Winnetka native and New Trier Township High School graduate Alina Taber takes on the role of half-Elven queen Arwen in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s U.S. premiere of The Lord of the Rings—A Musical Tale, an original production that’s already slated for a New Zealand debut this fall. pg6
“I
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
BY
Alina Taber had been acting professionally since she was a teenager, so she knew going into the audition that rejection is just part of the game. But something about the role of Arwen in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s (CST) U.S. premiere of The Lord of the Rings—A Musical Tale felt right, like it was meant to be.
“The voice description for the role was exactly my voice,” says Taber, a Winnetka native who began playing the character of Lexi Olinsky on Chicago P.D. at age 16, while still a student at New Trier Township High School. “I’m like, ‘all right ... hell yeah’.”
She sent in her initial audition tape with giddy excitement. It had everything they had asked for, including a few songs, clips of all the instruments that she plays, and a “belty” show stopper. And yet, weeks went by without even one callback. Taber, who grew up in a music and theateroriented family, was devastated.
“I had friends who were already getting callbacks so I was really hurt,” she says. “As an actor, you have to deal with rejection every day. But every once in a while, a project comes along that you feel so connected to that it can feel very heartbreaking when people don’t see your art for what it can be.”
After admittedly “feeling salty” about the rejection, Taber made a bold move—crafting a carefully worded email to Bob Mason, artistic associate and the casting director at CST.
“I said ‘I think I’m really perfect for this and would love to be seen in person.’ Thankfully, he listened and I got a call back,” she says, explaining how she went down to CST’s Navy Pier space to sing a few songs and do the scene. “I walked away feeling proud. I stood up for myself and for something I believed in.”
A week later, on May 7, Taber woke up on her 27th birthday to an offer. She got the part!
“It’s a story I will continue to tell for the rest of my life about the importance of advocating for yourself as an artist. There are a million talented people in this sphere. You really have to advocate for yourself as an artist,” she says. “If I had not stepped out of my comfort zone and done this, I would have missed the opportunity to do this show, which has been very special.”
The Lord of the Rings—A Musical Tale made its U.S. premiere in previews last Friday for a run that goes through September 1. Later this fall, on November 5, it will transfer to The Civic Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand—a country that has become the embodiment of Middle-earth since the release of Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning film trilogy about the novels.
Featuring a 24-member ensemble cast, the highly anticipated, original musical adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary trilogy comes to Chicago after a run last year at Watermill Theatre in Newberry, England. With book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus and original music by Academy Award winner A.R. Rahman (Bombay Dreams, Slumdog Millionaire), Finnish folk band Värttinä, and Tony Award winner Christopher Nightingale (Matilda the Musical), the production is a reimagined revival of a musical that debuted in London in 2007.
“Chicago Shakespeare Theater is delighted to cre-
ate the U.S. premiere of Paul Hart’s magical and inspiring vision of The Lord of The Rings,” said CST Artistic Director Edward Hall in a statement to the media. “The Chicagobased ensemble that Paul and our team have put together promises to take us on an extraordinary adventure through Middle-earth. Launching our summer program in The Yard with this thrilling production promises an unforgettable night in the theater.”
With Irish and folk-inspired music performed live by the company onstage, the audience is transported through Middle-earth for Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday celebration in the Shire. When Baggins gifts his nephew Frodo his most precious belonging—a gold ring—it launches him on a legendary and perilous quest. Frodo proceeds to travel to the darkest realms of Mordor to vanquish evil, a tale that will be familiar to long-time Tolkienites and devotees to the film franchise.
Taber’s role as the half-Elven queen Arwen (famously played by Liv Tyler in Jackson’s film trilogy) —a descendent of the ancient Elven House of Finwë—has immersed her into Tolkien’s magical realm for the first time.
“I’m currently reading the books and have watched the original film trilogy,” she explains. “Sometimes I struggle with attention span on high fantasy novels but Tolkien is different for me. There is so much heart in the story and it’s been fun learning more about the incredible world that he built.”
The U.S. premiere at CST coincides with the 70th anniversary of the July 29, 1954 publication of The Fellowship of the Ring, the first book in the internationally renowned trilogy.
“I think it’s a really unique production and what better city to bring this show to the U.S. than Chicago,” says Taber, adding that performing on the stage at CST has long been on her theatrical bucket list. “Everyone is just phenomenally talented and so sweet. I’m incredibly lucky to be working with such a talented group of actors and musicians.”
While Taber can’t remember exactly how or where she got her start in theater, she credits her parents and the
North Shore community for an abundance of opportunities and support for the arts.
