SPLASH JANUARY 2020
UP ALL NIGHT Our favorite late haunts 2020 DINING TRENDS CHICAGO’S
NEW
DESSERT BOSS
SHINE TIME JESSICA CAMACHO
is having a moment
WINTER, BUT BUT WINTER, MAKEIT IT FASHION FASHION MAKE
ARITZIA | NORDSTROM | SEPHORA | THE NORTH FACE | ZARA
ARITZIA | NORDSTROM | SEPHORA | THE NORTH FACE | ZARA
@WestfieldOldOrchard
@WestfieldOldOrchard
TRENDING NOW
NEED TO KNOW THE DIAMOND LIFE
SPLASH
Tiffany diamonds have been giving people heart eyes since 1848. Now the Tiffany & Co. store downtown offers a dazzling insider’s look at them at The Diamonds of Tiffany, on view through spring. It’s an experiential installation that invites you to examine Tiffany diamonds under gemological microscopes, watch videos exploring their provenance, and more. Admission is free. 730 N. Michigan; tiffany.com.
Publisher and Editor Susanna Homan, susanna@chicagosplash.com Director of Brand Development Liza Sweitzer, liza@chicagosplash.com Managing Editor Kelly Aiglon, kaiglon@chicagosplash.com Art Director Haleigh Brown, hbrown@chicagomag.com
EVERYBODY FREEZE If you can’t beat winter, join it. Bundle up and take a road trip to Ice Castles, an immersive frozen wonderland, opening in Lake Geneva in early January. Its extensive caverns, tunnels, and slides are built from tens of thousands of icicles (20 million pounds of them!), inviting endless exploration and Instagram moments. Elsa would approve. Starting at $11.99 for kids and $15.99 for adults. icecastles.com.
Event Director Diana Vdovets, diana@chicagosplash.com Account Manager Kelly Zech, kzech@chicagomag.com For advertising inquiries, please call (312) 832-6729 Contributing Writers Lisa Arnett, Thomas Connors, Beth Delany, Allie Duncan, Samantha Lande Contributing Photographers Lisa Hinsberger, Storm Santos Social Media Beth Delany
BLOW UP YOUR NYE Balloons aren’t just for kiddie parties. Luft Balloons is out to prove it, one helium tank at a time. Imagined by owner Elaine Frei, the arrangements are modern, artful, and bold. With custom colors interesting use of materials (florals, papers, garlands, honeycombs, and fringe can be woven in), they just may be the visual pop your New Year’s party needs. Starting at $28. Available at Festive Collective, 3279 W. Armitage; or online at luftballoonstore.com.
WORK IT Laptop warriors, take note: Working From_ Fulton Market is now open. The workspace within the Hoxton Chicago eases your to-do list with natural light, library desks, ergonomic chairs, cozy corners, and bright communal spaces with daybeds built for dreaming up the next big idea. Members have access to free stationary supplies, IT support, printing, and meeting room access. Go ahead and work up an appetite; there’s direct-to-desk meal delivery from the onsite Boka restaurants. Memberships start at $75/month; workingfrom.com.
Chicago Splash
@Chi_Splash
@Chicagosplash
ALL’S WELL Sometimes lunch breaks call for an infrared sauna sesh or quick hydrating IV drip. Good thing there’s Lume in River North. The just-opened wellness lounge is focusing on drips with targeted effects ranging from skin healing to muscle health. You can also sneak in for a massage, cryotherapy facial, or “booster shot” (vitamin injection). Services start at $50. 351 W. Hubbard; lume-wellness.com. JANUARY 2020 | CHICAGOSPLASH.COM
3
THE CALENDAR ✔ ARTS & CULTURE | ✔ PHILANTHROPY | ✔ FOOD | ✔ FASHION
DECEMBER 31
✔ New Year’s Eve Boodle Fight Feast
Ring in 2020 with a taste of the Philippines: fried branzino fish, lumpia, pork barbecue, lechon belly, lechon manok, garlic rice, and atchara. A "boodle fight" meal traditionally dispenses with cutlery and dishes, and the food is placed on top of a long banana leaf-lined table. Time 8 p.m. Place Cebu, 2211 W. North Cost $75; info at cebuchicago.com JANUARY 4
✔ Wicker Park Indoor Farmers Market
Held for the first year inside the Robey Hall, this plastic-free market is perfect for a quick bite or shopping run. Around a dozen vendors (including Beacon Doughnuts, Avrom Farm, and Frogtown Juice Co.) serve grab-and-go meals, fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, beverages, and more. Also available: a cash bar and coffee service.
