Geneva Lake Area Magazine
Meet Hollywood actor/writer Thomas Lennon and his wife, Jenny Robertson
Our guide to delicious autumn foods from local purveyors
OUR 11TH ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OF DOGS HAVING THEIR DAY IN THE SUN
WE LIVE HERE. WE WORK HERE. WE’RE LAKE GENEVA’S REAL ESTATE MARKET EXPERTS.
880 West Main Street, Lake Geneva
When I was about 11 or 12, my mom took me to see Noël Coward’s classic play, “Blithe Spirit” at The Belfry Theatre. I remember the box office in the old church pulpit, and the dark and intimate theater space with its hard bench seating, but I also remember the magic of being transported to another place and time without leaving Williams Bay. The Belfry has been transporting people in this way for more than 90 years, and, in doing so, it famously launched the careers of Hollywood superstars Paul Newman and Harrison Ford. In this issue, writer Kate Gardiner revisits the history of this special place, and learns more about its identity today, following a big, state-of-the-art renovation and the recent addition of luxury hotel accommodations and upscale dining (page 54).
Speaking of Hollywood actors, we can’t wait to introduce you to writer and actor Thomas Lennon and his wife, actress Jenny Robertson (page 34). The couple now calls the south shore of Geneva Lake home, along with their son and one very cute rescue pup named Mimi. We loved hearing about the Lennon family’s generational ties to the area, as well as their favorite spots to eat, drink and shop.
Of course it wouldn’t be autumn here at At The Lake without our annual Lake Dogs portfolio, and this year’s feature is bigger and better than ever (page 42)! We had more than 100 entries during our official Lake Dogs submission period last spring, and the 23 dogs we selected this year represent an incredibly wide range of breeds and sizes. Our second annual People’s Choice poll drew more than 1,400 votes — we think you’ll love this year’s winner(page 45)! And mark your calendar for next March, when the submission period will open once again. In the meantime, get out with your four-legged friends and enjoy all that autumn has to offer in the Geneva Lake area.
Anne Morrissy Editor anne@ntmediagroup.com
For additional glimpses of life At The Lake, including photos, videos and behind-the-scenes peeks, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Working on the annual Lake Dogs portfolio (page 42) is like a daily burst of sunshine. Ollie the cavapoo agrees.
As a bourbon lover, I like to mix an old-fashioned next to a backyard firepit. For more fall bonfire inspo, check out page 110!
There are so many things to love about autumn, but apple cider doughnuts are high on my list. Can’t wait to dig into all of the seasonal treats featured in our guide to local fall foods (page 129).
At The Lake® magazine is published quarterly and available free of charge at select businesses and newsstands — a $6 value per issue. Why not have it delivered to your door? For a one-year subscription (4 issues), send $24.95 to Nei-Turner Media Group, 400 Broad St., Lake Geneva, WI 53147 or call 262-729-4471.
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42
Our 11th annual portfolio of canine companions living their best lake lives.
By Holly Leitner
34 Scene Setting
By Amanda N. Wegner
54
The Belfry’s Big Comeback
Once a revered theater that attracted future Hollywood stars, the Belfry Music Theatre continues to draw crowds today. By Kate Gardiner
90 History in the Making Tour a historic home that has been newly refreshed by its fourth-generation owners. By Lauren Eve
PUBLISHER Barbara Krause bak@ntmediagroup.com
EDITOR Anne Morrissy anne@ntmediagroup.com
ART DIRECTOR Lauren Harrigan lharrigan@ntmediagroup.com
PHOTOGRAPHER & IMAGE EDITOR Holly Leitner holly@ntmediagroup.com
DIGITAL DIRECTOR Kristen Rouse krouse@ntmediagroup.com
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ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Deann Hausner deann@ntmediagroup.com
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ACCOUNTING Nadine Seitz accounting@ntmediagroup.com
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l Bejeweled
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l Don Vito’s Infused Olive Oil Emporium
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l Mahler Sotheby’s International Realty
l Paws for Treats
l Potbelly Sandwich Works
l Rock Garden for Lake Geneva
l SoHo Boutique
For many generations, Lutherdale on Lauderdale Lakes has provided summer camp experiences and outdoor activities for kids.
Historic Lutherdale camp celebrates 80 years of service
BY KATIE SCRIVANO
Originally founded on Lauderdale Lakes near Elkhorn in 1944 as a Lutheran faith-based summer camp for kids, Lutherdale marks its 80th anniversary in 2024 with a year-long celebration, inviting camp alumni and residents to share memories and experience the many new offerings that go beyond youth services.
With a campus spanning 52 acres along the shores of Lauderdale Lakes, Lutherdale is well-known for its youth camps, welcoming more than 400
currents new & noteworthy
kids each summer, with even more attending specialty partner programs, such as “Camp Hero” — a grant-funded experience to benefit kids who have a loved one incarcerated. Lutherdale’s camp property features both land- and water-based adventure activities that range from archery to a three-sided climbing tower to a high-challenge course and zipline — all designed to boost kids’ confidence in trying new things.
Tracy Polzin, who was named the camp’s first female executive director two years ago, says that while the camp has made ongoing renovations throughout the years, one of the more recent and major additions to the camp’s footprint is the HOPE conference center, an ADA-accessible space which sleeps up to 100 people. This new, hotelstyle conference center space for large group gatherings opened in late
2021. “It’s a space geared for adults and families that’s on one level and very accessible to all,” Polzin says. “Now that we have this space, it expands the amount of people and type of events we can host.”
Polzin says that looking back on the camp’s 80-year history, today’s staff are grateful for the original vision of
the founders, as well as those who continue to make camp a reality for so many kids. “While the facility and activities have changed over the years, much of the same is true — kids need a place to connect with nature, God and one another and to experience life-changing adventure and opportunities to learn and grow together,” Polzin says. “We hear
those same things from many — that their faith was built here. They could try new things and gain confidence, learning that they were able to do more than they thought they could.”
The camp’s year-long anniversary celebration kicked off in April with a worship service with people coming together to share memory boards, photos and special quilt squares to commemorate the milestone. In June, more than 23 different summer ministries joined a special staff alumni reunion, and a quilt auction took place in early August.
Anniversary celebrations will culminate this October with a daylong “Fall Fest” on Saturday, Oct. 26, that will include a fun run, pancake breakfast, food trucks and a special collaboration with nearby Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company to offer commemorative cans. For more information, visit lutherdale.org.
Last summer, Grand Geneva celebrated the opening of a new employee housing facility on its property
BY ANNE MORRISSY
In June, representatives from Grand Geneva Resort & Spa and Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark hosted more than 80 members of the community — including Grand Geneva associates, interns, student
residents and managers, as well as representatives from Marcus Hotels & Resorts, VISIT Lake Geneva, Walworth County, the Town of Lyons, the Lake Geneva Utility Commission, the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance, Tri-North Construction and Gary Brink & Associates — at the ribboncutting for The Commons at Grand Geneva, a new associate housing complex on the resort’s property. The three-story building on Sheridan Springs Road, across from the employee entrance to the resort, will provide housing for up to one year for employees of Grand Geneva and Timber Ridge.
The Commons at Grand Geneva can accommodate up to 172 employees in 4-bedroom units. Each unit comes with its own living space, including a kitchen, living room and bathroom. In addition, the building provides a shared community room featuring a large kitchen, community table, lounge area with multiple televisions and game tables, plus a laundry area, fitness studio, outdoor patio area with grills and a general recreation area. Associates moved into the newly opened space around June 15th.
As property values in the Geneva Lake area have increased in recent years, the challenge of finding affordable housing for employees serving in the tourism industry has increased as well. “Resort towns, famous for their vacation amenities, face a peculiar paradox,” writes Dr. Thomas J. Powell, a senior adviser with The Brehon Group, a consultancy specializing in entrepreneurial fundraising. “They thrive on a robust service industry that demands a large workforce, yet the high cost of real estate driven by vacation homes and rentals prices out this very workforce.”
In response to this paradox, resorts like Grand Geneva have, in recent years, begun offering more on-site housing for employees, particularly seasonal workers or those employed on temporary work visas from other countries. The new Commons at Grand Geneva offers the newest and most amenity-filled such option for employee housing.
The concept of resort campus employee housing is not new to the Grand Geneva property, however.
When Hugh Hefner first built the resort as the first Playboy ClubHotel in 1968, the campus contained an employee housing facility known as the “Bunny Dorm,” where many of the female employees hired as Playboy Bunnies lived under the supervision of “Bunny Mother” Gail Frantz, an employee living arrangement that was featured recently in a bestselling novel by Christina Clancy, “Shoulder Season.”
In the June ceremony to open the new associate housing, Grand Geneva Managing Director Skip Harless cited the resort’s ongoing commitment to providing temporary housing for employees. “This is more than just a building; it represents our dedication to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for our associates,” he declared. “By offering these accommodations, we aim to make the transition easier for those relocating to the area and to enhance the overall experience of our associates during their time with us … today, we celebrate not just the opening of a building, but a new chapter in our ongoing commitment to our associates and our business in this community.”
Lake Geneva School of Cooking to move into newly built facility
BY ANNE MORRISSY
After 16 years of teaching cooking classes in a space inside the former Baptist Church in downtown Lake
Geneva, Chef John Bogan will move his popular Lake Geneva School of Cooking into a new facility near the entrance to Geneva National on Lake Como.
Bogan says the move has been a dream for over five years, and will allow him to accommodate more guests in a space custom-designed for the needs of his cooking school. “I looked at this property 5 years ago, with [architect] Scott Lowell, and I loved it, but it just wasn’t the right time to move yet,” he explains. “And then when the pandemic hit, it put my plans on hold for a while. So then last year when I started looking at moving again, Scott said, ‘You know, that property is still available.’ It felt like it was kind of supposed to be.”
Bogan worked with Addis Architecture and Doomis Custom Builders to design a custom space that would feel like “an upscale lakefront home,” while still containing everything necessary to teach cooking classes. “It’s going to feel like a new home,” he explains. “I wanted it to feel like people are coming into your home, not like they’re coming in to a teaching kitchen at a tech school.”
To achieve this, Bogan says the design team created a footprint that allows for group cooking classes in a state-of-the-art kitchen, but also incorporates an elegant dining room where students can enjoy the reward of their hard work in a warm and welcoming environment. “It’s
still going to be intimate, we really wanted that,” he continues. “We’re not a restaurant; it’s like you’re in my home, entertaining together. We’ll have the kitchen that feels like a lakefront home, and then you go to the dining room for dinner. This food warrants going to the dining room. The food’s the best part.”
Bogan says he thinks students will be very impressed with the design of the new space. New neighbors Bella Tile and Stone are designing a custom tile hood for the range. “We incorporated about a half a dozen, ‘Oh, wow!’ factors in there,” he explains. “We have some things in [the new space] that no one else has in the whole world … It’s pretty exciting how it’s all coming together.”
The last event Bogan will host at the downtown Lake Geneva location will take place on Oct. 10, and he expects the Lake Geneva School of
Cooking to move shortly after that. The chef says he is targeting a date in mid-November for a grand reopening, giving him plenty of time to get ready for the busy holiday season. “Our New Year’s Eve classes are always extremely popular,” he says. “Starting on Dec. 27, we run six classes through New Year’s Eve, so that will be a big introduction for people to see the new space.” He
notes that registration for the New Year’s Eve classes will be posted on the Lake Geneva School of Cooking website after Labor Day.
For those worried they won’t be able to enjoy Chef Bogan’s food and friendly instruction during the transition, he suggests picking up a copy of his cookbook, “Chef Bogan: Recipes from the Seasons of My Life.”
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BY AMANDA N. WEGNER
Visitors and residents to the Lake Geneva area should feel a bit safer with Lt. Jim Dangle keeping an eye on the lake and local community. Or maybe not.
Writer and actor Tom Lennon (the man behind the hit comedy “Reno 911!” and its too-short-shorts-wearing lead character, Lt. Dangle), along with his wife, Jenny Robertson and their son, now call Geneva Lake’s south shore home. With a longtime connection to the area that dates to Lennon’s childhood, the couple decided to leave the hustle of Los Angeles at the height of the pandemic and moved here for a quieter, richer life. “It’s just a magnificent place, Lake Geneva,” says Lennon. “I don’t think you’ll find any other place in the country quite like this.”
Lennon is originally from Oak Park, Illinois, and grew up visiting his grandmother in the summers in the Geneva Lake area, first at a rented house in Fontana’s Buena Vista Club, and later at the home she purchased in the nearby Glenwood Springs subdivision. Eventually, Lennon’s parents bought a house in Williams Bay. “We are a big, Irish family,” he explains. “We ended up spending all of our summers and lots of our winters at the house in Glenwood Springs. And that’s really when I got my bond with the lake, coming here in the ‘80s and ‘90s.”
His grandmother’s house in Glenwood Springs was the same one that Robertson visited when Lennon first brought her to the area early in their relationship. (They also went to the Walworth County Fair on that trip.) In fact, she explains, that visit was the first time she had ever been to Wisconsin. “I grew up in Cincinnati,” Robertson says. “My family didn’t get to travel as much, but when we did, it was always south and east, so I had never been to Wisconsin — I had never even been to Chicago! — until I met Tom in 2000.”
Lennon’s time in the area in his youth helped forge a love for the area. “Being here made me love two things,” he says. “I love being at the lake, but the main thing it made me love was being at the lake in the wintertime. It’s my favorite time at the lake by a factor of like 10.”
“We’re winter lake people,” adds Robertson. And that comes on the heels of living in Los Angeles for 20 years. “We moved here after living in hot, hot Los Angeles, where the weather never changes. And so, our first full year here in 2020, all the memories from childhood and the seasons came rushing back.”
Their years in Los Angeles may have been devoid of seasons, but it brought Lennon and Robertson a lot of professional success in the movie industry. Lennon says he started out in high school “very involved” in theater, which led him to NYU for college. Initially, he thought he would be a serious stage actor, but that changed when he became part of a comedy group called The State, which he is still part of. “I have basically spent the rest of my life — or at least my life so far — both in comedies and writing comedies,” he says.
An original painting by Lennon’s father of the house in Fontana where Lennon’s grandmother lived for many summers (top). Lennon and Water Safety Patrol director Ted Pankau at the Nautical Night Benefit in 2023 (middle). The cover of Lennon’s book,
That includes writing movies — that have actually been made. “When you’re a writer, you have to clarify, ‘movies that got made,’ because a lot of people write movies, but not everybody writes movies that get made,” Lennon explains. “Those are very different things.” He has also written several TV shows, in part with his work with The State. That includes “Viva Variety,” a sketch comedy show that aired on Comedy Central, which eventually led to the show he is perhaps best known for: “Reno 911!”
“Reno 911!” is a partially improvised comedy that features a ragtag team of somewhat incompetent police officers responding to 911 calls; it was originally conceived as a comical parody of the show “Cops.” Co-created by Lennon along with Robert Ben Garant and Kerri Kenney-Silver, it ran for six seasons on Comedy Central. After a 10year hiatus, it was revived for another two seasons on other platforms. There are also three “Reno 911!” movies. The success of “Reno 911!” led to other high-profile acting roles for Lennon: a guest appearance on “Friends” as Joey’s Hand Twin; Matthew Perry’s best friend in the movie “17 Again”; and, recently, the German scientist Harold von Braunhut in Jerry Seinfeld’s starstudded directorial debut, “Unfrosted.”
Robertson has also worked as an actress, first in theater and then film. After spending a year at Actors Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky, she pursued an acting career in New York for 10 years. Lennon was also there around the same time, and while they had many mutual friends, they never met. It was not until each moved to California, around the same time, that they first connected.
