The North Shore Weekend, August 5th, 2023

AT THIS SUMMER

August 14

August 23

Buddy Guy and George Benson

September 1 & 2

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT RAVINIA.ORG

REMEMBERING ROCKY WIRTZ

Chicago Blackhawks Principal Owner and Chairman W. Rockwell Wirtz, who died last week at age 70 after a brief illness, jump-started a flagging franchise that won three Stanley Cups in six years. pg9

“The only thing that feels better than winning is winning when nobody thought you could.”

things p14

Jet off on a luxury Kenyan safari and more in this weekend's luxury offerings pg17

- Hank Aaron

114 De Windt Road | Winnetka

6 Bedrooms | 5 full and 3 half baths | $3,450,000

12 Longmeadow

Road | Winnetka

4 Bedrooms | 4 full and 1 half baths | $2,850,000

Southern-style colonial situated on 1.67 acres with access to a spring-fed lake. Living room with fireplace overlooks the terrace and grounds. Striking family room features a wet bar, fireplace and full bath. The cook’s kitchen boasts high-end appliances, a fireplace and breakfast area. In the first-floor primary suite you’ll find built-ins, walk-in closets and a luxurious bath.

120

5 Bedrooms | 5 full and 1 half baths | $2,850,000

This masterfully renovated home, with exceptional landscaped grounds, offers a living room with a fireplace and access to the patio and firepit. Formal dining room leads to a stunning family room with views of the grounds. Tranquil first floor primary suite includes two walk-in closets and deluxe bath with double sinks and separate tub and shower.

62

6 Bedrooms | 4 full and 2 half baths | $2,650,000

Inviting foyer, with a curved staircase and marble floors, leads to a step-down living room with hardwood floors and a fireplace. Christopher Peacock’s designed kitchen has top-of-the-line appliances, an island, and a wine refrigerator. Serene primary suite features a fireplace, custom built-in closet system, updated bath and private balcony. On 1.55 acres.

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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

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

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Theresa DeMaria

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bill McLean, Monica Kass Rogers, Rochelle Rubinoff, Ann Marie Scheidler

DESIGN Linda

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART

Ian McLeod, Monica Kass Rogers

PHOTOGRAPHY

Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt

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BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Fans chanting “Rock-y! Rock-y! Rock-y” at Chicago Blackhawks home games at the United Center had nothing to do with celebrating a certain cinematic boxer and everything to do with acknowledging the presence of an avid, real-life hockey fan—W. Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz, the Blackhawks’ principal owner and chairman.

“Rocky liked to sit in the stands during games,” says Lake Forest resident David Sweet, an author, journalist, and hockey dad. “That’s unusual for an owner, in any professional sport, and his seat wasn’t the best in the house. Fans loved shouting his name as soon as they saw him. Fans also loved and respected the likable Rocky because he was approachable and engaging.”

“Rocky Wirtz was as popular to Blackhawks fans as the team’s star players were,” says former Daily Herald Lake County High School Sports Editor Joe Aguilar, who also covered the Blackhawks, including games during the franchise’s Stanley Cup-winning seasons in 2010, 2013, and 2015. “He connected with fans. Rocky was beloved, a man of the people.”

Countless people in all walks of life—family, friends, blue- and white-collar hockey fans, business associates, fellow philanthropists, employees (past and present) of Chicago’s Original Six franchise and other National Hockey League organizations—mourned the passing of Wirtz last week. The Winnetka resident died at NorthShore Evanston Hospital on July 25 after a brief illness.

He was 70.

Mr. Wirtz was surrounded by his wife, Marilyn, and his four children—Danny, Hillary, Kendall, and Elizabeth—at the time of his death.

“Our hearts are very heavy today,” Danny Wirtz, the Blackhawks’ CEO, said in a statement on July 25. “Our dad was a passionate businessman committed to making Chicago a great place to live, work and visit, but his true love was for his family and close friends.

“He was a loving father, a devoted husband to Marilyn, a brother, a nephew, an uncle and a doting grandfather to six remarkable grandchildren,” the son continued. “His passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of many, and we will miss him terribly.”

