Northern Illinois Weekender - 012321

Weekender NORTHERN

ILLINOIS

YOUR GUIDE TO ARTS & LEISURE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 • ShawLocal.com

HISTORIC LANDMARK

Hegeler Carus Mansion reopens for tours / 3

SCREEN TIME Beth Fowler Dance Company to debut original ‘Nutcracker Movie’ / 6

ANIMAL INSTINCT

Cosley Zoo open to visitors all winter / 5

UNCORKED

SHAW MEDIA

An expert taster shares favorite finds to consider adding to your own wine racks.

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, January 23, 2021

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By JAMES NOKES

White wine and cheese are a perfect pair

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pportunities are endless to enjoy white wine in winter.

It’s natural to grab a big red wine for dinner or to enjoy while seated in front of the fireplace.

But, white wine is an ideal foil to an all-time great comfort food: cheese.

Because white wines are higher in acid and feature flavors from fruit or citrus trees, their lighter touch, whether it’s lemon, lime, apricot, apple, pear, peach or pineapple, doesn’t overpower the cheese. When a white has herbal flavors of thyme, lavender, lemongrass, bay leaf or even freshcut grass, they further coax out very unique flavors in the cheese.

As members of the Cowgirl Creamery monthly cheese club since December (a Christmas present to my wife), we’ve been exposed to the best collection of artisanal cheeses available.

For $95, three cheeses are delivered to your door. One from Cowgirl Creamery and two from other creameries.

For a while, an online order was the only way to get Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam, an organic, triple-cream cheese with a bloomy white rind. Finer grocery stores have started to carry Mt. Tam, but it’s never as fresh or as good as the direct shipment, where there’s a vegetable white rind, a creamy, buttery interior and a sliver of firm white cheese in the middle.

Now with a monthly shipment, we’ve had the chance to explore a wide range of cheeses. The following white wines were opened over the past two months and paired with cheeses from the December and January shipments.

Toma, from Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., is from pasteurized cow’s milk cheese that was like a firmer mozzarella. There’s a roasted nut and salty, milk flavor in the cheese. First sampled with Foxen Tinaquaic Chardonnay 2017 ($40), the cheese has become a staple with everything from nighttime snacks to being diced with lunch meat.

Foxen founder and Director of Winemaking Bill Wathen said in a Zoom call in October that he’s “a believer in firm acidity, because it makes for a much better food wine.”

There’s no malolactic fermentation, so the wine is driven by lemon and green apple, with bay leaf, warm rock and slate.

“One of the things we have to decide is if the wine is a little lean or a little fat after fermentation,” Wathen said. “If so, we do some lee stirring in the barrels that really helps us out.

Photos provided

Scott MacFiggen of Sosie Wines pours a white wine blend.

But, this was good from the get-go. It flower smell on it, has a really nice texture.” and flavor, at first.

The Tinaquaic Vineyard is dryBut, subsequent cuts farmed and was planted in 1989. Its revealed a sweet cream deep roots can withstand heat waves and old-fashioned salty and are tapping into a sought-after set caramel candy flavor.

The Sosie Rossi of flavors.

Ranch White Blend 2017 “It’s got a really nice, flinty slate ($35), which brought note in the aromas, and I really like that about the vineyard,” Wathen said. France’s Rhone Valley to Sonoma in a unique“It’s derived from the Monterey shale ly California way, had and the roots being so deep.”

Trapiche Medalla Chardonnay 2018 fresh fruit, acidity ($28), with its green apple, pear and and an herbal note. hints of toasty oak, was a rounder, Which is winemaker fuller interpretation but is a fine Scott MacFiggen’s partner for firmer, white cheeses. At plan; capture nuance.

Artesa, winemaker Ana Diogo-DrapIt’s a co-harvested and er’s push to showcase Carneros’ fruit co-fermented blend continued with the Artesa Carneros of roussanne, grenache blanc and Chardonnay 2017 ($23) and its honmarsanne, where the acid levels are eydew melon and fleshy red apple higher than usual even though it’s flavors. It was best with soft, white sourced from a warmer vineyard. cheeses and a fruity jam.

