The North Shore Weekend EAST, Issue 11 by JWC Media

No. 11

northshoreweekend.com

saturday december 22 | sunday december 23 2012

featuring the news and personalities of Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Northfield, Glencoe, Highland Park, & Lake Forest

Live from Wilmette

Former Saturday Night Live star Julia Sweeney is now a North Shore mom who’s busy with creative projects > P.16

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North Shore Weekend NEWS

p. 30

10 On the table North Shore wine merchants talk about what to buy for the holidays, including some choices for New Year’s Eve.

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13 Home sweet home Gingerbread houses are always a hit on the North Shore.

14 Coming home A number of North Shore teens head to boarding schools out East as freshmen. How has their experience been as they head home for Christmas break?

LIFESTYLE & ARTS 16 It’s Pat (well, Julia) Former Saturday Night Live star Julia Sweeney, a Wilmette mom, talks about her projects two decades after making Pat a big hit.

18 Sunday Breakfast Jeannie Balsam spent much of her career in marketing. But she is thankful she made the switch to interior design.

20 Your Weekend Agenda Find out about the top events coming up this weekend on the North Shore.

business 22 A good night’s sleep Bedside Manor in Lake Forest has completed a renovation designed to unveil bigger, bolder displays.

Real estate 24 North Shore Offerings Take a look at intriguing houses in our towns.

sports 26 On the hardwood See how boys’ and girls’ basketball teams on the North Shore performed recently and who will be playing in holiday tournaments.

last but not least... 30 The Perfect Weekend Carpet, Rugs, Wood Floors, Dust Free Sanding, Cleaning: Carpet, Rugs, Upholstery & Air Ducts

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Marsha and Ray Pesavento talk about spending Marsha’s 50th birthday in Big Sur.

p. 13

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first word | 7

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

trim more than just the tree.

From raising 40 kids to making gingerbread houses, it’s all child’s play on North Shore

ingle people in their 20s often feel stressed. Then again, they don’t have the responsibilities of a spouse, children or a mortgage. Married people with a few children and a mortgage often feel stressed. Then again, they don’t have the burden of raising 34 foster kids, one adopted child and five biological ones while trying to pay off an onerous debt. Forty kids? Cheryl Richter, owner of Belle Fleur in Ravinia, raised them all. “When I would get up at 2 a.m., I would look at those babies and say, ‘I am so lucky to give them a good start,’” said Richter, who was interviewed by our talented feature writer Angelika Labno. “You get more than you could ever give.” Of course, this is the time of year for children. Christmas is so exciting for those who are anywhere from five years old to nine or so. They are begging to open gifts early and jostle Mom and Dad, who are stunned the morning has arrived as they recover from the powerful Christmas Eve egg nog. Others youngsters, though, aren’t as impressed by the season: After

all, how many two and three year olds recoil from rather than embrace the sight of a 260pound bearded man in a one-piece red suit? No doubt what all children love this time of year is gingerbread houses. From Elawa Farm in Lake Forest to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe and beyond, the creation of these edible delights captivates the young. Joanna Brown has the story inside. As you can tell we are blessed on the North Shore with happy tidings for the young. But we would be derelict if we did not offer our condolences to those devastated by the horrors of the school shooting in Connecticut last week that killed so many children and ruined the lives of so many others. It is a reminder to try to make the most of our finite time with the little ones in our lives. Enjoy the weekend.

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Bill McLean, Senior Writer/Associate Editor

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Scott Holleran

Kevin Reiterman, Sports Editor

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Kendall McKinven, Style Editor KATIE ROSE MCENEELY, Online Content Editor

Jim Prisching, Director of Photography J.Geil, Photographer

Ying Kau, Art Director

Brian Briggs, Contributing Photographer

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Larry Miller, Contributing Photographer

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10 | news

Vine lines

“A high-end red wine, like Rudd, is a great gift for the collector in your life,” says Emily Link of The Winnetka Wine Shop.

photography by j.geil

“Over 30 years ago I observed how American consumers had to struggle when looking for optimal wine selections in typical liquor stores that lacked real expertise,” – Johnson Ho

North Shore wine merchants suggest holiday wine choices, gifts Emily Link Owner, The Winnetka Wine Shop “I went to college at Hobart, in the Finger Lakes region in New York, after growing up in Baltimore. The winters were so cold in Upstate New York, leaving the grape vines dormant at Fox Run Riesling. Then it would get warm, the vines came back to life and people got to drink what the vines produced. Cold-climate grapes … They’ve always been so fascinating to me.”

Festive fever “It’s a busy month for us, a great time for customers to enjoy wine for the holidays and buy wine as a gift. I like bubbles this time of year, something sparkling like Launois champagne. A high-end red wine, like Rudd, is a great gift for the collector in your life. Another red, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, is a good choice now. Jax is a great Chardonnay; it’s nice and balanced, never overly oaked. And Chateauneuf-duPape, from the Rhone region in France, is a rustic, dry, earthy terroir. So many choices, so many gift options.”

blanc is a good choice. It’s dry, crispy and light, with a herbal quality, and it goes well with salads. Salads are popular on that day — it’s the day so many people start their diets.”

Sounds and tastes “There’s something about twisting the cage and popping the cork this time of year. It’s special. It’s fun and festive. Wine often plays an important role in a gathering’s atmosphere. It’s a great thing to share when you’re surrounded by family and others close to you.” Emily Link, as told to Bill McLean

Kayla Steffens Owner, Cellar Gate in Highwood “My daughter (Molly) and I visited Italy together a couple of summers ago, for 18 days. It was a high school graduation gift for her. She and I decided we wanted to be travelers, not tourists. Almost everywhere we went, people were gathered at restaurants or outside, enjoying wine and food together. That whole concept … I love it.”

Happy 2013!

Back home

“For people who like to entertain on New Year’s Eve, a pinot noir is ideal because it’s food friendly. It goes particularly well with a steak dinner. For those who like to drink a little on New Year’s Day, a Sauvignon

“This is my favorite time of year; it always has been. December, winter, the holidays, occasions to enjoy wine and be around family.”

At work

“Sparkling drinks like champagnes, for sure, are what people like to buy at this time of year. But a prosseco (Italian sparkling wine) or a cava (Spanish sparkling wine) are more reasonably priced and just as good. Any kind of rosé wine is very popular, because it’s festive, colorful, beautiful. Some of the colors available are pink, fuchsia, peach and hot pink. How a wine gets to be hot pink … Maybe a winemaker out there has some secret recipe.” Kayla Steffens, as told to Bill McLean

Johnson Ho

Owner, Pantheon Wine Shoppe in Northbrook How do you say “fine wine” in Chinese, German, Italian, French and Latin? Johnson Ho knows. Dubbed “Windy City’s Wizard of Wine” by MarketWatch, a wine industry trade magazine, Ho has earned that moniker by traveling more than a million miles to visit top-notch wineries around the world. Pantheon’s premium stock numbers 1,500 wine labels, including some highend selections that aren’t sold in other establishments. “Over 30 years ago I observed how American consumers had to struggle when looking for optimal wine selections in typical liquor stores that lacked real expertise,” Ho noted on his website, pantheonws.com. “That inspired me to pioneer many helpful concepts for fine wine retailing.”

Taiwanese trailblazer

Born in Taiwan and educated in Germany and American, Ho opened the 2,000-square-foot Pantheon Wine Shoppe in 2006, after catering to oenophiles for years at Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe and Epicurean Centre in Northbrook. Looking for the best liquid partner to accompany your ham feast this holiday season? Let Ho be your matchmaker. “A Chaume from Coteaux du Layon, with its honeyed sweetness would work well with a salty country-style ham, while the lighter South African wines go with milder French or Danish hams,” he told the Chicago Tribune. Heavy glazing, especially with fruits from peach to pineapples, call for a chenin blanc with strong acidity, he added.

Build it, and they will … store Ho also has been building wine cellars along the North Shore for more than 20 years. In a feature written by Evangeline Politis for sister publication Sheridan Road magazine in 2008, Ho revealed that he makes sure all bottles in cellars are at the proper angle to ensure that the cork stays wet. “Dry corks,” Politis wrote, “allow air to enter the bottle, which would then spoil the wine.” Bill McLean

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Back in business after raising her 40 children (that’s right, 40), cheryl Richter was at a loss. enter Belle Fleur.

Holiday Sale Now!

Antiques In Ravinia four years ago Cheryl Richter opened Belle Fleur, where women going through hard times are welcomed and embraced.

photography by j.geil ■ by

angelika labno

Paris is a city of love, usually referenced in a romantic sense of the word. But what Cheryl Richter, owner of Belle Fleur on Roger Williams Avenue in Ravinia, found there was a renewed passion for life. Sitting in her daughter Tiffany’s living room in the City of Lights, she contemplated a new chapter in her life. Her children were grown up, all 40 of them: five biological, one adopted and 34 fostered. Her marriage to the man with whom she shared the experience had just ended as well. With her stay-at-home mom duties expired, Richter decided to enter the workforce again, starting with Pottery Barn. “It was the most fun I ever had,” said Richter, who still hosts picnics on the floor of Belle Fleur with her former employees. “When you’ve been a mom and you had those children, you have to reinvent yourself, and that’s what keeps you going.” After her divorce in 1998, Richter bought a little cottage on the ravine in Highland Park, an adjustment that she says “knocked my legs out from under me.” With no formal business plan or experience, Richter set out to Seaside, Fla., where she conducted personal research from female shopkeepers. She drove back with a car piled with purchases from vendors and flea markets, picked a storefront a few blocks from home, and went with her heart on the success of her endeavor. “The store is totally based on faith,” said Richter, crediting a loyal community for being able to withstand the economic downfall that transpired months after opening in 2008. “I wanted my store to be more than a store. It had to reach out to the hearts of women.” The store’s unofficial mission statement is to make women who are going through a hard time feel welcomed and embraced. Richter enjoys brewing tea and inviting clients to sit around her beloved store desk, listening to the heartaches of divorce or battles with cancer. “You’ve got to go through the hard times to get to the good times” she said, “But

that’s easy to say when you live on the North Shore and everything looks bright.” For those in need of some retail therapy, the store is “un peu de tout”— a little bit of everything. There is no theme, according to Richter, just a rotating assortment of things for the home that catch her stylish eye. She is currently featuring a jewelry boutique for Christmas, hand knit mittens and scarves, and homemade jams made by a breast cancer survivor in Ravinia. She also values affordable price points, as she does not believe that one must spend a fortune to buy something unique and special. Richter, now 68, dreamed of owning a store since her 20s, but as the cliché goes, life got in the way. When her youngest of five began kindergarten, Richter sought to fill her time with something significant. Instead of turning to typical volunteer work like a soup kitchen, she decided to devote herself to fostering newborns, sometimes two at a time, during their critical transitional period between giving up and adopting. Inspired by a friend who was fostering, Richter became licensed by the Children’s Home and Aid Society in Illinois. Between 1984 and 2002, Richter and her husband fostered 34 babies while living in Glencoe. Her first foster baby, Mikey, whom she also adopted, is turning 28 on Christmas Eve. “When I would get up at 2 a.m., I would look at those babies and say, ‘I am so lucky to give them a good start,’” said Richter. “You get more than you could ever give.” Richter says she still gets surprise phone calls from almost every baby she fostered. Many of her children, biological and not, reside in Chicago, with the exception of a daughter in Paris and son in London. Out of soon-to-be 12 grandchildren, eight live in Europe, which accounts for her travels abroad and the name of her store, Belle Fleur, French for “beautiful flower.” In fact, if she did not have the store, Richter muses that she would live in a tiny apartment in France across the street from her grandchildren’s school. “I could meet them at the school and go out for some hot chocolate,” she said, gushing over the possibilities. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” ■

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Noble stays busy writing away in the City of Angels

Ann Noble

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Ann Noble is a Lake Forest native, Northwestern University graduate and award-winning playwright. Her most recent production, “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women,” is playing at Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest through Dec. 30. She lives in Los Angeles. Reading: I’m re-reading Thomas Merton’s “No Man Is An Island” and a new book on Louisa May Alcott, “Marmee & Louisa” by Eve LaPlante. I literally just started the new book on Alcott; what I’m excited about is that the author is a relative of the Alcott family, so she has a lot of the old papers. The Thomas Merton book — I read a lot of spiritual literature. I’m very interested in that kind of writing, about how to stay connected to a spiritual life in a contemporary world. Listening: Pink’s “Funhouse”, Classical Choral Music, and Classical Radio in L.A. I really like Pink because I think she is a very strong woman and she does a lot of really creative things. I have to say that my standby is this CD of choral music. It’s good for Los Angeles driving; very soothing.

Watching: Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert, ER Third Season, QI with Stephen Frye, Darren Brown Specials. I can’t do that “I don’t know what happens until next week” thing. I watch a bunch of episodes at once after it’s on DVD. Following: Right now I’m keeping tabs on my dear friend Jess Furman, an amazing musician. She has an upcoming new album. Writing: I have a screenplay deadline and two screenplay treatment deadlines I’m behind on, I’m writing a new sci-fi webseries, creating a new feature script story, preparing for an acting job with SouthCoast Rep, putting together a couple of readings at my theatre, Antaeus. Things take how long they take. I don’t want to be at my deathbed, wishing I’d spent more time with friends. Eating: I’m trying to make sure I get enough green things in my diet, but I have an unhealthy relationship with whipped cream. Favorite Mistake: When you look back on your life you start to see a pattern evolving. When I moved to L.A, I was coming off being an extremely successful playwright in Chicago and expecting that success to follow me. I had a lot of arrogance; it was really disappointing and I remember thinking that moving there was a mistake. But it wasn’t; I needed a couple of years to get a little bit lost and rediscover what I wanted to do. ■

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news | 13

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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Sandy Sofere assembles and decorates gingerbread houses for the holidays at Gerhardt’s Bakery in Lake Forest.

photography by j.geil

Gingerbread houses captivate children, adults alike on North Shore ■ by

joanna brown

When the Downtown Highland Park Alliance planned an event to kick off the holiday shopping season and bring families downtown, they had no idea of the candy-coated craze they would tap. In two days, Shhh…opping Highland Park 2012 organizers lead the construction of 1,500 gingerbread houses – and gave away rain checks for another 600. An additional 2,000 gingerbread cookies were distributed. Down the street, an oversized gingerbread house became a destination of its own, with passersby stopping to pose for family photos. And so it is this time of year, when gingerbread houses make holiday gatherings a little more festive on the North Shore. The colorful creations bring fantasies to life. “Gingerbread incorporates so many fun things into one,” said Aly Pedowitz, manager of Highland Park’s Beanstalk Toyland and Books who participated in the gingerbread give-away. “It’s about families doing something together and the kids’ excitement for all the candy. I think it’s a memory that a lot of people have from when they were growing up that resurfaces this time of year.” That’s the same reason why the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, builds a gingerbread village adjacent to the Wonderland Express train exhibit. Chicago-based pastry chef Kathy Skutecki provides a dozen structures, including one train tunnel. “During the first few years of Wonderland Express, we worked closely with a committee to come up with ideas of what to place in Joutras Gallery as part of the exhibition,” said Jodi Zombolo, director of Visitor Events and Programs at the Garden. “The consensus was that everyone seems to love gingerbread houses at this time of year – especially children, with the abundance of candy that is on the structures. It adds a lot of color to the exhibition as a whole.” Though this is only the second year that she’s worked with the Garden, Skutecki’s passion for

gingerbread houses goes back 12 years, when she sought to spend more time with her four-year-old godson. “I wanted to create a memory with him, so I baked the gingerbread and assembled the house and brought it to him so that we cold decorate it together. And now every year we do it with a different theme. We laugh and tell stories about who lives

It’s such a fantasy, from the end of every fairy tale, and it’s in your home. It feeds our childlike image of Christmas with a cozy cottage where Santa lives with Mrs. Claus.” — Gale Gand in our houses,” said Skutecki, who’s made igloos, teepees, hot air balloons and windmills to decorate with her godson, now 16, and his two younger sisters. This year, gingerbread Irish castles re-created a family vacation. Skutecki spends a month working on the Chicago Botanic Garden’s gingerbread village, plotting her designs in cardboard before cutting GINGERBREAD >> page 15

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A strict dress code is one feature of East Coast boarding schools. A number of North Shore teens spend four years at preparatory schools before attending college.

