The North Shore Weekend, December 2nd, 2023

“Spend extra time with your family members. These are the closest relationships you will have, and they will be the most precious single thing in your life.”

-Bryan Cressey

NO. 580 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIA PONCE

FALL SPRING

Michael and Julie Eckert

SERIES

S BOSTON BRAS

ELLS CHRISTMAS B ’!

ARE SWINASGSIN BIG BAND TAR BR WITH THE ALL-S

pm SAT, DEC 9 - 8 E!

OUNT AVAILABL STUDENT DISC

Scan for more information!

HOMES

for the HOLIDAYS

Lake Bluff History Museum presents its annual Holiday Home Tour on Sunday, December 3. pg14

LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER

ECRWSS

PRSRT STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 129 GLENVIEW, IL

do you want to in this kitchen...

taste life

#1 luxury broker * in illinois

312.925.9899 | jena@atproperties.com jenaradnay.com

#114 broker in the nation *

*MRED, LLC: Total Sales Volume 01/01/22-12/31/22 | 2023 Real Trends + Tom Ferry The Thousand, based on 2022 total sales volume

2 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

while relaxing from life in here?

114 DE WINDT RD, WINNETKA 6 BED, 5.3 BATH | 0.75 ACRES | $3,299,900

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

3

THIS is what we’re made for.

At Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, we’re working to solve tomorrow’s challenges today.

Individually and collectively, our faculty, researchers, students and partners are committed to bringing next-generation health care to the people and communities that we serve.

3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064

30+ Health Sciences Degrees | Research Park | Community Care

4 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

rosalindfranklin.edu

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

E X P E R I E N C E T H E D AW N M C K E N N A G R O U P #1 TEAM IN ILLINOIS P R I VAT E L I S T I N G

P R I C E I M P R OV E M E N T

925 OAK KNOLL DR. | LAKE FOREST, IL Renovated & Expanded Cape Cod Style Home on 1.46 Acres | Private Backyard Oasis with Bluestone Patio & Built-In Spa

1955 SHORE ACRES DR. | LAKE BLUFF, IL Set on 4.8-Lakefront-Acres with 260’ of Private Beach | Indoor Pool, Spa & Sport Court | Separate Guest House

P R I VAT E L I S T I N G

O N LY 4 L O T S L E F T

21 PEMBROKE DR. | LAKE FOREST, IL Set on 1.12 Acres | Walk-Out Lower Level | Expansive Backyard Oasis with Heated Pool

WHITEHALL MEADOWS | LAKE FOREST, IL Lot Sizes Range from 1.59-1.95 Acres | Opportunity to Build Dream Home

c onta c t you r l oc a l ex per ts

A N N I E R OYS T E R L E N Z K E 847. 41 4. 4045 Annie@ DawnMcKennaG roup.co m

K AT I E M O O R 847. 2 82 .02 9 1

Annie Royster Lenzke | Dawn McKenna | Katie Moor

FLORIDA

|

ILLINOIS

|

MICHIGAN

|

Katie@ DawnMcKennaG roup.co m

UTAH

|

S C A N T H E Q R CO D E to view our p or t folio of N or t h Shore list ing s

WISCONSIN

W W W. D A W N M C K E N N A G R O U P. C O M | @ T H E D A W N M C K E N N A G R O U P ©2023 Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker System and Dawn McKenna Group fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. *Source: #1 Team in Illinois among all brokerages ranked by Wall Street Journal RealTrends The Thousand 2022.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

5

INDEX

NEWS 7 north shore doings Your go-to guide for all the latest local events

10 season of light Christmas trees from around the world brighten the office of County Treasurer Maria Pappas

11 honor roll New Trier Township High School names 2024 Alumni Achievement Award recipients.

LIFESTYLE & ARTS 16 gift guide Top holiday picks for the fashionista in your life

18 at the gates This film about immigration and the plight of the undocumented is highly recommended

Local Expertise, National Support • Glencoe resident with 20+ years of mortgage experience.

• $3,000 first-time homebuyer credit available for eligible buyers.

• Specialist in trust-based mortgage approvals for sophisticated asset portfolios.

• Coverage 7 days a week for a pre-approval within an hour and full loan approval in 10 days or less.

Call or email me anytime for a consultation.

19 rumble through the dark A dark, contrived film gets only one star from our reviewer

22 #hashtag

Braden Abraham, the new artistic director at Writer's Theatre, shares what's trending in his world

24 material pursuits From French yachts to quintessential British interiors, we've got this weekend's must-haves

LAST BUT NOT LEAST 26 sunday breakfast

Lake Bluff resident and financial planning ace Ann Rieder serves up sound comprehensive plans for her clients at Regatta Wealth Management

John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING @NSWEEKEND.COM

Jennifer Sturgeon

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tricia Despres, Mitch Hurst, Bill McLean

DESIGN

SVP of Mortgage Lending NMLS224365

773.413.6271

tomf@ccm.com tomfishwick.com

Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Chris Geimer ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART

Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATION

Cheyanne Lencioni ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ALL EDITORIAL INQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO EDITORIAL@NSWEEKEND.COM FIND US ONLINE NSWEEKEND.COM

CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC, 413 N. Carpenter St., Suite 1W, Chicago, IL 60618 | NMLS1806506 Equal Housing Opportunity. All loans subject to underwriting approval. Certain restrictions apply. Call for details. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. NMLS3029 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee. 23O_86696k50a_A

© 2023 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND A PUBLICATION OF JWC MEDIA, 671 ACADEMY DRIVE, NORTHBROOK, IL 60062 847.926.0911

6 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

@ TheNSWeekend

@ TheNSWeekend THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

NORTH SHORE DOINGS NEWS

JANUARY 3

EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

HOLIDAY WINDOW DECORATING CONTEST WHERE: WinnetkaNorthfield-Glencoe Join in the fun and vote for your favorite holiday window decoration during the month of December.

Explore the many shops of downtown Winnetka, Northfield, and Glencoe and cast your vote for the most enchanting window display. wngchamber.com

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 13

FAMILY STORYTIME ON THE LAWN WHERE: Wilmette Public Library Enjoy Family Storytime on the Lawn at Wilmette Public Library. This weekly program features stories, songs, and rhymes the whole family will enjoy. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on November 28, November 29, December 5, December 6, December 12, and December 13. wilmettelibrary.info

NOW THROUGH JANUARY 7

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 17

LETTERS TO SANTA WHERE: Northfield Community Center Do your little ones want to write a letter to Santa this holiday season? Northfield Community Center will have a special mailbox where letters to St. Nick can be dropped off now through December 17. Address your letters to Santa, c/o Northfield Park District, 401 Wagner Road, Northfield, IL, 60093. Please include a return address so Santa can write back to you. northfieldparks.org

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 20

WINTER ARTS & CRAFTS EXPO WHERE: Evanston Art Center Evanston’s Annual Winter Arts & Crafts Expo is the perfect place to complete your holiday shopping. It includes handmade pieces of jewelry, ceramics, fiber, metal, glass, painting, photography, mixed media, and more. All proceeds will benefit the ongoing exhibition, education, and outreach programs at the Art THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Surf's up on the North Shore.