“The herbal note for me is critical,” Ewereka, from Central Coast MacFiggen said. “Plenty of whites are Creamery in Paso Robles, was the citrus and lemon juice flavors. The biggest surprise thus far. Part of the herbal note adds something you don’t January shipment, there was a green get, and that’s the difference, it shows

we’re making a serious white wine.”

Like a tropical breeze, Trinchero

Mary’s Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($35) blew in with guava and

pineapple flavors. The round mouthfeel is bigger than traditional for the varietal.

The green floral snap on the finish is the finishing touch and the layer the wine needed. While the pungent Point Reyes Blue Cheese really needed a sweet, viscous Sauternes, the Trinchero sauvignon blanc could be a suitable stand-in to cut through the funky, peppery, creamy flavors of the cheese.

Leftovers of the Point Reyes were spread across grilled bacon cheeseburgers for a fatty, salty and bitter-tasting masterpiece.

Cheese and wine are a perfect pair.

They offer instant gratification yet still reward the next day. If there are leftovers.

• James Nokes has been tasting, touring and collecting in the wine world for several years. Email him at jamesnokes25@yahoo.com.

STARVED ROCK COUNTRY

3 SHAW MEDIA Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, January 23, 2021

Dedicated to growing the awareness of everything the Starved Rock area has to offer

Photos provided

The Hegeler Carus Mansion is a National Historic Landmark.

Guided tours resume at Hegeler Carus Mansion

By RYAN SEARL

rsearl@shawmedia.com

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s museums and restaurants begin to reopen, we will highlight some of the best socially distant winter road trip destinations in the Starved Rock Country region.

Today, we’ll be catching up with La Salle’s famed Hegeler Carus Mansion, a jaw-dropping estate that just reopened for tours, with brand new safety protocols in place.

Located just a few miles from Starved Rock State Park, conveniently near I-80 and I-39, the Hegeler Carus Mansion is a towering, 56-room Second Empire-style home, set on a palatial property overlooking a quaint riverfront downtown.

Designed by W.W. Boyington, the famed Chicago Water Tower architect, La Salle’s Hegeler Carus Mansion has remained virtually unaltered since its completion in 1876, earning National Historic Landmark status in 2007.

The interior of the massive, 16,000-square-foot structure is just as striking as the Second Empire-inspired exterior. On your one-hour tour of the seven-level home, you’ll be shown intricate parquet

Guided tours explore the lavish interior of the architectural gem completed in 1876. floors, hand-painted ceilings and rooms filled with vast collections amassed by the mansion’s former globe-trotting residents.

Along your guided tour, knowledgeable docents will provide you with fascinating history about zinc magnate Edward C. Hegeler, who originally owned

the home, his immediate family and other notable occupants who spent time at the sprawling estate.

If you’re a true history hound or architecture aficionado, consider booking one of the Whole House or Upper House tours offered by the Hegeler Carus Mansion. These rare opportunities to venture off the usual tour route will give you guided access to every nook and cranny of the impressive home, as well as an inside look at the historical restoration projects underway. Whole House tours run between three and 3.5 hours in length, with Upper House tours taking about half that time. Space for these rare tours is extremely limited.

The Hegeler Carus Foundation is taking extra precautions to help ensure that tours are safe for all guests. Tours currently are limited to six people; the wearing of masks will be required; and safe distancing guidelines must be adhered to. No-touch temperatures will be taken upon arrival, along with basic health information.

The Hegeler Carus Mansion, 1307 Seventh St., is taking reservations for tours on its website, so be sure to book your spot before they start filling up.

Pre-registration online or over the phone at 815-2246543 is required. Visit hegelercarus.org/our-tours.

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, January 23, 2021

SHAW MEDIA

4 STREAMING THIS WEEKEND

‘White Tiger,’ Salt-N-Pepa film, Rhye on tap

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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ere’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.

