“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt” -Charles M. Schultz
NO. 589 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11 2024
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GOT THE HOME IMPROVEMENT GOT GOT GOT THE THE THE HOME HOME HOME IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENT GOT THE HOME IMPROVEMENT Time to start onWE your BLUES THIS SPRING? CAN HELP! BLUES BLUES BLUES THIS THIS THIS SPRING? SPRING? SPRING? WE WE WE CAN CAN CAN HELP! HELP! HELP! springtime home BLUES THIS SPRING? WE repairs CAN HELP! BATHROOM BATHROOM BATHROOM BATHROOM BATHROOM BATHROOM Bathtubs Bathtubs Bathtubs Bathtubs Bathtubs Bathtubs Bathrooms Bathrooms Bathrooms Bathrooms Bathrooms Bathrooms Grouting of Grouting ofoftile tile Grouting Grouting Grouting oftile tile Grouting of tile Plumbing Needs Plumbing Needs Plumbing Plumbing Plumbing Needs Needs Plumbing Needs Shower Doors Shower Doors Shower Shower Shower Doors Doors Doors Shower Doors Showers Installed Showers Installed Showers Showers Showers Installed Installed Installed Showers Sinks & Sinks Sinks Sinks &&Faucets Faucets &Installed Faucets Faucets Sinks & Faucets Sinks &Tile Faucets Silicon Silicon Silicon Silicon Tile Tile Tile Silicon Tile Silicon Tile Tile Repairs Tile Tile Tile Repairs Repairs Repairs Tile Repairs Tile Repairs Toilet Repair Toilet Toilet Toilet Repair Repair Repair Toilet Repair Toilet Repair Replacement Toilet Toilet Toilet Replacement Replacement Replacement Toilet Replacement Toilet Replacement Towel Racks Install Towel Towel Towel Racks Racks Racks Install Install Towel Racks Install Towel Racks Install Vanities Vanities Vanities Vanities Vanities Vanities BEDROOM BEDROOM BEDROOM BEDROOM BEDROOM BEDROOM Closets Closets Closets Closets Closets Closets Ceiling Ceiling Ceiling Fans Fans Fans Ceiling Fans Ceiling Fans Skylights Skylights Skylights Ceiling Fans Skylights Skylights Skylights LIVING LIVING LIVING ROOM ROOM ROOM LIVING LIVING ROOM Blinds Blinds Blinds Put Put Put Up Up Up LIVING ROOM Blinds Put Up Blinds Put Up Blinds Put Up
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2 | SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11 2024
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
WINNETKA
W E LC O M E ALEXANDRA McCUE Alexandra McCue brings both personal and professional expertise to every real estate transaction. Her creativity, knowledge of the market and intuitive problem-solving are invaluable in helping her clients find their dream homes and reach their real estate goals. Alexandra has lived on the North Shore for 24 years, raised her three children in Wilmette and currently resides in Kenilworth where she is an active member of the New Trier Township community. Call Alexandra for all your real estate needs at (224) 472-1999.
1151 Seneca Road, Wilmette $3,900,000 | Diane Wilson, 847.910.9112
1920 Edgebrook, Glencoe $1,575,000 | Tim Ratty, 224.217.1447
1041 Pawnee Road, Wilmette (Under Contract) $1,300,000 | Danielle Wylie, 312.502.3264
704 Roger Avenue, Kenilworth $899,000 | Chris Smith, 847.226.3151
945 Elm Street, Winnetka $750,000 | Carol Hunt, 847.404.7959
2025 Darrow, Evanston $475,000 | Alexandra McCue, 224.472.1999
LUXURY LIVING Baird & Warner Winnetka | Defined by unparalleled service for buyers and sellers. 594 Green Bay Road | 847.446.1855 | BairdWarner.com
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11 2024 |
3
INDEX
NEWS 4 north shore doings Your go-to guide for all the latest local events
John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER
6 social life The 2023 Breakthrough Ball raises more than $1.3 million to fund future cancer research initiatives
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Jennifer Sturgeon
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Michelle Crowe, Erin Donaldson, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Sherry Thomas, Megan Weisberg
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
Bill McLean
10 #hashtag
Meet Evanston-based interior designer Jodi Morton and learn more about what's currently trending in her world
DESIGN
Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Chris Geimer ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART
12 american star Our reviewer calls this misguided film about an assassin a worthless thriller without thrills
LAST BUT NOT LEAST 14 sunday breakfast
Loyola Academy football coach Beau Desherow goes the whole 100 yards in his debut season at the helm of the varsity, guiding the Ramblers to the program's fifth state title
Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATION
Cheyanne Lencioni ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
ALL EDITORIAL INQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO EDITORIAL@NSWEEKEND.COM FIND US ONLINE NSWEEKEND.COM © 2024 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND A PUBLICATION OF JWC MEDIA, 671 ACADEMY DRIVE, NORTHBROOK, IL 60062 847.926.0911
@ TheNSWeekend
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NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 12
17TH ANNUAL INCHWORKS SHOW WHERE: Community House, Winnetka The North Shore Art League is currently hosting its 17th Annual Inchworks Show. More than 115 pieces of art are being featured in the second-floor gallery of the Community House in Winnetka. Art is available for purchase and proceeds will go to the North Shore Art League. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. villageofwinnetka.org
NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 15
THE GREAT SNOWFLAKE SEARCH WHERE: Wilmette Historical Museum The first snowflakes were photographed by a man named Snowflake Bentley, proving that no two are alike. Join the Wilmette Historical Museum in a scavenger hunt to find all the snowflakes. This event runs through February 15. Children ages 3 and younger can pick up a free scavenger hunt board at the Museum or Youth Services Department at the Wilmette Public Library to get started. The hunts begin at 9 a.m. wilmettehistory.org
NOW THROUGH MARCH PRESENTING THE
ALDEN FINNEY BROOKS COLLECTION WHERE: Kenilworth Historical Society The Kenilworth Historical Society’s main gallery exhibit features more than 90 items of the Alden Finney Brooks Collection. Brooks was a well-respected American artist known for his portraiture and landscape scenes. He spent some of his life in Kenilworth, which is captured in several of his paintings, some of which are on display in the exhibit. This event will be open through March. kenilworthhistory.org
NOW TO MARCH 31
PICKUP HIGHWOOD WHERE: Everts Park Looking for a way to maintain and connect with the community? Join Pickup
Highwood’s weekly clean-up event where participants will meet from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoons at Everts Park to collect trash. Please bring gloves, trash bags, and a picker/reacher. Wear good shoes and all garbage collected will be disposed of in bins at home. This event is free to join and interested parties can sign up at meetup.com
NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 13
“SHTETL IN THE SUN” WHERE: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center In the late 1970s, photographer Andy Sweet took numerous photos of Holocaust survivors living hopeful and joyous lives in South Beach, Florida. Through his images,
4 | SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11 2024
it provides a poignant display of life after tragedy. The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center’s exhibit, “Shtetl in the Sun: Andy Sweet’s South Beach 19771980,” celebrates Sweet’s work as a tribute to those who lived during that time. The exhibit will run through October 13. ilholocaustmuseum.org
NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 25
“ENRICHING LIFE” WHERE: Brushwood Center Join the Brushwood Botanical Artists for the 9th Annual Botanical Art Exhibit: “Enriching Life” now through February 25. This fantastic art gallery provides a colorful respite from the wintery grays seen this time of year. The exhibiting art-
ists are current and former students of Heeyoung Kim, founder of the Heeyoung Kim Botanical Art Academy. brushwoodcenter.org
NOW TO FEBRUARY 10
ROSSINI’S CINDERELLA WHERE: Lyric Opera Experience the timeless classic of Cinderella at the Lyric Opera through February 10. Rossini’s romantic comedy tells the tale of Angelina, who endures the horrible treatment of her father, Don Magnifico, and falls in love with a prince disguised as a valet. The musical score is conducted by Yi-Chen Lin in her Lyric Opera debut. This show will be sung in Italian and feature English captions projected above the stage. lyricopera.org THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NEWS Library. Cookies will be provided by the library and children must be accompanied by an adult. This program is from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Valentine’s Day. Registration is required. wnpld.org
NOW TO FEBRUARY 18
MUSIC INSTITUTE OPEN HOUSE WHERE: Winnetka Join the Music Institute of Chicago for the last of four open houses in Chicago, Lake Forest, Winnetka, and Evanston. Musicians of all ages and professions are welcome to try different instruments, speak with faculty and campus staff, learn about class and lesson options, and receive discount offers. Rolling admission is available for private instruction. The final Open House is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on February 18, at Winnetka campus. musicinst.org
NOW TO FEBRUARY 18
ILLINOISE WHERE: Chicago Shakespeare Theater Chicago Shakespeare Theater debuts a new musical, Illinoise, based on Sufjan Steven’s concept album. Illinoise is a genre-bursting experience that inspires hope. There will be an ASL dual performance on February 9 at 7 p.m. chicagoshakes.com
NOW TO FEBRUARY 21
LUNAR NEW YEAR SCAVENGER HUNT WHERE: Robert Crown Branch Library Ring in the Lunar New Year with a fun scavenger hunt! From February 10 to February 21, the Robert Crown Branch Library in Evanston is hosting a Lunar New Year scavenger hunt where children can find all 12 animals of the Chinese Lunar calendar. This event runs all day and is selfdirected. Participants who find all the animals will win a sticker. epl.org
NOW TO SEPTEMBER 7
CIRCUSVILLE: PLAY UNDER THE BIG TOP WHERE: Chicago Children’s Museum Bring your kids to the Chicago Children’s MuTHE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
FEBRUARY 15 TO 25
Joffrey Ballet's Studies in Blue. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Mann