Rocky Wirtz, a North Shore Country Day (1971) and Northwestern University (1975) graduate, became the Blackhawks’ fifth principal owner after his father, Bill Wirtz, died in 2007; Rocky’s grandfather Arthur Wirtz owned the team from 1966-1983. Rocky also ran the liquor distributor Breakthru Beverage Group. Holdings in his Wirtz Corp. included banking, real estate, and entertainment entities.

The Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, the official charity of the franchise, meant the world to him. It works to create a healthier, smarter, and more secure world for children and families in Chicago and the suburbs. The foundation’s First Stride program introduces ice skating and hockey to students throughout the Chicago area.

“It was a vision of Rocky Wirtz from the first day,” Annie Camins, then the Blackhawks’ senior executive director of fan development, told Fred Mitchell of chicagoblackhawks.com in 2018. “He wanted it for the community.”

Wirtz served as a Field Museum board chair and belonged to the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club, which works with business leaders, public officials, and other civic and community initiatives to promote the social and economic wellbeing of the region.

The Chicago Blackhawks made only one playoff appearance from 1998-2008. In 2004, ESPN selected the franchise as the worst in professional sports. Sweet, in an article he wrote for nbcnews.com in 2008, noted the season-ticket base in the 2007-2008 season was a meager 3,400.

“Bad product, bad rosters,” Aguilar says of the Blackhawks’ bleak stretch of seasons. “The Blackhawks were irrelevant to Chicago sports fans for too many years. That ESPN distinction was earned. Bill Wirtz’s refusal to air home games upset a fan base that used to be such a passionate one. Rocky then took over, hired (former Chicago Cubs President) John McDonough, who was known for his excellence in marketing, and decided to air all Hawks home games (beginning in 2008-2009, when the number of season-ticket holders soared to 13,500).

“Home games, suddenly, became sellouts,” Aguilar adds. “Rocky Wirtz’s popular decisions coincided with the return to winning—every-

body loves a winner, right?—and introduced hockey to a new generation of Blackhawks fans. He also brought back (radio/TV play-byplay announcer) Pat Foley and named icons and fan favorites Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita team ambassadors.”

Chicago’s turnaround in the NHL was stunningly fast and wonderful. The Blackhawks reached the Western Conference Final in Rocky’s second season as principal owner in 2008-2009. Blackhawks superstars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews emerged as versions of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in skates. And then the organization needed only six seasons to notch a hat trick of Stanley Cup championships. Chicago halted a 49-year Cup drought when it beat Philadelphia in 2010.

“The hottest ticket in town was a Blackhawks ticket, just like it was in the 1970s,” recalls Sweet, whose son David Jr. earned team MVP honors in hockey as a senior at Lake Forest Academy in 2022. “It was amazing what Rocky did to revitalize the Blackhawks in such a short period of time.”

Sweet’s son Ford, another hockey player, will be a junior at LFA this fall.

Lake Forest Academy Athletic Director Darrin Madeley doubles as the school’s boys hockey coach. He considers Kane and former Blackhawk Alex DeBrincat (LFA, 2016) good friends. Madeley served as a U.S. National Team coach in 2004, the year before he arrived at the academy.

Kane skated for that national squad.

“I grew up outside Toronto, and the Hawks were rivals, so I was not a Chicago fan,” Madeley says. “I was worried when the Blackhawks drafted Pat because that was a bad period for the franchise and Pat was a generational talent. Mr. (Rocky) Wirtz then showed how an owner can make a difference, and he brought the fans back.

“Once they arrived,” he adds, “they saw how good Pat was and watched the organization build a dynasty. That only happens if the owner is about winning and (establishing) a champion’s mentality.”

Sustained hockey success at the professional level in Chicago expanded and enlivened youth hockey leagues in the city and suburbs. Every late autumn, boys and girls asked moms and dads, “Will you build an ice rink in our back yard?” Adults who had never been interested in hockey before 2010 boned up on the sport’s rules and penalties, like icing, offside, and boarding.