Movies

Diane Lane, Kevin Costner and Lesley Manville are a formidable trio in “Let Him Go,” a slow-burn Western about a couple who travel from Montana to North Dakota in the mid-1960s in search of their 3-year-old grandson.

Lane and Costner play the grandparents, who lost their own son in an accident and who try to accept their ex-daughter-in-law’s new husband.

But things get tense when they realize this new family is not exactly made up of good people. Thomas Bezucha wrote and directed this adaptation of Larry Watson’s novel. The film is available to rent for streaming.

“99 Homes” director Ramin Bahrani has taken on the ills of American capitalism and now turns his gaze to the caste system in India in his riveting adaptation of Aravind Adiga’s “The White Tiger.” Adiga’s debut novel told a Dickensian story about the rise of an ambitious driver in a rigged system and won the Man Booker Prize in 2008. The adaptation, on Netflix, stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Bollywood star Rajkummar Rao and newcomer Adarsh Gourav. Chopra Jonas, in particular, is a standout as an India-born but America-raised woman who does not agree with the ways of her wealthy husband’s Indian family’s ways. “The White Tiger” shows her acting chops in a way that American productions have thus far failed to.

“Our Friend” stars Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson as a couple and parents to young girls who discover that she has cancer. They quickly find themselves overwhelmed by the burdens of her disease and keeping a household together and ask their college friend (Jason Segel) to come live with them and help. But the temporary situation turns more permanent than they thought. The film, from director Gabriela Cowperthwaite (“Blackfish”), is adapted from Matthew Teague’s Esquire article about his own experience. It is available to rent on demand.

– Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

Music

After a hectic 2020, all you need is the smooth and soothing sound of Rhye to help you start the new year right. Rhye, the R&B musical project

by Mike Milosh, released a new album

AP photos

LEFT: This image released by Netflix shows key art for “The White Tiger,” a film streaming on Netflix beginning Jan. 22. RIGHT: This image released by Epix shows key art for the limited series “Bridge and Tunnel,” available for streaming on Jan. 24.

Friday called “Home.” The 13-track set is full of plush and warm tunes that will make you feel like you’re instantly being massaged at a spa with the best candle scent burning in the background.

For an even better time, check out the music video for Rhye’s “Black Rain,” which appears on the new album and stars Golden Globe-winning actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson dancing shirtless for four minutes.

Taylor-Johnson also directed the clip.

Third time’s the charm for R&B singers Keyshia Cole and Ashanti: Their “Verzuz” battle was postponed twice, finally reset for Thursday. Fans can watch the singers trade hits at the “Verzuz” Instagram page or Apple Music.

Saturdays are for Seventeen: The 13-member, K-pop group will hold a

virtual concert on Saturday, which to the New York setting circa 1980 and with a different set of characbegins at 3 a.m. Tickets cost $45.

– Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu ters: 20-somethings chasing Big Apple dreams but still attached to Television their working-class hometown. They The rise and impact of one of the include Jimmy (Sam Vartholomeos), first female rap groups is dramatized a photographer who reconnects with in the Lifetime movie “Salt-N-Pepa” ex-girlfriend Jill (Caitlin Stasey) (7 p.m. Sunday). Cheryl “Salt” James and runs up against their conflicting and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, played career goals. Burns plays Jimmy’s dad respectively by GG Townson and Laila in the six-episode series debuting at 8 Odom, record a tune for a co-worker’s p.m. Sunday. project and ultimately end up GramTNT’s “Snowpiercer” is back for my-winning artists who help change season two with Sean Bean (“Game of the music genre. Performances of Salt- Thrones”) aboard the post-apocalyptic N-Pepa songs including “Let’s Talk drama as Mr. Wilford, mastermind of About Sex,” “What a Man,” “Shoop” the global-circling railway built to save and “Push It” are featured in the mov- a slice of humanity on a frozen Earth. ie, which counts Queen Latifah among The debut season ended with warring its executive producers and Mario passengers achieving a tenuous peace Van Peebles (“New Jack City,” “Emand Daveed Diggs’ Layton in charge. pire”) as its director. Monique Paul But there’s big trouble on the tracks co-stars as the group’s DJ, Spinderella. ahead, pitting Layton and Jennifer Writer, director and actor Edward Connelly’s Melanie against Wilford Burns first made his mark with the and the daughter Melanie thought had 1995 film “The Brothers McMullen,” died. Instead, she’s become Wilford’s about a trio of Irish Catholic brothers disciple. “Snowpiercer” airs at 8 p.m. from Long Island. In the Epix series beginning Monday, Jan. 25.

“Bridge and Tunnel,” Burns returns – Television Writer Lynn Elber

5 SHAW MEDIA Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, January 23, 2021

INTO THE WILD

Cosley Zoo welcomes visitors all winter long

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SHAW MEDIA

osley Zoo in Wheaton remains open seven days a week this winter, committed to providing families with a fun, safe, socially distanced outdoor experience.

On a footprint of about 5 acres, Cosley Zoo in DuPage County gives visitors an up-close interaction with nature, a news release stated.

It is home to native Illinois wildlife and farm animals and offers natural habitats for white-tailed deer, red fox, bobcat, coyote, llama, horse and many more.

“While many of us like to stay warm and cozy during cold weather, the winter is actually a great time to visit the zoo,” Sue Wahlgren, the zoo’s director, stated in the release. “Not only are the animals very active, but spending a little time outside in nature can do wonders for both our mental and physical health.”

Pre-reserved, timed tickets are

Photos provided

A bobcat is at home at Cosley Zoo, featuring animals native to Illinois. required for all admissions at cosleyzoo.org. The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last ticket time at 3 p.m.

Admission is free for all youth ages 17 and younger, Wheaton Park District residents and zoo members. Admission costs $8 for nonresident adults and $7 for

seniors age 55 or older.

Cosley Zoo has a host of safety measures in place to help ensure the health and well-being of the visitors, staff and animals. The measures include a one-way path through the zoo, signage encouraging social distancing between groups, increased cleaning and sanitation procedures, and the closure of some indoor spaces and high-touch areas.

All guests age 2 or older should wear a mask when a minimum of 6 feet of social distance cannot be maintained. Exceptions will be made for those with medical conditions or disabilities that prevent them from safely wearing a face covering. The Wild Side Gift Shop is open with limited capacity.

The zoo also offers a variety of virtual programming, including behind-the-scenes tours, animal training and feeding demonstrations, science experiments and storytelling. Details are available at cosleyzoo.org.

Hibernating zoos Here are some other zoo visits to plan when they reopen.

■■ Brookfield Zoo will reopen March 1 in Brookfield, but currently offers lots of virtual events including a series of evening lectures about the zoo’s history, animals and conservation programs. The lectures are free, although a $10 donation is appreciated. Online reservations are required and can be made at CZS. org/LectureSeries. For details on the zoo, visit czs.org.

■■ Lords Park Zoo is in Elgin. The fenced-in outdoor area normally includes buffalo, elk and white-tailed deer, with added animals in summer months. Visit cityofelgin.org/1811/LordsPark-Zoo. ■■ Summerfield Farm and Zoo is in Belvidere.

It is home to mountain lions, zebra, lemurs, alligators, giant tortoises, wolves, reindeer, monkeys and other animals. Visit summerfieldfarmandzoo.com.

■■ Phillips Park Zoo is in Aurora. The zoo features a variety of birds, reptiles and mammals. Visit aurora-il.org/150/Phillips-Park-Zoo.

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, January 23, 2021

SHAW MEDIA

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Dance company to debut ‘Nutcracker Movie’ SHAW MEDIA Pirouetting in light of the pandemic, the Beth Fowler Dance Company of Genoa and St. Charles has converted its 27th annual production of the “Nutcracker” into “The Nutcracker Movie,” which has screenings at DeKalb’s Egyptian Theatre now through Jan. 30.

For the full-length film, they added dialogue, green screen and other special effects, an extended story line and exciting filming locations, Beth Fowler, artistic director, stated in a news release. The movie locations include the Ellwood House in DeKalb as the setting of young Clara’s home to which families travel for the annual Christmas Eve party by horse and carriage, provided by Royal Carriage of Genoa.