THROUGH FEBRUARY 24
✔ David Yarrow Exhibition
Yarrow’s evocative and immersive photography of wild animals has earned him a huge following. This exhibition puts forth limited edition signed photographic prints, including pieces taken at iconic local locations, including the Chicago Board of Trade. Time Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Place Hilton Asmus Gallery, 716 N. Wells Cost Admission is free; info at hilton-asmus.com
THROUGH JANUARY 5
✔ Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum
This one-of-a-kind interactive spectacle of color, light, and sound spreads across 50 acres. Embracing the Arboretum’s mission of championing trees, it takes visitors on a journey along a winding, paved path through illuminated experiences that highlight the many ways trees are a gift to our communities. Time 4:30-9:30 p.m. Place 4100 IL-53, Lisle Cost Starting at $7 for kids and $13 for adults; advance tickets required at mortonarb.org
4 CHICAGOSPLASH.COM | JANUARY 2020
THROUGH JANUARY 26
✔ “Andy Warhol — From A to B and Back Again”
The first Warhol exhibition to be organized by a U.S. institution in 30 years sweeps from the pop artist’s early days as an illustrator to his last efforts. More than 400 works offer a new view of his practice and the overarching idea that it was Warhol who prefigured the lookat-me culture we inhabit today. Time 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Thurs. open till 8 p.m. Place 111 S. Michigan Cost $7, in addition to regular museum admission; tickets at artic.edu
Time 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Held the first Saturday of the month through April. Place 2022 W. North Cost Free admission; info at wickerparkfarmersmarket.com
THROUGH JANUARY 26
✔ “Mean Girls”
We’ll let you in on a little secret, friend to friend: You’ve gotta get tickets now. Why? The musical got raves on Broadway and has a book by Tina Fey. Count on hilarious moments as newbie Cady Heron enters a suburban Illinois school, provoking a trio of catty popular girls. Time Performance times vary. Place James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph Cost Starting at $30; tickets at broadwayinchicago.com
JANUARY 7, 14, 21 & 28
✔ “Filmed in Chicago” Winter Movie Nights
Make your way to the rooftop bar for big-screen showings of filmed-in-Chicago favorites like "High Fidelity" (Jan. 7), "The Blues Brothers" (Jan. 14), and more. Popcorn will be popping and you can also enjoy rotating cocktail specials that pay homage to each movie’s favorite character. Time 7 p.m. Place J. Parker, 1816 N. Clark Cost Admission is free; info at jparkerchicago.com
JANUARY 8-12
JANUARY 18
Think summer. This huge expo will help, as it rolls out luxurious yachts and plunges you into indoor fishing experiences. Check out more than 600 boats, 100 RVs, and sailing and boating demos, plus the latest in technology and outdoor accessories.
At this gala with heart, enjoy small bites from local restaurants, live music, and a silent auction. It’s put together by Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation Young Professionals Board to raise money for pediatric research grants and the organization’s Bear Hugs program, which offers customized experiences for kids going through cancer.
✔ Chicago Boat, RV and Sail Show
Time Wed., 2-8 p.m.; Thurs. & Fri., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Place McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Cost Starting at $10; info at chicagoboatshow.com JANUARY 13
✔ The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
NYC's legendary classical ensemble performs iconic work by Claude Debussy, a composer known for opening a new era for modern music. Surrounding Debussy’s iconic work in this performance are Czech novelties, both traditional and modernist, plus a milestone work of the German school, Brahms’s A Major Piano Quartet. Time 7:30 p.m. Place Harris Theater at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph
PHOTOS BY TKTKTKT (PHANTOM); TKTKTKTK (BOODLE FIGHT FEAST); DAVID YARROW; TKTKTKTKT (BLACK CREATIVITY)
Cost Starting at $30; tickets at harristheaterchicago.org
Black Creativity Family Day
✔ Purple Affair for the Bear
Time 8 p.m. Place Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Upper Wacker Cost $100; tickets at bearnecessities.org JANUARY 18-FEBRUARY 23
✔ “Roe”
This dramatic production examines the complex young women behind the Roe vs. Wade trial — attorney Sarah Weddington and plaintiff Norma McCorvey — as they embark on separate journeys that mirror the polarization over the landmark decision. It promises both humor and shock value. Time Performance times vary. Place The Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn Cost Starting at $20; tickets at goodmantheatre.org
JANUARY 20
✔ Black Creativity Family Day
Enjoy activities honoring Martin Luther King Jr. at the Museum of Science and Industry. While you’re there, design and test a prototype at the new Innovation Studio. Inspired by the museum gallery spotlighting local innovators, guests will use materials and tools to create a solution to everyday challenges. Time: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Place: 5700 S. Lake Shore Cost: Free museum admission to Illinois residents; info at msichicago.org JANUARY 24 & 25
✔ Collaboraction’s “Encounter Series: Being and Becoming”
The annual performance series is curated around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Be transfixed by two programs, which range from theater to visual art to music to video to dance. Each culminates with a “crucial conversation” in which the audience is encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences with the artists and top Chicago social justice activists. Time: 7 p.m. Place: Kennedy-King College Theater, 740 W. 63rd Cost: Starting at $18, tickets at collaboraction.org JANUARY 25
✔ Salveo 20/20: Celebrating Self-Care as the New Healthcare
Ease your way into the new year with panels, intimate breakout sessions, and classes for the spirit, body, and mind. There will be live music, healthy food, and a movement and meditation session. Speakers include Tom Ricketts, chairman of the Chicago Cubs, and Kerry Wood, former Cubs pitcher and founder of the Wood Family Foundation. Time: 9 a.m.-noon
THROUGH JANUARY 5
✔ “Phantom of the Opera”
The legendary chandelier is just part of the mystique of Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. The story and score, with songs like “Music of the Night,” is performed by a cast of 52, making it one of the largest “Phantoms” ever. Time Performance times vary. Place Cadillac Palace Theater, 151 W. Randolph Cost Starting at $46; tickets at broadwayinchicago.com
Place: Venue Six10, 610 S. Michigan Cost: $250/person; $400/two people; info at salveolifestyle.com
JANUARY 2020 | CHICAGOSPLASH.COM
5
PARTIES 1
2
It was an artful celebration with purpose. In late October, 300 guests raised $110,000 in support of HIV/AIDS education and local service organizations. Gathered at Venue West, they in participated in silent and live auctions of more than 80 donated pieces of art, from paintings to mixed-media works. A jury of industry luminaries — including Nikko Washington, Gail Mancuso, and CJ Hungerman — selected this year’s group of participating artists. The evening became especially vibrant during the “Off the Wall” event, which allowed guests to choose their own piece of a larger canvas to take home as a keepsake. 4
3
Co-op California Boutique VOTED CH I CAG O ’ S BEST
A unique collection of clothing, accessories, jewelry, and gift items curated by 5 stylists. Locations 6674 N. Northwest Hwy Chicago, Illinois 2200 First Street Ft. Myers, Florida
co-opcaliforniaboutique co_opcalifornia
1. Auctioned artwork from artists (left to right): Nikko Washington, CJ Hungerman, Kieran McGonnell 2. Rob Mancuso, Gail Mancuso 3. Alex Puryear 4. Oliver Aguilar, Sergio Gomez
PHOTOS COURTESY DOVE PHOTOGRAPHY
DIFFA/CHICAGO’S “ART FOR LIFE” AUCTION
PARTIES 4
1. Paul Lisnek 2. David and Marilyn Posley 3. Tyronne Stoudemire, Toni Preckwinkle, Jackie Taylor, and Andrea and Bill Zopp 4. A guest plays on the casino floor. 5. Michael Lewis and Fellicia Foster
5
1
2 3
EXCLUSIVE SELECTIONS
PHOTOS BY JULIA NASH PHOTOGRAPHY
Handmade American Fine Wood Furniture
SALE
BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER’S “2019 BE GALA” It’s been 43 years since Jackie Taylor founded Black Ensemble Theater, and the recent gala held at Venue West celebrated every moment. More than 250 supporters and friends gathered to enjoy live performances, dinner, an auction, and casino games. The evening was chaired by Tom Ricketts, executive chair of the Chicago Cubs and Cubs Charities, and emceed by WGN’s Paul Lisnek. Close to $300,000 was raised to further the theater’s mission of creating award-winning productions, which are seen by a crosscultural audience of more than 55,000 people a year, and serving more than 10,000 youths annually through outreach programs.
