The North Shore Weekend, May 27th, 2023

BATHROOM

Bathtubs

Bathrooms

Grouting of tile

Plumbing Needs

Shower Doors

Showers Installed

Sinks & Faucets

Silicon Tile

Tile Repairs

Toilet Repair

Toilet Replacement

Towel Racks Install

Vanities

BEDROOM

Closets

Ceiling Fans

Skylights

LIVING ROOM

Blinds Put Up

Carpeting

Crown Moldings

Flooring Installed

Flooring Repaired

Framing

Hanging of Items

Light Bulbs Changed

Light Fixtures

Sliding Doors

Trim & Moldings

Television Set-up

KITCHEN

Appliance Install

Cabinets

Child Proofing

Counter Tops

Garbage Disposal

General Repairs

Kitchen Ideas

Leaks Repaired

Sinks & Faucets

OUTISDE

Awnings Installs

Brickwork

Carpentry

Caulking

Concrete work

Cement Patching

Decks Repairs

Deck Cleaning

Doors

Driveway Repairs

Fencing Installed

Fencing Repaired

Flower Boxes

Gutter Repair

Gutter Replacement

Handicapped Ramps

Hand Rails

Landscape Work

Locks Installed

Mailbox installed

Masonry work

Paneling

Patching

Painting

Plaster repairs

installed Porches

Pressure Washing

Roof Work

Sealing Driveways

Screens Replaced

Screens Repaired

Shutters Installed

Siding repaired

Shed Building

Sidewalks repaired

Storm Pumps

Storm Windows

Sump Pumps

Repaired

Weather Proofing

Window Install

Window Repair

Yard Work

OTHER SERVICES

Air Conditioners

Attic Fans

Basements

Clean-Ups

Battery Back-Up

Clean-ups

Computers

Installed

Crawl Space

Dryer Vents

Drywall Repair

Electrical Work

Fixtures Installed

Fixtures Replaced

Filters Installed

Filter Replacements

Flood Control

Furniture Moving

Furnace Filters

Garage Cleaning

GFCI Outlets

Glass Replacement

High Pressure Wash

Hot Water Heaters

Insulation Addition

Installation Items

Moving

Rewiring Items

Rust Removal Repairs General Sprinkler Systems

Smoke Detectors

Sweeping

Treat for Pests

Venting

Water Heaters

Replaced Wiring

JUST

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NEWS

8 passion project

We talk to Barbara Paget, founder of annual Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day, which will be held this year on June 6

9 mission of hope

A June 4 North Shore Ladies Luncheon benefits WINGS, a nonprofit that supports people who are experiencing domestic violence

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

12 l'immensita

Rex Reed gives this memorable Venice Film Festival prize winner, a poignant coming-of-age story, 3.5 stars

14 love again

This romantic comedy about a grieving woman and her cell phone was destined to fail

14 the mother

Jennifer Lopez stars in a misguided action film about a former sniper who comes out of hiding to save her daughter

15 mercy

Our film critic calls this film with a plot we've seen many times before a complete disaster

16 #hashtag

Roni Moore Neumann of Winnetka reflects on her family's 20+ years in the local school system, sharing what's recently trending in her world

17 material pursuits

From a portable cigar humidor to a sunglass brand once favored by the late President John F. Kennedy, this weekend's items are a prelude to summer

17 the weekender

A blueberry gin fizz recipe created by Deer Path Inn bartenders is perfect for Memorial Day picnics

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

18 sunday breakfast

After 15-plus years with the U.S. Marine Corps, Highland Park native Keller Rongey aims to land job as a commercial airline pilot

John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING @NSWEEKEND.COM

Jennifer Sturgeon

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

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

FASHION EDITOR

Theresa DeMaria

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mitch Hurst, Bill McLean

DESIGN

Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Chris Geimer ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART

Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt

ILLUSTRATION

Cheyanne Lencioni

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BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

It’s fitting that there are currently 65 horses at the Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, just northwest of Gurnee. Some are retired, some are performing, and some are or will be in training. They’ll all be celebrating the farm’s 65th anniversary this summer.

Lipizzaners, or Lipizzans, are one of the oldest breeds of horses in Europe and hail from modern-day Slovenia—back when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The breed got its start in 1580 when Archduke Charles established a stud farm in Lipizza near the Adriatic Sea. Originally bred as a cavalry horse, there are only about 12,000 left in the world.

While originally bred for battle, that role changed during the Renaissance when the craft of horsemanship became a popular pursuit. Today, many of the horses are trained in performance and known for their choreographed dancing skills.