“I never studied film; I had never even thought about how a film was made,” says Robertson. “Like Tom, I thought I would do dramatic theater the rest of my life and live in the Village in an apartment with four other actors. Obviously, that’s not how it turned out.”
That’s not how it turned out at all, and Lennon says that, based on the
amount of fan mail they receive, Robertson is the real star power of the family. Most notably, she played Millie in the 1988 romantic sports comedy hit “Bull Durham,” alongside Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon. “She gets 100 times more fan mail than me,” says Lennon, giving his wife a loving smile. “Jenny was in a very, very, very big movie that looms large in many people’s minds.”
Robertson decided to stop acting after their son was born, noting that the roles she was auditioning for weren’t worth the time away from her young son. “I would have to drive across town to audition and miss a whole day of my son’s life. And I’d hear him out there, taking his first step with the babysitter while I’m getting my hair done. I didn’t want to miss that.”
As for “Reno 911!”, Lennon says he still writes and performs on the show “here and there,” but much of what he does now is writing movies and books, including the Ronan Boyle young adult novel series, which features a young recruit to the Irish leprechaun police force. He’s adapting the first novel into a movie. “But as they say,” he notes, “these things take time.”
He says that Lake Geneva is the perfect backdrop for the quiet, creative space needed for this pursuit. “A lot of people think of me as an actor, which certainly I am,” he says. “But for most of my career, 70 percent of what I’ve really done is writing. It’s easier to do [this work] here because the days are really peaceful. It’s a very, very good place to write.”
A “GO-GO” FOR CHARITY
Lennon’s “Reno 911!” character is so beloved that he keeps a few spare costumes on hand to reprise his role as Lt. Dangle for local charity events. “Yep, I’ve got a few in a closet,” he explains. “They’re all slightly different sizes because we’ve been doing it for so long. We started doing the show when I was 28 … luckily some of the shirts have a little stretch in them,” he adds with a chuckle.
The couple often focuses on events that support law enforcement or local safety charities, as it dovetails well with the character. “We have good law enforcement agencies here,” he says. “We’re friendly with them, and my general rule is that if law enforcement asks me to do it, the answer is always, ‘Of course.’” Last year, Ted Pankau, director of the Water Safety Patrol, asked Lennon to step into character to help get people’s attention at the Patrol’s annual Nautical Night Benefit and Auction.
“I was the hype man — ‘Pay attention! This is the police!’” Lennon laughs. “Apparently, we did break a record that night, so I wonder if I will be asked to do it again. It’s a very long night, for sure. And it’s a very tight outfit.”
The first year the couple was in the area, the manager of the Lake Geneva Walmart asked Lennon if he wanted to do a book signing at the store. He declined the book signing but said he’d do a charity event instead. The manager suggested Lennon work at a register dressed as Lt. Dangle, and allow people to donate to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. “I was like, ‘Yeah, absolutely, let’s do that,’” recalls Lennon. “But it was probably the hardest day of work of my entire life. And mostly because I’m terrible at math. It was a very long day. I have a lot of respect for the Walmart cashiers.”
Of course, not everyone recognizes Lennon’s keystone character. For instance, he shared the story of working as a bartender, in costume, on Gage Marine’s wooden yacht, the Matriarch, as part of a Water Safety Patrol fundraiser.
“I go over to Bill Gage’s house — he and his wife are the kindest people — and we were having a great laugh,” Lennon remembers. “Then we get on the boat and pick up all the guests, who, you know, purchased a night on the boat for a commensurate amount of money. And as I see them coming down the gangway, I know for a fact, from the look on their faces, that not one of these people has ever heard of the character of Lt. Dangle. They all think I’m either some sort of actual police officer or maybe a Chippendales dancer. Not one hint of recognition. So basically, I was just a real bartender, but in short go-go shorts, with a gun.”
still travels back to Los Angeles occasionally, “for all extents and purposes, we’re here full-time now,” says Lennon.
The couple is enthusiastic about the area, listing the many things they love about it, including the great people, the amenities and the recreational and entertainment options available. They’re frequent visitors to the local library and Lake Geneva’s Emagine movie theater, which Lennon describes as, “hands-down the best movie theater in America.”
Regardless of how these events land, one thing remains clear: Lennon and Robertson are deeply appreciative of and committed to the Geneva Lake community. And while the couple
They are also huge fans of Tristan Crist’s magic show in Lake Geneva; Lennon enthuses that the finale of Crist’s new show is the best magic they’ve ever seen. They are also friends with the site director at Black Point Estate and regularly attend events there. Robertson loves the farmers’ markets and raves about Sandy’s Upscale Consignment in Walworth. And then there’s the Owl Tavern. “It is probably our favorite little tavern in America,” says Robertson.
Fontana’s Little Bar and Oakfire Pizza in Lake Geneva are top favorites as well. “This area has everything you need and nothing you don’t,” says Lennon.
It’s also inherently beautiful, adds Robertson: “I was driving to Elkhorn yesterday, and I was getting tears because it was just so beautiful. The sky. Everything is so green. That’s never going to happen in Los Angeles. You’re never going to get something like this. It’s just such a beautiful place ... it’s really the best place to be.”
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Check out our divisions:
Creative Edge Art Gallery, 144 E. Main St., Twin Lakes, WI (M-F 9am-4pm) which honors and supports local artists.
Creative Log & Lumber which celebrates and utilizes urban lumber resources.
We may be biased, but we think one of the best parts of fall is our annual Lake Dogs photo portfolio. Now in its 11th year, our feature of lake-loving pups is more popular than ever. This year, we received over 100 entries during the official, six-week submission period, a Lake Dogs record! The selection committee had an extremely difficult time narrowing the submissions down to the 23 dogs you see here.
This year’s Lake Dogs represent a wide range of breeds and sizes, from the hulking Dino (page 49) to the teacupsized Lucy Lu (page 46). We are also thrilled to announce the winner of our second annual People’s Choice poll (page 45). To all the dog lovers out there, here’s to another season ... At The Lake!
3-year-old French Bulldog
Family
The Grant Family
Personality Traits
Loving, sleepy, cuddly
Favorite Lake Activities
Going on the boat, riding around the lake in his life jacket
Pet Peeve
Crying — he doesn’t like when people are sad
Naughtiest Deed
Pooping while on an escalator
8-year-old & 2-year-old Old English Sheepdogs
Family
The Hertel Family
Personality Traits
Coach: The wise older brother — old soul, loving, loyal, protective and stubborn
Penelope: The wild little sister — sweet, sassy, loving, devoted to her humans
Favorite Lake Activities
They both enjoy long walks along the Shore Path
Pet Peeve
When the other is getting more attention or when they are more than 2 feet away from their humans at any time
Naughtiest Deed
Ferociously barking at any UPS, FedEx, Amazon delivery truck and not letting them up the driveway
1½-year-old Mini Bernedoodle
Family
Angela & Steve Green
Personality Traits
Miss Smarty-Paws who enjoys car rides and vacay vibes; always ready for a new adventure
Favorite Lake Activities
A social butterfly on the Shore Path — people, kids, dogs ... bring ‘em on!
Pet Peeve
Loud noises: thunder, vacuums, leaf blowers. Although, Jazzy doesn’t mind loud cheering when her “paw-rents” and their friends are watching sports
Naughtiest Deed
A master sock and scrunchie thief
14-year-old Shih Tzu mix
Family
Joe & Monica Kroupa
Personality Traits
Loving, independent and loyal
Favorite Lake Activities
Hanging out on her water mat off the back of our boat!
Pet Peeve
Rain and thunder
Naughtiest Deed
Barking at strangers
3-year-old English Cream Golden Retriever
Family
The Cotton Family
Personality Traits
Gentle, loving and very, very needy
Favorite Lake Activities
Walking the Shore Path
Pet Peeve Fireworks
Naughtiest Deed Stealing socks!
2-year-old Tea Cup Pomeranian
Family
Greg & Kimberley Cassa
Personality Traits
“Paws”-itively adorable little fluffball that is impossible to resist
Favorite Lake Activities
Lucy loves cruising around Fontana’s lakeside in her stroller, popping into Fontana Home for a quick visit before finishing off her ride at Kimkasi Pub for a ‘puppytini’ during happy hour!
Pet Peeve
When her puppy sisters steal her bones
Naughtiest Deed
Lucy loves to bark uncontrollably when she’s not invited for a day/night out on the town
2-year-old Rescue
Family
The Furlo Family
Personality Traits
Playful and fun; lazy and food-motivated
Favorite Lake Activities
Boat rides with her people
Pet Peeve
Too much attention and plain kibble (without extras on top)
Naughtiest Deed
Escaping the fence and running around the neighborhood like it’s a game
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Everett Oliver Todd Krause
8-year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel
Family
The Krause Family
Personality Traits
Lazy; high-maintenance; cautious, but cuddly
Favorite Lake Activities
Jumping in the lake to fetch a tennis ball his family tosses into the water
Pet Peeve
When he can’t catch his bunny friends
Naughtiest Deed
Eating paper — ANY type of paper
8-year-old English Cream Golden Retriever & 6-year-old Beagle/Boxer Mix (both are rescue dogs)
Family: Karen & David Rappaport | Personality Traits: Ryder: “Peace, Love and Understanding”; Layla: “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”
Favorite Lake Activities: Ryder: Frolicking on the beach without getting so much as a paw wet! Layla: Sunbathing — if her brother isn’t going in the water, neither is she | Pet Peeves: When their usual UPS delivery bestie sends a substitute who forgets to bring treats
Naughtiest Deed: Ryder: Hiding unapproved items in his mouth while his guilty eyes give him up; Layla: Constantly arguing with the deer and turkeys about who is the boss of the neighborhood. Layla prevails every time, at least in her mind.
9-year-old German Shepherd
Family
Angie & Steve Mack
Personality Traits
Social; loves people
Favorite Lake Activities Boating
Pet Peeve
People sitting in her chair
Naughtiest Deed Whines
7-year-old Dogo Argentino
Family
Justin Basler
Personality Traits Chill
Favorite Lake Activities
Wading in the water by the west end pier dog park in Lake Geneva
Pet Peeve
People walking past the window: he’s a guard dog, so with anyone walking on his territory, Dino will intimidate and let them know whose property it is and not to come too close
Naughtiest Deed Drooling
1½-year-old Weimaraners
Family
Jake Buhmann & Veronica Kopec
Personality Traits
Ollie: Sweet and fun-loving; Beau: Energetic and cuddly
Favorite Lake Activities
Jumping off the back of the boat to see who gets the toy first
Pet Peeve
Ollie: Getting his bone stolen by Beau; Beau: Not getting all the attention
Naughtiest Deed
Ollie: Taking up too much room on the couch; Beau: Stealing shoes
7-year-old Saint Bernard
Family
Michael & Colleen Stewart
Personality Traits
Sensitive and charming
Favorite Lake Activities
Boat rides
Pet Peeve
Strangers walking on his road
Naughtiest Deed
Drooling on everyone
(Cover Dog)
10-year-old Rescue
Family
Keith & Robin Nuzzo
Personality Traits
Persistent
Favorite Lake Activities
Kayaking
Pet Peeve
When her favorite ball is under the furniture
Naughtiest Deed
Pushing her favorite ball under the furniture!
Following a renovation and reinvention, the historic local theater that launched the careers of midcentury stars continues to draw crowds today
BY KATE GARDINER
My parents will tell you: The Belfry Music Theatre’s nationally renowned tribute bands are some of the hottest tickets in town.
The historic campus just north of Williams Bay does an almost year-round business in live music, with more than 100 performances per year in its 240-seat theater. These performances lean heavily toward tribute bands — everything from five-day residencies by Eagles cover bands to new Joni Mitchell tribute artists like Kiki Ebsen. The formula has proved extremely popular, with most shows sold out weeks in advance thanks to an avid group of subscribers and ticket-holding supporters. Fans come from all over the world — including from as far away as Australia and Japan. Many enjoy reservations at the theater’s two on-site restaurants, and some even stay at the new, luxury Belfry House hotel next to the theater.
In fact, today’s iteration of the Belfry inspires ardent fans and loyal supporters. “We go almost every night they’re open,” says Lake Geneva resident Henri Savage, who is well-known to the all-volunteer staff as perhaps the most frequent attendee, along with her husband Richard. “There are so many good bands playing the music I listen to all the time. I sit there, close my eyes and let the music fill my soul, just like I did back in my hippie days.”
Former Badger High School teacher and Lake Geneva resident Sally Roth leads the volunteer efforts. “We had three volunteers to start, and we spent three years waiting out the theater’s renovation,” said Roth. “Today I have a waiting list, and more than 65 volunteers who help with every show.”
Despite its unquestionable success as an entertainment venue today, the Belfry wasn’t always a local mecca for hospitality and nostalgic music. The building itself started life in 1888 as a Mormon Church at nearby DeLap’s Corner in an area then known as East Delavan, before it was moved to its present-day location. In 1934, it became home to the Belfry Players, a summer stock theater group originally
organized by the Lake Geneva Drama Club, showcasing future talent thanks to a robust scholarship program and the national pull of theater legends summering in the area.
“Part of the attraction of the Belfry was the proximity of the theater to folks like Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne,” says Roth. “Their home, Ten Chimneys in Genesee Depot, hosted all sorts of acting programs on site, as it continues to do today.”
The Belfry Players began performing at least three plays a year, eventually stabilizing at six productions every summer by the 1960s. This high volume of work, and the presence of legendary Belfry director William “Bill” Fucik, cemented The Belfry’s reputation as one of the best summer stock training theaters in the Midwest.
Eventual screen legend Paul Newman found his way to Williams Bay in 1948, between his junior and senior years at Kenyon College in Ohio. According to the biography “Paul Newman: A Life,” Newman was given a coveted roomand-board scholarship to act at the Belfry, spending his nights at the Lazy Cloud Inn and his days rehearsing and learning to direct plays. The following summer, Newman returned to the Belfry, playing the lead in the theater’s production of Tennessee Williams’s seminal work “The Glass Menagerie” — a harbinger of Newman’s film career to come — and directing other shows, including Noel Coward comedies, Agatha Christie murder mysteries and serious plays by Williams and Arthur Miller.
On the Belfry stage in 1949, he met and fell in love with another aspiring actor: Beloit native Jacqueline Witte. Newman and Witte married at the end of the season, on December 27, and soon took off for Hollywood, a series of events that would eventually lead to one of Hollywood’s most heated love triangles by the early 1950s. When Newman finally split with Witte to marry his second wife, Joanne Woodward, Witte returned
A 1930s-era program for the Belfry Players featured a drawing of the church building (left). The Belfry Theatre as it appeared in 1939 (below). A program from the 1949 season featured a head shot of future movie star Paul Newman above a local ad for Wolff & Case Hardware Co. (bottom photo).
to southeastern Wisconsin to raise the couple’s children.
“Star Wars” legend Harrison Ford also began his path to professional acclaim and young love at the Belfry. “The story goes that Harry Ford (he was going by Harry then) came down from Ripon College, where he was failing out of his senior year, to audition as both an actor and a carpenter,” says Roth. “They offered him the job — in part because he could help build the stage — and he said he couldn’t start until Monday because he had plans over the weekend. When he showed up the following Monday, he was a newlywed, just married to his first wife, fellow Ripon undergrad and chef Mary Marquardt. She became ‘chief cook and bottle washer’ at the box office while supporting Harry’s acting education — he’d only had one quarter-long class in acting at Ripon at that point.”
Ford appeared as a resident actor
in six plays in 1964 — including his ‘honeymoon’ role in “Take Her, She’s Mine.” At the end of the season, legend has it, the couple packed up their car and drove west to Hollywood.
Gary Burghoff, who played “Radar O’Reilly” on TV’s hit sitcom “M*A*S*H,” got his start at the Belfry’s summer stock program as a high school sophomore from Delavan, in part thanks to his mother’s contributions to the theater as a choreographer. Hard-working Burghoff mowed the theater’s lawn in between his stage roles, including a turn as Bobby in “The Boy Friend.” Many years later, in 2016, Burghoff sent a note to Roth, the volunteer coordinator, apologizing for missing a fundraiser supporting the theater. “The Belfry Theatre has given a start to SO MANY young actors along with providing great entertainment year after year,” he wrote.
In 1950, the Belfry Players added dormitory-style housing next to the theater with the addition of Crane Hall, which had been donated and carefully moved to the site from nearby Crane Farms. The building, renamed the Belfry House, provided much-needed housing for the visiting actors, directors and guests.
But despite the theater’s success as a midcentury training ground for young Hollywood stars, the Belfry struggled to remain profitable in the long run. By 1969, it was crippled by overwhelming debt and at risk of destruction thanks to a highway-widening project that expanded Highway 67 further into the theater’s front yard. The property fell into disuse, used for only occasional productions but no longer home to a thriving summer stock community.
“M*A*S*H” star and Belfry Theatre alum Gary Burghoff sent his regrets to volunteer coordinator Sally Roth in 2016, apologizing for missing a fundraiser but writing that he has “such fond memories” of his time at the theater.
In 1976, the Belfry was reborn, this time as Dobama West, a collaboration between Cleveland’s legendary Dobama Theater and the Southern Lakes Reparatory Group. The new production company revived traditional plays and high–powered musicals like “Oklahoma!”, “The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd” and “Side by Side” by Stephen Sondheim. However, despite its ambitious start, the collaboration lasted only three seasons.
The theater closed again in 1979. Sporadic productions and youth theater programs persisted through the 1980s. In the 1990s, the venue served as the home of The Eddie Cash Show, featuring the rockabilly legend who hosted his eponymous musical variety act on stage, bringing the music of legends like Buddy Holly, Tom Jones, Bobby Vinton and Roy Orbison to the stage for live and recorded performances.
By 2013, the theater had been dormant for over a decade and was ready for change. A new owner, Transformative Arts, stepped in, envisioning a community space and state-of-the-art home for music and performance that would appeal to local residents and the significant summer tourist market. The project started with a rehabilitation of the building, and quickly grew to encompass the entire campus.
That first season featured just 13 performances from tribute bands. The first show, featuring a Beatles tribute band, with the audience seated in lawn chairs, sold out completely. Today, the calendar has expanded to more than 100 shows per year and the seating has been upgraded to comfortable theater seating.
Many visitors drive more than an hour to see their favorite shows. Around 65 percent of ticket holders come from all over Illinois and southeast Wisconsin to see bands ranging from a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute to a Cher tribute to 1960s pop group The Buckinghams.
“I’m excited to play places like the Belfry,” says Kiki Ebsen, daughter of television actor Buddy Ebsen and star of a Joni Mitchell tribute act. “It’s a perfect fit because of the intimacy of the room, and because it’s so gorgeous. It’s a great time for Joni to get more exposure — and perfect for someone like me who is flying in from California to play just the one show.”
“The sound system is impressive for a small rural theater,” explains Brahm Sheray, the bass player for Jimmy Buffett tribute band Adventures in Parrotdise. “The Belfry is an unexpected, historic gem. The sound system is modern and the sound
state-of-the-
and sound
The Belfry House hotel, along with Opus and Bistro67, provide luxury accommodations and dining options on site.
is clear. The lighting is impressive without being distracting, and the crowds are outstanding.”
Frequent theater-goers also enjoy the sugar rush that comes with every performance: during the show, volunteers serve chocolate-chip and oatmeal cookies from Daniels’ Foods in Walworth and the finale is followed by complimentary Dove Bars for every patron. “People tell me that we should make t-shirts that say, ‘I’m at the Belfry for the music — but I stay for the Dove Bars,’” laughs Roth.
The Belfry also hosts local fundraisers for nonprofits like the Treehouse Child and Family Center, and they were the first-choice venue to premiere the documentary “Buddy Melges: The Wizard of Zenda” in 2023.
The most recent updates to the Belfry campus took place in 2020 to the former dormitory building. After exploring the option of converting it into a luxury hotel, the owners opted instead for a historic reconstruction, tearing down the original building and replacing it with a new, luxury boutique hotel built on the same footprint and with many of the same exterior details as the original. Rooms feature heated bathroom floors and en-suite fireplaces.
The new hotel also contains a fine dining restaurant, Opus at the Belfry House, which features a refined 5- and 7-course tasting menu available on the weekends. The building is also home to Bistro67, a restaurant on the hotel’s patio. In both dining experiences, Woodstock-based chef Eric Feldbusch, who joined the hotel in March 2024, crafts exciting menus for theater-goers and other diners.
“The Bistro is a great outdoor patio — we’ve had dinner there a lot,” says Savage, the Belfry superfan. “The hotel has a comfortable, romantic ambience. Sitting outside on the patio, looking at the stars at night — we love it. It’s our place for entertainment, and what we do all summer.”
KLM Builders raises the bar on new-build amenities in their Pasadena II Ranch model home
Since 1987, Kim Meier and his team at KLM Builders and Remodelers have been providing homeowners with well-defined and -constructed homes at an incredible value. The company’s motto, “Our standards are others’ options,” rings true in every home construction project they handle.
Partnering with homeowners throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, KLM Builders offers a wealth of single-family home designs that reflect what today’s homeowners are seeking. From charming, smaller-scale, ranch-style homes to expansive, two-story gems, KLM offers something for everyone.
One of KLM Builders’ much-celebrated recent model homes is located in Richmond, Illinois. Called the Pasadena II Ranch, this modern farmhouse-style design, situated on one acre in the Preservation Oaks development, boasts 2,100 square feet and exudes a stunning open concept plan. Designed for homeowners who enjoy unique architectural details, this three-bedroom layout features an expansive floor plan with upgraded finishes throughout.
The home’s foyer includes a stepped ceiling complete with LED lighting that complements the home’s open, airy feel. The flex room adjacent to the foyer is ideal for a dining room
or home office. As you venture further into the home, the great room features towering vaulted ceilings, complete with shiplap and classic oak beams connecting the great room to the kitchen to create an expansive yet inviting space. The state-of-the-art kitchen features stone countertops, maple cabinetry, a nine-foot island, a custom wood hood over the cooktop and additional LED lighting to further illuminate the space. The delightful morning room can be used as a screened porch or a quiet, relaxing space year-round.
“The fireplace of this home features a 42-inch wide firebox, that not only features a great flame pattern, but it provides a lot of heat into the space,” Meier says.“We also incorporated a split-faced travertine marble face that gives a little bit of a rustic touch.”
Throughout the home, the finishing elements include interior baseboards that feature modern farmhouse style, with square, simple lines. The home’s wide-plank laminate flooring by Mannington looks exactly like hardwood, yet is waterproof, scratch-resistant and extremely durable, making it an ideal choice for families with young children, pets or grandchildren.
The three-bedroom, ranch house design includes the soughtafter split bedroom design — with two guest bedrooms on one side of the home, and the owner’s suite on the opposite side. A stunning, dual-crown molding effect complements the stepped ceiling in the owner’s suite. In addition, KLM
incorporated an awe-inspiring feature “headboard” wall that is framed out with panels and finished in a semi-gloss paint.
The beautiful primary bath is the ideal space to relax and unwind. Complete with his-and-hers vanities with undermount cast iron bowls, the bath also features a unique center tower between the two vanities that provides additional storage. A stone quartz backsplash and a beautiful porcelain tile floor are durable surfaces that don’t require maintenance. The oversized shower features a convenient seating space, and there is a separate toilet closet. The area is complete with a walk-in closet as well as a linen closet for additional storage.
On the opposite side of the home, there are two guest bedrooms and a full bath, which boasts the ever-popular twoby-four-foot porcelain tile. Recognizing the need for a mud room space, KLM designed an ingenious “drop zone” area directly off of the garage that provides ample space to sit down and take shoes on and off, as well as storage cabinets and coat closets. The laundry room is located nearby. The
stairwell leading to the finished lower level features an extra wide staircase to continue the open, airy design of the home.
And for those looking for highend vehicle and accessory storage, the garage is a standout. “We also included a three-car garage in this home,” Meier says. “We epoxy-coated the entire floor and we insulated the garage walls and the ceiling, while also using insulated garage doors. We put a supplemental heater and air conditioning system in the garage with a separate thermostat as well so we can keep the garage any temperature we want.”
For more on the Pasadena II Ranch, a video tour of the space is available at youtube.com/watch?v=Bqb1ZXnbjSc
815-678-4018 | klmbuildersinc.com
A guide to adopting a rescue dog in the Geneva Lake area
BY NAT WEXLER
Adopting a dog from a rescue organization can be an enriching experience for both humans and animals alike. Dogs provide exceptional companionship for humans and are known to reduce stress levels. Studies show that cuddling with a dog releases oxytocin, “the love hormone,” in the brain, which leads to an increase in happiness and relaxation. Dogs are even known to boost their humans’ levels of wellness through increased physical activity from playing and walking.
Prior to adopting a dog, it is important to be realistic about your lifestyle and/or your family’s situation — how compatible is it for taking care of a canine? Different dog breeds have different needs, so it is vital to think about your resources in terms of time, space and finances to ensure a successful adoption. Dog rescue organizations will usually have questionnaires to help potential adopters figure out which specific dog in their care would be a great fit.
Before bringing your fur-ever friend home, you should locate a veterinarian near your home; stock up on necessary materials such as beds, toys and food; and make arrangements for who will help you take care of your dog in case of unexpected events. A number of dogs end up in shelters because their human is unexpectedly unable to take care of them, and has not clearly outlined who should assume that responsibility.
For those that are looking to adopt a dog in the Geneva Lake area, here are a few options:
In 1968, nine members of the Walworth County community founded a nonprofit organization to help homeless animals in the area.
Since 1978, the Lakeland Animal Shelter in Delavan has rehomed approximately 4,500 animals
A decade later, in 1978, they opened Lakeland Animal Shelter. Now, more than 50 years after their founding, Lakeland Animal Shelter’s mission “to be dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals and to providing relief for animals that are suffering” has led them to help over 60,000 homeless animals.
Approximately 4,500 animals pass through the shelter’s doors each year, which includes about 1,200 dogs. Approximately 75 percent of those dogs are strays that were found in Walworth County; the remainder are surrendered dogs whose owners reside in Walworth County, dogs who were removed from their homes by the sheriff’s department or dogs who arrive from a partner organization in
Texas. Lakeland Animal Shelter never euthanizes an animal to make space for new animals or because an animal has been in their care for an extended period of time.
According to Executive Director Kristen Perry, the three best ways to help the shelter are to “adopt, donate and volunteer.” Perry urges individuals to “always consider rescuing an animal from a shelter.”
The adoption process at Lakeland Animal Shelter is designed so that individuals will be paired with the animal that best fits their lifestyle. Animals spend at least four months at the shelter so that staff members can get to know their individual needs and personalities, in order to pair them with their ideal forever home. Based on a potential adopter’s answers on a questionnaire, the staff at the shelter will suggest a few dogs that would do well with that individual’s lifestyle.
Lakeland Animal Shelter is always in need of both monetary and item donations. An up-to-date wish list can be found on their website, but they are always in need of grain free dog food, bleach, liquid laundry detergent and smooth peanut butter. “Our dogs LOVE eating peanut butter as a special treat!” Perry explains. Another way to support the shelter is to shop at the resale store 9Lives Boutique in downtown Lake Geneva. All proceeds go to the shelter.
THE BIG BARN, SALEM ALIVE Rescue was founded in March, 2008 as “a rescue and safe haven for animals.” For over four years, ALIVE Rescue did not have their own physical space and instead relied on foster homes. Since its founding, the organization has had a “Little Barn” and an adoption center in Chicago. In October 2020, they broke ground on “The Big Barn,” their new location in Salem, which started accepting homeless dogs last year.
The Big Barn is a 70-acre property that features 4,800 square feet of indoor facilities, and dogs receive 24-hour care while they are residing at the facility. The property is designed for dogs who might not do well in a traditional shelter setting and would instead thrive in a more natural setting with individualized attention. The Big Barn boasts an ample amount of outdoor play space, indoor play areas and a grooming room, with regular suites as well as suites designed for dogs with additional challenges including behavioral issues and pregnant and nursing dogs.
Kristen Gerali, the founder of ALIVE Rescue, is excited to celebrate The Big Barn’s one-year anniversary in October. Like the rest of ALIVE Rescue’s operations, The Big Barn prioritizes animals that are at a
high risk of being euthanized, which includes older animals, animals with special needs and “unpopular” breeds. Gerali’s goal is to save at least 200 animals a year through The Big Barn facility and ALIVE’s foster system.
In addition to their adoption services, ALIVE Rescue has a robust foster program that is always in need of welcoming homes. Prospective foster parents are invited to fill out an application on the website to initiate the process of seeing if they are eligible to be a foster home.
Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue was founded in 2017 after Mandy Lewis adopted a senior dachshund named Albert who was suffering from chronic heart failure. Lewis’s initial plan was for Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue to be a lounge space for dogs who were adjusting to new homes. But after Albert’s passing, the organization changed course. Lewis realized that there are less than 100 rescues nationwide that specialize in senior dogs, so she shifted the focus of Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue
Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue in Whitewater places adoptable dogs in volunteer foster homes while they await adoption, ensuring optimum socialization opportunities.
to become a foster-based rescue organization specializing in senior dogs, dogs with special needs and dogs who are in hospice care.
Since its founding in 2017, Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue has helped hundreds of dogs each year find safe and comfortable homes where they can spend their golden years. A majority of the dogs end up at Albert’s because their humans have passed away, are in a nursing facility or are no longer able to take care of them. Unfortunately, senior dogs struggle to get adopted in shelters due to biases against older dogs; as a result, they are often first to be put down in shelters that euthanize. While some of the dogs are placed directly with Albert’s, others come to the organization through a more indirect path.
Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue does not have a physical facility. Rather,
dogs in Albert’s care are placed in foster homes within driving distance of Whitewater. All available dogs are listed on the website and once potential adopters finish the screening process, they are invited to visit their prospective dog at that dog’s foster home to see if it is a good match.
While Lewis acknowledges that some people might be hesitant to adopt an older dog, she says there are a number of benefits to adopting an older dog. “One of the best things that you can do is help make a dog’s golden years the best years of their life,” she explains. “Older rescue dogs know that they have been rescued,” she says, and they are “extremely grateful to their new family.”
Lewis says the organization is always seeking foster homes. “That’s our biggest need because without them we can’t save lives,” she says. Thanks
to monetary donations and adoption fees, Albert’s Dog Lounge Rescue is able to pay all of the veterinary fees for dogs in their foster homes.
The Geneva Lake area is stunning during all seasons, but autumn presents a unique opportunity to take advantage of the milder weather to walk, run or bike outside while admiring the stunning fall foliage. Whether you are training for a race like the Fontana Triathlon (on Sept. 14!) or just looking to move your body and improve your health, using a fitness tracker can be extremely valuable. There are two primary types of fitness trackers: wearable devices and phone-based apps. (Many wearable devices also have their own apps.) Here’s a quick guide to some of our favorites.
