THE SWARM
A historic cicada invasion in Illinois is fast upon us, with a 13-year brood emerging at the same time as its 17-year winged comrades. But what was spotted at a recent Lake Forest Open Lands event is even more remarkable—a rare blue-eyed species that has left local scientists in wonder. pg6
4TH OF JULY
Expect the spectacular at the Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks show at Deerpath Community Park on July 4 pg8
8 4th and strong
Rick Amos and Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation host a second-to-none Festival & Fireworks show on the Fourth of July
10 north shore doings
Your go-to guide for all the latest local events
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
14 #hashtag
Jen Bobay of Jar Bar shares what's trending in her life, along with information about some summer pop-ups
15 weekend cocktail
This Blueberry Gin Fizz cocktail came to us from the Deer Path Inn, just in time for Independence Day
16 social life
Schaumburg's Brain Health Restoration celebrates its grand opening
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
18 sunday breakfast
U S. Air Force veteran Laura Joyce-Hubbard reaches new heights—as the City of Highland Park's first Poet Laureate
As a
Similarly, as the noncompeting designated managing broker of the Winnetka office, I am singularly focused on enhancing our agents’ business. Being dedicated to just one location allows me to invest the time and resources necessary to define personalized goals, develop new business strategies, and hold ongoing coaching sessions that will propel your success.
Experience the meaningful difference of a manager who is truly invested in you — contact me today and let’s raise your expectations. Anthony Mehrabian | 847.830.0702
Designated Managing Broker | Winnetka
Interested in a career in Real Estate? Call Anthony or visit JoinBW.com .
The 17-year cicadas are back, swarming into almost every North Shore neighborhood with a vibrating roar that has become the soundtrack of the summer. But this year is already turning out to be a little different from their last invasion in 2007.
First of all, they invited some of their winged relatives to parts of southern Illinois— a double emergence not seen in more than two centuries. However, what’s even more intriguing to scientists is the discovery of a rare blue-eyed cicada, including one spotted a few weeks ago at a Lake Forest Open Lands (LFOLA) event.
Julia Lunn, LFOLA’s Director of Engagement, was hosting the organization’s “Cicada Sensation” program on June 1 at Mellody
took the cicada home to observe for a couple of days. Once the cicada started slowing down, he was invited to hand-deliver it to the Field Museum collections and DNA studies,” she says, explaining that the Lake Forest boy was welcomed to go behind the scenes where they prepare the collections at the museum. “He was treated to a personalized tour of the insect collection from the largest bugs down to the very smallest.”
The other buzz in the cicada world this summer has been about the historic emergence of two simultaneous broods. The 17-year cicadas that have been serenading us on the North Shore in recent weeks are categorized as Brood XIII. However, for the first time in more than 200 years, their cicada cousins from southern Illinois—a 13-year-old variety known as Brood XIX—are joining them.
While this will not directly impact our area, according to Jorin Graham, a doctorate student at Northwestern University, it’s a rare occurrence worth noting.
Farm Nature Preserve when 6-year-old Fritz Perkins revealed his fantastic, blue-eyed find.
“My work is connecting people to the natural world through programming at LFOLA,” says Lunn. “Within 12 hours, I went from having a scientist from the Field Museum talking about the rarity of this blue-eyed form to being in the actual field with a 6-year-old with one in hand. It was a dream!”
Described as “one in a million,” the elusive blue-eyed cicada that’s been spotted only in a few other places in the Chicago area has researchers intrigued.
As Lunn notes, Jim Louderman—a collections assistant in the Gantz Family Collection Center, Insect Collections, at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History—had just spoken the evening prior at LFOLA’s Conservation Cocktails lecture series about the rarity of blue-eyed cicadas and DNA testing being done at the Field Museum to further research within the insect field.
Allen Lawrance, Associate Curator of Entomology from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, also participated in the “Cicada Sensation” weekend.
“With guidance from both scientists, Fritz
“This is the first time these broods have come out together since the early 1800s, so it’s been
221 years,” Graham says. “There’s a region right around Springfield where those two broods are going to be coming out in approximately
the same area. Scientists are really interested if they’re actually going to breed together.”
That apocalyptic concept aside, here is what we know about the cicadas that are already in our midst.
