Issuu

WINTER 2026

At The Lake ®

G e n e va L a k e A r e a M ag a z i n e

Stakeouts & Showdowns: Uncovering Lake Geneva’s 1930s gangster history

PINING AWAY MEET THE SISTERS TAKING OVER THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

GETTING MARRIED AT THE LAKE: OUR 16TH ANNUAL GUIDE

Photo by Shanna Wolf

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editor’s page

Dear readers,

Ski jumping, bobsled racing, curling, speed skating … I have loved the Winter Olympics since I was a child pretending to be German figure skater Katarina Witt winning the gold on the playground in third grade, and you can bet I am eagerly counting the days until the Milano Cortina Olympics this February. Because of that, it was particularly exciting to get to interview Lake Geneva native Megan Harrod, a former competitive ski racer and founder of Golden Hour Marketing + PR, who is now working exclusively with U. S. Olympic two-time gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin (page 113). However, if your idea of outdoor fun in the winter is a little less adrenalineinducing, we’ve got you covered. Turn to page 36 to meet Holly and Ruth, the two sisters taking over Country Side Trees in Walworth, their family’s beloved Christmas tree farm. You’ll learn about all of the charming things to encounter on a trip to the farm this holiday season (Newfoundland dogs will pull your tree to your car on Nov. 28!). Then check out the winners of our Winter Birding Photo Contest (page 48), who captured some truly stunning images of the area’s year-round feathered friends. Of course, if you’re hoping to spend the colder months cozied up at home planning your happily-ever-after, you won’t want to miss our 16th annual special section, “Getting Married At The Lake.” Meet three couples who chose Lake Geneva for their dream weddings, and read all the latest trends and tried-and-true tips for an unforgettable wedding day (page 71). Whether you’re looking for cold-weather thrills or just want to chill, you’ll find your perfect winter … At The Lake.

Anne Morrissy Editor anne@ntmediagroup.com

Follow At The Lake on Social Media For additional glimpses of life At The Lake, including photos, videos and behind-the-scenes peeks, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. @AtTheLakeMag 6 AT THE LAKE

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GAME NIGHT Yahtzee was a family favorite growing up (I remember playing it on a train trip to Seattle as a kid!), Find this elevated bookshelf edition in our gift guide for the guys in your life (page 68). VINTAGE SIPS With its classic look and retro decor, it’s hard to believe Brandy’s Old-Fashioned is a brand-new supper club. Learn all about the new Lake Geneva restaurant on page 123.

HOT HIDEAWAY There are a million rumors about Chicago’s gangsters of the 1920s and ’30s hiding out in Lake Geneva. We separate fact from fiction and uncover some wild tales on page 94.

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contents winter 2026

features

36 Spreading Holiday Cheer

How a pair of sisters is breathing new life into their family’s Christmas tree farm.

Becoming Hollywood’s Snowman

Birds of a Feather See the winners of At The Lake’s

Gangsters on Vacation

winter photo contest and learn

Learn about the notorious

Meet Dieter Sturm, the special-

how they ‘got the shot.’

gangsters who spent some of

effects coordinator who won an

By Anne Morrissy

their downtime in Lake Geneva

By Chloe Langerman

Oscar for his method of making

in the 1920s and 1930s.

snow for Hollywood hits.

By Anne Morrissy

By Amanda Wegner 10 AT THE LAKE

DESIGN . BUILD . RENOVATE Our Mission is to build a Quality Home and maintain an open line of . BUILD . toRENOVATE DESIGN communication with our client throughout the building process... from the initial design concept to it’s final and outstanding completion!

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contents winter 2026

departments sponsored content 56 Cottage Makeover 71 16th Annual Wedding Guide: Getting Married at the Lake

home & garden 63 Bright Ideas 68 Trending at the Lake

better living 103 Good Neighbors 107 Tapping Into It 107 At the Library

out & about 109 Thrills and Chills 113 Q&A: On the Slopes 114 Events at the Lake

food & drink 119 Famous Bites, Local Pride 123 Old-Fashioned Flavor

109 digital partners

123

124 Dining at the Lake

in every issue 6

Editor’s Page

21 Currents 130 Life at the Lake

12 AT THE LAKE

Indoor • Outdoor Lighting LEDs • Bulbs • Fans Lamp Repairs • Shades

At The Lake ®

G e n e va L a k e A r e a M ag a z i n e

PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL PUBLISHER Barbara Krause bak@ntmediagroup.com EDITOR Anne Morrissy anne@ntmediagroup.com ART DIRECTOR Lauren Harrigan lharrigan@ntmediagroup.com PHOTOGRAPHER & IMAGE EDITOR Holly Leitner holly@ntmediagroup.com DIGITAL DIRECTOR Kristen Rouse krouse@ntmediagroup.com SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Cici Rindy cici@ntmediagroup.com

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At The Lake® magazine is a publication of Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. Gary E. Nei, Chairman; William Turner, President; Barbara Krause, Publisher. 400 Broad St., Lake Geneva, WI 53147. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by the publisher. ©2025 Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Prepress services and printing by Royle Printing, Sun Prairie, WI. Unsolicited material must be accompanied by return postage. At The Lake® magazine assumes no liability for damage or loss.

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currents

ELYSE BULLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s in the Bag Fall fundraiser to support Holiday Home Camp is a six-decadelong tradition BY ANNE MORRISSY

new & Noteworthy

Cindy Milojevic displays the coveted “traveling bag” during auction at the Le Bags at LaRocque fundraising event for Holiday Home Camp.

n September, the Lake Geneva Fresh Air Association hosted one of its annual fundraisers to support Holiday Home Camp, a nonprofit camp on the lake in Williams Bay that provides camp experiences to urban kids regardless of family income. The camp, which was founded in 1887, is one of the oldest continuously operating camps in the United States that is still in its original location. The Le Bags at LaRocque fundraising event took place at LaRocque Farms

WINTER 2026

currents new & noteworthy

LGFAA Events Coordinator Elle Woods says that the event was a huge success and exceeded last year’s event’s fundraising numbers. The money raised this year will help to pay for the camp experiences of 50 campers at Holiday Home Camp next summer. “It’s heartwarming to see how one afternoon of joy, style and community can have such a lasting impact,” Woods wrote in a message to attendees. Executive Director Brad Cripe says that fundraisers like the Le Bags at LaRocque event are what allows Holiday Home to provide yearround camp experiences for so many campers. “Fundraisers in general are the life blood that allows us to serve our kids and the mission of Holiday Home Camp,” he says. “We 22 AT THE LAKE

can only provide all of the lifelong memories, mentorships and magic with the support we receive from our community through donations and fundraisers.”

Full Makeover Clear Waters Salon Med Spa and the Green Grocer move into luxurious new space In June, the community gathered to celebrate the new home of two longstanding Williams Bay businesses, Clear Waters Salon Med Spa and the Green Grocer, with a ribbon cutting and open house at their new location at 77 N. Walworth Ave. in Williams Bay.

In March of 2005, Clear Waters Salon Med Spa had opened in the historic Bay Centre building (also known as the Granath building) and quickly set itself apart as the only full-service spa in the area with medical affiliation. The ability to offer traditional salon and spa services, including massage and skincare services, as well as med spa services such as Botox injections and microdermabrasion, attracted a devoted following, and the business quickly grew to add additional service providers and treatment rooms. Responding to feedback from clients, Mancuso and Veith opened the Green Grocer in 2009, selling organic and locally produced grocery items as well as wine, beer and other retail items. The business expanded quickly with

The salon area in Clear Waters’ new space features 10 styling chairs and six stations for nail services.

TOP: ELYSE BULLARD PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM: HOLLY LEITNER

in Walworth and featured a catered lunch, dessert from Fontana’s Blue Heaven Ice Cream and a robust selection of auction items. This event, which features a handbag theme, has been a tradition for the Lake Geneva Fresh Air Association since 1957. A unique element of the fundraiser is the auctioning of a special “traveling bag.” For over six decades, the winner of the traveling bag has taken it with them on their vacations and carried it to events throughout the year. Before the next year’s fundraiser, they add highlights and photos with the bag to a collected scrapbook. “There’s so much history in these books!” says Mary Alice Myers, co-coordinator of this year’s event.

Co-owner Dawn Marie Mancuso says the plans for the new space began about five years ago when she and business partner Jennifer Veith acquired the vacant land kittycorner from the businesses’ original location with the intent to build a new home for Clear Waters and the Green Grocer. “We started planning in 2020, and construction began in the fall of 2023, with the goal that the new building would meet the needs of both businesses perfectly because we could design it to suit how the businesses had evolved over the years,” Mancuso explains.

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currents new & noteworthy a deli, a full-service coffee bar and freshly made sandwiches, soups and salads. Manager Jane Larsen joined the team in 2011.

Working with the architect, Mancuso and Veith designed a building that would allow both Clear Waters Salon Med Spa and the Green Grocer to thrive. “For the grocery store, we added more space for grocery items, more refrigeration and a modern open-air kitchen,” Mancuso explains.

“We more than doubled the dining space and added a large antique bar. For the salon, we created a bright and refreshing space filled with natural light from numerous large windows. The spa area is quiet, cozy and inviting, with seven treatment rooms specifically designed to meet the needs of our guests.” The second-floor salon section features 10 styling chairs, four color application stations and six stations for nail services, as well as a dedicated retail area. “The expanded space has also made it possible to introduce a new luxury service — the Head Spa —

a rejuvenating scalp treatment and the first of its kind in the area,” Mancuso adds. The new building has also allowed the businesses to expand their outdoor space, including a rooftop deck and street-level patio seating, as well as serve as a gathering place for local civic groups and clubs, hosting meetings and community fundraisers, wine dinners and other special events. “The community loves the space,” Mancuso says. “We feel so grateful for the incredible support from everyone.”

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The growth and success of Clear Waters and the Green Grocer led Mancuso and Veith to envision a new space that would house both businesses. After purchasing the land once occupied by the Keg Room and the Fashionette Salon, which had remained vacant following a fire in 2001, Mancuso and Veith brought in the architectural firm of Ferris, Hansen & Associates to design the new building.

The new rooftop bar at The Green Grocer features an outdoor bar and seating.

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Becoming Hollywood’s

Snowman Dieter Sturm’s special effects legacy includes several hit movies and an Academy Award BY AMANDA WEGNER

28 AT THE LAKE

ieter Sturm has spent over 40 years blending his passion for tinkering and invention with his love of media, resulting in a rewarding and award-winning career. “My No. 1 thing in life is being creative,” says Sturm. “Creativity will be with you all the way to your last day on this planet.” For the last 41 years, Sturm has created live-action special effects as a designer, creator and coordinator for movies and TV commercials. Alongside his wife of 34 years, Yvonne Beaulieu Sturm, who is also his business partner and a skilled special effects coordinator in her own right, Sturm has worked on hundreds of TV commercials and over 100 movies, including cult classics like “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Fargo” and “True Lies.” “It’s been a pretty extensive run for us,” Sturm says. Along the way, he also developed an eco-friendly method to create special-effect snow. And all of this happened from the place he calls home — Lake Geneva.

AN INVENTOR AT HEART

Sturm was “always one of those inventor-type kids,” building things out of household items. “I remember one day my mother asked me, ‘Where did my ironing board go?’ and I told her that I just built the ice boat out of it,” Sturm says. “I kept on like that — building, inventing and creating.”

OPPOSITE PAGE: HOLLY LEITNER, THIS PAGE: COURTESY OF DIETER STURM

After high school, Sturm began classes at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, but he wanted to work in TV or radio. Motivated to find a job, he visited every TV and radio station in the Milwaukee area. The last radio station he checked had just changed formats and asked if he wanted to be the mascot for weekend promotions. “That gave me a foot in the door,” he says. Sturm then became the station’s janitor and started learning about different departments. Eventually, he began working late-night graveyard shifts on air and was ultimately asked to take on a new position as promotions director. At the same time, he was working as a freelancer, creating special effects for bands’ live shows and focusing on pyrotechnics. In an interesting twist that leveraged his radio experience, Sturm also became a DJ at Mad Hatter, Milwaukee’s largest nightclub. While still working as a promotions director, he became Mad Hatter’s head DJ, bringing flash pots and fire breathing into his set. “That was just ‘wow,’” he recalls. “Everybody dancing and partying in the nightclub — it was pretty crazy.” Through his promotions role at the station, Sturm worked on several events with Playboy in Lake Geneva. When a public relations position at the Playboy Club-Hotel opened up, Sturm was asked to apply. “I was ready to move on to something else outside of radio,” he explains. “I worked at Playboy as corporate PR director almost three years before they sold. That’s what brought me to Lake Geneva.” When the job with Playboy ended, Sturm moved over to TSR, the Lake Geneva-based publisher of Dungeons & Dragons, WINTER 2026

as their corporate PR director while continuing to freelance special effects in the evenings and on weekends. It was around this time that Sturm was about to get his big break.

BREAKING THE ICE

What truly launched Sturm’s long and successful career in special effects was a promotional event for a groundbreaking ceremony. Instead of a typical gold-shovel event, the ad agency Sturm was working with wanted something more explosive. So Sturm exploded a mound of dirt, which became the main headline in the Milwaukee Journal’s Business section the next day. “It was a huge success,” he remembers. “Everybody was happy.” After the event, Sturm was asked to do a commercial for Emergency TV Service, which featured an exploding television. “That’s what broke the ice,” says Sturm. “We did that commercial, and that’s when the bug bit me for working in film and video. I thought, ‘This is great. I love this environment and these types of people.’” Sturm did a few more commercials after that, including one that won a national Addy award. Around the same time, TSR was experiencing a management change, and Sturm took that as a chance to dip a toe into the movie industry.

“They had just fired the special effects guy,” recalls Sturm of “Lucus,” the first movie he worked on. “They said they only needed me for a couple of scenes, but I didn’t know anything. I decided I’d just do whatever the effect was and then try to figure out the rest. And I did.” Shortly after that, Sturm was asked to go full-time on a movie — “that was a pivot point,” he says. That movie was “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” where Sturm worked under two different special-effects coordinators. “I learned a lot about larger-scale effects, and that’s where I started the snow-making.”

STURM THE SNOWMAN

Special effects professionals, explains Sturm, each have their own specialty. “You might be the fire guy, the hydraulic guy, the rain guy. I ended up being the snow guy.” Sturm first began working with snow under the guidance of Kurt Smith, a special-effects expert from Chicago, in the 1980s. Smith asked Sturm to collaborate with him on several projects, including multiple snow jobs, over two years. Then one day, Kurt decided to retire, effective immediately. “It was a surprise to everybody, and within weeks, some more snow jobs came in,” Sturm says. “And with Kurt gone, they said, ‘Well, that Dieter

guy, he was working with him. Maybe he knows something.’ And I started getting some calls.” Sturm started handling those snow jobs, but he also wanted a better way to make snow. He explains that in the 1980s and 1990s, plastic flakes and Styrofoam flakes were commonly used to mimic falling snow. The only biodegradable option was potato flakes, but those don’t look right falling and can develop a yellow tint. (Animals also liked it, which was problematic.) “I remember we did one snow job, and a few years later, we came back to that same location for a different job. There was still all this plastic in the bushes from years ago,” says Sturm. “That was kind of the lightbulb moment of, ‘Yeah, we can’t be doing this.’” From there, Sturm began designing new equipment and materials to serve the snow effect niche. That included specialized trucks for crushing 300-pound blocks of ice into snow and trailer units that produce high-expansion snow foam. In 1995, Sturm received an Academy Award for Scientific and Technical Achievement for creating and developing this material called BioSnow 2 Flake. At that time, Sturm and his wife, Yvonne, were working on a

A few of Sturm’s favorite projects “We did all the snow at the start of the movie, which was supposed to be Switzerland, but it was actually Newport, Rhode Island. And we got to work with Arnold Schwarzenegger.” Green Book (2018) “I really enjoyed contributing to this one because it was just a great story.” 30 AT THE LAKE

Fargo (1996) “This one turned into a surprise for us. We all thought it would go straight to VHS tape, but it kind of became a cult classic. In fact, Yvonne is famous for it. She’s known for being the person who made all the guts that came out of the wood chipper, so that was pretty cool.”

COURTESY OF DIETER STURM

True Lies (1994)

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movie called “Beautiful Girls” in Minneapolis. The couple had to ask for time off for the weekend to go to Los Angeles for the Academy Awards and receive their award. “We did the whole deal — we got the limo, we got the tux and the gown … and it was great,” says Sturm. “We went up on stage and received the award from Jamie Lee Curtis. That was a pretty spectacular weekend in our entire work history.” Another high point in his career, Sturm says, were the four appearances he made on the late-night talk show “Late Night with David Letterman.” The popular host invited Sturm on the show to perform feats of specialeffects magic for the audience and fellow guests. “I was asked to explode and blow up items on live network television,” Sturm explains. What kinds of items? “Thanksgiving leftovers, boomboxes, bratwurst, mashed potatoes and

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gravy ... even a huge mound of cottage cheese. It was so much fun!”

SHIFTING GEARS

The Sturms have downsized the number of projects they take on over the last few years. One reason, admits Sturm, is because he’s “getting on in age and slowing down a little bit.” He also says it’s a luxury to be choosy about how he wants to spend his work hours. “I’m now in a position to hand-pick the projects I’d like to work on,” he says. In addition to his special-effects work, Sturm has also recently founded Teleport Virtual Studio in Lake Geneva. By combining AI video generation, voice synthesis and music composition, the studio allows for quick prototyping of commercials, films, streaming shows and original songs. “We’re producing some pretty incredible things right now, and I’m hopeful that several of these projects are going to be ones [that get the greenlight].”

One project is close to his heart. Sturm recently revived a motionpicture script called “Snow Sharks” that he wrote about 30 years ago with cartoonist and Lake Geneva resident Joe Martin. “We tried to sell it, and it was just too expensive to produce,” says Sturm. “Two months ago, I dusted it off, took some of the sketches from the script and produced them with AI, and within a few weeks, I had about a two-minute movie trailer that looks as good as anything you could shoot. Now this project is renewed and revived again.” While the Sturms have worked across the country and around the world, Lake Geneva remains their home, and the new studio is helping them enjoy it a bit more. “I love living in Lake Geneva,” says Sturm. “I like the people around here, and I like the countryside. It’s a comfortable environment, and I’m glad we’ve set down roots here.”

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Spreading

Holiday Cheer

Sisters spruce up the family Christmas tree farm

BY CHLOE LANGERMAN PHOTOS BY HOLLY LEITNER, UNLESS NOTED

36 AT THE LAKE

WINTER 2026

Country Side Trees is a winter paradise. Even visiting the farm in September, when snow has yet to fall and temperatures have yet to cool, it’s not difficult to imagine cozying up in a puffer jacket and a pom-pomtopped beanie, wandering through the acres of aromatic firs and evergreens, snow crunching underfoot, or sitting by the firepit, dogs barking and children laughing. And of course: Families heading home with the perfect tree, a tangible symbol of the magical holiday season.

38 AT THE LAKE

The farm has been in operation since 1985, the year Glen and Becky Feltham sold their first Christmas tree. Since then, Country Side Trees has evolved from selling trees out of the family’s garage to its current location on North Walworth Road. Now, the Felthams’ daughters, Holly Van Dreser and Ruth Jacobs, have stepped into an expanded role. The sprawling property is now much larger than a garage — a cool 70 acres — but the family-run business still exudes coziness.

The makings of a Christmas tree This winter wonderland doesn’t just happen overnight, though. A typical Christmas tree takes a decade to mature for harvest, and each year, the family plants thousands of

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them. While novices may think that all Christmas trees look the same, Country Side Trees actually plants seven varieties of firs and evergreens. After planting, the family also dedicates many hours to maintaining their pre-existing trees. The first couple of months of the year are usually the slowest at the farm, when the family begins to clear and prep the fields for planting. They plant the trees during the first week of April, and Jacobs mows the fields frequently until the middle of October. (If the grasses get too high, it inhibits tree growth.) Throughout June and July, they trim and shear the trees to get them looking clean for the holidays. And then there’s the planning that goes into running the farm, including creating and supplying goods for the gift shop, and scheduling events.

Both Van Dreser and Jacobs went to college, never expecting to come back to their family’s farm. But they both say it just “felt right” to return and take over the day-to-day tasks. While it’s not always easy, they say there are perks to working with your loved ones. Along with the flexibility (longer lunches are a plus!), the sisters say that they have created their own holiday traditions at the farm. “Our family Christmas tradition is seeing everybody who buys a tree. The same families will come back every year, and it’s fun to catch up with them,” says Van Dreser. 40 AT THE LAKE

Social media spirit The sisters want customers to know that when they find their perfect Christmas tree at a farm, it doesn’t just grow that way. Each tree is tended to, shaped and grown for years. It’s not just nature’s doing; the Country Side Trees team enhances holiday spirit through a truly yearround labor of love. While the holiday season may be the time their business is most visible, Jacobs and Van Dreser wanted to share their off-season tasks with customers, many of whom come back year after year. So starting in 2024, the sisters began posting behindthe-scenes photos and videos on social media. Van Dreser says that the people she met when selling trees often didn’t recognize how much

TOP: COURTESY OF COUNTRYSIDE TREES

From posting on social media to maintaining the farm in the offseason, there is much to do to prepare the farm for the longawaited holiday season. Sometimes, these challenges can be exacerbated when emotions run high working with family. Jacobs says the easiest way to combat this is to stay on top of what needs to be done at the farm. “You just have to spend your time with purpose,” Jacobs says. “Make sure that you keep a list of things you need to get done, and get those things done no matter what.”

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... the perfect Christmas tree doesn’t just grow that way. Each tree is tended to, shaped and grown for years.

year-round work it takes to make a great Christmas tree. “Last year, it was the goal to show people we work really hard all year,” she says. “I think a lot of people don’t realize all of the hours and all the things that we do to take care of these Christmas trees to make them look like this.” Creating lighthearted videos to trending sounds, they also promote some of the other facets of the family business, including products for their human and non-human customers. Between their Instagram, TikTok and Facebook platforms, the sisters have amassed over 6,000 followers. Sometimes the videos spark debates online about whether or not Christmas trees should be sheared or trimmed. But the sisters say that, in general, the levity they’ve brought to their business online has translated

42 AT THE LAKE

to their in-person interactions. “Last year at Christmas, people would come up and be like, ‘Oh, I don’t mind paying this price, because I saw your videos, and I saw all the work that you guys have to do to do it,’” explains Jacobs.

Between its Instagram, TikTok and Facebook platforms, Country Side Trees has amassed over 6,000 followers (and counting).

Design by Jane Soto

When you go to pick out your perfect Christmas tree, what can you expect? At Country Side Trees, patrons can cut down their own tree or choose from a selection of fresh-cut ones. They can then bring their prized possession back to the main building, where there is a machine “It’s nice seeing happy that shakes the dead customers and cute kids needles off the tree. Then, the tree is placed running into the field, it makes into another machine, me feel like we did a good job” which wraps it in a netting that allows for — Ruth Jacobs easy transport in a car and into homes. While the tree is receiving its spa session, patrons receive a price tag that they take to the cashier in the gift shop. For the Cut-Your-Own trees, prices vary anywhere between $65 to $165, depending on tree height. Prices for the Fresh-Cut trees range from $15 to more than $150, again depending on height, type and years grown. After paying, customers can peruse the many holiday items in the store while they sip hot cocoa

44 AT THE LAKE

or coffee. Occasionally, a food truck will set up on the premises as well. And to answer a common question: Dogs are welcome on the property. Furry friends can enjoy the winter wonderland and sniff out the best tree for you and your family, just as long as they’re leashed. The gift shop building sits at the front of the property next to the parking lot. This is where the family sells all kinds of local, handmade Christmas and holiday-themed goods. “We try to sell things you won’t find [at the big box stores],” says Van Dreser. Some of the items, like dog treats, are sourced from other vendors, but for the rest, Van Dreser makes many of the goods herself. These include her beeswax and soy candles, paintings and crocheted gifts. Other family members paint watercolors and make ceramic ornaments that they sell at the shop, too. BOTTOM AND TWO LEFT CIRCLES ON OPPOSITE PAGE: COURTESY OF COUNTRYSIDE TREES

What to expect at the farm

All the holiday treasures Country Side Trees also sells handmade wreaths and garland, all created from fresh-cut evergreen material. Jacobs says it’s rare for Christmas tree farms to make their own, as many larger farms buy wholesale greenery. She says it’s another way for Country Side Trees to use the farm sustainably. “The trees that we are cutting [greenery] off of now are around 30 years old,” she explains. “They are still continuing to be a good renewable resource.”

Another sustainable resource is the antler dog chews that the family sells. Glen and Becky raised elk for about 25 years, which led them into the antler business. Every spring, elk (as well as deer and moose) shed their antlers as part of a natural process. These antlers are left in the wild, where suppliers pick them up and size them for dogs to chew on. Van Dreser says that these chews are more eco-conscious than traditional dog toys: “It lasts a long time, keeps them busy and, as it wears away, the dog’s getting nutrients from the antlers instead of plastic or stuffing or other weird things.”

WINTER 2026

Inside the gift shop building on the Country Side Trees property, you can find rows and rows of these antler chews. They come in various sizes, so any breed of dog can enjoy one. And that’s not the only perk for pups: Outside of the gift shop, Country Side Trees has an enclosed lure course for furry friends to enjoy. Here, dogs can try to catch a remote-controlled plastic bag attached to a rope. They bound around the course and tire themselves out, and the sisters say that patrons go home with a happy dog.

This winter, there will be even more exciting seasonal events for customers to enjoy. A particular highlight is the arrival of the Newfoundland dogs. These crowd-favorite canines will make an appearance one weekend a year to pull customers’ trees on a sled to the parking lot, making for the perfect photo op. This year, the dogs will be on site from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. The sisters say they don’t currently have any grand plans to expand the farm. All they really want to do is sell more trees and make people happy each holiday season. It seems like they’ve succeeded — some of their customers have visited the farm for over 30 years, and have become friends in the process. “It’s nice seeing happy customers and cute kids running into the field, it makes me feel like we did a good job,” says Jacobs.

46 AT THE LAKE

TOP: COURTESY OF COUNTRYSIDE TREES

Family fun and annual tradition

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Birds of a Feather AT THE LAKE’S PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

The Geneva Lake area is lucky to have so many passionate birders and talented photographers. Last February, we asked our readers to send us their best winter birding photos as part of our winter photo contest. The following seven images were selected by our contest judges and represent some of the beautiful creatures that we share the lake with throughout the winter season.

48 AT THE LAKE

CARDINAL Williams Bay By Clinton Renji

“Although they’re relatively common, I am drawn to the cardinal and its spirituality. The vibrant red with the snow coming down really spoke to me as a winter composition. The challenge was finding the best possible lighting on an overcast day.”

WINTER 2026

SHORT-EARED OWL Walworth County By Mary Boehm

50 AT THE LAKE

“I became smitten with this species a few years ago when seeing photos of them. Then, one day at the end of December, one just popped up in front of me while I was out looking for deer. I was so filled with joy to finally see one, the tears streamed from my eyes! It can be very hard to get photos as the light quickly diminishes [during their feeding time at dusk], while holding a camera with frozen fingers.”

BALD EAGLE Mill Lake portion of Lake Beulah By Jamie Vondra

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER Maple Park, Lake Geneva By Paul Hummel

(top) “The bald eagle immediately caught my eye. Its orange beak blended beautifully with the warm orange tones of the surrounding leaves. The colors complemented each other in such a striking way that I couldn’t resist capturing the moment. The main challenge was acting quickly and quietly before the eagle took off. Luckily, the timing worked out perfectly to capture the shot!” (bottom) “The red-bellied woodpecker is one of the most strikingly beautiful birds, but it is not one I see all that often. There were two keys to capturing this photograph. The first was to determine what attracts these birds. I settled on a type of suet block that is a favorite for our local downy woodpeckers. Then it was all about diligence and spending enough time watching the feeder.” WINTER 2026

JUVENILE BALD EAGLE Williams Bay By Lester Crisman “We were watching many different ages of bald eagles that day. This was, I believe, about a two-year-old bald eagle. They were flying back and forth from shore to shore. I had to get my camera settings ready and lock on to the eagle as it was making its pass.”

CANADA GEESE (STANDING) AND REDHEADS (FLYING) Geneva Lake, Williams Bay By Justin Piotrowski

52 AT THE LAKE

“Cedar Point has a very dense collection of springs under the water which make it one of the last spots on the lake to freeze in the winter. Hundreds of ducks and geese of all different types usually surround and swim in the water. On a calm day, the amount of noise is pretty astonishing. This past winter, for a few days, there were literally thousands of ducks coming in and out, so I got out my camera.”

MUTE SWAN Geneva Lake, Williams Bay By Rick Jessen

“[My wife] and I had our sunset wedding on Kāʻanapali Beach on Maui. We had our wedding dinner at The Hyatt Regency Swan Court. We were seated at the very edge of the lagoon — black and white swans would often paddle past our table, and they were so beautiful. So when I heard there were swans in the Bay, I wanted to photograph them.” WINTER 2026

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54 AT THE LAKE

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56 AT THE LAKE

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COTTAGE MAKEOVER How Stebnitz Builders transformed a multi-generational getaway

ven the most idyllic lakeside retreat can start to feel outdated or functionally limited over time. Restoring a multi-generational lake home blends the challenge of preserving the home’s history while responding to the practical needs of today’s modern families. Honoring a legacy destination, while bringing light and life to the compact home, was the goal for the renovation of this charming, lakeside, 1950s-era cottage by Stebnitz Builders. Working on both large and small renovation projects means that Stebnitz Builders in Elkhorn understands the nuances of working with homes of various sizes and architectural styles. For this project, Stebnitz’s design team partnered with the cottage’s latest generation of owners to renovate and restore the family lake home for future generations to enjoy. “They planned to keep the home in the family as a place to gather,” says Jeff “Chopper” Anderson, design consultant at Stebnitz Builders. “Redesigning the space to make it live larger allows the owners, who are siblings, to visit and enjoy the lake with their families. The vaulted ceiling, open

floor plan and modern amenities make the cottage more enjoyable for all guests.” For 75 years, this delightful 900-square-foot lakeside cottage, located on Lake Como, has been a cherished retreat and vacation getaway for the clients’ Chicagoland-area family. The cottage’s simple original design reflected the home’s idyllic setting, but it needed a “refresh” to meet the growing family’s needs, while providing modern amenities and features that enhance the cottage’s appeal. The waterfront home was completely reimagined as a family escape for future generations. To accomplish this, the plan involved gutting the home, bringing it down to the studs. The renovation required innovative solutions to overcome WINTER 2026

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION | STEBNITZ BUILDERS INC. the cottage’s original small-footprint design. Fresh, functional renovation elements introduced modern conveniences, while maximizing every square foot of space. Each structural design change ensured this renovated cottage would stand the test of time. As the heart of the home, the cottage’s kitchen was opened to the living room to create an expansive, openconcept space. The former kitchen was cramped and dated, with dark cabinetry and outdated countertops. The new, function-focused kitchen is now the ideal gathering space for big family meals thanks to the oversized kitchen island, making this cozy kitchen feel much larger. Featuring gleaming white cabinets, stunning quartz countertops, state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances, plus an integrated cooktop and drop-in oven, the kitchen offers a modern, bright touch to the cottage’s historic charm. As part of the renovation, the home got an interior design refresh that emphasizes warmth, functionality and connection. Luxury vinyl plank flooring in timeless natural wood

58 AT THE LAKE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION | STEBNITZ BUILDERS INC.

textures ties the spaces together, while offering a durable, water-resistant surface for this busy lakeside property. New sliding-glass doors, adjacent to the cottage’s main-floor living space, allow sweeping views of the stunning lakefront. The new cathedral ceiling gracing the living area provides an expansive feeling to the space and shiplap wall accents further emphasize the charming architectural appeal.

STEBNITZ BUILDERS INC. 204 Commerce Ct. #3, Elkhorn, WI 53121 262-723-7232 | stebnitzbuilders.com

Teeming with space-saving solutions, the home’s entryway also offers the ideal landing spot after coming in from the great outdoors — complete with a built-in bench and custom cabinetry for storage. The elevated finishes throughout the cottage balance tradition and functionality with comfort.

From there, the Stebnitz Builders team focused on fully transforming the home’s two bedrooms. Redesigned to be a cozy, comfortable retreat, the inviting primary suite now features a full-sized bed and recessed lighting, while the secondary bedroom is now the perfect space to accommodate two additional guests. Finally, the cottage’s laundry area and mechanical systems were completely updated and reconfigured, blending modern technical upgrades with classic lake home charm.

The home’s original single bathroom was transformed into a modern dream refuge. The expanded and upgraded space features a spa-like walk-in shower with full-height quartz walls and a frameless glass door. The new amenities deliver beauty and comfort without compromising on space.

On the Lake Como cottage’s exterior, Stebnitz Builders installed a new roof, soffit and fascia to complete the renovation. The formerly outdated cottage’s interior and exterior renovations have resulted in a beloved multigenerational home where the clients can celebrate family traditions and continue their legacy of lakeside living. WINTER 2026

NOW ON

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Shannon Blay is a real estate licensee afﬁliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

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SHANNA WOLF

Bright Ideas Top tips from local experts on how to optimize the lighting in your home BY LAUREN EVE

well-lit home can elevate a space from dingy and boring to cozy and comforting with just the flip of a switch. Achieving the optimal lighting conditions for each space in a room can have a powerful impact on the overall aesthetic of your home. So what’s the best approach to upgrading your home’s lighting? Our experts agree that if you’re building or remodeling a home, it’s best to include lighting in your plans from the very beginning. But even if you’re not planning a major overhaul of your home, a few small lighting updates can have a big impact.

WINTER 2026

3 EXPERTS home & garden interiors

BREAK DOWN THE TRENDS

The best approach, according to Philip Sassano, principal at The Design Coach in Harvard, Illinois is to start with a full lighting “wish list,” then scale back as needed. Homeowners can create interiors that are both beautiful and practical by thinking about how each space will be used and how light can enhance daily living. “Right now, the trend is all about warm, portable lights,” Sassano says. This year, homeowners are rediscovering the charm and function of multiple light sources — from small lamps that create soft, ambient light, to sconces and even library lamps in unexpected spaces like kitchens. “The love affair with lamps is back,” Sassano continues. “Layering your lighting is key. This allows homeowners to control both the mood and function of a room.”

With this emphasis on multiple lamps and fixtures, lighting has become one of the biggest statement pieces in today’s homes, elevated to something closer to a form of art. In fact, many homeowners are choosing to focus on statement light pieces in place of wall art. Lighting sources like sconces, dramatic pendant lights, large chandeliers and staggered drop fixtures in tall ceilings can all play the role of statement piece in a room.

Lamps

If you’re looking to add a statement fixture, experts recommend choosing a lighting piece that’s slightly Statement lighting larger than you think you need. However, don’t forget that even small touches can add a stunning focal point, says “A thoughtful mix of ambient, task, Phil Johnson, owner at accent and general overhead lighting Foremost Electric in Lake Geneva. For this reason, can transform any space.” LED ribbon lighting is — Joseph Kroupa, Caravelle Lighting also rising in popularity. Homeowners are using these lighting solutions under cabinets, along toe kicks, in crown molding, on stair treads or below floating shelves. “We see it in nearly every home,” explains Johnson. “[Ribbon lighting] offers endless possibilities for creativity and can add that ‘wow’ factor to any room.”

Accent lighting Statement lights in place of wall art!

Ribbon lighting 64 AT THE LAKE

FAR LEFT AND TOP THREE: SHANNA WOLF; BOTTOM: WARREN JORDAN

Too often, lighting is one of the last considerations when building or refreshing a home, but it should be part of the design from the earliest conversations. “Different rooms have different needs,” explains Joseph Kroupa, president at Caravelle Lighting in Richmond, Illinois. “A thoughtful mix of ambient, task, accent and general overhead lighting can transform any space.”

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WINTER 2026

home & garden interiors EMBRACING SMART TECHNOLOGY

Today’s lighting systems don’t just turn on and off — they can adjust color temperature throughout the day, offering bright, energizing light in the morning and warm, relaxing tones at night to support your body’s natural rhythms. “Smart lighting has evolved from a ‘cool gadget’ to an everyday essential,” says Kroupa. This kind of dynamic lighting not only enhances comfort and mood, but it can also improve focus during the day and help signal to your body when it’s time to wind down at night.

Floor lamps Add a cozy feel

THE LIGHTBULB LOWDOWN

In today’s lighting world, LED has become the standard choice for many homeowners and designers. LEDs offer

66 AT THE LAKE

SHANNA WOLF

New lighting technology, such as app- and voicecontrolled lights, are more common with homeowners these days due to the effortless convenience. “The real magic comes from integration,” explains Kroupa. “Lights can sync with security systems, music or even sunrise and sunset schedules.” Homeowners who want to start using more lighting technology will find that a simple approach works best. Begin with smart bulbs in your most-used rooms, says Kroupa, and expand from there as you experience how much a thoughtfully lit home can enhance daily life.

unmatched energy efficiency, making them ideal for most rooms in the home. These bulbs offer a wide range of color temperatures, from a warm, cozy 2700K to a bright, cool 6000K. Johnson explains that the color temperature is an important consideration in home lighting. “For most homes, the softer end of the spectrum, around 2700K to 3000K is the sweet spot, creating a welcoming, residential feel, while higher temperatures can feel more commercial,” he explains. LED lighting’s exceptional energy efficiency allows a traditional 60watt incandescent to be replaced by an 8-watt LED without any loss of brightness. Homeowners can further fine-tune light levels with dimmers, explains Johnson, but it’s important to choose LED-compatible switches and controls to get the perfect glow, as not all older accessories are compatible with LEDs. However, with the right setup, LED lighting can deliver both style and efficiency for every room in your home.

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SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT

Homeowners can take a few simple steps to upgrade their lighting without committing to a full renovation. One of the easiest and quickest ways to enhance a space is with floor lamps. “Almost any corner can benefit from their soft, ambient glow,” says Sassano. “Lamps on small tables or around the perimeter of a room can instantly make a space feel cozy and inviting.” Also don’t forget about dimmers: Dimmer switches add versatility, allowing homeowners to adjust the mood and make a single room serve multiple purposes. By installing dimmers on key fixtures, you can create a cozy atmosphere for relaxing evenings or brighter light for tasks and entertaining. Ultimately, the goal is to create a space that feels warm and welcoming. Lighting with presence does more than illuminate a space. It can enhance the atmosphere, bring joy and add character to the home. “Good lighting is fundamental to how you live in your home every day,” Sassano says.

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home & garden shopping

trending at the lake Think of it as a “gift guy-ed” — we shopped local stores for a few holiday gift ideas with a masculine edge STYLING & PHOTOS BY HOLLY LEITNER

4 3 5 6

10 9

1 YAHTZEE VINTAGE BOOKSHELF EDITION; $58, Brick & Mortar Home, Lake Geneva | 2 PLAID THROW; $80, Paper Dolls, Lake Geneva 3 WOODFORD OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL SYRUP; $24, Edie Boutique, Lake Geneva 4 BUCK WINE HOLDER (WINE NOT INCLUDED); $69, Paper Dolls, Lake Geneva | 5 FINCH & FENNEL JALAPEÑO PEACH PRESERVES; $11, Brick & Mortar Home, Lake Geneva | 6 BUBINGA WOOD STEAK KNIVES; $399, Brick & Mortar Home, Lake Geneva | 7 BOURBON CEDAR EXFOLIATING ALL-IN-ONE SCRUB; $18, Edie Boutique, Lake Geneva 8 FISH CUTTING BOARD; $48, Brick & Mortar Home, Lake Geneva | 9 VINTAGE ALARM CLOCK; $48, Paper Dolls, Lake Geneva | 10 ICE BUCKET; $79, Paper Dolls, Lake Geneva 68 AT THE LAKE

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2000

Elyse Bullard Photography

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& GEM APPRAISERS LLC.

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ARIANNEE PHOTOGRAPHY

16th Annual Wedding Guide

At The Lake

DESTINATION HAPPILY EVER AFTER

EAT, DRINK & BE MARRIED

THE ART OF THE WEDDING MORNING

REAL WEDDINGS

Page 72

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: WEDDING GUIDE | WINTER 2026

Destination Happily Ever After HOW TO PLAN A PERFECT DESTINATION WEDDING BY ALEXANDRA DILLARD & ANNE MORRISSY here’s an undeniable allure to a destination wedding. Gathering all of your family and friends in a favorite vacation destination to celebrate the start of your new lives together creates lifelong memories and sets a relaxed and romantic tone from the moment the first guests arrive in town. However, planning a destination wedding (perhaps in Lake Geneva?) comes with a different set of challenges you need to account for: How will you get there? How will your guests get there? What types of accommodations are best for everyone attending? Will everyone stay in the same resort or will people prefer to opt for smaller boutique hotels or vacation rentals? What additional events make sense to entertain your guests over the course of the weekend? Will guests need transportation to and from their lodgings? How can you best budget for these details? THE GUEST LIST As with all weddings, the first consideration will be the guest count. For a destination wedding, this will depend on the type of event 72 AT THE LAKE

MATT MASON PHOTOGRAPHY

you want to host and how easy it will be for everyone to meet you there. Typically, inviting around 100 guests or fewer is a good target for a wedding that feels like a party but also allows you to have meaningful moments with all of your guests over the weekend. Remember that destination weddings can add extra pressure for your guests. On top of having to do quite a bit of traveling to even attend your wedding, your friends and family may have to take time off work and pay for flights and multiple nights at a hotel or rental. These hurdles may prevent some of your loved ones from being able to show up for your special day, which can be a dealbreaker for some. If you find that many guests won’t be able to join you due to these restrictions, this dream location may be better suited for a magical honeymoon getaway. SENDING SAVE-THE-DATES Because your guests will have to make complicated travel arrangements, it’s best to send out save-the-dates earlier for a destination wedding than you would for a local celebration. For international destinations, savethe-date cards should be sent out at least 12 months before the event. If it’s within the U.S., nine to 12 months is sufficient. RESORTS AND HOTELS Many resorts and larger hotels will work with couples to

reserve a block of rooms at a guaranteed rate. Guests typically have until a certain date to call the hotel and book a room at that rate in the block. This is a very nice gesture for a couple to offer their guests, most of whom are already coordinating their own travel and other details — it’s great to have this decision checked off the list for them. When choosing where to block rooms, it’s useful to give one or two options that are very close to the ceremony and reception locations (or in some cases, in the same building), so guests don’t have to spend a lot of time moving between the various events. Plus, it’s always fun to have everyone staying at the same place (or very near each other) to keep the party going! Depending on the number of rooms they have available, smaller boutique hotels may not be able to offer room blocks, but they should still be included in a list of accommodation options to guests. These hotels are often locally owned and provide a great window into the local character of the destination guests have traveled to visit. A boutique hotel often provides personalized attention to its guests, plus an ideal location close to the activities and sites travelers most want access to. VACATION RENTALS In some destinations, hotels and resorts may be limited in number, or they may be very pricey and/or require minimum stays. In these locations, it’s good to look into

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vacation rentals as an option to offer guests as well. Vacation rentals usually offer a wider range of options — for example, families traveling together often prefer the option of multiple bedrooms, a common area and a shared kitchen, which hotels and resorts don’t usually provide. Some brides like to book a vacation rental for the weekend so that they have a large and comfortable space for getting ready with their bridesmaids on the morning of the wedding, as well. TRANSPORTATION On the big day, think through how you’ll get yourselves, your wedding party and guests from point A to point B. If your wedding is at a resort and you and your guests are also staying there, transportation between events may not be necessary or may be provided by the resort. But if you’ve blocked rooms for your guests at multiple locations, or provided a list of accommodation ideas, and your ceremony and venue are not within easy walking distance, arranging group transportation is a smart way to simplify things for your guests. Shuttles (or sometimes boats!) can be arranged to ensure pickups at key locations convenient to your guests’ accommodations. This helps ensure that no one gets lost, ends up at the wrong location or arrives late. WEDDING-RELATED EVENTS For a destination wedding, it’s a good idea to plan a few additional events to welcome and thank your guests for traveling. Consider hosting a welcome dinner or introductory cocktail hour. It’s a casual way to greet everyone and chat before the festivities really begin. These events create opportunities for personal connection before the schedule fills up. Especially with destination weddings, it’s thoughtful to spend one-on-one time with guests who have made the journey to celebrate with you. Don’t worry, the traditional rehearsal dinner can still be reserved as an intimate moment for your closest friends, family and wedding party. ◌

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Eat, Drink & Be Married BY ALEXANDRA DILLARD

1. DECIDE HOW TO SERVE THE FOOD Before deciding on the menu items, it’s important to consider how you want the food to be served. Food service sets the tone for the rest of the reception. A fullservice, or plated meal, works best for couples who want the meal to be a highlight of the event. For this method, individual 76 AT THE LAKE

ANNA URBAN PHOTOGRAPHY

rab your forks and knives — it’s time to talk catering! Planning a menu for a large group of people can be a daunting task. After all, when was the last time that you had to plan a luxury meal for more than 100 people? The best piece of advice is to trust your caterers. Feeding crowds is their expertise, so once you communicate your vision, it’s best to let your caterer take the reins. Relinquishing control can feel scary, but when the result is a room full of cherished guests enjoying an amazing meal, it will be well worth it. With these six tricks of the trade in mind, you and your caterer can create a meal to remember.

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2. SELECT MEANINGFUL DISHES Collaborate with your caterer to design a menu that holds personal significance. What did you eat on your first date? Were you sharing a meal when he or she proposed? What meals do you and your soon-to-be-

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spouse love to cook together? With these reflections in mind, compile a list of dishes that not only taste delicious but also have sentimental value. But remember to consider your guests’ preferences as well. While you two may enjoy adventurous dishes, ensure there are options that cater to less adventurous palates, too. Selecting a menu item that evokes happy memories is a way for you to share your story with friends and loved ones. Consider working with your stationer to add personalized notes on the menu cards. For example, you could mention that ravioli was the first dinner cooked together or that lobster bisque reminds you of memorable summer trips to Maine. Sharing these special moments from your relationship will help your guests feel more connected to the wedding. 3. CELEBRATE YOUR CULTURE AND BACKGROUND One of the most beautiful facets of marriage is its ability to unite people who come from different places and upbringings. Embrace the diversity of your backgrounds by incorporating culinary elements from

ANNA URBAN PHOTOGRAPHY

courses are delivered to each guest by servers, providing an elegant dining experience with professional service and minimal handling. Alternatively, a buffet is ideal for couples who can’t wait to get dancing and mingling. A buffetstyle dinner allows guests enough time to enjoy their food and hear a few toasts, but ultimately gets the party started sooner. Once everyone finishes eating dinner at their own pace, they can trickle onto the dance floor or go back for seconds. A third option is a combination of plated and buffet serving styles and provides the best of both worlds. Have the salad and main course served directly to each guest, but opt for self-serve desserts. This way, you get the elegant feel of a full-service dinner, but also the convenience of a buffet.

different cultures into your menu. Whether you’re dishing out Italian Jordan almonds, Puerto Rican alcapurrias or Jewish Challah, serving foods that represent both your heritages can beautifully symbolize your union. 4. CONSIDER THE SEASON When selecting your menu, don’t forget to take into account the time of year. Just like flowers, certain foods are best enjoyed in specific seasons. Serving strawberries in January, for example, may be costly and compromise their quality. Aligning your menu with the season ensures that the ingredients are at their freshest and most flavorful. This choice will benefit your budget, caterer and guests, providing a cohesive and delicious dining experience. 5. ACCOMMODATE ALLERGIES AND FOOD RESTRICTIONS To ensure all your guests feel safe and welcomed, make sure to communicate any dietary restrictions or allergies to your caterer. Consider including a card in your invitation suite where guests can indicate their entree choices and note any specific dietary needs. For guests with severe allergies, you can offer direct communication with the caterer to address concerns and safety. Most caterers are more than willing to accommodate dietary restrictions and provide safe and delicious meals. This attention to detail will make a significant difference to guests with specific requirements, allowing them to fully enjoy the feast.