One of the most popular and versatile fitness trackers is the Apple Watch. Apple Watches offer a variety of benefits including robust fitness tracking, emergency calling and, for watches that are added to a cell phone plan, most of the functionality of an iPhone. Wearers are able to change the wristband and can download a variety of apps onto the device. Visit apple.com/watch
If you’re looking for a more costeffective fitness band, consider a Fitbit. Fitbits come in a variety of models, but across the board, they are known for their extensive battery life. Anyone looking for basic fitness tracking, including step tracking and heart rate tracking, should consider the Fitbit Inspire 3. Those looking for more advanced
tech offerings of a smartwatch should consider one of the brand’s Pixel watches. Visit fitbit.com
For those who prefer not to wear anything on their wrist, the Oura Ring is a good option. It’s a smart ring worn on the finger that collects data in 20 different categories to help you understand what is going on inside your body in order to maximize your wellness. The sleeklooking ring has a battery charge that lasts for a few days, depending on wear, and tracks sleep, stress and steps, among other data points. Your data is displayed in helpful charts on the app. Oura Rings do require a monthly subscription. Visit ouraring.com.
MyFitnessPal is an app that allows
Monitor your fall fitness goals with the latest fitness trackers
BY NAT WEXLER
users to keep track of their fitness and diet. Users can scan the barcodes on their food packaging or enter the information manually into the app so they can analyze their nutrition and use the data to meet their personal fitness goals. The MyFitnessPal app can be used alone or is also compatible with Apple Watch and Fitbit devices. Visit myfitnesspal.com .
Nike Run Club is a free fitness tracker app that helps beginner and experienced runners by tracking pace, elevation, mile splits and heart rate while running. The app also offers challenges to help keep runners on track while encouraging healthy habits. Visit nike.com/nrc-app.
Peloton is a subscription-based app that features thousands of hours of on-demand and live workout classes. Some of the classes do require access to a stationary bike or treadmill, but many of the classes can be completed without the use of equipment, other than an open space. Visit onepeloton.com .
Lake Geneva Public Library Community Engagement Librarian Ellen Ward-Packard recommends a few good mysteries with Wisconsin ties, perfect for “spooky season.”
BY ZHANNA SLOR
Part dark romance, part murder mystery, Milwaukee author Slor’s sophomore outing follows Mina, a writer and recent divorcee who finds herself at the center of a disappearance investigation. Readers bored with typical murder mystery setups will be pleased by the story’s unusual and atmospheric setting in a jiu jitsu gym.
BY PATRICIA SKALKA
Following the loss of his wife and child, exhomicide detective Dave Cubiak seeks solace as a park ranger in one of Wisconsin’s most popular vacation spots. His respite is cut short by six bizarre murders. Good news for those seeking Wisconsin noir; Door County is the first in a seven-book series, which also includes Death in Cold Water, Death Rides the Ferry and Death Casts a Shadow.
BY JACQUELYN MITCHARD
Told from the perspective of Thea, the mother of a young man convicted of manslaughter, The Good Son considers the complexities of reentering society post-incarceration. The smalltown Wisconsin setting heightens the tension as neighbors protest the son’s light sentencing, Thea receives menacing phone calls and the family home is vandalized. Recommended for those who enjoyed Mitchard’s smash debut, The Deep End of the Ocean.
UNLIMITED SAMPLINGS FROM 40+ MIDWESTERN BREWERIES & DISTILLERIES DJ FELIX ENTERTAINMENT • PHOTO BOOTH • COMMEMORATIVE GLASSES HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST • HOTEL PACKAGES AVAILABLE
Elevate your Beer & Spirits Festival experience with the VIP Early Admission ticket, offering exclusive perks and early access to the festivities:
• One hour of exclusive access to all breweries and distilleries from noon to 1 p.m.
• Commemorative VIP souvenir
• Unlimited sampling of 3 top-rated beers available only to VIP attendees
• PLUS everything included in General Admission: tastings of beer and spirits from more than 40 participating breweries and distilleries, tasting glass, musical entertainment, vendor food samples and photo booth.
The General Admission ticket offers a comprehensive festival experience that promises brews, bites and an unforgettable time:
• Tastings of beer and spirits from more than 40 participating breweries and distilleries
• Tasting glass
• Musical entertainment, vendor food samples and photo booth
This ticket provides a responsible and enjoyable way to experience the festival:
• DD commemorative cup
• Unlimited samples of craft soda and mocktails
• Entertainment, vendor food samples and photo booth
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•
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BY LAUREN EVE
PHOTOS BY SHANNA WOLF
n the village of Williams Bay, just northeast of Yerkes Observatory, sits a unique and historic home built in 1902. This house, originally built for Ida and Storrs Barrett — founder of Williams Bay’s Barrett Memorial Library in 1907 and a key administrator at the observatory from 1900 to 1930 — has remained a cherished home, now in its fourth generation of family ownership. “It certainly is a historic home,” says current owner Frost Williams, a greatgrandson of Barrett’s. “My greatgrandfather was one of the first to be here [in Williams Bay] from the University of Chicago. My dad, David B. Williams, has spent most of his life in this home. It is a special place.”
Frost and his wife Heather are the newest family owners of the 3,300-square-foot house, which sits on 1.8 acres of property filled with mature oak and maple trees, and boasts unmatched views of the observatory. Frost and Heather moved in last year with their son, Storrs, after completing a major renovation to optimize the space for modern living. “We knew we wanted to settle down as a family in my hometown,” says Frost.
A crate that belonged to the home’s original owner, Storrs B. Barrett of Williams Bay, is proudly displayed as part of the home’s renovation and redecoration.
Peter Williams, a grandchild of Ida and Storrs Barrett’s and one of Frost’s uncles, who lived in the home from the age of 2 through his high school years, explains that Barrett was an astronomer and administrator who worked with renowned astrophysicist Dr. George Hale at the University of Chicago. In 1893, Barrett joined Hale on a trip to Williams Bay to help choose the location for what would ultimately become Yerkes Observatory. The observatory was opened in 1897; by 1900, Barrett had become a member of the Yerkes Observatory staff. He bought land next to the property, and set about building a home for his family.
When building the house in 1902, Barrett mirrored its architecture on the gatehouse to famed lakefront property Wychwood on Lake Geneva’s Snake Road. That gatehouse was designed by revered Prairie School architect Robert Closson Spencer Jr., who also designed Lake Geneva’s Horticultural Hall. The Barrett home was built by Alfred Piehl, a skilled carpenter and contractor, and was initially sided in dark brown cedar with dark forest green trim. Ida and Storrs Barrett raised their three daughters there.
Eventually, David B. Williams, Frost’s father, along with his wife, Kathy, moved in and raised their family in the
home, making a few renovations of their own to the space. In 1978, they remodeled what was then the “back kitchen” into a large family room and library. And in 1983, they added a three-car garage and a shed in the backyard. Despite these updates, the house retained most of its original architectural features, including the front porch, a family favorite on warm summer evenings.
When Frost and Heather decided to move into the family home where Frost had grown up, they felt it was important to preserve and honor the home’s long history while updating the space with the latest comforts.
“We have always enjoyed Williams Bay and knew we wanted to renovate,” Frost explains. “The goal was to honor our long-time family legacy while incorporating modern updates.”
Heather spearheaded the 18-month renovation project, along with designer Kelly Neumann-Burns from Vyolette Design & Home, and the project was executed by father-and-sons contractors at East Troy’s Parr Homes. The team began the renovations by completely demolishing the interior, taking care to preserve most of the original floor plan, then moving roomby-room to make changes. “The history, meaning and sentiment of this family home was the starting point of this project,” explains
The home’s back porch features a mix of new and vintage furniture against a French black-and-white parquet floor (right). Keeping with the French theme, a vintage butcher block from France now serves as an entry table in the front hall (below, left). A closet originally used for toy storage was repurposed into a wine cellar off the kitchen (below, right).
Neumann-Burns. “It did not start with envisioning a great wallpaper, it was about history, old memories and new memories to come.”
One of the main challenges they faced during the renovations was structural in nature: the 120-year-old home required significant reinforcements and leveling to the front of the house due to its age. The attic was leaning and needed additional structural support. The builder discovered that the house sloped towards the front because an old coal chute under the front porch had never been filled in. So he reinforced and leveled the house, ensuring it was structurally sound. Next, the team tackled the exterior, replacing most of the windows and adding peaked gables to the garage, carefully matching new architectural features with the original 1902 design.
Once this structural work was completed and the exterior repaired, the next challenge they faced was
how best to use the available space. Most recently a 3-bed, 2-bath home, the new design prioritized shifting the layout slightly in order to add another half-bath, expand the kitchen and create a primary suite with a bedroom, a bathroom and a closet. These renovations also included necessary updates to the home’s aging infrastructure, including the installation of all-new plumbing and electrical systems as well as a twozone heating system, while minimizing the amount of smart tech in order to preserve the home’s historic charm.
One of Frost and Heather’s favorite aspects of the home is the front porch, which they rebuilt, expanded and updated with a white, geometric railing. “Everybody is out on their porches [in the summer],” says Heather. “That’s why we did the front porch the way we did. Neighbors wave at each other as they pass by … you can see others walking through the Yerkes trails and down to the Shore Path.”
Much like the exterior, the home’s interior has undergone a major makeover as well, with one of the most significant transformations taking place in the kitchen. The kitchen Frost had grown up with was a small, galley-style space, impractical for today’s modern living styles. The new layout allowed for an expansion of the kitchen and the removal of one dividing wall to create a large, open area that integrates with the dining room. This change not only enhanced the functionality of the space but also allowed for more natural light to flow throughout the main living areas. It also facilitated the inclusion of a wine cellar under the stairs (formerly a toy room), which is now accessible from the kitchen, one wall of which still shows the recorded heights of all the kids that have grown up in the house since 1902. “The core of this project was to keep the quaint spaces original to the 1902 plan,” explains NeumannBurns. “There is an art of knowing what walls to open and what rooms to keep as they were.”
The most dramatic change to the home took place in the kitchen, with the removal of one wall to open the space up to the dining room and allow in more natural light. Heather incorporated the vintage-style oven and ornate china hutch to serve as the room’s focal points. The custom island provides additional seating without dominating the space.
A bold wallpaper in the dining room brings a modern touch while the vintage palette and furniture honor the home’s history. The dining table dates to the era of the home’s construction and was made from locally sourced wood (above). A builtin bar in the updated family room is original to the 1970s addition to the home and provides display space for historic etchings and postcards found in the home. An accent wall finished in metallic copper tile provides a rich patina (right).
Heather incorporated a vintage-style oven that became the focal point of the kitchen, inspiring the rest of the room’s design. Increasing the available storage was a major goal of the kitchen renovation. To that end, Heather and Neumann-Burns added a large, refurbished armoire from Lake Geneva’s Unique Home Decor and Consignment, transforming it into a coffee bar and storage area for heirloom china. They also designed a custom island, adding more seating and storage. And to ensure there would be plenty of space for daily dishes and cookware, the team from Collins Woodwork in Big Bend customized the size and layout of the cabinets to perfectly fit within the expanded kitchen.
Before tackling the renovation, Frost and Heather sifted through family treasures that had been stored in the attic since the 1910s and 1920s, including crates, an antique suitcase and other unique items that were used as the inspiration behind each room design. A vintage butcher block from France now serves as a table in the entry. The heirlooms they couldn’t keep they sold in a large estate sale.
Family friends Scott and Rebecca Prox refinished several pieces for
them: Barrett’s desk (discovered in the original tool shed), which now sits in Frost’s office; and the dining table, which dates to Barrett’s era and is made of wood sourced nearby. With Neumann-Burns’s help, they also bought furniture from local thrift stores throughout the Geneva Lake area, looking for unique items that told a story.
Frost and Heather even took pains to honor some of the later additions to the home. In the renovation, they preserved a 1970s-era family room that was added on, which still features its original wood ceiling beams and 1970s-style bar, though they opted to resurface the room’s fireplace to give it a fresh look.
The renovation has been a labor of love, and Frost and Heather are thrilled with the results. They credit their design and building team with seeing their vision for the home and
In reimagining the space for modern living, Frost and Heather shifted the layout to include a primary bedroom suite, including a bedroom, bathroom and a walk-in closet.
A later addition to the home, this 1970s-era family room retains its original wood ceiling beams, though the fireplace has been resurfaced to update the room’s look and feel.
helping them execute that vision while honoring its impressive history. (Over the years, the space has hosted many luminaries of science, theology and music, through the family’s connections to both Yerkes Observatory and George Williams College.)
Since settling in a year ago, Frost and Heather have made it their own. And while making big changes to such a cherished family home can be a nerve-wracking experience, they say that once they moved in and started hosting events in the space, the response to the transformation has been overwhelmingly positive. “It’s comforting to hear friends and family, some of whom grew up in the house, say they enjoy the new renovations,” says Frost. “They really appreciate how the legacy [of the house] was honored while still making it a modern home.”
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Expert tips for making the most of your garage space
BY SARAH KOEHLER
For many households, a change in seasons means a time of transition: we tune in to football instead of baseball on Sunday afternoons. We put away swimsuits and sandals and take out our sweaters and boots again. We change our bedding from lightweight cotton to cozy flannels.
But one area of transition that we may forget? The garage. A recent American Housing survey showed that more than 80 percent of homes and condos in the United States include garage space. And for many of
those homeowners, garages serve as more than just a place to keep vehicles clean and dry, they also serve as additional storage for the many accessories of modern living. But trying to manage all of those extra belongings in an orderly way can often be a challenge.
This is where some expert help can come in handy. Joseph Wilburn is a State of Wisconsin Registered Architect with Project 2 Architects LLC in Lake Geneva. He has helped dozens of local residents streamline their garage projects, as well as design new garages which utilize space in the best way possible to make room for all the tools, equipment, toys, supplies and various other possessions that find their way into the garage.
Wilburn says if you’re struggling to allocate space for all the things in your garage, the best place to start is prioritizing, especially by season. “Organizing and decluttering at the beginning of any organizing session is essential to utilizing the valuable real estate you do have,” Wilburn says. “Evaluating and streamlining the items that you actually use and
keeping just those items seasonally will help.”
At this time of year, this means recognizing what will be used in the upcoming fall and winter months and moving it forward or making it more accessible, while relocating the off-season gear for the spring and summer months to spots which might be further back or higher up.
Wilburn suggests tackling the project in three steps: planning; decluttering and creating space zones; and processing. “Planning
comes first,” he says. “Assess the items and make a list of materials that may be needed to start the organization process. Plastic bins, labels, marker pens, hanging hooks, wall shelving, peg boards, slat walls and hanging systems are great material considerations.”
He stresses that it’s important to start small. Oftentimes a project of this size can seem overwhelming, and homeowners will often get overwhelmed and “shut down” during the process. Working in smaller, more manageable pieces is
One trick for maximizing garage storage, according to architect Joseph Wilburn, is to utilize space in the best way possible, including making use of all of the vertical space available — he suggests adding high shelving for storage of off-season items.
key to success. Realize that you may not finish the entire project in a day, and that’s okay — taking the time to do the job thoroughly and with attention to detail can lead to the best outcomes in the end.
After you’ve planned how to tackle the project, Wilburn says to move to the decluttering phase. “This is a perfect time to declutter!” he says. “Create a junk pile, donation pile and resale pile to purge items no longer needed or that have been sitting unused for the last millennium. Reselling items is a solid option to gain cash flow for purchasing organizing materials.”
Finally, take time to process the job and look at which items are used the most versus which are used the least. “Plastic bins with easy-to-read labels located on shelving units can help with seasonal storage,” Wilburn
explains. “As the seasons change, rotate the plastic bins.”
