Desiree Vargas Wrigley and Amy Rosenow, founders of The Josephine Collective
YOUR COOLING PROFESSIONALS
LIFESTYLE
ARTS
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
CURTAIN CALL
Skyline Children’s Theater, which offers classes at the Winnetka Community House and throughout the Chicago area, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a production of The Wizard of Oz.
BY MITCH HURST
Just over two decades ago, Jacqui Siegel and Erica Zuhr met for a long dinner in Chicago. Both had participated in the performing arts during their formative years and the two had become fast friends and roommates as undergraduates at Bradley University in Peoria.
During their dinner conversation they talked about their budding professional careers—Siegel was casting TV and radio for advertisements and Zuhr was a teacher in the Chicago Public schools—and they reminisced about their love of the performing arts and how it had prepared them for the real world.
“There’s a famous saying in the theater that if you’re on time, you’re late, and that was something we took with us into our jobs,” Zuhr says. “We learned how to work with all sorts of different personalities. We learned teamwork, we learned organization, and all of the things that our college education didn’t necessarily teach us.”
With a nod toward the arts mentors that shaped them, and the notion that they wanted to bring some fun into their lives, Siegel and Zuhr launched a youth theater program.
They started small, with just six kids—first through third graders in Wilmette—and soon discovered they were on to something.
Two decades later, Skyline Children’s Theater is one of the largest and longest-running children's theaters in the Chicago area—serving the North Shore, greater Lake County, and the north side of Chicago. Hundreds of students study and perform in Skyline programs each year, thanks to a reputation that has spread primarily via word of mouth from parents who have seen their children thrive on stage.
“It grew very organically. We were getting phone calls from parents who heard the classes were amazing and wanted us to come to their school,” Siegel says. “Erica and I both were teaching five days a week for Skyline and growing and growing.”
As Skyline expanded, Siegel and Zuhr realized they needed to bring in more staff to run the programs.
“We really went out and brought our programs to other neighborhoods and in many communities between Chicago and the North Shore and into Lake County,” Siegel says. “Our largest location is the Winnetka Community House.”
Skyline offers a musical theater experience
for kids ages 3 to 14, and the programs strive to get youngsters to work collaboratively.
“We tell the parents it’s not necessarily about training students to be actors but about communication, about how to stand up and be confident, and interpersonal skills,” explains Siegel.
One of the finer joys of working with children, Zuhr says, is watching young actors blossom over the years as their confidence on stage and in front of an audience evolves.
“Winnetka Community House is a place where we see many actors grow because we’ll have them in the 3-year-old program and they will go up to our Performers Program at age 14, so we’ve been with them for 12 years,” she says. “We’ve seen so many young actors start with us as itty-bitty and then we see them grow in the theater and it’s such a cool experience.”
Skyline will kick off its 20-year anniversary celebrations this fall, which are highlighted by special productions of The Wizard of Oz
It’s one of Siegel’s and Zuhr’s favorites.
“It’s such a wonderful, ensemble-based show. It really has a role for everyone and it’s a delightful and classic story,” Zuhr says. “We’re very excited to have it be our 20th anniversary show.”
“You can really see kids digging their teeth into that story,” Siegel adds. “It’s a well-loved production.”
For more information about Skyline Children’s Theater’s 20th anniversary and fall programming, visit skylinechildrenstheater.com.
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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Erica Zuhr and Jacqui Siegel of Skyline Children's Theater
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1
HIGHWOOD’S
NASHWOOD FESTIVAL
WHERE: Downtown
Highwood
Pull on your cowboy boots and get ready for honkytonk at Celebrate Highwood’s Nashwood Music & Food Festival on Friday from 5 p.m. to bar close, Saturday noon to bar close, and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. This all-ages event offers free live country, bluegrass, blues and classic, contemporary, and southern rock music throughout indoor and outdoor venues. Southerninspired food and drink specials will be available as well. The Nashwood Hop-Along Hayride will also be offering free shuttles throughout downtown Highwood. celebratehighwood.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
THE CHICAGO ALLIANCE OF VISUAL ARTISTS
ANNUAL MEMBER SHOW
WHERE: North Shore Art League
The Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA) will hold its annual show on the first and second floor galleries of the North Shore Art League (NSAL). More
than 100 works of art will be displayed. During the run of the show, there will be a Learning Symposium from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on September 22. The Symposium will feature two speakers sharing their experiences. Everyone is welcome to attend but an RSVP is required. RSVP emails can be sent to events@ wearecava.org. Non-members can pay the $10 admission fee through PayPal.