“Classical riding schools popped up then around Europe, and classical riding is essentially a stylized version of cavalry riding, and horsemanship became a type of entertainment for the Royals,” says Esther Buonanno, Program Director for Tempel Lipizzans and granddaughter of the farm’s founder, Tempel Smith.

Lipizzans are medium-sized horses. Buonanno says they’re “strong and sturdy,” very intelligent, athletic, and connected to people. They’re like modern-day dressage horses, only smaller, with shorter legs.

Buonanno’s grandparents, Tempel and Esther Smith, first brought Lipizzans to Illinois in the 1960s. Her grandfather owned a steel manufacturing company in Chicago and many

of the parts and machinery they used had to be sourced from Europe. On one of their first trips to Europe they became taken with the Spanish riding school in Vienna.

“I think they were just totally inspired by the traditions, the boldness, the beauty, the overthe-top baroque presentation,” Buonanno says.

here.”

Buonanno says her grandfather’s vision was to bring this unique breed of horses to the States and resurrect the same classical traditions of riding and training that were started centuries ago. However, because they were living in the suburbs when the horses first arrived and didn't

Mill Creek and began a proper, really well-advised breeding and training program,” she says.

“This was all possible thanks to the help of a lot of Germans in Austria and Austrians that actually came over and helped get things underway.”

Buonanno initially went her own way after college. The farm was a place where she came to visit, and she grew to love horses over time. Thirteen years ago, one of her cousins asked for her to help out on the farm and she eventually became Program Director.

“As a grown-up, coming back into it, it has a ton to do with realizing how much was done to produce the farm—really nice horses and a lot of respect for the culture of classical riding,” she says. “These Lipizzans are quite personable, and you almost feel like they're acknowledging you and looking through your soul when you meet them.”

With a background in education, Buonnano says part of her motivation is to provide access to the horses to the public and be able to explain that there's a lot that goes into the performances. They should be appreciated as a beautiful experience set to music, like going to a ballet.

Upkeep of the Tempel Farms requires around 15 employees. Summers are particularly busy, when most the horses’ performances take place. There are 30 horses, mostly stallions, in training, and then a breeding program.

“We're breeding all of our horses right here, and I will say when you ask me what I love about being here and being a part of this place, it is the breeding side, which has become an absolute fascination to me,” says Buonanno. “We're doing all our own breeding, but it's not just matching them up and running with it. There's so few of these horses you have to be quite careful about it.”

Breeding is really an art form, Buonanno says, and there are basic rules about how you want a horse’s body to look. The horses are bright, and

“In the States, we had racehorses and western riding, barrel racing, and show jumping. But this fancy European dressage really wasn't present

own any land at that time, they had to rent a place to house them.

“They eventually settled in what is called Old

very connected to people, and she says Tempel’s breeding program feels a bit like hearing messages from 400 years ago when Lipizzans were

Continued on PG 8

Lipizzans train for years before participating in performances at Tempel Farms. All photos courtesy of Tempel Farms.

Tempel Farms runs an extensive breeding program. There are only about 12,000 left in the world.

The quadrille is a style of horseback riding made popular by the Spanish School of Riding in Vienna.

In 1969, Tempel and Esther Smith purchased the property where the Tempel Lipizzans are bred, trained, and perform today.

first being bred.

“Some of the people who do this are the experts and mentors for me. They say, ‘You know, you can have a horse that looks like a Lipizzan, but if they don't have a brain like a Lipizzan, they're actually not one’,” she says. “So, it's all very fascinating.”

This summer’s program at Tempel Farms will include a new soundtrack for the farm’s 65th anniversary. Buononno says in the past the farm has presented programs with music from the likes of Johann Strauss II, Mozart, and other Germans and Austrians.

“We are delving into some really fun and recognizable tunes from American history. We've got music from Ragtime and swing music for one of our solos,” she says. “We've got some Broadway tunes. We’ve put an awesome musical

arrangement together and worked closely with a woman whose entire job is choreographing music freestyles, and she's a former opera singer and musical arranger.”

Dancing—at a human level— has always been a good analogy for what Tempel does because in addition to it having harmony and rhythm, it's a long slow process bringing the horses along.

“Just like a young dancer doesn't get into shoes in the first year of ballet, the same thing is true with the Lipizzaner movements,” Buonanno says.

For more information about the summer’s program at Tempel Farms and to purchase tickets, visit tempelfarms.com.

PASSION PROJECT

Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day will turn 20 years old on June 6, and salons and spas around the country will be participating.

BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Twenty years ago, Barbara Paget had an idea. The Highland Park resident, long a volunteer in the cancer unit at Highland Park Hospital (there’s a plaque acknowledging her role in creating the Arthur G. Michel Education and Research Fund at what is now NorthShore University HealthSystem), established Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day to provide support to those recovering from cancer.

