FIND US ONLINE: DailyNorthShore.com
SATURDAY JANUARY 26 | SUNDAY JANUARY 27 2019
SUNDAY BREAKFAST
Business teacher Joe Pulio’s role in theater department more than a cameo at Lake Forest High School. P30
SPORTS
SOCIAL SCENE
Halle Douglass’ portfolio at LFHS teeming with assists. P28
Second-to-none fundraiser at First Presbyterian Preschool. P14 FOLLOW US:
NO. 329 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION
NEWS
CHEERS TO BEER Wilmette Historical Society to host ‘City of Booze Shoulders’ talk BY DONALD LIEBENSON THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
The first thing that pops into your mind, at the mention of Chicago? Maybe it’s the city’s fabled political corruption or its professional sports teams or its architecture or its signature hot dogs and pizza. Liz Garibay’s answer? None of the above. Alcohol, particularly beer, is inextricably aligned with Chicago’s foundation and development, in her mind. The former public historian at the Chicago History Museum will speak about Chicago as the “City of Booze Shoulders” January 27 at the Wilmette Historical Society. The presentation begins at 2 p.m. “When people talk about Chicago, past to present, beer and the beer industry should be front and center because [they] really helped build the city,” Garibay says. Garibay is the founder of the Chicago Brewseum. Its inaugural exhibition, “Brewing Up Chicago,” was installed at the Field Museum. The Brewseum’s mission is to take “a deeper look into one of the oldest beverages and its power to build community and its importance as an ongoing cultural force.” “My work,” Garibay says, “explores history Continued on PG 10
FASHION PLATE
Former Highland Park waitress serves up accessories business in NYC BY ELAINE DOREMUS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Anne Harper credits her mom and the community of Highland Park with much of her success. The founder of the hugely popular OMG! Accessories line of whimsical girls bags went from waitress to CEO of a lucrative business with a posh flagship showroom in Manhattan. “Ever since I was a little girl, wearing a pink tutu, pink cashmere, and glitter shoes, I knew I wanted to be in fashion,” Harper says from her headquarters in New York City, where she resides. Harper considers her mother, Judy Aberman, her most significant role model. As a single mom, Aberman was determined that her children would continue to grow up in Highland Park even after she and Harper’s father divorced. She worked as a teacher on Chicago’s West Side for many years. “Mom made sure we could live in Highland Park, go to the best schools, and have great opportunities to benefit us in the future,” Harper says. One such opportunity came via a waitressing job. “When I was in high school, I really wanted to get a job; I was a little eager to be ambitious,” Harper says. But she was only 14 at the time. “I needed a worker’s permit, and the school helped me get it,” she says of teachers and administrators at Highland Park High School. “They were always willing to facilitate the needs of students.” Harper worked eight hours per week as a waitress at Ravinia BBQ and Grill (which closed in 2015 after 30 years) and worked there for 16 years until she launched her business. “I feel very fortunate to have worked at a neighborhood restaurant with locals,” she says. “I got to meet and talk with so many people. Whatever questions I had, I could get answers. All these people around me had insight and information to share.” This lesson would become pivotal to the
Anne Harper
launch of Harper’s business years later. But the path wasn’t always clear, and Harper’s journey required hard work, patience, and lots of moxie. “In high school the pressure is on to make
sure you do something wise with education, and many of my customers at the restaurant helped me make the right choices,” a grateContinued on PG 10
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 991 HIGHLAND PK, IL