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, 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 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 are 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 Fridays from 7 a.m. to noon through October 11. 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 children’s entertainment. business. lflbchamber.com
NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 13
“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 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 JANUARY 5
TITANIC: THE EXHIBITION
WHERE: Westfield Old Orchard
Due to public demand, the highly acclaimed Titanic: The Exhibition has been extended into 2025. It is featured at Westfield Old Orchard Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests are able to traverse the Grand Staircase, see recreations of the ship’s interior, view artifacts from the ship, and more.
The Discovery Gallery gives a glimpse at what archaeologists saw when they discovered the wreck of the Titanic. This exhibit also pays homage to the SS Eastland Disaster, which is the largest loss of life in a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes. Tickets are on sale now. thetitanicexhibition.com
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
SEPTEMBER 3
PUZZLE & COOKBOOK
SWAP
WHERE: Evanston Public Library
From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be a puzzle and cookbook swap in the main common room. Those without a puzzle or cookbook are still welcome to attend this program. No registration is required. epl.org
SEPTEMBER 3 TO 6
LITTLE EXPLORERS FOR PRESCHOOLERS
WHERE: Mellody Farm Nature Preserve
Bring your littles to Lake Forest Open Land’s Mellody Farm Nature Preserve for a four-day program in the natural world. Discover the wonders of nature, one mud puddle, bird song, or flower at a time. Let curiosity be their guide with different adventures each day to discover what hops, swims, flutters, and flies in the preserves. lfola.org
SEPTEMBER 6
FIRST FRIDAY
WHERE: Vivid Art Gallery
Please join the gallery for their monthly First Friday event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come spend the evening surrounded by great art from Bloomington, Indiana artist Tamar Kander and the
The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival
other 25 artists with work on display. Don't miss seeing this unique exhibit, on display during the month of September. vividartgallery.net
SEPTEMBER 7
CLARKSON COOKOUT
WHERE: Clarkson Park
Join family and friends at Northfield’s Clarkson Park for a cookout, live music, a Ribfest Contest, and fireworks starting at 4 p.m. The Noize and Panic at the Costco will perform throughout the night and fireworks will begin at dusk. Kids activities will include a bouncy house, balloonist, and airbrush tattoos from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Food will be sold by Stormy’s Tavern & Grille at the Mabie Family Pavilion. The main event of the night will be the Steve Soler Northfield Rib Contest. Local grillers can register at the event from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All rib entries are due to the judging table inside Clarkson Lodge by 6:15 p.m. and winners will be announced around 7 p.m. northfieldparks.org
SEPTEMBER 8
I SEE STARS: ATC’S FALL
GALA
WHERE: Chevy Chase Country Club, Wilmette
Join the Actor’s Training Center for its annual fundraising gala. A silent auction and cocktails begin at 5 p.m., dinner and programming are at 6:30 p.m., and the night will conclude at 8 p.m. This is an adult-only event and cocktail attire is suggested. Tickets are on sale now. ATCstars.givesmart.com
SEPTEMBER 9
PAWS FOR PATRICK
GOLF OUTING
WHERE: Shoreacres Golf Club Support Paws for Patrick’s annual fundraising event. There are three ticket tiers: Foursomes, Individual, and Dinner & Drinks. All proceeds from this event benefit Paws for Patrick’s ESA, Therapy Dog, and Facility
Dog programs. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and tee off is at noon. pawsforpatrick.org
SEPTEMBER 13
TREES, TREES, TREES
WHERE: Northfield Library
From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., participants ages 16 and older can learn proper tree care from sapling to maturity. Go Green Northfield’s certified Openlands TreeKeeper will guide participants through the techniques to keep their trees healthy and happy for years to come. Registration is required. wnpld.org
SEPTEMBER 13 & SEPTEMBER 29
KENILWORTH WALKING TOURS