“They spend 17 years of their lives underground and they come out for just a few weeks at the end of their lives,” explains Graham, whose studies at Northwestern combine physics and biology. “They mate, which includes their mating songs, and when they mate, they die. A little while later the nymphs hatch from those eggs and they go right back into the ground where they stay for another 17 years.”
Though this year’s brood of 17-year cicadas will be nearing the end of their cycle within the next few weeks, the time we spent with them this summer will not soon be forgotten. This is especially true for young Fritz, who is likely to be telling his blue-eyed cicada story for quite a while.
“It was so cool to donate my discovery to science,” he says. “My favorite part is that it might travel around the world to other scientists and museums. It could even go to Antarctica!”
THE SWARM From PG 1
EDITED BY SHERRY THOMAS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Fritz Perkins shows off his blue-eyed cicada.
Affordable Luxury Pre-Owned Vehicles
4TH AND STRONG
Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks show's return to Deerpath Community Park—now featuring striking synthetic-turf fields and a pair of new buildings—will certainly add oohs and ahhs to the wildly popular event on July 4.
BY BILL MCLEAN
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Something might finally upstage the fireworks at this year’s Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks on July 4.
Not the music headliner, Dancing Queen, though the event’s longtime coordinator, Rick Amos, describes the ABBA tribute band as “fantastic,” and even casual fans of disco will likely pop up and gyrate to songs like “Mamma Mia,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and “SOS.”
Not the bouncy houses at the Tots Lot,
a board member of the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation
(“The Friends,” for short). “It’s a big deal. It’s a perfect opportunity for residents to check it out. It looks wonderful, with great seating.
“The city staff,” he adds, “did such a great job.”
Proceeds after the family-centric festival’s expenses will be used to support programs for Lake Forest Parks & Recreation. Some will be earmarked to fund annual scholarships made available for families that can’t afford fees to participate in a sport or an activity.
though any kid 6 or younger who bounced and soared repeatedly inside one of the inflatable apparatuses last year started looking forward to this year’s Festival & Fireworks last July 5.
The thing that threatens to eclipse the magnificence of the fireworks is the venue itself—Deerpath Community Park. The event was staged at a nearby alternative site last summer because Deerpath Community Park was undergoing reconstruction. The City of Lake Forest’s $16 million investment in the remaking of the park included the installation of synthetic turf to its athletic fields and the addition of two buildings.
Work had begun on the site in March 2023.
“It’s a brand-new park, and we’re excited we get to showcase it and show it off at the Festival and Fireworks,” says the 60-yearold Amos, who, since 2005, has helmed the wildly popular event/fundraiser as
We sought to make a difference, like we always do. We’re an organization that promotes community and a healthy lifestyle.”
Scheduled to open for Dancing Queen is The Shagadelics, a 1970s disco tribute band. In addition to the Tots Lot at the carnival-esque happening, areas designated for Kids and Teens will attract fun-seeking youngsters. At the Kids spot, Amos notes, athletes will compete in baseball, kickball, and soccer games atop the new field turf.
“When you think of synthetic turf, you usually think of a plastic surface or one with rubber pebbles, (crumb) tire-rubber infill,” Amos says. “But ours at Deerpath
“There’s a perception that everybody who lives in Lake Forest is wealthy,” says Amos, the chairman of Amos Media Company, a diversified special interest media/publishing company. “The reality is that residents here need help financially. Our foundation enjoys putting the Festival and Fireworks together. It’s a good way to contribute to the community and to also raise money to help the city meet needs—equipment repair, for example—that weren’t able to be budgeted.”
The Friends presented a survey for local residents about 12 years ago, seeking their input on what the foundation should invest in to enhance the offerings to the community.
“We heard they wanted synthetic fields, because too many games and events at Deerpath Community Park had been impacted due to weather (and unplayable field conditions),” Amos recalls. “We listened.
The Festival & Fireworks is the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation’s biggest event every year, ahead of its Tree Lighting Ceremony at Market Square on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
“We’re hoping for 78 degrees and no rain on the Fourth of July, and we put (The Friends’ founder) Fred Jackson in charge of the weather,” says Amos, who grew up near Dayton, Ohio, in Sidney, majored in business administration and played football—as a free safety—for three seasons at Miami (Ohio) University, and moved to Lake Forest with his
Community Park is an organic wood particle infill that’s known for its durability. Athletes who play on it never have to worry about bugs and mosquitos that are everywhere at grass fields. They’ll also never have to worry about dealing with mud after heavy rains.”