Save 30-50%
FEATURING
Hurry, Ending Soon!
HARDWOOD FURNITURE & DESIGN sleek stylish solid wood
EXCLUSIVE SELECTIONS
Buy Renowned Furniture Direct From Our Studios And Save! 255 Gerri Lane, Addison Open: Wed-Sat:10-5 Sun:12-5 630-543-2022
“WATCHMEN” ACTOR JESSICA CAMACHO HAS A CAN’T-STOP-WON’T-STOP SPIRIT THAT’S FINALLY PAYING OFF. BY BETH DELANY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY STORM SANTOS
8 CHICAGOSPLASH.COM | JANUARY 2020
HAIR: PAIGE DAVENPORT, EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS; MAKEUP: KIMBERLY BRAGALONE, EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS
LIVING THE DREAM
JANUARY 2020 | CHICAGOSPLASH.COM
9
2019 WAS A BREAKOUT YEAR. ESPECIALLY FOR JESSICA CAMACHO.
T
he 37-year-old’s rebellious superhero role in HBO’s smash hit “Watchmen” is only the most recent addition to her brimming IMDB page, which also includes a tough-love performance as a medium on Netflix’s new sci-fi series “Another Life” and a moving depiction of an L.A. attorney on CBS’s “All Rise.” That’s three new hit television series in just the last six months. It was a long road for Camacho, who was raised in Chicago. She remembers that the early days of acting often felt “like you’re looking up and wondering, ‘How do I get there?’ ” “Fear and doubt have always been a part of my story,” she says.“[But] I only have one life and I’m going to live it pursuing what I believe in.”
10 CHICAGOSPLASH.COM | JANUARY 2020
Today, Camacho lives in L.A. and has achieved what at times she didn’t think was possible. To stay focused, it helps her to think back to her past, which was all about persistance, faith, and family. Having “bounced around” while growing up, Camacho treasures her Midwest roots. Going back and forth between Logan Square, Humboldt Park, and the South Side, she says, “I feel like the whole city of Chicago is my home.” Her paternal grandparents were ministers who traveled between California, Florida, and Chicago on missions to start new churches while Camacho and her parents followed their lead and stuck together despite such widespread moves. During this time, the actor says she began to
understand what it truly means to live with purpose. “I always felt like I would end up forging my own path, [but] I never really knew what that was,” Camacho says, adding that starting at a very young age, “I was being summoned in a way — answering a call to have a different kind of journey.” At 19 years old, Camacho entertained the suggestion of a friend and enrolled in acting classes while living in St. Petersburg, Florida. After her first classes at the Venue Theatre and Actors Studio, Camacho’s longing for a purpose was solidified almost instantly. “[Acting] clicked for me in such a visceral, undeniable way,” she says. “Once I found that thing that I knew was my destiny, it’s like any fear I had took a back seat to the knowledge that this was meant for me.” In an attempt to get as close to Hollywood as possible, Camacho left Florida for San Francisco at 20 to live with her uncle while saving up money working at Starbucks and attending the American Conservatory Theatre. “I didn’t know anything except ‘move to Hollywood,’ ” she says. The budding star landed her first acting role in the play “Antigone” after flipping through the Yellow Pages in search of local theatrers looking for talent. She found a community theatre in Antioch, California, which gave her new hope. “When I left there, I had the lead role.” Three years later, her love for Chicago found her back in the city, where she would eventually earn her SAG card and star in her first big television series alongside Patrick Swayze in the last show before he died, the crime drama “The Beast.” But despite Camacho’s seemingly big break, the then-26-year-old was struggling to make a real go of things. “I had enough credits to feel like I really had a jumping-off point and Chicago was starting to come up [in the industry], but it definitely was no Hollywood.” “The opportunities were scarce,” she says. “Every door had closed for me in a way it does when the universe is telling you it’s time to move on.” In an attempt to keep her dream alive, Camacho would stuff envelopes with her headshot to send to industry execs while binge-watching episodes of “Entourage” from her Logan Square apartment. Even as profound doubt set in, she kept focused on landing the next gig.
CAMACHO’S CHICAGO When she’s back in town once or twice a year, you can probably find the busy actress at these spots, or remembering them from her past.