WHERE: Kenilworth Train Station
The Chicago Architecture Center’s popular Kenilworth Walking Tours have returned. Explore the history of the earliest homes and buildings in the village designed by renowned Chicago architects. Tour attendees will also learn about Joseph Sears’s vision for Kenilworth and the architect who helped him bring his suburban ideal to life through their designs. The 90-minute tours meet at the Kenilworth Train Station and end at Kenilworth Historical Society. Tickets can be purchased on the Chicago Architecture Center’s website. Members of the Kenilworth Historical Society are eligible for discounted tickets at $10 each. Please contact the historical society for this promo code. kenilworthhistory.org
SEPTEMBER 14
GOODFEST 2024
WHERE: St. John’s Wilmette From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., enjoy an evening of music from Antler Chandelier and Tributosaurus while enjoying mouthwatering BBQ. Tickets are $30 if purchased prior to the event and $40 at the door. All proceeds benefit Family Promise, North Shore, a local cause
that provides resources for families who are without a home. This is a family fun event and kids under 12 are free. eventbrite.com
SEPTEMBER 14 TO OCTOBER 6
RIGOLETTO
WHERE: Lyric Opera
Chicago
Enjoy 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, an acclaimed Verdian, brings astounding intensity to the story of Rigoletto—a court jester who is tragically consumed with the vengeance of his daughter Gilda’s dishonor. lyricopera.org
SEPTEMBER 15 & DECEMBER 8
RANDOLPH STREET MARKET
WHERE: Highland Park Community House
To celebrate its 21st anniversary, Randolph Street Market is hosting two special events with a “Vintage Shindig” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event brings more than 40 indoor and outdoor vendors to the North Shore, including artists, housewares, fashion, makers, and foodstuffs. The lively events will offer an ultra-curated, high-quality selection of antiques, vintage and modern goods for fall, and winter fashion and home décor with a focus on indoor living spaces. Treasure hunters and entertainment-seekers alike will be delighted by the live DJ, fun cocktails, appetizers, and more to enjoy throughout the day(s). Tickets are on sale now for $10 and kids under the age of 12 are free. randolphstreetmarket.com
SEPTEMBER 15 & OCTOBER 20
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT GUIDED WALKING TOURS
WHERE: Ravine Bluffs Subdivision
Explore the third largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright homes with the Glencoe Historical Society’s walking tours. These societyled tours begin at 2 p.m. and will cover the history of Wright’s work in Glencoe, the Ravine Bluff’s subdivision, and the preservation of the relocated Wrightdesigned cottage. Reservations are required and tickets are $30 per person or $20 for members. Reservations can be made on the society’s website. glencoehistory.org
SEPTEMBER 18
ALL BY MYSELF
WHERE: Evanston Public Library
From 1:30 p.m. to 2:10 p.m., children who are ready to attend a story program without their parents or younger siblings are invited to a special story time. There will be songs and crafts for “big kids in training.” Registration is required and this program will be held in the Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room. epl.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
SEPTEMBER 28
RUSH FALL BENEFIT: A NIGHT IN THE WHITE CITY
WHERE: Palmer House Hilton, Chicago
The Woman's Board of Rush University Medical Center hosts its 2024 Fall Benefit: A Night in the White City—themed after the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The evening will feature a sit-down dinner, cocktails, live music, and inspiration. Funds raised will support
The Woman’s Board Endowed Fund for Research and Clinical Trials at RUSH. thewomansboard.org
SEPTEMBER 29
BAGPIPES & BONFIRE
WHERE: Middlefork Farm Nature Reserve
Celebrate Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s (LFOLA) annual fall tradition with games, activities, and entertainment for all ages. Enjoy a complimentary donut from Firecakes Donuts. Feel the warmth of the community bonfire and gather to watch Highland games and the procession of the marching pipers on the field. Pack a dinner and refreshments and be a part of the community picnic. Or join this fundraising event as a Grand Tartan, Order of the Tartan, or Patron and enjoy a gourmet picnic dinner provided by LFOLA. lfola.org
