Chicago Star July 2022 Live Colorfully

Candid Candace Jordan gets cookin’ with Rosebud Steakhouse Chef Steve Coppolillo Page 5

CHICAGO STAR

VOL. 2 NO. 7

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July 2022

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West Loop NEWS LIVE COLORFULLY Take a peek into the new Color Factory

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Located on the ground floor of Willis Tower, Color Factory is a dynamic, permanent, art exhibit. Through interactive displays, immersive spaces, and specially crafted moments inspired by Chicago, visitors are invited to experience the delight of color. Color Factory works in partnership with artists, art institutions, organizations, and corporate partners to deliver engrossing tales that bring joy. Photo by Matt Haas of “Bright Noise” by artist Yuri Suzuki

Public safety takes a village

Local do-gooders making a difference

Airshows rekindle spirit of adventure

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West(312) Loop NEWS 690-3092 PublisherEastside and Editor New NEWS Elaine Hyde elainehyde@chicagostarmedia.com Streeterville NEWS Associate Publisher Candace Jordan West Loop NEWS candidcandace@chicagostarmedia.com Assistant Editor Nuria Mathog nuriamathog@chicagostarmedia.com Copy Editors Vivien Lee Bob Oswald Layout/Design Bob Oswald Community Contributors Jon Cohn Alessandra DeHayes Angela Gagnon William Hyde Bridget McGuire Freelance Reporters Susan Berkes Joseph Luther

News everyone can enjoy One of the greatest things about this city is how it provides opportunities for all members of the community, and that’s a mission we share at the Chicago Star. At the most recent Lakeshore East Festival in the Park, we were reminded of the importance of inclusivity when we saw readers of all ages, including young children, grabbing copies of our latest issue of the Chicago Star. We take great pride in producing a publication that elementary school students and retirees alike find informative and fun.

That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our mascot, Windee, a unique concept created by our associate publisher, Candid Candace Jordan, and illustrated by local artist Rosemary Fanti. Our youngest readers are invited to follow along each month as Windee explores exciting new places around town and learns more about her namesake, the Windy City.

This latest issue of the Chicago Star has plenty of exciting stories that the whole family can enjoy, including a guide to fantastic Fourth of July festivities and a roundup of fascinating air shows and exhibits. Our hope is that readers from all walks of life will find something that makes them smile — and discover a newfound love for our incredible city.

Meet our distribution team leader Pablo Banuelos is part of the Chicago Star distribution team and helps deliver papers to over 350 buildings and businesses around the city. His hard work and dedication inspire us, and despite his busy schedule, he found time to complete the Bank of Chicago 13.1 half-marathon in June. Go, Pablo!

Above photo: Lucas Wang, Anaya Thakkar and Ayaan Thakkar - The team at Chicago Star Media

Bottom photo: Pablo Banuelos Background photo: Chicago Star summer intern William Hyde at Sail GP at Navy Pier

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Chicago Star is a monthly paper that uses community writers and contributors. The views expressed by community contributors are their own. Chicago Star Media does not take responsibility for third-party announcements or events. Chicago Star Media is independently owned and operated.

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Candid Candace CITY SEEN

Bear Tie Bash BNPCF’s Courtney Krupa and Kathleen Casey with Greg Kosinski.

Jim Shriver, Barbara Hartman, Meghan and Michael Hartman.

The Cause: Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation hosted Bear Tie Bash, a fanciful fundraiser held at Wintrust’s Grand Banking Hall in the Loop.

Themed “Magic in Bloom,” the event attracted nearly 400 colorfully clad guests and raised over $500,000 to support families and kids battling cancer.

The Setting: Dramatic up-lighting painted the 28 soaring marble columns hot pink in the historic building, which was built in 1924. 8-foot-tall red paper poppies created by Taylor & Company, along with sustainable floral arrangements by Debi Lilly (A Perfect Event), added to the evening’s theme. A “flower fairy” from ZZAZZ Productions greeted guests and posed for photos. Fox-32’s Sylvia Perez hosted a program that included remarks by co-chairs Nina Mariano and Candace Jordan, BNPCF founder Kathleen Casey and CEO Kate Tillotson. Bear Hug Ambassador Samantha Gewalt, a leukemia survivor, shared a heartfelt impact story.

Co-chair Nina Mariano with son Pasquale Gianni.

Paul R. Iacono, William J. Casey Hope Award recipient.

Julia Jacobs, Bob and Nicki Fioretti, John Robak and Bethany Florek.

The Scene: Longtime supporter and Legacy Board member Paul R. Iacono was honored with the nonprofit’s highest honor, the William J. Casey Hope Award, named after Barrett “Bear” Krupa’s grandfather. (“Bear” is the organization’s namesake who passed away from pediatric cancer in 1993.) A video presentation, which featured FOPs (Friends of Paul), included Todd Hatoff, Jennifer and Dr. Joaquin Brieva, Todd Hatoff, Donna Rotunno and the co-chairs. A live auction offered a dinner cooked by the honoree that sold for $9,500; a Bernedoodle puppy from Erica’s Doodles; a Steak 48 year-long dinner package and a surprise donation of a Cartier bracelet from Dmitry and Bianca Ritchie.

The Ritchies also brought a remote-controlled robotic dog that “mingled with guests” before the dancing began. (Chicago Star was the proud media sponsor.) Photos by Mila Samokhina and Candace Jordan

Mimi and Jay Goodwin with daughter Jennifer Goodwin.

Kathy Piccone, ZZAZZ Productions Flower Fairy Jennifer Wycykal and Sylvia Perez (emcee).

Dmitry and Bianca Richie.

Dr. Joaquin Brieva, Jennifer Sutton Brieva and Todd Hatoff.

Tiffany and Adam Marshall, Tracy and Russ Scurto, Lanisa and Rusty Scurto.

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GET COOKIN’ WITH...

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Rosebud Steakhouse Chef Steve Coppolillo

By Candid Candace Jordan

It’s Better on the Grill

Associate Publisher

C

hef Steve Coppolillo began his culinary career early, at age 14, in his home kitchen in Dyer, Indiana. His mother’s homemade dishes became a canvas for his inspiration. He took the recipes he learned and challenged himself to find unusual, out-of-the-box ways to turn them into something extraordinary. He succeeded in spades.

His long professional career began with the Bob Evans restaurant chain which eventually led to several other culinary opportunities, including Bombay Bicycle Club, a Munster, Indiana restaurant that was popular in the ‘80s, followed by a stint at the Briar Ridge Country Club in Northwest Indiana.

It was here that he met his mentor, Executive Chef Steven Savoy. The club also gave him the opportunity to rub elbows with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson and other celebs.

And even though work at the club honed his skills, he still thirsted for more knowledge so, in the early ‘90s, he attended Purdue University and received a Bachelor of Science in Restaurant, Hotel & Institution Management. With his degree in hand, he moved to the Florida Keys for a sous chef position at the Ocean

Rosebud Steakhouse Chief Operating Officer, Angelo Eliades (left) and Chief Culinary Officer Steve Coppolillo.

Reef Club, beckoned there by his mentor Chef Savoy, who was now also in residence.

In 1999, Las Vegas came calling so Chef Coppolillo made the move to the Cheesecake Factory there as executive chef.

During his time with this nationally known restaurant powerhouse, he opened multiple units before moving back home to Chicago where he ran the location in the John Hancock building.

This proved to be a fortuitous move for fans of the Rosebud Restaurant Group because, in 2001, he became the executive chef at Carmines, Rosebud Steak and Rosebud on Rush. Due to his extensive culinary history, he was quickly promoted to assistant corporate chef with responsibilities that extended to 8+ restaurant locations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chef Cop-

polillo partnered with another former Rosebud Restaurants executive, Angelo Eliades, to purchase Rosebud Steakhouse from the Rosebud Restaurant Group. While many restaurateurs and culinary professionals feared the future in 2020, Chef Coppilillo and Eliades saw it as an opportunity to build something great.

Today, the dynamic duo has successfully taken the Rosebud Steakhouse brand to a new level with plans to open 30 more restaurants by 2024.

In his very scarce spare time, he likes spending time with family in a warm location, riding any kind of motorized vehicle and skiing with his daughter.

Find Chef Coppilillo’s favorite recipe for “Lobster Got” (a play on words—the dish is typically made with escargot, but this version uses lobster as a substitute) at chicagostarmedia.com.

We spend all winter indoors, dreaming of summer. So, when the season finally hits, we want to be outside as much as possible — especially when it comes to eating! That’s why you’ll find us all season long at the grill. Whether it’s vegetables, meat or seafood, grilling brings out the natural flavors of food — and it’s a fun, social and simple way to gather people together and entertain with less work.

While we love to grill almost anything, seafood is a favorite.

There’s just something instantly celebratory about shrimp on a skewer, or a perfectly seasoned fish filet sizzling on the grates.

So, we’re always on the lookout for new seafood recipes to try out on our friends and family all season long.

