Make It Better: May 2013

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north shore—family, community and you

D E D I C AT E D T O

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contents M AY 2 0 1 3

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 6

on our cover

Vita’s Ricotta Doughnuts, from “Chocolate and Vanilla” by Gale Gand Photo by Jeff Kauk

features

23 30 34 38 40 52

The Food Issue

By Julie Chernoff, Laura Hine and Kelly Konrad Famous Foodies Tell All

By Lindsay Roseman

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62 64 66

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Food Zone

By Tate Gunnerson Dress Up and Celebrate

By Evangeline Politis

10 Must-Haves for Home Organization

By Kristina Tober Daytripper: Lincoln Square

By Laura Hine

dining and entertainment

68 70

Kitchen Concoctions: DIY Beauty Treatments

By Lindsay Roseman Eating Out: Healthy & Thin

By Christy Coughlin Meal Delivery Services: Cost and Convenience

By Meghan Streit 3 Ways to Deal with Differences in Desire

By Marjie Killeen

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Summer by the Lake

By Andrea Guthmann

a better you

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How a Food Critic Lost Weight

By Julie Chernoff

home

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The Perfect Touch of Grace

By Julie Chernoff

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editor’s letter

Cook Like a Pro

By Julie Chernoff

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contributors

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you said it

Mama Drama

By Kelly Konrad

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new in the northern suburbs

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recommended events

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events listing

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make it better column

Spring Stage Blooms

By Robert Loerzel

make a difference

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in every issue

Better Makers and Their Impact Young Philanthropist Gets Dogs Moving

By Lisa Zimbler

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music by val

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theatre guide

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give time, give things, give support

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closing thoughts

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E DI TOR S L ET T E R

delicious food beyond

BY LAUR A HINE

WE LOVE WORKING ON THE food issue each year! Probably because our office loves food. It’s one of our favorite brainstorming sessions.

Who’s doing something new? What’s trending? And can someone pass the chips/muffins/cookies that always seem to accompany a meeting?

This month’s issue is infused with fantastic food ideas. Lindsay Roseman interviewed local celebrity chefs and got them to dish on, well, their favorite dishes. In our home section, Tate Gunnerson lets us peek at the home kitchens of two chefs, and even Marjie Killeen’s column talks about differing appetites—maybe that one has a little less to do with food than the others.

Evangeline Politis found beautiful dresses that are perfect for a night out on the town. But if you want to eat in and not do all the work, Meghan Streit reports on meal delivery services that are worth the money on page 64.

Of course, our dining editor, Julie Chenoff, LIVES MADE played a huge role in producing this issue, but she BETTER 82,582 herself is now a wisp. If someone who must eat for her job can lose weight, what excuses do the rest of $$ RAISED us have? Check out her story on page 34, and then FOR NFPs read her rave review of Grace — the acclaimed new $1,811,122 restaurant in Chicago.

Finally, after finishing this sweet issue, it is time for two of us to say goodbye. Art Director Jessica DeJong, who is responsible for the beautiful layouts and design of the pages you’re holding–and our iPad edition that you might be swiping–and I are both leaving our roles at Make It Better to move on to new adventures. We leave you in most capable hands, and look forward to reading next month’s Men We Love issue when it arrives in our mailboxes.

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586 Lincoln Avenue Winnetka, IL, 60093 | 847-256-4642

Founder Susan B. Noyes Editor in Chief Laura Hine Senior Editor Kelly Konrad Art Director Jessica DeJong Designer Sarah Philippart Dining Editor Fashion Editor Finance Editor Fitness Editor Home Editor Make a Difference Editor Senior Living Editor Sex & the Suburbs Editor

Julie Chernoff Evangeline Politis Meghan Streit Christy Coughlin Tate Gunnerson Laura Tiebert Stuart Greenblatt Marjie Killeen

Contributing Writers Andrea Guthmann Val Haller Robert Loerzel Kristina Tober Lisa Zimbler Lead Photographer Nathaniel Perry Contributing photographer Tate Gunnerson Web Editor Lindsay Roseman Proofreader Julie Chernoff Creative Director Cheryl Berman

CEO & Publisher Kimberly Carroll Co-Founder & Vice President of Marketing Mindy Fauntleroy Chief Financial Officer Sandy Tsuchida Ad Sales Director Michelle Weiss Director of Community Development Sandra A. Miller Senior Account Executives Patti Augustyn Megan Holbrook Julie Carter Account Executive Jenny Newman Make It Better Foundation Sharon Krone Got feedback? E-mail susan@makeitbetter.net to advertise: Contact michelle@makeitbetter.net

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con T r i bu Tor s

Food can be exciting theater, but it’s also our connection to family, home and heritage. Our contributors share the foods that remind them most of home this month.

1 | julie chernoff Evanston Julie knows that nothing says Detroit louder than a deli tray from Steve’s...unless it’s a square pan Buddy’s Pizza. yum.

2 | jessica dejong Evanston Nothing tastes like home more than her grandma’s famous baked spaghetti, which Jessica requests every trip home.

3 | TaTe gunnerson Chicago although Tate has been trying to cut down on his refined sugar intake, he’ll continue to carve out an exception for his mom’s homemade chocolate cookies, which feel (and taste) like home.

4 | Kelly Konrad Glenview Kelly loves a good old-fashioned roast. The sight of one on the table means that everyone is home, it’s been a great day and the family is actually eating together.

5 | susan noyes Wilmette Popcorn! Growing up, Susan’s favorite family evenings always included homemade popcorn with lots of melted butter. and now she shares it with with her kids in a bowl that says “Popcorn is meant for sharing.”

6 | evangeline poliTis Chicago Whenever Evangeline is under the weather or had a bad day, her go-to comfort food is a bowl of avgolemono, Greek egg-lemon soup. Complete with chunks of chicken and rice, it’s just what she needs to feel better.

7 | lindsay roseman Glenview Lindsay loves a good Chicago deep-dish pizza. It was her first real meal after baby food (strange, she knows), and her family ordered Lou malnati’s every Friday night growing up.

8 | lisa zimbler Glenview Holidays aren’t complete without Grandma Babs’ famous meatball appetizer. Grandma (at 94 years young) still lovingly handcrafts her savory meatballs and simmers them in a sweet onion and carrot braise.

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ON L I N E

OUR BETTER HALF IS ONLINE

score a Caputo's gift card and front-row Cubs tickets!

Download our May iPad edition (for free!) and enter for a chance to win a $100 Caputo's gift card or front-row Cubs tickets!  MAKEITBETTER.NET/IPAD

make it better on the iPad

If you have an iPad, you’ll want to download our app, which gets you each month’s magazine for free!

It has lots of interactive features, including videos, photo galleries and click-through purchasing.

pinspiration

Our followers can’t get enough of these pins. Follow Make It Better on Pinterest to repin your faves and read more.  PINTEREST.COM/MAKEITBETTERMAG

email newsletter

We update content on makeitbetter. net daily, so to find out what’s going on around the site, sign up for our weekly Better Letter emails.

Make this super-cool wrap bracelet in less than 10 easy steps.

Sign up today at  MAKEITBETTER.NET/BETTER-LETTER

Just a few tips:  Download it where you have a WiFi signal, and it’ll load quickly, but expect it to take a minute or two to get all the data.  If you love our app just as much as the print magazine (or more!), give us a positive review!

Download the free iPad app today  MAKEITBETTER.NET/IPAD

what’s hot on makeitbetter.net

A grown-up pizza party…plus 3 other quick and easy dinner party ideas!

M AY 2 0 1 3

north shore—family, community and you

 ENTERTAINMENT

“Biggest Loser” Winner Danni Allen on Eating Healthy and Starting Over RECIPES

D E D I C AT E D T O

Creamy Broccoli Soup—Minus the Cream FOOD & DRINK

healthy & thin

Nigella Lawson Dishes on “The Taste” and Tasty Italian Food

cook like a pro 5 stars for grace famous foodies tell all 1_cover.indd 1

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YOUR MONEY

Tax-Free Shopping at Mall of America

Skinny pasta alfredo with spinach, made with Greek yogurt and cottage cheese.

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you said it you s a i d i t

Harkness House for CHildren is a non-profit daycare and pre-school and has an all-volunteer parent Board. I am the Fundraising and Communications Chair and as such I have relied heavily on your website for how to fundraise for schools on the North Shore.

The baby room at Harkness needed a complete transformation. I read an article on your site about organizing a school rock concert and that got me thinking. In September we held the ‘Wild West Shindig’ in the Winnetka Children’s Chapel, which raised $8000, and was supported by over 50 North Shore businesses donating auction prizes. However, the biggest cost

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for the baby room remodel was always going to be the cabinetry and the labor.

After reading a story on your site about just going and asking for help because businesses on the North Shore want to help each other out, I did just that.

First I went to Coldwell Banker in Winnetka, who suggested I should approach North Shore Builders. Can you imagine how happy I was when North Shore Builders agreed to donate all the cabinets and labor we needed? The new baby room now looks amazing and is one that the North Shore can truly be proud of.

Jaimie Walnes

photo courtesy of harkness house for children

We love to hear from you—so please send us your stories, comments, opinions, ideas, reviews and resources!

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be t t e r you | sex and the suburbs

Editor’s NotE 

This email was forwarded to us from Evanston Township High School, with a thank you for helping the school make this connection.

I came across an article in Make It Better about donations for the ETHS STEM labs. I live in Evanston, and I am a scientist at Abbott so I am very interested in helping you out. I thought of a number of ways: Abbott has an investment recovery area that stores equipment that is no longer needed. It is open to the public. There is a cost but it would be worth a call to see if they would be willing to donate items or collect items for you.  I am involved in an employee organization called Abbott Women in Science and we have an outreach committee. I’m wondering if we could work on a collaboration?  Have you contacted the Abbott Fund for monetary donations? They accept grant requests and are involved in lots of outreach activities. 

I look forward to hearing more about how we can work together!

Sandy Carrying forward the best of magazine Make It Better North Shore (ISSN No. 2151-0431) is published 11 times per year by Make It Better LLC, 1150 Wilmette Ave., Suite J, Wilmette, IL 60091-2642. Phone: 847.256.4642. Copyright 2013 by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved.

Application to Mail at Periodicals Rates is pending at Wilmette, IL and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Make It Better, 1150 Wilmette Ave, Suite J, Wilmette, IL 60091-2642. Make It Better is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Copyright 2013

by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved.

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fr e sh

b y j u l i e c h e r n o f f a n d l i n d s ay r o s e m a n

shop to Make a Difference North Shore Exchange takes high-end resale to a whole new philanthropic level. Score fabulous finds by marc Jacobs, Burberry, Gucci and Chanel, and check out the beautiful home furnishings and décor. The best part? One hundred percent of the profits goes to local charities and nonprofits helping children and families in the community.

They accept new or gently used designer clothing and home furnishing donations and consignments, so now’s the time to get started on that spring cleaning! NORTH SHORE EXCHANGE: 327 Hazel Ave., Glencoe, 847-835-0026, northshoreexchange.org —LR

ay caraMba! aguas Tortas is the perfect location for hungry Northwestern students and faculty, or anyone on the lookout for a satisfying sandwich. although they also serve tasty quesadillas, tacos, burritos and tostadas, it’s the torta, served on the classic, crusty bolillo roll and filled with juicy grilled steak, pork al pastor, or tangy chicken tinga that will really give your salivary glands a workout. Wash it down with a refreshing, house-made agua, like horchata (sweetened rice), jamaica (hibiscus) or tamarindo, and you’ve got a terrific meal.

AGuAS TORTAS: 618 ½ Church St., Evanston, 847-425-3630, aguastortas.com —JC

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Photos courtesy of each business

finely crafteD fooD anD Drink Where once you could buy a parka and a kayak (the old active Endeavors space), you’ll now be able to grab a craft beer and an alsatian Tarte Flambée. Guildhall opened in downtown Glencoe this spring, and with Chicago restaurant vets Chef Christian Ragano (Tru, Nomi) and manager Phil marienthal (Blue mesa, Canoe Club) and a total space rehab and design, it’s sure to be a hit. They will focus on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and will be making pastas and smoking meats in house. GuILdHALL : 649 Vernon Ave., Glencoe, 847-835-8100, guildhallrestaurant.com —JC

shape up at sears Sears recently opened their first-ever Fitness Flagship Store on Willow Rd. in Northbrook. This new fitness destination carries large cardio equipment, strength stations and workout accessories, including all kinds of apparel and gear. Test out machines in the store, then they will deliver, assemble and perform future maintenance. Customers can access fitstudio.com, Sears’ online community, to find new exercises, healthy living tips and chat with experts. It’s never too late to get ready for bathing-suit season! SEARS FLAGSHIP FITNESS STORE: 840 Willow Rd., Northbrook, 847-272-2461 —LR

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e v e n ts

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Lewis Black May 11 | Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan | geneseetheatre.com The king of ranters returns to the North Shore this month with a special appearance at the Genesee Theater in Waukegan.

Black’s sharp wit and even sharper tongue will have you laughing and agreeing with the absurdity all at the same time. m ay

editor’s pick Chicago Green Festival May 18 – 19| Navy Pier, Chicago | greenfestivals.org are you serious about taking steps to be a better BFF with mother Nature this year? Then here’s where you can learn more. The festival is a fun, engaging way to pick up new skills and habits, try new products and yes—organic beer and wine! m ay

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Cinco De Mayo Festival  May 3 – 5 | 26th and Kostner, Chicago chicagoevents.com Get your culture on this month when you help celebrate a mexican victory over French forces—the festival is now in its third year and features arts and entertainment, food and family fun. m ay

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Long Grove Chocolate Fest May 3 – 5 | Downtown Long Grove visitlonggrove.com you need a reason besides chocolate to head out to Long Grove? Okay—how about really cute shops, great restaurants, live entertainment, and yeah …. chocolate! m ay

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Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus May 11 | North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie | northshorecenter.org m ay

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a high-energy performance from some of the very best singers in Chicago and beyond. This year’s show? “all you Need is Love: The music of the Beatles.”

Mother’s Day Brunch at Chicago Botanic Garden May 12 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe chicagobotanic.org Dads—you can be responsible for the postbreakfast-in-bed kitchen cleanup (How do you get pancake batter out from between the floorboards?), or you can call and make a reservation today. m ay

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Yea! Day May 18 | Dempster St. and Chicago Ave., Evanston | yeaevanston.org Now in its 26th year, this annual day-long event celebrates youth in the arts, with exhibitions and demonstrations from kids attending more than 40 area public, private and parochial schools. m ay

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photo courtesy of chicago green festival and cinco de mayo festival

Waa-Mu May 3 – 12 | Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston | waamu.northwestern.edu It’s got a reputation as “the greatest college show in america” for a reason—launching the careers of Hollywood and TV legends such as Warren Beatty, ann-margret, Cloris Leachman, Shelley Long, megan mullally and more. m ay

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Skokie Festival of Cultures  18 May 18 – 19 | Oakton Park, 4701 W. Oakton St., Skokie | skokieculturefest.org For more than two decades, Skokie welcomes the warm weather season with a fantastic celebration of the diversity that surrounds us on the North Shore—ethnic food, arts and entertainment make for a lively weekend. m ay

Belmont/Sheffield Music Festival May 25 – 26 | Belmont and Sheffield, Chicago | chicagoevents.com The unofficial kickoff to Chicago’s outdoor summer music festival scene—when a fest reaches its 29th year, you can count on solid entertainment. m ay

photo courtesy of skokie festival of cultures

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vendors and the items available for sale.

From goofy to gilded, your next conversation piece is waiting.

Grapevines & Wines  May 30 | Chicago Botanic Garden, m ay Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe 30 1000 chicagobotanic.org It’s the first time for this wine tasting event at one of the most beautiful locations on the North Shore, and your chance to sample top wines from around the globe.

You won’t even have to close your eyes to imagine you’re in Napa.

Barrington Art Festival 25 May 25 - 26 | Downtown Barrington amdurproductions.com The opening to the summer outdoor art festival season, too! Amdur kicks off its annual lineup with a weekend in beautiful Barrington. m ay

Randolph Street Market May 25 - 26 | 1340 W. Washington St., Chicago | randolphstreetmarket.com Don’t let another outdoor summer flea and vintage season go by—the folks at this market do an amazing job curating their m ay

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e v e n ts l ist i ng

may highlights B y K e l ly K o n r a d

KidFest Kite Fly May 4 Citizens Park, 511 Lake Zurich Rd., Barrington barringtonparkdistrict.org Deer Dash 2013 May 5 Jaycee Park, 1026 Wilmot Rd., Deerfield deerfieldparks.org Write Club May 6 SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston evanstonspace.com

week of may 8 – 14 Northbrook On Ice May 10 – 12 Northbrook Sports Center, 1730 Pfingsten Rd. nbparks.org

Animal Inside Out Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | msichicago,org Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org Dinosaurs Alive Brookfield Zoo, 1st Avenue and 31st St., Brookfield | brookfieldzoo.org

Picasso and Chicago Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago | artic.edu

Quickstart Canoe May 11 Independence Grove, Libertyville | lcfpd.org

Scenes from the Stone Age: The Cave Paintings of Lascaux Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org

Komen Chicago’s Mother’s Day Race for the Cure May 12 Grant Park, Chicago | chicagoland.infokomen.org

Shedd Aquarium: Jellies 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago sheddaquarium.org Welcome to the Universe Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | adlerplanetarium.org

Eggs to Chicks Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview | kohlchildrensmuseum.org

week of may 1 – 7

Fashion and the Field Museum: Maria Pinto Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org

SAIC Fashion Show May 3 School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Millenium Park, Chicago | saicfashion.org

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week of may 15 – 21 Think First, Shoot Later: Photography from the MCA Collection Opens May 18 MCA Chicago | 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago mcachicago.org Shoreline Dance Club May 18 Gorton Community Center ballroomchicago.com/shoreline.htm

Photo courtesy of the field museum

ongoing

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Go Native! Plant Sale May 18 Mellody Farm Nature Preserve, 350 N. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest | lfola.org ArtWauk May 19 Genesee Street, Downtown Waukegan ArtWauk.com

week of may 23 – 31 Kids Concerts Series: Future Hits May 25 Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette | wilmettetheatre.com Bike The Drive May 26 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago | bikethedrive.org Family Day May 26 Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights | arlingtonpark.com

sponsored listings

For Kids 5k run/walk for Northwestern Settlement Saturday, May 25, 10 AM A. Perry Homes Design Studio, 564 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, IL | 847549-0668 bit.ly/forkids5k A 5k Run/Walk through Winnetka, benefiting Northwestern Settlement, a charity that nurtures, educates and inspires families in Chicago’s West Town community. The race begins outside A. Perry Homes studio and ends with a party featuring live music, food and fun!

Rachel Barton Pine, violin with Matthew Hagle, piano Saturday, May 18, 7:30 PM Music Institute of Chicago | Nichols Concert Hall | 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston | 847-905-1500 | musicinst. org Don’t miss acclaimed violinist Rachel Barton Pine, hailed as “an exciting, boundary-defying performer” by The Washington Post with pianist, Matthew Hagle. Program includes works by Beethoven, Liszt, Gershwin, Strauss and more!

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m a k e i t bet t e r colum n

the perfect bite at the tech mamma lounge by susan b . noye s

For toddlers, the perFect bite is the one that actually gets swallowed, as opposed to ending up on the floor, face, parent’s clothes or someplace even worse.

For teens, the perfect bite usually includes high levels of carbs, fat or sugar—think pasta, pizza, cheese fries and cupcakes. (Oh, that easy eating, but still stay skinny time of life…)

For adults though, the perfect bite is subtle and more complicated. Some think the perfect bite is one taken while dining in a gorgeous setting. Others believe it comes from an exquisitely presented meal of only the finest locally sourced organic ingredients. Then, there are the people who refuse to eat any food that has touched a different item on their plate. Their perfect bite is pure—nary a vegetable molecule corrupts the meat on their fork.

I’m just the opposite of the purists. For me, the perfect bite is one with all the different foods mindfully assembled on your dining utensil: mashed potatoes, peas, corn, gravy and cranberry sauce covering the turkey on that fork. I love to mix it up—with food, as well as with most other activities in life.

As many of you know, Make It Better started as a website to connect and help busy North Shore women. In its infancy, we wrote a little of this and a lot of that, and watched to see what our audience digested. It was analogous to how a toddler eats—some of our ideas and content proved to be useful or entertaining, and some of it missed the mark, landing on the floor instead. But our audience digested enough that makeitbetter.net evolved into Make It Better Media with this print magazine, our fabulous “Better Letter” email news-

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letters, events and an extensive social network.

Make It Better Media also adopted a mission: “To be the most trusted, easiest-to-use community resource and magazine that helps our audience make their lives and the lives of others better, by connecting them—online, in print and in person—with each other and the businesses and non-profits they support.”

Is that an ambitious mission? You better believe it. And we are very proud of it.

When you think about the level of education and many fine resources we enjoy on the North Shore, and our opportunity to help others elsewhere in the world, it’s a laudable mission, too.

When we execute well on our mission, we create perfect bites of content for our audience, our marketing partners and the world.

We’ve found that more and more of our audience and partners want to participate, too.

So we’re evolving again—to bring in more of your voices and to provide more connections in person, as well as online and in print.

Going forward, each month we will feature many more of the communications that we receive from our audience online as OpEds or as “You Said It,” and we will reverse publish more in this magazine. You can see examples of this at makeitbetter.net.

We’re also opening the Tech Mamma Lounge as part of our new office space at 586 Lincoln Ave., in Winnetka. It will be an entrepreneurial community resource where you can learn how to live, work and play online more effectively. And together, we will make more perfect bites of content for the world.

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raspberry tart photo by emily heller , other photos by jane alt

They make our world a little sweeter, crunchier, fresher and fun. Chefs, restaurateurs, farmers and dreamers— all committed to making sure we love what’s on our plates, and also that we enjoy the dining experience.

From savory to sweet, we’ve got the dish on: pop-up restaurants, dinner under the stars, the thrill of new arrivals, children growing greens and food served with a side of entertainment. We’re happy to bring you all of these in our third annual issue dedicated to delicious!

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two’s company

Craig Golden and Eric Singer

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ong-time Evanston residents Craig Golden and Eric Singer have been friends for ages, but it wasn’t until this year that they finally got to work together. Their new concept, Company, brings a fresh perspective to the pop-up dining trend, giving Chicagoland chefs and restaurateurs the opportunity to reach new audiences, to try out new menus and ideas in an intimate setting. So you might find Erwin Drechsler—late of Erwin Restaurant—cooking one week, and the sous chef from Moto another.

Golden, a commercial real estate specialist who’s also a partner in Union

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Pizzeria, SPACE and Longman & Eagle, provided and decorated the space and brainstorms the marketing aspects, while Singer (owner of local fave The Lucky Platter, and once pastry chef for Café Provencal) provides “curatorial expertise,” working closely with the guest chefs as well as designing the kitchen for maximum efficiency and opportunity.

“It’s really a blank canvas,” suggests Singer. “For a little kitchen, it’s got a lot, including a wood-burning grill, convection oven, fryer, 6-burner gas stove and salamander.” They’ve also outfitted the kitchen with all the

plates, silverware and glassware that any visiting chef might need. The chefs have been loving the space.

“The basic idea is, we’re booking chefs like bands,” adds Golden. “Our goal is you’ll treat it like a music venue.

You’ll go on our site, see who’s ‘playing’ that week, check out their menu, and sign up.” So one night it might be Puerto Rican food, another it’s Italian family style or molecular gastronomy.

Or perhaps it’s a sneak peek at a new restaurant, like Golden’s The Promontory, slated to open later this year in Hyde Park. All chefs will bring their own staff, ingredients and clientele.

Company is poised to do 15 dinners a month, each serving 16-20 people. It’s like a professional dinner party where someone else brings the deliciousness and you don’t have to clean up afterward. “We want people to experience food in a way they might not otherwise have the opportunity,” says Golden.

“It’s a more interesting, more community-oriented model than what we’ve seen before.”

And the dinners are a hit—each night has sold out so far. But Singer and Golden are still thinking up new options for the space, like a group bake sale by area pastry chefs, an occasional artisanal products market (featuring local sausages, breads, cheeses and the like), or perhaps even a fundraising effort with the cooks of local firehouses.

Whatever they decide to do with the space, they’re in good company. Company, 1307 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847448-0371, companyevanston.com

photo by nathaniel perry

By Julie Chernoff

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4/11/13 10:36 AM

GREEN GROWERS

By Julie Chernoff

Chefs George Bumbaris and Sarah Stegner

Green Growers Club Partners with Prairie Grass Cafe

Photos by Cindy Kurman, Kurman PhotograPhy

D

ennis Brosseau has a green thumb. Good thing, because in addition to being a beloved third grade teacher, he runs the Green Growers Club at Ravinia School in Highland Park.

Working with a group of third, fourth and fifth graders, and with the generous support of the Ravinia PTO, Brosseau and his Green Growers are supplying Northbrook’s Prairie Grass Café with a few dozen heads of hydroponically grown green butter lettuce on a weekly basis. And Prairie Grass chefs George Bumbaris and Sarah Stegner are more than impressed.

“Supporting this in-school project is foundational in what we hope to achieve at PGC. Our country’s future is dependent on the health and education of our children,” asserts Stegner. “I

strongly believe that having a food curriculum in school is paramount. The kids get to see where food comes from beginning to end and each step of the way... and [that] ultimately educates them in making smarter food choices.”

Working in three teams during the week, the kids start the lettuce from peat pellets, monitor for nutrients with pH testing, and oversee the growing process with help from Brosseau. The grow lights are on for 16 hours during the day to simulate optimal growing conditions in the greenhouse, especially during the cold winter months.

And what a greenhouse it is! Built in 2000 after a fundraising drive by parents and staff, it’s like stepping into summer, with sunlight streaming in and the wonderful, earthy smell of fresh plants all around. Now-retired teacher Paul Grant was the impetus for the program.

Grant “started growing basil hydroponically in his classroom many years ago, and I apprenticed with a table in my classroom, too…when he retired, I

took over and lettuce became our main cash crop, along with the annual Third Grade Plant Sale in June,” shares Brosseau. The third grade germinates and plants coxcombs and zinnias for the sale, along with tomato plants and basil pots.

One chilly March day, I got a personal tour from Brosseau and club members Brandi Bombicino, Janie Levitan and Caroline McDougall. Their enthusiasm for the project is inspiring. It takes nine weeks for the heads of lettuce to go from seed to maturity, and the greenhouse is filled with greens in various stages of growth. They harvest every Friday afternoon, and by 5, it’s on the menu at Prairie Grass, where it sells out quickly. You can’t get much fresher than that.

The members of the Green Growers Club might disagree. As they walk out the door toward their carpools, they each tote a bag with a head of the prized lettuce, munching a salad’s worth on their way. Now that’s fresh.

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wilmette dining

Jen marino and Tim Lenon

Wilmette Dining About to Get More Interesting

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n one block of Wilmette Avenue just north of Central, two new restaurants are about to launch.

That’s in addition to Big Black Dog and The Noodle Small Plates & Market, which opened at the end of 2012.

It’s either the start of a dining renaissance in Wilmette, or a market that’s about to get too crowded for its own good.

Mitch Dulin, a Winnetka resident and experienced restaurant owner, is opening The Avenue in the old Illinois Bone and Joint office. We walked through the bared-tothe-studs space as he explained where the bar would go and talked up the lounge with live jazz on the weekends. “I’ve been looking at space in Wilmette since the '80s,” he says.

He was happy owning and running Central Street Grill in

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Evanston, but after seeing the space multiple times he says, “I took a hard look, and decided it could be really nice.”

The food, based on his early menu drafts, will be a mix of French and Italian, plus American favorites like steaks and chops. He promises a full bar with interesting wines and microbrews. He adds that his goal for the 160-seat restaurant is to be a catalyst site—a focal point that will bring diners to the village.

Just steps away is the old CJ Arthurs space, which was leased by a group of investors made up of nine Wilmette families, but heading the venture is Jen Marino and Tim Lenon, who owns Fuel. “It’s a great testament to Wilmette,” says Marino. “People came to us to invest because they’re passionate about this community.”

Nick’s will be a gastropub, “Good bar food done better,” says Marino. “We want it to be family friendly, but also where girls can go for appetizers and drinks, and where guys can sit at the bar, have a beer and watch a game.” The name is in honor of Marino’s father-in-law, who lives in Milwaukee. “He always has a story or a joke. He’s engaging, and we want people to feel that comfort when they walk in,” says Marino.

Late May 2013 is the target date for both restaurants to open, but what happens to the other local dining options when new competition comes to the ‘hood? Robert Garrison who owns The Noodle, Depot Nuevo, and The Noodle Small Plates and Market, worries that the timing of the additions might lead to an oversupply. “People only have a certain number of meals they want to purchase out each week,” he says. “If you’re increasing seats by a third, demand is not going to immediately increase that much.”

Marino’s philosophy is that the restaurants that will thrive are those that serve high quality food, have fantastic service and a great ambiance.

“We know we have to mitch Dulin nail all three,” she and partners says.

photos by nathaniel perry

By laura hine

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plot to plate by kelly konrad

photo courtesy of chicago botanic garden

S

ometimes, elegant dining doesn’t have to involve a Michelin rating or even a single star.

It just involves a trip to the Garden.

Farm-to-table dining experiences are not exactly new, but the concept’s solid foothold in the culinary world is proof it’s here to stay. The Chicago Botanic Garden is about to embark on its third year of Farm Dinners, featuring Chef Cleetus Friedman.

“This started in 2010 as a joint project between our Community Gardening department, our Horticulture department and Visitor Relations,” says the Garden’s Eliza Fournier. The dinners provide a stage of sorts for Fournier, who manages the Green Youth Farm, an organic farming program for high school-aged kids. From spring through fall, students run the program’s four farms in North Chicago and in the city.

“It’s a job (for these kids), but also a learning opportunity,” says Fournier of the program, which produces 30,000 pounds of produce annually. “And we’re churning out 80 people who have experienced what it’s like—the miracle, hope and joy of growing and eating healthy food.”

Food from the Green Youth Farm is then used by Friedman and his staff to curate a unique dining experience.

So what can visitors expect? First, you’ll cross the bridge to the fruit and vegetable gardens, and see the sun setting over the trees. Following a tour of the garden, the guests arrive en masse to the dinner table, with intimate lighting underneath the grape arbor.

The four- or five-course dinner plus wine is served family style, and Fournier promises that while you may arrive on your own, you leave with a new set of friends. “The dinner is very much an interaction, a conversation and an experience with your fellow diners. You’ll leave feeling like you really know the person you just met.”

And according to Fournier, the evening’s bonus is that guests get a chance to learn about the Green Youth Farm and from where the produce they enjoyed came.

This year, three dinners are planned—July 14, August 14 and September 11. While not an inexpensive evening at $200 a ticket, the dinners are a special experience. Fournier says many of the attendees are in celebratory mode, for example, enjoying their birthday or an anniversary.

“It’s such a special experience,” she says. “I can honestly say this is by far my favorite thing we’ve done, the most unique and special … people come out and walk away transformed.”

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suppertime By julie chernoff

Master of Ceremonies Elysabeth Alfano had a similar brainstorm, but unlike you and me, she didn’t just talk about it—she made it happen. But you can still take a seat in the audience, if not at the table. On the last Monday of the month at Mayne Stage, her production company, Fear No ART Chicago, throws an on-stage dinner party featuring a musical act, conversation with three members of the Chicago arts community, and great food from an incendiary Chicago restaurant. Sagal, Kazurinsky, Barton Pine, Nellcôte… that was one all-star lineup.

The audience listens to the discussion, watches videos of the famous chefs and their food preparation, drinks the same wine and eats the same delicious food as the guest artists, and live tweets questions to the host. Meanwhile, the whole show is live-streamed on the web.

Of course, Alfano has been “bridging the gap between artists and the public” for Host Elysabeth a while, first as owner of a downtown art alfano interviews Kelly Hogan, Howard gallery, then a textile designer, and now Tullman and Jackie as an arts and culture journalist. She’s Taylor in January appeared regularly on local PBS affiliate WTTW and writes for the Huffington Post. For “The Dinner Party,” Alfano has emember that college essay you wrote about which partnered with Mayne Stage, DPR Art Rescue and Time famous people you would like to invite to dinner? Out Chicago to create something new and fabulous in the Obviously, the correct answers were Woody Allen, Chicago area.

Cher and James Beard. Worked for me.

But what if you were writing it today, and could invite All-Star Lineups On May 6th, she’s taking her act on the road to City Winpresent-day Chicago luminaries, say, in the arts? Maybe you’d ask Peter Sagal from NPR’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell ery. Hubbard Street II is the opening act; panelists include Me,” or maybe actor and funnyman Tim Kazurinsky… and Art Collector Candace Jordan, WXRT eminence grise Lin don’t forget virtuoso violinist Rachel Barton Pine! And the Brehmer, and Nick Bowling from Timeline Theatre. City food would be from somewhere hip and happening, like Winery will provide the wine, Vosges the chocolates, and Sean Pharr of NoMi Restaurant handles the vittles. For Nellcôte. It would be of the moment. ticket info, visit fearnoartchicago.com or citywinery.com/chicago.

R

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Photo courtesy of elyseabeth alfano

The Dinner Party You Shouldn’t Miss

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fe at u r e

fa m o u s foodies

tell all B Y L i N d s aY R o s e m a N

Chicago is full of foodies.

These local chefs, store owners and restaurateurs gave us an exclusive look at their ultimate favorites: spots to eat, dishes to cook at home, can’t-live-without cocktails and even a few fun facts and insider tips for navigating their restaurants and stores.

Rick Bayless

Chef and Founder of Frontera Grill, Topolobampo and XOCO Rick Bayless is a Chicago food legend. Not only has he won countless awards, but he also founded the frontera farmer foundation and frontera scholarship fund to give back to local farmers and aspiring chefs.

What sparked your love of Mexican food?

“When i was 14 years old, our family took a trip to mexico City—we landed late, and my mother was so afraid we weren’t going to be able to find a cab.

Boy was she wrong! We got to our hotel by the Zócalo and the place was wild with activity. mariachis, street vendors... before i had even taken a bite, i knew i loved this place.”

Favorite place to eat in the area: “Chicago is really such a great food city and a city of neighborhoods. i try to get to new places and check out young chefs and see what they are doing. it’s so exciting for our city.”

Favorite dish to cook at home: “i cook simple at home—something from the grill, and perhaps the garden.”

What’s your go-to wine or cocktail?

“You really can’t beat a good margarita. Hand-shaken, fresh lime juice.”

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Giuliana Rancic Founding Partner, RPM Italian

This E! News co-anchor skyrocketed onto the Chicago food scene in 2012 with the opening of the supertrendy RPM Italian in River North.

What sparked your love of food?

“I was born in Naples, Italy and we all know with Italian culture comes a love for food. I grew up with my mom always in the kitchen making these amazing and authentic Italian meals—there was no way I couldn’t love food!”

Favorite item on the menu at RPM: Mama DePandi’s Bucatini Pomodoro. “The recipe has been in my family for years, and it reminds me of my childhood in Italy.”

Do you have a favorite place to eat in the area when you’re not at RPM? “I love going to Paris Club. It has a really cool and rustic vibe, and of course the food is amazing.”

What’s your go-to wine or cocktail?

The G-rizzle. “I can’t give away what’s in it, so you’ll just have to go to RPM Italian to try it.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RICK BAYLESS, GIULIANA RANCIC AND BILLY CORGAN; GALE GAND PHOTO BY STEPHEN HAMILTON

Gale Gand Billy Corgan Owner, Madame ZuZu’s

Former frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan decided to bring cool live music to the North Shore in the form of a tea house, with local bands, open mic nights and poetry readings.

Why did you want to open Madame ZuZu’s?

“I’d lived in Highland Park since 2003, and I often complained to friends that there wasn’t anything to do. I wanted a place where people could get together and play music, but it was more artistically minded.”

Favorite tea in the shop: Madame ZuZu’s Stimulus Hot Tea. “It’s this crazy, highly caffeinated tea that is like nothing I’ve ever had. It’s got a certain caffeine property that’s very unique, and people have been buying a lot of it.”

Favorite restaurant: Happi Sushi in Highland Park. “It’s the best sushi on the North Shore by far, and it’s family-run, which I think really makes a big difference. There are actually two Billy Corgan rolls on the menu. I usually order Billy Corgan Number 2.”

Founding Pastry Chef and Partner, Tru; Chef in Residence at Elawa Farm This Chicago pastry chef has done it all. She’s a restaurateur, author of seven cookbooks (with an eighth on the way), TV personality, and she even hosts cooking classes for kids and adults at Elawa Farm in Lake Forest.

Favorite dessert to make: Chocolate pots de crème with black pepper whipped cream and salted caramel sauce.

“I call it Chocolate with Salt and Pepper. I try to make desserts that have funny names like that. I broke my foot once years ago and I made a Black and Blueberry Crumble. And when Rick (Tramonto) and I got divorced, I did a Banana Split Up. My personal life gets into the titles of my desserts.”

Tru insider tip: Diners can ask for a special guided tour of the esteemed art collection. “We have one of the best original art collections of any restaurant in the country.”

Fun fact: Gale makes her own root beer, including a unique cinnamonginger-vanilla-flavored root beer, made with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Gale’s Root Beer is sold online and in stores nationally.

Favorite dish to cook at home: Baked eggs in ham cups with roasted asparagus, and chive and cheddar biscuits. makeitbetter.net

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Paul Caravelli

Semi-Finalist on ABC’s “The Taste,” Executive Chef, 545 North Bar & Grill Libertyville-based chef Paul Caravelli served up gourmet meals and a sense of humor on ABC’s hit show “The Taste.”

After filming, Paul returned to the suburbs, where he heads up the kitchen at 545 North Bar & Grill.

What was your favorite dish that you created on the show?

“I think it was my steak sandwich. Ludo (Lefebvre, a judge on “The Taste”) said, ‘It’s like a symphony in my mouth,’ because

it was all crunchy and it had different textures, and it was really, really good steak.”

Favorite item on the menu at 545 North: Fish tacos. “I wrap them in paper and put them on a plate, and it looks like you got it at a food truck, but it’s served to you in a fine-dining restaurant. It’s kind of mixing the two things together that I love.”

Favorite place to eat besides his own restaurant: Gene and Jude’s Hot Dogs in River Grove Go-to cocktail: Vodka tonic, two limes

John Cortesi CEO, Sunset Foods

Martha Melman

Owner, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Martha and Richard Melman are the coowners of Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You, with more than 80 restaurants across the country. Martha has been a major player in Lettuce since its founding in the early ‘70s, and is a mainstay of the Chicago food scene.

What’s your favorite of all of your restaurants?

R.J. Grunts. “We (Richard and I) met there, we named our first child R.J., and he was a manager and is still a managing partner there.”

What’s your favorite item on any of the Lettuce Entertain You menus?

Tuna and Thai Basil and Shaki-Shaki Tuna Rolls from Hub 51 Fun fact: Martha’s personal carrot cake recipe is a favorite on the Hub 51 menu.

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John Cortesi first started working at Sunset Foods when he was just 14 years old, although it’s been around for much longer—since his grandfather opened the first store in Highland Park in 1937.

What sets Sunset Foods apart from other local grocers?

“We carry more products than any traditional grocery retailer around. If it’s a new product our customer finds somewhere, we’re glad to bring it in.”

Favorite restaurant: Sushi Kushi Toyo in Lake Forest for the Red Dragon, Caterpillar, Highland Park and Boston rolls. (He’s also a big fan of the Tuna Tartare at Paul Caravelli’s 545 North!)

Favorite dish to cook at home: Cheese-filled pasta with prosciutto. “That’s a recipe my mother developed.

She taught her three children how to make the same pasta, so that’s a very fun winter dinner.”

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4/9/13 12:51 PM

bet t e r you | sex and the suburbs

how a food critic lost weight

By Julie Chernoff

On the morning of August 8, I stepped on the scale and cringed: 175. Ouch.

I can say It now, from the safety of more than 25 pounds away, but it was unspeakable last summer when I started this journey. I can’t be proud of what I’ve accomplished if I don’t own up to where I began.

I took a three-pronged approach to the problem; whereas diet alone worked well enough in my 30s, it was clear that weight loss at age 50 presented a different set of issues. So I revisited what had worked for me in the past—my own version of the “Sugarbusters” diet—and combined it with some modern twists: the Lose It app on my iPhone to keep track of my daily calorie “budget” and a Fitbit to monitor my activity.

I thought I would hate tracking my calories so closely, but instead, I found it incredibly motivating.

You’ve got to get past the feeling that it’s necessary to lie about what you eat. Lose It has no response for you (“Put that candy away, fatty!”), and you’d only be lying to yourself. So get over it.

It’s the same with Fitbit. You put on the little clip, and it tracks how active you are during the day (steps taken, stair flights climbed, calories burned) and then uploads the info to your computer, and syncs with Lose It, so you’re all one big happy family!

Of course, I had to amp up my workout routine (calories in, calories out!), and so I try to exercise 5 times a week, but I like to mix it up. So a day’s activity might be a 3-4 mile walk with friends, 40 minutes on the elliptical, a Zumba class (6500 steps!) or Pilates. I just try to keep moving so that I can get in my goal of 10,000 steps per day. My dog hasn’t walked so much in years!

As for my “Sugar-Busting Diet,” it’s pretty much as advertised; you significantly reduce your sugar in-

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take, which in turn increases your energy level (no more late afternoon naps for me) and decreases your desire to snack. Once the sugar is out of your system, you really don’t miss it. I swear!

So here’s what I did. I ate fruit, but not in combination with other foods. Eat a piece of fruit a half hour before or an hour after other foods. Just avoid bananas, pineapple and watermelon, which are super sugary. But that’s the only weird proscription…the rest is pretty straightforward.

Carbs? I love ‘em. But I’m not eating white food anymore. So no white pasta, rice, bread or flour. Instead, I’m filling in with whole grains, like brown rice, quinoa, oats, bulgur, etc. Check your labels—if a 100% whole grain bread or cereal has 2 grams of sugar or less per serving—it’s a winner.

Lean proteins, dairy in moderation and lots of veggies fill the rest of my dance card. I avoid fried foods (tasty, but so fatty!) and carbonated beverages.

Bloating is not your friend.

Fear not! There are a few perks. I allowed myself a glass of red wine and a square of super-dark chocolate each day, and still lost the weight.

On days when I have a review scheduled, I might eat a bit lighter at lunch to conserve calories. Once at the restaurant, I determine what everyone will order from the menu, and make sure that my entree is one that meshes with my diet. I taste everything on the table once and then eat my own food. It’s actually a lot easier than you might think.

Doable, right? Look, if I can make it work with all the restaurant reviews, so can you! Get out of your own way and just commit to it. And you might as well start right now.

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SPONSOR E D CON T E N T

sleep apnea:

when is it more than just a snore?

BY CHICAGOENT IF YOUR HUSBAND SNORES, YOU’RE

not alone. About half of all men and a quarter of women over age 40 snore while sleeping.

More than just an annoyance, snoring can be a red flag for sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that occurs when breathing is repeatedly interrupted during slumber and the body is denied sufficient oxygen.

“Snoring may be common, but it’s not normal,” explains Dr. Michael Friedman, nationally recognized sleep specialist, medical director and founder of ChicagoENT and The Advanced Center for Specialty Care. Considered a spectrum disorder, snoring is symptomatic of partial airway obstruction and compromised oxygen delivery.

Only when a snorer is tested can you determine how serious it is.

Sleeping in denial Too often, Dr. Friedman finds people are reluctant to address what might be sleep apnea—either because they

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don’t see the need to address it or they’re intimidated by what they mistakenly believe to be limited treatment options.

Not only can untreated sleep apnea increase your risk for weight gain, fatigue, hypertension and impotence, it also affects your partner’s wellbeing.

According to Dr. Friedman, you could be losing up to 25 percent of your precious sleep due to your partner’s symptoms—and he’s probably too sound asleep to even know it.

Sleep apnea isn’t just a disease of men. More than 5 million women suffer from sleep apnea, and it often goes undetected. Unlike the thunderous snoring or restless sleep experienced by men, sleep apnea in women tends to present itself with poor sleep, irritability, weight gain and mood swings—symptoms often blamed on menopause.

Often, recognizing sleep apnea can be as simple as realizing that you continually awake each morning feeling unrefreshed and unrested.

Easy to treat The days of limited treatment options are over. Depending on the severity of a patient’s sleep apnea, today there are multiple non-invasive and minimally invasive treatment options available that can be done in a simple office visit—from oral appliances to radiofrequency tissue reduction or palatal stiffening. Like any medical condition, the milder the symptoms and earlier you detect the disorder, the easier it is to correct.

CHECK FOR THESE 5 WARNING SIGNS:

Snoring, daytime sleepiness, increased stress, restless sleep, or morning headaches.

Exhibiting one or more of these signs?

Contact Michael Friedman, MD, FACS, Founder & Medical Director, ChicagoENT, 312-236-3642, Five Chicagoland Locations, chicagoent.com

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fa m i ly | travel

Lake Lawn Resort

summer by the lake By andrea Guthmann

Elkhart lakE, Wisconsin

Generations of Midwesterners have enjoyed the crystal clear waters of this town just 2 1/2 hours from the North Shore. Although Elkhart Lake is known for its simple pleasures, you’ll find there’s a plush, even racy side.

It’s home to Road America, a NASCAR racetrack hosting races, vintage car events, even specialized driving schools.

Rent your own boat and waterski or hit the trails at nearby Kettle Moraine State Park. Keep in mind Elkhart Lake does not allow motorized boats on Sundays—consider it your day of rest at the lake.

Stay at the charming Victorian Village with its manicured gardens, lakefront bar and throwback staff musical (think Dirty Dancing) or park yourself at Siebkins, home base for the racing

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crowd. Things really get revved up on Wednesday nights with live music and dancing at Siebkins’ Stop-Inn Tavern.

Elkhart Lake’s grand dame, the Osthoff Resort, is far from a rustic retreat. Conde Nast readers just awarded its Aspira Spa third place in the nation— not bad for a hotel in rural Wisconsin! The Osthoff is also home to the simply magnifique French culinary school, L’Ecole de la Maison.

resort’s 60 ft. catamaran-style yacht.

Two tennis courts with complimentary rackets along with on-site bike and powerboat rentals means there’s plenty to keep every age busy. minocqua, Wisconsin

Looking for an old-fashioned lakefront getaway? Minocqua’s small town hospitality fits the bill. This land of fudge shops and screen-door cottages is all about the pleasures of summer— swimming in the lake, a nightly ice cream cone, and of course, the notto-be-missed Min-Aqua Bats, who’ve been putting on a first-rate waterski show since 1950. Catch the free show on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday

GrEEn lakE, Wisconsin

Just over an hour west of Elkhart Lake is the Heidel House Resort, on Wisconsin’s deepest inland water, Green Lake. When you want a break from the lake, cross the street to play golf, get a massage at the resort’s Evensong Spa or enjoy a show at Green Lake’s historic opera house. You can also take a cruise on Escapade, the

Boat House

Photo courtesy of lake lawn resort

Vowing to savor every minute of warm weather this year? While you can’t put everything on hold, you can live life at a slower pace for at least a few days while vacationing at one of the Midwest’s classic lake resorts. Here are a few close to home.

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nights throughout the summer.

The Beacons of Minocqua is bucolic, yet with 81 units, bustling with activity. There’s volleyball, horseshoes and kids swimming in the lake or outdoor pool. Evenings bring s’mores around a campfire and movies under the stars.

Photo courtesy of the abbey resort

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Closest to home is the charming, yet upscale, Lake Geneva. Just over an hour from the North Shore, it’s described as the “Newport of the Midwest” for its opulent lakefront mansions. You can get a glimpse into the lifestyle while walking the Geneva Lakeshore Path, a 21-mile walkway encircling the lake, bringing you right up to estates owned by the Wrigleys and Rockefellers.

The Abbey Resort is along the walking path and is the only lodging

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directly on the shores of Lake Geneva.

There’s a newly renovated spa, sailing school, paddleboards, indoor-outdoor pools and an arcade.

Twelve miles north of Lake Geneva on Delavan Lake is the classic Lake Lawn Resort, recently reopened under new ownership after a multi-million dollar renovation. Kendra Williams, senior travel editor at Midwest Living magazine, describes it as “absolutely beautiful.” Lake Lawn has a tiered lodging system, so you can get something simple or more extravagant, depending on your family’s size and preference.

Williams spends a week at a lake with her family every summer. “No matter what lake we find ourselves on, what we appreciate most is the time outdoors with each other, away from TV and phones and email. We watch

The Abbey Resort

the skies turn pinkish-purple after sunset, make s’mores, listen to bullfrogs and birds and just feel thankful we had this quiet time by the water.”

As you start making your summer plans, leave time to dive into one of the season’s greatest pleasures, a vacation at the lake.

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food zone S T O R Y A N D P H O T O S B Y TAT E G U N N E R S O N

David Morton and Michael Kornick’s restaurants, which include DMK Burger Bar, Fish Bar and Ada Street, are known for their succulent fare. Thanks to interior designer Jodi Morton, the spaces provide a visual feast that complements the cuisine. Enjoy this exclusive peek into the private kitchens of David and Jodi Morton and Michael and Lisa Koch Kornick.

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David Jodi Morton

been renovating houses for more than a decade. Their latest is by far their most extensive. “It was very undone,” Jodi Morton explains during a recent tour of the space. “There were no light cans and barely any outlets in the whole house. We tore up the place and started over.”

The transformation is most evident in the brand new kitchen, which originally sported a dropped ceiling, damaged Linoleum floors and dated, battered cabinets. “It was totally uninhabitable,” Morton recalls. The couple restored the ceiling to its original lofty height, replaced the windows, installed new hardwood flooring and added a 12 ft. long center island. The result? “It’s what we wanted—a big happy space full of kids and family.”

DAVID AND JODI MORTON HAVE

MORTON’S KITCHEN AT A GLANCE

Form meets function: The counter surfaces –Calcutta Gold marble, Zebrawood butcher

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block and stainless steel–show their patina, and that’s okay by Morton. “The stainless steel scratches, and I love it,” Morton says. “Nothing in my house is precious except for my kiddies and the husband.”

Island paradise: According to Morton, the large center island has taken on a life of its own. “I always have a million kids in here.

Everybody climbs up and sits on the counter,” Morton explains.

Oft-used items such as utensils, spices and cookbooks are kept close at hand: “I have a million cookbooks, but the ones I use constantly are right there,” Morton says.

Two dishwashers are twice as nice: “When we entertain, having two dishwashers makes cleaning up a breeze.”

Simple does it: “I don’t like things that are overdesigned or that have no purpose,” Morton says. “You really want the food to get top billing.”

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Michael Lisa Kornick

“I STARTED COOKING WITH MY grandmother

when I was six or seven years old,” says chef and restaurateur, Michael Kornick. Although running the restaurants has taken him out of the kitchen at night when guests are present, Kornick enjoys cooking for friends and family at his home in Evanston. “For me, cooking is very therapeutic,” says Kornick. When Michael and Lisa bought their home in 2000, they installed a brand new kitchen with commercial appliances, a milk-glass backsplash and plenty of built-in shelving for their many cookbooks.

KORNICK’S KITCHEN AT A GLANCE

Plenty of counter space: A long counter makes it easy to cook for larger groups.

“There is enough open counter space that I can set 12 plates for the cold course and still have room on both sides for plates for the next course,” Kornick explains.

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Not many gadgets: “I basically have utensils, knives, pots and pans,” Kornick explains.

“I’m a cook, and I like to do it in a way that feels tactile to me.”

Two dishwashers: Like the Mortons, Kornick enjoys the convenience of having two dishwashers.

Out of sight, out of mind: Kornick stores away less-often used kitchen appliances – think food processors, blenders, rice cookers – in the tall kitchen cabinets. A step stool allows him to reach the items with ease.

Commercial range: Rather than selecting an oversized commercial stove, Kornick went with a 48-inch Wolf range with four burners and a French hot top in the middle. “To me, there’s no reason to have more than four live burners, but having a French hot top allows me to keep something warm in a small pot that won’t burn on the sides,” Kornick says.

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HOM E

must-haves for home organization

BY KRISTINA TOBER

1. HOOKS Any hook you hang will get used. Nothing is better at getting gear off the floor, and designating a spot with a hook gives items that are easily misplaced a home (keys, coats, handbags).

Trolley Stop Hook, $12, Anthropologie

2. PLASTIC STORAGE BINS You can find a storage bin in any size to serve any need; from keeping chips fresh to stashing hand-me-downs. The organizational options are endless.

Sweater Boxes, The Container Store, $5.99–$9.99

4. SHREDDER For bills and statements that you don’t need to keep, a shredder ups your urge to purge, with the added comfort that anything you pitch won’t end up in the hands of identity thieves.

3. STAGED DESKTOP FILING SYSTEM In that desktop pile are three kinds of papers: urgent, not-so-urgent and file. (Toss goes straight into the recycling bin or shredder.)

Instead of sorting through the pile every day or missing important dates, try a desktop filing system that allows you to sort by urgency but doesn’t engulf your space. It’s short-term parking for the longterm file drawer.

Elements File Organizer, The Container Store, $9.99

Black & Decker® 6-Sheet Crosscut Shredder, Bed Bath & Beyond, $49.99

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5. Color-Coded file system It’s as simple as assigning color to category: blue = insurance; yellow = household; green = money. Makes filing and finding those important documents a breeze, especially when clearly labeled. Add some style with decorative, patterned folders.

Painted Garden File Folders, Papersource, $10.95 for 6

6. label maker Forget the chicken scratch. A clearly printed label is easier to read and revise, and more visually uniform on your files.

Use it instead of a permanent marker to label your plastic storage bins, frozen foods, anything that needs marking.

Brother PTH100 Label Maker, Office Max, $19.99

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7. A well-sorted, orgAnized “junk” drAwer Every house has one. A drawer for the misfit items you need, but can’t seem to find a better home for. Empty and sort your drawer at least twice a year, and use drawer dividers for some semblance of order.

9. digitAl storAge sites Whether it’s iCloud for your music, Flickr for your photos, or Pinterest for your design ideas, there are a wealth of digital storage sites that take the burden off your hard drive and allow you to pitch the CDs.

8. PlAstic grocery bAg holder Even if you bring your own ecobags, chances are you’ve still got a stash of plastic shopping bags that seems to expand before your eyes.

Try hanging a plastic bag holder on your pantry door or near the pet leashes. The bags become instantly manageable and accessible.

10. A cAndid PArtner We all need someone to tell us that a dress looks bad and needs to go. Some of us are hoarders and some obsessive purgers; together you can find a perfectly organized balance.

simplehuman® 2.3-Gallon Grocery Bag Holder, $9.95, Crate and Barrel

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BET T E R YOU

W. F O S T E R AV E .

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lincoln square DAYTRIPPER

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3. The Chopping Block Their entire upstairs is a handson kitchen for classes, but on the weekends the first floor is filled with tastings and good smells, and all the gear you need to make their recipes at home.

4747 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-4726700, thechoppingblock.net

4. The Book Cellar During the week the strollers are parked two deep on the sidewalk when it’s story hour, but there are also plenty of author talks for adults, as well as books for every interest and a tiny café (with wine!). 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave., 773293-2665, bookcellarinc.com

PHOTOS BY NATHANIEL PERRY

2. Planet Access Company Store Hip brands like United

By Blue all sold to benefit Search, a not-for-profit that helps adults with disabilities. Their tag line says it all: Shop Socially. Locally.

(And you’ll be glad you did!) 4727 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-754-8176, planetaccesscompanystore.com

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1. Café Selmarie A to-go bakery in the front with seating in the back—this café can take care of you for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Outdoor seating when the weather permits. Make sure whatever meal you’re having you save room for a slice of Apple Galette. 4729 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-989-5595, cafeselmarie.com

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It’s a Chicago neighborhood that’s close to the North Shore and nicely compact. In just one block, you’ve got shopping and dining options that can fill an afternoon. Take a cooking class, and it’s an all-day adventure.

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7. Frill Accessory Boutique Adorable ballet flats, jewelry, fun hats—everything you need to take an outfit from blah to wow. 4764 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-271-8500, frillaccessories.com

5. Merz Apothecary This narrow space is filled floor to ceiling with hard-to-find European and natural home and personal brands. According to Anthony Qaiyum, president of this 138-year-old, family-run business, they are known for their homeopathic apothecary, but they also serve the neighborhood. Two big trending products they carry: men’s traditional shaving products and loose dried herbs for tea or mixology.

4716 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-989-0900, smallflower.com

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6. Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen The beer garden on the roof opens Memorial Day, but until then you can buy delicious sandwiches or Gene’s own homemade products —we highly recommend the Rabbit Sausage with White Wine or the Duck Sausage with Orange Liquor. 4750 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-728-7243, genessausageshop.com

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DRESS UP AND

e ate

LADYLIKE&DEMURE DRESS Wrap dress, $188, CUSP BAG Rebecca Minkoff mini M.A.C. crossbody bag, $195, CUSP EARRINGS Les Amis gold hoop earring, $45, CUSP SHOES Brian Atwood pumps, $325, Shirise

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DRESS Milly lace-contrast dress, $435, Saks Fifth Avenue EARRINGS Turquoise earrings, $78, Kate Spade BAG Laser-cut mini crossbody, $250, Tory Burch SHOES Cynthia strap pump, $109, Lori’s

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be t t e r you | fashion

May kicks off the summer party season. From weddings to graduations to Mother’s Day, there is plenty to celebrate, and we’ve picked some fête-appropriate dresses to make you feel extra glamorous this month.

by E v a n g E l i n E P o l i t i s photos by n a t h a n i E l P E r r y

chicshifts dress 4.collective printed dress, $285, piperlime.com cuff marjorie Baer cuff, $50, mattie m bag 7 Chi asymmetrical clutch, $59, Lori’s shoes sigerson morrison leather sandal, $425, shirise

dress Diane von Furstenberg sleeveless dress, $385, Cusp necklace House of Harlow sunburst necklace, $88, Cusp bag Whiting and Davis clutch, $169, Lori’s shoes Jimmy Choo sandals $995, shirise

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dress 4.collective color block dress, $275, piperlime.com shoes Tory Burch sandals, $275, Cusp bag sondra Roberts wooden clutch, $129, Lori’s earrings panacea teardrop earrings, $42, Cusp

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dress Naven maxi dress, $198, Cusp bag Claire Vivier fold-over clutch, $156, Cusp earrings Knotted hoops, $95, Tory Burch shoes KORs michael Kors gold sandals, $250, Cusp

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Need help with your beauty, fashion or relationships? Our Better You section is a great online resource, with new articles added every week. makeitbetter.net/better-you

Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown: Makeup Maven from North Shore to New York An interview with the North Shore’s own Bobbi Brown. From advice for teenage girls to inspiration for their moms—Bobbi has great tips and ideas.

5 Fashion Tips to Always be in Style How do fashionable women do it? They follow these five rules to always look great from the soccer field to board room.

7 Sins of Beauty Are you guilty? Reform and repent from these common beauty sins, and you’ll look like a saint!

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sponsor e d con t e n t

is botox right for you?

by Dr . Scot t Gl azer , M .D., D e r M at o l o G i S t & i M a G e S M e D S pa M e D i c a l D i r ec to r

Botox is sometimes called a “facelift in a bottle.” This injected purified protein causes muscles to relax and smooth out.

You can look Years Younger without surgerY. Botox is:

•Safe and effective •Immediate results with no downtime where is Botox used?

It is most effective for lines and wrinkles between your brows, forehead worry lines, sagging eye brows and crow’s feet. It also works well for bands on the neck. am i a good candidate for Botox?

Each person is different, but Botox is most effective between the ages of 25-65. how is Botox administered?

Using a very small needle, the liquid is injected into the target area. most clients compare this sensation to a light pinch.

Discomfort is minimal and you can resume normal activities immediately. when will i notice a difference and how long will it last?

Treatments take 7–10 days to take full effect.

The results usually last 3–4 months. Often, repeated treatments can lead to longer results. does Botox help migraine headaches and excessive sweating?

many people have found Botox gives relief to migraine sufferers and hyperhidrosis— excessive sweating in underarms.

505 skokie road, wilmette, il 847-853-1100 | imagesmedspa.com officiallY ranked #1 in Botox in chicago

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vita’s ricotta doughnuts

By Gale Gand

Makes 30 or more ingredients

• 6 eggs • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 pound ricotta • 2 1/2 cups flour • 1 heaping tablespoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind • Powdered sugar • Canola oil for frying directions

photo By jeff kauk

1 Mix ingredients in order with a wooden spoon until combined.

2 Pour oil into a saucepan and clip on a frying thermometer. Heat oil to 325 degrees.

3 Drop the batter by small ice cream scoopfuls or teaspoonfuls into the 325 degree oil and deep fry 3 minutes, turning often with a slotted spoon or “spider” until golden brown on all sides.

Break the first one open to check that it is cooked all the way through.

4Drain on paper towels or a brown paper bag and sprinkle heavily with powdered sugar. Or place them into a resealable bag of powdered sugar and shake them well to coat. Serve immediately.

Do-ahead notes: You can place the batter in the refrigerator until you’re ready to fry, up to 48 hours. You may have to increase the frying time slightly to compensate for the colder batter. You may cut this recipe in half. Recipe from “Chocolate and Vanilla”

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MOT H E R’S DAY GI F T GU I DE

what’s in the box?

mother’s day gift guide

Need something special for Mom? These local retailers have the gifts that will get a “wow”.

MOTHER’S DAY BRACELET GIFT SET Featuring a sterling silver bracelet, two “Beveled” clips, a “Mom” charm, and a charm of your choice valued up to $35 with a travel jewelry case. $200 (a retail value of $250). While supplies last. See our store for details. PANDORA (Northbrook & Skokie), pandora.net, 847-579-1223 or 847-673-2300.

30-DAY GYM MEMBERSHIP plus individualized program and group coaching sessions, $89. RealFit Gym (Highland Park), realfitgym.com, 847-780-4932

FITNESS ASSESSMENT 2-hr. fitness assessment and 1-hr. personal training, $130 (reg. $170). Personal Fitness Training, Ltd (Wilmette), PFTL.net, 847-251-6834

SORIAL CLUTCH Fun, colorful clutch with removable shoulder strap and simple turn-lock closure, $49. Mattie M (Winnetka), 847-784-8701

QUEEN BEE COLLECTION Sid Dickens Tile, $95. Lady Primrose dusting silk, $50.

Queen Bee candle, $20. Jolie Maison (Highland Park), 847-433-4555

PATAGONIA SUNDRESSES Fun colors and patterns to choose from, $59-$75.

Lad & Lassie (Wilmette), ladandlassie.com, 847-251-7570

MOROCCANOIL MOTHERS DAY GIFT SET Volumizing, Styling & Repair, $60–75. Teddie Kossof SalonSpa (Northfield), teddiekossof.com, 847-999-9500

LIPOMASSAGE OR ENDERMOLIFT Cellulite reduction & muscle enhancement, $99. Body Science Chicago (Northfield), bodysciencechicago.com, 847-999-9585

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special advertising section

4/10/13 10:20 AM

MOT H E R’S DAY GI F T GU I DE

CLASSIC BESSIE BAG American made alligator bags in purple, black, red, blue and brown, $400. Peachtree Place (Northfield), peachtreeplaceonline.com, 847-441-7585

FACIAL & MANI/PEDI Relax with signature facial and a classic mani/pedi, $130 ($20 savings). EGEA Spa (Evanston), egeaspa.com, 847-332-2772

SIMON SEBBAG JEWELRY Unique sterling silver bracelets and necklaces made in Israel. Elegant gift wrap, $85 & up.

Avenue Fashions (Deerfield), 847-940-1818

PEARL BLESSING BRACELETS Be grateful everyday. Sterling silver and beautiful pearl colors, $25. la de da! (Northbrook), ladedagift.com, 847-562-1170

LIFE FITNESS CROSS TRAINERS Contemporary styling with exceptional workout versatility, $1979+. Sears Fitness Flagship Store (Northbrook), 847-272-2461

PETUNIA PICKLE BOTTOM CLUTCH Detachable shoulder or wristlet strap and fold-out changing pad, $89. Lollie (Evanston), lollieshop.com, 847-328-7303

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bet t e r you

kitchen concoctions DIY Beauty Treatments B Y L I n D s aY R o s e m a n

Solve your biggest beauty problems with these simple treatments made with foods and oils you can find around the house. Perfect for smoothing and hydrating skin, thickening tresses and all-over cleansing, these natural “products” will prep your skin and hair for summer months. Use high-quality, organic ingredients when you can, and always test the solution on a small patch of skin to avoid any unwelcome reactions.

Hydrating Face Mask

Moisturizing Body Scrub

 2 tablespoons avocado, mashed  2 tablespoons natural raw honey 1 egg yolk

1 cup sugar  ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Combine equal parts mashed avocado and honey with the egg yolk. apply to clean skin, avoiding the eyes, and leave on for 10-15 minutes. avocado is not just a mega-moisturizer—it also helps fade age spots and won’t clog your pores. For oily skin, swap out the honey for pure lemon juice, and use the egg white instead of the yolk.

Clarifying Scalp Treatment  4 tablespoons coconut oil, softened  2 tablespoons lemon juice  1 tablespoon grapefruit juice

Remove product buildup, relieve dry, flaky skin and stimulate hair growth with this combo. “It’s basically like a facial for your scalp,” says Destri Bufmack of themotherhuddle.com.Part the hair, and use an application brush to apply the mixture in one-inch sections. massage the treatment into the scalp, let sit for 20 minutes, and wash with a clarifying shampoo.

mix sugar and extra-virgin olive oil to make this super-easy exfoliating scrub.

Rub the mixture into your skin, and wash off in the shower. “It takes two seconds to do, it’s using products you always have in the house and it works,” says Nicole Pearl of thebeautygirl.com. as the olive oil moisturizes, the sugar scrubs away dead skin cells, leaving you with softer, silkier skin in minutes.

Cleansing Peppermint Face & Body Wash  1 cup unscented liquid castile soap  ½ teaspoon peppermint essential oil  1 teaspoon jojoba oil*

Combine these all-natural ingredients in a clear container with a flip-top lid. This energizing wash, created by Heather Dessinger, author of “DIy Organic Beauty Recipes,” is gentle enough to be used as a facial cleanser, but powerful enough to work as an everyday body wash. The moisturizing effects of jojoba oil make this wash a winner for a range of skin types. *For acne-prone skin, substitute hazelnut oil

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Priming Lip Scrub 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon sugar Combine equal parts honey and sugar and gently rub on lips before starting your beauty regimen. “It gets all that dry skin off the lips and preps them for the lipstick,” Bufmack says. Rinse with water, and your pucker will be perfectly primed for lip color.

Optional: lighten up the mixture with a few drops of water.

All-Purpose Apple Cider Vinegar Toner 1 cup pure filtered water  2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar mix together apple cider vinegar and water, and apply twice a week with a cotton ball. apple cider vinegar works miracles on your complexion, and this solution can treat red marks and acne, and help soften, tone and balance skin. “Soaps are wonderful, but they make our skin work overtime to restore their natural pH after use,” Dessinger says. “To give your skin a break, naturally restore pH with this simple toner and follow with moisturizer.” Optional: add 10-20 drops of essential oil. We love soothing lavender or healing chamomile for dry skin or acne.

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bet t e r you | fitness

eating out: h e a lt h y thin

by Christ y Coughlin As kids, eAting out meAnt delicious

and indulgent food without a vegetable in sight. We ate brown food like deepfried chicken fingers, French fries and chocolate milk, capped off with a gooey dessert. Chances are you don’t eat like that anymore, but many of us still overindulge when dining out. With a little planning, you can make a restaurant meal an experience, but without blowing your diet.

what ’s for dinner Dr. Robert F. Kushner, professor of medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine offers these suggestions for avoiding four common pitfalls when dining out: 1 Dining out without a plan: Before heading out, view the menu online and consider healthy options like an interesting salad, grilled fish and a vegetable side.

2 Arriving at the restaurant starving: Skipping meals during the day to save calories can backfire as you hit the breadbasket, or gorge on an appetizer.

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3 Ordering off the menu “as is” : Make simple requests to improve the nutritional content of the meal and reduce the fat and calories. Ask for a side of fruit or vegetables instead of fries, light salad dressing, salsa instead of sour cream and no extra salt or cheese.

These changes make a difference.

4 Eating more than you intended: American and Italian fare generally come in supersized portions. Split your entree or take home half.

find your sp ot Found Kitchen and Social House in Evanston, like many small plate restaurants, has lots of grains and vegetables on the menu. The kale salad and crudité with baby beets and house-made yogurt are examples of tasty starters that are good for your body. According to owner Amy Morton, items made in Found’s wood burning oven tend to be lighter in cooking style with little added oil. She also suggests drinking lots of water with your meal, watching liquid calories and eating green (vegetable) calories.

and one mor e t hing . . . .

Here are a few additional tips to keep it skinny when eating out: • Eat a healthy, light snack with a little protein before you go out to tame your hunger.

• Start with a salad or an appetizer like ceviche.

• Allow yourself a reasonable portion of bread.

• Ditch the fried chips at Mexican spots.

• Eat slowly, putting your fork down after each bite. Enjoy the conversation.

• Order an appetizer as a main course.

• Look for half orders, which are generally closer to right-size portions.

• Avoid cream-based sauces.

• Indulge in one dessert, split four ways.

• Order healthier food off the adult menu, and have your kids share it rather than feeding them brown food off the kids’ menu.

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4/9/13 1:23 PM

BET T E R YOU | finance

meal delivery services cost and convenience

BY MEGHAN STREIT

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU tossed a bunch of rotten asparagus because you never got around

to cooking that risotto? How much money do you really spend on takeout every month because you’re just too tired to cook after work? Could you put the hour you spend preparing dinner every night to better use by putting extra time in at the office to get that promotion, helping your kids with homework or hitting the gym?

When you consider the true cost of putting food on the table night after night, a meal delivery service could make sense for your pocketbook—and your packed schedule. Below are services designed to suit a variety of lifestyles.

FOR WEIGHT LOSS If you want to lose weight, try The Fresh Diet (thefreshdiet. com). No need to count calories or measure portions with this program. You get three pre-portioned meals and two snacks per day for a total of 1,200 to 1,400 calories for women. Foods like steak tacos and multi-grain strawberry pancakes are delivered fresh in a cooler bag.

The cost for 31 days of food is $1,239.69.

FOR COOKS If you enjoy cooking but not the prep work, try Meez Meals (meezmeals.com).

Get a cooler box each Monday full of fresh ingredients for five meals. You follow enclosed recipes to cook the meals at home.

Prep work like chopping onions is already done to cut down on kitchen time. Ingredients for five meals for four people costs $110.

FOR FITNESS If you are very active, try Factor 75 (factor75. com). Fitness buffs will have more time for exercise with this service, which delivers meals packed with nutrients and designed to enhance performance.

Meals like “detox” chicken salad and pasta-free butternut squash lasagna are delivered fresh in a cooler bag. Medium-portion meals are $10.95 each and the minimum order for new customers is three meals.

FOR FOODIES If you’re a foodie, try Green Gourmet Chicago (thegreen gourmetchicago). Pain perdu with banana compote, prosciuttowrapped cantaloupe, apricot-stuffed pork tenderloin and almond butter brownies are a few of the meals and snacks you can choose with this service. A variety of different programs are available and food is delivered fresh every day before 5 a.m. A five-day delivery of breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks each day costs $249.75 plus tax.

PHOTO <CREDIT>

Toasted Gnocchi with Green Spring Vegetables from Meez Meals

FOR PALEO If you eat a Paleo diet, try CJK Foods (chef joshkatt.com). For $60 to $75 a week, Chicago Chef Josh Katt will cook you five protein- and veggie- centered meals like chicken fajitas or curry shrimp. Delivery to the North Shore is $10 per week.

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bet t e r you | sex and the suburbs

ways to deal with differences in desire

by Mar jie Killeen

Does this scenario sound familiar? Kate and Jim are settling onto the couch, finally able to relax after a long day. “Hey,” grins Jim. “Wanna have sex?” Kate looks at him with exasperation. She loves her husband, but she just sat down and, unfortunately, nothing about her is pulsating with desire. “Not really,” she answers truthfully, and Jim, crushed, drops the subject. Kate feels bad. She wishes she felt like having sex more, but she just doesn’t. Now she feels guilty, he’s resentful, and their nice, cozy evening is ruined. Again.

This is a very common situation for couples, says sex therapist Emily Harrell of the Center for Mindful Living in Chicago and Schaumburg, and it’s no one’s fault. The cause is the biological differences between male and female desire. Unlike testosterone-infused men, who can access their desire quickly, estrogendriven women need some sort of stimuli before they can get turned on, says Harrell. It might take watching something sexy, getting in a romantic mood or foreplay. But, “not until that begins, does a woman want sex,” says Harrell.

When men and women understand how differently they become aroused, they can make changes to accommodate each other so they both enjoy sex more.

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Here are some empowering strategies to negotiate the differences in desire in your relationship.

1. Make Room for Maybe Harrell advises couples not to consider having sex as a yes/no proposition. “It should be an agreement that you’re open to the possibility of sex, without being so goal oriented,” she says. A woman who doesn’t feel like intercourse might welcome a massage or a bubble bath or a make-out session. “Women say no before giving themselves a chance,” says Harrell. If Jim had asked Kate if she wanted a foot rub, she would have happily plopped her feet in his lap. And that might have been all the “stimuli” she needed.

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2. Prepare for Pleasure Women are less in touch with what makes them feel good than men are.

According to Evelyn Resh, author of the book “Women, Sex, Power & Pleasure,” “Women have needed to work diligently to reassure themselves that pleasure—especially sexual pleasure—is essentially safe, worthwhile and good for them.” Women, not knowing what they want or or how to ask for it, can begin to avoid sex or just go through the motions to satisfy their husbands.

Women deserve to enjoy sex every bit as much as men, but they have to take responsibility to learn what pleases them and pass on the info to their mate.

“A lot of women feel anger and resentment toward their partner. They blame him for being a sucky lover, when so much of it is them,” says Harrell. She recommends couples expand their repertoire and experiment with new techniques, positions and scenarios to see what appeals, especially to the woman. If all this focus on feminine pleasure feels selfish, it isn’t. A woman who is sexually satisfied is going to be a lot more interested in making love to her man.

3. Get Strategic It’s not romantic, but the truth is, intimacy doesn’t happen by accident.

Harrell says successful couples talk about what they want, learn from each other, and create a plan for how they’ll work through their differences.

Before haphazardly hitting the bedroom, it’s worth a strategy session. Set priorities, identify opportunity areas, agree to common goals and assign resources and time. It may seem calculated and businesslike, but if the payoff is a more satisfying love life, isn’t the investment worth it?

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di n i ng

Grace Restaurant Grace Restaurant 652 W. Randolph St. Chicago 312-234-9494 grace-restaurant.com

Until now, i’ve resisted doing a full review of an uber-fine dining restaurant for this column. Why? Places like Alinea and Next provide rarefied experiences that are difficult to share on paper. It’s virtually impossible for anyone to get a reservation, and once you do, the meals are filled with sleight of hand, ephemeral presentations of ingredients that most people wouldn’t recognize. While without question an amazing experience, it’s more fine dining theater than food that I really want to eat—or write about.

Not so with Grace, the magnificent new restaurant from Chef Curtis Duffy. The two Michelin stars he garnered at Avenues in Chicago’s Peninsula Hotel were no fluke. This is a world-class dining experience, and make no mistake—it comes at a steep price. But I loved every minute and every morsel of it.

Unassumingly tucked away on the last block of Randolph before the expressway overpass, Grace impresses

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By Julie chernoff

from the moment you open the door.

You won’t mind waiting for your table in the bright, comfortable lounge area where you can enjoy an expertly mixed cocktail from an intriguing list of small batch distillers.

More likely, you will be led immediately to your spacious table in the dining room, surrounded by beautiful black ash woodwork, buttery leather chairs, contemporary light fixtures and compelling modern art. The tables are set with Limoges and Bernardaud china, Studio William of London silverware, Schott-Zweisel stemware, and fine linen. Once seated, your eyes are drawn to the glassed-in kitchen and the phalanx of white-coated, earnest young chefs that staff the kitchen, working in perfect concert.

Grace produces two 9-course menus: Flora, a largely vegetarian selection; and Fauna, which features a plethora of animal proteins. Both menus are priced at $185. If you choose the specially selected wine pairings, it will set you back an-

other $110, but in for a penny, in for a pound (or a few Benjamins).

The meal starts with a large wine barrel stave brought to the table; at each end are perched four amuse-bouche, including a perfect section of Satsuma orange encased in a glassy shell of smoked paprika-infused sugar. One bite captured a plethora of exciting textures and my mouth was, in actuality, quite amused.

To accurately and exhaustively catalogue each course would be difficult, so I’ll give you the highlights. I can’t stop thinking about the “Carrot” course, one of the more beautiful dishes I’ve ever seen. The trusty root vegetable was presented in many forms—caramelized, pureed, shaved, dried and raw—and many varietals, all paired with whipped mascarpone and roasted Iranian pistachios. It was a carrot symphony. And you won’t miss the protein if you order the Flora menu, because Duffy has found a way to prepare Maitake mushrooms—teamed with potatoes, coffee,

Photo <credit>

the perfect touch of grace

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red wine, preserved daikon and scallion—that is just loaded with umami and feels truly substantial.

On the Fauna menu, we were awed by the Scottish Salmon, cooked sous vide until just set, and paired with crispy red cabbage, citrus foam, and marigold petals. Likewise the Veal Cheek entrée, meltingly prepared and arranged in an arc with red-wine braised endive and shiitake mushrooms, sunflower seeds and black mint jelly. Sumptuous.

Bread service, which at most restaurants feel superfluous, has meaning here. Each menu is paired with different breads; tiny baguettes, teeny scones, and eensy rolls provide the perfect complement to your meal. And the butter! Swoon. I could write a story on just that alone.

Desserts—and here I should mention that there are three courses of these, followed by extra treats—are stunning. The “Young Coconut” presentation was filled with taste and textural wonders, including flavors of lime, huckleberry and African blue basil. And the “Cranberry” dish, which tasted like Scandinavia would if it were a dessert, combined a crispy rye granola with little spheres of cranberry flavor, shaved pine ice and sage. It happened.

Everything about the meal was inviting, including the exceptional service, overseen by GM/Partner Michael Muser. I particularly enjoyed that while we were told in detail about each course as it was served, it was unnecessary to explain to us how to eat the food. When I gasped aloud, as I did more than once, it was the intensity and the absolute rightness of the flavor that surprised me rather than mere trompe l’oeil shock. So I’m saving my shekels for another visit to Grace. I can’t wait to see what Curtis Duffy has in store for us.

I can sum Grace up in one simple word: perfection.

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di n i ng

 Oxo avocado slicer

pro

cook like a

By Julie Chernoff

Whether you’re a novice cook or a talented chef, you can always learn a trick or two. Out of the thousands of products on display at the International Home + Housewares Show at McCormick Place, a few really stood out. These are “tricks of the trade” utensils and small appliances that will make you a smarter, more efficient chef.

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Hand-Held Utensils: OXO

One pair of tongs ($12-$17) is nowhere near enough; they are the do-everything utensil. OXOs are my favorite, and you can get them with nylon or silicon heads so they won’t scratch your non-stick pans. If you’re a fan of Latin-american food, you should check out the 3-in-1 avocado slicer ($10), and safely split, dice and scoop the alligator pears. I also love their hand-held mandoline slicer ($15), which lets you adjust to three thicknesses for perfect, consistent slices. oxo.com MicrOplanes

They have a grater ($17) perfect for every task, whether it’s zesting citrus, grating Parmesan or chocolate, or shredding veggies for a salad. Their new Elite Series includes a clear plastic cover that doubles as a measuring cup and catchall for your freshly grated food. us.microplane.com JOseph JOseph

The smart, colorful design of this line makes cooking fun. I use the scoop colander ($8) constantly for pasta, blanching veggies, even serving. The new folding mezzaluna ($15) is genius, with folding handles that double as blade covers. make pesto like a pro, or finely chop herbs or nuts. josephjoseph.com

 Oxo tongs

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be t t e r you | sex and the suburbs

Cookware Cat Cora for Starfrit

We were a little starstruck to meet this tiny powerhouse in person! We loved the kitchen scale ($24.95) that she’s developed. all professional chefs measure by weight, and her super-slim version is both stylish and functional. Easy to clean, and measures both dry and liquid ingredients. catcroa.com/cookware NeSpreSSo

Perhaps my favorite new kitchen addition is the aeroccino ($99), a milk frother/ heater that makes a true barrista out of my husband. The cappuccino and lattes that he creates with it are outstanding. I’m living in an Italian coffee bar and I like it! nespresso.com

Elite series grater 

SiliCon: CharleS ViaNCiN

Photos courtesy oxo and microPlane

They are making beautiful and functional botanical silicon lids ($11-$17) that fit on any smooth-rimmed bowl or pot to seal in flavors, prevent splatters, and create an air-tight seal. Options include lily pad, sunflower, pumpkin and hibiscus designs, and sizes range from 4” to 11”. charlesviancin.com lekue

Healthy, fat-free steam cooking is possible with their large and small steam cases ($50/40) that go in the oven or microwave. I made a beautiful salmon dish with asian veggies, and it tasted just like the en papillote fish I had in a neighborhood bistro. lekueusa.com many of these products are available at Bed Bath & Beyond, macy’s, and Sur la Table, or check the websites listed above for other local sources. So get cooking!

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e n t e rta i nm e n t

mama drama b y K e l ly K o n r a d

Is your Facebook status with your mom, “It’s complicated?” With Mother’s Day just around the corner, here are suggestions about moms that put the fun in dysfunctional—or that just make you want to run and hug yours:

Motherland

by Amy Sohn If Sophie Kinsella and Gillian Flynn got together and had a book baby, this is it. Soapy, strange and gloriously off-the-wall, this set of NyC moms will make your PTa battles look tame.

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

by Ayana Mathis It’s not that Hattie is cold or uncaring, it’s just that she’s got so many kids.

Beautifully written, sad and thought-provoking—you’ll think about this one long after you finish it.

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Mommie Dearest

by Christina Crawford The book is always better than the movie. While Crawford caught a lot of flack for writing it, the book started a national conversation about child abuse.

The Dinner

by Herman Koch On the surface it seems this Dutch tale is really about the dads involved with children gone wrong. But just wait until you learn just how far moms are willing to go to help their kids out of sticky situations.

Life List: A Woman’s Quest for the World’s Most Amazing Birds

by Olivia Gentile The book is touted as one woman’s obsession with ornithology, but you may find yourself asking “but what about her kids?”

The Fifth Child

by Doris Lessing Sometimes more children isn’t the answer, as readers discover in this gothic horror tale. Pregnant? you may want to skip this one for now.

Flowers in the Attic

by VC Andrews If you didn’t already wear out your paperback cover to cover, it’s time to revisit the crazy that is the Dollanganger clan. Lunacy is indeed hereditary.

Love Water Memory

by Jennie Shortridge New in the bookstores, the story of an amnesiac who doesn’t remember a lot about her mother. For good reason. a most engaging read.

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4/4/13 2:17 PM

a feast for the ears by va l h a l l e r o f va l s l i s t I met a gIrlfrIend for dinner a few weeks ago, and we chose a local spot. Beth and I hadn’t seen each other for months and couldn’t wait to cozy in on this snowy night, over a glass of wine, great food and lots of catching up. But an unwelcome guest showed up. Loud music. Not only was it so loud that we couldn’t hear ourselves speak, it was also the wrong kind of music for a chill. Because I’m a music person whose full-time job involves listening to music all day, this was the last thing I wanted during my relaxing time. I couldn’t hear myself think. The loud music crossed a line — and was in my space. I know I’m different — most people (like my friend Beth) could block it out. But I’m the one who always notices the music wherever we go. It’s because I know that the right music can enhance an environment twentyfold. No music is better than the wrong music.

Here are some new artist suggestions for the right music at the right time: • For a dinner party try Eilen Jewel (a hip jazz that your guests will notice) • For a graduation BBQ try Shovels & Rope (a rock duo with a country twang that kids and grandparents will dig) • For a picnic on the beach try Matt Costa (singer/ songwriter with super listenable chill vibe) • For a casual carry-out night try Django Django (you’ll impress your kids with this electronic indie vibe) • For a romantic candlelight dinner try Madeleine Peyroux (a sultry, 40’s vibe, relaxing and more)

Val’s May Concert Picks: (shows not to miss!)

MAY 3

Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons at City Winery MAY 4

Ben Rector at Park West (take your teens - cool singer/ songwriter they’ll love) MAY 6 & 7

Patti Smith at Vic Theatre

MAY 10

Chuck Prophet at SPACE (date night - sultry blues rock ) MAY 17

Rodriguez at Lincoln Hall (if you saw the movie “Looking For Sugarman” - this is your guy) MAY 22

MAY 9

David Knopfler at SPACE Evanston (great rock - Tom Petty lovers would like this)

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Of Monsters & Men at Aragon Ballroom (treat your college kids to this one)

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e n t e rta I nM e n t

spring stage

The Glass Menagerie

blooms By roBert Loer zeL

CadIllaC PalaCe theatre Shen Yun May 10 – 12 800-775-2000 broadwayinchicago.com ChICaGo draMatIStS Homecoming 1972 May 16 – June 23 312-633-0630 chicagodramatists.org

houSe theatre (at the ChoPIn) Ploughed Under: An American Songbook Through June 9 773-769-3832 thehousetheatre.com MuSeuM of ConteMPorary art Ganesh Versus the Third Reich May 16 – 19 312-397-4010 mcachicago.org the neo-futurIStS The Miss Neo-Futurist Pageant May 16 – June 22 773-878-4557 neofuturists.org SteeP theatre The Knowledge Through May 25 866-811-4111 steeptheatre.com tIMelIne theatre Blood and Gifts Through July 8 773-281-8463 timelinetheatre.com

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SuMMer IS JuSt around the corner, and Chicago-area theaters are pulling out all the stops with their big spring shows. The themes on display include French comedy, Chicago history, a neighborhood tavern and Hollywood’s treatment of black actors.

By the Way, Meet Vera Stark April 27–June 2 Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago | 312-443-3800 | goodmantheatre.org Lynn Nottage, who wrote the memorable, moving plays “Intimate Apparel” and “Ruined,” takes on the troubled history of Hollywood’s relationship with African-American actors. With Chuck Smith directing at the Goodman, expect a thought-provoking look at race relations—but it should be funny, too.

IVyWIld: the true tall taleS of BathhouSe John May 1 – June 15 The Hypocrites at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago | 773-989-7352 the-hypocrites.com Chicago playwright Jay Torrence has created some fascinating shows for the Neo-Futurists that draw on local history, and now he’s turning to the 1908 follies of Chicago politics and vice for this production by The Hypocrites.

Stella & lou May 3–June 9 Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie 847-673-6300 | northlight.org Four-time Emmy winner Rhea Perlman stars in this world premiere by Bruce Graham, who also wrote “The Outgoing Tide.”

Like “Cheers,” the TV show that made Perlman famous, this play is also set in a

bar. Two kindred spirits are seeking solace at Lou’s Bar, reflecting on the passage of time. Perlman may be the star attraction, but she’s got excellent company—one of Chicago’s finest actors, Francis Guinan, plays Lou, and Gift Theatre member Ed Flynn rounds out director BJ Jones’ cast. the lIar May 21 – July 28 Writers’ Theatre, 325 Tudor Ct., Glencoe 847-242-6000 | writerstheatre.org Playwright David Ives, who is renowned for his clever use of language, adapted this script from a French comedy originally written in 1644 by Pierre Corneille—about a case of mistaken identity involving a charismatic scoundrel and a couple of comely young ladies. With William Brown directing at Writers’ Theatre, it’s all but certain this comedy-in-verse will offer a fun time, as well as intellectual delights. the GlaSS MenaGerIe May 22–June 30 Mary Arrchie at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont, Chicago | 773-975-8150 theaterwit.org Mary Arrchie Theatre Co.’s innovative staging of Tennessee Williams’ classic American play deservedly won high praise from critics this winter, and now the company is bringing it back for an encore at Theater Wit. Don’t miss this haunting and heartbreaking production.

Photo courtesy of mary arrchie theatre co.

Court theatre The Misanthrope May 9 – June 9 773-753-4472 courttheatre.org

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4/9/13 12:16 PM

speci a l a dv e rt isi ng sect ion

local marketplace Winnetka animal Hospital One of the most highly regarded veterinary clinics serving the North Shore. Our clean, modern and comfortable state-of-the-art facility is equipped to handle full patient care for both cats and dogs. Your petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health is our foremost priority!

700 Oak Street, Winnetka 847-441-7474 winnetkaanimalhospital.com

see your business Here!

Are you a local business owner?

Learn more about advertising in the Local Marketplace!

Contact Michelle Weiss, Advertising Sales Director, at 847-256-4642 or michelle@makeitbetter.net

Dr. DaviD Center, DDs Delivering experienced cosmetic and family dentistry for 30+ years.

Services include new laser dentistry, in-office laser whitening and Invisalign orthodontia. Check out our National Dental Reviews on our website.

Call about our New Patient offer!

9933 Lawler Ave., Skokie 847-677-0080 davidcenterdds.com

CalligrapHy by katHerine Calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting. Set the tone of your event with elegantly addressed invitations and envelopes.

Specializing in weddings and special occasions.

Wilmette 847-251-3242 calligraphybykatherine.net

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M A K E A DI FFE R E NCE

VOLUNTEER TO SUPPORT THE ARTS Chicago Symphony Orchestra 312-294-3160 | cso.org Support the Orchestra through fundraising, hands-on event assistance, audience development or office support. Volunteer hours and projects vary throughout the season, and interests and availability of each volunteer are matched with CSO projects and programs.

Most volunteer programs occur at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

SUPPORT LATINO FAMILIES IN NEED Family Service 847-432-4981 | famservice.org Family Service is looking for bilingual volunteers to tutor children and teens at the Nuestro Center in Highwood. Donations of $10 or $25 gift cards for Target or Walmart will help seniors pay for medications no longer covered by Illinois Cares Rx. The organization is also looking for soccer equipment and craft items used for jewelry making, colored tissue paper for crafts, and a laminator. Please call for more information on items in need, or drop off donations to 777 Central Ave., Suite 17, Highland Park.

BY LISA ZIMBLER

HELP FAMILIES IN NEED The North Shore Exchange 847-835-0026 | northshoreexchange.org The North Shore Exchange is a charitable, upscale resale shop in Glencoe that recycles our community’s fashion and home furnishing treasures to support local charities and nonprofits. The organization is looking for donations and consignments of high-end, designer women’s apparel and accessories, as well as beautiful home furnishings, antiques and decor. Donations can be dropped off at the boutique located at 372 Hazel Ave., Glencoe.

DONATE IPADS TO ASSIST CHILDREN  Silent Stars Foundation 847-644-6591| silentstarts.org Silent Stars Foundation provides iPads with appropriate speech Apps to nonverbal youth. These devices enable a mainstreamed life for children who lack the motor skills required for sign language and who have limited verbal skills. New or gently used iPads and iTouches can be dropped off at 711 Indian Rd., Glenview, or monetary donations may be made online at silentstars.org/donate.

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REPRESENT AT-RISK YOUTH CASA Lake County 847-383-6260 | casalakecounty.com Our compassionate volunteers are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. After receiving 40 hours of training you will be assigned a case. Working beside an experienced CASA Advocate Manager, your responsibilities will include visiting with an at-risk child, observing parent/child visits, assisting with their health care and educational needs, and serving as their voice in the juvenile court system. The average volunteer spends 12 hours a month on their case.

PROVIDE MEALS FOR THE HOMELESS Connections for the Homeless 847-424-0945 | cfthinc.org As a part of their Entry Point program, Connections hands out 30-40 sack lunches, Monday- Thursday. Volunteers provide the groceries, assemble the lunches, and drop them off at the shelter, located in the basement of Lake Street Church in Evanston.

The sack lunches usually include a sandwich, fruit, chips and a drink. Please drop off lunch donations any evening between 6-9 p.m. or Monday-Thursday before 10 a.m. at 1458 Chicago Ave., Evanston.

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PHOTO COuRTESy OF THE NIGHT MINISTRy

emPower FamilieS Metropolitan Family Services 312-986-4000 | metrofamily.org Metropolitan Family Services responds to the evolving and critical needs of underserved populations in Chicago and the suburbs. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, Metropolitan Family Services empowers Chicago-area families to reach their greatest potential. Donations can bemade online or mailed to: Metropolitan Family Services, Gift Processing Center, One N. Dearborn, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60602.

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Donate to Shelter anD FeeD the Poor The Night Ministry 773-784-9000 | thenightministry.org Donations provide Chicago’s most vulnerable youth and adults with housing, health care and human connection. Last year, 572 homeless youth and 85 children found safe housing in one of our four youth housing programs. Our Health Outreach Bus provided 6,250 Chicagoans with free health care, outreach services, a warm meal and a sense of community. Monetary donations can be made online or sent to: The Night Ministry, 4711 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60640.

helP at-riSk Youth Evan’s Life Foundation 847-428-0001 | evanslife.org A donation to Evan’s Life Foundation gives at-risk children personalized grants to overcome threatening obstacles in their lives. In memory of two year old Evan Samata, the Foundation supports children through educational assistance, medical treatment, therapy and counseling, abuse education, physical or mental disability assistance, AIDS education, homeless child services and emergency assistance. Send monetary donations to their office located at 101 S. First Street, West Dundee.

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M A K E A DI FFE R E NCE

better makers and their impact

1 BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE

The Sounds of Motown, 33rd Annual Evening of Hope Feb. 23, 2013 Four Seasons Chicago $350,000 raised

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(1) Mary Ann Harvey of Evanston, Neilly Hallermann of Winnetka, Jennifer O’Shaughnessy of Evanston, Janet Hagen of Northfield and Ana Couri of Evanston; (2) Bill Runzel of Evanston and Peter Beale DelVecchio of Chicago, Executive Director of Boys Hope Girls Hope; (3) Mimi Janian Lawless of Washington, D.C. and Martha Best of Jackson Hole, WY, Heart of Gold Awardees, both formerly of Evanston; (4) Impact: Boys Hope Girls Hope Scholars Santonio Cathery, Gloria Lieb Tetuh, Jaquan Grier, Awien Kuanyin Agoth, Deantrium King and Aluel Kuanyin Agoth.

Ana Couri and MaryAnn Harvey, both of Evanston and Janet Hagen of Northfield, event chairs; Neilly Hallermann of Winnetka, Women’s Board president

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4

ACT IMP

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE

(SHOWN IN PHOTOS):

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ACT IMP

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AUTOHAUS ON EDENS BENEFITTING ORT AMERICA

Driving Fashion Forward March 10, 2013 Autohaus on Edens $10,000 raised

PHOTO CREDIT: JENNIFER SCHUMAN, HORIZON PHOTOGRAPHY

(SHOWN IN PHOTOS):

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(1) Katie Cory of Wilmette and Barbara Abt of Northbrook; (2) Impact: Columbia College student Ashley Reed accepts a $5,000 scholarship.

(3) Lilly Holmes, Todd Holmes, Maya Bassin, Coby Bassin, all of Glenview; (4) Ron Bernardi of Northbrook, Tamara Taylor-Holmes of Glenview and Michael Rosengarden of Highland Park

LES TURNER ALS FOUNDATION

“Hope Through Caring” Award Dinner Dance March 20, 2013 Ritz Carlton Chicago $450,000 raised (SHOWN IN PHOTOS):

PHOTOS BY JEAN LACHAT PHOTOGRAPHY

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(1) Wendy Abrams and Richard Jacobsohn, both of Highland Park; (2) Ken Hoffman of Deerfield, Linda Neilson and Dr. Eric Neilson, dean of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Wendy Abrams and Harvey Gaffen, both of Highland Park; (3) Doug, Alley and Susan McConnell of Barrington; (4) Peggy and Ray Gordon of Glencoe; (5) Impact: Dr. Scott L. Heller treats patients at the Les Turner/Lois Insolia ALS Center at Northwestern in Chicago.

Ken Hoffman of Deerfield, Dinner Chairperson

ACT IMP

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young philanthropist gets dogs moving by lisa Zimbler kam Gottleib Got her idea to place

treadmills in animal shelters after visiting an animal shelter near her family’s summer cabin in Michigan. “We go there every year, and I got to see how the shelter runs, and that was kind of an eye-opener for me,” says Kam. “I really wanted to help more, because I saw the dogs’ lifestyles, and I saw that it was nothing like the dogs here.”

Kam, 12, launched Kinetics K-9s in 2010. The Highcrest Middle School 6th grader started the non-profit organization to purchase animal treadmills for area shelters, particularly those that house large-breed dogs. “I wanted to do something with exercise since the main goal is to get them adopted, and sometimes exercise comes second (at shelters),” says Kam. “If they get more

exercise, they will be more adoptable, because they’ll be physically healthier.”

Kam’s mother, Susan Gottleib, says she felt Kam’s idea was the perfect solution to the problem of lack of exercise for shelter dogs since many volunteers are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work and the number of animals to care for at one time. “The volunteers are limited, and working at their desk so (with these treadmills), they can put it right by their desk, and the dog will still be getting exercise,” says Gottleib.

After creating her own website, Kam went on a search for animal treadmills, but found most models were well over $1,000—a hefty sum for the then 10year old to come up with on her own.

“I sold these glow in the dark wrist bands at school,” says Kam. “I also had a keynote I presented to my 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes to let them know what I was doing.” Gottleib says her daughter is constantly finding ways to fundraise for her cause, from lemonade stands to a Hawaiian themed Tikiparty event in the backyard to the mile run/walk she’s organizing this spring.

Kam even used part of her profits from raising a sheep in a local 4-H program toward the treadmills.

“I’m really proud of her,” says Gottleib. “Some kids do something like this one time, which is so admirable, but she’s driving this and always planning to do the next thing. She has such a good heart.”

Kam finally found a company with an affordable treadmill that fit the bill.

She contacted David Ezra, owner of Dog Pacer, and told him about her idea. Impressed with Kam’s mission, he offered a $100 discount along with free shipping and handling.

“Mr. Ezra called back and said they were so inspired at what I was doing that they wanted to give me a free treadmill,” says Kam. “It was such a boost, because now I can do more to help with the extra money.”

Kam took the first treadmill and placed it at the Anti-Cruelty Society’s main Chicago location, where she was the first to be recognized by their “Pals for Pets” award program for kids who make a difference for animals.

Kam placed the donated treadmill at the shelter in Michigan. She says, “It’s indescribable when they bring out the dog, and they’re wagging their tail!” Gottleib says they’ve been able to almost double the amount of exercise they give to each dog through the use of the treadmill.

An anonymous donor has since presented Kam with a third treadmill, and she is hoping to place it with Orphans of the Storm, a local shelter that houses large-breed dogs. Kam is working on raising funds for a fourth treadmill, and says she has lofty plans for the future of Kinetics K-9s.

“Each treadmill in my mind is a goal, and in my head, it’s like a checklist which is boosting me to do the next one,” says Kam. “I have a huge, huge, huge goal when I’m older to place a treadmill in a shelter in every state of the United States.

To help Kam reach her goal for a fourth treadmill, donations can be made through her website at kinetick9s.weebly.com.

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Photo courtesy of kam gottleib

m a k e a di ffe r e nce | local treasure

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food imaginatively and lovingly prepared, and eaten in good company, warms the being.

— m a r j o r i e k i n n a n r aw l i n g s , a m e r i c a n w r i t e r

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Photo by ben Fink, reciPe From “gale gand’s brunch!”

closi ng t hough ts

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