Wilburn says that with all of his clients, he points out that floor space in any garage is premium space, and it should be treated as such. When floor space is no longer available, you may need to think vertically and use the space you see above the floors. “Don’t forget to utilize walls for shelving or the ceiling for hanging storage,” he says. “Sometimes a structural analysis is recommended to understand the wall’s and ceiling’s weight limitations.”
Wilburn also says things like slat walls, peg boards, toolboxes and cabinet systems offer flexibility to store smaller items that may remain in the garage year-round. Shelving can offer great opportunity for seasonal storage and easy accessibility, and you can also consider things like ceiling-mounted
bike mounts or kayak racks to keep sporting equipment off the floor and out of the way until it’s needed again.
For those looking to renovate or build a completely new garage space, Wilburn explains that taking the clients’ lifestyle habits, hobbies and space expectations into consideration is extremely important. “Living in the Midwest is a storage challenge. Seasonal large items like snowblowers and lawn mowers can take a lot of floor space,” he says. “Utilizing wall- and ceiling-hung storage solutions will open up floor space for the largest and heaviest of seasonal items.”
In some cases, Wilburn and his team may even suggest including a loft or “attic” space within a new garage, often accessible by a pull-down ladder or staircase. Essentially, by incorporating “storage-style
trusses” into the roof’s structural system, a portion of the garage’s upper space can be made more open and usable. This can add a significant amount of additional storage space for out-of-season items or things which don’t need to be accessed frequently.
Wilburn says that it is human nature
that no matter how much space we have, we tend to fill it up. By looking at what you have before you move into or build a new garage space, you may be able to purge unwanted items and be more organized about the things that remain. By reevaluating what’s important to you, you can determine how much space you really need.
When all else fails, there are other options as well: transitioning items to other areas such as basements, storage sheds or even rented storage units might be an option for homeowners who need more space for their belongings. However, Wilburn stresses that it’s important to check with your municipality before putting a shed on your property as there may be rules or regulations about having one, and you need to be sure you’re following the proper protocols.
But when it comes to creating an organized and uncluttered garage space, Wilburn adds that he often finds inspiration in the words of decluttering expert Julia Ubbenga: “Decluttering your life changes more than the way your home looks and feels. It makes space for your soul to discover that your happiness never was found in all that excess stuff.”
From the halls of Lake Geneva’s Badger High School to the Food Network’s “Halloween Wars,” artist Dennis Franzen has long impressed audiences with his skills in a wide range of unique media. Today, his Franzen Studio creates everything from wall murals, sculpture work, boat wraps, wood carvings, and illustrations to intricate chainsaw carvings and masterfully spooky carvings. Here’s just a glimpse of how he got to where he is today — and his tips for how you can up your pumpkin carving skills, too!
ATL: How did you get started in such a unique field of art?
DF: From a very young age I had the ability to draw pretty well. Everyone wanted me to draw something for
them. When I got to Badger High School and enrolled in art class freshman year, I was fortunate enough to land in the class of Lamar ‘Sparky’ Lundberg. Sparky had us trying our hands at everything, which is what instilled in me to continue that pattern throughout my career.
In my late teens, I set up in the lobby of [Delavan’s] Lake Lawn [Resort] doing portraits of guests and selling movie star portraits. One of the guests worked at Phase 2 Art Studio in Chicago and invited me to show my portfolio there. That led to working at other art studios and ad agencies throughout Chicago, New York and California.
ATL: What about sculpting specifically? How did that start for you?
DF: In 1995, I saw a bronze eagle sculpture for $800 and thought, “I can sculpt my own.” Since then, I have sculpted for Wild Wings, Bradford Exchange, Big Sky Carvers and Demdaco. And I also do work for a few bronze foundries throughout the country. When 9/11 happened, I created a fireman sculpture called “America’s Hero.” The TV show “Chicago Fire” featured this sculpture in a few of their episodes. Other pieces of my work have been in movies, commercials, TV shows and on billboards.
Artist Dennis Franzen brings his unique eye to everything from chainsaw sculpting to pumpkin carving
BY SARAH KOEHLER
ATL: What was it like to compete on the Food Network’s “Halloween Wars”?
DF: It was an amazing experience. I went through an interview process and my pumpkins passed the test!
ATL: And how did you get started with pumpkins, specifically?
DF: Many years back, I had seen some of [artist] Ray Villafane’s pumpkin carvings. I wanted to try what he did, so I started playing around with pumpkins. Someone heard my name in the pumpkin carving world, which led to my first carving gig. I carved for the Chicago Bears vs. New York Jets game being played at Soldier Field. That started my career as a pumpkin artist.
ATL: What advice would you give to the novice pumpkin carvers who want to try their hand at some autumn carvings?
DF: There are all sorts of tricks of the trade that can make your pumpkin be a one-up from the one you carved last year. Scraping layers versus cutting into the pumpkin for dark and light contrasts is one way to go. Instead of just using a knife, try wood or clay carving tools. Some culinary tools are another option. As long as you’re having fun carving with family and friends, it’s a great pumpkin.
The perfect Lake Geneva experience starts at The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa. Whether you’re relaxing with a day of rejuvenating spa treatments, boating on the crystal clear lake, experiencing one of our exciting events, or enjoying fresh fare and live music at our restaurants, The Abbey Resort is your ideal Lake Geneva escape this fall season.
The Geneva Lakes Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
“L
ake Life.” For some, the saying conjures up images of bright, inflatable tubes, wake surfing or Jet Skis bouncing behind boats buzzing back and forth. That’s modern-day lake life. But there was a time when lake life looked and sounded a little different.
The Geneva Lakes Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show celebrates that “lake life” spirit of yesteryear with a display of vintage and classic
wooden boats representing a wide variety of past decades. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the popular boat show, presented by the Blackhawk chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS). From Sept. 27-29, owners of antique and classic wooden boats will gather from around the country in Fontana’s Abbey Marina to display their prized possessions. Organizers say that visitors can expect to see more than 150 boats at the show this year, including about 50 in the water: everything from Hacker-Crafts, Shepherds, Gar Woods, Streblows and Chris-Crafts to rare, one-of-akind yachts.
This year’s show will serve as a signature event of the Village of Fontana’s Centennial Celebration. The Abbey Marina’s setting provides protected waters, and its plentiful boat slips allow spectators to get a close look at each boat. “The smell of varnish on a sunny fall day always puts people in a great mood, and evokes a sense of nostalgia,” says Tom Nickols, co-chair of the event, along with Al Bosworth.
The partnership with The Abbey is fortuitous, because Fontana’s boating roots run deep. Even before the village was incorporated, Palmer Boat Company was established in Fontana in 1905, and built inland lake sailboats and ice boats until WWII. One employee there was the young Harry C. “Buddy” Melges, Jr., who later become one of the greatest sailors in the world, winning medals
“... the show is for every type of enthusiast.”
— Larry Larkin
at two Olympics and skippering a boat that won the America’s Cup. The Lake Geneva Yacht Club formally took up residence in Fontana in 1926, adding to Fontana’s boating reputation. In 1955, Gordon “Gordy” Whowell founded Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, offering seasonal boat rides and rentals, which has now evolved into a full-service boating and rental company. “Fontana has always had a rich boating culture,” confirms Larry Larkin, local historian and boat restoration specialist, and the author of “Grand & Glorious: Classic Boats of Lake Geneva.”
Classic wooden boats as we know them today first started appearing on Geneva Lake in the late 1910s and early 1920s, and were called “runabouts.” Three big boat makers of the era were John L. Hacker of Hacker-Craft; Chris Smith of ChrisCraft Boats; and Garfield Wood of Gar Wood Boats. Each stamped
his personality on his vessel. John Hacker was known for his elegant style; Chris Smith for his design; and Gar Wood for speed. But they all shared the same goal of creating high-quality, well-designed speedboats.
With the completion of Highway 12 between Chicago and Lake Geneva in the 1920s, drivers could hitch up
a trailer and hit the road, carrying these high-performance quality wooden boats with them. “Route 12 opened up the way to Lake Geneva and brought the speedboats to life,” says Larkin. However, the Depression in the 1930s hit the industry hard. Hacker went bankrupt. Chris-Craft pulled back on production and later produced utilitarian boats for the war. Luxury was quickly stripped
back. “[The Depression] really had a big effect on the lake culture,” says Larkin.
It wasn’t until after WWII, in the 1950s, that wooden boats began to make a comeback, and new models graced the waters again. But as the Atomic Age progressed, scientists discovered a new material for boat building: fiberglass. “By 1960, it was like a switch was flipped, and everything was fiberglass,” says Larkin. Suddenly, wooden boats looked old and tired, a reminder of a bygone era. They were burned as scrap or shoved away to rot in forgotten barns.
It took another two decades before the public began to appreciate the design and craftsmanship of those earlier wooden boats once again. Beginning around 1980, classic and antique wooden boats experienced a nostalgic re-emergence. People
who grew up with these wooden boats wanted that piece of their youth back. A second-hand market for wooden boats sprang up, and boats were pulled out of barns and fixed up, piece by piece. Around this time, the ACBS was founded in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, a region with lakes very similar to the Geneva Lake area. Today, the
organization boasts 9,000 members throughout 55 chapters, all with a goal of preserving and restoring antique and classic boats.
Once these antique and classic wooden boats were back on the water, the collecting craze spread. Suddenly, buyers didn’t just want an old Hacker-Craft, they wanted
a Hacker-Craft from the choice year of 1935; or a specific ChrisCraft Barrelback model. It was a golden era for collecting — these early consumers got top choice of pedigree boats. This resurgence of interest in wooden boats revived companies like Hacker-Craft, which began producing boats once again. In 1987, custom wooden boat builder Streblow Boats moved to Fontana, becoming an icon of Geneva Lake. Today, more than 150 Streblows call this lake home.
As it has done for the past 25 years, the Geneva Lakes Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show aims to bring all of these wooden boats together in one place. The weekend-long event opens Friday with the Estate Tour, a paid, reservation-only event. The Estate Tour will visit three Fontana-area lakefront homes, with transportation provided by four famed, private Geneva Lake yachts — the Sea Lark, the Normandie, the Henry Knox and the Commodore. The tour concludes with a luncheon at the Lake Geneva Yacht Club.
Then on Friday evening, Dana and Patti Mecum, of Mecum Auctions, will host a reservation-only welcome dinner at their lakefront estate, Glen Croft Haven, in Fontana. Glen Croft Haven was built in 2016, and the property contains an extensive garage to house the Mecums’ eclectic personal automobile collection. In addition, the family’s vintage boat collection will be in the water for viewing.
As for the main event, the boat show at the Abbey Marina is free and open to the public. It takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the boat parade beginning at 4 p.m., and continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Larkin says he expects a great turnout for the anniversary.
“There is a spectrum of boating enthusiasts,” he says. “You’ve got people who love the pictures, people who love the boats, people who love the mechanics, people who love the history — the show is for every type of enthusiast.” Knoll
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BY KATIE SCRIVANO
Moveover pickleball, there’s another fast-rising sport in town: disc golf. Often called “Frisbee golf,” the sport is similar to traditional golf, substituting specialized, Frisbeelike discs in place of golf balls and clubs. Players “drive” from a tee pad, “approach” from the fairway and “putt” into metal chain baskets — competing to finish the course in the fewest throws.
While the game dates back to the late 1960s, local enthusiasts say its popularity spiked during the pandemic when area courses offered safe and often free outdoor exercise spaces. And with five local courses in the Geneva Lake area, it’s easier than ever to find a place to play.
AJ Steadman, Assistant Director of Ski Operations at Grand Geneva Resort and resident disc-golf expert, has been playing the game since high school. He says the sport draws interest because it’s not age-restrictive — it’s simply based on skill. “I’m hyped about the growth of the sport,” Steadman says. “The sport is getting bigger thanks to
YouTube channels and professional sponsorship contracts. While many pros today are in their 40s, you’re now seeing 18-year-olds winning tournaments.”
Steadman is excitedly exploring a redesign to the Grand Geneva’s Mountain Top course, hoping to someday host professional disc golf tournaments. But, in the meantime, he enjoys introducing visitors and resort guests to the sport. The course at Grand Geneva is open to the public
for a $5 fee (or $10 with rented discs), and Steadman describes it as a “safaristyle” course, with grass tees and a hole that sits atop the ski hill, offering “the best view of Lake Geneva,” where you can see for miles.
“Our course is relatively easy [right now],” he says. “I want to create a wooded course which will allow for more challenging tree hazards. The amount of acreage here lends itself to a more professional-level course.”
Nate Holden, another local disc golf enthusiast, co-founded a disc golf club called the White River Rippers in hopes of getting more people to utilize the White River Disc Golf course, which opened in 2014 on the former Hillmoor golf course property. The Rippers now host around 25-45 players at their weekly round on Tuesdays.
Holden has been playing for years but recently embraced a more serious passion for disc golf. He says most members of the group, who range in age from 13 to 65, have joined after seeing them playing on the course.
“A lot of our growth is from word-ofmouth playing around the area,” he explains. “I just enjoy playing so much that I want others to know how much fun it is.”
The White River Disc Golf course is relatively open, with scenic rolling hills and unique river and pond water hazards. It’s considered beginnerfriendly and offers both long and short tee pads. But, according to Holden, it’s good enough to host pro tournaments. “I want to co-host a tournament here and in Silver Lake — a two-round tournament would really determine who’s the best area all-around player,” he says.
For now, though, Holden says he’s focused growing the club and sport through community engagement and sponsorships from local businesses, including the Next Door Pub and Xtreme Games of Antioch. “We’re actively looking for sponsors and would love to get new baskets and tee signs,” he explains.
Holden recommends that beginners learn how to play via YouTube tutorials and focus on form before distance. He adds that you can even “check out” a set of discs from the Lake Geneva Public Library to play at the nearby White River course, thanks to donations made by the White River Rippers.
Try these area disc golf courses and visit Udisc.com for course maps with GPS and scoretracking.
The Abbey Resort | 9-hole 158 Fontana Blvd., Fontana
Alpine Valley Resort Disc Golf | 18-hole W2501 Cty. Rd. D, Elkhorn
Duck Pond Recreation Area | 9-hole
300 Wild Duck Rd., Fontana
The Mountain Top Course at Grand Geneva | 18-hole 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva
White River Disc Golf Course | 18-hole 349 Sage St., Lake Geneva
SEPT. 28-29
See over 150 wooden boats on display, 50 of which will be in the water. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a boat parade starting at 4 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Abbey Marina, Fontana. Visit genevalakesboatshow.com for more info.
OCT. 19
Walk around the downtown square to see more than 100 crafters and vendors, plus a classic car show, beer/wine tasting and a 2M-5K Run. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., throughout Elkhorn. Visit elkhornchamber.com.
OCT. 26
Brews, bites and so much fun ... it’s scary. Enjoy tastings from more than 40 beer and spirits vendors from throughout the Midwest. 1-5 p.m.; The Ridge Hotel, W4240 WI Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva. For tickets, visit lgbeerfest.com
ONGOING EVENTS
ART WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
Geneva Lake Arts Foundation offers a series of workshops, classes and a gallery of exhibits. Gallery 223, downtown Lake Geneva. Contact (262) 249-7988 or genevalakeartsfoundation.org.
BELFRY MUSIC THEATRE
Enjoy a full line-up of live music and performers throughout the summer at the Belfry Music Theatre, located between Williams Bay and Lake Geneva. To purchase tickets, visit belfrymusictheatre.com.
BLACK POINT ESTATE TOUR
Explore the elegant Victorian Queen Anne estate built by Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp, now a historic site owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Tours depart daily from the Riviera Dock in Lake Geneva through October. For tickets, visit cruiselakegeneva.com or call (262) 248-6206.
DANCING HORSES SHOW
Las Vegas-style show featuring riders and acrobats on elaborately trained horses. Dancing Horses Theatre, 5065 State Hwy. 50, Delavan. Call (262) 728-8200 or visit thedancinghorses.com for tickets.
FALL HARVEST TRAINS
Every weekend from Sept. 7 to Oct. 27, enjoy a vintage train ride from the East Troy Railroad Museum to Mukwonago’s Elegant Farmer apple orchard and market. Saturdays and Sundays. East Troy Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy. (262) 642-3263 or easttroyrr.org.
GENEVA LAKE AREA MUSEUM OF HISTORY
Learn more about the history of the Geneva Lake area at this informative museum. Call (262) 248-6060 or visit genevalakemuseum.org
KISHWAUKETOE NATURE CONSERVANCY EVENTS
Hiking trails through a 3-acre nature conservancy consisting of a mix of prairie, wetland, forest and oak savanna. Events scheduled throughout the season. Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy, Williams Bay; kishwauketoe.org.
LAKE GENEVA AREA GOLF TRAIL
Enjoy more than 240 holes at 19 courses located at nine golf clubs throughout Walworth County. Golf Trail Passports include golf details as well as special offers for lodging, dining, shopping and attractions. Visit lakegenevagolftrail.com.
LAKE LAWN QUEEN BOAT TOURS
Enjoy a 1.5-hour tour of Delavan Lake. Concessions are available. Tours include morning, afternoon, sunset and evening options through October. Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St., Delavan; 262-728-7950 or lakelawnresort.com/events
LIVE MAGIC SHOWS
Enjoy 60 minutes of world-class magic, comedy and illusion at the Tristan Crist Magic Theatre in Lake Geneva. Call (262) 325-5567 or visit lakegenevamagic.com
TUESDAYS @ TWO LECTURE SERIES
Informative lecture series chronicling the history of the Lake Geneva area. Tuesdays, 2 p.m., Geneva Lake Museum, Lake Geneva. For topics and reservations, call (262) 248-6060 or email staff@genevalakemuseum.org.
WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
Design and create a personalized wood sign while socializing with family and friends. Board and Brush Lake Geneva, 262 Center St., Lake Geneva; (262) 409-1639 or boardandbrush.com.
FARMERS’ MARKETS
BURLINGTON
Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., through Oct. 31. Wemhoff Square, Burlington; (262) 210-6360 or burlingtonwifarmersmarket.com
GENEVA OUTDOOR MARKET
Farm-fresh produce and handcrafted gifts and crafts. Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 27. Lake Geneva House of Music, 3252 County Rd. H, Lake Geneva. (262) 215-6139 or genevaoutdoormarket.com
LAKE GENEVA FARMERS’ MARKET
Local farmers and vendors offer local produce, flowers and goods. Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 31. Horticultural Hall; (262) 745-9341 or horticulturalhall.com.
out & about calendar of events
WHITEWATER CITY MARKET
Tuesdays, 4-7 p.m. through Sept. 22, 4-6 p.m. through Oct. 29. Cravath Lakefront Park, Whitewater; downtownwhitewater.com
AUG. 23-25
MAXWELL STREET DAYS
Sales, food and crafts in downtown Lake Geneva. Visit streetsoflakegeneva.com for more info.
AUG. 28-SEPT. 2
WALWORTH COUNTY FAIR
One of the largest county fairs in Wisconsin. Live music, demolition derby, carnival midway and livestock exhibits. Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn; (262) 723-3288 or walworthcountyfair.com
SEPT. 6-8
DARIEN CORNFEST
A community-wide celebration of the super starch featuring fireworks, a parade and live music throughout downtown Darien. Visit dariencornfest.us
SEPT. 7
MAPLE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD
WALKING TOURS
A walking tour of Lake Geneva’s historic Maple Park neighborhood. Tours run every 15 minutes from 1-3:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person. Check in at the Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; for tickets, call (262) 248-1888 or visit blackpointestate.wisconsinhistory.org
SEPT. 7-OCT. 27
AUTUMN HARVEST FESTIVAL AT THE ELEGANT FARMER
Saturdays and Sundays only, enjoy hayrides, pony rides or a trip on the East Troy Railroad while sampling fall treats. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Elegant Farmer, 1545 W. Main St., Mukwonago; visit elegantfarmer.com.
SEPT. 9
LADIES’ DAY LUNCHEON
Geneva Lakes Women’s Association’s annual luncheon featuring a silent auction and raffle, followed by a reading by author Christina Clancy. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva; for tickets, visit glwa.net.
SEPT. 14
DELAVAN SCARECROW FEST
Scarecrow building, pumpkin decorating, food and live music. Throughout downtown Delavan. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info, visitdelavan.com
SEPT. 14, 21
FALL HARVEST DINNER TRAINS
Enjoy a gourmet-quality dinner while aboard a vintage train ride from the East Troy Railroad Museum through the Wisconsin countryside. Tickets are $115-130 per person, advance reservations required. 5:30 p.m., East Troy Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy. (262) 642-3263 or easttroyrr.org
SEPT. 14
FONTANA TRIATHLON ON GENEVA LAKE
Event will consist of the sprint, sprint relay, Olympic and Olympic relay races. Fontana Beach, Fontana; for information, visit fontanatriathlon.com.
SEPT. 14
WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S
Raising awareness and funds to enhance Alzheimer’s care and support. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., ceremony at 9:40 a.m., walk begins at 10 a.m. Library Park, Lake Geneva; (414) 775-7583 or act.alz.org.
SEPT. 19
ELKHORN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Enjoy entertainment, local cuisine and more. Noon to 3 p.m., Uncle Hunk’s Junk, 203 E. Walworth St., Elkhorn. For tickets, visit elkhornchamber.com
SEPT. 20
CAPITOL FOOLS COMEDY SHOW Washington, D.C.’s premiere political satire group takes on the current political cycle on their national tour. 7 p.m., Irving L. Young Auditorium, W. 930 Main St., Whitewater. Visit uww.edu/youngauditorium for tickets.
SEPT. 21
28TH ANNUAL FAT TIRE RIDE OF LAKE GENEVA
This 21.5-mile bike ride over paved roads around Geneva Lake and Lake Como supports local charities. The route begins at Champs Sports Bar & Grill or The Ridge and ends with a pig roast for all participants. To register, visit fattireride.com
SEPT. 21
AN EVENING WITH AGATHA CHRISTIE
Local historian Chris Brookes brings the best-selling author of all time, Agatha Christie, back to life for an intimate evening of mystery and conversation. 6-7:30 p.m. Black Point Estate & Gardens, W4270 Southland Rd., Lake Geneva; call 262-248-1888 for tickets.
SEPT. 21-22
DISCOVER WHITEWATER 5K AND HALF MARATHON
Highlighting downtown Whitewater, the course begins at Whitewater High School and continues through the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus and Fairhaven’s Prairie Village, among other locations. To register, visit runwhitewater.com
SEPT. 21-22
PEARCE’S FARM STAND CUSTOMER APPRECIATION
DAY AND SWEET CORN FEST
Featuring fall treats and activities. 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., W5740 N. Walworth Rd., Walworth.
SEPT. 22
MALT HOUSE SIP ‘N SIT CONCERT SERIES
Enjoy live music performed outdoors. This month’s theme is “Journey: Don’t Stop Believin’”, featuring the music of Journey, Styx, Foreigner, Aerosmith and more. Malt House Theater, Burlington; (262) 763-9873 or thehaylofters.com.
SEPT. 28
19TH ANNUAL BLUE JEAN BALL
Enjoy live music by Frank Whiting and JFK The Band, as well as interactive experiences, food stations and an open bar, all to support cancer research through the Forbeck Foundation. 7-10 p.m., Pier 290, 1 Leichty Dr., Williams Bay. Tickets are $140 through Sept. 27 or $170 at the door. Visit wgfrf.org/bluejeanball for tickets.
SEPT. 29
ELKHORN ANTIQUE FLEA MARKET
Over 500 dealers both inside and outside. Free parking, $5 admission. Opens at 7 a.m. Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn; walworthcountyfair.com
OCT. 2, 12
WINE AND DINE CRUISE ON THE LAKE LAWN QUEEN
Set sail on a remarkable wine dinner cruise, each cruise featuring wines from a specific location. 6-8 p.m., Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St., Delavan. Tickets are $119 per person; visit lakelawnresort.com to purchase.
OCT. 4, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27
TRICK OR TREAT TRAIN
Enjoy a trip aboard a vintage trolley or train from the East Troy Depot to the Town Hall Park, where kids can go “trick-or-treating,” play games and enjoy playground equipment prior to boarding for the return trip. 5:30 p.m.; boarding at the East Troy Railroad depot. Online advance reservations required; visit easttroyrr.org.
OCT. 4, 11, 25
SPIRITUALISM IN THE VICTORIAN ERA
Get a behind-the-scenes tour of Black Point Estate, enjoy a tasty cordial and hear stories of paranormal proclivity and the history of Victorian spiritualism at this 2-hour event. 7-8:30 p.m. Black Point Estate and Gardens, Lake Geneva; for tickets, call (262) 248-1888 or visit blackpointestate.wisconsinhistory.org
OCT. 5
THE BLOOZE BROTHERS
Enjoy a performance by this Blues Brothers tribute band. 7 p.m. Big Foot Auditorium, Walworth. For tickets, visit bigfootfinearts.org or call (262) 275-2117.
OCT. 5
ELKHORN HOLIDAY CRAFT BASH
Indoor and outdoor spaces will feature a wide variety of vendors, plus food and beverage options. Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn; walworthcountyfair.com
OCT. 5-6
PEARCE’S FARM STAND OCTOBER FEST
Featuring live music, a corn maze, hay bale jumping, plus pumpkin activities and fall treats. 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., W5740 N. Walworth Rd., Walworth.
OCT. 5, 12, 19
SORDID AND SCANDALOUS: A WALKING TOUR OF LAKE GENEVA
Explore the mysteries of Lake Geneva in this engaging guided tour through the city’s historic downtown and Maple Park neighborhood. Tours run every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person. Meet at the Riviera, 812 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; for tickets, call (262) 248-1888 or visit blackpointestate.wisconsinhistory.org.
OCT. 10
THE SIMPLE SUPPER FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Seatings at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Takeouts are also available with a choice of three entrees. There will be a raffle and a 50/50 drawing; all proceeds benefit Special Olympics. Tickets are $15 per person. Simple Café, 525 Broad St., Lake Geneva. For tickets, call (262) 248-3034.
OCT. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
HALLOWEEN LEGENDS AND LORE
Troves of supernatural tales brought to the state over the generations come to life. Old World Wisconsin, Eagle. For tickets, visit oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org
OCT. 11-13, 18-20
“THE REVLON GIRL”
A rollicking play performed by The Haylofters. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Malt House Theater, Burlington; For tickets, call (262) 763-9873 or visit thehaylofters.com.
OCT. 12-13
LAKE GENEVA OKTOBERFEST
Family fall festival includes music, food, craft booths, restaurant and shopping specials, wagon hayrides, pony rides and more. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Broad
and Geneva Streets, Lake Geneva; downtownlakegeneva.org/events/oktoberfest for more info.
OCT. 17
GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM DINE, DAUB, DONATE FUNDRAISER
Dinner and bingo night to raise funds for the museum. Featuring a buffet dinner, raffles and games. 5-9 p.m. Hawk’s View Golf Club, 7377 Krueger Rd., Lake Geneva. Tickets are $100/ person. Call (262) 248-6060 or visit genevalakemuseum.org for tickets.
OCT. 17-19
POE AT THE POINT
All aboard for a spine-chilling evening with the works of poet and author Edgar Allen Poe in the parlor of Black Point Estate. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person. Tours leave from the Riviera Dock, 812 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; for tickets, call (262) 248-1888 or visit blackpointestate.wisconsinhistory.org
OCT. 18-27
“URINETOWN, THE MUSICAL”
Enjoy this edgy musical, performed by the Lakeland Players. Walworth County Performing Arts Center, Elkhorn. For tickets, call (262) 728-5578 or visit lakeland-players.org
October Fest at Pearce’s Farm Stand is Oct. 5-6.
OCT. 26
HALLOWEEN BOAT BASH ON THE LAKE LAWN QUEEN
This adults-only Halloween party features a live DJ, costume contest and complimentary cocktails. 6:30-9 p.m., followed by the Monster Mash after-party in the Geneva Ballroom 8:30-11 p.m. Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St., Delavan. Tickets are $50 per person; visit lakelawnresort.com to purchase.
OCT. 26
MONSTER MASH AFTER-PARTY
This adults-only Halloween party features live music by “The Hair Band Night,” as well as costume contest and a complimentary “Witch’s Brew” cocktail to kick off the evening. 8:15-11 p.m., Geneva Ballroom, 2400 E. Geneva St., Delavan. Tickets are $25 per person; visit lakelawnresort.com to purchase.
NOV. 9
SCOTT BRADLEY’S POSTMODERN JUKEBOX CONCERT
Modern-day earworms and iconic pop hits are reimagined in classic genres like 1920s jazz, Swing, Doo-wop and Motown, and brought to life by a cast of some of the world’s best singers, dancers and instrumentalists. 7 p.m., Irving L. Young Auditorium, W. 930 Main St., Whitewater. Visit uww.edu/ youngauditorium for tickets.
NOV. 17
360 ALL STARS ACROBATIC PERFORMANCE
The international hit is back to commemorate its 10th anniversary with world record-holding athletes and artists showing off their skills in freestyle basketball, BMX biking, breakdancing acrobatics and more. 7 p.m., Irving L. Young Auditorium, W. 930 Main St., Whitewater. Visit uww.edu/ youngauditorium for tickets.
NOV. 23
ONE NIGHT IN MEMPHIS
A show that pays homage to the legendary Sun Records recording artists Carl Perkin, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. 7 p.m. Big Foot Auditorium, Walworth. For tickets, visit bigfootfinearts.org or call (262) 275-2117.
NOV. 29-DEC. 31 SANTA CRUISE
Embark on a magical Christmas cruise to Santa’s North Pole Hideaway. Along your lake tour, enjoy the twinkling lights and displays along the shoreline of Geneva Lake. Cruises run every evening with the exception of Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. Lake Geneva Cruise Line, Gage Marine Winter Harbor, Williams Bay; (262) 248-6206 or santacruiselakegeneva.com
NOV. 29-30, DEC. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22
CHRISTMAS TRAIN
Enjoy a trip aboard a vintage trolley or train from the East Troy Depot to The Elegant Farmer, where kids can visit Santa. Evening trains include cookies and hot cocoa, as well as beer and wine options for adults. Trips leave from the East Troy Railroad. Online advance reservations required; visit easttroyrr.org.
While we do our best to ensure a comprehensive, accurate listing of events, we recommend that you contact each event host ahead of time. If you’d like to include an event in our upcoming calendar, please email anne@ntmediagroup.com or submit it via our website: atthelakemagazine.com/ submit-an-event. Submission deadline for the winter issue is Oct. 15.
Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera app to view more autumn events in the Geneva Lake area.
Lake Geneva Country Estate for all seasons and reasons!
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This exceptional estate boasts a large main home with pool, guesthouse, barns, landscaped grounds, woods, pond and farmfields. This Wisconsin treasure is minutes from downtown Lake Geneva and the lake. Priced below today’s build costs and only available due to an unexpected relocation.