RESTAURANT OF CHOICE Jessica Camacho is a committed vegan, unless she’s back in town for her Italian beef fix. While she frequents Johnnie’s (7500 W. North), Jessica ultimately admits, “We’re a Portillo’s family.” BREAKFAST FIX Before finding fame in Hollywood, Camacho would sit at the nowclosed Johnny’s Grill in Logan Square flipping through the classifieds over a $5 breakfast. “It was my routine of looking for auditions. That used to be my spot.” PLAY TIME Camacho lived at the corner of Division and Mozart in the heart of Humboldt Park and just across the street from the famous Puerto Rican flag statues, which bookend the neighborhood. While in Chicago, she starred in the Urban Theater Company’s (2620 W. Division) production of “Eulogy for a Small Time Thief.” Of her time there, she says, “I’m so proud to bring art to that community and [share] stories from the Puerto Rican people.” FAMILY DINNERS It’s all about tradition when she visits. “It doesn’t really feel like Christmas” without a trip to Petterino’s (150 N. Dearborn) followed by a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at the Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn). And when visiting her old stomping grounds on the West Side, she heads to Café Colao (2638 W. Division) for pastries and sandwiches. SUMMERTIME LOVE Camacho is a tourist in her own city when she visits. “[Exploring] downtown Chicago by bike is the coolest experience,” she shares. When not biking, she’s taking a ride down the river on the architectural tours or driving down Lake Shore Drive. “Windows down [and] music blaring” in the summer “is such a special vibe,” she says. “I miss that.”
“I know where I’m going... I can’t see it right now, but I have faith it’s going to happen,” is what Camacho repeatedly told herself during what turned out to be a “brutal” Chicago winter almost 11 years ago. She leaned on her mom, who always provided encouragement. It was time for an actual push: Mom drove up from Florida to help pack Camacho’s apartment. “It was now or never,” the actor recalls. Six months later, she was living in Hollywood while working at the Cheesecake Factory at the Grove, going out on auditions, and searching for a talent manager. After a couple of signs telling her that she definitely made the right move (including running into a Chicago casting director and old friend at the restaurant, who introduced her to a talent manager), Camacho finally started to land meatier roles, including parts in critical darlings like “Dexter” and “The Mentalist.” While the turnaround seems quick in the world of Hollywood, Camacho insists that “it took a lot to get here.” “Every step I took since I was 19 was geared at crafting [my] career.” Now, Camacho is one of Hollywood’s go-to actresses for crime-fighting characters. You can catch her playing Pirate Jenny on HBO’s “Watchmen.” The character is a cop based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who wears a facemask as protection from savage attacks rooted in racial tension. The series, based off Alan Moore’s 1986 graphic novel, debuted in October to 1.5 million viewers — the biggest premiere since the network’s “Westworld” in 2016. Before her big HBO break, Camacho made a splash on Netflix’s sci-fi series “Another Life,” which in which she plays Michelle Vargas, a communications expert stationed in space on a mission to crack the code on alien existence. Camacho says the character has a tough exterior, but is actually quite vulnerable. This kind of nuance is compelling to an actress who continues to find her footing in characters defined by grit and determination. The list goes deep: Camacho has also given orders as a former army captain on the hunt for a missing CIA operative in the NBC drama “Taken” and manipulated the energy of earth as a bounty hunter in CW’s “The Flash.” Still, it’s the less obvious heroine that challenges the actor the most.
Right now, it’s her public defender character on CBS’s “All Rise.” Camacho plays Emily Lopez-Berarro, who’s on a quest to fight an imperfect legal system in L.A. while dealing with a troubled marriage. “She’s just like me and you,” Camacho says, indicating that work-life balance is something most people face. “To play somebody who’s normal is scary for me... there’s nothing to hide behind.” When stepping into these characters’ shoes, Camacho draws inspiration from the heroes she grew up admiring, like her ministry-driven grandparents and her own mother, who spent her life being of service to others. Camacho’s other role models are icons. She names Martin Luther King Jr., whose story taught Camacho the importance of “facing fears for a greater purpose,” and poet Maya Angelou, whose autobiographical series helped Camacho stay positive during her career lull in Chicago. “[They] really helped motivate and inspire me,” she says. “They’re my “North Star[s].” Inspired by the figures she looks up to, Camacho conciously resists stereotypes. That’s especially those “old tropes” that commonly accompany Latina actresses. “It’s wonderful to be sexy, but nobody is just that and only that,” she says. To that end, the proud Puerto Rican is all for doing things on her own terms — at work and at home. Camacho laughs that she actually feels sexiest when she’s hanging out “in silk pajamas watching ‘Golden Girls’” in the company of her devilishly behaving terrier, Jules. On set, Camacho will continue to explore what it means to be multi-faceted and unexpected. “I like characters who are sexy, complicated, rugged, vulnerable, and strong at different moments,” she says. “These are the complexities of humans. And it’s why I’m an actor. I just fly when I’m delving into the depths of some kind of emotional journey. It’s the feeling of being untethered.” With a breakout year behind her, Camacho is looking forward to what’s next. One thing is certain: She has a lot of practice in adjusting to the unknown and, not only that, she’s learned to conquer it. “I want to embody fearlessness,” she says. “And I’m ready to embrace whatever gifts and adventures and scary opportunities are waiting.”
Sliding Glass Doors Closet Doors | Room Dividers | Mirrored Doors | Barn Doors
Done Fast Done Right
We Measure, Manufacture, & Install. You Save!
+ A Rating A Division of Creative Mirror & Shower
For Over 47 Years
Call 1-800-255-1166 for a FREE In-Home Estimate Convenient appointments days, evenings, or weekends.