“I used to go to a summer camp called TWIG. One year we did Princess and the Pea so I was probably 9, but there may have been moments before that,” she says. “Even as a kid, my friends and I, along with my sister, would make up plays and perform them for our parents. I think that imaginative play time is where I got most of my start in theater.”
She did a few school shows and had an agent by the time she was a teenager. One of her first professional roles was in David Mamet’s The Water Engine at a theater in Chicago.
“It’s a story about a scientist who invents an engine that runs on water and the businessmen who want to get in the way,” she explains. “I played a couple different child characters. I was 13 years old and just met some of the loveliest people.”
In addition to starring as Golda in New Trier’s production of Fiddler on the Roof her senior year of high school, she did more professional theater before her big television break on Chicago P.D. Taber played Lexi Olinsky for four seasons, which took from her junior year at New Trier through college.
“I was at Fordham University for one semester but New York chewed me up and spat me out,” says Taber. “I wasn’t ready for New York.”
She came back to Chicago to study at DePaul, earning a degree in history with a minor in sign language. Agents would continue to book her for commercial spots and print ads but soon after graduation, Taber committed herself to the pursuit of live theater.
“All roads lead back to this,” she adds. “Theater has a special place in my heart. As an artist, it can be so fulfilling from an ensemble perspective to develop a show with a group of people. That comradery creates these really intimate, lasting relationships.”
Before getting cast in The Lord of the Rings—A Musical Tale, Taber received rave reviews as Stella in Paramount Theatre's A Streetcar Names Desire—an experience that she says was tough, given the subject matter, but also one of the most brilliant, transformational roles she’s ever played.
As a vocalist and songwriter, she has also performed in "Ella Fitzgerald: Live at Mr. Kelly’s" at City Winery in Chicago, "Patrick Lives On Anti-Gun Violence Benefit” with the cast of NBC’s One Chicago, and "BB King’s Birthday celebration with Shirley King" (daughter of BB) at Motor Row Brewing on Chicago’s south side.
With The Lord of the Rings—A Musical Tale officially in production at The Yard and the prospect of performing in New Zealand on the horizon, Taber is excited to be expanding her repertoire even further in what is shaping up to be a global musical theater sensation.
“I’m playing five instruments and learning how to play the harp specifically for this show. Learning a new instrument, especially a notoriously difficult instrument, has been a challenge,” she says, adding that she’s grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from seasoned harp players in the cast. “It’s been such an incredible experience. This show was brought to Chicago from England but it continues to be reimagined. As actors, we are helping to build a world through music, puppetry, and dancing, and it’s been absolutely amazing.”
The Lord of the Rings—A Musical Tale will run at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater through September 1. For more information, visit chicagoshakes.com/lordoftherings.
Alina Taber
GREATEST
SHERRY THOMAS
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
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Portfolio of Fine Homes
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
JULY 27
HIGHLAND PARK
SIDEWALK SALE
WHERE: Downtown Highland Park
Get ready for Highland Park Chamber of Commerce’s annual sidewalk sale, held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Whether you're looking for deals on clothing, jewelry, baby items, or books, you’ll find it here. Explore a variety of retailers and vendors offering major discounts all along Central Street. business.chamberhp.com
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 1
LEMONADE FOR BRIGHTER FUTURES
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 underserved 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 underserved 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 on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Clarkson Park in Northfield. The community
market features 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 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 at Chicago Botanic Garden. 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, natu-
ral 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 the beauty of Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s (LFOLA) Mellody Farm Nature Preserve while relaxing into a 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, food, beer, and wine tastings from local restaurants. 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 its respective performers. enjoyhighlandpark.com
NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 11
LAKE BLUFF FARMERS MARKET
WHERE: Lake Bluff Village Green
Enjoy the Lake Bluff Farmers Market Friday mornings through October 11. The market will be open from 7 a.m. to noon. A variety of local vendors will be selling their offerings— from food and beverages to flowers and dog treats. There will also be live music and
“SHTETL IN THE SUN” WHERE: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
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 1977-1980,” 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
The Prom
Guided Forest Therapy Walk
Local Expertise, National Support
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 27 TO 28