Here’s our new favorite: it’s from Erick Williams, who just won a James Beard award for Best Chef: Great Lakes for his Hyde Park restaurant, Virtue. But Williams also owns Mustard Seed Kitchen, a take-out and delivery restaurant in the Near South Side, where he also prepares and distributes meals for homeless and underserved people. Check out his restaurants and know that while you’re nourishing yourself and your loved ones, you’re also helping Chef Erick nourish our community, too.

Pair this dish with your favorite summery wine, light beer, a seasonal spritz or a brightly flavored mocktail, and you’ve got a recipe for a perfect summer night.

GRILLED HONEY MUSTARD SALMON Erick Williams, chef/owner, Mustard Seed Kitchen (49 E. Cermak Road, Mustardseedkitchen.com)

6 ounces Atlantic salmon Pinch of paprika Salt & pepper to taste For the glaze: 2 tablespoons honey 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard ½ cup water Heat the grill until hot.

To make the glaze, in a small pot,

combine Dijon mustard, honey and water. Stir. Bring to a boil, then set aside to cool down.

Season the salmon on both sides with salt, pepper and paprika. Place on a hot grill and cook 3 minutes each side. Brush the salmon with the glaze.

Serve with summer vegetables like grilled asparagus or corn on the cob.

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Public safety advocates: We’re all in this together Joseph Luther Freelance Reporter Key measurements of violent crime in 2022 compared to the same measures at this point in 2021 show overall public safety in Chicago has increased this year.

Still, some public safety advocates fear an increase in crime-related anxiety and fatigue among the people of Chicago.

With the tragic teen shooting in Millennium Park in May still fresh in Chicago’s collective memory, there’s a concern among safety advocates that Chicagoans remain on edge. The sentiment is reflected in the tightening of curfew restrictions by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago’s City Council after the incident this spring.

Still, overall, violent crime is down in 2022 and the Chicago Police Department (CPD) is pointing to improvements.

Across the city, “shootings are down 17

“If we don’t do our part individually, there is no reason to expect change in our community.”

Craig Kaiser, Streeterville Neighborhood Advocates founder

percent and homicides are down 7 percent,” said Superintendent David O. Brown at a media event last month. Across the top 55 beats in the city, where more than half of the city’s violent crime is concentrated, homicides are down 26 percent and shootings down 34 percent, he said.

There’s a lot that can be done to sustain the trend.

“Creating crimes of opportunity makes it easier for would-be thieves,” said Craig Kaiser, founder of the community group Streeterville Neighborhood Advocates. “If a crime is not reported, thieves become emboldened. See something, say something.”

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Streeterville Organization of Active Residents members join forces with local police and public safety officials to promote safety in the community. Photo courtesy of SOAR

“If You See Something, Say Something” is a national campaign that raises awareness of the indicators of terrorism, terrorism-related crime and domestic violent extremism, as well as the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) supports the campaign and encourages residents and visitors to “report any suspicious objects, persons or any unusual activity by calling 911 immediately or to notify security personnel on-site.”

Businesses can also keep our communities safe, notes Kaiser. They should educate themselves about what is happening and be engaged in neighborhood safety programs.

Assuring a safe environment including cameras and working with law enforcement also helps. Having a no confrontation policy and failing to report crimes allows crime to go unanswered and feeds the problem.

Deborah Gershbein, President of SOAR, Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, is also a strong proponent of street-level strategies and community involvement in addressing public safety concerns.

“We are all in this together and need to support one another,” she said when speaking about SOAR’s work with other Chicago community organizations.

SOAR has worked closely with the CPD’s 18th District and Aldermen Brendan Reilly and Brian Hopkins, in advocating for public safety. Both have responded by sponsoring several ordinances increasing security cameras and license plate readers for motorcycle noise and drag racing offenders in the neighborhood.

SOAR will host a public safety seminar for residents July 28 with the CPD’s 18th District Commander and his staff of officers and detectives.

Gershbein recommends a number of ways for residents to become active in improving public safety: l Become a court advocate for your neighborhood l Sign up to represent your neighborhood when a criminal offender comes to trial l Encourage your building managers to install exterior security cameras connected to the OEMC to aid in solving area crimes l Sign up for “Notify Chicago” to receive important city information texted directly to your phone At the city level, Mayor Lightfoot announced in May a new app, My Chi My Future, developed to connect Chicago youth with learning, jobs and other personally enriching activities. The app encourages young people to connect with “a variety of rich, engaging, safe, and youth-centered out-of-school experiences that empower them to discover and cultivate their talents, passions, skills, and identities,’ according to their site.

Those interested in getting more involved in community public safety can also attend meetings for “CAPS,” the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy. The group is a partnership bringing together local police and community members for frank and open discussions around neighborhood safety issues. The next meeting for Streeterville in District 18 is July 28.

“If we don’t do our part individually, there is no reason to expect change in our community,” Kaiser said. “We need to be collectively engaged to secure our environment, demand accountability from elected officials and police and work collectively to ensure that everyone is safe.”

For more about meetings for the 18th district, contact SOAR at (312) 280-2596.

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HEROES AMONG US Local do-gooders quietly making a difference

C

hicago, as we all know, is known as the City of Big Shoulders, composed of people who lifted us up out of the ashes after the Chicago Fire, people like well-known architects Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, who ushered in the era of steel-supported skyscrapers, or Daniel BurnCandid Candace ham, an urban planner responsible Jordan for the World’s Columbian ExpoASSOCIATE PUBLISHER sition. All big thinkers and doers, but, what about our lesser known heroes? They have always been among us—maybe not with such a big splash but, for those they’re helping, they appear as tidal waves of support.

targeting desperately impoverished areas in the United States, Central America, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Africa. She said, “I used to think that shoes made lives easier and kinder, but they also save lives...In most Catholic schools in Central America, students are not permitted to go to school unless they have black school shoes. Shoes really do make such a difference.” Mona is doing her part to change the world, one pair of shoes at a time. Her latest need? Funds to send warm winter boots (already collected) to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. (shareyoursoles.org)

Jackelyn Kastanis, founder Simply From the Heart, pampering a young patient.

kids applied for 200 available positions so there is clearly a need. Recently, she scored a partnership with Kellogg’s that will offer more great opportunities for her beloved kids. She said, “The students in my program are inner city kids who don’t have money, but want to be culinarians.

These are kids who grow up going through metal detectors just to go to school.” (afterschoolmatters.org)

Chef Gloria Hafer with a few of her After School Matters students.

Mona Purdy, founder Share Your Soles, among some donated shoes.

Take Mona Purdy for example. Her life drastically changed in April of 1999 when she participated in a half marathon in Guatemala. Along the route, as little children cheered on the runners, she couldn’t help but notice the hot tar they had applied to the soles of their feet. They had no shoes to wear so they did this to protect their feet in the only way they knew how. Coincidentally (or fate perhaps), on her flight home, she was seated next to an orthopedic surgeon who had also been visiting and volunteering in the region. He said, “If the children had shoes to wear, I wouldn’t need to perform as many amputations of children’s infected limbs.” When Mona returned home, she had realized her mission. She visited neighborhood schools asking families to donate children’s shoes. She then organized a shipment out of her garage that she took to an orphanage in Guatemala—a trip that changed her life. From this first life-saving mission, her nonprofit Share Your Soles was born and, to date, has distributed millions of gently worn/new shoes throughout the world,

Chef Gloria Hafer likes to say she never left the neighborhood. She’s a lifelong teacher who, for years, taught physical education by day and cooking at night to kids who came from homes with income at the poverty level or below. Eventually, these cooking classes caught the eye of the late former First Lady Maggie Daley who asked if she would consider being an instructor for her then newly formed After School Matters, a nonprofit that provides life-changing after-school and summer program opportunities. Fast forward 25 years and Gloria is still at the helm of the After School Matters (ASM) Culinary Arts program as its much loved director. This ASM program provides a safe environment for Chicago teens to learn hands-on cooking techniques, budget management, etiquette and life skills. And she still teaches what she calls “survival cooking” in the same neighborhood where she grew up, on the Southeast Side. “The kids don’t have to be chefs, but every skill I teach them, they can use in the world, cooperation, team work, reading and following directions,” she said. Today, she runs four programs with about 100 kids per day participating. ASM gives her a budget but, as food costs soar, she still seeks outside donations since she never wants to turn a child away. This summer, over 2,000

Through tragedy, Jackelyn Kastanis found the inspiration for her nonprofit, Simply From the Heart. She had been visiting her best friend, Brooke Bolley, in the hospital for a year, watching as she slowly succumbed to esophageal cancer. During their time together, she witnessed first-hand how someone could be stripped of normalcy.

