LIFESTYLE & ARTS
Famed movie critic Rex Reed brings his column back to The North Shore Weekend pg 22 In 2019, Alyssa Quinlan
NORTH SHORE MONEY
Wagering the financial future of cryptocurrencies pg18
SUNDAY BREAKFAST
Protected Tomorrows Founder and President Mary Anne Ehlert is all about the present, too, as an expert advisor for families of individuals with special needs pg30
NO. 527 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022
847.295.4900 • BANNERDAYCAMP.COM APPLY NOW! COMPETITVE PAY STARTING AT $13 PER HOUR now hiring SUMMER 2023 • CALL TO SCHEDULE A VIRTUAL INTERVIEW ECRWSS LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER PRSRT STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 991 HIGHLAND PK, IL
Auctions’ Chief Business Development
Abercrombie, that were offered
Abercrombie
SOLD!
returned to Hindman Auctions as Chief Business Development Officer and today celebrates the institution’s 40th anniversary. pg 10
Hindman
Officer Alyssa Quinlan. Behind Quinlan are a selection of miniature paintings by Gertrude
in Hindman’s September auction, Casting Spells: The Gertrude
Collection of Laura and Gary Maurer. Photography BY Maria Ponce
2 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND 5 BED, 6.2 BATH | 1.5 ACRES | COACH HOUSE | 6 CAR GARAGE 175 FT OF BEACHFRONT | OFFERED AT $5,999,999 5 BED, 5.4 BATH | 2.2+ ACRES | CABANA HOUSE & POOL 165 FT OF BEACHFRONT | OFFERED AT $15,850,000 PRIVATE LISTING SIMPLY MAJESTIC NEW CONSTRUCTION 6 BED, 7.1 BATH | 0.62 ACRES | DESIGNER SHOWCASE | THEATRE POOL | PRIVATE SANDY BEACH | OFFERED AT $9,250,000 473 sheridan rd, winnetka 55 prospect ave, highland park 445 sheridan rd, winnetka Your Lakefront Leader, Jena Radnay
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 3 JUST LISTED park *MRED, LLC #1 Illinois Individual, Closed Sales Volume 01/01/21 – 12/31/21 ILLINOIS in 2021 * 24/7/365 312.925.9899 | jradnay@atproperties.com with Unique Lakefront Opportunities 5 BED, 5.2 BATH | 0.87 ACRES | 4 CAR GARAGE OFFERED AT $7,999,900 7 BED, 7.2 BATH | 1.05 ACRES | POOL WITH HUGE PATIO OFFERED AT $5,999,000 JUST LISTED 325 shoreline ct, glencoe 333 surfside pl, glencoe you can have one or both... create your own lakefront estate !
4 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND see what our team is thankful for @WexlerGaultGroupRealEstate what are youTHANKFUL FOR? HEATHER SIEGEL Broker ELISE DAYAN Broker LAUREN RABIN Broker MIMI GOODYEAR Broker CARI ZWEIG-DRISCOLL Broker MELISSA NEWMAN Broker JOEY GAULT Broker and Co-Team Lead BETH WEXLER Broker and Co-Team Lead LIZ SALINAS Broker and Managing Partner PAULA GAGERMAN Broker JOLIE FRIEDMAN Broker JEN GOLDING Broker CARLY GITLER Broker
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 5 Lake Forest | $4,224,500* Kenilworth | $3,400,000* Evanston | $2,300,000* Wilmette | $1,750,000 SOLD! Wilmette | $1,830,000* Wilmette | $1,760,000 Wilmette | $1,650,000 SOLD! Wilmette| $1,550,000 SOLD! Winnetka | $1,410,000* SOLD! Kenilworth | $1,240,000* SOLD! SOLD! Winnetka | $1,290,000* Winnetka | $1,355,000* SOLD! Winnetka | $1,000,000* SOLD! Northfield | $949,000* SOLD! Glenview | $885,900* SOLD! SOLD! Wilmette | $875,000 Evanston | $855,000* SOLD! Evanston | $800,000* SOLD! Kenilworth | $750,000 SOLD! Wilmette | $700,000* SOLD! Glenview | $699,000* SOLD! SOLD! Winnetka | $675,000* Glenview | $680,000* SOLD! Wilmette | $665,000 SOLD! Wilmette | $585,000* SOLD! Glenview | $535,000 SOLD! Wilmette | $560,000 SOLD! SOLD! Northbrook | $495,000* Northfield | $465,000* SOLD! Wilmette | $455,000* SOLD! Wilmette | $311,000 SOLD! Wilmette | $225,000 SOLD! SOLD! Wilmette | $1,255,000* Wilmette | $600,000* SOLD! Kenilworth | $1,100,000 SOLD! Glenview | $699,000* SOLD! Thank You FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THEIR HOMES TO ALL MY CLIENTS, FAMILY & FRIENDS 312.217.6483 laurafitzpatrick@atproperties.com THINKING OF SELLING IN 2023? LET’S PREPARE YOUR PLAN NOW! NEWTRIERREALESTATE.COM SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! SOLD!
Make Your Dream A Reality
Have you dreamt about finding a new home that fits your needs better than your current home? Do you have a list of things you would change in your home? Have you wanted to buy your forever home, but keep putting it off for one reason or another? Don’t wait any longer. Make this year the year that you find your new home and make your dream a reality.
As we head towards the end of 2022, now is the time to come up with your goals, dreams and plans for 2023. If one of those plans is to buy a new house, get a jump on the competition and get your home ready to sell and get yourself in a position that you are ready to buy. Call me today to discuss what needs to be done to be ready for your new adventure. The new year will be here before you know it. Don’t wait until next year - now is the time!
6 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND 312.391.3170 • carly.jones@evrealestate.com carlyjones.evrealestate.com CARLY JONES Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore 566 Chestnut Street, 2nd Floor • Winnetka, Illinois 90093 • 847.441.5730 • chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com ©2022 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 7
8 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND NEWS 11 smooth sailing Lake Forest Sailors make history at High School Sailing Nationals 14 holidays on stage League of Chicago Theatres unveil a guide to the best seasonal shows 16 light up the sky Lake Forest tree lighting ceremony returns next Friday NORTH SHORE MONEY 18 crypto uncloaked Rachel Cannon discusses the future of cryptocurrencies LIFESTYLE & ARTS 20 meaningful pursuits INDEX Real EstateTips Berkshire Hathaway HomeService Chicago www lizkohlercom Liz Kohler Broker, Winnetka STUDY THE MARKET MAKE YOUR HOME APPEAL TO BUYERS PRICE IT RIGHT AND PROMOTE IT NEGOTIATE APPROPRIATELY STAGE IT 847 767 8230 Tips for Selling Your Home Get Ready for the Spring Market 20 santa claus is coming to town Old Orchard ushers in the holidays with two new luxury retailers 22 as good as it gets All the reasons you must see The Banshees of Inisherin 23 being steven
The Fabelmans tells a famous director's life story 24 collecting in cuba
Plonsky makes an art of gathering Cuban photography 28 north shore foodie Warm up with this Greek Beans, Swiss Chard, and Feta recipe LAST BUT NOT LEAST 30 sunday breakfast Things continue to look up for Protected Tomorrows
and
high school baton twirler pg20
spielberg
Madeleine
Founder
President Mary Anne Ehlert, a former
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 9 CHECK OUT THESE GREAT RATES! CALL US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO GET STARTED *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 11/07/2022 and is subject to change. $10,000 minimum deposit to open and earn the stated CD APY and $2,000 minimum for the Virtual Money Market, assumes interest remains on deposit until maturity. Virtual Money Market monthly service charge waived with minimum average daily balance of $1,000. On Variable Rate Accounts, rates may change after account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. O er valid for funds not currently on deposit with The Federal Savings Bank. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal, which would reduce earnings. Terms and conditions apply. Copyright 2022 © The Federal Savings Bank | All rights reserved | TheFederalSavingsBank.com Co. NMLS# 411500 (844) 678-3819 thefederalsavingsbank.com 664 N. Western Avenue Lake Forest, IL 60045 Lake Forest Branch 4120 W. Diversey Ave, Ste C501 Chicago, IL 60639 Chicago Branch 1 Year CD 4.15%APY* 2 Year CD 4.35%APY* 5 Year CD 4.65%APY* 18 Month CD 4.25%APY* 4 Year CD 4.55%APY* 3 Year CD 4.50%APY* 2.50%APY* Virtual Money Market CD-New Money The Kilkenny Group, Brokers 262.729.2500 | 815.337.8400 team@kilkennygrp.com kilkennygrp.com Information not verified or guaranteed. ©2022 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. 368 ACRE Multi Home Estate 368 ACRE Multi Home Estate 9210 Country Club Road, Woodstock www.the9210estate.com John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER ADVERTISING @NSWEEKEND.COM Jennifer Sturgeon CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Dustin O'Regan, Sherry Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Allison Duncan, Bill McLean, Laura Layfer Treitman DESIGN Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Chris Geimer ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART James Gustin, Maria Ponce PHOTOGRAPHY Barry Blitt Tom Bachtell ILLUSTRATION Cheyanne Lencioni ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ALL EDITORIAL INQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO EDITORIAL@NSWEEKEND.COM FIND US ONLINE NORTHSHORE.COM © 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND A PUBLICATION OF JWC MEDIA 445 SHERIDAN RD., HIGHWOOD, IL 60040 @ TheNSWeekend
Following in the footsteps of founder Leslie Hindman, Alyssa Quinlan, Hindman’s Chief Business Development Officer, is continuing the firm’s tradition of strong female leadership. Many of you might recognize Quinlan as she serves on the boards of Ravinia Women’s Board, Women of St. Chrysostom’s, MCA’s Emerge Committee, and Luminarts Executive Board. She is a member of Chief, the private women’s networking group, and the Chicago Estate Planning Council. Dur ing her free time, she assists at charity auctions for organizations such as Rush Woman’s Board, Chicago State Foundation, CJE SeniorLife, and
many others. Quinlan served as Hindman’s Direc tor of Business Development nine years ago, then enjoyed a successful career in wealth management at J.P. Morgan and opened the Chicago branch of the international appraisal firm, Gurr Johns.