A Blackhawks playoff hockey game wasn’t just a game after Rocky ascended to principal owner—it was a major event. Sports bars packed with Blackhawks sweater-wearing patrons throbbed and nearly burst. Fans couldn’t get “Chelsea Dagger,” the lively, catchy song that blared after each Hawks goal, out of their minds but didn’t mind the earworm in the least.

Maybe chanting “Rock-y! Rock-y! Rock-y” at home games was another way of shouting “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Funeral arrangements are pending.

REMEMBERING ROCKY WIRTZ From PG 1

Rocky was beloved, a man of the people.

GARDEN of DISCOVERY

BY ANN MARIE SCHEIDLER THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

When Laura Calvert stepped into the executive director role at Elawa Farm three years ago, her charge was clear—strengthen its connection to its neighbors.

But just as Calvert’s plans were beginning to unfold, the global pandemic brought all of Elawa Farms’ initiatives to a halt. That was, until Elawa Farm was deemed an essential entity.

“The need for access to healthy food was in such high demand and we were in a position where we could help in a significant way,” Calvert says. “And here we are in 2023, still delivering on our promise to broaden access to nutritious food and our local food system.”

Elawa Farm is back to its robust levels of programming with the intention of exposing the wider community to its value and purpose. Elawa Farm is a public-private partnership dedicated to the preservation and stewardship of a unique combination of natural setting, designed landscapes, and buildings of architectural and historic significance.

“Once we were on the farm again and could see it in use day in and day out, we saw first-hand the population we were missing,” Calvert explains. “Although our grounds are

open to everybody, we saw the difficulty that some of our visitors had in exploring our property.”

So last fall, Elawa Farm broke ground on what is known as the Discovery Garden. Lots of inspiration for the Discovery Garden was drawn from the Chicago Botanic Garden that is home to the Enabling Garden.

“We knew that we needed something similar to the Enabling Garden at Elawa if we were going to be a true community organization,” Calvert says. As a first step, a central pathway constructed from ADAcompliant crushed granite was made down the farm’s alley.

“Folks in limited mobility devices can now access the farm,” Calvert says, “as can parents with strollers. This pathway really invites you out and leads you to the Discovery Garden.”

The Discovery Garden, itself, has been thoughtfully designed with paths wideenough for limited mobility devices to pass, and raised garden beds built at a level that can be accessed from a seated position. Additionally, a pergola has been constructed to create a shaded space for what will soon be used as an outdoor classroom.

“For the first time at Elawa Farm, by introducing the Discovery Garden, we have

a dedicated outdoor classroom,” Calvert explains. “We have wanted to have an educational space for workshops, camps, volunteer days, and engagement days. From the get-go, we wanted to ensure that it was accessible to all people of all ages. To our knowledge, we are the only accessible garden in Lake County that’s free to enjoy.”

Jesus Cuezzi, Elawa Farm’s programs manager, is leading all of its educational opportunities on- and off-site. Recently, Cuezzi—leveraging years of experience in building community programming—created a partnership with the Center of Enriched Living (CEL) in Riverwoods.

“We hear too often that we are a hidden gem,” Cuezzi says. “This is what we’re trying to change. It’s very meaningful to be able to talk about the adaptive programming we provide and get immediate feedback from a partner like CEL. This is just the beginning of engaging our community in the idea that this is a place for everybody.”

Lake Forest’s Michelle Hirschfield is one of the Discovery Garden’s biggest advocates.

“I met Laura when I was asked to serve on a marketing committee for the City of Lake Forest,” Hirschfield explains. “As we were getting to know each other, I shared that I

have a son with autism, and I told her how much he loves playing in the dirt. Very true to our experience of living in Lake Forest with our son Will, where our friends, Will’s schools, and local businesses have been so inclusive of him—Laura immediately began suggesting ways he could become involved at Elawa.”

Calvert adds that in addition to the Discovery Garden, this is an interesting time for Elawa Farm, with the bittersweet closing of the Wildlife Discovery Center when its director, Rob Carmichael, retired earlier this year. Elawa is currently working with the City of Lake Forest to determine the best use for this space, including the possibility of hosting additional farm animals in a way that honors what Carmichael had built. Accessibility will be a core tenant regardless of what form this takes.