OCTOBER 4 TO 6
THE GREAT HIGHWOOD PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
WHERE: Downtown Highwood
The annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is returning in October. This year’s beneficiary will be Kids Rank, a nonprofit that benefits military children. To reflect this, the skeletons that decorate the streets of Highwood will be dressed up as characters from superhero movies. Highwood will also be looking to break the Guinness World Records for the longest line of pies of 2209 set in 2021. It will be partnering with military chefs and other local bakeries, restaurants, and groceries to make pumpkin pies. They will be donated to nonprofits
after the festival. In addition to this, there will be live music, a variety of food vendors, costume contests, carnival rides, and more. celebratehighwood.org
OCTOBER 18 TO 19
GHOST WALK
WHERE: Lake Bluff History Museum
Lake Bluff History Museum’s Ghost Walk is happening beneath an almost full moon with a “Classic Hollywood Horror” theme. The Ghost Walk events resurrects true stories from the darker side of Lake Bluff’s past and retells them with a twist guaranteed to raise both the hair on your neck and your interest in local history. Advance purchase is recommended. Tickets cost $45 and are available at lakebluffhistory.org
OCTOBER 24 TO JANUARY 5, 2025 PHOTOGRAPHING FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
WHERE: Driehaus Museum
Explore the fascinating collection of Frank Lloyd Wright’s early photography in this new exhibit. It will include images by leading photographers who documented his work as well as photos taken by the architect himself. Wright’s fascination with photography allowed him to pursue his hobby and use it as a technique of making his architecture accessible to the public. This exhibition offers insight into how photography influenced public perception of his work. driehausmuseum.org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
Titanic: The Exhibition is extended
BY ANN MARIE SCHEIDLER THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Amy Rosenow was giving a talk on International Women’s Day and opened with a question for her mostly female audience.
“Who here wants to be wealthy?” Rosenow, an entrepreneur, financial industry veteran, hedge fund and angel investor, working mom, and philanthropist asked. “I heard crickets. Nothing. Nada. So, I decided to share my personal definition of wealth. To me, being wealthy is being able to buy everything my family needs, a lot of what we want, and still be able to save for the future, and help other people. I then asked the group to consider that when we have more money, we have more power and more flexibility. With that said, I re-asked the question ‘Who here wants to be wealthy?’ and everyone’s hands went up in the air.”
But leaving the lecture that day, Rosenow had a lingering feeling that if she had asked the same question about wealth in a room filled with men, the response would have been very different.
“I’m passionate about helping women step into their financial knowledge and their financial power because we need to do that,” says Rosenow, founder of Fearless Financial Planning, President of RUOK Management investment partnership, and the Kaplan Rosenow Family
Foundation. “I thought I was asking a rhetorical question. Now, over time, I’ve learned that there’s this feeling of discomfort about women asking for money.”
Rosenow shared this concern with her colleague from the investment and entrepreneurial sphere, Desiree Vargas Wrigley, a two-time Latina founder, the executive director of TechRise, an offshoot of P33, an innovation nonprofit started by Penny Pritzker for which Wrigley is Chief Information Officer. Wrigley had been thinking about women and money as well, and she shared with Rosenow an idea for an angel investing group focused on bringing women into the asset class. Wrigley is committed to invest-
ing early in big ideas, especially in consumer arenas. She serves on the Chicago Steering Committee for All Raise and is on advisory boards for GET Cities, mHUB, and Chicago:Blend.
Together, the women founded The Josephine Collective. “One of the most powerful things about women is their ability to see problems and build solutions to solve them,” Wrigley says. “And that’s really what we’ve done with The Josephine Collective. We could all be individually investing, but by coming together in this collaborative effort we’re able to have a much larger impact.”
