Shore Magazine by The Times of NWI

style & culture

the green issue

850 NORTH LAKE SHORE DRIVE BIRTH OF A GREEN IDEA

Jane Dunne’s

TRIP TO TRILLIUM HAVEN visitshoremagazine.com THE TIMES

nwi.com

april 2010

4.95

TRYON FARM’S NEXT TIER

ecomaniacs TRANSFORMERS BROWN TO GREEN Dave Hoekstra Gets FLINT Lauri Harvey Keagle on HARBOR SHORES

RUBLOFF RESIDENTIAL ELITE

15709 LAKESIDE, LAKESIDE

14326 BLUFF RD, LAKESIDE

4656 SAILVIEW, HOLLAND

3331 PEPPER CREEK, VALPARAISO

Picturesque French country house on 17 acres with a 800sf guest house by pool.

125 ft. on Lake Michigan, 7BR, 7F, 2H BA, guest house, 4 fireplaces, very private.

Meticulously designed & crafted Lake Michigan home has unmatched quality.

French country mansion on 7+ acres 16,000sf with 2000sf guest house. 6 car garage.

Gail Lowrie

Gail Lowrie/Jan Adamec

Laurie Popovich

$1,600,000

$5,499,000

$2,450,000

$2,950,000

16136 LAKEVIEW, UNION PIER

40240 WILDERNESS, COVERT

626 MARQUETTE, NEW BUFFALO

8421 HERON LAKE, 1000 NORTH

Gordon Beach with 110â&#x20AC;&#x2122; on Lake Michigan. Completely furnished.

Lakefront on Fire Lane 9, 134 acres, Guest quarters,indoor pool, flat beach.

Exceptional setting for gorgeous lakefront home. 4BR/5.5BA, guest quarters, pool.

Offered as 67-acre family compound w 4BR/4BA high quality country home.

Donna Iwamoto

Linda Folk

Gail Lowrie

$3,495,000

$2,825,000

$3,250,000

$2,450,000

FEATURED PROPERTIES

3558 M-140, WATERVLIET

919 E WAGNER, BUCHANAN

2 KARWICK GLEN, MI CITY

Fantastic commercial property, FF&E & Liquor License included, 3 acre site.

Country Estate on 18 acres. Main flr mstr & 3 en suite bdrms. Huge deck. Total privacy.

2BR/2BA condo in Karwick Glen, close to golf, beach, shopping.

Jan Adamec

G.Winn/M.Zarantenello

Chuck Heaver

$435,000

$599,000

$110,000

1003 LIONS PARK, ST. JOSEPH Downtown St. Joe, 4BR/3BA totally remodeled at beach w/lake views. Beach access.

Linda Folk

$525,000

9928 COTTAGE, NEW BUFFALO

14240 COVENEY, BUCHANAN

204 SUNSET TRAIL, MICHIANA

10 HALSTEAD, LAPORTE

2006 Cottage retreat. 3BR/2BA,near beaches, great rental. Short sale.

6 + acre building site near Maple Lake, Orchard Beach. Wooded w/cleared drive.

Michiana treasure on 3 lots, fireplace, wood floors & short walk to the beach.

Wonderful 1 acre lot w/pond frontage in Galena Meadows on 1000 North.

Donna Iwamoto

Mario Zarantenello

Betty Ramsey

$479,000 Jan Adamec

$84,500

$575,000

$31,000

15140 ALGONQUIN, THREE OAKS

300 OSELKA 464, NEW BUFFALO

600 W WATER, NEW BUFFALO

202 E BEECH, THREE OAKS

Big family room, deck, fenced yard, pole barn, wood floors, newer appliances, furnished.

3BR,3BA South Cove Condo w/fabulous Lake & Harbor views! Association pool.

Perfect easy living home on the water. Rental program available.

3BR/2BA, master suite, sc prch, garge, wood flrs, New electric, plumbing, furnace, A/C.

Chuck Heaver / Teri Maki

Jan Adamec

$159,000 Debbie Jacobson

$499,000

$130,000

16021 GOODWIN 7, UNION PIER

878 E 600 NORTH, LAPORTE

Updated 4BR, 3BA farm house, 18 acres with preserve like wooded area.

New, BEACHSIDE COTTAGES, 2 blocks to beach PLUS pool. Start low $300K’s.

Executive home with related living, 8+A,1+hr. Chicago, 8BR/10BA, >10,000SF.

M.Zarantenello/G.Winn

Bobbie Cavic

5189 W US 12, THREE OAKS

6272 N 300 WEST, MI CITY

Country home w/pool, 3BR/3.5BA, 3 car gar, 2 gas fireplaces, large lot. $235,000 $289,000 Ginny Winn

9995COMMUNITY HALL,UNION PIER 3990 SCIPIO, LAPORTE Affordable 4BR +den Union Pier cottage New custom brick ranch, 4BR/3BA/ retreat on secluded 1/2 acre lot. 2CG, basement, on 3/4 ACRE. $299,900 Donna Iwamoto $249,000 Bobbie Cavic

$329,000

$1,495,000

48309 ANNA LIVIA, NEW BUFFALO

109 N BARTON, NEW BUFFALO

Tranquility by the Lake-Close to beach, golf, tennis, playground. Pristine.

Superb combination of income property/retail space. 3 blocks to Lake Michigan

Jan Adamec

$599,900 Gail Lowrie

$438,000

805 N ELM, THREE OAKS

421 ISLAND POINTE, ST JOSEPH

12885 LAKELAND, SAWYER

3016 LAKESHORE, BENTON HARBOR

Short Sale. Renovation by Marco Polo. 3BR/2BA. Walk to theaters/dining.

Riverfront w/40’ dock, quick run to Lake MI. Bright & cheery, pool/clubhouse.

Tibberon beauty w/475 ft of private beach. 3BR/3BA, fireplace, open floor plan.

Million Dollar Views! 3BR/2BA condo on the beach. Spa like facilities!

Betty Ramsey

Linda Folk

Gail Lowrie

Debbie Jacobson

$255,000

MEADOWOOD, LAKESIDE

$364,000

14 PRESERVE, NEW BUFFALO

Large lots, underground utilities, public water Fabulous bldg site w/Galien River views in & sewer, preserved space. The Preserve w/association pool & tennis.

G.Winn/M.Zarantenello

$95,000+ Donna Iwamoto

$195,000

$800,000

$1,199,000

9722 KRUGER 10, NEW BUFFALO

16 OSELKA #8, NEW BUFFALO

Stanley Tigerman custom designed contemporary farmhouse on 2.3 acres.

Luxurious Townhome at New Buffalo’s Marina with Approved Bank Pricing!

D.Iwamoto/K.Strohl

D.Jacobson/M.Zarantenello $1,150,000

$675,000

2310 OLIVE BRANCH, GALIEN

13539 FLYNN RD, SAWYER

STOCKBRIDGE, ST. JOSEPH

“Fairytale Farm” a delightful blend of old & new: the feel of a vintage home w/elements of today.

1.4 acre wooded ravine lot on cul-de-sac in Stockbridge Estates. Private.

Bright, open cottage w/2BR/2BA, bamboo Vintage farmhouse on 1.3 acres w/3BR, large floors, large kitchen, great room, lots of light. country kitchen & original wood floors.

Gail Lowrie

Linda Folk

Gail Lowrie

$875,000

$75,000

120 S THOMPSON, NEW BUFFALO

$339,000 Gail Lowrie

$125,000

contents APRIL 2010

149

Eco-Maniacs

BY ROB EARNSHAW, MELISSA KARIGER AND SHARON BIGGS WALLER

Eco-maniacs David Weston, Jon Hook, Andrea Peterson, Kim Ferraro, Lee Botts, and Rodney and Linda Jo Clough know it’s easier being green.

photograph by JON L. HENDRICKS

56 62

The Birth of a Green Idea BY PAT COLANDER

When Matt Phillips first took his senior luxe living idea to Northwestern University Hospital in 2006, it didn’t fly—too risky, too complicated. Then times changed.

Rebuilding Flint BY DAVE HOEKSTRA

The birthplace of General Motors has an ambitious plan for urban agriculture, beautification and hardcore greening of Flint, Michigan.

VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM

Greener Greens BY LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE

The Trip to Trillium Haven BY JANE DUNNE

How Harbor Shores adopted and developed a malingering ghost town and restored the greatest raw material in the world.

A life of growing thine own at a cooperative farm set on an ancient flood plain of the Grand River in Jenison, Michigan.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Aaron Gang Photography

contents APRIL 2010

80 18 32 22 CLICKS 34 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

HOUSE & GROUNDS

SHORELINES 17

VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM

INTRO

Keeping five continents, seven oceans and one planet in mind, while producing environmentally friendly college apparel.

LISTEN

TriPolar—Valparaiso University’s breakout acoustic rock band— features piano and cello, although they are not the first to bring classical instruments to progressive rock.

MOTORING

INTERVIEW

CULTURE NUT

Dark Lord release day is a phenomenon beyond the paranormal for Three Floyds Brewery in Munster, Billy Elliot the Musical comes to Chicago, and Ann Gallagher and Amanda Snider on facelifts for furniture.

WHERE TO GO

Achievement of net-zero and platinum scores are the holy grail of green.

No More Junk in My Trunk!

BY KATHRYN MACNEIL

A 20-year tiny area of philosophical conflict, when secondhand is not necessarily congruent with second nature.

HEALTH CLUB

HAUTE PROPERTIES

BY JULIE DEAN KESSLER

LAST RESORT

Gary Cialdella captures the social landscape of the Calumet Region. The basics on setting up a simple, indoor home herb garden; the best varieties for growing your own; and how to put your harvest to good use.

Natural Habitat

Tryon Farm, the wellspring of the Lake Michigan-area green movement, steps up to the next level of natural at the home of Gary Beyerl and Dawn Heid.

The best of the green highperformance hybrids coming up are the 2011 Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Volt, Fisker Karma and Nissan Leaf. Tuck Langland specializes in giving big public art a human face.

SHAW THOUGHTS

The greening of the Chinese wind turbines, a few words on lettuce-B, and the reality behind the Green Party candidates.

Alzheimer’s Benefit Charity Ball Share Our Dreams Gala Customs Imports Grand Party Parents as Teachers Luncheon Silver Beach Donor Night La Rabida Celebration of Friends Albert’s VIP Appreciation Photography Club Fundraiser

HOTSPOTS 44 76 86 94

Essential Events Bite & Sip Shore Things Shorecast

8 Publisher’s Letter 10 Editor’s Letter

photography courtesy of [clockwise, from top left] ROBERT BLASZKIEWICZ, JAMES YOCHUM PHOTOGRAPHY, JOE DURK, ROBERT WRAY, CHRISTOPHER BARRET PHOTOGRAPHY

publisher’s

letter

ow that the Super Bowl is ancient history and with baseball not quite real enough, I battle my annual pre-spring fever. this season’s case may be made slightly worse by the coverage of the Olympic Games in Vancouver. Not that I long to see snow—although what these amateur athletes are able to accomplish is awesome—we have plenty of that. My memories of Vancouver date back to last summer and consist of great fishing in a magnificent setting, followed by some of the most incredible meals I’ve ever had. And speaking of incredible meals, for the first time ever I engaged in a new indoor sport at the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids in January: competing in a battle of wits and cooking ability with the members of my management team. With the able assistance of general manager George Aquino’s fantastic staff at the JW, we got to experience firsthand the pressure and pleasure of working together to create a prizewinning meal. It was the best team-building exercise we’ve had as professionals: we learned from each other, cooperated and cooked an outstanding dinner for ourselves and our spouses. Though everyone was tired, we were all proud of what we were able to accomplish together. And the luxury accommodations, the food and the ambience surrounding the more detailed and serious part of our managers’ meeting were top-notch. The fact that it only took a couple of hours to get away for this unique experience was pure luck—the only other hotel doing this right now is a plane ride away. I strongly recommend that you consider this training opportunity for your team: it gave us the gift of renewed energy, enthusiasm and optimism. It also doesn’t just have to be for a company team-building exercise; I plan to invite some family and friends up to participate in this fabulous event just for the fun and fellowship! Look for an article on this unforgettable experience in the next issue of Shore. I need some time to personally edit the video portion before it goes up on the website. Thanks again, George, for a truly unforgettable experience. This green issue is one of my favorites: it’s the real start of the new season and the new year. (My wife Julie never misses spring cleaning and our annual garage sale at the Porter County Fairgrounds. Where would we put all the new bargains that we tend to pick up at that sale?) And the Shore brand gets greener every day. The weekly Shore e-newsletter has become the place for almost 20,000 readers to find out about weekend events in flash, video, lists, photos and save-thedate reminder ads. Traffic and readership for online exclusive content on VisitShoreMagazine has doubled in the past year and continues to grow. But the demand for the printed version of our magazine with maps, restaurants, essential events and the latest in cars, homes, property, the arts and every opportunity to have a good time has never been greater, either. The only way you can be sure you’ll never miss an issue is by subscribing today at our website. And Shore is only part of the story. We have multimedia solutions across a range of products we publish, including Shore Bride, NWI Parent, Get Healthy, At Home and BusINess magazines; and our daily newspaper, The Times of NWI, and nwi.com, the dominant portal by far. Coming soon: the next in our series of From the Farm cookbooks by Shore “Of Notoriety” columnist and blogger Phil Potempa. Our marketing resources are unmatched, flexible and economical for customers and readers, and we are proud of that fact. Good luck with your own spring cleaning projects. As the days get longer, we will soon be back to the beach . . . and cutting the grass. BILL MASTERSON, JR.

Editor’S

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Upcoming Events

Lia Sophia Jewelry Party Thursday, April 1st 6pm-9pm

Grab your girls for a night out ! Enjoy cocktails and appetizers while browsing the newest Spring collections of apparel & jewelry!!!

Located in Downtown Valparaiso,

404 E. Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN • 219-464-3330

All new customers must mention ad in Shore Magazine to receive 30% discount on purchase of NON-SALE items. Additional discounts will be offered for Lia Sophia Party, 30% off discount will not be eligible April 1st.

ooking back on previous green issues, I was not surprised to see the emphasis on personal responsibility. While we may not deserve a standing ovation for lifestyle changes I see everyone making—toting groceries in reusable bags, e-archiving more and printing out less, walking up the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator—we at least deserve a small pat on the back. Sure, we are only doing what’s good for us and mostly it turns out that the same things that work for individuals, work for the good of everyone, but for years we didn’t put much thought into it. In the past I’ve complained about junk snail mail catalogs, the joys of fuel-efficient vehicles and efficiencies that lower the cost of living. And there is nothing wrong with scaling back carbon footprints one sole at a time. (Kathryn MacNeil makes an eloquent case that there is an endpoint in the life span of every valueless object we own. There is a time to stop recycling the piece of junk that no one really wants for more than the 10 seconds it takes to reflect on what is the actual function of the thing. Yes, we must sometimes have the courage to make the choice to throw something away.)

0 visitshoremagazine.com 1

So I was surprised to see that so many of the stories in this year’s green issue are about big, important issues, plans and genius ideas. Last week, I visited with Ken Ankli, who took more than a couple years of his life to overhaul underused factory space—and stuff like oddly shaped shelving, outdated pieces of wheels and machinery— into a dozen studios for student musicians and four beautifully designed loft living spaces with room and a plan for an outdoor cooperative vegetable garden. The Quarternote Lofts in the Benton Harbor arts district are the ultimate example of how green works: using new materials like a great-looking, easy-to-clean, durable finish that holds heat on a concrete floor and renovating a wide wood and metal staircase using nothing more than a long pipe to create a sturdy banister. This story is not in this issue, but other large-scale projects are. There is the Goliath project on the BH lakefront—Harbor Shores, which has already transformed what remained of a decayed river port on Lake Michigan into its own unique and futuristic universe. In Indiana, Ed and Eve Noonan’s visionary Tryon Farms has already moved up to the next level of the livable and sustainable future. In downtown Chicago, developer Matt Phillips (with a little help from architect Larry Booth and historian Susan Benjamin) has reimagined a former private athletic club and Northwestern University medical school dormitory into a community for seniors who want to hang out with their neighbors, take classes and have parties. (It seems like an obvious idea, but nobody thought to do it before.) Jane Dunne visits a 50-acre organic farm in Jenison, Michigan, and Dave Hoekstra visits a 130-acre reclamation project built on top of an old, contaminated site—formerly known as Chevy in the Hole—in GM’s birthplace of Flint, Michigan. No detail is trivial or overlooked, and no one is going it alone out there making these things happen. These projects are like fully formed beehives, pollinating, growing and harvesting fields of complexes where people will soon live and work and figure out the plan for the next generation. These stories are simply compelling and awesome. Remember to stay in touch online while we get the travel issue ready for May. Pat Colander

Dune Acres. Incredibly beautiful and private lakefront compound with 300ft of beachfront. Charming brick tudor with detached 3 car garage and studios with baths upstairs. Screened beach house with water and electricity. $2,400,000

Dune Acres. Escape to this oh, so charming 50’s ranch that sprawls across the dune surrounded by 1.5 acres of woods. Glimpses of the lake and path to beach. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. 2 fireplaces. Spacious screened porch. $599,000

Porter beach. Stunning panoramic views of the lake and shoreline from the legendary Stanley Tigerman Daisy House. 3 bedrooms, 3 bath. Open great room/ kitchen plan, cozy den with fireplace, changing room, family room. Multiple decks and steps to beach. $995,000

Porter Beach. If you love Mies design, you’ll want to see this incredible all glass home. Only sliding glass walls separate you from the lovely dunes landscape and the Lake Michigan panorama. Great room with fireplace, galley kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. Lakeside lap pool and curtained gazebo. The ultimate beach house. $997,000

Beverly Shores. A minimalist design...simple, elegant, open. Contemporary ceiling trusses follow the curved roofline offering a strong central architectural element. Great room, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and folding glass wall that brings the screened porch into your living space in warm weather. Beautiful wooded corner site. Steps to beach. $1,199,000

Chesteron. Sand Creek. One of the most beautiful golf course building sites in Sand Creek. On Marsh #2, alongside this prestigious community’s namesake creek. Unobstructed views of 3 fairways, covered bridges & winding creek. $300,000

Beverly Shores. Architect designed this cozy, contemporary Chicago loft style home for himself. Two story glass walls, hardwood floors, solid surface tops, stainless appliances. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. 2 lofts. Hear the lake, enjoy the wildlife. Short walk to the beach. $417,995

Beverly Shores. Location, good floor plan, move in ready. Open living room, dining room and kitchen with walls of window and great views. Master bedroom and bath is up top, 2 guest bedrooms on walk-out lower level. Screened porch. Across the street from the park with tennis court, playground, pond for fishing & ice skating. About 3 blocks to beach. $375,000

Beverly Shores. 2 Beautiful wooded building sites. One with glimpses of lake. Both within a block of beach. $229,00 / $159,000

Donna Hofmann 219.331.1133 / donna@dhofmann.com

Preview these and other fine properties online at www.dhofmann.com

style & culture

Publisher Bill Masterson, Jr. Director of Product Development Christopher Loretto 219.933.3243 cloretto@nwitimes.com Senior Account Executive Lisa Tavoletti Illinois/Indiana/Michigan 219.933.4182 ltavoletti@nwitimes.com Account Executive Mary Sorensen Michigan 616.451.3006 msorensen@nwitimes.com Traffic Manager Tom Kacius Pre-press Specialists Maureen Benak Rhonda Fancher Tracy Hanson Advertising Designers Dave Annable Ryan Berry Mark Fortney Jeff Olejnik Kathleen Stein

hings & Mor

is Home Furn

Beach House ousse TGheallWericyker BBeach eaachh Style Style St l Home Home Furnishings Furrnniisshhings & More More

3 STORES IN 1 EASY LOCATION! LARGE SELECTION OF FABRICS! Custom Orders Welcome!

Published by Lee Enterprises The Times of Northwest Indiana Niche Division 601 W 45th Street Munster, Indiana 46321 219.933.3200 Michigan/Indiana Sales 1111 Glendale Boulevard Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 219.462.5151

New Subscriptions, Renewals, Inquiries and Changes of Address: Shore Magazine Circulation Dept., 601 W 45th St, Munster, IN 46321, or 800.589.2802, or visitshoremagazine.com

Largest Wicker Showroom in N.W. Indiana! 2 visitshoremagazine.com 1

SUNROOMS… Our S O Specialty! l !

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Single copy price is $4.95. One-year subscriptions $20 (8 issues) Two-year subscriptions $25 (16 issues) Three-year subscriptions $35 (24 issues)

volume 6 / number 2

Editor / Associate Publisher Pat Colander 219.933.3225 pcolander@nwitimes.com Art Director Joe Durk 219.933.3277 jdurk@nwitimes.com Managing Editor Julia Perla 219.933.3353 jperla@nwitimes.com Assistant Managing Editor Kathryn MacNeil 219.933.3264 kmacneil@nwitimes.com Designers April Burford, Matt Huss Online Editor Ashley Boyer Contributing Editors Jane Ammeson Heather Augustyn Lois Berger Sue Bero Robert Blaszkiewicz Christy Bonstell Claire Bushey John Cain Laura Caldwell Donna M. Chavez Tom Chmielewski Juli Doshan Jane Dunne Rob Earnshaw Jeremy Gantz Terri Gordon Dave Hoekstra Seth “tower” Hurd Jim Jackson Rick Kaempfer Lauri Harvey Keagle Julie Dean Kessler Mark Loehrke Joey Marburger Sherry Miller Virginia Mullin Andy Shaw Fran Smith Megan Swoyer Sharon Biggs Waller Contributing Artists and Photographers Lloyd DeGrane Jennifer Feeney Richard Hellyer Callie Lipkin David Mosele Johnny Quirin Gregg Rizzo Christina Somers Robert Wray

Shore magazine invites readers and writers to submit ideas, comments and feedback through email at feedback@visitshoremagazine.com or the post office at Shore Magazine, 601 W 45th St, Munster, IN 46321, or 1111 Glendale Blvd, Valparaiso, IN 46383.

sunday | 3.21.10 | 12-4pm SAVE THE DATE • SAVE THE DATE • SAVE THE DATE • SAVE THE DATE • SAVE THE DATE • SAVE THE DATE

2010

800 e 81st ave merrillville, indiana

contributors Chas Reilly joined the Times in 2006. He has been covering the Town of Merrillville for more than two years and recently started covering the Town of Winfield as well. Reilly enjoys writing about local government and other topics in the communities he covers. His grandparents always encouraged people to be more environmentally friendly, and Reilly found it interesting to learn how furniture restoration can help the environment while enhancing a piece of furniture. Reilly grew up in a suburb of Chicago, but has lived in Northwest Indiana for the majority of his life.

correction In the Click section of the February/March 2010 issue (the Kitchen Walk event), a photo [right] was misidentified. The woman should be identified as Karen Grayson.

looking for more shore? Check out the following online exclusives—along with new daily stories, photos and videos—at visitshoremagazine.com: • You’ve learned how to grow your own herbs (page 30). Now learn what to do with them! Visit our website for 14 ways to use your herbs. • Want to see more of the outstanding architecture at 850 North Lake Shore Drive (page 56)? Check out the rest of the photos on our website. • Did you attend a party featured in our Click section (pp. 3443)? You can purchase your photo for an affordable price in our online photo gallery. 4 visitshoremagazine.com 1

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>> intro <<

Project571 Going green while supporting your team

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT WRAY

[left to right] Michael Wheeler and Nathan Dean

APRIL 2010

ichael Wheeler was an “environmentalist by hobby,” taking to the outdoors with scuba diving and snowboarding and launching a website on ways to live green. Now he is an environmentalist by retail. “We’re just giving people the option to support their favorite team and the environment at the same time, which never existed before,” Wheeler says, adding that he and business partner Nathan Dean watch and debate college sports regularly. In 2008 Wheeler and Dean launched Project571, a business that sells college and alternative apparel made from eco-friendly materials to youth and adults. The company has grown quickly with its website project571.com, Wheeler says, to where it sold between $6,000 and $7,000 in merchandise in December alone. All Project571 products are made from organic cotton, bamboo or recycled polyester. Wheeler says the company—whose name stands for five continents, seven oceans, one planet—and its products are a way of educating people about their carbon footprint and ways to help the environment. Printing is done digitally, and all clothing is fair-labor certified. “The people who grew the cotton all the way to people who stitched it together were compensated fairly for their work,” says Wheeler, who grew up in St. John, Indiana. Since 2008, Wheeler says the company has gotten licensing approval from about 25 universities to sell clothing with their names on it. The company’s list includes Yale, Loyola, DePaul, University of Chicago, Valparaiso and Wheeler’s alma mater, Indiana University. He says licensing takes about three months, and the company is continuing to add to its inventory of schools. Pricing is competitive with university bookstores, and at times Project571 clothing is even less expensive. Wheeler says organic materials aren’t as expensive as in the past, because more and more people are growing and buying green. “We’re realistic,” Wheeler says. “It’s not like buying a Northwestern organic T-shirt is saving the world. But every little bit helps.” –SARAH TOMPKINS

shorelines >> listen <<

TriPolar Redefines Rock Jacob Tewes, Jeff Ragauskis and Bryan Lee of TriPolar

Before the interview even starts, TriPolar member Bryan Lee is tinkering on a grand piano. He lists off a series of chords and asks fellow band member Jeff Ragauskis if he can solo over it. “Yeah, I think so.” It’s just part of the routine for TriPolar, one of the campus’s breakout bands. The band is hardly a year old, yet this popular trio is performing in venues around the university.

riPolar’s success can be attributed to their unique sound. Ragauskis, a junior, always sits center stage to be able to showcase his cello playing. That’s right, cello. In an acoustic rock band. Supported by fellow Valparaiso University juniors Lee (piano, vocals, trumpet, guitar) and Jacob Tewes (acoustic guitar, vocals, piano), Ragauskis’ cello creates an edgy sound that is refreshingly avant-garde. The band is inspired by OneRepublic, the Goo-Goo Dolls, and the Fray. For Ra-

8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 1

APOCALYPTICA (cello rock) Formed in 1993, this trio of Finnish cellists had not seen mainstream success in the United States until the release of their 2007 album Worlds Collide. “I Don’t Care” [Worlds Collide, 2007] was in the Top 20 Mainstream Rock Tracks for an entire year.

gauskis, the inspiration is also personal. “When I was in high school, playing in the orchestra, my friend Josh Napp brought his guitar to jam before performances. I accompanied him with my cello. And I just had so much fun that I wanted to continue that in college.” It’s no surprise that Ragauskis was the founding member of TriPolar. After a casual jam session with friends Lee and Tewes, the trio signed up to play at a small dorm open-mic coffeehouse. The gig was successful, and the band was surprised at the student body’s warm reception. “I think it

CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN ROCK Rock ’n’ roll was an evolution itself. From humble beginnings in rebellious ragtime to the sultry sounds of jazz and blues, classic rock ’n’ roll was also the springboard for rapid musical style changes in the later half of the 20th century, from prog rock to punk. • With the evolution of music came the evolution of instruments. Yet some bands have decided to stay old-school and stick with classical instruments (and not just a 1948 Fender Broadcaster, either!). So does the fusion of vintage and modern really stand the test of time? —SAMANTHA CORNWELL

has something to do with our formula— we play covers that everyone likes. And then we play Bryan’s original pieces, and the audience likes that stuff, too,” laughs Tewes. Ragauskis adds, “We trust [Tewes]; he’s the brains behind this operation.” Tewes is quick to interrupt, “And we basically just show off Jeff, our ‘token’ guy. Bryan’s piano and trumpet add cohesion.” And by the time the interview is done, Ragauskis has come up with a solo and Lee has another original song to add to their repertoire. TriPolar performs in Valparaiso, Indiana, but is always looking to expand its audience. And why not? These fun-loving guys aren’t afraid to try something hardly explored in the realm of rock music. An album is slated for release in April 2010. For tour dates and more information on TriPolar, go to myspace.com/valpotripolar. —SAMANTHA CORNWELL

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (ELO) (symphonic rock) ELO has been producing rock music with an entire symphony orchestra in the background since 1970. “Don’t Bring Me Down” [Discovery, 1979] was their highest-rated song in the U.S. and their first song to not include their famous string section.

JETHRO TULL (rock) This band has tried many different styles, but the one thing that remains the same is Ian Anderson’s famous flute playing. “Thick as a Brick” [Thick as a Brick, 1972] was their first album to reach #1 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Charts. It’s comprised of a single song by the same name that lasts over 43 minutes.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE DURK

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shorelines >> shaw thoughts <<

The True Meaning of Green We’re supposed to be thinking “green” for this issue, but I’ve turned “beet red” after watching an ABC News investigation about the fate of $2 billion— that’s “B” for BILLION—federal recovery dollars earmarked for the construction of those giant wind turbines that generate clean energy. Green technology and green jobs, right? Win-win for the economy and the environment? Not. Turns out that 80 percent of those federal dollars—8 of 10—are going offshore to build the turbines in other countries, mostly in China.