In the early days, it was a matter of lining up local spas in Highland Park and along the North Shore to provide free services for a day—a haircut or mani/pedi or massage to survivors. Through Paget’s tenacity, Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day is now a national and international event, with hundreds of salons, beauty schools, and wellness centers participating.

The day was originally scheduled for the first Tuesday in December (Tuesdays are generally slower days at salons) but after a few years of snow getting in the way, Paget moved it to the first Tuesday in June.

This year’s Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day will be held on June 6. Salons, wellness centers, and beauty schools participate in the day in different ways. Some put out an open call to survivors to book an appointments for a particular service. Others, such as many Great Clips franchises, ask employees to invite cancer survivors they may know to come in for a trim. This year, Gordon Salon in Highland Park is gifting bottles of hand lotion.

It's all part of an effort to acknowledge the challenges cancer survivors face and to provide a respite from their struggles. Paget says it started off as more of a social gathering, with

survivors getting to know each other. She baked and brought cookies.

“After their service, they sat down together and everybody just started talking and sharing their experiences,” Paget says. “This is what I really wanted it to become. Then I thought, ‘I wonder if I could expand it more?’”

Expand it she did.

Paget started calling around to additional salons and lining up their participation. She met people on airplanes and trips around the country. She called Great Clips, and the next thing you know franchises throughout the country were on board.

Talking with Paget’s friends and partners in Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day, one clear message emerges—persistence. She won’t take “no” for an answer, and that’s why spas and beauty centers from coast to coast and Mexico have joined in.

“We were very happy to help her from the beginning and promote it to now 4,500 Great Clips salons throughout the United States,” says Jim Petrovich, who owns 21 Great Clips franchises in Illinois and Indiana. “It’s just a very personal experience to touch someone’s life a little bit and provide a ray of sunshine for someone going through those challenges. This was Barbara’s dream.”

Karra Hunter, Community Outreach Coordinator for Gordon Salon in Highland Park, says the salon’s participation is going on six years and it’s all about the company’s commitment to the local community.

“We feel compelled to do it because there are many cancers out there and people are going through different types of treatments,” Hunter says. “Recovery is different for everybody, and things have changed for them. It might be getting their hair done. They’re going to benefit from something no matter what.”

Hunter says the decision to provide survivors with free hand lotion this year instead of services came down to the difficulty with demand when so many appointments were already on the books. Gordon didn’t want to turn people away, so they came up with the idea of a free gift.

Paget’s friend Susan Maman, a real estate agent with @properties in Winnetka, says that in addition to persistence, another p word comes to mind when she thinks about what Paget has accomplished over 20 years—passion.

“She is so passionate about what she does, turning something local into international surely by her hard work and

determination,”Maman says. “There’s no other word for this.”

Maman says Paget’s enthusiasm for Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day is infectious.

“It’s hard not to get excited because she so enthusiastic. It’s pretty tremendous,” she says. “Most people aren’t that passionate over something for a lengthy period of time, but every year is a new, exiting year for her for this cancer day.”

Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day is June 6. For more information or to see a list of participating salons, visit cancersurvivorbeautyandsupportday.org.

The beauty of Tempel Farms

Gordon Salon in Highland Park will be giving out bottles of hand lotion on June 6 in celebration of Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day.

MISSION OF HOPE

North Shore Ladies Luncheon on June 4 benefits WINGS programs for families experiencing domestic violence.

Gather your friends next weekend for a garden party that can make a difference in the lives of many as WINGS, Illinois’ largest agency offering services for families and individuals experiencing domestic violence, hosts its North Shore Ladies Luncheon fundraiser.

The second annual benefit will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, at the Westmoreland Country Club, 2601 Old Glenview Road in Wilmette. The elegant garden party organized by co-chairs and North Shore residents Maria Shideler and Renee Zipprich provides an opportunity to learn more about a cause that touches the lives of one out of three women.

“For too long domestic violence has been shrouded in secrecy,” says Shideler. “In addition to raising funds, the North Shore Ladies Luncheon also builds awareness of both the challenges and solutions that are vital to supporting survivors of domestic violence.”

One graduate of the WINGS two-year program, Michelle, will share her story of escaping domestic violence by going to a WINGS Safe House and explain how WINGS has helped her and her children enjoy a life free from abuse. Her story reflects the way that domestic

violence affects the lives of families. In fact, children comprise 62 percent of residents in WINGS safe houses.

