Esteemed violinist Midori officially takes the helm as Artistic Director of the Ravinia Steans Music Institute’s Piano & Strings program, carrying forward the legacy of her legendary predecessor with an eye on leading students into their future musical careers. pg20
Don’t miss this opportunity to build your dream home on one of the most beautiful blocks in East Kenilworth, in a close-to-everything location, just a few blocks to both Sears and New Trier schools, town and beach. With a timeless design, this home has a crisp, transitional exterior with slate roof and 3-car attached garage. Elegant foyer leads to a custom built library, chef’s kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, an open family room/living room, dining room, and expansive mudroom. A light and airy staircase leads to second floor with 4 ensuite bedrooms with marble baths, and laundry room.The primary suite is a retreat unto itself with its own entry vestibule, his/her primary closets and a spa bath. The third floor boasts a fifth ensuite bedroom and large hangout area. The basement provides another level of recreation with an amazing sport court open to exercise room, large rec room, media room, guest suite and wine cellar.
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NOW THROUGH JULY 14
CORDUROY
WHERE: Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Spend the afternoon or evening with the family and Corduroy. This beloved bear has been chosen by Lisa to come home with her, but he’s lost his button. Corduroy must search to find it while evading a mall security guard and meeting fun friends along the way. The show is 60 minutes long and best for children ages 4 and up. Tickets are available now. chicagoshakes.com
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 1
LEMONADE FOR BRIGHTER FUTURES
STAND
WHERE: Lake Forest Market Square
Each Thursday evening from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fill A Heart 4 Kids (FAH4K) is hosting a lemonade stand where all proceeds will provide at-risk students with school supplies in the upcoming school year. The Lemonade For Brighter Futures Challenge is to raise $50,000. Children in the FAH4K program will be able to “shop” for their own school supplies at the organization’s headquarters and additional supplies will be distributed to at-risk youth at partner schools and agencies. Donations are also accepted online on its website. fillaheart4kids.org
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 7
MARKET & MUSIC
WHERE: Clarkson Park
Enjoy concerts, kids’ entertainment, a market, and food and drink Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
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. 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 24
SUNSET YOGA
WHERE: Mellody Farm Nature Preserve Immerse yourself in
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
ets 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
the beauty of Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s (LFOLA) Mellody Farm Nature Preserve while relaxing into this gentle, restorative yoga session that will incorporate breathwork and mindfulness. All abilities welcome! Instructor, Ana Holland Krawec, is a certified 200 RYT instructor, a 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 program is for adults only and takes place in the evenings. lfola.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, and 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
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 development in the village. The homes featured in this exhibit were built between 1889 and 1924. kenilworthhistory.org
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 Street at 4 p.m., participants will weave through the oldest neighborhoods on the east side of the village. Tick-
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 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 favorite spot in the Winnetka-Northfield area. 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 Stop into Vivid Art Gallery to see Evanston artist Matthew Schaefer's work throughout 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. The monthly
Corduroy
First Friday event goes from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come spend the evening surrounded by great art from Matthew Schaefer and the other 25 artists with work at Vivid Art Gallery. Don't miss seeing this unique exhibit, on display throughout July. vividartgallery.net
JULY 12
CONSERVATION
COCKTAILS: GREAT LAKES CHAMPIONS
WHERE: LFOLA’s Mellody Farm Nature Preserve
John Hartig of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at University of Windsor will discuss his book Great Lakes Champions from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The book chronicles 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 and inspired others to follow. lfola.org
JULY 12
FIRST FRIDAY
WHERE: Hubbard Woods
Stop, browse, and shop Hubbard Woods Design District at First Friday. 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: Mellody Farm Nature Preserve
Enjoy the cast of characters in Cinderella... Really at Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s (LFOLA) Mellody Farm Nature Preserve. Promising fun for all ages, the music and play is written by Mark Adamczek and directed by Gregg Dennhardt. Bring your chairs, pack a picnic, and join LFOLA on the lawn. 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 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, 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
GO GREEN WILMETTE BIRD HABITAT WORKDAY
WHERE: Gillson Park
From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., join Wilmette Go Green to work with and learn about native plants. Participants are required to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Bring gardening gloves and drinking water. Tools are provided by the Wilmette Park District. This event is for all ages. wilmettepark.org
JULY 18
HABITAT HELPERS AT MALLINCKRODT PARK
WHERE: Mallinckrodt Park
Connect with the earth and get your hands dirty from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Participants will weed native plant beds at Mallinckrodt Park. Bring drinking water, gardening gloves, and dress for the weather. Trowels and tools will be provided by the Wilmette Park District. wilmettepark.org
JULY
18
THERE’S
ALWAYS TIME FOR TEA AND SCONES
WHERE: Lake Bluff Library
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
Lake Bluff Village President Regis Charlot. Both mayors will offer an overview of the latest information about the communities. Civic and business leaders will be in attendance and the public is welcome. There is an admission fee of $40 for lunch and an RSVP is required. The registration deadline is July 22 at noon. lflbchamber.com
JULY 26 TO 28
SIDEWALK SALE & CHALK ART CONTEST
WHERE: Downtown Evanston
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. This book explores the hidden gems of the North Shore that will surely lead to family fun and summer adventures. This event is open to the public. secretworldbooks.com
JULY 15 TO 19
RAGDALE HIGH SCHOOL ARTS WEEK
WHERE: Ragdale
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 its flagship Lake Forest location. 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 in the city so Chicagoans can be bussed to and from Ragdale. There are no fees for accepted students. ragdale.com
Spend an evening tea tasting at the library. Through this adult program, participants will learn where and how tea came to America, basic tea etiquette, and the history of Earl Gray and Lady Gray tea. This program is from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and registration is required. lakeblufflibrary.org
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/ 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
GLENCOE FESTIVAL OF ART
WHERE: Glencoe
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy more than 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 Street 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
JULY 25
ANNUAL LUNCH WITH THE MAYORS
WHERE: The Forester Hotel
From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Lunch with the Mayors at The Forester Hotel in Lake Forest. This community event will include a special guest speaker, City of Lake Forest Mayor Stanford “Randy” Tack, and
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy a vibrant weekend of shopping, art, and community spirit. Explore downtown Evanston’s charming sidewalks, lined with local shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Artists are encouraged to participate in the Chalk Art Contest on July 27. Participants of all ages are welcome and the contest will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. downtownevanston.org
JULY 26 TO AUGUST 11
LES MISÉRABLES
WHERE: Deerfield
Performing Arts Center
Through an exceptional license, Les Misérables is coming to Deerfield. Presented by Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park, this acclaimed production—winner of eight Tony Awards and known as the world's most popular musical—boasts an impressive 44-person cast and a 21-piece orchestra. Renowned producer, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, has personally authorized these performances. A portion of proceeds will support the Highland Park Shooting Response Fund, making this event both a cultural highlight of the season and a charitable initiative. Tickets are available now.
uptownhp.org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
Les Miserables
Let freedom ring.
Portfolio of Fine Homes
#HASHTAG
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
I love to read and am reading three books at the moment. Next to painting and sculpting, it’s what I like to do best. I’m reading The Memoirs of Richard Nixon and a historical fiction by Colin Falconer called Lord of the Atlas . It’s about human history—therefore it’s about war and devastation which seems to be our ongoing condition. The third book is FDR by the fabulous historian, Jean Edward Smith.
Highland Park’s SUSAN BLOCK creates vibrant oil paintings full of energy and excitement that capture an essence of freedom. Having spent her youth on her family’s 680-acre property in northern Wisconsin, freedom, wildness, and vibrance have always surrounded her. “My work is, for me, generally, about breaking free and breaking barriers—chasing dreams beyond the boundaries of what we expect,” explains Block. Well-known for her large-scale abstract horse paintings, these works continue the themes of freedom and life. In addition to her artwork, Block is an actress who has graced the stage in more than 30 plays and was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson award. Setting aside her paintbrush, Block takes a moment to share how she stays current in a colorful world.
#ON MY MOBILE
I listen to books more than music. I even listen to books while I’m painting.
#IN MY EARBUDS
My musical taste is rather archaic. I like Motown and Andrea Bocelli, Janis Joplin, and Amy Winehouse.
Penthouse Interior
Expansive Terraces
THELMA
A giddy action thriller about a larky senior citizen is filled with feel-good laughs and fascinating plot lines.
RUNNING TIME: 1 HOUR, 38 MINUTES
RATING: 3.5 stars
WEEKEND READS
June Squibb, the larky senior citizen who walked away with Nebraska, has deservedly landed her first starring role in the giddy action thriller Thelma, and although she’s 94 years young, it’s an event that’s been worth waiting for.
This is a feel-good comedy bordering on farce, but she makes every scene, every line so natural that when you laugh, you’re reacting to genuine humor, not calculatedly constructed punch lines. When she saws away at her needlepoint, you fear she will puncture something besides her canvas. Every sag in her neck indicates she’s lived a real life, each line in her face suggests an actual life experience, and she is endlessly fascinating.
The film that earns this much praise is not unimpeachably perfect. It’s slow, clumsily written, and sometimes awkwardly directed—both by writer-director Josh Margolin, who based it on actual events in the life of his own grandmother, who is still going strong at 104 and makes a sweet cameo appearance at the end.
SUMMER SIZZLERS
Lake Forest Book Store owner Eleanor Thorn shares a few of her favorite books, just in time for July vacations or days at the beach.
BY ELEANOR THORN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson
A techno-thriller! A volcanic eruption is about to destroy the Island of Hawaii, but a secret held for decades by the U.S. military is far more terrifying than any volcano.
The “movie Thelma” is a 93-year-old Los Angeles widow who has resisted every attempt by her clueless daughter and son-in-law (Parker Posey and Clark Gregg) to send her to a senior-living facility, staying up to date learning computer skills from her 24-year-old grandson Danny (wellplayed by Fred Hechinger), and developing a keen passion for Tom Cruise and sushi.
One night someone claiming to be her grandson calls and informs her he’s in jail and desperately needs $10,000 to get out. Happens all the time these days in prevalent telephone crimes aimed at milking vulnerable, elderly victims of their life savings.
Thelma falls for it and mails the money to a post office box in Van Nuys, but when the real Danny clues her in to what she’s done, the old bird goes into revenge mode and embarks on a plan to find the crook who robbed her and get her money back.
Embarrassed but undeterred, Thelma sets out on her own, traveling across L.A. in a stolen mobil-
The French Ingredient by Jane
Bertch
A confection of a memoir—an American woman has the gall to open a cooking school in Paris and fall in love with the city along the way.
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare
Pooley
From one of the bookstore’s favorite authors comes a snarky, funny book about a senior center full of unique residents and a day care full of toddlers who join forces against the city council to save the community center.
ity scooter with the help of her best friend Ben, played, in his last film appearance, by the late Richard Roundtree, better known as Shaft. Thelma even “borrows” a gun for her adventure, utilizing elements of the plot in Mission: Impossible. “Do you even know how to use it?” asks Ben. Her response: “How hard can it be? Idiots use them all the time.”
It all leads up to a resolution that is patently ridiculous, with a guest appearance by Malcolm McDowall as the villainous scammer who adds some wry humor of his own.
The result is a mixed bag, ranging from clever to predictable. But the film makes interesting contrasts between the elderly and the carelessly, deviant society they live in, and there’s something to applaud about a character more in charge of her casualties than her peers, most of whom are dead or flirting with senility. There’s no old-age funk about June Squibb or the spirited way she jazzes up Thelma
Lies and Weddings by Kevin
Kwan
A forbidden affair explodes amid a lavish Hawaiian wedding in this outrageous comedy of manners from the author of Crazy Rich Asians
Charlie Hustle by Keith O’Brien
The incredible story of one of America’s most iconic, and still polarizing figures—baseball immortal Pete Rose.
Lake Forest Book Store is located at 662 N. Western Avenue in the historic James Anderson building. For more information, call 847-234-4420 or visit lakeforestbookstore.com.
BY REX REED ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
67 Beach Rd, Glencoe
We present a stunning custom-built home in East Glencoe, just steps away from the shores of Lake Michigan. This timeless home, constructed in 2006, has been meticulously maintained and updated to offer modern luxury living in a serene setting steps from Glencoe Beach and downtown Glencoe. With five bedrooms and five and a half baths with over 7200 sqft, this home truly offers a perfect blend of timeless elegance and an unbeatable location.
Please reach out to Glo or Zack for more information on this gorgeous home.
GOLDEN FRIED CHICKEN
MAKES 8 PIECES INGREDIENTS
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
July 6 is National Fried Chicken Day, smack in the middle of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. That makes it the perfect time to share our recipe for crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, fried chicken. We’ve seasoned it with garlic, onion, and smoked paprika powders, plus a little cayenne for kick. But it’s the overnight soak in buttermilk that really enhances the flavor. For the soak, you’ll season eight pieces of chicken, and then cover them with buttermilk. We used thighs and drumsticks, but any of your favorite bone-in chicken cuts are fine. After the soak, you’ll whisk flour, seasonings and cornstarch together, coat the chicken, let it set up a bit, and deep fry until crispy golden brown in peanut oil.
FOR THE CHICKEN:
• 8 pieces of fresh, bone-in chicken
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
FOR THE SOAK:
• 3 cups fresh buttermilk
FOR THE COATING:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup cornstarch
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
FOR FRYING:
• Peanut oil to fill deep-fat fryer
METHOD
1. Trim chicken pieces of any excess fat. Mix seasonings. Coat each piece with seasonings and place in a large glass bowl. Pour buttermilk over, ensuring all pieces are covered. Cover bowl and refrigerate a minimum of 6 hours—overnight is best.
2. Fill deep fryer with peanut oil to fill level and preheat to 350 degrees. Spread clean work surface with multiple layers of paper toweling. Place a metal cooling rack on one portion of the toweling. In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together coating ingredients and set on the toweling next to the cooling rack.
3. Working one piece of chicken at a time, remove from buttermilk, allow excess to drip off a bit, place chicken piece in coating and coat well. Place on cooling rack to allow chicken to set up, and repeat with the rest of the chicken. Rest coated chicken for 5 minutes.
4. Place two to three pieces of the coated chicken in the preheated 350 degree oil. Cover and fry until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Remove from oil and blot on paper toweling. Repeat until all chicken is fried.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
BY SHERRY THOMAS
A visionary artist, activist, and educator, Midori was born in Osaka in 1971 and began studying violin with her mother, Setsu Goto, at a very early age. She was a protégé unlike any other, making her debut at the New York Philharmonic at age 11 and going on to perform with such world-renowned luminaries as Leonard Bernstein and Yo-Yo Ma in the four decades to follow.
As the esteemed violinist steps into her new role as Artistic Director of the Ravinia Steans Music Institute’s (RSMI) Piano & Strings program this summer, she reflects on what those early experiences meant to her and what it means to be leading the next generation of string players and pianists.
“Working with young musicians has been central to my career, and this program is one of the most important of its kind in
the music field,” says Midori, who plays the 1734 Guarnerius del Gesù ‘ex-Huberman’ and uses four bows—two by Dominique Peccatte, one by François Peccatte, and one by Paul Siefried. “In my initial conversations when I was being considered for the position, I expressed my strong desire to have access to young musicians. It is one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to participate in the building of a future.”
RSMI is an international artist development program for young professional classical pianists and string players, classical singers, and jazz musicians who are devoted to honing and advancing their talents as collaborative artists. Musicians in the program perform roughly two dozen programs during the summer season. All concerts are open to the public and are a mix of free and ticketed events. Most performances are also live-streamed or later uploaded to Ravinia’s YouTube channel.
The Piano & Strings program concentrates on interpretation and small-group col-
laboration through the practice and performance of classical sonata and chamber repertoire. Midori’s Piano & Strings Fellows will be featured this summer across three masterclasses and 10 concerts during an intensive fiveweek RSMI residency at Bennett Gordon Hall.
Masterclasses and concerts began July 3 and will continue tomorrow, Sunday, July 7, and then again on July 11-14; July 19-21; and July 23-24. All events will be live-streamed with the exception of the July 13 and 23 concerts, which are curated by faculty members and pianists Ricardo Castro and Julian Martin—themed around the music of Maurice Ravel and legendary French composer Gabriel Fauré.
“We have an exciting array of repertoire ranging from Scarlatti to Juantio Becenti. There is a wonderful mixture of the classics and the newly-discovered and still-to-be-entering the mainstream canon,” says Midori. “Certain members of the faculty, including me, will be sharing the stage of Bennett Gordon Hall with Fellows as we tackle such beloved artists as Brahms, Schumann, Ravel, and Debussy as well as traditionally lesspresented-works such as Reynaldo Hahn, Rebecca Clarke, Gyorgy Ligeti, and Erwin Schulhoff.”
Midori says it is an honor to follow in the footsteps of acclaimed violinist Miriam Fried, who had led the program since 1994
and was instrumental in bringing it to national prominence.
“The highest caliber of artistry you are getting in this program is a testament to her success and vision,” she adds. “She is a great leader, and a part of what that means is that she was never afraid of making necessary changes. Following in her footsteps, I, too, hope to continue in this path of continuing to meet the challenges of the needing and instigating changes, as inspired by the here and now.”
Since opening its doors, RSMI has offered coaching, masterclasses, and performance opportunities to over 1,600 exceptional musicians, many of whom have cultivated highly visible and successful careers in performance, artistic leadership, and music education. As Artistic Director of the Piano & Strings program, Midori will lead young professional violinists, violists, cellists, pianists, and members of pre-existing chamber groups through immersive and intensive rehearsals and coaching with a rotating roster of some of the world’s finest teaching artists, including herself.
“Giving these young artists the opportunity to learn together, from each other, and with the guidance of the faculty, as intense and exciting as it may come off to an observer, makes this place very unique and invaluable,” explains Midori. “They are forging friendships and making important connections for the future. “
She hopes to find new ways of engaging and advancing these students who see their
experience at Ravinia as a critical part of their professional music careers as performers, educators, and artistic leaders.
“Midori’s renowned artistry and commitment to music education make her an excellent choice to lead the Piano & Strings Program,” says RSMI Director Alejandra Valarino Boyer. “Her experiences as a performer, educator, and arts advocate will build on the legacy established by Miriam Fried to guide and mentor the next wave of classical musicians.”
For more information about the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, visit ravinia.org/steans.
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Photography courtesy of Ravinia Festival
FITS TO A TEE
Golf suits Winnetka native Madison Banas perfectly. The former Loyola Academy and Fairfield University golfer has two jobs—both involving her favorite sport—and her golf-glove prints will be all over this month’s Women’s Western Amateur at Onwentsia.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
Winnetka’s mad-about-golf Banas family— parents Reb and Megan and kids Madison, Reb Jr., Blake, and Ryan—vacationed in Colorado seven years ago while their golf clubs stayed home.
That’s akin to passionate painters arriving at a studio without brushes.
Or a group of serious scuba divers entering water without oxygen tanks.
“We ended up playing golf,” a smiling Madison Banas, 26, recalls. “Dad decided on a Wednesday that we’d play golf.
“We rented clubs.”
Of course they did. The same Banas family had teed it up practically every Sunday at 2 p.m. at its home course, North Shore Country Club in Glenview, and the family’s collective withdrawal from the sport had probably neared the breaking point in the Centennial State.
“Golf is a good family activity,” adds Madison, the eldest of her parents’ foursome and a former Loyola Academy and Fairfield (Connecticut) University golfer.
It’s also at the center of her two jobs. Banas, who lives in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, serves the Glenview-based Western Golf Association (WGA) as its manager of amateur competitions and Loyola Academy as a varsity girls’ golf co-head coach with Rick Groessl. A Communications major who minored in Sports Management and Marketing at Fairfield, she started her tenure for the WGA in 2020, after completing an internship in the organization’s communications department in 2019, and joined her alma mater’s golf program as an assistant coach four years ago.
Banas was named a Loyola Academy cohead coach in 2023.
“I love living in Chicago, working for the WGA and with Loyola golfers, and living close enough to mu family members to continue joining them for golf on Sundays,” says Banas, who competed for the Ramblers’ Illinois High School Association Class 2A state runner-up teams in 2014 and 2015 and, as an assistant coach, watched the program finish third at state
in 2021. “I enjoy being busy. The WGA allows me to make a difference in women’s golf and help women develop their golf careers.
“And I look at my position at Loyola as an opportunity to give back and to practice a core Jesuit value— ‘Men and women for others.’”
Banas was super busy as a WGA manager in the spring, working with the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) to organize and stage last
one year after emerging as the medalist at the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Author F. Scott Fitzgerald based the character of Jordan
The Great Gatsby on none other than Cummings, the first golfer and the first female athlete to ever grace the cover of Time magazine.
“It will allow us to recognize, and celebrate once again, what Edith Cummings accomplished at her home club 100 years ago,” Banas says.
“Plus, this is the 125th anniversary of the WGA. Onwentsia is a founding member of both
I love living in Chicago, working for the WGA and with Loyola golfers, and living close enough to my family members to continue joining them for golf on Sundays.
month’s Women’s Western Junior Championship at Hinsdale Golf Club while spearheading joint WGA-WWGA preparations for this month’s 124th Women’s Western Amateur Championship (July 15-20) at Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest.
Fourteen of the world’s top 100 women amateurs, along with other entrants with a 5.4 handicap or less, will tour the renowned North Shore club that hosted the inaugural Women’s Western Amateur in 1901. Onwentsia—an early proponent of women’s sports—last served as the site of Women’s Western Amateur in 1944.
One hundred years ago, Onwentsia Club member and prominent amateur golfer Edith “The Fairway Flapper” Cummings—a socialite and one of the Big Four debutantes in Chicago during World War I—captured the 1924 Women’s Western Amateur Championship,
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
the WGA and the WWGA. There’s so much history attached to the event this year.
“I’m also excited about the strength of this year’s field. It gets stronger every year.”
Past Women’s Western Amateur champions include legends Patty Berg (1938) and Louise Suggs (1946, 1947) and more recent aces Stacy Lewis (2006) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2012).
Former competitors have won a combined 135 major championships as professional golfers.
“A big part of what we do at an event like this is to provide an elite experience for women golfers,” Banas says, adding she also manages the tournament’s indispensable volunteers.
“We focus on the details because we want all of the golfers to feel special. It is so rewarding to hear golfers at our events say afterward, ‘The Western Golf Association and the Women’s Western Golf Association showed that they care about us.’ I’m proud of the relationship
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Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
we have with the Women’s Western Golf Association and how far both organizations have come.”
The Western Golf Association, which administers the nonprofit Evans Scholars Foundation, also runs the PGA TOUR’s BMW Championship, the penultimate event of the FedExCup Playoffs that is scheduled for August 19-25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado. It’s the oldest event on the PGA TOUR and the signature fundraising benefit for the Evan Scholars Foundation.
Fifty men will have advanced to that postseason round.
Banas is in charge of housing placement and merchandise.
“It’s a lot of work,” Banas says of her range of WGA duties. “I hadn’t expected it to be this much, but I love it. You have to be organized, which I had to be as a student-athlete in college. My years at Fairfield prepared me well.”
But the competitive fire in Banas, the golfer, is still ablaze. And not just on Sundays with her family. On September 9, she plans to head to Rockford Country Club and vie for a spot— alongside former Loyola Academy teammate Margaret Hickey, a commercial banking officer—in the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship field at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma.
“I’m more into the mental part of golf than I was when I played at Loyola,” Banas says. “I didn’t fully understand the importance of that aspect of the sport until I got to college. I’m now a big believer in the process that goes into each shot, like standing over a ball and taking no more than seven seconds to hit it. At Loyola, I was a captain and a good listener and cheerleader for my teammates. My golf game didn’t match my leadership qualities.”
Onwentsia Club is located at 300 North Green Bay Road in Lake Forest. For more information about the Women’s Western Amateur, visit womenswesternamateur.com. Attendance and parking for the Women’s Western Amateur are free.