Celebrating 47 Years of Savings
40% Off
Sale Offer Expires 1/31/20
Plus Custom Sizes No Extra Charge! Visit Our Award Winning Showrooms 20,000 SQ. FT. SUBURBAN SHOWROOM CHICAGO DESIGN CENTER 2141 W. Army Trail Rd. Addison (1/4 mile west of I-355)
630-543-1166
1281 N. Clybourn Ave. (1/4 mile north of Division)
312-787-1166
CreativeMirror.com
UP ALL How late can you hang? These experiences are for anyone that wants to keep the party going. BY ALLISON DUNCAN
NIGHT
1
Late-night celebrations aren’t just for New Year’s Eve. Instead of settling in for an extended winter’s nap until spring — which, to be fair, we wouldn’t judge you for — take advantage of the long nights. These Chicago spots that stay open late will remind you of the city’s 24/7 appeal.
LATE-NIGHT LAUGHS
Chicago’s comedians put on the real show after dark. Both the iO Theater (1501 N. Kingsbury) and 1 Second City (1616 N. Wells) offer late-night improv experiences, at midnight and 11 p.m., respectively. Keep your eye out for surprise celebrity sightings at Second City. They’ve had Paul Simon and Chris Rock show up in years past. BYOB to Playground Theater (3209 N. Halsted), which stages a Deux A Trois show described as a “late night of comedy, music and some awkward sexual ambiance.” It happens the third Saturday of the month, starting at 10:30 p.m.
GAME NIGHTS
Throw darts at River North’s Point & Feather (113 W. Hubbard), bowl at the Diversey River Bowl (2211 W. Diversey), or enjoy over 50 arcade, video, table, and pinball games at Emporium, which has locations in Fulton Market, Logan Square, and River North. All are open until at least 2 a.m.
12 CHICAGOSPLASH.COM | JANUARY 2020
NIGHTS AT THE MUSEUM
This winter, try staying overnight at one of Chicago’s iconic museums. There’s Dozin’ With the Dinos at the Field Museum (select weekends in 2020, from $68), Asleep With the Fishes at the Shedd Aquarium (Fridays through May, from $85), and Science Snoozeum at the Museum of Science & Industry (select Fridays and Saturdays, from $65).
FITNESS KICKS
Fitness Formula Clubs in East Lakeview, the West Loop, and Old Town are open 24 hours on Monday through Friday. Classes include candlelight yoga, typically at 8 p.m., and guests get two hours of free parking. Mode Body Boutique (1301 W. Madison) is also open 24/7, offering group classes, cryotherapy, and personal training, which you can schedule as late as your trainer dares. Not ready to commit to a membership? Both gyms offer free one-day passes.
TACO TIME
Whether it’s late night or early morning, Chicago’s taco scene satisfies. The Gold Coast’s Velvet Taco (1110 N. State) stays open as late as 5 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Try their Korean pork with angry crema, kimchi slaw, pickled Fresnos, and cilantro on a corn tortilla. Zombie Taco (530 N. LaSalle) in River North has its own all-night taco window where fans flock for the spicy quinoa and cauliflower taco with kale-and-apple slaw, charred corn, lime crema, and Cotija cheese. . 2 Big Star’s Wicker Park location (1531 N. Damen) is open until 2 a.m. nightly where you can snag their walking taco with corn chips, spicy pinto bean dip, Cholula, crema, queso Chihuahua, onion, and cilantro for the journey home … or out. Also calling your name: fan-favorite neighborhood institutions Lazo’s Tacos (2009 N. Western), open 24 hours, and Tacqueria Huentitan (4019 W. North), open until 5 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
NIGHT BITES
If you find your stomach growling in the wee hours of the morning, head to Bar Siena (832 W. Randolph) in the West Loop, which is open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and until 2 a.m. on other evenings, where the late-night menu features a delectable meatball and mozzarella calzone for $17. On Saturdays, Quartino (626 N. State) slices pizza until 2 a.m. and at 3 Longman & Eagle (2657 N. Kedzie), executive chef Maxwell Robins cooks up their Wild Boar Sloppy Joe until the same time. Just in case you need a nap afterward, Longman & Eagle also has six hotel rooms.
24-HOUR DINERS And after the party, there’s the after-party. Nothing says “the night is still young” like ending your night with breakfast. We’ve got you covered with these.
GRIDDLE 24
334 W. Chicago With everything from pancakes to breakfast cocktails, this River North diner even has an aptly named Night Owl spiked shake with Godiva dark chocolate liqueur, Myers’s rum, chocolate sauce, and vanilla ice cream.
SUSIE’S
4126-30 W. Montrose Featuring two drivethrough windows, this Mayfair institution cooks up everything from chili dogs and Italian sausage to grilled cheese and garlic bread for all of your fourth meal needs.
WHITE PALACE GRILL 1159 S. Canal
2
3
4
Since 1993, the White Palace Grill has fed hungry night owls with an extensive menu that includes eight unique variations on the brunch staple, chicken and waffles.
TEMPO CAFÉ 6 E. Chestnut
Open in 1983, this family-run Gold Coast institution whips up everything from Mediterranean skirt steak to five-egg omelets.
LAST CALLS
While most Chicago bars have to close two hours after the clock strikes midnight, a lucky few have earned the right to stay open even later. At the famed Green Mill (4802 N. Broadway), you can soak up the speakeasy vibe at live jazz shows until 5 a.m. on select nights. Dive dance club The Hangge-Uppe (14 W. Elm) — which, let’s be honest, is really meant for late nights — stays open until 5 a.m. on Saturdays and until 4 a.m. most other nights. The same goes for famed live blues music club Kingston Mines (2548 N. Halsted), located in Chicago’s “Blues Alley,” and River North cocktail bar 4 Celeste (111 W. Hubbard), where they’re slinging a much-needed Fantástico cocktail with gin, passionfruit, aperol, and cava. There’s even a dedicated Moscow mule menu at Timothy O’Toole’s (622 N. Fairbanks) in Streeterville, open until 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and until 3 a.m. otherwise.