Boarding school newcomers talk about their first months out East ■ by

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They’re migrating west this month, eager to return to the warmth of their homes along the North Shore. They’re boarding students. And many of them are in their early teens. “It’s been a good experience,” said Henry Sheffield, a Lake Bluff native and freshman at Holderness School in New Hampshire. “It was,” he admitted, “a little confusing at first.” But Sheffield had easy access to a valuable resource on campus: Charlie Sheffield. He’s Henry’s older brother, a junior at Holderness. “Henry went from 0 to 60 in no time; he picked things up right away,” said Charlie. Some first-year boarding students, though, stall right out of the gate in a new environment. They never before had to separate the colors from the whites in a laundry room and then wonder, “Where in the world does this gray sweatshirt go?” They never before had to see a grade other than an ‘A’ on a test or an essay. They never before had to sit on a bench while watching starters excel in sports. In fact, where sending 14-year-olds East for prep school was de rigueur on the North Shore 30 years ago, it’s not as popular these days. “It can be a difficult transition for ninthgraders (at boarding schools) because the ‘pond’ looks a little different from that of their previous schools,” said Amie Creagh, dean of students at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. “They have to adjust their expectations a bit when they first arrive.” Christian Kohlmeyer of Lake Forest arrived on the Eaglebrook School campus in Massachusetts on Sept. 5. It’s a junior boarding and day school for boys in grades 6-9. Kohlmeyer is an eighth-grader. “My first day the new kids went on a hike,” he recalled. “After the hike I said good-bye to my parents (Alison and Kurt). I also remember sitting in my dorm that day, trying to soak it all in. I was nervous; I didn’t know anyone. “But I got to be my own person, and the school was very welcoming. When I wake up I’m excited to go to class.”

What initially alarmed Charlie Sheffield the most at Holderness when he arrived as a freshman in 2010 was where he stood in relation to his comfort zone. He wasn’t in it anymore. “I had to make adjustments,” he said. “I had to manage my time well, get my homework done, get to bed on time, eat right. “There were times in those first two or three weeks (in 2010) when I had to talk to people for help. They were helpful, and I started figuring things out.” When Sheffield’s father, Tom, started to attend boarding school in 1978 at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Mass., 24/7 communication was unknown. Now it can unite young boarders with their parents 1,000 miles away. “With social media, texting and the digital age we’re in now, boarding students are not as far removed from their families as I was when I went away to school,” Tom said. “I’d write the occasional letter and call home on the weekends.” Sheffield’s sons returned home for winter break last week. They deserve to decompress as much as possible. And ski (one of Charlie’s passions). And play hockey (one of Henry’s passions). “Both have become more self-sufficient,” Tom said. “Their character hasn’t changed, and their friendships here remain strong.” Kohlmeyer also likes to hit the slopes — when he’s not blasting winners on a squash court. He plans to ski in Utah, beginning Dec. 27, before returning to Eaglebrook on Jan. 2. “I like being home and I like my family’s traditions this time of year,” Kohlmeyer said. Alison Kohlmeyer said her son had some doubts about sticking at Eaglebrook in late September. “But he completely changed his tune and announced before Thanksgiving that he would like to return for his ninth grade. “Eaglebrook,” she added, “does a fantastic job of helping its students get acclimated to being away from home.” And North Shore parents point out that temporary Midwest boarders have to adjust a bit as well when they return home. Said mother Lucinda Sheffield, “We reacquaint them with some of our house rules. But it’s great having them home, and they appreciate being home for a few weeks.” ■

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

standout student N EW S DIGE S T REVIEW

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Kenilworth

The Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) handed out a record $131,700 in grants to dozens of recipients recently. Grant recipients included The Art Center of Highland Park, College Bound Opportunities and Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center. “We have a dual focus on cultural needs and agencies that work in Highland Park and Highwood that benefit our residents most at risk,” said HPCF Chairman Andy Livingston.

Ninety-five gallon recycling carts will be replacing paper recycling bags on Tuesday, Jan. 1. The recycling carts will be delivered to residents the first week of January. Republic Services will be collecting recycling every other week on Mondays. All recycling will be collected via backdoor service. Also starting on Jan. 1, all refuse will be collected once a week. Perrin Brothers Trucking will continue to collect all refuse via back door service. If a resident would like to add a second pickup, this can be arranged for an additional fee of $16/month by calling Village Hall at 847-251-1666.

highland park The City of Highland Park received a Aaa bond rating from Moody’s this month. the highest possible rating from the same agency that downgraded the United States government’s bond rating. “It is estimated that the City may be able to save as much as $500,000 in interest costs on its upcoming Water Treatment Plant project due to its stellar credit

the gingerbread. She hot glues all the pieces to their bases for added strength. The buildings are all original, though they may be inspired by real places. A log cabin made of pretzel rod walls and a Wheat Thin roof replicates a friend’s Wisconsin cabin, complete with the outhouse. An elf house, inspired by the Smurfs and roofed with Shredded Wheat, was designed to add color to the landscape. Gale Gand similarly emphasizes whimsy in the gingerbread houses classes that she leads for adults and children at Elawa Farm. While adults do the whole thing from scratch, this month the farm’s Chef in Residence helped children construct houses out of graham crackers so that the project is small enough to complete in 90 minutes and strong enough to survive the drive home. Gand offers her students a few ideas, such as using Tootsie Rolls as fire wood, but resists offering too much instruction. “It’s such a fantasy, from the end of every fairy tale, and it’s in your home,” Gand said of the houses they aim to create. “It feeds our childlike image of Christmas with a cozy cottage where Santa lives with Mrs. Claus. Remember when the Gingerbread came to life? There’s a whole mystique to gingerbread. “Plus, gingerbread lasts forever, so you could bring it out every year,” she added. Several years ago Gand spent every lunch period for a week in her son’s fifth

And he has already nabbed the top award at Joseph Sears

Lake Forest The annual Pancake Breakfast & Magic Show at the City of Lake Forest’s Dickinson Hall will take place Thursday, Dec. 27 at 9:30 a.m.

rating,” according to Nicole Winikates, Finance Director of the City of Highland Park.

GINGERBREAD >> from 12

There’s a new kid in town

grade classroom making a gingerbread house; any student who wanted could give up their recess to watch or help Gand work. “Every kid in the class stayed in,” she recalled. “The imagination in these kids was unbelievable.” When she suggested a snowman made from marshmallows and pretzel sticks, students suggested the marshmallows also be “turned inside out” as smoke for a chimney they wanted Gand to add. “In their minds, everything works.” Gand and Skutcki, both trained professionals, offered several tips for novice gingerbread artists. “I’m always hunting for material,” Skutecki said. She recommends collecting candy throughout the year from discount stores. “I learned long ago that it works best if every kid has their own house, and we need a ton of candy. It can be stale, and they still eat it.” If the baking and construction are intimidating, cheat by attaching graham crackers to a single-serving milk carton. The decorations will be just as cute. Gand encouraged bakers to use a pastry bag for icing. “Use it like a toothpaste tube. Don’t squeeze from the middle,” she said. “You don’t have to be a James Beard Award winning pastry chef like me to do this successfully. It’s a very approachable project for everyone. Yes, some of them get eaten, but in the end it’s about the visual fantasy and the interaction of building it.” ■

■ by

angelika labno

Being the new kid in school is not easy, but Toby Ellison has already achieved the highest level of recognition at Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth: the Panther Pride Award. The award is given to a boy and girl in each grade who best exemplify the school’s cornerstone behaviors: kindness, respect, honesty and responsibility. As the male recipient for the eighth-grade class, Ellison understands the weight of his achievement. “It’s a great honor to be chosen,” he said. “I’m just trying to build a reputation as someone who a teacher can rely on to get things done, as well as being kind to everyone I meet.” Instead of shying away from the unknown, Ellison embraces the people around him. He can often be found helping out a teacher or encouraging a struggling student. Ellison also helps as much as he can with the special-education students in school. With a warm smile on his face and a respectful demeanor, it is easy to see how Ellison encompasses Sears’ values after four short months. “He is well-deserving of this recognition,” said Jennifer Willis, his eighth-grade advisor. “I applaud Toby for his leadership qualities and commitment to being the best student and person he can possibly be.” Ellison just moved to Kenilworth from Dallas before school started this year. Back in Dallas, he was involved with debate club and public speaking competitions. His interest in public speaking along with literature and social studies certainly helps his long-term ambition to continue on to law school after college. At Sears, Ellison is involved in Science Olympiads and plays low post on the school’s basketball team. In January, he will start baseball workouts with New Trier’s Pony League. He will continue on to New Trier High School, where he would like to enroll in a debate club and possibly pursue some acting. It is his first time in the public school

Toby Ellison

photography by j.geil

system, but he says the transition has been great. He enjoys Sears’ smaller class sizes and how his classmates are also his neighbors — something that is harder to come across at a private school. “It’s a close-knit community and I like that a lot,” he said of Kenilworth. Mom Liz Ellison agrees that this has been the easiest move, as the family has moved three times in the last five years. When she found out they were moving to Chicago, she chose Kenilworth specifically because of Sears School. “He is soaking it up like a sponge,” she said.

I’m just trying to build a reputation as someone who a teacher can rely on to get things done, as well as being kind to everyone I meet.” — Toby Ellison Ellison is committed to working hard and developing a good work ethic. In fact, he was eager to join the workforce this year. His family’s cottage is in Wisconsin, where the law states that by age 14, one can start busing tables or bagging groceries. He spent all summer bagging at the local grocery store. “I just enjoy having people rely on me,” Ellison said. “It gives me a nice feeling to see someone’s success because of how I influenced them.” ■

16 | lifestyle & arts

R emember Pat? She’s now a busy North Shore mom

Former Saturday Night Live star Julia Sweeney discusses writing, performing and New Year’s resolutions

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Julia Sweeney, who lives in Wilmette, will perform a show in Evanston in January.

photogaraphy by j.geil

■ by

gregg shapiro

As a Saturday Night Live cast member from 1990 to 1994, Julia Sweeney created one of the most memorable characters in the history of the show. Her gender nonspecific Pat was so popular that it even spawned its own feature-length movie. Since that time, Sweeney has appeared in other movies, including Pulp Fiction. She has also been busy writing books and performing as a monologist in her one-person shows. In the last few years, Sweeney also got married, became a mom and moved to Wilmette. On Jan. 26, 2013, Sweeney and Jill Sobule will present The Jill and Julia Show at Evanston SPACE, 1245 Chicago in Evanston. The North Shore Weekend: When I first interviewed you a few years ago, you had just moved to Wilmette with your husband and daughter. How has life on the North

Shore been treating you? Julia Sweeney: I really enjoy it. I’m really a city girl – I like an urban mix and that’s definitely not here, but it’s so close by that I can get my fix anytime I need to in Chicago. I do like the advantage of not being in the city, also. TNSW: Have you been taking advantage of the wonderful resources – such as taking in a concert at Ravinia or strolling through the Botanic Garden? JS: I’m still discovering Evanston, which is a mile from me. I really like Wilmette and I’m in Winnetka everyday because I go to the spin class there and I love all the ladies [laughs]. I like it. And I walk to the beach every day. TNSW: Oh, that’s the best. JS: I really like it. And I’m looking forward to the cold weather. Personally, I want it to be snowy and cold. I like it because [laughs] you have to stay inside all the time, which is my dream. When it’s nice out it’s like why aren’t

you outside? [laughs.] TNSW: According to your blog, you have been busy working on a couple of books and a screenplay. Let’s begin with the books. JS: Well, one book is done. It’s called If It’s Not One Thing, it’s Your Mother (Simon and Schuster). It comes out in April. I’m happy to be done with that. Now I’m working on…the current title is My Beautiful Loss of Faith Story, which I’ve been trying to write for a hundred years, but now I feel like I’ve solved my procrastination issues and I’m getting a lot more done. I think that should be done this year some time. So those are the two books. TNSW: What about the screenplay? JS: The screenplay is called Fork and it’s for me to direct and it takes place in Wilmette. I have no idea if we’ll raise the money for it, although my producers seem positive about it. Everyone always seems positive; I’m always the one who says “this will never happen!” Although, I’m doing everything I can to make it happen. But it’s called Fork and I would shoot it in my own house. It’s about a couple who has two kids graduating from New Trier and what happens to their marriage during the week of their graduation. TNSW: It sounds great. JS: I already have friends who want to be in it. It’s going to be good. I can shoot it in three weeks and I would really show off Wilmette and the Evanston Dance Center because one of the kids is in the dance program and I know a lot about that because my daughter is in the dance program. I feel really good about it. But, of course it could take me…because I want to shoot it over the real New Trier graduation, if not this year, then I think next year. Maybe this year – people seem positive that it could be made this year. TNSW: In January, you and Jill Sobule will be performing The Jill & Julia Show at S.P.A.C.E. in Evanston again. What do you like about performing at that venue? JS: Well, Jake Samuels, who runs it, is the best guy. When you perform in clubs and as you get older – that combination makes you appreciate good management more than anything else [laughs]. S.P.A.C.E. has it all. It’s a fantastic venue, it’s absolutely beautiful, the acoustics are great, the location is great because it’s in Evanston and gets a cool university crowd. TNSW: What is the genesis of The Jill & Julia Show? JS: I was a fan of Jill Sobule for a really long time. I’d even gone to a couple of her concerts and I just always loved her. Actually, a friend of mine turned me on to her because we were writing a pilot for Fox and we were trying to think of who would do the theme song. My friend Wendy said, “Oh my God, you’ve got to hear Jill Sobule. She has the sensibility that really matches you, that would be great.” So we listened to a bunch of her music and I became a big fan. TNSW: How would you say that The Jill & Julia Show evolved over the years? JS: [Laughs] In some ways it hasn’t evolved at all. Jill has these perfect gems of songs and I’m running into the closet of my mind desperately trying to find an old worn t-shirt/story to throw on in between. For me, it’s a really nerve-wracking experience and for Jill it’s very relaxing. [Laughs] But for me, especially because it’s a January show, and for the last show at S.P.A.C.E. I had to come up with at least 75% new material. That’s really hard. TNSW: Do you make New Year’s resolutions and, if so, would you like to share one with the readers? JS: Of course I always have weight loss resolutions, but this year I really am going to do it. Ha ha. Last year I was really working hard to come up with ways to have more productivity in my writing. I really did figure that out, so that was a really big success, that’s really changed my life in the past year. I’m in a really good place with writing now, like everyday writing. I lowered my standards so far down that I felt like I achieved something every day [laughs]. So this year, it would be weight loss, of course, and more cardio. I’m trying to complete more things. I heard a phrase about someone’s dad who just recently died and they said, “My dad was a great completer of projects.” I had never heard that phrase and I’ve been turning that over in my head, like, “Oh I love that, you complete projects.” TNSW: Like you’ve accomplished something. JS: Like a lot of people I have ten projects that I’ve started and the trick is completing the projects [laughs]. Anybody can start a project. Few can complete them. I think that’s a really profound thing. I’m thinking my resolution will have something to do with that. ■

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lifestyle & arts | 17

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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lifestyle & arts

THe North shore weekend

sunday breakfast ■ by

Balsam remains passionate about interior design after career in marketing

david sweet

When Jeannie Balsam and her husband Doug bought their first house — a 1950s brick structure — on Oak Street in Winnetka in 1998, they gutted a bathroom and nearby space, eventually creating a new master bathroom. After it was finished, Jeannie realized she may have unearthed a new career. “It hit us when people would come by and say, ‘Who’s your designer?’ “ said Balsam, who was a marketing professional for large corporations such as Ameritech and Andersen Consulting during the 1990s. “I realized how much I enjoyed it and that it came rather easily for me.” In 2000, she jettisoned her business career and launched her eponymous interior design firm on Green Bay Road in Winnetka. While eating a spinach sandwich down the road at Greenbay Café recently, she reflected upon a dozen years in the business. “What I love is it’s always different. If you had asked me 12 years ago, I couldn’t imagine the things I’d be doing,” said Balsam, whose work was showcased in 2010 in the Merchandise Mart’s DreamHOME. “What I find most gratifying is design from the inside out. I ask my clients, ‘Tell me about your extended family. How will you use the home? Will you open your house to book club? Pizza after the football game?’ People will say what they like and don’t like, but I try to understand why.” Balsam points to Mark Hampton and Albert Hadley as interior designers she truly admires.

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Time for a renovation? Jeannie Balsam

No, not the house. illustration by barry blitt

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12/22-12/23/12

100s of crunches will only take you so far

“Most successful designers have that three-dimensional ability to see space,” she noted. The Regina Dominican graduate juggles her full-time store with raising her three daughters Mira (12), Petrea (9) and Alexa (7). “I knew after having our first daughter I wanted to have a career but be passionate about what I was doing,” Balsam said. “We just went through Italy and Paris. You’re always thinking about design ideas, but it’s not work.

People will say what they like and don’t like, but I try to understand why.’ — Jeannie Balsam “I love what I do so much. I would do it all the time.” Though she left a career in marketing, she pointed out that her training in business (including a masters of business administration from Loyola University) has helped her immensely as an entrepreneur. “Running a budget, managing a project, negotiating were all important,” she said. “If someone had said to me in my cubicle while doing a marketing plan for voicemail “In 10 years you’ll be designing showhouses,’ I wouldn’t have believed it.” ■

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lifestyle & arts | 19

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Gutierrez not afraid to experiment in the kitchen ■ by

katie rose mceneely

Antonio Gutierrez is the chef-partner and menu-creator at Authentico Mexican Restaurant & Bar in Lake Forest. Raised in Mexico City, he’s bringing a new take on Mexican cuisine to the North Shore What made you decide to become a professional chef? I grew up seeing my grandma and my mom cook tortillas and salsa and different dishes from scratch. I started working in different restaurants at age 16, and I got hooked. Best advice? Experiment in the kitchen! Don’t be afraid to modify recipes, and have fun. Favorite dish on the menu? I have different ones — the homemade

tortillas are special when they’re fresh off the grill. There’s no comparison. Also the fish tacos are really good — I can go on and on. When we started this concept, my whole goal was the change people’s minds about how they view Mexican food. Mexico is a large country with culinary variation. It’s not just beans and rice. Favorite food to make? I don’t have a favorite — I go back to homemade tortillas, rice, fish, barbacoa — it’s all special. I’m really happy with my guacamole. What do you like to eat at home? One thing that I make at night is salad and homemade tortillas. The memory and the flavor [are comforting]. Favorite tool? A good, sharp knife! What would a cook

do without a sharp knife? I’m also very happy with my commercial rice cooker, and I like my big blender. Favorite cookbook? That’s the thing: I have different ones, because you find two recipes you like in one, and three from another — they all come from different books, it’s not just one. Funniest kitchen incident? A couple of time people have accidentally pulled the fire alarm — nothing too crazy. One time [at a different restaurant] the basement flooded, and we couldn’t get anything out of it. Authentico Mexican Restaurant & Bar is located ay 770 N. Western Ave. in Lake Forest. To make a reservation, please call 847-295-3500 or visit authenticorestaurant. com. ■

Antonio Gutierrez

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lifestyle & arts

THe North shore weekend

Your

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Wonderland Express Holiday Concert Chicago Botanic Garden | 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | 1pm and 3pm | Tickets are member/nonmember $15/$17 in advance; $18/$20 the day-of | 847-835-5440 or chicagobotanic. org

What to do on the North Shore in your leisure time

This one-hour Christmas Brass Concert located in Alsdorf Auditorium features holiday favorites. Ticket price includes concert and access to the Wonderland Express exhibit. Standard parking rates apply.

Matthew Ferris Band friday December 21

Happy Holidays from Lake Forest’s Market Square Merchants Saturday, December 22 11–2 p.m.

Santa visits Baytree Bank’s “Winter Garden” in the Courtyard 12–3 p.m. Farmers Market at the Market Square Train Station

Sunday, December 23 12–3 p.m.

FREE Horse & carriage rides compliments of the Market Square Merchants (at the fountain)

Madame ZuZu’s | 582 Roger Williams Ave., Highland Park8:30pm | matthewferrisband.

Caregivers of Children with Mental Illness Support Group Wilmette Public Library | 1242 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette | 9:30 -11am | 847-256-5025 or wilmette.lib.il.us/ Meetings of a support group for caregivers of children with mental illnesses, diagnosed or undiagnosed, take place in the Small Meeting Room. The sessions are facilitated by a volunteer from the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). For information, please call 847716-2252 or visit namiccns.org

Choir Shabbat Congregation Solel | 1301 Clavey Rd., Highland Park | 7:30pm | 847-433-3555 or solel.org The Youth Choir will sing at this Shabbat service. A member of Solel’s congregation, Renee Krauss, will speak on her experience in the Holocaust.

All-American Dueling Pianos

com; madamezuzus.com or 847-926-7434 The Matthew Ferris Band, comprised of Lake Forest High School and New Trier graduates, will perform at Made ZuZu’s, a tea shop owned and operated by Smashing Pumpkins frontman and North Shore native Billy Corgan.

Sunday december 23

Sundays in the Square City of Lake Forest | Market Square Court, Lake Forest | Noon–3pm | Free847-234-4282 or lflbchamber.com Shoppers in Lake Forest’s historic Market Square are invited to partake in free horse and carriage rides courtesy of the Market Square Merchants.

Ballet in Cinema presents The Nutcracker Wilmette Theatre | 1122 Central Ave., Wil-

The Laughing Chameleon | 1830 Tower Dr.,

mette | 2:30pm | Tickets $15 | 847-251-7424

Glenview | 9pm |

Tickets $15 | 847-834-0291 or

wilmettetheatre.com

thelaughingchameleon.com Dan Gillogly and Adam Nelson perform an interactive music and comedy show appropriate for the whole family. Visit allamerican-duelingpianos.com for more information.

Saturday december 22

A magician with secrets, an enchanted gift, a guiding angel and a visit through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets are all major elements from The Nutcracker. This screening of the London Royal Ballet production creates the world of the 19th-century onstage.

Want to submit your event to Your Weekend Agenda? Send an email with the

“A Wonderful Life: Antiques & Uniques” 234 E Wisconsin Ave., Lake Forest | 11am-7pm

particulars to katierose@jwcmedia 10 days before publication, and we will do our best to get it in.

| 847-283-0131 A portion of proceeds from all sales this weekend will go to “Angels in Waiting” which allows nurses to take in medically fragile foster children. Holiday decor, place settings, tea service, wine and water glasses, antique toys, lighting, bells, vintage jewelry, purses, and hats are available.

We deliberately shortened weekend agenda in order to accommodate any plans for your holiday celebrations. Happy holidays From all of us at the north shore weekend!

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lifestyle & arts | 21

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Burt Family Annual Holiday Party photography by larry miller Held at the historic Howard Van Doren Shaw estate built in 1908, Janet and Paul Burt of Lake Forest once again hosted their annual holiday celebration. More than 300 friends and family the North Shore over raised a glass to toast the season. In lieu of hostess gifts, the Burts asked each guest for a toy donation, with more than 300 gifts delivered this week to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.■

Brent & Molly Jones

Janet & paul burt

RobeRta Recommends...

Steve & Pride Haggerty

For your Christmas List Fiction The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

The Mirrored World by Debra Dean The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers Sutton by J. R. Mohringer

The Racketeer by John Grisham

Stephanie & Eric Klein

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman The News from Spain by Joan Wickersham Léon & Louise by Alex Capus

The Panther by Nelson DeMille Back to Blood by Tom Wolfe

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro Eric & Julie Bloom

Non-Fiction The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Defender of the Realm, 1940-1965 by William Manchester and Paul Reid Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham

Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler: A True Love Story Rediscovered by Trudi Kanter London : A History in Verse edited by Mark Ford

Sherri Passalino & Beth Marsh

Who Stole The American Dream? by Hedrick Smith Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies by Ben Macintyre

Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin

Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz Russia : A 1000-Year Chronicle of the Wild East by Martin Sixsmith

You Were Never in Chicago by Neil Steinberg

Jana & P.J. O’Neil

Don & Michelle Glyman

The Book Stall at Chestnut Court 811 Elm Street Winnetka, Illinois 60093 847.446.8880 Books@TheBookStall.com

22 | business

Sporting a new look Bedside Manor changes displays, adds merchandise ■ by

cheryl waity

Showcasing its most popular vendors in bigger, bolder displays — that was the idea behind the recent renovation at Bedside Manor in Lake Forest. Owner Meg Carroll has just completed the changes to the store, which has been open a decade at its 192 E. Westminster address. The new look includes a full stock of Yves Delorme linens. Carroll said the store added $100,000 in merchandise. “We painted, cleaned, updated the sales counter, moved

We painted, cleaned, updated the sales counter, moved just about everything.” — Meg Carroll just about everything,” said Carroll, who noted Bedside Manor did not close during the work. Besides being the largest store of the Chicago-area group, which includes shops in Winnetka and Chicago, the Lake Forest location’s clientele offered a perfect test

Meg and Mike Carroll get together at Bedside Manor in Lake Forest before the renovation.

run of the new services. “I think people in Lake Forest really care about quality things,” said Carroll. “They care about their homes.” To continue to expand on the build-your-dream bedroom brand, Carroll decided it was time to offer more in the store that customers could walk out with the same day. While a lot of its business is still custom bedrooms and consultations, Carroll believed Bedside Manor’s largest store could benefit from having more on-hand for those walk-in customers and a larger stock. “That’s something we found out along the way,” she said. The Lake Forest space is now starting to get “that cozy

main street Winnetka’s Gage House was witness to horror on the lake ■ by

bob gariano

By the early 1830s settlers began spreading out from frontier towns like St. Louis and Chicago to set up farms on the upper Great Plains. This was fertile land with a topography that made mechanized agriculture particularly easy. As these early farmers planted wheat, corn, and other valuable crops, they required inexpensive transportation systems and processing facilities that would speed their products to the markets in population centers back East. Wheat was a determinant crop. Many

of the river routes, canals, roadways, and the nascent railroad right of ways were established to transport wheat. Processing plants and storage silos were built as part of the system. During this explosive growth period, wheat itself became a source of trading capital and loan security for farmers who needed working capital to bridge the seasons between planting and fertilizing and the realization of profits after the harvest was brought to market. Chicago bankers became as adept at grain futures trading as East Coast traders were at trading currency and precious metals.

photography by jim prisching

feel” like its other stores, according to Carroll, stocked wall to wall with designer fabrics, printed pillows and designer display beds. And while the fast sale, walk-in business might be the newest ideation of Bedside Manor, Carroll is excited that people seem to be recovering from the slow economy and starting their big projects again — a lot of them coming from new residence purchases. Especially when they consider doing their bedrooms. “it’s a private space and it can tend to be the final stage in a project, “ said Carroll. “But it really makes you feel so much better to have a new room.” ■

As the prosperity from this agricultural expansion developed, a young entrepreneur named Jared Gage left his home in upstate New York to relocate to Chicago’s North Shore. Gage’s vision was to install steam- powered milling factories to grind the wheat and produce the flour products that were needed by bakers and other food companies. Gage’s success as a flour mill owner was pronounced and he and his nephew, John C. Haines, eventually branched into other commercial activities like banking and trading that served the agricultural community. Haines became well enough known that he was elected as the mayor of Chicago in the post-Civil War era of reconstruction. Gage enjoyed his wealth and built a mansion for his family in what was known then as Hubbard Woods and which today is a part of the Village of Winnetka. The Italianate structure was situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan and was oriented so that residents could sit on the front porch and catch cool lake breezes on sultry summer afternoons. Three years after the mansion was completed it became part of a historic lake tragedy. On Sept. 8, 1860 the house served as a hospital and morgue for passengers and crew of the Lady Elgin, which sank off the coast of Winnetka. About 100 Winnetka residents waded into the chilly autumn

waters to rescue survivors and carry them up the 100 steps where they were treated in the Gage house. Still, more than 300 of the 400 passengers perished. According to the Winnetka Historical Society and the book “The Wreck of the Lady Elgin” by Dwight Clark, “The exhausted victims had drifted close enough to the Winnetka shore to see it and be seen but were unable to cross the breakers, and died in full view of the people on shore. Men were lowered from the bluff with rope tied around their waists in attempts to pull people in to safety.” The historical society also notes via its Web site the many changes the Gage House has undergone over the years. “Gone are many of the elements we associate with the Italianate style, such as the cupola, front porch, rounded window heads and charming little balconies and roof brackets. The house was remodeled in the 1920s, giving it the classical look that it has today. The focal point is the balconied entrance portico above which is a leaded Palladian window. Decorative stonework above the windows has replaced the once rounded window heads.” The Gage House is still standing at 1175 Whitebridge Hill Road in Winnetka. It is a quiet reminder of the historic changes that created our cities and modern society more than a century ago. ■

real estate | 23 Modest Proposals:

North Shore Houses by the Lake

695 Sheridan Rd., Winnetka WHAT: A Cape Cod-style home with 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths. HOW MUCH: $4,150,000 SIZE: 4,620 square feet PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $898.26 SETTING: With backdrop views of Lake Michigan, this 2-story home is situated in New Trier Township close by to fine dining, shopping, and excellent schools. INDOORS: With wide-plank wood floors throughout the house, features include the commercial-grade kitchen and a master bedroom with a luxurious limestone bath. OUTDOOR SPACE: The half-acre, lakefront lot is beautifully landscaped and impeccably located. TAXES: $65,966.21 CONTACT: Koenig & Strey Real Living Winnetka; 847-441-6300 or koenigstrey.

830 Lake Road, Lake Forest WHAT: Georgian structure with 5 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms. HOW MUCH: $2,495,000 SIZE: 5,069 square feet PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $492.21 SETTING: Adjacent to Forest Park and near Lake Michigan, Lake Forest is part of District 67 and is also close to numerous private schools. INDOORS: The elegant floor plan includes a gourmet kitchen, finished basement with entertainment center, and mirrored workout facility. OUTDOOR SPACE: Across from the Lake Forest lakeshore, this fenced lot has a gated driveway, outdoor pool, and a year-round inground hot tub on 1.2 acres of land. TAXES: $38,994 CONTACT: Coldwell Banker Real Estate; 847-234-8000 or 830lake.info

150 Maple Hill , Glencoe WHAT: A Colonial home with 6 bedrooms and 6 full bathrooms. HOW MUCH: $2,700,000 SIZE: 6,850 square feet PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $394.16 SETTING: Set just off sprawling Sheridan Road and close to Glencoe’s lakeshore and beautiful downtown, including the famed Writer’s Theatre. INDOORS: An inviting foyer, formal dining room opening on a spacious garden room, and a fabulous kitchen outfitted for entertaining, plus a separate breakfast area and custom cabinetry and paneling in some rooms. OUTDOOR SPACE: Manicured front lawn and garden, with exterior overlooks of Glencoe’s stunning ravines. TAXES: $47,315 CONTACT: Jean Wright Real Estate, 847-446-9166 or http://www.jeanwrightrealestate. com/property/

34 Logan Loop, Highland Park WHAT: A Richardsonian mansion with 8 bedrooms and 7 full bathrooms. HOW MUCH: $3,495,000 SIZE: 5,490 square feet PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $636.61 SETTING: Designed by famed architects Holabird and Roche, the current owner has completely renovated both the interior and exterior surroundings. Close to numerous fine restaurants. INDOORS: Hardwood floors throughout, this listing also boasts a state-of-the-art kitchen, and the master bedroom is a blissful retreat with a fireplace and two covered balconies. OUTDOOR SPACE: Surrounded on three sides by views of Lake Michigan and park ravines, this property includes 3/4 acres of landscaping and gardens. TAXES: $32,995 CONTACT: Debbie Scully for @Properties; 847-373-4296 or 34loganloop.info

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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26 | sports

Kucera’s strong finish not enough for Loyola

Loyola Academy guard James Clarke races up court against St. Viator’s Patrick Martin during Saturday’s game.

photography by j.geil ■ by

kevin reiterman

Kevin Kucera proved something on Saturday night. The Loyola Academy guard was willing to take the “tough shot” in a hard-fought 57-53 setback to visiting St. Viator. “He’s been very good for us. Very steady,” said Loyola head coach Tom Livatino. The 6-foot junior, who finished with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds against the 7-1 Lions, scored his team’s final four points, including a three-point play off a drive with 12 seconds left in regulation to make it a one-possession game (56-53). “We needed to get something there,” said Kucera, an Evanston resident. “I had to get the ball to the rim.” St. Viator junior Ore Arogundade (18 points, 10 rebounds) — a Division I talent — basically put the game away two seconds later by converting the front end of a two-shot foul. Loyola also received a strong offensive game from junior guard James Clarke, who tallied 15 of his game-high 19 points in the second half. He had his three-ball going. He nailed four of ‘em.

Teammate Jack Morrissey struggled from beyond the arc but still finished in double digits (12 points). The balanced scoring was good to see for the 6-3 Ramblers. “I believe in all my teammates,” said Kucera. “Everybody on the floor can score.” Overall, it was a tough weekend for Loyola. A night earlier, the Ramblers dropped a 50-44 decision to host Seton Academy. Morrissey knocked down five threes to lead the team with 17 points. Clark finished with 10 points. Loyola started fast against the South Holland squad but was unable to close the deal. “We’re a young team but that’s no excuse,” said Kucera. “I think we will be fine.” “Our guys are battling to the end,” said Livatino. “I think we’re on the cusp, but we’re still in the learning process. We’ve lost to some good competition, which will makes us better in the long run.” The Ramblers, who start four juniors, learned last week that senior Peter Pujals will miss the season with a right hand injury. ■

Tall order: Sudanese trio too much as mooseheart tops NSCD ■ by

t.j. brown

The reviews are in from Winnetka: The Sudanese connection on Mooseheart Academy is every bit as good as advertised. North Shore Country Day watched with great interest the saga of Mooseheart Academy and its trio of transfer students from the Sudan: 6-foot-7 Mangisto Deng, 7-foot-1 Akim Nyang and 6-foot-10 Makur Puou. The IHSA had originally ruled the three ineligible, but a Dec. 10 ruling reinstated them. Just five days after the ruling, Deng’s 17 points, six rebounds and three assists, Puou’s 12 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks, and Nyang’s six points, 12 rebounds and two steals paced Mooseheart to a 57-42 win over NSCD. “They’re tall, and they have great skill too,” NSCD coach Rashid Smith said.

“(Deng and Puou) will play at the next level.” The Raiders (3-5), who came into the Saturday matinee fresh off a 57-39 loss at University High Friday night, hit a 3-for-34 shooting drought in the second and third quarters as Mooseheart went on a 20-0 run to turn a 25-22 NSCD lead into a 42-25 Mooseheart advantage. “We were tired,” senior forward Austin Curren said, explaining the extreme shooting slump. Curren led the Raiders with 17 points and nine rebounds. Riley Hall added 10 points, eight rebounds and a steal, while Jamie Swimmer had seven points. “Our game plan was solid,” Smith said. “We got lots of layups and threes, but they didn’t all go down. Maybe some were rushed. Maybe some weren’t great shots. Most of them were good shots.” ■

12/22-12/23/12

sports | 27

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Looking sharp

Laedlein rising — and shining — for HP swim team

Scouts take runner-up honors at Lake County Invite ■ by

bill mclean

They all got decked out in ties. On a pool deck. Lake Forest High School’s boys swimmers and divers knotted the neckwear for their team photo this winter. It adorns the team’s website. The Scouts either mean business or squeezed in the shoot between a practice and a formal dance. “The boys work as one,” LF coach Cindy Dell said after the Lake County Invite at Stevenson Dec. 15. “It’s such a team, such a great, tough team.” The team’s ties hung out in closets during the meet. But Dell’s squad certainly looked sharp again in Lincolnshire, taking runner-up honors (240 points) to Barrington (284) at the 10-team meet. “We’ve all been digging deep as a team, in practices and at meets,” Scouts senior sprinter Colin Rowe said after swimming the lead-off leg for the firstplace 400-yard freestyle relay (3:11.9, with classmates Peter Grumhaus and Bogdan Balteanu and sophomore Daniel Smith). If that’s the case, Iowa-bound Grumhaus must own some heavy-duty shovels. ’Haus touched home first in a pair of individual events, clocking season-best times in the 200 free (1:42.78) and 500 free (4:39.78). He also joined Balteanu, Rowe and sophomore Michael LeMay for a runner-up effort in the 200 medley relay (1:38.65). But Lake Forest’s performance at the invite was about the unsung Scouts as much as it was about a Pavarotti like Grumhaus. Rasmus Kull, for example. The LF junior entered the meet with a seed time of 1:06.25 in the 100 breaststroke and was slotted in the event’s third heat. Thirteen others had faster seed times than Kull’s, with a combined 12 of them assigned to the fourth and fifth heats. Kull’s finish: fifth place (1:03.92). “Rasmus … He killed it today,” Rowe said of Kull’s impressive time drop. “Points,” he added. “We got points from so many.” Balteanu totaled four top-three medals at the meet. His others came in the 100 breaststroke (silver, 1:00.61) and 100 free (bronze, 47.87). “I’m ecstatic (with the times),” said the native Canadian. “And it’s pretty early in the season. We all came in today and tried to swim fast. It’s a great group of guys.” Balteanu concentrates on two activities these days. When he’s not hitting the water, he’s hitting the books. “School and swimming,” he said. “Just school and swimming. Swimming … It takes time and dedication.” Rowe oared his way to a runner-up time of 47.72 in the 100 free and a third-place effort in the 50 free (21.83). Classmate Andrew Marsh, meanwhile, pulled off a rather unusual double, medaling in the morning’s diving season (second place, 393.95 points) and as a member of the Scouts’ 200 free relay (fourth, 1:33.64, with LeMay, Smith and Kull) in the afternoon. Most divers stay dry after diving segments at meets. LF also received top-six swims from Smith (third, 100 back, 54.11; sixth, 200 free, 1:49.06) and LeMay (sixth, 100 fly, 55.14). “Our No. 3 guys (in races) also raced their hearts out,” Dell said, adding the team’s runner-up showing marked the best a Scouts club had attained at the invite under her guidance. “Everybody was ready, and everybody was as tough as nails.” ■

Highland Park High School’s Ben Laedlein competes in the 100 backstroke at Saturday’s Lake County Invitational.

photography by j.geil ■ by

kevin reiterman

Some people wake up needing a caffeinated hit. Ben Laedlein rises early … for a chlorinated fix. “I love the training,” said the effervescent — and lively — Highland Park High School swimmer. “I look forward to getting up in the morning.” And there’s a reason for such motivation and determination. Laedlein is preoccupied with four digits and a dot: 53.01. “The 100 backstroke school record is 53.01,” he said. “I’ve got it memorized. I’ve got it burned into my skull.” Laedlein truly has a shot at the record. He recorded a careerbest 55.46 (4th place) at the Lake County Invitational on Saturday at Stevenson. “Things are clicking for him in the backstroke,” said HP head coach Tim Sirois. “He’s looking real good.” “ I ’m excit ed ,” sa id Laedlein, who clocked a 56.4 at the end of last season. He’s all in when it comes to his coaches’ hard — and fast — workouts. “We’ve really picked up the pace in practice,” said Laedlein. “With certain sets, we wonder, ‘Holy cow, how do we get through this?’ But we do. Everyone is getting through them.” The fast-rising Laedlein, who moved to Highland Park prior to his sophomore year, is defined as a late bloomer by his coach. “He’s relatively new to the sport,” said Sirois. He didn’t swim competitively until the eighth grade — when he resided in Corpus Christi, Texas. “I started out as a butterflyer,” said Laedlein. “But when I got here, they didn’t have a backstroker. They made me a backstroker.” Making a transition is nothing new for Laedlein. With his dad (Hugh Laedlein) serving in the Navy, he has seen his share

of the country. The family has moved nine times to six different states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland and Texas. Just call him the “U-Haul Kid.” Or the “Mayflower Maven.” HP’s coach describes him a couple of other ways. “Disciplined and respectful,” said Sirois. “That’s how you define him and his family.” Recap: Highland Park placed seventh in the Lake County Invite with 65 points. Diver David Robbins finished in 10th place (281.40). And Phillip Goldberg touched seventh in the 500 free (5:11.99). ■

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sports

THe North shore weekend

courtside

‘Forward’ thinking

boys basketball

Cook holds jam session

Zorn, young staff have 11-1-1 Scouts off and skating

■

Lake Forest High School’s Alexandra Kazarian controls the puck during action against LF Academy earlier this month.

photography by j.geil ■ by

bob gosman

Forgive Liz Zorn if she’s a bit envious. The Lake Forest co-op’s new girls hockey coach joked that sometimes during games she wishes she could join the team — on the ice. “You see how much fun they’re having out there,” said Zorn, a four-year defensive forward at Cornell University, where she netted 25 goals and 30 assists during her career. “As a coach, the competitiveness comes out in a different way; it’s been rewarding to watch the girls improve from where they were at the beginning of the year.” In fact, individual improvement has been a hallmark of the Scouts. Lake Forest, which draws from five area high schools, sports an 11-1-1 record. Zorn, a 2010 graduate of Cornell, has put together as a staff which also includes assistant — and former college teammate — Laura Danforth, along with Sarah Gilbride, an assistant who doubles as a player at Lake Forest College. “We use our (youth) to our advantage,” Zorn said. “It’s easier for us to relate to the players because we went through the

same things in the recent past. We are really enjoying getting to know them as more than just hockey players.” Danforth said the staff has enjoyed the challenge of coaching players at different levels. The experience level ranges from experienced travel players to newcomers to the sport. “We’re having a lot of fun coaching them and making sure that they’re having fun, too,” she said. Junior Anna Bleck appreciates the coaches’ collective approach. “They make sure everyone gets ice time, and players have gotten a lot better since they came in. They played in college, which is what many of us want to do, so it’s easy to relate to them.” Recap: The Scouts are coming off a 1-0 victory over Fenwick on Sunday. Bridget Roche scored the goal, which was assisted by Nina Wilson. Lake Forest tied New Trier when the two teams met earlier this season. Its only loss was a 5-2 decision against Loyola Academy in a game where the Scouts played without their top two goalies. To date, the Scouts have three players in double figures for points: Bleck (13 goals, 7 assists), Roche (10 goals, 8 assists) and Caroline Knop (5 goals, 7 assists). ■

by kevin reiterman

Chalk up five more for the human trampoline. Steven Cook, who has been dunking the ball at a persistent — and consistent — rate this season, was especially springy in New Trier High School’s 67-60 victory over visiting Waukegan on Dec. 13. The 6-foot-4 senior went beyond — and above — the call of duty with his Five Slamma Jamma feat. “Five. That’s the most that I’ve ever had in a game,” said the Princeton recruit, who finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and three steals. Cook’s first stuff — an eye-opening, two-handed slam off the dribble with four minutes gone in the first quarter — could not have come at better time. The Trevians (8-2, 3-0) spent the first four minutes of the game clanking the ball off the rim. They started the game 0 for 10. Cook uncharacteristically was off target on five of ‘em. “He had those misses early,” said New Trier head coach Scott Fricke. “And then he said, ‘I’m just going to throw one down.’ ” It had a trigger effect. “It got the energy going,” said Cook. “It helped us go on a run.” Cook was Mr. Inside. Aaron Rosen was Mr. Outside. Rosen, who has developed into a pretty special sixth man, jumped off the bench and immediately went into shoot mode. He tallied eight of his 14 points in the second quarter. Four of his makes were beyond the threepoint line. “There’s no secret that he can shoot the ball,” Fricke said. “He came off the bench and gave us a spark. Which is what we needed.” “I’m just trying to bring some energy when I come off the bench,” said Rosen, a 6-3 senior. “Just trying to use my adrenaline. Max my potential and do anything I can to help the team.” Lake Forest

The Scouts got back on track. Paced by sophomore Evan Boudreaux (14 points, 11 rebounds), the team took down Warren 38-26 on Dec. 14. With the win, the Scouts, who will compete in the boys courtside >> page 29

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sports | 29

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

courtside girls basketball

Spartans have no answer for Munzer ■ by

kevin reiterman

Lena Munzer has a way of shooting holes into a defensive game plan. Glenbrook North threw everything — triangle and two in the first half and box and one in the second half — at the Highland Park High School senior on Dec. 14. And how did that go? She didn’t flinch. The unflappable Munzer continued to be her unstoppable self. In leading the Giants (7-6, 4-0) to a 59-42 road win, it was just another day in the corner office for the Yale-bound guard. She finished with 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five blocks and five steals. “Okay, we started out with the triangle and two,” said GBN senior guard Rachel Dress. “But that didn’t work. She kept getting everyone else the ball. “And then, we went to the box and one,” added Dress. “And I was the one who got to guard to Lena.” That didn’t work either. “We were trying to hold her to 15 points,” Dress said. Munzer, who is averaging 25.5 points per game, has scored 28 points or more six times this season. She has not missed a foul shot (16-16) in her last three games. On this night, Munzer wasn’t the only scoring threat for HP. Sophomore Grace Quirk made the Spartans pay. She kept banging home 14-footers from the baseline, scoring all 12 of her points in the first half. “It’s her confidence,” said HP coach Jolie Bechtel. The coach also likes what she sees in the Munzerto-Quirk connection. “They read each other really well,” the coach said. Lizzy LoGrande also helped the HP cause. She hit three three-pointers to finish with 12 points. “She also helped out with a lot of hustle plays,” said Bechtel. Meanwhile, the 5-foot-6 Dress gave the Giants fits pretty much all night. “We kept losing her in transition,” said Bechtel. As a result, Dress was the game’s second leading scorer. She drilled four three-pointers to finish the game with 20 points. Recap: In HP’s loss to New Trier on Dec. 11, Munzer poured in 31 points by going 8 for 8 at the foul line and hitting five shots from beyond the arc. Lake Forest

Led by Brooke Green’s 15 points, the Scouts put together a solid effort against Stevenson on Dec. 11. The Scouts trailed by only one point at halftime, 21-20, but wound up losing the NSC Lake contest 52-34. On Saturday, the visiting Scouts met suddenly hot Libertyville (4-7, 3-1) and came home with a 49-25 loss. Annie Keller scored 10 points for LF, while Grace Torkelson added six points. Gabby Perino had five points. ■ boys courtside >> from 28

Hinsdale South Tournament, improved their overall mark to 6-1. They are 2-1 in the NSC Lake. Highland Park

The Giants (3-7) returned to the win column on Saturday. Highland Park, which dropped a 56-19 CSL North decision to Glenbrook North on Dec. 14, went on the road and beat Lake Zurich 46-31. Senior Josh Weiss had a career night for the Giants, who will join LF at the Hinsdale South Tournament. He played 16 minutes and put 12 points in the book. The top scorer was senior Brandon Krawitz (16 points). David Sachs and Luke Norcia had five assists each. Sam Shrago had six rebounds. Against GBN, Sachs finished with a team-high seven points. Shrago had four boards. ■

New Trier guard Jackie Welch protects the ball during last week’s game against Highland Park.

photography by j.geil

Nothing to it New Trier’s Czyzynski is calm, cool and collected

■ by

kevin reiterman

As time was running out, she let it fly from deep in the corner. Nothing but net. Alexa Czyzynski’s reaction? Nothing but…calmness. You know the saying: act like you’ve been there before. The New Trier High School junior point guard played it cucumber cool after hitting a buzzer-beating threepointer to beat host Highland Park 54-51 on Dec. 11. “Teammates were saying, ‘give us a smile,’ ” said Czyzynski, with a shrug. “But I like to treat every shot the same.” Czyzynski, who finished with seven points, definitely scored some points with her coach. “She was willing to take it,” said New Trier coach Teri Rodgers. “Which is great.”

Teammates were saying, ‘give us a smile.’ But I like to treat every shot the same.” — Alexa Czyzynski But, Rodgers added, “That’s not the play we drew up.” “It was NOT,” Czyzynski confirmed. The plan was to get the ball inside to 6-foot-3 freshman Jeannie Boehm, who finished the game with a team-high 16 points. But that never materialized. “We definitely were looking for an easier shot,” said

Czyzynski, a three-year varsity starter. “A higherpercentage one.” Credit Isabella Bosco (10 points). “Izzy threw me a terrific pass,” added Czyzynski, who plays her club ball with Midwest Elite, along with Bosco, Boehm and Jackie Welch. Czyzynski couldn’t recall ever making a bigger shot — not counting, of course, the ones she makes against her two younger brothers in the driveway. Recap: The Trevians (8-3, 2-2) also claimed an easy win at Waukegan on Saturday, 63-23. Boehm led the team with 12 points. Colleen McConnell scored 11 points, while Czyzynski had nine. Regina Dominican

Erin Gavin (19 points, four steals) and Lindsey Welch (18 points, eight steals) turned in top-notch efforts and lifted the Panthers (8-5) to 51-35 victory over visiting Maine East on Dec. 15. The team also claimed a 10-point victory over visiting Nazareth on Dec. 13. Once again, Gavin and Welch led the way with 13 points each. Caroline Adamczyk also scored in double figures (11 points), while Abby Wagner and Maeve Degnan helped out with eight and nine points, respectively. In other action last week, Regina dropped a 50-38 decision to Loyola Academy. The Panthers, who held an 18-12 lead in the first half, were led by Gavin (10 points) and Adamczyk (nine points, seven rebounds). Lake Forest

the perfect weekend

THe North shore weekend

12/22-12/23/12

Marsha and Ray Pesavento own Artisanal, a grocery store with specialty foods and more in Wilmette.

For Marsha & Ray California dreaming on such a winter’s day

There’s not a more peaceful place on the planet. There are secluded rooms tucked into the cliff. You’re walking past shrubs of lavender and rosemary — it’s so aromatic.’

A 50th birthday is a momentous event for women. I wanted to do exactly what I wanted to do. My favorite place on the planet is Big Sur in California. I met two high school girlfriends in Marin County first. Then Ray flew out, and I picked him up that Friday afternoon at San Jose Airport. We drove through garlic country, artichoke farms. We got to the Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach. A bagpiper played at sunset. We had drinks on the terrace. It’s so breathtakingly beautiful. Went to Carmel to the Highlands Inn for dinner. It overlooks the ocean. Then we got to the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, which is Nirvana. There’s not a more peaceful place on the planet. There are secluded rooms tucked into the cliff. You’re walking past shrubs of lavender and rosemary — it’s so aromatic. Marsha is a late-night person; I’m an early-morning person. On Saturday I quietly left the room for a run so she could get her eight hours in. Then we took a walk through Post Ranch Inn trails on Big Sur cliff. We had breakfast at the Big Sur Bakery. We go hiking through Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The

best word to describe the area is awesome. It has waterfalls and redwoods. At the top, you have a 360-degree panorama of woods and ocean. Then the hippie spot Nepenthe for lunch. It’s just relaxing and beautiful. It’s almost guaranteed you’ll see rainbows when looking south. They have a fun art gallery to go through after lunch. I bought a giant sweeping Buddha head for my birthday. After swimming in the infinity pool and having in-room couple massages in afternoon, there’s a gorgeous restaurant at the inn called Sierra Mar for dinner. The food is amazing. You get an amazing view of the sunset, and the service is unobtrusive. Sunday morning they have a great brunch made in house. You can have your own berry pancakes made to order. Then, unfortunately, we had to check out. But we did go to have lunch on the wharf at Monterey at a funky little restaurant called Abalonetti. It has the best calamari because the squid is coming right out of the ocean. ■ Marsha and Ray Pesavento, as told to David Sweet

12/22-12/23/12

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

happy holidays

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the north shore weekend | saturday december 22 | sunday december 23 2012

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