‘‘It

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makes people lose faith in government,” New York Senator Chuck Schumer tells ABC, “and it infuriates me.” So I’m wondering, as I fulminate, why we’re not building those turbines here— why it’s not a mandatory component of the recovery program. “You know why,” says my better half, Mary, who follows these issues closely. “We didn’t put enough money into green technology, so it would cost us three times as much to build those turbines here. Forget it.” Green’s not my favorite color—that’s probably blue (I’m a guy). And green’s arguably not our most important color. Black and white are the symbols of good and evil, night and day, and our intractable racial divisions. Heavy stuff. And red—the color of blood, love and embarrassment—is right up there. But green is no slouch. Money is “long green.” Envy is green. “Drive for show and putt for dough” is about golf greens. “Green” is a political party. And greens are the basic component of a good, healthy salad. And speaking of salad, here’s a green story I love: My friend Sean, who owns the Basil Leaf Café, a wonderful restaurant in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, decided to open a salad bar on Clark Street near Fullerton. He called it “Lettuce Mix.” But even before the place was

officially open, the Microsoft of local restaurant groups, Lettuce Entertain You—an empire built by the Bill Gates of this scenario, restaurateur Rich Melman—filed a lawsuit to keep the word “Lettuce” out of the name. Copyright infringement, LEY claimed. At least in my judgment, Sean’s food at the Basil Leaf is as good as or better than any of Melman’s restaurants, including R.J. Grunts, Maggiano’s and Wow Bao. Sean is fighting the suit with humor by displaying a banner with a temporary name atop the salad bar: “Let Us Be.” So the legal battle goes on. And yes—it’s about green. Long green. Green in my world also means a golf course, where, in the best tradition of the rats in those college psych experiments, I alternately experience pleasure and pain (without the benefit of a single electrode implanted haphazardly in my brain by an overzealous student). Few pleasures match the joy of a day in and around the verdant trees, bushes and lawns of a golf course. Mark Twain was wrong when he called golf “a good walk ruined.” Or was he? Considering the agony of errant drives, dubbed fairway shots and pulled putts, maybe golf, for us hackers, is best described as “long green wasted.” And finally we get to politics. Al Gore invented the Green Party, right? No, that was the Internet, but the former vice president did win a Nobel Peace Prize for his yeoman’s work on the toxic effect of greenhouse gases and climate change. The actual Green Party started in Germany in the late ’70s, and Greens took root in this country in ’91 with a platform that included ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy, nonviolence, decentralization, community-based economics, feminism, respect for diversity, personal and global responsibility and a focus on the future. But trust me on this one—10-point plans invariably give way to political expediency, and the Green Party quickly became a vehicle for out-of-the-mainstream wannabes to launch political campaigns. They rarely win, but they frequently shake up the playing field.

or instance, Rich Whitney’s race for Illinois governor in 2006. He was hardly a slave to party orthodoxy—his campaign was a reaction to “neither of the above”—Democratic Governor Rod (indicted, impeached and coveted by reality TV) Blagojevich and Republican Judy Baar Topinka, a red-haired Lucille Ball knockoff whose major sin was her friendship with another felonious ex-governor, George Ryan. No wonder Whitney got more than 10 percent of the vote, including mine. Now we have another Green Party hopeful running for president of the Cook County Board. Tom Tresser, whose “No Games Chicago” campaign against the 2016 Olympics turned out to be prophetic. He’s a character who will make it interesting. But he won’t have enough long green or political support to win. Because, at the end of the day, this is still a nation that worries more about the black and white of skin color. Or the red, white and blue of the flag. Green is for the salads we don’t eat enough of. The dough we don’t have enough of. And the putting surfaces we rarely reach in time for a par. But we can always cheer for Spartan green at MSU. —ANDY SHAW

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shorelines >> culture nut <<

HOPS AND NUTS

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here are a number of ways to measure the impressive evolution of Three Floyds Brewery, the budding craft beer empire founded by a nephrologist and his two sons that has been not-so-quietly tucked away in a Munster industrial park for the past decade. There is the physical growth of the operation itself, as upgraded machinery and massive new vats arrive by the week to help increase production of the brand’s signature ales from roughly 18,000 kegs in 2009 to a projected total of more than 30,000 in 2010—an output that will still fall well short of worldwide demand. There are the lofty usergenerated rankings for popular brews like Gumballhead and Alpha King on influential online forums such as BeerAdvocate and e lin The beer RateBeer. Then there are the dozens of people waiting outside in the midwinter cold for a coveted seat in the brewery’s smallish adjacent pub on a typical weekend. But perhaps nothing quite demonstrates the true fervor for all things Three Floyds quite like the annual phenomenon known as Dark Lord Day. Omi-

nous in name but celebratory in spirit, what began in 2003 as a small gathering of fifty friends and devotees to mark the once-yearly release of the brewery’s Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout has fermented into a highly anticipated global event that Three Floyds general manager Dan Tompkins expects to draw nearly 8,000 beer lovers and general to say, the presale system Trade you for a revelers will be in place again for beer? this April. this year’s festivities, but “I’ve been even for those thousands to a lot of beer festiof beer lovers not lucky Cheers! vals, and this is far and away enough to snag one of something else entirely,” says those prized golden tickTompkins, who estimates that ets, Dark Lord Day still about half of the crowd will promises a day of gourcome from the surrounding arThe demand for the annual almet food from the brewpub, eas of Illinois and Indiana, with lotment of Dark Lord has been heavy metal bands, and dozthe rest visiting from across the ens of craft pours from Three so frenzied in recent years country and, indeed, around Floyds and several other area that Three Floyds set up an the world. breweries. But Tompkins, for advance-sale “golden ticket” one, thinks there’s much more distribution system for the first to the event than just great time in 2009 to gauge demand food and beer. and help ensure that people or die-hard “You’ll have people from who came for the beer went aficionados, all over the place who’ve never home happy. The $10 tickets the main draw met each other waiting in line (proceeds went to the Humane will obviously and they’ll just start talking Society) that guaranteed the be the beer. about their favorite beers, and holder the ability to purchase Dark Lord itself all of sudden there’s this cona set number of bottles of the is a complex, nection,” he says. “So it’s the coveted stout were gone in a high alcohol camaraderie and the commumatter of hours, save for the content brew that incorporates few that flavors like molasses and coffee nity that comes out of something like this that’s surfaced on beans—a beer that appeals to just amazing— people who appreciate things online resale DARK L ORD DA and it’s all because sites for like “aroma” and “mouthfeel” Y AP of this one beer upwards of perhaps more than those Three Flo R 24, 2010 yds we brew here.” $100. looking for, say, a bottle that 9570 Ind Brewery iana Pkw Needless changes color when it’s cold. —MARK LOEHRKE y M

unster, 219.922 Ind. .3 threefloyd 565 s.com

photograph [this page] courtesy of THREE FLOYDS BREWERY, [opposite page] left: CAROL ROSEGG; top right: JOHN LUKE; bottom right: ROBERT WRAY

The craft beer craze gets its day in the dark

best in show

‘BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL’ COMES TO CHICAGO

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL Previews begin March 18, 2010

FACELIFT Restoring old furniture that’s hidden away and collecting dust could be an economical and environmentally responsible way to redecorate homes. Some people are turning toward restoring furniture because they have a piece of furniture from a relative who has passed away, but the piece doesn’t fit in with the style of their home, says Amanda Snider, owner of Homenclature in Munster. “A lot of people will have grandma’s buffet wasting away in their basement,” Snider says. In those situations, people can bring their furniture to the workshop at Homenclature, and staff can change hardware, paint furniture and make repairs so the piece can better fit the home’s decor. Snider says restoring furniture can be cheaper than buying new pieces, and it can help the environment since the furniture is being reused instead of thrown away.

In addition to the restoration and upholstery work, the business sells new and used furniture, which also can be altered in Homenclature’s workshop, Snider says. Ann Gallagher, owner of Gallagher Design in Miller Beach, also thinks people

turn to recycling furniture because of the quality and design of vintage furniture. Gallagher sells vintage furniture dating back to the 1920s in her showroom, and sometimes has to restore the pieces depending on their condition, she says. –CHAS REILLY

Ann Gallagher of Gallagher Design Wendy Snider of Homenclature

APRIL 2010

Ford Center/Oriental Theatre 24 W Randolph, Chicago 800.775.2000 broadwayinchicago.com billyelliotchicago.com

FURNITURE

it musicals come and go in Chicago. Redcarpet openings—with stretch limos lining the street, the eerily bright lights illuminating televised interviews under the marquee, and the hip, dressed-to-the-nines crowd milling excitedly in the lobby—are almost routine in this world-class theater district. But sometimes the early buzz for a production contains enough hyperbole to make even the most sophisticated of theatergoers stand up and take notice. Such is the case for Billy Elliot the Musical, opening in previews at Chicago’s Ford Center for the Performing Arts/ Oriental Theatre on March 18. In this era of Awards Show Overload, jaded consumers are understandingly wary of the term “Best Musical.” But add the production’s ten Tony Awards to the mix, and things become more interesting. Better yet, Billy Elliot was recently declared “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Time magazine, and—perhaps the boldest statement of all—“The Best Musical You Will Ever See” by the New York Post. Fans of the 2000 film upon which the musical is based will remember that Billy Elliot tells the story of a young motherless boy, growing up in working-class northern England in the mid-1980s. Amid the strife of the Miners’ Strike, Billy discovers that he feels more fulfilled in a ballet class than in the starkly contrasting world of the boxing ring. His struggle to fulfill his unlikely dreams, instead of the expectations of the hardscrabble community in which he lives, takes the audience on an uplifting journey, a celebration of triumph against all odds. The musical, which originally opened in London’s West End in 2005, features a score by the legendary Elton John, and is directed by Academy Award-nominated and Tony Award-winning Stephen Daldry. Three talented boys (Tommy Batchelor, Giuseppe Bausilio and Cesar Corrales) will rotate in the title role. Slated for an extended run in the Windy City, Billy Elliot the Musical is poised to live up to its hype and enthrall Midwest audiences for a long time to come. —KATHRYN MACNEIL

shorelines

General Motors eliminates consumers’ electric car “range anxiety” with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, which debuts late this year hailed as an “extendedrange electric vehicle” target priced in the upper $40,000 bracket.

The plug-in Chevy Volt is a four-passenger midsize sedan with the ability to travel up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions with a single charge of its lithium-ion battery pack from 110-volt current. A full recharge takes 6.5 hours. As the car is driven and batteries are depleted, an onboard gasoline generator seamlessly engages to operate the electric drivetrain for 300 miles of travel before refueling or stopping to recharge the battery. GM expects Chevy Volt to achieve city fuel economy of 230 miles per gallon. Volt’s battery pack is manufactured at the Brownstown Battery Pack Assembly Plant in Brownstown Township, Michigan, the first lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility of its kind in the United States.—JIM JACKSON

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he United States Department of Transportation says that three of every four drivers travel less than 40 miles a day in their vehicle. Fisker Automotive in Irvine, California, is leveraging that ratio with the 2010 fall arrival of the 2011 Fisker Karma sport sedan. Fisker is the first electric car company to bring a Premium Plug-in Electric Hybrid sedan to market, with dealers in Chicago and forty-one other locations across the country.

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Unlike a standard gasoline-electric hybrid, the rear-drive Karma generates power from an electric motor that is recharged from standard current and coupled to an efficient 2.0-liter gasoline engine. The small engine runs an onboard generator that charges a lithium-ion battery pack to provide power to a pair of electric motors fixed to the rear axle. The quad-seat Karma travels 50 miles on electric power before switching to the electric motors spun by the generator for an additional 250 miles of travel. Karma’s electric powertrain generates 403 horsepower and can eclipse 0-60 miles per hour in 5.8 seconds. The 2011 Fisker Karma costs $80,400 with a $7,500 federal tax credit. —JIM JACKSON

Japanese automaker Nissan plans to turn a greener side with the launch of the 2011 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle by year’s end. The pure-electric Leaf is close in size to the Nissan Versa compact car, powered by an electric motor that turns its front wheels by way of a single-speed gearreduction transmission. Leaf’s lithium-ion battery pack is made of forty-eight laminated modules charged with 110-volt household current. A full charge takes 16 hours. Higher volt service reduces the time to 8 hours. Both applications render a travel range of 100 miles. Owners of the 2011 Nissan Leaf will lease the battery pack instead of buying it with the car. In doing so, Nissan takes responsibility for the longevity and recycling of the batteries, not the possessor. The battery lease is expected to cost less than $120 per month. Leaf’s retail price is likely to reach $30,000.—JIM JACKSON

photography [this page, top left] courtesy of GM CORP; [this page, top right] courtesy of NISSAN; [this page, bottom left] courtesy of FISKER AUTOMOTIVE; [opposite page] courtesy of TESLA MOTORS

Volt for Four

GREEN LEAF

>> motoring <<

Charging a New Decade Plug-in Mobility

hen the modern-day gasoline-electric hybrid car first appeared on the American landscape 10 years ago, it was little more than a novelty vehicle. There was nothing like it in the market and relatively few were sold. A technologically challenged public asked, “Where do you plug it in?” This decade, that question is answered as a new surge of super fuel-efficient, clean energy cars make their way toward a savvy group of consumers paying attention to the nextgeneration “green” transportation—plug-in electric vehicles. Like the early hybrids, electric cars are in their infancy.

Currently, only one U.S. car company has a pure-electric production model on American roads. Many other manufacturers, however, have one or more in their product pipeline for the future. Over forty electric vehicle models are now under development by twenty-six world automakers. California-based Tesla Motors is the first electric car company to sell a highway-capable electric vehicle in America. Tesla is not a hybrid, but a car powered solely by stored battery energy and an electric motor. It runs quietly, with only a faint whine from the motor and the sound of tires rolling on pavement to break the silence. With electric vehicles, there is no exhaust and zero emissions. The only things left behind are trips to the gas station. Auto aficionado Shawn Ashbaugh has a passion for performance cars. He owns a couple of high-octane muscle machines, and has recently crossed to the emerald side of the centerline with the purchase of a two-passenger 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport. “My wife and I live a green lifestyle. I bought an electric car for two reasons: to help the environment and to do away with the future cost of gasoline,” says the Southwest Michigan resident. “A lot of people mistakenly think ‘golf cart’ when they think about electric cars. Tesla is an electric car with performance.” The Tesla Roadster Sport travels 244 miles on a single charge from household current and makes the trip from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds. Base price for a 2010 Tesla Roadster is $109,000 before applied $7,500 federal tax credit. For 2011, Tesla Motors will debut their $49,000 Model S sedan that touts room for five adults and two children, a travel range of 300 miles and seductive styling that will catch the eye of passersby, regardless if they are green or otherwise. —JIM JACKSON

APRIL 2010

I don’t own a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, but over one million other people across the U.S. do. Today, there’s a new alternative to the “alternative fuel vehicle,” and it’s silently sneaking up on American awareness.

shorelines

D >> interview <<

Tuck Langland

THE CHALLENGE OF PUBLIC ART AND THE WONDER OF THE HUMAN FACE

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Now retired from Indiana University-South Bend, where he taught for more than three decades, sculptor Tuck Langland is busier than ever. Commissions keep coming in for his life-size bronze pieces, which are a focal point in locales as varied as IU’s Bloomington campus and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. • Shore visited Langland at his studio, behind his home in Granger, Indiana, where sculptor Cara Lawson-Ball, Langland’s former student, who has worked with him the past 13 years, shaped the clay for several figures that will go into a display for the library in Bensenville, Illinois, based on Kipling’s The Jungle Book.

oing all these commissions, what is your process for working with your clients to create pieces that both satisfy their needs, and also stand on their own artistically? The commissions, in a way, fall into two categories. Let’s take, for example, the Mayo brothers [cofounders of the Mayo Clinic]. They brought me up to Rochester and I interviewed in front of a whole committee, and they had several artists and they chose me. They had a photograph of the two Mayo brothers, Will and Charles, sitting on the front steps of the house . . . They wanted precisely that picture in three dimensions. And so we made that, and I mean every wrinkle. Others, for example, Pittsburgh, it was a cancer hospital, and they had a big area in the front . . . Well, gosh, it’s a place where people drop off loved ones who are seriously ill, sometimes fatally ill. And so, what are you going to put there? And I put a series of six figures, 7 feet high, sort of in dancing poses, and they’re connected by ribbons. And the idea is they’re the circle of care. Your care in the hospital is not just the doctors, the nurses at your bedside—it extends around the world. And it extends deep into the past with all the medical research that has brought us to where we are. And it extends into the future. With each of these pieces, there seems to be a whole backstory to it. It’s not just a static figure. Now here’s maybe the crucial question. Why am I, a sculptor, in the year 2010, making traditional, representational figures, as opposed to contemporary steel things? I did a lot of abstract work for many years . . . There was sort of an “aha” moment. I was driving with my wife from Murray, Kentucky, north. And you have to go across a big dam at the end of Kentucky Lake. And that dam has these gigantic steel pylons in a

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT BLASZKIEWICZ

I have to imagine, especially when you’re sculpting actual people, for example the former IU president [Herman B Wells], who people knew, they’ll judge your work based on what they knew in their mind. And how much it looks like him. That’s right. And when we unveiled that thing, I want to tell you, the hankies came out. Because they felt like, my gosh, he’s here among us again.

nd that speaks to a lot of your work in public places, where people interact with it on a daily basis. For a long time, every morning, someone found a rose in his hand. When it rained, someone stuck an umbrella above him. They love that piece.

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with joe & julia

APRIL 2010

Your work seems to span so many different genres and styles. You’ve mentioned that you want to be difficult to classify. Right, I feel that what’s happened in our history is ever since about the middle of the 19th century, art historians have been putting art into categories— impressionism, post-impressionism, cubism, futurism, blah, blah, blah . . . I’ve always felt philosophically that the figure always has relevance, because we’ll never get tired of looking at ourselves . . . And I’ve also thought that as the last human being finally makes the very last sculpture, it’s not going to be abstract, it’s going to be a human face. I think that’s the deepest, most fundamental image we can make. –ROBERT BLASZKIEWICZ

Celebrating Our 11 th Anniversary

row sticking up, masses of them, that were once on the cover of Life magazine. And as I drove across that bridge and looked at those, I thought, Man, I can’t compete with these guys . . . I thought, There’s something I can do that they can’t do. I can make a face that looks at you. They can’t do that. And at that point, I said I don’t think I’ll bother with the abstract anymore.

shorelines seeping into their basements and fumes were making them ill,” says Cialdella, 63. “Then-Amoco (now BP) looked into that. Oil had migrated from those tanks. Amoco bought the people out and leveled the homes to create park land.” The Calumet Region is a passionate 118page manifesto about sense of place. Cialdella makes film-based pictures of the Statue of Liberty replica in downtown Gary (with a regal Richard Hunt sculpture in the distance), the Grand Calumet River in East Chicago and a modest view from the porch of his parents’ home in Blue Island. There are empty bridges and vacant stores. Few people appear in the book. Cialdella shoots in black and white. The Calumet Region is that kind of place. “The values of black and white have the effect of reducing things to a more graphic element,” he says. “The region is full of the soft grays, sandy areas and haze. Even when it is sunny, there’s a bit of atmosphere. Black and white also has a stronger trigger to our memory. It connects to time in a specific way.” Cialdella’s father Joseph worked in wholesale distribution in Chicago. His mother Anne was a housewife who later worked for a Catholic order in Chicago. Cialdella has lived in the Michigan-Illinois region all his life. He earned an MFA in photography from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in history from Western Michigan University. Like his neighbors in the Calumet Region,

>> where to go <<

The Calumet Region

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Kalamazoo-based photographer Gary Cialdella stands in front of the BP refineries at the corner of 126th and Schrage Avenue in Whiting, Indiana. It is a deep and dark winter day, the same atmosphere that inspired the loneliest songs of Paul Simon.

here is an empty lot along Schrage Avenue. Like the best photographers, Cialdella sees things others fail to see. This stark Whiting scene fired up his coffee table book The Calumet Region—An American Place. “When I started, that empty lot was full of houses,” he says. “I photographed Whiting between 1986 and 1989. This area struck me. I understood it. I grew up at 120th and Western Avenue in Blue Island and the Clark Oil refinery was there and houses were across from that. It felt like home.” Where you go depends on where you’ve been. “The reason you don’t see houses now is that in the early ’90s residents were finding oil

photography by GARY CIALDELLA; [opposite page, bottom] by SUSAN CARR

THROUGH THE EYES OF A NOSTALGIC PHOTOGRAPHER

ut if you’re looking for portraits of people, The Calumet Region is not for you. “I’m interested in social landscape as a setting, a place,” Cialdella explains. “I like to draw attention to where people live and work. The symbolism that is all around them: advertising, industrial setting, homes. To put a person in the photograph, you instantly go to the person. It draws attention away from the landscape.” Cialdella did find the people of the Calumet Region warm, forthcoming and proud. In 1987 he did a series of documentary portraits of people who were attending a variety of picnics in Whiting. “For the Calumet book I photographed a lot in Gary,” Cialdella says. “People on the street asked what I was doing. They’d point out to me, ‘That building over there, you should photograph that.’ In the midst of so much falling down around them they still had a real pride and interest in their town. There are pockets of that all over the region. Since 1979 something like 85,000 jobs have left the region. That’s a big hurt.” –DAVE HOEKSTRA

I like to draw attention to where people live and work. The symbolism that is all around them: advertising, industrial setting, homes. GARY CIALDELLA

APRIL 2010

THE CALUMET REGION— AN AMERICAN PLACE 2009, University of Illinois Press Brauer Museum of Art Valparaiso University www.press.uillinois.edu

Cialdella is from a family of immigrants. All four of his grandparents came from the same province in Southern Italy to work on the railroads in Blue Island. The Calumet Region was a long labor of love for Cialdella. He began making pictures in 1986 and didn’t start talking to Gregg Hertzlieb about a book until 2003. Hertzlieb, director/curator of the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University, also edited The Calumet Region. “The overall size of this region is much vaster than the area I was interested in—the stretch of heavy industry located along the shoreline,” Cialdella says over breakfast at the legendary Purple Steer diner in Hammond. “From the old South Works in South Chicago all the way to Gary. Hammond is right in the middle of it. “Technically the region runs south to Blue Island, all the way over to Michigan City; the wetland marshy area, sand dunes, a piece of geology from the past. But industry is what interested me. The more I looked at it was a panorama of American culture. You see the old industry, the working class neighborhoods and the demise of so much of that industry.”

shorelines

>> health club <<

The Indoor Herb Garden

any people with demanding schedules are beginning to unearth the rewards of growing an indoor herb garden. Fresh herbs can provide a simple and organic touch to any dish, as well as offer medicinal and home décor uses. For example, herbs contain cancerfighting antioxidants, and some herbs like oregano actually contain more antioxidants than certain fruits and vegetables. Herbs can also be used in aromatherapy applications like skin creams and herbal teas. The first indoor herb gardens were believed to have begun with the Dutch pioneers. Initially, chives were grown in window boxes, with the hope that the cows would eat the herbs and produce chive-flavored milk. The pioneer women soon realized the convenience of having the herbs nearby, so they began to grow their herbs indoors.

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HERB YOUR ENTHUSIASM PARSLEY: A relative to celery, with curly or flat leaves. Light or dark green in color. Vibrant, fresh taste. High in vitamins A and C, and also a natural breath freshener.

You, too, can be a pioneer (without the cows) and grow your own indoor herb garden. Many different herbs can grow well indoors, and a simple setup is all you need to have a successful bounty. Specialty stores like Horses Landscaping & Garden Center in Valparaiso, Gethsemane Garden Center in Chicago, or Harbert Market Garden Center in Harbert, will carry starter plants and other necessities. If you don’t have one of these near you, starter herbs are easy enough to find at home improvement stores. Don’t forget to check out your local farmers’ market, which will have the freshest selection. To reap the benefits of your freshly picked herbs, consider the following: you can add lavender, sage and thyme to a hot bath for a soothing and relaxing aroma; weave together long-stemmed herbs with string for an aromatic swag; or use dried herb leaves to create various combinations of potpourri. —JESSA TRAPP

CHIVES: Mild onion flavor, similar to garlic. Bright green stalks are thin and hollow. Can easily be added to any dish— just snip with scissors directly onto food.

THYME: Leaves are short and grayish-green in color. Subtle mint taste and dry bouquet. Common in French cuisine. Pairs well with poultry and lamb.

OREGANO: Offers pizza its characteristic flavor. A warm and slightly spicy taste.

MINT: Leaves range in color from pale to dark green. Offers a sweet flavor with a cool, refreshing aftertaste. Add leaves to ice cube trays for use in a variety of drinks.

LAVENDER: Sweet, floral flavor. The dried flower buds can be used to flavor cheese, bread and tea.

ROSEMARY: Leaves both

resemble and smell like pine needles. High in iron, calcium and Vitamin B6. Common in Mediterranean cuisine. BASIL: Strong, sweet smell. Leaves are light green and silky. SAGE: Leaves are a pale grayish-green with a velvety, fuzzy texture. Slightly peppery taste. Works well with heavy or rich foods like meats, cheeses and breads.

Give your Home the Natural Glow of Hardwood Floors.

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Obtain small pots, about 6 to 8 inches in diameter and at least 8 inches deep.

Fill the remainder of the pots with standard potting soil or a combination of soil mixed with sand and mushroom compost.

Plant purchased starter plants at the same depth they were growing in the nursery containers.

Set the pots in trays filled with gravel to ensure adequate drainage, and move the pots to a well-lit place inside. South-facing windows work best, but anywhere that receives at least four hours of direct sunlight will work.

Water the herbs with a good soaking no more than once a week. (If the soil still feels moist, skip the watering for that week.)

Feed the plants once a week with seaweed extract or fish emulsion, following the mixing instructions provided on the package.

Use your herbs regularly to encourage healthy growth and prevent them from growing long and stringy. Clip outermost leaves first, leaving the main stems intact to produce more leaves.

Fill the first inch of the pots with stones or gravel. (Herbs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to be waterloggedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the leaves will begin to pale in color and will lose their punch, eventually dying.)

For recipes and creative ways to use your herbs, please go to visitshoremagazine.com

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How to make your own indoor herb garden

shorelines >> haute properties <<

New Green Housing Materials Green is zero. As the popularity of environmentally enhanced home construction grows, the holy grail in the green movement is an electric meter that runs backwards. It’s not the meter, of course. It’s the new materials and building techniques that save so much energy, there are months when the electric meter nearly stands still. Add systems such as solar panels, and the net amount of electricity the homeowner purchases is zero, with the homeowner selling enough power back to the electric grid to offset those cold months when you really need the juice turned on.

2 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 3

photography courtesy of CHRISTOPHER BARRET PHOTOGRAPHY

he Chicago architectural firm Farr Associates reached net-zero status and LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council with the home it designed for Michael Yannell. The home was named one of the “10 Coolest Houses of 2009” in December by Builder magazine, a trade magazine for the home building industry. The magazine’s design editor, Jenny Sullivan, praised the home for “clean lines, ethereal interiors, and the highest LEED-H platinum score on record.” April Hughes, Farr’s project manager for the Yannell house, says the home is a functional net-zero, “the first of its kind in Chicago, if not Illinois and the Midwest, and has some interesting innovations.” >>>

SEASON Kirk Muspratt - Music Director & Conductor

A Cole Porter

Celebration!

Featuring Michelle Areyzaga, soprano Rebecca Robinson, mezzo-soprano Ryan Bradford, baritone Robert Boldin, tenor and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus

Thursday, May 20, 2010 7:30 pm Concert Star Plaza Theatre Tickets $20-$60 • Students $10 Join us for this evening of Indiana native son Cole Porter’s greatest hits! One of the most beloved composers of the Great American Songbook, Porter’s delightfully witty lyrics and sophisticated tunes will be highlighted through many of your favorites, including Begin the Beguine, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, I Love Paris, Too Darn Hot, and Night and Day.

For Tickets: 219/836.0525 or nisorchestra.org

APRIL 2010

et the most important environmental advance in new home construction now may be the homeowner who moves in. Hughes says environmental concerns are becoming more important to homeowners. “I think the marketplace is beginning to accept that and see the benefits.” She notes that Chicago’s listings of property for sale “now has a sustainable green listing” feature, and green building “is beginning to infiltrate the renovation market.” Zimmer says the burst of the housing bubble and rise of energy concerns is spurring a small house movement. “People are learning they can use a room for more than one function. A dining room can be a library; a guest room can be an office.” Flemington has no doubt about the trend. He says the McMansions that had been the vogue were “nothing but just big. People were just buying square feet.” Not anymore. “There’s a generation coming up behind us that’s going to be a lot more environmentally conscious,” Flemington says. “I have a friend who’s very successful, and had a couple of large houses.” But for a new home, “I want it small. I wanted it energy efficient,” she told him. “She traded in her SUV for a Prius. She’s tired of being the consummate consumer.” –TOM CHMIELEWSKI

2009-2010

The most striking innovation of the home’s courtyard design is the V-shaped roof, which Hughes says has multiple benefits. Besides allowing expansive triple-paned windows for natural light in both wings, the roof also puts the photovoltaic solar panels on the inside of the V rather than in full view from the street. The roof also collects rainwater for outside irrigation. Heating and cooling are a combination of geothermal technology and solar-thermal water heating along with energy supplied by the solar panels. “We basically come out with an energy model prediction of producing 140 percent of energy needs,” Hughes says. Energy conservation and reducing the carbon footprint were essential for Larry Zimmer when he designed his home nestled among the dunes near Michigan City, Indiana. Completed in 2009, the home has many energy-saving features, and made use of materials produced within 500 miles of the site. A key component were the Structural Insulated Panels, or SIPS, rather than standard wall and roof construction. “They’re solid, rigid foam laminated between two pieces of oriented strand board,” says Zimmer, who is primarily an interior designer but also integrates architectural work to unify structural and interior designs. The panels have a “very high R value [for insulation], and it’s also a simpler form of construction.” “SIPS panels have been around for over 20 years,” says the home’s builder, Kevin Flemington of Long Beach, Indiana, whose company, Flemington Construction, specializes in green building. But SIPS have not been common in home construction. “They were a lot more expensive to build with than typical construction.” Prices are becoming more competitive, he says. For a builder, it takes only days to frame a house, and takes a smaller work crew; however, people in the market for new homes are still hesitant on using SIPS. “It’s hard to convince them of the benefits, which are in the energy savings.”

alzheimer’s benefit, hammond • CharitY ball, benton harbor • share our dreams gala, munster • Customs imports grand partY, new buffalo • parents as teaChers lunCheon, Crown point • silver beaCh donor night, st. joseph • la rabida Celebration of friends, ChiCago • albert’s vip appreCiation, sChererville • photographY Club fundraiser, valparaiso 1

memory lane

alzheimer’s benefit hammond

photography by gregg rizzo

The legendary Regis Philbin led some 350 guests on a Walk Down Memory Lane in the name of the Alzheimer’s Association. The event, which took place at the Venue at Horseshoe Casino, featured a VIP reception, cocktails and dinner, plus entertainment by Philbin, which included performances of favorite songs and standards.

