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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
A TRADITION OF GIVING
I
n this November issue, we recognize young entrepreneurs in the area who hope to become the future leaders of industry. On the cover, Hinsdale Central seniors Reagan Wright and Madeline Shownkeen launched their own business, Wright and Carter, at the end of their freshman year. Taking advantage of the conveniences of modern technology, they have developed an online platform to effectively target and reach customers to purchase their apparel. They have also used social media to market effectively. Both have aspirations of studying business in college, and would like to continue running their business. These young and savvy individuals have taken their ideas from the classroom, and are taking their dreams to a new level. In Mike Ellis’s sports feature, you will read how using two quarterbacks, Hinsdale Central football experienced perhaps its best offensive regular season in school history. The Red Devils have combined quarterbacks Michael Sessa and Josh Bean with a talented set of backs, receivers and offensive linemen to produce an offensive machine no defense has been able to stifle. You will learn how for many of these offensive starters, their football playing careers began in the Hinsdale Falcon program. Last month we began a regular series on landmarks in the area when we featured a fall favorite, Morton Arboretum. In November, we take you to an art lover’s favorite. If you thought the Art Institute was the only exemplary showcase of art in the Chicago area, you’ve never visited the Elmhurst Art Museum. Located in downtown Elmhurst, what makes this suburban museum unique is that it not only features a variety of local, national and international exhibitions, but it is also fused with the McCormick House, one of only three homes in the United States constructed by famous modern architect Mies van der Rohe. In our architecture and home design feature, we put the Hollywood lights on Hinsdale, as Kerrie Kennedy takes you into a home that was featured in a Hollywood movie production. You may recognize the home in the neighborhood, but you may not know that it appeared in a familiar film. If you know of a home that has a story, drop me an e-mail, and perhaps it will be featured in our next issue. Hinsdale Magazine is proud to continue its tradition of covering the community scene, where local organizations come together to make a difference through the efforts of community volunteers. From local schools to non-profit health organizations, we salute those who dedicate their time and effort. I hope you enjoy the events coverage inside this issue. Please send me an e-mail if your non-profit organization or community program has an upcoming event. We welcome the opportunity to cover it for a future issue. Our staff is looking forward to delivering more community news, and we thank our valued advertisers who make it possible to do so each and every month. Remember to support them, and let them know you saw them in Hinsdale Magazine and online in our digital issues at www.hinsdale60521.com. As always, thank you for reading Hinsdale Magazine.
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features
COVER STORY On the Wright track
44
COMMUNITY SCENE
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CREATIVE DEPARTMENT
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12 LEADING OFF Rock the House
14 LANDMARK SERIES Elmhurst Art Museum
32 FOOD & DRINK
Rising stars, old favorites and new finds
34 OUT & ABOUT
Everything that’s new and exciting around town
36 GIVING BACK
Garden Study Club of Hinsdale
40 ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN Lights, Camera, Hinsdale!
58 SPORTS Dual threat
62 TECH KNOW
“2015 gift season tech gadgets” by Errol Janusz
64 PEAK PERFORMANCE “Are you thankful?” by Jim Fannin
66 SPIRITUAL INSIGHT
“Convicted civility, Part 2” by Dan Meyer
ON THE COVER
Reagan Wright of Hinsdale and Madeline Shownkeen of Oak Brook
34
Photography by Marco Nunez
Hinsdale Magazine, Inc. | 38 Blaine Street | Downtown Hinsdale, IL 60521 PHONE: 630-655-3400 | E-MAIL: advertise@Hinsdale60521.com Hinsdale Magazine is mailed to 18,364 homes and businesses.
No person, organization or publication can copy or re-produce the content in this magazine or any part of this publication without a written consent from the publisher. The publisher, authors, contributors and designers reserve their rights with regards to copyright of their work. Hinsdale Magazine, Inc. assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information. The information contained about each individual, event or organization has been provided by such individual, event organizers or organization. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Hinsdale Magazine, Inc. Comments are welcome, but they should be on-topic and well-expressed. Copyright ©2015 Hinsdale Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved.
LEADING OFF Photography by Marco Nunez
ROCK THE HOUSE Mimi Schmitz of Hinsdale performed with her band at Rock the House, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities, in Chicago on Oct. 3.
ROCK THE HOUSE Benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities by Mike Ellis
S
everal hundred people from the Chicagoland area turned out for the annual Rock the House concert, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities, at Park West on the North Side of Chicago on Oct. 3. Mimi Schmitz of Hinsdale took center stage as the lead singer in her band. Schmitz, a local mom by day, resembled a regular concert performer on stage, belting out a myriad of popular tunes to the delight of the crowd in attendance. Schmitz was supported by a number of residents of Hinsdale and surrounding communities, including Mike and Amy Bailey of Hinsdale, who served as event sponsors. Proceeds from Rock the House will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. n
SKYCUBE Artist David Wallace Haskins’s “Skycube” sculpture is currently on display at Elmhurst Art Museum. (Photo by Michael Johnson)
LANDMARKS SERIES
ELMHURST ART MUSEUM Modern art, architecture and design on display at west suburban center
by Mike Ellis Photography provided by Elmhurst Art Museum/Chicago Historical Society
W
hen art aficionados think of premier galleries and exhibits to visit, it is not unreasonable for Chicago’s Art Institute to come to mind. But just a few miles north of Oakbrook Center, the Western Suburbs features a first-rate art museum of its own—the Elmhurst Art Museum (EAM). The museum was founded by painter Eleanor King-Hookham, a longtime Elmhurst resident, and a group of local art-lovers in 1981, before moving to its current habitation in 1997. It originally existed as a single room in Eldridge School (now closed), which was then being used by the Elmhurst Park District. “The objective is to educate and inform people about contemporary modern art and culture, and to make their lives richer through the experience of that, and to address important issues and social concerns through the exploration of art and design,” said Stacy Boris, chief curator and director of public programs for the museum. Organizing the Elmhurst Fine Arts and Civic Center Foundation, the museum expanded through fundraising initiatives. In the early 1990s, the foundation conceived of intertwining the museum with a rare architectural treasure located in Elmhurst: the McCormick House. Constructed in 1952, the house was one of only three in the United States designed by world-renowned modern
architect Mies van der Rohe. “One of the incredibly unique features of Elmhurst Art Museum is that it contains a house designed by Mies van der Rohe,” Boris said. In order to fuse it with the art museum, the house had to be moved from its original location at 299 Prospect Ave. to the current museum property in Wilder Park, just south of the railroad tracks. (To accomplish the move, the McCormick House was bifurcated into two rectangular sections.) The current museum building opened to the public in 1997, and is not only devoted to showcasing modern paintings, but also architecture and design. “We are a museum of art, design and architecture,” executive director Jenny Gibbs said. “The most important article in the museum’s collection, of course, is Mies van der Rohe’s McCormick House. ... Our mission is to explore the art design of our time.” The EAM is able to showcase multiple exhibitions at a time, some of which relate directly or contextually to the McCormick House. Two of the museum’s current exhibitions are connected to the home: “Lessons from the Fick Home” and “No Place Like House.” The former—named after the home’s other owners, former Elmhurst mayor Raymond Fick and his wife—explores various aspects of the McCormick House with an emphasis on analyzing Continued on the next page
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 15
LANDMARKS SERIES Continued from the previous page
THE MCCORMICK HOUSE 1950s exterior and interior (photo courtesy of Hedrich Blessing Archive, Chicago Historical Society)
sustainability. The house itself, much like its counterpart, the Farnsworth House in Plano, Ill., is remarkable for its simple minimalist design, as well as its use of large glass windows and I-beams. Andrew Santa Lucia, a professor at the School of the Art Institute and a van der Rohe admirer, worked with graduate students on the exhibit. One portion features solar diagrams that reveal
the sun’s effect on the house and its large windows during the solstices and equinoxes. Another component of the exhibit draws ingenious comparisons between the McCormick House and 860-880 Lake Shore Drive, a pair of apartment buildings van der Rohe designed in Chicago. (The architect met Robert McCormick, the man after whom the McCormick House is styled, while working on the apartment project.) While the projects differ widely in terms of scale and magnitude, exhibitors illustrated a theory that the house design is actually very similar to the apartments. In essence, they propose that van der Rohe conceived both designs with a pair of rectangular floor plans, but in the case of the house, he rotated one of the planes 90 degrees, thus making them parallel. “There’s no proof that he did it, but that’s sort of a myth that has been a story that Robert McCormick has told,” Boris said. The other current exhibit that pays homage to van der Rohe, “No Place Like House,” contains two original designs by Santa Lucia that concentrate on two frequently repeated forms in the legendary architect’s repertoire: the cruciform column and five-point corner. Santa Lucia designed two “altars,” adorning the structures with candles to humorously pay tribute to van der Rohe’s work. “Wall-tar” is rife with the cruciform column, or a cross-shaped figure that differs from ordinary crosses in that the intersecting rectangular segments are the same length. “Chunk,” meanwhile, abounds with five-point corners, and even features a “pulpit” to continue the religious metaphor.