WINGS has an unmatched success rate in

helping women like Michelle. Last year, 100 percent of adults who completed the WINGS two-year program, which includes housing, did not return to their abuser, and were able to heal while seeking employment and starting a savings account. In 2022, WINGS provided more than 107,000 nights of safe shelter, a 67 percent increase over 2021, and served 984 clients, a 30 percent increase over the previous year.

“The North Shore community has really rallied around the WINGS mission,” says Zipprich. “When people learn more about the impact of domestic violence, which often is hidden from friends and neighbors, and about the powerful change that WINGS programs help survivors achieve, they really want to help.” Continuing this momentum in the community, guests also will learn more about the formation of the WINGS North Short Leadership Council to be launched later in June.

Suzanne Le Mignot, anchor and reporter for CBS Channel 2, will emcee the program in the elegant garden setting of the Westmoreland Country Club. Guests can enjoy a pop-up shop by Glencoe boutique LuxLab, complimentary lipstick from PerlaRose Beauty and a chance to win a photographic portrait from Light Drawn

Studios. Guests can also purchase raffle tickets to win prizes including six days at a luxury resident in Blue Sky Montana, sports tickets and more.

WINGS four resale shops will benefit from gently used fine clothing and accessories that guests bring to the benefit. WINGS Resale Stores continued to flourish in 2022, generating over $2.4 million in revenue during the fiscal year with all profits benefitting WINGS.

The luncheon host committee comprises Ann Marie Allman, Jackie Blackett, Katie Buckley, Margaret Chaffee, Milena Djankovich, Nicole Goven, Shelby Hasten, Beth Kauffman, Katie King, Megan Kieras, Karen O’Brien, Natalie Romano, Tanya Scandariato, and Claire Winnard. Event sponsors include Allstate, Melissa and Mike Canning, Ready Rocker, Tom Stringer Design Partners, and The Little Gym Chicago.

The North Shore Ladies Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, at Westmoreland Country Club, 2601 Old Glenview Road in Wilmette. Tickets are $200 and can be purchased at wingsprogram.com/northshoreladies-luncheon/

2022 North Shore Ladies Luncheon co-chairs Maria Shideler and Katherine Banich.

NEWTOMARKET

This superior, contemporary new construction home by award-winning Noah Properties features oversized European windows and a fabulous open floor plan. Filled with natural light and first-class finishes, the unparalleled interior design and decor are apparent throughout the home, from the state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen to the exquisite primary suite with spa bathroom. The lower level includes an outstanding temperature-controlled wine cellar, a spacious fitness room, a dry sauna, home cinema, and a mudroom with a dog shower. The outdoor space features an in-ground pool with a separate pool house and a rooftop deck. An added bonus is the three car heated garage with additional covered outdoor parking spaces and a heated driveway and front walkway. This property is a North Shore gem and unique in all of the very best ways!

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RUNNING TIME: 98 minutes

RATING: 3.5 stars

L’IMMENSITA

BY REX REED THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

1970s Rome was a time and city of transition. New architecture and art replaced the ugly, cold and impersonal monolithic existence created by Mussolini—a perfect metaphor for the personal transition of a family in emotional distress from every angle, especially Spanish-born, mentally burdened mother (Penelope Cruz in another galvanizing role) and her deeply confused daughter Ariana (a career-defining performance by transgendered Luana Giuliani).

A painful, heart-rending coming of age drama, L’Immensita , which translates as “immensity,”is a sensitive, painful prize winner from the Venice Film Festival that mirrors the ethos and intensity of a tortured family’s experience in a time of change.

Adriana, the eldest of three children, looks after her younger brother and sister and acts as a wedge between her unhappy mother, Clara, and the husband who abuses her. Adriana knows she is trapped in the wrong body, identifies with her female gender but calls herself Andrew, accusing her parents of making her wrong and lacking the power to “fix” her. Neither a girl nor a boy, Adriana is an in-between in the years before sex realignment was a common reality. The toll of her predicament distorts teenage reality from morning to night. The father Felice (Vincenzo Amato) rants disapproval for the daughter who calls herself Andrew, breakfasts are solemn affairs with the mother in tears, the youngest daughter plays with her food, and the middle son poops on the floor. When the others aren’t looking, Clara identifies with Adriana as both herself and as Andrew, singing and dancing duets while setting the table and losing themselves in the kitschy musical numbers from the variety shows they both watch on

their black and white TV set.

What this family needs is a disciplined maternal center, but what frustrates and enrages Felice is the fact that Clara is little more than a child herself, treating the children like playmates. At a lavish family holiday gathering when Adriana crawls under the table to steal and mix up the guests’ car keys, Clara crawls under the table with him/her and joins in the game.

Yearning to be a boy and desperate to escape the dull, repressive elements of daily reality, Adriana is an isolated soul, but instead of guidance, Clara embraces his/her fantasies, creating confusion and turbulence for Felice and the rest of her children. “I come from another galaxy,” says Andria/Andrew and Clara radiantly takes him at his word. They’re both indelibly wounded outsiders in their own town and inside their own skin.

This much identity crisis leads Clara to suffer a nervous breakdown and she is sent away for a rest cure. When she returns, it is never fully explained, but someone sets fire to the unhappy house and what happens next is unforgettable. This extraordinary film is directed by the esteemed Emanuele Crialese, who is himself transgendered. It is based on his own adolescence, which makes the grim details doubly memorable. He knows how to tell a story and he gets phenomenal performances out of his entire cast, especially Penelope Cruz, whose haunting beauty stays with you after the film ends, and Luana Giulani, who magnifies the screen with consuming eyes, an impressive dramatic range, and an appealing voice as she vocally explores a vast sound track of songs, including “Where Do I Begin,” the corny theme from Love Story , by Francis Lai. Admittedly, this is a hard film to watch and hardly everyone’s cup of tea—but if you crave something different, tender and unforgettable, I highly encourage you to see L’Immensita

Illustration by Tom Bachtell

Famed film critic Rex Reed weighs in on L’Immensita, The Mother, Love Again, and Mercy

This Venice Film Festival prize winner is a painful, heart-rending coming-of-age drama that creates unforgettable moments on the big screen.

LOVE AGAIN

A rom com about a grieving woman who finds romance through cell phone messages fails on its premise alone.

RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 44 minutes

RATING: 1 star

BY REX REED THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

As lousy, amateurish rom coms go, a disaster called Love Again doesn’t go fast enough. I take that back. As I write this, it’s probably gone already.

The forced and dubious premise: Still depressed two years after the death of her fiancé in a car accident, a girl named Mira decides the only way to stay close and keep his memory alive is to leave messages, poems, and unspeakable mush on his old cell phone.

She doesn’t know the number has been re-assigned to a boy named Rob, and the director-writer, James C. Strouse, doesn’t know that mobile providers protect their customers by no

longer servicing old discarded mobile numbers. So, the basic reason for the plot, inspired loosely by You’ve Got Mail, makes no sense, and neither does anything else in the movie that follows.

Mira and Rob, played by a pair of attractive newcomers with the unpronounceable, career-destroying names Priyanka Chopra James and Sam Heushan, suffer through text messages like “I begin every day thinking about you” and “I’m on the bed where you should be sleeping beside me” to “I would give anything to be naked with you right now.”

We are asked to believe she’s an otherwise talented illustrator-author of children’s books and he’s some sort of British music critic for a fake New York newspaper, although the only level of ambition he ever demonstrates is interviewing Celine Dion. After the two lovebirds by phone who don’t know how to click “Delete” finally meet-cute at the opera Orpheus and Eurydice, she’s egged on by her obnoxious sister and he’s coached by his gay best friend and supervised by, of all people, Celine Dion, who plays a romance counselor mouthing impossible dialogue (“Love takes courage—open

yourself to the universe”) punctuated by a surfeit of lugubrious songs sung by—you guessed it—Celine Dion. (How many times can you stand to listen to “All By Myself”? This movie is the litmus test.)

It’s been quite a time since I’ve witnessed such unconvincing love scenes as Mira and Rob’s first date, when just as they begin to get serious, she impresses him (an alleged music critic?) about how much she craves hip-hop, losing all potential credibility. And why is it, in bad movies about contemporary relationships, that the girl always dumps the guy after they have sex the first time?

The direction seems to be phoned in, and to make matters worse, for two people passionately in lust, a pair of actors have been chosen who exhibit no chemistry whatsoever. I guess I can’t blame them when the most profound philosophy in the movie is “You can learn more in 10 minutes playing basketball with someone than you can in one hour of talking.” Huh?

It’s not much to examine at length, much less remember, but if you’re in the mood for a Hallmark card to revive your faith in gooey rom-coms, Love Again is not the one.

THE MOTHER

Jennifer Lopez stars in this misguided action thriller about a retired military sniper who comes out of hiding to protect her daughter.

RUNNING TIME: 116 minutes

RATING: 1 star

BY REX REED THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

They said she was a flash in the pan. That was 25 years ago, and Jennifer Lopez is still running in place. Most of her movies are one and the same, but some of them are surprisingly entertaining.

The Mother is not one of those. It's annoyingly lumpy, shockingly pedestrian, and instantly forgettable. It’s also disturbingly and relentlessly bloody, as New Zealand action director Niki Caro lovingly trains his camera on J-Lo as she shoots, stabs, breaks one of her victims' windpipe, and slashes another man's throat to raw hamburger with her fist wrapped in barbed wire. Glaringly devoid of any originality whatsoever, it even includes a bloated sequence in which the star crashes down stone staircases of an ancient city the way James Bond always does. (This time the setting is Havana, Cuba, and don't ask what she's doing there because they seem to be making it up as they go along.)

J-Lo's prey is always male. At the screening of this film I attended, the women in the audience applauded with vigor every

time another man ended up in the morgue, which says more about the time we live in than it does about one movie's faults and shortcomings.

A generic bloodbath with all the cliches of a dozen action revenge thrillers boringly intact, The Mother is preposterous, violent, and over the top as it showcases J-Lo as a curvaceous former military sniper forced into retirement by the gangsters she double-crossed a dozen years earlier, but don't count that as a reason to applaud her feminine heroism.

The threadbare plot reveals in her former life as a killer turned FBI informant and she was little more than basic sexpot trash who slept with assorted thugs and had a baby by one of them before turning him over to the feds. Understandably sore, he

stabbed her in her pregnant belly, but the baby somehow survived, only to be given up for adoption and placed in a government protection program.

Now 12, the child is targeted by J-Lo's old enemies as a pawn

to lure "the mother" out of hiding and into the barrel sights of their A-14s. So, the chase begins, with Gael Garcia Bernal and Joseph Fiennes hopelessly miscast as psycho arms dealers stalking J-Lo and her kid from the heat of Cuba to the icy slopes of

Alaska, where the whole thing ends predictably on snowmobiles. Never mind that 007 did it first. Somebody did everything J-Lo does in this rehashed cinematic gumbo first, in better movies than The Mother

MERCY

A “disaster” of a film about a premise we’ve all seen before (mobsters, hostages, etc.) is witless, dull, and at times, confusing.

RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 25 minutes

RATING: 1 star

BY REX REED THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

In the chaos of the post-pandemic movie world, with the writer's strike, the closed Hollywood gates, and the postponed releases piling up in studio vaults and on editing-room shelves, a plethora of low-budget films ready for streaming devices but not prime time viewing is crowding the market. Most of these films are unspeakable, unreviewable, and un-releasable, and I'm not kidding. I have never seen such a pile of junk. Every week sees the opening of between 15 and 21 new titles nobody bothers to see with actors nobody has

ever heard of, and by the next week they've all been replaced, forgotten, and sent to a purgatory for flops where nobody will ever go.

The status of movies today is grim, and the future looks grimmer. Re-opened cinemas are empty and grosses are down, and it's not much fun being a critic trying to stay optimistic while trying to stay employed. Among the new disasters, something called Mercy is about a doctor named Michelle (Leah Gibson) who is hard at work in a hospital when a member of the Irish mafia (Anthony Konechny) is admitted with a bullet wound. An FBI agent (Sebastien Roberts) is waiting to arrest him as soon as the doctor releases him. Also waiting are the gangster's father (Jon Voight, of all people) and brother (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who take over the hospital by force to rescue him. In the ensuing pandemonium that follows, they also take the doctor's son hostage. That's the humdrum, seen-it-all-before premise of this derivative, boring and unimaginative B-movie programmer,

clumsily written by Alex Wright. The script begins with one foot in the archival dust by wasting time on a prologue showing the violence that traumatized Dr. Michelle for life in the military before she moved onto the calmer shores of medicine.

That's about all Mercy does to fill in the character background of its leading lady. Nothing about her life in the present is clear, rendering her distraught emotional state blank. None of the other characters are very human either, nor do we know anything about the Irish mafia or why they choose to waffle away the time terrorizing the hospital staff. They come off more cartoonish than frightening.

The dialogue is witless and dull. The direction by Tony Dean Smith gives the actors nothing meaty to do beyond mouthing words designed to move the narrative forward.

Nicolas Cage or Bruce Willis might once have added a spark. At least by clocking in at a mere hour and 25 minutes, Mercy is not long enough to bore you to death—just long enough for a nice nap.

EDITED BY DUSTIN O'REGAN ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

“Teachers, by Inspiring students to soar, are heroes! Every month, not just May, should be Teacher Appreciation Month!” says Winnetka’s RONI MOORE NEUMANN

Along with her husband Rob, Neumann has four daughters who are graduates of District #36 and New Trier High School. Their youngest daughter Emma, in fact, joins her class of 996 students at New Trier’s graduation this Sunday. It’s a milestone in their family—with Emma off to University of Colorado Boulder in the Fall to study computer science—and for Neumann, this marks more than 20 consecutive years of being a room parent and member of several school-related boards, including the New Trier Fine Arts Association Board for more than seven years. “It’s been said that when parents and teachers work together, everyone wins,” says Neumann. “Our family is beyond grateful; it has been such a privilege to work closely with teachers and administrators throughout our 20+ years as a family in this school district. Fundamentally, Carleton Washburne created a community of learners that we are so fortunate to have here in Winnetka. While there are many exceptional area high schools, New Trier High School, led by Principal Denise Dubravec, is ranked within the top 1 percent of all high schools in Illinois. Along with your children, diving into school events—getting to know the teachers and the other families—is so much fun! We had a ball at 12 years of New Trier cross country meets and 20+ years of concerts—both violin and vocal performance. A blink of an eye; I didn’t realize this time would go so fast.”

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

I read incessantly; it’s a passion. I love biographies and memoirs of people I admire. Reading about their successes and failures and resiliency inspires me. My late father-in-law’s book, A Time to Tell, is the story of his remarkable life, starting with his childhood in Prague. He was practicing physician, a prolific artist, and an accomplished pianist. He was also a Holocaust survivor. Following his life in Prague, he shares his courtship with my now 90-year-old (and still vibrant) mother-in-law Gitta in Israel, their extraordinary wedding in Highland Park, and their beautiful life they created here in Chicago. It’s been a gift to our family, our children and someday, for their children as well.

#ON MY MOBILE

A given—digital editions of both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. So many of my favorite magazines have amazing mobile sites—Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Sports Illustrated for starters. To catch up with friends near and far, their kids and our extended family, Instagram is awesome! I love engaging, commenting, and just seeing lives unfold. But it’s also so great for design inspiration. We recently rebuilt our kitchen and some of the best elements were inspired by designers I follow on Instagram.

#IN MY EARBUDS

A new study says a majority of consumers point to podcast hosts as influential in driving purchase decisions. That speaks to the power of podcasts! While I’m walking my dog Paddington or driving home with Rob from UW-Madison to pick up our daughter Barbara from school, it’s Smartless hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett. Catch the episode featuring U2’s Bono. It’s the best! I also love listening to my own Spotify playlist—lots of U2—it’s the soundtrack of my life.

MATERIAL PURSUITS

This weekend’s curated luxury trends

ODE TO JFK

John F. Kennedy was the epitome of all-American style and a big part of his swagger was in the Saratoga sunglasses he sported from the Cape to Washington, D.C. These lightweight tortoise shell frames with green lenses are an American Optical (AO) classic that never goes out of style. This Chicago-area company has been “helping people see the world” since 1833, before the invention of the car, the radio, or even electricity. Famously worn by the late President (in size 52-19-145 mm, to be exact), the sunglasses are crafted in the U.S. with globally sourced acetate and feature German seven-barrel hinges, an oleophobic coating that keeps the smudges under control, and OLite non-polarized Calobar™ green lenses to reduce glare. With summer just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to rock this iconic look. Available for $205 at aoeyewear.com.

THE WEEKENDER

BLUEBERRY GIN FIZZ

Our bartender friends at the Deer Path Inn created a light, refreshing cocktail recipe perfect for Memorial Day gatherings.

Makes one cocktail

• 15 fresh blueberries, plus more for garnish

• 1 ½ ounce of gin

• 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

• 1/3 ounce simple syrup or honey syrup

• Champagne or prosecco for topping

• Mint sprigs or cocktail picks for garnish (optional)

Place blueberries in a cocktail shaker and smash with a wooden spoon or muddler. Add gin, lime juice, and syrup to shaker and top with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass. Top with Champagne or prosecco to taste.

To garnish, thread blueberries onto a mint sprig (bottom leaves removed) or a cocktail pick. Balance across rim of glass or place in the cocktail.

ONE FOR THE ROAD

Ready to head to the beach for an old-fashioned American picnic? The Weber Smokey Joe series portable grill is made for such occasions with a durable, lightweight, compact design. Whether it’s tailgating or a road trip, this miniature version of the classic Kettle model is meant for grilling on the go. With a porcelain-enameled lid and bow to retain heat, it won’t rust or peel. Its signature Tuck-N-Carry™ lid lock doubles as a lid holder to avoid placing the lid on the ground and the dampers allow you to keep the temperature under control. Large enough to hold up to five burgers made with a Weber burger press, this premium grill is available in several colors, including spring green, slate blue, ivory, crimson, smoke, and classic black. Available for $67 at weber.com.

HUMIDOR TO GO

With Father’s Day quickly approaching, this travel cigar humidor checks all the boxes for the stogie-lovers in your life. The neophytes among us likely don’t know that cigars require between 62 percent and 72 percent humidity to retain their flavor and quality. There is a lid-mounted hygrometer on this mini humidor that allows you to check out the conditions inside at a glance. Holding between three to give cigars (depending on size), it retains a James Bond vibe with a silver checkered design that contrasts with a black base. Available for $75 at uncrate.com

READY FOR TAKEOFF

Highland Park native and United States Marine Corps Major Keller Rongey is eager to fly civilians after completing 15-plus years of decorated service in military aviation.

BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

United States Marine Corps Major and Military Instructor Pilot Keller Rongey has been all over the world since the age of 18, from the weeks he spent with a Rotary TABU (Towards A Better Understanding) contingent in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to overseeing the planning and execution of tactical sorties in support of operations in Northern Africa and Europe.

He climbed Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Etna in Italy.

As a young cellist, he performed with an orchestra in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and Mexico City.

But the humble, salt-of-the-earth Rong ey, 34, would be perfectly content to be known as something other than a decorated aviator with a well-worn passport.

Forever-grateful Highland Park native would suit him to a tee.

“I had a phenomenal childhood in Highland Park, growing up in a modest house near Sunset Park,” says Rongey, who lives in Pensacola, Florida, and hopes to land a job soon as a commercial pilot with a major airline. “I loved the school district, the park district, and all of the opportuni ties they provided. I still stay in touch with the group of good guys I befriended in Highland Park.

“It’s on the table, returning someday to Highland Park to raise a family,” adds Rongey, a 2007 Highland Park High School graduate who will marry St. Louis native Kori Younger next May 4 in Pensacola.

“Yes, I’m a Star Wars fan,” Rongey says, referring to his “May the Fourth be with You” wedding date.

Rongey’s interest in travel rivaled that of his passion for tackling ball carriers as an all-Central Suburban League-North defensive lineman for Highland Park High’s football program, which reached the Class 6A state quarterfinals in 2005, Rongey’s junior season. He earned CSL North Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior.

“I found out Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) had a very good and wellrespected aviation management program, so I applied to attend there, thinking I’d also play football,” says Rongey, who also competed in lacrosse, gymnastics, and

sisters by talking and listening. I wanted to help them.”

Rongey exemplified the United States Marine Corps’ purpose year after year.

“United States Marines are a family that fights together finding individual purpose in a collective cause—the protection of our Nation and the advancement of its ideals,” the mission begins. “Side by side, we welcome obstacles and thrive on challenges.”

“I worked hard every year because I didn’t want to look back and regret any part of it,” Rongey says. “I’m sad I’m leaving the Marines, but it’s time—the right time—to start a new chapter in my life.”

Rongey counts his parents, David and Linda, as major influences in his life. David, who grew up in East St. Louis in downstate Illinois, served in the U.S. Army for six years and recently retired as principal at West School in Glencoe. Linda is a native of Scotland whose commitment to community service heartened a young Keller.

“They’re great parents,” says Rongey, who volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in 2012 and again from 2020 to2022. “They loved my father and the work he did for so many years at West School. I remember helping my mom at soup kitchens and the positive impact she had on many.”

Keller Rongey plans to spend this Memorial Day like he did in previous years— thinking about his fallen brothers and sisters and others.

“A lot of people in the United States sacrificed their lives for their country,” Rongey says. “I’ll think about them on Memorial Day, but I’ll also think about the families that lost loved ones who served our country. For many, Memorial Day is a time to gather with family and friends, relax, celebrate the start of summer, and enjoy a barbeque on a patio. That’s great, but my hope is that they set aside some time on an important day to remember our country’s true heroes.

“That’s one way to honor them,” he adds. Now that he’s in a transition stage, Rongey has been “reading a ton” about a variety of subjects.

“I have always been interested in diversity and discovering things about the world’s societies and cultures,” Rongey says. “In the military, I’d be away with a team, consisting of people with all kinds of backgrounds, for six to 10 months at a time. I loved those opportunities.

“People,” he continues, “should never stop learning, never stop growing.”

A lot of people in the United States sacrificed their lives for their country. I’ll think about them on Memorial Day, but I’ll also think about the families that lost loved ones who served our country.

LISTED AT $4,895,000

239 Essex boasts a 7 bedroom, 5.2 bath home situated on a breathtaking oversized lot in East Kenilworth. Enjoy the pool, outdoor fireplace, built-in trampoline with drainage, and professionally privately landscaped yard. Home boasts chef’s gourmet kitchen & butler pantry, screened in porch overlooking the pool with fireplace, wine cellar, exercise room, game room and so much more! Separate coach house with kitchenette, bedroom and full bath. A true home retreat! SCAN