SIDEWALK SALE & CHALK ART CONTEST
WHERE: Downtown Evanston
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 27 TO 30
GUIDED FOREST THERAPY WALK
WHERE: Mellody Farm Nature Preserve
You are invited to slow down, awaken your senses, and immerse yourself in the natural world at Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s Mellody Farm Nature Preserve with a 2.5 hour guided walk. From noon to 3:30 p.m., you will be guided along meadow and forest trails, incorporating a series of invitations designed to establish a connection with nature through your senses. Studies show time spent in nature benefits our wellbe-
ing. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. lfola.org
JULY 27 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 worthy cause. Tickets are available now. uptownhp.org
JULY 28 BINGO
WHERE: Buffo’s
Back by popular demand, the Highwood Chamber of Commerce will host bingo beginning at noon. Enjoy a lively atmosphere filled with excitement and friendly competition as you play for a chance to win incredible prizes donated by the Highwood area's most popular restaurants and businesses. Gather with friends and family for a fun-filled afternoon where every game brings you closer to fantastic rewards. Sign up in advance at highwoodchamber.com
JULY 31
SILLY SIDEWALK
OBSTACLE COURSE
WHERE: Lake Bluff Library
This is the last day for the Lake Bluff Library’s Silly Sidewalk Obstacle Course. Children can follow the signs on the sidewalk outside the library. Names can be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a prize. This obstacle course will be set up all day. lakeblufflibrary.org
AUGUST 1
HEALING POWER OF NATURE HIKE
WHERE: Skokie River Nature Preserve
From 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., join Dr. Ann Vertovec from Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University to hike the Skokie River Nature Preserve and discuss the many health benefits of time spent in the natural world. The World Health Organization recently released a report showing time spent in nature improves moods, mindsets, and mental health. Come find out the whys and hows. lfola.org
AUGUST 1
& AUGUST 8
SIT & KNIT
WHERE: Northfield Public Library
Spend the afternoon with fellow knitters in the Community Room at Northfield Public Library. From 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. adults of all levels of experience are welcome. Basic supplies will be provided and library staff will be present to assist. Registration is required. wnpld.org
AUGUST 2
FIRST FRIDAY
WHERE: Hubbard Woods Stop, browse, and shop in the Hubbard Woods Design District at this special event. Held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., it features live music, themed refreshments from participating stores, and an evening of shopping. This
month’s theme will be Midsummer Chill. shophwdd.com
AUGUST 3 TO 4
WILMETTE ART FAIR
WHERE: Downtown Wilmette
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy the Wilmette Art Fair. Grab breakfast at your favorite downtown spot before enjoying thousands of paintings, sculptures, photographs, jewelry, and more on Wilmette and Central Avenue. Become living art with face paintings and create a masterpiece at a live painting class. Take a break from the day with a cold beer or sangria near the live music stage and be sure to look for the Kid Friendly Art Tent and Live Art Demo to interact with artists.
amdurproductions.com
AUGUST 4
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
AUGUST 4
JUNK IN THE TRUNK
WHERE: Metra Parking Lot
Discover unique treasures and one-of-a-kind finds at Highwood’s "Junk in the Trunk" event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This fun and exciting shopping experience supports local vendors and promotes sustainable consumption. If you have items to sell, you are invited to set up a table and join a vibrant community of vendors. This is the perfect opportunity to turn your pre-loved items into extra cash while connecting with others who share your passion for unique and eclectic finds. highwoodchamber.com
AUGUST 5
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. Tickets are $30 per person and the capacity is 16 people per tour. Registration is required. winnetkahistory.org
AUGUST 5 TO 6
NATIVE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
WHERE: Mellody Farm
Nature Preserve From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., join Trickster Cultural Center for a 2-day program that immerses you in Native
American views of the natural environment—helping them understand their roles and duties within nature. Guided by a dedicated team of leaders, including Elders, veterans, storytellers, and plant experts, campers ages 8 to 14 explore the four sacred elements—Water, Land, Air, and Fire— through daily focused activities, culminating in a comprehensive review of the day's lessons. lfola.org
AUGUST 11
VINTAGE CAR SHOW
WHERE: The Lot From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., come out and see an exciting lineup of vintage cars, including commercial vehicles, muscle cars, early automobiles, and the Batmobile of Klairmont Kollections Auto Museum. In addition, acclaimed radio DJ veteran Eddie “V” of “The Eddite and Jobo Morning Show” will be on site spinning contemporary hits, hosting giveaways, and announcing the winner of the Best of Car Show at 3:30 p.m. Up to 200 vehicles will be displayed along St. John’s Avenue. enjoyhighlandpark.com
AUGUST 15 TO 25 THE PROM
WHERE: McGrath Family Performing Arts Center The Highland Park Players present its closing show of the season, The Prom.
