—Jean-Paul Sartre
Find out what’s happening in your town with our weekly events listing pg4
Meet style-loving school psychologist Selby Kosky of Highland Park pg8
Based on a Stephen King short story, this uneven film barely leaves the tree pg10
Highland Park native Judd Bloch releases Black Diamond, an original thriller set in Telluride, Colorado. pg12
4 north shore doings
Your go-to guide for all the latest local events this month
6 north shore sports
Loyola Academy boys' hoops squad nets huge Chicago Catholic League win
8 #hashtag
Style-loving Highland Park mom and school psychologist Selby Kosky shares what's trending in her world
9 north shore foodie
Try our delicious recipe for Coal Roasted Eggplants, perfect for the grill
9 weekend poem
Relive your childhood with this poetic homage to the Lake Forest ravines
12 the monkey
This film based on a Stephen King short story swings for the stars, but barely leaves the tree
14 sunday breakfast
Lake Forest's Merrily Moyer enjoys sweet success as 17-year-old owner of Ta-Da Treats!
Cory helped us sell a very particular house during a brief lull period in the market. He went above and beyond in all steps of the selling process. He gave us advice on how to prepare our house for sale, hosted around 5 or more open houses, actively marketed our home, led us through the negotiations during the offer process and was always available for questions. Additionally, once the house was under contract and the inspection period started, we needed a contractor to come over to our house when we were out of town and he offered to meet the person and let them into the house and represent us. In addition to being professional, transparent, patient, and helpful, he is someone we completely trust. He is a genuinely nice guy and a great person to work with. We highly recommend Cory!” —Katsnelson Family, Ravinia
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
FEBRUARY 1 TO 25
“KENILWORTH
CENTENNIAL HOMES”
WHERE: Kenilworth Historical Society
Explore the history of Kenilworth’s oldest homes and celebrate their architectural significance with a dynamic exhibit that chronicles the evolution of residential development in the village. The homes featured in this exhibit were built between 1889 and 1924. kenilworthhistory.org
FEBRUARY 1 TO MARCH 16
FOOL FOR LOVE
WHERE: Steppenwolf Theatre
Fool For Love, a dark and beautiful tale by Sam Shepard, comes to the stage at Chicago’s iconic Steppenwolf Theatre. The ensemble cast features Cliff Chamberlain, Tim Hopper, Caroline Neff, and Nick Gehlfuss. steppenwolf.org
FEBRUARY 1
LOVE NOTES!
WHERE: Woman’s Club of Wilmette
Just in time for Valentine's Day, LoveNotes! is a one-ofa-kind storytelling show in which real people share real stories about romantic love in all its incarnations— first love, last love, unrequited love and so much more. LoveNotes! was created by Heather Christie and produced in New York City last year as an off-Broadway show. Sarah Squires-Doyle, Founder of My Mini Memoirs, is thrilled to direct/ produce the first show on the North Shore with a local cast of storytellers. The event will also feature live music from some of Wilmette’s favorites, an assort-
ment of beverages, and a post-show reception. Plans are underway to restore the Woman’s Club of Wilmette auditorium and a donation will be made from ticket sale proceeds towards those efforts. Ticket holders will get a sneak preview of what's coming—one of the biggest stages in town!