SKYCUBE
Near Santa Lucia’s Miesian shrines is a remarkable original piece of artwork by an Elmhurst native that will be on display through spring. “Skycube” is an 8’ x 8’ x 8’ cube comprised of 6,000 pounds of steel and 400 pounds of glass welded seamlessly to bring the sky down to ground-level. Artist David Wallace Haskins said he completed a similar “skywall” at a Glen Ellyn office building, but Skycube marks his first publicly-displayed work. Continued on page 18
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LANDMARKS SERIES Continued from page 16
Haskins, who is also a musician and has dabbled in philosophy, is a contemporary artist who works creatively with light, space, time and sound. “The whole idea was to bring the sky down to the pictorial plane, like a living painting on the wall,” he said. “As you can see, it does appear to be on the surface of the cube. ... For centuries—even going back to the cave drawings—, we have evidence of man trying to put the sky on the pictorial plane, or in the spaces that he inhabits.” Haskins said he was particularly inspired by contemporary French painter Yves Klein, as well as paintings by masters Vincent Van Gogh, J.M.W. Turner and Caspar David Friedrich. “You have representation, you have surrealist artists, and you have conceptual artists all interpreting the idea of a void on the pictorial plane,” he said, adding that he felt the sky had been artistically represented in “every possible way except [through] the actual sky.” Incidentally, the outdoor space on
the museum terrace on which Skycube rests is all the more familiar to Haskins, who grew up playing on the museum property—which was then the backyard of his childhood best friend. “This was my backyard that I grew up playing in, basically,” he said. ... “I have very vivid memories of both [lying] on my back and staring at the sky.” Haskins recalled the vestiges of his future attempt to reorient the sky to the viewer from his childhood. “There was a blacktop path, and it was very uneven, and a lot of water would collect in it,” he said. “I would, for hours, just sit there and look at the sky reflecting on the earth, and think about how when you see the sky out of context, it becomes so much more alive to your eyes.” Haskins said he had been contemplating Skycube’s design for more than five years, before finally completing it this summer. Sneaking even a glance at Skycube from inside the museum, it would seem impossible not to be struck by the
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reflected sky appearing at eye-level in the large window. Stepping outside to view it more closely, Haskins recommended gazing at it on the stone bench, which he said has a width (four feet) identical to the aperture of the window. “You’re here to sit down on this stone bench, which is this solid, earthen slab of stone, as you contemplate and look into the sky,” he said, adding that he sees it as a place to “listen to the sky.” Approaching more closely to Skycube, the viewer is met by still more striking, vivid and diffuse images that must be experienced in person to be comprehended adequately. To say that it is like viewing the sky on a high-definition television is perhaps an understatement. “It’s like a living painting, but it’s also unique in that you control the composition, in a sense, by your position,” Haskins said. “And you see the work in two layers: one as a framed painting, and then, when you walk up to it, you see it as a mural filling the back wall.” Gibbs said she especially likes how the work fits contextually and symbolically with the McCormick House. “One of the things that I love about it particularly in relation to Mies van der Rohe’s house, which we’re standing next to, is, Mies speaks about his architecture as being a way of framing nature,” she said. “The most significant element of his architecture was windows—these glasscurtain walls. When you go into the house, you see it is very much about framing and controlling and contextualizing nature, [and] David has done a similar thing with the sky.”
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Heading eastward, away from the exhibits, guests come to a room in the museum that houses artwork produced by members of the Elmhurst Artist Guild. Boris said this portion of the EAM is operated by the guild and not museum staff. Adjacent to the guild gallery is the museum’s education center, where it offers a variety of art courses for individuals of all ages. Some programs are for adults, others are for kids, and there are even some designed for parent and child. Class Continued on page 20
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 19
LANDMARKS SERIES
LESSONS FROM MODERNISM This is an architecture exhibition that examines 25 modern building projects, dating from 1925 to 1970. The exhibition encourages students, architects and the public to reexamine modern architecture.
Continued from page 18
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO VERY FAR IN ORDER TO HAVE WHAT WE FEEL IS A WORLD-CLASS MUSEUM—NOT ONLY THAT SHOWS MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE, BUT ALSO HAS AN IMPORTANT MODERN ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURE AS THE COMPLEX,” BORIS SAID.
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subject matters include painting, pottery, ceramics, figure drawing and cartooning. Additional information regarding course offerings and enrollment is available at www.elmhurstartmuseum.org.
FUTURE EXHIBITIONS
Starting in December, the EAM will display its inaugural biennial exhibition, “Chicago Statements,” featuring work by local artists such as Lise Haller Baggeson, Tom Burtonwood, Matthew Hoffman and Cheryl Pope. “It’s a selection of some of the most interesting and significant artists working in the Chicago area, who are working with concepts related to social issues, current events and everyday reality,” Boris said. “It’s a really important and significant, rich exhibition of a diverse group of artists in Chicago.” In the spring, the museum will feature Haskins’s first solo exhibition, which Boris described as “immersive installations of light and space.” “He has a really wonderful way of using technology in a very complex way that seems simple, and creates wonder
and awe,” she said. Boris said the EAM is also hoping to raise the requisite funds to make the museum Skycube’s permanent home. Reflecting on the efforts of the local art enthusiasts who were responsible for bringing an art museum to Elmhurst, Boris said the results are “pretty impressive”— especially considering that the Elmhurst Art Museum is the only museum of its kind in the Western Suburbs. n The Elmhurst Art Museum is located at 150 Cottage Hill Ave., about a block south of the Metra train station in downtown Elmhurst. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and free for students and children. To learn more about the Elmhurst Art Museum and its current and upcoming exhibitions, visit www.elmhurstartmuseum.org.
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COVER STORY
ON THE WRIGHT TRACK
Hinsdale Central seniors use fashion to stimulate entrepreneurial spirit, support women’s issues by Mike Ellis Photography by Marco Nunez
Reagan Wright of Hinsdale and Madeline Shownkeen of Oak Brook
24 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
hile many kids are just opening their first checking accounts or receiving their first credit cards in high school, two Hinsdale Central seniors have been building their own fashion business. Reagan Wright of Hinsdale and Madeline Shownkeen of Oak Brook met as freshmen in English class, and have been working together to develop their own fashion brand, Wright and Carter, ever since the end of that school-year. “I think we just bonded over similar interests—fashion,” Shownkeen said. “We always talked about starting something and having something that was completely our own.” The business name is derived from a combination of Wright’s last name and Shownkeen’s middle name (Carter). “We sell clothes online,” Wright said. “We design them ourselves, and work with a manufacturer in downtown Chicago to kind of bring it to life.” Shownkeen said the girls’ initial desire was to center their business on clothing, but they were unsure of how to execute that design, and settled on jewelry instead. In order to learn more about designing jewelry, she said they visited the Chicago jewelry district downtown, and conducted additional research online. In order to cover their start-up costs including the daunting incorporation fee, the girls dug into their personal savings and auctioned off items on eBay. Wright said instead of eyeing transient and superfluous goods for Christmas, they asked for money to put into their business. “I think we’re a bit ambitious people; we go big or go home,” Wright said. “This was something we really wanted to do and create ourselves.” Continued on page 26
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COVER STORY Continued from page 24
Wright and Shownkeen started out selling customizable jewelry online, and to this day, they continue to focus their sales strategy entirely on the Internet. Using social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter—with which their generation is acquainted an adept—, the girls developed a niche following in various parts of the country and even internationally.