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6. ENJOY YOUR MEAL Most couples get so swept up in the excitement of their reception that they barely have time to eat. Remember to pause and enjoy the food you dedicated so much effort into selecting. Also, remember that food is fuel. How are you going to tear up the dance floor on an empty stomach? Take care of yourself and make the most of your dinner to avoid burning out prematurely ◌ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: WEDDING GUIDE | WINTER 2026

Art

The of the Wedding Morning HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR PREP TIME ON THE BIG DAY

efore the walk down the aisle, before the clinking of champagne flutes and long before you’re twirling under the reception lights, there’s this soft, sacred little window of time: the wedding morning. Your wedding morning establishes a moment suspended between anticipation and celebration, and it deserves to feel as joyful and intentional as the day ahead. Here’s how to make the most of it. SET THE SCENE Your wedding morning vibe starts with where you set up. For the best environment, choose a space that’s clean, calm and filled with natural light. Trust us, your makeup artist and photographer will thank you! Bonus points

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for mirrors, cozy seating and room to spread out. Will you get ready in the comfort and familiarity of your home (or a parent’s home)? Or are you craving a little luxury and want to reserve a hotel suite? Perhaps a vacation rental is the perfect spot to gather your friends for a little morning pampering? Or you may want to ask the venue where the

KRISTINA LORRAINE PHOTOGRAPHY

BY ALEXANDRA DILLARD

ceremony will take place if they have a dedicated getting-ready suite. PLAN YOUR GLAM SCHEDULE A smooth glam session starts with a solid plan. Work with your planner and hair and makeup team to map out who’s getting what done when. And always build in a buffer for touch-ups, snacks and surprise delays. Curate a playlist that matches your mood, and remember: you don’t have to entertain anyone. You don’t have to be “on.” It’s your day, you just have to be. PICTURE PERFECT DETAILS Your photographer will likely arrive before you’re fully ready, and that’s on purpose. Gather your important details (invitation suite, shoes, perfume, jewelry, heirlooms, etc.) into one place they can be beautifully styled and photographed. Let your photographer know what moments and details matter most to you: a monogrammed robe, your mom zipping your dress, a mimosa cheers with your crew. DELEGATE You should not be the one figuring out where the florist should park or what time the shuttle arrives. Beyond the tasks your planner is handling, assign a trusted friend to manage incoming questions and last-minute logistics. That way, you can stay fully in the moment and off your phone. Create a quick group text and/or print a quick schedule with any key info. Think: vendor arrival times, who’s getting hair and makeup when, where the guest book is, etc. A little prep goes a long way toward keeping things calm and seamless. THAT FINAL, BEAUTIFUL PAUSE As the hairspray sets in and your veil is pinned in place, take a moment. Look around the room. Hug your people. Soak it all in. Because once you step into the ceremony, it all begins: the walk, the vows, the joy, the married part. But for now, you’re just a bride on the morning of her wedding, surrounded by love and beauty. And that, in itself, is a moment worth savoring. ◌ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: WEDDING GUIDE | WINTER 2026

Real Weddings

KARI + MILAN

July 18, 2025 | Photography by Anna Urban Photography

ari and Milan first met as students at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, but work took them in different directions after graduation. Then, in 2020, as the pandemic shut down much of the country, the two friends reconnected over the telephone. “There’s really nothing like a global pandemic to make people realize who they can’t live their life without!” Kari explains. Five years later, the couple chose Lake Geneva for their wedding, and welcomed guests from 15 states to witness their vows at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. To surprise

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Milan, who was born and raised in the Czech Republic, Kari wore a custom gown from his home country. The wedding party wore dresses and ties in shades of aqua — “to coordinate with the beautiful waters of Lake Geneva,” Kari explains. The ceremony was followed by a reception at the Riviera Ballroom, featuring vibrantly colored floral arrangements that included pink peonies, orange tiger lilies, yellow butterfly ranunculus, fuchsia stock, orange ranunculus, cosmos and other seasonal summer blooms. “My vision was to have bright, farm-fresh

flowers like those you’d see at a summer market,” Kari says. The menu featured hors d’oeurvres of Wisconsin classics like grilled brat bites and mini Reubens, and the entrée options included prime rib, prosciutto-stuffed chicken breast and oven-roasted grouper. The nine-piece live band played crowd-pleasing hits from the 1950s to today, and kept guests of all ages dancing throughout the evening. “Our wedding was the perfect combination of close family and friends, with elements of both an intimate gathering and a more traditional one,” Kari says.

THE DETAILS CEREMONY VENUE: St. Francis de Sales Church

HAIR & MAKEUP: Clear Waters Salon

RECEPTION VENUE: The Riviera Ballroom

FLORAL: Great White Farm, Burlington

EVENT PLANNER: Graceful Events

INVITATIONS AND STATIONERY: Minted

WEDDING RINGS: Diamonds on Wabash, Chicago

CATERING & DESSERTS: All Occasions Catering, Big Bend

BRIDEʼS GOWN: Custom gown from the Czech Republic

ENTERTAINMENT: Blue Water Kings

GROOMʼS FORMALWEAR: Bespoke suit from an independent tailor in San Diego

TRANSPORTATION: Elegant Motors

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Real Weddings

CAROLYN + AUGIE

September 21, 2024 | Photography by Kristina Lorraine Photography

t was perhaps more “friendship-first” than “love-love” at first sight, but Carolyn and Augie first met as kids playing tennis at the Lake Geneva Country Club (Carolyn spent five summers as an instructor, too!). And it was tennis that brought them together again as adults during the Covid pandemic, when both had moved back to the area to stay with family in Lake Geneva. Many tennis games later, they were engaged on the Sea Lark, a vintage wooden yacht owned by Augie’s grandparents. The couple was thrilled to plan a September wedding at the Lake Geneva

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Country Club, a place with so much meaning to both of them. They opted for an outdoor, lakeside ceremony at the club. The bride walked to the aisle from the Sea Lark — an experience she describes as “unforgettable” — where their pastor from Linn Presbyterian Church made the ceremony one of the most cherished parts of a special day. The bride carried a bouquet of flowers in shades of white, light blue and soft yellow, to complement the wedding’s traditional nautical aesthetic. Following cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the lawn, guests moved

indoors for a meal of steak and sea bass. Following the dinner, Chicago’s One Night Band kept everyone on their feet, and created a truly memorable moment by playing the song “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire, the first line of which famously asks, “Do you remember the 21st night of September?” “It’s our favorite song,” Carolyn explains. “So securing September 21st as our wedding date was the best news we could hear. The ultimate vibe we were going for when planning was to have a BLAST of a time celebrating our love surrounded by family and friends.”

THE DETAILS CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE: Lake Geneva Country Club EVENT PLANNER: Graceful Events

HAIR: Hair By Lucca MAKEUP: Lauren Ashton Makeup FLORAL: Frontier Flowers

VIDEOGRAPHER: Jack Wilkins, Wilk Media ENGAGEMENT RING: Fontana Jewelers

INVITATIONS AND STATIONERY: Eventful Designs, Hinsdale, Illinois

WEDDING RINGS: Oak Park Jewelers

CATERING & MENU: Lake Geneva Country Club

BRIDEʼS GOWN: All About the Gown

CAKE & SWEETS: Hazel’s Bakery, Hebron, Illinois

BRIDEʼS SHOES: Badgley Mischka

ENTERTAINMENT: One Night Band

GROOMʼS & GROOMSMENʼS FORMALWEAR: J. Roberts Suit

TRANSPORTATION: Lake Geneva Party Bus Company

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: WEDDING GUIDE | WINTER 2026

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88 AT THE LAKE

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Real Weddings

TREFELE + RYAN

June 7, 2025 | Photography by Matt Mason Photography

rowing up four blocks away from each other, Trefele and Ryan had no idea that one day they’d be sharing a life together. It wasn’t until they crossed paths again as adults that Ryan first asked Trefele on a date, and it was another six years before she accepted! But last June, just five weeks after Ryan graduated from the police academy, the couple stood before friends and family at Fontana’s St. Benedict’s Church to exchange wedding vows. The bride wore a strapless, A-line gown with lace detailing on the back

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and a dramatic lace train; she carried a bouquet of roses and cascading orchids, a nod to her late mother’s wedding bouquet. The bridesmaids wore strapless gowns in hunter green and the groomsmen wore navy suits. The traditional church ceremony was followed by a reception in the Geneva Ballroom at Lake Lawn Resort, a deeply meaningful location to the couple. “Both of our families have very fond memories of going on vacation to Lake Lawn while growing up,” Trefele explains. “It is so special to us that we didn’t even look at

another venue. Even my late father vacationed [there] as a kid!” For dinner, guests enjoyed crab cakes, filet mignon and bourbonteriyaki salmon with scalloped potatoes and bacon-wrapped vegetables, before dancing the night away. One of the most memorable moments came during the dancing: “Not wanting to omit the ‘father-daughter’ dance, I asked my four brothers to step in for my late father,” Trefele says. “My brother who is also my godfather started it off. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.”

THE DETAILS CEREMONY VENUE: St. Benedict’s Catholic Church

GROOMʼS & GROOMSMENʼS FORMALWEAR: Tommy Hilfiger

RECEPTION VENUE: Lake Lawn Resort

BRIDEʼS & GROOMʼS ACCESSORY: Irish love knot, Sloan family heirlooms

BRIDEʼS GOWN: Victoria Couture BRIDEʼS ACCESSORIES: Pearl drop earrings, her mother’s pearls around her wrist and grandmother’s heirloom moonstone necklace BRIDESMAIDS’ GOWNS: Bella Bridesmaids, Oak Brook, Illinois

HAIR & MAKEUP: Beauty By Tassi FLORAL: Westosha Florist INVITATIONS AND STATIONERY: Minted CATERING & MENU: Lake Lawn Resort CAKE & SWEETS: Wal-Mart

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GANGSTERS ON

Vacation

HOW CHICAGO’S INFAMOUS MOBSTERS SOUGHT REFUGE — AND OPPORTUNITY — IN THE GENEVA LAKE AREA BY ANNE MORRISSY

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The Cottage

OPPOSITE & THIS PAGE: COURTESY OF THE FRENCH COUNTRY INN

round 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 1934, FBI special agent Charlie Winstead stood in a second-story bedroom of a house on the south shore of Lake Como, watching through the window for any cars that might come down Red Chimney Road from Highway 50. Next to him on the bed was a loaded rifle. Winstead and two other agents from the Chicago Field Office were in the area acting on a tip that the newest “Public Enemy Number One” had “frequented the vicinity of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin” and was soon planning to return. For three days, Winstead and the agents had been patiently scanning for the arrival of Lester Joseph Gillis, better known in the press as the notorious gangster “Babyface Nelson.” Nelson had been elevated to the top spot of the FBI’s list just a few weeks earlier, following the death of John Dillinger and then Pretty Boy Floyd. In fact, Special Agent Winstead had played a key role in Dillinger’s death: he and several other agents had ambushed Dillinger in front of Chicago’s Biograph Theater, shooting him in the back of the head at close range. Following the incident, Winstead received a personal letter of commendation from FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, crediting him with firing the shot that killed the gangster. Now, in November, Winstead was at Lake Como because he had his sights set on Babyface Nelson.

THE COMO HOTEL

The house that Winstead and two other agents had been occupying was the home of Hobart “Hob” and Lucille Hermansen, operators of the Como Hotel next door, which was closed for the season. The Como Hotel had been owned by the Hermansen family for over a decade at that point — in 1921, Hobart’s father, Danish immigrant Christian Hermansen, purchased it from the Notter family. A skilled carpenter in his native country, Christian Hermansen

Babyface Nelson

WINTER 2026

The Como Hotel Annex

Guests came to the Como Hotel for rest and relaxation in a rural setting. Allan Hermansen, grandson of Christian Hermansen, remembers that the resort was favored mostly by families, who enjoyed the activities provided by the lake. “We had little flat-bottom boats and fishing boats you could rent from the hotel’s boatman,” he says. “A lot of guests that were there liked to fish. They enjoyed being in the country, having all their meals provided. People came up on a train trip; there was a train stop right in front of Mars Resort.” As with most resorts in the area during this time, Hermansen explains, the Como Hotel was open only from about midMay to mid-October. “Then we took out the piers and drained the pipes for the winter.” 96 AT THE LAKE

- Then and Now -

The French Country Inn The Como Hotel annex as it appeared in the 1930s (top). Como Hotel guests enjoy swimming on a hot summer day (middle). The same section of the hotel as it appears today, part of the French Country Inn (above). The hotel’s main building is visible in the foreground as well and remains nearly unchanged from the Hermansens’ ownership.

TOP TWO IMAGES: COURTESY OF THE FRENCH COUNTRY INN; BOTTOM: HOLLY LEITNER

had come to Chicago in 1891 and worked on the Danish pavilion at the World’s Columbian Exposition. Years later, he purchased a portion of the Danish pavilion and had it shipped to his Lake Como Hotel to serve as the resort’s dining room, serving three meals a day as part of the “American plan” room rate.

LEFT: COURTESY OF THE LAKE GENEVA REGIONAL NEWS VIA NEWSPAPERS.COM; RIGHT: COURTESY OF THE FRENCH COUNTRY INN

STAKEOUT

Unlike the Como Hotel, Hob and Lucille’s home next door was winterized. And, according to Winstead’s report about that November day in 1934, “it was not unusual for persons in automobiles to drive to the Hermansen home during all hours of the day and night.” During this time, the couple had at least loose connections to the Chicago underworld; they had first met in the mid-1920s when Lucille would visit the Como Hotel with her first husband, another famous Chicago gangster named George “Bugs” Moran. According to biographer Rose Keefe, Lucille and Moran, along with Lucille’s son John (adopted by

Moran), visited the Como Hotel in the mid-1920s, and befriended Hob Hermansen. The rumored presence of a speakeasy bar at the hotel called The Sewer, with illegal booze and a “gambling den that had all the trappings of a mini-casino,” may have been part of the appeal as well. (Locally, Hob Hermansen was known as the “Slot Machine King of Walworth County.”) Lucille and Moran divorced in 1930, and two years later, she married Hermansen.

Special Agent Charles Winstead This undated photo shows the Como Hotel as it appeared from the lake. The brochure boasted a 150-foot sun pier with “special sun-sofas” (left).

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WINTER 2026

A 1930s-era travel brochure prominently features the hotel’s main building (below). That same building as it appears today (bottom left) still contains elements of the Danish pavilion from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, including ornate parquet floors and handcarved woodwork (bottom middle and bottom right).

- Then and Now -

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In fact, it was Helen Gillis in the passenger seat, wife of Babyface Nelson, and beside her at the wheel was her husband. (Nelson’s accomplice, John Paul Chase, was in the back seat.) Gillis and Lucille Hermansen did bear some resemblance to each other — they were both raven-haired and shared similar facial features. The agent’s mistake may have been an honest one. But by the time the agents realized their error, Nelson had somehow picked up on their presence in the hotel and started to drive away. From the upstairs window, Winstead pointed his rifle at the car, but he had no clear shot and instead had to watch the most wanted man in America drive away. TOP TWO IMAGES: COURTESY OF THE FRENCH COUNTRY INN; BOTTOM LEFT: LAUREN HARRIGAN; BOTTOM RIGHT TWO IMAGES: HOLLY LEITNER

John Paul Chase

That day, however, the Hermansens were off the property. They had left three days earlier in their Ford V-8 sedan and had yet to return. So when Winstead looked up at the sound of a car coming down the road that afternoon, he noted that the make and model matched that car, but he strained to see who was in the driver’s seat. The car’s windshield was smeared with mud and Winstead was blinded by the sun and could only make out a woman in the passenger seat. Downstairs, his partner yelled out, “Everything is okay; it’s Mrs. Hermansen.”

The Lake Como stakeout was not a complete loss, however. The agents called in the car’s license plate to the Chicago Field Office, and additional agents set out from Chicago toward Lake Geneva to search for the fleeing vehicle. They found Nelson, Gillis and Chase in Barrington, Illinois and a shootout ensued. Two agents were shot multiple times and died soon afterward; Nelson was seriously wounded but managed to flee. He died from his wounds later that evening.

GETTING HIT

TOP TO BOTTOM: COURTESY OF THE FRENCH COUNTRY INN, LAUREN HARRIGAN, HOLLY LEITNER

Had the shootout happened earlier in the day in the Lake Geneva area, it would not have been the first gangster-related violence in the city. Three years earlier, on February 21, 1931, around 7:30 p.m., the winter quiet of downtown Lake Geneva was punctuated by the sound of a bomb exploding on the back side of the Lincoln Inn and the adjacent Milano Restaurant at the modernday intersection of Broad Street and Wrigley Drive (where Speedo’s Harborside Café is located today). The Regional News reported that the “entire town was shaken by the explosion,” and that it could be felt by “farmers for miles around.” The blast blew out windows at the Milano Restaurant and the Lone Hotel next door and destroyed interior walls and a back entrance to the cellar of the Lincoln Inn. In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, the district attorney made inquiries into rumors of Chicago gangster activity in the area, but never found a suspect for the bombing. Then, less than a year later, in January of 1932, a man who went by the name of Biggio Pinto stopped in to the empty Milano Restaurant to visit his uncle, restaurant proprietor Frank Maili. Pinto ate dinner in the kitchen, chatting with Maili and a dishwasher named Passaretti. Between 5:30 and 6 p.m., two men walked through the front door and asked to see Pinto. As he emerged from the kitchen into the main dining area, the two men pulled out guns and started shooting Pinto at point-blank range. They hit him twice in the chest before he turned and tried

Then and Now to run back into the kitchen; two more bullets struck him in the back, and a final bullet hit him in the back of the head, killing him. The men then pointed their guns at Maili and Passaretti and warned them not to notify the police for at least an hour and a half. The men complied, dragging Pinto’s body into the kitchen, locking up the restaurant and going for a long drive before they appeared at the Lake Geneva police station to report the murder. During the ensuing investigation, police discovered that Pinto had been using the Milano Restaurant as a distribution point for an illegal liquor operation. Pinto took orders over the telephone at the restaurant and distributed hundreds of gallons of illegal booze every week. The investigation also revealed that Pinto’s real name was Joe Perardi, a name associated with Al Capone’s gang in Chicago.

The dining room interior of the Lake Como Hotel, shown here in the 1930s, was originally part of the Danish Pavilion of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (top). It is largely unchanged today and is part of The Getaway restaurant (middle). Original wood beams and stonework in the bar area of the Getaway date to the building’s earliest construction (bottom).

In 1929, when Capone henchmen Scalise and Anselmi were found beaten and shot to death in a car in Hammond, Indiana, a third murdered man found at the scene was at first

WINTER 2026

mistakenly reported to be Perardi. The error arose because the dead man (who turned out to be Joseph “Hop Toad” Giunta) had Joe Perardi’s card in his pocket when he was killed. Whether Perardi had anything to do with the murders of Giunta, Scalise and Anselmi is unclear, but when Perardi himself was eventually killed in Lake Geneva three years later, the medical examiner noted that his body had 24 old wounds from bullets and serious knife attacks that had healed without proper medical attention. Police held Maili as a material witness to Perardi’s murder, and he confessed to being a partner in the liquor ring. He also told the authorities that he “was convinced that rival gangsters were responsible for the murder.” Despite the presence of the two eyewitnesses, no one was ever arrested or charged with Perardi’s murder.

EXTRADITED ON KIDNAPPING CHARGES

At first, the men all gave fake names and tried to bribe the police to let them go. It didn’t work. The sheriff soon determined that the first man they had arrested was the notorious Chicago gangster Roger Touhy, leader of a northside beer ring who was wanted in the city for two recent kidnappings: the wealthy St. Paul brewer William Hamm, Jr. and another gangster, “Jake The Barber” Factor. Touhy was extradited to face these charges, and several Elkhorn police and witnesses to the arrest were called to testify in the ensuing trials. However, despite this proliferation of gang-related excitement in the area in the 1930s, for most of the city’s criminal underworld, the Lake Geneva area proved to be a little too close to Chicago — they tended to prefer more remote getaways in northern Wisconsin and rural Michigan instead. Moran continued to visit his ex-wife and stepson at the Como Hotel, as well as his old friend Hob Hermansen, for many years after the divorce, but his visits were recreational in nature. Asked about the Como Hotel’s ties to organized crime of the era, Allan Hermansen says the tales have been greatly exaggerated. “There’s been a lot of fiction invented over the years,” he says.” People just can’t resist a good story, even if they have to stretch the truth to tell it.” 100 AT THE LAKE

On Feb. 21, 1931, a bomb exploded behind the Milano Restaurant in Lake Geneva, causing damage to several surrounding buildings. The damaged back entrance to the cellar of the Lincoln Inn at the modern-day intersection of Wrigley Drive and Broad Streets in Lake Geneva is visible in this photo (top). The bomb also broke the windows of the Milano Restaurant (middle). The Lincoln Inn, as it appeared from Broad St. following the blast, showed only minimal damage (bottom).

COURTESY OF THE JANESVILLE GAZETTE VIA NEWSPAPERS.COM

Then, in 1933, another wanted gangster turned up in Walworth County. On July 19 of that year, patrolmen from the Walworth County Sheriff ’s Department responded to reports of a car crash on Highway 12 a few miles north of Elkhorn. Arriving on the scene, they found a large Chrysler sedan that had crashed into a light pole while carrying five men. Seeing the police, four of the men immediately fled and ran into the woods. The patrolmen arrested the fifth man, searching him and then the car. The search revealed $1,200 in $10 bills, seven revolvers and a rifle. Eventually, they tracked down three of his passengers and arrested them as well.

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better living

Learn & Inspire

HOLLY LEITNER

Good Neighbors The Community Space In Whitewater lets people ‘shop’ for basic needs free of charge BY SARA KARNISH

ood, clothing and shelter are basic needs many take for granted. As prices continue to rise and household budgets continue to tighten, even the basics are getting more difficult for many families to afford. To help ease these burdens on local families, communities are stepping up and coming together to help each other. It’s this belief that inspired and continues to drive the mission of The Community Space (TCS) in Whitewater. It’s a place for community members to get food, clothing,

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better living charities books, furniture and household goods — all free of charge. The seed of this idea was planted in the fall of 2018. “We thought, ‘What if we took the idea of a clothes closet, where people donated clothing for free, and expanded it to furniture, housewares and books?’ All the things we want to keep out of landfills,” explains Kristine Zaballos, TCS executive director, who co-founded the organization with Kay Robers.

“From 2019 until earlier this year, all of the 16,000+ hours of work needed to make the space run every year was completed by volunteers, overseen by Kay and, increasingly, by Cindy,” Zaballos explains. Recently, health

Beginning in 2020, The Community Space, in partnership with Feeding America, began distributing an astonishing 300,000 pounds of food per year to families in need.

issues have prevented Robers from being on site as frequently, so Wendt gradually took on more responsibility and was named general manager and the organization’s first paid staff member earlier this year. Today, most of the day-to-day work is still handled by around 25 volunteers.

the needs of the community. “In 2019, we were more of a community center — a place to sit and have some coffee and knit, and maybe pick up some items you needed,” Zaballos says. At that time, the food bank was a small part of the operation. That soon changed.

In its early days, TCS essentially served as a gathering place for people who aligned with its mission to serve

When the COVID shutdowns happened in 2020, the national organization Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks and pantries, needed partners like TCS to scale up their operation to distribute much larger amounts of perishable food to the community: from 30,000 pounds of food distribution in 2019 to an astonishing 300,000 pounds of food one year later.

In addition to the food pantry, the organization also distributes everything from books and games to warm clothing, furniture and housewares, free of charge.

The needs of the community — and TCS’s role in meeting them — have also shifted over the years. “A few years ago, we started to see an uptick in newcomers to the community, people who needed pretty much everything to get established — warm clothing, furniture, housewares,” Zaballos explains. “To manage the demand, we converted that former gathering area to a place where people can line up to wait for their turn to enter the nonfood pantry area of the TCS. We allow about 20 people at a time to go in and ‘shop’ for 15 minutes.” 104 AT THE LAKE

HOLLY LEITNER

After many years of operating as the Community Clothes Closet in a local UCC church, Robers made the move to their current location in January, 2019. Robers acted as site manager and Cindy Wendt served as one of the primary managers on duty. TCS now occupies approximately 20,000 square feet of an old office building on the east side of Whitewater, which gives the organization enough space to store furniture and large items.

better living charities The organization operates solely on donations and the occasional grant, which funds the purchase of food staples and necessary equipment. “We have received a grant from the Whitewater Community Foundation that allowed us to purchase a walkin freezer and refrigerator, and a grant from Walmart that allows us to purchase fresh produce and dairy on a monthly basis,” Zaballos says. With the exception of those items, essentially all of the items at TCS are donated. It’s a win-win for the community — outgrown clothing, unwanted furniture and books taking up too much space on a shelf can all find new homes, and people who need these items can get them at no cost. “We have a lot of people who come in and get items beyond the food pantry,” Zaballos continues. “People who want to donate can come in anytime during our operating hours — we invite people to drop off things

“We thought, ‘What if we took the idea of a clothes closet, where people donated clothing for free, and expanded it to furniture, housewares and books?’ All the things we want to keep out of landfills...” — Kristine Zaballos, TCS executive director they no longer need. It’s meant to be a sharing space. So you might bring in a stack of books and leave with four puzzles.” She says the items needed most and donated least include personal care items like shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and diapers.

The food is arranged much like it would be in a grocery store to make things easy to find. There are some limits to how much food people can take — shelves are labeled accordingly — but no limits to how many times they can visit TCS.

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better living charities “Anyone is welcome. Some people come through our doors several times a week,” Zaballos says. There are no qualifications required to ‘shop’ at TCS — the organization asks very few questions of those utilizing its services. “We just ask for their ZIP code and how many people they’re feeding at home. Our goal is always to improve things for the entire family.” Inventory has grown to include medical equipment and baby furniture, including car seats and strollers. “Our volunteers are pretty savvy about tossing items that are unsafe or dated, and most baby items are lightly and recently used,” Zaballos explains. Wendt adds they take just about anything as long as it’s in working condition. Sometimes they do get requests from people, and if the item isn’t available right then and there, the volunteers will keep an eye out for it.

106 AT THE LAKE

TCS still maintains their partnership with Feeding America and has built relationships with other entities over the years. “We get a delivery from Whole Foods every week. It’s amazing — they give us great bread, lovely cheeses,” Zaballos says. “Bread is a really big item for our consumers,” Wendt adds. “We do ‘direct-connects’ through Feeding America, and we have farmers and other folks who will just drop items off for us. ‘Could we use 30 pounds of squash?’ Of course.” TCS’s offerings continue to evolve as the community’s needs change. A local adult English as a Second Language (ESL) program now holds daytime classes in TCS’s conference rooms and small meeting rooms. Local organizations and businesses set up tables in TCS during business hours, and range from the Open Arms Free Clinic to a bilingual

attorney’s office to Associated Bank (which provides bilingual staff every Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. to answer financial questions and open checking accounts). Both Wendt and Zaballos say the support from the greater Walworth County community is integral in keeping TCS successful in its goals. In addition to inventory donations, community volunteers are always appreciated. “If someone is interested, we invite them to come in and see what we’re all about,” Wendt says. Volunteers are a critical part of carrying out TCS’s mission. As Zaballos explains, it’s not just about what they do, but how they do it. “Kay and Cindy do a good job of matching people with the jobs we need done,” she explains. “Ultimately, it’s about creating a space where everyone feels welcome.”

At The LIBRARY

better living technology

TAPPING INTO IT

Four must-have apps to keep you organized and on track

AnyList

Todoist

Take your grocery lists to the next level with this app, which integrates recipes and weekly meal-planning tools and allows you to instantly turn recipes into shopping lists. AnyList also allows you to share your lists, so when you send your spouse to the store, they have all the info at their fingertips!

Like a digital version of writing Post-it notes to yourself, the Todoist app allows you to create to-do lists, set up recurring tasks and even categorize them based on projects. You can view your tasks on a calendar, assign priority levels to each task and mark tasks completed quickly and easily.

Tripit

Family Wall

Juggling confirmations for airfare, hotel reservations, rental cars, activities, dining and everything else about a trip is instantly simplified in this app. Just set up an account with Tripit and forward each of your travel confirmation emails to trips@tripit.com — a seamless itinerary will appear in the app.

Having trouble staying on the same page with all of your family members about what’s happening and when? Whether you’re using iCal, Google Calendar or another program, this app allows you to share calendars, to-do lists and even photos in a user-friendly interface.

Looking for the next great pick for your book club? Here are three suggestions guaranteed to get the conversation flowing, from Lake Geneva Public Library Community Engagement Librarian Ellen Ward-Packard.

THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED BY JOHN GREEN Best known for his popular young-adult novels, Green has recently pivoted to engaging, conversational nonfiction. This collection of short essays reviews minor human phenomena, ranging from a history of supermarket chain Piggly Wiggly to the trials of sharing parks with Canada geese. Like all good nonfiction, “The Anthropocene Reviewed” illuminates fascinating details in the everyday.

THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD BY JOHN LE CARRÉ For the book club that loves Mick Herron’s “Slow Horses” and its Apple TV adaptation. Le Carré is the grandfather of the spies-as-pettybureaucrats genre, and his canon of smart and well-written Cold Warera espionage novels will please most crowds. “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” is Le Carré’s best-known work and an excellent starting point.

EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES BY HEATHER FAWCETT Professor Emily Wilde has just settled in for a long period of faerie research on a remote island when her insufferably charming academic rival appears to steal her ideas. Cozy hijinks ensue. A great choice for longtime fantasy fans and newcomers alike, this accessible novel has elements of romance, adventure and historical fiction. WINTER 2026

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out & about

Fun Diversions

Two ice boaters sail past a red ice fishing tent in Fontana.

LAUREN HARRIGAN

Thrills and Chills Embracing the frozen fun of winter sports on the lake BY SARAH KOEHLER

When we think of lake towns, the first thing that comes to mind is usually summer: boating, waterskiing, tubing, wakesurfing, sailing, fishing and so much more. But did you know that virtually all these activities have a winter counterpart that can get you out on the open water even when it’s frozen solid? Once the temps drop and the lake freezes to a consistent thickness that’s safe (see our safety tips sidebar!), the lake offers a multitude of adventures on the ice.