The park’s new turf system comprises the most environmentally sensitive elements, with a turf product known for its recyclability.
Single tickets for the Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks are available, as are a trio of VIP packages, including Adult, Youth, and Family passes.
“One of our popular passes every year is for adults who want to enjoy the event (5-10 p.m., on July 4) as if they were at Ravinia for a concert,” Amos says, adding he expects between 7,000-10,000 attendees. “Alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages will be available, along with food from vendors.”
wife, Sherry, and their three children in 2001. “Fred is a pillar of our organization.
“None of this happens,” he continues, “without the efforts of Fred Jackson.”
And there’s nothing like the 20-minute fireworks segment—along with the anticipation of the splendid display during its festive, four-hour-plus run-up—at the Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks.
“Everyone loves a fireworks show,” Amos says. “They’ll all love it again this year, right up until it ends at 10 p.m. It’s always the star of our event.”
Look for it to accept co-star status this year, as the crackling spectacle above matches Deerpath Community Park’s sparkling new grounds.
Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks online ticket sales are open. For more information, visit lfparksandrec.com.
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
JUNE 29
SIDEWALK SALE
WHERE: North Shore Exchange
North Shore Exchange’s Glencoe location is holding a Sidewalk Sale, offering 50 to 90 percent off designer clothes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, home decor, and furniture brands. These premier brands include Hermes, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. The sale begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m. northshoreexchange.org
NOW THROUGH JUNE 30
VISCERAL DANCE
CHICAGO
WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Art
Inspired in part by the paintings by Pablo Picasso, Visceral Dance Chicago will perform a contemporary piece titled “Carmen. maquia.” This performance is a modern take on Bizet’s classic opera. It features 13 dancers fusing contemporary dance with nods to the Spanish paso doble and flamenco. Two performances will begin at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on June 29, and a 2 p.m. show on June 30 will close the weekend. Tickets are on sale now. visceraldance.com
NOW THROUGH JUNE 30
TITANIC: THE EXHIBITION
WHERE: Westfield Old Orchard
Experience the story of the Titanic in an exhibit featured at Westfield Old Orchard, running 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday through the end of June. Guests will be able to traverse the Grand Staircase, see recreations of the ship’s interior, view artifacts from the ship, and more. The
Discovery Gallery will give a glimpse at what archaeologists saw when they discovered the wreck of the Titanic. This exhibit also pays homage to the SS Eastland Disaster, which is the largest loss of life in a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes. This is the last weekend to see this amazing exhibit thetitanicexhibition.com
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 7
MARKET & MUSIC
WHERE: Clarkson Park
Enjoy concerts, kids’ entertainment, a market, and food and drink on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Clarkson Park in Northfield. There will be no market on July 3. The Community Market will feature food sales from a featured local business and beer/wine. There will be kids’ entertainment from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., and a concert will conclude the night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each week. northfieldparks.org
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 28
HIGHWOOD EVENING GOURMET MARKET
WHERE: Everts Park
Highwood’s Evening Gourmet Market has returned, running every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. There will be no market on July 3. The market features a variety of 60 incredible food, beverage, and
artisan craft vendors alternating each week. In addition, the Highwood Historical Cocktail Tours will be held during the market on July 10 and August 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Food and cocktails will be available to purchase at each stop. Live music will also be featured during the market. A calendar of musicians and themed nights is available online. celebratehighwood.org
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 29
FOOD TRUCK MONDAYS
WHERE: Kenilworth Park District
Enjoy Food Truck Mondays weekly from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Food will be provided by Billy Bricks & Rio Bamba Food Trucks. Music will be provided by The Heavy Sounds and there will also be cornhole league, bocce ball league, margaritas, and family fun. kenilworthparkdistrict.org
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7
CIRCUSVILLE: PLAY UNDER THE BIG TOP
WHERE: Chicago Children’s Museum
Bring your kids to the Chicago Children’s Museum to play at the circus! Children can try their hands at all of the vital roles in a circus: star of the show, ticket taker, acrobat, hot dog vendor, and more. Props and costumes for families will be provided. chicagochildrensmuseum.org
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22
LOST & FOUND
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden
Experience plant conservation success stories through art and science this summer. Visitors will engage in hands-on experiences, art installations, After Hour Buzz events, and other engaging activities inspired by restoration stories of plants once lost and forgotten. Original art pieces will be on display throughout the garden including “A Summer Journey,” “Gleanhouse and Prismatic Landscape,” “Color Writing,” “Rhizomatic,” and “Through The Eye of the Unicorn.” These pieces represent conserving what has been lost over the years through development, natural disaster, and expansions. Tickets are included with the cost of admission. chicagobotanic.org
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 26
FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS
WHERE: Ravinia District Food Truck Thursdays return to downtown Ravinia this summer. A variety of food trucks and vendors will sell their wares from 4:30 p.m. until dusk each Thursday night throughout the summer. These evenings will also include live music, beer, wine tastings from local restaurants, and food. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs or dine on a picnic bench in Jens Jensen Park. Each Thursday will feature a different theme of music and their respective performers. enjoyhighlandpark.com
NOW THROUGH
OCTOBER 13
“SHTETL IN THE SUN”
WHERE: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24
SUNSET YOGA
WHERE: LFOLA’s Mellody Farm Nature Preserve Immerse yourself in the beauty of Mellody Farm Nature Preserve while relaxing into a gentle, restorative yoga session that incorporates breathwork and mindfulness. All abilities welcome! Instructor, Ana Holland Krawec, is a certified 200 RYT instructor, Reiki healing master, and Sudarshan Kriya Breathwork instructor. Her practice focuses on adaptive yoga, incorporating gentle movements, restorative poses, breathwork, and mindfulness to help students work on core strength, flexibility, and balance and to find tools for becoming centered and peaceful. This evening program is for adults only. lfola.org
In the late 1970s, photographer Andy Sweet took numerous photos of Holocaust survivors living hopeful and joyous lives in South Beach, Florida. Through his images, it provides a poignant display of life after tragedy. The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center’s exhibit, “Shtetl in the Sun: Andy Sweet’s South Beach 19771980,” celebrates Sweet’s work as a tribute to those who lived during that time. The exhibit will run through October 13. ilholocaustmuseum.org
NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 25, 2025
“KENILWORTH CENTENNIAL HOMES”
WHERE: Kenilworth Historical Society
Explore the history of Kenilworth’s oldest homes and celebrate their architectural significance with a dynamic exhibit that chronicles the evolution of residential
Glencoe Festival of Art
Ragdale Tour
development in the village. The homes featured in this exhibit were built between 1889 and 1924. kenilworthhistory.org
JUNE 30
HISTORIC GARDEN WALK
WHERE: Wilmette Historical Museum
Explore four stunning Wilmette gardens and learn more about their unique designs and features, as well as the exterior architecture and history of adjoining homes at the Wilmette Historical Museum’s garden walk, held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone, or by visiting the museum. Physical tickets are required and must be picked up in person from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. wilmettehistory.org
JULY 2
ADULT SOCIAL RIDE
WHERE: Fountain Square
Enjoy an invigorating bike ride with other adults through Evanston and the North Shore. Starting at 5:30 p.m., the ride will leave from Fountain Square and travel west from North Branch Trail, and then north for approximately two and a half hours. The ride will end with an optional happy hour at Bar 17. Those who pre-register for the ride and happy hour are entered to win a $100 gift card. Participants are encouraged to arrive early. This bike social is for all levels of cyclists. Registration is required. downtownevanston.org
JULY 3 FUN & FIREWORKS
WHERE: Gillson Park Celebrate Independence Day with food, vendors, live music, performers, and a firework show. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. with Wild Daisy performing till 7 p.m., Final Say will take the stage from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m., and the fireworks show will end at 10 p.m. Bags are subject to search and no sparklers are allowed. This is a cash only event and no ATMs are available on site. wilmettepark.org
JULY 4
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
WHERE: Downtown Highland Park
Highland Park’s Independence Day Celebration returns with new additions. This year will balance the
diverse needs of the community by providing space for remembrance as well as familiar traditions. There will be a morning remembrance ceremony, an afternoon parade at 1 p.m. down a new route through downtown, and the return of the family friendly 4th of July festival from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The remembrance ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will be open to the public via advanced registration. The ceremony will be held indoors and led by faith leaders, Mayor Rotering, and musicians. It will be presented in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. A remembrance video message will be available to view that morning. cityhpil.com
JULY
LAKE
4
BLUFF 4TH OF JULY PARADE
WHERE: Lake Bluff
