Forest & Bluff, December 2022

MOUNTAIN LUXE

How Andy and Brooke Bohnker fell in love with Lake Forest

KIM CAMPBELL 312.434.9372 kimcampbell@atproperties.com Master of Banking & Finance, Stonier, Wharton, U of Penn. 25 years in Comm. Bank & Mang.

JENNIFER MOWER 847.345.6600 jennifermower@atproperties.com 30+ years in sales, development and customer service. Lifelong Lake Forest Resident.

BECOME A Visionary

Experience Transcendent

Enter a world of comfort and ease, where each day begins with boundless pleasure. Timeless elegance meets modern convenience in this 101-story s scraper designed by award-winning architect Jeanne Gang. Revel in exquisite interiors, exceptional finishes and panoramic views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. The Residences at The St. Regis Chicago. Live high above it all, right in the middle of it all. Learn more at srresidenceschicago.com or by calling +1 312 626 4677.

Ultra-luxurious lakefront residences, from 1,097 SF pieds-à-terre to full floor, 6,800 SF, 360°-view penthouses. One-to-five-bedroom homes from $840,000 to $18,500,000. 363 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601 | srresidenceschicago.com

The St. Regis logos are the trademarks of Marriott International, Inc ., or its affiliates. The Residences at The St. Regis Chicago are not owned, developed or sold by Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates(“Marriott”). The developer of the residential project, Parcel C LLC,Dev License #2418452, uses the St. Regis marks under a license from Marriott,which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made about the project. If this license is terminated or expires without renewal, the residential project will no longer be associated with, or have any right to use, the St. Regis tradenames or trademarks. Sales by Magellan Marketing Group.

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Lake Forest Open Lands makes a real difference in our community! With your support, we can expand our community’s commitment to clean air, clear water and healthy natural landscapes for all to enjoy. Please consider an annual gift today!

LakeForestCountry

The North Shore Weekend combines a local news digest of doings and reviews with stunning art and photography for which the NS Weekend is known, together with lifestyle features, which enriches the leisure time of our devoted Saturday and Sunday readership since 2012.

WELCOME HOME

Every new Lake Forester has a story of how they fell in love with the city. Andy and Brooke Bohnker share theirs with us this month, along with a heartfelt tour of our town through their eyes.

WORTH THE WAIT

Lake Forest Open Lands proudly invites guests to visit its newest treasure—the Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine.

MOUNTAIN LUXE

Get your ski glam on and hit the slopes in style this season with a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, a luxury Beaver Creek resort that celebrates its 20th anniversary this winter with special events and activities.

Andy and Brooke Bohnker with their children Birdie and Millie Photography by Lisa Sciascia Brooke is wearing sweater by Ulla Johnson, skirt by A.L.C., available at Lillie Alexander

Editor’s Note

THE HOLIDAY SEASON is finally upon us! For many, this season is filled with family and fun, while others look at it as a period to prepare for a fresh start for the new year. No matter what your plans are this holiday season, there is plenty to see and enjoy in our community.

Our cover story tells a story of the Bohnker fam ily and their heartfelt passion for their new begin ning in Lake Forest, a community that “Welcome(d) home” the family of four with open arms.

In our second feature this month, Worth the Wait, Lake Forest Open Lands proudly announces the future opening of its newest treasure—the Jean and John Greene Nature Pre serve at McCormick Ravine. Led by Ryan London, President of LFOLA, “In essence, we’ve been able to do the impossible—create another world class LFOLA nature preserve located at the most challenging and ecologi cally sensitive site in town,” London says. Read how this new preserve will be a won derful opportunity to engage even more people in experiencing our community’s nature.

As we enter the winter season, many of us head West for an escape to the snowy mountains in Colorado. Mountain Luxe, this month’s travel story celebrates the 20th anniversary of The RitzCarlton Bachelor Gulch. And yes, you’re invited. The question is, when are you going, and which incredible activities will you choose to enjoy? I’ll meet you at the top!

‘Tis the season for giving, and what a better way to give than by supporting our local business es. Not sure what to get your loved ones? Check out our holiday gift guide, Gifts to Impress, featur ing a variety of gifts hand-picked by our style edi tor. From first-rate travel needs, beautiful baubles, and the best luxe gifts for the little one in your life, we give you the ultimate shopping guide for all your perfect presents.

With the holidays also comes many delicious

meals filled with your sea sonal favorites. Not sure what to cook or want to try something new? En tertaining has one of our favorite holiday cocktail recipes to help you perfect your holiday menu. On the flip side, the holidays may lead us to think there is no way to eat healthy, but not to fret, The Dish gives us a recipe to assist in healthy eating during the holidays.

As the year comes to a close, I feel compelled to pay homage to my team of support as I close out my first official year as your editor for For est & Bluff  magazine. Dustin O’Regan who many know as not only a significant local resident but also as the editor of my sister magazine, Sheridan Road. Dustin, your guidance, connection to the community and friendship has been a valuable gift. Thank you, Sherry Thomas, my contributing editor who goes above and beyond every month to support me.  Without both of your support, I don’t know what I’d do. Thank you!

Whether it’s browsing Market Square or stir ring stovetop pots or making holiday memories, may you lend yourself some breathing room and give yourself permission to slow down as the year draws to a close. I hope you enjoy all the merri ment of the season with little of the stress, and may patience and peace be readily available.

Wishing you a warm and happy holiday, cheers to 2023!

THERESA DE MARIA Editor in Chief

Photography by Susan Bowlus

Ryan London of LFOLA

Gingerbread Pear Upside Down Cake Photography by Monica Kass Rogers House & Garden

Firepit at The Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colorado

Peter Millar Quilted Suede Vest Available at Smith’s Men’s Lake Forest

The Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colorado

J. W. CONATSER Founder & Publisher jwc@jwcmedia.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Theresa DeMaria ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Jennifer Sturgeon

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Sherry Thomas, Lauren DeMaria

Bill McLean, Ann Marie Scheidler, Monica Kass Rogers, Janis MVK, Wendy Franzen STYLE EDITOR Lauren DeMaria PRODUCTION

HOW TO REACH Forest & Bluff Magazine

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES jennifer@jwcmedia.com. 847-370-6940 GENERAL INQUIRIES 847-926-0911

EDITORIAL EMAIL theresa@jwcmedia.com EDITORIAL TELEPHONE 847-857-9947 ON THE WEB forestbluff.com

NORTH SHORE HQ 445 Sheridan Road Highwood, Illinois 60040

Forest & Bluff is published monthly by

CULTURE

Photography by David Leslie Anthony

AGENDA

MAKE SOME MAGIC

THROUGH JANUARY 7

ILLUMINATION: TREE LIGHTS

WHERE: The Morton Arboretum Dazzling new light displays celebrating the Arboretum’s centennial year and a special late night event series will highlight the 10th anniversary. Guests will explore 18 different features along a tree lined one-mile walking trail immersed in color, light color and sound. mortonarb.org

THROUGH JANUARY 8

WINTERLAND HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE

WHERE: Wrigley Field

Guests will enjoy family friendly activities, festive décor, interactive experiences, rides and much more at this beloved holiday ex perience. Returning favorites include The Gallagher Ice Rink, now inside the ballpark, Santa’s workshop, the annual tree lighting ceremony, as well as Christkindlmarket and special programing at Hotel Zachary. For more information visit christkindlmarket. com/Wrigleyville and gallagherway.com/host

THROUGH DECEMBER 22

FRIENDS HOLIDAY BOOK BAZAAR

WHERE: Lake Forest Public Library

Browse a small assortment of holiday books perfect for gifts. Prices are marked at the top of the first white page of each book; please pay in cash using the collection box for pur chases and donations. Register at lakefores tlibrary.org.

DECEMBER 1

GRAB ‘N’ GO KIT: CREATIVEBUG FELT

DEER ORNAMENT

WHERE: Lake Forest Public Library

Adding a festive new ornament to the tree every year is a wonderful Christmas tradi tion, and it is even better when an ornament is made by hand. Courtney Cerruti demon strates how to create a rustic fawn ornament using felt, simple embroidery and hand stitching. You will want to make this sweet project for all of your loved ones. Register at lakeforestlibrary.org.

DECEMBER 2

REINDEER HOT COCOA

WHERE: Lake Forest Public Library, Ka sian Room

Make adorable reindeer hot cocoa bundles to enjoy yourself or give as gifts! Register at lakeforestlibrary.org.

DECEMBER 2

FEATURE FILM FRIDAY: MRS. HARRIS

GOES TO PARIS

WHERE: Lake Forest Public Library Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris A widowed clean ing lady in 1950s London falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress and decides that she must have one of her own. Register at lakeforestlibrary.org.

DECEMBER 6

WINTER WATERCOLOR CLASS

WHERE: Lake Forest Public Library, Ka sian Room

Express yourself or make a gift at the win ter watercolor class. Register at lakeforestli brary.org.

DECEMBER 7

KIDS ONLY HOLIDAY SHOP

WHERE: Gorton Community Center

A community favorite, Gorton Community Center’s Kids Only Holiday Shop allows children ages 4-10 to conduct holiday shop ping without Mom or Dad! Santa’s Helpers will escort your child through the boutique, visiting local vendors and talented artisans who feature items all $10 and under (and that includes tax). Give your kids the gift of independence and let them experience the joy of giving. Wonder Wrappers will be on hand to make sure each purchase is wrapped and ready for under-the-tree. gortoncenter.org.

DECEMBER 8

PEANUTS JAZZ WITH THE CHRIS WHITE TRIO

WHERE: Gorton Community Center

Enjoy the holiday music of Vince Guaraldi, better known as “the Peanuts composer,” with The Chris White Trio for this annual concert in the John & Nancy Hughes Theater. These well-known favorites are sure to put you in the holiday mood! A Toronto native, Chris White is a talented musician who is also cur rently an instructor of jazz piano and theory at Lake Forest College. gortoncenter.org

DECEMBER 15

RENDEVOUS ARTS 2022-2023 JAZZ QUARTET, PART OF THE RENDEZVOUS

ARTS SERIES

WHERE: Gorton Community Center

Rendezvous wants to help you relax and take a break from the rush of the holiday season while enjoying music by the Matt Ulery/Matt Shevitz Quartet. Their music will be perfectly paired with Harvey Tillis. Rendezvous Arts is a chamber music and vi sual arts series started by several of the mu sicians of the Lake Forest Symphony. When the orchestra sadly folded, they wanted to find a way to continue to play for the friends that they had made from the Symphony’s audience, and so the plan to continue the orchestra’s Salon Series chamber music pro gram was born. gortoncenter.org

DECEMBER 18

HOLLY JOLLY CONCERT WITH THE LAKE FOREST CIVIC ORCHESTRA

WHERE: Gorton Community Center

Join the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra for a family concert of holiday favorites. Classic holiday music will be featured in charming orchestral arrangements with brand new compositions to complement this collection of traditional favorites. Orchestral holiday music will also be featured such as “Sleigh Ride” and “Trepak” from The Nutcracker Bring your children or grandchildren for an afternoon of music to put you in the spirit of the season. gortoncenter.org

Festival of Lanterns, Illumination at Morton Arboretum

TINY TREASURES

If you’ve ever marveled at the intricate beauty of the miniature in terior vignettes on permanent display in the Thorne Rooms wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, the History Center of Lake ForestLake Bluff’s new exhibit is a must-visit this holiday season.

Open now through March, “The Art of the Miniature” explores the craft of miniature making through the lens of late Lake Forest resident Narcissa Niblack Thorne, her workshop, and the many ar tisans and craftsmen who brought her visions to life.

Constructed on a scale of one inch to one foot, the 68 miniature rooms on display at the Art Institute tell the story of European in teriors from the late 16th century through the 1930s and American interiors from the 17th century to 1940.

These painstakingly crafted pieces were conceived by Thorne, who was inspired by historic houses as well as period rooms in museums and other palaces she visited on her travels abroad and throughout the U.S. Additional miniature rooms conceived by Thorne are on display at art museums around the country and held in private col lections.

“Lake For est has so many personal con nections to the world of minia tures,” says Lau rie Stein, Depu ty Director and Head of Cura tion. “Through Narcissa Thorne herself, a resi dent for years, but also through local collectors of her work and

other past artists and creators, such as Petite Maison gallery.”

Born in 1882, Thorne cultivated an early appreciation for doll houses and replicating famous interiors on a miniature scale. Her works were featured around the globe, including a special exhibition at the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago.

Here in Lake Forest, she resided in a French Renaissance-style home on Ridge Road designed by architect Edwin Hill Clark in 1909.

“Narcissa and her husband James Ward Thorne sold their Lake Forest house in 1920,” adds Stein. “Before the Thornes’ belongings were removed, thieves broke in and stole all of their furnishings, leaving only wallpaper and radiators. I can only imagine how the loss of some of those pieces must have haunted her!”

Thorne and Clark would again collaborate 25 years later on some of her original miniature rooms, which Thorne hired Clark to help design while full-size architectural commissions were at a lull in the depression-era 1930s. He is just one of many artisans employed by Thorne in a passion project that garnered attention around the U.S. and Europe.

“In ‘The Art of the Miniature,’ we magnify the work of the tal ented artists, craftspeople, and designers who executed the Thorne Miniature Rooms,” explains Guest Curator Madeline Crispell.

With rarely exhibited original Thorne miniatures and with con

temporary masterpieces from The Kupjack Studios, the exhibit also explores how miniatures are made, the historical context of Thorne’s work, and her enduring legacy. “Visitors will see Narcissa Thorne’s projects in a new context by exploring the craft of miniature making–a centuries old art, still evolving today,” adds Crispell.

“The Art of the Miniature” runs through March 2023. Admission is free. The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff is located at 509 East Deerpath in Lake Forest. For more information visit lflbhistory.org.

GET COZY

Whether it’s a visit to the Christkindlmarket, a reservation by the big tree at the world-famous Walnut Room, or a shopping expedition on the Magnificent Mile, there are many reasons to day trip or weekend in Chicago this holiday season.

One of our favorite hidden gems is returning again this year and is the perfect addition to your downtown to-do list. Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park’s Fairmont Lodge is back with all of its signature drinks, bites, and winter-themed activities. Nestled between Millennium Park and the Magnificent Mile, the lodge offers a winter haven for families, visitors, and neighbors with cozy décor, fire pit inspired tables with s’mores, seasonal programming, and overnight packages. Chef William Schultz completes the holiday experience with a seasonal menu of bites like Sweet and Savory Fondue, house-made S’mores, and more. Signature handcrafted cocktails include the Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice made tableside and served in a collectors Fairmont Lodge mug, the Jack Frost made with SelvaRey Rum and an Oh So Del ish Hot Chocolate. You can also find warmth and cozy up to the indoor fire pit tables (there are nine total, accommodat ing up to eight people) at the Lodge from 5 p.m. to mid night Thursday to Sunday. Reservations are required.

For more information on the Fairmont Chicago Lodge and to book overnight accommoda tions, visit fairmontchicago. com.

Lake Bluff History Center

Narcissa Niblack Thorne in her studio, c.1950. Image source: The Art Institute of Chicago

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER

American Legion McKinlock Post No. 264 to salute Lake Forest’s military veterans with a new monument in the new Veterans Park.

NEVER GIVE UP.

This has long been the mantra of the American Legion McKinlock Post No. 264 in Lake Forest when it came to building a monument honoring the thousands of local residents who have served in the armed forces.

“Our post has been around for more than 100 years,” explains Ed Geraghty, former commander of Post No. 264 who is now lead ing the legion’s efforts to create a monument in the new Veterans Park. “Last year, the city approached us and said they had a park for us. We finally had what we needed to get started.”

Sitting at the southeast corner of Green Bay Road and Deer path, Veterans Park is the culmination of over a decade of effort by McKinlock Post. The goal of the Post has always been to pro vide the community with a highly visible reminder of the role the armed forces play in guaranteeing freedom and keeping the peace.

“This has been a community project from all angles,” Geraghty

adds. “The American Legion really can’t take any credit—it’s been the City, Parks & Recreation, and a number of generous donors coming together to make this happen. The city gave us the land and a loan to get the designs for the monument underway. Parks and recreation have been doing the landscape design and maintaining the park. The legion has been mostly behind the scenes, just facili tators for all of this.”

“As we’ve worked through this project, it’s been really impor tant to us to design a monument that was significant enough to adequately honor the ultimate sacrifice these veterans made,” says Tom Marks, current commander of Post No. 264 who is leading the fundraising efforts for this initiative. “We want people to stop and take note of what these people did for our country.”

Post No. 264 set out to build a world-class monument and were thrilled to discover a world-class artist to design it right in Lake Forest. The artist, Gary Tillery, is a 30-year resident of Lake Forest, a Vietnam veteran, and works with the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt

words by Ann Marie Scheidler photography by Ian McLeod

Omri Amrany, owner of Timeless Creation studio, designer of monument; Ed Geraghty, Lake Forest American Legion Post No. 264; Tom Marks, Post Commander of McKinlock American Legion Post No 264; and Gary Tillery, the artist responsible for designing and creating the monument.

Amrany in Highwood. Tillery has many monuments to his credit, including designing the sculpture for Chicago’s Vietnam Veterans memorial in 2005.

The monument will be situated in the heart of Veterans Park. There will be a sculpted bronze eagle symbolizing the national character of the United States and its ideals set against a back drop of a high-glaze black granite (coming from South Dakota) and stainless-steel stars and stripes. Finally, there will be separate panels listing the names of the 31 Lake Forest residents who were killed in action during all conflicts since WWI. The base of the monument will display the emblems of all six branches of the U.S. Military.

“We’re making sure to leave room to add names of future veter ans who lose their lives serving our country,” Geraghty says. “There will also be a QR code on the monument that visitors can scan and submit information they may have on the veterans we’re honoring.”

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Con gress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans’ organization, right at the end of World War I. It remains the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsor ing wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patrio tism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to fellow servicemembers and veterans.

Soon after the organization was founded, a group of Lake For est veterans organized the George Alexander McKinlock Jr. Post. McKinlock, who was with a machine gun group in France, was believed to be the first Lake Forester killed in action during the First World War.

The American Legion McKinlock Post No. 264 has long served a special role in the City of Lake Forest. In addition to helping with local celebrations on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, they’re responsible for placing the American flags throughout the city on designated national holidays, they play Taps at the funerals of vet erans, they mentor local scouts troops, and they host the Lake For est Day Parade and beloved two-day carnival.

“It still surprises me how many people don’t know we’re here,” says Marks of Post No. 264. “We welcome anyone of any age who has served in the military to join us. It’s a small-time commitment and a modest financial contribution.” Annual dues are $40 and while the post meets a few times each month, members can come in and out of meetings as their schedules permit.

As the local chapter of the American Legion nears the end of this project and closes in on its $350,000 fundraising goal to cover the costs of erecting the monument, the reality of what they have created has begun to set in.

“My father served in the Navy, so when Vietnam began I thought it was my duty to join the military,” Geraghty explains. “My mom and dad were so mad when I joined the Army. But I was fortunate. The Army made me an agent and sent me to Europe during the war. When I came home, I made a vow to honor the memories of those who weren’t as lucky and gave up so much for our county. Veterans Park takes me one step closer to keeping this promise.”

To learn more about the American Legion McKinlock Post No. 264, get involved, or to make a contribution to the Veterans Park monument, visit americanlegionlakeforest.org/donate.

FORCE OF NATURE

What budded as a quarantine hobby for Danielle Drummond, is flourishing organically and thriving.

words by Janis MVK photography by Katrina Wittkamp hair and makeup by Cathleen Healy

LET’S JUST SAY Danielle Drummond went from mi cro to macro. The entrepreneur took what was once just a hobby of growing seedlings in her parents’ Lake Forest basement to commercially cultivating and dis tributing greens in a 4,000 square-foot hydroponic grow space in Lake Bluff.

“In quarantine, everyone picked up a new hobby and mine was growing veggies and herbs,” explains Drummond, founder of Miss Microgreens, a grower and supplier of organically grown, nonGMO microgreens,

At a time when others in quarantine were baking banana bread baking or putting together a 1,000-piece puzzle, she immersed her self in the art of microgreens—the seedling versions of larger herbs and vegetables. With grocery stores empty of stock, it was nervewracking to think if there was anything even available, it wouldn’t be safe to consume, especially produce.

Enter Drummond’s new hobby.

“I had read about how nutrient-dense microgreens are, but also that they grow quite quickly,” she says, explaining that at the early stage of seedling’s growth, these vegetable greens are harvested just after the cotyledon leaves develop.

“Microgreens can be up to 40 times more nutritious than their larger versions by weight,” she says. “Eating just one of our potted micro broccolis can provide the vitamin equivalent of almost four pounds of broccoli.”

Her next steps? Buying some seeds, getting a grow light, and stealing a storage rack from her parents’ garage.

“Originally, I was just really curious about the seeds I could get my hands on,” Drummond says. “Quarantine slowed everything down so it was exciting to have little successes seeing these seed lings grow because I had never really grown anything before.”

In an effort to connect with others during isolation, she started dropping off flats of her microgreens to the doorsteps of friends to share and bring hope in uncertain times. Soon friends would be asking Drummond to deliver her greens to their friends. Once she started an Instagram account, inquiries started coming in.

“Since then, it’s turned into a mission to grow the widest variety of specialty greens I can and introduce greens that used to be just for chefs to everyday household cooks and families,” she says.

The organic-based business has continued to grow, well, organi cally.

“In 2021, I did two farmers markets and that was a great intro duction into that way of selling; and in 2022 we did five markets in

cluding Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Evanston, Winnetka, and Skokie,” she says.

Through these farmers markets, Drummond recognized her customers’ shopping patterns and appreciated the instant, positive feedback she would get, giving her a strong and loyal clientele. At farmers markets, Drummond sells her greens as a living flat of four varieties of microgreens.

“This little countertop garden becomes an experiential routine in my customers’ homes,” she says. “They choose their varieties themselves and then members of the family cut them in all of their meals.”

She’s found it’s a real bonding experience for couples or parents with their kids to choose which varieties they want that week. “It makes them really happy.”

Aside from Drummond’s farmers market varieties, Miss Micro greens grows an even wider variety, some that taste like limoncello, grapefruit, or flower petals that are spicy like jalapeños.

“These are things chefs might know about, but I want them to become part of a regular shopper’s grocery list,” she says.

With Drummond’s greens, experience elevated meals using mi cro leeks on eggs or a turkey sandwich garnished with radiantly purple, peppery radish microgreens.

“It’s an upgrade you can’t go back from. People have no idea about the possibilities of quality, fresh produce that was not grown on an industrial farm. Have you ever noticed how much better the basil from your garden tastes than from a store?” she adds. “There’s a joy that comes from that kind of quality that people experience. Looking at their food and being proud of what it looks and tastes like and knowing exactly where it came from.”

Locals may have had Miss Microgreens’ seedlings at Le Colonial, The Gallery, or Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Inovasi in Lake Bluff, Froggy’s French Café in Highwood, Chrissoulas in Liber tyville, Pomeroy in Winnetka, and more.

“I’m constantly expanding our varieties and menu of what we grow,” Drummond says. “Next, I want to offer customers lettuce, herbs, exotic greens, and edible flowers and make my business a chef’s paradise with greens never seen in a grocery store.”

During this winter and holiday season, Miss Microgreens offers delivery all across Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, and most of the North Shore suburbs and can be purchased online as one-time orders or as a bundle of deliveries.

For more information, visit missmicrogreens.com.

Danielle Drummond wears black Kieren jumpsuit by A.L.C., available at Neiman Marcus

Our mission is to bring peace of mind and quality of life to each and every one of our clients. Backed with nearly six decades of wealth management experience through some of the most turbulent markets in history, we have the toolset to help bolster your peace of mind. We pair the resources from one of the largest financial institutions in the country (Wells Fargo) with a personalized touch to wealth management. Each client portfolio is personalized to their goals and risk tolerance, as we manage each account individually – not by a computer software program.

Quality of life is how you define it! We love learning what quality of life means to you – your dreams, hopes, and aspirations for you and your family. Yellowstone Wealth Management believes individual management & true client discovery is the only way we can tailor a portfolio that is truly designed to help bring you peace of mind and quality of life.

Yellowstone Wealth Management

Steven Esposito President, Managing Partner

COLLECTING WITH CONFIDENCE

Learn how to approach auctions with Hindman’s Joe Stanfield and Zack Wirsum.

edited by Morgan Hogerty / photography by Katrina Wittkamp / styling by Theresa Demaria

AHEAD OF HINDMAN’S December Fine Art Sales, we spoke with Hindman’s Vice President and Senior Specialist of Fine Art Joe Stanfield and Director and Senior Specialist of Post-War & Contemporary Art Zack Wirsum about how to approach buying at auc tion and developing a collection.

Where does one start with buying at auction?

Joe Stanfield: Auction is one of the best ways to start collecting and is more fun than people might expect. I would recommend attending an auction preview and discussing the process with a specialist. We love nothing more than welcoming clients into the galleries after spending so much time selling virtually during the pandemic.

Zack Wirsum: Bidding at auction is quite simple and there are several dif ferent ways to do it. You can still bid live with a paddle during the sale, as many people might imagine when they think of an auction. Prior to the auction, you can also leave an absentee bid—the maximum amount that you would be willing to pay—that will be executed on your behalf by the auctioneer during the sale. Another option is to telephone bid. One of our team members will call you and bid as your proxy in real-time. Recently, more and more of our clients bid online using Hindman’s Digital Bid Room. No matter how you choose to participate, we love to see new bidders compete for property in our sales.

How does one know which artworks will be a good investment for their collection?

JS: We rarely suggest buying artworks specifically for investment. The best collections are built from the heart with love, time, and research on the artists that form the col lection. That said, if you are interested in buying works that you hope go up in value, it is wise to see what market trends are hap pening. In recent years, there has been a well-overdue amount of attention paid to female artists and artists of color in the art market which is one area we see a lot of potential for growth. For example, we were blown away by the prices achieved in September’s sale of Gertrude Abercrombie paintings from the collection of Laura and Gary Maurer. With the majority of works selling for well above their estimates, it was clear that this female surrealist is continuing to rapidly gain attention. As an Abercrombie collector myself, it’s been very special to see how her market has flourished.

What are the pros of buying at auction?

ZW: Auction is an incredible place to buy art. But, of course, there

are a number of venues where collectors can begin today—the choices can be overwhelming for everyone from the novice collec tor to the experienced one. If you are interested in buying from a gallery, dealer, or an online platform so you can have the painting immediately irrespective of an auction calendar, that is certainly un derstandable. Most of our clients buy from auctions, art fairs, gal leries, and more. I recommend that collectors buy from both the primary and secondary markets to build a rich collection.

Can I see the artworks before purchasing? How do I preview the artworks?

JS: Yes, you can view artworks in person before purchasing assum ing that the auction is taking place in the city where you either live or can visit. Chicago is our flagship office, but we also hold sales in Denver, Palm Beach, and Cincinnati. If you are interested in seeing a painting in person, you simply need to contact Hindman and we can assist you.

Tips for a new collector?

JS: Buy what you like and be confident in your own eye, but also ask for assis tance. Hindman specialists are happy to chat about your goals and dreams for your collection and welcome the oppor tunity to offer our expertise.

What are you looking forward to of fering this December?

JS: I am particularly excited about two works we have by Doris Emrick Lee, a renowned American figurative painter and printmaker, that will be included in our December 7 American & European Art auction. The Art Institute of Chi cago has one of her best paintings in its collection which I have always loved. To top it off, we also had a large consignment of paintings by Lee in the very first sale I worked at Hindman in 2006 so I am somewhat nostalgic about her as well.

ZW: The December 14 Post War & Contemporary Art auction will feature a plethora of compelling works. I’m eager to see how a number of charming Abercrombie works will perform, and we also have outstanding works by Sam Francis, Joan Snyder, and Alexan der Calder to name just a few.

Hindman will present five Fine Art sales this December beginning with two photography sales on December 6: Eugène Atget Photographs Sold by the Museum of Fine Arts Houston; and Photographs. The following day on December 7, Hindman will present its American & European Art auction. The Post-War & Contemporary Art and Prints & Multiples auctions will take place the next week on December 14 and 15, respec tively. For more information, visit hindmanauctions.com.

Artworks to be offered in Hindman’s December 2022 Fine Art auctions

MICHAEL W. KOPSICK

THE LAW OFFICES OF MWK

THE LIMITATIONS OF DIVORCE LAW

Strategic Divorce attorney Michone J. Riewer explains the realities of divorce law and the importance of client mindset.

words by Michone J. Riewer photography by Katrina Wittkamp styling by Theresa DeMaria hair & makeup by Leanna Ernest

WHEN MOST PEOPLE enter a divorce attor ney’s office, they experience a wide range of emotions. They may feel broken, violated, lied to, betrayed, abused, or mistreated. They may feel embarrassed that they were unable to make their marriage work. They may also feel completely numb to the process or might even feel relieved.

All of these feelings are valid and perfectly normal, but they can also be incredibly destructive. Hurt feelings often cloud judgment, leading to unrealistic goals from the divorce grounded, not in a de sire to win, but to make sure their spouse loses. We often ask clients to consider what would have to occur so that when we meet in a year, they could be happy with the outcome and their situation. A large number of clients respond with, “I want my spouse to burn in hell.” That is not realistic. No attorney can achieve that goal.

Somebody may feel they are entitled to more than an even split. They may even be right. Unfortunately, the courts don’t recognize this desire. Courts aren’t interested in why you believe you deserve more assets or money. Courts don’t care how or why the marriage is ending, and it doesn’t matter to the legal system how hurt your feelings may be.

The judges care about one thing—upholding the law.

Many people believe there is a great deal of wiggle room in the legal system or that hiring a more aggressive lawyer and fighting for years will result in a better outcome. This is usually not true. When it comes time for the judge to sign off on an agreement or rule after a trial, these decisions are typically determined by a formula. Child support is determined by a formula. Spousal support or mainte nance is determined by a formula.

A good lawyer will help you understand your rights and repre sent your best interests so that you don’t make decisions that will negatively impact those formulas. But a good lawyer won’t promise you something that isn’t attainable or encourage you to fight your spouse to gain a split of assets that a judge would never agree to.

Contentious divorces happen when parties allow their hurt feel ings or anger to get in the way of rational decision making. Some lawyers will take advantage of these destructive mindsets. Acrimony is their business plan. When a client comes to them saying they want 70 percent of the marital assets, the attorney doesn’t explain why that is an unlikely outcome. Instead, the attorney encourages their client to fight for 75 percent. The attorney knows the law and knows no judge would award that division of assets. The attorney also knows that the longer the divorce drags on the more money that attorney will collect in legal fees. Encourag

ing acrimony has a clear benefit for the attorney and a clear draw back for the client.

Choosing the right attorney is very important. Having the right mindset going into a divorce is equally important. Spending thou sands of dollars fighting over a piece of kitchen equipment does not result in a win for anyone but the divorce lawyer. At the beginning of the divorce, we provide each of our clients with the name of a therapist so that they have someone to help them with their mind set. Throughout the divorce, we provide solid counsel to our clients so that they have an opportunity to understand the likely outcome and then reach that outcome more quickly and with less acrimony. This approach provides our clients with more assets to divide in the long run and fewer legal bills.

Michone J. Riewer is an attorney with Strategic Divorce in Lake Bluff, 847-234-4445, strategicdivorce.com.

Michone J. Riewer

SUGAR PEARS,

Photography by Monica Kass Rogers

words, recipe, and photography Wendy Franzen of Fletcher & Fork

CREAMY, mint-chocolatey, and un abashedly jubilant, the grasshopper was invented by Philibert Guichet for a 1918 cocktail competition in New York City.

The grasshopper gained fame at the Guichet family’s historic New Orleans bar and res taurant Tujague’s—home to the oldest stand-up bar in America—where it remains on the menu today.

Delight guests at your next celebration with this holiday-hued dessert cocktail, garnishing with a sprig of mint, a shaving of chocolate, or a sprinkle of nutmeg. Makes one

green creme de menthe liqueur •

ounce white creme de cacao liqueur •

options: Mint sprig, dark chocolate shav ings, freshly grated nutmeg

GINGERBREAD + PEAR UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

words, recipe and photos by Monica Kass Rogers

WITH THE HOLIDAYS coming and sugarplums dancing in your head, it’s a good bet the enticing smells of baking will fill your kitch en soon. In our house, gingerbread is a favorite—most recently in the form of this delicious cake with its pudding-like topper of brown-sugar butter melted into golden pears. Given a big bag of tiny golden Asian pears from a friend’s tree, I used those here, sliced two ways. For one cake, I cut the pears in round slices, removing the seeds. For the other, I sliced the pears as I would apples (peeled, cored, and quartered) and shin gled the slices in a pretty spiral. I like them quartered and shingled best, but either way works—your choice. With three kinds of ginger (candied, fresh, and pow dered) plus cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and molasses in the batter, the flavor and aroma of the gingerbread is beautifully rich, but not overpowering. Serve the cake warm, with a dollop of whipped or iced vanilla cream.

YIELD: Makes 1, 9-inch one-layer cake

INGREDIENTS:

For the Ginger Pear Topping:

• 8 small, ripe but firm Asian pears, peeled quartered and cut into 1/8 inch slices OR substitute 3 large pears of your favorite variety

• 1/3 cup butter cut into pats

• 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

• 6 pieces candied ginger, minced to make ¼ cup

For the Gingerbread:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted

• 1 Tbsp ground ginger

• 1 tsp ground Saigon cinnamon

• 1/8 tsp ground cloves

• 1/2 of a nutmeg, finely grated

• Pinch of salt

• 1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar

• 3 large eggs

• 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses

• 1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger

• 1 Tbsp minced candied ginger

• 1 tsp baking soda mixed with 2 Tbsp boiling water

METHOD:

With oven rack in center position, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Generously grease bottom and sides of a 9-inch cake pan. Set aside. On cooktop, over medium heat, melt all but two of the pats of butter with the brown sugar, stirring until everything is melted. When the mixture just begins to bubble, add last two pats of butter and continue stirring until mixture boils. Remove from heat and pour mixture into the bottom of the cake pan. Starting at the center of the pan, spiral pear slices to the edge of the pan, turning pan and tucking in rows of pear slices until bottom of pan is completely covered with the pear slices. If you have extra slices, arrange those over the first layer. Set pan aside. In a small bowl, whisk spices (ground ginger, clove, cinnamon and grated nut meg) with flour and add pinch of salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment at medium speed, beat butter until fluffy. Beat in brown sugar. Beat in eggs, then molasses and fresh-grated gin ger. (The fat won’t completely mix with the eggs and molasses, but that’s okay.) Add half of the flour mixture and beat until smooth and no streaks remain, scraping down sides of mixing bowl and paddle as needed. Mix 2 Tbsp boiling water with 1 tsp baking soda and mix into batter. Add remaining flour mixture and beat until no streaks remain. Turn speed up to high for 3 seconds. Turn off mixer. Stir in minced candied ginger. Spread batter over the pears in the cake pan, smoothing to level top. Place pan in oven and bake for 50 to 55 minutes at 325 degrees until cake springs back when touched. Remove from oven. Cool for a few minutes on a rack. Slide sharp knife around edge of cake pan to loosen cake from sides of pan. Invert cake onto serving plat ter. Serve warm with a bowl of whipped or iced vanilla cream at table.

INSPIRED DESIGN

LAKE FOREST’S KASHIAN BROS SHARES NEW KITCHEN BACKSPLASH TRENDS

New colors, textures, shapes, and patterns are shaking up the simple kitchen backsplash.

NOTHING MAKES a kitch en stand out like a beautiful backsplash. Whether you pre fer bold and brilliant, subtle and serene, or classic with el egance, today’s backsplash options offer an array of show-stopping choices.

The biggest trend we see now is a match ing slab of quartz or marble used as a back splash and countertop. The smooth, seam less look adds a contemporary elegance. And, if the backsplash is ceiling-height, the kitchen feels bigger and more harmonious. Even better, cleaning these backsplashes is a breeze since there are no grout lines.

A hot trend for those who prefer a whitewhite kitchen is to create a visually interest ing pattern with geometric shapes. Squares, triangles, diamonds, and honeycomb are making a big splash right now. Use multiple sizes of the same shape to add depth and intrigue to your pattern.

Colored glass tiles are a modern glow-up to any kitchen. The translucency of the glass creates a subtle shine and the color options are terrific. And clean-up is always easy with glass.

For those who want something a bit bolder, consider glazed tiles in a chic check erboard or chevron pattern.

Hand-painted tiles are a traditional way to add personal style to your kitchen. Pick a local artisan or an international one to add graphic contrast with the rest of your kitchen.

Whatever you pick, have fun! The kitchen backsplash is the perfect place to let your personality shine.

Call Kashian Bros if you want a beautiful new kitchen or bath without the stress and anxiety of a typical home project. We take care of the entire project from start to finish, including design and all installation, even plumbing, lighting,

Kashian Bros is located in downtown Lake Forest and Wilmette. For more information, call 847-251-1200 or visit kashianbros.com.

HOLIDAY GEMS

words by Theresa DeMaria

WHETHER ITS RUBIES or diamonds, set in platinum or gold, these beauties bring radiance to even the darkest winters.

Barbara Parker Jewels brings us some inspi ration to add a little (or a lot) of bling to our holiday outfits this winter season. Even if you don’t attend lavish parties often, the holiday season is a time to indulge in luxurious fantasies so this is the perfect way to treat yourself.

These 18kt yellow gold ombré pansy earrings are shown with the stunning 18kt yellow gold ruby heart pendant. Pair them with a brightly colored gown or a solid little black dress and you will be the belle of the ball.

Every woman wants to feel like a queen and Barbara Parker Fine Jewelry’s ruby eternity band and diamond love knot ring are as royal as it gets.

For more information, visit barbaraparkerfinejewelry.com.

Jewels to keep your season shiny and bright!

SPARKLE LIKE A STAR

edited by Megan Weisberg

TO IMPRESS

From first-rate travel needs, beautiful baubles, and the best luxe gifts for the little one in your life, we give you the ultimate shopping guide for all your perfect presents.

edited by Lauren DeMaria

SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY

The Secret Ingredient to Peak Performance.

words by Elizabeth Lombardo photography by Lisa Sciascia

Feeling pressure to get into their top college, an athlete’s uncontrolled stress negatively impacts them, on and off the field.

A hockey player excels during practice but plays significantly worse during heated competitions.

A basketball player misses an easy layup. For the rest of the game, their shoots are impulsive misses.

A golfer gets “the yips” and shoots 15 plus higher than usual, tournament after tournament. The less-than-stellar performance continues despite meeting with the golf coach to get pointers.

A gymnast worries how their coach will react to a shaky landing. Their performance is well below their potential for the rest of the meet.

An athlete gets injured and falls into a funk because their identity, purpose and community feel like they have been taken away.

All of these are real-life examples of athletes with whom I have worked. That is, this is how they came into EleVive. They left with the skills to cultivate greater resilience, experience healthy confi dence, better control their stress, and consistently operate from a place of peak performance.

It goes without saying that serious athletes will spend hours upon hours physically practicing skills, running drills, and playing games. What they often neglect is addressing their mindset. And yet, mindset, what you say to yourself, impacts not only how you feel but also how you perform. In fact, mindset is the pivotal factor in how an athlete functions.

Optimizing your mindset is the secret ingredient to competing at one’s highest potential. Ironically, most athletes are never taught the strategies and skills to do just that.

We would never expect a tennis player to just “know” how to have a great serve. They receive coaching on the mechanics of a strong serve and practice it repeatedly.

So why do we often neglect training our athletes on the crucial skills of cultivating their mental game? If you genuinely want your athlete to excel and continue to enjoy the game, then it is vital that they learn how to optimize their mindset. And that is exactly what our coaches at EleVive help athletes achieve.

Our motto at EleVive is “Elevate your mindset; thrive in life.” At EleVive we use a proprietary approach to sports psychology called Neuro-Regenerative TrainingTM, which I developed from my training in psychical therapy, clinical psychology, neuroscience and peak performance, as well as my work with clients for over two decades. Our coaches teach athletes the specific skills to take control of their minds so they work for, rather than against, them.

How can sports psychology help your athlete excel? Here are the top six ways:

1. Control stress: High levels of stress, which I call the psycho logical Red Zone, interfere with peak performance. Learn ing real-life skills to control stress helps athletes flourish, even during the most stressful of competitions.

2. Optimize their self-talk: What you say to yourself impacts how you feel and function. Thoughts like “I messed up; I am a failure” lead to poorer performance. The remedy is not to repeat superficial but rather to use scientific principles of neu roplasticity to rewire the athlete’s brain, so self-talk is con structive, not destructive.

3. Enhance resilience: Perseverance, despite what is happening during and outside competition, is key to peak performance. Resilience is a skill that, with the proper training and practice, your athlete can achieve for use in their sport and in every other facet of their lives.

4. Develop healthy self-confidence: Believing in oneself, inde pendent of the last play(s) helps athletes excel. At EleVive, athletes learn how to cultivate healthy self-confidence.

5. Getting and staying in “The Zone”: Peak performance hap pens when athletes operate from The Zone, or a state of flow. Learning the skills to get into and stay in The Zone will help your athlete thrive.

6. Recover from injuries: Sports psychology techniques can help an injured athlete better heal, more effectively cope and speed up their return to their sport.

You and your athletes are investing significant time and energy into their sport. Why not give them the edge over their competition?

Contact EleVive today by visiting elevive.com.

Elizabeth Lombardo

WELCOME HOME

new Lake Forester has a story of how they fell in love with the city. Andy and Brooke Bohnker share theirs with us this month, along with a heartfelt tour of our town through their eyes.

words by Mitch Hurst photography by Lisa Sciascia hair and makeup by Cathleen Healy

ANDY BOHNKER can’t help himself. A ride from the Lake Forest Train Station to his fam ily’s home in west Lake Forest requires detours. He chauffeurs this writer through some of his favorite streets and scenes around town, offering knowl edgeable commentary. The City of Lake Forest should hire him to be an ambassador.

Andy and his wife, Brooke, moved to Lake Forest from Chicago’s Roscoe Village neighborhood in late 2020. Like many younger families living in the city, the couple and their now two daughters, Birdie and Millie, were unsettled by the pandemic and the other challeng es of urban living and sought the tranquility that can be found on the North Shore.

Andy and Brooke welcomed me into their home on a sunny morning in late September, ushering me on a tour of the house and its well-kept grounds. Looking around, it was obvious why they migrated north.

“Both of us are from smaller communities and we wanted to have that type of feel. We didn’t know what that was going to look like, but we came here and spent some time here,” Andy says. “We were never planning to stay and raise a family in the city. Nothing against doing that, but that’s not how we grew up. That’s just not what we wanted.”

Andy hails from the small farming community of Story City, Iowa (population 3,500), just north of Ames, while Brooke was raised in Culver, Indiana (population 1,300), about two hours southeast of Chicago. While both found their way to big cities after college to pur sue their professional careers, Andy in New York and Brooke in Chicago, but they carry home with them.

“I grew up in a small town on a lake but surrounded by cornfields,” Brooke says. “It was super small, and I could ride my bike just about anywhere. I had a big backyard and lots of friends in the neighborhood. There was a real sense of community and that was important to us when we were looking where to move.”

Andy also grew up in a farming community.

“If you went literally a half a mile from my house in any direction you were standing in the middle of corn fields,” he says, explaining that his mother and stepfa ther still live on a farm where Andy grew up. When I paid my visit to them in September, Andy, Brooke, and the kids had just returned from a weekend visit to see his parents. It was obvious Andy is still emotionally at tached to the rural life.

“We knew we were never going to get that kind of living in any suburb of Chicago, but we were trying to find something that felt close to that, and we fell in love with where we are now,” he says.

You’d need a Venn diagram to illustrate how Andy and Brooke got together. It’s a somewhat complicated yet serendipitous story that involves mutual friends from New York and Chicago, romantic attachments to others at the time they first met (that’d be Brooke), and other assorted adventures.

“We first met at a dinner between mutual friends, then began dating and two years later we were married,” Andy says.

Done deal. The two were married in 2017 at Cul ver Academy, a historic prep school in Culver, Indiana where Brooke went to school. They tied the knot in the same chapel where Brooke’s parents were married. Two years later Birdie came along. A sister for Birdie, Mil lie, the only Lake Forest native in the family, made her presence known last year. With both parents being em

Every

Andy and Brooke Bohnker in their Lake Forest Home. Brooke is wearing blue silk dress by Saloni, avaliable at Lillie Alexander

ployed—Andy is in Media Sales at the National Foot ball League and Brooke works at Jameson Sotheby’s as a real estate broker—there’s no shortage of activity in the Bohnker household.

The couple had no previous ties to Lake Forest, so the move to the area was something of a roll of the dice. Their siblings are scattered across the country and the globe (Brooke’s identical twin, Brittney Rahn, currently lives in Hong Kong with her family). But they’ve found a community they can truly call home and, somewhat surprisingly, other young families they can bond with.

“It took a while to feel like home in the actual house because at the time there were supply chain issues with furniture, but our neighbors were very welcoming,” Brooke says. “There are five houses on our street and every single one of our neighbors brought us meals or flowers or wine or champagne. They really gave us that community feel that we wanted so badly.”

Andy notes that one neighbor, Eileen Looby Weber, invited he and Brooke and the kids over to socialize in

their backyard when social distancing was still in ef fect. A Lake Forest alderman and owner of Lake Forest Flowers, Weber and her extended family, lifelong resi dents of Lake Forest, all live nearby the Bohnkers and quickly helped Brooke and Andy plug into the com munity.

“You’re moving away from close friends that live in Lakeview to a place that’s a 45-minute drive away and you definitely feel like you’re on an island for a little bit” Andy says. “But the community aspect here and how quickly neighbors welcomed us made the transi tion easy.”

What Andy and Brooke also found when they moved to Lake Forest are other families with young children, reflecting the trend during the pandemic of younger families moving out of the city.

“I have been surprised by the number of people we have met that are literally in the same boat,” Brooke says. “They have no friends or family around here but moved here the same way we did. There’s a lot of turn over here with younger families moving in.”

During his early years in college in Minnesota, Andy met Father Paul Wierichs, who at the time was the chaplain of the FBI in New York. Andy was heavily in fluenced by Father Paul, and faith remains an integral part of the life he and Brooke are shaping in Lake For est. Soon after moving, they joined Christ Church in Lake Forest.

“When we moved to Lake Forest, we knew we wanted to join a church,” Brooke says. “Growing up the church and the church community were a cornerstone of our upbringing and it’s important to us that we give our girls that foundation as well.”

My visit with Brooke and Andy ends with the couple driving this tourist back to the train station. Once again, Andy can’t help himself. We take a long route through Lake Forest neighborhoods and then a drive by Forest Park Beach.

Along the way, Andy and Brooke discuss Andy’s up coming birthday celebration plans. Brooke has booked a reservation for the posh, new Le Colonial restaurant downtown. Andy seems more inclined for a low-key celebration at a local pizza joint.

What I hear in their conversation, what I detect in the banter, is a couple, a family, that feels very much at home.

Brooke is wearing dress by Self-Portrait, available at Lillie Alexander

“Growing up the church and the church community were a cornerstone of our upbringing and it’s important to us that we give our girls that foundation as well.”

Outstanding Whispering Oaks single-level living! Charming all-brick ranch sited on a beautiful half-acre parcel. The freshly painted interior has oak hardwood flooring and two wood-burning fireplaces. Spacious living and family rooms overlook the south-facing rear yard. An enclosed porch opens to the pretty rear patio, both fantastic places to appreciate the park-like backyard with majestic oaks. The roof was replaced in 2016. 3 Bedrooms  2 Baths  1,816 sq ft

from downtown Lake Forest. Enter to find beautifully scaled rooms, oak hardwood floors, windows galore and an overall high level of finish. The property features English gardens, a verdant lawn, gorgeous woodland and a walking path with bridge. Every inch of this home is spotless and ready for you! 5 Bedrooms  2.1 Baths  3,498 sq ft  1 Acre  $995,000

Ryan London at entrance of the Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine

WORTH THE WAIT

Lake Forest Open Lands proudly invites guests to visit its newest treasure—the Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine.

words by Ann Marie Scheidler photography by Ian McLeod

THE JEAN AND JOHN Greene

Nature Preserve—named in honor of its generous benefactors—has been years in the making.

“We’re really excited and incred ibly appreciative of the community’s patience,” says Lake Forest Open Lands Association (LFOLA) President Ryan London, standing among the acres of jewel-toned trees that fill the majestic McCormick Ravine. “This process took longer than we expected and Covid didn’t do us any fa vors either. But we’re thrilled to be at the point where we can soon welcome visitors to this beautiful site.”

Once upon a time, the Lake Michigan coastal zone was one of the most diverse natural systems in the Il linois landscape. As development diminished coastland habitat, McCormick Ravine remained relatively intact, able to retain pockets of natural communities which support rare, state listed species. However, over decades portions of this largely forgotten landscape declined and needed attention to restore the habitat and improve water quality.

Enter Lake Forest Open Lands.

Since its establishment in 1967, the organization has permanently preserved, restored, and maintained more than 900 acres of local native landscapes includ ing prairies, savannas, woodlands, wetlands, and ravines for the benefit and enjoyment of the local communities. There are over 14 miles of walking trails that are open to the public year-round. Considered a leader among land trusts, Lake Forest Open Lands often serves as a resource to other emerging conservation groups in com munities nationwide. In 2009, Lake Forest Open Lands became the first Illinois land trust to be accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a mark of distinction in land conservation.

Recognizing McCormick’s natural value and poten tial, LFOLA began its partnership with the City of Lake Forest in 1975 to study and help manage the ra

vine. This long-standing relationship led the way for the group to secure the ravine’s permanent protection and restoration. In May 2015, Lake Forest’s City Council approved a land exchange, transferring the preserve to LFOLA in exchange for Veterans Park, and a commit ment by LFOLA to secure significant private funding to allow them to participate in the U.S. Army Corp’s Great Lakes Fishery & Ecosystem Restoration project, and to build the infrastructure of a public nature pre serve.

LFOLA officially acquired the property in 2019, quickly assembled an award-winning design team and immediately began the engineering for the much-need ed accessibility into this community gem. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit soon after—delaying the permitting and preventing breaking ground until September 2021.

“We knew from the start this site was so special, so unique, and so rare that we had to have an approach that had a light touch, was sustainable, and was going to deliver something that was functional from the start. We didn’t want to be years into this project and have to go back and undo something,” explains London. “This type of approach takes time.”

The Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine

Under the watchful eye of London, LFOLA em barked on reconnecting the McCormick Ravine with Lake Michigan. LFOLA has improved the ravine’s hydrology and water quality by removing failed drain age systems and a dam, managing storm water entering the ravine, and stabilizing the slopes by replacing inva sive plants with native ones (over 100,000 new plants). Stone riffles, step pools, and cascades were also added to increase fish, amphibian, and reptile habitat. The Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve also has new trails, educational signage, boardwalks, stairs, benches with panoramic views, and a show-stopping,120-foot sus pension bridge. LFOLA has worked with John Keno and Company, a local construction business, on all of the work that has taken place in the ravine – moving over 30 million pounds of stone over the last seven years.

“In essence, we’ve been able to do the impossible— create another world class LFOLA nature preserve lo cated at the most challenging and ecologically sensitive site in town,” London says.

LFOLA is an independently funded conservation and educational organization devoted to the acquisition and stewardship of its natural landscapes, and to ensur ing all generations have a meaningful, lasting connec tion to nature and to the land. It strives to engage and expand the community’s commitment to the preserva tion and conservation of the community’s historic and highly unique natural landscapes.

“We are hoping that people will make the Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine a destination community members want to come and visit, learn about why ravines are important, and be inspired to take what we’ve learned home to their own backyards,” adds London. “We’re doing our best to ensure that people

of all ages and abilities can come and enjoy it.”

To this end, LFOLA—in partnership with the Wisconsin nonprofit Access Ability Wis consin—will have an all-terrain electric wheelchair that can be reserved through the LFOLA website so that people with tem porary or permanent mobility is sues can still visit the entire site.

“We will provide universal ac cess to our visitors, which doesn’t make us completely ADA com pliant, but pretty darn close,” London says. “We are the very first to have access to one of these motorized all-terrain outdoor wheelchairs in Illinois.”

When asked if he has any concerns about LFOLA maintaining the preserve they have worked so hard to restore, London is quick to answer.

“Stewardship is what LFOLA does best,” he says. “Our talented ecologists work hand in hand with our dedicated volunteers who devote thousands of hours every year doing this work. And our expert educators cultivate the community’s understanding of why open spaces are important. This new preserve is a wonderful opportunity to engage even more people in experienc ing our community’s nature. At LFOLA, we believe na ture needs us as much as we need it.”

To learn more about accessing the Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine and how you might become involved with LFOLA, visit lfola.org.

The Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine

The constrction of a pedestrian pathway at the Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine

MOUNTAIN LUXE

Get your ski glam on and hit the slopes in style this season with a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, a luxury Beaver Creek resort that celebrates its 20th anniversary this winter with special events and activities.

words by Sherry Thomas

FROM THE OUTSIDE, The Ritz-Carlton, Bach elor Gulch looks like it’s always been there, nestled along towering pine trees and breathtaking Rocky Mountains, almost hidden from view.

Black-and-white photos you’ll see of this soar ing, log-cabin-style lodge—located four miles from the Beaver Creek ski mecca—might indicate it was built even before Vail Resorts (which also operates Keystone, Breckenridge, Park City, and many more) began buying and devel oping ski properties in the area more than 40 years ago.

However, the minute you step inside this magnificent, five-star resort in remote Avon, you realize that everything you’re about to experience from here will live up to the legendary brand that is The Ritz-Carlton. Since 2002, the property has served as the ulti mate escape for skiers and non-skiers alike, with multiple snowshoe hikes, unique access to Beaver Creek Mountain (and now, the newly debuted McCoy Park terrain), a chic après ski scene, divine culinary offerings, a 21,000-square-foot spa, and a Ritz Kids’ program that includes a Ski Nanny (do we need to say more?)

While there is much to do here even in summer months (imagine access to the finest Vail Valley and Beaver Creek golf courses), this year, it’s all about the winter ski season where the property will put the finishing touches on its recent renovation in time to celebrate a milestone 20-year anniversary.

And yes, you’re invited. Now the only question is, what do you want to do first?

Whether you’re craving the thrill of a black diamond slope or are just along for endless spa treatments and boozy concoctions by the fire, this is a place where you can literally choose your own moun

tain adventure (ask about the in-room camping). We’ve put together a little guide to help you chart your course.

SKI-IN, SKI-OUT

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is notorious for excep tional skiing and the most seamless ski-in, ski-out experience in the region. From the resort’s ski concierge to the vast mountain terrain for all ski levels, it really doesn’t get better than this.

With more than 2,000 acres of diverse terrain, Colorado’s Beaver Creek is perfect for making fresh tracks, riding moguls, or cruising down groomed runs. You are literally within moments of the area’s best skiing for all skill levels. Ski-in, ski-out privileges, an in-house outfitter, a ski and snowboard school, and a dedicated concierge are just a few of the perks of staying here.

The resort also now offers premier access to the newly debuted McCoy Park terrain. The expansion includes 17 trails and 250 acres of ski terrain for beginner and intermediate skiers as well as a fam ily-friendly learning area. And if that wasn’t enough, Vail is just 15 minutes away—offering more than 5,000 acres of skiable terrain, including seven legendary Back Bowls spanning seven miles and three terrain parks to cater to skiers of all levels.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

Pool

SNOW PATROL

If skiing isn’t your thing, the resort offers many other wintery ac tivities that doesn’t require a lift. There are seven different snowshoe hikes, including select routes that are timely for the season.

Want to admire the silhouettes of the Rocky Mountains, then the sunset snowshoe hike is for you. If you want to get some (snowshoe) steps in, opt for the village-to-village snowshoe hike—a serene fourmile trek from Bachelor Gulch to Beaver Creek village.

But perhaps the most alluring route (and one you’ll be talking about long after you get home) is a stargazer snowshoe tour that re veals the splendor of the mountains at night under a glimmering sky. That epic experience can be followed by warm signature cocktails in The Great Room, which leads us to our next (and this author’s favor ite) category.

APRÈS SKI

Sometimes the best part of a Colorado winter getaway is what comes after you give the skis or snowshoes back to the concierge and settle comfortably for some après ski indulgence.

Even if your “active day” was back-to-back spa treatments, there’s something magical about having everyone come together in the eve ning around a delicious dinner or round of toasty drinks. Stacked stone, rich wood, nature-inspired artwork, a crackling fireplace, and lounge-worthy seating set the mood for mountain cuisine, barrelaged cocktails, après ski fare and robust coffee.

Among a diverse array of culinary offerings, WYLD presents the finest from the valley, displaying bold cooking techniques and sea sonal ingredients. Sakaba serves as Beaver Creek’s premier sushi res taurant, offering a menu of fresh sushi, sake, and craft cocktails in an intimate setting. Buffalos elevates gastropub cuisine in a Coloradoforward space with rustic wood and grand stone features, presenting a cozy atmosphere and warming appetites with their famous Bison chili.

For an authentic glam après ski or poolside dining experience, check out the Fireside Bar. Surrounded by mountains and forest, this barbeque restaurant features casual meals and signature cocktails. And then there’s The Great Room, a must-see on your Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch experience. A grand three-story stone fireplace is the centerpiece of this lodge-inspired lounge, where you can end your evening on a cozy couch with live music and decadent après ski of ferings.

What’s up for tomorrow? Maybe it’s time to go back to that spa.

JUST SAY “AH”

Tucked into the mountain, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Bachelor Gulch mimics the resort’s stunning surroundings with treatments focusing on mind and body. As a guest, you will also have access to a veritable spa oasis of 19 treatment rooms, relaxation lounges with steam rooms, saunas, yoga rooms, plunge pools, and a stone-lined coed grotto.

Signature spa treatments incorporate locally sourced herbs, plants, and minerals, and address the familiar body aches you veteran skiers

experience after days on the slopes.

The Miner’s Mineral Mud Wrap looks particularly appealing, even if you’ve done nothing all day. This mineral-inspired treatment uses indigenous ore that is hand mixed during the treatment to take you on a rejuvenating journey. Foraged from the depths of Colorado’s mines, activated charcoal mud is renowned for its powerful detoxify ing properties. Coupled with amethyst oil, rose quartz salt, and shea butter, this is the perfect recipe for a calm mind and uplifted body. (Did we mention it also includes full body exfoliation, body wrap, scalp massage, hydrotherapy bath, and full body massage ... ahhhh.)

Now let’s talk about the children.

RITZ KIDS

Whether they’re your own littles or the grandbabies, the Ritz Kids program is a lifesaver. Catering to children ages 5 through 12, a full Rocky Mountain regime of memorable experiences full of adventure, creativity, and wellness awaits.

The resort’s beloved Ski Nanny program is also back this winter—a resource as amazing as it sounds.

Kids enrolled in the full-day Beaver Creek Group Ski School will be outfitted in gear by their Ski Nanny as well as escorted to and from their lessons on the mountains.

What this means is you have more time on the slopes, at the spa, or (who are we kidding?) the lounge. Last but not least, because the holidays are here and we’ve been invited to help celebrate a milestone, it’s time for a countdown.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

If you’re lucky enough to visit The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch this holiday season, you’re in for some special treats.

The resort has created sixteen days of festive programming with events to surprise and delight. In addition to snow globe, ornament, and candle making, there will be storytelling and cookie decorating for Santa, along with a nightly lighting of the Menorah from De cember 18 to 25.

For holiday dining, WYLD is offering an amazing prix fixe menu on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. Just don’t miss the interactive ice carving creation by artist Scott Rella, who will put his talents on display on the Buffalos Terrace.

The resort will close the books on 2022 and welcome the New Year with the return of a traditional Japanese Sake barrel breaking ceremony at Sakaba—the ultimate way to welcome new beginnings and a hopeful future.

Sounds pretty incredible, no? Maybe we’ll see you there.

For more information about The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, call 970748-6200 or visit ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/colorado/bachelor-gulch. You can also follow the resort on Instagram at @theritzcarltonbachelorgulch.

King Suite room at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

The Great Room

EVENING OF DISCOVERY

The GPF Foundation’s “An Evening of Discovery” fund raising dinner at Northmoor Country Club in October was a night to remember, featuring keynote speaker Brian Greene—an American theoretical physicist, mathemati cian, and string theorist. The GPF Foundation was founded in 2018 to save lives by supporting education, appropriate treatment, and overall awareness of the dangers related to recreational drug use. For more information, visit GPFFoundation.org.

photography by Ian McLeod

Kevin & Lauren Friedman, Molly & Marshall Ball

Ross & Nancy Friedman, Barbara & Mark Carlson

Joe Gordon & Susan Wagner

Brian Greene, Lisa & Larry Potash

Friends of the Foundation

WGN TV Anchor Larry Potash

Brenda & Marty Becker

Sarah Scott, Julie Ginn

All floor plans shown are for illustrative purposes only. Floor plans may not depict final design of units as constructed and may not be drawn to scale. All sketches, renderings, architectural models, materials, plans, specifications, terms, prices, conditions and statements, including estimated timeframes and dates, contained herein are proposed only and are not intended to constitute representations. Developer reserves the right to make modifications in its sole discretion and without prior notice. All photographs and renderings are merely intended as illustrations of the activities and concepts depicted therein as interpreted by the artists. Developer makes no representations regarding any view and/or exposure to light at any time including any existing or future construction by either owner or a third party. Square footage and ceiling heights are approximate and may be based on various measurement methodologies, subject to construction variances and tolerances, as well as redesign, and vary from unit to unit (and may vary from floor to floor). This brochure shall not constitute a valid offer in any jurisdiction where prior registration is required and not yet fulfilled. Where used, developer shall mean Tribune Tower West (Chicago) Owner, LLCand its affiliated entities and their respective managers, members, directors,

CARING & SHARING

The Lake Bluff Women’s Club’s (LBWC) fall benefit luncheon, “Caring & Sharing,” raised funds to support many local causes. Held at The White Deer Run Golf Club in Vernon Hills, area businesses went above and beyond making contributions to club’s philanthropic endeavors. In addition to providing two annual scholarships to Lake Forest High School seniors, LBWC also makes donations to A Safe Place, a shelter that provides hope to abused men and women; to PAWWS (Paws Assisting wounded Warriors), a nonprofit that provides ser vice dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD or TBI; and initia tives that support veterans at

Captain James A. Lovell Health Care Center.

photography by Ian McLeod

Nancy Knollenberg, Norma Finkel, Judy Kotsiopoulos

Mary Sweitzer, Linda Hegg

Kimberley Ansbary, Rebecca Antonetti, Ashley Alghini

Claire Abrahamson, Jennifer Turner, Carrie Steinbach, Britta Johnson

Alice Gibson, Janet Tamer, Nancy Remington

Rosalie Paehler, Mary Lou Troyer

Linda Peterson, Ginny Primack

Lisa Staton, Janet Tamer, Delores Hendricks, Marjorie Tripplett, Kristi Triplett

Margaret Plotter, Jennifer Turner, Lisa Martinez, Jenifer Alghini

LUNCH WITH MOLLY YEH

Lake Forest Book Store hosted a luncheon and book sign ing at The Deer Path Inn in late October for a discussion with author, Molly Yeh. Guests were able to interact with Yeh and ask questions as she talked about her path from Juilliard to living on a sugar beet farm to her new cookbook, Home is Where the Eggs Are, and her new restaurant Bernie’s. For more in formation about Yeh, visit mynameisyeh.com.

photography by Ian McLeod

Rachel Baker, Melissa Baker, Cathy Baker

Laura Capstick, Eleanor Thorn, Morley Vahey, Jackie Thorn, Erin Henkel

Anne Sedore, Jennifer Clark

Stephanie Tuthill, Jenna Yeh

Bonnie Hawkins, Campbell Eggers

Mara McStacy, Emily Delfino

Kristen Shaner, Kathleen Dallinger

John Yeh, Mia Reilly-Yeh Molly Yeh

Loren Dixon, Kate Miller Spencer

King Muir Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045

This architecturally significant 1928 French Normandy designed by Stanley Anderson has been thoughtfully updated and offers a seamless blend of vintage charm and modern conveniences. Perfectly sited on over 2 acres with a striking Lannon stone exterior and Ludovici tile roof, its sure to impress any buyer. Inviting and functional layout offers beautifully scaled rooms, large windows, architectural millwork, fine craftsmanship and tasteful decor. The first floor boasts a large welcoming foyer open to a gorgeous lacquered library with a lovely fireplace, a spacious dining room, and a gracious living room with large windows, multiple French doors, and a center fireplace. Adjacent is a charming three-season room perfect for summer entertaining. The show-stopping kitchen features a separate breakfast room, Calacatta marble islands and countertops, high-end appliances including a LaCanche range and custom hood. Convenient location close to town, award-winning schools, and major highways.

HIGH SPIRITS

Spirits were high at the recent Spirit of 67 Foundation Home and Garden Tour as nearly 400 guests lingered, lounged, and toured four stunning homes. Featuring grand outdoor spaces with luxurious swimming pools, gracious gardens, and dreamy vistas of Lake Michigan, the event was made even more perfect by the blue sky and pleasant fall temperatures. Guests enjoyed “tastes of the town” with small bites and beverages provided by local favorites. Music was provided by District 67’s own student musicians and a string quartet from the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra. “It was truly the most lovely day and a successful fund raiser” says Spirit of 67 President, Nicole Korczak. “We are so proud that all funds raised by the Spirit of 67 are invested back for our students’ education through curriculum-aligned grant awards.” For more information, visit spiritof67foundation.org.

photography by Ian McLeod

Sonia Boudreau, Marissa Elliott, Betsy Miller

Katie Wilson, Julie Meier, Jenny Akemann

Lisa Florjancic, Annalisa Soukup, Nicole Korczak, Monica Kutz

Alicia Phillips, Samantha Trace

Annie Ignoffo, Mirela Dalton

Kate Donovan, Megan Engelberg

Nicole Oertel, Leigh Mott

Maria Roman Brunetti, Julie Sommers, Anna Theodore

Liz Alkon, Julie Carter, Astrid Piccolo

Susan Milk, Elyse Butler

Jaclyn Penar, Brooke Hubbuch

Stephanie Bell, Kelly Hodges, Adriana Brisku

Dennis Terry, Louise Perning

Danielle Knighton, Kate Salgat

Ali Day, Kasey Wood, Lisa Florjancic, Gisela Orestano

ART OF CARING KICK-OFF

photography by Katie Bredemann

Catholic Charities Lake County Women’s Board held its first 2022-23 meeting at the home of member Janet White. President Nadine Shepard highlighted the Cel ebration of Giving Christmas gift program, and three event co-chairs announced the return of Lake County’s largest benefit gala for Catholic Charities—”Art of Caring,” to be held in April 2023. For more information, visit catholiccharities.net.

Catholic Charities Lake County Regional Director Lisa Roti, Vidya Puthenveetil and Julie Carter

Women’s Board president Nadine Shepard and Art of Caring Co-Chairs Natalie Reinkemeyer, Joanie Reynolds and Jane Hinton-Kedo

Felicia Kurz, Doris Lim, Julie Carter and Jeanne Burke

Natalie Rienkemeyer, Lorraine Freedman, Patti Poth and Sheila Cavalarias

Catholic Charities Lake County Donor Relations Marilee LaMattina and Jan Zukowski Elwart

Exec Bd Member Gina Zisook, President Nadine Shepard, Vice President Sondra Adam and hostess Janet White

Vicky Kearney greets another member as Women’s Board VP Sondra Adam looks on

PLASTIC SURGERY UPDATE

TUMMY TUCK

words by Steven Bloch, M.D.

One of the most frequent requests that I get is for a “Tum my Tuck.” Many patients find that despite diet and exer cise they cannot achieve the shaped, toned, flat abdomen they desire.

In assessing a patient for a “Tummy Tuck” multiple factors are taken into account.

1. W hat is the status of the overlying skin and the degree of lax ity? Is the laxity confined to the lower or upper part of the abdomen or both?

2. W hat is the status of the underlying muscles? Do they meet in the midline or are they separated from pregnancies or intraabdominal fat?

3. W hat is the distribution of excess fat? Is it diffuse or localized in the lower upper abdomen? Does it extend to the flanks?

Depending upon the above assessment a customized operation can be performed to address these concerns. Multiple procedures or techniques can be employed.

The procedures vary from non-invasive to full abdominoplasty or some combination. Methods include:

1. Non-invasive CoolSculpting or CoolTone.

2. Minimally invasive BodyTite or Renuvion for skin tightening.

3. Vaser liposuction for fat reduction.

4. Modified abdominoplasty for the lower abdomen.

5. Full abdominoplasty combining liposuction, repositioning umbilicus, skin tightening, and underlying muscle repair.

The above procedures can often be combined to give you a custom ized operation to achieve the results you desire.

For additional information, visit www.skindeepmedical spa. com or call Glenview location 847-901-0800.

Follow us on social media:

BodyByBlochbodybybloch Steven Bloch MDBodybybloch

by Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D.

the architect

Siblings Wallace and Julie enjoy a favorite winter tradition in their front yard, where they take on the challenge of building the neighborhood’s best snowman. What do you love most about your home? Share with us on Instagram.