“I’m often quoted saying that one of the best ways to recognize the humanity in someone is to share a meal, share a green space, share the outdoors,” Cuezzi says. “This is what drives me to come to work every day at Elawa and try to accomplish something profound with our programs.”

To learn more, visit elawafarm.org.

Elawa Farm invites the community to its newly unveiled Discovery Garden that is accessible to all who would like to visit.

Education Manager Jesus Cuezzi, Executive Director Laura Calvert, and Farm Manager Elaine Madansky standing proudly at newly constructed Discovery Garden. Photography by Ian McLeod

Penthouse Interior

Expansive Terraces

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

Skyline Window Coverings has got you covered.

BY ROCHELLE RUBINOFF PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CULTIVATE BRANDS

Whether you’re working on one room or an entire house, Chrissy Roellchen and her team at Skyline Window Coverings have got you beautifully covered. With decades of experience, they offer a seamless process for selecting the perfect window treatments. “Functionality is what comes first and foremost,” Roellchen explains. “However, the style and transformative power of gorgeous window treatments are not far behind.”

After receiving a degree in design, Roellchen worked for more than ten years for a Kansas City boutique design store that specialized in window treatments.

When she relocated to Chicago, she decided it was time to set up her own shop. “Because I knew industry leader Hunter Douglas so well and had sold their product for a really long time, I decided our shop would work with one brand,” she explains.

“Hunter Douglas has the best quality products and the best warranties. Its window treatments are handcrafted in North America and are well-known and loved for their consistent quality and impeccable style. The company stands behind its product, which makes it really easy for us to stand behind the product as well,” Roellchen says.

Choosing a window treatment is often a room’s finishing touch and is usually one of the last steps in the design

process. When working with a new client, a Skyline designer will visit the client’s home to see the room, windows, and all existing elements that should be taken into consideration. Clients receive the expertise of a large design firm delivered with the customer service experience of a boutique. “We have experienced, in-home consultants. Many clients appreciate seeing the fabric in the room where it will be located, under the room’s lighting, and amongst the existing furniture,” notes Roellchen.

Skyline’s commitment to a streamlined purchasing process sets it apart from the competition. “We try to do everything in one appointment. During a site visit, we'll measure, make recommendations about the products that might work best, and review the budget,” Roellchen explains.

Skyline has state-of-the-art showrooms in the city as well as Winnetka. These showrooms offer clients excellent insight into the current design trends. Roellchen observes that “soft shades” are especially popular now because they bring an understated elegance to the room while gently diffusing light.

“Some clients prefer to come into the showroom. For clients who want to browse, we recommend a showroom visit first and then if they’d like us to visit the site, we schedule an appointment,” Roellchen notes.

And while the Midwest is their hub, they also have stores in Portland and just outside of Sacramento and Los Angeles.

Skyline intentionally avoids describing themselves as being the “biggest in Chicago” or “Chicago’s Number 1 Hunter Douglas Retailer.” “We make no such claim,” says Roellchen. “We make an everyday promise to our clients to be in vigorous pursuit of the best. Our logo isn’t finished because we always believe we can be better. More improved. Always rising.”

To find out more information or schedule an appointment, visit skylinewindowcoverings.com.

Tracy Dyer working with clients in a Chicagoland home.

