Wednesday Journal 122017

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W E D N E S D A Y

2018 food trends Page 16

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

December 20, 2017 Vol. 35, No. 18 ONE DOLLAR

@oakpark @wednesdayjournal

A Christmas story rooted in civil unrest Inspired by August protest, churchgoers promote racial reconciliation By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

When hundreds of far-right protestors, including young white supremacists and neo-Nazis armed with weapons and tiki torches, took to the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia in August, Yevette Killingsworth thought about her son, who was living in Charlottesville at the time. “He said it was scary for people to even be out at that time — and this is 2017,” Killingsworth recalled during a Dec. 16 interview at Cornerstone Anglican Church-True Freedom Ministry, 171 N. Cuyler Ave., in Oak Park. The protests had a more indirect effect on the Rev. Michael Wright, the pastor of True Freedom Ministry — a predominantly African-American congregation that shares space, along with a predominantly Hispanic congregation, inside of the Cornerstone Anglican Church, a predominantly white congregation. Wright’s church had been developing a relationship with an Anglican church in Wheaton. The bishop of that church, See CORNERSTONE CHURCH on page 12

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

GIVING THE JOINT ATMOSPHERE: FitzGerald’s, which is really more like Martini’s, has transformed its SideBar to Nick’s Place for the holiday season. Remember, you’re in Bedford Falls, not Pottersville.

Welcome to Bedford Falls … in Berwyn FitzGerald’s pop-up channels ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ complete with Zuzu’s petals By MICHELLE DYBAL Contributing Reporter

Stepping off busy Roosevelt Road under a sign marked “Welcome to Bedford Falls,” bar-goers are welcomed into a scene that is part movie set, part time travel as they transition past antique autos and a scene from

the living room of 320 Sycamore on George and Mary’s wedding night, then finally through the door with a sign with the word “Nick’s” lit overhead. At this Nick’s, Clarence could get his flaming rum punch (even if it isn’t cold enough outside) and mulled wine -- “heavy on the cinnamon, light on the cloves.”

These libations, along with others, are all carefully researched and prepared by three bartenders from Berwyn who run The Roosevelt Room, which is putting on the pop-up “It’s a Wonderful Life at FitzGerald’s SideBar” on Wednesdays in December. The eveSee BEDFORD FALLS on page 13

Receive a $25 bonus certificate for every $100 in gift cards you buy! Buy at 144 s oak park ave or mayadelsol.com.


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