Michigan Avenue - 2014 - Issue 7 - November

Windy City Luxuries 20 over-the-top indulgences

What’s so funny?

Cindy Crawford The Illinois supermodel and entrepreneur is back in business in Chicago

michiganavemag.com niche media holdings, llc

How Chicago became the nation’s capital of comedy + the best laughs in town

Plus Stanley Paul Petra Slinkard John Roa

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Visitors to the Lincoln Park Zoo enter an enchanted landscape during the annual ZooLights display.

Winter Wonderland

The LincoLn Park Zoo ceLebraTes 20 years of iLLuminaTing The hoLiday season wiTh ZooLighTs. One hundred thousand lights twinkled across the Friday night sky as Chicagoans gathered at the Lincoln Park Zoo on November 24, 1995, for the premiere of its newest holiday event, ZooLights. “Generally people tend to think of the zoo as a summertime activity,” says Lincoln Park Zoo Director of Sales and Events Dana Jussaume of the holiday attraction. “[ZooLights] was a great way to reach out to the community in the winter and say, ‘Hey, we’re still here.’”

Throughout the past two decades, that message has been heard loud and clear, with ZooLights drawing an average crowd of 363,136 over the last three years. “It’s a wonderful tradition,” says Jussaume—and for some visitors, a trip to ZooLights is the ultimate romantic setting. “We actually had one couple who got engaged at ZooLights 10 years ago, then came back and celebrated

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their 10-year anniversary.” Proposals have become so frequent (with Jussaume estimating at least 20 engagements last year alone) that the zoo team created a lighted “Will You Marry Me?” sign in 2013 for couples.

Over the years, ZooLights has grown into a beloved citywide spectacle, featuring more than two million lights shaped into holiday- and animal-inspired displays, along with additions like a musical light show and an ice rink that launched in 2013. “We buy from overseas and elsewhere to keep us on the cutting edge,” says Jussaume. After witnessing 14 seasons of ZooLights (back when the program drew 40,000 people), Jussaume is eagerly anticipating the start of this year’s festivities and, of course, the addition of even more lights, including a flying flamingo display near the East Gate. “It’s practically perfect,” muses Jussaume on the event. The most meaningful gifts often are. MA

photography by reuters

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contents

november 2014

57

ONE CHIC STREET Costume Council president Nena Ivon joins forces with Chicago History Museum curator Petra Slinkard for the exhibition “Chicago Styled.”

10 // front runner 26 // letter from the editor-in-Chief

28 // letter from the president and publisher

30 // ... Without Whom

this issue Would not have been possible

32 // the list

style 37 // passport to paris French cool comes to the Gold Coast with the addition of Zadig & Voltaire.

40 // seCond nature Alluring new accessories set the stage for an enchantingly stylish Windy City moment.

44 // spotlight Borris Powell launches a luxe line for men, Stuart Weitzman’s boots go custom, and watchmaker Astor+Banks sets up shop in Chicago.

46 // bare essentials Art-loving Chicagoans will be captivated by the newest skeleton watches.

48 // seeing red Elevate your holiday look with these stylish scarlet accessories selected by fashion maven Ikram Goldman.

The creative force behind Macy’s beloved holiday décor, Paul Anthony shares the Chicago places he fnds most inspiring.

52 // eau, my Word!

A stunning new fragrance from Hermès takes its inspiration from fne leather and French literature.

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photography by rachel hanel

50 // merry maker

contents

november 2014

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76

SPOTLIGHT Art from Paris Match graces the Sofitel Chicago Hotel in the traveling exhibit “Revealed.”

RENAISSANCE MAN Meet Chicago’s newest tech star, John Roa.

culture

people

57 // One ChiC Street

73 // UnCOrking SUCCeSS

With the exhibition “Chicago Styled,” the Chicago History Museum salutes the Magnifcent Mile.

Nancy Bigley gets ready to launch 30 new franchises of festive favorite Bottle & Bottega.

60 // Veni, Vidi,

76 // renaiSSanCe Man

Chicago art enthusiasts cast their eyes southward as Miami Beach prepares to host the best of modern and contemporary art at Art Basel.

64 // SpOtlight Chicago’s dance scene gets Visceral, the Chicago Sinfonietta celebrates Día de los Meurtos, and Ebenezer Scrooge comes to dinner.

68 // Where the hep CatS play

60

VENI, VIDI, VISIONARY Chicago art lovers head south for this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach.

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Chicago sax man Frank Catalano delivers the lowdown on the city’s top jazz venues.

Start-up king John Roa is blazing a digital trail in Chicago—and doing it his own way.

78 // the gOOd life The web’s most visible grandmother, Susan “Honey” Good, takes her advice-giving game to the next level.

80 // riVer WeSt: “i dOn’t See MySelf anyWhere elSe.” “Food Buddha” Rodelio Aglibot fnds sanctuary in his Near West Side neighborhood.

82 // laSting health As Howard Brown Health Center celebrates 40 years of caring for Chicago’s LGBT community, CEO David Ernesto Munar is leading the cheers.

photography by billy rood (roa)

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contents

november 2014

taste 97 // Get to the Point New hearth-to-table hot spot The Promontory is Hyde Park’s place to be.

100 // Great harvest Three new restaurants welcome fall’s freshest favors; and Chicago mixologists craft cocktails with a sour punch.

102 // sPotliGht Chef Tony Quartaro returns to his red-sauce roots, Koval launches a new coriander gin, and November proves to be the sweetest month.

104 // ChamPions for ChanGe Nonproft crusaders Liam Krehbiel and Jessica Droste Yagan fll their plates with big ideas.

features 108 // meaninGful Beauty Cindy Crawford talks about beauty, philanthropy, and motherhood with legendary fashion photographer Victor Skrebneski.

Photography by Andrew MacPherson

114 // Comedy Central As The Second City, iO, and others expand their empires, Chicago cements its comedy-mecca reputation.

By Jason A. Heidemann

122 // luxe for the holidays

128 // lord stanley Iconic bandleader Stanley Paul reminisces about his 50-year reign on the Chicago music scene.

By Bill Zwecker

132 // CannaBusiness Now that Colorado and Washington have green-lit marijuana for recreational use, will more states follow?

By Erin Lentz

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108

MEANINGFUL BEAUTY In an exclusive interview, Cindy Crawford chats with fashion photographer extraordinaire Victor Skrebneski, in whose Old Town studio her modeling career was launched.

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Celebrate the season like royalty in this city of big spenders.

By Novid Parsi Photography by Sarah Anne Ward

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contents

November 2014

102

THAT’S ITALIAN Chef Tony Quartaro’s new restaurant concept, Formento’s, spotlights his favorite dishes from childhood.

haute property 141 // Eleventh Heaven

New luxury rental hot spot OneEleven is a miracle story of revival, rebirth, and stunning design.

144 // Dream Teams

When it comes to scoring your fantasy home, it’s all about using the right team.

the guide 149 // Michigan Avenue 101 You’ll be 101 percent in the know after consulting our bible of elite dining, nightlife, and shopping destinations.

gold coasting 160 // Say It Ain’t So, O!

Oprah Winfrey has all but severed her ties to Chicago. Will we ever be able to give our hearts again?

Cindy Crawford Photography by Andrew MacPherson Styling by Robert Behar/Opus Hair by Yiotis Panayiotou using Oribe Makeup by Shane Paish/Walter Schupfer using Dior Nails by Whitney Gibson using Chanel Photography Assistance by Alex Almeida and Paul Rae Hair Assistance by Ozvaldo Delgado Video by Nardeep Khurmi Sitting Editor: Danielle Yadegar Special thanks to Anne Kim Knit gown, Roberto Cavalli ($6,145).

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photography by nathan michael

ON THE COVER:

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CELEBRATE ThE SEASon with modern mexican cuisine

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We have the inside scoop on Chicago’s best parties, real estate, and more. home

Sip the finest margarita Taste guacamole made fresh at your table Savor fresh seafood and steaks

CHICAGO-MADE HOME ACCESSORIES You’ll spend more time indoors once winter hits. Add a local touch to your décor with stylish pieces designed in Chicago.

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J.P. ANDERSON Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editor MEG MATHIS Managing Editor OUSSAMA ZAHR Art Director JESSICA SARRO Photo Editor JODIE LOVE Senior Fashion Editor LAUREN FINNEY Copy Editor NICOLE LANCTOT Research Editor AVA WILLIAMS

DAN USLAN President and Publisher Advertising Director GRACE NAPOLITANO Account Executives SARAH HECKLER, ERIN SALINS, CAROLINE SNECKENBERG Director of Event Marketing KIMMY WILSON Event Marketing Coordinator BROOKE BIDDLE Sales Coordinator STEPHEN OSTROWSKI

NICHE MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC Senior Vice President and Editorial Director MANDI NORWOOD Vice President of Creative and Fashion ANN SONG Creative Director NICOLE A. WOLFSON NADBOY Executive Fashion Director SAMANTHA YANKS ART AND PHOTO

Senior Art Director FRYDA LIDOR Associate Art Directors ANASTASIA TSIOUTAS CASALIGGI, ALLISON FLEMING, ADRIANA GARCIA, JUAN PARRA Senior Designer NATALI SUASNAVAS Designers AARON BELANDRES, SARAH LITZ Photo Director LISA ROSENTHAL BADER Photo Editors KATHERINE HAUSENBAUER-KOSTER, SETH OLENICK, JENNIFER PAGAN, REBECCA SAHN Senior Staff Photographer JEFFREY CRAWFORD Senior Digital Imaging Specialist JEFFREY SPITERY Digital Imaging Specialist JEREMY DEVERATURDA Digital Imaging Assistant HTET SAN FASHION

Fashion Editor FAYE POWER Fashion Assistants CONNOR CHILDERS, LISA FERRANDINO Entertainment and Bookings Editor JULIET IZON COPY AND RESEARCH

Copy and Research Manager WENDIE PECHARSKY Copy Editors DAVID FAIRHURST, JULIA STEINER Research Editors LESLIE ALEXANDER, JAMES BUSS, JUDY DEYOUNG EDITORIAL OPERATIONS

Director of Editorial Operations DEBORAH L. MARTIN Director of Editorial Relations MATTHEW STEWART Editorial Assistant CHRISTINA CLEMENTE Online Executive Editor CAITLIN ROHAN Online Editors ANNA BEN YEHUDA, TRICIA CARR Senior Managing Editors DANINE ALATI, KAREN ROSE, JILL SIERACKI Managing Editors JENNIFER DEMERITT, MURAT OZTASKIN Shelter and Design Editor SUE HOSTETLER Timepiece Editor ROBERTA NAAS ADVERTISING SALES

Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing NORMAN M. MILLER Account Directors SUSAN ABRAMS, MICHELE ADDISON, GUY BROWN, CLAIRE CARLIN, KATHLEEN FLEMING, VICTORIA HENRY, KAREN LEVINE, MEREDITH MERRILL, NORMA MONTALVO, ELIZABETH MOORE, JEFFREY NICHOLSON, DEBORAH O’BRIEN, SHANNON PASTUSZAK, MIA PIERRE-JACQUES, VALERIE ROBLES, JIM SMITH Account Executives SUSANA ARAGON, MICHELLE CHALA, MORGAN CLIFFORD, JANELLE DRISCOLL, ALICIA DRY, VINCE DUROCHER, IRENA HALL, CATHERINE KUCHAR, JULIA MAZUR, FENDY MESY, MARISA RANDALL, MARY RUEGG, LAUREN SHAPIRO, JACKIE VAN METER, JESSICA ZIVKOVITCH Advertising Business Manager RICHARD YONG Sales Support and Development EMMA BEHRINGER, ANA BLAGOJEVIC, EMILY BURDETT, CRISTINA CABIELLES, BRITTANY CORBETT, JAMIE HILDEBRANDT, DARA HIRSH, KARA KEARNS, KELSEY MARRUJO, MICHELLE MASS, NICHOLE MAURER, RUE MCBRIDE, ELENA SENDOLO, ALEXANDRA WINTER MARKETING, PROMOTIONS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations LANA BERNSTEIN Vice President of Integrated Marketing EMILY MCLINTOCK Director of Integrated Marketing ROBIN KEARSE Integrated Marketing Manager JIMMY KONTOMANOLIS Director of Creative Services SCOTT ROBSON Promotions Art Designers KAITLYN RICHERT, CARLY RUSSELL Event Marketing Directors AMY FISCHER, HALEE HARCZYNSKI, MELINDA JAGGER, LAURA MULLEN, JOANNA TUCKER Event Marketing Managers ANTHONY ANGELICO, JUDSON BARDWELL, CHRISTIAMILDA CORREA, CRISTINA PARRA Event Marketing Assistant SHANA KAUFMAN ADVERTISING PRODUCTION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Director of Positioning and Planning SALLY LYON Positioning and Planning Manager TARA MCCRILLIS Assistant Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Production Artists ALISHA DAVIS, MARISSA MAHERAS, DARA RICCI Distribution Manager MATT HEMMERLING Assistant Distribution Relations Manager JENNIFER PALMER Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD Traffic Supervisor ESTEE WRIGHT Traffic Coordinators JEANNE GLEESON, MALLORIE SOMMERS Circulation Research Specialist CHAD HARWOOD FINANCE

Controller DANIELLE BIXLER Finance Directors AUDREY CADY, LISA VASSEUR-MODICA Director of Credit and Collections CHRISTOPHER BEST Senior Credit and Collections Analyst MYRNA ROSADO Senior Billing Coordinator CHARLES CAGLE Senior Accountant LILY WU Junior Accountants KATHY SABAROVA, NEIL SHAH, NATASHA WARREN Accounts Payable Coordinator NADINE DEODATT ADMINISTRATION, DIGITAL, AND OPERATIONS

Director of Operations MICHAEL CAPACE Director of Human Resources STEPHANIE MITCHELL Executive Assistant ARLENE GONZALEZ Digital Producer ANTHONY PEARSON Facilities Coordinator JOUBERT GUILLAUME Chief Technology Officer JESSE TAYLOR Desktop Administrators ZACHARY CUMMO, EDGAR ROCHE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

SPENCER BECK (Aspen Peak [Acting], Los Angeles Confidential), ANDREA BENNETT (Vegas), KATHY BLACKWELL (Austin Way), KRISTIN DETTERLINE (Philadelphia Style), LISA PIERPONT (Boston Common), CATHERINE SABINO (Gotham), JARED SHAPIRO (Ocean Drive), ELIZABETH E. THORP (Capitol File), SAMANTHA YANKS (Hamptons) PUBLISHERS

JOHN M. COLABELLI (Philadelphia Style), LOUIS F. DELONE (Austin Way), DAWN DUBOIS (Gotham), ALEXANDRA HALPERIN (Aspen Peak), DEBRA HALPERT (Hamptons), SUZY JACOBS (Capitol File), GLEN KELLEY (Boston Common), COURTLAND LANTAFF (Ocean Drive), ALISON MILLER (Los Angeles Confidential), JOSEF VANN (Vegas)

Managing Partner JANE GALE Chairman and Director of Photography JEFF GALE Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer JOHN P. KUSHNIR Chief Executive Officer KATHERINE NICHOLLS Copyright 2014 by Niche Media Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. Michigan Avenue magazine is published eight times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited.

The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material, and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Michigan Avenue magazine’s right to edit.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs, and drawings. To order a subscription, please call 866-891-3144. For customer service, please inquire at michiganavenue@pubservice.com.

To distribute Michigan Avenue at your business, please e-mail magazinerequest@nichemedia.net.

Michigan Avenue magazine is published by Niche Media Holdings, LLC., a division of Greengale Publishing, LLC. michigan avenue : 500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611 T: 312-753-6200 F: 312-753-6250 niche media holdings: 100 Church Street, Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10007 T: 646-835-5200 F: 212-780-0003

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Letter from the editor-in-Chief // this issue //

on my radar Autumn has kicked into high gear, and with it so has the city’s new cultural season. These are my ultimate musts for November in Chicago.

1. The exhibit “David Bowie Is” is a mesmerizing multimedia extravaganza—and it’s making its only US stop right here in Chicago at the MCA. 2. RPM Steak’s people-watching is over-the-top, but the coal-roasted king crab is just as memorable.

3. Maestro Riccardo Muti led the CSO in a truly rousing Tchaikovsky’s 4th to open the season, which continues at Symphony Center this month.

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Celebrating this year’s Primo Classico d’Europa with tennis legend and one of my childhood idols, Jimmy Connors, a corn-fed guy himself from the southern Illinois town of Belleville.

to get thrown around a lot. It may sound like a backhanded compliment, but I love the phrase, if only because it’s true: We may be sophisticated city dwellers, but for many of us Windy City types, our roots are in the small towns of the Midwest, where the farming industry is still a huge part of people’s livelihood. I also think it suggests a wholesomeness, friendliness, and healthiness that conjures up Tommy Hilfiger-esque visions of fresh-faced cheerleaders and ruggedly handsome quarterbacks that those on the coasts can only dream of.

If anyone has represented the epitome of that fresh-faced beauty over the last 30 years, it’s been our cover girl, supermodel Cindy Crawford. Fittingly from DeKalb, Illinois—a town world-famous for its corn production—Cindy was discovered in high school during her summer job detasseling, you guessed it, stalks of corn in the local fields. It just doesn’t get any more corn-fed than that.

Like any true Midwesterner, in her interview Cindy proved herself to be just as unassuming, modest, and down-to-earth as any small-town girl can be. It was a delight to reunite her with photographer Victor Skrebneski for an affectionate, storyfilled chat about family, new projects, and the modeling life then and now. Cindy was our first cover star back in 2008, and we’re thrilled to feature her on our cover six years later as she returns to Chicago to promote her home design partnership with Art Van. Her home may now be with her husband and two children in Southern California, but she’ll always be a Midwesterner at heart, and we’ll always take pride in her as one of our own.

j.p. anderson Follow me on Twitter at @JP_ Anderson and at michiganavemag.com.

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photography by Duffy © Duffy archive & the DaviD bowie archive (bowie); anjali pinto (rpM); toDD rosenberg (Maestro)

When people describe us chicagoans, the term “corn-fed” tends

letter from the President and Publisher // this issue //

on my radar While November always inspires my sense of giving, it’s also the time for some indulgence. Fancy hotel dining, emerging artists, and feeding your sweet tooth are easy in the most magnifcent city of them all—Chicago.

1. Just after Expo Chicago, I stumbled on this Richard Harris original “stacked” watercolor abstraction. I love this guy’s use of shapes.

2. Retro candy never goes out of style, and it tastes just like it did when you were 10. I get my fx at Candyality— on Michigan Avenue, of course.

Having my Jerry Maguire moment with October cover star Matt Forté of the Chicago Bears, his adorable daughter, Nahla, and wife, Danielle.

3. Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to happen at home: The Park Hyatt’s NoMI Kitchen offers a high-end holiday feast at the chef’s table.

PeoPle tyPically laud this time of year for the return of foot-

ball, hockey, and hot chocolate. However, I think of late fall and winter as the season of generosity, when Chicagoans channel their resources and spirit into cherished causes (case in point: givers from the Chicago area donated more than $5 billion to charity last year). With social calendars brimming with benefits, galas, and more, there’s no true “hibernation” period for us.

Not that this altruistic sentiment is seasonal: Year-round, our mission is to celebrate, captivate, and connect with a conscience. Most recently, for example, we supported Quintin and Diane Primo’s third annual Primo Classico d’Europa at Lake Forest Sportscars on September 21. Though the afternoon included an aerial acrobat, auction, and remarks by tennis legend Jimmy Connors, the real highlight was that over $300,000 was raised for The Primo Center for Women and Children. In a city with almost 94,000 homeless individuals, those funds are immeasurably important.

We endeavor to realize our charitable duties in the coming months. On Friday, November 21, at The Casino, Best Buddies Illinois toasts 25 years of assisting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with its ninth annual gala.

This will be our fourth time supporting the organization’s marquee bash, and we couldn’t be happier to promote their cause of enriching others’ lives. For tickets and information, call 312-828-9313 or visit bestbuddiesillinois.org/gala2014.

We’re also excited to support the World of Chocolate extravaganza on Thursday, December 4, at Union Station. The evening, which benefits the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, features 30 chefs whipping up delectable chocolate dishes in the station’s stunning Grand Hall. Tickets will fly, so make sure to get yours now at aidschicago.org/ chicago. It will be an evening that, in flavor and spirit, will be nothing short of sweet.

dan uslan

Follow me on Twitter at @danuslan and on Facebook at facebook.com/danieluslan.

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VICTOR SKREBNESKI photographer Credentials: Over the past 60-plus years, Chicago icon Victor Skrebneski has photographed everyone from Andy Warhol and Bette Davis to Orson Welles, Iman, and Cindy Crawford. His work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Maison & Jardin, Interview, and Vogue Italia, to name a few. Behind the story: “Cindy Crawford [‘Meaningful Beauty,’ page 108] came to my studio when she was 16 and wanted to be a model. She took my directions perfectly and learned quickly—I also insisted that she never remove her beauty mark, as it made her unique.” Favorite spot in Chicago: “My studio. I am passionate about my pictures and completely aware of the privilege of being able to work as a photographer. All of my pictures have interconnections between art history and biography, style, emotions, and quality. I will always be the seeker extending the language of the medium.” His inspiration: “Getting up in the morning.”

photography by heidi brill

Photo: Maureen Schulman. Makeup: Orlando Barsallo. Stylist: Julie Block. Model: April Francis. Location: Grifns & Gargoyles, Chicago

this issue would not have been possible

BIll ZWecKer writer Credentials: Bill Zwecker writes for the Chicago Sun-Times and reports on entertainment for Fox 32 News.

Throughout the years, he has contributed to CBS News Sunday Morning, Chicago magazine, Crain’s Chicago Business, Entertainment Tonight, The Joan Rivers Show, and more.

Behind the story: “I often joke that I have known Stanley Paul [‘Lord Stanley,’ page 128] and danced to his music since I had hair!” Favorite spot in Chicago: “Any place within the confines of Lincoln Park Zoo, one of our city’s truly special spots.” His inspiration: “My never-ending curiosity about what makes certain people talented.”

rachel hanel photographer Credentials: Rachel Hanel has worked as a photographer in Chicago’s West Loop for more than 10 years. Her clients include Walgreens, PrimaLoft, Old Navy, and publications such as First For Women, Today’s Chicago Woman, Work Style, and more. Behind the story: “It was such a pleasure to meet and photograph Nena Ivon [‘One Chic Street,’ page 57], and even more exciting was to find her easy to relate to and completely charming.”

Favorite spot in Chicago: “Northerly Island. I love how close it is to downtown, but you can completely lose yourself out there if you’d like.” Her inspiration: “It’s all in the details, as they say.”

john dugan writer Credentials: John Dugan has written for Time Out Chicago, Chicago Reader, Chicago Sun-Times, The Economist online, Vice News, and more. Behind the story: “Saxophonist Frank Catalano [‘Where the Hep Cats Play,’ page 66] reminds me why I live in a place like Chicago: for the cultural life, but also for the people, the characters.” Favorite spot in Chicago: “I run in Humboldt Park regularly. It’s beautiful, historical, and still a little worn around the edges. I come up with my story ideas there and dream up schemes and plans.” His inspiration: “I find the collision of various cultures and the history of cities continually inspiring.”

the list November 2014

Stevie Wonder

Paul Wilson

Ina Garten

Marci Carl

Barbara Bradford

Robert L. Baumgardner

Jeff Burkard

Eskandar Nabavi

Matt Winchester

Angela Lee

Peter Goldman

James Govan

Delilah Luke

Bob Dylan

Nicole Hogan

Melanie Giglio-Vakos

George Motz

Montana Butsch

Alicia Richman

Jerry Seinfeld

Gerald F. Fitzgerald Jr.

Steve Carell

Jill Dolnicek

Chantelle Rateliff

Fiona McEntee

Susan Maman

Malita Stone

Christopher Nolan

Richard Druker

John Malkovich

Ne-Yo

Judy Wajcman

Dale Schwartz

Dr. Todd Koehl

Jason Sudeikis

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style tastemaker

PassPort to Paris

French cool comes to the Gold coast with the addition oF ZadiG & Voltaire, helmed by creatiVe director CeCilia Bonstrom. by lauren finney “Our street-style chic attitude has a lot in common with the fashionable American lifestyle,” says Cecilia Bonstrom, creative director of Parisian import Zadig & Voltaire, which landed lakeside this fall. The former model became creative director of the brand in 2006; it was founded in 1997 by Thierry Gillier (whose father founded Lacoste)—and has been at the forefront of a casual-dressing revolution ever since.

“It’s more about style than fashion,” declares Bonstrom. Whether it’s a tee mixed with leather pants or a cashmere sweater paired with a continued on page 38

Cecilia Bonstrom was a model for fifteen years before joining the design team at Zadig & Voltaire.

michiganavemag.com 37

style tastemaker

Cecilia Bonstrom attracts fashion fans from musicians to movie stars.

The label’s “rock-chic” basics for women are offset by the shop’s clean lines and pouredconcrete tiling, in keeping with its Parisian aesthetic.

The new Gold Coast location—the brand’s first in the Midwest—on Oak Street.

“it’s fashion made for a modern woman who wants to look cool without trying too hard, and is never overdressed.” —cecilia bonstrom men’s-cut blazer, Bonstrom and her team strive to achieve Gillier’s vision of dressing with a touch of androgyny, youth, and effortlessness. “It’s fashion made for a modern woman who wants to look cool without trying too hard, and is never overdressed.”

The brand’s fall collection stays in that distinctive French vein and is described

by Bonstrom in three key phrases: “Military, winter whites, and Bohemian rhapsody.” Among this

38 michiganavemag.com

winter’s stand-out pieces, she says, are “the military parka, the boiled cashmere hoodie, and the Camera bag—a new It bag for women on the go.” All fit in with the line’s “effortless look, built around a mix of easy-to-wear masculine and feminine rock-chic elements.”

The brand implements a philosophy of “new luxury,” which to Bonstrom simply means affordable luxury. In the ’90s, when Zadig started, in French fashion there were only high-end luxury labels

or fast-fashion brands. “I was a model when I discovered Zadig & Voltaire, and I immediately saw the brand’s modernity thanks to the simplicity of the designs and the kind of self-service feeling of its boutiques,” she recalls.

“The label’s original idea was to create luxurious pieces that were affordable, focusing on the style of each piece— basics with a twist. Gillier knew that if the piece was perfect, it would be coveted by women around the

world”—including those here in Chicago.

Zadig & Voltaire, which operates almost 300 stores worldwide, found Oak Street the natural spot for its flagship in the Midwest.

The Gold Coast space has a “French spirit that revolves around a play of materials and light,” says Bonstrom.

“The use of elements such as poured-concrete tiling plays with our Parisian tradition, but it also keeps a clean Zadig & Voltaire rock spirit.” A

major focus of the new store will be coats of course, and Bonstrom thinks outerwear should be simple. “My ideal coat should fit over a dress or jeans and a sweater, with chic heels or sneakers,” she asserts. “This season the coats are a bit longer to give them a more masculine, stronger attitude,” she continues. “It’s a true luxury because it’s a unique design, but still affordable.” 114 e. oak st., 312-643-1240; us.zadig-et-voltaire.com MA

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STYLE Accessories BUTTERFLY EFFECT Fluttering creatures spread their wings in this statement clutch.

Second nature

Alluring new Accessories set the stAge for An enchAntingly stylish windy city moment. photography by brian klutch styling by faye power

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ProP Styling by ChriStoPher Stone; ManiCure by CaSandra laMar uSing Chanel VerniS/FarMhouSe FreSh hand CreaM at FaCtory downtown; Model: nik d For PartS ModelS

Butterfly flap bag, Valentino Garavani ($2,895).

Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave., 312-642-5900; neimanmarcus.com

We’re here to help.

Big steps or little ones, we’ll be here for all of them.

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STYLE Accessories 1

2 WINTER BLOOMS

TREE LIMB A forest-inspired cuff bracelet becomes the new winter essential.

Bright florals add a pop to an elegant pump.

4

THE GILT NECKLACE Foliage brilliantly transforms in this iridescent choker.

CAGED JEWELS Enchanted baubles become a delicate treasure within these heels.

1. Minbra pump, Manolo Blahnik ($1,045). Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave., 312-642-5900; neimanmarcus.com. 2. Silver Snake citrine and red garnet ring, Le Vian ($1,365). Macy’s, 111 N. State St., 312-781-1000; macys.com. Sterling silver diamond bark cuff bracelet, Michael Aram ($2,225). Neiman Marcus, see above; michaelaram.com. 3. Necklace, Alexander McQueen ($995). Ikram, 15 E. Huron St., 312-587-1000; alexandermcqueen.com. 4. Purple velvet jeweled heels, Dolce & Gabbana ($2,995). 68 E. Oak St., 312-255-0630; dolcegabbana.com.

42  michiganavemag.com

ProP Styling by ChriStoPher Stone; ManiCure by CaSandra laMar uSing Chanel VerniS/FarMhouSe FreSh hand CreaM at FaCtory downtown; Model: nik d For PartS ModelS

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STYLE Spotlight new & now

BEAUTY NEWS

// LOCAL TREASURES // 1

Omorovicza, a luxury skincare line from Budapest steeped in natural healing elements, unveils its three-product diamond peptide-infused Blue Diamond collection (concentrate, resurfacing peel, and super cream) at Neiman Marcus. 737 N. Michigan Ave., 312-6425900; omorovicza.com

Modern Man

debut

WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER BORRIS POWELL LAUNCHES A LUXE LINE FOR MEN. Chicago-based fashion designer Borris Powell is known for his gorgeous custom women’s creations, but this fall the fashion veteran is expanding his repertoire with Freedom, a new men’s collection that highlights a return to dapper dressing. Marked by clean lines, sharp silhouettes, and quality craftsmanship, the line aims to capture the ideal of the modern man—and the wardrobe that should carry him. Launched in partnership with local film director and producer Kyle Thomas (who also stars as the face of the collection), the clothing speaks to matters of the heart. “It is about the art and the way we can make people feel,” says Powell of the line. “We want to give people a sense of romance, which, contrary to belief, still exists here and now.”

400 N. May St., Ste. 201, 773-857-5585; borrispowell.com

// well-heeled //

SKYLINE HIGH

Aquazzura ($1,295). Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave., 312-642-5900; neimanmarcus.com

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Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury has worked her magic on some of the world’s most famous faces (think Gwyneth Paltrow, Rihanna, and Cara Delevingne). With her anticipated cosmetics collection of more than 100 products—from skincare and brushes to luxe lipsticks and feather-light foundation— now available at Nordstrom, Chicagoans can get in on the look. 55 E. Grand Ave., 312-4641515; charlottetilbury.com Moroccanoil’s new luxuriant body collections, Fleur de Rose and Fleur d’Oranger, come complete with a skin buff, cleansing bar, shower milk, hydrating soufflé, nourishing butter, and hand cream. Available online at moroccanoil.com

WATCH THIS

New wristwatch brand Astor+Banks is turning out modern, masculine timepieces from its headquarters in Chicago. “The Windy City is emerging as a city of innovation in fashion and technology,” says cofounder Andrew Perez, whose company designs and assembles watches in its West Loop studio.

The brand currently offers an intricate chronograph and a mechanical model, both customizable from a wide range of options. Apartment Number 9, 1804 N. Damen Ave., 773-395-2999; astorandbanks.com

2

BOOTS MADE FOR WALKIN’

Stuart Weitzman’s 5050 boot is a favorite of celebs (Emma Stone, Elizabeth Olsen), and now it’s available for customization. Through early November, choose from the flat, stacked heel, or wedge styles and 12 fabrications. From $635. 520 N. Michigan Ave., 312-661-1560; stuartweitzman.com

EMBRACE AUTUMN IN THE WINDY CITY with these architectural booties.

Christian Louboutin ($1,245). Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave., 312642-5900; us.christianlouboutin.com

Tom Ford ($1,590). 66 E. Oak St., 312-605-5041; tomford.com

Jerome C. Rousseau ($895).

Bottega Veneta ($970). 800 N. Nicholas Kirkwood ($1,595). Neiman Bloomingdale’s, 900 N. Michigan Ave., Michigan Ave., 312-664-3220; Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave., bottegaveneta.com 312-642-5900; nicholaskirkwood.com 312-440-4460; jeromecrousseau.com

style time Honored

Bare essentials

Art-loving ChiCAgoAns will be CAptivAted by the newest trend: skeleton timepieCes.

by roberta naas | photography by jeff crawford

46 michiganavemag.com

clockwise from left: From Parmigiani,

the Kalpa Resonance (price on request) open-worked watch is crafted in 18k rose gold and houses a manual movement consisting of 336 parts with minute repeater that sounds the hour, quarter hour, and minute. Trabert & Hoeffer Jewels, 111 E. Oak St., 312-787-1654; parmigiani.ch From Graff Diamonds, this MasterGraff Skeleton watch (price on request) is crafted in 18k rose gold with a sapphire crystal and caseback for sheer

elegance. The intricate self-winding mechanical movement features a tourbillon with sapphire bridges. Graff, 103 E. Oak St., 312-604-1000; graffdiamonds.com Produced by Panerai, this Lo Scienziato Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Cermica ($171,000) houses a hand-wound P.2005/S caliber with antishock device and 277 parts. Crafted in black ceramic, it offers a second time zone and 24-hour indicator and features a titanium caseback with hard black

coating. Tourneau at Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., 312-266-7600; panerai.com This Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Le Chronographe Squelette ($17,800) features a 45mm case housing the manually wound ML106-7 skeletonized caliber, which is cut and designed with a contemporary feel. The multilevel effect is accentuated by the bottom plate, which has snailed finishing.

New York Jewelers, 11 N. Wabash Ave., 312-855-4999; mauricelacroix.com

Styling by terry lewiS

The concept is simple: Strip away as much metal as possible to reveal the intricate inner workings of some of the world’s most technologically advanced timepieces. The result is captivating: a skeleton timepiece, so called due to the stunning see-through design that allows collectors to enjoy a mechanical masterpiece from every angle. Little wonder these artful works of precision, beauty, and innovation are taking the watch world by storm.

For a skeleton or partial skeleton design (the avant-garde trend in which the watch’s mainplate, gears, and wheels are visible, but only through the side of the dial), it takes a single craftsman hundreds of hours to carve away the metal, finely finish each tiny component, and assemble the timepiece in all its glory.

Some of these watches (especially those with bridges made of unique materials, such as specially engineered sapphires) are created in very limited numbers because of the difficulty of their engineering and construction. Hence, the finest skeleton watches can cost a pretty penny—not to mention carry a lengthy waiting list. But for the connoisseur, this open-worked artistry offers impressive detail and delight. MA For more watch features and expanded coverage go to michiganavemag.com/watches.

STYLE Ikram’s It List

SEEING RED

ELEVATE YOUR HOLIDAY LOOK WITH THESE STYLISH SCARLET ACCESSORIES SELECTED BY FASHION MAVEN IKRAM GOLDMAN.

Holiday party season is fast approaching, and for Ikram Goldman, that means red.

“It’s an incredibly inviting color—warm and festive,” she declares. A handbag, a clutch, a kitten heel… the accessories shown here are a few of Goldman’s current favorites in rich shades of scarlet, all for the holiday season and beyond. After all, “Red is not a trend,” she insists. “Red is forever.”

FROM TOP: “Who doesn’t want an evening clutch that goes with everything? And it’s the perfect size.” Serpui Marie, $225

“Myriam Schaefer makes the most elegant bags—beautiful construction and perfectly proportioned. They’re just flawless, and indestructible.” Myriam Schaefer, $5,600 “Such a sexy pump. It’s a statement shoe, and it’s perfectly comfortable.” Jimmy Choo, $625 All available at Ikram, 15 E. Huron St., 312-587-1000; ikram.com MA

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIA PONCE BERRE (IKRAM); STYLING BY CHRISTOPHER STONE FOR HALLEY RESOURCES

AS TOLD TO J.P. ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF CRAWFORD

The jewelry you wear should be a refection of who you are.

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style Fragrance Jean-Claude Ellena at his workshop in the south of France near Grasse, the perfume capital. right: Ellena’s new fragrance, Cuir d’Ange, was inspired by Hermès’s fine leather goods, such as this Oxer saddle bag.

“I realIzed that each leather had a dIfferent scent, and the most beautIful smelled of flowers.”

—jean-claude ellena

A stunning new frAgrAnce from Hermès tAkes its inspirAtion from iconic leAther hAndbAgs—And sensuAl french literAture. by mandi norwood When Jean-Claude Ellena became “the nose” of Hermès 10 years ago, his first port of call was the maison’s leather vault in Paris. Providing specialized storage for the skins that form the brand’s iconic luggage and handbags, “it was a marvelous treasure,” Ellena recalls, “an Ali Baba’s cave, where each piece of leather was arranged by characteristic and color.

“There I saw and touched

52 michiganavemag.com

the most beautiful leather, even some that weighed only a few grams in my hand, so soft that I hardly dared to touch it,” he says. “I realized that each leather, tanned naturally, had a different scent, and the most beautiful and expensive pieces smelled of flowers…. I was seized by happiness and decided right then that I wanted to create a perfume inspired by leather.”

This month, 67-year-old

Ellena’s dream is realized in the form of Cuir d’Ange (angel leather), a fragrance that’s both gentle and assertive, shifting between delicate heliotropes and woody hawthorn, bashful violets and narcissi, and unrestrained musk.

As with all fragrances, there are layers of notes: the top notes that provide the first fragrant impression, the middle ones that form the

with his own epiphany at the Hermès vault, provided the compelling concept Ellena needed for his next fragrance masterpiece.

Tell us more about the connection you make between literature and fragrance.

I am a writer of smells. For me, perfume is more a poetic creation than a concept. It touches us, moves us, fires our imagination. I have a writer’s approach. I tell stories with perfume.

Perfumers all use the same ingredients and raw materials. It’s their writing talent that makes the difference.

Why are you inspired by the author Jean Giono?

I see literature—with a capital L—as significant. It has always fueled my imagination, but it’s true I have a special relationship with Jean Giono, which must derive from our Provençal origins and how we understand the world.

Why did it take 10 years to create Cuir d’Ange?

It’s a slow process—and very continued on page 54

photography by richard Schroeder (ellena); courteSy of hermèS (bag, cuir d’ange)

Eau, My Word!

heart of the scent seconds after application, and the base notes that linger long after the perfume has dried on the skin. With Cuir d’Ange, the first spray bursts into a generous—but not overly floral—bouquet that’s just sweet enough for a woman and yet robust enough for a man. Minutes later, it settles into a gorgeous veil of caramel, pipe tobacco, and a sprinkling of breezy wildflowers. It feels beautiful on the skin, too, like cool, expensive, powder-soft suede...

“Angel leather,” asserts Ellena, referencing the words of early-20th-century French author Jean Giono, who has been a source of inspiration for Ellena for over three decades. In his autobiography, Jean le Blue (Blue Boy), Giono describes his father in his cobbler’s workshop, “busy making shoes in angel leather for some god with a thousand feet.”

For Ellena, who compares his process of creating fragrances to that of writing a book, Giono’s phrase “angel leather,” combined

style Fragrance Jean-Claude Ellena uses the simplest tools—pen, paper, smelling strips—and his finely tuned nose to create fragrances for Hermès.

demanding. The hardest thing is [figuring out] how I am going to translate the concept into a physical presence. Until the moment comes that the product matches the idea in my head, I put it aside; I come back to it later, I work on it. That’s why it can take 10 years.

Cuir d’Ange is appealing for both women and men. How did you accomplish that?

I don’t think smells have a gender any more than colors, sounds, or tastes do.

Unfortunately, societies have created codes that we find difficult to break from. These codes are a framework that helps us live in an increasingly complex world, but one from which we sometimes want to

54 michiganavemag.com

be free. For me, perfumes are like works of art and, as such, aren’t intended for men or women, but for all mankind.

In your book, The Diary of a Nose: A Year in the Life of a Parfumeur (Rizzoli, $25), you say there is a misconception that your perfumes contain only natural ingredients, nothing artificial.

I see all ingredients as smells, whether they’re natural or artificial. I love them all.

I don’t differentiate between them, so long as they serve my idea. The advent of chemical ingredients has given us a much broader olfactory palette. How lucky we are!

What are your own personal favorite scents?

The smell of human skin

without perfume—my wife’s and my children’s.

Tell us about your studio.

Why did you choose to have it in Grasse?

I live and work in the south of France near Grasse, the perfume capital. I was born there. It’s an incredible space, steeped in history, filled with light and smells. The workshop I come to every morning is a house designed in the ’60s and built into the side of a hill. The workshop is open; the doors are never closed. My work tools are sheets of paper, a pencil, a fountain pen, an eraser, smelling strips, and rotating smelling-strip holders. The laboratory is at the far end of the house, as far as possible from my office, so that I

am not distracted by the smell. I work exclusively from memory.

You have created many iconic fragrances, including Van Cleef & Arpels’s First and Bulgari’s Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert. Do you consider Cuir d’Ange to be a new classic?

I sincerely hope so—to have a perfume that stands outside of time, a perfume beyond fashions and trends.

What’s the difference between French and American tastes in fragrance?

For Americans, the notion of cleanliness dominates.

Pleasure is allowed if it’s useful—for example, smelling clean and having good longevity—whereas French-

style perfuming likes a bit of controversy and the body’s own smells.

How did you finally realize your vision for Cuir d’Ange? Was it a “voilà!” moment?

Suddenly, an instant will come when you say, “That’s it!

That’s what I was looking for.” Creating a fragrance is a terrible and terrifying process because I’m the kind of person who is continually dissatisfied until that moment comes. And then the pleasure is very short. Like sex—French-style!

Cuir d’Ange is number 12 in Hermès’s Hermessence collection of perfumes and is available exclusively in Hermès stores.

25 E. Oak St., 312-787-8175; hermes.com MA

photography by richard Schroeder

“I dOn’t tHInk SmEllS HAvE A gEndEr Any mOrE tHAn COlOrS, SOundS, Or tAStES dO.... fOr mE, pErfumES ArE lIkE wOrkS Of Art.” —jean-claude ellena

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CULTURE Hottest Ticket An evening dress from the 1970s designed by Norman Norell, who was known for his elegant, tailored silhouettes.

One ChiC Street

With “ChiCago Styled: FaShioning the MagniFiCent Mile,” the ChiCago hiStory MuSeuM SaluteS a retail Wonderland.

photography by Joseph aaron Campbell

By Thomas Connors

Most shoppers thronging North Michigan Avenue would find it hard to believe that this stellar strip of real estate was once a pretty sleepy stretch of town. Sure, it had hotels and a few art galleries, but it was hardly the lively destination it is today. The street’s metamorphosis into the Magnificent Mile was fueled in a large part by fashion, as high-end retailers transformed the blocks between Tribune Tower and the Drake Hotel into one of the country’s premier shopping districts. This month, the Chicago History Museum celebrates our city’s most famous thoroughfare with the opening of “Chicago Styled: Fashioning The Magnificent Mile.” Drawing from its extensive clothing collection, the museum chronicles the transformation of North Michigan Avenue through the prism of design with an exhibition of 26 ensembles, including such pieces continued on page 58

michiganavemag.com 57

CULTUre hottest Ticket

“what we wear and how we wear it are very important to our history.”

—nena ivon

as a ’50s cocktail dress by James Galanos, a figure-hugging ’70s-era knit from Adolfo, and a form-breaking, hand-painted evening dress created

by Yohji Yamamoto in the early ’90s as well as pieces by Norman Norell, Adolfo, Gianni Versace, Christian Lacroix, and Chanel.

Once known as Pine Street, North Michigan Avenue began to evolve with the opening of the Michigan

58 michiganavemag.com

Avenue Bridge in 1920. New buildings went up, and top retailers weren’t far behind. Martha Weathered, who was instrumental in keeping the welldressed woman au courant with fashions from France, set up shop in the Drake Hotel in 1921. Blum’s Vogue and Stanley Korshak’s The Blackstone Shop (long-established boutiques that had been doing business at 624 South Michigan Avenue) staked their claims

in the neighborhood in 1931. And the appeal wasn’t limited to local retailers: Saks Fifth Avenue arrived in 1929.

“What began as a moderate building boom in the ’20s slowed down during the Great Depression and World War II,” notes Petra Slinkard, the Chicago History Museum’s curator of costumes.

“Then in 1947, developer Arthur Rubloff delivered a speech to businessmen and civic leaders, pitching the idea of creating a district that he referred to as The Magnificent Mile.

As a savvy businessman, he realized that if you create a brand identity, it can serve as a way to market the area to a range of outside retailers.”

It worked. Bonwit Teller opened on the avenue in 1949, and by the 1970s— thanks, in part, to the dynamism of the new Water Tower Place and the John Hancock Center—shoppers had an ever-greater constellation of trendsetters to patronize, including Courrèges and I. Magnin. “While there was competition, there was also camaraderie,” relates Slinkard. “When I. Magnin came to town, Bonwit Teller ran an ad welcoming the store.” Set above a rather lengthy bit of copy, there appeared the hearty headline, “North Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile is becoming second to none—including Fifth Avenue and the Champs Elysées!”

“Chicago Styled” was organized with the support of the museum’s Costume Council. Founded in 1974

by Mrs. Phillip K. Wrigley, it is chaired today by one of Chicago’s own fashion icons, Nena Ivon, who for decades served as director of fashion and special events at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Commenting on the museum’s holdings (more than 50,000 costumes from the mid-18th century to the present), Ivon remarks, “The Council works very hard to get people to understand the significance of the collection. These things are not fluff.

What we wear and how we wear it are very important to our history.” Spoken like a true fashionista. November 15, 2014–August 16, 2015, Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., 312-642-4600; chicagohistory.org MA

Things are noT as They appear Dive down the rabbit hole for the 10th anniversary of Lookingglass Alice.

Lookingglass Theatre Company’s signature show, Lookingglass Alice, may well be the ultimate rendition of Lewis Carroll’s hallucinogenic story. Adapted and directed by ensemble member David Catlin, this supremely inventive production sweeps audiences up in a mad rush of action and imagery, making them equal partners with Alice in her unsettling and eye-popping adventures. The show has been a hit here and elsewhere since its premiere in 2005, with successful engagements at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, New York’s New Victory Theater, Syracuse Stage, and the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. To mark the show’s 10th anniversary, the company is mounting a new staging. No doubt it will be “curiouser and curiouser.”

November 12–February 15, 2015. 821 N. Michigan Ave., 312-337-0665; lookingglasstheatre.org

photography by rachel hanel (portrait); Sean WilliaMS (lookingglaSS alice)

Costume Council president Nena Ivon joined forces with museum curator Petra Slinkard to create the exhibition.

Culture Art Full

Veni, Vidi, Visionary

ChiCago art enthusiasts are Casting their eyes southward as MiaMi BeaCh prepares to host the Best of Modern and ConteMporary art at next Month’s art Basel. by matt stewart

Yokos by Jack Early, 2012. below: An untitled work by Henry Darger from Andrew Edlin Gallery.

Artificial Rock A-63 by Zhan Wang, 2007. right: Marc Spiegler.

What are some of the exciting aspects of this year’s show that attendees can expect?

Marc Spiegler: With 100 percent of exhibitors in the Galleries sector—which is the main sector of the fair—reapplying, this year’s list is the strongest yet. We are delighted that a number of US galleries will be joining the show for the first time, including Michael Jon, Clifton Benevento, Honor Fraser, Freedman Fitzpatrick, Simone Subal Gallery, Garth Greenan Gallery, and Menconi + Schoelkopf. Following the great success of the Public sector last year, I am excited to see this year’s edition, which is again curated by Nicholas Baume of the Public Art Fund in New York. And David Gryn of Artprojx returns with a selection of over 70 film and video works that not only will be screened in SoundScape Park on the 7,000-square-foot projection wall of the Frank Gehry –designed New World Center, but they also will be shown inside the Miami Beach Convention Center in a newly designed video viewing room.

How was Survey, the newest sector being unveiled this year, conceived and what will be featured there?

MS: Survey is dedicated to precise art-historical projects. We decided to introduce the sector because we wanted to create a platform that brings more art-historical positions to the show. With all the museum groups and connoisseur collectors attending, we feel there is a real audience at our Miami Beach show for these remarkable works.

How is Art Basel’s expansion into Asia with Art Basel Hong Kong influencing this year’s Miami edition?

MS: We certainly see an increase in Asian continued on page 62

60 michiganavemag.com

photography courtesy of art basel (spiegler); courtesy fergus Mccaffrey (early); courtesy of long March space (Wang)

Since 2002, Art Basel in Miami Beach has grown and expanded at a dizzying rate as artists, gallerists, and collectors converge on Miami each December, making Art Basel in Miami Beach the epicenter event for trending art in the Western Hemisphere. Last year the four-day show broke purchase and attendance records with an estimated $3 billion in sales of paintings, photographs, and sculptures to a crowd of 75,000 art connoisseurs. Art Basel director and Chicago native Marc Spiegler shares insights about what we will see at this year’s fair (December 4–7) and how Art Basel—in Miami Beach and across the globe—is taking the art world by storm.

www.1stdibs.com

culture Art Full “What’s great about miami beaCh is that there is a Lot oF CuLturaL eNergY [here].”

clockwise from top left: Kukje Gallery’s booth at Art Basel in Miami Beach in 2013; o.T. (concrete) by Markus Selg, from Galerie Guido W. Baudach; 2C by JPW3 of Michael Jon Gallery, a new exhibitor at this year’s ABMB.

collectors attending the show in Miami Beach since we started the fair in Hong Kong. There are also more new galleries from China, such as Beijing Commune, as well as Japan, including Take Ninagawa and Y++ Wada Fine Arts.

Last year’s ABMB broke both purchase and attendance records. What is Art Basel doing to keep that momentum going in 2014?

MS: 2013 was a hugely successful edition—that’s why all the participating galleries want to come back. We do not take this success for granted but work very hard to keep the quality at our shows high. Immediately after each show we look at what we can do to make it even better and to improve the experience of our guests and exhibitors. What’s great about Miami Beach as an event is that there is always a lot of cultural energy, so we can collaborate with great partners from across the Americas and the rest of the world.

With the exponential growth of ABMB, what measures have you taken to vet the galleries that participate to maintain your high standards?

MS: Across all our shows, we apply a rigorous selection process that ensures that only galleries with strong programming and a great roster of artists make it into the show. The show actually has not become bigger over the years, but the competition has certainly become harder.

What would you consider to be the fastest

62 michiganavemag.com

arts district south

Highlights from some of Chicago’s top galleries with exhibits at this year’s Kabinett Sector at ABMB. VALerie CArBerry GALLery features

paintings, collages, and gouaches dating from the mid-to-late 1940s by American artist Judith rothschild, representing a period of great innovation at the beginning of her long, productive career as a painter and abstract relief artist. kAVi GuptA GALLery exhibits new bronze

growing segment of the art market today?

MS: What we have noticed over the past editions of our shows in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong is that there are very interesting impulses coming from the “digital native” generation of artists. Collectors and curators are highly interested in the work shaped by new media and in new ways of dealing with aesthetics and audiences. MA

works by Mickalene thomas, which take the personal narrative of the artist’s mother, Sandra Bush, as inspiration. On display will be painted bronze casts of Bush’s belongings alongside actual objects in a domestic setting inspired by her own home. rhonA hoffMAn GALLery showcases Michael rakowitz’s The Breakup (2010–2012), a multidimensional installation confating the 1969 breakup of The Beatles with the breakdown of Gamal Nasser’s Middle Eastern peace talks. The work includes drawings, collages, and tabletop vitrines, as well as Beatles memorabilia and ephemera from the Middle East.

photography courtesy of art basel (kukje gallery); sara gernsbacher/courtesy of michael jon gallery (2c); courtesy of the artist and galerie guido W. baudach, berlin (selg)

—marc spiegler

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culture spotlight

gallery watch

double life

Head to Toe

profile

“We very intentionally present performances that touch on a lot of cultural aspects, traditions, and identities,” says Chicago Sinfonietta executive director Jim Hirsch.

With this month’s Día de los Muertos concerts, the orchestra celebrates and mourns the loss of loved ones courtesy of Arturo Rodríguez’s Mosaico Mexicano, Jaime Cofré’s Yin-Yin, Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2, and Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo, featuring a shadow puppet performance by Redmoon. November 15, 8 pm, Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; November 17, 7:30 pm, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., 312-236-3681; chicagosinfonietta.org

Nick PuPillo leaps into the thick of chicago’s contemporary dance scene with his new company, Visceral.

Nick Pupillo has a lot on his mind right now. “I’m constantly striving to produce the best I can,” explains the Giordano Dance Chicago alumnus, “constantly trying to challenge myself to [get to] the next level.” After launching his own company, Visceral Dance Chicago, last fall, Pupillo kicks off an impressive sophomore season that boasts world premieres from talents like Banning Bouldin (“a new voice,” notes Pupillo of the Nashvillebased choreographer) and Harrison McEldowney. “We call it a ‘choose your own adventure’ type of project that the audience will mold,” Pupillo says of McEldowney’s interactive, boundarypushing choreography. “He is going to do something I’ve never seen a dance company do.” The notion of trailblazing has proven a recurring theme on a personal level for Pupillo, who founded Visceral with every intention of zagging from the zig.

“I wanted to create a company that was not trying to emulate another company or be like something else,” he says. “I want to be able to stand alone.” This month, he’ll be doing just that with My Realm, a solo premiere of choreography with cellist Desiree Miller that offers a glimpse of—what else—“a little inside feeling on my world or what’s going on in my head.” November 21–22, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., 773772-1771; visceraldance.com

64 MICHIgANAvEMAg.COM

Chicago Sinfonietta celebrates the Day of the Dead with two themed concerts November 15 and 17.

For art lovers, three exhibits opening this month are a great way to get an eyeful of Chicago’s visual scene. From November 22 to March 8, the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave., 312-280-2660; mcachicago .org) will present photographer Anne Collier’s frst major US exhibition; view more than 40 works (including the “Woman with a Camera” series featuring images of Jacqueline Bisset, Marilyn Monroe, and other famous femmes) in this mid-career retrospective of the Hollywood native. Fine artist and sculptor René Romero Schuler has showcased her Expressionist works everywhere from Art Basel Miami Beach to Paris, but now the Chicago native (whose work is on view locally at Neiman Marcus, the Prudential Building, and in the permanent archives of the Art Institute of Chicago) is eager to showcase her latest collection, “Chosen,” in the West Loop at Vivo (838 W. Randolph St., 312-733-3379; reneschuler.com); following the opening cocktail reception on November 6, the exhibition—which centers on the idea of decision-making— will be displayed through December. And beginning November 20, Softel Chicago Water Tower (20 E. Chestnut St., 312-324-4000; softel.com) hosts “Revealed,” a collection of 30 photographs from French weekly Paris Match as curated by Olivier Widmaier Picasso, grandson of the legendary Spanish artist.

picture this

Woman with a Camera

by Anne Collier.

Oro by René Romero Schuler, 2014.

Cannes Film Festival, 1956 from Paris Match.

spirited away As LArry yAndo returns to Goodman Theatre for his seventh turn as Ebenezer Scrooge, he shares his favorite lines from A Christmas Carol: “‘Nephew… I’ve come… I’ve come… Fred… To dinner.’ Simple words, but more diffcult than any others for Ebenezer to say, and the most liberating for his soul.” November 15–December 28, 170 N. Dearborn St., 312-443-3800; goodmantheatre.org/joy

photography by Chris oCken (sinfonietta)

sounds

culture Jazz It up

Younger musicians like vibraphonist Stefon Harris join veterans such as alto saxophonist Bobby Watson and trumpeter Roy Hargrove nightly at the Jazz Showcase.

Where the hep Cats play

Chicago saxophonist Frank Catalano released his first solo album on the city’s Delmark label at the tender age of 19. In the nearly two decades since, the tenor sax man has recorded or toured with legends of jazz (Von Freeman, Louie Bellson) and industrial music (Ministry) and staked out a bandleader career on six albums. He recently scored a number-one hit on iTunes with a John Coltrane tribute record featuring former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain (check them out live this month in their Super Band Concert, November 14 at Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave., 773-381-4551; maynestage.com). A weekly late-night resident at the famed Green Mill, Catalano knows where to scope out a good cocktail and great jazz. Coming up, his favorite venues in Chicago’s thriving jazz scene:

place—it feels like you’re walking back in time to the 1930s, to Prohibition.

The music there runs every night until 3:30 or 4 am , so I love it as a late-night person. Everybody likes to sit in the Al Capone booth, but if I am going to listen to somebody, I sit at the huge wraparound bar.”

Frank’s pick: Fareed Haque, November 21–22.

“I had the opportunity to start my career at Andy’s Jazz Club (11 E. Hubbard St., 312-642-6805; andys jazzclub.com) at the age of 17, sitting in with Charles Earland. I like to point out that if you’re under 21 and have a parent with you, they’ll let you into the 5 o’clock set. They actually have eight hours of music (usually bebop and mainstream jazz) a night, and that’s pretty amazing. I’ve never heard a bad band at Andy’s.” Frank’s pick: John Bany Sessions, November 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30.

“I used to live in Roscoe Village, so I remember Constellation (3111 N. Western Ave.; constellation-chicago.com) when it was the Viaduct Theater. It

“We oWe a debt of gratitude to the jazz shoWcase.”

“The Green Mill (4802 N. Broadway St., 773-878-5552; greenmilljazz .com) is a personal must-experience place in my book. It’s a really special

66 michiganavemag.com

CoNtiNuEd oN pAgE 68

photography by Steve LogginS

As temperAtures fAll And ChiCAgo’s jAzz sCene heAts up, sAx mAn Fran Catalano delivers the lowdown on the City’s top venues for live jAms. by john dugan

culture Jazz It up Ira Sullivan (second from right) is among the legends and local talent that Jazz Showcase has been hosting since 1947.

Josh Berman (cornet) and Damon Locks at Constellation as part of the 3-on-3 series.

Audiences flock to Constellation for its adventurous jazz shows.

energy, and the vibe that the presenters use when coming up with shows. They’re really doing it for the love of the music. And that whole area in Logan Square is blowing up. They regularly book things that are not mainstream across a wide spectrum of musical styles, ranging from avant-garde to fusion.” Frank’s pick: The New Philippine Rondalla Ensemble, November 2.

“Joe Segal has been bringing famous jazz musicians to Chicago since 1947. Most people who like jazz, whether they live in the United States or not,

have heard of the Jazz Showcase (806 S. Plymouth Ct., 312-360-0234; jazzshowcase.com). Jazz Showcase has been fostering and bringing in legendary players as well as employing great Chicago musicians. The building has moved a bunch of times; now it’s nicely located at Dearborn Station. We owe a debt of gratitude to this club, where jazz fans have been able to experience a lot of legendary talent over the years.

That’s very special for sure.” Frank’s pick: John Abercrombie Quartet, November 1–2. MA

EssEntial sounds Five must-see November jazz gigs.

John Abercrombie QuArtet

PAtriciA bArber QuArtet

bobby broom trio

Sound of the city WorkShoP

For this showcase residency, virtuosos Abercrombie and pianist/former bandmate Marc Copland (along with bassist Drew Gress and drummer Joey Baron) explore their 2013 release 39 Steps and then some. November 1–2 at Jazz Showcase.

This Chicago born-and-bred vocalist/pianist/composer/ arranger and 2003 Guggenheim Fellowship winner’s tours are a huge deal in Europe; we’re lucky enough to have her home for November maintaining her long-running Monday-night residency at the Green Mill. Mondays at the Green Mill.

Celebrated guitarist Broom has had a banner 2014, with critical raves for his trio’s Americana-drenched My Shining Hour album, a touring slot with Steely Dan for his organ group, and a great hometown Jazz Fest gig.

November 13–14 at Jazz Showcase.

Chicago bassist and composer Abrams has been at the center of Chicago’s jazz, rock, and improvised scenes for years.

Astute improvisers Nick Mazzarella (sax), Cameron Pfffner (sax), and Mike Reed (drums) perform with Abrams and rotate as hosts for innovative free sets Wednesdays at 9:30 pm. November 5, 12, and 19 at Constellation.

68 michiganavemag.com

JoShuA redmAn trio Probably the most visible jazz saxophonist of his generation, Redman showcased his exuberant approach on his recent Trios Live album. He is joined on this leg of his fall tour with Blues Alley session bandmates Reuben Rogers on bass and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. November 21 at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., 312-733-9463; citywinery.com/chicago

photography by william frederking (constellation); steve loggins (Jazz showcase)

opened in 2013, and it sounds great; they make it performer-friendly. Drummer Mike Reed, who owns the venue, plays in a variety of groups that are pushing the boundaries and supports those types of artists. People who are looking for more adventurous jazz will be happy there.” Frank’s pick: Frode Gjerstad Trio, November 19.

“Elastic Arts Foundation (2830 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-3616; elasticarts.org) isn’t a club—it’s more of a small concert situation. I like the spirit, the

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Dessert Wines

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PEOPLE View from the Top

uncorking success

As ChiCAgoAns embrACe the holidAy seAson, CEO NaNCy BiglEy of festive fAvorite bottle & bottegA leAds the ChiCAgo-bAsed CompAny’s Ambitious effort to open 30 frAnChised loCAtions in the next yeAr.

photography by billy rood; Styling by brian Stanziale of 10 MgMt agency

by dawn reiss

Festooned with lime-green walls, eggplant curtains, and a wine-glass chandelier, Lakeview’s Bottle & Bottega is a cornucopia of vibrant colors. From a flight of stairs Nancy Bigley, CEO and co-owner of the Chicago-based wine and art party concept, descends from her second-floor apartment, which is sandwiched between the first-floor art studio space and a third-floor meeting area. “It’s really convenient for training and candidate meetings,” says Bigley as she strolls through the art studio. “But you don’t get away. Sometimes I’ve found it’s been four days and I haven’t left this building.”

It’s that type of drive that has helped Bigley expand Bottle & Bottega in the past year from seven locations to 15. The concept is simple, allowing guests to either plan a private event or join one of the daily public painting parties.

Bottle & Bottega supplies the instructor and the art supplies; visitors cater food and either buy or bring their own wine. Now, everyone from corporations hosting a holiday gathering to friends throwing bridal, baby shower, and bachelorette parties—including an optional nude model—have painted on B&B’s canvases, wine glasses, ornaments, and glass cutting boards. The company continued on page 74

Dress, Alaia ($4,230).

Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave., 312-642-5900; neimanmarcus.com.

Necklace, stylist’s own

michiganavemag.com 73

PEOPLE View from the Top

also partners with local bars and restaurants to host events at mobile “pop-up” locations. “We love the holidays,” Bigley says. “What do you do if you’re a group of friends and want to have a gift exchange?

Everyone is always looking for something different.”

Since the original store opened in Lakeview, the chain has expanded to the South Loop and into the suburbs of Glen Ellyn, La Grange, Evanston, and cities like Portland. By the end of 2015, Bigley plans on doubling the current franchise locations to 30, with seven additional storefronts in the Chicago suburbs and other locations in Colorado, Texas, Florida, and California. “We are very female-dominated, and I like that,” notes Bigley. “That was a big reason I was attracted to this business.”

Another reason is that, compared to Bigley’s previous 12-year stint overseeing 170 franchise locations of California-based American Leak Detection, Bottle & Bottega is, simply put, more fun. “I hated it when people would ask, ‘Where do you work?’ I would think, ‘Oh God, I’m going to have to talk plumbing now,’” she says. Still, Bigley credits that experience with teaching her how to build a network like Bottle & Bottega’s rapidly expanding franchise. After briefly working as a regional manager for The Dwyer Group, where she led franchise training, Bigley then spent five years as senior director of operations at Dunkin’ Brands, overseeing a team that included 920 franchise locations and $257 million in sales.

Along the way, Bigley says she’s felt “pressure to excel” as she paved the way for other women. “You can get really wrapped up in the whole men-women inequality,” she says. “I’m not saying it’s not there; I just think we have opportunities, and it’s about figuring out how to make the most of it.” That’s something Bigley is doing now by helping other women, and a few men, start their own franchises. “Earlier in my career I was a little too intense,” she admits. “When you get older you realize your way isn’t always the right way.”

It was Bigley’s experience with franchising that helped her partner with co-owner Stephanie

74 michiganavemag.com

Guests at Bottle & Bottega’s private parties are provided an instructor and materials to explore their inner artist, painting on ornaments or canvas (top left and right)—and often warmed up by a glass of wine.

King-Myers, who came up with the business idea after she and her husband lost their jobs on the same day. The duo, who co-owns the Lakeview and South Loop locations, partnered in February 2011, and nine months later they launched their first franchise.

“Looking back, it was a little crazy,” Bigley admits. “I don’t know what I was thinking, but we did it.”

When she’s not working, Bigley enjoys mountain biking, and hanging out with her friends, eating sushi and drinking Champagne. “I’m a creature of habit,” says Bigley, who splits her time between Chicago and Palm Springs, California, where her husband lives. “So I tell my friends to find a cool place that I’ve never been to.” That’s exactly the kind of word-of-mouth approach Bigley hopes will help grow Bottle & Bottega across the US in the coming year. “We are party planners to the next level,” she says. “We have the tools to make it easy.” 2900 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-313-9133. 1241 S. Michigan Ave., 773-269-6570; bottleandbottega.com. Contact individual stores to inquire about events. MA

BIGLEY’S BESTS Bottle & Bottega CEO Nancy Bigley shares some of her personal inspirations, in Chicago and beyond.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

ART EFFECT

“I still get excited when the snow falls. I also enjoy the amazing lights downtown—it’s so beautiful that you truly feel you are in a winter wonderland. And since we host so many holiday parties at our studios, it’s fun to see all the smiling faces celebrating together.”

“I love the Renaissance and Medieval periods, so I tend to run to all of those exhibits at the Art Institute of Chicago and get lost for hours.”

GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT

“Pops for Champagne is our little treat and one of my favorites.”

EAGER READER

“I just fnished the entire Divergent series, and before that The House at Tyneford and The Unexpected Guest. Most of them are about strong women who have overcome obstacles and done amazing things… go fgure.”

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PEOPLE Dynamo From math whiz to hacker to CEO, John Roa and his company, ÄKTA, have helped make Chicago a hub of innovative digital design.

Renaissance Man

by lisa bertagnoli

Roa grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, the son of a Chrysler executive and As a kid, John Roa was a math whiz who worshipped technology. Today a stay-at-home mom. A model son, he pulled straight As until he discovered the he’s founder and CEO of ÄKTA, a digital design firm that’s a darling of joys of hacking. He and his friends wrote a program that let them access their the city’s tech community. friends’ parents’ desktops. They shut it down before it could do any damage.

Design? What happened? Roa, 31, isn’t quite sure. “I come at things from Around the same time Roa started his first business, an directions I’m not sure are totally natural to most people,” in-home computer repair service so successful that he he says, sitting in his River North office wearing a fitted Zara needed to incorporate. The experience gave him a lust for blazer, dark jeans, and caramel oxfords, sans socks.

INSIGHT business. In 2002, Roa and two friends launched Wired When pressed, he’ll credit the transformation to a few Hanging out: “Soho House. They’ve Labs, a marketing firm for video games. “I went from not things: Making a bunch of mistakes. Travel adventures, done a good job of curating the experience—it’s going to be my go-to for a while.” understanding design to saying, ‘Wow, I’m not sure anyincluding sliding down an active volcano on a piece of thing else matters,’” he says. While building Wired Labs, he wood. Starting a video-game marketing firm that opened Latest craving: “The octopus with finished a business degree at Western Michigan University his mind to the importance of design. Whatever the reacrispy chickpeas, romesco, and watermelon radish at Celeste on Hubbard.” in Kalamazoo while commuting to and from Los Angeles. sons, design has put Roa and ÄKTA on the map. In June, William Morris Endeavor bought Wired Labs in 2007. the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce gave Roa the After a year of globe-trotting—including that slide down James Tyree Emerging Business Leadership Award. In Cerro Negro volcano in Nicaragua—Roa relocated to Chicago, and in 2010 he August, ÄKTA made its debut at number 414 on Inc. magazine’s list of the launched ÄKTA, which will gross about $10 million this year. country’s 500 fastest growing companies.

With his career in full blossom, Roa can relax a little. He’s invested in The These days, Roa is reworking Digital Hope—a nonprofit he cofounded to Betty, a bar in River North, and plays competitive poker in Las Vegas. Says crowdsource funding for micro nonprofits in developing countries—and ampRoa, “I’ll do anything—almost anything—once.” MA ing up its technology; he aims to relaunch in early 2015.

76 michiganavemag.com

photography by billy rood

Start-up king John Roa iS blazing a digital trail in ChiCago—and doing it hiS own way.

A A NEW WAY

TO

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PEOPLE Second Act INSIGHT Good reads:

now hear this:

“Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s 1955 classic on inspiration, refection, life, aging, and relationships. It’s a small book with a big impact on your soul.”

“I love to listen to anything

by Sting, The Beatles, and especially Eminem.

He’s a poet. To do what he does, you have to be a mental and musical genius.”

eat here now:

“A red string knotted seven times on my left wrist, closest to my heart, to guard and protect me. It’s a tradition taken from the Kabbalah, and I have my strings blessed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.”

“Go to Shanghai Terrace at The Peninsula for romance; Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse because they make you feel like family; and Gene & Georgetti because it’s a fascinating microcosm of Chicago politics.”

what i’m wearinG:

The Good Life

The web’s mosT visible grandmoTher, SuSan “Honey” Good, Takes her advice-giving game To The nexT level. by lisa skolnik The word “grandmother” summons visions of a duly mature gal, complete with an affectionate epithet such as “nana,” “ya-ya,” or “bubbe,” depending on your heritage. She may be sharp, active, stylish, and even still working, but she’s winding down rather than gearing up.

Susan Good, who qualifes as a bubbe 20 times over, is having none of that. In November 2012, the 60-something Good launched grammagood.com, a labor-oflove blog flled with Ann Landers–quality advice and colorful posts on life, family, love, food, culture, travel, style, movies, and anything else that catches her fancy.

And for her second anniversary on October 29, she’s aiming big. “My analytics show I’m a resource to women of every age, so I’m relaunching as Honey Good (honeygood.com), tripling the site’s size with more contributors, and monetizing,” she explains. (The nickname “Honey” comes courtesy of her grandchildren.)

78 michiganavemag.com

In her gig as a blogger extraordinaire, Good tweets, pins, and posts; interprets Google analytics; and develops content strategy to great effect. The site boasts more than 15,000 unique global viewers; 115,000 organic Facebook likes at press time and growing by 1,000 a week; and a spot on Grand magazine’s 2013 and 2014 top-10 list of websites for grandparents. Plus, Good has her own weekly column on the prestigious The Huffngton Post.

Like Carine Roitfeld, the former French Vogue editor-inchief who famously quipped in The Daily Beast that becoming a grandmother “doesn’t mean that you have gray hair… retire, and stay home cooking cakes for your grandchildren,” the chic and youthful Good has a quip about her newfound multimedia MO and voice: “With 20 grandchildren and a life full of adversity and accomplishments, I have a lot to say. And I want to say it every way I can.”

Good’s pluck and perception comes from a life that’s been colorful by any measure. She was born and raised in Kankakee, married to her college sweetheart at 20, uprooted from Chicago to Honolulu at 36, and widowed at 45. She returned to Chicago at 46 to marry local real-estate kingpin Sheldon (Shelly) Good after a long-distance fx-up and whirlwind romance. Now she presides over a vibrant, farfung, at times famboyant, and expanding blended family.

Through it all, she’s survived a devastating car accident, a family suicide, cancer (twice), the always-cataclysmic travails of myriad children and grandchildren—and more. But her newfound success makes it all seem even more extraordinary. “Who would have ever thought my musings would lead to all this,” she marvels.

But for now, what “all this” means is under wraps; Good isn’t spilling the beans on her imminent business plan to make honeygood.com a moneymaker. Not that she has to monetize, mind you. “Sheldon is proud of me, but wants me to spend my time with him instead of writing all the time,” she admits. “But I can’t stop now. I feel like I’ve discovered the secret to life, and it’s about fnding what you love to do.” honeygood.com MA

photography by peter hoffman

Susan Good has leveraged blogging, tweeting, pinning, and web analytics to share her wisdom on her popular site, honeygood.com.

PEOPLE Native

River West: “I don’t see myself anywhere else.”

Rodelio Aglibot’s roots may be decidedly West Coast, but over the past several years this Hawaii- and California-raised chef has been embraced by Chicago foodies as one of their own. After successfully launching and overseeing River North hot spot Sunda for Rockit Ranch productions, Aglibot has now emerged as a force in his own right, with two hit restaurants—E + O Food and Drink and Yum Cha—already under his belt. Now, Aglibot has partnered with local broadcast personalities, including Fox Chicago’s Lou Canellis, Kip Lewis of Comcast SportsNet, and Ryan Baker of CBS2 Chicago, to bring his appealing Asian-inflected fare to Reverie, a sports-bar concept with a focus on elevated cuisine (think Korean-inspired short ribs with pickled vegetables). After long evenings shuttling between the restaurants—occasionally via scooter—Aglibot retreats to his loft in River West, a neighborhood that, he says, fits his on-the-go lifestyle to a T. As he readied for Reverie’s recent opening, the chef shared with Michigan Avenue some of his favorite places within his adopted ’hood.

Rodelio Aglibot tests dishes at his new Asian-inflected restaurant and sports bar, Reverie, in River North.

80 michiganavemag.com

“About three years ago, I moved back from New York, and we were opening our restaurant out in the suburbs: Earth + Ocean in Mount Prospect. I needed to look for a place. I’m a city boy—I didn’t want to be too far away from downtown, but I also needed freeway access.

I have an engineering background, so I was strategizing what would make the most sense for me. And River West has the best of both worlds: It’s practically downtown, and it has freeway access. I’m just north of Chicago on Milwaukee Avenue, and it’s perfect for me logistically. I can hear the Blue Line run underneath me, so I can take that out to the airport when I need to. It has everything I need; I don’t see myself anywhere else right now.

“I love that Big Shoulders Coffee has opened up in the neighborhood. I’ve become friends with the owner, so I like to go down and grab a cup of coffee there and walk around. It’s artisanal and handcrafted, and draws a creative clientele. It’s more of a gathering place; it’s not just about the coffee itself.

“I also enjoy Eckhart Park, just on the other

photography by kenny kim. opposite page: rachel oftedahl (big shoulders); chicago park district (eckhart); getty images (matchbox);

When “Food Buddha” Rodelio Aglibot isn’t racing BetWeen his three chicago restaurants, he Finds sanctuary in his near West side neighBorhood. by j.p. anderson

clockwise from far left:

Eckhart Park boasts a jungle gym and baseball diamond; sweet potato potstickers at veggie favorite Green Zebra; the tiny Matchbox bar has been serving classic cocktails at Ogden and Milwaukee Avenues for more than 75 years; Aglibot loves artisanal, handcrafted Big Shoulders coffee, which recently arrived in River West.

rod’s raves: Chef Rodelio Aglibot on his River West destinations of choice.

BiG ShoulderS (1105 W. Chicago Ave., 312-888-3042; bigshoulderscoffee.com) “It’s artisanal and handcrafted, and draws a creative clientele.” eCkhart Park (1330 W. Chicago Ave.,

312-746-5490; chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/ eckhart-park) “It reminds me of the park I grew up with back in California.”

Windy City Café (1062 W. Chicago Ave.,

312-492-8010; windycity-café.com) “I like their corned beef hash.”

Proline Golf (925 W. Chicago Ave., Ste. 1,

312-738-2427; prolinechicago.com) “It has nets in the back where you can take some of the demo clubs and hit.”

MatChBox (770 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-666-9292; thesilverpalmrestaurant.com/themachbox.php) “A quintessential cocktail bar.”

Green ZeBra (1460 W. Chicago Ave.,

312-243-7100; greenzebrachicago.com) “I’m always satisfed after a meal there.”

“river west has the best of both worlds... it has everything i need.”

—rodelio aglibot

side of the freeway. I do an outdoor workout once a week, and I’m around that park just enjoying it a lot. It’s simple; it’s a neighborhood park, and it reminds me of the park I grew up with back in California. It’s not that big, but it has baseball diamonds and jungle gyms.

“Windy City Café—I definitely have breakfast there. I like their corned beef hash. I’m a purist; I think that hash needs to have a nice amount of crispiness to it, and not too much potato. There’s a nice balance with the corned beef. The atmosphere is plain and simple—they’re not trying to be anything more than a neighborhood breakfast and lunch joint. I’m not a chef that reviews or judges other restaurants. Most places I go into I just enjoy

for the fact that I’m craving a dish, or I don’t want to cook. Even with all the different foods I cook, I still eat Spam and all the same things I grew up with as a kid. I enjoy different things, but if I had to choose a favoite kind of restaurant, it’d be a diner. I just like a simple chicken-fried steak and eggs; it always puts a smile on my face.

“My hobby outside of cooking is definitely playing golf. For one, it’s about being outdoors, and it also teaches me to be in the moment. So I go to Proline Golf a lot to get my clubs re-gripped and hit a few golf balls. It’s a golf shop that has nets in the back, where you can take some of the demo clubs and hit, and then you see the latest toys and whatnot there as well.

“And then there’s Matchbox, which is a place

I always take my friends who’ve never been to Chicago to grab a cocktail. It’s great to see people’s faces when they realize it’s so small—it’s called Matchbox for a reason. It’s a quintessential cocktail bar that’s unpretentious. I also go to Green Zebra; it’s probably the only vegetarian restaurant in the country that I enjoy. I’m always satisfied after a meal there; I don’t crave a steak or piece of fish afterward. It’s so creative. I will tell you, vegetarian chefs have to be so much more creative with imparting flavor, with cooking techniques, with texture, to get someone like me to go in and eat it and enjoy it. I go there and I just get inspired by the things they do with vegetables that I never would have thought of.” MA

michiganavemag.com 81

PEOPLE Spirit of Generosity

clockwise from above: Howard

Brown patients and donors Naomi Goldberg and Libby Hemphill with their son, Nathan; David Ernesto Munar was diagnosed with HIV at the Howard Brown Health Center 20 years ago. Now he serves as president and CEO of Howard Brown, which has expanded its focus from the fight against HIV/AIDS to become a full-service community health center.

Lasting Health

AS howArd brown heAlth center celebrAteS 40 YeArS oF cArInG For chIcAGo’S lGbt coMMUnItY, pAtIent-tUrned-ceo DaviD ErnEsto Munar IS leAdInG the cheerS. as told to j.p. anderson “Howard Brown was founded in 1974 by members of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association to provide sexually transmitted disease screenings and treatment services for the gay community. In the ’80s and ’90s, it was at the forefront of the fight against AIDS, and subsequently became a full-service community health center.

Today, 40 years later, we provide a full spectrum of LGBT-affirming health services, from family planning to alternative

82 michiganavemag.com

insemination to pediatrics, infectious disease, internal medicines, family medicine, and more.

“The organization’s 40-year anniversary is a real cause for celebration for us, and this month we’ll be celebrating at our Garden of Eve party, which has become one of our signature events.

It’s just going to be a big dance party to help us celebrate all our years of service. The tagline for the event is ‘Pride XL.’ We’re going to keep it upbeat; it’s all about continuing

the mission, but also celebrating all the great things we’ve achieved.

“I’ve personally known Howard Brown for a long time; I was diagnosed with HIV 20 years ago here, and I’ve also been a donor, a contributor to the Brown Elephant resale store, and a funder at AIDS Foundation Chicago, where I worked prior to this. The AIDS Foundation was a long-time supporter of Howard Brown, so I’ve come full circle from being someone who relied on Howard Brown services

20 years ago to now being the organization’s CEO. “There are so many critical stories of how Howard Brown is helping people. Four individuals a week on average are told that they’re HIV positive for the first time here. It’s 2014, and there are better treatments for therapy, but it’s always hard news to deliver, and it’s often very emotional. I tell a story about a very young man who was just petrified— even today he was not really aware that HIV isn’t a death sentence, that there are

effective treatments, that he’s going to be okay. But he burst out crying and was shaken up. We helped him, he left with an appointment, and he probably still is shaken up right now, but we tended to him immediately and tried to reassure him he has a bright future. We’re not going to abandon him; we’re going to help him get into care. Our transgender patients, too, face so much anxiety about healthcare because their bodies are in transition. They need a place where they can continued on page 84

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PEOPLE Spirit of Generosity Howard Brown has been serving an increasingly diverse community of patients since 1974.

“we’ve survived 40 years and continue to meet the needs of the community.”

—david ernesto munar

get the care they need, but still be respected and honored in terms of their gender, and that’s not easy. Also, many of our clients are very low-income and have multiple challenges in their lives, so the young people who come to our Broadway Youth Center, for example, come to us very hungry, very tired, and traumatized with severe unmet mental health needs, physical needs, and sometimes substance dependence needs. So we’re trying to tend to all of those as much as possible—providing a warm meal, time to rest, STI and HIV screenings, counseling, and meetings with a nurse practitioner if they have other health needs. We’re excited that we’ve endured for 40 years and continued to evolve to meet the unique needs of the community. It’s not just an organization that’s serving gay men; a substantial number of our patients are transgender, lesbian, bisexual, or queer women, and about a quarter of our patients are not LGBT at all.

“For me, Howard Brown has meant so many things over the past 20 years. I was in a research project here when I was diagnosed with HIV at 23, and it was devastating—one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through. And now, to have come full circle from being diagnosed to 20 years later being CEO, it’s humbling. All our patient stories are inspiring, but for me, I identify with that 23-year-old who we have to inform is HIV-positive because I was that 23-year-old. I can talk about it in public now and not tear up, but I don’t forget the anxiety and the depression that ensued for a decade post-diagnosis. And even though there’ve been enormous advances in HIV medically, in terms of societal stigma not a lot has changed. So our success stories ground me and remind me of what our mission is. There’s still a lot to be done. For me and my colleagues, that’s why we do the work.” Tickets to Garden of Eve are $150; Friday, November 7, at 7:30 pm, Venue One, 1034 W. Randolph St., 773-572-5117; howardbrown.org MA

Charity register Opportunities to give.

by annie bruce

A DECADE UNDER THE STARS What: Join the Associate Board of NorthShore University HealthSystem for its 10th annual event supporting the Evanston hospital’s Infant Special Care Unit.

When: November 1, 8 pm Where: The Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr. Tickets: Visit foundation.northshore.org/associate-board-beneft or call 224-364-7275.

BEAUTY AND THE FEAST What: DIFFA/Chicago’s three-day Dining By Design event culminates in a gala featuring dinner, drinks, and a silent auction to beneft HIV/AIDS service and education programs.

When: November 8, 7 pm Where: Merchandise Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza Tickets: Visit diffachicago.org or call 312-644-6412.

COCKTAIL PREVIEW PARTY What: Before the Gazebo Holiday Market opens to the public, preview collections from more than 35 vendors while sampling cocktails and bites at the Junior League of Chicago’s annual celebration.

When: November 14, 7 pm Where: Junior League of Chicago Headquarters, 1447 N. Astor St. Tickets: Visit jlchicago.org/gazebo-holiday-market.

OUR NIGHT OF LIFE What: Honor Visionary Award recipient Carl Hammer at Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art’s annual gala supporting its art and education programs.

When: November 15, 6:30 pm Where: Moonlight Studios, 1446 W. Kinzie St. Tickets: Visit art.org.

30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION What: Hosted by Shirley Welsh Ryan, Pathways.org’s annual dinner will beneft the nonproft organization and its mission to provide parents with information about early childhood development.

When: November 17, 5:30 pm Where: Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware Pl. Tickets: Visit pjhchicago.com/event/paf.

FRIENDS OF LA RABIDA AWARDS BENEFIT What: La Rabida Children’s Hospital recognizes Sheila and Christopher Kennedy, Chicago Tube and Iron, and Kwame Raoul for their efforts to improve the city through community and public service outreach.

When: November 21, 6 pm Where: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, 221 N. Columbus Dr. Tickets: Visit pjhchicago.com/event/larabida.

Chicago • Harbor Country • Milwaukee fredmandesigngroup.com

INVITED

photography by Jeff Schear

THAT’S OUR FORTÉ More than 300 Chicagoans flocked to Eddie V’s Prime Seafood to celebrate October cover star and Chicago Bears running back Matt Forté. Forté and his wife, Danielle, arrived in style via Metropolitan Limousine and walked the red carpet wearing accessories by Porsche Design. Toasting the crowd with Hennessy, Forté quipped, “I want to thank my family and friends and teammates who came out to support me—as well as the people I don’t know!”

Matt Forté

continued on page 88

michiganavemag.com 87

INVITED Matt Forté

Meghan Goulette and Julie Bouchard

Danielle Athans and Pam Clark

LaRoyce Hawkins

MATT FORTÉ COVER PARTY

MICHIGAN AVENUE FÊTED its men’s issue with a cover party for Matt Forté at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood. Throughout the evening sponsored by Related Midwest, the crowd sipped Stella Artois and specialty cocktails

by Hennessy complemented by steak, salmon, crab cakes, and other bites.

Israel Idonije and Deirdre Laughlin

Martellus and Siggi Bennett

Mary and Tim Smithe

Kristan McCray and Amy Silvas

Brandon Marshall

Terris Ransom and Rebecca Chilcutt

Hennessy provided libations

Jarrett Payton Olga Alday and Thomas Mooneyham

88 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF SCHEAR AND ONASIS ODELMO (FORTÉ) PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIMOTHY M. SCHMIDT (CIFF PREVIEW); VANESSA WHEELER FOR AVERYHOUSE (MGBW)

Jim VanDercook

Katie Morlan, Ritter Rudesind, Liz Bobak, and Laura Jarzab

George Jordan

Erik Kinnhammar and Rachel Mitchell

Rebecca Fons, Domenica Cameron-Scorsese, and Vivian Teng

Tyler Greene, Andrew Edwards, and Everly Champion

CIFF PREVIEW PARTY MORE THAN 250 CINEPHILES

gathered at The Godfrey Hotel’s IO Urban Roofscape to toast the 50th annual Chicago International Film

Festival. Attendees sipped Stella Artois, Effen Vodka, and Tres Generaciones tequila while previewing clips of this year’s selected films.

CIFF founder Michael Kutza with Chicago International Film Festival team

Roberta Jacobs and Sean Scott

Whitney Stewart and Matt Albacete

Steve and Randy Fifield

Bob Williams and Mitchell Gold

MG+BW 25TH ANNIVERSARY

FOUNDERS MITCHELL GOLD AND BOB WILLIAMS toasted their eponymous

Vladimir Martinez Morocco Assouline and PJ Maguire

home furnishing line’s 25th anniversary with a celebration at their Lincoln Park showroom. The evening, which benefited Chicago House, featured cocktails and bites to the sounds of DJs Tom & Collins.

Ryann Hanley, Michael Cantwell, and Carmel Bass

MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM

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INVITED

Eve Rogers

Bill Brodsky, J.B. Pritzker, and Joan Brodsky

Jana Schreuder, Jennifer Dunne, M.K. Pritzker, and Charenton Zelov Drake

Howard Swibel and Jacquelyn Coello Running of the hounds

EVERGREEN INVITATIONAL

M.K. PRITZKER AND THE WOMAN’S BOARD of Northwestern Memorial Hospital

hosted the fifth annual Evergreen Invitational at the Evergreen Farm in Bristol, Wisconsin.

During the afternoon presented by Northern Trust, attendees were treated to a competition of Grand Prix show jumping while browsing the extensive Promenade of Shops.

Lisa and Curt Bailey

Lori Kekstadt and Vivianne Eickenberg

Jane Hoffman, Kim Siddle, and Amber Long Rino and Megan Burdi

PRIMO CLASSICO D’EUROPA

Melissa and Anthony Contrucci

QUINTIN AND DIANE PRIMO wel-

Ashley Getchman, Andrew Waldan, and Brittany Getchman

Diane and Quintin Primo

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comed a bevy of sharply dressed guests to Lake Forest Sportscars for their third annual fundraiser benefiting the Primo Center for Women and Children. During the Europeanthemed celebration, partygoers enjoyed a silent auction, libations by Hennessy, and a Q&A session between 2014 Man of Vision honoree Jimmy Connors and Candace Jordan.

Jim Reynolds, Patti Connors, Sandy Reynolds, and Jimmy Connors Aerial acrobat presented by Celebrity Cruises

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIAH D. PHOTOGRAPHY (EVERGREEN); JON RECANA (PRIMO)

Jeniece Higgins, Lauren Jacobson, and Lori Rozdolsky

Pumpkin Perfect

INVITED

Forget ho hum pumpkin pie... spice up your Thanksgiving with Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

Annie Barlow and David Herbert

Scott Johnson and Gary Metzner

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO PREVIEW

FASHIONISTAS PREVIEWED Salvatore Ferragamo’s Fall/Winter 2014 collection with an intimate fête at the label’s newly renovated Michigan Avenue showroom. Guests indulged in Koval libations and Vosges Haut-Chocolat’s new Super Dark Truffles throughout the evening, which benefited The 606 urban renewal project.

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Leslie Martin and Stuart Mesires

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CORY DEWALD AND JEFF SCHEAR (FERRAGAMO); GRACE WILLIS (TRICOCI)

Maria Ponce Berre and Trey Berre

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Rachel Allina and Jenn Wileya Mario and Cheryl Tricoci

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Celebrates Michigan Avenue's October Issue Desserts included Mini Chocolate Mousse

Guests mingled in the Eddie V’s dining area

Eddie V’s hosted 300 guests to celebrate Michigan Avenue’s October 2014 Issue.

The crowd enjoyed an array of the restaurant’s signature dishes against a backdrop of live jazz in a setting that was both refined yet relaxed.

Mini Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce

Partygoers lined up for the carving station

Hot Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Crostini Photography by Jeff Schear Eddie V’s

adve r ti s e me nt

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taste this Issue: Haute Harvest This fall’s po’ boy features fried clams and tender pulled pork, cooked in The Promontory’s signature wood-fired oven.

get to the point photography by anjali pinto

With an appealing hearth-to-table menu focusing on seasonal ingredients, neW hot spot The PromonTory has become hyde park’s place to be. by ari bendersky It’s Friday night, and Hyde Park’s newly reinvented Harper Court development is abuzz. Young families are out for sweet treats at Kilwins; teenagers shop at edgy fashion spot Akira; and moviegoers file into the Harper Theater.

But the epicenter is a stone’s throw away, in a converted space across from the historic Hyde Park Bank building: The Promontory.

Known more for the University of Chicago campus and the sprawling Museum of Science and Industry, this South Side neighborhood has never been a major dining and nightlife destination, but you wouldn’t know that

from walking into this bilevel, 10,000-square-foot space. Just inside the floor-to-ceiling doors, a multicultural, multigenerational crowd mingles at the bar beneath twinkling pendant lights. Boisterous conversations arise from the wooden tables that sit under an installation by South Side artist Juan Angel Chavez. This is clearly a new Hyde Park.

“We wanted to be a beacon of the community,” says partner Bruce Finkelman. That idea is hardly new to Finkelman and his crew, fellow owners continued on page 98

michiganavemag.com 97

taste

songs upstairs

canopies, Juan Angel Chavez’s art installation hangs high above the dining room; the bar program highlights fresh and housemade ingredients; the Kentucky Burgoo with pork collar, quail, rabbit sausage, hominy, and charred corn.

Craig Golden and chef Jared Wentworth, who also own Michelin-starred Longman & Eagle and Pilsen trio Dusek’s, Punch House, and live music venue Thalia Hall. So when the University of Chicago approached them to develop a concept near the new Harper Court, it was a no-brainer.r.

With other high-profile restaurateurs like Yusho owner Matthias Merges populating the neighborhood, the challenge became how to make The Promontory’s menu stand out. Finkelman’s idea? Tap into local history and, inspired by the Alfred Caldwell–designed council rings (now used as fire pits) at Promontory Point on the nearby lakefront, center the kitchen around a massive hearth and feature exclusively open-flame cooking.

As chef Wentworth explains it, “Let’s cook caveman style and modernize it, and take it

98 michiganavemag.com

to another level.”

The menu is divided into sections—cold, fast, historic, embers, snacks—and nearly all of the Mediterranean, French, and regional American dishes change as ingredients come and go.

Many dishes have some local element that touches the flames, heated by cherry and oak wood up to 900 degrees. But it is the “historic” section that really gets the chef excited.

“This gave me the opportunity to do some dishes once done on hearths before modern gas cooking started,” he said. “It’s cool to do classic one-pots and modernize them by breaking down those components and putting them into modern settings.” These include the Kentucky Burgoo, a stew featuring pork collar, quail, and rabbit sausage with green beans, hominy, and charred corn. The dishes may

“Let’s cook caveman styLe and modernize it, and take it to another LeveL.” —chef jared wentworth

have historic inspiration, but Wentworth’s interpretation is utterly of-the-moment—think sweet, smoky Slagel Family Farm pork ribs with plump grilled shrimp served alongside a pillowy scallion crêpe, or a po’ boy with crispy fried oysters and tender pulled pork piled into a buttery, house-made lobster roll.

The menu will become even more locally focused throughout late fall and winter, Wentworth’s favorite time to cook. “We’ll feature a lot of modern takes on regional American dishes like game meat, Brunswick stew,

pâtés, and terrines, and we’re trying to source local venison,” he said. “Then, as it gets colder, we’ll move into heartier interpretations of stews and one-pots”—ideal dishes for shared meals, and perfectly in keeping with the restaurant’s communitycentered philosophy.

“It’s really spectacular to see all these different groups of folks coming out to enjoy the place,” says Finkelman with satisfaction. “That’s exactly what we envisioned.”

5311 South Lake Park Ave. West, 312-801-2100; promontorychicago.com MA

drink me

The Promontory serves up cocktails with flair.

Highly recommended: the hot buttered rum with brown-butter-infused El Dorado rum, vanilla bourbon bitters, and spiced caramel syrup, or the Manhattan (pictured) with hearth-charred vermouth, bourbon, and cherry bark vanilla bitters.

photography by anjali pinto (interiors, bartender, food); clayton hauck (cocktail)

clockwise from far left: Inspired by tree

The Promontory’s second foor is a destination for jazz, blues, and soul. Since the venue opened in August, it has grooved to the likes of Ramsey Lewis, the Ari Brown Quintet, and Maceo Parker. This month’s offerings include a garage-rock revival featuring ’60s group the Cave Dwellers and ’50s cult R&B singer T. Valentine (November 1), Willy Porter (November 13), and more.

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Great Harvest Three noTable new resTauranTs welCome The freshesT flavors for fall. by chiara milioulis

Femme du Coupe’s Fall’s Revenge cocktail blends Templeton rye whiskey, ginger zest, lemon juice, Campari, blackberries, and rosemary.

Pucker Up This fall, ChiCago mixologisTs foCus on poTions ThaT paCk a refreshingly sour punCh. by chiara milioulis With a bracing combination of sweet and tart flavor profiles, the sour cocktail is a taste-bud-tingling addition to menus this season.

Three local mixologists share their insight on what to sample and sip.

True to its classically clubby space, Drumbar (201 E. Delaware Pl., 312-933-4805; drumbar.com) creates seasonal mash-ups of staple libations such as the daiquiri, gimlet, and South Side.

“We’re not trying to be cute—we’re just trying to make sure it tastes good,” says resident mixologist Alex Renshaw, who pours two-dozen sour libations like the Local Option (dry whiskey, amaro, lemon juice, sugar, and apple juice) at the Streeterville rooftop lounge. “A sour-structure cocktail is a great way to introduce yourself [to spirits] and broaden your horizons.”

Smoked lamb ribs in tamarind barbecue sauce with yogurt and mint at Bottlefork.

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Paul McGee of Three Dots and a Dash (435 N. Clark St., 312-6104220; threedotschicago.com) also appreciates the creativity offered by sour libations. “They’re easier to drink,” says the veteran bartender,

“because they have the citrus element, [and] you have freedom to do whatever flavors you want.”

Still, McGee recommends adding a sweet element to balance the tartness: For his signature rum daiquiris, he suggests using a simple syrup with fresh raspberries or peach preserves, adding grapefruit or lime juice for acidity, and finishing with a bit of honey.

At Femme du Coupe (777 N. Michigan Ave., 773-916-6070; femmeducoupe.com), Revae Schneider embraces the DIY aspect of sour cocktails as she works one-on-one to help mixologists-in-the-making up their home-entertaining ante. “Simple cocktails utilizing lemon and lime tend to resonate with people without scaring them off,” says Schneider, who recommends a trip to Mariano’s to have lemons and limes freshly juiced. Schneider herself puckers up with her favorite autumn sour, dubbed Fall’s Revenge—a heady mix of Templeton rye whiskey, Le Sirop ginger zest, lemon juice, Campari, blackberries, and a pinch of rosemary. MA

photography by rockit ranch productions (bottlefork)

When it comes to Chicago’s foodie scene, “local” and “sustainable” continue to be major buzzwords, with another crop of recently opened concepts eager to embrace the farm-to-table trend this fall. Dubbed the “casual offspring” of Vie and Perennial Virant, Vistro (112 S. Washington St., Hinsdale, 630-537-1459; vistrorestaurant.com) features products from Illinois farmers and artisans like Hinsdale Farmers’ Market, Green City Market, and Genesis Growers. “Not only is the taste better, but it helps the small businesses that make the Midwest so special,” says chef-owner Paul Virant. Expect to see Virant integrate autumnal produce with spring and summer preserves into dishes such as wood-oven-roasted pork belly with brown-butter squash purée and cranberry aigre-doux.

At River North’s Bottlefork (441 N. Clark St., 312-955-1900; bottlefork .com), chef Kevin Hickey insists, “I won’t buy locally just to buy locally—[I do it] because it’s the best quality you can get.” Hickey’s autumn menu boasts seasonal dishes with squash, sweet potatoes, pomegranates, and persimmons as well as a high-grade duck from Culver Farm in Indiana.

Equally dedicated to local vendors is Evanston’s Boltwood (804 Davis St., 847-859-2880; boltwoodevanston.com), where chef Brian Huston (formerly of The Publican) incorporates fresh products from an array of farms—think nuts from Three Sisters Garden, squash from Nichols Farm & Orchard, and peppers from Iron Creek Farm in northern Indiana.

“Control of quality and building relationships is what drives us,” says coowner John Kim. “Most of everything that goes onto a plate has a story behind it.” MA

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TASTE Spotlight treats

SWEET NOVEMBER

THAT’S THE SPIRIT

ThatÕs Italian

the buzz

CHEF TONY QUARTARO RETURNS TO HIS RED-SAUCE ROOTS WITH FORMENTO’S. The third concept from B. Hospitality Company (Balena, The Bristol), Formento’s is proving to be the charm for chef Tony Quartaro. “It’s what I grew up with,” says the 30-yearold Iowa native, who recalls a boyhood spent making meatballs in the kitchen alongside his father, Nick. Look for classic dishes like half-chicken Parmesan, lobster fra diavolo, and—in a nod to his father’s signature dish—Nick’s linguini and clams, with house-made sauces available for purchase, like Quartaro’s vodka version. “Penne alla vodka is one of the first dishes I taught myself how to make when I was a kid,” says Quartaro with a laugh, “[but] this sauce is definitely an improvement upon the one I made when I was 8.” 925 W. Randolph St.; formentos.com

Since 2008, Koval has perfected the art of crafting grain-to-bottle whiskeys, liqueurs, and spirits like vodka and apple brandy, and this season the Ravenswood-based distillery’s portfolio continues to expand courtesy of its new dry gin. “We really wanted something compact and flavorful,” says master distiller and CEO Robert Birnecker, who recommends enjoying the organic, juniper- and corianderspiced 94-proof spirit on its own, or mixed with tonic for a heady twist on the classic concoction. 5121 N. Ravenswood Ave., 312-878-7988; koval-distillery.com

Alliance Patisserie offers macarons in a variety of flavors, like balsamic fig and pistachio.

AUTUMN FLAVORS “I’M A NOVEMBER BABY, so fall’s my time of year,” says chef Gregory Elliott. At the W Lakeshore’s new Italian-inspired concept, Current, he works with the best of autumn’s offerings for new menu items, such as pasta dishes incorporating gourds, pears, apples, and chestnuts, and the gorgonzola and roasted squash pizza with smoked pancetta.

“We worked on our dough for six months,” he says of Current’s signature pies, which feature a puffy, blistered crust.

“The simplest things are the hardest to do.” 644 N. Lake Shore Dr., 312-943-9200; wchicago-lakeshore.com

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Autumn’s bounty will be the star of the menu at Current in the W Lakeshore.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH SCOTT (MACARONS); NATHAN MICHAEL (CHICKEN); THINKSTOCK (GOURDS)

imbibe

Chicagoans in need of a sugar fix this month have plenty of options. As Candyality (520 N. Michigan Ave., 312-527-1010; candyality.com) prepares to reopen its second sweet home at Water Tower Place, owner Terese Lang McDonald is eager to grow her brand’s Chicago Sweets section, featuring Chicago Celebrity truffles paying homage to the Windy City’s most famous faces—from Frank Lloyd Wright (dark chocolate with vanilla) to Rahm Emanuel (milk chocolate with cappuccino) and Mike Ditka (dark chocolate with orange). Vosges Haut-Chocolat (951 W. Armitage Ave., 773-296-9866; vosgeschocolate.com) celebrates the debut of its new Super Dark truffle collection, a heart-friendly mix of 72-percent cacao and superfoods for flavors like Baobab, Turmeric, and E3. And on the baked-goods beat, pastry chef Peter Rios—famous for personalizing desserts for the late Princess Diana—brings signature confections like the Anne (chocolate mousse with a vanilla-beancream, hazelnut-crunch chiffon cake studded with mini macarons) to River North’s cozy Tree Studios with Alliance Patisserie (615 N. State St.; alliance-bakery.com) opening in late November.

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taste On the town

Champions for Change

Growing up in Hinsdale as the heir to Chicago-based manufacturer Molex, Liam Krehbiel had every advantage.

As the founder and CEO of A Better Chicago, he’s now devoting his energies to helping those who aren’t as fortunate. Through ABC’s Project Impact social innovation competition, the venture philanthropy fund will award $200,000 to three promising nonprofits that are working to accelerate Chicago’s low-income community. As he prepared for the competition’s finale on November 13, Krehbiel met up with friend Jessica Droste Yagan of Impact Engine—an accelerator program that jump-starts for-profit social impact businesses—at Little Goat to share ideas (and dishes) of sizable proportions.

Liam, you suggested we meet here. What do you enjoy about Little Goat?

Liam Krehbiel: This is our home away from home for A Better Chicago. I love the energy here. I’ve had literally everything on the brunch menu, and you cannot go wrong.

Jessica Droste Yagan: I’ve been here for breakfast only.

I have meetings nearby, and I learned that the food is amazing, there’s Wi-Fi, and it’s better than trying to get a little table at Starbucks. Of course, I can’t come here and not get the cinnamon roll.

LK: It’s hard to find a place where you can hang out away from work; it’s either a restaurant where you’re in and out in a certain amount of time, or you’re at Starbucks with a gazillion people. You can come here and get something to eat or drink, but it’s a relaxed pace.

Server arrives.

JDY: I’ll have the taco salad.

LK: I’ll have the Reuben, please—with a side of mac and cheese. Will you help eat that?

JDY: It’s hard to turn down a bite of mac and cheese.

Jessica, what are you working on this fall at Impact Engine?

JDY: Number one, Impact Engine’s class. We announced continuEd on pAGE 106

104 michiganavemag.com

FOOD FOR THOUGHT What:

A low-key lunch between friends and colleagues.

WhEn:

Early afternoon on a brisk Wednesday.

WhErE:

Little Goat, 820 W. Randolph St., 312-8883455; littlegoatchicago.com

top:

Liam Krehbiel and Jessica Droste Yagan meet up at Little Goat to talk about harnessing technology for nonprofits and teaching leadership. The stylized, upscale diner features riffs on classic American dishes, like the slaw-style taco salad with goat chili (below).

photography by galdones photography

NoNprofit crusaders Liam KrehbieL of a Better chicago aNd Jessica Droste Yagan of impact eNgiNe have their plates full with Big ideas for chicago’s emergiNg social leaders—aNd they wouldN’t have it aNy other way. bY meg mathis

Krehbiel paired Little Goat’s Reuben—with smoked corned beef, sauerkraut, kimchi, havarti, and special sauce—with the hearty house mac and cheese. below: The bustling restaurant on West Randolph Street has a fun, casual atmosphere.

“This is our home away from home for a beTTer chicago. i love The energy here.” —liam krehbiel

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it today, actually.

LK: Just in time!

JDY: We have seven new companies coming in for 16 weeks. They’re starting to move into our space in 1871, and it’s exciting to make it real now.

LK: What ties us together is that we both focus on innovation to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems.

We don’t want this to be just about us—we want to build a movement that’s much bigger, so someday if I have one too many Reubens and pass away, this can continue to thrive. reuben sandwich on pretzel rye, mac and cheese, and taco salad with tangy french dressing are served.

LK: Wow, that looks great.

JDY: It’s huge!

LK: You can feed your family with that thing. I’m really psyched for my Reuben.

Liam, tell us about Project Impact.

LK: We see Project Impact as our lab for new, innovative models that aren’t ready for our core funds but are doing really cool stuff. Typically our staff runs our vetting process, but through Project Impact we’re bringing this great group of rising leaders and [training] them on how we look at the nonprofit space, and then [bringing] in experts to select which ones make the final round. In the final round, we have a bunch of CEO-level judges; it’s got a fun, Shark Tank-like vibe, so each finalist gets up there for five minutes to pitch.

What start-ups are you really impressed by?

LK: Some really cool models are harnessing technology to provide a customized learning experience. We’re seeing a lot of entrepreneurs—both for profit and nonprofit—bringing their expertise to advance how we educate students.

JDY: All these people approach this in different ways with funding. How’s your sandwich?

LK: So good. This is really putting a hold on my diet.

JDY: If you want some salad, feel free. It’s definitely different from any of the other taco salads I’ve had, with the pickled flavor. It’s great.

LK: This is a real treat because I usually come here for breakfast, and my go-to is the Fat Elvis waffles and the chocolate chip pancakes. I prefer savory stuff—that’s why I love Reubens—but who can turn down a good chocolate pancake? [Laughs] The other place we’re obsessed with is Doughnut Vault, behind the Mart. Almost every board meeting of A Better Chicago involves a dozen doughnuts.

JDY: I need to be invited to your meetings. Can I try the mac and cheese?

LK: Go for it.

JDY: [Eating] It’s a really good basic mac and cheese.

I love how Little Goat tries to use sustainable ingredients.

LK: I love the fact that they’re uncompromising, so you have really tasty food done in a sustainable way. You don’t have to give up quality to have that, [but] I love food too much I’d be willing to make that sacrifice. [Laughs] They really nail it. MA

photography by galdones photography

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l u f g n i n a e M beauty

Victor Skrebneski: So what is your favorite place in Chicago, besides my studio?

Cindy Crawford: [Laughs] Your studio is probably one of the places I’ve spent the most time. What I love about coming back to Chicago is trying new places—the last couple of times I’ve come back, I went to Girl and the Goat, and that whole area is just changing so much. Every time I come back to Chicago there’s some new, hot area to check out.

And then I also just like to walk around. Even walking Oak Street or Michigan Avenue—all of that brings back so many memories.

Do you shop here?

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You know what’s funny? I’ve kind of lost my interest in shopping.

I haven’t bought anything for 30 years.

It’s funny because, as you know, I was just back at your studio in the spring and I was kidding [your assistant] Dennis [Minkel] that it’s the same coffee cups from 20 years ago. And I love that. I think when you get older you invest more in things that you really love and can have for a long time.

I agree. Do you miss Chicago at all, living in California?

I miss the people. I definitely miss being close to my mother, my sister, and my grandmother.

photography by justin bare (Crawford and skrebneski)

In the ’80s, Cindy Crawford took the modeling world by storm. These days, the DeKalb native is still turning heads—not just as a beauty, but also as a philanthropist, designer, and working mother of two. In an exclusive interview for Michigan Avenue with her friend and frequent collaborator, legendary fashion photographer Victor Skrebneski, Crawford candidly reflects on her early modeling days, her design partnership with Art Van Furniture, and her continued love for the city of Chicago. photography by andrew Macpherson styling by robert behar

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OppOsite page: phOtOgraphy by avedOn/Vogue; © COndé nast

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Does your mother ever go to California?

She does, and then we tend to get together at Christmas. But I will say DeKalb was such a great place to grow up, and Chicago was a big city for me. We would take the train in at Christmas to see the Marshall Field’s displays and the lights, so Chicago was my first big-city exposure. And then I moved to New York, so now living in Malibu—it’s definitely not the city. I don’t even have those types of city clothes anymore—it’s jeans and flip-flops. I miss a little bit of the hustlebustle of city life, like when I go to New York or Chicago. But after a week of that I’m so happy to come back to Malibu and eat dinner at 7 o’clock.

So what’s your design philosophy for your Cindy Crawford Home collection?

I think if there is a philosophy it’s definitely that style is style, and you don’t have to break the bank [to get it].

I’m not a designer, but I’ve worked with so many talented people, and the collection has drawn on what I’ve learned and what appeals to me and incorporates that into an accessible collection. I think my aesthetic is an updated look at traditional. Our [new] partner in Chicago is Art Van; the line itself isn’t new, but Cindy Crawford Home at Art Van is new.

[Speaking of design,] is it true you spent your first paycheck on wallpaper?

It’s true. It also coincided with my older sister moving out of my bedroom—I always shared a bedroom.

She went to college, and I got to decorate for the first time. And I remember going out and getting wallpaper and bedcovers—I wasn’t allowed to change the rug—and I got blinds, too. Everything was coordinated. I would not necessarily choose the same things today, because they were very much through the eyes of a 16-year-old girl, but what I loved was that it was the first time I got to define my own aesthetic in terms of my environment.

And that was at home?

Yeah, that was at my parents’ house. And then, my first Chicago apartment, which was down the street from your studio…. This is actually a really funny story. I ordered a sofa from Jennifer Convertibles, where you got to order your sofa and pick your fabric,

and you needed to order by phone, but I didn’t realize you needed to measure the opening of your doorway.

So they bring the sofa—eight weeks I’ve been waiting for it—and it won’t fit into my apartment. I learned a very valuable lesson from that experience.

How do you think the modeling world has changed since you started modeling? Or has it?

I’m only in my little world, so I don’t really know.

Once you’re in front of the camera, it’s probably not any different—except that for me as a model, the digital experience is very different. Because—and this is not the way you shoot at all—for a lot of these people, now the focus of the shoot is around the monitor, not around the set. So I think for a model, a little bit of the performance aspect [is missing]; now everyone’s around the monitor and I always say, “I’m over here, come pay attention to me.”

Everybody today is a photographer, because they have all those little telephone cameras.

And when you go to a restaurant, all you see are flashes ’cause people are [taking selfies].

In a way it democratizes fashion and photography— even my son is playing around with filters, and it’s amazing what kids can do even on their phone in the back of the car in 10 minutes.

Years ago it used to be I’d sit next to the retoucher and it would take three hours to take a spot off. And now there’s nothing to it.

When I’m working today, you can tell the people

who were working before digital and the people who weren’t. The people who were working before digital still care about making sure everything goes perfectly, and the skin looks perfect, or whatever. But the young people who never had it are always like, “Oh we’ll just fix and retouch it.” And they’re right. I always say, it’s not that one’s better or worse; it’s just a different art now.

I’d say so, too. Now what about your daughter [Kaia]? Did you give her any advice if she’s going to be into modeling? Does she have any beauty marks like you?

No, she does not. My son, Presley, has one.

Where’s his?

His is on his cheek. It’s a little higher than mine. It’s on the other cheek, too—on the other side, and a little higher.

Oh my gosh. Remember when you first started modeling, and you asked, “Should I take [the beauty mark] off?” and I said, “Absolutely not— [legendary Vogue model] Jean Patchett had it forever.” Remember that?

Well, the first agency I went to in Chicago told me to take it off.

I said don’t listen to them.

Thank god you did say that.

And how! That was a great photograph. It was the headshot in Vogue, wasn’t it? That was your first picture for New York.

Yep. That was terrific.

And I think once Vogue left the mole, it was like, well, if it’s good enough for Vogue it must be good enough for everyone. The seal of approval.

What’s Presley doing then? Does he want to be a photographer or doesn’t he know yet?

He wants to surf and check out girls. He’s 15 and we live in Malibu, so he has a pretty good life.

You do a lot of charity work.

I [just went to Peru] for Omega Watches. They partner with Orbis, which is a charity that has an airplane, so they go and do eye surgeries in Peru and places where they don’t have access to great medical services.

above: Photographed by Richard Avedon, Vogue’s August 1986 cover was Cindy Crawford’s first, and it helped launch the DeKalb native to supermodel stardom.

michiganavemag.com 111

would you give yourself?

You know, I think I would [tell myself] two things.

One is, you’re good enough. I think young people— and adults—are plagued by our insecurities. [Mine was] coming to Chicago and coming to your studio and going to New York, and worrying that I didn’t belong or I didn’t deserve to belong, or whatever.

You did that when you first started, but you certainly don’t seem insecure now.

I think we all get better at our coping mechanisms, don’t you think? [Laughs] Absolutely.

The other thing I would tell my young self is to just let loose a little bit more and have fun. I was very cautious and careful—which probably helped lead to the career that I had—but there were a few times I could have had a little bit more fun. Also, for me coming from such a sheltered small town, going to the big city and being around all that craziness of the ’80s, it was easier for me to put my nose in a book and just kind of block it all out. I didn’t quite know how to navigate it, so I just chose not to. But looking back, I was like, Maybe I should have gone on Armani’s boat for a week, or do things that [I didn’t do because] I was afraid of feeling out of my

league or in an uncomfortable situation.

Look, in the end it worked out for me, and I have a great life. Actually Rande has brought more [of that out in me]; he’s fun, and I feel safe having fun around him, so I’m almost doing some of those things. We used to go to the South of France every summer with his friends, and I would be like, That’s my one week a year that I dance on top of a table every day at lunch.

Good girl.

I probably should have done it when I was 20 and things weren’t jiggling so much.

[Laughs] I could still pull it off at 35 or 40.

Well, you did.

Yeah, well, now I’m not doing it anymore.

[Laughs] Unless I know there are no cameras around.

Does Rande take pictures of you at stuff like that?

No, I think we’re both at the point right now where we want to live the moment more than document it.

That’s what I tell people. Do not photograph me. There’s a time in everyone’s life where you don’t have to be photographed anymore.

You know what? You still look great. My grandmother, both my grandmothers, are still living, which is amazing. My 92-year-old grandmother came with me to Europe last year, and she looks beautiful. I think we are the hardest judges of ourselves, which is unfortunate, because other people see the beauty of a life well lived.

Right. We take in every little detail. So how do you manage being a mother with being an entrepreneur, and all that goes with that? How do you make time in your life?

Well, the great thing about having kids is you don’t have to figure out your priorities anymore because you’re looking at them. It’s kind of great because it does prioritize your life in a whole new way. And you learn to say no more. I agree that you can have it all; I just think it’s really hard to have it all at the same time. So I just don’t do as many extracurricular things, because I always have something better to do, which is being home with my family. MA

Photographer Victor Skrebneski famously told a new-to-the-biz Cindy Crawford to ignore the industry people telling her to remove her now-world-famous beauty mark.

112 michiganavemag.com

photography by justin bare (crawford and skrebneski). styling by robert behar/opus; hair by yiotis panayiotou using oribe; Makeup by shane paish/walter schupfer using dior; nails by whitney gibson using chanel; photography assistance by alex alMeida and paul rae; hair assistance by osvaldo delgado; video by nardeep khurMi; sitting editor: danielle yadegar; special thanks to anne kiM

They’re doing a documentary, so I’m the host of the documentary…. I also still do a lot of work in Madison, Wisconsin, at the American Family Children’s Hospital, which is where—it’s not the exact hospital where my brother Jeff was treated [before he passed away]—that hospital doesn’t exist anymore—but this is a new hospital that he would’ve gone to. I took my daughter there this fall because I host a reunion of cancer survivors every five years there [through a program called Kids With Courage], and we also do hospital visits. And it was just so great for Kaia to see that. It was really like I was passing the baton to her in a way, or starting to pass the baton, and just teaching her that she’s had a very privileged childhood, which comes with responsibility as well.

Do you still model?

Yes. For me, every time I’m in front of the camera, I’m modeling. So whether I’m selling skincare or doing Michigan Avenue magazine, to me that’s modeling. I still am able to put my skills to use—maybe with a little more retouching, but you know what I mean.

I didn’t realize you were a bowler. What is your high score?

212.

Terrific. When did you start bowling?

I had it in P.E. At DeKalb High School, you can take bowling as first semester of P.E. if you have a car to drive yourself to the bowling alley, which I think is hilarious. But it’s funny because I rarely bowl, but once in a while, someone will have a bowling birthday party or something, and it’s amazing that it actually comes back to me. You also know I bake, because I used to bring food to your studio.

I remember that.

My best is strawberry rhubarb. If I want to get on my husband’s good side, I make strawberry rhubarb pie.

It’s been 30 years since you graduated from high school.

That’s just mean to say that it’s been 30 years.

[Laughs] I’m sorry. If you went back and saw your 18-year-old self today, what sort of advice

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Comedy Centr al

As The Second City, iO, and other local institutions of funny expand their empires, Chicago cements its reputation as America’s comedy mecca.

By Jason A. Heidemann

Courtesy of the seCond City (Carell group; adams and Colbert)

The energy inside Old TOwn’s PiPer’s Alley, home to improvisational theater The second City, is kinetic tonight. Visitors to the main box office are greeted by a flurry of activity and a maze of options. “Are you a comedian?” a pair of excited tourists asks a bearded dude holding a clipboard. “not officially,” the flattered youngster replies. Clipboard guy is in charge tonight. he points several ticket holders to UP Comedy Club on the third floor, where headlining stand-up comics frequently hold court. Others he directs to the nearby e.t.c. theater, where an ensemble of six bends space and time in the playful revue Apes of Wrath. All others are sent to The second City’s

historic wells street entrance, where they will climb a stairwell decorated with vintage photos of famous alumni including Tina Fey, stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, and countless others before taking their seats inside the legendary Mainstage theater. Most people have come to Piper’s Alley tonight to glimpse future comic superstars in action, and they likely won’t be disappointed.

A mile west, another scene is unfolding. At the new iO Theater at 1501 north Kingsbury street in the Clybourn Corridor, the last vestiges of summer are lingering in the air. electric candles illuminate the beer garden, where improv nerds— a jeans and T-shirt crowd mostly in their 20s and

30s—have gathered. inside, the smell of fresh paint lingers, and a group stands huddled around a large, circular bar. seemingly all of the city’s comedy illuminati are here, including legendary improviser T.J. Jagodowski, Cash Cab’s Beth Melewski, former Saturday Night Live writer Tom Flanigan, local stand-ups Cameron gillette and Tyson Karrasch, and Colleen doyle of iO cult favorite Dummy. it’s nearly midnight and the joint is hopping. something seismic is happening in Chicago’s comedy scene. long known as an incubator of comedy greats, the city has garnered even more attention lately as local alumni like current SNL stars Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant, and Cecily

clockwise from top left: The Improvised Shakespeare Company at iO offers an Elizabethan twist on comedy; Steve Carell, Paul Dinello, Stephen Colbert, and David Razowsky perform “The Obvious Song” at The Second City; Annoyance Theatre founder Mick Napier in front of its old home on Broadway; players Fran Adams and Stephen Colbert at The Second City in 1993; Phil Granche and Rich Fulcher in a scene at the Annoyance; the Deltones comedy act at iO is best known for its improvised musicals; Matt Walsh, Kate Flannery, Ellen Stoneking, and Craig Robinson get medical at the Annoyance.

michiganavemag.com 115

definitely cements Chicago as the epicenter of Strong have stepped into the national spotlight. this kind of work,” says The Second City CEO And with The Second City and its improv comAndrew Alexander, a Canadian-born producer edy siblings (and rivals) the iO Theater and the who purchased the organization from cofounder Annoyance all undergoing impressive expanBernie Sahlins in 1985. “There’s no other city in sions, that number is likely to just keep growing. the world that has such an infrastructure in terms It all started in the 1950s with the formation of of giving performers an opportunity for finding a the Compass Players, a group of University of way into this world, and so I think it has definitely Chicago students and dropouts (including Mike put us into a world-class level.”

Nichols and Elaine May) who used improv techJohn Candy and Bill Murray (seen here When it comes to local expansion, The Second niques taught by innovator Viola Spolin to create in 1973) rose to fame as performers at The Second City.

City is technically following the pack. After findscenes based on audience suggestions in the back ing out her longtime home in Wrigleyville would of a Hyde Park bar. After disbanding, cofounders be leveled to make way for new development, iO Bernie Sahlins, Howard Alk, and Paul Sills cofounder Charna Halpern got to work on the opened The Second City in Old Town in 1959; it group’s massive new space in the Clybourn was an instant hit that spawned early breakout Corridor, which was unveiled in August. The stars like Joan Rivers and Alan Arkin, and later organization iO differs from The Second City in Bill Murray, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and that it eschews short-form exercises, or “games,” many others. After iO came along in the early in favor of the long-form structures perfected by ’80s, The Second City added the e.t.c. theater, a –Chris Redd late improv guru Del Close; the group’s imprestraining center, and, most recently, UP Comedy sive 40,000-square-foot complex boasts Club. Now comes its biggest expansion yet: In August, The Second City announced it would extend its classroom facilities additional classrooms, four theaters, a full-service bar, a kitchen, and event into the space once occupied by the adjacent AMC Theaters, growing The space. Timber ceilings and skylights abound, and Jagodowski and local legend Second City Training Center—already the largest school of comedy in the Dave Pasquesi (TJ & Dave) have been given full artistic reign over one world—by an additional 25,000 square feet when it opens in spring 2015, bring- theater.

It’s not hard to imagine great things happening here. “Chicago really is ing the complex’s total to 75,000 square feet.

“Along with our neighbors the Annoyance and iO, [the expansion] Mecca, and everyone’s being affected by it,” says Halpern. “Everyone knows

“I would lIke to play a black james bond.

It’s tIme, people!”

Comedy 101 These 14 essential venues are Chicago’s headquarters of comedy.

Chicago Underground Comedy Scene stalwart and home to alternative stand-up. Every Tuesday at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., 773-281-4444; chicagoundergroundcomedy.com The Comedy Bar Vegas-style stand-up club co-owned

by Jim Belushi. 157 W. Ontario St., 773-387-8412; comedybarchicago.com The ComedySportz Theatre Short-form improv shows suitable for the entire family. 929 W. Belmont Ave., 773-549-8080; comedysportzchicago.com Comedians You Should now Slickly produced downtown joint for local stand-up. Every Wednesday at

116 michiganavemag.com

Timothy O’Toole’s. 622 N. Fairbanks Ct., 312-642-0700; comediansyoushouldknow.com iO Theater Premier practitioner of long-form improv, plus sketch and more. 1501 N. Kingsbury St., 312-929-2401; ioimprov.com Jokes and Notes Bronzeville stand-up club and place to see South Side greats. 4641 S. King Dr., 773-373-3390; jokesandnotes.com Laugh Factory Slick Hollywood offshoot where local comics perform nightly. 3175 N. Broadway St., 773-327-3175; laughfactory.com The Lincoln Lodge The city’s long-running home for alt stand-up comedy. Every Friday at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., 773-278-6600; thelincolnlodge.com

pH Comedy Theater Andersonville theater devoted to zany parodies and high-energy improv.

1515 W. Berwyn Ave., 773-961-8214; whatisph.com Playground Theater Unfussy and unpretentious incubator for local improv talent. 3209 N. Halsted St., 773-871-3793; the-playground.com The Second City Mainstage and e.t.c. theaters Home to satirical sketch comedy revues featuring future SNL talent. 230 W. North Ave., 312-337-3992; secondcity.com UP Comedy Club A hybrid room mixes headlining stand-up with sketch and variety. 230 W. North Ave., 312-662-4562; upcomedyclub.com Zanies Iconic stand-up club where legendary greats frequently perform. 1548 N. Wells St., 312-337-4027; www.zanies.com

photography by the second city opposite page: billy rood

Annoyance Theatre Northside institution famous for boundary-pushing theatricals. 851 W. Belmont Ave., 773-697-9693; annoyancetheater.com

Chris Redd: The MultiHyphenate Chris Redd, 29, is among the few local performers doing the comedy trifecta—sketch, improv, and stand-up—and making it all look easy.

In one moment Chris Redd might be doing a pratfall; in another he’s spouting off literary references. The Chicagoland comic is so good that last spring he was faced with a Sophie’s Choice comedy moment: Join the Second City e.t.c. ensemble, or go to LA to shoot a sketch comedy pilot for NBC. Redd chose the latter. He’s back in Chicago for now, but LA is still nipping at his heels—so catch him now (at venues like Zanies and Laugh Factory) before Hollywood snatches him away for good.

On landing twO dream jObs at Once: “At frst, it sucked. I was like, How do you pick between two dreams? After a lot of soul searching, I decided to do the pilot. It was an amazing opportunity, but Second City will always be home.”

lOcal herO: “Bernie Mac is my favorite by a long shot. He was Chicagobred, fearless, and nothing for him came easy. He was a hustler like nobody’s business, and he just destroyed the stage with his perspective. His truth was solid, and I dig that the most.”

On lOving stand-up: “I bombed my frst comedy competition badly, lost my job, a girlfriend at the time cheated on me, and my car had broken down all in the same day. I went to a late, packed open mic and talked about it, and the room never stopped laughing.

I knew I would do it forever.”

dream jOb: “I would like to play a black James Bond. It’s time, people!

I will, however, take a shot at James Patterson’s Alex Cross whenever Tyler Perry is done with it. Is he done yet?”

secret spOt fOr inspiratiOn: “The Trump Tower on the 43rd foor is pretty inspirational. The view is amazing.

I usually go up there and pretend I’m a janitor and just take it all in.”

michiganavemag.com 117

Although the scene has been red-hot lately, that in order to get good and make it, you’ve got stand-up was the forgotten child of Chicago to be here.” Case in point: Casting director comedy for a very long time. Aside from Zanies, Marisa Ross (How I Met Your Mother) and the shoebox-shaped mainstay in Old Town that Principato Young talent manager Brooke is crammed floor to ceiling with vintage blackShoemaker rent offices at the new iO with the and-white photos of famous comics and a specific purpose of being close to the action. calendar of touring greats, practitioners of this Both iO and The Second City have easy El art form have had to make due without the larger access to another important player: the stages and mentorships available to improvisAnnoyance Theatre. Like iO, the Annoyance ers. What most people don’t realize is how many also uprooted itself this summer, ditching its stand-up comics have emerged from our city. uptown digs in favor of a new space at 851 West “Although Chicago has been recognized by the Belmont Avenue, not far from the location where press as an improv town, it has exported standit originally opened as the Metraform more than up talent for decades,” says Zanies Executive 25 years ago. According to Annoyance founder Vice President Bert Haas, rattling off an impresMick Napier—a guru whose appreciation for missive list of comics with local roots, including Jack fits helped spawn the careers of Jane Lynch and Benny, Bob Newhart, Arsenio Hall, Marsha Andy Richter, and out of whose taste for the Warfield, Bernie Mac, and Jeff Garlin. strange and bizarre was born the long-running After the stand-up club crest in the ’80s and submusical sensation Co-ed Prison Sluts—the sudden sequent crash in the ’90s (due in large part to changes happening at all three theaters are megawatt stars fleeing the clubs in favor of cable largely coincidental, but important nevertheless.

TV and stadiums), Zanies was the only important “The culture here, not only by volume but also game in town—for a while. However, the last artistically, is still the most challenging and the –Colleen Doyle decade has seen a sharp rise in independent showmost fruitful,” he says. “I feel like these changes cases happening mostly at bars around town and are just declaring that even more.” produced largely by the comics themselves as a At Timothy O’Toole’s in Streeterville, four shot glasses clink together simultaneously. The basement of this sprawling way to guarantee stage time. The greatest of these success stories is the Lincoln Irish taproom is home to a weekly, slickly produced showcase for stand-up Lodge, the longest-running alternative comedy showcase in the country, called Comedians You Should Know, and tonight’s edition is being celebrated cofounded by Mark Geary, a British expat who is not himself a performer.

“Unfortunately stand-up itself hasn’t shaped Chicago very much until the with tequila. Comedian Drew Frees downs his shot and proceeds to wax effusive about the scene. “Stand-up is where you’re going to see the next big thing last few years,” says Geary. “For the third largest city in America to have only 120 paying seats for stand-up [at Zanies] was not a good statistic by any means.” in Chicago,” he declares with braggadocio. He may be right.

“The allure of TV and film is real. like mosT acTors, i’m desperaTe for aTTenTion and would loVe more people To see whaT i do.”

BEST IN SHOW Catch these must-see live comedy performances in November.

The Second City 103rd Mainstage Revue A stellar ensemble takes aim at modern life in this new sketch revue. Opening in November, The Second City, 230 W. North Ave., 312-337-3992; secondcity.com

Bob Odenkirk The comedy icon and Breaking Bad star hits town for a special book signing. Nov. 6–7, 8 pm, UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., 312-662-4562; upcomedyclub.com

George Lopez The mega stand-up star tells it fast, loose, and fercely political. Nov. 1, 8 pm, The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., 312-462-6300; thechicagotheatre.com

Broad City Live Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson take their hilarious hit Comedy Central TV series on the road. Nov. 12, 8 and 10:30 pm, Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-525-2501; lincoln-hallchicago.com

Craig Ferguson As he prepares to step away from The Late Late Show, the laid-back Scotsman brings his likable comedy to The Loop. Nov. 16, 7 pm, The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., 312-462-6300; thechicagotheatre.com

Drew Michael This Chicago native’s dark, disturbing stand-up hits audiences straight in the gut. Nov. 1 at 8 and 10:30 pm, Zanies Rosemont, 5437 Park Pl., Rosemont, 847-813-0484; zanies.com

Jerrod Carmichael Underneath his droll demeanor is a smart and sly rising-star stand-up. Nov. 13–15, 8 and 10:30 pm, UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., 312662-4562; upcomedyclub.com

Jerry Seinfeld The stand-up and TV juggernaut slips into town for two pre-Thanksgiving shows. Nov 21, 7 and 10 pm, Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Rd., Rosemont, 847-671-5100; rosemont.com/theatre

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photography by the second city (theater) opposite page: billy rood

Open Mic Fest A frst-of-its-kind free festival devoted entirely to the art of the open mic. Nov. 14–16, various venues around town; openmicfest.tumblr.com

Colleen Doyle: The Lioness This queen of Chicago’s comedy jungle mesmerizes with pinpoint timing.

In the iO sketch show Trap, there’s a scene in which Colleen Doyle plays a middle-aged mother who’s ambivalent toward her son’s perky new girlfriend. Each time Doyle’s character so much as removes her reading glasses, it gets a huge laugh. That’s the thing about Doyle: She understands how to get big laughs by going small, lying in wait—then pouncing. Speaking of pouncing, Doyle and boyfriend Jason Shotts, who played together in the hypnotic two-person improv show Dummy, have just made the move to LA. Looks like we’ll have to share her with the world now.

On Dummy reaching cult status: “It is surprising that we could draw a house on a Tuesday night, but I think that speaks to iO’s reputation as the best long-form improv anywhere. Also, I have cult leader on my vision board.”

On her bOyfriend as cOwOrker: “We have a great time playing together; he’s an amazing improviser. We’re freed up a bit to try things onstage because we know each other so well and trust each other. But just like any couple, we can drive each other nuts, and that can occasionally show up onstage.”

chicagO cOmedy herO: “I gotta go with Amy Poehler. There is a fearlessness and intelligence to her that is like looking into the sun. She speaks her mind and puts into practice an eagerness to be of service to girls and young women.”

dream jOb: “The allure of TV and flm is real. I’d really like to be part of a writer’s room for a great show and/or do more on-camera work. Like most actors, I’m desperate for attention and would love more people to see what I do.” inspiring city places: “Public transportation is a good place to see people get weird. I wouldn’t say I go there to seek inspiration, but I’ve certainly seen people and situations on the CTA that have stuck with me.”

what’s funny abOut chicagOans? “It’s a town full of honest people who still pull for the Cubs and vote in mayoral elections. What hope!”

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But in the past decade, all that has changed dramatically. Hot young talents like T.J. Miller and Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley), Hannibal Buress (30 Rock, SNL), Cameron Esposito (Conan, Chelsea Lately), and many more have all recently emerged from the scene. These success stories in turn have spawned two important new venues—UP Comedy Club at The Second City and the Laugh Factory in Lakeview—and a gold rush to Chicago for both stand-up comics and talent scouts alike. “Whenever a Chicago performer moves to Los Angeles or New York and has some success, the industry flocks here searching for the next ‘golden boy,’” says Haas.

“So comedians are flocking to Chicago for stage time.”

Why Chicago? What makes this city the best place to see and practice comedy in the US—and perhaps the world? In part, our hardscrabble DNA makes us funny people. “We are skeptical, but not cynical,” says Haas. More importantly,

“I fInd InspIratIon In non-comedIc art forms lIke Independent fIlm, horror fIlms, and musIc.” –John Hartman

the Windy City offers a chance for comics to hone their craft sans the ubiquitous agents who put comedians in New York and LA on constant edge. “Chicago remains a place where it feels like you’re doing it just for the sake of doing it, and that becomes a social and artistic phenomenon in and of itself,” says Napier. Halpern agrees.

“You can take your time here to get good.”

This summer, scene stalwart Steve Waltien departed The Second City Mainstage after three revues. As is tradition, a special improv set was held in his honor, and teary speeches were made.

Alexander was in the audience that night. “It’s no accident that all of this is taking place in Chicago,” he says of the city’s reputation as a comedy capital. “When Steve Waltien left the show, he gave a very passionate speech about the work that speaks to this whole question about Chicago. He wasn’t worried about movie roles or television shows; he just loved being on that stage. When you hear that, you can’t help but be moved.” MA

WHAT CHICAGO TAUGHT ME Comedy greats and up-and-comers alike reveal how the Windy City made them a better comic.

“In Chicago I was able to fgure out what it is that I contribute or bring to the table in any project. And then I tried to do that as well as I possibly could.”

—Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) “The Chicago stand-up community is hard to impress. You have to be out at shows every night and constantly create new material to be taken seriously.

Success in stand-up is really about doing the work, and Chicago knows that.”

—Cameron Esposito (Conan, Chelsea Lately) “I learned that when you make a sincere effort to make a scene partner look good, it behooves everyone. It is not necessary to be a staunch individualist to have success in the arts. Collaborate, and it could be twice as great.”

—Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele) “The stand-up scene in Chicago had a big emphasis on originality and on fnding your voice. There was no industry, of course, so no one actually thought of their careers or anything like that. We just wanted to be funny and different from everybody else.” —Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail)

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“Doing shows at iO and the Annoyance taught me how to confdently improvise and write, and The Second City taught me to be a professional. I had good shows [and] bad shows, shows for three people and shows for three hundred people, but they all taught me to be a better performer.” —Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live) “Play at the top of your intelligence. In Chicago, the audiences allow you to get onstage and improve… forever.” —Dave Pasquesi (TJ & Dave) “I learned you’re allowed to fail and learn, and be brilliant and wrong and lovely and dumb, and your friends will stick with you while you are all of those things.”

—T.J. Jagodowski (TJ & Dave) “The city exudes passion, desire, courage, fortitude. Let it infect you as a performer. Every time you get onstage, you get better. You must get onstage. I don’t care if it is in class or performance—get up and do it!”

—David Koechner (Anchorman, Anchorman 2) “What I have empathically learned is that Chicago has the most extraordinary audiences in the world, unbelievably patient with our growth, yet demanding of us in doing our best at all times. I owe this city everything for simultaneously giving me a career and a safe place to land.”

—Susan Messing (Messing with a Friend, Blessing)

opposite page: photography by billy rood

“Chicagoans make up the best audiences in the country. They’re grounded with Midwest sensibilities, they’re not afraid to laugh, and they have a wicked sense of humor. They are the best teachers and audiences in the world, and I am grateful to them for participating and witnessing the development of my craft.”

—Jim Belushi (According to Jim)

John Hartman: The Lovable Rogue They’re going to cut open Fairfax, Virginia, native John Hartman one day and discover that this elastic, loose-limbed goofball is made completely out of Silly Putty— the operative word being “silly.”

In this year’s Depraved New World at Second City, the diminutive John Hartman, 30, attacked the stage with brainy, brawny punch, nailing every oddball character he played along the way. Critics and audiences alike immediately started singing his praises (Hartman just pocketed a Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Revue), and they won’t be stopping anytime soon.

Seriously, keep your eye on Hartman, who will also star in the Mainstage’s upcoming new show. He’s the real deal.

On perfOrming at the SecOnd city: “I never knew if it actually could happen, but I decided to give it a go and see how far I could take that dream. I’m aware of how many people in the city (and country) want the job that I have, so needless to say I’m hugely grateful and humbled by it.”

On winning raveS: “A lot of things fell into place for me. I was so ready and excited to do this job that I found my groove right away. I got lucky with that.”

On the inSpiratiOnS fOr hiS eccentric characterS: “I fnd inspiration in non-comedic art forms like independent flm, horror flms, and music.

A simple Hall & Oates song inspired a scene I wrote in the last show.”

hOw tO make him laugh: “Good, honest, vulnerable comedy.”

weirdeSt audience mOment: “An elderly Indian woman got up from her seat, vomited on the exit door, and went back and sat down in her seat like nothing had happened.”

BeSt cOmpliment ever: “During an improv set I [once] said, ‘A poem is something that’s short and sweet. What’s something else that’s short and sweet?’ to which a man’s voice in the audience shouted, ‘You!’ That made me blush a little.”

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Luxe for the

HOLIDAYS Celebrate the season like royalty in this City of big spenders.

By novid parsi photography By sarah anne ward

ChiCago has always been a City of extremes, from its 90-minute Commutes to its bitterly Cold winters. and if this winter turns out to be anything like the last one, ChiCagoans will want to meet the extreme weather head-on—with the ultimate luxury and Comfort. from a six-figure mattress to a ring with literally dozens of diamonds to Caviar harvested from fish older than most people’s Cars, we take a look at the most fabulously luxe experienCes the

styling by jojo lii

City has to offer throughout the season of giving.

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CUSTOM CREATIONS Make every gift a one-of-a-kind original.

DIAMOND LIFE: The Lampert family has

been crafting high-end jewelry for almost a century, with every piece at this Oak Street jeweler designed and created in-house. Gemological craftsman David Lampert’s greatgrandfather started the revered family business in 1920. The Lamperts begin every design process with a conversation with the client. For this custom ring, David’s father, Lester, used 37 ideal-cut diamonds and nestled them along three rows on a platinum ring measuring eight to 10 millimeters wide. Lampert says that in this case he wanted to create a ring in which the dazzling diamonds aren’t seen just from the top, but from every angle. $36,500; Lester Lampert, 57 E. Oak St., 312-944-6888; lesterlampert.com Platinum three-row SkaLLop 37-diamond ring, Lester Lampert ($36,500). 57 E. Oak St., 312-944-6888; lesterlampert.com

LOCAL CUSTOM: Lush red dupioni silk rosettes entirely cover a striking custom evening dress recently commissioned from award-winning fashion designer Borris Powell. A typical project takes six to eight weeks. $20,000; Borris Powell, 400 N. May St., Ste. 201, 773-857-5585; borrispowell.com

HAUTE TOTE: You’ll be making travel plans just

to use Fischer Voyage’s nonpareil, entirely hand-stitched overnight bag, made of leather from Chicago’s last remaining tannery. Each bespoke tote takes months to produce. $15,000 and up; Fischer Voyage, 847-868-0595; fischervoyage.com

MATERIAL CONCERN: Slip into one of Frederick Lynn’s custom-made suits and understand why the hair of the South American vicuña— a llamalike animal sheared every two to three years—is so highly valued. The clothier designs and creates a custom vicuña suit in about seven weeks. $39,000; Frederick Lynn Haberdasshere, 9 E. Huron St., 312-496-3994; fredericklynn.com

GRAND APPETITES Chicago lives up to its world-class gastronomic reputation with these decadent food and drink offerings.

DELICACY: According to Tru Executive Chef Anthony Martin, the nine to 12 types of caviar on offer at the four-star progressive French restaurant evoke one word: luxurious.

The selection caters to both the fish-egg novice, with roe that has a slightly lighter, slightly saltier taste, and the expert, with a larger pearl such as the kaluga, which has a more dominant flavor. At the top of the caviar pyramid proudly sits Golden Imperial osetra, which has enjoyed a long life before it arrives at a table at Tru. The Golden Imperial comes from osetra sturgeon that are 15 to 25 years old. It takes that long for the roe to mature, and the more mature the fish, the larger the egg—and the more delicious. Golden Imperial roe boast a unique mouthfeel, a slight nuttiness, and a very clean ocean taste. $519 for nine varieties of caviar, 10 ounces each; Tru, 676 N. St. Clair St., 312-202-0001; trurestaurant.com Streeterville fine-dining destination Tru offers a luxurious sampler of nine varieties of caviar, including (from top) Golden Imperial, White sturgeon, and trout roe.

DRINK: The rum-and-fruit Treasure Chest No. 2 cocktail arrives in a dry ice–filled treasure chest with a bottle of Dom Pérignon. This opulent drink serves six to eight—or just two, if you like. $385; Three Dots and a Dash, 435 N. Clark St., 312-610-4220; threedotschicago.com

DINE: The first day of NoMI’s Two Days and a

DESSERT: For the launch of premium chocolate

bar To’ak, only 574 bars have been made. To’ak founder Jerry Toth sources his deluxe cacao from a valley in coastal Ecuador, where he resides the six months of the year he’s not living in Wicker Park. $285 per bar; toakchocolate.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANJALI PINTO

Dream package whisks foodies away via helicopter to the grounds of the culinary team’s preferred artisans and farmers, later followed by an intimate dinner back in the Park Hyatt’s Bottega Veneta Suite. On day two, you’ll enjoy a private six-course dinner in NoMI Kitchen. $8,000 without overnight stay; $12,000 with overnight suite. Park Hyatt, 800 N. Michigan Ave., 312-335-1234; parkchicago.hyatt.com

BLISSFUL ESCAPES Indulge in supreme comfort, at home and away.

SUITE DREAM: Get away from it all— and above it all—with Dana Hotel & Spa’s “I Am Content” package. Revel in the newly remodeled penthouse suite, bask in spa services such as a deep-tissue massage, and feast on dinner and breakfast for two in the hotel’s restaurant, in its rooftop lounge, or simply in bed. The three-bedroom, 1,640-square-foot suite offers the heights of hotel luxury, such as an extensive private wine reserve, an oversize soaking tub, and a Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin MP3 system. If you don’t want to leave (and why would you?), prepare a simple meal with the suite’s top-end Wolf and Sub-Zero kitchen appliances.

And if there’s nothing to watch on the two 46-inch flat-screen TVs, take in the breathtaking view of Chicago’s skyline. $2,800–$5,860 per night; Dana Hotel & Spa, 660 N. State St., 312-202-6000; danahotelandspa.com Tray, Interlude ($450). Mecox, 406 N. Clark St., 312-836-0571; mecox.com. Champagne flutes, Ralph Lauren Home ($115 each). 750 N. Michigan Ave., 312-280-1655; ralphlaurenhome.com. Ice bucket, Baccarat ($735). Saks Fifth Avenue, 700 N. Michigan Ave., 312-944-6500; saks.com. Impérial Brut Non-Vintage, Moët & Chandon ($45). Vin De Garde Wine Merchant, 1233 N. Wells St., 844-834-9463; vdgwine.com

REST ASSURED: When is a mattress worth six figures? When it’s entirely handmade by Hästens, a Swedish company whose made-toorder mattresses are available at Chicago Luxury Beds. $107,990; Chicago Luxury Beds, 440 N. Wells and 1919 N. Clybourn Ave., 312-527-5337; chicagoluxurybeds.com

COMPLETE RETREAT: The Style of Wellness

spa package offers a cornucopia of comfort, including a 60-minute Arcona facial plus Chakrassage, a haircut and style, a colonic, and lunch. $625; Ruby Room, 1743-45 W. Division St., 773-235-2323; rubyroom.com

THE WRIGHT STUFF: Stay in Frank Lloyd Wright’s newly restored Emil Bach House and marvel at the landmark design while enjoying modern amenities and a Japanese teahouse. $995–$1,495 per night (two-night minimum); 7415 N. Sheridan Rd., 773-654-3959; emilbachhouse.com

TOURS & EXCURSIONS

These over-the-top tours reveal Chicago like you’ve never seen it.

REVVING UP: For a few hours, you can

get behind the wheel of some of the most head-turning sports cars on the road. Settle into four top-of-the-line vehicles—such as the Maserati GranTurismo, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560, the Porsche 911 S Cabriolet, the Ferrari F430, and the Corvette Stingray—and then take each one for a 10-to-15-mile spin.

The route covers both downtown Chicago and the open road, where you can feel the thrill of these luxury vehicles’ full power. Take each car alone or with a friend who’ll split the driving with you or let you sit back and enjoy the ride. $1,295 for a single driver (or with a nondriver) or $750 each for two people to drive two cars each; Global Exotic Car Rentals, 888-4128444; globalexoticcarrentals.com Round Saddle Henley tray, Ralph Lauren Home ($395). 750 N. Michigan Ave., 312-280-1655; ralphlaurenhome.com.

Sunglasses, Giorgio Armani ($300). LensCrafters, 225 N. Michigan Ave., 312-819-0205; lenscrafters. com. Perspective Cavaliere scarf ($790) and gloves ($1,075), Hermès. 25 E. Oak St., 312-787-8175; hermes.com. Steel Sporting Classic Chronometer, Ralph Lauren Fine Watchmaking ($4,100). SEE ABOVE; ralphlaurenwatches.com

FLYING HIGH: A 45-minute private helicopter tour for two takes in Windy City sights like the skyline and Navy Pier fireworks. Or just hover over your own home. $698; Rotor Zen Helicopters, 708-924-9277; rotorzen.com

PRIVATE TOUR: After hours, the Art Institute of Chicago locks its doors—and then opens them just for you and a guest. Sumptuous dinner and cocktails are served inside its elegant, Renzo Piano–designed Griffin Court, followed by a private, docent-led tour of the galleries of your choice. $46,700; Art Institute of Chicago, 312-443-3530; artic.edu

SHIP SHAPE: The 115-foot yacht Chicago Elite

cruises up and down the lake while you and a guest relish the skyline, a plated dinner—and a bar on each of the two decks. Starts at $6,500; 866-391-8439; eliteprivateyachts.com

GOLDEN TICKETS

Prime seats for these über-luxurious experiences are yours for the taking.

SPORTING LIFE: With the Chicago

Bulls’ Ultimate Suite Party Experience, you and 19 of your closest friends get early access to the arena before the thousands of other fans arrive. Watch the Bulls’ pregame shootaround and have your photo snapped on court, then cheer on the team from a luxury suite that comes with gift bags, food and beverages, and five parking spots.

To turn the luxury dial up even higher, opt for additional items such as autographed jerseys or memorabilia. All Fantasy Experiences, including the Ultimate Suite Party, benefit Chicago Bulls Charities, which focus on youth education, health and wellness, and violence prevention. Starts at $7,500; Chicago Bulls, 312-455-4176; email fantasy@bulls.com Revival portfolio, Salvatore Ferragamo ($895).

645 N. Michigan Ave., 312-397-0464; ferragamo. com. Intrecciato Calandre wallet, Bottega Veneta ($470). 800 N. Michigan Ave., 312-664-3220; bottegaveneta.com

GUEST STAR: For one performance, join the

cast of the perennial holiday favorite A Christmas Carol, wearing costumes designed and fitted just for you and a guest. Plus, 10 friends get tickets to admire your acting prowess. Proceeds help the Goodman Theatre provide tickets to underserved communities. $15,000–$20,000; Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., 312-443-3800; goodmantheatre.org

RUNWAY READY: Escape Chicago’s winter blahs on a lavish direct flight from O’Hare to Nairobi, Kenya. Qatar Airways’ top-end seats—voted the world’s best business-class seats by Skytrax—provide perks like full flat beds and Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kits.

Round-trip business-class tickets start at $5,000 each; qatarairways.com ROOM SERVICE: As if Next’s tickets-only entry

weren’t exclusive enough, its private setting, The Room, allows entry to just seven to 10 diners, who can savor chef Grant Achatz’s ever-evolving menu, along with paired beverages and wine. $5,190 for 10 diners; Next Restaurant, 953 W. Fulton Market, nextrestaurant.com

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Stanley

Fifty years after his much-ballyhooed arrival in Chicago, iconic bandleader and man-about-town Stanley Paul continues to make his mark on the city’s society scene. By Bill Zwecker

“W

[great jazz pianist] Erroll Garner—told him I would make a good society orchestra leader,” says Paul. “So Glaser started sending me and my trio out to Long Island and the Hamptons and so forth. A few weeks after that, I got a call that they had gotten me a job in Chicago—at the Pump Room.”

Not only was Paul unfamiliar with Chicago, having never been here, but he also had never played for people to dance, except for those few gigs in the Hamptons. So before heading west, Paul “bought some Lester Lanin records,” made by the famous New York society bandleader, and “went to El Morocco and the Persian Room at the Plaza, and listened to how they did it.” On a crisp autumn day in 1964, Paul landed at O’Hare International Airport, got into a cab, and was immediately given a Chicago “linguistics” lesson by the taxi driver. When told to take him to the Ambassador Hotel at State and Goethe—using the correct German pronunciation for the name of the great poet—the driver shot back with, “You mean you want State and Go-Thee!”

STANLEY’S BIG BREAK As he walked into the lobby of the hotel that From Paul’s point of view, it’s still “amazing how day, Paul was amused to spot a sign announcing the whole thing happened,” even looking back his imminent debut at the Pump Room—proto those far more innocent days of the early ’60s. claiming the upcoming performances of “Stanley After playing at clubs and nightspots around the Paul and his East Coast Society Orchestra.”

New York area beginning in 1960, Paul’s first big “I thought, what East Coast Society opportunity came when he was signed by powerstanley paul Orchestra?” marvels Paul. “I’d be playing with ful agent and manager Joe Glaser of Associated all Chicago musicians!”

Booking Corp., who represented such stars as LouIt didn’t matter. From his opening night, Paul and his more fast-paced is Armstrong and Billie Holiday. “Within two weeks of signing with him, he New York style of dance music was a hit. “I was too young to be scared that had me booked at Basin Street East, one of the top clubs in New York,” says night. I looked down at the piano and just did what I knew I could do. I Paul. It was there he shared the bill with such stars as the McGuire Sisters didn’t look at the people, but when I did look up—within five minutes of and Peggy Lee, and would spot such musical icons in the audience as Richstarting—the whole dance floor was crowded.” ard Rodgers and Judy Garland. In 1962, Glaser even got Paul signed to a The reviews were all raves, coming after a kickoff that included a Chicago contract with Decca Records. “Can you imagine? I was just a kid,” says Paul who’s who gracing the booths of the Pump Room. Though they were all new with a laugh. Years later the piano man and orchestra leader learned that faces to him, Paul says, that first night legendary Chicago Sun-Times columwhile Decca signed him and a number of other acts that year, they made nist Irv Kupcinet and his wife, Essee, were in booth one. Mamie and Julius a huge mistake when “they turned down a new group from Liverpool— Walton were right across in booth 12. Herb Lyon, who wrote the Tower The Beatles!”

Ticker at the Chicago Tribune, was there; so was columnist Maggie Daly from While Paul was doing well and being booked at a number of clubs around the Chicago American and Sam Lesner from the Chicago Daily News. “Victor Manhattan, Glaser came to the realization that while the “kid with the Skrebneski, Carol Stoll, and Bruce Gregga were also there, and later all smile” was great at the keyboard, he wouldn’t ever make it as a jazz artist became dear friends.” like the rest of his clients. “Someone in Mr. Glaser’s circle—I think it was

hat is a Pump Room?” That was the first thought that came to Stanley Paul’s mind back in late 1964, when the rising star on New York’s music scene first heard the name of the famous restaurant tucked inside what was then known as Chicago’s Ambassador East Hotel. Booked by his Big Apple–based manager at the time, Paul’s original 13-week gig at the Pump Room ultimately led to a halfcentury career based in what he has long considered his “new hometown.”

Recently, the veteran musician and Chicago society orchestra leader sat with Michigan Avenue. On the rooftop terrace of his Old Town penthouse, he reminisced about his 50 years of entertaining at major Windy City events, private parties, and weddings—and, in particular, the 10 years he spent as the musical major domo at the Pump Room. It was a choice vantage point from which he met, serenaded, and often became extremely close friends with some of the most iconic stars of the past century.

“I got a call that they had gotten me a job In chIcago—at the pump room.”

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photography courtesy of stanley paul

—

Stanley Paul with Bette Davis, who was a regular visitor to the Pump Room. “She always wanted to sit with me at the piano, where she would smoke cigarette after cigarette,” he recalls.

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A PUMP ROOM MAINSTAY After his initial 13 weeks, Paul returned to New York, but was soon back at the Pump Room and became a permanent fixture at the Ambassador for the next decade. He came to know an amazing array of entertainers who, at that time, always made the hotel their Chicago home—whether performing at the Ambassador or merely staying there during local visits.

A favorite was Bette Davis, whom Paul originally got to know on the East Coast. According to the maestro, “When she would come into the Pump Room, she never wanted to sit in booth one. She always wanted to sit with me at the piano, where she would smoke cigarette after cigarette. I thought I would choke after a half hour of this, but I couldn’t tell her not to smoke. You couldn’t tell Bette not to do anything!” He continues, “On top of that, she would start singing along with the orchestra—I might add, in a different key.

Bette Davis might have been one of the greatest film stars of all time, but singing was a craft she never quite mastered.”

Paul also has many poignant memories of Judy Garland, particularly during one of her last stays at the Ambassador not long before her death at age 47 in 1969. “While I had met her briefly in New York, I really got to know her well at the Pump Room. One of the last times was very memorable—primarily because it almost killed me,” declares Paul. “She was sitting with Irv and Essee Kupcinet having dinner, and I started playing all of her songs. She sent a note up to the piano, ‘Thank you for the joy you are giving me tonight.’ We always hit it off, but that night she invited me up to her suite, and it just went on and on. She never slept. I never saw her taking pills, but that must have been what kept her up. It got to be three, then five, then seven in the morning. Everybody else had left, but Judy wouldn’t let me leave. Finally, I told her I had to get some sleep, and she said, ‘Okay, but please stay until I fall asleep.’

“This went on for four nights in a row. I’d play the piano in her suite and she’d sing. The voice was pretty much gone by then, but she still knew how to style a song and deliver it. But after those four days, I told people, ‘Another few days with Dorothy and I’d be over the rainbow myself!’”

One of the Pump Room’s true regulars over the years was Frank Sinatra. According to Paul, Ol’ Blue Eyes would come in quite often, but Paul once decided he didn’t want to do the usual and play Sinatra’s best-known hits.

“I knew he liked [the great jazz cabaret singer] Mabel Mercer, who would often sing lesser-known songs by famous composers. So I played some lesserknown Cole Porter and Gershwin songs—things the average person wouldn’t know, but I figured Frank would like that. Later that night, as I walked by his table, Sinatra said, ‘Stanley, I enjoyed the set. Those were good selections.’

Coming from Sinatra, that was pretty high praise—he was not one to be effusive with the compliments. That meant a lot to me.”

Among Paul’s other favorite diva memories was almost making a record with Gloria Swanson. But after only one rehearsal, the project stalled because the actress slipped into her Norma Desmond character from Sunset Boulevard and became more obsessed with what she’d wear for the album cover than with getting the album actually recorded.

Then there was the Easter brunch at the Pump Room, shortly after Phyllis Diller had her first face-lift. “It was back when face-lifts—or at least people admitting to having them—was something new,” says Paul with a smile. “We were all sitting there waiting for Phyllis to arrive from a gig at Pheasant Run. Among those at the table was Hermione Gingold, who was quite elderly at that point and almost seemed to be nodding off. Everyone was dying to see Phyllis’s ‘new’ face. Suddenly, during a lull in the conversation about Phyllis’s

visage, Hermione piped up, ‘She’s probably so gorgeous she’s getting [ravaged] on the highway coming back here even as we speak!’”

Other memories from those years range from hanging out with Carol Channing when Hello, Dolly! was still a new show, to observing Joan Crawford dining alone, “always with a tall glass of water in front of her…. I told Victor, the maître’d, ‘I’ve never seen anyone drink that much water,’ to which he replied, ‘Stanley, that’s not water. That’s 100-proof vodka!’”

But a Paul favorite was the always-flamboyant Zsa Zsa Gabor. “I’ll never forget the night Zsa Zsa, George Hamilton, and I watched the Academy Awards in my apartment at the Ambassador,” recalls Paul. “Zsa Zsa’s running commentary was hilarious. It was the year Barbra Streisand tied with Katharine Hepburn for best actress. Zsa Zsa knew where every woman’s piece of jewelry came from—both the jeweler and who had given it to the actress wearing it. Zsa Zsa was a character. She used to borrow dresses from stores like Saks, wear them, be photographed in them, and then take them back the next day. When someone told her, ‘Zsa Zsa, you can’t do that,’ she would simply say, ‘They should be glad I wore it, darling!’”

NEW BEGINNINGS After Paul left the Pump Room in the 1970s to launch his own society orchestra, he became the go-to guy for many of Chicago’s social and charity events.

“Of course, in those years there weren’t that many charity balls. There was the Boys Club of Chicago’s Summer Ball— which was the first big party I played, after starting my orchestra. Then there was the September Gala for Children’s Home + Aid, the Crystal Ball for Michael Reese Hospital, and the Service Club gala, but overall nothing like the many charity balls we have today.”

Paul has played for more weddings than he can count, but he notes that the planning for those happy occasions has changed a lot since he started playing them. “It used to be that the mother of the bride would make all the decisions. She might turn to the bride who was merely sitting next to her and say, ‘Dear, what song do you want for your first dance?’ That would be it. Today, often the mothers don’t even show up. The kids do all the planning, and often the grooms have a lot to say as well.” And when it comes to private ceremonies, Paul is constantly amused by all the people who say, ‘You played at my bar mitzvah.’ “I’ve probably only played about 10 bar mitzvahs in my life, but a lot of people seem to think I was the orchestra for theirs.”

While he has led his orchestra for many, many weddings, Paul loves recounting a tale from a number of years ago: “I was at some country club and this lovely couple—well into their 90s—came up and said, ‘You played at our wedding!’ I knew I didn’t, but I didn’t want to be rude. ‘When were you married?’ I asked.

“When they told me ‘1939,’ I knew that was impossible, but since they insisted it was me, all I could say was, ‘Sure. Great!’”

While Stanley Paul clearly relishes looking back on the amazing career he’s already had—and sharing tales of his experiences with so many stars—he very much lives in the present, and is equally passionate about his continuing role as Chicago’s designated society bandleader. More importantly, he’s looking forward to the future. He’s no spring chicken, but he still exudes the disarming charisma of that confident young bandleader who stepped into the Pump Room 50 years ago. “I love making music, and I love making people happy,” he smiles. “How many people do you know who can go to work every day and look out at a great group of people smiling and dancing? I’m a very lucky guy.” MA

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photography courtesy of stanley paul

“Sinatra Said, ‘Stanley, i enjoyed the Set.’ that meant a lot to me.”

clockwise from above:

Stanley Paul with the always-outrageous Zsa Zsa Gabor; Phyllis Diller refreshing Paul’s coffee; sharing the piano with Liberace; the flaming sword dinner at the Pump Room; the bandleader with Judy Garland, who once asked him to play piano until she fell asleep in her suite at the Ambassador Hotel; Paul at the keys in Chicago in 2009.

[

by erin Lentz with additionaL reporting by doug brown and seth putnam

[

cannabusiness

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Nearly half of all states have legalized medicinal marijuana, with Colorado and Washington serving as bellwethers for recreational use, and the US is amid an end to a prohibition on par with that of alcohol. But just how will the Green Rush grow? And why is it attracting some surprising advocates among doctors, entrepreneurs, politicians, attorneys, and businesspeople?

illustration by luke wilson (portrait)

W

eed. Ganja. Marijuana.

Pot. During the opening session of the heady 2014 Aspen Ideas Festival held in June of this year, references to the potent plant were the keynote kicker.

An intellectual with enviable wit, David G. Bradley, owner of the Atlantic Media Company, delivered an opening monologue that imagined some 250, type-A festival speakers high on Colorado cannabis, enlivening a crowd of CEOs, politicians, doctors, and thinkers with scenarios such as Secretary Hillary Clinton pulling her tempted husband into a car with a reference to her memoir, “We’re making hard choices, Bill.”

But all jokes aside, this international platform—which eventually staged a very serious conversation on marijuana between Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and Katie Couric—is illustrative of an escalating national debate embracing medical marijuana and its rapid-fire industry growth. And for many close to the cause, weed is no laughing matter, posing hard choices indeed.

Pot chatter is pervasive throughout the US, whether at dinner parties or on the floor of Congress. In Atlanta, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon and CNN’s chief medical correspondent, who was once vocally anti-pot, passionately discusses the benefits of cannabis in his second documentary film, Weed 2: Cannabis Madness. In Nevada, State Senator Tick Segerblom and Congresswoman Dina Titus are championing bills that favor PTSD medical marijuana research and protect the rights of legal users. In Los Angeles, former talk show host and celebrity Ricki Lake is producing a new documentary, Weed the People, which follows cancer-stricken children and the use of cannabis as medicine. In Denver,

Tripp Keber, founder and CEO of Dixie Elixirs and Edibles, is launching his latest edible product, Dixie One. And just a 20-minute drive from Keber’s new 40,000-square-foot Colorado headquarters, Governor Hickenlooper is repeatedly quoted as stating that we are in the midst of one of the “great social experiments of the 21st century.”

On late-night talk shows and in countless political jokes, the enduring dope-fiend stereotype propagandized in the 1936 film Reefer Madness is perpetuated, but in fact, the growth of the marijuana industry is predicted to outpace smartphones: A projected $2.34 billion worth of legal weed will be sold in the United States in 2014, according to the State of Legal Marijuana Markets (2nd Edition) produced

by ArcView Market Research. The same report projects a whopping $10.2 billion market by 2018.

In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 215, a milestone ballot that legalized cannabis for medicinal use.

Since that time, more than half of all states have either followed suit—in June, New York became the 23rd state to sanction medical marijuana—or taken steps to decriminalize the substance, making possession of a small amount on par with a traffic ticket. And referendums on legal recreational use of marijuana are cropping up on ballots nationwide since Washington State and Colorado voters approved the practice in 2012.

In 2013, Illinois passed the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannibis Pilot Program Act. (Chicago had already passed an ordinance in 2012 that allowed police to issue tickets, rather than criminal charges, to someone caught with 15 grams or less of pot—the equivalent of about 25 cigarette-size joints.) Since September 2014, the pilot program has been accepting applications from businesses and farmers who want to be among the state’s allotted 60 dispensaries and 22 growers. That same month, patients

DaviD Rheins Founder of Seattle’s Marijuana Business Association (MJBA) On Marijuana PrOhibitiOn: “We’ve had the discussion about Prohibition. We’ve given it well past its due with 80 years of a war on not drugs, but on people, in a culture where pharmaceuticals are every other commercial and ad page.”

FOunding the Mjba: “We chronicle and promote the industry. The best way to build a sustainable industry is by providing reliable information and the network of experts and folks that every small and start up business needs.

[They] just happen to also have an extra layer of compliance and regulation to contend with.” tax talk: “We’re told we can’t afford to fund teachers in schools, to fx the roads, to clean the air, to develop alternative energy. The reality is that with these extra dollars we can apportion this in such a way that we can say, ‘Yes, let’s address these social issues.’ I would rather pay a higher tax to fx the economy and reinvigorate these communities and stop the senseless prosecution and the wasted lives that are victims of this war on drugs.”

michiganavemag.com 133

Lake, who was introduced to a young fan with cancer during her stint on Dancing With the Stars, is flming a documentary with director Abby Epstein that follows ill children, including a cancer patient named Sophie, and the results of their use of medical marijuana.

GettinG involved: “[Pot] was not something that I did. I looked at it like a gateway drug. I didn’t want to be paranoid, out of it, like a couch potato. I was really turned off to it. But I fell in love with this girl via social media, and I went on this quest for her, to heal her.”

Cannabis Curve: “I’m still learning with cannabis—the ratio, the dosing, the CBD versus THC, and what kills the cancer cells and what keeps the bad side effects at bay. But it’s fascinating to me. I want to know more, and I want the public to know more. A whole new world opened up to me because [before] I was sheltered and judgmental.”

Her Film: “It shows a lot of amazing characters who are all relatable; particularly Tracy and her daughter, Sophie. Baby Sophie [represents] our biggest fear with our own children. And this mother will do anything to get her baby healthy and to keep her from suffering.

We have great results from the last scan.

Hopefully we will see continued cell death in the tumor.”

ProCeed witH Caution: “There are a lot of people in this industry that take advantage and that is really scary.

There’s people selling cannabis oil to desperate families, but you have got to know what you are getting and you need to test, and that takes money. There are so many advantages, but I think people still need to take a lot of precautions.” vision Quest: “I would love to be able to prove that cannabis is killing cancer cells. It’s so much better than doing a talk show. We have more than enough people that want to be documented and are willing to tell their stories.”

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Weed 101

at times, into a screaming match. Today, though new state laws are being enacted rather quickly, on the federal level, cannabis remains a Schedule I substance, which is defined as “the most dangerous” drugs “with no currently accepted medical use.”

ReefeR Madness & PRohibition Prior to 1906, the federal government had yet to regulate any psychoactive drug. During that year, Congress enacted the Pure Food and Drug Act, the first legislation that included cannabis among ingredients that had to be noted on a product label. By 1914, the Harrison Narcotics Act tightened narcotic control, stating that a nonmedical user could not possess cocaine or opiates; with this, the first line was drawn in the sand between medical and recreational drug use.

Though alcohol prohibition occurred all at once on the national level, marijuana prohibition was enacted in stages. By the mid-1930s, cannabis was regulated as a drug in every state. It was around this time that Harry Anslinger helmed the newly created Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN), a post he held for 32 years.

Both idolized and villainized, many allege that Anslinger’s antimarijuana campaign was fueled by a desire to increase his department’s budget: If he could successfully vilify weed, his bureaucratic power would result in further funding for the FBN. There are also scores of reports that pot prohibition was fueled by big business, a premise referred to as the Hemp Conspiracy Theory. It is reported that the Hearst and DuPont empires felt threatened that hemp would compete with their wood-pulp paper and nylon products, and the theory thus played a major role in campaigns and propaganda against pot in all its forms.

Love him or hate him, Anslinger was central to the American public’s perception. He coined the term “Devil’s Weed,” championed such anti-pot propaganda as Reefer Madness (today a cult comedy classic often watched ironically by college students as they get high, along with its musical 2005 parody version), and was instrumental in the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act, which heavily regulated the plant and served to drastically limit doctors’ ability to legally prescribe cannabis.

Today, many physicians, including the outspoken Gupta, are realizing that this little green plant could have a huge impact across several medical fields. “This is legitimate medicine,” argues Gupta.

[ [

Though new state laws are being enacted rather quickly, on the federal level, cannabis remains a Schedule I [most dangerous] substance.

The preferred scientific term for this lauded and condemned botanical is cannabis, from the Greek word kánabis. It relishes sunlight, is an annual, and can flourish in nearly any environment, thus the slang, weed.

According to Martin A. Lee’s book Smoke Signals, most scholars agree that cannabis arrived in our neck of the woods during the 16th century. Ships carrying slaves, explorers, and immigrants were outfitted with rope, sails, and netting made of hemp, while slave passengers also carried seeds for marijuana (hemp’s psychoactive cousin) in their pockets.

Lee notes, “Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Sir Francis Drake all sailed ships equipped with hemp products. And in 1619, eight years after colonists first planted hemp in Jamestown, the Virginia assembly passed a law requiring every household in the colony to cultivate the plant because it had so many beneficial uses. Hemp farming and processing played an important role in American history (as evidenced in the name of towns from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest, such as Hempstead and Hempfield). Several of our Founding Fathers, in fact, were hemp farmers, including George Washington.” By the 1850s, hemp was the thirdlargest crop behind tobacco and cotton.

As the plant made its way across the globe in many forms—and was ingested via inhaling, tinctures, and medical experiments among varying societal ranks—it gained a particular stronghold in Mexico, where, according to Lee’s research, farmers discovered the power of “Rosa Maria.”

During the Mexican Revolution, smoking weed was prevalent in small Texan towns like El Paso, which in 1914 became the first city to ban both the sale and possession of marijuana. Thus the national debate on this botanical’s potent power began as a murmur, which has since evolved,

the LittLe PLant that CouLd: MediCaL MaRijuana “I am not backing down on medical marijuana; I am doubling down,” proclaimed Gupta in a March CNN column.

When asked to explain his 180-degree turn on the benefits

illustration by luke wilson (portrait) opposite page: film still courtesy of cnn; illustration by luke wilson (portrait)

Ricki Lake Celebrity; producer of Weed the People

have been able to apply for cards, and the program is expected to be fully up and running at the start of 2015, with medical cannibis available at the end of spring.

For proponents, both developments represent a step toward a more balanced relationship with the drug. “It’s a large victory for cannabis advocates,” says Dan Linn, executive director of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws [NORML].

“It took us over 10 years to get this passed into law in Illinois. I think it’s really helped open the door to a broader conversation about the impacts of cannabis legalization, whether it’s for medical or recreational purposes.”

Simply put, we are witnessing an end to a prohibition on par with alcohol’s. As Keith Stroup, founder of NORML, says, “It is the most exciting political change I’ve seen in my lifetime. You almost can’t keep up with the change that’s going on.”

But first, the power of a plant.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta with Josh Stanley at his family’s booming Colorado grow house, in a still from Gupta’s new documentary Weed 2.

congreSSwoman dina tituS Nevada, District 1 PtSD & Pot: “As a member of the veterans committee and the ranking member of the subcommittee on benefts, I began to hear more and more about the potential of medical marijuana for treating PTSD. I am circulating now to get signatures that will go to the Department of Health and Human Services, asking them to lift the limitations on studying the effects of marijuana. It’s very restrictive now. We need to study it just like any other kind of medicine, or any other kind of drug.”

BuDS & Banking co-oPS: “I have signed on as a co-sponsor to Ed Perlmutter’s bill that will change the banking laws so that we could have legitimate marijuana businesses operating through bank accounts.”

of cannabis, he’s quick to explain, “The tipping point was when I started to look at the research coming out of other countries and smaller labs. [When] I started to spend time with patients who were convinced it was helping them, I realized it was a very large group of patients who seemed to be getting objective benefits. And that’s what really started getting me researching it again.”

His research led him to Charlotte Figi, the central figure in his provocative 2013 film Weed. Charlotte has been plagued with complex seizures—nearly two an hour—since she was an infant, and the film follows a harrowing family journey to save Figi’s life after being diagnosed with Dravet syndrome. Also known as Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI), this rare and catastrophic form of epilepsy was at one point causing Figi 300 grand mal seizures a week. As a last resort, the Figi family turned to medical marijuana, pitching Charlotte into the center of a national debate as the youngest medical marijuana applicant in Colorado. And though Charlotte’s story has become known across the country, what many may still not fully understand, Gupta explains, is that young patients such as Charlotte are not getting intoxicated. “This isn’t getting them high. [Particular strains of medical marijuana] are high-CBD concentration; they may become a little bit sedated like they would with other antiepileptic drugs,” says Gupta. “The biggest misconception is that kids are getting stoned or high or psychoactive.”

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the principal psychoactive component in marijuana, the form of cannabis responsible for euphorias, or highs, whether smoked or

ingested via edible products. On the other hand, cannabidiol (CBD) is one of at least 60 active cannabinoids identified in cannabis, which, when isolated, can have a wide scope of medicinal uses, and does not get patients high like THC. Charlotte Figi was given a very specific, highly concentrated CBD strain cultivated by the Stanley brothers—one of Colorado’s largest marijuana growers—at their Garden of Eden grow house. The six brothers crossbred marijuana with industrial hemp, and the resulting strain, Realm Oil (which Figi would ingest under her tongue via an olive oil blend, not as smoke), was renamed by the Stanleys as “Charlotte’s Web.” It was so successful in combating Figi’s seizures that families with similar stories have relocated to Colorado in order to legally obtain medical marijuana.

Today, Charlotte is reported to have about three to four seizures a month. The Stanleys have since created the Realm of Caring, a nonprofit organization that provides free or low-cost cannabis therapies to families in need.

It’s not just celebrity doctors such as Gupta who are championing the potential of medical marijuana. Ed Bernstein, a prominent Las Vegas attorney and television show host, is applying for a dispensary license, with a 33 percent stake in La Casa Verde Operating. As a successful businessman, he sees opportunity, but the impetus for this new venture is his 25-year-old daughter, Dana, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 3.

“She’s had about 200 hospital day trips,” explains Bernstein. “She’s had a couple dozen surgeries. Over the years, she’s had her intestines removed. She is in constant pain, 24/7.” While living in California during high school,

nevada State Senator tick Segerblom Author of SB 374, which allowed the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries Why Senate Bill 374?: “People didn’t have the ability to actually purchase medical marijuana that they were entitled to use under the Constitution.” touriSt tokeS: “Las Vegas is going to be the Amsterdam of the West. Everyone is going to want to have their picture taken in front of a marijuana dispensary.” allocating tax revenueS: “Education. The money frst goes to offset administrative costs, then to police costs, then it goes to education.”

PoliticS & Pot: “Support for medical marijuana is at 90 percent. It’s incredible.”

michiganavemag.com 135

how Cannabis ConneCts: “There are cannabis receptors in the body.

So it’s more natural than a lot of drugs, which simply inhibit the transmission of neurons from one cell to another cell.

This binds to something that already exists.”

Farming For the FUtUre: “You are going to have the CBD strains become more in demand as a medicine.

It’s harder than people realize to breed these plants up to specifc strands of CBD versus THC. But there is going to be higher demand, and it will continue to be very necessary.” on reCreational Use: “This is legitimate medicine, and I wouldn’t take it away from people because of the concerns of recreational use.”

Keith Stroup Founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws smokers’ rights: “As long as it was a crime, there wasn’t a lot you could argue for consumer rights. If it’s a contraband, nobody is going to require it to be pure. Now we’re beginning to focus on the real consumer issues. A private employee can drug test, and if you test positive for THC, even though there is no indication you were impaired on the job, they can fre you. What they need is an impairment test, not a test that says, ‘Have you smoked in the last six weeks?’” the DUi Debate: “We all agree that we don’t want people driving while impaired. But THC adheres to your fatty tissues and can be detected even weeks after smoking. We’ve got to convince legislators to use science so we test impairment.”

136 michiganavemag.com

Use & AbUse: The NexT GeNerATioN As the medical benefits of CBD strains are further researched, there’s still considerable apprehension among medical experts (Gupta included), law enforcement, and politicians surrounding marijuana and young users. Now that teens may gain easier access to the drug, potential for abuse and the effects on the young brain are a particular concern.

A groundbreaking study published by The Journal of Neuroscience in April is the first to show that frequent use of marijuana is related to major brain changes. Researchers—including

Tripp Keber at Dixie Elixirs and Edibles.

experts from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital—conducted MRIs on 40 people: 20 recreational users who smoke an average of 11 joints per week and 20 nonusers. The scientists found that the shapes and sizes of two neural regions essential to motivation and emotion were significantly altered in users.

Concerns about marijuana’s negative impact on the growing brain has spurred leaders to create forums, such as the Aspen Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo’s Valley Marijuana Council, to discuss the impact and warn young users of the dangers. Though supportive of the legalization of both medical and recreational pot, during an address to the annual NORML Legal Seminar in Aspen, Sheriff DiSalvo stated, “Marijuana is not a product for brains under construction. The message we are giving students is delay, delay, delay. The longer you delay, the better your chances of not compromising a brain under construction. We want to increase awareness and lower adolescent drug use.”

Governor Hickenlooper is in agreement. “We have a moral responsibility to regulate it properly,” he says. “That means making sure kids under 21 don’t get it. There are neuroscientists who believe people who have brains growing, if they smoke high-THC-content pot, it can hurt their memories. But kids think because it’s legal, it’s less dangerous. We are arguing caution.”

photography by theo stroomer (keber); illustration by luke wilson (portraits)

Dr. Sanjay Gupta Neurosurgeon; CNN chief medical correspondent

Dana applied for a medical marijuana license and discovered the drug significantly decreased her pain. Now a Nevada resident, it’s become difficult for Dana to obtain marijuana for medicinal use, thus her father’s quest to fight for her rights and open a dispensary.

“Medical marijuana has been legal here for a number of years, but there was no way to access it,” he says. “I am very aware of the legislation, and we immediately looked into getting a dispensary here.” Bernstein hopes to open a boutique that features quality medical marijuana, a shop “that has a welcoming environment, that can offer the very best strains scientifically possible. You want to be able to have strains of the highest CBD and a variety of those strains that works well with different medical conditions. We are going to focus on doing research with the strains, with universities, with hospitals. My partners all have the same interests in helping people who suffer.”

Both Bernstein and Gupta are quick to point out the harmful side effects of conventional painkillers (in Dana’s case, the opioid Dilaudid).

Gupta adds, “The abuse of pain medications is the most tragic thing in our country. Someone dies every 19 minutes from an accidental prescription drug overdose. It’s now the number-one preventable cause of death in the United States.”

Gupta also notes that epilepsy, pain, and multiple sclerosis are particularly responsive to cannabis-based medicines.

Another hot topic in both medical and political circles is the effect of medical marijuana on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “We are following the trial of marijuana for PTSD among veterans,” says Gupta. “I think the initial research will be promising. Survivors of the Holocaust are being treated for PTSD with cannabis, right now. It’s the initial drumbeat, and very positive.”

So just how does the industry tackle potential abuse among young users, and even adults? Certainly there are scores of medical marijuana licenses issued to “patients” who are, in fact, using medical marijuana licenses to simply get high. As with alcohol, or any substance for that matter, abuse is inevitable. When asked how this will be navigated, most advocates suggest extensive educational outreach.

In August 2014, a controversial Colorado public education campaign titled “Don’t Be a Lab Rat” was driven by the Colorado governor’s office. Human-size rat cages were dropped around Denver in an effort to warn teens that Colorado is a testing ground for medical marijuana legalization and there is still uncertainty involved in relation to pot use and the young brain. Additionally, though Governor Mark Dayton passed medical marijuana in Minnesota, the state’s strict new law bans smoking marijuana and home cultivation, and allows for only two cannabis dispensaries statewide.

gummy candies, chocolates, and sodas; and as salves and lotions designed for rubbing into sore muscles and joints.

The latest Dixie Elixir? Dixie One, a soda that, unlike most edible products, offers one single, measured five-milligram dose of THC. Which begs the question—as the fast-paced edible business booms, how does one properly package and regulate dosage amounts? This growing debate among edible entrepreneurs, marketers, and state legislators was further thrust into the national spotlight when New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd alleged in her “Don’t Harsh Our Mellow, Dude” column back in June, that she, unaware of the potency, accidentally ate too much of a THC-infused candy bar, resulting in a panic-stricken hotel stay in Denver.

Commenting on this (Dixie’s Chief Marketing Officer Joe Hodas wrote a reactive op-ed in The New York Times), Keber says, “Dosing is the single greatest focus that we should be looking at as an industry. Now you have your average soccer mom from Ohio who may or may not have The MighTy edible had a relationship with cannabis in 20-plus years, and “The only thing consistent in this industry is change,” says [today] cannabis is dramatically different. What was previTripp Keber. “It’s at hyper speed.” ously three or four percent is now Standing in what will soon be a 23 or 24 percent [THC].” As a sleek reception area of his new potential answer to the growing 40,000-square-foot headquarters concern of packaging and marketin Denver, the founder and CEO ing dosing amounts, Keber and his of Dixie Elixirs and Edibles has team developed Dixie One to been recently hyped himself on eliminate the guesswork: One shows such as 60 Minutes and soda, one dose.

HBO’s Vice. Keber describes the Keber touts his new headquarbooming marijuana business as ters’ state-of-the-art security, a having experienced “hockey necessary feature at a time when stick growth,” from completely few banks have been willing to proflat to straight on up. vide accounts and other services to While leading a personal tour marijuana businesses due to its fed— keith stroup, founder of eral Schedule I classification, and of his impressive new facility, he the national organization most dispensaries have to conduct candidly explains, “We are not for the reform of marijuana people. We are busibusiness in cash. He notes that two marijuana laws nessmen and women that have dispensaries in his area had applied what we have learned recently been robbed. But his someprofessionally to the cannabis times risky business also means space. There has never been a nationally branded line of serious tax revenue—numbers, he opines, that cannot be THC-infused products like Dixie. Our intention is taking ignored by the government on both state and federal levels, this company not only national, but potentially public.” given the potential for education, city infrastructure, addiA successful entrepreneur who served in the Reagan tional medical research funding, and much more. And administration, Keber has been called the Gordon Gekko of headway is being made, particularly in Colorado, with bankGanja. But nicknames aside, he helms a serious, and seri- ing institutions and the marijuana industry, as politicians ously lucrative, business, squarely in the spotlight of edible and banking co-ops are quickly realizing reform is inevitable entrepreneurs (the industry is moving so fast that at a recent in regard to banking and buds.

Las Vegas “cannabusiness” convention, one business proIn February of this year, Governor Hickenlooper posal was a Domino’s-esque pot delivery service). stated that taxes and fees from recreational and medical Founded just four years ago, Keber’s Dixie Elixirs has marijuana sales would be $134 million in the coming fisgrown from a 400-square-foot office and two employees that cal year. And though some may criticize his choice of made one product (an orange elixir) to his new marijuana industry, Keber says, “You cannot argue with taxes and industrial mansion, which currently houses some 50 employ- jobs. The revenue reported from April [2014] was up 17 ees and serves as the assembly line and grow house for the percent from the month before, and up 53 percent since more than 40 Dixie THC-infused products and 100 different the month of January.” There’s no doubt he believes in SKUs. Most cannabis sold in Colorado dispensaries comes the industry’s skyrocketing potential. “You are seeing in four forms: as the buds of the plant; as liquid extractions this real steep growth. Sometimes we feel like we have meant to be used in vaporizer pens; as edibles, such as the tiger by the tail.” MA

[ [

“It is the most exciting political change I’ve seen in my lifetime.”

ed bernsTein Las Vegas attorney and talk-show host daughter dana & crohn’s disease: “When she smokes medical marijuana, oftentimes before going to the hospital and going through that cycle with the Dilaudid, it takes the edge off her pain.”

Betting on Business: “The law is still unsettled regarding lawyers and doctors and their professional licenses around dispensaries. But legislators in our state are very positive about medical marijuana; the voters certainly are.” gateway drug?: “A lot of people don’t understand the medical benefts and have been so brainwashed about marijuana that under any circumstances they are not in favor of it. In the past, to buy it you had to go underground, dealing with people who are selling cocaine, crack, marijuana, and heroin. Legalizing marijuana will have the opposite result. If you have a legal, safe place to purchase the medical marijuana, then you will not come into contact with the stereotypical pusher.

Tripp Keber Founder and CEO of Dixie Elixirs and Edibles tie-dyed Businessman: “This is not a fool’s business. You have to be intellectually charged, committed, and funded to succeed because you can’t go to the bank and get a loan.” a kinder drug?: “There may be two [marijuana-related] deaths in Colorado since January. How many hundreds of alcohol- or opiate-related deaths are there?”

Potent Packaging: “We as manufacturers have to set the tone, to make sure that the packaging is not attracting children. Our products are designed to look like a luxury consumer packaged brand.”

michiganavemag.com 137

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Illinois’ most architecturally signifcant estate on Lake Michigan has been restored to perfection.

11 room, 4/5 bedroom, 7,200 square foot duplex co-op, all redone. Sunny rooms with lake views, a real value.

Truly exquisite luxury in this magnifcent newer 10 bedroom, 11.2 bath estate in east Lake Forest.

121greenbay.info

Sorry you missed this one, it’s SOLD! Call for information on upcoming Middlefork Development Homes.

Ann Lyon

Janet Zell

Tom Glusic Ann Lyon

847-573-1142 847-828-9991

Elizabeth Ballis

312-867-8122

$1,895,000

LINCOLN PARK

$1,599,900

LINCOLN PARK

847-828-9991

$2,700,000

LINCOLN PARK

312-543-3110

$2,095,000

LINCOLN PARK

Stunning 5,450 square foot, 6 bedroom, 4.1 bath home with exquisite fnishes, an elevator and garage.

Exquisite renovation of a historic row home on highly sought-after block. 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths.

Stunning 4,500 sf, 1 level with private elevator. 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths exceptional fnishes. Roof deck- beautiful!

Beautifully renovated home with all 4 bedrooms on one foor. Eat-in chef’s kitchen/large great room.

Jill Peet Saponaro

Rachel Krueger

Karen M. Peterson

Rachel Krueger

EAST LINCOLN PARK

773-562-4006

$1,545,000

BURR RIDGE

312-802-0082

$1,439,000

STREETERVILLE

312-504-1358

$1,297,000

LINCOLN PARK

312-802-0082

$889,000

Rarely available 4 bedroom, 3.1 bath row home on prime east Lincoln Park block.

Arts & Crafts showcase home. Dramatic ceiling heights. 5 bedrooms, 4.1 baths, 3-car garage. Hinsdale Schools.

Stunning private top foor penthouse.

2,600 sf 2 bedroom duplex. Gorgeous lake & city views. Premium garage space.

Gorgeous and wide 4 bedroom duplex down with all of the bells and whistles!

Private roof deck and garage.

Rachel Krueger

Colleen C. Wilcox

Martha Klein

Jill Peet Saponaro

312-802-0082

630-219-9289

773-456-1182

773-562-4006

Knowledge Is The dIfference ©2014 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International, the Coldwell Banker Previews International logo and “Dedicated to Luxury Real Estate” are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Real estate agents affliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

haute property News, Stars, and trends in real estate

ElEvEnth hEavEn

New luxury reNtal hot spot Oneeleven is a miracle story of revival, rebirth, aNd stuNNiNg desigN. by judith nemes

Uber-urban and radically residential—that’s the feel of the newly opened OneEleven luxury rental building in The Loop at 111 West Wacker along the Chicago River. The 60-story, 504-unit minimalist glass structure stands on the abandoned shell of what was considered an urban eyesore: the planned 92-story, mixed-use Waterview Tower, which was halted in 2008 at the height of the city’s real estate collapse.

Related Midwest took over the site in 2011 and brought in Handel Architects LLP and Kara Mann Design to work some magic into a new interpretation of

photography by cesar russ

continued on page 142

The designers of the new luxury residential building OneEleven used the base structure of the failed Water Tower project—halted in 2008—turning a major eyesore into a gleaming addition to the skyline.

michiganavemag.com 141

haute property News, Stars, and trends in real estate

“wE TOOK sOMEThing ThAT wAs A BLighT On ChiCAgO And TurnEd iT inTO An iCOn Of whAT ChiCAgO COuLd BE.” —gary handel luxury urban living. The intention was to give the building’s look a mix of glamour and grittiness, alongside soothing glimpses of nature with the Chicago River below and Lake Michigan to the east, explains Kara Mann. “There is a constant push and pull between urban and home, architecture and nature,” she says. “These constant contrasts drove the overarching design and feeling we wanted to create.”

Surrounded by commercial buildings, the new $180 million project was an opportunity to push the envelope on luxury and amp up residential services, says Nick Anderson, a vice president at Related Midwest who oversaw the OneEleven project, which is the largest residential rental building in The Loop

The bilevel south-facing outdoor deck features poolside lounging, cabanas, outdoor kitchens with grills, and a fire pit.

142 michiganavemag.com

to date. Besides, “This was an important architectural location,” says Anderson of the site, which stretches along the Chicago River on the Wacker Wall. The original structure was stripped down to its concrete shell, which gave Handel Architects the freedom to reinvent the space and build up from where the initial 26 floors left off. “We had an opportunity to take something that was a blight on Chicago and turn it into an icon of what Chicago could be,” asserts Gary Handel, managing partner at New York–based Handel Architects.

One of the biggest design challenges for Handel was transforming some of the existing space, originally intended for a Shangri-La Hotel on a grander scale. He retained the 35-foot ceiling in the lobby, knowing that a dramatic entrance to a residential building would draw design-minded renters. On the interior design front, Mann says the challenge was to make the building feel comfortably residential and urban-chic at the same time. She achieved much of that using sumptuous materials and dramatic lighting throughout the common spaces. Case in point: On entering the lobby, despite the soaring ceiling and striking architectural details, the focal point is a massive circular lilac mohair sofa that softens the space and adds a touch of glamour.

On the 27th and 28th double floor—where the indoor-outdoor amenities area is the split point between the original building below and the new construction above—dark couches dot the room, and small dark tabletops run the length of a floor-toceiling wall of windows. The tables are flanked by counter-height stools covered in floral fabric that would not be out of place on a North Shore living

room couch. Dramatic modern fixtures sweep down from the ceiling to rein in the scale of the room, and abstract, edgy art by artists like Diana Thater, Tauba Auerbach, and Thrush Holmes is found throughout.

OneEleven opened its doors July 1 and was 60 percent occupied by late September. Sixty different floor plans ensure that Related can offer different living configurations for just about anyone, asserts Anderson, who envisioned this project as anything but cookie-cutter. Monthly rentals of one-bedroom apartments begin at $2,395, and three-bedroom units start at $6,495 (studios are gone).

Among the first to move into the building were William and Meredith Fisher, a couple who sold their 6,000-square-foot Lincoln Park home after two of their three daughters left for college, moving into a three-bedroom unit in July with their youngest child.

William, 54, a former CEO of Towers Productions, is launching a new online media company this fall called YuVue from his new home-office space; his wife is an Australia native and a former editor of Magnum Photos in Paris. The couple has lived in Munich, Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Miami over the years, so moving to OneEleven is just one more sophisticated stop along the way for this urbane, globe-trotting couple.

“We love the vibe of the people who live in the building,” Fisher says with satisfaction. “And we have the most urban vista in the city.” 111 w. wacker dr., 312-850-0111; related.com/apartment-rentals/chicago/the-loop/oneeleven MA

RENTAL RICHES Luxury rental apartment seekers find a wealth of posh amenities at these three downtown properties.

At 73 E. LAkE, high tech is taken to new heights: The

lobby boasts a mosaic fat-panel display across 15 4K-resolution screens (the only residential building in the country with that kind of custom-designed display), and other techy perks abound, like Category 6 Ethernet cables and in-room, built-in, super-fast chargers.

73 E. Lake St., 312-269-9900; experience73.com AMLI RIvER NoRth boasts an expansive indoor ftness center that features a real-time golf simulator.

Other indoor entertainment options include a private theater, sports lounge with billiard table, private library/dining room with freplace, and a club room with gourmet kitchen. 71 W. Hubbard St., 312-281-0296; amli.com/apartments/chicago/ downtown/chicago/river-north

850 LAkE ShoRE DRIvE combines old-world elegance with modern luxury amenities in a completely restored historic Beaux Arts building from the 1920s.

The expansive rooftop features amenities like an indoor lounge with a gourmet kitchen, a landscaped sun deck overlooking Lake Michigan, and a dog run. 850 N. Lake Shore Dr., 312-915-0850; 850lsd.com

photography by related midwest (lobby)

Club OneEleven is a 24-hour lounge featuring an outdoor terrace and spectacular river views.

N EW TO

EV

D

AN

O W N TO

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Wedding Cermonies

W N

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Wedding Receptions

Timeless elegance... Lifelong memories.

Located in vibrant downtown Evanston, the newest ballroom and lounge in Chicago’s North Shore is open and offers the perfect location for your dream wedding! A stunning space for both ceremonies and receptions, the venue also offers a fabulous adjoining lounge, pre-event cocktail space, and outdoor garden terrace. With a unique emphasis

Bridal Showrs

on custom prepared cuisine created by its experienced culinary team, The Crystal Ballroom & Lounge will be setting new expectations for catered events.

847.570.4400 or CrystalEvanston.com 529 Davis Street, Evanston

Two worlds.

One dream.

Singers and Scientists share more than might be expected.

Whether it’s a breakout melody or a breakthrough in research.

When it comes together, everything fits. It can change lives forever.

Stand Up To Cancer supports the collaboration, innovation Like, share and join into SU2C. and research that are turning discoveries viable treatments and possibly, one day, a cure.

Find out more at standup2cancer.org Jennifer Hudson, Stand Up To Cancer Ambassador

Stand up with us. Let your voice make a difference because when we work together, nothing is impossible.

Jennifer Hudson, Ambassador Stand Up To Cancer Like, share

and join SU2C.

Shiva Malek, Ph.D.

Find out more at standup2cancer.org Stand Up To Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Photo by Nigel Parry.

Stand Up To Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Photo by Nigel Parry.

Shiva Malek, Ph.D.

haute property Brokers’ Roundtable

Dream Teams

When it comes to scoring your fantasy home, it’s all about using the right team. by lisa skolnik The best way to snag a great property is to use a broker who has extensive knowledge of the right hoods, pipelines on upcoming listings, the expertise to structure the deal, and a stable of contacts to help you move and get your new home in shape. Doing all that becomes exponentially easier with teamwork.

Here’s the lowdown from Coldwell Banker brokers Nicholas and Edie Apostal (312-266-7000; coldwell bankeronline.com) and KoenigRubloff brokers Eudice Fogel (312-368-5342; eudicefogel.koenigrubloff.com) and Jayme Fogel Slate (312-268-0640; jaymefogelslate.koenigrubloff.com).

Why use a team?

Nicholas Apostal: It offers buyers and sellers a whole different level of service—from better resources to a greater breadth and depth of expertise.

Jayme Fogel Slate: But all teams are not created equal. Some are partnerships; others are multipleperson teams, where one person is the powerhouse and then the staff handles the actual work. Both of our teams are partnerships that are very personal in all aspects of the home-buying process.

What are those aspects?

Edie Apostal: We each have deep institutional knowledge of neighborhoods, from their services and schools to what types of residences are available throughout these areas.

And we both have a very broad range of contacts from doing this work for decades. But our age range broadens that scope exponentially. We cover

144 michiganavemag.com

every generational decade of buyers.

Eudice Fogel: I’ve had my license since 1980 and have helped people buy their homes, sell them, move to the suburbs, and move back again.

And now I’m helping their children.

How does being on a team expand your sales strategy?

NA: Different generations have different expectations and respond to different marketing techniques, and we are proficient in those various ways. Everyone peruses the real estate websites, but our marketing materials and processes are totally digital, because I’m a different generation than my mother. Our brochures are electronic, and we present them on iPads, and I handle our video for every listing.

I have the time to do that thanks to my partner.

JFS: I’ve noticed that people my age, fellow millennials, grew up with e-mails and texts, and there is a high level of immediacy that they expect as digital natives. But buyers in their 40s and older are often more oriented to phone calls and hard copies of marketing materials. So we’ve learned to work as a team and cover different aspects of communication to fulfill our client’s needs.

How else can a team help?

EA: We know how to help buyers not only see their potential but realize that potential, thanks to our range of contacts as a team. We work with handpicked architects, interior designers, contractors, and more, and our trust in these sources makes it easier for our clients to commit to a property. MA

above:

The six-bedroom Gold Coast mansion at 1428 N. State Pkwy. is listed by mother-daughter duo Eudice Fogel and Jayme Fogel Slate of KoenigRubloff (bottom left); Coldwell Banker brokers (and mother-andson team) Nicholas and Edie Apostal (left) agree that broker teams can offer clients a broader range of knowledge with combined expertise.

NOVEMBER 21ST: BEST BUDDIES ILLINOIS GALA

DECEMBER 4TH: WORLD OF CHOCOLATE DECADENCE DEFINED

6:30-11:00 PM | Te Casino 195 E. Delaware Place, Chicago, IL

6-9 PM | Union Station – Great Hall

Join us for as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Best Buddies at our ninth annual Gala with music, magic and mystery. Inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) will take the spotlight again at this year’s Best Buddies Illinois Gala. Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies serves children and adults with IDD through oneto-one friendships. Te evening is sponsored

by JP Morgan, American Family Insurance, Fletcher Jones Audi, Walgreens and Michigan Avenue Magazine.

Co-chairs Jill Allread, Greg Hyder, Glen Pietrandoni and Ben Stringfellow invite you to Chicago’s premiere World AIDS Day event supporting the AIDS Foundation of Chicago with 30 talented chefs creating sweet and savory chocolate delicacies.

For information and tickets, visit AIDSChicago.org/chocolate

For tickets and information call 312.828.9313

NOT TO BE MISSED EVENTS • HAPPENINGS • PROMOTIONS

EDDIE V’S PRIME SEAFOOD

MELROSE BAR CART

Pristine seafood and prime steaks, masterfully prepared and served in an elegant atmosphere flled with the sounds of live jazz. Whatever the occasion, from a quiet weeknight dinner to a special private event, let us handle every detail. We’ll do the work. You bask in the glory.

From Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, in stores and at mgbwhome.com, includes beautiful pieces you can use to set the mood for sophisticated holiday entertaining, including this glamorous bar cart from their Melrose Collection, the piece de resistance: this shimmering Art Deco-inspired bar cart, combining acrylic posts and stainless-steel trim in a distinctive clipped-corner design.

Top and shelf are mirrored. Pretty/practical touch: a stainless rail around the bottom shelf to prevent roll-ofs.

A chic complement or alternative to a wood bar cabinet, the cart has casters and built-in handles so you can move it where needed with ease.

521 N. Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611 For reservations call 312.595.1114 or visit eddiev.com

1555 North Halsted Street Call 312.397.3135 | Visit mgbwhome.com

NoMI BOUTIQUE – SUGAR & SPICE Tis holiday season, NoMI Boutique: Sugar & Spice, will be spreading holiday cheer amongst its visitors from November 19 – December 24. Located at Park Hyatt Chicago, this festive pop-up extension of NoMI will ofer delectable sweets by renowned chef Meg Galus, exquisite savory items, NoMI Spa gifs and more.

Visit parkchicago.hyatt.com Contact NoMIBoutique@Hyatt.com

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GEMMA BERTO “Caffeinated Club gives me the kick to power through those last few reps.”

Bells on cocktails ring.

Shaking spirits right.

312.361.3299

mh-catering.com

the guide Listings

Michigan Avenue 101

Look no further for chicagoLand’s most sizzLing restaurants, bars, and boutiques.

photography by Jordan Clark

Dine A10 Matthias Merges inspires Hyde Park foodies with plates small and large. 1462 E. 53rd St., 773-288-1010; a10hydepark.com Acanto With salumi and suckling pig, Billy Lawless leads an Italian renaissance in the former Henri space. 18 S. Michigan Ave., 312-578-0763; acantochicago.com Baffo Eataly gets elevated at this fine restaurant and enoteca. 44 E. Grand Ave., 312-521-8701; bafforistorante.com Bohemian House Central European fare (grilled chicken paprikash with potato dumplings, anyone?) from chef Jimmy Papadopoulos. 11 W. Illinois St., 312-955-0439; bohochicago.com Bottlefork Four Seasons alum Kevin Hickey teams with Rockit Ranch Productions for creative cuisine and cocktails in River North. 441 N. Clark St., 312-955-1900; bottlefork.com Brindille Veteran chef Carrie Nahabedian offers a taste of Paris in River North. 534 N. Clark St., 312-595-1616; brindille-chicago.com Chicago Chop House Go old school at this clubby River North steakhouse classic. 60 W. Ontario St., 312-787-7100; chicagochophouse.com Chicago Cut Steakhouse Colossal steaks and shellfish in a sleek riverside location. 300 N. LaSalle St., 312-329-1800; chicagocutsteakhouse.com Current Seasonal Italian and scenic views in the W Lakeshore Hotel. 644 N. Lake Shore Dr., 312-255-4460; currentchicago.com Eddie V’s Prime Seafood The Shops at North Bridge gets a new big fish, featuring Scottish salmon and Chilean sea bass. 521 N. Rush St., 312-595-1114; eddiev.com Fig & Olive The French Riviera meets the Gold Coast at this new eatery overlooking Oak Street. 104 E. Oak St., 312-445-0060; figandolive.com

Found Kitchen and Social House American fare with a conscience.

1631 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-868-8945; foundkitchen.com Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse Enjoy the finest people-watching in town.

1028 N. Rush St., 312-266-8999; gibsonssteakhouse.com Green Street Smoked Meats Texas-style brisket tucked away from Restaurant Row. 112 N. Green St., 312-754-0431; greenstreetmeats.com Hubbard Inn Head to Hubbard Street for small plates like baconwrapped dates and grilled chili shrimp. 110 W. Hubbard St., 312-222-1331; hubbardinn.com IO Urban Roofscape Ascend to the Godfrey Hotel’s fourth-floor rooftop lounge for an unparalleled vantage point. 127 W. Huron St., 312-649-2000; godfreyhotelchicago.com Kinmont Sustainable seafood from the team behind Nellcôte and Old Town Social. 419 W. Superior St., 312-915-0011; kinmontrestaurant.com Les Nomades Fine French fare in a turn-of-the-century Streeterville brownstone. 222 E. Ontario St., 312-649-9010; lesnomades.net Masada Logan Square’s highly anticipated new Middle Eastern oasis.

2206 N. California Ave., 773-697-8397; masadachicago.com Mastro’s Steakhouse A glitzy River North destination for steaks and sushi. 520 N. Dearborn St., 312-521-5100; mastrosrestaurants.com mEAT Lakeview’s skewered protein spot gets a Streeterville sequel.

215 E. Chestnut St., 773-328-8320; eatatmeat.com Mercadito Fish Casual seafaring concept with creative plates like sake-steamed mussels and jumbo fluke sandwich with chipotle-lime aioli. 10 E. Delaware Pl., 312-640-8141; mercaditofish.com

MFK Serious seafood like crunchy prawn heads and salt-cured anchovies. 432 W. Diversey Pkwy., 773-857-2540; mfkrestaurant.com Parlor Pizza Bar Massive slices in the West Loop. 108 N. Green St.; parlorchicago.com The Promontory The team behind Dusek’s and Longman & Eagle creates a community dining experience in Hyde Park. 5311 S. Lake Park Ave., 312-801-2100; promontorychicago.com Pump Room A Chicago icon returns to its former glory under Ian Schrager. 1301 N. State Pkwy., 312-787-3700; pumproom.com River Roast Chef Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia) moves beyond Italian with this Brit-inspired riverside space.

315 N. LaSalle St., 312-822-0100; riverroastchicago.com RPM Steak The Rancics throw their hat into Chicago’s steakhouse ring.

66 W. Kinzie St., 312-284-4990; rpmsteak.com

Parachute Top Chef alumna Beverly Kim and husband Johnny Clark plate KoreanAmerican dishes like dolsot bi bim bop (pictured) at this buzzing new 40-seat space in Avondale. 3500 N. Elston Ave., 773-654-1460; parachuterestaurant.com

Salero This Spanish spot adds to Restaurant Row’s sizzle.

621 W. Randolph St., 312-466-1000; salerochicago.com Siena Tavern Top Chef alum Fabio Viviani conquers the Windy City.

51 W. Kinzie St., 312-595-1322; sienatavern.com Sophie’s Savor jumbo lump crab cakes, Wagyu burgers, and a killer view of the Mag Mile at this chic oasis in Saks Fifth Avenue. 700 N. Michigan Ave., 7th Fl., 312-525-3400; sophies.com

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the guide Listings

CHiCken sHop Even if you’re not a member of the chic creative club Soho House, you can still get your poultry fix at this UK import, which is making its stateside debut on the public ground floor of the West Loop space. Come for the rotisseriecooked free-range chicken (pictured) and stay for the dirty burger.

113–125 N. Green St., 312-7546941; chickenshop.com/chicago

Yum Cha “Food Buddha” Rodelio Aglibot brings dim sum downtown.

333 E. Upper Randolph St., 312-9468885; yumchachicago.com XOCO Rick and Deann Bayless’s Mexican marketplace expands to Wicker Park. 1471 N. Milwaukee Ave.; rickbayless.com

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Drink 52Eighty Signature cocktails at MileNorth Hotel’s new rooftop destination. 166 E. Superior St., 312-787-6000; 52eightylounge.com Adamus Savor the raspberry-ginger mojito at the Silversmith Hotel’s crown jewel of a lounge. 10 S. Wabash Ave., 312-372-7696; silversmithchicagohotel.com Analogue Sip inventive libations at this Logan Square hot spot. 2523 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-904-8567; analoguechicago.com The Aviary Twenty-first-century cocktails from the Next team.

955 W. Fulton Market, 312-226-0868; theaviary.com ¡Ay Chiwowa! The Rockit Ranch nightspot serves up killer tacos and more than 80 tequilas. 311 W. Chicago Ave., 312-643-3200; aychiwowa.com The Berkshire Room Old-world cool meets modern mixology at the Acme Hotel’s lounge. 15 E. Ohio St., 312-894-0800; theberkshireroom.com Billy Sunday Imaginative drinks from Yusho chef Matthias Merges and mixologist Alex Bachman.

3143 W. Logan Blvd., 773-661-2485; billy-sunday.com Bordel Black Bull makes room for this new cocktail bar and cabaret.

1721 W. Division St., 773-227-8600; bordelchicago.com The Brixton Bar bites and bubbly in Andersonville. 5420 N. Clark St., 773-961-7358 Celeste Heady cocktails are served at this celestial-themed River North supper club. 111 W. Hubbard St., 312-828-9000; celestechicago.com CH Distillery Tour Chicago’s first vodka distillery and try The Tradition, a shot of vodka with a side of rye bread and pickles. 564 W. Randolph St., 312-707-8780; chdistillery.com Drumbar Creative cocktails by Alex Renshaw atop the Raffaello Hotel.

201 E. Delaware Pl., 312-924-2531; drumbar.com DryHop Brewers Raise a glass to hops-centric ales in Lakeview.

3155 N. Broadway St.,773-857-3155; dryhopchicago.com Enolo Wine Bar This 64-seat watering hole focuses on small

vineyards from around the world.

450 N. Clark St., 312-477-7674; enolowinebar.com Jimmy This ’70s-inspired lounge pours clever cocktails in a dark, sultry space. 610 N. Rush St., 312-660-7191; jimmyatjames.com Lagunitas Brewing Company The California import hits Pilsen with a 300,000-square-foot brewery.

1843 S. Washtenaw Ave.; lagunitas.com Le Bar This boîte at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower attracts a premium crowd.

20 E. Chestnut St., 312-324-4000; cafedesarchitectes.com/Le-Bar Links Taproom Craft beer, sausage, and hand-cut fries in Wicker Park.

1559 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-360-7692; linkstaproom.com Maude’s Liquor Bar This West Loop hot spot offers whiskey shots aplenty. 840 W. Randolph St., 312-243-9712; maudesliquorbar.com Packing House New multilevel Mediterranean eatery in Restaurant Row. 1113 W. Randolph St., 312-929-4787; packinghousechicago.com Parliament Opulent River North club. 324 W. Chicago Ave., 312-380-0004; parliamentchicago.com Public House Game day goes gastro at the intersection of State and Kinzie.

400 N. State St., 312-265-1240; publichousechicago.com Roof Climb to this sultry bar atop theWit hotel. 201 N. State St.,

Henry’s swing Club The team behind DMK hits Hubbard Street with this new neighborhood tavern, where laid-back ambience is mixed with serious drinks like the Corktown Swizzle (pictured), an elixir of Beefeater gin, pineapple syrup, orange curaçao, Cocchi Americano, and Peychaud’s bitters.

18 W. Hubbard St., 312-955-8018; henrys-swing-club.com

312-239-9501; roofonthewit.com Smylie Brothers Brewing Co. Ice-cold brews and Texas-style barbecue on the North Shore. 1615 Oak Ave., Evanston, 224-999-7320; smyliebros.com The Red Lion Pub The beloved British haunt is revived in Lincoln Park. 2446 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-883-2422; redlionchicago.com Shay The former Cuvée space transforms into an ethereal after-work lounge. 222 W. Ontario St., 312-654-1230; shaychicago.com Sportsman’s Club This Humboldt Park tavern offers wine, beer, and cocktails by former Aviary barman Jeff Donahue. 948 N. Western Ave., 872-206-8054; drinkingandgathering.com Temperance Beer Company Enjoy an Evenfall Imperial Red ale in

photography by Jeff Schear (chicken)

Spiaggia Exquisite Italian fare in an iconic Magnificent Mile space. 980 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd Fl., 312-280-2750; spiaggiarestaurant.com Tanta A taste of Peru comes to the Windy City. 118 W. Grand Ave., 312-222-9700; tantachicago.com Travelle A stunning Mediterranean destination in the super-chic Langham Hotel. 330 N. Wabash Ave., 312-923-9988; travellechicago.com Untitled Come for American whiskeys and stay for hearty fare like the pork-shoulder spoon bread.

111 W. Kinzie St., 312-880-1511; untitledchicago.com

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the guide Listings

HigHline River North gets another sleek sports bar with this debut from Four Corners Tavern Group (Benchmark, Ranalli’s); try the Spiked Pear Radler (pictured). 169 W. Kinzie St., 312533-2742; highlinebarchicago.com

The Violet Hour The daddy of Chicago mixology bars. 1520 N. Damen Ave., 773-252-1500; theviolethour.com Webster’s Wine Bar One of the city’s oldest wine bars toasts its new Logan Square location. 2601 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-292-9463; websterwinebar.com

sHop Alexis Bittar The celebrity favorite makes a sparkling addition to Oak Street. 61 E. Oak St., 312-649-9112; alexisbittar.com

152 michiganavemag.com

Alice and Olivia This witty label makes a head-turning debut on the Mag Mile. 919 N. Michigan Ave., 312-273-1254; aliceandolivia.com Alton Lane Suit up with sharp, custom-designed menswear. 49 E. Oak St., 646-896-1212; altonlane.com Barneys New York The Midwest flagship stocks heavy hitters like Balenciaga and Proenza Schouler.

15 E. Oak St., 312-587-1700; barneys.com Bloomingdale’s Six levels of chic looks by contemporary designers.

900 N. Michigan Ave., 312-440-4460; bloomingdales.com Brioni Custom Italian suiting hits Walton Street. 12 E. Walton St., 312-649-9100; brioni.com Buccellati Handcrafted baubles from Milan. 62 E. Oak St., 312-600-9224; buccellati.com Burberry Chicago finds its London calling at the gleaming Michigan Avenue flagship. 633 N. Michigan Ave., 312-787-2500; us.burberry.com Charles Tyrwhitt This British mainstay hits the Financial District with classic shirting and suiting. 208 S. LaSalle St., 312-585-0700; ctshirts.com CH Carolina Herrera Timeless silhouettes and pops of color in a lovely Oak Street space. 70 E. Oak St., 312-988-9339; carolinaherrera.com Christian Louboutin Paint the town red with fabulous pumps. 58 E. Oak St., 312-337-8200; christianlouboutin.com Dolce & Gabbana Oak Street heats up thanks to this Italian label. 68 E. Oak St., 312-255-0630; dolcegabbana.com Ermenegildo Zegna Tailored suits for the man-about-town. 540 N. Michigan Ave., 312-587-9660; zegna.com Escada Add elegance to your wardrobe with European-inspired designs. 51 E. Oak St., 312-915-0500; escada.com Frederick Lynn Haberdasshere This custom clothier helps Chicago’s gents stay polished. 9 E. Huron St., 312-496-3994; fredericklynn.com Graff Diamonds Brilliant baubles in the Gold Coast. 103 E. Oak St., 312-604-1000; graffdiamonds.com Hermès The ultimate in aspiration, straight from Paris. 25 E. Oak St., 312-787-8175; hermes.com Ikram Definitive fashions from

Chicago’s own style maven Ikram Goldman. 15 E. Huron St., 312-587-1000; ikram.com Louis Vuitton Monogrammed leather bags and luxury trunks galore. 700 N. Michigan Ave., 312-255-0470; louisvuitton.com LuLu’s on the Avenue An unmatched selection of vintage jewelry and couture. 900 N. Michigan Ave., 3rd Fl., 312-888-9149; lulusbellekay.com Maje Parisian chic hits Oak Street.

100 E. Oak St., 312-649-9228; us.maje.com Marshall Pierce & Company This family-owned jeweler adds sparkle to Chicago. 335 N. Michigan Ave., 312-782-4403; marshallpierce.com Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Sleek home furnishings in Lincoln Park. 1555 N. Halsted St., 312-397-3135; mgbwhome.com Neiman Marcus Home to haute names like Tom Ford and Alexander McQueen. 737 N. Michigan Ave., 312-642-5900; neimanmarcus.com Porsche Design Luxe looks in The Shops at North Bridge. 520 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd Fl., 312-321-0911; porsche-design.com Saint Laurent The iconic label returns to Chicago with a sleek boutique.

11 E. Walton St., 312-202-0166; ysl.com Salvatore Ferragamo Put your best

Jayson Home The last word in luxe décor and unique gifts, this Lincoln Park mainstay is celebrating 20 years of keeping Windy City denizens stylish. 1885 N. Clybourn Ave., 800-472-1885; jaysonhome.com

foot forward in classic Italian designs. 645 N. Michigan Ave., 312-397-0464; ferragamo.com Shinola Bicycles and cross-body bags aplenty. 1619 N. Damen Ave.; shinola.com Soñador Boutique Stock up on McQ Alexander McQueen and 10 Crosby Derek Lam at this new Lincoln Park destination. 1006 W. Armitage Ave., 773-799-8084; sonadorboutique.com True Religion The denim brand finds sanctuary on the Mag Mile.

540 N. Michigan Ave., 844-222-8725; truereligion.com Tom Ford The new king of Oak Street. 66 E. Oak St., 312-605-5041; tomford.com Tommy Bahama Island fever on the Mag Mile. 520 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd Fl., 312-644-8388; tommybahama.com Zadig & Voltaire Rock ’n’ roll looks in the Gold Coast. 114 E. Oak St.; zadig-et-voltaire.com MA

photography by NathaN KirKmaN (JaysoN home)

Evanston’s first craft brewery.

2000 Dempster St., 847-864-1000; temperancebeer.com Tippling Hall Late-night comfort food from the buzzworthy beverage group Tippling Bros. 646 N. Franklin St., Ste. 200, 312-448-9922; tipplinghall.com The Underground Rockit Ranch Productions’ subterranean nightclub smash. 56 W. Illinois St., 312-9437600; theundergroundchicago.com Vertigo Sky Lounge The Dana Hotel’s gravity-defying libation destination. 2 W. Erie St., 312-202-6060; vertigoskylounge.com

Ideal for all holiday events Fully equipped with state-of-the-art AV and lighting equipment Professional in-house event coordinator to assist with all event needs Restaurant style kitchen with in-house executive chef and culinary team Accommodates up to 800 guests for a holiday cocktail reception 500 guests for a seated dinner winter soirĂŠe 25,000 square feet of completely customizable space

www.venueonechicago.com l 1034 W. Randolph Street l 312.605.8300

INVITED Ron and Fifi Levin

Jay Franke

Anne Kaplan and Liz Lefkofsky

Jay and Shawna Owen

Julie and Larry Bernstein

Cari Sacks, Caryn Harris, and Michael Darling

“DAVID BOWIE IS” GALA MORE THAN 750 GUESTS enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and a special performance by Bryan Ferry at the Museum of Contemporary Art to

celebrate the highly anticipated “David Bowie Is” exhibition. Presented

by Louis Vuitton, the gala raised more than $2.85 million for the MCA.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Madeleine Grynsztejn

Bryan Ferry

ARTIST AND ARTISAN DEBUT

John Terlato and René Romero Schuler

Jacqueline Von Edelberg and Jennifer Norback

Tara DeMaro and Melinda Ring

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Katie Murphy and Angela Borneman

Ben and Laura King

2009 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon Jyl Bonaguro and Jill McLean

TERLATO WINES CELEBRATED

its collaboration with Chicago-based artist René Romero Schuler at the debut of Schuler’s “Chosen” exhibition at Jennifer Norback Fine Art. The soirée included offerings by Terlato Family Vineyards and a performance by Haven.

Eva Grant and Marylin McConnell

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM PRISCHING (DAVID BOWIE); NIKALETTE MCCOMB (TERLATO)

Dan and Lee Tresley

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4 | 6PM UNION STATION | GREAT HALL

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TICKETS AT

AIDSCHICAGO.ORG/CHOCOLATE G E N E R O U S LY S P O N S O R E D B Y

Bell Litho | Blommer Chocolate Company | First Light Group LLC | Food for Thought Catering | Kehoe Designs Lady Gregory’s Irish Bar & Restaurant | Public Communications Inc. | Wilde Bar & Restaurant Media Partners A&U Magazine | BestGayChicago.com | BOI magazine | Chicago Magazine | ChicagoPride.com Gay Chic Magazine | GRAB Magazine | Windy City Media Group

INVITED

Pablo Roberto, Yuriy Zaveryukha, Natalie Durrant, and Chris Free

Jose Lopez, Jacqui Rovirosa, and Jeffrey Kljajich Models sport Neiman Marcus’ fall trends

Danielle Maddox, Mitchell Arce, and Andy Jarzabek

NEIMAN MARCUS MEN’S EVENT

Brigg Klein

NEIMAN MARCUS SHOWCASED ITS FALL men’s collection with an exclusive runway show at The Man’s Store. The fashionable crowd sipped cocktails and enjoyed light bites from The Zodiac while admiring the season’s sartorial trends.

Guests enjoy the runway.

BACK TO SCHOOL SOIRÉE CITY YEAR CHICAGO’S ASSOCIATE BOARD honored its

AmeriCorps team with a 125-plus guest reception at the Library Club. The

Dan Weeks, Maggie DuBray, and Jill Remenar

evening, which included cocktails, light bites, and a silent auction, generated $26,000 for the nonprofit organization’s behavior-mentoring programs.

Ari Krigel, Joey Carr, Melissa Mancini, and John Hoppe

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Jaclyn Dorf, Scott Axonovitz, Lauren Mack, and Howard Lamm

Lauren Williams and Victor Monroy

Kelly Johnson and Rachel Gerds

Paul Lemons-Schidt and Christopher Lemons-Schidt

Marsha and Steve Birchard

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL BOCZARSKI (NEIMAN MARCUS); NJERI KAIRO AND KELSEY KRZYSTON (BACK TO SCHOOL)

Spencer Brown and Evah Orr

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INVITED Kara Callero and Mary Belovich

Chef Jon Liddell

Bryan Herb and Joel Cabrera

Melissa Renner and Lisa DeAngelis

Shelley Blanzy and Zuki Ekic

Aaron and Amanda Wentworth

Shane Massel and Amanda Bozin

FALL’S IT FLAVORS THE GE MONOGRAM DESIGN CENTER

in the Merchandise Mart hosted more than 150 foodies for a sampling of seasonal bites from

Executive Chef Jon Liddell. Attendees imbibed while indulging in bacon brittle, pumpkin ravioli, venison empanadas, and other autumnal fare.

Vicki Jones, Lane Sears, and Claudia Skylar

THE LEukEmia & LympHoma sociETy

C ngratulates THE 2014 WinnErs and Top fundraisErs

christos Giannoulias National Man of the Year Chicago, IL G&T Sports Medicine with Girl of the Year, piper novak

dan mccarthy Chicago, IL Jones Lang LaSalle

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society congratulates this year’s winners, top fundraisers and all the candidates who competed for the title.

Their eforts and commitment have made an impact in the search for cures and efective blood cancer therapies.

www.mwoy.org/il • 888.HELp.LLs

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF SCHEAR (MONOGRAM); ROBERT CARL (CELESTIAL BALL)

Cameron Croft and Christy Joyce

Angie Di Carlo and Tom Beehler

Stephanie Florey and Jacob Nelson

Tanya Silvio, Ariel Batungbacal, Carrie Ott, and Elizabeth Meloy

Kyle and Ashley Williams

CELESTIAL BALL

MORE THAN 600 GUESTS gathered at

the Adler Planetarium for the Women’s Board’s annual black-tie gala. Themed “Starry Night,” the event raised over $1.3 million to support the institute’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and outreach programs.

Lisa Lewis and Meg Prendergast

SANCTUARY MUSIC + AESTHETICS

Alderman William Burns, Sol Flores, and Paul Montes

INTERIOR AUDIO & VIDEO DESIGN •ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS THAT LOOK AS GOOD AS THEY SOUND •LUXURY SERVICE AND AFTERCARE •THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AV SHOWROOM IN CHICAGOLAND

1400 S Michigan Ave Chicago 60605 • sanctuaryonmichigan.com • 312.957.1202

Gold coastinG november 2014

SAY IT AIN’T SO, O!

Oprah Winfrey has all but severed her ties to ChiCago. Will We ever be able to give our hearts again? by paige wiser to Newark, New Jersey. Chicago wasn’t even on the schedule! Not. On. The schedule.

Is Newark prettier than us?

We tried to move on. We tried on lifestyle guru neophytes Blake Lively, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Pippa Middleton. We seriously considered Rachael Ray. She has the smile, the personality, the show, the magazine, and the relatable weight fluctuation. But are we really going to run out and buy “Rachael’s Favorite Things”? No. We aren’t. One year she had Dutch stroopwafel on her list.

Without you, O, we don’t know what to buy, what to read, or what to think. The problem is that you were more than a guru. You were more of a patron saint, and those are hard to come by. And you are Chicago.

Chicago is where you shut down Michigan Avenue for the Black Eyed Peas. Chicago is where you went on a date with Roger Ebert. Chicago is where you picked the next president.

It’s as if the Liberty Bell left Philadelphia and moved to Ohio, saying it needed some “me time.” How can you just let it go like this? Can we convince you to come back? You want a museum? We’ll give you a museum.

How about another neighborhood to gentrify? You can have East Garfield Park. Or West whatever.

We just want one more chance. We’ll start with a weekend and work from there. Yes, you can bring Iyanla too. We’ll eat at Table Fifty-Two— our treat!—and then maybe decoupage some vision boards or something.

We’ll take it slow.

And there’s always Dr. Phil for some counseling. MA

illustration by daniel o’leary

Oprah’s magazine is quite clear on how to break up with someone: “Let him go, and do it fast,” it says sagely. “Slower and kinder never feels better.”

Even the Oprah-certified Dr. Phil is a fan of the brisk dump. “It might be convenient for me to stay with you for another month or two or three or six,” says the role-playing doctor. “That would not be fair to you, so I’m telling you straight up that I’m going to respectfully exit this relationship.”

So um, Oprah? Is there something you want to tell us?

Since the end of The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011, we’ve tried to make our relationship work. We named a street after you. You stopped by for an appearance on the The Steve Harvey Show. It looked like we were going to make it. But you’ve been gradually disappearing, spending more and more time in your California palace. Oh, you haven’t said anything official. “I’m between cities,” you say. But avoiding the subject is even more weaselly than breaking up with us on Instagram.

And real estate transactions speak louder than words. In 2012, you sold your Lake Shore Drive co-op. You were so eager to dump it, in fact, that you sold it at a $2.8 million loss. Then you put your 56th-floor Water Tower Place condo up for sale. It comes with three private parking spaces, and you threw it all away. And in March, we heard that you sold Harpo Studios—Harpo!—to a developer.

Is Santa Barbara prettier than us?

Yes, you tried to pacify us by saying you’d lease Harpo for OWN for a few years, but it’s too little, too late. What were we to make of your “The Life You Want Weekend” tour? All through the fall months, you’ve brought your friends and your wisdom to cities from San Jose, California,

160 michiganavemag.com

thefryecompany.com

1007 north rush street