Brooke had been a vibrant woman, a hairdresser, who loved getting dressed up and doing girly things. Jackelyn began pampering her the way she had always pampered others and, for just a little while, she saw her friend’s spirit change. Armed with the knowledge that simple treatments like this can relieve the day-to-day pain of being sick, she founded Simply From the Heart in her friend’s honor. The charity now provides free in-hospital personal care services (hair styling, make up applications, manicures, facials and massages) across four states to those living with a terminal or life-threatening illness. Recently, through support from the Hinsdale Junior Women’s Club, the nonprofit was able to launch the Mobile Glam Van Restoration Project. The Glam Van is a touring 1958 pink Ford that visits local hospitals to offer pampering services.

“Providing makeovers, self-care treatments and a glam box filled with over 30 beauty products will help showcase their personality, but the human connection is what will boost and ignite their innermost confidence,” Jackelyn said. (simplyfromtheheart.org)

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Childrens’ parties don’t have to be over-the-top affairs Dear Candid Candace: I wanted your thoughts, as we are now parents of young children starting to go to their friends’ birthday parties. They have been invited to pirate-themed parties, magic shows, treasure hunts, princess parties, face painting parties, and even spa parties and laser tag parties. And, upon leaving they are given a “goodie bag” the size of a small carry-on suitcase.

Whatever happened to the good old basic birthday party with friends? Your thoughts on this growing trend? And how do I convince my kids that simple is better?

— It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To Dear It’s My Party: First off, I couldn’t agree more. I do believe these “children’s parties” (which let’s face it, are really a chance for the parents to polish up their self-confidence by going over the top to celebrate and show off) have gotten out of hand. Do the kids really know or care how much is spent? I believe they care more about quality time with their friends and family, and this doesn’t need to be a contest to see who can spend the most money.

Teaching kids to be happy shouldn’t be based on monetary and material concerns but rather on how much love is there.

Granted, everything is relative—one could say if you have it, why not spend it? And there is an argument to be had here for sure. I’m just saying don’t let the size/money spent/are the Backstreet Boys performing? be the sole focus. Sometimes, combining a lot of love with friends and family, and just playing “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” with a homemade cake can be enough.

Dear Candid Candace: I am a long-

time churchgoer but have been particularly bothered of late by the physical greetings we are told to give to the folks sitting near us, all as part of the “tradition” of the church. Because of my age, with viruses being passed around, and some recent health problems, I don’t want to appear rude, but I don’t really feel comfortable doing this.

Any suggestions for the best way not to offend my nice church neighbor when they extend a hand for a greeting?

— Confused in the Church Pew Dear Confused in the Church Pew: There is no question, with COVID fears, monkeypox and Lord knows what else, now a part of our everyday lives, that things have changed. And with that, so have the rules of etiquette. In no way, shape or form should you do anything that goes against your intuition or feelings about keeping safe. If wearing a mask or avoiding situations, like you mention in church, makes you feel safer, then do it.

This does not make you “rude.” It would be “rude” if others tried to make you feel uncomfortable for your beliefs. A simple elbow bump should suffice and telegraph to your fellow parishioners that this is as far as you’re willing to go to extend the “hand of greeting.” Keeping safe is more important than perceived slights.

Send questions to: CandidCandace@ ChicagoStarMedia.com. Follow Candid Candace (Candace Jordan) on Facebook, Insta, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Fourth of July Roundup

By Angela Gagnon Community Contributor The Fourth of July falls on a long weekend this year, so there’s extra time to celebrate America’s birthday.

Don’t miss Chicago’s finest fireworks displays, which will surely spark joy and captivate viewers.

Navy Pier will host two pyrotechnic salutes this year, both with a barrage of dazzling colors, shapes and sounds. The spectacular light shows will take place on the lakefront Saturday, July 2, and Monday, July 4. Stake out your spot anywhere north or south of the pier, considering beaches, parks and even rooftops for unobstructed views.

A Fourth of July boat cruise promises fun on the water and multiple rewards for passengers. Take in the decadent city skyline while you dance, dine or grow your knowledge of Chicago’s incredible architecture. Check out City Experiences (cityex-

periences.com) for cruises with upscale dining on the water or board the Seadog to fulfill your need for a fast and furious speedboat ride. Book with Shoreline Sightseeing (shorelinesightseeing.com) to see historical landmarks and skyscrapers and enjoy an informational tour from the water.

Attend the 29th African/Caribbean International Festival of Life in Washington Park from July 2-4 for music, food, games, arts, crafts and more. Or check out the 4th on 53rd Parade and Picnic in Hyde Park for family friendly activities and a patriotic parade.

Grant Park Music Festival also returns with its annual Independence Day Salute from 6:30-8 p.m.

Saturday, July 2, at Pritzker Pavilion.

Take yourself out to the ballgame and cheer for the home team. Both the Cubs and White Sox play home games over the holiday weekend. The Cubs take

on the Red Sox July 1-3 at Wrigley Field and the White Sox play the Twins on Monday, July 4.

360 Chicago Observation Deck will be open all weekend to visitors looking for the perfect place to experience the city’s Fourth of July festivities.

Enjoy firecracker cocktails, rides on TILT, Chicago’s highest thrill ride and unobstructed views of the fireworks. Book tickets at 360chicago.com.

For those looking to get out of the city, the surrounding suburbs will offer plenty of festive fun.

Get your heart pumping and start your holiday with a patriotic themed race. Elmhurst brings back its popular “4 on the 4th” four miler, Northbrook hosts the Liberty Loop 5K and kids run and Tinley Park puts on the “Stars and Stripes 5K.” Most suburbs have a packed roster of entertaining events on July 4 including parades, festivals and fireworks beginning at dusk.

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Boating in Chicago with Knot My Boat Charters

S

ummer in Chicago is magical and one of the best ways to experience our majestic city is on the water.

With 28 miles of Lake Michigan Lakefront and the Catie Keogh COMMUNITY Chicago River CONTRIBUTOR cutting through the middle of our city, water is the heart of Chicago.

I love the idea of boating in Chicago and toasting with Champagne glasses in the playpen or waving to people on the riverwalk from a private yacht. The only problem is, I do not own a boat nor do I have friends who own a boat. However, I do have a little secret to impress all of your friends this summer in Chicago. Knot Your Boat Charter allows you to have the perks of owning a boat without all the work or expense.

A 50’ Sea Ray Sundancer from the Knot My Boat charter company.

Hospitality and events entrepreneurs, Sommi Irani and Vince Lujan realized that there was a need for boat accessibility in Chicago, so they created and established Knot My Boat Charters. The goal of Knot My Boat Charters is to make getting on the water easy—and by offering access to boat captains (at an additional cost), the intimida-

tion of boating is gone. Plus, it’s a fun way to impress your family and friends for special occasions like birthdays and bridal showers.

Knot My Boat Charters offers different price points and boat sizes starting with the Sport (33 foot boats) and Premium (46 foot boats), or if you are a big player unlike myself, look into the Luxe (56 foot

boats) packages. They offer 3 or 4 hour rentals and price includes fuel, tax, cleaning, safety training and all the amenities.

Knot My Boat Charter docks from 31st Harbor and the rest is up to you on where you take your cruise. I recommend sailing

by Soldier Field and turning left into the locks to access the Chicago River.

The Chicago Riverwalk has many places to dock and dine. My favorite is Pizza Portofino or City Winery for a fun alfresco dinner or order online and dinein on the boat. The Northman and The Chicago Brewhouse are great places to stop in for a drink and bites as well. They also offer live music throughout the week during the summer.

Pick a boat, choose a date and make memories that will last a lifetime this summer. See you on the water celebrating life in our city again… and please remember to wave to us from your private yacht.

For more information check out knotmyboatcharters.com

New Day. New Du. Experience Black history in the heart of Chicago.

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Spectacular airshows and exhibits rekindle spirit of adventure

By Joseph Luther Freelance Reporter There’s a joke among pilots that goes like this: “I want to be a pilot when I grow up!” says the kid to her parents. With a roll of their eyes, the parents say, “Well, you can’t do both!” The few of those who go on to be pilots get to live the dream of human flight again and again. Thankfully, for the rest of us grown-ups, we can still rekindle that thirst for adventure through the spectacle of the modern airshow.

Considered to be the first international aviation meeting, the “Grande Semaine d’Aviation de la Champagne,” was held in August 1909. The week-long spectacle drew prominent aviators from all over the world to battle for prizes in challenges such as completing a course the fastest, carrying passengers, or staying airborne the longest, according to the U.S. Air Combat Command, primary provider of air combat forces to America’s warfighting commanders.

Today, the spectacular feats of worldclass pilots flying eye-popping aircraft continue to provide an escape from the mundane and a way to help young people dream as high as they can see.

THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST If you’re a “one and done” airshow fan looking for the biggest and best once a year event to attend, you’ve got choices.

That’s because, when it comes to airshows, the title for biggest and best depends on who you talk to.

AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show July 25-31 North of the border, the small town of Oshkosh, Wisconsin hosts the annual EAA AirVenture, arguably the largest

annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts in the country. After a one-year pandemic hiatus, the aviation event came charging back in 2021 with a crowd of 608,000 and a record 3,176 showplanes among the more than 10,000 aircraft on site.

“The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” is hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), a non-profit corporation headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The organization has a membership from over 100 countries that exceeded 250,000 members for the first time last year. Their AirVenture show is the perfect gathering place for kids young and old to enjoy seven days of aerobatics, history and camaraderie that revolve around the celebration of the power of human flight.

The Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 20-21 Billed as the largest free airshow of its kind in the U.S., the Chicago Air and Water Show delivers spectacular feats of aerial showmanship in the air and on the water at North Avenue Beach and along Chicago’s magnificent lakefront on Lake Michigan. With Chicago’s Skyline as a backdrop, audience numbers reach 2 million annually, according to the City of Chicago’s Cultural Affairs department.

The first appearance of the now highly-anticipated international affair was in 1959 at Chicago Avenue and Lake Michigan. The budget was $88. The next year, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Golden Knights Parachute Team performed before a growing audience, launching the event as a Chicago summer tradition.

This year, look for a return of the legendary Blue Angels with other headliners such as the USAF F-35A Lightning II Demo, Susan Dacy in her Super Stearman “Big Red” and antique military aircraft from the Warbird Heritage Foundation.

Matt Younkin flies his vintage Beech 18 during an afternoon air show at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021. Photo courtesy of EAA/Nick Moore

BIGGER DOESN’T MEAN BETTER

thralled with a chance to talk to real United Airlines pilots about their careers and hear real-life stories about how planes fly.

The Milwaukee Air & Water Show, July 23-24

Air Classics Museum in Sugar Grove open April-November

Celebrating 11 years, The Milwaukee Air & Water Show tops the list as a slightly more modest event that still ranks as one of the top air shows in the U.S. The show is a popular outing for families providing “affordable, wholesome entertainment,” perfect for memories that will last for years to come.

Chicagoland’s largest aviation museum, the Air Classics Museum in Sugar Grove houses a collection of aircraft, vehicles, uniforms and other aviation memorabilia from the 1930s through today. Veterans offer guided tours of aircraft and visitors are encouraged to sit in a Gulf War A-7 and climb into the pilot’s seat of an UH-1 Huey helicopter. Learn about the critical role aviation has played throughout history through unique exhibits, educational programs and flight operations.

DOWN TO EARTH IDEAS FOR AVIATION BUFFS Take Flight at the Museum of Science and Industry open year round If your summer plans don’t include travel, no worries. You can experience the wonder of flight right here in Chicago at the newly reimagined “Take Flight Exhibit” at the Museum of Science and Industry.

See a section of a 727 as it looked on its first flight in 1964. Learn what commercial aircraft look like with the casing peeled back to reveal the mechanical, electronic and hydraulic systems. Kids will be en-

Hangar One Foundation in Glenview open Saturdays, Sundays year round Both a museum and foundation, Hangar One Foundation honors the ingenuity, accomplishments, and educational legacy of Naval Air Station Glenview and Glenview civilian aviation. Learn how Glenview was a cradle of civilian aviation and crucial to the defense of the United States and its allies from WWII until the air station’s closing in 1995.

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| COMMUNITY CORNER |

Doorperson of the Month Malcolm Keith Harrison, Trump Tower, 403 N. Wabash Ave.

By Susan Berkes Freelance Reporter At Trump International Hotel and Tower, Malcolm Keith Harrison—known to the building’s residents as “MK”—has been a tenant favorite since he began his tenure 14 years ago. He was one of the first people hired prior to the building’s completion in 2009.

“I started while Trump Tower was in its soft opening stage,” he said.

Harrison welcomes hotel guests and condominium residents with individual greetings and “positive silliness.” It helps to be “proactive rather than reactive” as a doorperson in this busy location, he said.

Working at Trump Tower has not been without its historic challenges. When Malcolm “MK” Keith Harrison, a door staff Donald Trump, the building’s namesake, member at Trump International Hotel and was elected president in 2016 there were Tower, is the Chicago Star’s Doorperson of protests. A police presence was stationed the Month. Photos by Susan Berkes at Trump Tower for years, and no one was that “people are really all alike,” adding he even allowed to cross Wacker Drive. In didn’t imagine this would be the case in fact, Trump Tower set up a lounge area such a busy location in one of the largest for the Chicago Police, complete with cities in the nation. food and beverages.

Harrison hails from Columbia, South The pandemic hit Trump Tower in a Carolina. Although at first big way. Out of 400 emhe didn’t think he would ployees, 320 were let go ever want to live in a major or furloughed. When the metropolitan area, he relobuilding was down to just cated to the Chicago area 80 employees, Harrison had from Atlanta, Ga., in 1997 to wear “a lot of different to expand his horizons, hats” by doing his own job starting as a doorperson at and helping with valet and the Park Hyatt. Today, he bellman duties. The number has two children and can’t of packages and food delivimagine living or working eries went up exponentially. anywhere other than the Even now, Trump Tower is Windy City. not fully staffed to pre-pandemic proportions.

To nominate your favorite Keeping the driveway doorperson, email info@ clear for shops, brokers and Trump International Hotel and Tower, 403 N. Wabash chicagostarmedia.com with developers is no easy task.

Ave. their names and why they Harrison strives to deal with should be the doorperson of the month. everything in a positive manner, all while Winners will receive a $25 gift card to maintaining a rapport with each person entering or exiting the building. He noted Mariano’s.

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Join Gail Spreen & Sculptor Dennis Downes For our Fourth Annual “Run A’Ground” Celebration!

Thursday July 7, 2022 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

In July 1886 George “Cap” Wellington Streeter ran his boat aground and claimed ownership of a new district that would eventually be known as Streeterville.

Join us for our 4th Annual “Run A’Ground” Event Thursday July 7, 2022 The Streeterville Social Rooftop @ Loews Chicago Hotel 455 N Park Dr. 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Gail@StreetervilleProperties.com

(312)925-7668

Terrace 16 captures the spirit of Chicago’s glorious summer months year-round – all punctuated by breathtaking views of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

401 N WABASH AVE CHICAGO, IL 60611 312.588.8030 BREAKFAST | BRUNCH | LUNCH | DINNER

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| THE BULLETIN |

A round up of Chicago's top stories COVID-19 vaccines approved for children under 5 Children aged six months through 4 years old are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine following authorization from the CDC on June 18. Both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines have been approved for use in this age group, and Chicago public health officials encourage parents to speak to their child’s healthcare provider to make a vaccination plan for their child. Vaccines will be offered at a number of locations, including family health care providers, family vaccination clinics at City Colleges of Chicago and select children’s hospitals. Visit chicago.gov for sites.

U.S. faces record inflation levels

“Immersive King Tut: Magic Journey to the Light” opens Oct. 14 at Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago. Photo courtesy of Lighthouse Immersive

According to data from the U.S. Department of Labor, in May, the national inflation rate reached 8.6 percent, a 40year high, with food and energy prices among the largest contributors. In Chicago, the Chicago Moves program has distributed about 25,000 transit cards and 20,000 gas cards to provide financial relief to residents struggling with transportation expenses amid rising inflation and gas costs. Applications for the program will be accepted through Sept. 1. Eligible applicants must be Chicago residents, be at least 18 years old, meet the city’s income criteria and have a valid email address.

Immersive King Tut exhibit to open in Chicago This fall, Chicago residents will have the opportunity to explore the wonders of ancient Egypt through “Immersive King Tut: Magic Journey to the Light.” Using state-of-the-art technology, this immersive experience will highlight the ancient Egyptian pharaoh’s journey through the underworld. The exhibit is set to open Oct. 14 at Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago, 108 W. Germania Place. For more information, visit immersive-kingtut.com and community members, have announced the 10th anniversary of the season of Night Out in the Parks. Night Out in the Parks, the free event series accessible to all ages and abilities, celebrates Chicago’s vibrant cultures and emerging and seasoned arts professionals in parks citywide.

French Vietnamese culinary hotspot, Le Colonial, expands to Lake Forest A downtown Chicago mainstay for 25 years, Le Colonial is making its grand debut in picturesque Market Square in Lake Forest this July. This is the fourth U.S. location of the sophisticated French Vietnamese institution to be launched by nationally acclaimed hospitality veterans Rick Wahlstedt and Joe King. Le Colonial is a celebration of seductive spirit and vivid flavors reminiscent of Saigon in the 1920s.

Shedd exterior improvements approved by Plan Commission The Shedd Aquarium is excited to announce the unanimous approval of several important exterior improvements by the Chicago Plan Commission. These changes to the aquarium’s historic building and surrounding greenspace are part of Shedd’s ambitious, multi-year transformation and Centennial Commitment. The new enhancements include activating Shedd’s gardens and augmenting its entry pavilion to help make these spaces more engaging and accessible for guests.