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“ ... ice windsurfing was the perfect way to keep that spark alive year-round..” — Charlie Vogel ICE WINDSURFING

Lake Geneva resident Charlie Vogel has been windsurfing on soft water for years, and eventually, thanks to his brother Hans, he grew interested in the winter version of the sport. Vogel says the setup is actually fairly simple. The challenge of finding a spot where the lake has smooth, thick and safe ice — ideally with no snow — can take a bit of reconnaissance. “All these variables lining up is one of the many factors that makes ice sailing so rewarding,” he says. 110 AT THE LAKE

TOP: LAUREN HARRIGAN; BOTTOM: COURTESY OF CHARLIE VOGEL

For those looking for an even more adventurous outing on the ice, you may be ready to try ice windsurfing. Soft-water windsurfing boards have a fin on the underside of the board, but for ice windsurfing, the board is fitted with skis or blades along the bottom.

out & about activities KICKSLEDDING

If you’re new to fun on the ice, one of the easiest winter hobbies to start with is kicksledding. A cross between a dogsled and a pair of skis, this sport is great for all ages! It involves sitting in a chair on skis or standing behind it and kicking your feet to move forward. Kicksledding can very often be considered an “introductory winter sport” which doesn’t require much athletic ability or training. Additionally, kicksledding is a great workout, particularly for your legs and core muscles. The sport originated in Sweden, where getting from place to place via the ice and snow is routine transportation. But as the hobby gained popularity outside of Scandinavia, one of its main attractions was the simplicity of getting started. Kicksled manufacturer ELSA even designs equipment for athletes and competitors — elite kicksledders reach speeds of up to 25 mph.

ICEBOATING

Prior to the invention of the combustible engine, the fastest speeds ever recorded by humans were achieved in iceboats. These sleek, aerodynamic sailboats on raised blades, or “runners,” were first invented in the Netherlands in the 17th century.

TOP: HOLLY LEITNER; BOTTOM: LAUREN HARRIGAN

ICE KITING

This winter variation on the relatively new sport of kiteboarding can be done on heavy-duty ice skates, a switchblade (similar to a snowboard on runners) or seated on a slider board. By flying a special kite or holding a kitewing, the typical amateur ice kiters achieve average speeds of up to 20 mph. For those just getting started, it’s best to start with a small kite and work your way up to a faster ride.

Given the right wind and ice conditions, iceboats can reach speeds of almost 100 mph. They are usually sailed solo. Thanks to the abundance of frozen lakes in the Upper Midwest, competitive racing in iceboats became a popular sport in this area, and by the 1960s, Williams Bay was known as the “Iceboat Capital of the World.” Similar to ice windsurfing, the consistency and thickness of the ice is extremely important. But when all the conditions come together just right — ice formation, lack of snow, wind conditions, air temperatures — the experience of iceboating can be a truly unmatched thrill.

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out & about activities ICE HOCKEY

The sport of ice hockey dates back to England in the 1800s, when field hockey players at British boarding schools would move the game to frozen ponds in the winter. The modern rules of the game originated in Canada about 100 years later, and today the sport boasts 32 professional teams in the NHL. An informal pickup game can still be a fun way to pass an afternoon on a frozen lake, too.

A Note on Safety Always remember to exercise extreme caution before engaging in any ice activities. Different activities require a minimum ice thickness — make sure you know the guidelines for your activity, and don’t venture on the ice if the thickness is not sufficient to support your weight and the weight of your equipment. Additionally, the DNR recommends the following safety tips to anyone who is venturing out onto the ice: Dress warmly in layers. Don’t go alone. Head out with friends or family. Take a cell phone if available, and make sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected to return. Don’t travel in areas you are not familiar with, and don’t travel at night or during reduced visibility.

ICE FISHING

If flying on the ice with the wind in your face is a bit too adventurous for you, there is always the more traditional sport of ice fishing. An ancient practice used by fishermen all over the world, the Lake Geneva area is no stranger to ice shacks and winter fishing. Drive past any of the local frozen lakes and you’re bound to see the colorful “tents” set up. Local ice fisherman Scott Dillon says he’s been enjoying the benefits of ice fishing since he was a young boy. Dillon explains that modern equipment like the SnoBear has made ice fishing more attractive to Lake Geneva residents who might want to give the sport a try. “The SnoBear is an ice fishing vehicle ... which allows you, your family and your friends to safely glide across the ice and snow on hard water at speeds up to 25 miles per hour,” Dillon explains.

Look for clear ice, which is generally stronger than ice with snow on it or bubbles in it. The DNR does not monitor ice conditions, but they are monitored locally. Consult local iceboating or fishing clubs, outfitters and bait shops for local current ice conditions.

112 AT THE LAKE

TOP: LAUREN HARRIGAN; BOTTOM: HOLLY LEITNER

Avoid inlets, outlets or any areas that may have currents that can thin the ice.

out & about winter sports

Q&A On the Slopes

Megan Harrod grew up on a hobby farm between Genoa City and Lake Geneva and started skiing when she was just 3 years old. By the time she was 7, she was ski racing competitively, eventually traveling with her family around the Midwest as part of a ski team affiliated with the International Ski and Snowboarding Federation (FIS). In 2014, she began working as the Alpine Marketing & Communications Lead for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team, and in that role, she attended the Winter Olympics in both PyeongChang and Beijing. In 2022, through her self-founded PR agency, Harrod also began working exclusively with U.S. Olympic twotime gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin. We caught up with Harrod before the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy this winter to learn more about her unique career path.

COURTESY OF MEGAN HARROD

ATL: Tell us about your early skiing experiences. MH: [My brother and I] started skiing for the Wilmot Ski Team, before our club moved over to Alpine Valley when I was skiing FIS. [It] really shaped who I am as a person. We’d ski about six days a week, and then travel on

the “off day.” Several of our races were quite far away — in Upper Michigan, northern Wisconsin, etc. I have many memories of family ski trips to places like Marquette, Michigan, eight hours each way, traveling Friday, racing early on Saturday and Sunday, and coming home on Sunday evenings. ATL: You previously worked full-time in PR for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team and still consult for them today. What led to that opportunity? MH: I ended up ski racing through college at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. I was [also] seasoned in marketing and PR, having worked in the agency world for six-plus years and living and working abroad in Prague, managing PR and marketing for a group of boutique hostels for nearly two years. I had a ton of experience both professionally and personally. ATL: Tell us about the founding of Golden Hour Marketing + PR. MH: I started working more closely with Mikaela Shiffrin in 2018 after the PyeongChang Olympics, even though I was still working with the

Megan Harrod’s journey from ski racer to PR powerhouse BY ANNE MORRISSY

U.S. Ski Team more broadly. I had a great relationship with Mikaela’s agent and realized that there was an opportunity to support Mikaela from a media and PR standpoint. Working with over 40 national team athletes and over 100 staff members [at U.S. Ski & Snowboard], plus members of the media covering the sport of alpine ski racing from across the world, was a challenge and a dynamic role in communications, but the additional challenge of working with the best athlete the sport has ever seen has been extremely rewarding. Working with Mikaela is such an honor. I think working with anyone who loves their craft as much as she does is so special, but to work with someone who is the greatest at their craft — ever — sometimes feels surreal. And, on top of it all, she is one of the kindest humans I know.

For more with Megan Harrod, scan the QR code to read the extended interview.

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events at the lake

WORLD’S TALLEST GLASS TREE

DEC. 5-7, 12-14 Glass artist Jason Mack will once again build the World’s Tallest Glass Tree using recycled glass bottles donated by the community. Enjoy live music, a market tent, outdoor fire pits, kids’ activities, food trucks and glass art demonstrations. Tickets include access inside Yerkes Observatory. Festival concludes at 7 p.m. on Dec. 14 with a star-topping celebration. Fridays 4-7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and kids ages 13 and up. Must park in Williams Bay High School parking lot. Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay; worldstallestglasstree.com.

POLAR PLUNGE

JAN. 1 Take part in an invigorating community plunge into Geneva Lake. Noon. Williams Bay Beach.

WINTERFEST & SNOW SCULPTING INVITATIONAL COMPETITION

HOLLY LEITNER

JAN. 28-FEB. 1 Watch teams of snow sculptors from across the country compete for prizes, plus an ice sculpture tour, s’mores and bonfires on the beach, a Fire & Ice bar and more. Downtown Lake Geneva; (262) 248-4416 or visitlakegeneva.com.

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out & about calendar of events THROUGH JAN. 5 PARADE OF TREES Admire Christmas trees decorated by local businesses and individuals while touring the museum. Geneva Lake Museum, Lake Geneva. Call (262) 248-6060 or visit genevalakemuseum.org/parade-of-trees. THROUGH DEC. 31 CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY LIGHTS AND GINGERBREAD HOUSE WALK Take a self-guided tour of more than 2 million lights throughout the resort and then view the entries in the annual gingerbread house contest. Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Call (262) 248-8811 or visit grandgeneva.com. THROUGH JAN. 3 SANTA CRUISE Embark on a magical Christmas cruise to Santa’s North Pole Hideaway. Along your lake tour, you will be enchanted by holiday lights and displays. Through Dec. 30. Lake Geneva Cruise Line, Gage Marine – Winter Harbor, 1 Liechty Dr., Williams Bay. Call (262) 248-6206 or visit cruiselakegeneva.com/santa-cruise for tickets. NOV. 29-30, DEC.6-7, DEC. 13-14, DEC. 20-21 BRUNCH WITH SANTA AT GRAND GENEVA Seatings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, through Dec. 23. Cost is $60 for adults and $25 for kids ages 3-12. Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva. Call (262) 394-4788 for reservations. NOV. 29 SANTA’S LANDING AT THE ABBEY Experience the beginning of the Christmas season when Santa Claus arrives in Fontana. Enjoy family activities, bonfires, holiday music, fresh cookies, hot chocolate and cider, and photos with the jolly old elf himself against a lakeside backdrop. 5-7 p.m., The Abbey Resort, Fontana; (262) 275-9000 or theabbeyresort.com. NOV. 29, DEC. 13-14 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT LAKE LAWN RESORT Enjoy a fully stocked breakfast buffet, 116 AT THE LAKE

then take a wagon ride around the property and meet Santa himself. Tickets are $35 for adults or $17 for kids. Seatings at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Must reserve at least 72 hours in advance. Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan. Call (262) 725-9214 for reservations. NOV. 30, DEC. 7, 14, 21, 25 BRUNCH WITH SANTA AT THE ABBEY RESORT Meet the man himself and get a photo during Harborside Sunday Champagne Brunch at 240 West. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 240 West, The Abbey Resort, Fontana; (262) 275-9000 or theabbeyresort.com. DEC. 3-21 BELFRY MUSIC THEATRE HOLIDAY SHOWS A variety of holiday-themed performances ranging from classic crooners to a Christmas show from The Buckinghams. Belfry Music Theatre, 3601 State Hwy. 67, Delavan; (262) 394-6460 or belfrymusictheatre.com for tickets. DEC. 5 BURLINGTON 41ST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING Parade viewing from historic downtown Burlington and a tree lighting ceremony afterward. Santa and Mrs. Claus, caroling and music will accompany the tree lighting. Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Burlington; tree lighting to follow in Wehmhoff Square Park; (262) 763-6044 or burlingtonchamber.com.

DEC. 6 50TH ANNUAL LAKE GENEVA ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS PARADE Begins at 5 p.m., downtown Lake Geneva; (262) 248-4416 or visitlakegeneva.com. ELKHORN CHRISTMAS CARD TOWN PARADE AND ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING Parade starts at 1:30 p.m. at White Water Ave. and Page St. and continues down Court St. around the square. Then, at 5 p.m., watch the annual lighting of the Elkhorn Christmas Tree on the square, followed by caroling and a visit from Santa. Downtown Elkhorn; (262) 723-5788 or elkhornchamber.com. FREEZIN’ FOR A REASON This charity event features amateur and professional waterskiers and wakeboarders braving the chilly waters of Geneva Lake to raise money for the Santa Cause Super Charity. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Pier 290, 1 Liechty Dr., Williams Bay; (262) 245-2100 or santacauses.org/freezin-for-a-reason. DEC. 6-7, 13-14 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AT OLD WORLD WISCONSIN Explore vibrant holiday traditions brought to Wisconsin by immigrant ancestors while creating new holiday memories. Breakfast with Santa (separate ticket required) from 8-10 a.m., general admission from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Old World Wisconsin, Eagle; (608) 264-4848 or oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org.

DELAVAN CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, COMET CAROLING AND PARADE Tree lighting at 5 p.m.; caroling and a visit from Santa to follow at 6 p.m. Tower Park, downtown Delavan; visitdelavanwi.com/events.

DEC. 6, 20; JAN. 3, 17; FEB. 7, 21 ELKHORN WINTER MARKET Shop local craft booths and artisan-made goods. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Uncle Hunk’s Junk, 203 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn; (262) 723-5788 or elkhornchamber.com.

DEC. 5-7, 12-14 “RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER THE MUSICAL” The beloved holiday Claymation film gets a musical treatment by the Lakeland Players. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Historic Sprague Theater, 15 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. For tickets, visit lakeland-players.org or call (262) 441-3924.

DEC. 6-31 EAST TROY LIGHTS A holiday light show attraction timed to music broadcast on 90.9FM. Shows begin on the hour from 5-9 p.m. nightly. Additional activities include the Candy Cane Adventure, light tunnels, hot chocolate, cookie decorating and holiday performances. East Troy Square, downtown East Troy; visit easttroylights.com.

out & about calendar of events DEC. 7 HOLIDAY IN HARMONY CONCERT WITH THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN AND LADIES BARBERSHOP CHORUS Hear favorite Christmas tunes in four-part harmony, barbershop-style. 2 p.m. Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad St., Lake Geneva. DEC. 12-14 “THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER” Beloved holiday show as performed by Burlington’s Haylofters. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Malt House Theatre, 109 N. Main St., Burlington; for tickets, call (262) 763-9873 or visit thehaylofters.com. DEC. 13-14, 19-21, 27-31 COOKING CLASSES Hands-on cooking classes with a holiday theme. Lake Geneva School of Cooking, Lake Geneva. To view calendar and reserve a spot, call (262) 248-3933 or visit lakegenevaschoolofcooking.com. DEC. 13, 20 DELAVAN DASHER DAYS Get into the spirit and explore local businesses with stocking stuffer deals, plus caroling, and a photo op with Santa Claus. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., throughout downtown Delavan; visitdelavanwi.com/events. DEC. 31 DR. MAXWELL’S ANNUAL CASINO ROYALE NYE PARTY Get out your finest New Year’s Eve wardrobe for this popular party with Prohition-era drinks and live music. 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Maxwell Mansion, Lake Geneva. For tickets, call (262) 248-9711 or visit staymaxwell.com. NEW YEAR’S EVE BALL DROP Celebrate the new year with a familyfriendly 8 p.m. ball drop and a traditional midnight drop! Enjoy the East Troy Lights and sip hot cocoa. East Troy Square, downtown East Troy; for tickets, visit easttroylights.com. JAN. 17 LAKE GENEVA WINTER BRIDAL EXPO An afternoon of wedding planning, ideas and inspiration from the area’s top-quality

wedding professionals. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Riviera Ballroom, Lake Geneva. For more info, visit lgwinterbridalexpo.com. JAN. 31 ABOMINABLE SNOW RACE A 5k-15k race featuring 15-25 winterthemed obstacles. Compete for cash and prizes or run just for fun. All racers receive a finisher’s medal, a t-shirt and a craft beer or hot chocolate. Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures, N3232 County Hwy. H, Lake Geneva. To register, visit abominablesnowrace.com. FEB. 4 “CHICAGO THE MUSICAL” Broadway’s longest-running hit delivers sizzling songs, dazzling dance and all that jazz. 7 p.m. Young Auditorium, 930 W. Main St., Whitewater. Call (262) 472-4444 or visit uww.edu/ youngauditorium for tickets. FEB. 13 THE FOURTH WALL A group that reimagines chamber music through a theatrical lens, fusing live performance with elements of drama, dance and circus arts. 7 p.m. Big Foot Auditorium, Walworth. For tickets, visit bigfootfinearts.org or call (262) 275-2117. FEB. 14 GENEVA LAKES FAMILY YMCA ANNUAL AUCTION This year’s event theme will be “Celebrating 40 Years: Honoring Our Past, Embracing the Present, Inspiring the Future,” and will raise funds for the Financial Assistance and Outreach programs at the YMCA. Featuring an open bar, plated dinner and a live and silent auction. 6-11 p.m., Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva. Tickets available Dec. 1 at genevalakesymca.org/auction or (262) 248-6211.

Resort, Fontana. Call (262) 359-9072 or visit lakegenevaorchestra.org for tickets. FEB. 19 “SPAMILTON: AN AMERICAN PARODY” From the creator of Forbidden Broadway comes this hilarious send-up of Broadway and pop culture that’s stormed stages worldwide. 7 p.m. Young Auditorium, 930 W. Main St., Whitewater. Call (262) 472-4444 or visit uww.edu/ youngauditorium for tickets. FEB. 20 TO MARCH 1 “A DELIGHTFUL QUARANTINE” Historic Sprague Theater, 15 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. For tickets, visit lakelandplayers.org or call (262) 441-3924. FEB. 22 PEKING ACROBATS Thrill to the gravity-defying feats of The Peking Acrobats — an all-ages spectacle of daring, balance and artistry. 3 p.m. Young Auditorium, 930 W. Main St., Whitewater. Call (262) 472-4444 or visit uww.edu/ youngauditorium for tickets.

While we do our best to ensure a comprehensive, accurate listing of events, we recommend that you contact each event host ahead of time. If you’d like to include an event in our upcoming calendar, please email anne@ntmediagroup.com or submit it via our website: atthelakemagazine.com/ submit-an-event. Submission deadline for the spring issue is January 16.

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LAKE GENEVA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA “FEEL THE LOVE” ANNUAL GALA An unforgettable evening of orchestral music, food, drinks, a live and silent auction. Benefiting the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra. 5 p.m., The Abbey WINTER 2026

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Redefined Lakeside Dining

2400 East Geneva Street | Delavan | 262.728.7950 | LakeLawnResort.com

food & drink

All about cuisine

Famous Bites, Local Pride HOLLY LEITNER

Discover five national food brands made in the Geneva Lake area BY NAT WEXLER

he Midwest is often called the “breadbasket of America” due to our high production of corn and grains, but many people don’t realize the Geneva Lake area produces many other foods that are enjoyed across the country as well. In fact, several nationally known brands maintain food manufacturing facilities and have established strong roots here, a testament to the area’s work ethic and community support.

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food & drink food industry CHAMPION PIZZA

If you’ve ever ordered a late-night pizza in a Walworth County bar, chances are good it was a Champion pizza! The brand’s original recipe, created in 1952, has evolved from a local favorite to a full-scale frozen pizza phenomenon. In 1985, Champion’s Hebron, Illinois, facility became a federally approved food manufacturing site, which enabled the brand to distribute pizzas across state lines and into all of the areas around Geneva Lake. “Nearly every owner, including my husband and me, has been from the communities surrounding Geneva Lake,” explains Amanda Zamora, current president. A point of pride is that Champion Pizza “continues to make every pizza in small batches to maintain consistency, quality and a balanced flavor in each bite,” she says.

HELLFIRE HOT SAUCE

Merle says that he and Diana were drawn to Lake Geneva “because of its incredible natural beauty — the spring-fed lake, the friendly small-town community and the stunning countryside. The area’s energy, charm and people made Lake Geneva the perfect home for Hellfire Hot Sauce.”

BIRDS EYE FROZEN VEGETABLES

The area’s booming agriculture is what first drew Birds Eye Frozen Vegetables to establish a large manufacturing presence in Darien in 1965. Today, after an expansion in 2011 and acquisition by Conagra Brands in 2018, the Birds Eye facility produces 35 million pounds of green beans and 40 million pounds of carrots during the fresh pack season, plus the popular Voila! prepared rice and pasta dishes, which are personal favorites of Town of Darien clerk/treasurer Marilyn S. Larson. “Conagra and the Town of Darien have a great relationship,” she says. 120 AT THE LAKE

TOP TO BOTTOM: HOLLY LEITNER, COURTESY OF HELLFIRE HOT SAUCE, HOLLY LEITNER

If you’re a fan of spicy foods, meet Hellfire Hot Sauce. The company, which was started in Lake Geneva nearly 20 years ago by Diana (“The Sauceress”) and Merle (“The Chillmaster”), has sold over one million bottles of hot sauce worldwide, and currently offers over 50 varieties of hot sauce, salsa and BBQ sauce.

food & drink food industry NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE

COURTESY OF NESTLÉ USA

For nearly 60 years, Burlington has been the home of a Nestlé chocolate plant. In 2021, following the sale of their confectionary business to Ferrero, the company invested $70 million to begin production of Nestlé Toll House cookie products at the site, which is the sole Nestlé-owned facility in the U.S. to do so. Nestlé Toll House chocolate morsels, refrigerated cookie dough and cocoa can be found in thousands of stores around the country. The Burlington Nestlé USA team takes great pride in their work. Around the holidays, the factory hosts a bake-off competition where employees show off their best recipes using Nestlé morsels. Michael Elsbury, Burlington factory manager, says he loves the competition. “It’s a reminder that what we make in Burlington isn’t just an ingredient, it’s part of the way families celebrate, gather and share something sweet together,” he says.

Let’s Host a Private Party W W W. O A K F I R E . P I Z Z A • 8 3 1 W R I G L E Y D R I V E , L A K E G E N E VA , W I WINTER 2026

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food & drink food industry ANDES CANDIES

There’s still one chocolate candy proudly made in Walworth County: Andes Candies. Now owned by Chicago-based Tootsie Roll Industries, the facility that makes these popular chocolate mints has been operating in Delavan since 1971. Many restaurants around the country still give Andes Mints with the check; popular chain restaurant Olive Garden even has its own proprietary flavor of Andes Mints with a cult following. In 2021, Delavan commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Andes Candies plant with a community celebration. Delavan Mayor Ryan J. Schroeder says Andes Candies make their way from Delavan around the country. He’ll often notice them while traveling, he says. “It always reminds me of being home, and I usually geek out and tell them, ‘Hey, these are made in my hometown of Delavan, Wisconsin.”

HOLLY LEITNER

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MAKING Geneva Lake Distilling+Winery Offering Wine & Spirit Tastings, Cocktails, Craft Beer, Light Bites Live Music, Art Workshops Patio Seating, Carryout Wine & Spirits Sun 12- 4, Mon 2-6, Fri & Sat 2-10 with live music 5-9 all year around, 401 Sheridan Springs Road . Lake Geneva . www.GenevaLakeDistilling.com . 262-348-9100 122 AT THE LAKE

food & drink restaurants

visited countless supper clubs; he says that many of his core childhood memories involve relish trays, kiddie cocktails and the pure joy that came from spending time with loved ones in such an electric atmosphere. When a space in Lake Geneva on South Shore Drive became available, Reynolds jumped at the opportunity to open a supper club so he could play a part in creating those special supper-club moments for the Lake Geneva community.

Old-Fashioned Flavor Lake Geneva’s newest supper club feels like stepping back in time BY NAT WEXLER PHOTOS BY HOLLY LEITNER

here is something magical about dining at a supper club; it’s not just a meal, it’s an experience that blends food and friendship in a space that feels like it is frozen in the “good old days.” Many of the Geneva Lake area’s supper clubs date to the heyday of midcentury dining, or even earlier. But last summer, a new-yet-classicstyle supper club called Brandy’s Old Fashioned opened in Lake Geneva, generating a buzz almost immediately. Brandy’s Old Fashioned is owner Brian Reynolds’s “love letter to the state of Wisconsin.” Growing up, Reynolds

The name “Brandy’s Old Fashioned” pays homage to the brandy old-fashioned, Wisconsin’s (newly official) state cocktail. The interior of the supper club feels like a movie set, in the sense that when guests walk through the front door, it feels like stepping back in time. To decorate the space so that it resembled “a supper club that has been there for 50 years,” the Reynolds family drove all over the state of Wisconsin scouring antique stores, where they purchased everything from vintage fishing equipment and camping lanterns to historic photos, beer and liquor merchandising products and many other secondhand relics that now line the walls. Per supper club tradition, every meal at Brandy’s Old Fashioned starts with a complimentary relish tray. From there, as you might expect, the menu draws heavily on classic supper-club fare. Popular entrees include the filet or ribeye steak, the bone-in pork chop and the broasted chicken, which won a devoted following almost immediately after Brandy’s Old Fashioned opened. In a small break with tradition, the classic Wisconsin Fish Fry is offered every night of the week — Reynolds says he wants everyone, regardless of what night they visit, to have the opportunity to enjoy the quintessential meal. As a sweet way to end the evening, Brandy’s offers a rotating selection of homemade pies and desserts, along with the classic Wisconsin supper club ice cream drinks. Definitely don’t miss the grasshopper — it’s the best one this writer has ever had! Finishing up such a classic meal in a space full of friendly faces and vintage decorations, you might forget that you’ve just enjoyed a meal in one of Wisconsin’s newest supper clubs.

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food & drink dining guide

dining at the lake

Information is subject to change. Please contact individual restaurants for hours of operation. Inclusion in this directory should not be considered an endorsement by At The Lake. Visit atthelakemagazine.com to view the full directory.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera app to see our full list of Geneva Lake area dining options.

The Grazing Brit gourmet burger from Flat Iron Tap in Lake Geneva

THE BAKER HOUSE

AMERICAN $$ -$$$ 327 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4700 bakerhouse1885.com/restaurant

BARRIQUE BISTRO & WINE BAR

SPECIALTY $ -$$ 835 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1948 barriquewinebar.com

THE BOAT HOUSE BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $$ 2062 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-812-4126 theboathouselakegeneva.com

THE BOTTLE SHOP

WINE BAR $ 617 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9463 thebottleshoplakegeneva.com

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BRANDY’S OLD-FASHIONED SUPPER CLUB $$ W3220 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-203-5175 brandysoldfashioned.com

CHAMPS SPORTS BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $ 747 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-6008 champslakegeneva.com

CLAW’S CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOGS

CASUAL $ 90 E. Geneva Square, Lake Geneva; 262-732-5112 clawshotdogs.com

COLD STONE CREAMERY

ICE CREAM $ 859 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4900 coldstonecreamery.com

DRAGON CITY

ASIAN $ 98 E. Geneva Square, Lake Geneva; 262-249-8867

EGG HARBOR CAFÉ

AMERICAN $ 827 Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1207 eggharborcafe.com/lake-geneva

FLAT IRON TAP

CASUAL $ -$$ 150 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-4064 flatirontaplg.com

FOLEY BROTHER’S PUB

IRISH $ -$$ W3905 State Hwy. 50 (at Hwy. 50 and Chapin Rd.), Lake Geneva; 262-245-6966

GENEVA TAPHOUSE

BEER TASTING $ 252 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-8099 genevataphouse.com

THE GRAND CAFÉ

AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$ Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ grand-cafe

GRANDMA VICKIE’S CAFÉ DINER $ 522 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-249-0301

GUAC STAR

MEXICAN $ 120 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-203-5084

GENEVA CHOPHOUSE

STEAKHOUSE $$$ Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ geneva-chophouse

Holly Leitner

LAKE GENEVA

food & drink dining guide HOGS & KISSES

CASUAL $ 149 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-7447 hogsandkisses.com

HOUSE OF BOGINI

CASUAL $ 152 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-903-8003

HUNT CLUB STEAKHOUSE AT GENEVA NATIONAL

STEAKHOUSE $$$ 555 Hunt Club Ct., Lake Geneva; 262-245-7200 huntclubsteakhouse.com

INSPIRED COFFEE

COFFEE HOUSE $ 883 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-683-8604 inspiredcoffee.org

JACKSON’S HOLE

CASUAL $ 1798 Genesee St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1995

JONI’S DINER

DINER $ 111 Wells St., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9565 jonisdiner.com

KILWINS CHOCOLATE AND ICE CREAM SHOP ICE CREAM/CONFECTIONS $ 772 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4400 kilwins.com

LAKE-AIRE RESTAURANT DINER $ 804 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-9913 lakeairelg.com

LAKE CITY SOCIAL

CASUAL $$ 111 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-7047 lakecitysocialwi.com

LAKE GENEVA PIE COMPANY BAKERY/CAFE $ 150 E. Geneva Square, Lake Geneva; 262-248-5100 lgpie.com

LINKS BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $ -$$ Grand Geneva, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/linksbar-grill

LORELEI BITTNER’S BAKERY

BAKERY $ 495 Interchange N. (Hwy. 120), Lake Geneva; 262-248-2330 lakegenevabakery.com

LUIS’S PIZZA

OAK & OAR

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$ W3410 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-6810 luisspizza.com

AMERICAN $$ -$$$ N2009 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-5690 genevainn.com/oak-and-oar

MAGPIE’S DEN & PEN

OAKFIRE RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA

CASUAL $$ 642 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-249-2302 magpieslg.com

MAMA CIMINO’S

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$ 131 N. Wells St., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9077 ciminoslakegeneva.com

MASHTUN BREWING

BREWERY $ 700 Veterans Pkwy., Unit 203, Lake Geneva; 262-999-4677 mashtunbrewing.com

MOOSE + MAPLE NORTHWOODS FAMILY DINING

CASUAL $ -$$ Timber Ridge Lodge at Grand Geneva, State Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva; 262-249-3400 timberridgelodge.com/eat/moose-maple

NEXT DOOR PUB & PIZZERIA AMERICAN/CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 411 Interchange N. (Hwy. 120), Lake Geneva; 262-248-9551 nextdoorpub.com

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$ 831 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-812-8007 oakfire.pizza

OLYMPIC RESTAURANT

DINER $ 748 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-6541 olympicrestaurantlakegeneva.com

POPEYE’S

CASUAL $ -$$$ 811 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4381 popeyeslkg.com

THE PORCH

COFFEE SHOP $ -$$ 832 Geneva St., Unit 2, Lake Geneva; 262-729-4100

RISTORANTÉ BRISSAGO

ITALIAN $$ -$$$ Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ ristorante-brissago

RESTAURANT PARTIES & BANQUETS

Famous Broasted Chicken Friday Fish Fry Sunday Brunch 10441 Main Street (Rt. 47) Hebron, IL 815-648-2609 | crandallschicken.com WINTER 2026

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food & drink dining guide SABAI SABAI

ASIAN $$ 306 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-4114 sabaisabailakegeneva.com

SIMPLE CAFÉ

AMERICAN/BAKERY $ -$$ 525 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-3556 simplelakegeneva.com

SOPRA: AN AMERICAN BISTRO AMERICAN/FRENCH $$ -$$$ 724 Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-249-0800 soprabistro.com

SPEEDO’S HARBORSIDE CAFÉ

CASUAL $ 100 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-3835

SU WINGS

CHINESE $ -$$ 743 North St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1178 suwingslg.com

TAIL FEATHERS

CASUAL $ -$$ Hawk’s View Golf Club, W7377 Krueger Rd., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9900 hawksviewgolfclub.com/club/tailfeathers

TAQUERIA EL GALLO DE ORO MEXICAN $ 820 Williams St., Lake Geneva; 262-729-4055 taquerialg.com

TOPSY TURVY BREWERY BREWERY $ 727 Geneva St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-8323 topsyturvybrewery.com

TUSCAN TAVERN & GRILL AMERICAN/ITALIAN $ -$$ 430 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-0888 tuscanlg.com

YOGEEZE FROZEN YOGURT

FROZEN YOGURT $ 253 Center St., #300, Lake Geneva; 262-203-5550 yogeeze.com

ZAAB CORNER BISTRO

STEAK/SEAFOOD/BBQ $$ -$$$ 501 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-203-5434 zaabcornerlg.com