The Josephine Collective is a women-led group of angel investors co-investing small amounts (as little as $1,000 per angel per deal) in early-stage startups in Chicago and across the United States. The Collective helps make angel investing accessible for all, but especially women and people of color. They do this by using a unique structure that allows the group to invest in high-potential startups with the lowest possible fee structure.
“People can dip their toes into the water of angel investing with The Josephine Collective,” explains Wrigley. “Traditionally with angel investing, you would be asked to write at least one check for $25,000 or $50,000. A big financial commitment like this can scare people away. And if you invest in something that doesn’t work out, you’re even more inclined to feel this way. But with the Collective, we present deals each month and investors can develop their own pattern for investing and what they’re interested in funding.
It’s a nice way of placing a lot of bets without exposing yourself to too much risk.”
The Josephine Collective looks at deals on a rolling basis, and founders can be considered at any time. In part due to Wrigley’s 15 years of building and mentoring startups, The Josephine Collective looks at hundreds of businesses and brings the top three or four opportunities to its angels each month. Startups meet with the Collective’s managers via Zoom and the conversation is recorded to share with the Collective to help aid in the decision to invest or not. The goal is to have the entire process take no more than three weeks from presentation to payment.
“We could all be individually investing, but by coming together in this collaborative effort we’re able to have a much larger impact.”
- Desiree Vargas Wrigley
“We’re not making investment decisions on behalf of our members,” Rosenow says. “We do screening and quality control at the top of the funnel but we present the deals to our members. If we get enough members interested in a specific deal, then we move forward and fund. In an advisory model, we’d be registered investment advisors and we’d make decisions on behalf of our clients. That is not what is happening here. This is a collaborative effort with our members. There’s no judgment. No stupid questions. That sets us apart and makes it a very enjoyable experience for our members.”
It’s an effort that the namesake of The Josephine Collective would be proud of.
“We named our angel group after the unsung Chicago hero, Josephine Garis Cochrane,” Wrigley says. “She invented the first commercial dishwasher in 1886 that was originally installed in hotels and hospitals, saving hours of back-breaking work for women around the world. Her company eventually became KitchenAid. The fact that she built this company, and no one ever talks about her, the wealth it created for her family, or the impact that it had on women around the world—we wanted to elevate her story by naming our collective after her. Josephine was famous for saying, ‘If someone won’t build it, I will.’ We feel the same way.”
People do need to be accredited investors to be a part of The Josephine Collective. A person who has $200,000 of income on their own, $300,000 with their spouse or family, or at least $1 million in net worth outside of their home is considered an accredited investor. Legally this is required as accredited investors can afford to evaluate and manage the risk involved with angel investing.
To date, The Josephine Collective is the most active angel fund in Chicago, having distributed 25 checks since its founding in 2022. Both Rosenow and Wrigley agree that support from the North Shore and Chicago is critical to the future growth of The Josephine Collective.
Wrigley, who will be leaving her current post at TechRise at the end of the year to head Velocity Catalyst, a new $50 million fund that will transform Chicago’s venture economy, explains “We hope women will consider venture as part of their philanthropic or impact strategy that will ultimately produce great returns for them and their families.”
To learn more about The Josephine Collective, visit joinjosephine.com.
OFFERED AT $1,195,000
218 Central Park checks all the boxes! Open floor plan, attached garage, roomy mudroom, 4 bedrooms, white kitchen, first floor office, finished basement all set in a close-to-town location in the award-winning McKenzie School District. The gracious double doors open to a stunning 2 story entry flooded with natural light. The thoughtfully planned first floor includes a large living room with bay window and leads to the family room via an extra wide doorway to seamlessly flow into the family room with built-in custom cabinetry and fireplace. This superior layout continues into the eat-in kitchen with all new appliances, new quartz countertops and white cabinetry. A formal dining room, office with large closet, full bathroom and mud/laundry room finish out the expansive first floor. The second floor includes a luxe primary suite with two walk-in closets and an updated bathroom with a shower, double sinks, and bathtub. Three roomy bedrooms share the hall bathroom. The lower-level space includes a spacious rec room, playroom, exercise room, handsome wet bar along with custom cabinets and plenty of storage. The attached two car garage, professionally landscaped yard are extra bonuses in this meticulously maintained home.