Park District scrambles to attract lifeguards with new incentives The Color Factory museum at the Willis Tower includes a Chicago-themed ball pit that draws on St. Patrick’s Day traditions, the Lakefront Trail and more. Photo courtesy of Color Factory

Color Factory opens Chicago location The third permanent museum from Color Factory is now open at the Willis Tower, featuring 15 new installations and artist partnerships throughout the site’s 25,000 square feet of space. Among the color-filled attractions are a Chicago architecture-inspired maze created by international artist Camille Walala and an experience designed by artist Yuri Suzuki that plays on the connection with sound and sight. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit colorfactory.co/chicago.

‘Night Out in the Parks’ program offers free summertime entertainment The Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareno together with local arts organizations, performers

In an effort to attract additional lifeguards for this summer, the Chicago Park District announced it will increase the recruitment and retention bonus to $600 for seasonal lifeguard applicants, and will also extend a $500 bonus for existing district employees who refer qualified candidates to work as lifeguards this summer. Seasonal guards, who qualify, will have the opportunity to secure year-round employment status after the summer ends. Additionally, the District will temporarily relax the residency requirement for non-city residents who apply for seasonal positions.

Summer races heat up competition Chicago runners have plenty of races to choose from this July. Highlights include the Bubble Run 5K at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at Soldier Field; the Chicago 10K at 8 a.m. Sunday, July 17; the Run for Gus 5K, featuring a children’s race at 6 p.m.

Thursday, July 21, at Diversey Harbor; and the Strike out ALS 5K, which includes a 1-Mile Run, Walk & Roll at 6:45 p.m. and a 5K race at 7 p.m., on Thursday, July 21, at Guaranteed Rate Field. For a full list of races, visit runguides.com.

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Let’s go to the movies, again I ’ll meet you at the AMC 21 this Friday or maybe over at Webster theater, Archlight or the Icon theater— whichever is more convenient. Wait a Michael Kutza minute, I think the COMMUNITY Archlight Theaters CONTRIBUTOR went under and the AMCs are nearly bankrupt. Actually I can’t go this Friday after all ‘cause I’m still binge watching something on Netflix—or was it HBO MAX? Now there’s the rub. How do you get the public to come back to the movies? The giant host of streaming services out there like: Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, Paramount+, Netflix, HBO MAX, etc., are so convenient. The pandemic has changed the whole game plan.

We work from home and are entertained at home and it’s all free, or so it seems.

I don’t miss the $17 parking, $15 popcorn or the $15-20-dollar movie ticket, do you?

The only films that are getting the target audience of young male movie-goers tend to be the epic MARVEL films or James Bond.

You can see the small, intimate romcoms just fine on your giant wall-to-wall TV at home—why go out? It is a dilemma for the movie theater operators.

The 2 or 3-hour giant blockbuster film will get you off your sofa for a while, but can that keep the cinema world alive? The world has changed, and our entertainment habits have changed. Giant in-person concerts are back on the boards. Outdoor music events are too. But what about the movies?

Some new gimmicks are on the way to get you out the front door. Regal Theaters will be experimenting with RPX next.

It claims many new things, including SCREEN X, a 3-screen installation in some theaters, sort of like Cinerama back in the day. IMAX is still out there in 4-D with its motion, wind, fog, scent, water, vibrations, and other physical effects that you will either love or hate.

There are also certain “niche” film situations that still can grow a limited audience, like a special event film festival, a

closed-circuit opera or NFT London stage performance. The Music Box or the Siskel Film Center still draw specialized audiences, but that doesn’t keep a 10-21 screen multiplex filled each week.

This summer the screens are alive with some giant productions: “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Elvis,” “Jurassic World: Dominion,”

“Mission Impossible,” “Bullet Train,” “Black Phone.” Older folks did venture out to see “Downtown Abbey: A New Era,” but that’s about it. The fall will have the next big batch of blockbusters from Spielberg on.

These giant films can only be seen in-person with wrap-around sound and 100-foot screens, but will that be enough to sustain

the industry? The pandemic also saw the significant shortening of theatrical windows, with film studios and cable streamers releasing new films in a theater and then a few days later making them available on their streaming platforms. What are you going to do? You are probably going to wait and watch it at home. This does seem to shoot the poor theater owners in the foot.

Personally, I vote for the big screen. I hated wearing the mask and paying the prices associated with the cinema, but the experience of being with an audience and participating with everyone’s reactions to the film is still exciting to me—I hope I never lose that feeling. I hope you don’t either.

See you at the movies, maybe...

Michael Kutza is the founder of the Chicago International Film Festival. His first book, “STARSTRUCK,” will be out in September.

THE SERVICE CLUB OF CHICAGO PRESENTS

Welcome Home

Monday, August 1, 2022

The Peninsula Hotel Chicago 108 E Superior St.

Lori Sklodowski A s s o c ia te Bro ke r m 773.707.16 8 6 o 312.528.9 2 0 0 ur ban.link / lor i Corcoran Urban Real Estate | 400 E Randolph St. Suite 500 | Chicago, IL 60601 Corcoran® and the Corcoran Logo are registered service marks owned by Corcoran Group LLC. Corcoran Group LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated.

11:00AM: Cocktails • 11:45AM: Fashion Show • 12:30PM: Luncheon 2:00PM - 4:00PM After Party For reservations and information, call 312-220-9600 or email info@serviceclubofchicago.org www.theserviceclubofchicago.org

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Visit Eat Shop Join us every Tuesday, 7am to 2pm June 7 through October 25 220 E. Chicago Avenue on the MCA Plaza Between Chicago Ave and Pearson on Mies Van der Rohe Way

Visit the SOAR info booth to learn how to get involved with the Steeterville community.

From our Safety & Well-Being Task Force, Parks and Gardens initiatives, there’s a way for everyone to participate!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

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Cool off at local pools

By Susan Berkes Freelance Reporter Looking for a way to cool down this summer? Chicago has over 50 free outdoor pool and splash venues. Lots of these pools have separate splash pads and water playgrounds, and a few even have water slides, a la Wisconsin Dells.

If you prefer to spend money, check around for health clubs and fitness centers that offer day passes—usually pretty pricey. Many of the rooftop pools scattered throughout the downtown area are either hotels or buildings where folks own or rent.

Many of the Chicago Park District pools will not open until July 5, due to lifeguard shortage issues. Chicago’s beaches are always free, but parking, not so much.

Loop: Crown Fountain Millennium Park Splash Pad Nestled between two glass brick towers with video showing pictures of Chicagoans, is a reflecting pond and splash pad area. chicago.gov

Navy Pier: Splash Pad At the main entrance to Navy Pier, a splash pad greets you with dancing water.

If you can get the kids past the splash pad, Navy Pier offers rides, dining, shopping and a children’s museum. The splash pad is free, but the other offerings at Navy Pier can be quite pricey. navypier.org

Lincoln Park: Wrightwood Pool This family-friendly, smaller pool might make it easier to watch the kids. Because of its size, it can be less busy than other pools. chicagoparkdistrict.com

Portage Park Pool: Portage Park Portage Park has three pools, including a diving pool, a lap pool, and a kiddie pool with a water playground. The facility is family-friendly, but popular, so arriving sooner than later may be a good idea. chicagoparkdistrict.com

McCormick YMCA: Logan Square A great indoor option for rainy days located at 1845 N. Lawndale Ave. The facility has a couple of indoor pools to choose from. ymcachicago.org

The Holstein Pool in Bucktown is convenient for Wicker Park and Logan Square residents.

Bucktown: Holstein Pool The Bucktown location makes it easy to get to from many family-friendly neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Logan Square. chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Washington Park Pool: Hyde Park Washington Pool offers a big pool and boasts both a zero-entry wading area and a waterslide. Bonuses for visiting this pool include three playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, a racquetball court, a harvest garden and an arboretum. chicagoparkdistrict.com

Roscoe Village: Hamlin Pool People native to this area feel this is Chicago’s best pool. Aside from the crowding factor, facilities are well-maintained and tons of amenities for families are available. chicagoparkdistrict.com

McKinley Park: McKinley Park Pool McKinley Park Pool has a separate water playground for kids and a large pool for adults. There are also community programs for families, including swimming lessons and day camps. This pool has lots of daily visitors, making parking more of a challenge. chicagoparkdistrict.com

West Roseland: Palmer Pool Palmer Pool has three water slides, and families can also take advantage of day camps, exercise classes, and swimming lessons for all age groups. The park itself has plenty of additional recreational spaces, including a renovated playground.

Family swim time is quite busy. chicagoparkdistrict.com

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EXPERIENTIAL DINING IN CHICAGO

By Joseph Luther Freelance Reporter Here’s some food for thought: there are over 7,000 restaurants in Chicago, each competing for your taste buds. With so many restaurateurs hungry for your business, many have discovered that it’s not just what you eat—it’s how you eat it, and mastered the art of combining delicious delectables with eclectic experiences. With the sumptuousness of summer close enough to taste, it’s the perfect time to dive into some of Chicago’s best fun, immersive, thematic, and just plain over-the-top eating experiences.