1 Karla Dunn of Schererville and Bob Migliorimi of Chesterton 2 Dan Nita of Orlando, Fla., Regis Philbin, and Kevin Kline of Munster 3 Sarah Tanses of Highland and Ranko Markos of Schererville 4 Joli Boudart with Matt and Kelly Glaros, all of Munster

5 Patrick Plant and Kerry Bowler of Chicago 6 Julie and Keith Woodruff of Rensselaer

7 Debbie and Jody Biancardi of Highland 8 Mike Mika of Crown Point with Frank Dubey of Hammond

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9 Spero and Sandy Batistatos of Munster with Dan Nita of Orlando, Fla.

10 Doug and Marge Kullerstrand of Gary

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all clicks compiled by sue bero

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women in service

charity ball benton harbor

photography by gregg rizzo

Music and art contributed to the 51st annual Charity Ball for the Women’s Service LeagueBerrien County. Some 126 people were on hand at the affair at Pointe O’ Woods Country Club to enjoy dinner, drinks and entertainment and to bid on lake-themed artwork. The program benefited Alliance for the Great Lakes.

1 Dawn Williams, Teri Gersonde and Michelle Humes, all of St. Joseph 2 Sarah Mellema of Grand Rapids and Katie O’Connor of Stevensville 3 Amber and Chad Lange of St. Joseph 4 Audrey Traver, Krista Traver and Tara Smith, all of Watervliet

5 Dawn Batcho of St. Joseph with Norm Payne of Grand Rapids 6 Jeff and Tiffany Sevener of Spring Lake 7 Dennis and Liz Okon of St. Joseph 8 Jason and Carinne Devoir of St. Joseph

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9 Joel Brammeier of Chicago and Jamie Cross of Muskegon

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generous giving share our dreams gala | munster photography by robert wray

The theme of the evening was clear: it was a time to share. The Share Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Share our Dreams Gala brought fellowship and charity in the cause of raising awareness for the Sharing Meadows Program. Some 250 people attended the dinner-dance, enjoying music and auctions.

1 Alton and Theresa Tucker of Crown Point

2 Kathleen and Ray Eisbrenner 3 Lanna and Bill Cox of Hammond 4 Father Dennis Blaney of Rolling Prairie with Margaret and Milford Christenson of Griffith

5 Tonya and Dave Kohut of Dyer 6 Brian McMaha and Agnes Lasies, both of Munster

april 2010

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grand old time

customs imports grand party new buffalo photography by gregg rizzo

The Grand Party offered a time of social and business networking, beverages and samplings of four area restaurants. The approximately 200 guests also enjoyed music provided by karaoke Superstars of the Region, who presented the stylings of such stars as Gladys Knight and Alicia Keys.

1 Stacy Germain of St. Joseph, Dana Berwer of Buchanan and Andrea Samford of LaPorte 2 Dee Dee Duhn and Julie Westergren, both of New Buffalo

3 Cathy and Kevin Harrington of Three Oaks 4 Cheryl Kasper of Grand Beach, Maidena Young of Michigan City and Kris Jacobs of New Buffalo 5 Sarah Geary of Valparaiso with Moe Mroueh of Michigan City 6 Henry Ausley of Michigan City 7 Eileen and Rich Kochanny of Harbert 8 Kathee Kiesselbach of Niles with Jan Quinn of St. George, Utah

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9 Beverly Fields of New Buffalo, Karen Poff of LaPorte and Sandy Kazmucha of Michigan City 10 Adam Kesling and Lori Bulthuis of New Buffalo

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education rules parents as teachers luncheon crown point photography by robert wray

Parents as Teachers of Lake County’s first fall luncheon likely will not be its last. The program drew about 60 guests and raised $3,000 to support the organization’s goal to inspire parents to become children’s first and most important teacher.

1 Cindy Barnum Steggerda and Christine Cangiano

2 Laura Kowalczyk of Crown Point and Janice Burns of Lowell 3 Sally Nalbor and Jane Rouge Martin, both of Crown Point 4 Cindy Beckman of Crown Point, Linda Favors of Dyer and Margo Powers of Dyer

an Aveda concept salon

5 Andrew Kyres of Crown Point

be yourself. be beautiful.

6 Patti Olson of Crown Point

april 2010

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first spin

silver beach donor night st. joseph photography by gregg rizzo

The Silver Beach Carousel, Shadowland Ballroom and Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone rolled out the red carpet to some 300 guests at a donor recognition event in St. Joseph. The celebration followed a 12-year effort and featured the carousel’s first-time running and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone. Guests enjoyed food and drinks.

1 Pam and Howard Kahne of St. Joseph 2 Nicole Beltz and Jill Stone, both of St. Joseph 3 Carla and Bob Sykora of St. Joseph

4 Andy Sawyer with Ellen and Michael Scarpello, all of St. Joseph

5 Dagne and Al Schoenbach of St. Joseph 6 Connie Monte of Riverside 7 Tim and Lee Passaro of St. Joseph

8 KC and Julie Gast of St. Joseph 9 Marcia and Jeff Fettig of St. Joseph

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10 Becky and Bob Rice of St. Joseph

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caring hearts la rabida celebration of friends chicago photography by steve becker

1 Bob Arthur and Joli Burrell

2 Maria Pinto and Paula Jill Krasny 3 Eve and Jim Tyree with Carol Moseley-Braun 4 John Cullerton and Paula Jaudes

5 William Johnson and Joli Burrell 6 Peggy and Dow Gann

A Celebration of Friends drew about 400 supporters to the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago to benefit La Rabida Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital. Guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner and a ceremony that spotlighted celebrities, dignitaries and business and civic leaders on hand.

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com to view and purchase click photos

customers shine albert’s vip appreciation schererville

photography by robert wray

Albert’s Diamond Jewelers recently conducted an annual gala to honor VIP customers. Nearly 400 people attended the festivities at the store’s Schererville location and enjoyed food, drink and a presentation of wares of 18 vendors.

1 Fred and Josh Halpern 2 Kathy Uthenwoldt of Schererville 3 Rada and Mark Jacoby of Griffith

4 David and Kathy Starko of Crown Point 5 Martin and Noreen Plisky of Highland 6 Menzo and Dorothy Battle of Gary

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picture perfect photography club fundraiser valparaiso photography by robert wray

A Christmas in the Caribbean theme warmed the spirits of 40plus guests who attended a fundraiser for the Taltree Arboretum Photography Club. Caribbean decorations, music, refreshments and a truckload of sand helped guests forget the cold, as they raised funds to purchase supplies for the club.

1 Scott Schroeler and Kelly Shearer of Valparaiso

2 Kristine Garrard of Valparaiso and Damien Gabis of Taltree 3 Melissa Thompson of Chesterton and Lisa Fietz of Portage 4 Bill Stocky with Jim and Jill Hitz, all of Valparaiso 5 Sharon Kerner of Shelby and Bill Stocky of Valparaiso, with Greg and Donna Lind of Valparaiso

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april 2010

M E D I A

essential EVENTS

HAPPENINGS HAPPENINGS 52 EXHIBITIONS 44 EXHIBITIONS 55 FILM 45 56 FILM 47 PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE 56 47 INTEREST 58

Through Apr 25 Some Assembly Required— A Margaret Wharton Retrospective Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.1930. southshoreartsonline.org

South Shore Arts’ third Outstanding Midwest Artist Series—continuing its mission of exploring the creative roots of contemporary visual artists—features Chicago-based artist Margaret Wharton. According to Sue Taylor in Art in America, “Wharton’s work focuses on the manipulation of objects such as chairs or books and their subsequent transformation into witty and critical works of art.”

CALENDAR COMPILED BY JULI DOSHAN

happenings Indiana

Mar 20-21 Maple Syrup Time at Deep River, 10am-4pm, Deep River County Park, 9410 Old Lincoln Hwy, Hobart. 219.947.1958. lakecountyparks.com. A one-of-a-kind experience awaits families who attend this annual educational tour, which demonstrates the maple syrup-making process from tree-tapping to tasting. Mar 23-25 Tree Steward Program, Taltree Arboretum & Gardens, 450 W 100 N, Valparaiso. 219.462.0025. taltree.org. This class is designed for volunteers, students and anyone with an interest in learning more about trees and giving back to a community forest. Future stewards will receive information on a variety of topics relating to community forestry and a reusable canvas bag to take home. Mar 24 19th Annual Spring Luncheon, 10:30am, Halls of St. George, 905 E Joliet St, Schererville. 219.778.2585. sharefoundation.org. Celebrate the coming season at this luncheon, which benefits the Share Foundation. Lunch will be accompanied by a baked goods sale, silent auction, table prizes and musical entertainment for the more than 800 guests in attendance.

4 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 4

Mar 27-28 Prairie Pride Folk Art Show, 10am5pm, Fawn Run Farm, 3883 E 700 N, Rolling Prairie. 219.778.2809. fawnrunfarmprimitives.com. This free show has brought fine quality, handcrafted folk art, traditional crafts, antiques and garden goods from local artisans and dealers to the area for almost 20 years. Homemade treats are also available, including baked goods and roasted coffee beans. Apr 5-10 Valparaiso University Jazz Festival, Harre Union, Valparaiso University, 1509 Chapel Dr, Valparaiso. 219.464.5000. valpo.edu. The 25th edition of the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival will

be headlined by jazz legends Arturo Sandoval and the Count Basie Orchestra. The Midwest’s largest non-juried jazz event will also feature university faculty and student ensembles, jazz bands from Northwest Indiana high schools and other guest performers. Apr 17 Spring Blooms Hike, 1-3pm, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center, State Rd 49 & US 20, Chesterton. 219.395.1882. nps.gov/ indu. Nature enthusiasts can explore the forest for wildflowers and other signs of spring at this free event. Participants will meet with a ranger at the visitor center before going to the most vibrant trail to see the sights. Apr 22 The Midwest Smoke Out, 4-10pm, The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond. 888.226.0330. midwestsmokeout.com. After a three-year hiatus, the second-largest cigar show in the country returns. With dozens of big brands of premium cigars, spirits and luxury items, this event also allows participants to network with Fortune 500 executives and VIPs. Apr 24 April in Paris, 11am-3pm, Old World Market, 76 Washington St, Valparaiso. 219.476.0700. oldworldmarketonline.com. A free wine tasting and more than 200 cheeses in stock will help participants learn how to pair different wines and cheeses. Guests can also enjoy live music, pastries and chocolates.

Michigan

Apr Culture of Japan Festival, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St, Saugatuck. 269.857.2399. sc4a.org. The Saugatuck Center for the Arts celebrates the rich culture of Japan throughout April with classes, lectures, live performances and exhibits. Through Apr 26: The Art of the Kimono; Apr 6, 13, 20, 27: Aikido Class; Apr 13: Antiques Road Show—Japan; Apr 15:

Sake Tasting Workshop; Apr 22: Stars of Japanese Cinema—Films with Global Impact; Apr 24: Tea Ceremony and Wearing of the Kimono, and Nagata Shachu Japanese Drumming Ensemble. Apr 3 Easter Egg Hunt and Bonnet Parade, egg hunt starts at 11:30am, Lake Bluff Park, downtown St. Joseph, 269.985.1111. sjtoday.org. Children ages 2-10 years old can find more than 8,000 eggs hidden at Lake Bluff Park. Afterward, families can enjoy the Easter Bonnet Parade. Apr 13-May 13 Gilmore Keyboard Festival 2010, various locations, Kalamazoo area. 296.342.1166, 800.347.4266. gilmore.org. Gilmore, an organization that supports keyboard music and artistry, is sponsoring its 10th world-class festival that showcases more than 100 events, including concerts, recitals, lectures, films and master classes. Among the artists performing in this year’s event are Phyllis Chen, Jonathan Biss and American Idol contestant Matt Giraud. Apr 16-18 Cottage & Lakefront Living Show, 3-9pm Fri, 10am-9pm Sat, 11am-5pm Sun, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. 616.742.6500. cottageandlakefrontliving.com. In addition to more than 300 vendors, this show features such unique attractions as a wooden boatbuilding demonstration, free seminars and an art show. Apr 17 Art Dart, Water Street Gallery, 98 Center St, Douglas. 616.834.4686. waterstreetgallery. com. Visitors to this unique art event can purchase a dart from the Water Street Gallery. When the dart is thrown, it hits a number. When guests hear their number, they can grab their favorite piece of artwork from the gallery wall to take home. Apr 17 Herb Society High Tea, Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Rd, Niles. 269.423.4901. fernwoodbotanical.

photograph courtesy of SOUTH SHORE ARTS

The information presented in Essential Events is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify the dates and times. Please note that Illinois and most Indiana events adhere to central time, and Michigan events are eastern time.

Apr 17-18 Kalamazoo Antique Show, 9am-5pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St, Kalamazoo. 616.363.2856. kalcounty.com. This annual spring event features many true antiques from a variety of dealers in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Apr 23-25 Women’s Getaway Weekend, St. Joseph, Michigan. sjtoday. org. Participants can get away from it all and have fun with their girlfriends at St. Joseph’s Women’s Getaway, which includes a welcome party, shopping, a fitness activity, a fashion show, and cooking classes. Plus, seminars on fashion, beauty, health and finances will take place all weekend. See the website for further details.

Illinois

Through Apr 4 Silk Road Theatre Project, The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W Washington St, Chicago. 312.857.1234. srtp.org. Seven unique, identity-defying short plays make up this distinctive performance, which is a creative response to the September 11, 2001, attacks. Each play features the voice of a complex, three-dimensional protagonist of Asian, Middle Eastern or Mediterranean background. Their work conveys narrative and voice from different Silk Road perspectives in an effort to answer the perennial “Who am I?” question. Through May 9 Lincoln Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show, 9am-5pm, Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago. garfieldconservatory.org. Visitors can experience the beauty of spring before the weather even begins to warm up at this free annual flower show. Featured flowers include the direct descendents of the great azaleas that once bloomed at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 and spring flowering annuals and perennials. Mar 26 Fleurotica 2010, 6:30-10pm, Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago. 773.638.1766 ext 28.

garfield-conservatory.org. Fashionistas and flower enthusiasts alike will delight in this unique event, which will feature a reception and fashion show to benefit the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance. The fashion show will be a spectacle of clothing, hats and more, all made from flowers, plants and leaves. Guests are encouraged to include flowers in their outfits also while they take part in hors d’oeuvres, beverages and a silent auction and raffle. Apr 9 Red or White Ball, 8pm-1am, Salvage One, 1840 W Hubbard St, Chicago. 312.654.5681. steppenwolf.org. More than 600 young area professionals will gather for an extravagant evening of cocktails, food, entertainment, a silent auction and raffle prizes at this ball hosted by the Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council. This is the eighth year for this premier event for Chicago’s most influential young philanthropists. Apr 9-10 Spring Art Sale, 11am-7pm Fri, 10am-5pm Sat, MacLean Center Ballroom, 112 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.629.6880. saic.edu. The works of School of the Art Institute of Chicago students are on display at this sale, which includes photographs, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, prints and drawings, jewelry, fashion accessories and handmade paper designs. Students receive 85 percent of their total sales, while the rest goes toward funding for future projects and education programs at SAIC. Apr 16-18 Chicago Botanic Garden’s Antiques & Garden Fair, 10am-5pm, Regenstein Center, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe. 847.835.6944. chicagobotanic. org. “Great American Gardens” will be the theme of the tenth anniversary of this signature spring event. New to this year’s fair are five of Chicago’s best floral designers showcasing their talents along with the best in antique garden furnishings, botanical art, inspirational exhibit gardens and more than 100 dealers from Europe and the United States. Also, Apr 24-25: American Daffodil Society Annual Show. Apr 16-18 International Quilt Festival, Donald E. Stephens Center, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont. 713.781.6864. quilts.com. The convention features more than 100 education classes and demonstrations, quilt and textile art, and attracts quilt artists, aficionados and collectors from around the continent. Apr 17 Chicago Sinfonietta’s Ball, The

Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, Chicago. 312.284.1559. chicagosinfonietta.org. This reception features cocktails, a silent auction and a gourmet four-course meal. For entertainment, attendees can enjoy a performance by the Sinfonietta Orchestra and special guests. Apr 17 Global Activism Expo 2010, noon-6pm, UIC Forum, 725 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago. 312.948.4600. chicagopublicradio. org/expo. Chicago Public Radio presents this meaningful celebration, which showcases more than 100 Chicago-area global activists who are making a difference. The event will also feature stage performances, food from local ethnic restaurants, and live presentations throughout the day. Apr 17 3rd Annual Message of Hope, 6:30-11pm, InterContinental Hotel, 505 N Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.222.8900 ext 12. unicefusa.org/messageofhope. This inspirational evening will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing, entertainment from the Little Big Men band, a live auction and raffle packages, all in the name of helping save the lives of children and improving health care facilities for the future.

seven internationally known artists, including Tom Brand, Eleanor Himmelfarb and Richard Lange, will be on view at the Lubeznik Center. Each piece is done in an abstract manner in the artists’ exploration of form. Also, through Apr 18: Seeing the Light; Apr 24-Jul 11: Tony Fitzpatrick—No. 9 A Journey in Progress; Carl Holzman—New Still Lifes; Drawn to Tattoos. Mar 14-Apr 25 Caroline Chiu—Polaroids as Chinese Ink Painting, Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame. 574.631.5466. nd.edu/~sniteart. This exhibit features a selection of photographs taken from Caroline Chiu’s larger series that portray her collection of objects representing the material culture of traditional China. The Hong Kong artist’s graphic photographic images evoke the brushstroke of traditional Chinese ink painting. Also, through Apr 25: Yin Yu Tang—A Chinese Home; Mar 28May 16: 2010 BFA/MFA Candidates’ Theses Exhibition.

Michigan

Apr 25-May 30 Frankfort Country Spring Market, 10am-2pm every Sun, Oak & Kansas Sts, downtown Frankfort. frankfortcountrymarket.org. Located along the bike path in historic downtown Frankfort, this open-air farmers’ market focuses on early crops, gardening items and specialty items for the spring season.

Through Apr 25 Abstract Organic— Ceramic Sculptures by Yumiko Goto, Gallery III, Krasl Art Center, 707 Lake Blvd, St. Joseph. 269.983.0271. krasl.org. Drawing upon a childhood connection with nature, Yumiko Goto creates ambiguous and abstracted organic ceramics. Her unique artwork evokes transcendence, beauty and softness. Also, through Apr 25: Grand Valley State University Ceramics Exhibition— Instructors, Students and Alumni.

Apr 30-May 3 Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair, 11am7pm Fri-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun, 11am-3pm Mon, The Merchandise Mart, 8th Floor, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago. 800.677.6728. merchandisemartantiques. com. Acclaimed interior and home furnishings designer Thomas O’Brien will kick off this timeless event with a lecture and book signing at 10 a.m. Friday morning. More than 100 of the world’s top dealers of antiques and fine art will then be on hand to showcase a wide range of antique genres from which to shop.

Through May 23 Fear and Folly—The Visionary Prints of Francisco Goya and Federico Castellon, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S Park St, Kalamazoo. 269.349.7775. kiarts.org. Although their lives were separated by more than a century, Francisco Goya and Federico Castellon have more in common than most of their contemporaries. Both artists created dark and fantastic works, many of which will be on display in this exhibit. Also, through Apr 18: Woodcuts in Modern China, 1937-2008—Towards a Universal Pictorial Language.

exhibitions Indiana

Illinois

Through Apr 18 The New Moderns—In Search of Form, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W 2nd St, Michigan City. 219.874.4900. lubeznikcenter.org. Works by

Through Mar 28 The Nature of Diamonds, The Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 312.922.9410. fieldmuseum.org. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but men and women alike will be able to examine the unique properties

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010

org. Guests to this event can enjoy exotic teas and sweets served on fine china in the style of a traditional high tea, as well as a lecture from Annick Hivert-Carthew, who will be speaking on her passion of medieval gardens. Sponsored by the Michiana Unit of the Herb Society of America, proceeds will benefit Fernwood’s Herb Garden Restoration Project.

April 23-25, 2010 — St. Joseph MI

women’s weekend a passion for beauty and fashion

. . . the getaway you’ve longed for. St. Joseph is one of southwest Michigan’s most gorgeous vacation destinations. It features great shopping, specialty stores, great entertainment

essential EVENTS

Through May 30 Production Site—The Artist’s Studio InsideOut, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago. 312.280.2660. mcachicago.org. The artist’s studio becomes the subject in this interesting exhibit, which features work that documents, depicts or reconstructs artists’ spaces. These works reveal how the studio functions as a place where research, experimentation, production and social activity intertwine. Mar 20-Jun 20 Matisse—Radical Invention, 1913-1917, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 317.443.3600. artic.edu/ aic. Nearly 120 paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints from a major turning point in Henri Matisse’s career will be on display at this world premiere exhibit. The first exhibition exclusively devoted to this period in Matisse’s life explores everything from his early working process to his revolutionary experimentation. Also, through Apr 18: Heart and Soul—Art from Coretta Scott King Award Books, 2006-2009; through May 31: In the Vernacular; through Jun 30: 500 Ways of Looking at Modern. Apr 9-Jan 2011 Steelroots— Tobin at the Morton Arboretum, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Ill Rte 53, Lisle. 630.968.0074. mortonarb. org. This exhibit marks the firstever comprehensive display of the Steelroots sculpture series by Steve Tobin. It is made up of 15 dramatic sculptures created with massive rolled and bent steel pipes that soar up to 40 feet high so visitors are free to touch, walk through and even lie beneath the artwork.

1946. Filmgoers in the 425-seat vintage theater—complete with bright red seats—are offered the opportunity to stretch their legs during the unique intermission, at which time they are encouraged to discuss the film and savor a free treat.

Michigan

The Vickers Theatre, 6 N Elm St, Three Oaks. 269.756.3522. vickerstheatre.com. Home of the annual “Sound of Silents Film Festival,” this painstakingly restored turn-of-the-century art house screens a variety of notable independent films. A lofty, two-story gallery space, showcasing the works of Midwestern artists, is open to the public before and between shows. Further enhancing its art-house cachet, the Vickers hosts live music, performance art and poetry readings on its stage.

Illinois

The Gene Siskel Film Center, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 164 N State St, Chicago. 312.846.2600. siskelfilmcenter.org. This film center—renamed in 2000 for its most passionate supporter, the late film critic Gene Siskel—has been exhibiting critically acclaimed, as well as entertaining “motion picture art” in its state-of-the-art facilities since its inception in 1972. Presenting more than 100 films each month, the center showcases cutting-edge, independent features and classic revivals, as well as premieres of new American and foreign films. A focus on education is supported by guest lecturers, discussions and courses, and film-related exhibits can be viewed at the on-site gallery/café.

performance Indiana

Portage 16 IMAX, 6550 US Hwy 6, Portage. 219.764.7569. portage16imax.com. The brandnew Portage 16 IMAX showcases blockbusters as well as electrifying 3D films that are uniquely suited to the IMAX format. With projected images up to eight stories high and a spectacular, wraparound digital surround-sound system, this theater offers a total-immersion moviegoing experience.

DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Campus. 574.631.2800. performingarts.nd.edu. The stateof-the-art, 150,000-square-foot facility, newly opened in 2004, is host to some of the world’s most celebrated artists. In addition, its stages showcase student, faculty and community performers, as well as the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Southold Dance, the Notre Dame Symphony, the South Bend Civic Theatre, and more. Mar 19: Notre Dame Glee Club Spring 2010 Concert; Mar 20: Danú; Mar 27: Kronos Quartet and Wu Man; Apr 9: Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields; Apr 17: Dianne Reeves; Apr 24: Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg & Anne-Marie McDermott; Apr 30: Cristina Branco.

Cinemark at Valparaiso, 700 Porter’s Vale Blvd, Valparaiso. 219.464.0260. cinemark.com. This brand new theater has 12 screens and digital sound, and the allstadium seating has comfortable chairs that rock to your comfort. Experience box office hits in this theater that opened in May 2008.

The Town Theatre, 8616 Kennedy Ave, Highland. 219.838.1222. towntheatre.net. This charming movie house in downtown Highland has been screening fine American, independent and foreign films since

Footlight Players, 1705 Franklin

Front Porch Music, 505 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.464.4700. frontporchmusic. com. This self-proclaimed “Picker’s Paradise” is the mecca for guitar and string instrument players in Northwest Indiana, offering instrument sales, repair, instruction and a coffee house for frequent live performances. Mar 19: Peppino D’Agostino; Apr 10: Trillium; Apr 17: Alan Rhody; Apr 24: Flintlock. Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond. 866.711.7463. horseshoehammond. com. World-class gambling and top-name entertainment combine to create an unprecedented experience at this 350,000-squarefoot casino. The Venue, the casino’s 90,000-square-foot entertainment facility, hosts some of the hottest Chicagoland entertainment. Mar 21: The Australian Bee Gees; Mar 27: Gladys Knight; Apr 3: Stephen Lynch; Apr 10: Chippendales—The Ultimate Girl’s Night Out; Apr 16: Huey Lewis & the News; Apr 29: The Gipsy Kings. LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra, performances in LaPorte and Michigan City, 614 Lincolnway, LaPorte. 219.362.9020. lcso.net. This exciting orchestra offers a variety of concerts throughout the season— including classical, pops, chamber, children’s and family. Apr 17: State Fair—A Blue Ribbon Event. The Memorial Opera House, 104 E Indiana Ave, Valparaiso. 219.548.9137. memorialoperahouse. com. As the name suggests, this renovated, 364-seat building—with red, white and blue stained-glass windows—was built as a living memorial to the Civil War veterans of Porter County. Built in 1893, the theater has a rich history as a venue for musical and dramatic performances, including appearances by John Philip Sousa and the Marx Brothers. Mar 20: Bryan Lubeck & His Band; Apr 9-11, 16-18: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N Michigan St, South Bend. 574.235.9190, 800.537.6415. morriscenter.org. The home of the Broadway Theatre League, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the Southold Dance Theater, the 2,560-seat Morris Performing Arts Center has enraptured audiences in the heart of downtown South Bend for more than 75 years. Mar 21: Celtic Woman; Mar 27: South Bend Symphony Pops presents “Benny Goodman Tribute”; Apr 10: South Bend Symphony Orchestra presents “Brahms Requiem”; Apr 16: Girls Night—The Musical; Apr 19: David Sedaris; Apr 23-24: Avenue Q. Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, various venues. 219.836.0525. nwisymphony.org. Conducted by the charismatic Kirk Muspratt, this professional orchestra performs concerts that range in

APRIL 2010

film Indiana

Chicago Street Theater, 154 W Chicago St, Valparaiso. 219.464.1636. ctgonline.org. Now in its 55th season of bringing live theatrical entertainment to the greater Northwest Indiana region, the CST presents a variety of plays and musicals each season, in addition to regularly scheduled theater classes for both adults and children. Apr 16-May 1: And Then There Were None.

St, Michigan City. 219.874.4035. footlightplayers.org. This community theater group has been entertaining audiences in Michigan City for more than 50 years with its productions of dramas, comedies and musicals. Apr 9-11, 15-18: Oldest Living Graduate.

of this gem in its natural state. Ancient manuscripts, compelling multimedia and evocative exhibits will help visitors explore the many facets of diamonds and be dazzled by breathtaking pieces from Cartier, Fulco di Verdura and works from Tiffany & Co. designed by Frank Gehry and Elsa Peretti.

essential EVENTS atmosphere from the whimsical pops series to the edifying and inspirational maestro series, many of which offer preconcert discussions with the conductor an hour before the concert. Mar 20: War & Peace. Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 & US 30, Merrillville. 219.769.6600. starplazatheatre.com. With 3,400 seats arranged in two intimate seating levels, the theater consistently hosts premier performers year-round. With its convenient location in the heart of Northwest Indiana’s shopping and dining district and its proximity to the adjoining Radisson Hotel, the Star Plaza offers a total entertainment package to area theatergoers. Mar 26: Mitzi Gaynor; Mar 27: George Thorogood & the Destroyers with special guests, the Fabulous Thunderbirds; Apr 8: Indiana Ballet Theatre NW presents Cinderella. The Theatre at the Center, Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.3255. theatreatthecenter.com. This theater, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, has the distinction of being the only professional equity theater in Northwest Indiana, and showcases the artistry of professional actors, musicians and designers from throughout the Midwest. Through Mar 21: Noises Off; Apr 22-May 23: I Do! I Do! Towle Community Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave, Hammond. 219.937.8780. towletheater.org. To honor its mission of nurturing and celebrating local talent in the arts, the Towle Community Theater presents exhibitions, theatrical productions and musical performances in the heart of downtown Hammond. Mar 21: String Fever with the Mayer School of Irish Dance; Mar 27: Generations Dance Theatre; Apr 24-25: Indiana Ballet Theater and IU Northwest Dance Company.

Michigan

Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. 616.454.9451 ext 4. grsymphony.org. Recognized as one of America’s leading regional orchestras, this Grammy-nominated symphony provides the orchestra for Opera Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. The orchestra’s eight concert series with performances designed for young children through adults feature a wide range of repertoire. Mar 19-20: Monteverdi Vespers; Mar 26-27: Storytelling, with Midori; Apr 16-17: Hear the Now; Apr 18: Percussion Explosion; Apr 23: Brahms and Haydn.