“The entire team was thrilled when Alyssa returned to Hindman three years ago,” says Jay Krehbiel, Hindman Co-Chairman and CEO since 2019. “She has reinvigorated our Business Development Department and enabled so much of our recent growth. She is a great colleague and mentor to the team, and we are lucky to have her back at Hindman.”
As an executive leader at Hindman, Quinlan is delighted to work as part of a team that has seen incredible recent successes and is looking forward to an exciting year ahead. Last year, the firm reported its highest annual sales ever—$87 million—and set a world auction record price for a work by Martin Wong (1946-1999). The piece, a
1984 acrylic on canvas entitled Persuit (El Que Gane PierdeHe Who Wins Looses), brought $1.1 million, well over a presale estimate of $500,000$700,000. This past May, three days of fine art sales—which featured works by Ed Clark, Renoir, Hockney, and War hol—realized more than $9.9 million, a record for a week of fine art sales for the company. September saw Casting Spells: The Gertrude Abercrombie Collection of Laura and Gary Maurer, which featured 21 works by the Chicago-based Surrealist known as the “Queen of the Bohemi ans.”
When she isn’t on a plane traveling to meet with clients and advisers, Quinlan’s expertise, guidance, and vision have helped Hindman over the years, all while balancing the work she loves with being a mother, wife, and mentor to so many.
SR: What is your role as Chief Business Development Officer?
AQ: I work with an incredible team from our 13 offices who are focused on helping secure con signments from across the country, whether from estates, private collectors, museums, or corporate collections. While the auction industry is more of a niche field than private wealth management, at the end of the day, we’re ultimately a relationshipbased business. We want to ensure that advisers and clients are familiar with our appraisal and auction services in the event we can serve as a resource to them in the future.
SR: What the house puts on the block depends on what people wish to sell, on the one hand, and what people wish to buy, on the other. Is there one department that is seeing more activity these days?
AQ: Fine Art, particularly works by blue-chip art ists, Jewelry, and Watches always seem to find top
buyers, but we’ve seen an increase in many other categories, including Books and Manuscripts, Asian Art, Sports Memorabilia, and Furniture and Decorative Arts. With more people entertaining friends and family in their homes, we decided to try an auction dedicated to items you would need to host a lovely dinner party with a sale called “Dining at Home.” It was so well received that we’ve added it to the permanent schedule and host the auctions twice a year.
SR: eBay, 1stDibs, and other such outlets have certainly impacted the selling of art, antiques, and decorative art. Have these presented a challenge in getting sellers and buyers to appreciate the value of Hindman’s expertise and service?
AQ: In the past, I would oftentimes hear that clients had donated or gotten rid of things that had substantial value without knowing it. Thank fully, with all the resources online, clients have developed a better sense of value or potential value when contacting our firm. But, that isn’t to say we don’t sometimes pass along unpleasant news. Someone may call after an episode of Antiques Roadshow to say they have the exact chair that was estimated for $100,000. But we may have to explain that theirs is actually a reproduction that was mass-produced many years later and would be
NEWS 10 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
SOLD! From PG 1 BY ALLISON
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
DUNCAN
A George II Red Lacquered and Parcel Gilt Secretary.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir. La Baie de Villefranche-sur-Mer, 1899. Oil on canvas. Signed Renoir.
Martin Wong. Persuit (El Que Gane Pierde - He Who Wins Looses), 1984. Acrylic on canvas. Signed Martin Wong, titled and dated (lower center); signed and dated
worth a fraction of that value at auction. Overall, I think the various sites have brought more aware ness, which is helpful in our industry.
SR: Can you speak about art and antiques as a component of wealth management?
AQ: Having spent several years in finance, it was always fascinating to me to see how personal property would factor into a client’s overall port folio. Clients would often only focus on their investment portfolios when, in reality, their art and other collections made up a substantial and some times an even greater percentage of value. Here at Hindman, we spend a lot of time working with clients to help evaluate their personal property for insurance purposes, as well as fair market value.
SR: Hindman has operations in multiple locations in the U.S. How do taste and buying habits vary from place to place?
AQ: We do offer categories out of certain offices. For example, we sell Western Art out of our Denver salesroom, and American Furniture, Folk, and Decorative Art is sold out of our Cincinnati salesroom. And our headquarters in Chicago hosts the majority of our sales of Jewelry & Watches, Post-War & Contemporary Art, Asian Art, and European Furniture and Decorative Arts.
SR: I’m guessing your client base has become more international over the years. Where are you seeing the most action outside the U.S.?
AQ: In 2021, bidders from 70 countries across the globe participated in our auctions. We have seen particularly strong bidding activity in the U.K.,
China, Canada, Hong Kong, and France.
SR: Some folks may still think of auctions as a kind of elite club. How have you demystified the auction experience?
AQ: I always enjoy hosting behind-the-scenes tours and giving talks called “Demystifying the Auction Process.” I am constantly asked by friends and advisers if they can buy at auction, and I always tell them that everyone is welcome to bid. It’s a fabulous way to purchase unique items for
your home, stunning jewelry, couture, or any other category we offer. We were thrilled to launch our Digital Bid Room and app at the beginning of last year, which makes the bidding experience even more accessible and streamlined no matter where you are.
SR: Sounds like you are happy to be back. AQ: Yes, I’m often asked what it was like return ing to Hindman after nearly 10 years away, and in many ways, it felt like returning home, but
SMOOTH SAILING
to a much larger home. I’m lucky to work with many of my former colleagues once again, those who rejoined like myself, as well as those who have joined the team recently from other auction houses, museums, and galleries. Being able to continue to help expand what Leslie Hindman impressively built, combined with Jay’s vision, has been such a thrill. I constantly say that I have the best job in the world!
For more information, visit hindmanauctions.com.
Lake Forest Sailing has a strong record of representation at the singlehanded High School Sailing Nationals (Cressy Trophy), and this year they made history.
The 2022 competition was held in Norfolk Virginia at Old Dominion University on October 29 and 30—the first time in national high school sailing history that a single high school qualified 4 sailors for the Cressy Trophy.
Lake Forest High School sailors Henry Scholz (’23), Tristan McDonald (’24), Charlie Gish (’24), and Owen Kohut (’25) qualified for the Cressy Trophy by finishing top three at the Midwest Qualifier in Cleveland in September. Henry, Tristan, and Charlie swept the Full Rig podium (in that order) and Owen finished 2nd in the Radial Rig to earn their berths for the National Championship.
There are 2 fleets in singlehanded scholastic racing, Radial Rig (ILCA 6) and Full Rig (ILCA 7). The Radial Rig is for sailors under 160lbs, and the Full Rig is for sailors over 160lbs. The only other difference is the size of the sail used.
Day 1 of Nationals in Virginia provided strong, shifty winds at 16-20kts and flat water. Day 2 was slightly less windy but still shifty and windy enough for fitness to play a leading
role. At Nationals the sailors compete in 18 back-to-back races that each last approximately 20 minutes.
“It is full heart rate sailing for all 18 races, especially with the breeze we saw,” says Coach Will Howard. “If you make one small error, you’re in last place; the fleets are extremely competitive and every point counts.”
As the racing progressed, first through third were relatively untouchable and the real battle was happening in the full rig fleet between the 4th and 9th place boats. The order changed after each race, and it all came down to the last race. Henry Scholz finished 4th overall, Tristan McDonald 5th, and Charlie Gish 9th. Owen Kohut finished 14th in the Radial Fleet and won the final race with a massive lead.
“This was Owen’s first Cressy Trophy, so 14th in the windy conditions we had is a really great result,” says Coach Howard.
Four sailors competing in Nationals is an achievement within itself, and it was strength ened by the LFHS sailors’ finishes.