Native American Experience
Port Clinton Art Festival
Performances will be held August 16, 17, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on August 24 and 25. A preview performance will be held on August 15 at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy this seven-time Tony Award nominated musical.
highlandparkplayers.org
AUGUST 16 TO 18
46TH ANNUAL MIDAMERICAN BONSAI EXHIBITION
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden
The Midwest Bonsai Society’s August Exhibition will showcase its 46th year with an exhibition that runs from noon to 5 p.m. on August 16, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 17 and 18. It is one of the largest regional shows in the nation. Centered at the Chicago Botanic Garden's (CBG) Permanent Bonsai Collection—which features over 150 world-class trees— it’s a showplace of Bonsai
from across the Midwest and beyond. National enthusiasts bring their trees to be judged in the main hall at the Garden's Regenstein Center. There will be 30 vendors selling trees, tools, pots, stands, suiseki, scrolls, soil, fertilizers, and more. The exhibition will include plenty of workshops and lectures, including a Children's Bonsai Styling workshop. The show is free, but CBG parking and entry fees apply. midwestbonsai.org
AUGUST 16 TO 18
EVANSTON ART & BIG FORK FESTIVAL
WHERE: Downtown Evanston
Enjoy the artistic and food delights the city of Evanston has to offer. From noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, browse thousands of art pieces from 150 juried artists showing paintings, jewelry, sculp-
tures, mixed media, photography, and more. Take a break at the extensive tasty food area, try a painting class, or visit the Kids Art Zone. Entry is free. amdurproductions.com
AUGUST 24 TO AUGUST 25
PORT CLINTON ART FESTIVAL
WHERE: Highland Park
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy the weekend with paintings, sculptures, mixed media work, and more. There will be thousands of art pieces from 260 of the best artists in the country. Kids can check out the Kids Art Zone. There will also be cold beer, specialty coffee, tasty treats, and live music. amdurproductions.com
SEPTEMBER 14 TO OCTOBER 6
RIGOLETTO
WHERE: Lyric Opera Chicago
Partake in an evening
showcasing Giuseppe Verdi’s sensation, Rigoletto. Sung in Italian with projected English titles, the breathtaking piece is based on Victor Hugo’s play. Composer Music Director Enrique Mazzola, a muchacclaimed Verdian, brings astounding intensity to the story of Rigoletto, a court jester who is tragically con-
sumed with the vengeance of his daughter Gilda’s dishonor. lyricopera.org
SEPTEMBER 27
100TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
WHERE: Community House
Celebrate North Shore Art League’s 100th anniversary at 6 p.m. with a festive
gala, held on the second floor of the Community House in Winnetka. Enjoy libations, live art, music, and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are on sale now. northshoreartleague.org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
Healing Power of Nature
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Beside reading Mr. Popper's Penguins to my two young sons, I am re-reading Jack London's novels because one of my senior students wrote her essay on a winter dog-sledding expedition and it made me want to revisit those Yukon adventures. I am also finishing John Adams by David McCullough. After reading The AdamsJefferson Letters with my grandpa, we had moved on to John Adams and were halfway through when my grandpa passed away last year at age 101. I'm looking forward to finishing the biography and then re-watching the 2008 HBO miniseries, which is perhaps one of my top five television programs.
#ON MY MOBILE
I am not very active on social media, but I enjoy following Bishop Robert Barron. He served as the rector for the University of Saint Mary’s of the Lake in Mundelein and frequently visited Saint Mary’s in Lake Forest. He has spoken at the headquarters of Facebook, Google, and Amazon and is highly respected for his views on faith, philosophy, literature, and culture as well as the search for truth and beauty.
Since 2007, Lake Bluff’s KATHRYN PETTY has taught at College of Lake County (CLC)’s communications department while simultaneously tutoring high school juniors and seniors from all across the country for standardized test prep and college application assistance. After more than 450 ACT students and thousands of CLC students, she continues to sit for the ACT to keep her skills sharp. She admits that she gets some raised eyebrows from the proctor and the other students but she is committed to staying on top of any subtle test changes in her pursuit of excellence for her students. The vast majority of her ACT students hit their goals because Petty approaches the test logically and systemically while teaching both content and strategy. “One of the most important ways to raise your ACT score is to read,” she tells her students. “In a sense, the entire test is reading-based. And as they say, there is no substitute for reading and reading a lot. Also, give it your very best effort. Putting forth your best effort simply gives you more choices for college.” Petty sets aside her test prep books to share how she stays current in a fast-paced world.
#IN MY EARBUDS
I recently started listening to a podcast called Your College-Bound Kid after hearing a parent's recommendation. In terms of music, I am listening to whatever is playing at Panera because I am there tutoring most days of the week. When my own college-age daughter is home, sometimes I get to hear her playlists as well, which is always fun.