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Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, various venues. 269.349.7759. kalamazoosymphony.com. Founded in 1921, this outstanding ensemble entertains the Kalamazoo area with a classical subscription series, annual holiday presentations, chamber orchestra concerts, free summer park concerts and various educational programs. Mar 1920: Spring Evening; Mar 27-28: Gershwin and Ellington; Apr 17-18: Conductors’ Festival; Apr 30-May 1: The Gilmore Festival Concerts. The Livery, 190 5th St, Benton Harbor. 269.925.8760. liverybrew.com. As its name suggests, the Livery is a former horse stable, residing in the Arts District of downtown Benton Harbor. Not content to just offer its twelve taps of microbrew, an outdoor beer garden, an

appetizing soup and sandwich menu, and a coffee bar, the Livery is also a venue for an eclectic variety of musical performances. Mar 20: Brooks Williams with Beaucoup Blue; Mar 28: Nick Moss & the Flip Tops; Apr 2: Harper; Apr 16: Stone River Boys; Apr 18: Bruce Katz Band. Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St, Saugatuck. 269.857.2399. sc4a.org. This not-for-profit arts center hosts high-quality arts programming year-round. Activities and events include art exhibits, classes and workshops for adults and children, and both intimate smaller performances for up to 50 people in their performance studio and larger performances in the Bertha Krueger Raid Theatre. With 412 seats arranged in only 13 rows, it retains the intimacy of a small venue. Mar 18: Cowboy Junkies; Mar 21: May Phang; Mar 28: Winston Choi; Apr 24: Nagata Shachu Japanese Drumming Ensemble. Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, various venues. 269.982.4030. smso.org. This versatile orchestra offers a traditional Mendel Mainstage Series, small ensemble works in the Around Town Series, and the Performing Artists series, which showcases a wide range of styles with guest artists. Mar 20: American Creativity; Apr 9: Four Hand Frenzy; Apr 17: American Versatility. Van Andel Arena, 130 W Fulton, Grand Rapids. 616.742.6600. vanandelarena. com. Ranked second on Billboard Magazine’s 2003 Top 10 Arena Venues for its size, this $75 million 12,000-plus capacity arena offers world-class family shows, concerts and sporting events to the increasingly popular Grand Rapids area. Mar 25: Winter Jam 2010 Tour Spectacular; Apr 6: Celtic Woman; Apr 23: Carrie Underwood; Apr 28: Smucker’s Stars on Ice. West Michigan Symphony, Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts, 425 W Western Ave, Muskegon. 231.727.8001. westmichigansymphony.org. With eight pairs of concerts a year, the West Michigan Symphony has played a leading role in the region’s cultural community for almost 70 years. It has helped bring a renewed vitality and life to the center of Muskegon and with it, the historic Frauenthal Theater, a 1,729-seat venue with extraordinary beauty, excellent acoustics and sight lines. Mar 26-27: Broadway Pops, “The Three Phantoms in Concert”; Apr 16-17: Water Music, “Experience the Lake Effect.”

Illinois

Anne and Howard Gottlieb Hall, Merit School of Music, Joy Faith Knapp Music Center, 38 S Peoria St, Chicago. 312.786.9428. meritmusic.org. The crown jewel of the state-of-the-art Joy Faith Knapp Music Center, this 372-seat theater has excellent acoustics and a projection screen sized for the stage. Opened in 2005, it has quickly become one of the premier chamber music venues in Chicago. Apr 18: Avalon String Quartet, featuring guest musician Anthony McGill. Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E Parkway, Chicago. 312.902.1500. auditoriumtheatre.org. A National Historic Landmark and a mainstay of Chicago architecture and theater since 1889, the Auditorium continues to provide unparalleled ballet

performances and a variety of artistic productions. Mar 20-21: Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty; Mar 24-28: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Apr 17: David Sedaris; Apr 28-May 9: The Joffrey Ballet presents Eclectica. Broadway in Chicago, various venues, Chicago. 800.775.2000. broadwayinchicago.com. A joint venture between the two largest commercial theater producers and owner/operators in the U.S., Broadway in Chicago offers the finest of professional stage productions in multiple theaters, all residing in Chicago’s lively Loop. Bank of America Theatre, 18 W Monroe. Apr 27-May 2: STOMP. Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W Randolph. Mar 23-Apr 4: Beauty and the Beast. Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre, 24 W Randolph. Beginning Mar 18: Billy Elliot the Musical. The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, 1 University Pkwy, University Park. 708.235.2222. centertickets.net. The Center for Performing Arts is celebrating 11 years of promoting cultural enhancement on the South Side of Chicago through world-class performing arts productions and arts education. Mar 20: Los Lobos; Mar 27: The Millers; Apr 30: Whose Live Anyway? Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.595.5600. chicagoshakes.com. Prominently located on Navy Pier in Chicago, this venue mounts renowned productions of the plays of William Shakespeare, as well as works from distinguished American and international playwrights and directors. The theater’s mission to reach out to younger audiences is well accomplished with its offerings of children’s productions and student matinees. The architecturally dynamic structure, new in 1999, houses both an engaging, 500-seat courtyard theater and a 200-seat black box theater. Through Mar 21: Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya; Apr 7-Jun 6: The Taming of the Shrew. Chicago Sinfonietta, Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 2205 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. chicagosinfonietta.org. In its pursuit of “Musical Excellence through Diversity,” the Chicago Sinfonietta—the official orchestra of the Joffrey Ballet— presents compelling, innovative works, often by composers and soloists of color. Mar 28-29: Las Américas. The Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St, Chicago. 312.462.6300. thechicagotheatre.com. The Chicago Theatre has been a prototype for area theaters since 1921. With its lavish architecture and an elegant stage, the Chicago Theatre seats 3,600 and stands seven stories high. Mar 18: Experience Hendrix; Mar 20: Norah Jones; Apr 10: Gabriel Iglesias; Apr 11: Straight No Chaser; Apr 23: Mark Knopfler; Apr 24: Anthony Bourdain. The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.344.8300. colum.edu/ dance_center. One of Chicago’s leading showcases for national and international contemporary dance, and home of Chicago’s longest-running modern dance company, the Dance Center also focuses on challenging Chicago and the Midwest with guest artists, instruction and community outreach. Mar 18-20: Wayne McGregor, Random Dance; Apr 1-3: Hedwig Dances.

The Goodman Theatre, 170 N Dearborn St, Chicago. 312.443.3800. goodmantheatre.org. Since 1925, the Goodman Theatre has provided entertainment to the Chicago area; however, a new, state-of-the-art twotheater complex was completed in 2000—75 years to the day after the dedication of the original—and resides in the vibrant North Loop Theater District within walking distance of fine hotels and restaurants. Mar 13-Apr 18: A True History of the Johnstown Flood. Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph, Chicago. 312.704.8414. harristheaterchicago.org. Now in its fifth season at its home in the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, this modern state-of-the-art theater guarantees that the audience will enjoy a wide variety of performances in an intimate setting. Mar 23: Heroes and Demons—Legends of Urban, Latin and America; Mar 29: Monteverdi Vespers of 1610; Mar 31: Double Play—Bach, Mozart, Haydn; Apr 11: Lang Lang with the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra; Apr 17, 21, 23, 25: Mosè in Egitto; Apr 24, 28, 30, May 2: Giasone. Lyric Opera of Chicago, Civic Opera House, Madison & Wacker, Chicago. 312.332.244 ext 5600. lyricopera.org. The world-class Lyric Opera enraptures audiences with its spectacular artistry, performing in one of the most unique theaters in the world. The recently refurbished Civic Open House not only is an elaborate treasure on the inside, but it is architecturally distinctive as well, shaped like a throne facing the Chicago River. Through Mar 27: The Marriage of Figaro. The Paramount Theatre, 23 E Galena Blvd, Aurora. 630.896.6666. paramountarts.com. The Paramount Theatre is an opulent historical landmark that boasts superior acoustics and luxurious seating, and offers an array of celebrity entertainers, world-class Broadway shows, challenging cuttingedge performances, and respected comedians. Mar 18: Tchaikovsky Ballet Spectacular; Mar 20: The Wedding Singer; Mar 27: The Second City 50th Anniversary Tour; Apr 10: Stayin’ Alive; Apr 17: Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E Main St, St. Charles. 630.584.6342. pheasantrun. com. Acclaimed throughout Chicago and the Midwest for its entertainment, Pheasant Run Resort features theater at its new Mainstage and Studio theaters, comedy at Zanies Comedy Club, and live music, entertainment, art exhibits and shopping at its own version of Bourbon Street. Through Mar 28: Over the Tavern; Apr 9-10: Defending the Caveman; Apr 22-Jun 13: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N Halsted, Chicago. 312.335.1650. steppenwolf. org. The Chicago-based cast—recently joined by William Petersen—is an internationally renowned group of 42 artists, committed to the art of ensemble collaboration. Now in its 34th season, Steppenwolf continues to fulfill its mission by offering intriguing performances and taking artistic risks. Through Apr 25: Garage Rep (Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, 1624 N Halsted); through May 23: The Brother/Sister Plays; Apr 1-Jun 6: Endgame. For more events and destinations, please go to visitshoremagazine.com.

david weston | kim ferraro | jon hook and andrea peterson | rodney and linda jo clough | lee botts

Over the past year, the idea of being ecofriendly became about more than just saving the planet . . . itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about saving money as well. The redefined economy has forced Americans to recognize that less is more, which helps both the environment and our wallets. In our third annual Eco-Maniacs edition, we recognize those in the Lake Michigan area who are leading the charge in this new wave of environmentalism.

words by rob earnshaw, melissa kariger and sharon biggs waller photography by Jon L. Hendricks and Robert Wray

april 2010 | shore magazine | page 49

THE AESTHETICIAN

David Weston Grand Rapids, Michigan

eco-trip

what the maniacs are saying

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“Reclaimed wood flooring has a beautiful patina. Antiques lend so much to a design, mixing past and present. I love putting a crazy contemporary fabric onto an antique piece. It jazzes it up and adds a contemporary twist.”

n the early ’90s, British native David Weston was a gentleman farmer living off the grid in the Dordogne in France. But he wasn’t the stereotypical salt-ofthe-earth smallholder; he kept an office in Paris and was a soughtafter interior designer. “I jumped into the green thing in a big way,” David says. “I was raising horses, and I didn’t want to give them chemical de-wormers. I read that if you ran sheep, cows and horses together, the parasites would be minimal. So I ended up with cows that needed milking. We had our own water supply with a turbine and ended up being 97 percent self-sufficient.” David left his idyllic life for New York in 2004. He continued to design, and wrote for Marie Claire Home, but he soon grew tired of the urban lifestyle. He met a native from Grand Rapids and the two decided to relocate to Michigan. In 2006, David, along with friend Melanie Rogers, opened Think Design, a company that employs a fresh way of looking at environmentally friendly design. “I always explain to people that you don’t have to have that stark overcontemporary look,” David says. “You can do a lot with fabrics and linens, too. I’m a great believer in recycling. Reclaimed wood flooring has a beautiful patina. Antiques lend so much to a design, mixing past and present. I love putting a crazy contemporary fabric onto an antique piece. It jazzes it up and adds a contemporary twist.” David sources furniture with frames from sustainable sources, recycled wadding, and natural fabric upholstery. He finds tables are made from old railway ties merged with reclaimed steel for the bases. “I think for me, it’s all about your environment,” he says. “I’ve had cancer twice, and I convinced myself it had to do with toxic chemicals and food preservatives,” David says. “I had to live and eat very healthily because of my compromised immune system. There can be such horrible chemicals in carpets. That new ‘fresh smell’ really comes from toxic off-gases. I think we need to go back to basics, before all these hideous chemicals were used in processing. Houses in Europe still have silk curtains from the 18th century. If you use natural materials they will last for much longer. Green design isn’t really new; everything is truly a reflection of the past.” –Sharon Biggs Waller

THE ADVOCATE

Kim Ferraro Valparaiso, Indiana

n November 2007, the Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals granted the BioEnergy Development Company permission to build an ethanol plant in San Pierre, Indiana. Kankakee Valley-Stop the Ethanol Plant (KV-STEP), an ad hoc group of over 200 San Pierre residents, opposed the construction of this plant, which would have depleted local water supplies, contaminated groundwater, led to soil erosion, and released numerous hazardous pollutants, including carcinogens, into the air. KV-STEP turned to Indiana’s only nonprofit environmental law practice, the Legal Environmental Aid Foundation of Indiana, Inc. (LEAF) for assistance in pursuing a lawsuit against the Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals. In September 2008, as a result of the lawsuit, BioEnergy announced it would not build the proposed plant. LEAF was founded by Valparaiso University School of Law graduate Kim E. Ferraro in 2007 in order to help residents of Indiana stand up to the big businesses and government agencies harming Indiana’s environment. After twenty years of paralegal experience, Ferraro concluded that people who pollute the environment should be held legally accountable. Since litigation can be quite costly, she decided to offer her legal services to Indiana residents for free. Ferraro first developed her passion for environmental causes while growing up in a small town outside Austin, Texas, where she spent a lot of time outdoors. Upon moving to the Region, she became concerned about environmental practices in the area, particularly poor land uses during the construction of strip malls and housing developments. Regarding the severe flooding Northwest Indiana faced in the fall of 2008, Ferraro emphasizes, “We are seeing the direct results of bad decisions. Poor land uses have virtually eliminated natural barriers.” Other problems she sees Indiana currently facing include industrial pollution along the shoreline and industrial farming in the southern portion of the state. Many of the cases LEAF has taken on have dealt with these sorts of issues, and Ferraro is dedicated to making as much of an impact as possible in confronting these problems. “The easy part is finding work. Lots of people need my help,” she reflects. “The problem is that since I am helping people who don’t have a lot of money, I have to look for other sources of funding and that can be a challenge.” LEAF, of course, is more than willing to accept donations and can never have too many attendees at its monthly Green Drinks meetings for environmental advocates. –Melissa Kariger

eco-trip what the maniacs are saying

“We are seeing the direct results of bad decisions. Poor land uses have virtually eliminated natural barriers.”

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THE DIY COUPLE

Jon HOOk and ANDREA PETERSON LaPorte, Indiana

eco-trip what the maniacs are saying

“Our dream is less electricity—it’s everyone’s dream.It’s about making our house more efficient. What we do is try to understand the elements and how we can live with them.”

april 2010

on Hook and Andrea Peterson were “green” before “green” entered our lexicon as a word defining sustainability and social responsibility. The married couple were eco-maniacs thirteen years ago when they moved from Chicago to an 11-acre farm in LaPorte. “We needed to move out somewhere where we could explore what we needed to be,” Peterson says. Hook and Peterson both work in the arts that are “ages old.” He’s a ceramic artist; she’s a paper artist and printmaker. They built their studio gallery—Hook Pottery Paper— themselves on their farm property. Pretty much everything on their homestead was built with local materials by their own hands—from teacups to stationery and sketchbooks (made from discarded cotton clothing) to the home’s heat source. Their Finnish-style masonry heater (with a stove on top) uses no electricity. “Our dream is less electricity—it’s everyone’s dream,” Peterson says. “It’s about making our house more efficient. “What we do is try to understand the elements and how we can live with them.” Hook and Peterson’s eco-sensibilities are being passed down to their sons. Famous words from Ry, 12, and Lu, 10, are, “We can build this.” “They’ve seen application in action,” Peterson says. “They’ve grown up with the confidence and belief they can build anything,” Hook adds. The family has also established their own garden, where they harvest most of their meals. There’s a goat for milk, cheese and butter and chickens for eggs and meat. “The chickens also ‘work’ the garden, which will add protein to their eggs,” Hook says. The couple used to have pigs and more are on the way. When they get dirty after a day’s work on the farm, they wash up using their handmade soap made from an all-vegetable recipe. “Our hands and skin stay richer and more moisturized,” Peterson says. Hook and Peterson only “go to town” once a week for basic needs. The rest they make themselves. “It also teaches our boys time management, which becomes another energyefficient sort of thing,” Peterson says. A good old-fashioned exchange of goods and services is fundamental in their lives as well, such as an exchange of chicken food for hay for the goat. “Bartering is a big thing for us,” Peterson says. Hook and Peterson offer classes, residencies (many college students request internships) and exhibitions. They also offer classes in paper arts, printmaking, book arts and ceramics, as well as “the living arts” like basket weaving and cheese making. –Rob Earnshaw

THE NATURAL HOSTS

Rodney and linda jo clough Sawyer, Michigan

V eco-trip

what the maniacs are saying

“We don’t require guests to be green while they are here, but we ask people to hang towels up if they don’t want fresh each day, and to recycle. But we aren’t green bullies.”

ice President Al Gore’s movie An Inconvenient Truth inspired many people to help combat global warming, but Rodney and Linda Jo Clough decided they needed to do more than simply change a few light bulbs. In 2006, they merged their dream of becoming country innkeepers with their commitment to a green life. Linda Jo had long envisioned owning a bed and breakfast inn. (For several years, her daughter, Megan, let out a room in their old Victorian apartment in the city as part of a reservation service for property owners with rooms or apartments to rent.) It was there she met her husband Rodney, who was a guest at one of the inns. The couple married in 1989, and moved around the country for a few years before finally coming back to Chicago. But they yearned for a life out of the city, and in 2003, they moved to a quaint 90-year-old cottage in Sawyer, Michigan. Living green had always been important to Linda Jo and Rodney, and they got involved with Faith in Place, a not-for-profit organization based in Chicago that promotes green practices for all types of faith practices. “We saw An Inconvenient Truth at a Faith in Place convention,” Linda Jo says. “We were so shocked and so depressed.” And then in 2006, the old craving to be an innkeeper came back to Linda Jo. “I asked Rodney what he thought if we turned the house into a bed and breakfast inn, and he said, ‘Are you looking for another husband?’” she laughs. “But then we started exploring the idea seriously, and we knew we wanted to make it as green as possible.” They hired a contractor, gutted the old house, installed double insulation and geothermal heating and cooling, and built a private annex for the guests. “We don’t require guests to be green while they are here, but we ask people to hang towels up if they don’t want fresh each day, and to recycle,” Rodney says. “But we aren’t green bullies.” Building a green property is an ongoing project, and the couple has learned a lot along the way. “We have a barn on the property that we’re hoping will be our experiment,” Rodney says. “We’re going to have rainwater collection and solar energy. It will be a wonderful way to see how far we can go without spending a lot of money.” “Sometimes I’m so taken aback at how beautiful the inn is,” Linda Jo says. “But so much of that is because we designed it in a green, aesthetic way. It’s inspiring that we created something so beautiful to match such a beautiful surrounding.” –Sharon Biggs Waller

THE MOTHER SHIP

lee botts

Miller Beach, Indiana

eco-trip what the maniacs are saying “One of the things that has changed for me is that back in the ’70s I was fighting corporations over pollution, and now I’m working with them on environmental education.”

april 2010

ee Botts’ lifelong crusade as an environmentalist could be traced back to her childhood days growing up on her grandparents’ farm in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. The Miller Beach resident recalls joining her grandfather on horseback and looking at shelterbelts planted in the pasture to protect the soil from erosion. “I remember it vividly,” Botts says. “I had tremendous freedom to roam around. I still have a little notebook with pressed wildflowers that I gathered.” The young girl who collected those wildflowers moved to Chicago after finishing college in 1949 and founded or became involved in several environmental organizations in addition to being named head of the Great Lakes Basin by President Carter in 1978. She also served in the administration of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. “I’ve had a lot of lucky adventures,” Botts says. One of them was discovering the Indiana Dunes. Botts, who along with her husband was raising four children in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, made the discovery while visiting a friend who worked in Gary. “The Dunes have been a big part of my life ever since,” she says. Botts moved to the Dunes area after retiring from full-time work in 1990. She lives next to an “incredibly beautiful” natural pond with beavers, birds and other diverse wildlife and landscape. Today Botts represents environmental interests as a member of the Indiana State Water Pollution Control Board and is president emeritus and life board member of the Alliance for the Great Lakes and Dunes Learning Center. She sits on the board of directors of the NWI Quality of Life Council and the Miller Citizens Corporation, and is a former board member who still works closely with the Save the Dunes Council. Botts, who was recently named to the Indiana Conservation Hall of Fame, sees a paradigm shift going on in the environmental attitude on the part of corporations. “One of the things that has changed for me is that back in the ’70s I was fighting corporations over pollution, and now I’m working with them on environmental education,” she says. It’s an indication of fundamental change, Botts says, that corporations are recognizing that their sustainability depends on natural resources. “And that’s a huge change,” she says. “These days I’m continually surprised.” Botts is still concerned that it may be too late to take the threat out of climate change. “I think there are going to be unforeseen consequences we don’t even know about yet,” she says. –Rob Earnshaw

A three-story limestone faĂ§ade embellished by decorative terra cotta frames the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main entrance, which has been relocated to Chestnut Street just off Lake Shore Drive.

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the birth of a green idea AT 8 50 LAK E SHO R E D R IVE In the summer of 2006, when Matt Phillips first presented his idea about turning the fabulous but elderly Beaux Arts building sitting on an angle at 850 North Lake Shore Drive next to the Mies van der Rohes into a vertical, luxury senior citizen home, the lords of Northwestern University Hospital sniffed but did not bite. The downtown Chicago real estate market, in spite of incessant building on the north, the south, the west, was stable and growing then. A closest proximity to Lake Michigan property like that was going to command a high price and could even end up a teardown. In fact, Matt thought 850 North just might get knocked down in the end, when he walked away to pursue other things.

words by pat colander photography by robert wray

Matthew Phillips had worked for Hyatt in its Classic Developments company. (He had taken an unusual route into development by first practicing law, then becoming general counsel in a development firm and then a partner in a real estate group.) And Matt had seen a number of projects designated as luxury senior living in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palo Alto, La Jolla and Ventura, California; Denver, Colorado; and Naples, Florida, prior to forming his own Northbrook-based company, Integrated Development Group.

[top] Detail of grillwork on the wall of the Lake Shore Dining Room. [center] With its handsome millwork and moldings, the Lake Shore Club Room—once the setting for lavish debutante balls and benefit galas—will retain the comforting masculine ambience of a private club. Wing chairs and card tables will echo the social intimacy of a club in a bygone era and a newly designed onyx bar pays homage to the past while celebrating the crisp, streamlined look of today. [bottom] View of the demolished interior, brought down to its structural core, before construction begins.

t was a natural progression for him, and he says, “I liked real estate, because I like being part of something being built, whatever you did that added to what you started with.” Using the example of the building at 850 North Lake Shore Drive, he would be taking custody of a building that closed as a dorm because it had gotten beyond its “useful life,” and turning it into a “great place for people to live specific to senior housing, with the added element of the whole service side of the business: hospitality, health care . . . now we would actually witness when people move into our projects, see the socialization that happens, see people that have developed new friendships and talk to their adult children. This is a kind of feel-good business from that standpoint.” By 2007, new communitybuilding targeting seniors was well underway as well as the growing popularity of sustaining (fixing) and renovating older buildings rather than tearing them down. The economic as well as ecological climate had changed in downtown Chicago. The fit with Northwestern was still not easy to see, but there was less skepticism. In the meantime, Matt had gone to work on an East Coast project

retrofitting and rebuilding a former college into a living center—horizontal, rather than vertical—for seniors, the same “interesting connection of the old with the new in combination.” When the original plan fell through on the Chicago project, Matt went back to work to line up financing and convince the NU school and hospital that this type of housing would work on the site. The main financing for IDG’s $80 million renovation project came through an investment bank assessing projects for National Electrical Benefit Fund (NEBF), a Washington, D.C.-based pension fund interested in senior housing development projects, especially at a premium address that would be an asset in itself. “We talked with corporate development at Northwestern about joint programming, our customer base and theirs; having those spaces [restored in 850 North Lake Shore] gives us a lot of opportunities.” The architect Larry Booth came into the picture during the first stages of development of the IDG project. The legendary designer of emerging contemporary form construction in the 1970s had evolved into a guru of sustainable, renewable and reusable materials in energy-efficient buildings and an expert on salvaging the important and replacing the trivial and ineffective. The 850 project was perfect for Booth, in that he could preserve its character and greatness without compromising the environmental side. Booth, who considers recycling space the reward of responsible stewardship, was more than happy to talk with Matt originally about trying to save this great building. The conversation was about using the building and its public spaces. (Parts of the 850 building, including the gigantic great room, used to be the private Lake Shore Athletic Club, with a gymnasium and other social areas.) Booth says, “You basically can’t duplicate those spaces anymore.” Not without giving up the open kitchens people have grown used to and like a lot, which is why 850 North is incorporating them into the design. Booth traces the history of senior housing and how the characterization has changed. (He obviously considers himself part of the 850 North Streeterville market.) “They started out as medical facilities, as places where old folks could be cared for for whatever reasons. Then these became assisted-living, and that wasn’t perfect either. Sometimes with a couple one needs assistance and the other doesn’t. So what Matt is doing makes a lot more sense and it’s much more pleasant, the idea of an upscale three-star hotel environment—why not? These people have saved all

history, amenities and architecture.

A scale model showing 850’s prime Gold Coast/ Streeterville real estate (to the left, with John Hancock Center in the background) is the centerpiece of its sales center, located nearby at the corner of DeWitt and Delaware.

april 2010

North Lake Shore Drive building was special enough that he did not want to block it with his newer buildings, which were deliberately set on an angle so they would not block the building that was there first.) The building’s presence on the lakefront is important, Susan explains, and makes you look more closely at the details—and “it is beautifully detailed.” The architectural detailing is carefully thought out, she explains, because Jarvis Hunt was trained at MIT in the classical tradition design of building. But Susan Benjamin is also a kind of aesthetician: a tremendous believer in how your environment shapes your usan Benjamin was first hired to trace that feelings, how you live and how you behave. She explains, history by Northwestern when they were “You have strong feelings about continuity and the past exploring what to do with the building. shaping lives and enriching lives, and “They wanted me to beautiful places are inspiring like beautiful explain what the options music. I think it’s really important to were in terms of economic The authenticity understand what shapes you as a human incentives and help them is an asset. being. People who will live in these think through what they might want to do “Sometimes it is beautiful spaces with the amenities of and make good decisions.” Even though hard to explain today are lucky.” the first developer wanted to tear it down, what makes this This is the modern story of form Benjamin explains, “Once Alderman building so special and function coming together, in a [Brendan] Reilly was elected, he wanted to and different,” Matt particularly interesting way, she says. see it preserved.” says. Even though “History may be making it meaningful, There are plenty of reasons that make the price is similar and good architecture in general has this building project unique and special. (If to others around it to be functional, so I tell stories on [the you look at the visualization of the Chicago that may not have building’s] significance. I think I’m playing lakefront on Google, you can easily see the cachet of the the role of a historian as opposed to a that Mies van der Rohe thought the 850

their lives, they have the resources, they’ve earned it and they can enjoy it. So that’s what we’ve done on a number of downtown properties.” Including Booth’s recently completed rehab of the Palmolive Building a few blocks away from the IDG property. “People want to have a big apartment,” Booth explains, to “entertain and have family, and the grand rooms [in this property] make you feel good. The rooms were built when a lot of fine homes in this city were built.”

[above] Exquisite hand-crafted decorative plaster molding accents the two-story Lake Shore Dining Room, with magnificent views of Lake Michigan. Pediments above the doorways and the original, silverplated chandeliers provide a chic counterpoint to the contemporary cuisine on the tables. [above right] Detail of the Lake Shore Club Room’s handcarved, ornately detailed millwork. [right] Detail of a treasured sterling silver chandelier that will be restored to its full beauty in the Lake Shore Dining Room.

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design consultant.” Of course, part of the reason Matt would hire a historian has to do with what you can do with a rich façade like the 850 North building has, what’s legal, where the jurisdiction is, if you get tax credits for keeping the windows, if you can change single-loaded corridors to double-loaded corridors and ultimately what is worth it for economic incentives and what is practical. In a sense that’s why the historian comes into the planning simultaneously with the architect, who is going to ultimately be the negotiator on the pragmatic side. Larry Booth wrote the book on this: “Buildings have to perform beyond being stylish objects; now it’s about a high-performance building.” These are the buildings for the “movers,” as Booth describes them, “the old and the restless.” “This whole phenomenon is based on living longer, even though you don’t necessarily want to stay in the homes you built,” he explains. “Even though you may have thought that the kids would be moving back to the homestead someday when you originally built the homestead.” The city is now a huge college campus, he says, and “the parents want to see the kids. The future of the cities is that people are going to live in cities. You can go out of your house and walk to everything you need—grocery store, Starbucks, Whole Foods—and there’s vertical farming. You can grow food in roof gardens on so many of these downtown buildings and just use water from the rain.” But in Larry Booth’s eyes the changes and repopulation of older buildings is just at the beginning point. “We use twice as much energy in the U.S. as in Germany. We have 5 percent of the population using 30 percent of the energy. We have to figure out how to do much better with stewardship of the earth and part of that is to reduce energy demands; use daylight more and use energy-efficient lighting; insulate so you lose less; use solar hot water heating and heat exchanges. Geothermal exchange systems really work and so do wind turbines and methods for harnessing solar energy to generate electricity. “This is what we mean by high-performance in a building.” About 15 years ago he figured out that stewardship was a big deal, Booth says, and Americans who were pigging out

needed to set an example. So whatever we could save we look to save. “Mayor Daley has been a great supporter of more [alternative energy power] plants in the city,” Booth explains, and wind and solar energy are going to happen faster than anyone thinks. Pretty soon we will forget about paying for oil, he says. Taking the tour of 850 North Lake Shore is a jolt of reality. The spaces that are going to be preserved are in the process of being meticulously dismantled, as memorabilia is catalogued along with the light fixtures. The rest of the space has been gutted down to the bones, but you can get a sense of the generous proportions between the divisions of the 17-story, 374,000 square feet inside that will become 139 luxury residences, eleven of them together on one floor designated as assisted living. And you can almost envision as Matt, Susan and Larry do, those that have lived here—and worked out, had conversations by the fireplace and watched couples get married—and their children’s children who will live here in the future. The authenticity is an asset. “Sometimes it is hard to explain what makes this building so special and different,” Matt says. Even though the price is similar to others around it that may not have the cachet of the history, amenities and architecture. Sales began last year when the interior demolition was finished and once the work on the façade was underway. Matt says he was “pleasantly surprised we didn’t find anything” during the demolition, which sometimes happens.

veryone who is part of 850 North Lake Shore Drive seems to be a bit in love with the building and furthermore, everyone over at the Apple store educational theater on North Michigan Avenue would seem to be in the right age group—where’s the challenge for sales? As Susan Benjamin says, “I love what I do and I wouldn’t change anything. I love the content of what I do, I like working with developers and homeowners and finding solutions to tricky projects. But the dream part of it is not so easy, I’m not going to be doing this for another 50 years.” The question is when to stop? How to stop? Where to stop? That, as Matt Phillips says, is not so hard. You are right where the action is, as he says. It’s perfect for the old and the restless, as Larry Booth says. “It’s fun to live somewhere and fall out the door and you are at the lake,” Susan Benjamin says. “That’s important. One of the most appealing things about the building is the location.”