myminimemoirs.com
FEBRUARY 2
GALENTINE'S MARKET
WHERE: Lincolnshire Marriott Resort
Gather your gal pals for a fabulous shopping experience at Lincolnshire Marriott Resort’s Galentine’s Market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Discover gifts from 70 talented jewelers, fashion designers, painters, and more. In addition to shopping, enjoy a painting class, a charm bar, and a flower arranging workshop to add a creative touch to your day. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Upgrade to the Gal Pal Package to get 3 tickets for the price of 2! Plus, $2 from every ticket sold will be donated to WINGS Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to end domestic violence. amdurproductions.com
FEBRUARY 5
LEGO DROP-IN
WHERE: Lake Bluff Public Library
Children ages 6 to 11 can drop in and play with LEGOs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. lakeblufflibrary.org
FEBRUARY 6
BRUSH IT OFF
WHERE: Winnetka Public Library
From 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., teens and ‘tweens ages 9 to 18 can enjoy light beverages
and unwind at Winnetka Public Library while making art with friends. Registration is required. wnpld.org
FEBRUARY 6
WATERCOLOR CRYSTALS
WITH AUDREY RA
WHERE: Northfield Library
From 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., participants can learn how to paint crystals with Audrey Ra. All materials will be provided for this adult program. Registration is required. wnpld.org
FEBRUARY 7
TRIVIA NIGHT
WHERE: History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff
Get ready for an evening of food and friendly competition, starting at 5 p.m. Trivia categories are inspired by topics such as sports, general knowledge, local history, popular culture, and exhibits available at the History Center. Join a team on your own or with a small group, or reserve a table of up to eight people ahead of time. Enjoy pizza, salad, and desserts prior to the competition (and feel free to BYOB). Tickets are $40 for members and $50 for nonmembers. lflbhistory.org
FEBRUARY 7
DADDY DAUGHTER
DANCE
WHERE: Sunset Ridge Country Club
Join the event of the season where fathers and daughters can share in an evening of dinner, dancing, and making memories. Each girl will receive a goodie bag. Pre-registration is required. Save 20 percent with early bird registration, open now through January 29. Registration ends at 5 p.m. on February 5. northfieldparks.org
FEBRUARY 8 TO MARCH 22
THE ORCHID SHOW INDIA BLOOMS
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Orchid Show will immerse viewers in the beauty of India. This will include a floor-to-ceiling peacock, a towering banyan tree, and pigment powders representing Holi all made out of orchids. Tickets are available now. chicagobotanic.org
FEBRUARY 10
MEET RENÉE ROSEN
WHERE: Highland Park Public Library
Meet Renée Rosen, the best-selling author of Let’s Call Her Barbie, at a 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Highland Park Public Library. Rosen’s story explores Ruth Handler’s vision for a new doll and how she and her team created Barbie. Books will be available for purchase and the
event will conclude with a book signing. hplibrary.org
FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 2
GOLDEN HOUR
WHERE: Lyric Opera
The Joffrey Ballet presents Golden Hour, a radiant, mixed repertoire program of warmth and splendor. Performances will be held at 2 p.m. on February 22, 23, and March 1 and 2; and at 7:30 p.m. on February 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and March 1. Featuring world premieres by Dani Rowe and Yuri Possokhov, the return of Cathy Marston, and an audience favorite by Nicolas Blanc, the curated program welcomes audiences in from the cold to experience the light of these four immersive works. Golden Hour will be presented at Chicago’s historic Lyric Opera House. joffrey.org
FEBRUARY 22
APRÈS SKI ASPEN
WHERE: Conway Farms
Golf Club
The 118-year old Allendale Shelter Club is hitting the slopes this winter with a new name, Allendale Women's Board, and an exciting fundraiser—Après Ski Aspen. The indoor/ outdoor party will bring this beloved post-ski celebration to Lake Forest with cocktails and champagne, fire pits, and VIP yurts paired with a
menu designed by chef Paul Kahan of One Off Hospitality. Allendale Association is a nonprofit child welfare agency based in Lake Villa that is dedicated to the care, education, treatment, and advocacy for disadvantaged youth in Illinois. allendale4kids.org
FEBRUARY 23
MIDWEST FRUIT EXPLORERS
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., join Midwest Fruit Explorers for a lecture about tree maintenance and home orchards at Chicago Botanic Garden’s Regenstein Center. Midwest Fruit Explorers is a nonprofit organization of amateur backyard fruitgrowing enthusiasts. New members are always welcome. chicagobotanic.org
FEBRUARY 27
TICKLED PINK
WHERE: Sarabande
To celebrate a milestone year, Tickled Pink is partnering with the Chicago Foundation for Women. Together, it will host an unforgettable evening dedicated to fostering hope, resilience, and community. tickledpinkchicago.com
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
Designed with 1920s grandeur, this 7,750-square-foot penthouse is a rare blend of elegance and modern updates in Chicago’s prestigious Gold Coast. Located steps from the lakefront, world-class shopping, dining, and cultural attractions, it offers unparalleled access to the best of city living. Highlights include a dramatic two-story living room, a 61-foot private terrace, a dining room seating 20+, a paneled library with the original speakeasy bar, a chef’s kitchen/family room, and five bedrooms, including a luxurious primary suite. This exceptional residence is available for viewing by appointment. Offered at $3.999 million.