A guide to some of the most classic fall foods available locally
BY BRIAN THALHAMMER
PHOTOS BY HOLLY LEITNER
As the crisp autumn air settles over the Geneva Lake area, classic fall comfort foods begin to beckon both locals and visitors alike. We journeyed to three beloved local spots to discover their most popular fall offerings and the stories behind them. From the timehonored orchards and vine offerings of the Apple Barn Orchard and Winery in Elkhorn to the enduring traditions of The Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago and the culinary artistry of Greg Anagnos at Medusa in Lake
Geneva, each destination offers a unique taste of the season.
Steeped in history, the Apple Barn Orchard and Winery in Sugar Creek (outside of Elkhorn) has been a family farm since 1846. The Jacobson family, now in their sixth generation of ownership, has cultivated a thriving orchard with over 4,000 apple trees producing 12 varieties of apples. The rustic charm of the farm is palpable, with a brick smokehouse from the 1800s still standing proud amidst the modern additions of a bakery, country store and winery.
“Our apple cider is 100 percent pure, sweet apple cider with less than one-tenth of one percent potassium sorbate added to preserve freshness,” shares Judy Jacobson, who, along with her husband Steve, is a current owner of the Apple Barn.
This dedication to purity and tradition is echoed in their popular collection of fall favorites available in their bakery and farm store, such as their deliciously warm cider donuts, crisp caramel apples and fresh-baked pies that fly off the shelves during the bustling fall season. “When you pick the Apple Barn Orchard & Winery, you’ll experience fresh fruit,
fresh air and a fresh perspective of what a real family farm is like,” their website explains.
Just a short drive away in Mukwonago, The Elegant Farmer has been delighting customers since 1946. Originally a dairy farm, the Scheel brothers transformed their venture into a thriving market, introducing the innovative concept of pick-your-own produce. Today, under the stewardship of Keith and Tina Schmidt and their daughter, Katie, The Elegant Farmer continues to uphold its reputation for quality and tradition.
Renowned for its trademarked Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag, the farm kitchen also offers an array of fall favorites: CiderBaked Ham, fruity applesauces, fruit crisps, jumbo muffins and cookies, fruit breads, gourmet sauces and seasonings and much, much more. For those not lucky enough to experience the
orchards and farm kitchen, bakery and market on site, The Elegant Farmer also provides goods to over 400 locations in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.
“Our cider donuts are a beloved fall-time favorite,” says Director of Operations Katie Schmidt. “Made with our pressed cider, they are moist and delicious.” The farm’s commitment to local and seasonal produce is evident in its offerings, and the annual Fall Harvest Fest (on Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 7 through Oct. 27) showcases its community spirit, drawing families for hayrides, apple picking and a host of autumnal activities. The goal? “Family-fun memories that will last a lifetime,” Schmidt explains.
In the heart of downtown Lake Geneva, Greg Anagnos has created a culinary haven with Medusa. A lifelong restaurateur and former owner and head chef of a nowshuttered popular bistro of the same name, Anagnos brings over four decades of experience to his latest venture, focusing on reconnecting with the community through his recipes, seasonings and unique offerings.
“I grew up in the hospitality industry, with my family owning a restaurant, [starting] in 1972,” Anagnos recounts. “I went to culinary school in New York.” Anagnos joined the industry immediately after that, working as a professional chef in hotels and restaurants for over 40 years. This rich background informs the quality and creativity of his menu.
Medusa’s fall offerings include hearty soups by the quart, Greek-style cabbage rolls filled with fresh ground lamb and rice and the ever-popular Spanokopita. “Spanokopita (savory spinach pie) is always a quick seller,” Anagnos notes. The menu is further elevated with seasonal specialties, utilizing elements such as pumpkin spice and chai spice seasonings, and includes fresh crepes and the indulgent Egg Nog gelato. Anagnos’s passion for fresh, high-quality ingredients shines through, particularly in his homemade baklava and Bacio gelato, for which he grinds his own hazelnuts. While these treats may be served cold, Anagnos says they are some of the most sought-after comfort specialties during the fall season.
Here’s what’s on our shopping list at some of our favorite fall food destinations
BY BRIAN THALHAMMER
W6384 Sugar Creek Rd., Elkhorn (weekends through Oct. 31):
• Fresh apples: Choose from 12 varieties, of pre-picked, or head to the orchards and pick your own.
• Caramel apples: A seasonal favorite with farm-fresh apples.
• Apple cider: Pure, sweet apple cider; preserving the taste of fresh apples.
• Apple cider doughnuts: Made fresh daily, these doughnuts are a local staple.
• Halloween-themed sugar cookies: Combining fun designs with great flavor.
1545 Main St., Mukwonago (open year-round):
• Apple-Pie-Baked-in-a-Paper -Bag: A must-try, known for its flaky crust and juicy filling.
• Fresh apples: Grown on site and pre-picked for convenience.
• Apple cider: Delicious and refreshing.
• Apple cider doughnuts: Pair these moist doughnuts with a cup of fresh cider.
• Caramel apples: Enjoy alongside their famed caramel apple pie.
• Halloween-themed Sugar Cookies: Fun and delicious.
W632 Hafs Rd., Genoa City (open Labor Day through Thanksgiving):
• Fresh apples: Up to 45 varieties.
• Apple cider: Made on site.
• Caramel apples: Made with fresh Honeycrisps.
• Honey: Local and delicious.
• Apple cider vinegar: Great for cooking.
• Mulling spices: For cozy weather drinks.
• Squash and pumpkins: Great for baking.
300 block of Broad St., Lake Geneva (Thursdays through Oct. 31):
• Beets, cabbage, squash, zucchini: perfect for making hearty fall recipes.
• Kettle corn: Rich, buttery and sweet.
• Apple cider doughnuts: Like a warm hug on a cool, crisp morning.
272 Broad St., Lake Geneva (open year-round):
• Pumpkin gelato: A creamy, spiced twist on a classic fall flavor.
• Squash soup: Rich, flavorful and perfect for a cozy fall day.
• Cabbage rolls: Fresh-made with the best ingredients.
• Spanakopita: A Greek favorite, perfect for fall.
W5740 N. Walworth Rd., Walworth (open through Oct. 31):
• Rotating seasonal vegetables: Famous homegrown sweet corn, plus a wide array of fresh fall veggies.
• Pumpkin bread: Moist and spiced, capturing the essence of fall.
• Caramel apples: Perfectly balanced sweet caramel and crisp apple.
• Apple cider doughnuts: Fresh and flavorful, perfect for a crisp autumn day.
• Apple cider: Delicious and refreshing, available in quarts or gallons to purchase or served on site both hot and frozen on weekends in the fall.
• Halloween-themed sugar cookies: Festive and homemade.
BY BRIAN THALHAMMER
PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER PONSONBY COURTESY OF CHEF ABEL ROSAS
Chef Abel Rosas: a name synonymous with exquisite culinary artistry in the Geneva Lake area. The former head chef at The Grandview Restaurant, today Rosas owns his own highlysought-after catering company, Elena In-Home Catering, where he combines his expert culinary training with local recipes from his native Mexico to create unforgettable meals for clients throughout the area. From humble beginnings in Oaxaca to his success today as a top local chef, Rosas’s journey is one of passion, dedication and a deep connection to his roots.
Rosas says that his culinary journey originally began in his grandmother’s kitchen in Oaxaca. “I was always watching her cook and saw the love she had for it,” he recalls. This early exposure to traditional Mexican cuisine ignited a passion in him that would shape his future. After moving to the United States, Rosas worked his way up in a variety of restaurant jobs, starting out as a dishwasher and then eventually training under multiple chefs, gaining invaluable experience and honing his craft.
Rosas first came to the Geneva Lake area in 2008. “My family was already here, and I visited and liked the area and the people,” he explains. “This sense of community and belonging has deeply influenced my work and life.”
In 2017, Abel joined the team at The Grandview Restaurant as a sous chef. His talent and hard work quickly earned him promotions, and he soon found himself in the roles of executive chef and head chef. His tenure there
solidified his reputation as a skilled and innovative chef. Then, in 2021, as the restaurant industry slowly recovered from the pandemic, Rosas decided to leave The Grandview Restaurant and start his own catering business, Elena In-Home Catering. “I named the company after my grandmother,” he explains.
With Elena In-Home Catering, Rosas brought his culinary vision to life, offering unique dining experiences to clients through personalized, in-home catering services. “As a private chef, I don’t have one menu that I give to everyone. I love customizing for the
occasion,” he says. This flexibility and creativity have made his catering services extremely popular in the Geneva Lake area.
In addition to his exceptional culinary skills, Rosas has also become an invaluable member of the community through his participation in charitable activities — last spring he competed in the Mr. Lake Geneva Contest, raising money for Inspiration Ministries. “Mr. Lake Geneva was a very special event for me,” he says. “I love the community and being involved. The community is there for us, and I want to be there for them.”
Ingredients:
• 2 cups cooked butternut squash, diced large
• 2 cups finely chopped kale
• 16 oz. cooked quinoa
• 1 cup chopped cranberries
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 Honeycrisp or Gala apples, diced small (can sub your favorite variety of apple)
• 8 oz. apple cider vinaigrette
A fall-friendly recipe using some of the season’s best produce
For the vinaigrette:
• 1 cup fresh apple cider
• 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 shallot, diced
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• ¼ cup salad oil
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ tsp. dijon mustard
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. pepper
Instructions:
1. Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well. Set aside.
2. For the vinaigrette: In a separate bowl, combine all dressing ingredients except oils.
3. Drizzle oils slowly into other vinaigrette ingredients until emulsified.
4. Once vinaigrette has combined, pour dressing over salad and mix together. Bon appétit!
The “Ultimate Mac & Cheese” at David Alan Alan’s Smokehouse & Saloon in Mukwonago.
THE BAKER HOUSE
AMERICAN $$ -$$$ 327 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4700 bakerhouse1885.com/restaurant
BARRIQUE BISTRO & WINE BAR
SPECIALTY $ -$$ 835 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1948 barriquewinebar.com
THE BOAT HOUSE
BAR & GRILL
CASUAL $$
2062 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-812-4126 theboathouselakegeneva.com
THE BOTTLE SHOP
WINE BAR $ 617 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9463 thebottleshoplakegeneva.com
CHAMPS SPORTS
BAR AND GRILL
CASUAL $
747 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-6008 champslakegeneva.com
CLAW’S CHICAGO-STYLE
HOT DOGS CASUAL $ 90 E. Geneva Square., Lake Geneva; 262-732-5112 clawshotdogs.com
COLD STONE CREAMERY
ICE CREAM $ 859 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4900 coldstonecreamery.com
DRAGON CITY
ASIAN $
98 E. Geneva Square, Lake Geneva; 262-249-8867
EGG HARBOR CAFÉ
AMERICAN $ 827 Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1207 eggharborcafe.com/lake-geneva
FLAT IRON TAP
CASUAL $ -$$
150 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-4064 flatirontaplg.com
FOLEY’S BAR & GRILL
IRISH $ -$$ W3905 State Hwy. 50 (at Hwy. 50 and Chapin Rd.), Lake Geneva; 262-245-6966
GENEVA CHOPHOUSE
STEAKHOUSE $$$
Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ geneva-chophouse
Information is subject to change. Please contact individual restaurants for hours of operation. Inclusion in this directory should not be considered an endorsement by At The Lake Visit atthelakemagazine.com to view the full directory online.
Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera app to see our full list of Geneva Lake-area dining options.
GENEVA TAPHOUSE
BEER TASTING $
252 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-8099 genevataphouse.com
GINO’S EAST
CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$
300 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-2525 ginoseast.com/lake-geneva
THE GRAND CAFÉ
AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$
Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788
grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ grand-cafe
GRANDMA VICKIE’S CAFÉ
DINER $
522 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-249-0301
THE GRANDVIEW RESTAURANT
AMERICAN $$ -$$$ N2009 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-5690 thegrandviewrestaurant.com
GUAC STAR
MEXICAN $ 120 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-203-5084 guacstarlg.com
HILL VALLEY CHEESE
SHOP & BAR
CASUAL $
510-512 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-684-9542 hillvalleydairy.com
HOGS & KISSES
CASUAL $
149 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-7447 hogsandkisses.com
HOUSE OF BOGINI
CASUAL $
152 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-903-8003
THE HUNT CLUB STEAKHOUSE AT GENEVA NATIONAL
STEAKHOUSE $$$
555 Hunt Club Ct., Lake Geneva; 262-245-7200 huntclubsteakhouse.com
INSPIRED COFFEE
COFFEE HOUSE $
883 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-683-8604 inspiredcoffee.org
JACKSON’S HOLE
CASUAL $ 1798 Genesee St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1995
JONI’S DINER
DINER $ 111 Wells St., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9565 jonisdiner.com
KILWINS CHOCOLATE AND ICE CREAM SHOP
ICE CREAM/CONFECTIONS $ 772 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4400 kilwins.com/lakegeneva
LAKE-AIRE RESTAURANT
DINER $
804 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-9913 lakeairelg.com
LAKE CITY SOCIAL
CASUAL $$ 111 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-7047 lakecitysocialwi.com
LAKE GENEVA PIE COMPANY
BAKERY/CAFE $ 150 E. Geneva Square., Lake Geneva; 262-248-5100 lgpie.com
LINKS BAR & GRILL
CASUAL $ -$$ Grand Geneva, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/linksbar-grill
LORELEI BITTNER’S BAKERY
BAKERY $
495 Interchange N. (Hwy. 120), Lake Geneva; 262-248-2330 loreleibittnersbakery.com
LUIS’S PIZZA
CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$ W3410 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-6810 luisspizza.com
MAGPIE’S DEN & PEN
CASUAL $$
642 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-249-2302 magpieslg.com
MAMA CIMINO’S
CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$
131 N. Wells St., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9077 ciminoslakegeneva.com
MASHTUN BREWING BREWERY $
700 Veterans Pkwy., Unit 203, Lake Geneva; 262-999-4677 mashtunbrewing.com
MEDUSA GELATERIA & KOUZINA
CASUAL/ICE CREAM $
272 Broad St., Lake Geneva medusagelato.com
MOOSE + MAPLE NORTHWOODS FAMILY DINING
CASUAL $ -$$
Timber Ridge Lodge at Grand Geneva, State Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva; 262-249-3400 timberridgelodge.com/eat/moosemaple
NEXT DOOR PUB & PIZZERIA
AMERICAN/CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 411 Interchange North (Hwy. 120), Lake Geneva; 262-248-9551 nextdoorpub.com
NICHE
COFFEESHOP/WINE BAR $ -$$ 715 Hunt Club Dr., Unit C, Lake Geneva; 262-581-6800 nichelg.com
OAKFIRE RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA
CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$ 831 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-812-8007 oakfire.pizza
OLYMPIC RESTAURANT
DINER $
748 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-6541 olympicrestaurantlakegeneva.com
POPEYE’S CASUAL $ -$$$
811 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4381 popeyeslkg.com
RISTORANTÉ BRISSAGO
ITALIAN $$ -$$$
Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ ristorante-brissago
SABAI, SABAI
ASIAN $$
306 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-4114 sabaisabailakegeneva.com
SIMPLE CAFÉ
AMERICAN/BAKERY $ -$$ 525 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-3556 simplelakegeneva.com
SOPRA: AN AMERICAN BISTRO AMERICAN/FRENCH $$ -$$$ 724 Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-249-0800 soprabistro.com
SPEEDO’S HARBORSIDE CAFÉ
CASUAL $
100 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-3835
SU-WING’S CHINESE
RESTAURANT
ASIAN $ -$$ 743 North St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1178 suwinglg.com
TAIL FEATHERS
CASUAL $ -$$
Hawk’s View Golf Club, W7377 Krueger Rd., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9900 hawksviewgolfclub.com/club/tailfeathers
TAQUERIA EL GALLO DEL ORO
MEXICAN $ 820 Williams St., Lake Geneva; 262-729-4055 taquerialg.com
TOPSY TURVY BREWERY
BREWERY $ 727 Geneva St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-8323 topsyturvybrewery.com
TUSCAN TAVERN AND GRILL
AMERICAN/ITALIAN $ -$$ 430 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-0888 tuscanlg.com
YOGEEZE FROZEN YOGURT FROZEN YOGURT $ 253 Center St., #300, Lake Geneva; 262-203-5550 yogeeze.com
ZAAB CORNER BISTRO
STEAK/SEAFOOD/BBQ $$ -$$$ 501 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-203-5434 zaabcornerlg.com
COUNTRYSIDE
CASUAL $
W9695 U.S. Hwy. 14, Darien; 262-882-3224
DARIEN ICE CREAM SHOPPE ICE CREAM $ 30 W. Beloit St., Darien; 262-882-5060
WEST WIND DINER
DINER $
620 N. Walworth St., Darien; 262-882-5515
1878 ON THE LAKE AMERICAN $$ -$$$
Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St. (State Hwy. 50), Delavan; 262-728-7950 lakelawnresort.com/dining/1878-onthe-lake
ARANDAS MEXICAN GRILL MEXICAN $
322 S. 7th St., Delavan; 262-725-6518 arandasmexicangrill.com
ARCADIA BAR AND GRILL CASUAL $
215 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-267-8973
BOXED & BURLAP COFFEE HOUSE $
2935 State Hwy. 67 (intersection of highways 50 and 67), Delavan and 230 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-374-5497 boxedandburlap.com
CHINA GARDEN ASIAN $
136 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-749-3111 chinagardendelavanwi.com
CLOCK TOWER PIZZA/ FRANK’S CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 5576 State Road 50, Delavan; 262-203-5092 clocktowerpizza.com
DELAVAN FAMILY RESTAURANT CASUAL $ 505 S. 7th St., Delavan; 262-728-1715
THE DUCK INN SUPPER CLUB $$ -$$$
N6214 State Hwy. 89 (intersection of County Rd. A and State Hwy. 89), Delavan; 608-883-6988 duckinndelavan.com
ELIZABETH’S CAFE DINER $
322 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-728-3383
THE ENDZONE BAR & GRILL CASUAL $ 4112 Blue Gill Rd., Delavan; 262-728-2420
FIRE2FORK
AMERICAN $$ -$$$
2484 S. County Rd. O, Delavan; 262-725-7388 fire2fork.com
GREENIE’S CLUBHOUSE
CASUAL $
At Delbrook Golf Course, 700 S. 2nd St., Delavan; 262-728-1339 greeniesclubhouse.menu
INN BETWEEN
CASUAL $ 1522 Beckman Dr., Delavan; 262-728-9824
ISLE OF CAPRI CAFÉ
COFFEE HOUSE $
Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan; 262-728-7950 lakelawnresort.com/dining/isle-ofcapri-cafe
JAIME’S CAFE
CASUAL $
239 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-749-3107 jaimescafe.net/good-food
JO JO’S PIZZA & PASTA
CASUAL $ -$$
308 State Hwy. 50, Delavan; 262-728-5656 jojospizzadelavan.net
JONATHAN’S ON BRICK STREET
AMERICAN $$ -$$$
116 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-725-7715 jonathansonbrickstreet.com
LA GUANAJUATO
MEXICAN RESTAURANT MEXICAN $
233 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-728-8615
THE LOOKOUT BAR AND EATERY
CASUAL $
Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan; 262-728-7950 lakelawnresort.com/dining/lookout-bar-eatery
LOPEZ’S ANCHOR IN CASUAL $ 1325 Racine St., Delavan; 262-728-2391
LOS AGAVES RESTAURANT MEXICAN $
401 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-728-4039 losagavesmexicanfood.com
OL’ WISCO BAR AND GRILL CASUAL $
328 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-725-6000
OPUS AT THE BELFRY HOUSE FRENCH $$$$
3601 State Hwy. 67, Delavan; 262-394-3939 dineopus.com
PEPPERONI PUB
CASUAL/ITALIAN $
627 S. Second St., Delavan; 262-723-2222 pepperonipub.com
RIGA-TONY’S
CASUAL/ITALIAN $
5576 State Hwy. 50, Delavan; 262-740-2540 rigatonysdelavan.com
SPICE OF INDIA
INDIAN $
212 S. 7th St., Delavan; 262-728-6443 thespiceofindia.org
SWEET AROMA RISTORANTÉ
ITALIAN $$ -$$$
W7404 County Rd. X, Delavan; 262-728-6878 sweetaromaristorante.com
VESUVIO’S LITTLE ITALY
CASUAL/ITALIAN $
617 E. Washington St., Delavan; 262-740-1762 delavanpizza.com
THE VILLAGE SUPPER CLUB
SUPPER CLUB $$ -$$$
1725 S. Shore Dr., Delavan; 262-456-3400 villagesupperclubdelavan.com
WATERFRONT
CASUAL $
408 State Hwy. 50, Delavan; 262-728-4700 waterfrontdelavan.com
YO-SHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT
ASIAN $$
1823 E. Geneva St. (State Hwy. 50), Delavan; 262-740-2223 yoshidelavanwi.com
2894 ON MAIN
COFFEE/CASUAL $ -$$ 2894 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-9600 2894onmain.com
BARLEY’S HOPS AND MALT
CASUAL $
N8720 County Rd. N., East Troy; 262-642-7811
DOS AMIGOS 2
MEXICAN $
2678 E. Main St., East Troy; 262-642-6446 dosamigos2llc.com
EAST TROY BREWERY
BREWERY/CASUAL $ -$$
2905 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-2670 etbrew.com
GENOA PIZZA
CASUAL/ITALIAN $
2678 E. Main St., East Troy; 262-642-9775
GOLDEN DRAGON ASIAN $
2763 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-5518 goldendragoneasttroywi.com
GUS’S DRIVE-IN
DINER $
3131 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-3679 gussdrivein.com
J. LAUBER’S ICE CREAM PARLOR ICE CREAM $
2010 Church St., East Troy; 262-642-3679 jlaubers.com
LD’S BBQ BARBECUE $ -$$ 2511 Main St., East Troy; 414-610-7675 ldsbbq.com
PRINCESS CAFÉ
DINER $
2695 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-5905
ALPINE BISTRO AT ALPINE VALLEY RESORT AMERICAN/CONTEMPORARY $$ -$$$ W2501 County Rd. D, Elkhorn; 262-642-7374 alpinevalleyresort.com
ANNIE’S BURGER TOWN
CASUAL $
645 N. Lincoln St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3250 anniesburgertown.com
BAKER MEISTER
BAKERY $ 421 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-379-1463
ELK RESTAURANT CASUAL $ 13 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn; 262-723-4220
ENZO’S PIZZA
CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 464 E. Geneva St., Elkhorn; 262-379-2022
HOLI CANNOLI
ITALIAN $ -$$ N7065 U.S. Hwy. 12, Elkhorn; 262-742-2500 holicannoli.com
LAKEHOUSE BREAKFAST BAR & GRILL
CASUAL $ -$$ N7073 State Hwy. 12/67, Elkhorn; 262-742-3300 lakehousebreakfastbarandgrill. godaddysites.com
LARDUCCI PIZZERIA
ITALIAN $ -$$ 20 S. Washington St., Elkhorn; 262-723-6668 larducci.com
LAUDERDALE LANDING
CASUAL $ -$$ W5625 West Shore Dr., Elkhorn; 262-495-8727
LEFTY’S CHICAGO-STYLE HOT DOGS CASUAL $ N7033 U.S. Hwy. 12, Elkhorn; 262-215-8266 leftysdogs.com
LOS TRES HERMANOS MEXICAN $$
31 N. Wisconsin St. Elkhorn; 262-379-1658 lostreshermanoswi.com
LUKE’S MARKET STREET ITALIAN SANDWICHES
CASUAL $ 117 W. Market St., Elkhorn; 262-723-4676
MOY’S RESTAURANT ASIAN $
3 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3993 moysrestaurant.carry-out.com
PASTRIES BY CHAD BAKERY $
29 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-279-1187 pastriesbychad.com
PERKUP
COFFEE HOUSE $
27 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-1287 perkupelkhorn.com
PIZZA ALLEY
CASUAL/ITALIAN $
30 S. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-1900
THE PUB AT EVERGREEN GOLF CLUB
CASUAL $
N6246 U.S. Hwy. 12, Elkhorn; 262-723-5722 evergreengolf.com/the-pub
SOMEPLACE ELSE
AMERICAN $
1 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3111 someplaceelserestaurant.com
STILLWATER COFFEE COMPANY
COFFEE HOUSE $ 1560 N. Country Club Pkwy., Elkhorn; 262-723-2301 stillwatercoffeecompany.com
240˚ WEST
AMERICAN/CASUAL/STEAKHOUSE $$ -$$$
The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-9034 theabbeyresort.com/lake-genevarestaurants/240-west
BAR WEST
SMALL PLATES $ -$$
The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-9034
theabbeyresort.com/lake-genevarestaurants/bar-west
BIG FOOT MARKET
PIZZA/COFFEE $ -$$
W4724 S. Lake Shore Dr., Fontana; 262-394-5888 bigfootmarkets.com
BLUE HEAVEN
ICE CREAM $
105 W. Main St., Fontana; 970-219-8911 blueheavenicecream.com
CAFÉ LATTE
COFFEE HOUSE $
The Abbey Resort & Spa; 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-6811
theabbeyresort.com/lake-genevarestaurants/cafe-latte
CHUCK’S LAKESHORE INN
CASUAL $
352 Lake St., Fontana; 262-275-3222 chuckslakeshoreinn.com
COFFEE MILL
COFFEE HOUSE $
441 Mill St., Fontana; 262-275-0040 coffeemillfontana.com
GORDY’S BOAT HOUSE
CASUAL $ -$$ 336 Lake Ave., Fontana; 262-275-6800 gordysboats.com
LITTLE BAR
PIZZA $ -$$ 138 Fontana Blvd. Fontana; 262-755-0335 littlebarfontana.com
THE WATERFRONT
AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$
The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-9034 theabbeyresort.com/lake-genevarestaurants/the-waterfront
FITZGERALD’S GENOA JUNCTION
CASUAL $
727 Main St., Hwy. B, Genoa City; 262-279-5200 fitzgeraldsfishboil.com
BEAN & VINE COFFEE BAR
COFFEE HOUSE $ -$$
The Ridge Hotel, W4240 State Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva; 262-249-3800 ridgelakegeneva.com/bean-vine
CRAFTED ITALIA
ITALIAN $$ -$$$
The Ridge Hotel, W4240 State Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva; 262-249-3832 craftedlakegeneva.com
DJ’S IN THE DRINK
CASUAL $
W3860 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Como; 262-248-8855 djsinthedrink.com
THE GETAWAY ON LAKE COMO
CASUAL $ -$$ 4190 West End Road, Lake Geneva; 262-686-3456 thegetawayrestaurant.com
LEGENDS FOOD & SPIRITS
CASUAL $
W3731 Club House Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-203-5474 legendsfoodandspirits.com
MARS RESORT
STEAKHOUSE/SUPPER CLUB $ -$$
W4098 S. Shore Drive (off State Hwy. 50 on Lake Como), Lake Geneva; 262-245-5689 mars-resort.com
NEXT DOOR PUB LAKESIDE
PIZZA $ W4118 Lakeshore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-249-6311 nextdoorpublakeside.com
PAPA’S BLUE SPRUCE
CASUAL $
W4086 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-729-4126 papasbluespruce.com
TURF. SMOKEHOUSE
BARBECUE $$
Geneva National, Lake Geneva; 262-245-7042 destinationgn.com/turf
YE OLDE HOTEL BAR & RESTAURANT
AMERICAN $ -$$
6070 N. Railroad St., Lyons; 262-763-2701 yeoldehotel.com
DAVID ALAN ALAN’S SMOKEHOUSE & SALOON
BARBECUE $ -$$ 325 Bayview Rd., Mukwonago; 262-363-3227 daasmokehouse.com
ELEGANT FARMER
SPECIALTY $ 1545 Main St., Mukwonago; 262-363-6770 elegantfarmer.com
FORK IN THE ROAD
AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$ 215 N. Rochester St., Mukwonago; 262-363-7849 forkintheroadrestaurant.com
SPOONDOGGERS BAR AND GRILL
CASUAL $
N1320 S. Lake Shore Dr., Genoa City; 262-295-8773
UPPER CRUST PIZZERIA & PUB CASUAL $ N1070 County Rd. H, Pell Lake; 262-279-2233 uppercrustpizzeriapub.com
COFFEE CUP CAFE CASUAL $ 192 Baldwin St., Sharon; 262-736-4060
MYRT’S ICE CREAM SHOPPE ICE CREAM $ 215 Baldwin St., Sharon; 262-736-5060
PAT’S BREW & ‘QUE BARBECUE $ 124 North St., Sharon; 262-736-5060
BODI’S BAKE SHOP BAKERY $ 306 E. Main St., Twin Lakes; 262-877-8090
THE CORNER KITCHEN CASUAL $ 100 Lake St., Twin Lakes; 262-877-2456
MANNY’S SNACK SHACK CASUAL $ 404 S. Lake Ave., Twin Lakes; 262-877-4442
JULIE MICHELLE CAKES CAKE BAKERY $ 117 Kenosha St., Walworth; 312-800-3101 juliemichellecakes.com
KING DRAGON
ASIAN $ 101 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-275-3309 kingdragonwa.com
MEGGY MOO’S DAIRY RIPPLE
CASUAL/ICE CREAM $ 600 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-394-5584
SAMMY’S ON THE SQUARE CASUAL $ 105 Madison St., Walworth; 262-275-3739 sammysonthesquare.com
SIEMER’S CRUISE–IN
BAR & GRILL CASUAL $ 107 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-275-9191 siemerscruisein.com
TWO SISTERS THAI RESTAURANT
ASIAN $ 207 N. Main St., Walworth; 262-394-5700
BAY COOKS
CASUAL $
99 N. Walworth Ave., Williams Bay; 262-607-6024 baycooksrestaurant.com
CAFÉ CALAMARI
ITALIAN $$ -$$$
10 E. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-9665 cafecalamari.com
DIP IN THE BAY
ICE CREAM $ 105 N. Walworth Ave., Williams Bay; 262-607-3032 dipinthebay.com
FROSTY MOOSE
ICE CREAM $
35 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-2445 thefrostymoose.com
GRACIE’S KITCHEN
CAFE $ 150 Elkhorn Rd., Williams Bay
GREEN GROCER DELI AND COFFEE SHOP CAFE $
24 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-9077 greengrocergenevalake.com
HARPOON WILLIE’S PUB & EATERY
CASUAL $
8 E. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-6906 harpoonwillies.com
LUCKE’S CANTINA
MEXICAN $
220 Elkhorn Rd., Williams Bay; 262-245-6666 luckescantina.com
PIER 290
AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$ 1 Liechty Dr., Williams Bay; 262-245-2100 pier290.com
1878
B&J
Balsitis
“The fall is upon us, The woods are a real spectacle, colored with all the rich colors of autumn.
The trees, deeper green, yellower and redder, (Yellows of all hues, pale and dark-green, shades from the lightest to richest red,)
Cool and sweeten villages, with leaves fluttering in the moderate wind.”
— Walt Whitman, from “Autumn”