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E E R G E B O T N E V I R D A DESOLATE TOWN

unprecedented. “We’ll identify the hot spots, plant trees and put light development like a pavilion and basketball court in noncontaminated areas,” Montle says. “We’re looking at this as a five-year project.” The site is across the street from a large General Motors Tool & Die factory that remains open. Montle is also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to de-channelize the nearby Flint River, remove the cement and give the waterway more access to the future park. “This place opens us up to nearly unlimited composting for full gardening across the city for free or next to free,” says Montle, 33. “This is the first idea we’ve come up with that is truly multidimensional.” Montle was Flint River Watershed Coalition executive director from 2006 to 2008 and the Genesee Conservation District director before joining the mayor’s team. “We see Flint as a sustainable city,” he says. “Flint’s economic and population trend-lines have been going down forever. Eventually you get to zero. That’s no fun to think about. We’re not thinking pie-in-the-sky, how we’re going to have a booming economy and have 200,000 people again. We’re trying to find a number we can fix on, like 80,000? And do hard-core urban planning around that. “All too often master plans turn into the aspiration of the city and not the reality the city faces. Green initiatives are the only way we get to that sustainability, given our budget situation.” eanwhile, Caudell’s efforts to build hoop houses throughout Flint have gained attention from the state of Michigan. The hoop house is a seasonextension technology where metal APRIL 2010

ew waves of young residents are out to repackage Flint as something green and lean. Walling is 36 years old. After his election last August, one of his first orders of business was to appoint a Green City Coordinator. “Everybody looks to Flint because we’ve been the poster child for manufacturing abandoning this community,” says Erin Caudell, 32, who promotes local urban agriculture and green space with the Flint-based Ruth Mott Foundation. “If Flint can get their act together, anybody can get their act together.” Under Walling’s watch the city is updating urban agriculture ordinances and taking small steps like allowing compost and trash pickup at vacant lots, which was previously prohibited. But the city’s most ambitious project is the transformation of the Chevy in the Hole manufacturing complex, with the goal of creating a vegetative cap and park over the contaminated (petroleum spills) 130-acre site. Located in the Flint River Basin, Chevrolet manufacturing operated out of the area from the early 1900s through the 1980s. At one time, 14,000 people worked in the factories throughout the Chevy in the Hole. Now there’s nothing but a big pile of leaves and yard compost. “This is my favorite project,” says Steve Montle, Flint’s Green City Coordinator, during a tour of the site, just west of downtown. “It makes the most sense. It makes sense financially. We were paying to have our leaves and yard waste transferred out of the city. That bill would have been about $300,000 in 2009. We offset that cost. Then we’ll have higher quality backfill to take out of here. This is a brownfield reclamation.” “Brownfield” is a broad term given to distressed properties. Brownfield reclamation is common, but using locally generated compost to renew a brownfield site is virtually

cultivated along Piper Avenue in the blighted North Side. The neighborhood has one of the highest levels of vacancy in Flint. Ryan, 59, morphed ten adjacent vacant lots into a vegetable plot, a small farm with eighteen new fruit trees and a children’s garden. Just four years ago the lots were a dumping ground for tons of old car parts, trash and lost asphalt. “Some of the streets are 50 to 70 percent vacant lots with only a few houses scattered in,” Caudell explains. “Groups like Harry’s employ youth in the area to take care of the vacant lots.” Ryan says, “Last summer I had ten students and we cut everybody’s grass. I don’t care if you’re sitting on your porch. If your grass needs cutting we cut it. I want one block all cleaned up. So people can see how it could be. And it’s worked beautifully.” he Genesee County Land Bank’s Clean and Green program pays community groups to maintain land bank properties. The Land Bank owns about 9 percent of Flint through tax foreclosures and donations. For every twenty-five properties they maintain, they are asked to do a beautification project, which can be a flower or vegetable garden. “Oftentimes people didn’t know how to garden,” Caudell says. “I provided technical assistance to get the soil right. They don’t know to test the soil for lead if they’re growing vegetables. I help with landscape design. Our job is to help people like Harry’s vision become a reality. “And not employ our own vision.” In measured tones Ryan adds, “We’re doing one block at a time. It took thirty years to get this way. In the four years I’ve been doing this, we’ve done seventy-two lots.” Ryan worked at GM until he hurt his spine and got into computer engineering. This year Ryan is also tending to his vision of power-generated windmills throughout Flint. “I’m doing a turbine windmill with an ethanol generator,” says Ryan, who grew up in Lansing and Flint. “I’m getting ready for it. I dreamed about this.” It is a cloudy day in Flint as Ryan works in his garden. But he sees the light.

photography courtesy of [previous and this page] FLINT RIVER WATERSHED COALITION

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poles cover two layers of plastic that are unheated, but allows residents to grow food eleven months a year. Late last year hoop houses were installed at the White House, where the Obamas grew lettuces, cabbage, winter radishes, broccoli and carrots. Hoop houses are 30 to 40 feet wide and can be anywhere from 50 to 130 feet long. “It’s intensive crop scheduling,” Caudell says during a drive through North Flint. “It allows some fresh produce to be produced year-round. Michigan State University and Michigan State Student Organic Farm [est. 2000] are leaders in this. We use their expertise to apply to Flint.” Caudell graduated with a horticulture degree from Michigan State. As a partner of the Edible Flint organization, Caudell has been working with the Flint Planning Commission to amend building codes so hoop houses can go up on Flint’s abundance of vacant lots. Food would travel less, going directly from farm to plate. Currently local farmers are supported by area caterers and Flint eateries such as Hoffman’s Deli and the Lunch Studio. The Michigan Environmental Council and Food Policy Council in Lansing took notice of Flint’s effort and are also working in similar building code amendments throughout the state. “We have to have a collaborative distribution model to make it local and on a scale where hospitals, restaurants and schools can purchase food,” Caudell explains. “That is the key piece for driving the market in Flint for more people to grow vegetables. We have to scale it up. Farming is hard work.” Through her outreach at the Mott Foundation, Caudell networked with Flint resident Harry Ryan, who sits on the Genesee County Land Bank Community Advisory Council. Last year Ryan was featured in The New York Times for the ambitious neighborhood gardens he has

greener

greens How Benton Harbor went from a giant brownfield to lustrous, lakefront Nicklaus green By Lauri Harvey Keagle

april 2010

The group had a vision, but needed a plan. Mark Hesemann, managing director of Harbor Shores, brought his Evergreen Development real estate company to the table and had the connections needed to get the project off the ground. Hesemann spent seventeen years working for golf legend Jack Nicklaus’ Nicklaus Design, an international golf course design firm. If Hesemann could bring Nicklaus to Benton Harbor to build a golf course to serve as the center of the development, residential, retail and other recreational amenities could follow. Leaders agreed and the plan was born: a 520-acre mixed use residential, retail and spa hotel development, spanning parts of Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and Benton Charter Township, aimed at bringing jobs and taxes back to Benton Harbor. Partners have invested more than $70 million in the project to date and anticipate creating around 800 pre-construction jobs and 700 post-construction jobs. Officials say Harbor Shores is providing opportunities for developers to invest over $400 million in the community. “This is the ultimate,” Hesemann says. “It’s really cool to have a project not focused on how much money am I going to make at the end of the year. It’s about changing lives.”

When Joen Brambilla was growing up in St. Joseph, Benton Harbor was in vogue. • “Benton Harbor was the town where everyone came to go shopping,” Brambilla says. “They had all the big stores and two shopping malls. It was the place to go.” • She married and moved away and while she was gone, the city’s reputation went from fashionable to failure. In the mid-1980s, six manufacturing plants—including Whirlpool’s largest appliance manufacturing facility in the world—closed within an 18-month period. The plant closures meant the loss of more than 5,500 jobs and turned the city into a ghost town.

Seeing beyond the blight

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efore the plans in Benton Harbor could become a reality, the developers had to deal with the contaminated landscape. “Jack Nicklaus had a vision,” says Bob McFeeter, director of development for the project. “He could see where these holes were going to go. We were confronted with piles of garbage and debris and couldn’t see it.” Ron Eng, Harbor Shores’ director of marketing and sales, remembers taking people on tours explaining how the golf course would be developed. “In 2007, the weeds were as high as my Jeep,” Eng says. “We saw beer bottles, thousands of tires.” The project removed over 117,000 tons of trash, solid waste and concrete from the site, including 20,000 tons of contaminated soils. That’s one football field stacked up 65 feet or the equivalent of a seven-story building. “Once you cleared away

photography courtesy of RON ENG

rambilla returned to the area in 1995 and went to work for Cornerstone Alliance in downtown Benton Harbor. “I worked on Main Street and there were no cars there. I told my neighbor where I worked and he said, ‘You can’t go to work there.’” The plant closures also left behind environmental ruin. A foundry, steel companies, an old city dump, appliance factories and an aircraft component manufacturing site contaminated with mercury and radium were among the remains on the 600 vacant acres bridging St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. The pollution on the aircraft manufacturing site was so severe, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deemed it a Superfund site, defining it as one of the most polluted in the nation. “It was devastating,” Brambilla says. “It was a town you couldn’t even go into.” But locals weren’t about to let it die. In the late 1980s, community and business leaders commissioned a study on how to bring new jobs, housing and recreational opportunities to the area. The study recommended changes in downtown Benton Harbor first, followed by developing the 600 acres that once thrived as a manufacturing hub of the community to once again serve as the city’s economic engine. The Whirlpool Foundation, Cornerstone Alliance and the Alliance for World-Class Communities worked together and formed Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment, a nonprofit entity charged with serving as master developer of the project.

the trash, there was beautiful land underneath,” Hesemann says. In constructing the golf course, engineers ensured there would be no runoff to the natural water table or wetlands. Designers topped the land on the golf course with a foot of sand, McFeeter says, “for drainage and environmental reasons.” “Soils are not consistent across the site,” he says. “There is peat, sand, foundry clay. We need to be able to irrigate and drain at the same rate to allow the turf to grow at the same rate.” In order to minimize the runoff of fertilizer, the course captures the first inch of rain. “We constructed wetlands and the whole golf course drains into those to trap sediment and runoff,” McFeeter says. “It’s very cost effective. Fertilizer is so expensive, so you don’t want to use or waste too much anyway. Turf is one of the best filters of fertilizer. There is no runoff into the Paw Paw or Lake Michigan.” The Superfund site was among the most challenging. “It was remediated by the EPA so the radioactivity was removed from the site,” McFeeter says. “When creating a golf course there, the EPA had restrictions. Now, it’s just gorgeous and it was built on top of a Superfund site.” The EPA is still monitoring the groundwater, McFeeter says, but there is no surface contact danger there. “The Superfund site is the only one that, to a normal person, strikes fear of hazards, but you really have to eat this stuff or ingest it to cause you any major concerns at all,” he says. The success of the cleanup was measured by the nature that returned. Sandhill cranes came to the property for the first time in 2008. By June 2009, rose-pink—a species native to the region— was growing on the property. Sandpipers were running across the greens and ducklings were crossing the ponds in the wetlands with their parents nearby. A deer emerged from the woods and swam across the Paw Paw River while a river otter swam near the shoreline. “If you looked at this parcel four or five years ago, you’d think no one would want to invest here,” McFeeter says. “Now, you go out on the course and think, ‘I might like to live here.’”

Three courses in one

he Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is at the center of the Golf District, which includes custom homes ranging to $600,000. Road construction started in the Fairways development in the fall and is expected to be complete

by Memorial Day. Currently, the clubhouse for the golf course is housed in the old M-Tech building, but there are plans in the works for a 12,000-square-foot clubhouse that may accompany a lodging facility. Nicklaus personally designed the golf course, with exceptional detail. He returned in June to work on the design of the three holes in Jean Klock Park and went back to check on the previ-

Annual passes on sale for 2010 play The annual pass for the Golf Club at Harbor Shores is on sale now. Passes allow for unlimited golf, use of the practice facilities and a free cart. Individual passes are $3,500, with an additional $500 for a spouse. A family pass, which includes spouses and children living in the home, is $4,500. Practice passes, which allow for unlimited use of the driving range, are available for $500. For more information, contact the Golf Club at Harbor Shores at 269.927.4653.

Jack Nicklaus on site at Harbor Shores Resort with Chris Rule, senior designer for Nicklaus Design

playable for people of all skill levels. “The greens are really challenging, but they’re fun,” he says. “It’s more visually intimidating than it really is and the golfer has the responsibility of playing the right tees. Someone of my skill level goes out and says, ‘Do I want to play the second to last or the very tips?’ I think that’s the thing Nicklaus has done, is he’s provided four sets of different tees and the hazards to go along with them.” The back nine are expected to open this summer and officials hope to have 13,000 people play the course in the 2010 season.

Right things, wrong reasons

he Harbor Shores development will have a total of 800 residential units of various types: condominiums, townhomes, custom-built single-family homes and cottages. The challenge, in this economy, is getting people to buy them. “Sometimes the right things happen for the wrong reasons,” Hesemann says. “Had we come out when we wanted to initially, we would have hit at the worst time.” The project was delayed about a year because of permitting issues. Had they not had the permitting problems, they would have begun pushing lot reservations just as the housing market tanked. “Now we’re seeing how home construction is starting to come around in the area and homes are selling,” he says. “In this business, the trick is to catch it on the uptick.” Eng is charged with marketing the project. “No one needs a second home, they want a second home,” Eng says. “We try to get people really grounded in Southwest Michigan, what is there to do here, wineries, festivals, beaches, arts districts. Everything we do at Harbor Shores is trying to get people to understand the lifestyle aspects. You only have to spend a quarter of the time in the car to get here versus the Northern Michigan resorts.” The Harbor Shores development will be divided into four districts: Harbor, Golf, Shores and River, each with distinct features and amenities. Crossing the bridge on the Michigan Highway into Benton Harbor from St. Joseph, visitors will enter the Harbor District, consisting of destination retail and dining off of the St. Joseph River with marina slips, condominiums and townhouses. “This is the destination retail, a place where you’d walk along the river with your kids,” Eng says. The development is planned for the former Whirlpool factory site. Service retail is planned for across the street, with sandwich shops, a video store, convenience store and liquor stores.

photography courtesy of RON ENG

ous work on holes seven and eight. He wasn’t satisfied with what he saw. Nicklaus told his personal shaper to change the holes, saying he would return in an hour. The work delayed a press conference by more than an hour and a half, but the holes were completed to his liking. “He’s so committed to designing the golf course with a completely hands-on approach,” Eng says. The course opened with nine holes in July, taking reservations for play Friday through Sunday until 2 p.m. Some 2,500 golfers played the course before the end of the season. Brambilla now serves as marketing and sales director for the Golf Club at Harbor Shores and says it is exciting to be a part of the revitalization of the once thriving community. “When I’m out on that golf course, I don’t even think of what it used to be,” she says. “People say all along they can’t believe they’re in Benton Harbor, Michigan.” The course is the second public Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Michigan. The Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy at the club will be the first in the Midwest. The academy—one of ten in the nation—is scheduled to open this summer and offer one- to three-day instructional courses in golf. The course really has three courses in one: a heavily treed, hilly course resembling a traditional Michigan course; a river course and a dunes course. “Once you hit the dunes, you don’t know if you’re in Scotland or where you are,” says Ross Smith, director of golf for Harbor Shores. “You go from areas where the fairways are all fairly large. You run along some holes cut out of trees and some are along Lake Michigan. Some are along the Paw Paw River. “I’ve got a lot of friends in Indiana and I think it’s going to be one of the premier golf course destinations in this area,” he says. “This is something you’re willing to drive three or four hours for, just to enjoy the experience.” Eng says the course is playable for golfers of any level. “I think one thing that Nicklaus used to be criticized for in his early courses was that they were too challenging,” Eng says. “I think the new Jack Nicklaus, he’s really focused on making it

The Districts at

“The finest raw material in the universe”

r. Marcus Robinson, president of the Consortium for Community Development, says the transformation taking place through Harbor Shores involves more than just the landscape. “We’re dealing with human beings,” Robinson says. “This is the finest raw material in the universe. It’s the green part of it. You’re growing people. It’s the environmental justice aspect of the project.” Harbor Shores enabled its partners to provide summer jobs for 1,200 young people, 150 of whom are now involved in year-round job training. Some 100 people are now employed full-time because of the project. Forty Benton Harbor residents received financial literacy training and were approved for mortgages. Every school in Benton Harbor has an afterschool supplemental education program with 500 to 700 students being served every school day, all made possible by Harbor Shores. “When you’re dealing with for-profits, they do the project, put their money in their pocket and move on to the next town,” says Wendy Dant Chesser, president of Cornerstone Alliance. “Here, we take that profit and invest it back in the community.” The Consortium works with twenty-nine different agen-

Harbor Shores cies and meets bimonthly to The Harbor Shores form a strategy to help the development will be divided broader community move into four districts: Harbor, forward. “The first thing people remark is they are Golf, Shores and River, each amazed by the breadth and with distinct features and depth of collaboration,” amenities. Robinson says. “We aren’t separate organizations workHarbor: Marina village, deep water marinas, dining, shopping, charter ing on joint projects. We are boat tours, boat rentals, town homes, one organization working condominiums. on a single project. We are only now beginning to realGolf: Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf ize how useful that is. Folks Course, custom homes (Fairways all around the country have development), clubhouse, golf listened to our story.” lodge, custom-designed homes, Chesser says having local cottages, condominiums. control of the project is the Shores: Five walk-to beaches, key to its success. “People boating, sailing, waterskiing, jet skiing, oftentimes want to turn to kite boarding, volleyball, playground, Lansing to solve all of the sand castle park, outfitters station. problems, but it’s not their responsibility to fix our probRiver: Fishing, kayaking and lems,” Chesser says. “This is canoeing, bird-watching, nature a locally generated solution paths, maintenance-free cottages to fixing our own problems. (Hideaways development), customWe use government like a designed homes, condominiums, town homes. toolbox. When we need a The Fairways, custom-built homes tool, we ask them. We’re not in the Golf District, range from waiting for Lansing to tell us $350,000 to the high $600,000s. what to do.” Hideaways, the maintenance-free McFeeter has developed cottages along the Paw Paw River, projects all over the world, are priced from $175,000 to $269,000. including those with serious Anyone interested in learning more environmental concerns like about purchasing a residential Harbor Shores. But he says lot should visit the Harbor Shores Discovery Center, 301 State Street in this one is different. “I get an St. Joseph, or call 269.932.1600. incredible sense of achievement, because you build something and leave it behind. It’s tangible,” McFeeter says. “Here, it’s different. I have seen changes in the community in the four years I’ve been here and it’s incredible. It’s changing communities in an incredible community revitalization.” When asked why they don’t simply abandon the project as so many other developers have given the economy and housing market, Chesser goes into her office and returns with photos of her young daughter sitting beside the child of a colleague and another of her family. “What we all have in common is this,” she says, putting the pictures on the table. “What impression do you want your kids to have of their hometown? Where do you want your kids to live?” Robinson says the locally run, nonprofit aspects of the project drive those involved to ensure it will be successful. “It’s because we live here,” Robinson says. “We aren’t developers who can go to wherever the money is. It’s not ‘not-in-mybackyard.’ It’s ‘yes, in my backyard. Damn straight.’ We better get this done. To quit because the weather is unfriendly is unthinkable. The partners are making sure we weather the storm and not just survive, but come out as one of the best places in the world.” april 2010

Harbor Shores’ representatives are meeting with a “significant Chicago developer that has worked all over the country” for the condo/townhouse portion of the development, Eng says. “One of the senior guys has a place in Saugatuck and did work on Cabrini Green in Chicago, so they get it,” Hesemann says. A boutique hotel and spa are also being discussed for the Harbor District. The River District along the Paw Paw River features Hideaways, a maintenance-free townhouse development being built by green builder Greg Powell. Hideaways will have narrow, private roads and waterfront properties on the Paw Paw River. They will have mature trees, the Paw Paw River and be within walking distance of Jean Klock Park and one mile from the arts district in Benton Harbor. The cottages will also have their own clubhouse, a swimming pool and a kayak launch. “It’s ideal for young professionals or retirees,” he says. Work began on the first two cottages in the River District the day after Thanksgiving. Workers completed the roads there in November. They are still working on finishing the rain gardens that will be used for drainage. By Memorial Day, the roads should be 100 percent complete. The Shores district is the lakefront district, including Jean Klock Park. Harbor Shores spent $1.5 million in renovations for Jean Klock Park, including cleaning up the bathhouse and grinding an old parking lot to use to create a new road. Harbor Shores is responsible for the maintenance of the park, but the city of Benton Harbor is responsible for the operations. Hole nine on the golf course is just off the lake behind the beach and the picnic pavilion is in the middle of three other holes. On the park property is an amenities building, public boat launch, kayak and canoe launch with trail heads along the way.

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The Trip to TrIllIum words by JANE DUNNE photography by SHANE FOLKERTSMA 0 visitshoremagazine.com 7

HAven 71

april 2010

This can’t be right, I thought to myself, arriving in Jenison, Michigan. I was on my way to Trillium Haven, a 50-acre organic family farm noted for CSA-supported fresh produce, popular with locavores in the Grand Rapids area. Had I misunderstood the directions? I was in Jenison, all right, apparent home of the farm in question, but instead of the bucolic surroundings I’d expected, I was smack in the middle of a suburb—neat small houses and sidewalks—only 15 minutes from the city. Just as I was about to pull over and use my cell phone, I saw the sign, “Trillium Haven Farm.” Whoa! In the seconds it took to turn onto the dirt road, I was in a totally different setting. Fields of produce everywhere, the soil, once an ancient ﬂood plain of the Grand River, now a deep rich black.

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I was there to meet with Anja Mast, co-owner of the farm with her husband, Michael VanderBrug, and followed the signs to the rustic building marked “Office.” It was there I got my second surprise of the day. Out from behind the screen door emerged a stunning woman in impeccably tailored pants and shirt. “I’m Anja,” she said, shaking hands, looking like a million dollars—miles away from my preconceived notions about farmers.

Obviously curious about the woman who had greeted me, I plunged in with questions about her background. No, she said, she wasn’t a “local,” but had been born on the island of Curacao in the West Indies, a daughter of a U. S. Foreign Service officer. Being raised and educated in postings as diverse as England, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, with occasional short leaves in the States, had made Anja pretty much a student of the world. “I learned my American history from an Australian and my French from a Vietnamese.” Her parents eventually sent her to Calvin, a Dutch Reform liberal arts college in Grand Rapids, their own alma mater, and it was there she met her husband, Michael, whose adoptive parents were also Calvin graduates. Okay, I thought, your parents were born and raised here. Wrong again. Anja’s parents had come from South Dakota and Michael’s were from Massachusetts. The couple didn’t actually run into each other much at Calvin, having different groups of friends. Anja, a little older, had gone on CSA stands for Consumer to graduate school Supported Agriculture. Families at Ohio University, pay an annual flat fee that where she studied entitles them to a weekly share composition and of the harvest. In return, the rhetoric. They reconfarm provides a prescribed nected in 1998, marnumber of bags of fresh, rying a year later. chemical-free produce per So why organic week over the 22-week season. farming? “I think we These shares are distributed at a convenient date, time and were both looking place (or, in the case of Trillium for a home base. I Haven Farm, the drop-offs are was an American offered at two places and on who had spent most two different days). CSA families of my life overseas, also receive weekly newsletters, and I felt disconattend events at the farm and nected,” she replied. weekly cooking classes. For Michael, who had more detailed information, visit been raised in New trilliumhavenfarm.com.

WHAT IS CSA?

England but knew there were Michigan roots, searched for and found his birth mother and part of her family living in nearby Holland. Amazingly, an uncle was on the faculty of Calvin, and his maternal grandfather had once owned the farm in Jenison. “Michael and I were both environmentalists, although we weren’t activists, and that drew us together,” Anja said. In reference to a favorite quote by Wendell Berry she said, “Life is a

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miracle. How can we care for everything unless we are ‘present’?” They wondered how to create a life’s work for themselves in which they would be “present” and respectful of their surroundings. The answer came during a stay with Michael’s Massachusetts family in 2000 when they visited an organic farm near Cape Cod. It was a mixture of vegetables, flowers, interns from some of the local colleges, little children, and a few animals. “It was an idyllic but solid workplace and the catalyst we needed to make the decision to farm organically,” Anja said. They thought they might look in Vermont when they learned the farm in Jenison had come back on the market. It seemed a clear sign to both and they headed back to Michigan. Michael and Anja bought the farm and worked until almost burnout for the first three years, continued on page 75

Trillium Haven Farm 1391 Maplewood Dr Jenison, Mich. trilliumhavenfarm.com

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A RECIPE FROM ANJA April and May are tough months for people who love fresh veggies. The winter is over, but the promise of basil and tomatoes is months away. What to eat? In response, farmers have started offering early spring tonics like ramps (wild leeks), wild mushrooms, cultivated red dandelions, overOMEGA-3 OMELET wintered spinach, and 2 teaspoons butter or olive oil early herbs like chives (divided) and sorrel. Another 2 cups finely chopped fresh at-its-best product of seasonal herbs and greens (spinach, baby dandelions, spring are fresh chicken ramps and chives) eggs. Free-range chickens Salt and freshly milled pepper 2-3 free-range eggs, beaten just love gobbling up new green sprouts and In a small nonstick skillet, melt half digging up the newly the butter, add the chopped greens thawed soil. The omegaand cook until wilted. Season with 3s are at their highest in salt and pepper, then move greens spring chicken eggs, due to a plate. Add the second bit of butter to to all that green matter, the pan, then pour in the eggs. Tilt and the flavor is at its the pan to spread them out, then peak. Take advantage cook over medium heat until eggs of what your farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are set. Season with salt and pepmarket has to offer and per. Arrange the wilted greens across get renewed and restored half of the eggs, then fold to make a rolled omelet (1 generous serving). through fresh food!

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Basil Beets

Oregano Parsley

Broccoli

Parsnips

Brussels Sprouts

Peas

Carrots Cauliflower Celeriac Celery Cherry Tomatoes Chervil Collards Cucumbers Dill Early Tomatoes Eggplant Green Beans Heirloom Tomatoes Hot Peppers Kale Kohlrabi Leeks

Peppers Plum Tomatoes Potatoes Pumpkins Radishes Red Onions Red Potatoes Rosemary Rutabaga Scallions Snap Peas Spinach Summer Squash Sweet Peppers Swiss Chard Thyme Tomatoes Turnips

Lettuce

Watermelon

Mixed Greens

Yellow Onions

Muskmelon

Yellow Beans Zucchini

april 2010

Organic Vegetables and Herbs Grown in Season at Trillium Haven Farm

during which they had two children. They still managed to open their first CSA-supported season March-October 2001 with thirty-three families and limited produce. Ten seasons later, there are over four hundred CSA families and acres of vegetables with, for example, twenty-seven to thirty different varieties of tomatoes alone. In addition, they supply eggs from their free-range hens and now have a large greenhouse for seedlings. Next, Anja told me, the flowers will come. Michael and Anja are occasionally called upon to consult with other organic farmers in the U.S. and had just returned from Burlington, Vermont, at the time of our interview. There are events at the farm for the CSA families throughout each 22-week growing season, regular cooking classes by local chefs who buy from Trillium Haven, a canning seminar, and weekly newsletters cowritten by Michael and Anja with reports, recipes and schedules. Clearly, Trillium Haven Farm is hands-on with every shareholder and informed participant. After ten years, Anja feels she and her husband have finally tapped into the clarity of their own purpose . . . that of connecting with people and with the land. “Through the farm we try to enhance other people’s happiness,” she said. “Hopefully, we bring them retail value in our produce and some education about the growing process. There is fun and celebration in the cooking classes and events we schedule and, of course, bottom line, a healthier way of feeding families.” Well said from a very “present” woman.

bite & SIP Ciao Bella

1514 US 41, Schererville, Indiana 219.322.6800. ciaobellaonline.com The cuisines of three different regions of Italy are featured at the newly opened Ciao Bella, a ristorante, pizzeria and wine bar. Patrons can sample a 12-inch gourmet pizza with a creative array of toppings like the Pizza Quattro Stagioni— tomatoes, artichokes, prosciutto and black olives—or the sauceless Pizza Al Fichi topped with goat cheese, ﬁgs and onions and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. For those who like more traditional pies, there are thin-crust options with toppings such as sausage, fresh garlic, salami and jalapeños. Or try such entries as Ciao Bella’s signature dishes, Rigatoni Boscaiola—spicy Italian sausage and rigatoni noodles topped with a tomato cream sauce—and the Chicken Pollo Ala Romana, a chicken breast sautéed in a white wine sauce with roasted tri-color peppers and then sauced in a tomato cream. There’s also a great selection of seafood, pork and beef. Desserts change frequently, but the tiramisu is always on the menu. The extensive wine list focuses on European and Californian wines. Delivery and take-out available.

Indiana

ABSTRACT CAFÉ 3365 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. 219.762.8466. abstractcafe.net. Chef/owner Ted Zych, a graduate of the Culinary and Hospitality Institute of Chicago where he earned the President’s Award, has created a menu whose influence is French American cuisine with a global finesse. “I use as many local producers as possible and when we can we also use organic,” Zych says. Specialties include pancetta-wrapped Diver scallops served with brown butter lobster risotto and accompanied with seasonal vegetables, and a classic Beef Wellington—filet mignon topped with mushroom herb tapenade wrapped in puff pastry and served with a wild mushroom au jus. All desserts are made in house. Zych creates a cake of the day such as his white chiffon layered cake with pomegranate and blueberry filling covered with a Chantilly whipped cream icing. Not to be missed is the bourbon pecan nut tart in a linzer cookie dough cookie.