TOP IMMERSIVE DINING EXPERIENCES Alinea Restaurant For a truly upscale, immersive fine dining experience, Alinea is an easy choice to top our list. The posh, modernist Michelin 3-star establishment was named the “Best Restaurant in the World” by Elite Traveler and the “Best Restaurant in the U.S.” by Gourmet and Business Insider. Alinea’s most extravagant offering goes for $450 per person and promises a completely private “intimate, immersive and cutting-edge experience.” Other dining experiences include a multi-sensory menu that “combines fine dining with experimental moments,” private events, and more.

Beach meets Hollywood” atmosphere, the Kit Kat is an experience that will engage all your senses. Chef Nate Hamilton’s credentials include serving as personal chef to President Clinton and Secretary Clinton. Other notable clients include President Barack Obama, Paul McCartney and Aretha Franklin.

Carnivale A kaleidoscope for the senses, Carnivale immerses you in the festive, lush atmosphere of the world’s favorite party. The nearly five dozen tequila options are just one example of the restaurant’s oversized approach to the dining experience. Offering a colorful, blended concoction of dining, drinking and entertainment, Carnivale is our favorite for Latin fusion cuisine, exotic cocktails, and unique desserts. Even better, Carnivale supports local farmers and artisans and promotes sustainability produce grown in the restaurant’s very own rooftop garden.

NEW IN ’22 EATING EXPERIENCES 2d Restaurant Providing an ultra-unique food fantasy experience, 2d Restaurant, is a hand-drawn comic universe lovingly crafted by the wife and husband team of Vanessa Thanh Vu and Kevin Yu. Chicago artist Mia Larson is behind the amazing artwork that promises an immersive and interactive 2-dimensional comic “artopia.” 2d Restaurant opened in February and will reveal a 300 square foot patio adorned with more of Larson’s mesmerizing artwork this summer.

The X-Pot A night at the X-Pot is the immersive dining experience that will indulge your palate as well as your other four senses. With sizzling hot pot culinary creations served under HD 360 projections, thematic soundscapes, and interactive light shows, founders David Zhao and Harby Yang have blended the past with the future and Asian with American cultures. The X-Pot opened in January and, to the amazement of patrons, with robot servers to add even another layer to an already one-of-a-kind dining experience.

The Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club features tableside drag shows.

The Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club Haven’t you heard? It’s all about the presentation. Still not sure? The Kit Kat will make you a believer. Upscale, contemporary cuisine accompanied by outrageous nightly tableside drag shows will leave you wanting more. With a martini and cocktail list that tops 200 and a sleek “South

Museum of Ice Cream We all scream for ice cream. That’s what Museum of Ice Cream owners are counting on when they open their fourth worldwide location in Chicago this summer. With inclusive environments that are “designed to inspire human connection and energize the senses,” the new ode to ice cream wonderland will feature 14 magical and interactive experiences dreamed up just for Chicago. Take a guided tour sprinkled with plenty of ice cream breaks or head straight to the speakeasy-style bar for cocktails, ice cream, or non-ice cream treats.

The Tamale Spaceship, one of the city’s oldest food trucks.

TOP FOOD TRUCK EXPERIENCES The Tamale Spaceship As the oldest food truck cruising the city’s streets, you’d be forgiven if you turned a blind eye toward the silver bullet spaceship as it cruised by. But, as purveyors of some of the most provocative gourmet ingredients on the street or off, we can’t forgive you for not having sampled their decadent delicacies. Do we have to mention the workers wear luchador masks like Mexican pro wrestlers?

The Fat Shallot Roaming the streets of Chicago in fire engine red and truckin’ truffle BLTs, Buffalo chicken and turkey sandwiches and, oh, so much more, is the Fat Shallot mobile eatery. Sam Barron and Sarah Weitz, the duo behind the delicacies, also own two brick and mortar establishments. The two culinary school grads and lifelong foodies are veterans of the Chicago food truck phenomenon and have developed a reputation for pop-up dinners, private parties, and catering events.

Babycakes Well, “Baby got stacks,” as the catering company’s website says. But, baby also got a knack for a flapjack out of the back of the tidy red Babycakes food truck, dubbed “Sweetheart.” Promoted as “breakfast fusion,” the company banks its business on unique breakfast dishes and (master level) gourmet pancakes. Named one of the top food trucks in Chicago by Chicago Magazine, the caterers have been featured on the Food Network, The Travel Channel’s Food Paradise and Chicago’s Best. For anyone who agrees breakfast time is anytime, Babycakes will be your jam.

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| TOP PICK EVENTS | Schedules are subject to change. Call venues to confirm event information. To submit events or advertise on this page, email info@chicagostarmedia.com

July 1

July 15

Twilight Tunes at Brookfield Zoo The Twilight Tunes concert series is even more than 10 evenings of live music, wildlife and nature. You also get after hours access to the park’s most sought-after exhibits, tasty food and drink options and a laser light show to top your evening off. It’s almost too much to bear. Bring your appetites, blankets, lawn chairs, family, and friends. Tickets start at $10.

Fridays and Saturdays in July, Brookfield Zoo East Mall, 8400 W. 31st St., Brookfield, (708) 688-8000, www.czs.org

Millennium Art Festival This top-ranked three-day show electrifies the heart of Chicago’s vibrant downtown and attracts locals and tourists with an array of original artwork including paintings, ceramics, photography, furniture and more. Bring your gently used wall art, where it will be donated to the Chicago Furniture Bank, a local nonprofit. Festival food, live music by French singer, Michelet, and artist demonstrations add to the festive vibe of the show. Free. July 15-17, downtown Chicago, Michigan Avenue and E. Lake Street, (847) 926-4300, amdurproductions.com

Ravinia music festival in Highland Park Ravinia, North America’s oldest music festival, will feature more than 100 concerts, including Pitbull, the Culture Club, Stevie Nicks, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Jackson Browne. The summer-long series represents one of the world’s most diverse musical line-ups from Yo-Yo Ma to John Legend to the annual summer residency of the nation’s finest orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Guests can bring their own picnics or eat at one of the park restaurants. Ticket prices vary. Through Sept. 18, Highland Park, 201 Ravinia Park Road, (847) 2665100, ravinia.org

July 2

Navy Pier Independence Day Fireworks The city’s most beloved Independence Day tradition is back with a bang. The classic summer family tradition returns with a night of some of the nation’s most spectacular pyrotechnics, wholesome fun and plenty of “oohs and aahs.” The free show can be seen from all over the city but show up early at Navy Pier, North Avenue and Oak Street Beaches, Chicago Riverwalk and Millennium Park for the best seats in the house. Free, July 2 and 4, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., (312) 595-7437, navypier.org Grant Park Music Fest For more than 80 years, the Grant Park Music Festival has been a Chicago summer sensation. Free your mind with a thrilling lineup of mu-

Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park Join 60,000 music lovers of all ages from all 50 states and countries across the globe at the Pitchfork Music Festival.

This year features the best up-and-coming music from around the world, not to mention special performances from well-known touring legends. A range of diverse vendors and specialty record, poster, and craft fairs help prove Pitchfork’s reputation as a faithful supporter of Chicago’s arts and food communities.

Tickets start at $99, free for children 10 and under. July 15-17, Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., (855) 235-2867, pitchforkmusicfestival.com

West Fest is known for hosting cutting edge live music, local offerings and talent, and family-friendly activities.

sic including a mix of contemporary compositions and classical favorites such as Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Classical music has never been so electrifying. Ticket prices vary.

Through Aug. 20, various venues across Chicago, (312) 742-7647, grantparkmusicfestival.com

July 8

Taste of Chicago After two years, Taste of Chicago returns with three days of incredible food, music and activities. In addition to the more than 30 food vendors, the uniquely-Chicago summertime tradition will feature a designated beer hall, wine tent, cocktail lounge and more. Free admission. July 8-10, Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph St., (312) 744-5000, chicago.gov West Fest Chicago Reflecting the eclectic Chicago West Town community, West Fest is known for hosting cutting edge live music, local offerings and talent, and family-friendly activities including “Pet Fest” for charity, and “Kid Fest.” The annual street festival has grown into one of Chicago’s most popular and well-attended street festi-

vals since 2004. $10 suggested donation.

July 8-10, Chicago’s West Town Neighborhood, 1800-2000 W. Chicago Ave., (312) 850-9390, westtownchamber.org

July 10

Big Ten 10K at Soldier Field The BTN Big 10K is back. Test your fitness, enjoy a one-of-a-kind race experience and represent your favorite Big Ten school all while giving back to some great charities: ALIVE Rescue, Positive Coaching Alliance and Special Olympics Chicago. If you can’t make it for the live event, you can still sign up for the virtual race. Registration starts at $45.

Race starts at 7 a.m., Soldier Field, 1410 Special Olympics Drive, (312) 235-7000, btnbig10k.com

July 11

Water Flicks at Navy Pier Navy Pier’s popular outdoor film series, Water Flicks, returns with a focus on families. No family is perfect, but these movies are the perfect way to celebrate them. July’s features include “Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Encanto” and “Minari.” Free. Mondays through Aug. 29, 6:30 p.m., Polk Bros Park Lake Stage, 600 E. Grand Ave., (800) 595-7437, navypier.org

Shawn Mendes Concert in Rosemont Calling all Shawn Mendes fans. The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter takes the stage at Allstate Arena on July 15th for his Wonder Tour and tickets are selling fast. Mendes’ fourth studio album, “Wonder,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart and in multiple worldwide markets, marking Shawn’s fourth straight No. 1 album.

Tickets start at $40. 7:30 p.m., Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont, (847) 635.6601, rosemont.com

July 23

Second City’s Improv Brunch Second City is serving up all-you-canstomach laughter. Enjoy delicious food and amazing drinks while experiencing

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| TOP PICK EVENTS | Schedules are subject to change. Call venues to confirm event information. To submit events or advertise on this page, email info@chicagostarmedia.com some of Chicago’s funniest comedians during this totally improvised performance. As they show their skills in comedic improv, you get to sit back, relax, and laugh out loud. Food and mimosas are available a la carte. Busy on the 23rd? Come see the show another Sunday. Tickets are $35. Noon, UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., (312) 337-3992, secondcity.com

July 24

The Weeknd Concert at Soldier Field A Canadian Grammy-winning star is coming to Chicago. Head to Soldier Field to see The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour with special guest Doja Cat. Known for his versatility and dark lyricism, The Weeknd’s music explores escapism, romance, and melancholia.

His latest album, less brooding and decadent than his previous work, has been called refreshingly light and accessible.

Tickets start at $88. 6:30 p.m., Soldier Field, 1410 Special Olympics Drive., (312) 235-7000, soldierfield.net Sundays on State The award-winning Sundays on State event series is back for another free, interactive block party brimming with art, culture, food, drinks, shopping, and local attractions right in the heart of everyone’s neighborhood—the Loop.

Come out to meet friends old and new.

Free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. July 24, Aug. 7, Aug. 21 and Sept. 4, State Street, from Madison to Lake Street, (312) 782-9160, loopchicago.com

July 28

Lollapalooza Large and legendary, one of the music world’s most iconic festivals returns to Grant Park with the biggest names in music giving their best. Headliners at the 3-day festival this year include Lil Baby, Big Sean, Metallica, Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, J. Cole, Green Day, Doja Cat and many, many more. Tickets start at $125. July 28-31, Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph St., (888) 512-7469, lollapalooza.com

July 29

Classic rock Jeff Fest in Jefferson Park Love classic rock? Skip Lollapalooza and head to Jefferson Park for a community festival that rocks with the area’s best local cover bands. Indulge in the best neighborhood vendor fare and get silly at the dedicated kids’ zone where families can hang out and boogie with the little ones. Great for kids toddler age through tweens. Held in idyllic Jefferson Memorial Park, Jeff Fest is a proud tradition in one of Chicago’s most friendly communities. Admission is $7. July 29-31, Jefferson Park, 4822 N. Long Ave., (773) 685-3316, chicagoparkdistrict.com Backstreet Boys’ DNA World Tour in Tinley Park Backstreet’s back—and Chicago gets to be there for their “DNA World Tour.”

Come to the town of Tinley Park to watch some amazing singing and dancing by your favorite boy-band as they rock their Grammy-nominated 10th studio album, “DNA.” It’s their 11th career concert series. After a two-year pandemic break, the Boys are back to complete one of the biggest tours in their three-decade strong career. Tickets start at $39. 7:30 p.m., Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park, (708) 614-1616, tinleyparkamphitheater.com

Meet WINDEE, Chicago Star’s new mascot! This new feature will be something for the young and young-at-heart to enjoy. Follow her around as she visits the Windy (see what we did there?) City and its landmarks, cultural institutions, events and more. You can read this to a small child or enjoy it yourself as she presents our city through her wondering eyes. We want to offer something for everyone, regardless of age. And besides, who wouldn’t love an adorable brand ambassador like WINDEE? Windee is illustrated by Rosemary Fanti and conceived by Candid Candace Jordan, Associate Publisher

TAKE ME HOME

July 30

Chinatown Summer Fair Celebrate Far East culture and beauty through amazing food, entertaining dances and performances, arts and crafts, and classic street vendors. This free unique neighborhood street festival opens with a lion dance procession attracting more than 40,000 people from Chicago and beyond. But don’t miss the K-Pop Dance Competition, breakdancing battle, and dumpling eating contest. It’s fun for the whole family. July 30-31, Wentworth Avenue from Cermak Avenue to 24th Place, (312) 326-5320, ccc-foundation.org

Hale is a handsome and smart 1-year-old Beagle mix. He is a playful and affectionate dog with a penchant for toys. He enjoys going for walks, is very food motivated and will gladly sit for treats. Hale, 47 lbs., can be fearful of new people and surroundings and is seeking a home with a resident dog who can help him feel more confident.

He is available for adoption (or foster) at PAWS Chicago’s Lincoln Park Adoption Center through their in-person appointment process. (pawschicago.org/adopt)

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PARTY IN AISLE TWO!

By Candid Candace Jordan Associate Publisher

Mariano’s Amari Walls with Honest Abe (Gregg Steigmeyer, ZZAZZ Productions).

Jon Landan, Giovanna Krozel, Andrew Landan and Almira Yllana.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Peter Kamberos with grandson.

Chicago Star kicked off its second annual Streeterville Week celebration hosted by Mariano’s Lakeshore East (Amanda Puck and team). The event was a great success and helped promote local (and big) businesses in Chicago while building camaraderie.

Molly Callinan (Too Much Molly Band) and Ellie Kahn wowed the crowd with their vocals while DJ B-Real provided hot back up tunes. Guests also enjoyed a beautiful branded cake created by Mariano’s pastry department and a lavish buffet by Chef Jaymes Berry.

A character dressed as “Honest Abe Lincoln” (Gregg Steigmeyer courtesy of ZZAZZ Productions) greeted guests and posed for photos. Partygoers were gifted with Chicago Star baseball caps and Mariano’s goody bags.

Photos by Kelsy Goodwin

Andy Frey, Molly Callinan (Too Much Molly Band), Ellie Kahn, Dr. Bianka Hardin.

Amanda Puck, Mariano’s Director Strategic Brand Development.

Michael Kutza and Lisa Fielding.

CSM Publisher-Editor Elaine Hyde with Chef Jaymes Berry, Brian Keyes, Chris Weir and Jajuan Harvey.

Diane and Craig Kaiser with Dennis Downes and Gail Spreen.

Catie Keogh, Bonnie Spurlock, Angela Gagnon and Cynthia and Peter Au, with son, toast Chicago Star.

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New truths for new times B oy, were we ever wrong.

We’ve been misleading our young adults about certain life skills that we’ve assumed were gospel. But it turns Howard Tullman out that the self-conCOMMUNITY gratulatory conferCONTRIBUTOR ences, the unending TED lectures, the entrepreneurial liturgy and business press, and, of course, celebratory media of all kinds have led us astray.

Unless we—as parents, managers and business owners—take aggressive steps to change the valueless daily messaging that floods every channel, and update the role models flaunted before our children, we will lose control of the conversations and completely surrender our kids’ futures to algorithmic manipulation dictated solely by greed and commercial considerations.

We need to move immediately to revise the current conversations around three primary ideas.

Self-Confidence versus Resilience We’ve told the world that the most critical capability we need to build and nurture in our kids is abundant and unflinching confidence and that even talent and hard work are no substitutes for self-confidence. It’s the pervasive power of positive thinking.

But we weren’t actually setting our offspring on life’s journey with a genuine grounding, some serious values, and a firm foundation; we were building in levels of delusion. Instead of constantly pitching confidence, we should have been preaching persistence, perseverance and resilience.

Single-Mindedness versus Optionality We also told the world that everything was about a narrow and powerful focus—a single-mindedness and unstinting effort addressed to an identified goal. But we know now that fierce focus can be too much of a good thing. Blinders, short-sightedness,

ignorance of collateral damage and secondary effects, a constant pressure to be bigger rather than better, moving recklessly and too quickly, and taking things so personally that you lose sight of far too many other things of equal or greater importance. What we need to be telling the newbies today is that it’s all about optionality, choices, alternative plans, and widening the consideration sets rather than doubling down and putting all your eggs (as well as your own self-esteem) in one basket.

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D.I.Y. versus Help Wanted In the old John Wayne world, it’s always about the solitary hero—the one-man band—who gets the job done and single-handedly saves the world, or whatever.

The point is that we don’t show our kids that it’s smart for the hero to ask for help. We’re told that asking for help is a hindrance and a sign of weakness and failure and that unfortunate message is everywhere.

In our businesses, we should tell teams that there are only two kinds of failures that are unrecoverable: failing to ask for help and failing to help when asked. We need to tell teens the same thing. It takes strength and courage to ask for help. You need to be realistic, face the facts and stop kidding yourself.

You need to put your ego and pride aside.

And you need to understand that “I need help” may actually be the bravest words that anyone can say.

Howard Tullman is a Chicago Star board member and G2T3V general managing partner.

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OCD and me

I

worried a lot as a kid. Although outgoing, I quit after school activities for fear my mom would forget to pick me up. I ended every conversation with Bridget McGuire my dad by saying, COMMUNITY “Wear your seatbelt.”

CONTRIBUTOR I hated babysitting for fear the kids would choke on my watch.

I despised being home alone, convinced someone was going to break in.

As I got older, more “what if ” thoughts came into my mind. I started to develop checking behaviors which made me feel safe. For example, if I pull on the door four times, then no one will break in. If I pull on it three times, all bets are off. Completely irrational thinking, but if I didn’t perform the behavior correctly, I’d be a ball of panic.

I knew I was a worrier, but in college, a therapist explained more. She said, “I’m actually diagnosing you with obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD.”

At first, I was like, woah. I have something? Can I get out of class for this? Monica on “Friends” had OCD and she is so pretty… but then I started to question the diagnosis.

I’m messy, I hate showering and I sit on toilet seats. So, I politely told her she was wrong, I was not a neat freak and I didn’t have OCD. “There are different types of OCD,” she said. “You have intrusive thoughts.” She then handed me a book called “The OCD Workbook.”

I was miffed. OCD was not the mental illness I had envisioned for myself as an adult. I did, however, read the entire book that night. I felt such relief knowing there were other people like me. However, I didn’t want to admit I had OCD and never saw that therapist again.

From that day on, I struggled with spirals of OCD: from driving everyone crazy with reassurance seeking to dangerous checking compulsions.

Fast forward nearly 20 years later: I hit an OCD rock-bottom during the pandemic and my therapist suggested an outpatient program, which years prior I had declined.

The program included Exposure and Re-

sponse Prevention (ERP), a type of therapy that exposes people to situations that provoke their obsessions—and the anxiety they create—while helping them prevent their compulsions. I used to take a picture of all my hair appliances before I left the house to make sure they were unplugged and could not start a fire. With ERP, I had to use my curling iron, turn it off, keep it plugged in and leave my apartment without taking a picture. This would cause me so much anxiety, but the more I practiced it, the more my anxiety went down, and I no longer take any pictures of my hair appliances.

The outpatient program was the best thing

I ever did for myself. Truly life-changing. Do I still struggle with OCD? Absolutely. It’s a part of me; however, I now have the tools to manage it and have no shame in asking for help. If you’re struggling with OCD, know that help is available and more importantly, you’re not alone! Both me and Monica on FRIENDS had it and we’re doing just fine!

Bridget McGuire is a Chicago-based storyteller, stand-up comedian and is a co-producer of “All That Good Stuff,” a traveling comedy show that started on the South Side of Chicago. Follow her on Instagram at @ bmcguire82.

What’s in a name? Ask a Chicagoan

I

t was sometime back in the 1990s when I first met someone with the name Payton. Payton, from what I remember, was about my age, mid-twenties at the time. She was a friend of a friend I gabbed with at a North Side party. Payton said she dabbled in 5Ks and was preparing for Andy Frye the upcoming Chicago Marathon but COMMUNITY wasn’t a football fan. Despite growCONTRIBUTOR ing up in the Chicago suburbs, she had never set foot into Soldier Field, except for the very last Grateful Dead show, July 9, 1995 (I was there too).

Yet she acknowledged that her name was at least a nod to the great Walter Payton—her father, she said, was the world’s biggest Chicago Bears fan. The beloved Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton joined the Bears in 1975, spending his entire 13-year career at Halas Hall. If my new party friend Payton was about my age (I was born in 1972), then her father must have been a prognosticator.

A Chicago Bears Nostradamus.

Anyhow, I met more Paytons, plus some Peytons with an E, almost all of whom were women. Again, going on the age of 20-somethings in the ’90s, it’s likely the Peytons with E got their names from Peyton Place, the 1960s TV soap opera, not future NFL star Peyton Manning, born in 1976.

I always assumed this “last names as first names” was a Midwestern thing. Growing up on the East Coast, it wasn’t

until I went away to college that I met a Mackenzie or a Logan, a Harper, a Madison or Quinn. Then again, maybe it wasn’t until 1990s Chicago that I began paying attention to things.

When I met someone named Ernie—not exactly a popular name like Jennifer, John, or ’80s-favorite Ashley—most here claimed name-kinship with Ernie Banks, not the Sesame Street character.

By the 2000s, I met young parents naming sons and daughters Addison, Wrigley and Maddux. Little Jordans were running around my kid’s Gymboree—almost as many Jordans as Aidans. A mortgage broker I met in 2004 had a dog named Prior, like the Cubs pitcher. Then, I met a couple who named their new baby Brixen, which they said was a play on Wrigley Field’s “bricks ’n’ ivy.” No Cades or Cutlers, though.

It’s safe to say that Chicagoans are a creative bunch. Or we just like to show off our sports fandom. Besides, no self-respecting local would ever name their kid Favre.

Andy Frye has written for ESPN Chicago and Rolling Stone. His new book about Chicago, NINETY DAYS IN THE 90s, is out now.

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| NEWS BREAK |

I

DOGS ARE PEOPLE, TOO

am going to make a quantum leap here, so brace yourself.

How about comparing physical education class dodgeball games (the ones featuring an all-out assault with a red rubber playground ball), with our Chicago fan-friendly dog parks?

Permission to approach the bench Jon Cohn COMMUNITY to explain.

CONTRIBUTOR I taught physical education for a number of years in suburban Glenview and once told the social worker at the school, and anyone else in shouting distance, you can learn more about kids in 20 minutes of observing a game of good old dodgeball, than you can in hours of any psychological evaluation.

All the personalities show through. The shy guy, the wallflower, the aggressor, the troublemaker, the team player, the smart kid, the emotional ones, and the

Jumble

NYUTI RCDWO CIPINC

middle of the road kid just trying to fit in. They were all in full vision in this minimally-supervised dodgeball activity.

Now, making the big jump to Chicago dog parks, I find it fascinating to watch the dogs at play in these enclosed areas. Similar to the aforementioned dodgeball games, you can observe all the different personalities here in full canine display.

There are the shy and somewhat afraid dogs who hang by their owner, not comfortable engaging, at least right away. There are, of course, the rambunctious aggressor dogs who run around and seem to be chasing any and every other dog.

There is the natural leader—the dog strutting with easy confidence, playing with the others, but not forcing it, and the other dogs naturally following his or her untaught allure.

There is the standard-issue trouble making dog who steals toys, barks incessantly, and teases and bullies some of the quieter dogs. Oh ya, we know the type.

There are the focused, intellectual, well-behaved dogs who play with their owners, following all instructions and chasing said objects only when told to do so, seemingly oblivious to the mass confusion and barking pandemonium going on all around them.

Then there are the puppy loners, sadly. They stay distant, away from the other dogs—comfortable watching from afar and showing no interest in joining the fray.

Finally, there is my favorite to observe: the little, tiny dog that doesn’t realize his or her size and will bark, chase and otherwise try to intimidate the huge dogs— who often are more meek and mild mannered by nature.

This “David fires on Goliath” dog park scenario gets me every time.

Yes, just like the kids in our dear old gymnasium dodgeball games, the message is clear: dogs are people too.

Jon Cohn is a New Eastside resident. Email ideas for Jon to info@chicagostarmedia.com

Community photo ORIBFEN EIAFTSLV RIKFWEOR

Send photos and captions of things going on in the neighborhood to info@chicagostarmedia.com for a chance for your photo to be featured.

The freedom to live as one desires: Previous puzzle answer: A peaceful place of extreme beauty: PARADISE

WHERE AM I? Do you know where this is?

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Answer to previous Where am I? Garfield Park Observatory.

The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois hosted a walk in Lincoln Park raising over $230K for the nonprofit with 1200 in attendance. Shown here is the walk’s largest team, Team Joaquin (Brieva).

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Navy Pier is the place to be for exciting outdoor events and free programs!

There’s truly something for everyone at Chicago’s top lakefront destination.

Our calendar is packed with exciting events all summer long. Free weekly programming includes outdoor live music, DJs, movies, workouts and dance performances. For a special end to your evening, don’t miss Navy Pier’s iconic fireworks display that lights up the sky every Wednesday and Saturday.

View our full calendar of exciting outdoor events and free programming and plan your visit at navypier.org/events

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