“Having 4 sailors at the Cressy Trophy is something no one had seen before. One other school (Ransom Everglades, Miami) had two sailors and the rest of the competitors were the sole representative from their school. A
large part of our sailor’s success at this regatta is because our team back home is so deep and dedicated. Henry and Tristan both finishing in the top 5 was awesome and Charlie in the top 9 shows the depth of talent at Lake Forest Sailing,” adds Coach Howard. “For all four sailors, this is a rewarding achievement earned through a lot of hard, year-round training and competition. As I always say and have proven
every step of the way, the best is yet to come!”
The Lake Forest Sailing program of the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department provides training and racing opportunities for all youth interested in committing to the process and offers a wide range of water sports opportunities at our beautiful lakefront.
To get involved, visit fparksandrec.com/sailing.
NEWS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 11
Lake Forest Sailors make a strong showing at the High school sailing nationals.
Peter Saul. Guernica, 1974. Acrylic on canvas signed Saul and dated.
12 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND TEAM MANGEL = RESULTS THE TO SELL YOUR HOME • Extensive knowledge of the North Shore • A dynamic duo • Problem-solvers
A network of real estate connections • Hometown experts • Love for the community • Strong communication skills • Attention to detail • Certifications, awards and recognitions • Engery and drive 1. Call Kathryn & Kelly 2. LET TEAM MANGEL DO THE REST! INSTRUCTIONS INGREDIENTS perfect recipe
•
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 13 DO WHAT WE 1011 Knoll Ln, Wilmette 78 Robsart Rd, Kenilworth 435 Sheridan Rd, Winnetka 101 Garrison Ave, Wilmette 35 Brier St, Winnetka 144 Woodstock Ave, Kenilworth 72 Warwick Rd, Winnetka 159 Abingdon Ave, Kenilworth 380 Sterling Rd, Kenilworth 985 Ash St, Winnetka 2257 Royal Ridge Dr, Northbrook 164 Oxford Rd, Kenilworth 80 Tudor Pl, Kenilworth 515 Cumnor Rd, Kenilworth 555 Brier St, Kenilworth 994 Bluff Rd, Glencoe YOU’RE THE REASON WHY WE GET TO K2@ATPROPERTIES.COM TEAMMANGEL.COM 847.881.6134 KATHRYN BADER MANGEL, CRS KELLY O’CONNELL MANGEL SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD #GRATEFUL
HOLIDAYS ON STAGE
League of Chicago Theatre’s presents its annual guide to seasonal productions between now and the end of the year.
True to tradition, Chicago theaters are staging a wide variety of festive plays, musi cals, dance, and comedy offerings this holiday season. In support, the League of Chicago Theatres will create a comprehensive Holiday Theatre Guide that will be available for distri bution in mid-November.
The online Holiday Guide is available at chicagoplays.com.
On the lineup is a Christmas classic as sev eral theaters present the holiday favorite, “A Christmas Carol.”
Goodman Theatre’s must-see annual production has enchanted audiences for more than four decades, runs through December 31. Metropolis Performing Arts Centre pres ents an adaptation filled with warmth, humor, music, and holiday cheer, December 1 to 24. Complete with falling snow and magical illusions, Drury Lane Theatre for Young Au diences brings a visually stunning one-hour experience for children of all ages, November 25 -December 30.Told through puppetry and music, the striking holiday experience of Manual Cinema’s “Christmas Carol” comes to brilliant life on stage for the first time at Writers Theatre, November 29 to Decem ber 24. A Theater in the Dark also presents “A
Christmas Carol in the Dark,” a streaming audio drama perfect for those who love the spookier elements of Dickens’ story through January 1.
Family-favorite holiday movies also come to life in the suburbs with “Elf The Musical” at Drury Lane Theatre through January 8, “Ir ving Berlin’s White Christmas” from Music Theater Works at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, December 15 to January 1, and two productions of “A Christmas Story, the Musical”—one at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, November 25 to December 10, and another at Marriot Theatre in Lincoln shire through January 1.
For more than 20 years, American Blues Theater has treated audiences to a live retell ing of the Frank Capra classic in a 1940s radio broadcast tradition, making “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!” the second longest-running holiday play in Chicago. Running November 23 to December 23 at the Chopin Theatre. Oil Lamp Theater will perform its version of “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live Radio Play” on stage November 25 to December 30.
Journey to Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair with The Joffrey Ballet’s reimagined “The
Nutcracker” at Lyric Opera House, December 3 to 27, while Ballet Chicago will perform its production of “The Nutcracker” at the Ath enaeum Theatre, December 9 to 18.
The beloved characters from Jane Aus ten’s Pride and Prejudice return for the third and final installment of the Pemberley trilogy, “Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pember ley,” at Northlight Theatre, November 25 to December 24.
Holiday spectacle arrives downtown with “A Magical Cirque Christmas,” featur ing an evening of dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists, accompanied by live holiday music at Broadway In Chi cago at the CIBC Theatre, December 6 to 11. Then “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” wraps a whimsical, Broadway-style musical infused with contemporary circus artistry into the ultimate holiday gift for the entire family, De cember 22 to 24 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story about a little tin soldier who never gives up, brings gorgeous spectacle of music and movement to Lookingglass Theatre through January 8.
Four Beatrix Potter favorites come to life
in “The
Watch as the improvisers at ComedyS portz sing and dance their way through a made up Hallmark-channel style spectacle that YOU help create in “Trapped in a Holi day Musical,” through December 17.
Enjoy some adult comedy this holiday sea son when Cindy Lou Who, now 40, retells the story of the sordid events after she met the Grinch in the adults-only romp “Who's Holi day!” Presented at Theater Wit, November 25 to December 30. Then it is guaranteed yule laugh a whole latke as The Second City un wraps the most wonderful time of the year in their nut-cracking-est, jingle-bell-ing-est revue ever, “Best of the Holidays,” November 21 to December 31, and “What The Elf?,” the original sketch, variety, and improv celebra tion of the season, through January 1, at UP Comedy Club.
For a comprehensive list of Chicago produc tions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres web site, chicagoplays.com. Available half-price tickets will be listed at hottix.org.
NEWS 14 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party,” a mesmerizing, interactive trunk and puppet show at Chicago Children’s Theatre, through December 24.
Audrey Billings, Brandon Dahlquist, Yuchi Chiu, Michael Mahler, Dara Cameron, appear in "It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago" at the American Blues Theater. Photography by Michael Brosilow
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 15 EXPERIENCE THE DAWN MCKENNA GROUP #1 TEAM IN ILLINOIS Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2022 Coldwell Banker Realty. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker logo, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury and the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. *Source: #1 Team in Illinois among all brokerages ranked by Wall Street Journal RealTrends The Thousand 2022. WWW.DAWNMCKENNAGROUP.COM | @THEDAWNMCKENNAGROUP CHICAGO | NAPLES | HINSDALE | LAKE FOREST | WINNETKA WHITEHALL LN. | LAKE FOREST, IL Lot Sizes Range from 1.59-1.95 Acres | Opportunity to Build Dream Home 190 KING MUIR RD. | LAKE FOREST, IL Stunning Full-Scale Renovation | Luxury Amenities | Outdoor Oasis by Craig Bergmann SCAN THE QR CODE to view our portfolio of North Shore listings Annie Royster Lenzke | Dawn McKenna | Katie Moor contact your local experts ANNIE ROYSTER LENZKE 847.414.4045 Annie@DawnMcKennaGroup.com KATIE MOOR 847.282.0291 Katie@DawnMcKennaGroup.com NEW LISTING ONLY 4 LOTS LEFT
LIGHT UP THE
It’s official. The holidays are here, ushered in by the return of a long-standing North Shore tradition.
Lake Forest’s 38th annual tree lighting celebration is back at Market Square next Friday, November 25, the day after Thanksgiving.
Festivities go from afternoon to evening, including live music, kids’ activities, food and beverages, carolers, Lake Forest Dance Academy dancers, Santa Claus.
Presented by The Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation and sponsored by Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company, this year the celebration features new and exciting activities for all ages.
The event begins at 2:30 pm so there’s more time for the community to gather. Starting at 2:30 pm, there will be a free Letters to Santa station and a photo booth. Cookie decorating kits and light-up toys will be available for sale. Enhanced food and beverage options include food trucks and a beverage tent.
For $30 you may purchase a commemorative YETI mug filled with your choice of beverage. Music ad ditions include the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra and Lake Forest High School Festival Brass Ensemble, and headlining band Hello Weekend.
Traditional favorites include the movie at Gorton Center, Santa’s arrival on a fire truck, cookies, arts and crafts for kids, donuts and coffee, a caroling concert
by Lake Forest High School Choristers, Lake Forest Dance Academy’s Rockette-style performance, and the Mayor’s speech with the lights set aglow just after.
