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SATURDAY JULY 20 | SUNDAY JULY 21 2019
SUNDAY BREAKFAST
SPORTS
CEO Michael Klein drives Airoom to top of remodeling industry. P22
LFHS outside hitter Caroline Graham rising quickly as a volleyball prospect. P20
SOCIAL SCENE
Myra Rubenstein Weis benefit breaks fundraising record. P12 FOLLOW US:
NO. 353 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION
NEWS
Pretty in Purple CHICAGO NATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR JENNIFER HUDSON HELPS BRING IN MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR RAVINIA WOMEN’S BOARD. EDITED BY SHERRY THOMAS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
The temperature was sultry, the air was calm, and Jennifer Hudson—Chicago’s own Oscar- and Grammy-winning performer—dramatically began her Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert fundraiser at the back of the Ravinia Pavilion on Sunday, July 14, with a deep, soulful rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” Dressed in purple (a hue that matched both the gala invitations and the party décor) Hudson followed that compelling opening by walking the stage for the Ravinia Women’s Board’s annual Gala Benefit Evening—shaking hands with audience members every step of the way. Met with thunderous ovations, her set featured tributes to Prince and Whitney Houston and included her big song from her Oscar-winning role in Dreamgirls, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” Hudson, who made her Ravinia debut in 2011, will soon sing the Andrew Lloyd Continued on PG 10
BEACHY ELEGANCE A WILMETTE DESIGNER TAKES ELEGANT BEADED JEWELRY TO NEW LEVELS. BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
The collar-style, beaded necklace encircling Michelle Leonardo’s neck shimmers with the light of more than 720 Swarovski crystals and more than 4,700 individual beads. Another 500 Swarovskis in the matching bracelet twinkle as she flips her wrist, folding back the glimmering cuff to show an elaborate underlayment of silver-beaded pattern work. Leonardo explains that each bead was picked up by a needle and stitched, one-by-one, into place—giving structure and texture to the crystals up top. “This is a new category of jewelry most people aren’t yet familiar with,” explains Leonardo, who unveiled her Michelle Leonardo Design Jewelry Collection late last month in Wilmette. “I sometimes describe it as bead engineering, because of the elaborate structures and incredible details that are built together with tiny beads in multiple layers. It’s not your simple strand of beads on string.” The collection includes an assortment of more than 140 exquisitely beaded pieces, many in matched sets (cuffs and necklaces; earrings and bracelets) with names like Scottsdale, Paragon, and Hanalei. All are graphic and sophisticated, but breezy. They can be mixed and matched, or worn layered with silver pieces by other designers, says Leonardo. “Customers tell me my jewelry looks elegant, but with a beachy feel,” says Leonardo. “Some Continued on PG 10
Michelle Leonardo of Wilmette recently unveiled jewelry business. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
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