WINNETKA CHILDREN’S FAIR
The 77th annual Winnetka Children’s Fair took place on June 7 and 8 at the Winnetka Village Green. Families from across the North Shore celebrated the unofficial beginning of summer with carnival rides, arcade games, live entertainment, and more! winnetkacommunitynurseryschool.org/ about-the-fair
Nicolas Cage plays a character in drag in this gimmicky horror flick that our critic calls “one of the worst movies of all time.”
BY REX REED
RUNNING TIME: 1 HOUR, 41 MINUTES
RATING: 0 stars
It’s summer, when multiplex marquees are bloated with hunks of junk. One learns, through experience, to expect mediocrity at the movies. What one does not expect is a load of total trash full of gimmicks instead of ideas, stolen scenes from other movies instead of originality, amateurish posturing instead professional performances, clueless meandering instead of organized screenplays, and clear-eyed direction instead of pointless confusion.
Every negative just listed is glaringly evident as part of the incomprehensible gibberish that makes a crummy horror flick called Longlegs not only the worst movie in the summer of 2023, but one of the worst movies of all time.
There is no plot, but basically it centers on a rookie FBI agent named Lee, played by a charmless actress named Maika Monroe, and fashioned in the style of Clarice in Silence of the Lambs, played with much more force and individuality by Jodie Foster. Lee is also a psychic (duh) whose boss assigns her to the case of a mad serial killer called, for no explicable reason, Longlegs, who massacres entire families with daughters who have the same birthday as Lee. (You don’t need to have seen a dozen serial-killer movies already to know this means Lee is targeted for the next victim.)
There is no mystery about Longlegs. Sus-
pense wanes in the first scene—a sort of prologue to the rest of the movie, in which Lee dredges from her subconscious the memory of a horrifying childhood visit to her home by a creature called “Longlegs” who has some kind of relationship to her abusive single mother.
Longlegs is played in drag by Nicolas Cage, replete with dresses, a raspy voice like a shrieking banshee, and a white wig that looks like a rat’s nest. She-he is also a Satan worshipper. (Double duh.)
While Lee busies herself forming clues in groups of numbers and deciphering codes, Longlegs is arrested, but before anyone at FBI headquarters can question him about his motives, he smashes his head to hamburger on an interrogation-room table. Teeth fly, blood splashes all over the room faster than the plot, and Longlegs dies, but the massacres continue.
Lee’s mother heads the long list of red herrings as an eye-rolling religious nut who also has ties to the devil worshippers. (Say what?) None of it makes a great deal of sense, but it is relentlessly, constantly, savagely, and intensely gory, gloomy, and so mystifyingly preposterous that they seem to be making it all up as they go along. Longlegs is like a big gasoline fire, with a new match lit every minute.
The ridiculous script and paralyzing direction are both by Oz Perkins, son
of the late and versatile Tony Perkins. Considering the fact that he created one of the most memorable lunatics in screen history in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, you’d think some of his skill would rub off on his son. Sad to say, there is no evidence in the loopy Longlegs that Oz Perkins has inherited any of his Dad’s understated cinematic abhorrence.
To be charitable, he is careful not to reveal more at any time than Lee figures out for herself, and there is some style to the dark foreboding, but in my opinion even a hair-raising creep flick needs logic, and this one has none. It is never clear what Longlegs’ motives are, what the supernatural undertones have to do with the serial killings, even less with how and why the slaughters continue after Longlegs is dead.
The best thing about the film is the grim lighting and camerawork, which set the film’s ghoulish mood and never brighten its consistency. The worst thing is Nicolas Cage in his most hysterical, unhinged, over-the-top performance since he played Dracula like a vaudeville act.
The film’s own ponderous third act, in which everything comes together in a tsunami of delirium, is nothing less than moronic.
In the end, you’re left asking more questions than anyone involved can (or will) ever answer.
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
FLY ME TO THE MOON
A glamorous rom-com set in the time of the Apollo 11 moon landing starring Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, and Woody Harrelson is worth seeing but falls apart in the end with too many subplots.
At a sorry time when most movies are about nothing, Fly Me to the Moon, a rom-com set in the chaos and cross purposes of the heroic Apollo 11 moon landing, deserves attention because even though it is a sad, silly, over-produced disappointment, at least it’s about something. Not very much, I’m afraid, but something
BY REX REED
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
RUNNING TIME:
2 HOURS, 12 MINUTES
RATING: 2 stars
The fatal tragedy that killed the astronauts in the fatal Apollo 1 disaster in 1961 so devastated the world that by the time NASA was ready to launch Apollo 11 in 1969 public enthusiasm had waned and Congress was reluctant to continue the financing. Underfunded and understaffed, the future of the space program was in serious jeopardy, but President Richard Nixon was so desperate to beat the Russians and get the first man on the moon that he dispatched one of his goons to hire a public relations expert to jazz up NASA’s public image.
In this ambitious cinema confection with political icing, a nefarious Nixon puppet played with customary duplicitous charm by Woody Harrelson hires a fast-talking Madison Avenue con artist named Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) who is such a great combination market specialist and scam artist that she could sell ice cubes to the Eskimos.
Before you can say Mad Men, she’s put NASA on the map, to the disgust and consternation of Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), the Apollo 11 launch director, who craves dignity, professionalism and ethics over the vulgarity of advertising.
But with the approval and endorsement of Nixon, Kelly is in the catbird seat, with the
power to run the program with her own personal philosophy that no commercial idea is too small, no technology too premature, and no expense too great.
In record time, commerce triumphs over science as she finds endless ways to work Apollo 11 into every product endorsement from Peter Pan peanut butter to Fruit of the Loom underwear (well, she says, in outer space even astronauts have to wear something). In the dynamics of this contrived narrative, she puts NASA on the map, he wants to put her six feet under, and because this is, above all, a glamorous rom-com with two beautiful people, while they’re fighting, they’re also falling in love.
It’s not a bad formula for romance, but it has such severe narrative limitations it runs out of energy before the epic space vessel leaves the ground. “Houston, we’ve got a problem.” You can say that again.
Eventually Fly Me to the Moon loses its grip on the viewer’s concentration and falls apart when the Nixon stooge forces Kelly to stage a phony alternative moon landing on a sound stage to beat the Russians at claiming the first moon landing in case the actual Apollo 11 event goes wrong.
The exaggerated limp-wristed eccentric Kelly hires to direct this farce (played by Jim Rash) is not as amusing a character as the movie intends, but the uneven, overwritten screenplay by Rose Gilroy does get a few laughs when the three actors hired to play astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins have problems
remembering their lines.
Director Greg Berlanti interjects so many conflicting subplots that they crash into each other faster than TV test pilot rewrites, result in uneven pacing. Scarlett Johansson is gorgeous despite the hideous blonde wigs she’s forced to wear, but every scene guarantees her unconventional love. No matter what she does in her playbook to outwit, humiliate or mow down every other character to get her own way, they all end up loving her anyway.
Even the launch director sacrifices his values to surrender to her sex appeal. Together the two stars lack maximum charisma, the love story almost disappears from whole sections of the film, and clocking in at 2 hours and 12 minutes, it’s all much too long.
I could also do without the corny ploy of using “Destination Moon,” Henry Mancini’s “Moon River,”Bart Howard’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” and other moon songs, but at least they got the year right.
What I liked most about Fly Me to the Moon was the way it mixes fact and fantasy with mixed results, but an overriding basis in reality, including the fake moon landing.
Fact: In 1969, when millions of people watched the U.S. announce victory as the first country to land on the moon, the Russians claimed the footage of the astronauts on the lunar surface was staged by Hollywood. It all ends with Walter Cronkite saying “This day will live in history!”
And it will, even if the movie will not.
CLASSIC BLANCMANGE with Raspberry Sauce
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Do you recall the comedy sketch from Monty Python’s Flying Circus where giant tennis-playing blancmange puddings swallowed opponents at Wimbledon? That zany episode not only made me a Python fan but also stirred my culinary curiosity— just what was a blancmange? A bit of research yielded this definition: blancmange is simply a white pudding made from freshly pressed almond milk. A blancmange recipe is first found in an early 13th-century Danish cookbook, but it is believed to have spread across Europe through Arab trade routes. Originally a savory dish, by the 17th century it moved squarely into the dessert category with sugar, gelatin, and sometimes cream in the mix.
To emulate the elegant loveliness of the blancmange, I turned to the first American edition of Larousse Gastronomique, Prosper Montagné’s encyclopedia of French cookery. There I found famed 19th-century chef Antonin Carême’s recipe, slightly adapted here to allow the use of a food processor, almond extract, and, notably, gelatin powder—a modern-day substitute for the isinglass or fish bladder gelatin that was used in Carême’s time.
You can make this classic blancmange with cream or omit the cream for a dairy-free version. Both are very good.
Because red berries go well with blancmange, I’ve included a red raspberry sauce. Spoon it over the puddings or serve it alongside, with extra fresh berries sprinkled on top.
Servings: Cream version makes 6 cups; Dairy-free version makes 3 cups.
• 3/4 cup sugar (or 2/3 cup for dairy-free version)
• 2, 2 1/2 teaspoon envelopes Knox unflavored gelatin (OR for dairy-free version, use only 1 envelope)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
• 1 teaspoon almond extract (OR 1/2 teaspoon if making dairy-free version)
• Vegetable oil to lightly coat pudding molds
For the raspberry sauce
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 pints fresh raspberries (remove 1/2 cup of them to use for garnish)
• 3 tablespoons raspberry liqueur
METHOD
Prepare almonds
In a medium pot over medium-high heat, cover almonds with 5 cups water. Heat to boiling and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Pour almonds into colander placed in sink to drain. Fill a bowl with cool water and soak boiled almonds for 5 minutes. Rub almonds together or pinch each almond to slip skin off. Discard skins. Strain water off blanched (now skinless) almonds. Place blanched almonds in a food processor and pulse to chop. Add 1 cup of water and pulse again. Add second cup of water and pulse again until water and almonds are finely ground into a slurry. Place a finely woven clean cloth over a bowl; pour almond slurry into the cloth. Gather the ends of the cloth up to make a bundle. Twist tightly and squeeze the bundle to extract all of the milk. Open the cloth and place the ground almonds back in the bowl of the food processor. Add 1 cup of water and pulse. Repeat the extraction once again. You will now have 3 cups of fresh almond milk.
Make blancmange
For the version including the cream: Soften two packets of gelatin in 2 tablespoons of warm water. Pour almond milk into a pot set over medium heat. Add sugar, softened gelatin, and cream. Stir until mixture boils. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Stir in vanilla paste and almond extract. You will have about 6 cups of liquid pudding. OR If making dairy-free version: Soften 1 packet of gelatin in 1 tablespoon warm water. Pour almond milk into a pot set over medium
heat and add sugar and softened gelatin. Stir until boiling. Remove from heat and once room temperature, stir in vanilla paste and almond extract. You will have about 3 cups of liquid pudding.
Pour into cups or molds
Using your finger, lightly grease the insides of your choice of small molds or serving cups and/or decorative molds. Pour liquid into each. Refrigerate until set. (I let them chill overnight.)
Make raspberry sauce
In a small pot over medium heat, make a simple syrup by whisking sugar with 1/3 cup water. Heat to boiling, whisking until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool. Puree syrup with raspberries and liqueur. Pour puree through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing with the back of a spoon. Discard raspberry seeds.
Assemble dessert
If serving blancmange puddings in cups, pour a little raspberry sauce into each cup and top with fresh raspberry. If unmolding from forms, dip each form into hot water for a few scant seconds. Then, invert each over serving plate to release pudding. If a pudding needs a little encouragement to release, use your plastic-gloved fingers to gently coax it away from the inside edge of the mold as you invert it. Add a few fresh raspberries and pool a little sauce on each plate or serve sauce at table.
Highland Park High School teacher and 2024 Golden Apple Award winner Sarah Douglas strives daily to create a safe, inclusive environment in her classroom.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
Sarah Douglas knew exactly what to expect at home plate after she belted a walk-off—or sudden-victory—solo home run for DePaul University’s softball team in an NCAA playoff game more than two decades ago.
Countless high fives from her teammates; hugs that hurt and felt good at the same time; joyous slaps to her helmet; and ear-splitting cheers.
A freshman first baseman at the time, Douglas survived the raucous welcoming from a throng of ecstatic Blue Demons on the University of Iowa softball diamond.
Some 23 years later, in a Highland Park High School gymnasium on May 9, 2024, Douglas—while teaching a physical education class—absorbed another unforgettable celebration that she did not see coming.
“I was shocked,” the 42-year-old recalls. “I had no idea at all.”
A slew of people, in various forms of gait, had entered the gym on that day, from Douglas’ parents, identical twin, spouse, two daughters, and other loved ones, to proud and delighted colleagues and Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) members.
They enveloped the stunned Douglas because she had hit it out of the park as a teacher in the 2023-2024 school year and was the recipient of the 2024 Golden Apple Award in her 19th year at Highland Park High School.
HPCF and a local family foundation initiated the honor in 2010 to recognize outstanding teachers in the Highland Park public school system. Nominees must have completed four full years of teaching, and nominations rotate among the elementary, middle, and high school levels of teaching.
Active and retired teachers, administrators, and former HPCF Golden Apple Award recipients served as Selection Committee members, evaluating each nominee’s instruction, content knowledge, student and staff interaction, and contribution to school and community. They also observed each finalist teach a full day of classes.
Douglas was presented with a Golden Apple statuette and The Sara Sher Excellence in Teaching Prize—a $2,000 honorarium and $500 Apple Store gift card—on her big day.