There will be 151 performers in two casts that include dancers from the Beth Fowler School of Dance for children ages 3 and older and the Beth Fowler Dance Company for eighthgrade students through adults. The company dancers will perform in both casts, with the Genoa school of dance in one cast and the St. Charles school in the other.

“I hired a movie producer to light

Image provided

The Rat King (left) attacks in a scene from “The Nutcracker Movie,” newly completed by the Beth Fowler Dance Company of Genoa and St. Charles for screenings at the Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb. the fires in our dancers again after a tough year, and [now] they hit the big screen,” Fowler said.

Working with film producer Dan Kapper and his team, the troupe filmed the entire traditional “Nutcracker” over the course of a week

at the Egyptian Theatre, breaking up the performance into manageable sizes to ensure they remained within public health guidelines and kept all involved in the production safe, the release stated.

Before this unusual season, the bal-

let had been performed live in DeKalb for nearly 30 years, and at St. Charles North High School for almost 10.

Jacob Bliujus, 17, of Sycamore is the film’s Nutcracker Prince.

He said the filming process was both challenging and educational for the dancers, helping everyone learn a new way of performing on stage – from dialogue and multiple takes to lighting and camera angles.

“But the best part, for me, was being able to perform again,” Bliujus said. “Our film is a lot of fun and will definitely keep people entertained.”

The movie was set to be shown Thursday through Saturday the last two weekends in January in the theater at 135 N. Second St. in downtown DeKalb. The Genoa cast can be seen at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 and 2 p.m. Jan. 23 and 29.

The St. Charles cast screenings will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 to 30 and 2 p.m. Jan. 30.

The dance company noted the screenings will mark the first event hosted by the Egyptian Theatre since the theater was extensively remodeled and updated.

To buy tickets, visit the theater website at EgyptianTheatre.org. For information about Beth Fowler School of Dance, visit www.BethFowlerSchoolOfDance.com.

GOOD NATURED

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By PAM OTTO

Avian snow angels indicate predatory pattern

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very year about this time, the Good Natured World Headquarters staff starts fielding questions about tracks in the snow.

And every other year or so, we – well, actually, I, as the budget here at World Headquarters good-naturedly allows for a headcount of one – put together a column or two on differentiating between the various marks and signs.

Overwhelmingly, these tracks originate from the feet of mammals.

With the warmish winter we’ve been having, even animals that tend to den up at this time of year, like opossums and skunks, have been making nighttime forays and leaving footprints in our sometimes fluffy, sometimes slushy snow.

But occasionally – and by occasionally, I mean like twice in the past 13 years – we receive a query about bird sign in snow. In both instances, lucky hikers came across the stunning imprints of bird wings, left behind when a bird of prey dove down and snagged a meal.

These avian “snow angels” are the crème de la crème of bird sign, not so much because raptors are rare, but because the snow conditions needed are somewhat specific. The icy, crusty snow we had a few weeks ago isn’t good, but the wet snow that fell recently was just right. Add in an element of timing – early morning, before wind and tracks from other wildlife take their toll – and you’ll definitely up your chances of finding one of these winter tracking gems.

Wing imprints are awesome, for sure, but they are by no means the only signs birds leave behind. Next time you’re outdoors, keep an eye or ear out for: Tracks: With more than 250 birds known to occur in our area, describing the tracks of each would be featherbrained, to say the least. However, there are a couple of neat things you can look for if you happen to see tracks of passerine, or perching, birds in the snow.

These birds leave what is referred to as the “classic” four-toed bird track: three toes that point forward and one that points backward. Many of these species, like blue jays, goldfinches and juncos, hop, and the prints they leave behind are side by side, in pairs.

Some passerines, however, skip instead of hop. These species, which include snow buntings and white-breasted nuthatches, place one foot down, then put the other down

Photo provided by Margaret Gazdacka

The rodent tracks that begin on the left and end beneath this “snow angel” indicate a bird of prey was successful in its hunt. slightly ahead of the first.