STUNNING EXPANSION AND RENOVATION ON OVER AN ACRE IN NORTHFIELD

180 Old Farm Road

Situated at the end of a private lane with over one acre of beautiful grounds sits this remodeled and expanded home. This home offers every amenity for comforts and a floor plan with incredible room sizes for entertaining. Instantly you will be drawn to the impressive hub of the home which encompasses the kitchen, hearth and dining room. The focal point of this one of-a-kind cook’s kitchen is the immense Walnut Island with marble countertops. The kitchen includes high-end appliances and soaring ceilings with wood beams. Inviting open dining room with a wall of built-ins and pantries with pull-outs, drawers for storage and glass lit accent cabinets dressed in marble subway tile. The great room with soaring wood beamed ceilings and skylights emphasizes spaciousness and beauty. The roughly 800 square foot room has a wall of wainscoting and another wall of blue gray built-ins, plus 3 sets of sliding doors leading to the patio. There is a built-in bar plus a separate 300 bottle wine room with temperature control. A separate staircase leads to a carpeted playroom. The well-designed mud room with ample amounts of custom blue locker cabinets leads to a threecar garage. Formal living room with fireplace and a separate office with a French door. The bedroom wing includes two en-suite bedrooms including a beautiful primary bedroom with dual walk-in closets, private laundry room and a spa-like bathroom. At the top of the staircase you will find a playroom and a bedroom with three closets and direct access to a full bathroom. Second laundry room upstairs. There is plenty of room in the final huge bedroom! This room feels like a private wing, featuring many architectural details including beadboard vaulted ceilings, two ceiling fans, three large pendant lights and en-suite bathroom. Enormous brick paver patio with a classic built-in outdoor fireplace with gas starter. There is also a built-in grill and green egg. This unique special house is truly one of a kind not to be missed. Offered at $2,395,000

LIST BROKER: Anne

847-657-3747

Anne.DuBray@cbexchange.com

EDITED BY DUSTIN O'REGAN ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

Beach reads! It's summer, and there is nothing better than Elin Hilderbrand (The Five-Star Weekend is my latest read) and Emily Giffin's books. Summer is the perfect time to read something light-hearted and funny. On a separate note, I just ordered Body on Fire: How Inflammation Triggers Chronic Illness and the Tools We Have to Fight It by Jyothi Rao and Monica Aggarwal.

#ON MY MOBILE

As my husband can attest, I am obsessed with clothing and anything with color. I follow Jess Cathell (@j.cathell) and M.G. STYLE (@m.g._style) on Instagram for inspiration and Hapi Art (@hapiart) because I love her colorful, fun artwork. Pops of color make things better, especially in the throes of winter.

#IN MY EARBUDS

From Daisy Jones and the Six, "Look at Us Now." I recently watched the series and highly recommend it. That and country music because, again, it's summer, and there are so many great country artists with upbeat songs. Kenny Chesney, Cole Swindell, Tyler Hubbard, Morgan Wallen—there are so many. For podcasts, HigherDOSE Hot Seat for wellness tips. I have their infrared sauna blanket and love their products.

Winnetka's ALLISON STECKO has always loved two things—a well-planned party with an emphasis on fun and the unexpected and pitching stories for PR clients.   Before getting back into public relations, Stecko spent years in event marketing, where she discovered what it takes to create a "wow" experience and, more importantly, what elements are needed to stave off boredom. As she can personally attest, it's easy to lose interest quickly while at an event, especially if you don't want to be there in the first place. This is why Stecko's goal has always been to impress a certain person: the one who has no interest in attending.

A favorite event program that Stecko worked on was "The Stoli Hotel," an innovative pop-up experience on behalf of Stolichnaya vodka that traveled to cities across the country in the form of a month-long, luxury entertainment temporary venue. The goal of the visitor experience was to emulate the feeling of travel while also being able to enjoy all aspects of an actual hotel with some celebrity moments mixed in. To tie into the brand, each room evoked the character of a Stoli flavor, and the exterior was inspired by Hotel Moskva, the iconic building on the Stolichnaya vodka label. In addition to planning events, Stecko has always loved helping companies tell their story through placements in local and national media outlets to help further business awareness and growth. One of her favorite PR programs was the "Korbel Perfect Proposal Contest," where men who were looking to propose would submit an idea to GQ magazine on behalf of the well-known champagne brand. Three ideas would be chosen but blown up into something that would make a splash from a media perspective—models in the former (iconic) Marshall Field's windows in downtown Chicago, each holding up a different word to spell out "Will You Marry Me?" as the couple happened to be strolling by. Or 10 men in tuxedos skiing down a mountain to unveil a 300-ft "Marry Me" sign. The campaign caught the attention of The Today Show, which filmed each proposal and aired the segment on Valentine's Day.  When she's not working, Stecko is getting treatments for Lyme Disease in hopes of going into remission and spending time with her husband and kids—Mason, Brayden, and Ava.

Date & Cardamon SPIRAL COOKIES

INGREDIENTS FOR THE DOUGH

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 ¼ tsp, active dry yeast (1 packet)

• 1 tsp. ground cardamom

• Tiny pinch of ground cinnamon

• 1 cup melted butter (salted)

• 3/4 cup warm water

• 3 tsp. sugar

• 2 Tbsp nigella seeds

FOR THE DATE FILLING

• 2 Tbsp sunflower (or other neutral) oil

• 2 lbs. Sukarry dates, pitted (OR other highquality soft dates)

• 2 tsp. ground cardamom

FOR THE EGGWASH

• 1 egg yolk

• 2 Tbsp milk or water

METHOD

MAKE DOUGH

In a large wide bowl, whisk together flour, yeast, nigella seeds, tiny pinch of cinnamon, and sugar. Make a well in the center; add melted butter. Stir to combine. Add water and continue stirring until mixture comes together. Knead dough until smooth. Leave ball of dough in bowl; cover with clean towel and place in a draft-free area to rise a bit while you make the filling.

MAKE FILLING

In a small pot over very low heat, combine pitted dates with oil and cardamom. Mixture will be very sticky. Continue mashing until warm and partially smooth. Remove from heat. Coat hands with oil and continue mashing and kneading dates with your hands until you have a smooth date paste. Set aside.

ASSEMBLE

Cover a clean work surface with two overlapping sheets of plastic wrap to make a 14 x 14 inch square. Place ¼ of date paste in center. Cover with two more sheets of overlapping plastic wrap. Pat paste down to flatten. Using a rolling pin, roll paste out into a thin rectangular sheet about 9 x 12 inches. Set aside.

BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Kleicha is ubiquitous at religious holidays and special occasions in the Middle East. There are many variations of recipes for the pretty roll-ups of crispy yeasted dough around a smooth date filling. But the cookies always include dates, cardamom, and sometimes nigella (often labeled Black Seed or Kalonji in Middle Eastern grocery stores.)

I love the savory pop of nigella seeds, so included them here. And while some kleicha recipes start with date paste, using pitted dates cooked to jammy consistency yields best flavor.

But which dates to choose?

At the recent TuttoFood exposition in Milan, Italy, I was delighted to find that

dates were the featured ingredient in the expos creative cooking competition. Talking to representatives from Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Palms & Dates I learned that while the Kingdom has 34 million date palms, producing more than 300 varieties of dates, we here in America are likely to see only a few. Two varieties I found in Chicago included the dark, round Ajwa dates, which are firm with a chocolatey, caramelly flavor, and Sukkary—sometimes called “Royal Dates” which are soft and sweet, with a honeyed flavor and golden brown color. The Sukkary variety (available refrigerated at the Pita Inn grocery in Skokie/Evanston) are delicious in this recipe. But any good-quality soft dates will do.

To make the cookies, you’ll mix the dough first. While it rises, you’ll pit and then warm

the dates with cardamom and a little oil, mashing and/or kneading the mixture into a smooth paste. Rolling out and rolling up come next. To simplify this, I spread my work area with cling wrap, spreading more wrap over the surface of first the date paste and then the dough before rolling each out into thin 9-inch x 12-inch rectangles. You’ll then remove the top sheet of plastic, flip the date paste sheet over the dough sheet and roll the stack jelly-roll style to make a log. All that remains from here is to slice each roll into ¾-inch slices, bake and serve. With only 3 tsp of sugar in the dough, and none added to the filling, the sweetness of the cookies is all fruit! That makes kleicha nutrition and fiber-packed little nuggets. They keep well, and taste especially good with a cup of strong black tea.

Cut risen dough ball into four pieces. Spread work surface with two more sheets of overlapping plastic and use same procedure you used for rolling out the date paste to roll out the dough. Remove top pieces of plastic from surface of dough sheet. Retrieve sheet of date paste. Remove top pieces of plastic from surface of date paste sheet. Flip (invert) date paste sheet over the dough sheet. Using the edge of plastic wrap on the shorter side of the rectangle, lift edge of dough-date-stack up and tuck and roll up jelly-roll style to make a log. Place log seam-side down, slightly flatten; wrap and refrigerate. Repeat with remaining three portions of dough and date paste.