This year’s Lake Bluff 4th of July parade embraces its town’s emblem with Stars, Stripes, and Paw-triots. There will be a Doggie Library where sticks can be picked up and art works of “Dog on the Bluff” decorating porches and businesses. Lake Bluff will be celebrating its 125th anniversary in addition to Independence Day. The parade begins at 10 a.m. Dogs are welcome. lb4july.org
favorite spot in WinnetkaNorthfield. Children ages 3 and up are welcome to attend and all materials will be provided. This program is from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and all children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by an adult. wnpld.org
JULY 12
MATT SCHAEFER FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY
WHERE: Vivid Art Gallery
book Great Lakes Champions from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This in-depth work tells the story of 14 people who love the Great Lakes and have led grassroots efforts to clean up some of the most polluted areas of these inland seas, inspiring others to follow. lfola.org
JULY 12
FIRST FRIDAY
JULY
10
ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR: EARLY SETTLERS HOMES
WHERE: Winnetka
Enjoy a one-hour walking tour of the oldest homes in the community. Beginning at Clinton House at 548 Willow at 4 p.m., participants will weave through the oldest neighborhoods on the east side of the village. Tickets are $30 per person and the capacity is 16 people per tour. Registration is required. winnetkahistory.org
JULY 11
THURSDAY NIGHT MARKET
WHERE: Fountain Square
Evanston’s 5th annual Thursday Night Market returns with artists, makers, and retailers from the local community. From 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., each market will feature more than 30 vendors, a DJ or live music, and other special activities. Parking in the Sherman Plaza Self Park garage is recommended. downtownevanston.org
JULY 11
KINDNESS ROCKS
WHERE: Northfield Library Community Room
Spread kindness by painting a joyful image or phrase on a rock and leave it in your
Stop into the gallery to see Evanston artist Matthew Schaefer's work throughout the month of July. Schaefer begins his process by sketching scenes around town. He then translates his sketches to inform his paintings, which are created spontaneously, with each brushstroke influencing the next. Applying layer after thin layer of paint, he moves between painting flat blocks of color and more exuberant brushwork. Often, traces of earlier layers peek through the later layers. Vivid Art Gallery invites you to the monthly First Friday event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come spend the evening surrounded by great art from Schaefer and the other 25 artists who are showing there. vividartgallery.net
WHERE: Hubbard Woods Stop, browse, and shop Hubbard Woods Design District at this special event. Held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., it features live music, refreshments from participating stores, and an evening of shopping. shophwdd.com
JULY 13, 14, 19, 20, & 21
CINDERELLA… REALLY?
WHERE: LFOLA Mellody Farm Nature Preserve Join the cast of characters in Cinderella... Really? for a night of outdoor theater. This play written by Mark Adamczek and directed by Gregg Dennhardt offers fun for all ages. Bring your chairs, pack a picnic, and join LFOLA on the lawn at Mellody Farm Nature Preserve. Performances are at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on July 13 and 14, 6 p.m. on July 19 and 20, and 3 p.m. on July 20 and 21. lfola.org
JULY 12
CONSERVATION
COCKTAILS: GREAT LAKES CHAMPIONS
WHERE: LFOLA’s Mellody Farm Nature Preserve
John Hartig, of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, will discuss his
JULY 13
RAGDALE TOUR
WHERE: Ragdale Campus
Ragdale, the nationally acclaimed artists’ retreat on the former country estate of English architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, offers tours of the historic Ragdale House, visual artist studios,
Matt Schaefer, First Friday Gallery
North Shore Taco 5K Family Run, Walk, & Stroll
and exquisite gardens. Participants will learn about the Shaw family history and the artists’ residency program that serves nearly 150 artists and authors each year. Tours are from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Admission is $10 per person and online reservations must be made in advance. ragdale.com
JULY 14
SECRET NORTH SHORECHICAGO: A GUIDE TO THE WEIRD, WONDERFUL, AND OBSCURE READING WHERE: Secret World Books
Ellen Schubart will be hosting a reading and signing of her book, A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure at 2 p.m. at Secret World Books in Highland Park. This book explores the hidden gems of the North Shore that will lead to family fun and summer adventures. secretworldbooks.com
JULY 15 TO 19
RAGDALE HIGH SCHOOL
ARTS WEEK WHERE: Ragdale Campus
Each year, Ragdale holds an intensive all-day program for students to develop their creative skills. The program is Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lake Forest campus. Lunch and snacks will be provided each day along with all supplies and materials. This year, there will also be transportation offered from a River North location so Chicago students can be bussed to and from Ragdale. There are no student fees for accepted students. The application deadline is June 30. ragdale.com
JULY 20
NORTH SHORE TACO 5K
FAMILY RUN, WALK, & STROLL
WHERE: Downtown Highwood
Put on your sneakers, grab your loved ones, strollers, and dogs for this annual fundraising event. The Run/
Mental health for all.