You have to be pretty dedicated to follow these small tracks and distinguish between the two gaits. But if you do, you’ll gain a sense of satisfaction in knowing the difference. And you also will be another step closer to becoming a full-fledged nature nerd. (If you do reach this echelon of eco-geekdom and want to learn more – lots more – an excellent reference is “Bird Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species” by Mark Elbroch and Eleanor Marks. At 456 pages, it’s extremely comprehensive; it’s also the only book I know of that has tackled this topic.)

Songs and calls: Although spring has not yet sprung, some birds already are declaring their territories through song. The other day while I was shoveling, I heard the clear, two-note whistle of the black-capped chickadee (“Spring’s here!” supposedly are the words you can apply to this song. If only!)

The bird calls I always pay attention to, whether it’s winter or not, are the persistent caw-caw-caws of the American crow, as well as the jeers of a group of blue jays. These birds

regularly conduct their own neighborhood watch programs and alert others to potential threats. If you track down a group of calling crows or jays, you might be rewarded with the sight of a roosting hawk or owl. (You’ve also found an area worthy of checking for those winged snow angels, too.)

Whitewash and pellets: Speaking of owls, the roosts they frequent often are bedecked with a glaze of white.

Looking somewhat like white candle wax and fancifully known as whitewash, these markings are the chalky, uric acid components of the bird’s waste. If you find a tree – often a conifer – with whitewash, be sure and scan the ground underneath it for pellets.

These oval-shaped blocks contain the fir, bones, claws and other indigestible bits of the owl’s last meal.

(Fun fact: Although owls are the most famous pellet producers, many other bird species, including eagles, hawks, crows and gulls, eject inedible matter in this way, too. Because these birds consume diets vastly different from one another, their pellet sizes and contents will vary widely, too.)

Nests: Winter is a great time to

survey the empty nests in your neighborhood to see who your warm-weather residents might be. Each species makes a specific sort of nest, sometimes even using species-specific materials and/or locations. If you find one you’re curious about, send a picture to Good Natured World Headquarters and we – I mean I – will try and get you an answer. As an alternative, the Peterson Field Guides series includes a volume on bird nests that is a worthy investment if bird nests are your thing.

Piles of feathers: This sign actually is an indication of two bird species – the feathers can help you figure out the prey species, and the pile itself will tell you that the bird was taken by a hawk. Cooper’s hawks specialize in feeding on birds and are the most likely suspect, but this time of year, sharp-shinned hawks are a possibility, too. Both species pluck their prey on the ground before consuming it.

• Pam Otto is the outreach ambassador for the St. Charles Park District.

She can be reached at 630-513-4346 or potto@stcparks.org.

SHAW MEDIA Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, January 23, 2021

Taking interesting dives into the natural world around us, Pam Otto opens new avenues of exploration.

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, January 23, 2021

SHAW MEDIA

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WOODHAVEN LAKES Private Recreational Campground

So Much to See. So Much to Do.

Hiking Trails. Woodlands. Nature. Lakes. WiFi. Pools. Crafts. Movies. Fitness Center. Prairie. Deer. Pavilions. Arcade. Mini Golf.

Day Camp. Tennis. Basketball. Live Music. Theme Activities. Fireworks. Painting Parties. Open Markets. Social Events. Volleyball.

Shuffleboard. Teen Dances. Car Show. Paddleboats. Sledding. Farmers Markets. Night Hikes. Campfires. Fishing. Tournaments.

Pickleball. Acoustic Nights. Wine & Cheese Social. Road Rally. Golf Outing. 5K/3K. Haunted House. Canoing. Anything That Floats.

Horseshoes. Petting Zoo. Wagon Rides. Aqua Zumba. Playgrounds. Karaoke. Family Fun Night. Coffee Hour. Clubs. DJs. Scavenger Hunts. Kayaking. Tug of War. Food Fairs. Picnics.

Sublette IL | 815-849-5209

www.woodhavenassociation.com

Call us for a tour!