seum to play at the circus! Children can try their hands at all of the vital roles in a circus—star of the show, ticket taker, acrobat, hot dog vendor, and more. Props and costumes for families will be provided. The circus will be in town until September 7. chicagochildrensmuseum.org
NOW TO MARCH 24
THE ORCHID SHOW OF WONDERS WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden Enjoy a hint of spring with 10,000 blooms from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Orchid Show of Wonders at Chicago Botanic Garden. Walk under Ferris wheel seats and marvel at unicycles on tightropes under the big top for this carnival-themed event. Tickets range from $10 for members to $21for non-members. chicagobotanic. org
FEBRUARY 11
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY WHERE: Kenilworth Union Church Show your support for your favorite football team and Just A Harvest by bringing non-perishable food items to Kenilworth Union Church (KUC) Sunday, February 11. Food items for this “Souper Bowl Sunday” event will be sorted and boxed up by middle school students
and donated to A Just Harvest food pantry. Bring your canned goods to the church lobby and place them on your team’s table. kuc.org
FEBRUARY 12
TRIVIA NIGHT WHERE: Lake Bluff Brewing Company Enjoy a fun night of trivia at Lake Bluff Brewing Company. Teams of six can register starting at 7 p.m. on February 5. Compete for prizes and enjoy food and quality time with friends while testing your trivia knowledge. This event is presented by the Lake Bluff Public Library. lakeblufflibrary.org
FEBRUARY 14
GET LIT: DOWN WITH LOVE WHERE: American Writers Museum, Chicago The American Writers happy hour soiree returns this year with a Valentine's Day event titled “Get Lit: Down with Love.” This antilove event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. The Get Lit series allows guests to explore the museum after hours, meet fellow literature enthusiasts, enjoy drinks, themed activities, and thought-provoking exhibits. Join the Rejection Open Mic and share rejection letters or stories of your
own! After reading, you can shred the letter and release it into the ether. Plus, select letters from famous writers will be available to read. Guests must be 21 years or older to attend. Tickets, which include two complimentary drinks, are $15 for AWA members, $18 for general admission, and $25 for VIP admission. americanwritersmuseum.org
FEBRUARY 14
VALENTINE’S DAY FOR THE UNLOVABLES WHERE: Madame ZuZu’s Embrace the myriad shades of heartbreak and love at Madame ZuZu’s from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or a solitary soul, this event resonates with everyone. Tickets are $30 and include live music by The Billingsley & Earp Band, Madame ZuZu’s signature Light Bites, a Valentine’s Day Special Drink, and a non-alcoholic mocktail option. Availability is limited. madamezuzus.com
FEBRUARY 14
VALENTINE’S DAY COOKING DECORATING WHERE: Northfield Public Library Children ages 12 and under are invited to decorate delicious Valentine’s Day treats at Northfield Public
JOFFREY BALLET STUDIES IN BLUE WHERE: Lyric Opera House The Joffrey Ballet presents a mixed performance called Studies In Blue. This program includes original work choreographed by Liam Scarlett, Andrew McNicol, and a world premiere by Stina Quagebeur. The most innovative voices in dance today will perform deep moving works that showcase the range of the company’s repertoire. There will be 10 performances at the Lyric Opera House with such pieces as “Yonder Blue,” “Hungry Ghosts,” and “Hummingbird.” joffrey.org
FEBRUARY 16 TO MARCH 17
SILENT SKY WHERE: Citadel Theatre Citadel Theatre’s Silent Sky tells the story of 19thcentury astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, who explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific and heart-bound discoveries. With music and math bursting forth onstage, Henrietta and her female peers change the way we understand both the heavens and Earth. citadeltheatre.org
FEBRUARY 16
GLOW SKATE WHERE: Watts Ice Center Skate under the lights as Glencoe Park District presents Glow Skate, a night of glow-in-the-dark skating, held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wear neon colors and join in the fun! Skate rentals are $5 and available on a first come, first served basis. All ages are welcome. glencoeparkdistrict.com
FEBRUARY 16
B4WORK NETWORKING BREAKFAST
WHERE: Hilton Inn Garden Lake Forest Join the Lake Forest/ Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce for its monthly B4Work Networking Breakfast. This month’s breakfast will be from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on February 16 at the Hilton Inn Garden in Lake Forest. Enjoy a delicious breakfast and mingle with old and new friends while building business networking connections. Reservations are required by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14. Admission to this popular event is $15 for Chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. lflbchamber.com
FEBRUARY 17
GRAB AND GO HEDGEHOGS WHERE: Highland Park Library Highland Park Library’s youth department is holding a Valentine’s Day hedgehog craft kit on February 17. Kids can make their own cute holiday critter. Materials will be available at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. All ages are welcome. hplibrary.org
FEBRUARY 20