Center. This event is free to the public and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. evanstonartcenter.org

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 24

MANUAL CINEMA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL WHERE: Writers Theatre, Glencoe A one-of-a-kind rendition of The Christmas Carol returns to Writers Theatre just in time for the holidays.

In this classic tale, Aunt Trudy has been asked to channel her late husband Joe’s Christmas spirit during a family Zoom call, accompanied by puppets.

As she journeys through the Ebenezer’s story, the puppets come to life. Writer’s

Theatre will hold matinee and evening shows select Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays. Tickets range from $35 to $85. writerstheatre.org

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 24

GAME OF GNOMES: A SCAVENGER HUNT WHERE: Downtown Wilmette Set out on a fun adventure through the Wilmette town center. Twelve holiday gnomes are hiding among the window decorations of 12 downtown stores. Fill out the game card with names as the gnomes are found. Once you have all 12, turn in the game card at the Game of Gnomes drop box at the Wild Child Toy Shop. Entries will be eligible to win a Shop Wilmette Gift Card.

A new winner will be picked

each week in December.

Share your finds on social media for a chance to win extra prizes. wilmetteonomics.com/holiday/

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 24

CHRISTKINDLMARKET WHERE: Daley Plaza, Chicago Downtown Chicago’s iconic Christkindlmarket returns to Daley Plaza. Explore the many vendors and booths this wonderful market has to offer. Enjoy food, mulled wine, ornaments, and products from around the world. The market is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free and the market is outdoors. christkindlmarket.com

NOW THROUGH

LIGHTSCAPE WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe Chicago Botanic Garden’s (CBG) annual Lightscape is back. The beautiful gardens have been transformed into dazzling lightscapes to enjoy this holiday season. Stunning first-time installations and returning favorites like the Winter Cathedral decorate the trail nightly.

Tickets can be purchased on GBG website and slots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Drink and food will be offered along the trail. chicagobotanic.org

RECYCLING WHERE: Northfield Northfield’s Village Hall and its Community Center will be providing bins where holiday lights and extension cords can be recycled.

Clean out your decorations stash and make room for new lights and supplies by recycling the old. northfieldparks.org

NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 15

THE GREAT SNOWFLAKE SEARCH WHERE: Wilmette Historical Museum The first snowflakes were photographed by a man named Snowflake Bentley, proving that no two are alike. Join the Wilmette Historical Museum in a scavenger hunt to find all the snowflakes. This event opens this weekend and runs through February 15.

Children ages 3 and under can pick up a free scavenger hunt board at the Museum or Youth Services Department at the Wilmette Public Library to get started.

The hunts begin at 9 a.m. wilmettehistory.org

NOW THROUGH JANUARY 7

ZOOLIGHTS WHERE: Lincoln Park Zoo This year’s ZooLights will feature new displays, photo ops, and interactive programs for families to enjoy.

Tickets are now available for purchase and members get up to eight free tickets and 20 percent off any extra ticket purchases. Monday nights are free, and most weeknights are $7 per person. This event is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. lpzoo.org/event/zoolights/

NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31 HOLIDAY LIGHT

DECEMBER 3

HISTORIC HOME TOUR WHERE: Lake Bluff History Museum Experience the festivities and wonder of Lake Bluff ’s Historic Home Tour on December 3. Tour local homes decked out in holiday finery from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour also includes two Holiday Boutiques in historic homes, where guests will find art, jewelry,

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

7

NEWS clothing, and decor created by local artisans. Tickets are $50. lakebluffhistory.org

DECEMBER 5

JOAN SHAPIRO ART GALLERY WHERE: Village Hall Throughout December, the Village Hall Art Gallery will feature local artist Joan Shapiro. Her work explores non-verbal communication through color, pattern, figure, and design. Purchases are available with a donation of at least $200 to Northfield Food Pantry. This event

will open December 5 and run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The exhibit can be viewed at any time weekdays through December 30 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. northfieldil.org

DECEMBER 5

HOLIDAY LUNCHEON WHERE: Union League Club Chicago, Lincoln Hall You are invited to join the Service Club of Chicago for a festive “Santa Baby” luncheon and fundraising activities. Sipping and shopping will begin at 10 a.m. and lunch will be served

from noon to 2:30 p.m.

There will also be a silent auction and raffle prizes.

This year’s charity partner is the Chicago Youth Center. Unwrapped gifts for children are encouraged and appreciated. theserviceclubofchicago.org

If you love Home Alone, you won’t want to miss this docuseries event. Enjoy never-before-seen footage and testimonies from neighbors and folks who lived in the Home Alone house during filming. Play a trivia game with the Winnetka Historical Society and test your knowledge on films shot on the North Shore. Snacks and beverages are included.

This event will take place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 per person. villageofwinnetka.org

DECEMBER 6

MIKE GARSON AND BILLY CORGAN WHERE: Madame Zuzu’s Madame Zuzu’s presents a conversation between Billy Corgan and Mike Garson in a fascinating dialogue between two artists. Famed pianist Garson and Smashing Pumpkin’s Corgan will discuss art, jazz, Bowie, Bach, Ellington, and more.

Tickets are $75 for the event, which starts at 8 p.m. madamezuzus.com

DECEMBER 7

HOMETOWN HOLIDAY CELEBRATION & STROLL WHERE: Main Dempster Mile Enjoy the season with carolers, living windows, free beverages, a tree decorating contest, and shopping at small businesses. This event requires registration but is free to attend. Participants can win a drawing for dinner for two at Oceanique

DECEMBER 7

MAKING THE HOME ALONE MOVIE WHERE: Winnetka Community House

Jorge Abreu, we

by dropping an entry form at every business you visit.

The more entries you make, the more chances to win. maindempstermile.com

DECEMBER 8 TO 9

STIRLING HALL ART SALE WHERE: Dickinson Hall Looking for some fun hand-crafted gifts this holiday season? Stop by the Stirling Hall Art Sale Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9. The Friday sale is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the Saturday sale is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A portion of all sales will go towards the art center. Come and enjoy at the new location: Dickinson Hall, 100 E. Old Mill Road, Lake Forest. lfparksandrec.com

DECEMBER 8 TO 10

THE NUTCRACKER WHERE: Wilmette Center for the Arts Come and see Wilmette’s annual production of The Nutcracker at the Wilmette

®

Center for the Arts. The Dance and Theater departments collaborate every year for this spectacular production. Tickets are $12 and limited seating is available.

All seats are reserved. The show on December 8 is at 7 p.m., December 9 is 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and December 10 is 2 p.m. wilmettepark.org

DECEMBER 9

WINTER MARKET WHERE: The Mitchell Museum, Evanston The Winter Market at The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian brings together innovative Native American artists, business owners, leaders, and creators with community members, buyers, and potential clients.

Participants will share arts and crafts, contributions, accomplishments, and professional services. Guests will be able to support Indigenous-owned companies through their purchases.

The Market will run from

you

FEARLESS LEADER, PROBLEM SOLVER, PICKLEBALL PHENOM, SPREADSHEET WIZARD, AND FRIEND. Jorge – You consistently go above and beyond to support your agents in Highland Park, Glencoe, and Bannockburn, and your kindness knows no bounds. We love your knowledge, your optimism, and your compassion. On behalf of everyone at @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, we love YOU. ®

Mike & Thad

8 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

NEWS 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. mitchellmuseum.org

DECEMBER 9

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA WHERE: Lawn Grill, Wilmette Golf Club Celebrate the holiday season with Breakfast with Santa at The Lawn Grill.

Attendees will get a photo with Santa and receive a goody bag. Children can also decorate hot chocolate.

The family-style breakfast includes pastries, fruit, pancakes, bagels, sweet potato hash, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage. Registration is required for all who plan to attend. Children ages 2 and under are free and the price range is $19 to $49. This breakfast is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Registration is open now. wilmettepark.org

DECEMBER 9

SANTA’S SLEIGH RIDE WHERE: Lake Bluff Park District

as they battle against the Mouse King. A portion of the proceeds are donated to organizations and charity groups. Tickets are $25. northshoredance.com

Latin American Christmas concert in Evanston and the Little Village and Uptown neighborhoods of Chicago.

Inspired by A Mexican Christmas, this production will include both sacred DECEMBER 10 DECEMBER 13 and secular music from the GINGERBREAD HOUSES BREAKFAST WITH SANTA 15th through 18th centuries WHERE: Kenilworth WHERE: Egg Harbor, in Peru, Spain, and GuateAssembly Hall Lake Forest mala. The dialogue for this Decorate your very Santa is making a special play will be read in Spanish own gingerbread house appearance at the Egg and will include English with frosting and candy Harbor in Lake Forest supertitles. It will also be at Kenilworth’s Assembly where he’ll be spreading interspersed with spiritual Hall. For the ticket price of joy and creating memories dances, sonorous monets, $40, you receive a complete with families. Kids can enjoy and other festive villancicos. gingerbread house kit. You photos with Santa while Tickets are $25, $10 for are welcome to purchase as having breakfast from 9 a.m. students, or free for children many as you like for individ- to noon. This event does under the age of 16 with the ual family members to create not require a reservation purchase of an adult ticket. their own house. This event but is only available on a This concert will be held at runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. first-come, first-served basis. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church DECEMBER 9 TO 10 kenilworthparkdistrict.org business.lflbchamber.com THE NUTCRACKER in Evanston on December WHERE: Lake Forest 15, Mother of the Americas DECEMBER 12 DECEMBER 15 TO 17 Academy Catholic Church in Chicago WINNETKA MENORAH A LATIN AMERICAN The North Shore School on December 16, and St. CHRISTMAS CONCERT of Dance presents The changeLIGHTING Mary of the Lake CathoPlease word “Experts” to “Headquarters” WHERE: Winnetka WHERE: Evanston and Nutcracker at Lake Forest lic Church in Chicago on Enjoy Winnetka’s annual Chicago Academy. Experience Clara In chance could pump upceremothe font size that same line…. IeDecember “North17.

Shore…...

Lighting Theon Newberry Consort and the Nutcracker’s journeyyouMenorah newberryconsort.org ny on Tuesday, December is pleased to present A to The Land of Sweets

Get ready for a jolly trolley ride with Santa and his carolers around Lake Bluff!

Enjoy wonderful holiday music while Santa shows his favorite places in town.

Kids can help the elves make ornaments in the Community Room for the big tree.

They’ll be rewarded with milk and cookies, Santa’s favorite. Space is limited and seats are pre-registered for this event. Children must be accompanied by an adult and all trolley riders must register for a ticket. This event is from 9 a.m. to noon.

Please see the following link for time slots. lakebluffparks.org

12 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 754 Elm Street. This event will feature holiday donuts, giveaways, live music, and Judah Maccabee. villageofwinnetka.org

DECEMBER 16 TO 17

PHOTOS WITH SANTA WHERE: Madame Zuzu’s Take holiday Polaroids with Santa in front of the starburst at Madame Zuzu’s.

There will be Christmas activities, hot cocoa, and lots of shopping. This event runs from noon to 3 p.m. and is free to enjoy. madamezuzus.com

DECEMBER 17

HOLLY JOLLY CONCERT WHERE: Gorton Center Attend a holiday family concert by the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra including popular carols and new tunes. Enjoy the spirit of the season with orchestral compositions of traditional favorites. The concert is from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and pre-purchased tickets are $20. The price increases at the door. gortoncenter.org To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.

Schaefer’s makes party planning easy & affordable.

We’re also the place for great gifts in our legendary boxes.

Personal & business lists are welcome.

Setting the Bar Since 1936

North Shore’s Holiday Party & Gift Headquarters: • Expert party planning • Delivery & Credited Returns Pick-ups (no minimum order size)

• Free loaner event glassware!

• 24x7 web ordering at schaefers.com 9965 GROSS POINT ROAD, SKOKIE (just east of Westfield Old Orchard) | 847.677.9463 | www.schaefers.com THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

9

NEWS

SEASON OF LIGHT

Visitors invited to see Christmas trees from around the world brighten the office of County Treasurer Maria Pappas.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas invites visitors to see nearly 100 Christmas trees and other displays that celebrate cultural diversity this holiday season.

This is the 20th year of “Christmas Trees from Around the World,” a display of three-foot trees. Members of various ethnic and religious communities decorated the trees to represent their heritage.

A Christian Nativity scene, an African American Kwanzaa Kinara, a Hindu Prayer Thali, and a Jewish Menorah are also displayed.

“This celebration of diversity marks its 20th year as a Chicago holiday tradition,” Pappas said. “People working or shopping downtown are invited to visit the Treasurer’s Office, see the beautiful decorations and learn how different cultures celebrate the holidays.”

The trees are adorned not only with ornaments, tinsel and lights, but also animals, flowers, fruit, candles, plates, boats,

stars, flags, dolls and other items. The display will be up through Jan. 2 in Room 112 of the Cook County Building, 118 N.

Clark Street, in Chicago.

Countries and traditions represented by the trees include African American,

Tom Downing, we

®

Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Assyrian, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Canada-Quebec, CarpathoRusyn, China, Colombia, Cornwall, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Eritrea, Estonia, and Ethiopia.

Also represented are Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Laos, Lebanon, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Native American, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, Venezuela, and Wales.

you

DYNAMIC LEADER, CONSULTANT, MENTOR, TEAM PLAYER, AND FRIEND. Tom – Managing a top-producing office is no small undertaking, and your leadership has been instrumental in its ongoing growth and success. We love your dedication, your positive energy, and your unconditional support for your agents in Winnetka. On behalf of everyone at @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, we love YOU. ®

Mike & Thad

10 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

HONOR ROLL NEWS

New Trier Township High School names eight alumni as 2024 Alumni Achievement Award recipients.

Eight distinguished New Trier Township High School alumni will receive the school’s Alumni Achievement Award in March 2024, joining 70 of their peers in the Alumni Hall of Honor. The honorees are: • Tara Purohit Abrahams, Class of 1994. Tara Abrahams is a passionate global advocate for girls and women. She is currently Head of Impact at The Meteor, a media company that uses the power of storytelling to advance one of the greatest causes of our time: the freedom and dignity of all women. Tara also serves as board chair of She’s The First, a global girls’ rights organization that reaches 150,000 girls around the world every year; and of International Center for Research on Women, a global research institute working to accelerate global progress towards gender equity.

• Sam Barsh, Class of 1999. With a Grammy-winning and multi-platinum discography of over 300 records to thousands of live performances across the globe, producer, songwriter, and keyboardist Sam Barsh is a true musical triple-threat. Barsh has written and/or produced over 300 commercially released songs, with 17 Gold and Platinum certifications and 4 #1 albums on the Billboard 200. Heavily steeped in the jazz world as well as music production and songwriting, Barsh toured with the iconic bassist and composer Avishai Cohen’s trio for 3 years, recording 3 albums and a live DVD at New York’s famed Blue Note jazz club.

• Robert Bryant, Class of 1980. NASA chemist Robert Bryant was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in October 2023. He currently holds 33 U.S. patents, over a dozen foreign patents and over two dozen commercial licenses to NASA. In addition to his induction into NIHF, Bryant was inducted into the Space Foundation’s Space Technology Hall of Fame and the NASA Inventors Hall of Fame. His numerous awards include NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal, NASA Langley’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Valparaiso University’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and a Doctor of Science Honoris Causa, and three R&D 100 Awards, including an Editor’s Choice.

• Jerry Fiddler, Class of 1969. Jerry Fiddler, Chairman and Co-founder of Wind River Systems in Alameda, California, has made a major contribution to the field of computer science, and his work has affected society and improved our everyday lives. Wind River software can be found inside many of our commonly used consumer products, THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

from desktop printers to cars. Countless major firms in peripherals, office automation, industrial, aerospace, and multimedia industries rely on Wind River Systems embedded system tools, real-time operating systems, development environments, and networking projects to run critical to several space missions, including Mars Pathfinder and Stardust.

• Donald Katz, Class of 1970. Don Katz is the founder of Audible Inc., the leading provider of premium digital spoken audio information and entertainment. Prior to founding Audible, Don was a journalist and author for 20 years; his work won a National Magazine Award, an Overseas Press Club Award, the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for Nonfiction, and he was nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award, among other prizes. Recognized as one of America’s Top 25 Disruptive Leaders

by Living Cities for his work on behalf of urban transformation in Newark, Don was named New Jersey’s most influential tech leader by ROI-NJ in 2021 and was also celebrated as the Business Visionary Honoree at the 2022 PEN America Literary Gala for his vision and leadership at Audible.

• Liesel Pritzker Simmons, Class of 2002. Liesel Pritzker Simmons is CoFounder and Principal of Blue Haven Initiative, where she oversees a portfolio focused on holdings that generate competitive financial returns and address social and environmental challenges. In addition to working closely with entrepreneurs, nonprofits and co-investors on companies and initiatives that create social, environmental and financial value, she develops strategic partnerships

with organizations that support and advance more informed investing. Pritzker Simmons is also Co-Founder of IDP Foundation, a private Chicago-based foundation focused on achieving universal primary education.

There, she helped create the IDP Rising Schools Program, which leverages microfinance networks to empower nearly 450 low-cost private schools—established and managed by local entrepreneurs—in some of the least-developed regions of the world.

• Richard Sherman, Class of 1973. Dr. Richard Sherman is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in treating disorders of the knee, hip, and shoulder, including sports injuries, trauma and the various forms of arthritis. He offers patients the latest techniques in joint replacement, as well as arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery, which reduces pain and speeds recovery times. His father was a pediatrician, and seeing the difference he made in children’s lives and the satisfaction he took from it inspired Dr. Sherman to become a doctor himself. He has been the team physician at New Trier High School for 28 years and at Deerfield High School for 15 years. Dr. Sherman also is a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Loyola University Medical Center, training orthopedic surgery residents.

• Ellen Spertus, Class of 1986. Ellen Spertus is a Teaching Professor at Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University. Prior to that, she was a professor of computer science at Mills College and a senior research scientist at Google.

She received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in computer science from

MIT, where she first developed an interest in gender and computer science that has infused her career. She has done research in compilers, computer architecture, artificial intelligence, online communities, and computer science education, helping create App Inventor for Android and the code. org “Hour of Code” tutorial with the goal of increasing the number and diversity of students exposed to computer science.

The Alumni Hall of Honor Class of 2024 will receive their Alumni Achievement Awards at a Gala hosted by the New Trier Educational Foundation beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel in Northbrook.

All proceeds from the gala will benefit the Foundation, which provides philanthropic funding for exceptional educational opportunities for New Trier students. Tickets and sponsorships will be available for purchase soon on the Educational Foundation’s website at newtrierconnect.org.

Since New Trier’s Alumni Achievement Awards began in 2011, 70 recipients have joined the Alumni Hall of Honor for exemplifying the school’s motto: “To commit minds to inquiry, hearts to compassion, and lives to the service of humanity.” Most of the honorees have also returned to New Trier to share their experiences in discussions with current students during the week of the awards dinner.

A Selection Committee made of alumni, New Trier staff, and representatives of the New Trier Educational Foundation met several times this fall to choose the 2024 honorees from a large field of nominations.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

11

12 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Experience some of your favorite holiday traditions in the charming Village of Elkhart Lake with the Old World Christmas Market, Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides, Children’s Holiday Workshops, Breakfast with Santa, Brunch with St. Nicholas and his Reindeer, and Holiday Musical Revues.

Visit ElkhartLake.com for holiday vacation packages, trip ideas and holiday highlights.

The Osthoff Resort’s Old World Christmas Market Admission Monday to Thursday th

JWC

To redeem, please present this coupon at the Old World Christmas Market at The Osthoff Resort

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

13

LIFESTYLE & ARTS HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

From PG 1

BY TRICIA DESPRES THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Longtime Lake Bluff resident Julie Eckert has always loved Christmas.

“I love the music,” Eckert says. “I love trees with lights. I love a festive table. I love a fire. I love the movies. I love the Christmas cards.”

And while the list filled with her adoration for her favorite holiday could go on, Eckert admits that what she loves the most is decorating her Lake Bluff home for family and friends. And this year, that special pool of family and friends will get even bigger as Julie and her husband Michael Eckert open their home for the first time

during the annual Lake Bluff History Museum Holiday Home Tour.

“My husband made the decision that this was the year,” explains Eckert, whose exten-

The perfectly appointed home of Michael and Julie Eckert. Photography by Madeline Eckert

14 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

sive collection of caroler figurines, Gladys Boalt ornaments and Mark Roberts collectibles will be on display throughout her Megan Wintersdesigned home.

“Michael jokes that he loses 2,000 square feet of the house whenever Christmas comes around.”

Indeed, whenever Christmas does come around, Lake Bluff itself transforms into the most charming of villages, courtesy of

beautifully decorated homes that all seem to have their own story to tell.

“You always do wonder what’s inside and what memories these homes hold,” explains Penny Marsh, chair of this year’s Lake Bluff History Museum Holiday Home Tour, scheduled for Sunday, December 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Some of the homes are really historic, and you think about what Christmases have taken place through the years in those homes.”

Opening the doors to the history and stories and memories of a select number of Lake Bluff homes each year has long been one of the magical pieces throughout the 13-year history of this much-loved event, whose proceeds benefit the Lake Bluff History Museum. The tour also includes two Holiday Boutiques in historic homes, where guests will find art, jewelry, clothing, and décor sourced and created by local artisans. “(The Home Tour) is our biggest fundraiser,” remarks Marsh of the event

Keri Cook Falls, we

®

that will embark straight from the Lake Bluff History Museum located at 127 E. Scranton Avenue. “We support many of the museum’s expenses with those funds, while bringing many people to Lake Bluff through the Holiday Home Tour and other museum-sponsored activities in the village, such as the Auto Show and Ghost Walk.”

And while Marsh herself doesn’t seem comfortable dwelling too much about the legacy she and longtime friend Susan Hawthorne will someday leave behind as the cocreators of this event, she does admit that she couldn’t picture her life without it.

“I love seeing people getting inspired to be creative with their holiday décor in their own homes because of this event,” explains Marsh, who manages estate sales on the North Shore through her company, Beyond the Bluff Conducted Sales. “It’s a joy for me to be involved each year.”

What might bring even more joy come December 3 is perhaps a little snow to make the holiday picture complete.

“It’s magical when it snows in the village,” concludes Eckert. “A white Christmas is always the dream. It just really is kind of the frosting on the cake.”

Tickets are $50 and will be available closer to the event. For more information, visit lakebluffhistory.org.

you

DEDICATED LEADER, ADVOCATE, MOTIVATOR, YOGI, AND FRIEND. Keri – No one devotes more time and energy to supporting their team than you, and it shows in the remarkable growth and success of our Lake Forest office. We love your authenticity, your optimism, and your caring nature. On behalf of everyone at @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, we love YOU. ®

Mike & Thad

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

15

GIFT GUIDE LIFESTYLE & ARTS

Our top picks for the fashionista in your life.

EDITED BY ALLISON DUNCAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

01

06

05

04

03

02 08 07

09 10 15

16

11 14

12

13

17 18

01 Anine Bing Hilda Boot, Anine Bing Chicago, 312-847-5149 02 R+Co BLEU x Moda Operandi x Oscar de la Renta, randco.com 03 Berlinger Jewelry Emerald Old European Cut Diamond Cluster Ring, berlingerjewelry.com 04 Saint Laurent Pants, Saint Laurent Chicago, 312-202-0166 05 DESEDA Ravinia Scarf, shopdeseda.com 06 Saint Laurent Tote, Saint Laurent Chicago, 312-202-0166 07 Marimekko Opaakki Unikko Knit Pullover, marimekko.com 08 Merry, Merry, Merry Crewneck, Alice & Wonder Southport, 312-428-0097 09 Saint Laurent Jacket, Saint Laurent Chicago, 312-202-0166 10 Berlinger Jewelry Large Deco Pearl Diamond Stud Earrings, berlingerjewelry.com 11 Christina Karin Crew Sweatshirt, Christina Karin Chicago, 312-772-3316 12 Christina Karin Bag, Christina Karin Chicago, 312-772-3316 13 Tory Burch Lee Radziwill Embossed Petite Double Bag, Tory Burch Chicago, 312-280-0010 14 Saint Laurent Blazer, Saint Laurent Chicago, 312-202-0166 15 Classic Crew Sweater, Alice & Wonder Southport, 312-428-0097 16 Carolina Herrera Gathered Strap A-Line Midi Dress, neapolitan collection Winnetka, 847-441-7784 17 Tory Burch Silver Metallic Down Puffer, Tory Burch Chicago, 312-280-0010 18 Saint Laurent Heel, Saint Laurent Chicago, 312-202-0166

16 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Happy Holidays.

Live Your Luxury.

Happy Holidays

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season filled with love and laughter.

CARLY JONES • ENGEL & VÖLKERS CHICAGO NORTH SHORE 566 Chestnut Street | 2nd Floor | Winnetka | IL 60093 M +1 312 391 3170 carly.jones@evrealestate.com carlyjones.evrealestate.com ©2023 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.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

17

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

AT THE GATES

A noble film about illegal immigrants in search of a better life is imperfect, but riveting enough to recommend.

BY REX REED ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

RUNNING TIME: 1 HOUR, 37 MINUTES RATING: 3 stars

At a time when the plight of illegal immigrants pouring into the U.S. to escape world tyranny and seek a better life for their children is a central issue dominating the headlines, At the Gates could not be more relevant.

It offers a harrowing look at the challenges and nightmares faced by both the undocumented immigrants working hard to earn their keep and responsibly assimilate into a new culture and the sympathetic American citizens who risk their own security to help them by employing them illegally. I found it imperfect but riveting.

Anna, a widowed escapee from a political dictatorship in a country near Nicaragua, has been working as a housekeeper for an affluent family in Los Angeles for eight months when she brings along her college-age son Nico, hoping he can earn enough extra money to pay for his tuition. Members of the Barris family—whose spacious, elegant home they are hired to keep pristine—are sympathetic and compassionate, but on their first day working together, the immigration and customs police arrive without notice to inform the owners their staff is under investigation for their illegal immigration status.

Instead of turning them in or sending them packing, Maryann and Peter Barris (Miranda

Otto and Noah Wyle) take pity on their new servants and hide them from the authorities in the basement, confiscating their cell phones so they can't make outside calls that can be traced, and providing them with safety from the cruel, indifferent world outside the gates.

Both sides ace dire consequences if the servants are found, revealed and identified.

Apparently if an employer hires or harbors an undocumented worker the penalty could result in fines up to $100,000. Protecting Anna and her son Nico is an act of benevolence that backfires dangerously when Nico learns the Barris family members have insurmountable problems of their own.

This access to information coupled with the teenage Barris daughter's generous supply of marijuana and blossoming sexual attraction to Nico turns an already tense situation in the direction of disaster for everyone involved.

The writing and direction by Augustus Meleo Bernstein reveal personality characteristics in all of the principals that bring them slowly but vibrantly to life, while exploring the needs, flaws, strengths and weaknesses that make them so vulnerable to each other and vital to the plot.

Everyone takes a big risk and the way Nico finds a way out for himself and his

18 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

mother results in breaking the law in an even more calamitous way than living in America without papers. In this case, one side pays a greater price for the consequences than the other, but the characters are decent enough to make you care about their futures, no matter how bleak.

The answers to the problems about the immigration crisis raised in At the Gates are not all resolved satisfactorily. The likeable characters are in worse trouble in the end than they were in the beginning, and the myriad details about harsh immigration laws are never explained believably enough to seem convincing. But considering the film's strong emotional overall impact, my reservations are minor.

When everything else gets shaky, there is always the finely tuned cast to consider: Miranda Otto and Noah Wyle never make a false move, while less familiar faces such as Vanessa Benavente as the troubled Anna and Ezekial Pacheco as her traumatized son Nico enhance the film dramatically in supporting roles so powerfully played they often seem more inspired than the real stars.

At the Gates is a noble film that forces you to think about both sides of a controversial issue in a new light. Not exactly a masterpiece, but highly recommended.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

RUMBLE THROUGH THE DARK Nothing can redeem this dark and contrived film, not even its handsome leading man, actor Aaron Eckhart.

BY REX REED ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

RUNNING TIME: 1 HOUR, 56 MINUTES RATING: 1 star

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Aaron Eckhart, a handsome and versatile leading man who has played everything from a corrupt tobacco lobbyist to tough Marines and sexy lovers in every kind of movie from Thank You For Smoking to Erin Brockovich, is hell-bent on versatility.

Many of his films have been poorly received by audiences and critics alike, but he has been personally praised in every role as relentlessly charming. There is nothing charming, appealing, or remotely memorable about a thing called Rumble Through the Dark.

This one goes down in the Aaron Eckhart filmography as an ill-advised mistake. The only reason I can imagine why he was attracted to it was his persistent resistance to being labeled one of People magazine’s 100 most beautiful people.

Nothing beautiful about the character Jack Boucher, a washed-up bare knuckle fist fighter first shown as a child given away to an orphanage by his mother as the prelude to a life of misery and misfortune. In time, he morphs into a battered and decimated shell in such deplorable shape he can barely shuffle, much less walk, from one knockout to the next.

Spitting blood with his head shaved

down to a nub, he tries desperately to keep going long enough to support a terminally ill father until manhood.

Losing his mind to dementia after so many fights, self-medicated with opioid painkillers and whiskey, Jack owes money for back taxes on his mother’s house and is in deep debt to the sleazy owner of an illegal fight club called Big Momma Sweet.

The $30,000 he wins on the roulette wheel in a lucky night at a local casino could save his mother from bank foreclosure and death in a nursing home, but a bounty hunter named Skelly ( Joe Hursley) steals the money, hijacks his truck from a gas station, and leaves Jack beaten half to death and lying in a cornfield.

In a film this dismal, where everyone is a hopeless loser, it’s Skelly who dies after a tattooed carnival fortune teller named Annette (a wasted Bella Thorne) steals Jack’s bankroll for herself. Feeling guilty because she secretly believes Jack might be her long-lost father (don’t ask!), she ponders the idea of giving it back, but before he can save his Mama’s house he bets the money on one last caged fight to refund the money he owes Big Momma Sweet.

The ape he fights makes Godzilla look like a nursery-school chimpanzee from Toys’R’Us. The sounds of bones crunching in the brutal bare-knuckle fight scenes are souped up to resemble the bombs that fell on Nagasaki.

Filmed in a bayou in Mississippi where, as we all know, there is always a depressingly glum traveling carnival and an extra roulette wheel handy, the preposterous Rumble Through the Dark is contrived and manipulative, but not in any meaningful or significant way.

The one-note screenplay is adapted

by Michael Farris Smith from his novel The Fighter that I never intend to read and co-directed by brothers Graham and Parker Phillips. Living up to its title, the film is so dark you can’t see what is going on half the time, but it does raise two serious questions—why make it in the first place, and what could persuade an actor with Aaron Eckhart’s talent and reputation to appear in it?

It doesn’t stretch his range, it stands the chance of a popsicle in hell to make money, and in the final analysis nearly two hours of savagery add up to nothing new to say or write home about.

One-word summary: Huh?

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

19

GET BACK TO LIVING WITHOUT LIMITATIONS SEE OUR UROGYNECOLOGIC SURGEONS NOW IN THE NORTH SUBURBS

Our trusted surgeons are leaders in the pelvic floor disorder field and have made corrective procedures more effective and recovery easier than you might think. Stop living with limitations. Schedule an appointment today.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, vist UChicagoMedicine.org/Urogyn or call 773-795-8777

20 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Iconic Marketing WE ARE ENGEL & VÖLKERS You will recognize Engel & Völkers marketing by its classic, sleek look. With our innovative and iconic marketing, it elevates your property. Our services include beautiful photography of your property, combined with personalized marketing materials to make your home stand apart from the competition. We give it a story. We think outside the box to sell your home.

Experience the difference. Experience Engel & Völkers. Learn more at chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com

Chicago North Shore Portfolio of Fine Homes e

ng

ha

C ice

Pr

17 Canterbury Court • Wilmette

1120 N. Lake Shore Dr. #3C • Chicago

Noah Levy & Janet Karabas | 312.203.2416

140 Oakmont Drive • Deerfield Francie Pinkwater | 847.922.3398

$2,850,000

$850,000

$399,000

Jennifer Ames | 773.908.3632

ENGEL & VÖLKERS CHICAGO NORTH SHORE 566 Chestnut Street | 2nd Floor | Winnetka | IL 60093 +1 847-441-5730 | chicagonorthshore@evrealestate.com Learn more at chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com ©2023 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. *As of October 25, 2023.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

21

LIFESTYLE & ARTS #HASHTAG EDITED BY MORGAN HOGERTY ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND Lately, I’ve been drawn to memoirs and biographies of artists and thinkers whose work crosses disciplines. I recently finished a couple of incredible books recommended to me by friends. The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf—a mesmerizing biography of Alexander von Humbolt, detailing his adventures in South America and Russia, and his profound impact on how we perceive the interconnectedness of the biosphere.

Boyd Varty’s The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life is an entertaining, pithy, and wise meditation on life lessons learned from the art of tracking lions on an animal refuge his family founded in South Africa. I also just read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami’s memoir connecting his running and writing lives. On my road trip to Chicago from Seattle, I listened to Bono read his new book Surrender.

He has walked the knife edge between art and activism throughout his career. Also, I grew up in the ‘80s and early ‘90s and wore out my cassette tapes of The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. U2 is one of those bands ingrained in my adolescent consciousness.

BRADEN ABRAHAM moved to Chicago to take the artistic helm at Writers Theatre (WT)—Glencoe’s nationally recognized cultural destination for intimate and engaging theater. He comes to WT from Seattle Rep, one of the largest resident theaters in the Pacific Northwest, where he advanced the organization as a director and producer, including the development and premiere of many new plays.

During his 20-year tenure, he directed six premieres, 20 total productions, and developed many new works through Seattle Rep’s New Play Program. Abraham is excited to join Writers Theatre, where he plans to build on the institution’s mission to center great writing through the work of visionary artists, forward its devotion to education programs, bring new voices to the stage, and build partnerships across the community. Abraham steps away from rehearsals to share how he stays on trend.

#ON MY MOBILE I’m enjoying The Way Out is In, a podcast exploring different aspects of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings through interviews about daily life inside the Plum Village monastic community. I started listening to The History of English Podcast. It’s super nerdy, but I find it fascinating. Design Matters is one I go back to now and then. Regarding music, I’m happy to be in Wilco’s hometown, one of my favorite bands. I have a 12-year-old daughter, so we listen to a fair share of pop music at our house: Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles. My daughter is expanding into indie now too, which being the Gen X-er that I am, is more familiar territory. I have not succeeded yet in turning her onto some of my favorite jazz artists: Coleman Hawkins, Art Blakey, Charles Mingus, and Sonny Rollins.

#IN MY EARBUDS There are a few blogs I occasionally visit.

Maria Popova’s The Marginalian is extraordinary and invaluable. I don’t know how she maintains her output, but the number of overlooked literary gems she finds, her deep inquiry into the human endeavor, and her eloquence expressing the quandaries and joys of life, is astonishing.

22 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

THANK YOU

TO ALL OUR CLIENTS FOR A WONDERFUL 2023!

*BUYER REPRESENTED

*BUYER REPRESENTED

RICK RICHKER

MELISSA RICHKER

Broker Associate

Broker Associate

C: 773.909.9962 rick@rickrichker.com

C: 773.505.9962 mrichker@rickrichker.com

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

*BUYER REPRESENTED

*BUYER REPRESENTED

SCAN HERE LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAN CREATE OPTIMAL RESULTS FOR YOU TOO!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

23

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

MATERIAL PURSUITS

ARCH APOTHECARY

Click on the interactive website for the luxe new, allelectric Pebble Flow RV and preArch apothecary products are all about nurturing, hydrating, and healing the skin naturally. From the luxurious botanical face and body oils to the hydrating mist, lip balm, and salve, Arch can help simplify your skin care routine with beautiful results. archglow.com

This weekend’s curated luxury trends

COUNTRY LIFE: 125 YEARS OF COUNTRYSIDE LIVING IN GREAT BRITAIN

For 125 years, Country Life has presented its readers with the finest insider’s tour of everything quintessentially British. Coming this October, one volume will feature a spectacular collection of images offering the best of life in the British countryside—from charming Cotswolds villages to panoramic views across the Yorkshire dales and Glastonbury—offering readers a rich tour of the seasons, landscapes, gardens, and great houses that epitomize British country life as seen through the eyes of the magazine. rizzoli.com

LE PONANT BECOMES THE WORLD’S FIRST SAILING YACHT TO JOIN THE PRESTIGIOUS RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX PORTFOLIO

PONANT and Relais & Châteaux are strengthening their ties. The three-masted Le Ponant sailing yacht—the most emblematic vessel in the PONANT fleet, with a history dating back to 1991—becomes the first sailing yacht in history to join the esteemed Relais & Châteaux portfolio. The first branded voyage set sail to the islands of Cape Verde this past August. Le Ponant boasts just 16 staterooms and suites and a 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio. The wellness space offers Biologique Recherche treatments and daily yoga sessions on the deck. Cuisine is made using organic and local products and wines from French artisan wine producers are served. For more information, visit us.ponant.com.

Don Shea, we

®

you

INFLUENTIAL LEADER, MENTOR, CONSULTANT, SAILING FANATIC, AND FRIEND. Don – Your knowledge of the industry is second to none, and your support empowers agents to reach their full potential. We love your knack for numbers, your attentiveness, and your upbeat attitude that brightens our Lake Geneva, Evanston, and Northbrook offices. On behalf of everyone at @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, we love YOU. ®

Mike & Thad

24 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Over 100,000 North Shore Readers Every Weekend!