“It was an emotional day,” says Douglas, who teaches physical educa tion, adaptive physical education, team sports, and traffic school at HPHS for grades 9-12, and served as the varsity softball coach at Deerfield High School for the past six seasons. “It was
She began her career at HPHS as a part-time teacher’s assistant in the Special Education department in 2005, before assuming full-time duties the following year and eventually becoming an inclusion modification specialist.
“Every day I work with students is a rewarding day and an opportunity to have a lasting impact on all of them,” says Douglas, who lives in Lemont with her wife, high school teacher Sarah Bryers, and their daughters, Remi, 8, and Avri, 6. “I strive to create a safe, positive environment where each student feels comfortable, which
I don’t demand respect as a teacher; I have to earn it through compassion, empathy, active listening, and engagement.
so humbling. The award isn’t about just me; it’s also about every department member and administrator who supported and encouraged me.
“The award will make me work harder.”
Raised by Jeff Douglas, a retired steel mill worker, and Michele Douglas, a retired automobile dealership secretary, in Crown Point, Indiana, Sarah started as a Communications major at DePaul but wound up majoring in Kinesiology to put her on a track to a career in education.
“I’ve always loved working with kids, and that love grew stronger when I coached at summer softball and basketball camps,” says Douglas, a 5-foot-9 softball first baseman and basketball forward at Crown Point High School. “I decided to change my major after running a softball clinic at DePaul; I found it fulfilling and rewarding, impacting players’ growth through teaching and coaching.”
Douglas earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
leads to an effective learning environment. I don’t demand respect as a teacher; I have to earn it through compassion, empathy, active listening, and engagement.”
Innovation helps, too. Douglas concocted a unique hockey stick for a student in a wheelchair by using a pool noodle and pieces of two standard hockey sticks. She also drilled a hole in a Ping-Pong ball, inserted a thin rope through the opening, and tied the end of the rope to a Ping-Pong table’s net. That meant a paddle-wielding player in a wheelchair could hone their shot-making abilities without having to spend an inordinate amount of time retrieving Ping-Pong balls that had rolled far away from the table.
“Sarah,” a colleague notes, “has a gift for making sure that every student, regardless of physical limitations, participates in a meaningful way.”
HPCF Golden Apple Selection Committee members assigned to observe Douglas for a day at HPHS learned she was more than a
champion of inclusion in a school setting.
“Sarah,” the joint statement points out, “fosters (inclusion) in a way that helps students accept it as the norm. Her level of care for her students reaches beyond the classroom; she encourages and sets an example.”
A parent lauded Douglas for having forged “new pathways” for other general education teachers to increase inclusion measures.
The former Division-I college athlete who drove in runs with her bat proved valuable for driver’s education students at HPHS, applying for, and receiving, a grant for a special driving simulator. The “safety” in traffic safety spurred her to seek the funding in 2023.
“Not all students get to practice driving at home, perhaps because their parents work,” says Douglas, who’s also an adjunct professor at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, teaching a course for educators who want to add the “driver’s education teacher” hat to their figurative headwear.
If Douglas were able to turn her Golden Apple statuette into scores of slices, she probably would. And she’d hand them to all of the influential teachers in her life, many of whom are not certified to instruct.
“My parents are phenomenal,” Douglas says. “I will always be thankful for what they taught me while I was growing up. My dad was my softball coach. He had a calm demeanor as a coach; he still has a calm demeanor. My mom was the biggest fan and biggest supporter at my games. She respects all people for who they are. And every coach and teacher and colleague I’ve been around has inspired me to be better in education.
“I’ve learned so much from so many, including my students,” she adds. “My students have taught me how important it is to have resilience inside and outside the classroom.”
The Highland Park Community Foundation improves lives and enriches the Highland ParkHighwood community as a whole. Through grant funding, the foundation strengthens families, supports individuals with disabilities, nurtures children, assists older adults, develops skills in teens, enhances artistic experiences, and more. For more information, visit hpcfil.org.
Transforming your outdoor space into an extension of your home involves thoughtful design and a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor elements. Here are some ways to make your outdoor space an extra room in your home.
• Select comfortable and stylish outdoor furniture that mirrors the aesthetics of your interior decor
• Create distinct zones for dining, lounging and entertaining
• Incorporate cozy textiles such as outdoor rugs, cushions, throw pillows, and throw blankets
• Make sure the materials are weather resistant
• Incorporate an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, or pergola for shade
• Introduce lighting elements like string lights, lanterns or pathway lighting
• Incorporate greenery through potted plants, and hanging baskets
With more summer still left to enjoy, you can create an outdoor space to work, play and entertain. Happy Summer!