“Social media since day one has been our main stage of trying to get our name out there,” Shownkeen said. “We live in a world that’s been made so small by technology,” Wright said, “so we’ve been working with bloggers that live in Barcelona, and had a photoshoot with them, and people in New York and California who have all been kind of helpful in getting our name out there.”
During their junior year, the girls acquired their first experience working with customers in person, as they secured the opportunity to set up a stand inside Yorktown Mall at Christmastime. “That was also a learning experience— having people walk by, and having to wrangle them in,” Shownkeen said. Shownkeen said they learned the difference between someone “liking” an item and “buying” it, and gained valuable experience dealing directly with customers, as opposed to in the impersonal world of online shopping. “I think we just learned a lot about dealing directly with customers, especially face to face,” Wright said, “and kind of growing those marketing skills and selling skills.” “Actually being face-to-face with a customer is totally different than an Instagram post,” Shownkeen said. After their experience at Yorktown, Wright and Shownkeen began transitioning their focus from jewelry to apparel, which the former described as a “long process.” Shownkeen said they used their jewelry profits to effectuate the shift, and consulted various designers as they gleaned more knowledge about clothing. Over time, however, she said they have grown more independent in terms of designing the apparel in an attempt to make it better conform with their “brand.” Shownkeen said the process begins with the girls drawing rough sketches, before they determine which designs they would actually like to implement. They then pass their designs on to a freelance seamstress in Chicago, who brings them to life. Wright and Shownkeen described their clothing as “relaxed.” “Everything is easy to wear; it’s not too stiff or formal,” Wright said. Working extensively through their Web site and social media, Wright and Shownkeen have identified their clientele as girls their age through young ladies in their 20s. Lately, they said they have been focusing much of their energy on Continued on page 28
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COVER STORY Continued from page 26
their “brand,” attempting to identify the “Wright and Carter girl.” “The ‘Wright and Carter girl’ is ambitious; she’s fashionable; she’s creative, adventurous,” Shownkeen said. The young entrepreneurs launched a campaign to contact girls in New York and California who fit the aforementioned “image,” and then supplied them with some clothes to wear in photos that they
later displayed online. But the girls are quick to point out that Wright and Carter isn’t just about fashion. They have also forged a partnership with Educate 2 Envision, a non-profit organization that is building educational programs for girls in Honduras. “We didn’t want Wright and Carter just to be about the fashion; we wanted
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it to mean a lot more than that,” Wright said. “A cause special to both of us is girls’ education, because we’re obviously so fortunate to receive such a quality education where we live.” Shownkeen said they learned about Educate 2 Envision through a girl from New York named Megan, who introduced them to the organization via social media. Wright and Shownkeen said they were motivated to work with the organization, because it encourages entrepreneurship and industriousness among girls in a country in which most women are confined to the home. “Their potential is limited only in the domestic sphere, and they’re not really involved in the communities; they’re not really seen as leaders or really even deserving of the same opportunities that the boys are receiving,” Wright said. Ten percent of all Wright and Carter profits are donated to Educate 2 Envision. Like many seniors, the girls are currently applying to colleges. Wright said she intends to study international business, while Shownkeen said she plans to focus on business, with a concentration on marketing. Although the young entrepreneurs may end up at different universities, Shownkeen said that may actually prove to be an advantage, as they could develop diversified followings at their respective colleges. Both girls said they would like to continue running their business for a living, and Wright said their ultimate goal is to “mass produce” pieces. “We definitely want to keep expanding and building our brand.” n
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GETTING THE FAMILY TOGETHER FOR THE Holiday get-togethers are a great time to get the entire family together. While most may be focused on turkey dinners and Black Friday sales, it is also a great opportunity while everyone is together to discuss tough topics, such as estate planning and eldercare. Most parents and adult children agree that it is important to have these discussions, but few actually have them, according to a recent study by Fidelity Investments. Overall, the discussions can be difficult, and family members may avoid these topics for fear of offending each other. However, the holiday spirit may make it easier for families to get together and talk about wills, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable giving concerns. At Wealth Planning Network, we always encourage these discussions among our clients, as it is important for parents to speak to their kids about these important topics when they deem that the kids are ready to hear it. As parents age, it is always hard to think about their passing, but it is inevitable. If you’re looking to have a conversation with your family regarding your estate and retirement planning, here’s a few tips we recommend: 1.
Plan the meeting ahead of time. Casually bringing up the subject after a turkey dinner and a few drinks is not the way to go. Make sure that your family is aware of the meeting ahead of time, and that they all have time to prepare themselves.
2.
Have an agenda. If you already have an estate plan or eldercare directives in place, present them to
Michael Jankowski President & CEO
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Holidays everyone prior to the meeting, so that they can be prepared with any questions, or so that they can be emotionally prepared for the discussion. 3.
Value everyone’s input. Ultimately, it is the parent’s decision as to what they would like to have happen with their estate and eldercare needs, but it is important to hear and value the input of the children as well. Some children may insist on caring for their aging parents instead of putting them into a long term care facility, for example. Some children may not agree with the ways in which they choose to distribute their assets upon their passing, and they should be able express those opinions.
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Have Fun! Although these are serious conversations, don’t be afraid to schedule them around a fun get-together or family dinner. Start by talking about the easy things, and ease your way into the more difficult or contentious items.
If you’ve never gotten the family together for this type of meeting, it’s probably a good idea to do so soon. If you don’t already have your estate planning and healthcare directives decided, it could be a very beneficial meeting to hear your family’s input on the topics, and then work from there. If you’d like more information about this type of family meeting, we would love to help you review your estate plans and involve the kids in the process. We specialize in serving multi-generational families, and assisting them through the retirement and estate planning process.
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HINSDALE MAGAZINE PRESENTS
FOOD&DRINK featuring
MON AMI GABI
by Kerrie Kennedy | Photography by Jim Prisching
Cider-braised pork shank served over pommes puree, and topped with pork shank sauce, bacon lardoons and braised apples at Mon Ami Gabi in Oak Brook
HINSDALE MAGAZINE’S FOOD&DRINK
MOUTHWATERING
Pies
What would we do without pizza— universally liked, a phone call away, the ultimate problem-solver for dinner, kids’ parties, moving day and holiday stress? Here are three to put on your speed dial:
Classic Profiteroles—vanilla ice cream, homemade double chocolate fudge
FRENCH
Twist There are some things that simply cannot be improved upon, and classic French bistro food is one of them. There is nothing that satisfies like a bowl of robust French onion soup, topped with a layer of gooey Gruyere, steak pomme frites with maitre de butter (perfect for dipping), and ice-cream-filled Profiteroles artfully dressed with chocolate sauce. Luckily, Mon Ami Gabi in Oak Brook understands that tradition quite often trumps trendiness, especially when it’s paired with high-quality food, great wine (Mon Ami offers more than 80 boutique French wine varietals) and top-notch service. “Our steak frites is what we’re known for,” general manager Raul Moreno said. “And frankly, I think it’s better than what you get in Paris.” Offering the same kind of ambience you’d find in Paris, complete with soft lighting, a turn-of-thecentury Parisian bar, crisp, white tablecloths and signature butcher paper, the only thing you won’t find at Mon Ami are surly waiters. According to Moreno, the average tenure of a server at the restaurant is currently between eight and ten years, and many of them are sought out by their
“regulars.” More than just a romantic spot for dinner, Mon Ami Gabi, which was founded by Chicago restauranteurs Rich Melman and Gabino Sotelino (the restaurant’s namesake), hosts a number of monthly events and cooking classes. This month, the restaurant will throw a party to celebrate the release of this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau, offering a special wine dinner, bien sur. A cooking class to be led by executive chef Bruce Williams on Nov. 21 will help students perfect their skills in making hors de oeuvres (the French invented them, after all), just in time for the holidays. According to Moreno, most of the participants stay and enjoy lunch after the class. The holiday season brings a number of highly-anticipated events at Mon Ami Gabi, including a Christmas Eve dinner with specials such as lobster bisque and prime rib, a New Year’s Eve dinner with complimentary champagne, and in a rare break with tradition, a New Year’s Day pajama brunch that rewards guests who dine in their pajamas with a gift card equal to the price of their meal for a future visit.—You definitely won’t find that in Paris. 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, 630-472-1900, monamigabi.com
Stix & Stones. A newcomer in Burr Ridge, Stix & Stones offers authentic wood-fired pizzas, great appetizers, homemade meatballs, salads, a kids’ menu and craft beers on tap. What more could you ask for? 505 Village Center Drive, Burr Ridge, 630-861-0626, eatstixandstones.com Baldinelli Pizza. To earn the title of Hinsdale’s oldest pizzeria, you must be doing something right. And Baldinelli’s, which offers a variety of specialty, thin-crust and brick-oven pizzas, not to mention salads, pastas, sandwiches and Italian entrees like chicken marsala and eggplant parmesan, focuses on fresh ingredients and affordable family dining. 114 S. Washington Street, Hinsdale, 630-654-4600, baldinellipizza.com Spice it Up. Stop by and pick up one of their artisan pizzas—woodfired, made with flour imported from Italy, homemade, preservativefree sauce and unexpected toppings like fig and goat, chicken gorgonzola and artichoke dip. Or you can let them bring their tailgate wood-fired pizza oven to you. Spice it Up’s catering menu features a full range of pizzas, fun party platters like a bruschetta bar, and can’t-say-no desserts like wood-fired s’more brownies and tiramisu in a mason jar. 214 E. Chicago Ave., Westmont, 630-568-3783, spiceitupchef.com
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 33
OUT&ABOUT
Everything that’s new and exciting around town by Kerrie Kennedy
DESIGNING WOMEN
SHRED THE FAT
The holidays are right around the corner—and with it, those delicious little frenemies known as mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing and pecan pie. It’s not surprising that losing weight is at the top of most people’s New Year’s resolution lists. Luckily, Shred 415 has come to Hinsdale just in time. The workout, created by Chicago fitness experts Bonnie Micheli and Tracy Roemer, combines cardio work on Woodway treadmills with weight training in an instructor-led format designed to target all the muscles and literally shred the fat away. This type of interval training is known to produce dramatic results in a relatively short period of time, allowing you to slip into that little black dress, and indulge in a little eggnog while you’re at it. Shred 415 230 E. Ogden Ave., Hinsdale, 630-686-1541, shred415.com
Why should the kids have all the fun? Color Me Mine in Burr Ridge certainly doesn’t think so. They recently kicked off Thursday evening ladies’ nights, offering halfprice paint time for women who want to get in touch with their inner artists, while spending some quality time with their girlfriends. According to Color Me Mine manager Michael Smith, ladies’ night attendees also receive a ten-percent discount on the price of the piece they paint. So, leave the kids at home, gather some snacks and drinks, and get ready to create a few heartfelt holiday gifts. Color Me Mine, 470 Village Center Drive, Burr Ridge, 630-655-8882, burrridge.colormemine.com
MAKEUP
HOUSE CALLS With party season approaching, what woman wouldn’t want a professional makeup artist at her disposal, ready at a moment’s notice to turn her into a picture perfect belle of the ball? Well, it’s no fairy tale—Clarendon Hillsbased makeup artist Angela Goss, owner of Angela’s Makeup, is on call, and available to come to your house for some serious party prep. Specializing in airbrush makeup, Goss—who made The Knot’s Hall of Fame list for wedding makeup—says she can make anyone’s skin look flawless, sans the cakey makeup look. And if you want a blowout as well, she works with a team of five different hair stylists. While Goss includes “day-of” lashes with her makeup services, eyelash extensions are available in her home studio. Angela’s Makeup, 630-913-1241, angelasmakeupchicago.com
Football in Da House!
Your Home to Watch Football Games. Hinsdale’s first pub-style, full service, family owned restaurant featuring wood-fired pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches, soups and salads.
35 E First Street
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Hinsdale, IL
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630-537-1653
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fullerhousebar.com
GIVING BACK
ARBOR DAY 2015 Rose Ross, Karen Sendra, Lynne McLeod and president Kathy Adamec plant a crabapple “purple prince” GARDEN STUDY CLUB Left to right and top to bottom: Marion Kierscht, JoAnn Hunt, Dollie Krzyzewski, Debra Anthony, Cindy Wills, Becky Moats, Karen Sendra, Rose Ross, June Woodward, Jane Hopson, Eleanor Nadbielny, Susan Peterson, Ardes Poisson, Debra Alongi, Midge Sullivan, John Finnell, Jane Tillinghast, Lynne McLeod, Kathy Adamec
BEAUTIFYING
Dozens upon dozens of cars rumble down West Hinsdale Ave. every hour. Parallel to the road and train tracks is a sliver of grass dotted with a few trees. As a result of the Garden Study Club of Hinsdale’s philanthropy, the organization planted 18 crabapple trees beside the West Hinsdale Train Station. “As we approach the end of our 85th anniversary year, we planted and received identification tags for 18 crabapple trees,” club president Kathy Adamec said. At a ceremony on June 10, the village arborist presented his expression of thanks to the organization for their gift to the Village of Hinsdale. The Garden Study Club of Hinsdale chose crabapple trees for historical purposes. As the community was losing trees decades ago, the club sought to bring back these iconic leafy greens. The proceeds to fund this donation stemmed from the organization’s annual plant sale. The club holds an annual plant sale the day before Mother’s Day in front of Kramer Foods in Grant Square. “Anyone who has purchased our plants or English garden baskets from the plant sale has contributed to trees planted and the maintenance of the Hinsdale History Museum garden,” Adamec said. Starting as the Junior Garden Club of Hinsdale in 1929, the name of the organization was changed to the Garden Study Club of Hinsdale in 1933, due to the
HINSDALE by Haleigh Monyek
36 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
founders’ passion for learning more about gardening. “It’s really about the friendships that form among women sharing a common interest in gardening and creating a beautiful community,” Adamec said. The organization is committed to enhancing the Hinsdale community through beautification projects that involve tending to colorful gardens throughout town. They plant the flowers, weed the beds and fund the installation and maintenance for sprinklers. The club’s accomplishments include planting the crabapple trees along the south side of the tracks, hanging creative wreaths outside Graue Mill annually, and decorating a window in the Hinsdale Public Library with flower arrangements. Monthly meetings consist of a light lunch, followed by a speaker. These speakers address gardening themes, as well as how to protect butterflies and birds. To celebrate the 85th anniversary of this friendship of local gardening enthusiasts, the influence from the trees contributed by the Garden Study Club of Hinsdale will be seen for many years to come. They are part of the foundation that beautifies Hinsdale to be the stunning community that it is. Adamec said, “All garden clubs encourage and inspire an interest in making our world more beautiful through gardening.” n To learn more about the Garden Study Club of Hinsdale, visit www.gardenhinsdale.com.
P re stig iou s B u rr r i dg e C lu B Spectacular water views from this light filled two story with the perfect floor plan offering choice of first or second floor master suites. Breathtaking views from the minute you enter! Elegant large dining room overlooking pond, opens to family room addition with paneled vaulted ceiling and windows with incredible views. Beautiful newer white kitchen with granite counters and sunny breakfast room with private courtyard patio and pretty gardens. First floor office addition, spacious living room with fireplace, great home for entertaining. Huge bluestone patio with tranquil views. $1,299,900
Updated ranch in totally move in condition. Three bedrooms plus loft, vaulted living room, hardwood floors, vaulted fireplace with brick fireplace, lovely light kitchen, chef’s desk, center island, breakfast/den off family room, master suite with fireplace and two walk-in closets. Impressive finished lower level, wine cellar, and full bath. Generous attic space if expansion is desired. Patio, beautiful landscaping, ultimate gated community with clubhouse, pool, tennis courts and fabulous grounds. $1,250,000
B eth B u rtt
630.204.8090
25 West Chicago Ave. Hinsdale, IL bethburttrealtor.com
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HINSDALE MAGAZINE’S ARCHITECTURE&DESIGN
LIGHTS, CAMERA, HINSDALE! Location scouts find neighborhood stars by Kerrie Kennedy | Photography by Jim Prisching
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lways dreamed of being in the movies? From Backdraft to Big Shots, Opportunity Knocks to Men Don’t Leave, Dennis the Menace to Lucas, a surprising number of Hinsdale beauties have made prominent appearances on the silver screen over the years. And while none of them possess a smidgen of talent, they are all equally stunning, luminous and well-maintained. They are also houses.
40 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
This Hinsdale home served as the home of alderman Marty Swayzak in the movie Backdraft.
Hinsdale and many of its surrounding communities are “film-friendly,” says location scout Valerie Bulinski, who’s worked on such films as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Midnight Run, The Fugitive and Transformers. “Basically, that means the villages don’t impose a lot of restrictions, which is very important, especially when the turnaround time is quick,” Bulinski said. “I don’t want to show the production designer a house unless I know everyone’s
on board, from the community to the homeowner.” And in the movie business, having both a homeowner and a community on board is worth its weight in gold— literally. The right homeowner—with the right home—stands to make some serious money. Whether it’s a film, a commercial, a corporate video or a catalog shoot, the pay generally starts at about $1,500 per day, but can go upwards, depending upon
HINSDALE MAGAZINE’S ARCHITECTURE&DESIGN CATALOG AND MOVIE This Hinsdale home was used in shoots for Crate & Barrel and Land of Nod. Photo courtesy of Kate Levinson Productions.
the number of people involved in the shoot, the number of hours required for shooting, and the number of different spaces being used. “The fees are really based on how much disruption it causes the homeowner,” said Chicago location scout Kate Levinson, whose clients include Crate & Barrel, Kmart, Sears and others. And according to Levinson, homeowners should be prepared to handle quite a bit of disruption. In fact, a homeowner’s personality is equally as important as his or her home. “We look for someone who’s laid back and can handle the commotion,” Levinson said. “If they’re uptight or super-worried about their stuff, they’re just not cut out for it.” While damage to a homeowner’s property is rare, it does happen, especially on shoots involving a large number of people (photoshoots usually involve ten to 20 people, television commercials, 25 to 75, and movies, 75 to 300, although usually not all at the same time). Luckily, clients must provide homeowners with large
insurance policies that cover potential damage to their homes. “We take great pride in taking care of our homeowners, should anything happen,” Levinson said. Homeowner personality aside, the real star is the home, and according to Chicago location scout Mira Wolf, Hinsdale has a lot of them. “From Georgian to Colonial, Victorian to aspirational, this town really has it all,” said Wolf, who recently secured a Hinsdale home for an extended American Girl doll shoot. That particular home, bright and airy with plenty of natural light, is what’s in demand most right now. “It’s like the fashion industry—every year it can be different,” Wolf said. “Right now, clients want homes that are modern and very light, so their products will really pop.” However, Levinson said she’s always on the hunt for a vintage home that has early-1900s moldings and wood floors, but has been painted white inside. “Basically, an old house that doesn’t look like an old person lives there,” she
said. “Nobody wants dark wood inside anymore.” On the other hand, location scouts may be looking for certain features that are unique to a project, so almost anything can be in demand, Bulinski said. “If it’s a movie, they’re usually looking to express the character who lives there,” she said. “Catalogs also have specific looks. There’s usually some key thing they’re looking for, whether it’s a certain type of kitchen, certain windows or maybe even a swimming pool.” But for the elusive homeowner who just so happens to have the exact home the scouts are looking for, the unexpected windfall of cash and brush with fame can be positively exhilarating—especially when it comes time to write the mortgage check. n For more information about using your home as a location, contact valerie@chicagolocations.com, kate@ levinsonlocations.com or mirawolf456@ gmail.com.
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 41
A D V E RR TT II SS EE M M EE N N TT
ASK THE EXPERT
WITH
STEIL DERMATOLOGY 125 W Second Street | Hinsdale 630-455-0045 STEILDERM.com facebook.com/SteilDermatology Dr. Christina Steil
Your Fall Skin Care To-Do List Fall is here! And just like the leaves change color, your skin changes too. Colder, windy weather is not ideal for skin, but at Steil Dermatology we can help you transition with the season— beautifully. As you make to-do lists for this busy time of year, we suggest you make your skin care a top priority! Get a mole check: Get a head to toe skin check. Make sure that new sun spot is not an early skin cancer. So many skin cancers are curable— if caught early. Adjust your skin care routine: Switch to a more emollient skin care product. Using cream based products will make up for dry air and colder temperatures. It’s important to choose the right cream, because many over-the-counter products just sit on the skin surface. Instead, with a visit to our office, we can help you select the barrier repair cream that’s just right for you. Smooth visible imperfections: Summer sun and heat can leave dead skin build up. Retinoids, Lytics, Alpha-hydroxy or Polyhydroxyl acids may have complicated names but what they do - promoting cell turnover— is simple. It’s the key to younger looking skin, and now is the time to use these products faithfully! We can help you choose the right products for your skin type to help you slough off summer impurities, oil and dirt to reveal visibly smoother-looking skin.
And don’t forget to make an appointment for a professional peel to enhance your results. Tackle unwanted dark spots: It’s easy to get more sun than you intended in the summer, and sometimes it shows up in the skin as unwanted dark spots. Determining if your pigment is due to melasma, hormonal changes in the skin, or sun damage is the first step towards treatment. We have several effective products targeted to help address these stubborn problems. Correct your sun damage: Start your Forever Young broad band light (BBL) treatment series now. A BBL will reverse your sun damage, restore your skin health and slow down aging. Try Coolsculpting: Working out all summer, eating healthy and still have that pooch? Schedule your Coolsculpting consultation and learn about this non-invasive surgical fat reduction method performed in our office. It cools and freezes unwanted fat cells without affecting the skin and with little downtime. Get ready for that office or neighborhood holiday party now! Believe it or not, next summer is coming! Start your laser hair removal series now so that you will be razor-free next summer. Call today— we can help you love the skin you’re in, in every season.
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42 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
Smiles
THAT LOOK AS YOUNG
AS YOU FEEL
Does your smile make you look older than you really are? Missing teeth can actually add years to your appearance. We all want to look our best and it starts with your smile. Denemark Periodontal Specialists use advanced training with an artistic touch to transform your smile back to its natural beauty. A well designed smile makeover can take ten or more years off of your appearance! Dental implants offer a proven solution to missing teeth that you will love. They can replace a single tooth, several teeth or even secure a loose partial or denture. If you have to have an implant placed for a front tooth most surgeons leave you with just the implant for the healing phase, at Denemark Periodontal Specialists, we specialize in placing an immediate temporary the same day the implant is placed, so you don’t have to worry about showing off your smile (see after photo).
Call Dr. Denemark or Dr. Mailapur at 630-654-4141 to schedule your smile consultation today.
Denemark
Periodontal Specialists, Ltd.
BEFORE PATIENT PHOTO Dental implants and cosmetic gum surgery.
AFTER SAME PATIENT
Immediate temporary – the same day implant is placed.
Paul J. Denemark, BSD, DDS, MSD Shilpa Mailapur, DMD, MSD Board Certified Periodontists
570 Village Center Dr., Ste. 202B | Burr Ridge | (630) 654-4141 | www.DrDenemark.com
COMMUNITY SCENE
FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL IN CLARENDON HILLS Photography by Mike Ellis
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More than 600 residents of Clarendon Hills and surrounding communities flocked to Prospect Park for the annual Family Fall Festival, hosted by the Clarendon Hills Park District, on Sept. 19. A petting zoo, miniature golf and a bevy of inflatables onsite created a variety of activities to keep children entertained on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
A new wrinkle at this year’s festival was the “pumpkin roll,” which challenged children in several age groups to roll small pumpkins down the sledding hill in the southwest corner of the park. The festival also featured a cash raffle, with proceeds supporting the Clarendon Hills Historical Society, which recently suffered considerable damages as a result of a fire set at Heritage Hall in August.
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For more information about the Clarendon Hills Park District, visit www.clarendonhillsparkdistrict.org.
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[1] Wagon rides through Prospect Park are a signature of the Fall Family Festival; [2] Avery and Brody Herold; [3] Stacey and Brody Knotts; [4] Sharon and Katelyn Lyon; [5] Mark Rediehs and Laura Marquardt; [6] Arpi and Sarina Thukral and Beth Krishnan; [7] Joe Adkins of Wheaton returned to the festival this year to carve a giant pumpkin
44 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6TH The Dr. Elborno Center/BellaSense Med Spa will be collaborating with StyledByHrush to give students the ultimate glam day! Includes exclusive goody bags for all students from amazing sponsors and an official workshop certificate from StyledByHrush herself! This class is open to everyone, professionals, makeup lovers, etc. This is a hands on class! Seats are limited, call today! Follow StyledByHrush on Instagram for details. Contact Wasan at 630.456.6330 to reserve your seat or email Wasan@bellasense.com for more information.
NOW HIRING
• Personal Assistant • Aesthetician • We Train and Certify at our Academy! Please contact Wasan at 630-456-6330.
BELLASENSE M E D
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630.456.6330
www.BellaSense.com
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 45
COMMUNITY SCENE
DUCKS UNLIMITED HINSDALE GOLF CLUB FUNDRAISER Photography by Marco Nunez More than 125 people attended the Salt Creek chapter of Ducks Unlimited’s second annual banquet fundraiser to raise money and awareness for the chapter at Hinsdale Golf Club on Oct. 8. The chapter related that it doubled its fundraising efforts from last year’s banquet.
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The Salt Creek chapter was founded in May 2014. To accomplish its goals of conserving wetlands and waterfowls, Ducks Unlimited strives to save more than 900 wildlife species for generations to come. To date, Ducks Unlimited has protected more than 13 million acres of land in North America, 47,000 of which are in Illinois.
To learn more about Ducks Unlimited, visit www.ducks.org.
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[1] William Egbert and Kyle Stefancin holding a limited edition 12 guage Fausti shotgun; [2] Kevin Pollard and Labrador Puppy; [3] Ben Bradley and Jay Moody; [4] Sotheby’s International auctioneer Laurien Schroeder-Hessels and Jen Hildreth of Hinsdale; [5] James Roberts and Family
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COMMUNITY SCENE
HINSDALE CENTRAL HOMECOMING 2015
Photography by Mike Ellis
Hinsdale Central students celebrated their annual Homecoming with pep rallies, a parade through downtown Hinsdale, a football game and a dance during the week of Sept. 21. This year’s theme, “Under the Sea,” was on full display throughout the Friday pep rally, as many Homecoming Court members incorporated faux underwater elements into their skits. Starting a mile south at Hinsdale Central, the Homecoming parade rolled through downtown Hinsdale on Saturday morning. The marching band, color guard and poms led the parade, followed by five inductees into the Hinsdale Central Hall of Fame. The parade also featured several school clubs, including Habitat for Humanity, hockey, Latin and Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.). Each of the four classes displayed a float in the parade, and these were followed by the Homecoming Court couples in a mix of new and vintage convertibles to cap off the morning festivities.
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[1] The Hinsdale Central marching band performed during the Homecoming parade; [2] Annie and Hannah Kiperman with Domino; [3] Caroline Morris and Jim Walker; [4] Jimmy Lee and Mia Romanelli; [5] Barbara Heidkamp and John Yaeger; [6] Gabi Seo and Spencer LaMountain
48 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
SALON Introducing
Parisian Scents crafted for Him and Her.
18 E Hinsdale Avenue | Hinsdale IL | 630.325.8126 www.zazusalons.com
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 49
COMMUNITY SCENE
FREEDOM GOLF ASSOC. GOLF OUTING FOR THE DISABLED
More than 100 golfers participated in Freedom Golf Association’s (FGA) second annual Golf Outing and Derby for the Disabled on Sept. 14 at Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont. The outing raised money for FGA’s primary mission of bringing happiness and a sense of freedom to the special needs community through the game of golf. Fourteen disabled golfers were paired with outing patrons, forming five-person teams for an afternoon on the course. “It is just fabulous to bring people together for such a great cause,” FGA president and founder E.Q. Sylvester said. “The magic of golf is making golf everyone’s game.” FGA hosts clinics and events for golfers with special needs yearround at local Chicago golf courses and indoor domes. To learn more about Freedom Golf Association, visit www.fgagolf.org.
50 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
Freedom Golf Association’s 2nd Annual Golf Outing and Derby for the Disabled at Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont, Illinois.
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COMMUNITY SCENE
BOHNE FOUNDATION 2015 GOLF OUTING
Photography provided by Bohne Foundation
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The Bohne Foundation held its third annual golf outing at Oak Brook Golf Club on Sept. 25. Thirty-four teams filled the course and assisted the foundation in raising $95,000 to support various nonprofits, including SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, Africa’s Children’s Home, Peacemakers Village, Crisis Center of South Suburbia and the American Heart Association. During the awards ceremony, BJ Bohne presented a $5,000 check to Tim McCormick of SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, an organization dedicated to providing a safe, healing place for children whose world has been shattered by abuse, neglect or abandonment. A number of Bohne Foundation volunteers assisted with the outing. The foundation has expressed intent to continue the outing next year.
To learn more about Bohne Foundation, please visit www. bohnefoundation.org.
4 [1] John Wright tees off; [2] Hole-in-one car donated by Perillo Downers Grove, Bentley and Gayle Bohne; [3] BJ and Lance Bohne; [4] Derek Bohne, Rick Bohne Jr., James Bohne and Ted Howald
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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 53
COMMUNITY SCENE
DASH-N-BASH PROSPECT SCHOOL Photography by Mike Ellis Prospect Elementary School held its inaugural Dash-n-Bash after school in Prospect Park on Sept. 25. About 91 percent of the student body participated in the first-year event, which replaced the traditional auction and back-to-school party at Prospect this year.
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Dash-n-Bash co-chair Kathleen Jensen said Prospect students, families and sponsors collaborated to set an all-time fundraising record for any event at the elementary school. The 1K run commenced behind CHMS, winding around the interior path at Prospect Park to the finish line just west of the school. Teachers ran with their classes, and were joined by two representatives from District 181. At the finish line, exultant students jubilantly cheered their peers across the line, before soaking themselves and others with water bottles.
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[1] Drew Wyent and Bobby Jensen; [2] Shannon and Abby Matricaria; [3] Lauren Walsh and Lane Inabnit
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GALLERY NIGHT ROBERT CROWN
Photography provided by Robert Crown Center The Robert Crown Center for Health Education (RCC) opened its doors to guests for an evening of art featuring nine Chicago-area artists on Oct. 10. The artist lineup featured Will Blake, Nick Bridge, Rhonda Brown, Margaret Carsello, Maureen Claffy, Samuel Prince, William Scarlato, Gabrielle Tufano and local artist Dave Marcet. The art reflected a broad range of mediums, prices and styles. A portion of art sales from the gallery night event will benefit RCC and subsidize health education programs for children in underserved communities. Although the center delivers 70 percent of its programming in the areas of puberty, family life and sexual health, the organization teaches thousands of students annually in areas that address other emerging health problems.
For more information about the Robert Crown Center for Health Education, visit www.robertcrown.org.
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[1] Art lovers and health education supporters welcomed at the entrance; [2] Silent auction; [3] Gallery night at the Robert Crown Center
Sally Pelling and Katy Lacrosse have been a highly-respected real estate team for over ten years. Together, they offer 45 years of residential real estate experience. When you work with Sally and Katy, you will always reach them personally. Working with this friendly, warm and engaging mother/ daughter team, clients find not only a most satisfying business relationship, but often a lasting friendship. Sally is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she met and married her husband of 40+ years. She is the mother of four, each married, and grandmother to nine. Sally began her real estate career in the early 1980s during a very challenging time in real estate and has since seen a number of market fluctuations. She is happy to report we are currently in a very healthy, active market. Sally has twice been recognized as the top producing agent at Brush Hill. Katy is a 2004 graduate of the University of Illinois. She initially lived and sold real estate downtown Chicago. Now a mother to three daughters, she and her husband reside in Clarendon Hills. Having grown up in Hinsdale, she is very familiar with the local area and schools. She is uniquely qualified to represent clients looking to buy in the city, or ready to make the move to the suburbs. Knowledge and experience— offering professionalism with personal touch.
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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 55
COMMUNITY SCENE
CIRCLE OF HOPE
“FORE KIDS� GOLF CLASSIC Photography by Mike Ellis
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3 [1] Ellen Turner; [2] The afternoon included a silent auction; [3] Reid Behrens, Kevin Viravec, Bob Barr, Bob Hettinger, Ellen Turner, Charlie Lewis, Brit Lewis and Kyle Barnholdt
56 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
A group of members at Hinsdale Golf Club worked to organize the third annual Circle of Hope FORE! Kids Golf Classic, benefiting Circle Urban Ministries, at the club on Sept. 21. The event brought local club members and Circle Urban Ministries staff together for an afternoon of golf, camaraderie and entertainment, which included a silent auction filled with sports memorabilia items. Proceeds from the golf classic benefited Circle Urban Ministries, a West Side non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives in the Austin neighborhood through community-based program initiatives.
To learn more about Circle Urban Ministries, visit www.circleurban.org.
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DUAL THREAT
Hinsdale Central football uses two quarterbacks to thrive offensively in 2015 by Mike Ellis | Photography by Marco Nunez
HINSDALE CENTRAL OFFENSIVE STARTERS Christian Bobak, Doug Kramer, Michael Sessa, Josh Bean and Matt Allen
SPORTS
Coming into this season, expectations for the Hinsdale Central football team were tempered. Head coach Dan Hartman and his staff knew they had a capable offensive line, but entering the season, there were questions on both sides of the ball, as the Red Devils would start a number of new faces that would be expected to replace some key performers from 2014. What ensued was arguably the greatest offensive regular season in team history, as Hinsdale eclipsed 40 points in its first five games—all wins—and in seven of its first eight overall. For offensive starters like senior quarterback Michael Sessa, junior quarterback Josh Bean and senior linemen Matt Allen and Doug Kramer, it all started before high school in the Hinsdale Falcon football program. Like at Glenbard West, which has masterfully applied its local youth program to perpetually cycle talented football players through its high-school system, many of the
learning everything. Now that we have a good handle on it, we can really unleash some different plays.” At the start of the season, one aspect of the Central offense that immediately jumped out to onlookers was the regular rotation of two quarterbacks: Sessa and Bean. While it is common practice in football to use only one regular starter, Hartman said he made the decision to employ two a couple of weeks before the start of the season, drawn to the arm skills of Sessa and versatility of Bean as both a runner and passer. “In practice, we both were doing well, and [Hartman] one day told us [that] we were going to split snaps and split drives,” Bean said. “It worked well, and we kept going with it.” Not only does this innovation require defenses to game-plan for two capable quarterbacks, but it also bolsters the Red Devils with more depth at a position that is often the thinnest for football teams.
“I think the main thing that we learned last year was that having the tempo on offense helps a lot, and then also being disciplined on every play.” standout players on this year’s Hinsdale Central team benefited from similar development at a young age. “I feel like the Falcons were good at developing young players, and getting them ready for the Hinsdale Central system,” Sessa said. “Over the years, their offenses and defenses have adapted to be similar to Hinsdale Central’s, and they care more about the development of their players than they do winning and losing.” One advantage players said they felt coming into this season was familiarity with Hartman’s offense—one predicated more on tempo and efficiency than previous systems the program has featured. “I think the main thing that we learned last year was that having the tempo on offense helps a lot, and then also being disciplined on every play,” Kramer said. “Before that, we didn’t really have a lot of discipline as a team.” Although they worked behind starting quarterback Matt Rafferty last season, quarterbacks Sessa and Bean still had a chance to learn the Hartman offense in practice throughout the year. “Last year, we were kind of more limited in what we could do,” Bean said. “It was our first year; we were
“It’s good, because we’re both pretty interchangeable; we both can handle both roles,” Sessa said. “The offense around us helps us, so that we can work in whatever role we’re put into.” Another crucial ingredient to the Hinsdale offensive attack has been a consistent offensive line that excels both in pass and run blocking. Led by seniors Allen and Kramer—who both intend to continue their playing careers in college—, the offensive line has afforded Sessa and Bean ample time to survey the field, while also opening holes for running backs Christian Bobak and Garrett Oakey to find the end zone. “They’re definitely making some giant holes,” Bobak said. “I really feel like any running back could have a great season behind these guys. It’s definitely special being able to play behind great talent.” Allen and Kramer said they’ve enjoyed watching skill players make plays around them. “I like going crazy watching Bobak run for a 40-yard touchdown against Glenbard West,” Allen said. “That stuff’s nice to see.” In addition, senior wide receivers Kareem Muhammad and Matt Cherry have added an explosive dimension to Continued on the next page www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 59
SPORTS Continued from the previous page
the offense on the perimeter that has left many west suburban defenses puzzled as to how to negate the offense’s array of strengths. “Kareem and Cherry, both of them, have been great guys to stretch the field, and then also do the short stuff on,” Sessa said. “They’ve been really versatile for us.” For some teams, it may be
satisfactory to surge from a preseason afterthought to receiving recognition as one of the state’s top ten squads; but for Central—a program recently marred by early playoff exits—, the real motivation lies in translating regular season success into November excellence. Bean said the team’s goal is an 8A state championship, and in order to accomplish that goal, they will need to
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60 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
take matters game by game, and not “look too far ahead.” Allen said he believes one key will be the team’s new “next play” mentality—a motto Central players have adopted to not allow one play (good or bad) to affect their demeanor on subsequent ones. “I think the ‘next play’ attitude will be a big thing this year,” Allen said, “because going hopefully deep into the playoffs, things like that are going to happen [like they did] against Simeon [last year]; and we just have to keep moving, keep trying to score, and have the defense get big stops.” Bobak said he thinks “staying focused” will be imperative, alluding to the team’s crushing defeat to Simeon Career Academy in the second round of the 8A playoffs in 2014. “After the Benet game [in the first round last year], I think we lost a little bit of our focus, as far as from at least a skills standpoint,” he said. “I think we got a little bit too ahead of ourselves. At least myself, I don’t think we took Simeon as seriously as we should have—even though they were a great team, and we knew that coming into the game. “I think just having the same attitude coming into every single game, and giving every single team our best effort [will be important for us to be successful].” Bean said an extra motivator during the postseason will be helping to put the program back on the map. Since 2008, when Hinsdale Central last reached the state final, the Red Devils have failed to advance past the second round. Bean said he would like to make this year the beginning of a new tradition. “I think a goal is just to prove ourselves—put our name out there in the state that we’re a team to be reckoned with,” he said, “and we’re going to be a team to be reckoned with for many years to come.” n
HMtechknow by Errol Janusz
2015 GIFT SEASON TECH GADGETS Now that the leaves are turning colors and summer is officially behind us, we start to prepare for what’s ahead for the 2015 giftgiving season. With so many choices and types of presents, it always seems that a tech-gift is a sure thing to give to that always-displeased person. In this edition of techKNOW, we take a look at a few great gift ideas for your friends and family.
MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK
After the huge success of the Microsoft Surface 1, 2 and 3, you are now able to get your hands on the Microsoft Surface 4 and Surface Book. The Surface Book is a laptop version of the Surface 4 tablet. It includes a docked keyboard, a foldable hinge and much faster specifications than its predecessors. Many compare the new device to the Macbook Retina; however, after many benchmarking tests online, Web sites found the Surface to be far superior in all areas. Don’t be fooled by all of the fancy bells and whistles the latest Surface includes, because it also includes a fancy price tag. The lowest grade of the new Surface starts at $1,300, and the highest grade Surface will cost you around $3,100.
VIRTUAL LASER KEYBOARD
Just like the title sounds, you can now project a laser keyboard on almost any flat surface in order to type e-mails and Microsoft Word documents. This device even provides simulated keyboard noises and a display screen that shows you real-time finger-presses. Compatible with iPhones and Android devices and weighing in at only 78 grams, the portability and functionality of this futuristic device may be the simplistic answer to the tiny touchscreen keyboard on your smartphone.
WHIRLPOOL’S SMART WASHER AND DRYER
Whirlpool has introduced a $1,699 “smart” washing machine that includes Wi-Fi and a colored control screen. It can be set from an iPhone application, and will text or e-mail you when your clothes are ready to dry in your accompanying Whirlpool “smart” dryer. An additional feature is “away mode.” If either the washer or dryer detects that you have left the house, it will go into tumble mode—keeping your clothes fresh and unwrinkled until you return. From lasers to washer-and-dryers, you can see that with each year, new tech-gadget devices are introduced into the marketplace—most that many have never even dreamed of. In just a few short years, almost all of your in-home appliances will include “smart” features that will be controlled by a centralized home smartphone. Errol Janusz is president and lead technician at Edward Technology. For more information, contact Errol at (630) 333-9323, ext. 303, or e-mail ejanusz@Hinsdale60521.com. You can also visit his Web site, www.edwardtechnology.com.
62 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
PEAK PERFORMANCE
JIM FANNIN
Are you thankful?
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Thanks; thank you; thanks a lot; thank you very much; thanks for everything; thank heavens; thank goodness; thanks a bunch; thank my lucky stars; thanks a ton. Are you aware that you can say “thanks” in more than 465 languages? But even with so many tongues verbally expressing their gratitude, do they mean it? It’s said a lot, but not sincerely expressed nearly enough. Holding back and holding on to your feelings of gratitude will eventually find you regretful and possibly lying on a bed of loneliness. What makes you thankful? What causes feelings of gratitude? Is it for the stuff you’ve acquired over a lifetime? I doubt it. If I had to choose between the great memories of my mother and father or my wealth, I would forego all that I possess. Is it for the status you’ve acquired? I doubt it. For every rung on a ladder of success, there was someone that held out his or her hand to you. You learned from so many as you ascended the pyramid of prosperity. Is it the friends you’ve made along the way? I would say, yes. Is it for your positive health and wellness? I trust that’s on your list. Is it your family? Of course, they’re probably near the top, if not at the top of your list. Is it your faith? Most have their faith as a cornerstone for living. Thankfulness is for many things, but it’s mostly for the people in your life. You can pay back your financial
debts, but you’ll go to your grave in debt to those that have been kind. In fact, the gift of kindness is more than giving, it’s sharing. And it is the sharing of your gratitude that has such a profound impact on both the giver and the receiver. Make two lists before Thanksgiving for what you are truly thankful for. Make one list about yourself. Include everything that you’re thankful for on the list. Next, make a list of people that you are thankful to know. Bathe in your thankfulness while the list permeates your mind. Then, do the amazing: send out a gesture of kindness, and make a small deposit into the “happy” bank account of all that have touched you. As a thought-ometrist, I wish every one 20-20 vision for your future. Let your gratitude pave the way to what you want in your life. Thanks; thank you; thanks a lot; thank you very much; thanks for everything; thank heavens; thank goodness; thanks a bunch; thank my lucky stars; thanks a ton for believing in my S.C.O.R.E.® Success System, and in me. Have a happy Thanksgiving! n
“It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”
64 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
Burr Ridge resident Jim Fannin is a world-class thought leader and coach with 42 years of experience in life, business and sports. To learn about his latest thoughtmanagement program, go to 90secondrule.com, or visit jimfannin.com.
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SPIRITUAL INSIGHT
DAN MEYER
Convicted civility (Part 2)
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
MANAGING A CREATIVE TENSION As I contended in my last column, much of the discussion over the leading candidates in our presidential primaries today reflects our national struggle with a tension eloquently described by Martin Marty, a distinguished historian from the University of Chicago. “Our problem today,” writes the professor, “is that people who are good at being civil often lack strong convictions, while people who have strong convictions often lack civility,” (1). Think about that statement for a moment. Many Americans today are obviously yearning for leaders willing to live with courageous conviction. In a world given over to grayscale ethics, opinion-spinning and half-hearted commitments, we look for people who are clear on the principles and practices they believe advance flourishing for all, and who are unafraid to declare them. At the same time, most of us are also aware that if we do not attend to the other side of Dr. Marty’s tension, we will have a hard time overcoming the enmities and gridlock currently afflicting our politics and cultural divides. This came home to me some time ago as I overheard a remarkable debate between two teenagers.
this pattern of “dis-cussion”? Was it from politics? From talk radio or television? Was it something they picked up at their school or in their home? How about all of these places? It’s how discourse is happening in America right now. I learned recently that the word “discussion” comes from the Latin word “discutere.” It means “to smash or shake apart.” Discussion, in this sense, aims primarily at getting out what the speaker wants to say. Its goal is to prevail over an enemy. There is, however, another kind of discourse possible. It goes by the word “dialogue.” Dialogue comes from the Greek word “dia-logos.” It means “to get truth flowing.” Dialogue aims at getting enough truth flowing through the space between people that there is possibility for new insight and fresh partnership. It bets on the idea that even if we can’t come to agreement on everything, we can still depart from the conversation as friends, and maybe brighter and better ones at that.
Convicted civility is what Jesus of Nazareth displayed every day. It is the “glory” with which a perfectly wise and holy person humbled himself, came alongside flawed people, “full of truth and grace,” (John 1:14). It is what the Hebrew scholar was encouraging when he wrote, “Make every effort to live in peace with all people. ... See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble,” (Heb. 12:14-15).
REMEMBERING OUR FOUNDATIONS Centuries ago, a band of pilgrim immigrants gathered around a table in Plymouth, Mass., with a band of native Americans, and despite their differences, shared a meal in thanksgiving for the graces that helped them in their common need. Years later, another diverse assembly came together in Philadelphia, and hammered out a larger union. Despite the many differences between them, they chose instead to focus on what they had in common—a holy conviction that all people were created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. They ultimately enshrined LIVING WITH HUMBLE CIVILITY In his wonderful book, Uncommon Decency, in a Constitution and Bill of Rights the vision of an unusually civil society—one with Richard Mouw issues a winsome call to due process, mutual respect and checks and a recovery of civility in American life. balances, designed to advance a common “Civility,” he writes, “is public politeness. CONSIDERING THE ‘CUSSION QUESTION good. It means that we display tact, moderation, One of the boys was advocating for the refinement and good manners toward people You and I are heirs of those Founders, and preservation of small stores that maintain of the ultimate Founder, whose passion for who are different from us,” (2). Mouw the unique character of a community, and the flourishing of all under-girded the vision stresses that civility is not just play-acting. provide really personalized service. The of so many of the first Americans. At stake other was extolling the price efficiencies that You don’t simply mask your basic hostility today is whether that grand experiment shall come with large chain stores, and the greater toward somebody else with insincere words continue. To recover and refresh the dream or grudging concessions. Civility doesn’t employment opportunities that come with will require a level of humility, courage, mean holding a relativistic view that every global competitiveness. I kid you not; this sacrifice and compromise that will be a idea or approach is equally valid. Some was the discussion. stretch for all of us. But let it begin. Let this ideas and actions are genuinely stupid or Actually, I should say that this was destructive, including, perhaps, some of our convicted civility be the newfound passion their “per-cussion” or their “con-cussion,” in our homes and religious communities, own. because the conversation was more like a Civility requires an authentic willingness in our neighborhood, our workplaces and battle of drum sets or a clash of helmets. to respect someone else, not because we government. Together, we can become, again, The boys were each bringing some pretty believe they are right about everything, but a people who live for truth with grace. n important truths to the encounter. They because they are children of God. It involves were articulating valid concerns at one end Dr. Dan Meyer is the senior pastor at Christ trying to understand what they think and of a vital tension or trade-off. Each had Church of Oak Brook. feel, and from whence that came. It means some deep feelings and experiences related to his point of view, but neither seemed able seeking to perceive the pressures they are 1 Martin E. Marty, By Way of Response under, the experiences they’ve had, the real- (Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 1981). to hear the other over the banging of their opinions. Neither walked away brighter from world needs or imagined demons that haunt 2Richard J. Mouw, Uncommon Decency: Christian them. It means listening deeply enough that Civility in an Uncivil World (Downers Grove, Ill.: the conversation; they only grew further InterVarsity Press, 1992), 12. we earn the right to have our convictions apart. truly heard by them. Where do you think they picked up
66 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
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