SNOWFLAKE SNAPSHOTS WHERE: Wilmette Historical Museum Enjoy a winter day at Wilmette Historical Museum for a reading of Jacqueline Briggs Martin’s book Snowflake Bentley. This piece tells the story of Wilson Bentley, the first photographer of snowflakes. Following the reading will be an assortment of crafts and activities exploring early photography, including a vintage photo booth. This event is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on February 20 and free to participants. wilmette.com
FEBRUARY 20
ART GALLERY OPENING WHERE: Northfield Village Hall Art Gallery The Village Hall Art Gallery will be hosting a new exhibit on February 20. This
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11 2024 |
5
NEWS month’s gallery will feature art works by New Trier Extension (NTX) art students. The artwork consists of drawings, acrylics, oil, and watercolor paintings created by local students of Tom James and Fran Vail. The Gallery will be open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. northfieldil.org
FEBRUARY 20
ROMANCE AND REGENCY WITH BRIDGERTON’S JULIA QUINN WHERE: Zoom Bridgerton’s New York Times Bestselling author, Julia Quinn, has been inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and was recently named the national ambassador for EveryLibrary, an organization that helps libraries fight censorship. From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 20, Quinn will be in conversation with fellow bestselling historical romance author, Sarah MacLean, to discuss romance and the regency. Those
interested in taking part in this webinar can register online at Lake Bluff Public Library’s website. lakeblufflibrary.org
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 24 TO MARCH 3
IMANI WINDS WHERE: Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston The Music Institute of Chicago presents the Grammy-nominated quartet Imani Winds in their performance “Black and Brown: A celebration of composers of color.” Imani Winds is a trailblazing ensemble whose playlist includes traditional chamber music repertoire and newly commissioned work that reflects on history and our current times. Composers include Paquito D’Rivera, Wayne Shorter, Billy Taylor, and Damien Geter. The performance is held at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston. musicinst.org
WINNIE THE POOH WHERE: Heller Nature Center Step into the HundredAcre Wood as the Highland Park Players take you on a magical journey. Join Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga, and Roo on a musical adventure to rescue Christopher Robin from the mysterious Backson. This production will be held at the Heller Nature Center in Highland Park. There will be two shows each day at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. highlandparkplayers.org
FEBRUARY 25
MUSIC AT THE FORT WHERE: MYAC at Fort Sheridan The Midwest Young Artists Committee (MYAC) jazz faculty are holding a recital from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on February 25. The artists will perform a mixture of
Lake Forest Preservation Foundation's 2014 winner at 941 East Westminster
original music and personal favorites alongside one of the most swinging rhythm sections in Chicago. These performers include Drew Hansen, Emily Kuhn, Brent Griffith Jr, Frank Morrison, Dave Miller, and Micah Collier. Cheese and wine will be served. mya.org
MARCH 3
2024 PRESERVATION AWARDS WHERE: Gorton Community Center
The time has come to nominate a favorite historical property for the 2024 Preservation Awards. Each year the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation honors individuals and organizations who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in the preservation of Lake Forest’s architectural heritage. Structures and landscapes over 50 years old are eligible for this award. Nominations can be made by the interested individual
or by a second party and will be accepted online or through a form at the office. To discuss the judgment criteria for the Awards, the Gorton Community Center will hold a program discussing practices for preservation, maintenance, and updating historic homes from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 3. RSVPs are required. lfpf.org To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
SOCIAL LIFE
THE BREAKTHROUGH BALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACLYN SIMPSON AND JESSICA TAMPAS
The 2023 Breakthrough Ball celebrated discoveries that “wow” in cancer research at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. The gala raised more than $1.3 million to fund future cancer research initiatives with high breakthrough potential. The Breakthrough Board is one of Chicago’s oldest charitable boards and has raised more than $22 million since its inception 75 years ago. The event, co-chaired by Barbara Sessions and Cheena Chandra, was held at a private club in Chicago and was an evening of inspiration and hope for all who attended. cancerresearchfdn.org/thebreakthroughboard/
ELIZABETH LUTTIG, BREAKTHROUGH BOARD PRESIDENT
ROBIN AND MARK TEBBE
ALEXANDRA NIKITAS, BARBARA SESSIONS
KRISTI AND DAVID NUELLE
DRS. SOLA AND FUNMI OLOPADE
MICHAEL AND ELIZABETH LUTTIG
CYNTHIA CHERESKIN, JULIE HARRON, BETH WHITE, KAREN MCENIRY
DIANE THOMAS, JENNIFER RHIND
LAURA LUCE, LIDIA DEVONSHIRE
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JACK AND KIMI WERNER, JANE AND TEDDY CHUN