BAKE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush each log with egg wash. Using a very sharp knife, slice each log into ¾ to 1-inch pieces. Place raw cookies upright on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven. Serve hot, or at room temperature.

Photography by Monica Kass Rogers

MATERIAL PURSUITS

This weekend’s curated luxury trends

OUT OF AFRICA

If you’ve ever dreamed of venturing off to Kenya for a safari, Pelorus has the perfect itinerary for you. This eight-night, tripof-a-lifetime features two of the nation’s most exclusive private homes—from an estate in the Great Rift Valley to a seaside villa overlooking the Indian Ocean. The journey begins as you touch down on the Borana Conservancy, an area rich in wildlife and cultural heritage in the Laikipia region of Kenya. The location for your first sanctuary showcases Kenya’s raw natural beauty while offering remarkable comfort and luxury. A thrilling array of activities that go far beyond the traditional safari experience awaits—from horseback riding to guided bush walks to snorkeling and diving. You may also enjoy all the ocean has to offer about a meticulously restored 60-foot wooden sailing boat or travel by private airplane charter and helicopter to unique areas, opening up a range of new experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible. After your days at the first stop on your adventure draw to a close, you will travel by private airplane charter to your next destination—an opulent villa at the seaside town of Diani Beach that affords a more tropical Kenyan experience. Priced at approximately $17,000 per person, this dream trip can be booked at pelorusx.com/exclusive-kenyan-exploration.

HIGH FIDELITY

Vinyl is back and turntables are better than ever. Linn’s Sondek LP12-50 has marked the 50th anniversary of the most iconic product in hi-fi history with a limited edition turntable designed with its partners at the creative collective LoveFrom. This new offering is said to produce the best vinyl playback performance Linn has ever achieved, along with the signature design of Sir Jony Ive and his team at LoveFrom. You will immediately notice this design expertise has been applied to the new, precision-machined power/speed control button and hinges—offering delightful and precise interaction with the turntable. This combination of performance, usability, and aesthetic improvements results in an historic piece with unrivalled sonic quality and beauty. Only 250 of these limited edition Sondek LP1250s will ever be produced—with each bearing an embossed aluminum plaque celebrating this landmark collaboration with individual numbering. Get yours for approximately $60,000 at linn.co.uk/us/turntables/lp12-50.

RACING AGAINST TIME

The 1960s was a golden age for sports car performance and sleek sensual design—ushering in the now mythical reputations of racetracks like Le Mans, Sebring, and Daytona. That era also cemented the reputations of such prestigious car manufacturers as Porsche, Ferrari, Jaguar, Bentley, Aston-Martin, Maserati, and Lamborghini. In honor of that automotive design legacy, L’Epee 1839 has introduced a new timepiece that is at the crossroads of race cars and art. Its new Time Fast II is a V8 racing thoroughbred clock that faithfully replicates much of the technology and design that made racing sports cars of the 1960s so appealing. Built on a H-chassis in aluminum (as the racing cars were back then), a three-spoke steering wheel (that sets the time) is made just like those of the real sport cars. The time displays (hours and minutes) of the manufacture 8-day movement are on the dual air filters feeding the V8’s two banks of carburetors. Time Fast II also sports a functional manual gear stick that selects between winding the time movement, winding the piston automaton movement, and neutral. The best part? Winding is done by turning the rear wheels, just like when you were playing with toy cars as a kid. Available for approximately $43,900 at lepee1839.ch/eboutique.

Setting the Bar Since 1936

MUDLARK IN YOUR EYE

BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

When Christina Lepri-Stringer was 9 and the only child actor in the Steppenwolf Theatre production The Wolf Lullaby, she had to learn to speak with an Australian accent.

Years later, as a Boston College Theater/ English double major, the Chicago native in terned at the Theatre Royal in Bath, England, where she worked with actors in the theater’s children program.

“I taught a third grader in England how to speak with a Chicago accent, even though the child’s role in the play was the New York mayor,” Lepri-Stringer recalls.

She at least deserves credit for following the “teach what you know” maxim.

In early June, Lepri-Stringer, 35, was named artistic director at Mudlark Theater, an Evanston-based theater for young people, after having served there as education direc tor and managing director from 2013-2020. She’s the third artistic director in Mudlark Theater’s 18-year history.

The accent at the nonprofit Mudlark will be on storytelling under Lepri-Stringer’s leadership.

“For a community, it can be powerful to watch children tell stories as performers in theater,” says Lepri-Stringer, who succeeded Andrew Biliter, who plans to write and direct as a resident artist at Mudlark. “Young people are incredibly capable of being great storytellers, and what I think is unique about Mudlark is that it centers youth voices in every production that it does. It also takes young people’s stories and perspectives seri ously.

“At Mudlark,” she adds, “all actors have a purpose. No one will ever be tree No. 4 in the background.”

Actors and students (ages 10-15), Mudlark’s website notes, learn empathy, listening skills, public speaking, critical thinking, and collaboration—strengths that enhance their academic and personal growth, and will also prepare them to make a difference in any field they choose to enter.

“I love the idea of Mudlark Theater,” says Lepri-Stringer, who worked as director of education and community engagement at Northlight Theatre in Skokie the past three years. “It’s tough, for many, being a student in

Starlight and Pinocchio

“For each audition, we usually have four or five kids play games in a room while we observe them, and then we follow that up with a gentle improv scene,” says Lepri-Stringer, who, as a playwright and director at Mudlark, created more than 10 full-length plays, including Lot 47, The Enchanted Castle, The Nutcracker, and Little Women. “I like it when a parent warns me, ‘My son is a little rowdy.’

tors Program in Chicago. She also performed in March of the Mill Children (age 9) and Twelfth Night (age 10).

“I loved it there,” Lepri-Stringer says. “It was serious stuff. To be a kid who was a part of a play about a labor uprising (March of the Mill Children) was a great opportunity. I also got to meet students from other schools.”

As a high school student, she spent three years honing her craft at the Lookingglass

Theatre Company, mostly as an ensemble member, and volunteered there for a couple of years as an usher.

“What I loved about my experience at Lookingglass was the chance to focus on writing plays,” Lepri-Stringer says. “I became more and more interested in writing plays as I got older. I owe Andrew (Biliter), who has had a big influence on me, a lot because he encouraged me to write during my early years at Mudlark. He has such a great ear and eye for theater.”

Her all-time favorite storefront, the House Theatre of Chicago, broke her heart when it ended its 21-year run last year. The venue was located under a viaduct. Watching Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe there thrilled her to no end.

“That play was quirky and funny,” LepriStringer says. “It was like a nerd show. Performers at the House Theatre, under its low ceiling, always created magic for their audience. It was the ideal venue for good storytelling.”

So is Mudlark Theater.

“I want to offer a kaleidoscope of storytelling modes, whether that is sketch comedy, or theater with a fantasy element, or more realistic elements,” Lepri-Stringer says.

Christina met her future husband, Jake, in Richmond, Virginia. He’s an educational psychologist for surgeons. They live in Chicago’s Logan Square and hope to move someday to Evanston, the city that happens to be LepriStringer’s artistic home. Again.

“I am delighted to return and support the next generation of young artists who will learn, play, and tell their stories at Mudlark,” she says. “I have seen young people grow up and emerge as exceptional performers and people at Mudlark.”

Were Lepri-Stringer ever to exit stage left at Mudlark, she’d make sure her landing spot attracted Mudlark-aged visitors.

“Maybe someday I’ll own a youth center or a community center, where kids could thrive in a safe place other than at home or at school and explore their interests,” LepriStringer says. “If I do, I’d like the center to house a coffee shop, run mostly by young people.

“I feel such energy whenever I’m around young people.”

Mudlark Theater is located at 1417 Hinman Avenue in Evanston. For more information, call 847-448-0708 or visit mudlarktheater.org.

Evanston-based Mudlark Theater has had much to celebrate recently, including the naming of Christina Lepri-Stringer as its artistic director and the release of its fall lineup for young audiences.

At Mudlark, all actors have a purpose. No one will ever be tree No. 4 in the background.

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