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
I don’t have a nightstand, but that tall narrow ledge of the headboard is stacked precariously with untouched poetry and the only book I open—Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. Despite me no longer cooking within the walls of 3-star Michelin restaurants, it keeps me aligned. I carry it with me. I teach it to my staff. I love that there are people out there who are just as insane as I am about being hospitable.
#ON MY MOBILE
I am so black and white, very obsessive in my nature, and anytime I do spend on my phone, I watch cooking videos. I believe in lifelong learning, and as a self-taught chef, reading cookbooks and watching videos is my pastime. My background is in Japanese and Italian/Mediterranean cooking, but my food love language is classical French cuisine. I was recently invited to be a creator on Gronda, so I spend time learning there, but also YouTube or Instagram.
#IN MY EARBUDS
Kaytranada, Marvin Gay, anything soul or R&B, Cannons—these are my daily energizing go-tos. I recently discovered this app called Radiooooo that deems itself the “Music Time Machine” and has an interactive globe where you can “travel” to a place, click a year, anywhere on Earth, and indulge in music from that time and locale. I miss Europe daily. I like to be inspired through travel and culture, so I find myself exploring new places through music on this app.
Far from his birthplace in the mountains of Albania, Chicago’s CHEF FRANCIS PASCAL has carved his own journey and stirs up pristine culinary experiences outside the walls of the restaurant. After a decade of working his way through some of the city’s most coveted reservation hotspots (including Roister of The Alinea Group, the famed Japonais, and Japonais by Morimoto, as well as Momotaro and Spiaggia) Pascal followed his passion for hospitality and started Vendador. This luxury offering is a moving fine dining restaurant and redefines special events catering into a moment you’ll never forget. Vendador curates one-of-a-kind, personalized tasting menu experiences in the privacy of your home. From one brief phone conversation, he dreams up menus that capture the inner heart of the client—inspired by their passions, favorite places in the world, hobbies, cuisine preferences, and memories. Each dinner party is a sweeping transformation of the client’s home, complete with an expert team from Michelin-starred restaurants— sommeliers, pastry chefs, and servers. Pascal rolled up his knife bag and gave us some insight into his quieter moments.
To learn more about Vendador dinner parties or to reserve your experience, visit vendador.com
ZESTY SUMMER SUCCOTASH
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Nothing says “summer” like sweet corn and tomatoes. This salad combines the two in a zesty lime dressing and adds jicama for a cool crunch
INGREDIENTS (4 TO 6 SERVINGS)
FOR THE SALAD:
• 4 or 5 ears sweet corn, husks intact (cut from the cobs, you’ll need 2 1/2 cups of kernels)
• 1 jicama, peeled and cut into small cubes
• Fresh garden tomatoes, washed and cubed to make 2 cups
• 2 cups frozen edamame beans, thawed
• Handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
FOR THE ZESTY LIME DRESSING:
• Juice from 2 fresh limes, to make 3 tablespoons
• 1 teaspoon good quality Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon coconut palm sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
and edamame for protein. With a nod to historical precedents, we’ve dubbed it “succotash” from sahquttahhash, the Native American Narragansett word for “broken corn kernels.” While the early versions of succotash were hot stews, this recipe only requires cooking the corn. After first soaking the unhusked corn in water for several hours, we grill ours until the husks are blackened. If you’re in a hurry, you can blanch the corn in boiling water for a few minutes instead. Just be sure not to overcook it.
METHOD
Soak unhusked corn for several hours and then grill the corn until the husks are blackened and corn is cooked tender. Cool. Slice corn from cobs into a large bowl. Add cubed jicama, tomatoes, and edamame. Toss all together with basil. Season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, whisk lime juice with mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Pour over salad, mix well, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
LOOKS
FIELD OF DREAMS
New Trier sophomore quarterback Victoria Wainscott is thrilled that flag football, a future Olympic sport, became an official high school girls’ sport in Illinois this fall.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
It isn’t technically the same as Kevin Costner’s character having a catch with his father in the heartwarming scene at the end of the baseball movie Field of Dreams
But the real-life scene—still unfolding on most weekends, featuring Victoria Wainscott and her father, Mike, tossing a football instead of a baseball to each other in their Wilmette back yard—is touching and downright Rockwellian.
“We started doing that when I was about 7 years old,” says Victoria, now a New Trier Township High School sophomore. “I remember how good my dad’s passes were; all were tight spirals and on-target. At first, my throws weren’t good at all. But I loved getting to bond with him through football.
“It became our thing.”
Victoria Wainscott then began to dream of donning a helmet and pads and tackling players in games. Mike Wainscott and his wife, Cristina, blocked their daughter’s aspiration.
‘They told me no,” says a smiling Wainscott, who was allowed to attempt field goals only on a basketball court.
But then along came tackle football’s safer relative, flag football, which debuts as an Olympic sport—men’s and women’s divisions—at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. As a freshman last fall, the 5-foot10 Wainscott jumped, with her parents’ blessing, at the opportunity to play for New Trier’s first-year girls’ flag football program.
Mr. Wainscott’s back-yard throwing partner made the varsity squad as its starting quarterback.
Girls’ flag football was a high school club sport in 2023; it’s now a sanctioned Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sport, with the State Final weekend set for October 18 to19. Support from the Chicago Bears played an instrumental role in girls’ flag football becoming the 40th IHSA sport/activity with a state playoff series.
“I recognized Victoria’s arm strength right
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herself on the gridiron in games, she
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“We’re all excited that girls’ flag football is an official sport, and so is our community,” adds the A/B student and science enthusiast. “It’s a great
people think team got
We had a variety of personalities on our team last year—some bubbly; some quiet. But playing flag football brought the quiet ones out of their shells.
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close really fast last year; we had to because the sport was so new. We had a variety of personalities on our team last year—some bubbly; some quiet. But playing flag football brought the quiet ones out of their shells.”
A total of 42,955 girls participated in high school flag football in 2023-2024 compared to 20,875 the previous year—a 105 percent increase, per the National Federation of State High School Associations. According to a nydailynews.com report, an estimated 20 million athletes are currently playing flag football in more than 100 countries.
Another top-notch basketball player who got promoted to New Trier’s varsity as a dynamic wing late in her freshman season last winter, Wainscott suits up for ALL IN Athletics, a travel basketball program. In July she scored 22 points in a win in Oklahoma, hitting all five of her three-point field-goal attempts.
“My dream now is to earn the opportunity to play college basketball,” Wainscott says. New Trier’s 19 other varsity flag football players and trailblazers are Lyla Andelin, Ruby Awtry, Izzy Cardoso, Audrey Carlton, Sloan Crossmon, Milena Cruz-Garbo, Kathleen Ellis, Holly Hales, Olivia Iacobelli, Isabella Myung, Annabel Nitekman, Helena Richter, Lucia Serrano, Stowe Singer, Ilana Styles, Tala Tabahi, Ally Therival, Becky Winkler, and Lizzie Wold.
Colegrove’s fast, young, and talented crew—none of last fall’s starters on offense graduated in the spring—was scheduled to open its season against visiting Glenbrook North High School on August 26. It visits Maine South High School on September 3 at 7:15 p.m., and hosts Prospect High School on September 5 at 6:30 p.m.
New Trier plays its home games at Robert Naughton Field in Northfield.
“There’s a ton of buzz about girls’ flag football at school,” says Colegrove, who coaches JV girls’ soccer in the spring. “It’s a buzz that’s going to be around for a while. Flag football is unique and fun. I like that it gives students another option to get involved athletically and be part of something bigger than themselves.”
Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATION Runvijay Paul PHOTOGRAPHY Cheyanne Lencioni
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