The schedule includes:
1 pm: Holiday movie at Gorton Community Center
2:30 pm: Kids Activities Area featuring:
• Cookies courtesy of Lake Forest Bank and Trust
• Arts and crafts activity for children courtesy of Sage Explorers
• Holiday goodies for sale at the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation tent
• Donuts and coffee provided by the Oertel Group
3 pm: Food and Beverages for sale including the event’s signature Yeti cups
3 to 7 pm: Visits with Santa
3:30 to 4:15 pm: Lake Forest Civic Orchestra and Lake Forest High School Festival Brass Ensemble
4:45 pm: Caroling Concert by the Lake Forest High School Choristers
5 pm: Lake Forest Dance Academy performance begins, Mayor’s speech, and the lights will be set aglow!
5:30 to 7:30 pm: Music by Hello Weekend
For more information, visit lfparksandrec.com.
NEWS 16 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
SKY
1100 Oak Ridge Glencoe Great opportunity on lovely property! Mid-century just waiting for your touches, hardwood floor, volume ceiling, screened porch and a sub basement are just some of the amenities of this wonderful home. Please reach out to Glo or Zack for more information. The Matlin Group is a team of Real Estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed Real Estate broker with a principal office in Chicago, IL and abides by all applicable Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, and changes without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of Real Estate brokerage. The Matlin Group thematlingroup@compass.com Glo | 847.951.4040 Zack | 847.722.2977
The 38th annual Lake Forest tree lighting holiday celebration returns to Market Square on Friday, November 25.
Northwestern
Monday, November 28, 7 pm
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 17
are invited to a community healthcare education event at no cost:
You
Warning
What Every Man Should Know About Prostate Cancer, From
Signs to Treatments
Medicine urologists specializing in prostate cancer will highlight advances in prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital Conference Center 1000 North Westmoreland Road Lake Forest, Illinois Your questions are welcome! Refreshments will be served. Space is limited. Please RSVP today by emailing Norman Evans, Northwestern Medicine Physician Services, at nevans1@nm.org.
Presented by: Michael McGuire, MD
Dennis Pessis, MD
Matthew Schaff, MD
nm.org/urology
CRYPTO UNCLOAKED
lutionizing traditional financial systems. “I used to take the train into the city for work pre-pandemic and would read The Wall Street Journal each morning,” says Cannon. “I remember reading an article in the spring of 2017 about cryptocurrency and found it fas cinating. It was incredible to me that a new form of money could come out of nowhere and upend established currencies like the U.S. dollar or euro.”
She remembers calling her parents to tell them about cryptocurrency, and they could barely pronounce the word, let alone understand how it functioned. They, like many, weren’t sure the craze would last. But the cryptocurrency market is now worth more than $3 trillion. “I guess you could say it lasted,” laughs Cannon.
She believes cryptocurrencies are here to stay, explaining that for many, they provide access to financial democracy.
“If you live in a part of the world that doesn’t have a stable financial system, or has a corrupt government, or where inflation is so out of control that you don’t know if one paycheck will even buy a gallon of milk, then you can see the appeal of a digital money system that is not tied to a central bank or particular government,” explains Cannon. “At heart, that’s the global attraction to crypto currencies: they provide access to money and financial systems in ways that traditional cur rencies often cannot.”
Questions around how cryptocurren cies are regulated and who regulates them also appealed to Cannon, since a large part of her legal practice involves interfacing with regulators on behalf of clients. “It’s the Wild West legally,” says Cannon. “It’s fun and challenging. What we’re seeing is that regulators are trying to stuff these new forms of money into old laws, but they don’t always fit. Everyone has had to get creative in figuring out how to police and operate in this space.”
problems. “People do a lot of bad things with crypto,” she says. “It’s often used in ransom, extortion, and money laundering, and there can sometimes be hacking into systems that store cryptocurrencies. We’re now even see ing insider trading actions brought around digital currencies.” But as Cannon points out, people do all those things with regular money, too, so the fault may lie not with cryptocurrencies, but with individuals who make poor choices about how to use them.
Cryptocurrencies have also proven ex tremely volatile. They don’t have nearly the same stability as traditional currencies and are subject to enormous fluctuations in value. For example, Bitcoin’s exchange rate against the U.S. dollar has frequently jumped or crashed over 20 percent (sometimes nearly 50 percent) in a single day. By contrast, the U.S. dollar-to-euro exchange rate generally has not changed more than 2.5 percent in one day. As Cannon says, you can’t be sure from day-to-day whether one Bitcoin will buy a new car or a toy car.
That can be intimidating. But akin to the way the internet opened up people’s ability to communicate and connect, cryptocurren cies do the same—just financially.
“Most people who claim not to understand the appeal of cryptocurrencies don’t under stand what it’s like to be excluded from the mainstream financial system,” notes Cannon. “If you can access the internet, you can access cryptocurrencies. And for people who have been financially excluded, this is freedom.”
BY ALLISON DUNCAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
It’s hard not to notice that everyone from Tom Brady to Gucci to the mayor of Miami is obsessed with cryptocurrencies. What is the appeal? And what even is cryptocurren cy? Rachel Cannon, a partner at the global law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, counsels clients on regulatory issues surrounding this new form of money and, like a good trial lawyer, speaks to The North Shore Weekend
about crypto in plain English.
As Cannon explains, in simple terms, cryptocurrencies are a form of digital money. Bitcoin, created in 2009, was the first cryp tocurrency. Since then, numerous others have come into existence. Unlike traditional forms of money, which are tied to a particular country’s central banking system and govern ment, cryptocurrencies exist digitally and are accessed through the internet and stored on the blockchain.
Cannon was first drawn to this new form of money when she saw how it was revo
At Steptoe & Johnson, Cannon advises companies and individuals about compliance issues surrounding cryptocurrencies. She also conducts internal investigations for compa nies that are involved with cryptocurrency and interfaces with enforcement agencies on behalf of companies and individuals facing legal scrutiny by regulators such as the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Com modities Futures Trading Commission. She recently helped a global company understand cryptocurrency laws in various jurisdictions around the world so it could begin accepting payment in cryptocurrency at a global level.
Despite many positives, Cannon notes that cryptocurrencies carry their own set of
Cannon believes there are also genera tional reasons why digital currencies will continue to thrive. “Anyone who has children playing video games can understand why digital currencies are becoming mainstream,” she says. “So many video games now exist in the metaverse where people use digital mon ey like Robux. There’s an entire generation of people under 30 for whom the idea of digital money is perfectly normal. They transact in it every time they play a video game. The world has to catch up with the digital reality of our children’s everyday entertainment.”
Cannon also points out that a generation ago, everyone carried cash. Today, it’s almost obsolete. In 100 years, will all currency be digital? Cannon says it’s possible. The Federal Reserve is moving closer to creat ing a digital dollar, and countries like China have already digitized their own currency.
“Financial institutions are coming around,” says Cannon. “They realize there’s no turning back. Crypto is here, for better or worse.
To hear Rachel Cannon discuss cryptocurren cies in-person at the Suite Escape lunch series on January 27, visit lfsuite-escape.com.
18 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND NORTH SHORE MONEY
Attorney Rachel Cannon of Steptoe & Johnson LLP discusses the future of cryptocurrencies and why
they may be here to stay.
Rachel Cannon. Photography by James Gustin
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 19 SOLD LAKE FOREST SOLD WINNETKA SOLD NORTHBROOK SOLD HIGHLAND PARK SOLD HIGHLAND PARK SOLD HIGHLAND PARK SOLD WILMETTE SOLD LONG GROVE SOLD HIGHLAND PARK SOLD DEERFIELD SOLD LAKE FOREST SOLD HIGHLAND PARK SOLD EVANSTON SOLD HIGHLAND PARK SOLD HIGHLAND PARK SOLD DEERFIELD SOLD * DEERFIELD SOLD * LAKE FOREST SOLD NORTHBROOK SOLD HIGHLAND PARK SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN 2022! GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF OUR CLIENTS AND FOR AN AMAZING YEAR. WISHING YOU & YOURS A HAPPY THANKSGIVING! LEASED PROPERTIES 1075 Heather, Deerfield * · 622 Pleasant, Highland Park · 400 E Ohio #602, Chicago * · 1227 Arbor, Highland Park 25771 N Saint Marys Rd Mettawa · 4 bed, 6.3 bath UNDER CONTRACT * 1523 S Estate Ln Lake Forest · 5 bed, 5.2 bath UNDER CONTRACT * 1004 Longaker Dr Northbrook · 3 bed, 2 bath FOR SALE $399,000 324 Satinwood Ct N Buffalo Grove · 2 bed, 2 bath FOR SALE $310,000 *Buyers represented by Pat Denenberg and Laura Hara FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO SCHEDULE A SHOWING OR FOR A FREE ANALYSIS CALL, EMAIL OR TEXT 847.644.5921 patdenenberg@atproperties.com laurahara@atproperties.com 847.338.2661 YOUR EXPERT NORTH SHORE BROKERS 4 bed, 2.1 bath SFH with 2-car detached garage Sunset Park neighborhood Highland Park COMING SOON 2 bed, 1 bath updated 1 st floor condo - Wheeling
MEANINGFUL PURSUITS
COOKING FOR THE WEEKEND
Just in time for the holidays, internationally renowned chef Angela Hartnett has released her first cookbook in the U.S.—a comprehensive tome that features 100 reci pes perfect for entertaining at home. The Weekend Cook: Good Food For Real Life is brings home cooks to Angela Hartnett's house in London's vibrant East End—a relaxed atmosphere that is as far removed from the highoctane stress of a professional kitchen as it is from the social anxiety that many of us face when hosting a dinner. Hartnett’s book shares all her best secrets about how to throw the most relaxed and enjoyable dinners for friends and family—magical evenings that people talk about for months afterward. Great flavors and simple, yet delicious foods abound in these pages, from satisfying one-pot dishes and comforting risottos to perfect party food and baked goods to feed a hungry crowd. With 100 recipes as well as timesaving tips and cheats, The Week end Cook takes the stress out of hosting, allow ing you to enjoy your dinner parties with out breaking a sweat. Available on Amazon. com or your local bookstore.
IF THAT BENZ COULD TALK
Car collectors are on high alert this weekend about a certain 1968 Mercedes-Benz 600 that is being auctioned off to one lucky bidder. The “Ex-Jay Kay” is a short-wheelbase number that was first delivered to Ets. Royal Elysees of Paris, France, and then owned by Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay—all before being relocated to the Neth erlands. Finished in black over natural leather and powered by a 6.3-liter V8, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, the car is one of 2,190 short-wheelbase sedans built dur ing the model’s 17-year production run and left the factory finished in Anthracite Gray Metallic before being refinished under previous owner ship. Recent upgrades include a paint correction and ceramic coating application, along with a new windshield and refinished chrome-plated door trim. Follow the next chapter in this Benz’s story at bringatrailer.com/listing/1968-mercedesbenz-600-4/.
GO BACK IN TIME WITH SNOOPY
Since 1950, Snoopy and the rest of Charles Schulz’s iconic Peanuts characters have graced newspaper pages across the nation and fueled television specials that have become holiday classics. And for almost as long, the gang has teamed up with Timex for special-edition Timex x Peanuts watch collabora tions, bringing a playfulness to the wrist like few brands can, including the latest must-have—A Snoopy Thanksgiving 2022 version. Premiering in 1972, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was the 10th prime time special based on the Peanuts characters. Relive your childhood and celebrate the season with this whimsical addition to your wardrobe. Nostalgic, cheerful, and beloved by ca sual wearers and knowledgeable collectors alike, Timex x Peanuts watches bring a fun and func tional style you’ll love for years to come. Get yours at timex.com.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
As Westfield Old Orchard shopping center welcomes new luxury retailers Louis Vuitton and Bloomie’s, it also rings in the holidays with a lineup of family-friendly events and activities and extended hours.
The center will kick off the season with the return of Santa’s Trolley Experience on November 25 and a holiday celebration event on December 1, complete with a spectacular firework finale.
“The festive season has arrived at Westfield Old Orchard and we are very eager to welcome people of all ages to the center to experience the North Shore’s best holiday shopping, dining, events, and entertain ment,” says Serge Khalimsky, Senior General Man ager at Westfield Old Orchard. “Whether you are looking to check off your gift list or to get a dose of holiday cheer, you will enjoy the spirit of the season with our wide array of offerings as well as holiday activations and decorations across the center for the
whole family to enjoy.”
On December 1, Westfield Old Orchard will host a free holiday kickoff event sponsored by Bloomie’s starting at 5 p.m. through 7 p.m., complete with choir performances, a hot cocoa bar, and a fireworks display at 6:45 p.m.
Throughout the month, tickets for Santa’s Trolley Experience can be online at westfield.com/oldorchard/holiday. Each ticket comes with a private meet and greet with Santa and a $25 gift card from Bloomie’s and will run through December 24. Guests can also enjoy festive activi ties, refreshments, and nightly Menorah lighting in partnership with the Chabad of Skokie starting the first night of Hanukkah, December 18.
Westfield Old Orchard’s extended holiday hours will start on November 25 (Black Friday) through January 2. The center will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
LIFESTYLE & ARTS 20 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Old Orchard ushers in the holiday season with two exciting new luxury retailers and Santa’s Trolley Experience.
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 21 847.910.0146 | michaelmitchell@atproperties.com | michaelmitchellrealestate.com GIVING THANKS TO MY CLIENTS FOR A GREAT YEAR! 129 Beach Rd, Glencoe 1860 Lake Charles Dr, Vernon Hills 353 Madison Ave, Glencoe* 385 Hazel Ave, Glencoe 275 Greenwood Ave, Glencoe* 251 South Ave, Glencoe* 624 Grove St, Glencoe 2028 Central Ave, Wilmette 442 Amberley Ln, Deerfield 1371 Asbury Ave, Winnetka 131 Flora Ave, Glenview* 1530 Eastwood Ave, Highland Park 11 Elsinoor Dr, Lincolnshire 183 Lake St, Glencoe* 640 Winnetka Mews, 306, Winnetka* 1179 Ridgewood Dr, Highland Park 5055 Madison St, 204, Skokie 141 Asbury Ave, 3N, Evanston 2021 NORTH SHORE SALES **Source: MRED, Sold-Price-To-List-Price Ratio for 470 Park Ave and 100 Beach Rd, Glencoe *Buyer Representation YOUR NORTH SHORE NEIGHBOR, YOUR REAL ESTATE EXPERT 514 Woodlawn Avenue, Glencoe $753,000 5 Briar Lane, Glencoe $4,950,000 Co-listed with Linda Rosenbloom & Carol Gooze 400 Washington Avenue, Glencoe For rent | 6 months for $3,900 per month RENTAL 400 Washington Avenue, Glencoe $800,000 183 Lake Street, Glencoe $1,399,000 NEWLISTING 1515 N Astor Street #9C, Chicago $510,000 5534 N Wayne Avenue, Chicago $550,000 PRIVATELISTING 710 Oakton Street #305, Evanston $305,000 867 Peach Tree Lane, Glencoe $1,625,000 1756 Surrey Lane, Lake Forest* $1,550,000 220 Hazel Avenue, Glencoe* $1,450,000 470 Park Avenue, Glencoe Sold over asking for $1,277,000 1040 Sheridan Road, Glencoe $1,875,000 1700 2nd Street #308, Highland Park $349,000 100 Beach Road, Glencoe Sold over asking for $1,600,000** 1560 Oakwood Avenue #303, Highland Park* $1,170,000 467 Jackson Avenue, Glencoe $1,100,000 1150 Ridgewood Drive, Highland Park $638,000 512 Milford Road, Deerfield $560,000 14 E North Avenue, Lake Bluff $375,000 1236 McDaniels Avenue, Highland Park $2800/month 632 Abbotsford Road, Kenilworth $1,240,000 SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD RENTED 1114 Colfax Street, Evanston $1,675,000 | Buyer Represented SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD UNDERCONTRACT 9655 Woods Drive #606, Skokie $329,000 NEWPRICE SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD over 1 acre on a stunning ravine Fully Rehabbed
AS GOOD AS IT GETS
BY REX REED THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
When Martin McDonagh, the London playwright who specializes in bizarre, twisted, and darkly humorous rumina tions on offbeat behavior in the emotional and political state of affairs in Ireland, alarmed his fans by switching from critically acclaimed plays ( The Beauty Queen of Leenane , The Cripple of Inishmaan ) to writing and directing movies such as In Bruges and the dreadful 7 Psychopaths, everyone feared his career seemed doomed to a downward spiral.
But never fret. He's as centered as he is prolific, and his new film T he Banshees of Inisherin is as good as it gets.
After a sojourn to America in Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri , I'm thrilled he's returned to his Celtic home base, introducing is eager followers to a whole new set of fresh eccentrics, and reunited with his In Bruges star, Colin Far rell, who gives the best performance of his career and won the Best Actor prize at the recent Venice Film Festival for his meticulous efforts. I consider Banshees nothing short of a marvel.
The year is 1923 and the remote island of Inisherin off the coast of Ireland—where everybody knows everybody else and a postage stamp is the closest anyone gets to a ratio nalized society in the outside world—may be fictional, but from what I've observed of Gaelic life, the people are real.
Chief among them is Mr. Farrrell's Padraic Suilleabhain (you pronounce it; I can't even spell it), a cowherd who ekes out a living selling milk from a crude wagon. He lives in a rustic cottage with his sister Siobhan and a donkey named Jennie, and finds simple pleasure every day sharing a lager at the island pub.
Padraic has never known love, but he's too shallow and il literate to know the price of loneliness as long as he can lift
a pint with his best (and only) friend Colm Doherty (Bren dan Gleeson), who lives with a Border collie and composes folk songs on a fiddle.
The long-suffering Siobhan dreams of escape from this dreary, dead-end existence and, in the absence of any accept able male attention, devotes her time, tea, and sympathy to a simple-minded boy named Dominic (a memorable Barry Keoghan), the maligned, ridiculed, and physically abused son of the local violent, villainous island constable. Tragedy awaits all of these people and their pets, like a coming virus, but you can't turn away or avoid feeling their pain intensely.
The turning point comes when, for no reason, Colm sud denly announces he wants nothing more to do with his pal Padraic, declaring him dull and their friendship a waste of time. Furthermore, he declares that if Padraic dares to speak to him at the pub or anywhere else, Colm will cut off one of his own fingers.
He is true to his word, tossing his appendages at Padraic's windows and doors until his hands are bloody stumps, which wreaks havoc on his plans for a future in music. I won't reveal how it all plays out, but Mr. McDonagh's keenly observed plot turns and his understated but meticulously chronicled dialogue, combined with shocks you don't see coming, stark but beautiful cinematography by Ben Davis, and uniformly brilliant performances by a perfect cast add up to an exemplary film that will leave you stunned.
All I can say is prepare yourself for a film as freshly observed as it is hard to watch. Best of all, it's film notable for the rare opportunity to show Colin Farrell's remarkable range and talent in ways you never see in his Hollywood action vehicles.
Speaking with his eyes and emotions even when he isn't speaking, it's obvious he's been dying to change and strengthen his image. The Banshees of Inisherin is a terrific way to begin.
LIFESTYLE & ARTS 22 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Famed film critic Rex Reed weighs in on The Banshees of Inisherin as his column returns to The North Shore Weekend.
Illustration by Tom Bachtell
BEING STEVEN SPIELBERG
Rex Reed shares his take on The Fabelmans, a new film that tells the life story of an iconic Hollywood director.
n the 58 films of Steven Spielberg, there has almost always been something youthful and adventurous that appeals to kids of all ages, some element of movie magic that defines his reputation as the richest, most popular, and successful motion picture director of his generation.
Whether they’re about lost extra-terrestrial children, Peter Pan’s Captain Hook, sharks behaving badly, Indiana Jones exploring new continents, or the prehistoric monsters of Juras sic Park, the reasons for his world acclaim have been hard to analyze.
But now, at 75, he’s done the job for us.
In The Fabelmans, his most personal film to date, he reveals the sources of the consuming interests that have made him the filmmaker he is today, in an epic that is purely autobiographi cal.
Of course, I don’t care who you are. If you want to make an ego-massaging movie about yourself that runs for 2 and ½ hours, you better have a damned good story to tell. In my opinion, Mr. Spielberg’s life story is always slickly directed, professionally written (a collaborative effort by the director and prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner) and admirably acted by an appealing cast, but only intermittently interesting and less than what I’d call mesmerizing.
As life stories turned into screen bios go, this one is not always worth the effort.
The domestic saga begins in New Jersey, where he saw his first movie, Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth, and became so irrevocably traumatized by the train-wreck scene that when his parents bought him his own electric train for Christmas, he made it crash.
The die was cast. Re-naming his family the Fabelmans, he calls himself Sammy, who got his sense of adventure from both the movies and from his mother Mitzi (a fabulous Michelle Williams), who skillfully played classical piano, dangerously chased tornados and apparently never stopped smiling, but not from his father Burt, a nerdy computer engineer played by the nerdy actor Paul Dano (perfect casting, if you ask me).
The Fabelmans live with Burt’s best friend Benny (Seth Rogen), who becomes a bogus “uncle” to Sammy and his two sisters and something of a wedge in his parents’ marriage.
At an early age, the family moves to Arizona, where Dad
accepts a job with General Electric and Sammy, equipped with his first 8-millimeter camera, discovers John Wayne westerns and enlists the Boy Scouts to appear in a cowboy flick replete with guns and stagecoaches, and eventually a serious war film that furnishes a clue to will someday lead to Saving Private Ryan
We see how he learned to shoot film, edit, and develop technique. In the process, Sammy also captures truths with his camera unseen by the naked eye, like Mitzi’s growing attraction to “Uncle Benny” that leads to the Fabelmans’ painful divorce that impacts the whole family.
One wishes for a more unconventional storyline, but the facts assemble in ways that did not prevent me from glancing at my watch. In 1961, they land in Northern California where Sammy encounters his first antisemitic hostility, Mom gives up cooking and buys a monkey.
He graduates from high school in 1964, slides into his first affair with a Christian girl, the parents call it quits, and once again, the teenage Sammy (on his way to becoming the legend ary Spielberg) finds escape only when he takes out his camera and gets creative. It seems interminable but ends at last when he meets his first Hollywood idol, director John Ford, played with crude irascibility by oddball director David Lynch.
The only thing Mr. Spielberg seems determined to impress upon his weary audience is that along the way, career-influ enced by typical genres, he also learned about empathy and the value of human relationships that, in my opinion, have rarely appeared in his film work. (Exceptions: Schindler’s List, The Color Purple, Catch Me if You Can.)
Pervasive throughout is the standout performance by Gabriel LaBrelle as the teenage Sammy Fabelman/Steven Spielberg, and it is exhilarating and memorable to study Michelle Wil liams’ dazzling work as his sad, cheerful, encouraging mother. Wearing a blonde Buster Brown hairdo, she looks eerily like Mr. Spielberg’s real-life mother. Whether she’s dancing naked in a see-through dress in automobile headlights or braving it through an unhappy marriage that challenges her free spirit, she is always fascinating, even when the film is not.
As one of the greatest directors in film history, her son is less a centerpiece than she, and you can learn more about him from any of his films that from any one scene in The Fabelmans
LIFESTYLE & ARTS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 23
COLLECTING IN CUBA
BY LAURA LAYFER TREITMAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Madeleine Plonsker likes to say that she stepped on a “yellow brick road” and what followed were adventures both far and wide, learning like Dorothy that “there’s no place like home.” In the mid-1970s, Plonsker, who had been the Fashion Director for Elizabeth Arden Chicago and Fashion Consultant at Playboy, opened her first namesake boutique in Hubbard Woods, near where she grew up. That boutique, which offered womenswear and accessories designed by young créateurs from around the world, was followed by a second store—Madeleine at Home, an outlet for rare objects focused on updating interiors for her
clients. Her most recent project, however, fulfills a longtime dream of writing a book. Plonsker’s authorship of the catalog The Light in Cuban Eyes: The Madeleine P. Plonsker Collec tion of Contemporary Cuban Photography (Lake Forest College Press), represents an accom plishment rooted in her family’s lineage: a love of art, culture, and Cuba.
Fashion and music were part of her up bringing from the start. “My mother was very stylish and I used to join her for outings to Marshall Field’s ‘28 Shop,’ the fancy floor for high-end clothing labels,” recalls Plonsker. She remembers regular Florida family getaways where she would stay with her grandparents as her parents flew off to Cuba to enjoy weekends of dining and dancing. That’s what sparked the initial interest in 2002 when Plonsker
learned of a group tour to the island sponsored by Williams College, where her husband, a son, and a grandson are alums. “I had always been intrigued by Cuba; this place where I had never been yet was so special to my parents.” En route, the tour stopped in Miami for visits to private Latin American art collec tions. “I began writing down the names of the Cuban artists who I noticed in the residences, and there was one particular photographer’s work that consistently intrigued me.” Once in Havana, with an afternoon free from the scheduled itinerary, she set out to ex
plore the art scene on her own.
“I was absolutely taken by what I saw—al most 50 years of limited contact with the United States, yet the sophistication was as valid as the work of 20th-century American
LIFESTYLE & ARTS 24 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Continued on pg 26
Glencoe’s Madeleine Plonsker has cultivated a vast collection of contemporary Cuban photography over the past two decades.
Face, 2008. Photography by Alejandro Gonzalez
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 25 Thinking of buying or selling? Contact me! 847.204.5613 colleenmcginnis@atproperties.com Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for another successful year. 704 Sheridan Rd, Wilmette FOR SALE – 3420 N Lake Shore Dr #6HI, Chicago 2020 Chestnut Ave #503, Glenview 1242 Cherry St*, Winnetka 643 Brier St*, Kenilworth 925 Michigan Ave #3, Evanston 1410 Sheridan Rd #2A, Wilmette JUST LISTED – 643 Abbotsford Rd, Kenilworth LISTED&SOLD LISTED&SOLD SOLD SOLD LISTED LISTED *Buyer Represented
masters like Edward Weston or Robert Frank,” says Plonsker. As she wandered around the Old City, she stumbled upon an outdoor art exhibition. By way of her high school Spanish, her conversation with locals led to a gallery, then to an art dealer, and ultimately, to the studio of the photographer’s work she had admired back in Miami. Plonsker made some purchases but when she returned home, she faced the dilemma of no display space because her walls already featured an extensive col lection of modernist prints and drawings. So, she promptly stored the images under her bed. “Three years later, I looked at these photo graphs and told my husband that I just knew I had to go back to Cuba,” shares Plonsker, who did just that, often once a month, between
2005-2020.
Plonsker’s husband, Harvey, was raised in Winnetka by his aunt and uncle, prolific 20th century collectors of fine art by Joan Miró, Henry Moore, and Jean Dubuffet, among other prominent names. The couple, who were childhood sweethearts, have always acquired artwork since they married. Plonsker says that before she went off to Mount Holyoke Col lege, Harvey’s aunt shared some choice words. “She told me that if I wanted to fit in with this family, I should take art history classes and that an appreciation for art would always make me happy.” That advice seems to have set Plonsker on the right path, both personally and professionally.
“When we got engaged, my soon-to-be inlaws had sent us to see well-known Chicago
dealer, Bud Holland, and he said you’re young, with limited funding, so start with works on paper—and we did.” After gifting their large collection to Williams College Museum of Art two decades ago, the pair became passionate about photog raphy. “In my mind, it was still the same medium of paper so we were not really straying from those original instructions,” remarks Plonsker. Her immersion into the Cuban art scene coincided with the closure of her North Shore storefronts. She took the same savvy that used to send her searching for the latest designers in Paris and Milan and turned to discover ing unknown talents in Cuba. “I knew these beautiful works were essentially hidden and needed to be seen by wider audiences, and my husband was ex tremely supportive of my mission for this next phase of focus for our collection.”
Plonsker became a regular fixture in the Cuban art community. Ambassadors, the Minister of Culture, and other notables had Plonsker on their radar as she made herself an influential connector having fa cilitated trips for students of the Ravinia
Steans Music Institute, and for executives at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 2015, she arranged for a show of the Cuban contem porary photographers represented in her book to be presented at the Robert Mann Gallery in New York City and simultaneously coordi nated visas for the artists. Later that same year, Plonsker organized for young Cuban danc ers to attend a summer intensive exchange program at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, and most recently, commissioned a ballet with the Cuban dance company Acosta Danza and underwrote works performed by the Ballet Nacional de Cuba.
Plonsker’s devotion as a patron is visible in her 250-page bilingual book that was granted special permission for distribution in Cuba. To date, almost 2,500 copies have been sold globally, and she has personally given 500 to Cuban artists working in Havana. It reveals her perspective through a print retrospective of once emerging, and now, with Plonsker’s assistance, established Cuban photographers.
This fall the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) will receive Plonsker’s collection. In 2024, there will be a major exhibition and ac companying catalog to recognize and celebrate the myriad of works in their donation. “Many institutions asked but the MFAH seemed the most fitting place due to their commitment and dedication to expanding their holdings in Latin American art.” As for an encore act, Plonsker says that she is not sure, but one of her two sons enjoys art collecting, and just a few weeks ago, her college-age granddaughter asked about borrowing a hat and a pair of jeans that she had eyed in her grandmother’s closet. Like those influential relatives of the past, Plonsker seems to have paved the way for another generation to be equally inspired in their individual pursuits.
For more information and to purchase a copy of the book, The Light in Cuban Eyes: The Madeleine P. Plonsker Collection of Contemporary Cuban Photography, visit thelightincubaneyes.com.
LIFESTYLE & ARTS 26 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
COLLECTING IN CUBA From PG 24
Soy, 2005. Photography by Mabel Levat
Boy with Leaf, 2001. Photography by Raul Canibaño
Diving into water, 2005. Photography by Lissette Solorzano
2021 St. Johns Ave #3E, Highland Park | $851,000
940 Augusta Wy #213, Highland Park | $459,000 925 Fountain View Dr, Deerfield | $850,000 343 Park Ave 2E, Highland Park* | $265,000 237 Jeffreys Pl, Highwood* | $364,500 3339 Dato Ave, Highland Park* | $930,000 2376 Sheridan Rd, Highland Park | $1,410,000 979 St. Johns Ave, Highland Park | $499,000
2021 St. Johns Ave #3E, Highland Park | $1,025,000 338 Woodland Rd, Highland Park* | $700,000 1808 Old Briar Rd, Highland Park* | $900,000 1033 Central Ave, Deerfield* | $1,100,000 720 Ravinia Glen Pl, Highland Park | $1,675,000
514 Hill St, Highland Park | $1,250,000
308 Landis Ln, Deerfield* | $650,000
2521 Hybernia Dr, Highland Park | $1,090,000
58 Woodley Rd, Winnetka | $2,625,000
1570 Rudd Ct, Libertyville | $737,500
2021 St. Johns Ave #1F, Highland Park* | $545,000
1471 Oakwood Ave, Highland Park | $655,000
2026 St. Johns Ave #101, Highland Park* | $265,000 1419 Waverly Rd, Highland Park* | $1,700,000
1055 Summit Dr, Deerfield* | $785,000
2385 Woodpath Ln, Highland Park | $900,000
2020 St. Johns Ave, Highland Park* | $264,000
776 Whiteoaks Ln, Highland Park | $620,000
720 Green Bay Rd #1A, Winnetka* | $610,000
950 Timber Hill Rd, Highland Park | $579,000
2120 Beechwood Ave, Wilmette* | $1,249,000
486 Sheridan Rd #3, Evanston | $230,000
2255 Eagandale Rd, Highland Park | $4,500,000
410 Fox Meadow Dr, Northfield* | $890,000
1552 McDaniels Ave, Highland Park | $210,000
116 High St, Highwood* | $300,000
743 Prestbury Ct, Northbrook | $651,000
920 Baldwin Rd, Highland Park | $1,330,000
676 Sumac Rd, Highland Park* | $780,000
422 Kelburn Rd #323, Deerfield | $525,000
823 Stonegate Dr, Highland Park | $725,000
3437 Old Mill Rd, Highland Park | $845,000
855 Marion Ave, Highland Park | $372,500
800 S. Green Bay Rd, Lake Forest* | $910,000
234 Charles Pl, Wilmette | $432,000
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 27 TED PICKUS 847.417.0520 tedpickus@atproperties.com AARON WALSH 773.962.1420 walsh@atproperties.com LISA SCHULKIN 847.602.1112 lschulkin@atproperties.com 2022 HOMES SOLD IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS SO MANY THINGS HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR BRIDGING CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE with REAL ESTATE EXPERTISE
*Buyer Side Represented
Mainly health, family and friends! Thank you to all my past and present clients.
GREEK BEANS WITH SWISS CHARD AND FETA
BY MEG BARNHART AND JANE MCKAY THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
As a young mother, Meg Barnhart found herself struggling each day to prepare a homecooked meal while juggling a myriad of after school activities for her three children. Sharing her frustration with her best friend, Kate, she received three pieces of advice that changed her life:
You are not a failure
Get off the phone
Buy a Crock Pot
Over the next 16 years, that small appliance became a vehicle for change by helping Meg prepare delicious, healthy, home-cooked meals in a time frame that fit her busy lifestyle. It also served as the inspiration for the Zen of Slow Cooking food blog, co-created with her business partner, Jane McKay. Together they launched the blog in 2012 to bring together a community of home-cooks looking for ways to bring health and well-being to their families. Using their most widely sourced recipes as a guide, they created a line of premium, glob ally inspired spice blends to serve as the flavor foundation for recipes crafted for a slow cooker or its millennial cousin—the Instant Pot.
ZEN OF SLOW COOKING
At Zen of Slow Cooking, we make Multi-Cooker Spice Blends—meal prep solutions for the modern cook. We do this by providing simple-to-make recipes on the pouch featuring our arti sanal, certified non-GMO spice blends, which create contemporary, healthy, and truly delicious dishes for 4 to 6 people. Our mission is to help home cooks serve tasty, simple, and wholesome meals to family and friends.
Our company is a Lake Forest-based, women-owned, Certified B Corp, devoted to making a positive social impact. We do this by creating an inclusive economy, providing employment for adults with developmental disabilities, supporting our local communities, and keeping a small carbon footprint. Our vision is a world where meals bring people together. We believe in the power of sitting down and having a conversation over a shared meal. Whether it is with our families, friends, neighbors, colleagues or communities—eating together and connecting with each other can transform relationships.
This recipe, gigantes plaki in Greek, features large white beans smothered in a rich tomato sauce with fresh herbs and feta cheese. Plant-based, bright, and fresh for spring, it also happens to be super simple and delicious.
For more information, to purchase spice blends, or to sign up for the Zen of Slow Cooking’s blog to receive tips and recipes, visit thezenofslowcooking.com.
Serves 4 to 6
INGREDIENTS
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup (1 small) onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon (2 cloves) garlic, sliced
• 2 15-ounce cans butter beans, drained and rinsed *
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Coq au Vin spice blend packet or 2 teaspoons herbs de Provence
• 1 tablespoon tomato purée
• 1 14.5-ounce can tomatoes, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups broth
• 4 ounces Swiss chard, spinach, or kale, washed and chopped (if us ing chard, trim and remove stalks
• 1 small bunch fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 small bunch fresh mint, chopped
• 4 ounces feta, crumbled
TIPS
METHOD
FOR THE SLOW COOKER:
• Heat the oil in a skillet, sauté onion and garlic for 2 minutes, transfer to cooker. Stir in the beans, paprika, salt, Coq au Vin blend (or herbs de Provence), tomato puree, tomatoes, broth, and chard.
• Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours.
• Stir in fresh herbs and crumble feta cheese over the top to serve.
FOR THE PRESSURE COOKER:
• Heat the oil on sauté function; sauté onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Stir in the beans, paprika, salt, Coq au Vin blend (or herbs de Provence), tomato puree, tomatoes, broth, and chard.
• Secure the cooker lid and seal pres sure valve; cook on Manual/Pressure for 8 minutes.
• Quick Pressure Release.
• Stir in fresh herbs and crumble feta cheese over the top to serve.
• *Replace 2 cans drained beans with 2 cups (1 pound) butter beans, rinsed and unsoaked. Adjust cook time as follows:
For the slow cooker:
LOW: 9-10 hours or HIGH: 4 hours
For the pressure cooker: 40 minutes
• This also makes a tasty soup! Simply increase the vegetable broth from 1 1/2 cups to 6 cups when cooking.
LIFESTYLE & ARTS 28 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NORTH SHORE FOODIE
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 29 ~ Immense Gratitude ~ There are many DIFFERENT REASONS why our clients chose to Buy or Sell this year. Our team had the privilege to experience incredible journeys with each and every one. For this we are GRATEFUL! New Career and Life Change...Building New...Home For Mom To Be Close to Family...Great Vibes Here...Little More Space...First Home Together...Down Scaling...Heading North... Returning to North Shore Roots...Simplified Living...Getting Married...West Coast Sunshine Bound...Created Dream Home... Great Schools and Parks...Moving Down The Street... Relocated Here...Investment Opportunity...Living Near Family... Having A Beautiful Baby...An Awesome Change...Moving On Up...Following Child’s Dream...Different Direction in Life... Love for Community and Lake Life...Seeking To Renovate... Heading West To See Mountains...Time For One Level Living... Loves To Move Every Few Years...Heading Out To the East Coast...Seeking Farmland... Simply “Just Because “ There is ONE SIMILAR REASON TheBestJourneyTookThemHome
MARCIA ON HER MIND
A commitment to honoring the memory of her beloved sister drives Mary Anne Ehlert, founder and president of Protected Tomorrows.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
Mary Anne Ehlert still hears her younger sister Marcia’s laugh, more than 27 years after Mar cia—born with an umbilical cord wrapped around her tiny neck, and cerebral palsy—died at the age of 40.
“I wish you could have heard it,” Ehlert says. She then imitates the preamble of the inimi table laugh, tilting her head back and breaking into a smile.
“Marcia’s laugh … there was nothing else like it,” Ehlert recalls. “It was, without a doubt, infec tious.”
So infectious that the CDC looked into adding Marcia’s laugh to its outbreak list but chose not to do so because it had always triggered instant joy from others.
“People look at disabled people and immediate ly think, ‘Oh, that’s so sad,’” Ehlert says. “But my family (late parents Roy and Helen and Marcia’s five siblings) never felt that way. Marcia was happy and productive. Every life she touched, they’ve never forgotten her.
“Marcia taught me and countless others that caregiving is a noble profession.”
The 72-year-old cracks another smile, this one a Mary Anne Ehlert expression, while sitting in her office at Lincolnshire-based Protected Tomor rows, the organization she launched with its sister company, Ehlert Financial Group, in 1990.
Marcia is on her mind, again.
If it’s a workday, it’s also a Marcia day.
Protected Tomorrows is an advocacy firm with a mission to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities, including families with a child, spouse, parent, or other loved ones with special needs.
Ehlert Financial Group expanded its original mission—to serve the needs of families look ing for overall objective financial planning—to include special needs life-care planning, as well as business planning, wealth strategy, and insurance solutions.
“I founded both, thanks to Marcia,” Ehlert, a Barrington resident since 2014, says. “I’d seen first-hand the difficulties our parents had in mak ing sure Marcia would be cared for when they could no longer do so. I then acted on my lifelong desire to specialize in serving the families of the disabled.
“Marcia had helped me discover that I can make a difference in the lives of others.”
Ehlert aced all of her job tests after completing her studies at Loyola University in 1972, begin ning with a stint at A.C. Nielsen in Northbrook. She held posts in banking at Weiland Computer Group, Deutsche Credit Corporation, and Heller Financial and Fuji Bank, before joining Citicorp Distribution Finance in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
“Corporate life didn’t suit me,” Ehlert admits. Especially when Citicorp told her to lay off 85 colleagues and prepare to move to New York.
That was straw No. 200 in a box of 200 straws.
Ehlert exited the banking industry and entered the … Marcia field.
Mary Anne, younger sister Arlene, and Marcia (whose twin is Debbie) were playing under the baby grand piano at home in Des Plaines when Marcia, about 4 years old at the time, suffered her first seizure.
“We didn’t know what to do,” Mary Anne recalls.
Fast forward decades. Mary Anne Ehlert, the professional at Protected Tomorrows, regu larly meets vulnerable, anxiety-ridden parents of children with disabilities and often hears, “What should we do?”; “Where do we start?”; or “What’s going to happen when my child turns 18?”
“We,” Ehlert says, “ask two questions: ‘What’s
the best thing that could happen for your child?’, and ‘What is your biggest fear?’ Answers I’ve heard to the first question range from, ‘They’ll be happy’ to, ‘They’ll be independent.’ That somebody will take advantage of their disabled child is a big fear.”
Protected Tomorrows, with a resolute work force of 10, is in the business of abating distress and building solutions by providing paths of success for families—across a wide scale of income levels—through books, webinars, and online tools.
Parents of children with disabilities have at tended Ehlert presentations at a number of North Shore schools. She estimates that 400 North Shore families, every five years or so, have sought guidance from Protected Tomorrows.
Ehlert was on a first-name basis with her first
two Protected Tomorrows clients, if you consider “Mom” and “Dad” first names.
Roy and Helen each lived to the age of 93. Mary Anne was 40 when she assumed control of caregiving for Marcia, who lived, made friends, engaged in activities, and laughed heartily at the Clearbrook group home in Rolling Meadows for nine years.
“My father had a blue-collar job, with no health insurance,” Ehlert says, adding her parents wanted nothing but the best possible care for Marcia but, like others in their boat, felt rudderless and confused when it came to the daunting task of blueprinting the appropriate steps to a secure future.
“I made a commitment to help more than the wealthy when I created Protected Tomorrows,” says Ehlert, who’s also a partner at Lombardbased Forum Financial Management. “I had to figure out how to help everyone. Planning can be overwhelming, for anyone. Complex, too. Plan ning involves understanding government benefits, finding the right school system, finding the right residential program.
“We’re here for families that seek a bright future for their loved ones with special needs.”
Ehlert adored math classes and earned “golden girl” status as the top baton twirler at Maine West High School in Des Plaines. Three airborne ba tons, tossed cumulonimbus high by Ehlert? She’d field them calmly and cleanly.
“I was a shy geek in high school,” Ehlert says. She was a snow hater one day in high school. Heavy snowfall the night before had forced school officials to cancel Maine West’s classes.
“I was distraught,” Ehlert remembers. “I also didn’t believe it.
“I asked my dad to drive me to the school to prove school wasn’t in session that day.”
A former marathoner—having hit the pave ment in forty 26.2-mile tests, including three in Chicago—Ehlert now speed walks and wears out a rowing machine at her home in Barrington, where she lives with her life partner, John.
Among her favorite things to do along the North Shore: dine at Winnetka restaurants Aboyer and Kyoto, check out the annual Port Clinton Art Festival in Highland Park, and take in a Ravinia Festival concert.
But each of the above takes a back seat—no, a trunk seat—to what Ehlert does for a living.
And for Marcia.
“I love what I do,” Ehlert says. “Marcia’s inspiration lives on in the important work that Protected Tomorrows does. Thousands of families have benefited from our Future Care Plans and other vital services.
“The best thing that could happen? That my sister’s legacy will continue well beyond my lifetime.”
Protected Tomorrows is located at 103 Schelter Road, Suite 10, in Lincolnshire. For more information, call 847-522-8086 or visit protectedtomorrows.com.
SUNDAY BREAKFAST 30 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Mary Anne Ehlert
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 | 31 THANKFUL FOR ALL MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CLIENTS! 579 Central Ave | Highland Park, IL 60035 | 847.432.0500 | BairdWarner.com 1720 MEADOW LN, BANNOCKBURN 1471 LINDEN, HIGHLAND PARK FOR SALE FOR SALE Information not guaranteed and subject OVER 30 YEARS WITH BAIRD & WARNER FOUNDERS CLUB CALL FOR DETAILS KAREN POTESHMAN SKURIE realtor KAREN.SKURIE@BAIRDWARNER.COM 847.361.4687
32 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 | SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 2022 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND