KCM-4-1-2014

APRIL 2014

Stage presence The arts come alive in galleries, theaters and studios across our communities

En pointe

Young dancers find opportunity, acclaim, at State Street PAGE 8

Kilwins, Geneva-style

Longtime residents open old-fashioned chocolate shop PAGE 22

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STRING SENSATION National musicians Well Strung to take the stage at the Batavia Fine Arts Center.

Photo provided

Arts & Entertainment 8 YOUNG DANCERS FIND OPPORTUNITY, acclaim at State Street Dance Studio 10 ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA builds performance prominence in the Midwest 14 ARTISTIC COLLABORATION – Conference planned to build ideas and partnership among local arts organizations.

16 TAKING THE STAGE – Theaters offer up opportunities for audience and actors alike

Family in Focus 18 CAN I GET A LITTLE RESPECT? Columnist Michelle Stien weighs the pros and cons of being the “heavy” when it comes to parenting 22 CHOCOLATE, GENEVA STYLE – Kilwins Chocolate and Fudge brings old-fashioned techniques to new Geneva shop

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Home & Lifestyle

Fashion & Beauty

28 REPURPOSE! Columnist Michael Grudecki helps you make a change in your interiors with repurposed, recycled furniture and stylings.

30 WHO’S READY FOR SPRING? Landscape pro Gene Grant shares his tips to get your yard ready for the warmer weather.

48 FASHIONS ON THE FOX – Kane County Magazine is hosting a spring fashion event, and you’re invited!

Health & Fitness 38 SHOP SMART – Get great tips for interpreting nutrition facts labels

Dining & Entertaining 42 LAUGHING STOCK – At Zanies Comedy Club in St. Charles, you’re guaranteed to leave happy.

47 WHAT’S IN A NAME? Wine expert Vince Balistreri weighs the differences between offering a well-known label and a hidden vineyard gem.

Out & About 52 SOCIAL LIFE – Patrons of the arts gather to Eat Your Art Out, at the newest Geneva Cultural Arts event, while others gather for an annual LivingWell Cancer Center benefit gala.

54 CALENDAR – Lectures and art exhibits, live music, films and more fill the calendar this month, across our communities.

56 ARTIST SHOWCASE – Kari Kraus of Geneva shares her fiber installation, Legion.

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ere, in the communities we call home, arts and entertainment converge on the suburban scene. Dinner theaters and deluxe movie houses beckon us on date night. Burgeoning ballet companies and active art galleries call us to our own artistic pursuits, In the pages of Kane County Magazine this month, we celebrate these outlets of human expression in our towns, and converse over what these opportunities offer to both the avid artist and the enthusiastic patron.

We stop in at Hemmens Cultural Center to chat with members of the acclaimed Elgin Symphony Orchestra. We visit the rehearsal of the senior dancers of State Street Dance Company in Geneva, as they prepare for an upcoming performances and competitive events.

St. Charles, and embrace the eclectic at Water Street Studios.

There’s so much to see and so many stories to tell. It’s all right inside these pages, and just outside your door. We are glad to have you with us as we paint a picture of life in Kane County.

Thanks for reading -

Sherri Dauskurdas Editor

General Manager Jim Ringness 630-845-5228 jringness@shawmedia.com

Looking for inspiration? Wander the galleries or take a class at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, a special spot to spark your own creative journey.

Editor Sherri Dauskurdas 630-427-6209 sdauskurdas@shawmedia.com

Some of our best locales for enjoying the arts are right here, in our own communities. This month, we take in the delights of the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, laugh out loud at Zanie’s in

Designer Carol Manderfield 630-427-6253 cmanderfield@shawmedia.com

on the

COVER

Artists converge in our pages this month, and on our cover, which features a fiber installation by Kari Kraus of Geneva, and ballet dancer Cassie Longo of State Street Dance Studio.

See related stories on pages 8 and 56.

6 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Published by Shaw Media 333 N. Randall Road, Suite 2 St. Charles, IL 60174 Phone: 630-427-6209 www.KaneCountyMagazine.com

Account Managers Sandra Petti 630-313-0251 spetti@shawmedia.com Tricia Walter 630-845-5272 twalter@shawmedia.com Correspondents Yvonne Benson, Stephanie Kohl, Michelle Stien, Allison Horne, Tom Witom Photographers Jason Adrian, Jodi Dazzo, Jennifer Kaye, Joe Perez, Andrew Young Kane County Magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send payment information and address to Kane County Magazine, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@ shawmedia.com.

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TAKING A STAND Maria Dripps Paulson leads by example, as conductor for Kaneland Arts

By MELISSA RISKE

Former music teacher Maria Dripps-Paulson isn’t the composer behind the Kaneland Arts Initiative. She’s its conductor, leading the nonprofit organization through a calendar year of events that include performing arts, artists in residence and of course the Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival.

“Maria Dripps-Paulson is one of the finest educators, directors, mothers and friends I know,” offers Rebecca Hof, who nominated Paulson for the Woman of Distinction honor she received last October. “She is a committed, supportive, dedicated and caring woman in the community. She continues to stay humble and loyal as she receives leadership awards and testimonies of lives Maria has touched.”

Photo by Andrew Young

When Dripps-Paulson arrived at Kaneland High School in 1999 as the band director, she soon was tapped to lend a hand with the Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival, a program designed to bring artists to the community for a single-day. The festival, scheduled this year for Sunday, April 13, will celebrate its 16th year in the community and has continually evolved.

“The first couple years, maybe 300 to 500 people would come for the two hour program on a Sunday afternoon,” Dripps-Paulson recalls.

“Now more than 3,000 people come for the one-day event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.”

Dripps-Paulson is now the executive director for the Kaneland Arts Initiative, an organization designed to manage the Kaneland Arts Festival as well an entire calendar year of programming from performances to the artist in residence program as well as summer and winter community theater productions.

Diane McFarlin first met Dripps-Paulson when they taught together at Kaneland High School. Through the years their friendship and partnership has grown from their work in the school to collaborations with the arts festival and arts initiative.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“She has a magnetic energy,” says Diane McFarlin, the artistic director for the Kaneland Arts Initiative and assistant principal for Kaneland High School.

In 2008, Dripps-Paulson made the decision to step out of the classroom to raise her then young son and triplet daughters, who were born a year earlier. In 2009, she returned to the arts festival as a community planning member and in 2010 she began her term as an executive director of the Kaneland Fine Arts Festival.

Last year the official Kaneland Arts Initiative was developed to create a distinction between the one-day festival and the year-round art programming.

In her role as executive director for the arts initiative, she often wears many hats, producing shows, managing fundraisers and coordinating artists for various performances and classes.

And while she has been known manage publicity, coordinate volunteers and even to sew costumes for the yearly summer theater, she admits her favorite role is when she steps into the orchestra pit to conduct the musicians for each performance.

“The musicians I work with are phenomenal,” she says. “Going into the pit every summer is refreshing.”

The Kaneland Arts Initiative show for this summer will be “Once Upon a Mattress,” and Dripps-Paulson said long before the show title was revealed in February people were clamoring to know the show and prepare for auditions.

Dripps-Paulson said the productions can be exhausting, but she is a believer in the concept of life-long learners and sees the Kaneland Fine Arts Festival and Kaneland Arts Initiative as promoting those concepts for the community.

“The arts are all around us,” she says. “It’s very, very gratifying what I do.”

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 7

Photos provided

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

kanecountymagazine.com

En pointe State Street Dance Studio positions dancers for success

By STEPHANIE KOHL

F

or 14 years, State Street Dance Studio in Geneva has taught students of all ages and abilities.

For Artistic Director and Founder Linda Cunningham, who has been teaching for some 40 years, that has meant sharing her love of dance with those from three-years-old to 103-years-old.

“It is truly a blessing to do what you love in life,” she said. “… (Dance) allows you to really dwell in the possibility of creating more beauty.”

The studio, located at 9 N. 4th St., offers lesson in ballet, character, modern, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, nia and ballroom, and is open to everyone from recreational dancers to those who are looking to turn dance into a career.

“We just have a really neat, diverse studio here,” Cunningham said, adding State Street Dance Studio puts on three big shows per year, including its annual performance of The Nutcracker, as well as has a performing company, which performs all over by request.

Cunningham credits a diverse staff of international teachers dedicated to helping their students do their personal best for helping to make State Street Dance Studio the studio it is.

“Everyone on faculty is just so committed to

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their work,” Cunningham said, adding while State Street Dance Studio is a technically driven school, it is not a competition-based school. “I feel the golden idol of a trophy is within you,” Cunningham said. “You don’t have to hold it.”

However, the school does participate in the Youth America Grand Prix, which is the world’s largest international ballet scholarship competition. As Cunningham puts it, the competition is “the best of the best.”

Two State Street Dance Studio students performed extremely well at this year’s competition. Batavia resident Chanti Max, 11, received the Hope Award at the Indianapolis Youth America Grand Prix, and St. Charles resident Emma Sidari, 12, was a second place winner in the pre-competitive classical division at the Chicago Youth America Grand Prix. Both girls will now compete at the New York Finals in April.

Sidari credits her training at State Street Dance Studio with helping her become a better dancer, especially the teachers who have exposed her to so many different dance styles. She is impressed with the studio’s international teachers, who are all dancers themselves.

“I do want to be a professional dancer and just dance,” she said. “I love to perform.”

just five-years-old, agrees State Street Dance Studio offers an experience and level of teaching you can’t get elsewhere.

“I love performing in front of people and showing my expressions and sharing what I love with other people,” Max said, crediting her teacher Vilma Machin with helping her do so well. “I think she really believes in me and that helps me as a dancer.”

Max added that Machin is great at encouraging her students to do the best they can. She practices nearly every day.

“I think State Street has the best ballet program in this area,” said Christa Max, Chanti’s mother. “… It’s been very rewarding that she won this competition. All the training and hours have paid off.”

For Cunningham, her vision for the studio is to always look onward and upward.

“It is really important to do what you love and dance is obviously what I love,” she said. “I have seen the magic and transformation from little people to adults and from recreational to pre-professional and it’s such beauty. I hope to do it for a very, very long time.”

For more information on State Street Dance Studio, visit www.statestreetdancestudio. com.

Max, who has been dancing since she was

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 9

Music for the masses Elgin Symphony Orchestra tears down ‘elitist’ ideas about classical music

By TOM WITOM

E

lgin Symphony Orchestra (ESO) wants to play beautiful music for you. And as many already have discovered, the talented 64-yearold company is pretty good at doing just that.

Music director Andrew Grams only asks audience members to show up at Hemmens Cultural Center with an open mind and ears willing to listen.

“You don’t need to know anything about the music (to enjoy the experience),” says Grams. “One of our goals is to tear down the elitist mentality that the symphony is the exclusive preserve of sophisticated, knowledgeable music lovers.”

Two concerts wind up the ESO’s current September-to-May season: Antonín Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto in B Minor” and two humorous works by Carl Nielsen, April 4-6. And concert-goers will find plenty to choose in the orchestra’s 2014-15 lineup – from classical to pop, holiday favorites and scores from Oscar Award-winning films. The company’s family series includes

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Halloween Spooktacular,” “Big Brass. Big Sound” and “Beethoven Superhero.”

Patrons have various subscription options, including a “build your own” package designed for those who travel frequently and want to be able to select concerts they will be available to attend, says Cheryl Wendt, director of marketing and development.

Wendt adds that a specially priced $10 ticket brings in a lot of high school and college students to the 1,150-seat venue at 42 Symphony Way, Elgin. For certain performances the ESO also travels to Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg, and Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia.

Grams came aboard last May, hired after a two-year global search to succeed conductor/composer/music director Robert Hanson, who retired at the end of the 201011 season. Though the ESO has a 65-year history, it was in 1985 under Hanson that it became a fully professional organization.

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Born and raised in the Baltimore area, Grams began playing the violin at the age of eight. At 17 he directed World Youth Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan. That 1999 summer he started violin studies at Juilliard School, earning a music degree in violin performance; in 2003 he received a degree in conducting from Curtis Institute of Music.

Grams landed a position with the New York City Ballet Orchestra at Lincoln Center, where he developed a taste for orchestral conducting. He went on to make a name for himself through numerous guest appearances with symphony orchestras, both domestic and international.

“Elgin Symphony Orchestra is highly regarded throughout the country. People know it to be the finest orchestra in the Chicago area second to the Chicago Symphony,” Grams says.

In his new role with ESO, Grams selects all the music and will conduct 80 percent of the performances in the new season.

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He works closely with the orchestra’s 68 contracted members whose number can swell to 100 depending on the work to be performed. “I coach the players on building their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses so they make the best music they possibly can,” he says.

ESO is known as a top-notch regional orchestra. But what sets it apart from others, in Lippi’s view, is the positive attitude of its players and sense of community. “That elevates the stature of the orchestra and makes it a fun group to work with.”

Isabella Lippi, ESO’s concertmaster for the past eight years, grew up in Chicago and first picked up a violin as a 6-yearold. “I loved the instrument from the very beginning and decided that was what I was going to do with my life,” she says.

Securing a permanent seat in any orchestra is no easy matter, says Lippi, telling prospective members to understand that hard work and long hours are involved. “At the same time, musicians are needed because many orchestras have positions to fill. So it’s not impossible,” she notes. “If I were to give advice, it would be ‘keep your options open.’ For example, if science is an interest, study it as well and don’t feel you must only study music.”

Described as a virtuoso, Lippi has traveled extensively here and abroad as a featured guest artist at various orchestras demonstrating her musical proficiency.

In her role as first violinist, she leads her section of 12 first and 12 second violinists and serves as a conduit to the conductor, interpreting what the maestro wants from the orchestra. Her position also involves ascribing the up/down bowing movements to the music so the string players are in sync.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Lippi says she has seen struggling musicians who found everything was hard for them make it big. “I used to believe people were either born to be musicians or not, but I’ve completely changed my opinion. Desire and the will to succeed are actually more important.”

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 11

That’s entertainment!

Batavia Fine Arts Centre melds stage with students for winning combination

By ALLISON HORNE

F

rom video games to seeing a movie, there are plenty of ways for people to entertain themselves in their free time.

There are many options, but little has captured the community’s interest like the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, the suburbs’ newest theater and music venue, and a hub for the Tri-City community to share its love of the arts.

WHAT IT BRINGS TO THE COMMUNITY The 890-seat main stage theatre first opened in August of 2011 boasting a two-story limestone lobby, a performance courtyard, the Main Stage, and the Black Box theatre, which serves as a theatrical classroom. Located on the campus of Batavia High School, the BFAC operates as a community entity, says Dominic Cattero, manager.

“We have high school plays and musicals, concerts from elementary to middle school to high school. We also are available as a rental facility, which is often taken advantage of by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Spotlight Youth Theatre, and the Marquee Youth Stage.”

And as more people have gained awareness

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of the arts center, visitors have grown exponentially.

“Our total growth number from last year is 13.36%, and we have already exceeded the amount of people that have come last year in just several months,” Cattero says.

The numbers are promising for the arts center, which is in constant competition with the digital age and ever-constraining financial situations.

“Entertainment dollars are some of the first to go in a budget, and our competition in live performance is cable, movie theaters and video games,” Cattero says. “But when you provide a high quality product at a reasonable price, I think people see that.”

The theatre also helps to bring other residents into Batavia, which in turn, helps Batavia’s economy and growth, he says.

“It’s great what it does for the community itself,” Cattero says. “When people come from out of town, they’re stopping at a restaurant in town, or they’re shopping at a store in this area.

Essentially for every $1 put into the arts, it’s another $7 for the community.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS Although Cattero is the main man behind the inner workings of the theater, he has plenty of help from a unique internship program. Since Cattero took over at the helm, he has been offering students from the high school the opportunity to work behind the scenes of the bustling theater world.

Jacob Livingston is a senior at Batavia High School, and after a rigorous interview process, he landed the coveted position as an intern for Cattero. Livingston, like has a background in performing in theater, but never experienced the other side of the stage until this year. Now, he works with the rentals, studies the business, works on the touring shows, learns about hospitality, and experiences working with the professional talent as well.

“I have learned so much about the business side of things in the last couple of months,” Livingston says. “This man [Cattero] knows everything, and he’s really great at what he does. There is not a question I ask that he doesn’t have an answer to.”

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Photo by Scott Henrichsen

UPCOMING EVENTS With performances ranging from Batavia students to national touring events, the BFAC offers a range of events that cater to a variety of audiences.

“It’s an incredible venue that not only is a great place for the district schools to perform in, but we also bring in outside shows,” Livingston says. “It’s amazing for the community to see and experience because it’s so versatile, and there are so many different acts and groups that come in.”

The community schools in the area also perform at the BFAC and band, orchestra, and theater productions are scattered throughout the schedule each month.

However, there are plenty of outside performances that are scheduled about eight times a year.

“It’s important for the space to be utilized, and we want to make sure the taxpayers

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here in Batavia are able to use it,” Cattero says. “We offer shows that are much cheaper than the same performances in the city, as out goal has always been to provide high quality entertainment to the taxpayers.”

The upcoming touring season features Well-Strung, “Whose Live Anyway” and 4 Lads from Liverpool. Cattero is especially looking forward to Whose Live Anyway, which originally started in 1999 as a live take on “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” They draw off the audience in 90 minutes of an improvised comedy and song show all based on the audience suggestions.

“This center really has a great sense of community,” Cattero says. “It’s a place where people can come together right here and they can see neighbors and friends and unite here. It really gives them a fantastic, beautiful place to go see some great performances that is close to home.”

APRIL 12, 2014 - WELL-STRUNG One Direction step aside, there’s a new kind of boy band on the circuit. The all-male string quartet WellStrung features classical musicians who sing putting their own spin on the music of Mozart, Vivaldi, Rihanna, Adele, Lady Gaga, and more! Well-Strung stars first violinist Edmund Bagnell, second violinist Christopher Marchant, cellist Daniel Shevlin and violist Trevor Wadleigh.

MAY 30, 2014 - WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY Whose Live Anyway is 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions. Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Chip Esten and Jeff B. Davis leave their audiences gasping with the very witty scenes they invent before your eyes. Everyone is amazed at how quickly they make it up and crowds of all ages are astounded at the incredible improvised song lyrics Chip Esten and Jeff Davis improvise and sing. Their combined musical range is incredible!

Photo provided

ARTS

CONFERENCE

SEEKS PARTICIPANTS

Leaders collaborate to bolster local arts opportunities Join the suburban arts community in downtown St. Charles on Saturday, May 3 for the first-ever gathering of organizations with the intent to foster a greater level of collaboration. Bringing together arts leaders from Kane, DuPage and Kendall Counties, the intent of the conference is to foster and wider collaborative environment.

Through the conference, organizations will identify their needs and assets. Based on that self-evaluation, they will be paired up with other organizations to partner for future endeavors.

Speakers and facilitators will also focus on a variety of forms of collaborations in the hopes to get arts leaders to look at how they can facilitate building community through the arts in conjunction with like-minded groups.

$35.00 Includes lunch and a variety of networking opportunities focused on matching up the needs and assets of arts orginizations for the betterment of the suburban artistic region. If you need further information (or if you wish to sponsor this event), please e-mail Amanda Harris at ChicagoSuburbanArtsConference@gmail.com

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BRIDES

The schedule of the days events is as follows: 8:30 A.M. – 9:15 A.M. Check in, coffee, light breakfast and entertainment 9:15 A.M. – 9:30 A.M. Welcome and outline days events 9:30 A.M. – 10:15 A.M. Keynote Speaker, Janet Carl Smith “Connecting the Arts: Thoughts on Collaboration and Advocacy”. She is the Former Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Chair of the Council on the University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies.

Address: 507 S. 3rd St., Unit D, Geneva, IL Tel: (331) 248-0316 Online: www.os2salon.com

10:30 A.M. – 11:45 A.M. Speed Networking for the Arts. Get to have a short face to face with all of the other participants at the conference.

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#os2salon

12 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. Lunch at Pizzeria Neo 1:45 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. Welcome Back 2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Presentations by Break Out Facilitators • Lara Oppenheimer of Chicago Time Exchange on “Gifts and Needs: Nature’s Creative Economy” • Jimi Allen of the Gravity Building on “Creative Co-Working” • Dana Horst and Deidre Huckabay of Creative Partners on “Function over Discipline: an emerging model for collaborative fundraising”,

Promoting environmentally safe products and companies.

4:45 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Reception at Puebla Modern Mexican.

All Ages Welcome!

Bringing together the members of the community and Chicagoland area with resources to make them more environmentally conscious.

• Ellen Wadey of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation will be presenting a case study on a successful collaborative funding project with a breakout session titled “Collaboration Baseball: Making the Pitch” 3:15 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Break Out Sessions

practices,

Showcasing family

FREE!

fun events, green vendors and a recycling drop off event.

Saturday, April 26 10am-3pm Hickory Knolls Discovery Center In James O. Breen Community Park 3795 Campton Hills Rd.

Looking to be a vendor?

Only $5.

For more information, contact Kristi Brewer 630-513-4334 or kbrewer@stcparks.org.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 15

Taking the

stage

Area theaters offer assortment of options for actors, audience u“THE JOB”

by Shem Bitterman

uCHEAPER BY THE DOZEN - A Coming-of-Age Comedy

uSPITFIRE GRILL

by James Valcq and Fred Alley

Through April 19, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm. at the Riverfront Playhouse, 11 & 13 S. Water Street Mall, in downtown Aurora.

Adapted by Christopher Sergel. From the book by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Apr 4 – 27 at the Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main Street, St. Charles

Through May 18 at Pheasant Run’s Mainstage Theater, St. Charles

Showing at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.

Presented by Fox Valley Repertory 8 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays and 2p.m. Sundays Some Thursday performances available.

Tickets: $32-$42

A feisty parolee follows her dreams, based on a page from an old travel book, to a small town in Wisconsin and finds herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. Country flavored tunes and lyrics along with an interesting story line and colorful characters make this an uplifting and thought provoking musical experience.

“The Job” is the story of Frank, a down on his luck con artist trying to go straight and sober and marry the love of his life. He finds himself wrestling with his conscience after accepting a “job” at an agency that poses a serious moral dilemma. The pay is good and if he accepts this job he would be well on his way to financial freedom and he could finally marry, Mags, the love of his life. Unable to look past nefarious nature of this assignment, Frank panics and subcontracts the “Job” to his old partner who is now making it as a shyster fire and brimstone evangelist.

Note: This show contains harsh language and adult content that may not be suitable for children or sensitive viewers.

Tickets are $17.00 for adults and $15.00 for seniors and students.

Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling (630) 897-9496 or on the Riverfront website at www.riverfrontplayhouse.com

As the father of twelve, Frank Gilbreth used to joke: “You know, they come cheaper by the dozen!” One of the best-loved American memoirs captures the trials, tribulations and sheer amusement recounted by the children of efficiency experts Frank and Lillian Gilbreth during the 1920’s. You’ll laugh the night away with this humor-filled look into the life of a family who often served as the subjects of their fathers’ motion studies. The results are terribly embarrassing, funny and — extremely effective!

It is a coming-of-age story about rebellion and reconciliation, love and laughter, selfishness and sacrifice that has delighted audiences all over the world. Rating: PG

Tickets are $28 for adults, $26 for Seniors and $23 for stiudents.

BoxOffice@steelbeamtheatre.com uCASTING FOR THE FANTASTICKS Vero Voce Theater will be holding auditions for “THE FANTASTICKS” by appointment on Sunday April 13, 2014 from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm.

Performance will be held at the Vero Voce Theater in St Charles June 14-29, 2014, 8 p.m Fridays, 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.

Rehearsals will begin the week of May 4 and will be scheduled based on cast availability.

–Young Performers Series Presents–

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT

April 12-19, 2014 Sat at 1 pm & 4:30 pm / Sun at 3 pm –Vero Voce Main Stage Presents–

Vero Voce Theater

NEXT OF KIN: MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATER

April 25 - May 4, 2014 Fri at 8 pm / Sat at 7 pm / Sun at 2 pm

For Tickets Call (630) 584-0139 Online:

www.verovoce.com/theatre

951 State Ave., Suite F • St. Charles, IL • 630-584-0139 www.verovoce.com • www.facebook.com/verovoce

Actors between the ages of 15-75 are encouraged to audition. A character breakdown can be viewed www.verovoce. com/theatre/auditions. For an audition appointment, please register online www. verovoce.com/audition-form or call (630) 584-0139. Please prepare 2 contrasting 16 bar classic musical theater selections and a one-minute monologue. Bring sheet music in your key, a headshot and resumé. Auditions will be held in the Vero Voce Theater at 951 State Ave., Ste F, St Charles, Illinois 60174.

“THE FANTASTICKS “ is produced and directed

by Dennis Brown (Vero Voce) with Musical Direction by Dawn Harkins (Vero Voce owner).

The longest-running musical in theater history, and with good reason: at the heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is a purity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time.

The legendary score includes such standards as “Try to Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain”.

Jobs may change.

Retirement dreams don’t have to.

If you’ve left a job and have a 401(k) or other retirement accounts, don’t forget about them. Rolling over assets you have with former employers or other institutions to an Ameriprise IRA can be important in making your retirement dreams a reality.

Understanding and managing your retirement income strategies can help you put a confident retirement within reach.

To start a conversation, call me at (630) 762.6556.

Steve Smith Financial Advisor Associate Vice President 3 N. Second Street, Suite 200 St. Charles, IL 60174 (630) 762.6556 Toll Free: 1 (800) 942.5959 Steven.L.Smith@ampf.com

MORE WITHIN REACHSM Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients. © 2010 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 17

Respect?

Can I Get A Little

I’ve accepted the fact, that in this lifetime, I never will be deemed as “the heavy” in situations involving my children.

Despite the fact I am the caregiver for about 75 percent of their daily lives, I am surely not the one who is the disciplinarian in the house.

I find myself saying, “Wait until your father gets home!” at least three times a day.

From the time we all rise in the morning, and as the day chugs along, my frustration mounts. I find that whenever I tell the kids something, it seems I have to say it at least 14 times. In many cases, the fifteenth time I am screaming. Still, they still don’t listen.

I think back to when I was growing up and consider my own mother. I was deathly afraid of her. She was five-foot nothing and I think I outweighed her by the time I was in the eighth grade, yet she instilled the fear of God in us. She was a single mom raising two

18 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

boys, as well as me. When her mere petite body didn’t intimidate us, she had a stern voice and a metal yardstick to get us in line.

Don’t be alarmed; she never actually hit us with the yardstick. It was more of a threat and she used it to chase my brothers up to the top of their bunk beds where they would hide, just out of her reach. All she had to do was hit that thing on the side of the bedframe and the sound was enough to scare any thirteen-year old boy into submission.

My mom didn’t have the luxury of falling back on “Wait until your father gets home,” because my dad wasn’t there to step in when my mom’s efforts failed. Perhaps that’s why we knew when to shape up. But it also meant she had to spare the softer, more comforting aspects of being a mom.

I look at my own relationship with my children versus their relationship with their father and I am envious – not only that they

FAMILY IN FOCUS

respect him, but also that he is able to stop and have fun with them. He has the ability to come in from work with a fresh perspective on their wild and crazy antics and jump right in. When they get out-of-hand, he hasn’t been battling them for the last 12 hours and isn’t on his last nerve, so he can speak to them in a voice that doesn’t sound like that of a screaming banshee.

Of course, along with “fun dad” comes the fact that even he doesn’t listen when I reprimand, and when a half-hour of making fart noises finally breaks me down, it is my husband giggling right along with my young children that infuriates me. (Have I mentioned he is my third child?)

When bedtime rolls, he comes in for prayers and for all of us to share a favorite part of the day. He gives hugs and kisses and then makes his way downstairs.

kanecountymagazine.com

It is then that the kids request “snuggle time” with yours truly.

Despite my frustration, (and desire by that time of night for them to Just. Go. To. Bed.) I can’t complain when their sweet little faces ask for one last hug. When they wake in the middle of the night, they call for “mommy.” When they are hurt or scared, when they need help or comfort, I’m the one they seek out. It is hard to be the “heavy” when you are a softie most of the time.

While I am envious of my husband, he has told me that he is jealous of me because I get to spend more time with them. When they sneak into our bed at night with a bad dream, he’d trade the elbows in his rib cage and breathing in his ear to have them snuggle up with him instead of me. And despite his best efforts, I’m the one who makes waffles “just right”.

While I long for at least a little respect and sometimes that metal yardstick, the bottom line is this: my husband and I each have our roles in this operation. I’m fortunate that I have a partner who gives me the means to be the kids’ comfort, and is there to pick up where I leave off.

Write This Down with Michelle Stien

Michelle Stien is a stay-at-home mom of two children, ages 4 and 6. Her mother always told her to “write this down,” so she is sharing her experiences with other Kane County women to help them deal with the craziness of being “Mom.”

kanecountymagazine.com

FAMILY IN FOCUS

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 19

s

Animal elter

Ander

on

Sh

PETS

A Humane Society

Easy Ways You Can Make A Difference

By Anderson Animal Shelter Featured Sponsor: Meadow View

Supporting Anderson Animal Shelter is easy and can be done simply by going about your day as you always have. By doing things you normally do each and every day or maybe for a special occasion – you can have a positive impact on the Shelter and the dogs and cats we care for.

Yes, direct monetary donations are always in need, but the Shelter also offers a number of ways you can support the mission at little to no cost to you. Whether you do it by yourself, with your family or a group or for your furry friend – below are just some of the ways you can impact the lives of homeless or unwanted animals.

Savers Collection Drive – Spring cleaning the house in April? Preparing for a garage sale? Simply wanting to get organized? Take your new or slightly used items that you no longer need or want to Savers in St. Charles Sunday, April 27th through Sunday, May 4th and let them know that you’d like your donations to count towards our ‘Shelter Collection Drive’.

Savers will make a donation for every pound received! Visit our website or Facebook Page to download a flyer as a reminder and to attach it to your donations.

Dine Out Events – Do you enjoy going out for good food, a quick meal or just to get together with family and friends? Join us for one or many of our restaurant fundraisers and a percentage of your purchase will benefit the Shelter. Visit our website or Facebook Page for our Dine Out Events and Retail Fundraisers. We have several to choose from throughout the year.

Stella & Chewy’s Feeding Friends Program - Does your furry friend love Stella & Chewy’s products? Stock up in April at any of these retailers who will be donating a portion of their sales to Anderson Animal Shelter. Retailers include: Health Emporium, Puddle Aquafitness, Natural Expressions, Autumn Green Animal Hospital, Healthy Pet, Two Bostons - Geneva only, Wag Your Tail, Pet Necessities, Wet Nose - Geneva, FYDOLAND – Huntley, The Urban Mutt - Berwyn, Groomsmart Pet Center, Four Legs Pets.

GoodSearch.com - Search the web with Yahoo-powered GoodSearch. com and they’ll donate about a penny to your cause each time you search!

Change your our homepage ho to GoodSearch today, select Anderson Animal Shelter as your charity of choice and begin raising money each time you search the Internet.

GoodShop.com – Do you shop online? GoodShop.com works with more than 3,000 online retailers including Toys “R” Us, Target, Best Buy, Apple, Sephora, Macy’s, 1-800-Flowers, PetSmart, and Expedia among others. The shopping experience and prices are the same as going to the retailer directly, but each time you shop at one of these stores via GoodShop, a percentage of what you spend goes back to your favorite charity or school. And, equally as exciting, GoodShop.com offers over 100,000 money saving coupons and free shipping offers. So, not only are you helping your cause, but you are also saving money while doing so. Next time you go to shop online for yourself or a special occasion, use GoodShop and select Anderson Animal Shelter as your charity of choice.

Interested in learning more about participating in any of these opportunities to support Anderson Animal Shelter? Please contact the Development Department at 847-697-2880x25 or development@andersonanimalshelter.org.

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Thai Village R E S TA U R A N T

FOOT AND ANKLE CARE

NORTHWEST PODIATRY CENTER, LTD

A Taste of

Kilwins -GENEVA STYLE

By ALLISON HORNE Tom Castronovo has had a sweet tooth ever since he was a child, so when he had the chance to own his very own chocolate shop, he jumped at the opportunity.

Tom and his wife, Cindy, both own the newly-opened Kilwins Chocolates and Ice Cream Shoppe on 3rd Street in downtown Geneva.

Kilwins has an extensive history, which first started in 1947 when Don and Katy Kilwin opened a bakery and candy shop in Petoskey, Michigan. Kilwins has since expanded and has franchised more than 80 locations across the United States including Castronovo’s location in Geneva, which is one of two open in Illinois.

Kilwins owners Tom and Cindy Castronovo

A Family Affair

Castronovo is no stranger to owning businesses and restaurants, but Kilwin’s is different. Unlike his other businesses, Kilwin’s is family-owned and every member of his family plays a large part in keeping the store running.

“It’s a family business,” Castronovo says “and I like it that way. My partners are my family.”

Lauren Castronovo

From Left: Alyssa Dittrich, Haley Glover, Celeste Cole, Madeline Severino, Alex Sakowski

t Chocolatiers cook fudge from scratch, using an old-fashioned Mackinac Island technique.

Photos by Jason Adrian Photography

Castronovo takes his place at the helm of the shop during the weekends and at night. Cindy is there during the day. Their daughter Lauren spends time at the shop during the week with their mother, Virginia, while their two sons step in whenever they are not in school.

-Continued on page 24 KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 23

‘I wanted to make it a participative experience. That’s really the attraction to us.’

-Tom Castronovo, owners Kilwins of Geneva -Continued from page 23 The Castronovo’s have lived in Geneva for 30 years, so it only seemed logical to open a shop where they had spent so much time as a family. (It also didn’t hurt that his sweet tooth was passed down to the rest of his family.)

“I own other businesses and I continue to work full time in the wealth management business, but this kind of business allows a bit more creativity and fun,” Castronovo adds. “We didn’t just want display shelves of product that was made somewhere else…

We wanted to create it.”

The Full Experience

There’s a big difference between buying a box of chocolates at the store and watching Kilwin’s employees hand-make the chocolate treats in front of your very eyes. “We have an experienced culinary team and a very enthusiastic staff that truly add to the customer experience. We’re very proud of that.”

The kitchen ‘as theater’ is in the very front of the store allowing everyone to experience the cooking process.

The kitchen is never quiet,” Castronovo says.

“It’s a part of the experience. We even built a bar in front so you can sit and watch to see what is being made that day.”

With more than 1,300 recipes in the Kilwins’ cookbook, Castronovo and his employees have plenty of ways to experiment on a daily basis.

“We can take something such as a pretzel 24 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

or rice krispie cookie, dip it in caramel, sprinkles, nuts, and chocolate—there are so many possibilities and combinations.”

Sweets, and More

From fudge to fruity slushies made with their own sorbetto, and chocolate-covered treats to store made caramel corn and peanut brittle and original recipe ice cream, Kilwins has anything your sweet tooth could ever possibly crave.

But there’s a lot more than meets the eye that goes into making chocolates and other sweets, and Castronovo and his staff have perfected the process.

“We utilize an old-fashioned kettle cooking process,” Castronovo says, basically a giant kettle over heated coils. “We didn’t want someone else to make everything. Rather, we wanted the cooking to be a participative experience for our customers and staff.

That’s really the attraction for us.”

From the hot fudge to the caramel, most of the items sold at Kilwins are made in-house.

Fudge is one of Kilwins’ best sellers, made with the old-fashioned Mackinac Island techniques.

double dark.

The ice cream, made to Kilwins specifications using hormone and antibiotic free creams, is a large part of the business.

There are 32 unique Kilwins flavors available, including one made specifically for Castronovo’s new store—Geneva Mud. “Geneva Mud is a vanilla base with caramel swirls, and an explosion of chocolate chips” Castronovo says. “I’m a big chocolate chip fan. You need to try it with a home made waffle cone and some hard shell topping.”

The Geneva store also features “The Chocolate Café” serving fine espresso, cappuccino and latte as well as hot chocolate and an amazing drinking chocolate.

No matter what Castronovo and his employees are whipping up in the kitchen, one thing is for sure—it’s impossible to walk by without wanting to stop in for a sniff, taste, or even just to watch the chocolatiers at work. It’s a multi-sensory experience.

“It’s a method that was perfected where you mix and cook the raw ingredients from scratch, pour the mix onto a marble table, and hand paddle it with a wooden paddle, and when you’re done it turns out much creamier than a pan fudge,” he adds.

Some of the handcrafted favorite fudge flavors include sea salt caramel, turtle and

FAMILY IN FOCUS

Kilwins is located at ‘407 S. Third Street in Dodson Place. kanecountymagazine.com

Jayco • Flagstaff • Puma • Sierra *Sales *Service *Storage *Propane

350 W. Lincoln Highway (Route 38), Cortland 1 mile east of Peace Road (DeKalb) (815) 756-9438 www.holidayhour.com

A Certified Audubon Sanctuary along the Fox River

Tournaments Equipment Rentals Junior Programs Lessons • Leagues Concessions Pro Shop

Golf Punch Cards Makes a great gift! $75 for 6 rounds of golf any day of the week facebook.com/pottawatomiegolfcourse From Tee to Green! pottawatomiegc.com/blog/blog.htm kanecountymagazine.com

pottawatomiegc.com | 630-584-8356 845 N. Second Avenue | In Pottawatomie Park A facility of the St. Charles Park District

FAMILY IN FOCUS

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 25

You’re more than just a policy to us...

It’s our family, servicing yours!

Thank You for Voting Hazen Insurance The Best Insurance Agency for the 5th year in a row!

Family owned and operated.

Serving you and the community since 1980.

Auto • Home • Business • Life • Health 1100 West Main Street, Suite B, St. Charles, IL Small enough to know you. Large enough to serve you.

p 630-485-5100 f 630-485-5200 www.hazeninsurance.com

Just call Mendel At Mendel, we offer excellent service; that’s why we have grown to be one of the most trusted plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical service companies in the Fox Valley.

Mendel Plumbing & Heating Serving the Fox Valley

(630) 377-3608

GROW YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Geneva Executive Office Park Situated just west of Rt. 38 & Kirk Rd. in Geneva with easy access to the tollway and DuPage Airport.

An ideal setting and location for Small Business Professionals.

Now leasing Multi-Office Business Suites.

Featuring convenient, ample parking, private entry and amenities along with on-site building management.

1250 Executive Place • Geneva, IL • 630-232-7278 26 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

HOME & LIFESTYLE

kanecountymagazine.com

Mention Kane County Magazine When You Call To Recieve

$500 Off Your Design And Install.

Award-winning landscape designs & installations Professional & licensed landscape architects Brick & stone patios, walks & drives Custom masonry projects Outdoor kitchens & bars Creative stone walls & terraces Tranquil water gardens & ponds Beautiful outdoor lighting & nightscapes Affordable residential landscape management programs Quality oriented & personalized customer service 100% Lifetime Warranty on plants with our maintenance program

Visit our interactive website at

www.grantandpower.com

Call us to start planning your dream landscape today!

630.231.0069 Photos By Linda Oyama Bryan

LIVING BY

DESIGN

Restore, Renew, with Michael Grudecki Repurpose!

If you are looking for some simple, efficient ways to redecorate your home or breathe new life into old furnishings, consider repurposing the old, trended out items into new clever features to fill your home with style.

As simple a task as rearranging the furniture in a room can change both the flow of the space and your own emotions about it. But if you want to take the changes a bit further, there are some simple options to consider.

First off, more expensive does not always mean better quality. Consider buying furniture on clearance, or even at antique or second-hand stores. Craigslist even has a free section, where I have found great items for repurposing!

Don’t be afraid of shopping the scratched or dented items as well. Anything can be repaired, and a good sharpie marker is the dirty little secret to taking care of those blemishes.

Above, a traditional china cabinet has been repurposed into a useful and elegant wine cabinet.

At right, an antique desk is reclaimed and restyled into a bathroom vanity. Photos provided.

28 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

HOME & LIFESTYLE

kanecountymagazine.com

100+ Lines of Furniture $ Home Accents $ Rugs $ Florals $ Home Staging $ Space Planning $ General Contracting

Why Support Chains and Out of State Stores?

Consider a piece’s use, and don’t overbuy.

Are your children young? Are you going to live there forever? All these things should be considered when making an investment in your interior, and the answers can well-determine your shopping direction.

Paint is cheap. Just $35 or $50 and a bit of sweat can get you a newly painted room, or a new finish on an old piece of furniture. Bored? Paint it again.

Celebrating 6 Years in Business!

Michael Grudecki

Vignette Home Decor: Your Locally Owned, Locally Operated Small Business.

St. Charles Resident and Batavia Business Owner

One thing we do at the store is host “decorating with spray paint” classes. The next one is coming up May 14. It’s a fun and easy way to repurpose items in your own collection, or update a piece you may have found online or at a local yard sale.

1952 W. Fabyan Parkway • Batavia, IL 60510 (Between Trader Joe’s & Office Depot) • www.vignettehomedecor.com

Most of all, have fun with the process. This is your chance to express your individual style and create a room that’s truly your own.

2014 SPRING OPEN HOUSE

VIGNETTE HOME DECOR

630.482.3000

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Saturday, April 12, 2014

Preview of New items Guest Speaker Presentations Master Gardener Help Desk Raffle to Benefit Garfield Farm Open House Specials Refreshments Artist Reception for Anne Hanley Michael Grudecki is president and senior design consultant with Vignette Home Decor, Inc. Stop in for more advice, and see what's in the store at 1952 W Fabyan Pkwy, Batavia.

kanecountymagazine.com

Visit our website for more information.

“Meeting your growing needs since 1925.”

41W781 Route 64 | St. Charles, IL 60175 | 630.584.4424 | wasconursery.com HOME & LIFESTYLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 29

Who’s ready for

SPRING?

Let’s open up the house and actually venture out after one of the toughest winters on record.

30 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Photo provided

APRIL LANDCAPE CALENDAR

LANDSCAPE DESIGN BASICS

• Carefully remove mulch and mounded soil around your roses.

• Time to plant cool season annuals such as Pansies, Alyssum, and Snapdragons – these can tolerate light frost conditions.

• Trim back the brown foliage from groundcovers and trim back any brown areas on evergreen.

• Time to divide your perennials into smaller clumps such as Hosta and Daylilies. Relocate to other areas of your garden, or share with friends and family!

• Apply pre-emergent crab grass control.

• Best time to fertilize trees and shrubs is in April and May • Great time for lawn renovation – any seeding or sodding of bare areas in your yard.

• Time to plan and install any new plant material in your landscape – trees, shrubs, evergreens and perennials

What are the things that make up a great landscape plan and design?

HOME & LIFESTYLE

There are three basic areas of your property to consider when designing. They consist of the public area – your front yard landscaping and walkways, the outdoor living area – your backyard patio and getaway spaces – specialty areas – your needs for privacy or screening, and the special interest areas you desire to fit your tastes and needs.

This month, let’s chat about the public areas, or front yard of your property. Realtors call this “curb appeal”, but what really adds curb appeal? And what is correct for you and your home?

Each person’s particular style and taste affects this, and just as in interior design, there are basics to remember when you are working with your landscape architect. The consideration of these four essentials can make or break the curb appeal of your home.

BALANCE Balance of your front landscape is achieved by offsetting the heavy feeling of the driveway and garage door. This can be accomplished with the placement of a tree on the opposite corner of the home from the garage. Many times, though, this is kanecountymagazine.com

not enough. There exists a ratio of height and depth to balancing, and the use of multiple elements for this.

FRAMING OF YOUR HOME Just as a painting has a frame on it, your most valuable piece of art, your home, needs to be framed with landscaping to show it off to its fullest.

Yes, beauty is necessary.

ENHANCING THE FRONT ENTRY Your front door and entrance to your home is a crucial element in your overall property. It is the first and last impression your guests, and perhaps future buyers will see. Creation of courtyard effects and the direction of foot traffic and views are critical to this optimization.

TRANSITIONAL COLOR The introduction of plant materials that have transitional color throughout the entire year is pivotal to a successful plan. There are many trees, shrubs and perennial plants which provide a vast array of colors, fragrances and textures for all seasons. Even in winter! Your landscape should change and evolve all year long.

Next month we will head to the back of the yard, and design your outdoor getaway! Until then please feel free to email me with any questions you may have.

Visit our Showroom or schedule a consultation.

DESIGNER BEDDING SALE APRIL 7th – 21st ENJOY 25% OFF LILI ALESSANDRA, LEGACY, EASTERN ACCENTS & WILDCAT 219 W. State St. • Geneva, IL 60134 • 630-444-2144 www.designessentialsco.com

HAPPY SPRING TO ALL!

BATHROOMS KITCHENS WINDOWS DOORS GREAT ROOMS ROOM ADDITIONS

Nature News

THREE SEASON ROOMS LOWER LEVELS SIDING ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS

With Gene Grant,

CEO of Grant & Power Landscaping Inc.

Gene Grant, is a registered landscape architect with more than 35 years of experience in the industry.

Follow this new column in the Kane County Magazine, or reach out to Gene directly with any landscape related questions.

CALL US & LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR PROJECT!

630-584-2255 OR EMAIL US AT MCDOWELLINC@SBCGLOBAL.NET

630 231-0069 genegrant@grantandpower.com www.grantandpower.com kanecountymagazine.com

IDEAS, INSPIRATION & INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HOME….

WWW.REMODELWITHMCDOWELL.COM

HOME & LIFESTYLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 31

Skyline Tree Service was established in 1988 and is family owned and operated.

After 26 years of service, we still hold strong to our original commitment to excellence to provide our customers with quality tree care services

Removal • Lawn Service Emergency Services • Tree Trimming Stump Removal 630-584-2221 | WWW.SKYLINETREESVC.COM

Residential, Commercial and Municipal

Attention to Detail

From Concept to Completion

Full Service Remodeling • Design - Build Services

Come taste 25 different extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from all over the world.

Unique Gift Baskets Available.

315 James St. • Geneva, IL (630) 262-0210 www.olivemillgeneva.com

Thursday 10am-8pm Saturday 10am-5:30pm Sunday 12pm-4pm

32 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Remodeling • Additions • Kitchens • Baths

TOM RITCHIE

CONSTRUCTION

Inc.

Store Hours Mon-Fri 10am–6pm

tomritchieconstruction.com • 630.584.4400 HOME & LIFESTYLE

kanecountymagazine.com

4

Quick Color Tips To Awaken Your Home 1 2

Looking to make a big impact in your kitchen on a small budget? A new color can awaken your kitchen to make it the center for all to gather. Try different hues, with a mix of decorative and functional kitchen items such as serving bowls, platters and pitchers.

If your dining furniture is looking a bit outdated, consider painting it. Chairs, tables, sideboards, buffets and more can be revitalized in just one weekend.

Be sure to properly prep your project so it withstands the wear and tear of regular usage.

3

?

Re-energize yourself by making calming updates to your bedroom.

Paint your walls a cool hue to incorporate a sense of relaxation and tranquility to your resting space. Adding touches of new color and comfort with bedding sets, pillows and luxury throws can quickly upgrade your sleeping space. Accent the space with color-complementing window treatments. For added rest, choose light-blocking materials to prevent excess light from waking you before your alarm.

4

Create a warm welcome guests will love by pairing a bright hue on foyer walls with an eye-catching display of whiteframed photos or a grouping of ornamental mirrors and plates.

Paint stair risers with bold colors and patterns such as chevron, stripes or stencils for a modern and chic flair. Opt for a deeper shade of paint to hide scuff marks. Finish off the space with a set of new rugs.

DID YOU KNOW

It is best to paint any trim before tackling the walls. Start with the baseboards and paint around the room in one direction, paying careful attention not to miss any areas. Next, paint any window trim, door trim and crown molding. Be sure to remove painter’s tape before the paint dries for a cleaner line. — More Content Now

kanecountymagazine.com

HOME & LIFESTYLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 33

Geneva Nursing & Rehabilitation Rehabilitation | Skilled Nursing | Long-Term Care

Amenities Private and Semi-Private Rooms Free Wi-Fi, cable TV and phone Concierge, library, beauty salon Restaurant style dining Therapy gym, indoor walking path, outdoor sitting garden

Geneva Nursing & Rehabilitation

1101 E. State St.

P: 630-232-7544

Admissions Hotline | 708-714-1404

Geneva IL, 60134

F: 630-232-4409

Schedule a Tour Today!

BRIA Health Services Locations

www.briahs.com

Atrium Healthcare & Rehabilitation

Palos Hills Healthcare

Cahokia, IL

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Belleville Healthcare & Rehabilitation

River Oaks Healthcare & Rehabilitation

Belleville, IL

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Forest Edge Healthcare & Rehabilitation

Westmont Healthcare & Rehabilitation

Chicago, IL

Westmont, IL

Lake Park Center

Woodside Extended Care

Waukegan, IL

Chicago Heights, IL

Hamilton House

Healthy habits can defy aging Determined, vivacious, passionate - a lot of words describe America’s baby boomers. This spirited group is redefining their golden years, staying active by working, traveling and enjoying the great outdoors. They know that in order to live life to the fullest, they must make their health a priority, and many are dramatically affecting their personal wellbeing with a few key activities that take 10 minutes or less a day to complete.

Tavis Piattoly is a sports dietitian, expert nutritionist and co-founder of My Sports Dietitian. He stresses that small daily activities can have a cumulative effect on health, and therefore encourages baby boomers to consistently stay active and eat well.

“Exercise should be enjoyable, so whether it is a brisk walk, strength training or participating in a sport, enjoying what you do will increase your chance of sticking with that activity,” said Piattoly.

He recommends incorporating strength training into the workout routine to prevent loss of muscle tissues - a concern that increases with aging. Here are three simple exercises: • Chair squats - Use any chair and perform 10 to 12 repetitions standing up and sitting down. To increase difficulty, hold a light dumbbell to add resistance.

• Wall push-ups - Place arms against a wall and perform 10 to 12 push-ups. If this is too easy, get into the push-up position on the floor, using your knees for support.

Member:

• Geneva Chamber of Commerce • American Dental Association

DENTISTRY Shannon Samuels Farmer D.D.S.

SERVICES • Cosmetic & General Dentistry • Dentures & Repairs • Extractions & Implant Restorations • Kids Welcome!

AVAILABILITY

309 Hamilton St., Suite C Geneva, IL 60134 630-232-1111 www.HamiltonHouseDentistry.com

Mon: 9am–5:30pm Tues: 9am–2pm Wed: 10:30am–7pm Thurs: urs: Closed Fri: 9am–3pm Sat: 9am–2pm

Time for a Spring Cleaning?

We’re accepting New Patients

Free APRIL EVENTS

Join Us at Heritage Woods of Batavia!

Festive Fridays

FRIDAY, APRIL 11 AND 25

• Dumbbell curls or soup-can bicep curls - Use a light to moderate weight dumbbell (2 to 10 pounds) and perform 10 to 12 bicep curls. Don’t have dumbbells? Substitute soup cans.

Easter Egg Hunt

Evidence also supports the idea that social connectedness is vital to health, wellness and longevity. Experts theorize that having a rich social network may also help support brain health in a variety of ways, including providing us with better resources and stimulation. Stay socially connected so you feel like you’re part of something - the workplace, clubs, a network of friends, a religious congregation or a volunteer group. Seek out friends and family to get the emotional support you need to help manage stress.

Ray DeMarco Entertains

Number to Know 78 million: America’s population of baby boomers is estimated at 78 million.

- More Content Now kanecountymagazine.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 AT 10:00 AM

You must RSVP for this event. Please bring your own basket. Call Darla at 630-406-9440.

THURSDAY, APRIL 17

Celebrating Supportive Living Week APRIL 21ST – 26TH

Community Bingo

TUESDAY, APRIL 22 AT 2:00 PM Everyone is welcome!

Please note that all events are for seniors 62+. Please call to RSVP for any Heritage Woods event!

Open House SATURDAY, APRIL 26

Managed by BMA Management, Ltd.

www.bma-mgmt.com

1079 East Wilson Street | Batavia | 630.406.9440 | www.hw-batavia-slf.com

HEALTH & FITNESS

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 35

Choose to live a healthier life the Right Weigh. ������ ���������� ��� �� ������� ������ That’s why Cadence Fitness & Health Center has developed The Right Weigh — a 12-week weight management and ��������� ������� ���� �������� ��� ���� � personal trainer, dietitian and life coach.

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36 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

HEALTH & FITNESS

kanecountymagazine.com

Fox

FASHIONS ON THE

You’re Invited...

for an evening of fashion, food and fun!

FASHIONS ON THE FOX

A spring ensemble of glamour and style hosted by Kane County Magazine and Shooting Star Studios

7 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 at Even Flow Music and Spirits, 302 W. State Street, Geneva IL Featuring local models and fashions from local Tri-City boutiques.

Tickets on sale now on Planit Kane at http://goo.gl/5FZv8u.

Each ticket includes admission to the fashion show, hors d’oeuvres, one drink ticket and one raffle ticket. $29 per ticket. Additional drinks and raffle tickets may be purchased at the event.

Watch for details in the Kane County Chronicle and at KCChronicle.com Don’t miss out on the season’s hottest fashion event!

PRESENTED BY:

PARTICIPANTS:

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KANE COUNTY

ON THE AVENUE

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Tips for

interpreting nutrition facts labels Take a trip to the grocery store and you’ll encounter miles of aisles stocked with thousands of food products. Every product has a story to tell or better yet, sell. Information printed on packages is helpful but it’s often confusing and even a bit misleading.