Ames
• Jennifer.Ames@evrealestate.com amesgroupchicago.evrealestate.com
NORTH SHORE SPORTS
BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
Loyola Academy junior Sam Golden hops out of sickbed, pops for 27 points in big boys’ basketball win over Mount Carmel High School.
Sam Golden wasn’t just feeling under the weather last week.
Weather had flattened the Loyola Academy (LA) junior hoopster and kept him down for a while.
“Sam missed our last two practices,” Ramblers coach Tom Livatino said on January 24.
But the 6-foot-2 Golden missed only a few shots after his pair of excused absences, pouring in a hale and hearty 27 points—19 in the second half—in LA’s 67-57 defeat of visiting and state-ranked Mount Carmel High School (MCHS).
Fifteen of his points came via threepointers, and he netted 13 of the Ramblers’ 23 points in the fourth quarter of a Chicago Catholic League game that could have easily passed for an intense playoff game.
“Big win,” a smiling Golden said after the Ramblers improved their overall record to 17-6 and the Caravan slipped to 18-5. “My role is to knock down shots, but I have to give credit to Trey Williams (11 points), our really good point guard who got the ball to me and played very well tonight.”
LA trailed 25-23 at the half but outscored the visitors 21-12 in the third frame and produced a 57-45 lead at the 2:54 mark of
the fourth quarter.
Golden’s bucket, off an assist from senior Donovan Robinson (10 points), had secured that seemingly comfortable advantage. MCHS, blessed with a knack for nailing three-pointers in bunches, made it a precari ous two-possession game twice in the final minute.
“We had two great days of practice after being so flat (in a loss to Evanston Township High School on January 21),” said senior post player and Miami (Ohio) Universitybound Brendan Loftus (12 points, gamehigh 13 rebounds). “Those hard practices, especially Wednesday’s, plus film study, kept us focused and prepared us for Mount Carmel.”
Loyola Academy senior Ryan Fitzgerald— a two-time reigning state champion football player, like Loftus and Robinson and senior Conlon Kane—scored only two points. But his value at the other end of the floor was priceless and blatant, from his deflections to his dives for loose balls to his stifling defense.
“Ryan,” Livatino said, “is such a competitor, such a relentless defender.
Lake Forest High School’s shorthanded boys’ basketball team falls behind early, rallies, and downs Vernon Hills High School.
Dominic Mordini and Grant Mordini aren’t related, but the Lake Forest High School (LFHS) basketball players had something in common other than being starters last week—they were unavailable to play in a home nonconference game against Vernon Hills High School (VHHS).
Dominic, a 6-foot-4 junior guard, had undergone an appendectomy, and Grant, a 6-10 senior center, was ill.
No matter. The shorthanded Scouts banded together to hand the visiting Cougars a 46-38 loss on January 21.
“We looked very, very good at times,” LFHS coach Phil LaScala, in his 20th season at the school, said of his reigning North Suburban Conference champions. “We looked very, very bad at times.”
LaScala picked a very, very good time to call a timeout. His squad was down 6-2 and appeared out of sorts at the time. After returning to action, the Scouts outscored their foes 19-5 in the final 9 minutes, 35 seconds of the first
half to take a 21-11 lead.
LFHS senior forward Finn Graf (12 points) drew an offensive foul at 5:06 of the first quarter, and five Scouts—including sophomore forward Rory Haas (six points), who hit a three-pointer—scored at least one point in the second frame.
Scouts senior guard Charlie Markee (six points) capped the first half resoundingly, blocking a shot one second shy of intermission.
“Defense got us back in the game,” said 6-7 senior forward Hudson Scroggins, the team’s leading scorer (just under 18 points per game) and rebounder.
“We’re really good when the five of us on the floor are playing as one.”
It took only 11 seconds after intermission for VHHS to make a statement without saying a word. A dunk—the Cougars’ third of the night—let the Scouts know they hadn’t lost their resolve. A 7-0 run later trimmed LFHS’s lead to 29-22.
