTER:

These gasp-worthy stand-alone tubs are made from eco-friendly, 100 percent nontoxic stone resin.

Lunya washable silk pjs in Bare, $178, lunya.co EVEN BETTER: These jams, made for women by women from 100 percent sustainably harvested silk and help to fund schools for Girls Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young women.

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 59

P RO M OTI O N

BE TT ER

Give the gift of…

RED CARPET FACIAL

KISSABLE LIPS

Rejuvenate, smooth and hydrate your skin to look your absolute best this holiday season! Our Red Carpet Treatment will exfoliate dead skin, lighten dark spots, plump fine lines and leave you with a bright complexion.

Perfect before your big event. This luxurious gift will be accepted with excitement!

Get the lips you’ve always wanted in time for the holidays and new year.

Our exclusive Lip Glossing injectable dermal filler treatment provides a beautiful custom result based on your preferences. Define your lips with a touch of volume for a natural-looking pout. Instant results lasting up to 18 months.

Price $200

Price $595.00

CELLULAR INTELLIGENCE LUXURY MEDICAL SPA

FRESHSKIN MEDICAL SPA & WELLNESS CENTER

100 E Walton St #400, Chicago, IL 312.255.1495, cimedspa.com

595 Elm Place, #208, Highland Park, IL 847.681.8821, myfreshskin.com

A YEAR OF MASSAGE GORGEOUS EYELASHES Who wouldn’t want long, thick lashes without the need for mascara? Be beautiful and save time every day. Deka Lash studios are located in Deer Park, Evanston, Glenview and Lake Forest.

Price $99.99 (for new clients) DEKA LASH

dekalash.com

60 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

The present everyone wants! Give a series of twelve 60 minute massages.

Refresh, ReNew, RePlenish with a year of monthly massage, the key to maintaining balance in life. Give relaxation to your athlete, traveler, busy parent, spouse, or special person. The rewards are priceless and series pricing provides you savings this season.

Price $999.00 EGEA SPA - EVANSTON

1521 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 847.332.2772, egeaspa.com

P RO M OTI O N

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Give the gift of…

SWEET DECOR Red and white ribbon candy trees available 9” and 13”, or as an ornament.

Unique holiday accessories will be revealed at Mandarine’s 4th Annual Anniversary/Holiday Party, Wednesday, November 14th. Everything to make your home festive for the holiday season!

BEAUTIFUL ART

Prices starting at $15.

Paintings of all sizes make perfect gifts for the holidays.

Please stop in to see our exhibition of small works by gallery artists, curated with the spirit of gift giving in mind.

MANDARINE

ANNE LOUCKS GALLERY

1820 Glenview Road, Glenview, IL 224.432.5906, mandarinehome.com

309 Park Avenue, Glencoe, IL 847.835.8500, loucksgallery.com

BOOKED EVANSTON Booked offers a whimsical experience for youthful readers to enjoy finding their next favorite book.

Weekly story times, book clubs, author events and meet-ups can be found on their calendar. Booked is a bright and cozy destination in Evanston for reading and fun. Psst, check out their special door!

Prices starting at $5 and up.

BOOKED

506 Main St, Evanston, IL 847.701.5707, bookedevanston.com

INITIAL WREATH

Faux Boxwood wreath with interchangeable bow options, burlap, checked, holiday plaid, etc. Wood initial and bow are weather treated.

Great gift for the holidays, housewarming gift, newlyweds or just for yourself. Available in natural, white, black, and holiday reds.

Price $88.00 THE TWISTED TRUNK

1826 Glenview Rd, Glenview, IL 224.616.3258, twistedtrunkglenview.com

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 61

P RO M OTI O N

BE TT ER

Give the gift of…

SHAWL VEST This fabulous shawl vest is the perfect addition to every wardrobe. It’s the ideal gift and travel companion. One size fits all. Available in several colors.

CELEBRATE WITH WRITERS THEATRE!

Price $38.00

Give the Gift of Theatre this Holiday Season! Packages start at $199— surprise your partner, friends or relatives with the gift of world-class theatre this holiday season, or treat yourself to an experience you’ll remember forever! Visit writerstheatre.org for more information, or contact the WT Box Office at 847-242-6000!

LA DE DA!

1957 Cherry Lane, Northbrook, IL 847.562.1170, ladedagift.com

Packages start at $199.00 WRITERS THEATRE

325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, IL 847.242.6000, writerstheatre.org

SOREL JOAN OF ARTIC BOOT Cold weather performance and stylish design marry to make the perfect winter boot! Made from water-proof leather and suede, the Artic boot is seam-sealed for weatherproof protection. The stylish wedge adds comfort and a fashionable flare. These will be your go-to boots during a long Chicago winter!

Price $245.00 LONDO MONDO

558 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL 224.255.6466, londomondo.com

62 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

DEFENAGE CLINICAL POWER TRIO This 3 step full size skincare system combines the latest revolutionary proven science and technology addressing up to 16 signs of aging.

The system includes: DefenAge 8-in-1 BioSerum (1.0 oz), 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream (1.5 oz), and 2-Minute Reveal Masque (2.5 oz).

Price $285.00 SKINFO® SPECIALTY SKINCARE BOUTIQUE

275 Parkway Drive #612, Lincolnshire, IL 847.459.2800, skinfo.com

P RO M OTI O N

BE TT ER

Give the gift of…

31ST STATE CLEARING PADS Tired. Lazy. Busy. So many excuses for poor skincare.

With 31st State’s Clearing Pads there are no more excuses for not looking after your skin. Quick and easy to use, designed to combat congested skin, tackling existing spots and preventing future breakouts.

Retail $25.00

FASCINATION ST. The latest collaboration between Jacques Marie Mage and Kate Bosworth.

These limited edition luxe sunglasses in deep jade, smooth bronze lenses, and sterling silver hardware will make you sparkle for the holidays. Visit our Northfield store to see other great options.

Retail $625.00

31ST STATE

WANDERLUST EYECARE

847.977.7571 31st-state.com

1745 Orchard Lane, Northfield, IL 847.787.1187, wanderlusteyecare.com

Holiday Cheers!

Setting The Bar Since 1936

Wine, Beer & Spirits / Free delivery & glassware Full-service deli / artisan cheeses

9965 Gross Point Road • Skokie, IL 60076

847-677-9463

www.schaefers.com

ifts G y

a

olid H at

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M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 63

P RO M OTI O N

BE TT ER

Give the gift of…

GIFT GUIDE

GARMIN FORERUNNER 235 A smart gift for any runner looking to improve. Stay on pace with the Garmin FR235. A GPS running watch that measures heart rate at the wrist without a strap. Also tracks distance, pace, lap data, heart rate and other advanced running metrics. The perfect gift from The Runner’s Edge.

HOLIDAY SPARKLE Who doesn’t love a little glitz around the holidays. Now you can keep dazzling all year round with the Rolling Stone Collection by Spark Creations. Sapphire, Emerald, and Ruby suites are sure to make a statement this holiday season. Lambrecht’s a tradition of great things in small packages since 1892.

Price $235.00

Prices starting at $1,375.00

THE RUNNER’S EDGE

LAMBRECHT’S JEWELERS INC.

WILMETTE THEATRE MEMBERSHIP

SASSY & SLOUCHY PIMA PJS

Wilmette Theatre – the North Shore’s only not-for-profit independent movie theatre. We have unique programming, a friendly, cozy atmosphere and the best popcorn in town! Gift certificates and Theatre Memberships make perfect holiday gifts.

These PJs have been a hit here for years, and the prints and colors just keep getting cuter. We love the double front pocket coverage for modesty. The soft fabric keeps you cool. And the slightly sassy cut of them is adorable. One for me, one for you...

Price $50.00

Price $97.00

WILMETTE THEATRE

CHANTILLY LACE

1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 847.853.8531, the-runnersedge.com

1122 Central Ave, Wilmette, IL 847.251.7424, wilmettetheatre.com

64 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

1131 Central Ave #17, Wilmette, IL 847.251.3284, lambrechtsjewelers.com

1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 847.256.8077, c-lace.com

P RO M OTI O N

BE TT ER

Give the gift of…

GIFT GUIDE

LEOPARD FAUX FUR COAT Hubba-Hubba’s classic yet trendsetting fashions set this boutique apart. Since 1988, Hubba-Hubba has offered the best selection of clothing, jewelry & accessories at affordable prices. Text “Hubba” to 55678, join our mobile loyalty program, receive a $10 Hubba-Hubba gift card and start your holiday shopping with us!

NICK’S NEIGHBORHOOD BAR & GRILL

Price $89.00

Just in the “Nick” of time....Nick’s gift cards are perfect for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Whether searching for a timeless treat for family members, looking for clever stocking stuffers or a “go to” hostess, teacher or babysitter gift, Nick’s gift cards are a favorite to give and receive.

HUBBA-HUBBA

Prices starting at $25 and up.

1105 Central Avenue, Wilmette IL 847.728.0272, hubbahubbawilmette.com

NICK’S NEIGHBORHOOD BAR & GRILL

1168 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette, IL 847.251.3262, nickswilmette.com

VALLEY LODGE

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Ancient Coin Earrings by New York designer Julie Vos. Raven and Dove carries a huge selection from this gifted designer. Her style reflects ancient Etruscan, Roman and Greek designs. 24-Karat Gold Plate.

Great gift for the woman who loves jewelry!

Purchase $100 of Gift cards and receive $25 on us! Offer valid Friday, November 23rd, 2018 through December 31st, 2018. Restrictions may apply.

RAVEN AND DOVE JEWELRY AND GIFTS

1143 Greenleaf Avenue, Wilmette, IL 847.251.9550, ravenanddove.com

Happy Holidays!

VALLEY LODGE TAVERN

1141 Central Avenue, Wilmette, IL 847.920.5675, valleylodgetavern.com

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 65

Help Kindness Bloom random acts O F

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847.430.4751 • 2000 GREENLEAF ST. SUITE 5, EVANSTON, IL 60202 • RAFCHICAGO.ORG •

Destinations

LO C A L G E TAWAYS A N D FA R- F LU N G J O U R N E YS TO SAT I S F Y YO U R WA N D E R LU S T

BALKANS Castles, islands, medieval ISTOCK/IGORP1976

cities and delicious food define this mother-daughter trip.

MELANIE HAIKEN

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 67

Destinations / GO

“L

this tapestry and you’ll notice something very strange,” says the museum guide, pointing to a book-size embroidered panel hanging on the wall and gesturing us to lean in until our noses almost touch the glass. “Do you see how fine the thread is?

This was sewn by the wife of a sailor who was lost at sea for more than 25 years. She wove her own hair into the design— look, you can see it go from brown to gray as the years went by.” As if in answer to our unspoken question, she adds, “Sadly, the legend doesn’t tell us if he ever returned. But I like to think he did.”

It’s one of those eerie moments when a small story seems to embody and encapsulate the history, culture and very essence of a place. In this case, that’s the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, which has been defined by the sea and a history of conquest since it was a Roman seaport founded sometime before 200 B.C. Even the tiny island we’re standing on, known as Our Lady of the Rocks, is tied to seafaring history. Legend has it OOK CLOSELY AT

68 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

that in 1452 a shipwrecked sailor (or two brothers, depending on the storyteller) pulled himself up onto a rocky outcrop and discovered an icon of the Virgin Mary. Vowing to build a chapel to honor his miraculous rescue, he and other grateful mariners began bringing stones back from each safely completed voyage and piling them up to build first the island, then the ethereal blue-domed chapel atop it. Completed in 1640 and largely rebuilt in 1722, the island appears to float on the surface of the water, visible from every shore.

Kotor: City of Castles

We haven’t come by sea, though, as the majority of those visiting the Bay of Kotor do, disembarking en masse from cruise ships for a day of sightseeing. Instead, my daughter and I came by public bus south along the Croatian coast from Dubrovnik, holding our breath as the vehicle dodged oncoming cars along the single narrow road hugging the inlet-studded shore. She’s in the midst of a five-month sojourn of backpacking through Europe, and I’ve joined up for this stretch to remember what it’s like to see the world this way.

Traveling overland, we’ve been able to spend days and nights exploring the old walled city of Kotor and taking day trips like this one, which finishes with a picnic lunch on the stone-walled quay in the bougainvillea-draped village of Perast.

From our room just inside the city’s ancient fortified walls, we’re awakened by bells ringing out from Kotor’s many churches, including the Cathedral of St. Tryphon and the orthodox churches of St. Luke and St. Nicholas.

We have time to spend a morning wandering the waterfront stalls of the Saturday farmers’ market and to climb the 1,350 steep, crumbling stone steps that switchback up the mountain to the Castle of San Giovanni, also known as the Fortress of St. John. We stop halfway up to visit the Chapel of Our Lady of Remedy, built in 1518 by grateful survivors of the plague, clamber down the backside of the mountain to the abandoned chapel of St. George, and stay to watch the sunset over the bay far below.

Heavily fortified in the early Middle Ages, Kotor still feels utterly medieval; it’s easy to imagine knights riding across the moat and jousting in the main square. But the Kotor you see today also looks and feels Venetian, having been part of that empire for more than 350 years, from 1420 to 1797, during which many of the current buildings were constructed or embellished.

The Mediterranean influence is deliciously evident in Kotor’s cuisine; choosing among the many cozy restaurants with their lamp-lit outdoor tables, we sample black risotto made from squid ink; octopus salad; and buzara, a deep bowl of shellfish and prawns cooked in white wine.

Other local specialties are influenced by the traditions of neighboring Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia, as Kotor spent time under the rule of each.

Market stalls overflow with the small, skinless cevapi sausages, soft cheeses in olive oil, and pastries such as burek, made from filo dough filled with spinach and cheese or ground meat. Not to be missed is riblja corba, a rich fish soup typically made from sea bass or mullet enhanced with potatoes, carrots and sometimes tomatoes.

Opener: The city of Dubrovnik and a view of Fort Lovrijenac. Opposite: The 1,350 stairs that lead to Kotor’s Fortress of St. John. This page from top: The Ottoman bridge Stari Most was completed in 1566; the white sand beaches of Lopud.

MELANIE HAIKEN

Mostar: More Than a Bridge

To our taste, though, nothing rivals the meals we eat in the Bosnian city of Mostar, which spent 500 years under Ottoman rule and still shows a great deal of Turkish, Greek and Middle Eastern influence. The first thing we do upon arrival is visit Cafe de Alma, where owner Jasmin serves up a lesson on the history and ritual of Bosnian aka Turkish coffee, which we drink while relaxing on her sunny, rainbow-hued patio.

We’ve driven all morning through the rolling, vineyard-covered hills and valleys of southern Herzegovina, so we’re hungry and we head to Sadrvan, where waiters in traditional dress recommend we start with Mostarski Sahan, a sort of sampler platter featuring sogan-dolma, roasted onions stuffed with minced meat; japrak, a more traditional grape leaf dolma; and buttery rich potato and lamb stew topped with sour cream.

But we’re really just waiting for the crowds to thin so we can have Stari Most, the world-famous Ottoman bridge, to ourselves. The pet project of Ottoman emperor Suleiman the Magnificent, Stari Most is a true architectural wonder, seeming to defy gravity as its single span of white limestone arches high over the Neretva River. Completed in 1566 after 10 nail-biting years of construction, it was a symbol of Muslim-Christian peace until it was bombed seemingly beyond repair in the bitter wars for Balkan independence in the early 1990s. Painstakingly rebuilt block by block, it reopened in 2004 and has become a symbol of the slow, painful reconciliation process that’s still ongoing.

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 69

Destinations / GO

Mostar enchants us, from the calls to prayer echoing from its mosques to the Turkish bazaar of colorful crafts and market stalls to the still war-torn neighborhoods displaying bold murals of nationalist pride. Of course, we also love the cake shops and bakeries, where shelves glow with honey-soaked pastries, four-layer cream-filled cakes and the elaborate puddings that were favorites of the Ottoman sultans.

Dubrovnik: The Fairy-Tale City

We finish—as we started—in Dubrovnik, today among the most popular and crowded destinations in central and southeastern Europe thanks to its role standing in for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. But here’s what most people don’t know: visiting Dubrovnik is a completely different experience for those who stay within or just outside the old city walls.

From its towering battlements to the smooth white paving stones that gleam underfoot, Dubrovnik feels like the setting of a chivalric legend, and having it all to yourself at night and in the early mornings lets you sense the magic the most. Dubrovnik is a dream for those who love to walk, and we do, climbing up to Fort Lovrijenak on its high rocky perch and scaling Srd Hill to visit Napoleonic Fort Imperial, which protected the city through many wars, including the battle for Croatian independence.

And we climb up one of the towers to walk the entire 1.2-mile circuit of the old city walls, considered one of the greatest fortifications of the Middle Ages, staying to watch the sunset touch the gleaming stones with gold.

The azure-blue Dalmatian coast is another draw here, and we spend two of our days visiting islands by ferry. Just an hour’s ride away, Lokrum’s 70 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

attractions include a Benedictine monastery-turned-palace surrounded by courtyards and a botanical garden. The grounds have become a sanctuary for escaped peacocks and fluffy rabbits happy to nibble from your hand.

Many people also come to the island to swim in its secluded coves, dive off the craggy rocks or float in the iridescent blue-green “dead sea” saltwater lake connected to the ocean by underground caves.

Lopud, one of a group of islands called Elafiti, is as popular for its white sand beach as it is for the Franciscan monastery that looms dramatically over the port. The ferry rides themselves are a highlight, offering endless photo opps of Dubrovnik’s famed seawalls and the islands’ craggy coastlines and peaceful harbors.

On our second-to-last day in Dubrovnik, the city’s many plazas and parks suddenly bloom with flower stalls, each vying to outdo the others with massive arrangements of white and yellow chrysanthemums, daisies and roses of all hues. Checking the calendar, we realize that tomorrow is All Saints Day, to be followed by All Souls Day, when Central European Christians honor deceased family members by cleaning and decorating their graves.

Before heading for the airport, we wake early to watch families proceeding into the beautiful Cemetery of Boninovo and marvel at the care and beauty lavished on each mausoleum. Noticing the clusters of red glass lanterns, we ask their significance and an elderly woman looks surprised at our ignorance. “They light the way into heaven,” she says. It seems a fitting endnote for a trip that’s shown us the ways in which Balkan traditions remain strong despite hundreds of years of conquest, upheaval and death by land and sea.

MELANIE HAIKEN

Dubrovnik’s La Stradun in old town

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EVENT

The Nutcracker

CHERYL MANN

LISTING ON PAGE 76

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 73

Calendar

T H E AT E R / CO M E DY / F I L M / M U S I C / G A L L E R I E S / M U S E U M S / E V E N T S

ANNA CARLSON

FILM NOV. 23-25 “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” in Concert Watch the flick on the big screen as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ classic score.

Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 312-294-3000, cso.org

DEC. 11-12 Pentatonix—Christmas Is Here! Tour The popular a cappella group returns to the Chicago area to get us all in the holiday spirit. Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont, 847-6715100, rosemont.com THEATER NOV. 20 TO DEC. 2 The Book of Mormon Don’t miss your chance to see the awardwinning musical when it returns to Chicago.

Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago, 312-977-1700, broad wayinchicago.com NOV. 29 TO DEC. 30 It’s a Wonderful Life—A Live Radio Play Experience the classic tale of George

Bailey in a whole new way. Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview, 847-8340738, oillamp theater.org DEC. 1, 5, 8 Cendrillon This Lyric premiere and new-to-Chicago production of “Cendrillon,” or “Cinderella,” is sung in French with projected English translations.

Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, 312-827-5600, lyricopera.org

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DEC. 1-30 The Nutcracker It’s not the holiday season in Chicago without Joffrey Ballet’s critically acclaimed “The Nutcracker,” now set during the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.

Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., Chicago, 312-386-8905, joffrey.org DEC. 21-23 American Girl Live! Your child’s favorite American Girl characters come to life

in this brand-new musical. North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-673-6300, northshorecenter.org THROUGH JAN. 13 Women of Soul You don’t want to miss this tribute to Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Etta James, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Janis Joplin, and more. Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark, Chicago,

773-769-4451, black ensembletheater.org

COMEDY BEGINS NOV. 13 The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Sweater The most wonderful time of the year can also be the absolute worst—and this Second City show will have you LOL’ing about it all. UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago, 312-662-4562, secondcity.com

MUSIC NOV. 17 Rhythm Future Quartet The talented foursome will perform “Jaytude No. 1 in Em,” “Come Together” by the Beatles, and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, 847266-5100, ravinia.org NOV. 17 Joy Williams Joy Williams, formerly of The Civil Wars, will

JIRO SCHNEIDER

MUSIC

ONGOING Movie Mondays Paramount Theatre shows favorite films on its two-story screen for only $1 on most Mondays.

Upcoming screenings include “Scrooged” (Dec. 3), “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (Dec. 17), and “Polar Express” (Dec. 24). Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, 630-8966666, paramount aurora.com

H IG H LIG HT S

Editors’ Favorites Make It Better is a proud media sponsor of these events: NOV. 10-11 North Shore Wine & Spirits Event Sip on wines and spirits from around the world while making a difference for hospitalized children by raising funds for the Holiday Heroes program. The Art Center Highland Park, 1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, gourmetexpos.com DEC. 1 MRW Leadership Board’s “Jammin’ in Our Genes” Benefit Guests will enjoy live music, drinks, dessert, and raffle games, all while raising money for a screening mammography program at North Shore Health Center for uninsured and underserved patients. 210

COURTESY OF CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM

perform from her new album, “Front Porch.”

Special guest Anthony da Costa. Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 773-728-6000, oldtownschool.org DEC. 13 John Legend—A Legendary Christmas Singer/songwriter (and new EGOT winner) John Legend brings his Christmas tour to Chicago. Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, 312-8275600, lyricopera.org

Restaurant, 210 Green Bay Road, Highwood, foundation.northshore .org/jammin Additional events Make It Better is proud to support: NOV. 3 Youth & Family Counseling’s 2018 Cabaret Gala, Sanfilippo Estate, 789 Plum Tree Road, Barrington, counsel ingforall.org/gala NOV. 3 C24/7’s A Night of Hope, Loeber Motors, 4255 Touhy Ave., Lincolnwood, c247fam.org/hope NOV. 6 ZCenter’s 4th Annual Taste of the Town Gala, The Drake, 140 E. Walton Place, Chicago, zcenter.org

MUSEUMS OPENS NOV. 15 Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light MSI’s holiday tradition returns with a four-story Grand Tree surrounded by more than 50 trees and displays and weekend performances. Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, 773-684-1414, msichicago.org THROUGH JAN. 13 Storyland Seven classic children’s books,

including “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” and “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” come to life in this exhibit. Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, 847-8326600, kohlchildrens museum.org ONGOING Modern

by Design: Chicago Streamlines America This exhibit, which “explores how Chicago shaped the look and feel of modern America,” says Chicago History Museum Senior Curator Olivia Mahoney, features almost 300 objects and photos from the 1930s to the 1950s. Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, 312-6424600, chicago history.org ONGOING Activists and Icons: The Photographs of Steve Schapiro Forty-six large-format photographs by Chicago-based photographer Steve Schapiro showcasing historic moments like the

March on Washington in 1963 and celebrities who “challenged—and changed—our cultural norms” will be on display. Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, 847-9674800, ilholocaust museum.org

EVENTS NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER One Book | One Community Spertus Institute celebrates Jewish Book Month with programming related to this year’s selection, “Memento Park” by Mark Sarvas. spertus.edu NOV. 3 Selah Freedom Volunteer Connect Meeting Selah Freedom is a national organization confronting sex trafficking. Meet the team and find out how you can get involved at this volunteer meeting. You can also register for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) 101 training on Nov. 10 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Modern by Design: Chicago Streamlines America

selahfreedom.com/ volunteertrainings

312-455-4500, united center.com

NOV. 11 Holiday Boutique The Sisterhood of Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah Congregation presents this free boutique featuring jewelry, clothing, toys, books, and more. Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah Congregation, 3220 Big Tree Lane, Wilmette, 847-256-1213, bhcbe.org

NOV. 14-17 Holiday Boutique This annual Women’s Board of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital event supports the board’s fundraising goals. Lake Forest Recreation Center, 400 Hastings Road, Lake Forest, lfh.org/ womensboard NOV. 16-17 The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Kick off the season with family activities, shopping, musical performances, a Tree-Lighting Parade, fireworks, and more during the largest evening holiday celebration

NOV. 13 Michelle Obama: “Becoming” Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s book tour begins in Chicago. Don’t miss it… if you can score a ticket.

United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago,

SPOTLIGHT

Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum

W

A LK A ONE-MILE

path amidst trees lit with bright colors.

Opens Nov. 17. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, 630-968-0074, mortonarb.org

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 75

Out & About / CALENDAR

Wonderland Express

in the country. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, the magnificentmile.com NOV. 16-18 WCE 2018 Holiday Bazaar The Woman’s Club of

Evanston’s annual juried gift fair welcomes vendors in categories like fashion accessories, home decor, gourmet food, and fair trade.

The Woman’s Club of

76 NorthShore N OVE M B(NSUHS) ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT Foundation_0618_FNL.indd 1 BETTER

Evanston, 1702 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847475-3800, wcofe.org/ holidaybazaar2018

NOV. 17-18, DEC. 15-16 Randolph Street Holiday Market Shop three floors of vintage and modern fashion, housewares, art, and gifts, while enjoying a beverage from the market bar. Randolph Street Market, 1341 W. Randolph St., Chicago, 312-666-1200, randolph streetmarket.com

NOV. 17 TO DEC. 22 2018 Winter Arts & Crafts Expo This annual event features more than 140 artisans showcasing goods including jewelry and photography. Evanston Art Center, 1717 Central St., Evanston, 847-4755300, evanstonart center.org/winterexpo OPENS NOV. 23 Wonderland Express This favorite family event returns with special events Free Movie Days (Dec. 19-20), Caroling (Dec. 23), and Ice Sculpting (Dec. 28, Jan. 4). Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe,

847-835-6801, chicago botanic.org NOV. 24 Small Business Saturday Support the local businesses that make our communities unique, from Lake Forest and Winnetka to Evanston and Chicago. americanexpress.com/ us/small-business/ shop-small NOV. 30 Lights & Lagers This new event features music, beer samples, a preview of Holiday Magic, and more.

Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield, 708-688-8000, czs.org/ brookfield-zoo

10/16/18 10:13 AM

COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN

NOV. 16 TO DEC. 24 Christkindlmarket A holiday tradition; visitors can shop unique goods while enjoying delicious food and drinks. Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, 312-494-2175, christkindlmarket.com

JULIA FULLER

OPENS NOV. 30 Fifth Third Bank Winter WonderFest Celebrate the season with carnival rides, an indoor ice skating rink, and family-friendly activities.

Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, 1-800595-7437, navypier.org

Karamo Brown of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” will speak during this Family Action Network event.

Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston, familyaction network.net

DEC. 1-2 Holiday Market Find gifts like soaps, candles, honey, and more for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, 847-8356801, chicagobotanic.org

DEC. 6-9 One of a Kind Holiday Show Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list at this show featuring more than 600 independent makers. The Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, 312-527-4141, oneofakindshowchicago. com/holiday

DEC. 5 Know Thyself: Using Your Uniqueness to Create Success

DEC. 12 Holiday Centerpieces Class Award-winning

floral designer Andy Zimmerman will guide you to create a stunning holiday centerpiece.

BYOB; holiday desserts and nonalcoholic drinks will be provided. Random Acts of

Flowers, 2000 Greenleaf St., Evanston, 847-4304751, RAFChicago.org DEC. 12-16 Cirque Dreams Holidaze You’ll be in awe of this festively fantastic

production. The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago, msg.com/ the-chicago-theatre DEC. 16 Gingerbread House Decorating Party Show off your gingerbread

house decorating skills while enjoying hot chocolate and listening to festive music. Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, 847-234-6060, gortoncenter.org

SPOTLIGHT

A Christmas Carol: Sensory-Friendly Performance

O

N DEC. 29, Goodman Theatre

will partner with Autism Speaks-Chicago to present a sensory-friendly/relaxed performance. 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, 312-443-3800, goodman theatre.org/sensoryperformance

Lurie Children’s

Outpatient Center in Northbrook is growing.

Lurie Children’s has 13 outpatient centers throughout the city and suburbs— and our Northbrook location is growing. The Convenient Care Center is now open, and this fall we’ll be adding a Surgery Center with MRI. With over 1,400 physicians from 70 pediatric specialties, Lurie Children’s is your home for Illinois’ top-ranked pediatric care—for every child.

Visit luriechildrens.org/northbrook

All the specialists. All the locations.

All, for your one.®

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M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 77 10/1/18 2:42 PM

Editor’s Theater Picks W E T U R N T H E S P OT L I G H T O N T H E H OT T E S T S H OW S I N TOW N .

NOV. 7–DEC. 16 Twelfth Night, or What You Will Shakespeare wrote this rom-com 416 years ago, and yet, like so many of the Bard’s scripts, it remains remarkably relevant to our contemporary world. It’s a story where love triumphs amid questions about gender and sexuality, and Writers Theatre’s artistic director, Michael Halberstam, aims to bring a fresh, modern perspective to all angles.

The stellar cast includes William Brown, Sean Fortunato, Kevin Gudahl and Karen Janes Woditsch. Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, writers theatre.org NOV. 7-JAN. 13 The Steadfast Tin Soldier: A Christmas Pantomime Mary Zimmerman has directed operas and revived neglected musicals, but she’s most famous for taking old stories and finding her own inventive and playful ways of presenting those tales as new works of live theater. The Evanston resident, who has won a Tony Award along with a MacArthur “genius

grant,” goes back to that basic formula for this project. Just in time for the holiday season, she’s adapting and directing Danish author Hans Christian Andersen’s 1838 fairy tale about a tin soldier who falls in love with a paper ballerina. Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, looking glasstheatre.org NOV. 8-DEC. 16 Mansfield Park Playwright Kate Hamill, who previously adapted Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” for the stage, wrote this world premiere based on another beloved Austen novel in which young women and men maneuver through Victorian England’s strict social rules as they seek love.

Stuart Carden directs a cast that also includes Heidi Kettenring, Mark Montgomery and Gabriel Ruiz.

Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, northlight.org NOV. 9-DEC. 23 Rightlynd It wasn’t immediately obvious that Ike Holter, one of Chicago’s most gifted young playwrights, was writing a series of interconnected scripts.

But as it turns out,

78 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

several of his smart and engaging plays (starting with “Exit Strategy”), were all set in a fictional Chicago neighborhood, Rightlynd. This new one is a prequel, delving into the political power struggle in Holter’s imaginary 51st Ward. Victory Gardens Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 773-871-3000, victorygardens.org NOV. 25-DEC. 30 A Christmas Carol You’ve probably seen countless versions of this Charles Dickens classic during your lifetime—and you may have even seen the dynamic Larry Yando starring as Scrooge, as this is his 11th year in the role. But don’t let that stop you from seeing it again.

The magic persists.

Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St, Chicago, goodmantheatre.org DEC. 22-31 Into the Woods Stephen Sondheim’s acclaimed 1987 musical intertwines the plots of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault, bringing together familiar characters from “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel” and “Cinderella,”

The Steadfast Tin Soldier: A Christmas Pantomime

among others. Music Theater Works at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston, musictheaterworks.com OTHER PLAYS WORTH CHECKING OUT: NOV. 1-DEC. 2 Frankenstein, Court Theatre, 773-753-4472, courttheatre.org NOV. 2-4, Big Entrance, Piven Theatre, 847-8666597, piventheatre.org NOV. 7-JAN. 6, Holiday Inn, Marriott Theatre, 847-634-0200, marriotttheatre.com NOV. 7-DEC. 1, Ghosts, Redtwist Theatre, 773728-7529, redtwist.org

NOV. 9-DEC. 2 A Chorus Line, Northwestern University (Ethel M. Barber Theater), 847-491-7282, communication.north western.edu/tic/ NOV. 9-JAN. 27 Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Drury Lane Theatre, 847-491-7282, drurylane.com NOV. 15-JAN. 13 Familiar, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1312-335-1650, steppenwolf.org NOV. 16-18, Santuario | Sanctuary, Piven Theatre, Evanston, 847866-6597, piven theatre.org

NOV. 16-DEC. 23 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Citadel Theatre, 847735-8554, citadel theater.org NOV. 20–DEC. 31 Q Brothers Christmas Carol, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, 312-595-5600, chicago shakes.com DEC. 6-JAN. 27 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 312-595-5600, chicago shakes.com DEC. 13-JAN. 27 La Ruta, Steppenwolf Theatre, 312-335-1650, steppenwolf.org

SEAN WILLIAMS

THEATER

ROBERT LOER ZEL

18/19 Season “Astonishing, exhilarating musicianship...”

— Gramophone

The King’s Singers GOLD December 13, 2018 / 7:30PM

A program of holiday and classical repertoire celebrating this Grammy Award-winning a capella ensemble’s 50-year history.

Photo by Marco Borggreve.

312.334.7777 | harristheaterchicago.org | 205 East Randolph Drive

Harris Theater Presents Mainstage Music Presenting Sponsor

“truly, the stuff of magic” —Chicago Sun-Times

THE NUTCRACKER

“4 STARS!” —Chicago Tribune

PURCHASE TODAY!

DECEMBER 1–30 | TICKETS START AT $34 JOFFREY.ORG | 312.386.8905 THE NUTCRACKER PRODUCTION SPONSORS

2018–2019 SEASON SPONSORS

Special thanks to Live Music Sponsors Sandy and Roger Deromedi and The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music.

The Joffrey Ballet. | Photo by Cheryl Mann.

PERFORMS AT:

50 East Congress Parkway, Chicago

Dine

A N I N S I D E R ’ S G U I D E TO T H E V E RY B E S T E AT S I N C H I C AG O A N D B E YO N D

EDITED BY JULIE CHERNOFF

THE DEARBORN Upscale Tavern It’s the ideal location for dinner before (or after—they’re open late!) virtually any Loop theater show or concert. The Dearborn’s eclectic global cuisine covers the gamut from Korean BBQ Tacos to Shrimp and Octopus Ceviche, but they’ve also got a damn good burger.

145 N. Dearborn St., 312384-1242, thedearborn tavern.com LD, BR $$

• ADA STREET Global/Shared Plates Chef Ryan Bair brings a worldly flair to this charming resto in the Elston Industrial District. His dishes are inspired by the food and flavors of South America (scrumptious Brazilian pao de quejo; tapioca puffs with cotija cheese and spicy tomato salsa), the Middle East (spicy merguez meatballs with minty Greek yogurt; carrot-harissa hummus with naan bread), and Asia (forbidden black fried rice with radish kimchi; gochujang-glazed ribs), to name a few. 1664 N. Ada St., 773-697-7069, adastreetchicago.com D$$

CHICAGO

GALDONES PHOTOGRAPHY

ANDERSONVILLE BIG JONES Southern Just off a recent reno, this is chef Paul Fehribach’s delicious letter to the American South, inspired by its people and history.

The cornbread! The chicken! The gumbo!

All stellar. 5347 N. Clark St., 773-275-5725, bigjoneschicago.com LD, BR $$

HOPLEAF Gastropub For 25 years, this has been the place for

mussels and frites, washed down with one of more than 60 different craft beers.

5148 N. Clark St., Chicago, 773-334-9851, hopleafbar.com LD $

BUCKTOWN/ WICKER PARK HOT CHOCOLATE American Comfort Food James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Mindy Segal is so much more than a dessert queen; witness the brilliance of her mac-and-cheese, the perfect hamburger,

or her Crispy Chicken with Grits. But back to the dessert—if you decide to leave without slurping down her Malted Coffee Cocoa Nib Milkshake, you are clearly insane. 1747 N. Damen Ave., 773-4891747, hotchocolate chicago.com LD, BR $$ PIECE Pizza/ Brewery New Haven-style pizza at its finest (if you want to be taken seriously, trust us and order the clam with bacon), especially when accompanied by a growler of their

Listings with this icon indicate a Make It Better Best of 2018 winner.

award-winning brew.

1927 W. North Ave., 773-772-4422, piecechicago.com LD $

DOWNTOWN/ LOOP CINDY’S Mediterranean Shared Plates The panoramic rooftop patio views overlooking Millenium Park and Lake Michigan are worth it alone, but happily chef Christian Ragano turns out food both delicious and Instagrammable.

12 S. Michigan Ave., 312-792-3502, cindys rooftop.com LD, BR $$

THE GAGE Gastropub Oh, the poutine! Was there ever a better use of fries and cheese curds? Plenty to love at this British-influenced stalwart across from Millennium Park.

Top-notch steaks, craft beers, and house-made sausages. 24 S. Michigan Ave., 312-372-4243, thegagechicago.com LD, BR $ $

HEAVEN ON SEVEN Cajun The irrepressible Jimmy Bannos has brought smiles—and hot sauce—to hungry Chicagoans for decades.

There’s no better Louisiana cuisine this side of the Mississippi: gumbo, po’ boys, crabcakes, jambalaya and more. 111 N. Wabash Ave., 7th floor, 312-263-6443, heavenonseven.com BLD $ TERZO PIANO Italian The restaurant’s design is right at home in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute. Chef/ owner Tony Mantuano’s seasonal pastas, salads and shared plates are stunning, too. 159 E. Monroe St., 312-4438650, terzopianochicago .com L, BR $$

GOLD COAST THE PURPLE PIG Mediterranean/ Small Plates Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr. is a fourth- generation restaurateur—and a James Beard Award winner. Known for an awe-inspiring collection of cured meats, cheeses, “smears,” and house-made antipasti, they keep the plancha fired up here with a great selection of meaty small plates, perfect for sharing after a hard day of shopping on Michigan Avenue.

500 N. Michigan Ave., 312-464-1744, thepurple pigchicago.com LD, $$ SPIAGGIA Italian Barack and Michelle flipped for James Beard Award winner Tony Mantuano’s luxe Italian cuisine, and it’s easy to understand why. The nearby Café Spiaggia is a more casual option and is also open for lunch. 980 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd floor, 312-280-2750, spiaggia restaurant.com D $$$$

LINCOLN PARK/ LAKEVIEW BOKA Contemporary American Chef Lee Wolen ably helms the BOKA Group’s flagship restaurant. Clubby, sleek interiors are the ideal backdrop for his lovely, seasonal American cuisine and pastry chef Meg Galus’ outstanding creations.

1729 N. Halsted St., 312-337-6070, bokachicago.com D $$$

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 81

Out & About / DINE NAOKI Sushi Much-awarded sushi chef Naoki Nakashima is all about the freshest, most pristine sashimi and nigiri. Japanese small plates, maki, and substantial sake and Japanese whiskey offerings round out the menu. 2300 N. Lincoln Park, 773-868-0002, naoki-sushi.com D $$ NORTH POND Seasonal American This Arts & Crafts beauty perches on the edge of a tranquil pond. James Beard Award-winning chef Bruce Sherman sources from small local farms to create his exquisitely prepared and presented dishes. 2610 N. Cannon Dr., 773-477-5845, north pondrestaurant.com D, BR $$$

RICCARDO TRATTORIA Italian Now that’s Italian—Northern Italian, to be exact.

We’d be hard-pressed to name a favorite among the gems, but truly every risotto and pasta dish is like a quick trip to Milan or Florence. Authentic and delicioso. Sister restaurant Riccardo Enoteca is across the street. 2119 N. Clark St., 773-549-0038, riccardo trattoria.com D $$

LOGAN SQUARE /AVONDALE DOS URBAN CANTINA Modern Mexican Husband-and-wife Brian and Jennifer Enyart wow with their modern Mexican cuisine.

Inventive dishes include Octopus al pastor with pineapple and adobo and masa gnocchi in chorizo sauce.

2829 W. Armitage Ave., 773-661-6452, dosurban cantina.com D, BR $$

FAT RICE Macanese The first Macanese restaurant in Chicago is a happy combination of Southeast Asian, Portuguese, Indian, and Chinese food. The Arroz Gordo (“Fat Rice”) is like paella on steroids. 2957 W. Diversey Ave., 773661-9170, eatfatrice.com LD, BR $$

HONEY BUTTER FRIED CHICKEN American Comfort Food This is the fried chicken of your wildest dreams: crispy and spicy, moist and juicy. Swipe with soft honey butter on the way to your mouth, and live large. Also love the kale slaw, pimento mac-and-cheese, and the little corn muffins.

336`N. Elston Ave., 773478-4000, honey butter.com LD, BR $ OSTERIA LANGHE Italian Possibly the best Italian in the city, this sister rest to Animale is run by Scottish chef Cameron Grant and Belgian-Italian frontman Aldo Zaninotto.

2824 W. Armitage Ave., 773-661-1582, osterialanghe.com D $$ PARACHUTE Korean Top Chef finalist Beverly Kim and her husband Johnny Clark were in the forefront of the couplesopening-restaurants phenomenon in Chicago with this fabulous Korean fusion spot in Avondale. The Baked Potato Bing Bread is a must-order, along with the Oysters with Soju Granita and the bibimbap, here made with yellowfin tuna and preserved lemon.

3500 N. Elston Ave., 773-654-1460, parachute restaurant.com D $$ TABLE, DONKEY AND STICK Alpine Gastropub This Tyrolean charmer

82 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

captures the spirit of an Alpine mountain inn.

Toast yourself by the fire, or hang out on their lovely patio in warmer weather. Either way, don’t miss the house-made charcuterie, bread and cultured butter. They have a way with game here, and of course the pretzel with beer cheese and the potato latkes are highly satisfying.

2728 W. Armitage Ave., 773-486-8525, table donkeystick.com D $$

PILSEN/ BRIDGEPORT THE DUCK INN Gastropub Bridgeport’s other favorite son, Kevin Hickey, came home and brought a restaurant with him. The Rotisserie Duck is the star of the show, but the supporting players are equally talented. 2701 S. Eleanor, 312-724-8811, theduck innchicago.com D $$ DUSEK’S Tavern Dusek’s is the beating heart of Thalia Hall, a modern tavern with a thirst for international craft and draft beers and a parade of elevated bar food dishes that will knock your socks off.

Visit The Punch House downstairs. 1227 W. 18th St., 312-526-3851, duseks chicago.com D, BR $$ HAISOUS Vietnamese On everyone’s must-hit restaurant list, this Pilsen spot scored a Bib Gourmand rating from the venerable Michelin Guide. Owners Thai and Danielle Dang are sharing their love of Vietnamese food with us. And trust us—from the soulful beef pho to the earthy roasted duck stuffed with kaffir lime leaves, you will feel the love. 1800 S. Carpenter St., 312-702-1303, haisous.com D, BR $$

S.K.Y. Global Fusion L.A. transplant Stephen Gillanders unites the cuisines of East Asia and the Mediterranean at this chic spot. Dishes like Foie Gras Bibimbap and Maine Lobster Dumplings with Jade Butter are bursting with flavor. 1239 W. 18th St., 312-846-1077, sky restaurantchicago.com D $$

RIVER NORTH BAVETTES BAR & BOEUF Steakhouse There’s more than a whiff of speakeasy at this popular meatery.

Bring a flashlight to read the menu, or just order a Smoked Salmon Caesar and a Bone-In Filet, with a side of the insane Truffle Mac & Cheese. Defibrillator optional. 218 W. Kinzie St., 312-624-8154, bavettessteakhouse.com

EMA Mediterranean L.A. transplant CJ Jacobson brings an Ottolenghi-style sensibility to Mediterranean food full of bright color and flavor. Another winner for LEYE. 74 W. Illinois St., 312-5275586, emachicago.com LD BR $$ FRONTERA GRILL Mexican For over 30 years, James Beard Award-winning chef Rick Bayless has been educating Chicago— and beyond—about authentic regional Mexican cuisine. His fine-dining restaurant, Topolobampo, shares an entrance with Frontera; fast casual Xoco is on the corner.

All three more than live up to the hype. 445 N. Clark St., 312-661-1434, rickbayless.com LD, BR Frontera Grill $$/Xoco $/Topolobampo $$$

D $$$

BEATRIX American Comfort Food LEYE gets healthy (sort of!).

This neighborhood favorite (joined by outposts in Streeterville and West Loop) brings the yummy with freshsqueezed juice medleys, bounteous salads, burgers for every diet, and a killer turkey meatloaf.

Skip the pastry bar at your own peril. 519 N. Clark St., 312-284-1377, beatrixrestaurants.com BLD, BR $$

BRINDILLE French Chef/owner Carrie Nahabedian’s seasonal interpretations of impeccable French cuisine are worth every penny. Luxe dishes such as Hudson Valley foie gras, steak tartare, and whole Dover sole sound their siren call.

Tasting menus available.

534 N. Clark St., 312595-1616, brindille chicago.com D $$$

GT FISH & OYSTER Seafood Chef Giuseppe Tentori, in partnership with the Boka Group, has his way with seafood, and the results are memorable. 531 N. Wells St., 312-929-3501, gtoyster.com LD, BR $$ PORTSMITH Seafood From the Fifty/50 Group comes this gorgeous seafood-forward resto.

The bread service is stellar, raw bar items top-notch, and Chef Nate Henssler’s cacio e pepe with uni butter and caviar a rich surprise.

660 N. State St., 312202-6050, portsmith chicago.com BLD, BR $$$ TANTA Peruvian Peruvian super chef Gaston Acurio brings Lima to Chicago by way of his kitchen, turning out luscious empanadas, antichuchos (skewers),

cebiche with leche de tigre (translated as “tiger’s milk,” but not really!), pollo a la brasa, and more. Pisco drinks are big here, and we don’t mind at all.

118 W. Grand Ave., 312-222-9700, tanta chicago.com LD, BR $$

SOUTH LOOP ACADIA Tasting Menu Dinner is always a wow at this Michelin Guide two-star stunner. Chef Ryan McCaskey plays with the classics in beautiful and supremely flavorful ways. 1639 S. Wabash Ave., 312360-9500, acadia chicago.com D $$$$ MERCAT A LA PLANXA Spanish In this Spanish spot in the Blackstone Hotel, small plates, Catalan-style cuisine, a lively downstairs bar, and an airy two-story dining room are all selling points. 638 S. Michigan Ave., 312-765-0524, mercat chicago.com BLD, BR $$$

STREETERVILLE MAPLE & ASH Steakhouse This Gold Coast steakhouse has it all: craft cocktails, wood-fired hearthcooked proteins, expansive raw bar offerings, a killer interior, the culinary stylings of chef Danny Grant, and Aya Fukai’s amazing desserts. 8 W. Maple St., 312-9448888, mapleandash.com D, BR $$$

MARGEAUX BRASSERIE French Bistro California celeb chef Michael Mina’s first outpost in Chicago, Margeaux pulses with life—and sound, so be forewarned. Bistro favorites abound, but

the Shellfish Plateau is truly above and beyond.

Waldorf Astoria Chicago, 11 E. Walton St., 312-625-1324, michaelmina.net BLD, BR $$

NICO OSTERIA Italian/Seafood The Gold Coast’s chic Thompson Hotel really scored big when it opened this Italian seafood-focused resto.

House-made pastas and pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky’s calorieworthy desserts are particular highlights.

1015 N. Rush St., 312994-7100, nicoosteria .com BLD, BR $$ SHANGHAI TERRACE Chinese Tucked away in the glamorous Peninsula Hotel is one of the best Chinese

restaurants in the city—and undoubtedly the priciest. The dim sum nibbles, the Peking duck, the abalone (you read that right)… all spectacular, and the service is impeccable.

In summer, insist on the glorious rooftop terrace. 108 E. Superior St., 312-573-6744, chicago .peninsula.com LD $$$ TORALI ITALIAN STEAK Italian Steakhouse Inside the zillion-dollar renovation of the RitzCarlton you’ll find a modern approach to a steakhouse with an Italian twist. Housemade pastas, prime and dry-aged meats, inspired cocktails and a gorgeous interior. 160 E. Pearson at Water

depotnuevo.com 847-251-3111 Wilmette Village Center

Tower Place, 312-5735160, torali chicago.com BLD $$$

WEST LOOP AVEC Mediterranean Small Plates Make new friends at Avec’s communal tables while sharing the signature ChorizoStuffed Medjool Dates wrapped in bacon, served with a piquillo pepper-tomato sauce.

The paella here is spot on. 615 W. Randolph St., 312-377-2002, avecrestaurant.com

some love, too. And the Spicy Carrot Cooler works at any time of day. 802 W. Randolph St., 312-265-1745, badhunter.com LD, BR $$

LD, BR $$

BLACKBIRD Contemporary American This is where it all began for Paul Kahan and his restaurant empire, and it’s still of the moment.

Chef de cuisine Ryan Pfeiffer is putting out beautiful, modern food made with local, sustainable ingredients.

619 W. Randolph St., 312-715-0708, blackbird restaurant.com LD $$$

BAD HUNTER Veggie-centric So much gorgeous light streams into this cozy spot at lunch and brunch. Veggies are the star, but carnivores get

GIRL & THE GOAT Global Cuisine James Beard Award and Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard favors familystyle, big-hearted dishes at her culinary

global mashup, like the Wood-Oven Roasted Pig Face (surprisingly scrumptious despite the name), Goat Empanadas, and even a whole goat leg, available by reservation only. 809 W. Randolph St., 312-492-6262, girlandthegoat.com D $$ LEÑA BRAVA Mexican/ Seafood Rick Bayless’ newest venture is a Mexican seafood (from sustainable and environmentally responsible sources, of course) restaurant that draws inspiration from fire and ice.

Everything is cooked by fire, either in a woodburning oven or over a hot grill. Bayless’ Cruz Blanca Brewery and Taqueria is right next door. 900 W. Randolph

St., 312-733-1975, rickbayless.com D $$$ ORIOLE Tasting Menu Two Michelin stars for the Asian-influenced vision of chef Noah Sandoval combined with the divine desserts of pastry chef Genie Kwon. An inauspicious entrance belies the serene and awe-inducing culinary experience within.

661 W. Walnut St., 312-877-5339, oriole chicago.com D $$$ THE PUBLICAN Gastropub Oysters, craft beer and pork, oh my! If it’s über-loud here, that’s because everyone is fighting over the last piece of roasted farm chicken.

Don’t miss Publican

Great Margaritas Brewery On-Site Award Winning Tequila Bar

Visit our other Wilmette restaurant The Noodle Café 847-251-2228 thenoodlecafe.com

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Out & About / DINE Quality Meats (L only), the amazing deli across the street. 837 W. Fulton Market, 312-601-2970, thepublicanrestaurant. com D, BR Publican Quality Meats $/The Publican $$ SMYTH + THE LOYALIST Tasting Menu / Modern American Powerhouse husband-and-wife team John and Karen Shields give you two options: Smyth’s exquisite multicourse offerings, or The Loyalist’s casual vibe.

Honestly, there’s no wrong choice here.

177 N. Ada St., 773-9133773, smythandthe loyalist.com D Smith $$$$/The Loyalist $$

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BOLTWOOD Farm-toTable Whether for a power lunch or family dinner, Chef Brian Huston’s seasonally driven food draws a crowd. Order the roasted half chicken and crispy potatoes with garlic schmaltz and thank us later. 804 Davis St., Evanston, 847-859-2880, bolt woodevanston.com LD, BR $$

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down a side alley), chic decor and food that’s classic with a twist.

The craft cocktails here are also top-notch.

Rear 1016 Church St., Evanston, 847-8688041, thebarnevanston .com D $$$

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SWIFT & SONS Steakhouse Chef Chris Pandel and the Boka Group are aiming for nothing less than the evolution of the American steakhouse for modern sensibilities. The meat is aged beautifully, dessert comes on a cart, and the gin is cold.

What more could you ask? 1000 W. Fulton Market, 312-733-9420, swiftandsons chicago.com D $$$

NORTH SHORE EVANSTON BANGERS & LACE Gastropub If you’re a draft and craft beer fan who loves elevated bar food—including artisanal sausage—you’ve come to the right place. The original outpost is in Wicker Park. 810 Grove St., Evanston, 847-9050854, bangersandlace bar.com D, BR $

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THE BARN Contemporary American / Steakhouse This sister restaurant to Found Kitchen has a speakeasy feel (it’s

Contact us here at (847)-256-4642 for more information

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CAMPAGNOLA Italian Rustic Italian hits the spot at the longtime South Evanston favorite where Chef Vince Di Battista favors local, organic ingredients whenever possible. The pappardelle bolognese is some of the best around. 815 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847475-6100, campagnola restaurant.com D $$ FOUND KITCHEN & SOCIAL HOUSE Farm-to-Table Thirdgeneration restaurateur Amy Morton is behind this creative restaurant with a distinctly urban flair. Feast on seasonally focused shared plates, locally sourced meat and produce, and inventive craft cocktails. 1631 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-868-8945, foundkitchen.com LD $$ HEARTH American A welcome respite in a sea of deafening restaurants, Hearth offers a lovely dining experience and carefully prepared,

seasonal fare. 1625 Hinman Ave., Evanston, 847-570-8400, hearth restaurant.net D, BR $$ KOI Chinese/ Sushi The menu at this stylish downtown Evanston restaurant and lounge covers eight regions of China. In addition, find fresh and inventive sushi rolls and dim sum offerings at weekend brunch. 624 Davis St., Evanston, 847-8666969, koievanston.com LD, BR $$

NAKORN Modern Thai This “Cosmopolitan Thai” resto is exactly where you need to eat.

Clean, bright flavors pop big in craft cocktails and curries; not your average Thai menu, as the mouthwatering New York strip steak attests.

1622 Orrington Ave., Evanston, 847-733-8424, nakornkitchen.com LD $$ OCEANIQUE French/ Seafood Whether you opt for the seven-course tasting menu or the à la carte choices, it’s clear that chef Mark Grosz has serious cooking chops. Pair your foie gras or lobster with something fine from the award-winning wine list. 505 Main St., Evanston, 847-864-3435, oceanique.com D $$$ TEN MILE HOUSE BBQ / American comfort Food Families welcome at this North Evanston hangout, where juicy smoked brisket and BBQ ribs vie with a topnotch grilled cheese sandwich for your love.

DB3 Donuts holds court next door on weekends only. 1700 Central St., Evanston, 847-9050669, tmhevanston.com LD, BR $$

UNION PIZZERIA Pizza Pies from a woodburning pizza oven just have that special something. We love the blistered thin-crust pizzas here and the Detroit-style squares down the street at sister restaurant Union Squared. 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-475-2400, unionpizza.com D $

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LA PRINCIPAL Mexican This colorful taco palace pours a mean margarita, and the churros are a local treasure. Sister restaurant The Lucky Platter, an eclectic diner, is one block east. 700 Main St., Evanston, 224307-24444, laprincipal evanston.com BLD $

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GLENCOE GUILD HALL Contemporary American The bar is always packed at this lovely restaurant just a stone’s throw from Writers Theatre.

Seasonal produce and local purveyors play an important part. 694 Vernon Ave., Glencoe, 847-835-8100, guildhallrestaurant.com

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VALOR Mediterranean Bistro Third time is the charm for this cozy bistro in downtown Glencoe. They score with serious craft cocktails and flavorforward preparations of pasta, seafood and meat. If the Plancha Octopus is available, don’t miss it! 667 Vernon Ave., Glencoe, 847-786-4324, valorglencoe.com D $$

Let It Snow WHEN YOU CAN STAY INN– with Special Winter Rates Beautiful Lake views, gourmet breakfast, library with a fireplace, massage and exercise rooms, steps from Northwestern University and downtown Evanston shopping and dining

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Out & About / DINE HIGHLAND PARK/ HIGHWOOD ABIGAIL’S AMERICAN BISTRO Contemporary American Chef Michael Paulsen’s big flavors deliver all the delish and keep everyone happy, from the killer cheeseburger and flashfried Brussels sprouts to the duck confit salad.

Even better, it’s close to Ravinia. 493 Roger Williams Ave., Highland Park, 847-780-4862, abigails493.com LD $$ BALLARO Contemporary American Thin-crust pizza, fresh pasta and more in a contemporary Italian setting.

214 Green Bay Road, Highwood, 847-780-3396, ballarohw.com D $$

LAKE FOREST/ LAKE BLUFF INOVASI Contemporary American Separated into small, medium and large plates of seasonal deliciousness, chef John des Rosiers’ food is also largely—and naturally—gluten-free.

28 E. Center Ave., Lake Bluff, 847-295-1000, inovasi.us LD $$

NORTHBROOK/ NORTHFIELD HOUSE 406 Contemporary American / Steakhouse Yes, beef is a strong point here, but Chef Eloin Amador has a way with seafood, grilled pizza, soup, and salads as well. Save room for Jennifer Eisen’s Chocolate & Peanut

Butter Lava Cake or one of the beautiful Wisconsin Cheese Flights. 1143 ½ Church St., Northbrook, 847-714-0200, house406 restaurant.com LD $$ PRAIRIE GRASS CAFE Farm to Table Chef/ owners Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris are committed to using seasonal produce from local farms and meat and dairy from Midwestern producers, and all prepared with great care for maximum flavor.

601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, 847205-4433, prairiegrass cafe.com LD, BR $$

WILMETTE CONVITO CAFE + MARKET French/ Italian Stroll through the gourmet market stocked with imported Italian delicacies, wines and freshly prepared take-home foods to the charming bistro beyond. A lunch and brunch favorite.

1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, 847-2513654, convitocafeand market.com LD, BR $ NAPOLITA Pizza/ Italian The hand-tiled, Italian wood-burning oven in the corner lets you know they mean serious pizza business here, but the pastas, risottos and salads hold their own. 1126 Central Ave., Wilmette,

224-215-0305, napolita pizza.com LD,BR $ TORINO RAMEN Japanese Operated by three Japanese women who missed traditional ramen, Torino offers deeply flavored broths with fresh ramen noodles, along with some seriously tasty fried chicken bites, gyoza, and other favorites.

1162 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette, 847-9205075, torino ramen.com LD $

WINNETKA RESTAURANT MICHAEL French Chef/proprietor Michael Lachowicz has long championed an elegant French dining

experience, with spectacular food and service. From the opening salvo of Tuna & Salmon Tartare to the Hot Fallen Chocolate Soufflé, the food here never disappoints.

64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, 847-4413100, restaurant michael.com D $$$ TRIFECTA GRILL Wine Bar In the warmer months, there’s no better place to be than the secluded and spacious patio at this Winnetka favorite.

Enjoy pizzas, salads, and small plates while sipping craft beers and wines from around the globe.

501 Chestnut St., Winnetka, 847-4411700, trifectagrill winnetka.com D $$

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11/1/18 5:48 PM

Saturday & Sunday November 10th & 11th A Pre-Holiday Festival

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M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 87 10/31/18 11:16 AM

Out & About / FLAVOR

Eat, Drink, and be Merry 11 Festive Restaurants for Holiday Dining

BY JULIE CHERNOFF

Found

special meal shared with family and friends is one that you don’t have to cook yourself—or clean up after. These clever city and suburban restaurants serve up that most elusive of all combinations: a killer private room or space for personal dining, plus swoon-worthy food.

THE ALBERT You’ll find this industrial geekchic spot—it is named for Albert Einstein, after all—in River North’s Hotel EMC2. For smaller gatherings, they have a chef’s table that seats 12, and the 800-square-foot Emmy Noether Room (named for a famed German mathematician!), which is great for seated dinners up to 30 or so. Executive Chef Larry Feldmeier’s menu is all about globally inspired foods with high technique and big flavor. thealbertchicago.com 88 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

AVLI The longtime Winnetka favorite has a secret weapon when it comes to private dining: the Wine Room, which seats up to 15 at a long wooden table. And when that table is laden with Greek meze (their signature Shrimp Tourkolimano baked in a beautifully spiced tomato sauce with feta cheese, panfried tomato fritters with yogurt-dill sauce, little Thessaloniki meatballs) and chef/owner Louie Alexakis’ divine braised lamb, all is right with the world. avli.us BEATNIK Even a sultan would be impressed.

This West Town restaurant is a celebration for the eyes, so it’s only fitting that the semiprivate space is part of it, separated from the main dining room by a row of potted palms.

Two long tables flanked by plush velvet dining chairs can seat up to 30 for dinner, with enormous chandeliers hanging above. And what a feast! Chef Marcos Campos’ appealing dishes

are veggie-forward with Middle Eastern flavors. Try the large-scale plates to share, like the whole fish with green harissa, herb salad and pickled red onions. beatnikchicago.com CITY MOUSE Emitting cool West Loop vibes from the Ace Hotel, chefs Jason Vincent and Ben Lustbader know how to bring the delicious at City Mouse. The Eaves space seats up to 18 people for a private meal at one long table. You’ll love their Skuna Bay salmon with dill beurre blanc and everything spaetzli, or the wagyu flank steak with beef fried rice and broccoli. A big thumbs-up for the inventive craft cocktails from star mixologist Caitlin Laman. citymousechicago.com ELSKE If “hygge,” the Danish concept of coziness, appeals to you, this warm and inviting space is just the ticket. Chef/owners David and Anna Posey welcome up to 24 guests for a

ALAN SHORTALL

T

HE ONLY THING better than a

Proxi

sit-down dinner in their second-floor dining room. Choose from four-, five- or nine-course super-seasonal options, which might include roast leg of venison with roasted beets and ricotta, or celeriac “risotto” with hazelnuts and apple. The West Loop never felt so good. elskerestaurant.com

COURTESY OF PROXI: ANTHONY TAHLIER

FOUND Two rooms here will fit the bill for your private event: the semiprivate Library space, which seats up to 28, or the Salon, a completely private space that can handle up to 50 seated guests (and has AV equipment to boot for those embarrassing family videos). Owner Amy Morton and chef Bradford Phillips welcome you to their Evanston “flexitarian” restaurant with three-and four-course family-style meals that you can supplement with passed hors d’oeuvres. foundkitchen.com

KATANA River North meets L.A. at Katana, where both the physical space and decor are highly dramatic. A series of separate dining suites on the mezzanine can seat from 12 to 48 guests for lunch or dinner, although I’m partial to the Dragon Room on the main floor, all floating candles, uplit stone walls and generally groovy vibe. Known for their gorgeous sushi and sashimi presentations and charcoalgrilled robata dishes, meals are served family style. innovativedining.com/restaurants/katana

PROXI Chef/partner Andrew Zimmerman’s West Loop stunner offers a private dining room that seats 16 comfortably in a lovely space curtained off from the main dining room. Enjoy global street food dishes such as elotes (sweet corn) tempura-style, a shrimp- and pork-stuffed Vietnamese crêpe with chili jam, or grilled young chicken with cilantro pesto and sweet/spicy tamarind-chili sauce, all served family-style. proxichicago.com SOMERSET The Gold Coast is known for its hidden secrets—the wealthy do like their

privacy—but the Regatta Room, a space on the second floor of the Boka Group’s glamorous Somerset restaurant, is a well-kept one.

You and your guests (up to 22 people) will be seated at a long “captain’s table,” ensconced in a comfortable leather chair. Don’t let the yacht-club trappings distract you from Executive Chef Lee Wolen’s glamorous food, especially that aged, roasted duck breast with a fall cornucopia of prunes, fennel and turnips. The chocolate layer cake, glazed with deep, dark fudge ganache and served with the umamiest miso-caramel ice cream, is a revelation. somersetchicago.com STEFANI PRIME The best thing to hit Lincolnwood in forever, the newest offering from the Stefani Restaurant Group is a winner. The interior is a mix of urban chic and neighborhood comfort, with colorful and contemporary artwork scattered about. The private dining space seats up to 40, but can still have a cozy feel, especially when you’re digging into Italian family favorites like antipasto platters (the prosciutto slicer is something to see), chicken Vesuvio, and fettucine with mushrooms and fondue cream mixed in a giant wheel of cheese. The prime steaks are a meat lover’s dream, so if you are a family of carnivores, prepare yourself appropriately. stefaniprime.com

Somerset

GUILDHALL Downtown Glencoe is the setting for this lovely American bistro. Whitewashed brick, tufted banquette seating, and a wall of paned glass add up to a stylish semiprivate dining space that can seat up to 34. You and your guests will relish the far-ranging menu with a seasonal flair. Think crispy fritto misto of calamari, rock shrimp, lemons and zucchini with garlicky lemon aioli, whole branzino with butternut squash and coconut puree, or braised short rib with roasted root veggies.

Save room for dessert if you can! guildhall restaurant.com R E A D MO R E AT M A K E IT B E T T E R .COM / E AT

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PROMOTION

“Doing It Right” in Life and Business

BY DIANA SHULLA-COSE, PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER OF PERSPECTIVES CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH INTRODUCTION BY JOHN HOLMES, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AAR

David has been a tremendous mentor and friend for 17 years and it is truly an honor to succeed him. David has always believed you have to be part of something bigger than yourself. It’s what helped shape our idea of “doing it right” and ensuring that at the end of the day our people have a holistic vision of success. I am looking forward to building on David’s legacy and further evolve his vision and philanthropic efforts at AAR. – John Holmes, President & CEO of AAR

W

leaders shift their corporate culture? What happens when corporations build their values around people instead of the bottom line?

What happens when employees are offered the opportunity to receive immeasurable return?

It was three years ago that David Storch, the CEO of AAR, led his employees into a new and bold direction. AAR refreshed their purpose and values with the belief that if employees were fully engaged in their workplace by aspiring to their company’s higher purpose and living its values--positive change could be made. AAR deepened its focus not only on becoming a bestin-class aviation aftermarket services provider, but also creating a high-performance culture that started with senior leadership. So how does a leader strategically navigate this shift?

H AT H A PPE N S W H E N

“THE KEY TO LEADERSHIP IS UNDERSTANDING THAT IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU—IT’S ABOUT YOUR PEOPLE. GOOD LEADERS FIGHT FOR THEIR PEOPLE,” SAYS DAVID.

This model has proven successful. Under David’s tenure, AAR has grown sales by over 300% and was named to Forbes magazine’s “100 Most Trustworthy Companies In America” twice, an honor determined through rigorous assessment by an independent analytics firm and attained by fewer than 5 percent of public companies.

90 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

statement by describing David as, “Dedicated, sincere and emotionally connected to young people everywhere.”

HOW DOES ONE DEVELOP THIS TYPE OF LEADERSHIP SKILL SET THAT PUTS ETHICS AND A CORE SET OF VALUES AT THE FOREFRONT?

“During his tenure at AAR, David led with both tenacity and heart. He was committed to delivering excellence in his industry, genuinely cared for all of his employees, and always looked for ways to help young people,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL).

David’s authenticity and commitment to corporate responsibility is visible in every aspect of his leadership style. Under his leadership, AAR has donated millions to their partner organizations in host communities worldwide and invested countless hours in shaping the next generation of aviation mechanics, engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. His excitement for helping the next generation of leaders is contagious. AAR employees also take an active interest in mentoring and learning more about the lives of the students who intern with them, and love being involved in community initiatives.

“David is the type of leader who leads by example and believes firmly that actions are far more meaningful than words,” says Ron Levin, Co-Founder of Invest for Kids and Managing Director, Goldman Sachs. “This approach is not just part of his business activity, but in his philanthropic endeavors as well. David does not only just write checks to organizations, but also rolls up his sleeves, gets involved, and inspires others around him to do the same.”

Zarria Bailey, a recent graduate at Perspectives/ IIT Math & Science Academy and intern at AAR, is a firsthand example of the impact he has made in the lives of Chicago students. “Mr. Storch has invested in my life in so many ways.

He provided me with SAT tutoring, and through his generosity, I got to fly on my very first airplane to a conference in Washington. He’s more than a just a sponsor or CEO, he cares about my future.”

Pastor James Meeks, Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, echoes that

Growing up in Westbury, New York, now dubbed the “Melting Pot Village,” David’s passion for social justice and innovation started at a young age. His parents were first generation American and were the first in their family to own a home in this highly integrated community. “I grew up with people of all skin-tones and backgrounds. We shared common interests and community, but as I got older, I realized that we were not all treated equally.”

As David grew as a leader, he always felt a responsibility to leverage his position to create a level playing field both for his employees and his community. “My goal has always been to get other leaders exposed and excited about a cause,” David reiterates.

David stays true to this core goal. In addition to his focus on executive leadership and global growth at AAR, Storch serves on the boards of the publicly held companies Kemper Corporatipcon and KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation.

He also serves on the board of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Economic Club of Chicago.

David retired from AAR after 40 years of service and leadership. AAR, a global aftermarket solutions company employing more than 6,000 people in over 20 countries is “doing it right” in both business and society. When looking for a model of ethical leadership, one does not need to look further than David Storch.

As the founder of Perspectives, I invite you to learn more about how Perspectives develops future ethical leaders, like David.

Our proven educational model called A Disciplined Life®, merges academic rigor, social emotional skills, and experiential learning to establish a culture of trust, tolerance, hard work and achievement. We are committed to providing a holistic, high-quality education to ensure our students graduate from Perspectives prepared to become ethical leaders en route to productive and meaningful life.

Better Makers

R ECO G N I Z I N G C H I C AG O ’ S E V E RY DAY H E R O E S A N D T H E I R I N C R E D I B L E I M PAC T

• THE ADLER

Capt. Lovell accepts his Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pictured: letter writer and Lovell’s biggest fan Hudson Lindich, Capt. Lovell, Pradip Patiath and Meg Sauer

Commander of the Apollo 13 mission, Capt. James A. Lovell Jr.

PLANETARIUM To date, only 24 humans have traveled to the moon, and three of them have made the trek twice.

Local hero James A. Lovell Jr. was the first to do just that.

Currently living in Lake Forest, Lovell is a close friend and contributor to the Adler Planetarium, which honored him at this year’s Celestial Ball with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Held by the Women’s Board, the Sept. 8 gala raised over $2 million in support of the Adler’s mission and education programs.

The crowd participates in a paddle raise.

Teens and their mentors fill a balloon.

The Women’s Board of the Adler Planetarium

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ADLER PLANETARIUM

MIB IMPACT

The Far Horizons high-altitude ballooning program brings real space exploration down to Earth and into the hands of students, volunteers, and the public. For over 10 years, the Adler has designed and built experiments with participants of all ages and sent them into the stratosphere aboard high-altitude balloons.

Michelle Larson, Adler Planetarium president & CEO

Captain Lovell and Dushan Petrovich

Cosmic wallpaper at the Celestial Ball

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 91

Out & About / BETTER MAKERS

• CITIZENS UNITED FOR

RESEARCH IN EPILEPSY (CURE) CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy raised a record-breaking $2.3 million at the 20th annual Chicago Benefit, An Evening of Music and Hope, held at the scenic Navy Pier. The sold-out evening was full of live music, including unforgettable performances

by Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famers Eddie Vedder and Nils Lofgren, and star of Chicago’s production of “Hamilton” Miguel Cervantes.

CURE Founder Susan Axelrod and her husband David, chairs of the 20th annual Chicago Benefit, An Evening of Music and Hope Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder

Hamilton star Miguel Cervantes, his son Jackson, and Sean Cunneen

Nils Lofgren of the E Street Band

Daniel Lowenstein, MD, a Principal Investigator in CURE’s Epilepsy Genetics Initiative

The silent auction raised $76,456, including a winning bid on the “Springsteen on Broadway” package for $35,000.

92 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CURE

MIB IMPACT

Adelaide Cervantes, daughter of Miguel and Kelly, and sister to Jackson, was diagnosed with epilepsy before she turned 1 year old. The Cervantes family is passionately devoted to raising awareness and helping fund a cure for epilepsy.

• CHICAGO HOUSE AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY

A fearless power duo, Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and comedic actress and writer Wanda Sykes joined forces for the Chicago House Speaker Series Sept. 14 at the Hilton Chicago.

Themed “Authentic Selves,” the event revolved around individuals sharing personal stories and experiences—both uplifting and emotional. Chris Hush of NBC Chicago was the emcee for the day, leading both the roundtable discussion and paddle raise auction. With more than 400 people in attendance, nearly $168,000 was raised for Chicago House and Social Service Agency.

PHOTOS BY RICK AGUILAR STUDIOS

Adam Rippon and Wanda Sykes take the stage for the 2018 Chicago House Speaker Series.

Chris Hush, NBC anchor and Speaker Series emcee; Adam Rippon; and James Gherardi

Actors Paolo Presta, Wanda Sykes, and Patrick Thomassie

Soo Choi, City of Chicago Commissioner of Human Resources, and Adam Rippon

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Out & About / BETTER MAKERS • JEWISH UNITED FUND

An incredible 400 philanthropic-minded women gathered to kick off the 2019 JUF Annual Campaign with its first event, the JUF Lion Luncheon. Held Sept. 5 at The Standard Club, the event raised a record-breaking $3.5 million. The afternoon included the presentation of this year’s Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award to Merle Cohen and a candid conversation with awardwinning journalist Lara Logan, correspondent for “60 Minutes” and CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent.

Pictured left to right: Event Chair Sharon Koltin, of Glencoe; Kipnis-Wilson/ Friedland honoree Merle Cohen, of Highland Park; Women’s Board Vice President-Campaign Deborah Schrayer Karmin, of Chicago; and Women’s Board President Adrienne Kriezelman, of Winnetka

Keynote speaker Lara Logan, CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent and “60 Minutes” correspondent

The Jewish United Fund assists people in need, transforming daily life for over 500,000 Chicagoans of all faiths. The wide range of human services offered includes serving over 530,000 meals to Chicago’s most vulnerable.

N OMI N AT E YOU R H E R O T O DAY

H U M A N . K I N D.

inspired.

N OMI N ATI ONS DU E DEC EMBER 15, 2018 Selected Heroes will be honored at the 17th Annual Heroes Breakfast on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at the Hilton Chicago Accepting nominations in the following categories: Blood Services • Community Impact • Disaster Relief Emergency Medical Assistance • Firefighter • Global Citizenship Good Samaritan • Law Enforcement • Military • Nurse • Hero

Visit redcross.org/hero for event details and to nominate the Hero that inspires you!

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10/18/18 11:33 AM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAKEVIEW PANTRY

MIB IMPACT

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Transforming Children’s Lives...

One Surgery at a Time www.FreshStartKids.org

10/28/18 9:37 PM

Give the perfect gift that sholuld top everyone’s holiday shopping list: a gift that helps low-income children who suffer from physical deformities.

Visit www.FreshStartKids.org/Donate to learn more and to make a lasting impact in the lives of children who need it most.

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M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 95 10/29/18 11:04 AM

THE PLACE WHERE AWESOME LIVES

Enjoy our new exhibit through Jan 13!

FLUENT IN THE POWER OF PLAY. Explore your favorite stories throughout Storyland through January 13, 2019. From the gardens of The Tale of Peter Rabbit to the urban snowscape of The Snowy Day, discover why we’re The Place Where Awesome Lives!

Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago • 2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview • (847) 832-6600 • kcmgc.org CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM. Text copyright © 1989 by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault. Illustrations copyright© 1989 by Lois Ehlert. Used by permission of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon &Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. All right reserved. Peter Rabbit™ © Frederick Warne & Co., 2011. Spot © Eric Hill/Salspot Ltd.,2011. IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. © 2000 by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond. Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers. © 2012 Minnesota Children’s Museum. All rights reserved. Storyland: A Trip Through ChildhoodFavorites™ was created by Minnesota Children’s Museum.

This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

EXPERIENCE A HIGHER STANDARD OF IN-HOME CARE

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Chicago Home

FROM BEAUTIFUL BUILDS AND STUNNING

MAKEOVERS TO TOP TRENDS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS

GUIDING LIGHT A young designer helps

Ranging from tranquil sky to electric teal, a full spectrum of blue—accented by rich woodwork and bursts of fresh green— makes a colorful impression in the living room.

a professional couple make their gorgeous Lincoln Square home shine brighter than ever.

BY TATE GUNNERSON • PHOTOS BY DUSTIN HALLECK

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 99

Chicago Home / BACKSTORY

I

F INTERIOR DESIGN were as easy as

selecting furniture from a catalog, most of us could manage well enough on our own. Putting it together is the tough part, and that’s why a young couple with two children in grade school asked interior designer Claire Staszak, of Centered by Design, to decorate their Lincoln Square brick bungalow after a months-long renovation by Waechter Architects and Chris Carey & Co. “I was feeling very stalled,” the wife says. “It took us a while to find Claire.”

Although Staszak ordinarily takes on more comprehensive projects, she had a strong vision from the get-go. In the living room, the designer painted the cabinetry flanking the fireplace a dark gray hue, which is accented with a charcoal grass cloth that closely matches the traditional mantel and dark granite surround. The result juxtaposes the white walls and creates a handsome focal point. “I took what was there and made it a little better,” Staszak explains.

100 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

To that end, Staszak recovered the small lounge chairs in front of the fireplace in teal velvet that pulls in a slightly more luxe direction than the casual sofa covered in neutral fabric. An area rug with a geometric pattern, a stairway runner and patterned throw pillows introduce additional shades of blue that enhance one another. “(The wife) had a great eye, and she wasn’t afraid of color or pattern,” Staszak says.

Enter the colorful striped pattern painted on the floor in the adjacent sitting room, which had been done by a previous designer who consulted on the project. Impressed with the bold choice, Staszak embraced the palette, incorporating a brown sofa and bright yellow accents.

Moroccan floor poufs covered in a red kilim fabric, a white ceramic elephant stool and a window treatment with a repeating African-inspired pattern add interest and foster a collected, international vibe that resonated with the owners.

“These clients are very well-traveled, so the project is globally inspired,” Staszak says.

Staszak created a gallery wall in the open kitchen and dining area that includes a midcentury Vietnamese map alongside artwork by the children and the wife’s favorite painting of a green apple on an orange background. The vibrant artwork surrounds a Tibetan cabinet that they scored at a flea market early in their relationship. “They didn’t want their home to look like Pottery Barn,” Staszak says.

Indeed, as with the floor in the sitting room, the owner had already painted the green moldings around the window when Staszak arrived on the scene. The color brings the outside in, the wife notes, as does the branch-like chandelier over the wood and metal dining table. New bright orange chairs, along with a more muted orange patterned rug underneath the sectional sofa, liven things up.

“It’s one of our favorite spots in the house,” the wife says.

The palette is more muted in the so-called “garage-mahal”—a bonus family room with a

Opposite: Charcoal paint and grass cloth completely transform the fireplace wall in the living room, where pops of bright artwork and white-and-brass sconces from Circa Lighting liven things up. This page, clockwise from left: A gallery wall displays the children’s artwork while creating a colorful background for an antique cabinet. New dining chairs from Serena & Lily add a splash of color to the dining area; A pile of comfy poufs made from Sabra kilim rugs carry the home’s boho feel into the office; An L-shaped sofa, originally intended for the living room, fits like a glove in the kitchen’s window nook; The owners turned the detached garage into a recreation room with an upper-level loft and doors that open to the yard; A custom rug woven by Awanay coordinates with the bedding in the master suite.

custom bar that the owners decided to build after the original garage burned down. A cedarclad accent wall complements the lofted ceiling trusses and creates a textural backdrop for a floating console table from Ikea that Staszak “hacked” by adding a wood top and sides. “I have friends over and we do yoga there, and my husband has friends over to watch football there, so it gets used a lot,” the wife says.

And the same goes for the entire home. No room is off limits, the wife says, noting that everything is “touchable.” “It feels sophisticated enough to have a dinner party, but it’s bright, fun and playful, so the kids enjoy it too,” she adds.

“It’s livable but stylish,” Staszak says, “and most importantly, it really reflects them.”

Architecture: Waechter Architects Contractor: Chris Carey & Co. Interior Design: Centered by Design Landscape Design: Callander Garden Design R E A D MO R E AT M A K E IT B E T T E R .COM / R E A LE STAT E

M A K E IT B E T T E R N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 101

How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!

THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON

102 N OVE M B ER / D ECE M B ER 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R

TED PANAGIOTOPOULOS; @E4RLYR1SER ON INSTAGRAM

Reflections

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