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ASPARAGUS 7876 Broadway, Merrillville. 219.794.0000. asparagusrestaurant.com. Interpreting the flavors of Thailand and Vietnam with a French flair, chef/ owner Tammy Pham has created an extensive menu at Asparagus, named 2008 Restaurant of the Year by the South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority. Luncheon items are extensive and range from the Satay Bar, which offers, among others, skewers of Street Hawker—lightly grilled prime rib-eye seasoned with Chinese five-spice seasonings—or Bangkok Boar, grilled pork with a sweet-hot sauce. Noon entrées include five-spice duck, chicken fricassee with figs and pork sauce, and the Asparagus lunch special served with the soup of the day and a Thai chicken eggroll. The dinner menu options, as creative as what’s for lunch, also include the Satay Bar and a selection of curries as well as their signature Fish Cake Delight appetizer—seasoned Chilean sea bass, salmon, swordfish and served with greens and grand mustard sauce and signature entrée—lobster, shrimp, mango, asparagus, peapod and onion in a gingered soy sauce. There’s

an extensive wine list as well as port, cognac, imported and microbrewed beers, and a creative selection of martinis, many with an Asian touch. Lunch entrées, curries and noodle dishes range from $12 to $26; dinner items are slightly higher. Carryout is available. Not to be missed are the Chocolate Truffle Eggrolls. BARTLETT’S GOURMET GRILL & TAVERN 131 E Dunes Hwy 12, Beverly Shores. 219.879.3081. eatatbartletts.com. Bartlett’s is a new gourmet grill by husband-and-wife team Gary Sanders and Nicole Bissonnette-Sanders. Located in the heart of the National Lakeshore, Bartlett’s has a cozy but very modern ambience. The menu is an exceptionally creative take on upscale roadhouse-type food. Starting off the meal are appetizers such as andouille sausage corndogs and surf & turf potstickers, as well as family style offerings like Low Country spiced boiled peanuts and smoked venison sticks. Entrées include 5-hour pot roast, whitefish fillet and linguine bolognese, ranging in price from $10 to $20. The wine list is modest but well-crafted. BISTRO 157 157 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.462.0992. bistro157.net. Trained in Paris at Le Cordon Bleu, chef and owner Nicole Bissonnette-Sanders has created a menu of classics—like a decadent sautéed veal and gulf shrimp, a pork rib chop with apple horseradish ham, and an herb-rubbed roasted half chicken—combined with her own creative takes on nouvelle cuisine with a number of fresh fish selections. Desserts include black chocolate-infused confections that have become standard for fine dining, and also sorbets and ice cream made from fresh fruit. There are some treasures on the extensive list of bottle wines, and many solid choices by the glass. BON FEMME CAFÉ 66 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.531.0612. bonfemme.com. The word “cafe” may be misleading for this full-service restaurant. While the emphasis is on daily fresh seafood and pasta selections, Chef Eddie

Luick has created an extensive menu he calls “American food with a fresh accent.” Set in a turn-of-thecentury storefront in downtown historic Valparaiso, Bon Femme has an elegant but comfortable interior with a warm, inviting bar that’s stocked with a variety of Scotches and other fine spirits. The musts on the menu include crab cakes and oyster Rockefeller, and the pork chop is in the running for the best in the area. Vegetarian items are found throughout the menu, and seafood specials make Bon Femme Café—which was voted Best Small Fine Dining Restaurant in Northwest Indiana—a destination. DON QUIJOTE 119 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.462.7976. Proprietor Carlos Rivero’s authentic Spanish cuisine, lively and friendly atmosphere, and conviviality with his return customers make this downtown Valparaiso restaurant a destination for Chicagoans and Michigan residents alike. The exciting menu features dozens of small courses, including a well-known classic paella with saffron rice and fresh-grilled seafood chunks. Grilled steaks and lamb and veal chops are abundant and cooked according to family recipes handed down for generations. The house specialty is a flan-textured vanilla cake. Lunch entrées average $15, dinner $25. EVELYN BAY COFFEE COMPANY 3800 N Calumet Ave, Valparaiso. 219.510.5802. asipabove.com. This coffee shop—which feels like it should be nestled in the Rockies rather than in Valparaiso, Indiana—offers much more than its specialty teas and coffees, although patrons would be satisfied with just that. Its food menu is equivalent to anything you’d find at a gourmet café. Breakfast offerings include artisan bagels, fresh muffins and a breakfast wrap—which is made of scrambled egg, cheese, bacon or sausage and wrapped inside a grilled tomatobasil wrap. And for lunch? The California Dreamin’ Sandwich—turkey breast, swiss cheese, avocado, tomato, red onion and ranch cabbage on sourdough bread—or the Michigan Wrap—grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, dried sweet cherries, shredded parme-

photograph by ROBERT WRAY

The information presented in Bite & Sip is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify listing information.

san and raspberry vinaigrette on a 7-grain wrap—are among the many choices that will delight the taste buds. Daily soups and fresh salads are available as well, as are dessert items like gelato, truffles and baked goods. Evelyn Bay also offers catering and coffee and tea delivery, but you’ll want to indulge in an actual visit to this cozy establishment at some point. GAUCHO’S 597 US Hwy 30, Valparaiso. 219.759.1100. gauchosvalpo.com. At Gaucho’s, diners enjoy delicious and unique cuisine invented by the Gaucho cowboys of southern Brazil, who provided meats for the people of Brazil with their famous “Churrasco” barbecue. At Gaucho’s, this centuries-old traditional feast is created tableside as servers bring such offerings as filet mignon wrapped in bacon, chicken parmesan, pork sausage, garlicroasted turkey breast, merlot-marinated leg of lamb, and a variety of other meats, during Gaucho’s traditional Brazilianstyle dinner experience for $34.95. Seafood selections on Wednesday and Friday—just $29.95—include crab legs, shrimp, tilapia, perch, tuna, mahimahi, salmon and clam strips, or add the meat selections for $45.95. All dinners include a 30-item salad bar, Brazilian mashed potatoes, and fried bananas. The lunch menu offers a large selection of sandwiches and salads. Start or finish dinner in the Twisted Martini Lounge for cocktails, cigars and live entertainment in a modern, intimate setting. GINO’S STEAK HOUSE 1259 W Joliet St, Dyer. 219.865.3854. 600 E 81st Ave, Merrillville. 219.769.4466. ginossteakhouse.com. The chefs at Gino’s, who have more than thirty years of combined experience, use only the freshest ingredients in their homestyle cuisine. Starters include traditional minestrone soup from a family recipe, salads with fresh, locally grown produce, and crusty bread with crocks of butter. The nine-ounce prime steak tops the menu and is itself topped with Roquefort cheese in its most popular rendition. All main dishes are served with the restaurant’s signature marinated peppers, and entrées include fish and lobster delivered daily. The dessert menu features créme brûlée and various cheesecakes, but the housemade tiramisu is the highlight—a rich blend of coffee, chocolate and cream cheese flavors. A premium selection of wine, beer and cocktails is available at the full-service bar, and there is a special children’s menu so the entire family can enjoy the dining experience. GIOVANNI’S 603 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.6220. This classic upscale Italian bistro is a local favorite, with charm, gracious service and an extensive menu. Innovative selections include a variety of appetizers, and specials are paired with recommended wine by the glass. A crab cake salad with fresh mozzarella and Bibb lettuce is a staple for lunch, and all entrées are accompanied by hot and crusty garlic Parmesan cheese rolls. You can indulge in a traditional multi-course Italian dinner or order by the item. For lighter fare, soups, salads and inventive individual pizzas are served with cheerful dispatch. Sumptuous dinners include a renowned veal rollatini with Parmesan, mozzarella and pine nuts, and grilled pork medallions in a sherry-wine sauce. The wine list is extensive but educational, and the desserts range from classic tiramisu to real Italian gelato. The cocktail menu is imaginative and ample. Lunch entrées average about $12, while dinners cost $18 to $25.

HARBOR GRILL 12 on the Lake, Michigan City. 219.874.2469. harborgrill.net. Proprietor Ed Arnold, who spent a half million renovating the former Michigan City Yacht Club, considers Harbor Grill primarily a seafood restaurant, but also offers a selection of steak, chicken and pork items. The signature dish is oversized shrimp encrusted in Parmesan with a citrus wine reduction sauce. Other featured items include cedar-planked salmon and sautéed Zander perch, which is larger and meatier than lake perch. The renovated facility has a full bar and can handle a banquet for up to 250, and it is the only restaurant in the region that will fix your fresh catch by special permission of the state and health department. This is now the only public lakefront restaurant between Chicago and Benton Harbor. Entrée prices range from $18-$25 for casual fine dining and there is an extensive wine list. Arnold has added authentic nautical artifacts and says, “It’s almost like eating in a museum.” JACK BINION’S STEAK HOUSE at HORSESHOE CASINO 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond. 866.711.7463. horseshoehammond. com. The Horseshoe facility, a slice of Las Vegas on Lake Michigan, prides itself on customer service and consistently ranks first in every category, including fine dining. The tiered tables and luxurious booths at Jack Binion’s overlook an expansive, panoramic lake view, where the impeccably attired waitstaff helps you choose between the Australian lobster, pan-seared sea scallops and rich thick filets that just make you wonder if Dr. Atkins would really be all right with this. Pick the decadent cheesecake for dessert if you want the best of everything. It is more fun, though, to opt for a postdinner cocktail and go play. Entrées are $35 on average. LIGHTHOUSE RESTAURANT 7501 Constitution Ave, Cedar Lake. 219.374.WAVE. cedarlakelighthouse. com. Stunning water views through floorto-ceiling windows is perfect for sunset aficionados and is just one more reason to stop at this recently opened restaurant nestled on the eastern shoreline of Cedar Lake. Executive Chef Ken McRae draws upon his 25 years of culinary experience in creating a menu with such signature dishes as steaks—offered blackened or Cajun style upon request and served at a sizzling 500 degrees for the ultimate in flavor—plus lake perch and Chilean sea bass. For more casual fare, offerings include burgers, salads and pastas. There’s an emphasis on local products from nearby farms and ice cream from Fair Oaks Dairy Farm. Bottles of wine are half price on No Whine Wednesdays. LUCREZIA 428 Calumet Rd, Chesterton. 219.926.5829. 302 S Main St, Crown Point. 219.661.5829. lucreziacafe.com. Lucrezia has been a Northern Italian favorite since owners Michael and Nada Karas first opened it in the mid-nineties, in a historic downtown Chesterton building. Several years later, the couple renovated the William Barringer Brown Mansion just off the downtown square in Crown Point, continuing their fine dining tradition. (In fact, Lucrezia won a 2006 and 2008 ROSE Award for “Putting Porter County on the Map.”) Signature dishes include slow cooked Chicken Vesuvio, slow cooked chicken served in a rosemary garlic sauce with roasted potatoes and fresh vegetables, and roasted lamb shank braised in its own juices accompanied with roasted potatoes and braised red cabbage. Specials include veal medallions

bite & SIP with mustard and mushrooms topped with a roasted brandy cream sauce. Not to be missed is the zuccotto, a sinful domedshaped chocolate sponge cake filled with white chocolate mousse and pistachios and sauced with both chocolate and raspberry. Lunch entrées average $20, dinner $30. MILLER BAKERY CAFÉ 555 S Lake St, Gary. 219.938.2229. For two decades this famous stop on the Lake Michigan shore has introduced the gateway community to the beach, and to the versatile and eclectic menu. Part European, part New Orleans, and all clever. The lightly sautéed crab cakes and the signature molded polenta and pepper appetizer; wood-grilled steak with peppercorn sauce; salmon coated with a sweet tangy glaze; rack of lamb over garlic smashed potatoes; and cafe chocolate, a slab that tastes like the center of a truffle, are always on the menu. Selections of wines by the glass are as creative, and the waitstaff are connoisseurs of food and drink by hobby as well as trade. The bar has a complete martini and cocktail menu and frequently hosts live jazz on weekend nights. For a special occasion or telling secrets, reserve the very private table in the glass-enclosed wine cellar. A two-course lunch averages $18, dinner entrées $25. STOP 50 WOOD FIRED PIZZERIA 500 S El Portal, Michigan City. 219.879.8777. stop50woodﬁredpizzeria. com. Just north of US Hwy 12 and west of New Buffalo, this café enjoys a welldeserved reputation—including being named one of the top four pizzerias in the Midwest by Rachael Ray magazine—for authentic Italian pizza baked “Naples-style” in wood-fired hearth ovens. Customers return again and again—it’s only difficult to find the first time. The recipes are traditional, and the ingredients are fresh daily. In addition to the Napoletana pizza, sandwiches and salads are available to eat at Stop 50, or you can get your snack or meal to go. Try the banana peppers stuffed with housemade sausage or a fiery tomato and goat cheese dip with hand-cut fried chips. Owners Chris and Kristy Bardol, who rehabbed the 50-year-old beach community grocery store into a restaurant, stick to strictly locally grown food. Average entrée cost is $15, but you can make a satisfying light meal out of the generously proportioned starters at $8-$12. Now open is SodaDog, the Bardols’ newest venture, which specializes in authentic hot dogs and sausages and micro-crafted soda, all served via carhop service. SodaDog is located at 171 Hwy 212 in Michigan City.

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STRONGBOW INN 2405 E US 30, Valparaiso. 800.462.5121. strongbowinn.com. The menu at this classic institution still includes a wide variety of turkey selections, but with daily specials that include barbecued pork ribs, seafood choices, prime rib and other comfort foods, one would never guess that the bakery and restaurant started as a sandwich stand during the Depression. Many families have had Thanksgiving catered by Strongbow— the meticulously prepared traditional meal that can be ordered as take-out is virtually indistinguishable from that produced by a family team working in the kitchen for ten hours. Also, the bakery has exploded with a range of treats created daily, including cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, brownies, fruit tarts, truffles, crème brûlée and strawberry napoleons. Lunch entrées average $8, and dinner is $18. T-BONES PIER 11 1111 Lakeside, LaPorte. 219.362.5077. pleastshore.com. This Italian steakhouse is carefully tucked into a cove of scenic Pine Lake, the newer of the two restaurants that

are traditionally very popular with guests at the inn as well as the summer folks who make LaPorte a home away from home. The spacious dining room is reminiscent of a traditional supper club, but a terrace overlooks the harbor and instead of being at a roadhouse, you are on the beach. As expected, the seafood hits a high standard; some of the recommended starters ($9) are sautéed blue crab and shrimp cakes, plump snails baked with Pernod garlic butter, oversized shrimp served martinistyle, and deep-fried calamari and mussels steamed in white wine. A range of salads, pizzas and pasta selections ($10) round out the lighter supper fare, but if boating, water-skiing and swimming make you hungry, this is the place to indulge in a Tbone, New York strip, filet mignon or flat iron steak grilled over a wood fire. Choice of sauces include Gorgonzola cheese, whiskey peppercorn, wild mushroom brandy or blueberry port. Likewise, the fish selections—which can be grilled or sautéed—include scallops, red snapper, salmon, swordfish, mahimahi, walleye and even a lobster tail that can be served with lemon dill butter, warm mango chutney or tomato garlic sauce. If you prefer ordering house specialties you can pick from sautéed beef medallions, duck breast, Chicken Roman, Chicken Saltimbocca, pan-seared Veal Limone or a slow-cooked Italian pot roast (average price $15). A light dinner will probably cost under $20 and a complete 4-to-6 courses will vary from $25 to $35. THEO’S STEAK & SEAFOOD 9144 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland. 219.838.8000. theoshighland.com. A classic steak and seafood house, Theo’s also offers a great selection of chicken, pasta and veal dishes as well as such timeless culinary favorites as shrimp de jonghe, steak Diane, veal Oscar and oysters Rockefeller. Helping round out the menu are several Greek favorites such as saganaki (Greek cheese doused with brandy and flambéed tableside), a Greek country salad piled high with kalamati olives, feta, tomatoes and more, and grilled lamb chops marinated in kalamati olive oil and seasoned with oregano, garlic and lemon. For dessert, disregard the calories and go with the Death by Chocolate, layers of chocolate cake with a decadent mousse filling.

Michigan

THE 1913 ROOM and CYGNUS 27 at AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL Pearl & Monroe Sts, Grand Rapids. 1913 Room: 616.776.6450. Cygnus 27: 877.668.1675. amwaygrand.com. The 1913 Room is the only restaurant to earn the coveted AAA 5-Diamond rating in the state of Michigan for its classic service, a fine list of wines, cordials and liqueurs, top quality steaks, baked goods and numerous specials. Creative menu-planning results in a daily lunch buffet of hearty soup, comforting vegetable and potato sides, beef, turkey and salmon on the carving block, and a sideboard of a wide-ranging cheese selection with smoked fish and garden vegetables for accompaniment. At the top of the hotel, the newly renovated Cygnus 27 features a breathtaking river view, an expanded “ice” bar, and an unusual dropped ceiling lit with rectangular boxes. Chef Werner Absenger’s menu is as innovative as ever, with wine and food pairings and off-beat contrasting flavors—a small plate of baby iceberg lettuce comes with green goddess dressing and Michigan cherry bread croutons, and a dozen escargot are served enveloped in a light, buttery sauce packaged in pastry. Featured main courses include a salmon Wellington, veal meatballs with pasta, smoked pork tenderloin, and marinated

grilled chicken. Have dessert of chocolate cake with apricot glaze, apple cinnamon tiramisu or pecan pie à la mode served parfait-style, or adjourn to the mahogany and leather cocoon of the Lumber Baron Bar downstairs. There are more than 1,000 bottles in the Amway wine collection and dozens of port, cognac and dessert wine selections. Lunch entrées average $18 and dinner entrées $25. PORT 412 412 State St, St. Joseph. 269.982.0412. port412.com. Port 412 features two stories, including a rooftop patio with a view of Lake Michigan. The first floor is characterized by a lively bar atmosphere, while upstairs is a lounge with couches and brick interior. The top floor is also available for parties, wedding rehearsal dinners, and corporate events. “There’s nothing like it in St. Joe,” says Ryan Van Arkel, concierge manager. Lunches include starters like hearty crab bisque or spring greens and duck breast with orange ginger vinaigrette. Enjoy a Mediterranean portabella wrap or Cuban pork tenderloin sandwich served with homemade chips, fresh fruit, redskin potato salad, or coleslaw. Pizzas and small dishes such as crab cakes and antipasto are also featured. Dinner entrées include pan-roasted tomato ragu, duck breast with sweet plum glaze and stir-fry veggies, and pork tenderloin brochettes with soy ginger glaze. Steaks, chicken and seafood dishes round out the menu. Dessert selections include crème brûlée, chocolate Saint Germaine, and Black Star Farms sirius pear, along with ice wines and ports. The cocktail menu includes a generous selection of martinis, regional and international beers, whiskeys and scotch, and a full wine list. SALT OF THE EARTH 112-114 E Main St, Fennville. 269.561.7258. saltoftheearthfennville.com. Rustic American cooking—using local produce and meat from the farmlands dotting Western Michigan—reflects the food philosophy of the recently opened Salt of the Earth, which is located in Fennville, a tiny town with a serious food presence. “Our style is to keep a core menu and do a fresh board daily with seasonal and regional dishes, many of which are cooked in our wood-burning oven,” says owner Mark Schrock who, with his partner Steve Darpel, opened the restaurant in the space formerly occupied by the Journeyman, a popular farm-to-table restaurant that closed last year. The partners hired Executive Chef Matthew Pietsch, formerly of Detroit’s Roast, who carries on the traditions of that restaurant, such as hand-cutting some of the meats and fish. Pietsch also adds his interpretation of pork bellies, one of the mainstays of the Journeyman, by glazing them in Dijon mustard and maple syrup with apple mash and pickled sweet corn accompaniments. Also not to be missed is the Wood Fired All Natural Chicken stuffed with the restaurant’s artisan seedy salt bread along with apples and pork sausage and served with onion gravy. Michigan craft beers are on tap and the wine list includes Michigan wines as well. Even if you can’t stay to eat, stop by to pick up freshly made bread and a selection of cheeses. Live music is offered on Friday nights. SCHU’S BAR & GRILL 501 Pleasant St, St. Joseph. 269.983.7248. schulersrest.com. The restaurant tradition of Schuler’s goes back four generations in Michigan and continues with Schu’s Bar & Grill in St. Joe. Diners can enjoy a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan and cozy up to the hand-crafted fieldstone fireplace. Good conversation and good food are all part of the experience at Schu’s, where the start of a tasty night includes Schu’s potato soup— the restaurant’s famous original soup served with cheddar cheese, bacon bits and diced

scallions. Gumbos and a selection of distinctive salads, like the sweet chili shrimp salad, also make great starters before the hearty portions of pasta or a sizzlin’ rib eye steak. Also, try the terrific fall-off-the-bone barbeque ribs presented on a wooden plank with tangy molasses sauce served with crispy French fries. Schu’s is also a great place to stop for lunch. A homemade egg salad sandwich is made exceptional with shallots and a touch of tarragon topped with lettuce and tomato, or devour the salmon B.L.T. made with a generous sixounce portion of grilled salmon with crisp bacon, mixed greens and fresh tomatoes, topped with tarragon Dijon sauce and served with housemade chips. SIX ONE SIX at JW MARRIOTT HOTEL 235 Louis Campau Promenade NW, Grand Rapids. 616.242.1500. ilovethejw.com/ dining. Bringing the best through the door on the front end is the hallmark of this brand-new luxury hotel, located in this Michigan town on a growth trajectory. The menu is simple, and Executive Chef John State—trained at Chicago’s Washburne School and a veteran of the legendary Lake Creek Inn in San Francisco wine country and the California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Florida—uses a light touch on the high-quality, mostly local goods. Size, freshness and outstanding taste characterize the seafood. The mussels, oysters, salmon, tuna and scallops are cooked flawlessly and served in a variety of ways, including raw, grilled and poached in herb and broth combinations that coax out and mix perfect flavors. Locally produced poultry, particularly the duck breast, gets an excellent treatment with specially designed, hand-cut vegetable sides. Steaks, chops and filets are held to a high standard, and the wine pairings exceed expectations, even when the JW gets together with an executive chef who has worked in Napa. But the extras make the entire experience so memorable: the perfect martini with a choice of olives; spiced butter and cheese selections served with a variety of fresh-baked crackers and breads; a cheese plate presented with separate garnishes for each type and slice; and housemade desserts, including a thick, rich and dense crème brûlée in multiple flavors. Even the coffee is a treat, especially when complemented by an aged Porto. The architecture, spacious interior design, orchestrated and technically perfect lighting, and impeccable service combine to create an atmosphere that enhances the experience. Entrées average $25-$35. The specialty drink (the bar features a wall of blue Skyy Vodka bottles) and the wine list, like the menu, are high-quality and carefully chosen. Reservations are a very good idea; while the restaurant, Mixology bar and the atrium lounge fill the vast expanse of the first floor, at certain times on the weekends every seat is taken, and there may be a short wait. TABOR HILL WINERY & RESTAURANT 185 Mt Tabor Rd, Buchanan. 800.283.3363. taborhill.com. Tabor Hill Winery’s restaurant is all at once elegant, urbane and semi-casual. Its windows afford ample, rolling vineyard views; the menu is sophisticated. Chef JohnPaul VerHage, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, gives a modified California-cuisine touch to signature dishes like raspberry chicken and the salmon wrapped in grape leaves. The extensive appetizer menu includes items like mini Morel Mushroom Pizzas and Kobe Beef Carpaccio. Though the restaurant is easy to find—just a half hour north of South Bend and 20 minutes east of New Buffalo—it’s not always easy to get in. Reservations are suggested—but those

who wander in unannounced can sip at the complimentary wine bar or purchase a glass and enjoy it on the stone terrace overlooking the vines. Tabor Hill produces a wonderful variety of award-winning wines, but for those who desire a harder libation, a full bar awaits. WHEATBERRY RESTAURANT & TAVERN 15212 N Red Bud Tr, Buchanan. 269.697.0043. wheatberrytavern. com. Nestled on a bend of the slowmoving St. Joseph River just north of Buchanan—a town transforming into trendiness with its historic downtown filled with eclectic shops—the owners of the recently opened Wheatberry Restaurant & Tavern see their place as a gathering spot for lovers of regional American cuisine. “We cook everything from scratch,” says Mike Hoyland, one of the restaurant’s owners. Besides a dedication to using the best of local farms and food producers, there’s also an emphasis on the smoked ribs, pork and chicken that come out of the large Southern Pride Smoker in the back of the restaurant. Other entrées include prime sliced sirloin topped with Wisconsin’s wonderful Mindoro blue cheese, basil and toasted pine nut butter, as well as cedar-planked salmon and woodroasted chicken Vesuvio. Soups, sandwiches, salads and killer hamburgers, thick and juicy and cooked to order, are also on the menu. Dessert specialties include Texas sheet cake—a dense, rich brownie-like cake—and Key lime pie. WILD DOG GRILLE 24 W Center St, Douglas. 269.857.2519. Sam Kendall, coowner of the Wild Dog Grille, says their Italian-inspired cuisine, with a new-age twist, has been delighting the public ever since they opened their doors in June 2007. Start out with fresh spring rolls stuffed with crab meat and wrapped in a thin rice paper, or try the crab cake served with three dollops of Creole remoulade for a flavor enhancement. Another tasty option is the pesto spinach cheese dip served with flat breads fired fresh in the stone oven. Their trademark stone oven pizzas are fired in the best stone oven on the market for an old-world, thincrust flavor. Fresh-cut steaks, such as the popular filet mignon and New York strip, are exceptional. Finish the meal with a vanilla panna cotta made from scratch from the chef’s family recipe, the Oregon berry cobbler or a key lime tart. The restaurant has a liquor license, and the owners pride themselves on offering a laidback atmosphere with the quality of high-end restaurants. Prices go up to $25.95 for the filet mignon, with most selections under $20.

Illinois

200 EAST SUPPER CLUB at the SENECA HOTEL 200 E Chestnut, Chicago. 312.266.4500. 200eastchestnut. com. Located on a quiet corner of the Gold Coast residential area, this retro supper club has quickly established itself as a neighborhood hangout that doubles as a destination for out-of-towners who stay at the posh hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton and the Raffaello across the street. The menu is the creation of chef/owner Tony Navarro and his extended fam-

ily, who have owned and operated Pasta Vino in Schiller Park for 30 years. Signature dishes from the family’s recipe collection include appetizers Melrose peppers stuffed with housemade Italian sausage and fresh assorted cheeses and its inside-out version called sausage Caprese; two special salads with sweet and savory combinations of marinated tenderloin, gorgonzola, fruit and caramelized walnuts and “Nonni Theresa’s Italian Wedding Soup.” Rounding out the entrée specialty menu are linguini and clam, calamari and mussel sauce, an artichoke chicken and pasta dish, Italian sausage with sautéed tomatoes and vegetables cooked “Giambotta” style, special edition Rigatoni and Eggplant Parmigiana, and “Brickhouse Chicken,” a whole de-boned pan-seared chicken, seasoned and cooked under a brick. (This is a specialty designed for the late, great broadcaster.) Prices are very reasonable and average less than $10 for appetizers, soups, salad and sandwiches on the bar menu and less than $20 per average entrée. The wine list is a work of art with excellent choices at every level, from a satisfying Beaulieu Merlot for $8.50 per glass to a $95 bottle of Franciscan Magnificat Meritage or $100 Far Niente Chardonnay. Of course, there is an extensive classic cocktail menu and homemade tiramisu, but would you expect anything less? BALAGIO RISTORANTE 17501 Dixie Hwy, Homewood. 708.957.1650. balagio-restaurant. com. Now in a new location, this popular Italian restaurant has changed its menu offerings, with many entrée prices now under $12.95. Some of the specialties created by chef/owner Mike Galderio include chicken scaloppini—thin breast cutlets quickly sautéed with white wine—Italian sausage and roasted red peppers served with braised escarole, and a salmon club sandwich with broiled salmon, crisp bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato. There are also Galderio traditional family recipes like the chopped salad with chicken, salami and hearts of palm, housemade marinara sauce and spaghetti and meatballs. There’s an extensive wine list as well as live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. Private dining is available for any group from 10 to 200, either family style or custom designed. CIBO MATTO at THE WIT HOTEL 201 N State St, Chicago. 312.239.9500. cibomatto.therestaurantsatthewit.com. At the corner of State and Lake, in the heart of the Loop, a new and beautiful finedining restaurant offers sophisticated traditional Italian dining with a twist. Cibo Matto means “Crazy Food” but there is nothing off the wall here— just plenty of innovation by Chef Todd Stein in a setting with many seating options: a 12-seat counter-height chef’s table overlooking the kitchen, cozy leather booths, or free-standing tables with views of the 2,000 bottle glass-enclosed wine tower. There are window tables with a western view and, above, a 30-foot ceiling fresco by prominent artist Todd Murphy. Start with a rabbit terrine served in two pancetta-wrapped slices over orange and white pureed carrots. Try the short ribs topped with gremolata and served with a flavorful ricotta-

creamed spinach, or the perfectly grilled veal tenderloin. Fish, pastas and desserts are all amazing. Dinner nightly, reservations necessary. THE COURTYARD BISTRO 21 S White St, Frankfort. 815.464.1404. The ambitious menu is inspired by the cooking of Italy, France and the American Southwest, but this south suburban bistro adeptly meets the challenge of its own making while getting results that delight both newcomers and regulars. Signature dishes include Santa Fe lasagna and artichoke ravioli on the Neapolitan side, and onion tart and gorgonzola-seared beef tenderloin are straight out of a sidewalk café near the River Seine in Paris. The martini menu is as innovative as the food, and the wine list is better than average with interesting possibilities for complementing the entrées. The seafood is very fresh and well-prepared with garnishes and light sauces, and main dishes are economical in the $9-$15 range. The atmosphere is always friendly and can range from celebratory for special luncheons on the weekends to cozy, romantic couple dinners in the evening. But it is the attention to detail at every level from customer comfort to the dessert selections and coffee service at the end of the meal that gets the repeat customers. JENNY’S STEAKHOUSE 20 Kansas St, Frankfort. 815.464.2685. 11041 S Menard Ave, Chicago Ridge. 708.229.2272. The Courtright family has an impressive history and credentials in the culinary world of South Chicago and the nearby suburbs, and the Frankfort location is just the most recent addition to the roster. The menu has scores of familiar and comforting staples like classic chicken Parmesan and a legendary Gambriliano Italiano with sautéed sausage, chicken breast, Vesuvio potatoes, peppers, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and white wine over fettuccine. The signature steak is an 8-ounce filet with garlic and bleu cheese, and you can have it with Jack Daniels sauce for an extra $2.50. Meals always include soup, potato, vegetable, bread and bruschetta, and the wine list is impressive and right on. Soup, early-bird and homemade specials change daily, but even the regular selections are imaginative. Jenny’s will even text you drink special information if you register. Prices average less than $10 for appetizers, soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches on the lunch menu, and the median price for steak is $20. An 8- to 9-ounce prime rib at $10.95, a half slab of ribs at $9.95, and braised ox tails at $8.95 are just a few of the bargains on the early-bird menu. SIAM MARINA THAI CUISINE 80 River Oaks Center Dr, Calumet City. 708.862.3438. 1669 Sibley Blvd, Calumet City. 708.868.0560. Chefproprietor Tammy Pham has evolved into a legend for her mastery of a full men with dozens of vegetarian options as well as traditionally spiced and marinated poultry dishes. The spring rolls and peanut sauce are prepared in-house daily, along with special soups. The authentic pad Thai has a loyal following, and fresh coconut works in many of the dishes, including dessert. A multi-course lunch averages $12, dinner $15.

Ristorante | Pizzeria | Winebar Now Open in Schererville for your dining enjoyment Book Your Parties Now! Semi-Private up to 20 guests Catering available Let us personalize your menu

A day with OUR Chef!

Have our chef prepare a meal at your home.

Cooking Demonstration & Wine Pairing Party Please call for dates & reservations for each event.

Award Winning (Gourmet Magazine) Authentic Italian Restaurant Extensive Wine List

1514 U.S. 41, Schererville, IN

219.322.6800 M-Th 11am-10pm | F-Sat 11am-11pm Sun 10am-10pm

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GROUNDS

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Gary Beyerl and Dawn Heid chose materials and methods that allowed their Tryon Farm home to be developed with minimal disruption of the environment. A view from the porch [opposite] shows the beam timbers of Douglas fir.

natural habitat

AN ECO-FrIENDly GETAWAy AT TryON FArM

Rough, smooth, soft, solid—the textures of nature are compelling and complex at the home of Gary Beyerl and Dawn Heid. No matter the season, it’s green year-round in the couple’s environmentally friendly getaway home.

by julie dean kessler

april 2010

photography by [opposite and this page] AARON GANG PHOTOGRAPHY

Tucked in the Dunes Settlement area of the eco-sensitive, 170-acre Tryon Farm at the eastern edge of Michigan City, Indiana, the house reflects Gary and Dawn’s dedication to preserving the planet’s resources. They credit Tryon’s developers, Ed and Eve Noonan, with providing opportunities to employ Gary’s extensive knowledge of green practices in building. A review of Tryon Farm’s social life and commitment to nature-friendly practices and a trek amongst the meadows, trees and dunes convinced Gary and Dawn that they had found the perfect place to build. Dawn favors a social community, while Gary favors seclusion but appreciates a community atmosphere. “Finding that blend is really tough,” Gary says, but he and Dawn and their 10-yearold daughter Grace agree they’ve found it here. Just past a winter of sledding and camaraderie around a fire pit, Gary is enjoying the peaceful setting while his wife and daughter are already looking forward to finding the best blackberries again—last season, Gary says, “They made jam!” Using nature’s resources drove the plans for the 1,150-square-foot home, completed in 2007. Downstairs—basically one room with open access to the kitchen—natural ventilation is created by placing windows higher on the warm side of the house and lower on the cool side, offering the effect of a solar chimney. Double glass doors with windows on either side lead to a screened-in porch. On an adjacent wall, three sets of windows, with the middle sections larger, open at top and bottom for more efficient air flow. “We realized we had been already incorporating green aspects unconsciously,” Gary says, noting the couple’s penchant for adapting recycled objects. A long bench in the entryway is actually a painter’s scaffolding, about to be scrapped but given a second life with a few changes. With Gary’s Chicago office creating green roofs and receiving recognition for incorporating green methods in building, the Tryon vacation home was “a chance to do something unique” with a residence. And Gary really means

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Bold, simple lines [above] are softened by the nearethereal effect of the subtly patterned polycarbonate windows. Rows of trees [right] spared by careful construction echo the windowsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vertical lines.

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photography by [this page] top: JAMES YOCHUM PHOTOGRAPHY, bottom: AARON GANG PHOTOGRAPHY; [opposite page] JAMES YOCHUM PHOTOGRAPHY

GROUNDS

Glass doors and light woodwork [far left] contribute to the home’s airy feel. The kitchen [left] is elegant and functional with a breakfast bar. The stairway at left is custom-built from Douglas fir and sided with maple panels.

“we” in planning the home; Dawn’s firm is Dawn Heid Architects. The fireplace is surrounded by natural wood-pulp-and-cement panels, normally used for underlayment for exterior tile. This fireproof piece was a throwaway, left over from another project. Large polycarbonate windows combine beauty and insulation: used in various areas of the house because the family wanted to experience the changing seasons yet still have privacy, the glasslike material is plastic. In the summer, the vertical, close-set line pattern of the polycarbonate “gives you a green, diaphanous movement of the tree leaves, which in sunlight seem to scintillate,” Gary says. Trapped air between window layers provides 4-1/2 to 5 times the thermal efficiency of a glass window. Lighting over the dining table is “quirky,” befitting a vacation home, Gary says, and makes a statement in favor of simplicity: five black electrical cords hang straight down in differing lengths, with bulbs screwed into exposed lamp sockets for a “cool and funky” look. A few feet away is the breakfast bar; on the other side, the far end of the long kitchen has a recessed L that hides the refrigerator. Gary insisted the roof be in place before the flooring of No. 1 grade Douglas fir was installed. Balloon framing utilizing long studs for walls extending from the first floor up 20 feet up to the roof actually made the process go faster, Gary says. Protecting the wood was all the more important because of the unusual continued on page 85

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GROUNDS

Going green in construction ranges from simple alternatives to sophisticated techniques. Dawn and Gary’s 10-year-old daughter Grace is fascinated by the “ghost wood” story: People were ripping “ghost wood” from Montana’s historic ghost towns for new projects. But plenty of wood was available from forest ﬁres—massive timbers charred on the outside but inside dense and hardened from the heat. Now Montana Ghost Wood sells the good wood from charred timber. “It was a matter of educating people to use that forest wood and preserve the ghost towns,” Gary says. At Tryon Farm, all pond houses have green roofs that can include planted moss, sedum and grass, cutting down heat gain and controlling and filtering water runoff. Gary explains that a green roof can absorb as much as 100 percent of the first inch of rain, depending on the diversity of plants used and the depth and make-up of the soil; flash flooding from overwhelmed sewer and water systems occurs from that first inch of rain. Plant material filtering out such heavy metals as lead and copper and reducing nitrogen runoff means those pollutants are reduced in the Earth’s waterways. On the roof of Gary’s firm in Chicago, Burns + Beyerl Architects, Inc., raised beds feature ornamental trees up to 16 feet tall; Chicago is working towards a mandate of green roofs for 50 percent of all buildings. The reUse People of America is a not-forprofit that deconstructs buildings and salvages the materials for use in new buildings. Beyerl’s firm uses as much of it as possible. Another salvageable: lannon stone foundation walls dating from use in the 1800s, headed for a landfill, is great for garden walls. Gary says,

“It’s beautiful!” But a concerted national effort may be the way to educate the public and professionals to expand such green efforts. leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (lEED) is a nationwide environmental building standards initiative developed by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council. Originally for commercial use, the concept has also evolved into a system devised for residential construction that promotes energy efficiency, water and materials conservation, quality of the indoor environment, and other categories. So why doesn’t everyone know about lEED? “The program is essentially all around us, but encompasses an overwhelming amount of information for the professional to absorb,” Gary explains. Still, he says, “Awareness for the public is the bigger challenge, because it too comprises so much. Hybrid cars, wind farms, solar panels, fluorescent light bulbs, water conservation, and CO2 emissions are all part of the bigger picture of trying to mitigate the detrimental impact of civilization and consumption upon the natural balance of the planet.”

What’s new in green building? 4 ViSiTSHOrEMaGaZiNE.COM 8

THE HAPPENINGS OF TryON FArM

a continued from page 83

april 2010

photography by [opposite page] GARY BEYERL; [this page] clockwise from top left: AARON GANG PHOTOGRAPHY, JAMES YOCHUM PHOTOGRAPHY, JYP, AGP, JYP.

A bog and meadow outside provide a unique setting. “One of the things Ed has done exceptionally well,” Gary says, “is choose a site and give it a wonderful view.” Gary and Dawn did their part and more: a single 40-foot access lane limited machinery movement, and only two trees were felled during the build; selected roots of other trees were saw-cut and treated. The humus was saved and put back down to a depth of 30 inches, encouraging indigenous regrowth. With about three-fourths of Tryon Farm being preserved as natural habitat, Dawn and Gary’s natural getaway is protected, serene and “rejuvenating,” Gary says.

[Counterclockwise from upper left] Recycled woodpulp-and-cement panels are a fireproof wall for the fireplace; slate floors and clean lines add to the restful ambience of this getaway home near Michigan City; the 1,150-squarefoot home has natural ventilation from strategically placed windows; an upstairs bedroom opens out on a sitting area with a view; and a rescued remnant of onyx provides a dramatic accent in the bath.

construction: the downstairs ceiling, supported by beam timbers, forms the upstairs floor, cutting the construction elements there from four to two. On the wall behind the sink in the downstairs half bath is another throwaway—a stunning onyx remnant in rich colors, Dumpster-bound from another project. The paintings throughout are one-of-akind—all Dawn’s artwork in oils.

shore THINGS J Kremke Construction Enterprises 314 Spring View Dr, Porter, Indiana 219.309.0360. mygreenbuildingsolutions.com

This construction company specializes in sustainable ecofriendly and energy-efficient homes at reasonable rates. Owner John Kremke II has more than 18 years of experience in home building, land development, municipal planning and engineering, with multiple specialties in the area of green construction. Aside from new construction, remodeling and land development, J Kremke Construction also provides maintenance for bank-owned properties.

build Indiana

HORIZON AWNING 2227 E US 12, Michigan City. 219.872.2329. horizon-awning.com. For more than 25 years, this company has built canvas and aluminum awnings for the home and business, plus custom boat covers. Canvas awnings are made of long-wearing, fade-resistant fabrics, and the aluminum variety come with whimsical scalloped edges. HULTMAN FLOORING 35 E US Hwy 20, Porter. 219.926.1966. Hultman Flooring, a member of the National Wood Flooring Association, specializes in the design, installation and refinishing of real wood floors. MARUSZCZAK APPLIANCE 7809 W Lincoln Hwy, Schererville. 219.865.0555. For nineteen years, Maruszczak has been selling and servicing major home appliances in the Munster area. Its broad inventory includes fridges, stoves, dishwashers, washer/dryers and more, made by virtually every brand in the market. The company is also factory-authorized to service everything it sells.

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NOVA BASEMENT SYSTEMS 465 N State Rd 39, LaPorte. 800.668.2026. nova-inc.com. For more than 30 years, Nova has been one of the largest basement waterproofing and foundation repair contractors in the area. The technicians here also specialize in crawl space sealing and sump pump installation. TRAINOR GLASS COMPANY 202 N Dixie Way, South Bend. 574.855.2380. trainorglass.com. Since 1953, Trainor Glass has specialized in commercial glass and glazing. Their state-of-the-art glass can be installed just about anywhere, from partitions, walls and doors, to the shower and bath. Trainor serves all of Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

Michigan

WATER PLACE 188 W US 12, Ste 3, New Buffalo. 269.231.5153. The Water Place is a decorative plumbing and hardware products superstore. With whirlpools, faucets and cabinets, this has “everything you need for plumbing services.”

design Indiana

BANTER FLOORS & MORE 12937 S Wicker Ave, Cedar Lake. 219.374.7360. banterfloors.com. For more than 20 years, Banter has specialized in residential and commercial flooring sales and installation. Materials include hardwood, laminate, vinyl, natural stone, slate, marble and carpet, as well as cabinetry and countertops. Other services available are carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning and interior design assistance. THE BEACH HOUSE 619 E 3rd St, Hobart. 219.942.0783. The 1,000-squarefoot showroom at the Beach House features “beachy,” cottage-style home furnishings and accessories. In the store’s lower level, the Wicker Gallery, custom orders are accepted. The store began as and still houses an upscale showroom of very current, high-quality, preowned furniture known as Like New. FULL CIRCLE ART 1405 119th St, Whiting. 219.659.0901. Artists and antiquers alike will appreciate the many features of Full Circle Art, including custom framing, fine art supplies, posters and a wide array of antiques. Art classes are also available, taught by owner Kathy Winsberg and other members of Whiting’s 119th Street Artists. HECHTS LANDSCAPING INC. 219.322.5296. hechtslandscaping.com. One of Northwest Indiana’s largest landscaping companies, Hechts has expanded their services to include landscape renovation, new home landscape construction, retaining walls, paver brick walks, patios and borders, irrigation,

and more. Free estimates are available. HERITAGE DRAPERIES 2224 US Hwy 41, Schererville. 219.322.8585. 18112 Torrence Ave, Lansing, Ill. 708.418.1177. heritagedraperies.com. Heritage Draperies is Northwest Indiana’s first retail showroom featuring custom window treatments. Patrons of Heritage can see full-size working displays, rather than having to guess from a sketch. The inventory here includes fabrics, trimmings, hardware, hard coverings and shutters. NATURALLY WOOD FURNITURE CENTER 1106 E US Hwy 20, Michigan City. 219.872.6501. naturallywoodfurniturecenter.com. For more than 30 years, Naturally Wood Furniture has been selling quality furniture and accessories. A full Flexsteel Signature Gallery features more than 2,000 fabrics and leathers, lake and cottage styles from Capris Upholstery, and selections from Ashley and Millennium. The largest selection of lake/cottage accessories in the area— together with personal friendly service—makes Naturally Wood Furniture a destination store. NO PLACE LIKE HOME 110 Elmwood Dr, Michigan City. 219.879.9140. 400 E Randolph St, Ste 3414, Chicago. 312.938.9140. nplhinc.com. This eco-minded interior design firm has multiple specialties, including space planning, architectural design consultation, kitchen and bath design and renovations, custom cabinetry design and installation, and selection of additional materials, plus decorating and staging services. SUN CATCHERS 1348 119th St, Whiting. 219.659.6666. As its name suggests, Sun Catchers is the place to go for stained glass. A large variety of stained glass décor items are available—either readymade or custom-designed—as well as florals, candles, and high-end bath and body products by Caswell-Massey. The staff at Sun Catchers also host and teach occasional stained glass classes. TRIAD DESIGN ASSOCIATES 110 N Broad St, Griffith.

219.924.9755.

photograph courtesy of J KREMKE CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES LLC

The information presented in Shore Things is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify the listing information.

triaddesignassociates.com. This design firm specializes primarily in commercial design, with services including space planning, furnishings, lighting and project management. Designers and space planners on staff have been professionally trained and are experienced in the latest technology.

Michigan

BAYBERRY COTTAGE 510 Phoenix Rd, South Haven. 269.639.9615. One of South Haven’s most well-known shops, Gwen DeBruyn’s Bayberry Cottage features home furnishings and accessories which include furniture, wall décor, rugs, florals and bath and body products. Interior design services are also available, and items can be special ordered if not in stock. CUSTOMS IMPORTS 430 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo. 269.469.9180. customsimports.com. This exotic gallery hosts a large, distinguished inventory of global art, furniture and antiques from India, Indonesia, China, Morocco and Vietnam. Dee Dee Duhn’s new showroom features teak root benches, textiles, Indonesian pottery, unique new furniture and an extensive mirror gallery. Claudia Labao’s Global Dreams jewelry—popular with the stars of Desperate Housewives— can also be found here. FORM 210 State St, St. Joseph. 269.982.7025. bretbortnerdesign.com. Gifts and decorative accessories can be found here, including table lamps, framed art, candles, clocks, picture frames and glassware. This unique shop is also home to two studios featuring the works of owner and artist Bret Bortner. The product

design studio features Bortner’s white porcelain dinnerware and tabletop accessories, and his clay designs are displayed at the Pottery Shop. FRONT 207 E Front St, Buchanan. 269.695.0230. This eclectic boutique offers bright and colorful tabletop accessories, home furnishings, paintings, sculptures, fashion, jewelry and books with a classic, modern viewpoint. Owner Joseph Paolucci handpicks the merchandise, which comes from all over Europe. GROUNDWORKES 15486 Red Arrow Hwy, Lakeside. 269.586.2133. groundworkes.com. Roger Boike, former master gardener at Susan Fredman Design Group, has branched out and started his own business in garden design throughout Southwest Michigan and beyond. KITCHEN WEST 10-1/2 Blue Star Hwy, Douglas, Michigan. 269.857.8880. kitchenwest.com. Kitchen West features cabinetry and interior design for the kitchen, bath, bar, and any other space that requires cabinetry. This awardwinning company partners with the country’s top cabinetry and appliance manufacturers to create a sophisticated and functional space. Owner Marilyn Nagelkirk’s designs have been featured in a number of renowned publications, including Better Homes and Gardens. Every project is customized, but Kitchen West’s new, fully equipped studio features a number of innovative displays that might offer clients ideas best suited to their own needs. NATURE’S WAY LANDSCAPING

1113 John Beers Rd, Stevensville. 269.429.1694. natureswayinc.com. Since 1976, this well-renowned, award-winning company has specialized in landscape design, construction and maintenance. Nature’s Way can also design and install walks, patios, driveways, retaining walls, waterfalls and lighting. OLD WORLD CHARM 269.556.1803 or 269.208.7108. Artisan David Pierce Bennethum specializes in decorative finishes and custom painting techniques for both private and commercial clients. All materials are imported from Italy, and Bennethum uses primarily Italian techniques in his work, for the optimally elegant look. SAWYER HOME & GARDEN CENTER 5865 Sawyer Rd, Sawyer. 269.426.8810. sawyergardencenter.com. The Sawyer Garden Center offers a large inventory of items for the garden, including annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees, plus a variety of high-quality lawn accessories. A large gift shop and gourmet shop—featuring produce, breads, sauces and cheeses—are also on site. SEA GLASS COTTAGE 402 Eagle St, South Haven. 269.639.1200. seaglasscottage.com. As its name suggests, this specialty shop features hundreds of collected sea glass items, along with a tasteful collection of beach-inspired home furniture and décor. Purses, jewelry, sunglasses and other accessories are also available here. TUSCAN POT 321 Water St, Saugatuck. 269.857.5550. tuscanpot.com. Artist Rachael Hirt creates

custom handmade and handpainted Italian Majolica tiles for the kitchen, bath, garden and anywhere else a client desires. Hirt’s extensive inventory includes custom tiles, mosaics, tile and mosaic murals and dinnerware. Tuscan Pot also offers how-to classes, as well as a selection of goods imported from Italy.

Illinois

ART 4 SOUL 18135 Harwood, Homewood. 708.206.1026. art4soul.com. Patrons love the one-stopshop factor of this eclectic store, which offers jewelry, hand-crafted home décor items and personalized gifts, plus a paintyour-own ceramic studio and bead shop where customers can make their own jewelry.

drive Indiana

DORMAN GARAGE, INC. 1317 Lake St, LaPorte. 219.324.7646. dormangarage.com. With more than twenty years of experience, Dorman Garage specializes in classic car restoration. Aside from offering restoration services, there is also a large inventory of restored classic automobiles for sale. LEXUS OF MERRILLVILLE 3957 US Hwy 30, Merrillville. 219.769.4545. lexusofmerrillville.com. Lexus vehicles and customer-service focused sales teams can be found at this dealership, which features new and pre-owned vehicles—including luxury and sport sedans, SUVs and convertibles. Financing, vehicle services and parts and accessories are also available.

shore THINGS LOOK GOOD AND

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MAXIM POWER SPORTS 5901 E 81st Ave, Merrillville. 219.942.0548. maximpowersports. com. This showroom, which spans more than 30,000 square feet, includes brands like Kawasaki, Polaris, Yamaha and Suzuki. It can suit multiple outdoor sporting needs, including street, dirt, watercraft and snow vehicles and gear. The parts and service departments are also helpful and knowledgeable. SCHEPEL AUTO GROUP 2929 W Lincoln Hwy, Merrillville. 866.724.3735. schepel.com. This renowned auto dealer in Northwest Indiana offers new and pre-owned vehicles by Cadillac, Hummer, Saab, Buick and Pontiac. The experienced sales staff, plus the extensive online inventory, help consumers find the car most suited for their needs. Repair services are also available.

Michigan

RUSSELL’S FOREIGN CAR REPAIR 8754 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs. 269.473.3088. This dealer alternative provides service, repairs and maintenance during the vehicle’s factory warranty and beyond. Russell’s Foreign Car Repair services all imported car makes, but specializes in upscale European and Asian vehicles.

eat Indiana

COSITUTTI MARKETPLACE cosituttimarketplace.com. The many gourmet products available at the Cositutti online store come directly from Italy—handpicked by owner Pam Marasco, who has traveled to Italy on a regular basis. All products are made only in the village of origin and include artisan pasta, Italian honey, olive oil, pesto and pure dark chocolate.

Exceptional Service and Eyewear Not your ordinary optical

GREAT LAKES CATERING 701 Washington St, Michigan City. 219.898.1501. greatlakescatering. com. With a combined 75 years of experience, father and son Ed and Matt Kis have formed one of the area’s leading catering companies. A full range of services is available for all kinds of events, including catered foods and beverages, bands, tents, tables and more. YE OLDE FUDGE SHOPPE 1452 119th St, Whiting. As an extension of Chrislove Collectibles, Ye Olde Fudge Shoppe caters to chocolate lovers. The shop offers more than 20 varieties of homemade fudge, including Oreo, mint amaretto, peanut butter and Dreamsicle flavors. Fudge can be shipped all over the U.S.

Michigan Gary Scearce, O.D.

449 E. Summit Street Crown Point, IN 219-662-1600 www.EagleEyeOptique.com

KILWIN’S Multiple locations in Illinois and Michigan. kilwins.com. For more than 60 years, Kilwin’s has been a quality confectionery shoppe in northern Michigan, providing quality products and excellent services. Despite growing throughout the United States and changing ownership, they still use only the finest and freshest ingredients in their hand-paddled fudge, custom chocolates and truffles.

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OPULENT VODKA opulentvodka.com. This award-winning vodka, made of a grain distinctively native to America, is fermented and distilled “five times for a purity of less than 1 micron,” according to the website, which also hosts an extensive list of cocktail recipes. RIBORDY LIQUORS 2 W Dunes Hwy, Beverly Shores. 219.871.1111. 1454 W Hwy 30, Valparaiso. 219.465.7507. This upscale liquor store features fine wines, topshelf liquors, and import and craft specialty beers. Kegs and ice are also available. ST. JOHN WINE & SPIRITS 9540 Poplar Ln, St. John. 219.558.8911. stjohnwineandspirits. com. Both the connoisseur and the beginner alike will feel comfortable in this shop, which features a wide variety of fine wines, beer and spirits. The staff is trained to assist customers with selection needs, in order “to take the intimidation out of shopping for wine and spirits.” Wine tastings are held here often, and gifts and accessories are also available. WHITING FLOWER SHOP 1341 119th St, Whiting. 219.659.0326. whitingflowers.com. Established in 1900, this reputable flower shop offers a large variety of floral styles, for an equally large variety of occasions. In addition to flowers, the shop carries a wide selection of giftware and collectibles, as well as plants.

Michigan

LAMBRECHT’S LIQUORS 2926 Niles Ave, St. Joseph. 269.983.5353. lambrechtsliquors. com. Lambrecht’s features a comprehensive selection of wines, beers, spirits, cigars, pipes and tobacco products. Specialty items include beer and winemaking equipment and supplies and gourmet coffees and cheeses. Occasional tasting events and seminars are offered as well.

Illinois

NATHALIE’S INTERIORS & GALLERY 2009 Ridge Rd, Homewood. 708.647.1177. A wide array of gifts can be found here, including Vera Bradley items, Pandora jewelry, Thymes fragrances, dishware, baby gifts, All That Jazz statues, and art by Edna Hibel, along with an assortment of art prints.

heal Indiana

CENTER FOR OTOLARYNGOLOGY 9120 Columbia Ave, Ste A, Munster. 219.836.4820. Bethany Cataldi, D.O., specializes in ear, nose and throat surgery and facial plastic surgery. In fact, she is the only female facial plastic surgeon in Northwest Indiana who’s been specifically trained in surgery of the face, head and neck. Dr. Cataldi’s expertise in such procedures exclusively ranges all spectrums, from topical treatments like skin peels, to hair removal, to full nasal construction.

EAGLE EYE OPTIQUE 449 E Summit St, Crown Point. 219.662.1600. eagleeyeoptique. com. This optical boutique and private optometry practice—run by Gary W. Scearce, O.D.—specializes in eye care including spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and co-management of cataract and Lasik surgeries. The optical boutique features frames from designers such as Prada, Coach and Fendi. NORTHWEST ORAL SURGEONS 601A US Hwy 30, Schererville. 219.322.0501. 548 Ridge Rd, Ste G, Munster. 219.836.0004. northwestoralsurgeons.com. Drs. Joseph Lovasko, D.D.S., and Paul Wolf, D.D.S., are oral and maxillofacial surgeons whose services include oral pathology, corrective jaw surgery, wisdom tooth removal, dental implants and more. OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC. 1101 E Glendale Blvd, Ste 102, Valparaiso. 219.462.6144. 3630 Willowcreek Rd, Ste 1, Portage. 219.364.3230. The board-certified obstetrician-gynecologists—Drs. Short, Strickland and Murphy—at this clinic specialize in pregnancy care, family planning, infertility and menopause, along with general women’s wellness. Patients are made to feel at ease because of the clinic’s state-ofthe-art equipment and a skilled staff. ST. ANTHONY MEMORIAL 301 W Homer St, Michigan City. 888.879.8511. saintanthonymemorial.org. This acute care hospital, serving LaPorte, Porter and Berrien Counties, boasts an integrated healthcare network that is made up of an intensive care unit, a new birthing unit, emergency department, behavioral medicine, rehabilitation services, surgery units, oncology, pediatrics and a multidiscipline physician practice.

Illinois

MOLENAAR EYECARE SPECIALISTS LTD. 3546 N Ridge Rd, Lansing. 708.474.0078. molenaareyecare. com. Since 1934, three generations of optometrists in the Molenaar family have run this eyecare practice. Aside from standard vision services, Molenaar also pairs with Dr. Louis Probst of TLC Laser Eye Centers for laser vision. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER 888.824.0200. discover.uchospitals. edu. Since 1927, the University of Chicago Medical Center has been one of the Midwest’s most reputable hospitals. Aside from basic health care, the Medical Center consists of a children’s hospital, a maternity and women’s hospital, multiple outpatient facilities, and the renowned Pritzker School of Medicine.

invest Indiana

HARRIS BANK Administrative Offices, 9801 Connecticut Dr, Crown Point. 219.738.6501. harrisbank.com. This financial institution specializes in retail, commercial and trust services. The bank’s multiple sites and ATM locations throughout

Michigan

MUTUAL BANK, KATHY SELLERS 307 W Buffalo St, New Buffalo. 269.469.5552. bankwithmutual.com. Kathy Sellers is a Mutual Bank agent who services both first-time home buyers and seasoned investors. Mutual Bank specializes in investments and wealth management for businesses and personal clients.

learn Michigan

OX-BOW Campus: 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck. 269.857.5811. Administrative offi ecs: 37 S Wabash Ave, Chicago. 800.318.3019. ox-bow.org. This 96year-old summer school of art and artists’ residency is located in Saugatuck and is affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ox-Bow offers one- and two-week intensives for aspiring and experienced artists in six studio areas.

live Indiana

COTTAGE CONNECTIONS 422 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.393.9986. cottage-connections.com. This vacation rental company appeals to both the vacationer and the homeowner. Vacationers can expect clean and cozy accommodations, as well as expert customer service. Homeowners can rely on Cottage Connections to do the busy work of managing the vacation rentals. HARTSFIELD VILLAGE 10000 Columbia Ave, Munster. 219.934.0750. hartsfieldvillage.com. Hartsfield Village offers a full continuum of care that supports a variety of lifestyles, including independent living, assisted living, memory support and nursing care. Amenities include private patios and balconies, lounges, gardens, activity centers and fitness centers. Residents receive many benefits, such as laundry, housekeeping and dining services.

Michigan

CAMP BUFFALO COTTAGES 106 S Franklin St, New Buffalo. 269.469.9090. campbuffalocottages. com. At Camp Buffalo, cozy cedar-shaked cottages resting in lush woodlands outline a property that promises sanctuary and solitude. The center clubhouse, naturally landscaped amphitheater and inground swimming pool bring the community together for fellowship and fun. Residents may choose between five spacious cottage plans. HARBOR SHORES RESORT 269.932.1600. harborshoresresort.com. Southwest Michigan’s biggest, most talked-about project is underway in Benton Harbor. The residential community will include a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, marinas, an indoor water park and a luxury spa. The property is surrounded by two rivers and five beaches. Custom homesites and cottages are available.

PINE SIDE RESORT 246 Broadway Ave, South Haven. 269.639.9998. pinesideresort.com. Pine Side Resort has partnered with Big Art’s Log Homes & Furniture and Don Hoyt Contracting to create a gated community on a private lake, situated among 1,449 acres of nature preserve. Residents can choose between a waterfront or wooded site, and among four log home packages.

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Illinois

DEWITT PLACE 900 N DeWitt Pl, Chicago. 312.642.7020. dewittplace.com. This 82-unit vintage building, built in 1924, offers corporate housing, temporary furnished apartment rentals and long-term temporary housing solutions. These studio and one-bedroom apartments come with a variety of amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen, wireless Internet access, DirecTV satellite service and an exercise room.

pamper Indiana

CHICAGOLAND CENTER FOR COSMETIC SURGERY 2134 S Calumet Ave, Hammond. 219.218.2001. 7863 Broadway, Merrillville. 219.736.2047. chicagolandcosmetics.com. The doctors at this cosmetic surgery facility specialize in multiple beauty treatments, including Botox, wrinkle fillers, face lifts, liposuction and body sculpting.

Post Inventory P

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Owners: Judith Kaye & Nancy C. Goodwin

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(Across from Wendy’s)

219-661-8094

Sat 10am-5pm

NEW Extended Parking Enter & Exit Off Court St. Evening Hours By Appointment.

THE CINNAMON TREE 505 Silhavy Rd, Valparaiso. 219.548.8383. thecinnamontree.com. A long-time community favorite, this luxury spa offers multiple body care services, including massage, body polish, specialty soaks, body wraps, facials and nail care. Spa packages and parties are available. COSMEDIC SKIN & BODY CLINIC 210 E 86th Pl, Merrillville. 219.795.1255. 58 E Walton, Chicago. 312.377.3333. cosmedicclinic.com. Available by appointment. Dr. James Platis, who has been featured on local and national news programs and has been applauded by Dr. Phil, specializes in all forms of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, particularly breast surgery, body contouring and facial aesthetic surgery. Less invasive procedures include tanning, waxing and facials. ELLE SALON 113 W 8th St, Michigan City. 219.874.3553. This upscale salon, situated in Michigan City’s historic district, offers fullservice hair care, plus manicures, pedicures and facial waxing. Retail products include skin care, body care, a men’s line, wooden styling tools, a full line of Aveda products, and other calming items such as Aveda teas, candles and oils. HEALTHY 4 LIFE 101 87th Ave, Ste 420, Merrillville. 219.756.1100. healthyme4life.com. Healthy 4 Life is a weight loss program— supervised by medical experts Paul and Christine Stanish and Lorri Field—that focuses on therapeutic lifestyle changes. Unlike many other related programs, this one is backed by medical knowledge and support. NAVII SALON & SPA 316 E US 30, Schererville. 219.865.6515.

APRIL 2010

MERCHANT STREET COTTAGES 222 Merchant St, New Buffalo. 888.588.6424. merchantstreetcottages. com. Located just two blocks from downtown New Buffalo, this charming neighborhood consists of seventeen cottages

that are built with green materials for simpler, more cost-effective living. Each cottage is created with thoughtful design and attractive features.

Lake and Porter counties and the Chicago area, along with online banking, provide personal and corporate clients with ease and convenience.

shore THINGS

REVERIE SPA RETREAT 3634 N 700 W, LaPorte. 219.861.0814. spareverie.com. Located on more than fifty acres of deep woodlands, this spa retreat offers an imaginative menu of personal luxury care which includes facials, massage therapy, refl exology, botanical treatments, envelopments and azulene waxings. There are five guest rooms blending calming Asian and classically antique influences and a dining room, which serves twenty-six people vegetables from the garden and other goodies. VANIS SALON & SPA 221 US 41, Ste J, Schererville. 219.322.5600. 1620 Country Club Rd, Valparaiso. 219.465.6414. 107 N Main St, Crown Point. 219.663.5200. vanis.net. One of Northwest Indiana’s premier salons, Vanis features a well-trained, professional staff for hair care, nail care and spa body treatments. Group and corporate retreats (for four to twenty people) can be arranged.

Michigan

YOGA GLOW 6 Linden St, Three Oaks. 269.697.4394. yogathreeoaks.com. This renowned yoga studio features group yoga classes and private lessons for all levels, plus workshops every month. Patrons are encouraged to visit Yoga Glow’s website for class schedules, teacher

bios and other yoga-related information.

party Indiana

CHRISTINA’S CREATIVE PLANNING 219.309.1943. ccpweddings.com. Owner Christina Page and her staff of professionals specialize in wedding and event planning— from a small baby shower to a large, full-scale wedding. A large array of party products are available as well, including invitations, accessories, favors and rentals. JEFF BROWN TRIO 219.465.0638. jeffreycbrown.com. In the music business for more than 30 years, Jeff Brown has earned legendary status in the Valparaiso area and beyond. The Jeff Brown Trio, which performs a varied repertoire that is ideal for both listening and background music, is available for private functions throughout Illinois, Indiana and southern Michigan.

play Indiana

BLUE CHIP CASINO, HOTEL & SPA 777 Blue Chip Dr, Michigan City. 888.879.7711. bluechipcasino.com. The casino portion of Blue Chip features 65,000 square feet of gaming, all on one level, including more than 2,100 slot games and all the classic table games. Brand new to the facility is the 22-story Spa Blu Tower, which features a state-of-the-art hotel, luxury spa and convention center. Dining options include It’s Vegas Baby! and the Game, along with the fine-dining restaurant William B’s Steakhouse.

BRIAR RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB 123 Clubhouse Dr, Schererville. briarridgecc. com. 219.322.3660. The homes, condos and homesites on this country club property are situated among three nine-hole championship golf courses, dining facilities, banquet and meeting rooms, tennis courts, a playground and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. LOST MARSH GOLF COURSE 1001 E 129th St, Hammond. 219.932.4046. lostmarshgolf.com. This 330-acre, 18-hole championship course features various tee positions on every hole, making it desirable and challenging for both experienced and new golfers. The acclaimed Youth Golf Academy at Lost Marsh teaches young people looking to learn the sport, and an environmental recreation area offers outdoor activities to golfers and non-golfers alike.

Michigan

FOUR WINDS CASINO 11111 Wilson Rd, New Buffalo. 866.494.6371. fourwindscasino.com. With 3,000 of the most recent types of slot machines and more than 100 tables games, including blackjack and craps, New Buffalo’s Four Winds is the only casino in the area that offers million dollar jackpots. This brand new casino also has the Midwest’s only World Poker Tour poker room.

stay Indiana

rooms with jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces. Guests can choose from a variety of room selections and special packages. Floating boathouses— with a queen bed, sofa and outside deck—are also available for lodging during the summer.

Michigan

CANDLEWOOD SUITES 2567 W Marquette Wood Rd, Stevensville. 269.428.4400. candlewoodsuites.com/stjosephmi. With accommodations for overnight, corporate housing and relocation, the Candlewood Suites appeals to the business traveler and vacationer alike. Each room comes with a full-size kitchen, high-speed Internet and a selection of DVD movies. Free laundry, a hot tub and fitness center and a private patio grill area are also available for all guests.

view Indiana

SNAP PHOTOGRAPHY 219.728.1231. snapphotography.blogsome. com. This studio specializes in photographing seniors, babies, families, kids, special events and newborn hospital visits. Photos can be taken on site or in the studio. Custom invitations and announcements can also be designed and created.

Michigan

BLUE HERON INN 1110 Lakeside St, LaPorte. 219.362.5077. pleastshore.com. Situated on scenic Pine Lake in LaPorte, the Blue Heron Inn features luxury

GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM 101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids. 616.831.1000. gramonline.org. The Grand Rapids Art Museum is the first art museum in the world to be certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Its glass

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navii.com. Deriving its name from the Sanskrit word for “replenish” or “rejuvenate,” Navii offers both salon and spa services, including hair care, skin care, body treatments and makeup application. A Loyalty Program and online appointment booking are extra perks for patrons.

shore THINGS walls, natural light, and reflecting pool further illustrate the fusion between the indoors and outdoors. With its impressive permanent collection as well as changing exhibitions, this 125,000-square-foot facility is truly a gem in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.

219.769.4270. Situated in a quaint, cozy brick home, this family-owned company has been selling furs, fine leathers and motorcycle apparel since 1938. Along with extras like hats, purses, scarves and gloves, Hunch Furs also offers repair and cleaning services.

RUBINKAM STUDIO 109 N Barton St, New Buffalo. 269.469.1620. 20 E Center St, Douglas. 269.857.7100. rubinkam.com. Steve Rubinkam’s bright, whimsical Impressionist paintings of florals, landscapes and boats have been enchanting visitors and residents of New Buffalo for years. Rubinkam also displays works from respected colleagues, including photographers, potters and jewelers. Rubinkam’s newest gallery in Saugatuck has an expanded selection of glassworks, art objects and pottery.

INDIAN SUMMER 131 S Calumet Rd, Chesterton. 219.983.9994. 126 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo, Mich. 269.469.9994. This women’s clothing boutique offers casual and contemporary clothing and jewelry from around the world. Indian Summer features brands such as Sympli, Jag Jeans, O My Gauze, San Miguel Shoes and Minnetonka. The new space in Chesterton offers a larger selection of summer apparel, jewelry and accessories, while the original New Buffalo storefront continues to feature its quality inventory for those on the other side of the lake.

visit Michigan

FERNWOOD BOTANICAL GARDEN & NATURE PRESERVE 13988 Range Line Rd, Niles. 269.695.6491. fernwoodbotanical.org. Situated on 105 acres of cultivated and natural land, Fernwood is composed of gardens, forests and trails for visitors to peruse. An art gallery, fern conservatory, nature center, cafe and gift shop are also on site, and there are several learning and enrichment opportunities as well. ST. JOSEPH TODAY 120 State St, St. Joseph. 269.985.1111. sjtoday.org. Visitors to St. Joseph will find a variety of helpful information—on shopping, dining and events—at this welcome center. St. Joseph Today is a nonprofit organization that assists and encourages local business and tourism development. SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN TOURIST COUNCIL 2300 Pipestone Rd, Benton Harbor. 269.925.6301. swmichigan.org. The natural attractions of Southwest Michigan— the dunes, miles of scenic Lake Michigan beach, rivers and parks with hiking trails and biking paths—offer beauty in every season. The friendly staff at this nonprofit organization can assist travelers whether they seek solitude or a group learning experience.

wear Indiana

ALBERT’S DIAMOND JEWELERS 711 Main St, Schererville. 219.322.2700. albertsjewelers.com. Besides the fact that Albert’s showcases 5,000 square feet of jewelry, the store in itself is an entertainment destination. A bar, largescreen TV, dance floor and karaoke are among the many ways that patrons can let loose while browsing every type of fine jewelry imaginable. Brands include Tacori, Bulgari, Cartier and Bez Ambar, and the store’s entire back wall is devoted to bridal jewelry and accessories.

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AMY LAURIE’S ECLECTIC BOUTIQUE 613 N Main St, Crown Point. 219.661.8094. This boutique features clothing for women of all ages and sizes, including jackets, wraps, sweaters, evening wear, accessories and shoes. Owners Judith Kaye and Nancy C. Goodwin update the inventory regularly, while also offering frequent sales. HUNCH FURS 2021 W Lincoln Hwy, US 30, Merrillville.

THE JUNKYARD 1309 119th St, Whiting. 219.473.1501. thejunkyardstore.com. The Junkyard offers fun and trendy tees, ready-made or custom-designed and lettered. Accessories such as belt buckles, buttons, purses, hats and body jewelry are available as well. LUX & MIE 404 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.464.3330. luxandmie.com. Fashions and accessories in contemporary, trendy and casual-chic styles come together at Lux & Mie, an upscale boutique owned by mother-daughter pair Kate and Jamie Salan. The fashionable selection appeals to both men and women, from high school age to those in their 50s and 60s. Featured designers include English Laundry, Covet and Wish Collection.

Michigan

DK BOUTIQUE 213 State St, St. Joseph. 269.983.7313. dkboutique.com. This contemporary women’s clothing boutique in downtown St. Joe offers limited edition designer apparel, cool new accessories and the latest designs in jewelry from Pandora Jewelry. With something for everyone, from teenagers and older, DK Boutique provides the most current styles that are full of flair. MOXIE’S BOUTIQUE 321 State St, St. Joseph. 269.983.4273. moxiesboutique.com. This fun and festive boutique features women’s fashions, accessories and gifts. Apparel—from designers such as Belamie, Flashback Couture and Nic & Zoe—comes in a range of styles and prices. Many local artists’ works are available here as well, including handbags, scarves, jewelry, furniture and art. PHILLIP & SON JEWELRY 23 Center St, Douglas. 269.857.8738. This charming shop features distinctive jewelry and accessories in every price range—from high end to affordable for every patron. A selection of vintage pieces is available as well.

Illinois

SUPER LOOT 2025 Ridge Rd, Homewood. 708.957.7714. Situated in quaint downtown Homewood, this boutique features women’s apparel—from designers such as Pure, Jag, Willow and 3 Dot—as well as jewelry, purses, accessories and gifts.

nwi.com nnw wi.ccom om

Your Automotive Source for Northwest Indiana

Locate Auto Dealers with Ease, in NW Indiana & Chicagoland AUDI

HYUNDAI

CENTER CHRYSLER • 41

NISSAN

11009 West 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 219-374-7171 • www.centercars.com

TEAM AUDI • 50

SHAFFER HYUNDAI • 43

SOUTHLAKE NISSAN • 34

1000 W. U.S. Hwy. 30, Merrillville, IN

Rt. 30, 1 Mile E. of I-65, Merrillville, IN

219-736-2277 • www.shafferhyundai.com

888-966-4772 • www.southlakeautomall.co

TEAM HYUNDAI • 45

PONTIAC

3990 E. RT 30, Merrillville, IN (One mile east of the mall)

GRIEGERS MOTORS • 5

888-805-3689 • www.teamvwaudi.com

1756 U.S. 30 West, Valparaiso, IN 219-462-4117 • www.griegersmotors.com

BUICK

9236 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN

THOMAS CHRYSLER • 11

219-923-2277 • www.teamhyundai.net

CIRCLE BUICK • 65

9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN

1300 U.S. 41,, Schererville, IN

219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com

IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124

JEEP

Lowell, IN • 219-696-8931 www.smithautogroupusa.com

DODGE

www.circleautomotive.com

SMITH PONTIAC • 7 700 W. Commercial Avenue

ARNELL JEEP • 14

CHEVROLET

ARNELL DODGE • 14

TEAM CHEVROLET • 48

866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com

U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN

CIRCLE PONTIAC • 65

866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com

1300 U.S. 41,, Schererville, IN

U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN

IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124 CENTER JEEP • 41

www.circleautomotive.com

11009 West 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake, IN

1856 W. U.S. 30, Valparaiso, IN CENTER DODGE • 41

219-462-1175 • www.teamchevyinc.com

219-374-7171 • www.centercars.com

SUBARU

11009 West 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 219-374-7171 • www.centercars.com

ARNELL CHEVROLET • 14

GRIEGERS MOTORS • 5

SUBARU OF MERRILLVILLE • 24

1756 U.S. 30 West, Valparaiso, IN

1777 West, US Rt. 30, Merrillville, IN

219-462-4117 • www.griegersmotors.com

219-756-7900 • www.subaruofmerrillville.com

THOMAS JEEP • 11

SUZUKI

U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN

GRIEGERS MOTORS • 5

866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com

1756 U.S. 30 West, Valparaiso, IN 219-462-4117 • www.griegersmotors.com

RIDGEWAY CHEVROLET • 1

9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN

17730 Torrence Ave, Lansing, IL 60438

THOMAS DODGE • 11

708-474-4990 • www.ridgewaychevy.com

219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com

9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN SMITH CHEVROLET - HAMMOND • 37

KIA

219-923-4000 • www.richardsonsuzuki.com

SOUTHLAKE KIA • 34

TOYOTA

219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com

6405 Indianapolis Blvd., Hammond, IN

FORD

219-845-4000 • www.smithautogroupusa.com

RICHARDSON SUZUKI • 38 9110 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN

Rt. 30, 1 mi. East of I-65, Merrillville, IN SMITH CHEVROLET - LOWELL • 7

SMITH FORD • 36

700 W. Commerical, Lowell, IN

1777 E. Commercial, Lowell, IN

219-696-8931 • www.smithautogroupusa.com

219-769-1090 • www.smithautogroupusa.com

866-639-8542 • www.southlakeautomall.com

TEAM TOYOTA • 44 9601 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN

THOMAS KIA • 16

219-924-8100 • www.teamtoyota2000.com

9825 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN MIKE ANDERSON CHEVROLET • 4

WEBB FORD • 71

The Chevy Giant on I-65

9809 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN

I-65 and 61st Avenue, Merrillville, IN

888-869-8822 • www.webford.com

219-947-4151 • www.mikeandersonchevy.com

219-934-2266 • www.thomasautogroup.com

TOYOTA ON 30 • 46 4450 E. RT 30, Merrillville, IN

GMC

CHRYSLER

MITSUBISHI

219-947-3325 • www.toyotaon30.com

SHAFFER MITSUBISHI • 43

VOLKSWAGEN

1000 W. U.S. Hwy. 30, Merrillville, IN CIRCLE GMC • 65

219-736-2277 www.shaffermitsubishi.com

TEAM VOLKSWAGEN • 50

ARNELL CHRYSLER • 14

1300 U.S. 41,, Schererville, IN

U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN

IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124

(One mile east of the mall)

866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com

www.circleautomotive.com

888-805-3689 • www.teamvwaudi.com

3990 E. RT 30, Merrillville, IN

ORLAND PARK

12 30

38 44

66 67

21 VALPARAISO

9 24 43

MERRILLVILLE

CROWN POINT

CONTACT YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE TO FEATURE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE TIMES AUTO DIRECTORY CROWN POINT • (219) 662-5300 MUNSTER • (219) 933-3200 PORTAGE • (219) 762-1397 VALPARAISO • (219) 462-5151

shorecast PREDICTIONS BY FRAN SMITH

For more astrological advice, be sure to check out Fran Smith’s regular blog on visitshoremagazine.com.

actress JENNIFER MORRISON

[aries] MARCH 21-APRIL 20 KEY WORDS in April: The Center of the Stage—and it’s exactly where you belong. The New Moon (new beginnings)—the start of your own personal new year—is now alive and vibrant in your sun-sign. So shake off those dull and heavy garments (wornout situations and relationships) of the past months— and realize that spring is finally here. Begin with a viable and exciting plan of action—one that’s tailored to fit your new and expanded vision of 2010. Keep in mind: it’s not on the stage, if it’s not on the page. SIDESTEP the sudden appearance of too many new people.

[taurus] APRIL 21-MAY 20 KEY WORDS in April: Private Strategy-Planning Sessions. Now is not the time to hide out or to be unavailable. On the contrary, it’s a sincere and enthusiastic reach-out time to those in power positions—only done quietly; at best, beneath the radar screen. Continue, however, to talk and to meet with favorable and ongoing alliances, for verve, dash and high energy permeate your latest ideas. Trust your own judgment and keep your own counsel—which means be your own best friend. And definitely, keep all your secrets— secret. SIDESTEP not enough rest and relaxation. [gemini] MAY 21-JUNE 20 KEY WORDS in April: Your Secret Agenda. Actually, you like the warmth of summer (after all, you’re a June baby) very much. But spring is always a good indicator of fun times just ahead. With this in mind, April forever proves to be a sound month in which to sort through, outline and structure just what it is that you really want. You certainly know what—and quite possibly, who—you don’t want. So relax—and think. Stay only with the upbeat possibilities— and you’ll soon discover the perfect solutions that you’re searching for. SIDESTEP being difficult to reach. [cancer] JUNE 21-JULY 22 KEY WORDS in April: Seizing the Moment—particularly when it involves your career-related endeavors. In fact, that’s where you’re at—right in the midst of your work, its content and its effect on your advancement. Since the planet Mars (raw energy) governs Aries, the Ram (which rules your tenth house of career), you’d do well to realize that divine backup now allows you to move ahead with drive and momentum. While a low-key approach feels comfortable, the direct approach could accomplish wonders. Try it. SIDESTEP delegating too much authority to others. [leo] JULY 23-AUGUST 22 KEY WORDS in April: Plans, Projects and People—near and at a distance. The forcefulness of the Ram (the symbol of April’s Aries) blends well with the fierceness of the August Lion (your symbol)—as this magnificent combination now allows you to reach far afield (as well as close by) for whatever you’re after. Best to create—and maintain—strict guidelines for yourself, lest you go in too many directions simultaneously. Also, consider who should know about these late-breaking plans and projects—and who should be kept in the dark. SIDESTEP the sharp answer.

4 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 9

[virgo] AUGUST 23-SEPTEMBER 22 KEY WORD in April: Revitalization, on all levels—mental, emotional, physical, financial and spiritual. This couldn’t come at a better time. Depending on how difficult the winter months have been, you can feel wonderfully at ease—and without guilt—as you rush to greet the advent of spring. Allow yourself to try—even experiment with— any new method or program that will help you recharge your inner self. Advisable to keep this to yourself, for others haven’t the slightest idea of what you’ve been through. But you know. SIDESTEP an uncharacteristic slow response. [libra] SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 22 KEY WORDS in April: Fine Arrangements—personally and professionally. It’s truly the best of all worlds, as you move back and forth between the two. Often, at the same time and in the same place. No one ever seems to notice, which both amazes and suits you perfectly. However, the

one ingredient that you must keep out of all involvements is: your impatience. Nothing can undo the very best of arrangements quicker than your temper. No one is expecting it—and the collateral damage can be incredible. SIDESTEP high drama at the wrong moment. [scorpio] OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 22 KEY WORDS in April: The Work Scene—one in which you forever blaze a new and distinctive trail. Nothing is ever boring or dull or everyday when it comes to your work. You can’t (actually, wouldn’t even consider it) help it. You are driven. True to the April Ram (the symbol of Aries), you must be the leader, you must charge ahead; above all, you must win—whatever the game or the goal. Relax in this. Even allow yourself to luxuriate in this, for it’s precisely what’s required if you’re to capture the desires of your heart. SIDESTEP staying only with the familiar. [sagittarius] NOVEMBER 23-DECEMBER 21 KEY WORDS in April: High Drama. That’s precisely what occurs anytime that you’re emotionally involved in a relationship, a creative effort or a speculative endeavor (this covers a multitude of things, especially the financial thing). And during April, your constant fascination with the raw energy of love and high drama races ahead of everything else in your life. Not content to pace yourself— or even to be patient, you must have what you want—now! At best, this April finds your relationships, your efforts, and your efforts, understanding. SIDESTEP canceling at the last minute. [capricorn] DECEMBER 22-JANUARY 19 KEY WORDS in April: Your Base of Operations—where you live and where you work. The effort related to keeping everything clean and in order appeals to you enormously. Surely, April was designated as the spring-cleaning month with Capricorn, the Mountain Goat, in mind. It works in your favor as you take charge (thank you, Aries, the Ram) and streamline worn-out situations, conditions and relationships. And by applying your own planetary ruler, Saturn (the taskmaster), to the task, everything is completed in record time. SIDESTEP being too stern and too thorough. [aquarius] JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18 KEY WORDS in April: Words and More Words—as you feverishly reach out to others. Whatever method you use— the fact that Aries rules your third house of communications proves to be the time when you’re determined to get your latest message out into the world. Fine. Just be certain that the message advances your newest plans—and places your efforts in a favorable light. After all, too many unique events take place in your life and you’d be wise to monitor what you say and write—and to whom you say and write it. SIDESTEP criticism—of yourself, or others. [pisces] FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20 KEY WORDS in April: Your Possessions and Your Lifestyle. With the recent transit of the planet Jupiter (Lady Luck) into your own sun-sign, the potential for an increase in your income (Aries, the Ram, rules your second house of money) is strong. Very strong. Still, what’s most vital now is the way you handle surprise developments in your world. Leave nothing to chance—and follow through on a variety of sudden changes. You have the final word on what you’ll accept—as well as on what’s totally unacceptable. Be your own best friend. SIDESTEP being shrill.

WANT MORE? please go to page 44 or visitshoremagazine.com for a full listing of the area’s best events and watch the Shore Weekender with Joe and Julia for the absolute best picks for a great weekend.

Apr 5-10 VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY JAZZ FESTIVAL Harre Union, Valparaiso University, 1509 Chapel Dr, Valparaiso. 219.464.5000. valpo.edu. The 25th edition of the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival will be headlined by jazz legends Arturo Sandoval and the Count Basie Orchestra. The Midwest’s largest nonjuried jazz event will also feature university faculty and student ensembles, jazz bands from Northwest Indiana high schools and other guest performers.

Apr 13-May 13 GILMORE KEYBOARD FESTIVAL various times and locations, Kalamazoo area. 296.342.1166, 800.347.4266. gilmore.org. Gilmore, an organization that supports keyboard music and artistry, is sponsoring its 10th world-class festival, which showcases more than 100 events, including concerts, recitals, lectures, films and master classes. Among the artists performing in this year’s event are Phyllis Chen, Jonathan Biss and American Idol contestant Matt Giraud.

Apr 25-May 30 FRANKFORT COUNTRY SPRING MARKET 10am-2pm every Sun, Oak & Kansas Sts, downtown Frankfort. frankfortcountrymarket.org. Located along the bike path in historic downtown Frankfort, this open-air farmers’ market focuses on early crops, gardening items and specialty items for the spring season.

Lake Michigan

shore PICKS Apr 30-May 3 MERCHANDISE MART INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUES FAIR 11am-7pm Fri-Sat, 11am6pm Sun, 11am-3pm Mon, The Merchandise Mart, 8th Floor, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago. 800.677.6728. merchandisemartantiques.com. Acclaimed interior and home furnishings designer Thomas O’Brien will kick off this timeless event with a lecture and book signing at 10 a.m. Friday morning. More than 100 of the world’s top dealers of antiques and fine art will then be on hand to showcase a wide range of antique genres.

last resort

No More Junk in My Trunk!

WHEN SECONDHAND ISN’T SECOND NATURE

by KATHRYN MacNEIL

6 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 9

My husband and I recently celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary—a truly joyous occasion commemorating two decades of happiness. But, like most good marriages, ours has one tiny area of conflict—just enough to keep things interesting.

ranted, this minor incompatibility isn’t one of the Five Biggies (we have the same religious and political views, similar family backgrounds, and agree on childrearing and money management strategies). Instead, I’m referring to a much more insidious, fundamental difference in philosophy. It turns out that there are two kinds of people in this world: The first group consists of individuals who are addicted to purchasing “used merchandise” via garage sales, flea markets, resale shops, antique stores and auctions. And the second group? I like to refer to them as Normal People Like Me. Call me crazy, but I don’t care how inexpensive the brittle bowling bag is, or that the Seafoam Green #154 bath mat is a steal. (“But where else can you get a 120-pound accordion for twenty bucks?”) The fact of the matter is that at one point, someone carefully picked out the item at a retail establishment and paid good money for it, and even that person doesn’t want it anymore. I’d like to think of that as a reality check: why should I want their discarded possessions, much less get up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning to haggle over the price of a dented cookie sheet? Now, I grudgingly see the value in high-end “antiquing,” and believe me, I get that it’s chic and green to “reuse.” I guess I’d just rather reuse my own stuff, instead of inviting someone else’s evidence of buyer’s remorse into my own home. Call me a snob, but before I use that food processor, I’d really rather be in possession of its entire pedigree. Maybe I’m just bitter because I was immersed in the culture of clutter during my impressionable early childhood years. My sister—who is six years older than me, and graciously let me tag along with her groovy teenaged friends—actually used the word “junk” as a verb: [junk v 1: to drive around town with one’s innocent little sister in the car, scouting for things on the curb to pick through while aforementioned sister crouches down in the backseat, mortified < usage— “C’mon, it’s garbage day, we need to go and junk!” > 2: to drag longsuffering sister to every Goodwill and Salvation Army store within a radius limited only by the amount of gas in the car’s tank.]

Because she was so flamboyant about her affection for acquisition, I just assumed that it would be that obvious with everyone I met. I mean, we are talking about a young girl who proudly mounted a giant deer’s head—complete with antlers—on her bedroom wall as a teen. Yes, it was an heirloom from our grandfather’s house, but it was still the head of a dead deer. In her bedroom! Actual glassy-eyed taxidermy, people. With eyelashes. (I suppose it became more practical when she started draping items from other assorted collections on its antlers. In fact, in eternal denial, I prefer to remember her trophy as more of a “wall organizer” than a deceased woodland creature.) Unlike my sister, my husband, when I met him, was more of a closeted junk aficionado. Sure, there were early signs, such as his multiple shoeboxes of ancient baseball cards (“This one is worth $87!” “So sell it.” “Oh, I can’t do that. It’s too valuable.”). But his true colors really showed on that fateful day in 1989, when he went to a farmers’ auction in rural Iowa, and proudly came home with what honestly can only be described as a Deluxe Box of Garbage. Apparently the junk they were selling was so worthless, they just divided it into boxes and auctioned it off in lots (a.k.a. “collections in which the container is more valuable than its contents”). Bless his heart, a tow cable in one of the boxes had caught his eye, and he was determined to move heaven and earth to get it. And speaking of moving heaven and earth, he is quick to point out that he eventually used that tow cable to pull our friend’s car out of a ditch—although the cable broke in the middle of the process. Thank goodness it was such an “incredible bargain.”

wenty years later, my mixed marriage has survived, and I have a basement full of broken-down, forgotten gems to show for it. Sadly, the only remedy for my lowerlevel clutter is for me to perpetuate the madness: I’m going to have to sell it all at a garage sale. My husband may feel a temporary loss, but simple logic saves the day: You see, the first rule of garage sales is that nothing is allowed back in the house. Whatever’s left over goes directly to Goodwill . . . so it’s only a matter of time before he’ll see his belongings again—in my sister’s house. ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA SOMERS