MIDNIGHT MOVIES
Lakeview’s Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport) plays a selection of movies at midnight throughout the month, including classics like “The Room” and the “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Snag tickets early (they tend to sell out) for the Logan Theatre’s (2646 N. Milwaukee) Late Night at the Logan series with 11 p.m. movie screenings. JANUARY 2020 | CHICAGOSPLASH.COM
13
EVER AFTER
Jane Monzures & Kurt Clauss
J
ane Monzures and Kurt Clauss’s courtship had a sporty start: After meeting at a Cubs game, their first date a year later was a nail-biting night at Municipal Bar & Dining Co. (216 W. Ohio) watching a triple-overtime Blackhawks playoff. Clauss, 56, works as a Ford model, American Airlines flight attendant, and VP of business development at Guaranteed Rate; Monzures, 48, is a DIY craft expert and the host of “Living Healthy Chicago” on WGN-TV and “Creative Living” on the Yurview Network. They married Oct. 19 in a ceremony at St. James Chapel in the Archbishop Quigley Center (835 N. Rush) followed by a reception at the Murphy Auditorium (50 E. Erie). Monzures fell in love with a blue-and-gold brocade fabric months before the wedding and used it to craft elaborate invitations, adorn her junior bridesmaids’ bouquets, and even line 20 appetizer trays that she repurposed from photo frames. She also rocked three bridal looks throughout the night. “I wasn’t going to until Kurt said, ‘Jane, this is the biggest fashion show you’re ever going to do,’ ” Monzures says. For the ceremony, she wore a modern lace gown with a plunging neckline and a 10-foot-long train. She changed into a crystal-covered frock for her first dance and then donned a party dress inspired by Lady Gaga’s racerback number from the 2019 Oscars. Though Monzures’s father passed away years ago, she arranged for a special father-daughter dance: Six students from A&A Ballet performed to “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross. “I wanted to pay tribute to my dad, to all the dads and daughters out there and all the dads who are in heaven,” Monzures says. They sent guests home with Bridgeport Coffee’s Bubbly Creek blend and a mug emblazoned with “Love After All,” their wedding catchphrase. “We wanted people to take away love from our wedding day, tomorrow, and every day after that,” Monzures says. “Because life is about love, after all.” —Lisa Arnett
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS Photographer Hitch & Sparrow Photography, hitchandsparrow.com Venue St. James Chapel in the Archbishop Quigley Center, 835 N. Rush; the Murphy Auditorium, 50 E. Erie, the-murphy.com Wedding planner Mindy Moore of MooreFUN Events, moorefun.org Hair and makeup Nancy Vela, nancyvela.com
Bride’s attire Valentini Spose gown, YSA Makino gown and custom Valentini Spose party dress, all from Dimitra’s Bridal Couture, 1009 N. Rush, dimitrasbridal.com Bride’s accessories Charlotte Olympia heels, charlotteolympia. com; Sophia Webster sandals, sophiawebster.com; earrings from Accessorize Chicago (now closed)
14 CHICAGOSPLASH.COM | JANUARY 2020
Junior bridesmaid’s attire Dresses of their own choosing Groom’s attire Nick Roy tuxedo, the Nick Roy Collection, 213 N. Morgan, nickroy.com Invitations crafted by the bride; printing by Cushing, 213 W. Institute, Suite 200, cushingco.com Catering Paramount Events, 1750 W. Lake, paramounteventschicago.com
Dessert White cake with lemon filling by Cathy Torres (cousin of the bride); assorted cookies and Greek pastries provided by the women’s group at St. Nicholas Church in Oak Lawn Entertainment Jazz quartet by Alan Gresik Orchestra, alangresikmusic. com; pianist George Skaroulis, georgeskaroulis.com; DJ Matt Roan, djmattroan.com; A&A Ballet Center for Dance, aacenterfordance.org
Florals and decor Feather and floral centerpieces and bouquets by Erin McDonald Co., 1401 S. State, erinmcdonaldco.com Rings Reuven Gitter Jewelers, 5 S. Wabash, Suite 1708 Transportation Chicago Trolley, chicagotrolley.com
EVER AFTER
A
Ashley Mathew & Noah Cepela
fter marrying at a small family-only ceremony this fall at John Timothy Stone Chapel inside Fourth Presbyterian Church (125 E. Delaware), Ashley Mathew, 32, and Noah Cepela, 34, later hosted friends for a shindig at BiXi Beer (2515 N. Milwaukee). “My goal the entire time was to make it more artful than traditional,” Mathew says. They hired Frei Balloons to create a metallic installation flowing from the entrance up to the second floor, where massive arrangements of baby’s breath by Asrai Gardens covered the walls. Guests were entertained by a magician and mind reader as they wandered from room to room, and in lieu of speeches, three local comedians performed standup. “We tried to make it as fun as it possibly could be,” Mathew says. After a family-style meal of Asian fare, they sliced into four intricately decorated cakes made by Bon Vivant Cakes, each inspired by a different Chicago home they shared over the past 10 years of dating. Last year, they became a bicoastal couple when Mathew moved to Los Angeles to work in the film industry; Cepela works as president of BridgeNet Solutions, splitting his time between their Ukrainian Village condo and their new downtown L.A. abode.—Lisa Arnett
Frameless Shower Doors
Done Fast Done Right We Measure, Manufacture, & Install. You Save!
A+
Rating
For Over 47 years
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS Photographer Stephanie Bassos Photography, bassosweddings.com Venue John Timothy Stone Chapel at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 125 E. Delaware, fourthchurch.org; BiXi Beer, 2515 N. Milwaukee, bixi.beer Wedding planner Camryn Brook Events, camrynbrookevents.com Bride’s attire Custom ceremony dress by Meredith Stoecklein, leinstudio.com; Valentino reception dress from farfetch.com
Bride’s accessories Prada boots from yoox.com; Susan Alexandra purse from susanalexandra.com; jewelry from Andaaz Jewelers of Westmont, andaazjewels.com Bride’s hair and makeup Ania Lisikiewicz (hair), salonlofts. com/ania_lisikiewicz; Alex Tatar, alextatar.com (ceremony makeup); Michelle Mikalsen, michelledigiovanni. com (reception makeup) Groom’s attire Isaia suit and Prada loafers from Barneys New York, barneys.com; sweater from The Row, 8440 Melrose, Los Angeles, therow.com
Invitations, escort board, and name cards Emily Snyder, emilyjsnyder.com Catering BiXi Beer (2515 N. Milwaukee), bixibeer.com Cakes Confetti, carrot, chocolate fudge, lemonblueberry, and chocolate fudge by Bon Vivant Cakes, bonvivantcakes.com Florals Baby’s breath wall installations, tabletop poufs, and ikebana arrangements by Asrai Garden, 1935 W. North, asraigarden.com Rings Azlee Jewelry, azleejewelry.com
Call 1-800-SHOWERS for a FREE In-Home Estimate Convenient appointments days, evenings, or weekends.
Celebrating 47 Years of Savings
$200 Off Professionally Installed Shower Doors Sale Offer Expires 1/31/20
Visit Our Award Winning Showrooms
20,000 SQ. FT. SUBURBAN SHOWROOM CHICAGO DESIGN CENTER 2141 W. Army Trail Rd. Addison (1/4 mile west of I-355)
630-543-1166
1281 N. Clybourn Ave. (1/4 mile north of Division)
312-787-1166
CreativeMirror.com
ARTS
“Too Hot to Handel”’s Karen Marie Richardson, Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, and “The Mozart Effect” conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser
HIGH NOTES
Beat the cold-weather blues with a timeless remedy: Classical music BY THOMAS CONNORS
T
here’s nothing like seeing violinist Joshua Bell in the spotlight — just him and his Strad. But when it comes to classical music, there’s more than one way to wield a bow. And in recent years, soloists, ensembles, and orchestras have all worked outside the box to energize themselves and engage audiences, popping up in unusual venues or collaborating with nonmusical artists to transform conventional concerts into
16 CHICAGOSPLASH.COM | JANUARY 2020
special events. As the new year rolls in, there’s ample opportunity to experience classical music in a fresh, fun way. The Mozart Effect Live! 35 years ago, Miloš Forman’s film “Amadeus” made the holy terror from Salzburg a star in a whole new way and the soundtrack became one of the best-selling classical recordings ever. If you haven’t revisited the music lately, this performance by the Chicago Philharmonic may be just the
ticket. Accompanied by high-def video and visual effects, the program will both reinvigorate (think: Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro”) and soothe (“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”). Jan. 11, starting at $55, Harris Theater Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph; harristheaterchicago.org Bugs Bunny at the Symphony Not long before Leonard Bernstein got kids hooked on the classics with his televised Young People’s Concerts, Looney Tunes was giving their ears an education. Riffing on the likes of Wagner, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky, the scores of studio pros Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn brought a surprisingly sophisticated — and very effective partner — to the shenanigans of the whole crew, from the rascally rabbit to Porky Pig. Perfect for kids (and you, too), this cartoon-accompanied concert by the Warner Bros. Symphony Orchestra will have you whistling Rossini in no
time. Jan. 18, starting at $30, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan, cso.org Too Hot To Handel The composer’s heartfelt “Messiah” oratorio was first performed for Easter, not Christmas. So not to worry that this jazz-gospel rendition arrives after the last candy cane has been consumed. Another interesting fact: It’s tradition to rise for the “Hallelujah” chorus, which is good news, because it’s tough to sit still for this reimagining of the baroque masterpiece. Conceived by composer Marin Alsop and first presented in 2006, the performance features a 100-voice choir led by Bill Fraher, director of concert choirs at Old St. Patrick’s Church, and a chamber orchestra and jazz band led by Michigan Opera Theatre assistant music director, Suzanne Mallare Acton. Jan. 18-19, starting at $29, Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells; auditoriumtheatre.org
DINING OUT Brunch spread from Boqueria
2. DINNER PAIRS WITH DIVERSIONS Sure, we’ve always had dinner and a show. The next-gen take on that is the Chicago Board Game Café, coming soon to Logan Square from the team that created Cards Against Humanity. Expect shareable street food (think rice noodles with coconut and pickled veggies) and a board game concierge to help your group pick the perfect game from a selection of old and new gems. For a real brain buster, head to the basement, where there will be an escape room produced by the House Theatre of Chicago. 1965 N. Milwaukee, 224-208-5346; chicagogamecafe.com Also coming to entertain you: Chicago’s first “listening room,” the Exchange. Riffing on a concept popular in Japan, it will have a pristine sound systems, live podcasts, and tons of vinyl to spin. Opening in March, it will also serve as an all-day café with food from James Beard-nominated chef Brian Huston (the Publican, Boltwood). 224 S. Michigan; theexchangechicago.com
PHOTOS BY (CHEF’S SPECIAL) GALDONES PHOTOGRAPHY; (BOQUERIA) REY LOPEZ; (CHICAGO BOARD GAME CAFE) AARON MCKAY
Kebab Halabi from Chicago Board Game Café
A TASTE OF WHAT’S TO COME Next year promises all new flavors, plus fun and games BY SAMANTHA LANDE
A
nd you thought 2019 was next level. Just wait for 2020: Some of our favorite chefs are returning with everything from Chinese American to Croatian concepts. It’s also a year when board games become part of the menu and Spanish food gets its due. And that food hall trend? It’s here to stay. Dry Chili Chicken from Chef’s Special
1. CHEFS FLIP THE SCRIPT Jason Vincent scored with his Logan Square restaurant Giant. “But don’t expect this to be Giant 2,” he says of his upcoming Bucktown spot, Chef’s Special, opening this winter. Instead Vincent is focusing on cocktails and Chinese dishes, paired with a totally chill vibe. “It’s a place for everyone,” says Vincent, adding that families will feel at home. Dishes like egg rolls and Mongolian beef will take center stage, as will a “chef’s special,” which could be a traditional dish like hearty pork shank in spicy garlic sauce (most menu items are under $20). Drinks will fall in three categories: spritz, mixed, and stirred with picks like the Tender Prey with gin, shochu, lemongrass, and lime leaf. 2165 N. Western; 773-6665143; chefsspecialbar.com Keep an eye on a few other chefs launching second and third acts as Carrie Nahabedian (Naha) soon opens coastal Mediterranean restaurant Kostali and “Top Chef” winner Joe Flamm (Spiaggia) sets his sights on opening a Croatian restaurant in Fulton Market over the summer.
3. FOOD HALLS HOLD STRONG When the massive Time Out Market opened in Fulton Market this November, it brought a demo kitchen, over 17 concepts from the hottest chefs around the city, and even a secret tiki bar. Next up: DMK’s Hayden Hall, the South Loop’s first food hall. Fans of Ada Street will love the 75-seat second location here along with favorites from some of the other DMK concepts: smoked meats from County BBQ and sandwiches at their newest venture, Great Lake Meat company. Vegetarians will be happy to know Hayden Hall will also include a Mana food bar (resurfacing after closing its Bucktown locale in 2018). Also, with a 16-seat all-natural wine bar, you can expect a bumping happy hour. 333 S. Wabash; haydenhall.com 4. SPANISH GETS THE SPOTLIGHT Chicago has always had a few mainstay Spanish spots, but two newcomers from the East Coast are really putting tapas back on the map. Hailing from New York City is just-opened Boqueria with a traditional tapas menu and fun twists like the brunch feast ($42), which includes a breakfast paella with roasted chicken, pork belly, piquillo peppers, kale, and eggs, plus unlimited sangria. Speaking of drinks, there are plenty, including shishito pepper margaritas ($13). 807 W. Fulton Market, 312 257-3177; boqueriarestaurant.com The Spanish trend will continue in the spring, when renowned chef José Andrés brings his longtime Spanish spot, Jaleo, to River North. Inspired by Andrés’s childhood the menu is full of Spanish cheeses, tapas, paellas, and fun takes on the classic gin and tonic. 500 N. Clark; jaleo.com JANUARY 2020 | CHICAGOSPLASH.COM
17
WHO TO WATCH
SWEET DREAMS
The granddaughter of a legendary restaurateur sinks her teeth into the family biz BY KELLY AIGLON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA HINSBERGER
ELANA SCHULMAN LIVES IN Ravenswood AGE 29 CLAIM TO FAME Schulman is carrying on a legacy. Her late grandfather, Eli, owned iconic Chicago restaurants, including Eli’s the Place for Steak. He and her father, Marc, founded Eli’s Cheesecake in 1980 to bring the homemade desserts that were so popular at the steakhouse to a wider public. Schulman recently returned home from New York to be a manager in the family business. FIRST GIG In New York, Schulman worked for Vice Media’s Munchies, where she was a James Beard Award-winning video producer. With a film major from Vassar, she seemed to be destined for the director’s chair. “My parents have always been very supportive of my other dreams,” says Schulman. “But in the back of my mind I knew joining them at Eli’s Cheesecake was what I really wanted to do.” IRELAND BOUND With culinary hopes, Schulman jetted off to Ireland to attend a three-month program at Ballymaloe, a restaurant, inn, and cooking school. “The program was on a 100-acre farm and everything we cooked was grown there or farmed within a five-mile radius,” she says. WELL ROUNDED Now a special programs manager at Eli’s, Schulman does everything from event planning to menu concepting to branding. Ultimately, as the only one in her generation (Schulman has two sisters) to work there it will eventually fall to her to “continue the story and honor what my dad built.” MEANT TO BE Even as a young girl Schulman was a fixture in the culinary scene. “I was always at the steakhouse, playing harmonica next to the piano player or hanging out at the hostess stand. For Christmas when I was 10 years old, I asked for a cordless vacuum and table crumber.” ALWAYS INSPIRED Thinking out of the strawberry and chocolate-chip box matters to Schulman and she is constantly scouting new flavors and ingredients at places like Tai Nam Market (4925 N. Broadway) and also loves swinging by old-school spots like Manny’s (1141 S. Jefferson), Athenian Room (807 W. Webster), and Romanian Kosher Sausage Company (7200 N. Clark). “When I want to learn about a city, I eat,” she says.
18 CHICAGOSPLASH.COM | JANUARY MAY 2019 2020
E I R E P X E DiningNCE At Puntacana Resort & Club
Six world-class eateries offer a diverse selection of cuisine and ambiance for every palate, mood and occasion. Each restaurant features a menu of locally sourced, organically grown seafood, products and vegetables.
For more Information visit: www.puntacana.com
Serving the health and wellness of our members and their communities will always be our one true focus. And as we continue to lead with advancements in the newest technologies, we will never lose sight of what keeps us all moving forward: each other.
A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association