DARIEN COUNTRYSIDE

CASUAL $ W9695 U.S. Hwy. 14, Darien; 262-882-3224

WEST WIND DINER

DINER $ 620 N. Walworth St., Darien; 262-882-5515

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DELAVAN 1878 ON THE LAKE

AMERICAN $$ -$$$ Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St. (State Hwy. 50), Delavan; 262-728-7950 lakelawnresort.com/dining/1878-onthe-lake

ARANDAS MEXICAN GRILL MEXICAN $ 322 S. Seventh St., Delavan; 262-725-6518 arandasmexicangrill.com

ARCADIA BAR AND GRILL CASUAL $ 215 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-267-8973 arcadiabarandgrill.com

BETTINO’S PIZZA

PIZZA $ -$$ 617 E. Washington St., Delavan; 262-233-6153 bettinospizza.com

BOXED & BURLAP

COFFEE HOUSE $ 2935 State Hwy. 67 (intersection of highways 50 and 67), Delavan and 230 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-374-5497 boxedandburlap.com

CLOCK TOWER PIZZA/FRANK’S CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 5576 State Rd. 50, Delavan; 262-203-5092 clocktowerpizza.com

DELAVAN FAMILY RESTAURANT CASUAL $ 505 S. Seventh St., Delavan; 262-728-1715

THE DUCK INN

SUPPER CLUB $$ -$$$ N6214 State Hwy. 89 (intersection of County Rd. A and State Hwy. 89), Delavan; 608-883-6988 duckinndelavan.com

ELIZABETH’S CAFE

DINER $ 322 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-728-3383

FIRE2FORK

AMERICAN $$ -$$$ 2484 S. County Rd. O, Delavan; 262-725-7388 fire2fork.com

INN BETWEEN

CASUAL $ 1522 Beckman Dr., Delavan; 262-728-9824

ISLE OF CAPRI CAFÉ

COFFEE HOUSE $ Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan; 262-728-7950 lakelawnresort.com/dining/isle-ofcapri-cafe

JAIME’S CAFE

CASUAL $ 239 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-749-3107 jaimescafe.net/good-food

JO JO’S PIZZA & PASTA

WATERFRONT

JONATHAN’S ON BRICK STREET

YO-SHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT

CASUAL $ -$$ 308 State Hwy. 50, Delavan; 262-728-5656 jojospizzadelavan.net

AMERICAN $$ -$$$ 116 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-725-7715 jonathansonbrickstreet.com

KING’S BOWL

CHINESE $ -$$ 1424 Geneva St., Delavan; 262-725-6057 kingsbowlwi.com

LA GUANAJUATO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

MEXICAN $ 233 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-728-8615

LAKE GENEVA CANNERY

BAKERY $ 5576 Hwy. 50, Unit E, Delavan; 262-729-4017 lakegenevacannery.com

THE LOOKOUT BAR & EATERY CASUAL $ Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan; 262-728-7950 lakelawnresort.com/dining/ lookout-bar-eatery

LOS AGAVES RESTAURANT MEXICAN $ 401 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-728-4039 losagavesdelavan.com

OL’ WISCO BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $ 328 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-725-6000 olwisco.com

OPUS AT THE BELFRY HOUSE

FRENCH $$$$ 3601 State Hwy. 67, Delavan; 262-394-3939 dineopus.com

PEPPERONI PUB

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 627 S. Second St., Delavan; 262-723-2222 pepperonipub.com

RIGA-TONY’S

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 5576 State Hwy. 50, Delavan; 262-740-2540 rigatonysdelavan.com

SWEET AROMA RISTORANTÉ ITALIAN $$ -$$$ W7404 County Rd. X, Delavan; 262-728-6878 sweetaromaristorante.com

THE VILLAGE SUPPER CLUB SUPPER CLUB $$ -$$$ 1725 S. Shore Dr., Delavan; 262-456-3400 villagesupperclubdelavan.com

CASUAL $ 408 State Hwy. 50, Delavan; 262-728-4700 waterfrontdelavan.com

ASIAN $$ 1823 E. Geneva St. (State Hwy. 50), Delavan; 262-740-2223 yoshidelavanwi.com

ELKHORN ALPINE BISTRO AT ALPINE VALLEY RESORT

AMERICAN/CONTEMPORARY $$ -$$$ W2501 County Rd. D, Elkhorn; 262-642-7374 alpinevalleyresort.com

ANNIE’S BURGER TOWN

CASUAL $ 645 N. Lincoln St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3250 anniesburgertown.com

BAKER MEISTER

BAKERY $ 421 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-379-1463

ELK RESTAURANT

CASUAL $ 13 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn; 262-723-4220

ENZO’S PIZZA

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 464 E. Geneva St., Elkhorn; 262-379-2022

HOLI CANNOLI

ITALIAN $ -$$ N7065 U.S. Hwy. 12, Elkhorn; 262-742-2500 holicannoli.com

LAKEHOUSE BREAKFAST BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $ -$$ N7073 State Hwy. 12/67, Elkhorn; 262-742-3300 lakehousebreakfastbarandgrill. godaddysites.com

LARDUCCI PIZZERIA

ITALIAN $ -$$ 20 S. Washington St., Elkhorn; 262-723-6668 larducci.com

LAUDERDALE LANDING

CASUAL $ -$$ W5625 West Shore Dr., Elkhorn; 262-495-8727

LEFTY’S CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOGS CASUAL $ N7033 U.S. Hwy. 12, Elkhorn; 262-215-8266 leftyshotdogs.com

LOS TRES HERMANOS

MEXICAN $$ 31 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-379-1658 lostreshermanoswi.com

food & drink dining guide LUKE’S MARKET STREET ITALIAN SANDWICHES CASUAL $ 117 W. Market St., Elkhorn; 262-723-4676

MOY’S RESTAURANT

ASIAN $ 3 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3993 moysrestaurant.com

PASTRIES BY CHAD

BAKERY $ 29 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-279-1187 pastriesbychad.com

SOMEPLACE ELSE

AMERICAN $ 1 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3111 someplaceelserestaurant.com

FONTANA 240˚ WEST

AMERICAN/CASUAL/ STEAKHOUSE $$ -$$$ The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-9034 theabbeyresort.com/lakegeneva-restaurants/240-west

BAR WEST

PERKUP

COFFEE HOUSE $ 27 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-1287 perkupelkhorn.com

SMALL PLATES $ -$$ The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-9034 theabbeyresort.com/lakegeneva-restaurants/bar-west

PIZZA ALLEY

BIG FOOT MARKET

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 30 S. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-1900

THE PUB AT EVERGREEN GOLF CLUB CASUAL $ N6246 U.S. Hwy. 12, Elkhorn; 262-723-5722 evergreengolf.com/the-pub

PIZZA/COFFEE $ -$$ W4724 S. Lake Shore Dr., Fontana; 262-394-5888 bigfootmarkets.com

CAFÉ LATTE

COFFEE HOUSE $ The Abbey Resort & Spa, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-6811 theabbeyresort.com/lakegeneva-restaurants/cafe-latte

Where tradition meets the essence of Italian sophistication.

CHUCK’S LAKESHORE INN CASUAL $ 352 Lake St., Fontana; 262-275-3222 chuckslakeshoreinn.com

COFFEE MILL

COFFEE HOUSE $ 441 Mill St., Fontana; 262-275-0040 coffeemillfontana.com

LITTLE BAR

PIZZA $ -$$ 138 Fontana Blvd. Fontana; 262-755-0335 littlebarfontana.com

THE WATERFRONT

AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$ The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-9034 theabbeyresort.com/lake-genevarestaurants/the-waterfront

Our emporium boasts an exquisite selection of the finest olive oils sourced from the sun-drenched groves of Italy, curated with a touch of old-world flair. Offering You Products You Can’t Refuse

LAKE COMO BEAN & VINE COFFEE BAR

COFFEE HOUSE $ -$$ The Ridge Hotel, W4240 State Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva; 262-249-3800 destinationgn.com/bean-vine

239 Cook St., Lake Geneva 262-348-1800 • donvitos.co OILS • BALSAMIC • GOURMET ITEMS

150 CENTER ST. LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

262.812.4064

flatirontaplg.com flatirontap@gmail.com

Local Farm to Table Live Music Thursday Nights Late Night Menu on Friday & Saturday

WINTER 2026

127

food & drink dining guide CRAFTED ITALIA

ITALIAN $$ -$$$ The Ridge Hotel, W4240 State Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva; 262-249-3832 craftedlakegeneva.com

DJ’S IN THE DRINK

CASUAL $ W3860 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Como; 262-248-8855 djsinthedrink.com

THE GETAWAY ON LAKE COMO

CASUAL $ -$$ 4190 West End Rd., Lake Geneva; 262-686-3456 thegetawayrestaurant.com

KELLY’S RESTAURANT

STEAKHOUSE/SUPPER CLUB $$ W3731 Club House Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-348-7344 kellyrestaurantlg.com

MARS RESORT

STEAKHOUSE/SUPPER CLUB $ -$$ W4098 S. Shore Drive (off State Hwy. 50 on Lake Como), Lake Geneva; 262-245-5689 mars-resort.com

NEXT DOOR PUB LAKESIDE

KING DRAGON

CAFÉ CALAMARI

NICHE

MEGGY MOO’S DAIRY RIPPLE

DADDY MAXWELL’S

PIZZA $ W4118 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-249-6311 nextdoorpublakeside.com COFFEE SHOP/WINE BAR $ -$$ 715 Hunt Club Dr., Unit C, Lake Geneva; 262-581-6800 nichelg.com

PAPA’S BLUE SPRUCE

CASUAL $ W4086 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-729-4126 papasbluespruce.com

TURF. KITCHEN + TAP

BARBECUE $$ Geneva National, Lake Geneva; 262-245-7042 destinationgn.com/turf

WALWORTH JULIE MICHELLE CAKES CAKE BAKERY $ 117 Kenosha St., Walworth; 312-800-3101 juliemichellecakes.com

ASIAN $ 101 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-275-3309 kingdragonwa.com CASUAL/ICE CREAM $ 600 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-394-5584

SAMMY’S ON THE SQUARE CASUAL $ 105 Madison St., Walworth; 262-275-3739 sammysonthesquare.com

SIEMER’S CRUISE–IN BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $ 107 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-275-9191 siemerscruisein.com

TWO SISTERS THAI RESTAURANT

ASIAN $ 207 N. Main St., Walworth; 262-394-5700

WILLIAMS BAY BAY COOKS

CASUAL $ 99 N. Walworth Ave., Williams Bay; 262-607-6024 baycooksrestaurant.com

ITALIAN $$ -$$$ 10 E. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-9665 cafecalamari.com DINER $ 150 Elkhorn Rd., Williams Bay

GREEN GROCER

CAFE $ 24 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-9077 greengrocerwb.com

HARPOON WILLIE’S PUB & EATERY CASUAL $ 8 E. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-6906 harpoonwillies.com

LUCKE’S CANTINA

MEXICAN $ 220 Elkhorn Rd., Williams Bay; 262-245-6666 luckescantina.com

PIER 290

AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$ 1 Liechty Dr., Williams Bay; 262-245-2100 pier290.com

SPECIALIZING IN ITALIAN CLASSICS AND DELICIOUS STEAKS & SEAFOOD

HOST YOUR SPECIAL OCCASION IN ONE OF OUR PRIVATE ROOMS • GLUTEN FREE MENU WE ACCOMMODATE LARGE GROUPS

TheTuscanTavernAndGrill.com 128 AT THE LAKE

advertiser index 1878 on the Lake...................................118

Tricia Forbeck...................................55

Green Grocer......................................... 75

Newport West Shoppes....................... 18

@properties............................................4-5

Janis Hartley........................................7

Haberdapper.......................................... 67

Northwind Perennial Farm..................74

Diane Krause....................................25

Linda Tonge...................................... 27

Hawk’s View........................................... 88

Oakfire......................................................121

Jerry Kroupa..................................... 97

Bob Webster......................................47

House Shampoo......................................9

Paper Dolls..............................................62

Stephanie Parent.............................. 41

The Cove of Lake Geneva................. 75

Jorndt Fahey LLC.................................... 11

Patrick Green Real Estate................... 45

The Abbey Resort........................ 89, 106

Crandall’s Restaurant..........................125

Kitchen Ideas Center........................... 35

Reed Custom Builders.........................26

Abbey Springs........................................ 78

Curate Design Group LLC.....................3

Kristina Lorraine Photography............ 81

The Riviera Ballroom............................ 88

Angelus Home & Garden................... 54

Delavan Lake Resort............................ 23

Lakefront Shuttle................................... 79

Salt & Kai..................................................92

Anna Urban Photography................... 79

The Design Coach................................60

Lake Geneva Lodge..............................73

Scherrer Custom Homes..................... 31

B&J Tree and Landscape Service... 39

Don Vito’s Infused

Lake Geneva Paint Pros...................... 67

Shorewest

Baglio Design Build Team.................. 33

Olive Oil Emporium........................127

Lake Geneva Staging..........................66

Christine Fox........................................8

Balsitis Contracting Inc.......................132

Dunn Lumber Rentals.......................... 45

Lake Geneva Window & Door.......... 46

Starline Factory Inc............................... 84

Berkshire Hathaway

Elite Piers............................................... 108

Lake Home Living................................. 24

Stebnitz Builders Inc...................... 56-59

Flat Iron Tap...........................................127

Lake Lawn Resort............................ 19, 93

Studio M Interiors....................................17

Fontana Home.......................................65

Lakes Brick & Block.............................. 32

Studio Saint Marie Design.................. 54

of Lake Geneva.............................. 108

Foremost Electric................................ 105

Lazy Cloud Lodge..................................74

Tailored Spaces.....................................101

The Candle Mercantile......................... 14

Four Seasons Flooring........................ 34

Lowell Custom Homes...........................2

Tuscan Tavern & Grill................... 77, 128

Caravelle Lighting.................................. 14

Gage Marine

Maddock Construction........................ 43

Verlo Mattress.......................................129 Visit Lake Geneva.................................115

Mark Larkin........................................ 34 The Boat House

Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn.........................77

Lake Geneva Cruise Line.............92

Mahler Sotheby’s International Realty

Clear Waters Salon Med Spa............ 75

Lake Life Catering............................77

Donna Brongiel................................. 15

Closets by Design.................................65 Coldwell Banker Dawn McKenna Group..................20 Compass

Pier 290...............................................77

Chris Jasser........................................ 16

Geneva Cabinet Company................131

Matt Mason Photography.................... 81

Geneva Lake Distilling + Winery......122

Matustik Builders.................................... 13

Geneva Lakes Jewelry &

Maxwell Mansion...................................85

Mick Balestrieri.................................69

Gem Appraisals............................... 70

Shannon Blay..................................... 61

Grand Welcome of Lake Geneva......74

Neurosurgery and Endovascular Association.......... 102

Enjoy At The Lake throughout the year! Purchase a 2026 calendar at atthelakemagazine.com

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2462 Hwy 120 • 262.249.0420 5150 North West Hwy • 815.455.2570 3710 West Elm St. • 815.578.8375

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verlo.com 866.99.VERLO WINTER 2026

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life at the lake

“Now I can see other things — crisp and sparkling days, long pleasant evenings, cheery fires. Good work shall be done this winter. Life shall be lived well.” — A.A. Milne

photo by holly leitner 130 AT THE LAKE

Photographer: S Wolf Photography

V I S I T O U R S H O W R O O M T O D AY & B E I N S P I R E D F O R T O M O R R O W

SHOWROOM HOURS Mon–Fri: 9am–4pm

201 Geneva National Ave. S, Lake Geneva, WI www.genevacabinet.com | 262.245.9600

1021 PROCTOR DRIVE, ELKHORN, WI 53121 CUSTOM & LAKE HOME BUILDERS

LUXURY HOME REMODELS

ADDITIONS

KITCHENS

BALSITISCONTRACTING.COM 262-203-3952

BATHROOMS

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