Advertising Inquiries 847.370.6940

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

25

BUCKS IN A ROW S U N D AY B R E A K FA S T

Regatta Wealth Management Founder/President and former Drake University crew team member Ann Rieder helps clients navigate their financial options.

BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

If you grew up in Iowa in the 80’s, you practically knew all about walking beans before you knew anything about crawling between a beanbag and a sturdier piece of den furniture.

Ann Rieder was born in Ames, Iowa, and grew up on a Hawkeye State farm 50 miles due west in Scranton.

“Most farm kids walked beans in the summers,” Rieder says of walking up and down rows of soybeans with a bean hook and rooting out all weeds in the rows.

“We’d be out there, my brothers ( Joe and Matt) and I, from sunrise to noon and then again in the evenings through late summer.

It was how we learned work ethic.”

Pesky weeds vying for moisture and nutrients usually decrease a soybean yield.

Rieder, now 49 years old and living in Lake Bluff, has become adept at removing something completely different: the fear of financial planning. But the Certified Financial Planner™—and founder and president of Regatta Wealth Management in Lake Bluff—still uses a sharp tool to allay that trepidation for her clients.

Rieder’s trusty, two-pronged implement?

Her professionalism and quarter centuryplus of experience in a field far, far away from Iowan fields.

“I provide advice to my clients as they walk through a vast array of life events such as job transitions, sending kids to college, and planning for a successful retirement, to name a few,” says Rieder, who opened Regatta Wealth Management in 2015, and has a wealth of expertise in areas such as intergenerational wealth management, equity compensation plans for executives, and the unique financial needs of philanthropic organizations.

“One of the many rewards of what I do is having a client say, ‘I have a family member who could use your help. Would you please talk with them (sibling/parent/cousin) etc.. about their finances? Or help educate my child so they can get started on a solid financial path?’”

Regatta Wealth Management (RWM) focuses on strategic investment management with a personal approach to financial planning. RWM seeks to manage risk, invest with discipline, and ultimately preserve

and protect investment assets.

The firm’s logo features a pair of oars.

Those are a nod to Rieder’s competitive past. After running cross-country for Knights’ teams at Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll, Iowa—when she wasn’t playing the violin or making unassailable arguments in debate club—the middle child of Joe and Barbara Tilley competed for the crew team at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she double-majored in Economics and Political Science.

Rieder then rowed, rowed, rowed her way to immediate success at Smith Barney in Des Moines, finishing in the top 10 percent of the firm’s threeyear Financial Advisor training program.

She was in her late 20s when a higher-up asked her to consider joining the branch manager ranks at Smith Barney.

She was a national training officer in

Hartford, Connecticut, before landing a position as a sales manager for a large branch in San Francisco. Nearly three years later, in 2006, Rieder found herself managing the Smith Barney branch in southwest suburban Orland Park.

Rieder spent a combined 15 years at Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, culminating her tenure as senior vice president and branch manager of a top private client and corporate services branch. At HighTower Advisors—her last stop before mooring Regatta Wealth Management in Lake Bluff—she served as a managing director and partner.

“I’m extremely grateful to be a part of the Lake Bluff community,” says Rieder, who’s been raising daughters Elizabeth (age 15) and Grace (13) in the tightknit village

Ann Rieder

One of the many rewards of what I do is having a client say, ‘I have a family member who could use your help.

26 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

for 10 years. “It’s such a warm place to live, with wonderful people. It’s a Vespa-type of town.

“The friends we have made here are like family. I love everything about Lake Bluff.”

The feeling’s mutual. In 2021 Rieder was elected to a four-year term as a Lake Bluff Park District commissioner.

Commissioner Rieder has something in common with a commissioner named Roger Goodell, who oversees the National Football League. Rieder is a member of the National Football League Players Association’s Registered Financial Advisors Program, which provides current and former NFL players with access to financial advisors who meet certain requirements and pass extensive background checks. It’s an elite group; Rieder is one of a handful of such members in Illinois. It’s also a band of human shields, protecting athletes—particularly vulnerable rookies—from fraud and poor money advice.

A mother of two, the president of Regatta Wealth Management, a park district commish, a holder of an NFLPA post … .

Oh, and she also occasionally teaches personal finance to Chicago-area high school students through the Junior Achievement Financial Literacy program. Ms. Ann Rieder hasn’t been asked to simultaneously spin dozens of plates and juggle basketballs from a crowded rack, yet, but she’d certainly be game to give it a try.

“My kids are my No. 1 priority, no question,” Rieder says, adding Grace, an eighth grader at Lake Bluff Middle School, loves 1980s movies and aspires to be a lawyer, and Lizzie, an academic honors sophomore at Lake Forest High School, plays midfielder on the national level team of her lacrosse club. “I want to be there to support them, to cheerlead them on, in all their activities.

Running Regatta Wealth Management has given me the flexibility to do that, all while still providing top service to my clients.

“They say time is the new wealth, the new luxury,” she adds. “I value my time with family and friends. ‘Surround yourself with good people’—that’s what I’ve told my daughters, because it has been the key to my life.”

Regatta Wealth Management is located at 10 East Scranton Avenue, Suite 301B, Lake Bluff. For more information about the firm, visit regattawm.com or call 847-604-4940.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

LAKEFRONT

NEW DEVELOPMENT

When one door closes, another one opens.

The Residences of Geneva Lake Fontana, WI $1.3M-$1.7M

Tricia Forbeck 262.745.1145

Rob Edwards 262.903.0566

CLIFFS OF FONTANA

LAKE ACCESS

635 Upper Brookwood Drive Fontana, WI $799,000

Janis Hartley 262.745.3630

LAKEFRONT

N1959 Solar Lane Linn, WI $9,275,000

W5866 Bubbling Springs Drive La Grange $819,900

108 Lake Vista Circle Fontana, WI $1,195,000

Bob Webster 262.949.1933

RENTAL

Tricia Forbeck & Jay Hicks 262.745.1145 | 262.325.7975

LAKEFRONT

35 South Walworth Avenue, 203 Williams Bay, WI $895,000

1131 Turnberry Court Geneva, WI $3,900/mo

Donna Brongiel Team 262.581.6554

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Linda Tonge 262.949.6419

508 Arbor Ridge Drive Delavan, WI $619,850

RENTAL

LAKE ACCESS

Donna Brongiel Team 204 Elmhurst Court, 16 262.581.6554 Williams Bay, WI $3,000/mo

N1988 Birches Drive Linn, WI $2,295,000

Cassie Winter 262.488.1044

Bob Webster 262.949.1933

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Keefe RE agents are now licensed with Compass.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023 |

27

28 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 | SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2023

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND