The North Shore Weekend, March 18th, 2023

Claire Bourg • Ravenna Lipchik

Glenn Zaleski • Dan Chmielinski

• Rannveig Marta Sarc

• Kenneth Salters

Ruth Page Civic Ballet • DanceWorks Chicago

• Alexander Hersh

• Michael Feinstein

• Greg Ward

• Jean-Yves Thibaudet

• Deeply Rooted Dance Theater • Hedwig Dances

Jumaane Taylor • Jacob Collier • Lawrence • Tiny Habits • Ms. Lauryn Hill

Arnaud Sussman • Michael Stephen Brown

Pat Metheny • Karim Sulayman • Sean Shibe

Dashboard Confessional

Jesse & Joy

• Glory Days

• Jorge Federico Osorio

Mark Steinberg

• Chicago

• Ravinia Jazz Scholars

• Melody Gardot • Counting Crows

• Ralph’s World

• Charlie Puth

• Calidore String Quartet

• Paul Biss • Kim Kashkashian

Ambrosia • Ne-Yo

Jonathan Rush

• Marcy Rosen

• Summer League

• Santana

• Alessio Bax

• National Seminario Ravinia Orchestra

• Apollo’s Fire

Symphony Chorus

• John Fogerty

• Hearty Har

• Janai Brugger • Ashley Dixon

Adrian Dunn Singers

• Ayodele Drum & Dance

• Miriam Fried

• Straight No Chaser

• Chicago Philharmonic

• Miko Marks • Chicago

• Paul Appleby

• Jim Gailloreto Trio

Heather Headley • Ravinia Lawndale Family Music School

• Ryan Speedo Green

• Senn High School Choir

• Trinity UCC Choir

• Sasha Cooke

Ariel Quartet • Ayano Ninomiya • Matthew Lipman • Karen Ouzounian • Henry Kramer

Valentina Peleggi • Gabriela Montero • Natalia Lafourcade

Alexis Lombre • Rebirth Brass Band

• Danish String Quartet

Ted Sperling • Andréa Burns • Morgan James

Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite

• Maria Schneider Orchestra

• Mei-Ann Chen • Jeremy Denk

• Capathia Jenkins

• Laurie Berkner • Jason Mraz

• Apollo Chorus of Chicago

• Matthew Polenzani

Joshua Hopkins • Kathryn Lewek • David Leigh • Christian Sanders • Tiffany Choe • Taylor Raven

Diana Newman • Adam Lau • Yunchan Lim • Boz Scaggs • Keb’ Mo’ • The Special Consensus

Jonathon Heyward • Benjamin Beilman • Teddy Abrams • Jeffrey Kahane • Lee Mills

Rufus Wainwright • Opera for the Young • Blues Traveler • Big Head Todd & The Monsters

John Legend • Ailyn Pérez • Kevin Murphy • Joshua Weilerstein • Alisa Weilerstein

Jethro Tull • Kenny Loggins • Yacht Rock Revue • George Stelluto • Lara Downes • Nicole Cabell

Buddy Guy • George Benson • Classic Albums Live (The Dark Side of the Moon)

Okee Dokee Brothers • Boyz II Men • The Isley Brothers • Misha Dichter

Disney Encanto In Concert • Thiago Tiberio • Jurassic Park In Concert • Scott Terrell • Train

Parmalee • Brandi Carlile • Carrie Underwood • Jory Vinikour • Tessa Lark • Shakti

Béla Fleck • Music of the Baroque • Dame Jane Glover • James Ehnes

Chicago Multi-Cultural

Early access to live music—

12 movie magic

Steve Sarowitz brings Wayfarer Theaters to downtown Highland Park

12 american opera stories

Skokie native Daniel Bernard Roumain debuts new work at Lyric Opera of Chicago

13 for the love of felines

A new state bill could make it illegal to declaw a cat in Illinois

14 power up

A group of entrepreneurial Lake Forest High School seniors takes winning project to next level

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

16 righteous thieves

Rex Reed gives this film about Nazi art theft two stars

17 65

This problematic film combines space travel and dinosaurs

20 #hashtag

Beth Levy of Bolt Addiction redefines luxury fashion in a good way

22 social life

The Breakthrough Board hosts a fundraiser and grants the "Partner In Breakthroughs Award"

23 material pursuits

A new tome from Lake Forest interior designer Shelley Johnstone Paschke tops this weekend's list of "must-have's"

24 north shore foodie

This spring green brunch skillet features the bounty of the season

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

25 sunday breakfast

Expect heavenly sounds at John Moulder's "Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit" sacred concert at Studio5 on March 31

John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING @NSWEEKEND.COM

Jennifer Sturgeon

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Sherry Thomas, Megan Weisberg

FASHION EDITOR

Theresa DeMaria

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mitch Hurst, Bill McLean, Rex Reed, Monica Kass Rogers, Ann Marie Scheidler

DESIGN

Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Chris Geimer ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART

Monica Kass Rogers

PHOTOGRAPHY

Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt

ILLUSTRATION

Cheyanne Lencioni ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

BY ANN MARIE SCHEIDLER THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

The professional relationship between interior designer and client can be uniquely close. Who else could easily name one’s most favorite colors and least favorite textures? Who else could so easily recite the life experiences that have shaped one’s design preferences? The ultimate testament to this bond is the return client, and few know this better than Inspired Interiors’ founder and award-winning designer, Emily Mackie.

Mackie had already designed a River North penthouse for a Chicago computer scientist when he tapped her to reimagine a second home in San Francisco’s Mission District. The exciting new project was a three-floor walkup next door to the residence of one of the world’s most successful social media moguls.

“I saw this project as a sequel to a great movie,” says Mackie. And Mackie’s script began with creating panoramic views of two of the world’s most famous bridges.

“Before we started the project, the client hosted a pre-construction, pre-demo party where he invited a number of his former Stanford classmates to come and enjoy the space,” explains Mackie. “After a couple of glasses of wine, I threw open the living room’s original 30 x 60 rear-facing, vintage windows and coaxed the client to poke his head outside. I wanted him to see how magical the space could be if it were completely open. Because of our relationship, he trusted me enough

to slice off the building’s back exterior wall and replace it with floor-to-ceiling windows.” The result? A breathtaking 180-degree unobstructed view of the cityscape.

After this dramatic feat, Mackie set about incorporating meaningful accents throughout the home. Take, for example, the spectacular primary suite’s lounging area complete with a bay window overlooking the client’s new neighborhood. “I could picture him sitting on the sofa with one of the 100 books he likes to read each year,” she says. Mackie created a chevron-shaped bookcase that serves as a high-end sorting device, allowing the homeowner to organize his books as he reads them by month. “It works a bit like a Pez dispenser—a very nice Pez dispenser,” she observes.

Just off the primary bedroom, shielded by metal barn doors inlaid with antiqued mirrored glass, is the primary bathroom—quite possibly the most intricately designed space Mackie has created.

“It’s five layers of crazy,” says Mackie with a laugh. “I came up with the idea but I can’t remember where it started. The tiled walls are comprised of small fragments of zoomed-in snapshots of art from my client’s favorite movies, albums, and books—things that have meant something to him in his life. Everything from Harry Potter to The Goonies to The Giving Tree. It is like a guessing game—always giving him something to contemplate when he’s in the space.”

This particular installation took Mackie’s skill set to a whole other level. She created the layout in Photoshop and developed an intricate legend for the tile maker and installer, all of which she carefully documented for the client should he ever need to have it repaired—or perhaps—re-created elsewhere.

“We curated an environment for him that is

truly interactive—something completely different every time he experiences it,” Mackie adds.

When reflecting on this project, Mackie recalls many moments that aligned to bring her creative vision to fruition. One example is the visit to a Parisian tradeshow, which coincided with the project’s start date and delivered the inspiration for a key element of the living room’s design.

“In one of the booths, I saw a display wall that had an abstract grid system, a Mondrian-inspired layout that combined both beauty and function,” she explains. “Our fabulous Chicago-based cabinet makers were able to re-create it for the client’s living room. The left side of the unit hides all of the electronics that an entertaining space requires and the right side houses the fireplace stack. It’s lovely.”

Flanking this beautiful wall unit is the rain room, complete with a koi pond—bringing the outdoors in with unabashed elegance. The lush

Francisco to create a design that elevates everyday tasks. The cerused oak base cabinetry that appears to be dusted with flour invokes the feel of a modern French bakery while the custom stove hood’s specialty finish—one Mackie dubs “dirty gas station”—is a nod to industrial style. Illuminated burnt pine cabinetry uniquely lined with gleaming subway tile transforms the simple act of reaching for a water glass into a design experience.

Every space in the home contains striking elements that are both beautiful and functional. In the foyer, multiple custom-designed metal art panels highlight the homeowner’s renowned graffiti art collection. The panels flank a hunter green leather bench inspired by the bucket seats of a vintage Aston Martin. With a wave of the foot, the homeowner can discreetly stow away his shoes without disrupting the sophisticated and artistic design of the entry.

“This project is a perfect example of an unself-

garden contains a café table at which her client begins his day with early morning coffees and computer work and a softly lit glass staircase provides a big tease for the rooftop view above.

For the kitchen, Mackie embraced some of the French influences typical to this area of San

ish and honest way to design around a client’s needs and personality,” Mackie says. “This space is absolutely unforgettable.”

To learn more about Inspired Interiors, visit inspiredinteriors.com.

INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDAN MAININI

Primary bathroom with custom tiles displaying fragments of the client’s favorite movie, album, and book cover art.

Primary bedroom with chevron-shaped bookcase used to sort the client’s monthly reading.

Kitchen with a stainless steel custom stove hood, illuminated burnt pine cabinets lined with subway tile, and cerused oak cabinetry with a “dusted with flour” appearance.

©2023 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. *Source: #1 Team in Illinois among all brokerages ranked by Wall Street Journal RealTrends The Thousand 2022.

190 KING MUIR RD. | LAKE

FOREST, IL

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353 N. DEERE PARK DR. E. | HIGHLAND PARK, IL Rare 1.5 Acre Lakefront Setting | Enjoy Views

LAKE

MOVIE MAGIC

Highland Park resident Steve Sarowitz wants to bring community-centered positivity to his new venture in downtown Highland Park.

BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Can a movie theater change the world? Perhaps not. But don’t tell that to Steve Sarowitz. Earlier this year, the Highland Park resident and founder of Paylocity purchased the old Landmark Renaissance Theater in downtown Highland Park.

The movie theater reopened last month as Wayfarer Theaters. You could call it a movie theater with a message.

“The opening night was fantastic. We had over 600 people there and we literally didn't have enough room to walk in the theater outside in the lobby,” Sarowitz says. “We had a great response. I think one of the best comments I got from the opening is somebody told me this is the most diverse event, diverse crowd at an event that they’ve ever been to.”

Sarowitz, who founded Wayfarer Studios, a film production company, says he wants to create a sense of community and positivity with the Wayfarer Theater. He plans to show movies with a positive message and also host events for families and children.

“We live in a town, Highland Park—I've lived here since 1996—and it's a town that's been profoundly injured, from the shooting on July 4 and from COVID,” he says. “You can feel the lingering effects on the town. You can see it when you walk downtown at night and how empty it is. It's a town that needs to come together in community.”

One of the things about seeing a film in the theater is the collective experience of getting out of the house and seeing other people from the community starting to heal together, Sarowitz says. It’s really hard to heal alone

when you're sitting in your house. He says the last thing we need is more isolation.

Sarowitz also sees the theater project as a way to boost business in downtown Highland Park. He’s looking to form partnerships with downtown businesses that can benefit from the foot traffic the theater will bring.

“Our goal is to be a good citizen and to help all the businesses downtown. I really think this town has the resources to be successful,” says Sarowitz. “What we need to do is have the collective will to come together as a community and to uplift our town. That includes, of course, the businesses that are downtown. We would love to be an important factor in helping to revive downtown

Highland Park.”

In the long run, Sarowitz says, he wants to draw people from many communities to Highland Park, even from Chicago and further away. His film production company plans on debuting its new films at Wayfarer Theater.

“I'm producing a couple of fairly major Hollywood movies and we aim on premiering them at our theater,” he says. “One of them we’re shooting right now is a movie called Code Three with Rainn Wilson.”

At the heart of Sarowitz’s ventures, which include Wayfarer Studios and Theaters and a private, philanthropic foundation, is his Baháʼí  faith. He strongly believes we are better when we find common ground and come

together as a community.

“The number one teaching of the Baháʼí faith is the oneness of humanity. I'm very convinced, as based on the Baháʼí faith, that we really are one human family, and we have a tendency to divide into tribes,” he says. “One of the things we do with our films is we highlight the people who are marginalized in a more unifying way.”

Sarowitz says he believes that, scientifically, we're a single human race, and it's incumbent on all of us to make sure, “These beautiful flowers in the garden,” have the adequate resources that they need.

“I feel that way in downtown Highland Park, that I want to help lift up the other businesses and they can help lift me up as a new business downtown,” says Sarowitz. “Every person should be thought of as noble regardless of what we look like. That's what I want everyone to feel like when they walk in our theater.”

Lori Ruben Dekalo, the new CEO of the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce, says Wayfarer Theaters is a welcome addition to downtown Highland Park life, especially because of its mission.

“The focus on positive and uplifting programming and entertainment along with movies, documentaries, and live events with a message will bring more families and friends to downtown Highland Park,” Dekalo says. “It will provide a boost to other businesses in the area.”

Wayfarer Theaters is located at 1850 Second St. in Highland Park. Tickets for all movie showings are $10, including tax. For showtimes, visit wayfarertheaters.com.

American Opera Stories

Skokie

BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

native

and

American composer

Daniel Bernard Roumain will debut his new work, The Walkers, at Lyric Opera of Chicago as part of a trio of new creations on March 24.

composed by Daniel Bernard Roumain, a native of Skokie. Roumain’s music will be paired with libretto by noted actor and playwright Anna Deveare Smith.

and has composed an array of film, theater, and dance scores.

A new trio of compositions, collectively titled Proximity, will debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on March 24.

Among the three works is The Walkers,

Roumain is known for his signature violin sounds infused with electronic and African American musical influences. He is a composer of solo, chamber, orchestral, and operatic works,

His previous work in opera includes the interdisciplinary chamber opera We Shall Not Be Moved, written with librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph, which premiered at Opera Philadelphia in 2017. He has worked with artists from Lady Gaga and Philip Glass to Bill T. Jones and Marin

Alsop and has published more than 300 works. The Walkers tells the story of Bilal, who has recently been released from prison and is experiencing PTSD. It is backdropped with narration from Chicagoans Arne Duncan and Curtis Toler about the history of gun violence in Chicago.

Steve Sarowitz (right) is shown with Wayfarer Theaters' General Manager Clay Stamper.

Photo courtesy of Gavin Good

Scenes of gun violence in Chicago end with a message of hope and peace.

Leading the cast of The Walkers are so-

Ryan Opera Center, Lyric's acclaimed artistdevelopment program. The cast also features baritone Gordon Hawkins as Preacher Man, and tenor Issachah Savage as Curtis Toler. The children's chorus in The Walkers features 20 members of Uniting Voices Chicago under the direction of Josephine Lee.

Another of the three works that will be performed as part of Proximity is Four Portraits, with music by Caroline Shaw and libretto by Shaw and Jocelyn Grace. Shaw, who was awarded the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in Music for Partita for 8 Voices and has received three Grammy Awards, has written more than 100 works in the last decade, and has worked with artists as diverse as Yo-Yo Ma, Rosalía, Renée Fleming, and Nas.

The third work of the opera is Night, with music by John Luther Adams and libretto by John Haines. Adams began his career as an environmental activist and transitioned into composing upon realizing that music had a better chance of changing the world than politics. Since that time, he has become one of the most widely admired composers in the world, receiving both the 2014 Pulitzer Prize in Music and 2015 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Become Ocean

“The trio of new American operas confront head-on some of the greatest challenges affecting modern society: the devastating impact of gun violence on cities and neighborhoods, yearning

for connection in a world driven by technology, and the need to respect and protect our natural resources,” a Lyric Opera spokesperson said. “In an innovative production by director Yuval Sharon that is searing in its intimacy, revolutionary in its structure, and groundbreaking in its technical wizardry.”

The Lyric says the three operas are spliced and shuffled to create an entirely new work that zooms in and out from the scale of the individual to the community to the cosmic. Proximity, the synthesis of these three works, offers a compelling snapshot of 21st century life with all of its complex intersections and reveals our everlasting capacity for hope.

Proximity began its curation in 2019 by Lyric’s Special Projects Advisor Renée Fleming along with Lyric General Director Anthony Freud and Proximity director Sharon. It is on stage at the Lyric Opera for five performances only from March 24 through April 8.

“The ultimate irony in working on a project called Proximity is that most of it was made in the era of social distance,” Sharon says. “We chose the name Proximity because it succinctly captured one of the opera’s fundamental ideas: we are closer to our fellow humans than we are often made to feel.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit lyricopera.org

FOR THE LOVE OF FELINES

Veterinarians warn that a new state bill to ban cat declawing will put many pets in jeopardy.

The Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA), which represents more than 1,800 veterinarians across the state, is opposing a bill being considered by the state House of Representatives to ban a veterinary surgical procedure that is sometimes recommended by veterinarians to protect a cat’s health and well-being.

“It’s deeply concerning that politicians propose outlawing medical procedures without consulting the medical professionals who have the expertise and insights necessary to ensure animal health and wellbeing is protected,” says ISMVA President Dr. Joanne Carlson, DVM. “While we appreciate good intentions, this bill will jeopardize the lives of some cats and compromise veterinarians’ ability to uphold their medical oath to protect and save animals’ lives.”

House Bill 1533, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, aims to outlaw the surgical removal of any cat’s claws, known as feline onychectomy, with few exceptions. ISVMA contends the bill is too narrow and puts cats at risk.   Veterinarians are concerned about false and misleading information being shared by the bill’s proponents.

“To be clear, Illinois veterinarians perform feline onychectomies infrequently and any suggestions that this is a common practice are untrue. When it is done, as a last resort, it is to protect the health and wellbeing of the cat,” says Carlson. “When the procedure is recommended, veterinarians employ the utmost care while engaging

in state-of-the-art procedures and employing the most effective pain management treatment.”

Carlson says there is no evidence that cats who have this procedure experience any long-term difficulties.

“The truth is recovery time is swift, and advanced laser procedures and anesthesia often allow the cat to resume normal activities the same day,” he explains. “Modern declawing is no more painful or complicated than one might expect from a spay or neuter procedure.”

Veterinarians speaking out against the proposed law see unique cat health cases every year, and there are situations where they believe this procedure is the most humane option, and sometimes the only alternative to abandonment or euthanasia.

When Jackie Myers of Bond County, Illinois, was faced with protecting her sick husband from her cat Tiny’s playful scratches, she eventually concluded declawing was the most humane choice for Tiny. Ross Myers was navigating the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and struggling with congestive heart failure and COPD, which caused his arms and legs to swell and blister.

“Ross’ arms literally looked like raw meat. We would wrap them, but it just wasn’t enough,” Jackie Myers says. She immediately took actions to rehome her beloved cat because she didn’t want to put Tiny, who was 5 at the time, through declawing—a procedure she had wrongfully been told was cruel and would change her cat’s

friendly demeanor.

To Myers’ dismay, however, all of the no-kill shelters were full. An area shelter that euthanizes pets that aren’t quickly adopted agreed to take Tiny, but predicted she’d likely be put down within two to three weeks, Myers said.

This situation isn’t unique in that regard, because many shelters are full, and adoption rates for cats older than 18 months are low. Many cats get euthanized in the shelter system.

As Myers continued to search for answers, she noticed her husband, who had begun suffering from Alzheimer's-related panic attacks, was finding comfort in Tiny—and she in him.

“When a person has Alzheimer's, they know something’s not right and they get scared. There’s so much fear involved,” Myers says. “But now Ross could sit in his chair and pet that cat … and pet that cat some more … and she would comfort him.”

Myers’ veterinarian recommended declawing for their special circumstance. Tiny had the procedure, recovered quickly, and was able to maintain years of frequent cuddle time with Ross before he passed away last November.

“People keep saying there are options, there are options, but the truth is, for some of us, there are no options,” Myers said. “Depending on where you live, there may not be a shelter that has space to take your cat. There wasn’t for us. And keeping Tiny with our family turned out to be the best choice.”

Carlson says Myers’ story is unique, but emblematic of difficult situations that veterinarians sometimes encounter where the choice comes down to declawing, abandonment or a death sentence for a beloved family pet.

“Rep. Hernandez’ bill begs the question, ‘When well-being is at stake, is it better for the cat to be declawed, or to be removed from a loving home and essentially sentenced to die?’ ” Carlson adds. “We maintain that choice should be made between the pet’s family and a licensed veterinarian.”

prano Whitney Morrison as Yasmine Miller and baritone Norman Garrett as Bilal. Morrison is an alumna of The Patrick G. and Shirley W.

Skokie native Daniel Bernard Roumain’s new work will debut at the Lyric Opera on March 24. Photo courtesy of Kyle Flubacker

POWER UP

BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

It happens to the best of us. So many electronics to keep charged, yet never enough outlets. And forget those bulky power strips with cables the size of a pipeline. It was the experience of studying at home during the pandemic that led four students from Lake Forest High School to create EZ Plugs, a portable power strip that looks more like a Lego than small power plant.

With a prototype in hand but college on the horizon next year—all four members of the group are seniors—they’ve got some business decisions to make. But with a potentially hot product in their portfolio, that’s not a bad position to be in.

“Last year, we were all in a class called Business Incubator where you get assigned a group based on test to see if we were all compatible with each other,” says Pride Haggerty, a co-founder of EZ Plugs. “Once we had our group, we came up with an idea, did problem and solution interviews, and by the end of the year we had our working prototype.”

The group, which in addition to Haggerty includes Sarina Vora, Connell Sassen, and Sean Kupperman, presented their idea last May to Pitch Night (think Shark Tank), during which groups in the Incubator class present their idea to an audience of potential local investors. The group won the night and came away with a check for $2,500.

“We first we did a mini pitch to them and then from there, four teams got chosen to go to Pitch Night held in our auditorium where people could come and invest in your idea,” Haggerty says. “From there, we got awarded best pitch and we got funded, which meant we could move on to the next class this year, which is called Business Accelerator. From there, we’ve just taken off with our idea.”

Vora says the concept is simple. A slim power bar that accommodates all of your charging needs, from the various USB formats to your laptop to cables that charge your Apple devices.

“Two years ago, during COVID, we had the issue of finding the right amount of power plugs that fit your computers or chargers for all your devices,” says Voya. “So, we were like, ‘I wish there was a better way we could just charge all of our devices,’ and we came up with the idea of Lego blocks you could attach power plugs to and

make it as long or as short as you wanted and have different outlet types. It could be super friendly and very easy for the customer.”

The challenge for the group of seniors now who are all going off to college in the fall is how to keep the momentum going. They’ve refined their prototype with the help of a product designer—they wanted to make the power strip slimmer—and may be looking to shop the company to potential investors.

“The dream has been kind of the most

difficult part throughout this year because we all know we are seniors and know what the deal is for next year,” Sassen says. “We want to bring it as far as we can this year. We're not changing our path just because we know we might eventually try to sell it off.

“Ideally by the end of the year we’ll have sold the idea to someone who can maintain it for longer than we can.”

For the four members of the group, the journey they’ve been on the last two years, and what they’ve learned from

the Lake Forest High business program, has been as important as what they ultimately accomplished.

Kupperman, who is off to the University of Miami in the fall, says all four had opportunities to take business classes even before the Incubator class they took their Junior year.

“We all had some interest in this, but I think it really has grown over the past few years because we really got to see the ins and outs of running a business and the opportunity that presents to us,” Kupperman says. “We're so lucky to be able to explore all the possibilities of what we want to do when we are older.”

The four have high praise for Lake Forest High’s business program and also for their teacher, Joe Pulio, who mentored them through the business development process. Pulio is also a theater teacher and helped the group hone their presentation skills.

“I think the school does a really great job of introducing us to different aspects and different ways for us to grow, and I think this is a great opportunity for us because we learned many skills, like public speaking and group work,” Kupperman says. “I think it's just a great program and I think a lot of schools should offer this to kids because it's awesome to get to have this experience.”

“Mr. Pulio is really able to teach us the values that we've gotten from this class and the public speaking is definitely one of them, especially with the steps we took to make it a full business,” says Sassen. “We learned so much about marketing, customer segments, and channels. That's all information that is so very valuable that you can't learn anywhere else.”

For more information about EZ Plugs, visit ezplugsconnected.com.

A team of young entrepreneurs from Lake Forest High School has created an innovative power strip for our modern technological era.

(L to R) Sean Kupperman, Connell Sassen, Pride Haggerty, and Sarina Vora

RIGHTEOUS THIEVES

While this film about a noble effort to rescue paintings stolen by the Nazis during World War II is an “interesting” effort, the end result fails to deliver in a meaningful way.

RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 30 minutes

RATING: 2 stars

BY REX REED THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Another film about the long-reaching effects of the Holocaust, Righteous Thieves chronicles the efforts of a secret syndicate dedicated to righting a major wrong by tracking and stealing works of art originally stolen by the Nazis, then returning them to their rightful owners.

Hitler waged war against abstract, expressionist, and surrealist painters as affronts to the "virtues" of German life and labeled them "degenerates". The culmination of his efforts to destroy their work resulted in the loss of 5,000 masterpieces that were secretly burned or sold at auction in Switzerland, and countless ended up in the hands of thieves.

They are still sought to this day, 70-odd years after the end of World War II.

In Righteous Thieves , four of them—a Picasso, a Monet, a Degas, and a Van Gogh—are discovered in Los Angeles in the collection of Otto Halzen (Brian Cousins), a notorious German banker-capitalist billionaire hell-bent on building a neo-Nazi Fourth Reich.

The syndicate obsessed with stealing them back is headed by the beautiful Annabel (Lisa Vidal), who recruits a combination of patriots, rogues, relatives of concentrationcamp victims, one master criminal (Cam Gigandet), and even a pretty and fearless girl from the U.S. Department of Justice (Jaina Lee Ortiz).

Their goal—to give back to the world all of the beauty stolen by the Nazis. They risk their lives to do it, and in the course of the flying bullets that follow, it doesn't matter how many people they massacre in the process.

It's an interesting idea, only sluggishly directed by Anthony Nardolillo, with a cast of good but indifferent unknowns (to me).

The action piles on the dangers (cracking open a vault where the paintings are hidden along with millions in gold bricks, overpowering security guards, unscrambling codes, springing locks, and facing double jeopardy thanks to one member of the team who betrays them) but separately or collectively, the cast shows no chemistry, thanks to a script by Michael Corcoran full of the kind of pauses that drag out the playing time instead of enhancing it with originality.

Bullets fly, but none of them in the right direction.

Illustration by Tom Bachtell

Famed film critic Rex Reed weighs in on Righteous Thieves and 65

RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 33 minutes

RATING: 1 star

BY REX REED THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Bad movies waste time, but a contrived, empty-headed dinosaur movie called 65 wastes more of it than anything I've seen lately.

The only thing worth mentioning here is the initial idea, which nobody follows to anything resembling a satisfactory conclusion, and the star, Adam Driver, who is wasted, filthy, and somewhat dazed throughout. He plays an astronaut named Mills whose space ship is hit by an asteroid, killing everyone on board except a cryogenically frozen girl named Koa (Ariana Greenblatt) on her way to start life anew on another planet.

When they crawl out of the wreckage, they discover, to their horror, they are stranded on a hostile planet inhabited by dinosaurs. For the next 90 minutes, the pilot and the girl narrowly escape death by razor-sharp fangs as they are pursued by ravenous snakes, meat-hungry flying raptors and other assorted hissing, growling, roaring, screeching monsters.

The only escape is through a cave and over the top of a dangerous rock and when they reach the other side, they discover, to their amazement and our amusement, that they've been on the

planet Earth all along, but 65 million years ago.

They've been through Hell, for apparently no reason. Call it Jurassic Disneyland.

Covered with sores, crushed by a collapsing wall of jagged stones, and vomiting on cue, the hapless duo speaks two different languages, so dialogue is minimal. Lacking any kind of narrative drive, the movie makes up for an absence of plot by featuring a creepier assortment of prehistoric creatures than usual—all posing constant threats to keep the movie going but doing nothing much more than biting each other.

The real stars of 65 are the folks in makeup and special effects. The worst thing that happens to Adam Driver besides clawing his way out of a bog of quicksand is when he falls out of a tree. The inept writing and directing are both the work of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, and it's hard to decide which talent (or lack thereof) is the most boring.

The idea of real people being tortured on a planet of pointless horrors only to discover they've never left Earth must have intrigued the creative team responsible, but it's hard to imagine nobody bothered to tell them about the Statue of Liberty at the end of Planet of the Apes

65 is a gruesome thing to watch, even for dinosaur lovers— and not much fun, either.

A film about a spaceship crash that takes characters back in time 65 million years to Earth’s dinosaur age is both plotless and pointless.

WHY I SUPPORT THE LAKE FOREST CAUCUS AND WILL VOTE FOR RANDY TACK FOR MAYOR

“It has been a great duty and honor to serve you as Mayor for these past four years. Thank you so much for your confidence and support through it all. If you love our Lake Forest way of life, please support the Lake Forest Caucus system and vote for Randy Tack to succeed me as Mayor.

The Lake Forest Caucus Committee is a foundational institution in our small town. It includes 43 of our neighbors, who we voters elect by ward every year to serve a short, three-year term and represent us. This non-partisan eighty-eight year-old institution is perhaps the most significant reason that Lake Forest has enjoyed excellent governance for so long. They seek, vet and select candidates to volunteer for over 100 City board and commission appointments by the Mayor. The Caucus Committee also recruits, vets and nominates consensus candidates for elected positions on the City Council and our School Boards. Without the Caucus, which is currently under life threatening attack from external political forces, our government would be led by self-selected, likely partisan operators with agendas, interests and obligations outside of simply doing what is right for Lake Forest as a whole.

I never asked to be, nor promoted myself, to be your Mayor. Neither did Randy Tack. Like me, Randy was asked if he would like to be considered by the Caucus Committee to become their Mayoral candidate. Like me, he had to think about it for a while, but decided he could do the job if selected, and was willing to make the necessary sacrifices in service to his beloved community. It has

never been about us. It’s always been about doing the right thing for our small town. No agendas, no litmus tests, no favors asked or received.

Ultimately, Randy was the candidate selected to run for Mayor by our forty-three elected representatives on the Caucus Committee. His opponent was not selected, and has reacted by taking actions, at great cost to all, that are intended to de-legitimize and defeat the Caucus system and our City Government, and bring partisan electioneering to our town. These are critical institutions that have had a powerful role in making Lake Forest the wonderful community that it is. We must not let this succeed.

I worked with Randy closely on the City Council for several years. He is a leader who thinks about things clearly and carefully. When he speaks people listen. They are often persuaded of the wisdom of his thoughts and ideas. Moreover, he follows through with clear plans of action and is willing to take the lead on whatever effort is agreed upon, hands-on, and bring the project to a timely and successful conclusion. He makes the commitment and gets the job done. This has been demonstrated in his leadership of the Public Works Committee, the Fire Vision 2000 task force, and his current work leading the CBD Comprehensive Plan working group, not to mention his outstanding career leading one of our most prominent regional medical practices while also being a dedicated physician to many Lake Foresters.

Randy Tack is clearly the right choice for Mayor. I support the Caucus system, and will vote for Randy. I urge all Lake Foresters to do likewise in order to keep Lake Forest moving in the right direction.”

- George Pandaleon

Paid for by the Lake Forest Caucus

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY

757

eautiful custom home on large 2/3 acre lot in Ravinia. The spacious kitchen is open to the family room that is backed by a wall of floor to ceiling windows and doors that overlook the yard Trex deck, brick paver patio and gazebo. The open floor plan has high ceilings, moldings, and architectural touches that demonstrate the details and care that went into the planning of this home. Features include an elevator and 3-car garage. Enjoy Ravinia’s vibrant neighborhood with schools, parks, restaurants, beach, farmer’s market, Ravinia Festival and transportation.

EDITED BY DUSTIN O'REGAN ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

BETH LEVY’s passion has always been fashion. Her parents owned a network of clothing stores and Levy recalls being completely “addicted” to pulling clothes off hangers and attempting to try on anything and everything at the tender age of 3. She spent her childhood working in the business learning about people, personalities, buying, and fashion. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and realizing that life is too short not to follow your dreams, Levy opened Bolt Addiction. With the mission of sharing designer looks for less, Levy hopes she helps her clientele look and feel fabulous while also leaving them “addicted” to being savvy and stylish. This busy mom of two steps away from handpicking pieces for Bolt Addiction to share how she stays on trend.

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

I love Colleen Hoover. I am re-reading It Ends with Us . I heard there is a movie in the works starring Blake Lively. It is just so well written and I love how empowering it is.

#ON MY MOBILE

I follow so much fashion, influencers, designers, and celebs online because I am always hunting and searching for clothing inspo for Bolt. I also love celeb gossip and love TMZ online and Page Six

#IN MY EARBUDS

I am a sucker for podcasts these days, I love them. Music wise, anytime my two girls are in the car or I am driving carpool we are listening to Tik Tok Radio and I feel old! Podcast wise, I love Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge, both former (Real) Housewives . They are just so real, break down all the juicy Housewives drama, and recap the episodes. Can you tell I am a Housewives addict! Also, Teddi has been very honest with her recent battle with melanoma and it encouraged me to book an appointment with my derm. I also love Heather McDonald’s podcast and Crime Junkie Podcast.

THE BREAKTHROUGH BALL

Photography by Robin Subar

In November, The Breakthrough Board—the group formerly known as the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Women’s Board—hosted “Shining A Light Where Science Meets Creativity,” at the Four Seasons Hotel. A fun cocktail hour preceded dinner in a dazzling ballroom filled with colorful ambient light, symbolizing the creative minds of the cancer researchers at UChicago Medicine. The annual “Partner In Breakthroughs Award” was presented to the Duchossois Family for their longstanding philanthropic support of cancer research at the University of Chicago. Sotheby’s Gary Metzner led the evening’s live auction. Post-auction, the crowd hit the dance floor to music spun by DJ Madrid. Funds raised support cancer research at UChicago Medicine. cancerresearchfdn.org/thebreakthroughboard/

ZANNA & ARAM NIKITAS

CINDY & BEN CHERESKIN ROB & MARY CONRA

KUNLE ODUNSI, M.D., PH.D., & AYO ODUNSI

THE RAFFLE TEAM: GIOVANNA CARNELI, ALESSANDRA SMITH, AVA BUSHONVILLE, RUTHIE BARLOW, SIENNA PRASSAS, LEIGHTON MALEC, ADDIE SCHWALM, MACY CRUZ

KAREN MCENIRY, CINDY CHERESKIN, LIZ RYAN, BETH HUGHES, ELIZABETH COLE, ROBIN TEBBE

MCKAY & ASTRID MCKINNON, KAREN & ANDREW SLIMMON

MEREDITH PARRISH, HEIDI CAREY

LINDA COLEMAN

ANNA SMITH, KAYME GIANATASIO, ERICA SWANSEY, ANGELA CARNELI ELIZABETH & MICHAEL LUTTIG

BACK ROW: JEFFREY SMITH, DAVID RHIND. FRONT ROW: LAUREL ELZINGA, JILLISA BRITTAN, JENNIFER RHIND

ANNEMETTE CLAUSEN, ANNETTE CARROLL JENNIFER RHIND, KAREN SLIMMON, ELIZABETH LUTTIG, ANNE HOKIN, KRISTI NUELLE, MARY CONRAD

MATERIAL PURSUITS

This weekend’s curated luxury trends

DIVINE DESIGN

Over the course of his 50 year career, Jacques Grange has designed homes for the world’s most respected collectors, artists, designers, and tastemakers, including Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, François Pinault, Valentino, Stavros Niarchos, Aerin Lauder, and HRH The Princess of Hanover. His classical training at Paris’s École Boulle and École Camondo, his early experience with the French design legend Henri Samuel, and his passion for contemporary art have resulted in a uniquely discerning approach to interior design. Grange’s seemingly natural, “nondesigned” aesthetic is revealed through his unusual way of grouping objects, and an unparalleled sense of style and attention to detail. The book illustrates Grange’s wide-ranging inspirations and exquisite taste through 31 new residential projects in Europe and America, from a luxury hôtel particulier in Paris to a chic beachside cabana in Comporta, Portugal, and a midcentury-modern house in Los Angeles. Texts and interviews by Parisian gallerist Pierre Passebon delineate Grange’s approach to design and decoration. Previously unpublished photography by François Halard captures these singular projects with profound sensibility. Dive into divine décor, ©Jacques Grange: Recent Work by Pierre Passebon, Flammarion, is available at rizzoliusa.com.

A LOVING TABLE

CLEARLY THE BEST

Gemini is a design, project management, and production company that enhances clients’ spaces to tell their story. In a recent collaboration with Showcase Acrylics, Design Art Group is pleased to introduce a new collection of acrylic décor unlike anything you’ve seen. With custom colors, unique sizes, and signature laser etching, these products will elevate your space and WOW your guests. Find your new favorite frames, trays, and decorative pieces online—great for sprucing up your space or as a gift for that fabulous friend. geminibuildsit.com

Lake Forest’s Shelley Johnstone Paschke met Kimberly Schlegel Whitman when the two designers participated in a Veranda magazine table décor event at the Plaza Hotel in New York. The style mavens pursued their love of tablescapes in their new book, A Loving Table: Creating Memorable Gatherings. The beautiful tome shares inspiring tables and entertaining styles of 34 tastemakers revealing how they keep traditions alive in their entertaining styles. Whether incorporating recipes passed down from a grandmother’s collection or following a mother’s lessons for making guests feel comfortable, it is apparent that family has a strong influence. From formal to casual occasions, city to country, grand to intimate, these beautifully designed indoor and outdoor tables tell a story about the hostesses and their history. Pull up a chair and bon appétit. A Loving Table is available at The Lake Forest Book Store, Shelley Johnstone Design showroom in Lake Forest, or on amazon.com.

SPRING GREEN BRUNCH SKILLET

A delicious dish prepared with local ingredients.

BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Spring welcomes green into our landscapes and our kitchens. That means lovely fresh ramps, spring leeks, tender young asparagus, and more. On the North Shore, we are lucky to have access to fresh farm produce from the more than 60 Illinois farms that are a part of Down at the Farms, LLC—all in a one-stop-shop: Evanston’s Village Farmstand. Featuring items produced using chemical-free or certified organic practices, pastured livestock, and non-GMO seed, the unique grocery store was established by Marty Travis of Spence Farm (organizer of Down at the Farms) and filmmaker and sustainability advocate Matt Wechsler in 2020. The purpose was to create a more efficient connection between farms and the Chicago community during the hardships of the pandemic. The charming shop offers a wide range of seasonal farm products through online ordering for pickup four days a week. This light and tender medley highlights some of the fresh items you’ll find at Village Farmstand this month. The dish features fresh leeks and asparagus, plus lemony mint peas—all topped with farm-fresh eggs and a scattering of creamy French feta, mint, and herbs.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 4 small (or two large) leeks trimmed of outer leaves, white and light green portions thinly sliced into rings to make 2 cups sliced

• 1 bundle fresh asparagus

• 2 cups green peas (fresh or thawed from frozen)

• 1 bunch fresh mint leaves, minced to make 4 tablespoons

• 3 teaspoons fresh lemon zest, divided

• 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper

• 2 tablespoons butter, divided

• 5 fresh medium or large eggs

• 1/2 cup French feta cheese, crumbled

• 1 small bunch fresh chives, minced

METHOD

Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced leeks and sauté, stirring constantly to prevent browning. Once leeks are soft, remove from heat. Wash asparagus. Snip the top two inches from each stalk; place these asparagus tips in a microwavable bowl and set aside. With the remaining portion of the asparagus stalks, trim off and discard the bottom inch. Slice the remaining portion of the stalks into tiny rounds. Add asparagus stalk rounds to the leeks. Sauté for a scant 2 minutes until asparagus bits are bright green and al dente. Remove from heat.

If using fresh peas, place in a microwaveable bowl with 2 tablespoons of water, cover, and heat in the microwave for five minutes until bright green and cooked tender. If using thawed from frozen, do not cook peas.

In a food processor, add 1 cup of the peas with 3 tablespoons of the minced mint, 2 teaspoons of the lemon zest, salt, and pepper; pulse a few times until chopped fine but retaining some texture.

Stir pulsed pea/mint/lemon zest into the asparagus/leek mixture. Add the remaining cup of peas to the skillet and heat just until mixture is hot throughout. Taste, and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.

Place bowl of asparagus tips in the microwave with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Microwave for 2 minutes until cooked, but still firm. In a separate sauté pan, heat the remaining tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Sauté eggs sunny-side-up until set. Slip the eggs onto the pea/asparagus/leek mixture, arranging attractively. Scatter asparagus tips over eggs; sprinkle feta cheese over all; and top with snipped chives, remaining minced mint, and remaining lemon zest. Serve immediately.

For more information about Village Farmstand, visit villagefarmstand.com.

Photography by Monica Kass Rogers

JOHN OF ALL TRADES

Lake Forest High School graduate and musician John Moulder will stage his compelling, eight-piece “Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit” at Studio5 in Evanston on March 31.

BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

Musician, psychotherapist, priest.

Lake Forest native John Moulder, 61, is all of the above—the equivalent, career-wise, of either an adept circus performer spinning way too many plates on poles or an ace juggler chucking and catching more than a few clubs.

“My three worlds,” says Moulder, who also teaches music in his basement in Skokie and at Northwestern University and Roosevelt University.

“They all suit me.”

In spades. The guitarist/composer also works as an assistant director at the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being in Chicago, as a therapist at Heritage Professional Associates in Hinsdale, and as an assistant priest at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement in the Chicago neighborhood Edgewater.

Count on plenty to congregate March 31 (8 p.m.) at Studio5 in Evanston for Moulder’s eight-piece “Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit,” featuring musical portraits of diverse figures—the late jazz saxophonist/bandleader/ composer John Coltrane, civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, and the late Trappist monk/ theologian/writer Thomas Merton—who have influenced Moulder.

The eight pieces (musicians): guitar (Moulder), saxophone (John Wojciechowski), trumpet (Tito Carrillo), vibes (Thaddeus Tukes), piano (Jim Trompeter, bass (Clark Sommers, percussion (Kalyan Pathak), and drums (Paul Wertico).

The narrative music work was originally commissioned by the Jazz Institute of Chicago for a featured 2014 performance in the “Made in Chicago” concert series in Millennium Park.

“It’s kind of a sacred concert,” Moulder says, referring to the concerts, composed by Duke Ellington and held in churches and cathedrals from 1965-1973, that combined elements of jazz, classical music, gospel, and blues. “It’s my musical exploration of inspiring figures, people guided by their soulfulness.”

The “Journey to the East” segment devoted to Merton in “Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit” is three-pronged—the Trappist monk’s interfaith pilgrimage to homelands of Eastern religions; his early, unexpected death in Samut Prakan, Thailand (accidental electrocution, at age 53 in 1968); and his musical exploration.

“We first performed ‘Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit’ at smaller places, like art centers, the year before the ‘Made in Chicago’ appearance, so our event at Studio5 will mark the 10th anniversary of the work,” says Moulder, who presented his first sacred concert, “Trinity,” at the 2006 Chicago Jazz Festival. “I’m

excited it’ll be there because it’s such a great venue, with wonderful acoustics and a warm, distinctive environment.”

Studio5 is an intimate performing arts center that also boasts excellent sight lines and comfortable seating.

About the only thing the house on Dempster Street is missing is a bad seat.

Co-founders Steve Rashid, an Emmy Award-winning composer, and Bea Rashid, a dance educator, choreographer, and theater director, opened the welcoming space in 2016—

expanding Dance Center Evanston to include Studio5 as a performing arts venue presenting professional dance and music events among other forms of entertainment.

It functions as the Dance Center’s fifth studio in the day and is converted to venue and event space by dusk.

Moulder chose hoops for his major cardiovascular activity during his middle and high school years. The guard liked to run and dribble and shoot basketballs.

But music, particularly guitar, netted the

future Lake Forest High School jazz band member and never released him. He began composing in grade school. Moulder’s late mother, Echo (who lived to 100), played the piano and encouraged young John to pursue music. Former LFHS music teacher Rich Matthews, who taught classical jazz, inspired and motivated Moulder (LFHS, Class of 1979) constantly.

“A lovely person and a fine musician,” Moulder says.

The couple that lived across the street from the Moulder family, Scott and Rita Meland? Music teachers.

“Rita,” Moulder recalls, “sparked my interest in composing.”

Moulder was only 16 when he started teaching guitar at home, with his charges strumming and learning and improving in the dining room. At 18 he began performing professionally with bands at clubs and private parties.

“I was exposed to a wide variety of music early in life,” says Moulder, who has been married to his husband, Joe, since 2017. “The 1960s and 1970s were years when a lot of people learned how to play the guitar. I liked the piano. The guitar?

“It kind of landed in my lap.”

Moulder played nothing but the acoustic guitar before discovering the electric guitar in his junior year at LFHS.

Moulder attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, majoring in psychology. Four years after graduating, he answered the call to the ministry, enrolling at the University of St. Mary of the Lake seminary in Mundelein.

He earned master’s degrees in music and in counseling at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, respectively.

Moulder, a former music teacher at Benedictine University in Lisle, is a lecturer in the Jazz Studies department at NU and an adjunct faculty member at Roosevelt University. The ages of the music students who take private lessons in his Skokie basement range from 21 to 70.

Moulder teaches guitar, improvisation, composition, and jazz studies down there.

“It is so full of life, so expressive of life,” Moulder says of music. “A lot of times it opens hearts and lifts spirits to elements of inner selves that are otherwise inaccessible. Making music is an exercise in creativity, a refined art form, a spontaneous composition.

“And it has the power to transport you to another time. I love music.”

Studio5, 847-328-6683, is located at 1934 Dempster Street in Evanston. For more information, and for ticket information to John Moulder’s “Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit,” visit studio5.dance.

Making music is an exercise in creativity, a refined art form, a spontaneous composition.

John Moulder

The

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