LFHS reserve junior guard Burke Konz (five
points) then hit his first big basket to halt the visitors’ momentum. His second key make, this one a trey, put the hosts up 39-27 in the second minute of the fourth quarter.
“Burke,” LaScala said, “give us great energy off the bench.”
Scroggins finished with team highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds. He had tallied 28, 25, 22, and 21 points in December and January games.
“Easy assists,” Markee said of passes to Scroggins. “Just get him the ball.”
Markee was coming off a game in which he delivered seven assists and did not commit a turnover.
“Charlie is shooting more and showing leadership,” Scroggins said.
LFHS notched one of its biggest wins of the season three days later, defeating visiting and state-ranked Warren Township High School 48-45 on January 24.
Good sport Andrew Blauer, a sophomore swimmer on Highland Park High School’s boys’ swimming and diving varsity squad, took time to field questions between events at the 16-team Buffalo Grove Invitational on January 25.
He had just helped the Giants’ 200-yard medley relay unit—with Nathan Lee, Patryk Nowak, and Kyle Castle—place fourth with a time of 1:43.22, and he’d later finish fourth in the 100-yard butterfly race in 53.38.
Coach Matthew Bacinich’s crew wound up in fifth place (193.5 points) at the highly competitive meet.
Care to share some details about the first time you ever swam in a competitive race?
AB: I was 9, at a club meet. I either swam in a 50-yard freestyle race or a 50-yard backstroke race. All I really remember, for sure, was that I was slow, really slow.
What are the rewards of the sport?
AB: The friends you make through it, definitely, along with the feeling
you get in the water while racing. It’s such a great feeling.
What don’t most people understand about the grueling aspects of swimming?
AB: You can’t just enter a pool and expect to do well; you have to constantly work hard, because the pool doesn’t care who you are or where you’re from. And the scoreboard (with times as results) never lies.”
Three words that best describe Coach Bacinich?
AB: Funny, goofy, and angry. Angry, in a good way. Coach likes to get intense during races and yell, “Go, go, go!”
You get to be anyone for a day. Name that person.
AB: Michael Phelps. I’d especially like to be Michael Phelps in 2008, when he swam at the Olympics in Beijing. He’s amazing, the best ever. The guy won 23 Olympic gold medals in his career.
#HASHTAG
EDITED BY REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM
BACHTELL
Usually I have my eyeglasses, cell phone, and a fashion magazine on my nightstand … but recently I was gifted a handcrafted bejeweled jewelry dish to hold my beaded bracelet from my son. This adds a lot of color.
If you were to unlock my phone and see my most visited apps, Gmail would be one of the top visited as I am always responding to work emails. I thoroughly enjoy clearing out my inbox. Instagram is another app that I use as it’s part of my business. I am always focused on my content, either posting stories or sharing reels on my feed @styledtherapy
I listen to Spotify, usually Today’s Top Hits, Rihanna Radio, or ‘90s Hip Hop. Usually when I have my earbuds in I am either on a consult call with a potential client or on the phone with my family who live on the East Coast.
A native of Syosset, New York, SELBY KOSKY moved to Chicago in 2006 to attend The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. While studying and living in Bucktown, she pursued her love of styling as a buyer for an upscale boutique. In 2019, Selby moved to Highland Park with her husband, Kenny, and their Bernedoodle, Lou. After having two boys, Ari (5) and Rowan (3), she made her passion into a reality by creating styledtherapy by selby. Now a school psychologist, Selby has a growing Instagram account (@ styledtherapy) featuring fashion, styling, and curated outfit inspiration for almost 30,000 followers. This style star psychologist set aside her appointment books and closet picks to share her shore and city favorites.
BY MELISSA HAMILTON AND CHRISTOPHER HIRSHEIMER
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
ACTIVE TIME: 30 MINS // TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 30 MINS
2 small eggplants (about 1 pound total)
1. Prepare a hardwood-charcoal fire in a grill. Let coals cool to medium heat (coals should be covered with ash and glowing red with no black remaining). 2. Place 2 small eggplants (about 1 pound total) directly on coals and cook, turning occasionally, until skins are blackened and flesh has collapsed, 10-15 minutes. (Alternatively, grill on the grate of a gas or charcoal grill over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, 15-20 minutes.) Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and let cool slightly. 3. Carefully remove skins from eggplants, leaving stems intact. Place eggplants on a wire rack set inside the same rimmed baking sheet and let stand 30 minutes to allow excess water to drain. Just before serving, split lengthwise and serve with desired sauce. COOKS’ NOTE: Once you’ve charred them, you can drizzle these eggplants with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with some coarse salt for a simple side. But they’re even better paired with one of three luscious sauces (Yogurt and Sumac Sauce, Smoky Tomato Sauce, or Lemon-Mint Sauce) and some grilled flatbread or pita.
Ah, the ravines of Lake Forest—where nature, in a fit of theatrical flair, carved deep scars into the earth and left them to brood beneath the trees.
By day, they are harmless enough, with their trickling creeks and dappled sunlight, inviting exploration and the occasional stumble upon some long-forgotten relic of childhood—an abandoned bicycle or a weathered rope swing, swaying precariously over a drop that seems to grow steeper with age. But when the sun dips and the shadows stretch long and hungry, the ravines transform. Their cheerful nooks and crannies take on a sinister air, and the trees—so friendly at noon—now loom like conspirators, their branches clawing at the sky.
As children, we embraced this creeping darkness, turning it into a stage for war games that would make even the boldest generals balk. Armed with sticks, torches, and the tactical brilliance of sugar-fueled minds, we stormed the gullies, every rustle a potential ambush, every shadow a lurking foe.
The darkness deepened our scars—both literal and imagined. Knees bloodied on hidden roots, courage shaken by the rustling of an invisible beast, we pressed on, soldiers in a battle that only existed because we willed it so.
Now, revisiting the ravines, their darkness feels less threatening, though the echoes remain—of war cries, whispered fears, and the primal thrill of conquering the shadows.
RUNNING TIME: 105 MINUTES
VERDICT: The Monkey swings for the stars but rarely leaves the tree. Despite atmospheric visuals and flashes of brilliance, it’s a frustratingly uneven ride—an intriguing concept let down by its lack of bite.
Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey, a fresh adaptation of Stephen King’s short story, swings into theaters this month with all the weight of high expectations strapped firmly to its back. This is no ordinary cursed-toy tale—at least, it doesn’t want to be. With a tantalizing promise of psychological horror wrapped in King’s macabre fingerprints, Perkins aims to deliver a story that’s both terrifying and thought-provoking. Unfortunately, the film often trips over its own ambition, landing somewhere between gripping and completely bananas.
The story follows twin brothers, Hal and Charlie, played with uneven results by the perpetually brooding Theo James. After inheriting their father’s crumbling lake house, the pair discovers a sinister relic from their childhood: a cymbal-clapping monkey toy. Innocuous at first glance, this grinning contraption has a penchant for death—every crash of its cymbals seems to herald yet another grisly demise. What begins as a slow descent into unease rapidly escalates into a nightmare, forcing the brothers to confront their fractured relationship and the trauma they’ve buried along with the past.
Perkins, whose previous work (Gretel & Hansel) showcased a flair for atmosphere, doubles down on moody tension here. The house itself becomes a character, all creaking floorboards and oppressive shadows. The
monkey, brought to life with practical effects and an eerie attention to detail, is an unsettling presence. Its wide, frozen grin and jerky movements evoke an uncanny dread reminiscent of King’s best monster creations.
However, while The Monkey has moments of brilliance, it struggles to find its rhythm. The first act drags on, suffocating under the weight of its own introspection. Perkins seems so determined to create meaning—to imbue the story with meditations on guilt, grief, and the inescapable pull of familial dysfunction—that the horror sometimes feels like an afterthought. When the scares finally come, they’re more predictable than provocative, often undercutting the tension rather than heightening it.
Theo James gives a performance that’s solid but not quite transformative. He carries Hal’s brooding torment well enough, but his emotional range doesn’t always match the script’s demands. Elijah Wood, on the other hand, is a delightful surprise as Carl, the brothers’ estranged childhood friend who becomes embroiled in the monkey’s curse. Wood brings a quirkiness and energy that’s sorely needed amidst the grim proceedings, though his presence sometimes threatens to tip the film into unintentional comedy.
Tatiana Maslany, cast as the twins’ mother in haunting flashbacks, is criminally underutilized. Her character’s tragic backstory feels more like
a plot device than a fully fleshed-out element of the narrative, leaving the audience to wonder what she could have brought to the table with more material.
Visually, the film is Perkins’ greatest triumph.
Cinematographer Polly Morgan paints the screen in a palette of muted blues and greys, giving the lake house an atmosphere of perpetual gloom. The cinematography elevates the material, offering moments where the dread feels almost palpable. Unfortunately, the script doesn’t quite match the visual ambition, wavering between heavy-handed allegory and clunky dialogue.
The film’s climax, when it finally arrives, is a chaotic mishmash of revelations and cheap thrills. What could have been a poignant exploration of brotherly bonds and the horrors of repression instead devolves into a series of loud, over-the-top set pieces. The final moments attempt a quiet, contemplative resolution, but by then, it feels too little, too late.
The Monkey isn’t without its merits. Its craftsmanship and occasional moments of genuine unease suggest a better film lurking just beneath the surface. But Perkins, much like his cursed characters, can’t seem to escape the pull of bad decisions. What should have been a sharp, terrifying thriller ends up feeling muddled, weighed down by its own selfimportance.
We are excited to announce our affiliation with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty! Our commitment to excellence reflects the historic brands experience and the outstanding level of service that has been its global benchmark for nearly three centuries. Sotheby’s International Realty provides local expertise to the Chicagoland markets and across the globe with 1,110 offices in 83 countries. This aligns us with a group of professionals that are the best in the industry. At Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, we utilize innovative technology, local and international marketing exposure, and our robust referral market to ensure our clients get the most eyes on their homes. Using these sophisticated resources, we are able to enhance our already outstanding caliber of service and elevate us and your listings through real estate’s most trusted brand.
BY MITCH HURST
As a boy growing up in Highland Park, a town where sports mattered, Judd Bloch was not much of an athlete.
“I was stand-out terrible,” he says. “My friends could tell you.”
While his friends played team sports, Bloch watched movies “almost competitively” and often made his mom take him to “weird film festivals”—old movies, black and whites. Bogart was an early favorite. “Still is, actually,” he says.
Most of us might wait until, say, our high school or college years to choose a vocation, Bloch was sitting in a cinema when he was 8 or 9 years old, and he had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to do when he grew up—make movies—he just didn’t know how.
“My mom is a painter, and my dad is something of an artist too,” Bloch says. “They didn’t explicitly say ‘go into the arts’. That would be crazy. But I was raised to think that art meant something, which seems truer to me now, not less.”
After graduating from Highland Park High School and the University of Southern California, Bloch moved to New York to get into the independent movie scene. He detoured into magazine writing, often about entertainment, while also reading scripts for production companies in the city.
“That taught me how to write scripts and also how not to write scripts,” he says.
But Bloch also discovered just how difficult it is to raise money and actually get a movie made in New York.
“I never could crack that there,” he says. “I have a lot of stories about not getting movies made.”
After a decade, he scrapped plans to move to Brooklyn and moved to Los Angeles instead. Along the way, the movie industry underwent drastic changes with the advent of streaming services and a reduced public appetite for seeing films at the cinema. Bloch witnessed the changes in the industry firsthand.
“During the ‘80s and ‘90s and the early ‘00s, movies were at their apex,” says Bloch, speaking from his home in Los Angeles. “But they’re having a hard time
culture is kind of the same as it was when I started going there in the early ‘90s,” Bloch says. “I saw some pictures on our neighbor’s wall of Telluride in the 1880s when it was a mining town, and it was all men. The only women in the town were in cat houses. There are some remnants of that if you squint. It’s still a man’s town in some weird way.”
With Black Diamond, Bloch saw an opportunity to conflate the erotic thrillers of the ‘90s, his lifelong love of old westerns, and his own experience in Telluride to create something that felt at once like a throwback and slightly unique—a sex thriller in an elite ski town.
Bloch had been visiting Telluride for 30 years and the house used in the movie was built in the ‘90s by his parents. He lived in with his wife and kids for a year during the pandemic. Prior to that, he had always been a tourist, arriving for a week, rarely more, and enjoying the skiing and the town while always sensing a certain coolness from the locals toward him and other tourists.
Living there with his family for a year during the pandemic helped deepen his understanding of the area. He got to know the locals, befriending some, skiing with them, and would eventually cast many of them in small but key roles in the movie.
“They’re dependent on the tourists,” he explains. “But they love that town, and they feel the need to protect it from tourists like me and that felt like a movie to me.”
When it came to finding investors, he turned to three friends he’s known since his elementary school days in Highland Park—Jeff Goldman, Gary Belmonti, and Mike Motew. They had executive produced his short in 2018 and, after reading an early draft of Black Diamond, signed on as executive producers.
justifying themselves right now—as a business, not as an art form—because I think there are really good movies out there. I don't think that's the issue. I think it’s just, ‘how do you find an audience and make your money back?’”
Not to be deterred, Bloch plugged away. He wrote (and rewrote) scripts and worked in marketing, producing film trailers, before co-writing the script for Lady Bloodfight, a film about a woman in Hong Kong who learns martial arts to protect herself from a local gang of thugs. For his most recent project, Black Diamond, he wrote as well as directed. Now streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV+, the movie tells the story of a young couple seeking solace in a cabin in Telluride, Colorado, only to have their lives upended by a charming but unstable cowboy handyman.
“The thing about Telluride is that the
“That’s a great start,” his friend and producer Dom Rustam joked. “But now we need another million dollars.” As late as February 2022, the movie looked like it had no chance of happening.
But then, another friend and early supporter of the script, manager/producer Brian Levy who was at 360MGMT, sent the script to Todd Friedman and Warner Davis, two +producers who had worked together on recent films. Within two days of reading the script, the movie went from having $100,000 to being “fully financed.” He had the funds to cast the movie and raise more money.
With two days left in the 2022 ski season, Black Diamond started production.
“I was told making an indie movie is not for the faint of the heart” he says. “What they mean is you have no time, just get it in the can any way you can, and you’ll probably fail.’
Over 19 days, Bloch got the movie in the can. He credits his Director of Photography
for his great eye and ability work fast, his Assistant Director who could always see scheduling and production problems way in advance and his producers for getting him through it.
“Warner and Dom took care of all kinds of difficult, difficult problems every day that I often had no idea about or, that I did,” says Bloch. “I could focus on the story, the scene, and the actors.”
Bloch says he also got lucky with the town and the house, which are characters in the movie—driving and controlling the action.
“Westerns are like that. So are horror movies. If you just get the setting or the landscape right, you might be OK,” Bloch says. “Telluride is such a strong, iconic landscape—there is something spectacular to look at outside every door. I spent months staring at the mountain outside the house. It’s in the
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
unknowable and she just might kill you,” he says.
As for what comes next? He is currently preparing to make another movie with Friedman and Davis.
Black Diamond is currently streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Lake Forest entrepreneur Merrily Moyer enjoys the sweet success of a company—her business, Ta-Da Treats!— that provides cotton candy at birthday parties and other events. And she’s only 17.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
Merrily Moyer is pretty sure she tasted cotton candy for the very first time at a Lake Forest Day celebration.
The bite of spun sugar had dissolved in her mouth in no time, triggering a quick smile and a quicker urge for a second bite.
“It was sweet, so sweet, and it tasted great,” recalls Moyer, a senior at Lake For est High School (LFHS). “Who doesn’t like cotton candy? I also remember that it looked fun and it was fun to eat.”
Nearly four years ago, Moyer—who turns 18 on Valentine’s Day—got super serious, launching a company that specializes in serving freshly made cotton candy at birthday parties and other events.
She named it Ta-Da Treats!
“I started it because I have a passion for making celebrations sweeter and I’ve always loved being around kids, either babysitting or helping out in the nursery at The Church of the Holy Spirit (in Lake Forest),” says the daughter of Mike and Anne and the sister of brothers Anson, 20, and Norvin, 11. “My first Ta-Da job was at a Lake Forest train station for a mayoral campaign event. I now do mostly birthday parties at homes for kids 4 to 6 years old.
“I love when I look around a room at a Ta-Da party and see kids smiling with cot ton candy all over their faces. That always makes me laugh.”
The bulk of her birthday gigs have been in Lake Bluff, with others having been held at homes in Lake Forest, Winnetka, and other North Shore communities. Moyer figures she has thrilled youngsters at 20 bashes altogether.
A boy named Ben, Moyer believes, has been to more Ta-Da-themed events than anybody else has.
“I’ve seen him at four parties, at least,” a smiling Moyer says.
When Moyer noticed the line of kids waiting to receive their cotton candy at a party had become lengthy and sinuous, she
John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER
Jennifer Sturgeon ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
seconds at parties,” Moyer says. “I usually give them half the size of a normal cotton candy when they come to me for round two. I think the parents appreciate that.”
Treats! She the counter at
Lake Forest
I love when I look around a room at a Ta-Da party and see kids smiling with cotton candy all over their faces. That always makes me laugh.
social media copy, among other duties, at Sage Explorers, a toy store in Lake Forest.
Bright and enterprising, Moyer once brainstormed for a way to enhance her company’s offerings in the middle of a math class at LFHS. But she did not get in trouble for mind-wandering.
“I’d finished a math problem,” she says, “and started doodling a figure of a boy for a
The machine Moyer uses to make cotton candy cost between $300-$400. Her father paid for it in 2021, right around the time the Ta-Da Treats! website was under construction. says, “paid that
Gaven Conatser ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ADVERTISING @NSWEEKEND.COM
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Michelle Crowe, Erin Donaldson, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Megan Weisberg
FOOD EDITOR
Monica Kass Rogers
@ TheNSWeekend @ TheNSWeekend
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mitch Hurst, Cheyanne Lencioni, Bill McLean, Felix McMillan, Redding Worth
DESIGN
Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Natalie Phillips ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
sticker I’d hand out at parties. As I looked it, he looked boring. But he looked happier when I drew him holding cotton candy in his hands.”
Moyer, who was born in Evanston and moved from Highland Park to Lake Forest at the age of 4, plans to study Economics at the University of Kansas, from which her father and paternal grandfather graduated. An Economics class at LFHS in her sophomore year remains her favorite course.
“It was fun, and I especially liked the charting we did and figuring out what people like, what people buy, and what people don’t buy,” she says.
What Moyer likes to do when she isn’t working or completing all, if not most, of her homework at school, is draw—with a pencil or a pen—anywhere and play the drums in her basement at home.
“Merrily can rock,” Mike Moyer says. “She hits those drums hard.”
It’s certainly early, but Moyer is already thinking about either expanding Ta-Da Treats! to other states or teaching high school Economics after college. Her cousin Audrey in Lake Bluff is learning the ropes of spinning sugar, and don’t be surprised if Merrily and her machine show up at local parties when she returns home during college breaks from late 2025 to 2029.
Feedback on her billowing cotton candy business, mainly from Moms Groups on Facebook, has been positive and glowing and, yes, sweet.
“I’m very true to what I say I’ll do,” Moyer says. “I work hard to tailor parties and events to clients’ requests. I don’t just make iconic-pink cotton candy. Blue, red, green— I can also offer those colors. And I provide sprinkles, too, including ones shaped like a unicorn, as well as fun stickers. I’ll dress and act the way they want me to dress and act.
“Customization, more than anything else I do as owner of Ta-Da, is important to me because it makes the event I’m working at even more special for those in attendance.”
For more information, visit tadatreats.com.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART
George Pfoertner PHOTOGRAPHY
Bachtell, Barry Blitt
We are thrilled to celebrate Ted’s induction into the Christie’s International Real Estate 2025 Masters Circle! This prestigious honor recognizes his impressive success over the past year and his unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results for his clients.
As a proud agent with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, Ted exemplifies the tradition of excellence and innovation that defines our brand.
Here’s to more milestones and continued success in 2025!