While lists of ingredients and the nutrition facts panel are there to help shoppers choose foods to fit their nutritional needs, it’s not always easy to interpret. Learning how to decode the jumble of numbers and percentages is the first step in shopping for healthier foods.

“The best guide for making decisions affecting your diet is the nutrition facts panel, which is regulated by the FDA and for meats and poultry by the USDA,” said Carolyn O’Neil, registered dietitian and nutrition adviser for BestFoodFacts. org. “The Nutrition Facts panel lists all of the important specs, such as calories, fats, sodium, fiber, sugar and several key vitamins and minerals.”

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Look for the good stuff

A healthy diet consists of vitamins and nutrients, which nutrition labels also spell out. Go for foods that are good sources of the good guys - dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and potassium.

Don’t be fooled by healthy looks

While package design may illustrate people engaging in healthful activities, pretty farm scenes and adorned with “healthy” words, note that the FDA does not regulate the use of creative brand names. As always, it is the nutrition facts label where a consumer can see what’s really inside.

Trust health claims

The FDA closely monitors the use of health claims on food packaging. So if you see wording such as “heart healthy,” you can be confident the company had to meet nutrition criteria set by the FDA.

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Remember that trans fat should be avoided completely.

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A member of Cadence Health System •975 North Fifth Avenue, St. Charles, IL 40 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

HEALTH & FITNESS

kanecountymagazine.com

2014 Friday, May 16 • The Q Center, St. Charles • Doors open at 10 a.m.

Easter Favorites

Meat & Cheese Lasagna Veggie Lasagna Spinach Lasagna Manicotti Trays Baked Mostaccioli

Let's drive over to Papa Pat's to see what's for Easter!

Engstrom Plaza, 716 West State St., Geneva (Entrance on 7th Street)

630-262-1878 Fax: 630-845-8515

www.josefsmeats.com

50 different homemade Italian Pastas & Italian Pastries

R DE Y! R O RL EA

For your Special Easter Meal we will be offering: • Prime Rib Beef • Whole Beef Tenderloins • Crown Roast of Pork with Stuffing • Rack of Lamb • Boar’s Head Honey Baked Ham (Sliced, Tied &Glazed)

• USDA Leg of Lamb Whole or Boned & Tied • Chateaubriand • Boneless Rib Eye Roast • Smoked Polish • Italian Beef in Gravy

• Boneless Rolled Pork Loin Roast • Bone-In Whole Hams 10-14 lb avg.

• Colossal Cooked Shrimp • Fresh Homemade Polish

EASTER SPECIAL: Homemade Calzones • Easter Pies kanecountymagazine.com

HEALTH & FITNESS

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 41

g n i h g u a L

stock

Zanies builds reputation bringing comedy to the stage

By YVONNE BENSON

S

tresses in the modern world can pile up – bills, jobs, kids – and there are different paths to curb the tension, including running, yoga, and even religion. But laughter, some say, is the best medicine and at Zanies Comedy Club in St. Charles, you can reach your giggly nirvana in no time at all.

“I put together a wonderful show and I make people happy. That’s a pretty good feeling.” says Bert Haas, who has been with Zanies since 1980 and opened the club in St. Charles in 1989.

“The advantage of Zanies is that you’re guaranteed to laugh. If you’re not happy with the show I’ll give you your money back,” he says, although no one has taken him up on that offer.

“Occasionally someone will say ‘That particular comedian wasn’t quite my style, but I don’t want my money back. I’ll have to come back on another day. Who do you recommend?’ I’ll steer them toward a comedian they might enjoy.”

Suburbs sometimes take a back seat to the city when it comes to entertainment, but not at Zanies.

“In St. Charles we get the same comedians that we get in downtown and Rosemont. The only thing about St. Charles is that the audience is a little older and a little more conservative.

Otherwise they get the same comedians that we book in Chicago.”

Sometimes St. Charles even has one up on the big city, Haas says, “In some cases there are some comedians that St. Charles gets that Chicago doesn’t because St. Charles is a little bigger room.

We have Heather McDonald, Chelsea Lately, Craig Ferguson – anyone and anybody who’s in standup comedy.”

You can expect a good time at Zanies and can even go up to an hour early to warm up your funny bone with some libations. Depending on how lose you get and your comfort level with being in the comedian’s heckling zone, Zanies lets you sit where you want. “A standard show is about 90 minutes. We always do general admission seating at Zanies. That way you can sit close if you want or, if you’re scared to death, you can sit in the back.”

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Those 90 minutes consists of three comedians. “The three comedians you’ll see are the host, the feature act, and a headliner. All three of the comedians are professionals.” Haas emphasizes the quality of their performers, “We don’t do amateurs or open mic nights. These are all professional comedians.”

“The biggest thing that people need to understand is that it’s all standup comedy.”

Just like individual humor varies, not all comedy venues have the same kind of performances, “We don’t do improv and we don’t do sketch… Second City does an excellent sketch show. They do a show based on material they’ve developed.” Zanies is a different animal, “These [individual] comedians are professionals who have all prepared material. We have one person making you laugh and that’s why stand up is so special. It’s not a group of performers or a play or a band. With standup you’re a lone gunman up there. It’s a very unique individual who can do it.”

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 43

of

Course

McNALLY’S Traditional Irish Pub 109 WEST MAIN ST. | ST. CHARLES Photo by Jodi Michelle Photography

Reuben Boxty

Homemade Sangria

1890 W. MAIN ST. | ST. CHARLES

Scotch Eggs

Photo by Jodi Michelle Photography

Beef Salad

4 N. BATAVIA AVE. | BATAVIA kanecountymagazine.com

McNALLY’S Traditional Irish Pub 109 WEST MAIN ST. | ST. CHARLES

Photo by Jodi Michelle Photography

Strawberr y Chocolate Chunk

Photo by Jennifer Kaye

Kilwins

407 S. 3RD ST., STE. 186 | GENEVA

Photo by Jason Adrian Photography

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 45

BEST BREAKFAST IN ST. CHARLES

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 8AM –NOON

The Spanish allure is now in St. Charles 109 West Main St. • St. Charles • 630.513.6300 www.mcnallysirishpub.com

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www.thaivillagebatavia.com 630-879-5495 4 N Batavia Ave, Batavia, IL 60510

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Chocolate, Toffee & Caramel • Fudge • Apples, Corns & Brittles Baskets and Occasions • Salt Water Taffy Chews • Gift Cards • Ice Cream 407 S. 3rd St., Suite #186 | Geneva. IL 60134 | 630.232.7122 www.kilwins.com/geneva • Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 am-7 pm, Fri. & Sat. 11 am-10 pm

46 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

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kanecountymagazine.com

Wine A

re the name brands worth the price or is it all just marketing? This is an ongoing debate among my colleagues. When creating a wine list at a restaurant, which direction do you want it to go? Do you want to hand select great wines to pair with your food and serve the palate of most of your guests, or do you go the “safer” route and fill the wine list with familiar name brand?

What’s in a name?

Either decision can be a good decision for a business, or a dinner party, if done correctly.

Certainly there are name brand wines that keep their quality over the years, and you can depend on them. But there are a lot of wines that have fallen over the years, as well. This is mostly due to high production levels. Like all companies, if the demand is high you want to create more, but by doing so you often are buying lesser quality grapes, and that impacts the quality of the wine you originally created.

But again there are some great wines that have become household names. These wineries, such as Kim Crawford, have been making great wine for a long time and deserve a lot of good recognition. Are there better Sauvignon Blancs out there? Of course there are, but it is a really good one for the price and the branding behind it makes it a staple on a lot of wine lists.

It is hard to carry some of the household wines when managing a high profile wine list. Wine reflects part of the statement you are making for your establishment so if you are trying to set yourself apart from some of the chain restaurants, you don’t want to carry a lot of the same wines. It’s no different than food items on the menu. Buffalo wings are tasty, but you don’t want to have them on your menu if you are trying to offer a fine dining experience.

Sometimes it is good just to find a happy medium. I will find wines like Frog’s Leap or Belle Glos. These are pretty well-known wine producers, making exceptional wine right now for the price. These are some of the wines that I look for to complement

kanecountymagazine.com

DINING & ENTERTAINING

the rest of the menu. It is good for people to feel comfortable in your establishment and carrying some familiar names is never a bad thing, as long as the quality is there. You want to give your customer the best dining experience possible, and comfort can be a big part of that.

Here are some well-known brands that are producing above-average wines.

Try one tonight!

• Chateau Montelena • Darioush • Frog’s leap • Ridge • Kim Crawford • Turley • Belle Glos • Charles Smith • E. Guigal • Chimney Rock

VINCE BALISTRERI is general manager and sommelier at Niche Restaurant in Geneva. He offers his expertise in the wine industry to the Kane County community.

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 47

HIGH STYLED

Kane County Magazine and Shooting Star Studios play host to local boutique fashion event

L

ights, cameras, and lots of clothes!

That’s what’s on tap at an upcoming evening of style and fashion in Geneva.

Fashions on the Fox is a spring seasonal ensemble of glamour hosted by Kane County Magazine and Shooting Star Studios of St. Charles. Pairing the latest boutique styles with local models and runway photographers, this night promises to be a statement evening and the hottest fashion event of the season!

Fashion photographer Thomas P. Jerusalem and modeling agent Karla Sitko have hand-picked models, pairing them with the perfect local ensembles from the trendiest Tri-City Boutiques. From Parisian imports to equestrian styles, clever career standards to the perfect dress for a might out on the tow…you’ll find it all at Fashions on the Fox. “At Kane County Magazine, we always have an eye on what’s trendy and cool, and we love that you can find everything you want for your wardrobe right here in our own communities,” says Kane County Magazine Editor Sherri Dauskurdas.

Enjoy the evening in nightclub surroundings at Even Flow Music and Spirits in Geneva.

The show starts at 7 p,.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) and $29 tickets include the fashion show, hor d’ouvres, a drink ticket and a raffle ticket. (Additional drink and raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the event. Cocktail hour performances will be offered by the dancers of State Street Dance Studio in Geneva.

“The fabulous boutiques and great food all along the fox river are part of what make the Tri-Cities such a great place to live and work,” says Shaw Media’s Laura Burke. “An event like this one brings it all together, and with great partners at Shooting Star Studios and Even Flow, it’s bound to be a smash hit.”

Tickets are available on line at Planit Kane Deals, at www.planitkane.com

Participating boutiques include: Cest La Vie, by Sylive Lela Une Boutique Unique Special Occasions Anew The Crystal Bride The Prettiest Star Jeans and a Cute Top Shop The Stable Woman Veiled in Elegance C.Rinnella Designs Dancers Dream, the Little Traveler Claudia’s Closet Stein Mart, and more.

48 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

FASHION & BEAUTY

kanecountymagazine.com

Prom

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2 N BATAVIA AVE BATAVIA 630.406.1515 OPEN MON-THURS 10-7, FRI & SAT 10-5, SUN 12-5 www.specialoccasionsontheavenue.com

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FASHION & BEAUTY

630.262.0944 www.anewwaytoshop.com KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 49

Fox

FASHIONS Accessorize for Spring ON THE

JP Jewelers

The “Look of Love” refers to the eternal promise made by a couple on their wedding day.

When the engagement ring and band are worn together, our signature diamonds set on the side of the ring shanks line up, signifying the joining of the couples lives together!

This striking Valina Bridal engagement ring features a brilliant 2.00 ct. center diamond with 1.43 cts. of diamonds wrapping down the sides. View this and more at JP Jewelers.

151 S. 1st St. | St. Charles | 630-513-0123

Be your own kind of beautiful.

Express yourself with a custom look.

Our Lenny and Eva jewelry shows off your personal style without a designer price tag. Mix and match to create one-of-a-kind bracelets and necklaces.

Visit us at Cocoon. Open every day.

Week nights until 7pm, Thursday until 8pm. And as always, thanks for shopping local!

Photos by Jodi Michelle Photography

Cocoon

212 S. 3rd Street | Geneva 630-232-8340

Located in the heart of Geneva’s Third Street shopping district– on the “Rodeo Drive” of the Tri-Cities area, CrystallineVelvet is home to more than 10 local artisan jewelers, allowing them to showcase a wide range of styles and price points from which to choose. “We’re trying to offer a venue for the small artisan who otherwise would go unnoticed, while at the same time, offering our customers meaningful and unique gifts made right here in their own community” says Taffy Massey, owner of CrystallineVelvet. “We believe that in tough times that community should pull together and support one another”. CrystallineVelvet also offers a full range of jewelry repair and custom design services, including those for bridal and wedding party jewelry. “We’d be honored to have you drop in and see what we’re all about…”

Photos by Jodi Michelle Photography

Crystalline Velvet

228 S. 3rd St, | Geneva | 630-262-9113 50 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

FASHION & BEAUTY

kanecountymagazine.com

I am The Prom Queen.

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217 West Main Street, Saint Charles, IL 60174 630-584-8009 www.claudiasboutiquecloset.com - Facebook: claudiasclosetconsignment boutique

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FASHION & BEAUTY

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 51

Ed and Karen French of St. Charles played host to supporters of the

Living Well Cancer Center

at the facility’s annual Wine Festival fundraiser.

Photos provided

Patrons of Geneva area arts came out to the Herrington Inn and Spa for

“Eat Your Art Out,” the newest event of the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission.

Photos by Joe Perez

52 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

kanecountymagazine.com

Come to my no-sheet White Sale.

~ Claudia

Life

SOCIAL

No towels, either.

Just wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, prom and ball gowns, as well as a couple of slinky 1930s screen siren dresses.

All in glorious white.

At up to 85% off retail.

So, get married, go to a dance, or just feel like Bette Davis, smoking an unfiltered Chesterfield as she enters a room filled with thin guys wearing Tuxedos.

You’ll look great.

217 West Main Street, Saint Charles, IL

630-584-8009 claudiasboutiquecloset.com FB: claudiasclosetconsignmentboutique

kanecountymagazine.com

OUT & ABOUT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 53

APRIL EVENTS In Kane County ONGOING – OPEN MIC NIGHT | 8 p.m.

Wednesdays at Claddagh Irish Pub, at 1702 Commons Drive in Geneva Join Sam Wyatt and Johnny Z. as they host great local artists. Free admission. For more information, call 630-208-0337 or visit www.claddaghirishpubs. com.

APRIL 4 THROUGH 27 - THE SPITFIRE GRILL | Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. at Steel Beam Theater, at 111 W. Main Street in St. Charles A feisty parolee follows her dreams, based on a page from an old travel book, to a small town in Wisconsin and finds herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. Country flavored tunes and lyrics along with an interesting story line and colorful characters make this an uplifting and thought provoking musical experience. Tickets are $28 for adults, $25 for seniors and $23 for students. For tickets and more information, call 630-587-8521 or visit www.steelbeamtheatre.com.

APRIL 5 & 6 – KANE COUNTY FLEA MARKET | 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road in St. Charles Shop “The Best in the Midwest,” with up to 1,000 dealers offering antiques, collectibles and more.

Held indoors and outside. A country breakfast is served on Sundays. Admission is $5. For more information, visit www.kanecountyfair.com.

APRIL 8 – KANE COUNTY COUGARS OPENING DAY 6:30 p.m. at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, at 34W002 Cherry Lane in Geneva Celebrate the beginning of baseball season with this home opener when the Kane County Cougars take on the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Tickets start at $11 and $5.50 for seniors. For more information, call 630-232-8811 or visit www.kccougars.com APRIL 11 – 60 MEN WHO COOK | 5:30 p.m. at Kane County Fairgrounds, at 525 S. Randall Road in St. Charles Sample hors d’oeuvres, main dishes, side dishes and desserts made by people they know in the community and vote for favorites. Tickets, $35 per person or $40 at the door, include food, four chef votes and one best display vote; additional votes can be purchased. A cash bar and raffle available.

This event benefits the Geneva History Center, Geneva Lions Club and Rotary Club of Geneva. For more information, visit www.genevachamber.com.

APRIL 12 – FOODIE 5K RUN/WALK | 9 a.m. at Cantigny Park, at 1S151 Winfield Road in Wheaton This chip-timed fun run/walk benefits Northern Illinois Food Bank. All ages are welcome. Awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers in each age group. Post-event festival includes music, food trucks, activities for kids and a special appearance by Ozzie of the Kane County Cougars. Registration fee is $35 through April 10.

For more information, visit www.solvehungertoday. org.

54 | APRIL 2014 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

APRIL 12 – EASTER EGG HUNT | 10 a.m. To 1 p.m. at Mooseheart, 255 W. James J. Davis Drive in Mooseheart Activities include the egg hunt for toddlers to 8 years old, pony rides, petting zoo, bounce house and face painting. Have photos takes with the Easter Bunny. Free admission. For more information, call 630-906-3601 or visit www.mooseheart.org.

APRIL 12 – EARTH DAY CELEBRATION | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Peck Farm Park, at 4038 Kaneville Road in Geneva This free, family-friendly event features a green market with local merchants, rain barrels for sale, bicycle tune-ups, free paper shredding, electronic recycling and more. Free admission. For more information, call 630-232-4542 or visit www. genevaparks.org.

APRIL 12 – DOGGIE EASTER EGG HUNT | 12 p.m. at Bark Park 101 W. Main Street in Batavia Man’s best friend will love hunting for eggs filled with doggie treats. All dogs must be on a leash during the event. Registration is $10 for the first dog and $5 for each additional. Advance registration requested but accepted the day of the hunt at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 630879-5235 or visit wwwbataviaparks.org.

APRIL 17 THROUGH MAY 23 - “SHARING COLOR: FORTY YEARS OF PAINTING,” at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center, at 6N158 Crane Road in St. Charles This solo show of captivating abstract acrylic paintings traces the evolution of Alyce Van Acker’s work, Fine Line’s first painting instructor. Free admission. For more information, call 630-5849443 or visit www.fineline.org.

APRIL 19 – EASTER EGG HOP | 10 a.m. To 12 p.m. at the Peg Bond Center and various downtown Batavia locations Includes games, face painting, live music and a raffle involving the eggs you collect from various businesses. Hosted by Batavia MainStreet. For more information, call 630-761-3528 or visit www. downtownbatavia.com.

APRIL 19 – VEGETABLE GARDENING MADE EASY 10 to 11 a.m. At Heinz Brothers Greenhouse, at 2010 E. Main Street in St. Charles Learn the best and easiest way to start, grow and harvest vegetables. Fee is $5. Advance registration requested. To register and for more information, call 630-377-6288 or visit www.heinzbrothers.com.

APRIL 19 – MR. BLOTTO | 10 p.m. at EvenFlow Music & Spirits, at 302 W. State Street in Geneva This Chicago area favorite plays artists diverse as the Grateful Dead, Flaming Lips, Willie Nelson and the Who, as well original material. For more information, call 331-248-0269 or visit www. evenflowmusic.com.

APRIL 21 – CLASSIC MOVIE MONDAY “JERRY MAGUIRE” | 7 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in Aurora “Show me the money” and see this Tom Cruise OUT & ABOUT

classic on the big screen. Admission is $1. For more information, call 630-896-6666 or visit www. paramountaurora.com.

APRIL 21- KEVIN COSTNER & MODERN WEST | 7:30 p.m. at the Arcada Theatre, at 105 E. Main Street in St. Charles Yes, it’s that Kevin Costner. Costner and his band Modern West return to play a night of rock/country originals. Tickets start at $79. For tickets and more information, call 630-962-7000 or visit www. oshows.com.

APRIL 25 & 26 – ST. CHARLES COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE | 8 am. To 4 p.m. at various locations throughout St. Charles Shop for treasures and bargains all throughout the St. Charles area during this city wide garage sale. Registration fees benefit the teen center STC Underground. For more information including tour guide, visit www.stcunderground.com.

APRIL 26 – BATAVIA MOTHER’S CLUB FOX TROT 5K AND 10K | 8 a.m. on the Batavia Riverwalk, on Houston Street in Batavia.

This event will feature a 5K run/walk, the new 10K run, Kid’s Youth Mile and Kid’s Junior Jog. Registration is $25 for the 5K and $35 for the 10K. For more information and to register, visit bataviamothersclub.org.

APRIL 26 & 27 – LEGO BASH | 11 a.m. To 4 p.m. at Blackberry Farm, at 100 S. Barnes Road in Aurora Presented by members of Northern IL LEGO Train Club, this event features amazing LEGO and train displays. Admission, $5 for residents and $6 for non-residents, includes a train ride around Lake Gregory. For more information, call 630-892-1550 or visit www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

APRIL 26 & 27 - KING OF THE PRIDE | 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Arcada Theatre, at 105 E. Main Street in St. Charles Marquee Youth Stage presents this story of love, loyalty, friendship, trust and dishonor through the eyes of a young cub who endures his rite of passage, before becoming ruler of his kingdom.

Features an eclectic mix of tribal music and 3 hit songs from “The Lion King:” “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” and “Hakuna Matata.”

Tickets start at $12.50 for adults and $10.50 for children. For tickets and more information, call 630762-0354 or visit www.marqueeyouth.org.

APRIL 30 THROUGH MAY 3 – KEVIN BOZEMAN | at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, at 4051 E. Main Street in St. Charles With a smooth and clever style, a great smile and a contagious laugh, Bozeman has been entertaining in clubs and colleges across the country since 1999.

Tickets are $23 plus two item minimum. For tickets and more information, call 630-584-6342 or visit www.stcharles.zanies.com.

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HERE! GENEVA ACE HARDWARE | 617 W. State ANABELLA’S SALON & SPA | 1414 Commons Dr. ANYTIME FITNESS | 10 W. State ARTEMESIA | 101 S. 3rd St. ATI PHYSICAL THERAPY | 1002 Commons Dr. CARLSON’S | 728 W. State CDI | 1416 S. Randall Rd. COCOA BEAN CAFÉ | 11 S. 7th St. COFFEE DROP SHOP | 227 S. 3rd St. COMFORT INN & SUITES | 1555 E. Fabyan Pkwy.

CURVES GENEVA | 2401 Kaneville Rd DELNOR HOSPITAL | 300 Randall Rd DENIM LOFT | 208 W. State FOX CHIROPRACTIC | 423 Hamilton St. FOX VALLEY ICE RINK | 1996 S. Kirk FOX VALLEY ORTHO | 2525 Kaneville Rd FULLER CAR WASH | 1122 E. State St. GENEVA CHAMBER | 8 S. 3rd St. GENEVA OPTICIANS | 1000 S. Randall Rd GENEVA PLACE | 27 N. Bennett GENEVA PUBLIC LIBRARY | 127 James GENEVA TRAIN STATION | 328 Crescent GOOD CENTS | 220 W. State GRAHAM’S 318 COFFEEHOUSE | 308 S. 3rd St. GRAHAM’S CHOCOLATE | 302 S. 3rd St. GREENFIELDS | 0N901 Friendship Way HAMILTON HOUSE DENTISTRY | 309 Hamilton St, Ste C HEARTLAND BLOOD CENTERS | 649 W. State INLAND BANK | 1900 W. State St. JOSEF’S MEAT & DELI | 716 W. State KANE PODIATRY/DR. MYTYCH | 2712 Blackberry Dr, Ste 112 KCT CREDIT UNION | 28 N. 5th St. KHANNA DENTISTRY | 425 Hamilton St. MARIO TRICOCI | 1749 S. Randall Rd MICHAEL ANGELO’S DELI | 477 S. 3rd St. | Ste. 184 MILL CREEK MARKET | 39W250 Herrington Blvd.

MONTAGE | 612 W. State MOVEABLE FEAST | 321 Franklin St. NEEDLE THINGS | 426 S. 3rd St. NEW BALANCE | 1749 S. Randall Rd NICHE RESTAURANT | 14 S. 3rd St. OS2 SALON | 507 S. 3rd St. OSCAR SWAN COUNTRY INN | 1800 W. State

PEARLE VISION | 1749 S. Randall Rd PERK UP | 316 Crescent PRAIRIE PATH PODIATRY & SPA LTD | 4 S. 6th St. RILEY DRUGS | 415 W. State SAV WAY FINE WINES & SPIRITS | 515 W. State SOUP TO NUTS HEALTH FOODS | 716 W. State ST. CHARLES BANK | 2401 Kaneville Rd. STATE STREET JEWELERS | 214 W. State St. STRAWFLOWER SHOP | 210 W. State TANNA FARMS GOLF COURSE | 39 W. Hughes THE GIFT BOX | 310 W. State THE MOSSY TWIG | 31 S. 3rd St. THE RESERVE OF GENEVA | 2508 Kaneville Rd VEILED IN ELEGANCE | 15 W. State St. VILLA VERONE | 416 Hamilton St.

BATAVIA A STEP ABOVE DANCE ACADEMY | 103 E. Wilson BATAVIA CHAMBER | 106 Wilson BATAVIA CREAMERY | 4 N. Island BATAVIA FLORAL & GIFT | 109 S. Batavia BATAVIA PUBLIC LIBRARY | 10 S. Batavia BEE ATTITUDES | 9 S. Batavia BULLDOG HOTDOGS | 32 N. Island CURVES | 833 E. Wilson DESIGNS | 1952 W. Fabyan Pkwy ELAN HAIR SALON | 22 N. Island FOR ALL OCCASIONS | 235 W. Wilson FOX VALLEY CHILDREN’S MEDICINE | 1180 W. Wilson HOLMSTAD | 700 W. Fabyan Pkwy.

HOLMSTAD MICHEALSON CENTER (SANDI VALATIS) | 831 N. Batavia ISPIRARE SCHOOL OF MUSIC | 104 1st St. LISA’S HEADS & NAILS | 237 W. Wilson RIVERWEST FAMILY FITNESS | 108 1st St. SPECIAL OCCASIONS ON THE AVENUE | 2 N. Batavia Ave. T WATER STREET STUDIOS | 160 S. Water St. URBAN STYLE SALON | 3 E. Wilson X SPORT | 81 N Randall Rd ZANO SALON & SPA | 2016 W. Wilson

HAMPTON INN | 2875 Foxfield Rd HILTON GARDEN INN | 4070 E. Main St. HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS | 1600 E. Main St. HOTEL BAKER | 100 W Main St. J.P. JEWELERS | 151 S. 1st St. JC’S GUITARS MUSIC LESSONS | 962 S. Randall JEANS AND A CUTE TOP | 161 S. 1st St. JENNY CRAIG | 2672 E. Main St. JET HOCKEY TRAINING ARENA | 731 N. 17th St. K & K FITNESS & YOGA | 5N201 Shady Oaks Ct. KIMMERS ICE CREAM | 1 Illinois St. LAVINCE HAIR SALON | 2728 E. Main St. LEBELLE DONNE DAY SPA | 505 W. Main St. LIN’S GARDEN | 2400 E Main St. LUNDEEN LIQUORS | 610 E. Main St. MCNALLY’S IRISH PUB | 109 W. Main St. MERCEDES | 225 N. Randall Rd. NAIL SERVICE | 3827 E. Main St. PHEASANT RUN-HOTEL | 4051 E. Main St. PHYSICIANS EXPRESS | 2000 W. Main St. REMAX GREAT AMERICAN NORTH | 40 Campton Crossing Dr. ROOKIE’S | 1545 W. Main St. SPORTS PLEX | 1400 Foundry St. ST. CHARLES CHAMBER | 3755 140 St. Charles ST. CHARLES CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE | 1611 E. Main St. ST. CHARLES GYMNASTICS | 720 N 17th St. ST. CHARLES HERITAGE CENTER | 215 E. Main St. ST. CHARLES PUBLIC LIBRARY | 1 S. 6th Ave STARBUCKS-EAST SIDE | 101 E. Main St. STEEL BEAM THEATER | 111 W. Main St. TRELLIS FARM & GARDEN | 2N492 Kirk Rd TRI CITY FITNESS | 1505 W. Main St. VALLEY AMBULATORY | 2210 Dean St. VALLEY NAILS | 2736 E. Main St. VERO VOCE | 951 State Ave. VINO THAI’S RESTAURANT | 3825 E. Main St. WASCO NURSERY | 41W781 IL Rte 64 WOMAN’S TOUCH HEALTHCARE | 1400 Lincoln Hwy Ste. E X SPORT | 238 N. Randall Rd

ST. CHARLES AL PIEMONTE CHRYSLER/JEEP/DODGE | 1611 E. Main St. AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL | 555 S. Randall Rd | Ste 100 AMG PHYSICAL REHAB | 1601 E. Main St. AMLI APPARTMENTS (CLUBHOUSE) | 100 Lakeside Dr. ANGEL NAIL SPA (INSIDE MEIJER) | 855 S. Randall Rd ANTIQUE MARKET III | 11 N. 3rd St. ARCEDIUM COFFEE HOUSE | 60 Indiana St. AUTUMN LEAVE | 10 Peck Rd. AVIVA MEDICAL SPA | 3310 W. Main St. BAIRD & WARNER | 870 S. Randall Rd BEST WESTERN | 1635 E. Main St. BLUE GOOSE | 330 S. 2nd St. BOND DS | 202 S. Kirk BOUDOIR SALON | 111 S. 1st St. CLEAR SKIN DERMATOLOGY | 2560 Foxfield Rd COLONIAL CAFÉ | 1625 E. Main St. COUNTRY INN & SUITES | 155 38th Ave COURTYARD BY MARIOTT | 700 Courtyard Dr. CURVES | 1578 E. Main St. CYNDIRELLA’S ACADEMY | 1301 E. Main St. DELNOR GLEN | 975 N. 5th DOLCE BAKERY AND CAFE | 131 S. 1st St. EDDIE CARUSO HAIR SALON | 111 W Main St. FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES | 2096 Bricher Rd FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER | 110 S. 17th St. FASTFRAME | 615 S. Randall Rd. FOX VALLEY WOMEN & CHILDREN’S HEALTH | 3310 W. Main St. FULL STAFF MUSIC | 614 W Main St. GABBY’S KITCHEN | 1650 W. Main St. GENEVA MOTEL INN | 100 S. Tyler

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artist

showcase KARI KRAUS | Geneva “LEGION” FIBER INSTALLATION

Kari Kraus is a native to Batavia, Illinois and currently lives in Geneva. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Art from Northern Illinois University, which is where her passion for working with fiber began.

Legion is the first installation Kraus ever created. The piece explores the concept of swarm theory.

A native of Batavia and a current resident of Geneva, Kari Kraus received a bachelor’s degree in art from Northern Illinois University, where her passion for working with fiber began.

Starting with dye-free silk organza, She hand mixes a variety of dye baths, then creates patterns and textures on the fiber. The fabric is cut into smaller pieces and left to show

To submit an entry to Artist Showcase, email artwork, title of piece, name and village of residence of artist, a two- to three - sentence description of the piece, short bio and artist photo to KaneCountyMagazine@shawmedia.com, subject head “Local Artist Submission.”

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the surface texture, or steam pressed to instill a uniform appearance. The piece itself only takes shape upon the wall fastened securely with dressmakers’ pins. Each piece is meticulously selected and deliberately installed to reflect a mood within the context of a given space.

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 | 57

The Heart of Kane County is in the

Giving A non-profit feature

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. We are the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.

In 2004, the American Heart Association faced a challenge.

Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an “older man’s disease.” To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women,

the American Heart Association created Go Red for Women – a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

Go Red for Women encourages awareness of the issue of women

and heart disease, and also action to save more lives. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and

power women have to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them the tools they need to lead a heart healthy life.

Women from Kane and DuPage counties and the men who love them will join the fight against heart disease in women at a special “Breakfast in Red” event on Friday, May 16. The event will take place at the Hotel Baker in St. Charles, Ill., and it is chaired by Candace Cymerman, Director Cardiovascular Service Line, Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care, Presence St. Joseph Hospital. Tickets for the event are $100 each and may be purchased at SuburbanChicagoGoRed.org.

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GO RED for women

BREAKFAST 2014 Friday, May 16

Hotel Baker in St. Charles for more information or to purchase tickets visit

SuburbanChicagoGoRed.org locally sponsored by

Š2013, American Heart Association. Also known as the Heart Fund. TM Go Red trademark of AHA, Red Dress trademark of DHHS.

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KCT Credit Union Aurora | Elgin | Geneva |www.kctcu.org | 847.741.3344

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