Walk begins at 9 a.m. and the start/finish line will be the intersection of Sheridan Road and Webster. Pre-race packets can be picked up July 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Celebrate Highwood’s tent at Margarita Night. They can also be picked up July 18 at Gearhead Outfitters from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on race day in the Buffo’s parking lot beginning at 8 a.m. Runners and walkers can sign up now through midnight on July 19. The registration fee is $40 per person and stroller kids are free. All proceeds benefit Nuestro Josselyn. celebratehighwood.org
JULY 20
MOTHER-SON NERF NIGHT
WHERE: Lake Bluff Recreation Center
Enjoy a Mother-Son night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a delicious dinner, photo booth, a Mom & Me craft, and of course Nerf battles! All players are welcome to
bring their own Nerf equipment and darts. The center will also provide extras. The night will end with an awards ceremony to highlight everyone’s hard work and skill. Cost is $40/$50 per pairing and $20/$30 for each additional son.
lakebluffparks.org
JULY 20 TO 21
GLENCOE FESTIVAL OF ART
WHERE: Glencoe From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
enjoy over 100 artists, live music, and food vendors. There will be paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, and more. The Kids Art Zone will feature face painting and crafts. Live music will be performed on stage. Entry is free. amdurproductions.com
JULY 24
ARCHITECTURAL DIVERSITY WALKING TOUR
WHERE: Winnetka
Explore Winnetka’s array of architectural styles from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The tour will begin at 457 Ash and make 12 stops representing particular architectural styles. This is the shortest walking tour offered at less than a mile and a great option for those interested in less walking and more learning. winnetkahistory.org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
The Living Room A free, inviting space for support
Talk to someone who’s been there. Talk to a peer. The Living Room welcomes anyone age 18+ who is experiencing a mental health crisis to receive support in a safe, nonjudgmental space.
Open every day 7 am – 12 am 1779 Maple Avenue, Northfield, IL 60093
Funding for the Living Room is provided by the State of Illinois, Department of Human Services
Conservation Cocktails: Great Lakes Champions
EDITED BY LOLA EISERMAN ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Everything London! I am one of those people who generates just as much joy from planning a trip as when I am on the trip. On the top of the London pile is Pretty City London: Discovering London's Beautiful Places by Siobhan Ferguson. This book was lent to me by an amazing friend. Next to that pile is my journal for 2 a.m. fabulous ideas, and under that is Intelligent Change’s The Five Minute Journal which helps begin my day centered with everything I am grateful for. My nightstand is also packed with photos of my son, husband, and family, and one rock with a rainbow painted on it, reminding me of my father.
#ON MY MOBILE
I am such a visual person that my wallpaper photo constantly changes with photos that inspire me. My Notes app is key to keeping me organized and includes lists of makeup palette ideas and lipstick shades that must be worn. My playlist is my most valued app on my phone, as the song list was created by my son and me. As it is played, all of the memories from that time period flood back into my mind. As my son gets closer to college, it is amazing how a song will be played, and I am reminded of him sitting in a car seat, kicking my seat as he sings along. Other favorite apps include MasterClass, Yoga-Go, and Google Classroom for my students.
#IN MY EARBUDS
My most recent downloads include Jackson Browne, Zach Bryan, and Benson Boone. It varies between finding the present with memories from the past and keeping current with my son and my students. If I am working, I put on Cabostrings, which I heard with one of my close friends while staying in Cabo. I adore Taylor Swift’s music, especially as a writing teacher—not just because the music is great but because of her songwriting. I can't forget to write down my go-to, which will show my age, but there is never a wrong time to play Prince.
For the past 10 years, JEN BOBAY has been teaching the art of makeup through lessons at The Lake Forest Shop, in her home studio, and at her favorite spas and boutiques with her line, Jar Bar Makeup. An educator by profession, she is about to engage in an expansion of her Jar Bar to include other beauty brands that align with the mission of education in beauty using a cruelty-free and a mindful approach to beauty. This summer you can find Bobay at pop-ups around the North Shore or in Lake Geneva. If you have a brand that you believe belongs in her beauty bar, she would be thrilled to hear about it. She took some time from her busy schedule to share a few of her favorite things.
BY WENDY FRANZEN
BLUEBERRY GIN FIZZ
• 15 f resh blueberries, plus more for garnish
• 1 ½ ounce of gin
• 1/2 ounce f reshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/3 ounce simple syrup or honey syrup
• Champagne or prosecco for topping
• Mint sprigs or cocktail picks for garnish (optional)
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.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
BRAIN HEALTH RESTORATION GRAND OPENING
PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN
MCLEOD
The newest premier mental health care and wellness clinic, offering innovative treatments like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), (Personalized Magnetic Stimulation PrTMS), Clinical Psychiatry, Ketamine, Spravato, and Optimal Wellness therapies, opened its doors in Schaumburg with a spirited ribbon cutting. Co-founders Terry R. Yormark II, Karen Todd, and Thomas Lavin IV welcomed guests into the modern space where patients struggling with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disorders, autism, traumatic brain injuries (TBI)/concussions, as well as those looking for peak mental and athletic performance, can see providers for individualized care. bhrillinois.com
THE NORTH SHORE
VIVEK AND NAMEETA KAPOOR
ARVIN SARATHY, SARINA JESWANI
MARCIN & OLIMPIA SKATULSKI, SYLWIA AND TOM RZEDZIAN
DR. RACHEL NORRIS, MICHAEL MCCULLY, ALEXIS MAGAT
MICHAEL MCCULLY, JOHN DEARLOVE
CRAIG AND JEWEL WLODAREK
JAMES CHAPMAN, TERRY R. YORMARK II
CAROLYN LITTON, GREGG KOLENO
POETRY IN MOTION
Former U.S. Air Force and commercial pilot Laura Joyce-Hubbard continues to soar as the City of Highland Park’s first Poet Laureate.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
No wonder poet/essayist Laura Joyce- Hubbard, who flew unarmed U.S. Air Force C-130s carrying relief cargo during the Bosnia War in the mid-1990s, is the City of Highland Park’s first Poet Laureate.
Even snippets of passages in her essays could pass for stirring stanzas.
To wit: “Rich jade mountains unrolled beneath our flight path,” she writes at the beginning of her “Flying Superman into Sarajevo” piece. “In my periphery, the mountaintops emerged out of mist, the scooped terrain like high-backed horse saddles.”
Joyce-Hubbard applied for the two-year poet laureate post in late 2022, and started serving in 2023. Highland Park’s Cultural Arts Advisory Group (CAAG) had created the title under then-chair Judith Kaufman. On July 4, 2023— exactly a year after the Highland Park parade shooting claimed seven lives and wounded 48 others—Joyce-Hubbard recited a poem she had crafted for community members who gathered for a memorial ceremony in downtown Highland Park.
She’ll seek to help attendees, and others, heal through her poetry again on July 4 this year.
“In my experience, grief can be so lonely,” says Joyce-Hubbard, who has lived in Highland Park for 16 years and has been married to former U.S. Air Force pilot and current commercial pilot Lloyd Hubbard for 28 years. “Whether families or survivors hear my poem on July 4 or not, I believe there is value, as community members, in trying to be part of the support net that says, ‘I remember your beloved with you. And I am here, too.’
“It is especially important to show up as years go by,” she continues. “There tends to be a lot of outpouring in the immediacy. I hope to be a part of the community that weaves a net, not only of love, but of enduring grief ’s ‘lonely corridors’ together.”
Her tenure as poet laureate was supposed to end this year. CAAG asked her to serve for a third year, as the appointee “to enliven Highland Park’s literary arts,” and she agreed to do so.
Joyce-Hubbard grew up as the oldest of four siblings on a wooden boat in Delray Beach, Florida, from the age of 3 until the age of 11 or 12. Her mother, Trish Joyce, is in her 50th year teaching English and Creative Writing at Broward College in Florida; her father, Noel Smith, retired after 30 years of teaching Economics at Palm Beach State College in Boca Raton, Florida.
Laureate Laura’s stepmother is Linda Smith, who has been a keen
in Ben-Gay,” a chuckling JoyceHubbard says.
After majoring in political science, competing for the fencing team, and becoming a Second Lieutenant at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, JoyceHubbard emerged in the first generation of women to pilot the C-130 Hercules.
In November 2001, two months after the 9/11 attacks, Joyce-Hubbard, then a commercial pilot at American Airlines, helped organize memorial events for families of the airline crews. One memorial honored the flight crews of American and United Airlines by running a flag to symbolically complete the intended flight routes from Boston and
... I believe there is value, as community members, in trying to be part of the support net that says, ‘I remember your beloved with you. And I am here, too.'
supporter of Laura’s career evolution from pilot to photographer to poet.
“My mother was all about writing, creativity, and poetry when I was young and growing up on campuses in Florida,” Joyce-Hubbard recalls. “She’d write a poem for practically every family event, from birthdays to graduation parties, and then she’d read them to us. Our mother would never be able to read a poem without crying. It reached the point where her kids had to take care of the poetry writing on those occasions.”
Shy in high school, Joyce-Hubbard became a cheerleader “to appear that I was extroverted,” she says. In the summer before her freshman year at Pope John Paul II High School in East Boca Raton, she and her best friend showed up together at a cheerleading camp and wondered why the other campers arrived in groups of 20.
“We ended up having to lather ourselves
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
New York, through Washington DC, to Los Angeles.
“I was struck by the net of love that seemed to be sustaining the families,” says JoyceHubbard, who also worked at the Pentagon in the Office of the Environment before retiring from military service in 2010. “I also remember seeing the well-lived hands of a 9/11 pilot’s parents clasping.”
Laura and Lloyd have two children, Liam, 21, and Teagan, 18.
Their mother is about halfway to completing her Master of Fine Arts degree at Northwestern University.
“My professors are amazing,” Joyce-Hubbard says. “I’m learning about the technical side of writing. One of my poetry professors at Northwestern is (two-term United States Poet Laureate and 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry winner) Natasha Trethewey, who has been
DESIGN
Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
incredibly helpful and an instrumental mentor in my role as Highland Park Poet Laureate. I’m so fortunate to have been her student and can’t imagine doing this role without her inspiration.”
Trethewey recently visited Highland Park for a public conversation with Joyce-Hubbard. Trethewey’s words were a point of inspiration for Joyce-Hubbard’s poem to the community this July 4. Trethewey said, "I’m often asked: How do you go into the space where you have to remember and reflect? The poem is the care. Even the most horrendous things can be transformed in the language of the poem. I am my happiest in the act of making a poem. Because that is a hopeful act.”
“I hope,” Joyce-Hubbard adds, “what translates in my poem is how deeply I care.”
Highland Park’s first poet laureate has also delivered moving words to audiences at Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. She also holds a workshop on poetry writing and oversees a Favorite Poem Project at the Highland Park Public Library.
The latter duty was so well-received that Joyce-Hubbard plans to conduct the project four times a year instead of only once, rotating locations throughout the city.
She won The Iowa Review’s Veterans’ Writing Contest in 2022, and received a 2020 Janecek Fellowship from Lake Forest-based Ragdale Foundation. Also in 2020, JoyceHubbard earned a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship to attend the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) and won the Individual Poem and the Essay Prize in the William Faulkner Pirates’ Alley Writing Competition.
Want more Laura Joyce-Hubbard prose? Thought so.
“Waiting for a letter to arrive, writing a reply, and licking an envelope required patience,” she writes of exchanging handwritten letters with her future husband. “A romance on slow burn felt somehow like a perfect antidote to the speed of movement in our respective cockpits and the corresponding speed of the thinking required for the job.”
To read some of Laura Joyce-Hubbard’s works, visit laurajoycehubbard.com.
John Conatser FOUNDER
Jennifer Sturgeon ASSOCIATE
Gaven Conatser ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
ADVERTISING @NSWEEKEND.COM
Michelle Crowe, Erin Donaldson, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Megan Weisberg
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Wendy Franzen, Bill McLean
Chris Geimer ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC
DESIGNER
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART
Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATION
Ian McLeod, Monica Kass Rogers PHOTOGRAPHY Cheyanne Lencioni ADMINISTRATIVE
Laura Joyce-Hubbard