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
The Right Advisor
WE ARE ENGEL & VÖLKERS
When selling or buying your home, one of the most important pieces is finding the right advisor to work with. As the real estate market is always changing, it is important to have someone who knows how to navigate these changes. At Engel & Völkers, our real estate advisors are not just real estate agents. They have the tools, network and resources to elevate the standard of service they provide their clients. At Engel & Völkers we don’t simply have agents, but rather trusted advisors to guide our clients through their home journey with precise knowledge and distinguished care. Find your real estate advisor at chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com ENGEL & VÖLKERS CHICAGO NORTH SHORE 566 Chestnut Street | 2nd Floor | Winnetka | IL 60093 +1 847-441-5730 | chicagonorthshore@evrealestate.com Learn more at chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com ©2024 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11 2024 |
7
LIFESTYLE & ARTS RICHARD THE LIGHTHEARTED
From PG 1
BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Nothing would thrill Grammy Awardwinning songwriter and former Lake Bluffian Richard Marx more than learning the bulk of the audience at his March 1 concert at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre had lost most of their voice (from singing along and screaming joyfully) and suffered a sore oblique muscle (from guffawing too hard, too often). “As they exit, I hope they’re all hoarse,” says Marx, also a pop rock/soft rock singer who’s the only male artist whose first seven singles reached the Top 5 on the Billboard charts. “I hope they’re all still laughing, too. I don’t just sing and perform with my incredible band; I’m also on stage to entertain between songs. If I knew an artist would sing only at a concert, I’d stay home instead and put on headphones to experience that. “I want each of my shows to feel and sound like a two-hour party. I want everyone to have fun and feel like they’re hanging out with my band members and me and having a blast.” That’s quite a stark contrast to 1980s Richard Marx, who was urged to pout, make dramatic faces, and never smile in public, especially while performing. Follow that script and you’d be branded a bona fide rock star, handlers insisted. “I look back at some of those images of me and think, ‘What was I doing?’” Marx says. “I was told to be a poser. I’ve said to that poser, ‘Dude, just have fun. You have the best job in the world and you look miserable.’ I was on the third tour of my career, in either the UK or in Germany, when I started talking between songs, started being silly. “I lost the ‘poser’ act and started being more me. To those who plan to see me next month on stage for the first time, the person you’ll get to know between songs is the real me. One of the highest compliments I’ve ever received was, ‘He’s the same guy on stage as he is off stage.’” Marx, 60, splits time at his places in Miami and Los Angeles with his wife, Daisy Fuentes. He could easily pass for a striking 40-something who resurfaces from a sea inlet in a television ad for a cologne. He grew up in Highland Park, attended North Shore Country Day in Winnetka, and lived in Lake Bluff for nearly 20 years. In 2013 he was named Local Legend by the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff. His three sons— all musicians— with his first wife, Cynthia Rhodes, were born in Lake Forest. “I haven’t performed in Chicago proper for a while, so I jumped at the chance to include a show date (with special guest John Waite) at Auditorium Theatre around stops in Detroit and Milwaukee,” Marx says. “I was
at the Auditorium as a kid. Beautiful venue. Performing for your hometown crowd—it doesn’t get better than that. “I always love returning to the Chicago area, driving along Lake Shore Drive (now Jean Baptiste Point du Sable Lake Shore Drive) and Sheridan Road and seeing if my favorite after-school hangout, Michael’s (Grill & Salad, in Highland Park), is still around (it is).” Marx was only 5 years old when he officially became a professional musician. He sang his first commercial jingle at a studio
that would help companies sell products like candy bars and breakfast cereals,” recalls Marx, who has been a professional songwriter for 38 years and a recording artist for 35. “Sometimes my father would arrange for a full symphony to perform in his studio for the recording of a commercial.” Marx’s songwriting career got off to an auspicious start in 1984. He co-wrote “What About Me?”, sung by Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes, and James Ingram. All it did was shoot to No. 1. His self-titled debut album in 1987 featured four Top 5 singles, including
Year” Grammy Award for co-writing Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father.” Marx has also collaborated with a host of other artists, including Keith Urban, Natalie Cole, Josh Groban, and NSYNC. Marx released his latest album, Songwriter, in 2022. That work’s top single is the mellifluous “Same Heartbreak Different Day.” Count on hearing that song, along with Marx’s enduring hits from the first three decades of his highly successful, impossibly steady career, at Auditorium Theatre on March 1.
Former Lake Bluff resident and Grammy winner Richard Marx
owned by his late father, Dick. The Chicago Blackhawks’ official fight song, “Here Come the Hawks!”, was produced by the Dick Marx Orchestra and Choir in 1968. One of li’l Richard’s jingle-warbling colleagues 55 years ago was his late mother, Ruth. “That was really cool, getting to work with my parents after school and singing songs
“Hold On To The Nights” and “Don’t Mean Nothing,” and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. His sophomore album in 1989, Repeat Offender, went quadruple platinum and contained a pair of No. 1 singles: “Satisfied” and “Right Here Waiting.” Fourteen Marx songs—thanks to either his voice or his pen—have scaled to the top of a chart. In 2003 he won the “Song of the
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“I love performing live,” Marx says. “People ask me, ‘How’s touring going?’ I’m not touring; I’m doing shows. I’m constantly doing shows.” For ticket information about Richard Marx’s 7 p.m. concert on March 1 concert at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, visit auditoriumtheatre. org. THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
EXPERTS IN SELLING
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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
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SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11 2024 |
9
LIFESTYLE & ARTS #HASHTAG EDITED BY DUSTIN O'REGAN ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
Evanston-based interior designer JODI MORTON has been renovating and flipping homes for her own family for more than 25 years. That passion led her to open her own interior design firm, 2to5 Design, more than 14 years ago. The name reflected her and her husband's shared passion for design and hospitality and the growth of their family from a couple to a family of five. Over the years, Morton has worked with countless families in Chicago and on the North Shore, creating interiors that are beautiful and functional and highly reflective of the unique lives inhabiting them. As she moves into the next stage of her life as an empty nester, she is feeling energized with a renewed focus on her growing design business which bears a new name: Jodi Morton Design.
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND My Anglepoise Type 75 task lamp is my favorite lamp to read by and it takes center stage on my bedside table next to a rotating pile of design magazines, coffee table books, poetry, and novels. Current reads are David Netto's monograph David Netto whose work is a constant inspiration for me, Mary Oliver's poetry collection Dream Work, which I'm reading for the 100th time, and Transit from the Outline Trilogy by Rachel Cusk, whose work is profound.
#ON MY MOBILE My transcendental meditation app gets daily use. I started transcendental meditation about 8 months ago and it has been a transformative practice for me. I am a total Instagram addict so It's hard to play favorites, but I'm a big fan of The Socialite Family, which gives you a peek into the painfully chic lives and living spaces of young Parisian families. For travel, it's Pugliaglam, because Puglia forever has my heart. And we wouldn't eat in my house if it wasn't for Smitten Kitchen and her amazing recipes. Her Green Angel Hair with Garlic Butter is perfection.
#IN MY EARBUDS I have music in my ears all day at work unless I'm in a meeting. Favorites are anything by my son Max Morton, who just released a new single called Soda Can that I listen to on repeat. Other favorites are singer-songwriters including Nick Drake, Leif Vollbekk, Ray LaMontagne, and anything by Simon & Garfunkel. The On Being podcast is a weekly listen as well. On Being with Krista Tippett is great and her guests are so incredibly insightful and inspiring.
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W W W. D A W N M C K E N N A G R O U P. C O M | @ T H E D A W N M C K E N N A G R O U P ©2024 Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker System and Dawn McKenna Group fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury and the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Source: Ranked by RealTrends, as advertised in The Wall Street Journal 2023: #1 Team in Illinois or Midwest among all brokerages, #4 Team in the country or nation among all brokerages; Based on Midwest Real Estate Data closed sales 05/01/2002-11/07/2023: #1 Team in Hinsdale; Based on Southwest Florida MLS closed sales 01/01/202212/31/2023: #1 Team in Southwest Florida or Naples; Based on Utah Real Estate closed sales 01/01/2022-12/31/2023: #1 Team in Park City.
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11 2024 |
11
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
AMERICAN STAR
A misguided plot about an assassin drives this thriller that ends up being more confusing than compelling.
BY REX REED ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
RUNNING TIME: 1 HOUR, 46 MINUTES RATING: 1 star
Another in a long line of post-epidemic potboilers searching for space on empty movie marquees, American Star is a worthless thriller without thrills about a hit man named Wilson (Ian McShane) who arrives in a remote Canary Island to 86 a victim he knows only from a photograph concealed in the trunk of his rented car. He follows directions through a rocky desert landscape to an ugly, nondescript house with rock walls and expensive paintings, but his target isn’t home. In his place, a blonde on a motor bike arrives and jumps into the pool for a swim. Wilson thinks about joining her, but he didn’t bring any trunks, so he drives away to wait for his prey in a nearby beach hotel (in the desert?) Despite Ian McShane tries to find a pulse, that’s about all we ever know about Wilson, except he’s a survivor of the Falklands That night, he sets his room-service tray outside his door and drops in at a local bar for a couple of scotches where the bartender turns out to be the blonde with the motor bike named Gloria (played
by an actress of undetermined origin who mispronounces words the way I imagine they will sound by Martians). He drinks slowly and silently, while the camera records ever dragged out second of it (with no dialogue, yet). The lady bartender finishes her shift and pulls away on her bike. The next day he drives, for no reason, to a huge hole in the ground near the ocean (huh?). This is called enjoying the scenery. In the days that follow, he gets out the ironing board and presses the only pants he owns. Sometimes he bounces a volleyball with a child from Cardiff, Wales (huh?) who sleeps on the floor in the hotel corridor because his father snores. (Remember, this is supposed to be a thriller.) Eventually, he connects with Gloria the bartender and she takes him sightseeing. The rest of the movie is treated like a quasi-vacation. In the waves outside the beach resort (huh?) there’s a rusty, shipwrecked warship from World War II called the American Star, which symbolizes something crucial in the screenplay
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by Nacho Faerna, although it is never clear what. Although this meandering mess never reaches any deeper point, the movie does picks up the pace briefly, when the assassin pays a visit to the shack where Gloria lives, and meets her mother Anne, who sells real estate and has what appears to be the only vivacious personality of anyone in Fuerteventura. Anne is played by the illustrious French icon Fanny Ardant. Although she wakes up the movie and everyone in it, it’s a small role in one small scene, and hardly worth the effort. Under the anesthesia disguised as direction by someone I’ve never heard of by the name of Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego, everyone in the movie with more than six lines finally dies in less than six seconds. I guess it claims to demonstrate how repetitive and routine the lives of professional assassins can be (yawn), but in my opinion, movies about them have an obligation to be juicier and more consistently fascinating than American Star. THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
FOR SALE
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505 Groveland Avenue, Highland Park
B RI D G I N G CO NSTR U CTION K NOWL EDGE
TED PICKUS 847.417.0520
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130 Sheridan Road, Highland Park
950 Augusta Way #313, Highland Park
with R EAL ESTAT E E X PE RT ISE
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lschulkin@atproperties.com *MRED Source All residential sales 1/1/23-11/30/23
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SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11 2024 |
13
BEAU-DACIOUS SEASON S U N D AY B R E A K FA S T
First-year Loyola Academy head football coach Beau Desherow faced the impossible task of bettering the final season of his predecessor’s tenure. But he matched it—by winning a state championship. BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
You’re a sous-chef who gets to wear the big toque now that the restaurant’s James Beard Award-winning chef took a job overseas. Or you’re a longtime sub who gets to take over for a Golden Apple Award-winning high school teacher, who had suddenly retired. Or a Pulitzer Prize Award-winning journalist who sits next to you in the newsroom says, “Here, sit in my chair. It’s time for me to pursue an editor job.” Or you’re well on your way to becoming a forever assistant football coach of a perennially successful program at a Jesuit high school until you earn the opportunity—after topping a nationwide pool of 70-plus candidates—to succeed the program’s three-time state champion coach. Robert M. “Beau” Desherow knows all about Scenario No. 4. A 1993 Loyola Academy alumnus who started coaching football at his alma mater in 2004, Desherow, a Des Plaines resident, took over for the retired John Holecek in 2023. Holecek, a former NFL linebacker, had guided Loyola Academy’s Ramblers to a trio of Class 8A state titles (2015, 2018, 2022) and amassed a stellar 185-35 record (.841 winning percentage) in 17 years. Nobody would have been startled had Desherow, 49, admitted to having felt the weight of a dozen SUVs on his shoulders when he first addressed the program’s 250-plus players (varsity and under-level squads) and 30-plus coaches in a theater space at the school in Wilmette. But the seemingly exorbitant undertaking was more molehill than skyscraper to him. “It was different, not daunting,” Desherow recalls. “I didn’t look at the challenge of being a varsity head coach for the first time as an overwhelming one, because I had complete trust and faith in our coaches and players at Loyola Academy. I knew it would be quite a commitment and I discussed it at length with my wife (Danielle, a 1993 Marillac High School graduate) and our four sons ( James, Bobby, Luke, and John Paul) before applying for the position. “My thinking, as soon as I found out I’d been named head coach, was, ‘I’m all in.’” Desherow passed—and ran the ball, equally well—with flying colors in his first season at the helm, steering Loyola Academy to an immaculate 14-0 record, a ridiculously splendid 485-128 point differential (or a 35-9 average
final score), and the Class 8A state championship. LA defeated Lincoln-Way East High School 25-16 in the state final at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium on November 24. But the school’s fifth state-championship season began with a 4th-down-and-400 task. Installing a new track inside Loyola Academy’s stadium forced the football program to practice on a grass field at New Trier Township High School’s West campus for training dates in June. “We had to line the field there and transport film equipment each day,” Desherow says. “We film every practice and we grade every practice. “We had to figure out a lot of things on the fly.” Loyola Academy’s football team had to drive for more than three hours to compete in its season opener at Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Desherow knew one thing for sure ahead of the kickoff on August 26: the Ramblers’ defense
going to be very competitive.’ We ended up being a complete and balanced team, running half the time and passing half the time. The offense behind our quarterback (junior Ryan Fitzgerald) improved every week, our offensive line got more experience, and the rest of our skill players helped us become very potent. “Our ‘D’ was consistently good all season, and we had, in my opinion, the best kicker (Ole Miss-bound Michael Baker) in the state.” Desherow attended Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska, before moving to Kenilworth in the middle of his sophomore year. He played three seasons as a power forward in basketball and two as a 6-foot-5, 210-pound outside linebacker in football at Loyola Academy. His 1991 and 1992 football teams— coached by the late John Hoerster—went a combined 24-3, the latter crew reaching a state final after a 17-8 defeat of top-ranked Homewood-Flossmoor High School in a semifinal. Desherow earned firstteam All-Chicago Catholic League honors as a senior. “My mother (Dorothy) fell
Beau Desherow
Loyola Academy is a big part of my DNA, my fabric, my makeup. had a chance to be a suffocating unit, maybe even 1985-Chicago-Bears’-D dominant. LA’s offense? Only two returning gridders from Holecek’s 2022 edition had played significant minutes on that side of the ball. Loyola Academy crushed Catholic Central 45-7. CCHS was no slouch; it ended up winning a Michigan state championship. “I breathed a sigh of relief after our opener,” says Desherow, who took his very first breath at Chicago Heights-based St. James Hospital, where a certain ex-LA football coach ( John Francis Holecek) happened to be born, too. “I was thinking, ‘OK, our offense is fine. We’re
in love with Jesuit high schools,” Desherow, the reigning Chicago Catholic League-Blue Coach of the Year, says. “There were only two in the Chicago area (Loyola Academy and St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago), but only one had a football program at the time. My family chose Loyola. Easy choice. I found out right away that Loyola Academy football is built on tradition and a commitment to excellence. And the mission at Loyola Academy meant everything to me. It still does.” The mission: “To form women and men for meaningful lives of leadership and service in imitation of Jesus Christ through a college
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preparatory education in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition.” Desherow received a full-ride football scholarship from the University of Tulsa and capped his playing career at North Park University in Chicago, where he paced the Vikings in sacks and tackles for loss and later coached the program’s defensive linemen. He was an account executive for an IT consulting company when he learned of Hoerster’s death, at the age of 53, in 2003. While attending the funeral with countless ex-teammates and other impactful, influential Loyola Academy coaches, Desherow looked at all of the familiar faces, heard stirring words, and probably entertained the thought of donning pads and Loyola Academy’s good ol’ maroonand-gold jersey again, right then and there. “I asked myself at the funeral, ‘What are you doing with your life?’” Desherow says. “I remember feeling that I should be coaching football, that I should be coaching football at Loyola. I believe I got my calling that day. “Loyola Academy is a big part of my DNA, my fabric, my makeup.” Beginning in 2004, Desherow coached under former Loyola Academy varsity football coach Carl Favaro and started his administrative career as Loyola Academy’s assistant director of admissions. The holder of a Master of Education in Administration and Leadership from National Louis University then served as assistant dean of students from 2006-2019—while thriving as an assistant coach in The Holecek Era—before landing on the school’s executive leadership team as vice president for admission and enrollment. Desherow, a 2016 Loyola Academy Hall of Fame inductee, now works as the boys athletic director’s assistant at LA, in addition to his BIG-TIME football post. It’s 2023 and you’re the first-year head football coach of a state powerhouse, bent on making sure your young men are ready for another extended run in the state playoffs, beginning with Plainfield North High School. Who you gonna call? Holecek, that’s who. “John was great,” Desherow says. “He spoke to our guys on the day of our firstround playoff game, on our home field. He told them, ‘Limit distractions, focus on your job, and take care of the little things.’ He also said, ‘Embrace this special opportunity to play playoff football for your school.’” The Ramblers certainly did just that, bearhugging the occasion and skipping to a 45-9 rout. THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
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shoregoup@compass.com 773.991.2560 1866 2nd Street, #100A, Highland Park, IL The Shore Group is a team of Real Estate agent affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed Real Estate broker with a principal office in Chicago, IL and abides by all applicable Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, and changes without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of Real Estate brokerage.
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15
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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND